Elwen's younger sibling was nothing like I expected.
Given that the eldest, Daria, and second-born, Elwen, both had long and sharp features, I naturally assumed the third would be similar…
'…She's small.'
About 150 centimeters tall.
Roughly the same height as Raven, maybe even shorter—but completely different in mood. Where Raven had a cold presence, this one felt… soft.
She didn't seem overweight, but her face—more precisely, her baby fat—hadn't completely faded.
'…Looks bouncy. She'd probably get mad if I touched her?'
Anyway, that was my first impression of Elwen's little sister: a tiny girl who could never pass for twenty-one.
"…Your gaze is unpleasant."
I flinched instinctively.
'…With that look, and she's the cold dominatrix type?'
Hard to find that combo in real life. Still, that wasn't the point right now.
"…H-hey, you can't just say that. Um, why don't we start with introductions?"
Elwen's coaxing words led the small, pouty fairy to reluctantly speak her name.
"…Mei Forwin di Tersia."
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel. Nice to meet you, Mei."
"..."
I wondered if she'd complain about me calling her by name, but thankfully she didn't say anything.
Maybe she was minding her manners because I was her sister's companion?
I didn't know the details, but as the adult here—and a senior explorer—I decided to get the conversation going.
"Mei, how many times have you entered the dungeon?"
"…Four times. After that, the dungeon was sealed, so I couldn't go back."
"That must've been frustrating."
"Not really… It's not like going into the dungeon is something amazing."
"…Huh?"
Now that was unexpected.
I figured a kid her age would be full of curiosity about exploring, so I thought that'd be a good topic to start with.
But she wasn't whining—her tone and expression were dead serious.
"Did you… not want to be an explorer?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Isn't it obvious? You have to sleep in cold, dirty, hard places every day. The food tastes like crap, and like it or not, you're stuck with other people…"
Well… that's true.
If you don't need a lot of money or have some specific goal, there's really no reason to become an explorer.
That's probably why so few nobles pursue the path—
"And the dungeon always takes things away…"
"..."
"I wish it never existed."
Knowing the history of Elwen's family, I couldn't say anything to that quiet grumble from the tiny girl.
"…Haha, still, someone's got to go in, right? The mana stones we dig up in there are how we get to eat, sleep, wear clothes, and live…"
"I know that."
"..."
Mei's curt tone left Elwen visibly flustered. Watching them, it became clear—Elwen didn't know how to deal with this Mei girl.
Probably because she felt guilty.
But conversation comes with experience.
'I've dealt with plenty of kids like this.'
So, I went with the tried-and-true method: spark her interest.
You don't start with distant topics. You pick what she's most curious about.
"Elwen. Did you ever tell Mei how the two of us first met?"
"Huh? Oh, just briefly. That… um… you, uh… helped me when I was in trouble…"
"…You called me Mr. Yandel?"
"Haha… W-what's wrong? Mr. Yandel?"
Elwen gave me an awkward smile.
Didn't take long to piece things together.
'She's embarrassed in front of her little sister.'
Well, I guess the nickname kind of became a pet name /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ by now.
Besides, this whole meeting was to show I wasn't some weird guy—calling me "Ajusshi" here probably wouldn't help.
"…Is there something I don't know about?"
Mei spoke up first, curiosity sparked by the idea that there might be stories she hadn't heard.
"Well, I'm not sure how much she told you… Want to hear it?"
"..."
"I'll tell you."
And just like that, things moved quickly.
I started from the first time I met Elwen and told the rest of our adventures in the most entertaining order.
But at some point, she must've noticed the missing gaps.
"…What about the Goblin Forest?"
Mei asked about a specific episode.
There were many incidents in the Goblin Forest, but she was probably referring to the one where Daria died.
"…It's okay. I already know the gist of it."
I glanced at Elwen for permission, and she nodded.
So I calmly shared that story, too.
Longer and more detailed than the rest, but it could all be summed up in one sentence:
'Daria saved Elwen and died in her place.'
Unfortunately, that was the end of Barbarian Storytime.
After the tale ended, Mei was silent for a long time, and both Elwen and I waited quietly with her.
"If the dungeon didn't exist… my sister would still be here…"
She finally spoke those words after a long pause.
I nodded sincerely.
"Maybe. That could be true."
If Daria hadn't become an explorer, maybe she wouldn't have died.
Though then, she wouldn't have been there to protect Elwen either.
"Why does everyone cling to the dungeon so much…"
Mei's next question had a simple answer.
"Because it's no different than the city."
"…?"
"We go in because we're tired of losing. Because the city takes just as much as the dungeon does."
That's something Daria and Elwen definitely understood.
That's why they became explorers.
To stop losing things. To protect what mattered.
"You say you hate it, but isn't that why you became an explorer too?"
Mei didn't answer.
She had a face that said she understood… but didn't want to admit it.
'Well, at that age, it's hard to even know what you're feeling.'
That thought crossed my mind—but honestly, I wasn't in a position to talk.
Even I wasn't sure what I was feeling these days.
I chuckled softly and gave Mei a bit of advice.
"Mei Forwin di Tersia."
"..."
"The dungeon will reopen soon. You should go in again. You'll learn that it's not always a place that only takes."
Her answer came only after a long pause.
"Do you really… think so…?"
I replied without a shred of hesitation.
"I'm sure of it."
Because that's what it had been for me.
***
As we kept chatting about this and that, spending time together, I started to get a better sense of what kind of relationship Elwen and Mei had.
"Should I bring some more snacks? I actually have some from a famous shop in the city—"
"No thanks, I'm fine, sis."
Every time Elwen awkwardly tried to do something nice, Mei would awkwardly try to avoid receiving it.
Definitely not what you'd call a warm family dynamic.
'…Frustrating.'
It was clear they cared about each other—so why did they act like strangers?
Even I was getting exasperated, but there wasn't much I could do.
I didn't have the experience to give advice on family matters.
'No need to butt in. Just observe.'
So I stuck to that stance, kept the conversation pleasant, and let time pass.
Knock knock knock.
A visitor arrived.
"Mei, are you inside?"
A refined male voice with a familiar tone.
"Ah, Uncle…!"
Mei immediately jumped up and went to open the door, while Elwen watched with an awkward smile.
She knew it, too.
That reaction was completely different from how Mei treated her.
"Mei, have you been well?"
"Oh come on, it's not like I've been gone long."
"Haha… Even a few hours is enough to worry."
The fairy man, who gave Mei a fatherly smile while patting her head, looked over at me and greeted me politely.
"It's been a while, Bjorn Yandel."
A familiar face.
"It has, Beleg Shusia di Tersia."
An explorer considered a hero among the fairies—and Elwen's maternal uncle.
We'd briefly met once during a racial summit.
"I heard you came with Elwen… I figured you might be here."
"Were you looking for me?"
"Among other reasons. I'd have come even if you weren't here. My precious niece has returned home, after all. Elwen, how have you been lately?"
"I've been… okay."
"That's good. May I sit?"
"Suit yourself. I'm not the one who lives here."
I shrugged, and Beleg chuckled as he sat across from me.
Then—
"I heard what happened in town on the way here."
That made my shoulders twitch involuntarily.
After all, this man was Elwen's uncle.
"I understand what you meant by it… but did you have to go that far?"
"...I've got no excuse."
"Uncle, I said it was fine—no, I'm actually grateful."
I hung my head in shame, and Elwen stepped in to defend me.
As a barbarian tank, I rarely got to feel what it was like to be protected by someone else.
"…What happened?"
Mei blinked wide-eyed, but none of us dared answer.
Maybe that annoyed her.
"I'm going out for a bit. You two talk."
With that, Mei left the house, and things settled down for now.
"…She's a good kid."
"She really is. And she follows her sister's lead well."
"I was talking about Elwen."
"Ah…?"
"So please treat her well. Even if you explain it a thousand times, a closed marriage prospect won't open again. So have some responsibility—"
"U-uncle…! What are you saying?!"
"Elwen, no matter what you think, I'm still your and Mei's guardian. I have to say what needs to be said, don't I?"
