Marco Towair.
Thirty-two years old.
He'd started working in a kitchen as a teenager, which sparked his interest and talent in cooking and business. Two years ago, he opened a small restaurant in Ravigion, proudly bearing his name. He was a husband and a father of two.
He'd had his wild days, but after becoming the head of a household, he avoided anything that might cause trouble. He turned a blind eye to injustice and steered clear of any potential conflict, always prioritizing the safety of his family.
But…
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaah!"
He came to his senses, shouting as he climbed the stairs.
Along with countless warriors.
"Today! We conquer! The Mage Tower…!!"
Those words jolted Marco Towair awake.
Barbarian warriors, a group he thought he'd never have anything to do with. And mages, desperately casting spells to stop them.
He finally realized where he was.
'The Mage Tower…'
A place he'd only ever seen from afar, never having stepped inside.
How had he ended up here?
As he was pushed forward by the crowd behind him, he tried to remember.
[Yandel! Bjorn Yandel is marching towards the Mage Tower with thousands of barbarian warriors!]
It had started with curiosity.
He had been nearby when he heard the news, and he had some time to spare.
So he went to watch.
[It's war.]
Bjorn, son of Yandel, the Giant.
The hero he'd only heard rumors about was truly impressive in person.
He was bold and decisive.
An aura of power emanated from him, as if nothing could stop him.
And…
[These are the mages who placed requests on the black market for barbarian hearts!]
As Bjorn's powerful voice echoed through the plaza, his heart pounded in his chest. He had found himself shouting alongside the crowd, condemning the Mage Tower.
Yes, that's how it had started…
"I-It's a barrier…!"
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean, 'what should we do'?!"
How had he ended up here?
What good would he do here?
"Break it down!!"
"Wooooooooo—!!"
He hoped this wouldn't cause any trouble for his family…
But why was he still climbing the stairs with them?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The barrier shimmered, blocking their path.
"Baron Yandel, stop this! This is as far as you go!"
A mage's arrogant voice echoed from beyond the barrier.
And…
Boom!
The man with the hammer didn't stop.
He swung his hammer again and again, his actions unwavering.
Marco Towair watched him from close by, and he realized…
"Chieftain! That's not how you break a magic barrier—!"
"Didn't I tell you before?"
"…Huh?"
"If you can't break it, it's because you're not strong enough!"
That was the reason he was here.
"I! And we! Are strong…!!"
That man was strong.
Crack!
Strong enough to break down any wall that stood in his way.
"T-The barrier is cracking…!!"
That's why he wanted to watch.
Even if it was just a small part of his journey.
Even if he couldn't contribute much.
Thump!
He wanted to witness it.
Kwaaang!
Bjorn, son of Yandel, the Giant…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
…was that kind of person.
______________________
The Mage Tower.
Home to the kingdom's most valuable asset, the mages, and an impregnable fortress that had never been conquered.
…I didn't agree with that assessment.
'Impregnable? It's just because no one's ever tried to attack it.'
It was an organization entirely composed of mages, their defenses completely unbalanced. Well, the magic barriers were troublesome…
But it wasn't 'impregnable'.
'And they don't seem to be very united…'
I had public opinion and justification on my side.
And the Mage Tower, a collection of hundreds of schools, wasn't a monolithic entity. Not all of them would fight for the same cause.
"Don't stop us! We're just here to apprehend the criminals!"
Some schools had closed their doors and were waiting for the storm to pass.
Of course, most of the mages were fighting back, determined to protect their home.
But…
'They're going to be casting spells all night.'
Most of the mages in the Mage Tower were researchers, not combatants.
They spent their days studying magic theory and conducting experiments.
They couldn't match the combat prowess of battle mages.
And there was another problem.
"…Master! J-Just burn them all! Before he breaks through the barrier!"
"We can't… Do you see those people?"
The civilians who had gotten caught in the crossfire.
"Master! They're not citizens, they're rioters!"
"We have orders from the military. We can't harm the civilians."
"But… we can't hold out much longer! They've already breached several floors!"
"…Endure. We have to endure until the reinforcements arrive. Then we'll win."
Because of the civilians, the mages couldn't use their most powerful AoE attacks. They could only cast defensive spells.
Therefore…
「Character has cast [Swing].」
「Blunt weapon damage is greatly increased proportionally to Strength.」
I continued to climb the stairs, smashing through the barriers.
"…Filthy barbarians! You'll regret this!"
I captured any mages I encountered and tied them up.
"Bjorn! You go ahead! We'll search this floor!"
I left the captured mages with the warriors and continued upwards.
"Ainar, as I said, search the other schools last."
"Huh? But they might be hiding there!"
"Do it last."
Unless we couldn't find any of the mages I had accused, there was no need to make more enemies.
Well, they would probably hate barbarians for the rest of their lives after this…
But there was a difference between a sworn enemy and just an enemy.
If I pushed them too far, all the schools would unite against me, and that would be a problem.
"As I said, don't kill anyone. Capture them alive! Understand?!"
I repeated the order whenever I had a chance.
If I just rampaged through the tower, I would lose all justification for my actions.
'We're on the 30th floor…'
I reached a new floor, and a new barrier greeted me.
"The Baron! Baron Yandel is here…!"
The mages on the other side of the barrier looked at me nervously.
"Baron Yandel, reconsider! Do you even realize how many laws you're breaking?!"
They tried to insult and persuade me, but I just…
Crack!
…swung my hammer.
「Character has cast [Swing].」
「Blunt weapon damage is greatly increased proportionally to Strength.」
After about ten swings, cracks started appearing on the barrier. The higher I went, the stronger the barriers became.
And there was more bad news.
"Chieftain! Royal army! The royal army has arrived!!"
The royal army had arrived.
It was earlier than I expected.
'They must have been deployed as soon as we entered the city…'
Damn it, this city was too efficient when it came to these things.
"It's over! Surrender and release the mages!"
The mages on the other side of the barrier sounded confident now.
It was understandable.
Even if my warriors tried to stop them, the royal army would arrive first.
'Okay, that's enough.'
The barrier shattered.
The mages who had been maintaining the barrier scattered, and some of them were captured by the warriors.
"Chieftain! What are we doing?!"
"We have to go up!"
The warriors were getting impatient.
But I stopped them and gave a new order.
"Bring all the captured mages here."
"Ah, alright! I'll let them know!"
That was all I could do for now.
The rest depended on luck.
If any of the mages I was looking for were on the floors we had captured, it would make things easier.
"Phew…"
So what was the outcome?
"Bjorn!"
Ainar appeared, dragging three mages by their collars.
______________________
Extellin Flacco of the Mileun School.
Mohilo Austquin of the Bevektalt School.
Cuol Memandolik of the Altus School.
Ainar had captured three mages, but none of them were on my list.
But it didn't matter.
I hadn't revealed all the names.
I wouldn't have been able to use them as hostages if they had been warned.
"Good work, Charon. Ainar."
I praised them and asked if they had encountered any problems, but they said it had been easy.
The three mages had been hiding in their respective schools.
'It's a shame we couldn't find the one who placed a bounty on my heart… but this is good enough.'
I would find him eventually.
Everything I was doing was leading up to that moment.
"I-It's a misunderstanding! Baron! It's all a misunderstanding…!"
"We'll see about that. Ainar, how's the situation downstairs?"
"The warriors are holding them off, but they won't last long. The royal army had already reached the 4th floor when I left."
"We need to hurry."
I activated the recording crystal and looked around.
My eyes met with a civilian who had followed us all the way to the 31st floor.
"What's your name?"
"M-Marco Towair, sir!"
"Marco Towair. I'll remember that. Can you do me a favor and hold this? Make sure our faces are visible."
"I-It would be an honor! But… such an important task… I'm just a commoner…"
He was trembling, but I patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"I trust you."
It was better to entrust the recording crystal to a stranger than to a barbarian.
"Marco Towair."
I memorized his name and face.
"…I-I'll do my best!"
