C313, 314, 315
Chapter 313: Legacy (2)
Misha's body froze as if she had encountered a predator.
Her heart pounded erratically.
Despite her constant thoughts of wanting to die, her body instinctively clung to life. As if reading her mind, Lee Baekho's smile widened.
"You know Bjorn Yandel is a player, right?"
"No, I don't. What are you talking ab—"
Misha immediately denied it, but Lee Baekho didn't even bother listening to the rest of her sentence.
"Oh, so you did know?"
His tone didn't sound like he was simply testing her.
"..."
Misha met his gaze, trying to decipher his intentions.
And...
She flinched.
She unconsciously held her breath.
His eyes were empty, a bottomless abyss that seemed to pierce through her facade and see right through her.
She felt exposed, vulnerable.
As Misha trembled, unable to speak, he finally spoke.
"How did Bjorn Yandel die?"
His voice was flat, devoid of emotion, as if he was simply seeking confirmation.
But Misha sensed an underlying anger.
She couldn't understand why.
Could they have been close? No, that didn't make sense. If they were, why would he be directing his anger at her?
"They say in the city that he died buying time for you to escape..."
The air suddenly grew heavy.
"You didn't kill him, did you?"
An oppressive pressure weighed down on her, making it difficult to breathe.
And the anger in his voice intensified.
"You knew he was an evil spirit, didn't you? So you just backstabbed him and took everything? I heard he even left his inheritance to you. That's a pretty good reason to kill someone, isn't it?"
"That's ridiculous—"
"Ridiculous? You don't even see us as human."
His tone was cynical, mocking.
Misha realized that he had experienced something similar.
That realization felt like a knife twisting in her heart.
It wasn't just because she was afraid of him...
Could Bjorn have felt this way too?
Had he been secretly worried that she would despise him if she knew his true identity?
Had he been drawing a line between them all along?
And...
What were his last thoughts?
The thought of it made her chest tighten.
He must have been scared.
That's why he didn't leave anything in his will.
He always smiled in front of them, but behind that smile, there must have been a deep loneliness.
But...
"Answer me. Did you kill him?"
One thing was certain.
He cared about them more than anyone.
So Misha looked him in the eye and said,
"That's... impossible..."
She knew her words wouldn't reach him, but she had to say it.
"How... could we do that to him...?"
She couldn't.
And she regretted it.
She should have told him sooner. Then he wouldn't have had to worry about them.
"..."
Misha closed her eyes.
She wasn't afraid of this stranger anymore.
She just endured the overwhelming emotions that washed over her.
Then...
"...You have good companions."
Lee Baekho spoke.
"Unlike me."
His voice was no longer that of a tyrant, but one tinged with sadness.
Misha opened her eyes.
The oppressive pressure had vanished.
"You're Misha Kaltstein, right?"
"Y, yes... but...?"
Misha was confused by his sudden change in attitude, and Lee Baekho smiled.
"How would you feel if I told you there's a way to bring Bjorn Yandel back to life?"
His eyes crinkled at the corners, but his smile didn't reach them.
______________________
Two weeks had passed since I joined Pelic Barker's clan.
And...
Crackle.
I was sitting by a crackling campfire.
We were camping in the Rocky Desert on the 2nd floor.
Behind me, four explorers were busy setting up camp.
Ah, it was on my orders.
It would take too long if I let one of the runners handle everything, as they usually did.
"Ugh, why do we have to do this..."
"Shut up, they'll hear you."
They already heard you, idiot.
I chuckled, watching them work. One of them, a muscular but soft man, caught my eye.
He was the one I fought on my first day in the clan, the one who almost got his head split open in the 'contest'.
His explorer rank was 6, based on the surface standards.
He lost to me in 3 seconds, and barely survived thanks to a potion.
What was his name again?
"Dumbo."
"...It's Derbon."
Ah, right.
I had mispronounced his name, but he didn't have to get so worked up about it.
He didn't even know what was important.
His name was probably an alias anyway.
"You still haven't learned your lesson?"
I got up and walked towards him.
He started trembling, remembering the beating he received on our first meeting.
Why act tough if you're going to be this scared?
"Dumbo."
I placed my hand on his shoulder, the weight of my position as the 3rd Team Leader of Barker Clan pressing down on him.
