C40, 41, 42
Chapter 40: Guild (5)
"Th, th, that's, what do you mean, mage? Even if you know him, if you defend him like that..."
The investigator stammers in a fluster.
It's not so much that he can't believe it, but rather that he wants to deny the truth.
However, her response is simply harsh.
"Are you saying I'm lying?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant..."
"Then what do you mean? It seems like dealing with explorers with your measly authority has made even mages seem insignificant to you, huh?"
Mages of the Magic Tower are practically quasi-nobles.
Although there are several schools of magic, they're united as one group and fiercely protect their interests.
In any case, the fact that a low-ranking employee like the investigator dared to question her words is a problem in itself.
The branch manager, unable to bear it any longer, cautiously intervenes.
"How about we stop this? As the mage knows, it's only natural for it to sound absurd if you don't know the context."
She nods as if agreeing.
"Indeed, there's no precedent for a vampire being witnessed in a 1st-floor rift."
Unlike when she was dealing with the investigator, a gentle smile graces her lips.
For a very brief moment.
"Thank you for saying that—"
"But the labyrinth, ever since its creation, has been filled with all sorts of unknowns. Yet you say it's absurd? That's not something an Explorer's Guild member, let alone a branch manager, should be saying."
A scathing criticism delivered with a slight delay.
Is this what mages are like?
Even the title of branch manager doesn't seem to hold any weight in her eyes.
"......"
The branch manager, who needlessly stuck his neck out and gained nothing, shuts his mouth tight.
Knock, knock.
It's not a knock asking for permission.
Before anyone can even say it's okay to enter, the door bursts open.
"So you're that barbarian?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Nile Urbans."
Two men enter the room.
A middle-aged man in a neat tuxedo and a young man who seems to be his bodyguard.
"Re, Regional Manager!"
"Father...?"
Julian, who was being held hostage, and the branch manager both gape in surprise.
I also tighten my grip, my relaxed tension returning.
'...So the regional manager has come after all.'
The guild's management structure is simple.
There's a branch manager for each of the hundreds of branches within the city, and there are 13 regional managers who oversee them.
The only rank above them is the 'Guild Master', so the 13 regional managers can be considered the second-in-command of the guild.
They're big shots who are difficult to even see from afar as a 9th-grade explorer.
But even for them, things don't always go their way.
"You've caused quite a commotion, haven't you?"
Feeling the regional manager's displeasure, I smirk.
A commotion...
"Yeah, I guess that's how you see it."
If that guy Hatsu Young hadn't given false testimony...
Even if he had, if the investigator hadn't been greedy and had handled things properly...
No, if the Explorer's Guild had been a fair and just organization that manages its employees well...
Then I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble.
But they didn't.
"It must have been a trivial matter for you."
But not for me.
My life was on the line.
"Is that why you did this crazy thing?"
"Crazy thing?"
I ask in return.
"Is struggling to survive a crazy thing?"
"Phew, there must have been other ways, right? You've escalated things too far."
Other ways my ass.
Until I broke out of the cell and arrived here, the branch manager didn't even know I existed in his branch.
And the same goes for this regional manager, who had the authority to change the guild's internal regulations to allow investigations of 9th-grade explorers based on mere suspicion.
"If you guys had done your jobs properly, this wouldn't have happened."
As I mutter coldly with a hint of sarcasm...
"You! How dare you speak such nonsense in front of the Regional Manager!"
The branch manager interjects.
The investigator and the regional manager's bodyguard also look at me as if I'm some kind of crazy bastard.
Well, I'm probably an oddball to them.
A stubborn fool among fools.
The regional manager sighs and shifts his gaze.
"Mage, what is your name?"
"Arrua Raven."
"I see, Miss Raven. How much would it take for you to sell that crystal ball to me?"
It's an obvious attempt at bribery.
I didn't expect him to be so blatant about it.
My heart skips a beat, but...
"I refuse your offer."
"That's unfortunate."
"You're not thinking of taking it by force, are you?"
"Haha! Of course not. Then the master of your school would never let me get away with it."
The regional manager laughs heartily.
"Why is everyone so tense? I was just joking. With all these people gathered outside waiting for the outcome, how could I possibly do that?"
Joking my ass.
Cold sweat runs down my back.
"......"
This is why I wanted to bring a priest in the first place.
'Memory Projection' spell or whatever, mages can be bribed if it's in their interest.
