Chapter 202: Even for Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 202: Even for Me
“E-Explorer Aven. You may sit here.”
“Ah, so it’s here.”
A heavy silence settled over Conference Room 2. The reason, naturally, was Yoo Eon, who had just strolled in late.
‘This is madness…! This is what happens when you prop up a brat; they turn into arrogant pricks!’
Melarus Masaher, the Guild Management Chief of the Northeast Branch, pressed a hand to his forehead. He hadn't understood why Arthur Dexter, who usually kept his mouth shut, had been so proactive this time. In the end, Melarus had been forced to promote a Gold-grade explorer straight to Cobalt, skipping Platinum entirely.
And now, it seemed the boy’s ego had pierced the heavens, leading him to act out without regard for time or place.
—Click.
In the long history of the Guild Headquarters, few explorers summoned to a meeting had ever dared to pop the cap of a beverage placed on their designated table.
The bottles were intentionally chosen because they required significant force and made a loud noise, making it impossible to open them discreetly. But Yoo Eon, perhaps needing to hydrate after his trip to the restroom, popped the cap the moment he sat down.
Observation Team 2 was restless. Team 3 was bewildered. Even the members of the Mayerbridge Union, who comprised Team 1, didn't show much of a reaction, though the air was thick.
“Was he always like this?”
“Hmm.”
At Soles Getia’s question, Delbaheim pondered for a moment. In her memory, the man hadn't quite felt like this.
‘No, wait. Thinking back to our first meeting…’
Thinking back, Yoo Eon was someone who had hurled insults right off the bat. When they met again within the clan, things had been chaotic due to the Orc Estrus skill, but looking back, she realized Yoo Eon was simply someone who treated everyone—regardless of rank—with the same blunt lack of formality.
“I’m not entirely sure…”
Regardless, the meeting began. It started with the uncomfortable throat-clearing of five high-ranking officials and the rustling of paper. Though called a meeting, it was essentially a tribunal—a proceeding to address incidents and disseminate future directives.
While the Explorer’s Guild was not technically the superior of the explorers, the explorers had to follow the guidelines set by the Guild to enjoy the infrastructure of the managed Labyrinths.
Originally, these guidelines were closer to a code of conduct restricted to Labyrinth conquest. However, in a Labyrinth City where individuals of various backgrounds and immense martial power gathered, incidents were bound to happen.
Normally, a city grows when a lord generates profit through residents and builds infrastructure; freemen then flock to it, some settle down, and the population swells.
A Labyrinth City was different. It was built solely to utilize the "Labyrinth"—a sort of specialized labor office that appeared in a specific region. Thus, the Explorer’s Guild, which managed the Labyrinth, functioned as an administrative body similar to a lord, though slightly less dominant.
“Pay the 170 gold coins in promised fees to the Blacksmith Clan.”
“But…! What we requested was a sword that wouldn't break even against the teeth of a Killer Croch!”
“The problem is that you failed to provide a clear benchmark. The contract states you asked for equipment to fight a Killer Croch. In response, the Blacksmith Clan provided a sword with enough durability to cut through a Killer Croch’s carapace.”
“Common sense dictates it should be able to withstand a bite—”
“By that logic, it sounds to me like you were trying to purchase three one-handed Phantasmite swords with at least 30% purity for a mere 170 gold coins.”
“No, well, that is…”
“The decision is final. We are moving on.”
As various incidents were discussed and judgments were passed on minor matters one after another, Yoo Eon watched with interest.
‘So this is the kind of stuff they talk about here.’
Having never been to a meeting before, Yoo Eon nodded as he listened closely. Contrary to his expectations, the high-ranking officials reached fair conclusions based on precedents and factual data. They even discussed revising outdated guidelines through internal debate.
‘It runs more normally than I thought.’
His internal evaluation of the place began to shift; it wasn't quite the disaster Katrina had made it out to be.
Ultimately, as an institution capable of overseeing numerous Labyrinth Cities, it had a clear justification for its existence and survival.
In a Labyrinth City teeming with rowdy and troublesome explorers, the Guild was the reason those volatile groups couldn't simply use raw force to oppress the weak.
The physical deterrents at the Guild Headquarters consisted of approximately 60 Cobalt-grade individuals, 12 Palladium-grade individuals, and 4 Titanium-grade individuals. While a massive Labyrinth City might be able to break free from Guild control through sheer force, the Guild Headquarters remained relevant because it had two Orichalcum-grade explorers and, more importantly, it was actually quite competent at its job.
One by one, various incidents that had caused friction within Calax were addressed. Finally, the topic turned to Yoo Eon.
“Explorer Aven. On July 6th, you officially became a Cobalt-grade explorer.”
“That’s correct.”
“First, allow me to offer my congratulations. The Guild always welcomes the birth of a powerful explorer.”
Atreus scrutinized the papers in his hand and tossed a few questions toward Yoo Eon.
“You skipped Platinum and went straight from Gold to Cobalt. Is there a reason for this?”
“I subjugated an Irregular entity of the Megido Serpent, the boss of the 3rd Stratum.”
The high-ranking officials weren't asking because they didn't know. Everything was already organized on paper, but words on a page are just words. The weight of a Q&A session within a Guild Headquarters meeting was entirely different.