"Do I look like a joke to you?"
I squeezed his shoulder and continued,
"Your name is Dumbo now. It's easier for me to pronounce. Got it?"
"..."
"Answer me."
"...Yes."
Good, you should have just agreed from the beginning.
I patted Dumbo's shoulder, encouraging him after his successful name change, and sent him back to work.
And I returned to the campfire and started eating jerky.
Munch, munch.
After winning three 'contests' on my first day in the clan, I was promoted to 3rd Team Leader with the clan leader's approval.
And in Noark, a world of true men, the team leader's authority is absolute.
Especially in the labyrinth.
'Is this the taste of power?'
I was enjoying my newfound authority, watching them work, when a skinny explorer came over and reported that the camp was ready.
"You can go to sleep now. We'll take care of the watch..."
What was this guy's name again?
'I can't remember.'
Anyway, he was our team's scout.
He wasn't a Guide, and his navigation skills were slightly worse than Rotmiller's. But he had been looting for a long time, so he knew all the good spots.
"I'm not sleepy yet, I'll stay up a bit longer. You're the first watch, right? I'll wake you up if I get sleepy, so you guys go to sleep first."
"Ah, yes..."
I gave them permission to sleep, and the skinny scout relayed the message to his companions before getting into his sleeping bag.
And...
"Can I sit down?"
"Of course."
A red-haired woman sat down across from me.
She was our team's runner, a young girl with a mature aura despite her youthful appearance.
Amelia's older sister.
"What was your name again?"
"Laura Rainwales."
Laura answered formally, her eyes wary of her new team leader.
I felt a strange sense of dissonance.
'They look alike, but their personalities are completely different.'
Their features were similar.
But Laura had a much gentler and friendlier aura.
Even though I knew she had killed a seasoned explorer at the age of twelve to protect her younger sister, and despite her formal tone.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No, I was just thinking you must have been through a lot."
"Ah..."
Laura looked surprised.
She probably didn't expect me to say something like that. I was known for being harsh on my team members.
"Your sister is also a runner, right?"
"Yes, she's working under Team Leader Martis."
"Aren't you worried about her?"
"..."
Laura pursed her lips and glanced at me. She seemed curious about my intentions.
But she must have decided that it wasn't wise to ignore her new team leader's question.
"I'm not worried at all. I believe Team Leader Martis will take good care of my sister."
Laura gave a rehearsed answer.
Ugh, this makes me feel like a spy.
"It's okay, you can be honest. You're sisters, of course you'd be worried."
I pressed her, and Laura finally opened up a bit.
"I'm worried, but I believe Team Leader Martis won't mistreat my sister or send her to dangerous places."
"Why?"
"...Because I'm valuable to him."
I already knew that.
She had absorbed four low-grade essences, if I remember correctly.
But she was still a runner.
A runner, despite being strong enough to be a full-fledged explorer. She received good treatment for a runner, but she was still a slave to the clan, unable to claim her share of the loot.
"You gave up your share in exchange for him looking after your sister."
"It's not like I can keep the money I earn anyway. I was the one who brought her to this clan when our father tried to sell her as a runner."
"Why?"
"At least in this clan... she wouldn't have to go through those things."
"You're a good sister."
Laura didn't answer, and an awkward silence followed.
It wasn't uncomfortable, though.
I just sat there, staring into the fire, lost in thought. And when I started to feel sleepy, I got up.
"I'm going to sleep now."
"Yes."
"You've been on watch for about an hour, switch with the next person in another hour."
"Yes? But my shift is..."
"You'll be too tired to fight tomorrow if you stay up for two shifts. You said you could handle it yourself, didn't you?"
"..."
"So switch with the next person in an hour and go to sleep. If anyone asks, tell them I ordered you to."
I got into my sleeping bag and lay down.
Laura tried to say something, but she sighed and closed her mouth when she heard me snoring.
'Laura Rainwales...'
I kept thinking about her as I drifted off to sleep.
How could I save her?
____________________
The next morning, after our first night in the Rocky Desert, we resumed our journey.
We arrived at the Pilgrim's Path on the 3rd floor on the second day, and we continued towards the clan's gathering point through the Twilight Slope, the Rocky Desert route.
