18 – Potion #2
We had breakfast at the inn and chatted with Swoo.
“Do you exercise every morning, Swoo?”
“…There wasn’t much I could do in the city besides personal training. I figured I had to be stronger than the average human to get any use out of me.”
“So you’re working hard to improve your stats, just like me.”
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Being a female explorer didn’t make city life any easier. In fact, they had a harder life than men.
They had to prove their worth, unlike the boys.
Swoo sighed and slumped his shoulders. His weary voice carried a hint of regret.
“…But no one accepted me. They all refused, saying I was too much to handle.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s when I met Ray.”
Swoo wiped the soup that had gotten on my lips.
“It tastes better when you eat it with a little mess.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Please do it again next time.”
“Really? Are you sure it’s alright?”
“There’s nothing I can’t do.”
Being taken care of by someone was unexpectedly pleasant. If possible, I would like them to feed me and hold me tightly all day long.
“But then Suwoo might feel uncomfortable.”
I entrusted myself to Suwoo’s touch within a reasonable boundary.
This is instinct. It’s a boy’s instinct to want to lean on a pretty older sister.
I never dreamed that I would be so vulnerable. Me, a man who served in the military in South Korea, acting like a child.
Isn’t this absurd?
Instinct. A powerful coercion that cannot be stopped by the reasoning of an individual.
I can only comply with this coercion.
“Suwoo wants it too.”
I’m not the one being demanding. Suwoo wants to do it for me.
“For a snack, would you like milk…? Or juice…?”
“Yes. Milk is good.”
“M-Milk. Milk is good. It’s healthier and better than juice.”
Suwoo asked me what kind of drink I wanted in a subtle tone, whispering to me.
“T-then, can I make Ray’s milk?”
Make milk? Should I add sugar to warm milk?
The milk from the “Miracle Vanguard” guild had a strangely rich and creamy taste.
“…Doesn’t matter, right?”
I replied with a slight tilt of my head.
“They must mix something else in the milk in Labyrinth.”
Since Swoo offered to make it, there was no reason to refuse.
Milk is milk. Is there anything special about it? Unless it’s something like Jetina Nesquik, milk is just milk.
“You mischievous kid.”
“Ah, I can make plenty of milk too. Is there any good boy who wants to drink it?”
“Hush. They might hear you. You crazy woman.”
I wasn’t particularly good at discerning the subtle taste differences in milk. But if Swoo had her own recipe, it might be something to look forward to?
Swoo went to the kitchen for a moment and came back with a glass. The milk she brought was different in color from the one I had at the “Miracle Vanguard.”
I drank it all at once.
Gulp, gulp. Maybe I drank it too quickly. A streak of milk dribbled down my mouth.
I wiped my lips with my sleeve and said,
“It’s sweet.”
“….”
Swoo’s face turned slightly red.
“You don’t drink, Swoo?”
“…I have to drink.”
It seemed like she had already downed a shot of beer inside. Otherwise, that color wouldn’t have appeared.
“I’m from the Baekho Clan. People might mistake me for a Cheongho Clan member.”
I put down my empty glass and stood up.
“Su, I want to train too. Can you help me?”
“Of course.”
Su and I left the inn together. We left our luggage behind and started walking.
“I want to train while looking for a guild.”
“What kind of training?”
“I obtained an artifact. I want to see how it feels to use it. It would be better to get used to it before going into the labyrinth, right?”
The magic stored in the artifact activates in response to the wearer’s will. I planned to get a feel for it by actually using it.
“…I didn’t say anything because you seemed confident, but… since you’re trying to use an artifact, I need to make sure.”
“What?”
Su looked at me with a worried expression.
“I think Ray might be able to charge the artifact.”
“I also want to check that this time. Whether my ‘Soul Protection’ can handle it…”
“There are rumors that it’s dangerous.”
“Are you talking about Avella’s artifact?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard some not-so-good things. Boys who use Avella’s artifact all complain of severe fatigue…”
That makes sense. If Avella’s artifact is influenced by ‘Soul Protection’, it will draw energy in that direction.
“So, Avella’s artifact is the best for me.”
Based on my first labyrinth exploration, I learned how the ‘Soul Protection’ skill works. It wasn’t perfect, but I got a rough idea.
“Everyone wanted to see my stuff.”
Whenever I bluffed and bragged about my B-rank, there was an undertone that they wanted to see me take off my pants. It was because they wanted to see it in “The Vanguard of Miracles,” but anyway.
Time in the Labyrinth City of Labyrinth. Time on the first floor of the labyrinth.
Looking back at the various situations I’ve experienced, there is only one answer to “Soul Protection.”
“The rank of Soul Protection is associated with masculinity.”
