Viscount Bjorn Yandel.
The Marquis's eyes didn't even flicker as he spoke my name.
If it were Erwen or Amelia looking at me like that, I would have confessed everything before they could get any angrier.
That's how confident he seemed.
But...
The Marquis was different.
He was a seasoned politician, the second most powerful person in the kingdom for decades. It would be naive to believe his act.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
I feigned ignorance, testing the waters.
But the Marquis didn't even acknowledge my question.
[It's strange to hear you use honorifics. I still remember you from the title bestowal ceremony.]
"...Is this all because of Erwen?"
[I understand your situation, so I won't accuse you of lying. But...]
The Marquis leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
[I need to create a situation where you have no choice but to confess.]
A situation where I have no choice but to confess?
Was he going to use a verification spell or a Numbered Item like 'Distorted Trust'?
Or torture?
I calmly considered all the possibilities, but they were all wrong.
[I'll start by telling you this.]
The Marquis chose 'conversation'.
[Viscount Yandel, don't be alarmed. I'm one of the few people who know you're not an evil spirit.]
He was coming at me strong.
________________________
When my identity was revealed, this was the part that surprised Amelia the most.
How did an evil spirit like me receive a noble title?
[...Come to think of it, the royal family might have known and turned a blind eye. You were a hero in the city back then.]
That was her speculation, and I had considered it a possibility.
But...
'If what the Marquis just said is true, then they really didn't know.'
Of course, he could be lying...
But I decided to listen to him first.
Sometimes, it was better to wait and react than to strike first.
[I won't waste time listing the similarities between Lihen Schuitz and Viscount Bjorn Yandel. You understand, don't you?]
"Yes, I've been mistaken for him a few times..."
I nodded, and the Marquis began listing the evidence that proved my identity.
[It was easy to find out that you weren't Lihen Schuitz. I heard the whole story from the employee who accidentally deleted his records.]
A woman had threatened him and forced him to do it?
That's when I started to get suspicious.
[You know what's most important in administrative work? It's all about the numbers. No matter how logical or convincing a story is, if the numbers don't add up, it's wrong.]
[And that was the case with you.]
Bjorn Yandel is dead.
The Marquis said that once he rejected that premise, all the pieces started falling into place.
[You were too strong to be Lihen Schuitz. But two years and some support would be enough to explain that.]
[And how did you manage to avoid our eyes for so long? It would only make sense if you weren't in the city.]
Where was I then?
The answer was obvious.
[You were in contact with Noark when you disappeared from Parune Island.]
It was too much of a coincidence.
And according to their investigation, I had reappeared two years later at the now-abandoned underground fortress.
The fortress that was rumored to have a passage to the outside world.
[You appeared after the Blood Spirit Marquis visited that place.]
So that's why the knight had accused me of colluding with Noark.
I had thought it was just an excuse.
[Now, tell me your thoughts.]
The Marquis smirked.
It was a convincing story.
It was more plausible than me having traveled back in time.
But...
'...'
I couldn't shake off the feeling that he was being sincere.
'Is he that imaginative? Or that unimaginative?'
He had actually interpreted it that way.
_____________________
I didn't hesitate.
I always prioritized my goals.
My first priority was survival.
My second priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel.
And my third priority was clearing my name as an evil spirit.
So...
"He's quite clever, for a Prime Minister."
I shed my disguise as Lihen Schuitz and revealed my true form.
The reason was simple.
My priority was reclaiming my identity as Bjorn Yandel, not clearing my name as an evil spirit.
Whether he thought I was an evil spirit or a traitor, it didn't matter.
It was something I could negotiate with the Marquis.
'He wouldn't have called me here if he was planning to execute me.'
"Yes, I'm Bjorn Yandel. It's been a while, Marquis."
My voice was filled with confidence.
I wouldn't be this bold if I wasn't sure I could handle the situation.
Whew, it feels good to be back.
[Haha, I'm glad you confessed. It would have been troublesome if you denied it here.]
The Marquis chuckled, and I smirked.
'Troublesome...'
That's why I had revealed my identity.
I knew what would happen next. He would use 'something' to verify my claims.
And if that 'something' didn't work on me... it would only make him suspicious.
Erwen, Amelia, Raven.
If they investigated them thoroughly, they would eventually find out about my past.
It was better to come clean and move on to the main issue.
I had become quite good at deceiving people, after all.
[Now, let's get to the real issue.]
The Marquis ended the small talk and lowered his voice.
[Viscount Yandel, why did you join Noark?]
"Does it matter?"
[That's not a cooperative attitude. You're a smart man, aren't you?]
"I didn't join them. I was just there for my own purposes."
[...]
He stared at me, a strange look in his eyes.
But I held my ground.
I wasn't lying.
I had stayed in Noark for six months.
And I even killed the Lord.
[...You're not lying, are you?]
"Hiccup."
[...]
"Ah, sorry. I had some air in my stomach."
It seemed like the sudden hiccup had changed the mood.
The Marquis didn't press me further.
[You must have been nervous.]
"So, can I assume you're no longer with them?"
"Of course."
[I still find it hard to believe... Why did you hide your identity if you weren't a traitor?]
"The royal family declared me an evil spirit, didn't they? I wanted to find out why."
[You were suspicious of us... I see, that's a possibility.]
The Marquis nodded slightly, and it was my turn to ask a question.
Give and take.
"So, why did you make that announcement? You must know the reason."
[I can't tell you the details. Just think of it as a political move. And besides, we didn't know you were alive back then.]
Damn, I missed the most important part.
"Then tell me this. What do you want from me? You would have assassinated me if you really thought I was a traitor."
[The royal family doesn't handle things that way.]
Bullshit.
The royal palace was practically a den of vipers.
"So you're saying you don't need anything from me?"
[We were planning to use you in the war, if you were a traitor.]
See? He just admitted it.
"Too bad then."
[Well, it's not that bad. I'm quite satisfied with the current situation.]
"Satisfied?"
[Every war needs a hero.]
He was going to use me, even though they had declared me an evil spirit?
The audacity of this guy...
[Viscount Bjorn Yandel, return to the royal family.]
"Why should I?"
[We can help you.]
"I don't see how."
I played hard to get, and the Marquis finally revealed his true intentions.
[Whether you've cut ties with them or not, you were associated with Noark. It's a crime punishable by death.]
"So you're saying you'll let it slide if I join you?"
[Not just let it slide. We'll help you reclaim your title and your name.]
"What about the evil spirit announcement?"
[We can come up with a story. People will believe it.]
He seemed to have it all planned out...
[You said you were just there for your own purposes, didn't you? If you're uncomfortable with the idea of joining us, think of it as a deal.]
It felt strange.
Or rather, unsettling.
It was all going too smoothly.
I had expected a much more difficult situation...
'...'
[Viscount, have you made your decision?]
I didn't have many options.
Even if they were scheming something... I had no choice but to accept.
"Alright. Tell me more. How are you going to reinstate my title? And what do you want in return?"
The Marquis nodded, satisfied.
But as he was about to speak...
Boom!
A loud explosion came from the garden.
'What was that?'
I wondered what was going on, and the Marquis explained.
[Damn, she came after all. I didn't expect her to be this reckless.]
It was Erwen.
[We'll continue our conversation later. Calm her down before things get out of hand.]
