"...."
"...."
The silence continued even after the jewel's light faded.
The weight of the incident hit them as the truth was confirmed through Clown's words, while they were unsure whether that post was real.
'Right, the outside world really was fine.'
What would happen to this city after the community session ended?
The rumor would surely spread like wildfire.
'Those damn Noark bastards.'
Hearing the truth from Clown, Noark's intentions became clear.
That post wasn't a personal confession.
It was a planned scheme to spread this information within the city using the community.
'That's why that Clown bastard is telling us so easily.'
Although Clown always hid behind his frivolous mask and spoke in an emotional tone, he wasn't an idiot.
For example, he had kept quiet about the previous incidents.
He couldn't have not known, being a member of Orculus's leadership, but he never used it as information.
[An assassin will be sent to Bjorn Yandel soon.]
The information he shared most recently was a similar case.
He spoke as if Noark was sending an assassin, but he was actually talking about a large clan's assassination plot.
And the reward he obtained through this was simple.
"By the way, Mr. Antler is also working hard, isn't he?"
Clown made Antler in reality take action.
"Pfft, I didn't expect him to send away the knights like that."
From his perspective, it was like he had found the first clue to track down Antler's identity.
He probably judged it at that time.
That this was more important, even if the assassination attempt on Bjorn Yandel failed.
"That unlucky bastard."
Maybe the reason Antler recalled the knights was because he belatedly realized Clown's goal.
The longer the tail, the higher the chance of getting caught.
"It's fun watching you two fight, but let's do that later! Um, Mr. Clown, can I ask a question?"
SoulQueens skillfully changed the atmosphere and asked a question as the Clown and Antler showed signs of starting a battle of nerves.
"So who is that old man? The one who teleported over ten thousand people at once. I heard he even guided them to the outside world."
"That's…"
The Clown trailed off and then laughed awkwardly.
"Pfft, it's a secret. It wouldn't be fun if I just told you, right?"
He clearly didn't know his identity.
Geez, that's not how you pretend to know something.
I, a veteran Lion, sensed the opportunity and said,
"There's no way that old man would have revealed his identity."
I looked down at the Clown as if he was trying to pull a pathetic trick.
The Clown flinched as if he had been caught lying.
It seemed like he was thinking, 'How does he even know that?'
On the other hand, SoulQueens turned her gaze towards me with a strange look in her eyes.
"Hmm, so you're saying you know? Who that mysterious old man is."
No, how would I know?
I didn't answer, maintaining eye contact.
It was Lion's signature gesture, that if you wanted to know something, you had to bring something interesting.
SoulQueens muttered grumpily,
"Geez, then can't you at least tell me what you're interested in?"
Ugh, that would decrease the diversity of information.
There was only one thing I could say.
The same line I had said in a similar situation before.
"I don't know either."
Lion didn't even know himself.
"What I'm interested in."
SoulQueens looked at me as if I was a strange person.
'Okay, then I guess I've fulfilled today's quota…'
I pretended to be uninterested and listened to the conversation behind me.
The meeting resumed.
"Then I'll go next."
Goblin took the second turn.
For reference, it was information related to religion again…
"Didn't I say there was an oracle a few months ago? I finally found out who it was."
What? Suddenly?
I tried to maintain my composure, as I didn't expect it to come up here.
"It's useful for once. Pfft, so who is it? What sacred relic did he receive?"
Clown, who had shown strong interest in the oracle and the sacred relic back then, adjusted his posture.
But could it be that this was his first time experiencing this?
Goblin puffed out his chest and said,
"Bjorn Yandel. The one who received the oracle is that barbarian who's called 'Giant' in the city."
The situation was getting interesting.
________________
"Bjorn Yandel."
That name, which was the hottest topic these days.
"That bastard… received an oracle…?"
Clown, who had suffered a lot because of my main character, chuckled in disbelief.
"Hey, is this information even reliable? How can that guy receive an oracle when he's not even human?"
"That's… I also found it strange, so I looked into it, and it's not entirely unheard of. There were a few other races who received oracles in the past."
"Most of them left their names in history."
Antler added as if to supplement Goblin's explanation.
"So stop doubting Goblin just because you don't know anything. And besides, the jewel emitted a green light, didn't it?"
"That's…"
Although he probably wanted to say that it wasn't always accurate…
…Clown couldn't finish his sentence.
Because he was a prime example.
"Everyone, please calm down. Mr. Clown too. You don't have to worry, this information is 100% reliable, unlike Mr. Clown's information back then. I saw and confirmed it myself."
Huh? He saw and confirmed it?
This changes things.
At first, I thought Goblin had probably just heard the information that was spreading around.
But he saw it himself?
'…Then he was there.'
There were five people around me when the third vine broke.
Three escort knights and Misha.
And…
'Sven Parab.'
The vice-captain of the 2nd Paladin Order of the Leathlas Church.
The suspect was naturally narrowed down to one person.
It was practically a given that Goblin was a paladin.
'This is amazing. I can't believe it was him.'
The dissonance between Goblin's image at the Round Table and that dignified paladin was significant.
Well, it wasn't as bad as mine.
'…Is this actually a good thing?'
I had figured out Goblin's identity, on top of the Clown and SoulQueens. Maybe this information would be useful someday.
"Then what was the sacred relic? If it's the Goddess of Stars, it must be a sacred relic related to fate?"
"Actually… I don't know. I'm not in a position to ask around…"
Goblin then ended his turn, confessing that he didn't know about the sacred relic's ability.
SoulQueens was next.
"The royal palace sent a notice to the Magic Tower on the day they held the reward ceremony for the explorers who returned alive from the Palace of Glory."
"Notice?"
"Yes. It was a request to repair the labyrinth portal. It was in a very unstable state."
SoulQueens then shut her mouth, and the jewel soon emitted light.
It was a green light, signifying that she passed.
But the members weren't satisfied.
"Even though it's only your second time, aren't you being too shameless? Pfft, who would share such trash information?"
"Well? It depends on your level, doesn't it? A dimensional collapse could have occurred if the repairs were delayed."
SoulQueens retorted, unfazed by Clown's mockery.
But even Antler sided with the Clown this time.
"It's not like a dimensional collapse is imminent, and the information that the repairs are complete is a bit…"
Well, they couldn't really gain anything from this information.
I was a bit different.
'…So the experience point duplication bug is patched since the repairs are complete.'
Tsk, then I would have to speedrun now to get portal opening experience points?
I decided to just confirm it next time I entered the labyrinth.
"I don't have anything else to say. I genuinely believe that this information is as valuable as the other information we've heard today."
SoulQueens remained firm despite the members' objections and eventually passed.
"Oh, so you could do that…"
Goblin, who had been rejected many times, seemed impressed that this was possible.
But knowing and doing were two different things.
It wouldn't work even if Goblin tried it. Barbarian-style stubbornness wasn't something just anyone could pull off.
You had to have the confidence that you were the best.
'This woman is truly unique.'
Anyway, Antler was next after SoulQueens.
He said that one of the royal family's treasures was stolen when Karnon was engulfed in flames.
Although it was a name I had never heard before, it seemed like a pretty important item judging by their reactions.
So I decided to look into it later.
"It's your turn now, Crescent Moon."
It was finally Crescent Moon's turn.
He had been unusually quiet throughout the gathering, so I was quite curious about what information he would share.
But it wasn't anything special.
"The fairy tribe decided to replace their next pureblood candidate. They're currently looking for a suitable candidate."
It was the internal affairs of one of the six races, so it would be helpful in understanding the current situation…
But that was all.
But I couldn't take my eyes off Crescent Moon.
Because he was staring at me.
"I'll bring something more interesting next time."
It meant that he hadn't given up on the 'Stone of Resurrection', even though he didn't have anything useful this time.
Not bad.
Honestly, even today's information wasn't that bad for me.
'But if they're choosing a new pureblood candidate, wouldn't it be possible to give it to Erwen? It would be amazing if she could absorb it.'
That's when, as I was organizing my thoughts…
…I felt gazes on me.
Ah, it was my turn now.
I shared something else instead of the information I had prepared.
"You can resurrect up to two people with the Stone of Resurrection."
So keep working hard.
_____________________
The Stone of Resurrection.
It was an item that was only considered to exist in legends until I mentioned it, but now it had become reality.
Naturally, information about this item was valuable.
But I thought the members who weren't interested in the Stone of Resurrection might be dissatisfied.
It wasn't information about how to obtain it, but just a simple piece of information that you could resurrect up to two people.
