Chapter 54: Isn’t It an Ideal Means of Competition?
Chapter 54: Isn’t It an Ideal Means of Competition?
“You certainly caused quite a commotion during that expedition in District Three.”
After the banquet ended,
I was having a private conversation with Odilon in a cozy wine-tasting room beside the dining hall as the co-founder of the Moon Expedition.
We needed to discuss our future plans in greater depth.
“To think you would clear an unexplored dungeon whose conditions for conquest hadn’t even been discovered in ten years.”
Rosalia poured wine into the young master’s glass.
Splash!
Just like last time, the movement was elegant—but the wine spilled all over his clothes.
Nevertheless, Odilon continued speaking indifferently as if this were routine.
“The knowledge your Evil God grants truly is deep and vast. It’s difficult even to attempt predicting its limits.”
《In the past, the Wise One truly knew all knowledge in the world. Such is the transience of time!》
“Thanks to that, the name of our expedition has spread across all of Pletika.”
“Didn’t everyone say it was a wonderful and adorable name?”
“I heard some people found it ridiculous and laughed at it.”
“That’s just mockery from people who know nothing about naming.”
“In any case, you did well. By now, my older brother and sister should realize our expedition isn’t an opponent to be taken lightly.”
The first and second heirs of the Brites family who managed District Four.
Nicholas Brites and Flora Brites.
The expeditions they commanded consisted entirely of explorers with Gold Badge rank or higher.
At present, they were overwhelmingly powerful rivals our expedition could not yet compete with properly.
“We should build up our strength quickly while the two of them are still letting their guard down.”
“Correct. To do that, you must gather talented individuals as you planned.”
The young master inhaled smoke from the portable healing artifact Consoler, then continued speaking in an increasingly faint voice.
“In that regard, I commend you for successfully recruiting the swordsman Pendrick. The butler said he glimpsed the potential for him to become the leader of the Twelve Heroes.”
“And we even brought Lady Astrimia of the Ego Sword Emotional Series.”
“You did well there too.”
Odilon nodded calmly and looked at me.
“What is Pendrick’s current combat capability?”
“Pendrick is currently Level 3.”
When I first met him, Pendrick had been Level 1.
Thanks to the endless battles in Nightmare World, the grade of his soul had risen twice.
“Even though he’s Level 3, he possesses combat ability comparable to a Level-5 explorer.”
A holder of the absurdly overpowered trait Master of the Sword.
And on top of that, a swordsman wielding Astrimia of Joy.
Even I could not predict how impressive his future accomplishments would be.
“Excellent….”
Odilon took a sip of wine and raised the corner of his mouth.
He was genuinely pleased.
“Young Master, it’s still too early to be satisfied.”
So far, we had recruited only one person.
The true recruitment had not even begun.
“Five.”
I stretched out all the fingers on one hand.
“There are still five explorers on the same level as Pendrick.”
Among all possible recruits, Pendrick was undeniably a Tier-1 companion.
Even when Astrimia had lost her ego due to the curse, he was still the strongest and best swordsman.
There were five more explorers of equal caliber.
They were all so capable that even Rosalia—an outstanding assassin—was pushed down to Tier-2.
‘One Tier-1 member would technically be enough.’
Still, if possible, I wanted to recruit all of them.
But realistically, that wouldn’t be easy, so I decided not to be greedy.
Also, most of the “Le” siblings were not recruitment targets.
I hadn’t met them yet, but judging by their build characteristics, they likely had undesirable personalities like Ymir.
“Isn’t it surprising?”
I leaned back in my chair and wiggled the fingers of my raised hand.
“The fact that there are still five explorers equal to Pendrick—the man who slaughtered dozens of Demonic Hounds at Level 1.”
“…If that’s true, I’m curious what kind of abilities they’ll demonstrate.”
Perhaps imagining the expedition after all these talents were recruited,
Odilon fell silent for a moment as he drank his wine.
“…At that moment, Asmi and I both felt it. That our hearts had connected.”
“Ah… you fell in love at first sight…?”
While our conversation paused briefly, lively voices from the dining hall drifted over.
Mostly Pendrick and Marlin.
Odilon narrowed his eyes.
“It’s gotten quite crowded. Too noisy. I wanted an expedition built on formal relationships—people who only spoke when necessary for exploration.”
“I also think maintaining a strict contractual relationship would be preferable.”
Efficiency and stability.
In many ways, contracts that strictly bind the possibility of betrayal are more reliable than friendship among explorers.
But were humans creatures who only made rational decisions?
“Still, if everyone gets along, the atmosphere becomes pleasant. It reduces stress and makes people rely on each other more.”
A certain amount of romance—or inefficiency—provided a peaceful mental refuge in life.
It was the insight of someone who had experienced comradeship while enduring the tyranny of Manager Choi, the demonic boss.
“No. Discord and conflict often occur more intensely among close companions. The closer people are, the greater their sense of betrayal and anger. Personal emotions are impurities unnecessary for work.”
“I won’t claim that’s wrong. Everyone has their own beliefs and ways of thinking.”
Life was a relative evaluation.
There was no absolute correct answer.
