Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Is That So?
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Ian took advantage of a brief lull to visit the temple.
Tanya, who had rushed after him upon hearing he needed company, was visiting the temple in person for the first time. She followed behind Ian, gazing around the grand interior with wide-eyed wonder.
"I had no idea Labyrinth City had a place like this..."
"If you look around, you'll find quite a few. They're just not in the areas we mercenaries frequent..."
Labyrinth City was enormous, but the districts mercenaries mainly used were limited.
A shopping street and inn district centered around the mercenary guild, plus other businesses catering to mercenaries.
Facilities frequented by residents were far removed from the mercenaries' daily haunts.
Even long-time mercenaries in Labyrinth City rarely had reason to visit such places unless they had specific business.
"Captain Ian. You've returned safely."
"Hello."
"Oh, hello."
Someone approached Ian and Tanya from behind as they waited while admiring the temple interior.
It was the nun who always greeted him whenever he came to use the temple.
Tanya bowed her head in greeting as well, following Ian's lead.
"...Ah."
The nun's eyes narrowed as they met Ian's, then she flinched in surprise.
She hurried over and looked back and forth between Ian and Tanya.
"A-Are the two of you alright?"
"Pardon?"
"The curse..."
"Ah..."
The nun had apparently sensed the Labyrinth curse on both Ian and Tanya.
Since they had only recently returned from the labyrinth, everyone including Ian was still carrying one or two curses.
Ian had already confirmed there were no immediately dangerous ones requiring urgent treatment, so they were all ignoring the minor inconveniences for now.
"We just got back from the labyrinth. We're fine."
"No, you're not fine at all..."
The nun immediately suggested they be admitted.
"Why not stay for a while and recuperate? Praying daily before the goddess statue will treat the curse."
As she said, this temple with its goddess statue was one place capable of healing erosion.
It wasn't originally open to just anyone, but thanks to their recent rank-ups, they now qualified.
But Ian shook his head.
"We're good. I'll get it treated once I have some spare time."
The downside was exactly as the term suggested: admission meant holing up in the temple.
The temple's facilities gradually healed erosion based on the length of stay.
At Ian's current level, it would take nearly a month cooped up to fully recover.
He already had too much on his plate.
Better to spend several times more on something with immediate effects—admission just wasn't feasible.
"W-Well, if you insist... But even if it seems fine now, you can't just leave it untreated."
The nun nodded with a slightly puzzled look at Ian's firm refusal.
First-time labyrinth explorers always felt immense psychological pressure from the curses lingering on their bodies.
Most came begging the temple to remove them, money no object.
But Ian's reaction was like that of a veteran explorer numb to the labyrinth after years inside.
In fact, mercenaries who grew too accustomed to curses often neglected them until their bodies broke down.
His boldness in not fearing curses was admirable.
But taking them too lightly could spell disaster.
With a hint of concern, the nun asked Ian,
"If not for the curse... what brings you here at this hour?"
"I'd like to buy some holy water."
"Pardon? Do you need it urgently?"
"It's the end of the month..."
The month-end was approaching.
Ian, who had been swamped right after returning from the labyrinth, had glanced at the date by chance and remembered something he'd forgotten. He rushed to the temple.
Temple items had purchase limits, reset monthly.
That reset was at the start of each month.
He'd hurried over to stock up before the limit reset.
The nun, thinking some major incident in the labyrinth must have prompted his urgent visit, sighed in relief.
"I can set aside items at my discretion for that, so you didn't need to rush like this."
"You sure it's okay?"
"You're not a stranger..."
Unlike the cold, inflexible AI of NPCs without mercy or tears, the nuns here showed plenty of flexibility toward big donors.
"Phew. Should've just come later then."
"No, deliberately waiting past the reset wouldn't be wise either..."
Ian bought holy water and other items up to his remaining limit.
He divided the load with Tanya and started walking out first.
As Tanya gathered the rest and followed, the nun sidled up and whispered to her.
"Excuse me. Miss Tanya?"
"Y-Yes?"
Tanya turned to the nun in surprise.
The nun lowered her voice, as if she had something important to tell her.
"The captain says he's fine, but there could be abnormalities he doesn't notice himself. Please keep a close eye on him."
It was advice from a nun who had seen countless mercenaries afflicted by curses while living in Labyrinth City's temple.
"His personality might change, or strange obsessions could develop... but he won't realize it. If anything seems off, make him admit himself, even by force."
Tanya listened to the nun's earnest words and nodded seriously.
"......"
Mealtime.
Ian said he was fine, but Tanya couldn't stop thinking about what the nun had said at the temple.
After returning from the labyrinth, Ian had checked each member's condition one by one and explained potential symptoms.
Thanks to that, Tanya and the others could accurately assess their own curses and worry a little less.
...But they had no idea about Ian's own condition.
Just as the nun said.
Maybe Ian was glossing over his own state without paying it much mind?
