Ultimately, this exploration came to a complete halt after the Troll War. Dwalkie's condition was no longer improving.
"Even if he takes more potions, he won't get better. Not everyone has a body as robust as his."
Without the boost of natural regeneration, the muscles and bones would take a long time to find their place even after the waves healed. So, upon returning to the city, we had to bypass the checkpoint and start at the temple. Unlike Rotmiller's, Dwalkie's wound was something that wouldn't heal with time.
"Phew, now I feel so much better..." Dwalkie, who hadn't been able to stand all week, was finally able to walk on his own after receiving a high-grade healing.
"Are there any lasting effects? I was worried because the treatment was delayed..."
"Haha, don't worry. I've improved enough to be able to enter a maze right now."
"That's a relief."
Thanks to having suppressed the injury with an advanced potion from the start, Dwalkie had returned to normal after an injection of divine power. That was a weight off his shoulders. If any lasting effects had remained, they would have interfered with the next exploration.
"Then let's meet again in two days. We should go home and rest for now."
The mana stones we obtained after the team meeting weren't many, so distribution was postponed until after the commission was completed.
Hmm, would that be about 400,000 stones per person?
We'd have to divide it up later to be sure, but the sale of the Frog Sorcerer's byproducts should amount to roughly that much, since we promised to give away 200,000 stones to each of you for the price of the potion.
Ugh, that troll lady.
Losing that son of a bitch was no joke. It was sure to cost a pretty penny to repair the equipment bent here and there.
If he made me go through that hardship, he should have spat out some essence.
If I hadn't obtained some things beforehand, it would have been a loss.
"Bjorrrn, what are you going to do now?"
"I plan to go to the inn and wash up, then I'll go and organize my things. With you, of course."
"Huh? Me too...?"
"Didn't you rest well in the labyrinth? Don't even think about diving in."
"I didn't! Anyway, I don't mind going to my bedroom. Can I wash up in yours?"
"Of course."
We went to my bedroom because I didn't want to waste time with unnecessary travel. I washed up first. We needed to move quickly to get to the shopping district before the carriages stopped running.
"Huh? Has you done already?"
"It's okay if you take longer. It'll take us a while to get everything organized anyway."
"Oh really?"
After pushing Missha into the bathroom, I arranged the loot from this exploration and organized it: the equipment and consumables obtained after defeating the three men who were after the barbarian baby, as well as Jencia's things.
I can sell this, and save this for later use...
While I was organizing everything by writing a list on a piece of paper, someone knocked on the door. «Are you inside?» It was a male voice I had never heard before. When I opened the door, I saw a man wearing a Scout Guild employee badge. «Are you Bjorn Yandel?»
«...Yes.»
«Could you accompany me to the guild?»
Damn, suddenly? That reminded me of the time I was jailed after being asked something similar, but judging by the worker's tone of voice and expression, it definitely seemed different than then. There were no security guards around either.
I decided to calm down and find out the situation. «Tell me why. Then I'll decide if I go or not».
«Oh, I hadn't told you». The employee carefully explained the situation. «A barbarian named Kharon Tarson has asked you as a witness».
«...Witness?»
«Yeah. He says you can prove he's not a looter...»
The barbarian baby was in danger.
«Originally, this type of request would not be accepted, but as you know, all related regulations have become stricter since that incident. I realize I'm bothering you, but I've come to check it out. If you have nothing to do with it, you can say no...»
«Let's go.»
«Excuse me?»
«I'm going to change my clothes. Wait here». Closing the door, I put on my coat and informed Missha, who was in the shower, that I was going out. «Misha, today's schedule is cancelled».
«That? Why suddenly?»
«Looks like something has happened to Kharon. I'll visit the Scout Guild, so after you wash, go home».
«That? What m.?.? No, explain it in more detail!»
«I'm here. Let's go.»
«Does it bother you that much, you stupid barrrbaro?!»
Ignoring Missha's valid shout, I headed to the guild with the staff member waiting outside. Coincidentally, the place I arrived was the branch I had escaped from. «How long without seeing you».
«Excuse me? Oh yeah... Let's go in. The branch manager is waiting for you».
«The branch director?»
After taking a look at the area thinking about the past, I followed the employee to the third floor and saw Kharon dozing on the couch. In front of him was the mustachioed branch manager with a very upset expression.
«Oh, how are you?»
«...Good».
