C304, 305 , 306
Chapter 304: Rainwales (2)
An awkward silence followed after I jumped out of bed and cursed.
It didn’t last long.
“Did you just say ‘fuck’ to me?”
Amelia asked, as if to confirm, and I hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
Of course, I didn’t apologize mindlessly.
This was important to me.
“Ahem, my name is Lee Hansu. Not Lee Hans.”
“So?”
“I would appreciate it if you could be careful with the pronunciation. You know, it’s a sensitive topic for me…”
I was worried that my favorability might decrease, but Amelia was surprisingly understanding.
“…Alright. I’ll be careful.”
She seemed to realize that she had crossed a line, although she didn’t understand why I was so sensitive about the pronunciation.
Okay, then that’s settled.
I took the opportunity to ask her something I was curious about.
“Um, Amelia.”
“Speak.”
“What did you mean earlier? About how the royal family might have known I was an evil spirit and turned a blind eye.”
It was a question I couldn’t ask before revealing my identity.
“It’s just a possibility for now.”
Amelia said cautiously, and then she shared her guess.
“If the royal family had ‘investigated’ you, they would have already discovered your identity.”
Hmm, that’s true.
Even I wouldn’t be able to hide it if they used a Numbered Item like the one we saw today.
But…
“I understand that, but how does that connect to them turning a blind eye? Wouldn’t it be more natural for them to just trust me completely?”
“Maybe. But you were the most famous hero in the city back then. I thought they might not have been able to touch you.”
Uh, I still don’t understand.
No matter how famous I was, I was just a small fry to the royal family.
“Explain in more detail.”
“Hmm, you have no sense for politics.”
Hey, can you please stop analyzing Lee Hansu?
Amelia chuckled and continued when I just stared at her.
“Think about it. A hero who risked his life to save his companions in the labyrinth, who fought a bloody battle against evil and returned alive with thousands of explorers. But that hero is an evil spirit? What kind of problem do you think that would cause?”
“Uh… chaos?”
“Right, chaos. After all, the royal family, along with the three churches, had been portraying evil spirits as evil beings that should be eradicated.”
Ah…
Now I understand.
Why she thought the royal family might have turned a blind eye even though they knew my identity.
“So evil spirits have to always be evil…”
“Fortunately, you’re quick to understand.”
I’m different from other evil spirits.
I helped my tribesmen to strengthen the weak barbarian tribe, and I even fought at the forefront of the Noark War.
So the royal family had to be careful.
If they executed me for being an evil spirit, the citizens would think…
He saved thousands of people?
And you’re killing him just because he’s an evil spirit?
“Of course, there wouldn’t be a riot even if they revealed your identity and executed you. It would be noisy for a while, and then it would die down. But…”
“The royal family wouldn’t want to set a precedent. That there might be evil spirits who could be beneficial to this world.”
“I’ll say it again, it’s just a guess.”
Although Amelia ended her explanation, I still felt uneasy.
It wasn’t just a baseless guess.
There was evidence. And the problem was that the evidence sounded plausible even to me.
‘Damn it, what if it’s true? Should I change my identity and go into hiding as soon as I return?’
That’s when, as my mind was racing with various thoughts…
“…Amelia, are you asleep?”
“I’m not. And call me Emily when we’re alone. I’ll also call you by your alias.”
“Uh, suddenly?”
“You might make another mistake in front of other people.”
She was talking about the time I beat up Bek’s gang.
“So it’s better to get used to it. We’ll be contacting the Lord’s faction soon, according to our plan.”
I dismissed my thoughts at her words.
Right, I wouldn’t be able to find a proper answer about the royal family in this time period anyway.
Let’s just focus on this.
_____________________
The next morning.
Knock, knock.
We had a visitor.
“My name is Rick Omanus. Are you Emily and Bjorn, son of Thor?”
He was… surprisingly, a knight.
Not an explorer who used a sword and wore plate armor, but a real knight under the Lord’s command.
‘So there’s a knight order here too.’
Well, that’s probably why Amelia could use Aura.
It would have been difficult for her to reach that level of sword mastery at her age to naturally awaken it.
She must have learned it from someone.
“What’s your business?”
“The Lord has recognized your abilities and decided to support you.”
It was an arrogant choice of words, like the high-ranking officials in Lafdonia.
They didn’t even think we would refuse?
