Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: There Are No Bad Axes in the World
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There are no bad axes in the world.
Scrolling notification windows appeared one by one. Let me read through them and organize.
Inside me, Arin's main body—the being known as the King of All Scales—has taken up residence.
The Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle... too long, so shortened to Sub-Struggle Axe. Does that mean it got spooked by the main body and submitted?
'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' grumbles that you shouldn't arbitrarily shorten its name in such a weird way.
"But 'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' is way too long."
'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' lets out a sigh and says if you're going to call it that, just give it a proper name.
"A name...?"
That's an insanely tough request tossed out so casually.
Part of me wants to nail it down with "You're Sub-Struggle Axe from now on" and call it a day.
But since it'll be my dedicated weapon, we should get somewhat friendly.
After mulling it over in my head for a bit...
"Um... um... um...!!!"
...Naming something is just not easy, as expected.
So, time to borrow the power of collective intelligence. I searched the internet for [axe name recommendations] and browsed the results.
Found a decent-sounding one and decided to go with that.
- Labrys (Greek: λάβρυς, Romanized: lábrys) is a Lydian term for a double-headed axe. In Greek...
"How about Labrys? It's Lydian for double-headed axe—pretty straightforward, right?"
'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' nods, saying it's way better than Sub-Struggle Axe.
"What's wrong with Sub-Struggle Axe?"
'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' starts to say something to its master... no... then trails off with a sigh.
"You're awfully picky for an axe."
'Subjugated Double-Edged Axe of Struggle' accepts its new name (Labrys).
Labrys is currently in a weakened state.
If certain conditions are met, hidden functions will be unlocked.
"What? You still had hidden functions?"
Labrys brags that it was merely dormant for ages and weakened—its true power is far greater than this.
Labrys says if you want to see its true form, prove your struggle to restore its former glory.
"Former glory?"
Come to think of it, that was a bit odd.
Labrys clearly had a self-repair function that consumed fighting spirit.
Even after channeling fighting spirit into it, it still looked like a pathetic double-headed axe, rusted, chipped, and battered by the ravages of time.
"Prove yourself to see the true form... you mean fight other people?"
Labrys advises that combat is merely one part of struggle—don't limit it to battle alone.
Labrys says every living being in the world engages in great and small struggles from birth, and you must prove it by overcoming your own limits.
"So... basically, achieve something incredibly difficult? Like the feats of mythical heroes?"
Labrys nods, saying that's a simple way to put it.
"Saying it again, you're really picky for an axe."
Labrys grumbles that it's actually a very cooperative piece of gear.
"You?"
Labrys explains that compared to blood-drinking demon swords, soul-corrupting scythes, or gender-swapping staves, it's downright conscientious gear.
"No, what the...?"
...The tower has gear like that?
I have no clue who made such dangerous equipment or why, but one thing's for sure.
"Gender-swapping staff... you again, mage?"
Once more, mages are a breed apart—no normal ones among them. A stark reminder of their danger.
A short while later, my two daughters woke from their naps, shook off sleep in their own ways, and approached me.
"Dad-meow, when's today's hunt-meow?"
"Planning to head back before dinner... so it's about time."
"Today's dad's hunting day, right? You got a new weapon!"
"Yeah... probably."
As Arin said, now I've got a weapon too.
And Labrys needs struggle to regain its old form.
This could be a good chance for me to rack up some real combat experience.
Labrys asks what these little ones are.
"Hm? Oh, my daughters, as you can see. The one with tiger stripes is Lulu."
"Meow?"
"The one with the shark tail is Arin."
"Huh? Who're you talking to, Dad?"
Ah, so the girls can't see Labrys's notifications?
Come to think of it, even I never saw Lulu's mantle talking.
Ego gear notifications must only be visible to those qualified.
Labrys asks how a half-orc could have kids it can't even see.
"Not married. And I'm pure human, not half-orc."
Labrys panics with ?????
Labrys urgently asks how you can use fighting spirit then.
Ah, right—I never explained to Labrys.
It must've assumed a human using fighting spirit had orc blood, hence half-orc.
No choice but to give a quick rundown...
"That? My job's alchemist, so I brewed an orc potion and drank it—boom, got fighting spirit."
Labrys is shocked to learn its master is an alchemist!
Labrys complains that this is contract fraud—it's unhappy serving a non-warrior!
Labrys was shocked once to learn I'm an alchemist.
It strongly rebelled, refusing to serve anyone but a warrior.
But that lasted only a moment.
"Who said you submitted so easily? Oh, and FYI, Arin is a homunculus made from the scales of the King of All Scales—the one you're so scared of."
