Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Her Inner Thoughts
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Aren had a dream.
It was the secret wish of all alchemists: brewing the Elixir of Immortality.
People laughed at her, calling it impossible, but Aren never gave up.
She kept up her research, imagining the day she'd proudly unveil her success to the world.
But that plan went awry from the start.
She'd gone into the labyrinth for ingredients and had the bad luck to run into a Wraith Knight, landing her in mortal danger.
Of course, she survived.
Thanks to a fateful encounter.
-The potion I drank last time? Consider that debt paid.-
Leon Star.
The man she'd met in the square had become her lifeline, woven into her fate.
'He saved me.'
Aren clung to that ray of hope amid despair, surviving to chase her dream once more.
'I have to repay this kindness.'
Aren silently thanked Leon from the bottom of her heart for giving her this chance.
She vowed to repay him somehow.
Hospital bills were a given, so aside from that, she'd grant any request he might have.
He'd saved her from the brink of death—could she really do any less?
That's when Leon dropped a casual remark.
-Plans? Well, first I need a place to stay.-
Aren suddenly remembered the room she used as a storeroom was vacant.
This was her chance to repay him!
She invited Leon to her home.
'It's fine—the rooms are separate.'
At first, inviting a strange man home made her flush with embarrassment, but she quickly composed herself.
She hypnotized herself into thinking it was all for repaying his kindness.
Bringing him home had gone smoothly enough.
But then...
'It's see-through!'
Her only pair of pajamas. The thought of standing before him in them made her hyper-aware of something she'd never noticed: they were transparent under strong light.
She'd always worked late into the night in her shop's basement with just a dim lantern, so she'd never realized.
She wanted to find something else to wear, but her impoverished life offered no alternatives.
Aren had no choice but to don them and face him.
She prayed he wouldn't notice, but her hopes were dashed spectacularly.
A woman's intuition told her his eyes had swept over her body in an instant.
'I want to die.'
Did he think she was some harlot?
She was a master at keeping a straight face, so nothing showed outwardly, but worries swirled in her mind.
But when Leon passed it off with a blank expression and no comment...
Aren thought to herself.
'Ah, this guy's no problem to live with at all.'
She smiled in relief, in more ways than one.
Of course, his sudden mention of sharing a bed startled her, but she brushed it off lightly since her words had caused the misunderstanding.
Leon accepted her offer of the bed and followed her to her room.
"Good night."
"Hey, Leon!?"
'How did this happen!?'
Leon had effectively locked Aren in her room, refusing to let her out.
He shut the door from outside as if she were unnecessary.
She tugged at it with all her might, but whatever trick he'd used, it wouldn't budge.
'I'll make him sleep in the bed no matter what.'
Stubborn pride flared up. Aren steeled herself to get him into bed somehow.
It seemed locked with magic; it'd probably wear off with time.
She sat on the bed, waiting it out.
But...
'I'm screwed.'
Sunlight streamed through the window before she knew it, and there she was, lying in bed.
In the end, she hadn't yielded the comfy bed to her benefactor and had slept soundly alone.
'Door's open now.'
Aren stepped out and headed to the storeroom she'd given him.
She meant to ask why he'd done that.
-I'll be out for a bit.-
"Sigh."
He was already gone.
'What a mysterious guy.'
He just said his piece and left.
So self-willed.
Yet he considered others and willingly sacrificed.
His thoughts were impossible to read.
'He's definitely not a bad person.'
She felt certain of that.
Aren rolled the note he'd left between her fingers.
She had no idea how their life together would unfold, but it surely wouldn't be boring.
...
I headed out as soon as I woke up.
I'd just finished my first labyrinth dive yesterday, but I had a mountain of tasks ahead.
I resolved to tackle that pile one by one.
'There it is.'
A sturdy outer wall of precisely stacked gray stone.
Sleek spires pierced the sky, and a massive clock emblazoned with a golden emblem adorned the front.
It felt more like the height of the industrial age than medieval times—an embodiment of magic engineering and the heart of the labyrinth city.
The headquarters of the Labyrinth City Association, rulers of the city.
And here, I'd settle the results of my latest labyrinth run.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth City Association."
A businesslike voice greeted me as I entered.
A woman with neatly tied red hair and ruby-red eyes that gleamed sharply.
Her icy demeanor radiated an aura that kept people at bay.
-Leon, I specifically told you to follow the rules, and you broke them again.-
-Please just bite your tongue and die. Social trash like you can't even be recycled.-
'Right, she was the receptionist at this hour.'