Well, we weren’t going to, but…
“What kind of support are you talking about?”
Rick Omanus just handed us a piece of paper instead of answering Amelia’s question.
“The details are all written there, so please read it and give us your answer.”
It was a contract that listed the support we would receive if we accepted the offer, and what we had to give up in return.
The conditions weren’t bad.
We would receive support for our team members, the right to go up to Lafdonia if we made enough contributions, and various benefits from being under the Lord’s protection.
In return, we had to follow the Lord’s orders in emergencies.
“So it’s not support, but recruitment.”
“I told you, the Lord has recognized your abilities.”
“We need some time to think.”
“I’ll wait here. Please don’t take too long.”
Although we had been waiting for this, we took our time, knowing that agreeing too easily might raise suspicion.
And when we opened the door again…
“…You were standing there the whole time?”
“I’m on duty.”
I didn’t expect him to be waiting for over two hours.
“Here.”
We then handed him the signed contract. He said he had already informed his superiors and told us to visit them whenever we were ready.
He really didn’t think we would refuse.
“But does signing even matter?”
“It’s just a formality. You can’t live a normal life in this city if you go against his will.”
What the hell, he’s showing off in front of newbies.
We could just move to the eastern district and join Orculus.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
The knight left without looking back after finishing his business.
So it was time for us to start our day.
“Emily, what are we going to do now? We attracted his attention, but it doesn’t seem like he wants to meet us personally.”
“It’s fine. We can just keep attracting his attention.”
“Well, that’s true.”
I was confident in attracting attention.
After all, I kept getting caught up in incidents with this barbarian body, even when I was trying to lay low.
“Let’s go.”
We put on our equipment and headed towards the Lord’s Castle. We had only taken care of some administrative work in the outer castle before, but we could now enter the inner castle, which required permission.
“You’re Emily and Iron Mask, right? Sir Omanus told me about you. My name is Mel. I’m in charge of assisting you with your work when you visit the inner castle.”
Mel, the administrative official who greeted us with a bright smile, welcomed us and briefly explained the structure of the inner castle.
I didn’t have to listen carefully.
I had already heard it all from Amelia.
“Since it’s your first day, I think you should register first. Ah, what are your plans? Most people join their original teams—”
“We’re not planning to join a regular team.”
“I see. Then I’ll guide you to create a team under your names.”
We followed the official to the Labyrinth Management Office in the inner castle, which was only accessible to explorers affiliated with the Lord.
And we registered as a two-person team.
Ah, for reference, our team name was ‘Iron Mask’.
A nickname like this was much more memorable than ‘Emily’ or ‘Bjorn’.
“What about the other three members? If you tell me the roles you’re looking for—”
“We’ll decide later.”
“Yes?”
“We’re going to move as a two-person team until we find suitable members. So block all membership applications.”
“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”
Amelia, who was skilled at navigating the local system, then asked the staff member for some information.
“How many ‘runners’ are available?”
Runners were those who entered the labyrinth at a young age and did all the dangerous work, like Zencia.
“There are currently thirteen.”
“Including those who are already in teams?”
“173.”
“I want to see them all.”
Amelia carefully read through the list the staff member gave her.
And she found the name she was looking for.
“I want to take these two.”
“The Rainwales sisters are already in a team, so that’s impossible…”
“You can at least contact their team. Tell them we’ll compensate them generously if they hand them over.”
“…Yes.”
That was the end of today’s business.
But Amelia took me to another place in the inner castle before we left.
It was a bar.
“A bar? There’s a place like this inside the castle?”
“It’s one of the benefits for those with access to the inner castle.”
“But why here…?”
I didn’t understand her intention since I had never seen her drink alcohol.
Not until I saw the bar’s sign.
[Rainwales]
It couldn’t be a coincidence that her last name and the bar’s name were the same.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“Ah, ah, uh…”
The interior was clean, and there weren’t many people since it was daytime. We took a table in the corner and ordered drinks and snacks.
And…
“…….”
“…….”
…we sat there in silence.
Hey, why did you bring me here if we’re not going to talk?
It seemed like a place with a story—
“Are you curious?”
I hesitated for a moment and then nodded.
“It’s not a very pleasant story.”
“You can’t just experience pleasant things in life.”
She said so and downed her drink.
Damn, that’s strong. And it tastes terrible.
