Chapter 61
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Reorganization
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After a quick shower and a light release, I rolled around in bed hugging Sia before heading downstairs for lunch.
"You two have been sticking together a lot lately?"
"Yeah, there's this famous eastern-style massage. I've been giving Sia regular ones so she doesn't strain her muscles from all the workouts she's been doing."
"Oh... really? You gonna do one for me?"
"Ten silver per session."
"You crazy bastard!"
We grabbed the inn's signature 'Frank's Set Meal'—which changed daily using the freshest seasonal ingredients like a proper diner—and chatted idly over lunch.
"Claude, Sia. Let's hold off on the Labyrinth until next month."
Clang!
My words made Claude's fork and knife clatter to the table and roll across it.
"Wh... what?! What the hell are you saying? Quitting exploration now...?"
"I'm just saying let's rest up a bit more. Don't talk nonsense."
"Still, no matter what..."
"Sia's been working out lately."
"Hehe. Yeah!"
"Uh... yeah?"
"Today, watching Sia on her third day of training, I could tell her stamina had improved a little. Wouldn't it be better for the party if we take some time to train her up more? You know her blessing activates based on stamina—right now she can do two recoveries, but if that number goes up, it'll benefit our explorations even more, right?"
"Hmm... yeah, that makes sense."
"Sia's stamina is pretty low overall, so training her now would be the most efficient. Even a little effort will make it shoot up fast."
"Oh... yeah?"
"So you and I should keep sparring on the side to hone our skills, then aim for the third layer. That sounds better."
"Alright, if that's what you think, I agree."
Since it wasn't just stubbornness, Claude thought it over for a moment, nodded as if he saw the logic, and agreed.
"What do you think, Sia? Ready to train hard until next month?"
"Uh...? Yeah!! Got it! I'll do my best!"
Sia, sitting next to me and digging into her set meal, nodded vigorously in response.
"Cool, that's settled. Claude, why don't you get Hawk to train with you? Isn't solo training getting boring?"
"Ah... the old man's been busy lately."
"Really?"
"Yeah, he's been in and out of the Labyrinth—who knows how many times. Five trips this month alone?"
"Tch... he's overdoing it."
"Well, it's that whole... thing."
"Yeah, I get what you mean."
"Hmm..."
I cut Claude off before he could bring up the debt payoff incident and mulled it over.
If Hawk's pushing himself into the Labyrinth that hard, I should meet up with him sometime and talk.
"Lodging and meals are prepaid anyway, so let's all just keep doing what we're doing."
"Sure."
"Hello. Cain, what brings you here today?"
The Aid Station's money-loving priest Julius greeted me with a beaming smile.
"Here to buy an intermediate recovery potion."
"Really? Ah, this way, please."
The station was packed with patients returning to the city near month's end, but Julius ignored them and led me straight to what looked like an on-site office.
Click—
"How many would you like?"
He rubbed his hands together like a fly, his eyes gleaming as if gold coins were embedded in them.
"One should be enough."
"Aw, come on, Cain. You're not exploring solo—you should stock up for the whole party."
"You know who's in our party."
"Tch! Fine, just the one intermediate recovery potion then?"
Julius, who'd been putting on his sleazy sales face, realized Sia was in the group, clicked his tongue in annoyance, and pulled a single potion bottle from the shelf.
"Five silver, right?"
Jingle—
"Yes! Thank you, valued customer!!"
His displeased expression vanished the moment I handed over the silver coin. He bowed deeply in gratitude as I took the potion and casually broached the subject.
"How are things between the Church and the Empire?"
"Out of the blue?"
"Yeah, just got curious."
"Hmm..."
Catching him off guard, Julius adjusted his glasses, pondered deeply, then spoke cautiously.
"Not great."
"Not great?"
"Yeah. Out of all the Church branches, only one remains in the Empire. And this Labyrinth city branch is the largest and gets the most support."
"Ah..."
"The Empire and Church were close allies back in the Hero's era, but things got awkward after the Labyrinth city popped up."
"I see. So no special way to get info on the Empire?"
"Why are you asking?"
Flash—
Julius's glasses glinted as his sharp gaze pierced me.
What the hell? Why's he on guard?
"Just... curiosity, that's all."
"Hmm... What's your background, Cain?"
"Just a commoner."
