After the return of the royal army, people learned that the army was real, and that the reason they were not in Dimension Square was because they had secretly gone underground.
How did this happen?
Nobody knew, so all kinds of speculation broke out. Conspiracy theories began, from whether they had won or lost, until in reality the palace only intended to fight the underground city. Every day new hypotheses were created among the gossips.
A few days later, the palace posted signs throughout the city. To briefly summarize the content, it was as follows: Our sick army won, and even conquered Noark. So stop worrying. I couldn't say how much of that was true, but assuming the posters were based on the truth to some extent, and to make up for some missing points...
It's true. There was no battle.
It was difficult to find traces of a battle of the knights returning to the palace.
Noark's bastards probably escaped.
But where? The world was blocked on all sides by walls. It also didn't make sense for them to hide on the surface. If that number of people reached the surface, it could only leave a trace.
So it means they are still below...
«Bjorn! Stop playing and come move this!»
Yes, I should focus on moving things. Continuing to worry won't give me an answer. It is wiser to wait for the opening of the Round Table where Clown is a member.
So I finished my thoughts and moved my body.
«Oh, could you put the bed there?»
At the time I was in an orphanage affiliated with the Church of Reatlas and moving things around like an employee at a moving company. It's about time I started gathering my achievement points. From time to time, when an assignment appeared that could be done within the church, I would go there with others who had time to overcome them.
«Ainar! Did you think I wouldn't catch you secretly resting?!»
«I'm not resting, I'm playing with the kids!»
«Waaaa! He broke my wrist! Doll killer!»
«That's right... I was trying to show you where the vital points are and accidentally...!»
There were also some events today, but after an hour or two, the move was complete. And so today's commission ended here. Afterwards we had a simple meal at a restaurant near the church, where I heard a strange fact from Missha.
«Did you know? The orphanage we went to today is that orphanage».
«Is he an orphan?»
«You know. The place where Dwalkie spent a small part of his childhood. The old building that is scheduled to be demolished tomorrow is that one.»
«...Ya veo.»
«Anyway, I'm just saying! I'm leaving! Oh, and I'm going to be late today so you two take care of dinner on your own.»
After eating, we disperse immediately. Missha left saying that she had a date with one of her former companions and Ainar headed to the holy land.
«Hehe, now there's only the two of us left».
«I have to stop by, so go home first».
«…¿Eh?»
Saying goodbye to Erwen, who had nothing special to do, I arrived at the guild alone. The escort gentlemen who used to be by my side every day were no longer there, because they all left at the end of last month. Apparently, their superior ordered them to return.
At that moment I didn't give it much importance, but they must have been called for the raid against Noark.
If all of Noark's bastards escaped safely and were somewhere underground, the knights could be sent back, but I decided not to bet too much on it. Still, after spending a month together, one of the gentlemen told me the following before leaving.
«Please take care. If the assassins return, senior officials have judged that it is more likely the work of a large clan than Noark».
It seemed that Cornamenta, who put escorts at my side, thought that the murder was the work of large clans. True, it had already been a month since it was said that the murderer would come soon.
«So shouldn't you protect more by my side? The great clans will target the palace, after all.»
«...You don't have to worry about that».
Furthermore, judging by the nuance of his words, it seemed that the palace had finished all preparations to block the large clans unharmed even if they tried to manipulate public opinion, so I no longer had to protect myself.
Well, some parts of me feel more comfortable without them too.
As I organized my thoughts a bit as I moved, I arrived at the Scout Guild before I knew it. There was no need to take a number like last time. There weren't many explorers in the first place and...
«Baronet Bjorn Yandel, your identity has been verified. We will guide you to the branch manager's office».
Yes, you should at least enjoy the benefits of a degree like this.
«Branch director no, district head».
The employee asked me if I had made an appointment, but I suppressed something as trivial as that with the power of a noble.
«Are you insurgents?» A barbarian with whom words did not work mixed with a nobleman who had no intention of listening: namely, Noble Barbarian Mode.
«...We will guide you directly there.»
When we reached the fourth floor, the employee called to announce my visit and soon a loud sigh was heard from inside before the door opened. I walked in immediately and sat on the couch. Then, placing my feet on the table, I spoke arrogantly. «Greetings».
The man did not respond.
«Go on».
As soon as I finished my words, the district chief who was working at his desk stood up and greeted me. «Baronet...Yandel...you are here...»
Shouldn't you be used to this already?
«Okay, sit down».
When I allowed him to sit down, only then did the district chief sit in front of me. It had already happened several times, but it was still exciting. Was this the true taste of power?
«...What business do you have today?» The seventh district chief of the Explorers Guild, Niall Urbans, the guy who had a bad relationship with me since the past, was now speaking to me in a polite tone. Of course, he wasn't like that from the beginning. At first he tried to match me with moderate honorifics, but when I got angry with him and asked him if he was insulting me, a nobleman, he ended up using this tone.
«I've come to check to see if there are any scouts who have responded to my recruiting announcement».
«That can also be confirmed at the branch manager's office...»
What was this guy saying? The reason I specifically came to the headquarters in the seventh district was because of him. «Responding... to a nobleman?»
«...I'll check it out right away.»
«Since there might be a mistake like last time, do it yourself. Don't let someone else do it.»
«Okay...»
