Barberian

Chapter 99: The Day Before the Storm (1)

A low shout drew the attention of the marauding mob at the inn door in my direction.

In my head, I labeled them as enemies, not guests.

There were three of them, a drunken female dwarf, a human and a dark elf sobering them up.

They wore no armor, but each had his own personal weapon.

The dwarf wears gauntlets on her fists, and the human has a dagger strapped to each thigh while the dark elf carries a wooden staff.

'Elven mage.'

This was the one to watch out for.

I remembered Ellie's spell against the boss minotaur earlier, a spell of immense power.

Not all elves would be as good as she was, but it never hurt to be careful.

[Nuer Erencia LV45]

[◆ 298th Puppet's Curse]

'She's got more potential than Grumpy.'

I instinctively opened the status window and saw a curse I hadn't seen in a long time.

The dwarf and human also have puppet curses, but at the beginning of level 30, and their curse was in the thousands.

The dark elf named Nuer, on the other hand, was nr. 298, the highest number I've ever seen.

And according to my big data, nine times out of ten people with that curse are either outlaws or reformed explorers.

It meant that there were a lot of guys with such bad personalities that they would cause trouble in front of a bar that hadn't even opened yet.

"What the fuck, bitch? You fucking whore, you fucking whore."

"Hey, stop."

The human woman halted the dwarf, who was about to take a step forward with a heavy hand.

Her eyes, glistening with lust, were locked on me in my suit.

"Don't you think it's too much of a waste to just beat the crap out of him? Couldn't we have some fun?"

"Fuck fun. It's more fun to laugh at your lives than it is to watch you stinking drunken bitches in front of someone else's store, so get the fuck out of my way when I'm trying to be polite. Fucking assholes."

"...What?"

The human woman's face changed at my fact-filled words.

A 6:4 mix of lust and anger.

"If you were sober, you'd go home and get some sleep, but why are you hanging out in front of someone else's store? Don't you have a home to go back to?"

"That's a bit of a mouthful. What do you care if we're here or not?"

"Because I work here."

The dwarf shouted at me.

"How dare you, an employee, talk shit in front of guests!"

"Why are you even a customer? We accept breastfeeding bitches and drunk bitches who want to f**k on the table, but we don't accept assholes like you who talk shit in public. Get the fuck out of here."

Diana agreed. Even without those assholes, she still had plenty of customers.

"What the hell, what's going on?"

"There were some bitches making a fuss outside the cozy winter night inn earlier, and Mr. Staff found them."

"Who's Mr. Staff?"

"The guy in the helmet over there. Oh, shit. His suit looks so ugly…This is it for today."

The harsh words were enough to attract the attention of pedestrians and bystanders on the street.

The combination of three armed women and an unarmed man in a suit drew even more attention.

"Mr. Staff, he's a man, isn't he in danger?"

"I don't know. Someone said he's an explorer. He must be a low-level explorer."

"It's a bit ominous to see drunk bitches armed...Shouldn't we call the guards?"

"Someone already went. But it's a long way to the guards, so I don't know if they'll be here soon."

Someone had already noticed the commotion and went to call the guards.

It was a good situation. Working at Diana's tavern had been rewarding, as the people who came and went were familiar.

"A low-level explorer? What does he think he's doing? If he gets bitten by a monster, he won't be able to move and will just fall asleep. How dare he be so presumptuous...!"

A drunken dwarf stomped away, sneering at the idea of a low-level explorer.

"Enough."

The dark elf Nuer blocked the dwarf's path with her staff.

"Moderation, you've attracted too much attention. Let's turn back."

The dwarf glared at Nuer.

"Eared. You're quite snobby for a wizard."

"Just because the boss treats you well doesn't mean we have to treat you like a prize, so behave yourself."

The dwarf and human snarled at Nuer.

'What, weren't they on the same side?'

I stared at them, dumbfounded by the sudden infighting.

From their conversation, it seemed that the dwarves and humans had a boss they served, and that Nuer was someone the boss gave special treatment to.

"Do as you please, but there's nothing good about your rowdy behavior in front of this inn, and we wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't said you were going to drink more."

"...Tsk."

"...Huh. I see."

The dwarf and human woman clicked their tongues at Nuer's words.

"What luck. Kak-tap!"

The dwarf spat a thick phlegm on the inn door.

"Consider yourself lucky, male. You almost became a pussy rug slave and barely survived."

"Let's do this some other time, I'll be nice to you. Phew."

They giggled and walked past me.

I laughed out loud at their brazenness.

"What do you guys think you're doing, just walking by with a straight face?"

"What?"

The words echoed through the eerily quiet streets, causing the dwarf and human to look back at me with blank expressions.

Nuer, the dark elf, sighed and scratched her forehead.

I ignored her and continued.

"I didn't expect reparations. But isn't it human decency to at least apologize?"

At my words, the dwarf and human looked at each other.

"...Reparations? Apology? Kahahahahak!"

At my obvious comment, the dwarf and human laughed out loud for a long time, as if a seizure button had been pushed.

I laughed, too, because it was so familiar.

"It's kind of ridiculous, isn't it, that you guys think it's okay to do this and not apologize. Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"

Hahahahahahaha!!!

The three's laughter echoed through the quiet street.

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

"You bastard-"

[Blessing of the Time of Judgment]

After a short silence, time passed slowly.

In the near-stasis of time, I stared at the dwarf's outstretched fist.

The gauntlet wrapped around her fist was transforming, radiating magic. It was an artifact.

But it was meaningless information. Attacks are only meaningful if they land.

My reach was much longer than the short dwarf's.

[Invest three free points in Strength?]

[Invest three free points in Agility?]

Enraged, I meant it.

The world went back to normal.

"Pinched, eh?"

The dwarf's face was in my grasp.

I could see the dwarf's face in slow motion as it realized the situation and turned into a look of horror.

It immediately grabbed the dwarf's face and slammed it to the ground.

"Koooooow!

"Kahaaaak!"

The dwarf screamed and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Ugh! What the hell!"

"Kehek!"

The people around fled, confused by the sudden battle.

The thick sandy dust rose even higher with their movements, obstructing their vision.

I immediately activated my perception.

My vision was blocked by my helmet, but I could see the world around me as if it were in the palm of my hand.

A blast from behind.

The one with the dagger leapt into the air and tried to bring it down with her weight.

I reached my arm behind my back and grabbed the hand that held the dagger.

"Uh, how did you know-"

"Aaaaahhhhhhhh!"

I spun around, snapped her arm, and grabbed the defenseless creature by the throat.

"Get off me, get off me, get off me!"

She pounded on my arm with her fists and legs, but I continued to hold her in midair.

"...gulp, gulp..."

Eventually, the frothing at the mouth sagged.

I threw her onto the dwarf's stomach, which was stuck in the dirt and looked at the dark elf, who hadn't done anything until now.

"Kghhhh!"

Her supposed allies were down, and the dark elf, Nuer, was clapping me on the back in admiration.

"Awww, that's refreshing. I never thought it would be so hard to be in the company of such inferior people. They're outlaws, anyway, and they're stupid. I've told them a couple times not to do it, but they won't listen."

"...?"

The sudden change in tone confused me for a moment.

Level 45. My body, which had been prepared for a battle with an opponent who was almost as strong as Nate Elin, went limp for a moment.

"What the hell, I thought you were going to fight too?"

"No? What mage would get into melee with a warrior your size without preparation, and why should I fight? I was trying to stop them."

That's true. But... hmm.

Nuer, the dark elf, looked at the two of them on the ground, cleared her throat, and spoke to me.

"Sigh. It's a shame to let the contribution go to waste, but... what the hell. They're on the Explorers Alliance wanted list, so I'm sure you'll get credit if you let the guards take care of them."

"...Wait a minute. What are you doing, a bitch, aren't you an outlaw?"

Outlaws don't abandon their side so easily.

Paradoxically, a captured ally might give away all of their information.

But Noir's tone was one of contempt for the outlaw.

"Me? Hmph."

She hesitated for a moment, then swayed her hips.

She gestured to the explorer's badge tucked into her pants.

Not a low-level explorer's badge, made of wood, but a mid-level explorer's badge, made of silver.

It was stamped with the seal of a reformed explorer.

***

"Oh, and drink this. It's a healing potion. It's a small price to pay for the repairs."