Is this what a manly city like Noark is like?
“…Strange.”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Amelia muttered and drank her alcohol.
Wow, what’s gotten into her? She even downed it in one gulp.
Was it a story that was difficult to tell when she was sober?
That’s when, as Amelia placed her empty glass on the table…
Kwaaang!
…I was startled.
I quickly turned my head towards the sound.
A man’s voice was coming from the kitchen.
“You ungrateful bitches!!”
His voice was filled with anger, and I soon heard something breaking.
A woman’s scream was mixed in with the sound.
Thwack! Thwack!
It was clear that violence was taking place in the kitchen.
But the few customers just looked on with indifferent expressions.
“The owner is beating up his daughter again.”
“Keke, those girls are pitiful. To have a father like that.”
What, owner? Daughter?
Then the one being beaten up is…
Whoosh.
I quickly looked at Amelia.
Her hand, which was holding her glass, was trembling.
It was too pitiful of a sight to just be old anger.
--------------------------------------------------
Chapter 305: Rainwales (3)
Amelia was a strong woman.
It wasn’t because she could use Aura and had several high-grade essences. I had never seen her afraid of anything.
But now…
“…….”
…she was trembling.
She shouldn’t be afraid of anyone, no matter who her father in that kitchen was.
‘Is it trauma?’
It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.
I had a similar experience.
I couldn’t ride a car for years, even though I knew it was safe, and I would wake up in the middle of the night and search the entire building if I smelled smoke.
It was engraved in my subconscious, regardless of my will.
Thwack!
That it was dangerous.
“…Are you okay?”
Amelia didn’t answer my question.
So I grabbed her trembling wrist.
“Emily.”
She finally came to her senses and answered.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you… What did you say?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
“…….”
Right, so you’re not okay.
Amelia spoke again after the noise from the kitchen subsided.
“…I showed you something unpleasant.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
I didn’t see anything.
Even if I did, I wouldn’t have thought it was unpleasant.
“Phew, those bitches make me so angry.”
The man then emerged from the kitchen.
He had a sturdy build, but he was only about 170 centimeters tall.
And contrary to my expectations, he had a very ordinary face.
“Owner, you were a bit too harsh today, weren’t you?”
“Harsh? They’re ungrateful bitches. Enough with the depressing talk, let’s drink.”
The man sat down at a regular’s table and started chatting and drinking, and Amelia watched him from the corner for a long time before speaking.
“That man was my foster father.”
“Foster father?”
“It’s a common story here. Children who lose their parents need a place to stay, and there are many people in the city who are willing to take them in.”
“Many people…”
I could already guess the reason.
It wouldn’t be out of some noble motive, like wanting to provide a home for orphaned children.
Amelia clearly said it was a ‘common story’.
And common stories are usually hyperrealistic.
“It’s a kind of symbiotic relationship. The children receive protection until they’re old enough to work, and the foster parents get cheap labor.”
All rights to adopted children belonged to the foster parents in this city, and those rights were absolute.
At least until the children grew up.
They couldn’t even kill their foster parents or run away. It would set a precedent. They would be labeled as ungrateful and face retaliation from others.
“…I see.”
“But my sister and I were better off. We were healthy and rarely got sick. So we were able to stay together.”
“How old were you back then?”
“Five. My sister was three years older than me.”
She said it wasn’t that bad at first.
Unlike when they were with their injured and weakened father in the labyrinth, they received proper meals and weren’t cold.
Well, they were still made to do chores, even at that young age…
“But it wasn’t that hard. Everyone lived like that. I even thought I was lucky to have my sister to rely on.”
Amelia thought back then…
…that their lives would begin when they grew up.
“But it didn’t go well.”
“…It was all because of me.”
It happened when Amelia was nine years old.
A drunkard tried to strangle her while she was helping out at the bar.
Because she spilled food on him.
“My sister stepped in.”
Amelia’s sister saw it and ran to the kitchen. She grabbed a kitchen knife and then slowly approached the drunkard from behind and slit his carotid artery.
“I found out later that no one in the bar, not even the explorers, sensed her approaching him.”
But the drunkard didn’t die that day.
He was treated with a potion in time. But the incident revealed a young girl’s talent to the world.
“Someone from the Lord’s faction came the next day. They said they would cover up the incident if we handed her over.”
