Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Community
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Two and a half hours have passed since I returned to the city from the labyrinth.
I don't have a watch, but I can tell because people have started appearing in flashes of white light in the now slightly less crowded plaza.
Just as we entered in 30-minute intervals, we exit the labyrinth in the same order, with a 30-minute gap between groups.
They must be the last ones.
Honestly, I wasn't too worried at first… No, I was actually looking forward to it.
Even if they're one of the two pillars of the Guild Alliance, I was sure there'd be a backlash if they tried to freely inspect every summoner's status window.
I thought that even if it wasn't a full-blown riot, a commotion might give me a chance to slip away in the chaos. But I was wrong.
There was no resistance at all.
Turns out, you can configure it to show only certain parts when you give consent.
“We'll only be checking the achievements section, so we ask for your cooperation.”
…Seeing them check only the achievements confirmed it for me.
The Golden Lion Guild is looking for the person who took the Pioneer title.
“What’s with all the people today?”
“And what’s with that line?”
“Oh, you? You went in a slot before us. Why aren’t you home yet?”
“The Golden Lion Guild is running a security check. They said they're looking for someone…”
“What kind of heinous criminal are they looking for to check every single person here?”
I’m not a heinous criminal…
“My point exactly. The cost of the scrolls alone must be insane. And even for an allied guild, making us reveal our status windows is a bit much…”
“They say you only have to show your achievements. If you want to eat dinner at home tonight, you’d better get in line.”
There are still a lot of people, but as the crowd thins, I feel my heart sink with it.
I unequipped my gear in a crowded spot so I wouldn't stand out and tried to look like a beginner, but that won't help me avoid the inspection.
I’ve been wracking my brain for nearly two and a half hours, but I’ve got nothing.
I thought about using Red Hare's Thousand-Mile Gallop skill, but summoning Red Hare in a place with this many people?
There’s no way I wouldn't be noticed.
And then to suddenly disappear?
That would be no different from confessing, ‘Ahem, I’m the culprit who stole the title.’
As I was pondering, a group of people suddenly passed through the checkpoint and moved inside.
“We know the inspections are slow and causing frustration, so we’ve increased our personnel. Those who want to get home quickly, come to us.”
“Once we confirm there are no issues, we’ll stamp your hand, and you can show it to leave.”
The two men at the front shouted to advertise, and then ten members of the Golden Lion Guild spread out and began the inspections.
The line started moving much faster than before.
*Haa*, my lips feel dry.
At this rate, I’m really going to get caught… huh?
Some people are getting their hands stamped just by showing their IDs.
I wondered if they were acquaintances, but why would you check an acquaintance's ID?
Besides, could they really know that many people?
Curious about what they were saying, I moved closer. Unbelievable…
“I told you to speak up if you’re from the 33rd batch!”
“S-Sorry.”
“Sorry my ass, the cost of the scroll… Forget it, just get lost. Yeong-cheol, didn’t you make the announcement properly?”
“Ah, my apologies. Everyone from the 30th batch or higher, please state it when you present your ID. If you fail to do so and we waste an inspection scroll on you, you will be charged for it.”
…?
If only they’d said so a little earlier.
What a waste of time.
Newcomers arrive here exactly once a month.
The 30th batch would be in their fifth month, so they must have decided there’s no need to check anyone that far along.
I’m relieved, but also feel a sense of futility.
If I’d known that the 30th batch and above got a free pass, I would’ve left long ago.
I approached the nearest inspector, handed him my ID, and said I was from the 34th batch. He glanced at my attire and stamped my hand without a word.
“*Haa*, how much longer do we have to do this?”
“Tell me about it. What the hell is a Pioneer that they’re going to these lengths to find them?”
Thankful to be a newbie, I passed through the checkpoint.
When I got back to Kabisa, I saw a familiar face at the entrance.
“Oh? Sir Hyeon-ung, you’ve returned. You were late, so I was quite worried something bad might have happened.”
It was Luke, the guy who’d been rude to me but got lucky and received a 10-gold tip.