"...Okay."
And that was the end of our conversation.
-x-X-x-
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
I soaked my head in hot water and scrubbed my skin with soap, as if trying to wash away the grime of the past few months.
And after some time...
I stepped out of the shower and changed into comfortable clothes.
It finally felt like I was home.
Thud, thud.
I dried my hair with a towel and went downstairs. Amelia and Erwen were waiting for me in the living room.
"That took a while."
Amelia frowned, looking at me.
I sat down on the sofa across from them and asked,
"So, you didn't find anything?"
"No, we couldn't find any listening devices."
That was a relief.
I was worried they might have planted something when they raided the house...
"Except for the ones that were already there."
"What do you mean 'already there'?"
"Didn't you know? There's a recording crystal ball in the living room."
It was news to me.
But I could guess who was responsible...
"Erwen?"
I looked at her, and she flinched, avoiding my gaze.
"W-well... just in case..."
"..."
"I-if it wasn't for this, we wouldn't have been able to find you so quickly..."
...I couldn't argue with that.
She even said that the recording crystal balls were only in the living room and the entrance. It was a reasonable security measure for a homeowner.
'That's how she knew I was at the Marquis's mansion.'
I brought up a question I had been wondering about during the carriage ride back from the Marquis's mansion.
"By the way, Erwen, how did you know I was there?"
"How could I not know?! He came here himself!"
"He?"
"You didn't know? The knight who arrested you was Eltora Terserion, the Prime Minister's son!"
"What? He's the one who became the new Corps Commander?"
Is the Marquis insane?
Sending his own son on a dangerous mission like that?
What if I had smashed his head?
'Well, I guess he wouldn't have sent him if he actually cared about his son...'
The Marquis's parenting style seemed a bit Spartan, but it wasn't my place to judge.
"Anyway, Schuitz, what happened at the Marquis's mansion?"
"Yeah, tell us! We were so worried when we came back and found the door broken!"
I explained the Marquis's misunderstanding and the deal he had offered.
Their reactions were completely different.
"Really? He's going to reinstate your title? That's amazing!"
Erwen was happy about it.
"The Prime Minister is a good backer, but I still feel uneasy about this."
Amelia, on the other hand, was wary of the situation.
"What else could we have done? If you had refused, it would have only made things worse."
"...I'll look into the Prime Minister."
"I'll leave it to you."
"What about me?"
"Of course, you too, Erwen."
I could only rely on my companions.
This world was too harsh to survive alone.
_______________________
Tap, tap.
I was lost in thought, tapping my fingers on the table, when...
The door opened, and a man entered.
"You called for me, father?"
Eltora Terserion.
The Marquis's only son and heir to his legacy.
But the Marquis looked at him coldly.
"You know what happened. What do you think?"
"Honestly... I was surprised. I never expected Viscount Yandel to be alive."
"Is that all?"
The Marquis's tone was filled with disappointment.
"Is that all you can see?"
He glared at his son with a look of disgust.
Eltora lowered his head and sighed inwardly.
'What's wrong with him lately?'
His father had never been kind, but it was never this bad.
It had gotten worse in the past two years, to the point where he felt like an emotional punching bag.
'And that strange woman he brought in... could he be suspicious of me?'
It was unsettling.
The Marquis had been distant lately. He rarely called for him, and he didn't share any information.
It was the same with this incident.
"Father."
"Speak."
"I didn't know Viscount Yandel was an evil spirit. Why did you keep it from me?"
He cautiously asked, trying to gauge his father's intentions, and the Marquis responded coldly.
"You sound like you expect me to support you forever."
"...That's not what I meant. I just thought I could have been more helpful if I knew..."
"You're wrong to even assume he's not an evil spirit."
"What? But you said..."
"Enough. It's a waste of breath to explain it to you."
It was a harsh statement, even for a father.
Eltora closed his mouth, and the Marquis, ignoring his son's silence, stated his reason for calling him.
"Go see Yandel tomorrow. Tell him about the memorial service. And tell him I want to continue our conversation."
"When should I schedule the memorial service?"
"The 15th of this month."
In the evening.
______________________
On the afternoon of the 15th.
"Be careful!"
Erwen saw me off at the door, and the carriage that was waiting outside opened its door.
"It's been a while."
"You're not using honorifics anymore?"
"You're the Marquis's son, right? Then you know who I am."
"Well, that's true, but..."
The Marquis's son trailed off, a bitter look on his face. I didn't care.
"Let's just go."
"Alright."
The carriage sped along the wide, paved road.
We soon arrived at the military transfer station, and just like before, we were teleported to the Imperial City.
"It only takes an hour to get to the Imperial City. It's convenient. How much does it cost per trip?"
"About a million stones per person. Assuming you don't have a carriage."
"...I'd rather just use a carriage then."
"You should. Most nobles only use this for urgent matters. It's too expensive."
We chatted idly, and the carriage soon arrived at its destination.
It was a massive mansion.
I wondered how much it cost to own this much land in the expensive Imperial City.
"Come on, my father is waiting."
"So we're not using the crystal ball this time?"
"He wants to have dinner with you."
He said that... but I had expected a video call.
Creak.
The Marquis's son led me to a dining room on the 4th floor.
One wall was lined with large windows, offering a view of the garden and the royal palace in the distance.
But I didn't have time to admire the view.
"You're here."
The Marquis greeted me from his seat at the head of the table.
"It's been a while, Marquis Terserion."
"Welcome. Have a seat, Viscount Yandel. Eltora, you can leave now."
"...Enjoy your meal."
The Marquis's son left, and the already empty dining room felt even more spacious.
But it was perfect for a private conversation.
Thud.
I sat down across from him.
The table was already laden with food, presumably to prevent interruptions from the servants during the meal.
There was five times more food in front of me than in front of the Marquis.
He must have taken my barbarian appetite into consideration.
"Make yourself at home. I won't expect you to follow the usual etiquette."
"...Thank you."
The Marquis picked up his knife and fork and started cutting his steak. I watched him for a moment and then grabbed a chicken leg.
And...
"How's the food?"
"It's good."
"I'm glad you like it."
We continued eating and then started our conversation.
It was against Lafdonia etiquette to discuss business during a meal... but I was a barbarian.
I didn't have to follow those rules.
"Marquis, the food is great, but I'd like to hear about your plan."
"About reinstating your title?"
"Yes. It won't be easy to convince everyone that I'm back from the dead."
The Marquis didn't seem bothered by my bluntness.
"Before I explain, I have a question for you. How many people in Noark knew your true identity?"
"None. I was in hiding."
"Then this will be much easier."
He then explained his plan.
"We'll make it seem like you were on a secret mission for the royal family. You infiltrated Noark two and a half years ago, and now you've returned after completing your mission. How does that sound?" РάŊỔ₿ÊⱾ
It was a simple scenario.
But it didn't matter if it was convincing or not.
The Marquis had the power to make it happen.
"It's not bad."
"Of course, it will take some time. We have to fabricate the necessary documents."
"What about the evil spirit announcement?"
"Don't worry. We can say it was part of your cover."
I liked the scenario.
I could return to my old life if it worked.
But there was one problem...
"What do you want in return?"
What would I have to give up to gain this?
The Marquis put down his knife and fork and raised two fingers.
"Two things."
"Tell me."
