Chapter 130: No Choice but to Get Overly Invested
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130: No Choice but to Get Overly Invested
The next morning.
“It’s grown incredibly large.”
“Is that so?”
I was lying comfortably on the bed, having my skills appraised. Although Ravi had been living a life lately that seemed more like the path of a beast, she was actually a qualified appraiser who had even opened her own appraisal office.
Ravi, currently in her cat form, was perched on my back, inspecting my skill circuit. The last time she’d seen it was probably back at the Mounted Goat Inn. Apparently, the circuit had grown significantly larger since then.
Normally, when a skill circuit expands, new functions are added or its existing effects are maximized. However, since I was the first person to ever manifest this specific skill, it was a mystery how its functions would change.
Even as the user, I hadn't noticed much of a difference. I couldn't tell if the circuit had expanded through repeated use like other skills, or if it had simply been warped by the aftereffects of the Dragon Heart.
That said, I was trying things I’d never attempted before.
“You said you ate a Wisp and then spat it back out...?”
“It’s right here next to me.”
“A Wisp?!”
When I deactivated the invisibility magic of the Wisp fluttering nearby, a butterfly emitting a lime-green light came into view.
“Gasp! It’s a Wisp!”
“It really is a Wisp. But how...?”
Ms. Alfi, who had been watching calmly from the side, also looked surprised. It made sense; Wisps were creatures that couldn't survive outside of a forest. Just as Direwolves gained mana from moonlight and Lizardmen gained it through water, Wisps needed to live in forests filled with trees and plants to obtain mana.
Furthermore, unlike Direwolves or Lizardmen, these creatures didn't consume any nutrients other than mana. They were complete spirit-type monsters that lived entirely on mana alone. It was naturally shocking to see one wandering around outside the forest like this.
—Hello! Red-haired human girl!
“Hmm... As I thought, I can’t understand what the Wisp is saying... But why is this Wisp even here?”
“You can’t understand it, Ravi?”
“Of course not. Mages have been researching the language of Wisps for over two hundred years now. Even so, they still haven't deciphered it.”
“I see.”
—Hero! Can I not speak the human language?
“I wonder. It would be nice if we could communicate.”
Despite its appearance, it was a powerful monster capable of transitioning between materialization and dematerialization. If it could communicate with people other than me, it could serve as a messenger. Though in terms of combat power, all it could do was sprinkle things like Parupa powder.
“Wait a minute! Yoo Eon, did you just understand what the Wisp said?!”
“Somehow. It’s been like that ever since I ate it once.”
“Unbelievable! This is going to be like a meteor hitting the academic world!”
“It’s a secret, so don’t go around telling anyone. Ms. Alfi, I’m counting on you as well.”
“Yes, I understand.”
For now, that was the end of the skill circuit check. Even if there were changes to the circuit, there wasn't much for Ravi to do as an appraiser since I, the user, hadn't experienced any tangible shifts.
“This little one is Wispie. We ended up forming a bond somehow.”
“Incredible, a Wisp that follows a human...! This is a first!”
—It’s because you’re the Hero! You’re different from ordinary humans!
“Is its health alright? That Wisp. From what I know, they aren't supposed to be able to leave the forest.”
It was awkward to answer Ms. Alfi’s question. I had promised Aurora that I wouldn't reveal the existence of Rumianabrixi.
“Well... I ate it once and spat it out, so maybe it’s because of that.”
“Hmm, that could be it!”
Ravi accepted the explanation. In her mind, she figured that since it had been consumed and released by Yoo Eon’s ability, some kind of internal change must have occurred.
Ordinary people still didn't know that Wisps created Ents. I wondered how they could still be ignorant of that, but apparently, the magic used by humans and the magic used by monsters were worlds apart.
Ravi used a language analogy: the magic circuits that composed magic were ultimately derived from the languages humans used. Therefore, it was impossible to understand the magic of Wisps, whose language didn't translate at all in the first place.
“Hmm, so what are you going to do today, Yoo Eon?”
What should I do today? I didn't particularly feel like entering the Labyrinth, but spending all my time at the inn felt like a waste. I was occasionally doing the sword-swinging homework Father had given me, but the restrictions—like swinging only once an hour or only ten times a day—made it awkward to dedicate much time to it.
“Ah, I do have one thing in mind.”
“What is it?”
* * *
“Whoa... it’s huge.”
“It really is massive.”
Even compared to the Nest Grand Hall in northwest Calax, this place was slightly larger. This was the Arena, the one and only hobby of Lady Renart that I’d heard about.
There were several people around with flashy outfits and rough-looking faces; they seemed to be associated with the stadium.
“The schedule... Ah, here it is.”
Theodora was coming over to Roanmarie from Calax tomorrow, and since I was supposed to go to the auction house with Madam, I didn't have much time.
Looking at the schedule, tomorrow was an Infantress match where people without skills fought each other with weapons, and the day after that was empty. Then, three days from now, there was a Bestiari match where humans fought monsters.