Giving him 10 gold was my mistake, but thinking about it now, it feels like such a waste.
“Really?”
“Of course, I mean it. Did I perhaps do something to offend you, Sir Hyeon-ung…?”
“I paid for a month in advance, so wouldn’t it be a gain for Kabisa if I didn’t show up?”
“Come on, Kabisa isn’t mine. Why would I care about the inn’s profits? Besides, you gave me such a generous tip. It’s only proper for a person to wish for the well-being of a benefactor, wouldn’t you agree?”
It might just be flattery because of the money he got, but it wasn’t bad to hear.
“Enough with the brown-nosing. Just have a meal sent up to my room in about 30 minutes.”
Food in my inventory lasts for three days.
Some items might last a day or two longer, but after that, they start to spoil, meaning I’d have to survive on jerky and rations for the rest of the time.
“Pardon? You’ll be dining in your room again today?”
He’s been bringing food to my room all this time. Did they get rid of room service?
“Is that a problem?”
“Today is the day the summoners return from the labyrinth, so we’re having a party here at Kabisa. We’re roasting a whole cow and having a whole hog barbecue.”
I’m tired. Who has the energy for a party?
“I’ll pass, so just…”
“Guests staying in the special suites and above can attend the VIP party on the rooftop lounge. We’ve even brought in three chefs from the lord’s castle. The food and drinks are all free…”
The word “free” tempted me for a moment, but I decided it was better not to go.
The fact that the Golden Lion Guild was looking for me earlier also weighed on my mind.
“I’m not interested.”
“Ah, you must be very tired. How thoughtless of me… I’ll have the food sent up as you requested.”
I nodded and went up to my room.
Though I’d been gone for ten days, the room was spotless, just as it had been when I first arrived.
The bedding seemed to have been washed, and the towels on the shelf next to the bathroom were fluffy and new.
Truly the finest high-end inn.
Then again, look how much I paid.
It would have been better if this was the modern world, but since magic exists, it’s not too inconvenient.
I was going to take a quick shower but decided to draw a bath instead.
Soaking in the hot water felt like it was melting away all my fatigue.
I felt drowsy, and sleep was creeping in.
I was about to close my eyes for a moment when a knock on the door woke me up.
The food must be here.
I rinsed off quickly, put on a robe, and opened the door to find Luke smiling brightly.
Next to him was a cart laden with food.
“You brought this yourself?”
Wasn’t Luke a guard?
“Everyone’s busy with the party preparations, so I thought it would be delayed. I figured you’d be waiting, so I brought it myself…”
He’s really laying it on thick.
“Is that so? I’m still washing up, so just leave the food and go.”
“Ah, well, we don’t normally offer the party food for room service, but since you’re a long-term guest, I made a special request and brought a few extra dishes. I also brought a bottle of wine…”
Now that I looked, the cart was indeed packed to the brim, unlike before.
“Wait a moment.”
After all this, it would be too much not to give him a tip.
I took a 1-gold coin from my inventory and handed it to Luke.
“Oh, Sir Hyeon-ung, I was truly acting out of the kindness of my heart…”
Yeah, right.
“If you don’t want it, then fine.”
His face fell as I started to pull my hand back.
He’s built like a mountain. He should just take it when it’s offered.
“Sir Hyeon-ung, no… I mean…”
“Don’t play coy next time.”
I tossed him the gold coin, and he caught it deftly with a grin.
“Understood. If you need anything else in the future, please don’t hesitate to call for Luke. I’ll come running, even if I have to wake up from my sleep.”
I nodded and sent him on his way.
I considered getting back in the bath, but I figured the food would get cold, so I decided to eat first.
The bread and soup were the usual fare, and the medium-rare steak was also a frequent menu item.
The special party dish was some kind of meat with a green sauce on it.
It looked strange, but the taste was superb.
It seemed like lamb, but there was no gamey smell at all. It was much tenderer than the steak, and the sauce was a work of art.
There was something similar to pork ribs, and oh, pulled pork, too.
The food at Kabisa was already decent, but the chefs from the lord’s castle were clearly on another level.
