[Prey]
Those afflicted with this status effect enter an incapacitated state.
Think of it as a kind of curse.
However, the difference is…
'That Riakis's aggro is fixed on the [Prey], right?'
In other words, we need to create some distance before he wakes up.
That's the only way to increase our chances of survival, even if it's just a little.
Just as I'm preparing to leave quickly…
McGrane asks Misha bluntly,
"You're not abandoning her?"
"Of course not."
What a stupid question.
I chuckle as if it's not even worth listening to, and McGrane nods as if he approves.
"Valuing your companions is also an important virtue for explorers. Are you really sure you don't want to join the clan?
"Yes."
"Even if we help protect that woman together?"
"…Still no."
"Hmm, that's unfortunate. If you were the one designated as [Prey], you wouldn't have a choice."
That's true.
I don't think Misha could carry me on her back and run away for 15 minutes alone. She would have chosen to survive, even if it meant taking the risk of joining the clan.
But is this what explorers are like?
It's fucking psychopathic to say that to someone's face.
"Anyway, the deal ends here. We'll be on our way, so let's meet in the city if we get the chance."
"If we can return alive."
"Well, I'm sure you can. I have a feeling."
Phew, I wish they would stop jinxing it…
I listened because I thought they might offer some helpful suggestions, but it was a waste of time in the end—
"I hope your journey goes smoothly. What are you all waiting for! Let's get started!"
As McGrane shouts at the clan members, lights start erupting from everywhere as if they've been waiting.
「Daniel Carmine has cast [Blessing of Wind].」
「Character's movement speed is greatly increased.」
「Tarotes Pian has cast [Navigation].」
「Character's Soul Power regenerates faster.」
「Aaron Diflane has cast [Flame of Regeneration].」
「Character's physical regeneration is greatly increased....」
「....」
「....」
Is this what they call loyalty?
Their MP must be almost depleted after escaping from that place, but they're showing this kind of kindness…
Although they firmly refused to help Misha, it's only right to express gratitude in this situation.
"…Thank you."
"Don't mention it, just don't die. If you guys die, that thing will come for us."
McGrane, who has spoken words that are truly befitting of an efficiency freak, then starts preparing to leave with the clan members.
Well, it's easy for me, I just have to carry her and secure the backpack so it doesn't fall off, but it's different for them.
"Then we'll be on our way first."
"Alright. We'll go in the opposite direction once you leave."
You're really rational until the very end, mister.
Since there's nothing more to be upset about, I smirk, carry Misha on my back, and start running in one direction.
[Grooooowl—!]
Soon, I hear the bastard's roar from afar.
___________________________________
I'm being chased.
Hanging on the barbarian's back like a sack of potatoes.
We're running away from a scary monster called the Lord of Chaos Riakis or whatever.
"Huuuk, huuk, huuk…"
My body is hot.
Not a metaphor, but literally.
The heat he's emitting as he runs can be felt on my skin, like pouring oil on a bonfire.
[Grooooowl—!]
I can't turn around to check, my body is stiff.
But I can hear it.
That chilling roar is getting closer and closer.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel."
So I call out his name.
There's no response, as if he didn't hear me.
So I call out a little louder.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
"Speak."
"That's enough."
I know too.
That monster is chasing me, not Bjorn.
That's why everyone looked at me like that.
Even my own family, connected by blood.
Because my existence itself is a burden.
"What do you mean?"
He asks.
As if he doesn't understand, as if he's annoyed by the unnecessary question.
So I speak as cheerfully as possible, like I always do.
"This is enough. You'll die too at this rate. We're not that close, are we?"
There's no response.
So I shout a little louder.
"If it weren't for you, I would have died a long time ago! And be, besides, you fulfilled my lifelong wish at the end!"
The response comes with a slight delay.
"That's funny."
"…What?"
"You have no intention of dying, so why are you saying things you don't mean?"
His voice is somehow cynical.
I feel like I've made a mistake, so I make an excuse.
"I'm not saying things I don't mean, I really—!"
"You're just scared of being abandoned, aren't you?"
I feel like he's hit the nail on the head.
Is that why?
My voice gets even louder.
"Why don't you understand! I just don't want to be a burden anymore!"
"So that feeling is more important than your life?"
"...."
I'm speechless at his words.
Why is this barbarian so good with words?
I don't know, but he says with a hint of annoyance,
"Stop beating around the bush and just ask me to save you if you want to live. Then you'll at least have a chance of survival."
Simple words, like a barbarian.
But I think I understand what he's trying to say.
Since we got lost in the Witch's Forest, he has shown me how to think and act to survive.
'I must have looked pathetic to him…'
He always said it.
If you want to live, do what you need to do.
Then what do I need to do right now?
Well, I'm sure it's not giving up and lamenting to someone who's trying to help me just because I was abandoned by my family.
"Bjorn."
I call out to him again.
I'm starting to understand.
What I should have done.
"If you save me, I'll follow you and help you for the rest of my life."
If I was really afraid of being abandoned…
I should have at least tried something to prevent it.
However…
"That's something I've heard before."
His answer makes me realize my mistake, and my mind goes blank.
Uh, then what should I say?
The time for contemplation is short.
"I'll give you all the money I earned from this expedition if I survive! How about that!"
He chuckles and answers,
"That's more like it."
_________________________________
"I'm, glad you like it…"
I hear a sigh of relief from behind my back.
I let out a sigh of a different kind and accelerate my run.
Phew, it seems like her mental state is taken care of.
She won't bother me any further, right?
'The problem starts now…'
I quickly glance behind me.
I see hundreds of Chaos Spirits chasing after me.
Of course, these guys aren't a big problem.
Although they have the characteristic of relentlessly pursuing once they aggro onto you, their movement speed is slow.
Unlike that bastard.
[Grooooowl—!]
We started with at least 3 kilometers of distance, but he's already this close.
At this rate, he'll catch up within 5 minutes.
Of course, assuming our current speed is maintained.
「The duration of [Blessing of Wind] has ended.」
「The duration of [Navigation] has ended.」
「The duration of [Berserker] has ende....」
「....」
That's the biggest problem I'm facing.
The various buffs cast by the Dzarwi Clan are starting to expire one by one.
The vitality that filled my body is gradually fading.
My footsteps are noticeably slower now.
'It's probably 3 minutes at most in this state.'
I consider the variables and revise my plan.
Of course, nothing much has changed.
In the end, there's only one thing I can do right now.
Run with all my might.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter-.
As expected, it starts raining after about 2 minutes.
It's a sign that the bastard is right behind us.
In fact, the number of Chaos Spirits blocking our path has also increased significantly.
However, I don't bother looking back.
I just accept that the time has come and take out the thing I've been saving.
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
「Character's size increases, and threat level and physical stats increase proportionally.」
My muscles and bones grow in an instant.
My arms and legs also lengthen proportionally.
And my overall combat index must have increased with the rise in physical stats.
But what's important here is the increase in movement speed.
Thud! Thud!
Although each step creates a heavy vibration, my stride itself is much wider than before.
However, unfortunately, I can't maintain this state for long.
It's because my Soul Power, or MP, was completely depleted when we escaped from [Crack of Evil].
'In this state, it's probably 2 or 3 minutes at most.'
I use all my knowledge as a veteran player to estimate the remaining time.
It's a good thing I received the [Navigation] buff that increases Soul Power regeneration speed, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to maintain it for even a minute.
"Misha, what's the time?"
I mutter briefly, and Misha, who had been holding the watch in her hand beforehand, answers hurriedly.
"Uh, 56 minutes!"
"Precisely."
"196 seconds left!"
Right, so there's a little over 3 minutes left.
Until this damn labyrinth closes.
"If you're bored, just keep track of the time and count down."
"Ah, alright! One hundred ninety, one hundred eighty-nine…"
While Misha counts down, acting as a timer, I enter the final sprint.
Now, shouting the battle cry that's stuck in my mouth.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
As if the ancestor god is pushing my back, my body moves forward rapidly.
"One hundred seventy, one hundred sixty-nine…"
The closer the second hand gets, the more raindrops fall.
And the number of enemies blocking my path also increases.
Therefore, what I have to do also changes.
Until now, I just charged forward, focusing on running regardless of whether they followed or not…
But now I have to clear a path as well.
"It's going to sting a bit."
Could it be that she didn't hear me because she was concentrating?
Or maybe she thought it was more important to do her part, no matter what?
It's probably the latter.
Misha doesn't answer and just focuses on counting down.
「Chaos Spirit has been destroyed.」
「The location is eroded.」
A Chaos Spirit hit by my mace, which has been coated with holy water, explodes and splatters mucus.
Although it must have touched her skin, Misha continues to focus on counting down.
As if that's the only thing she can do.
"One, one hundred sixty-five!"