The self-proclaimed reformed explorer tossed me a water bottle and a coin pouch, then blended into the crowd and disappeared.

I didn't drink the potion, as my injuries were minimal and I felt strangely reluctant to use it.

The pouch contained eight silver coins, enough to pay for a door and some food.

As I dusted off my clothes, I thought about Nuer the Dark Elf.

The words of the stunned dwarf and human were troubling, and there was too much behavior that didn't add up to a simple reformed explorer.

'Could she be a spy or something?'

Like a dark hero infiltrating a villainous organization and taking it down from within?

"Eh. It's a fucking bumper crop."

Suddenly, my mind was racing.

I shook my head and focused on the situation in front of me.

Only when the guards arrived did things calm down a bit.

"Sorry for the trouble. This is what we should have done, but we didn't."

The platoon leader of the security platoon apologized in a sincere tone, her face pale.

Maybe it's because I'm wearing a suit, but somehow I feel like I'm being treated better than usual.

"It's okay, I heard you give credit for catching the idiots."

"Ah, yes, we're offering two points of credit for every wanted outlaw you capture. Here are two-point contribution documents. You can take it to the Explorers' Alliance."

The platoon leader handed me the contribution papers. They didn't look like Gurmimi and Reichem-class outlaws.

Two plus two equals four.

With the 10 points from the last trip to the Labyrinth, I'm 16 points away from being promoted to Intermediate Explorer.

"And that helmet... are you, by any chance, Mr. Balkan?"

I was slightly surprised to see the guard platoon leader call my name out of the blue.

"How do you know my name?"

"Most people who drink around here know it, and your name has been mentioned as an explorer of note lately. More than that, I have a question for you."

The guard platoon leader eyed me warily.

From what I'd picked up in the tavern, a guard platoon leader was a pretty elite position.

There was no reason for her to be so low-key unless she was asking for a favor, but she opened her mouth cautiously.

"Do you by any chance remember a woman named Talian who was the target of your last outlaw capture request?"

I can't remember her.

Her real name is Reichem, illusionist and outlaw of Clan Blues.

Professor Arpo's ten-year teaching assistant, a crazed graduate student who was eventually corrupted.

I caught her in the Labyrinth after she went on a rampage with Gurmimi, an official of the Blues Clan.

"Yes. Is there something wrong?"

"I'm interrogating her for information, and she won't open her mouth to tell me anything but repeatedly asks me to bring her 'a tall, muscular male explorer wearing a helmet' ... and you're the only one who matches her description, so I asked."

"Are you saying she's looking for me?"

I scratched my head.

'There's no reason for that crazy grad student to be looking for me?'

"Yes. That's why I need you to come to the guard post as soon as possible. I'll give you a reward-"

-pop.

The sound seemed strangely loud in the distance.

Naturally, my head snapped in the direction of the sound.

Diana dropped her shopping bag and stared blankly in my direction.

"...Balkan?"

Diana's gaze flicked to the mess around the inn, to the trampled food, to the captured outlaws, to me, sitting on the dirt floor, talking to the guard platoon leader.

Through her bleary eyes, her amber pupils trembled with anxiety.

Chapter 100: The Day Before the Storm (2)

"What the hell happened..."

Her voice was shaking slightly.

Her hands wandered as if she didn't know what to do with the sudden situation.

The air seemed to vibrate somehow, perhaps due to the intensifying emotions.

Diana's entire body glowed blue, and a chill emanated from her.

Unlike Eli, who could wield fire magic, Diana exuded a bitter chill.

Her cynical eyes looked like they could turn the stunned outlaws into frozen humans in an instant.

"It's okay, Ms. Diana."

I looked at her and opened my mouth to speak.

"It was no big deal, I'm fine."

"..."

Diana barely caught her breath as I spoke again.

The chill that had been radiating from her had faded.

She cautiously moved to my side, her eyes dripping with worry.

I explained the situation to her in a reasonable manner.

When she heard that I had subdued the drunken outlaws, her face hardened.

"That's a big deal. Are you okay? Are you hurt?!"

"I'm fine, it was only against some third-rate thugs."

I stood up, pounding my chest with my fist to show I was fine.

The vibrations in my pectoralis major muscle sent an earthquake through Diana's eyes. I laughed as she closed her eyes in panic.

I realized that I was the one who had the problem.

"Ah. Clothes."

I skillfully subdued the dwarf, but the dirt kicked up and stained my pristine suit.

"I apologize for the mess."

"I'm sorry, I can always buy you another suit, and you are far more important to me than this one."

The words stunned me, and I turned to look at Diana.

Her face was flushed with worry, and her cheeks were slightly warmed.

I felt a little flattered and stroked the back of her neck with my hand.

It was quite embarrassing.

"Wow... that's how you get a guy on your side..."

The guard platoon leader, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation next to us, expressed her admiration.

Diana and I coughed in unison.

"Hmph. Isn't that the end of the story?"

"Ah, yes. As I said before, I would appreciate it if you could come to the guard station as soon as possible, then."

The guard platoon leader gave the guards the withdrawal sign.

The group of guards left, leaving the mauled dwarf and the human outlaw on the ground.

The onlookers gradually dispersed as the incident came to a close.

"So, barkeep. Are you open for business today?"

To be fair, only those who were interested in the case dispersed.

The customers, who were about to enjoy a meal with Diana's cooking, turned to her with sullen faces and pleading eyes.

Diana smiled bitterly and looked at the ingredients on the dirt floor.

"Mmm… I'm afraid we don't have any mains, but I can serve you some appetizers."

"That's enough! Open the door!"

"Sake! Sake! Sake! Sake! Let's drink and die!"

Diana opened the door to the inn, and the excited patrons shouldered their way to the tables, dancing in unison.

It was more than Diana could handle on her own so I brushed as much dirt off my suit as I could and turned to Diana.

"Let me help you, too."

"No, thank you, I'm fine, I'll take it easy today-"

"Kkhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

The guests who had been dancing excitedly just moments before coughed urgently.

Their eyes flicked to my suit-clad body.

"Well, ma'am, as a fellow female, there are certain manners."

"When would we day laborers ever accept a drink from a man like that, please have mercy on us, master."

Diana looked down at her guests with a sour expression, then turned to me with a nonchalant face.

"You don't have to do this, Balkan. Go upstairs and get some rest."

Diana pushed me off her back and up the stairs.

"We're entitled to a drink from a dick in a suit, too!"

Over the shouting from down the bar, a smiling Diana looked up at me.

"I'm sorry you had a rough night, especially at the end..."

"It was no big deal, so don't take it too hard. I was having fun."

We looked at each other for a moment and smiled.

"Yeah. Take it easy, good night. Balkan."

"Yep. You too, Diana."

A bright-eyed Diana looked at me the whole way down the stairs of the inn.

I entered my room, stripped off my suit, and flopped down on the bed.

I closed my eyes quietly, listening to the muffled laughter of the banquet.

The tumultuous day was coming to an end.

***

A dark night.

The Blues Clan's building stood in the entertainment district of the Outlaw District.

At the highest point of the building, a woman with several male slaves at her side slammed a table at the top of her voice.

"Fuck! The elite have been taken again?!"

"Hey. Vesta. Did I take those guys? I just saw them being taken away by the guards. They were already being taken away when I saw them."

The dark elf Nuer smirked at Vesta, the leader of Clan Blues.

Nuer made no mention of the helmeted man who had defeated the elite.

To be fair, it was obvious where the sparks would land.

'He's an interesting fellow, but I can't let him be enslaved.'

Noir remembered the man in front of the inn.

The way he'd beaten up the outlaws with such gutsy toughness, he wasn't bad at all.

"Someone of your caliber would have been able to subdue any number of guards and bring them back, wouldn't you?"

"What did you expect me to do when I found your men drunk and disorderly in front of Diana Ordia's inn?"

Vesta stiffened at the words.

No matter how forgotten a person was, their name meant something to those who lived in the same era.

"I suppose it was unavoidable, and I apologize for yelling. I've been hearing a lot of bad news lately."

It started with the death of someone who seemed promising, the fire mage Deluna.

It's a shame to lose a mage, but she died in the Labyrinth, so I suppose it can't be helped.

Next came the capture of Kurumi, a clan officer, and Reichem, a mage recruited from the Academy.

This was a loss far beyond that of Deluna.