Tanya's unconscious gaze kept fixing on him, that worry nagging at her.
-Clang!
Just then, Ian accidentally dropped his spoon while eating.
"Ah, here."
"Oh, sorry."
Tanya quickly brought him a handkerchief and a fresh spoon.
"......"
Glance.
Tanya, who had been watching Ian intently, had seen his hand tremble noticeably just before the spoon fell.
It wasn't a simple mistake—it clearly signaled something wrong with his body.
No way...
Tanya's gaze grew more intense, staring openly at Ian as he ate.
"Hoo..."
Ian scooped water from the bath and poured the lukewarm liquid over himself.
It was the rest time he'd barely carved out after finishing the day's work.
Right after emerging from the labyrinth, the members could rest immediately, but as captain, Ian was swamped with labyrinth-related tasks.
After handling the urgent matters these past few days, he finally had a moment to breathe.
Having dealt with the most pressing issues, his body was exhausted, but his mind was at ease.
Then,
Someone knocked on the bathhouse door.
"Um..."
"Tanya? Sorry, I'm using it right now."
Ian replied upon recognizing the voice outside.
Even in a spacious base, they didn't have separate bath times for men and women.
Mercenaries didn't live regimented lives anyway.
Plus, Ian was the only man, so scheduling around times would've been more hassle.
They just used it when it seemed empty, gauging by feel.
Ian planned to finish quickly, but the door opened before he could.
Tanya, wrapped in a towel, hesitated as she entered the bathhouse.
"Tanya?"
"Um..."
She must have heard him.
Far from a mistake, it looked like she had a deliberate purpose. Tanya approached Ian with cautious steps.
Stopping right in front of him, Tanya suddenly blurted,
"L-Let me help you wash!"
"......"
...Suddenly?
Ian looked at her with a bewildered expression, and Tanya's face flushed a bit.
It was... a bit abrupt, wasn't it?
Tanya felt her cheeks burning as she muttered to herself.
She drew a little closer and sat beside Ian, asking carefully,
"Um, Captain. Your arm... it's uncomfortable, right?"
Tanya had observed him closely for a while and was certain.
His hand would tremble for no reason at times.
He'd drop things.
His cup would shake when he held it, spilling a bit.
Clear signs his body was off.
To onlookers, they seemed like everyday slips, and since Ian acted nonchalant, no one else noticed.
But Tanya, watching him constantly, realized something was wrong with his body.
And that he was hiding it to keep the members from worrying.
Ian, seeing Tanya's worried face, replied a little flustered.
"Uh... it's not that bad?"
"Pardon?"
Due to the battle with the banshee, everyone had accumulated quite a bit of erosion.
They'd escaped the labyrinth without major injuries, thankfully, but the Ian Mercenary Corps all carried one or two curses now.
Ian had gained an additional [Tremors] at the end.
It wasn't a high-intensity curse—just mildly inconvenient.
Of course, in combat it would be quite debilitating, but with no immediate fights and Ian not being a main combatant, it wasn't a big issue.
A new purifier was being developed in the lab anyway, so it'd resolve once that was done.
Tanya nodded upon hearing the explanation.
...Really, not that bad?
"Uh... I mean, I can still bathe myself."
"......"
Tanya's face grew redder.
This wasn't it—it was supposed to be a touching, warm moment of a member helping her ailing captain.
Now it just looked like a pervert barging in during his bath.
"I-It... Anyway, let me help!"
Pushing through her embarrassment, Tanya pressed on until Ian relented and turned his back to her.
Tanya's hands moved carefully.
A towel soaked in warm water touched Ian's back.
"......"
Tanya gazed silently at Ian's back as he sat facing away, methodically moving the towel.
It was more embarrassing than she'd thought.
No conversation came to mind for the situation, so quiet silence flowed.
Tanya wordlessly wiped Ian's back with the towel.
After scrubbing for a good while with nowhere left to clean, the towel began retracing the same spots.
...For some reason, Tanya felt like this had happened before.
Was it when Ian had the flu?
She'd volunteered to nurse him then too, dragging it out from embarrassment just like this.
Yeah, how could she not be embarrassed like this.
Gathering her courage, Tanya spoke up.
"N-Now, please turn around."
Ian slowly turned to face her.
"Eek..."
Tanya flinched upon seeing his front.
Though partially covered by his towel, Ian's member was visibly erect—no need to look closely.
Having observed it up close while nursing him before, Tanya knew right away.
...Why did Ann's words pop into her head now?
"Use these boobs, and any guy will fall in one shot!"
Ann, who wasn't even the owner, always bragged about them proudly.
......Is that so?
Tanya wasn't sure why it came to mind, but she felt a bit intrigued.
Steadying her slightly trembling voice from her pounding heart, Tanya said,
"Um... Captain."
Her face flushed deep red, Tanya murmured softly.
"Sh-Should I... wash this side too?"
Tanya gripped the towel covering her chest and slowly pulled it down.