Chapter 206: Instant (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 206: Instant (2)
"It's been a while, Miss Rainwales."
Upon receiving a call from the city through the mana crystal, Amelia found herself tilting her head. This was not the familiar voice of the castellan. "...The alchemist?"
"Haha, it's an honor that you recognize my voice."
"...How are you able to use this communication network?"
"I asked the lord. I have a favor to ask of you, and I wanted to ask myself. Isn't that better for both of us? This way we can hear each other's voices too."
"I see." She got it now. The alchemist was more important in Noark than even the castellan. If he requested something, the lord had to listen. Amelia hurriedly got to the point. "So, what's the favor you want to ask?"
"Oh, it's nothing big. But besides that, how are you?"
"...You know that question isn't a good one to ask someone like me."
"Still haven't shaken it off?"
Amelia kept her mouth shut and avoided answering. Having known her since she was young, he was one of the few people who knew her backstory.
"Miss Rainwales, I have my guesses as to why you accepted this mission. But you must let go of that now. Your sister would not want you to take revenge—"
"Enough." Amelia cut him off coldly. "Stop talking about that and get to the point." Those left behind had their own work to do. She didn't want anyone to interfere with that, even this old man.
"...All right. Then I'll get to my business."
Afterward, the alchemist recited a few items he needed and Amelia recorded them on a piece of paper so she wouldn't forget. Most of them were alchemical ingredients like magic reagents—nothing special but things hard to come by with the city in lockdown.
"How long will it take to get them all?"
"A few days is enough."
"Is that so? Then can you get me just the sleeping flower powder a little earlier?"
"I can send you that right now."
"Oh, do you have some?"
"You already know I do." Sleeping flower powder had the same effects as a sleeping pill. Although it wasn't that strong, she often used it because it had the ability to bypass poison tolerance, not for the enemy, but for oneself. "I'll put it in sub-space once this call is over."
"Haha, then I guess today's business is already done?" The old man laughed, but his voice sounded somewhat downcast.
Just as she was about to end the transmission, Amelia stopped when a question suddenly popped into her head. "But... what do you need the sleeping flower powder for?"
Amelia felt awkward even as she asked that. It was a question she wouldn't have normally asked. She rarely asked questions of others first, especially out of simple curiosity. However... Something was different today. She felt like she was missing something important.
"There are no alchemical formulas that require sleeping flower powder," she said.
"Oh, that?" Before long, the old man's voice came through the crystal ball. "The Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos. I'm going to use it to treat him. Oh, not in the medicine itself, but because it'll be more convenient to put him to sleep first."
"Did you come up with a way to return his memory?"
"No, but I'm going to treat his damaged body first. As you know, we need all the firepower we can get."
"I see." Amelia involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. As long as his memories didn't come back, whether he recovered or not wouldn't matter to her.
"Haha, but once his body recovers, I plan to restore his memories too."
Amelia stiffened.
"It's just that the method for doing so is so intense that it'll be too much on his body right now. And since the sample size is so small, the success rate is only about half right now."
A 50 percent success rate—too big a possibility to leave to chance. However, that wasn't a huge issue. Everything would be fine as long as his body didn't recover.
"I see."
After that, Amelia cut off the transmission. As promised, she put the sleeping flower powder in the two-way sub-space... after applying a poison that destroyed living tissue on top of it.
***
The second vine had been torn off. It had been quiet for a while, which had put my mind at ease.
What the hell is that bastard up to?
Unease started to creep in. I wasn't ready to face him yet. Although I'd grown in many areas, it was only to the extent that I'd gone from a fourth-floor adventurer to a fifth-floor adventurer. To think there was only one vine left now...
The sixth floor. I have to get to the sixth floor as soon as possible.
On the sixth floor, there was a chance I would be able to absorb a specific essence, my second core essence following Giantization. If only I could somehow beat that—
"Mister!"
"Huh?"
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
The sound of Erwen's voice jarred me from my thoughts. Was it because the recent bout of peace had lasted so long? It wasn't like the last vine had broken off, yet anxious imaginings kept cropping up and cluttering my head.
"I'm sorry. What were we talking about?"
"We weren't... I was asking you what we should order."
"Oh, right." Reading through the menu, I ordered a suitable snack and beer.
"But this place hasn't changed a bit," Erwen said while watching the worker leave after taking our order. I didn't have to ask to know exactly what she was talking about. "Even though we've changed so much."
The tavern was called Fidenpus, the same one where Erwen and I had had our return drink after completing our first-ever quest. That was why we couldn't help this strange feeling of nostalgia. The barbarian who had once had a hell of a time on the first floor because he didn't have a night companion was now a fairly well-known adventurer in the city. But I wasn't the only one who had gained notoriety—Erwen had also grown tremendously by the time she reached her first full year. You just had to look at her equipment for proof.
