The Industrial Revolution could potentially solve this labyrinth in no time.
That’s what I was thinking last night, after contemplating various things. It’s important to leverage my advantage as an Otherworlder. Contributing to this world’s cultural development and clearing dungeons with machinery instead of magic would be a fine idea.
However, the reality is that I lack both the time and connections for such an endeavor. Moreover, the very Laws of Physics here are questionable. While I intend to test it someday, it’s an endeavor that requires money first. Thus, once again faced with the wall of money, I reluctantly set out for a stroll in town.
“The world runs on money.”
In town, the usual routine involves public institutions conducting endless cultural assessments. Other than that, I browse shops unique to this world, like weapon and tool shops. There were even places called magic shops, “shops for wizards,” but all of them were prohibitively expensive for my meager finances.
Though it’s a tedious information-gathering task, it doesn’t feel too burdensome if I think of it as sightseeing. Time quickly passed, and my shift at the tavern began.
Just like yesterday, I busied myself with chores amidst the clamor.
While the nature of the work remained the same, I wasn’t doing precisely the same things as yesterday. It was a new application of “Display.”
Having discovered that observing Monsters allowed their information to be “Displayed,” I wondered if the same could be done for humans. To my surprise, it worked.
For example, if I were to “Gaze” at a large man with a significant scar on his face…
【Status】
Alvin Colesun HP 165/172 MP 0/0 Class: Swordsman
Level 11
Strength 6.72 Stamina 4.54 Dexterity 2.01 Speed 1.78 Intelligence 1.32 Magic Power 0.00 Aptitude 0.67
The information for the large man, Alvin Colesun, would be “Displayed.”
Privacy was non-existent. But surprisingly, this was quite enjoyable.
Emboldened, I proceeded to check the strength of every customer who entered the establishment. Observing various people also deepened my understanding of how to use “Display,” so there was no reason to stop.
I also discovered that I could set conditions when using “Display.” When “Displaying” a person’s information, if I strongly desired only to know their name, level, and skills, it would manifest as follows:
【Status】
Alvin Colesun Level 11
Innate Skill: Sewing 1.10
Acquired Skill: Swordsmanship 1.23
This man, it seemed, had a knack for sewing. I chuckled inwardly at the contrast between that and his imposing physique.
And so, I continued observing various people today—
Amidst them, I spotted a familiar face. It was the boy who looked like a girl, whom I’d met when the tavern closed yesterday. He was hiding his face with a hood, but from his constant use of Dimensional Magic whenever he had free time, I recognized him instantly.
He was ordering a light meal at the counter. It seemed Lynn had taken his order. I couldn’t speak to him while on duty, but I decided to “Gaze” at him to confirm his name and skills.
【Status】
Diablo Sis Level 1
Innate Skills: Divine Magic 3.78, God’s Blessing 3.07, Judgment 2.00, Concentrated Convergence 2.02
Elemental Magic 2.09, Overwhelming Protection 2.00, Life Extension 2.23, Lucky Shot 2.02
Acquired Skill: Swordsmanship 0.09
??? : ???
“—Huh?”
My jaw dropped. I had seen the statuses of about dozens of people since morning, but this was the first time I’d encountered anything so absurd.
Skills are normally limited to one or two per person. Even seasoned Adventurers sometimes possess three. The values typically range from 0.00 to 2.00, and besides myself, no one else had a skill exceeding 3.00.
Yet, this boy had nine skills, each boasting high values.
What is this…
“Hey, Christ! Stop spacing out! The shop manager said to wash dishes out back!”
Lynn admonished me for stopping in my tracks and called out to me.
“Y-Yes!”
It appeared the kitchen was getting busy. Though intrigued, I retreated to the back of the shop. And there, I begrudgingly washed the pile of dirty dishes that had accumulated in the kitchen.
During that time, the boy named Diablo wouldn’t leave my mind. His talent was like a joke. He was, in essence, someone too favored by the world. If we consider this world as a game, it’s highly likely that boy plays a crucial role.
Alternatively, he might be in a similar situation to mine. I desperately wanted to find an opportunity for a casual introduction and strike up a conversation.
As I silently continued washing dishes, simulating a conversation with Diablo in my head, a loud voice erupted from one of the tavern’s tables.
The tavern was already a noisy place, but Diablo’s voice from last night lingered in my ears, prompting me to investigate.
“—Hahaha! Teaming up with some Level 1 brat is no good at all. I’d be troubled if I got slowed down and killed.”
A man was laughing loudly, drawing a crowd around him.
“My level is indeed low! But I’m confident in my sword skills, and I can use a little bit of basic magic!”
