Chapter 114
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Labyrinth (1)
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My condition the day after the sparring match wasn't bad at all. In fact, I even felt refreshed. It was probably less about the psychological satisfaction of beating Gerkken and more about Professor Yuhains's Mana Quartz treatment working wonders.
Professor Yuhains. A true miracle worker.
Chika-chika-
While brushing my teeth in the old dorm bathroom, I saved a number in my contacts.
[Number saved: A]
This 'A' guy was the client from a [Headlip] request that came in thirty minutes ago. He wanted some interpersonal relationship advice.
I thought he was a troll at first and gave a half-assed reply, but then he wired me 5,000 Ren on the spot. Looked like a goldmine, so I saved the number right away.
"Ptooey."
I rinsed my mouth and stepped out of the old dorm.
"Keep up the good work, Elder."
I waved to Beltos Elder, who was still tending the garden as usual, and kept walking.
Ding-
My smartphone buzzed. It was the messenger app.
[Psycho: Whatcha doin]
"?"
It was Elise's text, but it looked like something got cut off at the end.
Did she die mid-type?
[?]
I sent back a question mark. I'd left the chat open, apparently, because it showed as read right away.
Nothing after that.
I ignored it.
Today's destination: the library.
The real exam started Friday, but during these two days of break, I planned to make some money.
I needed cash.
Not just for Mana Quartz treatments, but to pour nearly infinite funds into Professor Yuhains to advance his research.
To accelerate the twelve-year pig full-recovery project and shift the target from pigs to humans.
Minimum tens of millions, maximum hundreds of millions in Ren.
Which meant—
From now on, I'd actively exploit my future knowledge.
In simple terms, plagiarize the future and sell it.
—Ding.
I tagged my student ID at the library entrance, grabbed a coffee, and sat down.
I picked up a blank scroll from the free paper stack for spell formulas.
Dissolved Perion into my café latte.
The magic circuit I was submitting today: a corpse-eating turtle called 'Corpse-Feeder (屍食龜)'.
Just tweak the name slightly to 'Death-Feeder'.
"Let's do this."
This Death-Feeder was in my Notebook's database.
It was a concept I'd etched into my Notebook from pre-regression experiences—'transcending time' in grandiose terms.
But I had no idea how it worked or what inspired it.
I lacked the depth for that personally.
I just computed and calculated it via Notebook to make it real.
Solutions without theory, intuition without foundation.
Like the dumbest genius, metaphorically.
"Slurp-"
I took a sip of Perion coffee. Closed my eyes briefly. Heat rose in my throat. I opened them amid the focus and elation.
Time to work.
Overview: A turtle that eats dead organisms...
I transcribed the entire Death-Feeder magic circuit onto the scroll. Starting points, inflection points, endpoints of the circuit, the all-important core structure, circuit diagrams, and even usage instructions.
With meticulous care, no margin for error, using my finest penwork.
By the time I finished, the sun was setting.
[20:30]
Started at 10 a.m., so ten hours gone already.
"Done."
Now to submit this patent to a company. Magic circuits were high-value goods—royalties alone should net me 400-500k Ren after taxes per year, minimum.
"Where to send it."
One more dilemma: which company for this Death-Feeder.
Trick City first and foremost.
Edshila's most inventive city. Commercial magic circuits mostly started there, spreading to the continent or down to the underworld.
But Trick City had too many companies...
"Oh right."
It hit me.
I searched a company name on my smartphone.
[Balman]
: Balman Mana Technology
: Balmantree
There it was.
Balman Mana Technology.
Corpse-Feeders weren't top- or mid-high-tier circuits, so big corps might bury it. But random small firms were scam-riddled.
Currently mid-small, but guaranteed to grow into a big corp in ten years.
Balman fit the bill.
Plus, a trustworthy CEO.
"What name to use."
For contacts and royalties, I needed a separate identity.
Couldn't take DP payments from companies.
Double identity essential for smooth money laundering too.
I pondered, then wrote a name and contact on the scroll's corner.
[Dale]
Dale.
My father.
Common name, but that made it perfect camouflage.
I rolled up the scroll. Then placed a [Parcel Delivery] request on the dark web.
