TM-Chapter 21

Tanker Interview

Yernil washed herself clean with soap and hot water. Her skin became smooth and supple, her blood vessels dilated, turning a rosy color. The scent of soap rose from her wet hair and nape.

“Phew.”

When she was taking her bath, she thought when she’s done, she’d collapse as soon as she lay down on the bed.

“I can’t… Sleep!”

The mattress was extremely comfortable, but Yernil couldn’t fall asleep due to nervousness.

Because of Backstab in the living room.

She is an expert Sound Mapping ability user.

“He’s moving.”

The sound of the undead Backstab moving outside the door was drawn precisely as if he were right before her eyes.

Thump. Thump.

“On the living room carpet!”

Yernil was tracking his position from within the bed covers.

–Graaah!

“By the window!”

–Huh? Thud. Chomp chomp!

“He’s plucking and eating the plants from the flower pot…? Do undead normally eat vegetables?”

–Uuuugh…

Now Backstab stuck his head against the glass window and struggled.

“Does he not know it’s blocked by glass and is trying to pass through?”

–Graaah!

However, even though Backstab could run on ice or jump vertically up walls, he couldn’t perform a magic show of passing through glass.

Glass with anti-destruction magic doesn’t break easily either.

–Grak!

So Backstab clung there, tapping the window with his palm.

“Unexpectedly… He might be cute…?”

Yernil giggled from within the covers.

Backstab started moving again.

On top of the coffee table.

On the carpet. Next to the bookshelf. In front of the kitchen.

Huh?

That’s not right, Backstab!

‘You can’t climb on the dining table!’

Backstab now began gnawing at the kettle on the dining table.

Sucking on the spout part as if kissing it.

Ugh!

If you do this, Caleb and I won’t be able to drink water tomorrow, Backstab!

“Ba, Backstab!”

Yernil bravely called out toward the living room from within the covers.

“Then we can’t use it!”

To distract Backstab’s attention and get him away from the kettle.

“Huh?”

And he caught that sound.

She succeeded in diverting his attention. More than necessary.

Thanks to that, Backstab suddenly kicked off the dining table and leaped up.

The sound of his body cutting through the air flew straight toward Yernil’s bedroom.

“…!”

Yernil jumped up in shock, kicking off the covers.

Bang!

The location of Backstab’s landing footsteps was…

“In front of the door!”

Yernil jumped from the bed like a deer.

Click! The moment the doorknob turned, she miraculously slammed her body against the door and barely stopped it.

“Waaaaah!”

–Guaaa!

“No! Don’t come in!”

–Gruuuu…?

“Sorry! It was my fault!”

–Gaak!

“Go back! Go suck on the kettle!”

–Gaaaak!

“Please!”

She took back what she said about him being cute. Yernil was pressed against the door, groaning. Tears even welled up a little.

-Backstab.

Caleb’s voice was heard from outside the door.

“Caleb! Caleb! Help me!”

***

“What are you doing…?”

I came out to drink water and found the two of them wrestling with the door between them.

After I separated Backstab and sent him back to the living room, Yernil looked at me tearfully.

More precisely, at the water glass in my hand.

“Um… You shouldn’t drink water from the kettle…”

“Why not?”

I had already drunk about half of it.

“…”

Yernil hesitated with an expression that suggested it might be better not to know, then told me.

“Backstab sucked on the kettle spout with his mouth, slurping.”

Shit.

I didn’t know that.

I immediately dumped out all the remaining water.

Tomorrow, after washing the kettle, I’ll have to put it in the cupboard where Backstab can’t reach it.

“Caleb! Can’t we sleep together?”

As I was about to return to my room, Yernil glanced at Backstab and hurriedly followed me.

“We slept together taking turns in one sleeping bag even in the labyrinth! There are two beds in Caleb’s room too. Can’t I sleep next to you?”

Ahem.

Yernil.

This isn’t even a labyrinth, and men and women should maintain proper distance – how can you have such improper thoughts? Tsk tsk! If Confucius saw this, he would faint!

“I’m not sleeping yet.”

I was joking, and I had some things to do in my room.

“Why not?”

“I need to study a bit.”

“I won’t disturb you.”

Yernil quietly followed me, holding her breath, and lay down on the bed next to mine. Then she watched me study intently.

[Regarding the Labyrinth Eruption Incident 12 Years Ago]

This was a thesis I borrowed from the library. Here in this place where I am now, the labyrinth city ‘Soren’, a labyrinth erupted 12 years ago causing tremendous casualties.

