C334, 335, 336
Chapter 334: To the Future (4)
The best-case scenario was for the GM to remain completely oblivious to my true identity until I had extracted all the information I needed.
But it seemed like hiding it until the very end was impossible.
'Well, it can't be helped.'
I dismissed my lingering regret.
The information I had already obtained was enough to justify using the Fourth Form.
'He's 6th-grade at 20 years old, even though I don't know which school he's from.'
And the number of candidates had been reduced from three to two.
Auril Gabis wouldn't have met him without knowing his name.
But judging by his reaction...
'He can't be Jerkip Elmen MacKinder.'
The probability had increased from 33.3% to 50%.
And this was probably the limit of what I could find out while hiding my identity. Well, that didn't mean I was going to leave satisfied.
'I could probably find out who he is just by investigating the remaining two candidates...'
But there was no need to take the long way when there was a shortcut.
I had been so aggressive with my information gathering because I had this trump card.
"Tell me. Who are you? How did you get in here, and why were you pretending to be him?"
The GM, having seen through my act, pressed me with confidence.
As if he was someone important.
'Cute.'
I chuckled and opened my mouth.
I was planning to reveal my true identity and tell him this before leaving anyway.
"Auril Gabis."
"...What? That's the game developer's—"
"That's the old man's name."
The GM frowned as I cut him off.
He understood the words, but not the meaning. I patiently explained, like a veteran player guiding a newbie.
"That guy summoned you all to this world, and he's only planning to use you. And he doesn't feel any guilt for doing this. Be wary of him."
"You think I'll believe you just because you're hiding your identity—"
What is he talking about?
"Believe it or not, that's your choice. I just came here to warn you."
"...Then why were you pretending to be him?"
"I wanted to know what kind of person you were before I told you this."
Of course, I didn't expect him to believe me 100%.
I hadn't told him the whole truth.
The GM was still wary of me, trying to figure out my intentions.
But...
'It's all about how convincing it sounds.'
Humans are sensitive creatures. Even if they don't believe it, they'll still feel a sense of unease. It's like a crack in a wall, you can't help but notice it.
What if, maybe, perhaps.
Planting those keywords in his mind was enough for now.
'That should be enough to sow discord...'
There were countless reasons to be wary of Auril Gabis, but I decided to stop there.
It was more effective to let his imagination run wild than to explain everything.
"...You think I'll be swayed by your words?!"
The GM was more concerned about my identity than Auril Gabis, so he raised his voice.
"Reveal yourself, or—"
It was pathetic.
'That's not how you ask a question.'
Especially not to someone who seems stronger than you.
I took a step forward and asked,
"Or what?"
The GM opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
He just gasped for air.
Lion Style.
Third Form, Contempt.
Step.
I took another step closer, and the GM started trembling, his eyes rolling back.
Hmm, I didn't expect his mental fortitude to be this low.
"You're weak."
You were a beast in my time, kid.
It seemed like he wouldn't even understand what I was saying, so I lowered my killing intent.
And I muttered,
"Aika Teratios."
It was the name of the second candidate Lee Baekho had given me.
But the GM's reaction wasn't what I expected.
What is this guy talking about? Is he casting a spell?
He looked at me with wary eyes.
'Damn it.'
So that wasn't it either?
Then I was left with one candidate...
"Yurven Habelión."
I didn't give him time to recover and spoke the name of the last candidate.
I was a bit worried that Lee Baekho might have been wrong...
But...
"...!"
His reaction was completely different this time.
His pupils dilated.
His breathing became ragged.
His facial muscles stiffened.
He was trying to maintain a poker face, but he couldn't hide his shock.
"So that's your name."
I felt a surge of joy, but also a hint of bitterness.
'It took me three tries...'
33.3% and 50%.
Both were good odds, but I was getting nervous after two failures. At least one of them was a winner.
Well, that's just how I am.
"Yurven Habelión."
I muttered his name again and slowly released my killing intent.
The GM, who had been frozen in place, collapsed to his knees, gasping for air.
But his eyes were still fixed on me.
"Wh, who... are you...?"
His eyes were filled with fear, not hostility.
But as the pressure lifted, his mind started to work again.
Flash!
A white light flashed, blinding me.
I wasn't surprised. I had experienced this countless times.
"See you later."
He had used the Master's authority to shut down the community server.
_____________________
"You're back."
I opened my eyes, and Amelia was sitting next to me.
