21 - Growth
As usual, I broke a sweat with manual labor, received my evaluation, and returned to the guild.
The paper had a 【B】 written on it as the grade.
Perhaps because of the time of day, the second-floor reception of the guild was crowded.
Even Hawkins-san, whose area is usually empty, had a line forming. Looking closely, the woman who usually processed things at a tremendous pace was nowhere to be seen.
At the reception, a staff member I didn't usually see was flustered, struggling with unfamiliar tasks.
I listened to the voices around me.
"Did you hear? A third labyrinth, apparently."
"If it's true, this is bad. The Lord's soldiers will be dispatched to subjugate the labyrinth, right?"
"Is that why the guild is so hectic? There have been a lot lately."
From what I could hear from the adventurers talking around me, it seemed a new labyrinth had appeared.
Labyrinths are nests of monsters that, if left alone, grow larger and spit out monsters.
Sometimes, just spitting out troublesome monsters is a problem, but if left too long, they are nuisances that release a massive amount of monsters and then the labyrinth itself vanishes.
There are some cities that manage labyrinths, defeating monsters and gaining wealth.
However, such cities possess the know-how required to manage a labyrinth.
They partner with the Adventurer's Guild and keep them under control with meticulous care.
Normally, the general practice is to subjugate them as soon as they are found.
Rewards are given by the guild and the lord, and subjugating one raises an adventurer's reputation.
Adventurers who subjugate labyrinths are objects of admiration for children.
"They might recruit people and head straight for the subjugation."
"I'm curious about the value of the treasure in the deepest part."
"I just hope they don't start fighting and killing each other over it."
The adventurers were talking about dangerous things, but their expressions were smiling.
However, that is actually a common occurrence.
In the deepest room, there is a guardian who defends the treasure to the death. That guardian protects the treasure, which could be called the core of the labyrinth.
There is no doubt it is gold or gemstones. In some cases, it is a metal.
However, all of those possess magic power created by the labyrinth. No, they are mysterious metals clad in it—things of very high rarity.
They are precious treasures used as materials for magic tools.
(If I sold one, I'd make a fortune. I've heard that even in a labyrinth where subjugation is easy, if you sell the treasure, you can live in leisure for two or three years.)
As I was thinking that, the Second Generation spoke from the Jewel Orb.
『In the old days, labyrinths were places to train and make oneself 【grow】. Now, they subjugate them in groups, huh.』
The Fifth Generation also appeared.
『Going solo or in a party is inefficient. If you mess up, you might be defeated inside the labyrinth, absorbed, and end up making the labyrinth grow. Considering efficiency, it's safer to subjugate it all at once in a group.』
Hearing that, I decided to remember it as the way things are.
It seems the perception of labyrinths differs by era.
What I was taught... no, what I learned from books, was that labyrinths are dangerous existences that simultaneously produce precious materials.
The idea of them being a place to train oneself never occurred to me.
『The Fifth Generation also subjugates monsters, which means... I wonder if the rules I left behind have been passed down?』
When the Second Generation spoke, the Fifth Generation agreed.
『Did the Second Generation decide that? Well, moving people and fighting against monsters became a good experience.』
The two of them began talking about how they struggled during their first battles.
However, what caught my attention was the word 【growth】 that the two of them occasionally mentioned.
『The sensation varies from person to person, but it's like... an eye-opening feeling? I first experienced that, as expected, after I started fighting monsters. When I felt my growth, I tended to overdo it, so there were many failures.』
The Fifth Generation seemed to have had a similar experience to the Second Generation.
『I had something similar. Well, it was right after I was promoted to Viscount, so I fought monsters less than I fought bandits. But you grow even against humans...』
I started to feel that this was somehow different from the growth I knew.
Is it different from the body getting larger or mental growth?
『You experience it once or twice by the early teens at the latest. You just feel like something is different from usual. Seeing that, my family made faces like "this kid has grown," which made me angry.』
As the Second Generation's voice grew low, the Fifth Generation laughed a little.
『It's a sensory thing. Apparently, for some, it happens only once or twice in a lifetime.』
Hearing that, the Second Generation was surprised.
『Is it that few? I experienced it at least nine times. I feel like I was fighting every day. I think I was around twelve at first.』
『That is far too many.』
I listened to the conversation of my ancestors, but I started to feel somewhat anxious.
(...Um, I've never had an experience like that once.)
As I was thinking that, Hawkins-san called out to me, looking happier than usual.
"Next person, please. Oh, it was Riel-kun, was it?"
"Ah, please."
When I handed the documents to Hawkins-san, she processed them with a smile.
Perhaps she was happy that it was busier than usual.
After having lunch out, Novem and I decided to purchase equipment with the money we had on hand.
The main reason was that my equipment had been ruined when I fought the bandit boss, as my saber was destroyed.
The weapons strengthened by the skill's effect were ruined, including my spare saber.
