Chapter 427
“Are you saying he left the labyrinth entirely?”
[That’s not possible. The contract between the labyrinth and a transcendent isn’t something that can be solved so easily. If he left of his own accord, maybe, but it’s hard to drive him out from this side. Just know that we had a deep conversation.]
Balbamaba changed the subject, as if the details were a secret.
[At the very least, he can no longer interfere in the labyrinth through trials. That’s all you need to know.]
“That’s good news.”
Inside the labyrinth, Taesan no longer had to worry about the God of Fall. With so many enemies already, that was a relief for him.
That was the end of information about the God of Fall. Taesan asked something else.
“Then where did everyone else go?”
There had been over a thousand people in the Model Garden.
But only Diana remained here. She was the only one.
[They are no longer adventurers.]
The labyrinth’s administrator replied like a verdict.
[Even though the God of Fall interfered, they were still beings who failed to clear the trial. Thanks to you, they’ve been freed, but it doesn’t change the fact that they’re losers. Like the ghost at your side.]
“Ghost?”
Diana looked around. But she didn’t notice the presence of the ghost.
“So you banished them?”
[They no longer have the right to descend the labyrinth. I sent them all back to the entrance. The rest is up to them.]
Balbamaba spoke indifferently.
He acted as if he didn’t care what they did or what choices they made.
“That’s unfortunate.”
Reynald had said he would give Taesan everything when he returned to the labyrinth.
But they’d been expelled. There would be no reward. As Taesan regretted this, Balbamaba spoke up.
[Even if they are failures, they were once adventurers. And talented ones at that. You freed them. As the administrator, I’ll reward you for that.]
[Balbamaba has activated #000018.]
[You have obtained 500,000 gold.]
“Oh.”
Five hundred thousand gold.
It was a considerable amount. Combined with what Taesan already had, he could buy some good equipment.
“Not bad. Then why is the princess still here?”
The princess was a failure like the others. Balbamaba answered as if it were obvious.
[She is with Beldenkia. She’s his wish. For now, her stay in the labyrinth is allowed. Once his wish is fulfilled, she’ll have to leave.]
“Beldenkia……”
Diana murmured quietly.
[That’s the general explanation. I need to get busy. Check the rest yourself.]
“Thanks.”
Without another word, Balbamaba left.
Taesan looked at Diana.
“Then, shall we go meet him?”
“……Yes.”
Diana clenched her fist over her chest and nodded.
Beldenkia was on the 61st floor.
They had to ascend quite a few floors.
The first NPC they met was the shopkeeper.
“……Princess?”
“Oh my. It’s been a while.”
The shopkeeper looked at Diana in surprise.
“You were supposed to have been devoured by the God of Fall……”
“That’s what happened.”
He looked at Diana and Taesan, then nodded as if he understood.
“So that’s how it was. ……Amazing. I can’t believe you cleared the Model Garden.”
The shopkeeper looked at Taesan with satisfaction.
Before they knew it, he was completely ignoring Diana. Diana spoke with a hurt expression.
“You’re treating me like this even though we haven’t seen each other in so long?”
“I don’t care about losers. You know that.”
“That’s still a bit disappointing. You used to have high expectations for me.”
“The moment you took the God of Fall’s hand, you became nothing to me. Don’t bother me anymore. Get lost.”
The shopkeeper clicked his tongue.
Refusing to talk further, Taesan and Diana left him behind.
“He’s the same as ever.”
“Did you descend the labyrinth as well?”
“Yes. He saw potential in me back then, and treated me kindly. But after the God of Fall intervened, he lost interest. I wonder what he’s after. I’m curious.”
The next floor welcomed her—the Library of All Things.
The librarian there, Jorge, frowned when he saw Diana.
“How did you—?”
“It’s been a while, Jorge. How have you been?”
“……I suppose it was possible. I just didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
“Who’s this!”
A voice of laughter rang out. Ainzhar, Apostle of Levinenov, approached Diana with a delighted face.
“Princess. You’ve returned!”
“Ainzhar? You were still here.”
“Indeed! Beldenkia’s wish is finally coming true! Congratulations!”
“Thank you.”
Diana smiled gently.
“I hope your wish comes true as well.”
“Thank you for saying that. Don’t worry. The one at your side is also helping me realize mine.”
Ainzhar grinned.
“You rescued the princess, which means you made it to the 83rd floor. Only one floor remains. I’ll be waiting.”
Taesan nodded.
They descended the labyrinth again, and this time they met Haphran.
Haphran, too, was surprised to see the princess. But, perhaps because he knew Taesan’s strength, he accepted it quickly.
“Still, to break through the domain of a transcendent. Impressive.”
“How’s the equipment coming along?”
“The preparations are mostly finished. Only the final adjustments remain. I’ll call you when the time comes.”
With Haphran, their conversation ended, and they continued ascending the labyrinth.
“It feels nostalgic.”
Diana murmured with wistful eyes.
Maybe she could have been in Taesan’s place right now.
Fulfilling the wishes of NPCs and reaching the end of the labyrinth to save the world.
But she didn’t feel regret or despair.
She had let go of grand wishes and was now satisfied with small happiness.
“I did Beldenkia wrong. I should apologize when I see him.”
Diana murmured softly.
They kept climbing.
And they reached the stairs to the 61st floor.
