Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Disciple (Meaning a Growth-Type Dildo) (3)
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"That greeting was a bit too rough. Your old personality hasn't died out, huh."
Edelbert said as he brushed the frost off his cloak.
We were sitting at a corner table in the inn.
Edelbert downed his beer with a blank expression, while Diana covered her face with her hands, looking mortified and embarrassed.
I was just sitting there, too exhausted to do anything.
"Th-that was because you phrased it in a way that could totally be misunderstood..."
"Misunderstood? I stated the plain facts. It's your curse-soaked pervert brain that twisted it. Isn't that right, disciple?"
"B-Balkan. Don't you think that was the kind of statement anyone could misinterpret? Right?"
Edelbert stared at me with his usual impassive face, while Diana gazed at me like she was about to throw herself into my arms.
Ah. Asking me about this.
I made a troubled face as I recalled everything that had happened over the past hour.
A battle between monsters far beyond human perception.
They moved so fast it was hard to follow with my eyes alone—I had to focus so hard my head felt like it would split just to catch their afterimages.
Sweeeee!
Diana drew an ice bow in the sky, and dozens of ice arrows materialized on the empty bowstring, raining down on Edelbert.
Even from the magic circle-like thing spread behind her back, ice spikes shot out.
Thud! Thunk!
Edelbert smashed each incoming ice arrow and spike with his fists.
Ice crystals drifted down like snow over the dark labyrinth city, and some citizens even came outside to watch the mystical sight.
On the other hand, others came running in a panic, eyes blazing.
The labyrinth city guards and their captain.
As they approached, Diana and Edelbert seemed to exchange some words and stopped fighting, stepping back.
"Union Leader. And... Lady Diana Ordia... If the two of you do this, we're really in trouble..."
"Sorry. We've caused you some hassle."
"Here, take this. I hear the guards have been working overtime because of the disturbances in the lawless zone lately. Keep up the good work."
"Oh my! Haha! What, soulstones like these...!"
The guard captain, drooling over the monster soulstone from Edelbert, withdrew his men and left as soon as things calmed down.
Probably because there wasn't much collateral damage.
'Or maybe he was just scared.'
Besides the guards, another peculiar person showed up.
A design that stirred men's hearts. Towering white armor over two meters tall. A helmet that made your chest swell with awe. A strange emblem embedded in the breastplate.
I could never forget that appearance.
'Armor Knight?!'
My savior from the goblin den during the labyrinth trip, who saved me from death's door and handed over the artifact map that Kakchi took!
She approached Diana to check on her.
"Diana Ordia. It's been years since you retired—what's with the sudden commotion?"
But I shook my head as soon as I heard the voice.
The Armor Knight's voice was sweet enough to make your eyes pop. Not that husky tone.
Looking closer, the armor's design was subtly different. The breastplate here was flat.
The Armor Knight's had a size that naturally commanded respect.
Plus, there was that subtle loner vibe—she'd even stutter around someone like me.
'Come to think of it, I even shoved a naked dogeza her way as thanks back then.'
"...Heh. Just a minor disturbance. Nothing for the Royal Knight Commander to worry about."
"Hmph. I'll be watching. Don't stir up trouble like the old days."
"Wh-what era are you talking about..."
After the apparently super-important Royal Knight Commander left, I told Diana that I'd formed a master-disciple bond with Edelbert.
"Wh-what kind of indecent misunderstanding is this..."
With Diana's face beet red as she slunk back into the shop, the commotion finally died down.
"Hmm... Rather than deciding who's right or wrong, I'm just glad neither of you got seriously hurt."
I chose to muddle the issue and slip away like a slippery eel.
Siding with Diana might make tomorrow morning's sparring hell.
Siding with Edelbert might turn breakfast into Diana's special torture course instead of just special.
"Balkan..."
"Whoever's disciple he is, he's wise."
Diana looked at me with touched eyes, while Edelbert flicked his black cat tail like a whip.
Looks like I dodged that bullet okay.
"By the way, I had no idea you and Balkan knew each other..."
"I ran into my disciple by chance yesterday in front of the inn. He has real talent. Train him right, and he'll go far."
"Hmmm... Disciple, huh..."
Diana narrowed her eyes slyly and glared at Edelbert.
"He's really just your disciple, right?"
"...For now."
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
Edelbert leisurely sipped his beer, tail swishing. Diana stared him down for a good while.
For some reason, I felt suffocated, like I couldn't breathe.
"Sigh... Fine. If he pulls any nonsense, I'll stop him..."
Diana murmured softly, then smiled gently at me.
"Balkan. Edelbert might look a bit... rough around the edges, but his skills are proven. Since you've become his disciple, milk him for everything he's got. It'll be a solid foundation for your growth."
"Yes. That's the plan."
Diana surprisingly didn't say much about me becoming Edelbert's disciple. She just respected and supported my choice to get stronger.
"What a cheeky disciple. Boldly saying he'll suck his master dry."
"Not a straw—think of it as fertile soil and a fresh sprout. A disciple grows by feeding on his master's teachings."
"Not a bad mindset. Grow quick while the soil's fertile."
Gulp. Gulp.
