Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Law of Competition and Distribution (2)
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“You mentioned having a friend, right? And that friend is currently looking for the Saint’s Sword.”
“That’s correct.”
It was something Regin had discussed with Greg once before.
The fact that Manannan was searching for the Saint’s Sword right now.
“Did he have any companions?”
“Ah, there’s a friend I came to the Tower with at the start. We were lucky enough to land in the same spot on the 1st Floor and stuck together up to the 5th.”
Seria seemed intrigued by the mention of Regin’s companion.
“Up to the 5th Floor? Sounds like you didn’t stay together for long.”
“It was our first expedition. And I had to leave the Tower due to circumstances, but he didn’t, so he stayed behind.”
“Hmm.”
“There were all sorts of incidents back then, though. Even though it was only the 5th Floor, we spent quite a bit of time there.”
He’d spent a full month with Manannan, hadn’t he?
During that time, they’d dealt with everything from the Rafflesia on the 1st Floor to the Lycanthrope on the 4th.
Even Regin thought they’d gone through every kind of ordeal imaginable.
“...You two must have a strong bond.”
“Haha. Not quite that deep.”
It had already been over fifty days since he’d parted ways with Manannan.
In that time, Regin had only left the Tower twice.
“By schedule, he should’ve found the Saint’s Sword on the 6th Floor by now, but it doesn’t seem to be here.”
Fifty days wasn’t a short time.
And staying in one place that long, especially with the need to constantly procure supplies and food, was even harder.
‘The biggest issue on the 6th Floor is that there’s nowhere to get food.’
It wouldn’t be strange if Manannan had left the Tower or moved up to a higher floor.
‘Or maybe...’
Rustle—
Lost in thought, Regin glanced up at the sky.
‘...He could be searching on the 7th Floor.’
Manannan’s party included a swordsman named Bern.
Regin had heard that Bern was leading the party as its leader, and he was a man who had earned Chimihi’s recognition.
‘He might’ve realized the Saint’s Sword isn’t on the 6th Floor but the 7th.’
That was the problem.
It was a low-probability scenario, but Bern and Manannan might have climbed to the 7th Floor.
‘Honestly, their firepower is lacking. Just Bern and Manannan’s party against the Saint’s Sword on the 7th Floor...’
They could get completely wiped out.
The thought briefly flashed through Regin’s mind.
“You seem really worried.”
“Well... yeah. If he left the Tower, I wouldn’t be concerned. But if he kept climbing, it does worry me a bit.”
“Is that so?”
“Especially if they went up to the 7th Floor looking for the Saint’s Sword. My friend might not be able to handle it.”
He even thought it’d be better if they just gave up on the Saint’s Sword.
Truth be told, there was a slight twinge of guilt.
“It kinda feels like he joined that party because of me.”
In most playthroughs, Manannan followed a fairly fixed growth route.
He’d linger around the 5th Floor, going in and out repeatedly, then suddenly they’d meet around the 10th Floor.
‘He showed up as an NPC who kept climbing steadily after getting a feel for it.’
Regin had rarely seen him in the final phases, but he still made it pretty high.
At least up to the top floors of the First Tower.
‘But after I entered this world and explored directly with him... his choices changed a little.’
He’d met Bern’s party, whom he wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.
And set off with them to find the Saint’s Sword.
Honestly, Regin was curious how far this small butterfly effect would go.
If he were a player, he’d watch his journey with pure interest, without a shred of guilt.
“I can’t help but worry that egging him on might lead to something bad.”
The problem was that Regin wasn’t a player anymore.
Even though it was a game world, he was alive and breathing in here for real.
And he felt that these NPCs were the same, with every fiber of his being.
He couldn’t just see Manannan as some NPC or test subject.
“Regin.”
“Yes?”
“We can adjust the plan a bit.”
Seria, who had been watching him quietly, spoke up suddenly.
“If you want to go check on them on the 7th Floor, that’s fine.”
“Ah.”
“Greg and I came here trusting you. If something’s important to you...”
“...”
“Then it’s important to us too.”
Regin thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Thank you. Let me think it over a bit more and get back to you.”
Not only was she quick in action and combat—her insight was sharp too.
It felt like she’d lifted one of his worries right off his shoulders.
Grateful that she’d brought it up first, he looked at her.
“Oh, by the way.”
“Yes.”
“...You’re the first ones I’ve thought of as comrades.”
“Huh?”
Seria turned away, saying she’d pack up their gear.
“Meaning, you’re the first people I’ve considered companions.”
Regin chuckled softly as he watched her back.
She’d just said she was done packing, hadn’t she?
* * *
“Regin Petrichio, was it?”
They’d finished a meal and were about to decide on the next plan.
A few people approached from where they’d been resting in the distance.
It was Elsilva and his party members.
“A spellcrafter? First time seeing one in the Tower... but damn, you’re no joke. Do all spellcrafters fight like that?”
“Nah, come on. If they did, every mage would be a spellcrafter.”
“Really?”
Elsilva’s party consisted of three swordsmen and one archer.
The female swordsman and the archer greeted him and chatted away.
“Anyway, thanks for not fighting our leader. He was pretty worn out by then, actually.”
“Yeah. Heh heh. We all saw Elsilva shaking when the other leaders drew their weapons and charged.”
