Chapter 48: PopurityCrap! I can’t send Rutina and Rolf to the byrinth since there could be yet another batch of thugs ready to pop out. If their attack is this organized, even sending her back to Selmer could be dangerous.
“Rolf! Selmer could be compromised. Take her to Bode.”
I pce a water wall in front of the suspicious portal and back up towards the byrinth. Once Rolf and Rutina leave, I ask Sherry and Alina to grab Lukas and we rapidly go into the byrinth with the guys in the vanguard and me guarding our backs.
Menacingly, I offer our prisoner Lukas a choice, “Join our party or die right here and now.”
Theo recites the spell and Lukas joins without hesitation. I give him a little tap… and then another until he finally passes out. Well, we can’t bring an Adventurer to our home. We could take him to the Knights Order in Vale, but we don’t have any real credibility there if he tells a different story. Unfortunately, Bode seems like the only reasonable option if we want to get anything out of this guy.
Here in Bode, Rutina and Rolf are waiting by the gate. Gosr is approaching rapidly. To my great surprise, a portal opens behind us. I decide not to put up a wall this time, but we draw weapons and prepare to fight.
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A few minutes ter, I find myself in another interrogation.
Knight Arno: “We had just arrived and this lunatic attacked for no reason. I demand…”
Gosr: “Arno, do not complete that statement. I’m only concerned with the facts. Lord Moreau, did you attack the Knights Order?”
David: “The Adventurer over there and four brigands tried to kidnap Lady Rutina. Rolf was mugged, probably to dey his arrival. When a new portal opened, I judged it to be a credible threat. I used a defensive wall to cover Lady Rutina’s escape and we left soon after. I did not attack anyone coming through the portal since I could not verify that they were brigands. Instead, I coerced this Adventurer to bring us to Bode.”
Lukas: “He’s lying! I saw that Rolf was injured and I came to protect Lady Rutina. While I was waiting, this maniac and his crazy friends killed some random party and attacked these honorable knights without provocation. Even now, Lady Rutina might be out there in danger, waiting all alone. I should go back to help her get home safely while the rest of you deal with this criminal.”
Rutina: “Gosr, I heard the Adventurer confess how he pnned to take me for some sort of revenge.”
Lukas: “You? Why would we want you? Wait, what? You tricked me.”
Gosr motioned for Lukas to be taken away.
David: “If I may suggest, Lord Captain, could Lukas be interrogated before he is sentenced? Also, you might want to repce the gag since he is an Adventurer.”
Gosr: “Suggestions noted, Lord Moreau. Anything else?”
David: “I’d like to confirm that Knight Arno does not intend to challenge me to a duel. I have no wish to fight but he might.”
Gosr: “He will not challenge you. He will not even speak to or about you. I’ll see to it personally.”
David: “Thank you, Lord Captain. We have the hands of the sin brigands — the cards have yet to be released.”
Gosr: “We’ll take care of them. Now, come with me, Lord Moreau.”
David: “Um, may I ask where and why?”
Gosr: “Knights were sent to find you. His Grace will want to speak to you.”
David: “My party is surely tired and hungry. I do not want them to suffer while I am enjoying the company of His Grace.”
Gosr: “This too will be taken care of. Do come now, Lord Moreau. Lady Rutina, you should come too.”
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Gosr takes us to the duke’s office. The duke and duchess join us a moment ter. Rutina and I take off our outer cloaks. Our Sacred Robes are technically armor don’t exactly look rustic. After basic greetings, we all sit down. It’s comfortable but I’d much rather be having dinner at home.
Duke: “David, a new byrinth opened near here.”
David: “Yes, Your Grace.”
Duke: “Is that all you have to say?”
David: “That is indeed a significant event, Your Grace. Thank you for this information.”
Duke: “Cut the crap, David! You are pying a dangerous game! Cassia, remind him.”
Cassia: “Lord Moreau, when we st spoke, you seemed to know that a byrinth would open here in Bode. If I recall, you said that you ‘forgot about Bode’s Labyrinth’.”
David: “A slip of the tongue, Your Grace. When I think of Harz Duchy, I naturally think of Bode. Of course, I meant the one in Aruba.”
Duke: “Harba!”
David: “Yes, Your Grace, Harba. I’m not good with Elvish pce names. I actually thought the new byrinth was in Tare.”
