Flames First, Then the North
"Alright. Then let's wrap up the party meeting by deciding to head north after acquiring 【Fire Magic】."
Dorne appeared to yield to Lucian's prodding and the cute lesser panda beastkin's pleading eyes, but that wasn't the case at all. Lucian, who had only fired off flames a few times, had acquired two abilities. Even considering that it grew harder to gain new abilities the more one had, Dorne—who had made a monumental contribution to the Bon Dragon raid—couldn't be said to have been fully rewarded for his trial conquest with just one ability. Moreover, Dorne possessed 【Self-Reflection】, and his ability selection screens frequently featured not only common abilities but also those specialized for other classes. Dorne had no confidence he wouldn't acquire a summoning ability in the Northern Labyrinth. He might even have to agonize over choices like 【Azure Dragon Summon】 or 【White Tiger Summon】.
The Dorne Party finished a hearty meal and got some solid rest. They had an appointment to visit the Wendi Labyrinth Merchant Group and dine with the Torman Party. They planned to drop by once the others had finished their post-raid maintenance and had some free time. Since the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group and Wendi Labyrinth Merchant Group were on good terms, they could check on the Torman Party's status through the merchant groups and visit at an opportune moment.
In a detached restaurant owned by the Wendi Labyrinth Merchant Group, the Dorne Party, Torman Party, merchant group leader Wendy, and Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group West Branch Manager Gariven sat together around the table. The two merchant groups being on good terms wasn't just about business proximity—it meant personal friendships. The atmosphere at the dinner was warm and cordial.
"This raid broke through our party's bottleneck. We're truly grateful to the Dorne Party!"
"Haha. We're grateful too. This expedition was invaluable experience that shallow-floor explorers rarely get. Thank you for so readily including us. No one would have objected otherwise…."
Torman and Dorne, Wendy and Gariven exchanged pleasant conversation. Meanwhile, the gazes of the Torman Party members, Wendy, and the staff standing by to serve were magnetically drawn to Dorne in his full-body armor faintly shimmering with purple light.
-Tweet tweet-!
In contrast, the Dorne Party's attention was fixed on the little white chick pecking at grains. Especially Eresa, who couldn't tear her eyes away from the adorable, tiny white bird. The cute chick's name was Lumi, Wendy's summon from her summoning ability.
-Tweet-?
Lumi tilted its head at Eresa's bright-eyed stare. The little bird, which couldn't fly, hopped across the table on short legs to reach Eresa.
"H-Huh! Lilia! Lumi came to me!"
Eresa's words tangled in the face of Lumi's overwhelming cuteness.
-Tweet-!
Lumi hopped onto Eresa's open palm and nuzzled its head forward.
"It wants you to pet it, Eresa?"
Its owner, Wendy, said to Eresa. Summoners and their summons—called via summoning abilities—could communicate regardless of species. Engraving the ability instantly granted an eternally loyal companion, which was why explorers ventured into the Northern Labyrinth for any summon they could get.
Once the brief catch-up with the Torman Party eased up, Dorne asked Wendy about the summons he was curious about.
"Ms. Wendy. I've heard summons can acquire abilities too—is that true for Lumi?"
As the real-life 【Iron Man】 who wasn't using the ability asked, Wendy replied with a lukewarm expression. Normally, after acquiring 『Ironclad Giant』, Dorne's imposing form stirred romance or admiration in men and women alike, earning him overly kind or affectionate treatment. But this beautiful elf seemed to have no taste for hulking iron giants.
"No, Lumi doesn't have any abilities. She didn't particularly want any."
It was a story well-known among the Wendi Labyrinth Merchant Group staff. Why Wendy—who had little interest in exploration—had poured money into Northern Labyrinth runs for a while to acquire her summoning ability.
"Explorers head north wanting summons to cover their weaknesses, but I'm not into exploration. I don't think my abilities are lacking either. I just wanted a lifelong companion, so I got Lumi. The moment she appeared, she fulfilled every purpose just by existing."
The Torman Party's priest, sitting beside Inoi, whispered the backstory to her on Wendy's behalf, as Wendy gazed distantly like she was reminiscing. The tale rippled through the Dorne Party members until it reached Dorne's ear. Dorne, whose seated height was absurdly tall, leaned way down to let Raon whisper to him.
"She desperately wanted an eternal companion after losing her human lover back then, apparently. Bro. That's why she explored the Northern Labyrinth…."
Hm.
Dorne simply nodded solemnly. It was from long ago, yet her eyes still welled with melancholy at the memory. Despite her looks, she seemed quite sentimental for an elf.
(Wendy is beautiful, but she seems like she has a bad personality.)
That her late boyfriend was an ancestor several generations back from Gariven's Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group leader family; that she bore no children with him; that her love had been passed down to the current leader family, who were like nephews to her; and that this was why the two merchant groups stayed close—these facts were known only to Wendy and Gariven in the restaurant.