The simultaneous loss of such important and capable personnel was catastrophic.

Especially since Reichem had been recruited by Vesta herself.

It had happened just a few days before, and now they'd lost the elite troops right under their leadership.

But Vesta's misfortune didn't end there.

"Vesta!!!"

While Vesta was lost in thought, a member of the Blues Clan burst through the door with a shocked look on his face.

"This bastard came in without knocking?!"

"I'm sorry, it's an urgent matter, the Third Slave House is being attacked!"

"What?! What kind of bastard dares!"

"That, that. It's a mid-tier explorer from Wind Valley and a nameless black short-haired maiden! With our current troop level, we can't stop them..."

A fairy archer and a maiden?

It was a bizarre combination that would never meet except in the most unlikely of circumstances.

"Call in all the bitches you can spare and stop them. There's only two of them at most!"

"Yes, yes!"

The members rushed out of the room.

Vesta felt like a shipwreck floating in the ocean with the news coming at her like waves.

She felt cornered.

'Damn it. Why now, when the delivery is due soon...!'

There were not enough slaves to supply [them].

When you don't have enough slaves, you have to make do with the quality of the slaves.

But unless you kidnap someone or beat them into submission, it's not easy to get quality slaves.

As she pondered this, she remembered something she had thought about but never acted on because the stakes were too high.

A plan that was both risky and tempting, a plan that was made even more so by the recruitment of Reichem.

It's almost time for the Academy's grand banquet, the graduation ceremony.

'...Being hunted by the Academy is better than being annihilated by [them].'

Her vision narrows and her rational judgment is clouded.

A calmer mind might have come to a different conclusion, but Vesta could only see one number.

"..."

The dark elf, Nuer, looked down at Vesta wordlessly, then quietly left the room.

Once out on the deserted streets, the red lights and moonlight of the red-light district cast shadows under his feet.

"Miao-"

She mimicked the sound of a small cat, and Nuer's shadow wriggled and morphed into the form of a black cat.

"Meow-"

The black cat emerged from the shadows.

Nuer leaned down and tied a note to the black cat's front paw.

"It looks like [those guys] will be surfacing again soon, Alliance Leader."

The black cat's red eyes narrowed at Nuer's words, and it melted into his shadow once more.

The dark elf sighed, finally relaxing.

"Huh. Another one today~"

Nuer, the shadow of the Explorers' Alliance, the elite spy, slipped into the darkness.

Her skin was black, so she could easily blend into the darkness and disappear.

***

Diana sat at the desk in her room, staring at the artifact she'd purchased in the Outlaw District, a small silver ring.

The artifact, which slowly erect her nipples, worked to desensitize her mammary glands and slow the development of her milk.

This helped to somewhat suppress the effects of the Breast Milk Stat Drain Curse.

It was also meant to prevent her from weakening herself.

It makes sense to put it on. It's the right thing to do.

-It's okay.

"..."

But why?

-I'm fine, Diana.

She hesitated to put the ring on.

Flashes of the outlaws and of Balkan, who had fought them and left them dusty, flashed through my mind.

Every time he entered the labyrinth, she was reminded of Balkan's torn and pierced armor and the way he tried to cover his wounds.

Hardship and adversity are inevitable when you choose the path of an explorer.

And along the way, there is a very high probability of death.

Balkan is growing rapidly, he is a far cry from what he was when she first encountered him in the back alleys.

'Still, he's not particularly strong.'

At least from Diana's perspective, Balkan was still weak.

Diana's eyes drifted to the bucket of water beside her.

A bucket filled with her own breast milk.

Diluted with her own power, it was the densest fluid a woman could produce.

At the sight of it, her breasts throbbed, the same breasts that had been so mercilessly ravaged by Balkan's milking.

An addictive pleasure bubbled up from one side of her chest.

Balkan milking would weaken her but it makes him stronger.

It also meant he would be safer.

Diana, faced with the hellish multiple choice question, closed her eyes tightly.

Is it her own destruction or...The safety of the man she loved.

After much deliberation, Diana set the breast milk suppression artifact down in her desk drawer.

"...Just a little bit. Just a little bit later..."

She mumbled something apologetic and closed the drawer.

For now, it would be okay to hold off on using it.

***

The next day Diana served breast milk coffee.

Chapter 101: The Day Before the Storm (3)

It was a day like any other.

I woke up and said good morning to Diana as usual.

I sat at the same table as usual with Diana and we ate breakfast together.

It's nothing special, but enjoying the simple things in life has a positive effect on your mind.

Even after showing my face, I ate with my helmet on.

"Ho, just in case other customers barge in..."

For some reason, Diana seemed to be more cautious than me.

Anyway, after eating, it was time for coffee.

Without thinking much, I drank the milk coffee that Diana served.

[Diana Ordia's breast milk]

[Random stats increase by 1 due to Diana Ordia's 'Curse of the ■Milk Climax ■Tat de■■]

[Strength: (11+10) → (11+11)]

[Nam Soo-Jin LV.23]

[Stamina:(8+11) Strength:(11+11) Dexterity:(10+10) Wisdom:(1+4) Finesse:(2)]

[Stat Bonus from Stat Drain: +1 Stamina, +1 Strength, +1 Wisdom]

[Free Points: 0]

I stared blankly at the status window that appeared out of nowhere.

"What's wrong?"

I turned back to Diana.

She stirred her baby milk into my coffee and looked at me as if something was wrong.

Her hands fidget with her plate, and she can't quite make eye contact.

Diana pretends not to notice.

A similar yet different situation to the last time I drank a milk latte.

That time, I asked if I could breastfeed myself. It was a free stat boost and an opportunity I couldn't pass up.

This time, on the other hand, Diana served herself a breast milk latte.

Sure, it was the milk she'd pumped in Arachne's miracle locker room, but it was ...!

'...Isn't that, in effect, tacit permission to serve her own breast milk?'

I was stunned for a moment.

"Hmm, do you not like the taste?"

"...No."

Oops.

I sipped my breast milk coffee again.

The savory, sweet flavor of breast milk and the rich, aged female smell washed over me.

A concentrated liquid secreted by a woman of childbearing age for the child that will one day be born.

I apologize to the children, but I must preempt them.

"I could eat this every day."

"...hmm, is that so...?"

"Yeah, but the coffee flavor kind of gets in the way. I like the flavor of the milk so much that I just want to eat the milk."

"..."

Diana blushed for a moment, biting her lower lip slightly, and bowed her head deeply.

"...Ma, if there's milk next time...I'll make it again..."

"..."

The milk is gone.

Feeling strangely embarrassed, I gave a silent affirmation.

'Ha. A labyrinth city where it's nice to live.'

***

I drank Diana's breastmilk coffee and headed to the guardhouse in the early morning hours.

I walked for nearly an hour and a half, familiarizing myself with my surroundings and gazing at the massive walls that stretched out before me.

The wall that separates the noble district from the explorer district.

'This is the first time I've ever come this far,' I thought.

The guards are divided into branches along the massive wall that separates the east, west, south, and north sections, and I was visiting the eastern explorer's guard.

As I approached, the guard, who had been looking around, straightened her back and straightened her spear with a grunt.

"What brings you here?"

The blue female guard at the front of the wall stiffened as she saw me.

She must be new, because her face hid her nervousness as her eyes scanned my muscular body warily.

"Hey. Come out here."

"Uh. Sorry."

The other female guard shoved the newcomer out of the way.

"Are you the man in the helmet...Mr. Balkan?"

"Yes."

"Show me your explorer's badge."

The process went quickly.

"Junior Explorer Balkan. You have been identified. I'll escort you to the platoon leader, if you'll follow me."

The guard led the way into the guardhouse, and after walking straight through the entrance, I could see the stairs leading down to the basement.

The dank, humid air of the basement hit me like a ton of bricks.

-Kaang!

A harsh clang rang out as soon as I stepped on it.

I turned my head toward the source and saw a bushy-haired woman glaring at me over the bars, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.

The clanking of the bars against the restraints on her wrists was the source of the sound.

"You can ignore them. They're outlaw scum who won't do the world any good if they stay alive."

"Hee-hee."

-Bang! Bang!

The bushy-haired woman continued to hit the bars with the restraints.

"She's whining for food. If I starve her for a few more days, she'll come to her senses and realize her place."

-Boom.