"This is our first time having drinks since a few months ago, right?"
"Ah, when you paid your taxes for the first year?"
For reference, that had been just after I moved. As I was trying to decide where to meet today, I had chosen this place for that reason. Missha obviously wouldn't like it if I invited her home. Since our home was a space shared by three people now, I couldn't just do whatever I wanted.
"Did anything happen during this expedition?"
"...Yes, well. Same as always."
Once the drinks and platters came out, we started talking in earnest. The main topic of conversation was what was going on in each other's lives. Now that I had fewer meetings with the girl who used to come over every day, we didn't have anything to talk about other than this.
"I see." Amelia involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. As long as his memories didn't come back, whether he recovered or not wouldn't matter to her.
"Haha, but once his body recovers, I plan to restore his memories too."
Amelia stiffened.
"It's just that the method for doing so is so intense that it'll be too much on his body right now. And since the sample size is so small, the success rate is only about half right now."
A 50 percent success rate—too big a possibility to leave to chance. However, that wasn't a huge issue. Everything would be fine as long as his body didn't recover.
"I see."
After that, Amelia cut off the transmission. As promised, she put the sleeping flower powder in the two-way sub-space... after applying a poison that destroyed living tissue on top of it.
***
The second vine had been torn off. It had been quiet for a while, which had put my mind at ease.
What the hell is that bastard up to?
Unease started to creep in. I wasn't ready to face him yet. Although I'd grown in many areas, it was only to the extent that I'd gone from a fourth-floor adventurer to a fifth-floor adventurer. To think there was only one vine left now...
The sixth floor. I have to get to the sixth floor as soon as possible.
On the sixth floor, there was a chance I would be able to absorb a specific essence, my second core essence following Giantization. If only I could somehow beat that—
"Mister!"
"Huh?"
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
The sound of Erwen's voice jarred me from my thoughts. Was it because the recent bout of peace had lasted so long? It wasn't like the last vine had broken off, yet anxious imaginings kept cropping up and cluttering my head.
"I'm sorry. What were we talking about?"
"We weren't... I was asking you what we should order."
"Oh, right." Reading through the menu, I ordered a suitable snack and beer.
"But this place hasn't changed a bit," Erwen said while watching the worker leave after taking our order. I didn't have to ask to know exactly what she was talking about. "Even though we've changed so much."
The tavern was called Fidenpus, the same one where Erwen and I had had our return drink after completing our first-ever quest. That was why we couldn't help this strange feeling of nostalgia. The barbarian who had once had a hell of a time on the first floor because he didn't have a night companion was now a fairly well-known adventurer in the city. But I wasn't the only one who had gained notoriety—Erwen had also grown tremendously by the time she reached her first full year. You just had to look at her equipment for proof.
"This is our first time having drinks since a few months ago, right?"
"Ah, when you paid your taxes for the first year?"
For reference, that had been just after I moved. As I was trying to decide where to meet today, I had chosen this place for that reason. Missha obviously wouldn't like it if I invited her home. Since our home was a space shared by three people now, I couldn't just do whatever I wanted.
"Did anything happen during this expedition?"
"...Yes, well. Same as always."
Once the drinks and platters came out, we started talking in earnest. The main topic of conversation was what was going on in each other's lives. Now that I had fewer meetings with the girl who used to come over every day, we didn't have anything to talk about other than this.
"How is the vibe in your clan? I'm curious. Any news?"
"I'm not sure. Even if there is, they don't tell us anything..."
After serving as mercenaries for an acquaintance's clan, Erwen and her sister resumed their exploration of the labyrinth with other members of the clan. They were active on the fifth floor too, but since our team only hunted in Hellfire Gorge, we hadn't run into each other in the labyrinth yet.
"Anyway, I'm frustrated out of my mind. I mentioned this before, right? There is someone who keeps flirting with my sister. Now he's even coming onto me."
"Sounds annoying."
"Yeah, and it's not like I can plant an arrow between his brows since he's executive level... I guess I just have to be patient. Until I get everything I need and leave."
The more we talked, the more I realized how much she had changed. It had been a little over a year since she became an adventurer, and unlike back then, she was no longer innocent. In a way, that made sense. One year in the labyrinth was enough time to see all kinds of things.
"Anyway, you said you had something to tell me?" Figuring that the time was ripe, I brought up the main reason we were meeting today.
"Oh, that..." After a moment's pause, Erwen parted her lips. "Do you remember? When I said I had a lot left to learn from my sister..."
"I remember." She told me that she would absorb everything like a sponge for half a year and then come join my team. Well, it had already been more than half a year since then, but I never brought it up first. Not only were there no empty slots on our team... "Since you haven't said anything since then, I thought you changed your mind."
I had thought that conversation was pretty much over. But was that not the case?
