In the meantime, I prepared the bath. It had become a daily routine lately. Humans adapt to luxury far too quickly.
However, Roxanne, Sherry, Miria, and Vesta all used the bath. They bathed with me, every single day. Could I possibly go even one night without preparing it? Hardly. It was something I looked forward to every day.
Once the bath was ready, I brought out all the down feathers I had been stockpiling.
"Alright, let's strip the shafts and get this down into the duvet casing. Everyone, give me a hand."
While Sherry and Miria handled dinner, Roxanne, Vesta, and I got to work. The down came off the shafts quite easily when stripped firmly by hand, becoming fluffy and soft to the touch. It wasn't particularly difficult work, but there was a massive amount of it.
I wondered if I’d have to do this every day. I supposed there were so many today because we had spent so long hunting. Still, it couldn't be helped. I’d just have to be patient for a while. Every day was a lot of work.
The next day, without anyone to object, we proceeded to the 32nd-floor boss battle. Roxanne led the way, her steps light and energetic.
"Hmm. If we go that way, we'll run into monsters sooner, but there are Non-rem Golems mixed in, and the numbers are low. Let's just head straight for the boss room."
She ignored any small groups we encountered along the way. She navigated toward the boss room with absolute confidence, not once glancing at a map.
"Are you sure you don't need the map?"
"I memorized it yesterday. I also confirmed our position when we were nearby."
Perhaps because I had made her wait a day, she was overflowing with motivation. Under her expert guidance, we reached the boss room in record time.
"The boss of the Rock Birds is the Firebird," Sherry began our briefing in the waiting room. "Like the Rock Bird, it has no elemental weaknesses. However, it uses Fire Magic and possesses fire resistance. Please be careful, as its resistances are different from the standard monsters on this floor."
We stepped into the boss room. It seemed the Rock Bird's boss had different resistances than its underlings—a rare pattern. Usually, they were the same, but considering the names were Rock Bird and Firebird, it made sense.
We entered the room. Smoke coalesced in the center, and the monster materialized. The Firebird was a majestic avian wreathed in crimson flames.
It was a firebird. A phoenix. It was, without a doubt, a Firebird.
It burned with an intense, rising heat. Scorching flames threatened to reduce everything to ash. It looked like a hellfire that none could escape, a force that would trample anyone foolish enough to step inside. Anyone who entered this room would surely be incinerated.
Even Gomorrah would have burned.
The Firebird swung its terrifying, flaming head toward us. It was an overwhelming strike that felt like it would turn anyone who witnessed it into a pillar of salt.
Roxanne evaded it with a subtle sway.
She dodged it just like that. Even the attacks of a 32nd-floor boss were apparently useless against her. She evaded the next thrust by simply tilting her head. The margin of her dodge was perhaps a bit wider than usual; she was likely accounting for the flickering of the flames.
She was putting on quite the show today. Roxanne was in charge of the physical labor, and yet the pay remained the same.
Wait, that joke didn't really work since we all shared one wallet.
As the one in charge of "intellectual labor," I struck at the surrounding Rock Birds while firing off Water Storm. I guess that was actually just more physical labor. Vesta held the front while I drove Durandal in from the side. Miria petrified another Rock Bird and joined the assault on the Firebird.
The heat didn't seem to bother her. She fought normally. It wasn't as if she was weak to Water Magic, so she was probably fine. Her sword wasn't even catching fire.
"Did it, desu."
With that unburnt sword, the Firebird petrified and crashed to the floor. I felt like the flames were still flickering normally despite it being turned to stone. Was it just my imagination?
After finishing off the Rock Bird we had been fighting, I went to check on the petrified boss. It felt... normally hot.
No, that had to be my imagination. Probably.
The monster vanished, leaving items in its wake. The Rock Bird dropped down, and the Firebird left behind a different item. It looked like leather. Appraisal identified it as Ostrich.
Ostrich...
Are you kidding me? A "Firebird" sounds so majestic, but finding out the bird inside was just an ostrich was a huge letdown. I suppose I should just be thankful it could actually fly. There wasn't even a real bird left inside.
"Can we use this for armor?" I asked.
