Chapter 149: The First Step to Industrializing the Labyrinth
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 149: The First Step to Industrializing the Labyrinth
How on earth am I supposed to get through this?
The opposition had formed far too quickly.
I hadn't even had a chance to speak properly yet, but victims were coming forward one after another, testifying to their grievances and blocking Lafnel’s path to the Labyrinth.
If things continued like this, Lafnel’s entry into the Labyrinth would become an eternal impossibility. She wouldn't be able to step foot inside until every single one of those victims had died of old age.
‘So this is why they showed up...!’
I had heard that attendance at these meetings was usually low, so I had wondered why so many people were present today.
Now, the mystery was solved. These people had no interest in the meeting itself from the start. They were here for one reason: to cast a dissenting vote and keep Lafnel out of the Labyrinth.
‘Is there anyone here who can help me in this situation...?’
Moira looked slightly flustered, Mabel was sighing with her hand over her eyes, and even Freya was biting her lower lip, her anger simmering beneath a calm facade.
It seemed even the people in my faction hadn't fully anticipated this situation.
This was clearly a coordinated ambush. The person who planned this was likely at the center of the opposition. And the centerpiece—Lafnel’s greatest victim—was probably that man with the goatee.
He was likely venting all the resentment from being forcefully gender-swapped and forced to work as a prostitute for seven years.
‘Goddess, why are you testing me like this?’
If I couldn't take Lafnel to the Labyrinth, my plans would be derailed...
“Everyone, do not be so hasty in your judgment.”
Just as I was racking my brain for a way to respond to the outcry of the opposition, Sir Tirahan, who had been silently reading documents until now, silenced the room.
As expected, his word carried the most weight. I desperately hoped he was on our side.
“Hmm. We have yet to hear a proper answer from this porter. I believe it is unwise to cast dissenting votes prematurely, buried in the past. You all understand what I mean, don't you?”
“If Sir Tirahan says so...”
“Ahem. I suppose we should give him time to make an excuse.”
“Tch.”
There were those like the goatee man who showed blatant animosity toward Sir Tirahan, while other nobles fell silent out of respect for him.
The representatives of the various institutions, who weren't nobles, hadn't said much to begin with, so the hall quickly grew quiet.
After scanning the now-silent audience, Sir Tirahan turned his sharp gaze back toward me and spoke.
“Now then, what was the first question again?”
“It was regarding the reason for taking Miss Lafnel into the Labyrinth.”
“Right, that’s it. The reason why we should permit Lafnel’s entry. Well then, Porter. Let’s hear it. You’ve heard plenty about Lafnel’s atrocities by now. You must explain why we should allow her back into the Labyrinth, even while risking the dangers she poses.”
I had to choose my words very carefully from here on out.
This was an opportunity Sir Tirahan had given me by suppressing the opposition's roar. I had to seize this chance and successfully secure Lafnel’s entry.
Because while her creations might have side effects, their utility was undeniable.
Lafnel was the city’s greatest alchemist and nearly the only artisan capable of creating items on par with artifacts.
If she took on the role of the mistress of the Underground City, conquering the Labyrinth would become significantly easier.
—Now, it is time for your proper response. How much information will you disclose?
‘Regarding the Labyrinth Eruption... would it be better to mention it?’
—To persuade those who are angry with Lafnel, shouldn't you start with the most shocking fact? These people are not ordinary citizens or adventurers. I do not think you need to worry about them falling into a collective panic or madness just because you inform them of the Labyrinth Eruption.
‘But if they ask how I know about the eruption...’
—You will have to reveal your Ability and your encounter with me.
‘I’m worried about leaking too much information.’
—At this point, worrying that they might use underhanded tactics against you for profit is largely meaningless. The events are already in motion; all that remains is to break through the obstacles and move forward. Do not hesitate.
‘Understood. Thank you for the advice.’
I took a deep breath.
From this moment, I had to tell these people about the Labyrinth Eruption.
“First, I will tell you the greatest reason why I am going to such lengths to take Lafnel into the Labyrinth. This is not merely for my personal gain or happiness.”
“Oh?”
Sir Tirahan rested his chin on his hand as if intrigued, and the other nobles also looked at me, as if telling me to go ahead and speak.
