It was like a monster losing its life.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Jerome's body, limp on the surface of the sewer water, shattered into fine particles of light and scattered.
A few items remained, but most were worthless. Expensive-looking equipment like his sword and armor had all vanished, enveloped in light.
'It must be Eblus…'
I had a hunch about the essence.
But that wasn't important right now.
"...."
"...."
A silence filled the air, only the sound of the flowing sewer water remaining.
Auril Gabis, who had been smiling vacantly as if paralyzed, finally spoke.
"I'll ask you again. Are you an evil spirit?"
It wasn't a question, but a final confirmation.
Well, after coming all the way here, he must have been certain that the 6th-grade explorer Nibels Enche, who couldn't be found in the city, was 'Iron Mask'.
'He's asking because he wants to hear it from me directly…'
I activated Barbarian Confucianism Mode and spoke, having witnessed him incapacitate the strongest knight of the royal family with a single gesture.
"An evil spirit, sir? I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but I'm not."
Auril Gabis scoffed at my polite tone.
"That's a lie."
Damn it, so he can use his lie detector here too.
I was expecting it, but I felt a bit bitter when my attempt failed.
But I didn't have time to be frustrated.
This wasn't the community.
Things could get physical.
Therefore…
"Huhu, as expected, I can't fool you. You're amazing."
…I quickly changed my strategy.
I decided to admit what I had to admit since continuing to lie would only make him suspicious.
"Yes, I'm the person you're looking for. I was so flustered to see you outside that I couldn't tell you the truth."
"Flustered…"
"Yes, flustered. And I didn't exactly lie, did I?"
Auril Gabis chuckled at my bold question.
"Haha, well… you're right, you didn't 'lie'."
That's right. I didn't lie back then.
He asked me about the situation in the city.
And I answered that the Lord had joined forces with the royal family and ambushed Orculus.
He asked if a barbarian had entered the city about five or six months ago.
I answered yes.
And when he asked for the barbarian's name, I kindly told him 'Bjorn, son of Thor'.
"Yes, I couldn't lie to you… but…"
"But you see…"
"…Yes?"
"Do you know that it's much more insulting to be deceived like that than to be lied to?"
"Ah…"
He was right.
There were ways to counter it, but…
"…I apologize."
I apologized first.
"I have a mental illness."
And then I gave him a reason.
"…Mental illness?"
"Yes. I keep lying to people against my will because of it. Damn it, I shouldn't be living like this…"
It was a kind of blame shifting.
If the environment was the reason I was like this, then he was the one who put me in this environment.
"Haha…"
Auril Gabis chuckled awkwardly, having become the main culprit.
But at least he was smiling this time.
It seemed like he also found the situation amusing, seeing me acting so boldly.
Okay, then the atmosphere had softened a bit…
"But did you come here because of me?"
"That's right."
"Hmm, I don't feel good about you investigating me like this…"
Auril Gabis coughed awkwardly as I hinted that I was uncomfortable.
"Ahem, but I wouldn't have been able to meet you otherwise."
"Huh? Ah… right. Why did the community suddenly close? I thought you might have banned me."
"Ah, about that, there was a situation."
"Situation?"
"There was interference from the royal family. I've recovered it to some extent now."
"Oh, so we can meet there again next month?"
"No, that's not the case. I handed over ownership to a friend recently. You might not be able to see me anymore."
"A friend… are you talking about the GM?"
"Probably."
I was curious and asked who the GM was, but Auril Gabis didn't answer.
It felt like a secret he couldn't tell me.
Or rather, he seemed sulky.
"Well, there's no reason to keep it a secret… but try to figure it out yourself."
"Yes?"
"If you just see me as someone to trade information with, I have no choice, do I?"
"Ah, yes…"
Geez, he's sulking over this? He's over 300 years old, and he's acting like a child.
"But how long are you going to keep using that tone?"
"Yes?"
"You were calling me 'you' and everything back there. It's awkward hearing you speak so formally."
"Haha, come on. It was just a concept."
"Concept?"
"Yes, like another character. A weakling's struggle to not be underestimated. I wouldn't dare to be disrespectful to you."
"Hmm, I don't really understand, but I think I get it."
Auril Gabis nodded quietly.
And a brief silence followed.
He spoke after a while.
"Anyway, the reason I came looking for you is because I wanted to try and start over."
It sounded like a cheesy line from a romance movie.
"…Yes?"
The old man quickly explained as I couldn't hide my confusion.
"I want to be on good terms with you. I'm sure we can be helpful to each other, so it's frustrating to just keep going in circles."
"Ah…"
"So I brought a gift."
"Gift…?"
I couldn't help but flinch at that word.
I was both excited and worried.
I couldn't read his intentions.
"Don't worry. It's nothing bad."
"Can you tell me more?"
"As you know, I want you to open the Gate of the Abyss. So although I called it a gift, it's also for me."
Damn it, why is he so long-winded?
"I see. So?"
"It's an ability that will be very helpful for you to hide your identity."
Auril Gabis then briefly explained the 'gift'. To summarize, he was going to use his power to give me a permanent buff.
"So, if I receive it, I won't be affected by 'Verification' magic or interrogation items like 'Distorted Trust', right?"
"That's right. It's like a protective barrier on your body, so it won't work when your mind is exposed."
"When my mind is exposed?"
"For example, that place you're summoned to every month."
Ah, so it doesn't work in the spiritual world.
Then I wouldn't be able to just lie at the Round Table.
"So, how is it? My gift?"
I briefly contemplated.
It was definitely a very helpful ability.
He said it himself, so I wouldn't be affected by things like 'Distorted Trust' after receiving this gift.
But…
'I feel like he's going to do something sneaky.'
I don't know much about magic.
If Auril Gabis planted a tracking virus or something along with the gift, I wouldn't be able to find and remove it.
And the problem was…
'I can't refuse.'
He was the old man who incapacitated the strongest knight of the royal family with a single gesture.
In other words, if he had any ill intentions towards me, he could force it on me.
"Okay. Then can you do it now?"
"Actually… I already did. As soon as we met in the sewers."
"Huh? But I didn't feel anything…"
"That's my specialty."
Ah, I see.
So I never had a choice from the beginning.
'Damn it, this is annoying.'
No wonder he was speaking in the past tense.
______________________
After the 'gift' conversation ended…
…Auril Gabis said firmly,
"I'm telling you this beforehand, but I'm not planning to control you forcefully."
That was good news.
Although I didn't know how long it would last, it was better than him threatening me with magic.
"As expected of you. I respect you."
"Haha, well…"
I said something flattering, and the old man chuckled humbly, but we both knew it was all an act.
But hypocrisy is also a form of courtesy in social life.
I chuckled and organized my thoughts.
I had two options now.
1. "Haha, it was nice meeting you. You said you wouldn't control me forcefully, right? Then I have something to do, so I'll be going… Please take care of yourself!"
To somehow shake off Auril Gabis and go save Amelia.
And…
2. Exploit the old man.
To accept Auril Gabis' help.
It didn't take long for me to make a decision.
I tried to avoid him, but we had met again.
And I couldn't secretly get rid of him.
He would definitely follow me, even if I chose option 1.
'And that Iron Mask would probably come off if he wanted it to… and it would be child's play for him to find out my name.'
If I had to give in anyway, it was more rational to get something in return.
'I might as well milk him for all he's worth.'
I made up my mind and then spoke cautiously.
"Um… sir."
"Ah, go ahead."
"Can I ask you a favor? I'll tell you my face and name if you do this for me."