"..."
I glanced at the messenger absentmindedly.
[?]
Still no reply in Elise's chat.
Edshila's eastern Deon District autonomous zone, Plate.
Also called 'Trick City,' it was unlike anywhere else on the continent. Utterly alien. Unique and peculiar.
A city fusing magic, mana, engineering, and science—like a steampunk neon-city novel backdrop.
Gerkken was there.
Shh-shh- Shh-shh- Shh-shh- Mana stone-burning engine roars echoed, clang- clang- clang- hammers striking anvils in a factory frenzy.
Balman Mana Technology, a mid-small company.
"Heard you lost."
In the factory's heart, a muscular 60s geezer named Diesel said. Gerkken replied softly.
"Word spreads fast."
"It does. They say it was flashy as hell? Kid slicing like a maniac."
—Oh, oh! It's working! It, it works! It works, pig!
Right on cue, raucous voices leaked from the workshop next door.
Gerkken pointed.
"What's going on?"
"Ah. Submission came in yesterday. Dark web scroll. Boss's hair stood on end, been at it all night. Looks like it worked. Worked?! Hey!"
—It did!
Shh-shh- Shh-shh- Clang- clang-
"What?"
The factory and workshop shared just a wall, muffling communication.
"Hey!"
—It did!
"What?! What'd you say?!"
Diesel Elder yelled. Gerkken sighed quietly.
—You fuckin' deaf! It worked!
"What the hell?! Fuck you?! You little shit!"
The workshop door flew open.
"...Not fuck you! It worked, you deaf old fart! How many times I gotta say it!"
A shrill voice filled the factory: a bob-cut woman with gold-black hair. Covered in mana oil and sweat, she scowled at Gerkken.
"Why do you keep coming here, Pointy? I said don't call."
"Didn't call. You came."
"Oh? Hm!"
She crossed her arms, glaring at Gerkken with dissatisfaction. But a smirk tugged her lips.
"Hey, Gelken. Hey. Hey. Saw you lose real good~?"
She waggled her brows slyly as she approached.
"Who'd you lose to again? Sion Askal? Lost to him~?"
Poking Gerkken with a wooden stick. Her name: Kanya Widred.
Trick City's brightest genius, talent to core the city.
"If you're here for pity 'cause you got wrecked, I ain't raising you like—"
"What's that."
Gerkken cut her off, pointing through the door gap. A creepy turtle crawled out.
"Oh, this? Perfect timing!"
Kanya's eyes sparkled like stars.
"'Death-Feeder.' First submission in ages. Magic circuit for disposing animal, human, monster corpses."
She scooped the turtle and tossed it to Gerkken.
"Dunno the genius, but sent a near-finished product."
Gerkken pinched it with two fingers. The turtle wriggled belly-up.
"See? Here's the circuit."
Kanya handed the scroll. Gerkken set the turtle down and unrolled it.
"..."
He skimmed from start to end.
Nod worthy, indeed.
Understood Kanya's frenzy completely.
Too perfect for a submission circuit.
Components, circuits, mana core—all flawlessly detailed. Ready as a full patent.
"A genius submitting to Balman on purpose?"
Gerkken wondered.
Scavenger submitters were usually curt, concept-less. Especially to mid-smalls like Balman.
Most sent 2/10, expecting companies to finish 8/10—like thugs. Not this one.
Full 10/10...
Or even 11.
"You bastard. Even when you talk. Means Balman's prospects are that bright. Our family's old glory ain't fully dead."
Kanya thumped her chest.
"Anyway, this eats three water buffalo corpses on a mana stone fingernail's worth? Patent and sell it now. Gonna contact this 'Dare' guy right away."
Dare. Gerkken checked the scroll corner closely.
Dale.
"...Dale. Not Dare."
"Hey. These turtles are sneaky fast, huh?"
Ignoring him, Kanya pulled another from her work clothes pocket.
"Look. Hey turtle, walk."
She set two side-by-side on the floor, squatted to watch a turtle race. Gerkken passed her into the workshop.
Her research, development, invention space: crammed with reagents, mana stones, books. One corner had a cramped bed-room.
