Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 337, 338, 339

   

C337, 338, 339

Chapter 337: Snowball (1)

A chill ran down my spine.

I opened my eyes, and everything was dark.

And then...

Beep!

I heard a beeping sound coming from somewhere.

What was that? I couldn't have misheard...

Swoosh.

I sat up.

It was very dark, but I could still see my surroundings. There was a white stone emitting a faint light next to me.

'The Fragment of Records?'

I quickly picked it up.

But...

'It's just a Light Gem.'

It was a normal magic tool.

A common item used by explorers as a substitute for torches.

Why was it here?

I held the Light Gem up, illuminating the area.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The light revealed my surroundings.

「Character location confirmed.」

A stone building with no distinct features.

An unpaved road, unlike Lafdonia.

Everything looked exactly the same as the place I had been in before. The only difference was that it seemed like a lot of time had passed.

Hmm, it seemed like I had returned...

'But where's Amelia?'

She wasn't here.

Had she woken up first?

She had woken up before me on Parune Island.

Maybe she had found this magic tool and turned it on before leaving.

Then she must be nearby...

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat and shouted.

"Amelia—!"

My barbarian vocal cords were powerful enough to echo throughout the city.

But there was no answer.

"..."

An unsettling silence.

Had I returned alone?

That thought crossed my mind.

But...

'Let's wait a bit longer.'

I decided to stay put for now.

But I couldn't just sit here doing nothing.

'Let's check my status.'

I started examining my body.

「Information synchronization rate: 83%.」

「Character information needs to be updated.」

「Updating and synchronizing...」

As expected, the essences I had absorbed in the past were still there.

But I continued with the checkup.

I hadn't had time to properly organize my essences since I had absorbed the Vol-Herchan essence right before returning.

「[Corpse Golem Essence] removed from character's soul.」

「Pain Resistance -70.」

「Strength -15.」

「Bone Density...」

My dulled senses returned as my Pain Resistance decreased.

It wasn't completely gone thanks to the +30 from Bion's essence, but the loss of 70 Pain Resistance was noticeable.

It wasn't a big problem.

My overall stats had increased significantly.

To summarize:

「[Vol-Herchan Essence] absorbed into character's soul.」

「Physical Resistance +70.」

「Natural Regeneration +40.」

「Poison Resistance +120...」

Physical Resistance and Natural Regeneration.

The two essential stats for tanks, along with Poison Resistance.

And although I hadn't gained any Strength, there was a bonus stat that compensated for it.

「Muscle Mass +15.」

Muscle Mass.

An extremely rare stat only obtainable from certain 3rd-grade and above monsters.

Its effect was simple.

Total Strength increased by 1% per point of Muscle Mass.

'With my current stats, 20% would be equivalent to over 60 Strength...'

And I had also gained Endurance +30, Vision +20, and Bone Density +80, so my overall stats had increased significantly from just one essence.

Of course, there were also penalties.

「Agility -30.」

「Flexibility -50...」

「Synchronization complete.」

「Character log transmission resumed.」

The loss of Flexibility was more noticeable than the loss of Agility.

My body felt much stiffer.

I couldn't even perform some of the movements that I could do before.

And my movements were slower because of the decreased Agility.

'Well, it's a small price to pay for the benefits.'

Stats aside, the biggest advantage of Vol-Herchan's essence was its skills.

(P) Evolved Hide — Grants permanent bonus stats based on Physical Resistance.

First, the passive skill [Evolved Hide].

This skill granted additional effects when Physical Resistance reached '70', '350', '750', and '1,500'.

The first stage effect was this:

「Character's Physical Resistance is 70 or higher.」

「Grants 50% resistance to sword-type weapons.」

I called it 'Sword Immunity'.

This was why it was considered a counter to Aura.

Aura was always classified as a sword-type attack.

This skill alone reduced the 90% armor penetration of Aura to 45%.

'The second stage requires [Gigantification]...'

The third stage would be unlocked once I absorbed one more essence, and the fourth stage was impossible at my current level.

Percentage-based buffs usually had limits.

