20 – Potion #4
For now, “Harvesters of Darkness” is out of the question.
My goal is to join the same guild with Suyeon, not to abandon her and join a guild alone.
If I persuade, I can convince. But I didn’t.
The city of Labyrinth, widely known as the home of adventurers. But was it really necessary to mock them from “Harvesters of Darkness”?
It was too bothersome to explain.
“Other guilds probably say similar things about their masters, right?”
“Maybe? Guild operations are pretty much the same everywhere. Nothing special.”
They would go to any lengths to recruit male children. They would form parties with girls who got along well with the boys. They would regularly explore the labyrinth to mine magic stones.
“It’s clear that the Harvester is strong. At first glance, they must be at least level 3. Compared to mediocre human adventurers, they are on a completely different level.”
“……”
“But strength isn’t what matters in the labyrinth. Levels, skills, blessings, they don’t guarantee the party’s survival. Whether it’s a level 10 adventurer or a level 1 adventurer, they are all just creatures in the face of the labyrinth’s darkness.”
The reason why the Harvester, who excelled in the warrior position, was being ignored. It was because the male party leaders couldn’t handle the Harvester.
To protect against the darkness of the labyrinth, “Soul Protection” was essential. But maintaining “Soul Protection” in a party that included the Harvester wasn’t easy.
Hunting itself would become easier and faster, but they never knew when and where “Soul Protection” would be lifted, leading to their annihilation. The anxiety excluded everyone except the Harvester.
In summary, stability was lacking.
In reality, there were many Harvester parties that disappeared without a trace. What would other adventurers think when they saw them?
It would be better not to accept the Harvester. It was not worth gambling with their one and only life.
“What adventurers prioritize is the strength of male children. Their level and the rank of ‘Soul Protection’. That’s why, wherever you go, you will be welcomed because you can handle the Harvester.”
“……”
“But you’re not a Harvester. There are more adventurers who can replace the Harvester than you think.”
Suu trembled. The large woman, despite her size, was agonizing over being rejected by a young boy.
“Suu.”
Even though she didn’t want to part with the sad reality, Suu understood her position. So she silently waited for my decision, unable to ask me not to abandon her.
It was so heartbreaking to see that it seemed like it hadn’t been discarded just once or twice.
“I won’t abandon Swoo. I’ll find a guild that Swoo can join.”
“…Ray…!”
“Swoo is my benefactor of life.”
I am also Swoo’s benefactor.
Sometimes emotions overpower reason. We, who owe each other debts, have become a party closer than any other in the world.
“In a dangerous labyrinth, the only person I can trust 100% is Swoo.”
“…Ray, you trust me 100%, don’t you?”
“Of course. If I can’t trust Swoo, who can I trust?”
Waves of emotion filled Swoo’s yellow eyes.
“…I will do my best to repay your trust, Ray. Even if my body breaks and shatters, I will make sure you don’t get hurt in the labyrinth.”
“You seem closer. It’s a good feeling.”
The Master of the “Harvesters of Darkness” gave a bitter smile. It seemed like a memory from his younger days suddenly came to mind.
“I’ll go.”
I bowed to the guild master and the other adventurers, and turned my back to them.
It was still daytime. There was plenty of time. I should be able to find a good guild before the next labyrinth opens.
* * *
“I’m sorry, Ray. Because of me…”
Swoo slumped his shoulders. He seemed even more downcast than before.
I understood, considering how much he had been beaten up that even counting with ten fingers would be difficult.
“Soo’s self-esteem hit rock bottom.”
Ever since visiting the “Harvesters of Darkness” guild, he had been constantly watching me. And now it had gotten worse.
At this rate, it felt like he would be avoiding eye contact with me all day when we were together.
“You don’t have to be in a guild. There’s no immediate reason for you to join.”
“But…”
“You earned 1 gold by selling Soo’s coffee. You can manage with that. With 1 gold, how much longer can we stay at the inn where we’re staying?”
“…”
“The breakfast there is really delicious. We can keep eating it. Fortunately.”
“You don’t have to comfort me…”
“I’m not trying to comfort Soo. I genuinely think that way.”
What else was there?
“The milk too. The milk there was warm and delicious.”
“The milk was delicious?”
“Yes. It was sweet and tasty.”
The milk at the “Vanguard of Miracles” guild house was bitter and not that great. How could the guild house milk be worse than the inn’s?
