Well, it's not like I don't care. I just know. Most of those who give in to kidnappers' demands end up like this. These bastards never know satisfaction.
If you give one thing, they expect two. If you give two, they want three. That's why…
"Behel—raaaaaaaaa!!"
There is only one way to beat these bastards. Crack—!!!! Really slam your forehead with all your might, and without pulling away, stare them down.
"Those who have a lot to lose can't win?"
No way. Seems like this guy is seriously mistaken…
"I've never once won."
"..."
"Without losing anything."
I am Lee Hansu, also Bjorn Yandel. One player, and at the same time, a warrior fighting for survival.
In the labyrinth, my role is to raise my shield and protect my comrades, so I never ran away no matter the situation.
Because the paths I've walked taught me this: you can't protect anything by running away.
"..."
I irritably pushed away Ibaekho, who was looking at me with a somewhat tired gaze, and continued speaking.
"Ibaekho, if I lose something, you'll lose something too."
By the way, let me say this in advance.
"Don't say you have nothing to lose."
"..."
"I am your most desperate wish. I'll take that away. By any means."
While I was speaking, Ibaekho said nothing. He just looked up at me as if gauging whether my resolve was genuine or not.
And I felt the same. No words like 'Why do you think you can't?' escaped me. I silently stared him down.
This was also a chicken game. In a situation where each can ruin the other, who has the stronger nerve? It didn't take long to see the result.
Ibaekho is actually more rational than me.
"…So what exactly do you want to do?"
Ibaekho asked in a deflated voice, as things weren't going his way.
"You want compensation? Or blood? If you insist, I can give you a healer or a tank, but that old man is off-limits. If you want him, I'll have no choice but to fight to the end."
Yeah, so Parmel Harbae is absolutely non-negotiable…
"Ah! And don't even mention neutering!"
Damn, that mouth of his is alive to the end. Watching Ibaekho step back, I hesitated briefly, but it didn't take long to find an answer.
"I'm not the one making the offer."
"…?"
"The one begging does."
On his knees.
At my words, Ibaekho clenched his teeth as if his pride was hurt somewhere. But maybe rationally, he judged it better to follow my words?
"I'm sorry for… threatening the Baron… Sir…"
Ibaekho ground his teeth and forced out words that didn't want to come.
"If you forgive the mistake I made today… just this once… I will repay you generously…"
His voice was awkward, like a kid who had never apologized before. Somehow I tried to hold back a laugh at the absurdity and slapped the back of my head with my palm. Thwack!
"No! I just accepted your apology, why are you hitting me? Are you saying you won't accept the apology?"
What nerve.
"That's not it, just…"
"…?"
"I just felt like it."
Ah, that felt good.
The feeling was special, almost new. Seeing his sulky face made the bitterness of past days flash through my mind like a slideshow.
[Hmm, that's strange. Even though you made a name for yourself, I don't think the GM would take interest.]
[If you don't answer, I'll kill that cat tribe?][Suddenly being very kind?] This all started before he even knew I was 'Lee Hansu.'
[Sorry, but no returning the cat person.][Living as a barbarian made you deaf too?][Don't pretend to be the only sane one. It's disgusting.]
Even the times I criticized that idiot without hesitation despite knowing the truth.
All those incidents unfolded like a panorama in my head, and an indescribable thrilling exhilaration spread through my body.
'Getting an apology from this bastard…'
Of course, it wasn't a sincere apology… but where do you often get sincere apologies anyway? This is enough for me.
'Sincerity doesn't pay the bills.'
"So… shall we end it here…?"
Soon, Ibaekho asked, looking at me like a dog who had done something wrong. Honestly, my answer was already decided.
Rather than keep getting toyed by Ibaekho, I thought it better to go firm even if it means 'losing something.'
It's not like I wanted to go all the way with Ibaekho.
"Honestly, what exactly did I do wrong? I just asked a few questions…"
There's no winner in the end. Only losers who survived hell. 'But today, this bastard backed down first…'
Pressing further here would be an irrational choice. From now on, I only have one thing to do.
"And the cause of this incident was the Baron, right? If that old man hadn't done something suspicious inside and come out late—"
"Enough nonsense."
I cut off Ibaekho's habitual blaming others and spoke firmly.
"I'll decide whether to end this after I confirm what kind of 'repayment' you promised to pay properly."
Simply put, don't think you can just brush this off roughly. Pay me compensation that satisfies me.
"How much do you want? Oh, can it be paid in kind? I don't carry much cash."
Ibaekho sighed heavily, but I didn't answer. The first offer always comes from the weaker side, right?
"..."
I kept my mouth shut and stared, and Ibaekho cautiously made a proposal.
"…How about 200 million stones per person?"
That bastard still wants to save money in this situation.
"300 million stones per person."
I said firmly as if no way, and Ibaekho sighed again like the earth opened beneath him, nodding.
"Fine. 300 million stones."
"Oh, you and that old man are 700 million stones."
Pointing at Parmel Harbae, Ibaekho protested as if it made no sense.
"…What? Why on earth?"
Not knowing the real reason?
"We're making huge concessions by not killing the author here."
"..."
"If you lack money, just give up on those two. I won't compromise on that."
I told him like a final warning with no room for negotiation. Ibaekho had nothing else to say.
He just glanced at Erwen behind him once and nodded weakly as if understanding.
"Alright, that works. 2 billion stones."
"Then that's settled."
"Old man! I'll pay half, you pay half! That's doable, right?"
"What right does a member with a loser leader have? Do as you wish."
Ibaekho showed zero intention to take responsibility as leader. The conversation with Parmel Harbae was ugly too, but the 'real' was still to come.
"Right, and you two pay for your own lives."
"…W-What do you mean, Baekho?"
Aures, who risked his arm to obey Ibaekho, asked in a voice full of betrayal, but Ibaekho's shamelessness was world-class.
"So what? I pay? You're all adults, right? You're responsible for your own lives."
"..."
"Hm? And if you have a brain, think for a moment. I'm currently in a position to abandon you all and run if I want."
"..."
Even I was left speechless watching Ibaekho's miraculous logic. I can't even imagine how Jaina and Aures, who accepted him as leader, must feel.
But maybe that situation was familiar to those two.
"…Fine. We'll hope for what we can hope. I'll pay my own. I don't want to owe that guy."
"…Then I'll pay my own too."
Both resignedly accepted without protest. After the group's agreement, the compensation payment began in earnest, with considerable help from Bersil and GM.
"No way, how can ogre leather armor be 20 million stones! Even if I put it on the exchange as a bargain, it'd sell for 40 million!"
"We priced it including exchange fees and the effort costs to wait for buyers."
"What? Are you kidding? How much effort cost is that!"
Bersil and GM hammered down the value of the items given as compensation, and if Ibaekho protested, he was immediately summoned by me.
"Um… Captain?"
"Baron, you're here. You think it's unreasonable too, right? How can ogre leather armor—"
"If you don't like our pricing, sell it yourself later and pay cash today."
"..."
"If you can't pay cash, just keep quiet."
"Oh, no wonder when I asked for 200 million stones, only 100 million came up…"
Only then did Ibaekho realize why I hadn't pushed the price higher, grumbling. But once he noticed the hammering was included in the price, he stopped complaining. '…That's brutal.' When the compensation was finalized and tallied:
'7 hundred million stones in cash.' Surprisingly a huge amount of cash.
They gathered every penny because they realized goods would be appraised at low prices…
'4 hundred million stones in monster byproducts.'
Even though it says 400 million, if slowly sold at market price, it could earn up to twice that.
Of course, real profit is separate.
'900 million stones in equipment.' Of course, equipment wasn't hammered down as much as byproducts. But such things exist.
Precious equipment that can't simply be bought with money.
'No. 696 Raindress's Imperial Palace.' Looks like Erwen, who gave up the Fairy Palace, can use any random bow for now.
'No. 989 Orb of Circulation.' This greatly speeds resource recovery if not injured, suitable for Bersil the mage.
Actually, it's most efficient when worn by a priest, but our clan has none.
So it can be handed over later after recruiting a priest.
'No. 1001 Alonso's Travel Bag.' Honestly, this surprised me the most. Although its number is lower than the other equipment, it might be rarer.
"A bag? It's about the size to hang on a belt. Like a pocket dimension bag?"
"No, it's a charm-type item."
It's confusing because it looks like a bag, but Alonso's Travel Bag is a charm. In-game, it was labeled 'Charm.'
"If it's a charm… like No. 9999 Beginner's Luck?"
"Yes."
By the way, only Ainar among our clan has a charm-type item.
It increases the chance of essence drops on first monster hunt, bound item, so it can never be removed or replaced.
Unlike No. 1001 Alonso's Travel Bag.
"So what's its effect? Honestly, I have no clue…"
Bersil asked, and Amelia answered.
"It increases the chance of not being attacked by monsters and grants additional magic stones when monsters die within its radius."