"Your face and name…?"
"Yes, you've always been curious, haven't you?"
"That's true, but…"
"Let's work together."
Auril Gabis didn't answer my suggestion.
He just stared at me.
With a look that said, 'What trick are you trying to pull now?'
_____________________
Meanwhile…
Amelia, who was running through the sewers with her sister, stopped.
"Wh, why did you suddenly stop…?"
She couldn't sense anyone nearby.
But one of her abilities had been deactivated.
In other words…
"He's here."
The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha, was nearby.
'As expected…'
She wondered what had happened to Yandel, who was fighting him.
But Amelia dismissed her worry.
She had said she would believe him.
And that wasn't what she should be worried about right now.
"You mean…"
Laura flinched at Amelia's mutter.
She had told them that Ricardo Liuhen Praha was after her when they asked about her severed arm.
"Right, it's him."
The two girls trembled as Amelia confirmed it. They remembered him slaughtering hundreds of explorers a few hours ago.
"Amelia, Laura."
"…Ye, yes!"
"Listen carefully. We're almost there."
Amelia briefly explained the way to the city.
"Go, I'll hold him off."
The sisters' reactions were different.
"Why are you doing this for us…?"
Her younger self was flustered.
She seemed to be worried about Amelia being left alone.
But her sister, Laura, was different.
"Amelia, come here."
"Bu, but…"
"Now!"
She grabbed her sister's hand and ran towards the passage, despite her questions and gratitude.
Laura had…
…one thing that was more important than her personal feelings.
"...."
Amelia watched them leave.
She didn't even have to close her eyes, the memory was vivid.
The end of that dark passage.
The memory she had experienced there.
Could she really change the past?
She didn't know yet.
But…
"Those are precious children to you, aren't they?"
A man's low voice echoed softly.
"That's good."
Amelia turned her head, and Ricardo Liuhen Praha was smiling.
"I can show you what it feels like to lose something."
Amelia tightened her grip on her dagger.
-x-X-x-
Some might call her foolish.
After all, everyone dies someday, and everyone experiences loss at some point in their lives.
It was a common tragedy.
Some might be surprised.
That the woman who seemed so cold-hearted was being driven to ruin by the death of a family member.
Some might call her weak.
That she couldn't overcome something that everyone else could in twenty years.
Even Amelia thought they weren't wrong.
But…
Thud!
…her sister would have said this.
She would have stroked her hair and said, "You must have had a hard time."
She would have hugged her tightly and said, "It's okay, I'm here for you."
Even if everyone else thought she was strange, even if they called her cold-hearted.
To her sister, she was just a young and sensitive girl.
The only person in the world who saw her that way.
Right, that's what she would have done…
"So, sorry…"
"Who are you apologizing to?"
Amelia closed her eyes, ignoring the pain in her stomach.
"Sister…"
She had failed.
She had trained for twenty years for this day, but she was still too weak to defeat him.
She had tried to talk to him, to clear up his misunderstanding that she was from the Rose Knight Order, but he didn't listen.
A battle ensued, and she desperately tried to buy time for her sister to escape.
But that was it.
"What, are you seeing things?"
The man scoffed and twisted his blade.
Amelia felt a burning pain in her wound.
"You think I'll let you get away?"
The sharp pain brought her back to reality.
"You have to see it too. What I had to go through."
He pulled out his sword, and Amelia collapsed. He grabbed her hair and dragged her forward.
What was about to happen was clear.
[I can show you what it feels like to lose something.]
He was going to kill her sister in front of her.
Just like that day.
Splash!
Her heart pounded with every step.
Her consciousness faded, and the scene before her eyes changed every time she opened her eyes.
"You didn't get far."
The man's mutter.
"Si, sister…"
"Go! I'll…!"
The conversation they had that day.
"Amelia…!"
The sword aimed at her younger self.
And…
Thud!
Her sister, hugging her younger self.
"Sister…!!"
The sword pierced her sister's chest, just like that day.
'I couldn't change anything…'
Amelia finally realized.
That this was the end of her twenty-year-long wish.
That the happy ending where they lived happily ever after only existed in fairy tales.
"You have a good expression."
In reality, there was only a weak and foolish human woman standing there.
Whoosh!
He pulled out the sword from her sister's body. And Amelia's consciousness faded, and the scene changed again.
A dark sewer filled with the stench of blood.
Kwaaang!
A deafening roar filled the passage.
"Sigh, why are you even crying?"
She felt warmth on her cold skin.
"It's not over yet."
Not over yet?
What did he mean?
She didn't know.
But…
"You've worked hard. Let me take care of it now, get some rest."
…her tense body relaxed, and she closed her eyes at his words.
"It will be all over when you wake up."
It was the last scene she saw.
______________________
"What are you doing! Take your sister and run!"
I shouted at young Amelia.
Baby Amelia, for short.
"Ah, ah…!"
Baby Amelia hesitated for a moment and then lifted her sister onto her back and started running.
Phew, then I can leave the old man to her…
I shifted my gaze.
"You…!"
Liuhen Praha was looking around in confusion. It seemed like he was checking if the 'Knight of Light' was also here…
'This guy is ridiculous.'
"You should have just run away. Why did you come all the way here?"
He didn't answer my question.
He just averted his gaze with a strange expression.
"Don't tell me… you got lost while trying to find the way out?"
I asked, even though I didn't think that was possible.
He answered briefly,
"…Fate led me here."
"Damn it, fate, my ass."
I couldn't help but laugh, but then I realized that 'fate' wasn't entirely wrong.
If everything happened as it was supposed to, no matter how hard you struggled, what was the difference between that and fate?
He then asked me a question.
"By the way… are you alone?"
"Yeah."
I wasn't even friends with the Knight of Light, so there was no need to hide it.
I nodded and then asked him something I was curious about.
"Hey, can I ask you one more thing? Why are you so obsessed with her?"
"…It's none of your business."
"Geez, you're prickly."
I subtly glanced at Amelia. Her injuries were healing rapidly, even to the naked eye.
It was because I had torn another Bond scroll before entering the fray.
In other words, Amelia was no longer affected by [Flameless Spirit] because we were now in a 3-person Bond.
'It would have been easier if she was conscious.'
It was a bit disappointing, but what could I do?
It was a small price to pay for a Companion Recruitment Ticket (SSR).
Right, so…
"Move aside. If you just let her go—"
"What the hell are you talking about? You're just a one-trick pony."
I waved my hand dismissively.
"Just attack me."
This would be my last battle in this time travel.
______________________
"Huff, huff…"
The young girl, running through the sewer passage, gasped for air. Her burning muscles showed no signs of cooling down, and an even more intense heat was coming from her back. ṛà₦ＯＢÊȘ
"Si, sister… are, are you okay…?"
Amelia kept talking to Laura, even though she was struggling to breathe.
"...."
There was no answer.
But she tried to ignore her growing unease and continued running. But could it be because she was carrying Laura on her back while running with her exhausted body?
"Ugh…!"
Amelia, who had been jogging, stumbled and fell. It wasn't because she tripped, but because her legs gave out.
"Sister! Are you okay? Huh?"
Amelia checked on Laura first, worried that she might have been injured in the fall.
"Ah, Amelia…"
Laura's voice was weak, as if she had regained consciousness from the shock.
"Si, sister! It, it's okay! We're almost there. Don't talk and—"
"Alo, alone…"
Her voice trailed off, but Amelia knew what she was going to say.
She was telling her to leave her behind.
If she had the energy, she would have added all sorts of reasons, like how she was already done for, or that it was more rational for Amelia to live.
