My skin was still burning from the heat of the battle.
But the air around me was cold, and the gazes of the Sawtooth Clan members were hostile.
'I didn't expect them to be this aggressive.'
The atmosphere was tense, but I tried to remain calm and analyze the situation.
It wasn't the worst-case scenario yet.
Threats meant they wanted something.
'If they were really planning to fight us, they would have ambushed us instead of coming here and talking.'
Then why were they bluffing?
I had to figure that out first.
I had a hunch, but I needed to confirm it.
"Loot…"
I chuckled and asked,
"What makes you think I looted it from you? Riakis was roaming the floor alone when I encountered him. Isn't that right, Erwen?"
"Yes? Ah, yes! That's right. I didn't detect any other explorers within a 1-kilometer radius. And besides, there are many precedents that state that you can't claim ownership of a monster that's roaming freely."
Erwen provided her testimony, but the dagger user wasn't backing down.
"That applies to ordinary monsters, not Floor Lords."
"So what's your point?"
"We were separated from Riakis during the raid, but that doesn't mean we gave up our claim to him."
Separated during the raid?
Their equipment told a different story.
Their equipment was pristine, even though they had supposedly cleared the 3rd phase.
'They must have been trying to buy time to re-equip.'
The decoy group must have bought them time to retreat and re-equip. They were probably planning to regroup and come back for Riakis.
But they had failed.
The decoy group was nowhere to be seen.
'They must have realized that the decoy group was dead and searched the area. And then they found us and rushed over here.'
I could see the whole picture now.
Well, I couldn't be sure…
But it was the most likely scenario.
"Baron Yandel, you stole the Floor Lord we were raiding. We were risking our lives to slay him, and you just swooped in and took the essence."
"We didn't even know you were there."
"But you still took the essence, even after we warned you."
"What's wrong with that? It's my loot. I earned it."
"But you wouldn't have been able to slay him without our efforts."
He was right about that.
But they were the ones who had summoned the Floor Lord without permission.
And they had failed to hold aggro.
I had intervened to protect the lower-level explorers.
But I didn't bother explaining myself.
"So what do you want?"
I got straight to the point.
There was no point in arguing.
Logic wouldn't solve this.
"We demand compensation."
"Compensation?"
"Yes. We demand that you compensate us for the essence you stole."
"How much?"
"We'll let the guild's appraisal committee decide the price."
"Hmm…"
I thought for a moment.
I had three options.
1. Agree to their demands and pay them.
I would lose a lot of money, maybe even go into debt for a few years… but I had the essence, so it wasn't a complete loss.
2. Agree to their demands and then break my promise later.
The recording crystal was active, so if I did that, I would be accused of insulting the royal family and lose my noble title.
Hmm, so I only had one real choice?
3. Prove that I didn't do anything wrong.
I made my decision.
"I don't think I have anything to apologize for."
I placed my hammer on my shoulder and spoke.
"After all…"
"I don't remember stealing anything from you."
"…You're choosing to fight us?"
"Well, I'm not sure if I can call it a fight. It's more like a public execution."
He didn't seem to believe me.
I chuckled and said,
"Don't worry, it'll be quick and painless."
I called out to my teammates,
"Ainar, Amelia, Erwen!"
I had forgotten about Auyen, but I didn't bother correcting myself.
He wouldn't be of any help in this situation.
"Get ready for battle!!!"
My teammates immediately drew their weapons and took their positions.
They formed a circle, their backs to each other.
Auyen, sensing the tension, hid behind me.
"Anyone who approaches us will be slain."
I looked at the dagger user and said,
"I'll take full responsibility."
It was his turn to make a decision.
_______________________
We stood there, weapons drawn, for a long time.
"…."
"…."
I was getting impatient.
How long were they going to stall?
I wanted to avoid a fight…
But I also knew that I couldn't back down now.
'They're in a difficult situation too.'
If they backed down, they would get nothing.
They had already lost fourteen members.
And if they let us go, they would be accused of letting a noble steal their loot and lose face.
'They can't just walk away.'
That was why they were stalling.
It was a game of chicken.
Two cars racing towards a cliff.
The first one to swerve loses… but if neither of them swerves, they both die.
"Half…"
The dagger user finally spoke.
"We'll settle for half the value of the essence."
He had offered a compromise.
"Hmm, half…"
"We were the ones who suffered the most losses while fighting Riakis."
He was right.
They had lost fourteen members.
And it would take years and a fortune to replace them.
"Even if we take half, it'll barely cover the cost of our damaged equipment and consumables."
He continued to plead his case.
"Of course, we'll use the guild's appraisal price as a basis—"
I cut him off.
"I appreciate your offer, but I'll have to decline."
He looked at me, stunned.
"Decline…? You mean…?"
He couldn't believe it.
It was an unspoken rule that the loser of a standoff gets nothing. Explorers valued their pride more than anything.
But…
'Why should I back down?'
They were bluffing.
If I didn't push my advantage, I would be the fool.
"Even if you offer me more, my answer will remain the same."
I pressed my advantage.
"So attack me."
It was a bold provocation.
But he didn't attack.
He just talked.
"…Please reconsider. Let's be reasonable."
"I'm being perfectly reasonable."
"…You're a reckless man, Baron Yandel."
"Well, you're the one who's accusing a noble of Lafdonia of looting."
"Do you really think you can handle the consequences?"
He was asking if I was prepared to fight them.
I chuckled.
"Do you think I would be here if I wasn't?"
I was confident.
"I'll give you three seconds."
"…?"
"If you don't attack me within three seconds, I'll consider you assassins sent to kill me."
"T-That's ridiculous…"
"One."
He closed his mouth.
He was conflicted.
Should he back down?
Or should he fight me?
They had the numbers… but I was a barbarian.
'He might actually do it.'
"Two."
He still hadn't made up his mind.
I was about to say 'three'…
"…Vice-Captain!"
…when one of the archers whispered something to him.
They activated the 'Voice Control' spell, so I couldn't hear them.
I was about to intervene…
"Mister, there are explorers approaching."
"…What?"
"Hundreds of them…"
Hundreds?
Where did they come from—?
"I think it's the group we rescued."
Ah, them.
I thought it was another enemy clan.
'Is this good news…?'
I looked at the dagger user.
He was grinding his teeth.
He must have received the same report.
But he couldn't attack us now.
He had no choice.
"…Everyone, stand down."
"We're leaving!"
They quickly dispersed.
But before he left, the dagger user turned around and said,
"…We'll meet again in the city, Baron Yandel."
Damn it…
I had more work to do now.
_______________________
After the Sawtooth Clan left, hundreds of lower-level explorers arrived.
"Oh, Chieftain! Congratulations on your victory!!"
"Hahaha! I knew you could do it!"
The warriors cheered as they saw me.
I had to use [Gigantification] to avoid being crushed by the crowd.
I found Lewis Siyur and asked him what had happened.
"Lewis Siyur! What's going on?"
"They wanted to thank you for saving them…"
So they had rushed over here after hearing that Riakis had been slain?
'Hmm, maybe I should be grateful.'
They had helped us resolve the situation peacefully.
'And I might need their testimony later.'
I made a mental note to remember their names and faces.
"Bent Maheil, was it? I'll remember you."
"…I-It's an honor!"
As I continued greeting the explorers, I noticed something strange.
They were looking at me with awe.
"They're looking at us with such respect…"
"They must admire you, Baron."
"Yes, you're a true hero."
I had just been gathering information…
'It feels like I'm scamming them.'
I felt a pang of guilt, but I didn't correct them.
「Character's Fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's Fame has increased by +1.」
「Character's Fame has increased by +1…」
「…」
「…」
I should take advantage of this opportunity.
"Alright, we're leaving!"
We left the area.
"Where are we going? To the upper floors?"
"No, we have something else to do."
We couldn't go to the 4th floor.
The labyrinth would close before we could reach the 5th floor.
And I wanted to rest.
"Mister, where are we going?"
Erwen asked, and I answered,
"We're going to the Witch's Cabin."
"The cabin…? You mean…"
"The shelter in the forest."
Why were they looking at me like that?
Didn't they understand?
We had to collect the reward.
「Achievement Unlocked」
Condition: Chaos Lord Riakis slain.
Reward: ???
We couldn't leave without claiming the reward for the hidden achievement.
-x-X-x-
「Character has entered the Witch's Cabin.」
It was my first time visiting the Witch's Cabin since the incident with Misha. It was much different from the last time I was here.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The lush green lawn and the trees with their thick foliage were gone.