Therefore, I also do my part to the best of my ability.
I smash the Chaos Spirits that are swarming in like a tidal wave, sometimes even leaping over their heads with my massive body.
[Grooooowl—!]
I put all my effort into creating distance between us and that bastard.
Is that why?
"One hundred twenty, one hundred nineteen, one hundred eighteen…"
My right arm, which has been covered in slime, starts to tingle.
Damn, is it 'Paralysis'?
I make a quick judgment and switch the positions of my shield and mace.
"Ni, ninety!!"
Suddenly, I feel a hot flame from behind.
It's obvious what it is without even looking.
'Breath attack.'
Fortunately, there's no significant damage.
No, in fact, since it landed behind me, many of the Chaos Spirits that were aggroed onto me must have been blown away.
But it's too early to rejoice.
The fact that he used his breath attack means that I've entered his attack range.
"Seventy-five…"
1 minute and 15 seconds left.
Following the breath attack, I'm hit by a direct attack for the first time.
Kwaaang!
His giant front paw slams down on the spot where I was.
My barbarian combat senses kick in, and I manage to dodge to the side just in time, but…
"Seventy-four…"
When I look ahead, I see the bastard blocking my path.
A massive body with a diameter of 30 meters.
Even the Orc Hero's 'Fighting Spirit' is useless against that giant form that saps your will to fight just by looking at it.
Well, Fighting Spirit is only meaningful when there's at least a chance of fighting back.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
My heart is beating like crazy.
It's understandable.
Veteran knowledge or whatever, there's no way to guarantee survival against that guy in my current state.
Misha also seems to have instinctively sensed this, as she stops counting down.
"Bjo, Bjorn… that's enough."
Phew, here we go again.
I thought she had graduated from whining.
[Grooooowl—!]
I immediately turn around and run away as the bastard roars right in my face.
It's still noisy behind me.
"Can't you hear me! Just leave me and run away—!"
I mutter firmly,
"Stop it."
Say something that makes sense.
"I'm not going to leave you to die."
Run away and abandon her now?
Then who's going to pay for the Frost Spirit Ring I invested in?
"Why, why… why are you going so far for me…?"
I answer briefly as I jump over a group of Chaos Spirits.
"We already made a promise, didn't we?"
A comrade oath.
A promise to help each other.
It's a huge loss if I can't use her enough to make the ring's price worth it.
"Promise? You're going to die with me just because of a promise?!"
Misha shouts as if she can't understand…
"Who said anything about dying?"
I'm going to survive.
Like a true efficiency freak, I'll take every reward I can get…
…and return to the city outside this labyrinth.
Of course, it'll be a hell of a lot of work, but…
It's nothing special.
In the first place, I've never gotten what I wanted without taking risks—
Kwaaang!
A giant front paw slams down from above.
I try to dodge, but I'm a bit late.
"Bjo, Bjorn! Your arm…!"
My arm holding the mace is torn off.
Not just injured by the claws, but literally ripped off.
However, what I need to worry about right now is something else.
"What's the time?"
"Le, leave me. No, you'll definitely die too…"
Her voice trembles as if she's in a state of panic.
I run forward with all my might and shout,
"Misha Kaltstein! Tell me the time!"
"…60 seconds! 60 seconds left!!"
Right, so I just need to hold out for 1 minute.
'So much for taking it easy.'
I then stop running.
And I turn around and look at that giant bastard.
My instincts are still telling me to run away immediately.
But I've made a judgment.
That running away is impossible now that he's this close.
"Yo, you made the right decision. If I die, then that guy will…"
Even if we run, we're still within his attack range.
Just look at what happened a moment ago.
If I hadn't turned around and run away, I could have dodged without losing my arm.
That's why I charge forward.
"Kyaak! Wh, what are you doing?!"
"If you have time to whine, count down."
I ignore Misha's complaints…
…and hope that the ancestor god's blessing will be with my fate, even if it's just a little.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I run towards the giant bastard, not in the opposite direction.
And at that moment…
"Fi, fifty-five…"
Misha starts counting down again, as if she's had a change of heart.
And that giant bastard opens his hideous mouth and spews flames.
It's the moment my judgment is proven correct.
"Fifty-four…"
If I had followed my instincts and run away…
Then the only future that awaited me would have been becoming a roast pig along with Misha.
But I didn't run away.
That's why…
"Fi, fifty-three!!!"
…I was able to slide between his legs just in time and escape from the radius of his attack.
"Fifty-two!!!"
He stomps his hind leg, which is his center of gravity, without even giving me time to get up from my slide.
Thud-!
I roll to the side and dodge.
But immediately after, he steps back and tries to scratch me with his front paw.
"Fi, fi, fi, fifty…"
I duck and dodge.
Because I carefully observed what the Dzarwi Clan was doing and memorized his attack patterns.
"Forty-nine."
Stomp.
I jump to the side like a grasshopper and dodge.
"Thirty."
Scratch.
I either lie flat on the ground like a bug or roll between his legs to dodge.
"Twenty-six…"
I jump with all my might to avoid the tail that swings at me.
I'm replicating exactly what the warriors of the Dzarwi Clan did against him for hours.
In fact, besides the breath attack and the Dark Orbs, these three are all the physical attacks he has.
Well, he'll reveal new patterns after he finishes off the [Prey]…
"Twenty."
…but there's no way.
[Grooooowl—!]
The bastard lets out a loud roar.
He seems angry, as his attacks become even more ferocious.
"Seventeen."
As if he wants to try an unpredictable attack, he swings his tail again in succession.
"Sixteen."
I jump over it like I'm skipping rope.
But maybe my jump wasn't high enough…
Thwack!
My ankle hits his tail, and my balance is thrown off.
"Fifteen… Kyaak!"
My body spins in the air as I fall.
I somehow manage to roll on the ground and get up quickly, but my left ankle is completely shattered.
In the meantime, he slams his front paw down.
"...."
I roll to the side once more.
And I sense it.
I was a step too late.
If I'm lucky, I might die—
Kwaaang!
Damn it, what the hell?
Surprisingly, my ominous premonition was wrong for once.
「Character's Soul Power is insufficient.」
「[Gigantification] ends.」
My body shrinks in half, just in time.
I turn my head to the side and see a giant footprint right next to me.
If the timing had been even slightly off, my head would have been a smashed watermelon, splattered all over that spot.
Tadat.
I feel a sense of dread and quickly get up.
I feel pain from my shattered left ankle, but I can just ignore it.
'It's been 10 seconds.'
Instead of Misha, who seems to have fainted after hitting her head on the tail and falling, I count down in my head.
'9.'
The situation is not good.
'8.'
Somehow, these Chaos Spirit bastards have gathered and are closing in on me.
And my body has become sluggish because my ankle is fucked up.
Therefore—
'7.'
…I climb onto the front paw that he slammed down.
'6.'
However, since the bastard will definitely try to shake me off…
'5.'
…I grab onto his hide with my remaining arm and my strong barbarian teeth.
There's no way it will work.
Kwaaang!
He slams onto the ground again, and my body is thrown back by the recoil.
Surprisingly, he catches me in mid-air with his other foot.
Swoosh!
The bastard snorts with satisfaction, as if he's finally succeeded in the hunt.
His open maw rapidly approaches.
If he bites down with those vicious teeth, my Laetium armor or whatever will be gone in one bite.
But…
"You're too late, bastard."
This is a world where there's a labyrinth, there are monsters, and dead monsters drop items and disappear, isn't it?
「The labyrinth is closed.」
My vision blurs.
Darkness swarms in an instant.
I look at the bastard faintly visible in the center of the darkness and think to myself…
'Lord of Chaos Riakis.'
He was definitely a bastard as shitty as the force he displayed in the game.
Even though we didn't even reach the second phase, there was nothing I could do in my current state except get chased and beaten up.
But…
If the day comes when I see him again—
[Grooooowl—!!!!!]
—it will be different.
_______________________________________
「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」
_______________________________________
When I open my eyes, I see light.
Although the weather is gloomy, it's still a brilliant light that's incomparable to the labyrinth.
'I'm alive…'
Misha, who had closed her eyes for a moment as if enjoying the warmth of the light, sits up abruptly.
'Bjorn! What happened to Bjorn?'
She comes to her senses and looks around the Dimensional Plaza, and she feels a different atmosphere than usual.
"Priest! Call a priest!!"
"Ho, hold on! We're back in the city!!"
There are injured people everywhere.
Their cries for help.
"What the hell happened?"
"I don't know, even when I asked the guild staff, they were too busy to answer."
Those who don't know about the situation murmur and grow more curious.
Well, that's natural.
Although it's common for explorers to survive miraculously when the labyrinth closes, it's rare for this many injured people to appear at once.