Surprisingly, her foster father refused.
And he used all his money to pay the drunkard’s medical bills and apologize, resolving the situation himself.
He did that for one reason.
It was the rational choice.
“My sister became a ‘runner’ from that day onwards.”
He judged that…
…he could earn much more money if he raised her properly since she was talented.
“Indeed, she was talented. She started receiving a share of the loot after just a year in a looting team.”
Her foster father then thought…
…that Amelia might also be talented since they were sisters.
“I also became a ‘runner’ soon after and was practically sold to a looting team. And I was also acknowledged for my talent.”
Amelia briefly glossed over the rest of the story, and I didn’t pry further.
I could imagine what kind of life the Rainwales sisters had lived as ‘runners’.
They must have endured.
Relying on each other as the only family they had left.
“Anyway, that’s how my sister and I ended up in the Necromancer’s faction, and we’re still working at this bar while we’re in the city.”
Amelia finished her story, having explained her childhood and adolescence.
“So, are you satisfied now?”
“Yeah, it’s enough.”
I had already heard the rest when we were making plans.
The sisters’ hopes of being free when they became adults were crushed…
Clench.
…by a common tragedy.
_____________________
Time passed, and it was past noon, and the number of people entering the bar gradually increased.
“……Um.”
A young girl approached our table.
She was in her early teens, with red hair and long curls.
She had a bruise on her face, and her hair was messy, as if she was trying to hide it.
“Would you like more drinks…?”
It was something the staff usually said if you stayed at a bar for too long.
It meant to order more or leave.
“…….”
Amelia couldn’t even look her in the eye and avoided her gaze.
I could understand.
“What’s your name?”
“…Amelia Rainwales.”
Right, it must be awkward to face her younger self.
She knew what was going to happen, so she must be feeling guilty.
“Let’s go.”
Amelia tried to leave, but I stopped her.
“Wait a minute.”
I couldn’t miss this opportunity to see Baby Amelia.
“Kid, how old are you?”
“Thirteen…”
Oh, thirteen twenty years ago…
“So you’re thirty-four.”
Amelia glared at me as I muttered. It seemed like she was annoyed that her personal information was revealed.
“Thirty-four…?”
Baby Amelia looked confused, but she maintained a bright expression.
“That’s how you smiled.”
“Yes?”
“Ah, I was just saying you should smile more often. It looks good on you.”
“Ah, okay…”
Unlike Adult Amelia, who had a sullen expression, Baby Amelia looked flustered.
So I stopped teasing her.
“Alright, we’re leaving now, so bring us the bill.”
“Okay!”
I quickly paid and left the bar, worried that I might not be able to handle the consequences if I stayed any longer.
And as soon as we returned to the inn…
“…Maybe you were right.”
…Amelia muttered bitterly.
“What do you mean?”
“I remembered something. We had a similar conversation before.”
Ah, so that was why she was making that expression.
I thought she was mad at me.
“Amelia.”
“Emily.”
“Ahem, right, Emily. Want a drink?”
I said so and took out some alcohol from my subspace pocket.
It was all from the looters.
“No, thank you. It’s pointless for me to drink anyway.”
“Because of your essences?”
“Yes.”
In short, it meant that she couldn’t get drunk because of her high Poison Resistance and Mental Resistance.
“Then why did you drink at the bar?”
“Because… it would be suspicious if I didn’t drink at a bar.”
“You’re contradicting yourself.”
“What?”
“Don’t be so serious. What’s so hard about having a drink? I’m lonely drinking alone.”
Amelia asked as I poured myself a drink,
“…Why do you even want to drink?”
“We still have things to talk about.”
Geez, do you think I would really be doing this just to drink?
Although I had heard a lot about her childhood at the bar…
…I had something else I wanted to ask.
After all, we had already come out to each other.
“Things to talk about?”
“What are you pretending not to know? We don’t have any secrets anymore.”
“…Don’t act friendly. It’s disgusting.”
“Really? Then I won’t, so tell me. You didn’t tell me anything about ‘Nibels Enche’ when we were making plans. I also heard about Auril Gabis being there for the first time yesterday.”
Amelia had refused to communicate with me back then.
She cooperated, but she didn’t want to share everything and rely on each other.
But judging by how she even told me about her past today, it seemed like I had gained her trust to some extent.