"…Snow?"
A white expanse of snow stretched out before me.
The trees were bare, their branches covered in snow, and in the distance, I could see a lone cabin.
"Whoa! It's snow! It's so cold!"
Ainar was like a child, excited by the snow.
Well, it didn't snow in Lafdonia.
Except for Ice Rock, a few islands on the 6th floor, and some rifts, snow was a rare sight. Even the Frost Canyon on the 5th floor was just a frozen wasteland.
"Lokrok! Come here!"
"…It's Auyen Lokrob."
"Don't be so uptight! This is how we bond! Anyway, come here!"
"…U-Uh…?"
Amelia tried to correct her, but Ainar ignored her and dragged Auyen away to play in the snow.
"Ow! That hurts! Raines…!"
"…Yandel, are you just going to watch?"
Amelia complained, but I ignored her.
Barbarians could enjoy snowball fights too.
"Just leave them alone. They'll be busy with Erwen's essence for a while."
"So you're not going to intervene?"
"No, that's not what I meant…"
"Just go and check on the essence. I'll stay here."
"…You're not coming?"
"I need to teach them a lesson."
Amelia didn't understand, but she went to check on Erwen.
And…
"Oh! You want to play too?!"
"Yes."
Amelia activated [Self-Replication] and started throwing snowballs at Ainar.
"Hahaha! Take this!!"
Ainar was enjoying herself at first, but her smile soon vanished.
"…U-Urgh! What are you—?!"
Amelia tackled Ainar to the ground and started rubbing her face in the snow.
"Mmmmph…!"
"Here's the snow you love so much."
"Th-This isn't the kind of snowball fight I imagined—!"
"Why do we need rules?"
"U-Urgh! I'm not going to just stand here and take this!!"
Ainar struggled to get up, but Amelia pinned her down, her legs wrapped around Ainar's arms.
And…
"What are you going to do about it?"
She used her clone to pelt Ainar's face with snowballs.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
It was like a pitcher throwing at a target.
"…Mister?"
"…Let's go."
"Okay."
We left the three of them to their snowball fight and headed towards the back of the cabin.
The Witch's Cabin was the perfect training ground.
It was a private location, and we didn't have to worry about breaking anything and paying for damages like we did in the city training grounds.
"Erwen, have you adapted to the essence?"
"Yes."
"How do you feel?"
"I don't know… I feel stronger overall, but I can't pinpoint any specific changes…"
"There must be other changes."
"…My head hurts."
It wasn't just a headache, it was probably a mental strain.
Well, it was still a huge improvement compared to her previous state.
"Don't worry, it's just the essence."
"The essence…? What do you mean?"
Erwen's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and I started explaining.
The first thing I had to explain was the stat.
[Chaos]
Doubles the amount of negative stats possessed, and increases all stats proportionally to the increased negative stats.
That's all it said in the game.
It was up to the players to figure out the formula.
"Negative stats… you mean debuffs?"
Ah, I had to explain that first.
"That's part of it, but not all of it."
Each stat in [Dungeon and Stone] had a coefficient, and that coefficient determined how much it would increase your Physical, Mental, or Ability stats.
For example, Dexterity had a coefficient of 0.5, so if your Dexterity increased by +1, your Ability stat would increase by 0.5.
'Magic Resistance, a high-value stat, has a coefficient of 3.'
Anyway, that wasn't important right now.
Most stats had a coefficient of 0 or higher, but some had negative coefficients.
I called them 'negative stats'.
"For example, you have Impulsiveness and Distrust."
These stats would decrease your overall stats if they had a positive value.
And if a stat with a positive coefficient had a negative value, it would be considered a 'debuff', like the -30 Control from [Rupture].
"Ah…"
Erwen seemed to understand the basic concept, so I started calculating.
What was Erwen's current negative stat value?
First, -80 Physical Resistance from the 'Evan' essence.
Then, -40 Soul Regeneration from the 'Lithcannon' essence I had recommended as a reward.
-30 Control from [Rupture].
'+30 Impulsiveness and +30 Distrust from 'Kalban'.
'Greed from the 'Metcrow' essence has a coefficient of 0, so we don't need to include that. And I removed the +40 Deficiency before entering the labyrinth…'
I multiplied each stat by its coefficient, added them together, and then multiplied the sum by the Chaos Essence's coefficient of 0.2.
'53.8.'
That was the total stat increase Erwen had gained from the Chaos Essence.
Well, not all of her stats.
Stats like Luck and Bone Density, which she didn't possess, wouldn't increase.
'…She's already getting a lot out of it.'
I was impressed.
I had recommended the 'Lithcannon' essence, but the rest were all essences she had chosen herself.
'It's a bit risky, considering how much her Mental stats are being reduced…'
But she had grown mentally stronger.
She was much calmer now, even though the essence's effects were stronger than before.
'I should replace it with a different essence soon.'
Mental stats had low coefficients, so they weren't ideal for maximizing the Chaos Essence's potential. Control was decent, but 'Distrust' only had a coefficient of 0.6.
It was more efficient to reduce high-value stats with high coefficients. If you could reduce Magic Resistance by 50, you could increase all your other stats by 30.
'…Well, technically it's a 100 reduction, considering the doubled negative stat effect.'
Anyway, that was why the Chaos Essence was so popular among damage dealers.
Tank essences rarely had negative stats that reduced damage and increased defense.
"I see… You said it was better to specialize, right…?"
Hmm, did I say that?
I couldn't remember, but it was time to move on.
"Show me your abilities."
Even though we weren't in the usual inn room, we still had to test her skills.
______________________
The Chaos Essence came with two skills.
One passive and one active.
That was all.
It seemed lacking compared to the Guardian essences, which could give you up to five active skills…
But sometimes, one powerful skill was better than a hundred mediocre ones.
(P) Chaos Circuit — All resources possessed by the character are combined into one. When all resources are depleted, the character can use the power of Chaos.
The passive skill was unique.
It combined all your resources, such as mana, natural energy, Soul Power, and divine power, into one gauge.
That alone made it incredibly valuable.
Natural energy, which was required for spirit magic, was incredibly difficult to increase.
'That's probably why Erwen absorbed the Ertes essence. She could use its passive to convert Soul Power into natural energy.'
I made a mental note to remove that essence when we got back to the city. [Elemental Fusion] wasn't a bad skill, but it wasn't worth keeping in the long run.
"So… about my abilities…"
"[Focused Fire]. Use that. We need to deplete your resources anyway. And summon your spirit too."
"…Wouldn't it be faster to summon Dicloe? He'll drain my energy much faster."
Oh, she was right.
I told her to summon Dicloe, and she reluctantly obeyed.
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has summoned [Dicloe, the Dark Spirit King].」
A black mass emerged from a spatial rift, taking the form of a humanoid figure.
Dicloe, at Erwen's command, fired a barrage of dark orbs at the opposite wall.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
The barrier protecting the cabin didn't even flinch.
「All accumulated energy has been depleted.」
Erwen's resources were depleted after about 30 seconds.
It used to be 5 seconds when she used it at full power.
'Her mana pool must have increased.'
But that wasn't important right now.
「The empty vessel is filled with an unknown power.」
The [Chaos Circuit] activated.
「All resource consumption is nullified for 1 minute.」
The Infinite Power Mode.
"…He's not being unsummoned."
Erwen was amazed by Dicloe, who was still firing orbs.
I was also impressed.
'She can use this level of firepower for 90 seconds…'
And that wasn't all.
Her MP was infinite now.
"Erwen, use [Focused Fire]."
I gave her another order, and she drew her bow.
Whoosh!
A white light gathered at the arrowhead.
This skill, which had played a significant role in the Riakis fight, was one of the rewards I had recommended to Erwen.
The longer she charged it, the more MP it consumed…
Whoosh!
…but the damage also increased exponentially.
I usually limited her charging time to 15 seconds. After that, the MP consumption was too high, and the damage increase was negligible.
It was more efficient to use the 60-second cooldown and fire another arrow.
But…
'MP is infinite now.'
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds…
The energy at the arrowhead became more and more concentrated.
And then…
"Now."
Erwen released the arrow.
———!
A blinding flash of light filled the room.
The barrier didn't even flinch.
But…
'This is it.'
I knew it instinctively.
Kwaaang!
The explosion was deafening.
______________________
「The unknown power within the vessel has been depleted.」
「All stats are temporarily reduced by 70%.」
______________________
Erwen collapsed onto me, exhausted.