I had nothing to say to that.
Only one thing came to mind.
"…You're right."
"Can I assume you understood what I meant?"
"O-of course."
"Good. Don't take it the wrong way. Think of it as the concern of an adult who cares for Elwen."
All I could do was nod silently, but thankfully, Beleg didn't press the issue any further. The conversation turned casual again.
"Beleg, while I've got you here, I wanted to ask something. Has public opinion really turned that badly since Elwen left the Pureblood Order?"
"…I can't even lie and say it's good. Some of the things coming out of the elders' mouths…"
"You must've done a lot to help. I appreciate it."
"I just did what needed to be done."
"I'd like to help too, from now on. Could you tell me more about the fairy political structure?"
"Hmm… Sure. You're not exactly an outsider anymore."
"..."
There were a few subtle digs sprinkled in his words, but still—our conversation was productive.
I now had a general idea of what to do to improve Elwen's standing.
When I got back, I'd need to plan out the details—
"Elwen, would you step outside for a moment?"
…Huh?
"There's something I want to discuss privately with the Baron. Just for a moment."
"Okay…"
Just as things were wrapping up, Beleg sent Elwen out of the room.
Naturally, that made me tense.
He'd been blunt enough to drop the "take responsibility" bomb in front of her—what on earth was he planning to say now that she was gone?
"…So? You said you wanted to talk?"
I asked cautiously, and after a brief hesitation, Beleg came right out with it.
"Baron, I heard… that you possess the Resurrection Stone."
…That was not the topic I'd expected.
-x-X-x-
The Resurrection Stone.
Even in Dungeon & Stone, a world brimming with bizarre items and abilities, resurrection-related artifacts were nearly nonexistent.
Obtaining one on the 9th floor required satisfying very specific conditions—followed by an absurdly low drop rate. Its rarity was beyond words.
Honestly, collecting all nine single-numbered artifacts would probably be easier. That says it all.
In Lafdonia, with its dungeon-exploration history spanning thousands of years, the Resurrection Stone was treated more like a myth or ghost story than a real artifact.
People weren't even sure it existed.
But that wasn't the important part here…
'That came out of his mouth?'
The moment Elwen's uncle, Beleg, brought up the Resurrection Stone, my first reaction was confusion.
It was just that out of the blue. A topic I'd never have expected.
But as I calmed down and processed the situation, a different feeling bubbled up.
Curiosity.
Or rather… suspicion.
'Don't tell me he's Crescent Moon…?'
It was a fleeting thought that flashed without warning—but not one I could brush off.
Because it wasn't just baseless speculation; there were reasons to back it up.
A fairy.
Someone from the upper ranks.
An unusual obsession with the Resurrection Stone.
There weren't many people who checked all three boxes.
And considering that most of the old revenants were in their mid-thirties to early forties, this guy's age only made him more suspicious.
Not that I could just outright ask, "Are you the Crescent Moon Mask?"
"If the topic seemed too abrupt, I apologize. I only brought it up because I heard, Baron, that you prefer direct conversations…"
He carefully offered his apology, likely interpreting my silence as discomfort while I sorted my thoughts.
I gave it one last moment of deliberation.
'How do I respond?'
Two choices.
Feign ignorance and deny it.
Or acknowledge it and hear him out.
It took some thought, but I went with the second option.
It felt like he wasn't just speculating—he'd come here already convinced.
"Where did you hear about it?"
Not quite an admission, but a semi-affirmative response.
Beleg's expression shifted slightly.
A brief flash of relief.
Followed by tension.
"…Hoo."
Letting out a quiet breath, he answered.
"I received an anonymous letter in the middle of the night."
"A letter?"
"As I said, I don't know who sent it. But it specifically mentioned Miss Kalstein, so I didn't dismiss it as nonsense. That's why I'm asking you now."
"Could I see it?"
Without hesitation, as if he'd been waiting for me to ask, Beleg pulled out the letter and handed it to me.
Thankfully, it wasn't some cursed invitation where the ink vanishes with time—the contents were still intact.
I quickly read through it.
'Just as I thought.'
It wasn't hard to figure out who had sent it.
I'd already had a rough idea anyway.
[Hehe]
Those two characters at the end—mocking laughter.
The sender clearly wasn't even trying to hide.
'Ibaekho…'
But I was left with more thoughts than clarity.
I'd always assumed he'd show up again eventually, but ever since that day, he'd disappeared without a trace.
And yet, here he was, pulling strings in the background like this.
'…What the hell is he after?'
I couldn't tell.
And that uncertainty made it all the more disturbing.
Why did Ibaekho pass on information about the Resurrection Stone to Beleg?
'That bastard's completely unreadable.'
Perhaps noticing my eyes lingering on the bottom of the letter, Beleg added a comment.
"I was told it's one of the characters used by the revenants."
"I see."
"So is it true? That you really possess the Resurrection Stone?"
"It's true."
It felt ridiculous to lie at this point, so I answered honestly.
And even though he'd probably already suspected, hearing me confirm it seemed to overwhelm him emotionally.
"…Y-you're serious!!"
Now I was more convinced than ever.
There couldn't be another fairy with this intense an interest in the Resurrection Stone.
This guy had to be Crescent Moon.
Though… there were a few things that didn't quite add up.
'Elwen's uncle is a revenant…?'
If he really were a revenant, would he care so deeply about Elwen's family?
From what I'd heard, he looked after the three sisters more lovingly than actual blood relatives—
Click.
Suddenly, the front door opened.
I heard voices—Elwen trying to stop someone, and Mei sounding furious.
"We'll speak again soon. I'll come to you myself next time."
Beleg gave me a regretful look and said this.
I nodded.
Not long after—
"M-Mei…! Uncle and the Baron are having a conversation—"
With Elwen's flustered voice trailing behind her, the door burst open and Mei marched in.
Breathing heavy, clearly upset, and radiating pressure.
I gave a small nod.
'She heard about what happened in town.'
Getting hit hurts a lot more when you didn't see it coming. But at least I had time to brace for this one.
"…I thought you were a decent person."
She glared at me with contempt and muttered under her breath.
"…Trash."
All the favorability points I'd built up were completely obliterated.
***
Driven out of the house to avoid Mei, we returned to the Sanctuary immediately.
Sometimes, if there was business, I stayed in the city overnight. Elwen even gently suggested that maybe I do the same, but…
"I'd rather sleep at home."
Especially not during a festival, when people were crammed everywhere.
And I didn't feel like wasting money.
'Only two days of the festival left…'
Sitting in a wall-mounted carriage as it rolled down the city road, I looked out over the festival and let random thoughts drift through my head.
Even though the sun had fully set, the city below glowed bright. The sound of laughter and cheering was so loud it reached all the way up here.
"Elwen, aren't you going to enjoy the festival?"
"Hm, I'm not sure… I don't really like loud crowds…"
"Is that so?"
"I mean, if I were walking around with you, it might be fun… but next year. I'll wait till next year."
"Why?"
"I'm fine with it… but I can tell you're not ready."
"…What kind of preparation does a festival need?"
"Oh, come on… it needs some! It did for me, anyway."
Her bright voice didn't match her quietly bitter smile, and it left me speechless.
"So let's go later. Later… when I'm tired of being sad and finally want to laugh and shout again."
"…Alright. Let's do that."
"Okay. I once heard something from my sister—a superstition. That if you get married during the festival, you'll live happily ever after without ever worrying about money."
"Ah… is that so?"
I didn't know about the superstition. But one thing was clear: she'd changed.
No one brought it up—but she herself mentioned her sister with a smile.
Click-clack—!
And so, sharing idle conversation, we eventually arrived at the Sanctuary.
Naturally, the Sanctuary was loud and lively.
Barbarians weren't above enjoying a festival.
Some warriors headed to the city, sure—but most stayed home in the Sanctuary for such events.
"I'll go rest now. I'm tired…"
"Alright. I had fun today. Sleep well."
As I walked back to my tent after parting ways with Elwen, the surroundings gradually grew quieter.
Not that it was silent—just quieter compared to the forest square where the festival raged.
