6th-grade Dwarf explorer, Aitomz.
He was an ordinary explorer, just like any other.
He wasn't part of a large clan, and he had joined his current team through the Explorer's Guild's matchmaking service.
Well, the only unusual thing about him was that he had recently become the team leader after the previous leader died...
But that didn't change the fact that he was ordinary.
His team's main hunting ground was the 4th floor.
His teammates were all average in terms of skill, and their personalities and mindsets were no different from any other explorer.
They usually hunted monsters and collected magic stones, but like any other explorer, they wouldn't hesitate to kill if a good opportunity presented itself.
That's why Dwarf Aitomz and his teammates were in a dilemma.
"Wow, you guys are so kind!!"
Their encounter with this barbarian was purely coincidental.
They were passing through the Thornreed Field on their way to the Witch's Forest when they heard him shouting for help.
He said he had gotten separated from his team after sneaking away to drink during a break...
'What an idiot...'
Aitomz was dumbfounded at first, but he didn't think the barbarian was lying.
He was a barbarian, after all!
Anything could happen with those guys, and they weren't known for lying. Even when they did, it was obvious.
'So he really is lost...'
"Dwarf, what are we going to do?"
"We can't just leave him, can we? I think that ring he's wearing is a subspace ring."
"He said he lost his weapon too. Let's do it quickly, his teammates might come looking for him."
Greed flickered in their eyes.
It was understandable.
Subspace rings were valuable, their resale value almost the same as their purchase price. Unlike equipment, they didn't have a limited lifespan and didn't require specific stats to use. ṚâꞐộ𐌱Εṣ
They were worth millions of stones.
'His armor looks good too...'
"What are you guys talking about?! You said you would help me find my teammates!"
"Jackson, keep him distracted. Barbarian! Are you hungry? Have some jerky!"
"Oh! Jerky! But... do you have any alcohol?!"
"Haha, of course. Have a drink with us."
Aitomz sent one of his teammates to distract the barbarian and then exchanged glances with the others.
They all nodded in agreement.
A silent consensus.
"Ugh, I'm so tired after running all day... Can I take a nap while you guys discuss?"
"Haha, go ahead."
The barbarian then lay down on the ground, seemingly exhausted, and soon started snoring.
Snore! Snore!
Aitomz felt a pang of guilt, but he quickly dismissed it.
It was the barbarian's fault.
He was practically begging to be looted, who could resist?
Aitomz signaled to his teammates, and they slowly approached the sleeping barbarian.
And...
'Now!'
They all lunged at him simultaneously, their weapons aimed at his vital points.
But then something unexpected happened.
Clang!
Their weapons were blocked.
The impact felt like they had hit a stone wall, and the sound was different. Instead of the sound of flesh tearing, there was a grating sound of metal scraping against metal.
"...What the..."
They were all stunned, and then...
The barbarian sat up abruptly, not a single drop of blood on him. And he roared, his fist flying towards them.
"You bastards!!!"
As if he had been waiting for this moment.
____________________
"Huh... it actually worked."
Pelic Barker chuckled after the first looting was successfully completed.
He had been skeptical at first, but the results were undeniable.
"Leader, there was nothing in his bag, but his equipment is surprisingly good for his level."
"I'm not surprised. He's done this before, judging by his actions."
That was the irony of this world.
Those who worked hard and hunted monsters were often left behind, while those who preyed on their fellow explorers grew stronger much faster.
Well, sometimes they got ahead of themselves and ended up dead...
"So, what do you think? My method isn't bad, is it?"
I puffed out my chest proudly, and Pelic Barker nodded.
"It's not bad. No, to be honest, it's revolutionary."
He seemed genuinely impressed, and he showered me with praise.
"The fact that we can use someone like you as a runner is unbelievable. Who could possibly defend against a surprise attack from the inside and the outside?"
Indeed, they had all turned their backs on me during the last battle. As soon as the clan members hiding in the reed forest ambushed them, they were all knocked out.
The battle lasted less than 10 seconds.
"Barbarians are truly amazing! Who would have thought they could use a child as a runner without anyone suspecting a thing!"
...Is that a compliment?
I felt a strange sense of dissonance, but I just brushed it off.
I wasn't a real barbarian anyway, and it was a compliment, after all.
'Anyway, I've shown them how effective this method is...'
It was time to move on to the next step.
I had shared this method for one reason.
"So you like it? Then you guys will all use my method now?"
I didn't want to loot innocent explorers, even if I had to work with these guys for a while.
And I couldn't just stand by and watch them do it either.
So I decided to guide them towards hunting looters.
"I wish we could, but..."
Pelic Barker clicked his tongue.
"Unfortunately, there's a fatal flaw in your method."
"What is it?"
"There's only one of you. It's a good method, but it's not very efficient to have everyone move together for this."
Ah, that?
"Don't worry, I've already thought about that. Hey, you two."
I grinned and called over two explorers I had been observing from Team 1 and Team 2. And I had them take off their shirts.
"Why do we have to take off our clothes...?"
Why? I just wanted to check their physiques.
'Okay, they're a bit soft, but their size is good enough.'
Swoosh.
I took a step closer, and the two men instinctively covered their chests with their arms and stepped back.
What, am I going to do something to you?
"Please tell us what you're planning to do..."
"I'll make you warriors."
I said so and took out the items I had prepared.
They realized what I was going to do.
"That's...!"
"No way!!"
It was a brush and a set of paints.
______________________
Surrealist painter Salvador Dali once said,
[I am not strange. I am just not ordinary.]
Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh also said,
[I am uncertain of my life. But the starry nights make me dream.]
Ah, and there's also a famous quote from Pablo Picasso:
[Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.]
Will I ever leave behind such famous words?
I don't know, but I can say this:
"...Stay still! Or you'll die!"
Ugh, why are they squirming so much?
It's messing up the lines.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The more they struggled, the more I focused.
Red, green, blue, black.
Using these four common colors, I diligently painted, the words of the great masters echoing in my mind.
Unlike the 'art' that these criminals couldn't understand,
My canvas was human skin.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The criminals surrounding me muttered incessantly.
"...It looks like scribbles."
"The lines are so crooked..."
Tsk, how barbaric.
They don't even understand modern art.
"Ahem!"
I coughed loudly, and they all shut their mouths.
Ah, much better. I should have done that sooner.
"..."
I continued my work in the quiet atmosphere.
It didn't take long.
It was fun at first, but it got boring after a while.
"Done! You can get up now!"
I finished my work and patted the two men on their backs. They slowly got up.
Geez, don't kill my artistic inspiration.
"Why are you covering the tattoos with your arms?"
I pushed their arms aside, revealing my masterpiece.
I was quite satisfied with the result.
It was a bit rough compared to my own tattoos, but...
"...It's surprisingly subtle."
Even the clan leader, who had been looking at me with a 'This guy is crazy' expression, seemed surprised by the result.
It wasn't that noticeable in the dark labyrinth.
But as the artist, I couldn't help but notice the flaws.
"Why are you looking down? Are you embarrassed?"
Look at their timid expressions and posture.
No one would believe they were barbarians.
So...
"Come here, I'll make you real warriors."
I asked the clan leader for permission and took the two men aside for some 'training'.
It wasn't difficult.
It took about 30 minutes.
"Be, Behella!"
"Louder!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Good. Now, what do you shout when you're running?"
"I'm lost! Help me!!!"
"Snoring!"
"Snore! Snore, snore!!"
"Sit down!"
Thump.
Yes, now you look like barbarians.
______________________
Under the bright moonlight, Erwen Fornachi di Tersia knocked on the door of a house.
Knock, knock.
It took about a minute for the door to open.
Creak.
The fairy man who opened the door froze when he saw Erwen.
Her solemn expression told him why she was there at this hour.
"...You've made your decision."
