I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[057] Karen, the Flame Mage
“Everyone ready?”
As I stepped onto the Portal installed in the city’s center, brilliant light engulfed my entire body.
Enduring a slight dizziness and nausea, I emerged through the Gate into a landscape utterly transformed.
Gone were the grand buildings of the bustling city—only barren Rocky Mountains and sparse Trees stretched desolately before me.
Behind us stood a makeshift Portal constructed from crude stone blocks, precariously balanced, while hastily assembled wooden dwellings and Tents clustered haphazardly around it.
Unfamiliar figures moved busily between the Tents, and their common trait was…
“Most of them appear to be scholars or Mages…”
“Indeed… they’re all wearing those flowing robes and pointed hats.”
“Those people over there seem to be personnel dispatched from the Tower of Wisdom. I’ve seen their insignia before.”
The entire scene reeked of a Mage outpost.
Among the gaunt and pallid scholars, we stood out conspicuously with our large packs and weapons slung across our backs.
To be safe, I covered Secrian’s ring with my sleeve, and a man in an elegant doublet approached us.
“This location is the Spatial Anomaly Disaster Designated Zone 34. What brings you here?”
“We’ve come on a designated commission from Belmont.”
“Th-this is Belmont’s seal… Then you must be the… useful slave he mentioned?”
“I’m sorry?”
How exactly did that bastard introduce me?
Upon seeing the letter of introduction stamped with Belmont’s official seal, the man guided us to an ornate Tent and offered cheese and low-alcohol wine.
‘Just days ago, I was receiving the cold shoulder everywhere. This treatment is rather pleasant.’
Perhaps that’s why they say even servants should work in a nobleman’s household.
After confirming through Radi that the wine contained no poison, I savored it as the man slowly began to speak.
“You’ve likely heard the general outline of this mission?”
“Yes. We’re to investigate and resolve the spatial anomaly that occurred here, correct?”
True to a world where every conceivable calamity converges, Belheim experiences spatial anomalies periodically.
The moment one steps into such a location, they’re transported to an unknown space, and escape is only possible by satisfying specific conditions.
The causes vary—mana might naturally accumulate and manifest one, remnants of ancient magical experiments from ages past might trigger one, or rarely, fairies might create one through their mischief.
Leaving such anomalies unattended allows them to consume surrounding mana and grow into catastrophic disasters, so numerous personnel are deployed to handle them immediately upon identification.
Since they typically contain vast mysteries and magic, Mages naturally rush to investigate with enthusiasm.
‘Of course, the more difficult the resolution, the more lucrative the compensation.’
The monsters appearing within the Distorted Space are mostly unique species, yielding substantial experience, and resolving the anomaly’s root cause can grant tremendous spoils.
Should we obtain rare items or special skills, we could significantly strengthen our overall power.
“According to the words of Archmage Belmont, the three of you demonstrated exceptional prowess against the Archdevil. For instance, the lady here apparently defeated the Succubus Sisters…”
“Me?”
“What, Radi, you don’t remember?”
“No, back then I was simply cutting down the enemies before my eyes in a frenzy. I vaguely recall slaughtering some irritating women, though…”
Shiver—!
｢The man before you is trembling! Agility temporarily increases by 1!｣
In an instant, a chilling cold ran down my spine.
Yet Radi merely smiled brightly, gazing up at me.
‘Is it just my imagination?’
After moistening my parched throat with wine, the man continued.
“Ah, and Archmage Belmont has arranged one more favor for you. He said that exploring spatial anomalies with just three people would be difficult, so he’s secured an additional mage to assist.”
“That’s certainly welcome news.”
Spatial anomalies often intertwine with magic, so having a mage in the party would be invaluable.
While I possess considerable knowledge of magic myself, my expertise is limited to specific fields, and I inevitably lack the academic specialization required for scholarly matters.
As I finished speaking, a mage wearing a pointed hat emerged from behind the veil as if waiting for this moment, brushing back her hair.
A beautiful woman with crimson-tinged hair radiating a scarlet aura.
Though not particularly tall, her dignified and fastidious demeanor, combined with the quality of her robes, immediately suggested she was a wealthy merchant’s daughter.
The moment I saw her blazing hair color, I intuited the truth.
‘A trait-specialized mage…!’
In other words, an innately awakened mage.
Most can only wield a single attribute, but in that field, they possess unparalleled talent.
The exact reason remains unknown, but if an ancestor was a spirit or demon, it occasionally manifests through recessive inheritance across generations.
‘Judging by her hair color, this mage specializes in flame magic.’
As I was rapidly assessing her, Malton nudged me and added a comment.
“The emblem on her robe. Doesn’t it look familiar?”