"We'll create a special forces unit led by you. You'll lead them in the war."
"For how long?"
"Until the war ends."
He was practically asking me to be his slave.
"Until the war ends? That's a bit much."
"Then let's say three years. If the war ends before then, the deal is off. And of course, you'll be rewarded for your achievements."
It wasn't a bad offer.
Most explorers were participating in the war to earn money anyway.
"And the second thing?"
"The second thing..."
The Marquis trailed off and then put down his fork.
"I'll tell you tomorrow morning. It will be easier to explain then. You can stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms."
This is like a cliffhanger.
________________________
After dinner, I was escorted to my room.
I wanted to go home and rest, but...
'This is suspicious.'
The timing of the invitation, the dinner, the offer to stay the night...
It felt like a setup.
So I asked them to let me contact Erwen, and then I agreed to stay the night.
Sometimes, a crisis could be an opportunity.
"Phew..."
The room was too spacious and luxurious for one person.
Click, click.
I lay down on the bed, checking the time on the clock.
Then I turned off the bedside lamp and placed the clock on the nightstand.
Click, click, click.
The ticking of the second hand echoed through the silent room.
Click, click.
After ten ticks...
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
I immediately sat up.
I had to hurry this time.
-x-X-x-
The evil spirit community that opens at midnight on the 15th of every month.
Time flows differently in Ghostbusters compared to the outside world.
'One hour here is one second out there.'
Even if I used all 12 hours of the community session, only 12 seconds would have passed in reality.
But...
'They won't wait that long.'
The Marquis's intentions were clear.
He was suspicious of me, and he was going to confirm it tonight.
The only question was...
How much time did I have?
Ideally, I wanted four seconds.
That would be enough time to participate in the Round Table and return.
I could avoid raising suspicions about Lion's absence and prevent any information loss from skipping a session.
But...
'Four seconds is too risky.'
I suppressed my greed.
It was better to stick to the original plan.
Click, click.
The computer finished booting up.
I immediately checked the chat rooms.
[Long Live Korean Independence] - 1 user online.
I entered the chat room without hesitation.
[HS123]
It was Hyunbyul.
I had hoped that the GM might have unbanned Lee Baekho...
But it was still too early.
"You're here."
Hyunbyul looked up at me from the sofa, her legs crossed.
A white blouse and a formal skirt.
She was still wearing the same outfit.
"What's with that tone? Like you expected me not to come."
I sat down on the sofa across from her, and our banter continued, as if we were back in the old days.
"Well, you could have. You always run away when things get uncomfortable."
What? Run away?
"I just avoid unnecessary energy expenditure."
It was a basic rule to skip low-reward events.
Efficiency meant minimizing waste.
Just like now.
"Hyunbyul."
I cut to the chase.
There was no time for idle chatter.
"Did you meet the GM?"
That was the real reason I had come to the chat room before the Round Table.
I had to confirm it.
Hyunbyul frowned slightly and then answered,
"...How did you know?"
She didn't deny it.
I calmly explained my reasoning.
"It was strange that you received a message while we were talking. So I looked into it."
I had become suspicious after leaving the chat room last time.
As I was browsing the forums, I remembered the GM's interest in our chat room.
He couldn't eavesdrop on our conversation, but he could see who was in the chat room.
I suspected that the message Hyunbyul received might be from the GM, so I searched for a specific chat room and monitored the number of users.
And soon...
"The number of users in one of the GM's secret chat rooms increased from 2 to 3. It was too much of a coincidence."
"...Then why didn't you call me back then? Why wait until now?"
"I didn't want the GM to see our messages."
"You could have just asked me to come to the chat room."
"That would have made him suspicious."
"...Annoying."
Hyunbyul sighed and glared at me.
"Just so you know, I wasn't trying to hide it from you."
"I know."
"I was going to tell you today. But I guess you wouldn't believe me..."
"I believe you."
Hyunbyul's expression softened.
"Really? How... how can you be so sure?"
"If you were trying to hide it, you wouldn't have admitted it so easily."
She would have denied it and tried to cover it up.
"But I could be acting, right?"
"That's going too far. Just believe me, okay?"
I chuckled, and Hyunbyul fell silent.
She stared at me for a long time and then...
"...Oppa, are you seeing someone?"
She asked a completely unexpected question.
I immediately thought of Misha, but I decided to ask her why first.
"Why would you ask that?"
Hyunbyul trailed off, her voice slightly strange.
"Just... you're much better at talking now..."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
I decided to take it as a compliment and changed the subject.
It wasn't something I wanted to dwell on, and I didn't have time.
"Hyunbyul, I'm kind of in a hurry."
"Like efficient time management?"
"No, I really don't have much time. I just need to confirm one thing."
"Okay, what is it?"
"What did the GM offer you?"
"He asked me to be his spy. He said he would give me anything I wanted."
"That's what I thought."
"What have you been doing? Why is he so obsessed with you? And his nickname is so weird..."
"It just happened. I didn't do anything special."
I brushed her off, and she didn't press me further.
"...So, what do you want me to do?"
"Will you do it if I tell you?"
"Have I ever refused your requests?"
Well... there were a lot of times...
But she had done most of them, even if she complained.
Okay, let's just tell her.
"I want you to leak some information to him."
"Okay. What is it this time?"
"I'm going to log out as soon as I leave this chat room. He'll probably be curious about it. Tell him I was in the middle of a battle and couldn't talk for long. And that we'll talk next time."
"Okay. But can I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Why are you really logging out?"
"It's similar to what I told the GM."
"So... you were really in a battle? But the labyrinth isn't even open yet."
"I said it's similar."
It wasn't always a physical fight.
Anyway, that should be enough of an answer.
"Okay, I'm going! See you next month!"
I left the chat room before she could say anything else.
__________________________
A cozy study, decorated and furnished by her.
"I'll be going then..."
"Thank you for your time. I'll send you the GP right away."
"Okay..."
The intellectual but somewhat awkward woman left the room, and the GM mumbled quietly.
"He's in a battle... That's interesting. If he's fighting someone who makes him value every second, it means they're on a similar level."
The GM sounded disappointed. But SoulQueens knew why.
She felt the same way.
Nickname HS123.
The Korean woman who had asked to be called 'Black Star'.
They hadn't known anything about her before.
Nothing.
They were confident in their information network, but they hadn't even sensed the conflict until it happened.
"...It's a good thing we recruited Black Star. If he was really in a difficult situation, there would have been traces. We should focus on finding those traces."
SoulQueens nodded, but she couldn't help but ask,
"But it's strange. Why would he come to the chat room if he was in such a hurry?"
"Well, he didn't seem that stressed. Maybe he was confident enough to spare a few seconds."
"That... makes sense."
SoulQueens agreed.
She couldn't imagine Lion being flustered.
He was like a giant.
He always moved with a calm confidence, leaving behind a lasting impact.
"SoulQueens, it's time to get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"The Round Table."
"But Lion isn't coming."
"We can still obtain useful information. And the Corpse Collector is there. You should participate. You might learn something about the conflict."
"If you say so..."
SoulQueens obeyed his orders and left the chat room. And as soon as the entry period began, she entered the 'Watchers of the Round Table' chat room.
"You're early."
"Yes, I had some time."
Fox Mask was already there.
They exchanged brief greetings, and the other members arrived one by one.