And then we heard a familiar voice calling our names.
"Bjorn! Where are you?! Bjorn!!"
It was Ainar.
"W-What was that?! Was it a dimensional collapse?! We might have to run away!!"
She was panicking, like a wild animal sensing a natural disaster.
I chuckled at her innocence.
"Don't worry, it wasn't a dimensional collapse."
"R-Really?! It was terrifying! The whole world flashed, and the ground shook!!"
"Yeah, yeah. Calm down. It's over now."
I reassured Ainar, and then Amelia approached me.
"Was that Tersia?"
"Yes."
"…The Chaos Essence is powerful."
"Don't worry, I'll get you one eventually."
I tried to reassure her, but she just turned away, muttering something about not wanting to be treated like a barbarian.
But I could tell she was looking forward to it.
"So, is it over?"
"Yeah, it's over."
We hadn't tested her active skill, but that wasn't something we could do here.
We would have to experiment in the city.
It was a unique skill.
"Erwen, can you walk?"
"No… I can't…"
I was about to carry Erwen… but Ainar beat me to it.
"Oh! I'll carry her!"
She had always been a reliable pack mule.
"Come on, hop on!"
"…."
"Hurry up."
"…Okay… Thank you…"
Ainar carried Erwen on her back, and we headed towards the cabin.
The interior of the cabin was the same as before, despite the winter wonderland outside.
The bookshelf, the table, the carpet.
The small bed where my feet would always stick out.
And…
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
The fireplace.
"Yandel, what do we do now?"
"We enter the flames."
Then we would receive the reward, the cabin would be closed, and we would be transported back to the forest.
"…Bjorn."
Ainar suddenly looked at me with a serious expression.
"I've been thinking… It doesn't feel right to just enter the flames."
What? Was she betraying me?
I didn't bother answering and walked towards the fireplace.
Crackle!
The flames were warm, not hot.
「Mental Resistance permanently increased by +50.」
Okay, the stat boost was successful…
I closed my eyes, enjoying the warmth.
And then…
"Huh…?"
I opened my eyes and froze.
It wasn't the Witch's Forest.
It was a completely different place.
"Who are you?"
A pale, ghostly girl was staring at me.
-x-X-x-
The Chaos Lord, Riakis, kill achievement reward was simple.
After the raid, you had to go to the Witch's Cabin and enter the flames. Your Mental Resistance would increase significantly, and you would be transported back to the Witch's Forest.
And…
「Achievement Unlocked」
Condition: Chaos Lord Riakis slain.
Reward: Mental Resistance permanently increased by +50.
The '???' in the achievement window had been replaced.
It was a unique hidden piece, even in [Dungeon and Stone].
The reward was given as an achievement, but you had to go to a specific location to claim it. And it was a time-limited reward.
And most importantly…
「Mental Resistance permanently increased by +50.」
The description was just one line.
There was no mention of an unknown power being bestowed upon you.
Or a hidden entity blessing you.
There were no fancy descriptions like the other hidden pieces.
I had experimented with it in the past, trying to find a hidden effect… but there was nothing.
So I thought there was nothing more to it…
「Error occurred.」
But where was I?
This wasn't the Witch's Forest.
「Character's location cannot be identified.」
「Character log transmission temporarily suspended.」
And who was this girl?
Tadat, tadat, tadat.
I looked around.
A dimly lit field, illuminated by a bonfire.
I asked the girl who she was, but she didn't answer.
And then she spoke.
[…Ellis Groundia.]
Her voice echoed in my head, not in my ears.
Her voice was surprisingly normal.
But…
"…What the fuck?"
I couldn't help but curse.
It was a name I could never forget.
"Sorry for the language. I'm a barbarian, you know. I get a little… expressive when I'm surprised."
I took a deep breath and looked at the girl.
She wasn't joking.
But I couldn't believe it.
'Is she really the Earth Witch?'
It was too absurd.
But I decided to accept it.
There was no reason not to.
I already knew that the Earth Witch was alive.
And it was highly unlikely that a random girl would appear in a place like this.
So…
'This is good.'
If she was really the Earth Witch, I had to take this opportunity to gather information—
[You mustn't open the Gate of the Abyss.]
Huh?
What was she talking about?
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A cold wind swept through the area, and the scenery around me started to distort.
I reached out to the girl, but…
"…Yandel, what are you doing?"
Amelia's angry voice snapped me out of my trance.
______________________
「Character's location has been identified.」
「Character log transmission resumed.」
______________________
I was back in the Witch's Forest.
I felt like I had been possessed by a ghost.
I asked my teammates if they had experienced anything similar, but they didn't understand what I was talking about.
"…A fog-covered field? What are you talking about?"
"We were here the whole time!"
So it was just me…
"I must have seen something."
I didn't know what had happened, so I just brushed it off.
[23:50]
We decided to end the expedition and rest.
"Hey, Bjorn—!"
"Frenelin, leave him alone. He's thinking."
"Oh… Okay…"
Amelia gave me some time to think.
What I had experienced wasn't a dream.
I had met the Earth Witch.
I was sure of it.
But…
'You mustn't open the Gate of the Abyss.'
What did she mean by that?
And why did I experience that alone?
Auril Gabis, and now the Earth Witch… they all seemed to have strange expectations of me.
'…Is it because I cleared the original mode?'
I sighed.
The more I thought about it, the more questions I had.
「The labyrinth has closed.」
「Character is being transferred to Lafdonia.」
The labyrinth closed before I could find any answers.
We returned to the city.
"Wait, isn't that…?"
"It's Baron Yandel…"
The explorers in the Dimension Plaza whispered as they saw me.
I ignored them and looked around.
"…That was close."
"We're all alive. That's all that matters. Let's go home and rest."
The explorers who had been fighting on the 7th floor looked exhausted.
Their equipment was also in a terrible state.
'Something must have happened.'
I made a mental note to ask Bersil about it later.
I could get information from her offline now.
The Round Table was becoming less and less necessary as our influence grew.
'But I still need Clown and the GM's advisor.'
We headed towards the checkpoint.
I didn't have to rush anymore.
"Bjorn! Over here! Over here!"
The Integrated Checkpoint was only for explorers above 4th-grade.
And most of them were from clans, so there was no line.
Parties with over 10 members had to use a different checkpoint.
'I should upgrade our clan rank. I don't want to waste time at the checkpoint later.'
We passed through the checkpoint quickly.
We didn't have much to declare anyway.
"Ainar, are you going straight to the inn?"
"Yes, see you later!"
I said goodbye to Ainar and headed home.
'I have to sell this house this month…'
Even though I was finally home, I couldn't relax.
I had a lot of work to do.
"I'm going to take a bath. You guys can rest."
"Welcome back."
"Get some rest, Yandel."
I went upstairs and took a bath. Then I collapsed onto the bed.
"Phew…"
I needed to sleep.
I had to wake up early tomorrow.
______________________
The next morning, at 6:00 AM.
I got up and got ready, trying not to wake Amelia and Erwen.
"Haam…"
I was exhausted.
'I went to bed at 2:00 PM, so I slept for about 15 hours…'
It was thanks to the fact that we had only explored the 3rd floor for 15 days.
But I was still tired.
I usually spent the day after an expedition relaxing at home…
"It's an honor to escort you, Baron Yandel."
I arrived at the Public Transfer Station and boarded the carriage for nobles.
It had been a while since I had taken a carriage to the Imperial City.
The Marquis had provided transportation when I met him, and the royal family had taken care of it during the promotion ceremony.
'I should get some sleep.'
I felt better, knowing that I had saved 700,000 stones by using the carriage instead of the teleportation magic.
[13:10]
The carriage arrived at its destination a little after 1:00 PM.
Chew, chew.
I ate some jerky to satisfy my hunger and headed towards the mansion.
A rabbit-eared guard approached me.
He recognized me immediately.
"Greetings, Baron Yandel."
He welcomed me and escorted me inside.
His hospitality was impressive.
'…This is what it's like to be a noble.'
Everything was so refined and elegant.
It would take decades for my clan to reach this level.
"Welcome, Baron Yandel."
I was escorted to a room, and the Rabbit Baroness greeted me.
"It's good to see you again, Baroness Lirivia. Your house is impressive. And your servants are very kind."
"Thank you. You don't seem nervous at all."
"Should I be?"
"No, of course not. I was just surprised. And honestly, I can't imagine you being nervous."
"I get nervous too. When my life is on the line."