“…Huh?”
It was identical to the symbol stamped on Belmont’s letter of introduction.
The moment my eyes widened, the woman flopped into the chair across from me, crossed her legs arrogantly, and spoke.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Karen Ignas, a flame mage from the Tower of Wisdom. I got the gist of things from my uncle. …Though I have no idea how you managed to twist that stubborn old man around your finger.”
Radi whispered in shock.
“Wait, Ignas is Belmont’s family name…! And uncle means….”
“I should have caught on from the moment he said he’d introduce a mage.”
So that old man just assigned his own niece to us?
I didn’t recognize her at first glance because her appearance bore no resemblance to his.
Her insolent attitude and casual speech are practically a passive trait among mages, so I’ll overlook that.
Still, blood runs true—if she shares Belmont’s family name, her abilities must be considerable.
｢[Secrian’s Ring] is trembling faintly!｣
｢The person before you is undoubtedly a mage possessing considerable magical power!｣
“Hello. I’m Doran, an E-rank Adventurer. And this is my party member….”
“Ah, never mind. I’m not interested in the personal details of some unremarkable Adventurer. We’ll part ways soon enough once we resolve the anomaly anyway.”
The mage who introduced herself as Karen cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Then she muttered to herself, “I’m perfectly capable on my own—I don’t understand why my uncle insists on cooperating with these Adventurers…”
Radi narrowed her eyes and whispered with a glare.
“She’s got some attitude, doesn’t she?”
“It’s fine. You were like that at first too.”
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
Radi pinched my thigh.
I drained the last of my wine and rose from my seat.
“Then let’s depart at once. Time is money, after all.”
* * *
“This is the location where the spatial anomaly occurred.”
“It’s just a pond.”
Radi murmured with evident bewilderment.
The place we arrived at, guided by the man, was a small spring pond nestled deep within the forest.
Save for the police-line-like fence encircling the perimeter and warning signs, the landscape was utterly ordinary.
“It seems the entrance to the anomaly lies at the bottom of the pond, which delayed its discovery. A woodcutter apparently found it after accidentally dropping his axe. Simply wrap your backpack thoroughly with the waterproof cloth we provided and enter.”
Having explored this distorted space multiple times before, I deftly organized my belongings, stuffed them into my backpack, and walked toward the pond in light attire.
The moment my feet touched the bottom of the pond after diving beneath the cold water surface with my companions—
｢You have been caught in a spatial anomaly!｣
｢You are being transferred to a special space!｣
My vision warped similarly to when boarding a portal, and darkness engulfed my sight.
As I opened my eyes amid a slight vertigo, a grand mansion sprawled before me, bathed in an ethereal moonlight that illuminated the garden.
｢You have reached the Mysterious Mansion distorted space!｣
｢A private estate where a strict mage once resided, it is a place riddled with countless mysteries and rules!｣
｢Solving the secrets hidden within the mansion will allow you to seal this distorted space! However, you must adhere to the rules under any circumstances!｣
｢The mansion’s owner despises their sanctuary being defiled by the blood and corpses of visitors! Should you die within the mansion, you will not perish but will return to reality; however, your stats may be permanently lost!｣
“So this is the distorted space… The first impression is more ordinary than I expected.”
“Among the places reachable through spatial transfer, there are supposedly deep abysses and even other planets. This is quite favorable by comparison.”
Radi and Malton gazed around with curious eyes.
Yet I could only stand speechless, staring blankly at the entire vista.
Gravestones densely filling the garden, eerie scarecrows, and a crimson glow seeping through the mansion windows…
‘…What is this?’
What on earth was this sense of déjà vu?
Yet even as my hand unconsciously traced the gravestones with melancholy, my mind rejected the sight before me.
It was certainly a familiar place, yet I held no memory of it.
The withered ancient trees, tufts of grass, weathered rocks—all felt familiar, yet none existed in my memory.
This was two to three years before the time period when I played Belheim.
In the game, this distorted space should have long since vanished in antiquity. I could not have experienced it.
Yet one thing I could state with certainty.
I had definitely visited this place before.
As I grew confused by these contradictory emotions and logic, Radi peered at me with puzzlement.
“What’s wrong, Doran? Is something bothering you?”
“Ah, no… nothing at all…”
“Then prepare yourself. We should test the new equipment anyway.”
“…Right.”
For now, I needed to focus on the immediate task at hand.
I removed the equipment I had packed in my backpack and equipped it once more.
There was new equipment I had been wanting to test, after all.
Ding—!
