“Oh!?”
I reflexively grabbed the ‘orange’ crystal, then glanced at Kane.
He smiled and gestured with one hand.
“If you want it, take it. It is nothing compared to what you accomplished.”
Nothing?
There was no way.
Was this not a higher-grade Ability Stone?
Still, I had no intention of refusing.
For now, I pushed aside the question of whether orange Ability Stones were even supposed to appear in the Novice tier.
“Thank you. As for this Mana Stone......”
“Take that too. The Caravan Master will approve. If it works out well for everyone, all the better, right?”
Kane was smiling contentedly,
but his eyes seemed strangely excited.
‘Hm?’
Compared to the overwhelming strength he had displayed moments earlier,
his loose, foolish grin did not resemble his usual self at all.
Even his eyes were slightly unfocused.
“If it were up to me, I would chase every last one of those beasts down and slaughter them. But I should hold back, right? Right, Char?”
“......Yes. Of course.”
“Aha. Right. What a wonderful night. Ahahahaha.”
Hmm.
Apparently,
Kane’s behavior was the penalty from Moonlight’s Blessing.
I had thought ‘reason becomes slightly clouded’ was nothing serious.
“Now that the battle’s over, how about a good drink? Ah, right. We do not have any alcohol.”
Whoa.
‘That isn’t slightly clouded at all!’
If this counted as ‘slightly,’ what happened when it became severe?
Kane was making me reconsider Ability Stone penalties quite seriously.
“For now, let’s catch up with the caravan. Slowly.”
“Ahh. Right. We should. The caravan will have alcohol.”
“......”
Hmm.
Either way,
Kane had generously handed over both the Ability Stone and Mana Stone.
I decided to take the good fortune for what it was.
[Special Taming]
[Strength +15, Agility +18, Vitality +19, Mana +12, Physical Resistance +12, Magic Resistance +15]
Even the visible specifications alone had the high Stat values befitting an orange-grade Ability Stone.
My expectations rose.
‘Let’s see......’
HUMMM.
I used my Trait.
-Can dominate beasts.
-The Grade and number of targets that can be dominated vary according to the user’s Level and Mana Stat.
-Affects both beasts and beast-type monsters.
“Hmm......”
Honestly,
I could not tell.
‘Is this good? Or bad?’
One thing was certain.
There was no penalty.
And considering how useful controlling spirits had been for me so far,
‘......Maybe it’s pretty good?’
That was why I felt conflicted.
Spirits were highly versatile,
but this Ability seemed as though it could control a different number of targets,
and there would probably be a significant difference in actual combat power too.
‘This should sell for a lot. Do I sell it? Or wait and use it myself?’
Orange-grade Ability Stones could only be used after obtaining a 1st Advancement Class.
And I only had one Ability Slot,
so if I wanted to use this,
I would have to erase Multiple Spirit Command.
‘Removing an Ability costs a fortune too......’
I was torn,
but there was no reason to decide immediately.
‘I’ll think about it once I get out.’
Either way,
there was no question that I had obtained an enormous reward that should not normally be expected from Floor 2.
“Let’s go!”
The request was not completely finished yet.
The caravan members still had to remain safe until we reached the destination.
“Hm? Where? Ah, the caravan. Right. We should go.”
“Ah. Wait. This corpse. Let’s take it with us!”
“Why?”
“Evidence!”
“Do we really need......?”
I led Kane, who seemed to be losing his mind more and more, back toward the caravan.
“Oh! You two! You made it back safely! No, before that, why are you back already?”
“We killed the one controlling the beasts. This thing here.”
“Oh!? Horrifying.”
“I don’t think the attacks will be nearly as bad as before.”
“......I see. It certainly is a monster. Well done.”
“Caravan Master, the moonlight is wonderful. How about a drink......!”
“What is wrong with Captain Kane?”
“A side effect of his Ability. A minor one......”
“Ah.”
We successfully reunited with the welcoming Caravan Master.
Over the following two days,
there were still a few minor attacks.
But compared to the Demonized Human’s attacks,
they were nothing.
[The Perfect Clear Conditions for Floor 2 of the Labyrinth have been fulfilled.]
[All caravan members safely escorted (12/12), Demonized Human defeated (1/1).]
[1 Level-Up Point awarded!]
[An Achievement has been created. An additional bonus will be applied when obtaining a Class.]
As expected.
‘Long live Perfect Clears!’
I received another Level-Up Point.
