Chapter 122: Tell Me the Method!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 122: Tell Me the Method!
Immediately after putting Helena into the dragon's body, I coughed up blood and collapsed.
Through my hazy consciousness, I felt people picking me up and carrying me outside. Soon after, I realized I was enveloped in a bundle of fluffy fur. It was incredibly warm and soft.
Ah, it’s Horaru. I was being transported on Horaru’s back.
“...Ugh... damn it.”
When I opened my eyes, the scenery had changed again. It looked like an infirmary. My arms felt like they were being torn apart. I could move them, but I had a feeling there would be some lingering aftereffects.
Helena. Helena?
No response. Silence. For a moment, I worried something had gone wrong, but then her emotions began to drift toward me.
I could feel that she was safe. She was likely settling into the Bracelet of Growth.
The connection felt even more intimate than when we communicated through mere thoughts. Now that she had completely become my familiar and summon, the distance between us felt shorter.
Where are the others...
Horaru and the Tower Lord were sitting at a table in the corner, talking.
When I sat up and made a sound, the two of them finally realized I was awake and approached me.
“Uwoong. Are you okay? You coughed up so much blood.”
“You’re awake. Any abnormalities?”
“My arms hurt quite a bit. Is this the relief station?”
“That’s right. A private room in the relief station. I had a high-grade priest examine you, and they said the treatment was perfectly successful. But seriously, what on earth did you do? And where did the dragon hatchling disappear to?”
I started to answer the Tower Lord’s question but then closed my mouth.
I wasn't in a position to answer her just yet.
This crazy bastard.
As soon as I woke up, the dragon’s soul I had captured began to thrash about. I’d have to tighten the chains.
It’s no use acting up now.
I used the chains to tightly bind the dragon’s soul—which was filled with blind loathing and hatred toward humans—and shoved it deep inside me.
This young dragon’s soul was utterly useless and impossible to communicate with. If I couldn't find a use for it, I planned to shove it into a monster’s body when I entered the Labyrinth later and kill it along with the monster.
Honestly, I’ve never seen a soul this fierce and wild.
It was daunting to handle. Taming it seemed practically impossible. Perhaps because it was the ego of a hatchling with no prior knowledge, it tried to devour me from the start.
For now, keeping it suppressed and wrapped in chains was the best I could do.
Well, that’s not what’s important right now.
Whether the hatchling’s soul thrashed or not didn't matter.
What truly mattered was that Helena had perfectly settled into the dragon’s body. The Witch of the Dark Moon, arguably the strongest mage in human history, had entered the body of a hatchling with the potential to become the ultimate living creature.
And that witch was my companion, bound to me by our souls.
Putting a human with vast magical knowledge into the body of a creature that used magic as naturally as breathing—it was the ultimate result.
“Hey, Sion. Why aren't you answering?”
“Uwoong. Maybe he’s in a lot of pain?”
“What? Should I call the priest again?”
“No, no. I’m fine now. So, what were you asking?”
“I asked where the dragon hatchling went. It vanished right around the time you started coughing up blood.”
Helena was currently inside the Bracelet of Growth. She was using the bracelet as a nest to heal her weakened body.
“Surely... it didn't die, did it...?”
“No. It’s not dead. It’s just recovering inside me for a moment.”
“Recovering inside you? What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure where to even start explaining.”
“From the beginning. Explain it in detail.”
“That’s a bit... I mean, you’re trying to take my information without giving anything in return? That’s not a fair trade, is it?”
“What?”
The Tower Lord was going crazy with curiosity, but since I was holding out, she looked like she was about to lose it. Her blue hair was practically standing on end in real-time.
“Tell me! I’m dying to know!”
“Like I said, if you’re curious about the method I used, pay the information fee.”
“You little... What do you want? Name it.”
“The remaining dragon eggs. If I could have those...”
“No!”
“Hmm. Is that so? That’s a shame. Then, can I ask for your unconditional support for the Underground City development project?”
“Unconditional support?”
“Yes.”
I needed her to back me up.
“What kind of trouble are you planning to start?”
“It’s nothing major. I’ll tell you the details later. So, are you going to do it or not?”
The Tower Lord hesitated. Since her ultimate goal seemed to be Labyrinth exploration anyway, having a stake in the Underground City development project wouldn't be a bad deal for her.
The more supporting factions I have, the better.