Goblin, Crescent Moon.
And...
"Pfft, where's that Stag Antlers bastard?"
Clown.
Five members were gathered at the Round Table.
"It doesn't matter if that bastard is dead or alive, but this is a problem. Lion isn't here."
Clown stood up, complaining.
"It's all your fault for bringing such boring information! If you had something interesting, he wouldn't have skipped the session!"
He grumbled and then looked at SoulQueens.
"Aren't you leaving?"
"No, I'm staying this time."
"What? You're going to stay with these losers?"
SoulQueens chuckled, pointing at her mouth.
"Oh my, that's funny. You're not much better."
"Are you comparing me to them?"
"Hmm, you seem to think that Lion skipped the session because he was disappointed in our information. That makes you somewhat similar, don't you think?"
"...You sound like you know why he's not here."
"Well, I can't just tell you for free. How about we make a deal?"
"..."
Clown didn't leave.
It was to be expected.
He was obsessed with Lion.
Thud.
He sat back down and mumbled, as if making an excuse,
"...Well, I'll stay and see what kind of nonsense you're going to spout. Pfft."
It was a rude statement, but SoulQueens didn't mind. It was true that Clown's presence was necessary for high-quality information.
"..."
"..."
All eyes were on her.
She smiled inwardly, enjoying their attention.
She hadn't planned on taking the first turn, but she didn't mind.
"Pfft, why are you just sitting there? You couldn't possibly know something that I don't—"
She cut Clown off and spoke softly.
"Lion is in a battle right now."
Clown froze, his eyes widening in surprise. He immediately looked at the jewel.
It was the most important thing in this situation.
And...
Swaaaaaaaaaa.
The jewel emitted a green light.
"It's green!"
Goblin exclaimed, breaking the silence.
"Queen, do you know who Lion is?"
Crescent Moon was so excited that he stood up. Fox Mask also mumbled softly,
"It wasn't Queen. The GM must have told her."
"W-wait... if Lion is in a battle, who could he possibly be fighting...?"
Goblin trailed off, sensing the gravity of the situation.
And...
"..."
Clown was silent.
"Clown, why are you so quiet—"
"How..."
"...?"
"How did you find out...? Did he tell you? But... why you, and not me?"
Clown's voice was trembling with excitement, and his gaze was fixed on her.
It was an intense, almost possessive gaze.
"Hmm, I wonder why."
She couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe I'll tell you if you bring me something interesting."
It was intoxicating.
_______________________
「Character is being transferred to Lafdonia.」
_______________________
About 20 minutes in Ghostbusters.
Translated to real-world time, it was about 0.3 seconds.
It was a short amount of time, barely enough to blink.
But I logged out as soon as I finished talking to Hyunbyul.
I wasn't going to participate in the Round Table this time.
There was no point in staying and browsing the forums. I would rather go back and prepare for the upcoming events.
But...
'It's quiet.'
I opened my eyes, and the room was dark and silent.
The window was still boarded up...
Click.
The door opened.
And at that moment...
Swoosh.
Even with my eyes closed, my enhanced senses detected someone approaching.
'I would have been screwed if I had stayed in the community.'
It took less than a second for the door to open and for the intruder to reach me.
This wasn't a cockroach, it was a ninja.
I immediately sat up and reached out.
Grab!
I had him by the throat.
"..."
I stood up, pulling him with me, and checked his identity.
It was an unexpected visitor.
"Eltora Terserion."
The Marquis's son had come himself.
But I wasn't surprised.
It didn't matter who it was.
I would do what I had to do.
"...I hope you're ready to die."
I was going to make him pay for interrupting my community session.
-x-X-x-
The dead of night.
An intruder, having picked the lock and entered the house.
"..."
There were two options.
First, verbally reprimand him and ask why he had snuck in.
And the second...
"...I hope you're ready to die."
Express my anger physically.
There was no need to think twice about how a barbarian would react to an intruder.
Squeeze.
I tightened my grip on his throat.
It was a natural response.
A barbarian confronting an 'assassin'.
"Did the Marquis send you to kill me?"
"...G-guh...!"
He struggled to speak.
"...N-no... Let's talk...!"
It was obvious what he was going to say.
That he had no intention of killing me.
And it was probably true.
He wasn't armed when he entered the room.
And the Marquis had plenty of other ways to get rid of me if he really wanted me dead.
I didn't deny that.
But...
"I don't talk to those who try to kill me."
I couldn't let him off the hook that easily.
Go to sleep.
I'll get my compensation from your father.
Squeeze.
I tightened my grip, cutting off his air supply, and then punched him in the stomach.
Thud!
His back arched like a shrimp.
"Ugh—!"
Wow, he's still conscious?
Then one more.
Thud!
"Ugh—!"
He's tough for a knight.
Should I just knock him out?
I was about to aim for his jaw when...
"Gah—!"
He drew his sword, sensing the danger.
It was a small dagger, similar to the one I used to cut jerky. But size didn't matter when it was in a knight's hand.
Whoosh!
A blue aura enveloped the dagger, expanding its size.
Swish!
The dagger, infused with aura, shot towards my wrist like lightning. He couldn't free his neck, so he was going to cut off my hand.
It was understandable.
Most knights believed that any obstacle could be overcome with a sword.
「Character has cast [Iron Fortress].」
「[Evolved Hide] effect is increased by 1.5 times.」
I quickly activated my skills.
And the aura struck my wrist.
But...
Clank!
The aura barely pierced my skin, stopped by my bone.
"...!"
His eyes widened in shock.
It was the same expression I had seen on the Blood Knight's face.
Why wasn't it cutting?
Knights, accustomed to their aura slicing through everything, couldn't comprehend this phenomenon.
But I wasn't going to explain it to him.
"You were hiding a weapon."
Blood dripped from the cut on my wrist.
But I didn't let go of his neck.
"You really are an assassin."
He couldn't even shake his head in denial.
His Strength wasn't high enough to overcome my grip.
His eyes widened in terror...
Whoosh!
...and then my fist connected with his jaw.
Crack!
Now, let's go.
______________________
I dragged the unconscious Marquis's son out of the room.
But I encountered a problem.
'How do I find the Marquis?'
I didn't know where he was.
I couldn't wake this guy up and ask him...
Drip, drip.
Damn, I want to meet the Marquis before the cut on my wrist heals...
But I didn't have to think for long.
A strong body meant a simple mind.
'Let's just go outside.'
I was currently staying in a guest house east of the main building.
I walked through the empty hallway and headed for the stairs.
The servants, who were everywhere before, were nowhere to be seen.
It meant the Marquis had ordered them to stay away.
'Well, at least the 1st floor is still active.'
The entrance hall on the 1st floor was brightly lit.
Even though there were no observers, one of the servants standing guard screamed as soon as she saw me.
"Aaaaah!"
Was she a human alarm?
"What's going on?!"
The scream alerted the knights guarding the main gate, and they rushed inside.
There were four of them.
"Lihen Schuitz...! What are you doing?! Who is that?!"
They didn't recognize the Marquis's son.
Maybe I shouldn't have hit his face...
"He's wearing our family crest."
"Even if he's a guest, you can't just attack him!"
"Release him and surrender!"
They surrounded me, their swords infused with aura.
It was a scene that would make any ordinary explorer tremble in fear.