“What would change even if I told you? You think we can’t change anything anyway.”
Uh, that’s true.
I still thought the same way.
But…
“You said yesterday that it was too late to give up.”
“…I didn’t cry.”
Geez, just let it slide.
“Did you? Anyway, I’m going to help you seriously since you’re not giving up.”
“So that I’ll help you?”
“Well, I’m not saying it’s not part of the reason.”
“So there’s another reason?”
I answered honestly.
“I want to put you in debt.”
Amelia looked confused.
“…Why?”
There were countless reasons.
First, Amelia knew my weakness.
I had to put her in debt to silence her.
And she was strong.
She also seemed to have a good heart and a lot of experience, so she was reliable in some ways.
So, in short…
“Honestly, our first meeting wasn’t great, but I like you.”
“…What?”
“Ah, don’t misunderstand. I don’t mean I like you romantically.”
“I didn’t misunderstand.”
“That’s good.”
Ahem, I cleared my throat and continued.
“Anyway, I know what kind of person you are now. You always try to repay your debts. So if possible, I also want to save your sister. You’ll do me a favor if I do that.”
“A, a favor? No, what kind of favor are you thinking of…?”
Amelia looked at me with wary eyes and stepped back.
Damn it, is she scared of me?
This is going to cause a misunderstanding.
“Amelia Rainwales.”
I took a step closer and spoke.
I wasn’t originally planning to reveal my greed this early…
But it wouldn’t hurt to mark my territory.
“If I succeed in saving your sister and resolve all the restrictions even after we return to our original time…”
“…Resolve the restrictions?”
“Then join my clan.”
Damn right, quests should have rewards.
-------------------------------------
Chapter 306: Rainwales (4)
Was my recruitment offer that unexpected?
Amelia looked at me as if trying to figure out my intentions. However, unable to find any other motive, she spoke in a somewhat bitter voice.
“I’m… a looter.”
“That’s only natural since you’re from Noark. But I know better than anyone that you’re different.”
Indeed, Amelia had let me and Ainar go back then when we first met.
It was the same when we met in the sewers.
The dwarf, Rotmiller, Misha, and even Dwarkey.
She had given everyone, not just me, the precious ‘Lethe’s Blessing’ and tried to find another way.
Therefore…
“My information is registered with the Explorer’s Guild. The royal family would also know—”
I firmly cut Amelia off.
“I can just create a new identity.”
“It’s not that easy. If you’re with me, people will definitely try to find out my identity—”
Ugh, she’s so talkative today.
“That’s why I said I would take care of all those restrictions. Then you can join my clan.”
“That’s… impossible, that’s why I’m saying this. It will be troublesome for both of us if you try to force it—”
“Geez, you’re hedging your bets.”
“Hedging…?”
“Whatever, I’ll take care of it, so you just have to answer.”
A binary choice of ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Amelia hesitated for a moment and then sighed as I simplified the situation.
“Ha… why do you always make things difficult for me…?”
“So, what’s your answer?”
“Okay. If it’s a situation where there’s no problem with me being by your side…”
Amelia trailed off and avoided my gaze.
But did she dislike her unconscious action?
Swoosh.
Amelia looked at me and said,
“Then I’ll become your companion.”
The quest was accepted.
_________________________
Quest Name: Save My Sister!
Objective: Sister’s Survival (0/1), Resolve Identity Issue (0/1)
Reward: Amelia Rainwales (SSR) Recruitment Ticket
Hmm, I guess that’s the gist of it.
As I was organizing the quest, Amelia took the bottle of alcohol from the table and chugged it.
“I thought you didn’t drink because you don’t get drunk?”
“I’m thirsty.”
Oh, I see.
But she sounded very macho, saying that while chugging alcohol.
Thud.
Amelia frowned as she put the bottle down.
I couldn’t help but ask,
“Do you not like alcohol?”
“How can this taste good?”
“No, I was just checking. I don’t like alcohol either.”
I heard that it tastes like a sweet drink if you’ve been through a lot of hardship, so I just asked, just in case. I’ve been through enough, but it still tastes the same.
“…Enough with the nonsense, let’s get to the point.”
Amelia sat down across from me.
“You said you wanted to hear about Nibels Enche? I’ll tell you. I might be able to think of another way after hearing your opinion.”
“Okay.”
