Chapter 49: 49. An Ever-Growing List of Next Objectives

The House of Duke Velatus’s villa in Labyrinth City Velanis.

Though calling it a villa was almost a misnomer, the castle, with its vast grounds large enough to house an order of knights and every conceivable facility, was also known by another name.

“The House of Duke Velatus’s testing ground.”

In practice, it was a place where successors could demonstrate their competence and lighten the burden of the duties shouldered by the house head.

Considering the blood and money their predecessors had spilled to secure the immense title of “Commander of the Labyrinth Expedition Force,” this place was no different from a small battlefield.

A member of the House of Duke Velatus had to prove their worth and earn recognition.

And now, that very place had nearly been set ablaze by insiders...

"I submit my report. According to the mages of the Magic Tower, the perpetrator is believed to be at least a sixth-circle necromancer. If you examine the Orc Hero’s unnaturally overdeveloped musculature..."

"..."

The Young Lady could not help but hold her anger tightly in, suffocating her subordinates in the process.

The reason she could not openly vent her anger was because she herself bore some responsibility.

Two spies had been uncovered in this incident. One had transformed into a corpse golem, while they had barely managed to capture the other.

Everything should have been handled cleanly, but...

The thought of the old nobles with nothing but sagging tits, who would bark endlessly about this, made the Young Lady’s head throb.

As she pressed lightly against her temple, the nobles delivering the report could only swallow nervously.

"Gulp... This concludes our report on the organization, ‘Rimes.’"

The Young Lady stared intently at the words written in the report.

“For a world without borders.”

The words the spy had cried out while being tortured.

‘Treason? Revolutionaries? The collapse of the Magic Tower? Religious reform?’

Her thoughts grew increasingly tangled as she tried to discern the meaning hidden in that slogan.

They had figured out how those people replaced bodies.

Using the necromancy of a high-ranking necromancer, they had taken over the original owner’s body.

Ethan and Iere seemed to have used another method, since they were executives...

"We are severely lacking in information."

Flinch!

Seeing her retainers shrink back, the Young Lady clicked her tongue.

She knew all too well that pressing them any further would yield nothing.

"Tsk. What is the next agenda item?"

The next reporter straightened her clothes and began her report.

"The final item! We have prepared a compensation proposal for the expedition members who defeated the Orc Hero this time."

"Continue."

"Yes. First, I must inform you that Selena Ain Velatus, the Second Young Lady, has been excluded. First is the reward proposal for Magna, priestess of the Temple of Light. She has requested fifty gold coins and support for an orphanage. In addition..."

As the nobles read the report detailing Magna’s achievements, they quietly exchanged opinions.

“Hmm...”

“A priestess of the Temple of Light from the north? Hoho...”

“It seems appropriate.”

Having heard the proposal, the Young Lady nodded as well.

"Granted. If she desires anything further, see that she is accommodated."

"Yes. Next is the reward proposal for Zenin of Count Hardin’s house. Fifty gold coins, support for new magical devices, and..."

The reporter hesitated, looking as though she was debating whether she should say it.

The Young Lady furrowed her brow, visibly displeased.

"...He has requested a dinner appointment with the Young Lady..."

“...”

The conference room fell silent.

The retainers hastily offered up all sorts of nonsense in an effort to soothe the Young Lady’s anger.

"Hahaha... It seems the young master of Count Hardin’s house has long admired you, Young Lady!"

"These days, there is nothing strange about a man being so forward!"

"Exactly! Is he not also the Second Young Lady’s comrade? A comrade who saved her life, and whose life she saved in return."

"He likely only meant to request a meal. It seems the young master does not fully understand the implications of what he said..."

Ordinarily, it would have been an agenda item she simply ignored.

But the Young Lady had been in an exceptionally foul mood lately, and the crease between her brows never seemed to disappear.

And now, someone was making a request that even expedition members who had gone beyond the sixtieth floor could not easily make?

He was either bold or foolish.

A spoiled young master who did not even know what lengths people went to just to make a request of the Young Lady.

The only reason the Young Lady did not become angry was that the ducal house itself bore responsibility.

This mess had happened because they failed to catch the spies...

Pressing a hand to her temple, the Young Lady spoke.

"Haa... I shall consider it..."

"Merciful Velatu—"

"Enough. Next."

The reporter nodded and continued.

"The reward proposal for Jang Ryu-o, Arin’s disciple."

"Mm."

The retainers exchanged glances as they saw the Young Lady’s brow smooth out in an instant and a smile curl onto her lips.

"???!??!"

Not long ago, Arin had cut down the corpse golem that burst out of the villa with a single stroke.

Even though she had stripped the ducal house’s stores of medicinal herbs clean, there was not a trace of displeasure on the Young Lady’s face.

On the contrary...

“She smiled...”

“Shh! Keep your voice down...”

“The report, read the report...”

Seeing the Young Lady in a good mood for the first time in ages, the retainers began leafing through the report.

"Good heavens... He became the central pillar for all those people?"

"And during an end-of-month Dungeon Break, at that..."

"O-oh, he defeated the Orc Hero alone!"

"On only his second expedition..."