I had secured a cameraman. It was time for the interrogation.
There were plenty of mages around, but I didn't need to use the Verification spell.
I already had one.
「Character has used [Distorted Trust].」
It was an expensive item, even with my increased budget.
"Extellin Flacco, Mohilo Austquin, Cuol Memandolik."
I looked down at the three captured mages and asked,
"Do you still think I'm mistaken?"
The mages, who had been shouting and protesting, fell silent.
They couldn't lie in front of this item.
"...."
Their silence was a confession.
But I needed more than silence.
"You're being accused of treason."
I tightened the ropes around their necks, cutting off their air supply.
Their reaction was immediate.
"…T-Treason?! That's ridiculous…!"
It was a serious accusation, one that could lead to the execution of their entire families. They couldn't afford to remain silent.
"I-I've never plotted treason! I would never even think of such a thing! You can tell just by listening to me! I'm telling the truth!"
They even appealed to the recording crystal, desperate to prove their innocence.
Right, they were afraid of being accused of treason.
"Your intentions don't matter. You colluded with the rebels, didn't you?"
"Colluded?! I-I just placed a request—"
They tried to argue that they had only placed a request on the black market…
But they couldn't finish their sentence.
Someone interrupted them.
"That's enough, Baron Yandel."
A deep voice echoed through the floor.
A blue magic circle appeared on the ground.
Step, step.
I turned around and saw an old man descending the stairs.
I recognized him instantly.
The Master of the Lengman School, and the younger brother of Duke Keallunus.
"Teschlun Lengman Keallunus."
The Mage Tower Master.
-x-X-x-
Some people command attention with just their presence and gaze.
Teschlun Lengman Keallunus, the Mage Tower Master, was one of those people.
"T-Tower Master…!"
He was about 5'7". His physique was that of a typical frail mage, and his skin was wrinkled with age.
Honestly, if it weren't for the staff that reached his shoulders, he would have looked like any ordinary old man walking down the street.
Step.
But until he descended the last step and stood in the lobby, no one, not even the warriors, dared to speak.
His gaze was sharp and alert, belying his age, but that wasn't the reason for their silence.
The warriors had sensed it instinctively.
Mage and warrior.
Even if their domains were different, the one in a position of power was the old man.
"Baron Bjorn Yandel."
The Tower Master finally reached the bottom of the stairs and looked at me for a moment before speaking.
"You're exactly as my brother described. It's a pleasure to meet you."
It was an unexpected greeting.
For the master of the Mage Tower to greet a barbarian who had invaded his domain with such politeness… I had expected him to call me a madman or something.
Step.
I took a large step forward, closing the distance between us, and the Tower Master stepped back.
It confirmed my suspicions.
'He's avoiding the area of effect.'
He was staying out of the range of 'Distorted Trust'.
But I pretended not to notice and said,
"I can't say the same. I'm in the middle of interrogating traitors."
I made my hostility clear, and the Tower Master chuckled.
"Let's put aside our emotions and have a frank discussion. What do you say?"
His voice was calm and composed, as if he had the upper hand.
'A frank discussion, my ass.'
Did this old man even know how barbarians worked?
The more you tried to control them, the more rebellious they became.
"I refuse! As I said, I'm busy interrogating traitors!"
"But now that I'm here, they won't tell you anything."
He was right.
The three captured mages' eyes were filled with hope.
'I was planning to use force if necessary, but now that he's here…'
"You can take your time, but the royal army will be here soon."
I made my decision.
"Fine. What do you want to say?"
"Can you dismiss everyone first?"
"The warriors, yes. But not Marco."
"Marco? You mean him?"
The Tower Master glanced at Marco, who was diligently filming, and Marco flinched.
Well, it was understandable. Being stared at by a powerful figure like that would be intimidating.
"The royal family has the right to know what happened here."
"Hmm, is that so?"
"Are you refusing?"
"Of course not. I have no intention of interfering with the royal family's affairs. But…"
The Tower Master trailed off and glanced at Marco again.
And at that moment…
Crack!
"W-Whoa!"
The recording crystal shattered, and Marco fell back, startled.
"Oh dear, it seems to be broken."
Right, that's how he was going to play it.
"I bought it from the Mage Tower. It must have been defective."
"Magical devices are inherently unstable, no matter how carefully they're crafted. But I apologize on behalf of the Mage Tower. If you tell them my name, they'll give you a new one."
This old man was amusing.
"Ainar, take everyone downstairs, including Marco."
"Are you sure…?"
I nodded, and Ainar led the warriors downstairs.
And then…
"You three can take a nap."
The three captured mages collapsed to the ground simultaneously.
It was a basic sleep spell.
We were alone now.
"Alright, now tell me. What did you want to say?"
"I'll be brief."
The Tower Master took three steps forward, entering the range of 'Distorted Trust'.
And then he looked at me and said,
"The Mage Tower will ban all research using 'barbarian hearts' from this day forward. Anyone caught violating this ban will be punished as if they had used forbidden magic."
"And?"
"We will also discipline those who tried to acquire hearts from the black market."
"What kind of discipline?"
"They won't be able to call themselves mages of the Mage Tower anymore."
In other words, they would be fired.
"You might think it's a lenient punishment, but that's the limit of what we can do."
He was trying to persuade me, but I was actually satisfied with this outcome.
I had exaggerated their crimes to make them seem more serious, but I hadn't expected them to actually be punished for treason.
"Of course, if they try to acquire barbarian hearts through the black market again, it will be a different story. It will be considered trafficking in forbidden goods."
Okay, the follow-up measures were also satisfactory.
"And?"
"We won't press charges for your illegal intrusion and occupation of the Mage Tower. You were just here to reprimand us, and we've accepted your criticism and corrected our mistakes. That's the official story."
I was speechless.
He knew I couldn't lie because of 'Distorted Trust', and yet he was offering me this deal?
"…Are you serious?"
He was practically admitting that the Mage Tower had lost to a barbarian.
But…
"I am."
I wasn't happy.
I was uneasy.
There was no such thing as a free lunch.
"So what do you want in return?"
I asked bluntly, and the Tower Master gave me a name.
"Lurendel Galinbaret, Master of the Triten School."
The mage who had placed a bounty on my heart.
"Clear her of all charges."
So that's why he hadn't mentioned her before.
I thought for a moment and then asked,
"Is she worth that much?"
"She's a brilliant mage. She made a mistake, but I believe her research will bring about a great revolution in this world."
I didn't believe him.
There had to be another reason.
'Lurendel Galinbaret… maybe I caught a bigger fish than I thought…'
Anyway, I could ask Amelia to investigate her later.
"So… what do you say? I'm waiting for your answer."
"Fine. I accept your offer."
I ended the negotiation.
It was a shame to let the woman who had tried to kill me go free, but I had gained more than I had expected, so there was no reason to be greedy.
But he still seemed uneasy.
"So… there are no hard feelings?"
He was trying to gauge my true intentions, using the fact that 'Distorted Trust' was active.
"What about you? Do you have any hard feelings towards me?"
I dodged his question and asked him back, and he answered readily.
"I don't have any hard feelings towards you. I never did. You were just doing your duty as a chieftain."
So it was all business.
I couldn't refuse to answer now.
"Then tell me your true feelings."
True feelings…
"I would be lying if I said I didn't have any hard feelings. Countless people have died in the labyrinth because of your research. Of course, I hate you. But…!"
I trailed off and turned my wrist, hiding the compass part of 'Distorted Trust'.
"Don't worry. We won't attack the Mage Tower again, as long as you don't provoke us!"
It was a trick I could only use when I was the one using 'Distorted Trust'.
"And besides, you seem like a decent guy!"
It didn't activate when I was lying.
______________________
The rest was uneventful.
The royal army soon arrived and was shocked to see the Baron of the kingdom and the Mage Tower Master facing each other.
But the Tower Master took the initiative and defended me, claiming responsibility for the incident.
"So… Master Keallunus apologized, and Baron Yandel accepted his apology…?"