For example, the Orc Shaman's [Frenzy], which tripled Physical Resistance for 10 seconds, wouldn't go above 300 Physical Resistance.

'But... is she really not here?'

I checked my status and waited for Amelia, but I was starting to get anxious.

It felt like I had been waiting for almost two hours.

But there was still no sign of her.

"This doesn't make sense..."

It didn't add up.

The Light Gem was already on when I woke up.

Someone had to have turned it on, even if it wasn't Amelia.

'...Let's look around.'

I couldn't just keep waiting, so I started exploring the area with the Light Gem.

There was another thing that bothered me.

'Why is the city so deserted?'

Noark had escaped the city before the royal family's invasion. And the royal army had occupied the city.

But now...

It was eerily quiet.

"Could it be..."

A bad feeling crept up on me, but it was too early to jump to conclusions.

So I focused on what I could do.

For example, finding some clothes.

Kwaaang!

I entered the nearest building, which seemed to be an inn, and ripped a tablecloth off a table.

I wrapped it around my waist.

I didn't think I would find any clothes that fit me.

'Well, at least I'm not naked anymore.'

I felt a bit more civilized, but human greed is endless.

'...Is there anything to eat?'

I was starting to feel hungry, so I searched the empty rooms, opening drawers and cabinets.

It was an inn frequented by explorers, so I soon found some preserved food.

'This feels like an apocalypse...'

It was a strange feeling, eating scavenged food in a deserted building.

"Let's... look around some more."

I finished my meal and left the building, then wandered through the eerily quiet city.

And after some time...

I reached the empty Dimensional Plaza.

There was a military tent in the center.

'The royal family...?'

It had the royal family's emblem on it.

It must have been left behind by the army that occupied Noark.

Swoosh.

There was no one around, so I cautiously entered the tent.

Had they taken everything with them when they retreated?

The tent was empty except for a large desk covered in dust.

And...

"This is fucked..."

That was the biggest problem.

I had already dismissed the possibility that time had stopped in this city after I returned, seeing how it was deserted.

"But I didn't expect the time ratio to be this off."

I brushed the dust off the desk with my finger.

It was almost 2 centimeters thick.

It couldn't have accumulated in just six months, not in this environment.

"...What year is it?"

A chill ran down my spine as my premonition became reality.

"You're finally... awake."

And then I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around, and there she was.

"Amelia...!"

Amelia Rainwales.

My SSR companion, whom I had recruited after traveling 20 years into the past.

I wasn't alone.

"Where have you been? I thought you were gone..."

I was about to ask her where she had been, but then I froze.

"What the... what's with your equipment?"

Amelia was fully equipped, unlike me, who had woken up naked. Her armor looked custom-made.

'How did she get that equipment in such a short time?'

I was confused, but...

"...I'll explain later. Just follow me!"

Amelia grabbed my wrist and started running.

____________________

What would you do if someone suddenly pulled you into a car and told you to get in?

I would say yes.

'There must be a reason.'

I would hesitate even if it was a stranger, but if it was a companion...

I would trust them.

So...

"Huff, huff...!"

I was running through the dark streets.

I was trying my best to keep up with Amelia.

I had a lot of questions...

But I decided to ask them later.

"Amelia...! What's going on? Can you at least give me a brief explanation?!"

Amelia answered curtly.

"We're being chased."

"Chased?"

"By one of the Seven Strengths, the Blood Spirit Marquis."

"What?"

"Sorry, this is my fault. I didn't expect her to be able to track me this quickly..."

I was confused.

I didn't understand a word she was saying.

What were the Seven Strengths?

And who was the Blood Spirit Marquis?

I had a lot of questions, but time was running out.

So I asked the most important one.

"Can we even outrun her?"

"She's strong. If we fight her here, I'll definitely lose."

"What? Who is she...?"

"...You wouldn't know. It happened after you died."

Amelia looked back at me and said,

"Erwen Fornachi di Tersia."

"...What?"

"The current Pureblood and the contractor of the Ninth Spirit King. That's her name."

I was stunned.

The Pureblood? The Spirit King?

"...Erwen?"

She had become that strong?

No, wait...

"How much time has passed...?"

