Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Pulsating Beauty
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This is a pulsating beauty.
The incarnation of flames that would burn out the eyes of an ordinary person just from looking at it properly.
It resembled blazing starlight, or a gem tangled with every shade of red, or even something alive curled up within.
“Lord Kaiman… the heart…”
“Shh.”
Even in this place where every breath felt like it would scorch his lungs with searing heat, the man remained cool as he pressed a finger to his lips and let his voice drop low.
“Don’t call it that.”
Words held power; depending on how something was named, even that which had no ears could grow them, and that without eyes could gain sight.
“The essence of fire. Do you have something to say about it?”
His originally platinum hair shimmered with crimson flames, transformed by the essence of fire.
One of the mages, controlling his mana to suppress the essence’s power, bowed his head at the sight, reminiscent of a sunset.
“The essence of fire… the intervals between its bursts of power are growing shorter.”
It must be calling for its original master.
But Kaiman was not one to easily relinquish what had fallen into his hands.
“We’ll need more sacrifices.”
Elemental stones or artifacts to neutralize its power, or people with traits like water or ice.
Kaiman gazed coldly at the spot where the elemental stones that had once surrounded the essence of fire had melted away without leaving even a trace of mana.
“Family head…”
Kaiman, mixing the red mana scattered by the essence in midair with his fingertips as if he could grasp it from the void, shifted only his lowered gaze toward the man in black prostrated before him.
“You, who should be watching Adelrian. Why are you here?”
“My apologies… but a minor variable has arisen.”
This place was sealed with all magical energies cut off from the outside to prevent the mana waves from the essence from leaking out, which was why Kaiman had handed the family head’s ring to Adelrian.
Uncertain how the bloodline magic ring would react here.
Yet the utterly useless Adelrian, whom he’d meant to use merely as a ringholder, had shaken off the shadows and gone outside…
“Is that all?”
“As I said, just a minor variable…”
Seeing the shadow whose clothes were soaking through from the mana the essence emitted, with heat haze rising around him, Kaiman clicked his tongue softly.
That boy would never cause a major incident anyway, arrogant yet petty and empty-handed; he’d be too afraid of Kaiman himself to do anything drastic.
Most likely, lacking confidence, he’d gone out to indulge in pleasures, intoxicated by the empty title of acting family head.
At best, squandering money like water on booze, women, and gambling.
He wouldn’t become an obstacle to the greater cause.
‘And if he luckily dies, it might even be politically useful.’
That was nobility for you. In the end, it was a battle of pretexts.
Or overwhelming power.
“Leave him be.”
Kaiman traced the essence of fire with his eyes before flicking his fingers to dismiss the shadow, then parted his lips again.
“The ring can be recovered no matter where he dies.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Kaiman watched the retreating shadow before turning his gaze to capture the pulsating essence of fire in his eyes.
Hovering at the center, surrounded by countless mages, it moved slowly, like a small sun.
* * *
Maybe because I tossed and turned a bit before falling asleep.
I woke to a strangely chilly feeling, and the campfire had already gone out. Neither Kane nor Luna was in sight.
Peeking through the slightly open tent flap, it didn’t seem like very late morning.
‘Such diligent kids…’
Rubbing my eyes as I got up, I found the tent already packed away, leaving the surroundings fully visible.
On one side, Kane was shirtless, doing push-ups with one arm.
On the other, Luna was boiling something over a freshly lit campfire.
“Smells delicious…”
“I caught… a rabbit a little ways off…”
Ah… rabbit…
Without thinking, I glanced at Luna’s drooping ears before pulling a travel spice box from my subspatial storage and holding it out.
“Carrots too…”
“There’s already leafy stuff floating in the stew?”
“Mushrooms… and edible grass… there was a lot around… Still, carrots.”
Well, I’d bought a ton to feed to Luna anyway.
Habitually spinning the Krueger ring with a clink, I took out some carrots and handed them over, then sat nearby, staring blankly.
I’d wanted to buy subspatial artifacts for Kane and Luna too, but they were extremely rare items.
‘I thought since I got one right at the start, more would come easily…’
Thinking about it, even in Innocent Saga, the base inventory was small, and expansion items were few—maybe that reflected these subspatial artifacts?
Bubble bubble.
What should be called carrot stew rather than rabbit stew was finishing up right in front of me.
“Kane, stop and come here.”
In that short time, he must have worked his body hard; sweat dripped from him as he approached, steam rising from his body in the still-cool morning air.
I opened my codex and cast Clean magic, then tossed him a set of clothes.
“Pretty handy, aren’t you.”
“…I don’t like that look in your eyes?”
Feeling a bit Adel-mad right now?
I pulled out tableware from my subspatial storage, distributed it, and received the stew Luna ladled out like field rations, blowing on it lightly.
Wild herbs and mushrooms tickled my nose with a slightly bitter scent that masked any gamey smell, while the plentiful carrots and other vegetables added sweetness.
Blowing on it until the top cooled a bit and sipping, the lean rabbit meat made a light broth that clung perfectly to my tongue without greasiness.
“Luna, you’re a good cook.”
At my praise, Luna beamed happily.
Thanks to it simmering since before I woke, the meat was tender and fell cleanly from the bones.
The forest morning felt a touch chilly, but the hot broth warmed me up, bringing a light sweat later.
The mushrooms, plump with broth, burst with a crisp crunch—quite a decent meal.
Using Purification and Clean magic, I thought once more that I absolutely needed more charges on these two, then brushed off my clothes and stood.
“Shall we get moving now?”
