Chapter 157
Chapter 157. Preparations for Departure
The sensation of dampness on my forehead made me look up at the sky. In the morning mist, droplets shaken loose by a breeze swayed in the dappled sunlight.
Had there been a drizzle during the night?
Wiping away the tiny flecks of moisture on my face, I turned my gaze back ahead.
It was the third morning since returning to the labyrinth. I was riding Eras Rhino, exploring the depths of the forest.
The mutant, perched atop my head as usual, was on alert, and I continued scouting the surroundings with [Presence Detection], but so far, no signs of monsters.
The only sounds were droplets rustling leaves and the faint brushing of foliage.
Amid this peaceful stroll, my thoughts soon began to wander.
I suppressed my urge to head for Selene immediately and spent these three days organizing my thoughts.
Lambert and Yabusho, who tried to assassinate me—and likely behind them, the Baromat Kingdom, which orchestrated it and brought down Reedwald. My feelings toward them were countless, but my top priority was the revival of my parents and brother. What did I need to do for that?
First, Esald Saizite's research materials. Without them, nothing could begin.
However, even a genius like Esald turned Lisria into an undead—a revenant. My [Alchemy] skill was 8, likely equal to or below Esald's. Moreover, I was a product of repetition and growth cheats, and my experience as an alchemist was undoubtedly shallower than Esald's. To attempt a resurrection potion, I lacked both skill and information.
"Kyuu."
A small cry shifted my gaze. The mutant was looking up at me.
Then, as if asking a question, it turned its face toward a corner of the forest.
A familiar presence.
"Orcs. Four of them."
I glanced at the dappled sunlight around me, cross-referencing with my internal clock.
About thirty minutes since leaving the labyrinth. An encounter sooner than expected. The monster density here was high.
Heading north past the blank zone would lead to grasslands, but east, west, and south were endless forests. Naturally, monsters invading the blank zone would be numerous.
Absently, I reached for my chest.
Maybe I'd been lucky. If the assassination attempt had happened further east or west, I might've been attacked by monsters before reaching the labyrinth. Even if I could've fought them off with magic, would I have had enough mana left?
The mutant looked up at me again, and I cut off my thoughts.
"Let's hunt. I want to gauge their strength, and they'll make good souvenirs for the labyrinth."
The mutant wagged its tail in agreement, then lightly tapped the head of the Eras Rhino calf.
That alone seemed enough for understanding. The calf began walking toward the orcs' direction.
Soon, the orcs noticed the Eras Rhino's footsteps and approached.
As their familiar, sluggish figures came into view, I activated [Appraisal].
Well, I guess they're strong, relatively speaking.
Their levels ranged from 13 to 16, higher than Selene's orcs, and their strength averaged around 16. Factoring in their build, their effective strength was probably closer to 18.
More interesting was that one orc had [Throwing: Stone Shards]. A ranged orc was a first. The goblins I'd encountered before had also learned magic. With stronger monsters around, they must've been desperate.
I reached for the Swiftwind Scimitar and moved to dismount Eras Rhino.
But the mutant wagged its tail, stopping me.
"Fine, I'll leave it to you. The one in the back throws stones, so be careful."
The mutant scurried down from my head, and I activated [Earth Shield].
The sudden appearance of a stone shield startled the Eras Rhino calf, stiffening its body, but I stroked its neck to calm it. Even with [Throwing], its rank was only 2. It'd surely target the larger Eras Rhino over the small mutant.
The orcs sneered as they swung their clubs at the mutant, approaching leisurely.
Of course, they didn't land a hit.
The mutant dodged effortlessly, and the orcs flailed desperately.
But they couldn't even graze it—eventually, a wild swing hit another orc square in the face. Even if they'd improved somewhat, they were still just orcs.
That said, the mutant was taking its time. It had only been dodging so far—ah, I see.
"That's enough. I've got a good grasp of their strength."
The mutant let out a short cry—and vanished.
A beat later, heavy thuds rang out in quick succession.
The surviving orc, stunned by its comrades' swift deaths, snapped back to reality and hurled a stone before bolting.
The crude throw flew toward Eras Rhino, deflected by [Earth Shield].
Before the stone even hit the ground, the throwing orc's head was already askew.