And they knew it.
That's why they were so confident.
"This is your last warning. Surrender and await the Marquis's judgment."
"What if I don't?"
"...We'll have to use force."
"Really? Then try it."
I shrugged, and they frowned.
As if I had made a foolish choice.
Thud.
I dropped the Marquis's son on the floor and drew my Demon Crusher.
And at that moment...
Tadat.
They exchanged glances and charged at me.
How kind of them.
Boom.
I stomped on the ground, and a whirlwind erupted.
「Character has cast [Eye of the Storm].」
I didn't combine it with [Transcendence].
It was more efficient to use it normally in a group fight.
Whiiiiiish!
The knights were swept towards me by the powerful wind.
They swung their swords, their aura easily slicing through my armor.
"Uwaaaaaaaaah!"
But I didn't bother defending.
I just swung my hammer, again and again.
I was a damage-tank barbarian.
If we traded blows...
I would win in the end.
Swish.
One of the knights charged at me, swinging his sword down.
But I didn't dodge or block.
Slice!
The blade sank deep into my shoulder, almost reaching my collarbone.
Crack!
I smashed his temple with my hammer.
And at that moment...
Slice!
Another knight slashed at my ankle.
'He went for my Achilles tendon, that bastard.'
I stumbled, but my tendon wasn't severed.
So...
Shift.
I quickly regained my balance and kicked him in the face with my other foot.
Boom!
He flew back and crashed into a pillar.
Then I heard a thud from behind.
Crack!
Yeah, he stabbed me.
「Piercing damage reduction: 75%.」
It didn't even hurt.
"H-how... are you...?"
What? Does he have something to say?
Crack!
I elbowed him in the jaw.
He couldn't even shake his head in denial.
Whoosh!
The last knight charged towards me, his sword glowing with a golden aura.
'He's aiming for my neck.'
I blocked it with my shield.
And...
"...Ugh!"
I kicked him in the stomach.
Swaaaaaaaaaa.
The whirlwind subsided.
"..."
The room was silent.
We had traded blows, but the winner was clear.
I was still standing, while they were all on the floor.
"Ugh...!"
Two of them were still conscious.
The one I had kicked in the stomach seemed fine, but the one I had hit in the temple might be dead.
'Did he use a defensive skill?'
The knight who had been hit in the head stumbled towards the open gate.
"B-backup..."
Wow, he's dedicated to his job.
Whoosh!
I used [Transcendence] and [Eye of the Storm] to pull him back and then knocked him out with a headbutt.
'I can ask him where the Marquis is...'
I crouched down and grabbed the other knight's head, turning it towards me.
"I have a question—"
"Ptoo!"
...He spat a mixture of blood and phlegm in my face.
It was disgusting.
I had always been the one spitting, so it felt even worse.
I endured the urge to punch him and asked again,
"Where's the Marquis?"
"You'll... follow me... eventually."
He was already resigned to his fate. It seemed pointless to ask him anything.
So...
Boom!
I knocked him out with a headbutt.
'What should I do now? Should I go outside?'
There might be mages out there...
And I didn't want to cause any more trouble.
I just wanted to talk to the Marquis.
Should I wait for his son to wake up?
Swoosh.
As I was contemplating my options, I sensed someone approaching from the open gate.
I looked up and saw the Marquis standing there.
"..."
I slowly stood up.
"...I guess I don't have to go looking for you."
_____________________
The Marquis was wearing the same casual clothes as before.
It meant he hadn't gone to bed.
Maybe he was working late...
But...
I had a hunch he was waiting for me.
The knights surrounding him were a dead giveaway.
Swoosh.
As I stood up, the Dragonkin woman next to the Marquis reached for her sword.
"Stay back."
"...Yes."
She immediately obeyed his order.
I observed her carefully.
She wasn't a knight.
Aura was exclusive to humans.
'A Dragonkin.'
Her eyes had the characteristic reptilian glow.
And then I looked at her equipment.
And...
'Holy shit.'
I recognized the sword she was wearing.
'No. 19 Ignixen Dragon Slayer.'
A transformation-type longsword that amplified physical damage and could convert it to magic damage.
It was my counter, especially with my incomplete magic resistance build.
'I've never heard of her...'
If her equipment reflected her skill, she must be one of the strongest in the city. And Dragonkin were rarely weak.
"..."
A brief silence followed.
The Marquis broke the silence.
"Shall we move to a different location?"
"How can I trust you?"
"Hmm, then let them leave."
The Marquis nodded, and the knights escorted the unconscious bodies away.
And...
"Everyone except for Ms. Raviyen, leave the mansion."
He dismissed all the other guards.
Only the Dragonkin woman remained.
Even with her present, the Marquis didn't hesitate to call my name.
"Viscount Yandel."
"..."
"I know why you did this. You must have misunderstood something."
Misunderstood...
He must have been surprised.
He probably didn't expect me to react this way, even if he knew I wasn't an evil spirit.
Especially not in his own mansion.
But I wasn't going to be considerate.
"You sent an assassin to my house and now you're talking about misunderstandings? You're shameless."
"That's why it's a misunderstanding. I just wanted to confirm if you were an evil spirit."
"...An evil spirit?"
I had known his intentions all along, but I feigned ignorance.
And added a touch of anger.
"...Are you saying you suspected me of being an evil spirit?"
I glared at him, and he calmly nodded.
"It's better to be sure. You know that evil spirits are summoned to a gathering every 15th. And they're completely vulnerable during that time. I just wanted to confirm if you were conscious or not."
"...And?"
"I've confirmed it. You're not an evil spirit."
I sighed in relief.
That was one of my main goals for coming here.
"Then why did you send your son?"
"I thought... he would be able to handle it even if you woke up."
"Handle it...?"
"First, I didn't expect you to cause such a commotion. And second, I thought he would be able to adapt to the situation."
In other words, he thought his son would be able to subdue me if things went wrong.
"Didn't you think he could die? He's your only son."
"He'll only grow weak if I coddle him."
That was his parenting style.
It was a bit unsettling, but I could understand.
"So, now that the misunderstanding is cleared—"
"Just because the misunderstanding is cleared doesn't mean the resentment is gone. And besides, it's not like everything is cleared up."
"...?"
The Marquis frowned as I cut him off.
What? I can't even speak my mind?
"Look at this."
I showed him the cut on my wrist.
It was almost healed.
"Your son did this."
"...He attacked you?"
"He tried to kill me as soon as I started talking."
"That's... I'll discipline him properly."
"What about my compensation?"
I showed him the other injuries I had sustained while fighting the four knights.
They were minor compared to the injuries the knights had suffered...
But the Marquis chuckled and gave me the answer I wanted.
"It was our mistake. We'll compensate you accordingly."
Okay, that was enough.
"Now, can we talk? I'd like to hear about the second condition you mentioned."
"Alright."
I nodded, and the Dragonkin guard summoned a chair from her subspace pocket.
It was a luxurious and comfortable chair.
Wow, she carries that around in her subspace pocket?
Nobles...
"I'm getting old, and my body isn't what it used to be. Do you need a chair too?"
"I'm good."
"I see."
"So, what's the second condition?"
The first condition was participating in the war.
What was the second?
"Before I tell you that, I have one more question."
The Marquis dodged my question and asked his own.
Damn, I couldn't refuse.
