Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The 35th Summoned (1)
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“The Orb of Wishes costs one billion Reta—no, this batch of summoned uses Jewels, right? Anyway, the price should be the same, so isn't that a reasonable condition?”
Misha spoke with a confident smile, but the unsettling feeling didn't go away.
First, there was the question of whether her information—that destroying the Crystal Tablet would grant ten billion contribution points—was true.
Even though I was in the 50s floors, the most contribution points I'd ever received for completing a lord's quest was only in the hundred thousands.
I was expecting the reward for winning the emperor-hosted martial arts tournament to be somewhere between one and ten million points. Ten billion was just too much.
Second was Misha's identity.
It might be a different story if she were a duke, but it was suspicious that someone who had given up on the 81st floor would know such a thing.
“The reward is tempting, but I don't trust you. How did you obtain this information?”
“I heard it from a colleague. One of my colleagues was a Pioneer, just like you, Mr. Hyeon-ung.”
Could it be the same person who was the lord's Pioneer friend?
In any case, if the source of the information was another summoned, its credibility dropped.
“So you’re not certain.”
“No, the information is solid. If you find it hard to believe me, you can always confirm it with the lord later.”
…?
She wanted me to destroy a monument in the lord's castle, yet she was telling me to ask the lord about it.
That was as good as announcing my intentions to destroy it.
“Wasn't I supposed to destroy the Crystal Tablet without the lord knowing?”
“Actually, destroying the Crystal Tablet itself is harder than infiltrating the castle. The lord won't be too wary anyway, since it's likely beyond your current capabilities, Mr. Hyeon-ung.”
“Beyond my capabilities?”
That sounded like she was underestimating me.
Even now, wearing only one piece of my original gear—my boots—my stats alone easily surpassed level one thousand.
Of course, the previous Pioneers were all formidable in their own right, but I didn't consider myself inferior to them.
“A friend of mine, the Pioneer from our batch, tried before but couldn't break it. The lord was different back then, but it was such a famous incident that the current lord should know about it too.”
So someone had already tried.
The information's credibility rose slightly, but I still wasn't keen on the idea.
“I understand the gist of it, but what can you give me if I help you?”
Even if I really could get ten billion contribution points for destroying the Crystal Tablet, that would be a reward for my actions, not a reward from Misha.
“I can provide you with information about the Labyrinth, which will help you grow stronger and progress faster, Mr. Hyeon-ung.”
“That’s not a very tempting offer.”
Information about the Labyrinth wouldn't hurt, but honestly, I'd be fine without it.
I was confident in my abilities, and I had companions more reliable than anyone else.
Besides, I could get the Orb of Wishes by successfully clearing the 100th floor anyway.
“Pardon?”
“I believe there isn't a single summoned stronger than me right now.”
“…Don’t you have other summoned friends you’re close to? If you destroy the Crystal Tablet, you could become a hero to them.”
“I don’t particularly care for fame.”
I may be a former YouTuber and don't consider myself an introvert, but that doesn't mean I'm an attention-seeker.
“It’s not just about fame. Haven’t you seen how many of the summoned are dying because of the excessive taxes?”
Uh, well, I heard about it during the orientation, but I hadn't seen it myself.
I had arrived in Elsia after the tax collection period.
“I find it unfortunate, but what can be done? Besides, wouldn't you say that among the summoned, more people want to go home than want freedom here?”
Just thinking about the members of the Golden Lion Guild, they were all living with the sole purpose of returning home.
“…You only say that because you don't know the Labyrinth. Most of the summoned haven't even reached the 50th floor, let alone the 100th. You'll realize it as you climb higher. Clearing the 100th floor of the Labyrinth is an impossible feat.”
She spoke so pessimistically for someone who gave up on the 81st floor.
“I don't think I can help you.”
No matter how I looked at it, there was no merit in betraying the lord.
“That’s fine. I’ll be waiting.”
Waiting?
“You think this way because you've only reached the 52nd floor, Mr. Hyeon-ung. I believe you'll change your mind once you climb a little higher. When you do, please come find me again.”
Next time I go to the Labyrinth, I should call Bio and ask him.
A guy who comes and goes from the Labyrinth as he pleases might know something about the 81st floor.
