Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: The Magic Tower Genius Descends into the Labyrinth
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Click!
Cherentia launched herself toward the source of the sound in a single bound, while Sylbian dispelled the magic he had been manifesting and narrowed his eyes.
"Sera. Is there any reason someone other than you would come looking for this place?"
"No. There's absolutely no reason for anyone else to find this spot. Who on earth could have..."
She couldn't comprehend it either.
This space was the gathering spot for the Haksen party's members.
No other outsiders had ever entered it, at least not in her memory.
Soon, Sylbian and Sera headed toward the entrance as well.
There, they came face-to-face with Cherentia, who was shaking her head.
"I tried to give chase, but there wasn't a single trace to follow. It was like they vanished into thin air."
"Vanished into thin air?"
"That's right. But it's clear someone was here."
At Cherentia's calm response, Sylbian scanned their surroundings once more.
The rundown alley was dim, with little sunlight penetrating it.
Above all, this was the city's outskirts, a place devoid of any foot traffic.
And yet, someone had shown up right at that moment.
It felt almost like...
"...They were tailing us."
His heart sank. Circumstantially, there was no other explanation.
Even if someone besides Sera knew about this place, the timing was far too coincidental.
"Sylbian. What should we do?"
"We should get out of these outskirts first. A deserted area like this would be perfect for anyone looking to try something."
As he spoke, Sylbian suddenly took note of Sera.
She hadn't shaken off her bewilderment, her shock, or—above all—her anxiety over the sudden turn of events.
'We were planning to head to the adventurer's guild together anyway.'
Sylbian made his decision swiftly.
"Sera, stick with us for the time being."
"Ah, thank you."
"We were going to the guild anyway. No need to thank me."
Cherentia let out a silent chuckle at Sylbian's feigned nonchalance.
His actions and demeanor pleased her more than she'd expected.
Thud...!
Just then, as they left the outskirts together and headed toward the city center...
A presence that had been concealing itself in the shadows of the alley slowly revealed its form.
"Hm..."
Bardun had trailed them earlier out of concern for Sera's safety.
What he witnessed, though, was her walking alongside someone he hadn't anticipated in the slightest: Sylbian Blanc.
When the man once hailed as the Western Magic Tower's genius unleashed his magic despite bearing a stigma, even Bardun couldn't hide his astonishment.
"Well, not bad at all."
With a casual step forward, his figure melted away into space like mist.
"The ill-fated mage exiled from the Western Magic Tower..."
Sylbian's exploits were so bizarre that Bardun had heard the tales himself.
A mage treading a path of smooth success had botched a massive mana experiment beyond repair, shouldered the full blame, and ended up stigmatized.
No one could make sense of it.
Mages and their eccentricities were common knowledge among hardened veterans.
And as a mage himself, he should have understood them better than anyone.
Yet he'd rebelled anyway, putting himself at odds with the tower.
Word was, the Western Magic Tower still regretted casting him out.
They would have shielded a talent like his by any means, had he not broken their sacred code.
"Whatever the story, it's not a bad development."
From the looks of things, the man seemed intent on helping Sera.
Moreover, Bardun had confirmed that Sylbian Blanc's group was the one that subjugated the cursed gremlin.
Events were starting to stack up, one after another.
Just like the major intel he'd recently acquired on the labyrinth.
Thud!
With a light step forward, his figure melted away into space like mist.
Clink!
The gold coins placed on the reception counter scattered a dazzling light, as if bewitching everyone who beheld them.
Even Sylbian's gaze wavered for a moment as he stared at them.
"...So this is the bounty?"
"Yes, we verified the corpse at the alchemy workshop yesterday. The guild has issued instructions to pay the bounty to you, Sir Sylbian. Congratulations."
The guild receptionist eyed him with undisguised envy, prompting Sylbian to reach out and claim the coins.
Grab!
As he pocketed them, the corner of his mouth twitched upward involuntarily.
'Who'd have thought they'd offer a gold coin bounty.'
Was luck supposed to pile up this high?
Just days ago, he'd scored a hefty eighty silver coins from selling off those monster corpses.
Now gold coins on top? He couldn't be happier.
"Sylbian!"
Cherentia called out to him, clearly stunned by the gold, and he met her eyes with a chuckle.
"You can look forward to a nice dinner tonight."
"Tonight, we're stuffing ourselves silly!"
"...No, I wasn't planning to go that far."
Surprisingly, Cherentia left all financial matters entirely in Sylbian's hands.
She trusted that he, as a mage, would handle the money more wisely than she could.
"Congratulations, Sir Sylbian."
Even Sera, who had accompanied them to the guild, couldn't conceal her amazement.
She'd been an adventurer for years, but gold-coin bounties were rare enough to count on one hand.
