"It's faster to just show you than explain."
Astarotta said that and handed over a stack of documents without emotion.
The stack was fairly thick, but that was only natural. Nearly a thousand people had been present when the Urae struck.
'Straightforward enough…'
The documents, apparently sourced from the royal intelligence agency, were neatly formatted from top to bottom.
No. 1: Keldun Nilteon.
Status: Deceased.
Notes: The body was not recovered, but there is highly credible eyewitness testimony.
Name, status, and a brief note.
And whenever the status read "deceased," the word was printed in red, making the whole thing easy to scan at a glance.
Not that the clean formatting made reading it any more pleasant.
No. 17: Anthony Bolton.
Status: Deceased.
Notes: Body has been transferred to Morgue 7; belongings are in possession of a surviving clan member.
Sigh… This guy must've been one of those smaller clans who joined us from the Sanctuary…
No. 19: Gelta Fanun.
Status: Deceased.
Notes: Body was not recovered, but highly credible eyewitness testimony exists.
Every time the name of someone I actually knew appeared, not just recognized but had seen several times before, my heart lurched.
But…
Crunch—
They were under my responsibility, yes. But to be blunt, the [Record Stone] wouldn't have called them "comrades" just because they died.
I kept flipping through the documents.
"Wait a minute, what's this? It says 'missing' for their status."
"Exactly as it reads."
"Didn't you just say everything had already been accounted for?"
"It means Intelligence hasn't found them yet, so practically speaking, you can assume they're dead. But since there's no body or witness report, they're still officially marked as missing."
"..."
"And more importantly—aren't there specific names you're really looking for?"
Well, yeah.
Couldn't deny that.
So I silently resumed reading, and before long, I found the names I truly wanted to confirm.
No. 119: Sven Parab.
Status: Alive.
Notes: Currently serving in the 7th Legion, 4th Wall garrison under mandatory duty.
'Phew… so he made it.'
I'd heard he'd gone missing during the chaos, and that had me worried…
But then again, with that ridiculous sixth sense of his, it'd be weird if he did die when war broke out.
"…Was it your doing that he got placed in the 4th Wall garrison?"
I asked, having noticed the note.
The 4th Wall garrison's jurisdiction was along the barrier adjoining Gnomtree. Technically an assignment, but in reality, more like being on standby.
"…Of course it was. Do you know how many are trying to get in there right now? I placed the others there too. They should all be doing fine together."
"I see… thanks for that."
When I offered a simple thank-you, Astarotta made a strange face I couldn't quite read.
'Uh…'
…Don't tell me she's embarrassed?
Thinking that made me feel a bit awkward too.
"Must be because of your pretty name. You're so considerate."
When I lightly joked, Astarotta clicked her tongue in displeasure, and with the atmosphere now lighter, I turned back to the documents.
No. 170: Meland Kaislan.
Alive.
No. 242: Riris Marone.
Alive.
No. 310: Ainard Prnelin.
Currently listed as "missing" since she only just arrived in the capital, but she's alive. The ones who were with me don't really need checking…
No. 381: Versil Gowland.
Alive.
No. 404: James Carla.
Dropped in the middle of the battlefield, arm severed, treatment delayed—declared irrecoverable…
Alive.
Grit.
At that point, I realized my jaw had tensed on its own.
And with good reason. Only two names remained whose fates I hadn't confirmed.
Elwen and Misha.
The comrades who'd been with me since those earliest days, back when I was just a clueless Barbarian starting with nothing.
Slide.
As I hurriedly flipped through the pages, my fingertips started to tremble slightly.
Thump thump thump thump thump…
No matter how quietly I exhaled, my heart was pounding like mad.
No. 606: Misha Kalstein.
The moment I found the name, I held my breath for a second.
Status: Alive.
When I confirmed those black letters beneath her name, I let out a long breath.
'She's alive.'
But the moment of relief lasted only a heartbeat.
Slide, slide.
I flipped through the pages even faster now, scanning for the final name I needed to see.
And then…
No. 777: Elwen Fornaci di Tersia.
Status: Alive.
Notes: Currently serving in the 7th Legion, 4th Wall garrison under mandatory duty.
The moment I read her name, the strength drained from my body, starting from my fingertips.
She made it.
None of them died.
Overwhelmed by a wave of unmistakable joy—
"Then why that expression? They're all alive."
—I couldn't smile.
Because one burning question filled my mind.
'Why…'
Why are they all still alive?
Could the [Record Stone] have been wrong? Did I misunderstand something?
I don't know.
But precisely because I don't, a formless dread began to seep in—like smoke, fear crept into my thoughts and slowly began to take shape, drawn from the experiences buried deep in my subconscious.
'Don't tell me…'
…It's not over yet?
The moment that thought brushed past my mind—
Knock knock knock.
A knock echoed through the room, and the royal knight who had guided me here stepped inside.
No evidence. No clues. Nothing concrete.
Yet human intuition has strange depth. The moment I saw that knight's face, I felt suffocating dread.
And—
"What is it?"
Once again, my gut feeling hit the mark.
"An incident occurred within the 4th Wall garrison."
"What kind of incident?"
"Well…"
"Bjorn Yandel is fine. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Just report it quickly."
The usually quiet and curt knight hesitated even after the order, but eventually began speaking.
"Two members of the Anabada Clan have been killed."
…Goddamn it.
***
When I came to, I was sprinting down the boulevard of Karnohn, the capital. Even using psychic abilities—strictly forbidden within the city.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
How long had I been running?
By the time I reached the western wall of Karnohn, which borders Noark's territory, a knight who looked like a supervisor was waiting.
"…We were informed you'd be arriving. This way."
Must've been Astarotta who gave the heads-up after I stormed off.
Doesn't matter.
"Run."
"…Excuse me?"
"I said don't walk—run."
His sluggish pace annoyed me, so I gave the order, and the knight who'd initially started leading on foot now broke into a run.
Following him, I arrived at a temporary tent.
There, gathered at the entrance, were my comrades.
"Yandel…?"
Meland Kaislan.
"…B-Bjorn?!"
A shocked-looking Misha.
"A-Ajussi!"
Elwen, Sven Parab, and others…
Their expressions were painfully complicated.
Normally, they would've rushed at me the moment they saw me, overjoyed.
But they stood there awkwardly frozen, unable to approach.
Tightly shut lips. Uncertain, restless gazes.
"Would you all step aside for a moment?"
I asked calmly, suppressing my emotions, and they silently made way.
"B-Bjorn, sir! We're still in the middle of investigating the—"
What the hell is this bastard saying?
Thunk.
I lightly shoved the knight aside and stepped into the tent.
Slide.
Inside, it looked like a crime scene—disordered and grim. Near the entrance were two movable cots.
On each lay a figure covered head-to-toe with a white sheet…
"…It's Sir Yandel. Stop work for now and step outside."
The investigators, startled, complied with the knight's order and filed out.
And then—
Whip—!
I pulled back the sheet on the left cot first.
I only uncovered it down to the upper torso, but that was enough.
The condition of the body was horrific.
One arm had been blown off and poorly healed, the head and neck completely separated. It looked like someone had just loosely pieced together parts of a doll.
"…James Carla."
He'd joined our clan after bonding during the Icerock expedition.
We hadn't spent as much time together as my original comrades, but he was so good-natured that everyone liked him.
Myself included.
"..."
I pulled the sheet back up and moved to the other cot.
And then—
Slide.
Slowly, I drew back the cloth, revealing a face pale and lifeless but unmistakable.
"Versil Gowland…"
We'd met at the Round Table wearing masks. Somehow, that strange fate had led her to become one of us.
She was from the same Earth, and her administrative skills were second only to Amelia's, so I'd leaned on her a lot in running the clan.
That's why I'd appointed her deputy leader before we left.
"..."
I stared down at her for a long time before finally replacing the sheet.
Perhaps that was the cue to speak—the knight, standing awkwardly nearby, began explaining.
"It appears to be an assassination. When first discovered, Sir James Carla was lying in bed. Given the neck wounds and blood evidence, experts believe he was killed in his sleep."
Assassination…
The words didn't even make me laugh bitterly.
Fuck, are you kidding me? I figured he'd die in battle, not like this.
"…And Versil Gowland?"
"The investigation isn't complete, so there's some disagreement among the team, but… the leading theory is that the assassin targeted Sir Carla, and Miss Gowland was tragically caught in the act."
"…Caught in the act?"
"Yes. First, the tent was assigned to Sir Carla. Second, Miss Gowland's body was found near the entrance. Third, there were traces of struggle on her and in the tent."
"And what else should I know?"
"Well, the investigation is still ongoing, so…"
"Doesn't matter if it's not confirmed. Tell me everything you know so far. Call the investigators back in if you have to."
