I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents-Chapter 45: Escort (9)

Han Yuseong sat in the center seat at the round table.

On either side of him were two people: Karmin, his escort target, and Maduke, the manager of this general store.

Thankfully, Karmin Everhart was able to explain everything clearly to Maduke.

Though Maduke and the store members had listened half-heartedly at first, the moment the word “chimera” came up, they all straightened their posture and listened with serious expressions.

"The eldest son of the Raphael Count family is conducting chimera experiments?"

At Maduke’s question, Karmin nodded.

"That’s right."

"Proof?"

At Maduke’s next question, Karmin’s expression darkened.

She didn’t have any hard evidence she could present.

"The basement that Vitor—the count’s eldest—frequents should still have traces. There’s no way he could’ve cleaned it all out in such a short time."

Maduke, who had been quietly watching Karmin as she spoke, eventually smirked at the corner of his lips.

"I’m not saying I doubt you. The fact that the Raphael family is chasing you this obsessively already says enough..."

He paused for a moment, lifting the teacup in front of him.

Han Yuseong stared at the steam rising from Maduke’s cup.

"And actually, this isn’t the first time someone’s suggested a connection between the Raphael Count family and chimeras."

Karmin’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"It didn’t happen here in the Intenes branch, but at another branch, a middle-aged man came claiming he had been experimented on—turned into a chimera—by the Raphael Count family."

"What happened to him?"

The answer that came from Maduke’s mouth was not what Karmin had hoped for.

"He passed on the intel. Not even a day later, he died. His bones and flesh twisted from the toes upward, warping grotesquely. They say he died looking like a monster, his skin blackened as if burned—even though there was no fire. It rotted away like it had been scorched."

Han Yuseong spoke flatly.

"Sounds like pretty solid proof that he really was used in a chimera experiment."

Maduke nodded.

"Exactly. But the body was too ruined to perform a proper autopsy. Still, since the Raphael Count family has already been implicated in chimera rumors, there’s a high chance they’ll believe the young lady’s testimony."

Han Yuseong decided it was time to get a clearer picture.

"So the Raphael Count family has quite a bit of influence, huh? If they weren’t someone important, I figure people would’ve just used circumstantial evidence to tear them down anyway."

Maduke took another sip of his tea before answering.

"The Raphael Count family was one of the founding noble houses of the Ermain Empire. The original founder was a real war hero. But later generations were disappointments. Still, they’ve held onto their status with that ancient prestige and superior bloodline."

Maduke shifted his gaze from Yuseong back to Karmin Everhart.

"But now we have you—a living witness. If we handle this right, we could finally extinguish that old glory and bring the eldest son to justice."

Then he addressed Karmin directly.

"So, what was your original plan?"

"I planned to go to Ventura Academy and ask for help. If I’m officially enrolled, no imperial authority would dare touch me so easily. And... I figured the headmaster of Ventura might have the power to move against the Raphael family."

Something glimmered in Maduke’s eyes.

"Wise move. Ventura Academy does have the strength to stand up to the Raphael Count family."

With that, Maduke stood up and opened a drawer, pulling out a sheet of paper.

Thunk.

He placed the paper and a fountain pen on the table.

"Write down what you’ve experienced. I’ll have it sent directly to the headmaster at Ventura. It’ll go through someone trustworthy—no leaks."

At Maduke’s words, Karmin began to write slowly.

A little while later, she handed the completed letter to Maduke.

Han Yuseong gazed out the window. The sun was setting.

Han Yuseong, Karmin, and Rengel were assigned rooms in the back of the shop.

Of course, there were only two rooms.

Karmin was given one for herself.

Rengel sat and watched Han Yuseong, who was meditating.

"Why are you so strong? Really."

Han Yuseong thought it was a pretty ridiculous question.

He was just flailing to stay alive, that’s all.

"Strong? Didn’t you see me struggling like hell yesterday?"

Rengel assumed he was just being modest.

"But in the end, you still killed him."

Han Yuseong clicked his tongue softly.

"In the end. That’s the problem. If even one thing had gone wrong, I’d be dead right now."

The fight yesterday with Kailas, the Fifth-Rank Knight.

The magical bombardment earlier by those mages.

Not a single moment had been free of danger.

He’d made it out of today’s chase using the binding scroll the Shrine Maiden gave him, but if the number of spellcasters increased, even that wouldn’t be enough.

I need to get stronger.

Han Yuseong pulled out a sword from his inventory.

The Fierce King’s Sword.

And then drew the Mundum Exstinguit from his waist.

Dual wielding.

Two-sword style.

There was no downside to practicing it.

The Seventh Form of Dragonslayer Swordsmanship I used yesterday was far more effective when used with dual blades.

It was written in the manual, too.

He’d only used one sword because he hadn’t been prepared to dual wield.

Sword of Light had said there was no need to rush into using two swords from the start.

But training a little in advance certainly couldn’t hurt.

Another day passed.

Then two more.

Han Yuseong didn’t feel particularly restless about staying at the store.

That was because the head of the Intenes branch of the information guild, Maduke, was keeping him updated on how things were progressing.

The headmaster of Ventura Academy, having received the information, was now on his way here personally.

As long as the story was unfolding properly, there was no reason to be anxious.

If anything, the only thing to worry about was how relaxed he felt.

Yeah... You really can’t brute force your way through these quest-type floors.

That made the Tower feel even harder.

Like it was closing in.

Another day went by.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

After two straight days of calm, Karmin’s face was noticeably brighter.

"Your face looks ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ a lot better, Karmin."

