Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 98: The Bottom of the Well

"That’s quite a haul."

Frodo, the frogman, looked at the corpses with a satisfied expression and handed over ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the items he was holding.

Three bottles of Exir, Killer Bee Royal Jelly, and two Spirit Beast's Hearts.

"Porter, you aren't thinking of keeping all of this for yourself, are you?"

"Of course not. We took these things down together. I can't just monopolize the loot."

The corpses I handed over to Frodo were the monsters I had hunted alongside the Inquisitors. They weren't purely my property. Therefore, I had to share the purchased items with them.

‘It would be great if I could give up the three bottles of Exir and the Royal Jelly to keep both Spirit Beast's Hearts for myself.’

In terms of pure monetary value, the most expensive item was the Killer Bee Royal Jelly.

This was an item that could only be farmed on the 7th Floor. Consuming it raw would boost one's physical regeneration to the level of a Troll, and if processed into medicine, it could produce a massive quantity of high-grade recovery potions.

If I took this to the Alchemist Guild, an auction would be held immediately. There was no telling how high the price would go. Since it was also used as a research material, if I started a bidding war between the Magic Tower and the Alchemist Guild, I could earn enough to buy a magnificent house in the Labyrinth City—and that’s no exaggeration.

In short, a single lump of Royal Jelly was worth the price of a house.

‘But money isn't what's important to me right now.’

As for a house, I could just keep freeloading at Yuria’s place for the time being.

What truly mattered to me now was the Labyrinth walkthrough. I had to move past the Underground City, dominate the 6th Floor, and break through to the 7th Floor.

The moment the Nightmares of the Labyrinth were all released and crawled out of the Labyrinth City, we would be forced to witness the end of the world. Before that happened, I had to crawl down to the Deepest Part and close the door.

"Paramel."

"Yes?"

"You know how precious Royal Jelly is, right?"

"Well... of course I do."

I intentionally directed the question to Paramel, who was the most knowledgeable among the Inquisitors. At Paramel's words, Raphael stared at the Royal Jelly as if it were a marvel, and Sasaro also nodded, agreeing that it was a high-priced item.

"As for the Exir, it’s the best item for exploring the Lake Section."

"What exactly is Exir?"

"If you dissolve one bottle of this in the water, whether it's a Mermaid or whatever else, they’ll all just pass out. Anything that breathes through gills has no way to withstand this."

"What about things that don't breathe through gills?"

"Including everything else, the moment they absorb the Exir mixed in the water, they’ll faint on the spot. You can think of it as a poison specifically designed for the aquatic creatures of the Lake Section."

Exir was the most vital item for developing the Lake Section. According to Olivia, it was a drug that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was almost guaranteed to be obtained when meeting a Frogman.

With this, the random encounter rate in the Lake Section would drop drastically. Furthermore, if we released the drug near a Mermaid nest, we could raid their nest without any difficulty.

"So, Porter, what is it you want to say?"

"I’ll hand over all the Exir and the Royal Jelly to you. In exchange, could you grant me the Spirit Beast's Hearts?"

"The Spirit Beast's Heart. What is that used for? Is it valuable enough to give up all of these?"

"No, it’s not quite that much. It’s just that a Druid I know asked me to bring it back if I ever found one. They said they use it to make some kind of talisman. I was thinking of giving one Spirit Beast's Heart to that friend for free and getting a talisman for myself with the remaining one."

"So you want to give up three bottles of Exir and the Royal Jelly—which would allow us to conquer the Lake Section quickly—just to take those?"

"Yes. It’s not a bad deal, right?"

"Hmm. To be honest, I don't really know the value of a Spirit Beast's Heart, so it's hard to give a definitive answer."

The Saintess didn't properly know what could be done with a Spirit Beast's Heart. As Olivia had said, this was indeed a piece of hidden knowledge.

‘If I give a Spirit Beast's Heart to a Druid, something truly amazing happens.’

