Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Illness Amidst Flowers - 3
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I don't deny the existence of talent.
Promising individuals astonish their instructors from the very first day they grip a sword, while others take hundreds of days to barely reach that level.
Thankfully, in most fields, even if talent varies, effort can overcome the gap.
It's disheartening to invest the same time and see different results, yet comforting to know it's ultimately achievable, even if it takes longer.
But some fields aren't like that.
Talent where no amount of effort matters—you have to be born with it, able to do it from the start.
"I probably discovered my talent for the first time before I even became an adult. My father was especially thrilled. It's from long ago, but I still vividly remember his expression."
"What parent wouldn't be delighted to find such a wonderful gift in their child?"
"My parents were both merchants. They succeeded in business, grew wealthy, and settled down, but they always felt inferior because they lacked the inherited talents unique to noble bloodlines."
I couldn't know Mariel's family history in detail, but considering the rarity of enchanters, it was obvious how adults must have viewed her talent.
"Actually, talent as an enchanter isn't that rare."
"But even in this place, you're the only enchanter around."
"It's harder to discover than to be born with. In that sense, I've been lucky twice over."
Enchanting requires three essential elements.
The item to imbue with magic.
The mana stone that will be consumed.
And the enchanter to complete the incantation.
An experienced enchanter might manage it, but for a novice unaware of their talent, succeeding with a small, low-quality mana stone isn't easy.
At the same time, someone oblivious to their enchanter potential wouldn't casually experiment with high-quality mana stones.
Mariel had sufficient talent as an enchanter.
Coincidentally, her parents were successful merchants, giving her easy access to expensive mana stones that others couldn't afford.
And fatefully, there was an item she wished to imbue with magic.
"There was a blacksmith's son in the village who often gave me gifts."
"What kind of gifts?"
I already knew, but pretended not to as I asked.
"Swords. He gave me swords every time. Strange, right? Gifting a blade to a delicate girl."
"......"
"But I couldn't take my eyes off them. Knowing he'd forged them sweating like rain in front of a blazing furnace... how could I hate that?"
Harman had worried that his handmade sword might seem shabby compared to the expensive gifts from other boys.
His youthful concern was unfounded; Mariel didn't even remember the others' gifts.
"So how did you first get into enchanting?"
"Swords rust over time, grow dull, even bend. I didn't want that to happen. I wanted them unchanged."
Unlike spells that trigger fixed effects based on incantations, the magic imbued through enchanting is inconsistent.
Even using the same mana stone, the same equipment, and the same enchanter, different magics often result.
Little is known about the standards or logic of enchanting. Even the enchanter themselves doesn't understand the rules.
All that's known is that better mana stones and superior enchanters yield wider effects and higher success rates.
"I think the most important part of enchanting is mindset. Even if it's abstract, I feel my thoughts blend into the magic."
Everything else was mere hypothesis.
"I learned about enchanting by chance from a book in my father's study, grabbed a mana stone from my mother's drawer, and followed the instructions right away."
"Success on the first try. If it failed, you'd have just wasted a mana stone."
"I never dreamed it'd work first time either."
It was talent discovered by a stroke of luck upon luck.
Wishing for flame resistance on the sword Harman made, and attempting it, allowed Mariel to realize her potential.
"From then on, my career path was set. It wasn't looked down upon, and it was valuable work, so I had no reason to refuse."
The mana stone on Mariel's table flickered periodically, then vanished entirely.
The work was done.
"Ah, the magic took hold nicely."
['Sturdy' Slime's Flame Dance《EPIC》]
Did the sword Harman gifted Mariel have descriptors like this?
"This usually takes three or four times longer. You're quite lucky, sir."
"I'm almost disappointed it finished so quickly. Our story was just getting good."
"Most folks just drop off work and leave. You're the first customer curious about my tale."
Lounging in an enhancement shop after the job's done would look suspicious.
"If you're that curious, I'll continue next time you visit."
"You're quite skilled at customer retention."
"Experience from not wasting my years."
Unfortunately, there'd be no next visit for me.
No more gear to enhance, no mana stones for it anyway.
"Thanks for your work. I'll be off."
"Come again."
Above all, I didn't want to stretch out the time until regression was possible, so I chose the simplest path.
· 10th Floor
【11th Floor Gate】
Will you challenge the 11th floor?
That simplest method was to challenge once more.
⋮
· 11th Floor
"The count is waiting. Follow me."
Meeting the gatekeeper,
⋮
"Pacify the rampaging demon below. Then you can proceed to the next floor you've so desired."
"Someday it'd be fun to leave the demon unchecked for over a week."
Passing the count,
⋮
"In the name of Carellus!"
"Protect us from the demon's return!"
Only after hearing the church's fervent cries,
⋮
"I didn't even notice you come in. Sorry. I've been out of it."
"Are you open for business now?"
"Of course."
I complete a full loop and return to the starting point.
I hand over the sword, mana stone, and coins again.
Skipping the story I'd already heard, I pick up midway.
"Were you asking when I first started as an enchanter? Or when I opened this shop?"
"I'd like to know when this shop began. These days, places boast 'years of tradition' in their ads."
"Lucky you asked, then. I've been working here for at least 30 years."
Talent discovered in her teens, 30 years here.
Now for the gap in between.
"Did you open shop in your hometown?"
"......No. I'm not from around here. Though I am now."
Mariel and Harman's differing positions don't add up.
They should have been a couple bound for life in the past.
Swipe—
The sound of cloth rubbing echoed.
As always, the church members' cries rang out from outside the building.
"Noisy outside, huh?"
"Because of the Salvation Festival?"
"You know it? Yes. This is my 30th Salvation Festival here."
The timing of changing topics was identical.
"Oh right, where was I?"
"You said you weren't from here."
"Ah, thanks."
She hadn't come to this village to settle.
She stayed only to support the demon subjugation.
By investing mana stones, she could add various magic effects to the soldiers' gear, greatly easing the subjugation with just one enchanter.
Defeating the demon wasn't easy, but it might have allowed sealing it underground.
"Were you forced into the subjugation?"
"Not exactly. It was my choice. Enchanters command higher fees than you think."
In other words, she could have amassed wealth without participating.
For someone like that to join the subjugation...
"Can't call it a blessing, but we half-succeeded in subjugating the demon."
"'Half' meaning it was sealed weakened but not fully killed?"
"That didn't matter to me. I got my reward for contributing and planned to go home."
But the moment subjugation ended, this place became the tower's 11th floor.
There was no home to return to.
"Did I share too much personal stuff?"
"......It's fine."
The tower's world isn't created anew.
It's slices of existing worlds, preserved floor by floor.
With just nine floors between, they remain unaware of each other inside the tower.
"The magic took hold nicely."
['Sharp' Slime's Flame Dance《EPIC》]
A different descriptor this time.
"Thanks for your work. I'll be off."
"Come again."
After ten more stabs, right before receiving the proof, I returned to the village head's doorstep.