"You sound like a true explorer."
She was a smooth talker.
The conversation flowed naturally.
"Oh my, look at the time. I have to go greet the other guests. They'll be arriving soon."
"Where should I go?"
She tilted her head and chuckled.
"You don't have to worry about that. Someone will come and escort you when it's time. Just relax and enjoy yourself."
"…Alright. See you later."
About 30 minutes later, a servant came to escort me.
"The guests are waiting."
We arrived at a large study.
It reminded me of the Round Table.
There was a large, round table in the center of the room.
'Do all meetings in this world take place around a round table?'
I chuckled to myself.
"…."
Everyone was staring at me.
They were curious about the new member.
'They could have at least greeted me at the promotion ceremony.'
Ah, right, they couldn't come because they didn't want to attract attention.
I sighed.
They were a cautious bunch.
"Baron Yandel, can you please stand there for a moment? It won't take long."
"Alright."
"Now that everyone's here, let's begin the meeting."
The Rabbit Baroness, sitting at the head of the table, acted as the moderator.
"The first item on the agenda is Baron Yandel's membership application. According to our principles of equality, everyone is free to express their opinions before the vote. Once a decision is made, we will all accept the outcome."
So that's how they operated.
It made sense, considering the round table.
"I have a question for Baron Yandel."
A fairy with a mustache raised his hand.
His blue hair made his family obvious.
"Go ahead."
"Let me introduce myself first. I'm Baron Heskaira. It's an honor to meet you, hero."
"It's good to see you too, Baron Yandel."
"I've heard a lot about you, so I'll get straight to the point. I heard you became the chieftain of the barbarian tribe. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is."
I didn't bother hiding it.
Everyone knew.
They were just waiting for me to confirm it.
"I understand that you're a unique individual, Baron Yandel. But why? Did you not know about our unspoken rule?"
"I knew."
"Hmm…"
They were intrigued by my honesty.
"You knew, but you still did it…?"
"Because it's a useless rule."
"…That's a bold statement."
It was time to make a statement.
"Don't you all realize?"
I cut him off and looked around the table.
It was the perfect opportunity to make a first impression.
"You've been trying so hard to distance yourselves from your tribes… but it's pointless."
They weren't even doing a good job of it.
They were all secretly maintaining ties with their tribes.
'They're only supporting me because I can give them access to the barbarians.'
They were trying to have it both ways.
They wanted to be accepted by the nobles… but they also wanted to maintain their tribal connections.
"So, are you done with your questions?"
"Yes, I am. At least… I know what kind of person you are now."
Good. That was exactly what I wanted.
The Mustache Fairy finished his turn, and the Rabbit Baroness took over.
"Does anyone have any other questions or objections?"
"…."
"Then we'll begin the vote. All those in favor of Baron Yandel's membership, please raise your hands."
The voting process was unexpected.
It wasn't a secret ballot.
"…."
They just raised their hands.
It was an archaic method, but the outcome was as I expected.
"Thirty-one votes in favor. Baron Yandel's membership application has been approved."
Unanimous.
"From this day forward, Baron Yandel's enemies are our enemies. We will support him, no matter what."
The Rabbit Baroness declared, and the nobles applauded.
But I wasn't happy.
I was the first barbarian noble in 600 years.
And the first barbarian Baron in the history of Lafdonia.
Even if I had taken off my pants and defecated on the table, the outcome wouldn't have been different.
They were desperate.
They would have accepted me, hoping that my son wouldn't inherit my mental deficiencies.
"Baron Yandel, you may take your seat."
I sat down at the empty seat. The applause stopped, and the Rabbit Baroness gave me a brief welcome speech.
Then the meeting continued.
"The second item on the agenda is the support for Baron Yandel's family."
The outcome was already decided.
Melbeth had already agreed to support my family.
They just had to decide on the details.
And…
'They're being very generous.'
Thanks to the Rabbit Baroness's efforts, the support was even more substantial than I had expected.
So we moved on to the next item.
"The third item on the agenda…"
The Rabbit Baroness glanced at me and then continued.
"Is the official support for Baron Yandel and his clan, Anabada."
"…Clan Anabada? You mean his clan?"
"Yes."
The nobles were surprised.
"We accepted his family's support because it would benefit us… but this is a different matter."
"Supporting an individual instead of a family! It's unprecedented!"
They demanded an explanation.
"Why should we do that?"
"That's—"
I stood up, cutting her off.
'I can't let her handle this alone.'
It was time for me to prove my worth.
-x-X-x-
As soon as I stood up, the murmuring nobles fell silent and turned their gazes towards me.
Their eyes were cold and distant, as if a wall separated us. The Mustache Fairy, sensing the shift in atmosphere, spoke on their behalf.
"It seems Baron Yandel has something to say."
His words were polite, but the underlying message was clear.
We'll listen to what you have to say, but don't expect us to change our minds.
The other nobles seemed to agree.
'I'm not doing this for myself.'
Thirty-one nobles, representing thirty-one demi-human families.
The only one who seemed to be on my side was the Rabbit Baroness, who was anxiously watching the situation unfold.
Which meant…
'I just need to convince fifteen more.'
With me, Melbeth now consisted of thirty-two families.
We needed seventeen votes for a majority, and I already had two secured.
"Um… Baron Yandel?"
The Rabbit Baroness's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
"First, let me make one thing clear. I'm not doing this for personal gain."
That was the most important point I had to address before trying to convince them.
"This proposal… it's for the benefit of all of Melbeth."
As expected, someone immediately objected.
"How can supporting Baron Yandel and his clan benefit Melbeth?"
"Because I'm different from you."
"…?"
The Mustache Fairy tilted his head, confused.
"A noble's power comes from his family. But my family is just starting out. We don't even have a proper estate yet."
I lowered my posture slightly, and the nobles looked at me with even more confusion.
Good. That should give me enough momentum.
"But none of you truly see me as inferior."
I continued,
"It's strange, isn't it? Marquis Terserion, who wouldn't even meet with a Baron, and Duke Keallunus, who looks down on everyone… they both treat me with respect."
"…."
"Why do you think that is?"
"It's because of your fame, isn't it?"
"Wrong."
Well, he wasn't completely wrong.
But where did that fame come from?
"It's because of my strength."
Bjorn Yandel, the Giant.
The barbarian who had earned his noble title through his own strength.
"My fame and status are a result of my strength."
Therefore…
"That's why you should support me."
The logic was complete.
"If I become stronger, my status will rise as well."
"…?"
"I'm not satisfied with being a Baron."
Supporting me was the same as supporting Melbeth.
______________________
Thirty-one families.
No, with me, there were now thirty-two demi-human families in Melbeth.
This organization had two major weaknesses.
First, they were discriminated against and ostracized by the human nobles.
And secondly…
'The highest-ranking member is a Count.'
Their maximum output was a single Count family.
"Help me. And I'll help you achieve your goals."
But my logic didn't seem to resonate with them.
Their reactions were lukewarm.
"We understand your ambition, Baron Yandel. But isn't this just a special favor for a specific family?"
Damn it, they were treating me like an outsider.
Don't they understand how society works?
You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.
'Well, at least a few of them seem interested…'
I decided to change my approach.
"That's not the only reason you should support me."
I continued,
"Melbeth hasn't invested in any labyrinth-related businesses yet, has it? It wouldn't be a loss for Melbeth to sponsor a clan."
The reason why so many nobles sponsored explorer clans wasn't just for show.
Having a clan under your wing meant you had influence in the labyrinth.
And in a kingdom where everything revolved around the labyrinth, that influence was incredibly valuable.
Melbeth didn't have a clan yet.
"We understand what you're saying, Baron Yandel. But we haven't avoided the labyrinth because we couldn't handle it."
"Then why?"
I asked, pretending to be ignorant, and the Mustache Fairy answered.
"Because we don't want to provoke the other factions."
It was similar to their strategy of distancing themselves from their tribes.
They were a minority, so they wanted to avoid making enemies.
That was Melbeth's motto.
But…
"That's no longer an option."
The moment they accepted me, a well-known explorer, that strategy became obsolete.
But the Mustache Fairy wasn't giving up.
"That's why this is even more dangerous. If we officially support you, there will be no room for excuses. The other factions will think we're using you to gain control of the labyrinth. And that won't be good for you either."
He was basically saying they wouldn't give me a single stone.
But I wasn't going to back down.
"Are they that scary?"
I asked provocatively.
I wanted to shake them up a bit.
Their reaction was immediate.
