Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Magic Tower Genius Descends into the Labyrinth
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As we pressed on along the newly revealed path, we ran into countless monsters.
They were the typical beasts you'd hear about on the labyrinth's first floor.
- Goblins and kobolds.
Monsters that even average adventurers and mercenaries could take down without breaking a sweat, so there was no need for me to step in at all.
Kwachik! Wooduk!
Cherentia wiped them out in less than a minute.
"Good work."
I said as I looked at her returning. Cherentia lightly shook her head.
"This much is nothing."
Through her slightly swaying black hair, I caught the expression on her face that said she hadn't even warmed up yet.
'No need for her to spend time adapting to the labyrinth, then.'
She'd definitely been tense when we first entered. And when we met that demon, her tension had peaked.
But before I knew it, Cherentia and I had naturally adapted to the labyrinth.
"Should we take a short break?"
"Are you tired by any chance?"
Cherentia turned to me with a puzzled look.
It made sense for her to wonder, since she'd handled almost every monster so far.
"Just figuring we'll rest periodically. It's been nearly four hours since we entered the labyrinth."
"Ah, that's why. Got it. Let's rest a bit, then."
With that, Cherentia and I leaned against the nearby labyrinth wall and took a brief respite.
No words passed between us during that time.
"……."
"……."
It was just a rest to catch our breath and ease our tensed bodies a little.
In the meantime, I sorted through my thoughts.
'Still, we'll have to spend at least a day on the first floor of the labyrinth.'
The minimum stay in the labyrinth was one full day to begin with.
There was no way out until a full day had passed since entering.
I'd planned for our stay in this labyrinth to be 'two days.'
Spend the first day adapting on the first floor, then head down to the basement level on the second.
"Sylbian."
"Hm?"
"When do you plan on eating?"
Her sudden voice snapped me out of my reverie. I found myself looking at Cherentia without thinking.
"Already hungry?"
I couldn't believe it for a second.
How much had she stuffed herself at that restaurant yesterday?
"No, I was just curious."
I nodded after a moment, seeing her avert her gaze in embarrassment.
"Then let's eat now."
"Is that okay!?"
"The next break won't be for at least four hours."
Cherentia immediately started pulling food from her backpack.
As if she'd been waiting for my words.
"Here! Sylbian, this is your share."
"Thanks."
And just like that, our break time turned into mealtime.
As I chewed on a strip of dried meat, something suddenly caught my eye.
Salrang salrang!
It was Cherentia's tail.
It swayed like this whenever she was in a good mood.
"It doesn't taste good……."
Then her tail drooped limply, and I burst out laughing.
"That's because yesterday's food was so delicious."
"…Sylbian. I really want to go back to that restaurant."
"Can't go too often, but once we start making real money in the labyrinth, we can go plenty."
"Really!?"
Her amber eyes peeked through her neat black hair, brimming with excitement.
She must have loved that restaurant food yesterday.
"Of course. My goal is descending the labyrinth, but for most people, that's all about the money."
The rare artifacts, treasures, and items that defied common sense from the labyrinth fetched top prices.
That's why adventurers, mercenaries, and even retired knights flocked here.
"I'll make a fortune for sure!"
As her spirited voice rang out, my gaze suddenly fixed on a spot ahead.
The path opened by breaking through the wall branched into several routes.
Some were dead ends, others required backtracking.
And in one corner now in my view…
"Sylbian. Someone's approaching."
At that moment, Cherentia's expression changed too.
I'd sensed it as well.
Not just one—several presences.
The reason I'd spotted it before Cherentia was simple.
'The mana density is different.'
My instincts picked up on mana without me even trying.
Jeobuk…….
Soon, a group emerged from around the corner.
They looked like adventurers, and they seemed surprised to spot us belatedly.
"Just ignore them."
I decided lightly.
No reason to approach adventurers we met in the labyrinth.
"Got it."
The moment Cherentia and I packed up and stood—
Jeobuk…!
Against my wishes, the adventurers from the corner started approaching.
I had no choice but to narrow my eyes and face them.
'No need to be hostile.'
But that didn't make them welcome.
Especially not when turning our backs on approaching adventurers was out of the question.
"What is it?"
I finally asked as they reached us.
"Ah, we wanted to ask the mage a question, so we took the liberty of approaching!"