Surprisingly, she's the expert on items. You know how kids can memorize hard dinosaur names easily? Like that.
But as a [Dungeon & Stone] expert, to add: rather than reducing attack chance, it lowers threat value itself.
So as a tank, I can never wear it. The lowered amount is not fixed but percentage-based.
'Threat was reduced by about 40%, I think?' Anyway, a good item to have in the team.
And now, every time we kill monsters in the labyrinth, extra magic stones drop.
'Permanent 1.5 times increase in magic stone income.'
I'll think later who to give it to, but for now, the weakest ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Auyan might be best.
"So, that's settled? This mistake is over? No hard feelings?"
"Of course."
"Hah… how did it end up like this… Then shall we be going?"
"Wait, where are you going?"
As soon as the settlement finished and they tried to leave, Ibaekho asked with a 'what's the problem?' look.
"Why? Isn't our business done?"
"But can't I ask?"
"I don't know either. The original plan was to fix that magic circle and return to the city… But what can we do? Even if we go back now, there's nothing we can do."
Strictly speaking, if we tried the 'original plan,' that old man would surely try to 'dispose' of this guy. But that's not important now.
"So where are you going?"
"Anywhere. I can't just laugh and joke around with the Baron here."
Well, I had that in mind too. Right?
[The evil spirit from another world '———' lost three comrades and finally realized the path they must take.]
If I make these guys comrades and carry them around, I might be able to sacrifice them. But…
"So don't catch me. Whatever they say, I won't be hanging around the Baron."
His pride was so broken, I don't think he'd want to stick with me…
'Okay, let that go cleanly.' I never thought this would go well anyway. I wouldn't really think of these guys as true comrades…
If I thought of them as true comrades, it would lose all meaning.
"Caw! Pfft! Then I'm off."
After that, Ibaekho spat phlegm like a cursed person and disappeared leading his 'comrades.' And…
-x-X-x-
"He's gone…"
Only then, just as an inexplicable tension snapped, my comrades approached.
"Sir, are you alright…?"
"You look quite exhausted…"
Faces full of concern surrounded mine, sprawled flat on the ground.
"Bjorn Yandel."
Amelia appeared among them, looking somewhat angry.
"How on earth did you end up here, why couldn't you come back, and why were you fighting those bastards?"
Sigh, of course they'd be curious. I had vanished without news for months.
"That's—"
Before I could explain, I tried to muster strength to get up.
"There are many questions I want to ask, but you look worn out."
Amelia smirked softly and gently pushed my shoulder, making me lie back down.
"Rest first. I'll hear the story after you've rested."
Her words brought a sudden relief to my heart, and my eyes fluttered closed. It felt like I could lose consciousness and fall asleep at any moment. Yet my mind was still tangled.
Thump! Just then, our comrades emerged from outside the city walls, narrowly avoiding disaster. We also pressured Ibaekho and gained many advantages.
But still…
"In the end, we ended up meeting…"
Can this really be called a good thing?
I was able to reunite with comrades outside the walls, whom I thought I'd only see months later.
[The evil spirits from another world '———' lost three comrades and only then realized the path they must take.]
Can this really be coincidence?
With heavy steps, in a silent atmosphere, a dark, stern expression so severe it ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) borders on frightening—
Four men and women, with these conditions, started walking through the forest. How much time passed?
Thud… The platinum-haired man leading suddenly stopped and muttered softly.
"Damn it."
His voice was barely audible, just a few syllables, but none of the three others spoke a word.
They knew. They knew how angry and humiliated he was.
"..."
After a brief silent moment, the burly man, looking around nervously, seemed like he had to say something and opened his mouth.
"Um… Baekho…?"
"..."
"Maybe it's a pointless question now… but why didn't you go all the way…?"
"Why didn't I go all the way?"
Ibaekho retorted coldly. Aures looked like he regretted speaking but then decided he had to satisfy his curiosity.
"Baron Yandel is known for caring deeply about his comrades. If it had gone all the way, the one to back down would have been the Baron."
For Aures, this was natural to wonder. Yandel and Ibaekho are completely different people. Bjorn Yandel cherishes comrades, but Ibaekho is the opposite.
A cold-blooded man who wouldn't bat an eye if someone died. That was Aures' assessment of Ibaekho—and it was accurate.
Considering this difference, it seemed Ibaekho had the upper hand in the earlier 'battle of wills.' Yet the opposite result happened.
The answer came through Jaina, who spoke for the silent Ibaekho.
"…I guess you didn't see it."
"Didn't see what?"
"The eyes."
"Eyes…?"
Aures tilted his head, confused. Jaina added an explanation.
"If you had seen his eyes, Aures, you wouldn't have asked that question."
"What on earth do you mean? What were his eyes like? Did he use some ability?"
"No, nothing like that… The moment I saw his eyes, I knew Baron Yandel is someone who never breaks. Especially if the method is intimidation."
Aures still looked puzzled, so the destruction scholar sitting nearby added a word.
"There are many who act recklessly or make wrong choices out of ignorance. But today, Baron Yandel was different."
"How was he different?"
The destruction scholar conjured a small flame on his palm.
"Ordinary people don't put their hands into fire. They know how hot it is. But what if someone saw fire for the first time?"
"Well… I don't know exactly, but I might have touched it out of curiosity."
"That's ignorance. Some fear because of ignorance, but others gain courage because of it."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"Baron Yandel knew exactly how hot the fire was, and what would happen if he touched it. Yet he didn't back down."
"Because he thought it was necessary."
Ibaekho finished that sentence. The destruction scholar showed no displeasure at the interruption and said something seemingly unrelated.
"They aren't beings without fear. They just learned how to overcome it and move forward. People called such ones 'warriors.'"
"...?"
"That's from the autobiography written by General Pebrosk."
"..."
"Today, I understand why barbarians call Baron Yandel a great warrior."
"Then, whose side is the old man on?"
"For now, he's on your side. That's why he's advising you so you can know why you failed. The Baron's eyes just now were those of someone who had made up their mind. But you weren't like that."
"So what? Should we have fought to the death? Just to solve one doubt?"
"It just means you should be cautious from now on. The 'leash' you tightly hold can no longer control him."
"I know, I know… so just stop. No need to rile people up."
Somehow, Ibaekho regained his usual tone as if his emotions settled. Then he exaggerated a sigh and muttered complainingly.
"Ha, really a dilemma. If I can't threaten them as comrades, how the hell am I supposed to control them now?"
Had the anger passed already? Now that seemed like the biggest problem. Ibaekho fell silent, deep in thought, while the three others quietly talked among themselves.
"By the way… he's really strong."
"The Baron?"
"Yes. I never dreamed there was such a monster who could withstand our full assault for hours."
"Just because you don't know doesn't mean such things don't exist."
"You mean there are more monsters like that?"
"Of course, they are few in number."
The destruction scholar said that, and Aures started counting figures he recalled, folding one finger after another.
One, two, three, four, five, six… The counting was slow, and not many fingers were folded when done. But…
"Maybe in a few years, you won't even need both hands."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Baron Yandel will become even stronger."
Jaina and Aures said nothing, but their eyes held a question—whether it's realistically possible to become stronger from here. The destruction scholar averted his gaze and then…
"Those who have nothing to lose only become ruthless…"
He spoke while looking at Ibaekho's back, who seemed lost in thought and didn't hear the conversation.
"Those who have much to protect become strong."
A natural law of this world, learned through long life.***
When I opened my eyes, I saw a tree. A gigantic tree soaring so high it seemed to reach the sky. Through the gaps, the night sky spread with stars like a milky way.
And… crackle crackle. The sound of a campfire burning.
'It's chilly.' Then I finally felt the coldness rising from the bare ground and the moisture settled in the bushes.
'Did they cover me?' A blanket was draped over me.
A specially large blanket just for me, enough to cover the entire body of a barbarian over 2 meters tall.
'Did they just cover me without moving me so I wouldn't wake up?' Thinking that warmed my heart somehow.
If it had been Ibaekho's team, I wouldn't have felt any of this no matter how many decades we spent together.
"You're awake."
While rustling inside the blanket, I noticed a voice nearby, probably noticing I woke up.
I slightly raised my upper body and saw Amelia sitting by the campfire.
"How long has it been?"
"Two days since you passed out and fell asleep."
"…What?"
So I'd been sleeping on bare ground for two days? No wonder my shoulders felt so stiff.
"What about the others?"
"They're sleeping. I was keeping watch."
I tilted my head at that.
"Not a clone?"
It's Amelia's specialty to keep watch with a summoned clone made by [Self-Replication]. So why was she here in the real body?
"…Because I thought it'd be better to have someone beside you when you woke up."
Damn… I really picked a good comrade.
"The mage engineer told me roughly what happened. You caused an incident again by acting on your own."
"An incident?"
"If only you had come out with just the mage engineer, none of this would have happened. What were you thinking?"
Amelia scolded me in a tone like reprimanding a reckless kid.
"Did it never occur to you to consult us? What if you died out there? How could you be so irresponsible?"