She was always there when I returned from the community.
I was vulnerable while I was gone, so she was worried something might happen.
'What could possibly happen in 10 seconds...?'
It felt like overkill, but I was grateful.
"Here."
I reached for the water bottle on the nightstand, and Amelia handed it to me.
"Thanks."
"So, how did it go?"
I told her about what had happened in the community.
Amelia listened with interest, but she didn't overreact.
"Yurven Habelión, the recluse mage... he's an evil spirit? The city would be in chaos if this got out."
"Recluse mage?"
"You don't know? He's famous for being a shut-in, rarely leaving the Magic Tower. Most of his fame comes from his time as an explorer."
"I see."
It was the first time I heard that he was a recluse, but I had done some research on him before.
He had become independent and founded his own school after his previous school was destroyed in an incident, and he mainly used wind magic during his time as an explorer.
And he was considered the best in the field of magic tool creation.
'That's why his nickname was 'Magitechnician'.'
Anyway, I finished my story, and Amelia said it was a good thing the Fragment of Records hadn't activated.
"...A good thing?"
"Yeah, I thought I might have to leave without buying the essence if it activated while you were gone."
"Ah... right... I see."
"You seem disappointed."
Amelia looked at me with a strange expression.
I chuckled awkwardly.
"Haha, no, not at all. I'm just glad it didn't activate."
"I thought so."
I then brought up the topic of hiding the Demon Crusher.
"I'm not sure where to hide it... I've been to a lot of places, but none of them feel safe."
"The forest in the sanctuary would be ideal, but I'm worried that the shaman might find it."
"How about putting it in a bank vault?"
"A bank vault?"
It was an unexpected suggestion.
I would have to use the identity 'Nibels Enche' to use a bank.
It would be troublesome to retrieve it as Bjorn Yandel, and besides, 'Nibels Enche' would be erased next year due to unpaid taxes.
In other words, anything I left in the bank would be seized by the government.
'I can't pay twenty years' worth of taxes in advance either...'
It was an unrealistic option, so I hadn't even considered it.
'But she wouldn't have suggested it if she didn't know about that...'
"Tell me more."
I leaned forward, and Amelia explained.
"Alminus Bank has something called an 'anonymous time-limited vault'."
"I've never heard of it."
It wasn't a system that existed in the game.
So it must have been an update that happened in the past 150 years.
"It's not surprising that you don't know. It's a little-known system, even among explorers who frequently use banks."
Amelia then explained how the anonymous time-limited vault worked.
'So basically, you can store items for a set period of time without revealing your identity. And you can retrieve them with a password.'
Hmm, not bad.
_____________________
The next day,
Amelia and I went to the bank and checked for any hidden clauses or risks.
And...
'This is better than Swiss banks...'
It seemed much safer than burying it, so I deposited Kraul's Demon Crusher in an anonymous vault.
I set the time limit to 22 years, just to be safe.
Well, the down payment was quite hefty...
"Don't worry, we can afford it."
Amelia's blessing was with me, so this kind of petty cash was nothing.
She had managed to get the money.
"You really got all the money we needed...?"
Amelia had been working day and night for the past two weeks, and she had actually managed to raise the necessary funds.
I asked her how she did it, and she simply said,
"I sold information."
She had used her knowledge as a regressor to sell information.
Her main customers were those interested in the upcoming auction.
She had sold them the name and color of the essence that would be auctioned...
"But why would they believe you?"
"I used my position as the branch manager of the central exchange."
"Used it? How?"
"I followed the branch manager and investigated him for a few days. It wasn't hard to find something incriminating. I used that to blackmail him."
The central exchange was very strict about security, so even the branch manager didn't know what essence would be auctioned...
But that didn't matter to us.
The important thing was to make the customers believe that it was insider information.
"We went to his office together, so they didn't doubt the information. They probably thought they could hold him accountable if it was wrong."
I was amazed by her skills.
She could have been a successful businesswoman.
"Amelia...!!"
"Wh, what...?! Don't touch me...!"
Thanks to Amelia, we had solved all our problems, from finding a hiding place for the equipment to selling it and getting the money for the essence and the remaining balance.
And...
"Phew, it's finally here..."
The day of the auction had arrived.
-------------------------------------------
Chapter 335: To the Future (5)
Alminus Central Exchange, Auction Hall No. 1.