"This is Ostrich," Sherry replied. "It can't be used for armor. It's far too soft. Because it's supple and durable, it's typically used for things like bags."
I'd never seen Ostrich armor before, so that made sense. I figured there were probably high-end designer bags made from it. I decided not to dig any deeper and changed the subject.
"As expected, boss battles at this level are grueling. If Miria hadn't petrified it, that would have been a long fight."
"Is that so?" Roxanne asked. "To me, its attacks felt rather monotonous. And since Master was supporting us with magic, it wasn't that big of a deal."
Monotonous to Roxanne, huh? I wanted to make a pun about it being an ostrich and not a crane, but I held back.
"Indeed," Sherry added. "The battle would have been long. However, looking at it another way, a longer battle simply means more opportunities for petrification to trigger."
"Will do, desu."
"I think we'll be fine," Vesta agreed.
So the three of them saw no problem. Just as Sherry said, if the fight dragged on, Miria's petrification was more likely to land, and in the meantime, Roxanne just had to keep dodging. It was a cold, rational assessment.
"I see. Well, after we fight the Firebird a few more times, we'll get a better feel for its patterns."
"Yes. Today will be a day of 32nd-floor boss battles," Roxanne said.
"Today?" What did she mean, "today"? It sounded like tomorrow was already decided. Was there nobody who could stop her?
"The monster on the 33rd floor of the Quratar Labyrinth is the Drive Dragon," Sherry began. "The Drive Dragon utilizes all four elemental magics and has resistance to all four attributes. It is by far the strongest monster between the 23rd and 33rd floors. Some even claim it is stronger than the Kobold Kämpfer on the 34th floor. There's no need to force ourselves onto the 33rd floor right now. In the Bode Labyrinth, monsters weak to Fire Magic have been appearing since the 30th floor, so the 33rd floor there should be quite manageable. Why don't we hunt there for a while?"
There she was. Sherry had stepped in with a dispassionate, logical argument to rein Roxanne in. I was intensely moved. I had to jump on this.
"Hmm. You're right. I also have a promise to Duke Harz to visit the labyrinths in his territory. Starting tomorrow, we should probably head to the Bode Labyrinth for a while. Sherry's proposal is excellent. We have to honor our word to the Duke, after all."
I said it twice because it was important.
"Yes."
"Besides, we haven't eaten a floor-clearing Whole Fish in Quratar for a while," I added.
"Going, desu," Miria chirped.
I had gained another ally.
"I think that would be a good idea," Vesta agreed.
At this point, the final vote didn't even matter. I looked at Roxanne, our perimeter of consensus firmly established.
"I see. I suppose it can't be helped," Roxanne conceded.
She gave in! Nothing could make me happier. Had my involvement with Duke Harz ever been this useful before? For the first time, I felt genuine gratitude toward him.
"Then it's settled." I finalized the plan before she could change her mind.
"Understood," Roxanne nodded.
We spent the rest of the day repeating the Firebird battle until evening, then made a quick trip to the Bode Labyrinth. If we were going there tomorrow, I needed to make sure there would be explorers at the entrance to guide us. If we waited until the middle of the night or early morning and found nobody there, Roxanne might try to drag us back to Quratar's 33rd floor. I had to nip that danger in the bud. Otherwise, I wouldn't survive the "Savannah."
Wait, was this the Savannah...?
I warped near the entrance of the Bode Labyrinth. We needed an explorer to take us to the 33rd floor. I wondered how far the exploration here had actually progressed. If it was the highest floor cleared, we could use the Duke Harz Knight Order emblem to go for free. I didn't think it would be exactly the 33rd floor, though, given the information circulating in the Quratar Guild.
When we arrived, several parties were just exiting. Since it was close to evening, we had arrived right in the middle of the "commuter rush." I hadn't really thought about it, but of course people would be heading home. Even in this world, humans weren't nocturnal. By the time they got home, cooked dinner, and ate, it would be the perfect time for bed.
Then, another party emerged.
"Oh? Is that not Lord Michio?"
It was Duke Harz’s party. Talk about bad timing. Or maybe not. Being able to show him that we were actually using his labyrinths was a significant point in my favor.
