Episode 120 Dark Clouds (4)
An office with a heavy woody scent.
Explorers Guild Region 7 Leader, Nile Urbans, chuckled.
It’s because I remembered something my daughter said a while ago.
[I don’t plan on living the rest of my life as my father’s doll.]
When the first prison break happened.
He noticed his daughter’s disturbing movements.
Well, there was no reason for the branch manager and I to have a private conversation at that time.
This fact was so suspicious that I started to investigate in earnest and discovered that my daughter had been secretly establishing her position within the guild.
‘Women have their own lives.’
For a one-time rebellion, it seemed quite plausible.
Although I thought it was a headache, I also felt a sense of satisfaction inside thinking that she was indeed my daughter.
but…….
‘I told you to be careful even when you breathe.’
Even such ambition can be viewed as cute because the object of it is his daughter.
‘Chief, it looks like that guy chose my daughter in the end.’
Bjorn Jandel.
I was determined to fix his bad habits someday, but the Barbarian grew tremendously in a short period of time.
The branch manager tried to contact him today.
I still don’t know exactly what my daughter is planning to do with the barbarian, but it’s clear that the branch manager has fallen under my daughter’s command.
That fact was terribly unpleasant.
‘You dare to rebel against me.’
It’s not hard to understand why the branch manager made that choice.
He was already out of favor, and he had already decided who would take his place when he took off his clothes. He knew that, so he would have tried to grab hold of even the rotten rope.
But understanding and forgiveness are two completely different words.
‘I guess I’ll have to deal with both of them this time.’
Nile Urbans sipped his tea and his eyes lit up.
Originally, the Barbarians were just going to be left alone.
It was chilling to think of the humiliation I felt back then, but I had managed to establish my own position within a few months.
There was no reason to necessarily increase the number of enemies by one.
But now things are different.
There must have been a reason why the smart daughter wanted to make contact with the Barbarian.
‘… … And besides, it strangely keeps bothering me.’
Nile Urbans has made a decision.
If something bothers you, just get rid of it.
Before it turns into a bigger problem later.
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***
Kwakwakwaang-!
How long has it been since I left the Explorer’s Guild?
As I was walking back to my accommodation, thunder rumbled across the clear sky and heavy rain poured down.
‘Nimiral.’
Before we knew it, dark clouds had covered the sky.
I was thinking of just going in and leaving, but I thought it might be a shower so I stopped at a nearby restaurant.
Since it was time to eat anyway, I planned to eat and observe the situation for a while.
“The meal you ordered has arrived.”
Roasted meat, pumpkin stew, and rye bread.
The inside is quite warm and filling, but somehow it feels lacking.
It’s not like we’ve gone to a cheap restaurant like before where we pay 300 stones for a meal.
‘Sure… …Misha is good at grilling meat.’
I ordered an extra shot of rum, thinking that I would have to buy some meat and ask them to grill it for me when I go out tomorrow.
Since it had come to this, I thought I would kill time until the rain stopped or at least calmed down a little.
If I go back anyway, Misha won’t be there.
‘Oh, I wonder if he’s still there because of the rain?’
As I drink alone to the sound of rain, all sorts of thoughts come to mind in a jumbled pattern.
It seems like only recently that I was eating stone bread while being careful of goblin traps, but already half a year has passed.
‘Pajeon and makgeolli… There’s no place that sells that, right?’
The desire to go home has faded considerably.
I just got used to it all.
The creaking bed, the tiny one-room apartment with one bathroom, the daily routine of drinking cheap beer and laughing and talking with colleagues.
‘I’ve really changed a lot too.’
I could go on and on about all the shit that’s wrong with this world all day long. But if you ask me if I’ve ever had fun… … .
At first, my goal was survival, but I gradually began to enjoy myself as a gamer as I saw myself grow.
It wasn’t bad to laugh and chat with my colleagues.
It felt a little strange.
‘If I hadn’t been called here, I’d probably still be sitting in the corner of my room playing a game alone.’
The interpersonal relationships of 29-year-old office worker Lee Han-soo were extremely narrow. Of course, he had no complaints or discomfort about it.
I was also making steady preparations for retirement, and was able to live on my own without relying on others.