It was strange.
“You enjoyed it. Hmph, I’m glad.”
The comfort seemed to have somewhat worked as Soo regained a hint of a smile. It wasn’t a complete improvement, but it was much better than feeling as down as I did.
I returned to the inn with Soo. The innkeeper lady greeted us warmly.
“Did you find a guild to join?”
“I want to think about it a bit. So, I want to extend my stay.”
“A boy is welcome anytime. Shouldn’t Suin unni settle the bill first before going up?”
I must be exhausted from wandering outside all day. I’m so tired.
I should quickly take a shower and go to bed.
“Su, are you going to take a bath?”
“…Can I go in with Ray?”
“Of course.”
Su and I got into the bathtub together. The water overflowed as much as our body volume.
Eureka.
“Ah…”
Dipping my body into the warm water feels like all the fatigue is melting away. It doesn’t mean that Su’s embrace is soft and comfortable.
“Su, is your nose bleeding again?”
“……”
It was chaos every time we took a bath.
The solution to stop the nosebleeds was simple.
I just had to send Su out first. Or maybe I should go out first.
“It’s absurd for Ray to leave because of me. It’s right for me to leave.”
Su stood up from the bathtub. Water splashed everywhere.
Determined, Su tried to quickly leave the bathroom. The sight of Su desperately trying to stop the nosebleed was comical.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Su’s body. I couldn’t.
It felt like someone had applied a band-aid to my eyeball.
“Swoo.”
I quietly called out to Swoo. At my call, Swoo turned around.
“Umm, milk. Can you prepare it for me? I want to drink it as soon as we go out…”
“Ah… of course! I’ll prepare it quickly and wait for you.”
Saved clearly in my mind.
After sending Swoo out, I finished bathing in no time.
Maybe it’s because we’ve gotten into the habit of doing it together. Taking a bath alone felt a bit bitter.
As soon as I came out of the bathroom, Swoo was waiting for me. They handed me warm milk.
Swoo looked at me with an expectant face.
Slurp!
It was just a sleeping pill. A sleeping pill that helps you sleep soundly.
“You drink milk so well.”
The innkeeper, who had been watching us, blurted out a word. Her tone was ambiguous, making it unclear whether it was a compliment or sarcasm.
“It must be a compliment, right?”
I didn’t think much of it and moved on.
“I ate well, Swoo.”
“If you want to drink it anytime, just let me know. Even if Ray wants it, I’ll give you milk, even if it means getting a puffy face.”
“….”
Both the innkeeper and Swoo, their voices carried a strange enthusiasm. It was difficult to understand the tension.
“Shall I go up and sleep?”
Yawning continuously. If I lie down on the bed, I feel like I’ll pass out.
Then, someone called me.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Sister…”
It was a familiar face. The magician who took Su’s coffee yesterday.
The magician stopped us with an excited look on his face.
“I would like to have a brief conversation.”
“…Right now?”
To be honest, I’m very sleepy. If it’s not urgent, I want to postpone it until tomorrow.
“The blood of a werewolf. Can you get more?”
“….”
The magician seemed anxious about something. If someone sees him, they would think he’s being chased.
“Why? Is it necessary for your research?”
“Ah.”
The female magician scratched her head. Judging from her reaction, it seems that there’s something bothering us.
“To tell you the truth.”
The magician explained about her real research.
“I am an alchemist who makes healing potions.”
“Not a magician?”
“I pretend to be a magician because it makes conversations easier. When I need to obtain necessary ingredients, I wear my robe inside out and go.”
“……”
Magician and alchemist. There was a difference in their name value. Perhaps the magician’s tone felt stronger.
“But why?”
“The blood of a shapeshifter is more efficient than I thought. Whether it’s because it’s from the White Tiger Clan or because impurities don’t mix, I don’t really know.”
The alchemist quickly pulled out a potion and handed it to me.
“This is the potion I made this time. Even though I diluted it because we received less blood from you, the effect is no joke.”
“……”
Every time the glass bottle, no bigger than a fist, shook, the bright red liquid sloshed around.
I looked at the potion with a plump face and asked.
“Why are you showing me this?”
“…I was wondering if I could get more blood….”
“Do you have money?”
“……”
I grabbed the potion and turned away.
“Haam….”
I didn’t want to talk for too long. I was too sleepy.