Even during regular auctions, where only decent items were presented, this place was rarely more than half full. But today, it was packed with people.
And they weren't just any ordinary people.
"The master of the Nenma Clan is here too."
"He's not here for himself, but for the explorer known as 'Iron Wall'. Didn't the guardian of their 1st Team die recently? He's probably here to fill the vacancy."
Explorers with shiny equipment...
"Oh, is the Ragman Trading Company also interested in that essence?"
"A merchant wouldn't refuse a good deal, no matter what the item is."
"Hmm, but auctioned items rarely sell for their true value..."
"The value of an item isn't just about money. Duke Kudo's birthday is coming up, isn't it?"
"Ah, if you can use this as an excuse to attend the banquet, you can make a good impression on many nobles."
...and wealthy individuals who weren't explorers.
There were no casual onlookers.
It was understandable.
The auction had become a hot topic, and even the entrance tickets were being sold at exorbitant prices.
'It was a nightmare just getting tickets...'
If it weren't for Amelia, who had tipped me off about the auction before the information was released, I would have had to buy a ticket from a scalper and enter alone.
"Stop looking around. You'll attract unwanted attention."
I quickly changed the subject, sensing a lecture coming.
"By the way, have you been to this place often?"
"...Enough times."
Well, she had been an explorer much longer than me.
"Then I can ask you if I have any questions."
I continued to observe the surroundings discreetly.
"There are a lot of people wearing masks, just like us? I heard the winning bidder's identity is kept anonymous."
"There are always people who don't want to be known."
"Oh, what about that guy in the suit? He doesn't look like an explorer or a merchant."
"He's a representative from a powerful family. He's dressed neatly, but it's not a noble family. They always prioritize their reputation."
"Oh, really?"
She was like a walking encyclopedia.
Every question was answered immediately.
I continued to ask her questions, testing her knowledge, and soon the auction began.
"Amelia... can we even afford anything here?"
"...If we give up on the essence."
"So we can't afford it..."
It seemed like she had put a lot of thought into other items besides the 3rd-grade essence. The first item, and the ones that followed, were all high-quality.
'A Triple Numbered Item at the central exchange?'
And it wasn't even a trash Triple Numbered Item.
It was a general-purpose item that any damage dealer could use, even though it wasn't very useful to me.
'Damn it, if I had the money, I would have bought it and put it in the vault...'
I watched the heated bidding with a pang of regret every time a new item was presented.
"140 million stones! 140 million stones! Any higher bids?"
"..."
"...Sold to the anonymous bidder!"
The auction was very straightforward.
It wasn't the usual system where you gradually increased your bid in small increments, but a free-for-all where you could write down any amount.
But the bidding method was surprisingly modern.
Click, click, beep, click.
Each chair had a magic tool on the armrest where you could enter your bid, and your bid would appear on the electronic display on the stage when you pressed enter.
The bidder's identity was kept anonymous.
'Well, it would be a bloodbath if they didn't protect their anonymity.'
This method was first used at the Sky Auction House.
I had learned it while studying history at the library. There was an incident where two prestigious noble families got into a fight after bidding against each other in a public auction.
"Now, for the seventeenth item!"
The next item was presented on the stage.
It was a test tube stored in a luxurious box.
Several essences had already been auctioned, but this one was different.
"Yandel."
"I know."
Unlike the previous essences, a large painting was placed next to the box. A giant monster with thick shells, roaring ferociously.
Vol-Herchan.
'They even prepared this... They really put a lot of effort into this auction.'
The monster in the painting looked so lifelike that it seemed like it would jump out at any moment. The participants murmured in awe.
"Oh... indeed..."
"I thought this essence would be auctioned last."
"Yes, it's a bit strange. There are 35 items in total, so we're not even halfway through..."
Some were confused by the timing, but I didn't find it strange at all.
It was actually a clever marketing strategy.
"Alminus Trading Company is playing smart."
If the essence was auctioned last, those who had prepared their funds would have to wait until the very end.
That would reduce their chances of bidding on other items.
But if they auctioned it in the middle and quickly found a buyer?
The situation would change.
Those who had spent their money on the essence would be more likely to bid on other items.
"This item is Vol-Herchan's essence, obtained by 'Lightning Spark' of the Maruel Clan after slaying the ferocious beast during their recent expedition..."
The auctioneer began his sales pitch, and the atmosphere in the hall changed.
"Ahem..."