Unlike this world where colleagues are forced upon you.
‘I guess I’ve started to feel affection towards you too.’
I took a sip of the rum, which had an unnecessarily sweet aftertaste, as if it had been sweetened with sugar.
Dwalki, Rotmiller, and Dwarf.
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Thinking about these three made my mouth feel strangely bitter.
‘If you want to go up, you’ll have to form a new team.’
Starting from the 5th floor, the current members are not enough.
Should we say that the growth limit is clearly visible?
First of all, Dwalki is not from the Magic Tower, and he has the serious problem of having innately low magical power.
‘I’m learning new magic often these days, but it’s safe to say that I can barely use 6th-level spells.’
Not to mention Rotmiller.
On the lower floors, you just need to find your way around, but on the upper floors, a high level of combat prowess is required from the explorers as well.
Well, the maximum number of people in a party is five.
‘If that old man awakens as a leader, then it might be different. If not, then the 4th floor is the limit.’
Of course, unlike these two, the dwarf can be active even in the upper floors if he is well-equipped.
However, there is no need to have two tanks on a team.
‘… … If Misha’s specs go up a bit, we’ll have to form a new team.’
Actually, it was a problem I had been thinking about for a while, but I have finally made up my mind.
The recent troll war had a big impact.
I will continue to climb upstairs, and that goal cannot be achieved with these people.
As harsh as it may seem, this is also a decision for them.
Because the upper floors are teeming with monsters worse than trolls.
It would be better not to expect that such a lucky survival will happen again—
“Yandel?”
Oh, what’s this all of a sudden?
When I turned my head at the sound of someone calling me, there was someone I never expected to see standing there.
Mr. Bear.
No, I mean… … .
“Urakburak?”
“… My name is Urikfried. If it’s hard to pronounce, you can just call me Abman.”
“Then let’s go that way.”
The macho-looking bear man sat down across from me without asking permission, perhaps to show off his face.
I wasn’t particularly offended because it was something I did often.
“I didn’t know you would come as a guest.”
“customer?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention that. This is the store my wife runs.”
Because you’re the boss… … .
It was information I didn’t know, but it wasn’t something to be too surprised about. A 5th-grade explorer would have enough money to open a store.
If you’re going to be surprised, you might as well be surprised in some other way.
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“A man with a wife was going into the labyrinth alone?”
“The store is running at a loss these days. Shouldn’t the country also work hard to earn money?”
Well, then I have nothing to say.
It’s not like I have anything to worry about.
“Anyway, it’s a strange coincidence that you’re the owner of the place I came to avoid the rain.”
“It’s a coincidence that can’t even be described as amazing. Thanks to you, I have confidence, Bjorn Jandel.”
“Are you sure now?”
Mr. Bear answered as if it was nothing.
“Will you put me on your team?”
Huh? What is this?
***
You suddenly want me to be your colleague?
It was an unexpected topic, but after hearing the rest of the story, I was convinced. From Mr. Bear’s perspective, I was a proven explorer.
“In that situation, if you save a stranger’s life, you wouldn’t get stabbed in the back of the head, right?”
Although he demanded 5 million stones, it seemed like he liked the fact that he had saved himself by using the highest level potion from the rift that blocked him from the outside world.
‘… … It’s like this again.’
Tank support summons and powerful long-range physical damage.
Someone as old as Bear would definitely be able to do his part on the 5th floor or higher without any problems.
but…….
“I guess there was a misunderstanding. I just went in separately this time, there is a fixed team.”
I roundly declined his offer.
I’m planning on having a Dwalki party for the time being, but I can’t just throw someone else in to get this guy in.
Surprisingly, Mr. Bear nodded obediently.
“Well then. Let’s talk about what we talked about today later when there’s an empty spot or when you leave the team.”
“There’s an empty seat?”
“You know what I’m talking about, right?”
The conversation with my colleague ended with a meaningful look from Mr. Bear. After that, we had a short conversation about when the 5 million stones would be repaid.
“I already put some unused equipment on the exchange, so I should be able to give it to you on the promised date.”
As I look inside the store, which is filled with flies, my heart becomes quite heavy… … .
