Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: Special Reward #1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The woman I met underground.
Estelle said.
“Since you read my book and came seeking my teachings, you're my disciple. Feel proud. Taking on a disciple is a first for me too. It's an honor not just anyone can have-.”
It sounded reasonable enough.
Even if it was nonsense, it was best to play along in times like these.
What if Estelle suddenly lost her temper and screamed?
The octopus monsters in this building would all swarm here.
“Then, Master, this disciple wants to escape from here and return to the Great Wall, but I can't find the exit and it's been tough. Where should I go?”
“Good question. This magic circle drawn in front of me is the escape magic circle-. There are ones like this scattered throughout the academy, and they activate occasionally.”
“Oooo!”
“Just stand on that magic circle and think of the place you came from. But to part ways with my disciple right after meeting... this master feels so lonely. Will you come again-?”
Honestly, I didn't want to come back.
I swallowed those words.
“If you come back, I'll teach you magic.”
“Oh, really? Can I become a mage too?”
I imagined myself spewing lightning and fire from my hands.
Just thinking about it felt awesome...!
“No. I can tell just by looking. You have no aptitude for magic.”
“Aww, then learning magic would be useless.”
Disappointment flooded in instantly.
I got my hopes up for nothing and lost out.
“What good is teaching a carp to swim? Or a pigeon to fly? Teaching a cat hiding in the shadows to swim or fly—that's what has meaning.”
What was she talking about.
As I felt dizzy from the difficult talk, Estelle laughed.
“Learning magic from me won't make you a mage, but you'll learn how to deal with mages. You'll become a cat that hunts carp and catches pigeons-.”
Ooo-.
It sounded incredibly convincing.
Stories from someone who's learned it firsthand are different.
That's why people study.
Once I get back safely, I should read more books.
“Then I'll be going now.”
“It makes me so sad to part with my disciple after finally meeting-.”
“Me too. I'm really sad!”
“I can't keep you here forever-. Then, as homework until our next meeting? Read the fifth paragraph of the book I wrote in advance-.”
“Yes, sir! I'll do my best!”
Step-.
I stood on the magic circle and thought of the strategy room at the Great Wall.
Then, letters appeared before my eyes.
「Will you return?」
Perfect.
I accepted simply in my mind, and I felt my body brushing past black mists.
At the same time, my legs wobbled.
“I survived!”
It felt like I'd stuck my head in a tiger's mouth and barely made it out alive.
Why?
Because of Estelle!
Most people locked up have reasons for it.
Sure, there are innocent folks like me with 14 prior offenses.
But Estelle seemed different.
No wonder the cultist octopus fanatics had her locked up.
Surviving a meeting with someone like that was a real miracle.
‘Who knows what would've happened if Estelle hadn't been tied up.’
Honestly, it was terrifying!
Good thing I escaped.
“But where is this?”
Water dark as ink rose to my wrists, with a pitch-black full moon floating on its uneven mirror surface.
No moonlight, no ripples—just an eerie silence filling everything.
“This isn't the strategy room.”
A scene that reminded me of the riverbank at night while fleeing the guards' pursuit.
Where the hell was this? As I speculated, something approached me.
【Offer it. Ether.】
【Then I shall grant. My blessing.】
To describe it simply: a python.
Anaconda size, like from a movie.
But it had a human arm protruding from its head like deer antlers, and what looked like scales were human faces.
Could you even call that a python?
Monster!
It looked so terrifying I thought I'd piss myself just seeing it, but the python approached and bowed its head to me.
【Offer it. Ether.】
【Do so, and I shall give.】
【Serpent's Blood.】
【My name.】
This pattern was familiar, at least.
It felt just like when I traded with the Idol Ashibar.
This monster python in front of me was probably an Idol too.
‘Last time, after killing Nightlings to my heart's content and trying to return to the strategy room, I met Ashibar. And now, trying to go back to the strategy room again, I meet another Idol.’
Do all Idols look this bizarre?
Even the decapitated dwarf seemed normal compared to this python.
“So, what's the effect of the blessing?”
「Serpent's Blood Lv.1」
「Blood flowing through your veins carries poison. Greatly increases poison resistance.」
Ooo, that's a solid effect.
Increases poison resistance.
In this world, plenty of people die from poison-coated blades.
Food poisoning is scary poison too.
If I get resistance to that stuff?
That's valuable on its own.
“How much?”
【Ten million Ether.】
What?
That's insanely expensive.
“I don't have that much.”
【How about half?】
“Don't have that either.”
Damn-.
This snake Idol just showed up without knowing my finances.
Soon the snake hissed.
【Then my name. For all the Ether you have.】
I had a total of 200,000 Ether in my bag.
Sure, there was more in Hermit's pointed hat, but that wasn't mine, so off-limits.
Buy the skull python's name that appeared before me for 200,000 Ether?
Was it worth that much?
But....
