Chapter 41: Let's Head Out
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: Let's Head Out
“No, wait. You said what?”
“I am inviting you to join the Mayerbridge Union. I sensed great potential in you. You are destined for greatness.”
“Well, uh... thanks for the compliment.”
“It is not merely a compliment. It is a sign of recognition. From me, Raya Delbaheim.”
That’s a pretty cool line. It’s the kind of thing only someone who knows the weight of their own name can pull off.
In fact, I could guess that her reputation was formidable, even if I didn't know much about the famous figures of the Labyrinth City yet.
“Isn't that a bit of a hasty judgment? You don't even know what kind of curse skills I might pick up in the future.”
“That is a risk whether you are inside a clan or out. Furthermore, the wealth of a major clan is not so meager that we cannot afford to erase a few measly skills.”
“Then why haven't you erased that Orc Estrus skill—”
“Eek! Q-Quiet! There is a perfectly good reason for that!”
“And what exactly is that reason? Let’s hear it.”
“Ahem! Listen closely!”
Skills.
They are what everyone who enters the Labyrinth craves. While they can't be defined by any one thing, the generally accepted theory is that they occur when ‘a creature from outside the Labyrinth absorbs the mana within, causing a mutation in their mana circuits.’
Which meant that any creature from outside the Labyrinth, not just humans, could get them.
“Many races besides humans live in the Labyrinth City,” Raya said, pointing to her ears. “And as you might expect, animals like sheep and cattle can also acquire skills. Though the rate is incredibly slow.”
“Is that so?”
Some skills simply provided a slight boost in physical strength or sharpened one's hearing. Others caused physical changes, like changing hair color. Skills that completely transformed one's race fell into this category as well.
There were also skills that allowed the use of magic. Raya raised her right hand and extended her index finger toward my line of sight.
Crackle—
The tip of her finger froze instantly.
“Your finger...”
“It is a skill I possess. A skill that turns living things into ice. It doesn't just freeze them; it replaces them with ice of the same volume.”
“Whoa, that’s broken. You can just turn your opponent into ice?”
“If we were talking about water, I could only transform about three liters a day in localized areas.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Fortunately, I can revert it at will. It is possible because I am not merely freezing the object, but changing it into ice.”
Skills could make such magical things possible. Raya mentioned she had once seen a wandering elf use a skill to create a field of flowers.
Skills were incredibly diverse and unpredictable, impossible to categorize by form or method, but there was one thing that was certain.
“Skills arise from the mutation of mana circuits.”
“What exactly is a ‘mana circuit’ anyway?”
“Think of it as information made of mana... the blueprint that constitutes a living being's body.”
Humans have a mana circuit that identifies them as human, and elves have one that identifies them as elves. When these circuits are altered by a skill, the result can be a change in race.
“It seems there are even mana circuits that dictate sexual preferences.”
“...Yes.”
“Don't get mad.”
“Urgh...!”
“So. What was that reason for not erasing the skill?”
“When a circuit is altered by the Labyrinth's twisted mana, it leaves a trace. As I mentioned, skills that ‘change’ information usually cause physical alterations, while skills that allow for magic usually ‘add’ to the mana circuit. Since both involve circuits that weren't originally there, they leave a mark.”
“Hmm. Right.”
Mana circuits are delicate. Reverting an artificially altered circuit or removing an added one is a process that puts a great deal of strain on the body.
Repeating the process too many times in a short period can cause permanent damage to the mana circuits. This was why the cost of erasing skills increased exponentially with each subsequent removal.
“I see.”
“The O-Orc... Orc Estrus is a curse skill that doesn't significantly hinder Labyrinth exploration. Dealing with low-level monsters that only appear on the 9th and 10th floors is something I can leave to other explorers, even if I am not there...”
Taking the long view, it was better to endure the Orc Estrus skill for now rather than erasing it immediately and risking a much worse curse skill later. What if she erased the Orc Estrus skill only to be hit with a skill that made her a complete idiot?
“Above all, I am an elf. I do not mean to boast, but we are a race that lives much longer than humans.”
Human time is finite. Therefore, they often need to erase curse skills immediately, even if it costs a fortune. But elves are different. They can wait ten years for their mana circuits to stabilize, and once the difficulty of the removal drops, they can erase it without much trouble.
Lower difficulty meant lower fees and a higher success rate.
“Returning to the point, erasing three or four of your curse skills would be trivial for us. I am telling you, this is a tremendous opportunity.”
“Certainly.”
Dahlia had mentioned that the Mayerbridge Union was one of the four mega-clans in Calax. In other words, it was like being one of the top-tier universities back home—you know, like Kyungpook National, SNU, KAIST, or POSTECH. Not that I'm saying this just because I graduated from Kyungpook National.
The offer to easily erase several curse skills was quite tempting.
“Our clan is currently training many promising explorers like yourself. One explorer, who was once Lead Grade, rose through the ranks in no time and has now been promoted to Platinum Grade.”
“Ho.”
“We provide food, shelter, high-end equipment for exploration, and pass down most of our expertise and know-how. Explorers belonging to the Mayerbridge Union can even eat for free at our partner restaurants in the Northwest.”
“Hmm.”
“We also grant artifacts based on performance.”
The conditions were almost too good. Why were they going this far?
“Do other clans do this too?”
“This is only possible within the Mayerbridge Union.”
“Then I’m good.”
“A wise decision. If you just fill out this application—”
“No. I said I’m good. I’m not doing it.”
“...I beg your pardon?”
