I Trust You, Raon....
"I trust you, Raon...."
"I trust you, Raon...."
The voice still echoed in Raon's head, bouncing around inside his skull even after he'd barely managed to calm his boiling emotions. Dorne's voice—laden with genuine trust and sincerity—had entered his left ear and hadn't yet exited his right. It reverberated endlessly within him.
Gratitude for that trust welled up inside him, along with overwhelming humility at being valued despite his insignificance, a fierce resolve to live up to those expectations, and a vow of lifelong loyalty to Dorne. These feelings threatened to seep out through his skin.
Eresa and Inoi were overjoyed—not even for themselves, but for Raon—that their party felt so warm and welcoming.
Lucian held Dorne in awe, a man who possessed both overwhelming charisma and a furnace-like warmth that melted hearts.
Lilia, on the other hand, shivered at Dorne's eloquence and his knack for shaping situations to his will. This is the kind of skill passed down through family education to the heirs of major merchant houses. "Passed down" was putting it too strongly. They were simply made aware of its existence. There was no formula for "winning people over," nothing that could truly be taught. All that was conveyed was that it was a good thing to do.
Only someone leading a massive merchant group, employing and commanding countless people, would wield such a talent—and here Dorne was, deploying it in a mere six-person party. Facing him felt like confronting something terrifying.
This is overkill...! It's like using a dragon-slaying blade to butcher a chicken!
The team's explorers, each harboring their own swirling thoughts in their small heads, pressed on with their journey out of the labyrinth.
Dorne's party successfully made their exit from the labyrinth.
As the six-person group dropped into the exit clearing, hands clasped tightly, they released their grips.
Lucian placed a hand on his heated chest. The other five explorers, including him, assumed he'd acquired 【Flame Magic】 and was planning to head to the Northern Labyrinth.
And the remaining one? What was he doing?
Dorne had his eyes closed, selecting his new ability.
Though he'd hoped to save his merit points for a summon ability from the Northern Labyrinth exploration, as he'd told Baren Tois, some things just couldn't be helped. Avoiding the choice wouldn't solve anything. Postponing it would lead to a random selection on timeout.
He had to make the best of the given situation.
Dorne focused on the new option, [Mana-Infused Skeleton]. It seemed like a good ability for a warrior at first glance, but it wasn't for him. It allowed bones to absorb mana, supporting skeletal functions and increasing max mana. But Dorne, now akin to a mana swordsman with 【Mana Core】, didn't mesh with its bone-weight-reduction feature.
So he chose [Mana Capacity]. This would likely lead to [Mana Recovery] in the next options, allowing him to duplicate-engrave 【Mana Core】.
With stamina integrated into mana, his body now drew from a single fuel source for both physical activity and ability use, making max mana and recovery critically important. Without the integration, he could have strategically used dual fuels—like borrowing mana when stamina ran low—but that wasn't possible now.
New Ability Selected: [Mana Capacity]
New Ability Choices:
[Mana Recovery] [Mana-Infused Muscles] [Refreshing Morning]
Without hesitation, he selected [Mana Recovery] for the second ability as well.
The two abilities engraved over his existing ones, causing sharp, stabbing pains. Unlike non-duplicate engravings, which brought a dull, widespread heat, duplicates concentrated the agony.
Dorne grimaced, but his party members didn't notice.
With the duplicate engraving of 【Mana Core】 complete, Dorne dismissed his helmet and joined his comrades in congratulating Lucian on completing 【Flame Magic】.
After a good night's rest and a hearty breakfast, Dorne's party headed to the guild hall.
They needed a carriage to the Northern Labyrinth city.
Conveniently, a joint carriage service run by all the guilds to the Northern Labyrinth city was departing that day. (Carriages northbound had fewer users, so guilds didn't run them independently but pooled resources.)
Dorne's party exchanged warm greetings and smiles with Gariven before boarding.
It seemed true that parties with time to spare or those blocked in the depths often headed north. The passengers—quite a crowd—were an impressive bunch, full parties decked out in fine gear.
Among the diverse explorers were two familiar faces.
"Senior, heading north?"
"Ah... You're really going after everything, huh...."
The third-year warrior explorer, who seemed to have acquired all he could, sighed upon realizing even Dorne was chasing summon abilities.
There's an Earth saying like this: (to a handsome person) "Don't work out." It's born of jealousy—fear that a good-looking guy will add a perfect physique to the mix.