The five million stones were agreed to be exchanged for collateral when they met here again in ten days.
“Then I’ll see you then.”
“Wear this and go. It’ll fit you too.”
Since it didn’t seem like the rain would stop even if I waited any longer, I borrowed a raincoat from Mr. Bear and headed to my lodging.
Swaaaaaaaaaahh …
Heavy rain pouring down as if a typhoon had come.
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As I was running through the unfamiliarly quiet streets, I soon arrived at my lodgings.
But what is this?
“Oh, Bjorn, you’re here? I’m your guest here.”
“Eww! Mister… … !!”
Like a shower of rain on a sunny day, an unexpected encounter awaited me.
***
Since that incident 10 years ago, I have been living a life of moderation in many things.
So I thought I was confident that I could endure it.
At least until today.
“If you covet someone else’s things, shouldn’t you be punished?”
Erwen flinched at the words that came out of her mouth without her knowing.
“Huh? You… … Are you a lot tougher than I thought?”
Fortunately, it seems like the other side didn’t realize the true meaning of what I just said…
‘What on earth am I saying…?’
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even taken away.
Because you’re not an object.
Also, it was she who made the choice to leave her uncle and be with her sister.
But what is this feeling?
Suddenly.
The hostility is strangely overwhelming.
If we fight, can we win?
I find myself unconsciously observing others while thinking such thoughts.
“Come to think of it, we don’t even know each other’s names. I’m Misha Karlstein.”
“… … Erwen Fornacci di Tercia.”
“Wow, your name is pretty too… … Erwen, nice to meet you.”
“yes…….”
I shook his hand, hiding my reluctance.
And we sat down and talked.
I have no intention of becoming friends with that woman, but I had to ask her one thing.
“Mr. Karlstein, are you dating someone?”
“Teaching, teaching… … Don’t talk nonsense. Bjorn and I are just colleagues, colleagues!”
“Hmm, I see.”
For some reason, I felt like my anger was subsiding.
I just asked if she was dating anyone, but I don’t know why your name came up right away.
I guess I’ll have to check it out a bit more.
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“I’m sorry. I made a mistake because you said you washed together earlier.”
“Hey, what do you mean by showering together? I just borrowed the bathroom for a bit.”
“You’re renting a bathroom in a stranger’s room? Your accommodation must be really far from here.”
“Oh, it’s not that far… … .”
“… … No, you said no?”
Erwen’s eyebrows furrowed at those words.
She may not be an old man, but it was clear that this woman had some wicked thoughts.
Enough to use such a cheap method.
“Ahem! So how do you know Bjorn?”
Did he want to divert the conversation from me?
This time, the other side asked a question.
Erwen answered honestly.
“I was a colleague with you, sir.”
“Huh? Sir… … ? Bjorn is only twenty years old… … .”
“Oh, it’s just a nickname between you and me, so I don’t think you need to worry about it.”
“Nickname… … you say?”
“Yes, is there a problem?”
When I tilted my head naturally, the woman smiled awkwardly.
“No. What’s the problem? How could that be? Nyahat!”
The mouth was smiling, but the tail was wagging and hitting the bedsheets as if it was in a bad mood.
Erwen felt a strange sense of triumph at that sight.
Until the unexpected counterattack.
“Young man and I have a special relationship. First of all, we were first colleagues, and we were also the first to return together—”
“Hey, but isn’t that something that only means something to you?”
“……yes?”
“That makes sense, I’ve been with Bjorn for months now and I’ve never heard anything about you. Nyahat!”
The water woman smiled brightly and stabbed her in the heart with a knife. Erwen couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the sudden change in attitude.
But instinctively I knew one thing.
“You said Erwen, right? What are you doing? If you want to look at it as cute, it’s not like I can’t see it. But… … If you show your hostility like this and treat people like idiots, wouldn’t it annoy me too?”
Misha Karlstein.
It was natural to feel hostility towards this woman the moment I saw her.
“Hmm, but I’m grateful for one thing. Thanks to you, I don’t think I’ll get confused anymore.”
“Hey, you’re not confused?”
“Well? Don’t you already know what I mean?”
This woman is the enemy.
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Trying to take away something precious from her.
