C46, 47, 48
Chapter 46: Line (3)
Tarik Liyen.
Of course, this isn’t his real name, but anyway…
‘First, I should give him something to eat while we talk.’
Since the inn isn’t far, I take him to my room and buy him food from the 1st floor.
For reference, the menu is the 300-stone daily set meal.
It consists of chicken stew, a few pieces of bread, and some grilled vegetables, but even that is enough to make him deeply grateful.
However, there’s one thing that bothers me…
“I’ll ne, never forget this kindness!”
Phew, what the hell is with this awkward barbarian way of speaking?
Still, it’s a relief that he seems to have come to his senses a bit, but if he’s going to do it, he should do it properly.
He lacks confidence, and his voice is too quiet.
Our barbarians express their joy much more forcefully when someone buys them food.
‘…But he eats well. Is it because he’s been starving a lot?’
I smile bitterly to myself as I watch him devour the food.
It’s because of one fact I learned during our short conversation after the meal.
‘I can’t believe he wasn’t a newbie…’
Surprisingly, this man is my senior.
Just by one month.
He was summoned to this world a month before I woke up in Bjorn’s body.
And here’s another surprising fact.
“Co, coming-of-age ceremony? Ah, I was really surprised back then. Who would have thought there was an ev, evil spirit among us?”
‘An evil spirit appeared, huh…’
Coincidentally, this man and I had similar beginnings.
During his coming-of-age ceremony, an evil spirit…
In other words, a player was executed by the chieftain.
And here’s a question that arises at this point.
‘How did he survive?’
During the coming-of-age ceremony, they call out names.
However, when an evil spirit wakes up, they have no information about this body. That’s why I had to count in my head with bated breath every time the chieftain called out a name.
‘…But could it be that even if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been suspected?’
Hmm, maybe.
Or maybe he used a similar strategy to me and avoided suspicion.
I’m curious, so I ask him indirectly, but the answer I get is a bit anticlimactic.
“How many times was I called during the coming-of-age ceremony? I don’t know why you’re asking, but… I think I was the last one!”
I see, so he was the last one.
Then he wouldn’t have needed to know his name.
There would have been no other warriors left.
I can only think that he was lucky, but he doesn’t seem to realize it.
How annoying.
“So what happened after that?”
“What, what happened? Why are you curious?”
Why, you ask?
Because I’m an evil spirit too, of course.
It’s data collection, data collection.
“I might help you if I hear your story and it’s pitiful.”
I intentionally answer as vaguely as possible.
However, in his mind, it seems like it’s already a given that I’ll help him.
“I, I see! Then I’ll tell you!”
He can’t hide his hopeful expression and starts to slowly tell his story.
From the day he woke up in Tarik Liyen’s body to today.
It’s less pitiful and more self-inflicted.
“…You’re saying you couldn’t enter the labyrinth after the coming-of-age ceremony?”
“I, I couldn’t help it! I got lo, lost on the way…”
First of all, he didn’t enter the labyrinth.
He made the excuse of getting lost, but…
‘That’s something I can just ignore.’
The real reason was probably that he thought fighting monsters was crazy.
And leaving the excited group of barbarians would have been very easy.
The problem was what came after.
Left in the city, he survived on stone bread for a week and tried to find a job, but no one would hire a barbarian.
‘It’s practically the biggest disadvantage of being a barbarian.’
Other races can have side jobs.
For example, even if you just go to a tavern, you can see beastmen working as servers, and you can also occasionally find dwarves employed at blacksmiths.
They mine magic stones when the labyrinth opens, and they also work and earn money during the month they spend in the city.
Unlike barbarians, who have no options besides fighting.
“You didn’t know that? It’s something you learn at the sanctuary.”
“Th, that’s… I fo, forgot for a moment! And I, I told you! I couldn’t help it because I got lost…”
That’s why I’m saying it, because I know it’s a lie.
Even though I said it was something you learn at the sanctuary, if you’ve played the game, it’s a setting you should know, right? That’s what I was indirectly asking.
‘But to get an answer like this…’
I’m starting to get suspicious.
Are ‘evil spirits’ really those who have reached the ‘Gate of the Abyss’ on the last floor?
If they’re that skilled, they should know the barbarian settings.
“…Can I continue?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Go on.”
Anyway, back to the main story.
After suffering from hunger for a few days, he sold his starting weapon for 50,000 stones.
Whoever bought it was quite sly.
As far as I know, barbarian starting weapons are worth at least 150,000 stones on average.
‘Well, the really important part is something else.’