And it was already my third time using it.
However…
"...."
"...."
…the members didn't complain.
Because the atmosphere wasn't right.
"Two people… right, I see…"
Crescent Moon, who seemed to have lost someone recently, muttered blankly at my words.
I could feel a strong desire in his voice.
A brief silence followed.
"Oh my, we wasted one chance because of Crescent Moon."
The Clown, disappointed that my turn was wasted on the 'Stone of Resurrection', suggested we move on to the next round.
But…
"I don't have anything else prepared. I'll end it here. In the first place, I wouldn't have even come if it weren't for Lion."
Crescent Moon asked the members for their understanding without even looking at the Clown and then left the Round Table.
It was the same for Goblin.
"Uh, I've also satisfied my curiosity… I don't have anything else to share, so I'll be going now."
Antler also left after Goblin, saying it was a bit burdensome to continue with just four people.
Well, it was true that the gathering became more difficult with four people.
Two out of three people had to share information that the other two didn't know to pass. But the amount of information you could obtain after sharing one piece of information decreased.
"So, how about it? Should we try with three people?"
"I don't mind."
The Clown and SoulQueens were willing to continue.
So the decision was up to me.
'It seems like valuable information will pour out if we continue with just the three of us…'
Although I was tempted, I decided not to push it.
They might realize that I was all bark and no bite.
So the gathering ended after the first round.
"If there was anything interesting, it would have come out already."
I said arrogantly, following the Lion persona, and returned to Lee Hansu's room.
And after spending some time browsing the forums, I returned to my original body when it was time to log out.
"Ah, this isn't my house."
It was the inn room in the 7th district, where I was using Karon's face and name.
As soon as I opened my eyes, the worries I had been putting aside came rushing back.
'I wonder if Karon is doing okay?'
Karon was my alibi.
If the GM was really targeting today, he would be watching Karon from afar, trying to confirm if he was a player.
"Tsk."
I wanted to check on him quickly.
But if I went to where Karon was now, I might ruin everything.
Therefore, I endured, using my patience.
And the next morning, after barely sleeping a wink…
"Bjorn!"
…I met Karon again at the sanctuary, as promised.
Since the duration of the appearance change was 30 days, we put on our masks and returned to our original appearances.
"Huhuhu, judging by your dark circles, it seems like you had a great night."
Ah, right, I used that excuse.
"…Thanks to you."
I brushed it off and asked Karon about everything that happened yesterday. I couldn't afford to have any memory gaps.
…Actually, I was just curious.
I had been imagining all sorts of things last night, worried about what might have happened.
"Ah, yesterday?"
What happened yesterday?
-x-X-x-
The man sighed in relief as he saw the barbarian warrior, Bjorn Yandel, leaving the sanctuary.
"Fortunately, he came out right away."
If he had planned to spend the night there, he would have had to wait until the 15th of next month.
After all, infiltrating the sanctuary in this body—
Slip.
The man, who was turning his body to follow Bjorn Yandel, lost his balance and stumbled. It was because he wasn't used to controlling the golem, having just connected to it for the first time.
"Um, are you okay?"
People looked at him as his body froze in a strange posture, trying to regain his balance.
"I, I'm fine."
The man felt a strange sense of shame and quickly left. And he followed Bjorn Yandel with a gait that sounded like creaking wood.
"Mommy, that mister is strange…!"
'…If it weren't for Lee Baekho…'
The reason he was currently linked to an unfamiliar golem, leaving his perfectly fine body behind, was all because of Lee Baekho.
Because he didn't know when he might appear again.
He was a bit worried about leaving the Magic Tower in his real body.
'So where is he going now?'
The man continued to follow Bjorn Yandel as the sky was still dark blue in the early morning.
And…
'He's drinking at this hour?'
…they arrived at a famous bar in the 7th district.
The bar that was open 24 hours a day, with employees working in three shifts.
"Is that… Bjorn, son of Yandel?"
"Hoo, that's him?"
"We're lucky. To see the man who's been the talk of the town."
Everyone's attention was focused on Bjorn Yandel as soon as he entered the bar. He had become famous enough to be recognized wherever he went.
Smirk.
As if enjoying his fame, Bjorn Yandel couldn't hide his smile and sat down alone at the table in the center.
And he started chugging alcohol.
"Um, sir, what would you like to order…?"
The man, who also entered the bar and took a table, casually ordered some food and observed Bjorn Yandel's movements.
There wasn't anything special.
"Keuuuuuh…!"
He just kept drinking.
The table, which was initially empty, was soon filled with drunkards who were drawn to the smell of alcohol.
"Haha! To down that strong alcohol in one gulp, he's truly a giant!"
They had come to greet the celebrity, but they stayed because it was more entertaining than they expected.
Ah, and there were quite a few women among them.
"Um, can I touch your arm?"
"…Of, of course!"
"Wow, it's really like steel! Ah, I'm Amy."
The women, who were interested in the famous explorer, subtly seduced him.
It wouldn't work.
After all, Bjorn Yandel already had three lovers, and he was known to be very devoted to them—
"I'm… Bjo, Bjorn, son of Yandel! It's nice to meet you…!"
Huh?
"Ahem…!"
"Oh my, oh my, how manly."
The barbarian warrior didn't stop them as their touches became more intimate and bold.
"Can I touch your thigh too?"
"Ahem! If you want…"
Although he pretended to reluctantly agree, his slightly upturned lips showed that he was also enjoying it.
'This is… a hero…?'
The man couldn't believe it, but the people here didn't seem to find it strange at all.
They didn't think it was morally wrong.
Anyway, the drinking party continued until evening.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa! More alcohol! Bring me more alcohol! I have plenty of money!!"
The man hoped that Bjorn Yandel wasn't a player as it got closer to midnight.
It was only natural.
He suddenly started arm wrestling and broke the table, he resolved things with money, saying he had a lot of it, and he even intimidated a drunkard who glared at him for being too noisy.
It was far beyond just 'perfectly' 'acting' like a barbarian.
He was a mindless barbarian warrior.
'This… this can't be Elfnunna…'
The man waited until midnight, even though he thought that.
He couldn't just leave without a final confirmation after spending the whole day here.
After some time…
[23:59]
…only 1 minute was left until the community opened.
The barbarian was still drinking with the others.
It was something a community user would never do.
Tick.
The minute hand moved, and it was midnight.
And since he had set it up beforehand to not enter the community this cycle, he could observe Bjorn Yandel without missing a single moment.
'…He's not.'
Bjorn Yandel was still laughing and chatting even though it was midnight. There would be at least a brief moment of stiffness even if you logged out quickly, but there was nothing.
It meant he wasn't a community user.
'He wasn't a member even though I sent him that letter… then he's probably not a player either. There's no reason for him not to join if he could read the letter.'
The man got up from his seat, feeling relieved.
Bjorn Yandel wasn't a player.
And…
'Right, there's no way this is a modern person.'
…he felt a sense of relief.
_______________________
Karon's daily routine yesterday was simple.
He had just been drinking in the bar all day since morning.
'No wonder the smell of alcohol was so strong.'
Of course, I wasn't going to scold him for it.
After all, I was the one who told him to drink.
I judged that he wouldn't be able to pull anything in a bar because of the people watching.
"So what happened while you were drinking?"
"Ah, that? It's a long story… but it was fun!"
I quickly skipped the stories about the drunkards he befriended at the bar and the time he accidentally broke a table and had to pay for it.
I had expected that much.
I didn't care about the cost of the table or the alcohol.
As long as the part I wanted was taken care of.
"You're asking if there were any strange people in the bar? Hmm…"
Karon seemed to be searching his alcohol-soaked brain and then gave me the answer I wanted.
"Come to think of it, there was a strange skinny guy in the corner all day. He was a strange guy who kept ordering things but didn't drink or eat."
I knew it was him as soon as I heard it.
"So what did you do? Did you talk to him?"
"No, there's no way. He seemed a bit mentally challenged, so I didn't approach him."
"How long was he in the bar?"
"I don't know for sure… but I think it was until around midnight."
I couldn't help but smile.
He stayed in the bar all day and then left as soon as it was midnight?
It seemed like my plan had worked.
He must have dismissed his suspicion after seeing Karon drinking with the other drunkards.
Then this plan was successfully completed—
"Yeah, that's right. It was midnight. I met that beastman woman around 1:00."
Huh?
"…Beastman woman?"
I felt a sense of unease.
And as expected, my premonition didn't fail.
"That Kaltstein's daughter!"