“Ah, and one more thing. I’m telling you this beforehand, but I’ll only become your companion if you keep all the promises you made. Got it?”
“But I told you to join my clan, not become my companion.”
“Ah, uh…”
Amelia flinched at my words.
“That’s also… right, I see. I, I thought you meant the same thing. If they’re different, I’ll correct my answer—”
“It’s fine, ‘companion’ sounds better than ‘clan member’ anyway.”
“…Are you making fun of me?”
She’s perceptive.
“There’s no way.”
Amelia looked at me suspiciously, but she couldn’t say anything since she didn’t have any proof.
So it was time to change the subject.
“Just tell me. Everything I don’t know, including Nibels Enche.”
Amelia dismissed her playful attitude and started talking as we returned to the main topic.
“Nibels Enche was the name of the man who saved my life that day. ‘Iron Mask’ is his nickname in Noark.”
“As expected.”
At least one of my questions was answered.
I’m her lifesaver.
Huhu, no wonder she’s been so soft on me since we came to Noark.
“I’ve been debating whether to tell you this. I came here to change the past, but it feels like everything is happening as it’s supposed to, no matter how hard I struggle.”
“I see.”
I didn’t have to say much since I had already experienced it.
“But you said you weren’t giving up. Enough, tell me. When did we… no, when did you meet Nibels Enche again after that?”
“I don’t know the exact date. But if I remember correctly, it was about three weeks from now. The location was…”
I then had a long conversation with Amelia and learned everything I needed to know.
Amelia didn’t hold back or try to test me, she answered all my questions honestly.
It was our first real conversation.
Ah, of course, that didn’t mean I immediately found the answer.
“Anything else you’re curious about?”
“No, I think I’ve heard everything.”
“I see, then…”
“I’m sorry. Honestly, I don’t know yet. I need more time to think.”
“Is that so…”
Amelia seemed disappointed when I said I didn’t have any ideas either, but she didn’t say anything.
“Well, it’s not like you would have a solution right away.”
“That sounds like you weren’t expecting anything.”
“…Strange. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have even told you.”
“Hmm, so you trust me?”
“…To some extent.”
“To some extent.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
If it were anyone else, I would have thought it was a sly answer, but I felt a strange sense of accomplishment because it was Amelia.
You know how it is, right?
You just brush off your parents’ compliments, but when someone who’s usually prickly praises you, you feel acknowledged.
“Anyway, it’s my turn now since you don’t have any more questions.”
“Huh?”
“What are you surprised about? It’s only natural for me to… be curious about you.”
“Ah, right. Go ahead. What are you so curious about?”
I thought she would ask about my world, but she didn’t.
She really has no unnecessary curiosity.
Well, that’s convenient for me.
“Actually, everything you might be curious about is what I already told you. But since you’re curious, I’ll tell you from the beginning. When I opened my eyes, I was in a mansion that felt very familiar. Ah, it’s a long story to explain why it felt familiar…”
“It’s fine, tell me. We have plenty of time.”
“Uh… okay.”
I then told her everything that happened in the spiritual world I visited last month.
And I mentioned the names of the big shots.
The captain of Orculus.
The Ruin Scholar, Belvev Ruinjenes.
And the mysterious man called ‘Kagureas’.
“Kagureas? I’ve never heard of that name.”
Unfortunately, even Amelia didn’t know anything about him.
Well, the other two were a bit different.
“The captain of Orculus was there… There were rumors that he might be an evil spirit, but I can’t believe it’s true. Then you’re also from the same place as the captain?”
“No, that’s not it. Not all evil spirits come from the same dimension.”
“Is the Ruin Scholar the same?”
“Probably. People from our world started being summoned around this time.”
“I see… This is amazing. I’ve never even heard rumors about the Ruin Scholar being an evil spirit.”
“In that sense, can you tell me about them?”
“I don’t know much, but if that’s what you want.”
Amelia hedged her bets before sharing information again, but her stories were surprisingly useful.
After all, I didn’t know much about them.
There wasn’t much information about the captain or the Ruin Scholar.
There was a difference in our level of common sense since Amelia was a Noark native and had interacted with Orculus.
“So, you’re also summoned there every 15th?”
“Probably. He said he would resolve the fairness issue, so I’m a bit curious about what happened. Ah, do you have any questions for him? I can ask him when I go there.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
We disbanded and went to bed since we didn’t have anything else to talk about. It felt like a long day since I had stayed up all night.