But…
"Sorry, I don't know what you're saying."
Amelia pretended not to hear and gently helped Laura up.
Laura's body, which used to be at least 15 centimeters taller than hers, felt unusually small.
It also felt lighter than before.
Her stamina hadn't recovered.
"Blood…"
It was because of the blood she had lost.
Laura's body had become lighter as her life force drained away.
Amelia leaned her sister against the wall and tore her clothes to apply pressure to the wound.
And she poured all the potions she had on it.
She had been too flustered to think straight, but she should have done this sooner.
'Wh, why am I so stupid…'
She felt a sense of self-deprecation.
Her sister, who was always calm, would have known what to do in this situation.
"Ugh…!"
Laura groaned in pain as the potion started to heal the wound.
The veins on her forehead and neck were bulging.
"Si, sister! Just hold on a little longer…"
Amelia lifted Laura onto her back again.
But just as she was about to get up…
Kwaaang!
…a deafening roar shook the passage.
And…
Thud, thud, thud.
…the ceiling collapsed, raining down rocks.
Amelia stumbled forward.
Someone had pushed her from behind.
Thud!
Amelia quickly turned around.
And she saw her sister.
It was a surreal sight.
Her beloved sister's lower body was crushed beneath a giant rock.
"Amelia…"
"Si, sister…"
Amelia approached her, as if in a trance.
But Laura pushed her hand away.
"Wh, what are you doing?!"
Amelia shouted, and…
…Laura's eyes, half-open, looked at her.
"You… were resentful… even of your enemies…"
"Ah, I know. You would have done the same. Anyway, I know, so stop being stubborn—"
"Listen…!"
Amelia shut her mouth at Laura's shout.
Her voice was raspy, and it wasn't even that loud, but Amelia froze, as if she couldn't disobey.
Thud.
Laura placed her hand on Amelia's cheek.
And she spoke in a gentle voice, unlike before.
"He… came, didn't he?"
"...."
"He's… here, isn't he…?"
Tears streamed down Amelia's cheeks.
She didn't know if they were tears of sadness or relief.
But one thing was certain.
Thump!
Her heart started pounding like crazy.
Maybe she had known all along, even though she had tried to deny it.
"Wh, why… are you saying that…?"
Laura's words didn't include herself.
As if this moment was her last.
"Si, sister… don't give up. You drank a potion, right? We're almost there… Don't worry about the rock, I, I'll take care of it. I, I will… Okay?"
Laura bit her lip, her expression pained, at Amelia's plea.
But it was only for a moment.
"Forget… all the painful memories… you had here."
"...."
"Your… normal life… is finally beginning."
Laura forced a smile.
And…
"...!"
…it happened in an instant.
Thud.
Laura reached out, pulled out the dagger from Amelia's belt, and stabbed herself in the neck.
Thud!
"No…!"
Amelia hurriedly pulled out the dagger.
And she poured the remaining potion on the wound and pressed down on it with both hands to stop the bleeding.
But…
"No, no, no…"
…it wasn't enough.
The blood stopped flowing.
Sizzle.
The potion stopped bubbling.
The warmth in her hands faded.
The blood was sticky, but it was no longer warm.
"Ah… ah, ah…"
Amelia realized.
Her sister was gone.
"Aaaaaaaaaaargh!!!"
Amelia screamed, hugging her sister's upper body.
And at that moment…
…the ceiling collapsed again, raining down rocks.
Rumble!
Amelia saw it, but she didn't dodge.
She was going to stay here until the end.
But the cruel world didn't even allow that.
"…Ugh!"
Her body was pulled back, as if someone had grabbed her by the neck.
Thud!
Her vision blurred as the back of her head hit the wall.
Amelia looked at her sister, who was buried under the debris, as her consciousness faded.
That's when…
Thud.
…she heard footsteps.
Amelia instinctively turned her head towards the sound.
An old man was walking towards her.
"Wh, who…"
The old man looked at her with an emotionless expression at Amelia's mutter. But if you looked closely, he seemed to be contemplating something.
A brief silence followed.
"Sigh, he's so demanding."
The old man sighed and spoke.
"Auril Gabis. That's my name."
-x-X-x-
The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha.
The battle with this guy shocked me in many ways.
It was my first time realizing that 'weapon mastery', not 'specs' like essence skills, high stats, or Aura, could have such a huge impact on a battle.
Whoosh!
Even his seemingly casual swings were all calculated, setting up his next move.
It was a level beyond simply being good at fighting.
Of course, that didn't mean I was in a desperate situation.
'I don't have to win.'
As long as I could stall for time, it was my victory.
So I focused on observing his swordsmanship as I stalled.
'I think I'm starting to see it.'
At first, I had to rely on my senses and reflexes to dodge and block his attacks, but as time passed, I started to see it. How he was using his current move to set up his next one.
Whoosh!
He was aiming for my wrist to keep me occupied.
The best option was to dodge back…
'But he's expecting that. Then my neck would be exposed.'
It was a checkmate.
Assuming [Flameless Spirit] was working properly.
Swoosh.
I deactivated [Gigantification], and my body shrank, and his sword grazed my wrist. But had he anticipated even this?
Whoosh!
His sword twisted like a snake and aimed for my thigh.
Tadat.
I quickly retreated.
But he saw my movement and changed his sword's trajectory without hesitation.
Towards Amelia, who was unconscious.
'Damn it…'
I quickly used [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm] to pull him towards me.
Amelia was safe now.
But…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
…as if he had anticipated even this, he swung his sword as he was being dragged by the wind.
Well, I managed to avoid it…
'What the hell, is his brain a supercomputer?'
The more I fought him, the more I felt like I was being played.
It felt like he could read my every move. I could understand how modern Go players felt when they were defeated by AI.
'It would be really helpful if I could learn something from him.'
Although it wasn't something I could learn just by watching, it wasn't every day that I fought a swordsman of this caliber in a life-or-death battle, so I stalled for time, trying to learn as much as I could. ɽаＮɵᛒÊS
After some time…
'The old man should be done by now…'
…I thought.
"Ugh…"
Amelia groaned.
She wasn't conscious yet, but it was a sign that her injuries were healing.
'Okay, I can take him down 2v1 once Amelia wakes up…'
That was probably why he had been targeting Amelia whenever he had the chance, even while fighting me.
He was a ruthless fighter who didn't have any pride as a swordsman, as we could see from his fight against the Knight of Light.
He would run away if the situation became unfavorable.
Without hesitation.
Like right now.
"…I won't forget this."
He judged that now was the best time to escape, before Amelia woke up.
Tadat.
He retreated, leaving behind a cliché villain line, and I didn't follow him.
I didn't show it, but I was almost out of MP.
I had been using [Swing] to match his strength every time I blocked his sword, and I had been spamming [Transcendence], [Leap], and [Eye of the Storm] throughout the battle.
'Well, then that's settled…'
I approached Amelia.
Her breathing was stable, and it seemed like her severed arm would take a bit more time to heal—
"Haha."
I heard a voice behind me.
I quickly turned around, and…
"You really defeated him alone?"
…Auril Gabis was looking at me with an impressed expression.
_______________________
"It would have been much easier if you had helped."
"I didn't want to see him yet."
"I see…"
I looked away, knowing that he wouldn't give me a reason.
There was something floating in the air next to Auril Gabis, as if he was using telekinesis.
No, it was a person.
Baby Amelia, unconscious.
It seemed like things had gone smoothly on that side since she was here…
'But I have to confirm.'
