Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Training
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Training.
When I came to, Lucia was on the right bed, and Ermé was on the left.
What the hell was this situation?
We'd been drinking with Ermé when Lucia joined in, and the three of us ended up imbibing together.
And this was the result.
I sought out Rishiel.
To demand an explanation.
It didn't seem like we'd done anything major, but you never knew.
-Nothing like that happened. Rishiel brushed off my question with a single line.
If that was a relief, it was a relief.
After all, Ermé and I still had higher floors to conquer.
And more than anything...
'Can I even handle two of them on my own?'
Such doubts lingered.
I glanced to the side.
Ermé's peaceful sleeping face. She looked even prettier up close.
'...But if we're talking looks, this one's no slouch either.'
I turned to Lucia. Her red hair cascaded gently.
If Ermé was just beginning to ripen, Lucia's beauty was already at its peak.
Ermé would probably end up looking just like her after a few more years.
With that thought, I looked over at Rishiel.
'She's pretty cute too.'
Maybe it was because she was an elf. Or maybe because she was just a soul. Either way, she didn't really pull me in.
I twisted my body and slipped out from between them.
I did some light stretching and gathered my clothes for the day.
'Maybe I'll head to the training hall after so long.'
It sucked not having a private room, but...
I needed to assess my current condition.
My swordsmanship had changed during my fight with Volkan. Black Sea.
Ever since acquiring it, something felt different.
'If I show the old man, maybe it'll click into place.'
Lost in such thoughts as I got ready, a knock echoed from the door.
Knock knock.
Why were they here at this hour?
I sensed presences outside the door. Teresa, Glasses, and Rosenta.
The three of them were waiting.
"...Yuseong, you in there?"
"Yeah, hold on. I'll get it."
I opened the door to Teresa's dazed expression. And Glasses.
"You know where Ermé is? Haven't seen her since yesterday... Oh."
That 'oh' like she'd pieced it all together.
Only then did I notice the two sprawled across my bed.
"...It's not what you think."
"...Don't worry about it. I've got a fiancée already. I get it. Though other women might not."
"It's fine. I don't misunderstand."
"I don't misunderstand either."
Glasses, then Teresa, then Rosenta.
But Rosenta's tone carried a slight chill.
"...Really, nothing happened. We had dinner with Lucia yesterday, then drinks with Ermé, and it just ended up like this."
"So you built a Great Wall out of booze, huh. More importantly, Yuseong, I never realized, but you've got quite the reputation with women."
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Did she think I was the hit-it-and-quit-it type?
Those words could do real damage to my image, so I denied it in a fluster.
"No, seriously. Nothing happened."
"I know."
Glasses said with a bright smile.
"You and the leader were swamped sorting things out after that big incident. I know you're not the type."
"Don't lie, Glasses. You said there was no smell."
"...Don't undermine the cover story we agreed on."
So that's what it was.
I let out a sigh of relief. Never bringing women back to my room again.
-Does that include me too? 'You're not a woman.'
-...... Rishiel wore a genuinely wounded expression. Though getting lustful over her soul form was kinda ridiculous anyway.
"Well, since it's come to this, maybe we should hash it out here."
"Hash what out?"
"Yeah."
As Glasses nodded, his voice whispered directly into my ear.
-When that Nokgolma ate me in the Labyrinth, a fragment of its memories flowed into me. "...Yeah. We need to sort this out."
Glasses beamed at my response.
I glanced at Lucia on the bed. She looked like she'd sleep longer, so maybe wake Ermé and head to her room.
-Ermé doesn't know either. Looks like we need the whole group for this talk. If Glasses figured as much, then that was that.
The guy loved adventure and romance, but he wasn't dumb.
'Sharper than he lets on.'
That was why he was a mage, after all.
I asked Teresa to wake Ermé and requested a day-use room from the innkeeper.
"Day-use?"
She pondered briefly before asking for silver coin, which I handed over.
Felt like a needless expense, but better than sneaking into Ermé's room.
Soon enough, the groggy Ermé joined the others.
Glasses cast an odd spell around the perimeter.
"Phew. Silence magic's holding perfectly. No sound'll leak out now."
"Renting the space wasn't a bad call. My room or Yuseong's might've gotten awkward."
Felt like I was being praised, somehow.
Did he have some gift related to reading memories from objects or something?
'Would be weirder if he didn't.'
This was a world with truth-discerning paper, after all. No need to overthink.
"You all know I got eaten by that Nokgolma, right?"
"Yes."
"For some reason, it ended up as Yuseong's kill. In the meantime, I merged with it enough to read its memories."
"I see... So while the monster scanned Marcel's memories, you got a peek at its own."