Karon, who was disguised as me, met Misha.
"What happened?"
Karon explained what happened as I hurriedly asked.
To summarize:
"She's a fierce woman, even though she's a beastman. I can see why you like her."
Misha grabbed Karon by the collar and dragged him outside.
And they had a brief conversation…
"I'm sorry. It didn't work, no matter how I tried to make excuses."
…and Karon's identity was revealed.
Well, there's no way he could have hidden it from her.
But the important thing was what happened next.
"She asked me what you were doing, so I just told her the truth."
"…You told her the truth?"
Karon flinched as I gritted my teeth and asked back.
But did he really want to say this?
"Bjorn, you're the hero of our tribe. Why should you hide something that's just fulfilling your duty?"
"...."
"So I told her honestly! I said you were currently fulfilling your duty with the female warriors of the tribe, so she shouldn't even think of interrupting!"
"...."
"Huhu, it seemed like she didn't know what 'duty' meant, so I explained it to her in detail. And then she seemed to understand and left."
"...."
"You should thank me! Now you can fulfill your duty at the sanctuary whenever you want!"
"...."
"But… why are you so quiet?"
Karon then asked cautiously, and I still answered with silence.
I didn't know what to say.
Damn it, how did this happen?
It felt strange to be angry at Karon.
"Karon, son of Tarson, make a warrior's oath. That you'll keep everything that happened today a secret."
"An oath? I'll do it a hundred times if you want."
Karon agreed without hesitation as I struggled inwardly and asked for an oath.
That was why I couldn't be angry at him.
"Ah, but what does 'keep a secret' mean?"
"…It means don't tell anyone."
"That's easy! I'm known for being tight-lipped even within the tribe!"
Right, what was the point of being angry at him?
It was better to just accept it as something I couldn't do anything about, like a natural disaster. No one gets angry at clouds for raining, right?
Karon had already done his part.
And thanks to him, the GM was successfully deceived.
'I have no choice but to deal with the aftermath myself.'
I then parted ways with Karon and headed home.
Thud, thud.
My steps towards home were unusually heavy.
____________________
Misha was on the sofa when I arrived.
She was sitting there in the dark living room, and I couldn't read her expression.
Right, nothing at all.
"You're back?"
Misha asked nonchalantly.
But her nails, which were usually neatly trimmed, were rough, and her eyes were bloodshot.
Don't tell me, she stayed on the sofa all night?
"Uh, uh…"
My heart sank.
That's when, as I stood there silently, unable to say anything…
"Then it's fine. Go to sleep."
…Misha, who had been watching me as if giving me time to speak, turned around and went back to her room.
I just watched her until then.
"...."
What could I say?
That what Karon said wasn't true?
I would have to tell her about the GM if I wanted to explain that.
Of course, I could make up another lie…
'But it might make things worse.'
It would have been different in the past.
Misha was currently suspecting me of being an evil spirit. Therefore, it was better to be suspected of this than of that.
Because of fulfilling my duty to the tribe?
At least it didn't sound like an evil spirit.
This was the best option.
'…My ass.'
I quickly went upstairs and knocked on Misha's door.
There was no answer.
Did she not want to talk to me?
"I'm coming in."
I did what I wanted, ignoring her wishes, like a barbarian.
Kwagic!
Fortunately, the door wasn't locked, so it easily opened.
I saw Misha lying on the bed, covered in blankets.
"...."
Right, she didn't even want to see my face.
It was a good thing I followed her.
There's a time for everything.
A tank is a being who protects their companions, not someone who hurts them.
Therefore…
"Just listen if you don't want to talk."
…I said.
I still didn't have the courage to reveal that I was an evil spirit.
So I just said it bluntly, using my barbarian body.
"Nothing happened at the sanctuary."
Misha lowered her blanket a bit at my words.
And she asked,
"…Why are you telling me this?"
It meant there was no reason for me to make excuses, whether she believed me or not.
Actually, she wasn't wrong.
We were just companions.
Although there was a chance for us to become closer, I was the one who rejected it. I judged that if our feelings were involved, it would be difficult to make rational decisions at a crossroads.
But…
"Bjorn, if you're doing this because you're worried about me, you don't have to—"
"I'm not saying this for you, I'm saying it for myself. I'm selfish, unlike Dwarkey."
I cut Misha off and said,
"Misha, nothing really happened at the sanctuary last night, and I don't want you to misunderstand me because of that."
"Why wouldn't I misunderstand you…?"
Misha's eyes, visible from beneath the blanket, were filled with a certain hope and longing.
It was something I couldn't avoid forever.
I took a breath and continued.
Even though I was just an evil spirit residing in Bjorn Yandel's body.
"Because you're no longer just a companion to me."
It was a truth I could no longer deny.
-x-X-x-
I told Misha before.
That I considered her a precious companion.
I drew a line with cowardly words.
I thought it was the right thing to do, and it was. Back then, I was still burning with the desire to 'return', and…
…I wasn't worthy of crossing that line.
Because I was an 'evil spirit'.
Even if I whispered words of affection in Bjorn Yandel's body, it would only be deceiving her.
But…
"Wh, what do you mean? You don't just consider me as a companion…?"
I answered Misha's question without hesitation.
"You know what I'm saying."
It was something I realized after visiting the community this time.
Compared to Lee Hansu's dark and gloomy room…
…I felt like this place was my home.
"You didn't tell me properly…"
Misha, who was avoiding my gaze and looking at the wall, slowly turned her head and looked at me.
"How would I know…?"
Maybe this was what Lee Baekho was wary of.
The desire to stay in this world grows stronger the moment you form a deep relationship with an NPC.
But so what?
"Misha Kaltstein, I like you."
I didn't care about 'returning' anymore.
That it would be difficult to make rational judgments in the labyrinth if we were in a romantic relationship?
It was the same.
It was already too late.
Even at this moment, I cherished my teammates, including Misha, and I couldn't prioritize only myself anymore.
'Dwarkey.'
It was the trace he left behind as his legacy.
What could I do after he acted like that and left?
I couldn't just see them as NPCs.
"...."
Then what about Misha's answer?
Although I felt anxious for the first time in a while, I tried not to show it and affect the outcome.
A period of silence passed.
"Bjorn."
Misha finally broke the long silence.
She was standing in front of me, having gotten out of the blanket that was covering her.
"…Let's go out."
Misha grabbed my hand.
And she led me outside.
I didn't ask where we were going.
"...."
It was early morning, and people were starting to wake up and go about their day. Misha and I, who had come out without even wearing coats, got a room at an inn about 30 meters away.
And we hugged each other tightly.
"Bjorn, gently…! It hurts if you hug me too tightly…"
I moved my rough barbarian body carefully, worried that she might get hurt.
"Are you sure about this…?"
"…Anything with you."
Misha embraced me clumsily but warmly.
And so, the time we spent hugging each other, sharing our warmth, continued until evening.
'…So that's how her tail is.'
It was a day where I was able to confirm something I had always been curious about with my own eyes.
But happiness is like a fleeting illusion.
"Bjorn."
"Why aren't you sleeping? Don't worry about Ainar and Erwen. They'll be fine—"
"I have something to tell you."
"…Huh?"
Just as I tilted my head in confusion…
…Misha sat up on the bed and looked at me.
And she said in a determined voice,
"I think… it's better for us to just be companions."
I was dumped.
____________________
It felt like a dream.
[Misha Kaltstein, I like you.]
Her heart started pounding like crazy when she heard those words, and the whole world seemed to shine brightly.
That's why…
[…Let's go out.]
…she led Bjorn outside as if running away.
Because she was anxious.
It felt like she would wake up from the dream if she looked away even for a moment.
[Bjorn, Bjorn, Bjorn…!]
[Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.]
And so, the dream-like time continued.
They shared their warmth with each other, and sometimes they rested and talked.
From the time they first met to now.
They talked about many moments and shared their feelings and thoughts.
It was a time for them to confirm and share each other.
But…
'Wait, he's asleep…'
A dream is a dream because you have to wake up someday.
Misha slowly opened her eyes.
She saw the darkened sky outside the window, and the man she longed for was lying next to her, dozing off.
Although she felt a deep sense of happiness…
'....'
…the world was painted in the colors of reality, and she came to her senses.
'As expected, Bjorn is…'
…an evil spirit.
Misha couldn't even say those hidden words in her mind.
Because it felt like her heart was breaking just by thinking about it.
"Heugh…"
She felt suffocated.
Although she had been suspicious, she was certain of his identity for the first time today.