If I didn't know her at all, and she had been bribed by the regional manager...
'I would have died here, regardless of the crowd gathered outside.'
Anyway, the outcome isn't bad.
She kept her word, and now the regional manager can't just bury this incident with his authority.
In other words, all I have to do now is prove my innocence.
One way or another, the end is near.
"Anyway, let's wrap this up."
I walk towards the closet and wake up Hatsu Young, who was sleeping inside.
"Wha, what the hell, why am I here..."
I hear people gulping around me.
Well, it's understandable.
The moment it's proven that this guy gave false testimony...
Things will get really ugly for them.
_________________________________
"This man is lying."
As Raven speaks...
A heavy silence falls over the room.
"So what are you going to do now? Regional Manager?"
"Bjorn Yandel, was it? You're innocent."
I look at the regional manager's forced smile and answer,
"I can't say I'm grateful."
This time, even the branch manager, who was listening nearby, doesn't dare to add anything to my words.
He just trembles, observing the regional manager's expression.
"Then what do you want us to do?"
"Isn't it obvious? I demand punishment and compensation."
"I see."
The regional manager nods silently, as if doing some calculations in his head, and then speaks.
"First, the investigator who was in charge of you will be dismissed."
"Re, Regional Manager! I, I swear to the heavens, the only thing I did wrong was investigate according to the regulations..."
"Are you trying to blame your incompetence on the guild? We'll thoroughly re-investigate all the judgments you've made. And if there's even a hint of corruption, you'll be punished accordingly."
"Th, that can't be!"
The arrogant investigator turns pale and falls to his knees.
Seeing him so terrified, it seems like he hasn't lived a clean life.
Well, judging by his past behavior, it's not surprising at all.
"Pl, please spare me! Please...!"
'Shouldn't you be begging me instead?'
I feel like he's got the wrong address, but I don't bother saying it out loud. If he were that kind of guy, we wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
The world is like that.
No one regrets when they hit someone.
They only regret it when they have to pay the price.
"Then what about this man?"
The other contributor to this incident.
I ask, looking at Hatsu Young, and the regional manager answers without much hesitation.
"This man gave false testimony to cover up his own crimes, causing serious confusion in the investigation. We'll handle him the same way."
"The same way?"
"We'll investigate him thoroughly and then send him to the execution grounds."
The regional manager's words carry weight.
It's practically a death sentence, even though the trial, let alone the investigation, hasn't even started yet.
"N, no..."
Hatsu Young faints, rolling his eyes, but no one pays attention.
"I'd like you to investigate the clan this guy belongs to as well."
"The Crystal Alliance, if I recall correctly, they've already been causing trouble with various rumors. I'll do as you say."
The regional manager readily agrees to everything I ask for.
He's quite a smart person, I think.
He clearly understands that he has no choice but to give me what I want.
"Then is the punishment enough for now?"
"Well..."
I trail off and stare at one spot, and the branch manager, whose eyes meet mine, quickly averts his gaze.
I chuckle and nod.
"It would be greed to ask for more."
"Thank you for understanding our situation."
There's no need to thank me.
I'm planning to get what I deserve in a different way.
"So, now that the punishment is over, let's talk about compensation for our mistake. Is there anything you want?"
"I'll decide after hearing it."
"First, we'll raise your rank to 7th grade."
"Rank promotion..."
Not bad.
Becoming a 7th-grade explorer means the exchange office will be less crowded, and there are various other benefits.
If I hadn't been a 9th-grade, that investigator bastard wouldn't have been able to act so arrogantly in the first place.
"Re, Regional Manager! Raising a two-month-old explorer to 7th grade just like that!"
The branch manager raises an objection, concerned about potential fairness issues in the future, but the regional manager firmly shakes his head.
"We're apologizing right now. So please don't argue about this."
"...Understood."
The regional manager's attitude is like that of a politician making a sincere apology.
Especially in the sense that it's empty words.
"Wait a minute. This sounds a bit strange."
Just as I'm about to speak up, Raven, who had been silent, intervenes first.
I wonder what she's going to say this time, and I see nervousness on everyone's faces, but...
She doesn't seem to care at all.
"How can a rank promotion be considered compensation? Raising the rank and giving benefits to a capable explorer is just part of the guild's job."
"But as you just heard, this man—"
"He's not experienced? What does that matter?"