"That's right."
The commander of the royal army seemed skeptical, but he didn't pry.
It didn't matter what kind of deal we had made.
From the royal family's perspective, it was a good thing that the conflict hadn't escalated.
"What are you waiting for?! Disperse the crowd!"
The royal army dispersed everyone, including the barbarians, and the Tower Master handed over the 36 mages who were suspected of colluding with the black market.
"But it seems like the mage who placed a bounty on your heart isn't among them?"
Colluding with the black market was a minor offense, but plotting to assassinate a noble was a serious crime, punishable by death.
But it was easy to clear her of all charges.
"Ah, that? I can't remember her name. I might have been mistaken. I can't accuse someone without being sure. I'll let you know if I remember."
"…Understood."
Lurendel Galinbaret, Master of the Triten School.
The royal investigator seemed to have noticed that she was the key figure in this incident, but he didn't say anything.
As I said before, they weren't interested.
"It's good that this was resolved peacefully. Ah, and Baron Yandel, you caused a large-scale conflict in the city without the royal family's permission. We'll have to impose a fine, but please… please pay it."
The royal army pleaded with me and then left with the mages.
It was time for me to leave too.
"We will punish those mages accordingly, so don't worry."
"Alright. I'll be going now. I'm hungry."
I was about to go home when Ainar stopped me and dragged me to the sanctuary.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A victory celebration was in full swing. The warriors were drinking and dancing, even though there hadn't been any official preparations.
It was the biggest celebration I had ever seen.
It seemed like every barbarian in the city had gathered here.
"Bjorn!"
"It's Chieftain."
"Chieftain! Say something! Everyone's waiting!"
Ainar pushed me forward, and I had to give a speech.
It was short and sweet, barbarian style.
"We—!!"
"Woooo!"
"Won—!!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
My short declaration only fueled their excitement.
'I can't miss this opportunity.'
I instructed Charon to spread the word about the real estate project through the Comrade Association, and they diligently carried out their mission throughout the celebration.
"Did you hear? This isn't just a one-time victory!"
"Our tribe will prosper! And the land prices will skyrocket!"
"Only fools won't buy land now!"
"What? You're saving up for a new weapon? When are you going to buy it? With magic stones? This is the new era!"
It would be a huge boost to the real estate project.
After enjoying the festivities for a while, I secretly left the sanctuary and returned home.
Amelia was sitting on the sofa in the dark living room.
"Yandel."
"…Yeah?"
"Are you addicted to causing trouble?"
She sounded annoyed.
She hadn't complained about my plan to attack the black market…
Why now?
I quickly realized the reason.
"Sorry, I should have discussed it with you first."
Her expression softened.
"…You know."
"Did you just smile?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You smiled! I saw it!"
"…Don't accuse me of things I didn't do."
I chuckled and sat down on the sofa, and Amelia said,
"So… do you feel better now?"
Her blunt question caught me off guard.
I felt a strange mix of emotions, but I answered honestly.
"Yes. Much better."
She nodded.
"That's good."
"...."
After a moment of silence, we talked about what had happened today, and Erwen, who had woken up, joined us.
And the next morning…
"I-It's me… Bjorn…"
The guest I had been waiting for finally arrived.
-x-X-x-
Properly brewed tea and formal refreshments.
An awkward silence hung in the air between us, with Auyen's meticulously prepared tea set on the table.
Misha was the first to speak.
"These…"
"Hmm?"
"These are Lubat Bakery's cookies… They're not bad, but Nielon Bakery's are cheaper and more to your liking…"
Why was she talking about cookies all of a sudden?
I found it random, but I assumed it was small talk to break the ice, so I just replied casually.
"Really? Auyen's the one who buys the snacks, so I don't really know. Speaking of Auyen—"
"I know. Auyen Lokrob, the navigator."
"…You do?"
"...."
The conversation died down.
'This is awkward.'
It was better to get it over with quickly, like ripping off a band-aid.
"Misha, you're here, so I assume you've made up your mind."
"…Yes."
"So what did you decide?"
I asked directly, and Misha hesitated for a long time before answering.
"I'll join your clan."
"Really?"
"Yes…"
She nodded slightly, and I felt relieved.
She had been fidgeting, so I thought she was going to refuse.
"If… you and your teammates are okay with it…"
"Of course we are! Why wouldn't we be? Ah, you said you didn't get along with Erwen, right? Don't worry, you two will be fine. She's much better now."
"Oh… really…?"
"Why don't I call her now?"
"W-What…?"
"You two didn't even get a chance to properly greet each other. You'll be exploring the labyrinth together, so it's a good opportunity…"
Misha looked flustered for a moment, but then she nodded.
I left her in the living room and went upstairs to get Amelia and Erwen.
And…
"...."
"...."
As expected, a stifling silence filled the room.
After a while…
Amelia sighed and spoke.
I had given her a look, urging her to do something about the awkward atmosphere, and she had reluctantly taken the initiative…
"Yandel, go upstairs."
…What?
"If you want this to be resolved, just listen to me. You'll only make things worse by staying here."
I was kicked out.
______________________
The conversation between Amelia, Erwen, and Misha lasted for about an hour.
Amelia knocked on the door, giving me permission to come down, and I rushed downstairs.
The living room was a mess.
"...."
"...."
It wasn't exactly a hostile atmosphere, but it wasn't exactly friendly either. It looked like a typhoon had just passed through.
"Um… Emily? What happened here?"
I asked, dumbfounded, and Amelia replied casually,
"We had a long talk, and we decided to get along."
"Well, that's good… but that's not what I'm asking. There's… a lot of broken furniture…"
"Ah, that? Don't worry about it. We just got a little… carried away."
How could they get 'carried away' and turn the living room into this state?
I looked around, and Erwen avoided my gaze.
"…Yes, we got carried away."
Right, that's how it was going to be.
I looked at Misha, but she also remained silent.
'Well, at least no one's injured…'
I decided not to pry any further.
I had some tact.
'It seems like they worked things out, even though there was some friction.'
I guessed that Misha and Erwen had clashed, and Amelia had mediated.
"I… I'll be going upstairs now."
Erwen quickly left the room, and Misha stood up.
"Th-Then I… I should be going too…"
"Huh? Where are you going? Just stay here. We have plenty of rooms."
"Well… I thought about it, and… I think it's better if I stay somewhere else… It'll be awkward… I heard Ainar is also staying at the sanctuary…"
Right, Ainar had been enjoying her life as the 1st Elder.
"So… will you let go of my hand now?"
I released her wrist.
She rubbed it gently, as if it had been hurting.
"Th-Then…"
She opened the door and left. I couldn't stop her.
"…What did you talk about?"
I asked Amelia, but she just shrugged.
"It's a secret. You wouldn't understand."
That made it even more confusing.
What had they talked about?
______________________
The day after Misha's visit,
Another unexpected guest arrived early in the morning.
"…Raven?"
"Can I come in?"
"Of course."
Raven, who had been busy with work after Erwen's essence experiment, had finally found time to visit.
"Your new house is smaller than the previous one."
"Ah, this is your first time here, right?"
I gave her a brief tour of the house, and then we started our conversation over tea and snacks.
"You didn't come here just because you were bored. What is it?"
"What do you mean, 'what is it'?!"
"It's about the Mage Tower, isn't it?"
"Haa…"
She sighed, but she didn't scold me.
She knew the situation.
I had been a bit aggressive, but I had done what I had to do.
And the situation had been resolved peacefully.
So…
"How did you do it?"
That was the real reason for her visit.
"I don't understand how the Tower Master could make such a concession. I honestly thought it was going to be a war…"
"So you came here because you were curious?"
"…Among other things."
I hesitated for a moment and then decided to tell her about the deal I had made with the Tower Master.
I wanted her opinion on this.
"Lurendel Galinbaret… you're saying the Tower Master gave up so much to protect her?"
"Do you know anything about her?"
"…Not really. We've never interacted before. I haven't been active in the Mage Tower since joining the military."
