Chapter 16
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: A Bit Short on Points
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"This labyrinth was originally a special space created by the Evil God to invade the continent."
"The Evil God?"
Elisicia nodded.
"Yes. I heard it was made 700 years ago as a kind of forward base."
"700 years ago, so the Evil God is gone, right?"
"Probably not."
At Elisicia's response implying otherwise, I decided to hear her out.
"At that time, the hero chosen by the Goddess headed to the deepest level of this labyrinth with the First Holy Sword. To defeat the Evil God right away."
"If the Evil God is still around now, does that mean it failed?"
"It can be seen as half-successful. It's said the hero sealed it by stabbing the First Holy Sword into the Evil God's heart."
A seal meant the Evil God was still alive.
Moreover, if the Evil God was still sealed and alive, then her goal might be the Evil God.
"Then, Hero, your goal is to catch the Evil God?"
"Precisely, it's the holy sword embedded in the Evil God's body."
The holy sword?
"Castaway, have you heard of the monsters occupying the surface, commonly called 'Demons from the Sky'?"
"I've read about them in the gallery. Didn't know they were called Demons from the Sky, though."
"Strangely, those monsters can't enter this Great Labyrinth."
That was a fact I knew well.
For some reason, they couldn't enter this labyrinth.
That's why this labyrinth is relatively safe.
Elisicia speculated on the reason.
"Probably the holy sword. Or the Evil God is the cause."
"......I don't know the details, but usually it's the Evil God, right?"
Since the labyrinth itself was created by the Evil God, the cause was most likely the Evil God.
Elisicia nodded as if that could be true, but she didn't give up on the holy sword.
"Even if so, I can't give up on the holy sword. Literature says it grants tremendous power to the hero."
"Tremendous power?"
"The Evil God is a god too. Since it sealed a god, the holy sword's power is unquestionable. I plan to reclaim the surface with that power."
Elisicia spoke like a vow, her face firm without the slightest waver.
Moreover, realizing that direction meant saving the world, I acknowledged her as the [Hero].
"But as I said, we need to protect the people in the labyrinth too."
If the people in the labyrinth died off one by one, reconstruction would be impossible even after reclaiming the surface.
Elisicia's words seemed to mean she wanted me to travel with them and sell items for the people.
I'm already selling items for people, so that's no issue.
The problem was joining the Hero Party.
The Hero thinks it's safe for me to stay with them.
Maybe the Hero was right.
Unexpected things could happen to me too.
"......"
Honestly, I was willing to help with anything simple.
Especially since Elisicia was working to save the world, there was no reason not to help.
"Castaway. Please."
Anyway, as my deliberation dragged on like that, Elisicia began pleading earnestly.
As Elisicia pleaded first, the other three women who'd been quietly watching joined in.
"Sigh. I beg you too. What do you say?"
Rubyel, with her deep and vivid red hair, spoke as if pleading itself was unfamiliar to her.
"I beg you too."
Next, the woman with sky-blue hair and squinted eyes pleaded.
"I beg you too."
The woman with light green hair and pointed ears also offered her plea.
"......"
It was the first time in my life being surrounded by so many women pleading like this, but my answer was a separate matter.
Then, curious if Elisicia would give up if I refused, I asked about that.
"If I refuse, what will you do?"
"I'd have to persuade you until you change your mind."
"......"
Predetermined answer.
Perhaps my thought showed on my face, because Elisicia gave a wry smile and answered properly.
"If you refuse, I'd give you a Cloak of Concealment so you can hide properly, then leave."
"Cloak of Concealment?"
"Basically, it lowers people's perception of you. Once a day, you can completely hide your body for 10 minutes."
I was purely surprised upon hearing the Cloak of Concealment's description.
The magic items on the exchange had felt somewhat lackluster, but this was entirely different.
"It's different from the magic items on the exchange."
When I said that honestly, Rubyel beside Elisicia answered instead.
"Usually, really good items aren't put on the exchange. Even if not using them, people hide them away tightly."
Certainly, for something like the Cloak of Concealment, it would feel like a waste no matter how many points you got.
Just refuse and take only the cloak.
Anyway, with a proper option presented, I pondered seriously.
Even in another world, given the situation, I wanted to help save it, but I doubted if I could.
If I help, do I combine telekinesis and plasma pistol to fight?
Elisicia said I wouldn't need to fight, but things probably wouldn't go that way.
Since there could always be that one-in-a-million case, it might be best to prepare for fighting if needed.
"......"
At the same time, I recalled the friend who sent me to this world.
I couldn't even remember his name now, but there must have been a reason he sent me here.
Does he want me to save the world? He even gave me the ability I wanted.
If that line of thinking was correct, then my way back to the original world was set.
I'd come via 2channel, so if I secured 2channel, maybe I could return.
I wish I could save the world with Modern Item Purchase alone.
If Modern Item Purchase sold modern weaponry too, it might have been possible.
But since it didn't sell even a single gun, it seemed difficult.
"......Yeah, screw it. Let's give it a shot."
