I Became a Barbarian Warrior Who Hid His Face in a World Where Everything Was Reversed

Chapter 196: 16th Floor (3)

When I fell into this strange world, my wisdom stat was 0.

After following Idelbert’s advice to raise the wisdom stat to 1, I became able to sense magic as if I had awakened.

I gained enough magic control ability to use artifacts and magical tools.

However, I didn’t really think about increasing my wisdom stat beyond that.

‘Because there were mages.’

Genius mage Ellie and the party’s skilled mage Lammel, I had quite a few connections I met occasionally.

Although I was interested in magic, I thought I didn’t have time to invest in academics, so I swung my axe one more time instead of reading books.

When I raised my stamina stat, I could be more energetic even in endless battles.

When I raised my strength stat, I could slaughter enemies with more destructive power.

When I raised my agility stat, I could cave in their heads before enemies noticed.

Although dexterity was slightly lacking compared to others, I could create an oppressive combat environment based on excellent physical abilities.

That’s why I invested the most in stamina, strength, and agility.

I thought it was an efficient investment as a warrior, and I was quite satisfied as I had benefited a lot from it so far but looking at it now, I think I needed to think more broadly.

Not like going all-in on wisdom stat, but thinking maybe I should have made at least minimal investment.

-Paaaah!

“Yes! That’s it, disciple! Did you suddenly gain enlightenment?!”

Idelbert let out a rare surprised voice.

I felt like letting out an exclamation too.

-Woong-

I saw a mass of magic power blooming at my fingertips.

Though faint and barely visible, it clearly existed there.

All my senses cried out that at these fingertips, my magic power had manifested.

Perhaps because of the 21st floor mountain magic potion Nuer gave me, it was magic power with an ice-cold energy.

It maintained its cold presence without easily dissipating even in the warmth of the bonfire right in front of me.

“Carefully grip it just like that. And imagine. Gather it with a ‘hyah-‘, then wrap it with a ‘hmmph’.”

Idelbert’s advice, composed only of intuition, wasn’t helpful.

Instead, I imagined what she had shown me.

Like putting on armor, coating my body with magic power…

-Tok.

The magic power that bloomed at my fingertips settled on my palm and began to wrap around it.

-Sururuk.

The magic power that spread from my palm began to form the shape of a gauntlet.

Hard enough to protect the back of the hand, flexible at the moving joints… complex… uh oh.

-Woong, wooong-

As soon as I tried to do more complex control, the magic power started scattering everywhere.

The magic power that failed to be controlled escaped my control.

Eventually,

-Crash!

The cold magic power wrapping my hand solidified like oddly shaped ice and fell to the ground with a thud.

After glaring at the ice shattered into various fragments, I turned my gaze to the status window.

[Wisdom: (6+4-5)]

[Free Points: 1 point]

‘Was it too much with just wisdom stat 5?’

Wisdom stat total 5.

I invested 5 free points to raise the wisdom stat to 6. If I add the additional stats it becomes 10.

[Nightmare Curse]

– Currently in ‘Desire-filled’ state.

– Vitality+5 Wisdom-5 Dexterity +10

But the -5 reduction from the nightmare curse hurt badly.

Moreover, if I manage sexual desire poorly, it could drop even further from here.

‘Since it raises stamina and dexterity, I can’t carelessly remove the curse either.’

The somewhat positive news is that if I extract semen regularly to maintain a ‘sage’ state, it’s mitigated to about -3.

Since I’m not particularly skilled at magic control right now, I have no choice but to try slowly.

“To do this much on your first try. Excellent. This is usually harder than sword energy.”

Idelbert stroked under her nose and patted my back.

“When did you drink a magic potion?”

“I got it as a quest reward before.”

Idelbert’s gaze went to my balls.

“No wonder your magic pouch seemed plump. So that’s what it was.”

For someone who supposedly doesn’t change, it was natural sexual harassment.

“The disciple’s pouch is quite plump.”

Having developed some immunity, I replied without changing my expression. It seemed to work as she snickered.

“It would be good to learn some basic magic or sword energy from now on. They can be useful in any situation. For example, if you had learned flying magic, you could have come down much more easily when you teleported earlier.”

I nodded at the master’s advice.

Indeed, having taken the potion to fill my magic pouch plentifully, it seemed like I was wasting useful power too carelessly.

But even if rising magic stats allow me to handle various techniques, the foundation of my combat was ultimately in this solid physique.

I was thinking of looking mainly for magic useful for combat support like sword energy or magic defense.

“Could master teach me now…ah, nevermind.”

I started to ask for teaching but stopped.

This half-baked master taught methods of moving the body brilliantly, but had absolutely no talent for teaching magic.

“…Why did you stop mid-sentence? Hm?”

“It’s nothing.”

“What is it? Tell me. Tell me!”

“Ugh…”

But after finally confessing under persistent questioning and being tenaciously ‘trained’, there was no magical development.

-Thud.

I lay my body on the ground, more drooping than usual from sudden training that depleted my magic.

‘When I go up to the surface, I should seek teaching from Ellie.’

I wasn’t sure if Ellie, who became the royal court mage, could spare time, but I thought that much at least.

‘There will be lots to do when I get out.’

From studying this world’s history to combat support magic, plus resolving the quest Sloth entrusted.

It felt like even having two bodies wouldn’t be enough, but that was all stuff I could only do after getting out of the labyrinth.

The hard stone floor of the cave made me reflect on my situation again.

I’m still inside the labyrinth, and must survive alone on the 16th floor.