The big-haired woman stopped. It must have been true.

"Now, wait-! I was wrong-"

The guard didn't look back, but continued on to her goal.

The basement reminded me of a cramped prison cell.

Human rights were a luxury to the outlaws, and there were no walls for privacy, only a gaping black grate separating them.

This meant I could see the guards walking down the hall and myself in plain view.

"Hmph, cock!"

"Hey male, don't just go away, just give me one, please, please, I've been rotting in here for a year already, I can't even masturbate because of the restraints!"

So it wasn't easy to ignore the outlaws who were throwing their hands up and screaming at me from both sides.

The guard in front of me bowed her head in embarrassment.

"...Sorry, sir. The guards are mostly women, so this hasn't happened before..."

"It's okay. I'm used to it."

"...Yes?"

"Let's go."

The outlaws, who were having a seizure because they couldn't release their pent-up lust, forced their arms into the bars and swung.

-pop.

One of the outlaws' fingers lightly touched my arm.

"That little punk! I had a full orgasm and peed my pants just from touching that guy!"

"Bitch."

"...Four-day fast for all."

The guards chastised the outlaws for their sudden behavior.

Further down the hall, another set of stairs appeared.

"From here, the outlaws are comparable to mid-level explorers. I can guarantee your safety, but I want you to be on guard just in case."

I nodded, and we descended to the second floor of the guardhouse.

It was much smaller and quieter than the first floor, probably because of the number of intermediate level outlaws.

This time, I reached my destination without incident.

"Ah. Welcome, this must be a strange place for you."

The guard platoon leader greeted me from the corner of the second floor, peering over the bars.

"I think I saw a world I didn't know, so it wasn't too bad."

"I'm glad you think so, sir. Normally I'd have to serve you coffee upstairs, but the bitches started freaking out this morning."

The guard platoon leader turned her head again to the figure beyond the bars.

Following his gaze, the rabbit-headed man and a plain-looking woman came into view.

"Hiiii!"

The woman who immediately convulsed with a frightened expression upon seeing me was Gurmimi, an executive of the Blood Clan.

"...You're here."

The woman who stares at me with an ostensibly polite but fearful expression is Reichem, a crazy graduate student who holds a ten-year grudge.

Why the hell did she call me all the way here?

***

Reichem stared at the man in front of her.

A huge body filled with muscles and a helmet that added to his intimidating appearance.

As soon as she saw him, a paroxysm of memories pressed on her mind.

A man who was mercilessly tearing apart an unidentified monster that appeared on the 5th floor with an axe.

Reichem and Gurmimi had been captured and witnessed the scene.

And as he swung his axe, they saw a figure more like a beast than a man, a terrifying beast.

The scene of the battle was burned into their minds.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo!"

Gurmimi, the rabbit woman, exhaled in horror as soon as she saw Balkan, her eyes falling to the ground.

"So. Why did you suddenly ask me to come?"

Balkan asked, and Reichem looked away from Gurmimi for a moment before looking back up at him.

"I am a woman who knows how to wait. I was exploited for ten years by an evil professor."

Reichem nodded in respect.

Unconsciously, she crouched down in front of the predator.

"You waited long enough to become an outlaw, but that's none of my business. Tell me what you want, I don't have time to waste in a place like this."

"...Haha. Before that."

Reichem glared at the guard platoon leader and the rest of the guards.

"Ha. Are you telling me to get lost?"

The guard platoon leader laughed with glee, but Reichem remained silent.

If she wasn't going to make a statement, it was on the guard platoon leader.

"...I apologize for entrusting you with such a task. They're a bad bunch, so be careful."

"It's okay. Just make sure I get paid well."

At Balkan's reply, the platoon of guards moved away from them.

They left a safe distance between them, just in case, but no sound of conversation could be heard.

'...Shit. What the hell?'

At this point, Balkan had a strange feeling.

Balkan didn't understand why Reichem wanted to talk to him alone.

'What's the point of this asshole? Why is she trying to drag me into this?'

Maybe it was because she was a graduate student, but he didn't know what she was thinking.

"You. What's your purpose?"

"Nothing in particular, but..."

Reichem spoke up immediately.

"I'm a woman who knows how to wait. I had the patience to rot under that bitch for at least ten years, and my sentence is no more than ten years."

Being an outlaw doesn't come with a mandatory death sentence.

For Reichem, there were mitigating factors.

Reichem filled Balkan in on her background.

She was an illusionist from the Academy who worked as a slave under Professor Arpo, a labyrinth ecologist.

Professor Arpo, who built up quite a reputation with the research results she dedicated and even succeeded in creating relic artifacts by supplementing them.

Balkan threw up his hands.

"So. What, you're telling me that you're so talented that you have the backing of a professor, and that without you, the research would suffer, and that she'd bail you out?"

"Maybe, but that's not what I was going to say."

'I'll kill myself if I have to go back under that professor's thumb again.'

Reichem saw great promise in Balkan's behavior in the Labyrinth.

The way he'd seen through her illusionary magic so easily recognized by the few enemies, and his terrifying power.

He may be a low-level explorer now, but one day he will soar while she is here to pay for her sins.

Her sentence was ten years and in that time, he could have soared and reigned in the sky.

It might seem like a leap of faith, but Reichem could still see the image of Balkan tearing at the abomination.

Ten years from now, when she emerged from this horrible prison could someone who once antagonized him live a normal life?

Wouldn't he remember his grudge and unleash all sorts of retribution that would make a normal life impossible?

Reichem lifted her head slightly and looked up at him.

Behind his helmet, a pair of spine-chillingly menacing eyes stared down at her.

'This means retribution.'

Alarm bells went off in Reichem's survival instincts and there was one way she could save herself.

In order to not incur the wrath of the man who would grow into a man of considerable influence in the Labyrinth City after she served her sentence and to appease his wrath, she would have to do everything in her power to make him feel better.

However there was one card in her hand.

"Wouldn't you like to take out a whole clan of outlaws?"

"Hey, you asshole!"

Gurmimi, who was beside her, looked at Reichem in disbelief.

"...Hmm?"

Balkan laughed bitterly at the betrayal in front of him.

Chapter 102: The Day Before the Storm (4)

This guy suddenly says something funny.

"Wouldn't you like to take down an outlaw clan, by any chance?"

This was her way of admitting that she had deadly information, and that she might give it to me.

"Hey. You asshole!"

Given the seizure of Gurmimi, who was locked up with her, and Reichem's origins, this was likely information about Clan Blues, a small to medium-sized clan of criminals whose main focus is slave trading and all sorts of dirty, nasty things.

'It's also where Grumpy was enslaved.'

Two contribution points for one wanted outlaw.

With a clan of this size, there must be at least a dozen of them, and there's a reward for catching the bad guys.

It makes my mouth water but I must not be too greedy since it could be a trap, or she could be using the information against me.

The nervousness in her eyes makes it seem pointless, but it never hurts to be cautious.

"Couldn't you have just called those guards, and why did you single me out to make the offer?"

"If I simply want to blow the whistle and reduce my sentence, I may do so. But I want to give you this information."

We talked a bit more, and I figured her out.

She's afraid that one day, when her sentence is up and she gets out, I'm going to retaliate.

So she's handing over information that could be used by me, hoping to stay out of my sight rather than get a reduced sentence.

To be honest, I hadn't been paying attention since the commission was completed, but this is a different story.

"You're not afraid of the clan's retaliation? Are you out of your mind?!"

"Ugh. Do you really think the clan can survive in this Labyrinth City for ten years? It's a good place to make a quick buck, but it's not a place to stay for ten years."

"That's-"

Gurmimi and Reichem argued, but Gurmimi couldn't easily refute Reichem's words.

Even Gurmimi, who had risen to a position of leadership, was not convinced that the group would survive for another decade.

"Forget about that outlaw clan," she says, "you'd be better off lining up somewhere else."

Reichem looked at me as she said that.

Apparently, to her, I was that 'line'.

"Before you say anything, I need you to promise me one thing."

"Promise?"

"It's not much to ask, but when I get out of this prison one day...don't trample on me."

She felt like a convict who had been in prison for 10 years, reformed and improved herself, and was begging for leniency because I would make her life hard when she got out.

There was no reason not to take advantage of the situation when the other person was making her own case.

"I'll judge that after hearing your story."

Reichem hesitated for a moment before speaking, realizing the implications of my words.