"Beheeeell—raaaaahhhh!!"
"Shut up! This is a quiet zone! If you keep yelling, Emily Raines is gonna show up!!" (That was what the warriors called Amelia Rainwales.)
It was thanks to Amelia that this area managed to stay relatively calm.
She'd insisted that since people might want to sleep, we needed to keep it quiet here.
It made perfect sense, but… the real reason was probably to accommodate me—
"That woman's too cruel!"
"Yeah! Who bans shouting during a festival?! Nobody even wants to sleep!!"
Just then, I heard familiar voices among the noisy warriors.
"…What did you just say?"
"Eeeeeek—! It's Emily Raines!!"
As Amelia appeared like a ghost, the warriors all panicked and fled in every direction.
"I didn't say anything! Really! I'm a good barbarian who stays quiet in the quiet zone!"
"It was Merik's second son, Kizan! He's the one yelling!"
"You bastards…!!"
"Merik's second son Kizan is a foolish warrior! If you want to laugh and shout, go to the loud zone! Why make noise in the quiet one?!"
I couldn't help but wonder—what the hell did she do to make them tremble just from eye contact?
But then again… it made sense.
Even Ainard couldn't stand up to Amelia. No ordinary warrior could.
"Sleepers stay. Loudmouths, go to the noise zone."
"Y-yes ma'am!! I'll go yell somewhere else! Sorry!!"
Her words had barely left her mouth before the warriors scattered like frightened animals.
It was pretty funny, though.
Barbarians, sure. But hearing Amelia herself talk about "quiet zones" and "noise zones" like it was official terminology…
"…You just got back?"
"Ah, yeah…"
"Get some rest."
"Yeah…"
We made brief eye contact, exchanged a short greeting, and I went inside.
I washed up and laid down on my bed.
But no matter how long I kept my eyes closed, sleep wouldn't come. I tossed and turned, trying to empty my mind—
"Bjyooooooorn—!!"
"…Ainard? What is it? It's the middle of the night."
"What are you # Nоvеlight # doing in the quiet zone?! Everyone's having fun! And it's not like going to bed early makes you grow taller anymore!"
"…I'm tired. Just got back."
"You said that for three days straight!! Come on! Join us tonight!"
I smiled, watching Ainard go into whiny mode.
'At least she doesn't threaten to leave the Anabada Clan like some others.'
Still, that didn't mean I was planning to join the festival.
If I couldn't sleep, I'd probably just go for a walk in the graveyard like I had the last few nights.
But…
"Bjorn, the warriors need you."
Those words moved me.
"…Haa."
It was the first festival after the big event. And as the de facto chieftain, it wouldn't look great if I never showed my face…
"Fine, I'll go. Just stop whining."
"Oh! Really?! Awesome! Everyone's gonna be so happy!!"
After sending Ainard out, I quickly got dressed in traditional barbarian attire.
Well—"dressed" might be the wrong word.
More like "undressed."
Traditional barbarian clothing starts with going shirtless.
"Let's go!! The moment they see you, they're gonna lose their minds!!"
Honestly, I hoped they wouldn't.
"Yeah…"
Dragged along by Ainard, I arrived at the forest square—the "loud zone"—where the festival was in full swing.
"Beheeeell—raaaahhh!!"
"Oh!! It's the chieftain!! The chieftain's here!!"
"Bjyooooooorn, son of Yandel!!! The strongest warrior on the surface!!"
"The ultimate genius monster!!"
If not for barbarian eardrums being naturally tough, the noise probably would've ruptured them.
Now I understood why 99% of Sanctuary dwellers were barbarians despite the high number of humans.
"Look! Over there! I think they're fighting!!"
The first place Ainard took me was a circle of warriors fighting to the death.
"Kill him!! Rip out his teeth!!"
"Break his arm!!"
"It's fine!! That won't kill him anyway!!"
Two warriors locked in a brutal brawl, surrounded by a cheering crowd.
I grabbed a random nearby warrior and asked:
"Why are they fighting?"
"Dunno? Never thought to ask."
He gave me a look like what a weirdo, then went back to watching.
I guess the fight was more important than talking to me?
They were calling me a great warrior one second, then totally ignoring me the next. But I kind of got it.
Dueling was our biggest form of entertainment.
'They say the number of fights during a festival is the measure of how good it was…'
Well, it was entertaining.
Our warriors really were monsters in melee.
Even PvP tends to be more intense when you're lower level.
"Waaaahhhh!!"
The victor was a red-haired warrior who landed a clean elbow to the jaw.
But just as I was thinking it was time to move on…
"Everyone, listen!!!!"
Ainard suddenly shouted, gathering the crowd's attention.
"As you can see, our chieftain is here!!!"
I had no idea what she was planning, but the warriors all cheered instinctively.
"Ooooooohhhhh!!!"
"Beheeeell—raaaahhh!!"
I just stood and watched, clueless.
'…Why do I feel a bad premonition?'
As always, I was right.
"The chieftain will face every warrior here tonight!!!"
Who the hell made that decision—
"Ooooh…?"
"But… the chieftain is a great warrior…"
"Even I couldn't beat him…"
Thankfully, the reaction was lukewarm.
If that mood held, the idea might fizzle out…
"Don't worry! It doesn't matter where you hit! If you draw even a single drop of blood from the chieftain—you win!!"
Ainard quickly implemented a balance patch.
"Oh…?"
"That might actually be possible…"
But of course, one major question remained:
"Why should we be the ones fighting?"
"We're still human! Getting hit hurts!! Especially if it's by the chieftain!!"
The warriors suddenly sounded unusually rational.
But Ainard clearly wasn't ready for this turn.
"U-uh… it's a chance to fight the chieftain! A true warrior should want that… shouldn't they…?"
Flustered, she closed her eyes and shouted her final offer:
"Prrrrize…!!! Winner gets three houses!!"
No further explanation was necessary.
"…Three houses?"
"Worthy of risking one's life…!"
And the warriors' eyes—changed.
-x-X-x-
Hot breath bursting out. Eyes filled with fierce determination and tenacity. Even fingertips and shoulders trembling from excessive excitement. Barbarian warriors had a serious obsession with property. Well, that was only natural, since I'd deliberately stoked that greed ever since I started developing real estate in the Sanctuary. Homeownership = excellent warrior. That formula had become deeply ingrained in every warrior's mind, and now that perception was even stronger.
Thinking about it, it made perfect sense. Even when barbarians left the Sanctuary, most still chose to settle as close to it as possible, usually in District 7. But then both Districts 7 and 8 were completely wiped out, and the closest remaining area, Commelby, had prices so high it wasn't suitable for warriors. Well, District 9 was the next closest. It had escaped the war and was in a far better state than Commelby, which had gone mad with inflation, but still…
"With a house… I wouldn't have to sleep outside!"
"Even District 9's rent is five times higher than usual…!"
"Yeah! And it's far from the Sanctuary, so I don't have any friends there…!"
At this point, most barbarians had effectively returned to the Sanctuary and were sleeping together under the guise of communal living. And really, that was understandable. The war had created a massive refugee crisis, and the whole city was suffering a housing shortage. With room prices skyrocketing and the dungeon sealed off, there was no way for the warriors to make money. Paying rent was simply impossible.
'At least we managed to survive by doing labor…'
Most warriors were now going out into the city for manual labor, earning just enough to live day by day. And in the middle of all that, someone puts a "house" up as a prize?
"I—I'll be the first to challenge—!!"
"No! Me! I'm challenging first!!"
The reaction among the warriors was explosive, and word spread fast until every barbarian in the Sanctuary had heard.
'If I say I'm not doing it here…'
Then my support would nosedive. Not that I actually cared much about popularity. But I didn't want to see our barbarian warriors trudging around with their shoulders drooping during the festival.
So…
"Ainard."
"N-No! This is something that has to happen! A-And anyway, Bjorn! Can't you spare even a single day for us?! You're our chieftain—!"
"Calm down. I'm not saying I won't do it."
"…Huh? R-Really?"
"Yeah. Let's move somewhere else. It's too cramped here."
