Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

I was flustered.

I never imagined that someone like Yeriel would do something so bold. My mind went blank.

Swoosh.

Though it was only for a brief moment, as I touched my cheek where the sensation still lingered, I sensed someone behind me. Sure enough, when I turned around, there stood Roten, who must have rushed over upon hearing Yeriel’s sharp scream as she left. He was silently staring at me.

“To think I ran over the moment I heard a scream, only to find a situation completely different from what I imagined,” he remarked.

“Ah, Mr. Roten.”

I started by apologizing for startling him.

Roten waved it off, saying there was no need to apologize since he wasn’t particularly surprised.

“I’ve been watching your party for a while, and I figured a day like this would come sooner or later. My intuition rarely misses.”

“Ha ha, is that so?”

I could only laugh awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck.

[Chaos remarks that he seems remarkably calm.]

As Chaos noted, Roten’s expression was serene, unlike someone who had just witnessed an unexpected scene.

“Watching you reminds me of memories from my younger days,” Roten said as he rubbed his nose.

“I used to be quite a promising and handsome up-and-comer. Back in the day, when I was still an adventurer, women would line up, hoping I’d glance their way.”

“I see…”

Indeed, his wrinkled face and stooped posture didn’t quite match his speech. Yet, with a little grooming, he still had the vitality and charm that could appeal to a certain audience.

“Ahem. You’re probably wondering why I’m all alone despite such a storied past.”

It seemed my curiosity was written all over my face.

Unbothered by my reaction, Roten looked wistful.

“I had a woman I loved… and comrades bound by unshakable bonds, as close as family.”

“…”

There was something ominous in his tone. Could it be that he gave up on his adventures and retired because all his comrades… passed away?

“If only I hadn’t insisted on leading them into the depths, saying, ‘We can do it. This is nothing for us.'”

“…”

“Had I not been so arrogant back then, perhaps I’d be living a completely different life instead of running an inn. Back then, my overconfidence was sky-high.”

I vaguely recalled hearing him mention this before.

─ Losing precious people due to one reckless decision made in the heat of the moment… it’s truly a harrowing experience.

“Ha ha! What’s the use of regretting the past now?” Roten laughed heartily and nodded toward the staircase where Lumia had gone earlier.

“Looking at it another way, retiring after such an experience allowed me to start this inn with peace of mind. It might have been fate that led me to meet Lumia and all of you.”

“Roten…”

“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to dampen the mood.”

“No, not at all. Thank you for sharing.”

At first, I saw him as just a kind-hearted and handsome old man. But the more I got to know Roten, the more my perception of him changed.

“You’re busy growing and adventuring now, but you’d do well to prepare for the future and act wisely. Simpler solutions often work better than complicated ones.”

After sharing his somber past, Roten shifted the conversation toward advice.

“For instance, once you’ve risen to a high-level adventurer or gained a title from the Empire, don’t overthink it. Just accept the feelings of the women around you.”

[Chaos wonders if he’s gone senile.]

“Even a blind man could see that Lumia has feelings for you, judging by her usual behavior and what just happened. Am I being too forward?”

“…No. I’ve noticed as much. I may not be strong or accomplished yet, but I am thinking seriously about the future.”

[Chaos puffs up her cheeks in frustration, thinking you’ve abandoned her unwavering loyalty.]

‘Chaos, I’m sorry.’

[Chaos sighs but then smugly declares she’ll win in the end.]

Well, at least she forgave me quickly.

[Chaos says she’ll magnanimously accept it since she was the first to connect with you.]

As I tried to placate Chaos in my mind, Roten gave me a thumbs up and continued.

“That’s right! I don’t think you’d let go of any of the people who care about you. Keep moving forward. Strength and honor will solve most of your problems naturally.”

Clearing his throat, Roten added, “I don’t know how this casual chat turned into advice, but since we’re here, let me add one last thing.”

I listened attentively.

“Whatever happens in the future, don’t make Lumia cry.”

Well, of course. There wasn’t even a chance of that happening.

I assured him I’d never let such a thing occur and was about to wrap up the conversation when—

“Me?”

Lumia peeked down the stairs and asked.

“Why me? What were you two talking about?”

“Oh, nothing,” Roten chuckled. “Just warning him not to make our Lumia cry as usual.”

“Ugh.”

Embarrassed, Lumia told him to stop while perking up her ears. She then approached me, passing Roten.

“Ahren, are you planning to go out again as soon as you arrive? Can’t you stay with me a little longer?”

“It’s a tempting offer, but I’m going to the Tower to prepare your permit. The sooner I handle it, the better it’ll be for both of us.”

With a packed schedule ahead, there was no advantage in delaying.

Lumia pouted slightly but nodded reluctantly.

“Alright. I won’t complain.”

“Once it’s done, let’s visit the Tower together next time. Can you hold out until then?”

“Okay. I’ll focus on my training, so be careful out there.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back soon.”

After exchanging a smile with Roten, who watched us warmly, I headed for the Tower.

.

.

.

“Clear. You may proceed.”

Whoosh.

Passing through Vincent, who guarded the Tower’s entrance, I stepped into the magical barrier created by Belmosius.

‘No matter how many times I come here, entering always feels so strange.’

I headed straight to the desk and stated my purpose.

Though I had a permit, it wouldn’t be polite to barge into the office of a Master Mage without prior notice.

“You wish to meet Master Gardan Turgun of the Earth School, correct?”

“Yes. I also have a pass issued by him.”

“One moment, please.”

The verification and notification process was swift.

“Your pass has been authenticated. You may proceed directly to his office.”

“Thank you. I’ll be on my way.”

