Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Superior-Subordinate Affection (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One of the best advantages of enchanted swords is that they pretty much maintain themselves. Swords normally require constant, diligent care—especially right after battle.
Especially since slashing through people or beasts can chip or bend the blade on impact with bone. Even without that, blood, flesh scraps, and globs of fat clinging to it will ruin it in no time.
But high-end enchanted swords like the ones in this world hold their edge better and hardly ever get damaged. They're on a whole other level compared to cheap ones that rust if you don't oil them constantly.
So, what's the takeaway?
Ever since one of my already premium swords became a holy sword, it's basically become indestructible—like Adamantium or something. It stays pristine no matter if I'm slicing through tough stuff or even swinging it like a metal pipe.
I'm no slouch in strength myself—my face might be androgynous, but my power sure isn't—and yet this blade just laughs it off while staying comfy light. You almost wonder if it's okay to treat it this way.
Hey, a holy sword breaking or bending? That'd be embarrassing.
Anyway, anything connected to the goddess is a net positive, so from now on, wherever I go, I'll at least carry the holy sword—even if not both blades.
Svetlana probably can't meddle openly in the labyrinth, but who knows what trouble might pop up anytime, anywhere.
And while I'm at it, it'd be smart to gather some intel on the labyrinth. Right now, I'd left the shop to Riza and was waiting at the Adventurer's Guild for Cosetica big sis.
"You can come in now."
As I sorted through my thoughts, the secretary came out and waved me in. I followed her lead into the guild master's office.
"Oh! Come on in. First time seeing you like this? Or has it been a while?"
"I stopped by briefly during that temp gig last time. Never actually sat down to chat."
"Hehe. Would've been nice if you'd just joined up while you were here."
"No plans to close the shop."
"Even part-time? You're so busy, though~"
"...I'll help remotely once I get some free time."
"That's my cafe manager."
After some light banter, I got down to business. I could've spilled everything to Cosetica big sis, who oversees labyrinth management, but the issue was whether she'd balance the guild's interests against our problems perfectly once she knew the full story.
I mean, I can't exactly ask her to shut the labyrinth gates for two days.
Anyway, I'd come to pick up any info or books she had and warn about going below certain floors.
"First off, I'm looking for old records on the labyrinth—or anything tied to the goddess."
"...Beyond what I heard during handover, I don't know much myself. You'd have to dig through the archive. That okay?"
"Just takes time, and I need some anyway to prep."
"Hmm. Wish I could assign someone, but everyone's swamped~"
"It's fine."
"Alright, here's the archive key then. No checking out books, though~"
"Got it."
The key wasn't ordinary either—it hummed with faint mana, likely tied to some security enchantment.
"Thanks. I'll use it well and return it."
"Nobody uses it anyway, so keep it as long as you need~"
"Sure. And call me if you need help with anything besides paperwork later."
"Huh? Really?"
"Of course. I don't like just taking without giving back."
"Sweet!"
Her reply was as bubbly as ever. Her tail swished happily—she genuinely seemed thrilled. If I had to pick the brightest, most upbeat person I know, it'd be big sis, hands down.
Since it had been a while, I gave her a quick shoulder massage and brushed her hair with the comb on her desk corner.
She resisted less than at first, the ticklishness faded too—her tail even tapped my waist in rhythm, like a cat purring approval.
Hmm. Total cat.
Leaving her to dive back into paperwork, I headed to the guild basement archive. No guards around—either it's truly unused, or they trust the lock—so I unlocked and entered.
"Cleaner than I expected inside."
I'd flagged a death flag just in case, but nope. Space expansion and auto-maintenance magic kept the vast room spotless, dust-free. Impressive.
Even Lebedev's library wasn't this pristine. Fitting for a city that pulls all sorts of magic tools from the labyrinth, with deep history.
The archive was so massive, no clue how long it'd take to find what I want, but gotta power through.
As I turned to close the door, someone—no, an elf—poked her head in, hand on the frame.
"Here to help."
"Big sis, don't you have work today?"
"Nah. Cleared my schedule for a bit."
"You didn't have to go that far."
"I want to."
She followed me in, then toddled up behind and hugged my waist tight. She loves wrapping around me from front or back like this.
Waited till she was satisfied and let go, then we headed deeper. From afar, the scale awed me; up close, even books from shoddy papermaking eras were preserved perfectly. Another surprise.
Whoever started collecting must've been a true bookworm.
"I'll start over there, sorting by title first."
"Sure. I'll check the opposite side."
Let's see. From the first shelf, I pulled what looked oldest—a tome so ragged, hard to tell if it was bound leather or book.
Language was archaic, but noble training in old tongue and courtly speech let me parse it, stumbling a bit.
"Goddess, faith, holy sites. Church pilgrimage."
Aha. Musings on ancient goddess worship. Title screams "banned book" if taken to the modern church—sealed deep in some warehouse.
Flipped it open to skim.
Continent's geopolitics differed sharply back then. The church's current spot on the western edge was deep in what’s now imperial territory.
And the "holy site" marked? Right where the church sits today. No easy place to verify this stuff—first I'd seen it.
Tracing the map for oddities, one jumped out. At the current labyrinth city site—now barren and twisted—was a massive lake.
Impossible with today's climate and soil. Flipped to the lake's description pages.
What was it called again? Dug through foggy memory of half-forgotten lore, finally found the entry.
"Lake formed by waters flowing from the holy site. There it is."
Even if terrain shifted, mountains don't vanish or plains turn to peaks without massive tectonics—no records of that. Probably no wild changes.
So, church site had a spring, river flowing here.
If goddess power dwells in the labyrinth, the river from holy site to here can't be meaningless.
No deeper info here, sadly. Grabbed others—geography, rivers, lakes. Anything titled remotely relevant, I pulled and read.
"...Not as useful as hoped."
Rivers saw "miracles" often, but no details on what, or lake specifics. Like it was censored.
Controlled, even.
Shifted gears: when did the lake vanish? After Pallan Empire annexed church lands—sans current holy site—river dried up over ~100 years.
"...Should ask His Imperial Majesty?"
Gotta scour imperial histories.
Seems tied to empire crushing the church, so hunt era-specific records too.
Subtly mention to His Majesty, keep digging myself.
"Cafe manager."
"Yeah?"
Mina big sis plopped something amid my sprawled maps and books. Old scroll from her side too—clearly ancient.
"Old elf-empire disputes. Before Astraea founded, battles here."
"What happened?"
"Near-total annihilation both sides. Survivors 'beyond communication.'"
Sounds like way more messy entanglements than expected.