The Thornreed Field.
A hunting ground that encompassed part of the western field of the Witch's Forest, the heart of the 3rd floor.
When we arrived on the fourth day, all the other teams were already there.
"..."
I exchanged a brief glance with Amelia and then headed towards the clan leader.
"Any problems on the way here?"
"None. They're all skilled."
"Haha, they might not be as strong as you, but they're all capable explorers."
Does this guy not know how to filter his words?
I chuckled and sat down on an empty chair next to him.
"Now that everyone's here, we should get moving, but I'll go over the plan one more time since we have some new members."
Clan Leader Pelic Barker smoothly transitioned into his briefing.
There wasn't much to explain.
We were going to loot other explorers, using this reed forest as our base.
"I'll say this beforehand, but if you encounter an opponent that seems too strong, contact the other teams through the scout. We'll come and help you immediately."
He finished his brief briefing and asked if anyone had any questions. I immediately raised my hand.
"Isn't this a bit inefficient?"
"...Inefficient?"
The clan leader looked at me as if I had said something strange.
He probably found it odd that a barbarian was talking about efficiency.
I felt a bit offended.
What other race values efficiency as much as barbarians?
"Speak your mind."
As soon as he gave me permission, I spoke confidently.
"Using runners is a problem. Why do we even do that?"
"I told you before, having an inside man is a huge advantage when ambushing. It also reduces the cost of combat consumables."
"What are you talking about? That's not what I meant."
"...Huh?"
Then what do you mean?
The clan leader frowned at me.
So I explained patiently, like a teacher instructing a slow student.
"That way, we can only kill 'good' explorers who let the runners in. And 'good' explorers are usually poor."
"...What are you trying to say?"
"We should be hunting looters, like us. Then we can take all the equipment they looted from others!"
I explained my plan in detail, and a brief silence followed.
And then laughter erupted.
"Hahahaha!"
"Why are you laughing?"
"Ah, sorry if I offended you. I've been in Noark for over ten years, and I've never heard of such a thing."
"So, what's your answer?"
"It sounds logical, but you're missing the most important part. We're not the Gods of Justice. How are we supposed to distinguish between looters and explorers?"
Haha, I knew he would say that.
I grinned and said,
"Don't worry, I have a plan."
------------------------------------------------
Chapter 314: Legacy (3)
6th-grade Dwarf explorer, Aitomz.
He was an ordinary explorer, just like any other.
He wasn't part of a large clan, and he had joined his current team through the Explorer's Guild's matchmaking service.
Well, the only unusual thing about him was that he had recently become the team leader after the previous leader died...
But that didn't change the fact that he was ordinary.
His team's main hunting ground was the 4th floor.
His teammates were all average in terms of skill, and their personalities and mindsets were no different from any other explorer.
They usually hunted monsters and collected magic stones, but like any other explorer, they wouldn't hesitate to kill if a good opportunity presented itself.
That's why Dwarf Aitomz and his teammates were in a dilemma.
"Wow, you guys are so kind!!"
Their encounter with this barbarian was purely coincidental.
They were passing through the Thornreed Field on their way to the Witch's Forest when they heard him shouting for help.
He said he had gotten separated from his team after sneaking away to drink during a break...
'What an idiot...'
Aitomz was dumbfounded at first, but he didn't think the barbarian was lying.
He was a barbarian, after all!
Anything could happen with those guys, and they weren't known for lying. Even when they did, it was obvious.
'So he really is lost...'
"Dwarf, what are we going to do?"
"We can't just leave him, can we? I think that ring he's wearing is a subspace ring."
"He said he lost his weapon too. Let's do it quickly, his teammates might come looking for him."
Greed flickered in their eyes.
It was understandable.
Subspace rings were valuable, their resale value almost the same as their purchase price. Unlike equipment, they didn't have a limited lifespan and didn't require specific stats to use.
They were worth millions of stones.
'His armor looks good too...'
"What are you guys talking about?! You said you would help me find my teammates!"
"Jackson, keep him distracted. Barbarian! Are you hungry? Have some jerky!"
"Oh! Jerky! But... do you have any alcohol?!"
"Haha, of course. Have a drink with us."
