Chapter 25
Opening the shabby door, I entered to find a space resembling an office.
‘It’s cleaner inside than I thought.’
In a way, this is typical of underground places. The exterior looks dark and dirty, but inside, it’s often not as dingy and can even be as well-organized as some large corporations’ structures.
“Zzz… Puheeee… Zzzzz….”
A small-bodied girl was snoring as she slept on the table in the centre.
“Hey.”
“Snrkk… Mm…? What…?”
When I spoke to her, the girl looked at me with a half-asleep face.
She blinked a few times.
“It’s not business hours…”
“Do you guys even have business hours?”
“What? Are you one of ‘those’ customers?”
On the surface, [Mouse Hole] is just a junk shop.
Whether it’s information or antiques, there’s something oddly similar about selling and buying items.
“Yaaaawn~ Just have a seat over there. Want some tea? All I’ve got is green tea, though. Heh-heh.”
“Then I’ll take you up on that.”
“…You’re the first one to actually ask me to get it. Usually, everyone declines.”
Well, that’s because most people who come to [Mouse Hole] are in urgent need of information.
They don’t have the leisure to sit and sip tea when they’re desperate to buy what they need.
“Wait quietly.”
The girl stood up from the chair and went inside.
As she turned, a long, sleek, peach-coloured tail extending above her hips came into view.
‘Mouse Beastkin.’
If I stripped away the deep hood she was wearing, I’d see her round ears on her head.
‘I’d like to see that.’
Come to think of it, this is the first time I’m seeing a beastkin since I got possessed.
They’re primarily found on the Eastern Continent, so it’s rare to encounter them here.
‘I’ll probably see a lot of them once I enter Polaris.’
There are even beastkin among the faculty there.
“Here, drink.”
The girl handed me a cup of green tea.
It was brewed stronger than I expected.
“Thanks. I didn’t know you had a talent for making tea, Lobel.”
“……Heh!”
The mouse beastkin girl in the robe—Lobel—looked up at me and giggled.
“If you know my name, you don’t seem like just any customer.”
“……”
“Did you come to sell something, mister?”
“You’re quick to catch on.”
I set down the cup of green tea I had taken a sip of and got to the point.
“I know a lot of information. Things that would make your mouths water.”
“Hmm. Aren’t you underestimating our intelligence network a bit too much? There’ve been plenty of guys who came here thinking they’d get rich quick but ended up going home empty-handed~.”
“That’s for you to decide after hearing me out.”
“Heh-heh! If you have something useful, we’ll pay you a good price. You’re actually quite my type, mister. But-”
Lobel pulled out a dagger from her pocket and aimed it at my neck.
A sly, rat-like grin spread across her face.
“If you’re playing games… be prepared.”
***
“It’s here.”
“Mister! You’ve come back~!”
About three days had passed since I sold the first piece of information.
In other words, it was time for the payment to be settled.
Thud!
As soon as Lobel saw me, her eyes sparkled, and she came running.
“Mister, mister! How did you do it?!”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, like—! How did you get those SSS-rank pieces of information?!”
She twirled around me, wagging her tail.
“Do you know how much our revenue soared from that information?”
What I shared wasn’t anything special.
Just a few ‘game settings’ I learned from going through multiple cycles.
For example, the location of hidden dungeons, certain monsters’ weaknesses, and strategies to defeat them.
Or where a frontier noble had hidden his illegal slave trading ledger, where a notorious serial killer with a high bounty was hiding, and the location of an abandoned factory where a certain corporation was manufacturing illegal drugs.
‘Honestly, none of it was of any use to me.’
I didn’t disclose anything I considered genuinely important or things I needed for myself.
But it seemed that even those scraps were considered high-grade information.
“When I first heard it, I thought it was too absurd…! But when everything fit perfectly, it sent chills down my spine!”
“Did it now?”
“This is the first time we’ve obtained such quality information from a single person!”
Lobel closed her eyes lightly, looking delighted.
“So, where’s my money?”
But business is business.
“Gosh, you’re so impatient. I have it all ready!”
Lobel gestured towards the table with both hands.
Three plump pouches filled with coins.
When I checked, just in case, I saw the shimmering gold coins inside.
“Whoa…”
“I even added a little extra as a token of appreciation. Heh-heh, so please continue to take good care of me, okay?”
Rubbing her hands together, Lobel opened her eyes slyly.
I packed the pouches and smirked.
“I’ll consider it.”
“Don’t be like that… It makes me sad.”
Her tail brushed against my back.
Like a brush, it drew heart shapes repeatedly with its tip.
“I prefer competent men like you, mister, over those who are just pretty boys.”
It must be because I look like Lan.
She seems to mistake me for an older person.