Alchemist Lafnel, whom Guild Master Moira and even the head of the Alchemist Guild were smitten with, would definitely give me his full support. But those two alone weren't enough. They were reliable, but I wasn't satisfied yet.
“Fine, I understand.”
“Would you mind signing a contract as well?”
“Ha. I’m starting to get scared because I feel like I’m being dragged into your pace.”
Despite her reluctant expression, the Tower Lord eventually signed the contract. That was how curious she was about how I had tamed the dragon hatchling.
“Great. I’ve got the contract. No taking it back later.”
“I’m interested in Labyrinth development anyway. Stop being suspicious and just tell me the method.”
“Alright. Horaru.”
“Uwoong?”
“You can’t tell anyone else about this, okay?”
“Uwoong. I know. I promise.”
Horaru was tight-lipped and wasn't the type to leak other people’s secrets elsewhere.
“Now then, I’ll briefly explain how I made the dragon hatchling my summon.”
First, I gave a brief explanation of the Soul Chains I had recently acquired in the Labyrinth. I described it as a power capable of interfering with souls.
“So, you pulled out the dragon’s soul and put another soul in its place?”
“Yes.”
I didn't mention whose soul I had put in. I simply explained that it was someone I had met by chance in the Labyrinth and brought along using my Spiritual Eye.
Helena isn't ready to meet Mabel yet.
Mabel was Helena’s top disciple. If I suddenly told her that her dead master had returned, it would likely cause quite a stir.
Of course, it wasn't a secret that would last forever. If she kept crossing paths with the Tower Lord, Mabel might eventually figure it out on her own. Above all, now that the Guild Master and Lafnel knew, a perfect secret was no longer possible.
“Fine, let’s say you swapped the souls using your Spiritual Eye and that soul-manipulating ability. Then where did the physical body go?”
“I used a Spirit Beast's Heart during the soul-swapping process.”
“Uwoong? A Spirit Beast's Heart...?”
Horaru reacted immediately to the mention of the Spirit Beast's Heart.
“Huuung. That’s incredibly rare. Where did you get it?”
“I found it by chance when I went into the Labyrinth with the Inquisitors this time.”
“The Heretics must have had it.”
“Well, you could say that.”
I still needed to keep the information about the Frogman hidden from the Magic Tower. The Magic Tower was also currently tracking the Frogman and Arachne. Until I could profit from the Snake Nest and the Spider’s Den first, those two entities had to remain a secret.
“Hmm. Horaru. Is there any credibility to what the Porter is saying? Can you really make a dragon a summon using a Spirit Beast's Heart?”
“Uwoong. I’ve never seen a case like this, so I’m not sure. But I think it wouldn't be impossible if used correctly. By slamming a Spirit Beast's Heart into a weakened target... Hmm. Through forced spiritualization... Huuung. I think it could work?”
“To think such a method existed.”
“You can’t even attempt it without the Spiritual Eye anyway.”
“I know. I know, but... Tsk. Was my knowledge of the forest too lacking? Is it truly impossible to overcome every situation with magic alone...?”
Her master, Helena, possessed vast knowledge not only of magic but also of sorcery and all kinds of arts.
Tower Lord Mabel seemed frustrated by that. It was as if she had a burning desire to solve every problem purely through magic.
And yet, as soon as Horaru was in danger, she had immediately activated an ancient sorcery. Even she, who wanted to unify all arts under magic, still relied on sorcery, making her ideal seem unlikely to be realized.
“Is your curiosity satisfied?”
“I understand well enough that you captured the dragon using your Ability and rare materials. And I also understand that the Magic Tower cannot replicate that method. Hmm.”
The Tower Lord looked at my hand with a hint of regret.
“Since we’ve already made a contract, why don't we build a deeper relationship?”
“A deeper relationship?”
“Yes. I think I’ve treated you too much like an outsider. Hearing your methods, I think you’re qualified to participate in our Magic Tower’s research.”
“What is it you want?”
“I realized something from today’s incident. My ideal of solving everything with magic alone still has too many shortcomings to be realized. I need help. Not just magic... I want to gather those who are outstanding in their respective fields and form a group. Horaru has already agreed to join.”
“Uwoong. Unlimited honey. They’ll support my research costs and give me a house too.”
No wonder the two of them were talking without even noticing I had woken up. It was about a contract.
Paying research costs and even providing a house. Those were incredibly exceptional conditions for a Silver Badge adventurer.
She didn't care about the other conditions; her eyes flipped for the unlimited honey.
