Chapter 38: Grow Up Big and Strong
Chapter 38: Grow Up Big and Strong
“Pendrick, please bring the items I pointed out.”
After carefully checking every item sold in the labyrinth supply shop, I finally decided what to buy.
“First, nine bottles of Mental Barrier Potion.”
A high-grade potion that protects against mental attacks and mental corruption.
Total: 90 gold.
“And see those dark robes over there? Take three sets. Ah, we should also buy the beast or familiar-sized version for Astrimia.”
Clothing that allowed the wearer to blend into darkness.
Total: 18 gold.
“And we’ll also need that large iron there.”
A high-purity iron ingot for the Blacksmith class.
It happened to be discounted, so it cost only 4 gold, cheaper than the original price.
Additionally, I purchased forty Health Recovery Potions, which restored values related to vitality.
Total: 15 gold.
Up to this point, the spending was still relatively modest.
“Next is a Mystery Book.”
Pendrick blinked briefly after bringing the book I indicated.
“This one’s a little expensive. And since it’s for the Warrior class…”
“That’s correct. It’s a Mystery you will learn later.”
《3rd-Tier Mystery Book — Indomitable Will》
《The lower the user’s vitality becomes, the higher their weapon attack power increases.》
For a Tier-3 ability, it was quite useful.
Price: 150 gold.
Pendrick’s eyes wavered slightly at the cost.
Astrimia chuckled quietly.
—Kar, you’re quite bold.
“If I were not bold, I could not survive as a cultist—the weakest of classes.”
—Now I’m even more curious about the future.
Apparently, recklessly spending someone else’s money had left a good impression on Astrimia.
“That concludes our purchases.”
When we moved to the counter, Rosalia quietly approached and placed her own items down.
Deadly poison for coating weapons.
A venom gland from a certain monster.
Poisonous plants.
Poisonous mushrooms.
Total: 10 gold.
“Did you buy enough to avoid regrets?”
“….”
The poison-loving assassin hesitated slightly before bringing over a relatively cheap Mystery Book.
《3rd-Tier Mystery Book — Toxic Follower》
《Extracts a small amount of poison accumulated in the body and forms it into a tiny creature. You chose a rather useless Mystery.》
It was the same Tier as Indomitable Will, yet it cost only 10 gold.
It certainly wasn’t very useful.
But what did it matter?
She liked it.
Sometimes, indulging in harmless deviance was necessary for maintaining a healthy mind.
I myself once preserved my sanity with the humble hobby of printing Chief Choi’s face and turning it into a series of cute curse dolls.
“Now that everything is purchased, shall we return and engage in some productive studying?”
A C-Rank labyrinth.
How painful, exhausting, and difficult would it be compared to the ones we had faced so far?
Even preparing for the expedition made my heart race.
The Sheep’s Roar Inn — Guest Room
Rosalia lightly set down the heavy bags from our shopping trip.
For now, due to the level difference, her Strength stat was far higher than Pendrick’s.
“Wow, you’re really strong. Aren’t elves usually physically weak?”
Pendrick’s compliment carried no hidden meaning.
Rosalia waved her hand casually as if it were nothing.
I spared the shy elf further attention and instead asked Pendrick:
“Did you speak with the innkeeper properly?”
“Yes. He asked me to continue working until he hires another employee. Since I’ve worked diligently, he wasn’t angry even though I suddenly quit.”
Considering the professionalism he showed while serving us, it would have been stranger if the owner disliked him.
“I’ll probably keep working there until a replacement arrives.”
“That’s fine. We cannot enter the labyrinth immediately anyway.”
The labyrinth we planned to explore—Pleasure Metropolis—opened only once every ten days.
The next opening was in three days.
Until then, we had work to do.
“Shall we hold a study session?”
It was time for focused learning to strengthen our power.
“Please place your Mystery Books on the table.”
I placed my yellow Mystery Book on the round table.
[Avatar of the Earth]
I had read it little by little whenever I had spare time. Only half remained.
“This is the one I should learn, right?”
Pendrick’s book—Resisting Body—had been obtained in the Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds.
I had just given it to him.
Naturally, Astrimia’s favorable impression of me as a companion had improved slightly.
“Hehe… thank you, Kar.”
“We’re in the same expedition now. There’s no need to be so formal. Do I make you uncomfortable?”
“Not at all! Then how should I address you?”
“A simple and ordinary title is best.”
There happened to be one that suited me perfectly.
“Wise Captain Kar. Normally, just call me Captain.”
—What?
Astrimia’s voice trembled slightly.
—How is that ordinary at all?!
Unfortunately, as an inanimate object, Astrimia clearly lacked human emotional understanding.
I spoke calmly.
“What is the problem, beautiful Astrimia?”
—Ah… now that I think about it, there isn’t one!
The narcissistic Ego Sword swayed lightly from side to side.
Meanwhile, Rosalia carefully placed her new book on the table.
Toxic Follower.
Judging by her expression, she liked it very much.
