Thwack!
The moment I smashed Bek's shiny head with the Demon Crusher with all my might…
Psssh!
…his skull and scalp exploded simultaneously, and blood spurted from every orifice.
A successful surprise attack.
But as expected of seasoned veterans, they reacted quickly even after their leader's head was smashed.
Tadat.
The archer retreated.
"You crazy bastard!"
And the melee attackers rushed towards me, blocking my left and right flanks.
They're like cockroaches.
Whooosh!
I activated [Gigantification] and swung my hammer at the shield warrior in front of me.
Surprisingly, he didn't dodge.
He just raised his shield and shouted,
"Stab him!"
Right, he's telling them to stab me in the sides while he's blocking my attack.
I glanced at his shield. It looked pretty good.
'Adamantium.'
It seemed like he was relying on his expensive shield…
But there are much better items in the world.
'Don't struggle.'
The hammer and shield collided, and an explosion occurred.
Kwaaang!
His shield was slightly dented, but it was still intact.
But…
Kwagic!
…the shield warrior was bleeding from every orifice, like a punctured can of soda.
Because I didn't use [Swing] earlier.
I couldn't even see the Double Numbered Item's effect.
500% damage increase and 50% Soul Power consumption reduction when using a blunt weapon skill.
And 50% armor penetration bonus on downward strikes.
Thud.
He collapsed to the ground, his eyes bulging from the pressure.
Then it was time for the next one.
Swoosh.
I shifted my gaze towards my third target, and he retreated.
The archer behind him did the same.
Are they trying to run away?
That's funny.
I had no intention of letting them go.
'Transcendence.'
I quickly chanted the command.
'Eye of the Storm.'
The active skill I obtained from Stormgush.
Kaboom!
I stomped on the ground, and a whirlpool started to swirl.
It was different from the one Stormgush used.
It was the effect of [Transcendence].
Whooosh!
[Eye of the Storm] no longer pulled in enemies within a 5-meter radius.
Instead…
…it targeted a single person within a 20-meter radius.
And dragged them towards me.
"Aaaaaaargh!"
Just like this.
Kwagic!
Okay, three down.
But I wasn't satisfied. I looked at the last target, the fleeing archer.
I was planning to use [Leap] to chase him if he got too far…
But…
Thud.
…Amelia had already caught up and finished him off.
She's a rational woman.
She probably judged that it was best to kill them all and silence them since the incident had already happened.
"Ah, uh, uh, sp, spare…"
Thwack!
Amelia approached me after knocking the archer's companion, Zencia, unconscious.
And she said briefly,
"That was foolish."
"Because they're from the Lord's faction?"
"No, because now we have to kill this kid too."
…Is that how it works?
But she was alive back then.
"There were many opportunities to kill her. I would have killed her eventually, even if you didn't."
"…You would have?"
"I'm also responsible."
Responsible…
Ah, I don't know.
My head is a mess.
Beeeeeeeep.
The ringing in my ears continued, even though I had killed them all.
I felt even more suffocated.
"Why did you do that? You said you didn't even know your father."
That was true.
And I knew.
That no matter how many people I killed, it wouldn't bring him back.
That it would be hypocrisy.
But…
"Just…"
I couldn't explain it.
"I just… felt like it."
"…I see."
Amelia didn't get angry.
She just looked at me.
"...."
I averted my gaze.
I saw Yandel Jarku's body.
His corpse, which seemed to have been treated like a toy, was covered in injuries.
Clench.
I clenched my fists.
I remembered our brief conversation in the rift.
[Bjorn, have children as soon as possible. It's sad to leave nothing behind in this world.]
[…Really?]
[Yeah, I didn't know until I had a child.]
Jarku said.
That a child who shared his blood was like another him.
That it was a mystical experience.
That he had a new desire, even stronger than his desire to become a great warrior.
[Huhu, he'll definitely become a great warrior.]
So I ran away.
[Stop!]
[Huh?]
[I, I'll be going now…]
I realized it at his words.
That even if I lived as Bjorn Yandel, saved countless lives, and became a hero in the city…
'I wouldn't be forgiven.'
Even if it wasn't what I wanted.
Clench.
The truth doesn't change.
I was an evil spirit.
The one who stole the only precious legacy of this barbarian warrior.
_________________________
"You seem to have calmed down."
Amelia spoke as I was staring blankly at Yandel Jarku's body.
She wasn't wrong.
Time heals all wounds?
The ringing in my ears had subsided, and my trembling had stopped.
It was time to think about how to clean up this mess.
I looked at the unconscious Zencia and spoke.
"…Do we really have to kill her?"
"Is there another option? The Lord will find out what we did if she returns alive."
Damn it.
Amelia asked as I sighed in frustration,
"Is there a reason why we shouldn't kill her?"
"She's still… young."
I felt conflicted even as I said that.
Why was I trying to find a way not to kill her?
I knew the future.
This child would live a hellish life and then be possessed by an evil spirit when she became an adult.
So wouldn't it be better for her to…
'Damn it.'
I cursed.
What the hell am I thinking?
That it wouldn't change anything if I killed her now since she would die eventually anyway? That I could prove Auril Gabis wrong by killing her?
I shook my head firmly.
"…We can't kill her. Let's find another way."
"That's not like you."
"What do you know about me?"
You don't even know I'm an evil spirit.
I snapped at her, but I also agreed inwardly.
I would have made a different choice if it were my usual self.
But…
'At least today…'
…I didn't want to.
It had been a tough day.
Even if this decision meant surrendering to fate, I couldn't handle any more.
Therefore…
"You're right. I misjudged you. I didn't know you were this weak. If you can't do it, I'll—"
"Stop."
I grabbed Amelia's wrist.
"…You should let go."
"Didn't you say we should find another way?"
"Another way? There's no more certain way than this."
Ugh, this woman…
So she's saying we should think about it together…
'Ah, right, that!'
I quickly spoke as I thought of a solution.
"Right, the Memory Erasure Pill! The one made by Noark's alchemist! We can erase her memories with that! You're from the Lord's faction, right? You might have it!"
I said it excitedly, like Archimedes shouting 'Eureka!', but Amelia just scoffed.
"It's still in its early stages of development. There's no way they would have something that precious."
"But we should at least look for it!"
"…Fine, if you won't give up until you see it yourself."
Amelia then shook off my hand.
"And don't ever grab my arm without permission again."
Geez, she's sensitive.
Amelia then approached the corpses and started looting.
Okay, I bought some time to think, whether the Memory Erasure Pill appeared or not—
'Ah, wait a minute.'
I belatedly realized my mistake.
It seemed like Amelia hadn't noticed…
'Damn it.'
Ha, was I that out of it?
I would never have made this mistake if I were my usual self.
'…I'll just try to fix it later when she mentions it.'
I squatted down and started looting, checking the backpacks.
And I continued to think about what to do if the Memory Erasure Pill didn't appear.
That's when…
"…We're lucky. I can't believe they have this at this time."
…a pill appeared from one of the backpacks.
________________________
Things went smoothly after the pill appeared.
Amelia quickly fed it to Zencia, and we waited for her to regain consciousness.
And after some time…
"Ugh, ugh! What, what the…!"
Zencia, whose hands and feet were tied and who was blindfolded, regained consciousness, and we quietly observed her reaction from a distance.
It was an early version of the pill, so there might be side effects.
"Bek! Bek! Help me!"
It seemed like her memories had been erased, judging by how she was calling for the dead Bek.
Then how much had been erased?
We were able to get the information we wanted from Zencia, who was muttering to herself.
"She doesn't remember anything from the moment she entered the Crystal Cave. It seems like it's much more potent than the mass-produced version, maybe because it's an early version."