"Oh! Then let's go to the Land of Proof!"
And so, we headed to the Land of Proof with all the warriors.
'It's been a while since I've been here…'
The Land of Proof was a large pit dug in the middle of the forest, used when warriors fought sacred duels. In my case, I came here when I succeeded the chieftain's position.
"Come at me…!!"
As I threw away my weapons and clenched my fists, the warriors' expressions changed. Sure, we were fighting for the prize of a house, but this looked like I was completely underestimating them. That's how they saw it.
"Even if you're the chieftain, barehanded won't be easy!"
"Shut up and come at me!"
"Behell—RAAAAAAAHH!!!"
Thus began the challenge duels. Of course, just because I discarded my weapons didn't mean any random weakling stepped up.
"This challenger is Velikta, son of Ruman!!"
"Dragon Hunter Velikta!!"
"WOOOOOOOO!!"
Right from the start, warriors considered named figures within the tribe stepped up, and I did my best to face them. And naturally…
'Why the hell is it so hard to make myself bleed…?'
Because both sides were tough, the fights dragged on a bit, but no matter who I fought, I never ended up bleeding. It was mostly because barbarians rely on physical damage. Considering that the core of a shield barbarian's build is physical resistance, it was virtually impossible for me to bleed.
"…I lost. The chieftain truly is a great warrior…"
"Good fight."
"Ugh… No one can beat the chieftain…!!"
"He's a monster!!"
As each named warrior failed, the enthusiasm that had gripped the crowd quickly died down. Once they saw there was no chance of winning, their motivation vanished.
'Now what? I haven't even used [Giant Form] yet…'
Looking over at Ainard, she seemed torn, stuck in limbo. For some reason, the image of Ainard during her coming-of-age ceremony came to mind. Back then, she lost her way while heading to the city as "the one who leads" and had that exact same look on her face.
'Tch. Looks like I have to help again this time too.'
"Break time!"
I called a temporary pause to the duels and went over to Ainard. I gave her an idea that might change the ruined mood, and she was overjoyed as she shouted to all the warriors.
"The duels end here…!! From now on, we all drink together!!"
"…Drink?"
"The rules are simple! Everyone takes a shot together, and the one who lasts the longest wins!!"
"Same prize?!!"
"Of course!! If you outlast Bjorn, you'll get a house built for you!!"
…Wait, one house per person? I never agreed to that.
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"Behell—RAAAAAAAHH!!"
Ainard's reckless prize declaration made my head spin for a second, but the words had already left her mouth—there was no taking them back.
"This will be a drinking duel…! A sacred drinking duel!!"
"Drinking duel! Drinking duel!!"
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Apparently fond of the name Ainard slapped together on the fly, the warriors roared with excitement.
'Haa… screw it…'
I didn't have the heart to douse this energy with cold water, so I stayed silent. After a bit of setup, the sacred drinking duel—the one that might just become a barbarian tradition—finally began.
"Here comes the first round…!!"
At Ainard's shout, thousands of warriors sitting in the Land of Proof raised their cups.
"Pour it…!!"
And in unison, they threw back the liquor in one gulp. Then again. And again.
Second round, third, fourth, fifth…
As the rounds continued, warriors began to drop out.
"Ugh… mmrgh…! PFFFFTTT—!!"
"Karubo, son of Bulrak, just puked! He's out!"
"DAMN IIIIIT!!"
The tempo was fast from the start, and most warriors were already fairly drunk from enjoying the festival…
'At this rate, I might actually win…'
That thought gave me strength. If, by some chance, over a thousand warriors survived, the barbarian tribe would be bankrupt. As chieftain, I had to stop that future no matter what.
"Pour it…!!"
Sixteen rounds, seventeen, eighteen… The more liquid poured into my gut, the more the drunkenness set in.
'…How long has it been since I got this drunk?'
Truth is, I don't even know my own limit. I've never blacked out in this body. Ever since my natural regeneration and poison resistance stats skyrocketed, even when I got drunk, I sobered up so fast it was hard to stay drunk.
"Alright, this is the seventy-third round…!!"
As warriors kept dropping—vomiting, fainting, or stumbling off to the bathroom—the drinking pace only got faster. We simply didn't have time to prepare anymore.
"Fill 'em up! One hundredth round!!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
…Wait, when did we hit a hundred?
I looked around. The number of warriors still holding their cups had thinned dramatically.
'Maybe around a hundred left…?'
I didn't know the exact number, but my stomach was bloated. I could feel it rising to my throat, and even my bladder was starting to ache.
'One hundred houses… if converted to money…'
The thought alone cleared my head. I activated an ability. If my stomach was full, then—
「The character has activated [Giant Form].」
—just expand it.
Sure enough, my enlarged body eased the bloating. Even my bladder had more space. Though, a second crisis was coming sooner than expected.
"One hundred fiftieth round!!"
…I'm dying.
'…Thirty people left?'
What the hell are those guys? Do they have pocket dimensions in their stomachs? Or are they drinking something else entirely?
Even so, at least the remaining challengers weren't in their right minds.
"Heeheeheeheehee… hehehee…"
"Driiink… hihihi… hehehe…"
"My houuuse…! Mrrgh…!"
Even in a state of utter collapse, they couldn't let go of their material desire for a home. Watching their zombie-like faces, I forced myself to focus.
'Just a little more…'
I can endure. This isn't new. In Icerock, it was worse than this.
Yeah… so…
"One hundred fifty-first round!!"
Drink.
With my vision spinning, I saw a few warriors collapse at once.
"One hundred fifty-second round!!"
I've fought enough battles to know.
This—this is the turning point.
"One hundred fifty-third round!!"
Just a few more rounds.
The winner will be decided by who can endure.
"One hundred fifty-fourth round!!"
Just as I expected, a few more fell. I was reminded again of the truth.
"One hundred fifty-fifth round!!"
The more I suffer, the more they suffer too.
In the cold world of competition, the winner is whoever can hold on that final second longer.
"One hundred fifty-sixth round!!"
And I always have to win. Because losing means losing something—
"One hundred fifty-seve—enth—roooound!!"
Ah, this is bad now… …How many are left?
"Siiixty—sev—eeenn—!!"
Voices growing distant.
Like I'd entered a tunnel, my vision narrowed.
"Siixtyyyy—sevvv—ennnn!!"
Ah…
"——— ———!"
At the moment I sensed I'd hit my limit, I saw one last warrior through my narrowed vision. I had planned to bow out once three remained, but…
'…Huh?'
Looking at that last remaining warrior, I realized something deeply wrong.
'That guy…'
How could a person with a human body drink that much?
'He's… urinating himself while still drinking…?'
No, seriously—does such a being exist in this world?
Even a barbarian should have lines they won't cross.
But he had broken through all civilization, all humanity, all natural law.
I stared in awe. Not in horror—but reverence.
"Ah…"
Stunning. That unshakable resolve to win, even if it meant destroying every principle.
And hidden within—
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—
Flow. Not resisting what enters, but letting it out in return.
"Ah, ahhh…"
Yes… this is the mystery of the taiji cycle…
"Ahhh… ah…"
In that soaked man, I saw nature itself.
'From the beginning…'
Nature feels no shame. Nature isn't bound by rules. Nature simply is. Like a mountain.
'From the beginning… this was a battle I could never win…'
As a mere man—how could I possibly defeat one who had become one with nature?
And so, I humbly accepted my loss.
"I… lost…"
That was the last thing I remembered.
*
When I opened my eyes, it was night. My body was sore, but surprisingly, I didn't have a bad hangover. My stomach and head were both fine. Better than I'd expected.
'First, the bathroom…'
As I remembered that transcendent final moment, I rushed to the restroom. But perhaps someone heard me?
"Looks like you're finally awake."
"Emily?"
"Drink. It's honey water."
"…Thanks. Wait, were you waiting out here for me?"
"…Of course not. I just happened to hear something while passing by, thinking you might be waking up around now."
Well, that was a relief. I downed the honey water Amelia gave me and asked,
"How long was I out?"
"A day."
"Then today's the last day of the festival."