It kept running headless until it crashed into a tree, finally stopping as if realizing it was dead.
The whole thing took less than ten seconds after the mutant switched to offense.
I praised the mutant, then plunged a slash-enhanced knife into an orc's solar plexus.
Four orcs, wiped out in seconds.
It had been impressive before, but now it was on another level.
As the mutant leisurely groomed itself, I discreetly activated [Appraisal].
Name: —
Race: Hunter Fitch (Mutant)
Level: 32
HP: 157 / 157
MP: 209 / 209
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 16
Dexterity: 23
Endurance: 12 (Flexibility: 16)
Agility: 41 + 2 (43) (Max Speed: 64, Acceleration: 69, Mobility: 60)
Charisma: 17 + 1 (18)
-Skills-
Claws (Claw Arts 8, Body Arts 5)
Crushing Bite, Claw Strike, Claw Blade Strike, Frenzy Claw, Flexible Body, Intimidation, Language Comprehension, Memory Pursuit, White Flash, Ice Resistance 1, Lightning Resistance 2, Magic Resistance 3, Slash Resistance 1, Blunt Resistance 2, Flexibility Boost 4, Max Speed Boost 5, Acceleration Boost 6, Mobility Boost 4, Tracking 8, Stealth 7, Presence Detection 8, Danger Sense 3
-Magic-
None
-Title-
Silver Hunter
This was the mutant's status.
[Claw Arts] had evolved into intermediate [Claws], and it had gained new attack and stance skills.
Its agility-boosting skills had also improved, far surpassing mine even at base. With [Moving Up] and magic tools, I could keep up, but if it used [White Flash], it'd be pointless. Unlike before, it likely had full mastery now. No matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't self-destruct.
But what caught my eye more was [Memory Pursuit].
[Memory Pursuit]
A derivative skill of the title [Silver Hunter].
Tracks the current location of a specified target (living being).
Accuracy improves with familiarity, but decreases with lack of information or distance.
If the target is not an individual, the tracking range is significantly reduced.
Not directly combat-related, but a cheat-level skill.
If I knew the target, I could find them no matter how far. Far superior to my [Reference Point]. And that last line was insane.
"If the target is not an individual"—meaning it could track non-individuals, like humans or specific plants. After clashing with adventurers, the mutant had found Seron Grass one after another. I'd thought it was just keen smell, but it must've been [Memory Pursuit].
While I'd focused on [Alchemy] and [Smithing], the mutant had honed its fangs as a hunter.
Even three years ago, my victory had been close to a loss. Honestly, I didn't want to fight it now.
Sensing my gaze, the mutant stopped grooming and turned its red eyes toward me.
I forced a smile, cut off my thoughts, and focused on butchering.
Soon, the butchering was done.
All we got from the orcs was one magic stone. Despite their strength, the size and quality were no different from Selene's orcs. Their environment must've made them stronger, but as monsters, they were the same.
Still, they'd make decent labyrinth provisions.
To lighten the load, I drained the blood and had the Eras Rhino calf carry two orcs. A third would've been possible, but it'd slow us down.
Incidentally, the Eras Rhino calf was Level 11 with Strength 27 and Endurance 22 (boosted by [Armor]), surprisingly high—worthy of being called the king of the grasslands.
But its other stats were disappointing, and it lacked skills like [Charge].
It was still a child. Against goblins, maybe, but surrounded by multiple orcs, it'd be doomed.
Still, just hauling prey was plenty helpful. Without it, transporting labyrinth provisions would've been a chore.
After securing the orcs with vines, we resumed our stroll.
The morning mist had lifted, leaving only the forest's crisp air.
If I ignored the corpses ahead, the scenery was as peaceful as ever.
We encountered no more monsters, and as I swayed on the calf's back, my thoughts drifted again.
Assuming I secured Esald's research materials safely—
The problem was what came after.
I'd spend years, maybe decades, in the labyrinth researching the resurrection potion and training my [Alchemy] skill.
Right now, my clear enemies were the Baromat Kingdom and Count Ketten. Other nobles' involvement was unclear, but likely limited. The more they reached, the greater the risk of exposure. They'd probably target key figures or influential ones.
That made Duke Vile's faction vulnerable. If they aimed to destroy the Alsis Empire, even the emperor's enemies could be temporary allies.
