Episode 119 Dark Clouds (3)
Ultimately, this exploration came to a halt after the troll war.
This is because Dwalki’s condition is not improving at all.
[Even if you drink more potions, you won’t get better or anything. Not everyone’s body is as strong as yours.]
Without the compensation of natural regenerative powers, it would take time for the muscles and bones to re-establish their place even after the wound has completely healed.
So as soon as we got back to the city, we had to run past the checkpoint and start from the temple.
Unlike Rotmiller, Dwalki wasn’t something that could be solved with time.
“Phew, now I feel like I can live a little… … .”
Dwalki, who had been unable to stand for a whole week, finally succeeded in standing on his own after receiving ‘advanced healing’.
“Are there any aftereffects? I was worried because the treatment was delayed… … .”
“Haha, don’t worry. Your condition has improved enough that you can enter the labyrinth right now.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s fortunate.”
Thanks to the initial suppression with the highest-grade potion, Dwalki became as energetic as usual with a single divine power.
Thanks to you, I have less to worry about.
If there are any aftereffects, it will cause problems starting with the next exploration.
“Then let’s meet again in two days and then go back and rest for today.”
In fact, since the entire team had gathered and only acquired a small amount of magic stones, distribution was postponed until after the completion of the quest was received, and the team disbanded.
‘Well, maybe around 400,000 stones per person?’
I’ll have to break it down to know for sure, but if I sell all the byproducts of the Frogman Shaman and divide it into five parts, it’ll probably be around that much.
It was agreed that 200,000 tons would be set aside as potion value.
‘Whoa, you fucking troll.’
This kid’s bone loss is no joke.
It’s clear that the repair costs will be quite high to avoid bending the equipment here and there.
If you made him suffer like that, at least spit out some water.
It was fortunate that there was a lot of damage in front of me, otherwise I would have returned with a loss.
“Bjorn, what are you going to do now?”
“I plan to go to my dorm first, wash up, and then go sort things out. Oh, and of course, you too.”
“Huh? Me too… … ?”
“Didn’t you just come back from a good rest in the labyrinth? Don’t even think about running away.”
“You didn’t think about that? Anyway, I don’t want to bother going all the way to my place, so can you just shower at your place?”
“Of course.”
There was no need to waste time unnecessarily, so I went to my room with Misha.
And I quickly washed up and came out first.
We need to move quickly to get to the commercial district before the carriages run out.
“Huh? You washed it all already?”
“You can take your time washing up. It’ll take a while to unpack anyway.”
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“Oh, really?”
After that, I put Misha in the bathroom and organized all the loot I had acquired this time.
Equipment and consumables obtained by defeating the trio that were after Zencia and the baby barbarian.
‘I think we can sell this and keep this for our own use… … .’
As I was organizing things, even writing a list on paper, someone knocked on the door.
“Excuse me, are you inside?”
It was a man’s voice I was hearing for the first time.
I opened the door to find a man wearing an Explorer’s Guild badge.
“Are you Bjorn Yandell?”
“……right.”
“Would you mind going to the guild with me?”
What the heck, all of a sudden?
I felt like shit because I remembered hearing similar things and following them and getting locked up in prison… … .
Judging from the employee’s tone of voice and facial expression, the situation is definitely different now than it was then.
And the security guards aren’t even in sight.
First, I decided to calmly assess the situation.
“Tell me what’s going on first. Then I’ll decide whether to go or not.”
“Oh, you didn’t tell me that first.”
The employee exclaimed, “Oops,” and then carefully explained the situation.
“……witness?”
“Yes, I believe Yandel will prove to you that he is not a plunderer… … .”
The baby barbarian is in danger.
***
“Normally, such a request would not be accepted, but as you know, all related regulations have become stricter since ‘that incident’… … . I know it’s rude, but I came to check. If you have no relation to him, you can just decline—”
“egg plant.”
“yes?”
“Just wait, I’ll just change my clothes and come out.”
After closing the door, I put my coat on.
And then I told Misha, who was showering, that I was going out.
“Misha, today’s schedule is cancelled.”
“What? Why all of a sudden?”
“It seems like something is wrong with Charon. I’m going to the Explorer’s Guild for a bit, so you can wash up and then go home.”
“What? What do you mean… …! No, be more specific—!”
“You must have been waiting. Come on.”
“Is that so annoying, you barbarian fool!!”
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Anyway, Misha’s cry hits the nail on the head.
I headed to the guild with the staff who were waiting outside.
Coincidentally, the place I arrived was the branch I had escaped from.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”
“Yes? Oh, yes… … . Come in. The branch manager is waiting.”
“The branch manager… … ?”
While looking around the area and lost in old memories for a moment, I follow the staff up to the third floor and see Caron dozing off on the sofa.
Across from him sits the branch manager with a moustache.
With a very uncomfortable expression.
“Oh, how have you been?”
“… …Thanks to that.”
Yeah, that’s a bit blunt.
Still, it doesn’t seem to be as troublesome as he thought. If Caron had really been accused of being a plunderer, he would not be sleeping here, but would be locked up in the dungeon.