I closed my eyes after organizing my thoughts. Fatigue came instantly.

***

Balkan woke up to a terrible smell.

Shit. Where is this rotten smell coming from?

‘A corpse? Monster?’

“Ah. You’re awake?”

When he turned his eyes to the source of the smell, Idelbert was stirring a stew pot with a stick in front of the bonfire.

“…Master. What exactly are you making?”

“Ah. This is…”

“Is it poison? Urp. Even that gluttonous wyvern would instinctively sense from the smell that it would definitely get an upset stomach if it ate this and spit it back out.”

“……”

-Wooong.

Idelbert’s hand that was stirring the stew pot like a witch stopped.

Balkan tilted his head at the sudden silence.

Idelbert stared at the contents of the stew pot with eyes shaking like an earthquake.

She worked her disciple hard last night.

Worried he might be tired, she didn’t wake him for night watch, and for the first time in her life made stew for someone so they could have a hearty breakfast.

“…You didn’t have to…say it like that.”

-Drooop.

The cat tail that had been swaying gently dropped to the floor.

-Ososo.

The moment Balkan heard her deflated voice, all the hair on his body stood on end.

Survival instinct rang alarm bells sharply.

An even greater sense of fear than when he was in the wyvern’s mouth came over him, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

The fact that her tail was drooping rather than smashing the ground indicated something was seriously wrong.

-Well, I’ll take responsibility for feeding you at least.

Suddenly he recalled words Idelbert had said in passing.

His gaze automatically went to the stew pot emitting a deadly smell.

‘Don’t tell me, that was meant to be breakfast?’

Come to think of it, what other reason would there be to stir a stew pot over fire early in the morning? Of course it must be breakfast.

‘Wait, so she’s showing this reaction because I said the food smell was weird?’

Drooop-

Seeing her head drop and shoulders slightly slump, he instinctively felt this was a serious situation.

He sensed that if things continued like this, nothing would be easy.

He hurriedly stretched his shirt and sniffed it.

“Sniff sniff. Urp, it must have been my sweat smell. I sweated so much yesterday and couldn’t even wash.”

“……”

Balkan watched Idelbert’s reaction but she didn’t move at all. This alone seemed insufficient.

Finally he moved his legs toward the stew pot she had been stirring.

Something like purple liquid was bubbling and boiling.

A visual that would make even Bunny, the demon of gluttony, question if this was really food.

He put his nose toward that liquid that was closer to a weapon.

If he loses his sense of smell in the near future, it will surely be because of this action.

“Sniff sniff. Wow. The smell is really good, master.”

“…Hmph. It’s too late.”

“No, really.”

Balkan forcefully squeezed his abs and prayed. Ring please. Please ring.

Growl-

“See? My stomach is making hungry sounds. I want to eat a bowl quickly.”

“…Really?”

Though Idelbert’s expression asking if it was true remained indifferent.

Flutter. Flutter-

The drooping tail gradually rose up like getting an erection, then stood stiff and started swaying back and forth.

It was a different reaction from gently swaying or whipping.

“Hmm. If you want to eat it that badly, this master will give you a bowl.”

Idelbert took out a spoon and bowl from her personal space and filled it with soup almost overflowing.

“Here. Eat. This master cooked directly for the first time. It has lots of medicinal herbs good for the body so it will surely be delicious.”

It became more concerning the more he heard.

The moment he put a spoonful of the liquid made with who knows what into his mouth.

-Drip.

Tears flowed from his eyes.

“Wh-what? Is it that delicious?”

“Ah…yees…”

“Heh. It was worth making it since morning. There’s still plenty left so eat more!”

Contrary to any slight hope, the soup put in his mouth had exactly the taste he expected.

Meaning it was terribly awful to the point he’d rather cut off his tongue.

The master added another ladle of soup to the bowl with an expression desperately hiding joy while swaying her tail back and forth.

Balkan shed tears while looking at the bowl.

Ah… I miss you. Miss Diana.

He desperately wanted to eat her soup.

***

Royal palace inner castle. Reception room.

The old woman who was drinking from a teacup across a small table smiled faintly at the pleasant aroma.

“Indeed, no tea has as good an aroma as yours.”

“Hoho. You flatter me.”

The woman’s voice had a gentle composure unlike in the past.

It felt like just yesterday when she caused trouble in the labyrinth while arguing vehemently and raising her voice.

“Did you find a groom while you were retired? You’ve become softer.”

“……”

“…Oh?”

At the old woman’s words, the woman blushed slightly with an embarrassed expression.

This in turn made the old woman’s face fill with surprise.

“No, wait. Really? I did hear the captain of knights saying you took in a man recently…”

That Diana Ordia, of all people, found a groom?

“My my…! This is cause for celebration again. How many children are you thinking of having? Outstanding stock like you should have lots of children.”

“…Ungh. Th-that’s still…”

“Hohoho! No plans yet? Tsk tsk…”

The old woman clicked her tongue and stroked her teacup while watching Diana’s reaction.

“So…why did you, who should have retired long ago, come to see this old woman who is likewise preparing for retirement?”

The woman, Diana Ordia, who was wetting her lips with tea while calming her embarrassment, changed her expression at the old woman’s question.

“Your Majesty.”

The woman’s gently lowered gaze was sharp.

She who had made numerous power brokers and outlaws tremble in fear and achieved various accomplishments – returning to the gaze of that legendary explorer, she opened her mouth.

“I want to change the labyrinth entry restriction clause we made in the past.”