How abrupt. Still, the situation didn't seem as problematic as I thought. If Kharon were really accused of being a looter, he wouldn't be dozing here but locked in the underground prison.
Honkkkkk!
First I woke Kharon up. Well, I guess I can't say I woke him up. «Kharon, stop pretending to be asleep and get up. You don't have to do that here».
Hearing my words, the branch manager and my guide tilt their heads at the same time. Then Kharon slowly opened his eyes. «...How did you know?».
What do you think? The last time I saw you, you disappeared with very mysterious words.
«I figured... you could do something like that.»
«Does this mean you recognize me as a warrior?»
«Yes, something like that».
When I gave him a half nod, Kharon genuinely smiled and waved at me. «Anyway, thanks for coming, Bjorn, son of Yandel».
«It's natural. Have they done something to you?»
«They didn't do anything to me, don't worry», said the manager. «If they had, would this guy be here?»
It's true, but I haven't asked him.
«Kharon, answer me.»
«There was no such thing.»
«I see.» I nodded and chuckled. That is why the precedent was important. Would they have treated me this well if I hadn't let go of that shit?
A downturn.
In that spirit, I didn't ask permission to sit comfortably on the couch, just in case the branch manager had forgotten what kind of barbarian I was. «I'll drink rum».
«...I don't remember offering you anything to drink».
«Are you discriminating against me for being a barbarian?».
The branch manager let out a long sigh. «Ugh... we don't have alcohol. I can give you tea...»
«Cold water. Float the ice.»
«...Okay.»
Humans were definitely learning creatures. Instead of pointing out my unanswered tone or behavior, the branch manager gave me what I wanted. He had wholeheartedly learned how to deal with ignorant barbarians.
After all, barbarians are cheating characters.
When I put my dusty feet on the expensive looking table, Kharon stared at me with bright eyes. «You... are a true warrior...»
Apparently, behaving indifferently in front of an Explorers Guild branch director left quite an impression. Well, this seemed to be the same for the branch manager, watching his mustache shake, stunned. «You really are...»
«What, do you have something to say?»
«...No.» As soon as I growled at him, the branch manager lowered his tail for fear of being caught.
Smile.
It was the reaction I expected. A lot had changed since we last saw each other. He was no longer the level 9 barbarian back then.
«I've heard the rumors about you. Do they call you Little Balkan?»
I became a level 6 scout in a matter of a few months, and a renowned scout with a nickname on that. Also known as Baron Martoin, the count was even rumored to have set his sights on me. If he had been watching me, he would also know that I had been in and out of the magic tower for Raven's investigation. Of course, there were other important things.
«Here is your ice water...»
I was stronger, enough to smash the branch manager's head like a tomato in a second. We may have been in the center of the city where the law preceded violence, but what do you know? The branch manager should know that I wasn't the kind of bastard who cared about something like that.
«Stop chatting and let's get to the point. What do you plan to do with Kharon?».
When I turned away the ice water I had ordered and asked the question, the branch manager shrugged. «...Nothing. That guy can leave now if he wants. It was confirmed through a magician that it was self-defense».
«...What?» I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected coldness of the response.
Was it already confirmed with a magician?
It certainly wasn't anything out of the ordinary, since he didn't have high mana resistance like me. Without having to call me here they could have determined whether Kharon's words were true or not with a single spell.
That means they weren't after Kharon, but after me.
I quickly understood the situation. Yes, it was the Explorers Guild. Only now did my heart start to squeeze.
«Kharon, you can go now», I said.
«Can? I was getting hungry...»
«If you skip meals, you won't grow any more. Go now».
«Okay! Until next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel!»
First I fired Kharon. It seemed like the branch manager wanted fewer people to listen too. «Audrian, you did well. You can go down too».
«Yes sir.»
Shortly after, the staff member who guided me and gave me ice water left, and only the two of us were left in the branch manager's office. No one said a word and naturally there was silence. I didn't rush in and waited for him to speak first.
«Actually, I was thinking of calling you sometime, even if it wasn't today».
«Your reason?»
«Lord Urbans' daughter wishes to meet you».
»Urbans»? Who is?» I looked at him with eyes that asked for an explanation.
The branch manager replied, stupefied: «Are you serious? Do you really not remember the person you held hostage?».
Ah, the district chief's daughter. Damn, you should have said it from the beginning.
«...I guess you haven't completely forgotten.»
«Ahem, why are you trying to meet me anyway?»
«Well, you'll know once you meet her...»
Who did you think he was provoking? «Then I refuse.»