Absently, I looked back.
The great tree cast deep shadows, with slender trees twisting through the gaps.
I narrowed my eyes, scanning the area as if seeing through it.
But Baromat's encroachment wasn't the main concern.
My refuge was the labyrinth—a threat to all living things.
Naturally, the empire saw it as a potential enemy too.
If I were human, I might've had other options, but now I was a rare species called a Mutator. The labyrinth was my only ally.
Until things clarified, I had to treat the Alsis Empire as a hypothetical enemy.
If the north was hostile—
I turned my gaze forward, surveying the area.
The goblins I'd encountered before used magic, and the orcs had refined their tactics.
Clearly, these monsters were stronger than in Leknud Forest.
It seemed unlikely beastmen could build villages here, but if they had, they'd need formidable strength.
Yet no traces of life appeared no matter how far I searched.
The Mercants had only heard rumors—it might've been false or already destroyed. That'd be fine, but I wanted to avoid a sudden beastman ambush. To them, the labyrinth should be fearsome too.
If they struck first, I'd be surrounded on all sides.
A labyrinth siege.
And if I avoided imperial towns, a beastman village would be convenient.
A "village" implied basic self-sufficiency and knowledge of the deep forest. I could buy alchemy tools and supplies in the empire, but frequent trips were risky. With the labyrinth as my base, I needed to establish contact somehow.
But despite my search, I found no signs of civilization.
After a break at a shallow stream, we headed further south.
Soon, the blank zone's end neared, and monster presences grew denser.
I'd stop here for now.
Without recovery options, pushing further was unwise.
"Either way, I need to deal with this."
A strong presence approached, likely hearing Eras Rhino's footsteps.
The mutant noticed too, looking up at me inquisitively.
"Let's take it down. But retreat if it feels dangerous."
The mutant wagged its tail in agreement and signaled the calf to halt.
Soon, the footsteps grew louder, and a monster emerged between the trees.
Following its gaze upward, I saw a grinning face.
A massive head, brutish muscles covering its body.
Nearly three meters tall—taller than me on Eras Rhino.
On high alert, I activated [Appraisal]—and scratched my cheek.
"Yeah… it's strong. Stronger than the orcs."
The monster was my first ogre.
As rumors said, it specialized in strength, endurance, and HP. A powerful monster, but that was it. Its skills and magic were empty, relying solely on raw physicality.
"I'll handle this."
Telling the mutant, I aimed [Penetrate Gale] at its right eye with [Multi Cast].
The first shot destroyed the eyeball, the second the brain, and the rest pierced its skull.
Less than a minute after appearing, the ogre died with its grin intact.
"No different from Selene's orcs. Its natural strength means zero tension. Though it'd be tougher in melee. With its head that high, landing a fatal blow would be hard. Now, the magic stone—"
I searched but found only a rusted greatsword—worthless.
Today's haul was unlucky.
The hide was quality armor material, but ogres in the empire's south usually laired in the deep forest. Selling it'd draw attention, and hauling it to distant towns was laborious.
Labyrinth provisions it is.
I swapped two orcs for the ogre, turned around, and headed back.
◇◇◇◇
Leaving vigilance to the mutant in its usual spot, I walked through the forest searching for potion ingredients.
Potion-making required alchemical solutions—Sogrio Fruit and Ranum Grass.
But I found none, only an abundance of Seron Grass.
All thanks to the mutant's help.
While gathering Seron Grass, I explained proper harvesting to avoid overexploitation. In response, it vanished and returned with a mouthful, offering it to me. Then, using [Memory Pursuit], it kept finding more, quickly surpassing my haul. A real cheat.
Once my bag was full, I thanked it and stopped.
With this much Seron Grass, healing potions wouldn't be an issue.
Now, the crucial alchemical solutions. Neither plant was rare, so a dedicated search should find them—but bad luck could delay things.
Without solutions, nothing could begin. I hated to rely on it, but buying some and having the mutant track them might be best.
Finding no solutions, I reached the labyrinth by noon.
Having left everyone behind this morning, the labyrinth seemed anxious. Its relief grew stronger as we approached.
"I brought souvenirs."
Activating [Physical Up], I unloaded the ogre from Eras Rhino.