At first, they had only meant to improve the Young Lady’s mood, but upon reading what was written in the report, the retainers could only gape.

"That’s insane..."

"A-Arin’s disciple! Arin, who would not teach anyone her techniques no matter how much they begged?!"

"We absolutely must establish friendly relations with him."

"The fact that he has already gone through the expedition-member selection..."

When everyone looked to the Young Lady, the corners of her usually heavy mouth rose slightly.

"Heh."

Seeing that the Young Lady did not rebuke the overheated atmosphere, the retainers became certain.

‘This is it!’

Already busy enough, they had even felt compelled to watch themselves whenever they rested because the Young Lady had been in such a bad mood.

Now, they had been handed an opportunity to flatter her with something that perfectly pleased her.

"The recruiter... Good heavens, as expected of you, Young Lady! How did you recognize the potential of someone who had entered the labyrinth only once..."

"Heh."

"The Second Young Lady’s abilities are no small matter either... yet this man handled such an incident alone... Hoho!"

"Mm."

"The discerning eye of Velatus has been famous since ancient times! As expected of the young duke. It is nothing but an honor to share in your future..."

"Ha, enough, all of you."

"Yes."

Looking over the retainers brimming with expectation, the Young Lady spoke.

"I will personally decide Jang Ryu-o’s reward. Does anyone object?"

At that moment, no one dared raise an objection to the Young Lady.

"None at all!"

After all, they needed to get off work for once and go see their adorable little children.

All mothers in this world lived by making sacrifices, even today.

"Smooch~! Slurp... Chup, chup, chup!♥♥"

"Good morning, darling..."

"Did you sleep well?♥ Smoooch!!!"

"Urgh! Mm... Thanks to you..."

"Mmm... Gulp♥ Haa... I’m so full..."

After finishing our morning routine, I stroked my master’s head as she nestled snugly into my arms.

"Ah... I don’t want to get up.♥"

"Should I train by myself?"

My master changed her tone as she answered.

"That will not do, child. You may get badly hurt during today’s training."

Today was the day I would train after taking a [Five Senses Severing Void Pill].

This was not simple training where I just swatted away copper coins while blindfolded. It was the beginning of genuine training to hone my senses.

Seeing my master turn serious, I nodded.

"Yes. Please take care of me again today."

"Hehe, of course! Shall we get up now?"

I suddenly remembered something I wanted to discuss with my master.

Yesterday, there had been no time...

"Master, after completing the expedition this time, I obtained two essences."

"T-two of them? Did you kill every monster in the labyrinth?"

I shook my head slightly at my master, who was blinking in surprise.

"Not all of them, but I mainly killed Mimics and bosses. This one is the Orc Great Warrior’s essence..."

I placed each essence on my palm.

"And this one is an essence that came from a Mimic."

My master’s eyes widened at once.

"A Mimic! Child, did you have it appraised at the temple?"

"No. They were closed on Sunday."

"Whew... Good. That is a relief."

I wondered why, so I asked her.

"Is there a problem with a Mimic’s essence?"

"If a Mimic’s essence grants [Stealth], you have no choice but to sell it. They will investigate its origin, too."

Come to think of it, that was what Master had explained while showing me an item that granted invisibility.

There was such a fuss over an item alone, so what if I possessed a stealth skill?

It was probably different from invisibility, but it was obvious it would become a major hassle.

"Mimics possess [Greed Inducement], [Iron Teeth], [Stealth], [Mimicry], [Adhesive Tongue], and [Treasure Absorption]."

My ears perked up at the words Treasure Absorption.

"Treasure Absorption?"

"Yes. It is a skill that absorbs equipment to increase one’s strength or inner power."

...Jackpot.

As if she knew what I was thinking, my master spoke with a bitter smile.

"But only one person in history has ever been found to possess it. Its effect is not overwhelmingly great, either. There are hardly any samples, because it swallows everyone who discovers it, you see?"

I rebuked myself for being so complacent.

How troublesome would it have become if I had happily gone to get the Mimic essence appraised?

Looking at the skills, more than half of them were jackpots.

I looked at my master nodding and thought to myself.

‘Please, [Treasure Absorption]!’

Looking at the items filling my inventory and my Luck stat, I swallowed the essence...

Gulp!

Ding!

[You have acquired the skill [LV.1 Mimicry]!]

I had acquired [Mimicry].

...Life was the real deal.

Seeing my expression, my master smiled bitterly.

"It seems you did not obtain [Treasure Absorption]?"

"No... What kind of skill is [Mimicry]?"

Wondering how it differed from Stealth, I asked her. My master rested a hand on her chin and explained.

"Hmm... [Stealth] conceals your presence. [Mimicry] changes your visible appearance."

I immediately invoked Mimicry in my mind.

Then my hand turned slightly white, following the color of my white sleeve.

For now, I decided to put aside my disappointment.

"Hmm... I will have to study what I can use this for."

"Yes, do not dwell on it too much. You may be able to obtain another Mimic essence next time... Can you even obtain Mimic essences?"

"..."

"L-let us hurry and go train, child! Hoho~"

What a shame...

Still, it was fine. I had the ability to sweep up every Mimic there was.

‘[Treasure Absorption]... I will definitely get it.’

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