Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Reunion
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To the elves, the truce might have seemed like a given.
But not to anyone else.
That was why they were drawing all kinds of hostility from people everywhere.
Just how many had they killed, after all?
They claimed the truce meant they didn't kill much anymore, but the chaos they'd caused had dragged the entire elven race's reputation down to rock bottom.
That was the current state of the elves.
So naturally, anyone who took them down was treated like a hero.
"...You talked those knife-ears down?"
"What terrifying charisma... Getting those bastards to listen to words."
But seriously, wasn't this going too far?
Calling a guy like me the incarnation of evil.
Anyway.
'When the hell did those bastards hide and sneak over here?'
I squinted and looked their way.
The ones who'd been tailing us, trying for a backstab.
'Scavengers.'
True to their name—animals that feed on corpses—they'd slunk in to join the fray.
"Should I kill those things?"
Ermé came over and asked me.
I thought about it for a moment.
'No, when did I turn into such a cold-blooded killer?'
Whatever, putting that aside.
'Should I kill them?'
It'd be great if I could finish them off for sure.
But whether we could cover up the incident was another matter.
I explained it to Ermé.
"That'd be tough."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. The elves already made a huge mess, and those guys over there are split up too, right?"
"Hm..."
Meaning it'd be hard to hide the incident.
"But I don't see this incident in a bad light."
"Why not?"
"At the very least, our party's and Han Yuseong's reputations have gone way up."
"... "
That was the last thing I wanted.
I really, really hated it.
"You're something else. Normally, you'd be itching to grab onto fame like that, but here you are trying to shrug it off like it's nothing."
"... "
I had nothing to say, so I just ignored her.
Anyway.
'Spreading our fame around.'
What would happen?
Maybe I should lean into it—raise my fame even more so that even if the Villainess or Lucia saw me...
'It'd be impossible for them to do anything about it.'
If so, I needed to make use of this.
I asked Ermé a few questions.
"Huh? Why do you want to know that?"
"Just need it for something."
The rumors were already spreading uncontrollably.
So I might as well use the fame to my advantage.
"Hey, you Scavengers."
"Yep!"
I called out, and they came running right over. One was prepping to bolt.
'Doesn't matter.'
What I had to say wasn't much.
I relayed some instructions to the Scavengers.
After hearing me out, the Scavengers grinned brightly and replied.
"That's our specialty."
"Thanks, great hero! For sparing us!"
"...Must be some Eastern guy. Yeah, he kinda looks the part."
Putting aside Ermé's discriminatory remark.
For now, I'd taken out some insurance, so I could relax a bit.
"But what made you change your mind all of a sudden?"
Ermé, puzzled by my actions, asked me.
"Fame attracts annoying stalkers."
"If even you call it annoying... what kind of monster is it?"
Ermé's eyes trembled.
I was the one calling it annoying—why were you shaking?
'Well, I don't actually know how bad it'll be.'
Now that I'd regained my calm after arriving here.
I could recall a few things my friend had told me.
'I should jot it down in a notebook sometime.'
Hide it in the Hidden Space, so only I can see it.
The writing's different anyway, so no one else could read it.
'Think about that later.'
That wasn't important right now.
What mattered was the imminent threat: Lucia.
We might meet sooner than I thought.
"Oh, Ermé. Got a question."
"What is it?"
"What do we do with the loot we got?"
"Oh, it all belongs to us."
"Really?"
Good news.
I'd actually taken a liking to that sword called Whisper of the Wind.
'Along with the stuff from the goblins.'
All the loot from the elves too.
'Looking at it this way.'
Still, couldn't deny they were a pain.
Things had worked out well, that's all.
'But what about her?'
I glanced at Rishiel in her soul state.
A member of the Dark Moon family.
She looked pretty high-ranking at a glance.
"N-No way! I-I'm dead! E-Even in death, they couldn't find my b-body, and I can't even go to Lord World Tree!" "Why me of all people! I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't break the truce! Out of all those elves, why me...!" "J-Just save me. I admit I made a huge mistake. If you give my body back, and if you ever come to the Dark Moon family, I'll reward you greatly." "I'm so depressed. I have no hope left to live. Without a body, this existence is..." She'd been spacing out alone before, but now she was throwing a total fit.
I looked at Rishiel.
Golden hair and lake-blue eyes that shimmered.
She was my type looks-wise.
'But her personality sucks.'
Her beauty was more like appreciating a doll.
Still, one curiosity lingered.
What if I put her soul back in the corpse—what would happen to Rishiel?
'Nah.'
What if my curiosity revived her?
I could make her surrender, but contacting the other elves around here?
'Too much hassle.'
So Rishiel stayed in my possession for now.
I looked at the gem containing Rishiel's soul.
'Too annoying—might as well call it a soulstone.'
I slipped it into the Hidden Space.
The space hit capacity, and I sighed.
'Running out of room already.'
Hidden Space (B).
