Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Orb of Wishes (2)
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As I got closer, it seemed like they were conducting some sort of inspection.
“Is it the Golden Lion Guild again?”
“No, aren’t those the lord’s private soldiers?”
All the Summoners looked flustered.
Wondering what was going on, I was about to approach when I sensed someone behind me.
“Don’t go that way.”
I turned my head to see someone in a large hood... Huh? A familiar face.
His name was... Kasat, wasn't it?
He was the Knight Commander I had met when I went to pick up the 35th batch of Summoners.
But unlike usual, he was wearing a plain gray robe.
“Do you remember my face?”
“Aren’t you the Knight Commander?”
“That’s a relief.”
“Those men over there are the domain’s soldiers, right? What’s going on...”
“Shh. All forces are currently searching for you.”
“What? Me? Why...”
“An imperial envoy arrived at the domain yesterday.”
An imperial envoy?
“Why would an imperial envoy be looking for me...”
“How should I know? Let’s move first and I’ll explain later. I’ve come to help you under the lord’s orders.”
I couldn’t grasp what was happening, but if he came under the lord’s orders, it seemed he was here to help, so I followed him.
The place we arrived at was south of the square.
Soldiers were conducting inspections here as well, but they seemed to be the Knight Commander’s direct subordinates, so we passed through easily.
“This way. Follow me.”
The path grew narrower.
I thought we were near the back alleys, but it seemed we were heading in a different direction.
The Knight Commander walked with a familiar gait, then opened the door of a small, red brick house on the left.
“Come in. The lord is waiting.”
The lord left the castle?
I followed the Knight Commander inside to find another door.
Knock, knock—
“My lord, it is Kasat. As you commanded, I have brought the Pioneer.”
The door opened, and the lord truly appeared.
“Oh, you’ve done well. Kasat, please stand guard.”
“Understood.”
The interior felt like an ordinary home, the kind commonly seen in Elsia.
“It’s fortunate you met Kasat first. You truly have good luck.”
“My lord, for you to come outside the castle... what is going on? The Commander mentioned something about an imperial envoy...”
“That damned butler reported you.”
Reported me?
The lord frowned and slowly explained the situation.
To summarize it in one line, it was because of the shoes I had received from him before.
Apparently, the butler, who had been holding a grudge, finally submitted a petition to the emperor.
That's why the envoy came. The official reason was to scout talents participating in the martial arts tournament, but in reality, he was after my shoes.
I had expected it to some extent, but it seems the emperor is also some kind of minion of the angels.
“Then the shoes... what about them?”
Surely he's not asking for them back?
I spent a fortune on them...
“You’re wearing them now. It doesn’t matter inside the Labyrinth, but when you’re outside, take them off and store them in your inventory. Even the empire can’t search every Summoner’s inventory.”
“Will that be enough?”
“My superiors might give me a hard time, but it doesn’t matter. Not even the emperor has the authority to dismiss me.”
Seeing the lord grin made me feel reassured.
The lord is definitely on my side.
“Understood. And...”
“By any chance, a reply for Alice...?”
“I was just about to give it to you.”
From my coat, I took out a very thick letter and two small crystal orbs.
“A reply... and what are these crystal orbs?”
“One is empty, and the other is a video recording crystal orb containing an image of Lady Alice.”
“A video recording crystal orb?”
“The two of you may not be able to meet, but with a video recording crystal orb, you can capture and show each other your appearances, so I prepared them.”
“...I never would have thought of something like this... I am deeply indebted to you.”
The lord looked truly moved.
“Didn’t you also take my side, my lord? It’s nothing special.”
“Not at all. I know the Mage Tower doesn’t sell such items. Did you not buy this from the Summoner’s Shop?”
Just as the lord said, the video recording crystal orb wasn't an item sold at the Mage Tower, but at the Summoner’s Shop.
The price was 100 Jewels per orb.
It could store about ten minutes of video.
I felt sorry for their situation, and I prepared it believing that both the lord and Alice would repay me with something more.
To be honest, I wouldn't feel it was a waste even if they didn't repay me.