Maybe it was the tone of my voice, but the knight didn't argue. He complied, and I was briefed for a long while on everything—from recovered items to murder weapon analysis.
And then—
"That's enough. Go about your duties."
I left the tent and walked toward the wall.
My comrades asked where I was going, but I brushed them off, saying I needed to take a look around.
I needed time alone.
"..."
Wandering near the wall, I found a suitable rooftop and lay down, arms spread wide, staring up at the sky.
I did nothing, yet time kept flowing. The color of the sky gradually changed.
From gloomy gray, to patches of blue as the clouds parted briefly, then yellow, then red, as the sun set…
"..."
By the time the sun had fully gone and the sky turned pitch black—
A familiar voice called out from somewhere behind me.
"Hyung, you eaten yet?"
There was no need to guess.
I sat up and, instead of greeting him, glared coldly.
"What? Not surprised?"
I had a feeling he'd show up if I waited like this.
Given his personality, especially so.
"..."
I stared at him. He stared right back.
Ibaekho.
Truthfully, I'd had a lot of thoughts about this guy.
Yes, he was dangerous—but there were things I could use him for too.
He'd brought me closer to the secrets of this world. Hell, the reason I'd even been able to join the Round Table was because of him.
So I'd treated him like poison—swallowing the sweet parts, spitting out the bitter.
I believed that since he wanted something from me, he'd never cross the line.
If he didn't come at me first, there was no need for me to strike him either.
But—
'If that was my mistake, then so be it.'
Breaking the long silence, I finally asked him:
"Why did you kill them?"
No subject, but no confusion.
He paused, then smirked.
That smile told me, clearer than anything, how I needed to see him from now on.
"…So you figured it out after all?"
This bastard is my enemy.
My top-priority target.
-x-X-x-
Ibaekho's answer was a little different from what I expected.
I hadn't imagined he'd admit it so casually.
Honestly, I thought he'd try to deny it more.
'Then again… maybe it's not that strange.'
If he hadn't shown up at all, that would've been one thing.
But the fact that he came here himself meant he assumed I suspected him.
And since he wasn't completely sure, he must've come one last time to check for himself.
That's the kind of guy he is.
Yeah, so—
"This is the last time I'll ask."
I barely held back the urge to smash his skull open right there and asked:
"Why did you kill them?"
Even though I was convinced Ibaekho was the culprit, I still couldn't begin to guess his motive.
Why had Ibaekho harmed my comrades?
The truth that came from his mouth was truly absurd.
"You really don't know?"
"I'm not in the mood for jokes. Just answer."
"You know, right? That everything I did was for you."
It was beyond laughable.
"Are you seriously saying… you killed them for me?"
I asked again, barely keeping the fury in my gut from bursting out—and Ibaekho nodded without hesitation.
"I happened to overhear something about the [Record Stone]. That you'd realize your true path after losing three comrades, right?"
"...."
"But if you think about it, that means three of them had to die. For you to awaken, I mean."
You son of a bitch…
"So you killed them… because only one had died in the war?"
"Huh? Nah, not exactly."
To my surprise, Ibaekho shook his head.
"The record said three would die, right? So even if I did nothing, three were gonna die no matter what."
"Then why—"
"James Carla."
He interrupted me.
"He got hit hard by that black mage, right? Even the High Priest couldn't heal his arm. So I chose him. If three are fated to die, wouldn't it be best if the one least helpful to your future was the one who went?"
"...."
"But I didn't expect that woman to show up. Seriously, why was she even there at that hour? Were you two… like that?"
"...."
"Ugh… whatever it was, she ruined everything. You figured it out because of her, didn't you? Because I stabbed her big and loud right in the gut. I thought you'd recognize the wound, since you were with her outside the wall. I was gonna clean everything up before leaving, but she made too much noise before dying, and I had to bolt."
"...."
"Anyway, I'm sorry it turned out like this. I really didn't expect it. I had good intentions, you know? When she died, even I was like 'shit.' I thought if I just took out James Carla, the other one would die by accident somehow. But this way, guess it's just fate—three had to die. Man, what bullshit, right—"
Watching Ibaekho talk like he was the one wronged, I couldn't take it anymore.
BOOOOOM—!
The hammer came down, targeting the top of his skull—and slammed into the rooftop with an earthshaking crash.
"Ugh… you're really mad, huh, hyung?"
I didn't answer.
Conversation is for people.
This thing? He's no longer a person to me.
He's just a dangerous animal that needs to be put down the moment I see him.
Fwooooosh—!
As I swung my hammer again, Ibaekho sprang into the air and hovered in the empty sky.
"Hyung, just one last question."
"...."
"Come on, just answer this one thing, please?"
"...."
"Is it really impossible for us to make peace?"
"…Peace?"
Not an apology—peace?
He was joking with me. Treating me like a game.
"Yeah. I mean, we're both Koreans, right? Maybe just let it go with a big heart—"
Dash—!
I leapt high and swung my hammer, but he jumped even higher and sighed.
"Geez… they say unlucky bastards get a nosebleed just from falling on their back. Guess that's me. Whatever… lately, I've been seeing new possibilities."
"...?"
"Oh, right. You don't know yet, huh?"
"...."
"Until now, I thought you were the protagonist of this story. But now… maybe not?"
He stood silhouetted against the moon, looking down at me.
"So with that, I'm done."
"...."
"With this lame rival role that only exists to make the protagonist shine."
"...."
"Honestly? It was boring as fuck."
I couldn't fully grasp what he was saying.
But one thing was beyond clear.
「———— has cast [Star's Extinction].」
My relationship with him…is now beyond repair.
***
When the blinding white light faded and I opened my eyes again, I was lying in the center of a massive crater.
Ibaekho was nowhere to be seen.
From outside the crater, I saw soldiers running toward me, alerted by the commotion.
I let out a sigh and slowly pushed myself up.
'Ugh, my whole body aches…'
Seriously, there's not a single spot that doesn't hurt. What kind of bullshit cheat skill is that?
My stats are through the roof, and I still got wrecked by one essence strike?
"B-Bjorn…? A-Are you alright?"
"What in the world happened…?"
After pulling myself together, I gave the field commander a rough explanation about a surprise attack. Finished giving something like a statement. Then I returned to my comrades.
Amelia, whom I'd left behind at the palace, had also joined us in the meantime. Apparently, Astarotta had given permission for Amelia, Ainard, and Auyen to leave.
"…You're saying Ibaekho was the assassin?"
Hearing that he had killed James Carla and Versil Gowland, Amelia was visibly shaken—something I hadn't seen in a long time.
And when I told her he'd attacked me as well, her face turned deadly serious.
"…We've gained a dangerous enemy."
I understood her concern.
But I had to correct one thing.
"He didn't just become an enemy."
"…?"
"I was too stupid to realize it sooner, that's all."
Ibaekho never saw me as anything more than a tool—just something to use as he pleased.
Sure, I kept up our relationship because I saw some use in him too.
But now it's clear.
Which means now we deal with things realistically.
"Anyway, from now on, none of us know what Ibaekho might do. We need to look out for each other."
"I understand. Once things settle, we'll need to secure a better location. Somewhere harder to infiltrate."
"Exactly. We don't know when, where, or how he'll strike next."
Still, it wasn't a topic we could act on immediately. So we didn't dwell on it long.
"By the way… those three are still in the palace, right?"
"Yeah, for political reasons. Harin Suevi chose to stay of her own will, too. Said she'd keep watch in case Countess # Nоvеlight # Peproc wakes up."
"I see…"
It made sense from Astarotta's perspective.
She wouldn't let Elthora, the traitor marquis's son, or Ragna, a royal bloodline, roam freely.
'I'll need to talk to her about Ragna later…'
Sigh…
As I quietly exhaled, Amelia patted me on the shoulder and stepped outside.
"Get some rest first. I'll smooth things over with the others."
Maybe I was falling short as a clan leader, but I was genuinely grateful for that kind of kindness.
I did want to know what Misha, Elwen, and the others had been through since the teleportation event…
'Later…'
Right now, I just wanted rest.
After Amelia left, I lay down on the military cot and closed my eyes. My body and mind screamed in exhaustion, but sleep never came.
Brown Rotmiller.
James Carla.
Versil Gowland.
Every time those three crossed my mind, waves of emotion surged through me.
Sadness.
Guilt.
Rage.
Ibaekho.
The mere thought of him filled me with choking fury and regret.
Ragna Litaniel Peproc.
The marquis's final request kept circling in my head.
What would the royal family do to her now? And if they tried something, how could I stop it?
And then—
The warriors of my tribe who died following me.
A war still ongoing.
The king, still in slumber.