"Did you hear? It seems like a Floor Master appeared on the 3rd floor."
"What? A Floor Master?"
"…Then those people must all be explorers who were on the 3rd floor."
Misha slowly takes a step forward, her body heavy with a headache.
"Hey! You seem to have come from the 3rd floor too, just sit here and rest—"
A male explorer approaches, but Misha doesn't answer and pushes him away as she walks.
"Get out of my way."
Resting? Receiving treatment?
That's all fine, but there's something she needs to do first.
So she continues walking, searching the crowded Dimensional Plaza.
That's when…
"That guy is going to die soon."
"Even for a barbarian, he won't make it in that state…"
Barbarian.
Misha heads towards the voice as if possessed by that word she heard nearby.
She pushes through the crowd of onlookers and heads towards the center, and just as they said, there's a barbarian there.
"Bjorn…"
Misha slowly approaches him.
One arm is torn off, his left ankle is bent at an unnatural angle…
…and his entire body is covered in black slime.
She can guess what happened after she fainted without even seeing it.
He must have fought desperately.
To survive, as he always has.
"Don't get too close! A priest is coming, so it's better to just leave him—"
She thinks she understands why everyone is just watching from afar.
Misha doesn't answer and approaches him, quietly placing her ear against his chest.
Although her cheek stings from the slime…
…Misha lets out a sigh of relief involuntarily.
Heave- heave-.
He's breathing rhythmically like a baby in deep sleep.
"Haa, he was just sleeping. You scared me…"
Her arms and legs lose strength.
But Misha gathers her strength and wipes the slime off his body one by one with her hands.
So that he can rest a little more comfortably.
"A priest is coming, so don't worry and rest."
Once she wipes the slime off his face, she can finally see Bjorn's expression properly.
He looks very peaceful.
As if he has finished everything he needed to do.
Suddenly, a mage's words come to mind.
[If Balkan, who was called the hero of the barbarian tribe, were to come back to life, he would probably look like that…]
It was something the mage who was admiring Bjorn as he cleared the path said.
Of course, Misha doesn't know who Balkan is.
But…
"I think I understand what that mage meant."
If there is a hero, he would definitely look like this.
-x-X-x-
I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling and thought.
The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the gloomy sky unique to this city...
'This must be a temporary tent set up for patients. There must have been many injured besides me.'
Indeed, when I looked to the side, I saw beds lined up close together.
I grasped the situation as naturally as breathing.
Silence fills the tent.
Most of the well-worn beds are empty.
That means...
'Quite some time must have passed.'
Therefore, my task is clear.
First, confirm how much time has passed.
Just as I'm about to slowly raise my upper body so as not to shock my muscles, I feel a heavy, foreign sensation on my abdomen.
A chuckle escapes my lips as soon as I realize what it is.
'Where did she go, I wondered...'
Misha is sleeping on my stomach.
Even making her characteristic purring snores.
While I'm proud that she stayed by my side to nurse me, I wonder what the point of it is.
'Well, she must be tired too.'
The priestess of Karui, Elisa.
Being stranded in the Witch's Forest.
The chase with the Lord of Chaos, Riakis.
Thinking about what we've been through, I can't blame her.
But...
"Misha, wake up."
Right now, my curiosity takes priority, so I wake Misha up without hesitation.
"Hmm? Ugh... Bjo, Bjorn! You're awake! Your body? How's your body, are you okay?"
"As you can see, I'm fine."
My shattered left ankle moves well, and my arm that was ripped off has been restored to its original state.
So, the first question.
"Did you use a top-grade potion?"
"No, a priest came and healed me."
"How much was the treatment?"
"Do, don't worry. The, the guild provided disaster relief funds, so it wasn't much..."
No, that's why I'm worried.
"So how much was it?"
"...300,000 stones."
"I see."
Whew, at least it's much cheaper than a top-grade potion.
I was worried because she's a priestess, but it seems like the guild's relief funds were quite generous.
"Why are you making that face? You did well."
"But Bjorn likes money..."
Uh, that's true, but...
What kind of image do I have in her eyes?
"Even so, money can't be more important than your body."
It wasn't just healing some mashed-up flesh.
It wasn't reattaching a severed limb either.
It was the process of healing an arm that was ripped off, bone and all, and that we even left behind in the labyrinth.
'There's no way natural regeneration would have been enough.'
I let go of any lingering thoughts.
When we tested the limits of regeneration during the experiment with Raven the other day, it took an enormous amount of time even for a severed finger to grow back.
Anyway, onto the second question.
"So how much time has passed since we left the labyrinth?"
"About 6 hours."
Hmm, no wonder it's still bright outside the tent.
A whole day hasn't passed.
"What about the backpack?"
"It's fine. And so are the contents!"
"And the magic stones?"
"I exchanged them all for money, including yours."
"Did anyone come looking for me while I was unconscious?"
"Ah, Hikurod and his group came by!"
"...The dwarf?"
Misha slowly explains what happened as I tilt my head.
To summarize, she reunited with Hikurod and his party about 5 hours ago when they came to check on us...
"I'm glad all three of them are okay. So where did they go?"
"They said they were tired after confirming that you were alive, so they went to sleep."
"I see."
I don't feel any resentment.
It would have been the same if I were in their shoes.
After all, it's not like I would wake up any faster if they stayed here. We can catch up when we meet in two days.
"Then what else do I need to do to leave this place?"
"Just pack your things and leave. I've already taken care of the annoying stuff."
"I see."
Just as I'm about to get up and remove the blanket, Misha hurriedly stops me.
"Wait, don't get up!"
"...?"
"Fi, first, put this on..."
There's no need for further explanation.
"Ah..."
While Misha turns her back and looks away, I put on the new clothes that were neatly folded on the table.
But to even buy me clothes beforehand...
She's surprisingly considerate, unlike her usual clumsy appearance.
"Do the clothes fit?"
"They fit well."
To be honest, they're a bit too small...
But in the first place, finding clothes that fit in this city is difficult.
Anyway, when we step out of the tent, the sun is setting.
"Misha, where's your accommodation?"
"8th district."
"Then we can go together."
Since we're heading in the same direction, we walk back to our accommodations together, and the contrast between our surroundings and our appearance is striking.
People are walking around in clean everyday clothes, not heavy and rigid metal armor.
"Bjorn, what are you looking at? Let's go, I'm exhausted."
After walking along the clean street for about 30 minutes, we reach the inn.
For reference, Misha's accommodation is apparently about 10 minutes further from here.
"It's closer than I thought."
"I know, right? Why didn't we know this before?"
"Anyway, go now. You must be tired. Thanks for today."
"Wai, wait!"
Just as I'm saying a quick goodbye and about to enter the inn, Misha grabs my wrist.
"Is there something else I need to know right away?"
"No, it's not that..."
Then what is it?
As I look at her with an expression that says 'just tell me what you want', Misha chuckles and lets go of my wrist.
"Forget it, you'll just scold me for repeating the same thing over and over again."
"The same thing?"
"Then I'll be going, see you tomorrow!"
Misha runs away before I can ask anything else.
"Tomorrow?"
Wasn't it the day after tomorrow that we were supposed to meet?
Her last words are a bit confusing, but I don't want to think about it and just enter the inn. And after a quick wash, I have a simple meal on the 1st floor.
Only after lying down on the bed do I realize...
'I made it back alive again.'
I'm alive.
Damn it.
The next day at noon.
Knock, knock. I hear a knocking sound on the door and wake up. I was going to ignore it and keep sleeping, but they're persistent.
"...Misha?"
"As expected, you were sleeping."
"Why are you here? Wasn't the meeting time tomorrow night?"
Misha chuckles at my grumpy question and unfolds a bundle on the table.
I look, and it's food.
"Come sit down quickly. It's bad for your health to sleep without eating."
No, barbarians don't care about that kind of stuff.
As I stare at her with a dumbfounded expression, Misha grabs my arm and pulls me.
"Just come without complaining. You can sleep more after you eat, right?"
Although nothing would happen if I skipped a meal or two, I comply because of her sincerity.
The menu is stir-fried vegetables with eggs and grilled meat.
"How is it?"
"...It's delicious. Did you make this yourself?"
"Where else would they sell something like this?"
Geez, she could have just said yes.
Anyway, I really didn't expect it, but she's surprisingly good at cooking.
"At first, I cooked for myself to save some money, but it was kind of fun, so I'm still doing it."
"Hmm, but didn't you say you were staying at the inn?"
"Ah, that's true, but I became friends with the chef, and he lets me use it if I ask."
"I see."
"Bjorn, you should try it too if you get the chance. You can save a lot of money, and it's good."
Cooking?
She really has no qualms about saying anything to a barbarian. Or maybe she just doesn't know barbarians well?
