Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: 5th Floor - Rest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We also shared opinions about the Girl and Blanche.
There wasn't much to gain from it.
I just learned more about settings for Blanche that I hadn't known before.
Blanche seemed to think of me as Orgel himself, someone from the same world as her, no matter how.
Well, if it wasn't that, she could never know such information.
At this point, without realizing she was a fixed named, she had no choice but to think that way.
Fixed nameds always believe themselves to be ordinary exiles.
Their memories from past runs have no concept of fixed nameds. That's how they're set up.
It's pretty unsettling to realize everyone else knows about you unilaterally.
So in most cases, Blanches die without ever learning the concept of fixed nameds.
They end up thinking it's some rude psychological warfare, so they either kill the opponent or get killed after the opponent grows stronger.
Only one of those outcomes happens.
The Blanche from my previous run was quite precious in that regard.
She accepted the existence others described for her. And she suffered for it.
In the end, she rationalized it to herself.
The conclusion that her family and little sisters would be safe came out then too.
Looking back, after that, she stopped talking about her own 'settings'.
That's probably why I didn't know something like me being Orgel's father.
All exiles live questioning their own existence.
For fixed nameds, that doubt is both the cause and a comfort.
I gathered the whole party first.
I needed to correct some commonly misunderstood common knowledge.
It was lecture time.
"Anyone here think their body is healthy right now?"
The Girl tilted her head.
With her stats up, she must be overflowing with more strength than before, so it was a puzzling question.
The other two were the same.
This was one of the traps beginners easily fell into.
"Stats are just multipliers that affect various physical abilities. They're not completely separate from the base condition of your body."
The Hunter, having heard it before, would know.
Stats are merely multipliers that amplify your innate flesh.
That's why base stats—what you'd call natural talent—are more important than starting stats.
And race is part of that natural talent.
If your base stats are good to begin with, the multiplier starting stats get added on even more generously.
The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.
That's why fixed nameds are terrifyingly powerful early on.
Of course, differences in base stats dilute as you go later.
Because as stat-granted physical abilities increase in value, their efficiency diminishes incrementally.
So no matter how high your plain stats are, you can't exceed the level of a 'realistic superhuman' honed to the extreme.
Even a human with strength over 10,000 can't shatter a mountain in one blow.
Instead, they'd have stamina to march 48 hours straight without rest.
But a giant with around 500 strength could shatter a hill, if not a mountain, in one hit.
That's why race matters.
There's no merit to playing human.
Even settlers don't stick to being human; they live as long-lived fairies or dwarves. No one wants to settle as human.
Clearing is a distant dream anyway, so that's what happens.
"Got it up to here?"
The two excluding the youngest nodded.
The Hunter warmly watched the dazed youngest. Supplementary lesson time, I suppose.
The goddess issued a divine word, looking a bit surprised too.
"I didn't know it in such detail myself."
'You knew it intuitively, at least.'
The biggest difference between me, who experienced it as a game, and other exiles thrown into the world.
I have the most concrete and certain information above all.
"Anyway, we can't abandon being human right now."
"Can't you become a vampire if bitten by one?"
The Girl cutely raised her hand to ask.
"Vampire race has plenty of downsides, so it's not all upsides. For starters, you can't use healing potions or doping potions."
Touch the waters of the healing spring, and you'd take stinging damage along with soul-twisting pain.
Cheap things are expensive in the end. Easy race changes come loaded with drawbacks.
"So paying attention to your body's condition is crucial."
If fatigue and such prevent proper muscle exertion, the Labyrinth's stats mean losses worse than the outside world.
Because the stat-amplified physical abilities drop too.
"Most people don't know and keep going down. Because as you level up continuously, stats rise, and the weakened parts from exhaustion get covered by stats."
If you proceed unaware, you end up with a diseased body and shattered mind.
A healthy body houses a healthy spirit.
Maintaining mental strength with a broken body is nearly impossible.
This is a mistake even veteran exiles make often.
Even after the kingdom, they just switch to tougher races to patch it up and ignore it.
They skip rest to save time for challenges.
Might deserve praise for mental fortitude. But not smart.
"So we're gonna rest here puuuuuurfectly for about three days."
Just the 5th floor, but it was hellish. The somewhat aged Hunter was visibly thinner.
Honestly, I think three days is too short.
But pushing on in this state, I'd dry up and die first, since my base stats were farthest from healthy.
Athletes or special forces with intense activity demands sometimes can't keep calorie intake matching expenditure.
Excluding the youngest who joined on 3F, our party endured abuse beyond active special forces.
Even stats can't fully cover that; issues creep into the body.
The Girl looked slimmer too, if you observed closely.
At her age, sensitive to weight, I worried she might rejoice or something.
But the Girl agreed to my concern with unusually mature sensibilities for a civilian.
Those for whom combat is livelihood know weight loss is an alarm signal.
The Girl scampered over.
"Uncle!"
"What? Something up?"
"...It got smaller."
Well, waistline probably did shrink.
"Not that, up here got looser too..."
Ah.
I wanted to smack my head asking why tell me that.
"Eek, I'm not growing taller anymore anyway. Don't hit my head."
Come to think, I hadn't told her.
"You'll grow."
"Huh? But I've been the same height since middle school."
"Exactly how old are you now?"
"Third year high school!"
Not first year?
"Birthday?"
She blushed, maybe misunderstanding, then answered.
"May 5th!"
"Children's Day, huh..."
Anyway, that age fits the 'child' tag in the game.