Grace Taylor, the Association's infamous sharp-tongued guide.
Her boomerang vibe—with zero tact—made me instinctively step back.
For a split second, old memories jolted me, but I realized they were relics of a vanished past.
A fresh start from square one. I approached her reception desk with a neutral expression.
"Please state the purpose of your visit to the Association."
"I'm here to file my survival certificate. I'd also like to sell some mana stones if possible."
"Noted. Please wait a moment while I process your request."
She ascended the stairs with precise steps, returning with a basket of paper and pens.
"First, please fill out the survival certificate."
I took the pen and paper she offered.
I filled in my details and signed, handing it back.
"Confirmed. Leon Star... That's your name, correct?"
She glanced between the form and me.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"No, I just never expected to meet the explorer I'd only heard rumors about."
"Ah, you mean surviving the Wraith Knight? That's me."
"It's the talk of the labyrinth city right now. A brave newbie who stood firm before a Wraith Knight and saved a Golden Wing Guild explorer."
"Haha, you're making me blush."
In truth, I'd decapitated the thing and toyed with it.
I could've submitted its mana stone as proof, but that would've caused a huge fuss, so I kept it to myself.
"Now that the survival certificate is done, could you please submit proof of your labyrinth entry?"
"Doesn't it not matter if I don't? Plenty of witnesses saw the whole thing."
"I'm sorry, but novice explorers must, by procedure, present a monster corpse part, unique herb, or treasure from the labyrinth alongside their survival certificate. No exceptions."
She warned me it was a strict rule.
Of course, it was just light banter on my part.
She already knew I'd submit proof.
"Perfect timing—I was going to sell mana stones anyway. These will do as proof."
"Understood. Just place them in the basket."
I set my shoulder bag on the counter.
"Here."
Plop, plop!
Blue crystals poured from the bag.
Thin veins pulsed faintly on their surfaces, throbbing irregularly like heartbeats.
Grace's eyes widened at the sight.
"Five mana stones... Surviving the Wraith Knight was no fluke."
Among explorers, there's a saying.
One mana stone? Good luck.
Two? You're fortunate.
Three? That's skill.
Pulling five spoils from a low-probability hunt on your first dive? Everyone would be stunned.
"Five of them? They're not fake, are they?"
"But look—those veins are fresh. Means they were harvested recently."
She wasn't the only one shocked.
Onlookers' eyes bulged as I submitted the mana stones.
'This should draw enough attention.'
Now I'd be etched in their minds as a promising explorer.
The Association and guilds would take notice.
And if a scouting offer came? Mission accomplished.
'Right on plan.'
I covered my slyly rising smirk with my hand and continued calmly.
"These should suffice as proof of entry, right?"
"More than enough. I'll log them in the Association ledger."
"I'd like to sell these at the Association exchange. Can we do the contract here?"
"Of course. Happy to assist."
She handed over a stack of forms. I filled the blanks one by one.
I asked about mana stone prices and recent trades; she explained clearly and kindly.
"Calculation complete. Here's your payment."
"Thanks."
The heavy jingle of coins soothed my soul.
I stuffed the thick wad of cash from the mana stones into my bag.
Then,
"Leon."
"Yes?"
Grace called me back as I turned to leave.
Anything left unfinished?
"It's personal, but could you answer a question?"
"What is it?"
"Why do you explore the labyrinths, Leon?"
Her sudden question made me tilt my head.
'Why explore the labyrinths?'
To see the true ending and end this endless regression loop, obviously.
But she wouldn't grasp that.
Dismissing it vaguely didn't fit her serious expression, so after a moment's thought, I gave an answer.
"To see the end."
"The end? You mean the labyrinth's deepest floor?"
"Yes. I have business there."
"No one's reached it. Its existence isn't even confirmed."
She was wrong.
I've been there countless times—I know it exists.
A mere legend to others, but I answered without hesitation.
"Uncovering hidden labyrinths somewhere in the world and passing them down to posterity—that's an explorer's true calling, isn't it?"
Words from the first explorer who revealed the labyrinths to the world.
Its meaning had faded among modern explorers, but it still resonated deeply with some.
And I knew Grace cherished those words, so I played to her tastes.
"Heh, is that so?"
It seemed a perfect answer to her.
Her expression softened.
Her usual icy facade melted like ice in sunlight.
"I think that's a wonderful sentiment."
"I agree."
The mood was flowing nicely then.
"Hey!"
A booming shout filled the Association, shattering the peaceful vibe.