[Adaptation] Skill and the Labyrinth...
Somehow, I felt like there was some kind of connection between the two skills. To be honest, it was just a feeling, and there was also a saying that if something special happens in this world, if you go to the Labyrinth, you'll get it.
For now, I thought about looking into the mechanism for gaining more experience points in the Labyrinth. Scholars in this world have probably done a lot of research on experience points and Labyrinths, so there should be a lot of related materials.
"Instructor, how can I get information on the Labyrinth or skills?"
"Do you want to gather information first? That's a good idea. There's a library in the central area of Labyrinth City. There are countless books there, including books on Labyrinths and skills that you want, as well as history books, various papers, books written by people in this world, and books on gods. I was thinking of recommending that you go there after your training is over."
The Library… I've heard of it. I tried going there once to find some clues about growth over the past three years. But I gave up because the admission fee was expensive. So I changed my method to asking the patients at the clinic this and that.
"I was thinking of going there once, but I gave up because the entrance fee was expensive. Still, if you're recommending it, I guess it's worth going."
"Oh... did you go there 2–3 years ago?"
"Yes."
That was when I was looking for clues about it.
"... I'm embarrassed as a member of the Labyrinth Guild. The gatekeeper who was working at the library at the time was arrested. He was arbitrarily controlling the entry of explorers and extorting money from new explorers who didn't know anything under the pretext of an entrance fee."
"What? That's what it was? I thought it was right because other explorers paid the entrance fee and went in at the time!"
"There are conditions for entry from the second floor of the library, but any explorer registered with the Labyrinth Guild can use the first floor. You might be able to save your life with the information you get from the library."
So there were such benefits to registering as an explorer? I thought he'd just take 10 silver for the maze entrance fee. Wow, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. I thought it was crossing the line to ask for 1 silver every time I entered, and it wasn't like I was buying a permanent pass or anything. So you're saying that kid was just a thug?
"When I was arrested, I returned the money to the victims who had their money ripped off... but it would be difficult to compensate those who couldn't use the library, like the trainees, so I just swept it under the rug... I may not represent the entire Labyrinth Guild, but as an explorer affiliated with the Labyrinth Guild, I'd like to apologize on their behalf."
"... No, that's fine. It's not like Ms. Alencia did anything wrong."
"I'm not just going to apologize in words. Knowledge is precious, and sometimes your fate can change by accumulating one line of knowledge earlier than others. You've been deprived of that opportunity for over two years, so there should be proper compensation."
".... Ahem. I was just going to feel sorry and move on, but if you offered me a reward, it wouldn't be polite to refuse."
"Didn't you say earlier that there are conditions for entering the library from the second floor? One of the requirements for entering the second floor is to be recommended by a high-level explorer. I'll recommend you in my name and let you enter the second floor of the library. What do you think?"
"Hmm... a ticket to the second floor of the library? Is that... good? Of course, I know the importance of information, but since I've never been to the first floor of the library, I can't really feel it."
"By the way, you could also buy a ticket to the second floor by paying money. That would cost you 30 gold coins."
"30 gold?! Thank you so much for the offer!"
A reward worth 30 gold coins! I decided to accept this unconditionally! Even though Alencia had no obligation to compensate me, she simply gave it to me out of a sense of responsibility.
"Yes. Judging from the questions you've asked so far, you're probably curious about skills and experience, but you should be able to find proper information on the second floor."
"I'm curious, but how many floors does the library have?"
She had said that the restriction was placed 'from' the second floor, so I didn't think the second floor was the end.
In response to my question, Alencia collected her thoughts and kindly explained:
"Hmm. It would be faster to explain each floor of the library.
The first floor of the library is open to all explorers. It mainly contained general literature, information about the entrance to the labyrinth, and information of low reliability.
The second floor of the library is open to intermediate explorers or those with a similar qualification. Information with a certain degree of factual accuracy is provided from the second floor, along with records of various research of low importance, historical books, records about people from other worlds, and information about the middle floors of the labyrinth.
The third floor of the library cannot be entered simply with money. One has to have qualifications equivalent to those of an advanced explorer. On that floor, you can find information about the upper floors of the labyrinth, some confidential information, and records of numerous mysteries discovered in the labyrinth, as well as forbidden books designated by the temple, are stored there.
The fourth floor of the library is off-limits even to me. It is said that permission from the Labyrinth City Council was required."
There were rumors that the library had a fifth floor, but since it was rare to enter the fourth floor in the first place, some people even doubted the authenticity of the fourth floor.
"This distinction is not necessarily accurate. There is important information even on the lower floors. However, verified information comes in from the second floor, so you should be able to get the information you want by going to the second floor."
"Instructor... Thank you."
"Hmm. If you feel grateful, you can give me a massage at the mansion like I asked you to do."
That's right. I had made that suggestion earlier. I was flustered for a moment, so I said I would decide when I got to the mansion.
"I don't think my massage has that much value..."
"No, that's not true. There are more people with the [Massage] skill than you might think. However, it's rare to find someone with a high level of the [Massage] skill."
Of course. One might be able to acquire the skill if he worked as a masseuse for a long time, but I had heard that it was extremely difficult to raise the skill level outside of the labyrinth. It's not like I was going to open a massage shop in a labyrinth, so it would be hard to level up a skill like [Massage].
"And most people with high [Massage] skill levels are from the Beast tribe."
"Are Beast tribes better at giving massages?"
"Most of them have strong hands, and they have a unique sense of touch that helps them find uncomfortable spots... But more than that, since the massages given by Beast tribes with fleshy hands are popular, the level of these popular masseuses naturally rose, and as a result, people began to prefer masseuses with high levels... And because it kept repeating this pattern, most masseuses with high skill levels are Beast tribes."
Is that why? But honestly, if I thought of a beast the size of a person giving me a massage with its jelly-covered hands, I'd want to receive it. When I earned a lot of money, I should try it once.
"Of course their skill level is high, so they are good at giving massages, but since they are all of the same race, the massages they give are all the same no matter where I go. That's why I sometimes wanted to get different massages."
Of course, a massage with jelly-covered hands and a massage with firm hands would feel different. And maybe my skills were better than theirs.
Honestly, if someone asked me for a massage, I would give them one right away, but... the elves can sense 'lust' and that was my main concern about all this. The reason Alencia asked me to give her a massage without caring about me touching her body was because she didn't sense any 'lust' even when while I had massaged her when she had been asleep.
However, unlike Alencia's thoughts, I would get an erection at the moment I touched Alencia's body and have all sorts of dirty thoughts. Alencia's senses might have subsided because of the conflict with the [Heavenly Hand] effect like yesterday, but wouldn't the senses be different when she was asleep and when she was awake?
Even yesterday, I immediately pulled my hands back as soon as I saw her getting up.
Anyway, it was quite awkward. Clearly, Alencia was giving me a favor, and I wanted to return the favor, but I'd get an erection the moment I gave her a massage.
Or should I just shamelessly leave? Saying, "You can get an erection when you touch a woman's body!"
No, if I did something like that, all the favor I had built up would be gone right away.
Should I just refuse? But since she was even recommending me to enter the library, it seemed like it would be trash of me if I refused...
I was struggling alone with my worries, but today's training was already over, and it was time to leave the labyrinth and go back to the mansion where I would have no choice but to give Alencia one of my heavenly massages…