The bizarre group called Hirkumuta.
Aurell Gaviss.
All of them haunted me, tightening their grip on my throat.
In the end, I didn't sleep a wink before dawn.
Still… maybe because my eyes had been closed for a while? Or maybe thinking things through over and over had helped me settle my thoughts?
I wasn't sure, but I felt slightly better.
Not enough time to sleep now anyway, so I decided I might as well get up and start the day.
"Biioooooorn!!!"
Ainar's shout rang out from a distance.
It echoed loudly and drew closer by the second…
"Biioooorn!!! Wake up!!"
Without knocking or warning, the tent flap burst open and Ainard stepped inside.
And—
"It's huge…! Really huge!!"
Through the news she brought, one of the many questions that had been eating at me all night was finally answered.
Well, halfway.
"The war is over…!!!"
…To be exact, a truce.
***
Noun: Truce.
Definition: An agreement between warring parties to stop fighting for a period of time.
If we're speaking purely from a dictionary standpoint, this situation barely qualified as a "truce."
It was a forced one.
Just like before when they fortified Viphron, Noark had locked themselves in again.
With the marquis dead, the Urae gone, and the front in District 4 steadily collapsing, it must've been their only option.
And yet, it's funny.
From Noark's side, it was like swallowing bitter medicine—they had no other choice but to hide in their bunker.
But the royal side interpreted it completely differently.
With Viphron lost, and now District 4 taken too, they feared the capital would be next.
Even the nobles, supposedly educated, were shaking with fear—let alone the clueless civilians.
'…Still, even without that, the situation is pretty serious.'
Remember what happened after Viphron fell?
They shut the Labyrinth down, refusing to send any more resources to Noark.
Prices skyrocketed. People starved.
The royal family knew it too—that's why they suspended war taxes.
But now that the war had "paused," even temporarily…
'No mining for a whole year, the treasury covering the shortfall… they must be running on fumes.'
I had no idea what would happen next.
…But it wasn't a problem I needed to solve right this second.
"Chief!! The Chief is back—!!!"
Once things had calmed down, I collected our fallen comrades and returned to the Sanctuary.
"You're back! What's happening outside? Is the war really over?"
Shabin Emure, who'd taken care of things while I was gone, bombarded me with questions the moment she saw me.
Of course she did.
I knew the exact situation because of my status—but ordinary people only had rumors to go on.
Shabin, who never left the Sanctuary, couldn't possibly know.
Why the war ended.
How it ended.
And…
"…Huh?"
…Who had died.
"But… Rotmiller isn't with you? Is he in the back somewhere?"
Before I could force open my stiff lips, I looked down at my palm. Even though I hadn't washed it, the ink had faded—just barely visible now.
But even faded, I could still read it clearly.
What he'd scrawled in haste atop that cart.
[Be kind to Miss Shabin. She's a good woman.]
It's something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
-x-X-x-
The funeral, long and yet short, was coming to an end.
The remains of the warriors we could recover were buried in the forest, according to tribal tradition. For those we couldn't retrieve, we gathered their names and erected a memorial stone.
As for the humans—we followed human customs. We dug deep into the ground, buried them beneath it, and placed a headstone above.
"Are you really okay with this? Burying him here, on Barbarian land…?"
I'd quietly been concerned about that, but James Carla's surviving family surprisingly wanted him buried here.
Apparently, there's no land left for burials in Lafdonia. Unless you're a noble who can be buried in Gnomtree, most people are cremated and keep the urns at home.
"Besides… I think he'd rather be near his comrades. He really was all about work…"
"That's not true. Even while drinking, he'd say his family was waiting and leave early. That was him."
"I… see. Our… big brother…"
Watching James Carla's younger sister cry quietly in front of his grave, I thought to myself—
Why does sincerity always come too late?
Is it because humans can't recognize what they have until it's lost?
I didn't know. So I slowly turned my head.
Versil Gowland.
Her grave was made next to James Carla's. Her birth date and the date from a few days ago were engraved on the stone.
Unlike Carla, who had family around, there was no one of her blood nearby.
And I knew the reason.
We were her only family.
["Why did I cut ties with my family? No reason, really. They just got in the way of exploring."]
That's what she'd said. But I knew that wasn't the truth.
The Gowlands weren't her real family. It wasn't fear of being exposed as a revenant. It was the pain of pretending to be their daughter after stealing someone else's life.
["So I said some harsh things and broke it off. I agreed to pay their taxes too. Didn't mind. Wasn't a big sum anyway."]
…I'll have to look into it when this is all over.
Make sure her assets go properly to her registered family. Our clan isn't hurting for money, and legally it's the right thing to do anyway.
As I stared at her grave, Sven Parab murmured softly beside me.
"May she… be guided to where she belongs…"
A simple blessing, but for those of us who knew the truth—it carried more.
And I felt the same.
Fwoooosh—
Seriously, is he some kind of saint?
He's just speaking, but his voice carries a kind of divine weight. He didn't even seem to be using a skill.
Still, when he prays this sincerely, a faint white glow surrounds him.
"..."
Turning my gaze from Gowland's grave, I now saw Rotmiller's.
That damn dwarf was drinking in front of it. Beside him, Misha stood with clenched fists, crying quietly in frustration.
And—
"..."
Shabin Emure stood a little ways off, staring blankly at the headstone.
Normally, I would've left her alone to grieve, but I remembered Rotmiller's words—so I approached her.
"..."
Even as I stood beside her, she said nothing.
So I said nothing either.
After a long time, Shabin finally spoke.
"Yandel… Would it be weird if I cried here?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, Rotmiller and I weren't… anything."
Ah. So that's what she meant.
Yeah, it ended before it could even begin.
"I'm jealous. Kalstein, Hikurod… they were in the same team as him. They can cry freely. But me—"
"What does that matter?"
I cut her off.
Truthfully, I'd been hesitating whether to share what Rotmiller told me.
But now I knew I had to.
"Rotmiller told me—before he died. He asked me to look after you."
"…What?"
"Not Misha. Not the dwarf. Not anyone else. You. He asked me to protect you."
At my words, Shabin bit her lip hard. Trying desperately not to let the emotions spill over.
"But still—"
Still what?
I sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What does it matter what kind of relationship you had?"
"..."
"If you're sad, cry. If you're happy, smile. You're one of us now. One of the tribe."
"…You really think… I can…?"
I nodded silently.
And only then did Shabin begin to weep.
Her shoulders trembled more with every passing second.
I reached into my pocket and clenched both fists.
Crack—
No matter how many times this happens, I'll never get used to it.
***
After the funeral, I went back to the palace and met with Astarotta again—to discuss the situation with Ragna and Elthora, who were still under semi-detention.
But—
"Neither of them can be released. Not yet."
"Why not?"
"Countess Peproc's status is something only His Majesty can decide."
"You think I don't know that? I'm saying I'll look after them until then."
"Denied."
"Why?"
"Why does the royal family need a reason for its actions?"
Sigh… She really is all sharp edges when it comes to things like this.
Even though she clearly has a softer side sometimes.
Well, guess getting Ragna out will have to wait.
"Then what about Elthora?"
"He's a traitor's son. Releasing him now could cause unnecessary complications. But don't worry. His achievements are recognized. I'll do my best to make ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) sure he stays alive, just as you asked."
Fine. That's enough…
'I've done all I could. The rest is up to him.'
Honestly, I didn't care much about Elthora's fate. So I didn't press.
"Can I at least see Ragna before I leave?"
"There's no reason you can't. But it won't mean much. She's still unconscious."
"Still?"
"Still. But you'll go anyway, won't you?"
"After we're done talking."
"You must have a lot to say."
"Given the state of things, yeah."
Hearing that, Astarotta gave a slight smirk and refilled my teacup.
She was showing that she was willing to keep talking.
Still, knowing her, she might kick me out at any moment—so I went straight to the point.
"The Labyrinth… it's going to reopen?"
"Why ask me? That's for the next chancellor to decide."
"Don't play dumb."
"I can't give a date, but yes—soon. We haven't harvested mana stones in nearly a year. We're at the limit."
"Then the Noark bastards are going to crawl in too. Got a plan for that?"
"Farmers don't skip a season just because of pests."
"Meaning you don't have a plan."
"That's for the officials to handle. Limiting access below certain tiers, linking operations with the military—that sort of thing. It's already being discussed in royal meetings."
"I see…"
"Oh, and why didn't you come last time? You were so curious before."
"I had things to take care of."
I gave a vague excuse, but it was absurd. She knew exactly where I was and what I'd been doing, yet asked anyway.
She really is—
"A word of advice, Bjorn Yandel."
…Did she just read my mind?