Duke: “It’s Tahra, David. Stop acting like a fool.”
Cassia: “Dear, Lord Moreau made the same mistake when we st spoke. It seemed genuine at the time.”
Duke: “Rutina, how are you involved in all this?”
Rutina: “I’m not. Gosr brought me here after we reported an attempted kidnapping.”
Duke: “What?! Did someone break into Amanhof?” [1]
Rutina: “No, it was outside Nordselm’s Labyrinth.”
Duke: “David, don’t tell me you are somehow involved with all this as well.”
David: “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Duke: “David, you assured me that your retionship with Rutina was over and yet you’re meeting with her near a byrinth. What do you have to say for yourself?”
David: “Nothing, Your Grace. Absolutely nothing.”
Rutina: “Uncle, it’s not his fault. In fact…”
Duke: “No. I want David’s expnation.”
David: “My expnation is that I’m tired, hungry and want nothing more than to leave this room.”
Duke: “You’ve gone too far this time, David. Not even you can be permitted to be so disrespectful.”
David: “Lady Rutina, I’ll see you in two days, assuming you get permission and that I haven’t been arrested.”
Duke: “David!”
David: “Your Grace, if I am to be reprimanded, please address me as ‘Lord Moreau’. Goodnight, Lords, Ladies and Graces.”
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Well, I don’t hear guards running to my location so I guess that means I’ve been granted permission to leave. At this point, I don’t care if I just burned bridges as long as I’m on the other side of that damn duke. Calling me in just to yell at me about town names. Sure, I was gaslighting him, but he didn’t know that. And the way he’s treating Rutina is barely better than her father.
I’ll find my party, pick-up the bounties and go. Nah, those bandits probably weren’t worth much anyway. Better to get out of the castle as soon as possible. Crap! Knowing the direction to my party isn’t helping when there are so many corridors. I should have just gone outside.
“Good, finally found you. Pack up and let’s get out of here.”
“Lord Moreau, please wait a moment. Ida, ?■■■ ■ ■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■?.”
“Lady Cassia? I mean, Your Grace.”
“No need for formality, Lord Moreau. Please sit down, I’m having something brought out for you.”
“Thank you but I’m afraid I’m not very good company at the moment.”
“That’s understandable. His Grace has been terribly concerned about the new byrinths and perhaps took some of that out on you.”
“You are too kind, but this was not our first disagreement.”
A pte of meat and cheeses arrived, which just served to make me hungrier since it would be rude to start eating in front of the duchess.
“Lord Moreau, please help yourself. Ida, ?■■■ ■ ■■■■?.”
“By the way, Lady Cassia, have your schors confirmed that the new byrinths are retively safe?”
“His Grace has decided to continue as pnned.”
“I see. Well, I guess you can just leave the less popur byrinths to us.”
“That’s not for me to say. Anyway, Gosr and Rutina expined what happened at Nordselm. Thank you for saving my dear sister once again. That makes three times, if you count her inheritance.” [2]
“You may be pleased to hear that Lady Rutina is making wonderful progress and has reached the 16th floor on one of the tough byrinths. In my view, as her former teacher, Lady Rutina is ready to join the official expeditions.”
A bit coldly, “That too is not for me to say. Nor for you either, I might add.”
“Hmm. I can certainly see why Rutina was so anxious for my help.”
“Lord Moreau, just what are you implying?”
“Not joining the expeditions didn’t work out well for the previous count.”
“You are the one who killed him.”
“He fell. So, in a way, he killed himself by not being able to, let’s say, correct his trajectory.”
“Absurd! I will hear no more of this.”
“My apologies for speaking too freely, Lady Cassia. Farewell.”
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I want to get away from this castle before yet another noble comes to either harass, praise or pcate me. Everyone was silent during the walk through the forest. After a kilometer or so, we stopped to check the surroundings. There was no one but us to the limit of Identify, so I opened a portal home.
Alina started to speak but stopped after looking at me.
I said, “I’ll prepare the baths” and walked away.
After soaking for a while, I finally started to rex. The present company certainly helped. Yeah, I shouldn’t have spoken to the duchess so harshly. Sort of seems like she’s out of the loop, at least concerning the count. In fact, maybe she wasn’t sent by the duke to smooth things over. Whatever, I’ll be fine without a card for the holidays, if they do that sort of thing.