Because she had asked Ainar about it after hearing from Karon what 'duty' was.
Only barbarians could give birth to barbarians.
She had known that from the beginning.
But…
[Can't we date? Haha, what are you talking about! Of course we can. I know quite a few tribesmen who do that!]
Barbarians were also human.
As they lived in the city and spent more time with other explorers than their tribesmen in the sanctuary, their values gradually changed.
[The chieftain said that any warrior would change a little after living in the city for a few years. Ah, he also called it 'urbanization'.]
Just because their hearts were kind.
Because their personalities matched.
Because they developed feelings after spending a long time together.
There were definitely barbarians in this city who didn't care about the other person's race and felt romantic attraction.
But they all had one thing in common.
[But I heard it's hard to find a partner. Most people don't understand 'duty'.]
They also wanted to have children.
Ainar said it was a tribal mission engraved in their souls.
So Misha tried to understand.
That was why she didn't say anything and just went back to her room, even though she waited until morning, unable to sleep because of her frustration.
But…
[Misha, nothing really happened at the sanctuary last night, and I don't want you to misunderstand me because of that.]
…she heard him tell her not to misunderstand.
[Because you're no longer just a companion to me.]
She also heard that.
Although she was blinded by happiness back then, she realized the contradictions after coming to her senses.
Of course, she believed him when he said nothing happened at the sanctuary.
But…
'Then why did he lie to Karon?'
Why did Bjorn tell Karon that he was going to fulfill his 'duty'?
The answer was simple now that she thought about it.
'…Because he had to.'
The only barbarians who didn't fulfill their 'duty' were the young warriors who hadn't established themselves yet.
It would be strange for a warrior who had even earned the title of 'Giant' to neglect his duty.
So Bjorn used Karon.
What Karon said yesterday was proof.
[Bjorn is currently fulfilling his duty with the female warriors of the tribe, so don't even think of interrupting!]
Karon had revealed everything without even being asked. It was something that wouldn't have happened if Bjorn really wanted to keep it a secret.
He would have made him swear an oath.
Considering his usual meticulousness, it was more plausible that he intended it.
He wanted Karon to spread the rumor in barbarian society.
That Bjorn Yandel was fulfilling his 'duty'.
'And the reason why he had to go through the trouble of switching appearances…'
Misha lowered her head.
'…Because he… likes me…'
Bjorn wanted…
…to be seen as a barbarian who fulfilled his duty to his tribesmen, but he didn't want her to hear about it.
Indeed, if she hadn't gone to the bar that night because of a bad feeling, she would still think that he just spent the night drinking.
And she would have heard the same if she asked anyone.
'Now I…'
Her hands and feet trembled as she realized the truth.
Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit.
But her feelings for him didn't fade at all.
It was only natural.
After all, she fell for the man who resided in that body, the one who saved her and had been with her on countless journeys, not 'Bjorn Yandel'.
'Then… what should I do?'
It didn't matter that he was an evil spirit.
She could just follow her heart, as he had taught her, even if everyone else pointed their fingers and said it was wrong.
But there was still a realistic problem.
'This will be exposed someday…'
Love makes it difficult to make rational judgments.
Misha knew that better than anyone.
Indeed, Bjorn had made a wrong choice.
It would have been much better for him to actually fulfill his 'duty' than to pretend to.
But the only reason he didn't do that…
…was her.
'Right, because of me…'
Misha then made up her mind.
If this relationship continued, Bjorn would make an even bigger mistake someday.
So…
'…I just have to endure…'
This was the best option.
Although her heart ached just by imagining it…
…she was confident that she could endure.
She had lived like that her entire life until she met Bjorn Yandel.
"Bjorn."
She called her lover's name and woke him up.
And…
"Why aren't you sleeping? Don't worry about Ainar and Erwen. They'll be fine—"
"I have something to tell you."
…she said with a forced smile.
Even if that path was filled with pain…
"I think… it's better for us to just be companions."
…she would definitely be able to do it.
If it was for him.
____________________
[You, you should come home later. I, I'll take care of the ki, kids… okay?]
Misha left before my mind could even process what had happened.
And…
"...."
…I froze.
It was the Barbarian Statue Mode.
"Dumped…?"
My head spun.
What did I do wrong?
Did I make a mistake today?
"...."
Although I tried to recall, I could only come up with delusions, so I just checked out and left.
Right, what was the point of suffering in silence?
If I was curious, I could just ask.
And if I had done something wrong, I could just fix it.
"Ah, you're back? Come eat."
Misha greeted me as if nothing had happened when I returned home.
"You're back, mister."
"Bjorn, you're only coming back now after staying out all night? Take me with you next time you drink!"
Erwen and Ainar thought I had just come home.
We first had dinner together.
Although I wanted to ask her about what she said earlier, I couldn't do it here.
"Th, then I'm going to rest first since I'm tired!"
Misha ran away to her room as soon as the meal was over.
"Erwen, Misha is acting strange today. And her walking is weird."
"Well, I don't know why she's acting like that either. I have a bad feeling about this…"
I also quickly followed them, saying I would check on Misha since she might be sick.
"Bjo, Bjorn…?!"
And so, we were finally alone again.
I asked her what I had done wrong and why she wanted to just be companions, and her answer was the same as before.
"Ju, just forget about today. I think that's better."
A stubborn refusal without a proper explanation.
I decided to wait for a better time, judging that it wasn't the right time.
But…
"Ah, sorry! I have somewhere to go!"
"Ainar! Let's go hang the laundry!"
"…I'm tired today."
Misha desperately avoided being alone with me, and she always gave the same answer no matter how I tried to create an opportunity to ask her.
After a few days, I gave up.
"…I see. Then let's just forget about that day."
Even I couldn't be stubborn when she was acting like that.
It would be forcing her.
Honestly, it was an unconscious defense mechanism.
'Wow, I want to smoke.'
I couldn't even remember the last time I was this mentally exhausted.
It wasn't even this bad when I was crawling through the cave, stepping on goblin traps, or when the pillar of fire erupted in the plaza.
'Right, let's just do my work.'
I tried to forget about Misha and focus on work, as I couldn't just stay depressed forever.
Fortunately, there were other things to worry about.
"Mister, did you hear the rumor?"
"You mean the one about the outside world being fine?"
"Yes. That's all anyone is talking about these days."
The information about the world beyond the walls, which was first revealed in the community, had started to spread throughout the city.
Well, it was still just a rumor…
…but it would definitely grow bigger as time passed.
'How will the royal family react?'
Contrary to my expectations, the royal family hadn't responded yet.
I needed to observe a bit more.
While doing my work.
"You know about today, right?"
"We're meeting at the 7th district headquarters at 3:00 PM, right?"
"Right."
I left for the Explorer's Guild as soon as lunch was over.
And I prepared some documents beforehand.
They were the documents needed to form a clan.
Raven and the bear-like man, who said they would think about it, had finally made their decisions.
They said they would join the clan I was forming.
"Raven?"
Raven appeared before the appointed time, as if she was working on an important task.
"It's an important matter, so I thought it would be better to help."
She said it as if she didn't trust me, but she actually came early to help.
"How far did you get? Let me see."
Raven took a few documents and started writing quickly, filling in the necessary clauses.
She seemed to be three times faster than me.
And she seemed to make fewer mistakes.
"The rules are ambiguous. We have to define them clearly. The withdrawal clause too. We can have exceptions, but we have to specify who those exceptions are."
"I, I see…?"
"Give me the ones you've already done. I have a feeling I'll have to rewrite everything."
"Here."
Anyway, we almost finished writing the documents with Raven's help, and then the rest of the members arrived.
"It's my first time forming a clan, so it's a bit strange. Raven, did you do all of this?"
"Yes. You just have to sign here. You can read the documents first if you want."
"Haha, it's fine. You must have done a good job."
The other members, starting with the bear-like man, also signed the documents, and we handed them to the employee, completing the clan registration process.
It would probably be officially registered with the guild tomorrow.
'Then that's settled…'
The framework of a clan would not only unite us as a group, but it would also allow us to go further.
And in that sense…
"You all cleared your schedules, right?"
We left the guild and went to a bar.
It was our first clan meeting, although there were only six of us.
We ordered some drinks and snacks and then shared our future plans.
Well, to be precise, it was more like an announcement.
"We're entering the labyrinth this time."
It was time to get back on our feet now that we had formed a clan.
-x-X-x-
Raven quietly asked me when I said we were entering the labyrinth.
"So you believe that rumor, Mr. Yandel?"