Amelia then knocked Zencia unconscious again and fed her a sleeping pill to prevent her from waking up.
That settled the issue for now.
"The labyrinth will be closing soon, so we just have to stay with her for a few hours."
We moved to another location and waited with the sleeping Zencia.
We couldn't just leave her alone in the labyrinth.
When the labyrinth closed, she would be found by the Lord's faction.
They would try to find out what happened, but she wouldn't remember anything.
"…Amelia, I'm sorry about earlier."
I apologized while we were waiting, but Amelia just ignored me.
And after some time…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
…the labyrinth closed.
But unlike usual, we weren't greeted by warm sunlight or a refreshing breeze.
Only the gloomy underground city awaited us.
"We're back."
The Dimensional Plaza in the western part of the Lord's Castle.
This was where Noark differed from Lafdonia.
On the surface, you had to go through the checkpoint and exchange your magic stones when the labyrinth closed, but here, it was up to you.
"Let's go get a drink!"
"Hey, isn't that the kid from Bek's gang? Why is she alone? Did the others die inside?"
"That's good news for Iron Tooth. He had a grudge against Bek."
The explorers who came out to the plaza dispersed, and it soon became deserted. Zencia, who was lying in the distance, was also found by the Lord's faction and taken away.
"Let's go too."
"Ah, right…"
We also left the plaza and headed towards one place.
[Melta Trading Company]
The only trading company in Noark, and the place where the looters of the underground usually sold their loot.
Unlike the magic stone exchange, which had a short line, the Melta Trading Company branch was crowded. After all, magic stones were currency here, so there was no need to exchange them.
And I heard that the magic stone exchange didn't even give you money, they just exchanged them for food or other items.
"Hmm, Iron Mask and Emily. The most famous people these days."
We took out all the equipment we had been storing as soon as it was our turn.
Ah, for reference, we excluded Bek's equipment.
It would be obvious that we killed them if we showed them that.
"…You obtained all of this during this expedition?"
The employee's eyes widened as we emptied our backpacks.
Even though looters were rampant in Noark, it wasn't common to see someone with this much loot.
"This will take some time. Can you wait?"
The employee then called a few more appraisers, and they all started working.
And after about ten minutes, we received the appraisal.
21 4th-grade magic stones.
1 5th-grade magic stone.
And 7 7th-grade magic stones.
Damn it, I don't even know how much that is.
"How much is that in Lafdonia?"
"Ah, you might not know since it's your first time in Noark. Based on last month's exchange rate, it's a total of 21,570,000 stones."
I had heard it from Amelia, but these guys are truly robbers.
Even though it was all low-grade equipment, and we didn't even show them the subspace pockets or expandable backpacks.
"It would be worth over 70 million stones on the surface."
"Yes, that's true."
Geez, that tone.
"Whatever. Emily, let's go."
"You're not selling it?"
"No, I'm not giving it away at this ridiculous price."
"If you say so."
We then took our equipment and left.
The employee didn't even try to stop us.
He probably thought we would eventually sell it to them anyway.
"Then let's go back to the inn."
We left the trading company and returned to our inn. We washed up and then sat down facing each other and talked.
"We showed the looted equipment to the trading company, so the Lord will be interested in us, even without Bek's report."
That was the reason why we went to the trading company even though we weren't planning to sell anything.
After all, the Lord practically owned the trading company.
He would definitely hear about the bloodstained equipment and ID cards, all the evidence of our looting.
"Then we just have to wait."
"Yeah, for now."
We talked about a few more things and then changed into our casual clothes and lay down on our beds.
"I'm going to sleep first. I'm tired."
Of course, sleep didn't come easily.
I was tossing and turning when…
"Are you asleep?"
…Amelia suddenly spoke.
"No, I'm not. Why?"
"I'm suddenly curious about something."
Curious…
I had a hunch.
She was probably thinking about my 'mistake' from earlier.
"Go ahead."
"How did you know about Amern's Blessing?"
Oh, so that's what it's called.
I answered nonchalantly, pretending not to know.
"Ah, that? Didn't you give it to me at the inn before?"
"But I didn't say it was made by Noark's alchemist."
"I grabbed another explorer from Noark and asked him before killing him!"
"Hmm, I see. Right… I see…"
Wait, what's with that tone?
I'm starting to feel uneasy—
"Barbarian, the name of that pill is Lethe's Blessing. Not Amern's Blessing."
Huh?
"As expected."
A shadow fell over my bed.
I subtly turned my head, and Amelia was standing there, looking down at me.
"You didn't lose your memories back then."
It was a checkmate.
She had realized my mistake back then, but she pretended not to know until I let my guard down…
How cunning.
I sighed and admitted it.
"Yeah, for some reason, I was fine."
What could I do if the pill was defective?
I had hidden it back then because I thought she might try to kill me if she knew, but there was no need for that now.
Noark's existence had already been revealed to the city.
'What do I even have to hide now?'
It wasn't something I should be worried about.
So I sat up and looked at Amelia, as if telling her to speak if she had something to say.
But then…
"...."
…her gaze was strange.
It felt cold.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
Amelia answered coldly,
"Only evil spirits don't lose their memories after taking that pill, Bjorn Yandel."
Ah, uh, hmm…
'Damn it.'
I didn't know that.
-x-X-x-
Noark doesn't reject evil spirits.
So unlike on the surface, there are quite a few people who live openly as evil spirits. In fact, judging by our previous conversations, even Amelia, who was born here, didn't seem to be hostile towards evil spirits.
However…
'It would become a permanent weakness if I admitted it.'
Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit.
That sentence was my Achilles' heel.
A bomb that could destroy my social life and even threaten my life.
And Amelia now had the button to that bomb.
Of course, we were on good terms now…
'But no one knows what will happen in the future.'
What if something happened and our relationship soured?
I wouldn't be able to sleep properly, and even if there were no problems, it would still be a source of anxiety.
If she decided to use me, I would be treated like a slave.
Therefore…
"Amelia Rainwales, are you insulting me?"
I spoke in a low voice, like a growling beast.
Evil spirits don't lose their memories?
It could be a made-up story to test me.
No, even if it was true that the pill had that characteristic, I had to make it seem like it was a defective product—
"What will you do if I am?"
"…Huh?"
I've never met someone this bold…
Amelia spoke before I could even recover from my shock.
"Are you going to attack me? Even though it will be more difficult to obtain the item the Lord is keeping without my help?"
"…Don't test my patience."
Amelia scoffed at my words.
"That just proves you're not that angry. You would have already attacked me if you were. Like the other barbarians."
"...."
"Come to think of it, it was strange from the beginning. I told you to beg for your life on a warrior's honor, and you didn't even hesitate."
"...."
"And now you're talking about insults? Don't you think it's a bit funny?"
Damn it, is this karma?
I was speechless.
So I had only one option left.
"You must be crazy to mock a barbarian."
It was an ultimatum.
I knew I would be at a disadvantage if I hesitated any longer.
I was gathering my strength when…
"Why, are you really thinking of attacking me? Like you did to that Evil Spirit Hunter who came to see you?"
Huh?
She even knows about that?
"…You investigated me?"
"There were too many suspicious things about you. Not just me, but everyone must have done it. Well, they probably all dismissed their suspicions after you received a noble title."
Amelia continued without giving me a chance to speak.
"But to think you're really an evil spirit. You're quite skilled. How did you even get a noble title? Even if the Secret Security Department cleared you, the royal family would have done their own investigation since it's a title bestowal."
Uh, there wasn't an investigation.
But whatever, that's good.
I could use this.
"Can't you believe that I got it because I'm not an evil spirit?"
I said confidently, but Amelia immediately refuted me.
"Like I said, only evil spirits don't lose their memories after taking that pill."
"It was a defective—"
"That's impossible."