Edelbert downed his beer in one go and stood up.
"Haven't loosened up like that in ages. I'll drop by again, Diana."
"Yeah. Get going."
"Take care, Master."
"Good. Unlike others, my disciple's polite."
"You..."
Diana's reaction was refreshingly new. Was this what people called true friendship?
Edelbert left, waving his black tail and hand casually behind him. His steps quickened.
"Did he just ditch without paying?"
"...He shelled out soulstones, so we can let that slide."
Diana rarely sighed as she eyed the inn entrance riddled with ice spike holes.
"Dinner service... is off. With the shop needing repairs, take the next few days to rest up."
"Got it."
I unexpectedly scored three days off. Perfect time to recover from Edelbert's brutal training.
"So, how was the sparring? Still too much for you?"
"That guy's a real devil—no joke. It was total domination..."
A cool breeze wafted through the inn. Diana and I sat at the table, chatting for a bit.
Mostly badmouthing Edelbert behind his back, plus some small talk.
Even casual chatter like this brought out involuntary smiles—a real healing time.
After our fun talk with Diana, I stepped out of the inn again.
Strolling through the twinkling night sky of the labyrinth city, familiar faces soon appeared.
"Ooh! There he is, Balkan!"
The Joy Hog party welcomed me.
Time for the joyous thrill of settlement.
In the explorer district of Labyrinth City Balerus, at a table in some dingy tavern.
Five pairs of eyes stared eagerly at one dwarf.
"Alright. This what everyone's after?"
Grinning, Joy Hog held up a bulging pouch, and everyone nodded vigorously.
Jingle!
As he set it on the table, coins clinked inside.
He carefully untied the strings, and silver coins spilled out in a heap.
"Heavens. How much is all this?!"
"Booze! Another round here!"
"The Earth Goddess watches over us..."
"Krerelek!"
Harpy mage Ramel Royce rubbed her face in the silvers, cow beastkin swordswoman Jubel shouted for more ale.
Cat beastkin priestess Hitollis praised the Earth Goddess. Lizardgirl Gregor let out some incomprehensible roar.
"Whoa. Jackpot."
I stared in awe too. How much was this?
Suddenly, memories of the second labyrinth run—pure losses on the first floor—flashed back.
Excluding the Deluna bounty, we'd barely scraped one silver.
'Though we didn't even hunt properly back then...'
Now, even at a glance, that pouch held at least 200 silvers. Nearly two golds.
Labyrinths really ramp up rewards past each floor.
I could see why explorers risked never returning topside, diving deeper for bigger hauls.
'How many months would a regular labyrinth city citizen grind for this?'
Without my special gig at Diana's, I'd still be scraping for an ID plate.
Might've taken years just to settle in.
"Okay, everyone calm down. Time for the split."
Joy Hog carefully doled out the coins.
Silvers stacked like poker chips in front of each party member.
Parties often split over money fights, but not Joy Hog's crew.
Smiles lingered on everyone's lips.
Makes sense. She was the porter, and I joined late-game.
'Still, 20 silvers.'
Very satisfying. Honestly, more than I'd expected.
'Edelbert's covering the busted axe, and Diana's replacing the breastplate she accidentally shredded...'
I tallied up the labyrinth run's gains.
Lost Kakchi and Jermi, but gained a new blessing. Plus 20 silvers and a level-up.
Profit or loss?
"Balkan. Why so quiet after just that?"
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, I finally noticed the Joy Hog crew smirking at me.
"Kid got no experience, or just pure?"
"With that voice, seems like he didn't even think of it. Pfft."
"Aw, shoulda swallowed it first? But can't take back words now..."
Cow beastkin Jubel and harpy Ramel giggled, dwarf Joy Hog scratched his head sheepishly.
I looked at them puzzled.
Joy Hog reached into the pouch—empty after distribution.
"Forgot the pay for those 68 hobgoblins you soloed?"
"Ah."
No way. He collected those amid the chaos?
I gaped at what followed.
Another pouch full of silvers.
Tucked in the corner, a gold coin gleamed.
And a familiar crystal shard.
'Soulstone!'
Kakchi once told me.
Monsters rarely drop them on death—treasures essential for artifact crafting!
And it was right in front of me.
"Hobgoblin soulstone from floor 5. Worth at least one and a half golds."
"Kkyat-hoo!"
These crazy, sensible, romantic, upright explorers! They picked this up in that mess!
Hell yeah. After all that suffering, this payout hits right!
Even getting one gold from Zirnier had my heart pounding in fear of dropping it.
Now, over two and a half golds' worth in my hands.
Not charity or tips—pure blood, sweat, and my own earnings.
All my past struggles overlapped; tears of emotion nearly flowed.
I excitedly rubbed my face on the hobgoblin soulstone, then remembered Hobgobgak and sourly set it down.
Chuckles watching me, Joy Hog made an offer.
"Balkan, how about teaming up for a job? We've seen your skills and character firsthand."
"A job?"
"Yeah. Two weeks from now, when the labyrinth opens. Destination: floor 6."
A pretty intriguing proposal.
"The gig's escorting academy students on their labyrinth tour."