I had no good answer. I never expected it to turn out like this, but I caused trouble not just for myself but for them as well.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel. I trusted you and entrusted my life to you."
"..."
"Please don't make me regret that choice."
"…From now on, I'll never let this happen again."
I tried to make a pitiful face as much as possible, and Amelia pressed her forehead and exhaled deeply. Then…
"That's enough scolding."
Amelia returned to her usual voice and looked at me.
"You must have many questions, so first I'll tell you what happened on our side."
Then Amelia summarized what happened in the city after I disappeared.
Well, it was several months' worth, so it got lengthy. First, a sort of clan tournament held during the 13th month festival.
Our Anabada clan was supposed to participate but didn't because of my absence.
"The royal family opened the Golden Wedding Report to the ten winning clan members…?"
"For the clan leader, they opened the Silver Wedding Report, which is a step above the Golden."
Damn it. The Silver Wedding Report stores second-grade essences and double numbers. My stomach hurt a little, but I tried to think positively.
Besides, I got a lot exploring outside the walls, and in the end, I hit the jackpot getting compensation from Ibaekho.
Anyway, as I heard more, contrary to my worries, there were no major incidents.
Though a few problems occurred due to my absence, my business in the city seemed to be running smoothly.
"No news about my disappearance yet…?"
This part surprised me.
"How was that possible?"
"Most of your tasks were handled by us."
"But there must have been many suspicious people?"
"For them, we explained you were secluded researching after acquiring new essences."
"…Still, anyone who should know already does."
"Probably. This is the city. Even if we deny it, suspicion remains. We even disappeared once like this."
"…Oh! Right! How did you get out? Was the magic circle repaired?"
Hoping we could go home, I asked, but Amelia shook her head. Then she explained why we could leave.
'Only return was blocked; leaving the city was possible.' That warmed my heart.
"Why are you staring like that?"
Just grateful. Unlike me, they came outside the walls—the 'Unknown Land' itself—knowing they had no way back but still came looking for me.
"So, what about you?"
I smiled silently, and Amelia awkwardly changed the subject.
"Me? Hmm, where should I start—"
"As I said, I heard the rough story from the mage engineer. What I want to know is something else."
"What else?"
"The real reason you clashed with Ibaekho, with whom you were coexisting fairly well."
Ah, that…
"I heard you met Auril Gavis, and that you came out late at the end."
Well, that's something I already knew.
"What happened that made you hide it even while fighting with Ibaekho in such a disadvantageous situation?"
Looking at serious Amelia, I chuckled.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding… The reason I hid it from Ibaekho is different."
To be honest, there was no reason to keep secrets from Ibaekho. If he had politely asked first and proposed terms, I might have told him. But…
"He pressured me aggressively. I judged I could never yield here."
"…I see."
Amelia, raised in a world of the strong devouring the weak, fortunately understood what I meant without long explanation.
Still, I guess she remained curious.
-x-X-x-
"Anyway, so what exactly happened between you and that guy?"
She asked again, and I hesitated for a moment. Was it right to tell her about the records I saw there? After all, they couldn't be changed.
Would it just make her troubled for no reason? That thought kept me silent at first, but it didn't take long for my mindset to change.
There was just one thing I learned from watching Ibaekho.
"Emily, there's something you need to hear."
I don't have to carry the whole world alone.
In the end, I told Amelia about the 'record' Auril Gavis showed me.
[The evil spirit from another world '———' lost three comrades and only then realized the path they must take.]
Losing three comrades in the future. After hearing this, Amelia didn't question the absolute nature of the 'record' at all.
That's because she had experienced it firsthand with me. We had fallen into the past and changed history by running all over and enduring countless hardships.
"Beating it the same way as before… it seems difficult."
After a moment of silence to organize her thoughts, Amelia was the first to speak.
"I think the same. To use that method, you'd have to deceive yourself. Not be the clueless kid."
I nodded in agreement, and Amelia muttered quietly.
"…Though you weren't really a clueless kid."
What's that supposed to mean? She was smart for her age, but compared to now, she was still clueless.
I chuckled recalling the cute baby Amelia after a long time, when she suddenly asked seriously.
"But are the future records certain?"
"What do you mean?"
"You said no exact time was mentioned. I wondered if it might already be a 'record' that has happened."
"Oh?"
"Riol Warb Dwalki. Starting with that mage, haven't you lost many comrades so far? Of course, even counting them all won't reach three fingers…"
"Maybe they meant the three who influenced you most."
It was a plausible hypothesis, if not for Auril Gavis's words.
[Judging from how the records are inscribed on the record stones, this too is surely one event.]
Simply put, it's not counted one by one, but three people dying in one 'event.' At least judging from past patterns.
I don't believe anything is 100%. But the old man who gathered hundreds of fragments said it, so it wasn't easy to dismiss.
Apparently Amelia felt the same.
"…Then it's highly likely a record that hasn't happened yet."
Amelia resumed her serious gaze and began speculating various possibilities. Her most novel opinion was this:
"It definitely said 'loss,' right? If so, there's room for interpretation."
If it literally meant losing comrades, it could also end with no one dying…
"How nice would it be if that really happened…"
No matter how much I hope, the ominous feeling wouldn't leave my mind.
The many past experiences I had were already telling me in intuition: it won't happen that way. Ominous feelings always prove true.
"…Yandel?"
"Ah, sorry. I was just thinking. Thanks for your opinions. They all made sense. But I still think it's better to prepare for the worst rather than the best."
"So you mean prepare measures assuming three die?"
"Yes. Though I don't know if there's a way."
Amelia said nothing to my pessimistic and resigned words. Understandably, no matter how much we struggled, the 'record' would happen.
Whap! Amelia flicked my forehead. It didn't hurt, and I thought her finger must hurt more.
'Why did she suddenly hit me?' I looked down, puzzled, and saw Amelia's somewhat angry face.
"Why are you giving up already?"
"…Huh?"
"Bjorn Yandel, wasn't it you?"
"..."
"When even I gave up on myself back then, you were the one who never gave up until the very end and made a way."
Amelia grabbed my shoulder and brought her face close. Then…
"So don't ever make that expression again, Bjorn Yandel. To that clueless kid, you were a hero who could do anything."
Hearing that, my body trembled for some reason. It was a strange feeling.
The people of the city called me a hero, silently expecting much from me when things were tough, which always felt burdensome.
"..."
But today, the word 'hero' didn't feel burdensome. Although it was somewhat embarrassing.
I know well enough that I'm not a hero.
"..."
But still. Somehow. Though my poor words can't explain well. Thump! I felt like I could do anything.
"..."
Like I could do anything. Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last long.
"Um… sir…? Are you awake…?"
"…Ahem ahem!"
Damn, that was close.***
Starting with Erwen, the other comrades woke one by one, and the conversation with Amelia was temporarily paused. In the end, I couldn't even bring up the second record.
[·········The day Noni burned, the evil spirit '———' was betrayed by trusted comrades.]
The record that made me interpret betrayal by trusted comrades on the day Zod Karnon burned.
'Maybe it's better not to say.' The timing was off today, so I didn't get to talk about it, but maybe it's better I keep this one to myself.
Besides, I'm not even sure my interpretation is correct…
'And even if it is, can this be changed?' This seems even harder than the previous case.
Even if you knew who would betray you, what could you do? No matter how much you treat or persuade in advance, they wouldn't change their minds.
If it were that easy, it wouldn't be recorded.
'It's already complicated enough, no need to add this.'
Since it wasn't the right time to talk now, I decided to think more about whether to discuss it openly.
There's always a priority in everything.
"Looks like I woke everyone up by accident…"
Thanks to Erwen freaking out when he found me awake, soon all the comrades who were sleeping had woken up.
"Biii-jorn—!!!"
"Yeah, yeah, Ainar. Nice to see you too."
"Are you feeling okay? You didn't snore and slept like you were dead, so everyone was worried."
"I'm fine now. Just tired, don't worry, Kaislan."
"Glad you're safe, captain. The ladies… no, everyone was worried about you."
"But, Auyan. You seem to have gained some weight?"
"Is that so? Sorry…"
"No need to apologize. You look better now. Keep eating well."
"Yes!"
After exchanging greetings and small talk breathlessly, I quieted the group down.
No matter how close, this kind of thing needs to be said clearly. I addressed all members of our Anabada clan.
"First, I want to say sorry! I'm really sorry for making you come outside the dangerous city walls because of me!"
At my sincere apology, Kaislan, a knight-turned-explorer, smiled softly.
"No need to be sorry. We're all explorers."
"If there's a chance to explore outside the walls, you'd better run for it."
James Kalla echoed Kaislan teasingly. Both were former commanders of an organization, so they knew how to ease the mood.
Still, I needed to say what had to be said.
"And thank you! If not for you, things could have been really dangerous. Thanks to you, I'm alive!"
When I bowed, laughter broke out nearby. Hmm, they didn't seem to be mocking me…
"…Why are you laughing?"