Diana climbed the stairs, her face full of emotion.
“Beldenkia! Please!”
“Hey, stop it!”
“Please, teach me! I’ll do anything!”
“I told you, that’s not possible!”
What Taesan and Diana saw was a flustered Beldenkia.
And Lilith, clinging to his leg.
It was a very peaceful, close scene. Diana’s face froze. As Beldenkia shook off Lilith, he belatedly noticed someone approaching.
“……Princess?”
A reunion between people who thought they’d never meet again.
It should have been touching, but Diana’s face was stiff.
“You seem to be having fun?”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing. I did tell you to let go, so I can’t complain if you didn’t listen. But…… still……”
Diana lowered her head.
Her body trembled slightly.
“I endured all this time wishing only for you, but you were having a good time with another woman. I’m so sad……”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
Beldenkia shouted and pushed Lilith away.
“She’s the contractor of the God of Magic! She’s been pestering me to teach her magic! There’s nothing between us!”
Beldenkia grabbed Diana’s shoulders.
“I’ve always been thinking of you, Princess! That’s why I’m here!”
“……Pfft.”
Diana burst out laughing at Beldenkia’s desperate words.
“P-Princess.”
“It’s just a joke. Like I used to do? I didn’t think you’d react this strongly.”
Diana looked up, her face very gentle.
“You stayed here for me. How could I ever resent you? ……I’m glad to see you again, Beldenkia. My magician.”
“Princess……”
Tears welled up in Beldenkia’s eyes.
“……Taesan. What’s happening? I’m not sure what’s happening here.”
“Beldenkia’s wish came true.”
Taesan answered Lilith’s dazed question.
—
“You’re Lilith, right? Sorry for dragging you into our drama.”
“No, it’s fine. After hearing the circumstances, I understand. Sorry for causing a misunderstanding.”
Lilith composed herself and spoke sincerely.
“Congratulations on escaping the hand of the god.”
“Thank you.”
Diana smiled softly. She tightly held Beldenkia’s hand.
“Thank you, Taesan. I gave you a quest, but…… I never really thought you’d actually do it.”
Beldenkia’s eyes held all kinds of emotions. It had been a quest to confront a transcendent directly. He had thought it was impossible.
But Taesan accomplished it perfectly.
“I need to give you a reward worthy of that. Princess, please wait a moment.”
Beldenkia drew a magic circle on the ground.
“What you did for me is, literally, my wish. It’s more important than my life.”
So Beldenkia had decided to give him everything.
“That’s why I wondered how I should reward you. This is one of the results of that consideration.”
[Beldenkia has activated Magic Transfer.]
The magic circle began to operate. Beldenkia spoke as he spread his mana.
“Don’t resist. Just accept it.”
The magic circle devoured mana and started working around Taesan.
And strength began to flow into Taesan.
He could tell what it was.
The power flowing into him was Beldenkia’s own strength.
The mana he had accumulated. His experience with magic.
All of it was being imprinted on Taesan.
[Your mana has permanently increased by 7,800.]
[Your intelligence has permanently increased by 5,500.] (T/N: Hooolllllyy shttt!)
[Proficiency in Magic has increased by 4%.]
[You have acquired Intermediate Magic [Waves of Poisonous Mist].]
Crash!
The magic circle broke, unable to withstand the power. Beldenkia wiped away sweat and collected his mana.
“So that’s my limit. Only 4%… your proficiency must have been quite high already?”
“……You can give your mana or proficiency to someone else?”
Normally, you could only increase proficiency through proficiency potions, combat, and repetition.
But now Beldenkia had handed his power to Taesan as if it were Soul Rank Ascension.
“I told you. It’s a unique magic I made just for you. Honestly, the efficiency is awful. It permanently consumes your own power, but only a small part is transferred.”
Beldenkia’s power had obviously diminished. He was still strong, but much less than before.
“Still, it’s the least I could do as your reward.”
It was more than enough. His mana had increased by 7,800, and magic proficiency went from 81% to 85%. The increase in intelligence was also excellent.
Considering that his proficiency in Magic had nearly stalled at 80%, it was a satisfying reward.
And that wasn’t all.
“The equipment I used and treasured while clearing the labyrinth. It’s all for magic use, so it’s useless to you, but you can sell it in shops or offer it as tribute.”
Beldenkia handed over magic staves and grimoires. Upon inspection, they weren’t far behind the equipment Taesan was currently wearing.
With this, he could obtain two intermediate magics.
“Not bad.”
“Sorry this is all I could give, after promising everything. If there’s anything else you need, as long as it doesn’t harm the princess, I’ll do it all.”
Taesan looked at them.
The princess was strong. She stood on the Boundary.
Beldenkia had used up his strength, but he still seemed to be at the level of the labyrinth’s upper echelons.
Taesan spoke.
“Then, where to next?”
“Well……”
“I don’t know either.”
Beldenkia’s wish was fulfilled. He had no more reason to stay in the labyrinth. And Diana would soon have to leave.
But both their worlds were already destroyed.
Strictly speaking, they were refugees.
“Maybe we should try settling in a new world. That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“If you have nowhere to go, how about from where I came from?”
“Huh?”
Diana’s eyes widened. Taesan continued.
“The world targeted by the Old gods. A world that could collapse at any moment, where you have to risk your life to fight. Interested?”