Chapter 7: Give and Take (3)
I am snoring right now.
Forcefully, imagining a Barbarian who had passed out after a hard day.
Snoooore!
…Hm, is this a bit much?
Just as I was starting to worry, I heard a chuckle.
"…What a truly fascinating tribe."
It seems to have worked well.
It wasn't so much that my acting was great, but that my being a Barbarian gave me a huge advantage.
People perceive Barbarians as simple and foolish.
That's why, even when it wasn't about the Evil Spirit problem, I always acted the part of a Barbarian.
It was like hiding a dagger behind a smile.
Just as one hides a knife within a smile, I use the preconception that I am naive as a weapon to see through them.
…Saying it like that sounds a bit too dramatic.
In the end, to put it simply, it means it's much easier to sound out their true intentions.
Just like this.
Snoooore!
For a more realistic performance, I even scratch my belly and curl up on my side.
Even so, I strained my ears, focusing all my senses on the Old Man's movements.
Having shown such an opening, if he has any ulterior motives, he'll act soon.
If not, I could just sleep.
Though honestly, I wasn't sure if I could sleep in this state.
"Bjorn, it's time to switch."
Ah, hm… I really didn't think I wouldn't get a wink of sleep.
"Don't let your guard down just because no goblins have appeared so far. They're cunning creatures."
As if he didn't trust me, the Old Man indirectly told me to stand my watch properly and lay down comfortably like before.
And in less than five minutes, he was asleep again.
A sense of futility washed over me.
I should have just slept.
What pointless thing was I doing for two hours?
Damn it.
Was it because there was a stranger next to me?
Even though I had judged him trustworthy, I couldn't bring myself to sleep at all.
If I'd known it would be like this, it would have been better to doze off alone while watching out for goblins.
I might have gotten at least a little sleep then.
"Hoo…."
I feel like I'm going to die from exhaustion.
Perhaps because the Old Man was sleeping, I felt even drowsier.
Still, it was my turn, so I tried hard to think of other things to chase away the drowsiness, when someone called me.
"Bjorn, wake up."
"…I wasn't sleeping."
"How about you wipe the drool from your mouth before you say that?"
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and it was indeed wet.
"Perhaps because you slept standing up, you didn't even snore."
It seems I really did fall asleep.
Though it was only for a moment, with just ten minutes left until the shift change.
…My heart sank.
However, there was something to do before blaming my complacent self.
I apologized honestly.
"I'm sorry."
It wasn't an act, I was sincere.
A Night Companion implies a kind of transactional relationship.
But even though the Old Man had provided a safe environment during his watch, I had failed to do the same.
It was only natural to apologize.
If only to avoid becoming the kind of person I despise most.
"…Fortunately, there were no problems while you were asleep, so I won't say much."
"Thank you. You can sleep more if you want. I'll take another watch."
"No. I can't do that. It's your turn, so you should sleep. Just give me the Pocket Watch back."
He had every right to blame me, but the Old Man forgave me with a kind smile.
At that, I no longer refused and went to my spot to curl up.
As expected, sleep did not come.
I felt a particular respect for all Explorers, including the Old Man.
To think that entrusting your life to someone you just met is a daily routine?
They must have incredible nerve.
No matter how I think about it, it's impossible for me.
For that reason, I once again started to snore just like before.
Snoooore!
I couldn't help it.
Sorry, Old Man, but for some reason, you started to look even more suspicious to me.
Snoooore!
The fact that his impression was kind, like a con man's.
The fact that he was the one who first suggested not looking for other members.
The fact that he didn't even nag me about smelling bad.
Things like that don't matter.
Just a moment ago, the Old Man didn't blame me for falling asleep.
He even refused the offer to sleep a bit more.
Of course, it could be that I'm just a crazy bastard, and this Old Man is actually just a kind person.
But I'm most suspicious of kind bastards.
'It was always bastards like this who hit me hard from behind.'
If it were the old me, this would have been the exact moment I let my guard down.
I don't make the same mistake twice.
Because that's a matter of intelligence.
Snoooore!
If he's that suspicious, wouldn't it be better to just end things here and part ways?
Even while thinking this, I snored.
How much time had passed since then?
Click.
A small, yet foreign sound arose.
A backpack buckle? A belt? Or maybe the heel of a shoe?
I couldn't even guess where the sound came from.
But the moment I perceived it, the Barbarian's body made its own interpretation.
Danger.
Is this that Killing Intent they talk about in martial arts novels?
Goosebumps broke out on my skin.
Immediately, I opened my eyes and checked in front of me.
"You're awake."
The Old Man was still smiling kindly.
While holding a Two-Handed Hammer, caked with the blood and flesh of goblins, above his head.
This son of a… Dodge!
The judgment made by a body raised as a Warrior was faster than me.
Before my brain could even issue the command, my body was already rolling across the floor to the side.
Craaash-!
Hearing something shatter right in front of my nose, I used the momentum to quickly get up and find my balance.
"Ugh!"
The Old Man, whose surprise attack had failed, wore a flustered expression.
Rather than ask for a reason, I dashed forward.
"Wai, wait!"
Is he trying to make some kind of excuse? That he didn't mean it? That he was just trying to stretch? If that were really the case, it would be a little, no, a lot, funny.