"Then you have no reason to dig into Empire info. Why bother?"
His reaction's more intense than expected. Why?
In ancient times with the Hero around, the Church and Empire were tight.
Now, with Mana Stones only from this Labyrinth city, the Empire's influence has waned, and the city's stronger. Does the Church really need to be this wary?
From their perspective, the Empire's a severed tie—no need to defend or coddle it.
"Ah, no. Forget I asked. Bad idea."
"Hmm..."
Still glaring, Julius sighed, removed his glasses, and slowly polished them with a fancy cloth.
"Cain... You're sharp and quick on the uptake, so I assume you won't do anything stupid. I won't say more."
"Huh?"
"Some things in this world you must know... but many you shouldn't seek out, lest you invite danger. Keep that in mind."
"..."
"Even idiot commoners' chatter has ears listening in this city. That's all."
Scraaaape—
With an irritating chair scrape, Julius left first.
"This city... impossible to figure out."
On the surface, Empire and Labyrinth city relations are poor.
I figured the Church, profiting off the city, might badmouth the Empire or spill facts, but I got a veiled warning instead.
As if the Empire's just posturing a rivalry... but really...
"Fuck."
I guess I got cocky thinking my modern reincarnation knowledge let me breeze through this fantasy backdrop like I knew all these tropes.
Looking back, this city's full of suspicious shit—not just one or two things. I should've been more cautious instead of letting shallow commoner knowledge and past-life smugness make me assume it was all straightforward.
"Hoo... and whether Julius himself is trustworthy? Who knows."
Is that money-grubbing act a front? But it doesn't feel fake, and his last bit gave off weird vibes. My head's a mess.
"Sigh... Mage Tower... next time."
The Tower, long established here after the Guild and Church, would probably act the same, so I tabled it for today.
"Ha... maybe grab lunch with Camella..."
Amid the chaos in my mind, I pictured Camella—her fresh bride-like smile and warm, submissive wife vibe.
I dragged my heavy feet to a nearby upscale restaurant, bought two pricey lunch boxes, and headed to her shop.
Ding-a-ling—
"W-Welcome...!!!"
I entered, seeing Camella's troubled expression as she greeted me.
"Camella, you free today?"
"Huh? N-No... not really..."
"Huh? You turned me down yesterday too 'cause you were busy. How about after closing? Come on??"
"Argh! What the hell do you think you're doing!!!!"
Smack!!!
A pig of a man who'd been hovering near the counter, throwing leers at Camella, sidled up and grabbed her hand. She slapped him hard across the face.
"What...? Some bitch abandoned by her husband, running a hole-in-the-wall—have you lost your mind...?"
"Kyaa!!!"
His head snapped from her slap, but he scowled and reached for her hair.
"Hey, you."
"Huh?"
Crackkk!!!
"Gaaahhh!!! What is this—let go!!!"
"You're not a regular. Who the fuck are you?"
"Wh... who?"
"I asked first, pig."
Thwack—!
I twisted his wrist for a follow-up to drop him, but the pig smacked my wrist with his other hand and slithered free like an eel.
"Hmph! Remember your face, asshole? Next time!!!"
"Punks like you never show up again. Scram."
"Ptoo!"
He spat on the shop floor and stormed out. I turned to Camella—tears welled in her eyes.
"Ahem... Camella, here."
"S-Sorry..."
The other customers saw her crying face, hastily paid, and fled, leaving just us.
"Hic... honey, sorry... you saw something awful... sniff!"
"No, it's fine. I came to eat lunch with you—what's this? That guy come around often?"
"Uh-uh... no? First time yesterday."
"..."
"R-Really..."
"Yeah, you got scared bad, huh?"
"Sniff..."
I soothed her gently, but I noticed her scrubbing the hand he'd grabbed on her skirt like mad.
Keeping calm to not scare her more, I watched with a steady face. Misreading it, her tears flowed harder; she started rubbing frantically, sobbing.
"Stop."
"Ah... aa... sorry... sorryyy!!"
"No, it's not that. Cut it out."
"Waaaahhh!!!"
She burst into full sobs and threw herself into my arms. I calmed her, locked the door.
The lunch boxes I'd brought to share with her were stone cold after I comforted her thoroughly with my body, but Camella devoured them happily, beaming at me like they were the best thing ever.