At my question, Lilis Marone shrugged.
"Even though you said you're grateful, the looks on the enemies' faces we saw then were priceless."
"That's right! Everyone was about to pass out."
"I heard from the mage engineer they fought for hours."
"Bjorn is the invincible strongest great warrior!!"
…Maybe because we hadn't met in a while? Seeing members paint gold on my face somehow made me feel awkward but comfortable.
"Attention everyone! I'm not done talking yet!"
Quieting the crowd again, Bersil spoke on behalf of everyone.
"You don't have to apologize or thank. It's only natural."
Uh… thanks for that.
"I'm not here to apologize or say thanks."
We already did that earlier, no need to repeat.
"Really? Then… are you going to have a meeting about the future?"
Well, yes, that's necessary.
"You're wrong."
I wasn't going to start the meeting right away. These people came all the way outside the dangerous city walls looking for me. It would be rude to just settle with a few words.
"Then what are you going to do…?"
"Loot distribution."
"…?"
"Didn't we get a lot this time? Besides this, we have many other things! I'll lay them all out, so if you need anything, just say!"
Use sparingly, share, swap, and reuse.
That is the spirit of our clan.***
The loot distribution lasted longer than expected. Most of the loot we got this time was in kind.
"I also have things I don't use. I want to put them into the common pool, so if anyone needs them, use them…"
"Oh? Then me too!"
"I have a few too…"
Not only the loot but also individuals began pulling out unused items one by one, and the scale grew.
When everything was arranged, it reminded me of a small marketplace.
"That's unusual…"
"What's unusual?"
"Just all these scenes. What clan anywhere would have members so freely putting out their own stuff? These would sell for a high price."
Hmm… that makes sense. I haven't lived clan life, so I don't know well, but Bersil had been ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) in medium-large clans, so it felt even stranger to him.
"Oh, maybe it's natural since the leader is unusual?"
"What are you saying? Go check if there's anything you need."
"I was already planning to."
After that, even Bersil entered the marketplace and started picking items, and I watched those comrades from afar.
"So, what now?"
Amelia, who had paused conversation when Erwen woke, came to my side and spoke again.
"Hmm, maybe you should just look at stuff for now?"
"After hearing that, do you think I could focus on looking?"
Uh… that's true.
"Do you have any guesses about the situation? If three are to die, it's probably dangerous. Unlike you, I don't know much about outside the walls."
Fortunately or not, the first thing that came to my mind after hearing the question was:
[The truly terrifying monster.] The one Ibaekho said appears outside the walls.
[It seems to have no habitat. Wherever you go, it eventually appears. Every time it shows up, it kills thousands helplessly…]
Aside from its terror, I only know one thing about that monster.
The more people are around and the longer you stay outside the walls, the more likely it is to appear.
Whooshhhhh! Like a tier lord who appears when conditions are met.
The 'Anabada Market' held at midnight lasted longer than expected and ended only when dawn broke.
'This method isn't bad.'
It wasn't like everyone got core items, but every member was able to upgrade at least one or two pieces of equipment.
'The clan's strength probably increased by about 5% just by this market…'
At first, I hesitated because the distribution felt like voluntary sharing, but I'm glad we chose this method.
Seems like we can hold markets again later.
"Hehe… It's a new kind of distribution, but I like it."
"More importantly, isn't it fun? Sharing things each other need. It somehow feels like we're getting closer."
"Maybe this will become our clan's tradition someday."
Everyone praised the idea, so it seemed we could keep having the Anabada Market.
Of course, I have to keep in mind advice from James Kalla, the former deputy leader of a large clan.
"But if the scale grows, we'll need to be careful. For now, we only took what was needed, but someday, greedy people may join."
Honestly, I'm not worried yet. I'm not the kind of person who would let that happen…
And I doubt such people will ever join.
"Alright! You might be tired, but everyone gather!"
Everyone had been awake all night until morning, but that level of fatigue is common for explorers. With daylight, we started the next agenda.
"We have something to discuss!"
It was a sort of leadership meeting. Our Anabada clan is small, so it wasn't really a leadership meeting.
"As you know, the magic circle that allows us to return inside the walls is broken."
Anyway, before the real meeting started, I briefed the members on the current situation.
The magic circle is damaged. The characteristics of monsters outside the walls.
And the 'monster' that made the Noark bastards who left the wide world come back to the city on their own.
While explaining what they needed to know, the conversation naturally turned to GM's ability to fix the return magic circle if given materials…
-x-X-x-
"By any chance… what kind of materials are you talking about?"
"Oh, I have a note here listing the remaining materials. Would you like to see it?"
"Yes. Let me take a look."
GM handed over the notebook, and Lilis Marone, who had raised her hand earlier, took it and read for a while before nodding.
"If this is the case, we don't have to worry about materials."
"Really? Is that true?"
"Yes. We knew in advance that the magic circle was damaged, so we brought as much as possible when we left. The only missing item on the list is Pomplura spores… If the spores are needed because of mana stabilization properties, we can substitute them with Rapion's Wind Crystals, right?"
"Yes, yes! That's right! The Wind Crystals will do!"
Oh? That was unexpected. Judging by this, it seems we can start repairing the magic circle immediately.
The problem is… "What should we do?"
Though our options increased, deciding which to choose is not easy.
After all, the city doesn't feel completely safe. I know why Ibaekho tried so hard to return to the city as soon as possible.
[Once the preparations on the Noark side are done, we will advance to Zod Karnon and kill King Lafdonia.]
Whether Ibaekho is in the city or not, some kind of 'event' will occur. 'He said it would happen a year from nine months ago…'
So now there's about three months left, maybe? Anyway, because of those things, even if we can return, choosing to go back to the city is not easy.
But… 'Staying here also feels uncomfortable.' In some ways, outside the walls feels more dangerous than the city.
Because a monster so dangerous that Noark's forces couldn't do anything and lost thousands could appear. Should I stay outside the walls?
Or enter the city? Eventually, I have to choose between these two.
"Havelion, if we start repairing the magic circle immediately, how long will it take?"
"It won't take long. A lot of time has already passed, and natural restoration has proceeded considerably."
"Give me an exact time."
"We can finish within a week."
Hmm, I see.
"Then start immediately. If you need help from Bersil or Marone, call on them anytime."
"Yes, understood."
Still, I ordered the repair work to start immediately. Whether we head for the city or stay outside the walls, repairing the magic circle first was the right call.
"Then today's meeting will end here. Everyone, rest freely!"
Though earlier than expected, I hurriedly ended the meeting. After all, our options had narrowed to two.
Before deciding which to choose, there was someone I needed to talk to first.
"Sven Parav."
A paladin from the Reatlas Church, and the goblin mask.
"Eh…? I didn't do anything."
As soon as I called his name and approached, he habitually began defending himself. Looking at this, one might wonder what kind of guy he is…
Surprisingly, he has a very unique talent.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to blame you."
"Then… is it because of 'that'?"
"Yes. Has that 'sense' not come yet?"
Sven Parav has a 'precognition'-like 'intuition ability.' But it's not unconditional.
Only for 'future crises' he experiences can he detect with near-divine accuracy. So, how about this time?
"Well… I'm not sure yet. Nothing has activated so far…"
"…I see."
"If I get any feeling like that, I'll come running to tell you immediately."
"Alright, understood."
I felt both regret and slight relief that we couldn't rely on intuition for this choice. 'At least not yet…'
Yes, at least not yet—the time when the events in that record will occur.***
One day, two days, three days, four days… time passed quickly until it was exactly the seventh day.
"All done. Now, once the magic circle is activated, we can return to the city immediately."
GM delivered the news that the magic circle repair was complete. By the way, GM's expression was very agitated when delivering this news.
It seemed he was deeply moved that this long journey had finally come to an end and we could return…
"Eh…? What do you mean by that?"
"Just as you heard. We will not return to the city immediately."
"…What?"
I would be lying if I said I wasn't sorry for dragging the reclusive GM out beyond the walls. But there was nothing to be done.
"If you're not returning… then what are you planning?"
"We will stay here and wait."
"May I ask why?"
"I can't say yet. I'll tell you when it's more certain."
Without explaining the reason properly, I continued to stay in 'wait' mode. One day, two days, three days… one week, two weeks, three weeks… boring time doing nothing but waiting.
But to me, that time felt like the calm before the storm. Even if not as accurate as Sven Parav, I sensed intuitively.
Thump Like something could happen tomorrow. Whoooooosh! An ominous feeling that something is about to occur.
One month passed in that state, then the second month.
Whooooooshhhhh! The gentle wind suddenly turned fierce. At the same time, the sky darkened. Whoooosh!
Like the day of apocalypse, storm clouds gathered forming massive clouds.
"Do you think it's going to rain?"
"…I don't think so…"
"Is there anyone who knows about this climate change?"
Suddenly the surroundings became chaotic. I looked among the members who came out of the barracks and found Sven Parav.