NPCs with that tag start with poor stats but grow base physical abilities over time.
In Labyrinth terms where it's real, the body grows.
From what I've seen, growth plate closure age doesn't matter.
Being physical, strength stat affects it a lot.
Far as I know, no conditions to become exile dragged into Labyrinth.
Never seen infants, but minors are common enough.
Growth as reward matching that disadvantage.
Balanced system, game-wise or real.
Of course, for the Girl with mutant-level base stats, pure profit without downside. Cheat NPC.
So the Girl's height is growing back already.
Just not noticeable yet after days.
"Really?"
Her eyes widened, sparkling.
"Can I round up to 160cm?"
"Might even hit 170."
I had her spread arms side to side.
Height's major factor. Crucial for pervert classes like strength brute.
Short weapon reach means body reach must compensate.
Fortunately, proportions great.
Long legs, long arms.
Already long reach relative to height.
Arm length vital vs humanoid foes.
180 tough, but real 170 would eliminate humanoid strongfoe disadvantages like demons, angels.
Personal curiosity, kneaded limbs here and there, still couldn't tell.
What's Jeong Family muscle fiber?
Inner muscle type or something.
Well, from world with limited magic anyway.
Kept checking body, Girl's face ripened tomato red, started hitting me.
Wild hits.
Embarrassment, no strength control.
I just laughed it off till carried to healing spring.
Won't fall for looks next time. Guard up.
Uncle was out cold.
Looked fine outwardly, but accumulated abuse clear.
Thinking, first time seeing him sleep so peacefully. Always vigilant.
Last to bed, first to rise.
Hunter tried helping, but no improvement.
Girl had to suppress budding pervert tendencies inside, and guilt too.
Arms slender as twigs. That's what desk life does.
Face pale. Rarely saw sun.
Other party members started healthier generally.
Even as base strength, Hunter 12, giant called youngest 15.
Uncle's 9 probably 'no major issues', not full athletic potential.
Average human including women around 10, I'd think.
Earlier staggering, she panicked thinking hit too hard, but Uncle shook head.
Didn't he repeat healing potions don't restore stamina?
Then whipped up bedding and pillow, lay down for 12 hours sleep.
Girl felt deep sorry there.
Party leader Uncle, homemaker Uncle, main dealer Uncle, boss matcher Uncle.
Inevitable somewhat, but really doing it all solo.
Everyone says verbally better than nothing, but questionable.
If solo, he'd shake it off like bird flying by swiftly?
Voiced worry to Hunter, he nodded grimly too.
Probably true.
"Miss, veterans called around 30-year marks. But old-timers exceed double."
"Heard Uncle's years?"
"No. Even so..."
"Not 30-ish. Way higher."
"I think so. Maybe over 50."
Girl furrowed brows.
"Why so few past 30 years then?"
Hunter's eyes hollowed. Not sorrow, but recalling something.
"Hard to survive. Not everyone adapts easy like you from tough world."
Didn't refute 'easy'. She felt lucky exile herself.
Labyrinth harsher? Still surmountable feel.
Fail that, stop somewhere. Like 3F refugees.
"Couldn't see fairy village on 2F in end. Was it livable?"
Only glimpsed afar.
Hunter smiled bitterly.
"Nice. Not called fairy trap for nothing. Next fairy meet, try befriending."
"But heads full of flower fields."
"Leaf fairies different. Just grove fairies. Same fairies, opposite personalities."
Really? Didn't see, so unknown. To Girl, grove fairies dull folk.
Like her home.
So if settling, hope fun place.
Now, Uncle's side best.
Chatting, incongruously the giant called youngest approached holding door as shield.
That shield still effective.
This floor alone, smashed flying snakes with it.
No other weapon needed.
Girl curious.
Heard Uncle's outside life taboo from him, but still wonder.
This Labyrinth livable to him, just strong-ish normal person.
Not superhuman like her.
Youngest eyed sleeping boss and Hunter.
Hunter spoke.
"Well, no splitting now. Outside stories okay."
Youngest nodded vigorously, looked at Girl.
"Heard roughly what world big sis from. Mine... no monsters rampaging people."
But scary was humans only.
Youngest's country, government failed.
Society without safety net becomes hell sans monsters.
Then Labyrinth better maybe. Escape via death to next world.
"Not great tale, so stop here."
Giant's face unclouded saying that.
Maybe strongest mentality his.
Girl thought suddenly.
"Okay. Anyway, seeing fixed named Blanche, I felt much."
Hunter puzzled. What from that woman?
"My upgrade. Perfect superior version."
"Looks? Then miss just needs time, plenty..."
"No! Not that! I'm nineteen?"
Hunter and youngest shocked.
Girl pouted.
"That childish?"
"Different race hard..."
"Thought fourteen-ish..."
Girl sighed, shoulders drooped.
Anyway, not that.
Combat style issue. Blanche's strength familiar.
Not just dagger. Fits Uncle's strength brute perfectly.
With unused gun, ranger role too.
"Even seems close to Uncle somehow?"
"Fixed nameds originally..."
"Still, don't like. Seemed like recruiting to party."
Hunter groaned.
That one? Feel.
"Gotta practice magic. Guard my spot myself. Be helpful to Uncle."
Girl muttered, went beside sleeping party leader, started meditating.
Hunter chuckled dryly.
Youngest laughed heartily.
"Youthful."
"Youth."
Goddess too.
"Too fun."
My daughter that age too? Hunter sighed.