Of course, the bit about making a talisman was a lie. Knowing the Saintess didn't have Lie Detection active at all times, I lied right to her face.

‘I can get something incomparably better than a mere talisman.’

If I could meet the president of the Druid Club, I would be able to obtain a 'pet' that I could take into the Labyrinth.

‘The reason Olivia told me I had to get this no matter what.’

With a Spirit Beast's Heart, one could use it as a medium to summon the soul of a beast. This meant obtaining a permanent summon that could be re-summoned even if it died. Since I had obtained two hearts, I would be able to summon two pets.

However, as one could see, this fact wasn't well known. While some Druids might know, it was unlikely that the people of the Goddess Church Order had information about the Spirit Beast's Heart.

At best, Paramel the Recorder might have known, but seeing as he showed no particular reaction, the truth about the Spirit Beast's Heart likely remained a story passed down only among Druids.

"Very well. Let's do that. It is only right that the person who needs an item should have it. Above all, if you hadn't stopped me, we wouldn't have obtained them in the end anyway."

"Thank you, Saintess."

After a moment of deliberation, the Saintess readily handed over the two Spirit Beast's Hearts to me. Perhaps because it was the Saintess's decision, the other Inquisitors didn't really argue. Rather, they were pleased with the fact that they had obtained the Royal Jelly.

"It’s been a while since we’ve had a bonus."

"Are you planning on drinking again?"

"It’s the greatest pleasure a priest can have. Of course I have to eat and drink."

Raphael looked particularly happy. Unlike secular priests, the priests of the Labyrinth City drank well and ate meat. However, they didn't engage in womanizing, drugs, or gambling. Even if they enjoyed their alcohol, I had never seen a priest completely cross the line.

"Then we've obtained everything we can here. Shall we leave that man as he is?"

"That would be best. Mr. Frodo, let's meet again."

"Let us meet again alive."

Leaving Frodo behind in the collapsed ruins, we set off again. He probably wouldn't be caught by the likes of Heretics. I had heard his stealth abilities were excellent. He wouldn't be easily discovered.

"Porter, scatter the Exir."

"Are you going to use it right away?"

"Yes. How long does the effect last?"

"It will last at least five hours. If it's long, the effect could continue for up to ten hours."

"That's enough time to find the entrance to the Layer Division. What are you doing? Hurry up and scatter it."

"Yes, ma'am."

At the Saintess's request, I opened a bottle of Exir and poured it into the water. Now, this area was safe. For at least five hours, no monsters would attack us from underwater.

*

Thanks to the effect of the Exir, we were able to move through the Lake Section with ease. There was no malice writhing beneath the water, and no Merfolk appeared to hurl bone harpoons at us. It felt like the first time I had ever ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠navigated the Labyrinth so comfortably.

"Look, there's something over there. It looks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like a well."

After walking for about three more hours into the depths of the Lake Section, we discovered a large hole. This was the most suspicious spot. The large hole was a structure built like a well, and thanks to the pile of stones stacked higher than the water level, it didn't seem like water would flow into it.

"I wonder how deep it is."

"It's an incredibly large hole."

"I can't see the bottom. Do we have to go down there?"

"It's awfully dark..."

The Inquisitors frowned as they looked down into the hole. Soon, Raphael picked up a stone and threw it down.

"It's very faint, but I can hear a sound. There is a floor."

It seemed there was a bottom.

"Are we sure this is the entrance below the Layer Division?"

Paramel eventually raised a doubt. Was it really right to go down here?

"This is the most suspicious place, at least. Of course, there could be another entrance."

"Well, let's go down for now. This is the result of wandering around the lake all day, isn't it? We can't waste any more time."

At the Saintess's words, the rest of the party stopped arguing. We really had to go down there. This was crazy.

‘I should take out the Teleportation Scroll in advance.’