With no waiting line, I stepped onto the magical elevator. Injecting magic into my pass, I held it to the magic circle at the top right corner.

Whirr. Ding!

The elevator ascended smoothly, soon stopping at the 30th floor, where the office was located.

Knock, knock.

“It’s me, Ahren.”

Clatter!

Before I could even place my hand on the doorknob following the knock, an earthen arm shot up, opened the door, and disappeared.

“Why does this feel familiar? Déjà vu, perhaps.”

Raising an eyebrow, I stepped into the office.

“I’ve been waiting for you so long my neck’s stretched out! Come in already!”

It was Gardan’s voice, calling out from further inside.

“…?”

The tone felt… unusual. He emphasized “waiting so long” to such an extent that it was unsettling.

He, a towering figure in the Mage Tower, a master of earth-element magic, and a revered elder, was eagerly waiting for me?

It made me uneasy, as if there were hidden discussions involving me taking place somewhere out of sight.

Click.

While I hesitated, the door shut behind me, cutting off my retreat.

Rumble—

This was different from last time. My body felt heavy.

Faint waves of energy emanated from somewhere far off, gradually weighing down on me.

“Wait a second. He’s welcoming me in so eagerly but pressuring me with this energy? What kind of mixed message is this?”

Was this some kind of impromptu test?

While I’d confidently barged in, I realized… the person before me wasn’t just a casual dwarf neighbor I could take lightly.

“I need to keep my wits about me.”

It suddenly felt like I’d walked into a tiger’s den.

The thought crossed my mind: one wrong move could destroy the goodwill I had built with him during our last meeting.

Was my plan to trade fragments of a low-tier, mutant-named aberration too much of a stretch? Doubts crept in.

“Well, it’s too late now. Surely, he wouldn’t harm me after entrusting Eira to me.”

“Whoo.”

Exhaling softly to steady myself, I walked further in and faced him.

The stout dwarf, still marked by his robust build and neatly groomed mustache, stood with arms crossed, silently watching me.

“How have you been? You seem well—no injuries, from the looks of it.”

“Thankfully, no injuries. In fact, it was a fruitful expedition. I gained quite a bit from it. I came to talk about that.”

Once I stated my purpose, his oppressive energy dispersed, and my body lightened.

Gardan grinned and spoke in his deep voice.

“Good! Speak freely!”

Contrary to my earlier worries, the transaction proceeded smoothly.

While I called it a “transaction,” it was more like leaning on Gardan’s goodwill from his lofty position.

“So, this is the core of a massive mutant creature, imbued with traits from a revived adventurer within a typical ghoul sanctuary?”

“To be precise, these are fragmented shards, so calling it a complete core or essence would be a stretch.”

“You’re not a high-ranking adventurer—how did you manage to subdue such a monster unscathed? Regardless, this level of damage won’t hinder research. Don’t worry about it!”

His reassuring words were a relief.

“Oh ho, excellent! A rare research material, no less? These are not only scarce but also highly unpredictable. Acquiring one is no easy feat.”

‘For some reason, his gruff demeanor feels oddly considerate, as though he’s trying to be kind. Is it just my imagination?’

“Wait a second! How did you know the mutant’s name was Cresdozer?”

“Ah, I appraised the loot acquired after subduing it. Its name was clearly listed in the item’s information.”

He occasionally threw in sharp questions, which I deflected with quick wit.

“Leaving the Magium willingly… Ararara, such a notorious being wouldn’t even pass Belmosius’ barrier. Wouldn’t it be better to reconsider the price?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve been resolving such issues through repeated exploration. I’m confident she’ll be allowed entry.”

What, did he think I’d plunge ahead recklessly without considering such basics?

“All right, I’ll issue a pass identical to yours.”

Gardan added a condition.

“However, should any curse manifest after entering, you must leave the tower regardless of my endorsement. Can you agree to that?”

“Even if it’s exceedingly mild…?”

“Exactly. Within this Mage Tower, no one—except in experiments, training, or magical duels—can be injured under any circumstance. It’s a fundamental policy.”

Damn it. This was unexpected.

Lumia’s acquired curse, the Shadow of Hunger and Obscuritas, was rapidly being alleviated but hadn’t been fully purified yet.

Though she caused no harm while by my side, alone, even faint negative effects could manifest.

At the inn, it was manageable thanks to Roten’s natural resilience. At the training hall, the headmaster’s endorsement allowed others to tolerate minor misfortunes.

‘Gardan granting a pass implied he was shouldering all responsibility for any issues caused by the permit holder, didn’t it?’

Damn it. Lumia was like a totem of misfortune.

Gardan’s mention seemed aimed at preemptively mitigating unavoidable risks of even the smallest curses.

The real problem was not knowing when the curse would fully disappear.

If I took the pass, I wouldn’t need to return it unless an incident occurred inside the tower. I resolved to accept it for now and bring Lumia once the curse was fully resolved.

At that moment—

Beep!

A sharp sound came from Gardan’s belongings.

“Why’s the Tower Lord calling?”

He frowned and pulled out a magical communication crystal orb.

Judging by his words, this was a direct line to the Mage Tower’s Lord.

“Yes, this is Gardan speaking!”

—”Elder, I need to speak with your current guest, the adventurer Ahren. Bring him here immediately.”

Bring me… there?

Gardan, as startled as I was, asked, “You mean my visitor? On such short notice?”

—”It won’t take long.”

Hearing the Tower Lord, whom I’d never even heard speak before, express an interest in me sent a chill down my spine.

‘What kind of twist is this? Why me?’

The Tower Lord.

Conrad Ennis, master of the Flame School and Scarlet’s father.

The very man who cursed Scarlet as the murderer of her mother. And now, I was about to face him unexpectedly.