Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Gloria's Birthday
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I'm not so heartless that I'd ignore people dying right in front of me, so I quickly patched up the half-corpses scattered around with the potions and bandages I had on hand.
"Your bones were broken and out of place, but they're all aligned now... Was that you?"
I just shrugged in response to Miranda's question as she looked down at her bandaged arm.
I'd already worked at the clinic for three years, so I knew basic first aid, and wrapping bandages was familiar enough. But it turned out way better than I'd expected.
Putting the bones back together... that was obviously thanks to [Heavenly Touch]. Since it's a skill for manipulating the body, it let me realign bones too. And yeah, realigning bones hurts like hell, so I blocked their pain perception while I did it. It even leveled up this time.
You realigned the bones of a large group of people with a gesture and healed them with massage. [Heavenly Touch] has leveled up to 4! Healing effects are enhanced, and defense and resistance in the hands increase.
Skill used on multiple targets. [Multi-Block] has reached level 5. You can now cast [Sensory Block] on up to '10 people' simultaneously.
Your body adapts to the improved mana flow. [Body Reinforcement] skill has reached level 6. Your body becomes more attuned to mana.
Regenerative power that holds even when the body is torn apart. [Regeneration] skill has leveled up to 6. Regeneration speed and efficiency increase.
Movements that repeatedly surpass physical limits. [Limit Break] skill has leveled up to 4. Side effects of Limit Break are reduced.
You held a powerful enemy in place to protect many. [Taunt] skill has reached level 5. Partially ignores the target's mental defenses.
...
Not just [Heavenly Touch], but a bunch of other skills leveled up across the board. Guess it was that tough an opponent.
...No, but they leveled up too much? What's going on? There must be some reason. I didn't even use something like [Lust Absorption].
"Ugh... my head... What the hell? I feel like someone clocked me in the head before I blacked out...?"
As I was checking my skill growth, the patients started coming to. All of them complaining of headaches.
...I'd knocked them all out by smacking their heads to hide my skills. I healed them too, so this much should be fine. If they complain, I'll just say it was to knock them out.
I left the survivors who were slowly regaining consciousness and approached the fallen black ogre's corpse.
Damn, it's huge. Will it all fit in my inventory? Worst case, I can butcher it and carry the pieces.
'...There's something bothering me, though.'
When I overloaded it with pain via [Sensory Transfer] and it died from shock, I saw some ominous black energy leak out of it and get absorbed into the ground.
I thought it was weird and tried to slash at it with my broken-arm sword swing, but the energy just sank into the earth.
What the hell was that? First time feeling something like it... but it gave off an incredibly ominous vibe.
...No point dwelling on it.
"Wait! Hold on! Are you the one who took down this ogre... er, is it even an ogre? Anyway, this monster?"
"?? Yeah?"
As I pondered by the ogre's corpse, a dwarf wrapped head to toe in bandages somehow staggered to his feet and approached me. He looked pretty old, but tough as nails.
"First off, let me thank you. Looks like you took down that monster and patched us up too."
"I'll bill you for the potions and bandages later."
"Mm. Fair enough. But that's not what I wanted to say..."
The dwarf trailed off, eyeing the ogre's corpse with greedy intent. My expression naturally hardened.
What? He didn't seriously think he could muscle in after getting knocked out, right?
"What do you plan to do with this ogre? If you're selling the hide or heart, my workshop could..."
"Hey, you cut in line! Human adventurer! No sword and those fine gloves—you a martial artist? I'll make you some great greaves, so come to my shop...!"
"All of you back off! Adventurer! Your armor's beat to hell—if you give me that hide, I'll make you some killer plate...!"
My hunch that they'd get greedy was spot on, but not quite in the way I expected.
The dwarves all clamored to buy the variant ogre's byproducts or begged me to let them craft with the materials.
"Hey, wait! We fought too—shouldn't we divvy up the loot first?"
Of course, there's always one clueless idiot. I glanced over and—speak of the devil—it was that human mage from Miranda's party. I healed that guy...
Everyone around shot the mage disbelieving looks, but he brazened it out with a straight face.
"We fought first and weakened it, wore down its stamina, so..."
-Clang!
"Gah!"
A clear metallic ring echoed just as the bullshit was about to continue, and the guy rolled his eyes back, collapsing in a heap.
Behind him stood Miranda, holding a hammer in her broken arm, looking pissed.
"This moron's lost it... Ignore him; it's got nothing to do with me. If you're mad, feel free to beat him more. We'll all vouch for you."
"Nah, I'm good."
He's already half-dead from the concussion. Oh, right—he's an adventurer, so he'll probably live.
"...Asking you to sell me the materials or let me work them would be too shameless... Thanks for saving us. Come by my workshop later. I'll hook you up with some decent gear for free. Oh, and a drink too. You have to come."
A bit embarrassed, Miranda thanked me, then grabbed her collapsed mage and still-unconscious priest teammate by the scruff and dragged them off.
She's still not fully healed, but tough as hell. That's a dwarf for you?
"Mm... she's right. Here's my workshop address—come by sometime..."