"It's unprecedented—"
"Of course it's unprecedented."
She cuts off the regional manager's words several times and continues rapidly.
"There hasn't been an explorer who absorbed the essence of a 5th-grade vampire, and the guardian of a rift at that, and returned in just two months."
"...So what are you trying to say, Miss Raven?"
"Well, I just found it a bit pathetic that you're trying to take credit for something you should be doing anyway."
She then looks at me and grins.
I'm not so clueless that I can't take a hint, so I quickly play along.
"Then I guess I can expect some real compensation."
"...What do you want?"
Well, after all this trouble, I should get something in return.
As I'm wondering what to ask for...
Raven speaks up again as if she's been waiting.
"Money, of course. Is there anything else the Explorer's Guild can offer?"
If I look for them, there might be other things.
Like getting the Bonding spell for free for life, or being able to post personal notices on the guild's bulletin board.
'But in the end, it's all things that can be done with money.'
When I nod as if agreeing, the regional manager sighs and raises the white flag.
"How much do you want?"
It's like I just need to write down the amount on a blank check.
Feeling a sense of trust in her that I haven't felt for a while, I look at her.
It's a sign that I trust the mage's rational judgment.
Fortunately, she seems to understand what I mean, and with a somewhat proud expression, she speaks.
"You almost killed a promising explorer by mistake, so..."
She trails off and then blurts out,
"Shouldn't you at least pay 5 million stones?"
The regional manager nods without a word.
"...Alright, I'll pay."
It's not that surprising.
5 million stones is an amount that far exceeds the maximum I had in mind, but...
'That's only if I were the one asking.'
If it weren't for Raven, I doubt the negotiation would have gone so smoothly.
Is this the power of status?
As I'm inwardly impressed by the power of status and wondering how to repay her for today's help...
Raven speaks up again.
"Ah, my service fee is 1 million stones, separate."
"Service fee? What are you talking about? The support fee is already agreed upon with the Magic Tower—"
"It includes the price of this crystal ball that recorded the joke you made earlier, Regional Manager. Even though you said it was a joke... I think there might be quite a few people who would want this crystal ball."
"...Hahaha, you're quite the joker, miss."
"I'm serious."
When she becomes serious, the regional manager's expression turns from stiff to completely rotten.
However, his contemplation doesn't last long.
"Alright..."
The regional manager nods.
In a way, he just lost 1 million stones because of one slip of the tongue.
'...There's no need to give her a separate service fee.'
Is this what mages are like?
I'm impressed as I watch her take care of her own interests in an instant.
Her voice echoes in my head.
[Thanks to you, I'll be able to earn some pocket money.]
Hearing her voice, I have this thought about another person for the first time in a while.
I should try to stay on good terms with her from now on.
-------------------------------------
Chapter 41: The Mage and the Barbarian (1)
"No! Please, just give me one more chance!"
"What are you all doing? Take those two away and lock them up!"
After removing the pleading investigator and the unconscious explorer from the room...
The compensation process proceeds swiftly.
As soon as I sign the agreement stating that I won't mention this incident, I'm given a total of 6 million stones in cash, including the additional 'service fee'.
Well, that's not all, but...
"These are all your belongings."
"How is it? Mr. Yandel, check it carefully."
The mage says with a strange look as she watches the barbarian rummage through his backpack.
"Maybe you're missing something?"
"...Missing something?"
The barbarian flinches for a moment, then grins as if he understands.
"Now that you mention it, it seems like something is missing?"
"Oh my, are you saying there are missing items?"
"Not items... about 1 million stones in cash have disappeared."
It's a conversation with an obvious acting tone.
The branch manager, listening silently, feels his blood pressure rising, making his vision blurry.
What kind of bastards are these!
"What are you talking about! There's no way an explorer who just came out of the labyrinth would have that much money—"
"So you're saying we're lying?"
The mage's cold voice makes the branch manager flinch reflexively.
"Th, th, of course—"
"Proof?"
"There's no way there would be—"
"Oh my, you're calling us liars without any proof? Mr. Yandel, it seems like we should add this branch manager to the punishment list as well?"
"That's right. To accuse an innocent barbarian and mage of lying, he clearly didn't receive proper family education—"
"Stop it."
The regional manager, unable to bear it any longer, sighs and steps in.
"...We'll compensate you for the missing money as well."
"It's compensation you should be providing anyway, so I won't say any special thanks."