Is she being stubborn?
No matter how hard I tried to explain, she wouldn't listen.
What should I do?
As I was contemplating, Amelia muttered something.
"…Hmm, now that I think about it, the royal family might have known and turned a blind eye. You were practically a hero in the city back then."
Damn it, what is she talking about?
I wanted to know what she meant, but I held back, knowing that it would be the same as admitting it.
But did my expression betray me?
"You don't seem to understand."
"No, not at all. Why would I even be curious about that?"
Amelia chuckled at my denial.
"You're still not going to admit it, are you?"
"Of course. I'm not an evil spirit."
"Well, that's like you. Whatever. It's not like there's no solution."
Amelia then took out a disc the size of a compass from her subspace pocket.
It was an item I couldn't not know.
'Crazy, why is that here?'
No. 7234 Distorted Trust.
A consumable item that prevented anyone within a 10-meter radius from lying, and the one that caused all that chaos in the Doppelganger Forest.
"I didn't see it when you were unpacking at the trading company."
"I bought it separately when I was living in the city. I thought it might be useful in a city like this. I didn't expect to use it on you first, though."
Right, so she had already simulated how to use her cards against me.
"Judging by your expression, it seems like I don't have to explain what this is. Well, an evil spirit would know, wouldn't they?"
Click.
Amelia pressed the button on the top of 'Distorted Trust'.
And she placed it on the nightstand between our beds.
Tick, tick, the second hand started moving.
"Bjorn Yandel, are you an evil spirit?"
Checkmate.
_______________________
A suffocating silence followed.
I desperately racked my brain.
'…What should I do?'
It wasn't about whether to reveal that I was an evil spirit or not.
That ship had already sailed when 'Distorted Trust' appeared.
'It's not a fake.'
Unfortunately, it was the real deal.
I had already tested it as soon as it was activated.
I couldn't even say a lie like 'I'm a woman'.
"Five minutes left."
"...."
"Are you just going to stay silent?"
The item that made silence itself an answer.
The fact that I was an evil spirit had already been proven.
Therefore, there was only one thing I was contemplating.
'Should I kill her?'
It was my biggest secret, so even extreme measures seemed tempting.
But…
'…Don't be ridiculous.'
I dismissed the thought.
It was impossible to kill her in the first place.
Honestly, it wasn't like I didn't have a chance of winning in a 1v1…
…but it would be difficult to chase her if she decided to run away.
And if our relationship soured now, our future plans would be ruined.
'And besides, she seems like the type who would be a pain in the ass as an enemy.'
Then there was only one option.
It wasn't a barbarian-like solution, but…
She was a woman who saw things in black and white, so if I didn't want her to become an enemy, I had to become her friend.
"It's a waste to just stay silent, so I'll say something. It's true that 'only evil spirits don't lose their memories after taking that pill'. I didn't make it up."
I finally made a decision after a long contemplation.
"…Right, I'm an evil spirit."
It was my second coming out, after Lee Baekho.
Amelia didn't seem surprised.
She must have already been certain.
"You have a strange expression."
"…You wouldn't understand. How relieved and frustrated I feel right now."
"I think—"
Amelia suddenly stopped talking.
I didn't understand at first, but I soon realized what was going on.
'Distorted Trust' had blocked her from speaking because it recognized her words as a lie.
"Don't tell me you were going to say you're sorry."
"...."
Damn it, this is ridiculous.
I was furious, but I barely managed to control myself.
I couldn't afford to make an enemy out of her.
Now that she knew I was an evil spirit, I had to become her best friend.
Right, so let's confirm this first.
"But are you okay with it? That I'm an evil spirit?"
"If you're asking if I have a grudge against evil spirits like the people in the city, the answer is no. I was even on a team with an evil spirit for over a year."
"…Then why were you so persistent?"
"I was curious."
This was the second hurdle.
She investigated me, trying to find out something I wanted to hide, just because she was curious?
I was getting angry when…
"…We keep getting involved. So I was curious. If you were hiding anything, if I could trust you."
…Amelia said so, avoiding my gaze.
Judging by the fact that 'Distorted Trust' was activated, it didn't seem like an empty compliment.
Damn it, this is making it hard for me to be angry—
"Ah, and of course, I also thought it would be useful to have leverage over you so you wouldn't betray me."
She shouldn't have said that.
Well, what can I do? That's just how she is.
"I have a question."
"…Go ahead."
"If you're an evil spirit, why were you so angry about Yandel Jarku's death? Was it guilt?"
"That's…"
I don't know.
I tried to answer, but I couldn't speak.
So I just admitted it.
"Yes."
"Hmm, you're surprisingly soft-hearted."
Amelia looked at me with interest.
"Is your goal also to return, like the other evil spirits?"
"…I don't know."
"Because of your companions?"
"...."
"You must have always been sentimental."
Seriously, why is she so interested in me?
I should change the subject…
Click.
The second hand on 'Distorted Trust' stopped moving.
The effect had ended.
'I can finally breathe.'
I quickly changed the subject.
I had already revealed that I was an evil spirit, whether I liked it or not.
I had to confirm the things I couldn't ask before.
"Amelia, why were you looking for Auril Gabis?"
"Ah, come to think of it, you must know about him since you're an evil spirit."
"Know about him? I even met him recently."
"You met him?"
"We'll talk about that later. Answer my question first."
"…He was there when my sister died."
"What?"
"I thought he must have been involved somehow. So I wanted to meet him and hear the truth. That's all."
Hmm, that's surprisingly simple.
I thought there would be a bigger secret.
'No, wait, the fact that the old man was there is valuable information. Maybe I can find out his goal during this trip.'
"So, tell me. Where did you meet him?"
"Do you know about Ghostbusters?"
"If you're talking about the evil spirit gathering, then yes, to some extent."
Okay, then there's less to explain.
"I didn't think I would be summoned since it's twenty years ago, but I was summoned in my sleep. I met someone who claimed to be Auril Gabis there."
I then briefly explained how I was discovered to be from the future.
"The important part is from now on, so listen carefully. That old man said that the past can't be changed, no matter what we do here."
"…He said that?"
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it either, so I tested it. And the result is what I told you back then."
Dwarkey and Raven.
I tried to change their futures, but it seemed like even those actions were part of causality.
"So I'll ask again, Amelia."
"...."
"Are you still going to try?"
Amelia didn't answer.
She didn't even flinch when I mentioned it before.
It seemed like Auril Gabis' words carried a different weight.
"I'll try."
Amelia finally spoke after composing herself.
"It's too late to give up now."
Too late…
She's like someone who bought stocks at the top of a cliff.
"I see. Then I'll help you."
I expressed my willingness to help instead of advising her to cut her losses.
She's surprisingly kind.
If I keep building up her favorability and putting her in debt, she won't use my weakness against me—
"…I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep first."
Amelia then ended the conversation and lay down on the bed.
I was a bit flustered.
'Huh? She's going to sleep? Isn't this the time to say thank you?'
I didn't even expect her to say she was grateful or relieved that I was here, but I didn't expect her to just lie down without saying anything.
Damn it, this is ruining my plan…
How can I score points?
"Amelia, are you asleep?"
"...?"
"I, I was just wondering if you wanted a massage since you're tired."
"...."
"Ah, right… I guess that would be weird. Sorry for bothering you."
I lay down on the bed across from her, watching her reaction.
I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn't come.
That's when, as the silence continued…
"What's your real name?"
…a question suddenly came out of nowhere, and I just answered honestly.
I didn't know why she was suddenly curious about my real name…
"It's Lee Hansu. Ah, Lee is the last name."
…but my real name didn't really matter now that she knew I was an evil spirit. And refusing to answer could decrease her favorability.
Well, that's right.
