Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Translator: Penny
Chapter 45
Han Yoo-seong sat at the center of the Round Table, flanked by two others: Carmin, the person he was tasked with protecting, and Maduke, the shopkeeper of this general store.
Fortunately, Carmin Everhart had managed to explain the situation clearly to Maduke.
Maduke and the other members of the general store had been listening with detached interest until the word "Chimera" was mentioned. At that moment, they straightened up, their faces turning serious as they began to listen intently.
"The eldest son of the Raphael Count Family is conducting Chimera experiments?" Maduke asked.
Carmin nodded. "That's correct."
"What's the evidence?"
Carmin's expression darkened at Maduke's question. There was no concrete evidence she could present.
"There must be traces of Witor, the Count Family's eldest son, in the underground area he frequented. I'm certain of it. He wouldn't have been able to completely erase all evidence in such a short time."
Maduke, who had been silently observing Carmin, finally smiled faintly.
"I'm not doubting your words, Young Lady. The Count Family's relentless pursuit proves as much..."
He paused briefly, then lifted the teacup before him.
Han Yoo-seong watched the steam rising from the cup.
"And to be honest, this isn't the first time a connection between the Raphael Count Family and the Chimera has been suggested."
Carmin's eyes widened at Maduke's words.
"What?"
"It wasn't at the Intenes Branch, but another branch. A middle-aged man came claiming he had been subjected to Chimera experiments by the Raphael Count Family."
"What happened to him?"
Maduke's answer wasn't what Carmin had hoped for.
"He handed over the information and died less than a day later. His body was so twisted and grotesque that they couldn't even preserve it. His flesh and bones contorted from his toes upward, and he died in a hideous state. Even without burning, his skin blackened and rotted away as if consumed by fire."
Han Yoo-seong remarked nonchalantly, "That sounds like pretty solid evidence he was subjected to Chimera experiments."
Maduke nodded.
"That's right. But the corpse was so decomposed that an autopsy couldn't be performed. Still, given that the Raphael Count Family was already associated with the Chimera rumors, they're likely to believe the Young Lady's testimony."
Han Yoo-seong began to piece together the narrative.
"The Raphael Count Family seems to wield considerable influence, doesn't it? If they weren't a significant family, the Empire would have likely pressed ahead with circumstantial evidence alone."
Maduke lifted his teacup, took another sip, and then spoke.
"The Raphael Count Family is one of the Heroic Families that helped establish the Ermein Empire. However, while their founding ancestors were celebrated for their contributions, their descendants have proven remarkably mediocre. They still maintain their status through the lingering prestige of their lineage and their superior bloodline."
Maduke shifted his gaze from Han Yoo-seong back to Carmin Everhart.
"But this time, with the Young Lady as a living witness, we can extinguish the Heroic Family's prestige and hold the eldest son accountable for his crimes, if we play our cards right."
Maduke turned to Carmin.
"So, what was your original plan?"
"I was going to seek help from Ventura Academy. Once formally enrolled at Ventura, no imperial power would dare touch me. And... I believed Ventura's Headmaster possessed the authority to intervene in the Raphael Count Family's affairs."
A glint of interest flashed in Maduke's eyes.
"A wise decision. Ventura Academy certainly has the power to strike at the Raphael Count Family."
With those words, Maduke rose from his chair, opened a drawer, and retrieved a sheet of paper.
Thump.
He placed the paper and a fountain pen on the desk.
"Write down everything you experienced, Young Lady. I'll deliver it directly to Ventura Academy through a secure channel, bypassing any risk of leaks. It will go straight to someone with direct access to the Headmaster."
At Maduke's instruction, Carmin slowly began to write.
A short while later, Carmin handed the completed paper to Maduke.
Han Yoo-seong gazed out the window. Dusk was already settling.
Han Yoo-seong, Carmin, and Rengel had been assigned rooms in the general store for lodging.