Thinking about it, I'd gotten various helps from Idol Ashibar today.
Knowing the name might let me get help when needed.
Plus, what Ashibar said earlier bugged me.
Idols don't just feel goodwill toward the Blessed.
What if I meet one and don't trade, and it harms me? Who knows?
So, better to buy this weird python's name.
But all my Ether?
That seemed too pricey.
“How about 100,000 Ether for the name? In return, I'll save up Ether later and definitely buy that blood thing or whatever.”
Could you even negotiate with Idols?
Was I doing something stupid? I wondered.
But the skull python nodded.
【My name is. Derjurak.】
“Derjurak, huh.”
【Palabradi...ke】
“Palabradi... Der, Pala... um....”
【Sabrannik─.】
“...Wait, hold on. Can I just call you Sab?”
Creeeak-!
The horrifying bone python opened its mouth wide.
Was it about to eat me for shortening its name?
“Sab was too short, huh? I'll call you Sabrannik.”
But?
It kept its mouth open, so it seemed to want something.
“Ah.”
I pulled an Ether bundle from my bag.
I tossed 100,000 Ether into the snake's maw, and it shook its tail with a sss-.
【─Death to the traitor Emperors─.】
“Yes?”
Who was dying?
Soon, the black night and mists surrounding me began to clear.
And there was the round table of the strategy room before my eyes.
“O!”
I was back!
At the same time, my bag felt noticeably lighter, tanking my mood.
The decapitated dwarf Ashibar had given a blessing and his name for 100,000 Ether.
Sabrannik only told me his name.
Was Ashibar generous with spending?
Or was Sabrannik a cheapskate?
But?
I decided to apply the mindset I'd honed living on the streets for so long.
Pure positive thinking.
“Maybe Sabrannik is some super important Idol? Selling a blessing for ten million Ether means he's probably a big shot listed in that ‘Idol Compendium’ book.”
Thinking that way made it all make sense.
Of course, I'd have to ask Hermit for details.
I wandered around the Great Wall facilities, wondering if they'd returned first.
But Hermit, Hammer, and Felix hadn't come back yet.
It was only after a few hours that lights brightly lit the strategy room.
I was reading a boring book when I approached the strategy room and heard loud voices.
“I told you we shouldn't have sent him alone!”
“What could we do? If we'd followed, we'd all be dead.”
“He might still be alive.”
“Why'd you guys come out so late?”
“...Huh...?”
“...Ha...”
“Wha...!?”
The people arguing froze.
Only then could I check their faces. They were covered in wounds everywhere, their armor battered, scratched, and caked in filthy fluids—they looked like beggars.
“What happened to you all?”
“You bastard! What the hell happened-!”
Boom-!
Hammer shouted like a megaphone from under his helmet.
“We! Thought you! Couldn't escape! So until nightfall! We clashed with those heretics to the absolute limit waiting for you! Y-you bastard, how did you get out before us!”
Hammer, Felix, and Hermit said they'd waited for me at the entrance.
I'd been out of the underground for ages.
“This punk even took a bath in the meantime? You smell nice!”
“Here’s what happened─.”
Chatter chatter-.
I explained the whole story as best I could to the party members who seemed to demand an explanation.
“That's how it went. Here's your pointed hat.”
“Ah, my hat!”
Hermit hurriedly took the hat from my hand.
Seeing that, Felix squatted on the floor.
“Escaped underground, huh. And he really brought the hat, so it's not a lie. Haa.... Then what the hell were we doing fighting those heretics for 5 hours...”
“Felix, cheer up! We all made it back alive in the end, got the hat, and even earned extra Ether on the side, right? Even so, our Yor has a real knack for picking people up and dropping them!”
Hammer grabbed me and lifted me up and down wildly.
I'd just washed, and now tentacle monster fluids were on me again. Gross.
Now I'd have to wash again!
“You met Estelle in the underground prison?”
Finally set down, Hermit asked me a question.
Was the emotional hat reunion over?
“If that woman was really Estelle, you got lucky. She's a top-tier wanted criminal who fled beyond the Great Wall to the Night Land. No telling how many people she's killed. You could've been murdered too.”
Hermit's words made my blood run cold for no reason.
I'd been chatting with a human butcher.
It made sense.
Who else would they lock in a terrifying underground prison guarded by monsters!
Relief washed over me from all sides, making my legs shake.
Then one fact popped into my head.
“Hermit, on the way back I traded with another Idol. I was wondering if this one was famous. The name is─.”
“Talk later, settle up first! Settlement! Quick settlement! Wash! Eat! Sleep! I'm sticky to death!”
Hammer shoved us hard toward the campfire room.
On the way, he added words like a grand resolution.
“By the way, there's settlement pay from the skillbook this time, right? I'm giving my whole share to Yor. I think our party's stability goes up if Yor levels up.”
Giving all the money to me?
How many levels would that get me?
At least level 10 to feel like a real member!