With a little money in his pocket, he somehow managed to save it and survive for a month.
And then the next labyrinth entry period.
In other words, the day I woke up in this body and decided to enter the labyrinth.
“Huh! You didn’t even enter the labyrinth on that day? Are you out of your mind?”
“But how can I fight monsters without a weapon!”
No, that’s why you should have just entered.
You’re also a player who reached the ‘Gate of the Abyss’, right?
Can’t you even make that judgment?
“And be, besides, that day, I had a stomach ache from eating something bad!”
‘This is truly speechless.’
My head is getting complicated.
‘I can’t just ask him directly if he’s even played the game…’
Now that I think about it, I’m not even sure if this guy, or any of the evil spirits, are from the same Earth as me.
This is a world where monsters exist and magic is real. The setting that some evil spirits were summoned from other alien dimensions is also possible.
“Anyway, keep talking.”
It doesn’t seem like there’s anything else noteworthy, but I endure and listen to the rest of his story.
He runs out of money, gets kicked out of the inn, and spends his days fighting hunger, cold, and illness.
One day, he finds out about the inn where barbarians gather and thinks he might be able to get help, but for some reason, he’s rejected…
“Come to think of it, you’re quite unique! Everyone else looks at me strangely.”
Honestly, I find him even more strange.
How could he have survived for three months while acting so carelessly?
‘No, should I be praising him for figuring out on his own that he needs to act like a barbarian?’
Each of the choices he made doesn’t make sense to me, but at the same time, I feel a sense of relief.
If I had made different choices back then…
‘I probably wouldn’t have been much different.’
If I had chosen to run away out of fear of fighting on that day…
“…By the way, how much does it cost to stay here per day?”
I would probably be sleeping on the streets instead of in an inn with a window and a private bathtub.
And I wouldn’t even be able to eat stone bread, let alone soup, so I would have to rummage through trash cans…
“Ah, ah! So, what did you think of my story? Wasn’t it pitiful?”
…And I might have had to do things like this, pouring out my misfortune and relying on the pity of others.
I think carefully before answering.
And I make a decision.
“It was definitely a pitiful story.”
“Then will you help me?”
His face brightens up instantly.
“Of, of course, I’ll repay your kindness. You might not believe me, but I know a lot about the labyrinth! If you travel with me, it will be a huge help to you too!”
A huge help?
‘Judging by the way he’s talking, it seems like he has some knowledge about this world…’
I can even sense what kind of future his optimistic delusions are painting in his head.
He’s probably imagining entering the labyrinth with me and becoming a team.
He might be saying those things because he genuinely wants to repay me.
He doesn’t know my true identity.
But to draw a clear line beforehand…
“I will never enter the labyrinth with you.”
That future will never happen.
I’m already struggling to take care of myself, why would I carry dead weight into the labyrinth just because he’s in a similar situation?
Why would I do such a crazy thing?
“But you said you would help me!”
I suppress a bitter laugh as I hear his slightly resentful voice.
“I’ll help you in a different way.”
“A different way?”
“Here, 150,000 stones. Buy a weapon with this and enter the labyrinth.”
I take out three 50,000-stone bills and hand them to him, and his face brightens up again.
“Are you really just giving this to me? Thank you! I’ll definitely repay this kindness!”
I don’t expect him to actually repay me.
With that mindset, it doesn’t seem like he’ll survive for long even if he has this money.
The labyrinth I’ve experienced firsthand is not a place you can easily navigate just because you have some knowledge from the game.
But I gave him 150,000 stones.
I gave him the money even though I knew it wouldn’t benefit me in any way.
“Then please leave now, I’m tired.”
“Ah, ri, right! I’ll come back next—”
“Don’t come back.”
I speak in a low voice so that he can understand clearly.
“Tarik, son of Liyen, whether you lose the money, get lost in the labyrinth, survive, or make a lot of money, even if things go well and you have the means to repay me—”
He flinches as I approach and grab his shoulder.
I can feel his bewilderment through my fingertips, but I continue speaking without stopping.
“It’s the same for any other reason. Once you leave this room, never come looking for me again. And if you understand, answer me. Got it?”
“…Got it.”
I hear his confirmation and practically force him out of the room. And I collapse onto the bed, reflecting on my actions just now.
A chuckle escapes my lips.
‘Well, did I just reminisce about the past?’
Maybe I remembered the time when I desperately needed someone’s help.
But even considering that…
‘Even I think what I did was hypocritical.’
Someone calculating would probably call me foolish after seeing me like this.
Someone emotional would find me sly, asking if that’s all I can do to help.
