I won't say that all writers are like this, but most writers have what you might call an "awakened form."
Even someone who brags about writing 1,000 characters per hour being fast will, when a deadline approaches or slightly passes, suddenly be able to write at 2-3 times their normal speed, as if they've entered a state of complete concentration.
I call this a kind of "awakening mode." It's a trait that can be very helpful for regular serialization if used properly... but if you miss your deadline by too much, you'll end up giving up, so it needs to be used carefully.
Ah, and please don't say things like "Why not just concentrate early in the morning, finish everything quickly, and enjoy life leisurely until the deadline?"
It's precisely because I can't do that kind of thing that I made the reckless decision to earn my living through writing rather than working a normal job like others.
I seem to have gone off on a tangent, but the point is this:
I'm the kind of reckless person who can bet my entire life on literary talent that may or may not exist, simply because I enjoy it.
And I'm someone who can exert more strength than usual when a deadline approaches.
That's why sometimes I surprise even myself by saying completely absurd things.
"A three-day limited speed run? Let's give it a shot!"
Just like now.
"Yona, are you sure you can do it? Even I think it's too reckless. Do you have some kind of plan?"
"Of course, Beni. The plan is simple. Enter the fourth floor. Crush all those blasphemous undead. Get stronger and join the floor guardian subjugation party. Done! How about that? Pretty easy, right?"
"...That's not what you call a plan!"
Beni stomped her feet and cried out, but I'm serious. This is seriously the best plan I could come up with.
It's not like I have any clever tricks up my sleeve.
All I have is a situation that demands action and the determination to get it done.
"This is really driving me crazy... I knew you were stubborn, Yona, but to think you'd be like this even in this situation... Huh? This isn't the way to the labyrinth. Are we stopping somewhere?"
"Yes. Just a quick stop at the Cradle Merchant Guild?"
Well. In a situation like this, I need to go all-in, don't I?
I'm planning to gather everything I can for one big shot, even if it means sacrificing credit, reputation, or future security.
But since I'm afraid of my own future becoming unstable, it'll have to be someone else's future instead.
As soon as we arrived at the Cradle Merchant Guild, I immediately headed toward the guild master's room, exuding Basileus-like charisma (not really).
And then, with complete boldness, I slammed my hands on the desk and said:
Thud!
"Rosemary. You've been saving money, right? Hand it all over."
"...Why are you suddenly barging in here and talking like a gambling-addicted wife demanding emergency funds from her unfortunate husband?"
"I mean it literally? Give me the money!"
"That's robbery!"
Facing Rosemary's incredulous look, I activated all kinds of beauty authorities including the incarnation of love at full power and spoke again.
"Will you give me the money?"
"Ugh! I won't fall for that, you viper!"
Tsk.
If this doesn't work either, then there's only one way left.
"Waaah! Yona doesn't care! Give me money! All of it! Right now!"
I lay down on the floor and flailed my arms and legs wildly, while Rosemary looked at me with bewilderment.
For reference, Beni was covering her face in embarrassment, while Shadow, finding it amusing for whatever reason, was flailing around imitating me.
Those occasionally visible fangs that look like they could easily dismember someone are quite the charming point.
After throwing a tantrum for a while, Rosemary let out a deep sigh and asked.
"At least tell me what this is about. No matter what, I can't give you all my assets, but if it's necessary, I can provide what I can spare. ...After all, thanks to you, the Cradle Merchant Guild has been able to survive, and someday all elves will benefit as well."
"Hmm. Actually, I have a reason to clear the fourth floor quickly this time..."
I don't intend to explain the gacha system in detail. I just briefly explained that by performing a certain ritual, I can borrow power from the Goddess of Love, and the more money invested in this ritual, the better the effect.
Rosemary nodded, seemingly understanding to some extent.
"I see. It's similar to how temples periodically hold large prayer meetings or various ceremonies to bestow large-scale blessings or repair the protective miracles granted to the temple. ...But how is that possible for you, who isn't even a clergy member?"
"Oh, that's because I'm the saint of the Goddess of Love."
"Ah, I understand. If you're a saint, then it's certainly possible... WHAAAAT?!"
Rosemary, who had been nodding calmly, suddenly had a fit as if she'd just seen a real platypus.
Platypus reality shock? This is troublesome. The only way to fix this is to hit her.
As I was sneaking up with one hand raised, surprisingly, Rosemary regained her senses on her own and shrieked.
I naturally lowered my raised hand as if nothing had happened.