Pushing the massive body inside, spikes impaled it before it fully entered.
I stepped back, watching the ogre sink into the rocky surface.
A strange sight. The surface showed no change, yet it sank like quicksand.
Labyrinth species were truly bizarre creatures.
After some trial and error, I'd gleaned fragments of understanding.
First, this side tunnel wasn't the labyrinth species itself.
Labyrinth species dwelled underground, controlling surrounding objects as armor. Thus, attacking the tunnel wouldn't harm it—the visible parts were just armor.
As it grew, its control expanded, strengthening its armor.
This was the phenomenon of labyrinth expansion.
Once the ogre fully sank, I fed Seron Grass to the Eras Rhino calf.
Patting its enthusiastically chewing head, I entered the labyrinth.
The moment I stepped in, chilly air enveloped me.
Deeper in, the cold grew intense enough to feel even with [Ice Resistance].
The lingering effect of [Ice Frost], cast this morning.
Normally, [Ice Frost]'s effects dissipated quickly. Even accounting for underground temperature stability, this was excessive. Did the labyrinth's control extend to space itself?
Exhaling white breath, I moved [Light] to survey the area.
Once a dead end, it now had a small chamber.
Our Q&A had revealed something: if the armor was controlled, maybe it could be modified.
Normally, mana barely penetrated the controlled rock, but when the labyrinth loosened its grip, mana flowed easily.
With permission, I expanded the deepest area, creating a box-shaped bed with [Earth Wall] for my family.
Kneeling before the bed, I reported my return, then placed a hand on the lid's edge.
Timed with the labyrinth loosening control, I shaved off a section with earth magic.
Inside, I brushed aside ice and touched the false bottom.
Dry. My fingers showed no moisture. The last cooling was two days ago, yet it felt freshly cast. This should last while I was away.
For safety, I reapplied [Ice Frost] and sealed the gaps with [Earth Wall].
Relieved, I surveyed the chamber again.
Ideally, I'd want more space, but pushing further was risky.
The side tunnel was the labyrinth's armor—weak at that. Expanding the interior increased danger to its core. [Earth Wall] was sturdy, but nothing compared to the labyrinth's control. A collapse would be trouble. If space felt too tight later, I'd build outside.
Lost in thought, I sensed the labyrinth observing me.
I tapped the rock casually, then realized:
This ease came from guaranteed safety.
Our Q&A revealed that skills couldn't be reclaimed until my death. Convenient if transferable, but knowing this also brought relief.
The labyrinth's skills dwelled within me.
And since it couldn't use recovery magic, it had patched my heart's hole with part of itself.
The implications were obvious.
If it could revoke given power, it could kill me anytime.
Even resisting control, I'd have no choice but to obey.
There was another catch to skill bestowal, I suspected.
Mutators were called symbiotic, but the essence was one-sided exploitation. My cooperation made it mutualistic symbiosis.
Skill bestowal wasn't trivial—closer to organ donation.
Thus, experienced labyrinth species would reclaim power the instant control failed. If the recipient escaped, the power would be lost forever.
So how would a labyrinth without killing methods reclaim it?
My guess: keep granting skills and parts of itself.
Labyrinth species' power didn't assimilate. Such foreign entities, especially sentient ones, would eventually become guardians or be absorbed.
This labyrinth was too young to realize that.
Our interests aligned, so it wouldn't try to control or absorb me now. Its priorities were safety and food. Guardians served that purpose.
Either way, it was best not to request skills lightly. Even without intent, greed could doom me.
As I pondered, the labyrinth's presence turned inquisitive.
It reminded me of a child looking up at a parent. A wry smile formed.
This had been a tightrope walk.
I had the cheat given by the rotund man. Had the labyrinth not been infantile, I might've become its worst guardian. Decades or centuries later, I could've terrorized nations like the Senem Great Labyrinth.
But dwelling on possibilities was pointless.
For now, mutual need sufficed.
"Time to depart soon."
As I muttered, the mutant entered the chamber.
Initially reluctant, it had grown accustomed over three days.
No surprise, but its dissatisfied gaze made me tilt my head.
Ah, it disagreed with my decision.
I faced the mutant and spoke firmly.
"Taking Eras Rhino is impossible. Too conspicuous. Even near the labyrinth, anything could happen. I need you to guard it."