The participants, who had been chatting and socializing, started to eye each other warily.
The explorers' eyes gleamed with desire, and the merchants' eyes were sharp like wolves sensing an opportunity.
It was like a battlefield without weapons.
And in that situation...
'Who are you trying to outbid?'
Click, click, beep, click.
I entered my bid.
And...
"Starting bid is 50 million stones—"
As soon as the auction began,
Beep.
I pressed enter.
The number appeared on the electronic display.
[870,000,000]
870 million stones.
This was why the auction became so famous.
"...!"
"...!"
There was only one bid.
________________________
A brief silence followed the overwhelming bid.
"870 million stones...! 870 million stones! Any higher bids?"
The auctioneer, maintaining his professionalism, tried to keep his voice calm, but the hall erupted in chaos.
"870 million stones?"
"Who the hell would bid that much from the start..."
Some were dumbfounded.
"Who could possibly afford that..."
Others were curious about my identity.
Those who had given up on the competition were simply amused, but those who had been serious about the essence were different.
"You have to make a decision quickly before it's sold."
They hurriedly started discussing, their faces pale.
And as always, their reactions were mixed.
"870 million is impossible..."
Some had already exceeded their budget.
"We could afford it, but... it's insane to spend that much on an essence that only guardians use. We're out."
Others made a rational decision based on cost-effectiveness.
And...
"Why shouldn't we bid?"
"Maybe the exchange is trying to pull something."
Some were hesitant, suspicious of foul play.
"You mean shill bidding?"
"That's a possibility, but... maybe they never intended to sell it in the first place. It could be a bait."
Some even considered the possibility that the Vol-Herchan essence was a fake, just a lure to attract customers...
But that wasn't the important part.
"..."
"..."
The overwhelming bid had stunned them.
And they were lost in thought, unable to make a decision in the midst of the chaos.
But...
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
Time was ticking away.
"Any... higher bids...?"
The auctioneer, who usually hammered the gavel without hesitation, was stalling for time.
And...
"..."
"..."
He saw the participants hesitating, unable to make a decision.
So he announced the end of the bidding.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of the gavel echoed through the hall.
I smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
Yeah, instant buy is the best part of an auction.
______________________
After the chaotic auction ended, we went to the item delivery room and paid for the Vol-Herchan essence.
"870 million stones... confirmed."
The employee who delivered the item seemed to be a high-ranking official in the exchange. He looked at us with a mixture of disapproval and curiosity.
But he maintained his professionalism.
"Have a nice day."
He didn't ask for our identities or engage in any unnecessary conversation.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go."
We left the delivery room, feeling the gazes of the other participants on us. They were all curious about what we had bought.
But they couldn't tell which item we had purchased, so no one dared to approach us.
"Any tails?"
"None. They were probably just curious."
"Really?"
"Where to?"
Where else?
"The church."
We left the exchange in a carriage and headed straight for the Leathlas Church. It was almost evening, the time when they usually stopped accepting visitors, but we made it just in time.
"You're here to remove an essence?"
"Here's the donation."
"Please wait outside."
I paid the priest and removed the essence.
I had decided to remove the Corpse Golem essence.
'I've never removed an essence at a church before.'
I had heard about it from others, but it was a strange experience.
'Look at the production value. In the game, it was just a few clicks on the keyboard.'
I was enveloped in a white light and arrived in a pure white space.
I was naked, and a blue dagger was in my hand.
And...
Giant monsters were all around me.
They were all locked in cages.
Ogre, Orc Hero, Stormgush, Manticore, Bion.
And my target for today, the Corpse Golem.
I observed them for a moment and then used the dagger to cut the thread of light connecting the Corpse Golem to me.
And...
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
I opened my eyes, and I was back in the church.
"It feels strange..."
"It's natural to feel that way. You've just severed a connection that was engraved in your soul. It's a common experience for first-timers. You'll get used to the empty slot in a few days."
It was a very Leathlas Church-like statement, but I couldn't help but agree.
It wasn't just the emptiness from losing stats.
It felt like a part of me was missing.
"Are you okay?"
"Ah, it's nothing serious. I'll be fine after some grilled meat."
We left the church and returned to the inn.
And I took out the test tube.
"Amelia, are you ready?"
"...?"
Amelia looked at me with a confused expression.
"I just meant, don't be surprised if the Fragment of Records reacts when you absorb this."
"Ah..."
