Chapter 36
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: 5th Floor - Lv. 96 Blanche (1)
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Named fixed NPCs that appear under the Exile setting leave an unforgettable impact on anyone who's encountered them.
They're filthy strong, for starters.
In the early game, they're overwhelmingly powerful, with no real counterplay.
Regardless of their years of service, they come loaded with superhuman buffs, making their base stats absurdly high.
And most of them hail from worlds far harsher than modern Earth.
It's common for them to have made combat or killing their profession.
A typical Exile in the Labyrinth has to start from their first kill and gradually master everything.
But fixed named NPCs are on another level of proficiency in those areas.
And given their backstories, their entry into the Labyrinth is anything but ordinary.
The vast majority of fixed named NPCs get exiled fully armed and ready.
In my case, I got dragged in while turning on my computer to play a game.
Outfit: jeans and a T-shirt.
The Girl got pulled in on her way home from school.
Just her school uniform. As for her bag, she said she kept all her textbooks in her locker.
Having even basic school supplies would make things easier.
The Hunter at least had an outdoor style going for him.
He's from the gun-loving United States.
Wonder what it would've been like if he'd had a firearm on him.
He said he's thought about that himself.
And Blanche is among the most vicious fixed named NPCs, entering with top-tier early-game gear.
Ever heard of super spy stories?
The genre where the protagonist is a superhuman agent armed to the teeth with all sorts of sci-fi gadgets, like 007.
I loved those movies. Never saw them in real life, though.
At least in my world, super spies were fictional—nothing real about them.
Real spies focused on espionage, not frontline combat.
But in Blanche's world, they existed for real.
And she got exiled right in the middle of a mission.
From a near-future setting with space stations and space shuttles zipping around.
Even in the Labyrinth, her tech is busted.
The continents on even floors start off feeling medieval-ish for the most part.
As you progress, the timelines start seriously glitching out.
That's how you get orcs who've gone to space.
Railguns hit harder than most magic.
Blanche isn't from that far-future era, but she still brings tech levels you just don't see early on.
Her basic suit is an optical camouflage suit.
That thing outperforms even [Invisibility] magic.
So how do you even take her down early?
Her gear is so OP that, unusually for an assassin-class named, she's a beast even in straight-up fights.
When fixed named NPCs clash, unless it's a top-tier warrior like King Arthur, she wipes the floor with them.
Of course, just being ridiculously strong doesn't mean you should avoid her early on.
Her broken personality is the real issue.
The female archer's party has been tailing our group since earlier.
While scouting the 5th floor's terrain, I asked,
"Any idea what kind of map this is?"
The female archer is an Exile with some solid experience and plenty of enthusiasm still burning bright.
If she knows, great; if not, she's eager to gather info either way.
Fortunately, it didn't have any weird gimmicks.
Just your standard boss fight that every Exile has faced at some point.
"With that pyramid smack in the center, I'd say it's a giant boss. Probably not something you tank head-on—gotta use the gimmicks to win."
Like a griffon—a 'monster' through and through.
Pure stats-wise, regardless of levels, it's so strong there's no way to win.
But it's the kind of fight where a path to victory is prepared.
Feels just like a game. An overwhelmingly powerful foe you can't resist directly.
Use the environment for a dramatic clear.
Well, it was a game originally. Kinda makes sense.
And yeah, those elements do help with adaptation and that sense of accomplishment.
It's reality as is, yet somehow carries this bizarre unrealness.
Not like you never get screwed by bad luck.
But even then, clues to push through are always provided.
Everyone goes through it.
Even most of those low-year Exiles scraping by in the 3rd floor refugee camps eventually realize it.
The Labyrinth only throws trials you can overcome.
Of course, 'can' doesn't mean 'easy.'
That's why a good chunk of 10-year vets keep challenging it without giving up.
"Know where Blanche is?"
This one was to the mage.
She's the pint-sized mage from the female archer's party—smaller and daintier than even our Girl.
Yet she snapped to attention with sharp eyes and barked back,
"No idea! Sorry!"
Is that something to shout so enthusiastically?
The female archer gave a wry smile.
"Mages are rare, so she's probably just eager to impress you."
"They're a dime a dozen once you hit the kingdoms."
"We haven't been there yet. Haha."
Drive for growth is a big deal.
Most folks who pick mage early on are like that.
Even hack mages relying purely on skills need way more application and mastery than other classes.
"Alright, lemme tweak your form a bit, then let's pinpoint Blanche. Follow me."
The mage perked up and swung her staff with gusto.
The Girl cut in.
"Hold on!"
"What?"
"Me too! I wanna learn magic!"
Come to think of it, the Girl's shown a ton of interest in magic from the start.
Magic's biggest issue is that it doesn't exist in most worlds.
