Chapter 55: You Know Me Too Well
Chapter 55: You Know Me Too Well
“…Think whatever you like.”
Odilon, who had practically melted into a slime by now, slowly shook his head.
“I’ll inform Sergius that way for the time being. If the other party refuses, I’ll make my own decision, so keep that in mind.”
“That likely won’t happen.”
If Bartimir truly originated from me, there was no way he would refuse a proposal to settle things through exploration.
“I have nothing more to say.”
“Ah, I do.”
“Speak. Preferably quickly.”
The young master looked as though he might melt completely, so I spoke without delay.
“The Gray Wolf Guildmaster wants to recruit me into his guild for the upcoming Guild War.”
“Decline.”
The answer came instantly, without a moment’s thought.
“Isn’t that a bit too decisive? Are you perhaps a racist who hates orcs? Or maybe one of those infamous Lumes Kingdom restorationists?”
“You already know the answer, so stop saying nonsense. Targon—avoid dealing with him if possible and keep your distance. He’s not someone suitable as a comrade.”
It wasn’t wrong.
Targon, the Gray Wolf Guildmaster, was a dependable ally once you became close.
But getting too close to him could become troublesome.
I nodded obediently, then looked Odilon in the eyes.
“Instead of rejecting it outright, please consider it. This is an opportunity.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
An explorer must have grand ambitions.
“I’ll help the Gray Wolf Guild win and show the world the strength of the Moon Expedition.”
Pletika.
The labyrinth city where people from across the continent gathered to chase dreams of wealth and success began as a temporary encampment for expedition parties exploring the labyrinth.
Later, under the leadership of an extraordinary merchant with remarkable business talent, it developed into a city.
After years of growth and expansion, it eventually became the city-state it was today.
“And the merchant who once led the city eventually took advantage of the decline of the Valterium Empire, withdrew from the city-state alliance, and crowned himself king.”
At our house in Cultist Town—a place I hadn’t visited in a while—
I began my morning with bread and soup prepared by Abel while giving the siblings a simple lesson.
Marlin tilted her head as she chewed her soft bread.
“Why the sudden history lesson?”
“You should know this kind of basic knowledge. If people call you ignorant children with empty heads, imagine how heartbroken I would be.”
“You’re saying that while looking straight at me.”
Marlin’s responses were always so vivid.
That was why I could never give up my religious life devoted to Lidni.
《Just in case you forgot, I must protest again: The Wise One wishes for their believers to tease those around them with ☆magic☆, not with your boring jokes and antics!!》
I waved my hand dismissively, erasing the black letters before continuing the lesson.
“The merchant who became king is the founder of the Lukserion Dynasty that currently rules Pletika. You could call him a great historical figure.”
This certainly wasn’t because the captain of the royal security force might be listening in with wide-range eavesdropping abilities.
If I were flattering the royal family, I would have started by pretending to remotely lick His Majesty’s feet first.
“And the district-management powers—including the Harmony Church—hand over thirty percent of the wealth, Mystery Tomes, and artifacts obtained from labyrinth exploration to the royal family in exchange for administrative authority.”
“They take that much?”
“It used to be forty percent. This is actually a reduced amount.”
“Patron, has the Six Galaxies ever united to resist the royal family?”
“That’s a sharp question.”
The position of ruling others was never truly comfortable.
Power was always challenged by those who valued freedom and ambition.
“What do you think is the most reliable way for a ruler to maintain power?”
The siblings gave different answers reflecting their personalities.
“Win people’s hearts with money?”
“Overwhelming power, maybe?”
“Both are correct.”
The power gap was so enormous that resisting the royal family was unimaginable.
Moreover, the royal family periodically granted generous benefits to the Six Galaxies and never revoked their authority as long as they paid taxes and remained loyal.
There was simply no reason to rebel.
“Then why does District Three change administrators periodically?”
“It’s a simple story. Long ago, there was an explorer who refused to show loyalty.”
About a hundred years ago.
A guild rebelled against the royal family but was suppressed within half a day, and all its members were executed.
Since then, District Three had held a Guild War every two years, where the royal family awarded management authority to the winning guild.
“The next Guild War is in one month. Every guild in Pletika will participate to gain the great honor of bowing before the royal family in loyalty.”
“Oh….”
“Incidentally, I’ll be participating as well.”
Marlin blinked in surprise as she finished her soup.
“Aren’t we an expedition, not a guild?”
“That’s right. Which means we’re not eligible to participate. Even if we tried to establish a guild, Pletika’s regulations wouldn’t allow it.”
Each Galaxy that governed a district could only maintain a single guild.
Its members were also prohibited from joining other guilds.
Because of that rule, Odilon could only operate an expedition.
Naturally, Rosalia couldn’t participate in the Guild War either.
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll participate as a member of the Gray Wolf Guild.”
“Are you abandoning the Moon Expedition…?”
“Of course I am. I’ll discard you first, Marlin.”
“….”
She began stabbing my side with her fingernails until I stuffed a piece of meat into her mouth to stop her.
“In truth, guilds and expeditions are separate concepts. Most explorers belong to both.”
“Hm….”
While Marlin’s ears twitched as she pondered, Abel raised his hand.
“Patron, I have a fundamental question.”
“What is it?”
“You said the Guild War is in one month. But you’re currently Level 3. Can you really compete with elite guild explorers?”
“Oh? That’s true.”
Marlin seemed to realize the issue only then.
I sipped Abel’s fragrant special tea for dessert before answering.
