Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Reason for Existence (1)
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"Why don't we talk about it early on."
"W-Well, it's a bit hard to talk about the detailed symptoms without the person's consent."
"Yeah, fair enough. More importantly, is it really okay if I disassemble this however I want?"
"To be honest, I'm an outsider now, so it doesn't really matter to me."
"I won't get arrested for leaking classified info or anything, right?"
"I wouldn't let that happen to you."
I grabbed the last stock of the magic tool that defends against mental attacks from demons—the same one I'd given to Karin when leaving the Academy—and headed to see Big Sis Reimi.
Simply saying something like, "Please remove the curse that demon bastard Svetlana cast on me," wasn't going to get results, so my intention was to ask her to reverse-engineer it a bit.
Even though the Empire and the Kingdom were currently on friendly terms, they didn't freely export labyrinth products to foreign countries. After all, the Magic Tower existed in the Empire, and its position as the foremost nation in magic was largely due to the labyrinth's decisive role.
Naturally, Lebedev's options for acquiring labyrinth items were limited, so he could only prepare countermeasures using publicly available magic technology.
But with Big Sis Reimi, a magic tool specialist who handled labyrinth products professionally, it could be a different story.
"Reverse-engineer it or whatever, I don't care—just make it smaller or better if possible, please."
"Sure. I'll give it a shot. Can't promise anything, though."
"I'll trust you and wait."
"...Jeez. You really have to pull that on me?"
I knew full well how heavy those words of expectation felt when we already had good feelings for each other, but it was also true that Big Sis Reimi was the only person I could truly rely on.
I promised to do anything she asked if possible—after she grumbled about making her pay up later somehow—and said goodbye before leaving the shop.
Now I didn't even have much time left to leisurely spend at the cafe. Still, I needed to restore Karin's body as much as possible to its original state, prepare defenses now that I knew Svetlana was actively moving, and since I learned that gathering her power would unlock some kind of option—like a karma system—I had to prepare in advance to properly harness the goddess's power.
On top of that, I needed a solid plan to utterly crush the Demon God Cult centered around Svetlana.
So, the things I had to do were...
"Contact Yumin to call in someone who can use space magic, reach out to the main family since they know the Demon God Cult's movements pretty well, get help from Ermina who has effective means against demons..."
All the things I hated doing the most.
And with the next weekend approaching, knowing Karin's friends might visit, I had to figure out some way to let her move freely by now.
And then...
"I've only strayed from the path for a little while."
The idea that I'd strayed from the path the goddess had set—I'd agonized over it all yesterday, but there were two possibilities.
One was that this system window itself was designed by the goddess.
The other was the oath I'd made when gaining her power: to forgive everyone and save them all to the end.
The latter was partly my fault, but if it was the former, I couldn't help feeling a bit resentful. Live by the system? Don't treat people like a joke.
And one piece of evidence backing up this damn guess was the progress bar—it had jumped from single digits to 15% the moment Karin made contact with the goddess.
If this was the future arranged by that old hag called a goddess, wouldn't it make you want to slap her?
Well, getting mad wouldn't change anything, but the more I thought about it, the more depressed and exhausted I got.
Thinking about it unnecessarily soured my mood, so I ended up returning to the cafe with a slightly crumpled expression.
"Ah, Cafe Manager! How'd it go?"
"Honestly, I kinda burdened Big Sis with it."
"...Is that okay?"
"What can I do? She was worried too."
"Hehe. But it's a lot better now."
"Your complexion is definitely different."
Before, her face had been flushed red from torment or ashen from forcing it down, but now it was back to normal.
The problem was, previously, the girl who sought me out due to lust would come scampering over wanting to learn how to brew coffee or volunteer to do dishes to help in some way—approaching in those fashions—which made my spine tingle a bit.
It varies by person, but at least for me, getting approached by too many women felt burdensome. And to be even more honest, scary.
"...You don't have to work. You can rest."
"No. Working and moving around tires my body, so those urges don't build up as much."
"I see. Can't be helped then."
She beamed at my response and started cleaning, then picked up all sorts of odd jobs, learning from me like Riza would.
Since she'd asked to be taught, I gave her the basics, told her what equipment she could use, and then opened the communication crystal orb.
A connection tone sounded briefly, and after I gave my name, there was a "please hold" before the other side went quiet.
And then who appeared was—
『Bro!』
"Why am I your bro? Anyway, I need a favor."
『Ah, just say the word. I'll prepare it.』
"Yeah, uh, last time you came here, a space mage must've helped you out."
『Right?』
"Send that person over here."
『Ah, you need a space mage, huh?』
"Yeah. Sorry for telling you to stay out of sight and then asking a favor anyway, but please."
『No problem. It was wrong of me to show up uninvited anyway. He's a bit timid, so take good care of him.』
"...If only you acted like that all the time."
『Haha. I'm trying to follow in your footsteps, even if I'm lacking.』
"Forget me. Do what you think is right."
『No matter the situation, I'm convinced you'll always make the right choice.』
Sigh. This guy's gonna be like this forever.
I gave up and laughed in the end. Yeah. Better than strangely losing his way, maybe.
Someday, in a crucial moment where he has to choose for himself, he might graduate from idolizing me.
"Anyway, thanks. Even after I was harsh, you're granting my request."
『Then just give me some proper time to talk later.』
"...Yeah, that much I can do."
The communication cut off like that, leaving me with the one call I truly, absolutely swore never to make no matter what—to the main family.
I really didn't want to. Just seeing my damn father's face made me want to puke.
As I groaned in the back room, procrastinating, Karin, who'd followed me in, asked,
"Y-You're contacting the people you need help from, right?"
"Yeah. Don't worry about it."
"Are you contacting the main family too, by any chance?"
"...Planning to."
"W-Well, I've heard Senior Justina hasn't been doing well lately."
"Oh god. I'm done for."
I had to put it off.
With my current depleted mental state, I had no confidence in handling an emotional showdown with Justina properly. If I snapped even a little, I couldn't predict what would happen to her.
I'd already poured out all my pent-up feelings from childhood to her, so seeing her face felt awkward for me too.
To be honest, I'm not great at opening up my emotions. I don't have much experience properly talking about likes or dislikes. So when I used someone as an emotional dumping ground, I wasn't good at gauging how they felt.
"...I'll contact them later. I need to sort out my thoughts too."
"Shall we go back to the cafe then?"
"No. I'm going to talk to His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire."
I sent Karin, who'd been massaging my shoulders briefly, back inside the cafe and fiddled with the crystal orb settings.
It probably wouldn't connect right away even if I called now.
I left a message and turned off the mana source.
Sigh. What path does the goddess want? For me to return to the story now? Or fill the story progress to 100% by any means? Or, true to my oath, burn everything I have to render the Demon God and his cult irreparable?
Leaving it all vague like that was some truly malicious handiwork, so I placed a damp cloth on my forehead and rested for a bit.
Fuck. You goddess bitch. You never showed your face when I was searching for you, but when Karin calls, you descend through me of all things?
"Why was I even born into this world?"
It wasn't like I had no lingering attachments. I had an ideal vision of life too.
So the moment a second chance was given, whatever the reason, I decided to give it my all.
But looking back now, the reason for my rebirth, the reason for the system window, the reason the goddess accepted my oath, and why she never appeared again after that, only issuing commands through the system window.
Everything was full of questions, and even a sequel set in the labyrinth that might as well be a collaboration with the Demon God.
In the end, I'd have no choice but to unravel the secrets piled up about myself one by one.