Under such heavy scrutiny, people were reluctant to speak anything but the truth. Even if they weren't, the room was filled with people possessing unique magic tools and specialized skills.
In reality, there was no skill that could perfectly discern the truth of a person's statement, but the world was vast and the Labyrinth was fickle. Since no one knew what might happen, it was difficult to give false testimony in the conference room.
“Previously, you were accompanied by four Cobalt-grade explorers—three from the Northwest and one from the Southwest—with whom you had no prior record of cooperation. How did that come about?”
“They are the manager of the inn where I stay and her colleagues. We entered the Labyrinth together after forming a connection.”
“I see. Did you have no direct involvement in the subjugation of the boss entity?”
“No. I had help from someone I already knew.”
“What would you say the ratio was?”
“Seven to three. I was the seven.”
The questioning continued regarding the Megido Serpent subjugation: the circumstances of the kill, the reason they couldn't flee, why the other three Cobalt-grade explorers weren't directly involved in the kill, and so on.
“I see you had a sparring match at the Northeast Grand Martial Arena with Arthur Dexter, the Management Chief of the Southwest Branch.”
“The Small and Medium Clan Alliance picked a fight. I proved myself through strength.”
It wasn't the kind of vocabulary usually used in such a solemn setting, but they let it slide. There were plenty of eccentrics among explorers, after all.
“Following that, twelve Cobalt-grade explorers belonging to the Calax Northeastern Explorer Clan Alliance, which you mentioned, entered the Labyrinth and have since gone missing. Do you have any idea what happened?”
Yoo Eon hesitated for a moment. Is it okay to say this? He had indeed killed twelve Cobalt-grade explorers, but it was hard to say for certain if they were the ones in question.
He wondered if there was a chance they were a different twelve who just happened to be there at the same time, but...
‘Probably not.’
“It hasn't been officially confirmed, but I killed twelve explorers who claimed to be Cobalt Grade inside the Labyrinth.”
“...What are you talking about? I believe a detailed explanation is in order.”
There had been talk about twelve Cobalt-grade explorers acting strangely, but in the end, that was just what they had claimed. Human testimony was often considered the least reliable form of evidence.
“I killed twelve explorers who attempted to assassinate me. It happened on the 35th Floor during the final match of the Calax Birth Festival.”
“Did they claim to be Cobalt-grade explorers with their own mouths?”
“Yes. I recognized about two of their faces. I don't remember their names, but among them was an explorer who had appeared as my opponent when the controversy over my Cobalt Grade promotion first broke out.”
“Are you saying... that the Small and Medium Clan Alliance organized twelve Cobalt-grade explorers to wait on the 35th Floor and attempt to assassinate you?”
“That is what I believe.”
The room began to buzz. The four high-ranking officials, excluding Atreus, whispered among themselves, discussing the claim.
Observation Teams 1 and 2, excluding the Antonio Brotherhood, looked stunned by this new information.
“D-Delbaheim-nim...! Is that true...?”
“I’m not sure myself...”
After a brief moment of unrest, Atreus raised his hand to restore order.
“Explorer Aven, it sounds as though you are claiming to have fought and defeated twelve Cobalt-grade explorers simultaneously.”
“I killed four first, then the remaining eight.”
“I understand you have only just reached Cobalt Grade. The twelve missing explorers were veterans who had held that rank for anywhere from six months to eight years.”
“Yes.”
“Skills are important, but in terms of raw martial power... that claim lacks credibility.”
It was a reasonable point. How could a single rookie Cobalt-grade explorer take on twelve seasoned veterans alone?
Furthermore, if it happened during the match, the timeframe was quite short. Based on the timeline recorded during the event, it couldn't have taken more than an hour at most.
He had the record of killing the Irregular Megido Serpent and a good sparring record against Arthur Dexter, but if there really had been twelve Cobalt-grade explorers, they should have been able to handle those feats even more perfectly.
“As of now, we do not judge such a feat to be possible.”
Just as Atreus shook his head, expressing his skepticism toward Yoo Eon’s testimony—
—Creeeeak.
“My opinion differs slightly.”
The closed doors of Conference Room 2 swung open, and someone stepped inside.
There were very few people who would dare to enter unannounced while the high-ranking officials of the Guild Headquarters were working solemnly.
And there were even fewer who could directly contradict Atreus’s words.
—Click, clack.
A tall woman with orange hair tied back.
“Lady Margarita... What brings you here?”
“Twelve Cobalt-grade explorers? I believe it’s possible.”
She was one of the Orichalcum-grade explorers belonging to the Guild Headquarters. Adelaide Margarita was that person.
“You believe it’s possible? What do you mean by that?”
“Explorer Aven, was it? I am saying that with his martial power, it is entirely possible for him to face twelve Cobalt-grade explorers at once.”
“On what basis do you make such a judgment?”
“On what basis? Hmm.”
Adelaide approached the table where Yoo Eon was sitting and stared intently at his face.
“He is strong. This Explorer Aven.”
“For what reason—”
“If he is able to draw out his full power...”
And once again, her eyes flashed with that same spark as before.
“Even I would find him a challenge.”