Brad pointed at the notes sketched on the map, explaining his deductions non-stop.
Li Xiuman listened, feeling half-asleep.
“And White Crystal City's name contains the meaning of 'crystal.'
“Meaning 'the white city of crystal.'
“It's also where magic white crystal, a unique mineral produced from the 51st to 60th floors of the White Crystal City Dungeon, gets its name.
“Currently, there are various opinions and no clear explanation as to why the Crystal Hero named himself 'Crystal.'
“I think it's highly likely that the name originated from White Crystal City.
“The Spirit Spring chapter is an important part of the Crystal Hero's epic, and a major turning point in his growth.
“So it would make perfect sense if the Crystal Hero named himself after the crystals of White Crystal City to commemorate the Spirit Spring.”
Li Xiuman listened in silence without speaking.
He looked at the treasure map in his hand.
Was this what he had almost given up his ten-thousand gold coin IOU for?
What absolute garbage.
A Spirit Spring? My foot.
Brad was completely letting his imagination run wild and forcing connections.
To think he had actually gotten a bit excited earlier.
It was better to just play along with these guys, finish this game of house, and collect his massive pile of gold coins before doing anything else.
“My goal in finding the Spirit Spring isn't to receive the water spirit's blessing.
“I want to obtain the spring water to save my little sister.
“In the royal capital, no one believed my deductions, and no one believed I could actually find the Spirit Spring.”
Brad looked at his resting companions, a hint of emotion in his eyes, as he continued.
“Except for them. They were willing to give up their comfortable lives at home just to fool around with me out here.”
“You have a wonderful group of friends,” Li Xiuman chimed in at the appropriate moment.
Well, this client paid extremely well. For that price, the version of Li Xiuman they hired was the polite, well-mannered type.
“You're absolutely right.
“...Then, what about your Elementalist friend who had that accident...?” Li Xiuman asked probingly.
Brad had previously mentioned that their party's Elementalist had met with an accident during their exploration, which was why they temporarily hired him.
Looking at it now, didn't that mean Brad had gotten his friend killed just to save his sister?
“Uh...
“That was actually a lie. After all, I didn't know you were such a good person back then.
“Even though it's a bit late to say it now, I'm truly sorry!”
Brad bowed deeply, apologizing to Li Xiuman.
“Don't worry about it. When traveling abroad, it's always best to be cautious.
“So, did your party not have an Elementalist to begin with?”
Brad shook his head upon hearing this.
“We did have an Elementalist in the beginning.
“But on our way to White Crystal City, he received a letter from home.
“His father is critically ill, so he had to rush back to inherit the peerage.
“Then we hired a temporary Elementalist in White Crystal City, but unfortunately, he died at the hands of the 30th floor Boss.”
...How complicated.
Not only was the situation complicated, but Li Xiuman's feelings were equally complex.
“Critically ill father, rushing back to inherit a peerage”?
Was this some sort of humble brag?
Li Xiuman surveyed the group scattered and sleeping soundly all over the cave, feeling a bit apprehensive.
These guys... couldn't all be nobles from the royal capital, could they?
He had still underestimated their background. Since they were so rich, he had originally assumed they were just young masters from the capital's merchant associations or something.
“...Might I ask about your... identities?” Li Xiuman looked at Brad.
“Xiuman, you don't need to worry about any of that.
“In the eyes of my companions and me, you are our good brother. There's no need for any social barriers between us.”
Brad didn't give a direct answer to Li Xiuman's question, but told Li Xiuman not to worry about any social barriers.
The strength Li Xiuman displayed was, after all, that of a top-tier young Tier 2 Elementalist, so his status meant he wouldn't need to feel inferior to low-ranking nobles anyway.
It seemed that even in the royal capital, these guys weren't just any ordinary titled nobles.
They chatted a bit more about the Spirit Spring, and then let the subject drop.
Li Xiuman didn't take it too seriously either.
As for the Spirit Spring, Li Xiuman didn't believe for a second that they would find it.
He was much better off focusing on researching his own Fusion Magic.
The next morning.
Everyone geared up and began exploring the 33rd floor.
Whenever they encountered monsters, Li Xiuman slacked off, only dealing the finishing blows or casting a few high-quality Tier 2 spells.
And as for the magic stones from those monsters, Brad generously divided them into two shares.
One share for Li Xiuman, and one share for their party.
They acted as though money was utterly beneath them.
The other members of the party had no objections to this distribution either, happily giving Li Xiuman his share.
In fact, Li Xiuman got the feeling that the only reason they split it fifty-fifty instead of giving it all to him wasn't because they were stingy.
It was because... they were trying to protect his self-esteem.
Dammit!
Dammit!!
Li Xiuman felt a little irritated.
No matter how high their social status was—even if they were princes or princesses—Li Xiuman couldn't care less.
But, but...
their attitude toward wealth made Li Xiuman's teeth itch with envy, forcing him to feel a distinct class divide.
“...”
“A sad, thick barrier has grown between us.”
“Li, what did you just say?”
“Nothing, just reflecting on life.”
As expected of Li. Not only does he study with such diligence and dedication, but he's constantly contemplating such profound concepts as well.
Beside him, the Light Priest, Mia, couldn't help but marvel in her heart.
Meanwhile, Li Xiuman was pondering Mia's identity.
A simple, low-ranking sister traveling all this way from the royal capital to mess around with a bunch of noble heirs?
Could this girl... actually be the Holy Maiden of the Goddess of Light's grand cathedral in the royal capital?
The kind who had some sort of miraculous connection to the Goddess?
He had just dumped some nasty stuff into the Goddess of Light's wishing pool recently. To be safe, he'd better keep his distance from people like her.
...
As expected of Li. Even at a time like this, he remains completely vigilant of his surroundings, rarely speaking a word.
No wonder he's become such an outstanding Mage.
May the Goddess of Light guide me. I still have so much to learn from him.
“The entrance to the Spirit Spring?!” Brad shouted suddenly.
Then, Brad swam toward a recessed section of the stone wall.
The others hastily followed behind him.
The first person to reach it froze for a moment, then hurriedly said:
“Speak of the devil!”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
The second person to approach also froze, then hastily opened their mouth:
“Devil's advocate!”
What was going on?
The third person to approach paled, opening and closing their mouth with a panicked expression. Finally, they blurted out:
“Advocate of peace!”
The next person:
“Peace of mind!”
The one after that:
“Mind your own business!”
“Business as usual!”
“Usual... usual suspects!”
Li Xiuman screeched to a halt, stopping just outside the recessed stone wall, staring at the group inside.
He was completely dumbfounded.
Were they... playing word chain?
Rate on N.U.
