Chapter 44: The End of the Party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: The End of the Party
At first, the senior wizards thought our team won because of Isel, but they soon learned the truth.
That was because Meldini was rambling on like a madman. In fact, he still was.
“Caleb, that young man is without a doubt the greatest prodigy I have seen among all the students and professors in my thirty-five years at the Magic University! Not only did I witness silent and high-speed casting simultaneously, but I also saw the tactical genius to deceive three professors in an instant. It was truly a work of art! If only Isilof hadn’t snatched him up, I would have…”
Spit flew from the halfling elder’s mouth, causing the nearby wizards to hastily step away.
Instead, they began to approach me one by one.
“We should be heading out now.”
When wizards leave a party, they bid farewell to the host and then say their goodbyes to the other wizards individually.
This kind of networking is crucial in wizard society.
And now, they were including me in it, even though I was just a kid compared to these senior wizards.
“Congratulations on your victory, Caleb.”
“You may be young and a freshman, but you’re a true wizard.”
“You have a bright future ahead of you.”
“I never imagined you’d beat Professor Meldini’s team.”
“Here’s my card. If you’re ever interested in the magic stone processing business, give me a call.”
I returned their greetings politely.
“Thank you. Get home safely.”
Back in college in Korea, I was a loner by choice, but I decided to live as an insider here.
There was no harm in making a good impression.
“Caleb! You’ll be staying to receive a gift from the Lord of the house, won’t you?”
Meldini asked as he approached with the other professors.
“Yes, I will.”
I had to stay until the very end for that. Edward was too busy seeing his guests out to get my gift right now.
“I see. That’s a shame. I was going to offer you a ride in my carriage if we left together.”
That was a shame for me, too.
It would take quite a while to walk back to the dormitory.
“Well then, until next time. I had a wonderful time today.”
Meldini said his goodbyes and was the first to leave.
“I’m so envious of Professor Isilof,” Professor Hailey added, following Meldini.
Enver gave Isel a wink and left the mansion.
The party was now over.
After the guests had departed in a rush, the only ones left in the lobby were the Berten family, me, and Yernil.
“I’ve prepared your gifts in the upstairs drawing-room. Caleb, please come with me.”
Edward guided us to the elevator.
*
“Caleb, you’re amazing…”
With Meldini gone, it seemed the role of head cheerleader had been passed on.
“To think you beat the professors!” Avison exclaimed excitedly from the wheelchair Clorence was pushing. His face was flushed red.
“Once my leg is all healed, let’s play again! I want to clear it, too. I’ve never cleared it even once.”
“You’ve played the game before?”
“Yes. Because…” Avison replied with a bright smile.
“My father had it made for me to practice Labyrinth exploration!”
Wow.
So the thing Meldini was begging to borrow as a university teaching tool was originally your personal training program?
Seriously, Avison… what kind of life have you been living in this house?
“When the Labyrinth erupted twelve years ago,” Clorence said as he pushed the wheelchair.
“The Berten family suffered immense losses. Many of our relatives passed away.”
“…”
“While everyone was drowning in sorrow after the funerals, there was one person who remained cheerful. That was Avison.”
Ah.
I could picture it.
“Avison was only six at the time. He didn’t understand death yet.”
“…”
“Our family recovered a little faster thanks to Avison. Of course, the sadness never completely went away, and there are still times when the tears come.”
Clorence stroked Avison’s hair.
“I’m sick and tired of losing family and friends.”
“…”
“Bringing Avison back was like saving our entire family, Caleb. Thank you again. And you too, Yernil.”
“Clorence.”
Edward, who had been leading the way, turned around with a faint smile.
“If you tell them everything, there’ll be nothing left for me to say when we get inside.”
“Ah.”
“It’s just as Clorence said, Caleb.”
Edward opened the door to the drawing-room.
“Nothing I could give you two would be too much. However, for a wizard and an archer still in the lower floors of the Labyrinth, too great a treasure can be a poison.”
Though I had already received a Legendary compass from Meldini.
“I have chosen items that I believe will be appropriate and useful for you both right now.”