But…
"Hans? So your name is Hans? That's an unusually common name—"
I couldn't help but curse.
"What the fuck?"
That was crossing the line.
-x-X-x-
An awkward silence followed after I jumped out of bed and cursed.
It didn't last long.
"Did you just say 'fuck' to me?"
Amelia asked, as if to confirm, and I hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
Of course, I didn't apologize mindlessly.
This was important to me.
"Ahem, my name is Lee Hansu. Not Lee Hans."
"So?"
"I would appreciate it if you could be careful with the pronunciation. You know, it's a sensitive topic for me…"
I was worried that my favorability might decrease, but Amelia was surprisingly understanding.
"…Alright. I'll be careful."
She seemed to realize that she had crossed a line, although she didn't understand why I was so sensitive about the pronunciation.
Okay, then that's settled.
I took the opportunity to ask her something I was curious about.
"Um, Amelia."
"Speak."
"What did you mean earlier? About how the royal family might have known I was an evil spirit and turned a blind eye."
It was a question I couldn't ask before revealing my identity.
"It's just a possibility for now."
Amelia said cautiously, and then she shared her guess.
"If the royal family had 'investigated' you, they would have already discovered your identity."
Hmm, that's true.
Even I wouldn't be able to hide it if they used a Numbered Item like the one we saw today.
But…
"I understand that, but how does that connect to them turning a blind eye? Wouldn't it be more natural for them to just trust me completely?"
"Maybe. But you were the most famous hero in the city back then. I thought they might not have been able to touch you."
Uh, I still don't understand.
No matter how famous I was, I was just a small fry to the royal family.
"Explain in more detail."
"Hmm, you have no sense for politics."
Hey, can you please stop analyzing Lee Hansu?
Amelia chuckled and continued when I just stared at her.
"Think about it. A hero who risked his life to save his companions in the labyrinth, who fought a bloody battle against evil and returned alive with thousands of explorers. But that hero is an evil spirit? What kind of problem do you think that would cause?"
"Uh… chaos?"
"Right, chaos. After all, the royal family, along with the three churches, had been portraying evil spirits as evil beings that should be eradicated."
Ah…
Now I understand.
Why she thought the royal family might have turned a blind eye even though they knew my identity.
"So evil spirits have to always be evil…"
"Fortunately, you're quick to understand."
I'm different from other evil spirits.
I helped my tribesmen to strengthen the weak barbarian tribe, and I even fought at the forefront of the Noark War.
So the royal family had to be careful.
If they executed me for being an evil spirit, the citizens would think…
He saved thousands of people?
And you're killing him just because he's an evil spirit?
"Of course, there wouldn't be a riot even if they revealed your identity and executed you. It would be noisy for a while, and then it would die down. But…"
"The royal family wouldn't want to set a precedent. That there might be evil spirits who could be beneficial to this world."
"I'll say it again, it's just a guess."
Although Amelia ended her explanation, I still felt uneasy.
It wasn't just a baseless guess.
There was evidence. And the problem was that the evidence sounded plausible even to me.
'Damn it, what if it's true? Should I change my identity and go into hiding as soon as I return?'
That's when, as my mind was racing with various thoughts…
"…Amelia, are you asleep?"
"I'm not. And call me Emily when we're alone. I'll also call you by your alias."
"Uh, suddenly?"
"You might make another mistake in front of other people."
She was talking about the time I beat up Bek's gang.
"So it's better to get used to it. We'll be contacting the Lord's faction soon, according to our plan."
I dismissed my thoughts at her words.
Right, I wouldn't be able to find a proper answer about the royal family in this time period anyway.
Let's just focus on this.
_____________________
The next morning.
Knock, knock.
We had a visitor.
"My name is Rick Omanus. Are you Emily and Bjorn, son of Thor?"
He was… surprisingly, a knight.
Not an explorer who used a sword and wore plate armor, but a real knight under the Lord's command.
'So there's a knight order here too.'
Well, that's probably why Amelia could use Aura.
It would have been difficult for her to reach that level of sword mastery at her age to naturally awaken it.
She must have learned it from someone.
"What's your business?"
"The Lord has recognized your abilities and decided to support you."
It was an arrogant choice of words, like the high-ranking officials in Lafdonia.
They didn't even think we would refuse?
Well, we weren't going to, but…
"What kind of support are you talking about?"
Rick Omanus just handed us a piece of paper instead of answering Amelia's question.
"The details are all written there, so please read it and give us your answer."
It was a contract that listed the support we would receive if we accepted the offer, and what we had to give up in return.
The conditions weren't bad.
We would receive support for our team members, the right to go up to Lafdonia if we made enough contributions, and various benefits from being under the Lord's protection.
In return, we had to follow the Lord's orders in emergencies.
"So it's not support, but recruitment."
"I told you, the Lord has recognized your abilities."
"We need some time to think."
"I'll wait here. Please don't take too long."
Although we had been waiting for this, we took our time, knowing that agreeing too easily might raise suspicion.
And when we opened the door again…
"…You were standing there the whole time?"
"I'm on duty."
I didn't expect him to be waiting for over two hours.
"Here."
We then handed him the signed contract. He said he had already informed his superiors and told us to visit them whenever we were ready.
He really didn't think we would refuse.
"But does signing even matter?"
"It's just a formality. You can't live a normal life in this city if you go against his will."
What the hell, he's showing off in front of newbies.
We could just move to the eastern district and join Orculus.
"Then I'll see you later."
The knight left without looking back after finishing his business.
So it was time for us to start our day.
"Emily, what are we going to do now? We attracted his attention, but it doesn't seem like he wants to meet us personally."
"It's fine. We can just keep attracting his attention."
"Well, that's true."
I was confident in attracting attention.
After all, I kept getting caught up in incidents with this barbarian body, even when I was trying to lay low.
"Let's go."
We put on our equipment and headed towards the Lord's Castle. We had only taken care of some administrative work in the outer castle before, but we could now enter the inner castle, which required permission.
"You're Emily and Iron Mask, right? Sir Omanus told me about you. My name is Mel. I'm in charge of assisting you with your work when you visit the inner castle."
Mel, the administrative official who greeted us with a bright smile, welcomed us and briefly explained the structure of the inner castle.
I didn't have to listen carefully.
I had already heard it all from Amelia.
"Since it's your first day, I think you should register first. Ah, what are your plans? Most people join their original teams—"
"We're not planning to join a regular team."
"I see. Then I'll guide you to create a team under your names."
We followed the official to the Labyrinth Management Office in the inner castle, which was only accessible to explorers affiliated with the Lord.
And we registered as a two-person team.
Ah, for reference, our team name was 'Iron Mask'.
A nickname like this was much more memorable than 'Emily' or 'Bjorn'.
"What about the other three members? If you tell me the roles you're looking for—"
"We'll decide later."
"Yes?"
"We're going to move as a two-person team until we find suitable members. So block all membership applications."
"Yes, I'll take care of it."
Amelia, who was skilled at navigating the local system, then asked the staff member for some information.
"How many 'runners' are available?"
Runners were those who entered the labyrinth at a young age and did all the dangerous work, like Zencia.
"There are currently thirteen."
"Including those who are already in teams?"
"173."
"I want to see them all."
Amelia carefully read through the list the staff member gave her.
And she found the name she was looking for.
"I want to take these two."
"The Rainwales sisters are already in a team, so that's impossible…"
"You can at least contact their team. Tell them we'll compensate them generously if they hand them over."
"…Yes."
That was the end of today's business.
But Amelia took me to another place in the inner castle before we left.
It was a bar.
"A bar? There's a place like this inside the castle?"
"It's one of the benefits for those with access to the inner castle."
"But why here…?"
I didn't understand her intention since I had never seen her drink alcohol.
