Kays Translations

Chapter 103: Contracting with a Gun monster

The three of them were in the forest.

They had ascended quite a bit from the magic circle at the bottom of the second layer.

Ladders were hung from protruding rocks on the walls, allowing them to climb up and up.

These ladders seemed to have been developed by the Kyrgyzstan clan over a long period.

The exact route was now known only to the tribe.

Before them, in the mud, was a mole.

A gun monster.

The mole was being restrained by armored soldiers.

“Now!”

“Yes.”

Lauren stepped forward slightly and shook the chain attached to her bracelet.

It was a relic called the “Gun monster Shackles,” used to contract with a Gun monster.

But nothing happened.

“It doesn’t seem to work.”

Lauren looked apologetic.

“Is this also no good?”

They had tried about thirty of them, but there was no sign of being able to contract.

“Gun monsters are often tenacious and aggressive, so I think they just don’t get along well with Lauren’s personality.”

Melania, who had been cautious around them, approached.

Nocto, her puppet, stood guard.

“They are hard to come by, gun monsters that would agree to my contract.”

“There are some calm ones too, you know. Cheer up!”

Melania fluttered her wings to comfort Lauren.

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Lauren wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Hey, Melania. If we’re trying different gun monsters, don’t we have to climb up?”

Melania shook her head.

“Regardless of Lauren, Lucius-sama needs to go higher. It’s better to aim for the upper layers as much as possible. That way, when Lucius-sama comes next time, he can transfer directly to where we climbed today.”

“Faster? What do you mean?”

“When we moved from the first layer to the second layer earlier, we used a magic circle, right? When Lucius-sama comes next, he can transfer directly to where we climbed today.”

“Does that mean the destination of the transfer can be changed depending on the height of the tower?”

Melania nodded.

“Yes. If it’s just me, I can use the magic circle up to the fourth layer. I’ve been there before. But Lucius-sama, aiming for the first class, needs to ascend further to the fifth layer on his own.”

“The fifth layer? That sounds like it will take quite some time. How many layers are there in the tower?”

Lucius looked up at the sky.

Perhaps it was an artificial sun.

The ceiling, which emitted several intense flashes, could not be seen.

“It is said that there are up to six layers. But no one has returned from the sixth layer.”

If stronger monsters appear as you go higher, the sixth layer might be full of first-class gun monsters.

Stepping into such a place would mean not coming back.

“Oh, then why don’t we fly on a riding beast to the fifth layer? It should be quick.”

Melania nodded vigorously.

“If you fly around the tower inside on a riding monster, the vigilance of the gun monsters will increase, and in the worst case, you will end up antagonizing all the monsters on the floor! Gun monsters form a hierarchical society, and information spreads instantly.”

“Oh, it’s interesting that there’s a hierarchy among monsters.”

Tenacious, aggressive, and obsessed with hierarchy.

Like the nobles in the West.

“In that case, shall we walk? Lauren, if it’s tough, just say so, and I’ll carry you.”

“Yes. I might ask you to if it gets tough.”

The three of them started walking in the forest again.

They climbed up two rock faces and walked along the stream flowing towards the waterfall.

When Melania pointed to the depths of the forest.

“Lauren, what about that?”

When he strained his eyes, he saw something flying over a spring off the river.

―― A book?

A book made of water.

“What kind of gun monster is that?”

“It’s a gun monster named Dantalion. Not aggressive, but a bit troublesome.”

The water book called Dantalion continued to turn its pages on its own.

“…I’ll give it a try.”

Lauren parted the grass and started walking towards Dantalion.

“Alright. Then let me help— oh.”

When Lucius tried to advance, Melania stopped him with her wings.

“Lucius-sama, please keep an eye out for other gun monsters approaching.”

“Is Lauren in danger?”

“There’s no direct danger. But more than anything, I think she doesn’t want to be heard.”

Melania’s expression was deadly serious.

She probably had some intention.

“…Understood.”

Lucius decided to keep an eye on Lauren as she advanced towards the spring.

Lauren quickly approached the edge of the spring.