"Clan Blues is a clan whose main business is slave trading. But things haven't been going so well lately."

Slave trading, and it's not going well.

How does one make a living in a world where the fist is closer than the law?

"That's why the hobgoblin shaman's staff was used to mass-produce idiot slaves."

Though risky, there were plenty of ways to create slaves without going through the legal process.

I glanced at Gurmimi beside me and her fluttering eyes quickly averted my gaze.

The reaction was on point, which means Reichem's confession was true.

"But since we were caught and the staff was taken away soon after, it must be quite difficult for the higher-ups…as the leader, Vesta."

Yeah, her business is on the rocks, and she must be pretty nervous.

"Also, are you aware that the Academy is having a graduation ceremony soon?"

"Of course."

I know. I even got the suit tailored to wear yesterday but why did she go from talking about slaves to the Academy?

"...Wait. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Reichem was silent for a moment, then spoke.

"The Blues Clan might attack on the day of the Academy's graduation."

***

The word 'Academy' must have a curse attached to it.

What the hell, getting into so many damn incidents.

"...Really, that's what she said?"

"Yes."

"Huh... Crazy, demented assholes..."

When I shared the information I'd gleaned from Reichem, the guard platoon commander scratched her head and looked shocked.

If it was a secret from some outlaw clan, I'd keep it to myself, but this was too dangerous for me to have in my possession.

It was information that directly related to Ellie's safety at the graduation ceremony and could cost the lives of the students.

"Are they out of their mind? Outlaws are targeting Academy students, and at graduation? That's just suicide."

The Academy is one of the most powerful forces in Labyrinth City. It wasn't a place that a mere outlaw clan could look up to.

"From what I've heard, things are pretty bad over there, too. If they succeed, they'll make a fortune, if they fail, they'll be annihilated."

"...Maybe..."

The guard platoon leader muttered quietly.

Might, which means they might not.

Aside from the bravado, Reichem's information was highly subjective.

She seemed to be 100% sure that she was right, but she didn't know how it would look to others.

"Okay, well, I guess I'd better contact the Academy just in case."

"I guess we should."

It was always better to be prepared for anything, considering the possible damage.

The guard platoon leader ordered the guards to retrieve the communications artifact.

I've given them the information, so they can communicate with the Academy on their own.

"You've done a great job. What kind of magic did you use?"

"Magic, that's a big word."

"No! If those guys really do come on the day of the Academy Graduation Ceremony…you've really done something big."

The platoon leader of the guard applauded my efforts and gave me a sideways glance.

It was a suspicious situation, one that might at first glance seem like I was in league with an outlaw group, but this guard platoon leader knew I was working at Diana's inn.

"Even if you say that, I won't even get a single beer."

"Haha, it's us who owe you one, here's your contribution papers."

"Oh...!"

The platoon leader handed me the one-point contribution paper.

I thought I would at most get a few coins, but I never thought I would get contribution points.

I chatted with the guard platoon leader for a bit and left the guardhouse.

There was one month left until the next labyrinth trip so I decided to devote myself to training in the meantime.

Naturally, I turned to the Explorers' Union.

The time for training has arrived.

...Although I have a few things to do before then.

***

Balkan came to the Explorers' Union, which was bustling as usual.

"Wow. Did you see the holy lady from earlier?"

"Uh. She smiled so fucking benevolently, I almost thought it was the same woman, just a different race."

"I can't believe she has to stay a virgin for the rest of her life with that face. If it were me, I'd kill myself."

"I wonder if Mother Earth Order would approve of anal sex?"

"Ugh. You crazy assholes. Will you shut the fuck up? You guys are going to get arrested for heresy."

'Did Serif come and go?'

The explorers were talking excitedly to each other about Serif.

'Speaking of which, I should go to the temple.'

The keyword "temple" reminded me that I needed to pay Serif for the damage.

I was going to get all my errands done today.

I went to the floor for junior explorers and stood in line to register the contribution papers I had received so far.

The teller greeted Balkan with a friendly demeanor.

"What brings you here?" he asked.

"I'm here to settle my contribution papers."

"Oh, I see!"

The tired employee's complexion brightened at Balkan's words.

Those who brought contributions were different from the low-level explorers who were just complaining and swearing, the common slobs.

This is because the contribution points were collected by those who are not just undeveloped explorers who live hand to mouth, but rather those who are serious about developing the labyrinth and becoming respectable mid-level explorers.

At the very least, it meant he was a serious explorer.

'Besides, this guy...'

The teller's eyes fell on Balkan's helmet.

A muscular big man in a helmet.

A man who had been mentioned in recent months by several explorers, not to mention the staff of the Explorers' Union.

'Of course. He is the leader's disciple.'

"You can give me the papers!"

At the teller's friendly response, Balkan pulled the papers from his arms and handed them to the man.

Two cards worth 5 points each, two cards worth 2 points each and one card worth 1 point.

"15 contribution points, 15 in total."

The teller, who had raised his voice for a moment, fell silent again.

The tellers next to him looked at him and the common emotion was surprise.

Of course, a contribution score of 15 was no surprise.

There were plenty of people in the entire population of Explorers who were scrambling for promotions.

However, if a sentence is added before this, the story becomes a little different.

'In less than half a year as an Explorer, he grew to the point where he accumulated 15 contribution points...?'

This kind of growth was rare.

"That's insane talent. Does this mean the Alliance Leader didn't take him on as a disciple for nothing? What kind of blessing did he get?"

"If he's already at 15 points, he'll be an intermediate explorer within the year, right?"

"You never know. There are a lot of rookies who start out shining and lose. I heard that Lizard Girl or something quit being an explorer not long ago."

"But I still have two five-point contribution papers."

"Oh, yeah. Is that guy still with the party?"

"Who did you run into in the labyrinth the other day, the same party as that crazy breastfeeding bitch?"

"Ugh. Let's go."

He's talented after all. No, he'll get over it. Should I recruit him to the party?

Several of the Union's resident explorers have tailored their own plans for Balkan.

"I'm sorry..."

"No, no. It's nothing to apologize for."

Balkan gestured toward the bowing staff.

'As much as they care about me, I care about them.'

I don't plan to stay a low-level explorer forever. Nor will I be content to be a mid-level explorer.

I need to look further and higher.

It definitely helps to grow and get more experience, meet more parties, and make more connections.

The more interested they are in me, the faster and more opportunities will come my way.

Of course, some people will be jealous and malicious, like Galen, but I just have to axe them from the front.

While Balkan was thinking this, the teller was processing the contribution papers Balkan handed him and noticed a familiar pattern.

"City, temple issued...?"

The teller mumbled, then covered his mouth in disbelief.

One of the places that had issued Balkan's contribution papers was the Mother Earth Order.

The explorers looked at Balkan in disbelief.

"The temple issues contribution papers? I've never heard of that before."

"Perhaps it's because of your experience, though I've only heard of them issuing one a few years ago."

Although Balkan was oblivious to the attention of Serif, the temple was an object of love and hate among ordinary explorers.

The presence of priests, blessings, and curse checks made them indispensable... but they knew their value only too well, especially the skyrocketing prices for removing curses.

It's rare for a temple that knows their value to offer a five-point contribution document, even less so for lower-level explorers.

'What, exactly, did he do for the temple?'

But no matter how much they thought about it, there was no way they could infer why Balkan was rewarded contribution points by the temple.

"Is it over now?"

"Ah, yes, your contributions have been settled, and you have 15 points left for the promotion to Intermediate Explorer."

The clerk bowed his head in acknowledgment.

With his business done, Balkan stepped into the elevator reserved for the Union Leader with a fluid, natural movement.

"This is so different from when I was a low-level explorer."

"...You're still a low-level explorer. You'll soon realize the barriers of reality after the tenth floor."

"Arthur. Why are you comparing yourself with a guy who even caught a mutant Minotaur?"

As they watched and discussed the elevator ride from the lobby to the top floor, the explorers felt an odd sense of desolation.

The emotions that filled the silent room were envy, jealousy, and...

"...Why don't we try to recruit him on our next trip to the Labyrinth?"

It was desire.

***

The elevator doors opened, and the view of Idelbert's private training facility came into view.

'Well, I guess I'll be sharing it now.'

With that thought in mind, I walked toward the training room where Idelbert would be training as usual.