"Go ahead."
"Your son aside... the four knights you fought were quite skilled."
Were they?
It didn't feel that way since I had defeated them before they could even use their skills.
"So?"
"I'll be direct."
The Marquis asked,
"How strong are you?"
It was a strange question, but it made sense.
He didn't know my true strength.
He was just planning to use my reputation in the war.
"Hmm, it seems like a difficult question for you."
"Not really."
It wasn't difficult, just hard to answer.
How do you measure strength?
It was relative, just like time. You needed a point of reference.
For example...
"Her."
I looked at the Dragonkin guard, and the Marquis's eyes widened slightly.
"You're saying you can defeat her?"
I shook my head.
"No."
I wasn't sure.
I had never fought her before.
But I didn't hesitate to answer the Marquis's question.
"I'm strong enough to break through her and crush your skull."
Was that a satisfactory answer?
It seemed like it.
"..."
The Marquis, who had always been calm and composed, flinched.
And...
"...You're even more insane than I thought."
The guard's exclamation was proof.
-x-X-x-
It's similar to the psychology of someone visiting a zoo.
They look at the wild beasts trapped in cages and say how cute they are, how pitiful it is that they're confined. But it's not difficult to make them realize their arrogance.
A cage with a diameter of about 3 centimeters.
All it takes is for that cage to disappear.
The moment the line between them and the beast is broken, humans get to see the true nature of the beast.
Just like the Marquis right now.
"..."
Ah, of course, the Marquis was different from ordinary people.
Even with my sincere, hostile words, he only flinched slightly before quickly regaining his composure.
Well, it's not like the cage actually disappeared.
I couldn't kill the Marquis.
And the Marquis knew that better than anyone.
So...
"So, is that a satisfactory answer?"
I casually ended the situation, as if it was just a simple answer to his question.
I wouldn't deny that I wanted to see the smug Marquis's expression crumble.
But I had to be satisfied with this for now.
"Don't worry."
The Marquis responded, as if echoing my thoughts.
"Your message has been received."
"I'm glad to hear that."
It was also a warning.
That I was willing to break the cage and attack if he crossed the line. It was a warning that I was ready to become a beast if our relationship became one-sided.
"Then let's move on to the second condition."
"Ah, about that. The second condition is this."
The Marquis glanced at the Dragonkin woman next to him and continued.
"Help Ms. Raviyen and eliminate the Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos."
"The Dragonslayer...?"
"That's an unexpected reaction. I heard from Ms. Raviyen that you have a history with him."
That's true, but... this request was so unexpected that...
'...He knows about my past with the Dragonslayer... it must be because of her.'
I suddenly became curious.
What was the relationship between the Marquis and this Dragonkin woman?
There must be a reason why eliminating the Dragonslayer became the second condition.
Was it a business relationship?
"So, what's your answer?"
I couldn't help but be curious, but it was time to answer.
Ah, let me just ask one more thing.
"But you waited until tomorrow just to tell me this?"
"Ms. Raviyen wasn't here at the time. I thought it would be better to have this conversation with her present."
Hmm, that makes sense.
"Alright, I was planning to kill that bastard myself anyway."
"Then that settles it."
"We haven't discussed the compensation yet."
I pointed at my wrist, which was already healed. The Marquis chuckled.
"Don't worry, we'll compensate you accordingly. It was our mistake."
"Then I'll look forward to it."
The conversation ended there, and the Marquis stood up from his chair. The Dragonkin woman skillfully put the chair away in her subspace pocket.
And...
"Viscount Yandel, don't get any ideas."
The guard looked at me and mumbled something.
Was she trying to get back at me for what I said earlier?
I thought that at first, but I soon realized it wasn't the case.
"My little sister would be sad if you died again."
"Little sister? Ah, then you're..."
"..."
The Dragonkin guard didn't answer.
She just turned away and followed the Marquis.
But that was enough of an answer.
I had thought her features looked familiar.
'Pennitasaurus.'
The daughter of the Ancient Dragon and the Dragon Priestess, Penny.
The Dragonkin girl.
She was her older sister.
She could have been my companion.
____________________________
Eltora Terserion, the Marquis's only son.
When he regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was his biological father.
"You're awake."
"...I apologize."
Eltora spoke first, without asking any questions.
But his father's response was cold.
"Do you think I stayed up all night just to hear that?"
"..."
"Tell me what happened. Everything, without leaving anything out."
At his father's command, Eltora slowly recalled the events of midnight and gave a brief explanation.
There wasn't much to say anyway.
He had infiltrated his father's room on his orders, was immediately grabbed by the neck, and then beaten unconscious before he could even explain himself.
That was all.
"You useless fool."
Eltora endured the humiliation in silence.
There wasn't even room for excuses this time.
He was just left with one question.
"But why did you choose this method? If you wanted to confirm whether he was an evil spirit or not, there were more reliable ways..."
At first, he thought his father didn't want to antagonize Viscount Yandel.
After all, he had acknowledged him as a valuable asset.
But something felt off.
Or rather, it felt like there was another reason.
"Can't you even think for yourself?"
"...Please enlighten me."
Eltora lowered his head, and the Marquis, only frowning slightly, answered his question.
"An enemy's weakness only holds true value when they're unaware of it."
"Because a hidden weakness remains hidden, but a revealed weakness will be addressed and fixed."
"I'm glad you understand."
"..."
"You can leave now. I have things to think about."
"Yes..."
Eltora left his father's office and headed towards his own room.
His mind was in turmoil.
'Viscount Yandel is the Marquis's enemy...'
What scheme was his father plotting?
As he pondered this question, he arrived at his destination.
But...
His hand trembled as he reached for the doorknob.
Even though this was his own room, the one he had lived in for years, he felt a strange sense of dread. It was as if a beast was lurking inside, waiting to pounce.
He even heard a voice in his head.
[Eltora Terserion.]
A deep voice that sent chills down his spine.
A gaze that looked down upon him.
And...
[...I hope you're ready to die.]
A feeling that he couldn't escape, no matter what he did.
An unpleasant sense of déjà vu.
He instinctively thought of a man.
Well, it couldn't be him.
[I joined this community... 22 years ago.]
Bjorn Yandel wasn't even born back then.
"If Goblin heard my delusion, he would laugh at me."
He chuckled and shook his head.
And then he unlocked the door.
Click.
A typical noble's room, decorated with armor, swords, and a mounted deer head.
It was far from his taste, as always.
_______________________________
The next morning, he was summoned to breakfast.
When he arrived at the dining room, only two people were present.
His father, seated at the head of the table, and the Dragonkin woman standing behind him.
"Where's Eltora?"
"He's resting."
He usually joined them for breakfast.
I wondered why he wasn't here today...
Well, I preferred it this way.
"Eat."
We started our meal and naturally segued into conversation.
There were things we had to discuss.
For example, the 'compensation' he mentioned yesterday.
"Tell me what you want as compensation for our mistake."
"Before that, there's something I need to confirm."
"Go ahead."
"How long will it take for me to reclaim my name?"
"About three months. This needs to be handled perfectly."
Three months...
It felt too long, but it was understandable from the Marquis's perspective.
He had to fabricate two years' worth of records to prove that Bjorn Yandel had infiltrated Noark on a secret mission for the royal family.