"Yes."
Her unwavering answer made him sigh.
He understood her feelings.
But...
"The process of obtaining the power of the pureblood is much more gruesome than you can imagine, and it's not something you can achieve just by wanting it."
"I know."
"Please, reconsider. Just one more time."
He couldn't bear to watch her walk this path.
He knew what awaited her.
But Erwen's resolve was unwavering.
"I'm sorry, but I've already made my decision."
"..."
"Please help me. I want to become the pureblood."
Erwen raised her head.
Her amber eyes, usually filled with warmth and light, were now burning with ambition.
He felt a lump in his throat.
He had seen too many people with that look in their eyes meet a tragic end.
But...
"Alright. I'll help you."
He couldn't refuse her request.
He was a hero of the tribe, a powerful figure, but in front of these sisters, he was a sinner.
"Thank you. I'll be going now."
Erwen turned to leave, and he unconsciously stopped her.
"Wait."
"...Is there something else?"
"What if... Yes, what if..."
He wanted to ask what she would do if there was a way to bring him back.
But he couldn't finish his sentence.
"Never mind, I was being silly. It's late, go home. I'll talk to the elders."
"Yes."
Erwen tilted her head, confused, but she soon turned and left. This time, he didn't stop her.
He couldn't.
The one who knew about the 'Stone of Resurrection' was absent from the recent gathering, and...
"..."
He already knew who that stone was meant for.
-x-X-x-
"Come on, everyone, have a drink! It's on me, so don't hold back! Hahahaha!"
After the labyrinth closed, Amelia and I joined the after-party at the bar owned by the Rainwales sisters' foster father.
"Haha! Iron Mask! Remember what that guy said while his guts were spilling out? S, save me! ...Not funny?"
"Not at all."
"I, I see..."
I glared at Dumbo, who was trying to be friendly, and then got up from my seat.
And I walked over to Pelic Barker.
"Hey, Iron Mask!"
"Barker."
"Haha, just call me Pel!"
"I'm good."
"Have a drink?"
"Sure."
I sat down next to him and took a swig of alcohol. He started chatting incessantly.
Mostly praising me.
The Fashion Barbarian strategy had worked as expected.
No, it had exceeded my expectations.
The 'warriors' I trained and sent to other teams had a higher success rate than me.
Well, it was inevitable.
I always wore a helmet, hiding my face. It was only natural that those who showed their faces were less suspicious.
"It's revolutionary! They trusted them even more easily than when we used kids as runners!"
"So we don't need runners anymore?"
"Hmm, it's too early to say. We don't know how long this method will work."
I subtly suggested getting rid of the runners, but the clan leader had no intention of letting the Rainwales sisters go.
He had a good eye for talent.
"They might not be as strong as you in combat, but the Rainwales sisters are talented. They'll be valuable assets in a few years."
Yeah, he wasn't going to let them go easily.
'Ugh, I can't just kill him here...'
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
Pelic Barker was the biggest obstacle to our plan.
Well, to be precise, it was one of his essences.
4th-grade rare species, Sea Merchant.
A rare 'neutral' monster that appeared in the Great Ocean on the 6th floor with an extremely low probability.
It rarely attacked first, and if you threw a certain amount of magic stones into the sea where it was swimming, it would give you 'Blue Stone', a high-grade crafting material, as a reward.
Of course, you could also kill it, and if you were lucky enough to get an essence drop, you would obtain the active skill [Unfair Contract].
'He only used the contract on the older sister, right?'
That [Unfair Contract] was the problem.
He had used it on Laura, and we had to break the contract to save her.
'Ugh, why did this rare essence have to go to this guy...'
I was annoyed, so I asked him,
"How did you get the Sea Merchant essence? It's a very rare essence."
"Ah, that? Why are you suddenly asking?"
"I've always been curious. We weren't close enough for me to ask before."
"Hahaha! So we're friends now?"
I shrugged, avoiding his question, and he chuckled, interpreting it as he wanted.
"Well, I'll tell you. It was when I was still a young explorer, working with my clan on the surface..."
To summarize his long story:
He stole the essence when it dropped during a clan expedition.
"I was going to sell it at the auction house when things calmed down. I thought I could live comfortably for the rest of my life!"
But his crime was soon exposed.
So he fled to Noark.
He couldn't sell the essence, so he ended up absorbing it himself...
"Bjorn."
Amelia approached me as he was finishing his story.
"Ah, Emily..."
"It's time to go."
"Okay, I'll be going then."
I got up and excused myself, and Pelic Barker gave me a sly smile.
"Hehe, have a good time!"
That smile made me want to crush his head.
____________________
Thud.
Arrua Raven closed the book she had been reading all night.
And she stretched, getting up from her chair.
Her gaze fell on a pile of items in a corner of the lab.
Bjorn Yandel's belongings.
"I should... take care of this..."
Raven sighed deeply.
Time was cruel.
At first, she had searched through countless books, hoping to find a clue to his disappearance. But she found nothing, and as days turned into weeks, she slowly came to terms with reality.
Maybe that was her nature.
Emotions were fleeting.
No matter how angry or sad she felt, she would eventually return to her rational self.
Bjorn Yandel was dead.
So she had to sell his belongings and distribute the money according to his will.
That was her duty now, not spending her nights poring over books.
But the thought of it made her feel a strange sense of guilt.
She had been reading until now because of that guilt.
Bjorn Yandel's death had changed Misha and Erwen's worlds. They would never be the same.
But what about her?
"Ha..."
She had started eating properly again.
She was worried about her health.
She wasn't as passionate about her research anymore.
She didn't think it would change anything.
And she even drank tea, forced herself to smile and chat with her seniors when they approached her.
And Raven knew.
If this continued, she would eventually return to her normal life.
She was like a match, burning brightly but quickly fading.
'I... cared about him...'
She had liked Bjorn.
Not romantically, but she had felt a deep connection with him.
She had learned a lot from him, and he had made her laugh.
He was the first person since 'that woman' to have such a profound impact on her.
But just like then, she was recovering.
And that recovery made her feel guilty.
"...I should at least organize his things. I can sell them later..."
Raven muttered to herself and started sorting through Bjorn's belongings.
She appraised his equipment and labeled them with their market value, and then she started organizing the items in his subspace ring.
That's when she noticed something strange.
"Huh? This is..."
Golden Mask.
An item obtainable from the 'Crimson Fortress', a 1st-floor rift. But the entry in her copy of the Compendium of Rifts was faded due to wear and tear, and the exact method of obtaining it was unknown.
"How did Yandel get this...?"
She had once suspected that Yandel might have a copy of the Compendium of Rifts after seeing him use 'Tears of the Goddess' to defeat the Vampire.
But he had sworn on his honor that it was just a coincidence, and she had dismissed her suspicion.
But what was this?
"...Could he have been lying?"
Maybe he did have a copy of the Compendium of Rifts, or at least had read it.
She remembered her master's suspicion that he might be an evil spirit.
'No, that's ridiculous...'
Raven chuckled and continued organizing his backpack.
That's when...
"What's this?"
She found a strange magic tool.
It seemed to be a combination of 'Whisper' and 'Record', judging by the inscription...
Click.
Raven pressed the button on the bottom.
And a voice came out.
[Why are you so worried? They're just NPCs.]
[But they're still my companions—]
[That's funny. Do you think they would still think that way if they knew your true identity?]
It wasn't Bjorn Yandel's voice.
Then who were these two?
The answer came soon after.
[Your companions thought they were friends with the real Hans. But as you know, the real Hans is no longer in this world.]
[But... I consider them to be my real companions.]
It was the conversation between Hans Krisen, whom she had met in the Doppelganger Forest, and the Dwarf from Noark.
So that was his weakness.
He still had this recording.
She would have to erase it before selling the magic tool.