They’re not wrong.
I don’t have the coldness to distance myself completely from a line, nor the recklessness to cross it.
That’s why I stopped right on the line.
‘This must be what hypocrisy is.’
I close my eyes.
And I think once more.
Even if my actions today were nothing but hypocrisy…
“Tarik, survive for as long as you can.”
This was my best.
Something that yesterday’s me, without any money, could never have chosen.
___________________________________________
The next morning.
I visit the Explorer’s Guild branch again.
Unfortunately, the employee helping me is different, but…
“Five stars…?”
The female employee checks my ID and her expression changes instantly, just like the employee from yesterday, and she treats me kindly.
What the hell is this?
Did the regional manager do something to my ID?
I’m curious, so I ask the employee, but I can’t get a clear answer.
“Stars? Did I say something like that?”
Geez, pretending not to know now…
I don’t pry any further.
Well, it must be some kind of code used only within the guild.
Something they attach to VIPs or troublemakers.
I’m curious which one I am…
‘Either way, it’s beneficial to me.’
Whether I’m a VIP or a top-tier troublemaker…
The end result of receiving kind treatment is the same.
“Here’s a list of teams that meet your requirements. Would you like to take a look, explorer?”
I check today’s notices with the same conditions as yesterday.
The content is almost the same, except for a few new teams added.
‘I wonder if I can find a decent team today?’
As I’m looking through the documents, focusing on the newly added teams, my gaze stops at one point.
I see a familiar name.
[3rd Floor Exploration – Hikurod Murad]
Preferred exploration area: None, to be decided later through discussion.
Average rank: Undecided.
Current members: 1 dwarf melee tank (7th grade)
Recruiting: 4 people (any role, may vary depending on team composition)
*Equal distribution
‘The team leader’s name is Hikurod Murad?’
And his race is dwarf…
It doesn’t seem like a coincidence…
‘Did his original team disband?’
Whatever the reason, it’s not bad.
Although it’s a bit concerning that there are no other members yet, at least the leader is someone I can trust.
I’m also curious about what Numbered Item he absorbed in the ‘Crimson Fortress’.
‘I should at least meet him.’
After filling out the application form, I submit it to the administrator and leave the building, heading straight for the commercial district.
If I’m lucky, the meeting will be arranged tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.
‘Then should I do some shopping before then?’
I’m certain.
It will definitely be the most enjoyable time I’ve had in recent days.
‘Uh… but have there been any enjoyable times?’
I decide not to worry about such trivial matters.
-----------------------------
Chapter 47: Companions (1)
230,000 stones from pure magic stone exchange.
800,000 stones from selling the equipment of the blonde guy’s 4-person party.
5 million stones from the settlement with the guild, plus an additional 1 million extorted.
And 30,000 stones in compensation from the innkeeper.
‘The Golden Mask is worth about 500,000 stones, but… I decided to keep it, so let’s exclude that.’
If we subtract the 300,000 stones distributed to Ainar and the 150,000 stones I ‘threw away’ yesterday, we get my current assets.
‘6.61 million stones…’
It’s practically a huge sum of money that would allow me to avoid entering the labyrinth for the next 3 years, assuming I maintain my current standard of living.
Of course, this calculation is only possible because it’s the early stages with relatively low taxes, but anyway.
‘If I subtract another 70,000 stones for a month’s living expenses, just to be safe… my actual total budget would be around 6.54 million stones.’
I quicken my pace, thinking about the items on the shopping list I prepared the night before.
Well, that doesn’t mean I literally walked to my destination.
“Is this the 10-person carriage heading to the 2nd district?”
“It is.”
I arrive at the public transportation platform, pay the 500-stone fare, and board the 10-person carriage.
The regular fare is 250 stones per person, but…
Barbarians have to pay for two people because of their size.
‘Damn it.’
I feel inexplicably resentful.
Even more so because it’s a reason I can’t refute.
“We’ve arrived.”
As I’m dozing off and drooling in my seat, we arrive at the 2nd district, the northern half of the commercial district Commelby.
It took about 4 hours.
If I could have gone through the 1st district, the Imperial City of Karnon, it would have taken half the time, but…
‘With my current reputation, there’s no way.’
I first grab a quick bite at a nearby restaurant and then follow the city map I bought earlier to my destination.
Finding it is easier than expected.
I can see a magnificent building in the distance without even walking much.
[Alminus Central Exchange]
One of the facilities I used the most when playing the game.
The Central Exchange.
It has the advantage of not having to walk around the city and being able to easily find specific items.
Although there is a usage fee.