They're practically robbers, just without knives.
It's outrageous and unbelievable, but there's nothing the branch manager can do.
He can only watch the events unfold before him.
"Here's 1 million stones."
"Wow, the rumors are true, the Explorer's Guild really does have a lot of money? It just comes out of your pocket as soon as you ask."
"...I believe I've shown more than enough respect for the Magic Tower. Don't cross the line any further."
"Fine, whatever."
"Then will you hand over the crystal ball now?"
"No, I think it's better to give it to you after we confirm that the punishment has been carried out properly. Of course, I promise not to show it to anyone in the meantime."
"...That promise had better be kept."
"Of course. Don't worry. Anyway, we'll be on our way, so please take care of the people gathered outside."
With that, the barbarian and the mage leave.
And a heavy silence descends upon the room, as if a storm has just passed through.
"......"
"......"
As a result, the guild was robbed of another 1 million stones, and they still haven't even gotten the crystal ball back.
And they still have the task of dealing with the crowd gathered in front of the guild and those involved in this incident.
The regional manager, who had forced a smile in front of the two bastards, is now as cold and stiff as a glacier.
Feeling a bone-chilling sense of dread, the branch manager speaks with difficulty.
"...Re, Regional Manager...? Th, thank you for earlier..."
"Thank you?"
"Th, that... you stood up for me and didn't give in to those bastards' demands."
"Well, you're one of my people, after all."
"Keu-heup! I won't forget today and will work hard for the rest of my life—"
"Even if you're going to be fired, I have to be the one to fire you."
The branch manager, who was about to pledge his loyalty with a grateful face, looks dumbfounded.
"...Yes? Wh, what do you mean...?"
"Now that I see it, you're quite naive too. Did you think you'd get away scot-free after causing this kind of mess?"
"Bu, but I really—"
"Enough, I'll take care of everything from now on. If you want to at least save your life, be careful even when you breathe until things calm down. Whether you get fired or that guy suddenly dies, it has to be an incident completely unrelated to this."
The regional manager turns his back before the branch manager can say anything else and looks at his daughter.
"Daughter, I'll hear about why you came here today later."
"...Yes, father."
"Then let's go."
The office is instantly empty.
The branch manager, left alone, thinks to himself.
"Ha, haha..."
This must all be a dream.
______________________________________
I'm on the 31st floor of a black tower that soars high into the sky.
"So, what do you think of your first visit to the Magic Tower?"
"It seems a bit stuffy without windows."
"Uh... hmm, that's true... But without that condition, it wouldn't have been possible to build such a tall building in the city, right?"
I'm currently in the personal research lab of Arrua Raven, a mage belonging to the Artemion school.
"Here, have a seat."
I sit down after clearing away the pile of documents haphazardly placed on the chair, and she brings me a drink.
In an Erlenmeyer flask.
"Ah, I don't have any cups."
I take a moment to examine the drink she gave me.
And I come to a conclusion.
"...It's water."
"Yes, what about it? Should I add some Basilisk Elixir?"
"No, this is enough."
Of course, I don't drink it.
I know it's really water, but it's too gross to just drink.
This flask probably contained those colorful solutions or monster organ samples until recently.
I get to the point.
"So, why did you bring me here?"
"I have something important to tell you. You promised to do me a favor, remember?"
So it's because of that.
I just agreed without thinking back then because of the urgency, but now that I'm here, I regret it.
She's not going to ask me to be her subject for some kind of human experiment, is she?
"Like I said back then, within my capabilities."
"Alright, that's enough."
"So what is it that you want me to do?"
"I want to conduct exclusive research on the essences you've absorbed. I'm sure it will be helpful for you too. Since it's unprecedented, there might be some unique findings, right?"
Her eyes change as she speaks.
From the calculating look she had when dealing with the regional manager, to the scholarly look she had in the rift.
Well, it's understandable.
There has never been a rift where a vampire appears as the guardian, except for the variant rift we experienced this time.
"But what do you mean by exclusive research?"
"Ah, that? Simply put, it means you'll provide samples only to me. I want to submit it to the academic community as a paper under my name."
Are mages in this world like graduate students?
I don't understand her motivation at all, but...
I've heard that scholars have the strongest desire for recognition.
Oh, wait a minute.
"Don't tell me you asked them to erase the vampire-related records earlier because of this?"