She suddenly went stiff, and I tensed without realizing it. Thankfully, it wasn't mind-reading.
Though that didn't mean I understood what she said next.
"Month 13 is coming. Ever since His Majesty's coronation, it's always been marked by a grand festival. And this year, because of the current situation, it'll be even bigger."
Huh. That's news to me.
"So?"
When I gave her a what's-your-point look, she stared at me with an odd expression and put down her teacup.
Then—
"Just take a break for now."
…What is this?
Is she worried about me?
That would be strange.
"I've already been resting."
"Rushing to the palace the moment the funeral ended to interrogate me counts as rest?"
"..."
"If anything happens—Labyrinth, war—I'll let you know immediately. So until then, just…"
"..."
"You need rest, Bjorn Yandel."
I had no words.
Not because I couldn't argue, but because this kind of concern from her was just too unfamiliar.
As I stayed silent, she awkwardly downed the rest of her tea in one gulp.
"That's all. You can go now. If you want to see Countess Peproc, tell the guy out front. He'll show you the way."
Sigh… What even is this? Overprotectiveness?
"Understood."
…She's changed a bit since we first met.
***
After the conversation with Astarotta, I visited the room where Ragna was being kept. Just as she said, Ragna was still unconscious. I talked with Hyeonbyeol for a while and left.
Elthora showed up halfway through, whining about how long he had to be locked up. I ignored him. Not important.
'Rest, huh…'
Even on the way back to the Sanctuary, I kept thinking about it.
Can I really afford that?
Ibaekho suddenly declared himself the protagonist. The Noark army was squatting right next door. The king could wake up any day and decide to crush me.
'As if I could…'
In reality, I didn't rest at all after returning to the Sanctuary.
What I did instead—
Visited the interspecies noble coalition "Melbeth" to gather intel. Attended royal council meetings to monitor politics. Met nobles like Count Alminus to maintain connections. Met Sven Parab to study his new abilities. Drank with the bear-man again. And did my duties as chieftain.
Shabin had been handling most of it, but I wanted her to rest now.
I could take over for a while.
'My schedule's insane…'
Even so, the days passed quickly.
Strangely enough, I didn't feel tired, mentally or physically.
This Barbarian body was too strong to wear out from just this.
'In fact, staying busy keeps my head clear.'
People like Amelia kept telling me to rest, just like Astarotta had.
I brushed them all off or declined politely.
But maybe that was reaching its limit.
"Yandel."
Late at night, while finishing up clan work, Amelia barged into the tent.
"You know the festival starts tomorrow morning, right?"
"Of course. I'm busy because of that. Our warriors earned a break. They should enjoy it."
"And you?"
"My schedule? After the tribe's festival prep is done, I'll visit the capital in the evening. Count Alminus seems to be holding some kind of event again. He said if I attend, he'll offer our clan a big—"
"That's not the point."
She cut me off and tossed something at me.
I looked down.
It was clothes.
"Tomorrow morning at 9. Wear that and come outside."
"Huh? Like I said, I've got plans—"
"It's your choice."
"Oh, in that case—"
"If you don't show up, I'm leaving the clan."
…Didn't you just say it was my choice?
-x-X-x-
I'm once again walking through the ruins of District 7.
Wearing the slightly "special" outfit that Amelia gave me.
Trudge, trudge.
As I walk down this uneven path that can hardly even be called a street, I spot soldiers busily moving about, but none of them show any particular interest in me.
No—more accurately, they glance over once with a look like, "Did I see that wrong?" and go right back to what they were doing.
All thanks to what I'm wearing today.
"Crimson Formalwear."
An equipment-type item you can get from within a rift, like the "Golden Mask" I once obtained from the Blood Fortress.
It has no bonus stats or combat effects.
Its only function is to let the wearer alter their body shape however they want.
Even so, this formalwear is extremely rare.
It's only obtainable from the 9th-floor rift.
"And the hidden piece condition was so bizarre, it's not something you can just go out and farm."
Thinking it might come in handy someday, I kept checking the auction house regularly and asked around, but ever since I woke up in this body, not once has this item ever appeared on the market.
And then Amelia shows up out of nowhere, tosses it to me, and walks off—how could I not be shocked?
"Seriously, where did you even get this?"
I couldn't contain my curiosity and kept asking the same question over and over. Amelia's facial muscles twitched slightly.
At first, I wondered if she was annoyed by the repetition, but I quickly realized it was the opposite.
"Hmm…"
She just wanted to keep watching my fascinated reaction a bit longer.
"It's nothing that important. Why are you so curious?"
"You show up with something I've spent forever trying to find, and you think I wouldn't be curious?"
Apparently satisfied with my reaction, Amelia finally told me where the Crimson Formalwear came from.
"I asked Astarotta Berun. Asked if I could borrow it for a while if she had it."
"Ah…"
Well, I guess if it's the royal family, they might have one lying around.
The answer was more anticlimactic than I expected, but my chest still felt a little warm inside.
She went out of her way to meet with that girl just for me.
"Thanks."
"…Don't mention it."
"But, uh… if I lost it and said 'too bad,' that wouldn't fly, right?"
As soon as she mentioned it was borrowed, I felt a bit disappointed and tried hinting. Amelia gave me a look like I was pathetic.
"Do you think someone like her would let that slide?"
Hmm. Well… she does give off pushover vibes sometimes…
Still, you never know.
"…Fine. I'll make sure to return it properly later."
"Good. Better not give her an excuse. The royal family's way is: you give one thing, they take two."
After that, we crossed through District 7 while chatting about this and that.
That alone was enough to lift my spirits.
Just being reduced to average height was enough that no one recognized me.
'Nice…'
At the same time, I felt a strange sense of liberation—but also a slight heaviness in my chest as I looked around.
District 7, which now feels like home, has been smashed to pieces once again.
Even worse than during the first invasion.
The eastern region was completely burned to ash, and two strikes of Urae hit the center of the district.
'Still… I guess it's better off than District 8, which was completely incinerated…?'
Anyway, several districts were devastated by this war, and District 4 even fell into the enemy's hands, so this already cramped city became even tighter.
In fact, the remaining districts alone aren't enough to house all the displaced residents, so apparently the royal family is even considering temporarily opening up Gnomtree.
'And in the middle of all that… a festival, huh.'
I can't help but wonder.
Just what exactly is this festival supposed to celebrate?
The refugees who lost their homes surely aren't in any position to enjoy it.
The ones who didn't lose anything… no, the ones who lost less—is it a festival for them?
I don't know.
Honestly, screw the festival—I'd rather get back to doing what needs to be done.
But well… there's someone who said ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) she'd leave the clan if I didn't go with her.
'…Can't be helped, I guess.'
That's what I was thinking as I crossed this city now reduced to ashes and rubble.
Trudge, trudge…
Even if it all seems destroyed, eventually, it will be filled again.
"..."
Just like it always has been.
***
District 5 was just as festive as I expected.
To be honest, I thought there'd be some lingering gloom from the war, but sure enough, the streets were packed, and the voices of merchants and passersby were full of energy.
And that sight felt a little out of place.
District 5, aside from District 4, was the only area that actually turned into a battlefield.
Naturally, the restoration work wasn't even close to finished.
"Watch your step! There's a big hole up ahead!"
On the outskirts of District 5, broken roads and collapsed buildings were still easy to spot, yet for some reason this festival had people out smiling since morning.
Still, I chose to think of it as positively as possible.
'It's not like they're truly happy either.'
These people probably just came out to forget reality for a little while.
Or maybe they're here to fill their stomachs with the free booze and food the royal family is handing out in bulk.
"Yandel, what are you doing? Hurry up and follow me."
"Ah… yeah, I'm coming."
Even after entering District 5, I let Amelia take the lead. Knowing her, she probably had the day's itinerary already—
'…Huh?'
Suddenly, I felt a firm tug on my arm, freezing my body in place.
"Don't pull back. Just come along. If we get separated, it'll be hard to find you in this crowd. You're short now, remember…"
"Ah… uh… r-right."
It made perfect sense—if we got separated, I'd be hard to spot at this size. Convinced by the logic, I gave up resisting and let Amelia pull me through the crowd.
And then—
"Amelia… where exactly are we going right now?"
"Just wherever our feet take us."
"Wait… don't tell me you don't actually have a plan?"
"…Sometimes that's fine too, isn't it?"
Seriously? I thought she had something in mind.
That's why I cleared out my usual schedule to come along…
'Well… it's not bad, I guess…'
It was a little anticlimactic, but wandering around without a plan wasn't the worst thing.
We strolled, watched people, ate anything that looked tasty, popped into weapon shops just to window-shop, and even got shocked at how much prices had inflated…
"…A transforming doll with three forms? It goes from goblin to orc to ogre?"
