Episode 88 Baron Martoan (4)
The Baron’s request was simple.
Two months later, a certain count is holding a grand banquet?
He said that I just had to follow him and attend.
“Is that the end… … ?”
“Well, I’d like to show off some tricks in front of people. Like bending steel with my bare hands.”
In short, he wants to use me as a trophy to make himself stand out at a banquet… … .
“Can you do it?”
Hey, what do you think of the Barbarian?
“That’s no problem.”
“Then it’s fine.”
For reference, the reward for the request is 1,000,000 Stones as a service fee and the lifting of the ban on entry to Dwalki’s Labyrinth.
Wow, is this a nobleman?
To think that you would waste that much money just to show off to other people.
‘Well, I can just pick up some beans and eat them.’
Even if it’s not a Dwalki issue, it’s good value for money.
A million stones for just pleasing someone for a day?
The smelly sewer request was 150,000 stones.
“Hmm, okay. Then I’ll take care of that guy’s problem right away. Think of it as a favor from me toward you.”
The Baron even showed a distribution that solved the Dwalki problem first.
Later on, I wondered what would happen if I didn’t keep my promise…
‘I guess a noble is someone who doesn’t need to worry about such things.’
I feel anew that there is still a long way to go.
I’ve created some degree of force.
He also gained some notoriety.
but…….
‘I guess it’s time to start making plans for you too.’
Must have power.
Just like in the game.
And it’s been like this ever since I opened my eyes here.
Because life-threatening incidents don’t only happen in labyrinths.
***
The next morning.
We gathered again at the agreed upon meeting place.
It was to check if Dwalki had permission to enter the labyrinth.
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“What happened? Did the Baron keep his promise?”
“They checked today and said there was no problem.”
“But why do you look so pale?”
“Haha, it’s my imagination… … .”
It’s not my fault.
Was it so shocking that his half-brother, Baron Martoin, not only did not warn him, but did not even remember him properly?
As of yesterday, Dwalki’s mental state has completely deteriorated.
Well, I try not to show it, but… … .
“ha…….”
Dwalki, who falls into deep thought several times a day, sighs as if the ground is collapsing.
I hope you come to your senses before the labyrinth opens.
“Oh, but you guys should take this. It’s the reward we promised you back then.”
“compensation?”
“Didn’t you go with me to negotiate with the Baron?”
Hikurod took out the 300,000 stones that he had offered as a reward.
I decided not to accept this.
“Okay, let’s just exchange stuff like this between us?”
“I didn’t come here expecting anything in return. Besides, all my discussions with him were for the good of the team.”
In a situation where two people waved their hands and refused the money, it would have been a bit much for me to receive it alone… … .
‘It’s not like there’s a problem if you don’t have 300,000 stones right now.’
This one might be better left as debt.
As you continue to enter the labyrinth, there will inevitably be times when you will have to give and take, and sometimes even make concessions.
“Anyway, thank you. It wouldn’t have been easy to bend a warrior’s pride.”
Well, well… … .
Honestly, I feel embarrassed when I hear things like that.
A million stones was too much of a sum to worry about pride.
“I will never forget this and will repay you.”
“No, why should you pay for it? Bjorn, I will definitely pay you back tenfold.”
“Do whatever you want, whoever you are.”
“Hehehe, Bjorn is so embarrassed!”
What are you talking about? I’m being serious.
***
There are 8 days left until the labyrinth opens.
What I’ve done so far has been simple.
Let’s just talk about the big stuff, leaving out the basic tasks like helping Misha train or stopping by the library to read hidden books…
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“This is paper made 150 years ago.”
I found out the production year of [Crack Gun Record II].
Was it just ordinary paper that was distributed as a standard specification at the time?
‘Wow, what on earth happened 150 years ago?’
The time the game started.
The death of the first king.
And until this book was created.
Many questions continue to overlap with those of exactly 150 years ago, no more, no less.
‘It can’t be a coincidence.’
The above incidents are somehow related.
That’s all I know so far… … .
Still, thanks to that, it gave me some motivation to move forward.
‘I think we need to focus on the history from 150 years ago.’
Who brought the players?
What was the purpose, and what on earth is Auril Gavis doing? If we continue to gather clues, we may eventually be able to reach the secret.
Anyway, here’s the second one.
“Uh, uh… Let’s do that… … ? No! It’s not that I don’t like it, but it’s a little sudden… … .”
I opened an account at Alminus Bank.
And they designated each other as heirs to their property in the event of their death.
We plan to put some of the money we earn together in the future into this account and use it like public funds.
“In that sense, let’s put all of the 2 million stones we earned this time here.”
“Eh? All of that?”
“Isn’t it useless right now?”
“Ugh… You’re not planning on using it for something weird without me knowing, are you?”
“What on earth do you think I am?”
I decided to put 2 million stones into the account and keep the remaining 900,000 stones in cash.
And there’s no place to use it right now… … .
Now that we’re out of the days where we had to barely make ends meet for a month on our daily wages, it’s time to start saving up.
Oh, and there was this too.
“You are… Bjorn, son of Yandel?!”
While walking down the street, I happened to meet a fellow barbarian.
His name is Karak, the third son of Panun.
We didn’t do anything special, just asked each other how we were doing and then parted ways.
So you’re a level 8 explorer, and you’re a tank in a team of humans on the second floor?
“What are the others doing? Most of them are dead. Probably not many, except for you, Ainar, and me. It’s not an easy place, you know.”
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Anyway, his personality changed a lot because he teamed up with humans.
I think things used to be a lot more simple and ignorant.
“If you had told me more about the place instead of insisting on the old traditions, I wouldn’t have died so badly… … .”
Seeing him expressing bitterness towards the ways of the race, it makes you wonder if he is really a barbarian warrior.