The author of this thesis is Professor Isilof.

He directly conducted various experiments and research on the labyrinth eruption phenomenon from 12 years ago, and recorded important characteristics of the scene.

[The labyrinth eruption 12 years ago was a typical explosive major eruption. Up to 3,000 monsters emerged, many of which were monsters from the abyss.]

[The target identified as the cause of the major eruption was named ‘Henry‘. He was an otherworld possessed person who had been hiding in the southern slums of Soren.]

[The reference photos below were taken with practical magic ‘Photography’ at the scene.]

I turned the page to look at the reference photos. Henry’s destroyed house appeared.

With the walls and roof mostly collapsed, the poor, pitiful possessed person’s belongings were revealed.

A broken water jar. A rug soaked in water puddles on the floor, probably a broken chair used to resist the monsters.

It seemed he was eating when attacked, as tomato salad was crushed and scattered on the floor.

And the corpse in the middle…

‘It’s almost impossible to recognize the form.’

It was similar to when an anxious dog tears up tissues all over the place after its owner goes out.

And…

[Message left by the possessed person in the room (decoding required)]

There was text that Isilof had photographed.

It was in English.

[To All The Possessed]

‘To all the possessed people.’

[Watch out for MAGIC UNIVERSITY]

‘Beware of Magic University.’

Hmm.

Does this mean to be careful of extremists like Meldini?

Or…

‘Is there something more to Magic University itself?’

That might be the case.

There’s one problem I’ve been suspicious about all along.

‘Why did Magic University suffer particularly heavy damage during the labyrinth eruption?’

Because the wizards bravely fought back?

That might be so.

But how about this hypothesis?

‘There were already many possessed people in Magic University.’

And after the target that triggered the labyrinth eruption – in the case of the incident 12 years ago, ‘Henry’ – was eliminated, what if the monsters flocked to Magic University looking for other possessed people?

What if that’s why Magic University suffered particularly heavy damage during the incident 12 years ago?

Maybe the real problem isn’t Meldini.

Maybe there’s some kind of possessed wizard cartel inside Magic University that’s hiding its identity while using Meldini as a front.

‘Or Meldini himself might be possessed.’

I’m not sure.

Isn’t that possibility unlikely? In all of Meldini’s aggressive movements, has he never once cast lie prevention magic on himself for self-verification?

Anyway, until I can clearly identify friend from foe, I must absolutely hide the fact that I’m possessed.

Thud.

I closed the book and put it back on the bookshelf.

“Yernil.”

“Yes?”

“I thought you’d be tired so I was just going to let you sleep today, but since you went out of your way to not sleep and come all the way here, I have no choice.”

“Huh…?”

“You should know you won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

“Gasp…?”

Yernil tensed up slightly, and I pulled out a bunch of documents from my bag.

“Help me with my experiment.”

It was a bundle of scrolls I bought from the black market in the morning.

To all who play the legendary game Abyss of the Labyrinth, this is rotten water Caleb.

In the game, studying mechanics is essential for survival!

***

Half past midnight.

Almost all the wizards at Magic University had left work.

There were only a few places in the school that still had lights on.

The library that operates 24 hours and illuminates the surroundings like a lighthouse.

Dormitory room 308 where Caleb is absorbed in experiments.

And…

[Professor Isilof’s Office]

Isilof sat at his desk, receiving a guest.

“You still haven’t left work?”

Meldini, wearing a coat and carrying a bag, asked.

“Thank you for visiting my office again on your way home.”

“I heard you didn’t attend the new student orientation during the day?”

“That’s right. Professor Dalstream went instead. I was too busy with a new project.”

“That thing about tracking the souls of possessed adventurers?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm.”

Professor Meldini’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Who’s handling that job?”

“The famous new student said he’d form a party himself and do it.”

“Did that kid enroll?”

“Yes.”

“I tried to probe him a bit but he frowned so hard I thought he might just leave.”

“He enrolled. Moreover, he joined my club.”

“Professor Isilof.”

Meldini’s brow was deeply wrinkled with concern.

“Do you really trust that kid?”

“…”

“Was that the kind of talent that can be explained with words like genius? I heard all the testimonies about what kind of performance he showed in the labyrinth. He prevented an explosion by driving an Ice Spike into a Venomic Spider’s poison sac just before it burst.”

“Is that so?”

“Having abnormally extensive knowledge about labyrinths is a common characteristic of otherworld possessed people.”

“He was originally someone who explored labyrinths in Windham. It might have been knowledge he gained then.”