"But you're a mage. You must know more than I do. Tell me anything you know."
"Well…"
Raven hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
"She's published the most research papers on barbarian hearts. And the Triten School is also very interested in that field of research."
"Hmm, so that's why she wanted my heart."
"Maybe. She might have placed that request out of pure academic curiosity."
"And the Tower Master is also interested in her research."
"That's probably it… Otherwise, he wouldn't have made such a concession."
"…Raven, can you investigate this for me?"
"Hmm… Sure. I'm also curious about this. I'll let you know if I find anything."
"Thank you."
That concluded the topic.
I then asked her another question.
"Raven, have you ever… gained 'knowledge' in the labyrinth?"
"Knowledge…?"
"Yes, knowledge. Like suddenly being able to read and write ancient language, even though you couldn't before—"
Raven slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"Ancient language! You can read ancient language?!"
"Ah, no… that was just an example—"
"What example?! That's exactly what I'm talking about!"
That's why I liked perceptive people.
There was no point in making excuses.
"Yes, I can read ancient language now."
"How well…?"
"Well… I haven't really tested it yet…"
I trailed off, and Raven pulled out a book written in ancient language from her subspace pocket and handed it to me.
But…
"'Mahniarsus pleaded for the return of his wife, but Kaprakadah refused, claiming he could love her more.' Wait, what is this book about?"
"Just keep reading."
"…'That was the reason. Mahniarsus drew his sword and stabbed Kaprakadah in the heart. Kaprakadah reached out, his hand covered in blood. That was all he could do…'"
Raven's expression darkened as I continued reading.
"I-I can barely read this without a dictionary…"
Hmm, is that so…?
She was supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable mages when it came to ancient languages.
"Muten Abiyur Bukrath."
"…What did you just say?"
"I can also speak ancient language."
I shrugged, and after a long pause, she replied,
"…Yandel… do you want to die?"
She raised her hand threateningly.
"Kiatto Kiki Keuek."
"...?"
"Ah, I don't want to be hit—"
"You idiot!!"
…I got punched.
Well, her hand was the one that was swollen.
"Seriously… why are you like this?"
"Sorry. Anyway, back to the topic. Have you ever heard of anything like this happening before?"
"…Not that I know of. But… how did this happen to you? Is it… the reward? The one from the Stone of Honor…?"
"Sort of."
"…Can you tell me about it?"
Raven asked cautiously, and I readily agreed.
She had helped me, even though she knew I was an evil spirit.
And I needed her expertise as a mage.
"What you experienced wasn't just a story… it must be based on real events! A clear causal relationship between the Floor Lord and the Witch…!"
Raven was excited after hearing my story.
"This is a huge discovery! It proves that the labyrinth isn't just another dimension! The dimensional coordinates of the labyrinth might be based on time, not space!"
I wasn't as excited as she was.
I didn't really understand the difference between space and time.
"Really?"
"What about Bersil Gowland? She's a mage too! She must be researching this, right?"
"No, she doesn't seem interested."
"Whaaat?!"
Bersil was a player, after all.
She didn't seem to care much about history.
But Raven couldn't believe it.
"H-How… how can a mage not be interested in this?! If I were there…"
She suddenly stopped talking.
"If you were there?"
"…It's nothing. It doesn't matter."
The atmosphere suddenly became somber.
I decided to change the subject.
"Ah, right! I have another piece of good news for you."
"…News?"
"Misha is back."
I told her about my reunion with Misha and her decision to rejoin the clan.
But her reaction was unexpected.
"…Really? That's good."
"I'll give you her address, so you can visit her. She'll be happy to see—"
"Later."
"…Huh?"
"I-I should be going now. I have work to do."
Raven's expression darkened, and she quickly left the house.
______________________
I was busy after Raven's visit.
I visited the sanctuary to check on Lotmiller, the dwarf's forge to check on the progress of the Mithril smelting, and we had several clan meetings to discuss our next expedition.
It was mostly routine work, but there were also special occasions.
Like today.
"Welcome to House Gudriks, Baron Yandel."
I had been invited to the Gudriks estate.
They were one of the thirty-two families that comprised Melbeth, the demi-human noble alliance.
"Haha! Welcome, Baron! I'm Viscount Gudriks. Thank you for accepting my invitation, even though you're busy!"
Viscount Gudriks, a descendant of dwarves, was more straightforward than the other nobles.
But he was still a noble, so his introduction was lengthy. I had to give him a look before he finally got to the point.
"So why did you call me?"
"We have a request for you, on behalf of Melbeth."
It was my first Melbeth quest.
-x-X-x-
Melbeth, the demi-human noble alliance.
I had joined them, securing support for both House Yandel and Clan Anabada.
Well, the clan support had been more like extortion. And it wasn't much.
A discounted clan house, which we were currently using as our residence, and access to loans from Melbeth's coffers. That was all.
'A request…'
That's why 'requests' were so important.
They were more like conditional contracts than favors.
'My treatment, and my standing within Melbeth, will depend on how well I handle these requests.'
It was like the achievement system in a game.
Complete quests, increase your rank, and unlock new benefits. Of course, I had to be careful not to bite off more than I could chew.
"What's the request?"
I asked about the details of the request before asking about the reward.
"Information."
"…Information?"
It was an unexpected answer.
Most requests were about hunting, gathering, or combat.
But information?
I gave Viscount Gudriks a look, and he took a sip of his tea before continuing.
"There was… a rather significant event recently, wasn't there?"
"Be specific."
He cleared his throat and spoke more clearly.
Well, not that clearly.
"The inscription on the Stone of Honor. It seems like the 'hidden area' might be a new floor."
I understood what he meant.
It was obvious what kind of information he wanted.
"You'll be exploring the unexplored area, won't you, Baron Yandel? We would like you to share your findings with us. Whether it's really a new floor, how to access it, and what's inside."
Hmm…
As I was thinking, he quickly added,
"Ah, and as I said before, this is an officially approved request from Melbeth's council. You will be compensated accordingly upon completion."
"How much?"
"It depends on the value and rarity of the information. We don't know anything yet, do we? Maybe the entrance will be discovered during your next expedition, and everyone will know how to access it. But if you bring us valuable information, the reward will be substantial. Thirteen families have already agreed to contribute."
"Thirteen?"
"Everyone has a different opinion on what constitutes a valuable opportunity. The reward for this request will be paid from the funds pooled by those thirteen families."
In other words, the other families considered this request a waste of money.
"So that's why you're here instead of holding an official meeting."
"That's right. Unfortunately, the proposal didn't pass the preliminary vote. But don't worry, we're authorized to pool our funds and make a private request."
The complicated process highlighted the disadvantages of a council.
Well, there were advantages too, of course.
"So… do you need time to think about it?"
"I have a few questions."
"Ask away."
"What are you going to do with the information?"
Viscount Gudriks paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, and then he spoke.
"Do you know what the most expensive 9th-grade essence ever sold was? It was the Abyssal Tongue. It wasn't particularly useful compared to other 9th-grade essences, but it was sold for 3.2 billion stones. Do you know why?"
I had never heard of it, but I could guess the reason.
"…Because it was the first."
"That's right. The Mage Tower paid a fortune for it just because it was found in a 9th-floor rift. The first discovery is always valuable."
But when I asked if their motive was purely monetary, he shook his head.
"Newly discovered areas have always been a source of treasures and opportunities. Mulmarin, the Seadragon Slayer, is a prime example. The power and authority he gained from slaying the Sea Dragon for the first time could never be replicated."
"So?"
"The information you provide will be shared with trustworthy explorers from each tribe."
"You're going to use it to train them."
"That's right. The stronger the demi-human explorers are, the stronger we become."
His explanation was unnecessarily long, but I understood Melbeth's motive.
And I agreed with it.
"Of course, you might be hesitant to share your findings with us. But I promise you, the information will be kept confidential and only shared with those we can trust."