Swoosh.
Raven channeled mana into the magic tool, analyzing its structure. It was child's play for her, a master of magic engineering.
'Press the button twice, and then hold it down.'
She found the reset method, but she continued analyzing the magic tool.
Its structure was unique, and she wanted to study it further.
She delved deeper, reading the residual mana.
'There's a limit to how many times you can play the recording? Did they use a cheap core?'
Raven's hand twitched.
"Huh?"
The magic tool could only play a recording 100 times before it was automatically reset.
But...
'There are only two plays left?'
The number of plays was strangely low.
It didn't seem like a simple error. Something felt off. She channeled more mana into the magic tool, examining it thoroughly.
And she checked the playback history.
"What the..."
Only two of the plays were from after they left the Doppelganger Forest. In other words, the remaining 98 plays were all from Bjorn Yandel.
"Why did Yandel listen to this conversation so many times...?"
She couldn't understand.
But Raven instinctively knew something was wrong.
At that moment...
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the lab door.
Raven stopped what she was doing and opened the door.
An unexpected visitor stood before her.
"Misha...?"
"Can I... come in...?"
"Yes! Of course! But wait, let me clean up a bit..."
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay... But what brings you here...?"
Raven was flustered by the sudden visit.
"I have something to tell you..."
She had a bad feeling about this.
________________________
"Drinking again?"
"Ah, I have nothing else to do..."
Amelia returned to the inn, hanging her coat on the rack and glancing at me.
Geez, stop judging me.
It's boring to be alone here.
"Did you get the payment?"
Amelia chuckled at my question.
"Do you think I can't even handle that?"
"I didn't mean that, but you never know. They could have cheated us behind our backs..."
"Don't worry, I got our share. Well, it doesn't really matter anyway."
"That's true..."
Money wasn't our goal.
It wasn't completely meaningless, but it wouldn't matter until we saved Laura and found a way to return to our original time.
"So what are we going to do now? We talked about it, but it seems impossible to break the contract and get her out before the incident."
"Nothing changes. We'll keep trying. Until we come up with a better plan."
"I see..."
Two weeks had passed since we returned to Noark.
And we had spent those two weeks discussing our plans.
How to save Laura.
But we couldn't find a solution, despite our efforts.
'Ugh, I feel like I'm getting close...'
The more frustrated I felt, the more I looked forward to midnight on the 15th.
Maybe I could get some ideas from Auril Gabis or the other members.
"It's today, right?"
"Two hours."
Amelia nodded and then went to take a shower. When she came out, we chatted to kill time.
And soon, it was time.
[23:59]
Ten seconds left until midnight.
I closed my eyes and focused on the ticking of the clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
The tenth tick echoed in the silent room.
And...
"...What?"
I opened my eyes.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
The clock continued ticking.
"...Did it already happen?"
Amelia looked at me, confused, but I just stared at the clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
What the hell, why isn't it taking me?
-x-X-x-
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
The second hand completed a full circle, and the minute hand finally moved to the next mark. But I wasn't summoned to the spiritual world.
I checked the date and time again, wondering if the clock was broken, and waited until morning, but nothing happened.
Then what the hell was going on?
I discussed it with Amelia all night, narrowing down the possibilities, and we were left with three.
To organize them one by one…
A temporary error occurred.
If this was just a coincidence, not someone's doing.
The probability wasn't 0%.
After all, electronic devices and magic tools were all man-made.
Although rare, even subspace rings malfunctioned sometimes, preventing you from accessing the items inside until they were repaired.
Well, the probability was low.
This was more plausible.
Auril Gabis banned me from the spiritual world.
It was more likely than the first possibility.
Judging by his attitude, there was no reason for him to ban me at this timing, but he was a cunning old man.
It could be another one of his schemes.
Anyway, next.
Something unavoidable happened to Auril Gabis.
This was also a possibility.
No, I actually thought this was the most likely scenario.
I couldn't even imagine what kind of situation could cause problems for that monstrous old man…
But it was a world full of monsters.
Even he would have a formidable opponent.
Like the royal family.
'Whatever, let's just sleep.'
It was pointless to worry about it when there was no way to find out the answer.
So I decided to wait until the 15th of next month, and a few days passed, and I even went to the labyrinth.
[Hahaha! We did it again! If we keep doing this, we'll all be rich soon!]
There were no major incidents in the labyrinth.
We just looted looters until the labyrinth closed, just like last time.
And it was the same on the 15th at midnight.
[You couldn't go again?]
[…No.]
I was still in my body, even though it was time.
'Damn it, this is so frustrating…'
What the hell was going on?
My frustration grew with each passing day.
_____________________
'Geez, time flies.'
I suppressed a bitter smile and put the calendar I was holding in my pocket.
Six months had passed since I came to the past.
Swoosh.
I got up and grabbed my coat, and Amelia asked without even looking at me,
"Are you going again today?"
"There's nothing else to do here. What about you?"
"I'll stay at the inn."
I left the inn after a dry conversation with Amelia.
Our conversations were mostly like this these days.
Short, shallow, and always with an underlying tension.
'Damn it, this is so uncomfortable.'
It was bearable at first, but it had become much worse recently, with only a few days left until D-Day.
We still hadn't found a solution.
And the community hadn't opened since that day.
'…Did he really ban me?'
I was starting to think that way, and I wanted to confirm it.
The captain of Orculus was in this underground city.
I could ask him if I was the only one who was banned, or if the community server was down.
'What am I even thinking? Nothing will change even if I do that.'
I sighed and walked through the streets of the underground city.
I had become quite familiar with this place.
I had memorized most of the main streets, except for the alleys and the eastern district, which was Orculus's territory.
"Ah, Boss! You're here!"
Dumbo greeted me as soon as I arrived at the clan house in the Lord's Castle.
He didn't seem afraid or uncomfortable around me anymore, after exploring the labyrinth together for a few months.
No, he was practically my right-hand man.
"Here, have a seat! Would you like a drink?"
"Something light."
"Haha, wait a minute! I'll bring it right away!"
Dumbo quickly brought me a drink and sat down next to me as I sat down and acted arrogantly.
And he started talking.
It was mostly about rumors in the city or recent incidents, but he was a good storyteller, so it wasn't that boring—
"Right, Boss. Did you hear about the barbarian heart?"
He suddenly brought up something I couldn't ignore.
"Heart? What are you talking about? Tell me."
"Ah, you haven't heard? Well, the rumor has already spread throughout the surface. They say barbarian hearts are valuable as magic materials."
"…What?"
The Magic Tower announces that barbarian hearts are valuable magic materials about ten years from now.
It's much later, after the war between the fairies and the barbarians.
But the rumor is already spreading?
'Don't tell me the future changed because of me? No, that's impossible…'
I asked Dumbo for details, and this is what he said.
"Ah, it wasn't announced by the Magic Tower. It's just a rumor."
"Rumor?"
"The Captain asked the Melta Trading Company to spread the rumor on the surface a few months ago."
'What? This son of a…'
I understood the situation.
After all, there was only one reason why Clan Leader Pelic Barker would ask the Melta Trading Company, the only trading company in Noark and the link to the surface, to do such a thing. ɌÃΝǒＢÈŜ
"It seems like he thought surface looters would be more easily tricked by our method if there was such a rumor. Ah, but even he didn't expect it to spread this much."
Dumbo explained in detail, thinking I didn't understand.
Not only had the rumor spread throughout the surface, but it had even been re-imported to Noark?
I couldn't help but curse.
"Damn it."
"…Yes?"
"Quiet."
"...."
Dumbo quickly shut his mouth, sensing my displeasure, and I calmly organized my thoughts.
My mind was racing.
The rumor would probably be debunked soon.
But…
'Maybe this is the beginning…'
I couldn't shake that thought.