I couldn't help but ask.

Amelia answered in a bitter voice,

"Two years and six months."

"..."

"It's been two years and six months since you died."

Holy shit...

------------------------------------

Chapter 338: Snowball (2)

Two years and six months.

I had spent about six months in the past, so time had flowed five times faster here.

The problem was that the time ratio wasn't fixed.

"Amelia, did you arrive before me?"

I asked, even though I was already certain, and she answered immediately.

"Yes, it was a long wait. I left that magic tool you were holding. I set it up to signal me when you returned. I didn't expect it to take over two years, though."

So that was why I heard the beeping sound when I woke up.

It was the magic tool activating.

"Anyway, I'll explain everything later. Just keep running for now."

Amelia wanted to leave this place as soon as possible, but I couldn't just follow her blindly.

There was something I didn't understand.

"Wait, if Erwen is the one chasing us, why are we running away?"

"You wouldn't know, but she'll definitely try to kill me. And if we fight in this city, I'll definitely lose."

I understood that she would lose...

"But why would she want to kill you?"

"Because she thinks I'm responsible for your death."

"Ah..."

I could finally picture the situation.

But I still couldn't understand why Amelia was running away.

"But I can just talk to her and explain—"

"It won't be that easy."

"...What?"

I asked, confused, and Amelia stopped running. She turned to me and said in a serious voice,

"Yandel, she's not the Erwen you knew."

She looked like she was talking about a monster.

Amelia was certain that I wouldn't be able to control Erwen.

"But what happened to her...?"

"A lot has happened. I don't have time to explain everything."

Amelia cut me off and continued,

"It doesn't matter if she still wants to kill me or not. The important thing is..."

"What is it...?"

"She can't protect you."

I felt confused and frustrated.

I couldn't understand what was going on.

"...Protect me? From who?"

I asked, dumbfounded, and Amelia answered curtly,

"From everyone."

What did she mean?

I was about to ask another question when...

"Bjorn Yandel."

Amelia called my name and said,

"This happened two years ago."

Her voice was firm and bitter, like a doctor giving a patient a terminal diagnosis.

"The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit."

...What?

______________________

A lazy afternoon.

Sunlight streamed through the window of a spacious office.

But the atmosphere inside was far from peaceful.

"...That's all."

Alex Hailo, the Vice-Captain of the 3rd Magic Corps.

He finished his regular report and stood at attention, his chin held high, observing his superior's expression.

She was frowning as she read through the documents.

"Hmm..."

She finished reading and looked up at him.

Her eyes were filled with exhaustion, a familiar sight.

He sighed in relief.

He knew from experience...

That he would be safe this time.

"Good work. The report is well-written. The part about Noark's movements was especially interesting. It's just speculation, but it shows imagination. It's much better than the garbage you usually bring."

Was that a compliment or an insult?

He didn't know, but he had only one answer.

"Thank—"

"You thought I would say that?"

Oh, shit.

Gulp.

Her voice had suddenly changed, and he instinctively swallowed.

Her eyes were no longer filled with exhaustion.

They were still tired, but...

They were sharp, like a predator about to pounce on its prey.

He knew he couldn't just stand there.

"Tell me what needs to be fixed, and I'll fix it."

"The format is wrong. I told you last time, but you made the same mistake again. Don't you know that this report goes to Captain Febrosk after I approve it?"

"...I'll fix it."

"And the content is even worse. Noark surviving in the labyrinth? You should write novels instead. Well, they probably won't sell, though."

"I'll fix it."

"Are you a parrot? How will you fix it? Tell me."

Finally, it was over.

"...I'll rewrite it."

"Good. Then get out."

Her gaze shifted to another document, and he clung to his shattered soul and turned around.

He carefully closed the door, trying not to disturb her.

Creak.

He could see her through the closing gap. She was focused on her work, her tired face illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window.

There was something captivating about her dedication.

He understood why the soldiers in the corps feared her, but didn't hate her.

'She would be much more popular if she was just a little nicer...'

The Golden Mage.

The Vice-Captain of the 3rd Magic Corps, known as the 'Little Ghost' within the corps.

