09 — Dealings on the 51st
09 — Dealings on the 51st
When I opened my eyes, there was a glowing circle in the middle of the boss room, but just past that, on the opposite wall, another door had appeared. Just like last time. I picked myself up and stretched.
“How are you feeling?” Lionel asked.
“Perfect. Where are the others?”
“Returned to the Adventurer’s Guild. They intend to hold Vice Guildmaster Grohala and many others accountable for their crimes.”
“Yeah? I almost feel bad for them. Goldhus won’t let them off easy.”
Lionel snickered. “Very true.”
“Anyway, things got way too close for comfort there. The dragon trying to eat me ended up saving us in the end. Ironic, huh?”
“My golden years are certainly long past me. Fire-spewing drakes seem to be too much for even me to handle.”
“We’ve both got room for improvement.”
“Well said. Let us train when we return.”
“Lemme join too,” Ketty added, pawing at her eyes drowsily. Strangely enough, she still looked alert. “You were pretty impressive out there, Chief.”
“There’ll be time for all of that when we get home. We’ve still got a job to do,” I said, looking towards the new door.
“Are we not exiting through the circle?”
Ketty flashed me a patronizing smile. “Still half-asleep over there?”
“Are we just going to ignore the giant door?” I pointed at the foreboding entrance, but the two only looked more puzzled.
Um, excuse me, Mister Holy Dragon, sir, was I the only one who could see those things? Would it have killed you to fill me in on this crap?!
“Just...be ready to leave when everyone wakes up.”
They smiled ingratiatingly, in deference to my supposed half-asleep state, and regrouped with Nalia. Whatever floated their boats. I, meanwhile, approached the door.
“Wonder how this one opens.”
I put my hand to it, and a scarlet insignia of some kind began to glow across the stone.
“Yeah, there goes my magic! Guess my affinity doesn’t matter!”
The first time this had happened, I’d needed an MP potion to keep from being sapped dry, but that wasn’t necessary this time. I still had over half of my magic left afterwards, and it was nice to see the progress for myself. Before going directly in, I stepped aside to let someone know where I’d be so that I wasn’t straight-up vanishing out of nowhere. Kefin was the closest.
“Hey, can you see this big door?” I asked.
He tilted his head like Lionel and Ketty had. “That’s... That’s a wall, right?”
This must have been an effect of the dragon’s blessing.
“Never mind. Let the others know that if I suddenly disappear, they should head into the circle and wait for me outside the labyrinth. Tell them that’s an order.”
“I assume wherever you’re going, I can’t go with you.” He seemed to trust me, however reluctantly. Good.
“No. Looks like it’s gotta be me. Remember what I said.”
I patted him on the shoulder, then returned to the door. I looked back to see him still curiously watching me. He nodded. I raised my hand in goodbye, opened the door, and stepped through. It slowly swung shut as I ascended the stairs, but I didn’t stop.
“Wonder if these blessings would go away if I just ignored all this pomp and circumstance and left.”
I crouched down near the top of the staircase and peered up at what awaited me above: a dragon, resting peacefully just like the Holy Dragon had been. Flames blackened by miasma danced across its body, covering the scales, some of which were rotting away. Its corruption was much more advanced than its holy-hued cousin. Was forty years really enough time to save them all?
I focused my magic into the Illusion Staff and prepared to end the Flame Dragon’s suffering.
“Oh holy hand of healing. Oh birthing breath of the land. Take my energy and shield me in ramparts of angelic light. Engulf impurity in a bastion of radiance. Sanctuary Circle!”
Just like before, the magic circle expanded beneath the beast until it encircled it entirely, then exploded into a pillar of light. The dragon didn’t struggle. There was no flailing or ear-splitting wail. It bore the pain, as if it knew its salvation had arrived.
The light faded, and the blotches of corruption disappeared from its body. The blood-red blaze that had surrounded it gradually calmed into a flicker, like a gentle sunset.
I took a deep breath and was approaching when a voice suddenly echoed inside my head.