Maybe some mages would start researching it because of the rumor Pelic Barker spread, and that would lead to barbarian hearts being valued ten years later.
So, in short…
'Could I be the cause of that?'
It was just a thought for now.
But the problem was that it didn't seem far-fetched.
"Dumbo, I'm leaving now."
"Yes? Yes!"
I wasn't in the mood to socialize at the clan house.
But I didn't have anywhere else to go.
So I just wandered around the Lord's Castle, as if taking a walk.
"So you're Iron Mask?"
An old man walking past me suddenly stopped and spoke to me.
I couldn't just ignore him.
This world was especially harsh on the elderly.
They had to be skilled to survive to that age.
"Who are you?"
The old man chuckled and took out a small magic stone from his pocket as I cautiously asked back.
And…
"This kind of person."
…he opened his mouth, and the magic stone glowed, transforming into bread.
_____________________
An alchemist.
A transformation mage with the innate ability to transform magic stones into bread, iron, and other materials.
'…I didn't expect to meet someone like this in the hallway.'
In a way, an alchemist was a bigger shot than the Lord or the captain of Orculus.
At least in Noark.
I heard there were only two alchemists here.
The Lord wouldn't be immediately ruined if he died, but if the alchemist position was vacant, the city would collapse.
Literally.
"Haha, you seem surprised. Is this your first time seeing alchemy?"
I didn't care if it was my first time or not, I was just confused.
Who would have thought they would encounter someone like this, the foundation of this city, in the hallway?
'Wait a minute, even if it's the Lord's Castle, an alchemist wouldn't just wander around alone…'
I looked around, feeling like something was off, and I could feel gazes on me from everywhere.
They were probably all hidden, judging by how I couldn't see them. They must have absorbed stealth essences.
"You're quite sensitive. Don't worry too much, they're just my escorts."
Sensitive, my ass. They were the ones who were revealing their presence.
It was a kind of warning, telling me not to try anything stupid.
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Marpa Ipaello. You can call me whatever you want, but I prefer my last name."
"…Iron Mask."
"I know. It's fate that we met, so how about we talk for a bit?"
"Alright."
I readily agreed.
If it were the other alchemist, who was known for his bad temper, I might have refused… but I knew this old man's name from Amelia.
'He's the one who created Lethe's Blessing.'
That alone was enough reason to talk to him.
"Hmm, you're a bold one, as I heard. Come this way."
'As I heard… so he came looking for me, not the other way around.'
Ipaello started walking, and I followed him.
No one stopped me, even though we passed through the 3rd floor, which was restricted, probably because I was with him.
We arrived at the alchemist's workshop.
"You can all leave now."
'It's similar to a mage's lab, but also different.'
I scanned the workshop as soon as we entered, and he dismissed his escorts and offered me a seat.
"Sit down. Tell me if you want something to drink."
"I'm good."
Normally, I would have demanded meat and taken the initiative in the conversation, but I skipped it this time.
Amelia would scold me if I was rude.
This old man was Amelia's benefactor when she was young.
Therefore, I couldn't treat him disrespectfully, regardless of his position.
Well, I still couldn't use honorifics, for the sake of my barbarian pride.
"So why did you call me?"
"I was just curious about what kind of person you are. It's the first time I've seen those kids talk so happily about their experiences in the labyrinth."
I pretended not to know and asked back,
"Those kids?"
"Laura and Amelia. They're lovely children. I sometimes call them over for snacks and company when I'm feeling lonely."
"…I see."
"I was worried about them, but seeing you, all my worries have disappeared. They're pitiful children, so please take good care of them."
"I will."
I nodded and then cautiously asked,
"But if you're going to ask me that, why don't you just take care of them yourself?"
"Huhu, it's not easy right now."
He was being vague, but I knew the reason.
'He originally just gave them snacks, but after one of the alchemists died, he took them in and raised them himself.'
He probably couldn't do that before.
There were currently two alchemists in the city.
He couldn't enjoy absolute power because there was a clear substitute.
"How are those kids doing these days?"
"They're doing well. I'm trying not to send them to dangerous places."
"…I see."
The topic of conversation naturally shifted to the Rainwales sisters. Alchemist Ipaello asked about their well-being, and I answered honestly.
And then I took the opportunity to ask,
"But can they hear us?"
"Don't worry about my escorts, they can't hear us. Is there something you're curious about?"
"Is there a way to lift the restrictions from essences with alchemy?"
"Restrictions? If you're talking about poison or something like that, then it's possible…"
He trailed off and then asked,
"Don't tell me you're talking about [Unfair Contract]?"
"Maybe."
I shrugged.
And was that enough of an answer?
"…That's beyond the realm of alchemy."
"I see."
"Unfortunately."
Ipaello smiled bitterly.
I was also disappointed, but I didn't show it. Well, it wouldn't exist in this era if it didn't exist in the game.
"Anything else you're curious about?"
Ipaello asked kindly, as if he liked me, and I asked about the Memory Erasure Pill, 'Lethe's Blessing'.
But I received a strange response.
"Lethe's Blessing? What's that?"
"That… pill that erases memories."
"Ah, that! But it doesn't have a name yet…"
Uh, I didn't expect that…
"But Lethe… it has a nice ring to it. And it's romantic, calling oblivion a blessing."
I sighed inwardly.
So that's why it's called 'Lethe'.
"Alright, I was thinking about a name, so I'll use that."
I didn't expect there to be a story behind it.
-x-X-x-
Lethe's Blessing.
Honestly, it was an ominous name from the beginning.
The fact that a pill with the same name as the Greek goddess of forgetfulness had the effect of 'memory erasure' couldn't be a coincidence.
Ah, of course, I didn't think much about it back then.
This was a city where evil spirits were active.
It wouldn't be strange for a player to come up with that name.
But…
'I can't believe that player was me…'
I couldn't even laugh, as strange things kept happening, starting with the 'rumor' Pelic Barker spread.
I was just spacing out when…
"Wait a minute…"
…Ipaello looked at me suspiciously.
"How did you know about that pill? I've only given out samples to less than twenty people."
Ah, that.
"I heard that Pelic Barker received it from the Lord."
"Hmm, really?"
I confidently puffed out my chest despite his suspicious gaze.
I hadn't lied.
Pelic Barker did have Lethe's Blessing.
Well, he didn't tell me the details, he just said he received a potion made by the alchemist as a reward from the Lord.
"Well, the Lord has been taking an interest in him lately, so that's possible."
Ipaello soon agreed without needing a long explanation.
But he was still curious about one thing.
"But where did you hear the name 'Lethe's Blessing'?"
"Well, I think that's what they called it. Maybe I misheard."
"Haha, it seems like they've already created their own slang."
His suspicion disappeared.
So that was the end of that topic.
I subtly asked him something I was curious about.
"But is that pill safe? I heard it was recently developed. Are there any side effects?"
"Don't worry. There are no side effects, except for the fact that the range of memory loss is inconsistent."
Inconsistent…
It seemed like they hadn't figured out how to mass-produce it with consistent results yet.
"Well, considering what you're going to use it for, side effects don't really matter, do they?"
"That's true, but what if it's defective and doesn't work?"
"That's highly unlikely. The effect is usually too strong, not too weak. There has never been a defective product among the first test batches."
"Too strong?"
Ipaello seemed excited as the topic of conversation shifted to his field of expertise. He told me to wait for a moment and then brought a box from a corner of the workshop.
"Here, this is the first pill I made."
There was a white pill in the open box.
There were over ten slots, but they were all empty except for one.
"It's twice as big as the one I saw."
"Huhu, it's not just the size. If you take this pill, you'll lose almost all your memories."
"…What?"
All my memories?
But then it's not really a defective product, is it?
No, wait, why did he even bother mass-producing it when he had a better prototype?