Reluctantly, it wagged its tail in agreement.
"I'll return within a week. If things drag on, I'll abort and come back—"
The mutant tilted its head, and I paused.
Too long? The round trip itself wouldn't take much, but retrieving the materials might. Wait, no—did it not understand "a week"? Unlikely it knew Selene's location. Even with [Memory Pursuit], it wouldn't grasp travel conditions—ah, maybe the concept was lost?
Confirmed. A bit surprising. [Language Comprehension] didn't cover "a week"?
On reflection, it made sense. Most beast-type monsters didn't use language. The mutant likely mapped [Language Comprehension] to Hunter Fitch's native cognition. Gaps in understanding meant numbers were alien.
If so, could it read?
Testing, I displayed my status. The mutant leaped in shock.
It scurried around, trying to shake it off.
So it had never seen its own status.
Closing the display, I soothed the mutant and explained.
It seemed to accept but then struggled to open its own status, looking puzzled.
It should've been able to. If the Creator God had to set permissions per species, that'd be excessive. Likely, illiteracy was the barrier.
After multiple attempts, I summarized why it couldn't.
Promising to teach it later, I lined up pebbles before it.
Counting, I moved them one by one.
"This is seven. Applied to days, it's a week. Move a pebble each morning, and I'll return by the seventh. We leave now, so first, move one."
This time, it understood.
The mutant wagged its tail cheerfully, poking the moved pebble.
Incomplete but intelligent. It'd learn fast.
Watching it, I turned to the bed.
The ice barely melted, the cold preserved.
With the labyrinth controlling the space, a week should be safe.
Still, longer absences might happen. I should craft or acquire cooling magic tools.
Cooling wasn't just sentimental.
The resurrection potion was likely holy-attribute, but if Esald used vampire Prost's magic stone, it might be necromantic or dual-attribute.
Necromancy's hallmark was corpse catalysts. Severe decay caused failure. At the invisible mansion, the Magic Guild hadn't extracted info from Esald's remains not just due to taboo but because they were skeletal.
Even if I perfected the potion, flawed bodies might doom the revival.
Looking away from the bed, I watched the mutant fiddle with pebbles.
As I prepared to announce my departure, a thought struck.
"Come to think of it, you don't have a name. Want one?"
A casual offer, but the mutant froze.
Then, understanding, it dashed around me excitedly.
I'd only suggested it for convenience—this reaction was unexpected.
After calming it, I cleared my throat.
"Truthfully, one's lingered in my mind since we met. Your combat prowess, your appearance—terrifying adventurers and hunters alike. I've only seen your blue eyes, but legends say they were once red, striking fear into countless children. A fitting name for you. Mutant, henceforth you shall be Noro—"
Claws dug into my forehead.
"Ow! Don't stab me! Fine, fine, get off!"
Peeling the mutant off my face, I'd been utterly rejected.
Baffling. It was perfect.
Grumbling internally, I touched my bleeding forehead—and noticed my smirk.
That must've been why. It couldn't read expressions before. It'd grown too much.
The mutant pawed the ground, demanding another name.
I hadn't prepared alternatives, but now I was committed.
One after another, it rejected my suggestions until I was just listing random names.
This ordeal lasted over ten minutes until it suddenly reacted.
"Phil? Not uncommon, but if you like it, fine. Now we can finally—"
As I stood, the mutant—now Phil—flicked its tail into view.
It curled, pointing its tip downward.
"Wait… you want one for the labyrinth too?"
"Kyuu."
"Don't 'kyuu' me! You're not done?!"
Ignoring my protest, Phil pointed its tail at the bed, then down again.
This guy, hitting where it hurts. But it was true—I owed the labyrinth.
"Fine. Since it's a labyrinth species, how about Dun—"
The labyrinth shook, knocking me over.
A wave of rejection followed.
What the hell? That's too picky. What's wrong with "Dun"? It sounds strong and cool.
"Then, May! For 'labyrinth' and it's almost May!"
The labyrinth shook again, toppling me.
But this time, it felt pleased.
"If you like it, stop shaking! You're wasting energy!"
Finally free, I stepped outside.
The Eras Rhino calf approached, as if waiting.