'She's definitely beautiful—'

"What are you doing? Get out!"

"I, I apologize! Nia Lafdonia!"

He hurriedly slammed the door shut and saluted.

And then...

"Sigh, when will he be useful..."

Arrua Raven, the Golden Mage, sighed as she watched the door close.

But her attention quickly shifted back to her work.

She picked up her pen and continued working through the pile of documents on her desk.

And after some time...

"That's enough for today."

Raven stretched, her stiff muscles aching.

She looked out the window.

The sun had already set, and the sky was dark.

'I finished all the important tasks today. I'll come back early tomorrow and finish the rest...'

She unbuttoned her uniform jacket, then stopped and buttoned it back up.

She would have to wear it again tomorrow anyway.

She put on her officer's coat, finished organizing her desk, and then checked the calendar.

December 2nd, 156th year of the Change Era.

She still felt a strange sense of detachment whenever she looked at the calendar.

It should be getting better by now.

But she still felt a tightness in her chest, her body stiffening from time to time.

She had experienced loss, and that made her realize...

How precious those short expeditions with him and his companions had been.

But those days were gone.

'It's already been over two years...'

Two years and six months.

So much had happened during that time.

But to summarize it briefly...

It had been a long time.

The bonds she had tried so hard to maintain had been shattered.

She had joined the royal army as a 6th-grade mage from the Artemion School and had become the Vice-Captain of a corps.

She opened the window.

A cold winter breeze blew in.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

She closed her eyes and thought about her former companions.

The barbarian warrior, Ainar Frenelin.

Avman, who was often unreliable but always came through when it mattered.

And Misha.

'It's been over six months since I last saw them...'

The last time she saw Avman was six months ago.

It was an awkward encounter in the 6th floor. They had briefly talked about their lives and then parted ways.

She had seen Erwen two months ago, but...

They were no longer companions.

They had just made eye contact and walked past each other.

'At least Avman and Ainar seem to be doing well...'

She closed her eyes, thinking about her former companions.

And then she thought about the one who hurt the most.

"Misha..."

How was she doing?

Raven reached out and caught a snowflake in her hand. She remembered her last conversation with Misha.

[There's something I need to tell you...]

It had been two years and four months ago.

The end of summer.

______________________

Intuition.

Explorers often called it their sixth sense.

It was surprisingly useful in life.

It wasn't uncommon to hear stories of explorers dodging a fatal blow because they had a bad feeling and ducked, even though there was no logical reason to.

Thump!

But it wasn't something you were born with.

The more experienced and intelligent you were, the more accurate your intuition became. It was a combination of countless pieces of information stored in your subconscious, like grains of sand.

You just couldn't explain how you arrived at that conclusion.

But there was a reason for it.

"What do you need to tell me...?"

Raven tried to ignore the unsettling feeling and asked.

There was nothing concrete yet.

Intuition was often wrong.

No, it was more common for it to be wrong than right.

But...

"I... need to tell you... something..."

"Um... your speech..."

"Ah, this...? I'm trying to change it. I can't stay like this forever, so..."

"Ah... I see? Good for you! I'm rooting for you."

On the surface, Misha's change was positive.

Raven knew about Misha's past.

She had injured her tongue a few years ago. It had healed, but she still spoke like that because of a mental block.

But...

Thump!

Why was her heart racing?

It felt ominous.

"...So what did you want to say?"

"That's..."

Misha trailed off and averted her gaze, then finally spoke with a heavy heart.

"I'm leaving the team."

She was quitting.

Raven wasn't surprised.

She had expected this to happen eventually.

No one could fill the barbarian's shoes. The team's expeditions had been put on hold indefinitely, and it was only natural for the team to disband eventually.

But...

"Okay... I understand. But what are your plans?"

She didn't want their bond to end just because they weren't exploring together anymore.

"I'm going back to my family."

"Ah, you're going to take a break? I support your decision—"

"And I'm going back to the labyrinth. No... I'm going back."

"...What?"

Raven couldn't understand.

She was quitting the team, but she was going back to the labyrinth?

It didn't make sense.