“You don’t need to worry. In the labyrinth used for the Guild War finals, the grade of every explorer’s soul becomes equal.”
A special labyrinth gimmick.
Everyone exploring inside started under identical conditions.
The rewards were so poor that it was only used for Guild Wars.
“If everyone starts under the same conditions, doesn’t that favor me?”
“That might be true. But why help the Gray Wolf Guild?”
“It’s an opportunity to showcase the strength of our expedition.”
A participation filled with selfish ambition—to increase our reputation.
The Guild War attracted enormous attention across districts.
There was no reason not to use it.
And there was another reason.
The Six Apostles might try something.
“I told the young master about it after yesterday’s meal. He told me to handle it however I wanted.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.
Becoming the Galaxy that governed a district was endgame content of Nightmare Dungeon, alongside discovering all hidden pieces of every labyrinth.
Winning the Guild War was extremely difficult.
Even with twenty thousand hours of experience, it wouldn’t be easy at my current level.
‘Which makes it even better.’
If the road to your destination was long and thorny, you simply learned to enjoy the pain of thorns piercing your skin.
After experiencing countless incidents and disasters, I could even smile if pierced by a rapier.
Though if it were a cavalry lance, I might need to reconsider.
In any case, until the Guild War, my focus would be growth.
Time wasn’t plentiful, but strengthening our forces should be possible.
“Kids, if you’re done eating, let’s go.”
“To the young master’s mansion?”
“Yes. But first let’s get some light exercise.”
I left the house with the siblings and went for a jog around Cultist Town.
Perhaps because my Stamina stat had increased,
my endurance had clearly improved compared to when we were in Nest of the Sneaking Ghoul Pack.
I was still slower than the siblings.
But turning the shame of falling behind children into motivation wasn’t a bad thing.
“Whew… your legs are fast and strong.”
“You’re just slow and weak, Kar!”
“Thank you for accurately stating the facts.”
I ruffled Marlin’s hair and washed my face briefly at home.
The rental house provided by the Harmony Church had no shower or bathtub.
Not out of neglect.
A cultist once kidnapped a poor person, cut up their body, and tried to wash it in the bath before delivering it as an offering.
After that incident, bathing facilities were removed.
“Kids, let’s bathe at the young master’s mansion.”
“You say that like it’s a public bathhouse.”
“Ah. Right. It’s not a shared facility.”
“….”
We arrived at the Brites family villa.
As expected of a wealthy information-broker family, the facilities were luxurious.
I finally washed properly after a long time.
I didn’t need to change clothes.
The artifact Sky Invader, imbued with the Exalted One’s superior filthiness, couldn’t be dirtied by sweat or grime.
“Good morning, Lord Kar.”
After bathing and finishing the free meal Charlotte prepared in the dining hall, the butler Sergius approached and bowed politely.
“Good morning, Butler. What is it?”
“Please accept this first.”
He handed me a flat semicircular object wrapped in a delicate handkerchief.
《Artifact — Twin Link Fragment》
《Two pieces form a pair. They allow communication even from a great distance.》
A very expensive communication artifact.
Odilon usually carried one piece.
The other had belonged to Rosalia rather than me, due to Odilon’s extreme distrust of people.
“Has the young master finally come to trust me?”
“You appear to have reached something similar to trust, though not quite there yet.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Odilon still regarded me not as a companion but as a business partner in the expedition.
Considering his personality, this was almost the highest level of approval possible.
Though even that was barely a quarter of what normal people would consider trust.
“And just earlier, I spoke with the mage you wished to recruit.”
“Oh? Really?”
While eating the apple Charlotte served as dessert, I asked eagerly.
“What did he say about my proposal?”
“He accepted immediately and confidently.”
As expected.
He didn’t refuse.
Just like a dark mage I personally raised.
“He even suggested having the competition today.”
That boldness was typical of the youngest of the “Le” siblings.
The possibility that he wasn’t my created build could now be completely dismissed.
“I understand. Let’s go immediately.”
“I anticipated that answer and already arranged the meeting.”
“Thank you. Did he mention which labyrinth?”
“He said you could choose. He also taunted that you could pick a labyrinth advantageous to yourself if you were afraid.”
My answer was obvious.
“D-Rank Labyrinth Library of Sin. It’s in District Six.”
“…That place.”
Sergius stroked his chin and frowned.
Marlin, who was still scraping her bowl clean, tilted her head.
“Butler, what’s wrong? Is it dangerous?”
“No. It’s simply an environment disadvantageous to Lord Kar.”
“What?”
“Demons feed on negative emotions. The more they consume, the stronger their physical abilities become. Considering that, Library of Sin is essentially a battlefield for demons.”
Marlin’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
“Kar… do you want to resign as expedition leader?”
“Of course not.”
“Oh, I see. You chose a disadvantageous condition because that makes it more fun.”
I quietly patted the back of her head.
“You know me too well.”
It was the correct answer.
Though it wasn’t the only reason.
“Butler, may I also decide the competition rules?”
Sergius nodded.
“That should be acceptable.”
The old butler suddenly chuckled.
“It’s strange. That young man is a complete stranger, yet his personality and tendencies are remarkably similar to yours.”
“How similar?”
“You’ll understand when you meet him. For a moment I even thought he might be your demon relative.”
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
“In that case, I’ll deliver your message exactly as you said.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
After Sergius left the dining hall, I patted the siblings’ backs.
“Kids, get ready.”
“For what?”
“What do you think?”
My heart was already pounding.
“Get ready to win overwhelmingly with me.”