Even though Lobel looks like a 10-year-old kid on the outside.
‘But according to the settings, she’s 25.’
“You’re 8 years older than me.”
“As long as the stakes are balanced like this, there’s no reason I can’t sell more information.”
“Really?! Thank you~.”
“But, in exchange, I need you to do one thing for me.”
“What is it? Just say the word.”
“I need an identity. If you use your routes, you can get it faster, right?”
“Aha~ Of course. If it’s for you, mister.”
Surprisingly, I received the ID that very afternoon.
With the name ‘Lan Black’ prominently displayed on it.
“That… was fast.”
I thought it would take at least a few days.
Still, this took a load off my mind.
“Heh-heh, how’s that? Do I look a bit more impressive now?”
“You’re quite useful.”
“So cold….”
I put the ID in my pocket and looked around.
There was a large map hanging on the wall that I hadn’t seen the last time I was here.
The map had all sorts of markings and scribbles, indicating something.
“What’s that?”
“Hm? Oh no, I forgot to cover that up.”
Lobel immediately covered the map with a cloth.
“Since I’ve already seen it, why not tell me what it’s about?”
“It’s nothing special. A client asked us to find someone.”
“Someone?”
“You know our line of work thrives on trust, right? I can’t tell you the details, not even to you, mister.”
She playfully placed a finger on her lips with a mischievous smile.
“If they’ve come all the way here to find someone, they must be pretty desperate.”
Maybe they got swindled, or it’s a traitor from their organization.
Anyway, if [Mouse Hole] has begun their pursuit, a clumsy target won’t stay hidden for long.
‘Poor guy.’
He’s not likely to end up well.
***
-“Drop by anytime, mister~ You’re always welcome!”
Establishing a connection with Lobel was a necessary step.
In the game, if you build up a relationship with her, she’ll subtly hint at upcoming events.
[From what I’ve heard, a war is about to break out soon. ▼]
[Recently, there have been strange movements from the monsters in the dungeons. ▼]
[An enormous magical reaction was detected at the site of the old empire. Something’s not right… ▼]
Even without those reasons, she’s a highly competent information broker.
There’s no harm in establishing a good rapport.
“Phew…”
With this, I had completed most of my preparations.
All that’s left is the entrance exam.
Whoosh! Swish!
Early in the morning, at a clearing.
I equipped my sword and did a light warm-up.
「Sword Mastery」 Lv.3
A high-level swordsmanship skill that encompasses all forms of sword techniques.
‘Ordinary swordsmanship skills are typically specialized in a particular field.’
「Sword Mastery」 greatly enhances one’s overall understanding of the concept of the sword itself.
Whoosh—!
The blade sliced through the air.
The sensation of emptiness transmitted from the tip of the blade spread throughout my entire body.
It felt as if the sword had become an extension of my own body.
“Amazing…”
I only swung the sword a few times, but I could clearly feel how much my swordsmanship had improved.
With this state, facing Ornica might still be difficult, but I could easily take on the other members of the 3rd Squad.
‘And.’
This isn’t the only thing I obtained.
[Using 「Steel Qi」.]
I circulated the qi stored in my Dantian, adjusting it for reinforcement and defense.
Vwoooom…!
A layer of qi enveloped my entire body like armour.
As a test, I lightly poked myself with the sword.
Clang!
The blade made a metallic sound as it was blocked.
Now I’m a Steel Qi user.
I’ve finally shed the status of being a mere strawman who would die from a single sword strike.
‘The only thing left now is…’
There was one more thing I wanted to accomplish before the exam.
“Phew, this is nerve-wracking.”
I exhaled deeply and sat cross-legged on the ground.
I closed my eyes and focused inward.
Ssssss!
My lower Dantian was filled with qi.
‘Now, let’s do this.’
I intentionally stimulated it and made it rampage violently!
Crackkkk!
“Ugh… Urgh…!”
Pain that pierced through my brain like a jolt of electricity.
Still, it was much more bearable compared to when I pierced the lower dantian.
Crack! Crackle!
How much time had passed?
The pain gradually subsided, and sweat and heat poured out from all over my body.
[The 「Middle Dantian」 opens.]
[The limit of usable Qi increases.]
[「Blessing of Growth」 effect applied.]
[Maximum Qi capacity further increased.]
The qi that had been rampaging in my lower dantian rushed into the newly formed space.
“Hah!”
When I opened my eyes, the world seemed clearer.
The sensation of the wind touching my skin felt more refined than before.
The fresh morning air permeated deep into my lungs.
All things around me became more distinct.
‘In this state…’
I wouldn’t lose, even if I wanted to, against the other examinees.
I clenched my fist and smiled faintly.
“It’s done.”
Now, let’s go break through.
The entrance exam.
—
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