"The fifth floor... and the twentieth floor... show signs of being unsealed."

"I heard that the 5th floor was taken care of by my disciple…The 20th floor…"

"...Wait. Disciple? You don't mean Mr. Balkan-"

It was usually quiet until I arrived, but today, another voice could be heard from inside the training room.

'...Serif?'

Only one person had ever called me Mr. Balkan.

'Should I open the door or not?'

I hesitated, then knocked.

"Who is it?"

I knocked on the training room door and immediately heard Idelbert's cold voice.

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine.

Her tone was similar to the one she usually used to speak to me, but strangely more edgy.

"It's me, Master. May I enter?"

"Hmm. Yes. Come in."

Idelbert's voice softened at the identification.

As I opened the door, I saw two figures, a black cat, and a pure white cat.

The black cat had no ears and a black tail, while the white cat had ears and a tail.

Idelbert Adeline, a black cat with a cool demeanor and a large, sturdy body.

Serif Adeline, a white cat with a body that is more worthy of the title of saintly slut than saint.

The female cat sisters were different in many ways, from their colors to their bodies to their moods.

"Ahhhh! Bal, Balkan?!"

Serif's face, which had been expressionless until just before the door opened, suddenly broke into a smile.

"Uh, what a coincidence!"

Immediately afterward, a small crack appeared in her smile as she came closer to me.

A sharp nose seemed to detect a vague, fuzzy odor wafting through the air.

"...Breast milk? No, coffee, huh?"

"Ugh."

A chuckle from behind her made Serif turn her head.

Idelbert smirked bewitchingly through narrowed eyes and muttered.

"Now you've really done everything but mate."

Chapter 103: The Day Before the Storm (5)

"Gee, seriously...?!! What is that!!!"

The virgin Serif, vouched for by Earth Mother, exclaimed, blushing profusely at Idelbert's blunt words.

A look of embarrassment, shame, and bewilderment were mixed together as her white cat tail wagged so hard that it was no longer there.

"Hmph. It's too early for a noble saint to know."

Idelbert crossed her arms and sneered.

It was not something she should have said, as she was forced to remain a virgin under the Curse of Rejecting Lousy Dicks.

I stared at them for a moment, then turned to Idelbert.

"I think I may have intruded on your conversation without realizing it, I'll come back later."

"No. That's not necessary. I'm almost done with what I have to say, and you're here to train anyway, so just wait a moment."

I debated whether or not to open the door, as there was a seriousness in the air, but thankfully Idelbert told me to stay.

I stood for a moment, staring at Serif and Idelbert.

They must be sisters, but it's a strange combination, partly because of the difference in their titles, as a saint of the temple and the head of the Explorers' Union, and partly because of the difference in their personalities.

'Because Serif has a strange dislike for Idelbert.'

I recalled a conversation I'd had with Serif the day before, when I'd been granted a miracle by her in the temple.

-The evil spirit who abandoned the faith, the wicked traitor...

Idelbert hadn't said anything about Serif, but Serif had called Idelbert a cunning traitor.

'I wonder what the two people who don't get along well were talking about.'

From the other side of the door, I heard a few key words: fifth floor, twentieth floor, sealed.

When I told her about my encounter with [Gluttony] last time, Idelbert said something similar.

These are secrets about the labyrinth, information only accessible to intermediate or upper-level explorers.

However, the information about the fifth floor gave me some insight.

'Did something similar happen on the twentieth floor, to what I experienced on the fifth, and did they share information about it?'

The thought stopped there.

"I think I've said all I need to say. Shouldn't you get back to the temple?"

"...Uh!"

Idelbert had her arm around my shoulders as she said that.

-Sigh.

A black cat's tail curled around my waist, too.

Serif's puffy eyes automatically traveled to Idelbert's arm and tail.

"Now, as a master, I must 'educate' my one and only pupil."

Idelbert said, leaning slightly closer to me.

A shiver ran down Serif's spine at the action and the word 'training'.

His white feline ears twitched as if she was thinking of a plan.

"Hmph. I'm afraid I can't do that. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for his service, and until I can repay it, I must stay with him."

"Hmm. I suppose you can repay him at the temple, or perhaps you could just perform a small miracle for him now."

"...Balkan is a rising star, and I'm personally interested in his growth, so I'd like to watch him train."

"That's not allowed. As the head of the Explorers' Union, I cannot stand by and watch you steal information from my protégé, who I believe will be a great explorer in the future."

"..."

Sparks flew from the eyes of the two female cat sisters.

Idelbert, the leader of a faction, and Serif, who holds a high position, are arguing over whether to place me in their organization.

'My heart swells with pride.'

Aside from the need to push myself harder, Serif was being played by Idelbert.

Serif's tail and cat ears drooped in defeat as she and Idelbert argued.

"It was nice to talk to you after such a long time. Let's go too, disciple."

Idelbert's grip on my shoulder grew stronger and I was about to follow her naturally.

"...sister."

A crawling voice came from behind.

Idelbert stopped moving while I stood dumbfounded, staring at Idelbert's stone face.

-Hmph.

The corners of Idelbert's mouth twitched.

"...?"

She smiled a lopsided smile that didn't seem to match her at all.

It was the kind of expression that a doting father, usually frighteningly cold and expressionless, might wear when he sees his daughter being adorably affectionate.

'...What?'

I rubbed my eyes, closed and opened them a few times, and shook my head wildly before coming to my senses.

In the meantime, Idelbert had returned to her usual expressionless face.

'Was it a hallucination?'

I thought to myself.

Idelbert's black cat tail wagged so hard it sounded like a whip.

Her tail wagged frantically, an uncontrollable, instinctive emotion, which meant that the look on Idelbert's face was no hallucination.

The cold, emotionless, unresponsive creature that was Idelbert, except for her sex drive, had been disarmed by Serif's soft "Sister".

"Well, it wouldn't be so bad to have my 'younger sister' watch the sparring. As the 'big sister, who is like heaven,' I will allow that much."

At Idelbert's words, I could feel Serif's fists clenching behind me.

She seemed to feel quite humiliated that she had used the word 'sister.'

"Hmph."

I glanced up at Idelbert, who made an amused snort.

"What are you looking at so hard, did I get something on my face?"

"No, no. I'm just, uh, a little surprised."

I was a little surprised.

'...You can't be that Idelbert, you like your sister so much.'

Something about it felt so out of place, like a gap-moe.

At the same time, I felt a strange sense of identification.

'The whole reason I'm exploring the labyrinth is to find my sister.'

The sister who hates her sister and the sister who loves her sister too much.

I wondered what happened between them, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.

"Today, we'll start with a fighting match. Guard up."

The grueling training sessions began.

***

"You've grown again."

I drank Diana's breast milk and spent my free points.

Idelbert noticed my specs after only a few training sessions.

"I got a little lucky."

"Hmm. Luck."

I took Idelbert's offered hand and stood up.

I'm not so exhausted after a few fights anymore. I certainly knew how to allocate my stamina properly.

"Milky, sweet luck again, I suppose."

"..."

Idelbert seemed to recognize the cause but why does she usually speak so bluntly?

No, I wouldn't expect anything less from her, but ... it was crazy.

"Don't take too much of it, it'll take a toll on her too."

Idelbert had said that even though Diana was retired, she still needed her strength.

"...I'll be careful and take what she gives me."

"That's fair enough. I'm sure she has an idea."

Among Diana's curses, the most dangerous ones, [Curse of Decadence from the Black Moon] and [Curse of Breast Milk Climax Stat Drain], had to be managed meticulously.

Both have the deadly side effect of leveling down.

I mentally calculated Diana's libido management log and milking dates.

"Milky clouds...? What's that?"

Serif, who was listening to our conversation, shook her head, unable to follow the conversation.

Apparently, her sense of smell and perverted paranoia circuitry were less advanced than Idelbert's.

"There is such a thing. A saint with integrity would never know."

"...Don't make dismissive remarks like that."

Serif, tongue in cheek, approached me.

The pure white energy from her fingertips permeated my body and my slightly exhausted body was energized.

"Ah. Thank you."

"Haha. As someone who serves Mother Earth, I did what was expected of me."

Serif glanced at Idelbert as she said that.

"Even though it's called a duel, isn't the intensity too high for training? Even the Paladins of the Temple don't train this intensely."

