Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Preparing for the 6th Floor (3)
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‘Ellie Ordia...?’
Ordia. Diana’s surname. At the same time, it brought to mind the foster daughter Diana had gone to the academy with, the one Ethelbert had mentioned.
‘I heard recently that the academy students had come out into the world.’
Pak!
Did she notice my gaze? The girl hurriedly covered the book’s cover.
From her full name, Ellie Ordia, she hid the Ordia part with her hand, leaving Ellie visible.
“Ah! As for me! I’m Ellie, the top student of the third year at the Royal Academy! Genius mage Ellie!”
Even as she introduced herself, Ellie didn’t reveal her surname.
Still, this was like telling a total stranger, “I’m so-and-so, the top genius scientist from Seoul National University.”
‘Top of Seoul National University? Yeah, that checks out.’
That was a lifetime achievement. She’d probably mention it before her own name because she was so damn proud of it.
If I’d been top of Seoul National University, I would’ve slapped it in huge letters in the corner of my business card, strutting around like a peacock.
“Yeah. Fucking impressive.”
“Right? I always think I’m pretty amazing myself. Keep an eye on the name Ellie—she’s going to make history in Labyrinth City one day!”
“I’m Balkan.”
“Yes! Uncle Balkan. You’re an explorer, right?”
“Explorer, yeah. But aren’t you an elf? How old are you to be calling me uncle?”
Ha.
Elf. The symbol of long-lived races.
She looked like a teenage girl on the outside, but you couldn’t guess an elf’s age from appearances alone.
Ever wonder how it feels for a guy to get called “uncle” by one of those?
‘Even if the helmet hides my face...’
Did I look that worn down? Nah, I didn’t think so. Reality hit hard. Maybe I should ditch the helmet and walk around without it.
Of course, it was just a passing thought.
“Nineteen! I’m a half-elf, so not fully long-lived like a pure elf, but I won’t age a bit until I die and can stay looking like this.”
“That’s some seriously badass shit. But we’re only three years apart, so quit with the uncle crap.”
“...Huh? Three years? No way. Your vibe is totally different... You don’t need to wish you were younger, Uncle. What matters is inner beauty, not the outside!”
Ha. Coming from an elf with killer looks, that stung like hell. Couldn’t even give her a knuckle on the forehead since we’d just met.
“Anyway, the reason I called you Uncle is I wanted to hear some firsthand stories from an explorer who’s crossed through labyrinth portals.”
“Stories?”
“Yeah. I picked portals as my research topic for an assignment, so I’m investigating labyrinth phenomena.”
Ellie had approached me to boost her assignment by getting stories straight from explorers who’d crossed portals themselves.
Sure enough, the book she had was labeled something like “Portal and Dimensional Magic Research Journal.”
Curiosity piqued. What kind of reasoning linked portals and dimensional magic for a genius mage from the academy?
‘Dig into this deeper, and maybe I could uncover the secret of the fountain’s [That One] or the portals themselves?’
It was a pretty intriguing hypothesis, but...
“Sorry, but I don’t have time right now.”
“No problem. I’ll be here for the next three days anyway. Just drop by whenever it crosses your mind. I’ll pay you based on how good the story is! Not a ton, but still.”
“Alright then. I’ll come by tomorrow at this time.”
“Yes!”
Ellie nodded vigorously and returned to her seat with her mysterious, wondrous labyrinth storybook.
Time to head back to the inn. Things were tight on schedule.
The next morning, after finishing my usual inn chores.
After combat drills and running training came the subjugation practice.
“Kek, kuh...”
Snuuup. Snuuuup.
Ethelbert, demonstrating a thigh chokehold on me, lowered her head and sniffed my body before asking.
“Did you meet Serf Adelrine?”
What was it with these sisters? How did they recognize each other just from a sniff?
“Yes. I ran into her on the way to the temple library.”
“Hmmm...”
Ethelbert just stared at me silently.
Her black cat tail whipped through the air with a sharp crack.
For some reason, from that point on, the training got ridiculously intense.
“Uncle Balkan. You dead?”
“Ugh, ah, no. Still alive.”
I swallowed hard and came to. Opening my eyes, I saw a priestess and Ellie right in front of my face.
“You just collapsed mid-story, so I called the priestess auntie over, but good thing you’re okay.”