Edward presented two elegant boxes, one to me and one to Yernil.
Inside, along with certificates of authenticity, were magical artifacts.
Mine was a ring.
[Ring of Transcribing]
▶ This item has been appraised by the Magic University’s appraisal department and confirmed to contain magical power, receiving a ‘Magic’ grade.
▶ This ring grants the wearer the Tier 1 utility magic, ‘Transcribe,’ in their Memory Book. (Does not consume a spell slot.)
And what Yernil received was a wrist guard.
It was a black guard that looked like something a boxer would use, firmly wrapping around the base of the thumb, half the palm, and the wrist.
[Crossbow Wrist Guard]
▶ This item has been appraised by the Magic University’s appraisal department and confirmed to contain magical power, receiving a ‘Magic’ grade.
▶ This wrist guard grants the wearer the ‘Sentry Relocation’ skill.
▶ When a crossbow is operated, it can fire a magic bolt.
Not bad.
He’d given Yernil something even more perfect for her than I’d expected.
And the Ring of Transcribing I received wasn’t bad either.
‘Transcribe’ was the spell Professor Hailey had used to copy the escape scroll onto her blank scroll.
Edward happened to mention it.
“Inside the maze, the original scroll disappeared when you used Transcribe because only one escape scroll can exist at a time, but that’s not normally the case.”
I knew that.
Using ‘Transcribe’ on a blank scroll would duplicate the target scroll, with no restrictions. You could even duplicate a resurrection scroll.
“Although, since blank scrolls themselves are quite rare, duplicating scrolls isn’t a simple matter.”
But we already had one blank scroll, the one we got from the treasure room in the last Labyrinth.
And the Transcribe spell wasn’t just for copying scrolls.
“As long as you have a blank piece of paper and the text you wish to copy, this spell can transfer it at any time. It’s quite convenient and versatile.”
“I’ll put it to good use.”
I put on the ring and expressed my gratitude to Edward.
“And this.”
This time, Edward handed me a check. For 200,000 gold.
“This is the prize money for winning the game. It’s five times the appraised value of the wrist guard and ring you both bet.”
Damn.
Honestly, the amount was so large my hands were trembling. This wasn't the kind of money you could earn in the early stages of the game.
“Huk…”
I heard a sharp gasp beside me and turned to see Yernil frozen like a startled squirrel. She quickly placed the guard she’d been struggling to put on back on the table.
Right.
That guard was probably worth far more than your price as a slave, Yernil.
“And there is one more thing I’d like to give you.”
Edward extended his hand again.
But this time, it was empty.
“My handshake is the most expensive thing in Sohen.”
A confident smile graced the Lord’s lips. Coming from a man of his stature, the words didn’t feel like a boast, but a statement of fact.
“Should you face any difficulties in Sohen from now on, do not hesitate to speak with me.”
I shook Edward’s hand.
*
“This way! Shh!”
Isel, who had taken it upon herself to see us out, took a sharp turn in front of the elevator.
“Follow me.”
She led us to the first guest room at the end of the second-floor hallway.
Click.
Once inside the room, she locked the door and closed the window.
“Owl’s Hunt.”
After casting a noise-suppression spell, she began her story.
“What I’m about to tell you is something even my own family doesn’t know.”
Isel began to speak.
“You asked me why I cooperate with the Magic University’s professor club, right?”
“Yes.”
“It is to get information about the Deep Layer. And the reason I want to go to the Deep Layer is…”
The secret Isel had guarded so tightly was finally being revealed.
To be honest, I hadn’t expected this.
“To kill the Labyrinth Master.”
*
The incident that sparked this resolution occurred when Isel was fifteen.
At the time, she was a prodigy at the Magic University’s affiliated academy, always ranking first in her entire school.
Behind her abilities were the full-fledged support of her parents and grandfather, as well as the Possessors from the Magic University who had secretly approached her and taught her a new method of binding magic tomes.
Stunning looks, natural talent, a powerful family, and mysterious friends.
Isel Berten was certain that she would soon become the greatest wizard in Sohen.