I had already met the GM, and I had deposited the hammer in the vault.
Amelia had even taken care of her sister's finances, making sure she wouldn't be audited in the future.
So if my guess was correct...
'This is the last piece of the puzzle.'
I took out the Fragment of Records and absorbed the essence.
'Ah... this is why I farm essences.'
The feeling of fullness was overwhelming, even though I missed the Corpse Golem essence.
The light from the test tube flowed into my body, and I felt a surge of power.
Of course, it wasn't as intense as when I absorbed the Ogre essence.
Raw Strength wasn't a common stat for 2nd-grade essences and above.
'Well, the skill is what matters anyway.'
I opened my eyes, savoring the feeling.
And I looked at the Fragment of Records, which was still silent.
"...Could it be that this wasn't it either?"
What else did I have to do?
Was I going to be stuck here for years?
I was starting to feel anxious when...
"Well, it's about time..."
Amelia muttered, as if sighing.
"Huh?"
I looked at her, and she smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry, we'll be going back tomorrow."
Her eyes seemed a bit sad.
------------------------------------------
Chapter 336: To the Future (6)
"Tomorrow? What do you mean?"
Amelia averted her gaze at my question.
"I had a hunch from the beginning."
"From the beginning...?"
I was momentarily stunned.
'Was that why she had that strange expression every time we talked about returning?'
I realized that the strange feeling I had during our previous conversations wasn't just my imagination, but I still didn't understand.
"If you had a hunch, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
I stared at her intently, and Amelia glanced at me before quickly looking away again.
I had no choice but to ask directly.
"Do you... not want to go back?"
"That's..."
Amelia trailed off and shook her head.
"Absolutely not. I just thought it might be nice to stay here a little longer..."
"What? Why?"
I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion, but after thinking about it from Amelia's perspective, I understood.
"That, that's—"
"Ah, I get it. Okay."
"You get it...?"
"You're worried about leaving your sister behind, aren't you?"
If we left, Laura would be alone in this world for the next 20 years.
It was natural for Amelia to want to help her live a better life, and she probably wanted to at least see how Laura would turn out before leaving.
"You could have just told me. I didn't know I was that untrustworthy."
"Ah..."
"We're companions, aren't we? Just tell me."
"...Okay, I'll tell you next time."
"Good."
I quickly cleared up the misunderstanding and moved on to the next topic.
The most important part of this conversation.
"So what was your hunch? Why are you so sure we can go back tomorrow?"
"Ah, about that."
Amelia finally focused and explained her reasoning, and I listened intently, asking a few questions along the way.
I nodded as she finished.
'Hmm, that makes sense.'
It was a plausible explanation.
No, to be honest, I had a feeling as soon as I heard it.
This was it.
The last role I had to fulfill.
______________________
The next morning,
We checked out of the inn early and went to a nearby restaurant.
Amelia said there was a place she wanted to go.
Well, I wanted to get this over with and go back as soon as possible, but...
"It's a restaurant that closes down in 20 years... Ah, of course, if it's too much trouble, we can just go straight to our destination."
How could I refuse after she said that?
'Besides, I'll be busy once we get back. She's been working hard all this time, running around every day.'
Amelia even seemed embarrassed to ask for such a simple favor. It was probably awkward for her to express such an ordinary desire.
It was a positive change.
It meant we had built a strong enough bond for her to feel comfortable asking for favors.
"If there's anything else you want to do, just tell me."
"Then... can we stop by the Arangje Art Museum in the 9th District?"
"...The art museum?"
"There's a painting I want to see. I wanted to see it again, but it wasn't there when I went back. It was sold to some rich noble."
We went to the museum after our meal. Amelia stood in front of the painting she wanted to see for over 30 minutes, lost in thought.
And then...
"...Can we look around a bit more?"
"Of course."
We walked around the museum, looking at the other paintings and sculptures.
I was a bit surprised.
'I didn't know she had this kind of hobby.'
I could tell from her eyes that she was genuinely enjoying herself.
Well, that's one thing, and this is another.
"Amelia, I know sightseeing is fun, but I'm hungry..."
It was already past noon, so we had lunch at a nearby restaurant.
And then...
"Yandel, can we stop by one more place?"
We got back in the carriage and headed towards Amelia's request.
It was the Leathlas Church orphanage.
The place where young Dwarkey had lived.
'This place is strangely connected to us.'
