Chapter 35: The Suspicious Magic Tower
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: The Suspicious Magic Tower
“You’ve brought six people. Are any of them close acquaintances or people you know?”
“I just handled the transport. I don’t know these people well. I have no obligation to pay for them.”
“I’ve entered the Labyrinth with them as former party members before, but I don’t have enough loyalty to pay for them either.”
“Here, this woman is my fiancée. I only brought the others out of a sense of duty. I have the funds ready for her resurrection.”
“Understood. I expect there to be no further interference regarding the other five individuals, excluding this lady. Do you agree?”
“Yes, I agree.”
“I agree.”
“I agree as well.”
The three of us swore our consent to the priest presiding over the Resurrection Spell.
Now, those five would have to pay back the debt on their own. Whether they contacted relatives to scrape together 100 gold, or slaved away as Temple mercenaries until the debt was cleared. As a last resort, there was always the path of becoming an official slave.
“Then, we shall begin the ritual. It should take about two hours, so if you wish to wait, please do so on the first floor.”
“Understood.”
“We’re counting on you.”
After bowing to the priest, we headed upstairs.
“This is finally over. Thanks, Sion.”
“No problem. I just did the work I was paid for.”
“Is that so? Well, pass on my thanks to the Young Lady as well.”
“Will do.”
Since it was the Young Lady’s money that moved us, Rohan wanted to express his gratitude to her as well.
“By the way, do you really plan on leaving the Labyrinth City once Catherine is recovered?”
“Yeah. I won’t leave immediately, though. I heard there are side effects to resurrection. I think I’ll recuperate here for a bit and then head out of the city around next spring.”
“I see.”
“Let’s grab a drink when you have some time.”
“Yeah. Sounds good.”
Rohan looked lighthearted. He said he would leave the Labyrinth City around next spring.
‘I hope he can leave without any trouble.’
As long as he didn't enter the Labyrinth, nothing should happen. Most misfortunes and accidents occurred within its depths.
“Well, I’m going to head to the Magic Tower. I have to hand over the corpses.”
“Right. Good work.”
“See you later.”
After saying goodbye to Rohan and Hachi, I stepped out of the Temple.
The morning sun felt wonderful.
Yuria had gone to give Moira a detailed report on what happened in the Labyrinth. I just needed to go to the Magic Tower, hand over the corpses of the Warlock and the Slugger, and collect the payment.
Unlike the dismantling shop, the Magic Tower’s purpose was research, so I’d likely receive payment as soon as I handed over the bodies.
“Ah, right.”
I should probably go see the Young Lady too. I was supposed to be instructing her party, after all. She might be waiting for me.
Come to think of it, I should also talk to her about my relationship with Yuria. It’s better to make these things clear from the start—to set things straight so she doesn't develop an interest in a man who’s already taken.
I mean, really. She’s a daughter of a noble house. It would be a disaster if she caught feelings for a commoner porter with a fiancée.
Not that it would ever happen anyway. Good grief, what am I even worrying about? Talk about being full of myself.
“Oh, and I need to stop by the hole-in-the-wall shop.”
I needed to ask about my Spiritual Eye awakening and the Great Warrior named Shaka. Hardly anyone at the guild or the taverns knew anything about him. He might have been someone who died a long time ago.
I wanted information. To better utilize the Ability he left me, I figured it would be best to know at least something about him.
‘I need to register at the martial arts hall, too. I’m busy.’
The Ability Shaka left behind, ‘Shaka’s Remnant,’ was one that boosted a warrior’s talent. I couldn't let such an incredible Ability go to waste. Naturally, I had to increase my combat power from now on.
Judging by the state of the Underground City after the Labyrinth Eruption, even porters had to step up and fight. It meant I could no longer get by just by carrying luggage. To pull my own weight, I had to fight hard and move fast.
‘And if I want to go down to the 7th floor... I can’t just be protected forever.’
The 7th floor underground—Yuria’s target. To go beyond the Underground City and reach the 7th floor, one had to be at least a Gold Badge adventurer. I, who didn't even have a Silver Badge yet, would have to work myself to the bone to earn that Gold Badge.
I also needed more Mana Adaptation. My current level was 7. At this rate, I wouldn't even be able to step foot on the 7th floor.
‘I’ll only be able to enter the 7th floor once I’m on the same level as the monsters in the Morning Sun party.’
People like Stein of Lightning or Torius of the Black Flame were skilled enough to tear through 4th-floor boss monsters alone and roam the Underground City. If I didn't step into the superhuman realm, I wouldn't be able to move forward.
‘If I want to focus on the Labyrinth, I might need to buy a slave, too.’
Having a slave would certainly make daily life more comfortable. It would be nice to have someone to cook, do laundry, clean the house, and run all sorts of errands for me.
‘Yuria didn't exactly stop me from buying a slave, either.’
I figured if I explained it well later, she might allow it. Yuria was a free-spirited adventurer herself, after all. Besides, it was ridiculous that there wasn't even drinking water in a house where people lived. I saw that as a problem. Whether it was a sex slave or a worker slave, a slave was essential.
“I’m here.”
Lost in thought about my future plans, I arrived at the northern district of the Labyrinth City, where the Magic Tower was located. This was the area containing the entrance to the Underground Graveyard and the city’s most prominent slums.
I’d heard that many of the poor living here were either drug addicts or were recruited for the Magic Tower’s clinical trials. I figured digging any deeper would only lead to an abyss, so I decided to mind my own business. I was only here for the Magic Tower, so I’d just drop by quickly and leave.