It wasn't hard to find him. Opening the barracks door, I saw him trembling under a blanket as if he had caught a cold.
I knew immediately.
"Baron…"
Finally, Sven Parav's intuition had activated. But the problem was…
"We have to get out of here…! N-no, if we leave here, where do we go…? Th-there's nowhere to run…!"
I think this is the first time I've seen him mentally break like this.
"Calm down and explain. What do you mean by 'nowhere to run'?"
"W-we'll die! Even if we stay here…! Or leave here and head to the city…!"
-x-X-x-
Though spoken in a frantic state, the essence was simple. Whether outside or inside the walls, wherever you go, it's dangerous.
Simply put, red alerts flashing everywhere. Thump! What exactly is about to explode? If this doesn't work and that doesn't work…
What on earth am I supposed to do? A surge of frustration welled up inside me.
"Yeah…"
I found myself quietly accepting.
"That's just how my fate is."
It was impossible to avoid this way. I had planned to wait outside the walls, and if the tier lord appeared before then, cross into the city; if not, just hold out outside.
But this storm was not something you could avoid like that.
"A-ah…! Ah…!"
Watching Sven Parav begin to convulse beyond mere trembling, I silently steeled my resolve.
"Yandel…! Now's not the time for that! Get out here!"
Storm, lightning, flood, or any other unimaginable hell…
"Something's approaching from outside… Parav! Are y-you alright?"
Let it come if it wants. Clench. I will never give up.
"Captain! Orders…!"
Kaislan rushed to me inside the barracks, demanding instructions.
"Take care of Sven Parav. He doesn't seem able to move on his own."
"Understood."
Stepping outside, I saw the members already ready and waiting to depart.
"Emily, what have you found so far?"
"A massive mana reaction is detected beyond. The mana wavelength matches monsters', but they aren't sure."
"Why not?"
"The wavelength is too huge to be called a monster's. Even a first-grade monster wouldn't have one this strong."
"I see…"
"It's approaching rapidly, so we must decide quickly."
Right… that's what it means…
"…"
I glanced at the members waiting for my decision. I always feel this moment most burdensome and uncomfortable.
What's the right choice and what's the wrong one. Without any certainty. Thump! Yet I have to decide.
And the fate of those who follow me depends on that decision.
"…We move into the cave first. Then activate the portal so we can move to the city anytime."
As soon as I made the decision, all clan members quickly formed a moving formation and dashed into the cave. Tat-tat-tat! The closing distance matched our fast speed.
Soon, the restored Return Magic Circle appeared, and GM quickly activated it on my command.
'Three minutes.' Because preparations were done in advance, opening the portal took around three minutes—a short time. But… Whooooosh!
Why do these three minutes feel so long?
"It's moving faster! Faster!"
Lilis Marone, who set up mana detection radars around the camp, shouted urgently.
"…"
"…"
Surviving countless hardships, these elite explorers have instincts sharpened to the extreme and maintain battle-ready expressions.
How many times did an eternity of a second repeat?
"All done…!"
Finally, as the magic circle emitted light, a portal of strong radiance opened.
"It's here…"
Someone in the cave murmured. After that, no more words. Everyone held their breath and stared ahead, listening carefully.
Scrr-ck, scrr-ck. Something scraping the floor. Splash, splash… Sloppy footsteps. Screeeeeeeeeech
The wind sounded strangely like a scream.
"Sight."
Immediately giving a short order, Bersil beside me activated a light orb spell and illuminated the dark passage. Thanks to this, we learned a few things.
Scrr-ck, scrr-ck. The sound came from shackles on the feet. Splash, splash… Not sloppy footsteps, but from countless blinking eyeballs.
Screeeech Every step the creature took was surrounded by souls writhing in pain. Also…
"…Yandel, don't fight that guy."
Even without Amelia's advice—who has [Danger Sense] to gauge monster threat levels.
"A-ah…! Aah…! Aaargh…!!!"
Even Sven Parav, white-faced and helpless, instinctively knew this was 'that monster.' And…
Thump-thump-thump-thump! It's dangerous. More than any enemy we've fought so far.
"Ha…"
Still, thanks to that, I was able to throw away any lingering hesitation until the end. I briefly considered not returning to the city and fighting that thing instead—but I gave up cleanly.
"Everyone, take the portal and return to the city!"
At my shout, GM who was closest to the portal entered first, followed quickly by others one by one.
"They're coming, right…?"
Misha looked anxiously.
"Sir, I want to go with you."
Erwen stubbornly insisted.
"Bjorn…! Can't we just fight? If we catch it, it might give us something precious…"
Even Ainar, who hadn't grasped the situation yet.
"What are you all doing? Get in the portal already!"
I shouted in frustration. Erwen and Ainar flinched and hurried to the portal.
But then, as if things couldn't get worse…
[Kyaaaaaaak—!!!] Did my shout provoke 'that guy'? The creature suddenly started running at full speed from afar.
And to add insult to injury…
"Aah…! I-I don't want to! I don't! I said nooo…!"
Sven Parav started acting hysterically like having a panic attack in front of the portal.
"If I go there, I'll die! I'm not going!"
"What are you saying? You want to stay here alone?"
"Aah…! Aah! Aaargh!!"
"Damn! What kind of strength is this…!"
Even Kaislan seemed to have trouble forcibly leading the paladin Sven Parav out.
"Enough, Kaislan! You go first!"
"But…!"
"I'll take care of that guy, don't worry."
So Kaislan left first, and I took charge of Sven Parav. Then I quickly checked behind…
[Kyaaaaaaak—!!!] Not very fast after all. Except for me and him, everyone else had gone through the portal.
Then I grabbed Sven's chin, forced him to look me in the eyes, and…
"Stop whining. I don't want to go any more than you do."
"…Huh?"
"If you heard me, get in quickly."
Damn, annoying a barbarian at a critical moment.
"Aah! Aaargh!!"
After that, I lifted Sven Parav and threw him into the portal. 'So now it's just me left.' Once I go through the portal, it's over.
Fortunately, at the last moment, I didn't hesitate. Just… Tat! Like a jump, I threw myself into the portal and thought.
I recalled what the earth witch said.
[You'll experience harder and sadder things there.]
[Still want to go back?]
My answer to that question remains the same.
'Yes.' There's nothing unfamiliar anymore.
"The character moves to Lafdonia."
Let's go. Into the storm.
-x-X-x-
Taking the portal back to the Noirark underground fortress, my first impression was how quiet it was.
"..."
"..."
Except for the heavy breathing of the members, still tense from the recent urgent situation, the surroundings were eerily silent.
Not a single rat was to be seen anywhere, let alone the royal army who were supposedly occupying the fortress plaza.
Honestly, it was a bit unexpected.
Before taking the portal, Sven Parav, who is basically a human fate tracker, was making a big fuss, so I half-worried something would explode the moment we arrived.
"Ah… ugh… ah..."
By the way, he's still like this.
"Snap out of it, Sven Parav."
I stepped closer and tried talking, but his body trembled like a leaf with no sign of stopping.
So, I was watching, wondering what to do.
"…Are you okay? Parav, try to pull yourself together. Okay?"
Lilis Marone, a military mage who joined our clan after the Ice Rock expedition, approached carefully and took his hand.
"Whatever it is, you'll be fine. Don't be scared. I'll protect you."
To me, that looked like a wasted effort.
No way he'd snap out of it just because of that—
"Ah, ah… Ma, Marone?"
Huh?
"Uh, uh… Ma, Ma, Marone? Please, let go of my ha-hand first…"
…Is that actually working?
What's the difference between me and her?
"Oh! Sorry… Parav looked cold…"
"Oh, no! No need to apologize. I, I'm the one who should apologize…!"
Marone jumped back in surprise and a strange silence followed.
"..."
"..."
What on earth is going on with these two?
Are they like Rotmiller and Shavin Emur—some sort of romantic tension?
'Hmm… judging by Marone, probably not…'
I'm not sure.
Relationships between men and women are complicated anyway, and honestly, it's not important what their relationship is.
What matters is he finally came to his senses.
That's the only thing.
"Parav, if you're clear-headed, get up. Stop looking like a mess."
"Huh? Ah, ah! Yes…!"
Grabbing his shoulder, I forced him up, and though shaky, he stood on his own.
Okay, looks like we can talk now.
"Is that gut feeling still the same?"
"Yes…"
Phew… so that means something 'big' is really going to happen soon…
"…Understood. If anything changes, tell me immediately. It's going to be chaotic, so stay in the back and follow slowly while gathering yourself."
"…Sorry."
Ending the conversation with Parav, I called Amelia and Bersil out.
"Do you know why there's no one around? When you left, the royal army was occupying this place."
"They were. We even struggled to activate the magic circle stealthily to get out."
"I don't know why the royal army pulled out. No clues so far."
Hmm, I see…
I had even prepared excuses for if the royal army was here when we returned.
Glad I don't have to use them now.