All three slots had uses.
One held the Villainess's Obsession.
Another, Rishiel Dark Moon's soul.
'Can't even store a single weapon.'
I debated between the Blood-Soaked Dagger and Whisper of the Wind, then stashed the dagger.
Someone had seen the dagger once, but everyone was too busy fighting.
'More importantly, its grade is higher than Whisper of the Wind.'
Whisper of the Wind was B- grade.
The Blood-Soaked Dagger was straight B.
'Wait a sec.'
Maybe I could use this space differently?
I pulled out a pouch, put the Villainess's Obsession and Rishiel's soul inside, then stored the pouch in the Hidden Space.
"... "
It fit perfectly.
The space shrank to one slot.
Who knew?
A bit anticlimactic, but handy.
'This ability has a pretty wide range of uses.'
Wider applications were always welcome.
As I pondered the soulstone and Hidden Space, Ermé and Teresa approached.
"Loot's mostly sorted now."
"We got tons. V for victory."
Teresa grinned like an idiot, flashing a V-sign.
Marcel gave a hollow laugh and walked over.
"The knife-ears say they came light, but what they had is pretty decent. Probably 'cause of the Dark Moon connection?"
"But messing with the Dark Moon family isn't dangerous?"
"Not really—or I'd like to say. Even with the truce, killing a noble from their family is a bit of an issue."
Ermé added that it was usually fine.
"Of course, we can cover eyes as much as possible. We killed all the elves nearby, right?"
"Yeah."
We'd killed all the surrendering elves.
No choice.
'Can't just let them go because they surrendered.'
If their info leaked to the elven families, we'd be in danger.
"It was probably a merciful death for them. Captured elves say it's not so gentle."
Ermé said it like she was comforting me.
But I didn't feel any guilt needing comfort.
Obviously.
'My survival comes first.'
I'm a selfish bastard.
Don't expect any heroic self-sacrifice from me.
*
"More importantly, how's it feel?"
"What?"
"Not many adventurers score this big on their first Labyrinth in the Cradle."
Ermé stretched out her hand and looked at me.
A handful, huh.
'Yeah, even B-ranks get scooped up everywhere.'
With items like that inside her, she must be quite the talent.
'Contents notwithstanding.'
"Mother, and unknown father. Your daughter Rishiel departs now. Please avenge me." Rishiel was gazing at the sky, praying.
It hit me—elves pray too.
"The Labyrinth's history is long, but... most who get a shot like that get swept away in the rapids."
Marcel adjusted his glasses and told me.
"You're something special. From what I've seen up close, you'll be a famous adventurer in the Cradle before long."
"Oh? Shouldn't you push it higher?"
"I think so, but... the rules from up top are tougher than you think."
"Aha."
Ermé's eyes curved slyly.
Remembering the annoying ones, maybe.
Her smile looked dangerous.
"The issue is divvying up the loot..."
Ermé glanced at Teresa and Marcel.
Marcel and Teresa flinched.
"I'd give it all to Han Yuseong."
"Same here. Honestly, I didn't do much, so an elf corpse or two would satisfy me."
Ermé beamed at Marcel's words.
"Aw, Teresa. Our Yuseong might seem ruthless, but he's not stingy with rewards."
This was from yesterday's talk with Ermé about shares.
-How about giving it all to the MVP in the Labyrinth?
-Not bad.
-Ah, but 'all' usually means like 70%. Dumping too much on one person affects party morale and rep.
-70% to one guy?
-Only for insane performances.
Like that.
We headed out of the Labyrinth.
*
We hadn't been inside long, but the sunlight stung my eyes.
People were emerging from the Labyrinth here and there.
'...Time and space all messed up in there.'
Even if you enter together, without binding magic, you scatter to different spots.
Conversely, time differences outside don't matter—you all arrive together inside.
Maybe that's why.
The place was swarming with people.
Lots of them.
'Gonna get motion sick.'
Sensing my sour expression.
Ermé nudged me.
"I'll handle things here. Call it thanks for taking down Rishiel."
Ermé smiled brightly.
No need to refuse the favor, so I nodded and headed to a quiet corner.
'Finally, some breathing room.'
Not quite a plaza, but still crowded.
Maybe 'cause it was plaza-adjacent.
I muffled my presence and wandered slowly for a bit.
Then I saw a woman.
"...Ah."
I sighed involuntarily.
I had no choice.
Why else would I come to this place called the Cradle?
'To escape the owner of the jewel I stole.'
The Villainess Lucia's Obsession.
I'd swiped it.
But was it fate's joke?
One of the culprits who'd forced me to flee here—I'd run into her.
"Oh my."
The woman turned at my sigh, grinning.
Blood-red hair and eyes like crimson.
She curved her eyes happily at the sight of me.
"Hello, Mr. Thief."
"..............................................................Pardon?"
The Villainess, Lucia.
Our reunion felt a little off.