"Don't belittle my apprentice by comparing him to a paladin. He can handle this much."

"I'm not disrespecting him, I'm just worried about him...!"

Serif gestured to me, flustered by Idelbert's words.

I smiled bitterly and observed the two of them.

'You two get along better than I thought...?'

It was quite amusing to see Serif's usually polite and reserved demeanor change to a snarl, and Idelbert's usually stoic demeanor change to a smirk.

"That's enough dueling for today."

"Already?"

I questioned Idelbert's words.

Usually, my training with Idelbert was a merciless grappling session in which she would squeeze me with all her might until I had no strength left to crawl.

I had so much left in the tank, and it was already over?

"If you lie down because you're tired, you won't be able to see this."

Idelbert pulled an object out of thin air.

I squinted at the blue light emanating from it.

The object, bathed in a mysterious light that could only come from an artifact, was a book almost as thick as an encyclopedia.

"Ugh-"

My head instinctively ached when I saw the book. It was an instinctive rejection of books.

Awww. I, Baby Balkan don't want to read but I'm also intrigued by the artifact in book form.

"Uh, an artifact spellbook?"

The question was answered by Serif's exclamation.

It was an unusual name, to say the least.

"It's an artifact in the form of a spellbook that contains the magic of [Detect Weakness]. It's a rare thing that, if you read it completely, you can use the magic regardless of your talent, learning, and skill."

All I had to do was read it, what an effect.

Suddenly, a memory came flooding back.

When I was asked to escort the students to the labyrinth they lamented.

-Do you know the lengths mages go to in order to master a single spell? Some of the inexperienced ones take an entire school year to learn a single spell.

-Magic, mana, these assholes are so fucking sensitive, one wrong circuit and it's pointlessly scattered, exploding inside you, exploding outside you, it's fucking dangerous.

-And we're so busy memorizing theories and laws day and night that we don't have time to do anything else.

"So this is an artifact that replaces all of that in a snap."

"Yes."

Idelbert nodded and I voiced my question again.

"But why are you giving it to me?"

Idelbert placed the precious artifact spellbook in my hand.

"Why would I give you a book? I'm giving it to you to read."

"No, you know that's not what I said."

"Hmm. Disciple, do you remember what I promised to give you the other day?"

"Ah."

Before I began training with the hypnotic artifact, when we were talking about Gluttony, Idelbert had promised me one thing.

-It's not much of a reward, but I'll get you something for your efforts as Alliance Leader sooner or later.

This artifact spellbook was the reward she had promised.

"Thank you, master. I will read it carefully."

I took the book and bowed my head.

It was an artifact that Idelbert herself said was priceless.

I usually hate reading books, but if I could get magic, it was a different story.

Magic. Just repeating the word to myself made my heart flutter like I was back in my childhood.

I've always known about magic, mana, and enchantments, but I'd rarely had the chance to wield them.

Besides, the name of the magic tickled me. "Weakness Detection" must be quite useful in combat.

I couldn't wait to read the book.

Idelbert saw my reaction and smiled slightly in satisfaction.

"Ugh."

I heard a nervous grunt from behind me and Serif turned to look at me with a worried face.

"The city and the temple also agreed to provide appropriate compensation for the damages incurred last time!"

"Hmm. I gave you a reward for merit, and the temple is giving you a reward for 'damage'."

"..."

Serif, who had fallen silent in a cold sweat at Idelbert's bluster, pulled two small pieces of paper out of thin air and held one out to me.

It was a piece of paper emblazoned with the sigil of the Mother Earth Order.

It was paper, but not of ordinary material. It was much sturdier and finer than the paper I had used to make my slave contract with Grumpy.

"It's a curse-breaking power. You can remove a curse once without paying any cost or price."

"O..."

This was also a pretty good hand.

Because in the Labyrinth, you can get blessings, which can lead to new life and glory, but you can also get curses, which can lead to some very horrible and absurd things.

The curse of becoming a slime, Curse of Decadence from the Black Moon, Curse of Rejecting Lousy Dicks and so on.

The lineup of curses I've seen so far have all been pretty bad, and I'm definitely on edge.

I've been lucky and blessed so far, but as long as I keep entering the Labyrinth, I'm bound to get cursed at some point.

Moreover, the cost of a curse increases with the number of times it is performed.

This means that if I'm cursed and in dire straits, I may run into a financial wall and not be able to lift the curse.

This curse-breaking power would be of great help in the future.

Satisfied, I pocketed the paper and looked at the other slip of paper in Serif's hand.

"What is that?"

Serif shuddered at the simple question, squeezing the paper in his hand even harder.

"I want you to remember that it doesn't mean anything strange, it's just a small token of my gratitude, hmmmmm. It's not for any weird use, and unlike the curse-breaker, it can be used multiple times, so if you ever need it, just let me know..."

I wondered what the heck that paper was for.

'Is it something more powerful than a curse-breaking ticket?'

After more than ten minutes of rambling on about the paper's significance, Serif finally handed it to me.

I stared at the paper in my hand.

Unlike the polished signature on the cursed warrant, the handwriting on this piece of paper was crooked, as if it were cowering in shame.

But it didn't take much to decipher it.

There was only one sentence on the white paper.

[Serif Adeline Free Pass.]

I stared down at it for a long moment.

Then I looked up at Serif, who handed it to me.

"..."

Serif, blushing and bowing her head, didn't say anything.

-Bung-bung-bung!

As if to express her emotion, the white cat's tail whirled like a propeller.

Chapter 104: The Day Before the Storm (6)

"Tsk. Go get some bread."

That was the first thing Idelbert said when she saw Serif's free pass.

But Serif merely snorted and did nothing.

-Rumbling.

My stomach growled at the keyword bread.

Training with Idelbert is very intense.

Today's session was only half as long as usual, but I had already burned quite a few calories.

I checked Diana's wristwatch and it was already four o'clock.

I hadn't eaten lunch since I had to go to the guard post, and I was still hungry from the hearty breakfast Diana had prepared for me.

-Ugh.

Serif's gaze fell on me. Or, more precisely, the [Free Pass] she handed me.

"Ms. Serif, do you have any bread-"

I stopped in mid-sentence, interrupted by Idelbert's comment. I snapped back to reality.

'Is it right to ask the saint of the temple to buy some bread?'

It couldn't be.

Just as I was about to hastily retract my remark, Serif pulled something out of thin air.

It was a simple lunchbox with ciabatta bread, a few slices of jamon, and a dressed salad.

"Are you hungry? It's for a diet, so the portion isn't much, but… it'll be enough."

"Uh...thank you."

"You're welcome, and you don't have to use your free pass for just this, it's the least I can do in honor of the goddess."

Serif wagged her white cat tail gently as she said that.

'...This is a bit difficult.'

I mean, it says 'free pass', but I can't really do anything with it.

Serif isn't some street beggar or outlaw.

Given her status and position, there are clear limits to this [free pass].

As a very extreme example, what would happen if I used it to say, "Spread your legs?"

Would she immediately say, "Yes Balkan," and spread her legs wide and wag her white cat tail seductively?

Nope. Not in this crazy world.

Moreover, Serif is a devout member of the Mother Earth Order, which emphasizes virginity and is very strict about sexuality.

The moment I asked for such a 'crossing the line' kind of favor, the mace of Mother Earth Order could fall on my head.

So, in order to use [the free pass] properly, I had to walk a fine line.

'I have to take advantage of them without hurting their feelings too much, but at a level that allows me to maintain a proper relationship.'

Asking for food seemed to fall into the "barely there" category.

I took a quick bite from the bento Serif had provided and spoke again.

"By any chance, would you be able to grant me a miracle before my next trip to the Labyrinth? The miracle I received from Serif last time was very helpful, and I think it would be quite a relief."

I received the miracle from a level 50 priest haphazardly and by accident last time... but now I know its value.

It's a great way to shrug off the effects of Hobgoblin Staff.

A literal miracle that many people come to her with wads of money, hoping for it, but none but the chosen few can receive.

"Sure, I can give you one, but like I said, I can always grant you a miracle if you're Balkan, so you don't have to use your free pass."

Serif smiled, accepting this as no big deal.

'You're taking this so lightly?'

I almost pouted for a moment at her unquestioning, yes-man-like behavior.

"Apprentice, are you entering the Labyrinth this week?"

Idelbert's serious tone brought me back to my senses.