"Cooking is a warrior's shame."
"Is, is that so?"
I nod firmly, and Misha makes an 'I see' expression and then cautiously makes a suggestion.
"If that's the case, I can cook for you..."
What is she talking about?
"No need, why go to such lengths? It's easier to just buy and eat."
"I, I guess so?"
"By the way, how did you know about the lake? I don't think I told you about that."
"Ah, that? When I asked the innkeeper where the barbarian was, he just told me."
"...I see."
We continue chatting and eating, and soon the plates are empty.
"So what are you going to do? Sleep more?"
I think for a moment and answer,
"Since things have turned out this way, I think I'll go to the commercial district for a bit."
I was originally planning to sleep until tomorrow night, but I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep even if I lie down again.
It's a kind of compulsion.
Unless I'm about to collapse from exhaustion, I can't stand putting off things that need to be done and just resting.
"That works out well. Misha, you come with me too."
"Huh? Me too? I was going to go back and sleep more..."
Misha trails off with a bewildered expression.
Based on experience, I need to be firm in situations like this.
"You're the one who woke me up. Take responsibility."
"Hmph, alright. I had to go drop off the equipment anyway..."
Where do you think you're going?
____________________________________________
First, we sell all the equipment we acquired.
Since we already paid the Dzarwi Clan about 2 million stones worth of equipment as a protection fee, it's not as profitable as I expected.
'Among these, the ones we got from Hans's group need to be divided into five...'
Still, after selling the equipment and various consumables of the three religious fanatics, we've gathered quite a bit of money.
The fact that one of the three had an expandable backpack was a big help.
Well, that also meant they had more to pay, but...
"...500,000 stones for repairs?"
"It's Laetium equipment. If it was just bent or warped, it would be different, but with this much corrosion, it can't be helped."
Even so, isn't that too much?
500,000 stones to repair equipment that cost a total of 4 million stones?
Is this guy trying to rip me off because I'm a barbarian—
"Bjorn, don't be so unreasonable. He's not wrong..."
Although it hurts my heart, seeing Misha, a 5-year veteran explorer, say that, it seems like it's a normal price.
So I just pay it.
'...Just how much of a loss is this?'
For an efficiency-obsessed gamer, what's scarier than muscle loss is gold loss.
I go over it one by one.
'I left the mace behind in the labyrinth with one of my arms, I used a high-grade potion on the way, 300,000 stones for treatment, 500,000 stones for repairs...'
The more I think about it, the more my stomach hurts.
If I hadn't handed over 2 million stones worth of equipment as a protection fee, I could have laughed it off...
"Bjorn, don't worry too much. I'll work hard and earn money in the future..."
Right, let's think positive.
Actually, the second biggest gain from this expedition is her, isn't it?
Ah, of course, the first one is the Orc Hero essence.
'We also got a lot of consumables like potions, so we saved a lot of money that we would have had to spend later...'
"Bjorn, what are you doing? Let's go in."
I finish my thoughts and enter the inn with Misha. It's not Misha's or my accommodation, but an inn located in Commelby, the commercial district.
"I can't believe the carriages at the platform stopped running."
"That's why I said we should move quickly, didn't I?"
"Alright, alright, stop nagging."
I enter the inn and ask for two rooms at the counter, and Misha hits me on the back.
"Are you crazy! Do you know how much it costs per day! Just get one."
"...Get one?"
But shouldn't it be the opposite?
"Do you think this is Ravigion! A place like this usually costs over 10,000 stones per night!"
"I see. One room should be enough."
Now that I think about it, I deserved that slap on the back.
I came here because it seemed relatively cheap, but 9,000 stones per night?
The prices are insane in the city center.
My total food expenses for the last month were a little less than 20,000 stones.
'There was a reason she wanted to move quickly...'
Still, the room itself is worth the expensive price.
It's not the studio apartment style I used to stay in, but a structure with a separate living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
There are windows, of course, and the living room even has a small terrace, and the room has a faint scent of flowers.
"Bjorn, look at this! It's soap from the Artian workshop! They even let us use this for free!!"
Misha, who was initially nagging me about wasting money unnecessarily, discovers something and disappears into the bathroom.
When she comes out, she has a very satisfied expression.
"Bjorn, let's really work hard and earn money from now on."
I think she's overreacting, but as I lie down on the spacious bed, I can't help but agree.
"Yeah... let's work hard."
Phew, a bed should be this soft.
'When will I be able to sleep in a bed like this every day...'
I realize once again that I have a long way to go.
A city where barbarity and civilization coexist.
To live more like a human being in this place, how many more marauders and monsters do I have to kill?
Snore!
My eyes close gently before I can even contemplate deeply.
______________________________________
At that time, when most people are asleep…
The bar where those who miss today have gathered is as noisy as usual, or perhaps even more so.
"Hey, did you hear about that?"
"You mean the Floor Master that appeared on the 3rd floor?"
"Yeah, I heard the Dzarwi Clan lost over thirty people because of that bastard."
"Thirty people is nothing. The guild will announce it tomorrow, but the total death toll is in the hundreds."
"So they still haven't caught the culprit who summoned the Floor Master?"
It's a topic that explorers can't help but be interested in.
However, besides the news that everyone knows, there's a story that's slowly spreading through word of mouth.
"Ah, do you guys know? I heard this from one of the survivors... it seems like one person played a big role in the Dzarwi Clan surviving that much?"
"One person? Are you talking about Vice-Leader McGrane, the Iron Lion?"
"No, from what I heard, it was a 3rd-floor explorer who happened to be there."
"Hmm, is there anyone among the 3rd-floor explorers who could do that? What's his name?"
"That's..."
Bjorn, son of Yandel.
A barbarian who reached the 3rd floor in just three months.
His unbelievable bravery, which saved countless people from danger, is spreading, sometimes word for word, sometimes with a bit of exaggeration.
However, the ending of each story always comes down to one thing.
"The mage who told me the story didn't hesitate to say this about the barbarian."
"What did he say?"
"Although he's still young and hasn't achieved the feats of a hero, he's definitely following in their footsteps. So, borrowing the name of a hero who was more courageous and greater than anyone else..."
A title.
Another name that only explorers with both skill and fame can obtain.
"He's nothing less than a Little Balkan."
That title is being mentioned everywhere.
____________________________________
「Character's fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's fame has increased by +1....」
「....」
「....」
「Warning: The probability of special events occurring for the character has increased.」
-x-X-x-
In a quiet office…
A man sips his tea and mutters to himself,
"Little Balkan, huh…"
It's an interesting story for once.
After all, how many explorers gain a title within 3 months? At least since he took on this role, it hasn't happened more than three times.
"Interesting."
And even the essence record he checked through the guild is intriguing. Usually, explorers start by filling up their essence slots with 9th-grade essences and gradually work their way up.
But what about this guy?
He has the Corpse Golem, Vampire, and now the Orc Hero essence that he absorbed.
"This can't be explained just by saying he's lucky."
It's like he's using a cheat code.
Well, if we look back in history, we can find quite a few people who left similar footprints.
There are definitely people in this world who are born with special destinies, talents, and luck.
"I wonder which one this guy is…"
Most of those people are recorded and praised as heroes or great figures in later generations.
Then what about this barbarian?
At least so far, he seems to have enough potential.
Of course, his true nature needs to be proven first.
"I need to confirm it before he gets any slyer."
This time, he needs to be more cautious and careful than usual.
_______________________________________
In a private room of a typical high-end tavern…
As I open the door and enter, the dwarf and Dwarkey, sitting on dwarf-sized chairs, greet me with welcoming expressions.
"Oh, you're here! Come sit down! Hahaha!"
"I'm so glad you're both safe."
First, I sit down across from Misha, who came with me.
"Where's Rotmiller?"
"He's not here yet. He should be here soon, right?"
Indeed, while we're ordering food and making small talk, Rotmiller arrives.
It's a little past 8:00 PM.
Is it some kind of occupational hazard to always arrive exactly on time?
"Bjorn, Miss Kaltstein. I'm glad you're safe."
"No, we're glad you're safe, Rotmiller. I heard you got hurt while escaping…"
"Phew, even that makes me feel guilty. If I hadn't gotten injured back then, I wouldn't have had to leave you there—"
"Enough."
I interrupt him because it seems like he's about to start rambling endlessly.
"How about you sit down first. The food is here."
"…Alright."
With Rotmiller also seated, all the team members are finally gathered in one place for the first time in a while.
It's a miracle that we all managed to return alive after the labyrinth incident that tore our team apart.
"God must be protecting us."
With Rotmiller's sentimental words, the conversation begins in earnest.
The main topic, of course, is how everyone is doing.
"So Hikurod, what happened on your end?"
"Ah, that?"
The dwarf explains what happened in the labyrinth chronologically at my question.