Not until I saw the bar's sign.
[Rainwales]
It couldn't be a coincidence that her last name and the bar's name were the same.
"Aren't you going in?"
"Ah, ah, uh…"
The interior was clean, and there weren't many people since it was daytime. We took a table in the corner and ordered drinks and snacks.
And…
"...."
"...."
…we sat there in silence.
Hey, why did you bring me here if we're not going to talk?
It seemed like a place with a story—
"Are you curious?"
I hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
"It's not a very pleasant story."
"You can't just experience pleasant things in life."
She said so and downed her drink.
Damn, that's strong. And it tastes terrible.
Is this what a manly city like Noark is like?
"…Strange."
"Huh?"
"I didn't say anything."
Amelia muttered and drank her alcohol.
Wow, what's gotten into her? She even downed it in one gulp.
Was it a story that was difficult to tell when she was sober?
That's when, as Amelia placed her empty glass on the table…
Kwaaang!
…I was startled.
I quickly turned my head towards the sound.
A man's voice was coming from the kitchen.
"You ungrateful bitches!!"
His voice was filled with anger, and I soon heard something breaking.
A woman's scream was mixed in with the sound.
Thwack! Thwack!
It was clear that violence was taking place in the kitchen.
But the few customers just looked on with indifferent expressions.
"The owner is beating up his daughter again."
"Keke, those girls are pitiful. To have a father like that."
What, owner? Daughter?
Then the one being beaten up is…
Whoosh.
I quickly looked at Amelia.
Her hand, which was holding her glass, was trembling.
It was too pitiful of a sight to just be old anger.
-x-X-x-
Amelia was a strong woman.
It wasn't because she could use Aura and had several high-grade essences. I had never seen her afraid of anything.
But now…
"...."
…she was trembling.
She shouldn't be afraid of anyone, no matter who her father in that kitchen was.
'Is it trauma?'
It wasn't something I couldn't understand.
I had a similar experience.
I couldn't ride a car for years, even though I knew it was safe, and I would wake up in the middle of the night and search the entire building if I smelled smoke.
It was engraved in my subconscious, regardless of my will.
Thwack!
That it was dangerous.
"…Are you okay?"
Amelia didn't answer my question.
So I grabbed her trembling wrist.
"Emily."
She finally came to her senses and answered.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't hear you… What did you say?"
"I asked if you were okay."
"...."
Right, so you're not okay.
Amelia spoke again after the noise from the kitchen subsided.
"…I showed you something unpleasant."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I didn't see anything.
Even if I did, I wouldn't have thought it was unpleasant.
"Phew, those bitches make me so angry."
The man then emerged from the kitchen.
He had a sturdy build, but he was only about 170 centimeters tall.
And contrary to my expectations, he had a very ordinary face.
"Owner, you were a bit too harsh today, weren't you?"
"Harsh? They're ungrateful bitches. Enough with the depressing talk, let's drink."
The man sat down at a regular's table and started chatting and drinking, and Amelia watched him from the corner for a long time before speaking.
"That man was my foster father."
"Foster father?"
"It's a common story here. Children who lose their parents need a place to stay, and there are many people in the city who are willing to take them in."
"Many people…"
I could already guess the reason.
It wouldn't be out of some noble motive, like wanting to provide a home for orphaned children.
Amelia clearly said it was a 'common story'.
And common stories are usually hyperrealistic.
"It's a kind of symbiotic relationship. The children receive protection until they're old enough to work, and the foster parents get cheap labor."
All rights to adopted children belonged to the foster parents in this city, and those rights were absolute.
At least until the children grew up.
They couldn't even kill their foster parents or run away. It would set a precedent. They would be labeled as ungrateful and face retaliation from others.
"…I see."
"But my sister and I were better off. We were healthy and rarely got sick. So we were able to stay together."
"How old were you back then?"
"Five. My sister was three years older than me."
She said it wasn't that bad at first.
Unlike when they were with their injured and weakened father in the labyrinth, they received proper meals and weren't cold.
Well, they were still made to do chores, even at that young age…
"But it wasn't that hard. Everyone lived like that. I even thought I was lucky to have my sister to rely on."
Amelia thought back then…
…that their lives would begin when they grew up.
"But it didn't go well."
"…It was all because of me."
It happened when Amelia was nine years old.
A drunkard tried to strangle her while she was helping out at the bar.
Because she spilled food on him.
"My sister stepped in."
Amelia's sister saw it and ran to the kitchen. She grabbed a kitchen knife and then slowly approached the drunkard from behind and slit his carotid artery.
"I found out later that no one in the bar, not even the explorers, sensed her approaching him."
But the drunkard didn't die that day.
He was treated with a potion in time. But the incident revealed a young girl's talent to the world.
"Someone from the Lord's faction came the next day. They said they would cover up the incident if we handed her over."
Surprisingly, her foster father refused.
And he used all his money to pay the drunkard's medical bills and apologize, resolving the situation himself.
He did that for one reason.
It was the rational choice.
"My sister became a 'runner' from that day onwards."
He judged that…
…he could earn much more money if he raised her properly since she was talented.
"Indeed, she was talented. She started receiving a share of the loot after just a year in a looting team."
Her foster father then thought…
…that Amelia might also be talented since they were sisters.
"I also became a 'runner' soon after and was practically sold to a looting team. And I was also acknowledged for my talent."
Amelia briefly glossed over the rest of the story, and I didn't pry further.
I could imagine what kind of life the Rainwales sisters had lived as 'runners'.
They must have endured.
Relying on each other as the only family they had left.
"Anyway, that's how my sister and I ended up in the Necromancer's faction, and we're still working at this bar while we're in the city."
Amelia finished her story, having explained her childhood and adolescence.
"So, are you satisfied now?"
"Yeah, it's enough."
I had already heard the rest when we were making plans.
The sisters' hopes of being free when they became adults were crushed…
Clench.
…by a common tragedy.
_____________________
Time passed, and it was past noon, and the number of people entering the bar gradually increased.
"...Um."
A young girl approached our table.
She was in her early teens, with red hair and long curls.
She had a bruise on her face, and her hair was messy, as if she was trying to hide it.
"Would you like more drinks…?"
It was something the staff usually said if you stayed at a bar for too long.
It meant to order more or leave.
"...."
Amelia couldn't even look her in the eye and avoided her gaze.
I could understand.
"What's your name?"
"…Amelia Rainwales."
Right, it must be awkward to face her younger self.
She knew what was going to happen, so she must be feeling guilty.
"Let's go."
Amelia tried to leave, but I stopped her.
"Wait a minute."
I couldn't miss this opportunity to see Baby Amelia.
"Kid, how old are you?"
"Thirteen…"
Oh, thirteen twenty years ago…
"So you're thirty-four."
Amelia glared at me as I muttered. It seemed like she was annoyed that her personal information was revealed.
"Thirty-four…?"
Baby Amelia looked confused, but she maintained a bright expression.
"That's how you smiled."
"Yes?"
"Ah, I was just saying you should smile more often. It looks good on you."
"Ah, okay…"
Unlike Adult Amelia, who had a sullen expression, Baby Amelia looked flustered.
So I stopped teasing her.
"Alright, we're leaving now, so bring us the bill."
"Okay!"
I quickly paid and left the bar, worried that I might not be able to handle the consequences if I stayed any longer.
And as soon as we returned to the inn…
"…Maybe you were right."
…Amelia muttered bitterly.
"What do you mean?"
"I remembered something. We had a similar conversation before."
Ah, so that was why she was making that expression.
I thought she was mad at me.
"Amelia."
"Emily."
"Ahem, right, Emily. Want a drink?"
I said so and took out some alcohol from my subspace pocket.
It was all from the looters.