I've already received ample reward from Alice, and while 200 Jewels might be expensive for an ordinary Summoner, to me, it's practically pocket change.
“Compared to the kindness you’ve shown me, my lord, this is nothing.”
If I had been wearing the Boots of Reinforcement and unknowingly walked up to the soldiers, I would have been caught by the envoy and had my shoes taken away.
He personally sent the Knight Commander and even came out of the castle himself to explain things. I was the one who was more moved.
“One of them is empty, so if you record the message you wish to convey, I will deliver it along with the letter.”
“May I continue to ask this of you? It must be a bother...”
“It’s no bother at all.”
With the Red Hare’s Thousand-Mile Horse skill, I can travel back and forth as much as I want.
There's a cooldown, but thanks to Miter's Blessing, I only clear one or two floors at a time, so it's not a problem.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. Whether it’s a favor or a grudge, repaying it twofold is my style.”
The lord had shown me more than enough kindness.
“No. Still, I can’t be the only one receiving favors. Ah, by any chance, will you be going to the Labyrinth the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Then time is a bit tight. I’ll have Kasat deliver the letter and the crystal orb by tomorrow.”
“I can come get it myself...”
“It would be fine if you hide the shoes, but there’s no good in attracting unnecessary attention, is there? He is an imperial envoy, after all. In any case, I’ll prepare a reward for you when you return from the Labyrinth this time.”
“Thank you. Oh, I have one request. It’s nothing difficult...”
I had planned on using the lord’s name if anyone raised an issue later, but since we've met, it seems better to mention it in advance.
“What is it?”
“Well, I obtained a special item that allows me to summon my companions outside.”
I deliberately didn't mention the Orb of Wishes.
He might try to take it from me for his lover, Alice.
The lord tilted his head.
“Is there such an item?”
“Yes. Not all of them, but I can summon up to three at a time.”
“So, what is your request?”
“One of my companions is a demon.”
“Ah, I see. I had a demon companion once, too.”
“Will it be alright to walk around Kramis with a demon?”
I asked, tense with anxiety, but the lord’s expression was subtle.
“If you want to walk around, then walk around. Why ask something like that? Ah! Is it because of taxes? I don’t think companions need to be taxed.”
“No, I can just pay the taxes. It’s because she’s a demon that I was worried there might be a problem...”
“It seems demons were ostracized in the world you came from?”
No, the concept of demons didn't even exist...
“Not exactly, but they have a negative image...”
“Don’t worry. Our Kartea Empire does not ostracize demons. Not just demons, but elves, beastkin—we don’t ostracize any race. Kramis is just a bit of a closed-off city. Other cities have many demi-humans.”
So it was a needless worry.
“I understand. Thank you for confirming.”
“If anyone gives you trouble, tell them I gave you permission.”
I was planning to do that anyway, but hearing from the man himself that it was okay to use his name lessened the burden considerably.
I switched to the rare boots I had just obtained from the Labyrinth and returned to Kabisa.
On the way, I stopped by a general store and sold off the items.
“Oh? Sir Hyeon-ung, you’re back. You were later than usual, so I was worried something might have happened...”
“Yeah. Get back to work.”
I barely acknowledged Luke’s greeting, rushed upstairs without even washing up, and immediately thought of the Summoner’s Shop.
A lot of time had already passed.
As soon as I thought of the Summoner’s Shop, my vision began to change.
“Sir Hyeon-ung, you’re early. Have you decided on your wish?”
“Yes. As I said before, I want to summon my companions outside the Labyrinth.”
The helper’s expression was strange.
A hint of pity?
Is she hiding something?
“Have more restrictions been added in the meantime?”
“That is not the case. I don’t believe it’s my place to say, but are you sure you won’t regret making such a wish?”
As long as there are no new restrictions, it doesn't matter.
“Yes. I’ve already discussed it with my companions.”
“Understood. If you insist, I will proceed.”
I took out the Orb of Wishes, held it in my hand, thought of my wish, and then handed it to the helper.
