108th Episode
The Nymph Cultist and Pluto’s Underground Maze
Clack, clack, bump.
A rather spacious indoor carriage runs across a vast field. Since the roads aren’t properly maintained, it was only natural to expect bumps that felt like they were bruising our backsides.
Plop.
Today’s carriage offered a surprisingly comfortable ride. This was due to the expensive carriage we had rented, costing us 10 silver coins, for the trip to the outskirts of Kalin’s Swamp.
Even though it came with its own share of jolts, it was a luxury carriage, complete with windows and leather seats stuffed with cushions that made for a plush, comfortable ride. It was even gentler on the stomach when it came to motion sickness.
Still, 10 silver coins isn’t a small amount. Even divided among five of us, each person would have to pay 2 silver coins.
In fact, cultist-turned-convert Paranoi didn’t have a penny to her name, leaving it up to me, the party leader, to cover her share.
Before we even arrived, my expenses were already mounting—4 silver on my part, or 6 silver if I included Luna’s share.
6 silver.
That’s roughly 600,000 won, right?
Knowing that such an amount was already spent on transportation at the start of the journey made my chest ache. If we’d just opted for a regular carriage with a luggage compartment, five of us could have settled on each paying a few coppers instead.
Sure, it might have been less comfortable with our backsides bruising and bodies feeling sore afterward, but that’s just how lower-tier adventurers are supposed to live—saving every penny.
Yet, it seemed that Belmina, the wizard who had dabbled in her fair share of ink at the Ivory Tower, a prestigious magic university, didn’t think the same way.
I won’t move an inch in this city unless it’s in a carriage with a roof and plush sofas.
When she voiced this, there was nothing any of us ‘commoners’ could do but comply with the wizard’s preferences!
As I had mentioned before, wizards are premium assets. Their magical abilities can be incredibly helpful in places like Pluto’s maze, making them highly desirable in every party. Wizards capable of elemental attacks like water, fire, lightning, or ice are in such demand that their popularity goes beyond imagination.
As a result, their self-image tends to soar, given their privileged treatment without criticism, leading to a strong sense of narcissism. But since magic is genuinely powerful and fascinating, wizards are generally forgiven for such attitudes.
Honestly, I wish I could learn magic too.
But to enroll at Karinotos Magic University, you’d need recommendation letters and hefty tuition fees in gold coins per season—things I could never afford.
So what about the treatment of a jobless warrior like me, Hassan, who struggles to make ends meet by wielding a blade?
“Mr. Didier, can you help me carry my luggage when we disembark?”
“Hmpf, what do you mean using me as a porter just because you know a bit of magic?”
“Don’t you want to?”
“Actually, I find carrying luggage to be the most fun! I’ll gladly carry it for you.”
That way, we end up doing all the physical jobs—like running errands or carrying heavy loads. Of course, warriors who can manifest some sort of aura are treated almost on par with battle mages.
But from my perspective as a newcomer, things like emitting sword energy or throwing fireballs from one’s hands sound like fanciful tales. I just think it’s fascinating how strange things exist in this world. Reflecting on it, the divine blessing I once received also seems like one of those rare powers.
Magic, Aura, and Blessing.
Even possessing one of these three things would ensure you won’t starve. Or if you possess unique skills like Luna, the pink-haired voodoo priest.
“Hhhhuuuu….”
“Stay still.”
Luna was collecting sweat droplets from Paranoi’s forehead using her leather water bottle. Paranoi, who was trembling with fear, made eye contact with me, compelling me to ask Luna.
“Luna, what are you doing?”
“Collecting nymph sweat!”
“Alright, I see that, but why are you collecting it?”
“Nymphs don’t waste anything… You can make a potion that enhances mana sensitivity using the nymphs’ bodily fluids.”
“I see.”
I didn’t fully understand what a potion to enhance mana sensitivity was, so all I could muster was a ‘I see’ response. Considering the strange vocabulary surrounding karma and mana still felt alien to me despite my title as a descendant of Jupiter and a hunter of the wilderness. When would I ever get used to it?
While I was lost in such thoughts, Belmina, the Ice Wizard who had quietly been staring out the window in a corner, interjected with a flicker of interest.
“A potion that enhances mana sensitivity?”
“Yeah, though it’s more of a potion than a traditional elixir. Nymph body parts are useful for many things.”