How Rotmiller was attacked by a surprise attack as soon as we were separated. But they managed to escape after killing the enemy's scout with a counterattack.
The beginning is not much different from what I heard at the cabin, but since the dwarf himself is the one telling the story, I can hear the details.
"I used [Emergency Restoration] to use the 'Guardian's Bracers' one more time and create an opening."
As I suspected, he used that combo.
"Wow, I didn't know Numbered Items could be linked with abilities like that."
"Hahaha, it's not like I'm that great. It's all thanks to the wisdom passed down by our ancestors."
[Emergency Restoration] is a skill that restores equipment to its state from 5 minutes ago, not just repairing it.
Numbered Items are no exception.
Although it has the downside of consuming more MP than usual.
'Wisdom of the ancestors…'
As befits a race that values Numbered Items, it seems like useful tips related to them are passed down within the dwarf community.
Anyway, to summarize the rest of the story…
"First, we ran away and treated Rotmiller. And we tried to find you guys, but…"
They couldn't find us with Rotmiller's tracking ability because we were too far away.
But they didn't give up and kept wandering around the Witch's Forest.
However, on Day 3, they encountered Elisa.
"What? They met that crazy woman again?!"
"Yeah. Somehow, she persistently followed us even in the forest."
"So? So what did you do?"
"Hahaha, what else could we do? We ran away!"
They escaped from Elisa's pursuit and ended up going up to the 4th floor through the portal.
And that was it.
The 4th floor, [Tower of Heaven], has a stage-based structure.
They somehow managed to clear the first stage and chose to stay there until the labyrinth closed.
They judged that they might get wiped out if they encountered a 6th-grade monster on the next stage.
"It was quite a pain in the ass to waste more than ten days like that… but I was able to endure thanks to Rotmiller and Dwarkey."
Pain in the ass my ass.
That's what we should be saying.
'Ha, and you guys just left because you were tired?'
I can already feel a pain in my lower abdomen.
I can understand that they were relaxing while we were struggling…
"Ah, right! I didn't mention this. Surprisingly, an essence dropped from the first trial."
"An essence… dropped…?"
Damn it, is this a game?
An essence that didn't drop even though we fought countless monsters in the Witch's Forest against our will…
It just popped out of nowhere for them.
And from a 'Mimic', a rare monster known for dropping at least decent essences.
"Rotmiller absorbed it first and then opened the [Treasure Vault]."
[Treasure Vault] is the Mimic's active skill.
It's not a combat skill, but it allows you to open a personal subspace storage.
And the key point here is…
"So? What came out?"
When you open the [Treasure Vault] for the first time, various items are inside randomly.
If you're unlucky, it might just contain a few high-grade potions and nothing else.
I hope these guys were un—
"There were about 2 million stones worth of magic stones, three top-grade potions, and two Numbered Items."
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
"…Why are you suddenly cursing?"
"Sorry, I was just surprised."
Although I feel like throwing up, I hold it in and ask,
"So what numbers were the items?"
"Unfortunately, one was in the 8000s and the other was in the 9000s."
Phew, so they still earned well over 10 million stones.
Of course, since Misha and I weren't there, they would have split it into three among themselves…
Why is this dwarf so lucky?
"It turned out that they weren't items we needed, so we decided to sell them. Rotmiller, who absorbed the essence, agreed to deduct the standard essence price listed by the guild from his share."
"I see… congratulations…"
Rotmiller absorbed a new essence, and the dwarf and Dwarkey hit the jackpot.
Is that why?
Although I could somehow smile and offer congratulations…
Crack!
The spoon I was holding bends in half.
"Bjo, Bjorn? Why did you suddenly break a perfectly good spoon?!"
"I couldn't control my strength because of the Orc Hero essence."
"Huh? That didn't happen yesterday!"
Well, because nothing like this happened yesterday.
Those damn freeloaders…
Now that we've heard about the dwarf's side of the story, it's our turn.
"Actually, we're more curious about you guys. We heard some rumors and vaguely heard about it yesterday… what exactly happened to you?"
I step in and give a brief summary to avoid Misha potentially making a slip of the tongue.
Our life after getting lost.
Misha's 'coincidental' awakening.
"Miss Kaltstein, congratulations. You must have been through a lot…"
"No, I didn't do anything, it's all thanks to Bjorn."
"…Thanks to Bjorn?"
"Ah, no! I meant we wouldn't have made it back alive without Bjorn!"
Anyway, there were times when she got sidetracked.
The three religious fanatics we met at the cabin.
And the Floor Master who was roaming around when we came out.
As our dynamic story, which was on a completely different level compared to theirs, unfolded, the three listened intently.
"Huh, to think of going to the Orc Encampment in that situation, you were really smart."
"I wouldn't have even thought of the Dzarwi Clan."
"So? What happened after that?"
Their reactions were sincere, making it enjoyable to talk.
However, I continued the story with an objective perspective, avoiding exaggeration.
But…
"Phew, they asked for a protection fee in that situation?"
"To pay 2 million stones just the two of you… I feel so bad. Hey, Rotmiller, Dwarkey, how about we gather some money and give it to them?"
"That's a good idea. We can't say we're not responsible either."
Did they start feeling sorry for me after hearing my story?
The three of them gathered 1 million stones after hearing about the protection fee, the broken equipment, and the 500,000 stones spent on repairs.
Honestly, I'm a bit taken aback.
"…Are you really giving this to us?"
"Of course. We earned a lot of money this time, can't we at least do this much for you?"
What is this?
Could it be that he's not a dwarf but an angel?
"Hikurod, you're a truly great leader…"
"Hahaha, I appreciate the compliment, but let's finish the story."
"Alright."
I reflect on myself for calling this great dwarf a freeloader and decide to continue the rest of the story more sincerely.
"Huh, so the Floor Master appeared in that situation!"
The Lord of Chaos that appeared with 5 hours remaining.
"To pour out that much resources… it makes sense that they collected a protection fee."
The subjugation battle that required a vast amount of resources.
And the riot that broke out within.
The [Crack of Evil] pattern that was inevitably triggered.
"I see. I was wondering what you meant by the Orc Hero essence earlier, so that's what you were talking about."
The essence I obtained through negotiations with the Dzarwi Clan, who lacked a tank.
And the escape.
For reference, I also mentioned that I had the vampire essence, and the dwarf was surprisingly understanding.
"Even I was hesitant to reveal the existence of the Numbered Item at first. We're fine, so you don't have to bow your head like that."
Don't bow my head?
Hmm, I just happened to look down because I spilled some food on the floor, but…
There's no need to correct him.
"Anyway, congratulations. To have already absorbed two 5th-grade essences? It's practically like you've laid the foundation to become a high-ranking explorer."
"…Thank you for saying that."
Afterwards, I calmly finish the story by describing how we escaped from the [Crack of Evil] and were chased by the Floor Master while carrying Misha.
The three of them express their admiration.
"Hwahaha, I knew it from the beginning. That this friend would accomplish great things."
"Indeed! It was the most grand and noble story I've heard in recent times. I'm almost disappointed that I wasn't part of it!"
"Certainly… with this level of achievement, no one would dare to disagree with calling you Little Balkan."
There's one thing that particularly catches my ear.
It's something Rotmiller said…
"Wait a minute, Little Balkan?"
When I tilt my head in confusion, the dwarf kindly explains,
"You haven't heard yet? It's your title!"
Little Balkan.
I have a new title after the barbarian of freedom.
However, I still don't know…
'A title…'
…whether this will have a positive or negative effect in the future.
_____________________________________
「Character's fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's fame has increased by +1....」
「....」
_____________________________________
The next day after our gathering…
I meet with Hikurod early in the morning and visit the guild.
To report Elisa Behenk.
"…A priest of Karui, you say?"
The employee who receives the report can't hide his flustered expression, as it's not a common occurrence.
However, when I present my 5-star ID card and the video recording device that the dwarf had been wearing on his head throughout the exploration as evidence, his expression changes.
"This… doesn't seem like something I can handle myself. Could you please wait for a moment?"
We're immediately summoned to the branch manager's office, and we explain what happened to the branch manager.
And as a result of the news reaching the temple…
Elisa is excommunicated from the Leathlas Church and immediately becomes a top-tier wanted criminal.
"According to the checkpoint records, it's certain that the evil woman returned to the city, so we should be able to catch her soon."
Although the guild and the temple speak confidently, I don't think that bitch will be caught so easily.
I have no evidence, but I have that feeling.
'Tsk, it just feels uneasy.'
Therefore, I decide to pay close attention to any news about Elisa in the future and conclude this matter for now.
There's nothing more we can do anyway.
And we even received an unexpected reward.
"Hahaha! Anyway, this is an unexpected income, isn't it?"
