Chapter 193: Only Much Later
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 193: Only Much Later
“Iris.”
“Come in.”
The festival, which had remained bright even through the night, had come to an end. It was now around 1:00 PM the following day. The summons from the Guild wasn't expected until tomorrow, and the people at the inn, who had spent the night celebrating, had yet to recover from the aftermath.
I woke up a bit early and headed to Iris’s magic item shop, as I had a great deal of business to attend to.
“I’ve heard so many things that I can’t seem to organize them in my head.”
“I see.”
First, I needed to address what I was most curious about.
“Who are you?”
“Iris Albresto.”
“I mean more than just your name.”
A True Ancestor Vampire. Iris had been a vampire since the moment she was born. She also hailed from a Labyrinth that had undergone a Labyrinth Opening long ago because it hadn't been discovered by humans in time.
That was the extent of what I knew about her origins. However, after hearing the Knight Lord’s words, something felt a bit off.
“The last Vampire Lord.”
“Oh my.”
Though her expression didn't change at all, she raised her right hand to cover her mouth as if surprised. Not a single muscle in her face moved, so I had no idea what she was actually trying to hide.
“It seems the Knight Lord told you.”
“Yes, I happened to hear it.”
As far as I knew, the Knight Lord was the most powerful necro-type entity among the knight classes. Naturally, he had to be a boss entity. I could somewhat guess Iris’s origins, considering she possessed the Mana Core of such a necro-type monster.
“You aren't an ordinary entity, are you?”
“That’s a hurtful thing to say to a monster.”
“Sigh.”
She always used this strange way of speaking—appearing to communicate while ultimately remaining inscrutable, her true meaning never quite getting through. I had always let it slide, but I needed to know the truth now.
“You must have been a Stratum Lord. The Knight Lord obviously was as well.”
“Correct.”
“Did you say it was Stellika? The Labyrinth that opened on the surface 700 years ago.”
“That wasn't the name of the Labyrinth. It was just the name of the region where the opening occurred.”
“Whatever. Iris, why are you here? I heard the Knight Lord made a promise to you. He said the last Vampire Lord promised to grant his wish.”
“That’s right. Hersha’s final wish was to meet Amelia.”
“Amelia... that must be his younger sister’s name.”
In the end, the promise Iris made was fulfilled through me. Iris gave me the Knight Lord’s Mana Core, and by borrowing my body, she met his younger sister on the 40th Floor and brought about her erasure.
“Was supporting me all this time... just to fulfill that promise?”
Knowing I had a special Skill, she had provided me with monsters almost for free to help me reach the 40th Floor. It made sense now why she had given me expensive monster materials despite gaining nothing in return until now.
“To some extent.”
“Then that means there’s another reason. Is the reason you’re here... also to fulfill the Knight Lord’s wish?”
“That, too. To some extent.”
“What is it, then? The reason for your existence.”
“What is it you want to ask? Why I’m living here?”
“Yes.”
With a nonchalant expression, Iris rested her chin on her hand and looked at me. Her eyes rolled slightly as if she were contemplating various thoughts, and soon, an answer came.
“First, because I didn't die.”
“Because you didn't die?”
“I’ll affirm this much: I am the Lord who ruled over the Vampire Species. Though they’ve likely fallen into ruin by now.”
“I see.”
“I am strong. So strong that humans cannot kill me. But I’ve lost my power. To the point where I can’t even kill a human.”
“Is that... because of the Succubus Skill?”
“You could say that.”
Iris was the Lord who ruled the Vampire Species, a tribe of demi-humans. Her strength was such that no one could kill her, but currently, she had lost the power to harm others due to the side effects of the Succubus Skill.
Since she lacked the strength to oppose all of humanity, she lived this secluded life. Just like a human.
“Why and how did you get that Skill?”
“I suppose it was a warning. I’ve lived a long time, and I visited the Great Labyrinth to keep my promise to the Knight Lord.”
“Are you saying monsters that came out through a Labyrinth Opening... can go back into a Labyrinth?”
“Some can.”
This was news to me. Or rather, it was a topic I had never really thought about—whether monsters that had emerged onto the surface through an opening could enter another Labyrinth.
“What do you mean by a warning?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Since it wasn't a place for me to be, the Master of the Great Labyrinth gave me this Skill as a warning to drive me out.”
“The Master of the Great Labyrinth...? Wait a minute. They intentionally bestow Skills?”
My head couldn't keep up with the sheer amount of information. If that was the case, then the saying 'the Labyrinth has a will of its own' was actually true.
“The Master of the Great Labyrinth. What on earth is that...?”
“Why do you think Labyrinths appeared on the surface?”
“The reason Labyrinths appeared? That seems like a very fundamental question all of a sudden.”
“But it’s something you should know. You have a reason to.”
Iris continued to spout words that were difficult for me to grasp.
“What is it? That reason.”
“Most Labyrinths, excluding the Three Great Labyrinths... can be seen as tools to conquer the surface.”
“Conquer the surface...?”
“Yes. A Labyrinth is a type of invasion ship. When the fuel is full... it’s an invasion ship that pours monsters onto the surface.”