I looked at Auril Gabis and asked,
"So… what happened?"
"It went well. He said my name at the end, just like you asked."
"What about Laura?"
"Hmm, you're suddenly being curt…"
"Haha, of course not. It's a misunderstanding."
The old man looked at me suspiciously and then chuckled, as if it wasn't important.
"Anyway, it's the same for this girl's sister. I gave her the medicine and healed her, then sent her to the surface, just like you asked."
He was efficient.
He said he threw her into the first carriage he saw and disguised it as an accident?
It would be evidence that she had lost her memories.
And he even put an ID card of someone around her age in her pocket…
"I think I know what you're after. You didn't do anything stupid, did you? Haha."
"Of course not."
It seemed like there wouldn't be any problems with her sister.
So I confirmed the next item on the agenda.
"But what happened to her sister?"
"Don't worry. I told you, didn't I? Subtle magic is my specialty. She'll never realize that she saw a hallucination. Everything was real, except for her sister's death."
The part where Laura was crushed by the rock and stabbed herself in the neck was real. The only hallucination was that the potion stopped working when her heart stopped.
"But why did you have to reveal my name?"
"She said it happened that way in her memories."
It was a necessary part of the script to eliminate any contradictions.
"Hmm, that's true. You're quite clever. I didn't expect you to come up with such a brilliant idea."
The old man looked at me with admiration, but I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
It was a ridiculous farce.
It felt like I was an actor following a script.
'This is so inefficient.'
I still couldn't understand it.
I wouldn't have done it this way.
There was no need to pretend that Laura died…
…and there was no reason to bring Amelia to Noark. I could have just sent her to the surface with her sister.
It could have been a happy ending for everyone.
But I had used this inefficient method, a method that made a young girl suffer for twenty years.
Because I went back in time and met Auril Gabis.
Because I realized that there was no way to change what had already happened.
I had decided on the outcome and then filled in the blanks.
'Maybe…'
Maybe the question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, was meaningless from the beginning.
After all, what did it matter?
The egg laid by a chicken would eventually become a chicken.
"You don't seem happy."
I honestly told Auril Gabis what I was thinking. He listened patiently and then patted my arm.
"I understand how you feel, but don't think too much about it. You also gained a lot from this, didn't you?"
It wasn't a very helpful consolation.
Information that could only be obtained in the past, the buff Auril Gabis gave me, Kraul's Demon Crusher, a Double Numbered Item, and an Amelia (SSR) Recruitment Ticket.
I had definitely gained a lot, but…
"The world, the nation, and society are all maintained because everyone fulfills their roles. Think of this as your role."
That made me feel even more uneasy.
What the hell is the Fragment of Records?
I wanted to ask more, but I didn't have time.
"Now that everything's over, I think it's time for you to receive the reward we agreed on—"
I firmly cut off Auril Gabis as he subtly changed the subject.
"We're not done yet."
"Huh?"
"Give her to me."
There was one more thing I had to do.
______________________
Amelia was being carried on someone's back, running through the sewers, when she regained consciousness.
She wondered who it was, her mind still hazy.
"You're awake?"
The voice brought her back to her senses.
No wonder his back felt so wide.
"Iron Mask…"
It was Iron Mask.
The one who, unlike the other clan members, had been kind to her and her sister, both in the labyrinth and outside.
And…
'Emily's companion.'
She didn't know why, but Emily had been taking care of them all day. She wasn't oblivious.
'Why are they helping us…?'
She couldn't understand.
But one thing was certain.
She and her sister would have been…
'Been…?'
Memories flooded back to her.
"Si, sister!"
"...?"
"Wh, what happened to her? She, she was right next to me…! Didn't you see her?"
"…You were the only one I found in the rubble."
"Ah…"
Amelia clenched her fists.
"Ah, ah…"
Her mind was spinning.
Iron Mask's explanation of the situation sounded muffled.
"We're going back to Noark now. The way out to the city is blocked… What, are you asleep?"
A deep, low voice echoed in her fading consciousness.
"…I'm sorry, I couldn't save her."
"...."
"See you later."
That was the last thing she remembered.
"This is…"
When she opened her eyes again, she was in a desolate cemetery.
She could see Noark's fortress in the distance, and the air smelled of smoke.
And…
"...."
…she was alone.
Iron Mask wasn't there, and neither was Emily.
And her only sister was gone.
Swoosh.
Amelia drew her dagger, as if possessed.
It was covered in blood.
"Si, sister…"
She realized it as she looked at the blood on the dagger.
What had happened today wasn't a dream.
"Ah, ah…"
She heard a commotion as she sat there for a long time.
"Over here! There's someone here!"
"What the, who is she?"
"It's one of Pelic Barker's runners."
"Let's take her, she might know something."
Amelia was dragged into the city by the guards, and she finally realized…
"...."
…that she was completely alone.
Her sister, who had always protected her, was gone.
She had to survive in this city alone.
______________________
"Seeing her like that makes me feel bad. Like I did something wrong."
What the hell, is he trying to act like a kind old man?
He doesn't even mean it.
"By the way, where's your companion?"
"She's still there."
"You left an unconscious woman behind…"
"Don't worry, she'll wake up as soon as I leave."
Hmm, if he says so.
I also felt relieved.
She could take care of herself, no matter what happened.
But I was curious about one thing.
"But why didn't she come with you?"
Auril Gabis answered as if it was obvious.
"We have things to discuss."
Ah, that…
'I can't refuse now…'
It's human nature to act differently when you're entering and leaving a bathroom.
Although I had made up my mind to give in, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Are you planning to break your promise?"
Auril Gabis' voice was gentle, but there was an underlying pressure.
"Your name."
The old man took a step closer as I subtly avoided his gaze.
"Tell me your name. Or you can take off your mask first. Hmm, right… it would be better to see your face first."
His presence was intimidating.
Therefore…
"Wa, wait!"
…I hurriedly raised my hand and stopped him.
And I reached into my subspace pocket.
He asked, watching me,
"…Why are you searching your bag?"
Because I had something to try.
"The Fragment of Records?"
He tilted his head as he saw the item I took out.
"Why do you have that?"
Why?
Because it was my last resort.
After all, the Lord had said,
[It's the same as when you arrived. You'll be summoned back when you finish what you have to do here…]
The way to return to my original time was to finish my 'role'. I had judged that my remaining 'role' was to save Laura.
And that role was now complete.
In other words, if this worked, I could escape to the future without paying him.
Well, that was the plan…
'Why isn't it working?'
…but the Fragment of Records didn't react.
But could it be that my disappointment showed on my face?
"…Haha, so that was your plan."
The old man seemed to have figured out my intentions, his eyes widening.
"I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to be on good terms with you. That's why I even did all those favors for you… but to think you were planning to betray me until the very end."
"It's a misunderstanding… a misunderstanding. If we just talk calmly—"
"Enough. I know how to handle you now."
'Damn it.'
I involuntarily took a step back, and Auril Gabis gestured in the air.
Whoosh!
My body was pulled towards him by an invisible force, as if he was using [Eye of the Storm]. When I came to my senses, I was standing right in front of him.
"Well, then let's see your face first."
He reached out towards my helmet.
'Damn it, I should have just taken it off myself.'
It was too late for regrets.
Thud.
That's when, as his fingertips touched my helmet…
…there's light even in the darkest night.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The Fragment of Records in my hand suddenly started emitting a bright white light.
'Right, this is how you exploit an old man.'
I grinned as the world turned white.
"So, sorry about that. I was trying to keep my promise, but…"
"…You bastard!!"