As a considerate younger brother, perhaps I should show her how to use it properly.
“Let’s follow proper study etiquette and concentrate quietly.”
Thus began the Moon Expedition’s first official reading session.
The room fell silent.
The faint chatter of the inn’s few guests on the first floor became white noise.
The atmosphere was perfect for studying.
My progress on Avatar of the Earth, which had stalled for some time, suddenly advanced rapidly.
I still don’t fully understand the content, though.
But I could vaguely infer its meaning.
It was essentially a historical record.
A book explaining why the Earth Elf’s innate Mystery, Avatar of the Earth, had become a Mystery Book.
The content was difficult enough already.
Written in Elven language rather than the common tongue, it became even more complicated.
Still, I can roughly understand it.
Back in the game, “slow learning speed” was enough explanation.
But now—
Cultist Kar.
How exactly was I able to read Elven?
The answer likely lay in the eerie state Marilyn had mentioned when I entered the Ghoul Pack Hideout earlier.
For now, the mystery remained unsolved.
I simply continued reading.
Eventually—
Every sentence settled clearly in my mind.
《Congratulations! The Mystery [Avatar of the Earth] has taken root in your body!》
At last.
A Mystery that would continuously raise my Vitality stat.
《Due to the effect of [Avatar of the Earth], your Strength has increased by 3.》
《Due to the effect of Sue’je’s inferior Mystery [Something-Or-Other], your Vitality has increased by 1.5!》
The stat increase was immediately noticeable.
The fatigue lingering from my battle with the Bloodbird faded.
The pain in my chest disappeared.
I clenched and unclenched my fists.
“Status window.”
《Cultist of the Twisted Truth — Kar ??? (Level 2)》
Strength — 1 ｜Dexterity — 2 ｜Faith — 16
Vitality — 6 ｜Senses — 3 ｜Wisdom — 19
Agility — 1 ｜Charm — 21 ｜Knowledge — ??
《Mysteries》
It was becoming slightly easier to read now.
I gently stroked my right eye while examining the window.
The most important stat was Vitality.
Six now.
An average adult human had 5, so I was finally above average.
I still had a long way to go before reaching extraordinary levels.
But at least I had stepped past the starting line.
“Whew, that was difficult.”
As I dismissed the status window, Pendrick closed his book.
“Did you finish reading?”
“Yes. This is my first time reading a Mystery Book. Are they always this difficult?”
“Usually, yes.”
“I’m not used to reading. I almost fell asleep.”
Despite complaining, Pendrick’s face shone with excitement.
He had previously obtained Mysteries only through brutal training.
Of course he was happy.
While he happily hugged Astrimia, I asked casually:
“Pendrick, have you ever heard of an orc named Ymir?”
I had wanted to ask this for a long time.
Ymir—who could be considered my clone, or even my child.
How had he lived?
Had he followed the path I played in the game?
Or chosen his own path?
“Ymir…”
Pendrick frowned thoughtfully.
If he had only recently begun serious exploration like me, it wouldn’t be surprising if he hadn’t heard the name.
—I’ve heard it before.
Astrimia spoke while Pendrick was still thinking.
—Three days ago, I think. An orc discovered a hidden piece in an E-Rank labyrinth, and it became quite famous.
“Was that orc the first discoverer?”
—I’m not sure… but if it was the first time, that’s probably why rumors spread.
So Ymir had discovered a hidden piece.
That suggested he might truly be acting according to my past will.
But another question appeared.
He died though.
In the Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds, Ymir had failed to understand the mining pit mechanic.
He was reborn as the world’s ugliest lump of silver.
It was a mistake I would never have made.
But something bothered me.
…Did I not know the mechanic back then?
When I played Ymir, my total playtime was about 700 hours.
I had played obsessively using a donated laptop from my orphanage days.
Still, compared to veteran players, I had been a novice.
Naturally, I hadn’t fully understood the labyrinth’s mechanics then.
“Captain? Why are you asking about that orc?”
At Pendrick’s cheerful voice, I closed my eyes and shook my head.
“I became curious about the life of the one offered as a sacrifice in the Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds.”
“Ah, that’s why.”
—Ah my foot! You don’t need to agree with everything he says, Pendrick!
“I really thought that.”
—Don’t joke around! He said he offered a living orc as a sacrifice!
“Well… technically it wasn’t a living sacrifice…”
While watching the couple argue, I frowned slightly.
There must be others.
Five characters I had played besides the cultist.
Were they also somewhere in Pletika?
If so—
The mage who appeared in the Grave of the Earth Elf must also be one of my alternate characters.
After all, defeating the Corrupted Metherd Statue after surviving thirty minutes rewarded the perfect equipment for my mage build.
Who else was there besides Ymir…
Remembering the others made my lips curl upward.
Except for one—
Every one of them was an extremely dangerous individual who would never form alliances in a labyrinth.
Which meant—
I had three powerful rival explorers somewhere in the city.
Please grow strong.
And interfere with my expeditions.
The more powerful rivals an explorer had—
The better.