In the midst of it, the boy was arguing back at the man with a soprano voice.
It was the boy with golden hair. I was slightly taken aback, but it had to be Diablo. Last night, his hair was smooth and long, whereas today it was cut to shoulder length. Coupled with his ponytail, his appearance was different from last night, making him look like a beautiful boy.
Beside the man who was laughing heartily at the handsome Diablo, an adult woman was explaining in a soothing voice.
“Ah, being able to use magic is impressive. However, Level 1 is lower than even most children. Frankly, it’s unheard of. If you were helping your parents or living a normal life, at your age, you should be around Level 3. Given that, if your Level is 1, it’s not unreasonable for us to assume you’re either a spoiled rich kid who’s never known hardship or a child facing some kind of problem?”
“Th-That’s…!!”
Unable to refute the woman’s logical argument, Diablo was left speechless.
“That’s right. Level 1 is impossible. Haha, finding someone at Level 1 is harder than anything! Hahahaha!”
Seeing Diablo unable to retort, the man, presumably the woman’s acquaintance, continued to provoke him.
It seems this man enjoys teasing Diablo. Even I, who until recently was Level 1, felt a pang of hurt from this collateral insult.
“Sh-Shut up! Don’t look down on me! Even at a low level, I can fight!!”
Fueled by the taunts, Diablo lunged at the man. However, the man easily brushed him aside and continued to insult him. Diablo’s temper flared, and he started spewing childish insults, trying to lash out.
No one attempted to intervene. They probably considered this minor scuffle to be a regular occurrence. But for me, it was different. This boy Diablo was full of potential. As someone who could glimpse the talents of others, he was a subject from whom I could expect significant benefits.
Judging by his performance, Diablo was no match for the man. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to earn Diablo’s favor and moved to approach—but before I could, Lynn intervened.
“Alright, alright. That’s enough. If you’re just here to play, please leave. It’s unbecoming of an adult to pick on a child.”
Lynn chided the man with a sigh, but her demeanor was practiced.
“Hey now. We were just looking for a party for dungeon exploration. A child who didn’t meet the criteria started picking a fight, so we were just teaching him a few things as seniors.”
“Then you’ve had enough of your lessons. Come on, you there, stop being hot-headed too.”
Saying that, Lynn separated the man and Diablo.
“Damn it.”
Realizing there was no point in continuing, Diablo must have understood. He paid Lynn for their current tab and was about to leave the tavern.
“With that level, no one will form a party with you. Think about something else.”
The man added a parting shot to Diablo’s back. However, Lynn didn’t scold him for it. Both Lynn and most of the people present agreed with the man. Diablo clicked his tongue and left the tavern.
“—Dim, ‘Dimension.’”
On impulse, I muttered the spell in a low voice. Pouring almost all my MP into it, I expanded the magic of “Dimension” to its limit. Then, I focused on where Diablo was heading.
I had no intention of letting him escape. He was a prodigy who could potentially halve the preparations for my dungeon exploration.
“Alright, everyone, return to your seats. Christ, stop gawking and get back to work.”
“……Yes.”
While keeping my attention on Diablo, I returned to my work. We continued with the same tasks as yesterday until closing time.
***
After that, I confirmed through “Dimension” that Diablo had entered the labyrinth. However, he emerged shortly after, battered and bruised, making it clear that he hadn’t achieved any success.
After closing, I coordinated with the shop manager on basic cooking techniques and made some simple dishes. These became our meal, laid out on the tavern tables.
I then proceeded, as planned, to search for Diablo, who was likely feeling dejected somewhere warm. Using my remaining MP, I located him huddled in a corner.
“……I’m hungry.”
His stomach rumbled as he slumped, utterly disheartened. I approached him, feigning a chance encounter.
“……We meet again.”
“……!? Ah. You’re, uh, from the tavern…?”
“Yeah. Are you short on money again today?”
“As you can see, I’m even struggling to find food.”
Diablo shrugged with self-deprecation.
“That’s fortunate. I have some leftover food. How about it?”
“Leftover food…?”
He seemed a bit suspicious. I immediately responded with my prepared line.
“After closing, I practice cooking at that tavern. Today, I had some failed attempts left over and have trouble disposing of them.”
“Ah, I see. You’re an apprentice there, huh? But is that okay? I feel like you’re not supposed to share that kind of thing.”
“That’s true… But, actually, I was present during the disruption you caused today. I should have intervened as a staff member, but I was too incompetent to do anything… I feel somewhat apologetic towards you, so…”
“Ah, you saw that. I don’t mind, really. …But I’ll take the food. I’ll take anything I can get.”