"Don't shout. What can I do? My role here is over."
"Your name! Then at least tell me your—"
Flash!
The light exploded, and Auril Gabis's voice was cut off.
And…
Thud.
…my feet touched the ground.
The timing was tight, but my plan to exploit the old man had succeeded—
"Huh…"
But what the hell?
"Huh…?"
I froze as I looked around.
Everything was the same.
The destroyed cemetery.
The caretaker's corpse.
And even the smell of smoke from the burning city.
Something should have changed if I had returned to my original time, but everything was the same.
Except…
"Where did the old man go?"
…for Auril Gabis, who was gone.
-x-X-x-
A dazed sensation spread through my body from the back of my head.
Thud.
I came to my senses at the sound of something falling.
It was the Fragment of Records.
I was clearly holding it when the light erupted, why did it fall?
"...."
I quickly picked it up.
And then I realized there was something else on the ground.
"Clothes…?"
It was a robe made of high-quality fabric.
Well, the owner was more important than the material right now.
It wasn't just an ordinary robe, it was the one Auril Gabis was wearing.
It was lying on the ground.
In the spot where he had been standing.
As if only his body had been sucked away.
"Don't tell me…"
I looked down at the Fragment of Records in my hand.
"This… activated on him…?"
I was starting to understand the situation.
I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected outcome…
But the Fragment of Records had reacted to Auril Gabis, not me.
'Ugh, this is confusing.'
I tried to calm down and retrace my steps.
There were two possibilities.
First, Auril Gabis was 'called by fate', just like me.
And the second…
[Have you ever used the Fragment of Records?]
[I have.]
…Auril Gabis had already used the Fragment of Records.
If that was the case, it meant he had been living in this time period after being summoned.
And then he met me, finished his 'role', and returned to his original time.
'So if it's the former, it means he went to the past, and if it's the latter, it means he went to the future?'
That's how I organized my thoughts.
But…
'No, it's too early to jump to conclusions.'
I realized I didn't know enough about the Fragment of Records.
So it was wise to keep all possibilities open.
'Being called by fate' might not only happen from the past.
He could also be called from the future.
Therefore…
'I'll think about this later…'
I put the Fragment of Records back in my subspace pocket and picked up the robe that was on the ground.
And I rummaged through it excitedly.
'Loot…!'
It was Auril Gabis's loot.
He must have something interesting…
'Are you kidding me?'
There was nothing in the robe except for ordinary socks, shoes, and a pair of white silk underwear.
"Damn it!"
I threw the underwear on the ground after realizing what it was.
I was annoyed.
'Why doesn't this old man have anything?'
I had high expectations, seeing him exuding the aura of a final boss.
This was a complete bust…
"Ah."
I belatedly remembered Auril Gabis taking out water from his subspace pocket and drinking it.
I thought it was just a subspace ring back then…
"It must have been a dependent subspace."
A dependent subspace, only usable by high-ranking mages.
It didn't have a physical form since it was directly connected to the mage's soul through a tattoo or something.
'Uh, wait a minute…'
Then could I use a dependent subspace to take the equipment I had gathered back to my original time?
I had a sudden thought, but it wasn't a 'Eureka!' moment.
Because I wasn't a mage.
Unlike magic tools, dependent subspaces could only be opened with the mage's own mana.
'Damn it, so this is also a bust…'
I sighed and dismissed my regret.
Complaining wouldn't change anything, and I had something more important to do right now.
'I have to find Amelia.'
I picked up Auril Gabis's belongings, put them in my subspace pocket, and then headed back to the sewers.
Although they were just ordinary clothes, I wanted to check again, just in case I missed something.
Splash, splash.
I found a few more bodies as I retraced my steps.
'This is where the fight happened.'
I looted them all since I wasn't heartless enough to leave unclaimed equipment behind.
They were all heading towards the surface, so they had expandable backpacks or subspace rings, so I didn't have any inventory problems.
'Wow, how much is this worth?'
I continued walking, my shoulders, neck, and arms laden with bags.
But Amelia wasn't at the place where I had left her.
Judging by the traces of battle with the Captain, this was definitely where she had been lying unconscious.
Where did she go?
I didn't have to think for long.
'She must be there…'
I hurried on, unable to hide my bitterness.
And after some time…
"...."
…I saw Amelia clearing the debris of a collapsed passage.
She was working so diligently that she didn't even notice me approaching.
"Aaaaaaaaaaargh!"
What the hell, why is she screaming?
She looked scary, clutching her head with both hands.
I quickly grabbed her wrist.
Thud.
Amelia shuddered and turned her head as soon as our skin touched.
"...Yandel?"
Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw me, and then she tried to shake me off.
"Let go. I have to find…"
What the hell is she talking about?
"You won't find anything."
"What?"
I grinned.
"That's why I told you. It would be all over when you woke up."
Amelia looked at me blankly.
It seemed like she didn't understand…
"Just follow me."
…so I decided to show her.
________________________
When she regained consciousness, she was filled with despair.
She was alone in this dark sewer, and the familiar silence meant that it was all over.
'Right, it's over…'
Amelia got up and started walking.
She had somewhere to go.
She couldn't do it back then.
[Forget… all the painful memories… you had here.]
[Your… normal life… is finally beginning.]
She had to leave her sister's body behind.
When she came back later, it was already gone. The workers who were repairing the passage had removed all the bodies.
It had become her lifelong regret.
Therefore…
"I have to find her."
She had to find her.
Even if it was just a corpse.
She had to retrieve it and give her a proper burial.
She couldn't leave her sister's body in this filthy sewer.
She could at least do that, having returned to the past after twenty years. No, maybe that was all she was allowed to do.
"Ugh, heugh…!"
Amelia arrived at the place where the tragedy had occurred and started removing the rocks.
She was so desperate that she looked half-crazed.
And she wasn't wrong.
"Wh, why…"
She couldn't find her sister's body.
It should be here.
Was even this not allowed?
"Aaaaaaaaaaargh!"
She screamed for the first time in a long time.
She could usually endure pain, even when her flesh was cut and her bones were broken, with just a groan…
…but not this time.
It felt like her heart was being ripped apart.
Thud.
She felt warmth on her wrist.
"...Yandel?"
It was him, the person she had seen every day for the past six months.
"Let go. I have to find…"
She tried to shake him off, but the barbarian, as always, didn't let go. And he lifted her up, saying something she didn't understand.
And…
"This is…"
…she arrived on the surface after a long walk.
The vast city of Lafdonia, where the royal family's power reached every corner.
"Ugh, my eyes…"
The midday sun was blinding after the darkness of the sewers.
But the barbarian didn't give her time to adjust and dragged her somewhere.
"Wh, where are we going?"
"You'll see when we get there."
Amelia looked around as she was being dragged by his strength.
Passersby.
Laughing children and their parents.
Merchants hawking their wares and white marble bathed in sunlight.
It was a place she had longed for.
A world filled with warm sunlight, where she could live a normal life, unlike Noark.
Of course, she knew now…
…that the surface wasn't a paradise.
There were beasts with even greater malice than those in Noark, and tragedies occurred every day.
But even so…
"At least once…"
…she wanted to see it.
The sight of her and her sister living an ordinary life in this city.
"Huh? What did you just…?"
"Yandel, go on without me. I have something to look for down there—"
"I told you, you won't find anything."
The barbarian looked at her with a frustrated expression as she stopped walking.
And he said,
"Your sister is alive."
"…What?"
Alive?
But how…?