«What?»
«I'm hungry every day, so what time do I have to waste?».
When I stood up as if the conversation was over, the branch manager urgently added: «I can't say much, but it won't do you any harm. Rather, it would be useful to you».
Seeing that he went this far, I didn't think he was going to spit out any more information.
The woman who was kidnapped wants to see me, huh?
It wasn't even worth thinking about. «Tell him no!»
I'm already quite busy. I refuse to get involved in anything problematic.
***
In the middle of the street, in broad daylight, Erwen was running through the crowd.
Huff, huff, huff.
Sweat had already seeped not only into her body, which she had washed thoroughly, but also into the skirt she had taken off for the first time in a long time.
It won't smell, right?
It shouldn't smell bad. They had been seen in worse states. For now, meeting him was more important.
...He really was alive!
Although he was extremely happy about that fact, he also felt ashamed. Bjorn, son of Yandel. Her first teammate, and the barbarian who saved her when she wandered the maze alone. The person he thought was dead and who disappeared before his eyes before he could return the favor. She felt like an idiot for fooling herself and locking herself in her room.
And to think that he had become so famous...
He didn't even have to ask around. He only asked a few people after returning to town, most of whom knew his name. One of them even knew where he was staying.
Oh wait... Then why didn't Daria say anything?
The question came to him suddenly, but Erwen didn't delve deeper.
I'm sure he heard wrong.
It was impossible for his sister to intentionally hide it. It wasn't even important right now.
Ugh, what do I tell him when I see him? If he thought about it, he had just disappeared.
His heart kept beating non-stop. It was the first pleasant vibration I had felt in a long time. Until now he had lived with the curtains closed because he did not want to see the sun rise and set, but the sunlight that touched his skin was warm and welcoming today.
Let's apologize first. He must have been looking for me too. Probably because I didn't remember where our accommodation was.
Arriving at his destination, Erwen prepared for the next meeting and organized her thoughts for the last time. After fixing his disheveled clothes, he knocked on the door.
Knock knock.
Step step.
He heard someone come in. He approached quickly.
Boom boom!
He felt like his heart was going to burst. He wanted to hurry up and talk to the Lord like before, like when they talked about their daily lives and laughed.
Will you be surprised to learn that I have commanded the Four Great Spirits? Hey, wait... Now that he's so much stronger than me, I guess I can't brag about that.
She was a little worried, but surely he would praise her, tell her that she had done well and that she must have had a bad time. Unlike others, Mister surely would.
«Hehe...» Just when he was smiling so imaginatively, finally, the door opened.
Rattle.
But what was this?
«Hey? Who are you?»
The person who opened the door was nothing more than a beastwoman, someone from the cat tribe with triangular ears on their heads. Erwen checked the door number: 201. I was in the right place. He couldn't have heard wrong either, as he asked them to repeat it several times to confirm it. Could it be that the informant had made a mistake?
That seemed to be the case. Still, it could be the room next door, so I should ask. Since he was so famous now, someone at the inn might know. "Um... do you know, Mis-no, which room Bjorn Yandel is staying in?"
"Hmm? Are you Bjorrrn's guest?"
"Excuse me? I'm not sure what you mean..."
"Bjorn just came out after washing up. Do you want to wait inside?"
Did she wash up and leave? No, wait a minute... does that mean this is her room?
Erwen was confused. What was happening?
"Or tell me who you are. When Bjorn comes back later, I'll tell him you've come."
It was almost as if they lived together. Erwen raised her head to look at the beastwoman's face again. She was beautiful, so much so that even she, as a fairy, couldn't deny it.
Drip.
Water dripped from her red hair, as if she had just taken a bath.
"You said she had just left, right?"
"Yes, so what?"
Erwen's lips twitched as the woman replied, as if asking what was wrong with it. Of course, it didn't last long. "No. Nothing. Can I come in and wait?"
"Oh, right..." Soon, she entered the room. The loot was scattered on the floor. "It's a bit of a mess... It's not usually like this..."
"I know. What is this? I've done it with him before too."
"Hmm? You did it? Oh... you're an explorer too?"
"Yeah."
"B-but don't misunderstand me, all this is from a looter..."
"Don't worry. I won't." Erwen interrupted the beastwoman's words and focused on the vibration of her heart. Then she spoke with a smile. "Coveting something that belongs to another deserves to be punished, doesn't it?"
His throbbing, hot heart suddenly went cold.