I gave a thumbs-up to show I was fine, and the priestess nodded and stepped back.
Her expression was pretty scary, but the reason was obvious.
In this world too, “auntie” packed a punch.
Genius mage Ellie: a bit lacking in sensitivity to looks and age, but decent enough character to call a priestess when someone collapsed.
“So. What happened after you fell into the transfer trap?!”
“Oh. I got that far, huh.”
“Yes. A portal-shaped trap... Fascinating!”
She seemed more interested in the labyrinth stories I’d told than reflecting on her own words.
“Fountain transfer scrolls only usable on floors that are multiples of five... Humans opening portals... Definitely mysterious.”
“Do the portals’ different colors mean something? There’s no reason for them to vary. The labyrinth doesn’t need distinctions like that. There’s definitely...”
I’d share one tale, and Ellie would nod eagerly with sparkling eyes, then mutter to herself and scribble in her research journal.
‘What’s she on about...’
Once she started on mana this and incantation that, my brain just shut down. Was it my low wisdom?
“Stories about transfer traps and fountains—even other explorer aunties didn’t have those. Super fresh! Good stories deserve proper pay... Oh.”
Ellie boldly pulled out her coin pouch, but her face froze like stone.
The look of someone who loaded up a cart at the convenience store and forgot their wallet.
“Why the face like my premium tale just turned into cheap dime-a-dozen bullshit?”
“...Ehehehe.”
Ellie tried to play it off by mashing her mage hat down. But I couldn’t let this chance slip.
‘Opportunity.’
A step up from mere storyteller or test subject numero uno.
“You’re not saying you’ve got no money for me, right?”
“I-I’m still a student...!”
“No excuses. Yes or no.”
To an explorer, compensation means something special. It’s fair pay for the work done.
If she’d said no from the start, fine. But promise and bail? That’s riot-justified.
No matter how small the pay.
I rested my hand on my waist. Ellie’s eyes darted nervously to the battle axe there, trembling.
Gulp.
She swallowed, avoiding my gaze, mumbling.
“Um, I don’t...”
“Got it. We’re good.”
“Huh?”
Ellie stared at me blankly again.
After scaring her like that, now she looked totally dumbfounded.
“Why the stare? Students run out of cash sometimes. You think I’d squeeze you for every penny?”
But my goal wasn’t some chump change anyway.
“Not to call it a trade or anything, but I’ll drop by now and then with more labyrinth and portal stories, so you keep at your research. When you’re done, sum it up nice and simple and tell me about it. That’ll be my pay.”
I knew my limits.
With my brain, even streaks of luck or miracles wouldn’t crack the portal secrets.
‘But what about Ellie, third-year top student genius mage at the academy?’
No doubt way easier than me banging my head against it solo.
“You’re the academy’s young genius. You can handle that, right?”
“...Genius...”
Ellie murmured softly, looking at me, then giggled.
“Of course! I’m a genius! Labyrinth portals? Piece of cake if I really dig in!”
Ee-hee-hee.
Ellie crossed her arms with a smug grin.
Blatant praise got to her? The tips of her elf ears flushed red.
“Yeah. Please nail it.”
Either way, I’d successfully nudged Ellie into action.
But genius or not, her research wouldn’t wrap in a day or two.
I still had to keep diving into the labyrinth.
‘Still, feels kinda reassuring?’
Maybe burned from investing in Kakchi and Jermi.
Better stable savings than risky big-shot stocks.
As long as the country doesn’t collapse, fixed deposits won’t tank.
Over the past three days, Ellie Ordia had chatted about the labyrinth and portals with him at the usual time each day.
“Take care, Uncle! Thanks for another great story today!”
“Yeah, yeah. You too, Ellie. Keep grinding that research.”
“Yes!”
Ellie Ordia watched him tousle her hair affectionately as he left, analyzing the fluffy feelings bubbling in her chest.
Joy. Ecstasy. Pleasure.
Every time someone praised and stroked her shining talent, Ellie felt a strange thrill.
But this pleasure was way sharper than the professors’ compliments at the academy.
– As expected of Miss Ordia. Such talent.
– Knowing whose credit that dazzling talent bloomed from makes it even more appetizing.
– If I took Ellie Ordia as an assistant, maybe even Lady Diana...?
– Haha. Even after all these years since her retirement, folks our age can’t forget her.