Fuck, just how weak is the perception of Barbarians?
Thwack-!
A smash with my Shield landed squarely on the Old Man's jaw.
However, a sturdy human was different from a goblin.
The Old Man only staggered, he didn't fall.
Then, one more time.
Thwack-!
Smash.
"Guaaaah!"
With a clang, the hammer in the Old Man's hand fell to the floor.
Blood was pouring from his already red and swollen nose.
…Ugh, that must hurt.
I think that, but I don't let my guard down.
Because I'm the kind of bastard who wants to be ignorant of such things.
So, once again—
"St, stop! I, I can explain…!"
"Smash."
After being struck in the face with the Shield repeatedly, the Old Man finally fell to his knees and collapsed.
In game terms, he was unable to fight.
Meaning, it was now possible to have a conversation.
"Old Man."
"I, I was wrong! Spare me!"
Has he decided to just beg for forgiveness?
His judgment is quick, but I can't say it's wise.
That's not the conversation I want to have right now.
"Why did you do it?"
"I, I was greedy for the Magic Stones…. I was just going to knock you out and steal them. Believe me!"
Believe you, my ass.
If I were that full of love for humanity, I would have had a few more friends.
"The Shield! I was going to take that Shield too!"
When I subtly raised my Shield, the Old Man quickly added something.
This is the decisive reason why I can't trust people.
Everyone lies so easily.
Even when they can't even lie properly.
"Why the Shield?"
"…Because Barbarian weapons are good quality. I was thinking of selling it when I got back to the city."
It's true, the weapons Barbarians receive in the tutorial are mostly expensive.
This is because their steel weight is significantly higher than that of ordinary weapons.
Just look at my Shield, it's made of solid steel.
But still, to kill a person just for this?
Hm, thinking about it carefully, it's not a completely unbelievable story.
But… "Bullshit."
That Old Man is still hiding something.
"Tell me the truth. Why did you do it?"
Just as I would with a fallen goblin, I pressed the Old Man's upper body down with my foot.
"Keuk!"
Fear was deeply etched in the Old Man's eyes.
But maybe it's because he's the bastard who tried to kill me?
Strangely, I felt no particular emotion.
I felt like I understood why they say not to look a cow in the eyes when you slaughter it….
But I could just ignore that feeling.
Just as I was considering ending the conversation there, the Old Man shouted.
"Th, the heart!"
"The heart?"
An unexpected word.
When I looked at him with eyes demanding an explanation, the Old Man continued with a resigned expression.
"…The heart of a Barbarian sells for a high price."
"Why?"
"I, I don't know the details, but they say it's used as an ingredient for a newly developed magic!"
"I see."
Now I understood his motive.
To this Old Man, I was a goblin.
Difficult to catch, but offering a great reward once caught.
"Why did you act now, and not when I was sleeping the first time?"
"…Because I need to sleep too."
Ah, I see.
He wanted to get some sleep and make some money while he was at it.
I thought for sure it was because the Old Man was cautious, but he was just an extreme efficiency junkie.
"I've told you everything, so please forgive me…."
"Forgive?"
Honestly, I could only laugh.
Forgiveness?
Was that really something the guy who tried to take my Magic Stones, equipment, and even my heart should be saying?
If my reaction had been just a little slower, I wouldn't have even had the chance to beg for my life.
"Please…."
Well, he probably wants to live.
Could he have known it would turn out like this? That attitude is praiseworthy.
However. "Old Man, you have to pay the price."
I hate bastards who do whatever they want and then evade responsibility the most.
That's why…. "I'll, I'll give you everything! I don't have much right now, but once I get back to the city…."
Unbelievable.
In that sense, I don't know what makes this Old Man different from a goblin.
I couldn't become friends with goblins, but at least this Old Man had that possibility.
That's the only difference, and that's why he's even more vicious.
Of course, this is merely an emotional viewpoint, and I don't make choices based on emotion.
I can't always do that, but at least I try.
"I'll probably meet countless people like you in the future. They'll say the same things. Should I forgive them every time?"
Forgiveness is a truly frightening word.
A decision made with good intentions can sometimes return as a dagger in the back.
I know that fact better than anyone.
That's why, this time too, I had no choice.
A mistake in this primitive world wouldn't just result in a hurt heart, it would threaten my very life.
"Sorry, Old Man. I've been betrayed too many times to do that."
"N-no! It's not like that! I'm different!"
Come to think of it, a goblin said something like this too.
Though I was just interpreting its gaze, anyway.
Back then, what did I do?
Squeeze.
I lift the Shield held in both hands up high.
However, unlike that time, I hesitate for a moment.
Of course, the moment of hesitation didn't last long.
Feeling an unknown force pulling at my arms,
"N-no!"
I brought the Shield down with all my strength.
Crack.
With the sound of breaking bones, a heavy silence fell.
Achievement Unlocked
Condition: First Murder
Reward: Your Mental Power will permanently increase by +1.
I did not turn away from what I had done, but accepted it as it was.
About a day had passed since I entered the game world.
I killed a person.
And I obtained a large hammer, shoulder guards, leather boots, a compass, a knife, a pocket watch, a water flask, a backpack, a blanket, herbs and bandages, one potion, six days' worth of food and snacks, and 32 Ninth-Rank Magic Stones.