“Are you here to register an item for consignment?”
“No, I’m here to search for items.”
I take a number ticket and wait for a while before submitting the document I prepared beforehand to the exchange employee.
“There are a total of 12 items that meet your criteria. Would you like to see the information?”
“Of course.”
For your information, the search fee is 3,000 stones per item.
I pay the fee and wait for a while, and the employee brings me a few sheets of paper.
“After checking the information, please tell the employee over there which items you’d like to see, and they will guide you to where they are stored.”
In the game, you could just click the purchase button, but in reality, it’s like this. With this kind of system, it makes sense that there’s a usage fee.
Because of the labor costs.
‘Anyway, let’s take a look.’
Like the other users who are crowding around, I sit in an empty seat and check the documents.
Since there are only 12 items that meet the criteria, it doesn’t take long to read them all.
“I’d like to see this item here.”
I choose the item with the most reasonable price from the list and head to the storage with the help of an employee.
And after checking it several times for any defects, I purchase it with cash without hesitation.
[Expandable Backpack]
Storage capacity: 8th grade
Type: Standard medium backpack
Enchantments: Automatic organization, individual retrieval, weight reduction (low)
Selling price: 2.5 million stones
Expandable backpack.
It’s a bit different from what you might call subspace storage, but at my current financial level, this is more than enough.
First of all, even with a storage capacity of 8th grade, it’s three times the size of the extra-large backpack I was using…
‘And it even has the 3-piece enchantment set.’
Each one of them is worth it.
‘Weight reduction’ is practically a must-have, even if we generously say that we can exclude ‘automatic organization,’ which stores items in the most optimal way.
Think about it. No matter how much the space increases, it’s meaningless if the weight stays the same.
‘…And the same goes for individual retrieval.’
I bought the expandable backpack for convenience.
But if it didn’t have the ‘individual retrieval’ function, I would have to take out items in the order they were put in, last in, first out.
‘It was inconvenient enough in the game, but in real life, it would be a nightmare.’
Well, it’s a bit disappointing that it’s in the form of a backpack…
But it would be greedy to ask for more.
I’m satisfied with this much, so I put on the backpack I bought and return to where I was.
And I continue searching for other items.
Now I have about 4 million stones left in my budget.
「Character has equipped Expandable Backpack.」
「Inventory space greatly increased.」
I’ve secured enough convenience, so now it’s time to increase my actual combat power.
4 million stones.
It’s enough to buy a full set of steel plate armor and even upgrade my Undying Engraving to the 3rd stage.
Both options are not bad, but…
I choose neither.
Because the situation has changed.
(P) Source of Darkness - Resists death as long as the heart is intact.
I absorbed the vampire’s essence unexpectedly.
Thanks to that, I’m now in a state where I won’t die as long as my heart is intact.
In other words, upgrading the Undying Engraving or getting additional armor pieces like greaves would be inefficient in terms of cost-effectiveness.
After careful consideration, I make my final decision.
‘Let’s upgrade the tier of my equipment instead.’
What they commonly call a higher tier.
In other words, I’ll buy equipment made with 2nd-tier metal instead of 1st-tier steel.
「Character has equipped Laetium Breastplate.」
「Total item level has increased by +270.」
Laetium.
It’s one of the 2nd-tier metals that’s about twice as light and hard as regular steel.
Its characteristics are that it’s white and ridiculously expensive.
‘1.91 million stones for just one breastplate…’
The breastplate I bought through the exchange is the same shape as the steel half plate armor I sold for scrap, but the price is more than five times higher.
‘Well, it’s only natural since 2nd-tier materials are something that 4th-floor explorers use.’
The reason I chose the breastplate as the top priority among the various equipment pieces is simple.
The safer my heart is, the more I can maximize the benefits of the passive skill [Source of Darkness].
Safety comes first, so there’s no room for disagreement here.
However, I hesitate until the very last moment before confirming the purchase of the second equipment piece.
「Character has equipped Laetium Large Battle Shield.」
「Total item level has increased by +315.」
Should I change my weapon, or buy a new shield to replace the one I sold for scrap?
After much deliberation, I buy a shield for 2.1 million stones.
There are several reasons, but to summarize the main points…
‘I don’t need to deal damage anymore.’
Until now, I’ve only entered the labyrinth with a 2-person team, a duo.
But to go further up, I need to play in a team of at least 4 people.
In other words, it’s more efficient to hold a shield and become a human wall, protecting my companions.
‘The vampire essence isn’t for a damage dealer role anyway.’