There was one more thing. My discomfort with the Duke stemmed from the fact that I was pretending to be an Adventurer when I wasn't. If my Intelligence Card were checked, the lie would be exposed, and I’d be in deep trouble. But since we started hitting the higher floors, my level had been skyrocketing. I was already an Explorer Level 48.
You can become an Adventurer at Level 50. There might be other conditions, but the day I'd officially earn that job was close. Once I did, I wouldn't have to be afraid of the Duke anymore. It would be fine. Soon, meeting him wouldn't be a big deal at all.
"Ah, hello there."
"Are you entering the labyrinth in my territory?"
"Well, rather than 'entering,' we've just arrived to start our exploration today, so to speak." We hadn't been here consistently, and I didn't want him to think otherwise and call me out later, so I corrected him.
"Still, I appreciate it. Which floor are you aiming for?"
"Uh, the 33rd floor."
"Oh?"
"N-No, well... the 33rd floor in Quratar is apparently quite difficult, and the 31st-floor boss room is always crowded. I thought we'd train here on the 33rd floor until we're strong enough for Quratar."
I realized too late that aiming for the 33rd floor here—where monsters were weak to magic—might seem strange for someone who was supposed to be a melee-focused Adventurer and not a Mage. I hurriedly added the bit about the crowded boss room on the 31st floor, which was the last hurdle for parties without a Mage.
I felt like I was over-explaining, making it even more suspicious. I could have just said we were looking for a floor with Non-rem Golems. But unlike Quratar, labyrinths without maps were a nightmare to navigate. Not many people would go to that much trouble. Explorers who trained in one spot for months probably considered the time spent searching for the boss room to be within the margin of error.
"I see, I see."
"Though I suppose we could have looked for a labyrinth where Non-rem Golems appear on the 33rd floor instead."
If you're going to complain, I'll just go somewhere else.
"No, no. This is truly excellent. I'll have the explorer from my party guide you to the 33rd floor here."
"Oh, thank you very much." I wished he’d just led with that.
"I’ll have him take you to the 34th and 35th floors as well. Exploration in Bode has reached the 35th floor for now."
"Is that so?"
"This place is close to the capital and attracts many explorers. Gosler and his men worked hard to push to the 33rd floor. He's currently occupied with the Tale Labyrinth, so exploration here hasn't progressed much since then."
I didn't really have an opinion on whether the 35th floor was "far" or not. I didn't know the standard. Still, it was fine as long as my excuse about the 33rd floor was accepted.
I figured Gosler and the others pushed to the 33rd floor so that lower-level explorers could find floors that suited them, making the labyrinth more popular. I didn't fully understand the significance of stopping at 33, but the next major milestone was 44, and once you hit that, clearing the whole thing was in sight. New labyrinths typically went up to 50. It made sense to prioritize the less-populated Tale Labyrinth instead of pushing further here.
"I see."
"Still, to have reached the 33rd floor already. You were only on the 22nd when we last met. Truly impressive, Lord Michio. Your speed is astonishing."
Come to think of it, when we last met, I was on the 22nd floor, and he had warned me away from a specific labyrinth. Was the 33rd floor too much progress? Maybe.
"The jump from 23 to 33 wasn't that bad. As long as you have a map."
"Is that so? Truly?"
"I’ve upgraded my equipment as well. Everything just fell into place." Please, just believe me.
"Well, it's impressive regardless. Once you start hitting the 34th floor, you must come visit me at the castle. I look forward to it."
Was he setting me up for some hassle? I couldn't keep being suspicious of everything. I was almost an Adventurer. Once I got that job, I could handle whatever he threw at me. I decided to view this as a grace period until my level hit 50. I could always wait ten or twenty years before moving to the 34th floor, after all.
"Understood."
"Farewell, then."
The Duke and his party left on foot. His Knight Order adventurers were probably assigned to Tale. Since this labyrinth was within walking distance of the Bode Palace, it made sense.
We took the remaining explorer into our party and had him guide us through the 33rd, 34th, and 35th floors. Floors 34 and 35 weren't strictly necessary, but there was no reason to refuse the offer. After the tour, we fought two battles on the 33rd floor before heading home.