He then asked if I would accept the request, and I answered,
"Alright. I'll do it."
It wasn't like there was a penalty for failure.
There was nothing to lose.
"I'll see you later."
I left the Gudriks estate and returned home. I gathered my teammates and shared the details of the new quest.
There were some concerns, but no objections.
We could decide what to do after we found the hidden area and assessed its value.
Tick, tock.
We discussed our exploration plans until late at night and then went to bed.
Amelia and Erwen sat on the chairs in front of my bed, chatting.
"Tersia, you don't have to stay here."
"I want to. I'm going to protect Mister."
…So they weren't exactly on good terms.
I closed my eyes, listening to the ticking of the clock.
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
Half a month had already passed.
______________________
As soon as I woke up in Lee Hansu's room, I turned on my computer and logged into the community.
[Long Live Korean Independence] – 0 users online.
They weren't here yet…
I decided to check the forums first.
There were already several new posts.
[Did you see the patch notes?]
I couldn't believe it.
There was another hidden area?
[BurtusMaximus: The reason why [Dungeon and Stone] is a god-tier game = It's a free game that's over 10 years old, and it's still getting updates.]
[ㄴthese99: But it won't let us go home.]
[ㄴBurtusMaximus: Right? It's a true god-tier game. Let us go home, you bastard.]
The patch notes seemed to be more shocking to the players than to the natives.
I had caused a lot of trouble lately, attacking the black market and the Mage Tower… but this was the most talked-about topic.
[How did Bjorn even trigger the patch by killing Dreadfear?]
Did he fry him in a pan or something?
It didn't make sense.
[Futuralis: He did a five-man clear.]
[ㄴAI_DIDIGO: Correction: It was a four-man clear.]
[ㄴFuturalis: Then that must be the trigger condition.]
[ㄴAI_DIDIGO: Correction: Bjorn Yandel wasn't the first to do a four-man clear.]
[ㄴFuturalis: So what's your point?]
[ㄴAI_DIDIGO: Conclusion: There is a 92.24571% chance that Bjorn Yandel met a special condition before slaying Dreadfear.]
[ㄴOP: This guy's roleplaying is funny.]
[ㄴNyacreeps: But he's not wrong. The royal researchers also believe that Gavrilius's arrangement was activated under specific conditions.]
The players were speculating about the trigger conditions for the unexpected patch.
I tried to find a clue, but I couldn't figure it out.
'Well… it doesn't matter now.'
I finished browsing the forums and checked the chat room.
[Long Live Korean Independence] – 2 users online.
Okay, they were both here.
I entered the chat room, and they greeted me.
"Hyungnim! You're here!"
Lee Baekho bowed exaggeratedly.
"Ah, you're here?"
Hyunbyul just glanced at me.
I sat down on the sofa, and Lee Baekho immediately sat down next to me.
"Hyung! Guess what? We were talking before you came, and Hyunbyul noona said she still has feelings for you!"
"...Huh?"
What was he talking about?
I looked at Hyunbyul, and her face was grim.
"…Oppa, I didn't say that. You don't believe him, do you?"
"Of course not."
"Hyungnim! That's hurtful! Noona, you're lying! You blushed when I asked you what you would do if he asked you out again!"
Ah… so that's what happened.
…I'm glad.
I had been wondering how I would face her.
"…I didn't blush. And even if I did, that's not what it means."
"Silence is sometimes a form of agreement."
"You're… disgusting."
Hyunbyul glared at Lee Baekho, refusing to play along.
"Hyunbyul, stop it. I don't believe him anyway. Baekho, stop messing around."
"Yes, sir!"
"Seriously…"
I intervened, and Lee Baekho sat up straight, while Hyunbyul clenched her fists.
'When did they get so close?'
I was curious, but I didn't ask.
It would only provoke Hyunbyul.
I had to make the most of our limited time in the community.
Therefore…
"Hyunbyul."
I decided to send Hyunbyul away first.
Her expression darkened as soon as I called her name. She seemed to know what I was going to say.
So I didn't elaborate.
"I need to talk to Baekho… you know?"
"…I'll be back in an hour."
She glared at Lee Baekho one last time and then left the chat room.
"Whew! She's fun, isn't she? She's so strong, but she's so awkward around you…"
"Baekho."
"Yes?"
"Don't be so disrespectful."
"…Alright. I'll stop joking. Happy?"
Damn it, how could I control this guy?
As I was thinking, Lee Baekho changed the subject.
"By the way, hyung."
"Yeah."
"How was your reunion with Meowmeow… I mean, Misha Carlstain?"
"It went well. Thanks to you."
There was still some awkwardness between us, but time would heal all wounds.
So…
"Baekho."
Now that Misha was back…
I asked him the question I hadn't been able to ask last time.
"What's the Record Stone?"
It was time for me to understand what was going on.
-x-X-x-
I first heard about the Record Stone during my conversation with the GM.
[I have no reason not to believe him. At least, the story about the Record Stone was true.]
That was the GM's answer when I asked him why he believed Auril Gabis's prophecy about a player opening the Gate of the Abyss.
I had concluded that Lee Baekho was also somehow connected to the Record Stone.
The basis for my theory was their shared obsession with the nickname 'Elfnunna'.
But…
[Hmm, is that so?]
I hadn't mentioned it that day. I didn't want to provoke him.
I also wanted to investigate it myself before bringing it up.
But my investigation had been fruitless.
'There were no records of it in the library. And Bersil had never heard of it either.'
I had used my spare time to look into it, but I couldn't find any information about the Record Stone.
Therefore, I only had one option left.
To ask someone who might know the answer.
"...."
Lee Baekho remained silent when I asked him about the Record Stone.
But as he had said to Hyunbyul, silence was sometimes a form of agreement.
'So he knows about it.'
It seemed like my subtle probing had been effective. But he must have realized that the time for playing dumb was over.
He stared at me, as if trying to read my mind.
And…
"Hyung."
He finally spoke.
His usual smile was gone.
"Where did you hear about that?"
His voice was cold and sharp, sending a chill down my spine. But I didn't react.
There was always an intention behind every word.
And his intention was clear.
'He wants to know how much I know.'
I knew his intention, so my response was simple.
"Well."
I remained calm and ambiguous.
That way, I could control the conversation.
"Does it matter?"
I shrugged, and his eyes narrowed.
He seemed to be deep in thought.
Did he really not know about the Record Stone?
Or was he just pretending?
How should I answer?
Should I just tell him I couldn't reveal my source?
As he was contemplating his next move, I decided to interrupt him.
It was a sudden change of topic, but…
That's why it was so effective.
"Elf Noona."
I mentioned the nickname that would shake him the most.
Even the largest trees could be felled with enough force.
"...!"
His eyes flickered for a moment as the nickname, which had never been mentioned between us, was brought up.
It wasn't enough.
So…
"You know I'm that person."
I revealed another card.
His reaction was immediate.
"…What are you talking about?"
He didn't deny or confirm it. He just asked a question.
It was a common tactic used by liars.
They felt safer just by asking a question, even though it was a lie.
I had to push him further.
"Baekho."
"...?"
"Do you know… you've never mentioned 'Elf Noona' before? Not even once."
I tapped my nickname, which was displayed above my head.
"Don't you find that strange?"
It was a checkmate.
Ttadat, ttadadat.
The sound of the crackling fireplace echoed through the silent room.
I didn't press him further and gave him time to think.
Usually, the liar was the one who felt uncomfortable in this kind of situation.
"Hyung…"
He finally spoke, breaking the long silence.
"What are you trying to ask me?"
He was still trying to play games.
He wanted to test the waters before revealing anything.
The solution was simple.
"I'm not trying to ask you anything."
I gave him the power to choose.
It didn't matter where I had heard about the Record Stone, or how much I knew.
"I just want to hear…"
Thump, thump.
"…your answer."
The choice was his.
______________________
Lee Baekho made his decision surprisingly quickly.
"Ugh, hyung! You're too much!"
His voice was back to its usual cheerful tone.
