Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: A Good Idea
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A soft knock echoed at the door.
Rin peeked her head into Ian's office and asked,
"Hey, Leader. Got a minute later?"
"Sorry. This is urgent right now."
Seeing how busy Ian looked, Rin checked the time and asked once more.
"Ah.... Then I'll come back this evening. That work?"
"...Yeah."
Rin made an evening appointment with Ian and left.
Mika, who had arrived late, saw the scene, clicked her tongue with a "Tch...", and turned away.
A moment later, Tanya brought Ian his coffee.
After setting down the cup of coffee he'd requested,
Tanya hesitated with the tray in hand before cautiously asking,
"Um.... Maybe."
"...Sorry. Rin's coming over this evening."
"Okay...."
Tanya glanced back at Ian with a hint of disappointment and left.
"......"
Ian let out a small sigh, picked up his coffee cup, and gazed out the window.
The city teetered on the brink of crisis, but for those oblivious, it remained as peaceful as ever.
Ian opened his members' status windows to check their conditions.
They'd all returned safely from the labyrinth, but the erosion lingered unchanged.
Unable to clear the erosion, they remained plagued by curses.
This erosion that didn't fade even after leaving the labyrinth was the greatest obstacle in labyrinth exploration.
Mastering how to handle this erosion was the key to successful labyrinth runs.
The simplest method was using purifiers.
In the newly expanded lab, Louise was still churning them out in her spare moments.
But potions took time to make, and supply was limited.
Thanks to the materials from this labyrinth run, they had more than before, but they couldn't produce them endlessly.
For the next expedition, he wanted to stockpile as much as possible.
Everyone agreed with Ian's view.
Having experienced it firsthand in the labyrinth, they all felt purifiers were essential in abundance.
So, purifiers were off the table.
Another option was heading to the temple.
Thanks to Ian raising their donation rank, they could borrow a temple ward room.
Staying there would purify the erosion via the goddess statue's effect.
The problem was the cost—and the time it took.
Plus, everyone recoiled at the idea of recuperating in the temple for a while.
Temple life, really?
Waking early for prayer, eating temple food, studying scriptures.
Stuck there for recovery, no outings allowed.
The entire mercenary corps flat-out refused.
Ian wasn't thrilled about it either.
Parking the mercenaries in a ward for nearly a month, doing nothing.
It was the cleanest method, but wasting them in a room where they couldn't take missions or train was too much of a loss.
Finally....
There was one other method.
One everyone knew.
Ian treating them.
Thanks to healing Mika before, they all knew Ian had this unique constitution that could purify erosion.
Inside the labyrinth, the stamina drain was too high to use it, but now rested outside, it was worth considering.
Shell out big coin to hole up in the temple praying.
Boring and pretentious.
Or... roll around with Ian.
What was there to it? They all knew each other well enough already.
Everyone chose the latter.
Even Lia hated the temple idea.
And so, the simple meeting concluded.
Ian himself had no other options, so he'd drink the made potions.
The rest would receive treatment from Ian.
At first glance, it seemed far more rational than limited purifiers or long temple stays.
But Ian's recovery output was minimal.
It wasn't true healing ability—just a hasty patch for Mika.
Mika's had been such a minor curse it barely qualified, cleared in one go....
But the serious erosion built up from real labyrinth delving wouldn't resolve in a day or two.
The result?
Ian woke with a wince as sunlight leaked through the curtains.
"...Ah."
Opening his eyes, he locked gazes with Rin, who was on the bed.
"...Rin?"
"Hehe, this was the only time I had."
Rin awkwardly smiled, having pulled back the blanket and grabbed Ian's pants.
"Just a quick one?"
"Sorry, right after waking up is kinda...."
"...Looks ready to me?"
Rin pointed below as she replied.
The usual morning excuse wouldn't fly.
Rin's hand slipped gently into Ian's pants toward it.
....
While Ian soaked in the bath's hot water,
A light knock sounded, and Tanya entered.
"Leader."
"Tanya...?"
Tanya, body wrapped in a towel, approached with small steps.
Face slightly flushed, she smiled at Ian.
"Hand still bothering you? Let me help with the bath."
"I said my hand's fine...."
Ian's reply apparently didn't matter.
The towel around Tanya dropped to the floor.
Tanya carefully entered the tub and pressed close beside Ian.
Leaning in, her soft breasts brushed Ian's arm.
....
In the dead of night, the door opened, and Mika slipped into Ian's room.
"...Mika?"
"Can't sleep. Mind a chat?"
Mika's insomnia from the labyrinth had kept her from proper rest for a while.
Her usual excuse for visiting Ian late at night.
"Your insomnia cleared up a while ago."
"Ehehe. It's habit now—can't sleep at night...."
But he'd cured that insomnia recently.
Called out, Mika giggled and averted her eyes.
In her nightclothes, Mika sat on Ian's bed.
She slyly slipped under his blanket, snuggling close with a playful smile.
Hugging one of Ian's arms, her hair tickled his skin, carrying a faint sweet scent.
Mika nuzzled into Ian's neck.
.......
...A week later.
Ian realized he'd made a terribly wrong choice.
Lifting heavy eyelids from bed, Ian checked the time.
Past lunchtime already.
Outside the window, past morning, no birdsong—just noisy pedestrians on the street.
He tried to rise, but his body wouldn't obey.
Ian's will was being tested.
...Staying like this would kill him.
Barely lifting his head, with trembling hands, Ian opened his potential window.
A brief moment of thought.
Placing his life and 3 points on the line, Ian pondered, then decided to spend the 3 points.
[Max Uses Increase]
[Stamina Regeneration]
[Vitality Absorption]
Investing the 3 points into survival traits, Ian closed the window.
...Points meant for [Proof of Honor].
But no trait mattered more than his life right now.
Ian flopped back onto the bed.
Finally recovering enough to head to the lounge, Ian downed a stamina potion.
Bought from a nearby potion shop on an errand—recovery was underwhelming.
The alchemist there must be low-level.
Louise's would be far better, but she was swamped making purifiers and research.
Couldn't bother her with trivial stuff.
Had to settle for another shop's wares.
...Find another way to recover erosion fast.
Downing stamina potions until no more recovery, Ian finally sighed in relief.
With some stamina back, mind clearing, Ian picked up a few letters piled on the lounge table.
Morning mail, apparently.
Ian opened the guild's request list first.
Perks of C-rank promotion and excellent activity guild status—one easier task.
No need to visit the guild mornings and brawl with other corps; they curated and proposed fitting missions. Guild request subscription service.
Among them, one request caught his eye.
Standard merchant escort.
But the destination stood out.
A coastal tourist city, a bit away from Labyrinth City.
The sea....
Ian's eyes lit up.
It was rest period post-labyrinth, but this was a simple escort.
No big fights expected; they could handle it.
Vacation spot—relaxing there a few days might even lower stress.
At the beach, they'd tire themselves out playing.
Distracted by the sea, maybe fewer visits to him.
Nothing but waiting ahead anyway—not a bad idea.
Struck by the good thought, Ian stared at the mission before jumping up to head to the guild.