Even excluding the bonus toward obtaining a Class,
it was a worthwhile reward.
A smile naturally spread across my face.
At that moment,
the Caravan Master patted my shoulder.
“Char, wait at the inn with the caravan members. Once I finish meeting the lord and return, I will make certain you are properly rewarded.”
“Hmm. I’m sorry, but I think I have to leave now.”
“Hm? Were you not planning to stay in Edelin anyway?”
“Well......”
I glanced toward the blue portal near Edelin’s city gate.
The exit I needed to take,
apparently invisible to them,
was blinking as though urging me onward.
Looking at something like this,
the place certainly felt like an artificially created world.
But.
“......There’s something I have to go take care of.”
“Is that so? Hah. That is unfortunate. You helped us tremendously. I promised to reward you as well.”
“I already received rewards from defeating the Demonized Human.”
“No, no. That is different. You earned that yourself. My reward is another matter. The greater the merchant, the more important it is to properly repay what is owed. Do not make me into a petty man.”
“Char, at least have one drink before you go! We crossed the line between life and death together. We can’t just part ways like this! Right, everyone?!”
“That’s right!”
“Is there anyone here whose life Char didn’t save at least once?”
“No!”
The Caravan Master saying those things.
Captain Kane.
And all the caravan members shouting their agreement.
None of them looked like imaginary beings.
-The Labyrinth residents are fake? Impossible.
-Even if one were the god of the Labyrinth, creating all of them from nothing would be wasteful.
-It makes more sense to believe that the god of the Labyrinth created passages to other worlds.
Words supposedly spoken by a famous Mage suddenly felt remarkably convincing.
‘And I should collect the Caravan Master’s reward too.’
I had never heard anything about there being a time limit on using the exit anyway.
So.
“Hmm. Then...... how about just one drink?”
“Good!”
“Come on! Let’s go!”
That day,
I drank with the caravan members all day long.
Drinking with companions who had crossed the line between life and death together was enjoyable in itself.
But the reward I received the following day after waiting was even more satisfying.
“What do you think?”
“I love it. I really love it. Thank you!”
I could not suppress the broad grin spreading across my face as I looked at the Artifact spear the Caravan Master had handed me,
a faint bluish light flowing across it.
“It is a masterpiece granted by the lord of Edelin to be given to someone who distinguished himself. That should be sufficient, correct?”
“Of course! But then what about Captain Kane and everyone else......?”
“Do not worry about my people. I will take care of them.”
The Caravan Master looked unbelievably dependable when he said that.
“Until we meet again!”
“Take care, Char!”
“If you ever come back to Edelin......!”
Even though I knew I would probably never see them again,
I smiled as I exchanged farewells with the caravan members
and left the Labyrinth.
‘Another world......’
I had heard that some adventurers chose to remain inside the Labyrinth and live there.
I felt as though I could understand them a little now.
***
FLASH.
[You have cleared Floor 2 of the Labyrinth (Novice Bracket). Vitality increased by 1.]
My Stat rose alongside the message announcing that I had cleared Floor 2,
filling me with satisfaction.
‘Hmm.’
The moment the lingering light faded from my vision,
the sudden rise in temperature compared to the snow-covered lands of Floor 2 made it obvious that I had returned to Bartus.
‘Floor 2 really was cold.’
My increased Vitality had kept the cold from causing me any serious problems,
but warmth still felt far better.
“Whew......”
For now,
I had successfully completed another Perfect Clear on Floor 2 and returned safely.
I had unexpectedly gained two Levels,
raised Volante Footwork Stage 1 all the way to its maximum Level,
and evolved my spear art.
On top of that,
I had obtained rewards I never expected.
‘Very good. If I can just keep this going.’
It genuinely felt as though light was beginning to shine on my future.
But despite my satisfaction,
there was one thing that worried me slightly.
“Go. Cheol. Woo? You have returned?”
“Yes.”
“Yes. Confirmed. Cheoru, hm. The pronunciation......”
“Just call me Char. Everyone does.”
“Yes. Recorded. You may go.”
Even as I finished registering my return with the soldiers and turned away,
‘What am I supposed to do with this?’
The problem was that my rewards had been too excessive.
The reward from the Caravan Master was still easy enough to explain.
Walking around with ‘two’ long spears strapped to my back might look strange,
but people could simply assume one was a spare weapon.
[Edelin Long Spear (High-grade)]
-Attack Power +9
-A long-spear Artifact created by Master Craftsman Lues of Edelin, a city on Floor 2 of the Labyrinth. Possesses exceptional durability and power.