Erwen vehemently denied it. "H-Hey, what are you talking about? There's no way. We were each other's first-night companions!"
Technically, my first-night companion was Hans A, and hers was Harts Young or whatever his name was.
"So, what do you want to say?"
"I... think it will take some more time."
"What do you mean?"
"Y-You're all rank five, right? As of right now, there is no room for me to squeeze in... To be honest, it almost feels like there's no hope. W-Well, you even l-live together now..."
"What are you saying? Stop mumbling and speak up."
At my words, Erwen gulped down the rest of her drink. "I regret it. Back then... why didn't I just accept your offer? I thought I could close the gap quickly, but it's only getting wider..."
Those words were more of a lament than an actual statement, but I thought I knew what she was trying to say. She wanted to join our team, but didn't want to ask me to remove someone. It wasn't like her specs were better than those of the current members, either. Hmm, still, it seemed she hadn't changed her mind.
"Anyway. So, what I want to say is..."
"Enough." I stopped her there. First of all, there was a misunderstanding that needed to be cleared up. "I had no intention of putting you on my team from the beginning."
"...Pardon?" Erwen went momentarily still. It took a while for her eyes, which were staring blankly out into space, to focus enough for her to shoot me a baffled look. "W-What do you mean? You never mentioned anything like that back then. I-I thought it was guaranteed..." Erwen's eyes bounced around, unable to settle on one place, almost like her mind was short-circuiting.
Whoops, that was not what I meant. I cut her off before the misunderstanding could grow any worse. "Erwen, I'm going to form a clan."
"C-Clan?!"
"Not now, of course—it will take a few more months. But if that's still okay with you, I want you to—"
"Yes! I want to join!" The answer came before I even finished speaking.
"No, first I should explain in more detail—"
"It's okay! I'm joining anyway!"
"...If you say so. Anyway, this is a secret. I haven't told anyone in my team yet."
"Uh, so I'm the first one you're asking...?"
I cocked my head. "Yes, of course you are." I hadn't even told them I was making a clan, so how could I have asked? Considering our relationship, I didn't even have to ask Missha and Ainar. As a member of the Magic Tower, Raven would probably refuse. And Mr. Bear I wasn't sure about.
He seems to have a bad history with clans.
As I was thinking this, Erwen let out a strange burst of laughter. "Hehe, hehehe!"
***
My drinking team with Erwen, which started early in the evening, lasted longer than expected. Originally, my plan was just to hear out why she asked to see me, listen to some news, and part ways.
"What? The clan master is bald?"
"Yeah, I'm telling you. You have no idea how hard it was for me to hold back laughter when his wig came off during the hunt."
The conversation with Erwen was more fun than usual. Was it because I was drinking for the first time in a while? I didn't know why something so trivial was so funny to me.
Oh, the others will be waiting for me at home...
The thought occurred to me a few times, but each time it did, Erwen brought up an amusing story so I couldn't find the right time to slip away. Still, it was time to go back now.
"Um, we should—"
"Oh, right!"
"Huh?"
"Did I mention that I absorbed a new essence this time?"
What? She got a new essence? I couldn't just ignore that.
"It's a very unique ability. It suits me too."
"Stop stalling and tell me. What did you get?" I straightened my back and refocused on what Erwen was saying.
To start with, it was rank five. As it was an essence recommended to her by her veteran sister, it was a very compatible one for an elven archer like her.
She won't have to erase this one later.
Already planning to map out a cultivation route for Erwen once I got back, I asked all kinds of questions about her newly acquired essence.
"Wow, Mister, did you know your eyes just got really bright?"
That was a given. Regardless of what happened, I used to be a player who had been more in love with this game than anyone else.
"It's an essence people say is super unique. Of course I'm curious how it works in real life."
"Still, I am at a loss as to how to explain it. It's not like I can show it to you..."
Hmm, that was true. I was about to nod in agreement when—
"Um, actually, about that..." Erwen trailed off and glanced at me. A red tinge lingered on her face, probably because she was tipsy. "Do you want to see my special ability upstairs quick?"
...What should I do?
"How is the vibe in your clan? I'm curious. Any news?"
"I'm not sure. Even if there is, they don't tell us anything..."
After serving as mercenaries for an acquaintance's clan, Erwen and her sister resumed their exploration of the labyrinth with other members of the clan. They were active on the fifth floor too, but since our team only hunted in Hellfire Gorge, we hadn't run into each other in the labyrinth yet.
"Anyway, I'm frustrated out of my mind. I mentioned this before, right? There is someone who keeps flirting with my sister. Now he's even coming onto me."
"Sounds annoying."
"Yeah, and it's not like I can plant an arrow between his brows since he's executive level... I guess I just have to be patient. Until I get everything I need and leave."