[Abos’s Breastplate]
｢A remarkably sturdy yet lightweight breastplate crafted from the scales of the Wetland Serpent, the Layer Lord Abos!｣
｢Equipping it increases Intelligence by 5!｣
Equipment fashioned from scales I received when parting ways with Abos.
I’d considered commissioning a full suit of armor rather than just the breastplate, but the cost was prohibitive, and I lacked a beast of burden to carry the extra weight.
After changing out of my damp clothes, Radi—now wearing Abos’s white breastplate just as I was—glanced around and spoke in a hushed tone.
“We made it here, but… where did everyone else go? Weren’t there supposed to be plenty of mages investigating this anomaly besides us?”
“They likely entered separately depending on when they arrived.”
In a space as warped as this, such things were commonplace—not unlike the instanced dungeons of other games.
I turned to address the red-haired mage.
“For convenience, I’ll call you Karen. You mentioned you already have exploration experience here, correct?”
“That’s right—twice. Though this is my first time outside the mansion.”
“Then this area will be unfamiliar to you. My colleague and I will take point, so follow carefully behind us. …Let’s move, Malton.”
“I’ll cover the left flank; you watch the right.”
Malton and I spread out into our familiar formation and advanced.
With him watching our blind spots, I felt reassured.
But as we proceeded through the silent garden with our lanterns lit, Radi—following behind—suddenly froze.
“Huh?”
“…What is it?”
“Probably nothing, but I sensed something strange from behind just now….”
“…Don’t look back!”
I shouted the warning just in time, and Radi went rigid.
My eyes had caught sight of an inscription carved into a weathered stone monument.
[No matter what happens in the Moonlit Garden, do not look behind you.]
‘Ah… so that’s what this is.’
Now I understood exactly what type of distorted space we’d entered.
I quietly drew my longsword and held the blade to reflect what lay behind me, revealing dark silhouettes shambling forth from the shadows.
Creatures with spindly limbs of bare branches and jack-o’-lantern pumpkins inverted upon their heads—grotesque sentries of this cursed place.
｢You have encountered a Mansion Scarecrow!｣
｢An enigmatic guardian that wanders the eerie moonlit garden! Should you be caught by them, you will be immediately expelled from this distorted space!｣
｢Warning!! Permanent stat loss may occur during the expulsion process!｣
“Don’t look back. Walk quickly and we’ll pass through.”
That was when I whispered these instructions to Malton and Radi.
“Kyaaah! What are these disgusting things?!”
Ding—!
｢Your party member Karen has provoked the Scarecrows!｣
｢If you wish to avoid capture, run!｣
“Damn it! Everyone, sprint for the mansion!!!”
The jack-o’-lanterns blazed with an intense crimson light as the creatures surged forward with terrifying speed.
Thump, thump—hopping over tombstones on a single leg, swarms of Mansion Scarecrows closed in from all sides.
“Damn it… Let me try binding their feet!!”
Radi attempted to snipe with a crossbow, but—.
｢The damage Radi inflicted on the Mansion Scarecrow has vanished!｣
｢Warning!! The Mansion Scarecrows are invulnerable to all attacks!｣
“What, what?! It hit dead center!?”
“That’s just how these things are!! Direct damage won’t work!”
“Then… what about this…!”
Malton wrenched a rotted Ancient Tree branch from the ground and swung it savagely.
｢The damage Malton inflicted on the Mansion Scarecrow has vanished!｣
｢The damage Malton inflicted on the Mansion Scarecrow has vanished!｣
｢The damage Malton inflicted on the Mansion Scarecrow has vanished!｣
Though his attacks dealt no actual harm to the creatures, they were enough to momentarily immobilize them.
“Well done!! And…!”
“Shadow Leap.”
Before I could finish speaking, Radi vanished from sight.
He suddenly materialized at the Mansion entrance and, grunting with effort, pushed the grand doors open.
“Everyone, this way!!”
“You heard him?! Give it everything you’ve got and run!!”
We sprinted like madmen and hurled ourselves through the open threshold….
Boom—!
As Radi desperately slammed the massive doors shut, I collapsed onto the floor.
“Hah… hah… Well done. I really thought we were caught at the end there.”
“That was far too close. You’ve grown quite accustomed to your abilities, Radi.”
“I’m still inexperienced. …But what on earth was that? My Bolt hit squarely, yet it dealt no damage and simply bounced off. It was as if something invisible was protecting them….”
“Like I said before? This place operates by its own rules. Think of it as the laws of this location taking precedence over the physical laws of the outside world.”
“What exactly is this place….”
Radi surveyed the interior of the Mansion with disbelieving eyes, then froze.
In the Grand Hall, where an antiquated music box melody echoed, a blood-stained banner hung suspended.
[Welcome to the Haunted Mansion!]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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