The wine was also quite delicious. It made me think that maybe I should have just gone to the party, but enjoying it in the comfort of my room was better.
After devouring the food, I took a sip of wine and collapsed onto the bed.
This world doesn’t have fabric softener, so there was no particular scent, but there was no unpleasant smell either.
Soft, fluffy… is this not what heaven is?
It’s not like I couldn’t sleep in the labyrinth.
I could just ask my party members to keep watch.
But sleeping on the hard floor of the labyrinth was completely different from a plush bed like this.
There was no psychological pressure, either.
The wine must have been stronger than I thought, as I felt sleepiness wash over me.
My plan was to rest well today and start moving tomorrow anyway.
I was about to close my eyes when I remembered something I had to take care of today.
I thought of the Summoner’s Shop, and my vision shifted to a green meadow where the bespectacled Summoner’s Shop assistant appeared.
“Sir Hyeon-ung, it’s been a while.”
“The shop is inaccessible inside the labyrinth.”
“That’s right. What can I help you with today?”
“I’d like to purchase an item.”
The VIP daily login rewards had run out five days into my labyrinth expedition.
[You have claimed the Day 10 VIP Daily Login Reward (10,000 Gold, 10,000 Jewels).]
I wasn’t expecting a full 30 days, but most games give you at least two weeks. I thought it was a bit stingy, but Elsia was generous.
[A purchase is required to reset the VIP Daily Login Rewards. Please use Jewels in the Summoner’s Shop.]
“Oh, what kind of item are you looking for? A companion draw? An equipment draw? A mount draw? We also have various consumables and scrolls available.”
“What’s the cheapest thing you have?”
It didn’t specify how much I had to spend, so I asked with the intention of buying the cheapest thing. The cat-like fellow looked a little disappointed.
Does he get a commission for selling more?
“The cheapest item is the 10-Jewel… no, the 5-Jewel Gift Set of Sweets.”
A gift set of sweets?
A system window appeared before me.
[Gift Set of Sweets]
[A gift set of sweets made by the master confectioner Tak Kim of an ancient empire.]
[It has no special effects, but it's said to be so delicious, you wouldn't even notice if the person eating with you dropped dead.]
[Price: 5 Jewels]
If two people die and don't notice, doesn’t that mean it’s poisoned?
My standards have gotten higher, but even considering that, this was a completely useless piece of junk.
I wanted to buy something more useful, but the next cheapest item was 50 Jewels, and I didn’t need that either, so I bought one.
[You have purchased the Gift Set of Sweets.]
[You have made your first purchase in the Summoner’s Shop.]
[VIP Daily Login Rewards have been reset. You can claim the Day 1 reward starting tomorrow.]
I was worried I might have to spend more than the 55,000 Jewels I had received as a reward, but this worked.
If the rewards are the same as last time, that’s 54,950 Jewels every 10 days, which amounts to about 2 million Jewels a year.
It’s practically a perpetual motion machine, but…
Honestly, considering the price of the Orb of Wishes, it doesn’t mean much.
The first time I used the Summoner’s Shop was during the basic training period, so I just received my perks and left. But the second time, I asked to see the Orb of Wishes.
With 100 million Jewels, I thought I might be able to buy it outright, but the price was truly absurd.
“Show me the Orb of Wishes.”
“Understood.”
The system window that had been showing the gift set changed.
[Orb of Wishes.]
[A mysterious orb containing the power to grant any wish.]
[Price: 1,000,000,000 Jewels]
Saving 2 million a year, it would take 500 years to collect 1 billion.
The price is unrealistic, but it’s not entirely impossible.
It’s known that the first summoner to clear the 100th floor will receive 1 billion Jewels.
“You can make it disappear now.”
“Yes.”
I had it removed before I got too depressed looking at it.
“Is there anything else you need, Sir Hyeon-ung?”
“That’s all… Oh!”
I was about to say I was leaving when I remembered one more thing I needed to check.
“I heard the community feature becomes available at level 20. Is that right?”
“Yes, that is correct.”