Afterwards, the district chief went to do what I had ordered and I ate the sandwiches on the table while he waited. How long had it been since then?
«Here it is». The district chief returned with some papers in his hand. When I ripped them out of his hands to read them without saying thank you, nothing had changed since I arrived two days ago.
«One more candidate, but not even they are that good».
«Sorry.»
«You don't have to apologize». Showing from time to time the generosity of a superior, I reread the document. The number of scouts who showed up for the teammate recruiting position I set up a few days ago was exactly thirty-one. It was less than I expected. This was because fewer explorers wanted to enter the maze these days.
Still, since the clans are so divided, I thought more would show up.
I left the regrets behind and put down the role. Although he was only on paper now, there were no scouts to take to the interview phase. I also didn't find the special class group I had been looking for. I figured all we could do was wait endlessly.
«Um, but...»
«Don't drag it out and talk».
«Is there a specific class you are looking for?».
«Not really, I just need someone who is capable. Why do you ask?»
«Because I have seen a famous name among the aspirants». Afterwards, the district chief spoke of how capable, loyal and promising that explorer was. It seemed like this guy wanted to find me a teammate soon, so I stopped coming here.
«Enough!» I threw the paper on the floor and left the office angry. «You do what I tell you!».
No matter how good your resume was, putting a Hans on my team? You're crazy?
***
Almost two weeks had passed since the fire. Until now, I had been able to organize what I had done into a few categories: completion point working in the temple, passing through the sacred land to fight with the chief, touring Kommelby to get an idea of the prices, and then going to the guild every three days to relieve stress by tormenting the district chief. Although it was a fairly productive program, there were no immediate results. The value of the coin would probably continue to rise for a while, so for now keep it.
And the achievement points look like they will take another two or three months to arrive...
The same was true with recruiting a teammate. There was no sign of a scout of the special class needed for the sixth floor appearing soon, and the two remaining places to fill ten people remained vacant.
Will there be no choice but to upload it with only six people at the end?
This was the disappointing part. Typically, when a team was divided into two or more, the team would meet on the fifth floor. This was because when the number of members exceeded five people, it took a considerable amount of time to move to the fourth floor, a painful loss for an explorer for whom time was money.
There are still many things that worry me about going up three by three. It will be much safer to meet on the second floor.
Of course, this concern was a bit premature. If the entrance to the labyrinth were delayed a few more months, everything would be meaningless. The important thing was when the situation will stabilize again.
I may find out about that today.
It was the 15th when Ghostbusters premiered. This morning, I headed to the holy land to prepare to enter the community. That was because I couldn't get in this time.
GM.
This was a situation where even the GM suspected that I was an evil spirit. It was very likely that the GM would aim for today, because that's what I would do if I were him.
Twelve hours spent in the community, twelve seconds in real life. I always thought this, but this brief moment was a big weakness for community users because you were isolated from reality. Since you didn't wake up even if a knife was stuck in your neck, if someone used this time correctly, they would know if you were a player or not.
But not entering is the worst way.
I decided to enter the community judging that considering the big incident between the palace and Noark recently, the amount of information that would come out would be large. Additionally, the GM's right-hand woman, Queen of Soul, also entered the Round Table as a new recruit last time. With León's absence, it would be possible to connect with León in the future.
...Is it too much?
Anyway, the point was this: In life, prevention is always better than cure. It was unknown if the GM would aim for those twelve seconds to check it, but there was no reason not to be prepared.
«Bjorn, did you call me?»
«Ah, I have to ask you a favor.»
«¿Favor?»
«Can you try putting this in your face?»
When I arrived at the holy land I called Kharon and handed him the hidden item Golden Mask that I obtained in the Bloody Citadel.
«What is this? I like it to shine, but...».
«It is a magical device that transforms your face for thirty days».
«Hey? But why are you giving me this?»
«Because you have a physique very similar to mine».
Then I asked Kharon to drink in the city until midnight tomorrow wearing my face.
«Not a difficult request, but why bother?».
«I have to go somewhere tonight that is a secret to my teammates».
«...It seems that beastwoman is not very understanding of you.»
Hey? Why was she brought here? I was confused as to what he was saying, but I immediately understood.
«It is the instinct of a warrior to want offspring. Is that why you came to the holy land today?».
I contemplated this for a moment before nodding. On second thought, it seemed like a much better way to keep the secret than the excuse I had prepared.
«Anyway, don't worry about this part! I will do everything possible so that, even if that metamorph comes, I do not suspect anything».
Actually, if she came he would be discovered for sure, that's why I told him to go drink all night. «I will trust you. You are the wisest warrior after me, after all».
«You thought that too, huh?! I'm happy!»
After notifying him of the precautions and itinerary, I gave Kharon, who had become me, my team, and sent him to the city.
[You have used the Golden Mask. Your appearance will change for 30 days].
I also put the mask on my face once and took it off to switch to Kharon's face. That was because my face stood out in the sacred land. If there were eyewitnesses from both places, everything I did today would be meaningless.
I should go back to the city too.
As it was possible that Kharon's friends knew my identity in the holy land, I quickly put on Kharon's equipment and left the bushes towards the city. Then I found a room in any inn and locked myself in it.
[Your soul has resonated and is drawn to a specific world.]
Ugh, I just hope he doesn't do anything strange while wearing my face...