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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Genius Mage and the Barbarian
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‘Ellie Ordia...?’
Ordia. Diana's surname. It also brought to mind Diana's adopted daughter, who Edelbert had mentioned went to the Academy.
‘I heard that Academy students came out recently.’
Thwack!
Perhaps sensing my gaze, the girl hastily covered the book's cover.
From the full name Ellie Ordia, covering "Ordia" with her hand revealed just "Ellie."
"Ah! As for me! I'm the top student of the Royal Academy's third year! A genius mage named Ellie!"
Even as Ellie introduced herself, she didn't reveal her surname.
By the way, isn't this like introducing yourself to a stranger by saying, "Hello, I'm [Name], the top-ranking genius scientist from Seoul National University"?
‘Being top of Seoul National University is certainly impressive.’
That's definitely a life's greatest achievement. Something to be proud enough to say before your own name.
If I were the top student at Seoul National University, I'd be so smug I'd write it in huge letters on a corner of my business card.
"Right. Fucking amazing."
"Right? I always think I'm amazing too. Please pay attention to the name Ellie, who will one day make a mark on the history of the Labyrinth City!"
"I am Balkan."
"Yes! Mr. Balkan. You're an explorer, right?"
"I am an explorer, but aren't you an elf? How old are you to call me 'mister'?"
*Sigh.*
Elves. Symbols of long-lived races.
Though her appearance was that of a teenage girl, one couldn't guess an elf's age just by looking at them.
Do you know how a man feels when an elf calls him 'mister'?
‘Even if she couldn't see my face because of the helmet...’
Do I really look that old? I shouldn't. I felt an extreme sense of disillusionment. Would it look different if I went around without my helmet?
Of course, I only thought about it.
"I'm nineteen! I'm a half-elf, so I'm not a long-lived race like full elves, but I can live with this appearance without aging a bit until I die."
"That's pretty damn awesome. But we're only three years apart, so don't call me 'mister' so much."
"...Huh? Three years? Oh, come on. Your vibe is completely different... You don't need to try so hard to look young, mister. A person's inner self is more important than their outer appearance!"
*Sigh.* Coming from an elf with such outstanding looks, that was incredibly annoying. Can't exactly give her a smack on the head when we just met.
"The reason I called you, mister, is because I wanted to hear a vivid account from an explorer who crosses Labyrinth portals."
"An account?"
"Yes. I'm researching phenomena in the Labyrinth for a project, and I chose portals as my topic!"
It seemed Ellie had approached me to hear stories directly from explorers who crossed portals, in order to improve the quality of her project.
Indeed, the book she was holding was titled 'Portal and Dimensional Magic Research Log.'
My curiosity was piqued. On what basis did the Academy's genius mage connect and research portals with dimensional magic?
‘If I delve deeper into this, wouldn't it be possible to uncover the secret of the fountain's [That Person] or the portals?’
It was a highly intriguing hypothesis, but...
"I'm sorry, but I don't have time right now."
"That's okay. I'll be here for about three more days anyway. Just drop by whenever you think of it. I'll even pay you for the quality of the story! Not much, but still."
"Is that so? Then I'll come by at this time tomorrow."
"Yes!"
Ellie nodded vigorously and returned to her seat with her book, 'Mysterious and Amazing Labyrinth Stories.'
I decided it was time to head back to the inn. Time was pressing.
***
After finishing my inn duties as usual, it was the next morning.
Following the combat training and running exercises came the suppression training.
"Cough, hack..."
*Gasp. Gasp.*
Edelbert, who had been demonstrating by choking my neck with her thighs, then leaned down to sniff my body and asked,
"Did you meet Seraph Adeline?"
What is it with these sisters? How can they recognize each other just by scent?
"Yes. I met her on the way to the temple library."
"Hmm..."
Edelbert stared at me silently.
Her black cat tail whipped through the air with a cracking sound, like a whip.
For some reason, from that moment on, the training became ridiculously intense.
***
"Mr. Balkan. Are you dead?"
"Ugh, ah, no. I'm alive."
I swallowed hard and collected myself. Opening my eyes, I saw a priestess and Ellie standing right in front of me.
"You suddenly collapsed while talking, so I called the priestess 'auntie' over, but it's a relief you're okay."
When I made a gesture indicating I was fine, the priestess nodded and withdrew.
The priestess's expression was quite grim, and the reason was easy to guess.
Even in this world, the word 'auntie' carries considerable destructive power.
Ellie, the genius mage, might be a bit lacking in sensitivity regarding appearance and age, but she had enough character to call a priestess when someone collapsed.
"So. What happened after you fell into the transfer trap?!"
"Ah. Did I mention that far?"
"Yes. A portal-shaped trap... How intriguing!"
She seemed more interested in the Labyrinth stories she heard from me than reflecting on her own words and actions.