I had wanted to take Horaru with me, but she had already joined hands with the Magic Tower. Nothing I could do about that.
“Won't you join as well?”
“A relationship that’s too deep is a bit... Just use me as external personnel.”
“It seems you don't want to be too closely tied to the Magic Tower.”
“It’s not just the Magic Tower. I’m not that deeply involved with the Church or the Guild either. I just prefer acting freely.”
“That’s a shame. Fine, I understand. I’ll contact you when I need help.”
“You know it won't be for free, right?”
“I know.”
That was enough. Mabel knew I wouldn't make unreasonable demands, so she didn't push the collaboration with the Magic Tower any further. Helping each other when needed was sufficient.
“I assume you can’t take the dragon out to show me right now?”
“I’ll show you tomorrow depending on the situation. It’s currently settling in.”
“Alright. Then... Ah!”
“What is it?”
“The bracelet. What happened to the Ability Fixing Bracelet?”
“About that. I didn't get a space-attribute Ability; instead, an Ability related to my Spiritual Eye manifested.”
“What...? Did the bracelet malfunction?”
Mabel fiddled with the Ability Fixing Bracelet on my wrist and then frowned.
“Why is the engraving distorted like this? Hmph. So, did you get an Ability?”
“Yes. A spiritual-type one.”
“I see. You didn't get a space-attribute. Then that means you only have the Subspace Pocket?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you have any combat-type Abilities?”
Combat-type?
Aside from Shaka’s Remnant, I didn't have any combat-related Abilities to speak of.
I’m just a supporter. I know...
“Since we’ve decided to plan for the future together, you can’t just go and die because you’re weak. Above all, since you’ve taken the dragon... you must survive and overcome countless misfortunes until the hatchling grows up.”
“Countless misfortunes?”
“Yes. A hatchling is... a symbol of misfortune. Most living creatures... especially monsters, will try to devour a hatchling before it grows into an adult. The Labyrinth is the same. Do you think it’s possible for a motherless dragon hatchling to survive normally in the Labyrinth?”
“Is that true?”
“That’s what’s written in the records. That’s why I hatched it outside the Labyrinth, even knowing the mana was scarce.”
“To think there was such a reason...”
“So you must never be weak. If you couldn't increase your power with a space-attribute Ability... you’ll have to do your best with what you have.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“Let’s explore an offensive way to use the Subspace Pocket.”
“Pardon...?”
“I have several ideas. Since time essentially stops inside the Subspace Pocket, I wonder if it would retain the force it received from the outside even while inside.”
Time does not flow inside the Subspace Pocket.
That’s why if you put in warm food, you can take it out and eat it while it’s still warm anytime, anywhere.
Temperature and thermal energy are maintained within the inventory.
If so, would kinetic energy also be preserved? That seemed to be what Mabel wanted to ask.
“First, I’ll fire an arrow at you. You put it into the Subspace Pocket just before it hits you. Then... wouldn't it enter the Subspace Pocket with the same force it was flying with? When you take it out again, it should move in the direction you pull it out with the same force it had when it was fired.”
“...That’s interesting.”
“Right? If you can’t use Space Severing... we have to find another way.”
It was extremely interesting.
In the eight months I had lived in the Labyrinth City, it had actually been less than half a year since I obtained the Subspace Pocket. That meant I hadn't experimented with all the possibilities yet.
“I’ll cast 8th Circle Protection Magic on you, so let’s try firing arrows at your body. If you can instinctively put the arrows into the Subspace Pocket without stopping them...”
“I could become a marksman with an infinite supply of arrows?”
“Theoretically, yes.”
Without the motion of firing, just by reaching out and pulling out an arrow, it would fly in that direction.
And it wasn't just arrows. It included anything that could be projected. If I could put an object into the Subspace Pocket the moment it touched me, before it lost its kinetic energy.
I could obtain the ultimate spear and shield at the same time.
It meant having both a means of defending against ranged attacks and a means of attacking.
The problem was whether I could acquire the sense to capture that split-second window.
I have to make Shaka’s Remnant completely mine.
My training with Gon became even more urgent.
I had to heighten my senses.
I needed to be able to put a flying arrow into the Subspace Pocket the moment it touched my fingertips, without grabbing it.
No matter how I thought about it, it was a crazy idea, but if I succeeded, wouldn't I be practically immune to projectiles?
Above all, the Tower Lord said she’d use 8th Circle Protection Magic. That meant I absolutely had to try it.