"Exactly. And that's when I uncovered something shocking."
"Shocking how?"
"First off, Nation. The Nokgolma slaughtered his party but left his head intact. As a warning to certain people."
"A warning?"
"Remember those suspicious nails Yuseong found?"
"Yeah."
Wait. Why bring that up...?
"Nation was hiding out there. Details are fuzzy, but it was scheming something deep in the Labyrinth."
"... ."
Nation, a Rebellion?
It kinda fit, but it didn't sit right either.
Nation had seemed set for a bright future.
"...Anyway. Also, about this '25th floor'."
"You've got intel on that?"
"Bits and pieces. Normally, peeking into memories like that would've killed me. So, thanks again. Formally."
Glasses bowed deeply to me.
No big deal.
"Anyway, the 25th floor... Probably from clearing up to 24 recently, the monsters there got stirred up. They surged all the way to the 1st floor in one go, and the ripple affected the rest."
"Makes sense. A gift like that can boost nearby monsters' intelligence."
"And sorry, but I passed this info to the guild master first."
"Good call. He can spot truth from lies."
"Heh, exactly. So yeah."
Glasses went on about other bizarre phenomena.
Mostly speculation, though. Ermé nodded along now and then.
I listened just in case.
Rosenta and Teresa looked half-asleep.
"...Anyway, ah, I've rambled too much. You hit the Labyrinth yesterday. Must be wiped."
"I could run it today too."
"True. It's stabilized now, so grinding hard makes sense."
Glasses nodded.
"We're diving the Labyrinth from here on. You two in?"
"I'll go."
"I wanna rest today."
Ermé agreed.
I passed.
Figuring out Black Sea took priority.
Glasses grinned at me.
"That week-off deal still hold?"
"Sure does."
"Three days left then. Should be plenty."
"Plenty for what?"
"I'll save the fun for later. Hate getting caught too quick."
"... ."
Was he talking level-ups?
'Does he not know I'm already level 3?'
I had leveled up after slaying the Nokgolma.
But before that, I'd soloed my way to a level-up in the Labyrinth.
"... ."
Well, he'd find out when the time came.
I headed out.
"Thought you were resting."
"Nah, got something to ask the old man Volkan..."
"... ."
An awkward silence hung over the walk there.
*
"You wanna ask about the sword?"
Volkan eyed me with anticipation.
Asking about swordplay got him that fired up?
'What'd I do?'
Volkan rose regardless, looming over me.
Two meters of pure muscle.
Didn't aspire to that, but damn, it'd make surviving a breeze.
"Sorry, can't teach you. My sword's only for my disciple."
"...?"
What?
Wasn't Volkan supposed to be my master?
"...You thought I was your master? Easterners don't talk like that."
"My origins don't matter."
Though yeah, I was from the East.
"Said it like that, but I don't wanna be your master anyway."
"Then what?"
"Too many rough edges for you to be my disciple. I've lived too wildly."
He knew his own rep.
Yet acted the part?
"What's with that sour look?"
"Nothing."
"Point is, the second you become my disciple, hunters come for you."
"How bad?"
"They won't touch me, but they'll poke at you. And those pokes'll hurt."
"...Hm."
So he wouldn't take me on because his baggage might drag me down.
"Then just teach me about the sword."
"Straight shooter."
Volkan grabbed a sword as tall as himself and headed inside.
"What're you waiting for? Come on."
I followed him in.
Memories of our first meeting surfaced.
'Stronger than back then.'
Much stronger. Strength, speed, everything.
Yet to Volkan—even through Sword Master's eyes—
'No openings.'
That's how mighty he was.
Thud. Thud.
We reached the training ground's center.
Volkan stared silently.
Provocative eyes daring me to attack if I could.
I met them.
Drew my sword.
Then charged straight at Volkan, blade ready.
No testing the waters.
Full force from the first strike.
Boom.
Heavy footfall. The moment I stepped forward, a bizarre wave swept through.
And.
Black Sea.
The darkness-cleaving blade poured toward Volkan.
Kuuung!
Volkan didn't budge an inch. Blocked it casually with one hand.
'...'
Absurdly strong.
Still couldn't touch him?
Volkan's face turned grave, oblivious or not.
"You. Where'd you learn that?"
"Picked it off someone."
"You stole this?"
"Learned it mid-fight with an orc."
"...You learned that?"
Volkan paused, then spoke.
"Don't use it if you can help it."
"Why?"
"Simple. It's an orc hero's technique. Fine if you wanna be worshipped by orcs."
I recalled Burkan-types swarming me.
'...Gotta seal this for good.'
I resolved firmly.