This third-year warrior saw going north as a desperate gamble. As an ordinary explorer, money mattered most, and the north wouldn't earn much. Travel time was a loss too.
Yet here he was, bound for the Northern Labyrinth city, his judgment clouded by frequent recent encounters with Dorne. (Think of him as a young Earthling starting Instagram.)
Screw it, I'm already late to the game—might as well chase a summon ability for a comeback!
"H-how are you even after summon abilities...?"
"Good luck. Hope you snag a summon ability."
Dorne offered a polite nod to the disheveled senior and tuned him out.
Rather than worry about the mentally frayed veteran, he hoped the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group's annex in the Northern Labyrinth city had space. They'd earned decent coin in the west, but he was hooked on the comfortable beds and delicious meals the group provided at a loss.
Explorers chasing summon abilities boarded the carriage for the Northern Labyrinth city.
After enduring the tedious journey, they arrived at the Northern Labyrinth city, which felt a bit different from others. Flashy buildings abounded, and even outside shopping districts, grand structures and mansions dotted the landscape.
"This is truly embarrassing."
These were the words of Jereven, branch manager of the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group's Northern Labyrinth city division.
"No need to apologize. You can't just build us a new building."
Dorne waved off Jereven's profuse apologies for the full annexes. After several more sorrys, Jereven ventured cautiously:
"Dorne Party, would it be alright if I made a suggestion that might seem rude?"
The party, worn from his excessive apologies over something not his fault, perked up with curiosity. What proposal from such a person?
"Sure. What is it?"
"Yes. Among those currently using the annexes, some with three members have plenty of spare rooms."
Dorne nodded at Jereven, who glanced nervously before continuing energetically:
"Lady Elisia Bellone arrived with just two young knights for exploration purposes. How about your party assists her expedition in exchange for sharing the annex?"
The full story might have irked a prickly explorer. Fixed parties didn't escort others.
But Dorne latched onto something else: "We're a full six-person party. How would we join a three-person one like the lady's?"
"No clever method, just leave it to luck."
Jereven produced two crystal orbs.
"These magic tools indicate positions if you're outside the labyrinth or on the same floor. They stop working beyond a certain distance, so each party takes one, enters sequentially, and the rest is up to fate."
Dorne examined the well-crafted orbs. "I get the method. But why go this far for the merchant group?"
"The Bellone Viscountcy is a key client."
"Ah."
Dorne rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then turned to his comrades. "What do you think?"
They pondered briefly, then Eresa shot up her hand. "No downside, right?"
"No downside?"
"Yeah. If you're far apart after entering, nothing happens. If close, you're exploring anyway—just a direction change. And with two knights, we can set watches, plenty of firepower for floor one."
It made sense. Meeting or not, no loss. No need to push deeper this time. Experience said those who got abilities got them on floor one. Summons were granted regardless of current ability count. And floor one offered trials of sufficient intensity.
The Northern Labyrinth's floors were vast as human realms, open-world expanses with maps. (Hence cities even deep in floor one.) Head to areas teeming with strong beasts or divine creatures for worthy trials on floor one.
Parties aiming for floor two even bailed via exit portal if too far from the down portal, retrying instead of trekking.
Dorne checked for dissent, then turned to Jereven. "We accept. Has the lady agreed?"
"Of course. I'll guide you."
Jereven summoned a servant to lead Dorne's party to the lady's annex.
Ever the merchant, Jereven leaned on his desk, chin on interlaced fingers. "I'm a master negotiator after all... Heh heh heh...."
"Whoa, whoaaa...."
Guided by the servant, they met the lady's party at the annex.
Lady Elisia Bellone was entranced by Dorne's colossal height and surreal iron armor.
"I've seen giants, but an iron one? First time!"
Like a kid eyeing a transforming robot, the excited lady bounced around Dorne's feet, inspecting him.
Dorne, who'd wondered if he should kneel, chuckled. "Pleased to meet you, milady. I'm Dorne, leader of Dorne Party."
He shifted his gaze from the hyper little head to the two knights, who looked slightly embarrassed.
The tall male knight spoke. "Pleased to meet you, Dorne. The lady before you is Elisia Bellone. I'm Roden, knight of the Bellone family."
The female knight followed. "Hardel."
Dorne shook hands with the two knights. All three—including the lady—had perky animal ears atop their heads. The Bellone Viscountcy seemed a beastkin house. Beastkin had superior physical traits for exploration—handy indeed.
Dorne's mind settled contentedly. "Shall we discuss the labyrinth expedition?"
"Come inside."