Amidst their silence, I opened my mouth once more.
I had to state the facts calmly. This was no longer a situation where I could hide things. They, too, needed to know about the impending disaster.
“In perhaps a year, or maybe even a few months, the Labyrinth will erupt.”
“What? A Labyrinth Eruption?”
“What are you talking about? The Labyrinth is going to erupt? It’s going to explode?”
“That’s absurd. There have been countless such speculations until now. People said the same thing after the last Great Cataclysm. But they all ended up being mere rumors. I can’t believe it.”
“What’s your evidence? How can we trust your word in the first place? Isn't this just the delusion of a madman?”
The nobles immediately shouted back, refuting my words.
Then, Moira, who had been observing the situation, raised her voice.
“His words are true.”
“What? Guild Master, what do you mean by that?”
“Are you just blindly taking that porter’s side? I heard the two of you are quite close.”
“No. I am not taking his side simply because of our relationship. I believe it because the source of the information this porter brought is none other than the Labyrinth itself.”
“What did you say?”
“Are you saying he can communicate with the Labyrinth? That’s even harder to believe. The will of the Labyrinth is incredibly evil and cunning.”
Moira looked at the protesting nobles for a moment. Then, her eyes met mine. Her expression asked if she could speak about my Ability.
‘About the Spiritual Eye...’
The power to see things that humans normally cannot, including souls.
There was no need to tell them that I could store souls with the Spiritual Eye or control them with Spirit Chains, but I could let them know that I was capable of communicating with spirits.
I nodded toward Moira.
“This porter possesses an Ability that others do not. He can communicate with the deceased. I swear on my honor, this is the truth.”
Swearing on one's honor meant she was willing to personally guarantee it. When she said she could guarantee the existence of my Ability, the crowd began to murmur.
“It would be difficult to doubt the existence of an Ability.”
“He learned of the Labyrinth Eruption through communication with the dead?”
“Who is this deceased person that they would know such information?”
Now, people were expressing doubt about the spirit I had communicated with.
This time, Mabel spoke up to address them.
“The one this porter spoke with was my teacher.”
Helena’s resurrection was still a secret. Furthermore, the fact that she had obtained a dragon’s body was top secret.
Therefore, we had decided not to directly summon Helena from the Bracelet of Growth. In the end, the only person who could verify this fact was Mabel, her prize pupil.
“What?”
“Her soul... was wandering the Labyrinth?”
“How could Helena have such information...?”
“She wandered the Labyrinth in spirit form, gathering information. She was waiting for someone who could finally see her.”
At my answer, the murmuring among the crowd grew even louder.
Reactions ranged from questioning why she would go that far to being unable to hide their amazement at Helena’s sacrifice.
“What?”
“Gathering information even after death? Why?”
“It must have been for the sake of future generations.”
“....”
“Unbelievable.”
“But what if all those words are actually true?”
“Even so, how does taking Lafnel down there help?”
“Lafnel is an absolutely necessary existence. I intend to go deeper into the depths to stop the Labyrinth Eruption. To do that, I must be able to receive a supply of items on par with relics.”
“You’re going to keep going down?”
“Are you saying you, a porter, will stop the Labyrinth Eruption? How? You don't even know how many floors the Labyrinth has.”
“And what do you mean by items on par with relics?”
“I would like to answer each question individually, but since the answers are similar, I will address them all at once. The answer I am about to give is likely related to the reason why I am seeking Labyrinth development rights.”
“This is getting interesting. Speak.”
Sir Tirahan seemed to be growing increasingly interested in my words.
I looked around at the people, making eye contact with them once before speaking again.
“At this point, there are almost no adventurers in Labyrinth City who can descend below the 7th floor. Even most Platinum Badges turn back at the entrance of the 7th floor. It is a fact that the overall level of the adventurers in Labyrinth City has dropped compared to the past. Because no one is willing to take risks... and go on a true adventure.”
“Hmm. Not willing to go on an adventure? A mere Bronze Badge porter dares to say such things?”
The Martial Arts Hall Master interrupted me with a sneer.
I looked him straight in the eye and replied.
“Yes. The level of the adventurers in Labyrinth City today has dropped.”
