Chapter 36: Just a Mere Status Ailment
Chapter 36: Just a Mere Status Ailment
District Three, Eastern Sector.
The cultural street known as “Eastern Lively Promenade.”
“Your drinks are ready, customers.”
The server set three modest cups on the table.
Two were coffee with unusually rich color and aroma.
The other was simply milk.
“Let’s drink first.”
I took a sip of the warm coffee.
Oh.
Perhaps because the barista had used a Cook-class Mystery, the flavor was unexpectedly deep.
Still, something felt lacking, so I asked the server to add about fifteen spoonfuls of sugar. Only then did it finally taste perfect.
As I sipped the coffee slowly, I spoke casually.
“Pendrick, how is it?”
Pendrick, who had been cautiously drinking his coffee, forced an awkward smile.
“Maybe it’s because I’m from the countryside, but it feels unfamiliar.”
That was a very polite way of saying it tastes bad.
“….”
Meanwhile, Rosalia had lowered her mask slightly and was happily drinking her milk.
“Take your time. Our conversation will be long, so we can order more if necessary.”
We had come to this café to comfortably discuss matters regarding expedition activities.
Unlike modern chain cafés, this place felt closer to a tavern in atmosphere. Each menu item carried a frightening price tag, so only explorers with decent income could afford to come here.
“I never thought I’d find myself in a café. It’s also my first time leaving work during my shift….”
Pendrick pushed his coffee cup aside slightly and looked around the interior with curiosity before turning to me.
“You come to a place this expensive without hesitation. It’s surprising. Were you perhaps a very successful explorer in District Six?”
“Of course not. What cultist makes good money?”
I expected him to respond somehow, but perhaps the logic was too strong. Pendrick only smiled without answering.
Lowering my voice slightly, I continued.
“The lady beside me, Rosalia, serves as the bodyguard secretary known as ‘Faint Shadow’ for the youngest young master of the Brites family.”
“Ah…!”
When the aspiring swordsman’s eyes widened, Rosalia suddenly pulled a pouch from her shadow and revealed the heap of gold coins inside.
“Why are you suddenly showing off money? Doesn’t that all have to be returned to the young master if there’s any left?”
“….”
The assassin’s pupils trembled slightly like those of a nouveau riche caught off guard.
“Anyway, let’s start talking about work.”
After ordering biscuits to accompany the coffee, I looked at the sword Pendrick had been holding protectively the entire time.
“First, I need to examine the condition in detail. May I borrow it for a moment?”
“…Yes.”
After hesitating briefly, Pendrick carefully removed the cloth wrapped around the blade and handed the sword to me.
“…Wow.”
Without realizing it, I committed the rude act of staring blankly at someone else’s lover.
A beautiful blade of mysterious teal color, with seven radiant gemstones embedded along the side like stars.
Even Rosalia’s eyes widened slightly at the elegant craftsmanship.
《Artifact — Astrimia of Joy》
《One of the “Emotion Series” created by the legendary artisan-class explorers of the Perfect Expedition. Each time a star on its side lights up, a new ability becomes available.》
The Emotion Series artifacts all bore words representing specific emotions before their names.
Every one of them possessed terrifyingly powerful abilities.
The conditions required to obtain them were extremely complex and difficult, but once acquired they remained useful for life.
《For a rookie swordsman to possess such a treasure! Impressive. But I assume that is not the only reason you have your eyes on him.》
—You said your name was Cultist Kar, correct?
Astrimia of Joy, Pendrick’s inanimate girlfriend—the Ego Sword—spoke in a displeased tone.
—Would you mind not staring so intently?
“My apologies. You are simply too beautiful. I lost myself for a moment.”
—Thank you for the compliment. Among my siblings, I am particularly attractive.
Her confident declaration overflowed with pride in her appearance.
Pendrick grinned widely upon hearing it.
Rosalia noticed the expression and flinched slightly before moving her chair farther away.
—Pendrick rushed into this decision, but I still find it difficult to trust you.
Astrimia’s body trembled slightly.
—The Evil God cults may have declined in power compared to the past, but they still frighten me. Please understand if my instincts reject you.
If she had once suffered badly at the hands of cultists, the reaction was understandable.
Those useless predecessors really left quite a legacy.
Though, thinking about it, they had provided decent experience points in the Grave of the Earth Elf labyrinth.
“I understand.”
I smiled warmly, using the only advantage of a half-elf—charisma.
“Frankly, I would have been disappointed if you had trusted me blindly without even speaking first.”
Distrust was a survival instinct given to intelligent beings.
I was not as extreme as Odilon, but I did not trust others recklessly either.
—That makes sense. You’re looking for companions to entrust your life to. Personally, I would prefer Pendrick join an expedition led by someone competent—rather than the pathetic guild that failed to recognize his talent.
“In that case, you no longer need to worry. Our expedition is exactly what you have been looking for.”
—May I truly expect that?
“Of course.”
Our interests aligned well enough.
Now it was time to prove my ability.
—Cultist Kar. Then what method will you use to cure me?
“Before explaining, may I examine you a little more closely?”
—Very well. I will grant you the honor of admiring my elegant form.
“An honor indeed.”
Perhaps out of jealousy, Pendrick’s expression darkened slightly as he listened to our conversation.
Rosalia quietly moved her chair even closer to me.