It was a jarring change, almost like he had multiple personalities… but I was used to it by now.
"I'll tell you everything. What are you most curious about?"
He was still playing games.
I almost fell for it.
"...."
I just stared at him, and he shook his head.
"…Were you really an office worker?"
"...."
"I'm just curious… what kind of life did you live to become like this?"
What? He was the one who had just been discharged from the military.
I didn't answer, and he sighed.
"Ha… alright. I'll tell you. Honestly, I think you're just testing me… but this is making me nervous. I think I'll just confess and be done with it."
"Go ahead."
"Do you believe in fate?"
"...."
"Seriously… this is difficult. Should I just explain it, whether you understand or not?"
"I told you, I'm just curious about your answer."
"Fine."
He seemed annoyed by my attitude, but it couldn't be helped. I had to avoid any questions that might reveal my ignorance.
"You know how most of the ancient artifacts and myths were erased when this city was built? The Record Stone is one of those forgotten mythical objects." 𝑅ãꞐȪ₿ƐS̩
"It's said to contain the entire history of the world. Not just the past, but also the future."
It sounded like something straight out of a myth.
"Anyway, the Record Stone also has an end. And that end signifies the end of this world. And the beginning of that end… was the Witch… I don't know the details. All I know is this."
"Someone destroyed the Record Stone to prevent the apocalypse. That's why this world still exists."
"And the important part is this. Fragments of the Record Stone are scattered throughout the world."
I immediately understood.
'The Fragment of Records.'
Gavrilius's legacy, the artifact that had sent Amelia and me back in time.
"Some of the fragments have been found. I've even seen three of them myself."
I was a little annoyed.
He had seen them himself?
[The Fragment of Records…? I've heard of it, but I didn't know it actually existed.]
He had been lying to me from the beginning.
I wanted to call him out on it, but I decided to focus on the conversation.
He was about to reveal something important.
"One of the fragments said this."
He paused for a moment and then spoke.
"And so, the evil spirit '————' from another world opened the Gate of the Abyss and achieved his wish."
It sounded like an ending scene.
"The blanks are because there's no way to translate it. The Record Stone uses unique patterns to represent names, not letters. It's something about souls and names…"
"...."
"Anyway, that's not the important part. I saw the same pattern on another fragment. And it said this."
Thump!
"…'————', the first to pass the trial of the circle, has awakened in this world."
I finally understood.
Why Auril Gabis had been so interested in the player who had cleared the original mode.
Why the GM had become a fanatic of 'Elfnunna'.
And why Lee Baekho had been so wary of me.
"Hyung… you've been quiet. If you didn't know about the Record Stone, this is the question you would be asking."
Lee Baekho continued, even though I was still processing the information.
"What's so important about some old record? It's all meaningless now that it's broken."
"...."
"I thought so too, at first. But then one of the prophecies came true."
"…What prophecy?"
I finally spoke, and he chuckled.
"It's a secret."
"…What?"
I glared at him, but he didn't back down.
"I'm not telling you. It's a personal matter. It has nothing to do with you."
I couldn't press him any further.
I had a feeling he was telling the truth about it being a 'personal' matter.
"Ah… so that's it for the Record Stone… next is 'Elfnunna', right?"
I nodded, and he continued.
"I created this chat room right after I learned about the Record Stone. I was waiting. 'Elfnunna' was the most likely candidate to clear the original mode. And he had to be Korean."
"...."
"And the rest, you can probably guess. I suspected you from the moment we met. And I was right."
He looked at me intently and asked,
"Right?"
It was a moment of truth.
We had been deceiving each other for so long. There was no point in lying anymore.
"Yes."
He didn't seem surprised.
He had already been certain.
He just nodded, his voice filled with a strange sense of relief.
"That's all I have to say. So… are you satisfied now?"
But I shook my head.
"No, not yet."
Most of my questions had been answered, but the most important one remained.
The key to understanding a person.
"Why did you hide this from me?"
The motive was missing.
"There's no reason for you to hide it."
He chuckled bitterly.
"Fate… is like the Monkey's Paw."
His voice was filled with a strange sadness.
______________________
"…Monkey's Paw?"
I gave him a look, and he shrugged, his cheerful demeanor returning.
"Huh? You don't know about the Monkey's Paw?"
"I know what it is. I'm just wondering why you brought it up."
"It's exactly what it sounds like. The prophecies in the Record Stone always come true. But the outcome… isn't always what we expect."
"…Continue."
"You'll open the Gate of the Abyss someday. But will it be a happy ending? Will it fulfill your wish? And what about my wish?"
"...."
"That's why I didn't tell you. I wanted to control you. To make your wish… my wish."
I understood what he meant.
I had done something similar before.
[Amelia's sister, Laura, will die.]
I had used every trick in the book to change that fixed future. And I had succeeded.
Lee Baekho was probably planning to do the same.
That's why he had revealed his true colors as soon as I said I didn't want to go back to Earth.
"Then why did you team up with the Ruin Scholar?"
I asked my final question.
"You didn't befriend him just because you needed a mage."
Lee Baekho froze for a moment and then chuckled.
"Ha… do you have a lie detector in your head or something?"
A lie detector?
He was the one who had been using one all this time.
"Just answer the question. It's my last one."
He finally spoke.
"Hyung… I don't know how you'll react to this, but…"
"It's fine. Just tell me."
"The Ruin Scholar… don't worry about him. He's just Plan B."
"Plan B…?"
"Yes. The world doesn't always go my way."
-x-X-x-
Plan B.
An ominous premonition filled my mind the moment I heard those words.
But regardless…
"So? Are all your questions answered now?"
"Yeah, mostly."
My animosity towards Lee Baekho had decreased.
I preferred someone who was honest about their intentions, even if they were malicious, to someone who hid them behind a smile.
"You're not going to tell me about Plan B, are you?"
"No way. I need a trump card."
Right…
It was a little disappointing, but I understood.
I hadn't revealed everything to him either.
We had both shown our hands, but only partially. That was enough for now.
"So am I your enemy, or your ally?"
I answered without hesitation.
"A collaborator, I guess."
"…Collaborator?"
"Yes, collaborator."
He seemed curious about my choice of words. Well, it was better to be clear about this.
"I'll help you return to Earth."
"And I'll help you whenever you need it?"
"Something like that."
"Not bad. But what if our opinions clash?"
He sounded unusually cautious, and I chuckled and shrugged.
"Then we'll part ways. It's not a big deal. I'd rather avoid that, but like you said, you never know what might happen."
"…You're very… casual about this."
"That's why you can do whatever you want with your Plan B. I'll be doing the same."
Preparing for the worst-case scenario was a natural instinct.
And I believed that someone who didn't do that was a terrible collaborator.
"Collaborator… I like it. Let's do that."
He extended his hand.
It was a little embarrassing, but I shook his hand.
"…Hyung, I just got goosebumps."
"Don't mention it. Me too."
We both chuckled after the brief handshake and sat back on the sofa.
"We should have done this sooner."
"Right?"
It felt strangely… good.
______________________
We continued our conversation.
The main topic was the 'hidden area', of course.
"Hyung, tell me. What did you do?"
"I don't know. It seems like a special condition was met, but I don't know what it was."
"Really? That's a shame. But it wouldn't matter much even if you knew. You can only be inscribed on the Stone of Honor once."
"Oh, really?"
"Ah, you didn't know? You really don't know much about this game besides the stuff you can learn from playing it…"
Well, it couldn't be helped.
I had practically lived in the library for a while, but that was just common knowledge.
"…It's almost time. I should be going now."
We chatted for a while, and then it was time for Lee Baekho to log out.
"Why don't we meet up in the city sometime?"
"I'd like that, but I can't for now. I'm going outside for a while."
"…Outside? You mean outside the walls?"
"Yes. I finally figured out how to get out. I've been searching the city's underground tunnels for ages."
Wait a minute, that sounded like valuable information.
I asked him to tell me, and he nodded reluctantly.