“I’ve heard that wands made from nymph hand bones sell for high prices.”
Belmina then smoothly picked up Paranoi’s palm for a closer inspection. Her pale blue eyes glimmered with interest, much like Luna’s when she observes herbs.
That’s the look of someone evaluating ingredients.
I realized why the numbers of nymphs, considered an endangered species on this continent, have dwindled. I originally thought they had been outcompeted by the elves, an invasive species. But apparently, they disappeared because they were good for one’s health.
As a son of a health center, this felt a bit eerie given how versatile the uses of nymphs are. Health centers are usually the first to react to such rumors.
After briefly examining Paranoi’s palm, Belmina’s gaze returned to observe the changing scenery outside.
“It’s just a rumor though. Sensitivity to mana isn’t something that can be easily attained. Only one in ten people can sense mana. And only one in ten of those who can sense it can control it…”
“And one in ten of those who can control it can harness it into useful magic, right? I’ve heard that before, Mr. Didier.”
Sitting next to me, Didier interjected into the conversation, showing unexpected knowledge. Maybe he was just restless having sat quietly for so long. It would take roughly a full day to reach the marshlands of Kalan, where the labyrinth lies.
Still, as party leader, I found it better to have some form of conversation rather than everyone sitting in silence, silently holding grudges against each other.
“You look like someone who’d survive on sawdust, yet you know quite a bit, Mr. Didier. Surely you understand this: I am a woman of a thousand-in-one talents.”
The conversation had predictably devolved into the wizard boasting about herself. But as I reflected on it, Belmina added a few more words, her gaze lazily turning outside with a yawn.
“It wasn’t just luck though. Sensitivity to mana is like a muscle—it doesn’t grow without effort.”
“Hmm.” Muscles.
I pictured the blue-haired woman exerting herself to master her magic. But my knowledge of magic is limited to things like Hogwarts and Gryffindor. The news that the headmaster of that school is gay still shakes me to this day. Therefore, I couldn’t imagine her practicing magic either, but I vaguely understood that wizards also endure hardship to achieve their status.
Perhaps the pride of wizards that everyone knows of stems from the confidence that their efforts weren’t wasted?
Indeed, there’s nothing easy in this world.
Just as the conversation seemed to be drawing to an end, Luna, who had just finished collecting sweat from Paranoi using her leather bottle, chimed in:
“But if you have a mana potion, gaining that sensitivity would be much easier!”
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s true! In Ideope, everyone uses mana potions to enhance their sensitivity…”
Surprisingly, Luna held her ground even against the imposing Ice Wizard. It seemed her increasing levels and active participation had boosted her confidence.
“Eek! I… it’s getting hard to breathe…”
Alone, Paranoi, squeezed between the two, remained silent, shivering pitifully. As I was considering whether it was time to mediate, Belmina turned her gaze from the window to Luna.
“Ah, Ideope. I’ve read about the Mythical Island of Ideope in the research notes at Ivory Tower. Are you still carrying around snake oil as a cure-all? That’s what the book mentioned.”
“Snake oil is effective!”
“Unfortunately, the Ivory Tower has proven that it has no magical effect. It seems Ideope’s magical research lags behind Ivory Tower by at least two hundred years.”
“Two hundred years?”
“Well, it’s an archipelago of isolated islands, so there’s some understanding for the delay in information. But facts are facts. Magic is not superstition, but an existing science.”
After hearing that, I found it slightly amusing to consider. If I had said that back on Earth, I’d probably be pitied. But it sounds different coming from an actual mage.
“Ugh, ugh…”
Though she fought hard, Luna ultimately lost this round. She looked flustered, unable to put her myriad thoughts into words, her face getting redder by the second.
I waited anxiously to see if she could muster a comeback, but instead, she pulled out a needle and handkerchief. She began embroidery, perhaps as a way to calm her restless heart.
Silk, silk, rustle.
It seemed she was trying her hand at embroidery, but what caught me off guard was when she pricked her finger with the needle to write Belmina’s name on the handkerchief in red bl**d.
Wasn’t that a curse?
After completing it, she nonchalantly tucked it back into her blouse. Belmina looked utterly confused, but with that, the argument on mana came to an end.
As the carriage filled with silence, I began to feel uncomfortable.