And besides, unlike weapons, the shield is an equipment piece I’ll continue to use even after obtaining ‘that essence’…
And I feel empty without a shield now.
Well, in return, my pockets are empty, but…
‘Hmm, my equipment is starting to shine now.’
For some reason, looking in the mirror makes me feel richer.
Is this also a change that came with becoming a barbarian?
_____________________________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 3
Physical: 155 / Mental: 90 / Ability: 115
Item Level: 683 (New +585)
Total Combat Index: 527.75 (New +146.25)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire(Guardian) - Rank 5
_____________________________________
After finishing my reasonable shopping spree, it’s already evening.
I have dinner at the same restaurant where I had lunch and then take a carriage back to the 13th district where my inn is located.
And that’s the end of the day.
‘With this much travel time…’
If I really make a lot of money in the future, I should move to the central district or something.
Living in the outskirts is inconvenient in many ways.
Although I moved a bit closer this time, it still takes a long time to get to the Dimensional Plaza.
‘In the end, is everything about money…’
I fall asleep, determined to make money after spending so much today.
And the next morning…
‘I’ve finished everything that needs to be dealt with immediately, so should I go back there?’
I wake up early, like a diligent barbarian, and head to the library.
Korean gamers have a habit of grinding whenever they have free time. Well, this isn’t a game, so it’s the kind of grinding I can do in reality.
I still lack common sense and knowledge about this place.
‘In that sense, when I get a house later, it would be nice to be close to the library.’
Books are food for the soul.
In the first place, the reason I was able to make reasonable purchases at the exchange was because I read books at the library.
‘What was the title of that book?’
I don’t remember the title exactly, but it was a book that listed the average transaction prices of exchange items for the past 10 years.
It was a pain to read because of the sheer number of items, but there was no better textbook for learning about market prices.
As I’m walking and thinking about various things, I soon arrive at my destination.
Nothing has changed since my last visit.
The smell of books permeating the entire building, the countless nerdy guys with glasses who arrived even earlier than me, and the librarian with a sleepy face sitting at the counter.
“It’s been a while.”
When I greet her as I did last time, the librarian looks at me with a strange gaze.
And she mutters softly,
“…How?”
Ah, so she saw it.
“Huhu, Laetium armor and shield. I paid 4 million stones for both. Ah, and this thing on my back is an expandable backpack, but—”
“Parsityev.”
Hmm, she still doesn’t get jokes.
I head inside the library, leaving behind the chronically tired librarian who just cast the spell and started dozing off again.
But is it because I’m wearing good equipment?
I can feel people’s gazes from all around more than usual.
Most of them are looks of awe.
I’m not sure, but I’ll just assume that’s the case because it would be embarrassing if it weren’t.
‘…Was it a bit much to come to the library wearing equipment?’
Maybe.
But come to think of it, so what?
I’m a barbarian.
I decide to ignore it and do my own thing, thinking of keywords and picking out a bunch of books.
[Establishment and Development of the Explorer’s Guild]
[Collection of Marauder Sentences III]
[Legal Terminology Dictionary]
[The Birth of Mozlan]
[……]
[……]
Is it because I almost died after being falsely accused?
I’m becoming more interested in the Explorer’s Guild, royal institutions, and laws.
There’s a famous saying in the gaming world, isn’t there?
If you don’t know, you’ll just get hit.
So I have no choice but to learn.
Grrrumble!
I go outside every 4 hours to eat and continue reading books, and once again, night falls.
I decide to read the books I haven’t finished tomorrow and return to the inn.
There’s a letter waiting for me, which is unusual.
The sender is the Explorer’s Guild.
The content is that Hikurod Murad wants to meet me.
‘I won’t be able to go to the library tomorrow.’
I spend about an hour wiping the shield and breastplate with a dry cloth and then lie down on the bed and fall asleep.
________________________________________
I sleep in since it’s too early to wake up and have nothing to do.
It’s a little past noon.
I take a quick shower and head to the meeting place.
Clang!
It’s a shop that combines an inn, restaurant, and tavern.
As I enter the 1st-floor hall, I see many people having meals and chatting.
I scan the room for a while before spotting the person I’m looking for. Dwarves are so short that they’re hard to see.
I hope these guys just eat standing up from now on.
It’s practically the same thing anyway.
“It’s been a while, Hikurod.”
“Ha! It really is you! I wasn’t sure because you were listed as 7th-grade—”
The dwarf, who was smiling and greeting me, suddenly flinches when he sees me.
“Wait, what the hell is with that equipment?”
Ah, you saw it too, huh?
I answer as if it’s no big deal.