Believe or not, I know it's true.
The outside world is fine, and the Noark forces have all left for that place.
But…
"I don't completely believe it, but I think it's a possibility."
I couldn't act too certain since the source of the information was an evil spirit community.
Therefore, I said…
…that I felt a sense of dissonance when I saw the guards looking inwards at the walls when I went to Bifron.
"I felt like something was strange back then, and if that rumor is true, it makes sense."
"Hmm, actually, I also had some doubts about that. For example, the Magic Tower doesn't have any windows."
The Magic Tower was a skyscraper that was even taller than the city walls.
And the royal family demanded that no windows be built in exchange for granting permission for its construction. The superficial reason was that they couldn't let the Magic Tower overlook the royal palace.
"What? Wait… so the outside world really is fine?"
"It's just a possibility for now."
Raven firmly drew a line at the bear-like man's outburst and then looked at me.
Although she didn't say anything, it was easy to understand what she meant.
She was asking if we were really going to enter the labyrinth based on just a possibility.
I said what I had prepared.
"Honestly, I don't care whether the rumor is true or not."
"Why?"
"It seems certain that the royal family occupied Noark's fortress."
Whether they were outside or still hiding underground, what did it matter? The army was already occupying Noark's fortress, where the portals were.
It meant we didn't have to worry about encountering Noark inside.
"You think similarly to me. Okay. I agree."
Raven also cast her vote in agreement, as if she was just curious about my opinion and actually saw this as an opportunity.
And so, the voting time naturally began.
"Well, if you two say so, then it must be true. I'll follow you."
"Ooh, so we're finally entering the labyrinth again!"
Misha and Erwen also agreed to this labyrinth expedition, as well as the bear-like man and Ainar, who were just excited.
Then it was time to move on to the next topic.
"So what are we going to do about the number of people? There are six of us now, including Erwen."
"We'll split into two groups of three and meet on the 2nd floor."
"Hmm, then it will take quite a bit of time on the 4th floor?"
Erwen quickly apologized, turning pale at Raven's question.
"I, I'm sorry. I'm causing trouble…"
"Th, that's not what I meant. Really."
"But…"
But my ass.
I intervened before it got any more awkward.
"It won't take as long as you think. Erwen is a proper guide, unlike me. Maybe the overall time will be similar."
"Oh, then there's no problem."
And so, the topic about Erwen ended.
We then talked about our future exploration plans, and it was unanimously decided.
"Well, it seems like we're not ready yet, but…"
"We've become much stronger."
"Huhu, it's time to prepare. It's been a while since we went there."
Our goal was the 6th floor.
____________________
Even after the clan meeting ended, my daily life was quite busy.
It was time to spend the money I had been saving.
"Everyone, buy any equipment or items you want now. Ainar, talk to me before you buy anything."
"Wow… I heard about it, but I didn't know it was this bad. 700,000 stones for Laetium equipment…"
The prices of food and other necessities had skyrocketed, while the prices of exploration-related items and consumables had plummeted.
It was because 70% of the customers had disappeared.
The items that were left in the city became dead stock as most of the explorers died.
'But this is probably the lowest point.'
The money I had saved, as well as the money I received from the royal family…
…I had been hoarding it because its value would increase even if I just left it alone, but it was time to spend it.
The prices would gradually recover once the labyrinth was stabilized.
"Here are the recent transaction records you requested, Viscount."
"Ah, thank you. I'll return it soon."
Indeed, the recent prices on the central exchange weren't fluctuating much. It had been plummeting just a few days ago.
It meant that people like me were starting to spend their money.
And the sellers' expectations that the prices would recover soon also played a part.
'If this situation lasted for a few more months, I would have been able to graduate from exchange items.'
I dismissed my slight regret and went to the exchange every day with my teammates, repeating my rational shopping spree.
And I bought three items.
「Character has equipped Adamantium Large Battle Shield.」
「Total item level increased by +1,750.」
First, the shield that was destroyed in the last battle.
I bought a new one made of 5th-tier material since I was buying one anyway.
The price was unbelievably low.
It was even cheaper than the 4th-tier Moonstone shield, perhaps because it wasn't custom-made.
「Character has equipped No. 8,820 Iron Wall.」
「Total item level increased by +310.」
The second item was steel boots.
It was an item that doubled Physical Resistance and Magic Resistance for 3 seconds when used, and it synergized well with my Shield Barbarian build.
Ah, of course, it wasn't a graduation item.
There were much better boots among the higher-grade Numbered Items.
'These boots should be enough until the later stages.'
The last item I bought was a material.
It was called 'Soul of the Dead'.
It was a material used to receive the 7th stage of the Spirit Engraving, and it was the most expensive item I bought.
It was also used as an alchemy and magic material.
Although its price had also plummeted, the decrease was relatively small.
But…
'I don't know when I'll be able to get it again.'
These kinds of materials were harder to obtain than equipment, not because of the price…
…but because there were few sellers.
So I decided to buy it as soon as I saw it.
'Damn right, it's a hundred times better to just buy it than to get it myself.'
'Soul of the Dead' was an item that dropped from the 4th-grade monster, Lich, with a certain probability when you hunted it while using 'Distortion'.
It meant I didn't know how long it would take to get it myself.
I could do more with that time.
"Bjorn, then I'll be going to the training center!!"
Ainar ran towards the training center as soon as it was time to leave the exchange.
It seemed like she really liked the two Numbered Items she bought this time.
"Misha, what about you?"
"I'm going home. I have to prepare dinner."
"Then you can take Avman home."
"Huh? Aren't you going home?"
"I'm going to stop by the sanctuary for a bit. I might not be back tonight."
Misha flinched at my words and then stared at me.
"The sanctuary…?"
Ah, it was because of that keyword.
I quickly added an explanation.
"I bought the material, didn't I? I'm going to get the Spirit Engraving."
"Ah, okay. Right, I see…"
There were awkward moments like this sometimes since that day. We agreed to pretend it never happened, but was that easy?
"Th, then go safely. I'll take care of the kids."
"Right… I'll leave it to you."
I then parted ways with Misha and got on a carriage heading towards the sanctuary. I saw Misha sitting on a bench, waiting for her carriage.
"...."
"...."
Misha quickly averted her gaze as our eyes met, and then she looked back at me and waved awkwardly.
'Ah, this is so uncomfortable.'
I awkwardly nodded and closed the carriage curtains. I felt a sense of self-deprecation, belatedly realizing how pathetic it was…
…but it was still much better than before.
There's a saying, 'time heals all wounds', right?
If I just kept pretending to be fine, maybe I would really become fine someday.
"Then we'll depart."
The carriage started moving and left the platform, and I dozed off.
And before I knew it, we arrived at our destination.
The platform in the outer area of the 7th district, closest to the sanctuary.
I passed through the gate and walked along the forest path, and the barbarian campsite soon appeared.
"It's been a while. Are you here for a spar?"
I first opened the chieftain's tent and greeted him.
'Phew, fortunately, he hasn't heard about the oracle yet.'
I was a bit worried since Goblin mentioned the oracle at the Round Table…
…but it seemed like it hadn't reached the chieftain's ears yet.
Well, it was just a matter of time.
"I'm here to see the shaman."
"The shaman? Then the timing isn't good. You can't see him now."
"Why?"
"He's currently undergoing the 'Soul Purification' ritual."
"Soul Purification…?"
It was a term I had never heard of, even in the game.
"Don't tell me you don't know?"
The chieftain's eyes narrowed as I tilted my head.
It wasn't a big deal.
If it were before, I would have flinched, thinking, 'It's common sense, how can I not know?'
"I forgot."
I naturally realized as I lived as a barbarian…
…that it wasn't strange for a barbarian to not know common sense.
"I see."
As expected, the chieftain easily understood and briefly explained what 'Soul Purification' was.
"It's a ritual that shamans have to perform every few years to use their magic."
"Then how long do I have to wait?"
"He started the ritual at the beginning of the month, so you should be able to see him next month."
Hmm, next month…
"Okay, I'll come back then."
I dismissed my regret and turned back.
_____________________
Late evening, when drunkards started appearing on the streets.
We gathered at the bear-like man's bar.
Ah, for reference, there was a 'Closed' sign on the door, so we were the only ones inside.
Although the bear-like man's wife was healthy enough to work at the bar even while pregnant…
…her due date was really approaching now.
"Are you sure it's okay? For you to not be there?"
"Don't worry, it's just one day, what could happen? I have to work harder now that the baby is coming. My wife also agreed, so don't mind me."