We didn't go inside, but sat on a bench across from the building and watched Laura through the window.
She had recovered from her injuries and was now working at a desk, sorting through documents.
It seemed like she had gotten a job at the orphanage through the priest's recommendation.
"I thought she would just be helping out with chores, but she's already reading and doing paperwork? It seems like she learned quickly."
I wondered if her memories hadn't been completely erased, so I asked Amelia, but she just shook her head with a bitter smile.
"That's impossible."
"How can you be so sure?"
"My sister... couldn't read."
"...What?"
Then she learned how to read and do paperwork in just a few weeks from the priest?
I was dumbfounded, but it wasn't completely unbelievable.
There are people like that in the world.
"...A genius, huh."
"I didn't expect her to be this talented. I knew she had a good memory, but..."
"What about the priest? Didn't she find it strange that Laura could learn so quickly?"
"She just thinks it's a sign that her memories are returning. My sister also thinks the same."
Maybe their true talent wasn't killing people.
Maybe they were just forced into that life by their circumstances.
If they had been born into a normal family, how would Amelia have turned out? She seemed to enjoy art, maybe she would have become a famous painter—
"What's with that look?"
Ah, was I staring too intently?
"...It's nothing. Anyway, how long are we going to stay here? It seems like your sister is getting off work."
"We should... go now."
We got up from the bench as Laura finished her work and put on her coat.
And then...
We entered the sewers through a hidden passage.
It was the only way to get to Noark.
"I didn't expect to be back here. I hope nothing happens."
"It will be fine. There's another way to get in, even if this passage is blocked."
We had to go through a broker to enter Noark legally last time because we needed Noark IDs, but this time, we could just sneak in through a secret passage Amelia knew.
It was connected to the Lord's Castle.
"By the way, what's going to happen to Noark?"
We talked about Noark as we walked.
I was curious about what had happened after the incident involving the royal family, Orculus, and us.
"Noark? They're probably busy picking a new Lord."
"Picking a new Lord?"
I knew they would eventually find a way to stabilize the city, but I was curious about the process.
"How can they even think about picking a new Lord after losing to Orculus?"
"Because Orculus needs the city too."
I thought they would just take over the city, but there was a reason why they couldn't.
"The portals to the labyrinth won't open in Noark unless someone from the Lord's bloodline is present."
So the new Lord immediately killed all his blood relatives after his father's death.
He was worried that Orculus would use his weak siblings as puppets to control the city.
'He's a ruthless one. To make that decision so quickly.'
The new Lord then negotiated a truce with Orculus, giving them some concessions, and gradually stabilized the city.
That was what would happen in Noark over the next 20 years.
"We're here."
We exited the sewers through a hidden passage in the Lord's Castle and then walked through the city, still smelling of smoke, until we reached a small mansion.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
It was Amelia's house.
______________________
Knock, knock.
There was no need to knock.
Amelia knew her past self didn't lock the door.
She had given up on everything.
Creak.
Amelia opened the door and entered the house. It was sparsely furnished with basic furniture, but it felt familiar.
The house the alchemist had given them was always like this.
Even when they left for good after becoming adults.
"..."
A girl, huddled in a corner, looked up as Amelia entered.
"Emily...?"
A glimmer of hope appeared in her dull eyes.
Amelia couldn't read minds, but she knew what her past self was thinking.
"Do, do you..."
A desperate hope.
That her sister was still alive.
"Your sister is dead."
"Ah..."
Amelia's blunt words made the girl lower her head.
The glimmer of hope in her eyes had vanished.
But Amelia pulled her to her feet.
And she spoke.
"You'll be going back to the labyrinth soon. And you'll live a life like before, meeting and killing people."
"...So what?"
Her harsh words seemed to have an effect, as the girl, who had been like a lifeless doll, looked up at her.
Amelia then held out her hand.
"Promise me. That you won't kill any barbarians."
"...Why should I?"
Amelia answered without hesitation.
"Because someday, you'll realize that keeping this promise was the luckiest thing you ever did."
The girl remained silent.
Amelia could tell what she was thinking.
She didn't understand why Amelia was saying this, but...
She didn't think Amelia was lying.
No, she even felt like Amelia was genuinely trying to help her.
Like her sister, who was no longer here...
Amelia intertwined her fingers with the girl's and squeezed her hand three times.
It was a gesture they used when making promises.
"How... how did you know that?"