Understanding the reason, Diablo seemed relieved and stood up. Although there might have been a few suspicious points, he was successfully lured with food.
We returned to the tavern, making small talk, and ate together. The taste was praised, and Diablo was surprised that I had made it. Perhaps the culinary culture in this world hasn’t advanced much.
“—This is really delicious. …You know, I heard from the female staff that you have labyrinth experience.”
“Kind of.”
During work, I sometimes end up in short sleeves, exposing the burn scars. Curious customers, like Lynn, would inquire about the story behind them. Diablo, it seemed, was one of them.
“How far have you been?”
Diablo’s interest was piqued by the labyrinth. The conversation naturally drifted in that direction.
During our talk, I carefully chose my words, trying not to rush things.
“I challenged it alone and got seriously injured on the first floor. I haven’t dived since then.”
“Oh, you were solo too?”
Diablo’s face brightened. He might be happy to find someone similar.
“I just didn’t have any companions…”
“I see…”
I closely observed Diablo’s expression. Anticipating his thoughts, I steered the conversation.
After that, we discussed our knowledge of labyrinths, levels, and statuses. After several such conversations—I finally managed to elicit the words I had been waiting for from Diablo.
“—Hey. If you don’t mind, would you like to go to the labyrinth with me?”
Diablo hesitantly invited me, appearing anxious. If it took any longer, I would have had to propose it myself. Without a moment’s hesitation, I accepted Diablo’s offer.
“Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Our skills seem comparable, so I think we can help each other out.”
“R-Really!? Thank you so much…!!”
“However, I work at the tavern at night, so I can only help out for a short time in the mornings.”
“No, that’s fine! It’s no problem at all! I’m truly grateful!”
Diablo expressed his gratitude with a beaming smile. It seemed his long struggle to find a companion had made this moment all the more emotional.
Though I didn’t show it, I inwardly performed a triumphant pose. More importantly, gaining a collaborator under the guise of a chance encounter and having performed a favor was significant. Having a collaborator with knowledge of this world and its labyrinths would make it easier to handle unexpected problems.
“So, is tomorrow okay!?”
“Yes, that’s fine. My name is Christ Eurasia. Feel free to call me Christ.”
“Understood. My name is Dia, without a surname. Just Dia, so you can call me by my given name.”
Finally, after exchanging introductions—there was no reaction to my name.
Given his absurd status and skills, I had held out a sliver of hope that he might be from my world, but it seemed things wouldn’t be that simple.
Also, his self-proclaimed name differs from what his “Display” showed. His “Display” clearly showed the surname “Sis.” Depending on how surnames are assigned in this world, it doesn’t seem like Dia is lying. Perhaps his “Display” is preemptively showing the name he will eventually adopt. This “game-like” “Display” seems to hide some kind of pitfall.
“Hehehe.”
Diablo beamed, happy to have gained a companion like me. Combined with his androgynous handsome features, his face was many times cuter than any girl’s. While my own face is unmanly and effeminate, it’s not as much as his. I tried to see if I could confirm his gender using “Display,” but his gender was not shown. However, it probably won’t be a major issue. He said he wasn’t a girl. In that case, it’s best to go along with that.
“Um, nice to meet you, Dia.”
“Yeah!”
Instead, what was “Displayed” was this line:
【Diablo Sis has joined the Party.】
【Party leader is Aikawa Uzunami.】
After that, Dia gave me a token of appreciation for the meal, and we parted ways normally. When asked about sleeping arrangements, he casually mentioned sleeping outdoors, but there was nothing I could do at the moment. Simply being allowed inside the tavern after closing hours was already a good thing, making it difficult to do more.
In a corner of the tavern, I pondered about tomorrow, my thoughts drifting to the future. I drifted off to sleep while formulating strategies for our conquest.
*Please note that some skill names are neologisms. For example, Overwhelming Protection.*
*End of Day 3*
【Status】
Name: Aikawa Uzunami HP 151/151 MP 2/141 Class:
Level 4
Strength 3.03 Stamina 3.16 Dexterity 4.07 Speed 5.05 Intelligence 6.09 Magic Power 8.08 Aptitude 7.00
Condition: Confusion 4.26
Experience Points: 127/800
【Skill Status】
Innate Skills: Swordsmanship 1.01, Ice Magic 2.02
Acquired Skills: Dimensional Magic 5.01+0.10
??? : ???
??? : ???—
【Magic】
Ice Magic: Freeze 1.00, Ice 1.01
Dimensional Magic: Dimension 1.03