"…That's a pointless question."
"Why is it pointless?"
"We're just being rational. That's what a leader does. We have to think about our families, our children, and our future generations."
His voice was emotional, but not hostile.
He sounded like a senior giving me sincere advice.
So I had to push him further.
"It sounds like you're just passing the buck to the next generation."
"You have no right to criticize my judgment."
The Mustache Fairy's voice turned cold.
Damn, he was a decent guy, even though he was a bit of a stickler for rules.
I felt a little bad… but I had to do this.
For my team, for my clan.
"You misunderstood me."
I softened my tone.
It was time to pull back.
"I wasn't criticizing you. I'm just saying we need to be more proactive."
"…."
"That's why you recruited me, isn't it?"
The Mustache Fairy didn't answer.
But someone else spoke up.
"I agree with Baron Yandel."
It was Baron Brewellin of the White Wolf tribe.
He was one of the youngest nobles, in his 30s.
He had been the most vocal about the need for change.
"We all agreed that Melbeth needs to change, didn't we?"
As the Rabbit Baroness had said, there were many who were dissatisfied with the current situation.
That's why they were so quick to support my argument.
"I'm not saying I'm in favor of this proposal… but it's worth considering. We've avoided the labyrinth for so long… but it's time for Melbeth to expand its influence. We can't just sit back and watch while the other factions reap the rewards of the war."
Brewellin's words sparked a debate.
"I agree. It's been a hassle to rely on the other tribes for explorers."
"But why Baron Yandel? We can create our own clan with explorers from our own tribes."
"His clan is still small, isn't it? Less than ten members."
"Yes. It would be more efficient to gather talented explorers from our own families and create a new clan. Then we can all support it together."
Hmm, this wasn't good.
I had to intervene before the conversation went off track.
"You're all missing the point!"
"…Yes?"
"The war will be over by then!"
Why were these cautious nobles suddenly interested in the labyrinth?
It was because of the war.
Countless families had profited from their sponsored clans.
And the others were starting to feel envious.
'Uh oh…'
But they weren't convinced.
"It's too risky to invest in the labyrinth now. The war might not last much longer."
"I agree. It's better to wait and see."
"Honestly, I'm not sure if this will happen again. Maybe we should just stick to our current strategy…"
Damn it, they were too conservative.
They were so focused on the future that they couldn't see the present.
As a K-Barbarian who valued speed and efficiency, I was frustrated.
But…
'I need to change my strategy.'
I had two options.
To appeal to their greed, or to make their future seem bleak.
I chose the latter.
"You fools! While you're wasting time, the other factions are getting stronger!"
Negative campaigning was the key to politics.
"Look at the Marquis! He's using the war to expand his influence! He's giving all the important positions to his own people!"
"But Baron Yandel isn't part of his faction, is he?"
"I'm an exception!"
I made a bold statement.
"Look at his son! He's incompetent, but he's a Corps Commander! He's getting all the credit without even doing anything!"
"Well, I wouldn't say he's completely incompetent…"
"Anyway, I was lucky enough to be promoted this time, but what about next time? There will be more nobles created, and they'll all be loyal to the factions that supported them!"
"…."
"Are you just going to watch? This is our chance to create another demi-human noble family!"
I appealed to their greed.
But it wasn't enough.
"…We can't change the past."
"The war was an unexpected event."
"Honestly, I'm not sure if this will happen again. Maybe we should just stick to our current strategy…"
They were too stubborn.
Even the Rabbit Baroness, who was trying to support me, couldn't convince them.
The vote began.
"We'll begin the vote. All those in favor of officially supporting Baron Yandel and his clan, Anabada, please raise your hands."
The outcome was predictable.
'They're more conservative than I thought.'
I would have to wait for another opportunity—
"I'm in favor."
The Rabbit Baroness and I were the only ones who had raised our hands… but then someone else joined us.
It was Baron Brewellin of the White Wolf tribe.
He was the one who had been most vocal about the need for change.
'…'
And then, one by one, more nobles raised their hands.
One, two, three, four…
By the time the vote was over, we had barely reached a majority.
"…S-Seventeen votes in favor. The proposal to officially support Baron Yandel and Clan Anabada has been approved."
Even the Rabbit Baroness, a Melbeth veteran, was surprised.
But my excitement faded as the discussion continued.
"We agree to support you, but we won't use Melbeth's funds."
They all agreed to support me, but they placed restrictions on the funding.
And in the end, I was left with a meager three options.
1. Take out a loan from Melbeth (with interest and a limit).
2. Use one of Melbeth's buildings as our clan house (at a discounted price).
3. Accept Melbeth's exclusive quests.
The most important one was the third option.
It meant that Melbeth would officially request our help if they needed us, and we would be compensated accordingly.
'…Well, it's a start.'
I decided to be satisfied with this for now.
______________________
After the meeting, I returned home in the carriage.
I needed to get some sleep.
"Ah, Bjorn… You're here…"
"Good morning, Shabin Emure."
"…Is it morning already?"
"…."
I went straight to the sanctuary and started working.
I checked on the progress of the real estate project, approved requests from the administrative team, and…
"Oh! Bjorn! You're here!"
"It's Chieftain."
"…Right, Chieftain!"
I met with Ainar and discussed the recent events in the tribe.
How many of the new warriors had survived their first expedition.
What was the general mood.
And…
"M-Me? The 2nd Elder…?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"No way! I'll do it! I'll do whatever you ask!!"
I appointed Charon, the warrior who had been betrayed by his teammate and then started the Backpack Revolution, as the 2nd Elder.
Ainar needed help.
We had to prepare for next month's coming-of-age ceremony, and I couldn't handle everything myself.
And it would be too much to ask the administrative team to do it.
One day, two days…
Time flew by.
And then a new day arrived.
July 5th, 157th year of the New Era.
The day we started selling land.
-x-X-x-
The first real estate sale in barbarian history was about to begin. Ainar brought me good news, and a smile spread across my face.
"130 gathered?"
"Yes! They're all clamoring, asking when the sale starts!"
The number of prospective buyers was much higher than I'd anticipated. I quickly turned to the Minister of Urban Development for the Barbarian Tribe.
"Rick, how many plots can we sell today?"
"73."
One plot of land was 400 square meters, or roughly 1,300 square feet.
'So we have about 30,000 square feet available for sale today.'
Rick had surveyed the land by himself, and I could only imagine how much work he'd put in.
"But… are you sure this unit of measurement is okay? One plot…?"
"Don't worry. This will be much easier for them to understand."
If we used larger units, it would only confuse the barbarians.
It was much simpler to define one plot as a 20-meter by 20-meter square.
Of course, I planned to offer smaller and larger plots later, to give buyers more options.
200 square meters would be half a plot.
600 square meters would be one and a half plots.
Much simpler, right?
"Anyway, we'll only sell 40 plots today."
"…What? We're not selling them all?"
"Not yet."
I had prepared as much land as possible, just in case, but selling it all at once would disrupt my future plans.
"…Understood."
Rick, who had worked tirelessly for this day, looked a little disappointed, but it couldn't be helped. The key to real estate was future value.
"Alright, let's go."
After adjusting the number of lots in the lottery box, we headed to the sales location. It was a forest near the outer gate, convenient for travel to and from the city.
"Oh, it's the Chieftain!"
"Start selling! I've brought enough money!"
The warriors who spotted me started calling out.
I greeted them briefly, scanning their equipment as I did.
'Their average level is around 5th floor.'
They were among the higher-ranking warriors in the tribe.
They needed to be at least this strong to afford the 2 million stone price tag I'd set for each plot. Barbarians weren't known for their saving habits.
Ainar had told me that some warriors had even sold their prized equipment to buy land.
"Greetings, warriors who seized the opportunity!"
I climbed onto the platform Ainar had prepared and began my sales pitch.
"Do you see those four yellow flags over there?"
"Yes!"
"The land within those flags is what we're selling today."
I needed to explain the concept first. Some of the warriors who had come might just be curious onlookers.
I needed to stimulate their desire to buy.
"It's quite spacious, isn't it? There's still room even with over a hundred of us here!"
"Uh… is it?"
"Think about the inn rooms you stay in! They're barely big enough for a single bed! This plot of land can easily fit a hundred beds!"
Of course, inn rooms had walls and a roof, unlike this open space… but that wasn't important right now.
"Hmm… Now that you mention it, it does seem spacious!"
Good.