“Well then…”
“As compensation for my mistake today, I'll give you this.”
I was just about to bring it up when Misha pulled a small ring from her pocket.
I was startled.
A faint golden light emanated from the ring.
First, she offered a mere 300 gold, and now she was giving me a legendary item?
“What are you scheming?”
“Ah, I wasn't trying to lowball you at first. This is a token of my appreciation for your time and a gesture of goodwill for the future. A sort of bribe? So I hope you feel a little obligated.”
****
Six days had already passed since my rest period began.
I had originally planned to do some sightseeing in the city during this break, but after my meeting with Misha, I rarely left Kavisa.
The only times I went out were for a couple of meals with Brother Tae-soo.
The reason I’d become a shut-in was to sort out my thoughts.
I opened my inventory and took out the item I received from Misha.
I had accepted the item.
She called it a bribe, but no fool would refuse a legendary item.
[Athena's Fate (Legendary)
A ring imbued with the power of a foreign god known as the goddess of wisdom and war.
Strength +40, Agility +40, Magic +40, Luck +40, Vitality +40
Special Effects
Goddess's Shield
—Summons a divine shield that can perfectly block any single attack. (Cooldown: 7 days)
Goddess's Wisdom
—Immunity to all curses and status effects. (Always active, only effective against enemies with lower magic stat than the wearer.)]
Compared to the other legendary items I had acquired so far, it wasn't the best, but it was certainly on a different level from Unique-grade items.
It boosted my stats by a total of 200, and unlike cloaks or weapons, I could wear up to ten rings.
But I hadn't equipped it yet.
I considered the possibility of it being stolen, but I planned to show it to Bio in the Labyrinth and use it only after confirming it was safe.
It could be an item with a hidden trap, like that instant-death necklace from before.
This item was also the reason for my prolonged deliberation.
At first, I didn't give much weight to Misha's information, but if she was willing to casually hand over an item like this, her offer might be more useful than I thought.
Of course, she might have given it to me precisely to make me think that…
After nearly five days of contemplation, I had a general direction, but I wasn't firmly set on one path.
If, as Misha said, the upper floors of the Labyrinth were truly impossible to clear, then destroying the Crystal Tablet might be the easier option.
The idea of giving the angels who dragged me here a taste of their own medicine was also quite appealing.
It would be nice to discuss this with someone, but this was one matter I couldn't.
Even when I had dinner with Brother Tae-soo, I didn't mention my encounter with Misha.
While I believed her words had some credibility, they weren't certain.
She had also talked as if clearing the Labyrinth was impossible.
I decided there was no need to bring negativity to people who were striving toward the goal of returning home.
I also couldn't rule out the possibility that Brother Tae-soo or the other Golden Lion guild members might act rashly and try to destroy the Crystal Tablet right away, leading to disaster.
“Poyo! Poyo!”
“Kkyuing!”
Nix and the Gold Dragon playfully flew over to my side.
The legendary ring was on my palm, right in front of the Gold Dragon, but it showed no interest.
This lack of reaction to a legendary item seemed to confirm that it had stopped eating equipment because of an upcoming reward, not because it had developed a more refined palate.
It didn't even glance at the Boots of Enhancement it had coveted so much.
I hadn't spent the last five days just thinking; I had also posted on the community board and purchased Blessed Armor Enhancement Scrolls.
Unfortunately, the results weren't great.
As the enhancement level increased, the success rate must have dropped, because I used about 120 scrolls and only succeeded nine times.
I wonder what it will give me.
Only three or four days left now.
I fed Nix magic and the Gold Dragon gold.
“Buurp!”
“Poyo! Poyo!”
Both of them, full and satisfied, flopped down on the bed.
I had to get up now. A pet’s life is the best life.
“Don't make too much of a mess, and have fun. I'll be back tomorrow.”
I stroked each of them once before leaving the room.
Today was finally the day the 35th batch of summoned would arrive.
A day or two ago, Brother Tae-soo had visited and showed me an official notice from the lord's castle, explaining that a few things had changed.
Fortunately, the changes didn't involve me personally conducting the training or having to participate in every new orientation from now on.
Instead, for this time only, I had to participate from the escort to the completion of the training and was required to stay at the new arrivals' lodgings for at least twelve hours a day until the training was over.