It’s true, isn't it? What are you going to do about it? I wasn't afraid, whether the Hall Master was a Weapon Master or not. Because Moira was here.
“It is certainly true. The porter is right. Compared to twenty years ago, the level of today’s adventurers has dropped significantly. To be honest, it is difficult for this generation of adventurers to even descend to the 7th floor.”
Before the Hall Master could say anything more, Moira acknowledged my words first. Perhaps because Moira had the most accurate perspective regarding adventurers, no one else raised an objection.
The Hall Master also just continued to stare at me as if intrigued. I was starting to get worried by how intense his gaze was becoming.
“It is as the Guild Master says. The Labyrinth will soon erupt, but the adventurers who must stop it are too weak. That is why I thought someone had to change this situation.”
“And you’re saying that someone is you?”
“Yes. I will take the lead...”
I realized the phrase "take the lead" was the best way to put it.
“I intend to step forward and pioneer the way. Because it is a task that someone must do.”
“A task that someone must do, you say.”
“Yes. If the Labyrinth erupts and the nightmares are unleashed, there will be no place left for the human race to stand. I believe we must grow our strength and block the Labyrinth Eruption before that happens.”
I think I did a good job speaking without stuttering. It was a good thing I practiced my speech yesterday. You have to have strength in your voice to inspire trust. It’s always good to practice presentations.
In any case, the atmosphere was slowly shifting in my favor. I felt like I could break the one-sided outcry of the opposition with just a little more effort.
“Then, Porter. Do you have the skill to actually stop the Labyrinth Eruption?”
Sir Tirahan was helping me again. I nodded confidently at his question.
“Yes. I believe it is possible.”
If not me, then who? This was a situation I had to handle whether I liked it or not.
Fate had thrown all sorts of miraculous opportunities at me as if telling me to get to work; how could I just abandon the Labyrinth conquest? That would be a total scumbag move.
To enter this world where the original protagonist might exist, hog all these opportunities, and then just abandon the Labyrinth? That’s the mindset of a thief.
Taking all the opportunities the protagonist should have had and then turning a blind eye to saving the world is something only people without a conscience do.
Above all, I had a very clear reason why I had to conquer the Labyrinth and stop the eruption.
‘My children...’
The children who would be in Moira’s and Yuria’s wombs.
I had to protect them. I couldn't let the world end before they were even born.
As a soon-to-be father, I believed it was only natural to do my best in what I could do.
“Good. Let’s briefly summarize the conversation so far. First, we have obtained information that the Labyrinth will soon erupt. And we heard that a porter, who hasn't even reached Silver Badge yet, is stepping forward to stop it. And we’ve realized that to do so, we must permit Lafnel—who is little better than a criminal—to enter the Labyrinth. Now then, here is the next question.”
Tirahan asked with a smirk.
“Porter, if we were to help you and put our efforts into conquering the Labyrinth, what profit would come back to us? Conquering the Labyrinth is no easy task. If we were to pour in time, money, and effort to help your conquest, what gain would those of us in this room receive? Setting aside simple world peace.”
Those words weren't a reckless statement born of greed.
Sir Tirahan was asking that question to give me a chance to make the people here want to step up and help.
Furthermore, the decision regarding Lafnel’s entry had naturally tilted toward permission. Sir Tirahan seemed to be someone who wanted to help my Labyrinth pioneering.
“By helping my Labyrinth pioneering, you will gain the Labyrinth itself. Along with technological advancement, you will be able to more easily obtain various byproducts produced in the Labyrinth. It will be a different paradigm than before. Instead of small amounts of byproducts gathered by adventurers, you will be able to obtain byproducts that are managed and produced in large quantities.”
“You can mass-produce them?”
“Yes. If it’s me, it’s possible.”
If I put human souls into golems, I could make them work without pay.
The Labyrinth Industrialization plan was already underway with Mabel, and through conversations with Moira, the Guild Master, I was also establishing a plan to elite-ify adventurers by controlling access below the 6th floor.
“I would be grateful if you would trust me and leave it to me.”
I’m not doing this just for my own sake.
It’s all for ‘us.’
So...
“I ask for your generous support.”
Please help me conquer the Labyrinth.