Aitomz sent one of his teammates to distract the barbarian and then exchanged glances with the others.
They all nodded in agreement.
A silent consensus.
"Ugh, I'm so tired after running all day... Can I take a nap while you guys discuss?"
"Haha, go ahead."
The barbarian then lay down on the ground, seemingly exhausted, and soon started snoring.
Snore! Snore!
Aitomz felt a pang of guilt, but he quickly dismissed it.
It was the barbarian's fault.
He was practically begging to be looted, who could resist?
Aitomz signaled to his teammates, and they slowly approached the sleeping barbarian.
And...
'Now!'
They all lunged at him simultaneously, their weapons aimed at his vital points.
But then something unexpected happened.
Clang!
Their weapons were blocked.
The impact felt like they had hit a stone wall, and the sound was different. Instead of the sound of flesh tearing, there was a grating sound of metal scraping against metal.
"...What the..."
They were all stunned, and then...
The barbarian sat up abruptly, not a single drop of blood on him. And he roared, his fist flying towards them.
"You bastards!!!"
As if he had been waiting for this moment.
____________________
"Huh... it actually worked."
Pelic Barker chuckled after the first looting was successfully completed.
He had been skeptical at first, but the results were undeniable.
"Leader, there was nothing in his bag, but his equipment is surprisingly good for his level."
"I'm not surprised. He's done this before, judging by his actions."
That was the irony of this world.
Those who worked hard and hunted monsters were often left behind, while those who preyed on their fellow explorers grew stronger much faster.
Well, sometimes they got ahead of themselves and ended up dead...
"So, what do you think? My method isn't bad, is it?"
I puffed out my chest proudly, and Pelic Barker nodded.
"It's not bad. No, to be honest, it's revolutionary."
He seemed genuinely impressed, and he showered me with praise.
"The fact that we can use someone like you as a runner is unbelievable. Who could possibly defend against a surprise attack from the inside and the outside?"
Indeed, they had all turned their backs on me during the last battle. As soon as the clan members hiding in the reed forest ambushed them, they were all knocked out.
The battle lasted less than 10 seconds.
"Barbarians are truly amazing! Who would have thought they could use a child as a runner without anyone suspecting a thing!"
...Is that a compliment?
I felt a strange sense of dissonance, but I just brushed it off.
I wasn't a real barbarian anyway, and it was a compliment, after all.
'Anyway, I've shown them how effective this method is...'
It was time to move on to the next step.
I had shared this method for one reason.
"So you like it? Then you guys will all use my method now?"
I didn't want to loot innocent explorers, even if I had to work with these guys for a while.
And I couldn't just stand by and watch them do it either.
So I decided to guide them towards hunting looters.
"I wish we could, but..."
Pelic Barker clicked his tongue.
"Unfortunately, there's a fatal flaw in your method."
"What is it?"
"There's only one of you. It's a good method, but it's not very efficient to have everyone move together for this."
Ah, that?
"Don't worry, I've already thought about that. Hey, you two."
I grinned and called over two explorers I had been observing from Team 1 and Team 2. And I had them take off their shirts.
"Why do we have to take off our clothes...?"
Why? I just wanted to check their physiques.
'Okay, they're a bit soft, but their size is good enough.'
Swoosh.
I took a step closer, and the two men instinctively covered their chests with their arms and stepped back.
What, am I going to do something to you?
"Please tell us what you're planning to do..."
"I'll make you warriors."
I said so and took out the items I had prepared.
They realized what I was going to do.
"That's...!"
"No way!!"
It was a brush and a set of paints.
______________________
Surrealist painter Salvador Dali once said,
[I am not strange. I am just not ordinary.]
Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh also said,
[I am uncertain of my life. But the starry nights make me dream.]
Ah, and there's also a famous quote from Pablo Picasso:
[Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.]
Will I ever leave behind such famous words?
I don't know, but I can say this:
"...Stay still! Or you'll die!"
Ugh, why are they squirming so much?
It's messing up the lines.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The more they struggled, the more I focused.
Red, green, blue, black.
Using these four common colors, I diligently painted, the words of the great masters echoing in my mind.
Unlike the 'art' that these criminals couldn't understand,
My canvas was human skin.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The criminals surrounding me muttered incessantly.