Though it's unsettling not knowing why the royal army withdrew.
"Yandel, so what's the plan from now?"
Amelia asked, and I thought for a moment.
Again, there were two choices.
Either stay here silently, hiding in this empty underground fortress,
or go up to the city and find out what's really going on.
Naturally, my decision was made.
"…We'll return to the city first."
Closing your eyes doesn't change anything.
No matter how scared you are, you have to open them and look ahead.
At least then you'll know one thing.
What you should [N O V E L I G H T] be afraid of.
Of course, going into a basement, closing your eyes, and covering your ears is an option, but that decision must be made knowing the full situation.
Not out of pure fear.
"How many districts are you going to?"
"For now, I'll go to District 7 and decide flexibly based on the situation."
So, we left the silent underground city and climbed up to the sewers marking the border between Noirark and Lafdonia.
This wasn't a formation focused purely on speed…
But a cautious formation like when first entering the labyrinth or moving through extremely dangerous areas.
"..."
"..."
Though no one said it aloud, most members looked puzzled.
'Why go this far?'
Honestly, it was a natural question.
To them, it was just stepping outside the city walls and back again.
I must have seemed strange, moving as if certain something dangerous had unfolded.
Well, thanks to the trust I'd built, they seemed to assume there was some unspeakable reason.
Kuuuuuuung-!
As Amelia led and searched for the path in front, the floor and ceiling shook like an earthquake.
It wasn't a violent tremor, just slight vibrations, but enough to add tension to the already alert members' expressions.
"The tremor came from quite far away."
"…Is something really happening above the city?"
At first, there was doubt, but now their faces showed clear signs of sensing the situation was serious.
It didn't take long before things got worse.
"…Blood?"
Bright red blood floated on the sewage in the sewer.
Following it further, as expected—
"…Corpses."
Bodies lay scattered carelessly in the sewer.
Judging by the looks, they hadn't been dead very long…
Identifying them wasn't hard.
They must have rushed out with only expensive equipment due to lack of time; enough gear was left behind.
"These people… are the royal army."
The royal army is dead.
Even though the sewers are sparsely populated, this is clearly Lafdonia's territory.
"Is it possible they were just robbed by some vagabonds?"
No way.
The possibility that a vagabond would dare attack the royal army inside the sewers is almost zero.
Therefore…
"Emily, keep leading. We need to get upstairs quickly."
Passing by the royal army corpses, we increased our pace.
We saw several more royal army bodies until reaching the exit leading outside.
However, after that last tremor like an earthquake, the sewers never shook again…
Hmm, what the hell is going on here?
"…It's surprisingly quiet."
Arriving at the sewer exit, we cautiously observed outside without going out.
The view was limited but the distance visible straight ahead was very quiet.
Of course, it wasn't safe to relax.
No matter how outskirts the sewer entrance was, having no one on the street at midday was unusual.
"…What do we do?"
"We'll wait here for now. If so many people move, it will be noticed immediately. Emily, can you take a few people out to quietly check the situation and return?"
"No need for more than a few. It's easier if I go alone."
"No matter what, it might be dangerous—"
"It's safer alone. If it's dangerous even if you're discovered, having more people won't make a difference."
Hmm… no matter what she says, I worry.
But since she's the expert, that probably is safer.
"Alright. Please be careful. We don't expect much information, so don't overdo it."
"…I'll be back."
With that, Amelia prepared briefly and opened the sewer door, stepping out into the street.
She moved so swiftly and stealthily that I lost sight of her back the moment she stepped outside.
It didn't sit well that she didn't respond properly to being told not to overdo it, but for now, I decided to trust and wait while getting on with other tasks.
Time should be used efficiently, after all.
"I sent a mana transmission to the message stone coordinates at the clan house, but there was no response."
"That's expected. After checking, it seems a wave blocking mana transmission is spread throughout the city. I can't contact the remote video recording device in my lab either."
"No wonder! I felt mana was dispersing halfway…"
"Ah! I heard the military also has such magical devices. I thought they were only for wartime use… but it really seems something is happening in the city."
"What on earth happened during those two months we were outside?"
While Amelia was out, we organized all the information we could find on our own.
And then some time passed.
Creeeak.
Amelia opened the sewer grate and returned.
Though she looked tired, there were no signs of injury or battle damage on her clothes.
Still, just in case.
"Injured anywhere?"
"…No, don't worry."
Amelia smiled slightly at my question, then shared the information she gathered outside.
"The soldiers are spread along the walls, constantly using detection magic and abilities, so I couldn't get close. But one thing is certain: the incident started in Befron, which the Noirark forces had occupied."
"Befron…?"
"You'll see when we go outside later, but the barrier covering Befron was gone."
"So, a war really broke out."
"Most likely. I found this in our clan house mailbox."
Amelia handed me the mail we had found in the clan house.
The seal showed it was from the royal family, and Amelia had already opened it—the wax was broken…
"This is…"
Checking the letter, it had a long introduction as official documents from the royal family usually do.
But to sum it up briefly…
"It's a mobilization order."
"Yeah, it looks like not just us, but all clans in the city have been summoned."
"There's a law in the city code that explorers and fighters can be forcibly incorporated into the military during wartime."
That makes sense.
No country would fight a war relying only on regular soldiers.
While thinking that, Kaislan, a military veteran, sighed heavily beside me.
"This situation must be serious. About a year ago, when the Noirark people invaded, the mobilization order wasn't even issued…"
"Why not?"
"If the mobilization order is issued, the royal authority ultimately weakens. The royal family's power must be absolute, so issuing the order could be interpreted as a sign that help is needed."
Oh, really?
"Simply put, if the royal family could handle it alone, they would never issue a mobilization order."
"…I think that's a safe interpretation of the current situation."
Kaislan's words gave me a lot to think about.
So I silently just rubbed my chin.
"By the way, this is getting complicated… Miss Rains? Was there any official letter addressed to the clan leader, not the clan itself, among the mail?"
"There wasn't… but why is it complicated?"
"Well, our leader is a titled noble, right? When a mobilization order is issued, all titled nobles transfer their affiliation to the 'Military Command.'"
"Military Command…?"
"Hmm, it's a complicated concept, so I don't know how to explain it well…"
Kaislan frowned, then tried to organize his thoughts and gave the simplest explanation he could.
"As soon as we return to the city, our leader will be assigned to the Military Command and wait at Ecliptic."
"Then what about the Anabada clan?"
"We'll carry out the tasks assigned by higher-ups. Most likely on the most dangerous frontline. And that will be without the leader, just us."
In other words, we have to elect a vice leader to fill the vacancy first.
To return to the city.
-x-X-x-
After hearing Kaislan's words, I found myself deep in thought.
It made sense—once I publicly show myself, I'd be dragged to the Military Command, and our clan would have to face the dangerous frontline without me.
'Should I just keep hiding down here underground?'
I would lose three comrades.
Having seen such records before, the very choice to separate from my comrades feels unbearably uneasy.
But…
"You must go, Captain."
Kaislan spoke as if he could guess what I was worrying about.
"…Go?"
"Judging by the document, the mobilization order was issued not long ago. There's still time before the deadline, so it's not a problem yet, but if you don't comply even after the deadline, it could become a major issue later."
"For example?"
He looked at me as if telling me to name everything, then cautiously began.
"First, your reputation will be severely tarnished. No matter our internal situation, to outsiders, it would look like desertion. You'd seem like you ran away from the war out of fear."
In short, the 'giant' Baron Bjorn Yandel's name value would be dragged through the mud…
I wasn't unaware of the value of reputation, having relied on it quite a lot since the old days.
But…
"That doesn't matter at all. Next."
Seeing me answer immediately without hesitation, Kaislan paused briefly, then chuckled.
"That's an answer befitting a captain."
"Anyway, next."
"…Second is the damage to the clan itself. As I said before, it would be classified as desertion, so when the war ends, we'd all stand trial. We'd be severely punished. Desertion is treated as a very serious crime under military law."
"What kind of severe punishment exactly?"
"Death penalty. Military law aims foremost to set an example."
This wasn't something I could just brush off this time.
Unless all these people planned to live hiding their identities forever under the sewers.
"If… Noirark wins? Then wouldn't there be no punishment for desertion?"
"That might be so, but…"
When I raised the hypothetical, Kaislan looked at me firmly.
"The royal family will never be defeated."
"How can you be so sure? Isn't the very issuance of a mobilization order proof that the royal family is so desperate they need explorers' help?"
"Well… they just called for help to reduce their losses. I don't think they're really desperate."
He prefaced that it was just his opinion, but I couldn't just ignore it.
This guy was a military man.
He'd know better than anyone about the royal family's power.
"Is there a third thing?"
"The third is you, Captain."
"…Me?"
"Yes. We probably won't go as far as 'death penalty,' but in the worst case, your noble title could be revoked on the grounds of desertion."
He gave me such a serious look that I was curious.
"Revocation of title…"
Honestly, I don't care much about ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) losing the title itself.