And for just two people—not even a full party—to claim one? It was downright enviable.
"Thanks. So, Sera—who exactly are you introducing us to in the guild?"
"Ah, we'll see once we head up to the upper floors. I have permission to access them."
Sylbian nodded faintly at her response.
They ascended the stairs to the upper levels without a hitch, drawing wide-eyed stares from every adventurer in the guild.
"What? Someone cashed in a gold coin bounty?"
"Mages will be mages, huh..."
Sera glanced back at Sylbian amid the envious murmurs.
The shock of witnessing his magic firsthand hadn't fully worn off.
Above all, he looked different to her now.
'He really cast a spell.'
It was the moment her suspicions turned to irrefutable truth.
And she'd felt, deep in her bones, just how extraordinary a mage truly was.
How long had they been climbing those guild stairs by then? Enough that Sylbian started wondering as he eyed Sera.
'Just how high are we going?'
He'd figured "upper floors" meant meeting some mid-level contact.
But they kept going, higher and higher—nearly to the guild's top floor.
"Right here. He was out a few days ago, but I heard he's in today, so we should be able to meet."
"...Hold on, Sera. You have a connection to the Guild Master?"
"Sera, you're even more impressive than we thought!"
-The head of the Adventurer's Guild.
They knew all too well what an exalted position that was.
"No, it's not me directly—my father knows him."
Sera gave an awkward smile before cautiously addressing the adventurer guarding the door.
Moments later, they were granted entry.
Click.
The sound of a teacup being set down echoed unusually loudly.
A guild receptionist bowed politely and excused themselves from the room.
The man seated at the head of the table then broke into a kindly smile.
"Sera, I heard some unfortunate news while I was away. Still, you must pull yourself together."
"...Yes, Uncle Bardun. I'm really trying my best."
Sylbian found himself blinking in surprise at their familiar exchange.
This was a heavyweight.
An unexpected heavyweight, no less.
Perhaps that's why a cold sweat prickled his palms unbidden.
He'd never felt tense in anyone's presence before.
As a mage, he had no reason to cower before anyone.
But this was different.
"Right—the adventurers Sylbian and Cherentia."
Bardun shifted his gaze from Sera, taking them in.
His heavy, solemn eyes carried a crushing weight that bore down on anyone who met them.
"...Yes. Sylbian Blanc."
For the first time, Sylbian addressed someone with polite speech.
The Guild Master's position demanded that much respect.
"Silver-grade adventurer Cherentia!"
Cherentia replied with bright enthusiasm, drawing a soft chuckle from Bardun.
"A mage and a beastkin—now that's a rare pairing. So, what brings you to me alongside Sera?"
Sera shot Sylbian a sidelong glance at the man's serious question.
She'd only heard vaguely that they wanted the guild's help.
Mindful of their stares, Sylbian spoke up carefully.
"We're here for information on the labyrinth."
"The labyrinth? You mean the Northern Labyrinth?"
"Yes. I'm planning to head there soon, and I'd like any details not widely known."
Bardun stroked his chin thoughtfully at the measured response.
"Hmm."
He turned to Sera.
"Uncle Bardun, you can surely share it with us."
She lent her support to Sylbian's words with quiet emphasis.
Through him, she'd managed to steady her own unsettled heart, if only a little.
And so she wanted to offer something more concrete in return.
"In that case, I suppose I have no choice. I've got experience in the labyrinth myself—even with the parts the world doesn't know about."
"Then please, tell us about it."
"We'd appreciate the help!"
Cherentia chimed in with mismatched cheer, and Sylbian gripped her arm firmly.
As she froze, Bardun let out a hearty laugh.
"The labyrinth, eh... Sylbian, let me ask you first. You plan to descend it with just the beastkin?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. I'm well aware of your reputation, but even so, I wouldn't call that a wise choice."
Bardun's piercing gaze drifted to the stigma etched on Sylbian's neck.
It was a blatant look, very much aware of Sylbian's attention.
"I know I don't possess my full power as a mage right now. Even so, I intend to go."
Sylbian answered as evenly as he could.
He didn't need to demonstrate his magic—someone of Bardun's caliber would sense his mana level anyway.
So he understood why the Guild Master deemed it reckless.
'But.'
I have to descend that labyrinth.
Inside it, I'll find a way to neutralize the tower's stigma and reclaim my original mana.
This journey is solely for that purpose.
"If your resolve is that firm, then I understand. But first, I'd like a promise from you."
"A promise?"
"One sealed by a magic oath of nondisclosure to the outside world."
Sylbian's eyes shook fiercely.
A magic oath promise.
It was tantamount to a binding taboo.
'What kind of labyrinth intel would warrant...'
A Guild Master demanding a magic oath taboo?