“Ah, this? As you can see from the white glow, it’s Laetium armor and shield. And this thing on my back is an expandable backpack, nothing special, I just bought it recently.”
It really is nothing special.
--------------------------------
Chapter 48: Companions (2)
After a moment of silence...
The dwarf, hesitant about what to say, finally speaks up.
“I, I see…?”
He seems both bewildered and surprised.
“What’s so surprising? You must have one of these too!”
“That’s true, but… was your personality always like this?”
Well, I don’t know what he knows about me.
But I think I’ve bragged enough.
A dwarf with his experience would be able to gauge the level of my equipment just from the information I casually dropped.
‘With this, no matter how short my career is, he won’t try to mess with the loot distribution.’
Of course, the notice clearly stated ‘equal distribution’.
However, I still remember vividly.
When I said I would give up all the loot in the ‘Crimson Fortress’ in exchange for just the Rift Stone, this dwarf’s eyes bulged out as if I were being greedy.
‘In the end, no matter how friendly they seem, explorers are explorers.’
Once you’re underestimated in this kind of situation, there’s no end to it.
Therefore, I sit down across from him without asking if it’s okay.
And I blurt out,
“Hikurod, you’re buying the drinks. You got a Numbered Item thanks to me.”
It’s a subtle way of showing off my abilities and reminding him of his debt.
“What? Hwahahaha! Is that how it works?”
The dwarf laughs loudly but doesn’t deny it.
That’s only natural, since I was the one who contributed the most in the ‘Crimson Fortress’.
“Well, that’s not entirely wrong! It’s a bit early, but I’ll buy you as many drinks as you want. Let’s catch up while we drink!”
“Alright.”
It seems like it will take a while for the food we ordered to come out, so we naturally start drinking the drinks that came out first.
And we begin to talk in earnest.
The dwarf starts the conversation.
“I was really surprised when I found out it was you who submitted the application. What happened? Was there some kind of treasure hidden in that rift? That mage lady must have looked around everywhere.”
As expected, questions come pouring out.
Well, it’s a natural question considering my current appearance.
Honestly, I don’t have enough loyalty to answer, but…
“Well, something like that.”
“What do you mean? Tell me more!”
“Like you said, there was a treasure there. That’s it. Don’t ask any more questions.”
The dwarf clicks his tongue as I draw a clear line.
He seems to have judged that it’s difficult to get an answer even if he asks further.
“I don’t know what kind of treasure you got, but you’re quite lucky.”
Lucky?
In the first place, this guy is the one who benefited the most from the ‘Crimson Fortress’.
I went through hell.
He just did the bare minimum and took the Numbered Item for himself.
‘I’m also curious about what dropped… I can ask him later.’
The food we ordered finally arrives, so we continue our conversation while eating.
First, let’s start with this.
“So, did you find any team members?”
“There weren’t any I particularly liked, so you’re the first one I’m meeting.”
“I see.”
I nod and get straight to the point, like a barbarian.
The real purpose of this meeting.
“So what are you going to do?”
Will Hikurod Murad accept me as a team member?
“Hmm, that’s… honestly, until just now, I came out here to confirm if it was really you. Setting aside finding team members, I wanted to have a conversation with you. Ah, and although I wrote 3rd floor, if we gather good members, I’m also thinking of going up to the 4th floor…”
He talks too much unnecessarily.
Just one sentence saying he didn’t intend to accept me as a team member would have been enough.
“So have you changed your mind now?”
As I ask, staring at him intently, the dwarf strokes his beard and answers.
“Ahem, you could say that. After all, who would look at you now and think you’re a newbie? If it weren’t for the fact that it’s difficult to find other team members if there’s a newbie, I wouldn’t even have hesitated!”
If he’s going to make such a pathetic excuse, I wonder if it wouldn’t have been better to just not say anything like that from the beginning.
But that kind of cunning is also one of the charms of the dwarf race.
“Then the discussion is over?”
“Hahaha! You could say that.”
As I raise my glass, the dwarf follows suit.
“I look forward to working with you again.”
I have a team now.
Although it’s only two people for now…
Well, we can just pretend to discuss it together and choose whoever I want.
___________________________________________
“Hikurod, didn’t you say several people applied?”
“I did, but why?”
“What kind of people were they?”
“That? You don’t need to worry about it. They were just 8th-grade newbies with less than a year of experience.”
What? Is he indirectly making fun of me?
Just as I’m seriously pondering…
“Aha! I see!”
The dwarf suddenly shouts ‘Eureka!’