Honestly, I felt bad for everyone who heard it.
There must have been a lot of things that happened for a guy who was a warrior through and through to change like that.
‘Not all Barbarians are the same.’
Thanks to you, I learned something new.
Barbarians also grow mentally.
Even if you are still weak in areas of knowledge such as writing and numbers, you will gain wisdom as you survive in a changing environment.
‘… … Perhaps among the seniors who have been with us for a few years, there are some whose personalities have changed to almost become human-like—’
“Bjorn, what are you thinking about?”
“nothing.”
Misha’s voice broke my thoughts.
Well, I worked hard to cook and give it to you, but you must have felt a bit bad because you were thinking about something else.
“But, Bjorn… don’t you think you’re a bit taller?”
“what?”
“It might be my imagination, but come here and stand here!”
… … It’s annoying.
Still, I stood up from my meal and measured my height. Misha slashed my chest from the top of her head to my chest, then nodded.
“It grew a little bit! Just this much?”
“Isn’t that a mistake?”
Honestly, it was hard to believe.
Let alone the fact that you could be taller here, how would you know at a glance when it doesn’t even look like 1cm?
“Hmm, I just happen to have a good eye for that kind of thing. So you can trust me.”
“… If that’s the case.”
Rather than argue, I just nodded.
Well, maybe he was tall.
I’ve been eating a lot of meat dishes lately.
‘… … If I’m really tall, should I eat more meat in the future?’
If it’s true, it’s worth it.
A height that is naturally much taller than average.
This is the decisive reason why I chose a Barbarian as my tank instead of a Dwarf. The [Gigantic] mechanism itself is a multiplication of the base height.
‘I think it was exactly 1.771 times.’
This gives us more reasons to eat meat.
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“… Don’t just eat the meat, eat a variety of foods!”
“… … .”
“Use it!”
After finishing my meal, I checked my backpack one last time to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
Well, I have to go into the labyrinth soon.
“Come on, everyone, we’ll be waiting.”
As we head to the meeting place, we notice colleagues dressed differently than usual.
A dwarf wearing heavy armor instead of a shirt.
Dwalki standing, holding a long two-handed staff.
“Hey, Rotmiller! Why don’t you have a weapon?”
“Don’t worry. I put it in the [treasure house]. Once you get used to it, it’s easier to take it out whenever you want than to carry it around.”
“Oh, I see.”
Mimic’s ability [Treasure Trove].
I thought it was a skill that only replaced the usual subspace, but it may be a convenient essence in many ways for Rotmillers who handle various equipment such as crossbows, shields, and swords.
“Then, would you please gather next to me? I’m going to start by forming a [bond].”
As soon as Dwalki muttered a chant, a green light spread out and permeated each of their bodies.
Should we call it a kind of party formation?
This magic is necessary to allow multiple people to enter the labyrinth and start at the same location.
‘In the past, Ainar used to wait in front of the guild from dawn… … .’
I think explorers aren’t called wizards for nothing.
If you have a wizard on your team, you don’t have to wait in line at the guild hall from the morning breeze…
There are also significant financial benefits.
If five explorers with an average rank of 6.5 were to form a [Union], they would have to pay a fee of 100,000 stones.
“Let’s move slowly.”
As we all walk together towards Dimension Square, more and more explorers appear on the streets.
It’s a sight that can only be seen on the last night of every month.
When I came back, everyone looked like beggars.
“Stop! I think I’m lost.”
“No way! We have to get to the labyrinth within the given time!”
Coincidentally, this time I ran into the barbarians again.
Young warriors with bare bodies, full of anticipation and excitement, just finishing their coming-of-age ceremony and heading to the labyrinth.
“…follow us.”
I asked for their understanding and offered my help.
There is no sense of mission for the race, but… … .
Somehow I felt like it had to be that way.
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“Really? Thank you. If you tell me your name… What! Bjorn, son of Yandel?!! Are you that little Vulcan!!! I respect you!!”
Anyway, the young warriors’ overreaction.
He gave me some advice on the way to Dimension Square.
The heart of a barbarian is sold for a high price, so fellow explorers… especially humans… should be especially wary.
If possible, find a night companion from a different race.
Beware of traps, walk on lighted paths, etc.
He generously shared with me the knowledge I wish I had known when I first entered the labyrinth.
“If I do that, can I become a famous warrior like you?”
Well, I don’t know about that.
but…….
“Yes.”
“Oh! I see! I understand! I will definitely do exactly as you say!”
This would be better for them.
Because they are the kind of guys who only understand if you tell them clearly.
The dwarf spoke quietly to the young warriors heading towards the portal, taking my advice to heart.
“You… are very kind to your own kind?”
“I just did what I could. Isn’t it cruel to have to learn only through experience?”
“Well, that’s true. Hahaha!”
After such small talk, we headed to the center where the portal had opened.
Shh …
The field of vision becomes distant, and a brilliant five-colored light covers it.
Suddenly, past events unfold like a panorama.
‘Is this already the fourth time… … .’
When I first entered, I reached the second floor after defeating countless bastards.
second?
I entered the crack with the sole intention of becoming stronger. But it turned out to be a mutant crack.
What happened next was even more spectacular.
A team was formed, but got lost along the way.
In the end, the hierarchical monarch started to run wild, so I had to barely return after crossing the threshold of the underworld.
That’s why… … .
Flash-!
I hope nothing happens.
Could something like that happen?
Before I can even think about it, I just throw it away.
‘After, what kind of chew will you come out this time?’
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Something will definitely happen this time too.
So, let’s make up our minds.
***
“You have entered the crystal cave on the first floor.”
.
.
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「TIP: Your character’s Essence has reached its limit. Hunt new monsters and level up!」