“Yeah.”
“Yesss… sounds good.”
Cawww!
As we prepared to leave Sl Village, a crow perched on a distant tree took flight toward the west.
Stretching, I asked if they’d slept well last night, patted the horse’s body, mounted up, and took the reins.
“Then, back to Nowel by the western road.”
“That place… the food at that house was yummy…”
Luna was learning the truth that leftovers from Sl were a bonus.
I nodded once, tugged the reins to turn the horse back the way we’d come, and glanced at what remained of Kane’s ruined village.
‘Then… I’ll return your son as perfectly as possible…’
Someday, when Kane finished everything and retired, he’d probably come back here.
That’s the kind of protagonist I’d seen.
* * *
“Young master… how about this?”
Since we were in Nowel, Luna suggested adding a backup weapon, so we came to the weapon shop… but…
I looked at the hand crossbow in Luna’s pale hand and chuckled softly.
“Luna.”
“Yesss…?”
I know myself well.
I know this body well.
“Do you really think… that if I were covering from behind with that, I wouldn’t end up sticking it in your or Kane’s back?”
Blink blink.
Seeing Kane gesture for her to drop it quick, Luna hung the hand crossbow back on the wall.
My head knows it’s the right choice, but why does my heart feel disappointed?
Can’t I shoot arrows properly?
“Kane… what about this? You could use it, right?”
Unable to let go of her lingering attachment now that we were here, Luna turned to tempting Kane.
A small dart, small enough to hide in the palm. A set of twenty…
It came with harnesses or garters for concealing on the inner thigh or elsewhere.
“I could use it, but no need.”
“When you need to throw something… you gonna throw your longsword?”
“If it comes to that, I can strategically use objects around me.”
Seeing Kane resist, claiming the pommel behind the longsword’s blade could detach, made me want to side with Luna for no reason.
Should’ve behaved normally. You two ganged up on me plenty—payback.
“Why not? It’d be handy. Now you can peel apples yourself. Proper husband material.”
“Pfft…”
You probably missed the maids coming with me.
Kane shot me a what-are-you-doing glare, but I pretended not to notice, bought the dart set and accessories outright, and handed them to him.
Luna was satisfied she could coordinate as she wanted; I was satisfied Kane and Luna were getting closer.
Kane would be satisfied with the new weapon. Or not.
“More todayy?”
Today too, the cat clerk at the magic tower greeted us.
“Somehow. Anyway, I’ll be using Purification magic and Clean pretty often, so top them up fully? Leave about ten slots.”
Such a plump figure…
I handed my codex to the clerk’s soft, fluffy paw.
My recent spending spree must have cycled back through the tower—its fur gleamed subtly…
Browsing artifacts and scrolls on one side, I casually asked Luna and Kane if anything caught their eye, but both shook their heads.
Well, they would’ve bought what they needed on the first visit.
“High-quality codexy. About 190 spells loaded iny.”
Now I wouldn’t have to worry about hygiene even holed up in the labyrinth for a while.
I stored the codex floating lightly toward me in my small subspatial pocket and looked at the cat clerk waving its soft paws in greeting.
Such a rare visual…
Considering the side effect of reduced buoyancy from the floating trait, maybe check it out.
As I pondered briefly, the clerk scurried inside at someone calling from the back.
“Well. Shall we head to the warp gate now.”
No need to waste time here; better go straight to the labyrinth city.
‘Plus, there are plenty of items available there.’
Gamers would know: labyrinth content usually rewards per floor.
Enemies get tougher deeper down, but conversely, early on with lower levels, it’s great for clearing moderate floors and grabbing small items.
How would that play out in reality?
‘And honestly, I’m aiming for something besides the labyrinth dungeon.’
Knowing the original story and the game means I get the gains, right?
“To Labirin.”
Grinning at the thought of the secret dungeon, I told the gate attendant our destination, but Luna eyed me anxiously.
“Why?”
“You’re not… gonna smash something again, right?”
“W-what are you talking about.”
The gate attendant tensed at the mention of smashing. Gates were expensive artifacts, after all.
No, I don’t want to leave a wastrel image here too. I gave Luna’s suspicious look an awkward smile.
“Your face… it’s exactly the face you make when smashing magic stones…”
“…Please step in, sir.”
The attendant urged me on with a more tense face.
Don’t you remember I sided with you earlier and bought the weapon?
Grumbling like I’d raised a tiger instead of a rabbit, I stepped into the warp gate rippling like glowing water.
As expected, a subtly cool sensation, eyes closed and open.
“Prrrff…”
“Hmm…”
“Ugh… I feel sick…”
But the others weren’t so lucky.
The horses, having experienced it once, didn’t vomit anymore, but they still staggered a bit, and Kane and Luna looked unwell.
“…Impressive.”
Rabes, boasting beautiful coastal views.
Nowel, with its mountains, cliffs, and dense forests.
Unlike those, Labyrinth City Labirin felt like a well-developed modern city.
Lower mountains than Nowel in the distance, and the densest crowds since arriving here.
Everyone armed, and the most diverse races.
A quick look around made my eyes spin from the complexity.
“Ow… my eyes are spinning…”
Luna shook her head a few times, then pressed her ears with both hands, covering her eyes tightly.
And far off, a massive central tower.
Magic engineering towers like mage towers and alchemy towers up top, and below, the labyrinth dungeon stretching 99 floors.
‘Plus right now, a secret dungeon whose clear method only I know besides…’
I glanced sideways at Kane.
This time, it was the stage I’d open to push him into.