We stopped by Alminus Central Exchange and joined a limited-time auction event for the festival. I ended up getting smacked in the back by Amelia for wasting money on something stupid.
Even without a plan, we kept finding little things to do, and time passed quickly.
Lastly, we stopped by a pub to fill our stomachs…
"You fool, of course it's Bjorn Yandel!!"
No sooner had we entered than I saw a drunk shouting my name while arguing with his group.
Coincidentally, their table was nearby, and since they were literally saying my name, I couldn't help but overhear. The content was actually kind of interesting.
"Tell me, which explorer out there has accomplished more than Bjorn Yandel? The only reason we're even able to laugh and drink right now is because he cut off that damned traitor's head!"
"I'll admit his achievements are great. But even so, I find it hard to believe Bjorn Yandel is the strongest. Take the great navigator Peakma—he left behind incredible feats, but his actual combat ability was said to be lacking."
"…Peakma? You're seriously comparing Bjorn Yandel to some navigator?"
"I didn't mean it that way, I was just saying—"
The drunks were arguing about who the strongest person was.
Thankfully, it wasn't a 'Greatest of All Time' debate that compared people from all eras, just a talk about who's currently the best—'Strongest Under Heaven.'
"Come on, Bjorn Yandel is more than qualified to be called the strongest."
"Right? We all thought he was only good at group fights before, but this proved otherwise."
"He took down that Evil Eye guy in one blow, didn't he?"
"I heard he even took out the Corpse Collector…"
"And survived multiple strikes from Urae…"
Other drunkards nearby started chiming in, and the debate ended quickly.
"You were really focused on eavesdropping, huh?"
"Ah, sorry. It was just kind of fascinating."
Hearing them talk made it hit home—public opinion had shifted.
Before, people praised my leadership, my courage, my spirit of sacrifice, and my achievements as an explorer. Now, they were acknowledging my raw combat power too.
'Well, I guess I haven't really had a one-on-one match like that with someone of such renown until now.'
The Goblin Forest battle that made me famous, the Ice Rock expedition—none of that was anything close to a one-on-one fight.
But this time, I beat someone as well-known as the Evil Eye—and I did it in front of everyone. The proof was undeniable.
"This topic's actually pretty interesting. So, what do you think?"
"Hm?"
"Do you agree with their assessment?"
Tch. Why's she asking me something like that out of nowhere?
I gave a short laugh and replied casually.
"Well… they're not wrong."
At this point, I can't think of anyone I'd lose to.
***
The outing with Amelia started in the morning and wrapped up around early evening. Well, it was late evening by the time we returned to the Sanctuary.
Trudge, trudge.
After coming back, I quickly washed up and changed clothes, then stepped out for a walk. I didn't have a destination in mind.
I just wandered around, letting the wind hit my face—and before I knew it, I arrived somewhere.
Coincidentally, someone else had gotten there first.
"Hikurod?"
"…Ah, Yandel. It's you?"
"You said you were going out today too. When did you get back?"
"Just a little while ago. Thought I'd try to clear my head, but it didn't work as well as I hoped. How about you?"
"…I think it helped, in its own way."
"Haha, that's good to hear."
For some reason, the dwarf's back looked even smaller than usual today. I sighed deeply and sat beside him.
"You've got another bottle, right? Hand it over."
"A cup?"
"You actually carry cups around with you?"
"Haha, you really are something else…"
He passed me a bottle, and we drank quietly together for a while—until the dwarf opened his mouth again.
"Do you remember? That day on the third floor, the first time we all saw that sight together…"
"You mean the day Dwalke got scared out of his mind?"
"He was a pure soul. That was the first time he got attacked by raiders and realized how different ideals and reality really are."
"Every explorer has to face that at some point… anyway, wasn't that the night Rotmiller woke everyone up trying to comfort him?"
"I think he just wanted us to know—there are sad and painful things in the Labyrinth, yes, but there are also good things."
"..."
"I still can't believe how many years have passed since then."
"…Me neither."
The conversation trailed off, and for a long while we just drank in silence.
Then, once again, the dwarf spoke first.
"I'm getting a bit chilly with the buzz. I'll head in first."
He stumbled off unsteadily. I stood there for a moment longer before returning to my quarters in the Sanctuary.
But for some reason, there was someone waiting out front.
"Misha? What brings you here this late?"
Misha Kalstein.
One of the three remaining original Team Half-and-Half members—and my first love that never came to be…
'Well, strictly speaking, maybe not really my first love?'
Sigh. Is it because I had a drink late at night?
Getting all sentimental and—
"Make time for me tomorrow… there's somewhere I want to go too…"
"…Huh?"
"If you don't come, I—I'll leave the clan too!!"
…What kind of situation is this now?
Stunned, I stood there in disbelief, and Misha vanished before I could even reply.
"Haa…"
Seriously, what are these people even doing, taking turns like this…
Do they have some kind of secret group chat?
"At least tell me what time to meet…"
Well, I'll just wake up early. That should do it.
-x-X-x-
The outing with Misha was quite different from the one with Amelia. There was a pre-planned itinerary, and it was pretty packed. Starting from the very beginning.
"Wake up!!"
First, I was physically dragged out of bed at 7 AM. I had only twenty minutes to wash up, change, and get ready to go out, and just barely made it in time. When I finally stepped outside, she stared at me blankly for a moment.
"…Aren't we going?"
"Wait—come here a sec! Wow… I can actually see your face when you're this short!"
"…Huh?"
"Normally from this angle I can only see your chin. Hehe."
Grinning in satisfaction, Misha led me straight to the outer wall.
"Hurry up! The carriage is waiting!"
Apparently she had made a reservation, because there was a carriage waiting for us on top of the wall. We rode it across the ramparts. Normally, wall-top carriages were strictly for military use, but lately they could be used if you got permission. With Districts 7 and 8 completely wrecked, carriages couldn't get through the city center anymore. Even if it took a bit longer distance-wise, going along the top of the wall was much faster.
It kind of felt like taking a highway. The travel distance might be longer, but there were no pedestrians or obstructions on the ramparts, so the carriage could move quickly—no traffic, either.
"…Can I sleep for a bit?"
"Sure, I'll wake you when we get there."
Thankfully, she let me nap on the way, and when I opened my eyes, we'd arrived in District 5.
"Hehe, I figured you'd wake up from hunger around now."
"…Are you a shaman?"
"What are you talking about, get off! We're going to eat meat first!"
It was still District 5, but Misha had brought me to the eastern part, which had far fewer ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) traces of war than the west, which bordered District 4. The roads were relatively clean, the buildings mostly intact.
'Well, Gnomtree is just east of here…'
I followed Misha while idly thinking that, but it didn't take long before her confident stride began to slow.
"Uh… it should be around here…"
"Don't tell me you're lost."
"No, I'm not—there are just so many people…"
"What's the address?"
After she told me, I took over as guide.
"Three hundred-something on Raymond Street… that'll be over that way."
We reached our destination in under five minutes after I started leading, and Misha let out a small gasp of admiration.
"Bjorn, you're good at finding your way even in the city?"
"…I'm not bad. I even got navigation lessons from Rotmiller, back in the—ah…"
My voice trailed off. Misha looked instantly flustered, like she'd said something wrong.
She probably thought she made a mistake bringing up Rotmiller…
'Great. Now the mood's awkward.'
She must've brought me here hoping to cheer me up, in her own way.
"Never mind that. Let's go in. I'm starving. Thanks to you getting us lost."
"Ah… yeah! Let's go! My treat!"
As we stepped into the place Misha had picked, we were immediately greeted by a familiar face.
"Gomsamo…?"
"Huh? Who… oh—oh!!"
The moment she saw me, Gomsamo, standing at the front counter, stared blankly before her eyes widened.
"Hey, Yan—"
"Shh."
"I didn't recognize you. You're shorter than usual."
"There's a magic tool for that. But why are you here…?"
"Oh! This is a friend's restaurant, and they needed help for the festival period, so I came to work."
"What about Abet?"
"Of course he's here too. They needed help out front as well. He stepped out to pick up ingredients, but you'll probably see him soon if you sit inside."
"I see…"
Well, with three kids to raise, they probably needed the money. I'd heard the war destroyed their restaurant completely. And the Labyrinth's closed now, too.
'Still, a third-tier explorer doing part-time server work…'
On the bright side, no drunkards will be starting fights here.
"Sit over there. It's in the corner, but should be the quietest spot."
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
Gomsamo showed us to a seat and left without even taking our order.
"What about the order…?"
"Don't worry. I'll bring something out. Don't worry about the cost."
"Mm? But…"
"I have a big debt to repay. If you want to pay it back, do it to Parab."