What kind of condition was this? Apparently, since the orientation was being held under the pretext of a Pioneer training new arrivals, the Pioneer had to be present.
The notice also mentioned the possibility of surprise inspections.
Seeing as this notice arrived even after I had spoken to the lord, the steward must really dislike me.
I thought about bringing Nix and the Gold Dragon, but since I didn't have to be there permanently, twelve hours was short enough for me to pop in and check on them.
After a twenty-minute walk, I arrived at the northern outer castle and saw some familiar faces.
It was Brother Tae-soo and four other Golden Lion Guild executives I recognized.
“Oh, Hyeon-ung, you’re here?”
“Hello, everyone.”
“Welcome, my young brother. Have you eaten?”
“Yes, I ate before I came. I’m a little late.”
“Not at all. The knights haven’t arrived yet.”
Brother Tae-soo had already applied for and received permission for me to leave, but I heard we couldn't depart until the lord's knights arrived to escort us out of the castle.
“By the way, my young brother, why did you walk?”
“I’m so used to walking that I forgot.”
There was a rule against summoning mounts within Kramis.
That was because mounts weren't limited to just horses.
However, on days like today when we were escorting new arrivals, it was permitted with prior approval.
“Red.”
At my call, a red light flashed, and a crimson horse, one and a half times larger than the others, appeared.
“That’s huge and magnificent.”
“The color is amazing, red from head to tail.”
Receiving envious glances, I patted its neck a couple of times and swung myself onto its back.
“It looks just like the Red Hare from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”
“That's the one.”
“Red Hare? Then don't tell me this horse is Unique-grade too?”
I nodded, and everyone was utterly astonished.
“How much did you pay for it?”
“Did you get it through synthesis?”
“Haha… I pushed myself a bit, and I was lucky.”
They all looked so envious that I couldn't bring myself to say I got it for free.
After about ten minutes, four mounted knights approached from inside the castle.
“I am Kasat, Captain of the Kramis Knight Order. Who is in charge of the new summoned?”
“I am the guild master of the Golden Lion Guild.”
“Right. The Pioneer has also arrived… I assume that’s you.”
It was our first meeting, but he seemed to have identified me as the Pioneer by my horse, which was distinctly different from the others.
He looked at me, so I gave a brief nod of my head as a greeting, and he approached.
Did I not bow low enough?
I thought he was about to reprimand me, but he smiled warmly and extended a hand.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you from the lord. A truly remarkable individual. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Haha, you’re too kind. The lord thinks too highly of me. It’s a pleasure to meet you too.”
It seemed the captain of the knights was on the lord's side, not the steward's.
After a brief explanation that the captain and one knight would take the lead while the other two would bring up the rear, and that we were not to deviate from the path, we rode out of the castle gates together.
I rode alongside Brother Tae-soo, but it wasn't as easy as I'd thought.
“It seems even our talented young brother, who excels at everything, isn't used to riding.”
“Haha… no one’s perfect at everything.”
The problem wasn't horse riding itself, but rather that Red kept trying to speed up, making it difficult to control.
Fortunately, the knights ahead soon came to a halt.
“Are we here already?”
The first time I came, it felt quite far, taking about an hour, but that must have been because I was walking.
“Yes. We just have to wait about ten minutes.”
Brother Tae-soo replied, looking at the pocket watch attached to his clothes.
I had heard during dinner the other day that the new arrivals wouldn't be summoned right in front of us but within a two-kilometer radius of this spot.
Since we were on a hill, a two-kilometer range should be well within our line of sight.
Just as Brother Tae-soo said, after about ten minutes, a blue light flashed in a distant clearing.
“Looks like it’s over there.”
We spurred our horses toward the light.
This time, there were no instructions to maintain formation, so I picked up the pace.
Thanks to that, I was the first to arrive… huh?
There were more people than I expected.
I remembered our batch being slightly under a hundred, but a quick glance told me there were well over a hundred people here now.
But the reason for my surprise wasn't just the number of people…
“My young brother, you’re really fa—?”
Brother Tae-soo, who arrived a moment later, and the other Golden Lion executives and the lord's knights who followed, all looked utterly stunned as they saw the newly summoned.