Ipaello gave me an answer that sounded like a corporate researcher as I asked out of pure curiosity.
"Ah, that's because it costs a fortune to make one pill. The Lord said it wasn't cost-effective."
It was a reason I could understand as a former office worker.
'Well, it was made to be used on witnesses, so a few days of memory loss would be enough.'
I talked to Ipaello for about five more minutes, and that was the end of our conversation for the day.
______________________
Time passed, and it was the day before D-Day.
We did a final check of our plan.
Well, I wasn't even sure if we could call this a plan…
But what could I do? We had to try.
Anyway, to summarize the main points:
1. Infiltrate the Lord's Castle and steal the Fragment of Records.
For reference, this was my solo mission.
Amelia said there wouldn't be many guards left at the Lord's Castle tomorrow. She thought I would be able to pull off a heist with my skills.
Anyway, Amelia was going to stay with her younger self while I was at the Lord's Castle…
And this is where the problem with our plan started.
2. Reunite with Amelia and escape with the sisters.
Although that was the plan, nothing was set in stone.
Even if 'that guy' came and dispelled the [Unfair Contract] Pelic Barker had cast on Laura, the rest was all up to improvisation.
And…
3. The Rainwales sisters live happily ever after with new identities on the surface.
That was our entire plan.
Honestly, I didn't think it would work.
It wasn't because it wasn't detailed enough.
The most important part was missing.
[Once a timeline has been observed, it can't be changed.]
The future wouldn't change, no matter what we did in the past, and I had seen enough evidence.
Dwarkey and Raven.
The barbarian heart.
And even Lethe's Blessing.
I had already experienced this much, and Amelia must have experienced even more.
She must have felt a sense of déjà vu and recalled old memories in her daily life.
Thud.
Something touched my arm.
I turned my head, and Amelia was offering me a bottle of alcohol.
"…You want me to drink?"
"That's right."
"Suddenly?"
Amelia answered flatly as I spoke incredulously.
"The operation is tomorrow night."
"Even so…"
"I have something to tell you."
Ah, she should have just said that from the beginning.
I took the bottle and opened it.
It was a bit funny.
She couldn't get drunk, so she was giving me alcohol before our conversation. Well, it would be easier to talk if the other person was drunk, even if you were sober.
"Keuh…"
I took a swig, drinking half the bottle.
"So what is it? Is it important?"
"No, it's not. But… I feel like we haven't had a proper conversation lately."
Amelia said so and avoided my gaze.
She's embarrassed, isn't she?
"Uh… ye, yeah…"
I felt my face flush.
Ah, is this because of the alcohol?
Damn it, this is strong. And bitter.
I was about to ask where she got it when she called my name.
"Yandel."
"I thought you said we should use our aliases even when we're alone?"
"It's over today anyway. It doesn't matter even if someone hears us."
"…So why did you call me?"
"I have something to tell you."
Amelia quickly corrected herself after saying that.
"No, to be precise, it's an apology."
"…Apology?"
I felt a sense of foreboding.
And as always, my premonition didn't fail.
Thud. Roll.
The bottle, more than half empty, slipped from my hand and rolled on the floor.
Damn it, no wonder it tasted so bitter…
"What did you put in it?"
Amelia answered flatly as I asked, holding my arm, which wouldn't move properly, to my thigh.
"All the drugs I have that won't kill you."
She sounds like a psychopath with that expression.
Aside from the chills running down my spine, at least I knew one thing.
'Right, so she wasn't planning to kill me.'
I swung the small hammer I had strapped to my thigh, my emergency weapon.
Unfortunately, it didn't work.
Whoosh!
Amelia leaned back, and the hammer cut through the air.
"I knew you would do that when you lowered your hand."
She could see through me after all the surprise attacks.
"Damn it."
My muscles weakened, and I stumbled as I tried to get up. Amelia caught me before I could fall.
Okay, I knew she would do that.
"Ugh…!"
I took the opportunity and wrapped my arm around her neck.
It was a triangle choke.
But this woman was also tough.
Kwaaang!
I was thrown back, a sharp pain in my temple.
Two women were standing over me, their vision blurry.
It seemed like she had summoned a clone and kicked me in the head…
'I'm done for.'
I couldn't move. The drugs had weakened my body, and now my head was injured.
"…You're never easy, are you?"
Amelia chuckled and then lifted me up and laid me down on the bed.
And she spoke,
"I'm sorry. I don't think I can be your companion after all."
I grabbed her wrist with all my might as she turned to leave.
"Wh, what… are you… doing?"
Amelia didn't answer.
She just shook off my hand and then started putting on her equipment, her expression solemn.
And…
"Check the drawer when you wake up."
…that was my last memory.
_______________________
Amelia Rainwales looked at herself in the mirror.
She adjusted her clothes and brushed her hair back.
The scar on her ear was revealed.
It was a flaw that would hinder her if she wanted to live as a woman.
But it wasn't a sacrifice. She had sacrificed much more to get here.
"...."
But she couldn't bring herself to leave.
Why?
Amelia observed her emotions.
It wasn't fear.
Life had been nothing but a means to an end since that day.
Even if she couldn't change anything today, and her decades of effort ended in failure.
Failure didn't scare her.
It was actually closer to salvation.
She had been longing for that day, even as she relentlessly pursued her goal.
Then what was it?
What was holding her back?
"...."
Amelia turned around.
She saw the barbarian sleeping soundly.
He had been glaring at her with a demonic expression, asking what she was doing, but now he was snoring peacefully.
Thud, thud.
Amelia walked over to the bed and opened the drawer.
She placed a note she had written beforehand inside and then turned to leave.
She suddenly remembered a conversation they had a few months ago.
[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.]
It was ridiculous, even thinking about it now.
It was unrealistic.
But it would have been fun, if she could just imagine it. Exploring the labyrinth with that idiot would be full of unexpected incidents.
Right, it would definitely…
"Ah…"
Amelia finally realized why she couldn't leave.
It was regret.
A lingering attachment to a future that would never come.
Thud.
But emotions are just emotions.
She just had to use more force if her feet felt heavy.
She didn't stop walking.
Creak.
She took a deep breath at the door and then opened it.
Chaos had already begun outside.
"Fi, fire!!"
Flames were rising from the eastern district.
She had told him that it was tomorrow night…
But today was the day.
-x-X-x-
"This son of a…!"
I sat up as soon as I opened my eyes.
My vision was blurry, and I could smell smoke.
And it was unusually noisy outside.
"Anyone on the streets will be considered a rebel. Everyone get inside!"
Authoritative shouts echoed from everywhere.
"Kyaaaaaak!"
I occasionally heard screams, and every time a loud boom echoed in the distance, a slight tremor shook the bed.
Then what the hell was going on?
I needed information.
Therefore…
Thud, thud.
…I forced my heavy body to move towards the window. A wave of black smoke hit me as soon as I opened the window, and I started coughing.
"Cough, cough."
I looked out the window as I coughed.
Soldiers were patrolling the smoke-filled streets, controlling the citizens.
And…
'There's really a fire.'
…I saw flames engulfing the city in the distance.
It was the eastern district, Orculus's territory.
Although it was quite a distance from where I was, the entire city was filled with smoke, as expected of an underground city with poor ventilation.
Kaboom! Kaboom!
It didn't seem like an ordinary fire, judging by the occasional explosions.
"This is driving me crazy… What the hell is going on?"
I pressed my throbbing temples.
My mind felt sluggish, much slower than usual. Maybe it was a side effect of the drugs Amelia gave me.
'Right, the drugs…'
My memories came back to me as I came to my senses.
'What the hell was she thinking? And where did she go?'
I didn't know.
But I focused on one thing.
It was the same as when I first woke up in this body.
What was the most important thing I had to do right now?
The answer came quickly.
"Drawer."