When we were signing the agreement at the guild, she took the initiative and asked them not to record the fact that I had absorbed the vampire's essence.
Of course, I didn't expect it to be a perfect secret, but...
I thought it would be better than doing nothing.
'There's a saying that 70% of one's ability should be hidden.'
Honestly, I even felt grateful for her taking care of such details...
She scratches her cheek awkwardly.
"Uh, hmm, well... it's not that it's not true..."
A double negative, so it means it's true.
Raven then blatantly changes the subject.
"Ahem! Anyway, I don't expect much, just come once a week and help me out for about three hours."
Three hours a week...
"For how long?"
"Hmm, I think about half a year should be enough..."
"Let's make it three months."
"Alright. So you'll do me this favor, right?"
"I will."
As the first agenda is settled, Raven immediately brings up the next one.
"Then let's get back to... finishing the calculations, shall we?"
Calculations?
Is there anything left?
As I look at her with a 'what the hell are you talking about?' expression, she changes the atmosphere.
Just like when she was having a power struggle with the regional manager.
"You survived thanks to me, and you even got 6 million stones for free, didn't you? I don't think it's strange for me to claim my share."
Haha, I see.
Now I understand mages a bit better.
If I'm a simple efficiency freak, these guys are extreme profit seekers.
So I decide to change my mindset.
"Asking for money, that's quite an interesting story."
Just like when I'm about to smash a goblin's head in.
________________________________________
The argument continues.
With their voices even more heated than before.
"That would have been the same even if it were another mage."
"Well, if it were someone else, they probably would have sold the crystal ball to the regional manager as soon as he offered."
"But you already received compensation from the regional manager for that, didn't you? A whopping 1 million stones."
Thanks to me, you earned that much, so if you're going to claim a share, it should be me, I swear to Behella.
"...Then at least give me the 1 million stones you earned from the backpack. You got that purely because of my advice."
Does she think barbarians are pushovers?
"Rejected."
"Alright, I'll help with the research too, so I won't ask for it all. Give me half, 500,000 stones."
"Rejected."
"Phew, then at least 250,000 stones—"
"Rejected without even hearing it."
I don't compromise at all.
Because anyone who tries to weaken my bones is a bastard.
And I don't negotiate with bastards.
I'd rather take from them than give.
"This conversation ends here."
"What? Do you know how much I lost because of you in the rift?"
Finally, I make up my mind.
'I need to put her in her place before she underestimates me any further.'
Honestly, I'm grateful for what she did.
But apart from that, to build a long-term and amicable relationship, I need to show her what kind of person I am.
Someone who just laughs and agrees to everything is not kind, they're just a pushover.
'In the first place, the reason she's being so persistent is probably not because she really needs the money, but to put me in my place.'
"Anyway, let's move on to the next calculation."
"Next calculation?"
She tilts her head as if she has no idea what I'm talking about.
I speak directly, like a barbarian.
"You need to give me 10 million stones."
"Te, ten million stones? Why?"
"Because you fed me the Corpse Golem's essence without my consent."
"Wh, what?"
She shouts as if it's absurd.
"Ha, seriously! I gave you an essence that everyone wants for free, and you're asking for money in return? Does that even make sense?"
It does.
It's not just a baseless claim.
I don't know why everyone lacks imagination, but if you think about it carefully, it's all logical.
"Why do you think it doesn't make sense? You forcefully fed me that essence without my consent to save your own life."
"Can't you think of it as me trying to save you?"
"Well, I don't know about that, but I didn't want it. So pay me 10 million stones. I heard that's how much it costs to remove an essence at the temple—"
"Why would you remove such a precious thing! You crazy barbarian!"
"Because it wasn't the essence I wanted. You caused me significant damage."
Unlike when we were playing the price negotiation game, her face turns red.
It sounds like a complete stretch, but it's also somewhat logical, so she's getting pissed off.
After taking a few deep breaths, she regains her composure.
"...I heard that explorers can't get enough of essences. So this doesn't make sense. I should be the one getting paid!"
"Isn't that just your prejudice as a mage? You can ask other explorers how they would feel if someone fed them an essence they didn't want without their consent."
"Ha! You're saying that because you think I don't know any other explorers? Just wait a moment. I'll confirm it right away."
She grabs the crystal ball on the desk, looking quite agitated. And as if dialing a phone number, she operates it and soon connects.