"W-why are you suddenly telling me something like this?!"
"Well, just in case I get dragged away by a corrupt pope and burned at the stake for impersonating a saint, I could take you down with me as an accomplice?"
"Did you say the pope is corrupt?! No, wait, did you just say accomplice... You evil thing! How are you a saint in any way?! You're clearly a demon!"
"But I'm cute, right?"
"Ugh... if you think I'll fall for this..."
"Come on."
I quietly approached Rosemary and gently cupped her cheeks with both hands. Then, in a lowered voice, I asked again.
"Really, you won't help?"
"......"
Rosemary hesitated sincerely.
Perhaps because she's seen me use charm tactics on Ellie often, Beni and Shadow were now casually eating snacks behind us, already used to it.
So they wouldn't break my immersion, I stepped closer, blocking their view.
"It's not like you'll lose anything, right? If I get stronger, it's good for the elves too, isn't it? Especially for the Cradle Merchant Guild, which has a close relationship with me. This is a kind of investment."
"In-vestment?"
"Yes. The long-term investment that elves love. No, it won't even take that long. Maybe 10 years at most? By the way, among the elves, only Eve knows this information, so it's also proof that I'm in her inner circle."
"10 years... buying at the bottom..."
Wait, she's actually describing helping someone when they're weak as "buying at the bottom."
It's not wrong, but how should I put it... That's so elf-like, it's amusing.
After contemplating for a while, Rosemary slowly opened her mouth.
"Would you mind telling me more details? I think it might help if I knew more."
A roundabout acceptance. I grinned and began to speak.
"Lady Lidia has been kidnapped, and to get her back, I need to clear the fourth floor within three days."
"...Who would dare kidnap the noble Lady Lidia? And you've already cleared the third floor?"
I briefly explained the situation to the incredulous Rosemary.
This and that, platypus details.
After understanding the general circumstances, Rosemary nodded.
"If that's the case, I understand. You're trying to maximize your power to conquer the fourth floor in one go, and use that as an achievement to receive adjusted growth stats?"
"Bingo. That's right."
Needless to say, speed runs are a classic achievement. And the labyrinth is a place that gives generous rewards to those who accomplish achievements.
Of course, if I focus only on growth and clearing, my overall specs might improve, but my actual skill won't keep up.
I'd end up being a strong idiot who struggles in the next layer... but my case is a bit different.
My technique is already ahead of my physical abilities.
After mentally calculating intensely, Rosemary finally spoke.
"I can give you money. But investments should be made with spare funds, not by selling the pillars of your house. Besides, the guild is growing again, and there are many places where money needs to be spent, so a large amount is difficult. At most, I can give you 200 gold."
"That's enough. It's money I don't have to pay back, right?"
"...Investment is investment. Who would insist it's a debt and demand repayment?"
"Well, I've seen some people like that."
I've seen it a few times on Earth.
I shrugged briefly. Rosemary gave me advice with an expression like a parent telling a child to study hard if they don't want to grow up to be like the pitiful writer who just left home after a month.
"Stay away from people like that. They're not proper merchants."
"Don't worry. That's why I signed an exclusive adventurer contract with Eden."
"...You signed an exclusive contract with Eden and then came to the Cradle Merchant Guild for investment?"
"Eve would be generous about it, right?"
I winked at her, and Rosemary shuddered and leaned back.
"You viper..."
Of course, despite her words, she eventually smiled.
"Anyway, I'll give you the gold now, so wait. I won't ask you to pay it back, but I'd like you to do some promotion worth 200 gold."
"That's easy since I'm going to cause a commotion on the fourth floor anyway."
"I'd like to lend you a high-level magic tool to maximize the impact, but..."
"If I receive help from equipment far beyond my skill level, it won't be recognized as an achievement, so that's not possible."
"I suppose so. Take this instead."
Rosemary handed me a heavy money pouch along with a small potion bottle.
"What's this?"
"A potion that makes your body glow when you drink it."
"?"
"Literally, if a self-illuminating person goes around slaughtering monsters, it will attract attention. The advertising effect will be certain."
"Are you serious... Don't tell me?"
"Yes. You must drink this potion during the floor guardian subjugation battle. That's the condition for the investment."
"......"
Normally, I would have refused. I've always prioritized avoiding attention.
But my name has already been widely spread due to the previous Cradle Merchant Guild incident. I've become the super-genius pretty boy Yona Yona that everyone who should know about knows about, so this much should be fine.
"Deal. Hand it over right now."
Time to go roll some gacha.