"I'll… explain later, just follow me."
The barbarian continued walking, and she didn't resist.
She was too shocked to think straight.
After some time…
"Phew, I couldn't find out which shelter she was taken to, so it took a while."
…Amelia arrived at a shelter on the surface.
She described her sister's appearance to the staff and found her room.
Creak.
She opened the door and saw a young girl lying on a bed by the window.
Warm sunlight streamed in through the window.
"Si, sister…"
It was a surreal sight.
Amelia approached the bed, as if in a trance.
And she held her sister's hand.
She could feel her sister's heartbeat.
"How… how is this possible?"
The barbarian explained what had happened at Amelia's question.
His deal with Auril Gabis.
How he had used the prototype of Lethe's Blessing to erase her memories and disguised it as a carriage accident.
"She probably won't remember anything when she wakes up. She'll just live her life, thinking the name on her ID card is her real name."
"Ah, ah…"
I see.
"But don't be too sad. Everything will be fine when we return to twenty years later. You can just tell her the truth and be close to her again."
Thump, her heart pounded.
It was finally sinking in.
"And besides, you said the Dragonslayer was trying to recover his lost memories? We can find a way together when we get back. How to restore her memories."
He really did it.
This man.
"Huh? Say something. You're making me anxious…"
Amelia couldn't help but chuckle at his anxious expression, even though he had just performed a miracle.
"It's fine."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You don't have to worry about me anymore. I won't try to restore her memories…"
"Huh? Why?"
Amelia smiled at his question.
It felt awkward, as she hadn't smiled much in her life.
But…
"It's better for her to not remember."
…her sister would be different from now on.
The life she had longed for would begin.
And painful memories would only be a hindrance.
So…
"…Goodbye, sister."
I'm fine.
Even if I'm not with you.
Even though it's far from the ordinary life I wanted.
Even though I'm still awkward at smiling.
I'll be fine.
"Let's go, barbarian."
"It's Yandel, not barbarian."
"Right, Yandel."
Because I'm not alone anymore.
-x-X-x-
Sunlight streaming through the window bars and a cool breeze.
I couldn't help but sigh in contentment as I enjoyed grilled meat and rum.
"Ah, this is the life."
It had been so long since I had enjoyed such an ordinary day.
The contrast with the gloomy Noark made it even more satisfying.
Well, it wasn't like I didn't have anything to worry about.
'It's already been a week…'
Auril Gabis, Liuhen Praha, Jerome the Knight of Light.
A week had passed since that chaotic day when big shots were popping out from everywhere.
And…
"Sigh."
…I was still stuck in this time period.
"When the hell is this thing going to activate?"
I grumbled, fiddling with the Fragment of Records, but there was a silver lining to this situation.
At least I had time to dispose of my equipment.
'And I have a few guesses as to why it's not working…'
Anyway, I decided to take a break and got a room at an inn on the surface.
Ah, for reference, it was just one room.
I wanted two rooms, but Amelia said there was no need.
Honestly, I agreed.
We had practically lived together for months in that underground city.
It was a bit late to be talking about separate rooms.
"Drinking again…?"
"Oh, you're back."
"I told you to lock the door when I'm not here."
Amelia entered the room and casually threw her coat on the rack.
I didn't ask where she had been since morning.
It was obvious.
She must have been secretly stalking her sister.
"Nagging as soon as you come back."
"It's not nagging…"
I quickly changed the subject.
"So, how's Laura doing?"
Laura had woken up three days ago, thanks to the strong effect of the Lethe's Blessing prototype. And she was diagnosed with amnesia by the priest who was volunteering at the shelter, believing that the name on the ID card in her pocket was her real name.
"It's not Laura, it's Shannon Ellaura."
"Ah, right."
For reference, we created the name 'Shannon Ellaura'. We were a bit hesitant to use the ID card the old man gave us.
Amelia had a hard time switching the ID card we obtained with the one in Laura's belongings and even modifying the patient records at the shelter.
"So how is she?"
"Unfortunately, it seems like she caught the priest's eye. She started learning how to read today, and she's progressing very quickly. The priest thinks it's a sign that her memories are returning…"
"Don't worry, that won't happen."
"I'm not worried about that. I'm just concerned that she's attracting the attention of someone from the church."
I didn't understand at first, but then it clicked.
"Because of her essences?"
"Right. It would be suspicious for a child to have essences."
She would probably live her life without even knowing that she had essences.
Her stats could be explained away as her being naturally healthy, and she wouldn't be able to activate her abilities since she had no memories.
But…
"This is a bit unsettling. For her to catch the priest's eye, of all people."
It would be a different story if she lived a life closely connected to the church.
There was a chance that her essences would be revealed since the church had the power to remove them.
"…It seems like she attracted attention because it's rare for someone to lose their memories."
"So what are we going to do?"
"What can we do? We can't just take her away."
Amelia clicked her tongue and said she would just observe for now, and I agreed.
And that was the end of that topic.
"By the way, how about changing your way of speaking?"
Amelia looked at me with wary eyes as I subtly brought it up.
"…My way of speaking?"
"It's a bit too formal for companions."
"Companions?"
"What's with that 'I've never heard of it' expression? Don't tell me you forgot our promise—"
"No, I remember. I was just… wondering what that had to do with my way of speaking."
"Well, it doesn't really matter. I was just curious about how you would sound if you spoke differently."
"…What?"
Amelia stared at me as if I was pathetic and then sighed.
"You… really…"
"Well, I can be curious, can't I? You didn't speak like that when you were younger."
"That's…"
Amelia trailed off.
It was an unexpected reaction.
She would have usually ignored me or told me to stop teasing her.
"I'll try to change my way of speaking."
"Huh?"
"No, I'll… try. Is this better? No, is it… huh?"
What the hell.
I was genuinely creeped out.
That's when, as I was speechless…
"Hmm… 'Is this better?' sounds more natural than 'Is it better?' Which one do you think is better?"
…Amelia started seriously contemplating her way of speaking.
"Wa, wait a minute. Aren't you changing too easily?"
"You're the one who told me to change."
"That's true, but even so…"
"Don't misunderstand. I've also been thinking about it recently."
"Thinking about it?"
"…My sister would have wanted me to. And besides, you said it, so I must have a problem."
Ah…
'I was just teasing you because the atmosphere was too gloomy.'
I quickly tried to fix the situation before it was too late.
"I don't think it's something you have to force yourself to change. What does it matter how you speak? The important thing is who you are."
Amelia, who was initially hesitant, nodded, trusting my words since I had a history with Misha.
"So you two really were in that kind of relationship."
"Ah…"
Why did I say that?
I had never told anyone about that.
"Hmm, well, you wouldn't say that if you didn't mean it. I understand. I'll put the speech issue on hold for now."
"…Right, good decision."
I quickly moved on to the main topic.
"Anyway, now that we've rested enough, let's have a proper conversation."
"Conversation… alright."
Amelia sat down across from me, and we started our meeting.
______________________
The first item on the agenda was this:
"Are you really not related to the Rose Knight Order?"
"No. And we already talked about that."
I found out later that Liuhen Praha had persistently chased Amelia because he thought she was a member of that group.
It seemed like he had a grudge against them…
[I can show you what it feels like to lose something.]
…judging by what he said, he must have lost someone because of them.
But that wasn't important.
"Why are you bringing this up again?"
I had dismissed it as a strange coincidence back then, but a possibility came to mind as I thought about it.
"You said you learned Aura from a woman you met in Noark?"