“Ah, is this Mr. Partslan?”
[Who is this?]
“Hello, I’m Arrua Raven from the Artemion school. I met you with my master last time, remember?”
[Ah! Miss Raven! I remember. But what’s the matter all of a sudden…?]
“There’s something I’d like to ask you. If someone were to feed you an essence you didn’t want without your consent, how would you feel?”
[Hahaha! I don’t know why you’re asking such a strange question, but to answer… I’d be quite angry.]
“…Yes? Angry? Ev, even if it were a 7th-grade essence, a very rare one that can only be obtained from a rift?”
[Even then, it would be the same. An essence I didn’t plan on absorbing would only have negative effects on me. Miss Raven might not know this, but you can’t just absorb any essence and expect to reach the higher floors.]
Her triumphant expression from the moment the call connected fades, and she starts observing me with a pale face after hearing the explorer’s kind response.
“Th, th, then, this is just a hypothetical question… How should I compensate them?”
[If it were me, I would first demand compensation in cash.]
“How much would that be…?”
[About 15 million stones would be appropriate.]
“Th, th, that much?”
[The cost of removing essences increases the more times you do it. I don’t understand why those who serve gods are so obsessed with money, tsk…]
“Ah, ah, I seeee…”
Her hand loses strength, and the communication device falls and rolls away.
I pick it up and place it back in her hand.
“There’s still one question left, isn’t there?”
I whisper in her ear, and the blonde girl with the appearance of a teenager asks in a trembling voice,
“…Wh, what, what if I can’t compensate him with money? What would Mr. Partslan do?”
[Hmm, well? If that happened, and the person in question was right in front of me…]
The man on the other end of the communication device answers cheerfully.
[I’d probably snap his neck and kill him. Hahaha!]
-----------------------------------
Chapter 42: The Mage and the Barbarian (2)
After the communication ended...
...A heavy silence filled her lab for a while.
Of course, she wouldn't have expected this at all.
She initially intended to extort a bit of money, but how could she have known that she would suddenly have to pay 5 million stones in compensation?
'The people in this world all lack imagination.'
Actually, it's not that she had no way to win the argument.
If she had grabbed any random 9th-grade explorer who was struggling to make ends meet and asked the same question, she would have gotten a response like "I'd be grateful."
The logic wouldn't have been refuted like this.
However, the explorer she contacted seemed quite skilled just by looking at him.
'If she's calling him 'master', he can't be an ordinary explorer, right? He must have a personal relationship with someone like that.'
This was the decisive mistake.
So now it's time to reap the fruits of her mistake—
"Kekeke! A barbarian outsmarting a mage with words, that's even more amusing than I've heard!"
The person who opened the door without knocking and entered was an old man with wrinkled skin and white hair.
However, his back wasn't hunched, and he looked quite healthy for his age.
Flustered by the sudden intrusion for a moment, I quickly figure out the old man's identity.
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself. This old man is the master of the lady you just made cry."
"I, I didn't cry!"
Raven's master.
In other words, the master of Artemion, a huge school that occupies five floors of the Magic Tower.
He's a big shot who's probably as influential as the regional manager I met earlier, or even more so in some ways.
"Anyway, I heard your conversation well."
"Yes? You heard it? The soundproofing magic should have been active—"
"Ah, we'll have to reinforce that a bit. There were so many gaps in the spell structure, tsk."
His tone makes him sound like a neighborhood grandpa, but I feel intimidated because of his position.
And there's also the fact that I did something to his disciple, whom he seems to cherish.
"Ha... you completely destroyed my magic circle. Even for you, Master, it must have been difficult to break it without me noticing... Why did you go to such lengths to eavesdrop?"
The old man chuckles.
"Wouldn't I be curious if my youngest disciple brought a man, and a live barbarian at that?"
Something about his words feels strange.
"Live?"
I mutter involuntarily, and the old man bursts into laughter again.
"Keke! Most of them come dead! Or just their hearts are delivered!"
"......?"
"Relax, it was a joke! A joke!"
Ah, I see.
Is this a mage-style joke?
I, being a barbarian who can read the room, laugh heartily instead of getting offended.
"Hahaha! I want to smash your head in!"
This is a barbarian-style joke.
"...Wh, what?"
But why isn't he laughing?
Ah, I didn't do that, did I?
"Hahaha! I was just kidding!"
"......"