"...Here's my tavern's address. At least come for a drink..."
Yeah, I'm done. Just leave already. Bearded old dudes clinging to me isn't doing it for me.
Labyrinth ?? Floor
-【Already done for?】
The "Corruption" sensed the seed it had planted on the 20th floor returning. It absorbed the seed back into itself, taking in the energy and memories contained within.
Smug about its far superior efficiency compared to "Death's" ability to send down corpses or 'books,' it frowned at the seed's unexpectedly poor condition.
-【Too little energy. Tch. Got crushed by someone deeper in, huh.】
Not pleased with the seed's size—indicating it hadn't killed many lifeforms—"Corruption" read the memories within.
No big deal. It hadn't gained much compared to the investment, but it still had seeds left to sow. Scatter them on other floors, and it'd serve as a fine example to the trash outside. And kill even more lifeforms... Hm?
-【An Earthling?】
Among the memories in the seed, one human figure stood out sharply. It recognized his identity.
Earthling. Indeed. Was this guy the variable? Considering the unique skills Earthlings possess, he could've taken down the seed on the 20th floor. Being from deep in the labyrinth, the seed must've grown considerably.
Didn't matter. Just plant more seeds. Still, better read more memories related to this variable Earthling. He might make a fine 'vessel'...
-【Hm?】
...The memories are shattered. Like it took a heavy blow—everything related to him is scrambled. All that's left is his face and the seed's final moments.
What did he do? Is that the Earthling's power?
Feeling intense curiosity, "Corruption" cackled and reached for the seed's final memory,
-【Graaaaaaaaah!】
A scream that echoed through the entire labyrinth rang out.
'What was that just now?'
Dragging my exhausted body from the 20th floor, I was just about to exit the labyrinth when I felt its walls tremble slightly. A shift coming?
"Yes, hold on. All 20th-floor requests are on hold for now..."
"Pardon? You just came back from the 20th? One moment—could you maybe give a statement..."
The Labyrinth Guild was in chaos upon my return. Counters overflowed with clients requesting materials, and from the chatter, it seemed survivors fleeing the 20th-floor anomaly had turned the place upside down.
"Ah, adventurer. Back already? Which floor from?"
"19th."
Tired of questions, I brushed off the staffer blocking me and slipped out of the guild. They'll summon me once they hear from other survivors, but for now, I just want rest.
Dragging my weary body back to the mansion, Alensia was out, but a note was left.
[Ian. Not sure when you'd return from the labyrinth, so I left this. The Labyrinth Guild is in an uproar—I'll be stuck with duties there for a few days. Heard there's trouble on the 20th. You're on the 15th, right? Be careful just in case.]
...I just came from the 20th.
Well, if I hadn't skipped [Lust Absorption] on Vivian, I might've pushed past the 15th to 16 or 17. Growth has been solid, so hitting 20 led to this mess... Guess I earned it by fighting instead of running.
Whatever. I'm beat—time to crash. After some rest, I'll shop for gear. Armor and sword are trashed from the fight...
-Knock knock knock.
"Hm?"
I'd just flopped onto the bed when knocking started.
Too tired to care, but the persistent rapping grated on my nerves.
'Ugh... Block hearing and ignore it to sleep?'
I debated, but figured I should check who it was. With a groan, I hauled myself to the front door and opened it.
"Yes, who is... Huh?"
"See? Mom! He is home!"
"Oh? Ian. You really are here. Sia said you were in the labyrinth..."
At the door stood Gloria with a slightly awkward smile and the ever-energetic Clara. Not their usual priestess robes—they were dressed casually, like for an outing.
"Uh, what brings you? Alensia's not here right now."
"I know. Heard the Labyrinth Guild's swamped."
"Hmph. Everyone's too busy for that—couldn't meet today! And it's an important day!"
"Clara, Mom's fine with..."
"No you're not! Mom, stay put! Good thing Uncle Ian's here at least! C'mon, Uncle—let's go!"
Go? Where? And important day? What the... Oh.
"It's Mom's birthday today!"
That time I'd taken Clara to the commercial district and ended up in that mess with the criminal demonkin 'Mystic'? The reason was Gloria's birthday coming up—I'd taken her out to pick a gift.
But that day was so chaotic, and then the tournament and everything else... totally slipped my mind.
"You didn't forget, right Uncle? I told you last time. That's why you came back from the labyrinth today—to celebrate with Mom?"
"...Of course!"
I schooled my face and declared it firmly to Clara's innocent question. So that's today!
"Today tons of injured flooded the temple, so everyone's busy... Guild folks too, and even Sis is tied up. Hmph. We all promised to meet today."
"Clara. Mom needs to tend to people at the temple today..."
"Argh, seriously Mom! Birthdays are for resting! The temple told you to take off, so rest today!"
Clara usually obeyed Gloria, but today she was raising her voice at her mom.
"Anyway, Uncle! It's Mom's birthday party today! You're coming, right?"
.....I wanna rest.
"Right?"
"......Yeah."
Of course, I had no say in the matter.