"I'll be back in a week. Drink from the stream if thirsty. Phil will guard you."
Farewells given, the calf rubbed its face against me.
It couldn't understand words, but it sensed meaning.
Patting its large head, I noticed its back was stained with orc and ogre blood.
A quick rinse wouldn't take long.
Activating [Pure Water], I washed away the blood.
The calf blissfully narrowed its eyes, while Phil watched silently from the entrance.
Clearly wanting to say something.
Ignoring it, I tossed Phil the Torrent Necklace.
It caught it deftly, tilting its head.
"Focus on releasing water. Even if you can't check your status, you might manage this."
Phil stared curiously but concentrated as instructed.
Instantly, water gushed out, making it drop the necklace.
"It worked. Not many beast-type monsters can use magic tools. Impressive."
After finishing with the calf, I used [Earth Wall] to create a small reservoir by the entrance.
Phil understood immediately, activating the necklace atop it.
The calf watched warily but began drinking, clearly thirsty.
The stream was far. Even with Phil, accidents could happen. This'd reduce trips and risks.
"It'll recharge by this time tomorrow. Now, let's—"
As I turned north, Phil pawed the ground.
Its tail pointed at the calf.
Tch, thought I'd dodged this.
"No time! That can wait—shelved, postponed! Later!"
Cutting it off, I hurried away.
Phil's icy gaze bore into my back as I entered the forest.
Once out of sight, I absently noted distant presences.
How long had it been since I'd had exchanges like this?
Feeling lighter, I steeled myself.
Nothing had begun yet.
First, secure the research materials. Ideally, complete the potion within a decade.
My brother had fought hard, but my parents died instantly. They likely didn't realize they'd been killed.
The shorter their time dead, the less disconnect they'd feel upon revival. The fact itself might not weigh heavily.
But if they blamed me…
I shook my head quietly.
Not now. All judgments could wait until the potion was ready.
Current Status
Up, New: Compared to "Chapter 133: Academy Year Three ~Killing One's Own Kind"
Name: Alter Les Reedwald
Race: Mutator
Level: 33 (2↑)
HP: 201 / 201 (36↑)
MP: 425 / 425 (29↑)
Strength: 15 (1↑)
Intelligence: 17
Dexterity: 18
Endurance: 16 + 2 (18) (2↑)
Agility: 21 + 2 (23) (46: Doubled) (1↑)
Charisma: 16
-Skills-
Strong Strike, Double Strike, Wind Fang Rush Bite, Beast Form (New), Growth Boost, Stat Enhancement, Status Disguise, Language Proficiency, High-Speed Movement, Multi-Chant, Magic Tool Modification, Magic Tool Ascension, Fire Resistance 3, Ice Resistance 2, Mental Resistance 10 (2↑), Pain Resistance 5 (3↑), Slash Resistance 1, Pierce Resistance 2 (New), Poison Resistance 2, Appraisal 6, Alchemy 8, Smithing 4, Magic Tool Crafting 6, Spirit Communion 4 (2↑), Tracking 6, Stealth 7 (1↑), Presence Detection 7, Danger Sense 2 (New), One-Handed Sword 8, Two-Handed Sword 3, Curved Sword 4, Dagger 5, Body Arts 7, Archery 4
Fire Magic 7, Water Magic 6, Wind Magic 6, Earth Magic 6, Non-Attribute Magic 4, Ice Magic 3, Lightning Magic 2, Alteration Magic 6
-Magic-
Beginner
Fire Bolt, Water Bolt, Wind Bolt, Earth Bolt, Magic Bolt, Ice Bolt, Shock Bolt, Flame Blow, Water Blow, Stone Blow, Ice Blow, Water Shield, Wind Shield, Magic Shield, Earth Shield, Operate Fire, Operate Water, Operate Air, Operate Soil, Operate Energy, Physical Up, Moving Up, Concentration Up, Force Field, Light, Torch, Night Vision, Create Solution, Ice Frost, Reference Point, Earth Spirit Summon: Merlock, Fire Spirit Summon: Sarkar
Intermediate
Fireball, Fire Spread, Stalagmite, Penetrate Gale, Earth Wall
-Titles-
Reincarnated One, Ace of the Going-Home Club (Endurance +2, Agility +2), Second Son of House Reedwald