Drrrrrrrrrrrr!
First, I woke up Caron.
No, is it a bit much to say that I woke you up?
“Caron, stop pretending to be asleep and get up. There’s no need to do that here.”
The branch manager and the staff tilted their heads at the same time at my words, and then Caron slowly opened his eyes.
“… … How did you know?”
How do you know? How do you know?
And then he disappeared after saying such meaningful words at the end.
“Somehow, I felt like… it would be you.”
“Does this mean you recognize me as a warrior?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
As I nodded roughly, Caron smiled with genuine joy and shook my shoulder.
“Anyway, thank you for coming. Bjorn, son of Yandel.”
“That’s natural. Have you ever been in trouble with them?”
“Don’t worry, that never happened. If that had happened, would this guy be here?”
Well, that’s true.
But I didn’t ask you.
“Caron, answer me.”
“That never happened.”
“I see.”
I nodded and chuckled.
This is why precedent is important.
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If I hadn’t been the one making that noise, would they have treated me this well?
dump.
In that sense, I don’t necessarily ask permission and just sit comfortably on the sofa. The branch manager might have forgotten what kind of person I am.
“I’ll have rum.”
“Are you discriminating against me because I’m a Barbarian?”
The branch manager let out a long sigh.
“Whew… There’s no alcohol. I can give you tea—”
“Cold water. With ice cubes floating in it.”
“Okay… … .”
Are humans really creatures that learn?
Instead of pointing out my irrelevant speech and behavior, the branch manager simply gave me what I wanted.
I learned with my whole body how to deal with ignorant barbarians.
‘The Barbarian is a real fraud, you know.’
As I was putting my dusty feet on the expensive-looking table, Caron looked at me with shining eyes.
“As expected, you are… an incredible warrior… … .”
It seems that it was quite impressive to see him act so arrogantly in front of someone who was the branch manager of the Explorers’ Guild.
Well, it seems like it was the same for the branch manager as well.
When I see him shaking his moustache as if he is not praying.
“You guys are really… … .”
“Well, do you have anything to say?”
“…There isn’t any.”
The branch manager, who immediately tucked his tail between his legs as if he was afraid of being found fault with, asked again in a growling tone.
Sigh.
It was a reaction I had secretly expected.
Because a lot has changed since I last saw you.
He is not a 9th-grade savage with nothing back then.
“I’ve heard the rumors about you. You’re called Little Vulcan.”
I became a 6th level explorer in just a few months.
A future famous explorer who even got a nickname.
I am also friendly with the Baron Martoin, and there are even rumors that the count is keeping a close eye on me.
Also, if you’ve been watching me, you’ll know that I’ve been going back and forth to the Magic Tower every week because of Raven’s research.
Of course, there is something else that is important.
“Here is some ice water… … .”
I became stronger.
Enough to turn this branch manager’s head into a burst tomato in just one second.
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Well, it may be in the middle of a city where the law takes precedence over violence, but what do you know? At least the branch manager thinks I’m not the type of guy who would care about such things.
“Let’s cut the small talk and get to the point. What does Caron plan to do now?”
When I asked, pushing aside the ice water I had finally ordered, the branch manager shrugged his shoulders.
“… Nothing. If you want, that guy can go now. The wizard confirmed that it was self-defense.”
“……what?”
I was momentarily dumbfounded by the unexpected cool answer.
‘You already checked with the wizard?’
It certainly wasn’t a strange story.
Because he doesn’t have as much endurance as I do.
You could have determined whether Charon’s words were true or not with just one spell, without even having to call me.
But, that means.
‘It wasn’t Charon, it was me who had the purpose.’
I quickly figured it out.
Yeah, this is what the Explorer’s Guild should be like.
Now my heart is starting to pound a little.
“Caron, you go out now.”
“Is that okay? I was hungry… … .”
“If you skip meals, you won’t grow tall. Go away.”
“Understood! See you later, Bjorn, son of Yandel!”
First of all, I sent out Caron.
I don’t know what it was, but it seemed like the branch manager wanted fewer people to listen.
“Thank you for your hard work, Odrian. You should come down too.”
“Yes, branch manager.”
As soon as the employee who guided me and even brought me ice water left, the two of us were left alone in the branch manager’s office.
“… … .”
No one spoke and the silence naturally continued.
I didn’t rush him and waited for him to speak first.
“Why?”
“Lady Urban would like to meet you.”
“Urban Youngae? Who is that?”
As I stared at him with eyes that expected a detailed explanation, the branch manager asked back as if he found it ridiculous.
“Are you serious? You really don’t remember the person you took hostage?”
Ah, the district chief’s daughter.
Shit, you should have said that a long time ago.
“… … But I guess you haven’t completely forgotten?”
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“Ahem, so anyway, why does that woman want to meet me?”
“Well, you’ll find out when you meet—”
What are you talking about, where did you get the bait from?
“Then I refuse.”
“what?”
“I’m hungry every day, so who has time to waste?”