The real problem is the members.
If I still had my title, I could have done something to prevent the 'death penalty.'
"I don't know why you worry, but may I say one thing to you, Captain?"
I stopped worrying and nodded; Kaislan looked at me with a soldier's gaze.
"We didn't choose to follow you to become your lackeys."
"..."
"We chose to walk the same path as you."
As soon as Kaislan finished, those around nodded in agreement.
"It's refreshing to hear what I've wanted to say for a long time."
Amelia even wore a satisfied expression like she'd just drunk a refreshing drink.
"You must go, Captain. The royal family will never lose. If you want to survive in this world, you must go now."
With such blunt words, I had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"Alright. I'll go. But there's something I must do first."
"What is it…?"
What else could it be?
If I go, I'll have to part ways with you all, right?
"I will elect a vice-captain now."
There must be someone to lead the group in the meantime.
The vice-captain position has been vacant since our founding.
Not intentionally left empty, but although I wanted to fill it earlier…
'Somehow it's only now that we're doing this.'
There were many reasons to delay the election.
At first, everyone found the position burdensome.
Even without a vice-captain, each took charge of a field and things ran smoothly. Plus, the members preferred a more horizontal atmosphere.
But now, things are different.
"Vice-captain… you mean?"
"Yes."
There's a saying.
A flock of sheep led by a lion is stronger than a lion led by sheep.
Leadership is that important.
Therefore…
"Is there anyone who wants to run?"
I casually asked the members, but no one dared raise their hand.
Kaislan seemed somewhat interested though…
'Those two are surprising.'
Bersil Gowland and James Calla, former vice-captains of medium-sized clans.
Both seemingly perfect for the role, but neither showed interest.
'Maybe they know how hard the job is from experience?'
I can understand that.
Our clan is a bit different from others.
Being vice-captain doesn't mean enjoying power or perks—it clearly means more duty.
'Hmm… who would be suitable then?'
I started carefully observing the members around me.
Who would be the best fit?
Still unknown, but one thing is certain.
The vice-captain is not a title I can just hand out.
If I gave the position to Auyen, would the others listen?
Only someone who can command authority within the clan by their own strength can take the role.
And in that sense…
Meland Kaislan.
He meets the minimum requirements.
Has experience leading groups, is a former soldier with some charisma…
'Above all, he's skilled in strategy and tactics.'
His downside is lack of information and a strong personal belief that makes him inflexible.
Simply put, he's poor at improvisation…
'Amelia Rainwails.'
Amelia is quite the opposite.
Always thinking and judging rationally, experienced enough to be good at improvisation.
But she understands groups less than Kaislan.
She's not without charisma, but prefers to work alone…
'Since she's a founding member, if she takes the position, everyone would probably accept it.'
That's a big advantage.
She'll lead the clan separated from me, and I think everyone would acknowledge her without complaint.
'Bersil Gowland.'
…He's also a decent candidate.
Joined soon after the Ice Rock expedition, so he's been with the clan relatively long, and is a former vice-captain.
'Though he seems less charismatic than the other two…'
That's probably because he's been an ordinary member, but he'd act differently as vice-captain.
'Seems decent at strategy and tactics… He's not too rigid or stubborn from what I've heard…'
Putting it all together, Bersil feels like a mix of Amelia and Kaislan.
Kind of in the middle.
'Anyway, no other candidates come to mind besides these three.'
After scanning all the remaining members, I narrowed the candidates to three.
Erwen and Misha are founding members but not the type to lead others.
"Hey… Vice-captain!! Can I… do it?!"
Ainar, of course.
"Stay quiet."
"Why?! Didn't you say if anyone wanted to, they should step up?!"
"…You're excluded."
"That's unfair! Bjorn!! How can you treat me so badly—"
"Fnelin, the captain is speaking. Be quiet."
As soon as Amelia sharply told him to shut up, Ainar instantly quieted down.
"..."
Sigh. Watching this, Amelia does seem the most fit…
"Just to be clear, I'm not planning to do it."
"…Huh?"
"Because it would never suit me."
Well, I think you're the only one who believes that.
She tends to underestimate herself, like how Erwen and Misha never wear skirts or bright clothes.
She just thinks things don't fit her.
Without even trying them on.
"But don't worry. Whoever becomes vice-captain, I'll support you as I have supported you."
Still, I can't force someone who says that so firmly.
So I gave up on making Amelia vice-captain cleanly.
"No one's volunteering, so I'll decide—"
"I! I said I would… Ah! Why am I being pinched?!"
Ainar tried to keep insisting, but Misha pinched his waist, ending the matter.
"No candidates, so I'll decide. Meland Kaislan and Bersil Gowland. I think you two are fit for vice-captain."
"If you trust me, I won't avoid the duties and weight."
"Me too… Someone has to do it eventually."
Okay, with those two candidates set…
Only one step remained.
If one gave up, the other would take it, but since both showed willingness…
"Now we start voting. All members come to me and whisper who you think fits better as vice-captain."
"Whisper… you mean?"
"Don't worry! Secrets will be kept!"
"..."
James Calla looked a bit baffled but said nothing more.
And…
"Let's begin!"
The barbarian-style secret vote began.
The first vote was for Erwen, whom I nominated.
"Amelia Rainwails."
…Huh?
Did I hear wrong?
"Just because. I think she'd do the best."
"But you have to choose one of the two…"
"Then just count mine as abstention. I don't care who it is."
"Alright."
So, one abstention (Amelia) from the start.
"My vote goes to Ms. Gowland… She seems a bit kinder than Kaislan."
Misha was second, voting for Bersil.
…Kindness and vice-captain don't really seem related though.
'…This isn't an elementary school class president election.'
I wondered if this was a popularity contest, but the later votes were better.
"Bersil Gowland."
Amelia said just that and left.
"I want to vote for Ms. Gowland."
James Calla, a former vice-captain.
"If I must entrust my life to one, it would be Ms. Gowland."
Sven Parav, with his exceptional survival sense.
"I'll go with Bersil Gowland."
Lilis Marone, without any special reason, also voted for Bersil, tallying five votes.
"I'll vote for Kaislan! A knight is better than a mage!"
"Hey… everyone can hear that."
Ainar, unaware of how secret votes work, gave one vote for Kaislan as well.
'Well, the results are decided.'
Candidates didn't vote, so the voting was basically over.
But I wanted to hear the opinions, so I summoned the last member for a vote.
"Um, I…"
Auyen Lokrov, the pirate-turned-navigator.
Who would he pick?
"I think… it has to be Lady Rainz."
A totally unexpected answer.
"Lady…?"
"Ah, no… I mean Miss Rains. I just think she's the best fit for vice-captain…"
Haha…
"Alright, go back."
"Okay… sorry for the nonsense."
"No, it's your right to express your opinion."
Anyway, with Auyen finishing voting and returning to his place, the vice-captain election ended.
"..."
"..."
Kaislan and Bersil looked tense.
Other members were also curiously awaiting the results.
"Don't worry! Kaislan! Everyone must have voted for you! A knight's better than a mage! You'll be the one!"
"Haha, don't flatter me too much. Ms. Gowland is very competent too. We won't know until the results are announced."
Hmm… Suddenly, I don't feel like announcing it.
Well, not that I'm going to back down though.
"I will announce the results. Bersil Gowland received five votes and will serve as the new vice-captain of the Anabada clan as of today."
Upon announcing the winner, Kaislan looked both a little disappointed and relieved.
"With five votes, Gowland must have had three. That's not a bad gap—"
"Emily Rains received two votes, and Meland Kaislan got one. That's all."
The results were as neatly arranged as Kaislan's earlier expression.
Because of that, Kaislan reacted after a long pause.
"…Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Exactly as it sounds."
Shrugging nonchalantly, Kaislan shouted in disbelief.
"But Miss Rains didn't even participate in the vice-captain race!"
True.
I even wondered if I should keep that secret to myself.
But that would taint the fairness of the sacred secret vote.
"Don't worry. All votes cast for Rains were counted as abstentions."
So keep your spirits up.
"Kaislan, second place is officially yours."
-x-X-x-
After the vice-captain election was over, I called Bersil Gowland aside for a private talk.
As the captain, there were things I needed to say.
"Heh heh, congratulations. You've finally got your hands on some power."
"…Don't joke around."
I was just trying to lighten the mood because he seemed to take the vice-captain position too heavily.
Well, the second-in-command should have some gravity to them.
"Bersil Gowland."
"Yes, speak."
"From today, you're the vice-captain of our clan. When I'm not around, you must lead the clan in my stead. Everyone will help you, but the final decisions must be yours—and you must bear the responsibility for the outcomes."
"I understand..."
Judging by his expression, it wasn't just a rote answer.
That put my mind somewhat at ease.
He would carry out his duties sincerely and without compromise.
Yeah, so…
'No need for long speeches.'
I put aside all the advice I had prepared.
Someone who already knows the weight of the role only needs trust and encouragement.