"Until then, your role is also important. If your name gets out before the preparations are complete, someone might investigate you."
"Can't you stop them?"
"If it happens, I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything. The royal palace is... well, you know."
It meant he couldn't completely control the royal family, even with his authority.
His words felt a bit ironic, considering his reputation as the one who had turned the King into a puppet.
But it wasn't unbelievable.
He might be the second most powerful person in the kingdom, but he wasn't without rivals.
The Duke of Keallunus was a prime example.
A powerful noble family with a member on the Mage Tower Council. They had a long history of involvement in labyrinth affairs and held significant influence over the large clans.
The Duke's family had more resources and influence than the Marquis's family, which only relied on his position as Prime Minister.
"If you understand the time frame, then I'd like to hear your request."
"I want to meet the tribe's shaman."
"Why?"
He asked a rather obvious question.
Ah, maybe he doesn't know because he's not a barbarian?
There's only one reason why a warrior would seek out a shaman.
"I need to receive the Spirit Engraving."
My Spirit Engraving was stuck at 6th grade.
I had even gathered the materials for the 7th grade, but I was dragged back in time before I could receive it.
Thankfully, Raven had inherited the 'Soul of the Deceased' and was keeping it safe. Once my identity issue was resolved, I could receive the engraving.
"As I said, it would be problematic if your name gets out before the preparations are complete—"
I cut him off.
"That's why I'm asking you to handle it. So I don't have to worry about it."
"So that's what you want as compensation."
"Yes. It's too long to wait three months when I don't even know what will happen in the next labyrinth expedition."
The Marquis closed his eyes in contemplation.
But he must have decided that it wouldn't be a bad thing to have my combat power increase.
"Alright, I'll arrange a meeting with the shaman within this month."
"That's good to hear."
I didn't bother asking how he would summon the shaman or convince him.
That was his job.
He would handle it cleanly, considering his work ethic.
Thud.
We finished our meal.
But we continued our conversation, leaving the empty plates on the table.
There were still things we needed to discuss.
"You mentioned forming a special forces unit led by me. Do you have any specific plans?"
"I'm planning to create a unit with 30 members."
"That's five teams. Have you decided who to recruit?"
"Not yet, but I have a few candidates in mind."
The Marquis then listed the names of the explorers he had his eye on.
I was surprised.
Even I, who wasn't up-to-date on the latest information, recognized many of the names.
Members of the Seven Strengths.
Aces of large clans.
Renowned paladins.
Elite soldiers of the military.
Was he trying to create a dream team?
"But will they actually join?"
"Most of them will. I'm planning to offer them generous rewards."
"...I see."
It felt unrealistic, but he wouldn't be saying this with such confidence if it wasn't possible.
So we moved on to the next topic.
"Viscount Yandel, you'll be in charge of one of the three teams. And Ms. Raviyen will be on your team."
"That means I can add four more members, excluding myself."
"You're planning to take those two with you, right?"
It was obvious who he was referring to.
Erwen and Amelia.
'He knows about Amelia too... Could he know that she's from Noark?'
I felt a pang of worry, but I nodded.
"That's the plan."
"Then you only have two slots left. If you don't have anyone in mind, tell me which of the candidates I mentioned you want. I'll offer them better terms to recruit them."
Additional members...
Raven came to mind first.
We needed a mage, and she was more than qualified in terms of both skill and trustworthiness.
But then what about the navigator?
I couldn't just give him the last spot.
Should I keep him locked up in the basement until the war ends?
'I'll have to discuss this with Amelia later... and I should ask Raven before mentioning her to the Marquis.'
"I'll think about it and let you know."
"Alright."
That concluded our discussion for today.
Or so I thought.
"Ah, there's one more thing I need to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm not the only one who planned this."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a joint effort. My influence only extends to giving you command of one of the five teams."
"So? What are you trying to say?"
"The position of commander is still vacant."
In other words, the leader position was still open.
"Why?"
The Marquis looked me straight in the eye and said,
"Do you think those who were named would just accept it? Even if they did, their backers wouldn't allow it."
Ah, so it's political.
If even the Marquis couldn't handle it, it meant that there were many powerful figures involved in the creation of this unit.
Well, it wasn't a bad thing for me.
I could already guess what he was going to say.
"So, 30 members will be gathered, and then the candidates will compete to decide who will lead the unit."
"..."
"If this unit achieves great feats in the war, the commander's backer will also benefit from it."
He paused and observed my expression, then continued without elaborating.
"What do you think? Is it possible?"
His question was clear.
I chuckled.
He shouldn't have asked if it was 'possible'.
"It's not impossible."
Honestly...
The candidates he mentioned were all impressive.
But...
"As long as the reward is worth it."
None of them could beat me.
-x-X-x-
The living room on the 1st floor of Erwen's CCTV-equipped mansion.
Three women were sitting in a row on the sofa, sipping tea.
"A special forces unit with thirty members... I've never heard of it. It means they're working on it in secret, right?"
Amelia responded to Raven's mumble.
"The war has been going on for a long time, so the royal family must be looking for a way to turn things around."
"Yeah. Considering the names of the candidates the Marquis mentioned, I wonder if it's even possible to put them all on the same team."
"But that part is certain. The Marquis said so himself."
"Then it means they're planning something big."
The two women exchanged serious words, discussing the situation. Erwen, on the other hand, didn't seem interested at all.
"Mister, you don't like things that are too sweet, right? Here, have this. I bought something savory this time."
"Ah, thank you."
I took the peanut cookies from Erwen and started munching on them. Raven looked at me with a dissatisfied expression.
She didn't like me just sitting there after explaining the situation.
I quickly swallowed the cookies and spoke.
"Raven, so what are you going to do?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Didn't I tell you? There are two spots left. Me, Erwen, Emily, and the Dragonkin the Marquis added. That's four."
"Ah..."
"I want you to join us."
I asked directly, and Raven looked away, her expression troubled.
"I'd like to help, but it's difficult right now."
A disappointing answer.
"...Is that so?"
Raven seemed to sense my disappointment and quickly explained.
"Captain Febrosk has been busy lately. He's been summoned everywhere, both on the battlefield and in the city. If I leave, there's no one to manage the Magic Corps..."
Always the responsible one.
Well, that's what made her a trustworthy companion.
I quickly ended the conversation, not wanting to see her dejected expression.
"Don't make excuses. It's not your fault. And besides, it's not something you should apologize for."
"Thank you. I appreciate your understanding."
"It's not understanding, it's just the truth."
"..."
Raven's recruitment had failed.
Then who should I choose for the remaining two spots?
As I was contemplating, Amelia spoke softly.
"Schuitz, do you think we need a navigator?"
"Hmm, we'll be taking a large warship, so I don't think we need one."
"...I see."
Amelia nodded, but the atmosphere felt strange. Did she want to take Auyen, the basement navigator, with us?
Well, no matter how much she enjoyed sailing, there's a time and place for everything...
"Auyen is better off staying here for now. We might need him again after the war."
"Okay. I've been worried about him because he's been skipping meals lately, but I guess I should just increase his walk time."
"...Yeah, that should work."
That settled the navigator issue.
"Raven, do you know anything about that Dragonkin woman?"
"No. I've never heard of Raviyen. But I'll look into it when I get back. The Captain might know something."
"Okay, I'm counting on you."