"Justice always comes with rewards."
The temple gave us a reward of about 3 million stones for providing crucial information.
Well, we'll have to divide it into five…
'Not bad.'
This level of luck is perfect for gratefully accepting. If it were any more, I would start getting scared about what might come back to bite me.
"Phew, it took longer than expected because there was a lot to testify about. Then let's get going. Everyone must be waiting."
After finishing the Elisa report, we head to the meeting place we agreed on. And after some discussion, we finalize the loot distribution.
"Let's split everything we acquired together before we were separated into five. And we'll negotiate separately for anything we got afterwards."
We divide the equipment and consumables of 'Hans-on', Elisa's loyal followers, and the magic stones we collected until Day 4 equally among the five of us.
I purposely only offered the religious fanatics' equipment as a protection fee, anticipating this moment, so there won't be any complications—
'Ah, the boots.'
I belatedly remember Hans C's boots that I lost because of the mines, but…
I decide to just let it go.
It's too much of a hassle to recalculate…
And besides, we used up all the holy water and potions they had anyway.
"Dwarkey?"
"I'm, I'm calculating. Ah! We each get 1.22 million stones!"
A total of 2.44 million stones for Misha and me.
1.2 million stones from the temple's reward.
And 1 million stones from the three of them as a support fund.
3.11 million stones from selling the three religious fanatics' expandable backpack and the remaining equipment after paying the protection fee.
And about 800,000 stones from the 15-day magic stones.
In simpler terms…
'A total of 8.55 million stones.'
If I were to split it with Misha, my net profit from this expedition would be 4.27 million stones.
If it weren't for that 'promise'.
"Ugh…"
As I can tell just by looking at Misha's eyes, which seem to be dripping with regret, all of this profit is mine.
That was the agreement.
Well, back then, I accepted her offer mostly to put her mind at ease, but…
'It's better for me to keep and manage it.'
Misha is now my main companion.
Not only her essence, but also the equipment she'll be wearing in the future and her overall build will all be handled by me.
Naturally, there will be a lot of expenses.
'In that sense, if we subtract the cost of repairing Misha's and my equipment, and the 300,000 stones for treatment…'
…we get the net profit from this expedition.
7.65 million stones.
Even considering the losses like the boots I ruined in the labyrinth and the mace I lost, it's a ridiculous profit.
After all, it's far beyond the amount I could have earned just by hunting.
'Although it's not that much when I think about the money I'll have to spend in the future.'
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing. Just finish your food."
The situation has changed.
After the vampire essence, I also absorbed the Orc Hero's essence, which I thought I would get much later.
And I found a companion to grow with.
'I need to do that first when we get back.'
Therefore, a re-evaluation of my plans is necessary.
-x-X-x-
I'm sitting by the fountain, eating my lunchbox.
The menu is potato stew, bread, and a vegetable salad with beef.
Misha is sitting next to me.
"Bjorn, have some of this."
"You're giving me meat…?"
"I ate a lot while I was making it."
If that's the case…
I chew and swallow the meat that Misha handed me.
How long has it been since I last had beef?
It melts in my mouth.
However, the downside is that it's difficult to fully enjoy the taste because of the stares coming from the side.
"I'm pretty sure I just heard him say Bjorn?"
"Then that must be Little Balkan."
"Hmm, I don't see anything special about him…"
Since some time ago, people have started recognizing me wherever I go.
Clan invitations, team recruitment offers…
I can understand those, but…
"Hey, are you really Little Balkan?"
There are also guys who come up and pick fights or annoy me by asking me to tell them about what happened back then.
Geez, can't they see I'm eating?
Well, it was the last bite anyway.
"Misha, let's go."
"Huh?"
"We're done eating, so it's time to go."
We quickly pack up and leave the fountain.
I hear some grumbling from behind, but they don't cross the line and follow us.
Misha glances back and mutters,
"It's kind of strange. I thought only really amazing people would get recognized like that…"
What is this? Is she picking a fight?
Still, I understand what she's trying to say.
She feels awkward because someone close to her suddenly became famous.
'Little Balkan…'
In the game, there was no downside to having a high fame stat.
You could receive quests that you couldn't before, or suddenly get high-paying requests.
Moreover, if your fame stat is low, you can't enter the 1st district, the Imperial City of Karnon, so it was essential for game progression.
However…
'I'm not sure if this is a good thing.'
The place I'm in now is not just a game.
It's a world where players are treated as evil spirits and are beheaded as soon as they're discovered.
If my name suddenly becomes known, I'll definitely attract unwanted attention.
But…
'It couldn't be helped if I wanted to survive.'
To gain something, you have to give up something.
I obtained the Orc Hero's essence, saved lives, and gained various other benefits.
So I have to accept this much.
"Then I think we're done for today."
After retrieving the equipment that I left for repairs, buying various necessities, and even stopping by the auction house to see if there was anything worth buying, it's starting to get dark.
'I should go back to the inn and finish planning my build.'
"I'm going to head back now, what about you?"
It's basically saying let's go back together.
But Misha suddenly trails off.
"Ah, that is…"
What is it? It makes me feel uneasy.
As I look at her with an expression that says 'just tell me', Misha observes me cautiously and then speaks carefully,
"…I'm going to visit my family for a bit."
"Family?"
"Yeah. I'm planning to stay there until tomorrow or the day after."
"I see."
Why is she acting so cautiously about this?
If she has plans, she has plans.
It's a family matter, so it's not something I should interfere with.
Although I'm a bit worried… she'll be fine.
"Good luck."
Still, I decide to at least offer some words of encouragement.
I know what kind of presence her family is to her.
Misha chuckles.
"Well, I feel a bit encouraged now…"
Really?
Her voice doesn't sound very energetic for someone who feels that way.
It seems like she needs a push.
Of course, in the barbarian way.
Thwack-!
"Ack! You barbaric idiot!"
Anyway, Misha is startled and shouts something.
"That's better."
"Ugh, anyway, I'll definitely be back within two days, so make sure you eat properly until then, okay?"
I smirk and answer,
"Alright."
It's a change that happened after returning to the city.
She said she would treat me as her benefactor, is this what she meant?
For some reason, she's been acting like a mother lately.
_______________________________________
I part ways with Misha at the carriage platform.
She gets on a carriage heading towards her family, and I get on one going to the 8th district where my accommodation is.
My body sways with every creak of the carriage.
Since there's nothing else to do, I close my eyes and let my thoughts wander.
'It's better to stay on this team for a while.'
My specs have skyrocketed after absorbing the Orc Hero's essence.
I'm practically guaranteed a promotion to a 6th-grade explorer just by submitting an application.
And with the fame of Little Balkan, I might even be able to jump straight to 5th grade.
In other words, it means I can find a better team if I want to.
'But it would be difficult to bring Misha along.'
Misha's combat power is exactly at the level of a 7th-grade explorer.
Of course, she has enough potential to reach higher ranks.
She just acquired a Spirit Beast, and the transformation-type ability [Enhance] is the decisive reason why I decided to raise her as a companion.
In that sense…
'First priority is to level up Misha, huh.'
I make my final judgment.
It's more efficient to focus on Misha's growth for a while.
'First, we need to raise her Spirit Beast contract level, and if possible, we should head towards that area for the next expedition. That essence might drop. Ah, and it would be good to change her main weapon too…'
As I'm meticulously planning Misha's development process, we arrive at our destination.
'Whew, even if it's not anything else, I should get a place near the platform when I change accommodations later.'
It's like living near a subway station.
Although the rent will be expensive…
Thud.
I get off the carriage and head towards the inn, skillfully finding my way.
Go straight and then turn left at the candy store.
Then, when you see the statue of the Immortal King, take the right fork.
If you go for about 5 more minutes, you'll reach the Central Plaza, but…
"We will begin the execution!"
Damn it, it was quiet for a few days…
I see a crowd gathered in the plaza, which is usually empty.
Everyone is looking up at the guillotine.
Slash-!
It's a sight that's not even that gruesome anymore.
However, I have no desire to watch with interest.
Therefore, I ignore the chilling sound and quicken my pace.
But even so, my subconscious detects something strange based on the visual information.
'…Why are there so few people today?'
I'm not talking about the crowd gathered under the guillotine.
I'm talking about the people who are about to be executed today.
Usually, they execute dozens of people at once, but today there are only four.
'And it seems like there's no one waiting to dip their bread in blood either.'
The moment my mind detects the question…
The faint murmurs become clear.
"It's disappointing, I was expecting more from an evil spirit."
"Oh my, that's right. His blood is red too."
"Isn't it disgusting? An evil spirit pretending to be human."
What, evil spirit?
I stop walking involuntarily.
I turn my head to look at the guillotine, and I see the death row inmates trembling and waiting for their turn.