"The fountain's transfer scroll... the fact that it can only be used on floors that are multiples of five, and that humans can open portals, it's certainly fascinating."
"Could there be some reason why portals have different colors? There's no reason for the colors to be different. The Labyrinth doesn't need to differentiate them. There's definitely something..."
Whenever I told her a story, Ellie would listen with sparkling eyes, nodding, then start muttering to herself and scribbling something in her research log.
‘What is she even saying...’
From the point she started talking about mana and spell formulas, my brain felt like it was refusing to comprehend. Was it because I lacked wisdom?
"I haven't heard stories like transfer traps or the fountain from other explorer 'aunties,' so this is definitely new! Good stories deserve a fitting reward... Oh."
Ellie's face, which had been confidently opening her coin purse from within her robe, froze like stone.
It was the kind of expression someone would make if they'd picked out a ton of stuff at a convenience store only to realize they'd forgotten their money.
"Why are you suddenly making a face like a good story is about to turn into a cheap, common one?"
"...Ehehe."
Ellie pulled her mage's hat down firmly, as if trying to gloss over the situation. But I couldn't miss this opportunity.
‘This is my chance.’
A chance had arrived to be more than just a storyteller, a mere sample #1.
"Surely, you don't mean you don't have money to pay me, do you?"
"I, I'm still a student, so...!"
"No excuses. Just answer: yes or no."
For an explorer, the meaning of compensation is special. It's about receiving fair value for the work they've done.
But if she hadn't said she'd pay from the start, that would be one thing. To say she *would* pay and then not? That's grounds for a riot, and it would be justified.
Even if the compensation was ever so small.
I placed my hand on my hip. Ellie's nervously trembling eyes darted towards the battle axe hanging at my waist.
*Gulp.*
Ellie swallowed hard for a moment, then stammered, avoiding my gaze.
"Uh, I don't have any..."
"Is that so? Then it's fine."
"Huh?"
Ellie looked at me again with a blank expression.
After scaring her so much just now, her expression was utterly bewildered.
"Why are you looking at me like that? A student might not have money. Do you think I'd forcibly take your pocket money?"
However, my goal from the start wasn't a paltry sum of a few copper coins.
"It's not really a substitute, but I'll come by occasionally to tell you more Labyrinth or portal stories, so just focus on your research. And then, when your research is complete, simply explain it to me clearly. I'll accept that as payment."
I know my own capabilities.
With my brain, even if I got a string of luck or a miracle happened, it would be difficult to uncover the secrets of the portals.
‘But what if it's Ellie, the top-ranking genius mage of the Academy's third year?’
I don't know for sure, but wouldn't it be much easier than banging my head against the wall trying to figure it out alone?
"You're a young genius from the Academy, you can do that much, right?"
"...Genius..."
Ellie muttered softly, looking at me, then let out a small laugh.
"Of course! I'm a genius, after all! If I put my mind to it, the Labyrinth's portals are nothing!"
*Hehehe.*
Ellie crossed her arms and chuckled, a confident expression on her face.
Perhaps she was embarrassed by the blatant praise; the tips of her long elf ears were flushed red.
"Right. Please do a good job."
In any case, I had successfully induced Ellie's cooperation.
But no matter how much of a genius Ellie was, her research wouldn't finish in a day or two.
The situation of having to keep entering the Labyrinth wouldn't change.
‘Still, I feel strangely reassured?’
Maybe it was because I got burned so badly investing in Densi and Jeremy.
As expected, stable and reliable savings accounts were better than high-risk stocks aiming for a big hit.
As long as the country doesn't collapse, there's no way savings accounts will fail.
***
For the past three days, Ellie Ordia had been discussing the Labyrinth and portals with him, who always came at the same time.
"Travel safely, Mr. Balkan! Thank you for the good stories today too!"
"Uh-huh. Right. Ellie. You work hard on your research too."
"Yes!"
Ellie Ordia watched the 'mister' casually ruffle his hair and leave, analyzing the soft, swelling emotions rising in her chest.
Joy. Exhilaration. Delight.
Every time someone praised and acknowledged her brilliant talent, Ellie Ordia felt a strange pleasure.
However, the pleasure she felt now was far more thrilling than the praise she received from professors at the Academy.
– "As expected of Miss Ordia. She's talented."
– "Knowing whose influence allowed such dazzling talent to blossom makes it even more desirable."
– "If we take Miss Ellie Ordia as an assistant, perhaps Lady Diana too...?"
– "Haha. No matter how long she's been retired, people our age can't forget her."
*As expected of an Ordia. As expected of Diana's daughter. She's different, as expected.*
No one truly looked at Ellie. Everyone was only interested in the surname Ordia.
It wasn't just the professors, either. The kids who pretended to be friends, the fawning assistants. They were all the same.
But the 'mister' she met by chance in the library was different.
‘It was praise directed solely at *me*.’
The 'mister' didn't care about the surname Ordia; he looked at Ellie herself and encouraged her to unleash her talent.