"Mm… got it…"
Misha looked a little down afterward, saying she was supposed to treat me today—but this wasn't something we could turn down. Refusing it would just make them uncomfortable.
"…S-still, don't worry! I'll definitely pay at the next place!"
"Sure, sure."
While we waited for the food, I casually asked Misha:
"Was this the place you wanted to come?"
"Yup. One of them."
I couldn't help but chuckle at her nonchalant response.
"Why this place, though? Because Abet works here?"
"Yeah? I figured since we were out anyway, it'd be nice to see some familiar faces."
It sounded like something Ainard, that ultra-extroverted barbarian, would say. But I guess Misha was similar—affectionate, sociable.
"Oh, you really did come?"
Abet showed up while we were chatting, bringing a tray of food to our table. The meal was clearly designed with me in mind—over 80% meat, and way too much to be just for two.
'It'd probably be shameless to ask for another round of this…'
Tsk. If I were paying, I wouldn't hesitate to order more.
"Abet, if you're not too busy, join us."
"Hmm… well, I can take a break from work, but… are you sure it's okay?"
He glanced at Misha to be sure, and she smiled and nodded.
And so began a meal with drinks.
Naturally, the topic was the war. And more specifically, Sven Parab.
"Not sure what you think of him, but that friend Parab—he's the real deal. I heard he stayed behind at the temple alone, buying time so others could escape. Who can make a call like that? That's no normal man."
The way Abet talked about Sven Parab, it was like he was describing someone I didn't know.
I'd heard the story several times already, even from Sven himself…
'That's not the kind of guy he was… Did he eat something weird that day?'
No matter how often I heard it, I couldn't quite believe it. But at the same time… it wasn't completely implausible.
People change.
Even I've changed in many ways.
"Sitting here like this with the three of us kind of feels like old times. Would've been nice if Ainard came too."
"Ainard? She's been busy lately."
"She… busy? With what?"
"Uh… she said she's writing a memoir or something?"
"...…Ainard?"
Abet's expression was exactly the same as mine.
"Misha, what are you talking about?"
I'd never heard this before, so I pressed for more. Misha didn't know the details, but answered with what she had.
"I'm not really sure either… But after the war, she said something clicked for her. That memories always fade, so she wants to write them down while she still remembers…"
"I… I see…?"
Once again, Abet and I wore identical faces. We didn't understand it at all, and that's what made it make sense.
If it were anyone else, it'd be weird—but for Ainard? Not really.
"Ahem… So she's developed the skills to write a memoir, huh?"
This guy clearly wants to read it once it's done, but he won't admit it. Not that I'm any better.
"Anyway, even if Ainard isn't here, I did call one more person."
"…Huh?"
"Who else could it be?"
"Who else but me?"
Whoa—what the hell.
"Raven? What are you doing here?"
I turned toward the small mage who had suddenly appeared beside our table, eyes wide. No wonder—I hadn't heard from her at all since the war ended.
"Kalstein called me. Figured I could use a change of pace. It's festival season, after all… Mind if I sit?"
"Ah, of course. I-it's been a while…"
With permission, Raven took the seat next to Abet and gave a slight smirk.
"Why're you so stiff?"
"Ahem… I'm not stiff…"
Come to think of it, it really had been a long time for them. Ever since the party split, Raven had only met up with me. Maybe they hadn't spoken at all.
"How's life in the Magic Corps? I heard you got the title 'Golden Mage'?"
"Ugh, it sucks. Why did everything go to hell the moment I joined…? I want to quit every day, but I hold it in with sheer responsibility."
"I see…"
"What about you, Mr. Urikfrit? Golden Tree's a pretty famous clan, isn't it?"
At Raven's question, Abet flinched slightly and gave an awkward laugh.
"Ah… the clan… yeah… it's a good one…"
Everyone at the table tilted their heads at his strangely vague tone.
We all felt something was off.
'What? Something going on with his clan?'
I didn't ask. If it was something he didn't want to talk about, I figured I'd wait until he brought it up himself. Raven and Misha seemed to feel the same.
'Good thing Ainard isn't here…'
If she were, she'd have just blurted out the question without hesitation. Then again, she probably wouldn't even pick up on the awkwardness in the first place.
"Anyway, Raven, why've you been so hard to get ahold of lately?"
I quickly changed the subject. Any longer and the atmosphere would've gotten weirder.
But then—
"Oh, me? My master passed away. I've been busy handling the aftermath."
…Goddamn it.
'Really? That's what this turned into now?'
I walked right into a trap.
'Well… it's not like we're strangers.'
Abet, Raven, all of them—this wasn't the time to tiptoe around.
Honestly, it just made me feel more distant from them, which kind of sucked.
"…First of all, my condolences."
I led the way, and Misha and Abet followed with their own words of sympathy. That should be enough.
"You could've called us, though."
"Eh, it wasn't exactly a happy event. And come on, Yandel, you didn't even like our master that much."
"…I didn't dislike him."
Though I definitely didn't like him, either.
'That old man had an unnerving obsession with evil spirits…'
Anyway, since it came up, Raven started to explain a bit more.
"The war was so intense that the royal family drafted mages from the Tower. It wasn't unusual. He died in that mess."
She didn't want to go into detail.
"I see…"
Good or bad, he was still someone I had history with. Hearing he died out of nowhere left me with mixed feelings.
Whatever he was to me, he was probably someone precious to Raven.
"After he passed, the Master seat was left vacant, so things got hectic. I'm sorry I couldn't visit."
"No need to apologize. The ones left behind are always the busiest."
"Haha… yeah, I've learned that."
Raven gave a bitter smile, then downed a drink in one go.
Then she leaned in over the table and asked me:
"By the way, Yandel."
"Hm?"
"Need a mage?"
…What the hell is going on now?
-x-X-x-
It was a completely unexpected offer, but not a bad one.
If I put aside emotion and look at things realistically, Versil's absence had created a mage-shaped hole in our clan.
Of course, there was still Riris Marone…
But if we planned to carry out further expeditions, we'd inevitably need to split into at least two teams, given our current headcount. That meant additional magical support was essential.
And in that situation, a high-ranking mage like Raven…
A Raven who, after dodging my recruitment hints several times, was now bringing it up herself?
"I mean, I'm all for it, but…"
Still, there were things I had to confirm.
Whether she joined our clan or not, I already considered her a comrade.
"What the hell's going on?"
Setting aside the recruitment talk for now, I asked as cautiously as I could.
"Are you… okay right now?"
Maybe it was because I'd just heard she lost her mentor? I was worried about Raven's sudden change of heart.
"…I'm okay."
"Then why are you suddenly saying you're quitting the Mage Corps…?"
Raven paused at my question, but then, as if she had made up her mind, spoke in a bitter voice.
"Because I want to take revenge with my own hands."
"…Revenge? You mean the one who killed your mentor?"
"Yes."
…So that's what it was.
It was a motive I could fully understand.
There's not much the ones left behind can do.
"Who is it?"
"One of the members of Orkulis. He showed himself for the first time in this war. He hasn't been given a title yet."
After that, Raven told me that not much was known, but the bastard's skill level was far beyond what you'd expect from a new recruit, and he seemed to hold considerable rank within Orkulis.
'A super rookie that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, huh…'
Ah, though I didn't bother wondering where a guy like that came from.
Because I already knew the answer.
'Back during the Ice Rock expedition, the ones chasing us felt just like this.'
In the past, Noark had spent over a year pushing through the 8th floor. As a result, they'd produced countless high-level explorers in a short time.
They overwhelmed others with brute firepower, armed with high-grade Essences reaching up to Tier 2.
Well, that didn't mean they were flawless—there was still a lack of lower-tier Essences.
Anyway, the guy who killed Raven's mentor was probably one of those products…
"Sigh…"
I decided to just say it outright.
"Raven, if revenge is your goal, it'd be better for you to stay in the Mage Corps. Our top priority is survival. Which means if the royal family tries to push us to the front lines, I'm going to do my best to avoid that. You get what I'm saying?"
"I understand. But my decision hasn't changed."
…What?
"Even when you tried to avoid it as much as possible, we still had to fight that much, right? We even went up against a Ma'an this time."
"Well… that's true? But—"
"My intuition is telling me. That sticking with Yandel is way more likely to get me my revenge than staying with the Mage Corps."
I tried to say something, but Raven raised her hand to stop me and continued.
"And besides, if I stay in the Mage Corps, I'll still have to follow orders from above, right? Even if that bastard shows himself, if no orders come down, all I can do is sit in the back and suck my thumb."
"..."
"So… what are you going to do?"
With Raven's logic, which actually had some basis, I couldn't find a good reason to object.
Nor did I have much motivation to.