A ‘High-grade’ item,
the same Grade as the boots I was wearing.
An Artifact.
‘Attack Power +9...... wasn’t that supposed to add about as much force as gaining 9 Strength? Then even a light thrust......?’
Simply stroking the spear filled me with satisfaction
and constantly made me imagine ways to use it.
But my thoughts quickly shifted to the Ability Stone inside my clothes.
‘Has an orange Ability Stone ever appeared in the Novice Bracket before?’
I was unsure whether it was safe for me to dispose of it.
Fortunately,
there was someone I could consult.
“Hmm. I have heard rumors. No, perhaps legends would be more accurate.”
“Legends?”
I tilted my head at Jerik’s words.
He gave a hollow laugh.
“The Labyrinth is an unknown world where far more remains undiscovered than known, Char.”
“I know that.”
“To take an extreme example, no one yet knows why adventurers have never been reported to encounter other adventurers in the Novice Bracket. Nor do we understand why ten Labyrinth Cities all connect to the same Labyrinth.”
“Then......”
“It may attract attention, but there is no need to worry too much. So congratulations. Two jackpots in a row.”
“......Oh!”
Jerik’s answer reassured me.
“Are you going to sell it?”
“I’m thinking about it. It’s an orange Ability Stone with no penalty.”
Watching what happened to Kane had changed my view of Ability Stone penalties somewhat.
‘You can’t ignore penalties. Especially mental ones.’
That alone made Special Taming considerably more valuable in my eyes,
since it had no penalty whatsoever.
Of course,
I had the Goblin Basket,
which had a high chance of eliminating penalties anyway.
“......I can’t even use the Ability Stone right now, so I think I’ll sell it. Then I’ll buy a Spatial Pouch.”
I had considered buying better equipment too,
but now that I had obtained an Artifact long spear in Edelin,
my choice inevitably came down to a Spatial Pouch.
“You do not even bring back ordinary loot. Why do you need a Spatial Pouch?”
“......Well, that’s true now. But is it always going to be? If I don’t make enough money, I should at least bring back junk.”
“Oh?”
No.
Truthfully,
I was more worried about leaving a treasure basket like this sitting at home.
Carrying it in a backpack made me worry that it might break if something unexpected happened.
“Fine. An orange Stone will need to be sold in Area 8, so I will go with you. Unless you want to try going alone?”
“I’d be grateful if you came with me.”
Even I knew that if a Novice entered Area 8 alone,
they were likely to be overcharged in an already expensive higher district.
Bartus’s district system did not even treat you properly if your Grade was insufficient.
“Good. Since we are already talking about it, let us go now.”
In that sense,
Jerik,
who possessed the qualifications to live in Area 4,
was an excellent guardian for me.
And.
“Hmm. Special Taming. Just from the strange name, it sounds as though there should obviously be some kind of penalty......”
The merchant Rupes we met in Area 8 looked like the very picture of a crooked merchant.
“I......!”
“This friend has an appraisal ability that lets him inspect detailed information. There is no penalty.”
“Are you certain abou...... that? Hmm.”
Rupes had been about to scoff,
but the moment he saw the System window Jerik briefly showed him—
probably his Grade?—
his expression shifted into an awkward smile.
“What brings someone of your standing here......?”
“Enough. Char, show him the appraisal notes from earlier.”
“Yes. Here.”
I handed over the note on which I had written the details of the Special Taming Ability.
As the bald Rupes read it,
one eyebrow twitched slightly.
“This is...... remarkable. If it is true, of course.”
I wondered what exactly was so remarkable,
but Jerik did not react.
“You may bring an Appraiser when the sale is made. We will also speak to others besides you, so find a buyer according to your ability. The minimum sale price is 200 gold. Nothing below that. If the offer is in goods, we are willing to exchange it for a Spatial Pouch.”
For red Ability Stones,
an ordinary Ability Stone confirmed to have no penalty could be bought cheaply for around 10 gold.
Popular Ability Stones such as ‘Steel Body’ went for roughly 100 gold.
Considering that,
Jerik’s proposed price for Special Taming seemed reasonable.
“200 gold. Or a Spatial Pouch. Yes, understood. That should be more than sufficient. Give me three days.”
“Good.”
We made the same proposal to three merchants in Area 8, including Rupes.
Three days later,
Rupes was the first to contact us.
With terms far better than expected.