Infinite Mage

Chapter 166: A Dangerous Deal (2)

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: RyuuNôv(el)B\\jnn

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INFINITE MAGE

"Rian, stop being stubborn and receive healing magic tomorrow."

"I'm fine! I don't have any fatal injuries. Of course, the spot where Tess stabbed me is strangely a bit painful, haha!"

"Rian, the moment you fall is the moment I die."

Rian's laughter stopped abruptly. The living room was enveloped in silence. Everyone looked anxiously between Shirone and Rian.

"Shirone, I..."

"I know. You would protect me until your last breath. However, a moment's decision can determine the success or failure of a mission. I'd prefer you take more hits for me if you're going to be stubborn like this. Otherwise, I might have to reconsider entrusting my back to you."

This might sound selfish and cold. Indeed, asking a friend to take a blade for him was undeniably harsh.

But Shirone knew Rian better than anyone.

Rian was fire. The way to fuel that fire was not through shallow praise but by impressing upon him the harsh realities.

Rian slightly curled the corners of his lips. A hot fire surged within him, burning away any trivial emotions.

"Don't worry, Shirone! I'll do whatever it takes to return this body to perfect condition! As long as I'm here, no one will be able to reach you."

Rian seemed ready to receive healing magic right then. Freed from her own hell, Tess secretly looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"Phew. Thank you, Shirone. Really, thank you."

Tess had no doubt that Rian would someday become the greatest swordsman. But even if he became a burning sword, only Shirone could wield him.

***

Early in the morning, Shirone's group left the villa.

There was a mages' guild in the residential area, small in influence due to the Freeman Organization’s control over the island but sustained by possessing a healing mage.

Being a resort area, it was common for people to sustain injuries while relaxing and having fun.

Commoners might seek home remedies or visit a doctor, but nobles would get treated by a healing mage even for a minor finger injury.

The cost of healing varied depending on the type and severity of the injury, ranging from 1 to 10 gold, but due to Freeman's influence, the treatments were reasonably priced.

Healing magic stimulated cellular activity to naturally heal wounds, unlike physicians who diagnosed and treated based on the cause of the illness.

Although some schema users practiced emergency surgery as surgeons, mages preferred to follow the natural order, eschewing artificial methods.

High-level magic involved complex theories, but even simple cellular activation was highly effective because the human body knew how to heal itself.

The healing mage seemed not very skilled, as it took two hours to fully treat Zis and Rian’s injuries.

Shirone was newly impressed by the power of magic upon seeing Rian's injuries cleanly healed.

Two hours would be impractical in real-time combat on the battlefield, but over the long term, the combat effectiveness of a group with a healing mage was tremendously higher.

Upon returning to the villa, the group repacked their belongings and headed out.

While healing magic only regenerated wounds and didn't boost overall condition, Rian seemed to overflow with vitality, strong as he was.

Zis also seemed confident in his endurance, cheerfully shouldering his backpack without showing signs of fatigue.

Rian was puzzled by Zis's luggage. Since Zis, the guide, was expected to part ways once they entered the self-governing district, he wouldn't need much gear.

"Huh? What's with the luggage?"

"Ah, this is a packed lunch. Yuna made it while we were getting treated. She's got a knack for cooking since she works in a restaurant."

"Oh, she's a professional? That’s great. Let's eat now."

As Rian approached drooling, Tess pinched his side and scolded.

"We just ate, why another meal? Let's head to the ruins first. It’d be troublesome if it gets dark."

Everyone knew it was better to leave early since they had visited the location before. This time, the women didn't complain and finished packing earlier than usual.

When they arrived a kilometer from the ruins, the coachman stopped the carriage as usual. Accustomed to this, the group disembarked and walked towards the ruins.

Nothing had changed since their last visit.

The bustling crowd, the natives watching warily, and the pub where they had encountered mercenaries were all the same.

Heading towards the outskirts of the ruins, they decided to have lunch in the park. Yuna had packed rice balls made from leftover ingredients soaked in rice, a dish unfamiliar to them but popular on the island.

Shirone tasted it and found it uniquely delicious, with a salty, nutty flavor from the various ingredients.

Though it seemed a light meal, it sat heavily in the stomach, more so than bread.

Zis reviewed a manual that Freeman had passed along. Although brief, his years in the organization allowed him to quickly grasp how deals were conducted.

He led them to the opposite side of the entrance to the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, also guarded by a native in civilized clothing.

"Hello."

"Who are you?"

"I'm from the Freeman Organization. When can we depart?"