The master of the Artemion school, or in short, the old man, frowns as if he's offended by my joke.
I look to the side, and Raven is gaping in disbelief.
"...Mr. Yandel, are you crazy?"
Is that a polite expression, or just a swear word?
I'm confused because she used honorifics.
'I made a mistake just now.'
Seeing her reaction, I guess I did go a bit overboard.
After all, I'm just a shitty barbarian, cracking jokes like that in front of the head of a Magic Tower school.
"Ha... I should have realized it when you were doing that at the guild..."
Still, it's a bit unfair.
It might sound like an excuse, but to joke about dead barbarians in front of a barbarian who almost died this morning?
"I was on edge and ended up being defensive. I apologize if I offended you."
It's a long-winded explanation that I haven't given in a while, but Raven shouts as if it's unbelievable.
"That's not being defensive!"
"The best defense is a good offense."
It's my philosophy that I've held since I was a child.
'So how do I clean up this mess?'
I glance over, and the old man is still standing there blankly, looking dazed.
As the silence continues, I start to genuinely worry about my well-being.
That's when…
"Keuheuheuheu! This guy is quite something!"
The old man suddenly bursts into laughter.
I don't know why, but I laugh along with him, judging by the atmosphere.
"Hahaha!"
"Keuheuheuheu! You're a funny guy!"
I can clearly see the old man forcing himself to laugh magnanimously, but…
If I play my cards right, I might be able to get away with it.
"Don't worry! This old man is different from those petty mages who get offended by every little thing."
Although the corners of his mouth are still twitching, as if he's still angry...
There's no need to point that out.
'I roughly understand his character.'
I also know how to handle him.
"Haha! What barbarian bloodline do you come from? I take back what I said about being an old man! To accept our jokes so readily, I've never seen such a magnanimous mage!"
Although I haven't seen many mages.
Who cares?
"Keke, I do have that side to me. I feel like we can get along!"
"I agree!"
The tense atmosphere disappears for a moment.
Raven looks at us, dumbfounded, as we start laughing and joking.
"Ha... what the hell is going on?"
Well, I don't know either.
And I'm sure that old man also has no idea what he's doing right now.
"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel! Great mage! I would like to know your name!"
"Bjorn Yandel! It feels so refreshing to meet you after dealing with those petty mages! It's a pleasure to meet you. This old man is Deyan Tvehirion!"
For some reason, the old man also introduces himself in a booming voice.
However, the veins bulging in his neck make me worry about his health...
Let's just ignore it.
"Amazing! Your voice is filled with a man's ambition!"
I, Bjorn Yandel.
I'm a barbarian who knows how to socialize.
"So that's what I said to those petty bastards back then—"
"Amazing!"
"Huh? I haven't said anything yet—"
"It will be amazing!"
After a few minutes of this kind of social conversation...
As if coming back to his senses while bragging about himself, the old man slyly returns to the main topic.
"So, what are you going to do about Aru?"
"Aru?"
"Ah, it's a nickname for our youngest disciple."
So it's just Aru from Arrua Raven?
This kind of culture seems to exist everywhere.
"Anyway, about that 5 million stones you mentioned… if this old man—"
"We can't just forget about it."
Social mode is over for now.
The old man clicks his tongue as I cut him off with a serious expression.
"Aish, tsk, who said we wouldn't pay? If you're okay with it, this old man would like to offer something else instead..."
If that's the case, then it's a different story.
"What is it?"
"It's this."
The old man reaches into his robe and pulls out a palm-sized box.
However, I'm more interested in the robe he's wearing than the box.
'Could it be that the robe itself has subspace storage?'
Hmm, he wouldn't give it to me even if I asked, right?
"What are you doing? Open it."
I open the box, suppressing my desire for the robe, and see a ring inside.
"It's called the Frost Spirit Ring."
"Frost Spirit Ring?"
The old man continues to explain the ring at my mumbling, but I don't need to listen closely.
It's an item I'm already familiar with.
"Although it's in the 9000s, even you, as an explorer, should know how valuable Numbered Items are."
Numbered Items.
They can only be obtained from guardians of rifts, and each one has its own unique ability.
Essentially, Numbered Items are the only way to acquire equipment in [Dungeon and Stone] besides 'crafting' and 'discovery'.
Naturally, they're mostly expensive regardless of their number.
However…
"You're quite lucky. If I didn't like you, I would never give you this—"
"It's just an item that no one uses."