Amelia told me to check the drawer.
Maybe there was an explanation for this situation in there.
I closed the window and walked towards the bed.
There was a short note in the open drawer.
"Ha…"
It started with a brief apology.
It didn't take long to read it all, and I tore it to shreds as soon as I was done.
But my anger didn't subside.
'I can't believe D-Day was today.'
Amelia had lied to me.
Although it wasn't written in the note, the reason was obvious.
She wanted to prevent me from interfering with the past. She probably thought it might change the future.
'Damn it, I didn't know she was this impulsive…'
I was dumbfounded, but I tried to calm down and checked the time.
[04:31]
4:31 AM.
It had been about six hours since I had a drink with Amelia.
'So, what should I do…?'
I closed my eyes and organized my thoughts.
Amelia's note said she would handle the rest herself, and that I should find the Fragment of Records and return when I woke up.
Judging by the state of the city, it didn't seem like it would be difficult to infiltrate the Lord's Castle.
But…
'That's ridiculous. So she's just going to leave me here alone?'
I didn't like it.
But I also had another thought.
What would happen if I didn't do anything?
Would the future change?
"…Whatever, let's just get out of here."
I made a decision.
And I quickly put on my equipment.
I could think about the rest while I was on the move.
Creak.
I hurriedly headed towards the Lord's Castle.
___________________
Acrid smoke.
I passed through the smoke-filled streets and the soldiers who were busy controlling the citizens and arrived at the Lord's Castle.
But the gate was firmly closed, and even my badge as a member of the Lord's faction couldn't open it.
"The Lord ordered us not to let anyone in. And besides, why are you only here now? The mobilization order was issued a while ago."
"…I was sleeping."
"Then go to the eastern district. Your clan has already left."
Damn it, how annoying.
"Okay. Good work."
I turned around and left.
There were other ways to get in, even if the gate was closed.
Barbarians don't ask for permission.
'It's smoky, they won't see me.'
I walked along the wall for a while, made sure there was no one around, and then used [Leap] to jump over it.
But unfortunately, there was someone on the other side.
"Wh, who are you?!"
A soldier, startled by me falling from the sky, shouted.
Thwack!
I quickly silenced him before he could make a scene and then ran towards the inner castle.
As Amelia said, the castle was practically empty on the day of the operation. There weren't any threats.
Just a few patrolling soldiers.
The main forces were probably fighting Orculus in the eastern district.
"Enemy!"
Thwack!
"An enemy has infiltrated the castle!"
Thwack!
Thanks to that, I was able to skip this part quickly.
But the inner castle was a different story.
Kaboom!
The moment I smashed the gate of the inner castle and entered the first floor, a group of explorers surrounded me with hostile expressions.
'So they left this many behind, even though it's an empty house?'
Elite troops who had received knighthood.
I even recognized a few of them since I had been in and out of the Lord's Castle for the past few months.
"…Iron Mask, why are you here? Not in the eastern district where the battle is taking place?"
"Ah, I had something to discuss with the Lord."
"I can't believe you were a spy for Orculus."
Baldy, whose name I couldn't remember, glared at me with anger, as if he had been betrayed by a trusted comrade.
I didn't feel any guilt.
I wasn't a spy for Orculus…
And I had never considered him a comrade in the first place.
"Enough, attack me."
"I don't know what kind of arrogance made you crawl in here alone, but this is your—"
What the hell, they're just 5th-grade.
They keep talking instead of attacking.
Fine, I'll go to them.
Kaboom!
I didn't waste time with pointless conversation and immediately activated [Gigantification] and [Leap]ed into the center of their formation.
And…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
…I swung my hammer, which was already monstrously large thanks to [Gigantification], after making it about three times bigger with the [Transcendence] and [Swing] combo.
Whooosh!
I spun like a top, swinging my hammer.
It was called 'Whirlwind'.
I took it from my favorite game before I got addicted to [Dungeon and Stone]…
And its characteristic was the refreshing impact and sound you could enjoy while spinning.
Like this.
Kaboom!
The squishy ones exploded like balloons when they were hit by the hammer, and the sturdier ones were thrown back and crashed into the walls.
It was an expected result.
The hammer I was holding wasn't an ordinary weapon.
'I built him as a tank, but somehow he's more of a damage dealer now.'
No. 87 Kraul's Demon Crusher.
A Double Numbered Item with a 500% damage increase option when using blunt weapon skills.
In short, this weapon increased the power of [Swing], a 3rd-grade skill, by five times just by holding it.
There was no way anyone could endure that.
Ah, of course, it didn't work if they dodged.
"Wh, wh, what the…"
Those who had avoided the attack by lying flat on the ground looked up at me with dumbfounded expressions.
Some of them had regained their composure and were counterattacking.
Arrows.
Fire.
Lightning.
An axe.
I chuckled as I saw their weapons.
'There's not a single swordsman.'
That's what's funny about Noark.
Not all knights could use Aura.
They were just loyal and received titles, but only one in a hundred could actually use Aura.
'As expected, they were all sent to the front lines.'
I then dealt with them one by one, smashing their heads with my hammer.
Even the warriors who were covered in heavy armor were quickly knocked out after I activated the 50% armor penetration bonus of 'downward strike'.
About five minutes later…
…the battle ended as the remaining few ran away.
I didn't bother chasing them or looting their bodies.
I didn't have time, and…
…my subspace ring was already full of loot.
'…Damn it, I have to take this hammer back somehow.'
I resumed my journey with that thought.
My destination wasn't the upper floors where the Lord's study or office was, but the underground shelter Amelia told me about.
Tadat, tadat.
I found the stairs leading down and ran down, and then I stopped.
Someone was coming up.
"I was wondering what the commotion was…"
It was someone I had met before.
The knight who came to recruit us on the Lord's orders.
His name was…
"Iron Mask, why are you here?"
Rick Omanus.
He drew his sword, looking at me.
______________________
I didn't even have time to make an excuse.
Whoosh!
He was quick to react. He imbued his sword with Aura as soon as he saw me, ready to fight.
He then tried to talk to me.
"Answer me, Iron Mask. Why are you here? And how do you know about this place?"
To answer his question, Amelia told me.
No one knew about the underground shelter now, but it would be different in the future.
"You're not going to answer?"
My heart started to race at his words.
Thump.
'Knights' were the natural enemy of tanks.
Tanks were sturdy, but slow, and Aura ignored defense. And tanks didn't have high damage output, so it was difficult to hurt a knight.
I knew it from my battle with the knight who was a looter, the one nicknamed 'Serpent Knight'.
My arm was severed like tofu.
All I did was grab onto him like a cicada after he was injured.
It was Raven's magic that won us the battle.
Thump!
And the situation was different now.
It was a 1v1, and we didn't have any companions.
I hadn't even prepared for Aura.
But…
Thump!
…my heart raced, and my grip on my weapon tightened.
It wasn't because of fear.
It was natural to feel this tense before a battle.
"So you're not going to answer."
"...."
"I'll start by cutting off your arm."
Rick Omanus took a stance.
I answered,
"Try it if you can."
Right, it was time to fight a knight.
-x-X-x-
Just how strong had I become?
It was a question that had been on my mind for the past few months.
I had a general idea based on my stats in the game, but it was difficult to grasp the reality.
This wasn't just a game.
'In that sense, he's a good opponent.'
Even an ordinary 'knight' who could use Aura was considered to be on par with a 6th-floor explorer, and even stronger in PvP.
But my specs weren't bad either.
Although my Spirit Engraving was only at level 6, and my level was low, so I had far fewer essences compared to the strong explorers of this era…
I had three 3rd-grade essences: Ogre, Bion, and Stormgush.
And my essence combination wasn't a mess, it had synergy.
Most importantly, the biggest reason why tanks were weak against knights was their lack of damage output, but I could cover that with the Demon Crusher.