If there was one thing that bothered me, it was what Riranne Vivian had said to me previously.
["Oh, I don't know if you realize, but she used 'Future Sight'—a first-tier black magic spell."]
That woman had claimed she saw Raven betraying me on the day Karnohn went up in flames.
And while the Palace of Glory really had been blown apart by a thunderstrike during this war, in the end, Karnohn itself didn't burn.
'Raven's betrayal… huh.'
If Vivian's words were true, then bringing Raven into the clan might be dangerous—
'…Or maybe it wouldn't change anything?'
Thinking about it again, that made sense.
If something's bound to happen, then it'll happen whether I bring her in or not.
"Fine. I'll accept you. But first, submit your resignation to the Mage Corps."
"It'll probably take about a month to finalize everything."
"That's fine. We don't even know when the labyrinth's going to open yet."
With that, the matter of Raven joining was settled.
Then I turned to Misha, who had been wearing a strange expression for a while now.
"Do you have any problem with Raven joining?"
Misha flinched and shook her head.
"Ahaha… no way! Arururu's an amazing mage, isn't she? Uh, always welcome! Totally welcome…!"
"Yeah…?"
…But why does her smile look so forced?
I stared at her, suspicious, and Misha frantically waved her hands like she was innocent.
"I really don't feel uneasy or worried at all! Seriously!"
Uneasy and worried, huh…
"..."
All I asked was if she had a problem…
***
After finishing the meal and a bit of drinking, we chatted for another thirty minutes or so before naturally wrapping things up.
Besides Raven's joining, there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy.
Well, except maybe one thing…
'It's strange, that guy too.'
Misha wasn't the only one acting off after Raven's joining was confirmed.
Bear Uncle also gave me and Raven a peculiar look.
Like he had something he wanted to say, but in the end, never said it before we parted ways.
That left a strange aftertaste…
'Well, if it was important, he would've said it.'
Unless he brings it up himself, I can't exactly force it out of him.
If it comes up later, I'll deal with it then.
"We're running a bit late… next up is over there!"
"I'll find it myself, just give me the address."
"That's no fun—"
"Efficiency over entertainment. Come on, hurry."
And with that, I moved on with the schedule Misha had planned, finishing lunch and drinks.
We went to a pottery studio for a hands-on pottery session, then caught a play and circus near the plaza.
And after sunset, once night had fallen, we stopped by a pub that doubled as an inn…
"Do you… remember this place?"
When Misha said that near the end of our meal, it finally clicked in my memory.
"Isn't this the place we came to ages ago?"
We didn't come here to do anything shady. It was during the early days, when we came to sell off our gear, and ended up staying here after missing the last stagecoach.
Living room, bedroom, and bathroom all separate.
Windows, terrace, Arttian soap from the workshop…
We were so shocked by the condition of the inn that we swore to work hard and make money—
"Hey, Bjorn…?"
"Speak."
"Should we sleep here tonight…? It's late, and… it brings back memories—"
What is she talking about again?
"Don't joke around."
I cut her off firmly, in case she was misunderstood.
Of course, Misha probably just meant it literally—just sleep—but I couldn't do that anymore.
If our relationship were still as clean as it had been back then, maybe. But now, under the same circumstances, I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
So…
"I… wasn't joking though…"
"Enough. Let's go home now."
That concluded our outing, and we returned to the Sanctuary.
Getting back took quite a while, and on the way I reflected on the last two days.
Amelia's outing and Misha's outing were very different.
Amelia's was about escape, freedom, time alone… Misha's felt more like nostalgia and connecting with others.
Maybe that difference was how the two dealt with stress.
Some people are comforted by solitude, others by laughter and chatter with people.
Not that it applies to me the same way, of course.
'They both have childlike sides in that sense.'
Kids do that.
They think if they give something they like to their mom, she'll stop being sad. So they offer their favorite toy or candy.
But really, what makes Mom happy is that feeling.
Thud—!
"…Ugh! Why the hell'd you hit me, you crazy barbarian fossil!"
Now this really feels like old times.
I chuckled and spoke honestly.
"Thanks for today."
"…Huh? Thanks for what?"
"You dragged me out, even forcing it a little, because you thought I might be feeling down."
"I mean, why are you saying thanks and then hitting me in the back—?"
"Don't sweat the small stuff. Anyway, thanks. For real."
"Well… if that's how you feel, then good…"
After that, a moment of silence passed before Misha cautiously opened her mouth.
"But… uh… was it really that obvious…?"
Did she really think it wasn't?
I wanted to ask, but held my tongue.
"Go get some sleep now, it's cold. Make sure you cover up."
"I'm not a kid, you know…?"
"Alright, I'm heading off first."
"Ah… yeah! Go rest up!"
After parting ways with Misha, I went inside, washed up, changed clothes, and lay in bed.
But sleep didn't come. So in the end, I went outside again and wandered the streets like I did yesterday.
By coincidence, my steps led me to the same place.
[Brown Rotmiller]
[Versil Gowland]
[James Carla]
The gravestones of the three we lost in this war.
Unlike yesterday, the drunk dwarf wasn't there rambling.
Even Shabin and Sven Parab, who sometimes came by, didn't show up today.
"Sigh…"
Maybe it's because this is my first time really being here alone?
It felt a little unfamiliar.
Not that that's a bad thing.
Shhhhhh—!
I sat blankly in front of the tombstones, letting the cold wind wash over me.
Unlike that dwarf, I didn't bring any booze.
Alcohol clouds the mind and turns your eyes away from reality.
Unless I'm laughing and drinking with people, I usually avoid drinking alone like a pitiful wretch.
'I kind of… want to try a cigarette though.'
As I sat there sighing endlessly, I thought of cigarettes, despite never having smoked in my life.
If I'd known I'd become a barbarian, I should've at least tried one.
"You guys…"
Suddenly, I wanted to ask the ones who went before me.
What was the thing you most wanted to do? What were you most curious about? What was the thing you regretted most at the end?
'…Not that it means anything now.'
They're gone.
Rotmiller at least had a chance to leave behind a final message. The other two didn't even have that.
So I don't know what I should do.
"Sigh…"
Another sigh escaped my mouth.
Everything felt stifling.
It was so overwhelming that when I turned away from one problem, I was immediately confronted by another I'd been avoiding.
[The evil spirit from another world "————" lost three comrades and finally realized the path he had to walk.]
That's what the record stone said.
But in reality, that wasn't true.
I hadn't realized anything yet.
'Labeling Ibaekho an enemy?'
Was that the path I was meant to take?
No matter how I think about it, that doesn't seem right.
'Then becoming king, like the Marquis said?'
Hmm, that's just as absurd…
At most, it's some idle fantasy, like maybe that future could exist—not some epiphany or conviction.
'Then what the hell is it…?'
In the gloomy graveyard, under the cold night wind, I kept thinking and thinking.
But no answer came.
-x-X-x-
What path must I walk?
I still hadn't found the answer to that question, but I was walking nonetheless.
And not through the Sanctuary of the barbarians, but that of another race.
Step, step.
At first glance, °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° the architecture didn't seem much different from the rest of the city, yet the way it harmonized with nature gave the streets an exotic atmosphere.
If you raised your head just a bit, you could see the massive tree in the distance that told you exactly where we were.
The Sanctuary of the Fairies, Barharrium.
Naturally, it was also in the midst of its festival period—but the atmosphere was very different from ours.
It was still loud, as one might expect from a festival, but somehow… more orderly?
Even the background music made that clear. Where barbarians preferred drums and percussion, here it was soft, upbeat string instruments that took center stage.
'No one's fighting either…'
Hmm, is this a cultural difference?
It was my first time seeing another race's festival, so it was fascinating. Though for Elwen, who was walking alongside me, this must've been familiar.
"Ajusshi! Doesn't it smell amazing here without all the smoke?"
She seemed to like that more than the festival itself.
Not that I disliked it either.
"The air's definitely cleaner… but how'd they manage that?"
Even now, the entire city reeked of smoke from the massive fire in District 8, despite the ongoing festivities.
In District 5, they'd even deployed purification magic circles daily, but the stench wouldn't go away. Yet here, the air was pristine.
Elwen pointed to the distant tree in response.
"It's thanks to the Divine Tree over there. Outsiders don't usually know, but it has purifying powers."
Ah, right…
I vaguely remembered that part of the setting.
"Anyway, enough sightseeing. Let's go this way."
"Huh? Weren't we here for the festival?"
"Huh? Why would I? What's there to enjoy about a boring festival like this…"
"Then why'd we come here?"
"Come on!"
Without answering, Elwen picked up her pace and led me forward.
Since we were still at the outskirts of the Sanctuary, we had no choice but to pass through the festive streets for a while.