Sure, some Exiles come from worlds with a bit of magic.
But Earth-like worlds? Magic's nonexistent there for the most part.
And the majority of Exiles get yanked from Earth-likes.
The Girl deflated fast, compared to her usual study bug energy.
"It's hard!"
Well, duh. If it weren't, everyone'd be a mage.
First off, that damn mana—particle or wave, who knows—its fundamental existence.
Even sensing it is step one.
Once you feel it flow, it becomes magic power.
The driving force for flow comes from living beings with ego... nah, even without ego, if there's will, you can generate magic power.
Theory's simple.
Practicing it? Hell.
Hell, early on, it's better to just tank magic hits to get a feel for it.
Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed 6-year Exile mage was doing way better.
She's not just skill-spamming.
"Who'd you learn from?"
"A fairy I met on an even floor a while back!"
Solid basics taught. Lack of application? Fairies gonna fairy—long-lived race, super traditional.
Not the best fit for humans.
I fixed a bunch of bad habits and usage issues all around.
Best to scoop up that vampire kid, but if not, maybe scout this one for real.
Our even floors are too brutal to call mages dead weight.
"[Lightning Bolt]? Better off just using it as a skill. Lightning's a nightmare element to handle directly."
"Got it!"
Feels like I'm running a boot camp.
Watching that, the Girl got a bit pouty.
"Hey, um. Uncle! What about me! Me!"
"Felt the magic power yet?"
"No clue!"
"Then meditate more."
"Ughhh."
At times like this, someone else needs to cycle magic power through her nonstop so she can feel it in her body.
Not me, though.
My stats are all strength and agility, so I can't cast magic reliably.
Maybe bursts, at best.
Same for the Girl, really.
But knowing what magic power is changes combat dynamics, so it's worth learning.
I eyed the mage, all fired up, ignoring the sulky Girl.
Time to make use of her.
Give and take.
Find Blanche's position first, then hand her off.
The mage's scouting had improved a ton based on what I taught back on the 3rd.
That's about all early Exiles mages can do.
Can't expect real damage output—they fire a couple shots and collapse wheezing.
But no time to train her enough to spot a stealthed Blanche, so I'll handle it myself.
Holding hands.
"Just send me some magic power. I'll cast."
"Y-Yes!"
The Girl shot jealous looks—whatever—as I wove the spell with the incoming magic power.
Late-game, basic magic's a must-have, not optional. I'm used to it.
Used to casting with others' magic power, too.
Lemme see. Not too far off.
"Feel that just now?"
The mage looked a bit dazed.
She probably sensed how her magic power turned into a spell.
Experiencing pro technique like that alone boosts her a ton.
I said,
"Go help her feel magic power, then."
Even using someone else's power, my hands are shaking. Whew.
The Girl wasn't in a great mood.
She thought she'd learn magic, but nope—just parked under a tree, eyes closed, "feel it somehow."
And this tiny squirt clings to Uncle 'cause she knows a bit of magic.
Hands. Did he ever hold my hand?
Not like it never happened... but him grabbing first?
Huh. Doesn't ring a bell.
Depressing.
And then Uncle just trudges off, saying he's got business.
Leaving her alone with the mage.
How to handle this awkward vibe?
She's the shy, introverted type already. Guess the Girl has to make the first move.
Dealt with it at school before.
Just... not feeling it right now.
So the Girl just stared at the mage with a grumpy face.
The mage was fidgeting in turn.
She had to carry out the senior's orders after that big lesson, but awkwardness had no easy fix.
The stalemate broke with the mage's courage.
"Um, c-can I call you sis?"
The unexpected title made the Girl's eyes go wide.
Facing a fixed named NPC is a huge advantage for vets like me—experienced Exiles and gamers to boot.
Back in my hyper gamer days, I wasn't the type to deep-dive settings.
But grind one game forever, and you memorize shit whether you want to or not.
This run's Blanche? No way to handle her straight-up.
Even normally, beating her in a fight's a nightmare.
The unintended abyss trip gave us a 30-day gap—straight impossible now.
If it were a more agreeable fixed named, I'd support and let 'em duke it out. But that's for when things are going well.
Luckily, I've got experience and a plan.
It's high-risk—life-or-death stakes—but we'll try everything.
Do nothing, and we're all game over here with high odds.
Blanche always sees people as EXP.
This run, I know a fair bit about Blanche.
Not just the sleazy game lore.
Last run—the one closest to clearing.
Blanche was in my guild then.
Not super tight, but I think she trusted me.
So I got intel no other run could've.
Mostly her personal history as a near-future spy.
Sorry, last run's Blanche.
I'm gonna use you starting now.
Wait, is that right?
Please spare us. After all I did for you last run.