So, in other words…
'We're on equal footing.'
We would both die if we took a direct hit.
"...."
"...."
An unexpected silence fell over the dark staircase.
Was he also feeling uneasy because I was acting tough?
'Did I go too far?'
He was cautiously measuring the distance between us.
But I focused even more.
And just like how the duels of ancient swordsmen were decided in a single breath…
"...."
"...."
…the match was decided in an instant.
Swoosh.
He was the first to move.
One step.
The moment he took a step up the stairs to close the distance…
"Ptoo!"
…I spat the acidic blood I had been holding in my mouth at his face.
But he didn't dodge.
He just thrust his sword forward, his stance unwavering, like a boxer who wouldn't even flinch if you punched him in the face.
That's why the Corpse Golem essence is OP.
No one knows about acidic blood.
He probably thought it was just blood and that he could just take the hit…
Sizzle!
The acidic blood hit his face before his sword could reach me.
I heard a sizzling sound, but there was no scream.
But he was still human, he couldn't completely control his body.
His eyes closed for a moment, and his sword wavered.
I took the opportunity and dodged to the side.
Thud.
The sword grazed my side as I was in midair.
It wasn't a serious injury.
But did he realize that just from the feel of his sword?
Swoosh.
He raised his shield.
He was going to defend after his first attack failed.
A white aura surrounded the shield, so it seemed like he had a defensive skill.
But that was his second mistake.
This hammer had armor penetration.
Kwaaang!
I slammed my hammer down.
"Keugh!"
He coughed up blood.
His eyes were filled with surprise.
Well, he blocked it with his shield, so he probably didn't understand why he was injured.
But understanding and accepting are two different things.
Tadat.
He accepted the dangerous situation and retreated down the stairs.
He was trying to buy time to recover.
That was his third mistake.
I had a grab skill.
Whooosh!
I used [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm] to pull him back towards me.
And…
"No…!"
No? What do you mean no?
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
I smashed his head with my hammer until it was crushed.
___________________
"Damn, I'm sweating."
I wiped the sweat off my forehead after confirming his death three times. It had only been a few seconds, but it was mentally exhausting.
Well, the reward was worth it.
'Wow, his equipment is at least 4th-grade.'
His equipment was pretty good. I couldn't just leave it behind, so I quickly took it off and put it in my subspace pocket.
I had to take out a few less valuable items because it was full, but that was inevitable.
I suddenly remembered Amelia's note.
She told me to leave after getting the Fragment of Records?
'…What do you mean leave? I haven't even found a place to bury this equipment yet.'
Damn right, I can't just leave this behind.
And I didn't even know how to use the Fragment of Records.
'Anyway, I should get that first.'
I went down the stairs, leaving the naked corpse behind.
Thud.
The stairs were wide, and when I reached the bottom, there was a spacious passage that could easily fit twenty people.
And there was a giant door at the end…
'It's slightly open.'
…and there was no one around.
I cautiously approached the door, trying to be as quiet as possible.
There was only one person in the vast chamber beyond the door, which was designed as a shelter.
A balding head.
A protruding belly.
Fancy clothes and double eyelids.
It was definitely the Lord, whom I had seen from afar once before.
"…Sir Omanus?"
He spoke, his voice filled with anxiety, as if sensing my presence.
Hmm, what should I do?
I hesitated for a moment and then revealed myself.
"You're… Iron Mask?"
The Lord flinched as he saw me.
"Where's Sir Omanus? You're the one who went to check what was going on…"
"Omanus is dead."
"...."
"Just in case you're wondering, I killed him."
"...!"
The Lord's eyes widened, and he started backing away as I calmly told him the truth.
Geez, that's useless.
He couldn't escape.
"Ugh! Let go of me! Insolent! Do you even know who I am?!"
I quickly grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up, and he started struggling, shouting angrily.
He looked pathetic for the ruler of a city.
Damn it, he should have brought more guards, even if it was a secret panic room.
"Wh, what do you want…? St, stop! Let's talk!"
I patted him down with one hand, searching for his belongings.
And I soon found what I was looking for.
Amelia said he would be carrying it, and she was right.
Although I didn't expect it to be a necklace.
Snap.
I ripped the necklace off his neck and let him go.
The Lord, who had just lost a family heirloom, started shouting, but he didn't attack me.
'Good, I got this…'
I put the Fragment of Records in my subspace pocket, holding it by the string, worried that it might activate if I touched it.
"You bastard…! Do you even know what that is?! Give it back! Give it back to me!"
"You're being noisy. Want me to pull out your teeth?"
"...."
I shut him up and then asked calmly,
"Do you know how to use the Fragment of Records?"
"You bastard! You were after this… ugh!"
"Just answer my question. We're the only ones here."
"…Do you think I would tell you anything?!"
The Lord was surprisingly stubborn.
He got angry at first, then he said he didn't know, and then he finally told me what his ancestors had told him after I punched him.
"You're saying there's no way to use it?"
"Th, that's what the records say… It activates when the Chosen One appears…"
It was unexpected information.
Amelia said that even the Lord of Noark didn't know how to use it, so he just kept it safe.
But he actually knew.
'So it activates automatically when the conditions are met, not by using it.'
It was a good thing I asked.
"Now that your questions are answered—"
"No, tell me this. How do you return to your original time if you're the Chosen One?"
"What…? Why are you curious about—"
The Lord's eyes widened, as if he wasn't completely stupid.
"You, don't tell me…!"
Well, he would be an idiot if he didn't realize it after I practically spelled it out for him.
I just nodded.
"You're right. So tell me. How do I go back?"
"I, I knew it… I was wondering how you found this place… so that's why…"
"Stop talking about things I didn't ask."
Tsk.
The Lord hurriedly answered, his face pale.
"I, I heard it's the same as when you arrived. You'll be summoned back when you finish what you have to do here…"
"This is troublesome."
"…Can I ask a question?"
The Lord spoke to me as I was contemplating what to do.
"Wh, what kind of person was I in the future?"
His eyes were sparkling, which made me feel uncomfortable. Did he expect to be a hero who left his name in history?
"Why are you asking?"
"Ju, just curious… although that future is gone now that you're here… I can still be curious, right?"
Right, he really doesn't know anything.
Well, that's why he thought there was a treasure that could change history.
"Ah, how did it go today? Did you succeed in driving those Orculus bastards out of the city?"
"You're that curious about the future?"
The Lord nodded.
"Then close your eyes."
"…I did."
"What do you see?"
"Nothing."
That's good.
It would have been troublesome if he saw something.
"That's your future."
I swung my hammer with all my might.
______________________
Thud.
The Lord's body collapsed, and a pool of blood started to form.
I looked away, unfazed.
He deserved to die, judging by the things I had seen and heard in this city for the past few months.
'And besides, he was fated to die today anyway.'
For reference, his death was known to be Orculus's doing, and Amelia also believed that.
But as I had just revealed…
…I was the real culprit.
'Well, it's not surprising anymore.'
Honestly, I hesitated until the last moment.
But I eventually swung my hammer for one reason.
Even if I just left, there was a high chance that the Lord would be killed by someone today, and history would repeat itself.
No, it would definitely happen.
Unless…
…the one I killed was a double.
And the real Lord had escaped to the surface, changed his identity, and deceived the entire world for twenty years.
Unless that ridiculous scenario was true…
…the outcome wouldn't change—
"Huh…?"
I suddenly stopped.
"Wait a minute."
I felt like shouting 'Eureka!'.
"…Deceived the entire world?"
It felt like electricity was coursing through my body.
-x-X-x-
Rattle, rattle.
On a ten-seater transport carriage that was speeding through the city, there was an anomaly among the grim-faced adult men.
A fourteen-year-old girl staring blankly into space.