"Yes, it's a vast land! You can build a house here, and turn the rest into a training ground. And since it's private property, you can even use the abilities you can't use in the city!"
"…Private property?"
"It means it's completely yours!"
"…Oooooh!"
The warriors seemed impressed by the fancy term.
"Ah, and by the way, land this size would cost hundreds of millions of stones in the city. And commoners can't even buy it!"
I casually omitted the fact that such prices only applied to Karnon, the Imperial City, and continued to stimulate their desire to buy.
And when the time was right…
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat and got to the main point.
"Anyway, we're selling 40 plots today, all the same size as this one!"
"…Forty plots? But there are over a hundred of us here?"
The barbarians, summoned early in the morning and further motivated by my speech, complained about the limited supply.
But I just doubled down.
"Stop complaining! Land is a precious resource! We barely managed to secure 40 plots! If you don't want it, don't buy it!"
Limited supply meant the seller had the advantage.
The warriors immediately shut their mouths, and I continued as planned.
"Now, each of you will come forward and draw a lot! Those who draw a black lot will have the opportunity to buy land!"
We divided the 130 warriors into six groups, and they took turns drawing lots. Soon, cheers and groans filled the air.
"I got a black lot! A black lot!!"
"A white one?! This is unfair! I drew last! Let me draw again!!"
But complaining wouldn't change the outcome.
After the lottery, the winners were led to Rick Anderson, who handled the sales and collected the payments.
"Hey, human… I can't read!"
"Don't worry. It's the Chieftain's land. It's all legitimate."
"…Is it?"
The deed stated that the land could only be inherited by other barbarians, and if there were no heirs, the ownership would revert to the tribe…
But that was a minor detail.
"Now, just press your thumbprint here."
The barbarians happily pressed their inked thumbprints onto the documents.
And…
'80 million stones from selling undeveloped land… not bad.'
The average income from the coming-of-age ceremony was about 10 million stones, so this was enough to cover eight ceremonies.
"Hey! What are you doing?! This is my land! Get out!"
"S-Sorry! I was just looking around…"
"Just for a moment. And don't even breathe while you're here."
"Understood!"
The warriors who had bought land started setting up their tents, while those who hadn't looked on enviously.
"Shrive's son, Byukan! I'll give you 100,000 stones more. Sell me your land."
"Hmm, 100,000 stones…?"
The situation I had anticipated was already unfolding.
Well, the deal didn't go through in the end.
"Sorry, but that's not enough."
"I see… Let me know if you change your mind."
The warrior, reluctant to pay such a high premium, backed down.
But that didn't matter.
"Ainar."
I called her name, and she nodded resolutely, disappearing into the crowd.
I watched her leave and sighed.
"Phew…"
There was no turning back now.
____________________________
The day after the forty plots were sold out,
A rumor swept through the sanctuary.
"Did you hear? Shrive's son, Byukan, sold his land for 3 million stones!"
"He earned a million stones in a single day!"
"What?! A million stones?! That's enough to buy a Laithium breastplate! The one the Chieftain wears!"
The land that had been sold for 2 million stones had doubled in value in a single day.
Of course, it wasn't a normal transaction.
"Is that guy insane? I mean, the Chieftain's words made sense, but… 3 million stones for a plot of land?!"
"Who bought it?"
The buyer was Bytol's second son, Seirik.
A member of the 'Comrade Association', a secret organization within the tribe created by Charon, the 2nd Elder who had started the Backpack Revolution.
"…I heard he made a fortune from selling backpacks… but I didn't know he had that much money!"
I had secretly funded Charon, instructing him to choose a trustworthy warrior with a tight lip.
The reason was simple.
"But… maybe the Chieftain was right…"
No matter how much I talked about the value of land, not all barbarians would believe me.
"You mean when he said the land would become too expensive to buy later?"
"Yes! I heard he's selling more land this month! I'm thinking about buying some too."
"Hmm, I thought you didn't need land. What changed your mind?"
"I still don't need land! But think about it. We can buy it now and sell it later for a profit! It's like getting a free weapon! You should buy some too!"
"Hmm… I'd rather save the money and buy a weapon! At least weapons are useful in battle. Land is just…"
There were still many warriors who were skeptical, but that was just a matter of time.
The land that had been sold for 2 million stones was resold for 3.5 million.
And then 3.7 million.
And then 4 million.
All thanks to our 'comrade'.
"…W-What?! 4 million stones for a plot of land?! Are they all insane?!"
In just four days, the sanctuary was in an uproar.
"Why aren't they selling?! I'll pay 4 million stones!"
Some barbarians were eager to buy, but no one was selling.
They weren't fools.
"It'll be worth even more tomorrow! Why would I sell it now?!"
"B-But…!"
The next day, the land was sold for 4 million stones, and the warriors were hooked.
It wasn't just the barbarians who were caught up in the frenzy.
Even the modern clerks, trained in economics, were starting to lose their minds.
"4.3 million! I'll buy it for 4.3 million!!"
In just a week, the market had become self-sustaining.
I no longer needed to rely on 'comrades'.
I instructed Charon to continue buying land until the 50 million stones I had given him were all spent. It was two-thirds of the profit, but I didn't mind.
'The next batch of land will sell for 6 million stones each.'
Why the price increase?
It was simple.
The new plots were closer to the city center, so of course they were more expensive.
And the barbarians would buy them anyway.
After all, they believed that buying land was a guaranteed profit.
'Okay, then I don't have to worry about this anymore…'
I was about to leave the chieftain's tent when Rick Anderson, who was in charge of the real estate project, approached me.
"This is strange, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"The land prices. I don't see any reason why they should be increasing. The sanctuary isn't that small, you know. Mathematically speaking, even if every warrior owned a plot of land, there would still be land left over."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Yes. The warriors who bought land will regret it later."
"Why should I stop them? They're the ones who want to buy it."
"That's… true."
"Anyway, I'm leaving!"
Finally, I could go home.
I rushed back to the city, expecting to be scolded by Amelia and Erwen… but there were no complaints.
"Amelia, Erwen! I'm—"
"Read this."
Amelia tossed me an open envelope.
"It's from Mozelan."
"…?"
I felt a sense of unease as I read the letter.
It was written in formal language, befitting a letter from Mozelan, the noble's police force. It was unnecessarily long, but the first three lines were enough.
[…This is a formal request from Count Alminus, acting as a representative of the Sawtooth Clan, to the Mozelan Dispute Resolution Committee…]
Who had filed the complaint.
[…We demand compensation of 2.135 billion stones, half the appraised value of the Chaos Lord Riakis essence…]
What they wanted.
And…
[…Baron Bjorn Yandel is requested to appear at Mozelan Headquarters within 15 days of receiving this letter.]
When I had to go.
I tore the letter to shreds and swallowed it.
'I've never received a lawsuit in my life, and now I'm getting one here?'
-x-X-x-
House Alminus. It wasn't one of the great houses that had existed since the founding of the Lafdonia Kingdom. However…
[Alminus Central Exchange]
[Alminus Bank]
…the Alminus Trading Company, which owned these institutions, wielded influence comparable to the oldest noble families. They were also patrons of the Sawtooth Clan, one of the four largest explorer clans, extending their reach into the labyrinth.
"I knew they wouldn't stay quiet, but I didn't expect them to make it a public issue with Mozelan."
Amelia chuckled, seemingly agreeing with my muttered comment.
"The Count is bolder than I thought. I didn't expect him to resort to this, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized raid."
"Emily, it's not your fault, so don't feel responsible."
"…Responsible? Why should I feel responsible?"
"Uh…"
I just thought it was the right thing to say…
Well, whatever.
I quickly changed the subject, feeling a little awkward.
"Anyway, the letter was sent two days ago. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I knew you were busy, and I had a few things to check first. If you hadn't come home today, I was planning to go find you."
"Things to check?"
Amelia then told me what she had been doing for the past two days. It wasn't good news.
"First, it seems like they've already started spreading rumors in the taverns."
House Alminus had begun their smear campaign.
"I can guess what they're saying, but… what exactly are the rumors?"
"They're all slightly different, but the gist of it is that we somehow managed to steal the Floor Lord they were raiding. Some even speculate that we were the ones who summoned him in the first place."
"As expected…"
"But there are also those who dismiss the rumors. It seems like your reputation isn't completely worthless."
Right, it was thanks to the Fame I had accumulated.
I felt a little proud, but…
"We still need to hurry."
"Huh?"
"I saw them approaching the explorers you helped that day. They're trying to bribe them into giving favorable testimonies."
