Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Bet
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“Kuhahat! Kuhahaha!”
“Ah, nooo!!”
Old man Volkan was cackling with laughter.
And the mage was stretching her hands toward me, screaming in agony.
The reason was nothing special. I had casually beaten her in our bet.
Th-that... What was that technique of yours?
Rishiel was flustered.
The others nearby were staring at me too, their eyes screaming, How the hell did he steal it?
“Wh-what? Why’s the golden orb in Yuseong’s hand?”
“Shh.”
Marcel was panicking.
Ermé raised a finger to her lips at him, silently telling him to quiet down.
Only then did Marcel fall silent, keeping his mouth shut.
Volkan approached me with a hearty laugh.
“What was that technique just now?”
“Trade secret.”
“Impressive ability. Dangerous, too.”
The last part was so quiet even I barely caught it.
A warning to use it carefully, no doubt.
I gave a small nod to show I understood, then headed deeper into the adventurers’ guild.
…Or tried to.
“Y-you...”
Viola, was it?
The woman blocked my path.
Purple eyes, purple hair.
Her pretty face was crumbling apart.
I looked at her with impassive eyes. She flinched.
“...Please.”
She said it so softly I couldn’t hear. I gave her a look that said to speak up again, and she bowed her head deep, cheeks and ears flushing red.
“P-please give it back...”
She begged.
It felt like I was bullying her.
Though originally, it was the other way around.
I glanced around. The surrounding adventurers were watching us with amused eyes.
“That guy’s a total player.”
“Heh heh, Viola was always acting so high and mighty, and now she’s trying to seduce him.”
…Usually, a rolling stone doesn’t get looks like that.
Viola must’ve been terrible at getting along with people.
Or at least, that’s how it seemed.
She’d straight-up called us newbies and looked down on us, then acted like she was challenging Volkan’s authority.
Volkan might not care, but...
It pissed me off a little.
For some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way. So when she provoked us...
I provoked her right back, on purpose.
Honestly, though...
I hadn’t expected her to fall for it this badly.
The golden orb looked pretty good, but I hadn’t realized it was this good.
Sniff, sniff.
Viola stared up at me with a face on the verge of bursting into tears.
Serves her right. Who told her to pick a fight?
But...
She looks kinda pitiful.
A tiny, tiny bit of sympathy crept in.
Of course, that didn’t mean I was giving the talisman back.
Just looking at it, it seemed way too good.
Blocks fatal injuries.
And it could even recharge.
This was basically like strapping a spare life onto yourself.
So...
Time to throw her words right back at her.
I flashed a bright smile.
Did she sense something in it? Her face split into a dumb grin.
...Kinda annoying.
Still, it made for a nice picture on her pretty face.
“Sorry, but our party’s barely been together a week.”
“Huh...?”
“We’re total newbies, so it’s a bit intimidating being here... Thanks for the valuable gift.”
This should stroke her ego just enough.
“Puhahat! Puhahahaha!”
Volkan beside me slapped my back hard enough to hurt, laughing his ass off.
Viola looked like the world was collapsing around her. Serves her right. Who told her to act so cocky?
Man, this old guy hits hard.
“Ah, thanks to you, I got to see something rare. Now I can rest easy. You lot can stick to the first floor.”
“We could probably escape most dangers at this level anyway.”
The guy who’d introduced himself as Alex eyed me.
Then he looked at the others behind me, his eyes lighting up.
“The rest of you aren’t pushovers either. Wait, isn’t that the priest we tried recruiting last time?”
“Haha, hello...”
Rosenta awkwardly smiled and stepped forward at Alex’s words.
She’d gotten an offer like that? Made sense, though.
She had frontline power and could heal to boot.
Super capable.
Paladins who could frontline were rare. Hers had pretty strong holy power too.
And...
Priests in this world felt pain when they healed others, or so it was said. She writhed in pleasure instead, but hey, it wasn’t pain.
Nah, pleasure can drive a person mad too.
I gave Rosenta that kind of look.
She tugged lightly at my sleeve and whispered,
“I-it’s fine. I have no plans to leave this party.”
She winked at me with one eye, sneaky-like.
But the wink was so awkward it felt off.
An ambiguous wink. I just nodded and let it go.
“What do you think, old man Volkan?”
“Hm? Me?”
“This party looks pretty solid.”
“Too early to get your hopes up. I’ve seen talented folks crash and burn.”
“Fair point.”
Alex watched me with a subtle gaze.
The look of someone who wanted to buy skyrocketing stock at its low.
But given the situation...
He made a resigned face and handed me a piece of paper.
“If you survive the Labyrinth today, get in touch. I can recommend you to the Dawnbreaker Clan.”