“No idea. I thought he was standing strong, protecting me.”
Regin had sensed her mana flow was a bit unsteady.
Even so, she felt stronger than the other leaders, which made allying with them the obvious choice for him.
“And we’re the ones who should be grateful. From the other leaders’ reactions... it seems we wouldn’t have gotten any spoils at all.”
The others had been constantly wary of Regin’s party from the start.
“You all worked hard. From our perspective, your party’s help was decisive...”
“That, and the other parties didn’t really contribute much anyway.”
“Aww, sorry. She’s a bit too honest, so her words come out blunt.”
“No, no, it’s not directed at me anyway.”
The female swordsman tried to choose her words carefully, but the archer standing beside her had no such intentions.
“Good thing you three helped. Otherwise, we’d all be dead. Wouldn’t have made it home. That’s my honest feeling.”
“...Yeah, she thinks that, and so does our leader. We all feel that way. Giving you rights to the spoils was only natural.”
“I still say dragging it out to a traditional split was ridiculous. Lucky the outcome was good.”
“...The outcome was good, sure.”
The female swordsman shook her head and glanced around warily.
“The other parties aren’t happy with you... you know, from that distribution earlier.”
“Ah.”
“Some might even try personal retaliation.”
“Hmm.”
“Oh, of course, they might just be talking big...”
Frustrated by the female swordsman’s hesitant phrasing, the archer shook her head and looked at Regin.
“The other guys are pissed at you. Bunch of idiots. Don’t even know who they owe the subjugation to.”
“Haha. Can’t blame ’em for being salty.”
They’d taken half the spoils, after all.
Regin hadn’t grabbed a single drop from the trash mobs around, but the boss loot alone made it several times more profitable.
“Take this badge. That’s what we came to give you.”
“This is...”
“It symbolizes our guild. Wear it, and the weaklings will back off.”
Regin recognized the emblem on the badge immediately.
“...Phoenix.”
One of the guilds in DAT.
Unlike parties that roamed in groups of six or seven at most, guilds gathered hundreds strong.
Those connected to nobles wielded influence on a whole different level from lone parties.
And Phoenix was fairly well-known among them.
“Yeah. You know it? Makes this quick then. We’re one of the kingdom’s four great guilds.”
That explained it.
They’d stood out from the other parties.
“Is it okay for me to take this?”
“Sure. It’ll work for a while. Not every guild member memorizes faces anyway.”
“...Haha. Sounds like you’re telling me to impersonate you outright.”
“Heh heh. I’m just lending it to you. Just toss it when this expedition ends. Or come find us.”
“Hmm.”
The archer’s eyes sparkled as she continued.
“Come find us, and I’ll recommend you to Phoenix. Elsilva’s got connections with the guild master. He’s a promising talent himself, y’know.”
‘The Phoenix guild master... that buzzcut guy?’
As Regin sorted through his mental info, Elsilva spoke up.
“Sorry for the long explanation. When the expedition ends, come to the Phoenix guild hall.”
It was the same concise, serious tone from the fight earlier.
“We’d like to formally invite you, Regin, to join our guild.”
Regin thought it over, then nodded.
“I’ll visit when the expedition’s done.”
Of course, he wasn’t going alone.
“With my party members.”
Elsilva smirked at Regin.
“We’ll be waiting. All three of you.”
* * *
“Fascinating.”
Regin and his group packed up and headed for the 7th Floor.
There was no reason to hesitate.
The detailed plan might shift a little, but heading to the 7th Floor remained unchanged.
“Everyone seems wary of the badge... or am I imagining it, Regin?”
“Who knows. It does seem to have some effect.”
What was interesting was that, the entire way to the 7th Floor, there were no unnecessary conflicts.
The 6th Floor monsters hadn’t respawned yet, so no one needed to run.
‘Even though we took half the spoils... it’d be prime timing for them to pick a fight.’
Most parties averted their eyes upon seeing the badge on Regin’s cloak.
“It really helps. Being affiliated with a top guild, I mean.”
At this point, he had to admit it.
Elsilva and his party’s gesture had been a big help.
“Phoenix, right?”
“Yeah. Pretty famous guild. Never heard of them, Greg?”
“I’ve seen that emblem a few times. First time hearing the name, though... Didn’t see it often. Who’d have thought it was a top guild.”
“Guilds come in all shapes. Some accept anyone with decent skill, and those tend to have huge numbers.”
On the flip side, there were elite guilds with strict criteria, gathering only a select few.
“Phoenix is closer to elite. Still a mid-large guild with over fifty members, though.”
“Heh heh. No wonder I rarely saw that emblem. Strict standards? Feels like they only take the real powerhouses.”
“Probably. Just look at Elsilva’s party—they stood out from the rest.”
“Yeah. All four of them had a different vibe, from their posture on down.”
Regin mulled it over for a moment before speaking.
“They might be here looking for the Saint’s Sword too.”
“Ah...! Right. Guys strong enough for Phoenix wouldn’t just be grinding the 6th Floor!”
“Hmm.”
Rustle—
Regin pulled out a fragment of the heart diamond Chimihi had given him and continued.
“Let’s hurry up. If they realize we could be competitors, their attitude might change.”