If Modern Item Purchase didn't work, helping directly might be the way.
At that, Elisicia's eyes widened in surprise before she nodded fervently.
"Thank you for joining us, Castaway."
With those words, she pulled a gray cloak out of thin air.
"And take this Cloak of Concealment too."
"You're giving me the cloak too?"
"Actually, I planned to give it to you no matter what you chose."
"Ah...... Yes."
As I received the Cloak of Concealment awkwardly, Rubyel provided additional explanation.
"Your safety is the top priority, after all. If you die, the exchange items end too."
It would end as Rubyel said, but so far I'd only uploaded food.
And even that food could be replaced by 4channel jelly.
In other words, I hadn't shown the full extent of my Modern Item Purchase ability.
Yet they emphasized my safety above all, which gave me a strange feeling.
"Anyway, wearing the hood lowers perception, and pressing the center gem activates 10 minutes of stealth."
"How much does perception lowering work?"
"We can still notice. Stealth requires mana to detect."
So perception lowering wasn't invincible.
"But the people on the 1st floor won't even notice you. Unless you bump into them or make a loud noise."
I nodded and draped the Cloak of Concealment over my shoulders.
"So, what now?"
Elisicia answered that one.
"Since we've come up to the 1st floor for once, I plan to stock the food warehouse."
Food?
Elisicia glanced back at Castaway, who was following her with the hood of the Cloak of Concealment up.
Having just met him today, he did have a slightly exotic look, as expected of someone from another world.
His vibe is similar to that country boy I saw before.
He couldn't quite meet her eyes and seemed shy deep down—just like that.
She'd thought persuasion would be easy, but unexpectedly, Castaway stuck to his convictions in his response.
But what was he thinking at the end there?
He'd been full of intent to refuse halfway through, but changed by the end.
Elisicia was curious what had gone through his mind then, but she didn't ask.
Anyway.
Grateful that he'd joined, she thought she should provide him as much convenience as possible.
"Ah. Castaway. You're a mage, right?"
"A mage? No."
"You used telekinesis earlier."
Separately, Rubyel was sticking close to Castaway and persistently chatting him up.
Castaway wasn't the type to ignore her, so he diligently answered Rubyel's persistent questions.
"I'm not a mage."
"Not a mage? Then how do you use telekinesis?"
"Just through various methods."
"What kind of methods?"
"I'll tell you if there's a chance later."
Since Elisicia and Castaway weren't close yet, she figured he'd postponed answering about that.
In reality, it was because mentioning the 3channel Awakening Stone would cause a commotion in multiple ways.
"This is the place."
At Elisicia's words, I looked up at the building before me.
It was quite large, and since she'd called it a food warehouse from the start, it made sense.
Jelly alone won't fill this warehouse.
While I was thinking that, Elisicia approached the people guarding the food warehouse.
"Ah. Hero, you're here."
"No particular issues?"
"No. A few people came by, but we showed them inside the warehouse and they left without a word."
For reference, the warehouse guards didn't so much as glance my way, as if I were invisible.
"Food is always the problem."
"That said, lately people have been proactively earning points on their own."
"That's a good trend. We should thank Castaway."
As I watched Elisicia like that, I wondered if there was really any need to come to the warehouse.
"Rubyel. Is there really a need to come to the warehouse?"
It was a hassle to come every time like this—just hand over the points and be done.
Since 1:1 trades could transfer points, I asked Rubyel about it, and she answered.
"Normally, we just transfer points. Can't come up every time."
"And now?"
"Probably wants to estimate based on what you can bring."
Estimate?
In the meantime, Elisicia said to the guards.
"I'm going inside the warehouse for a bit."
"We'll open it right away."
Soon the warehouse doors swung wide open, and Elisicia went in first.
Next, me and the rest of the group entered together, but inside there was just an empty, cavernous space—nothing else.
It's completely empty.
What to fill this with?
"Castaway. Among the food you can bring, is there anything with a large quantity and long shelf life?"
"Probably... I'll check."
I answered and started browsing flour via Modern Item Purchase.
-Flour 20kg: 18 points
Not bad.
Or there was stuff like this.
-Soup powder 1kg (50-60 servings): 8 points
-Hardtack 6kg: 13 points
-Mixed milk powder 1kg: 13 points
But looking at these items, I realized water was essential.
"Is there water in this labyrinth?"
"There's some at the entrance. There's a river not far from the entrance, and we've connected it with wooden pipes."
"The surface monsters didn't break the wooden pipes, I guess."
"They show no interest unless it's something living."
Anyway, since there was water, it seemed fine to buy and show these items one by one.
"Hero. About how many points do you have?"
"You need points to bring stuff?"
"Yes."
I hadn't told Elisicia the details of my ability yet.
So when I said that, Elisicia requested a 1:1 trade with a slightly worried look.
"Since we came up from midway through the labyrinth this time, we're a bit short on points."
I was wondering what to do if points were short.
"......"
But then I saw the points the Hero had listed in the 1:1 trade window and was left speechless.
[Points: 64,391]
60k?