“First the hallowed, then the flame. The Wicked One’s curse is undone. You have my gratitude.”
“Telepathy? Is that you?”
“It is I. The Holy Dragon’s blessing grants thee understanding of my thoughts, for I lack the strength to use words.”
Then I was right to be worried. The forty years I’d been given were meant only as a countdown to the birth of the next hero. The dragons didn’t seem to have that kind of time.
“How many of you are left? Why am I the only one who can enter this room?”
“You possess the ability to break chains. Only those with similar capabilities or bearers of blessings, be they divine or draconic in origin, may enter.”
Then the god of fate’s protection was what had landed me in this position? What kind of coincidental nonsense was that? It was enough to make me want to pull my hair out. And he hadn’t even answered my second question.
“You bested me not only alone but in a single blow. In recognition of this feat, I offer you everything in this chamber as well as my own blessing. Would that I could bestow my remains as my brethren did, but it will burn to ash when my soul leaves this vessel.”
Sure, whatever, I didn’t care.
“I’ll take the treasure, but how many of these blessings am I even allowed to have?”
“Worry not. Heroes attain your powers and many more from divines and my kind alike.”
Seriously? Oh, don’t worry, heroes handle it just fine, he says. How very calming.
“Yeah, I think I’ll pass.”
“You are as the Holy Dragon told me. Strange yet amusing.”
“I’m not kidding. This is it for me. For real. I just want to sit back, get married, and live a peaceful life over here.”
“Ah, that reminds me: now that you have earned both my and the Holy Dragon’s blessings, it will not be long now before destiny leads you to a woman known as the Drakesworn—-a mystic anointed by the divine Draconis.”
Guess I didn’t have any say in the matter. Maybe the thoughtlessness was hereditary. It would explain why dragonewts never listened to me either. But I had more important matters to consider.
“Is she pretty? How old is she?”
The dragon chuckled. “You entertain me. However, worry yourself not over appearances. Fate will act as it will. As harborer of the flame of love, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.”
Could he really blame me for being curious? Did fate have...a soulmate in store for me? Wait, crap, I’d forgotten my comeback.
“It was just a fluke that I happened to be the right guy for the first labyrinth, and I didn’t get through this one without a lot of help. Do you really think I have what it takes to take on more?”
“You are young and naive. Power is not found in a single soul, but in many. Trust in others as you did through this Labyrinth of Will, and I will pray that you grow to become a worthy and noble sage.”
“You may have a... Wait, did you say ‘sage’?”
“I ask no more than your very best. Save my brethren.”
“Yeah, I already promised the Holy Dragon. Now about that sage thing?”
“Speak thy name,” the dragon suddenly rumbled aloud.
I recoiled. “Luciel.”
“Your staff. It is of my kind. Present it to me.”
“Like this?”
I received no answer, then a bright red light shone and flowed into the staff, as if being sucked in.
“Luck be with you, Luciel.” The beast smiled. “And so another promise is fulfilled... Fjil...na...”
“Wait, I still have...” But its body had already begun to fall apart. “Questions. I wish these dragons would stop doing that.”
Suddenly, like a phoenix being reborn in a fairy tale, the remains erupted into flame and quickly burned away until not even ash was left. Just like with the Holy Dragon, a large magic gem and a treasure chest appeared where the Flame Dragon once lay. When I opened the chest, a small bead flew out.
“Whoa!”
All of a sudden, a light shone from my magic bag and then the necklace I’d obtained from the Holy Dragon emerged all on its own, meeting the bead in the air as it came to rest in one of its indentions.
“I knew it.” It was a perfect fit, leaving seven more holes of similar size to fill. “Well that’s two, so that’s probably enough, right?”
I laughed dryly at myself and stood there in a blank stupor before remembering there were people waiting for me.
I snapped out of it and got ready to leave, stuffing the treasure into my bag as I purified each item.
“What is all this? Currency I’ve never seen, words I can’t read... This place must be ancient.”
With everything in hand (save for the magic stone in the center that I didn’t want to test right now), I stepped into the circle and it started to glow. Ping.
