Chapter 21: Honesty“What? Teacher, are you telling me that there’s something wrong with the byrinth of our Nordselm?

  ?Frouwa Rutina…? Brunhild tried to interrupt, but was waved off.

  “Yes, I do indeed mean Nordselm’s Labyrinth in the County of Selmer. Well, I can only say that it appears to have been neglected.”

  That was perhaps a bit too much, at least for Brunhild. “Labyrinths are just pygrounds. Anything else is just propaganda. How dare you utter such btant lies to Her Lady!”

  “No, Brunhild, I am not lying to my student. More importantly, I didn’t ask for your opinion so stop interfering.”

  “Brunhild, no more interruptions. Please continue, Teacher, what could happen?”

  “Eventually, a neglected byrinth will overflow. The monsters will escape, attack the local residents and ultimately destroy the entire region if left unchecked.”

  “My House strongly disagrees but I have heard simir warnings from others. More specifically, what makes you say that Nordselm’s Labyrinth has been neglected?”

  “The monsters are stronger than usual here and there is no evidence that anyone else is attempting to suppress this byrinth.”

  “So, is this what you were doing when you found Alina?”

  “Yes, we were just exiting the apparently neglected byrinth when we heard Jakob and his crew mercilessly assaulting the helpless Alina.”

  “With the way you phrase your answers, I can see how some people might become angry.”

  “Diplomacy is not my best quality.”

  With break-time over, I asked Rolf to meet us here in three hours and we headed back to the byrinth.

  “What next, Teacher?”

  “Time to step up the difficulty level. Every floor of every byrinth ends in a Boss Room. This is where a party must defeat a stronger version of that floor’s monster. The boss must be defeated to gain access to the next floor. The important detail is that the boss room locks so that either the party or the boss must be defeated before it opens again.”

  “That sounds, um, what? Locked in?”

  “Yes, it does sound bad and some bosses are dangerous. Fortunately, this one isn’t. With us here, it’ll be easy. In fact, only the most foolish would fall to such a weak boss.”

  “OK, I’m ready.”

  We entered and I asked Theo to take us near the end of this floor.

  “We’re coming up to the Waiting Room. As the name suggests, parties wait here for their turn to enter the boss room, which is beyond the next door. No one else is waiting so the door should open soon.”

  …

  “OK, it’s our turn so let’s go inside. It’s perfectly fine to stay back and observe. This boss hits hard enough to cause injury though instant death is highly unlikely.”

  “Pretty sure most people would simply say that it will be OK.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment of my honesty. Anyway, here it comes.”

  The boss tree appears out of the smoke. The vanguard suppresses it and Rutina bravely takes a few pokes before it turns back into smoke and disappears. To avoid any uncomfortable questions or consequences, I fetch the leaf myself.

  “Good job everyone. Student, you may wish to keep this leaf — Herbalists can turn it into antidote pills. The pills are inexpensive but the leaf is a reminder that some defeated monsters drop useful items, especially bosses. We ignored the twigs earlier but even they have some value to struggling parties.”

  “Seems like you’ve had many students.”

  “Well, it’s not my first time. Anyway, as you can see, the exit is now open to us. It is a portal to the second floor. Trying to re-enter the boss room will send you out of the byrinth, which we don’t want to do now.”

  “So, a new monster?”

  “Exactly: Green Caterpilr. It’s huge, ugly and can spit sticky thread which can hold you in pce. They’re slow moving and don’t hit as hard as the Needlewoods, but the thread makes them more dangerous. This floor shows the importance of a party. If you get hit by that thread, you’re likely to die without help.”

  “So much for this pce being as safe as walking outside.”

  “Considering that they can come in groups of two, I guess that’s true.”

  “So, it will just keep getting worse and worse.”

  “Pretty much, but this is why having a Mage in the party is so important. To manage higher floors, a Mage is nearly as important as a healer.”

  “Healers are more important?”

  “Yes, but since practically anyone can acquire one of the healer jobs, a Mage is more cherished. A party might have two Priests but two Mages would probably be seen as wasteful for any but the strongest parties on the highest floors. Even though that situation is very far off, I’ll give you a quick demonstration of the things you’ll soon be able to do.”