"The labyrinth? With who? Did you already find a new team?"

Raven felt betrayed and asked frantically.

But Misha didn't answer.

She just changed the subject with a bitter voice.

"That's not all I wanted to tell you..."

Raven felt a chill run down her spine.

The ominous feeling intensified.

"...Go ahead."

Her voice was cold and calm.

Misha looked down at the ground.

And then she spoke in a barely audible voice.

"There's a rumor going around... that Bjorn is an evil spirit..."

"...What?"

"Ah! It's, it's just a rumor! Don't, don't believe it! I, I just wanted to tell you..."

What was she talking about?

Had she lost her mind because of his death?

Was this even a normal conversation?

Raven felt a sense of dissonance, and then it hit her.

It was intuition.

Her sixth sense, telling her the truth.

"You're going to spread that rumor, aren't you? I don't know why, but..."

Misha backed away as Raven spoke.

"You wanted to tell us beforehand, right? You didn't want us to remember him as an evil spirit."

Raven took a step forward.

"But..."

She had already realized it.

"You said it was just a rumor..."

The truth behind the unsettling feeling.

"It's not just a rumor, is it?"

Raven grabbed Misha's wrist and asked.

It was a foolish mistake.

A mage couldn't overpower a physical explorer.

"...!"

Misha pulled her hand away and ran.

And the next day, the rumor that Bjorn Yandel was an evil spirit spread throughout the city.

And...

"Where did she go...?"

That was the last time Raven saw Misha.

------------------------------------------------

Chapter 339: Snowball (3)

My mind went blank.

It felt like someone had crushed a can, and Amelia's last words echoed in my head.

'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'

'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'

'The royal family announced that you were an evil spirit.'

It was a shock that felt like dozens of men were hitting my head with hammers.

If it weren't for her, I would have been stuck in this state for a while.

"Yandel."

"Ah..."

"...Are you okay?"

I came to my senses and saw Amelia's face close up. She was looking at me with worried eyes, her small right hand on my chest.

"Uh, uh..."

"I understand how you feel, but this isn't the time to be spacing out."

"Ah, sorry..."

Amelia grabbed my wrist and pulled me forward, and I followed her in a daze.

She was right.

[It's unclear if she still has that intention...]

Erwen also knew that I was an evil spirit.

It meant I couldn't expect her to treat me like a companion anymore.

This... probably applied to the other companions as well.

'So...'

I clenched my jaw.

'The day has finally come.'

I accepted it, but I couldn't help but think...

Maybe it's not too late.

Erwen was chasing Amelia because she thought Amelia had killed me. Maybe she would still treat me like a companion, regardless of whether I was an evil spirit or not.

Yes, that possibility definitely existed.

But...

"You don't have to hold my hand anymore."

I let go of Amelia's wrist and started running on my own.

Amelia was right.

Erwen couldn't protect me.

Even if she wanted to, she was a member of the fairy tribe.

If she helped me, it would harm her tribe, and she was more likely to prioritize her tribe over her personal feelings.

'...That's just an excuse.'

I chuckled bitterly as I ran.

No matter how sly and cowardly I was, I couldn't deceive myself.

I didn't want to see Erwen yet.

To be precise, I was afraid.

I was afraid of what I would hear from her.

[That's right! The chieftain said the same thing! We have to kill evil spirits as soon as we find them!]

Ainar's words.

[Yeah... I didn't know before, but after today, I finally understand. Why people told me not to trust evil spirits...]

Misha's words.

[It's wise to kill them when you have the chance. That's what happened to those who trusted evil spirits. The result is right there.]

Avman's words.

Clench.

They stabbed me like daggers.

Just thinking about it made me feel this way, how would it feel to actually experience it?

What would it be like to see them doubt my sincerity and express their anger at being deceived?

"..."

If I could just get past this situation, I might be able to smooth things over and prevent that day from ever coming.

So I ran after Amelia.

"Yandel, this way!"

We left the empty plaza and headed towards the Lord's Castle in the center of the city.

There was a secret passage in the Lord's Castle, not just in the cemetery.

We had to escape through that passage—

Creak!