"Yes, she taught me a few things because she liked my eyes. But she just laid the foundation, I awakened Aura much later. But… didn't we already talk about this?"
"That's true."
We had concluded back then that the woman was probably a member of the Rose Knight Order.
However…
"But isn't it possible that she was you?"
"…What?"
"I suddenly thought about it. It doesn't make sense for a stranger to be that kind."
Amelia, who had been perceptive since she was young, understood what I was trying to say.
"Are you saying that's what we have to do?"
"Yes."
To lay the foundation for 'Aura' for Baby Amelia.
That might be our remaining task.
However…
"Don't worry, it's not that."
Amelia firmly denied the possibility.
I asked for her reasoning, but she just said she could trust her and didn't elaborate.
'It seems like I'm really wrong… judging by how she's reacting.'
That was good news for me.
It meant we wouldn't have to stay here for another two years.
"Then let's move on to the next item."
The second topic was Auril Gabis.
How would that suspicious old man affect the future?
We talked about it for a long time.
And it ended with me getting scolded.
"By the way, why did you do something so dangerous? It would have been better if you had just parted ways amicably."
"What do you mean? You're saying I should have revealed my identity and face?"
"Even if you didn't do that, you didn't have to mock him at the end."
"Ah…"
That's true.
I felt refreshed back then, but it was a bit creepy thinking about how angry he must have been.
"You're good and all, but you need to be more careful with your words and actions."
"…Alright."
"I won't say anything more… but be careful. I said I would become your companion, and that means I'm entrusting my life to you."
I was grateful for her trust.
'…But didn't she say she wouldn't say anything more?'
"Ahem."
I coughed and changed the subject, and then we moved on to the next item.
The core of this meeting.
How to activate the Fragment of Records.
"To be precise, I was thinking we should discuss what our task is…"
"You sound like you have an idea."
Of course, I did.
There were a few candidates besides teaching Baby Amelia the basics of Aura in two years.
And the first one was this.
"The Genesis Artifact…?"
Amelia tilted her head, but she couldn't dismiss the possibility.
Well, it wasn't like I would be the one stealing the 'Genesis Artifact' twenty years later…
…but I might get involved with it somehow.
Like the 'barbarian heart' incident.
Although the outcome wouldn't happen for a while, I might be the one who caused it.
"Well, the Genesis Artifact is a very important item for evil spirits. It makes sense in that aspect. You're also an evil—"
"Tsk."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I wasn't supposed to say that."
Although it was a sensitive topic for me, Amelia quickly apologized, so I just gave her a yellow card.
Then the second possibility.
"The GM… that was the nickname of the one who inherited the gathering from Auril Gabis, right?"
"Yes."
"But why?"
"It's around this time that he takes over the community."
It was a bit of a coincidence.
Maybe I had to meet the past him and do something to return to my original time.
"That's also plausible. Is there a third one?"
I immediately presented the last possibility.
"To hide the things I've gathered here and send them to the future. Maybe that's my last role."
"Isn't that… just wishful thinking?"
Uh, well, she's not wrong…
"Do you have any ideas?"
"We, well… I'll tell you if I think of something."
Damn it, I was hoping for something good.
I was a bit disappointed, but a leader should be able to embrace their companion's shortcomings.
"Whatever, so did you sell all the equipment?"
"More than half of it. We could sell it faster if we lowered the price—"
"No, it's fine if it takes time, just sell it at the right price."
"But there are some valuable items, wouldn't it be better to keep a few?"
Ugh, she doesn't know anything.
Equipment requires maintenance.
Its value decreases over time.
And besides, it would be suspicious if I was selling equipment from twenty years ago, so it was better to just get rid of everything except for the Demon Crusher, which I couldn't buy even if I had the money.
'The problem is where to hide it…'
I was continuing my usual worry when…
"Ah, and one more thing."
"Huh?"
"I heard something while I was out today. They're auctioning a 3rd-grade essence at the central exchange."
"What, a 3rd-grade essence? Why not the Sky Auction House?"
"It seems like the Alminus Trading Company is trying something new."
Hmm, are they trying to upgrade the central exchange?
They wouldn't be able to beat the Sky Auction House.
"So what essence is it? Ah, are they keeping it a secret until the day before the auction like the Sky Auction House?"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter since I already know. It was a famous auction."
Damn right, this is the perk of being a regressor.
Amelia spoke as I urged her to tell me with my eyes.
"It's Vol-Herchan's essence."
Is this fate?
"...!!!!"
It was the essence I needed for my build.
-x-X-x-
Vol-Herchan.
A super-sized monster that appears on the 7th floor.
Since it lives in groups in specific fields, essence farming itself isn't that difficult if you have the specs. That's why I chose Bion's essence, which is harder to obtain later, when I received the royal family's reward.
But...
'To be honest, its combat performance was better.'
While Bion's [Transcendence] allows for utility, variable creation, and unconventional skill combinations, Vol-Herchan focuses on one thing.
Physical Resistance.
The stat that tanks should prioritize even over Strength.
Moreover, Vol-Herchan has an active skill that allows you to block Aura, making its essence essential for becoming a sturdy shield barbarian.
'The problem is... the essence color.'
The active skill changes depending on the color of the essence.
This is one of the biggest reasons why growth becomes more difficult as you climb higher. Not only are high-level monsters harder to hunt, but from 3rd-grade onwards, there are at least five or six different colors of essences that can drop.
It's not time to celebrate yet.
At least not yet...
"Amelia, do you happen to know... what color the essence is?"
"Hmm, I think it was green."
What? Green?!
"Hallelujah..."
Amelia frowned at my exclamation. Well, she must have been confused since it was a word she had never heard before.
"Is that something you say in your world?"
I explained that it was a word used when something good happened, omitting the religious meaning, and Amelia nodded.
And then she glanced at me with a slightly hurt expression.
"You gave me a hard time when I said that word earlier..."
Ah, right.
I did get upset when she said I was an evil spirit.
It must have seemed hypocritical.
'I would have kept my 'hallelujah' to myself if it were anyone else...'
Is it because she's the only companion (SSR) in this world who knows I'm an evil spirit?
I apologized sincerely.
"It wasn't that I was being strict with you. I just tend to be more comfortable around you. I'll be more careful from now on."
"...Whatever."
Amelia accepted my apology coolly, and that was the end of that topic.
I then asked the most important question.
"By the way, Amelia..."
"Just get to the point."
"Do you happen to know... how much it sold for?"
I asked with a trembling voice, trying to suppress my excitement, and Amelia chuckled and stood up from her chair.
And...
Click, click.
She walked over to me, bent down, and whispered in my ear.
"...!!!!"
I felt goosebumps all over my body.
What the hell, how is it that expensive?
____________________
I was shocked at first, but after thinking about it, it wasn't that unreasonable.
It was a 3rd-grade essence, after all.
Since it was being auctioned at the central exchange instead of the Sky Auction House, there would have been many more bidders. There are plenty of rich people who can't enter the Sky Auction House.
Anyway, that wasn't the important part.
"Amelia..."
"What is it?"
"That's..."
I hesitated, and Amelia, who had returned to her seat, crossed her legs and folded her arms.
It was a bit intimidating...
"Uh... that's..."
Amelia sighed and scratched the itch as I struggled to speak.
"You're wondering how much we'll get if we sell all the equipment, right?"
"Yes."
"Probably... about 70%. Even if we sell it slowly at a good price."
Damn it, so it's not enough.
"...I guess we have no choice but to give up."
It wasn't just about being 30% short.
We had been looting for over six months, and we had even taken everything from those ten looters.