"Disappointed? That you wasted the final day?"
"Of course not. The sooner the festival ends, the sooner something new can begin. I'm glad."
Amelia gave me a slightly disgusted look, and I quickly changed the subject. I had something I was curious about.
"By the way… what's the name of the guy who beat me?"
That scene of infinite flow was burned into my memory, but unfortunately, I never saw his face properly.
"Vekta. From what I hear, he's Kiltau's third son."
"Vekta, third son of Kiltau…"
The name sounded familiar. Who was he again…?
"Ah…!"
I remembered. Back when I first became chieftain and oversaw my first coming-of-age ceremony—he was there. He had that stiff expression, rolling his eyes around. I knew he was a newbie the moment I saw him—
"…Wait, hold on…"
My whole body stiffened. Just like when I was hit by basilisk venom. My muscles tensed, and cold sweat dripped down my back.
"What's wrong? Are you unwell?"
Amelia asked with concern, but I couldn't escape the awful truth I'd just faced.
Vekta, Kiltau's third son. The barbarian who became one with nature, who achieved the mystery of taiji through urination. A master who left his mark in the history of urinary technique.
Yeah… he must've been…
"…No way. Fuhuhu…"
Maybe I was just seriously mistaken.
'There's no way someone like that could be a modern person.'
No way, right?
-x-X-x-
After sending Amelia away, telling her I'd go back to sleep, I lay down in bed again, but—as expected—I couldn't fall asleep. It wasn't that I wasn't sleepy after getting a good rest earlier. It's just… lately, I hadn't been able to properly sleep at night. During the day, I stayed busy and managed to get through it somehow, but at night, it didn't work that way. Every night, my mind got all tangled up.
"Hoo…"
So tonight, like always, I went out for a night stroll. And slowly began walking a full lap around the Sanctuary. Even though it was the final night of the festival, the Sanctuary was still noisy.
"Behell—RAAAAAAAHH!!"
"Bwahahahahaha!"
Avoiding the direction of the barbarian cheers echoing from the forest, I naturally found myself heading to that familiar spot again. Come to think of it, maybe the reason I kept ending up there was because of them.
SwaaAAAAAA—!
The cold night wind of the 13th Month brushed against my skin. I suddenly stopped walking and looked up at the sky. A crescent moon hung there. When I look at it, it almost feels like I'm still on Earth, yet at the same time, it reminds me that I'm not.
A very simple reason. If you look closely, its shape is slightly different, and—
'There are no full moons in Lafdonia.'
For 365 days a year, no matter when you look up at the night sky, you'll only ever see that same moon. Ah, not that full moons never appear at all. Maybe once in a while, like a solar eclipse on Earth, there's a rare full moon? I don't know the exact cycle or what principle governs it—after all, I'm not an astronomer. And in a world where magic and mystery are alive and breathing, it's not something worth questioning—
Tap.
"Who's there?"
I snapped sharply toward the faint sound of movement, and a barbarian warrior scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he emerged. When I saw his face, it was an unexpected encounter.
"You… Vekta, Kiltau's third son?"
Thank goodness it wasn't Ibaekho, so the tension eased immediately—but I didn't expect to run into him like this.
"Oh! I didn't think you'd remember my name! What an honor, Chieftain!!"
The guy shouted at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night, thrilled just because I remembered his name. Not that it was worth criticizing—he was well within barbarian average. Since we happened to meet like this, I decided to chat with him a little.
"Of course I'd remember. You're the warrior who beat me, after all."
"Hahaha!! Chieftain, if you drink like me, you'll do even better!!"
Yeah, well… If I did that, rumors would spread through the whole city that Baron Yandel pissed himself while drinking.
"So why were you out here?"
"Krhhrh!! They said my house would be built here, so I came early!!"
"…What?"
"I'm so excited that I'll finally have a house, I can't sleep! I'm going to live here until it's built! It's my house now!!"
"Uh… r-right. But why'd you pick this spot? It's near the cemetery…"
"It's cool here, and I like it!!"
The more we talked, the more it felt like I was getting pulled into something. I was starting to seriously wonder if I'd misunderstood this guy.
'Is he really… a modern person?'
Maybe this was how the Secret Security's specter hunters felt when they looked at me. If I hadn't seen him at his coming-of-age ceremony, I never would've guessed. No way I'd think this guy was a specter.
"By the way, did you choose a shield for your ceremony?"
"Oh! Yeah! I didn't expect you to remember that too…!! What an honor!!"
"How's that going? Still using it?"
"I gave it up and switched to an axe! I only picked the shield 'cause the chieftain did at first, but it didn't suit me!"
"You chose it because of me?"
"Isn't Bjorn, son of Yandel, the greatest warrior of all time?! I wanted to follow in your footsteps! But getting the right essence was too hard, so I gave up!"
Yeah, right. How'd you know my name when you awakened during your ceremony?
I smirked and looked down at Vekta.
'Still… he does seem like a player.'
The more we talked, the more certain I became. Of course, accepting that he was a fellow modern person felt a little shameful…
'I used to be like that too.'
Ah, not the peeing part. I mean, I had my own "Vekta phase." Back when I first met the chieftain, I used to get all tense and act super barbarian-like too.
Even though we hadn't exchanged many words, I could feel it.
'…This guy's going to live a long time.'
His commitment to acting 100% barbarian. The guts to abandon dignity and invoke the mysteries of taiji for material gain. Guys like this don't die easily.
"So what brings you here, Chieftain? Oh, were you heading to the cemetery again?"
"Not really. Just on patrol."
"Oh! Got it, good work! I'm hungry, so I'm gonna sleep more!"
It seemed like Vekta was trying to get rid of me, but I wasn't planning to leave.
"I'll give you jerky. Just chat with me for a bit."
"Oh! Really? Thanks!! You're a great and wise warrior, Chieftain!"
Bit of a delay before answering—but hey, decent barbarian acting.
"So what do you want to talk about…?"
Vekta subtly tested me, pretending to be a clueless barbarian but clearly curious. Understandable—if the chieftain suddenly says he wants to talk, it'd make anyone nervous.
"Nothing much. Just wanted to hear about your troubles."
"My… troubles?"
Vekta looked confused. Can't blame him. It's not like I said I had a problem or even asked him for advice—I just said I wanted to hear his problems.
"Tell me. What's bothering you?"
"I mean, I don't really have anything…"
"That can't be! I'm sure you do! Tell me! As chieftain, I have the right to hear it!"
"…The right?"
Not a duty?
I could almost hear the follow-up, but it wasn't important enough to address. Soon, Vekta gave me a strange look.
Like, 'Wow, this guy really is a hardcore barbarian…'
Honestly, I was a little offended. I didn't want to be looked at like that by someone who peed himself mid-drink.
"Ahem! Anyway, speak!"
"Uh…"
"Now!"
With a burst of chieftainly authority, Vekta finally opened his mouth.
"I guess… I do have a problem with a friend."
"Oh? What kind of friend?"
"A human teammate I used to work with before the dungeon closed. Hans Elibon…"
"…What?!"
"Why are you so shocked? You know him?"
"No, I just pretended to. So what about this friend?"
"I ran into him in the city recently. He said he had a good opportunity and asked if I wanted to go into business—"
"Don't do it."
"Huh? But I haven't even told you what the opportunity is—"
Opportunity, my ass. Does this guy have a screw loose? Doing anything with Hans? Seriously?
"I said don't do it, so don't do it."
I layered my words with killing intent for effect. The intimidation made Vekta nod, stunned.
"Ah, got it! I won't do it!"
Good. Should've said so earlier.
"B-But can you at least tell me why?"
"His name's ominous."
"…?"
Vekta gave me a look like, 'What the hell is with this guy?' But it only lasted a moment.
So I didn't bother acknowledging it.
"Alright, your first problem is solved. Now tell me the second."
"…Second? I don't have one…"
"No, I'm sure you do."
"Uh… money? It's hard to make money these days—"
"That's not a real problem."
"Then what do you want me to say—?"
"Think. If you can't think, try remembering. If you still can't remember, ask your heart. Do you really have no problems?"