“Mr. Leader, look over here! Isn’t this meadow and these flowers gorgeous?”
It came as a surprise, and not just to me. The hairy dwarf axeman Didier was admiring the scenery outside his window as if deeply touched, despite appearing the type to enjoy beer by the barrel and chew raw plant roots.
My preconceived notions about dwarves seemed slightly mistaken.
Indeed, as Didier said, the wide meadow outside the carriage windows was truly dotted with white and yellow flowers that colored the vast plains.
“It’s really beautiful. You could pick the petals and grind them to make tea, or decorate your pudding with them.”
“Indeed.”
After that, Didier enthusiastically went on about his methods of making desserts. Honestly though, I wasn’t paying attention to his words. My eyes were transfixed on the endless flowers beyond the window.
Just a few weeks ago, this place had been a nightmare of swamps filled with fog, alligators, and goblins scattered everywhere.
Could it really be so, that within just a few weeks, the wet land had dried and transformed into such a beautifully blooming meadow? It felt nearly impossible without real magic.
“Anyway, the ‘Kalan’s marsh’ is really a thing of the past. It’s said that this land originally bloomed with flowers until Ceres, the goddess of flora and seasons, cursed it.”
Just as Didier’s explanation was ending—
“Kore’s playground.”
Paranoi, who had been crouched between Luna and Belmina, spoke up unexpectedly. Surprisingly, she showed interest in the story voluntarily.
“What’s a playground?”
“Keres’ daughter, Kore. It’s said that this place was originally a meadow where Kore, the maiden of spring, used to play. One day, she was cursed by Ceres, and the area turned into a marsh.”
“Indeed, the prolonged winter that lasted several years is a story easily found in ancient texts.”
Interestingly, it was Belmina who added to Paranoi’s explanation. I braced myself, expecting her to dampen the mood again with another comment.
“During those endless winters, research on ice magic advanced greatly. Eventually, when the snow melted, the land was believed to be permanently wet and barren, according to the scientific consensus…”
Through Belmina’s translucent, sky-blue eyes, the colorful scene reflected strangely. A peculiar feeling seemed to stir within that vivid display.
“However, it seems this eternal marsh was dried up completely thanks to the prayers of someone blessed by the Sun God. Honestly, I didn’t believe it until I saw it for myself. Truly, the power of a transcendent being defies logic and reason…”
Prayers blessed by the Sun God. Even though I know nothing about mana or magic, this brought something to mind.
I remember setting up a makeshift altar in a ridiculous display, proclaiming “Hail the Sun!” Then, an arrow breaking through the clouds and fog rained down to dry up this entire area.
Could it be that the land would bloom with flowers?
At that moment, the dwarf warrior, smiling as he watched the countryside through the window, added a few more words.
“Sun God? I hear this was actually due to Ceres’ paladin. The God of Light may dry the muddy earth, but blooming lush flowers are Ceres’ domain.”
“Perhaps. It could be that a champion blessed by both Light and Harvest deities brought about this change. Still, such a thing would be nearly impossible, even for a Gold Tier Hero—to receive divine blessings from two separate gods.”
“If.”
At the mention of this, I couldn’t help but speak up.
“If someone like that exists, what would happen?”
“Hmm. It would be fascinating to meet such a person. Whether they are a beloved champion of the gods or a cursed slave of the divine remains to be seen. In any case, Barbarian, did you perhaps receive blessings from a deity…”
Pshhhew—! BOOM.
As Belmina was about to say something further, a sharp arrow flew in and barely missed her, embedding itself into the wood next to her head.
“Arieee, an arrow!?”
Hiiiiii!
There was the sound of the two horses panicking as they reared back on their hind legs.
The coachman up front yelled urgently.
“d*mn! It’s bandits! Gentlemen, bandits have appeared!”
Bandits.
Bandits?!
Looks like traveling in this fancy carriage turned us into prime targets.
“To hell with it! Let’s get to work, warriors! Everyone, grab your weapons!”
[Author’s Notes]
An illustration of Hippolyte has been added…!!
Her confident demeanor and dark undertones expertly concealed between her brows came out wonderfully… !! You can view more detailed artwork in the settings section.
And we’re currently voting for the next illustration character…!!
The poll will close in 20 days… !!
Look forward to it… !!
…!!
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