Her seemingly calm demeanor masked her anxiety, and no one noticed except for her older sister, Laura Rainwales.
Swoosh.
Amelia, who had been sitting stiffly with her hands on her lap, flinched.
Her sister's hand had covered hers.
"What's wrong? Are you worried?"
Amelia, who was introverted, nodded.
There was no point in lying to her sister, who knew her better than anyone…
And she would have noticed anyway.
Just how much her body was trembling, even on this shaking carriage.
"…It's okay, nothing will happen."
Amelia felt her anxiety ease as she felt her sister's warmth.
Even though they were practically being dragged to a battlefield.
She closed her eyes, and the adult men's conversation reached her ears.
"What about Iron Mask and Emily?"
"I heard the Lord sent someone to their inn, but I don't know if they received the message."
"Damn it, he should have told us beforehand. What the hell is this?"
"It must have been top secret. I can't believe the Lord is working with the royal family to attack Orculus."
They were summoned by Pelic Barker while working at their foster father's bar, like any other day.
He didn't explain anything, just told them to get ready to fight, and then they were loaded onto a military carriage with the other clan members as soon as they grabbed their equipment.
"Wait a minute, attack Orculus? I didn't hear anything about that. I was just told there was a riot in the eastern district and we were going for support… And the royal family? What the hell is that? How can the Lord work with the royal family?"
"I heard the royal family contacted the Lord recently. I don't know what they talked about, but… it's not hard to guess."
"Well, the royal family also hates Orculus. They have a common interest."
"Damn right, why else would the knights sent by the royal family be fighting Orculus?"
"…That's probably why the Lord didn't tell us until today."
"Right. They're the main force anyway. We just have to focus on surviving."
"Ha, I should have slept outside the castle like Iron Mask. I was dragged here because I was inside."
"Derbon, watch your mouth."
"Ah… I misspoke."
"And stop complaining. We'll be properly compensated after this is over, knowing the Lord's personality."
Pelic Barker, the clan leader, calmed them down.
And after some time…
…the carriage finally stopped at the entrance of Noark's eastern district.
"We have to walk from here."
The stench of blood filled the air from the boundary of the eastern district, where several battles seemed to have taken place.
Collapsed buildings and mangled corpses.
She could hear explosions in the distance, and human screams that were even more chilling than a banshee's.
"What are you waiting for! Get off! Can't you see there are more carriages behind us?"
Amelia followed them out of the carriage.
Her body, which had calmed down during the ride, started trembling again.
Her sister held her hand.
"Don't worry too much. I'll protect you…"
Her sister's words, a promise she had never broken.
But Amelia couldn't calm down.
No, rather…
Clench.
…the more her sister squeezed her hand, the more she felt a sense of foreboding.
____________________
Amelia opened her eyes, snapping out of her memories.
She knew where she had to go.
The eastern district of Noark, which had become increasingly independent from the Lord's influence after Orculus made it their headquarters.
"Fi, fire!!"
Although people thought it was just a fire…
…a war was taking place there.
And her past self…
'She must be on her way to the eastern district in a carriage.'
It was a memory from twenty years ago, and she had been so overwhelmed by the large-scale battle that she couldn't remember the details…
…but she could roughly recall her movements.
It wasn't a memory she could forget even if she wanted to.
After all, her life for the past twenty years had been spent regretting and reliving that day.
Tadat.
Amelia ran towards her destination.
Hundreds of explorers, summoned by the Lord without knowing the details, were stationed at the entrance of the eastern district.
She soon found the person she was looking for.
"You're here."
"Who… Oh, Emily?"
Pelic Barker's eyes widened as Amelia approached him.
"What are you doing here?"
He seemed surprised to see her.
"I went to the castle after hearing the commotion, and they told me to come here. I heard what happened from the others on the way."
"Ah, I see… But where's Iron Mask?"
"He's sleeping, so I left him."
"Hmm… You left such a valuable asset behind…"
Pelic Barker didn't seem to find it strange, even though he expressed his disappointment.
It was because the barbarian often used the excuse that he had drunk too much the night before when he was late.
"Well, he wouldn't have known this would happen. We should assume he's not coming."
Amelia then stood next to her younger self and her sister. They awkwardly greeted her.
"Hello…"
Unlike the sociable barbarian, Amelia hadn't interacted with them much during the past few months, except for the necessary conversations.
She couldn't bring herself to speak to them.
But she forced herself to speak this time.
"Stay close."
"…Yes?"
"So I can protect you."
"Ah, okay…!"
The sisters, who knew about Amelia's skills even though they weren't close, brightened up at her words.
Although they didn't seem to know why she was suddenly being nice to them.
"Battle stations!"
Anyway, it was soon their turn to go to the front lines.
The groups were taking turns resting and fighting…
…but there wasn't anything dangerous yet.
After all, the knights sent by the royal family and the Lord's elites were taking care of the main battle.
"They're trying to escape! Kill them!"
Their goal was to surround the enemy, not to wipe them out.
How strong could the remnants escaping from a burning city be?
It was a one-sided massacre.
"It seems like the Lord is serious this time."
"But look, 70% of them are ordinary citizens. Is it really okay to kill them all?"
"Ugh, you idiot. We can't tell them apart. What if an Orculus member escapes disguised as a civilian?"
"That's true, but…"
Although some expressed their reservations about the one-sided battle, they were a minority. They were all used to killing.
"Does anyone remember what the commander said? How much was it per head?"
"I don't remember exactly, but at this rate, it's probably better than going on an expedition."
"Hey! Runners! Don't fight, just collect ears! Ah, and strip them of anything valuable!"
Most of them were happy to receive a high reward for easy work.
But Amelia's expression hardened.
She was born and raised in this city, but she still found their mindset repulsive.
And she was the only one who knew…
…that this festive atmosphere was just a fleeting moment, and hell would soon break loose.
"What the hell, someone's coming alone."
Someone muttered, his voice unusually loud despite the surrounding noise.
Amelia quickly turned her head.
"…Is he crazy?"
She saw a man walking towards them alone.
It was a strange sight, considering that all the previous escape attempts had involved hundreds of people.
But…
Thud.
…the onlookers started to feel a sense of dissonance as the man approached.
Thud.
He was wearing black clothes stained with blood.
But his clothes were intact, even though they were wet.
Judging by the blood, he hadn't come this far without encountering any trouble.
Thud.
The sword on his waist was also unusual.
The looters, who had a keen eye for valuable items, realized that the sword was no ordinary weapon as he got closer.
The sword itself was very ordinary…
…but the man who was carrying it was infamous in this city.
"…Hey, that's not who I think it is, right? Please tell me I'm wrong."
"...."
"Does anyone know his face?"
The explorers waiting in line started to panic.
Some instinctively retreated, and some desperately denied it.
But…
Thud.
…when the man was within 50 meters…
Whoosh!
…a flamethrower user unleashed his attack, but the flames were extinguished before they could even reach the man, and a brief silence fell.
Because it was a well-known ability.
"Fl, Flameless Spirit…"
[Flameless Spirit].
The power of the Lord of Silence, the ruler of the 5th floor.
This incomprehensible power that nullified abilities was only possessed by less than ten people throughout history…
And in the current era, only one person was known to have it.
"He, he's the traitor…"
The only criminal with the title of 'Traitor'.
The founder of Orculus…
…and the undefeated swordsman who was once known as the 'Sword Saint'.
Ricardo Liuhen Praha.
His appearance caused chaos.
"Why is he here…?"
"He's supposed to be fighting the royal family!"
The man didn't answer their questions.
He just raised his sword.
"Ru, run!"
The explorers turned and ran.
But the moment he swung his sword…
Flash!
…a fleeting flash of light blinded them.
And…
Slash!
…an old memory, replayed countless times for the past twenty years, began to unfold once more.