Until the screams erupted from the mansion’s entrance gate that evening.
“Isel! Isel!”
She had never seen her father, Edward, so agitated.
He yelled with a terrifying expression on his face.
“Take your siblings and get to the warp device!”
“Wh-why?”
“Move—now—!”
Her father pointed his magic wand at Isel.
“Night of Silence!”
He chanted several spells in quick succession.
“Wizard’s Refuge.”
“Wise Guidance.”
“Swift Step.”
“Dad…”
As a terrified, whimpering Isel looked on, Edward paused just as he was about to cast another buff.
His body trembled violently, and he suddenly spun 180 degrees to aim at the ceiling.
“Particle Disintegration Ray!”
A Tier 7 spell erupted.
At the same time, ‘it’ smashed through the ceiling and burst inside.
It was something like a two-meter-tall knight, billowing with black smoke.
The monster was heavily armed in black iron plate, holding the flat of its massive greatsword up like a shield…
CRASH!
It blocked the Particle Disintegration Ray.
“Run—!” her father roared again.
“Edward!”
Someone was running up the central staircase from the first floor.
“Grandfather!”
It was Isel’s grandfather, Krimhild Berten. The old man, who was the head of the Berten family at the time…
“Traveler’s Dimensional Gate.”
He created a magic portal right next to Isel.
“Run, Isel!” her grandfather shouted.
“The Labyrinth has erupt—!”
With a sickening thud, his words were cut short.
The shadow knight’s massive greatsword had swung and severed her grandfather’s head.
“Father—!”
Enraged, Edward charged at the monster, while a horrified Isel leaped into the magic portal.
Twelve years ago.
The hell that unfolded that day destroyed forty percent of the Berten mansion.
It killed 47 of the mansion’s employees and stole from Isel her nanny who had raised her since childhood, her grandfather, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and two cousins.
Her parents and siblings barely survived, but for a long time, the sounds of wailing never ceased within the house.
‘Is it my fault?’
In the funeral hall, holding the hand of Avison, who was oblivious and giggling playfully, Isel felt completely numb.
A hard seed of guilt had taken root in her heart.
‘Why did an Abyssal monster come to our house?’
In truth, the reason had nothing to do with Isel.
After their original target, Henry, had been eliminated, the Abyssal monsters had simply rampaged through the entire city searching for other Possessors.
Considering the size of the Berten estate, the number of monsters that entered was actually below the city average.
Isel knew that, too.
But it still felt like her fault.
‘Because I was close with the Possessors.’
Because she had learned the new magic tome binding method from them.
‘That’s why the Abyssal monsters came to our mansion.’
She sobbed every day, weighed down by a secret guilt.
Fortunately, her tears didn’t seem out of place to others.
There was no one in the house who wasn’t crying.
*
“But I don’t think that way anymore. I’ve overcome my guilt now.”
The way she overcame her guilt was by clearly defining an enemy.
“Because the truly evil one isn’t the Possessors, but the Labyrinth Master.”
“…”
“Everyone has it completely wrong. Or they’re deliberately pretending not to know.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re putting all the blame on the Possessors! No one…” Isel said.
“No one thinks of killing the Labyrinth Master and getting rid of the Labyrinth! Do you know why?”
I thought I did.
Of course, a lack of ability would be the first reason. Eliminating the Labyrinth Master is not easy. The probability of failure is much higher than success. Besides, this was Developer difficulty.
But the reason no one even tried was something else entirely.
“Because the Labyrinth makes money.”
The Labyrinth generates an enormous amount of money. To the point that most of the magical artifacts, treasures, and legendary-grade items on the surface came from it.
“So everyone wants to keep it around. Even after what happened twelve years ago. Even…” she said.
“Even my own father.”
“…”
“He scolded me, saying that the Berten family is wealthy enough, but we can’t make such an autocratic decision when so many people make their living from the Labyrinth. He said he understood I was sad about losing my family, but that I shouldn’t let personal feelings dictate city-wide policy.”
Destroy the Labyrinth.
