Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 427: 61st Floor, Veldenkia. Desire

"Are you saying they left the maze entirely?"

[That cannot be the case. The maze and the transcendent's contract cannot be easily resolved. If they left on their own, maybe. But to expel them from this side is difficult. Just say that we had a deep conversation, that's all.]

Balbamba turned the conversation, as it seemed there was some secrecy about the details.

[At least, they can no longer interfere with the trials. You can leave it at that.]

"That's good."

Inside the maze, there was no need to worry about the God of Fall anymore. That was a relief for Taesan, who already had enough enemies to deal with.

Information about the God of Fall ended there. Taesan asked another question.

"Then, where did the others go?"

In the model garden, there had been over a thousand people.

But now, only Diana remained.

[They are no longer adventurers.]

The maze’s manager replied as if announcing a verdict.

[Even if the God of Fall had intervened, they ultimately failed the trials. Thanks to you, they were freed again, but the fact remains—they are losers, just like the ghost next to you.]

"A ghost?"

Diana looked around. However, she didn’t notice any ghostly presence.

"So, you exiled them?"

[They no longer have the right to go down into the maze. They were all sent back to the entrance. The rest is up to them.]

Balbamba spoke indifferently.

It was as if it didn’t matter what they did or what choice they made.

"That's unfortunate."

If they had returned to the maze, Reynaldo had promised to give everything he had.

But they had been exiled from the maze. They would never receive any reward. While Taesan was feeling regretful, Balbamba spoke up again.

[But even though they were failures, they were once adventurers. Talented ones, too. You freed them. As the maze's manager, I will reward you for that.]

[Balbamba activated #000018.]

[You have received 500,000 gold.]

"Well."

Five hundred thousand gold.

It was a considerable amount. With this, Taesan could buy decent equipment, combining it with the gold he had.

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"Not bad. So why did the princess stay here?"

The princess, like the others, was a failure. Balbamba replied as if it were obvious.

[She is Veldenkia’s. It’s his wish. For now, she is allowed to stay in the maze. After the wish is granted, she’ll have to leave.]

"Veldenkia..."

Diana muttered quietly.

[This is the general explanation. I need to get going soon, so the rest you’ll have to figure out yourself.]

"Thank you."

Without answering, Balbamba turned and left.

Taesan looked at Diana.

"Then, let’s go meet him."

"...Yes."

Diana clenched her fist against her chest and nodded.

---

### * * *

The floor where Veldenkia had settled was the 61st floor.

They had to climb quite a few floors.

The first NPC they encountered was a shopkeeper.

"...Princess?"

"Oh my. It’s been a while."

The shopkeeper was surprised upon seeing Diana.

"You were supposed to have been eaten by the God of Fall and disappeared..."

"That’s how it went."

The shopkeeper looked at Diana and Taesan, then nodded as if agreeing.

"So that’s what happened... You cleared the model garden, huh."

The shopkeeper’s face showed a satisfied expression as he looked at Taesan.

At some point, he had stopped paying attention to Diana. Diana, with a slightly hurt look on her face, spoke.

"After all this time, and this is how you treat me?"

"I don’t care about losers. You know that."

"Still, it’s a bit disappointing. You had such high hopes for me once."

"The moment you shook hands with the God of Fall, you became nothing to me. Don’t bother me anymore, and just leave."

The shopkeeper clicked his tongue.

Since he refused any further conversation, Taesan and Diana turned away from him.

"He hasn’t changed."

"Were you once descending into the maze?"

"Yes. At that time, he saw potential in me and was kind to me. After the God of Fall intervened, he lost interest. I wonder what he’s after."

The next floor in the maze welcomed her, the Library of All Things.

The librarian there, Jorge, grimaced upon seeing Diana.

"How are you...?"

"It’s been a while, Jorge. Have you been well?"

"...I see. There was potential, but I didn’t expect you to really do it."

"Who is this?!"

Laughter echoed as Ainztar, the Apostle of Levinenov, approached Diana with a friendly expression.

"Princess. You’ve returned here!"

"Ainztar? So, you stayed behind as well."

"Yeah! Veldenkia’s wish is finally about to come true! Congratulations!"

"Thank you."

Diana smiled gently.

"I hope your wish also comes true."

"Thank you for saying that. Don’t worry. The person next to you, too, is making your wish come true."

Ainztar grinned.

"Since you saved the princess, it means you’ve reached the 83rd floor. Only one floor remains. I’ll be waiting."

Taesan nodded.

They descended back into the maze and met Hafran.

Hafran, like the others, was surprised to see the princess. But knowing Taesan’s strength, he quickly accepted it.

"To think you broke through the transcendent’s domain. Incredible."

"What about the equipment?"

"I’ve finished most of the preparations. Only the final adjustments are left. I’ll call you when it’s ready."

After finishing their conversation with Hafran, they continued climbing the maze.

"I miss it."

Diana murmured with a nostalgic look.

Perhaps, at one point, the place Taesan occupied could have been hers.

She could have fulfilled the wishes of the NPCs, reached the end of the maze, and saved the world.

But she wasn’t regretful or despairing about it.

She had given up on grand wishes and was content with small happiness.

"I owe an apology to Veldenkia. When I meet him, I’ll start by apologizing."

Diana quietly muttered.

They continued up the maze, climbing and climbing.

Then, they reached the stairs leading to the 61st floor.

Diana, with emotions welling up in her face, climbed the stairs.