As if the conversation had ended here, I stood up and the branch manager continued speaking urgently.
“… … I can’t say much, but I’m sure it won’t harm you. Rather, I hope it helps.”
Well, seeing as you’ve gone this far, it doesn’t seem like you’ll be able to vomit out any more information.
‘The woman who was taken hostage wants to see me… … .’
There was nothing to worry about.
“Tell him I don’t like it!”
Yeah, I’m already so busy.
Annoying things are out of the question.
***
In the middle of the street in broad daylight.
“Haa, haa, haa… … .”
Erwen was running through the crowd.
Not only was my body, which I had just washed, soft and fluffy, but even the skirt I had put on for the first time in a while was already soaked with sweat… … .
‘Uh… … It won’t smell, right?’
Well, that’ll be okay.
Aren’t we the ones who have shown each other even worse things than this?
Meeting him was more important to her than anything else.
‘… … You’re still alive!’
While I was extremely happy about that fact, I also felt a sense of self-loathing.
Bjorn, son of Yandel.
The first companion she had, the barbarian who saved her when she was wandering alone in the labyrinth.
The person who disappeared before my eyes before I could repay the favor, and I thought he was dead.
I felt like an idiot for having locked myself in my room and making all these mistakes.
‘I never thought you would become so famous… … .’
There was no need to ask around.
I returned to the city and asked a few people, most of whom knew his name.
One of them even knew the location of the place he was staying.
‘Oh, wait a minute… … Then why didn’t you say anything, Sister?’
Although such a thought occurred to him suddenly, Erwen did not delve deeply into it.
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You didn’t hear that, did you?
There’s no way my sister would have hidden it on purpose.
It wasn’t even an important fact at the time.
‘Ugh, what should I say when I meet you? If I think about it, at some point I disappeared.’
My heart was pounding nonstop.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a pleasant sound.
I always kept the curtains closed because I hated seeing the sun rise and set, but today the sunlight felt warm and cozy on my skin.
‘First, let me apologize. I’m sure you were looking for me too. Perhaps you couldn’t find me because you didn’t remember where our lodging was.’
Erwen, who had soon arrived at her destination, gathered her thoughts one last time in preparation for the upcoming meeting.
And after straightening up her disheveled clothes.
There was a knock on the door.
Thud, thud.
I could hear footsteps inside.
And it’s coming fast.
Thump thump!
My heart felt like it was going to burst.
I wanted to meet you and have a conversation like we used to. Like back then, when we would talk about our daily lives and laugh and chat.
‘Would you be surprised if you found out that I’ve gained control of all four great spirits? Oh, no… You’ve become much stronger than me, so I guess I shouldn’t brag about this?’
I was a little worried, but I’m sure he’ll praise me in the end.
Well done, you worked hard.
It’s definitely going to be like that, since it’s not just anyone else but you, an old man.
“Hehehe… … .”
It was at that time that the corners of my mouth went up at such imagination.
Bam.
Finally the door opened.
But what is this?
“Huh? Who are you?”
The one who opened the door and came out was a strange man.
A person of Miao origin with a triangular ear on top of his head.
Erwen checked the number on the door.
No. 201.
You didn’t come to the wrong place.
I asked several times to confirm, so I couldn’t have misheard. Then, did the person who told me misunderstand something?
Well, I guess so.
But just in case, it could be the room next door, so let’s ask. He’s such a famous old man, if he’s in the same room, he’d definitely know.
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“Excuse me, sir… no, do you know which room Bjorn Jandel is staying in?”
“Huh? You were Bjorn’s guest?”
“Huh? What do you mean… … .”
“Bjorn just washed up and went out a little while ago. Would you like to come inside and wait?”
You said you just washed up and went out a little while ago… …?
No, wait a minute… Before that… If this woman is talking, doesn’t that mean this is the old man’s room?
It was confusing.
What’s going on?
“Or, tell me who it is. When Bjorn comes back later, I’ll tell him that someone came looking for me.”
Doesn’t it seem like we’re living together? Erwen raised her head absentmindedly and checked Suin’s face once more.
It was pretty.
Even she, who is of fairy descent, cannot refute it.
and…….
Knock knock.
Red hair flowed down in drops.
As if I just got out of the shower.
“Didn’t you say that the old man just washed up and went out a little while ago?”
“Yeah, but why is that?”
The corners of Erwen’s mouth twisted as if to ask if there was any problem.
Of course, that time was not long.
“No, nothing. Can I go inside and wait?”
“Oh, really… … ?”
Soon she entered the room.
It was a mess, with loot strewn across the floor.
“It’s a bit messy… … ? It’s not usually like this… … .”
“I know. I know what this is. I did it with you too.”
“Huh? You tried it? Oh… … You’re an explorer too?”
“yes.”
“Well, don’t misunderstand me. This is all from the looters—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t misunderstand.”
Erwen cut off Suin’s words and focused on the sound of her chest.
And then he continued with a smile.
“If you covet someone else’s things, shouldn’t you be punished?”
My heart, which had been beating hotly just a moment ago, had cooled down at some point.