My Soul Protection is EX-rank. Not F or B, but EX-rank.
It’s clearly a grade higher than A.
There are many elements that make it up.
The length, thickness, shape, and proportions of the item itself, and aspects like frequency, concentration, quantity, and scent from a functional perspective….
I haven’t personally confirmed all of these elements. I didn’t have the time for that.
The exploration of the labyrinth, where you could die, was important, so what’s the use of something that’s not immediately useful?
The only thing I know about myself is the size. Just one thing.
It’s incredibly solid and incredibly majestic. But it wasn’t enough to make me vomit.
Swu, who saw the real thing for the first time, was surprised by its size and spewed out his coffee.
The expression he showed in that instant was slightly different from that of a woman who had been choked by a black pit.
“It’s more reliable than other guys. But that’s it.”
It’s not a level that surpasses the value of being a human species.
“What’s important is that the Soul Protection skill is EX-rank.”
Judging from my Soul Protection rank, it is expected that not only the size but also other aspects are quite outstanding. It means that masculinity itself is excellent.
Because of that, Abel was able to handle the artifacts more freely than the other boys.
“Just hold on tight.”
Then, I can find out how much to use in actual combat and how to calculate the charging cycle. That’s why.
The artifact demonstration was planned to be held at the training ground of the nearby inspection guild.
“Onegai shimasu!”
When I begged with a lowered head, my sisters readily gave their permission.
“You want to try using the artifact? You’re more than welcome.”
“Such a cute little lordling.”
The inspector ladies patted my head. Harsh and rough hands came pouring in.
“It’s about this much, if you think of it as the price for using the training ground, it’s cheap.”
It wasn’t like I enjoyed the inspectors’ touch because it felt good. I had no choice but to offer my head.
“…….”
“Su, I want to try using the artifact soon….”
If the inspector ladies were phase 1, then Su was phase 2. I got my head patted until it turned into a mess.
After waiting for Su’s anger to subside, I was finally able to use the artifact.
“「Magic Arrow」”
[Abel’s Arrow Bracelet] vibrated. And a faint arrow appeared in the air.
“It’s an arrow, but surprisingly thick.”
It was different from the usual image of an arrow. It was a bit exaggerated, only covering Su’s forearm.
“Go!”
I relied on “Magic Arrow” and shot towards the wooden doll in the training ground.
The pale yellow arrow hit the target.
Bang-!
“Wow…”
Even without training like the wizards, even without knowing anything about magic, as long as I had the artifact, I could use magic almost like a wizard.
“Magic Arrow.”
Can it also curve?
“Oh!”
It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I could make it deviate from its trajectory to some extent. I’m not sure if it would be useful.
“Magical Arrow, Heart Strike.”
I ended the last spell in a cool manner. This time, I activated it only through my mental will.
It was successful.
Ding-.
As soon as I used up all the charges, the status window appeared.
[Confirmation of “Soul Protection EX” complete]
[Abella’s Arrow Bracelet (D)]
[“Magic Arrow (F)” charging in progress…]
[Time remaining until charging is complete – 179:59]
“….”
This feeling.
“Are you okay?”
“…Aside from a slight tingling sensation below, I’m fine.”
Since the charging began, I’ve been feeling something strange at regular intervals in my abdomen. It’s like a pressure that someone is squeezing.
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It wasn’t particularly unpleasant or uncomfortable. It’s just that it’s bothering me, but it’s not enough to disrupt my daily life.
“Not a big deal.”
It was a low-risk, high-return situation, considering that it was a penalty for the artifact that allows me to use “Magic Arrow” three times.
“Let’s go back.”
I’ve finished everything at the Inspector’s Guild. Now, the remaining task is to find out about the Adventurer’s Guild that we can join.
I walked around the streets.
People were bustling about. They were gathering towards the central square.
“They say there’s an execution today.”
“Who?”
As I eavesdropped on the murmurs of the people, I naturally followed behind them.
“They say it’s the Recruiting Officer.”
“Publicly executing the Recruiting Officer? Wow, crazy. Why? What did he do?”
“He tried to sell out the boys to the Adventurer’s Guild in a deal.”
“What a crazy b*tch… Wait, hold on. Could that be the ‘Vanguard of Miracles’ they’re talking about?”
I was taken aback when I heard the name of the guild from the mouths of women I had never seen before. Next to me, Swu also looked at me with a confused expression.
“Weren’t they all dead yesterday?”
It seems that the Recruiting Officer was being dealt with separately.
“Yuri….”
I have to see with my own eyes how this b*tch ends up.
“Are you okay?”
“I have to see it no matter what. How a woman who tried to sell me out ends up dead…!”