“Let’s see….”
As I examined Astrimia’s blade, the Eye That Perceives Truth quickly diagnosed the narcissistic Ego Sword’s condition.
《7th-Tier Dark Magic — Curse: Waves of Lethe》
《After a certain period, the cursed target gradually loses all memories and becomes an imbecile. Remaining time — 27 days.》
A curse normally used to neutralize enemies by turning them into village idiots.
Once the curse fully activated, Astrimia would become nothing more than a pretty but ordinary sword.
Without a self-consciousness, an Ego Sword could not use its inherent abilities.
“A terrible curse.”
After finishing my observation, I spoke quietly.
“It was clearly meant to completely destroy you. If you were not an artifact, you would have already become an ordinary sword.”
A high-level 7th-Tier Dark Magic curse was constricting an Ego Sword created by the most talented artisan expedition in history.
“We must remove the curse within twenty-seven days.”
“….”
Pendrick, who had been fidgeting with his hands on the table, laughed weakly.
“…You recognized it instantly. As expected of a cultist of Lidni, who is said to know everything.”
Pendrick retrieved his lover and gently stroked the teal blade.
Crackle.
The lofty being reacted to that sorrowful gaze with a surge of electricity—encouraging my continued devotion.
“When I lived in the Eastern Continent, a labyrinth once appeared near my hometown.”
Unaware that his appearance had attracted Sue’je’s attention, Pendrick began explaining.
“My mother became trapped inside it. I had no choice but to enter the labyrinth before the suppression unit arrived.”
“That’s where you met Lady Astrimia?”
“Yes. She was stuck in the ground, bound in chains. She was already cursed when we first met.”
A tragic backstory added by the developers to enrich the narrative of a promising swordsman.
Pendrick was a companion character normally recruited only in the mid-to-late stages.
Pendrick—the ruthless Dark Mage slayer burning with rage, wielding a sword from the Emotion Series.
“Do you know who cast the curse?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
I actually knew.
But the culprit was a Level-9 Dark Mage—far beyond the reach of a weak cultist like me.
“Recently I’ve been terribly anxious. The curse still has time before activation, yet Asmi’s condition worsens every day.”
“Asmi” was Astrimia’s nickname.
“….”
Rosalia moved her chair again until she was completely beside me.
“Just a few days ago, she briefly forgot my name.”
“So you made your decision quickly.”
“Yes… Honestly, it was hard to believe you. But I had no other choice.”
The swordsman’s eyes were filled with the exhaustion of long suffering.
“I came to Pletika hoping to earn money and cure Asmi, but instead of building my reputation as an explorer, I barely get any opportunities to enter labyrinths. That’s why I’ve been working at the inn.”
Pendrick was merely another promising explorer scattered across Pletika.
A swordsman with guaranteed future potential, yet still unable to bloom.
Which meant—
I would make him bloom.
“Pendrick, you may relax now.”
I spread my arms.
“You have met Kar.”
I could change Pendrick’s destiny.
I could prevent Astrimia’s tragic end.
I had the knowledge and ability to help them live happily.
“Well, Astrimia. Have you changed your mind?”
—…I’m still not ready to trust you completely.
The teal Ego Sword sighed mentally.
—But your words are worth testing. Every Dark Mage I met in Pletika failed to identify my curse, yet you recognized it in seconds.
That was mostly because Dark Mage was a despised class with very few talented practitioners.
Still, I simply nodded.
—I’ve decided. Kar, I will rely on your expedition team for the time being.
Swordsman Pendrick.
Ego Sword Astrimia.
Recruitment successful.
“Our expedition’s founder—the young master—is rather distrustful of people, so we will sign a contract later.”
—That’s fine. By the way, what is your expedition’s name?
“The Moon Expedition. Isn’t it a cute and charming name?”
—……
“Why the sudden silence?”
Astrimia said nothing, and Rosalia quietly turned her head away from me.
“Moon Expedition? It sounds quite fun and charming.”
Only Pendrick—possessing the trait Borderless Sociability, which prevented conflicts with companions—responded positively.
—…May I hear how you plan to cure me?
“Of course. I will explain.”
I dipped a biscuit into my coffee and continued.
“Normally, curses are removed by the Priest class, or through rare artifacts or treasures. The problem is that removing a 7th-Tier Dark Magic curse requires at least a bishop-level priest. Artifacts capable of doing so are extremely expensive.”
“Both methods are impossible for us right now. So you know another way?”
“Correct.”
A curse was troublesome, but in the end—
It was merely a status ailment.
There were countless ways to remove it.
Though being 7th-Tier Dark Magic made things slightly complicated.
“The path revealed by the Forerunner of the Twisted Truth leads to a labyrinth.”
The method to cure Astrimia existed within a labyrinth in District Three.
“Pendrick, do you know the labyrinth called Pleasure Metropolis?”
“Yes, of course! That’s an E-Rank labyrinth people go to for fun rather than clearing, right?”
“….”
The assassin who hated leisure suddenly grabbed my wrist and stared at me.
“Wait. I’m not finished.”
If it were truly just a normal E-Rank labyrinth, I would never have mentioned it.
“Everyone should prepare themselves.”
Even I had to be cautious this time.
“The correct rank for Pleasure Metropolis—though not yet discovered—is actually C-Rank.”