In her right hand was the shackle and the chain attached to it.

The spring didn’t seem deep, and the bottom was clearly visible.

Floating on top of that small spring was the water book.

When she got close enough, Lauren raised her chain.

She needed to strike the chain to test if she could make a contract.

Then, a voice echoed.

A voice she had heard before.

“…I also want to be first.”

“Huh?”

The book was looking at her.

It had no eyes, nose, or mouth, but Lauren felt it was looking at her.

Randomly, the pages were sent back and forth, and something was written on the thin, watery paper.

―― Human faces.

Despite being a book made of water, human faces were clearly drawn on each page.

It was like an art book.

And then, it suddenly stopped at one page.

The face that appeared on the open book was Lauren’s own.

“I also want to be first with Lucius-sama. But I can’t beat Olivia-sama.”

Lauren was taken aback and turned to check Lucius.

Lucius just looked puzzled.

He probably couldn’t hear the voice.

Lauren returned her gaze to the book.

“But… It’s not fair.”

“………”

“Lucius-san is going to accomplish something amazing. Someday he will marry one of the four great nobility. I know it’s good. But I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to admit it. I don’t like that…”

Lauren’s heartbeat quickened.

“I want to monopolize Lucius-sama. I want him to be my lover, my partner. Even in the countryside, without money. Let’s have a happy family together.”

She wanted to cover her ears and run away from the words emanating from her face.

Because…

“You understand my feelings, don’t you?”

The other self projected in the book nodded.

“So. I know the real you.”

The face in the book became terribly cold and distorted.

“If nothing will come true, then maybe… I’ll take care of that person myself――”

“That’s not happening.”

Lauren said firmly as she threw the chain.

When the chain hit the water book, ripples spread, and the face reflected in the watery film disappeared with a slight ripple.

The chain that pierced the water book stopped in mid-air, as if encased in ice.

And she felt it.

Through the chain, the sensation of being connected to Dantalion. 

“Really? Can you really say that with certainty?”

Even though the face disappeared, her voice didn’t stop.

“Yes. I want him to be happy. He’s the one who saved me.”

Magic flowed through the chain.

Not just magic. The water from the book entwined and crawled up the chain.

Along with the sensation of cold water touching her right hand, Lauren felt her magic intertwining with Dantalion’s magic.

“In that case, let me become your other half and witness the truth of those words.”

The water book was sucked into Lauren’s right hand.

There was a sensation of a new presence dwelling in her gun magic core.

“Yes, please watch.”

Lauren turned around, leaving the spring behind.

Her expression seemed somewhat relieved.

Soon, Lucius rushed over.

“Congratulations. It seems you made a contract.”

“Yes.”

“You were talking about something, what was it?”

“It’s a secret.”

Lauren put her index finger to her lips.

“Then I won’t ask. So, what kind of spell?”

Lauren looked at Melania.

“Dantalion’s spell has two. One is to show illusions and confuse the enemy. The other one is faster.”

Illusions were probably what Lauren experienced earlier.

“Lauren, give it a try.”

“…Yes.”

Lauren extended her right arm forward.

“Come forth, Dantalion.”

Then, a water book appeared in her palm.

“A book… huh.”

“Yeah.”

The three peered into the book made of water.

The book automatically turned its pages as Lauren lightly thought about it.

All the pages were filled with human faces.

“All of these are people I know.”

It stopped at one person.

Lucius.

Lauren touched the picture of Lucius as if she were stroking it.

“Wow!”

Suddenly, Lucius exclaimed in surprise.

“What’s wrong!?”

“I can see myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly as I said. I see myself standing in front of me.”

Melania began to explain while fluttering her wings.

“Dantalion’s spell sends visual information to the contractor’s acquaintances.”

“Oh, it’s just visual, huh. I can’t hear anything. But… I might be feeling a little dizzy.”

“Oops, I’ll cancel it.”

As Lauren folded the water book, it disappeared with a whoosh.

“That’s an interesting spell. With this, I can go and pick up Lauren no matter where she is.”

“…Yes.”

