Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Rumors Are Made Through Effort (1)
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“There’s no reason to wear combat gear outside, so… is it strange?”
Serena looked down at her outfit and asked.
“No. It suits you well. It’s just so different from how you look in combat gear.”
“As long as it’s not strange, that’s fine. This is how I dress when I’m out with my little brother.”
He had been a little surprised to see someone who was just an assassin in the Tower transform into a medieval beauty once she stepped outside.
It was hard to believe this was the same person who sliced through people without a second thought.
Afterward, Regin turned to the boy who had entered following Serena.
“This must be the little brother you mentioned last time.”
“That’s right. Auri Phiren. Just call him Auri. My brother is currently studying at the Royal Academy.”
When he’d heard she had a little brother, Regin had imagined someone younger.
But Auri looked more mature than expected in person.
‘He’s about eighteen, right?’
For other races or gladiators, he’d be old enough to climb the Tower.
Even mages like Regin received education until adulthood.
Most professions headed straight to the Tower once they had some skill.
‘Besides, only mages have succession rituals in the first place.’
Auri was studying to become a regular scholar.
At the same time, he said he’d started wanting to explore like Serena.
“I’ve heard a lot about you two. You’re my sister’s comrades, right?”
“Comrades…”
“It’s been a while since she talked about her party members, so I was curious what kind of people you were.”
Auri greeted them.
It seemed she’d introduced him as a comrade after fighting together once.
“I’m studying right now, but someday I want to climb the Tower too. Like you two.”
It would’ve been perfect if he’d stopped there. But Auri had to mention wanting to climb the Tower.
Serena shot them a look, and Regin and Greg nodded with stern expressions.
“Climb the Tower? You look like you don’t have any muscle. You’d be begging for your life after two days on the first floor.”
“How are your grades at the Academy? If you want to switch to mage, you need to be in the top ranks.”
“Uh…”
Auri looked flustered as he glanced between them.
“Is exploring really that hard?”
“Of course it is.”
Beyond the difficulty, lives were on the line.
He hadn’t understood why Serena grinded the sixth floor so hard in the Tower, but if it was for her brother, it made sense.
As she’d mentioned beforehand, she was risking her life to take care of him.
She wouldn’t want her brother getting involved.
“Auri. I’m Regin, the spellcrafter.”
“Yes. Mr. Regin.”
Recalling Serena’s request from the Tower, Regin continued.
“Serena, Greg, and I don’t climb the Tower for fun or thrills.”
“…”
“Our goals may differ slightly, but we all risk our lives for what we seek.”
“…”
“Serena risks her life for you. So you can get a proper education. So you can live a fulfilling life as a scholar.”
He didn’t know exactly how much Academy tuition cost.
But considering it was mostly for noble children, it wouldn’t be cheap.
From the circumstances, the Phiren sisters were either orphaned or their parents couldn’t provide.
That meant Serena was shouldering all their living expenses and tuition alone.
“If you want, I’ll tell you everything about every expedition—what happened, what monsters we fought—without leaving anything out.”
“…”
“So if it’s just curiosity or admiration, focus on your studies for now.”
Regin’s words turned serious without him realizing.
The sense that these were NPCs had long faded.
They just felt like another person climbing the Tower to survive, like him.
“If you stay alive, if you become capable of doing something… then you’ll have more choices.”
The same went for Serena and the Auri she protected.
Like Regin, he hoped they’d survive long enough.
To protect their lives in this unreasonable, brutal world until the end. With that, Regin finished.
“…”
Auri thought for a long time before nodding.
“…You’re a mage, right?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled faintly and continued.
“That’s a relief. My sister has a reliable mage by her side. I’ll study hard too. I can’t think of any counterarguments to what you said yet.”
“…Haha. Planning to argue if something comes up?”
“For now, I’ll study hard and think about it.”
Auri seemed to steel his resolve.
Regin didn’t hear exactly what he’d study for, but at least he wasn’t pushing for exploration anymore. That was progress.
Serena looked at Regin gratefully.
‘It’s nothing.’
Her introducing them as comrades still lingered in his mind.
‘Gaining a talented assassin makes it worth it.’
It was probably the lowest difficulty recruitment quest.
* * *
Afterward, Regin took Greg and Serena to a nearby restaurant.
“Is it okay for Auri to skip lunch?”
“He has plans with friends, then he’s heading straight to the library.”
Auri had left first due to other commitments.
It was actually more convenient for the three of them.
“Let’s talk over a meal. About how we’ll tackle the next Tower run.”
They needed to prepare for the Tower opening next week.
“So, you’re definitely coming with us?”
While waiting for food, Greg asked Serena.
“I hate to say this after the favor you did me earlier… but yes, if you can promise me one thing.”