As expected of Ordia. Diana’s daughter. She’s different.
No one saw Ellie. They only cared about the Ordia name.
It wasn’t just professors. “Friends” who cozied up, ass-kissing assistants. All the same.
But the uncle she’d met by chance at the library was different.
‘Pure praise just for me.’
He didn’t care about Ordia, looked straight at Ellie, and encouraged her talents.
For some reason, thinking of him brought back faint memories of her real parents’ faces.
‘If Dad were alive... would it feel like this?’
“...”
Pointless musing. Ellie snapped back to reality like waking from a brief dream.
She was broke.
Diana Ordia sent plenty of living expenses, but Ellie hadn’t touched a single coin since arriving at the academy. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.
The temple library ran 24/7, and she’d practically lived there these past days, but even that had limits. The librarians’ glares were getting brutal.
‘I don’t smell.’
Sniff sniff. Ellie needlessly checked her grubby robe.
Half-elf purity and fragrance, plus constant Clean magic, kept her body spotless and odor-free.
Labyrinth City nights were dangerous. Ellie’s only option was one place.
“Coming back here again...”
Late at night, Ellie stared at the dark inn.
Childhood memories lingered here. She remembered growing up in this place.
– Oh my. Ellie has a talent for magic?
The face of the one who’d picked up and raised the orphan came to mind.
Foster mother. Diana Ordia. Thinking back, they’d been closer when she was little.
“...Kinda shameless, but just one night...”
Tomorrow, she’d meet up with the academy group and enter the labyrinth.
Right now, Ellie needed a nest to soothe her fatigue.
Creeeak.
‘No business today, huh.’
Opening the door revealed familiar sights. Not much changed from her childhood memories.
Ellie headed straight for Diana’s room. Didn’t like it, but for a stay, she had to show her face.
Even after so long, every step through the inn revived memories instantly.
“Hngh, ngh, haa...”
With her elf-light steps, Ellie reached Diana’s door and caught a lewd moan from somewhere.
It came from inside Diana’s room.
‘...Shouldn’t have come now.’
Ellie blushed and regretted it instantly. Should’ve come later. Hearing her foster mom’s embarrassing moans was mortifying.
As she turned to flee...
“Haa... B-Balkan... Not there...”
‘Balkan?’
A familiar name hit her sensitive elf ears.
The uncle she’d met the past three days was named Balkan too.
“Please be a bit quieter, Miss Diana. The other guests might hear.”
“Y-Yeah... I-I’ll... try to hold... Ngh, haaah...?!”
“...Just endure a little longer. I’ll calm it down soon.”
And the clincher: Balkan’s voice from Diana’s room.
‘...Huh?’
What? Did I mishear? No, elf ears don’t lie. I heard right.
Thump. Thump.
For some reason, her heart pounded anxiously.
Ellie’s feet unwittingly led her to Diana’s door.
Slightly ajar.
Dazzling radiant light leaked out.
Ellie peered silently through the crack.
The light faded, revealing sweat-drenched Diana and...
“How’s that? The curse’s warning signs calmed down a bit, Miss Diana?”
“Haa... Haa... Yeah... Thanks. Balkan... Felt so good... N-No... Thanks to you... It’s settled...”
“I’m heading into the labyrinth tomorrow. Hold out while I’m gone, okay?”
“Mmm...”
Balkan, lying beneath her, stroking her lower belly bare-handed.
“...Huh?”
Unable to process, Ellie’s arms went slack. Heart racing too fast. Head spinning.
Thud.
She dropped it. The thick research journal she always carried hugged to her chest.
“...!”
“Who’s there!”
Balkan reacted faster to the noise than pleasure-exhausted Diana.
Ellie bolted from the inn without thinking.
She ran and ran through the dark Labyrinth City. Heart pounding wildly.
She slumped against a wall in some back alley.
Pulled her robe tight, mashed her hat down.
Why?
Ellie felt like bursting into tears.
“These are the academy students we’ll be escorting on this labyrinth run. Chat and wait for the rest of the party.”
I half-listened to Joy Hog as I eyed the five academy students we’d be guarding.
Actually, only one caught my eye.
“...Hmph.”
That one promptly looked away the moment she saw me.
“Haa...”
I rubbed my forehead looking at the red-haired elf girl with sunken eyes, Ellie Ordia.
How the hell did things end up like this?