Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Note (2)
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Girtas finished his story and returned to the guard post with light footsteps.
The clue to the wish he'd long sought seemed finally within his grasp.
"Girtas. Back already?"
Upon arriving at the guard post, elder Gehan greeted him.
"Ah, Gehan. Hear me out."
Girtas excitedly continued.
"That kid seems to know something. Do you know his reaction when I showed him the note?"
Girtas relayed everything he'd seen and felt to Gehan.
He clearly knew something, so now it was just a matter of gently coaxing it out.
However, Gehan's reaction was different.
"So... it wasn't this time either?"
"No, no, Gehan. This time it's certain! That kid definitely knows something!"
"Girtas. Hand over the note now. The elders' meeting just passed the agenda."
"...... What meeting was held while I was gone?"
Gehan smiled and handed Girtas a single resolution stamped with the elders' seal.
【 Resolution 7. Cooperate with the Magic Tower on interpreting the note. The Magic Tower donates development funds to the guards. 】
"One note fetches a donation of 5,000 gold coins. Empire gold, no less. Not the kingdom's, which has been so controversial lately."
Gehan extended his hand.
"Hand over the note. It's quite valuable."
"Gehan! Wasn't this rejected last time too? We haven't even determined the note's value yet!"
"What does it matter? This is far more effective than your approach."
Gehan tucked the resolution into his bosom and continued.
"Girtas. Still dissatisfied? We brought in the witch at your insistence. We explored floors 4 and 5 where the note was found, as you wished. And today was the same. Did intimidating that kid get us anything?"
"... This time feels different. I swear."
"No."
Gehan shook his head.
A look of pity gazed down at Girtas.
"Bringing in that witch has ruined the guards' reputation. Didn't she say as much? Shattering the soul and stuffing it into a doll doesn't grant eternal immortality. When your original body reaches death's door, that's the end."
"No, what I want isn't immortality..."
"I know. You want to wield your old swordsmanship again... Wasn't that it? And aren't you doing just that through the witch's doll?"
Girtas shook his head.
Controlling the doll was certainly a novel experience.
But a doll was just a doll. The swordsmanship wasn't as fluid as he desired, and its power fell short.
"It's nothing but a pathetic toy. I want my youth back."
"Girtas, you foolish old friend."
Gehan's lips twisted.
He sighed as if Girtas were pathetic and pressed on.
"Still don't understand? Time is equal for all, and irreversible. The era when you dominated the continent has long ended."
Gehan let out a sneer.
"Those records supposedly left by the previous Labyrinth Lord? All ravings from dungeon-maddened lunatics. People lost to insanity, unable to tell reality from delusion."
Gehan placed a hand on Girtas's shoulder.
"Where did those lords who boasted of transcending lifespan vanish to? If they truly transcended, why don't they appear before those desperately searching for them?"
Gehan opened his palm toward Girtas, as if demanding an answer.
After a brief wait, he continued as if he'd expected silence.
"That's enough. Our role ends here. Sending it to the Magic Tower beats wasting more time, doesn't it?"
"... Gehan. This isn't mutual cooperation—it's a sale. Accepting development funds means we lose any claim to rights later."
Gehan merely sneered at Girtas's plea.
"What does it matter? Consider your age. We're past 70. Death may come before we crack any code."
"... So you're blinded by gold scraps and selling it to the Magic Tower?"
"Don't you grasp the value of 5,000 gold? Enough to build a mansion in the capital."
Gehan's tongue flicked out greedily.
Girtas spoke in disgust at the sight.
"Wasn't exploiting the labyrinth's people and squeezing massive taxes from the guilds enough for you?"
"It's all for the city. And you went along with it."
"No."
Girtas shoved Gehan's hand off his shoulder.
"I'll end my time with the guards here. That's enough for me."
"... Leave without surrendering the note, and you'll regret it."
"It was mine from the start."
Girtas continued calmly.
"I'll find what's left of mine on my own."
---
I'd deliberately cut the conversation after seeing the Hangul note Girtas handed me.