"Veldenkia! Please!"

"Stop it! I told you not to do this!"

"Don’t say that, teach me! I’ll do anything you ask!"

"I’ve told you several times it doesn’t work!"

What they saw was Veldenkia, bewildered, and Lilith clinging to his legs.

It was an oddly peaceful, affectionate scene. Diana’s face stiffened. Veldenkia, struggling to shake off Lilith, eventually sensed their presence.

"...Princess?"

A reunion of people who thought they would never meet again.

It was surely an emotional moment, but Diana’s face remained frozen.

"...You look like you’re having fun?"

"Y-yes?"

"No, it’s nothing. I had told you to give up, but I couldn’t force you. But still..."

Diana lowered her head deeply.

Her body trembled slightly.

"I’ve been holding on, waiting only for you, and you’ve been living a joyful life with another woman. I’m so sad..."

"No! That’s not it!"

Veldenkia shouted and pushed Lilith away.

"She’s a contractor of the Goddess of Magic! She kept clinging to me asking for my magic! There’s nothing between us!"

Veldenkia grabbed Diana’s shoulders.

"I’ve always been thinking about you, Princess! I’m here because of that!"

"...Pfft."

At Veldenkia’s desperate words, Diana burst into laughter.

"Your Highness."

"It’s just a joke. We used to joke like this a lot, didn’t we? I didn’t expect you to react this strongly though."

Diana, lifting her head, wore a soft expression.

"You settled here for me. How could I hold a grudge against you? ...It’s good to see you again, Veldenkia. My magician."

"Princess..."

Tears welled up in Veldenkia’s eyes.

"...Taesan. What is all this? I can’t keep up."

"Veldenkia has fulfilled his wish."

Taesan answered Lilith’s dazed question.

---

### * * *

"Did you say your name was Lilith? I’m sorry you got caught up in the drama."

"Oh, no. After hearing the story, I understand. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding."

Lilith regained her composure and spoke with a serious face.

"Congratulations on escaping the God’s grasp."

"Thank you."

Diana smiled softly. She was still holding Veldenkia’s hand tightly.

"Thank you, Taesan. Although I gave you the quest... I didn’t really expect it to be completed."

Veldenkia’s eyes were full of emotions. It was a quest that required confronting a transcendent. He himself had thought it was impossible.

But Taesan had done it flawlessly.

"Then, a reward befitting the achievement is in order. Princess, please wait a moment."

Veldenkia drew a magic circle on the floor.

"What you’ve done for me is, quite literally, my wish. More important than my life."

That’s why Veldenkia had decided to give everything to Taesan.

"So I’ve been thinking about how to reward you. One of the results of that thought is

this."

[Veldenkia activated Magic Transfer.]

The magic circle began to function. Veldenkia spread his mana and spoke.

"Don’t refuse. Accept it."

The magic circle, engulfed in mana, began to operate around Taesan.

And power began to flow into Taesan.

Taesan knew exactly what it was.

The power flowing into him was Veldenkia’s very own.

The mana he had accumulated. His experience with magic.

All of that was now merging with Taesan.

[Your mana has permanently increased by 7,800.]

[Your intelligence has permanently increased by 5,500.]

[Your magic proficiency has increased by 4%.]

[You have obtained the intermediate magic: [Waves of Poison Mist].]

Boom!

Unable to bear the pressure, the magic circle shattered. Veldenkia, sweating, gathered his remaining mana.

"That’s about it. Only 4% increase in proficiency? Looks like I really raised it a lot."

"...Can proficiency really be transferred to someone else?"

Normally, proficiency could only be raised with proficiency potions or through combat and repetition.

Yet, here, Veldenkia had transferred his strength to Taesan, almost like a spirit’s growth.

"I told you. This is my magic that I made just for you. Honestly, the efficiency is terrible. It permanently consumes my own power, and only a small fraction of that is transferred."

Indeed, the power Taesan felt from Veldenkia had noticeably decreased. Though still strong, it was a stark difference compared to before.

"Still, for a reward like this, I had to do something."

It was a generous gift. Mana had increased by 7,800, and magic proficiency went from 81% to 85%. The boost to intelligence was impressive too.

Considering that the magic proficiency had almost stagnated at 80%, this was a satisfying reward.

And it didn’t end there.

"The equipment I used in the maze, the ones I kept... They’re all magical, so you won’t need them, but you can sell them at a shop or use them as offerings."

Veldenkia handed over a magic staff and a spellbook. After checking their performance, Taesan saw they weren’t far behind the equipment he currently wore.

With this, two intermediate magic skills could be acquired.

"Not bad."

"I’m sorry, I said I’d give you everything, and this is what I can offer. If you need anything else, just say it. As long as it doesn’t harm the princess, I’ll do everything I can."

Taesan looked at them.

The princess was strong. She was on the edge.

Even though Veldenkia had consumed his power, he still seemed to be at the level of a guide’s leader.

Taesan spoke.

"Then, where do we go next?"

"Hmm..."

"I’m not sure either."

Veldenkia had fulfilled his wish. There was no longer any reason to stay in the maze. And Diana would soon have to leave.

But their world had already perished.

If anything, they were like refugees.

"Shall we try settling in a new world? That doesn’t sound too bad."

"If there’s no place to go, how about where I am?"

"What?"

Diana’s pupils dilated. Taesan continued.

"A world that the gods are after. A world where you can’t predict when it’ll fall, a world where you must fight for your life. Interested?"