I pressed harder, and Vekta finally spoke, gears turning in his head. Maybe he just wanted to say something to get rid of me. Luckily, it was actually more of a real problem this time.
"…I hope the dungeon opens soon."
"As I said, money isn't—"
"That's not what I meant. I want to get stronger. That feeling got way stronger after the war."
"Hmm?"
"…A lot of my warrior friends died in the war. If I'd been stronger, I could've protected them."
The sincerity in his awkward words made me quietly nod. So the "house" was just an excuse—he really was here because of the cemetery.
"…It's not your fault you couldn't protect them."
"I know. This is a world where everyone has to survive on their own. I just feel… regret. If they were still alive, we could've laughed and had fun together during the festival."
"..."
"We always wanted a house."
"But now you have one."
"Yeah. I'm finally getting one. But I don't have anyone to brag to."
I didn't really know why, but that thought struck me. Maybe—just maybe—the reason he drank himself half-dead, even peed himself just to win, was this. Because he desperately didn't want to give up. Because even when he was about to collapse, he endured.
"That was my second problem…"
"I see."
Maybe it was because he let out the truth buried inside. Whatever the reason, Vekta now wore a somewhat refreshed expression.
"What should I do…? Tell me, Chieftain."
There was even a hint of hope in his eyes. Like he believed I might give him the perfect # Nоvеlight # answer. And so I did.
"Make new friends."
"…Huh?"
"And get stronger. So you won't lose anyone again."
"..."
"Alright, second problem solved. I'm off now. I'm hungry!"
And so, after solving the newbie warrior's unexpected worries, I walked toward my real destination with a lighter heart.
*
SwaaAAAAA—!
A cold wind swept through, rustling the winter-dried blades of grass. Long ago, barbarians used to believe that the sound was their fallen ancestors dueling and laughing. Surprisingly poetic and figurative for barbarians. Their burial custom was sky burial—leaving the corpse to decompose naturally in the wind and rain. A warrior remains in the land, becomes nourishment for the trees that grow here. Well, building a grave doesn't stop that process anyway.
[Brown Rotmiller]
[Versil Gowland]
[James Carla]
Tonight again, I stood before their gravestones. Seeking an answer to ease this heavy feeling in my chest.
SwaaAAAAA—!
Of course, just standing here didn't magically bring answers. It's not like voices of the dead came on the wind. It's not like I could hear their wishes or feel what they wanted. Even in a world where ghost-type monsters exist, spiritual phenomena like that weren't real.
I'm proof of that.
"..."
They were gone. No longer in this world. And I was still left behind, stuck in my own thoughts.
What did they wish for, leaving someone like me behind?
'Riol Worb Dwalke.'
His wish had been simple. He asked me to look after Misha. But I don't think I did a good job. He probably didn't mean this kind of vague relationship.
Ah, but I did finish his revenge properly. Though now that I think about it… that was probably just something I wanted.
"..."
The whole city is loud with celebration, but those who are gone can't enjoy it. A festival is for the living.
SwaaAAAAA—!
Suddenly, the conversation with Vekta came to mind again.
'If they were still alive, we could've laughed and had fun together during the festival.'
I totally agreed with that. Whenever something good happened to me, I always thought of the ones who'd left first.
What if Dwalke were here? The dwarf would pull a prank, and the guy would turn beet red with anger. What if Rotmiller were still alive? Maybe the festival would've brought him closer to Shabin Emure. And Versil Gowland, and James Carla…
If all the ones who left before me were still here, how would things be now?
"..."
I thought for a long time. Of course, it was all just fantasy. No one knows what would've actually happened. That future is already erased.
Yeah. That's probably why—every time I remember them, this regret and sorrow come flooding back.
"…I'm sick of this."
I finally voiced the lump that had long been stuck in my chest. This world is broken. Whether Earth or Lafdonia.
Now that I think about it, they're not all that different. Maybe it's just the way the world works.
But that doesn't make it right.
Whether human, barbarian, beastkin, or fairy—
'I know. This is a world where everyone has to survive on their own.'
A world where only survival matters.
I'm so sick of it—
"Ah…"
And at that moment, I realized. What it was I truly desired.
"Ahh…"
I don't want to survive each day. I want to live. Together with the people I care about.
Heh.
Of course, that's just wishful thinking. Some cynic might call it childish to dream of such a kind world.
But so what?
I'm a barbarian. If I lose my teeth, I chew with my gums. If my mind's broken, I fix it. If I want to shout, I shout.
No need to overthink it—it's the same with this.
If that kind of world doesn't exist—then I'll make one.
'I've got a lot of work ahead.'
As I sat in front of the gravestones, building a plan that bordered on delusion, I heard a loud cheer in the distance and checked the time.
Tick.
Yeah, I figured it was that loud for a reason.
[00 : 00]
The year—so full of twists and turns—had finally ended.
-x-X-x-
When do people make the most resolutions?
If someone were to ask that, most people would give the same answer.
January 1st. The day a year ends and a new one begins.
On that day, everyone is filled with hope. People who feel they've gained weight resolve to go on a diet, and those who've been lazing around at home vow that this year they'll finally get a job.
But only a few actually carry out those plans. Because what they truly want is change, and this world is never kind to those who desire change.
If you want to come out of the egg, you have to break the shell. And ironically, the path to hope is always accompanied by pain.
'Of course, there's a reason people say New Year's resolutions never last past three days.'
A person's determination is so weak and soft that no matter how firmly they shape it, it always ends up sagging with time.
Of course, there are some with unshakable will, but…
Hmm. Even then, would those kinds of people really need the New Year as a trigger?
Anyway.
"Did you spend the last days of the year resting well?"
"More or less."
On the first day of the new year, I visited the palace and met with Astarotta. It was to put into action the resolution I made last night.
Last night, for the first time in a while, I felt my dull mind spin clearly again.
What must I do to not merely survive, but live—to realize that dream in this merciless city?
After a night of contemplation, I came to a conclusion.
I must commit treason and become king. Or at the very least, I must attain power equal to that of a king.
Only then can I stand on equal footing in negotiations—or otherwise—and obtain what I want.
That's why I came here the very next day.
"Astarotta Berun."
"You're calling me by my full name all of a sudden. It's making me tense. What is it?"
"Is Countess Peproc still in the same condition?"
"Yes."
It was the answer I'd expected, and yet, it was enough to confirm my suspicions.
The Marquis had said that in time, Ragna would come to her senses on her own. That was why he left the diary behind in the first place.
'But she still hasn't woken up…'
There's no doubt it's because of them. Though I have no proof yet.
"Then today as well, I can stop by to see her before I leave?"
"Of course."
Whatever they're doing to Ragna, I'll need to speak with Hyeonbyeol later. Though I doubt I'll get a clear answer.
"By the way…"
Astarotta narrowed her eyes like a gambler about to make a play.
"When you killed the Marquis, did you happen to see a ring nearby?"
"A ring? No, I didn't see anything like that."
"Hmm. I see…"
"What kind of ring was it?"
"It's nothing special, just one of the royal treasures. But it seems he either took it off before dying or someone took it from him."
"Either way, I didn't see it."
"I see. In that case, the most likely scenario is that it's in Noark's hands now."
At those words, I felt a sense of relief.
The royal family still believes my statement from back then.
But for them to bring this up now, something I didn't mention at the time, must mean they've finally finished their own internal investigation.
'Looks like I've cleared a major hurdle…'
Then again, in hindsight, it was only natural they'd believe me. The royal family knows the Marquis and I were enemies.
Even if they had doubts, they wouldn't have found a convincing reason why the Marquis would willingly hand over Urae to me. It would've sounded far more plausible that he'd fired it out of a desire to kill us all, just as I'd said.
Which is why showing too much obsession over Ragna would be dangerous. The royal family might catch on to the deal the Marquis risked his life to complete.
"Oh, and did you hear? At the royal meeting you missed, the new Chancellor was chosen."
"…Who is it?"
"Duke Kealurnus."
"I see."
"You don't seem too surprised."
