Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Party
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On the bed.
Ayla was sitting naked, her back leaning against me.
"There's something important."
"Something important? You mean groping my breasts?"
Ayla scolded me as I hugged her from behind and kneaded her breasts.
What could I do?
My hands just moved on their own.
Her breasts fit perfectly in one of my hands—they were addictive.
"You really can't keep your hands off for even a second."
"It's because you like it."
"Hmph. Such smooth talk."
Ayla rolled her eyes at me.
"Ahem. Anyway, to get to the point—I'm going to show you a new spell."
"A new spell?"
The grand archmage-to-be gave me a suspicious look.
"Don't be too surprised."
Party invitations could be done with just a thought.
'Is there a distance limit?'
I thought of Liriana.
.......No reaction.
Maybe because she's out of sight?
Or out of range?
This time, I selected Ayla.
The moment I thought to invite her, Ayla's face lit up in surprise.
"Huh? What's this? 'Will you accept the party invitation?' It says, floating in the air?"
"It's my magic."
"This.....is magic?"
"That's right."
"I just accept it?"
"Give it a try."
It simply showed the party members' status as well.
"Anything feel different?"
".....Not really? Just the message saying I've joined the party..."
It would've been weird if something dramatic happened just from joining a party.
I didn't feel any big changes either.
My mana dipped a little, but barely noticeable.
How many people max?
The system didn't give details.
Not infinite, probably.
Should I just throw everyone in and see?
I'd figure it out eventually by adding members.
I could think about it later.
For now, time to test party support.
Quite a few abilities to share.
I decided to grant Ayla something obvious.
I gave her a box-sized Inventory space, about 1m by 1m.
My Inventory capacity shrank by that much.
"Huh? What? Inventory? It says I can use Inventory now?"
"Try it out. It's a pocket dimension."
I pulled a single gold coin from my Inventory and handed it to her.
"Ah, pocket dimension?! You made it so I can use pocket dimension magic?"
"Yeah."
"H-how do I do it?"
"Just think about it."
"J-just by thinking?"
Ayla could hardly believe she could use a pocket dimension—a high mage's spell—with just a thought.
The gold coin in her hand vanished.
"I thought 'put in Inventory' and.....it, it disappeared!"
"It's not gone—it's in your Inventory. Pull it back out."
"O-okay..."
Ayla's gaze wandered through the air.
She seemed to be looking at the system Inventory.
After fumbling a bit, she pulled the gold coin back onto her palm.
"Th-this.....it's amazing..."
I could also set EXP distribution for party members.
Default was 30 percent.
I could raise it up to 70 percent for them.
Seems specialized for auto-hunting.
What if I added those zombie world prisoners to the party?
Even if I pulled max EXP to myself, they'd get 30 percent.
Not EXP—mana absorption.
Meaning they'd grow just from hunting.
Maybe even awaken normals.
If I could suck up 100 percent, it'd be different.
'Feels too generous for those prisoners.'
Something to mull over.
Slumber Labyrinth.
As expected when entering the city, a new quest popped up.
To do it, I'd have to stick around here.
Now that I was in this situation, the trouble I'd caused in the last city nagged at me a bit.
'Should've held back a little?'
Couldn't guarantee no hassle later.
Well.....deal with it when it comes.
If they get too annoying, just leave.
No reason to cling to this place.
Getting the Party Creation skill made coming here worthwhile.
And leaving wouldn't take the skill away.
Zombie world had similar quests too.
I could keep this world for meeting Ayla and Yeondu, live quietly somewhere remote—no regrets.
"Rest at the hotel today. I've got business."
I told the group over brunch.
Today, time to set up that save point I'd put off.
Needed to find the spot first.
"I'll escort you, Master."
Marie followed me.
I'd considered going alone, but a carriage would be comfier than walking, so I didn't stop her.
"Where to, Master?"
I had no idea, obviously.
Figured the system's arrow navigation would lead me.
"Head the way I say."
"Yes, sir."
I pulled up the system nav and sat beside her, giving directions.
Following the arrow took us to a luxury mansion district.
Guards at the perimeter—not a place to wander in.
But showing I was a mage got me through without fuss.
We stopped on the road before a massive mansion atop a hill.
The nav arrow pointed right at it.
A fat sign on the huge iron gate.
'Abandoned house?'
Beyond the long wall and massive wrought-iron gate loomed a gloomy mansion.
The grounds looked huge.
But neglected for years—the garden was a mess.
Save point spot seemed inside.
'Climb the wall...?'
Glancing around, a few well-dressed folks passed by.
Climbing would look suspicious—straight to the guards.
No Suni for invisibility.
Bring Liriana?
Then I spotted the for-sale sign.
'For sale.....so, buy it...?'
Go by the book.
"Marie, any real estate agent selling it?"
"Yes, I know them. Head there?"
Didn't expect much, but Marie knew her stuff.
Perks of driving a cab around.
"Please."
"Yes, Master. This way."
"Y-you want to see.....that house?"
A friendly fortysomething man said, flustered.
Real estate agent, in modern terms.
Not planning to buy, obviously.
Just check if it had the save point spot.
"Yeah. Problem? FYI, I'm a mage."
I pulled a staff from thin air.
The agent gawked, eyes wide.
Insurance against refusal—Liriana said normals fear mages.
"Of course! M-Mr. Mage, sir. I figured from that fine robe."
Guy had taste.
"Gulp. B-but that house.....reconsider."
The agent cautioned, face paling.
"Why?"
"It's h-haunted."
"Haunted?"
"Owners kept changing.....ghosts drove them all out."
"No priests?"
"Priests say they can't help. Small mercy—no evil spirits."
"Can I at least look?"
"L-look?"
"Yeah, house tour. No?"
"Not no, but..."
Agent looked uneasy.
"What's wrong? It's broad daylight."
"The ghosts come out in daylight too."
"........That's interesting. You seen them?"
"Ugh, yeah. Something huge, unknown—came at me."
Hard to picture.
Had to see for myself.
"Open the gate then. I won't drag you in. I'll go alone."
Goal was save point anyway.
"If you insist..."
He relaxed once I said he'd wait outside.
......Fantasy world—ghosts are par for the course, right?
Wouldn't mind a pretty ghost girl, if anything.