“Hwahaha! I was being short-sighted! Well, with that level of equipment, it makes sense that you would be promoted to 7th grade!”
Ah, uh, hmm…
It’s a plausible guess…
“…Well, something like that.”
Since things have turned out this way, I decide to keep this fact to myself for now.
After all, the team hasn’t been officially formed yet, and I don’t know what kind of people will join later.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
‘I can just say the regeneration is thanks to the Undying Engraving.’
The most important topic is over, but we continue to drink and chat.
Among other things, I learn why the dwarf left his original team and is forming a new one.
“As you know, I took a break from the team this time, right?”
“You did.”
I heard that he recklessly asked for a vacation from the team because he thought he might be able to enter a rift.
“But when I tried to go back, they said they like the warrior they temporarily hired to fill my spot more!”
The dwarf continues to vent his frustrations about his former teammates in a voice filled with resentment, but I can’t relate at all.
‘Isn’t it a problem in the first place that he left the team for personal reasons?’
The biggest victim is the former team leader.
Even now, he has to enter the labyrinth, but with the dwarf suddenly taking a break, he must have been scrambling.
But if there was a problem with the warrior, it would be different…
They like him more?
‘If I were the leader, I wouldn’t take back such an irresponsible guy. Who knows when he’ll do it again.’
Of course, I keep these thoughts to myself.
“Man, those guys have no loyalty, do they?”
“That’s right. From what I heard, they really don’t seem to understand loyalty!”
In situations like this, I learned that you just have to agree unconditionally.
Let’s just play along and ask what I’m curious about.
“I don’t know how great those guys are, but they’ll definitely regret it when they find out what you got this time!”
“What I got this time?”
“The Numbered Item!”
“Ah! Come to think of it, that’s true! I’ll have to meet them later and tell them how foolish they were!”
Is he already imagining that situation in his head?
The dwarf takes a big gulp of his drink and bursts into laughter.
Alright, this should be natural enough, right?
“So, about that…”
I cautiously bring up the topic.
“What did you get this time?”
“Hmm, haven’t I told you already?”
“No, you haven’t!”
I’ve been curious since we met.
I know all the Numbered Items that can drop, but this time, we cleared an unprecedented variant rift.
There might have been a unique item.
Like the mysterious box that Raven left open in the boss room.
‘Come to think of it, I didn’t ask what was inside.’
I make a mental note to ask her about it next week and wait for his answer. The dwarf grins and places his thick arm on the table.
“These bracers are what I got there.”
Hmm, I can’t tell just by looking at them.
“What’s the name?”
“The guild appraiser said it’s called the ‘Guardian’s Bracers’—”
“Bullshit?”
That dropped?
“…Eh? Do you know about it?”
“Ah, no. I was just surprised by how cool the name is.”
“Hwahahaha! As expected, we have something in common! I thought the same thing!”
No. 3112 Guardian’s Bracers.
It’s a Numbered Item in the 3000s, which would normally only be obtainable from rifts on the 4th floor or higher.
Leaving aside the effects, how much is this worth?
“I checked the market price through the Central Exchange, and it seems to be around 50 million stones.”
Damn it.
Is this a game?
What did this dwarf bastard do to deserve that?
“Hahaha! And that’s the old price, since there are almost no listings, it might be even more expensive! Of course, I have no intention of selling it!”
“…….”
“Uh, why have you been so quiet since earlier?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just… a bit… surprised, that’s all.”
Honestly, I’m so surprised that my stomach, filled with alcohol and meat, is starting to churn unbearably.
“I understand. 50 million stones? I almost fainted when I first heard about it too.”
Is this what they mean by ‘giving a little and getting a lot in return’?
Now that I think about it, the bragging I did earlier was nothing compared to this dwarf bastard.
“Don’t be too envious. If you keep exploring, you’ll eventually get a Numbered Item too. Of course, it won’t be as good as the one I got! Hahaha.”
I subtly lower my hand under the table, avoiding the gaze of the laughing dwarf.
Swoosh-
It’s the hand wearing the No. 9425 Frost Spirit Ring.
________________________________________
Guardian’s Bracers? 50 million stones?
I decide to think positively.
Anyway, even though my stomach is churning and I feel like throwing up, it’s a good thing if your teammate is strong, right?
‘…Let’s focus on building the team.’
After calming my mind, the first thing I do is raise the dwarf’s explorer rank by one level.
To attract good team members, you first need to look like an attractive team.
There’s a huge gap between a 7th-grade team leader and a 6th-grade one that words can’t bridge.
“Hikurod, go to the guild today and raise your explorer rank.”