"Honestly, there wasn't anyone left but the Duke."
The nobility had originally been divided into three major factions: The Chancellor faction, the Duke faction, and the minor nobles. Ah, and the Melbeth alliance of mixed races, which I belong to—but their power's so insignificant they don't really count.
Anyway, the Chancellor faction essentially collapsed when the Marquis committed treason. The minor nobles lost most of their strength when many were killed by Urae falling on the Palace of Glory.
Only the Duke faction managed to preserve their power throughout the war.
"Yandel, what do you think of the Duke?"
"I think he's lucky. He didn't do much, but his biggest rival, the Marquis, destroyed himself. And judging by appearances, he didn't suffer any major losses in the war either."
"Fortunate, huh…"
But the tone of her muttering was a little odd.
"…Do you know something?"
"No, nothing like that. It's just that, in my experience, those who seem lucky often have the dirtiest secrets. But… well, maybe he really is just lucky, like you said."
"If you ever find out something, let me know too."
"Of course."
And with that, the talk about the Duke ended, and we moved on to other topics.
Most of the conversation was me drawing information from her, but the one that left the biggest impression…
Was this.
"Oh, and Yandel… your promotion has been finalized."
The Yandel barony is now a viscountcy.
Well, calling it a house is a stretch—no mansion, no retainers, nothing.
'…Or maybe not?'
If we're just counting numbers, I probably have more followers than any other noble house.
Since I accepted all the refugees from Viphron.
"Did the soon-to-be Chancellor say anything about it?"
"Even if he wanted to object, he couldn't. You're the hero who entered enemy territory alone, killed the Marquis, and ended the war temporarily. Ah, do you and the Duke not get along?"
"Not particularly. We're not close, but there's no bad blood either."
"Then there's even less reason to block your promotion. Still, I heard he did have a small complaint. Apparently, since the promotion ceremony and his inauguration are happening together, he wasn't too thrilled."
"I don't get it. Why would that be a problem?"
When I asked, Astarotta looked at me briefly, then smirked.
"Seems like you're genuinely clueless. Good. If you weren't, it would've been kind of annoying."
"Just tell me."
"Think about it. If both events are held at the same time, who do you think people will focus on?"
"Ah…"
I hadn't considered that.
Of course, more attention would be on me—the war hero—than the Duke, who basically walked into a vacant seat.
"I heard he even asked if they could be held separately, even if it meant delaying his inauguration. But it was denied due to the urgency of the situation."
In any case, it seems my promotion ceremony and the Duke's inauguration will be held on the same day, at the same place.
"Are you going to visit Countess Peproc?"
"Just to see her face for a moment."
"How devoted."
As the conversation wound down and I was about to stand, Astarotta brought up something new, as if she'd just remembered.
"Oh, right. I wanted to ask you something."
"…?"
"Are you close with Jerome Saintred?"
…Why bring up the village chief all of a sudden?
"Not particularly. We did explore the first basement floor together, but that's about it. Why do you ask?"
"He went missing the day Urae fell on the Palace of Glory."
"…And?"
"Some think he should be listed as a casualty, but I feel like there's something more. I just wanted to see if you knew anything."
"Unfortunately, I don't."
"…Sorry for wasting your time. You should go now."
With that, I left the reception room where I'd been speaking with Astarotta.
'Missing, huh…'
Honestly, I don't think the chief was caught in the °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° war and killed.
More likely, he got involved in something—or disappeared by choice.
I recalled my last meeting with him.
Just before Urae struck, he came to me while I was imprisoned underground and said something cryptic.
["It's about to begin. The day everything burns."]
And sure enough, right after that, Urae fell. As he left in a rush, he said:
["Survive. Once you do, I have something I want to tell you."]
At the time, things were so chaotic I didn't think much of it, but now that I look back, it's strange.
Contrary to his words, the world didn't burn during the war—
'…Or did it?'
Districts 7 and 8 did burn entirely.
But I was the one who set them on fire, and the tone of the chief's words had been very different. At the time, it felt like he was talking about the end of the world.
'But in the end, that didn't happen…'
The war stopped, and I survived.
But the chief, who said he'd speak with me afterward, didn't just fail to find me—he vanished completely.
'What did the chief know that made him so desperate?'
I still don't know.
But one thing is clear: I have to find him.
Because I must stop the Heart of Karui from falling into the hands of the royal family.
And right now, he has it.
I don't know what he plans to do with it—but still…
***
Before leaving the palace, I stopped by Ragna's room.
She was still sleeping like a princess, and Hyeonbyeol was watching over her.
"Are you really planning to stay here until she wakes up?"
"I don't know what'll happen if I leave."
Hmm. If the royal family has something in mind, it won't matter whether she's here or not… But I didn't say that out loud.
"Anything happen while you've been here?"
"Not really. I'm dying of boredom, honestly. Even the Chancellor's son got released, so there's no one to talk to…"
"Yeah, I guess it would be boring."
Elthora Tertherion, son of the traitor Chancellor, was recently released after a trial. Even though his father was a rebel, he had betrayed him and helped me, which was taken into consideration.
But truthfully, it was all thanks to Astarotta. And I'm the one who moved Astarotta.
'What's he gonna do with his life now…'
Elthora got what he wanted—he survived. He lost all noble rights, but that was to be expected.
'A lot of people must hate him…'
In a time when tens of thousands of refugees are wandering, the name "Tertherion" is enough to make people grind their teeth.
It might be easier for him to ditch the name and just live as "Elthora."
'Maybe I'll drop by sometime later to see what he's doing…'
That was as far as my thoughts about Elthora went. It was personal curiosity, nothing more.
"See you next time."
"Huh… you're leaving already?"
"I'll be back soon."
"You said that last time too, but it took forever for you to show up again."
"This time I mean it. I'll probably be coming to the palace a lot from now on."
"…The palace?"
Hyeonbyeol gave me a subtle, meaningful look.
Then she stared at me quietly.
"You seem… different somehow?"
"Different?"
"It's hard to explain, but just something. Something's different…"
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Of course it's good! And your face looks a lot better too."
She's sharp as ever—and I kind of get it. Even I thought my face in the mirror had looked awful for a long time.
"Then I'll be off."
And when I returned to the Sanctuary after finishing my palace business, a guest was waiting for me.
"Ah, you're finally here!"
It was Elwen's uncle.
-x-X-x-
Beleg Shusia di Tersia.
Elwen's maternal uncle, and the otherworldly specter who once wore the Crescent Moon mask at the Round Table.
Honestly, facing this guy is a bit awkward.
In some ways… no, there's no "in some ways" about it.
Even if I roll backwards, the fact that I deceived this guy doesn't change.
"[So the stories of legends and reality really are different…]"
"[…Thanks to you, at least I can let go of my foolish dreams.]"
"[But I can't say I'm grateful.]"
The day the Round Table disbanded, I finally revealed the Resurrection Stone's usage conditions—something I had deliberately kept quiet until then—and this is what he told me.
At the time, his eyes were full of profound emptiness.
And now, to be talking about the Resurrection Stone again…
'Did I really get it wrong?'
That sudden thought made me sit him down and confirm this first.
"Only two people can be revived using the Resurrection Stone. But to use it, the person you want to bring back has to have died recently, and you need to have the body. Do you know that?"
"I know."
Hmph, so he knows…
That pretty much confirms it—he is the Crescent Moon mask.
So I just came out and asked directly.
"Who are you trying to bring back?"
"…Myself."
"…Huh?"
"I want to use the Resurrection Stone on myself."
…What?
***
Hearing such a ridiculous thing as wanting to use the Resurrection Stone on himself, my brain went blank.
You could say I entered that state of "so dumbfounded it left the room"…
Maybe realizing that, he quickly added an explanation.
"I'll be honest since I'm the one asking. Originally, the ones I wanted to bring back with the Resurrection Stone were Belua and Daria."
"…Belua?"
"Their mother. My… younger sister."
"And?"
"But I don't have either of their bodies. I didn't cremate Daria's remains after she was burned—just in case—and buried her. Then, from time to time, I secretly dug up the grave and cast preservation spells on her… But when I heard it only works if the person hasn't been dead long, I stopped doing it."
