Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Orb of Wishes (1)
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“Hyeon-ung?”
“Together, outside the Labyrinth?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Everyone looked startled.
“What do you mean? It's exactly as I said. I think we can be together outside the Labyrinth, too...”
“I'd love that!”
“Me too.”
“I'd like that too.”
“Hyeon-ung, I want to see a human city too!”
Hanna, Rina, Timi, and Elaine were the quickest to answer.
“Could you take me with you as well?”
Alpen also reacted positively, but Milli tilted her head.
“We can go outside the Labyrinth? Arte said that was impossible.”
Arte?
Ah, I think that was the administrator of Milli's district in the Sanctuary.
Like Bio.
“Oh, now that you mention it, I think I've heard something like that too.”
Hanna agreed with Milli.
“So it's not possible? Mister, you got my hopes up for nothing...”
Rina grumbled with a sullen expression.
The other companions didn't say anything, but they looked equally disappointed.
“In principle, it's impossible. But our little Geum-yong brought a very nice gift this time.”
“Kkyu!”
I took out the Orb of Wishes(S) that I had carefully stored in a corner of my inventory.
“Hyeon-ung, isn't that an Orb of Wishes?”
Hanna seemed to recognize it.
“Have you seen one before?”
“No, not exactly, but I've heard a lot about them.”
“Yeah. It's a bit small, but it's an Orb of Wishes.”
All my companions' eyes grew wide.
“Really? I've heard of it. They say it's an absolute artifact that can grant any wish.”
“That's right. That's what I heard too.”
“You mean the thing Geum-yong brought was an Orb of Wishes?”
I nodded and stroked Geum-yong once.
“Kkyu!”
“But isn't this one too small?”
Everyone showed immense interest.
“Because it's smaller than a regular Orb of Wishes, it seems it can't grant every wish like a real one. But I heard that if I use this, I can go outside with you all.”
I had asked the helper before entering the Labyrinth and received confirmation.
“Wow! Then of course I want to go. I want to stay with you forever, Hyeon-ung.”
Timi said in a clingy tone, pressing against me.
“You vixen, stop putting your moves on Mister!”
“Everyone, calm down. You all want to go out, right?”
“Of course.”
“Is that even a question?”
“I'm curious about the city too.”
Not a single one of them failed to nod.
“But there are some restrictions.”
“Restrictions?”
****
The day of the Labyrinth departure, at the Summoner's Shop.
“Instead of a wish like that, can't I use this Orb of Wishes(S) to make it so companions who can only be summoned in the Labyrinth can also be summoned outside?”
“Huh? Hyeon-ung, you're not wishing to return home, but for something else?”
The helper looked completely surprised.
“Well. I'm not really interested.”
“Why not?”
I could write a book about my experiences here or share stories to get more subscribers.
If I could return with my current abilities, a successful life would be guaranteed, but that doesn't seem likely.
Even if I went back home, there's no family there to welcome me.
Of course, I'm not a shut-in who just stays cooped up in my room.
I have a few friends and my subscribers.
But I like Elsia, my companions, more.
Even if I had obtained a regular Orb of Wishes, I would have made the same wish.
“It's not just me; I doubt everyone would want to go back. So, could you just tell me if it's possible or not?”
“Pardon? What was...”
“I asked if I can use this to summon my companions outside.”
The helper asked for a moment and then disappeared.
Is it such a difficult request?
I waited for about 30 minutes, but she didn't reappear. Just as I was thinking I'd have to come back later, the helper showed up again.
“I'm sorry. You've been waiting long. This is the first time I've encountered a case like this, so I had to ask my superiors...”
“So, what's the answer?”
“It's possible. But there will be quite a few restrictions.”
Restrictions?
“It's a wish from an Orb of Wishes, and there are restrictions?”
“It's not a complete Orb of Wishes. Besides, if Hero-rank or higher companions were active outside the Labyrinth, it could bring great chaos to the world.”
“For example?”
“Um, if you were to use your companions to attack and kill a lord, or even start a rebellion, it would bring great chaos to this world.”