  I switch off chant omission and ask the guys to stand down. When a cooperative slug starts its magic circle to fire off its string, I raise a firewall to block it. I was barely in time since I’m not used to chanting. I acted like I did that on purpose for the dramatic effect. Actually, it was good for Rutina to see the slug perform its spit.

  “Wall spells are usually defensive like this, but can also be used to surprise, as you saw me do during the duel. The down-side is that you can only have one spell active at a time. There are three spell forms for each of the four basic elements…”

  “Teacher, I know the basics.”

  “Ah, good that you told me. I may have gone on to expin every combination. Was that part of your general education?”

  I motioned to the guys to take over the attack.

  “Yes, but my tutors only spoke of what could be done, not how.”

  After squishing the slug, I asked Theo to bring the drop.

  “Student, this monster usually drops the thread needed to make a ?mésange? um, I mean cord.”

  I couldn’t remember what the manga used for ‘friendship bracelet’, but it obviously wasn’t a type of bird. Good that I happened to see the transtion for the one Rutina is wearing. Wait, she’s just wearing a normal, useless one.

  “One of those silly decorations?”

  “Well, good ones protect their wearer from a lethal attack.”

  “Oh! Is that what I have?”

  “Safer to assume that it isn’t. Anyway, please resume your practical training. Brunhild, I expect that you’ll be able to block caterpilr spit with your shield.”

  With the student quietly back to poke-poke, I checked her status. She’s reached level five and now has the Mage job avaible. Well, she also has Merchant, Warrior and already had Explorer but seeing Mage is certainly a relief.

  If the gimmick is ready, I’ll switch her to Mage tomorrow, even if that’s ahead of schedule.

  After a while, it felt that we had done enough and I had Theo take us back towards the gate.

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  “Student, I feel confident that your Mage Core can be fully activated tomorrow. It’s best that you’re well rested before that so we should end here.”

  “Teacher, I am very happy to hear this. But, um, can we have a little chat on the way back?”

  “Sure. I’ll help in any way I can.”

  “Brunhild, give us some privacy.”

  “My Lady, um, Miss…”

  “Never mind that. Just stay back and keep watch from a distance. I have a few confidential matters to discuss with my teacher.”

  This sounds serious. I found a nearby log for us, while keeping proper social distance, of course.

  “Teacher, I wish to speak candidly. Please do me the honor of speaking to your student honestly.”

  “Happily.”

  “Why haven’t you asked for my father’s letter of approval?”

  “Because it’s irrelevant. If you get hurt, no document could protect me.”

  “Do you believe that I have his approval?”

  “No, I do not.”

  “Then, why did you agree to teach me? Was it just because a noble asked you?”

  “Partly, but not how you might guess. I want nobles to fight the byrinths.”

  “I don’t completely understand why, but let’s ignore that. Can you really help me become a Mage?”

  “We’ll see soon.”

  “Hmph, bad answer. Let’s meet here in Vale tomorrow instead of Selmer. Ah, I see Rolf now. See you tomorrow, Teacher.”

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  I had the guys help me buy several rge sacks of flour and pick out several knives which could be used to butcher, skin, or chop. We also got a smoked ham and warped back home.

  “Eek!”

  “Sorry, Alina, didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted to bring back a big ham, but this was the best I could find.”

  I walked to the kitchen to hang up the 3 kg ham, and check on my chemistry experiment. Carefully pulling back the cloth revealed a nice clump of pale-yellow crystals. This looked really good, but could be even better.

  Pyrotechnics came to mind, but a bit too te and potentially dangerous — wouldn’t want a repeat of Heisenberg’s mercury fulminate incident.[1] Well, a little powder for a puff and ceremonial scent should do it. Might add a little resin tomorrow so it doesn’t fall apart too soon.

  Looks like I’d gathered spectators, “Do we have a mortar and pestle?”