"King of All Scales...? ...Ah! Dad! Just now—pop!—the main body's memory surfaced! The main body was a god-like being from ancient times, served by all scaled existences!"
Labrys freaks out with ?!?!?!!@!!?!?!
Labrys screams why that's real and topples over!
Labrys sweats profusely, admitting it had no idea its master was a supreme alchemist capable of such absurdity.
Labrys states that upon second thought, an alchemist of that caliber is more than worthy to serve as master.
"...What are you doing by yourself?"
After overhearing me and Arin, it suddenly topples over on its own.
Then it starts calling me a supreme alchemist, deeming me worthy and flipping its attitude completely.
I get it.
From Labrys's perspective, it signed a contract with its life on the line, forced into this flawed deal with me.
But still.
"That's one thing. This is another."
The situation's pitiful, sure.
But that doesn't mean I'm forgiving the betrayal attempt.
Time to set the hierarchy straight with Labrys.
And give it a good, stern lesson.
"Sorry, but I don't trust traitors. Arin? That axe tried to betray Dad. Dad's too sad—go ahead and devour it."
"Tried to betray Dad?! Absolutely unforgivable! Come forth!"
Arin uses skill Predation
<Shaa-!!!>
Labrys yells to wait just a moment—it has something good to give, so please stop!
"Arin, stop."
"Yes!"
Arin cancels use of skill Predation.
"So? What're you gonna give?"
Labrys sweats profusely, stammering that... well... it can't give it right now.
"What, a lie? Arin..."
Labrys desperately insists there's a reward only it can give once inside the Tower of Struggle!
Labrys desperately explains that you just need to enter the tower!
"...Last chance."
Labrys nods vigorously in affirmation.
[Entering the tower.]
To claim Labrys's promised reward and wrap up today's tower climb in one go, I entered the 8th floor of the tower.
-Ding!
Goal: Defeat the Veteran Lizardman Warrior Captain
Spawn in 4 minutes 59 seconds
For now, I shoved the usual goal notification aside.
To check Labrys's reward first, I pressed it.
"So? What're you giving?"
Labrys says wait a moment—a new notification will appear, so check that.
As Labrys said, I waited briefly.
Soon, a new notification appeared before my eyes.
And I learned what this special reward only it could give was.
You qualify fully for the hidden clear condition of the Tower of Struggle.
Tower of Struggle 10th Floor: 'Trial of the Crimson Lake'
[YES] [NO]
📍 Accept: Proceed to 10th Floor. Reward based on results.
⏰ Reject: Summon scheduled monster for this floor.
"A hidden floor challenge...?"
Labrys says it can bypass all conditions in the Tower of Struggle to enter hidden floors directly.
Labrys says this is the special reward only it can provide.
"This... is definitely special. But why 10th floor, not 8th?"
Labrys explains hidden floors exist only every 5 floors, each with entirely different conditions.
"Oh, really?"
If that's true, it's a reward worth calling special.
As I mentioned before, finding a floor's hidden condition isn't easy.
Satisfying the challenge for hidden floors every 5 levels is even harder.
But here's the thing.
"Doesn't this mean I miss out on previous floors' rewards?"
Skipping straight to 5-floor multiples?
If I can clear it, I'd get high-floor rewards faster for quicker growth.
But I'd miss all the skipped floors' rewards, so long-term, isn't it a loss?
It's not an unambiguously good reward—or so I thought.
Labrys says no need to worry about that.
"Why?"
Labrys explains that the hidden floor's difficulty scales with skipped floors, and rewards match accordingly.
"...Can we actually clear that?"
Labrys guarantees no ordinary climber could clear it.
Labrys says you're far~~~ beyond ordinary climbers, so anything short of the top floors should be fine.
"That a compliment?"
Labrys says of course it's a compliment!
...Didn't feel like a compliment at all.
Anyway.
To sum up: extra difficulty from skips, but proportionally better rewards?
If so, not a bad deal.
A bit regrettable to forgo minor tower gains like scavenging materials.
But compressing low-floor rewards into mid- or high-floor ones would be a long-term win.
One question arises here.
What's Labrys's true nature to enable this?
How does it know the tower so well—even Arin's main body?
When I asked...
Labrys says it wants to explain, but tower restrictions prevent details.
Labrys explains it was originally a holy relic of the orc race, hidden on the Tower of Struggle's 50th floor, dormant awaiting its time—until a climber found and took it outside.
"...50th floor holy relic?"
Gasp...? Hold on.
Honestly, I'd pegged Labrys as just a high-performance, rusty, boastful double-headed axe.
If that's true...
Doesn't that make Labrys a key item with a major role in the Tower of Struggle?