Raven then left, sensing that the conversation was over.
We were alone again.
"So, who should we choose for the remaining two spots?"
"We need a mage."
"I agree. We'll be at a disadvantage without one."
We quickly agreed on the need for a mage to fill Raven's vacancy.
And...
"What about the last spot?"
"A priest would be nice."
"If we can't find a priest, then a support ability user."
We decided to add a priest or a support ability user to the team.
I was the only tank, Amelia was the melee damage dealer, Erwen was the ranged attacker, and we had a mage.
It would be better to strengthen the melee line and prepare for any unexpected situations with a support member.
It was a rational decision, so I agreed.
But then...
"Okay, then for the mage, we'll choose between these two, and for the priest, this one. And if we can't get a priest, then this ability user!"
Erwen pointed at the names on the candidate list with a cheerful expression.
And then I noticed something.
"Oh, they're all men."
"Well... there are too many women around you, aren't there?"
"...Huh?"
Was that a valid reason to choose only men?
I looked at Amelia for help, but she nodded in agreement.
"It's better to have more men on the team."
"...Why?"
"You can't think straight when women are involved."
What?
What's wrong with her?
I'm a man of steel.
I've always treated men and women equally, especially when it comes to smashing heads.
The first player I killed in the Glacier Cave was a woman.
"Emily, I think you have the wrong idea about me. Why would you think that?"
Amelia didn't even hesitate.
"Because that's how you were with me."
What?
What's my image to these women?
____________________
Ten days before the next labyrinth expedition.
Amelia, who had been going to the commercial district every day to sell the loot, finally returned with good news.
"The loot is all sold."
"That's good to hear. So, how much did we get?"
"350 million stones, after deducting expenses."
Wow, that's a lot of money.
Even if we reached the 7th floor, it would be difficult to earn this much with just magic stones.
'Well, it's not surprising. We robbed an entire 6th-floor clan.'
Still, it was an unbelievable amount.
And we hadn't even sold the largest ship yet. If we sold it, our total earnings would triple.
"So, what are we going to do with the money?"
Amelia asked, and I answered without hesitation.
"We split it evenly, of course."
"That's 110 million stones per person, after rounding."
Amelia smiled for the first time in a while, saying she could finally buy the weapon she had been saving up for.
But her smile didn't last long.
"I think it's better to pay off the debt first."
Erwen's cold voice.
Well, it was a reasonable request.
The situation was complicated, but Amelia was the one who had put my Demon Crusher up as collateral.
She had used the money to buy the Vol-Herchan essence, and we had to take out a loan using Erwen's house to cover the cost.
"The due date is still a long way off..."
"I don't think we'll be able to repay it on time if you keep spending like this."
"...How much do we owe?"
"Everything, of course. If I add my earnings to it, we should be able to repay most of it."
"..."
Amelia looked at me with a pleading expression.
But what could I do?
"...Let's buy the weapon next time."
"You promised you would help me buy it."
"The situation has changed. You agreed to keep the largest ship, didn't you?"
"That's because we might need another ship."
"Yeah, you said that. Just wait a few more months. I'll help you buy it then."
"..."
Amelia didn't answer.
She looked sulky, but she seemed to understand the situation.
What could I do to cheer her up?
She wasn't interested in food...
"Mister, someone's here!"
Huh? Someone?
Erwen's words made me look outside.
A man from the Marquis's family had arrived. He wasn't wearing a uniform, so I couldn't tell if he was a knight.
The conversation was short.
"The Marquis sent this letter."
"Ah, thank you for delivering it."
I quickly returned inside and checked the letter.
It was short and to the point, typical of the Marquis's style. Maybe it was because I was a barbarian.
[The shaman issue has been resolved. I'm sending someone tomorrow morning, so come with him.]
Finally, I could get the 7th-grade Spirit Engraving.
____________________
The next morning.
I left the house as soon as the sun rose and boarded the Marquis's carriage.
It would have taken at least six hours to reach the Imperial City by carriage, but we used the military transfer station again.
'This is really convenient...'
We arrived at the mansion in the morning, even though we had left in the morning.
But I couldn't meet the Marquis this time.
He had left for the royal palace early in the morning because of work.
Well, he wasn't a jobless bum, he was the Prime Minister of the country, so he must be busy.
Actually, it was unusual for him to meet me so often.
It was thanks to his consideration that I had been able to have private conversations with him.
'Well, I prefer not to see him anyway.'
I followed the Marquis's servant and arrived at his office on the 3rd floor.
"..."
The Marquis's son, Eltora, was working at his desk. He looked at me with an awkward expression, and then, as soon as the servant left, he greeted me.
"...Welcome, Viscount Yandel. It's been a while."
He was polite and respectful, but there was an underlying tension in his voice.
Ah, is it because he's avoiding eye contact?
"It's been a while. How are you feeling? I hope your face has healed properly..."
"...As you can see, I'm fine now."
"That's good to hear."
"Ah, and I apologize for my rudeness the other day."
Eltora's words made me want to laugh.
I knew it was just a formality...
But it was still funny to hear the one who got beaten up apologizing for being rude.
"It's fine. It's all in the past. The Marquis and I have already settled it, so don't worry about it."
"Thank you. I feel much better now."
"So, where's the shaman?"
"He's waiting in another room. Renia... the maid outside will guide you."
So I just had to go to another room and get the Spirit Engraving. There was no reason to rush, so I asked a few questions.
"How did you bring the shaman here?"
"My father personally asked the barbarian chieftain to send a shaman. He said someone needed a Spirit Engraving."
"Hmm, wouldn't that be suspicious?"
"Not really. Not all barbarians can freely enter the sanctuary."
"Ah, did you tell him it was for a barbarian who had been exiled from the tribe?"
That was the most likely scenario.
But Eltora shook his head.
"He said it was for a barbarian who was born and raised in the city."
"...I see."
I nodded in understanding.
That was also a possibility.
Barbarians were no different from humans.
If they lived in the city for a long time, they would adapt to the city's culture and become less attached to their traditions.
Some even raised their children in the city instead of sending them to the sanctuary.
"Well, then there shouldn't be any problems. Thank you for taking care of it."
"It's our pleasure to help the Viscount."
"Okay, then I'll see you later."
I left the room after my questions were answered. The maid, Renia, was waiting outside and guided me to the shaman's room.
"I'm not allowed to go any further."
She meant I had to enter alone.
I opened the door and entered.
The room was empty, all the furniture removed. The air was thick with smoke.
A figure was sitting in the center, shrouded in a cloth.
'It's been almost three years since I last saw a shaman...'
I felt a surge of nervousness as I approached.
Even if the Marquis had prepared everything, the shaman would probably recognize me.
Well, knowing his personality, he would probably keep it a secret from the chieftain...
"You've arrived."
A voice came from behind the cloth, stopping me in my tracks.
"Barbarian born and raised in the city."
What? That voice sounded so young...
Whoosh!
The cloth was pulled aside, revealing a young barbarian with an eyepatch.
I recognized him immediately.
He was the shaman's young apprentice, the one I had seen several times during my visits to the sanctuary.
'Kkeuk, kkeuk... Are you nervous to meet the shaman you've been waiting for? I can feel your heart pounding from here."
What's wrong with this kid?
'And what happened to the old shaman? Why is he here?'
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