As we arrived at the Lord's Castle and I was forcing the closed door open.

"Yandel, get down!"

Amelia pushed me through the gap in the door.

Whoosh.

And at that moment...

Thud.

An arrow, shot without a sound, pierced Amelia's back.

"...!"

Amelia gasped, her body swaying.

She collapsed on top of me.

"You're... okay..."

"...What the—!"

"Your face... you don't seem like... you'll hurt her..."

I couldn't understand what she was saying.

But I didn't have time to ask.

I quickly picked Amelia up and stood up.

"I'll... take her..."

Amelia was still trying to say something, but she couldn't finish her sentence.

Crack!

Amelia exploded.

While she was in my arms.

_____________________

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Rupture].」

_____________________

Thud, thud, thud.

Dozens of pieces fell to the ground.

It was a surreal scene.

"Am, Amelia...?"

The weight in my arms vanished.

But I couldn't move my arms, even though they were empty.

I just stood there, thinking.

Amelia is dead?

Like this...?

And... because of Erwen...?

My body froze, but then I noticed something strange.

"Blood."

There was no blood.

If a person had exploded into pieces like that, there should have been blood splattered everywhere.

But there wasn't a single drop of blood on my body.

And then...

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The hundreds of pieces of Amelia's body turned into particles of light and disappeared.

Just like a monster dying.

「Amelia Rainwales' clone has taken fatal damage.」

「The summon is dispelled.」

Right, it was a clone made with [Self-Replication].

Whew, that startled me.

I really thought she was dead.

'If she was going to use a clone, she should have told me beforehand.'

I was annoyed, but I quickly dismissed it.

This wasn't the time to be complaining.

'I have to run.'

I started running.

I had memorized the path to the secret passage while following Amelia to Noark.

The problem was whether I could get there safely.

Thud.

No arrows yet.

But I didn't know how long this would last.

So...

'Can I win if we fight?'

I considered the worst-case scenario.

That Erwen was hostile towards me and wanted to kill me.

And as I thought about that possibility, I remembered the scene of Amelia's body exploding.

'That effect...'

It wasn't a normal explosion.

There were no flames.

And no shrapnel, like a grenade.

Her body just crumbled into pieces, like a Jenga tower collapsing.

'...It must have been [Rupture].'

The effect of [Rupture] is simple.

Whether it's an arrow, a sword, or an axe, if the blade pierces the flesh and deals a certain amount of damage...

It deals fixed damage based on the caster's main stat.

It ignores Physical Resistance, Magic Resistance, and all elemental resistances.

Just like Aura, which is unique to humans.

'And she even obtained the 'Pureblood' and contracted the Spirit King...'

Whether it was [Rupture] or not, I didn't think I could win in a one-on-one fight.

She would have high-grade equipment to match her specs.

'How can I possibly win against that with my bare hands?'

I was running with all my might when...

Whoosh.

The Light Gem in my hand, which was illuminating the dark underground city, suddenly went out.

It wasn't a natural phenomenon.

I had used Light Gems before.

This magic tool gradually dims and then goes out when it runs out of mana.

It doesn't just suddenly turn off like this.

'...Darkness Spirit?'

I didn't expect her to have mastered this element as well.

I stopped running.

Thud.

I was confident in memorizing paths.

If I focused on my steps, I could probably find my way to the secret passage even in the dark.

As long as there wasn't a pursuer behind me.

'Escape failed.'

I closed my eyes.

It was time to abandon my useless vision and focus on other senses.

And then...

My heightened hearing caught the sound of footsteps.

Thud.

It was unexpected.

I thought I would hear the sound of an arrow first.

'Well, even if she thinks I'm an evil spirit, she would probably want to talk to me first.'

I tensed up, ready to move at any moment, and thought about Amelia's last words.

[Your face... you don't seem like... you'll hurt her...]

She must have seen his face.

Amelia had much better vision than me.

She might have made eye contact with Erwen, who was shooting arrows from the darkness.

But...

'How could she be so sure just by looking at his face?'

No one knew what Erwen was thinking as she walked towards me in the darkness.

So...