For Wendy, there was no reason not to love those nephews who looked just like him.
(Given how the Oren leader family, including Gariven, consistently have that small, refined build, it's understandable she wouldn't be drawn to Dorne's appearance.)
The Dorne Party women looked at Wendy with eyes seeing something beautiful and poignant, like a romance novel come to life. Even Eresa, who had been gleefully petting Lumi, now did so with a tender, straightforward depth in her gaze.
-Tweet-!
Her petting grew even more heartfelt.
"Do summons never die, no matter what?"
Inoi, Lilia, and Eresa shot Dorne's profile a glare, as if he were a psychopath born of Earth, an emotionless doll, or a machine with oil for blood. Surprisingly, Wendy answered nonchalantly.
"You're considering heading north too?"
"Yes. We've decided to combine Lucian's ability first, then go."
"Not a bad idea. Living long and spending plenty of time in the Northern Labyrinth too, I've learned that the capable make it, and the incapable don't…. You lot seem capable."
"Haha. Looks like our merchant group's investment paid off."
As Wendy's gaze intensified, Gariven cut in. The Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group valued the Dorne Party highly—they had completed their party and grown at an unprecedented pace. Among them, Dorne had even become 『Ironclad Giant』, evolving into an explorer needing no smith's help, because he grew impatient waiting three weeks for his custom armor. Hearing they planned to head north was new, but not unwelcome. Even if the Dorne Party wasted some time there, their value wouldn't fade—and if they got a summon? That would be cause for celebration at Oren.
Wendy brushed off Gariven's check with an amused smile and answered Dorne's question.
"Basically, summons don't have lifespans. They share death with their summoner. If the summoner dies, so does the summon."
Wendy took a sip of tea and continued. Dorne waited silently without urging or prying.
"But this death-sharing is one-way. If the summon dies, the summoner doesn't. If a summon dies while summoned, you can't resummon it. Put conversely, as long as it hasn't died, you can unsummon, resummon at a healing spot, and revive it."
"I see. That explains why explorers want them."
"Don't expect too much. You seem capable, but acquisition isn't everything. Even if you get one, what summon you get is another hurdle. I've seen someone summon a cockroach-like thing that got stepped on by a nearby elephant beastkin."
-Ugh.
The explorers grimaced at Wendy's tale.
"That's gruesome. A communicative bug would've made a perfect scout."
The explorers, faces twisted, stared at Dorne in bewilderment. Dorne, with only his head protruding from his full-body armor, met their gazes nonchalantly. Inoi, also raised at the orphanage like Dorne, empathized.
'A bug's just a bug.'
She didn't put much stock in bugs. Even she, though, might feel queasy imagining a 【Giant】 bug scurrying everywhere. Inoi's face soured at the wicked thought.
'If one of us gets a bug summon ability, I'll ask Dorne to prioritize south over east.'
The dinner wrapped up nicely amid such talk. Wendy, who had joined without specific aims, was content. The Torman Party was satisfied with closing things well with their helpful allies. Gariven was pleased to have made a good impression on his "auntie" and bonded further with the Dorne Party—though he'd never dream of poaching the Torman Party she sponsored. Eresa was over the moon from playing with the cute chick for so long, and the rest were glad for early intel ahead of Northern Labyrinth runs. Once Lucian's 【Fire Magic】 was complete, they'd head out for a summon right away.
The Dorne Party finished labyrinth prep and gathered before the Western Labyrinth entry portal. Inoi prepared an 8-hour hourglass to track day and night, so Lucian pulled out his pocket watch and showed her.
"…. You had this the whole time?"
"Yep."
"Since the first expedition?"
"Yep!"
Inoi's angry fist slammed Lucian's shoulder. He played along with exaggerated pain. Meanwhile, Dorne faced a dilemma. He'd planned to use his remaining Bon Dragon raid merits—after one ability—in the Northern Labyrinth for the best summoning ability. But he'd forgotten they'd need one more labyrinth run beforehand to get Lucian's combination ability. And now, fully prepped, the full six-person party stood at the portal. Backing out now was impossible, and even if they did, it'd cause issues. Exclude Dorne and have the other five go? Coldly speaking, Dorne might beat the rest combined. But he couldn't do that—not with party members facing floors 3 and 4 for the first time, worrying him. Go north first, then back? Too inefficient. His 【Self-Reflection】 and ability-prone constitution weren't known to the party, lacking persuasion. No choice now. He'd have to earnestly hope the labyrinth banked his raid merits for one more round…. Fat chance—the labyrinth wasn't a wine bar. But no other way. Praying desperately to whoever granted abilities, Dorne placed his remaining hand on the entry portal. Unbefitting explorers about to tackle floors 3 and 4 for the first time, the excited Dorne Party dissolved into beams of light and scattered.