For some reason, thinking of him brought to mind the faces of her real parents, whose memories were now faint.
‘If my dad had been alive, would it have felt like this?’
"..."
It was a meaningless thought. Ellie returned to reality as if waking from a short dream.
She had no money.
Diana Ordia sent her a generous living allowance, but Ellie hadn't spent any of it since coming to the Academy. Her pride wouldn't allow her to use that money.
The temple library was open 24 hours, and she had practically been living there for the past few days, but even that had its limits now. The librarian's glares were quite sharp.
‘I don't smell anything.’
*Sniff, sniff.* Ellie needlessly sniffed her own shabby robe.
In addition to a half-elf's naturally clean and fragrant body, her physique, kept immaculate 24 hours a day by Cleanse magic, wouldn't permit even a speck of dirt or foul odor.
The nights in the Labyrinth City were dangerous. Ultimately, the only place Ellie, with nowhere to go, could head was one particular spot.
[Cozy Winter Night Inn]
"To come here again..."
Late at night, Ellie looked at the darkened inn.
The inn imbued with childhood memories. Memories of growing up here resurfaced.
– "Oh my. Ellie, you have a talent for magic, don't you?"
The face of the person who had picked her up and raised her after she became an orphan also came to mind.
Her adoptive mother. Diana Ordia. Thinking about it, their relationship was better when she was younger than it was now.
"...It's shameless, but just for one night..."
Anyway, tomorrow she would gather with the Academy members and enter the Labyrinth.
What Ellie needed right now was a place to rest and recover from her exhaustion.
*Creak.*
‘Looks like they're not open for business today.’
As I opened the door, a familiar sight immediately greeted me. Not much had changed from her childhood memories.
Ellie immediately headed towards Diana's room. Though she disliked it, since she was here to stay, she had to see her face.
Despite it being a long time since her last visit, memories quickly resurfaced with every step she took through the inn.
"Hnngh, ugh, haa..."
Ellie, arriving near Diana's door with the light footsteps characteristic of elves, caught faint, strange moans echoing from somewhere.
It was the sound coming from inside Diana's room.
‘...I wish I hadn't come now.’
Ellie's face flushed instantly with regret. She wished she'd come a little later. Hearing her adoptive mother's embarrassing moans was quite awkward.
Just as she was about to quickly retreat.
"Haa... Ba-Balkan... There..."
‘Balkan?’
A familiar name reached her sensitive elf ears.
The 'mister' she had met for the past three days was also named Balkan.
"Please be a little quieter, Ms. Diana. Other guests might hear you."
"U-Uh... I, I'll... try... hard... to hold... Ugh, haaahn...?!"
"...Just bear with it a little longer. I'll calm you down right away."
As if to confirm it, Balkan's voice came from inside Diana's room.
‘...Huh?’
What? Did I mishear? No, an elf's ears don't lie. I heard it correctly.
*Thump. Thump.*
For some reason, her heart pounded uneasily.
Ellie's footsteps unconsciously led her towards Diana's room.
Diana's room, ever so slightly ajar.
From within, a dazzling, beautiful radiant light was spilling out.
Ellie held her breath and brought her eye close to the crack in the door.
Soon, as the radiant light receded, what was revealed was a sweat-soaked Diana, and...
"How do you feel? Have the precursors of the curse calmed down a bit, Ms. Diana?"
"Haa... haa... Yes... Thank you, Balkan... That felt so good... Ah, no... Th-Thanks to you... I've calmed down..."
"I'll be entering the Labyrinth tomorrow too. So please bear with it while I'm gone, okay?"
"Mm-hmm..."
Balkan, lying beneath her, stroking Diana's lower abdomen with his bare hand.
"...Huh?"
The strength drained from Ellie's arms as she failed to process the situation. Her heart was pounding too fast. Suddenly, she felt dizzy.
*Thud.*
That's why she dropped it. The thick research log she always carried cradled in her arms.
"!"
"Who's there!"
Balkan reacted to the sound faster than Diana, who was exhausted from the surging pleasure.
Ellie instinctively bolted out of the inn.
She ran and ran through the dark Labyrinth City. Her heart was pounding too fast.
She collapsed, leaning her back against a wall in some unknown alley.
She covered her body with her robe and pulled her hat down firmly.
Why?
Ellie felt like she was about to burst into tears.
***
"These are the Academy students we'll be escorting on this Labyrinth expedition. Wait here and chat a bit until the rest of the party arrives."
I half-listened to Joy Hog's words as I looked at the five Academy students we were escorting on this Labyrinth expedition.
No, in fact, only one person caught my eye.
"...Hmph."
That one person, however, quickly averted her gaze the moment she saw me.
"Haa..."
I massaged my forehead, looking at the red-haired elf girl with a haggard face, Ellie Ordia.
How on earth did things end up like this?
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