Title Obtained: Protection of the Flame Dragon
Title Obtained: Slayer of Drakes
Title Obtained: Chosen of the Draconis
When my vision returned, I was in front of the labyrinth, the sun high in the sky. Everyone rushed to me all at once and my stomach growled with perfect timing. I almost felt embarrassed before I saw others holding their empty stomachs as well. Time for breakfast.
“You mean to say the door was real?”
“Yep. Apparently, you need to have a blessing to be able to see it, which is why I was the only one who could. That’s what the Flame Dragon said, at least.”
“Flame Dragon?”
Lionel looked keen to test his blade against such a foe.
I laughed. “No fighting happened. He was in pain, so I healed him. That’s all.”
“I see.”
While the cooking was in progress, I filled in the battle-crazed lunatic on what happened after I’d disappeared. Something seemed to be on his mind, but I didn’t pry. Aside from a few adventurers tending to the horses, the impatient ones had already returned to Yenice. No breakfast for them.
The calm, clear sky complimented our meal well. I figured a barbecue sometime would be a nice idea.
After breakfast, we got ready to leave. I mounted Forêt Noire, we fell into formation, and then made for Yenice once more.
“Someone sure was pouty for a while there,” I said, rubbing my mount’s neck. “What is it with you and cleansing magic, I wonder?”
The poor girl must’ve been in a sour mood after being left out for so long, but she was just fine now. I’d turned her into a bit of a clean freak, from the look of it.
Chatting with Goldhus had made for a good time killer on the way to the labyrinth. The way back, however, was dreadful. My conversation with Forêt quickly ran dry and no one else was in much of a talkative mood. It was just me and the dull road, so I opened my status screen for no particular reason.
Name: Luciel
Job: Healer X — Twin Dragoon II
Age: 20
Level: 102
HP: 3020 — MP: 2610
STR: 366 — VIT: 389
DEX: 351 — AGI: 369
INT: 422 — MGI: 460
RMG: 454 — SP: 205
Magic Affinity: Holy
SKILLS
Assess Mastery I — Monster Luck I — Martial Arts VI
Magic Handling X — Magic Control X — Holy Magic X
Meditation VIII — Focus IX — Life Recovery VIII
Magic Recovery IX — Strength Recovery VII — Throwing V
Butchery II — Detect Danger V — Ambulation VI
Physical Enhancement IV — Parallel Thinking V — Short Cast VII
Null Cast V — Free Casting II — Magic Circle Casting IV
Swordsmanship V — Shields IV — Spears IV
Archery I — Sword-and-Spear IV — Perception V
Trap Sensing II — Trap Detection I — Cartography IV
Magic Amplification III — Accelerated Thought III
HP Growth Rate Up IX — MP Growth Rate Up IX
STR Growth Rate Up IX — VIT Growth Rate Up IX
DEX Growth Rate Up IX — AGI Growth Rate Up IX
INT Growth Rate Up IX — MGI Growth Rate Up IX
RMG Growth Rate Up IX — Physical Attribute Growth Rate Up III
Poison Resist IX — Paralysis Resist IX — Petrify Resist IX
Sleep Resist IX — Charm Resist V — Curse Resist IX
Enfeeble Resist IX — Silence Resist IX — Disease Resist IX
Shock Resist VI — Bewitchment Resist VII — Spiritual Resist IX
Slash Resist VII — Stab Resist VI
TITLES
Shaper of Destiny (all stats +10)
Protection of the God of Fate (increased SP)
Blessing of the Divine Healer (holy healing magic efficacy +50%)
Protection of the Holy Dragon (confers the holy dragoon class, increased combat abilities and attributes, and the ability to speak with dragons)
Dragonslayer (increased strength and defensive abilities versus dragons)
He Who Released the Seal (impervious to the Wicked One’s curse and chosen one of the sealed dragons’ powers)
Protection of the Flame Dragon (confers the flame dragoon class element, increased combat abilities and attributes, and the ability to speak with dragons)
Slayer of Drakes (increased strength and defensive abilities versus lesser dragons)
Chosen of the Draconis (a bond is formed with the greater dragons and their kin)
Adventurer’s Guild — Rank E | Healer’s Guild — Rank S
To my surprise, I had jumped up twelve levels. My stats had taken a similar boost as well, and it seemed my SP gain had increased from two to three per level. The red dragon couldn’t have done that all by itself, which meant that power-leveling was totally viable in this world. With the right strategy, we could raise a generation of young, powerful healers in no time. But there was no way it could be that easy. I needed to confer with the Church.