"You'll do well."
"..."
"Let's go, everyone's waiting."
With a few pats on his shoulder, I ended the private meeting and returned to the others to begin the real meeting.
Well, calling it a meeting was a stretch.
Honestly, it was closer to criminals whispering plans before police interrogation.
"At least we prepared in advance, so this part should go smoothly."
"Prepared?"
"We didn't know how long it'd take to get back, so before leaving the walls, we deliberately let slip that all members were going to special training."
The entire clan would spend over two months on special training.
Obviously suspicious, but what could anyone do if we said so?
Many clans actually use underground private training grounds to practice.
Though not officially licensed to use 'skills,' official training grounds expose you to prying eyes.
Most clans use private grounds to practice strategies and tactics, and the city unofficially turns a blind eye…
"Frankly, the excuse doesn't matter much. As long as we respond on time to the mobilization order, there's no grounds for accusation. Wherever we were for two or three months isn't illegal."
That's the truth.
As long as we pay taxes and follow the law, the city respects freedom within its walls.
The key is not to get caught outside the walls.
'Okay, that part's settled…'
After that, we discussed future plans.
"From here, the captain's role becomes crucial."
"Me?"
"Our clan gains a voice within the Military Command."
"So, you mean I should try to get us placed in safe rear positions?"
"Yes. Of course, your disposition will be the most important factor."
"Disposition…?"
I'm pretty normal.
If anything, I prefer hitting over agreeing—.
"Some see this war as an opportunity."
…Ah, so that's what that meant.
"They might assign us where it's easier to build records. It might be a bit riskier than the rear, though—."
No need to hear more.
"Enough, I have no such ambitions whatsoever."
I cut him off firmly.
"Survive without anyone seriously hurt. That's enough for me. Do not overextend yourselves, got it?"
This was something I had to warn about many times, so I looked each member in the eye and said it again.
And…
"Don't worry. I fully understand the captain's intent."
Bersil, exchanging a last glance, spoke resolutely.
"Good. That's all I need."
I felt a bit relieved.
Once the plan was roughly settled, we finally left the sewers and entered the city.
The streets were empty after the evacuation.
However, as we headed toward the wall bordering Befron, people started to appear.
"..."
"..."
Not ordinary people buying and selling fruit, but explorers or soldiers whose business was 'fighting.'
It didn't take long for them to whisper as they saw us.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel."
"Anabada clan…"
"I heard they went off for joint training…"
"So they only just confirmed the mobilization and joined the fight?"
Explorers quietly whispering and giving way without approaching.
Most looked favorable.
"Good thing they're assigned to District 7."
"Yeah, hearing they'll hold the front with those guys makes me feel safer already."
In urgent times like these, strong comrades are the most reassuring.
Even those who would usually glare with envy now looked on with welcome eyes.
"…They don't abandon their comrades, huh?"
"Hopefully that reputation is true."
"The higher-ups wouldn't bat an eye if a thousand people like us died."
"But there's Baron Yandel, so at least we can rest easy."
Honestly, it was a natural reaction.
I'm the only titled noble among active explorers this generation, and it was natural I would care about my clan members in District 7.
They probably felt like they had a reliable protector.
"Nia Lafdonia!"
As we walked toward the wall, a group of knights suddenly rushed over, apparently having heard the news, and saluted hastily.
"We greet Baron Yandel!"
"Affiliation?"
"I'm Muelrn Vail, leader of the 4th Royal Knight Corps, Seventh Outer Wall Guard."
The knight didn't quibble or ask questions in front of the crowd.
"If it's not rude, could you come with me briefly? The legion commander was very pleased to hear of your arrival."
"Who's the legion commander?"
"Eltora Terserion, commander of the 3rd Legion."
Right, that marquis's son.
Or rather…
[My son… Eltora Terserion is already dead. The one occupying his body now is some unknown evil spirit.]
That evil spirit possessed the marquis's son, and it was the very one who used us as cannon fodder during the Ice Rock expedition.
'With scum like that still commanding a legion, how can this country function properly?'
"Er… Baron?"
"Understood. Lead the way."
It was no place to talk in the middle of a street full of eyes, so we followed the knight to the command center located at the biggest inn near the wall.
"Could the others wait on the first floor?"
"Bersil, come with me. We'll go up together."
"Uh… well…"
The knight seemed reluctant to let Bersil in, but at my remark, he fell silent.
"He's our clan's vice-captain. It's better to talk together."
"Yes, then this way…"
The knight led us to a room on the third floor, and inside was a familiar figure I hadn't seen for a while.
"Welcome, Baron Yandel."
Hah, that bastard.
He's gotten more arrogant since I last saw him.
"Sit down."
No noble title, but he acts cocky just because he got the position of legion commander.
Crack!
Annoyed, I sank heavily into the sofa, and it sank right with me.
"I'll… just stand behind."
Bersil said that and actually stood behind me.
Only then did the marquis's son seem to notice him and frowned at the knight who guided us.
"I told you to let no one in."
"Um… he said he's the Anabada clan's vice-captain…"
"Hmm, vice-captain…"
The marquis's son, who at first looked like he wanted to throw us out, started stroking his chin.
I guess that's why middle-management salespeople get promoted quickly.
Even a hollow title is still better than nothing.
"We have nothing to hide from each other, so don't worry and speak freely."
"Nothing to hide…?"
The marquis's son looked between me and Bersil with a baffled expression, then nodded.
"Hmm, understood. Ms. Gowland? You may stay here."
"Thank you for the consideration."
"So… you're having a hard time?"
What is this crazy guy saying?
Has he forgotten the last time I beat him up?
Seeing him swagger now just made me want to get to the point quickly.
"So why did you call us?"
"You disappeared without a trace, Baron, so how could we not call? Besides, didn't you respond to the mobilization order yourself?"
"Well, that's true. I was in a place cut off from news and only just confirmed the order."
"Can you explain what you mean by 'cut off'?"
"Nothing special. We were at a private training ground doing joint training."
That answer was suspicious to anyone, but openly doubting someone was a huge insult in noble circles.
"…Ha ha, I see."
As expected, the marquis's son didn't press the issue, and the topic was closed.
"By the way, since this is the first time something like this has happened, can you tell me what happens next?"
"Oh, your situation is a bit unique, Baron."
"That's what I heard."
"According to the Explorer Special Law, the entire Anabada clan will be temporarily assigned to our 3rd Legion and follow our orders."
"And me?"
"You'll be assigned to the Military Command at Ecliptic Karnon, then your placement will be decided. Most titled nobles are assigned to the rear strategy unit, but some are placed at the front line."
"Oh, that's possible?"
"If the person wants it, or if the noble's abilities are needed at the front."
That was new detail I hadn't heard from Kaislan.
"So I can stay here with the 3rd Legion?"
"Hmm, yes, but you'll have to follow my orders. Is that alright?"
"No problem."
"Then I welcome that… but first, we should go to the Military Command and talk directly. I have no authority to assign a titled noble like Baron Yandel at will."
Sigh, so I have to stop by Ecliptic Karnon for now.
"The Military Command must have already been notified, so you can go there directly."
"Understood. But what on earth happened? I rushed here after hearing the news but have no information."
"Phew… Where to begin? Briefly, the Noirark group that occupied Befron came out on their own feet. They marched as if aiming for Ecliptic, but all our forces mobilized and successfully stopped them. They even used magical war machines to push them back to Befron again, and that happened today."
"Magical war machines…?"
"Ah, Baron Yandel might not know because you haven't served in the military. It's like the true power of our royal family. Once fired, the sky splits and the earth shakes. It's not an exaggeration. I saw it myself."
Like the royal family's version of a nuclear missile?
From the story alone, I can't tell exactly…
'Could the tremors we felt underground earlier be from that 'magical war machine'?'
Somehow it feels suffocating.
Like peeling an onion that just keeps producing more layers.
If we define the royal family as the 'enemy,' it's overwhelming.
Still, one thing was positive.
'If they're that strong, the Noirark bastards might stand a chance.'
Maybe the 'incident' recorded in ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) the fragments refers to now.
Maybe the royal family will easily defeat and wipe out the Noirark group, bringing peace again.
'…Maybe that's too hopeful.'
Ha, if only I didn't have that goblin's instinct, I might be able to relax and breathe a bit.
"Ah, looks like the Military Command sent word. They want you to hurry to Karnon. If you use the military magic circle, there'll be someone waiting right away."
"I see."
Hearing that, I stood up, and the marquis's son spoke to me like a superior.
"Before you go, do you have any last questions or words?"
Ah, that.
"No way I don't."
I wanted to say one last thing before leaving.
So…
"Eltora Terserion."
I leaned close and whispered in his ear.
"I know what you did during the Ice Rock expedition."
That guy had abandoned us as front-line commander, regardless of the marquis's orders.
"…!"
He flinched in surprise, apparently not expecting me to mention it directly.
Ignoring that, I continued.
"Do better."
"..."
"There won't be a second chance."