Even I, a half-elf cultist, lived quite well as a model cultist despite appearing completely wrong to others.
As long as someone didn’t commit crimes or immoral acts, I could warmly accept even a person who enjoyed walking on all fours at night with a dog collar.
“Let’s stop this pointless debate. It’ll never end.”
Odilon inhaled smoke from Consoler and crossed his legs.
Zap, zap!
The Exalted One, who had seen the frail young master’s thin thighs and calves, sent excited waves of will.
Apparently, thin bodies were his preference.
“There’s something I want to address.”
“Please go ahead.”
“That great monster of Nightmare Dungeon you mentioned after meeting the Gray Wolf Guildmaster. What was that about? It seems we need a deeper discussion.”
“That was just a joke.”
“Nonsense. Don’t underestimate Rosalia’s observation skills.”
The silent elf nodded slightly.
“You often say strange things with a serious face. It’s your trademark as an ‘Exploration Maniac.’”
“Exploration Maniac? What kind of magnificent nickname is that?”
“You’re doing it again. But occasionally you do speak the truth. Apparently when you mentioned the great monster, that was one of those moments. Should we waste time arguing about it?”
I drank the Spirit Water Rosalia had given me instead of wine and shrugged.
“It seems you’re already convinced. How could that be? It was such an absurd statement.”
“If there’s even the slightest possibility, I never ignore it. If what you said is true, the outlook isn’t very bright.”
As expected from someone with Intelligence 18.
If he had already seen through everything, excuses were meaningless.
In the end, I spoke the truth I had been shyly hiding.
“If Nightmare Dungeon isn’t cleared within five years, the world will be destroyed. The great monster at the top floor—one capable of influencing the world outside the labyrinth—will descend to the surface with its army.”
The end of the world.
A future where our seemingly eternal world collapsed within a few years was too cruel to accept easily.
That was why I hadn’t mentioned it before.
Like Atlas in mythology who carried the sky alone,
I intended to bear the heavy burden myself.
“But since you pressed me for answers, Young Master, you’ll have to share the burden from now on. You too, Sister.”
“….”
The young master lowered his head slightly and gently swirled the wine in his glass.
The bodyguard secretary watched me in silence as usual.
“There are beings called the Six Apostles who follow the orders of the great monster. They interfere with explorers or assassinate them to hinder exploration.”
The Six Apostles.
The primary enemies when clearing Nightmare Dungeon.
Agents of chaos, agitation, and division.
“Surely we can’t leave enemies like that—threats to all explorers—unchecked.”
Listening to the lively conversation still echoing from the dining hall, Odilon spoke.
“…Even so, we cannot act solely for ‘everyone’s future.’ We should move in whatever direction benefits us the most.”
Profit before preventing the apocalypse.
A mindset fitting for the heir of an information-broker family.
Which meant he was trustworthy.
“Of course. Selfless service where no one acknowledges your efforts might be admirable—but it’s better if there’s something to gain as well.”
We would crush the schemes of the Six Apostles while increasing our fame.
Prevent the apocalypse while achieving success as explorers.
It sounded like a dream for now.
But if we kept exploring labyrinths consistently, our expedition would naturally become one of the most powerful and famous in Pletika.
“In the end, it seems we’ll keep repeating the same conclusion. We must gather more talent.”
“That’s correct.”
Labyrinths ultimately had to be explored with companions.
Even A-rank or B-rank labyrinths were nearly impossible to clear alone.
“You remember the mage who activated the hidden piece in Tomb of the Earth Elf? I’ve already finished investigating him.”
Odilon flicked the artifact Consoler between his fingers as he continued.
“An apprentice mage of the Dark Magic School in the Devourer Mage Tower. His name is Bartimir. A demon. Twenty-two years old—same age as you.”
“…I see.”
I drank the Spirit Water to suppress the smile that threatened to appear.
‘So it really is you.’
Bartimir.
The youngest of the “Le” siblings, a demon dark mage—the worst possible combination after a half-elf cultist.
When I created him, my playtime had reached roughly 19,000 hours.
If my guess was correct, he was growing exactly according to the build I designed.
“I already sent Sergius to contact him. Unlike most mages, he was positive about joining an expedition. But he had one condition—something only you could approve.”
“What condition?”
“He said he doesn’t want to follow someone else’s orders.”
The young master leaned back in his chair, apparently reaching his limit.
“When I mentioned you, he became even more enthusiastic. He wants to defeat you and become the expedition leader himself. What do you think?”
As his creator, I felt pleased by his ambition.
But exploration wasn’t the place for personal feelings.
So I made a purely rational decision as an explorer.
“How about this? We both begin exploring the same labyrinth simultaneously. Whoever clears it first becomes the expedition leader. The loser faithfully follows the winner’s orders.”
A labyrinth conquest competition.
Even if I suffered a humiliating defeat, I could accept it happily.
“Are you sure that’s acceptable?”
“Of course.”
“That’s why I call you an Exploration Maniac.”
“…What?”
I couldn’t understand his statement at all.
“Isn’t exploration an ideal means of competition—where both the winner and the loser can smile and enjoy themselves?”