TM-Chapter 37

The Wizards’ Party

How is the Soren I played in the game different from the Soren here now?

It’s the same place.

It’s just that there’s a 140-year time difference.

For reference, this place is 140 years further into the future compared to the game.

There was never anything like years displayed in the game, but I can still tell. Because when I searched through the library, I found records that a labyrinth had erupted 140 years ago too.

In those materials from back then, familiar personal names, place names, and business names poured out.

During the 140 years since then, Soren has changed a lot, and thanks to the labyrinth erupting again 12 years ago and tearing up the entire city, now only the framework of the city in my memory remains.

But still, some things exist the same now as they did back then.

For example, a place just like this.

‘Bertengga.’

Soren’s greatest magical noble house and a place that has produced countless renowned wizards.

From the entrance of that mansion, the scale was so incredibly different that Yernil felt a bit intimidated.

“We’re going in there?”

“Yes.”

“Us?”

Honestly, I’ve never seen a house like this in real life either.

It feels like an English tycoon’s grand mansion that would appear in some drama.

For reference, only we walked here.

The other guests came by three-wheeled vehicles powered by magic stones or by carriage.

And one more thing.

“I’m scared people might laugh……”

There was one more factor making Yernil feel intimidated, and that was the clothing.

Did only Yernil dress poorly for an upper-class society party?

No.

I went to a clothing store and bought her a party dress. It was a design with ribbons and a fluttery style with a flare skirt length that fell seductively above the knee, priced at 1,800 gold.

Additionally, I had her wear 400 gold shoes, and when Yernil heard the prices, she nearly fainted.

And she’s extremely embarrassed about it.

“They’ll say a clueless kid wore expensive things without knowing her place.”

I don’t think so.

The people inside here are probably wearing things with one or two more zeros added to the end.

“Let’s go.”

I approached the gate and greeted them, but the guard inside didn’t even look at us and just waved his hand dismissively.

Earlier, other guests were let in just by looking at their faces without saying a word. Tsk. As expected, our situation is different.

“We’ve been invited to today’s party.”

Only then did he straighten his posture.

“Ah, I apologize. There are many Magic University students who come looking to find patrons.”

I see.

I bought Yernil a dress, but I felt the money was too precious, so I stayed in my Magic University uniform, and that seems to have caused a misunderstanding.

“What are your names?”

“Caleb. This is Yernil.”

“May I see your identification?”

Yernil very confidently presented her free citizen identification. I showed my Magic University student ID.

“Confirmed.”

Then the guard took out a small note and wrote ‘Caleb, Yernil’, then laid the paper flat on the table next to the gate.

Then, pointing his wand at the note.

“Message transmission.”

The magic I had seen when I first met Isilof appeared.

A type of practical magic – same-day express mail.

The note went poof and disappeared.

That must be how they notify someone inside the mansion of what guests have arrived.

“You may enter now.”

***

On the first floor lobby of the mansion, servants were carrying food and drinks, and a grand piano that operated automatically was playing music.

There were about thirty guests inside the mansion.

As we entered, I could feel gazes turning toward us.

More precisely, toward Yernil.

As expected, the completion of fashion is the face and body.

Certainly, when I dressed her up prettily, even I thought she looked like a Hollywood actress.

‘Let’s see.’

I slowly looked around at the guests.

I have two main purposes for visiting here.

First is to observe the upper society of wizards, receive the reward money for retrieving Abisson’s corpse, and have some fun eating delicious food with Yernil.

The second purpose is to investigate a certain wizard. And who that is…

‘Professor Enver.’

Found him.

He’s the candidate for being an otherworld possessor that I had marked when I was pulling off my god-tier bluff show against Meldini in the Magic University lobby.

The expression of him giggling excitedly when I pressed the self-destruct button by declaring myself a possessor is still vivid in my eyes.

Professor Enver is my target for today.

If last time I pulled a lure prank against Meldini, today it’s Enver.

“Caleb!”

Someone called out in a delighted voice from the direction of the kitchen where food was coming out.

It was Clarence.

Thanks to that, the gazes of the party guests focused on that direction once, then turned toward me again.

“Welcome!”

Clarence quickly ran over to me and greeted me.

“I didn’t receive the note, so when did you arrive?”

“They used magic to send it earlier. The guards at the entrance.”

“Really? There must have been a delivery accident. It happens sometimes. This way please!”

Clarence took us both and moved while introducing us to the guests.

Most of the wizards already knew about me.

“Ah, the one who joined Professor Isilof’s club this time-.”