Of course, only two rooms were provided.
Carmin had been given a private room.
Rengel sat watching Han Yoo-seong meditate.
"Why are you so strong?" Rengel asked.
Han Yoo-seong found the question absurd.
I'm just desperately trying to survive.
"Strong? Didn't you see me struggling yesterday?"
Rengel assumed Han Yoo-seong was being modest.
"But you killed him in the end."
Han Yoo-seong clicked his tongue softly.
"In the end. That's the problem. If things had gone even slightly wrong, my throat would have been slit."
The battle against Fifth-Tier Kailas yesterday. And the magical bombardment they had just endured.
There hadn't been a moment without crisis.
Today's escape had been surprisingly easy thanks to the Binding Talisman from the Shrine Maiden, but if the number of incoming spells increased, even the talisman wouldn't be enough.
I need to get stronger.
Han Yoo-seong retrieved a sword from his Inventory: the Sword of the Tyrant King. He then drew Mundum Extinguite, the sword he usually carried at his hip.
Dual-wielding.
Twin-sword technique.
Han Yoo-seong figured there was no harm in practicing with two swords.
The Seventh Form of the Fourth-Tier Dragon Slayer Sword Art, which I used yesterday, is actually more efficient with dual swords.
The Dragon Slayer Sword Art Manual explicitly stated this. He had only used a single sword out of necessity.
While the Sword of Light didn't need to rush into dual-wielding from the start, practicing wouldn't hurt.
A day passed.
Then two more.
Han Yoo-seong felt no restlessness or frustration being confined to the general store.
The Information Guild.
Maduke, the Intenes Branch Master, had been personally keeping Han Yoosung informed about how the situation was developing.
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The Headmaster of Ventura Academy, having received the information from the Information Guild, was personally heading this way.
There was no need to feel anxious as long as the narrative was progressing as expected.
In fact, Han Yoosung was feeling too secure, which was perhaps the only cause for concern.
As expected, solving a quest-based floor isn't just a matter of brute force.
That made the Tower feel even more daunting.
Another day passed.
After two consecutive days of peaceful living, Carmin's complexion continued to improve.
"You look much better, Carmin," Han Yoo-seong remarked.
Carmin's lips curved into a smile at his words. "It seems my inner peace is showing on my face."
Tonight's dinner was steak.
Han Yoo-seong devoured the meat to satisfy his training-induced hunger.
Behind the general store lay a spacious training ground covered by a large tent, where he had been practicing.
Since displaying his training to others was unpleasant, he activated the Veil of Secrets to prevent the Constellations from observing.
Another day had passed.
The Headmaster of Ventura Academy finally appeared.
Clang-
The general store door swung open, and a middle-aged man strode in.
I felt a current of energy far more intense than anything I had sensed before.
[Headmaster of Ventura Academy, Seventh-Tier Mage Mandels]
Seventh-Tier.
The mage had long, snow-white hair.
Despite knowing he was a mage, the aura emanating from Mandels' body resembled the presence of Fifth-Tier Swordsman Kailas.
Yet the oppressive pressure was several times stronger.
Mandels' golden eyes fixed on me.
No, he should be approaching Carmin, who's sitting quietly at the Round Table right next to him. Why is he looking at me?
"......"
Our gazes locked.
Even without drawing my sword or entering combat, I knew.
If I fought now, I would undoubtedly lose.
To lose meant death.
Against this opponent, there was no chance of victory—not even a sliver.
The opponent on the 5th Floor couldn't possibly be Seventh-Tier.
The conclusion of our encounter was simple: I needed to become stronger.
Mandels, who had been staring at me, opened his mouth.
"Are you the one who protected the Everhart Baron Family's young lady and brought her to the Information Guild?"
I opened my mouth.
"Yes, that's correct."
"So you're the virtuous man who rescued the poor Baron Family's young lady from her predicament and brought her here. You've done a truly commendable deed."