  Alina showed me and I got some dried mint. After grinding to a fine powder, I pulled up the alum ball and gently dusted it with the mint. Could’ve just used ash but looks better like this. I hung the ball over an empty bowl to dry overnight. I don’t know if the resin will be needed, but may as well collect some while I have daylight.

  “I’m going to make a quick trip to the forest. I won’t be gone long, but you’re welcome to follow.”

  As expected, everyone got ready for the great trek of a couple hundred meters to the edge of the forest. More pine and fir than spruce, but otherwise, this felt a lot like home… um, my old home. Most of the sap was too wet and a sticky gimmick would be tacky, so to speak. Found a pine tree with some dried stuff so I scraped some off and headed back.

  As soon as we got back inside, Alina practically exploded, “I can’t take it anymore! What is all this for?”

  “Oh, gd you asked, which you could have done at any time. I’m preparing for the ritual of turning Rutina into a Mage.”

  “Oh, can you really do that?”

  “Yes, but only because she’s already fulfilled the requirements. I can’t actually grant jobs, only switch them, like I did for you.”

  “But you need that um, thing because Mage is a special job?”

  “Nope, not at all. What I’m making here is just to cover up my job-switching skill.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’ll use a little ritual to draw attention away from me and this object will be my excuse for why I can’t just turn everybody into a Mage.”

  “Um, why not just let her change jobs at a guild temple?”

  “Too much bother and boring. OK, it’s really because a guild temple might require permission and it’s boring.”

  “You really seem to enjoy tricks and deception for someone so honest.”

  “I guess so, but why let the bad guys have all the fun?”

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  We enjoyed an early, simple dinner.

  “I’d like to make a quick trip to Nordselm before it’s dark. Alina, would you mind coming with us? I’d like your help with interpretation. Afterwards, we could go to the byrinth. We’re still on the lower floors so it’s safe enough for you.”

  She readily agreed so we suited up, grabbed the trade goods and warped to a tree near the vilge. Only a light drizzle this time but still noticeably colder than our house.

  A few local kids saw us and greeted, ?■■■■ ■■■ Dawit.?

  I tried to copy the accent and asked for the guy I spoke to earlier, ?Bernhard? ?

  How do people manage without an Identify skill like mine?

  We were led to the same hut as st time. Alina talked to Bernhard, who sounded quite pleased with what we brought. Hard to imagine that 15 kg of flour would be enough for even a small vilge, but Bernhard acted like it was almost too much. We got eight wooden bowls, a bunch of spoons and even a dle. A good deal, considering the bor cost, but then another guy brought in a small keg of mead. This felt like too much, but Alina advised me to take the deal. She certainly understood these people better, especially since I couldn’t understand more than a few words of their conversation.

  Now with more exposure, I felt more certain that Elvish was Germanic but on the soft side, like English. In contrast with Valic, it felt like I could learn enough of this for simple trade. I should talk to Alina about it.

  We celebrated the deal with more mead from a small jug. I drank just enough to be polite and then we headed off to the byrinth. Once inside, I opened a portal long enough to off-load our haul at home and then we stayed for a while to fight in the byrinth.

  “According to my notes, we’re fighting rabbits on the third floor. The other monsters are goats and trees so nothing to worry about. The monsters here are a bit stronger than usual but nothing extreme.”

  “OK, I’m ready.”

  We stayed for an hour at a modest pace so we didn’t reach the boss room before it was time to return home.

  “OK, how about baths? Interested?”

  Alina, asked, “Um, won’t baths take too long to prepare?”

  “Nah, not as a Mage. It’s just a couple moderately sized tubs anyway.” More quietly to Alina, “You’re welcome to go before, after or with me. I’m OK with whichever.”

  I could almost hear H.R. storming the building, but Alina wouldn’t be the one to call them. I could only hope that Alina trusted my words, not that I didn’t have a preference.

  “Um, with you then.”

  The guys moved my tub, for a bit of privacy for us and them, while I filled and heated their tub. I was pretty tired by the time I finished the second tub but felt better when Alina arrived.

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  [1] That’s Heisenberg of Breaking Bad, not the uncertainty principle.