"It's difficult to explain in words. I'll send you a letter before I leave. With the instructions."
"Thanks."
This is why you needed a veteran by your side.
I had unexpectedly obtained the information I had been seeking for so long.
A way to escape the kingdom.
So, back to the main topic.
"But why are you leaving?"
"I think Auril Gabis is out there."
"...?"
"So I'm going to look for him. He'll have the answers to most of my questions."
Right, I should have asked him about Auril Gabis too. He would be more honest now that we were on better terms.
'Well… I can ask him next time…'
"I'll be going now, hyung. See you next month!"
"Okay. Let me know if you find him."
"Sure."
Lee Baekho left, and I sat on the sofa, staring at the fireplace.
Hyunbyul returned after a while.
"You're late."
"You think I would just sit here and wait?"
Oh… she hadn't?
I had assumed she had been waiting outside the chat room because she always came back immediately after leaving.
"Anyway… you look happy."
"Huh?"
"You look like you've solved a problem."
"Ah… really?"
She was surprisingly perceptive.
I didn't deny or confirm it, and she chuckled and lay down on the sofa.
I didn't know where to look.
"Hyunbyul…? You're wearing a skirt…"
"So? I'm wearing stockings."
"Uh…"
R-Right?
So it was okay?
I felt strangely convinced, and she chuckled.
"You're so considerate. Now, of all times."
She pulled out a book and started reading.
"…What's that? Where did you get it?"
"Don't you know? It's all the rage these days."
"...?"
"You know how you can buy clothes and stuff in the community with GP?"
"Yeah, I know."
Ghostbusters had microtransactions. You could buy clothes, furniture, and other decorative items. Of course, I had never used them.
"This book is one of those items."
"So it's blank?"
"No, it's not. It's written by one of the forum users. It was so popular that they decided to publish it."
"Wow… that's interesting. Is it good?"
"Do you want to read it? I have the previous volumes."
"Sure."
She handed me a book, and I started reading. It was a modern fantasy novel, quite engaging from the beginning.
But I couldn't focus.
'…This is driving me crazy.'
Why was she fidgeting with her feet?
"I'm stretching. My legs are numb."
"…Did I say anything?"
"No, but your expression…"
…I couldn't think straight in front of her.
I turned away from her and continued reading.
The only sound in the room was the rustling of pages.
"Oppa."
"…Yeah?"
"It's almost time. Aren't you going to the Round Table?"
"Ah…"
Damn it, this novel was too interesting.
I hadn't realized how much time had passed.
I quickly excused myself and left the chat room.
I put on my navy blue suit and my Lion mask.
It was almost time for the meeting.
I quickly got dressed and walked through the hallway. Eight members were already there.
"You're here, Lion. Pfft."
Clown greeted me, followed by Fox, Crescent Moon, Stag Antlers, Queen, Butterfly, and Wolf…
'Eight?'
One of the newbies from last month, Black Mask, was missing.
Swoosh.
She entered through the other door, glanced around the room, and then sat down at an empty seat.
"Welcome, Black…"
Goblin, who was sitting next to her, greeted her, but she just crossed her arms and said nothing.
She seemed like a tough one.
Swoosh.
I went to my seat, and the door closed with a bang.
"Ten members… it feels strange. There are so many of us now."
Queen muttered, and Crescent Moon replied in a gentle tone,
"That's understandable, Queen."
"Crescent Moon, are you saying you don't feel the same?"
Wolf, the returning newbie, answered Queen's question.
"Haha! There were over twenty of us when the Master was here! Ah, those were the days—"
"You were too busy kissing up to the Master back then. Pfft."
"...."
"Just like you, Clown?"
"Pfft, you seem to have a thing for fairies. Obsessed with that NPC. So when are you going to visit me? Aren't you going to take revenge?"
"Wow! You two are enemies? That's interesting. Call me when you fight!"
"Pfft! Of course, Butterfly."
Ugh, this was chaotic.
Swoosh.
I looked at Fox, and she, sensing my gaze, took control of the situation.
"Shall we begin…?"
"Haha, let's. We're not here to chat."
The commotion died down, and all eyes turned to the person sitting next to me.
It was the traditional starting position.
"It's Queen's turn first? That's unusual."
"I know. I didn't expect them to sit so close together."
Queen, who was sitting three seats away from me, sighed and began the first turn.
"It's a hot topic these days, isn't it? I'll talk about that. The Stone of Honor was created by Diflun Groundel Gavrilius, the Last Sage."
The jewel glowed green. The information was true, and less than half of the members knew about it.
But there were immediate objections.
"Who cares who created it? Pfft."
"Heehee, that's right. It's not like he's a mage."
"And besides, everything mysterious is somehow connected to him."
Queen, who had anticipated the objections, didn't react emotionally and just added more information.
"Then how about this? There are credible records that suggest the Stone of Honor itself has a hidden piece, Gavrilius's arrangement."
A hidden piece…
"That's not bad."
The members seemed satisfied, and the turn passed.
"The Tribal Council will be held next month. And the Mage Tower Master will be representing the humans."
Crescent Moon also finished his turn without any problems.
'The Mage Tower Master… representing the humans…'
I didn't even know about the Tribal Council, and he already knew who the human representative would be.
'It must be because of his connections.'
Except for the barbarians, all the other races had connections to the royal family. The other families in Melbeth were receiving support from their respective tribes.
"Misha Carlstain has joined Clan Anabada."
It was Fox's turn.
I flinched as I heard the unexpected name, but I wasn't upset.
'It's not like it's a secret. She probably thought it was okay to reveal it.'
And she wasn't wrong.
The information wasn't particularly valuable, but no one objected.
Bjorn Yandel was a hot topic these days.
"So she finally…"
"Isn't she… his companion? Something must have happened."
"Pfft… Fox, you're good. I didn't even know that."
Fox's turn ended, and it was Goblin's turn, followed by Black Mask and Stag Antlers.
But there wasn't any shocking information.
I was starting to get bored…
"Hehehe, my topic is similar to Fox's…"
…when Butterfly spoke, and my body reacted before my mind could process her words.
"Misha Carlstain."
What?
What was she going to say?
I listened intently, and Butterfly grinned.
"She's a traitor."
I heard her words, but I didn't understand.
A traitor? From whose perspective? Lee Baekho's?
As if she had read my mind, she added,
"Ah, from Bjorn Yandel's perspective, of course."
What the hell was she talking about?
I looked at the jewel.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
It glowed green.
-x-X-x-
After Butterfly's turn, the Round Table meeting continued.
"[Dungeon and Stone]'s cheat version wasn't created by Auril Gabis."
Wolf, once again, revealed information that would decrease the players' animosity towards Auril Gabis.
"How about this? Pfft. Noark succeeded in slaying the 8th-floor Floor Lord during their last expedition."
Clown shared information about Noark's growing strength, smoothly ending his turn.
And then it was my turn.
"If you defeat the boss on Skull Island and reach the 10th floor, you'll experience a special event."
I revealed a piece of game information, my voice devoid of emotion, as all eyes were on me.
"…A special event? I'm looking forward to it. Ah, of course, the war has to end first. Pfft."
It had been a while since I had last shared game information, but the members didn't seem to find it strange.
After all, if I had received a green light for game information, it meant it was valuable, little-known information…
"Alright, let's do our best this round!"
…and the members who had known me for a long time just assumed that I was being this way because the previous round's information had been boring.
"So… it's my turn again?"
The next round began with Queen, and I listened attentively, memorizing the information they shared.
There were a few shocking revelations and some useful tips.
But I couldn't focus.
There was a simple reason.
Misha Carlstain was a traitor.
From my perspective.
That statement echoed in my mind.
Two rounds had passed, and the third round was nearing its end…
'…What does it mean?'
Misha, a traitor?
We had just had a heart-to-heart conversation and reconciled… Had Lee Baekho done something?
Was this his Plan B?
Countless possibilities swirled in my mind.
'I need to hear more about this.'