Matches where people with skills fought each other rarely happened. People with good skills commanded high appearance fees, and it was difficult to balance the difficulty, often resulting in boring, one-sided fights.
“Today is... Bestiari.”
Bestiari matches, where fighters took on monsters, were among the most popular events at the Arena, along with Infantress matches. Tournaments were financially difficult because they required finding many participants, and the timing was often awkward.
If it was an ordinary person without skills, even a fight against a weak monster could be made very entertaining. Just like how I had fought desperately against six Direwolves back when I hadn't realized how to use my skills.
“How much are the tickets?”
“Five silver coins per person. It starts in two hours, and the price dropped because the seats haven't sold out.”
“Two, please.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Apparently, the seats were originally twelve silver each. I’d gotten a good deal at less than half price.
“Ravi, shall we look around and grab something to eat?”
“Did you buy the tickets? How much were they?”
“Fifty silver coins each.”
Ravi, who had been rummaging through the small crossbody bag slung over her shoulder, flinched and stopped her hand. She slowly lifted her head and looked at me.
“R-Really...?”
I silently extended my right hand forward.
“C-Could you count it as one silver per appraisal...?”
“I’m joking. Let’s go eat.”
The skill appraisal fee, which used to be ten copper coins, had just jumped tenfold.
* * *
After a light meal at one of the many nearby osterias, we killed time by strolling through the streets. We returned to the Arena and took our seats before the two hours were up. I’d expected the seats to be empty, but the place was packed. I could definitely feel that the population here was larger than in Calax.
Since coming to this world, this was probably the largest crowd I’d ever been in. I’d bought the tickets just to get a general idea of how things worked amidst the pleasantly boisterous atmosphere...
But now that I was here, I was starting to feel a bit of anticipation myself.
Looking at the schedule, there was a lot of explanatory text at the bottom, but honestly, I didn't really understand it even after reading, so I didn't bother looking closely. From a quick glance, it seemed like fights between people with useless skills and monsters that weren't particularly strong.
I’d read the first one or two items on the schedule, but the content seemed similar, so I stopped reading after that.
Exactly 2:30 PM. At the time listed on the schedule, a man who appeared to be the announcer stepped out onto a high tower installed on the north side of the Arena and grabbed a microphone.
Wait, why is there a microphone in this world?
Just how far behind was Calax? To think they were still stuck in the Middle Ages while microphones had already been developed.
[Testing, one, two! Can you hear me! Ladies and gentlemen in the audience, welcome back to the Roanmarie Arena!!]
However, the sound was slightly unnatural. Seeing how it echoed evenly throughout the Arena, it was likely magic. Was the thing he was holding just a staff, then? Why was he holding it like a microphone if it was just a staff?
The announcer droned on with trivial talk about how the warm weather was nice and how he could see the crowd had grown, but he cut his speech short after being met with boos and jeers from the audience.
[Fine! Then let’s head straight into the first stage! This is already his fourth survival! Malgenic Corte!]
—Wooooooo!!
—Malgenic!! Survive this time too!!
—If you’re just going to throw nets and stall for time again, just die already!!!
The support was incredibly passionate. Judging by the crowd's reaction, this wasn't his first time participating. He carried a net and a spear on his back and was well-equipped with greaves and gauntlets.
His helmet, adorned with a symbolic red feather on the crown, was quite striking. I suppose one needed at least one distinctive feature like that to catch people's eyes and be remembered.
“Ravi, what do you think?”
“There are so many people...!”
“Can you see the stage alright?”
“Yes, I can see it well.”
Fortunately, the seating was tiered, so Ravi, with her shorter stature, seemed to have a good view. I’d left Wispie back at the inn since I didn't think it would like crowded places; it was probably taking a nap right about now.
[If he survives this fight, Malgenic Corte will mark his fifth survival!!]
Of course, they must have adjusted the difficulty, but for an ordinary person to survive four times against monsters was quite an impressive feat of grit.
[Malgenic! A classic Retiarius who fights with a net and spear! Will he be able to survive this time as well!]
[His net is equipped with vicious barbs that never let go once they bite into an opponent! His spear is more than enough to pierce a monster’s hide and cause heavy bleeding—!!]
[What kind of foe will this capable warrior face this time!!]
—Hurry up, you bastard!!!
—You talk too much!!
“T-The atmosphere is so hostile....”
“Well, that’s how people who enjoy watching fights are.”
Ravi shrank back, slightly overwhelmed by the rowdy energy. Honestly, I didn't quite understand why they were getting so worked up.
Before long, a sound erupted from the iron-barred gates beneath the spectator stands.
[Could it be!! That vicious monster known to those in the know!!]
“Wait, that’s...”
[The monster wolves that indiscriminately slaughter explorers in the new Great Labyrinth, Calax!!!]
“Why are those things there...?”
[Direwolves!! And there are...!! Six of them—!!!!!]
“Are you kidding me...!! Win!! Malgenic Corte!!! You have to win—!!!!!”
“Y-Yoo Eon?!”
I had no choice but to get overly invested.