“Hm? Who are you?”
The Magic Tower was an area where outsiders who weren't mages couldn't enter freely. As I waited at the entrance, a boy wearing oversized glasses came out.
“I hunted a new type of monster in the Underground City. I’m here to sell the corpse.”
“A new monster? You don't mean one that appeared after the Labyrinth Eruption, do you?”
“Yes. A High Orc variant.”
“Ooh...! But where is the corpse...?”
“It’s in my Subspace Pocket.”
“Ooh! A Subspace Pocket! Come in, come in! Hurry!”
The young mage boy with the large glasses was overjoyed to hear about the new monster corpse and guided me to the Magic Tower’s underground research wing.
‘What on earth is that smell?’
The underground research wing was filled with the scent of unidentified chemicals. And mixed in between was the smell of blood. I couldn't tell what kind of research was being conducted, but it wasn't a very pleasant place.
—Kieeeeeeeek!!!
“Whoa! W-what was that?”
“Ah, it’s nothing much. They’re probably just extracting the testicles of a wild goblin. It’s no big deal. We don't perform illegal human experimentation here, so please refrain from any strange suspicions, conjectures, or spreading rumors.”
The boy rattled off the excuse as if someone had programmed the code directly into his brain. What was this? How many times had he been suspected for him to be able to spit out such a long sentence without a single mistake or even a breath?
“Hm? Male. Who is that? A new experimental sub—”
“Ah, no! Experimental subject? Goodness, Lord, you must have had a slip of the tongue. An experimental subject? No way. We ‘absolutely’ do not conduct any illegal experiments on humans!”
The young mage had a near-seizure as he corrected the passing old mage. Breaking into a cold sweat, he waved his hands frantically, insisting that no human experimentation was happening here.
What the hell? Seriously, what are they doing here?
This is suspicious as hell. It’s so suspicious that I feel like I’ll become suspicious just by stepping further inside.
Dangerous. The Magic Tower is dangerous. I don't want to get deeply involved or entangled with them...
“Oops. My mistake. You must be a guest. I misspoke. I didn't mean to say experimental subject. I meant to say ‘experimental volunteer.’ Hahaha...”
The old mage immediately corrected himself. He hummed a tune and walked away quickly.
“Hahaha. That gentleman has always been a bit blunt. You know how it is—mages looking down on commoners. It’s just like that. Nothing strange. Come, let’s keep going.”
“Uh... sure. But how far in are we going?”
“Hmm? Oh, we’ll reach the workshop soon. You said you’re a Subspace Pocket holder, right?”
“Uh... yes. But why are you asking that all of a sudden...?”
“Oh, I’m just curious. It’s my first time seeing one. A Subspace Pocket holder. I wonder... how much can it hold? Where do the items go...? Can you pull things out through walls? Hmm. I’m also curious about the effective range and the capacity at any given time... I wonder what the size limit is. And why does time freezing occur? To call it a simple branch of spatial magic...”
“Excuse me, Mr. Mage?”
“Oh! My apologies. My profession is all about satisfying curiosity. I, uh, tend to get lost in thought. Come, let’s keep going.”
“Right...”
This kid is dangerous too. That look in his eyes just now was weird.
Is this right? Am I walking into a tiger’s den? Why do I feel like I’m sticking my head into a crocodile’s mouth? Should I run away now?
But...
‘I’m already three floors underground... running away now would be even more suspicious.’
No matter how much the mages of the Magic Tower were shut-in nerds who avoided social activities, they were still mages. If I got mistaken for a thief while running away and got hit by a fireball, I’d turn into a roasted porter.
I was too nervous to run away on my own, and too scared to keep following him.
“Don't be so tense. Come on. We’re almost there. Let’s go.”
“...”
His smile was far from reassuring, but I had no choice. For now, I continued to follow the boy deeper into the research wing.
“Lady Mabel. We have a guest!”
A woman with blue hair and blue eyes was sprawled on a sofa in the lab. She was a beauty with a very cold impression.
But Mabel... I’d heard that name somewhere.
“Mmm? Male? Who’s that with you?”
“A guest, a guest. He brought the corpse of a High Orc subspecies that appeared after the Labyrinth Eruption.”
Mabel sat up with some effort. Judging by her matted hair... it looked like she hadn't washed in days.
“The corpse?”
“He brought it in a Subspace Pocket.”
“A Subspace Pocket, huh.”
Could she know who I am? She might. She was probably...
“I am Mabel. Nice to meet you, Sion.”
“Nice to meet you as well, Tower Lord.”
We both knew each other’s identities. As soon as she heard I was a Subspace Pocket holder, the name Sion came to her mind. And I realized she was the Tower Lord because she seemed to know me.
The Tower Lord who stayed holed up in the Magic Tower and never came out. Right, Moira had mentioned her before. She said they had roamed the Labyrinth together a long time ago.
“Let’s have some tea.”
The Tower Lord offered. There was no way I could refuse. Guild Master Moira and Tower Lord Mabel were practically at the very top of the Labyrinth City’s hierarchy. They might not have noble titles, but they were the ones with real power. They were influential figures with more say than the nobles who handled internal affairs.
“Male. Go back to your work.”
“Yes, Lady Mabel! Then, I hope you have a pleasant time!”
With the order to leave, the mage boy scurried out.
Left alone in the room with her, Mabel stared at me intently before finally opening her mouth.
“You, do you have a woman?”
“Pfft!”
I ended up spitting out the tea I was drinking.