No. 9425 Frost Spirit Ring.
The Frost Spirit Ring, which can only be obtained from rifts below the 3rd floor, has one unique ability.
For your information, it's not an ability that helps in combat, but it seals one of the essences the wearer has absorbed.
Of course, the stats still apply, and only the skills are sealed, but...
'In that case, it's cheaper to just remove the essence at the temple.'
Think about it.
Leveling up becomes astronomically difficult as you progress.
But if you wear this ring, the skills of the essence you worked so hard to get become useless.
It's like losing one skill slot entirely.
An explorer who thinks about the future would rather remove the essence at the temple and acquire a new one than wear this ring.
"But it's definitely a useful item for you, isn't it?"
Hmm, that's definitely true.
In the early stages, stats are more important than skill combinations. And besides, the Corpse Golem essence has high stats even if the skills are bad.
'Considering that you can use the skills again whenever you take off the ring, it's not a bad item. Just by itself.'
I finish my calculations in my head.
Actually, I never intended to refuse in the first place.
Because the abilities I just listed are only a small part of this ring's true value.
'I've tested it a few times, and they haven't mentioned it at all, so... they really don't know about that event?'
Mages are the most knowledgeable people in this world.
But seeing how Raven didn't know how to obtain the 'Tears of the Goddess' hidden under the statue in the 'Crimson Fortress', I'm convinced.
They're all just newbies in my eyes.
And in any game, there's no easier target to exploit than newbies.
"Don't worry so much. Honestly, this ring isn't worth 5 million stones. But it's not something you can get even if you want to."
"I see."
I nod as if I agree.
Even in the game, the auction house price was only around 1.5 million stones, but since there were almost no listings, obtaining this ring was rare.
'But to get this precious thing like this?'
In the first place, I didn't expect to receive the full 5 million stones.
This old man probably just took out this ring with the intention of giving me some useless item and sending me on my way.
He's probably laughing at me inwardly, thinking I'm a stupid barbarian.
"Thanks to you, I got something good. I'll use it well."
Hmm, it's the same for me, so we're even?
"Keke, think of it as a gift from this old man."
I look at the old man, who is smiling kindly, and think to myself.
If I play my cards right, there will be many more opportunities to exploit him in the future.
I should try to stay on good terms with him.
_____________________________________
“Mr. Yandel, it’s probably a bit much to do it today, right? You must be tired after going through all that, so how about we meet again in two days to continue our conversation?”
“That’s what I was hoping for.”
After briefly deciding on the time and place, Bjorn leaves the lab.
Raven then observes her master’s expression.
“Master, I’m sorry for causing trouble…”
“It’s fine, it was an item that wouldn’t have sold anyway. That barbarian will probably feel quite annoyed when he finds out how much that ring is worth.”
“…Is that so?”
Fortunately, he doesn’t seem particularly angry because of Bjorn, whom she brought here.
Raven then comfortably asks the question that’s been on her mind since earlier.
“But why did you do that earlier?”
Her master’s behavior today was very unusual.
He hates rude people.
He’s never even called his fellow mages petty.
“Ah, that’s because there was something I wanted to confirm.”
“Confirm what?”
“You don’t need to know.”
She shuts her mouth with a sullen expression.
It’s now clear that there was some intention behind him playing along with Bjorn’s mood…
But with her master acting like this, there’s no way to know what that intention was.
“Anyway, he’s a strange one. So strange that it makes me excited. I hope I’m right…”
“Are you going to keep doing that? If you’re going to tell me, just tell me!”
“I’ll tell you when the time is right. Ah, and when you have time, write down everything that happened with that barbarian in detail and send it to me.”
“You won’t tell me why, will you?”
“I’ll tell you when things become clearer.”
Her master then leaves the lab, smiling as usual.
She feels uneasy looking at the empty spot he left behind.
‘What is Master thinking?’
She even regrets bringing Bjorn here.
She remembers that the fates of those who piqued her master’s interest like this were never good.
‘Uh, but isn’t that the same for Mr. Yandel?’
She thinks of him, a 9th-grade explorer, turning the guild upside down, and feels anxious.
‘Eh, that can’t be, right? The Magic Tower isn’t some small-time shop.’
The guild and the Magic Tower are different.
They’re not the kind of organizations that would be swayed by a single barbarian.
Surely, definitely.