“…Suddenly?”
“You have a 50-million-stone piece of equipment, don’t you? If you apply for an evaluation, the guild will definitely consider it seriously!”
“But isn’t it too sudden—”
“So you’re saying you don’t want to?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Then let’s go now!”
In case he changes his mind, I accompany him to the guild and watch him submit the application.
For reference, it takes 6 days for the evaluation results to come out, which is a bit later than expected, but fortunately, he succeeds in getting promoted.
That’s when the specs of the applicants noticeably improve.
More than ten applicants come every day.
And as I’m carefully reviewing the specs of the dwarf and the applicants, happily contemplating…
“A, a mage?”
A mage’s application arrives out of the blue.
Of course, he’s not a mage from the Magic Tower, but an 8th-grade mage who used to do administrative work in guilds or public institutions…
But a mage is a mage.
“Hey Bjorn, isn’t there something wrong? A mage applying to a team like this?”
“It’s definitely strange. There were many teams with better conditions than ours.”
“Th, then what should we do?”
There are a few suspicious aspects, but we decide to meet him first and send a message to the guild.
And this morning…
Finally, the time and place for the meeting are set.
“He’s not going to ask for half the loot as his share, is he? I heard mages are all arrogant…”
I don’t understand why he’s so nervous.
He asserted his share without backing down even against Raven, who was from the Magic Tower.
“Why are you so worried? If he makes such a demand, we can just say no and leave.”
“Th, that’s true, right?”
Is it because it’s his first time meeting a mage as a team leader?
I roughly reassure the dwarf, who is shaking his legs nonstop, and we wait. Soon, a man wearing a robe enters the tavern.
And he waves at us.
“Oh, barbarian! Dwarf!”
Damn it, is he a landmine?
How can he piss people off with just that short greeting?
I can already see things going to shit, but just in case, I decide to observe a little more.
“Hahaha! Nice to meet you, are you the mage we’re supposed to meet today?”
“What do you think the probability is of coincidentally encountering a mage at this specific time and place?”
The dwarf looks at me in confusion at the mage’s question.
Ha, why do I feel like sighing?
“…He means he’s the one.”
“Ye, as expected! Hahaha! Anyway, it’s nice to meet you, my name is Hikurod Murad!”
“What a peculiar name. I am Liol Wobu Dwarkey, an 8th-grade mage officially recognized by the Lafdonia royal family.”
“…La, Lafdonia royal family recognized?”
No, why are you surprised again?
“It means he’s a mage who does administrative work in public institutions, not the guild.”
“Ah, I, I see?”
The mage, who keeps speaking in a confusing way, is one thing, but even the dwarf, who keeps falling for it, is starting to annoy me.
“Haha! You’re quite knowledgeable for a barbarian. What’s your name?”
“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel. Sit down first.”
I was going to just observe, but I’m so frustrated that I decide to lead the conversation from now on.
It’s better for everyone’s time.
“Dwarkey, I read your application carefully. But I have a few questions. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“Do you have a labyrinth entry permit?”
“Would I have come here if I didn’t?”
Geez, he could have just said yes.
“One more thing, you can earn enough money just by staying in the city, so why do you want to become an explorer?”
It’s rare for 8th-grade mages to go on expeditions.
The reason is simple.
Their skills are insufficient to operate on the middle floors or higher. And exploring the lower floors doesn’t bring in much money.
The income they get from working in public institutions is much higher.
Considering the difficulty of obtaining an entry permit and the risk involved, it’s not a good deal in many ways.
“Hmm, this is an unexpected question?”
Dwarkey tilts his head for a moment and then continues.
“It’s simple. I want to become a great explorer and bring honor to our Martoan barony.”
He proudly declares his ambition with a confident expression.
The dwarf, who was listening silently, is startled.
“Ba, barony? Don’t tell me you’re a no, noble? No, I mean, are you a noble…?”
Noble.
They’re practically the highest-ranking individuals in Lafdonia, whom ordinary people will never meet in their entire lives.
Dwarkey bursts into laughter, seemingly satisfied with the dwarf’s reaction, and proudly speaks up.
“Huhuhu, my mother’s sister, Aunt Enka’s husband, is the third younger brother of the Baroness Martoan.”
“……!!!”
As soon as he finishes speaking, the dwarf gasps as if about to faint, and Dwarkey pats his shoulder understandingly.
A benevolent smile graces his lips.
Seeing that smile, I think to myself…
“Don’t be too nervous. I have no intention of mistreating anyone with my status.”
Is this guy really crazy?