Impregnation Reincarnation Adventurer ep016. I raised my level! (Checking)

 

 

I drank from the cup to calm down my agitated mind.

I see. So that’s why they served me herbal tea.

I sorted out the information with a somewhat calmer mind.

– The silver rank adventurers that went missing were my former companions.

– One of the party members was a son of a noble, and they asked the guild to investigate the disappearance.

– The guild wants it done off the records, so they turned to Marie and me since we’re acquainted with the missing group.

This is definitely bad news. But of course, we don’t have the duty to accept it.

It pains me to leave my former colleagues to die, or maybe they’re already dead, but as someone who knows that levels are absolute in this world, it’s clear that this case is out of my control no matter how I stand, as a silver rank party who has a higher level than me, just disappeared.

Sure, they were ones of my allies who I shared some good and bad times with.

But they were the ones who left me. Even without the sense of betrayal, I know that it’s the only choice. I have to divide my logic and emotions.

My reason, which made me survive in this harsh world to this day, urges me to abandon them. Think that they’re already dead. Know that the idea that they might be alive is just an illusion.

On the other hand, my emotions from the past life can’t cut off the slightest possibility in front of me. If by some chance they’re still alive and are asking for help, I’d regret abandoning my former colleagues. The conscience is unworthy of its stature without competence. However, it still makes me think that way.

Himmler’s gazing at me without saying anything.

It’s depressing that we’re rushed to a conclusion.

Apart from the common interest, he speaks of, there’s no doubt that he’s also considered my emotions.

The guild knows me as someone who brings back my allies if possible. I might be profiled as someone easily emotionally bonded. That’s for sure. I wasn’t able to raise my level, so all I could rely on was my strong allies and their trust in me.

So, if I abandon them headfirst, I’m the first one to be cut off in the same situation.

That’s why I won’t abandon my people as long as I can. It’s a stance coated with self-interest. Kindness not for other people’s sake is exactly like that.

This sly man knows the reason why I can’t abandon them.

To abandon them would mean bending the rules of how I lived as an adventurer.

And that could destroy the trust in me so far.

The two sides of love and hate. Affection, when turned around, turns to malice.

My calculated decision saved Marie in the past.

And she remembered that in a good way.

So, what will happen if I turn that around?

I reached out to quench my dry throat, but the cup was already empty.

「 Zaryu 」

Marie speaks up to me.

「 Let’s abandon them. They’re dead. You don’t need to go there and die too 」

「 Huh, Marie? 」

「 Himmler. Sorry, but that’s our answer 」

Marie speaks with a cool-headed tone.

Himmler and I can’t hide our surprise, but it was him who recovered first.

「 I can’t force you. It’s not a problem 」

Marie said farewell and pulled me forcefully to stand up. Her palms convey the feeling of impatience, wanting to leave the room as soon as possible.

I feel like a puppet with string, doing what she asks me to do.

–Is it okay to abandon them?

「 But, can you give me a bit more time? 」

Himmler’s voice thrown from our backs stopped us from our tracks.

He sits quietly, hands folded. He’s got a calm tone.

「 I think it’s about ready 」

「 Ready? 」

「 Yes, this 」

Himmler doesn’t move an inch under Marie’s icy gaze, who doesn’t hide her curious attitude. He’s looking at me with the same stale smile.

We hear a knock on the room.

「 Enter 」

「 Excuse me. I’m here to report that the measuring tool is ready 」

「 Yes, thank you 」

Himmler softened his voice and lifted his heavy hips to thank the staff.

「 Well, shall we go, Zalmen? 」

「 Go, where? 」

「 Level gage room. It’s been a long time since you’ve been assessed on your level, right? It’s not the right time, but I arranged it especially for you 」

Himmler’s daring smile shocked me.

Did he hear my conversation with the staff in the reception yesterday?

「 Of course, you can come with him Marie 」

「 What do we do? 」

「 Lets. Yeah 」

Marie looks at me with concern, and I answer with my chest puffed out.

Yeah, I’m different from before. I should’ve leveled up.

Even so, I feel the trauma from the past as my legs tremble.

I took a step forward to break ties with it.

*****

The magical device called level measuring tool is equipment that takes up entire room space.

In my previous life, you can say that the atmosphere is almost like an x-ray or a CT-scan room.

In the center of the room is a carpet with a woven magic circle on which the adventurer sits to perform the ritual. I don’t know much about how it works but if the ritual is successful, then the crystal ball in the wall will light up. The crystal balls on the wall are arranged on a hexagram magic circle.

The ritual is as simple as placing one’s hand on the pattern on the floor and reciting a spell.

There are four refined magic stones placed on the corners of the drawn carpet to make sure that even adventurers who aren’t familiar with magic can use the tool. The guild conducts measurements only at specific times because of the time required to secure the necessary number of stones.

That’s why it’s rare to have a sudden level measurement like this one.

「 Feel free to start the ritual whenever you like 」

Himmler, watching the event from the corner of the room, urges me.

「 Zaryu, calm down. You can do it 」

Marie, whos also watching from the corner of the room, looks worried, despite her words.

I took a deep breath and focus my attention.

「 –《 My body, my heart, my soul. Reveal the power that resides within 》 」

It was the first time I felt something slipping out of my palm. Must’ve been what they call mana.

I can’t help but admire the mysterious sight of the magic circle sewn in the carpet as it fills with a pale glow. This kind of phenomenon is what reminds you that it’s a fantasy world.

I feel a tingle of heat in my palm and I hurriedly removed my hand from the carpet. I was told at the beginning to keep my hand until the end of the ritual, but I feel like that was the signal for me to let go. The pain was something like the immunization shots from my previous life. I hear that many adventurers don’t like this ritual.

The light spreads like ripples on the water, traveled down the gutter to the magic circle on the wall.

Then, the light ran through the magic circle and finally lit up the crystal.

Naturally, I don’t know what it means since this is the first time I’ve ever seen the crystal light up.

「 What’s this? 」

Himmler’s eyes open wide in surprise.

Marie’s eyes are also gazing at the crystal.

She must’ve noticed my gaze, so she turned to me with loose cheeks and nodded.

「 Zaryu, congrats. You leveled up 」

I feel happiness rise up from me.

Not only subjective but also objective evidence is secured. I’m recognized for raising the bar.

「 Dear me, truly, that Zarlmen finally…I mean, congratulations. It may seem strange for me to celebrate, but it seems like you finally achieved your long-time goal of raising your level 」

「 S-So, how many levels is it? 」

My sense of anticipation just rises up as Himmler gives a mysterious look.

I don’t even remember having seen him expressing that much surprise.

Maybe, just maybe.

「 Yes, your level is now three 」

I knocked myself from that place.