"Erwen?"

I called her name.

There was no answer.

And the footsteps stopped.

Thump!

The only sound was my heartbeat, echoing like thunder in the silence.

"Mister."

And then, after a long time, I heard that familiar name.

The Light Gem started working again.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The light spread out, illuminating the surroundings.

And...

"It's really..."

I finally understood.

Why Amelia said it was fortunate.

Why she was so sure that Erwen wouldn't hurt me.

"It's really... you...?"

Her eyes were filled with emotion.

Joy, relief, anticipation, anxiety, fear.

And...

"H, how..."

Distrust.

"You... you're supposed to be dead..."

"Ah, that's... what happened."

"What happened? How can you say that so casually?!"

Erwen's voice rose in anger, but then she suddenly stopped talking.

"...Could this be... her doing?"

She muttered, as if realizing something.

And her eyes turned sharp.

"Who are you?"

Uh, I didn't expect her mood swings to be this severe...

I started to feel uneasy, but I tried to hide it and answered.

"Who am I? I'm Bjorn Yandel."

"Liar."

"What? You don't believe me? I'll use [Gigantification] if you want."

"Go ahead."

Her tone was curt, but I didn't hesitate and activated [Gigantification].

"Wh, what... It's really you?!"

Erwen's voice returned to normal.

Well, only for a moment.

"It's really you—!"

"No, I don't believe it yet."

"...Huh?"

"Use something else."

Erwen's eyes, filled with tears a moment ago, turned cold, and I quickly used [Leap].

And...

"It's really you...!"

"Yeah, I'm glad you finally believe me—!"

"...You think this is enough? It's not."

The same thing happened several times.

Erwen wouldn't be satisfied until she had seen all my essences.

I felt a chill run down my spine when she told me to use [Flesh Explosion].

"...You're a fake."

Her eyes were filled with madness and killing intent.

But I explained that I had removed the essence, and then I started talking about things only we knew.

"Our first meeting. What did you give me?"

"Licorice leaf."

"The name of the inn where we spent our first night together."

"..."

"Can't... answer...?"

"It, it was Garlic and Salt Inn."

"Too late."

"No, I was just flustered because you said 'first night'. We just went to see the essences..."

"Hmm."

We continued talking about the past.

As I shared stories that only we knew, her mood swings gradually subsided, and finally, she seemed to have completely dismissed her suspicion.

Although I still didn't know when she would suddenly change her mind and point an arrow at me.

But at least for now, she had accepted me.

"Mister...!"

"It's been a long time, Erwen. It's been two years and six months, right?"

After a long time, she finally greeted me.

Erwen put away her bow and clenched her fists, her eyes filled with tears.

"Why... why did you come back now?! You were alive all this time... Why didn't you come find me?!"

Ah, she must have felt that way.

I didn't want to come back, but...

"There were some complications."

I quickly answered, worried that she might suddenly change her mind.

Erwen then cautiously asked,

"Complications... are you talking about the announcement that you were an evil spirit?"

It was the most important question of this conversation.

A hurdle I had to overcome.

"Yeah, that's..."

I felt a mix of guilt and relief.

Erwen had clearly decided not to believe the announcement. She was talking to me now, wasn't she? That was proof—

"No? What does that have to do with anything?"

"...Huh?"

Erwen tilted her head, as if I had asked a strange question.

And then she started explaining, as if teaching me something.

"Mister, we met after I became an adult, right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Evil spirits only appear on the day you become an adult."

"...So?"

"So what does it matter if you're an evil spirit or not?"

"...Well, that's true..."

I couldn't help but stammer.

Erwen then grabbed my hand.

"You protected me in the cave, taught me things I didn't know, and helped me get back on my feet after my sister died... It was all you, mister."

Her hand was warm.

"No matter what anyone says, you're Bjorn Yandel to me."

I was touched.

There were people who thought this way too.

"..."

I wanted to say thank you, but I couldn't.

Erwen probably didn't know how much her words meant to me.

"But..."

She let go of my hand.

And her eyes and tone returned to their previous coldness.

"Are you really... mister?"

I felt like I was going crazy.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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