Most monsters on Bode's 33rd floor were weak to fire. Using Fire Storm, we cleared them even faster than the Rock Birds on Quratar's 32nd. This was going to be easy.
That night, I added a white fish sauté to dinner as a thank-you to the girls for agreeing with me, then took a bath.
The next day, we began our exploration of the 33rd floor in earnest. Since we could pretty much brute-force our way through with Fire Storm, everything went smoothly. In fact, it was so efficient that Miria petrified monsters less often simply because they died too fast.
The primary monster here was the Cape Carp, weak to fire. We mowed them down one after another. When a Cape Carp vanished into smoke, it usually left behind a Parasite Worm. They looked like earthworms. Apparently, they were used as fertilizer or for soil improvement. They really were just worms.
I wasn't sure if they actually "parasitized" the monsters. They were dropped into the Item Box, which only accepted monster drops, so they were technically part of the monster. Maybe they were mysterious organisms that integrated themselves into the monster's body. Or maybe they were monsters that preyed on other monsters. The mysteries of the labyrinth were deep.
Occasionally, however, something else dropped. It wasn't as thin as a worm; it looked more like a piece of cod roe. Appraisal revealed it to be a Cape Carp Liver.
"A liver? Is this an ingredient?" I asked.
"It's a rare item, apparently," Sherry explained. "It's not for eating. They say if you throw the liver at a monster, it can turn into a Drive Dragon."
So it was a rare drop, but not a rare food item. We had hunted dozens, maybe over a hundred of these in Quratar without seeing a single one. That's how rare it was. I guessed we had moved through those floors too quickly, or maybe the boss-centric hunting lowered the odds. I wondered if there were Cape Carps that weren't "parasitized."
And why did a carp turn into a dragon? It reminded me of the legend of the carp climbing the Dragon Gate waterfall on the Yellow River. Did the carp in this world also have dragon aspirations? It was a waste of time to worry about it. They were monsters, after all. They "swam" through the air, for heaven's sake. They were basically living koinobori.
"If you turn a monster into a dragon, won't it get stronger?"
"It’s used against high-level monsters like bosses," Sherry said. "However, the success rate depends on the monster's strength. Extremely powerful monsters don't easily transform. You can reliably turn bosses from lower floors into Drive Dragons, and even bosses around this level transform fairly often."
So, you could weaken a powerful boss by turning it into a Drive Dragon. Of course, there were Drive Dragon bosses and even higher-tier dragons, but transforming one into a standard Drive Dragon would be a definite debuff.
"So that's how it's used."
"Also, when you specifically need to defeat a Drive Dragon."
"Why would anyone specifically want to do that?"
"I hear the Dragon Hide they drop is plump and delicious. Simmering it in soup is said to improve the flavor by leaps and bounds. It's also believed to make one's skin more beautiful."
She was talking about dragon hide like it was chicken skin. I was skeptical about the beauty benefits, but if it made a good broth, it might be worth a try eventually.
We continued our exploration of Bode's 33rd floor. Not just that day, but the next, and the day after that. Cape Carp Livers were incredibly elusive. Getting even one a day was a struggle. It was no wonder we hadn't seen any when we were rushing through Quratar.
There was a certain happiness in not having to climb a floor every single day. I wished Roxanne could appreciate that, but I knew it was likely impossible for her.
Since we were hunting on the 33rd floor, my levels were rising steadily. My main Explorer job didn't move much, but jobs like Sex Fiend and Farmer, which I was trying to get to Level 30, were popping off left and right.
Interestingly, neither Sex Fiend nor Farmer unlocked any derivative jobs at Level 30. I wasn't surprised. I'd never heard of any, and I couldn't think of what they'd even be. Why had I bothered raising them? Well, they had their uses—specifically nighttime ones. It was only natural to level them. I had no regrets.
After those, my Merchant job also hit Level 30. This unlocked the Slave Trader job. I didn't think it would be particularly useful, but there was no harm in having it, especially with Roxanne and the others around. I had already unlocked Weapon Merchant and Armor Merchant earlier. Since my Item Box capacity was 30 types by 30 items, it was likely tied to the Explorer Level 30 milestone, possibly with some Merchant levels required.