Workshop-factory-home connected. Dismal conditions.
Kanya lived here.
"..."
Gerkken silently scanned her 'home'.
Withered bed and desk only furniture. But on the desk, a special fluid glowed in a tank-like glass—
"Worried?"
Kanya approached from behind.
"Almost done. Just waiting to wake."
That glowing organism: augmented intelligence beyond AI.
Theoretically resurrecting the dead by preserving and condensing souls, recreating past personalities.
"Wait a bit longer, and I'll reclaim it all. Everything those damn Hilton bastards stole."
Gerkken said nothing.
"...You're looking forward to it too, right? Gerkken."
He left the workshop wordlessly. Bowed to Diesel Elder in the factory.
"Elder Diesel. I'll be off."
"Yeah. Good seeing you. Don't take the loss too hard. Actually a blessing."
As he turned to leave, Kanya grabbed him.
"Hey! Gelken!"
Kanya grinned bright, thumbs-up.
"Some evaluation exam, right? Do great! And don't sweat the sword embarrassment! You sucked, Sion Askal was just good!"
"..."
Comfort or mockery.
Gerkken left the company. Headed straight to the train station.
Past mingled in each step.
Kanya and Gerkken grew up together as kids.
No—Widred family took him in. Like siblings from age five.
Widreds were Trick City top tycoons then. Now fallen. Kanya plunged from peak to pit.
Even in wealth-volatile Trick City, that tragedy lingered in memory.
Kanya seemed to cope now, but it was just clinging hope.
That she'd reclaim what was taken.
But she didn't know.
Even maxing her genius, old Widred glory was forever lost.
Because...
—Gerkken. A favor.
An old voice whispered in his ear.
—This tech is a disaster. So please...
Her late father's words.
His will.
—...Destroy it with your hands. Without hurting Kanya.
Widred patriarch asked him.
To smash the family's last legacy, the 'soul' Kanya nurtured devotedly.
Gerkken would gladly do it.
Friday. Evaluation main exam day, some nameless island northeast Edshila.
All seniors in College Board process lined before an 'entrance.' A 5-6m portal shimmered ahead.
Gathered at docks early morning, took boats, and...
I came to here somehow.
—For the next 72 hours, the College Board Q1 evaluation main exam begins.
Behind, university association staff announced via speakers from the port.
—Today's exam: 'Labyrinth Entry.'
Labyrinth.
Portal size gave it away somewhat.
—You'll enter the labyrinth now. All start same entrance, traverse as deep as possible in 72 hours.
Labyrinths were dungeon variants. So [Dungeon System] would activate.
I tapped my wrist.
Dungeon System was smart and broad: register once, auto-activate/login near influence.
—Supply backpacks now. For fairness, no items except packs, but in-labyrinth crafting allowed.
Thousands of backpacks floated down to individuals.
—Thus, from now—exact noon Friday—to noon Monday, 72 hours. Evaluation Exam: Labyrinth Entry begins.
Some rushed in at the announcement. Most waited outside, eyeing parties—
Suddenly.
[News: A Rune Crystal has been discovered in the labyrinth, site of the College Board evaluation exam.]
"Eek!"
A needle-prick stung my ear. But my face lit up.
This triggered future memory words—aural recall: Rune Crystal.
"Jackpot."
A massive item, mouth-watering, maybe bigger than the exam...
But someone kept blocking my view. Hair swishing deliberately, tiptoeing to obstruct.
I looked over.
Elise's profile. Staring somewhere beside me.
"What're you doing?"
She creaked her head toward me.
"Oh. There you are."
"...Yeah."
"You. Party. Formed?"
Her speech felt off. Robot in Elise skin?
"No."
"...Wanna, together? I got tons of labyrinth experience. Team play too—"
"Crazy? With you?"
"..."
Elise bit her lip.
"Go play with your friends."
I nodded toward Kain, Esher, Rae. Suited her.
"..."
Elise glared wordlessly. Dissatisfied? Words unsaid? Pouty? Then turned heel, click-clack away.
"Rune Crystal, Rune Crystal..."
I closed my eyes. Dug for every scrap of Rune Crystal memory.