Meeting the Boy as a Barbarian (3)
“So, you hired a porter?”
Luna, the innkeeper, stared at Mary with a dumbfounded expression as she gulped down her beer.
No, how many days has it been since you became an explorer, and you’re already hiring a porter?
Their wages run about thirty silver coins. It’s too expensive for Barca, who’s only clearing the fourth floor, to drag along.
Luna had been about to tell him to stop right away, but after Mary’s words, she closed her mouth.
“Barca-nim’s exact earnings can’t be said, but he’s making enough to hire a porter.”
“On the fourth floor?”
“Yes, a fourth-floor explorer. It’s been a week since hiring him.”
“...”
Luna wore an incredulous look.
Of course. Luna was also a former explorer, so she knew roughly how much the fourth floor paid.
Yet he was earning enough on the fourth floor to hire a porter?
“... That guy will come back sooner today.”
Luna gulped down her wine.
***
“Hey, this is our party’s spot! Go somewhere else!”
...Damn it.
I don’t know how many times this has happened.
I only came out to explore with El today, but what is this. There are more people than usual today.
I only ran into one other party during the week, but today it felt like there were unexpectedly many people.
People here, people there.
Originally there were more goblins than people, so it was easy to find monsters, but now that seed has dried up.
“Barca-nim, it seems tough today.”
“Damn humans...! This is the barbarian’s hunting ground!”
“This is a dungeon, Barca-nim.”
But why are there so many people?
Is there a hidden piece here? No. Hidden piece locations change every time, but I haven’t seen one below the fifth floor.
Then what is it?
When I was thinking about it after leaving the dungeon, a party passed by.
“Hey, is it true? I heard a barbarian became rich on the fourth floor and brings a porter.”
“Yeah. That barbarian doesn’t enter the dungeon without a porter because he’s making so much money.”
Ah, because of me?
I didn’t think the fourth floor would be so crowded because of me.
The world really is unpredictable.
Scratching my head at the completely unintended event, we arrived at the Exploration Office.
“Today’s cashout is low...”
“Mm.”
Today’s income was fifty silver coins.
Compared to last time when the minimum was ninety silver, it’s forty less.
If it’s like this, giving El twenty silver leaves only thirty.
No choice.
I was making good money, so I stayed on the fourth floor long, but given the situation, I have no choice.
“El.”
“Yes, Barca-nim!”
“I need to prepare for the fifth floor.”
The mention of the fifth floor made El’s face light up.
Of course. This guy kept insisting I go to the fifth floor.
With my skill, what is the fifth floor? I’ll break through to the tenth floor in no time.
Once I surpass the tenth floor, I can find a proper party as a barbarian.
If I can’t, I’ll find one for you, so let’s go. I tried to persuade him, but I ignored him because I was lazy.
Given that, El’s expression brightened when I said I’d go to the fifth floor.
“Finally going...! Good, very good! I don’t doubt Barca-nim’s skill, but since it’s a different floor, should I prepare?”
“That’s right. Recovery potions or antidotes are enough, so maybe bring some auxiliary weapons.”
“Anything else to prepare?”
“Mm...”
Was there anything to prepare for the fifth floor?
It wasn’t that hard when fighting as a party, and with this body, I can do it alone.
Plus, with the Specter’s cheat trait and Monster Predation, I’ve accumulated the traits of monsters up to the fourth floor, so it should be fine.
“No, no need to prepare anything else.”
“Understood. Then, Barca-nim, when is the fifth floor exploration?”
“Two days later.”
“Yes! Then I’ll wait at the Exploration Office in two days!”
“Eh? You’re going too?”
No need for a porter on the fifth floor?
But El shook his head as if it was ridiculous.
“Barca-nim, the fifth floor is dangerous! It would be good to have at least one companion in case of unforeseen circumstances! Barca-nim is alone!”
“Mm..., that’s right?”
Yeah.
In games, it was always a party, but this time alone, so preparing for unforeseen situations isn’t bad.
“Alright, then see you in two days.”
“Yes! Then I’ll go first...”
“Ah, El. Today’s exploration ended early, how about a drink?”
“Ah, haha.... If I drink, my condition gets bad and I suffer for a week! Instead, I’ll drink after finishing the fifth floor exploration!”
“Mm, yeah. Let’s do that. Then see you in two days.”
“Yes! In two days!”
El said that and immediately left the Exploration Office.
Did he need to use the bathroom urgently?
Following El, who left the Exploration Office in a hurry.
“Mm...”
So now, what to prepare is auxiliary weapons.
Not really necessary, but better to prepare just in case.
I headed to the secondhand shop, Second Chance, where I had heard about in the past.
***
Whew.
It was a fun shopping trip.
The owner of Second Chance got excited when he saw me, but said it was fortunate I only bought three throwing handaxes.
No, I’m wearing the leather armor you told me to wear, why the commotion.
But the owner didn’t know my feelings and shoved the money at me, telling me to hurry out.
