It was night when I returned to the inn.
«You're late.»
Gosh, you scared me. I'm sure I closed the door behind me, how did you open it? At least turn on the light or something...
When I turned on the lamp, I could see Amelia sitting on the bed in my room. Hmm, what should I say in situations like this?
He seems to be in a bad mood... But since when do I care about that?
So it was time to go. I should put on my gear quickly.
Hit.
I felt in a bad mood, so I glared at her to make her hurry up and say what she had to say. Amelia slowly got up and walked past me. «We have to get to the place before midnight, so get ready».
When Amelia left, I put on the equipment I had placed in a corner of the room one by one.
Slider.
Wyvern leather boots made of second quality material.
Chasquido.
An integrated belt with extendable pockets to store potions and scrolls.
It feels empty.
I did not buy leggings or breastplates because it was impossible to acquire a complete set by stripping five looters. Instead, I decided to invest it all in a shield and a weapon. And so, I chose a custom-made mace made of 100% idium third grade material and a large adamantium fifth grade metal battle shield.
The grip feels good. Yes, that's how big a shield should be.
Since they were both quite heavy, these two purchases exhausted all the money Amelia gave me, so the helmet was simply made of steel. Well, one could hardly expect iron defense power.
Anyway, I didn't buy it to use as armor.
When I ordered this equipment three weeks ago, I was very worried about the future, so I got a helmet made entirely of iron. The shape was similar to the one I used in my early days, with a T-shaped opening just to ensure vision. Of course, it had its differences. On the one hand, the design was different, since it was made in a different forge.
Is it because the opening is narrower? It's really uncomfortable.
The exposed part of my face shrank considerably. My judgment was that exposing my face to the countless people I would meet in the maze from now on could cause me some trouble.
Actually, I don't know if this has any meaning now, but...
I sighed and shook my thoughts at her, then taking a look in the mirror, I left the room.
Amelia had finished getting ready and was waiting for me in a chair at the end of the hallway. «You are finally here».
How finally? It didn't even take me ten minutes.
«You...» Amelia turned to look at me and shuddered. Then, in an interrogative tone, he asked: «That helmet, where did you get it?».
«I made it to measure. Is there any problem?»
«...Custom made?» Hearing my answer, Amelia was silent for a while. His face was cold and stiff and his eyes were fierce, just like when he saw Nivelles Enze's identification tag on Farune Island. Of course, the situation was different in many ways from then.
«Why are you silent when you have asked the question?».
«...It's nothing.» Then and now, this selfish woman never gave me a reason. «We don't have much time. Let's go.»
I think he knew the reason now.
In front of the sewer that was the meeting point, the runner dressed in black tunics was waiting for us. It was a very strange feeling, almost as if I had become a smuggler. The runner did not greet, nor did Amelia. When they extended their hand to him, all he did was put a bag of money on top of him.
When the deal ended, the broker gave a cursory warning. «I'll tell you one last time, but once you go down, it won't be easy to go back up».
I was a little dumbfounded.
If you're going to say that, at least say it before you get paid.
It was clear that they wouldn't even give us our money back.
«That's something we have to solve».
«Hehe, if you say so». When Amelia replied coldly, the agent laughed ominously and pulled out a key to open the steel bars. Then they guided us inside. «Follow us closely so you are not left behind».
The trip to Noark was longer than expected. Only after hours of walking through the labyrinthine sewers did the entrance appear.
«This is as far as I'm going. If you enter and follow this map here you will see a door. There, show this tag to the security guard and they will let you in». Then the agent handed over what would be our identification tag and placed something that looked like a magic device at the entrance to open it.
Dragggg.
The stone door that had been disguised as an ordinary wall was pushed aside to reveal the stairs leading to the basement. But just as we were about to go down, the runner, who had not opened his mouth in all this time except to say what was necessary, asked: «Can I ask just one thing? It is unusual for a barbarian to go down to Noark. What is the story? They don't look like runaway lovers-«.
«Enough». Amelia drew the line firmly. «If your work is done, you can leave now». The tone exuded the air of a professional. It seemed like there was some killer energy mixed into that, too.
«... Excuse me. That's not like me. Forward. I have to confirm that the door closes». When the runner lowered his tail first, Amelia went downstairs and I followed her slowly.
Draggg, ¡bum!
Before long, the sound of a door closing was heard.
Before long, the sound of a door closing was heard.
Ugh, this feels like I'm entering hell or something.
Ugh, this feels like I'm entering hell or something.
«Wait wait. We should check the map first». After going down the stairs I wanted to open the map but Amelia stopped me.
«No need. I already know how to get to the castle».
Oh sure. She is from here.
Anyway, after putting aside my role as a guide for the first time in a long time and just following her, we arrived at our destination, a cavity so vast that it was hard to believe we were underground. I could see in the distance a stone gate much larger than the gates of Rafdonia.
«Hahaha, don't just stand there and come closer!». There was only one man standing in front of the castle gate and it was a human with a sturdy body like that of a barbarian.
«Hahaha, don't just stand there and come here!» There was only one man in front of the castle gate and it was a human with a robust body like that of a barbarian.
Amelia spoke to me in a low voice. «Don't do anything to earn their disapproval. Contrary to his casual tone, he is one of the strongest fighters in this city».
Amelia spoke to me in a low voice. «Don't do anything to buy his disapproval. Contrary to his casual tone, he is one of the strongest fighters in this city».
«Do you know him?»
«Do you know him?»
«If you've lived in Noark, you can't not know it.»