“That’s possible. But were Windham adventurers all skilled enough to catch Backstab and escape with poor equipment and hastily formed two-person parties?”

“…”

“If he were just a genius wizard, that would be nothing but wonderful. I’d like that too!”

Meldini exclaimed.

“But we can’t rule out the possibility that he’s possessed.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Please confirm whether that kid is possessed or not. Since you’re the club advisor, you should be able to do it.”

“Sigh.”

Isilof let out a small sigh and moved to the window.

There was a large flower bed on the windowsill. Red flowers caught Isilof’s scent and fluttered their petals in rotation.

“Do you know what kind of flower this is?”

“Isaac Berry?”

“Correct. When the soil is rich in nutrients, they bloom such pretty flowers and bear sweet fruit.”

Isilof said.

“But if the soil lacks nutrients or there’s insufficient rain, Isaac Berry becomes a monster that instead of fruit, emits only intense ‘fragrance’ to catch and devour small animals that come looking for that smell.”

“…”

“Whether that new student is possessed or not, is that really important? Isn’t it enough if he consistently enters labyrinths and helps the university? We’re severely short on wizards right now.”

Isilof said.

“I’ll become the soil. Professor Meldini. I’ll directly become nutrient-rich soil using my knowledge as nourishment.”

Isilof held out a watering can.

“Can’t Professor Meldini hold the watering can?”

“Tsk.”

Meldini clicked his tongue softly.

“You still haven’t come to your senses even after experiencing that accident 12 years ago. What was the reason the university is short on wizards in the first place?”

“…”

“I’ll keep watching.”

Meldini left the office.

***

[Party Member Recruitment Interview]

▶Party Leader: Caleb

▶Number of Recruits: 1 person

▶Recruitment Field: Warrior capable of close combat and protecting the front line

A new party formation has begun at the Adventurer’s Guild!

Normally, when a former criminal slave of labyrinth beginner status like me recruits party members alone, there should be almost no applicants.

Even in the game, at this point you have to go around finding people directly and do a lot of persuasion rolling to get them to join your party.

However…

‘There are so many.’

Nearly twenty applicants were in the interview venue the Adventurer’s Guild lent us, and there were crowds of onlookers too.

No matter how famous I became as a rookie who caught Backstab, there’s no reason for this many to flock here. The reason they came is…

‘Wow, he really does corpse manipulation.’

‘Are they crazy?’

‘They’re going into the labyrinth with that thing?’

Because of Backstab.

“Come, come here…!”

Yernil was bringing Backstab to the interview venue like a hunter taming a wild animal.

“No! Not that way! Come here and sit on the chair…”

It’s a bit like dealing with a child too.

“No climbing on the chair! Don’t do wall-walking! Kyaa! Don’t pull my hair!”

The reason I brought this troublemaker undead here is because necromancy is somewhat controversial in this area.

It’s not legally prohibited, but morally it’s ‘Is it really okay to do that…?’

Therefore, before forming a party, we need to clarify our purpose for going to the labyrinth and select someone who can ideologically agree with that purpose.

Also, to draw some aggro.

“When the Adventurer’s Guild explained the party recruitment announcement, they probably told you that our purpose for this labyrinth expedition is to find the point where Mister Backstab’s soul is preserved and use that to resurrect Backstab.”

I explained the magic cast on Backstab.

“When Backstab enters the labyrinth, he’ll fulfill the role of a guide like a proper rogue. And he’ll move toward where his soul sleeps.”

This part is Professor Isilof’s idea. The underlying magic is ‘Lost Item Tracking Magic’. It seems Virtanen also tried to cast this magic on Abisson’s ID to find Abisson’s corpse. It all became unnecessary when I brought out the corpse myself.

By applying variations to the Lost Item Tracking Magic using soul chains, they made the undead walk toward finding his own soul.

We’ll follow behind him, and when we reach the destination, voila, Backstab’s soul retrieval!

…This is also Isilof’s idea up to this point, and it’s similar to the method I first tried when finding the Soul’s Resting Place in-game.

Of course, this alone won’t be enough to find it, and there are some more things I need to do directly while following the undead.

“Please proceed with interviews only if you can enter the labyrinth with the undead Backstab and participate in finding Backstab’s soul.”

In-game, you can see status directly, but here that’s not possible. Unless you sleep together as party members.

Instead…

“Please come forward and lift this oak barrel.”

I started a strength test interview.

To throw oak barrels like Virtanen, you need at least 15 points in Strength.