Amelia didn't answer.
She just let go of the girl's hand and turned to leave.
Step, step.
As Amelia reached the door, the girl spoke in a tired voice.
"What if..."
"..."
"What if I have to kill a barbarian to protect myself? Even then, should I keep this promise?"
It was a question her past self would ask.
Her sister had always taught them to never make promises they couldn't keep.
But Amelia answered confidently.
"You can do whatever you want then."
Because it would never happen.
Amelia opened the door and stepped outside.
And...
"Ah, one last thing."
"..."
"Lock the door when you're alone."
Amelia closed the door quietly and turned around.
She saw the barbarian waiting for her in the distance.
"Are you done?"
"Yes."
The promise would be kept.
Even though her past self didn't understand why, and even though she couldn't save her sister.
She had received their help.
Her sister had always taught them to repay their debts.
"Amelia, there's a blonde kid staring at me from over there... Shouldn't we do something about him?"
Amelia followed the barbarian's gaze and saw a familiar boy.
"Ah, I recognize him. Is that the Guardweaver Drowus kid?"
"Yes, that's him. He has another name, but..."
Amelia felt a strange sense of detachment as she looked at the boy.
He would eventually tell her about the Fragment of Records. And then he would betray her and run away, leaving her with a scar on her ear.
That's why she had made a pact with the Lord to never kill anyone in Noark. Well, it didn't work in this time period because there was a time limit on the pact, but...
'I don't feel anything.'
She didn't feel any anger towards him.
It was as if all the resentment and hatred she had been carrying had vanished.
"Shouldn't we do something about him?"
The barbarian's worried question made her realize why she felt so calm.
"No, it's fine. Leave him alone."
"Leave him alone?"
It was all just a process.
The pain she had experienced because of him...
It was all just a stepping stone to meeting this man.
"...What? Why are you smiling?"
"I didn't smile."
"You did."
"..."
Amelia ignored the barbarian's persistent questions and walked ahead.
The barbarian quickly caught up.
"Hey, why isn't this thing working?"
"It will work soon."
"But what if it doesn't?"
"Then we'll just have to live here. I don't mind."
"Uh... that's a bit... No, I don't mean I don't like you..."
The barbarian trailed off awkwardly.
Amelia couldn't help but smile again.
It was a genuine smile, not the awkward one she had practiced in front of the mirror.
She stopped walking and turned around, and the barbarian bumped into her.
And at that moment...
Flash!
The world was engulfed in a white light.
______________________
'Iron Mask...?'
The blonde boy had found them by chance. He was wandering around the city, looking for someone to rob, when he saw them.
He wasn't wearing his signature iron helmet...
But there was no one else in the city with such a massive physique.
No one, except for a barbarian.
'And the red-haired woman next to him...'
It was the infamous Iron Mask and Emily.
The boy hid himself and watched them enter a house.
And a few minutes later, the woman came out and joined the barbarian.
Did they sense his gaze?
"...!"
The boy ducked, feeling like they had made eye contact.
And at that moment...
A brilliant light erupted, illuminating the dark underground city.
Flash!
It was a fleeting flash.
And then...
The street was filled with chaos. Drunkards stumbled to their feet, and people rushed to their windows.
"What, what was that?! That light!"
"...Magic?"
"Did something happen to us?"
Everyone was confused, trying to figure out what had happened.
But the blonde boy hiding in the alley was different.
'Iron Mask is gone...'
They had disappeared.
But he didn't question why.
The boy, who had lived his entire life in Noark, instinctively ran.
And...
'This stone! This stone was glowing!'
He picked up a stone that had fallen on his clothes and put it in his pocket, then quickly disappeared into the alley.
And a few minutes later...
"Over there! The light came from over there!"
"I saw it from my window! The light flashed, and then someone disappeared!"
The guards arrived, alerted by the commotion, and started asking questions. They soon realized who had been standing in the center of the light.
"A barbarian-looking man and a red-haired woman?"
"Iron Mask! It's Iron Mask! The one the Lord has been looking for! Search the area!"
"An ID card! There's an ID card in his clothes!"
"6th-grade explorer, Nibels Enche... Is this Iron Mask's real name? What about the woman?"
"We couldn't find hers!"
"Captain, a kid said he saw someone pick something up from the ground."
"What? Where did he go?!"
The guards rushed into the alley, but they couldn't find the boy.
He had already disappeared.