“Promise?”
“As you saw, I have to look after Auri. I cover his living and education expenses.”
“…Are your parents unable to help?”
“They passed away early. I don’t want pity for it. I know there are many families like ours in this kingdom.”
“…”
Regin silently downed his cold water.
‘I felt it talking with Greg too. So many tragic backstories.’
Even in a world where war had ended, regional conflicts persisted.
With Towers around, countless people lost their lives there.
“I can’t stay in the Tower for more than a month.”
“Hmm. I don’t have a clear goal, so I’m fine either way…”
Greg’s gaze turned to Regin.
He’d already decided to climb with Regin.
“Our party leader is Regin.”
It was a polite way of saying decisions were Regin’s, and if Serena joined, she’d follow him.
“The timing works out perfectly. I can’t do a long expedition this time either.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I planned to come out once before the portal closes for resupply. We can sync up with you then.”
Their planned expedition lengths matched.
Serena needed to check on her brother, and Regin had his execution to attend.
So the remaining issue was the expedition’s goal.
“Are you aiming for orbs on the sixth floor again, Serena?”
She hunted there for steady income.
She’d even joined Kaluan’s party thinking it’d make orb farming smoother.
‘In reality, she makes over 20 gold a month this way.’
That was guaranteed if she farmed orbs all month.
Enough to cover her and her brother’s expenses.
“This expedition, I absolutely have to reach the tenth floor.”
“Hmm.”
“I’d like to go all the way with you if possible.”
He watched Serena deep in thought.
Truthfully, Regin knew she’d make things easier for him too.
The risks up to the tenth floor would drop.
‘Though I think Greg and I could manage alone.’
Plus, he could raise Serena, who had final phase potential, for the endgame.
It had been ages since Regin personally trained a party member, but this seemed worth it.
‘This is my one and only shot.’
Unlike games where he could revise plans next round if it failed.
One challenge, one chance.
Regin had to use every means available.
“Serena.”
He continued, looking at her.
“How much do you know about the eighth floor?”
“The eighth? I haven’t explored it properly. I know there are multiple paths.”
“Have you been to the Portrait Room?”
“The Portrait Room?”
“Yeah.”
“…You want to go there?”
“Yes. It’ll take some time, but…”
“I’ve heard you can definitely grab valuable items there.”
Greg and Serena.
How far could he go with them? What would it take to reach the final phase?
Regin’s mind raced.
“If you join, we’ll go via the Portrait Room on the eighth. Hit the tenth floor exactly, then return…”
“You’re even factoring in my brother’s living expenses?”
“Exactly.”
“Thanks. Sincerely. But the Portrait Room…”
“I know.”
Regin nodded and continued.
“It’s where the most explorers go missing.”
On the surface, it looked like taking a risk for a short-term goal.
It was indeed riskier than other paths.
“I’ve studied plenty. Since Auri’s age, I’ve researched the Tower alongside magic.”
But that was for newbies.
Regin had vast experience navigating the eighth floor.
Meaning he could minimize risks while
“This is the kind of expedition I want too.”
Securing items for all their futures.
Serena nodded at Regin’s confident words.
“Then I have no reason to refuse.”
“If you agree, I’ll plan the next expedition route from this moment. Via the eighth floor Portrait Room.”
And the path afterward would differ greatly from now.
“Got it.”
Serena smirked and nodded.
“I’ll go with you two. You can make the plan you want. For this expedition, I’ll follow you as leader too… like Greg.”
* * *
At the same time Regin was talking with the two.
“Excellent work wrapping up the investigation, Alice, Investigation Captain.”
“Thank you.”
In a building at the kingdom’s capital center, Alice of the Investigation Unit bowed her head as she reported.
Marquis Dylan sat before Alice, watching her.
He oversaw management of the three Towers—in the west, east, and beyond the kingdom.
“By the way, for you to put this much effort into the report…”
Recalling the report Alice’s subordinates had delivered, Marquis Dylan continued.
“Is it because you want rewards for those two explorers who helped with the investigation?”
“They made no small contribution to securing ancient orbs.”
The long-awaited lycanthrope sighting report. Alongside the fourth floor ecology and Rabbit Hole攻略.
It listed the names of the two explorers who’d helped Alice.
Alice looked at Marquis Dylan with a serious expression.
“Yes. Spellcrafter Regin Petrichio and dwarf Greg Havien. I hope their contributions are recognized.”
The moment their aid in surviving the Rabbit Hole reached the marquis.
Dylan looked at Alice with dissatisfaction.
“Alice.”
“Yes.”
“Merit is best not divided. Do you really want this report approved?”
Alice’s expression didn’t change. She nodded with unwavering eyes.
“I want their contributions recorded exactly as they happened.”