After glaring at the skills that hadn’t increased, I went to close the menu but stopped when I read “class element” from the Flame Dragon’s blessing. What was that supposed to mean? The Flame Dragon’s affinity? Why were these things never explained?
Forêt brayed, taking offense at my wandering thoughts. I gave her a quick apology and closed the stat window. Yenice wasn’t far now.
“What is it this time?” I moaned.
Yenice had come into view, and our party was left dumbfounded. Yenitian citizens were practically pouring from the gates in anticipation of our arrival. The moment they saw us (or rather, me) approaching, they broke out into cheers. Damn it all, I’d forgotten to tell Goldhus not to run his mouth, that meathead. Thank goodness for my guards keeping the paparazzi at bay, or this could’ve turned messy.
Forcing a stiff, twitching smile and ignoring the hollers at my flank, I followed my escort as they parted the sea of people towards our destination: Shahza’s estate.
The last of us filed into the courtyard, and the gate swung shut.
“Did you hear all that? They were shouting things like I’m some storybook hero. I made out ‘dragonslayer,’ something with ‘paladin,’ ‘the invincible something-or-other...’ Some of them were even calling me a disciple of the Divine Healer!”
“You did slay a dragon, admittedly,” Lionel said.
“He’s gotcha there,” Ketty added.
“By yourself,” Pola remarked.
Her grandfather followed with, “Didn’t need us one bit.”
“You might call it luck,” Kefin continued, “but you took a full hit from a dragon and lived. You even countered it once. Fact is, you killed a dragon, and that’s impressive.”
“Your trepidation is understandable, but I’m certain your fame will help the guild’s position,” Nalia concluded.
There wasn’t much point in talking back when every single member of my group was so clearly entertained. Good for them.
I sighed and headed for the building.
“Ah, Luciel—-er, sir! Has your blessing gotten stronger?” Goldhus shouted cheerfully upon spotting me.
I glared back.
“Is something the matter, sir?”
My heart turned to stone. “Don’t worry about my blessing. Something to do with slaying a dragon. Speaking of which, was that little parade your doing?” I was a healer. Not a warrior looking for exposure.
“I know it’s not much for the beginning of a legend, but it’s the least we could do after what you accomplished!”
I calmly took out two mugs and a barrel. A very putrid barrel.
“Oh, I understand perfectly. But what’s a celebration without a toast?” My lips cracked into a nasty grin as I slowly approached the guildmaster.
“L-L-Luciel?” he stammered. “Sir? H-Have I done something to offend you?”
“What? No, I just want to drink a toast with you. Won’t you join me?”
He shuddered violently. But I was in no mood for mercy. A short nap wouldn’t hurt the guy, and any would-be rescuers were prostrated before us. There was no escape.
I held my mug up. “Cheers.”
I downed it all at once and Goldhus followed suit, hesitantly bringing his lips to the rim. Then, one gulp later, his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He crumpled, out cold.
“Whew, now that’s refreshing. Kinda stinks, though, so let me fix that real quick.”
I cast a few spells and asked for Goldhus to be taken somewhere he could rest. A few beastfolk all but tripped over themselves to carry off the guildmaster in a flash.
I smiled at Jeiyas. “Let’s move on to the next order of business, shall we?”