Hmm, is that so? It doesn't seem that strong...
Hmm, is that so? It doesn't seem that strong...
Anyway, after that, we handed the man in front of the door the labels we received earlier.
«Oh ho! He has finally brought some real ones. Nice to meet you. I am the guardian Lek Aures. Oh, I guess you don't want to reveal your real name. Don't worry. Nobody uses their real name here. Have you already decided on your new names?»
«Oh ho! He has finally brought some suitable ones. Nice to meet you. I am the guardian Lek Aures. Oh, I guess you don't want to reveal your real name. Don't worry. Nobody uses their real name here. Have you already decided on your new names?».
Lek Aures, who introduced himself as goalkeeper, then asked us for our names and we gave him the ones we had chosen beforehand. Amelia was Emily.
Lek Aures, who introduced himself as goalkeeper, asked us our names and we gave him the ones we had chosen beforehand. Amelia was Emily.
«Bjon, son of Thor». I got the pseudonym I used in the past. «Nivelles Enze» was also a pseudonym, but I judged it best to create a new one just in case. Of course, it didn't have much meaning. It was just to engrave the name on the labels, but they told me that names were not asked for in the city.
«Haha, I think it's been almost five years since I engraved a barbarian's name on a label». When the guard returned the labels, they had the pseudonyms we told them engraved on them.
«Is there anything else left to do?».
«No, the entry process is finished. Head there».
«...Isn't that door the one that opens?».
«Hahahaha, don't you think it's a waste to open that big door when only two people enter?». Then the doorman opened the side door.
Draggggg.
Watching them push the stone door reminded me of the first day I came into this world. Yes, it was like that then too.
Burn.
Then the gate opened completely and an unknown city came into view.
«Emily y Thor Bjon.»
«Thor is my last name, my first name is Bjon.»
«Hahaha! Oh, it's true. Anyway! Welcome to Noark!»
So, I'm done here.
***
People often thought of Noark as a den of criminals. It was natural, because this was the place where those who had committed sins too serious to live on the surface filtered through. It was also the lair of the Orcules.
«It's surprisingly normal.»
There were no blood stains on the walls, the streets were clean and the faces of the people walking were not so dark.
«I don't know what you expected, but this is also a place where people live after all».
Gosh, can't a newbie be amazed?
«Follow me».
First, I followed Amelia, a native of the city, to take a look around the city and ask her some things she was curious about. «What are those stones embedded in the ceiling?».
«Magic devices. They use mana stones to emit light».
«And that doll-like thing that moves?».
«Golems called patrols. They all belong to the lord of the castle».
«Oh, and there's a market here too?»
«There is, but it is not big since there is only one alchemist in the city. Most food products are rationed as categories».
Hmm, or veo.
«So what if you want to eat something?»
«You can give mana stones in the alchemy workshop and request it. But it takes about two days and the price is much more expensive than on the surface. Are you done asking questions?»
«...For now.»
«Good. Because it seems like you're attracting attention».
«¿Eh?»
«They are following us. Let's speed up.» Then Amelia accelerated without asking my opinion so I hurried to follow her.
«Do they follow us? It's been less than ten minutes since we arrived».
«Barbarians are not especially common in this city. They would have realized you were coming from the other world as soon as they saw you».
I thought I understood what he meant. In Noark, demons were rumored to inhabit the underworld. He could guess how much they coveted the wallets of the newcomers newly arrived from the overworld, because it was obvious that they would carry all the money from those above with them.
«Didn't you say that people lived here too?».
Amelia tilted her head at my question. «And what's so strange about that? Isn't it natural that there is someone like that in a place where people live?».
Is it?
«I guess that's true too».
Unable to refute it logically, I coldly accepted it. To begin with, Rafdonia was not much different. Even in Rafdonia, there were three types of people who wandered the outskirts at night: criminals, explorers with strength to defend themselves, and if none of the above, those who believed in non-possession.
«And now what?»
«We'll go to the back alley, where the patrols can't see us».
«Hey? To the back alley?»
For a moment I wondered if I had heard it wrong, but Amelia gave me a logical reason. Harming an ordinary person born in Noark was considered taboo and the castle lord would pursue you to punish you, but apparently harming others was fine.
«They're guys who specialize in attacking rookies, so they'll have a lot going on with them».
Ha, you should have started with that. I guess natives have a totally different thought process. Yes, farming always comes first, no matter what.
Walk.
After entering the alley and wandering for a while, we naturally stopped at a dead end and turned around.
«Where are you going like this? When you know you won't get far». As if nothing had happened, a group of fifteen looters were seen.
«Did you think you could escape to the alley?».
«To think you'd walk in here on your own. This is what newbies can't do».
«We all experience it as newbies too, so don't resent us too much».
The city's veterans were already excited about the idea of robbing the rookies. It was like watching a failed match just before the serve ended. Tsk, this was the reason why the rookies needed to be hugged warmly.
«Hey?» Looking around the group, I saw a single human man and shuddered. But because it wasn't certain yet, there was a need to confirm. «You, there».
When I pointed it out, the guy approached as if curious. The man, with a physique large enough to be mistaken for a barbarian, wore a shiny breastplate. It was made of a material that I couldn't help but recognize.
«...Es lithinum.»
«Ha, what's up with that?»
What do you mean by that? Have you never heard of putting pockets?
It was common sense for a veteran to award an item to a rookie. I was embarrassed to be naked from the waist up, so it worked.
«Take it off. Before it gets blood».
It was time to become a civilized person.