Not a single person would agree with that proposal. The Labyrinth City of Sohen had been addicted to the sweet nectar of the Labyrinth for too long.
Imagine if an oil field in a country like Saudi Arabia exploded, causing significant damage to a city.
Would that country completely abolish its oil drilling industry?
Absolutely not.
To this city, the Labyrinth was more than crude oil. It was an infinite spring of ‘wealth.’
Countless adventurers from classes that didn’t even use Memory Books gained superpowers and grew stronger through the fountains within it.
‘The Labyrinth is the alpha and omega of this city. Closing it would be suicide.’
That’s what people said.
But Isel hadn’t given up on her dream.
“My goal is something no one in Sohen wants. If I succeed, I might even be executed on the streets of Sohen.”
“…”
“But I still believe the Labyrinth must be destroyed.”
“Then does the Enver Club also want to destroy the Labyrinth?”
“No!”
Isel shook her head in frustration.
“Those people… they’ve already concluded that they can’t beat the Labyrinth Master.”
I see.
Honestly, it would be difficult.
Even on Turn-Based Master difficulty, I couldn’t count how many times I had to restart the game.
And this was Developer difficulty, wasn’t it?
If the Enver Club had even a rough idea of the difficulty levels and knew this was the highest one, it was only rational for them not to join Isel’s plan.
“That’s why I’m betting on you, Caleb. That’s why I’m telling you this. I…” Isel said.
“…I have no allies for my dream…”
But I had a question.
“So the Possessors in the Enver Club won’t join your plan, but they’ll still give you information on the Deep Layer?”
“Yes. In fact, they encourage it. They have no intention of stepping up themselves, but they say I might be able to do it. They tell me to give it a try, that I should avenge my family…”
Sons of bitches.
I mean, I understand being scared to go to the Deep Layer and face the Labyrinth Master, but they shouldn’t be grabbing a kid like this and using her guilt to push her into it.
Those guys must have cleared the Labyrinth’s Abyss before, right? Even if it was on a lower difficulty.
Then they should know that Isel isn’t ready to go to the Deep Layer yet.
Wait a minute.
But there’s something else that’s strange.
Isel, the eldest daughter of the Berten family, should be an important piece for the Enver Club. Why are they trying to send her to the Deep Layer?
I would never waste a piece like that. Sending her would be a hundred percent fatal, and it would make it harder to use the Berten family’s backing.
So why…
“If you kill the Labyrinth Master,” Isel added one more piece of information.
An incredibly important one.
“They say the Possessors can go back home.”
*
There was a stone monument that Professor Dalstream had discovered in the Labyrinth during his research.
An ancient text inscribed on it supposedly said so.
“That when the Labyrinth Master dies, the Labyrinth will close, the war between the Labyrinth and the otherworld Possessors will end, and the Possessors will shed their false bodies and return to their original world.”
That’s why the Enver Club was trying to send Isel.
To them, Isel was a valuable resource, but their own homes were more important.
It didn’t matter if Isel died.
As long as they could get information on the Labyrinth Master.
As long as it brought them one step closer to home.
It didn’t matter if Isel died.
A new pawn would eventually appear.
For example…
“Caleb.”
This was just absurd.
“They’ll probably try to use you, too. You’re not a Possessor, you’re an outstanding wizard, and you have considerable knowledge of the Labyrinth. They probably thought you’d be a suitable adventurer for the Deep Layer.”
The reason the Enver Club decided they had to get to me before Blackdog.
To make me the second Isel.
Give me a break.
The nerve of them.
No matter how well I acted like I wasn’t a Possessor, for a bunch of fools who don’t even know about Cumulonimbus or the Sanctuary to think they could use me…
“It couldn’t have been an easy decision to reveal such a secret. Thank you for having the courage to tell me.”
“…”
Isel swallowed hard.
“If my plan is exposed, I’m finished. But I told you anyway. Are we a team now?”
“Yes.”
I extended my hand to her.
“We’re a team now. I look forward to working with you.”
My handshake is the most expensive one in the Abyss, Isel.