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Over the Infinite Chapter 18 Part 5

 

He should be able to do anything; he should be the most influential person in this town. Yet he didn’t act haughty or give orders from above. He simply pleaded for our help because he was lacking in strength.

We probably can’t understand what he’s going through.

Only beings that have lived for an equally long time could understand. But it’s likely that he’s living in a state close to that of a burnout, driven solely by the goal of returning to his hometown.

Back when I asked him why he wanted to conquer the Infinite Corridor, he said he wanted to return to Earth and die there. That was probably not a lie; it’s probably all that’s left of his original wish.

「That’s why, I understand. I don’t know if we can meet your expectations, but we’ll give it our all. If this is a trial for what lies ahead, we’ll overcome it. There’s no reason for us to be angry when you’ve shown us the way to fulfill our own wishes. If you have power, you can’t just hand it over. Even bonuses can be manipulated at this person’s whim. If you really want something, it’s only right to set it out upfront and clear hurdles to achieve it. 」

「Got it, got it… That’s your stand on it. If you say so, then I won’t say anything else. 」

Damn, he looks relieved. And here I am, stuck with this nagging feeling.

 

-4-

『Then, the first trial shall be victory in the rookie match. 』

The Dungeon Master said so.

Sure, we’re currently struggling with our team members, but it’s not an insurmountable wall. Rather, clearing the first trial would be more difficult.

『The opponent will be chosen by the system over here… well, probably a strong one. However, the opponent must agree, so if that doesn’t work, the system will select the next candidate. 』

Would someone we can barely beat with our full power even come out? Like the lizard old man at full boost?

If it’s to tie up Yuki, he’d likely happily appear.

On the train ride home, various pieces of information swirl around in my head.

In the end, the Dungeon Master is only thinking about conquering the infinite corridor. All the bonuses and better treatment for adventurers are for that reason. If the other party has a wish, he will utilize that too.

The matter with Yuki is going to take time anyway. Even if that didn’t happen, he’d probably try to get us to conquer the dungeon in a similar way.

「Well, it’s not just us, I guess. The Dungeon Master is probably not too formal. 」

That’s probably true. Even if we were the first to clear the trial, there must be plenty of people with simple talent.

I don’t know what he feels about us, but I don’t think he isn’t using similar means with others.

「Like how I wish to become a woman, the Dungeon Master wishes for the conquest of the infinite corridor. But unlike me, probably that’s all that’s left for him. I think he’s chasing after the remnants of wishes he had long ago. …I was rather relieved. I don’t feel malice; he’s just pure. 」

Even that 1K room must be the same.

That must surely be the fortress of the Dungeon Master’s heart.

『Let’s get back to the initial topic and decide on the bonuses. As I said earlier, Yuki-chan can also decide. Given the trial, I think something directly related to combat ability would be good. 』

After that conversation, we officially talked about the bonuses for the trial.

Five trials, as said, are treated separately, and he said he’d give one to Yuki as well.

If the next goal is victory in the rookie match, there’s no choice but skills or weapons directly related to combat ability.

I’m not so tone-deaf as to joke about lifting age restrictions on Milk Pudding or something like that. Even for me, the mood wasn’t suitable for such levity.

In the case of skills, there are prerequisite conditions for activation, so after some “this and that,” the bonus was decided.

What I received was the skill ((Quick Equip)). It uses MP to instantaneously switch equipment from the item box.

Yuki’s was something not in the existing skills, but he said it would be approved by the system as per his imagination.

It’s vague when just talking, but he said he wanted a third hand for combat. When I asked if it was like Ashura, he said it’s not.

[4. TL Note: Ashura is a deity or spirit in several religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Japanese popular culture, Ashura is often depicted as a being with multiple arms and faces.]

Additionally, we got two ((Item Boxes)), necessary for my skill, as a bonus. These are quite expensive, so it’s a relief.

And then, the matter of perception inhibition that I had almost forgotten.

It seems confirmed that the inhibition is in effect. It’s decided by rank and position in the labyrinth city’s upper echelons, inhibiting what they deem unnecessary or confusing information at the moment.

It seems to prevent information leakage to the outside of the labyrinth city. Probably to focus on conquering the infinite corridor.

However, there was one problem. It seems that the rules about perception inhibition for adventurers like us are determined by the upper echelons of the Labyrinth city, but—

『Actually, I’m experiencing some hindrance myself. As I’m progressing through the Infinite Corridor, the conditions start to loosen up a bit, allowing some fragmented information to come through. Although it’s not definitive, it includes clues about returning to Earth as well. But it’s still not enough. There’s a lot of information that I can’t yet grasp, hidden away somewhere. 』

Yuki couldn’t comprehend this information.

Probably because I’m the one who knows the information that serves as a basis for this, I was the one who could understand what was being said.

「Guess I can’t afford to lose in the rookie match anymore. 」

「It’s a relief to hear you say that, Tsuna. After all, this is my situation we’re talking about. 」

Indeed, but I’ve decided to help, so it doesn’t matter.

「Once we clear the first trial, they’ll even change our names, so let’s do our best. 」

In my case, the Dungeon Master changed my name on his own accord, but he’s set a condition for changing Yuki’s name.

That said, it’s more of a secondary condition. It’ll change to “Yuki” once one of the five trials is cleared.

For me, a name change doesn’t serve as much of a motivation, but it seems the Dungeon Master judged it differently for Yuki.

I tried to protest it with the Dungeon Master, but…

『I have a bad personality, you know.』

He said, smiling. He’s a hopeless case. Seems like he doesn’t care about anything else. He’s not giving up, but he just seems uninterested.

Thus, we ended what was supposed to be a casual dining meeting, going back to the dorms while burdened with various uncertainties.

The next day, Yuki rushed into my room without even knocking.

「Somebody contacted us, a third member. They watched the trial video and thought they could join us. 」

Surprisingly, someone who hadn’t formed a team saw that video and reached out.

Useful, even if it’s like that.

「What kind of person are they? 」

「I haven’t met them face-to-face since it’s only been emails, but we’re planning to talk. They’re a (Martial Artist), and they’ve cleared up to the 30th floor, it seems. Luck might be turning in our favor. 」

Sounds like someone powerful has come. That would make the rookie match much easier, but also brings its own set of worries.

Why hasn’t someone like that formed a team yet? Do they have some sort of problem? Maybe they have a terrible personality?

「When did you plan to meet them? 」

「We thought the sooner, the better. So, it’s scheduled for 10 a.m. today. The man’s name is Serges. 」

「Man, you say? Well, sounds like it, unless they’re special like you. 」

「I booked a meeting space on the second floor of the hall for 10 a.m. 」

So that kind of place exists there? I haven’t done as much research as he has.

It’s almost 10, I should change. Just casual clothes should be fine for a meeting.

「Hold on, something’s ringing… Another call? 」

「Again? Is it the Dungeon Master? 」

The number is the same as before. It is indeed the Dungeon Master. And not the panda.

「Hello? 」

『Good morning. Although it’s only been a day since yesterday, I’ve decided on your opponents for the rookie match. 』

We haven’t even registered yet.

「We’re about to decide on our third member, though.」

『Well, it’s more of a tentative arrangement. Once you complete team registration, you’ll automatically be matched. You’re not planning on registering separately, right? 』

「…No, we’re not, but can we know who they are? They’ve accepted, right? 」

『They have. You both seem to know them too. 

…The name is Arshelia Growentina. She’s the sub-master of the 2nd-ranking clan in the Labyrinth City, commonly known as the (Crimson Knight) from the (Meteor Knights). 』