"No, thank you. It's pointless for me to drink anyway."
"Because of your essences?"
"Yes."
In short, it meant that she couldn't get drunk because of her high Poison Resistance and Mental Resistance.
"Then why did you drink at the bar?"
"Because… it would be suspicious if I didn't drink at a bar."
"You're contradicting yourself."
"What?"
"Don't be so serious. What's so hard about having a drink? I'm lonely drinking alone."
Amelia asked as I poured myself a drink,
"…Why do you even want to drink?"
"We still have things to talk about."
Geez, do you think I would really be doing this just to drink?
Although I had heard a lot about her childhood at the bar…
…I had something else I wanted to ask.
After all, we had already come out to each other.
"Things to talk about?"
"What are you pretending not to know? We don't have any secrets anymore."
"…Don't act friendly. It's disgusting."
"Really? Then I won't, so tell me. You didn't tell me anything about 'Nibels Enche' when we were making plans. I also heard about Auril Gabis being there for the first time yesterday."
Amelia had refused to communicate with me back then.
She cooperated, but she didn't want to share everything and rely on each other.
But judging by how she even told me about her past today, it seemed like I had gained her trust to some extent.
"What would change even if I told you? You think we can't change anything anyway."
Uh, that's true.
I still thought the same way.
But…
"You said yesterday that it was too late to give up."
"…I didn't cry."
Geez, just let it slide.
"Did you? Anyway, I'm going to help you seriously since you're not giving up."
"So that I'll help you?"
"Well, I'm not saying it's not part of the reason."
"So there's another reason?"
I answered honestly.
"I want to put you in debt."
Amelia looked confused.
"…Why?"
There were countless reasons.
First, Amelia knew my weakness.
I had to put her in debt to silence her.
And she was strong.
She also seemed to have a good heart and a lot of experience, so she was reliable in some ways.
So, in short…
"Honestly, our first meeting wasn't great, but I like you."
"…What?"
"Ah, don't misunderstand. I don't mean I like you romantically."
"I didn't misunderstand."
"That's good."
Ahem, I cleared my throat and continued.
"Anyway, I know what kind of person you are now. You always try to repay your debts. So if possible, I also want to save your sister. You'll do me a favor if I do that."
"A, a favor? No, what kind of favor are you thinking of…?"
Amelia looked at me with wary eyes and stepped back.
Damn it, is she scared of me?
This is going to cause a misunderstanding.
"Amelia Rainwales."
I took a step closer and spoke.
I wasn't originally planning to reveal my greed this early…
But it wouldn't hurt to mark my territory.
"If I succeed in saving your sister and resolve all the restrictions even after we return to our original time…"
"…Resolve the restrictions?"
"Then join my clan."
Damn right, quests should have rewards.
-x-X-x-
Was my recruitment offer that unexpected?
Amelia looked at me as if trying to figure out my intentions. However, unable to find any other motive, she spoke in a somewhat bitter voice.
"I'm… a looter."
"That's only natural since you're from Noark. But I know better than anyone that you're different."
Indeed, Amelia had let me and Ainar go back then when we first met.
It was the same when we met in the sewers.
The dwarf, Rotmiller, Misha, and even Dwarkey.
She had given everyone, not just me, the precious 'Lethe's Blessing' and tried to find another way.
Therefore…
"My information is registered with the Explorer's Guild. The royal family would also know—"
I firmly cut Amelia off.
"I can just create a new identity."
"It's not that easy. If you're with me, people will definitely try to find out my identity—"
Ugh, she's so talkative today.
"That's why I said I would take care of all those restrictions. Then you can join my clan."
"That's… impossible, that's why I'm saying this. It will be troublesome for both of us if you try to force it—"
"Geez, you're hedging your bets."
"Hedging…?"
"Whatever, I'll take care of it, so you just have to answer."
A binary choice of 'yes' or 'no'.
Amelia hesitated for a moment and then sighed as I simplified the situation.
"Ha… why do you always make things difficult for me…?"
"So, what's your answer?"
"Okay. If it's a situation where there's no problem with me being by your side…"
Amelia trailed off and avoided my gaze.
But did she dislike her unconscious action?
Swoosh.
Amelia looked at me and said,
"Then I'll become your companion."
The quest was accepted.
_________________________
Quest Name: Save My Sister!
Objective: Sister's Survival (0/1), Resolve Identity Issue (0/1)
Reward: Amelia Rainwales (SSR) Recruitment Ticket
Hmm, I guess that's the gist of it.
As I was organizing the quest, Amelia took the bottle of alcohol from the table and chugged it.
"I thought you didn't drink because you don't get drunk?"
"I'm thirsty."
Oh, I see.
But she sounded very macho, saying that while chugging alcohol.
Thud.
Amelia frowned as she put the bottle down.
I couldn't help but ask,
"Do you not like alcohol?"
"How can this taste good?"
"No, I was just checking. I don't like alcohol either."
I heard that it tastes like a sweet drink if you've been through a lot of hardship, so I just asked, just in case. I've been through enough, but it still tastes the same.
"…Enough with the nonsense, let's get to the point."
Amelia sat down across from me.
"You said you wanted to hear about Nibels Enche? I'll tell you. I might be able to think of another way after hearing your opinion."
"Okay."
"Ah, and one more thing. I'm telling you this beforehand, but I'll only become your companion if you keep all the promises you made. Got it?"
"But I told you to join my clan, not become my companion."
"Ah, uh…"
Amelia flinched at my words.
"That's also… right, I see. I, I thought you meant the same thing. If they're different, I'll correct my answer—"
"It's fine, 'companion' sounds better than 'clan member' anyway."
"…Are you making fun of me?"
She's perceptive.
"There's no way."
Amelia looked at me suspiciously, but she couldn't say anything since she didn't have any proof.
So it was time to change the subject.
"Just tell me. Everything I don't know, including Nibels Enche."
Amelia dismissed her playful attitude and started talking as we returned to the main topic.
"Nibels Enche was the name of the man who saved my life that day. 'Iron Mask' is his nickname in Noark."
"As expected."
At least one of my questions was answered.
I'm her lifesaver.
Huhu, no wonder she's been so soft on me since we came to Noark.
"I've been debating whether to tell you this. I came here to change the past, but it feels like everything is happening as it's supposed to, no matter how hard I struggle."
"I see."
I didn't have to say much since I had already experienced it.
"But you said you weren't giving up. Enough, tell me. When did we… no, when did you meet Nibels Enche again after that?"
"I don't know the exact date. But if I remember correctly, it was about three weeks from now. The location was…"
I then had a long conversation with Amelia and learned everything I needed to know.
Amelia didn't hold back or try to test me, she answered all my questions honestly.
It was our first real conversation.
Ah, of course, that didn't mean I immediately found the answer.
"Anything else you're curious about?"
"No, I think I've heard everything."
"I see, then…"
"I'm sorry. Honestly, I don't know yet. I need more time to think."
"Is that so…"
Amelia seemed disappointed when I said I didn't have any ideas either, but she didn't say anything.
"Well, it's not like you would have a solution right away."
"That sounds like you weren't expecting anything."
"…Strange. If that were the case, I wouldn't have even told you."
"Hmm, so you trust me?"
"…To some extent."
"To some extent."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
If it were anyone else, I would have thought it was a sly answer, but I felt a strange sense of accomplishment because it was Amelia.
You know how it is, right?
You just brush off your parents' compliments, but when someone who's usually prickly praises you, you feel acknowledged.
"Anyway, it's my turn now since you don't have any more questions."
"Huh?"
"What are you surprised about? It's only natural for me to… be curious about you."
"Ah, right. Go ahead. What are you so curious about?"
I thought she would ask about my world, but she didn't.
She really has no unnecessary curiosity.