“The fuel is mana... and the invasion is the Opening.”
“Exactly. I like how quick you are to understand.”
It was a concept that made some sense. Labyrinths were a means for monsters to invade and conquer the surface. When the fuel, mana, reached its capacity, they would pour out monsters through a Labyrinth Opening.
“Why are the Great Labyrinths excluded?”
The Three Great Labyrinths. She likely meant Hechituk, Roanmarie, and Calax.
“Because they have a different purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“Perhaps the purpose of defending against the monster invasion?”
“Defending against... an invasion? They’re the same Labyrinths, though. They’re crawling with monsters inside.”
It made no sense at all. If they were packed with monsters to begin with, shouldn't the Great Labyrinths feel more like elite invasion ships?
“The Three Great Labyrinths never undergo an Opening. No matter how full of mana they get, they are invasion ships that do not invade.”
“Then... why do they exist?”
“So that humans can plunder supplies from the invasion ships.”
“Does that mean... the Great Labyrinths exist to nurture humans?”
“Yes.”
Labyrinths were a means for monsters to invade the surface, but that didn't mean humans gained nothing from them. Ultimately, people entered the Labyrinths and, conversely, obtained good Skills. By gaining powerful military force, they acquired the strength to defend against the invasion.
“Why... why are they different? The Great Labyrinths and the ordinary ones?”
“It’s likely a difference in the masters' inclinations.”
“The masters... I heard there are Masters of the Great Labyrinths. Who are they?”
“Monsters.”
“Well, obviously they’re monsters. They wouldn't be human. I’m asking why they would help humans.”
“I don't know either.”
“Ah.”
I couldn't tell if she just didn't want to answer or if she truly didn't know. I couldn't find out right now, but I had gained some shocking information.
“Is it okay if I report this to the public?”
“Do as you wish. Though I’m not sure what would come of it.”
To be honest, I wasn't sure who would believe me. Ravi might listen with interest. Sera would probably just nod a little. Dora would be too busy with work to care.
I didn't particularly feel like spreading this around everywhere, either.
“Then... what about you?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you also intend to invade the surface through a Labyrinth Opening?”
“I’m neutral. Somewhere between the ordinary monsters and the Masters of the Great Labyrinths.”
“What about other monsters who maintain neutrality? Are the Great Labyrinths the only ones trying to stop the invasion?”
“Neutrality is a privilege of the strong.”
“...I see.”
Ultimately, according to Iris, all Labyrinths except for the Three Great Labyrinths existed solely as a means to invade the surface.
However, the Great Labyrinths didn't seem particularly friendly toward humans either. The idea that they would never undergo an Opening was also hard to believe.
“How strong are you, exactly?”
“I’m not sure how to explain it.”
She could exercise the privilege of the strong, and she was at a level where she could make a promise with a monster like the Knight Lord. And she had been the Vampire Lord.
“Then let me ask this.”
“Go ahead. Anything.”
“Which stratum were you the Lord of?”
“....”
Iris seemed to deliberate for a moment before finally giving an answer.
“The 9th Stratum.”
“...That means you were on the 90th Floor. The surface must have been in total chaos when it opened. How is that being neutral?”
Theoretically, it meant she had poured monstrous creatures onto the surface for 90 days. The surface should have been completely overrun.
“I told you, it’s a privilege of the strong. The ones beneath me were much the same.”
“Are you saying you didn't invade the surface?”
“Yes.”
“Sigh.”
It was an incredibly difficult story to grasp. To the point where I couldn't understand it at my current level.
“My head hurts, so let’s stop here. Could you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Please dry these clothes for me.”
From my storage artifact, a pile of women’s clothing, soaked in an unidentified liquid, poured out. Iris stared at the clothes on the floor for a long time before shifting her gaze to my face.
“Pervert.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
* * *
“How fascinating. Bring her out.”
“Please stay here so I don't get misunderstood.”
“I’ll do that.”
After hearing the explanation, Iris readily agreed. She seemed intrigued by the mention of someone with an abnormal Mana Circuit.
“Here goes.”
“Okay.”
—Thud.
After pulling out the woman I had 'consumed' with my Skill, I stepped out of the magic item shop and closed the door for a moment.
I waited for about three minutes. Then, with a creak, the door opened, and I heard Iris’s voice telling me to come back in.
But wait.
“What the hell are you doing? I told you to put clothes on her!”
“She was resisting.”
The woman was suspended in mid-air, completely naked, her limbs spread in an X-shape and bound.
“I mean, still!”
I had only seen the woman from behind, but still, seeing a stranger naked was a bit much.
“Hng...!”
I heard the sound of the suspended woman pulling on the chains with all her might. Fortunately, Iris’s grade was higher, and the chains didn't budge an inch.
“She needs some discipline.”
“Ick...! Ugh...!?”
I heard the sound of Iris pushing her chair back and standing up. What on earth was she planning to do...?
“Ugh, aaah!?”
“What are you doing, Iris?”
“Discipline.”
“Please, just put some clothes on her first.”
It was only much later that we were finally able to dress her and properly restrain her.