I'd subtly hinted that I could read it, so if I waited, he'd come to me first.
He was the desperate one, after all.
I threw myself onto the bed and recalled the note's contents.
『 The Door of Transcendence exists between the dungeon's twists. 』
Transcendence. Dungeon's twists.
They could only point to one thing.
But... if someone who knew this existed in this world...
"Another transmigrator?"
If there was someone like me, transmigrated into the game.
Then they could leave a note like this.
But... that made it even stranger.
Could someone with that level of knowledge truly hide without leaving any trace?
"Should I ask Bess?"
She'd be well-versed in kingdom and empire affairs.
I headed straight for the Rockhart Merchant Association's city branch where she was.
She was resting, so I spoke up immediately.
"A person? Who?"
"Anyone. Any standout figures lately? Or someone unusual."
"There is one."
Bess continued as if wondering why I'd even ask.
"You. Came to hear that, huh?"
"... I want to hear about the kingdom or empire."
"Well, most recent would be... the Ghost Princess? Word is a subjugation force is forming soon."
"......"
"Why? Spit it out if you have something to say."
"No."
Even the Ghost Princess, supposedly the most recent, was over three years old.
Nothing special had happened there, apparently.
I asked Bess about events a transmigrator would surely have caused, but...
"A coin? What's that?"
"Permafrost spirits? You don't even know what permafrost is? You'd freeze solid in two steps."
"A temple uncovered in the desert? Who'd even live there?"
She knew nothing of them.
I asked around other guild members just in case, but the results were the same.
"Mage. I get wanting praise at your age, but you need to show some restraint."
"Appraiser... Now that I look, you seem surprisingly young..."
I'd only ended up embarrassing myself.
... This couldn't be right.
Considering the Shadow Alliance's reach under Bess, acting so covertly they'd miss it was impossible.
So... there were no transmigrators on this continent, at least.
"... What the hell was it, then?"
I shook my head lightly to clear my thoughts.
If it were a threat, Bess would've known.
Feeling a bit relieved, I wandered the bustling streets to buy some food, then used a return scroll.
And then.
"......"
A woman in pure white stood before my mansion.
Shia von Lunaria.
Dawn Guild Master and Labyrinth Lord.
"...... Hello."
She spoke expressionlessly upon spotting me.
I gave a light bow in greeting and opened the mansion door.
She didn't say a word as I entered.
She simply stared at the mansion.
More precisely, her gaze was fixed on the backyard where my spirit resided.
"... Not climbing the dungeon?"
"...... Vacation."
Then stay at Dawn Guild—why here...
Catching my look, Shia added one more thing.
"You're scared of me."
... Ah.
Couldn't turn her away after that.
I opened the door wider and gestured for her to enter.
Shia blinked at the gap before slipping quietly inside.
We headed to the backyard, just like last time.
- …….
"......"
Undine, now somewhat accustomed, shared a brief communion with Shia before diving back into the pond.
Shia sat quietly, watching.
Silence stretched on.
"I have one question."
"?"
I asked Shia about happenings in the dungeon.
Hoping to glean something about other transmigrators.
But.
"... Don't know."
As expected—no one pulling ahead. Shia simply shook her head at my question.
The current Labyrinth Lords numbered four, just as I knew.
"What about previous Labyrinth Lords? Anyone besides, say... Pruhaym?"
"Three."
That matched too.
Three were scheduled for updates, no changes.
So... it was safest to assume no transmigrators.
There wouldn't be zero traces otherwise.
Finally, I asked if she'd noticed any unusual figures lately.
"There is."
"... Really?"
"Yeah. You."
Shia pointed at me, expression blank.
"......"
"What's up?"
"... Nothing."
None, then.
I scooped up Undine and stroked her as I rested.
Shia watched for a long while before leaving as dusk fell.
"... Thanks."
I saw her off and collapsed onto the bed.
【 Auction 】
― 8 days until start.
About eight days until the next auction.
Best to avoid risky moves in the meantime.
I drifted off to sleep.