Ah, I understood immediately.
My other companions are one thing, but if Bio were to come out, there would be nothing he couldn't do.
I even wonder if Bio might be stronger than an angel.
“I understand, so just tell me the restrictions. Don't tell me something like powerful companions, Hero-rank and above, aren't allowed?”
That would make it meaningless.
I have Alpen, but most of my companions are Hero-rank or higher.
“Not Hero, but Legend-rank and higher companions cannot be summoned.”
That's a shame. Then I can't bring Bio.
“Also, even Hero-rank companions, when summoned outside, won't be able to use the powers they had in the Labyrinth.”
“Not at all?”
“Correct. Their pure physical strength. It will be limited to that of an ordinary adult. And outside, they won't be able to live without eating or sleeping like they do now.”
The power restriction is a bit of a downer, but the latter part is actually good.
I was always the only one eating.
Hmm, I'll have to talk to my companions, but since there are no battles outside the Labyrinth, it's not an incredibly harsh condition.
“That sounds acceptable.”
“There's one more restriction. You can only summon up to three at a time.”
“Three?”
“Yes. And once summoned, you can't unsummon them until you re-enter the Labyrinth and it resets.”
This could be a problem...
I was worried I'd be late for the Labyrinth. I decided I needed to talk it over with my companions first and left the Summoner's Shop.
****
As expected, no one seemed to mind the power restrictions.
Of course, that was because I told them there would be no danger outside.
However...
“Only three at a time?”
“Three is too few...”
“Mister, I'm going with you, right?”
“Hyeon-ung, I really want to go too.”
“Me too...”
They all looked at me with pleading eyes.
“So I thought, why don't we go out in groups of three, taking turns?”
I don't know how many more companions I'll have later, but for now, I have six: Hanna, Rina, Timi, Milli, Alpen, and Elaine.
Everyone nodded, but our Rina looked displeased.
“Do we really have to take Alpen? Mister, how about when it's Alpen's turn, I go instead...”
Such a greedy girl.
I thought today might pass peacefully for once.
“Rina, don't say that... Alpen wants to go too.”
Even if he's not much help in battle, the friendly Alpen, who takes good care of Geum-yong and Nix, is my companion too.
“We have no choice but to go in groups of three. The order will be...”
“Me, me, I'll go first.”
“Me first, too.”
“Me too.”
Oh, boy...
Once they go out, they can't go the next time, yet everyone is so eager.
It happened to be mealtime, so I told them to decide amongst themselves while I went to eat, and I stepped aside.
“I'm going!”
“No, I'm going first!”
“Hey, since when have you known Hyeon-ung to go first? There's a pecking order, you know.”
“Does the duration matter? We've built up a bond.”
“Elaine wants to go first too!”
Watching my companions bickering from a short distance, I felt both pleased and a little dizzy.
I had considered deciding myself, but it felt like I'd be ranking my companions, and some would inevitably be disappointed, so I intentionally left the choice to them.
I took out some dry rations and jerky from my inventory to stave off my hunger, and Alpen approached me.
“Alpen, have you decided already?”
“Uh... they told me to take whatever spot is left...”
“So that's how it is.”
It seems that being the only Rare-rank companion, he lost out in the power struggle.
“Yes. Um, so if it's possible, could I perhaps go out with Rina?”
“You want to go with Rina? Weren't you two on bad terms?”
“That's why I'm asking. You said we can't use our powers outside the Labyrinth like we do in here.”
“Right... you don't mean?”
Alpen nodded, and I was genuinely surprised.
Our Alpen, despite his innocent appearance, was a fearsome fellow.
It looked like he was planning to pay Rina back for all the abuse and contempt he'd endured outside the Labyrinth.
“I'd like to help, but I think it'll be difficult since so many of them want to be in the first group.”
“It doesn't have to be this time. I'll even give up my next turn if you could just help me a little, Hyeon-ung...”
This kid Alpen is serious.