If something went wrong and I fell, I could tear the Teleportation Scroll to move to another location before I hit the ground and died. Using a Teleportation Scroll as a return scroll was better than falling to my death. They said that while movement between layers was impossible, movement within a layer was possible.

‘I can just move right in front of the Transfer Stone in the Plaza Section and escape upward from there.’

I had unexpectedly discovered an escape method. If things looked truly hopeless, I knew the location of one Transfer Stone, so I could quickly teleport there and escape.

"Here, take this rope."

"Sigh. Rock climbing at a time like this."

I tied and connected the ropes I had brought in advance and distributed them to the party. Since it was long enough to descend about ten stories, it should be sufficient.

"Um, I have a fear of heights..."

"What kind of man has a fear of heights? You're far too timid."

"Ugh..."

At Raphael's words, Paramel tied the rope around his waist with a tearful face. To think I’d use the rope I brought just in case like this.

"Is everyone's rope tied securely?"

"Yes, but aren't you going to tie a rope, Saintess?"

"I'm fine."

"...?"

Everyone except the Saintess tied a rope around their waist. From now on, we would climb down the wall. We decided that if the rope was too short to reach the bottom, we would climb back up.

"Then, I'll see you at the bottom."

"Pardon? Whoa!"

The Saintess immediately jumped down. Just like someone skydiving.

"Wh-what if she dies like that?"

"It's fine. She's always like that."

"Excuse me?"

"She has an Ability that negates the impact of a fall. If necessary, she can use the Sigil Magic 'Angel's Wings' to land softly on the ground."

"Hah."

It was a maneuver possible only because she was the Saintess. Unlike the Saintess, who was overflowing with divine power, we couldn't perform such antics, so we quietly climbed down the wall.

‘This is exhausting.’

It felt like we had been descending for a long time. Sweat poured from my body like rain. I felt like I was going to die from sheer exhaustion. However, we had already come too deep. Since there was no way to give up now, I stubbornly kept moving down. If the rope was too short and we couldn't go down any further, we would have to climb back up this height. I prayed that such a disaster wouldn't happen.

"Porter. We're here."

"What? Oh! You're right."

Fortunately, we didn't run out of rope. All of us safely reached the bottom of the giant well. The ground was bone-dry. I could see cracked earth. It was distinctly different from the moisture-filled Lake Section. It was very dry here.

"Saintess!"

"You've arrived. Here, take this."

"Ugh."

The Saintess smiled playfully as she tossed a Heretic's head toward us.

‘Just how many did she kill?’

The area around the Saintess was littered with fallen Heretics. It seemed she had wiped out all the Heretics down here the moment she fell. Judging by the lack of movement, they all seemed dead.

Except for one.

"Tell me where the Blue Apostle is. Who is guarding him? How many people are with him? Spit out everything you know."

"Gah... Kill... Kill me... you bitch..."

After showing us the corpses of the Heretics, the Saintess continued the work she had been doing. It was none other than pulling out the teeth of the surviving Heretic while questioning him.

"I've been pulling them out one by one for a while now, but he won't talk."

"Hmm. Saintess. You're still unskilled at torture."

"Is that so?"

"Leave it to me."

Sasaro stepped forward. Taking out tools from his robe, Sasaro dragged the last remaining Heretic into a corner. His position had been Torturer, hadn't it? I didn't know what would happen to the Heretic, but I offered a silent prayer for his soul. It didn't look like he would be dying peacefully.

"Porter, is Map Creation working?"

"Uh, hold on... Yes. It's working normally."

"That's a relief."

The place we had descended into was a circular space, and there were a total of four entrances leading to other locations. All four of these entrances led into a maze. It was the start of the real pathfinding.

However, with my Map Creation and the Saintess's Clue Tracking, we would be able to go straight to where the Blue Apostle was.

"Then, let's move after we get more detailed information from that Heretic."

We were able to take a short break until Sasaro extracted the information from the Heretic.