Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Qualification
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The Labyrinth I'm exploring is known to have appeared about a thousand years ago.
According to the continental history books I read in the library, long ago there were no Labyrinths on the continent. Then an event called the 'Great Cataclysm' occurred, and afterward, an unidentified space known as the Labyrinth suddenly appeared in the very center of the continent.
Exactly what happened when the Labyrinth appeared remains a mystery. Almost all records of the continent before its emergence were lost, and instead of the previous calendar era, a new one called the 'Labyrinth Calendar'—based on the day it appeared—was established and is still in use today.
And the city built atop such a Labyrinth is none other than Labyrinth City. It's the largest city on the continent, accommodating countless adventurers challenging the Labyrinth, numerous guilds and criminal clans, magic towers and alchemy guilds, temples to various gods, mixed-race residential districts, and bustling commercial areas where goods flow endlessly.
"...The creator of Labyrinth City?"
There are no records of how Labyrinth City came to be, either. Just as history before the Labyrinth's appearance was lost, no records exist from the chaotic era right after its birth.
Scholars speculate that it was built by the first adventurers who challenged the Labyrinth. And that creator of Labyrinth City is Seat 1?
"Yes. A thousand years ago, the person who built the city atop the Labyrinth. And after that, the one who created the 'Labyrinth Guild' to manage it and organized their leadership council—that person is Seat 1."
"No... does that even make sense?"
I reflexively shot back at Vivian. And rightly so—a whole millennium. Even in a world with elves, dwarves, and witches, a thousand years is an unimaginably distant span.
Skills and magic exist, sure, but even mana cultivation has its limits when it comes to staving off aging. Elves, famed for their longevity, have an average lifespan of 200 to 300 years, and even the sturdy ones who've trained their mana can supposedly live up to 500. A thousand is impossible.
Witches, with their bodies attuned to mana, can live a few centuries too, but I've never heard of one lasting a millennium.
And yet... a thousand years...
"Anyway, you're forbidden from getting answers to that question. The other council members would say the same. That was the oath from the start."
I'd been about to ask about 「Death」 when I unexpectedly learned about Council Seat 1 instead—but in the end, I still wouldn't get the answer I wanted. Hoping for a loophole, I tried skirting around it with indirect questions about 「Death」, but Vivian dodged every time.
'This is driving me crazy.'
I'd figured Vivian had to know something about 「Death」. After all, she's the one collecting those 'pages' that could be traces of him.
That's why I'd planned to ask about him—in exchange for handing over those pages if nothing else—but now some Seat 1 guy had blocked me from the outset.
I need info on him to prepare countermeasures before deciding whether to re-enter the Labyrinth... damn it. Fine, other questions then...
"Is there any connection between the Labyrinth and Earth..."
"Can't tell you that, either."
Fuck! Another oath with Seat 1 or whatever? What the hell is that guy's deal? I had a ton of important questions, but they were all getting stonewalled. Despair set in.
Vivian then elaborated a bit more on what she'd said earlier.
"To be precise, the oath with Seat 1 prohibits sharing that information with beings who lack 'qualification'."
"...Qualification?"
I'd been racking my brain for other questions when Vivian brought up this 'qualification' thing.
"Qualification meaning?"
"Advanced Adventurer."
"......"
Suddenly, something completely out of left field.
"Not out of nowhere. The beginner, intermediate, and advanced adventurer qualifications aren't just permission to descend deeper into the Labyrinth—they're comprehensive ranks that include other privileges."
For example, access rights to each level of the library, she added.
"...So, if I become an Advanced Adventurer, I'll get answers to my questions?"
"Yes."
Hearing that, the first thing that came to mind was Alensia. During my treatment, our trust was maxed out, so what if I formed a contract and had her ask on my behalf?
"Won't work."
"...I haven't even said anything yet."
But as I sank into thought, Vivian shook her head, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
"For a normal adventurer, you'd need to reach the 40th floor for qualification."
"You said I'm Advanced."
"You have other qualifications."
Curious what those were this time, but Vivian didn't elaborate. I had no choice but to drop it and instead got a promise from her.
"...Anyway, if I become an Advanced Adventurer, you'll answer what I'm curious about?"
"Yes."
With her firm confirmation, I withdrew for now. No point begging—the oath meant I wouldn't get answers anyway.
'Advanced Adventurer, huh...'
A new goal had taken shape for me. Advanced Adventurer.
'How long will that take?'
Honestly, it felt pretty daunting. To become one, I first need to reach the 30th floor of the Labyrinth, have a record of completing a certain number of requests, pass the Advanced Adventurer promotion exam, and meet a few other conditions besides.
But what can I do? Gotta do it.