Well, that's convenient for me.
"Actually, everything you might be curious about is what I already told you. But since you're curious, I'll tell you from the beginning. When I opened my eyes, I was in a mansion that felt very familiar. Ah, it's a long story to explain why it felt familiar…"
"It's fine, tell me. We have plenty of time."
"Uh… okay."
I then told her everything that happened in the spiritual world I visited last month.
And I mentioned the names of the big shots.
The captain of Orculus.
The Ruin Scholar, Belvev Ruinjenes.
And the mysterious man called 'Kagureas'.
"Kagureas? I've never heard of that name."
Unfortunately, even Amelia didn't know anything about him.
Well, the other two were a bit different.
"The captain of Orculus was there… There were rumors that he might be an evil spirit, but I can't believe it's true. Then you're also from the same place as the captain?"
"No, that's not it. Not all evil spirits come from the same dimension."
"Is the Ruin Scholar the same?"
"Probably. People from our world started being summoned around this time."
"I see… This is amazing. I've never even heard rumors about the Ruin Scholar being an evil spirit."
"In that sense, can you tell me about them?"
"I don't know much, but if that's what you want."
Amelia hedged her bets before sharing information again, but her stories were surprisingly useful.
After all, I didn't know much about them.
There wasn't much information about the captain or the Ruin Scholar.
There was a difference in our level of common sense since Amelia was a Noark native and had interacted with Orculus.
"So, you're also summoned there every 15th?"
"Probably. He said he would resolve the fairness issue, so I'm a bit curious about what happened. Ah, do you have any questions for him? I can ask him when I go there."
"…I'll think about it."
We disbanded and went to bed since we didn't have anything else to talk about. It felt like a long day since I had stayed up all night.
But Amelia asked another question after we lay down.
"Bjorn, what was your world like?"
She was asking all sorts of questions, unlike usual, and I answered them diligently.
Democracy, science, cars and airplanes, missiles.
The conversation became longer since I had to explain everything, but it wasn't boring or annoying.
After all, it was my first time.
Talking about these things in this body.
Unlike usual, when I had to think carefully about every word because I had to hide the fact that I was an evil spirit, I didn't have to do that with Amelia.
After some time…
"That was an interesting story. Although I already knew most of it."
"What? You knew? How?"
"There are many evil spirits in Noark who reveal their identities. You hear all sorts of stories if you live here."
"I see… Wait a minute, then why did you even ask?"
"That's…"
Amelia trailed off.
And a long silence followed.
"Don't tell me, you fell asleep?"
"...."
"Don't pretend to be asleep. I know you only sleep half-way, like a dolphin."
"...."
Is this what they call 'the student surpassing the master'?
I didn't know she would use one of the two ways to piss someone off on me.
"…Are you really asleep?"
"...."
Damn it, she's even snoring.
This is ridiculous. Is she acting?
I didn't know, but I closed my eyes without saying anything.
The reason was simple.
I didn't want to disturb her if she was really sleeping soundly for the first time in a while.
"…Goodnight."
I turned around and lay down, facing the wall, and soon fell asleep.
____________________
Time passed quickly after that day.
No, was it really fast?
Honestly, it was very boring.
I spent all my time in the inn, avoiding going out because I didn't want to create any variables.
Ah, but that didn't mean it was a meaningless time.
"Bjorn, go wash up."
"Why? We're not even going out."
"…You smell."
We talked all day.
About various things.
My world, Amelia and her sister's memories, and episodes from the labyrinth.
Anyway, I learned more about Amelia as we talked.
Well, the biggest gain was finally hearing about her essences.
'Did she not explore properly? I don't understand how she only reached the 8th floor with those specs.'
Amelia's specs were much better than I expected.
Honestly, she was probably even stronger than that Dragonslayer bastard if it weren't for his Arc sword and 'Dragon Speech'.
'And she even has the Guide trait.'
She could navigate, and she was a powerful damage dealer who could use Aura to cut down even monsters with high Physical Resistance.
Her only weakness was her frail body…
But I could just tank for her.
"Ah, right. How did it go today?"
"They refused, as expected."
Amelia, who had just come out of the shower, answered as she dried her hair with a towel.
Damn it, as expected.
"Hmm, maybe we offered too little…"
Our attempt to buy the Rainwales sisters from their team failed.
"What about them? Do you think they'll change their minds if we offer more money?"
"Well, I don't know. But it's not a good idea to do that. If they realize we're obsessed with them, they'll try to use us."
"That's true. Everyone here is cunning."
"But we succeeded in approaching them naturally. They were actually the ones who showed interest in us."
"Interest?"
"They asked if we wanted to join their team."
Although things were going according to plan…
…neither of us looked happy.
It was because all of this had already happened in the past.
"It's so… predictable that it's suffocating."
We also joined that team in the original timeline.
And after experiencing various things, we faced that incident five months later.
"So what are you going to do?"
"…I'll join the team as planned. It's a bit frustrating, but it's the best way to be near them when that incident happens."
"Really? Then let's do that."
I didn't object.
I didn't think we could change the past like this, but I didn't have any better ideas.
I decided to follow Amelia's plan.
At least until I came up with a better one.
Right, so in that sense…
[23:55]
…I checked the time again.
Amelia spoke as she saw me.
"Ah, come to think of it, it's today."
"Yeah."
I drank some water and lay down on the bed.
"Good luck."
Geez, that's awkward.
"It's still five minutes until I have to go. And it's just a brief moment here anyway."
"Ah, right."
We then chatted for a bit.
Could it be because the other person was Auril Gabis?
I was a bit nervous—
Click.
The second hand on the clock ticked, and my vision blurred.
'That Sprite was delicious.'
I wonder if he'll give me another one if I ask.
-x-X-x-
A study filled with the calming scent of wood.
'Nothing has changed.'
As I was looking around, I noticed a change.
A white mask.
The same white mask I wore during my last visit was hanging on the empty wall.
'Is he telling me to wear it?'
I chuckled and put on the mask.
And as soon as I opened the door and went out…
…I saw an old man walking towards me from the end of the hallway.
Auril Gabis.
The mysterious figure who might have the answers to all my questions…
"Haha, you're here. I've been waiting."
…and the old man who couldn't hide his excitement when I told him I had cleared the original game.
"Did everything go well? I was worried something might happen after I sent you back that day."
I couldn't let my guard down, even though he greeted me warmly with a chuckle and a friendly tone.
I had seen it firsthand.
The captain of Orculus, the Ruin Scholar, and so on.
Those powerful figures who were intimidated by this old man.
"I'm fine. But what happened to them?"
"Huh? Them?"
"You sent me back after saying they broke the rules again."
Auril Gabis nodded in understanding.
"Ah, you're talking about those failures."
Failures…
I realized that the real battle had begun when he casually used that word.
His intention was obvious.
'It seems like he didn't like being led around by me last time.'
It was a variation of the carrot and stick method.
The only difference was that he was using the stick on someone else, not me.
"Don't worry about those failures. I showed them what would happen if they caused trouble again."
He was showing his authority by wielding the stick on others…
…while being kind to me.
Like this.
"Ahem, but I was being inconsiderate. You must have been offended. But don't worry too much. I know you're different from them."
A stark contrast between his coldness and his kindness.
The recipient of that kindness would think…
I don't want to be on his bad side.
I have to reciprocate his kindness.
That's how it works.
Well, I'm immune to that kind of tactic.
"You're special, aren't you?"
I chuckled and answered the old man's question.
"I don't know."
"Huh?"
"Stop with the cheap tricks."
I hate carrots.
"…Cheap tricks? You're being rude."
The old man glared at me, his expression changing at my provocative words. Although there wasn't any killing intent, I could feel a powerful aura emanating from him. řåƝỖ฿ƐꞨ
But I didn't back down.