Later, Sherry enchanted my dragon-leather boots with Shrub and Kobold crystals.
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Day 51
“I lost my temper with the duchess. I was still in a foul mood after having the duke yell at me, again. Still, it was unfair of me to snap at the duchess since she seems to have very little political power. Anyway, I’d like to avoid Elven Territory for today. There’s plenty to do closer to home anyway. Hmm, speaking of, oh, it looks like Marcus has earned the Knight job.”
“Really? That’s great!”
“And… there you go. All set, Sir Marcus.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry, just a joke about a different sort of knight. Anyway, I can help you with the chants.”
After Defense and Status Card Operation, I cleared my EXP skills in preparation for a new job.
“OK, please use Appointment to make me a Vilge Chief.”
This got odd looks from the others. Didn’t they understand that I did the same for Bernhard?
“Thanks. If anyone else wants it, be sure to do that around me since your normal job doesn’t go back automatically. Also, Marcus, please be careful with your Status Card Operation skill. Besides attracting questions regarding how you got that job, it also allows you to turn anyone into an unregistered sve.”
Stunned silence.
“I guess you could do the same as a Vilge Chief though maybe only to your vilgers. Anyway, it isn’t useful in battle since you’d need to get their hand and have time to recite the spell. By the way, don’t try it on any of us, even as a test, since it probably takes a Sve Merchant to undo. In short, don’t do it unnecessarily.”
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We warped to Curatar’s Labyrinth to continue with the 21st floor. We’re still using the crude parchment maps I bought since it didn’t seem to be worth the bother to codify them. After defeating the mermaid, we popped out for a break while I went to see Luke. He was busy so I went to the adventurers guild to sell a couple monster crystals that had recently changed color — one yellow and one green — for a total of 143k, including my haggle skill.
Luke was waiting when I got back so we went to a small room to talk.
“Mr. Moreau, I was fortunate to win bids on all of the crystals you requested, including the prized Slime crystals. Your price flexibility certainly helped to win bids and the market has been unusually active.”
“No one wants to waste money but wasting time is worse.”
“Exactly, Sir! Now, the specific prices are as follows: Kobolds at 5500 though ter sales reached 5700, Caterpilr at a modest 4000, Coral at 2300, Goat at 5450, and Slime, one of the most precious, at 8650 Nars.”
“Sounds good and if you see more Slime crystals for a reasonable price, I’ll buy them. Any interesting acquisitions?”
“No armor this time, though I did happen to win a bid on a rather unusual sword, a scimitar of some sort. Unfortunately, it turned out to be too unusual for the intended customer.”
Hmm, Damascus-steel with a single-edge, curved bde, and, most importantly, two empty slots. Even if Alina refuses, this is a good sword to have. Heck, even I could use it as an extra. In the end, I bought it for 9k, ordered Kobold, Caterpilr and elemental crystals, 14 in total with commissions for each. As rge a purchase as this is, it’s not even half of what I got from selling the monster crystals we collected from brigands.
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With everything tucked away, I rejoined the party to attack the 22nd level of Curatar’s Labyrinth. By the process of elimination, the monster of this floor must be Cm Shell, though I actually just asked Sherry since I no longer remember the order from the 12th of this byrinth. More significantly, this will be the st floor of the 2nd tier.
“Sherry, do we have enough information regarding the next set of floors, 23rd through 44th?”
“The information about these floors is incomplete. Not sure if more can be found at the library.”
“Does it seem deliberate?”
“Seems that most parties that reach these floors are nobles.”
“And they aren’t known for sharing. Unfortunately, I recently angered my noble contacts so we’ll just have to make do for now.”
We finished the cms and the oyster boss in time for dinner at home. More seafood, prepared by the others this time — maybe my weird fish soup wasn’t as well-received as I thought.
With the new Slime crystal, Sherry fused it to her shield. I wanted her to add a Kobold crystal, but she compined that it’d be wasteful. Well, it was for her anyway so I didn’t push it. Regardless, she got her Shield of Deflection.
“Sherry, your enchantments are absolutely fantastic!”
“Thank you, David. Praise me more.”
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[1] This is the name of Selmer’s Castle. In the WN, the MC’s first glimpse of Rutina identifies her as “Amanoya Rutina”. The LN dropped this irrelevant detail.[2] This is especially true considering what happens in the LN.