Then again, Rina has been particularly harsh on Alpen.
The saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" comes to mind.
Of course, Alpen isn't a woman, but it's not like men have to generously forgive grudges either.
“If that's how you feel, what are you planning to do?”
If his retaliation was too excessive, I'd have to stop him.
“Do you know what my lifelong wish is?”
“What is it?”
“To flick Rina on the forehead just once.”
A... a flick on the forehead?
“Hyeon-ung? What's wrong?”
Alpen's expression was more serious than ever, but his wish was so cute and simple that I couldn't help but laugh.
I thought he'd at least say he wanted to break her legs or something...
“Just one flick, isn't that a bit... mild? Are you afraid of retaliation?”
“Huh? No. We're still companions, after all. Bullying her more than that would be wrong. I will, however, torment her a lot with words.”
Alpen is truly just like his appearance.
Kind and so cute.
“Alright. If that's all, I'll cooperate.”
“Hey, loser! Don't tell me you're asking Mister to let you go early?”
“N-no. I might arouse suspicion, so I'll be going now.”
After finishing my meal, I rejoined my companions.
“Hyeon-ung, we've decided the order.”
“Oh, really?”
I thought they'd only decide right before we had to leave, but they reached a conclusion faster than I expected.
“We decided fairly with rock-paper-scissors.”
It probably wasn't fair because of my dynamic visual acuity...
“So who's going this week?”
“Hyeon-ung, this time it's me, Elaine, and Milli.”
Timi answered, but something felt off.
Alpen and Rina were grouped together, which saved me some trouble, but just a moment ago, that girl Rina was making a scene about how she would absolutely go first.
It's strange that the greedy girl gave in.
Did she lose at rock-paper-scissors?
“I see. How did you decide?”
“We talked it over and arranged it.”
That's completely unexpected.
“Are you disappointed, Mister? But the break is short this time anyway.”
Ah, now that I think about it, it's the end of the month. When we leave the Labyrinth, the break is only one day.
“You're not planning to stick to this routine, are you?”
That would be too disadvantageous for the group going this time.
“Of course not. Then only their group would get to go out for 10 days at a time.”
“Elaine isn't stupid.”
Anyway, I'm glad it worked out as Alpen wished.
“By the way, Mister, she's not human. Will that be okay?”
Rina pointed at Elaine.
“Huh? You're right.”
Her appearance isn't much different from a human's, but she has horns, so the residents might be surprised to see her.
“I'm on good terms with the lord, so it should be fine.”
He was already favorable towards me, and I earned even more goodwill by delivering the Harpy Queen's news and letter.
It probably won't be a problem.
****
Before I knew it, it was the 10th day in the Labyrinth.
After receiving the Harpy Queen's letter, I hunted some Hypoeres, but stopped as closing time was approaching.
As always, everyone gathered and was chatting away when the Labyrinth began to shake slightly.
“Looks like it's about time.”
“Maybe I should have just gone first?”
Rina looked regretful.
“No changing it now.”
My companions were always disappointed to leave, but this time, the situation was a little different.
Rina, Hanna, and Alpen were the same as before, but Elaine, Timi, and Milli, whom I'd be meeting outside, had incredibly bright expressions.
“Hyeon-ung, you'll summon us as soon as you get there, right?”
“Yes. Say it two more times and it'll be over a hundred.”
“I'm just so excited.”
I decided to use the Orb of Wishes and summon them as soon as I got back to my lodging.
“Don't be so disappointed, Rina. We get to be together for 10 whole days.”
“Right? Mister, be careful of that vixen's flirting...”
Rina's words were cut off as my vision shifted.
The plaza where I had entered the Labyrinth.
Other summoners were being summoned one by one.
[You are currently ranked 1st among surviving summoners for reaching the lowest floor of the Kramis Labyrinth. You have acquired the title: Pioneer.]
[You have acquired a Random Item Box.]
This time, the break was only one day, so I tried to move quickly, but huh?
Soldiers in silver armor were surrounding the outskirts of the plaza.