That was a seriously shocking story.
Because that meant Daria's corpse had been sitting intact in a coffin until not too long ago.
'…Is this guy insane?'
Saying that kind of psychopath-level stuff in such a polite tone made chills crawl down my back.
Still, that's that, and this is this.
"…I get that you were crushed when you lost their bodies. But how does that lead to using the Resurrection Stone on yourself?"
It was so far beyond my understanding that I felt like my brain was about to short-circuit—but surprisingly, what he said next made me accept it.
"I heard that using the Resurrection Stone… makes you lose all your memories from when you were alive."
Ah…
"…I need the Resurrection Stone. To stay alive."
The way he said that, calmly and flatly, made me nod.
In many ways, it was deeply ironic.
To think a living person needs a Resurrection Stone in order to keep on living…
It sounds absurd, yet somehow, it makes sense.
Maybe because I've been through something similar.
"...."
My head's starting to hurt.
It's like my brain's overheating.
And from experience, I know that when this happens, it's best to simplify things as much as possible. The one in pain is the one in pain, and I'm just me, right?
"So, you're asking me to give you the Resurrection Stone?"
"Yes."
"You're not expecting it for free, are you? What's the price?"
"I've lived my whole life without greed, so I have nothing to offer. Nothing but this body."
…What the hell?
Is it just me, or did the phrase "this body" just sound really weird?
Hmm, no, I'm probably just overthinking it.
"Use me as you wish. Whether it's in the Labyrinth, the city, or beyond these walls—I'll follow you and do whatever you ask."
Put simply, he was offering to join us in exchange for the Resurrection Stone.
"I may not look it, but I'm confident in my abilities. Not only will I not drag you down, I'll definitely be a big help."
"You'd probably be useful. But what if your help isn't worth the value of the Resurrection Stone?"
Without a moment's hesitation, he answered.
"I'll stay until it is."
His answer came so fast and firm, I was the one who felt embarrassed for trying to test him.
I let out a long sigh inside.
Even back when he wore the Crescent Moon mask—he hasn't changed.
After being taken advantage of like that at the Round Table, now he comes here and makes another ridiculous offer.
"What if I just suck all the benefits out of you and never keep my end of the deal?"
"I know you're not that kind of person."
"...."
"And more than anything, even if you were—it wouldn't matter to me."
"What do you mean, it wouldn't matter?"
"...."
He had answered every other question cleanly, but this time, he fell silent.
Still, I didn't press him.
Because I could already guess what he meant.
In life, whether you like it or not, you end up meeting people like this.
The ones who seem to live as if they're done with life # Nоvеlight # already.
This guy had that kind of look in his eyes.
'Haa…'
Which only made the decision harder.
If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even hesitate.
I'd just say no.
Flat-out no.
Beleg's combat ability probably doesn't come anywhere near the value of a Resurrection Stone.
But the problem is…
'He's Elwen's uncle.'
Talking to him like this, face to face, made all kinds of extreme outcomes flash through my mind.
What if he suddenly hangs himself?
How much would that shock Elwen?
And what about me?
If the man I deceived so thoroughly at the Round Table were to die tortured by a wish left unfulfilled…
"Hoo…"
I didn't need long to make my decision.
The Resurrection Stone is meant to bring the dead back to life—not the living.
"Fine. I'll accept your enlistment. But, just like you said—I'll decide when you get the Resurrection Stone."
What a living person really needs to keep going isn't some stupid rock.
It's something a little warmer than that.
***
It took just three days for Beleg's enlistment to be processed officially.
During that short time, he tied up every political and emotional loose end he had in the Sanctuary and joined our Anabada Clan.
Though he didn't move his residence completely.
His only request was to stay behind and look after Elwen's younger sister, Mei, who was living alone in the Sanctuary, unless something came up. And I had no reason to refuse.
"…My uncle joined our clan?"
By chance, I ended up telling Elwen after the fact—but compared to what I expected, her reaction was surprisingly calm.
No—more precisely, it was ambiguous.
"He's not going to be on my team, right…?"
"Probably not."
"Then I don't care."
She seemed to care about him personally as her uncle, but didn't seem too eager to run into him often.
And I felt like I understood why.
There are more cases than you'd think of couples divorcing after losing a child. Even if you want to forget, being together constantly makes the wounds keep resurfacing.
I never understood that before, but now, I kind of get it.
Sometimes, for a wound to heal, it's better not to touch it.
Keep picking at it, and it festers.
Anyway, I'll keep an eye on the two of them going forward…
"This is the document listing the items registered at the Alminus Central Exchange today. Once you finish inspection and confirm it's all clear, they'll go on sale by tomorrow morning."
Lately, with Amelia's help, I've been reviewing the registered items at the exchange daily.
The reason is simple.
Rare items that normally wouldn't show up at the exchange have started appearing more frequently these days.
"Oh, thanks. I can already see a few eye-catching things just skimming over it."
"At first I thought it was just a temporary trend, but the listings keep increasing."
Amelia said she had no idea what was causing it—but I had a hunch.
"It's probably because the war wiped out so many nobles."
When the Thunderbolt hit the Palace of Glory, countless families were annihilated. Some lost only their head, others even their heirs.
Still, despite the chaos, the estates passed to legitimate successors and the generational shift continued…
"This is probably the ripple effect."
Every noble family is struggling now.
And in times like that, what's the first thing a new head of a house does?
They turn unnecessary valuables into cash.
But since the exclusive "Sky Auction" no longer has anyone left to attend, it was only natural that the largest functioning exchange—the Central—would be flooded with listings.
Once I explained that, Amelia nodded in agreement.
And then…
"Like that ruby from Nomilat, for example?"
With a mischievous tone, Amelia shot me a look—and I couldn't hide my excitement.
"Don't tell me… you found a way to get it? I heard someone else already won the bid."
"When there's a will, there's always a way."
Grinning slyly, Amelia gave me a smug smile.
"You seriously got it? How? Did it go up for auction again?"
"Like hell it did. I infiltrated the exchange and checked the ledger. Then I found the seller and told them we'd cover the commission if they canceled the bid and sold it to us instead."
"…Did they agree?"
Even as I asked, I felt like it was a pointless question.
If they hadn't, she wouldn't be bringing it up like this.
"I used your name and said it was something you needed. They didn't even ask questions, just agreed. Oh, and they said to make sure you remember their name—Viscount Bertan."
"Viscount Bertan, huh…"
I hadn't had much contact with that house, but I knew the name.
It was an old family, but not particularly powerful or well-known in politics…
I remembered they were part of the minor nobility faction.
"Oh, and just out of curiosity, I asked where it had been this whole time. Apparently it was just sitting as a decoration in the first floor hall."
"What…?"
They used that priceless thing as decoration?
Tch, nobles and their damn extravagance.
'No way this would've gone on sale if it weren't for the current mess.'
Still, from my perspective, I'm thankful.
These consumable-type materials are always the hardest to find.
"But… what exactly are you planning to use it for? I know it boosts physical strength if consumed, but that can't be the reason you're so happy."
"Oh, you mean the purpose?"
Grinning, I answered Amelia's question.
"It's the final material I need for Phase 8 of the Spirit Engraving."
At last, I had all the materials for Phase 8.
***
There are fifteen materials needed for Phase 8 of the Undying Engraving.
But most of them can be bought easily in the city with enough money.
Except for three.
The three core materials for Phase 8 all come from third-tier monsters, and they're seriously hard to obtain.
Last time I went outside the walls, I was lucky enough to grab two of them…
'So I finally have all of them.'
Now that Amelia used her finesse to secure the final one, I'm fully ready to level up again.
Not that it's going to be some massive power spike.
But still—just one more step to Phase 9, and that's what really matters.
'Once I hit Phase 9, that becomes possible.'
Once I hit Phase 9 and absorb just two more specific Essences, my big, precious shield-barbarian build will finally be complete…
「You have activated Undying Engraving Phase 8.」
Just a few more steps left.
-x-X-x-