"Ellie's academy graduation is coming up soon, so the next Labyrinth will probably be in a month."

"Ah. Speaking of which, her graduation is also coming up soon. That's bad luck."

Idelbert clicked her tongue in disappointment and I raised a question mark at the look.

"Is something wrong?"

"Mmm... nothing major, just that when the Labyrinth opens next week, I think I'll be entering."

"You will?"

My ears perked up at the unexpected news: Idelbert herself would be entering the Labyrinth.

"It shouldn't take long. At most, I'll only be able to explore the 20th floor and the safe zone, Eden."

Eden was on the 15th floor.

When she spoke with the nuances of going for a walk in such a place, I suddenly realized the gap between master and pupil.

"So, you'll be away for a while?"

"The Deputy Alliance Leader will be back soon, so she'll be acting Alliance Leader for a while."

A faint smile crosses Idelbert's face.

"The corners of your mouth are twitching at the thought of not training."

"Haha. It's all for my own good, anyway. I'll continue to train hard while you're away."

Although I said this, I laughed heartily inside.

While it was unfortunate that I would not be able to gain combat experience through dueling, it was good news that I had avoided the basic physical training that would stretch me to the limit.

My laughter brought a faint smile to Idelbert's face again.

"It pleases me as a master to see my pupil improve through his own efforts without the whip. Your efforts have been rewarded. Here's another gift for you."

I clasped my hands together like Pavlov's dog at the word gift.

Idelbert pulled another object from the void and placed it in my hand.

Four gravity artifacts with eight times gravity.

"Kaaaagh!"

I resisted the gravity that suddenly crushed my body.

"Are you holding on for dear life?"

Idelbert chuckled, attaching gravity artifacts to my limbs.

Damn. I'd been outmaneuvered by the sneaky black cat.

"You can only become stronger beyond your limits if you make training your daily routine. In other words, if you make your daily routine your training, you will grow faster."

"Yi, are you telling me to wear the gravity artifacts from now on...?"

"I'm glad you understand so quickly, you're my student after all."

I'm supposed to go about my daily life wearing this thing? I don't understand.

-Bang! Pow!

I resisted the urge to tug on the black cat's tail, which was wagging gleefully, and chew on it with my lips to educate her.

'A gentleman's revenge is not too late even if it takes ten years.'

Those who rage now will be subdued in an instant.

It will not be too late to repay them when I am stronger than Idelbert.

I made a mental note of the humiliation I'd suffered today on my 'Idelbert's List' and pushed myself up against gravity.

-Grrrr.

As I stood up, I saw Idelbert's shadow on the floor.

"Niaoong-"

And out of that shadow, a black cat leapt out and stood in front of me with a swagger.

It was the same black cat I had seen during my first meeting with Idelbert.

"If anything happens while I'm gone, Shuding will help you."

"Is this cat named Shuding?"

"Yes. Isn't she wonderful, she can even use a little magic."

"Yeah...what..."

Idelbert's sense of naming was incomprehensible, but the cat itself, named Shuding, stood with a dignified and regal demeanor, just like Idelbert.

"Come here."

I didn't hate these creatures.

Unlike humans, they aren't hostile or envious of me, and I often find them soothing to watch, so I suppose I should say I like them.

Perhaps sensing my feelings, Shuding approached me with a bold stride.

Without thinking, I held out my hand to her and spoke in a low voice.

"Hand."

-Poof.

Idelbert put her hand over my helmet.

"...?"

"...?"

I looked up, bewildered by the suddenness of the situation, to see Idelbert staring down at me, her face even more bewildered than mine.

"Uh... I... was talking to Shuding, Master."

Idelbert quickly removed her hand at that.

"...Ah. Um. That, yes. Hmm. I knew it. ...It's true. I was just trying to show her that this is how it's done, in case she didn't know."

"Niao-"

She stammered in an uncommonly panicked voice, but Shuding wasn't even looking at Idelbert.

She was just resting her front paws in my palm.

"Pfft, for a female cat... she's pretty compliant."

Serif choked back a laugh and looked back and forth between Idelbert and Shuding.

Her narrowed eyes seemed to mock Idelbert.

'I see you're a female, too.'

"...Hmm. I see. She approached you on her own. She's definitely a good follower-hmmm!"

Idelbert, who had been speaking casually, took a step back in surprise.

The black cat's tail twitched as if startled.

The timing coincided with my fingers gently tickling Shuding's chin.

I must reward her because she immediately understood my words and raised her hand.

"Miaoo..."

Shuding, who was standing in a defiant manner, purred as if asking for more.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph?"

Idelbert shuddered as Shuding rubbed her chin against my finger.

"Shu, Shuding seems to be a bit tired."

"Miao-!"

Idelbert waved her hand, and Shuding leapt into my shadow with a piercing squeal.

Was it a blessing? It was a mysterious phenomenon that was hard to believe even after seeing it.

"...Don't call her unless it's a real emergency."

"Yes."

"...But you should still feed her occasionally. She's gentle, so she can go in the water, so she's often washed."

I nodded at Idelbert's list of precautions and checked the time.

Before I knew it, the evening opening time was approaching. It was time to return to work at the inn.

***

After exchanging pleasantries with Idelbert, who was about to go to the labyrinth, and making a promise with Serif to go to the temple to receive a miracle soon, we parted ways.

Time passed quickly.

Wearing the gravity artifact every day was never easy, but I'd grown accustomed to it, now that I wore it until I went to sleep.

As much as I wanted to take a break, I didn't skip training.

I have to work hard now so I won't regret it later.

"I heard you're going in the Labyrinth yourself, how long has it been?"

"It's going to be a bit of a ruckus for a while."

"I hope the bastards who've been peeking around don't go on a rampage... it's best to stay out of the Outlaw Zone for a while, just in case."

"We'll have to clean up the Reformed Explorers, too."

"And the Deputy Commander, too."

Idelbert entered the Labyrinth as soon as the portal to the Labyrinth opened this week.

She was accompanied by three high-ranking explorers from the Alliance.

Explorers were the primary clientele of the Diana Tavern, and Idelbert's story was never far from the conversation whenever patrons gathered at the bar.

As an employee, I listened to their tales until I had scabs on my ears.

Days passed again.

"That's enough reading for today."

I closed the [Weakness Detection] Spellbook, pressing my brow tightly against the overwhelming fatigue.

I could see why Idelbert had said it was important to 'finish reading'.

It was no small feat to read a book that was much thicker than most encyclopedias or major texts without missing a single word.

But after more than a week of eating, pooping, training, reading, and sleeping, I'm already more than halfway through.

I keep the spellbook on my desk in my room.

Having two books in my room made me feel like an intellectual, which made me feel proud.

'I should read that one too.'

It was a fairy tale book with the grandiose name [Mother Earth and the Myth of Light].

I had borrowed it from the temple for half a silver coin, but I hadn't read a single chapter yet because I was busy with various things.

'Maybe I'll read it once I finish the spellbook.'

-Hmph.

I yawned deeply and unwrapped the bundle that had been shoved deep in the closet.

The skull of his girlfriend that Jeremy had left behind caught my eye. She was supposed to be enchanted to prevent decay... and she still wasn't.

I splashed some water on it and covered it again. It was gruesome and I didn't want to look at it as often as possible.

I went back to sleep, and the next morning the academy graduation dawned.

Just in case, I washed myself thoroughly in the temple baths yesterday, shedding months of grime.

It was quite a sight to behold, looking my best and wearing a neatly pressed suit.

If I do say so myself, I look like a dandy gentleman.

Add a helmet to the mix and you have a man who looks like a strange mix of modern politeness and medieval savagery in the mirror.

As I came down to the tavern fully prepared, Diana, carrying a handbag, greeted me.

She was wearing a beautiful dress, as I was in a suit.

"Are you ready to go, Balkan?"

"...Yes."

I couldn't take my eyes off her in her dress.

If it weren't for the tongue-biting shock therapy, I could have stared at her for hours.

'Thank you, Silanes.'

I sent a heartfelt thank you to the owner of Arachne's Miracle Tailors, who had made this dress for her.

Fixing her handbag, Diana offered me her hand.

I shyly took her hand and climbed into the carriage she had waiting in front of the inn.

Purrrrr-

With a grinding sound, the carriage made its way to the nobles' quarters.