"…It's the Bloodshade Marquis."
"Who's that man next to her?"
"If he's standing beside the Bloodshade Marquis… could it be Baron Yandel?"
"He looks too small for that, though."
Even though I'd shrunk down in the crimson formalwear I was wearing, I still drew attention with every step.
Other races were rare in the fairy Sanctuary to begin with—but more than that, the person beside me was too famous.
"…A snake of a woman."
"They say she threw away her duty and ran off with a man, even after receiving the pureblood rite."
"She abandoned the clan—how can she show her face here…"
Just listening in, I could already hear all the malice directed at Elwen.
Traitor. Snake. Disgrace to her people…
'So this is why she's avoided returning to the Sanctuary recently…'
The criticism came from every direction.
And just when I wondered if I could really let this slide, Elwen tugged on my sleeve.
"Let's just go…"
Hoo… Right. If she's holding it in, it'd be weird for me to make a scene.
I bit my tongue and quickened my pace to keep up with her.
But then…
"Tch, look at that."
Who said fairies were honest and pure?
Who said they were above the petty malice of humans?
Those were meaningless questions now.
Anyone who spouted that crap to me from now on would get their teeth punched in.
"Grabbing a man like that—just like a whore from the red-light district—"
"Beheeeell—raaaaaaaaahhh!!!"
"...!!"
I immediately canceled the effects of the formalwear, activated [Fusion] and [Giant Form], and let out a roar.
「The character has used [Savage Eruption].」
「Threat Level temporarily increased 3x. Physical stats increase proportionally.」
The sudden surge in Threat Level from [Savage Eruption].
The roar scattered on the wind like an echo, yet within a 50-meter radius, not even a mouse dared move.
"..."
"..."
Dozens of people frozen stiff, as if one wrong twitch would mean their death.
It was a bit ironic.
I hadn't used a stun skill or anything—just boosted my Threat Level.
'If you were this scared, why act like that in the first place?'
I didn't get it, but maybe that, too, was proof that fairies were "people" after all.
Fortunately, handling people was a barbarian specialty.
Thud—!
I casually pushed through the frozen crowd and approached a middle-aged fairy man, his face pale as he looked up at me with terrified eyes.
"U-uh…"
He looked like he wanted to speak, but he was so scared he couldn't even move his lips.
I asked him directly.
"Say it again."
"..."
"What did you say to my companion just now?"
"..."
He said nothing.
That was lucky.
If he'd repeated it, I might've thrown the first punch.
Still, since he seemed to have some survival instinct, I decided to give him advice.
"Best to keep your mouth shut if you want to live long."
"Y-yes, of course."
The man nodded frantically, like someone who'd been thrown a lifeline, and that brought an end to the little incident.
"Ajusshi…"
Elwen cautiously approached again and grabbed my sleeve once more, gently pulling me along.
But of course…
"Damn it."
"What's that guy doing here?"
"Is it really okay for him to act like that in someone else's Sanctuary?"
"Idiots… Don't they even consider the diplomatic implications…?"
The whispers came from behind as expected.
Did they really think I'd lash out again?
"Don't mind them. Let's go. Come on."
"Yeah."
Letting her drag me along, I felt like some delinquent trying to act cool in front of his girlfriend.
Still, I didn't regret it.
Why would I? They brought it on themselves.
If you say shit like that in earshot of a barbarian, of course something's going to happen—
"…But he still defends her. I guess she really is his woman."
"Bloodshade Marquis, huh? What could she possibly see in a barbarian like that…"
Agh, damn it.
Tap.
Apologizing inwardly to Elwen, I stopped in my tracks and glanced around at the crowd.
The moment I did, all those whispering just seconds ago fell silent and averted their eyes.
'She's being insulted because of me. I can't just walk away like this.'
I made my decision quickly and shouted at the top of my lungs.
"Listen up!! I swear upon all the honor I possess—here and now! I, Bjorn son of Yandel, have never slept with Elwen Fornaci di Tersia!!"
I'd shouted in hopes it'd stop the gossip, but quickly realized I needed to clarify.
In my rush, I'd misspoken.
"Ah! Wait—no, I mean, we did sleep together, but we didn't do anything! We just slept! I swear on my mother and father's honor!!"
A barbarian's oath, containing nothing but the truth.
"..."
Hmm… but why is everyone still silent?
Was 'didn't do anything' too indirect?
But if I spelled it out, even I would feel a bit vulgar…
"Uhh… um…"
For a second, I even considered pulling out a puppet, but quickly scrapped that idea.
Instead, I went with Plan B.
"…Elwen is a virgin!!"
Of course, that had its own issues.
From a quantum physics perspective, since I hadn't observed it firsthand, technically, two parallel realities could still exist simultaneously—
"P-probably…!!"
Yeah. That should cover it.
***
"..."
"..."
After that shocking declaration, silence descended upon the streets.
"L-let's go…!"
Feeling like I'd made some huge mistake, I hurriedly grabbed Elwen's wrist and pulled her away.
And then—
"S-so, Elwen…? That wasn't exactly what I meant to do…"
"It's okay. You don't need to explain."
"No, but…"
"Really. It's fine."
Hmm. Is it really fine?
If it were Misha or Amelia, I think I'd already be dodging attacks.
Going by tone alone, she didn't sound angry at all, but…
"Actually, I'm grateful. You stepped up for me, didn't you?"
"Uh… yeah, I guess?"
"So it's okay. It did hurt my pride a little, but still."
…I couldn't say anything to that.
So I quickly changed the subject.
"Not many people around here."
After leaving the city streets, we were now deep in a wooded area.
"This isn't a residential or commercial zone. Not many come here during festivals."
"I see…"
"It's fine. This is where we were headed anyway. Shall we?"
"Yeah!"
Once we entered the woods, Elwen slowed her pace, and we began strolling as if on a forest walk.
'Now that I think about it… where exactly are we going?'
That question popped into my mind, but I decided to ask something else first.
"Elwen?"
"Yes?"
"Does that happen often?"
"Oh, that…? Yeah, kind of. I received the pureblood rite, but I haven't devoted myself to the clan…"
I see.
I quickly asked one more thing—something she might not want to hear.
"Has anyone ever said… they should kill you and pass the rite to someone else?"
"…I've heard that. Especially in times like these, when power is in demand. But don't worry. Thanks to you, even the Elders don't criticize me to my face anymore."
"I see…"
Seeing her force a smile, I thought to myself:
'I need to take care of this issue before it gets worse…'
I couldn't return the pureblood rite, of course. But maybe I could repay it some other way—by helping the fairies when they're in danger, or by settling a debt equal in value.
"But anyway, where exactly are we headed?"
"Oh, we're almost there."
I didn't know what the destination was, but if Elwen had brought me to the Sanctuary despite all this… then she must've had a good reason.
"Got it."
I said no more and quietly followed, taking in the scenery.
And then—I noticed something strange.
"This place… it's not just a forest, is it?"
When I stopped walking and said that, Elwen smiled awkwardly.
"Ah… you noticed?"
"The magic circles carved into the trees, the loose ground that makes it hard to move quickly, even the trees above arranged for aerial defense. It's a fortification, isn't it?"
"Yes. At least now, it is."
"…Now?"
"Back then, this was a residential zone. But after one breach that left the Sanctuary in ruins, they changed it."
One breach.
I didn't need to ask what she meant.
She was talking about the Dragonslayer incident.
From what I'd heard, Elwen had lost her parents back then, too.
"We used to live here, actually… It feels similar, but also very different now."
"R-really?"
"…Hehe. Anyway, let's stop with the sad talk and get going."
I probably shouldn't have brought it up, but what could I do? It was already said.
We continued walking as if on a peaceful stroll, until finally we reached our destination.
A small house built beside a small pond.
"This was our home. My sister, me, and my little brother lived here. Well, not anymore, for my sister and me."
"So it's empty?"
"No, my little brother still lives here. Actually… the reason I dragged you here is because of him…"
"You brought me here because of your brother?"
From what I'd heard, Elwen wasn't on good terms with him.
After Daria died and I went missing, she'd abandoned her family and chased revenge.
That's when she became known as the Bloodshade Marquis.
"I've been visiting now and then since I returned from Basement Level 1. We've patched things up a bit… and he seems really curious about you."
Hmm. I think I get it.
"He's worried I might be a weirdo, huh?"
"Well… there are still prejudices about barbarians, you know… I'm sorry."
"You've got nothing to apologize for. It's my fault, really."
"…Huh?"
"He's your family, and that makes him mine too. And I'm only just now coming to see him. Is he inside? Let's go."
Whatever kind of guy her brother was, I had to meet him—quickly.
…Before word got around about what had just happened in the village.