'At least it's a clear target now.'
Way better than just wandering into the Labyrinth aimlessly like before.
"So.... what do you want as payment for this page you brought?"
In the end, the page I'd meant to trade for 'information' was left over. So Vivian asked if I had any demands, and I racked my brain for a while.
'Elixir? Tempting, but I was planning to check the auction house anyway. Magic tools sound good too, but which one? Ask for sex? Nah, I still have that 'reward' from last time left...'
"If there's nothing you want, how about this?"
As I agonized, Vivian pulled something out of thin air and handed it to me.
A strangely shaped stone that shimmered with iridescent colors, pulsing with unusual mana.
"...What's this?"
Not having a clue, I picked it up and asked. Vivian answered casually, like it was no big deal.
"Return Stone."
"......Return Stone?"
She said it like it was nothing, but the name sounded ominous. Return Stone... no way, right?
"...Does this mean I can return straight to the surface from anywhere in the Labyrinth?"
"Yes."
"...Holy shit!"
I forgot myself and swore right in front of her. Can't be helped—the only way to return from the Labyrinth to the surface is portal by portal, layer by layer.
I'd dragged myself up one floor at a time from the 22nd, even with one arm severed. And this thing exists...?
"Sadly, it's one-use only. The materials are absurdly expensive, so I only made one. But with it, you can return directly to the surface from any floor."
For a Labyrinth adventurer, this is basically a spare life. Realizing that, greed naturally filled my eyes. As if she'd expected it, Vivian nodded.
"How about it?"
......How could I refuse? It's practically an extra life.
I couldn't ask my original questions anyway, so the best I could demand from Vivian were magic tools or elixirs at most. But this item is far more valuable.
I nodded, and Vivian—as if she'd known—transferred the page in my hand somewhere else. Trembling, I stowed the Return Stone in my inventory.
'With this, I can head back into the Labyrinth.'
Honestly, without the info from Vivian, I'd been scared of what might happen next and dreading how to proceed. But at least while I have this, I can challenge the Labyrinth.
"And the Labyrinth is closed for a while anyway, so let's proceed with the lessons I postponed. First, the mana platform..."
After securing the Return Stone, I watched Vivian pull out simple theory texts and mana-training magic tools for my next task. A sudden thought struck me, so I asked.
"Um, Master. Mind if I ask something else? Not heavy like before—just trivial stuff."
"Go ahead."
"....Is your hip hurting?"
"........."
From the first time I saw her, Vivian looked tired and irritated. Observing her during our talk, her lower body movements seemed awkward.
She'd twitch occasionally, which felt off, so I asked if she was hurt somewhere. But upon hearing me, Vivian froze and cast a spell.
"Practice the mana platform with the book and tools until I call you next. Use the crystal orb if you have questions."
"Huh? No, wait a sec..."
-Pop!
Vivian cast her spell, and suddenly I was booted from her room, standing alone in the alley where I'd been earlier.
'.....Why'd she get mad?'
Recalling her sudden attitude shift, I grumbled as I picked up the scattered magic tools from the ground one by one.
"....His mental barrier has gotten incredibly strong."
Vivian sighed, recalling Ian's mental barrier from the guy she'd just kicked out. She'd thought his growth was fast, but it was now solid enough to rival an Advanced Adventurer's. She tried piercing it with her [Evil Eye], but it blocked her.
She could force it, but that would harm Ian to some degree.
'Wondering why 「Death」 started moving.'
This time, 「Death」 had caused the anomaly in the Labyrinth. 「Fall」 was involved too, but mostly 「Death」's power. She wanted to see what had made 「Death」 so obsessed...
'Can't let him break.'
The first unique case to appear in ages. At first, it was just intriguing because of skills she couldn't verify with her own eyes. But now, with his absurd growth rate and drawing 「Death」's attention, Ian had sparked more than mere curiosity.
And...
-Pop♥
"Ugh..."
Vivian gritted her teeth as she extracted the egg-shaped object she'd kept plugged in her rear. Confirming that the white fluid coating it had mostly been absorbed into her body with almost none left, she pulled out the remaining milky liquid and reapplied it to the tool she'd just removed. Inwardly, she thought.
'....Still not enough.'
Her preparations(?) weren't complete yet.
Ian, who had triggered another peculiar change in her, couldn't be allowed to die easily.
She couldn't give him the answers he wanted, but in exchange, she'd handed him the Return Stone—her masterpiece. An item far more valuable than the pages he'd brought, even though she craved the Necronomicon.
'...Precious sample. Can't let him die. Yeah.'
With that thought, Vivian evenly coated the round plug with the milky liquid and inserted it back into her rear.