"We just came up from the underground levels. Could you appraise an artifact for us!?"
The group asked eagerly, and I glanced over their gear.
'Not a ragtag bunch.'
The deep mana from some of them, plus mention of the underground levels, made me take them seriously.
"Of course! We'd pay the appropriate fee for the appraisal."
The man who seemed to be their leader smiled even brighter.
He was sturdy, clad in light armor, his eyes full of goodwill.
"Ah, hold on. Kisel, that on the mage's neck…"
But when one adventurer noticed my stigma, the atmosphere chilled instantly.
"Yes, it's the Exile mark."
I had no intention of hiding it.
This was something I'd face countless times ahead, and fussing over the stigma each time would just hurt me.
"Ah, an Exile……."
The man called Kisel's words grew curt.
The bright smile peeking through his blond hair vanished, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes.
"And what's with the beastkin at his side?"
"Exile and a beastkin—what a weird combo."
His fellow adventurers chimed in without restraint, and I sighed inwardly.
"Now that you know I'm an Exile, why not just leave?"
I said, suppressing my emotions as much as possible.
If it was just a matter of bruised feelings, I could tolerate that much.
Especially since it was our first day in the labyrinth, and I wanted to avoid unnecessary risks.
"……."
But no response came.
Kisel stared at me appraisingly, and I met his gaze coldly.
A strange silence settled in.
Me and Cherentia.
And the group of adventurers fresh from the underground levels.
In the standoff amid the silence, Kisel suddenly curled his lips.
"Before we part, how about a quick introduction? I'm adventurer Kisel."
He stuck out his hand casually.
As if greeting amiably now.
"Sylbian Blanc."
I gave my name without taking his hand.
Before entering the labyrinth, while gathering info, everyone had drilled one thing into me: 'distrust.'
Never trust those you meet inside.
"Hah, making it awkward……."
He withdrew his hand with a disappointed look and a strange laugh, but I kept staring coldly.
It was something I felt wherever I went in the world.
'The moment I look weak.'
People turn more vicious than you'd think.
That's why Kisel's outstretched hand hadn't seemed like goodwill.
So I'd deliberately refused it.
"An arrogant Exile, huh……."
"Kisel, you really gonna just leave like this?"
His comrades spat sharp words at me.
Jeobuk!
"Sylbian."
Cherentia suddenly stepped forward.
She remembered well what I'd said last night: I'd handle things first.
Only if I couldn't would she step in.
Seureuk.
I gently raised my hand to stop her.
"No, not yet."
"……."
Cherentia's amber eyes flickered with fierce hostility, her lips pressed tight.
Seeing her like that actually cooled the hot anger filling my chest.
"Not bad presence."
Kisel chuckled as he eyed Cherentia.
With the leisure of someone who could handle her feral aura.
Then he shook his head.
"Whatever. No need to start a fight before heading back. No one wants blood on their hands, right, Sylbian?"
Kisel asked me in an even more relaxed tone.
As if the blood would be on our hands.
"Yeah, I don't want blood either."
With those words, I circulated my mana for the first time.
Saah……!!
A fierce flow of mana erupted from the arm I'd used to hold back Cherentia.
Humk!
I saw them flinch at the outburst.
"……!"
Kisel's gaze especially sharpened.
As if he hadn't expected me to unleash mana so instantly; his eyes narrowed further.
"So don't cross the line. Just because I'm an Exile doesn't mean I'm someone you adventurers can look down on."
I made my intent even colder.
There was an immeasurable gap in status between mages and adventurers by default.
And as with their initial friendly attitude toward me, it was clear mages stood above them.
'Even if I've become an Exile.'
I still considered myself a 'mage.'
So there was no reason to cower before them.
"…Fine, see you around then."
Kisel turned away without regret.
His comrades followed, giving me different looks than before, and the tense atmosphere gradually eased.
"Hoo……."
I exhaled shortly and withdrew my mana.
"Sylbian, that Kisel guy… doesn't feel right at all."
"Same here. His 'see you around' sounded like 'someone's gonna bleed' to me."
Seureuk.
I rubbed my nape lightly, feeling oddly unsettled.
'High-grade adventurer.'
At minimum, that Kisel was high-grade.
And their view of Exiles…
Wasn't great.