"...It looks like scribbles."
"The lines are so crooked..."
Tsk, how barbaric.
They don't even understand modern art.
"Ahem!"
I coughed loudly, and they all shut their mouths.
Ah, much better. I should have done that sooner.
"..."
I continued my work in the quiet atmosphere.
It didn't take long.
It was fun at first, but it got boring after a while.
"Done! You can get up now!"
I finished my work and patted the two men on their backs. They slowly got up.
Geez, don't kill my artistic inspiration.
"Why are you covering the tattoos with your arms?"
I pushed their arms aside, revealing my masterpiece.
I was quite satisfied with the result.
It was a bit rough compared to my own tattoos, but...
"...It's surprisingly subtle."
Even the clan leader, who had been looking at me with a 'This guy is crazy' expression, seemed surprised by the result.
It wasn't that noticeable in the dark labyrinth.
But as the artist, I couldn't help but notice the flaws.
"Why are you looking down? Are you embarrassed?"
Look at their timid expressions and posture.
No one would believe they were barbarians.
So...
"Come here, I'll make you real warriors."
I asked the clan leader for permission and took the two men aside for some 'training'.
It wasn't difficult.
It took about 30 minutes.
"Be, Behella!"
"Louder!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Good. Now, what do you shout when you're running?"
"I'm lost! Help me!!!"
"Snoring!"
"Snore! Snore, snore!!"
"Sit down!"
Thump.
Yes, now you look like barbarians.
______________________
Under the bright moonlight, Erwen Fornachi di Tersia knocked on the door of a house.
Knock, knock.
It took about a minute for the door to open.
Creak.
The fairy man who opened the door froze when he saw Erwen.
Her solemn expression told him why she was there at this hour.
"...You've made your decision."
"Yes."
Her unwavering answer made him sigh.
He understood her feelings.
But...
"The process of obtaining the power of the pureblood is much more gruesome than you can imagine, and it's not something you can achieve just by wanting it."
"I know."
"Please, reconsider. Just one more time."
He couldn't bear to watch her walk this path.
He knew what awaited her.
But Erwen's resolve was unwavering.
"I'm sorry, but I've already made my decision."
"..."
"Please help me. I want to become the pureblood."
Erwen raised her head.
Her amber eyes, usually filled with warmth and light, were now burning with ambition.
He felt a lump in his throat.
He had seen too many people with that look in their eyes meet a tragic end.
But...
"Alright. I'll help you."
He couldn't refuse her request.
He was a hero of the tribe, a powerful figure, but in front of these sisters, he was a sinner.
"Thank you. I'll be going now."
Erwen turned to leave, and he unconsciously stopped her.
"Wait."
"...Is there something else?"
"What if... Yes, what if..."
He wanted to ask what she would do if there was a way to bring him back.
But he couldn't finish his sentence.
"Never mind, I was being silly. It's late, go home. I'll talk to the elders."
"Yes."
Erwen tilted her head, confused, but she soon turned and left. This time, he didn't stop her.
He couldn't.
The one who knew about the 'Stone of Resurrection' was absent from the recent gathering, and...
"..."
He already knew who that stone was meant for.
-------------------------------------------
Chapter 315: Legacy (4)
"Come on, everyone, have a drink! It's on me, so don't hold back! Hahahaha!"
After the labyrinth closed, Amelia and I joined the after-party at the bar owned by the Rainwales sisters' foster father.
"Haha! Iron Mask! Remember what that guy said while his guts were spilling out? S, save me! ...Not funny?"
"Not at all."
"I, I see..."
I glared at Dumbo, who was trying to be friendly, and then got up from my seat.
And I walked over to Pelic Barker.
"Hey, Iron Mask!"
"Barker."
"Haha, just call me Pel!"
"I'm good."
"Have a drink?"
"Sure."
I sat down next to him and took a swig of alcohol. He started chatting incessantly.
Mostly praising me.
The Fashion Barbarian strategy had worked as expected.
No, it had exceeded my expectations.
The 'warriors' I trained and sent to other teams had a higher success rate than me.
Well, it was inevitable.
I always wore a helmet, hiding my face. It was only natural that those who showed their faces were less suspicious.