At the weapon shop Zelfie-san introduced us to, Novem and I looked at the sabers.
"The variety is small compared to others."
When I said that, the shopkeeper said, "It can't be helped."
The shopkeeper, a dwarf, was a short, muscular man characterized by a large red nose and shaggy beard.
"Sabers aren't popular in Darion. They're somewhat popular with the nobles, but people here move around busily with subjugations and such. In that case, swords sturdier than sabers are popular. Some knights even say spears, blunt weapons, or axes are better than swords."
Looking around the shop after hearing the shopkeeper's words, there were indeed more of those kinds of weapons.
As expected, it's only natural to stock weapons popular in the region.
I thought about buying a saber, but I considered whether to change the weapon I would use seriously.
"Where are sabers handled? Around Darion is fine too."
When Novem asked the shopkeeper, he put his hand on his chin and looked up.
"I think Central in the royal capital has those kinds of swords... but as expected, there might be few shops that handle practical combat ones. I have an acquaintance doing business in Central, but he specializes in armor."
Dwarves, said to be skilled in handling metal, often achieve success in these kinds of smithies.
Though, if you ask if someone who isn't a dwarf is insufficient as a smith, that's not necessarily the case.
"I can look into it and order one, but in that case, it might be better for you to go and check for yourselves. If you go, I can write a letter of introduction."
Told by the shopkeeper, I thought for a bit.
The sabers lined up in the shop were all mass-produced items.
There's no end to it if I'm picky. Since the quality was better than the one I used before, I decided to buy two, including a spare.
(I've used sabers for so long, it's okay to have this much pride, right?)
The first weapon I received was a saber.
Both my father and mother looked forward to me fighting as a man of the Walt family with a saber... there was a time like that.
"What about the old one? Since the condition is terrible, if I buy it back, it'll only be worth the price of the metal."
I handed my saber to the shopkeeper and paid the money, saying that was fine.
"But, it's in a truly terrible state."
When the shopkeeper spoke after looking at the saber I used, I ended up saying, "I'm sorry."
After all, even if it was mass-produced, it was an item made by a shopkeeper.
"No, I'm not saying it's bad. It's just that I haven't seen a swordsman use a sword this way around here... for better or worse, this is a town that's kind to beginners. There are only a handful of skilled people. Once they grow, they immediately flow elsewhere."
When the shopkeeper handed me the change, I accepted it.
I turned back to Novem.
"Novem, were you okay without replacing yours?"
When I said that, she shook her head with a smile.
"I can still use mine. Besides, I also purchased a knife. As for armor, Zelfie-san has told me for now that nothing more is necessary."
"I see... that's true."
Whether it's weapons or armor, there's no end to it if you look up. However, in our current situation, even if we gathered high-quality equipment, it would be a waste of treasure.
Besides, it would feel somewhat wrong to challenge a slime while wearing metal armor.
They are opponents that can be sufficiently defeated with a wooden shield and a spear.
Having received the sabers from the shopkeeper, I left the shop with Novem.
On the way back.
On a road with few people, I made a proposal to Novem.
"Hey... um... about the money, I don't think it's enough to buy back your household goods... but I want to return it to you."
I had sixty gold coins on hand.
It was money provided as support from the lord during the bandit subjugation.
However, most of it vanished after hiring people and gathering food and other supplies. What remained was the money from exchanging the wealth and treasures the bandits had.
If I think that the initial amount was two hundred gold coins, it was clearly a deficit.
At my proposal, Novem, who had been worrying about what to make today, took on a serious expression.
Shaking her head, she said she couldn't accept the money.
"I am happy with Riel-sama's feelings. However, that money is something necessary for Riel-sama's future. I cannot accept it."
"No, but..."
"If you insist... let's see, whenever it's fine, please return it when Riel-sama has become a first-class adventurer."
I hesitated on how to answer.
After all, I didn't have much of a desire to succeed as an adventurer.
"I-I understand... I'll surely be able to buy things as luxurious as what you bought, no... even more so. I promise."
When I said that, Novem smiled a little.
"I shall look forward to it."
Hearing that flow, the First Generation spoke.
『...What a good child.』
After that, the Second Generation and the others spoke in order, but I decided to ignore them.
『Riel's uselessness really stands out.』
『I mean, Riel is already a winner just by having Novem-chan.』
『She's different from the women I knew.』
『You, Fourth Generation, spoiled your partner, Mama, too much. Thanks to that, I was called Mama the whole time.』
『Riel, make sure to keep this verbal promise. If you break it, you'll lose something important as a human.』
『The Foxus family succeeded in child-rearing. And yet, look at the Walt family...』
While I let the ancestors' opinions flow past me, the house came into view.
That night.
To ask about the thing I was curious about, I decided to use the Jewel Orb's conference room.