"If that's the case…"
I didn't say anything more since it was half-hearted.
Honestly, we would be the ones in trouble if he suddenly left now.
"Then I'll bind you first."
Raven divided us into two groups of three and cast the Bonding spell after we finished our meal at the bear-like man's bar.
The team distribution was simple.
Me, the bear-like man, and Raven were Team A.
Erwen, Misha, and Ainar were Team B.
It didn't really matter since we were only moving separately on the 1st floor and meeting on the 2nd floor.
"It's about time, let's go."
"Ah, wait a minute."
Raven stopped us as we were about to head towards the Dimensional Plaza.
And she took out a few small items from her subspace pocket with a shy expression.
"That… we're a clan now, right? I had some time, so I tried making an emblem."
It was an emblem.
You know, the thing explorers with clans always wear on their armor.
"I looked into it while making it, and they said symbolism is the most important thing for clan emblems. So I used your title, Giant, but…"
"But this looks more like an ogre than a giant."
"Ah, then give it back!"
"I didn't say I didn't like it. We'll officially register it as our clan emblem at the guild when we get back tomorrow."
Raven's expression brightened as I said we would register it as our clan emblem, even though I was just teasing her.
She must have been looking forward to it.
"Everyone, come here. I'll attach it for you."
Raven then personally attached the emblems to our equipment with magic.
It actually looked pretty good.
It felt like we had become real explorers.
"Thank you, Raven. For taking care of this even though I didn't ask."
"…It's my clan too."
"That's why I'm thanking you."
"Whatever. Let's just go. We'll be late."
Geez, she's so shy.
We then hurriedly headed towards the Dimensional Plaza after attaching the emblems. There were quite a few people who came to watch.
They were standing far away from the plaza, looking at us.
"Hey, Bjorn Yandel is there too."
"He's entering again after that incident?"
"He formed a clan, but there are only six of them."
"But what's that emblem? Is it an ogre?"
"Probably, one of Bjorn Yandel's essences is an ogre."
Although the area around the plaza was crowded…
…there weren't many people waiting to enter.
Only about three or four hundred?
And most of them were low-level explorers who had come out because they were desperate for money.
'If the other plazas are also like this, the upper floors must be practically empty.'
I spent the remaining time reviewing our exploration plan, and soon a light erupted from the center of the plaza, and the portal opened.
「Entered 1st Floor Crystal Cave.」
We had a lot to do in the labyrinth this time.
-x-X-x-
A cave where crystals embedded in the walls emitted a brilliant light.
It was a place I had been to countless times, but it felt unfamiliar today.
Well, it was only natural since it was my first time entering in two months…
'But there must be another reason.'
I clicked my tongue in disappointment as I looked around.
First, there were only three of us, unlike usual.
And although it wasn't as bright as daytime, it was bright enough that we didn't need torches.
In other words…
"It's not a dark zone."
…the experience point duplication bug was patched.
It meant we could no longer use the dimensional instability phenomenon to start at the entrance of the 2nd-floor portal.
"Do you know anything?"
Raven cautiously offered a guess as I pretended not to know and asked.
"I heard the royal family made a big request to the Magic Tower recently. I didn't know the details since I've been outside, but… now that I see it, it might have been a portal stabilization project."
Phew, so the bug was really patched because of that.
But I was able to accept it quickly since I was mentally prepared thanks to SoulQueens.
Well, what could I do? I had to play the classic way from now on.
I had enjoyed enough honey for the past few months.
"I'll be going now."
I quickly took out my compass and started navigating after briefly observing the terrain from the starting point.
After all, there weren't many people who entered this time.
Maybe I could get portal opening experience points even without the bug.
"Avman, summon Iron Bear. I'm planning to move faster than usual."
Raven got on Iron Bear's back as soon as the bear-like man summoned him.
"It would be nice if Miss Ainar was also this soft…"
Geez, these mages.
They're always thinking about mounts.
"Wooooong—!"
Anyway, I took the lead and ran, and Raven and the bear-like man followed.
It was a formation where the bear-like man, who had a sturdy body for a ranged attacker, was in the rear.
Although goblins were no longer a threat…
…you never know.
The most dangerous thing in the labyrinth was always humans.
'At least there don't seem to be any Noark bastards…'
I initially ran through the cave cautiously, but I soon lowered my guard.
Although I encountered several explorers while increasing our speed, most of them were low-level explorers with low-grade equipment.
And there weren't many of them.
'Maybe I can really open the portal?'
That's when, as my hopes started to rise…
"It seems like there's someone ahead of us."
…they were dashed as soon as we reached the entrance of the dark zone.
A 9th-grade magic stone was lying on the path we were going to take.
There was no way Misha's team had passed through here.
Even if Erwen had, Misha and Ainar wouldn't have done that since I didn't teach them to.
"…Why are you picking that up?"
"A 9th-grade magic stone is still a magic stone."
I couldn't just leave a magic stone behind, remembering the time I had to crawl through this long passage on three legs.
Back then, this small magic stone was my hope—
"No, I meant I can retrieve it with magic."
Hmm, that's true.
Wait, then there wasn't a single mage in the team that passed through here?
I thought they would be a top-tier team at this speed.
"Liate."
We continued running, illuminating the darkness with light magic instead of torches.
The portal appeared after about 40 minutes.
As expected, it had already been opened.
「Entered 2nd Floor Goblin Forest.」
I dismissed my regret and entered the portal.
We had promised to wait for each other on the upper floor, regardless of who arrived first.
"…It's strange, just like in the cave earlier."
"Yes. It was so intense back then."
The Goblin Forest, where a fierce battle had taken place between Noark and the Lafdonian explorers.
The surroundings were quiet, and there was no one in sight.
"It seems like Misha's team isn't here yet, so let's wait for a bit."
I looked around while we were resting, and I found traces of people nearby.
"It seems like they were here before us. But why are you looking so closely?"
"I just feel a bit uneasy."
"Uh, I suddenly feel anxious when you say that…"
What is she talking about?
"Everyone, sit down and rest. We don't know when the other team will arrive."
We then took out our personal chairs from our subspace pockets and sat down.
Although goblins occasionally approached from afar, they didn't interrupt our rest.
Iron Bear took care of them.
___________________
"Hey…"
A woman, seemingly in her early twenties, spoke in a whiny voice in the moonlit forest.
"We're already on the 2nd floor, and there's no one around, so can't we summon Yongyong?"
"No. He'll definitely leave traces with that size."
"Come on, sis. Why not? It's not like we're the only summoners here. Right?"
"Carmilla, stop it. Lady Rainwales said no, didn't she?"
"Hey, are you just going to stay quiet?"
"Then don't talk to me in the first place. And what's so hard for you? You were just sitting on my shoulders the whole time on the 1st floor—"
"No, but you smell like a widower. It's getting on my clothes. It's bad for my nose!"
"...What?"
The warrior carrying the woman stopped for a moment at her sharp words, but he just sighed and continued walking, as if he was used to it.
"Right, why would I even bother talking to you."
"Then don't talk to me in the first place!"
"Carmilla, I know you're sensitive these days, but stop acting like a child. Even if I don't care, there are other people here."
"Geez, the nagging…"
The woman, called Carmilla, pouted and muttered.
She was dissatisfied with the whole situation.
"By the way, why do we still have to do this mission? Everyone abandoned us and ran away, so what's going to change even if we kill that explorer?"
"…They must have their reasons. We even received a message from them a few days ago."
"Ah, right. That message where they just said what they wanted to say and then hung up after 10 seconds?"
Carmilla said sarcastically, and the archer also frowned.
"They apologized, didn't they? They said they couldn't talk for long because of the barrier. But they said they would find a way to get us out, so we just have to do our job—"
"How naive. Don't you think it's a lie?"
"…Then why did you follow us all the way here, Miss Carmilla? Why aren't you in the city?"
"That's…"
Carmilla trailed off and bit her lip.
How could she say it?
That she whined about not wanting to come, but then followed them because she was scared of what that woman would do.
'Ah, what the hell is going on?'
She snapped at the archer, feeling irritated.
"By the way, Nebarche, what happened to the Ruin Scholar? You were the one who was with him until the end."
"I told you, didn't I? The Ruin Scholar had a conversation with 'that guy' and then disappeared—"
"Everyone, stop."
The archer also stopped talking and changed his expression as the woman who was leading the way stopped.
"Amelia, is there a problem?"
"The trap we set near the portal is gone."