Turns out the vice guildmaster of the Doctor’s Guild was the mastermind behind everything; an Illumasian agent sent to undermine Yenice. Shahza and the other hawkish beastfolk were only puppets that the empire had seduced with counsel on how to subdue their less belligerent colleagues. And when the sale of medicine to certain races became leverage, there was no getting out of it. They’d even been forbidden from speaking to adventurers when they had fled to the labyrinth, so we wouldn’t have found out anything from them.
Speaking of which, their unusual pace had been thanks to the help of two drugs: one that they spread around to attract monsters, and another that they applied to themselves to repel them. Sort of like Substance X.
The thing that stuck out to me most was Illumasia’s involvement. This was my second run-in with them, and neither had been friendly encounters. They must have been getting pretty annoyed with me standing in their way at every turn, but the situation in Yenice had to come first. The country was under attack, and I was curious to know how the council was planning on protecting themselves and how the Healer’s Guild might help.
“It’s a shame what happened to Shahza,” I said. “Luckily, Vice Guildmaster Grohala can still be questioned, but how is Yenice going to react to all of this?”
“Our head of state is elected from the various beast races: dog, wolf, cat, tiger, dragon, fox, bird, and rabbit,” Orga, the former head explained. “Out of these, all but the race of the last term’s head are in the running.”
“Right. That much I know.”
“But this incident is unprecedented. As punishment, the tiger-folk and dragonewts will be suspended from the elections for ten years, or exactly five terms. They will also be removed from all executive government positions, and we will be conducting extensive investigations into other areas of potential corruption.”
“And what about your short-term plan? What happens now?”
Orga suddenly straightened his posture and stared at me. A few seconds went by, and just as I was about to ask what his deal was, he lowered himself to the ground and prostrated.
“We beg your help, sir. There’s one year left in the current term, and that’s all we ask from you.”
Several other beastpeople followed suit, and before I knew it, we were at the center of yet another scene from a period drama I could’ve sworn I’d seen somewhere before.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“The beastpeople need a tender yet firm guiding hand from someone we respect. I worry that our nation may tear itself apart without your leadership, sir.”
Since when did I have that kind of charisma or magnetism? These rumors about me were getting out of hand.
“If you just want to use my name, that’s perfectly fine.” I didn’t want anyone’s country falling apart just as much as I wanted to avoid sticking my nose into everything. I had to consult with Her Holiness about this.
“We recently sent a messenger to Her Holiness of the Church of Saint Shurule, asking to allow you to serve as a temporary council member. We want to hear your ideas for making Yenice a prosperous land.”
Well, asking for forgiveness was certainly easier than asking for permission...
“Okay, that’s a bit out there. I’m here to rebuild a Healer’s Guild, not to play politics. I hardly even know anything about this place!”
I was already in over my head. This was getting ridiculous now. But it was gonna get even crazier, wasn’t it?
“We would make sure nothing impeded your duties in that regard. In fact, we plan to establish a special district to relocate both the Healer’s and Doctor’s Guild too.”
“Since when?”
“The lots are already in order. We believe this would also create jobs for residents of the slum. As for the current Healer’s Guild, we’d like to offer it to you as a gift. Your own residence.”
Home ownership sounded great and all, but someone needed to pump the brakes on this. None of it made any sense. Last I’d heard, there was no other land available for the guild.
“All that in exchange for my leadership?”
“Oh, no. It’s out of only gratitude.”
The beastman never stopped pushing his head into the ground. My stomach hurt.
“Let me think about it, okay? That’s a lot of responsibility, and I can’t take it on all at once without speaking with the pope first.”
I was done. You couldn’t have paid me to stay there one more second.
“Please consider it!” Orga shouted, followed by the other bowing beastfolk.
My cheerful mood from forcing Substance X down Goldhus’s throat had been totally ruined. By the time we left the estate, the only people loitering outside were young boys and girls, watching from afar with admiration in their eyes.
I sighed. I had a lot of expectations to live up to and no idea how.
“Grohala deserves a mug for starting this whole mess.”
The shuddering beastpeople who’d heard my ominous muttering went unnoticed by me as I considered what to include in my letters to Her Holiness and the Merratoni beast brothers.