But Amelia asked another question after we lay down.
“Bjorn, what was your world like?”
She was asking all sorts of questions, unlike usual, and I answered them diligently.
Democracy, science, cars and airplanes, missiles.
The conversation became longer since I had to explain everything, but it wasn’t boring or annoying.
After all, it was my first time.
Talking about these things in this body.
Unlike usual, when I had to think carefully about every word because I had to hide the fact that I was an evil spirit, I didn’t have to do that with Amelia.
After some time…
“That was an interesting story. Although I already knew most of it.”
“What? You knew? How?”
“There are many evil spirits in Noark who reveal their identities. You hear all sorts of stories if you live here.”
“I see… Wait a minute, then why did you even ask?”
“That’s…”
Amelia trailed off.
And a long silence followed.
“Don’t tell me, you fell asleep?”
“…….”
“Don’t pretend to be asleep. I know you only sleep half-way, like a dolphin.”
“…….”
Is this what they call ‘the student surpassing the master’?
I didn’t know she would use one of the two ways to piss someone off on me.
“…Are you really asleep?”
“…….”
Damn it, she’s even snoring.
This is ridiculous. Is she acting?
I didn’t know, but I closed my eyes without saying anything.
The reason was simple.
I didn’t want to disturb her if she was really sleeping soundly for the first time in a while.
“…Goodnight.”
I turned around and lay down, facing the wall, and soon fell asleep.
____________________
Time passed quickly after that day.
No, was it really fast?
Honestly, it was very boring.
I spent all my time in the inn, avoiding going out because I didn’t want to create any variables.
Ah, but that didn’t mean it was a meaningless time.
“Bjorn, go wash up.”
“Why? We’re not even going out.”
“…You smell.”
We talked all day.
About various things.
My world, Amelia and her sister’s memories, and episodes from the labyrinth.
Anyway, I learned more about Amelia as we talked.
Well, the biggest gain was finally hearing about her essences.
‘Did she not explore properly? I don’t understand how she only reached the 8th floor with those specs.’
Amelia’s specs were much better than I expected.
Honestly, she was probably even stronger than that Dragonslayer bastard if it weren’t for his Arc sword and ‘Dragon Speech’.
‘And she even has the Guide trait.’
She could navigate, and she was a powerful damage dealer who could use Aura to cut down even monsters with high Physical Resistance.
Her only weakness was her frail body…
But I could just tank for her.
“Ah, right. How did it go today?”
“They refused, as expected.”
Amelia, who had just come out of the shower, answered as she dried her hair with a towel.
Damn it, as expected.
“Hmm, maybe we offered too little…”
Our attempt to buy the Rainwales sisters from their team failed.
“What about them? Do you think they’ll change their minds if we offer more money?”
“Well, I don’t know. But it’s not a good idea to do that. If they realize we’re obsessed with them, they’ll try to use us.”
“That’s true. Everyone here is cunning.”
“But we succeeded in approaching them naturally. They were actually the ones who showed interest in us.”
“Interest?”
“They asked if we wanted to join their team.”
Although things were going according to plan…
…neither of us looked happy.
It was because all of this had already happened in the past.
“It’s so… predictable that it’s suffocating.”
We also joined that team in the original timeline.
And after experiencing various things, we faced that incident five months later.
“So what are you going to do?”
“…I’ll join the team as planned. It’s a bit frustrating, but it’s the best way to be near them when that incident happens.”
“Really? Then let’s do that.”
I didn’t object.
I didn’t think we could change the past like this, but I didn’t have any better ideas.
I decided to follow Amelia’s plan.
At least until I came up with a better one.
Right, so in that sense…
[23:55]
…I checked the time again.
Amelia spoke as she saw me.
“Ah, come to think of it, it’s today.”
“Yeah.”
I drank some water and lay down on the bed.
“Good luck.”
Geez, that’s awkward.
“It’s still five minutes until I have to go. And it’s just a brief moment here anyway.”
“Ah, right.”
We then chatted for a bit.
Could it be because the other person was Auril Gabis?
I was a bit nervous—
Click.
The second hand on the clock ticked, and my vision blurred.
‘That Sprite was delicious.’
I wonder if he’ll give me another one if I ask.