I had to let him know.
That I wasn't afraid of him.
"I didn't come here to talk about this."
"Huh…?"
"Just send me back if you're going to waste my time with this kind of small talk. No, actually, it would be better if you just took care of it so that I don't have to come here anymore."
The old man looked flustered and then exclaimed indignantly,
"Sm, small talk?! You were the one who asked about them!"
Ah… that's true.
This is getting ridiculous.
But what can he do?
"So you're saying it's my fault?"
I learned about the importance of faith while watching barbarians farting everywhere.
A strong belief in yourself.
That unwavering heart creates confidence and allows you to face any obstacle without fear.
Therefore…
"No, I'm not saying it's your fault…"
"Apologize."
I demanded confidently.
Even if it was unreasonable.
Even though I was currently in Lee Hansu's form, not Bjorn Yandel's body.
"So you're not going to apologize?"
"…Haha, it seems like I underestimated you."
The old man glared at me, his expression hardening at my repeated demands. The surrounding space even started to ripple, which was ominous.
Honestly, I was scared.
But…
"Apologize."
…nothing changed.
What can he do if he's angry?
Is he going to kick out the 'original clear user'?
"Phew… why are you doing this?"
The old man sighed and asked.
The rippling space had also stopped.
As expected.
It was obvious that he was just pretending to be angry to resolve the situation.
Ah, but was he really angry?
"Why are you provoking me? You weren't this rude last time."
"You sound like you know me well."
I quickly continued.
"And you're saying I'm looking down on you? You were the one who looked down on me first."
"What do you mean? I looked down on you—"
"You called them failures and said you were inconsiderate. Did you think I would grovel?"
"...."
Unexpectedly, the old man didn't refute me.
He could have made excuses, saying it was a mistake or that he didn't mean it.
But he just thought for a moment and then nodded.
"Indeed, you're different… "
"…?"
"I apologize. I was too casual with you, even though you're the one who cleared the original version that everyone thought was a failure. I'll be careful from now on."
Uh, I wasn't expecting such a sincere apology.
I was a bit flustered, as I had planned to casually accept a half-hearted apology and then take the initiative in the conversation.
'No, maybe he even planned this.'
"…Fine, I'll let it slide."
Although I usually didn't accept verbal apologies, I accepted it, thinking that our relationship might really be ruined if I continued acting like a barbarian.
The atmosphere softened a bit.
"Well, then let's talk over a drink in the other room instead of just standing here. Ah, do you have a preferred type of tea?"
What a natural question.
"Sprite."
That's all I wanted from the beginning.
_______________________
Ah, this is the life.
I should have thought this earlier.
Right, I should have.
But…
'Why does it taste so bland?'
Is it because I asked for ice?
Clank.
I put down the empty glass, only ice left, and thought for a moment. It wasn't that it wasn't refreshing, but the carbonation seemed weak.
It tasted noticeably worse than before.
'Don't tell me this old man is holding a grudge…?'
That's when, as I glanced at him suspiciously…
…Auril Gabis spoke.
"So, shall we get to the point…?"
It was a bit funny.
He didn't seem like the type to be concerned about a small fry like me.
'It must mean I'm important to him.'
I became more wary as my treatment improved.
After all, no one is nice without a reason.
I dismissed my thoughts about the lack of carbonation and thought about it.
'Why is an original clear user so important?'
Hmm, well, I don't know.
Because they have more knowledge about the game than other players?
That's true, but it couldn't be the reason.
The old man in front of me is Auril Gabis. The game developer.
He would naturally know everything I knew, and if he needed a player with knowledge, he could just share it with me.
Then why is he so obsessed?
'I'll have to find out.'
"Ahem, what are you thinking about?"
"Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought."
"Ha! With me right in front of you?!"
Auril Gabis clicked his tongue in disbelief. Ah, but his rude behavior didn't last long.
"Phew, here we go again."
"Ah, no. I was just saying it's refreshing since it's been a while."
"Ah, I see. I almost misunderstood."
"…Are you a barbarian?"
Huh?
Damn it, did I show it too much?
Although I felt a bit guilty, I casually brushed it off as if I was offended.
"Is that even a question?"
"No, of course not. I was just kidding."
It seemed like he was really joking, judging by his expression, but I should be more careful.
"Anyway, speaking of questions…"
"Go ahead, don't hesitate."
The old man quickly got to the point after I gave him permission.
"We talked about fairness before we parted ways last time. I thought hard about it every day—"
"Just the gist of it."
"I made an item that can solve that problem."
Right, he could have just said that.
"Hmm, an item?"
"This."
Auril Gabis took out a fist-sized jewel from his pocket instead of explaining.
It was a familiar item.
"This is…"
It was definitely it.
The jewel that was embedded in the center of the Round Table.
Damn it, I didn't expect it to have been created like this.
Then is this old man really the Master?
"…Do you know what it is?"
"No, it just looks expensive."
"Expensive… haha! This is an item that can't be measured with such worldly possessions… ahem, I almost got sidetracked again."
Auril Gabis quickly explained the item after stopping himself.
"It's an item I created by objectifying some of my authority in this spiritual space."
I didn't understand the principle, but I didn't ask. I didn't think I would understand even if he explained it…
And it's best to stay quiet when you don't know something.
"The way it works is simple. If you tell the truth in front of this jewel, it will emit a green light, and if you lie, it will emit a red light. Do you want to try it?"
I had already dismissed the possibility of it being fake as soon as I saw it, but I didn't show it.
After all, he was giving me a free question.
"Auril Gabis, are you over 300 years old?"
I deliberately set a standard.
If I just asked how old he was, and he answered 1 year old, the jewel would emit a red light, and that would be the end of it.
"…I'm not."
Auril Gabis answered as if playing along.
And…
Swaaaa.
…the jewel emitted a red light.
"It means you're lying."
Wow, so he's over 300 years old?
I just threw it out there since the Compendium of Rifts was written 150 years ago…
What a monster.
I was inwardly shocked, but I didn't show it.
"So, now we can ask each other one question without it being unfair, right?"
"Hmm, but isn't that a bit… You made this item, so you can probably control what light it emits."
It was a valid point.
Surprisingly, Auril Gabis chose to confront it head-on.
"I swear on my name. That's impossible."
Swear…
It was a nostalgic word for me.
I had sworn countless oaths and then betrayed them.
"It's hard to believe. I might believe you if you swore on your parents."
"My, my parents…?"
"You can't, so it was a lie."
"That's ridiculous! I was just… surprised because it was such an absurd request. How can I swear on people who aren't even in this world anymore?"
Didn't he realize that swearing on his name wouldn't work?
Auril Gabis was lost in thought.
"It's up to you whether you believe me or not, but I'll say this. My oath was true, and now I can't even tell if you're telling the truth or lying without this item."
"Huh?"
The jewel emitted a green light.
"Didn't I say I used most of my authority to create this item? I can't even read your soul capacity now."
"Soul capacity…?"
"It means I can't even tell how many essences you have."
The jewel emitted a green light again.
But did this old man know?
That my trust in him was decreasing.
'The more he talks about his weaknesses, the more suspicious he seems…'
Did he really tamper with it?
"Do you remember the people you saw that day?"
"The ones you called failures?"
"Right. Actually, despite what I said earlier, they're people who would be treated well wherever they went, just based on their names and abilities."
"Name and ability, that's two things."
"…You know what I mean."
"Anyway, what are you trying to say?"
Auril Gabis sighed and made a new suggestion.
"How about we have a conversation in the room where they are? They might not know everything, but they're capable of noticing and objecting if I'm lying."
"…What?"
I was truly dumbfounded.
This is like a demo version of the Round Table.