There are three left.
"I, I'm not! I'm not an evil spirit!"
"What are you doing? Put the gag back on."
A young-looking fairy woman.
A dwarf man who seems to be around the same age as the dwarf.
And—
"Eugh, eueueugh!!"
…a barbarian with a somewhat familiar face.
Slash-!
The fairy's head rolls off and falls into the designated container, and the dwarf, who is next in line, is forced to kneel on the execution platform.
However, my gaze is fixed on one spot.
'Tarik, son of Liyen.'
Right, that was his name.
The name of that barbarian who is trembling in fear with terrified eyes.
'Damn it, I was worried because of his behavior…'
His awkward barbarian-style speech.
His timid personality.
His weak mindset that wanted to rely on someone.
I can't even guess what he did wrong to be exposed, maybe because there are too many possibilities.
But I have a feeling…
'I don't think he bought a weapon with the money I gave him.'
There's no evidence.
They would have confiscated his weapon before bringing him to the execution grounds. But for some reason, I can't shake the feeling that he didn't enter the labyrinth this time either.
'Why?'
Just as I'm seriously contemplating the source of this baseless intuition…
"Eugh, eueueugh!!"
He suddenly starts struggling.
And his mouth, gagged, keeps moving as if trying to say something, and his wide eyes are looking in my direction.
It doesn't seem like a coincidence.
"Eugh! Eueueueueugh!!"
Could it be that he recognized me from afar?
Well, I'm the only barbarian here, so I would have stood out even from a distance.
"What are you doing! Force him to kneel!"
He's finally subdued by the people and his head is placed under the guillotine blade.
Even in the midst of that, he tries to say something.
Looking directly at me among the crowd.
"Eugh, eueueugh!!"
I don't understand.
What his muffled cries mean.
Is he asking for help?
Hmm, his eyes seem too venomous for that…
"Ugh, eugh!!"
While I feel heavy-hearted at the sight of him unable to even leave behind his last words, I also feel a slight sense of relief.
'It's a good thing I kept my distance back then.'
If I hadn't just given him 150,000 stones and called it a day…
If I had made a different decision and revealed that we were in the same situation and relied on each other—
"Yandel's so—!!"
…I might have been there with him.
Slash-!
The gag breaks at the last moment, and he shouts something, but the cold blade falls and silences his voice.
I immediately turn around and head back the way I came.
And I engrave a lesson in my heart.
'I shouldn't do things like that again.'
I need to be more careful.
In this shitty world, it's not just marauders and explorers who threaten my life.
Who's to say who's pitying whom?
I should refrain from unnecessary meddling and act with caution from now on—
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, right?"
Someone calls my name from behind.
I turn around, and a well-dressed man is looking at me.
"Don't bother me and get lost."
I ignore him and continue walking, as I've had many strangers approach me lately.
But…
"Don't be so wary. I'm in a similar situation."
The nuance of his words is very strange.
I involuntarily stop and turn around to look at the man.
"America? Taiwan? Europe? Where are you from?"
Damn it, what the hell is this again?
____________________________________
I've thought about it after gaining fame.
That something like this might happen.
However…
'I didn't expect it to be this soon.'
My mind becomes ice-cold.
Of course, my actions are already decided.
Whether this guy is a real player or just pretending to be one…
'It doesn't change anything. Let's do it as planned.'
Didn't I know from the first day I woke up in this body that there were other evil spirits besides me?
I already asked myself this question before.
'Is it necessary to take risks and interact with them?'
The conclusion I reached at the time was simple.
Absolutely not.
Because what would I do by meeting another player?
Share information?
We could do that to some extent, but…
In the end, it would just be a sense of relief that I'm not alone in this strange world.
Taking such a risk just to feel at ease is a foolish thing to do.
That's why…
'There's no need to reveal my cards to anyone.'
There's a saying in the world, 'poker face'.
It's sometimes used to describe someone bluffing, but it basically means an expressionless face.
That's because the face is the part of the body where a person's psychology is most easily revealed.
But I've made a judgment.
What I need to do right now is not to have a poker face.
I answer as soon as he finishes his question,
"What are you talking about?"
Of course, this isn't perfect either.
That's why, even as I answer in a barbarian-like tone, I think to myself,
'How would Ainar have reacted if I said that?'
Since we spent quite a bit of time together, the answer comes easily.
"Don't speak in riddles and say it properly."
Right, that's it.
Barbarians don't know much.
And they're not ashamed of not knowing.
And if the stranger is a human…
…they also show a bit of wariness and aggression.
Therefore—
Thud.
…I take a step forward with a slightly threatening look in my eyes.
And I snort as if I'm about to smash his head in if he says one wrong thing.
But even with my actions, the man only lets out a strange exclamation.
"Wow, I almost fell for it. You're really good at acting. You're not really a 3-month-old, are you?"
"Acting? I told you not to use difficult words."
"Ah, you don't have to be on guard. I'm from America. I shouldn't have even touched that damn game."
His voice is filled with regret and sorrow.
And he even revealed information that only a player would know.
With this, I'm somewhat certain.
"Anyway, you're amazing. To gain a title in just 3 months… it took me over 3 years. And of all things, to be stuck as a human…"
This bastard is not a player.
-x-X-x-
There are several reasons for my judgment.
"Um, why aren't you saying anything?"
First of all, I haven't revealed my identity to anyone so far.
In other words, no one has any concrete evidence, just suspicions.
There's no proof that I'm an evil spirit.
Therefore—
"I told you, I'm from America. We're both outsiders here, shouldn't we stick together?"
This behavior is clearly unusual.
Another player might suspect that I'm a player and try to test me.
But to be this blatant?
It doesn't make sense in many ways.
I could be a local, so how could he reveal his identity first?
'In a city where you're executed as soon as you're discovered to be an evil spirit.'
Well, if he was a 1-month-old, it might be different.
They're quite naive at that stage.
But he just said it himself, didn't he?
That it's been over 3 years since he came to this city.
Acting like that and surviving for 3 years is nonsense in the first place...
"We have a 'game' association made by people like us. I'll recommend you to join, Mr. Yandel."
And most importantly, his pronunciation of the proper noun 'game' is very, very shitty.
Like a Korean character in a foreign movie.
'If he had no intention of hiding his identity, he would have at least spoken to me in English.'
If he had done that, I would have been a little less suspicious.
But this bastard is beating around the bush instead of taking the easiest route.
Therefore...
I reach a final conclusion based on the evidence available.
"Um, can't you just believe me now?"
This guy is not a player.
But he's pretending to be one and testing me.
And there's only one reason I can think of for a local to hide their identity.
'He came here specifically targeting me.'
Well, I thought this might happen someday.
It's a city where the existence of evil spirits is known even to the general public.
Although I couldn't find any related information in any of the books at the library, there must be an organization that specializes in dealing with evil spirits.
'They must still be in the suspicion stage. There's no way they would have physical evidence.'
In other words, what I have to do is clear.
I need to clear their suspicion.
It might just be a test for now, but someday they might start an 'investigation' using magic or something.
I need to nip it in the bud beforehand so they don't even think of doing that in the future.
'But how?'
What kind of actions should I take to convince those guys that I'm not an evil spirit?
The answer to that question is simple.
Thud.
I take a big step forward.
"...Why are you suddenly approaching? It's too close—"
"I have a question."
My question, which I had kept silent until now.
The guy hesitates for a moment and then nods with a smile as if it's a good thing.
"Ah, yes, yes, anything."
"Then I'll ask comfortably. Are you an evil spirit?"
"What's the point of hiding it now? Yes, I am. So..."
Okay, I got the confirmation.
"That's enough. You don't need to say anything else."
"Yes? What do you mean—"
"The chieftain said that evil spirits should be killed on sight."
"Ye, yes...?"
His face is filled with bewilderment.
I charge towards him, shouting loudly for everyone to hear.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Barbarians don't tolerate injustice.
________________________________
My fist lands cleanly on his temple.
His eyes, which have become like squashed steamed buns, are filled with bewilderment, doubt, and fear.
But it's no use looking at me like that.
It's not like I have any personal grudge against him...
Come to think of it, he brought this upon himself.
Thwack—
He revealed his identity openly.
But to pretend not to know and run away now?
That would only raise suspicion.
It's something a properly raised local barbarian would never do.
Therefore—
Kwaaang!
I grab his neck as he loses his balance and slam him to the ground as if it's a combo.
And then I get on top of him.
Thwack-! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
I repeatedly punch him with my fists the size of watermelons.
Although his skin is quite tough, with a high physical resistance stat, it's useless against me, whose strength stat has increased significantly this time.
"Ah, wait a minute...!"
His face is a bloody mess after just a few hits.
But I continue doing what needs to be done without hesitation.