It was practically impossible to make that much money in a short amount of time.
Amelia also seemed to agree, judging by her expression.
"...Don't be too disappointed. We can always get the essence ourselves later."
That's true, but...
"Sigh..."
I couldn't help but sigh despite her consolation.
I wish I had just stayed ignorant. It felt like I had received a birthday present only to have it taken away because it was the wrong one.
It was the perfect color, too...
"Well, there is a way..."
Amelia suddenly spoke, and I looked up.
"A way...?"
Amelia averted her gaze.
At first, I thought she was avoiding my gaze, but it seemed like she was looking at something specific.
'What is she staring at so intently...?'
I unconsciously followed her gaze and froze.
Kraul's Demon Crusher was leaning against the wall, its massive size impossible to ignore.
"No, we can't sell this!"
"Why? You can't take it back to your original time anyway."
"I'll bury it somewhere safe!"
"There's always a risk. Selling it and converting it to an essence would be the most rational choice."
Amelia was right.
No matter how well I hid it, there was no guarantee that it would still be there twenty years later.
On the other hand, essences could be taken back without any problems.
But...
"Are you crazy?! You're asking a warrior to sell his weapon?!"
"You're sounding like a barbarian again."
"Ah, it's a habit..."
"I thought so."
Wait, how did we get here?
I returned to the topic and firmly stated my position.
"Anyway, this is something I will never sell, so don't even mention it again! I'd rather give up on the essence!"
It wasn't just stubbornness.
A 3rd-grade essence was valuable, but its rarity was nothing compared to a Double Numbered Item. Double Numbered Items were so rare that they rarely even appeared at the Sky Auction House.
The price might be similar, or the essence might even be more expensive, depending on demand...
But the acquisition difficulty of 'Kraul's Demon Crusher' was dozens of times higher. In other words, if I sold it now, I might never be able to get it again.
"Hmm, if that's how you feel..."
Amelia nodded in understanding after I explained my reasons.
And that was the end of that conversation.
Amelia went out again, saying she was going to check on her sister, and I stayed in the room, drinking to soothe my aching heart.
"Ugh... how long will it take to get that essence..."
It would take at least a year.
I would have to return to my original time, reorganize my clan, upgrade my ship, clear the 6th floor, and reach the 7th floor before I could even encounter Vol-Herchan.
And then I would have to farm it until I got the right color.
"Ugh... Vol-Herchan..."
I was wallowing in self-pity when...
Creak.
The door opened.
"You're still drinking?"
Amelia had returned, her face pale with exhaustion. It seemed like she had spent the entire day by her sister's side.
"Haha, you're back, Amelia..."
"I told you to lock the door."
"...Sorry."
"You're apologizing?"
"I'll make sure to lock it from now on. It's not like we have the essence anyway. What if an assassin who can use Aura comes and..."
I couldn't finish my sentence.
I was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.
Amelia sighed deeply.
"You reek of alcohol."
I had nothing to say. I was in the wrong. I just hung my head in shame, and Amelia cautiously spoke.
"By the way, Yandel."
"...?"
"Do you... really want that essence that badly?"
"Huh...?"
I suddenly snapped out of my drunken stupor.
It was like a mother giving in to her son who was throwing a tantrum in the toy aisle.
"Are you saying... you have a way...?"
Amelia chuckled at my hopeful question.
And...
"Don't get your hopes up."
"Th, that means...!"
I was speechless with joy.
"I said don't get your hopes up. It's just a possibility... but there might be a way..."
It was the first time I had felt such a sense of security from someone older than me.
_____________________
Amelia went out every morning and returned to the inn exhausted late at night.
But she wouldn't tell me what she was doing.
She just said she would tell me if it worked out.
[If it goes well, I'll be able to solve the money problem. So until the auction, you should focus on what you can do. Don't just stay in the inn all day.]
[Amelia...!!!]
I couldn't disobey her orders, so I diligently explored the city.
My goal was one thing.
To find a place where I could hide Kraul's Demon Crusher and keep it safe for twenty years.
'The forest in the sanctuary would be perfect, but I'm worried that someone might dig it up during a funeral...'
Finding my own garlic field was harder than I expected. I would find a good spot, but after careful consideration, it would always fall short of 100%.
'The sewers are full of homeless people, so it's not safe either... And I can't freely enter the sanctuaries of other races, so I have to pass on those...'
If Amelia failed to get the money, I would have to hide a huge sum of money as well, so I had to be even more careful.
Well, that wasn't my only concern.
'But what if she actually gets the money? What do I do then?'
My current level was 6.
I could absorb up to six essences, and all six slots were currently filled.
To absorb Vol-Herchan's essence, I would have to level up or remove one of my existing essences.
But reaching level 7 would require clearing more than half of the 6th floor, so I didn't have to think about that option.
'Which one should I get rid of?'
Orc Hero, Ogre, Bion.
These three were core essences, so I couldn't remove them. And Stormgush was a 3rd-grade essence, too valuable to discard.
Its base stats alone were worth keeping.
So I was left with two choices.
'Manticore.'
My only movement skill, and a 5th-grade essence that I had always planned to remove eventually.
And...
'Corpse Golem.'
The 7th-grade essence that I had absorbed out of desperation.
It was the lowest grade essence I had, but it wasn't an easy choice.
'It feels like I'll be missing something without it...'
The usefulness of this essence was undeniable.
How much had I relied on the 'Pain Resistance' stat?
Even the trash skills [Flesh Explosion] and [Acidic Fluid] had proven useful in battle.
But...
'It's time to graduate from it. I never planned to keep it this long anyway.'
If I had to choose between the two, Manticore was the better option.
The reason was simple.
[Inheritance] would give me back 20% of the stats, but my Magic Resistance, which was 200, would be reduced to 40.
If I removed it now, I would have to absorb another intermediate essence to balance out my Magic Resistance until I could get Bellarios' essence.
'Well, this is all pointless if Amelia fails to get the money.'
The thought of finding a hiding place became even more important, and I diligently explored the city.
And...
'Only three days left.'
It was three days before the auction.
I lay down on the bed, staring at the clock on the nightstand.
'What will happen this time?'
It was midnight on the 15th.
______________________
"Oh, I'm here again."
I opened my eyes in the familiar room and put on the white mask.
And I quickly left the room.
"..."
The hallway was empty and silent.
But if my guess was correct, the new owner of this space, the 2nd Master, GM, should be somewhere in this mansion.
'Let's take a look around.'
I wandered through the mansion, carefully examining every room.
The Captain, the Ruin Scholar, and the other members were nowhere to be seen.
'What happened to them...?'
I was starting to get curious when I saw a man standing in the main hall on the first floor.
He was clearly not one of the otherworldly evil spirits.
He was wearing a tracksuit with a familiar logo.
'Could he be the GM?'
I took a step closer to get a better look.
But did he sense my presence?
"Pe, person...?"
The man looked around and then froze as our eyes met.
"..."
We stared at each other in silence.
'This is unexpected.'
He had a somewhat goofy face.
His eyes were filled with confusion.
He even seemed scared of me...
"Um... who, who are you? You said you banished all the previous members..."
'The previous members were banished...'
He was clearly wary of me, but he was still giving me information. I could smell it.
The strong scent of a newbie.
'Well, even the GM would have been here for less than a year. He's still fresh.'
How should I handle this?
I was already salivating.
And...
"Um... Sir! Are you the Sir?!"
He looked at me with such innocent eyes...
Lick.
I couldn't help but lick my lips.
-x-X-x-