Karmin smiled at Yuseong’s words.

"I guess I’m finally at ease. It must be showing."

Tonight’s dinner was steak.

Han Yuseong filled his training-worn body with meat.

He’d just finished training in the wide tented practice yard behind the shop.

He didn’t like letting others watch him train.

So, he cast Veil of Secrets to block the constellations’ gaze.

***

Another day passed.

Only then did the headmaster of Ventura Academy arrive.

Clack—

The door of the general store opened, and a middle-aged man walked in.

And the moment he entered, I felt a far more intense pressure than anything I’d sensed before.

[Ventura Academy Headmaster – 7th-Rank Mage, Mandels]

Seventh Rank.

A mage with long white hair.

Even knowing he was a mage, the aura emanating from Mandels was similar to the one I’d felt from Kailas, the Fifth-Rank knight.

But the weight of it... was several times heavier.

Mandels’s golden eyes turned to me.

No, shouldn’t he be going to Karmin, who was sitting quietly at the round table? Why was he looking at me?

"......."

Our eyes met.

Even without drawing swords or fighting, I knew.

If we fought now, I’d lose.

Losing meant dying.

If he were an enemy, my odds of survival would be zero.

Not even a sliver of a chance.

There was no way a Floor 5 enemy would be Seventh Rank... but the conclusion of the encounter was simple, as always:

I had to get stronger.

Mandels finally opened his mouth.

"You’re the one who protected the Everhart noble’s daughter and brought her to this information guild?"

I answered.

"Yes, I am."

"So you’re the one who rescued the poor Baron’s daughter from peril and brought her here. That’s quite the noble act."

He stared gently at me as he continued.

"Why not join Ventura Academy with Miss Karmin Everhart? You still look young."

"Thank you for the offer, but I’m not interested in attending the academy."

Tempting. But I figured the moment I’d been waiting for was about to arrive.

"Is that so? A shame."

Mandels turned his gaze from me and took the seat next to Karmin Everhart, who’d been quietly listening to our conversation from the round table.

"I read your letter carefully. The Raphael Count family was already on our watch list, so your claims seem very credible to me."

Karmin nodded.

"Th-thank you."

Mandels gave her a warm smile.

"There’s no need to thank me. If anything, I should be thanking you—for giving me the opportunity to root out this evil from the empire."

He continued.

"As of this moment, Karmin Everhart, you are officially a student of Ventura Academy. I will serve as your protector and guardian. For matters involving students, I have been granted special investigatory authority directly from His Majesty the Emperor. I will begin an investigation into the Raphael Count family immediately."

Oh.

A so-called “savior-type” character, huh?

Well, at least he does his job properly.

And just like I expected—

Here it comes.

『You have successfully completed the quest.』

The chosen quest was: ensure Karmin Everhart is accepted into Ventura Academy.

Her enrollment just now completed the objective.

[You have cleared the 5th Floor Stage.]

This one was exhausting, too.

[‘Player – Han Yuseong’: Score for 5th Floor Stage is being tallied.]

[You selected the higher difficulty path and succeeded. Bonus points applied.]

[Bonus condition ‘Eliminated a powerful foe’ fulfilled. Bonus points applied.]

[Powerful Foe Eliminated: Defeated an opponent at least one rank higher during the stage.]

[Powerful Foe Eliminated – ‘Fifth-Rank Knight, Kailas’]

As always, the current rankings for Floor 5 climbers popped up in front of me.

1st – Union Leader: 844 pts

2nd – Black Star: 723 pts

3rd – Black Hand: 609 pts

4th – Being Tracked: 513 pts

5th – Sinclair: 511 pts

⋮

⋮

[Score tally complete.]

[Han Yuseong: 1,782 pts]

Another four-digit score. Again.

[You will be transferred to the 6th Floor Waiting Room in 3 minutes.]

Karmin approached me.

Her red hair, neatly tied in a ponytail, caught my eye—like she was letting her full gratitude show on the outside.

"This—all of this—it’s all thanks to you, Yuseong! Thank you!"

Karmin bowed her head to me again and again.

"I mean, I was just doing my own revenge, really."

"Please remember my name!"

"Why?"

"Someday, I’ll help you. Not once—twice, at least!"

"I’ll remember."

"You promise!"

"Yeah, now go get ready to head to the academy."

"Yes!"

Karmin gave one last deep bow, then quickly disappeared from sight.

By the time she finishes settling into the academy, I’ll probably be long gone from this world.

I felt like I’d forgotten something.

[‘Judge with a Thousand Eyes’ places a hand on his forehead.]

[‘Judge with a Thousand Eyes’ lets out a deep sigh.]

Right. This guy.

More precisely, the constellation quest this bastard had registered.

[‘Stargazer Who Follows the Stars’ mutters that someone got what was coming to them.]

[‘Flaming Spearbearer’ says it was definitely unexpected.]

[‘Wrath-Carrying Warrior’ begins to question your identity.]

[‘Saint Who Follows the Light’ bursts out laughing at someone.]

『You have completed the constellation quest registered by ‘Judge with a Thousand Eyes’.』

『Quest: Choose the harder of two options and clear it on the first try.

Bonus Condition: Cannot use Constellation Suppression during the quest.

Reward: A-Rank Elixir – Gehenna』

It was obvious.

He never expected me to clear it.

It was bait—just a trap to get me to disable Constellation Suppression.

『Reward: “A-Rank Elixir – Gehenna” will be granted. Please collect it in the 6th Floor Waiting Room.』

Burp.

Thanks for the meal.