“The one who gave Professor Meldini a hard time-.”

“The one who took on a collaborative project with Nataniel Temple-?”

With reactions like these, I appropriately greeted them, laughed along with haha hoho, and moved on.

Passing through the corridor, some noblewoman appeared from the reception room area pushing a wheelchair. There was a familiar face sitting in the wheelchair.

“Abisson! Mother!”

Clarence introduced us to both of them.

“Oh my! Goodness! I really wanted to see you. Nice to meet you. Caleb. Thank you so much for bringing out our youngest.”

Clarence and Abisson’s mother.

Her name was Marisa.

I thought the lady of such a household would be arrogant and charismatic or fussy, but she had an easy-going personality.

“I wanted to invite you earlier to express my gratitude, but I heard you were given an important mission at the Magic University.”

Marisa said.

“You must be busy preparing, so I was worried it might be burdensome if I held a party and invited you, so I held back.”

She covered her mouth with her hand and laughed ho ho ho while introducing Abisson.

“Caleb, you’re a Magic University freshman, right? You’re classmates with our Abisson. I hope you get along well.”

“I also happen to have not a single friend at school. Let’s get along well. Abisson.”

I appropriately went along and shook hands with Abisson.

At the same time, I finally observed his severed legs.

Hmm.

Interesting.

The upper part of the amputation site was an adult’s thigh, and the lower part was like a five-year-old child’s leg.

From the severed boundary, centered on the bone, small feet, ankles, and calves were protruding out.

“Interesting, right? I’m receiving regeneration treatment at the temple.”

Abisson said.

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

Oh?

For once, Yernil asked a question without being shy.

This girl is trying hard in her own way.

Right, since we came to a social party, she should mix with people and try to fit in. Connections are important in this neighborhood too.

She’d be too scared to talk to high-tier wizards, but someone like Abisson is approachable enough for our Yernil to try talking to.

“I have pain relief magic cast on me, so it’s fine.”

Abisson definitely gave off the feeling of a spoiled youngest child. Compared to a graduating wizard like Clarence, he really seemed like a novice.

“Caleb! Thank you so much for saving me. How can you have such amazing skills when you’re a first-year wizard just like me!”

I found out now that after his revival, Abisson heard about the circumstances and became my enthusiastic fan(?).

“I wanted to see you so much! How did you defeat a powerful exit boss like Mister Backstab without equipment or consumables!”

Abisson suddenly brightened his eyes and began reciting my heroic tale.

“And you even managed to revive that Backstab! I haven’t heard the details of that story yet. Could you tell me?”

“It wasn’t really anything amazing.”

I acted as humble as possible, but honestly, if Abisson hypes me up like this, I like it.

It would be nice if I could go down like this and get into the middle of Professor Enver and the high-tier wizards and draw aggro, but first, just one thing.

“Could I perhaps take a tour of the mansion? This is my first time visiting such a wonderful mansion.”

I intended to scout once to see if it matches the structure of the Bertengga mansion I know. Also to teach Yernil while I’m at it.

“Of course! I’ll guide you.”

Abisson excitedly asked Lady Marisa.

“Mother, can I play with Caleb and Yernil for a while?”

“Of course! Naturally you can.”

Lady Marisa was very pleased too.

“Then will Clarence push the wheelchair?”

“If it wouldn’t be rude, would it be alright if I did it?”

I quickly stepped in.

I want to examine every corner of the mansion as thoroughly as possible, so having a smarty like Clarence attached would be a no thanks.

“Oh my, would you do that? Abisson would love it too.”

Lady Marisa was delighted, Clarence was happy too, and I ended up pushing Abisson’s wheelchair.

Together with Yernil.

***

“This is a guest room, and this is also a guest room. This is a balcony, and here’s an elevator. Yes. It operates with magic. This is a reception room. This is where Father conducts his business. This way is big sister’s study.”

I pushed Abisson’s wheelchair and went around the mansion once.

I understand the structure roughly.

There are no parts different from my memory.

“The house is really wonderful.”

Yernil also seems to have grasped the general positions and paths.

Then shall I go shake the bait now?

“It’s Professor Meldini.”

Just at the right time, Meldini and Professor Enver were chatting with other wizards in the first-floor lobby.

I naturally entered into that group.

“Ohhh! Aren’t these the talents who will illuminate our university’s future!”

Meldini was very pleased to see us.

“Not me. But Caleb is right.”

Abisson innocently smiled and replied.