Of course, he shouts as if he's been wronged.
"I, I'm not! I'm not an evil spirit!"
Yeah, you're probably not an evil spirit.
But what can I do?
I have to survive too, right?
"To even lie on top of everything, you must be a truly evil spirit."
"No, I mean—! Aak! Aak!!"
After a few more punches, ignoring his pleas...
The crowd gathers around us, witnessing the sudden brawl, and even the guards arrive.
Just as I planned.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing! How dare you use violence in the middle of the city?!"
"Pull him off!"
I stop punching and get up.
But is it because of the 2nd-tier armor I'm wearing?
Unlike when I was falsely accused at the guild and restrained, the guards approach cautiously, maintaining their distance.
Geez, there's no need for that.
Thud-!
I lift the unconscious bastard's body and throw it towards the guards. And then I shout loudly for everyone to hear.
"This guy is an evil spirit! He revealed it himself and tried to do something strange to me!"
"What? Evil spirit?"
The guards, who were approaching the bastard, thinking he was the victim, flinch at my words.
And the onlookers also start murmuring among themselves.
Of course, most of them are skeptical.
"Evil spirit? I think that barbarian is mistaken."
"...Even if it was a mistake, he's going to have to pay a lot of money for beating that guy up like that."
Well, a barbarian's claim wouldn't be very credible.
But what about this?
"My name is Bjorn, son of Yandel! I swear on my honor as a warrior that I'm not lying!"
Little Balkan.
Bjorn, son of Yandel.
It's the hottest name in the city these days, even if I do say so myself.
"Little Balkan?"
"...Come to think of it, I heard he wears Laetium armor."
"Then is he really...?"
"If he is, then it's believable..."
"There's no way such a famous explorer would spout nonsense and beat up an innocent person."
The murmurs continue, and the public opinion shifts.
The guards also realize who I am and look like they don't know what to do.
That's when a man who seems to be the captain of the guard approaches.
"Can I see your ID?"
It's a polite question that I couldn't have imagined before.
I hand him my ID, and he looks at me with a strange expression after checking it.
"So you really are that guy. First of all, thank you. My younger brother returned alive from the labyrinth thanks to you."
"Is your younger brother a member of the Dzarwi Clan?"
"No way, he was one of the few who paid the protection fee and followed you."
Huh, less than ten of those guys survived...
It's an unbelievable coincidence.
But that's one thing, and this is another.
"So when are you going to kill that evil spirit bastard? It's unsettling to have him alive."
"That will be decided after the investigation is over. So for now, we'll need you to accompany us to the authorities, is that alright?"
"Hmm, I'm hungry..."
"We'll provide you with a meal, of course. If what you said is true, you've made a great contribution."
"Great contribution..."
Unlike usual, I contemplate carefully.
How would a barbarian respond?
As always, my contemplation doesn't last long.
"What does that mean?"
It's a question that could only come from someone who is one with a barbarian.
The guard captain chuckles and answers,
"It means you did something amazing."
"Amazing? Then will there be meat?"
Hmm, even for a barbarian, is this too much?
That thought briefly crosses my mind, but...
Looking at the guard captain's expression, it doesn't seem to be the case.
"...I'll treat you even if it's with my own money, so please come with us."
"If that's the case, then..."
I then follow the guard captain and leave the Central Plaza.
But for some reason...
"Little Balkan defeated an evil spirit!"
"Just telling this story will save me from paying for drinks today."
I keep hearing such voices from behind as I walk away.
「Character's fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's fame has increased by +1....」
「....」
______________________________________
Since it was a plan I came up with on the fly, I was a bit uneasy.
But the situation unfolded smoothly afterwards.
When the security officer searched the unconscious bastard's pockets, a badge came out.
"Oh, this is an Evil Spirit Hunter's badge?"
At first, even the security department was in an uproar.
It's only natural since the guy they brought in as a suspected evil spirit had an Evil Spirit Hunter's badge.
Therefore, the security department contacted them, and soon, someone who seemed to be the bastard's superior arrived.
And...
"Uh, that is... he is indeed one of ours..."
He initially had a dumbfounded expression, but after understanding the situation, he answered in a dejected voice,
"This guy revealed himself as an evil spirit. But how did that happen?"
"That's... it's a customary procedure for individuals who gain fame or show exceptional behavior in a short period of time..."
"Stop it, I don't understand difficult words."
"We suspected Mr. Bjorn of being an evil spirit."
"What? You suspected me of being an evil spirit? Who is it! Who suspected me of being an evil spirit! Don't tell me it was you!!"
I flare up as if I've been insulted, and the superior sweats profusely, looking embarrassed.
"As I said before, it's a customary procedure..."
"Speak plainly!! Are you making fun of me!"
"What's clear is that this won't happen again! So please, lower your voice..."
I think I'm starting to understand why barbarians live like that.
It's convenient.
And their troubled reactions are quite amusing.
"Hmm, then what happens to me? If that guy isn't an evil spirit, should he be punished?"
"Th, there's no way that would happen."
"That's a relief. Then I'm sleepy, so I'll be on my way."
"Ye, yes? Ah, yes... Go ahead..."
I immediately leave the building and return to the inn as soon as I see an opportunity to escape.
Although I acted nonchalantly in front of them...
...I desperately wanted to get out of there.
'Damn it...'
Honestly, I'm exhausted.
Just as much as when I was being chased by the Floor Master.
'I didn't expect them to know that much.'
America, Europe, or whatever.
He even talked about the game, and his speech was so natural that I thought he was from Earth.
Well, I was able to figure it out because his English pronunciation was shitty...
But even so...
What kind of bullshit difficulty level is this?
'Right, the people here aren't all idiots...'
It's only natural that Tarik Liyen ended up on the guillotine.
[America? Taiwan? Europe? Where are you from?]
[Wow, I almost fell for it. You're really good at acting. You're not really a 3-month-old, are you?]
[Ah, you don't have to be on guard. I'm from America. I shouldn't have even touched that damn game.]
A strange city with no one to rely on.
If someone suddenly approaches you and says things like that, it's normal to be tempted.
'Damn it...'
The more I think about it, the more I think this world is fucked up.
It's already frustrating enough to be dragged here and treated like an evil spirit, but if you make one mistake, these bastards come and dangle bait in front of you?
Monster bastards are easy to deal with, you just beat them to death, but you can't do that with these guys, so they're even worse.
"Whew..."
I let out a sigh of relief that I've been holding back.
'Well, I guess I managed to get through it for now.'
Of course, I don't know if those Evil Spirit Hunters or whatever really cleared their suspicions about me.
But I've done everything I can for now.
So there's no other way but to be careful and wait.
'From now on, I should act even more like a barbarian.'
As I'm reorganizing my future course of action, I enter the inn room. And I lie down on the bed without even taking off my clothes.
But what is this?
"..."
There's a letter on the bed.
I tear open the envelope and check the contents, and a letter and a pill the size of my thumbnail come out.
'What is this? Did Misha write a letter? No, she wouldn't have had the time—'
I freeze as I read the letter.
[This letter is a random letter sent to an explorer presumed to be a player. If you could read th....]
It's a letter written in English.
I almost throw it away in surprise, but first I make sure no one is around and then get under the covers.
And I carefully read it inside.
To roughly translate, the content is like this:
[This letter is a random letter sent to an explorer presumed to be a player.]
[If you can read this, never reveal to anyone that you are a player.]
[Ah, and please don't translate the contents of this letter even if you're caught by Evil Spirit Hunters.]
[Anyway, this is what I want to say.]
[We have a community where anonymity is strictly guaranteed, and you can enter our community by taking the attached pill.]
[If you don't want to join, please dispose of the pill. I sincerely wish for your survival.]
The more I read, the more complicated my mind becomes.
Could this be another one of those bastards' tricks?
'Damn it, but it's too believable...'
The fact that it's written with simple words?
It's understandable if we consider it as a way to be considerate of people who aren't native English speakers.
After all, the game only supported English.
They must have thought anyone would be able to read this much.
'If I were trying to recruit players while hiding my identity, I would have done it like this too.'
It's different from those Evil Spirit Hunters who were just pretending.
This letter is written entirely from the perspective of a player.
[GHOST BUSTERS]
Just look at the community name written at the top.
It's too witty to have been written by an evil spirit on death row in an interrogation room.
'But those bastards wrote this?'
Of course, it could be a delayed attack.
Something like pretending to be harmless and then striking when I let my guard down.
Therefore, I hope the sender of this letter is actually a player.
I don't really need a community, but...
If this is a letter sent by the Evil Spirit Hunters, I don't have the confidence to survive in this city.
Because...
[P.S. Rafdonia's king, Mother fucker]
How can I win against bastards who are this serious about hunting evil spirits?