Mandels continued, his gaze fixed on me.
"How about you enroll in Ventura Academy alongside Miss Carmin Everhart? You still look quite young."
"Thank you for the offer, but I have no intention of attending the Academy."
It's tempting, though.
The inevitable was likely to come soon.
"Is that so? A pity."
Mandels turned his gaze from me and sat beside Carmin Everhart, who had been quietly listening to our conversation from her seat at the Round Table.
"You read the letter well. The Raphael Count Family has been under close observation, so I find your words entirely credible."
Carmin nodded at Mandels' words.
"Th-thank you."
Mandels gave her a kind smile.
"What reason does the Young Lady have to thank me? On the contrary, I should be thanking you for giving me the opportunity to eradicate the Empire's evils."
Mandels continued.
"From this moment forward, Carmin Everhart, you are a student of Ventura Academy. I am your guardian and protector. Having received special investigative authority from His Majesty the Emperor regarding all matters concerning students, I will immediately commence an investigation into the Raphael Count Family."
Oh.
So he really was a Savior Complex patient. Still, he was a patient who got the job done properly.
Just as Mandels finished speaking, exactly as I'd predicted, the notification arrived:
Quest successfully completed.
The quest I'd chosen was to ensure Carmin Everhart's admission to Ventura Academy.
With her enrollment now confirmed, the minimum requirement for completion had been met, and the quest was cleared.
You have cleared the 5th Floor Stage.
This time, too, I was utterly exhausted.
Player - Han Yoo-seong's score for the 5th Floor Stage is being calculated.
You successfully chose the more difficult of the two options. Bonus points awarded.
You met the bonus point requirement for "Elite Elimination." Bonus points awarded.
Elite Elimination: Achieved by eliminating an opponent at least one tier higher than yourself during the stage.
Elite Elimination - Fifth-Tier Swordsman Kailas
As always, the 5th Floor Ranking scores of the current climbers came into view:
1st - Union Leader: 844 points
2nd - Black Star: 723 points
3rd - Black Hand: 609 points
4th - Chasing: 513 points
5th - Sinclair: 511 points
...
...
Score calculation complete.
Han Yoo-seong: 1,782 points
Another four-digit breakthrough.
You will be automatically transported to the 6th Floor Waiting Room in 3 minutes.
Carmin approached me.
Her neatly tied red hair in a ponytail style seemed to reflect her newly resolved determination.
"This is all thanks to you, Yuseong-nim! Thank you so much!" Carmin bowed deeply to me repeatedly.
"Well, I was just getting my revenge too."
"Remember my name!"
"Why?"
"I'll help you with anything later... no, I'll help you twice!"
"I'll remember."
"Yes, please do!"
"Go prepare for the Academy already."
"Yes!"
Carmin bowed deeply once more and quickly disappeared from sight.
By the time Carmin Everhart finishes preparing for the Academy, I'll likely be gone from this world.
There was something I'd forgotten.
The Thousand-Eyed Judge presses his right hand to his forehead.
The Thousand-Eyed Judge sighs deeply.
Ah, this bastard.
To be precise, it was the Constellation Quest registered by that bastard.
['Guide Who Follows the Stars' says someone got what they deserved.]
['Crimson-Burning Creator' agrees that this was unexpected.]
['Warrior Who Bears Wrath' questions your identity.]
['Saintess Who Chases Light' bursts into laughter at someone.]
You have cleared the Constellation Quest registered by 'Judge with a Thousand Eyes'.
Quest: Choose the more difficult option (2) and clear it on your first attempt.
Additional Condition: Constellation Block cannot be used during the quest.
Reward: A-Grade Elixir - Gehenna
It was obvious they didn't expect me to clear it. This quest was merely bait to force me to lift the Constellation Block.
Reward: A-Grade Elixir - Gehenna has been awarded. Collect it from the 6th Floor Waiting Room.
Burp.
Thank you for the meal.