“The whole party?”
“Yeah. Though it seems pointless.”
“Heh heh heh...”
Ermé let out a subtle chuckle at Alex’s words. What was that reaction about?
-We’ll make our own clan.
Rishiel reacted to my thought.
Clan?
-Yeah. With a resource like Han Yuseong, and such flashy party members. Plus, there’s Sally, the mage hero candidate. Joining another clan isn’t bad, but as party members... as clanmates, it’d be even better.
I silently agreed with Rishiel.
Better to be the rolling stone that crashes in ourselves.
“Ahaha, I think I just made their party bonds even stronger by talking to you.”
“There’s clan-to-clan bonding too, right?”
“Heh heh, don’t underestimate Dawnbreaker. We’re one of the old guards here.”
“Heh heh, rolling stones are the scariest, after all.”
Something sparked between Alex and Ermé.
I looked at Volkan.
“Hm, time’s up.”
“Time?”
“Rookies, hurry up and come in. The guy we’re meeting isn’t a pushover.”
“Who the hell is it...?”
“Guild Master. One of the owners of the Cradle.”
*
The Cradle.
A paradise and graveyard for adventurers, built atop the Labyrinth.
Countless adventurers had risen from rags to riches there, shining like stars.
But just as many corpses lay buried beneath.
And that was just the start.
Knights and mages from everywhere gathered there.
The Labyrinth granted the gift of level-ups to all who entered.
A power once exclusive to heroes before the Demon King fell.
Now, anyone could level up just by slaying monsters in the Labyrinth.
Humanity and other races had seen their average stats explode as a result.
A massive power equalization that let them casually fend off demons and the Demon King.
In a place like that, the guild master couldn’t rely on strength alone.
They needed political savvy, sharp eyes, and the ability to read intentions.
That’s what Volkan meant when he said even caution wasn’t enough around the guild master.
“He probably won’t mess with you rookies... but if you meet him, stay sharp.”
“Got it.”
“Don’t judge by appearances. He’s a monster among monsters, at least half a millennium old.”
“Half a millennium...?”
Ermé tilted her head, and Volkan nodded.
“At least 500 years. Rumors say he’s over a thousand. We’re here.”
Volkan’s words led to a massive conference room.
Many people were already seated.
“...You’re a bit late. But I saw something interesting, so it’s fine.”
“Don’t worry. The meeting hasn’t started yet.”
A seductive voice tickled my ear.
Red eyes, red hair. And clothes to match.
Cheongsam?
Wasn’t that Eastern-style?
At my look, Lucia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at me.
“Long time no see, Yuseong?”
“Didn’t we just meet the other day? Yuseong doesn’t like stalkers.”
“Oh my, stalker? It’s just coincidence our paths cross.”
Even her smile was seductive.
And I was troubled.
Why the hell is this woman here...?
Thinking about it, it made sense.
The Execution Princess, feared by all.
Undoubtedly a top adventurer.
Lucia, still seated, crossed her legs and propped her chin on one hand, watching me.
“Too bad. I wanted to party with you this time, Yuseong.”
“Our levels are too far apart. Probably impossible.”
“You’ll catch up in no time. I’ll wait.”
She ignored Ermé and waved at me flirtatiously.
“Quite the heartthrob.”
“Not a good thing.”
“I bet. The Execution Princess showing interest...”
Volkan’s words only made it scarier. We sat far from Lucia.
Everyone there was impressive.
We were probably the weakest party here.
Why’d Volkan bring us?
Even the second-weakest had a huge gap.
They weren’t staring openly, but eyes flicked our way.
“Ugh...”
A weird noise made me turn.
What the fuck.
Nearly jumped.
Viola had somehow sat two seats away. A man beside her awkwardly smiled.
“Sorry about the trouble. My little sister caused a scene.”
“It’s fine.”
And it really was.
I’d gained a spare life from the commotion.
She won’t ask for it back, right?
Unlike my thoughts, the man spoke firmly.
“About that talisman...”
“Yeah, sorry, but I’m not giving it back.”
“No, don’t. She’s been arrogant, succeeding nonstop without failure. I hate to lose it, but she has plenty of life-saving means... Getting knocked down once is a good lesson. Thanks, actually.”
“...”
What the hell kind of character is this?
Shouldn’t you be raging that I stole from your sister?
“Here’s my card. If you survive the Labyrinth today, come by. I’ll treat you.”
A restaurant name, directions, and a name: Nation.
“Anyway, take care.”
Nation extended his hand with a smile.
I shook it and said likewise.
After the greeting...
“Pleased to meet you all.”
The guild master appeared.