Butterfly had been the one who revealed this information.
But she hadn't mentioned Misha again in the second or third rounds.
Which meant I had to take the initiative…
"Pfft, why are you all so surprised? Is Lafdonia afraid of Noark's growth?"
…but how?
If I suddenly asked why Misha was a traitor, it would arouse suspicion.
The Round Table had once been plagued by the rumor that 'Lion = Bjorn Yandel', so I had to be careful with my words and actions.
"….."
"….."
Ah, it was my turn.
All eyes were on me.
'…Let's wait one more round.'
I decided to take action if Misha wasn't mentioned in the next round.
"If you defeat the Sky Lord alone, you can choose the active effect."
It was a piece of information that was difficult to obtain, but not very useful even if you knew it.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The jewel glowed green, and a brief silence followed.
Of course, it didn't last long.
"Um… you can slay a Floor Lord alone…?"
"Well, it might be possible in 100x mode…"
"Pfft, do you really think Lion would do that?"
There were no objections since it was related to Floor Lords. Honestly, they would probably believe me even if I said the sky was green, as long as the jewel glowed green.
'So it's Queen's turn again.'
I glanced at her…
"I think I've heard enough for this month. I'll be leaving now."
…and she declared her withdrawal.
The other members followed suit.
And it was mostly my fault.
"…Lion seems bored too."
I had been lost in thought and hadn't participated much in the discussion, just revealing a random piece of game information to get my turn over with.
"That's a shame… I was hoping to tell you about the Lord of Hope. Pfft…"
Clown seemed disappointed that he hadn't been able to pique my interest, despite his preparations.
"Well… it's probably nothing to you, Lion…"
He promised to bring more interesting information next time.
I couldn't very well encourage them to continue in this atmosphere.
"...."
The meeting ended.
______________________
The day after the community meeting,
I woke up in the afternoon, feeling refreshed after a long sleep. Bersil Gowland was waiting for me.
"What brings you here?"
I pretended not to know, even though I had a hunch, and she said she had something to tell me.
"Um… I don't know how you'll react to this, but… I've received information that Misha Carlstain might be a traitor."
Right, that's why she had come to see me first thing in the morning.
"A traitor?"
"…I'm not sure. I mean, I'm sure… but I don't know the details."
She suggested that I reconsider Misha's membership, but I refused.
"I can't make a decision without knowing the details."
"Right… I guess so…"
"But I won't ignore your concerns. I'll look into it. Can you investigate further?"
"…Alright. I'll do that."
"Thank you."
Okay, so she would be actively gathering information at the Round Table from now on…
It reduced the risk of me revealing my identity by asking too many questions.
"Then I'll be going now. Call me if you need anything."
"Okay."
After Bersil left, a letter arrived in the evening.
"Mister! There's a strange letter for you! You should take a look!"
Erwen had brought a letter from the mailbox.
It had a white tiger drawn on the envelope, and the contents were written in an unfamiliar language.
[As you requested.]
Why had he written it in Korean?
What if someone else saw it?
I grumbled inwardly, but I started reading the instructions on how to escape the city.
'…This is more complicated than I thought.'
It seemed impossible to memorize and then burn it, so I carefully folded it and stored it in my subspace pocket.
Having more options was always a good thing.
Having more variables was not.
I had to prepare for the worst, even if I didn't want to believe it.
Therefore…
"Emily, can you investigate Misha for me?"
"What do you mean?"
I explained what had happened at the Round Table and instructed her to investigate Misha.
"I'll try, but it's risky to follow her around all day. She's quite perceptive."
"Really? But you're much better at that kind of thing than I am, judging by your essences."
"If she's deliberately approaching us with malicious intent, she might be hiding her true abilities."
"…Then don't get too close. Just observe her for now."
"Alright."
Okay, so Amelia would investigate Misha discreetly…
I spent the rest of the day resting, and then the next day, I resumed my busy schedule.
I visited the sanctuary for another land sale, the former chieftain to hear about the previous Tribal Council meetings, and Raven.
"The Record Stone…? Are you talking about the Fragment of Records? Gavrilius's legacy?"
"It doesn't matter what it's called. Just give me any information you can find. And don't attract too much attention. We don't want to arouse suspicion."
"Okay. I'll do that. But… are you prepared for the next expedition…?"
"Everything's going smoothly. Well, we'll see what happens when we enter the labyrinth."
"Right…? We don't know anything yet. It's a real exploration, isn't it? What about Bersil Gowland? How is she?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean?! Mages are the most important members of an expedition! She didn't seem to know much about history…"
"She'll be fine. She's a good fighter, and she's trustworthy. I can cover for her weaknesses."
"I-I see…"
After meeting with Raven, I gathered all the clan members three times a week.
The official purpose was to help Misha integrate into the team.
"…I haven't found anything unusual yet."
Amelia always reported to me after the meetings, but she hadn't noticed anything strange about Misha.
Time passed.
"…This will be our most fruitful expedition yet."
Melbeth had sent us supplies.
Combat and support scrolls, various potions, exploration-specific Numbered Items…
They had given us everything we needed to explore any environment, and the quality was top-notch.
'This must have cost a fortune…'
It showed how much they were expecting from the 'hidden area'.
I felt a little pressured, but I was determined to deliver.
And as I was preparing for the expedition…
"Bjorn…"
"It's Chieftain, 1st Elder."
"Ah, right. I'll be careful."
As the sun began to set, I walked through the forest path in the sanctuary, and a clearing appeared, illuminated by torches. Dozens of young warriors were gathered there.
I smiled and shouted,
"Congratulations, young warriors! From this day forward, you will leave the sanctuary and become true warriors!"
It seemed like…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
…there were no newbies this time.
______________________
The world was constantly evolving.
In human history, the most significant period of development was the modern era.
The 200 years since the Industrial Revolution had seen an unprecedented explosion of technological advancement.
Then what about the barbarians?
When had this tribe experienced its most rapid growth?
I could say with certainty.
'Now.'
And the proof… was this clearing.
The tutorial lines had changed.
"Now, step forward and choose your weapons and armor!"
Countless weapons and armor were displayed on the racks.
And that was just the main course. The standard equipment had also been significantly improved.
"Come here. You're not supposed to wear greaves like that. It's like this."
"Ah, thank you… I've never worn armor before."
We weren't just giving them a breastplate and sending them into the labyrinth anymore. We were providing them with a full set of armor.
And their backpacks were filled with compasses, water bottles, potions, and other exploration essentials.
'One million stones per person.'
The cost per warrior had more than tripled, but it didn't matter.
Our sanctuary was a gold mine.
'With this much support, they'll be able to level up quickly and buy land.'
It was still in its early stages, but if things continued like this, I would be able to create a virtuous cycle.
"Ugh… this is so uncomfortable…!"
The young warriors seemed to find the armor restrictive, but they didn't complain.
Everyone had role models.
"Just endure it. You'll get used to it."
"But—"
"It's not a choice! Warriors wear armor! Look at the Chieftain!"
"...."
"If you want to be a great warrior, wear armor!"
There were no longer any warriors in our tribe who looked down on armor.
"…I'm going to save up and buy a Laithium breastplate!"
Laithium, my favorite material, had become a symbol of a seasoned warrior.
"Now, go! Your destinies await!"
After the equipment distribution, we went outside, and Bersil cast the Bonding spell on the warriors, grouping them into teams of three. Then we sent them into the labyrinth.
"…I hope they all return safely."
"Don't worry, Ainar. The Mage Tower has banned the use of barbarian hearts, so there will be fewer looters."
"Really…?"
Barbarians had always survived, even when they were sent into the labyrinth without proper shoes.
They would be fine.
'I hope they grow stronger quickly. Then I can raise the land prices even more.'
I dismissed my thoughts after confirming that all the warriors had entered the portal.
My duty as Chieftain was done.
"Mister…"
"I'm not your 'Mister' anymore."
"…Huh?"
"Call me Clan Master."
It was time for the expedition.