So, Slave Trader was the Merchant Level 30 derivative. But then, I noticed I had acquired yet another job. Apparently, there was more than one derivative for Merchant.
It was the Libertine job.
Libertine Lv 1 Effect: Empty Skill: Effect Setting, Skill Setting, Empty
I didn't quite see the connection between Merchant and Libertine. The "Empty" slots for effects and skills weren't actual skills; they were just placeholders waiting to be set, much like an empty slot on a weapon. It seemed the Libertine could customize its own effects and skills using "Effect Setting" and "Skill Setting." It looked like a fascinating job.
"Sherry, do you know anything about a job called 'Libertine'?" I asked.
I was sure she’d have an answer.
"It's a legendary job," she said. "Though its true nature isn't well known."
She didn't know about "Kin-san the Libertine"?
"It's not known?"
"Long ago, there was someone who claimed to have that job, but the details remain a mystery."
So it was a rare, enigmatic job.
"Did the person who claimed to have it never reveal anything?"
"He just went around loudly proclaiming he was a Libertine."
"That sounds... a bit pathetic." A man publicly bragging about being a libertine?
"I've heard of it too," Roxanne chimed in. "You're talking about the Gadabout Crown Prince, right?"
Roxanne knew about it too? As expected of the world-famous "Toyama Sakura"—wait, no, he was a Crown Prince, not a Magistrate.
"He was a Crown Prince?"
"Yes. He was the heir, but he was disinherited. He's considered the absolute worst prince in the history of the Empire. He had no persistence and would constantly cycle through different jobs, quitting each one almost immediately. On top of that, he was a master of lies and deception. Truly a piece of human garbage. A parasite on the Empire."
"O-Oh."
What a scathing review. I guess a NEET Crown Prince wouldn't be popular. If only "Libertine" were just a cover for his secret identity as a hero.
"Because it came from such a person, nobody takes the job seriously."
Hey, hey, hey. You've both been talking quite a bit while I sat here and listened. The Prince must have had his reasons. The fact that he "cycled through jobs" was likely the key. I also possessed various jobs. I had assumed Libertine was a derivative of Merchant Level 30, but that probably wasn't right. It was likely a job earned by acquiring a certain total number of other jobs. In my case, unlocking Slave Trader had pushed me over the threshold.
This "cherry blossom of jobs" that I had cultivated until I earned Libertine—if you think you can make it fall, just try.
The connection between Merchant and Libertine was still fuzzy, though. Unlocking it at Merchant Level 30 was likely just a coincidence. I wondered if it was the "final" job. Then again, I still didn't have Adventurer or Priest. Maybe there was a cap on how many jobs I could hold. I doubted it, but the worry lingered. It was probably just groundless anxiety.
To distract myself, I set Libertine as my fifth job. I’d already finished leveling Merchant to 30, after all.
I focused on "Effect Setting." A list of jobs floated through my mind. It seemed I didn't choose from a list of "Libertine" effects, but rather I could pick an effect from any of the other jobs I already possessed.
Fascinating.
Since I could see Explorer, Hero, Mage, and Monk, I could clearly choose from my own collection. That made sense. If I could pick the best effects from jobs I didn't even have, Libertine would be broken. I was limited to what I had already earned.
I felt like I could still earn more jobs in the future. In fact, earning new jobs would only make Libertine stronger. For my first effect, I chose the Hero's Intelligence Increase (Medium). For magic power, intelligence was key.
Libertine Lv 1 Effect: Intelligence Increase (Medium) Skill: Effect Setting, Skill Setting, Empty
It definitely worked. It was a shame I could only set one, though. If I could only have one, the Hero job was still better on its own. The Hero's eight effects were special, but if I could set maybe three effects on Libertine, it would be incredible. If the girls could earn Libertine and set three effects, it would easily be their best option. Even if I could just stack two Intelligence Increases, it would be great. Vesta's Dragon Knight had Medium, Small, and Slight Vitality Increases, after all.
Still, there was no point in speculating. Since I could equip multiple jobs, using Libertine as a secondary slot was a solid plan.