The more we talked, the more I realized how much she had changed. It had been a little over a year since she became an adventurer, and unlike back then, she was no longer innocent. In a way, that made sense. One year in the labyrinth was enough time to see all kinds of things.
"Anyway, you said you had something to tell me?" Figuring that the time was ripe, I brought up the main reason we were meeting today.
"Oh, that..." After a moment's pause, Erwen parted her lips. "Do you remember? When I said I had a lot left to learn from my sister..."
"I remember." She told me that she would absorb everything like a sponge for half a year and then come join my team. Well, it had already been more than half a year since then, but I never brought it up first. Not only were there no empty slots on our team... "Since you haven't said anything since then, I thought you changed your mind."
I had thought that conversation was pretty much over. But was that not the case?
Erwen vehemently denied it. "H-Hey, what are you talking about? There's no way. We were each other's first-night companions!"
Technically, my first-night companion was Hans A, and hers was Harts Young or whatever his name was.
"So, what do you want to say?"
"I... think it will take some more time."
"What do you mean?"
"Y-You're all rank five, right? As of right now, there is no room for me to squeeze in... To be honest, it almost feels like there's no hope. W-Well, you even l-live together now..."
"What are you saying? Stop mumbling and speak up."
At my words, Erwen gulped down the rest of her drink. "I regret it. Back then... why didn't I just accept your offer? I thought I could close the gap quickly, but it's only getting wider..."
Those words were more of a lament than an actual statement, but I thought I knew what she was trying to say. She wanted to join our team, but didn't want to ask me to remove someone. It wasn't like her specs were better than those of the current members, either. Hmm, still, it seemed she hadn't changed her mind.
"Anyway. So, what I want to say is..."
"Enough." I stopped her there. First of all, there was a misunderstanding that needed to be cleared up. "I had no intention of putting you on my team from the beginning."
"...Pardon?" Erwen went momentarily still. It took a while for her eyes, which were staring blankly out into space, to focus enough for her to shoot me a baffled look. "W-What do you mean? You never mentioned anything like that back then. I-I thought it was guaranteed..." Erwen's eyes bounced around, unable to settle on one place, almost like her mind was short-circuiting.
Whoops, that was not what I meant. I cut her off before the misunderstanding could grow any worse. "Erwen, I'm going to form a clan."
"C-Clan?!"
"Not now, of course—it will take a few more months. But if that's still okay with you, I want you to—"
"Yes! I want to join!" The answer came before I even finished speaking.
"No, first I should explain in more detail—"
"It's okay! I'm joining anyway!"
"...If you say so. Anyway, this is a secret. I haven't told anyone in my team yet."
"Uh, so I'm the first one you're asking...?"
I cocked my head. "Yes, of course you are." I hadn't even told them I was making a clan, so how could I have asked? Considering our relationship, I didn't even have to ask Missha and Ainar. As a member of the Magic Tower, Raven would probably refuse. And Mr. Bear I wasn't sure about.
He seems to have a bad history with clans.
As I was thinking this, Erwen let out a strange burst of laughter. "Hehe, hehehe!"
***
My drinking team with Erwen, which started early in the evening, lasted longer than expected. Originally, my plan was just to hear out why she asked to see me, listen to some news, and part ways.
"What? The clan master is bald?"
"Yeah, I'm telling you. You have no idea how hard it was for me to hold back laughter when his wig came off during the hunt."
The conversation with Erwen was more fun than usual. Was it because I was drinking for the first time in a while? I didn't know why something so trivial was so funny to me.
Oh, the others will be waiting for me at home...
The thought occurred to me a few times, but each time it did, Erwen brought up an amusing story so I couldn't find the right time to slip away. Still, it was time to go back now.
"Um, we should—"
"Oh, right!"
"Huh?"
"Did I mention that I absorbed a new essence this time?"
What? She got a new essence? I couldn't just ignore that.
"It's a very unique ability. It suits me too."
"Stop stalling and tell me. What did you get?" I straightened my back and refocused on what Erwen was saying.
To start with, it was rank five. As it was an essence recommended to her by her veteran sister, it was a very compatible one for an elven archer like her.
She won't have to erase this one later.
Already planning to map out a cultivation route for Erwen once I got back, I asked all kinds of questions about her newly acquired essence.
"Wow, Mister, did you know your eyes just got really bright?"
That was a given. Regardless of what happened, I used to be a player who had been more in love with this game than anyone else.
"It's an essence people say is super unique. Of course I'm curious how it works in real life."
"Still, I am at a loss as to how to explain it. It's not like I can show it to you..."
Hmm, that was true. I was about to nod in agreement when—
"Um, actually, about that..." Erwen trailed off and glanced at me. A red tinge lingered on her face, probably because she was tipsy. "Do you want to see my special ability upstairs quick?"
...What should I do?