“I’m not joining. I won’t be entering the Mayerbridge Union.”
At those words, Raya’s eyes went wide. Who the hell said she was expressionless? Did that person have face blindness or something?
“I do not understand. Why?”
“What’s the reason for giving me such special treatment? That’s what I want to ask.”
“It is not special treatment for you alone. These are benefits given to all rookie explorers who join the Mayerbridge Union.”
“Then go find plenty of other rookies besides me.”
It was certainly an enticing offer. Solving the issues of food, clothing, and shelter, providing high-end equipment, passing down know-how and knowledge, and even giving out expensive artifacts—it was bound to be attractive.
But it sounded a little too good.
“Why go to such lengths?”
“Excuse me...?”
“What is the Mayerbridge Union so desperate for that they’re gathering rookie explorers like this?”
“That is...”
Usually, such exceptionally good offers come with a catch. Dammit, I already learned my lesson after eating that butterscotch candy Iris gave me. My mind was practically gone.
“Are you at war with another clan or something?”
“How did you...!”
“Wait, really? Good grief. What are you even fighting over in this tiny city? Can't you all just get along?”
This lady was so slow on the uptake that all those rumors must be lies. She got flustered every time I opened my mouth. Anyway, I knew it. Why would a massive clan like this call a rookie explorer aside just because they saw him pull off some stunts on the 10th floor?
They must be pretty desperate, and I wanted no part of that mess.
“Why did you come up from the 68th floor? Did something big happen?”
“T-That is...”
“I didn't take you for that kind of person. Anyway, don't go raising rookie explorers just to use them as pawns in your little war.”
“Y-You! I cannot overlook that statement! The Mayerbridge Union is not that kind of clan!”
“Yeah, okay. Regardless, I can't stay here. I’ll go eat where I’m staying. They’re probably preparing a meal for me, so I’m sorry, but you’ll have to eat alone.”
I know these kinds of places all too well. It’s obvious what life would be like after they use the money they spent feeding and raising you as leverage. This kind of total support naturally builds up an unpayable debt.
“Thanks for saving me, though. And for taking care of my pouch. Let’s meet again under better circumstances. By the way, do you know where my egg went?”
“E-Egg...?”
“There was a container with an egg in my pouch.”
“Ah, that... It is currently in an incubator.”
“I didn't think it would hatch. I was going to fry it, so why bother putting it in an incubator?”
I suppose that was also an attempt to score points with me. Whatever the reason, she did do me a favor. I’ll be grateful for what deserves gratitude, but business is business.
Besides, I wasn't exactly free until I paid off my debt to Albresto. I just needed to earn those 13 gold coins quickly and make enough to live comfortably.
I missed my old world, but I had no lingering attachments. I just wanted to live quietly here, without any trouble.
“Y-Yoo Eon!”
“What now?”
“I understand. I have heard your decision not to join the clan. However...”
Raya hesitated for a moment, her lips trembling. She looked like she had something to say but was struggling to get it out.
“I-If it is alright with you... I would like to... remain on friendly terms...”
“With me? Why?”
“I will explain the reason later.”
“What is it? Man, you’re making me curious.”
“To put it simply, I would like to say it is because that skill engraved on your left chest... is quite to my liking.”
“Hmm. Well, sure, as long as you don't suddenly ask me to take sides later.”
Raya nodded. The conversation was over, and in my current state, I was bound to collapse if I tried to walk. I needed to switch to the Orc Chieftain’s muscles, but doing that with Raya around was a bit awkward.
“Do you have any suppressant potions? My body is in a bit of a complicated state right now. If I try to move, it might affect you.”
“I do. Please wait a moment. I will also return your egg. Please accompany me for a short while.”
“Alright.”
The matter was settled for now. I wasn't joining the Mayerbridge Union, but she said she liked my skill.
As long as I didn't get too deeply involved, having some connections wouldn't hurt. Raya took a suppressant potion, and although she said she wouldn't eat, she ended up having a meal anyway. The food was delicious; if it weren't for the factional infighting, I might have actually joined the Mayerbridge Union.
Creeeeak—
“It is here.”
“Welcome, Lady Raya Delbaheim.”
“Whoa. What is all this?”
“This is a facility for raising monster eggs or other young creatures recovered from the Labyrinth.”
There was a warehouse-like building on a large plot of land, filled with cages everywhere. Eggs were waiting to hatch under warm lights. Following the manager's guidance, we went inside to an area where small eggs were clustered together.
“There it is.”
The egg I had brought was sitting there. It was destined to be a fried egg, but it had suddenly ended up in a high-end incubator.
“Aven. Would you mind leaving this for a moment and accompanying me? Once the egg hatches, I will have someone deliver it to your residence. Or, I could simply give you the incubator itself.”
“But will this thing even hatch? I brought it because I thought it was a dud.”
“According to our expert, it is a fertile egg. It has not failed to hatch.”
“Oh, so that’s how it was.”
So this little egg guy might actually be born. Don't birds consider the first person they see to be their mother? In that case, it would be better to take the incubator.
“Please send it to the Mounted Goat Inn. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes, I understand. We can find the location.”
The manager dutifully recorded the request. That should do it. With the incubator, there was no chance Sera or the Auntie would accidentally turn it into a fried egg.
“So, what did you want me to accompany you for?”
“Do you have an appraisal office you usually visit? Let us go there. I will explain on the way.”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
The egg was sent to the inn. I had finished most of my tasks, though a few remained...
Since Raya asked me to come along, I might as well go.
“Let’s head out.”