Lauren smiled shyly.

“I think I’ll go for information transmission or perception spells for my gun monster too.”

When Lucius was contemplating,

A red line passed between them.

―― A red fairy.

He had seen it near the entrance of the tower.

A small creature with a body like a glowing red force field.

While fairies usually had wings like dragonflies, the red fairy had white bird-like wings.

It had an appearance so beautiful it didn’t seem of this world.

“How rare. The Fairy King has appeared.”

Melania exclaimed in surprise.

“The Fairy King?”

“I’ve never seen it before either, but it’s an extremely rare red fairy that appears in public. Some people say it summons both good and bad luck. Since fairies themselves are the lowest class of gun monsters, it’s just rare and not a strong monster.”

Indeed, it didn’t feel like it had much magic power.

“Both good and bad luck, huh.”

“Well, let’s go back today. There’s a magic circle nearby.”

“Right. Lauren’s ritual was obtained in a day, so it’s a good conclusion. I also need to get a first-class ritual as soon as possible.”

“That’s right.”

Lauren smiled happily.

In contrast, Melania’s expression contained a hint of sadness.

She opened her mouth slightly but suppressed it and shook her head.

“…Let’s go.”

The group started walking again.

When they came a little further, they saw a square building.

Half-hidden by dense trees and entwined with ivy, but unmistakably there.

There probably was a teleportation magic circle there too.

As they tried to approach a little closer, Lucius suddenly stopped.

―― There are quite strong monsters here.

When they focused their eyes, they saw a creature at the entrance of the building.

It was a horse with horns.

However, its entire body was made of leaves and was the color of fresh grass.

“What’s that?”

“That’s the guardian of the second layer, Amduscias.”

Melania’s expression stiffened.

“The guardian?”

“There are guardians between the layers of the tower. To go back to the lower floors, you need the guardian’s permission.”

―― Not to prevent going up, but to prevent going down. Odd.

Lucius firmly grasped the handle of his sword without hesitation.

“Should we force it to move?”

Melania hurriedly stopped Lucius.

“Absolutely not! The guardian is powerful, and if you attack, the surrounding gun monsters will attack!”

“Lucius… you’re getting more reckless.”

While Lauren reproached him, Lucius chuckled wryly.

Now that it was mentioned, he had started to think that brute force would solve most problems lately.

But it was a fact that such a monster could be dealt with easily.

Melania took a deep breath.

“I’m here for times like this.”

“What will you do?”

“Please watch.”

Melania stepped forward.

“Amdusias, guard of the dark green mountain. I will pay the price. Please let me through.”

The unicorn made of leaves slowly approached Melania.

Then, Melania stopped in front of it.

She seemed tense but not afraid.

She reached out her wings as if to spread them.

Amdusias, the guardian, touched Melania’s wings with its nose.

―― Is it absorbing magic?

“Phew.”

With Melania’s relieved breath, the creature scattered like leaves in the wind.

Melania seemed to have suddenly lost a lot of magic power, and her face looked a little haggard.

It must be tough for her to stand.

Lucius supported Melania, who seemed unsteady.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. It seems like you lost a considerable amount of magic power.”

“Yes, in the Tower, it’s customary for the first person to return from a new layer to give a ‘price’ to the guardian. I had about 80% of my magic power taken away just now.”

If someone suddenly loses 80% of their internal magic power, it’s natural to feel dizzy.

―― Melania didn’t need to offer her magic power.

Probably, one person would have been enough.

But Melania, a member of the Kyrgyz people, offered herself as if it were natural.

To Lucius, it seemed terribly twisted.

“Let’s go back without overdoing it.”

Lucius looked up at the sky.

Although there shouldn’t be any sun indoors, sunlight poured in abundantly, and the forest flourished.

Rock formations protruded from various places on the walls, and a fantastical waterfall flowed in the space.

Monsters lurked among the trees, hiding.

This magnificent and beautiful place somehow reminded him of the capital in the west.

―― He understood that there were various things in the Tower.

Lucius decided to inquire about it during his audience with the king next time.

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