I thought about staying to bother him more, but since I knew the shop’s reputation was bad and it was one of the few that still served barbarians despite the stigma, I couldn’t afford to lose it, so I hurriedly left and headed back to the inn.
“Yo, you’re back.”
“Eh? It’s Luna and Miss Mary. Why are you drinking?”
When I returned to the inn, Mary and Luna were drinking...!
Miss Mary’s casual clothes...!
When I opened my eyes wide to engrave Miss Mary’s casual clothes, which she wore even after work, into my memory, a white finger flew towards my eye.
“Eh?”
Puk, the finger stuck into my eye with a sound.
“Kyaaak!!!”
In agony from both eyes, I writhed on the floor, and the guy who stabbed my eye shouted loudly.
“Damn it, are you getting excited seeing Miss Mary’s clothes!? Last time you couldn’t hold back at the inn, causing such a ruckus that I had to calm down the other customers! How hard was that!”
“Kyaaak! Kyaaaak!”
“Argh, you damn barbarian! What did you eat to make such a racket!? Shut up!”
This damn mage girl!
Do you think I’ll put up with this...!?
“W-what!? Let’s try this!? Good, you barbarian! How about hunting a barbarian for the first time in a long time!”
Fwoosh, flames blooming on Luna’s hand.
Seeing that, I immediately crouched.
“What are you saying, Luna-nim! This Barca has never thought of harming Luna-nim!”
“Ugh..., hey. Stop it. It’s creepy. Are your parents barbarians? Why did you grow up so creepily?”
Damn girl. Even with honorifics, it’s a mess.
Swallowing Luna’s tyranny inwardly, Mary had the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, as if finding our scene amusing.
I hadn’t seen Mary smile before?
“Ugh, this barbarian. Looking at Mary like that again. This time, I’ll burn your eyeballs?”
“Get lost, you girl.”
“Hah, crazy guy. So, came back early this time? It’s not even evening yet?”
“Today was easy. More people than monsters on the fourth floor, so it’s done.”
“Is that really true?”
Oh, was that surprising?
When I answered that it was because of that, Mary took an unexpected reaction and gulped beer.
“By the way, Miss Mary, the white dress suits you well.”
“... Thank you.”
“Hey, Barca. Don’t hit on Mary. I’ll kill you?”
Argh, why is this girl causing trouble?
Jealous?
“Hah, is this crazy? If someone sees a barbarian hitting on you, how sad would that be, Mary.”
“Ppak-ppak.”
“... Somehow unpleasant. That. Is it a barbarian’s insult?”
Is there no ‘ppak-ppak’ in this world? That’s why medieval times are backward.
Shaking head in disappointment, Mary opened her mouth again.
“Then, Barca-nim, are you stopping dungeon exploration for a while?”
“Ah, no. I’m going to explore the fifth floor in two days.”
“What? Already going to the fifth floor?”
“Is that surprising?”
Luna and Mary both showed surprised faces, then nodded.
“Yeah, on the second day, I explored the fourth floor and saved the priest...”
“If it were other people, they would have scolded, but with Barca-nim, it should be fine.”
“What? Worry more. I want to receive Mary’s worry too.”
“Trouble, trouble, more trouble. Sigh, why is this barbarian so un-barbarian?”
Such barbarians are already dead.
I’m a new-generation barbarian, um.
“Hey, right. Barca. You hired a porter, right??”
How does this girl know?
When I looked at Luna, she gave a slight nod pointing to Mary.
Ah?
“Yeah. It’s been a week.”
“Wow, the world is long. A fourth-floor explorer hiring a porter.”
“Because of that, the fourth floor is overflowing with people.”
“Hmph. That’s your fault. Then, when going to the sixth floor, see you again, that guy?”
“Eh? No. I’m going to the fifth floor too?”
“... Together?”
Mary tilted her head as if something was odd.
Why? Usually porters don’t go to the fifth floor together?
Tilting head like Mary, I also tilted mine, so Luna opened her mouth.
“Why take him to the fifth floor? Don’t you know what’s coming out there?”
“I know. But since I have no party, he said he’d follow me too?”
“Ah, you were alone. So that’s why?”
Even former explorer Luna hadn’t gone alone into a dungeon, so she tilted her head, and Mary was lost in thought.
Seeing that, Mary, noticing my gaze, lifted her head.
“Any words to say?”
“No, I was just looking because Mary is pretty.”
“Th..., thank you.”
“Argh, you damn barbarian. Hey, get lost. I was having a cozy date with Mary? Now it’s time for the guests to come back, so you too.”
“Sigh, jealousy this deep. Next time I’ll throw the same line at you.”
At that, Luna raised her middle finger.
Damn girl, she learned that quickly.
After showing Luna the middle finger, I went to sleep at the inn.
Two days passed like that.
“Shall we go, Barca-nim...!”
“Ooh.”
Barca and El are going to the fifth floor today.