Novem and Aria had fallen asleep, and when I lay down, I lost consciousness as if my awareness was being sucked into the Jewel Orb.
A round table was positioned in the center of the room, and the room itself was circular.
Behind the luxurious chairs, doors to the ancestors' rooms were visible.
A space where things similar to blue jewel orbs, though differing in size, were embedded everywhere.
—That was the place we called the conference room.
The Fourth Generation, acting as the facilitator, asked the reason why I had called everyone.
『We decided to hold a meeting at Riel's proposal, and you had a few things you wanted to ask. Now then, what is it you want to know?』
The Fourth Generation, who wore glasses, looked at me while adjusting the position of the glasses with his fingertip and told me to state the agenda.
So, I—.
"No, there are a few detailed things, but before that, there's one thing I'm curious about."
『What is it?』
Told by the Fourth Generation, I asked the thing I was curious about while remembering the conversation between the Second and Fifth Generations today.
"Um... it's about 'growth'."
When I said that, the members who showed interest leaned forward.
The First Generation began to speak as if interrupting my words.
『That's right, growth! Riel, how many times have you experienced it so far? As expected, your magic power is low, and your physical strength is mediocre. Even if other aspects are barely at a passing grade, the physical... what do you call it?』
When the First Generation threw the conversation to the Second Generation who was nearby, the Second Generation clicked his tongue before answering.
『Physical specs are low. Looking at the skill of magic and the skill of the sword, Riel is the type who has to survive with technique.』
I was called a technique type, but I didn't think so myself.
The Third Generation spoke to me.
『I thought so when you used two sabers, but isn't Riel's growth the type specialized in technique? Look, types like single-point reinforcement aren't uncommon.』
The Sixth Generation also nodded.
『There are such people. Since those types are amazing if they extend their strengths and excel in a specialized field, Riel should also go in that direction—』
Since the conversation was proceeding about what my type was and so on, I shouted loudly.
"Please listen to me! I mean, what even is growth? I don't understand even if you call it a sensation, and is it different from physical or mental growth?"
Hearing that, everyone's expressions were stunned.
My grandfather, the Seventh Generation, even grabbed both my shoulders to confirm.
『R-Riel!』
"Yes?"
『You were fifteen, right? Your skills are immature, but they have manifested. So I'm confirming... have you never felt growth until now? Like waking up in the morning and the sensation is different, or the sharpness of your body is clearly different... R-Remember! That unique sensation, like being reborn!』
Told that, I tried to remember, but I had never experienced a sensation like being reborn until now.
The First Generation also confirmed with me.
『No, look... normally, just by living, you'd get a sensation like... ping! right? My third or fourth time was like that.』
Everyone had expressions as if they were looking at something unbelievable.
But I had no such experience.
"...I haven't."
When I said that, the Seventh Generation's mouth was gaping.
The Fifth Generation asked calmly.
『Riel, I've heard you were treated coldly from the age of ten, but at what level? You received an education, right?』
Told that, I answered honestly.
"Yes. I read all the books I was given."
Hearing my response, everyone present fell into confusion.
『Wait a minute, you brat!!』
『Eh, what... Riel, you used magic in that state! I mean, can you even use it!』
『How should we judge this!?』
『N-No way... just giving books and calling it education, there's absolutely no way...』
『We underestimated it. Everyone here did. It means that including Riel, we hadn't grasped the situation.』
『I experienced growth at least twice before I could use magic at Riel's level.』
『...If only I could punch my son away with these hands.』
As I watched everyone's behavior, it seemed I was in a quite bad situation.
The ancestors all sat in their seats and demanded an explanation, asking me to tell them what had happened until now more accurately than before.
The Fourth Generation took charge again.
『Riel, let's hear it... how have you lived since you were ten?』
I tried to talk as much as I could remember.
That I was basically alone from around age ten.
That meals were basically carried to my room.
That there was basically no conversation, and I was given books by the teacher—.
At the stage where I said that much, I pressed my head.
"W-Wait? This is strange... right?"
Everyone nodded.
『Quite. If you lived normally until ten, you'd likely notice...』
As the Fifth Generation began to think, the First Generation spoke.
『Is it the work of a monster after all? Is this what it means for a monster to change the surrounding atmosphere and situation? But then, isn't it strange that Riel hasn't experienced growth? Even just living normally, once or twice...』
Once or twice.
Apparently, that was the number of times it wouldn't be strange to have experienced in the life I've lived.
The Fourth Generation sighed and spoke.
『Riel... I'll correct my statement that your magic power is low. More than that, didn't you have other things you wanted to ask? Let's hear those first.』
Hearing the Fourth Generation's words, I spoke for now.
"No... um..."
The Second Generation was looking at me with caution.
He had a face that said, Is he going to say something outrageous again?
『W-What is it this time?』
I—.
"What should I aim for from now on?"
Everyone's expressions were completely exasperated.