After scanning Zis up and down, the native spoke more freely once shown a pass.

Zis and the native exchanged a few words in the native language before he turned to Shirone.

"We have to wait about an hour for our ride?"

"Ride? What kind of ride?"

"We’ll probably take a tram. That's what was written. Anyway, they told us to come back when the tram arrives."

Tess looked around the group.

"What should we do? Wait here for an hour, or look around a bit more?"

Shirone pondered. Was it really okay to enter the self-governing district like this? If so, why did the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice exist?

Tess thought it might be tradition, but Shirone doubted it was that simple, especially since the labyrinth's breath touched this place.

"I want to try the trial gate again."

His sudden suggestion surprised his friends, who wondered why he would choose the hard way when a simpler route was available.

But Amy shared Shirone's thoughts. There must be something beneath the ruins that people shouldn’t know about. So, if there were two routes leading to the same place, there must be a special reason for each.

However, the problem was passing the trial. Pursuing an impossible task might just waste their time.

"Can we really pass it? Are you thinking of trying with lasers?"

"If possible, I'd like to try."

"And if that doesn’t work? The tram might not wait for us. And entering the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice will take a significant amount of time."

"I guess it wouldn't matter much if we failed."

Shirone spoke nonchalantly, prompting a puzzled response from Amy.

"It doesn’t matter if we fail?"

"I have something on my mind. Of course, I can't be sure of anything yet. How about this? I'll enter the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice alone, and the rest of you wait here and take the tram if it comes. That way, we can synchronize our timings and experience both routes."

Amy thought Shirone's plan was logical. Since he had scored the highest in the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice before, there was no need for others to follow. Besides, if he went alone, it wouldn’t take much time.

"Alright. Let’s head to the trial route then."

With Amy's agreement, the group headed toward the altar to the east. Different natives guarded it this time.

"Shirone, you remember the password?"

"Yeah. Stay back. Last time, they mistook us for a group because you were too close. I'll go in and come back alone this time."

"Okay. It should be fine, but... be careful, anyway."

Shirone walked toward the altar but stopped in his tracks after just three steps.

Someone inside was banging on the door.

As Shirone approached, the native guarding it turned around and operated a mechanism, opening the stone wall.

'It seems someone else attempted the trial. Are there more challengers than I thought?'

Curious about who was emerging from the trial, Shirone watched eagerly. But the moment he saw their faces, he was startled.

"Uh, what?"

Amy, standing behind him, also jumped in surprise.

"What! How are they here?"

"What’s wrong, Amy? Do you know them? Friends, maybe?"

"Hmph! Friends? They’re enemies!"

From Amy’s reaction, they clearly weren’t on good terms. Rian and Tess, more curious now, closely observed the man and woman who had emerged from the altar.

From a distance, they looked like siblings due to their similar features—black hair, dark eyes, pale faces, and a uniquely dark aura.

Shirone stared blankly at them. They were Canis and Arin, disciples of Archmage Arcane.

'Why are they here?'

Of course, they were free to travel wherever they wanted, but it was ominous that they had emerged from a place touched by the labyrinth’s breath.

Canis and Arin were also surprised to see Shirone’s group but quickly regained their composure.

"So you were here too."

Canis approached with a sneering face, while Arin shyly looked down, unaccustomed to social interactions due to her life confined in Radum.

Although they had clashed before, they would be classmates next semester, so she felt obliged to at least greet them.

"Ah, hello, Shirone?"

Summoning all her courage, Arin raised her hand to wave at Shirone, but Canis glared at her fiercely. Realizing her mistake, Arin quickly lowered her hand, though Shirone greeted her warmly.

"Hi, doing well?"

"Uh? Yeah. Just..."

Arin, glancing at Canis, responded with a shrinking voice. But seeing Shirone genuinely welcome her, she wondered if there was really a need to be so hostile.

As she slowly raised her head, surprised by Shirone’s intense gaze, she gasped.

'He was impressive before, but now he’s even more distinct. Truly a fascinating person.'

Meanwhile, Shirone also had a lot on his mind with the arrival of Canis and Arin. Their return from the altar meant they had likely been rejected by the Angel's Eye.

'It’s not easy, the Labyrinth of Time.'

As disciples of the Archmage, Canis and Arin were formidable, especially in real combat experience, where they were considered superior to anyone at the magic school.

Although Shirone had subdued him before, he had struggled even while receiving elemental blessings.

But even they had been unable to advance further in the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, giving a clue about the high standards of the labyrinth’s cut-off.