"It means someone came up to the 2nd floor. Judging by the time, it seems like a high-ranking explorer… Maybe more explorers entered than we expected."
"Nebarche, do you have any guesses?"
"I don't know. But it wouldn't be a team from a large clan. They wouldn't move without being certain."
"I see."
Carmilla blurted out at their conversation,
"But does it matter who it is? I don't understand why you're curious about that."
"…You're not wrong."
Amelia seemed to be lost in thought at her words and then muttered softly,
"But I'm curious for some reason."
"Yes? What did you say?"
Amelia shook her head.
"…It's nothing. Let's move again."
____________________
"Mister, did you wait long? I'm sorry. We started in the southern district, so it took a while."
Misha's team arrived on the 2nd floor after about 2 hours of waiting.
So we quickly resumed our journey.
After all, over ten teams had already passed through here while we were waiting.
'It's not as empty as I thought.'
The 3rd-floor portal we arrived at was, of course, already open, and it was the same for the 4th floor, which we reached after 6 days.
"At least we can eat properly now."
We replenished our stamina and cleared the trials, having spent the entire journey running without even eating properly.
Although we were a 6-person party, unlike usual, our speed was actually slower.
Because the difficulty of the trials increased from 6 people onwards.
Although I didn't mind the increased number of monsters, the mazes in the Wisdom Trials became larger, so it took much longer.
'But maybe it's because of her racial traits? She's definitely better at navigating than me.'
Erwen, who had received scout training from her sister, was better at navigating than I expected.
If I relied on experience and knowledge, Erwen was the type to rely on her senses. Her night vision was also much better, so she could spot traps from afar.
"I think I can do it from here without Mr. Avman. This is the right door, right? I can hear mana fluctuations from beyond the door."
Her senses were so sharp that she could even find the portal connected to the 5th floor without the Guide's ability.
Her essences didn't have any Hearing stats.
'Is it just natural talent?'
Anyway, we arrived at the 5th-floor portal right around the beginning of Day 19.
'It's about a day later than usual.'
It would have taken much longer if there were seven of us.
Because the waiting time for each trial increased from then on.
Ah, for reference, it was proportional to the number of people.
There was a reason why large clans split into teams of five and met on the 5th floor.
"Aruru, why don't we meet on the 2nd floor and hunt like this on the lower floors?"
"Because we would have to share the loot with one more person, and the unit price isn't good enough on the lower floors. And besides, we need a navigator on each side if we split into two teams. There are many non-combat personnel among low-level explorers, right?"
"Hmm! I see!"
"I… I get it now! You were just nodding without understanding, right?"
"Oh, as expected of a mage!"
"Both of you, stop messing around and go to sleep."
We rested on the safe 4th floor and then entered the 5th floor early in the morning since it was time to camp anyway.
「Entered 5th Floor Great Magical Forest.」
The 5th floor, which we had returned to after a long time, was a bit different from usual from the very beginning.
It was exactly what I was hoping for.
"It's nice and quiet."
The clans that were always there first, controlling the hunting grounds, were nowhere to be seen.
And…
"Oh! Look, look! It's an Istoltos!"
…monsters that we couldn't even see unless we paid the clans were roaming freely in the fields.
"So this place was originally full of monsters."
The bear-like man muttered as if he was disappointed.
Well, he had been active on the 5th floor for a long time.
It must feel strange to him since he had a grudge against the clans.
"Yandel, what do you think? This won't last forever, right?"
"Right, it probably won't last long."
I answered honestly.
The large clans would start entering the labyrinth one by one from next month onwards. And as more time passed, newly formed clans would fill the empty spots.
"So let's stop sightseeing and move. This kind of opportunity doesn't come often."
There was a monster that would be difficult to catch if we missed this opportunity.
-x-X-x-
We're walking along the shaking canyon.
I'm in the lead, Iron Bear, the tank apprentice, is in the rear, and the rest are huddled together in the center.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!]
With every step we take, we hear the howls of specters from the darkness.
It's a characteristic of 'Specter Canyon', one of the four paths leading to the 6th floor.
「Character has entered a special area.」
「Field effect - Specter Canyon applied.」
The ground shakes violently every few minutes.
The eerie background music created by the specters.
And…
「Status effect [Bound Spirit] applied.」
「Darkness Resistance and Physical Resistance decreased by -100.」
…even this unpleasant sensation of my skin feeling thinner.
'It feels even more eerie because there are no explorers.'
It's already been a day since we entered Specter Canyon, but we haven't encountered any other explorers yet.
We've only encountered monsters.
「Killed Curse Stone. EXP +4」
「Killed Corrupted Creature. EXP +2」
「Killed Blood Ghoul. EXP +5」
「Killed Dakyrion. EXP +5」
「Killed Ancient Dusk....」
Well, it's actually an advantage.
We were able to obtain most of the experience points available in this route in just one expedition.
'It seems like we can just pass through here one more time and hunt the ones we missed…'
"Be careful not to fall."
We invested all our time in fighting and moving, except for stopping briefly whenever the ground shook.
We only rested when we camped.
Although it was a tight schedule, we should be fine for a few days since we had plenty of rest on the 4th floor.
"It's a bit strange. I thought the next area would be Frost Canyon."
"We weren't ready to go to the 6th floor back then. This is the closest path to the 6th floor."
"Hmm, I heard that… but wouldn't it have been better to go through the Hellfire Canyon, which we're familiar with, than this place, which we've never been to?"
"But we already collected all the achievement points there."
Although I gave Raven various reasons for coming here…
…there was another reason why I chose this route.
'Because I already obtained the essence I was going to absorb in Frost Canyon.'
I obtained the essence I was originally going to give to Misha as a reward from the royal family.
And most importantly…
'That guy' appears here.
A monster I had to defeat if I wanted to enter the 6th floor appeared in this route.
Of course, I couldn't tell them that this guy was my goal.
If I did, I would have to come up with an excuse for how I was going to find him, and I didn't have one.
As expected, it was best to just say I was lucky—
"Mister."
Huh?
"You have to go this way."
I ended my thoughts and looked ahead, and a three-way intersection blocked our path.
Actually, it wasn't exactly a three-way intersection.
"It's a bit of a distance to the other side. I'll go first and throw a rope."
I used [Leap] to jump over 30 meters in an instant and threw the rope I had prepared to the other side of the cliff.
It was one of the interesting aspects of the 5th-floor Great Magical Forest.
The number of routes you could choose increased depending on your character's abilities.
"It's set up! I'm coming over now!"
My companions crossed over to where I was one by one, using the rope. It wasn't difficult since it was sloped.
They just had to attach a hook to the rope and slide down.
"Then I'll go get it."
I used [Leap] to go back to the other side and retrieve the rope after they were all over.
After all, we couldn't just use it once.
It cost a fortune to have a rope specially made for this path.
"Erwen, how far down have we come?"
"About one-seventh."
"So we can reach the 6th floor in a week."
"Yes. If we can maintain our current speed."
We continued down, following Erwen's guidance.
Although she didn't make a map like I did since her exploration method was different, she never made us wander around aimlessly.
"The fairy girl is a good navigator."
"I haven't been to the 6th floor, but I've experienced all four paths while I was with the clan. And besides, Mr. Avman tells me the direction of the portal, so I have to be able to do this!"
"Whatever. You don't have to be so humble. I think you can be more confident."
Although I didn't have a bad impression of her from the beginning…
…the companions' gazes towards Erwen became more favorable as she proved her abilities.
It seemed like she was also getting along well with Misha these days.
"Sister! Come a little further inside. It might be dangerous on the outer side…"
"Okay, thanks."
Anyway, it was time to find a campsite and rest as we were moving along the shortest route, following Erwen's guidance.
"This place seems good."
The place I chose for our campsite was a cliff.
We only had to keep watch on one side, and if something went wrong, we could just jump over to the side path, which was about 5 meters away.
Ah, of course, the watch order didn't really matter.
"Bjorn, wake up."
"Monsters again?"
We had to wake up and grab our weapons every 20 minutes because monsters kept appearing.
It was the same for Raven, who had low stamina.
Although we tried to finish off the small groups without waking her up, we had no choice but to wake her up when dozens of monsters swarmed us.
"…Haam, I'll go back to sleep."
"Okay, good work."
"...."
Raven let out a small snore without even answering.
It was a bit funny to see her like that.
She had really become an explorer.
"Heh, she doesn't even wake up to most sounds anymore."
"No, I think she wakes up every time she hears something. Well, it seems like she falls asleep right away if it's nothing serious."