The helper took the orb and clasped her hands, and the orb began to sparkle before emitting a white light so intense it was blinding.
Forced to close my eyes, I opened them again to see a notification window.
[You have used the Orb of Wishes.
From this moment on, you can summon three of your companions outside the Labyrinth.
Summoned companions will have all their abilities, including magic, restricted.
Companions of Legendary grade or higher cannot be summoned.
Once summoned, a companion cannot be unsummoned until you re-enter the Labyrinth, and the companion's traits will not apply outside the Labyrinth.]
Everything else seems the same as what I heard, but... companion traits?
“I don’t think you explained the companion traits. What are they?”
“I did explain. Originally, companions do not eat food or drink water, correct? Those traits do not apply outside the Labyrinth.”
Ah, so that's what that was.
“For your reference, I’ll add one more thing. It’s not just about eating and sleeping. Inside the Labyrinth, if they take a powerful blow, they are unsummoned and can be resummoned after a certain waiting period. However, that is not the case outside the Labyrinth.”
“Wait a minute, you didn’t explain that. If what you’re saying is true...”
“If they die outside the Labyrinth... they cannot be resurrected. You will have to take good care of them, Sir Hyeon-ung.”
Isn't this something you should have told me first?
I felt a little resentful and uneasy, but I had planned to keep them by my side and take good care of them anyway, even if they lost their powers.
We'll always be together, after all.
“I understand. Is there anything else I should be careful about?”
“No. That is all I have explained.”
I was about to leave, but then I remembered something I had forgotten.
I wanted to go out and summon my companions right away, but it's better to take care of it while I'm here.
“Alright. Thanks. My business is done, so you can go now.”
“It seems you have more to do. Do you need my help...?”
“I don’t need it.”
“Yes. Understood.”
The helper vanished like smoke.
She'll probably watch everything while hiding anyway, but this isn't the first time.
I immediately opened my inventory.
I had sold the junk items, but I still had a lot of equipment, so it took a long search before I finally found what I was looking for.
I took out a total of nine tickets.
These were the rewards from spinning the Wheel of Fortune.
[Equipment 200x Draw Ticket] x2
[Mount 200x Draw Ticket] x2
[Random Jewel (Limited) Draw Ticket] x5
The Emergency Escape Ticket that Rina drew initially could be used in the Labyrinth, but the ones I got later could only be used in the Summoner’s Shop, so I had been saving them.
Should I start with the equipment draws?
I stacked the two blue tickets and tore them.
Countless boxes appeared in the air.
Most were gray, but about 20% of them glowed with various colors.
[You have used Equipment 200x Draw Ticket x2. Open all at once? Y/N]
Without hesitation, I tapped Y.
[You have acquired 153 Normal equipment, including Leather Boots.]
[You have acquired 39 Magic equipment, including a Sharp Shortsword.]
[You have acquired 7 Rare equipment, including a Nymph’s Ring.]
[Congratulations. You have acquired the Unique bracelet, Specter of Grief.]
I did 400 draws, but only got 8 pieces of Rare or higher equipment. The odds are terrible.
Of course, last time it was a 1,000x draw ticket, but I don't think it was this bad...
I kept the Unique and Rare items and stored the rest in my warehouse to use as synthesis materials later.
Next were the gold tickets. I tore the Jewel Draw Tickets.
[You have acquired 50 Jewels.]
[You have acquired 50 Jewels.]
[You have acquired 1000 Jewels.]
[You have acquired 50 Jewels.]
[Congratulations. You have acquired 100,000 Jewels.]
Oh, at first I thought it was pretty bad, but 100,000 Jewels is quite decent.
It's on par with the contribution points from the lord's quest.
Finally, I stacked the two remaining purple tickets, the Mount Draw Tickets, and tore them at once.
A violet light spread through the air, and countless cards appeared before my eyes.
Oh, so mounts also appear as cards, just like companions.
The outer edges were gray cards, just like with the companion draws, and the glowing cards were clustered in the center...?
Right in the very center of the multi-colored cards, at the highest point, was a card flashing with a violet light.