Next, I tried setting a skill. I picked the Explorer’s Item Box. I opened my inventory to check. A single new column had appeared next to the forty-eight columns I already had. It seemed the Libertine’s Item Box was only that one new column. Since I was only Libertine Level 1, the capacity was just one type by one item.
It was just like being a Level 1 Explorer. Even though I had "copied" the skill from a Level 48 Explorer, it didn't give me forty-eight slots. The skill's power scaled with the Libertine's level.
That meant the effect likely worked the same way. Even if I equipped the Hero Level 44's Intelligence Increase, the actual boost would only be equivalent to a Level 1 Libertine. That was disappointing. Then again, for a normal person who could only have one job, being able to borrow a skill without having to level the original job would be a huge advantage.
What would happen if I set the Cook's Item Box? Would it add thirty columns? I decided to test it. I focused on "Skill Setting" to pick a new job... but I couldn't.
Wait. No way. Can you only set a skill once?
Surely not. I tried again. Still nothing. I really could only set it once.
Dammit! I let my guard down. What a massive blunder. I had wasted the slot on something as minor as one Item Box slot. It might be useful at Level 99, but for now...
"Is something wrong?" Roxanne asked, noticing my slumped shoulders.
I couldn't help it. "No... I'm fine."
But I wasn't fine. If it's a one-time choice, they should have said so! "Skill Setting (Single Use)" or "Skill Setting Opportunity." It was just like an empty skill slot on a weapon—once you set it, it's permanent. I was an idiot for thinking I could swap them freely. At least I had picked a decent effect like Intelligence Increase, so it wasn't a total disaster.
The Libertine could pick one effect and one skill from your existing jobs. It was a fitting reward for someone who collected various jobs. Even if it was a one-time deal.
If it really was a one-time choice, then the theory that Libertine was the "final" job gained more weight. If there were no more jobs to get, you wouldn't have to worry about future skills you might want to borrow.
I had really messed up.
"It's almost time for breakfast," Roxanne suggested, likely trying to cheer me up.
I decided to eat and try to forget my mistake. For the first time since coming to this world, the food didn't taste like anything.
Sigh.
Wait—was "Effect Setting" also a one-time deal? If I kept worrying like this, my breakfast would never taste good. After finishing my meal, I tested Effect Setting again.
Oh! I can pick a new one!
So Effect Setting wasn't a one-time thing. Could I change it as often as I wanted? Maybe I could only change it twice? That seemed unlikely. Once made sense, but twice was weird. I tried switching to the Explorer's Vitality Increase (Small). Since my skill slot was already a wasted Item Box slot, it didn't really matter.
Libertine Lv 1 Effect: Vitality Increase (Small) Skill: Effect Setting, Skill Setting, Item Box
It was even possible to pick an effect and skill from the same job. Though you'd usually just equip the original job in that case. I tried switching back to Intelligence Increase (Medium).
I focused on "Effect Setting"... but I couldn't select it.
What? Was it really only two times? I tried again, panicking. Still nothing.
Wait. Maybe it was a cooldown?
A thought struck me, and I focused on "Skill Setting" instead. I could select that one!
Thank god. It seemed that once you used Effect or Skill Setting, there was a cooldown before you could use that specific setting skill again. It wasn't that they were limited use; they just had a recharge time. It made sense—the "Skill Setting" skill itself hadn't disappeared from my status. If the skill was still there, I should be able to use it again eventually.
I should have realized that sooner.
So, it was a cooldown. I wondered how long it was. The last time I had used it was before we went out to buy ingredients, so it was an hour at most. That meant I couldn't swap them instantly in the middle of a fight. Not that I'd need to swap effects constantly.
Though, switching to Strength Increase for a Durandal strike and then back to Intelligence for magic wasn't the worst idea.
For my Libertine skill, I decided to set the Mage's Beginner Fire Magic. Currently, I couldn't fire multiple spells simultaneously. But I wondered if that was just because I only had one Mage job equipped. I could use First Aid immediately after a spell, or use Crude Drug Synthesis while the Item Box was open. I could even use a spell and a Bonus Spell at the same time.
If I couldn't fire two Mage spells, maybe I could fire a Mage spell and a Libertine spell? It was definitely worth testing.