"It's a bit strange. That's actually the hardest part."
"Well, she'll get used to it."
"Yeah, that's true… you get used to everything eventually…"
It was like my relationship with Misha.
Although it was awkward for a while even after we entered the labyrinth, we could now talk comfortably without any burden. Time heals all wounds.
"Anyway, you should go to sleep too. I'll keep watch."
"It's still a few minutes until your turn."
"It's more troublesome to wake up again after falling asleep."
"Hmm, but I feel bad…"
Bad for what?
I would have to wake her up in 20 minutes to fight anyway.
______________________
The expedition continued, and it had already been ten days since we entered the 5th floor.
But we were still on the 5th floor.
"How much further to the 6th floor?"
"About a day, I think."
"At our current speed?"
"Yes."
"Let's assume it will take two days, just in case."
Unfortunately, our speed gradually decreased as the expedition progressed.
We were reaching our physical limits.
Well, it would be strange if we were fine after fighting all day without proper sleep.
Explorers weren't superhuman.
They were just much stronger than ordinary people.
'Well, at least we caught that guy yesterday.'
Although the schedule was delayed more than I expected, we achieved one of the side goals of this expedition.
The 5th-grade rare species, Soul Eater.
It was a very unique monster in many ways.
Not only did only one appear when the labyrinth opened…
「Killed Soul Eater. EXP +177」
…but its experience points were insane.
I thought it was a bug when I first saw the experience log.
After all, how could I have known that there was a monster that gave a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 200 experience points randomly upon first kill?
'I wonder how much I got.'
Although I couldn't calculate experience points accurately anymore, I wasn't disappointed.
Because I finally reached level 6 with this.
「Character level increased.」
「Soul Power increased by +30.」
「Maximum absorbable essence increased by +1.」
Corpse Golem, Orc Hero, Ogre, Manticore.
And Bion's essence, which I obtained as a reward from the royal family.
That was why I entered the labyrinth without removing the Corpse Golem essence, even though all five slots were filled.
I thought I would be able to level up if I just killed this guy since I had also duplicated experience points quite a bit.
"I can't believe we encountered him. We were lucky."
"Huhu, I told you several times, didn't I? This team is lucky."
Lucky, my ass.
You guys have no idea how much effort I put into fulfilling the spawn conditions without you knowing.
"Aruru, it's a clan now, not a team!"
"Ah, ye… yes, yes."
"Stop chattering and focus."
I continued leading the way, making sure they didn't get too distracted, as the leader… no, the clan master now.
Although the expedition was progressing smoothly, except for the delay…
…there were a few close calls.
Although our overall strength exceeded the 5th-floor level thanks to the royal family's reward, this world wasn't a place where specs were everything.
"Miss Misha, you'll have to repair your armor as soon as we get out."
"Ah, ye… ha, I just bought it. This is so frustrating."
Misha was directly hit by the spear of a Soul Knight summoned by the Soul Eater.
Of course, she wasn't injured.
But…
"Misha, what are you even frustrated about? You would have died yesterday if it weren't for that."
The spearhead pierced through Misha's armor.
It was where her heart was.
It would have been life-threatening if it had gone in just a finger's width deeper.
It was a close call.
If she had still been wearing the 2nd-tier leather armor she obtained by killing Zencia, our first PK opponent, she wouldn't have been able to endure it.
'It's a good thing I bought a 5th-tier leather armor this time, even if it meant spending a bit more money—'
"But, but it's still frustrating…"
Huh, she still doesn't get it.
"Enough, don't even think about saving money on equipment from now on."
"Okay…"
This is why those with low Physical Resistance are…
I can't relax.
"Ahem, it's nice to see, but shouldn't we get moving?"
"...."
We resumed our exploration after a brief awkward moment.
We reached the bottom of Specter Canyon after about a day and then found the portal after traveling for half a day.
"Wow, it's really the 6th floor…"
"It's my first time here too."
"I'm so excited. I've heard so much about this place."
Everyone expressed their feelings as we entered a new floor.
Of course, I also felt the same way.
'We finally made it to the 6th floor.'
The day I first saw the execution of tax delinquents in the plaza.
I thought back then…
…that I would have to reach at least the 6th floor to be able to live in a house with a kitchen, receive treatment when I was sick, and retire at 50 and live comfortably with three dogs.
That I would have to work hard and save money even then.
So…
…I decided to think about how to return home later.
'…I didn't expect to arrive 3 years earlier than expected.'
It was at least 3 years earlier than I had anticipated.
But I didn't want to say I was lucky.
It had been 13 months since I woke up in this body.
Although it was a short time, I had experienced so much.
I struggled hard.
And I lost someone.
And I grew into who I am now through his legacy.
"Bjorn."
"Ah, I was just lost in thought."
"You go first. You're the one who brought us here."
The bear-like man patted my shoulder.
"Yes. That's right. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have even entered the labyrinth."
Raven poked my waist with her staff.
Geez, they're rushing me.
"Then I'll go in."
I took a step towards the portal.
________________________
「Entered 6th Floor Great Ocean.」
________________________
A blue sky and a shining sun.
The salty smell of the sea carried by the wind.
And the sound of crashing waves.
Swaaa!
When I landed in midair and regained my balance, the first thing I saw was a vast sandy beach.
The sand was almost white, and beyond the wet mud, an emerald sea unfolded.
"Wow…"
Everyone was speechless.
I wasn't much different.
It was a breathtaking sight, and I felt a different kind of emotion compared to those who were seeing the sea for the first time.
"...."
We stood there blankly, gazing at the horizon as if we had forgotten time.
Actually, I came to my senses a while ago…
'But there's no need to interrupt this moment.'
I looked away from the sea and observed my surroundings.
'Starting Island Laimia', the starting point of the 6th floor.
It was always crowded with people in the game, but now it was empty.
'Well, they would have all set sail by this time.'
I then turned my head back towards the sea.
And I approached Misha and spoke.
"Misha."
It was enough to just call her name.
"Ah, right. We should do that first…"
Misha, who understood what I meant, took out an item she had been cherishing.
Raven tilted her head.
"What's that in the glass bottle? Is it an explorer's badge…?"
"It's an explorer's badge."
"Ah, don't tell me…"
"Right, it's Dwarkey's."
We had a simple funeral and burned most of Dwarkey's belongings, but we kept this.
It was the dwarf's request.
[That place is so mystical that even though it's a labyrinth, time flows differently, and there are seasons, right? Please do me a favor. He'll be grateful.]
[…But he's never even been there?]
[That's why he'll be grateful. If it were him.]
I wonder how it would be.
Although I didn't know for sure, I came here.
"Can you wait for a moment?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
Raven stepped back with the others without a word.
"Misha."
"Yeah."
I walked towards the sea with Misha, past the sandy beach.
Swaaa!
The waves surged and retreated like a beating heart.
Misha bent down and dipped her finger in the sea.
"It's colder than I thought…"
"I see."
"I wish he could have come with us…"
"Yeah."
He really would have.
He was so excited when we first arrived on the 3rd floor.
[…I think I'm starting to understand what explorers mean when they say the world is vast.]
If we had just…
…had a little more time together…
…he could have seen this vast ocean, not just the Milky Way spread out on the blocked ceiling.
"Give it to me now."
"Huh? But…"
"He'll probably come down here if we leave it here."
"Ah, you're right…"
Misha understood what I meant after looking at the waves, without needing a scientific explanation.
I then received the specially made glass bottle from Misha and entered the sea.
The shallow water gradually deepened, and I moved as far away from the island as possible.
"…This should be enough."
The water was up to my neck, even though I was using [Gigantification].
I threw the bottle as far as I could.
Splash!
The bottle bobbed on the surface and started drifting towards the other side of the island.
Okay, success on the first try.
I was going to take a boat later if it didn't work.
"Anyway, I tried to work things out with Misha, but it didn't work."
I said, looking at the drifting bottle.
And then I chuckled, finding it a bit funny.
What the hell am I doing?
"Rest in peace."
I swallowed the rest of my words, thinking he wouldn't be able to hear me anyway, and turned around.
But I thought.
What would Dwarkey think if he saw me now?
'He would have been happy.'
Even if it was just an act for the survivors.
He would have smiled.
No, he would have been even happier because it was for us.
That was the kind of guy he was.
Swaaa!
I turned around again, feeling the waves pushing against my back.
And I prayed briefly.
I didn't know where the bottle would drift…
Swaaa!
…but I hoped that these waves…
…would lead it to the place he wanted.