"…Bribe them? But they can't lie because of the Verification spell."
"Are you unaware? You can plead the Fifth in Mozelan trials. They'll probably instruct them to avoid answering any unfavorable questions and only reveal the parts that benefit them."
"…Hmm, but wouldn't our testimony be more credible?"
"Not necessarily. In cases where testimonies contradict each other, the court often gives less weight to the testimonies themselves. It's a common strategy."
Oh… I see…
"But… how do you know all this?"
"I studied the relevant documents for the past two days."
"…"
Maybe Amelia's sister wasn't the genius of the family, after all.
Impressed by her thoroughness, I asked for her advice.
"So what do you think I should do?"
"The trial is inevitable, so we need to find witnesses who will testify on our behalf. Among the explorers you helped that day."
"And?"
"Ask Melbeth for help. They've been around for a long time, they must have experienced similar disputes. They should have a competent lawyer."
"Okay, and then?"
I looked at her expectantly, and Amelia averted her gaze, seemingly burdened by my question.
"…I'm good at investigating, not finding solutions."
Right, she didn't have any other ideas.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
Erwen, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.
I appreciated her offer, but…
"I'll let you know if I need your help. Don't worry about it for now."
I had enough to do as Chieftain. It was time to focus on my role as Clan Master.
___________________
After four days of nonstop work, I finally had some time off.
I wanted to stay home and relax, but I immediately left for Mozelan Headquarters.
Strike while the iron is hot.
I needed to gather information before formulating a strategy.
I wasn't particularly worried about the trial itself.
The only thing that bothered me was…
'…Why did they have to summon me to Headquarters?'
The Mozelan branch where Dwarkey had been detained was located in the 7th District, but Headquarters was in Karnon, the Imperial City.
'…Should I just use the military transfer station?'
I was tempted, but I ultimately decided against it. As Clan Master of Anabada, I couldn't be so wasteful.
It was expensive.
And I could sleep on the way there.
"Welcome to Mozelan Headquarters, Baron Yandel. This way, please. We'll escort you."
As soon as I arrived, the knights greeted me politely.
It was a strange feeling.
The last time I had visited Mozelan, they wouldn't even let me inside. And that wasn't even Headquarters, but a branch office.
Anyway, that wasn't important right now.
"I'm Christina Bealon, the Chair of Mozelan."
The head of Mozelan was a middle-aged woman with a refined appearance. She was dressed in casual clothes, but she was clearly a knight.
"Bealon…? Are you from House Bealon?"
"Yes. Count Bealon is my older brother."
"I see… But isn't it unusual for the Chair to handle this kind of matter personally?"
"Normally, it wouldn't be. However, disputes between titled nobles are a sensitive issue. I decided to handle this personally to avoid any mistakes."
"I see. So… what did you want to talk about? The letter said you would explain everything in person."
"Yes, some things are difficult to discuss in writing. Hmm, where should I begin…"
She looked at me cautiously and then started explaining the situation. As expected of a noble, her introduction was lengthy. She basically just reiterated the contents of the letter in more detail.
"…In cases like this, we usually recommend a settlement. Count Alminus has also expressed his willingness to lower the requested amount if you agree."
She paused and looked at me.
"But… I assume that's not what you want?"
Obviously.
"Of course not."
"Then we have no choice but to transfer the case to the Royal Court."
She then explained the procedures involved in a Royal Court trial.
I would have to write a statement…
"We can summon a scribe if you wish."
…but I decided to postpone it.
I needed to consult with a lawyer and formulate a strategy before writing anything.
So I left Mozelan Headquarters and went straight to Baroness Lirivia's mansion.
"Baron Yandel…? I wasn't informed of your visit…"
The Baroness's daughter greeted me.
Unfortunately, the Baroness was currently at the royal palace for official business. She would be back later today, so I decided to wait.
And after a few hours…
"Baron Yandel, what brings you here? Minia tells me you've been waiting for half a day…"
"Baroness Lirivia, I need your help."
"Help…? Please explain."
The Baroness, who had returned as the sun began to set, listened to my story and sighed.
"I don't mean to offend you, but… you really are a storm in human form."
"…"
"I know a competent lawyer, so don't worry too much. It's too late today, but you should be able to meet him tomorrow."
"Thank you. Do you have a spare room, by any chance?"
"A spare room…?"
"It's a bit of a hassle to go back to Ravigion and come back tomorrow."
"…You're staying in Ravigion? I understand. I'll have someone prepare a room for you."
"Thank you."
Okay, so lodging was taken care of.
I had dinner with the Baroness's family, and then I borrowed a recording crystal to inform Erwen and Amelia that I wouldn't be coming home tonight.
And the next morning…
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Baron Yandel. I'm James Elk."
I met with the lawyer the Baroness had recommended.
He listened to my story and frowned.
"…This is a complicated situation. Let me summarize. The formal charge filed by House Alminus is 'Request for loot distribution based on contribution', correct?"
"That's right."
They were spreading rumors about me behind my back, but the official charge was different.
"They're claiming that the Sawtooth Clan contributed to the raid, and therefore they're entitled to a share of the loot."
The basis for their claim was the Labyrinth Disaster Law.
During a disaster, all explorers were obligated to cooperate and resolve the situation. And disputes over loot distribution were a common occurrence.
Therefore, laws had been established to handle such situations.
"…This will be difficult…"
"…Is it that bad?"
"Yes. A request for loot distribution based on contribution is a legitimate claim under labyrinth law. And the fact that they filed a formal complaint means they have evidence to support their claim."
The lawyer looked at me and said,
"I recommend accepting Count Alminus's offer. Even if the case goes to trial, the court will likely rule in their favor, and you might end up paying even more."
"…Even though there's evidence suggesting that they summoned the Floor Lord without permission?"
My voice was sharper than I intended.
But the lawyer remained calm and professional.
"That's irrelevant to this case. It's just circumstantial evidence. It would be difficult to prove, and even if you could, it would be a separate case."
In other words, even if House Alminus was fined or imprisoned for the unauthorized summoning, they would still be entitled to a share of the loot.
"I'm just stating the facts, so please don't misunderstand."
Right, it wasn't his fault.
"James, is there really no other way?"
"As I said, I recommend a settlement. You can use the 'circumstantial evidence' you mentioned to negotiate a lower amount. It would minimize the risk."
"What if I don't care about the risk? Is there really no other way?"
"Yes. This is the best option. You can't avoid paying them. Unless Count Alminus withdraws his complaint."
I see…
That was it.
I ended the consultation.
I hadn't gained much from it, but it had given me a direction.
'I need to make him withdraw his complaint.'
In other words, I needed leverage.
___________________
After the consultation,
I went to Mozelan Headquarters and wrote my statement with the lawyer's help.
It was written in a way that would be most beneficial to me in court.
Avoiding a trial was the best option, but I had to be prepared for every possibility.
'The trial won't start for a few months…'
I still had plenty of time.
So I postponed my meeting with Count Alminus.
There was no point in meeting him now.
Therefore…
I went somewhere else.
"Welcome to the Explorer's Guild, Baron Yandel!"
I visited the Explorer's Guild and filed a raid request. The branch manager personally handled my request.
[Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror.]
The target was the 1st-floor Floor Lord.
"…It's been a while since we've had a Floor Lord raid request."
It wasn't surprising.
There were other ways for a 5th-grade clan to be promoted to 4th-grade.
Usually, only newly formed clans that were confident in their abilities would attempt a Floor Lord raid.
"The raid will take place during the next labyrinth opening… We'll send out a notice to all branches immediately."
The request was approved without any problems.
"You know, this will cause quite a stir."
Of course, that was my intention.
"A five-man raid team…? If they succeed, it will be the tenth such feat in history, after the Last Sage!"
This was my first bullet.
Aimed at Count Alminus.
-x-X-x-
House Alminus's first move wasn't the lawsuit, but a smear campaign.
Why?
They could have just filed the lawsuit and waited for the court to rule in their favor.
My conclusion was this:
'Count Alminus doesn't want this to go to trial.'
If that was true, the lawsuit was just a gesture.
Or rather, a threat.
It was a message: You and I are in different weight classes, so if you don't want to lose even more, settle this quietly and pay up.
'Count Alminus isn't short on money…'
So it must be about his reputation.
That's how the noble society worked.
It was a world divided into winners and losers.
And backing down in this situation would be a clear sign of defeat.
Therefore, I decided to turn public opinion in my favor.