"It's revolutionary! They trusted them even more easily than when we used kids as runners!"
"So we don't need runners anymore?"
"Hmm, it's too early to say. We don't know how long this method will work."
I subtly suggested getting rid of the runners, but the clan leader had no intention of letting the Rainwales sisters go.
He had a good eye for talent.
"They might not be as strong as you in combat, but the Rainwales sisters are talented. They'll be valuable assets in a few years."
Yeah, he wasn't going to let them go easily.
'Ugh, I can't just kill him here...'
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
Pelic Barker was the biggest obstacle to our plan.
Well, to be precise, it was one of his essences.
4th-grade rare species, Sea Merchant.
A rare 'neutral' monster that appeared in the Great Ocean on the 6th floor with an extremely low probability.
It rarely attacked first, and if you threw a certain amount of magic stones into the sea where it was swimming, it would give you 'Blue Stone', a high-grade crafting material, as a reward.
Of course, you could also kill it, and if you were lucky enough to get an essence drop, you would obtain the active skill [Unfair Contract].
'He only used the contract on the older sister, right?'
That [Unfair Contract] was the problem.
He had used it on Laura, and we had to break the contract to save her.
'Ugh, why did this rare essence have to go to this guy...'
I was annoyed, so I asked him,
"How did you get the Sea Merchant essence? It's a very rare essence."
"Ah, that? Why are you suddenly asking?"
"I've always been curious. We weren't close enough for me to ask before."
"Hahaha! So we're friends now?"
I shrugged, avoiding his question, and he chuckled, interpreting it as he wanted.
"Well, I'll tell you. It was when I was still a young explorer, working with my clan on the surface..."
To summarize his long story:
He stole the essence when it dropped during a clan expedition.
"I was going to sell it at the auction house when things calmed down. I thought I could live comfortably for the rest of my life!"
But his crime was soon exposed.
So he fled to Noark.
He couldn't sell the essence, so he ended up absorbing it himself...
"Bjorn."
Amelia approached me as he was finishing his story.
"Ah, Emily..."
"It's time to go."
"Okay, I'll be going then."
I got up and excused myself, and Pelic Barker gave me a sly smile.
"Hehe, have a good time!"
That smile made me want to crush his head.
____________________
Thud.
Arrua Raven closed the book she had been reading all night.
And she stretched, getting up from her chair.
Her gaze fell on a pile of items in a corner of the lab.
Bjorn Yandel's belongings.
"I should... take care of this..."
Raven sighed deeply.
Time was cruel.
At first, she had searched through countless books, hoping to find a clue to his disappearance. But she found nothing, and as days turned into weeks, she slowly came to terms with reality.
Maybe that was her nature.
Emotions were fleeting.
No matter how angry or sad she felt, she would eventually return to her rational self.
Bjorn Yandel was dead.
So she had to sell his belongings and distribute the money according to his will.
That was her duty now, not spending her nights poring over books.
But the thought of it made her feel a strange sense of guilt.
She had been reading until now because of that guilt.
Bjorn Yandel's death had changed Misha and Erwen's worlds. They would never be the same.
But what about her?
"Ha..."
She had started eating properly again.
She was worried about her health.
She wasn't as passionate about her research anymore.
She didn't think it would change anything.
And she even drank tea, forced herself to smile and chat with her seniors when they approached her.
And Raven knew.
If this continued, she would eventually return to her normal life.
She was like a match, burning brightly but quickly fading.
'I... cared about him...'
She had liked Bjorn.
Not romantically, but she had felt a deep connection with him.
She had learned a lot from him, and he had made her laugh.
He was the first person since 'that woman' to have such a profound impact on her.
But just like then, she was recovering.
And that recovery made her feel guilty.
"...I should at least organize his things. I can sell them later..."
Raven muttered to herself and started sorting through Bjorn's belongings.
She appraised his equipment and labeled them with their market value, and then she started organizing the items in his subspace ring.
That's when she noticed something strange.
"Huh? This is..."
Golden Mask.
An item obtainable from the 'Crimson Fortress', a 1st-floor rift. But the entry in her copy of the Compendium of Rifts was faded due to wear and tear, and the exact method of obtaining it was unknown.
"How did Yandel get this...?"