“Haha. Abisson. Although an incredible freshman has appeared, you’re also a first-year with a bright future ahead. There’s no need to lose confidence already.”

Meldini lightly encouraged Abisson.

“But Caleb even revived Backstab, who came out as an exit boss and died.”

Abisson started praising me again. If I meet this kid often, he might be a bit tiring.

“We were just talking about that.”

Some 5th-tier wizard said.

“I heard about it from the priests too. Everything else aside, how did you obtain the ‘Resurrection Scroll’?”

I knew they’d ask this.

No one knows about the compass yet.

Why?

Because of the tacit rule among labyrinth adventurers.

When someone has a legendary artifact of that level, it’s courtesy to keep their secret.

If it gets spread around everywhere, that person could become a target for plunder.

I don’t know whether Bernard reported it to the temple or not, but even if he did talk about it, the priests wouldn’t have easily gossiped about compass information.

So how we found the treasure room and took out the resurrection scroll – there’s only one person here who knows.

Meldini.

The Halfling professor smiled contentedly and brushed under his nose with his index finger.

He seems very proud.

And I play along with this.

“I was just lucky.”

“Huh.”

“Going to keep it secret?”

“A wizard should have at least one secret.”

The corners of Meldini’s mouth, who became a patron of luck, rose with satisfaction.

“Right, you’ll tell us the method for finding the treasure room someday.”

“There are so many other things I’m curious about too.”

“Your activities are really fascinating.”

“I heard you used magic called Cumulonimbus, how did you do that?”

This is also an expected question.

Before I could even open my mouth, Meldini, who was already in a good mood, answered for me.

“He combined three 1st-grade spells.”

“Triple combination is hard to come by probabilistically.”

“He even threw in practical magic.”

“That’s a very bold attempt, isn’t it?”

“Caleb. When will you write the paper?”

“Did you succeed at that combination just by trying it based on logic alone?”

I glanced at Meldini and answered.

“I was ‘lucky’ with that too.”

“……!”

When I said ‘lucky’ with emphasis, Meldini’s eyes doubled in size.

He caught the signal I sent.

That there was another patron like Meldini behind my magic book combination.

Someone with incredible knowledge taught me that combination method.

Who was that?

If that magic book combination wasn’t coincidental, who could have taught it? Who could have knowledge that even Magic University Professor Meldini doesn’t know?

Naturally, it could only be an otherworld possessor.

“……”

Seeing how quiet it became around us, it seems the other wizards also caught on.

They might even be thinking about the Yoho tribe woman possessor I killed.

And if the Yoho woman’s knowledge left to me is that amazing-.

“Caleb.”

Professor Enver spoke up.

“Do you plan to continue being lucky when combining magic books in the future?”

He took the bait.

“I plan to continue being very lucky.”

“……I see.”

Professor Enver smiled and left his spot.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

***

I entered this world after clearing Turn-Based Master difficulty and reaching Developer difficulty.

What about other possessors?

How did they get possessed?

The possibility is one of these two:

First, they got possessed through some process I don’t know about even at lower difficulties.

Second, they got possessed through a route other than the game Abyss of the Labyrinth.

‘The possibility that other possessors also reached Developer difficulty in the game’ – what about that?

In my view, there isn’t one.

Because if possessors had cleared such high difficulty, they wouldn’t still be unaware of things like Cumulonimbus combination books or Soul’s Resting Place.

And considering that this damn game had absolutely no other content like setting books, novels, or comics, it’s probably the first of the two possibilities above that’s more likely.

Then possessors would be interested in a possessor who came in after clearing higher difficulty.

Whether friendly or hostile.

How could they not take such bait?

[It is your turn. Remaining time: 60 seconds]

[Action Points: ■■■■]

Right? Enver.

You didn’t come to this kind of party alone, right? With all these high-level wizards gathered, your friends must be here too. Who did you come with? Are you going to meet them now?

A wizard who’s not a possessor but has more extensive possessor knowledge than you guys.

Are you going to discuss how to suck out this honey pot resource?

“Yernil. I bought you pretty clothes, so now you need to work.”

There’s a reason I brought Yernil to a place like this.

If not for this kind of occasion, there wouldn’t be a proper opportunity for her to come to a place where so many wizards are gathered.

“Track Professor Enver. See where he meets whom and what they talk about.”

I gave instructions and moved my body to consume action points.

[Ending turn.]

***

Yernil’s ears twitched.

Now let’s see what happens.

Yernil. You know the mansion’s structure completely, right?

Do I need to tell you which way Enver is going?