That's what they were focusing on, after all.
'The original Baron Yandel wasn't strong enough to slay a Floor Lord.'
'If it weren't for the Sawtooth Clan, his clan wouldn't have been able to kill the Chaos Lord.'
Technically, both statements were true… but Count Alminus was using them to manipulate public opinion.
It was a setup.
He would start with questioning my abilities and then gradually escalate the accusations.
'Bjorn Yandel stole the credit from the Sawtooth Clan, who risked their lives to slay the Floor Lord.'
'Is that how a hero should act?'
Count Alminus had correctly identified the source of my power.
My reputation.
"Hmm, so you filed the raid request without telling us?"
"…Yes!"
I returned home and told Amelia about the raid plan. Her gaze was cold, but…
"Ha…"
…it didn't last long. She sighed, like a parent looking at their troublesome child, and asked,
"Do you even know how many clans have disappeared after attempting a five-man Floor Lord raid?"
"I heard about it. They said it's especially dangerous with only five people. That's why most raid teams have twenty to thirty members…"
That number was based on the average level of 6th and 7th-floor explorers.
But…
"Don't worry. I have a plan."
Five-man clears were the standard for the Lord of Terror.
That's how you got the best rewards.
And the rewards were well-known, so there were always a few clans who attempted it.
Not many, maybe two or three every hundred years.
'If you know the strategy, a five-man clear is actually much easier than a thirty-man raid.'
That's why I had chosen the Lord of Terror as our next raid target.
People considered a five-man Dreadfear clear more difficult than a Riakis clear. If we succeeded, no one would question my abilities.
"…"
Auyen, who had been quietly listening, started fidgeting.
I suddenly wondered why he was even here… but I didn't say anything.
He had been through a lot with us in Ice Rock.
"Lokrok."
"Yes, Baron. What can I do for you?"
I told him what he wanted to hear.
"You don't have to join us for this expedition. Don't worry about it."
"Ah… I see…"
He looked relieved, letting out a sigh.
"Then who will fill the last spot?"
After sending Auyen to his room, we discussed the raid plan and the remaining member.
And after a while…
"Yandel."
As I was about to leave the room, Amelia called out to me.
"You've been making a lot of enemies lately… Are you sure you can handle this?"
In other words, wasn't I being too reckless?
"The Count, for example. It would have been better to just pay him off than to make an enemy out of him."
I understood her concern.
They were the established powers of this world.
She was probably worried about the potential consequences of my actions.
Becoming Chieftain as a noble, challenging Count Alminus…
But…
"Amelia."
I didn't back down.
"If you're scared of being attacked, you'll never be able to expand your territory."
It was my long-held belief.
"…?"
Amelia looked at me as if I was speaking a different language.
___________________
The next day, I went out with Erwen.
It was just the two of us.
Our destination was Raven's lab in the Mage Tower.
"Oh, you're here?"
"It's been a while, Raven."
"I heard about your promotion. Congratulations. I tried to visit you a few times, but you were never home."
"I've been busy lately."
The lab was covered in dust, just like I remembered.
"…Sorry about the mess. I've been spending most of my time at the military base in the Imperial City. It's been a while since I've been here."
"Thank you. I didn't expect you to take time off for this."
"Of course I would. It's a chance to see a Floor Lord essence. Any mage would jump at the opportunity."
Well, she wasn't wrong.
But there was no one I trusted more than Raven when it came to magic.
Bersil specialized in artifacts, not essences.
"I did some research on the Riakis essence after you contacted me. It's quite a unique essence."
"It is."
"Shall we begin…?"
Raven approached Erwen with a grin, and Erwen took a step back, looking at me.
"…Can't we just do this with the two of us? Like before?"
Erwen didn't like being treated like a lab rat, but it couldn't be helped.
"As I said, we need a mage to properly analyze your new abilities."
"…"
"Can you do this?"
"Yes…"
Erwen reluctantly agreed, and Raven chuckled.
"…Erwen, you haven't changed at all."
"It's none of your business."
"Well, that's true. Come here."
The atmosphere was stifling.
We used to be so close…
But things had changed.
'She did try to separate us because she thought I was using Erwen…'
Maybe Raven still cared about me.
'Whatever, it's their problem.'
I didn't care about their relationship and focused on the experiment.
"Here, put this on."
Raven handed Erwen a familiar bracelet. It was the same one she had used when we tested the Corpse Golem essence.
Well, could you even call it a bracelet?
"…Ugh."
As soon as Erwen sat down on the ominous chair, the 'bracelet' snapped shut, locking her in place.
"Don't worry. We're just going to insert a mana conductor into your vein and monitor your vital signs."
"…"
"Shall we begin?"
Raven made the necessary preparations, and then she instructed Erwen to use her new ability.
"It might be difficult since it's your first time, but just imagine it. Try to remember the name the Sage gave it…"
"I can do it myself, so be quiet. I need to concentrate."
"Alright. You're the expert when it comes to abilities, after all."
Erwen closed her eyes, and a few seconds later…
Beep, beep, beep, beep…
The graph displaying Erwen's vital signs started fluctuating wildly.
The essence's skill had activated.
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Fusion].」
[Fusion] was a Transformation ability, similar to my [Transcendence], but also different.
[Transcendence] affected active skills, while…
「All passive skills are combined into one.」
[Fusion] only affected passive skills.
'I wonder what it is…'
I tried to remember Erwen's passive skills.
「Chaos energy consumes [Elemental Enhancement].」
The 5th-grade Evan essence.
It increased all four elemental damage types: fire, water, wind, and earth.
「Chaos energy consumes [Absolute Focus].」
The 4th-grade Lithcannon essence I had recommended as a reward.
It doubled the damage of casting skills.
「Chaos energy consumes [Harmony].」
The 5th-grade Patrol Ertes essence.
It converted Soul Power into natural energy.
「Chaos energy consumes [Half-Blood's Blessing].」
The 5th-grade Kalban essence.
It gave her a random buff every few minutes.
「Chaos energy consumes [Tracker's Eye].」
The 4th-grade Metcrow essence.
It tripled all vision-related stats and gave a bonus to ranged attacks.
And lastly…
「Chaos energy consumes [Food Chain].」
The 3rd-grade Heavenly Judge essence she had received from the fairy tribe after our team disbanded.
It increased damage against monsters proportional to their level.
Even though it wasn't as powerful as [Rupture], the essence's active skill, the passive was still quite valuable.
'The Floor Lord essence isn't included in the fusion, so that's all of them.'
I didn't know what the combined skill would be.
There were countless essences in [Dungeon and Stone].
Even I, a seasoned player, couldn't possibly test every single combination.
I hadn't played the cheat version.
'…Well, I've tested most of the higher-grade combinations.'
I had found quite a few useful combinations.
But recreating those combinations was a long-term goal.
So what about now?
What kind of skill had Erwen obtained?
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia's body is imbued with Chaos energy.」
We needed a mage to analyze the skill's effects.
I couldn't see the system logs.
"So… how does it feel? Anything different?"
"I don't know…"
"Alright, then we'll test it out one by one."
Raven began the experiment, just like she had done with me in the past.
It wasn't something we could finish in a single day.
"I've taken the rest of the month off, so come here every day."
Erwen's schedule for the month was set.
___________________
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia's body is imbued with Chaos energy.」
「Soul Power and Natural Energy are greatly increased, proportional to the character's level.」
「When dealing elemental damage to monsters below 4th-grade, additional Chaos damage is inflicted.」
「While concentrating, all received damage is absorbed using Soul Power.」
___________________
I was busy after returning from the Mage Tower.
[I've heard some strange rumors about you lately. Of course, I'll help. That should quiet them down.]
I secured testimonies from the explorers I had rescued.
[There was a fierce battle on the summit of Dragon's Mountain Range. One of the Seven Strengths died. And there's something else you should know—]
I received a report from Bersil about the war and other news.
[Bjorn!! Come to the sanctuary! We need you!]
I had to visit the sanctuary to deal with some tribal matters.
[…It hasn't even been a month! What do you know about blacksmithing? To properly melt Mithril, you need to build a specialized forge… What? You're not rushing me? Don't lie!]
I visited the dwarf's forge to check on the progress of the loot disposal and Mithril smelting.
In idle games, you have to click on the progress bars to speed things up.
'…It's only been two weeks?'
I was exhausted.
I returned home late at night and collapsed onto the bed.
I wanted to sleep…
But I couldn't.
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
I had one more task to complete.
-x-X-x-