She had once suspected that Yandel might have a copy of the Compendium of Rifts after seeing him use 'Tears of the Goddess' to defeat the Vampire.
But he had sworn on his honor that it was just a coincidence, and she had dismissed her suspicion.
But what was this?
"...Could he have been lying?"
Maybe he did have a copy of the Compendium of Rifts, or at least had read it.
She remembered her master's suspicion that he might be an evil spirit.
'No, that's ridiculous...'
Raven chuckled and continued organizing his backpack.
That's when...
"What's this?"
She found a strange magic tool.
It seemed to be a combination of 'Whisper' and 'Record', judging by the inscription...
Click.
Raven pressed the button on the bottom.
And a voice came out.
[Why are you so worried? They're just NPCs.]
[But they're still my companions—]
[That's funny. Do you think they would still think that way if they knew your true identity?]
It wasn't Bjorn Yandel's voice.
Then who were these two?
The answer came soon after.
[Your companions thought they were friends with the real Hans. But as you know, the real Hans is no longer in this world.]
[But... I consider them to be my real companions.]
It was the conversation between Hans Krisen, whom she had met in the Doppelganger Forest, and the Dwarf from Noark.
So that was his weakness.
He still had this recording.
She would have to erase it before selling the magic tool.
Swoosh.
Raven channeled mana into the magic tool, analyzing its structure. It was child's play for her, a master of magic engineering.
'Press the button twice, and then hold it down.'
She found the reset method, but she continued analyzing the magic tool.
Its structure was unique, and she wanted to study it further.
She delved deeper, reading the residual mana.
'There's a limit to how many times you can play the recording? Did they use a cheap core?'
Raven's hand twitched.
"Huh?"
The magic tool could only play a recording 100 times before it was automatically reset.
But...
'There are only two plays left?'
The number of plays was strangely low.
It didn't seem like a simple error. Something felt off. She channeled more mana into the magic tool, examining it thoroughly.
And she checked the playback history.
"What the..."
Only two of the plays were from after they left the Doppelganger Forest. In other words, the remaining 98 plays were all from Bjorn Yandel.
"Why did Yandel listen to this conversation so many times...?"
She couldn't understand.
But Raven instinctively knew something was wrong.
At that moment...
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the lab door.
Raven stopped what she was doing and opened the door.
An unexpected visitor stood before her.
"Misha...?"
"Can I... come in...?"
"Yes! Of course! But wait, let me clean up a bit..."
"Don't worry about it."
"Okay... But what brings you here...?"
Raven was flustered by the sudden visit.
"I have something to tell you..."
She had a bad feeling about this.
________________________
"Drinking again?"
"Ah, I have nothing else to do..."
Amelia returned to the inn, hanging her coat on the rack and glancing at me.
Geez, stop judging me.
It's boring to be alone here.
"Did you get the payment?"
Amelia chuckled at my question.
"Do you think I can't even handle that?"
"I didn't mean that, but you never know. They could have cheated us behind our backs..."
"Don't worry, I got our share. Well, it doesn't really matter anyway."
"That's true..."
Money wasn't our goal.
It wasn't completely meaningless, but it wouldn't matter until we saved Laura and found a way to return to our original time.
"So what are we going to do now? We talked about it, but it seems impossible to break the contract and get her out before the incident."
"Nothing changes. We'll keep trying. Until we come up with a better plan."
"I see..."
Two weeks had passed since we returned to Noark.
And we had spent those two weeks discussing our plans.
How to save Laura.
But we couldn't find a solution, despite our efforts.
'Ugh, I feel like I'm getting close...'
The more frustrated I felt, the more I looked forward to midnight on the 15th.
Maybe I could get some ideas from Auril Gabis or the other members.
"It's today, right?"
"Two hours."
Amelia nodded and then went to take a shower. When she came out, we chatted to kill time.
And soon, it was time.
[23:59]
Ten seconds left until midnight.
I closed my eyes and focused on the ticking of the clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
The tenth tick echoed in the silent room.
And...
"...What?"
I opened my eyes.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
The clock continued ticking.
"...Did it already happen?"
Amelia looked at me, confused, but I just stared at the clock.
Tick, tock, tick, tock...
What te hell, why isn't it taking me?