Chapter 100: Rumors (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Rumors (2)
At our regularly scheduled meeting the next day, the whole team gathered at a tavern for the first time in a while. It wasn't the tavern we normally went to, because the dwarf was strongly against it.
"Let's go somewhere else! That place is full of bad luck!"
He must've been uncomfortable after Dwalkie got arrested by the Mozlan out of nowhere at that place. Missha and Rotmiller agreed as well, since adventurers were a superstitious bunch.
Well, it's not like I don't get it.
Because the occupation we were in could be fatal without some luck, this sort of sensitive reaction wasn't strange.
Isn't this a bit much, though?
I sighed. I didn't care about going to a different tavern. It was a bit troublesome, but it was not like that decision impacted our lives, contrary to the bombshell the dwarf had dropped just a moment ago.
"...Why aren't you saying anything?" As I let out a sigh, Hikurod began to fidget, studying my reaction. I guess that showed he at least had some kind of conscience left in him.
"Just wait. I'm thinking."
"O-Okay."
A heavy silence fell over the drinking party. I quietly organized my thoughts. "To summarize, you guys are not going to participate in this month's expedition."
There were ten days left until the labyrinth opened, and at the last meeting before it did—which was usually just a formality to finalize our plans—Hikurod declared that he would not participate in this month's quest, and that he wasn't alone. In a manner that suggested that they had discussed this beforehand, Rotmiller and Dwalkie expressed that they were of the same opinion.
"Ahem! They say if there's smoke, there's a fire."
"Since this is a dire situation, I decided it was right to take a break for about a month and watch how it plays out."
Was this a collective boycott? Three out of the five members of our team said they wouldn't be coming. The reason for this was simple—the rumors that there would soon be a dimensional collapse had spread so much that it must have made them anxious. That was how the human brain worked. Even if you deduced through logical reasoning that something wouldn't happen, it was easy to get swept up by the crowd around you.
"All of my former teammates said they won't be going in this time."
"Wouldn't it be better for you to take a break, too? It's not like you need to be worried about next year's taxes."
"If the collapse really happens, that's the end of it!"
At first, they brought it up apologetically, but now they were even worried for my safety.
Missha carefully asked me what I was thinking. "...Bjorrrn, what are you going to do?"
To be honest, it wouldn't have been difficult to convince them otherwise. I could slip in some of the information I had learned from the Ghost Busters and, with time and some persuasion, these guys would change their minds.
But that's not necessary.
When I thought about it, this wasn't that bad since it had already been three months since my visit to the Bloody Citadel.
It's better this way. I was going to come up with an excuse to enter the labyrinth separately sooner or later.
At the beginning of the game, the rule of thumb was that you should clear the first-floor rift every time it showed up.
"If that's what you guys think, there's nothing I can do. Then Missha and I will head in alone this time."
"Eh? M-Me too?"
"Then did you intend to make me go alone?"
"Uh, no, but..."
What do you mean "no"? She clearly looks like she doesn't want to.
"If you're that worried, then I'll just—"
"Ugh, you barrrbarian! Shouldn't you at least ask me properly? And do it nicely for once!"
Nicely? Hmm... "Would you like to come with me?"
"Tsk, you think I'd make you go alone?"
Well, I didn't know what she wanted from me. "Then, good." But it was decided. This time, I was going into a rift.
***
"Extra! Extra!"
Coincidentally, the day after Hikurod announced his leave of absence, notices were posted all over the city. It was an official document distributed by the royal family stating that the rumors related to the dimensional collapse were, in fact, groundless.
It really turned out just as he said.
There was even mention of the Tarutein School in the official document, which explained that, blinded by the research they wanted to conduct, they intentionally spread rumors. I was a little surprised. I may have spent forty thousand GP for the information, but I didn't expect it to be so spot on.
"Hahaha! Bjorn! Did you see?" Anyway, when evening came, Hikurod came to find me. With a happy look on his face, he withdrew his declaration from yesterday and said that he could now enter the labyrinth.
But, uh-oh. I'd already decided which rift I was going to enter. "What? You want to go together? I've already received a commission, so I can't do that!"
"Hmm? A commission?"
I recited the answer I had prepared just in case, explaining that since Missha and I would obviously not be able to earn much with just the two of us, I took a commission. The job was to escort someone through the labyrinth, so I had to stay by my client's side until we returned to the city.
"Is it... possible to cancel?"
"I've already received advanced payment, but you want me to break the contract?"
"N-No, but..."
It was a perfect answer with no room for negotiation. The dwarf had no choice but to drop his shoulders and go home. What could he say here? In the end, the reason this was happening to begin with was because he'd declared he wouldn't go.
Welp. Seeing him like that makes me feel a bit sorry for him...
Still, even if it wasn't this time, I would have made an excuse to head in alone with Missha eventually. It was not like the five of us could enter a rift together. Aside from enjoying fewer pieces of the pie if we had to split the loot, there were also increased risks.
This is the right decision.
I banished my regrets. Unlike Missha, with whom I'd built a trusting relationship beyond one of simple teammates, it was foolish to reveal the secret to the other three.
Thud.
When the door closed behind Hikurod, Missha came running. "An escorrrt request? When did you get that?"
"Don't worry about it. That's just an excuse."
"Excuse?" Missha cocked her head as if she didn't understand.
"If that's what you guys think, there's nothing I can do. Then Missha and I will head in alone this time."
"Eh? M-Me too?"
"Then did you intend to make me go alone?"
"Uh, no, but..."
What do you mean "no"? She clearly looks like she doesn't want to.
"If you're that worried, then I'll just—"
"Ugh, you barrrbarian! Shouldn't you at least ask me properly? And do it nicely for once!"
Nicely? Hmm... "Would you like to come with me?"
"Tsk, you think I'd make you go alone?"
Well, I didn't know what she wanted from me. "Then, good." But it was decided. This time, I was going into a rift.
***
"Extra! Extra!"
Coincidentally, the day after Hikurod announced his leave of absence, notices were posted all over the city. It was an official document distributed by the royal family stating that the rumors related to the dimensional collapse were, in fact, groundless.
It really turned out just as he said.
There was even mention of the Tarutein School in the official document, which explained that, blinded by the research they wanted to conduct, they intentionally spread rumors. I was a little surprised. I may have spent forty thousand GP for the information, but I didn't expect it to be so spot on.
"Hahaha! Bjorn! Did you see?" Anyway, when evening came, Hikurod came to find me. With a happy look on his face, he withdrew his declaration from yesterday and said that he could now enter the labyrinth.
But, uh-oh. I'd already decided which rift I was going to enter. "What? You want to go together? I've already received a commission, so I can't do that!"
"Hmm? A commission?"
I recited the answer I had prepared just in case, explaining that since Missha and I would obviously not be able to earn much with just the two of us, I took a commission. The job was to escort someone through the labyrinth, so I had to stay by my client's side until we returned to the city.
"Is it... possible to cancel?"
"I've already received advanced payment, but you want me to break the contract?"
"N-No, but..."
It was a perfect answer with no room for negotiation. The dwarf had no choice but to drop his shoulders and go home. What could he say here? In the end, the reason this was happening to begin with was because he'd declared he wouldn't go.
Welp. Seeing him like that makes me feel a bit sorry for him...
Still, even if it wasn't this time, I would have made an excuse to head in alone with Missha eventually. It was not like the five of us could enter a rift together. Aside from enjoying fewer pieces of the pie if we had to split the loot, there were also increased risks.
This is the right decision.
I banished my regrets. Unlike Missha, with whom I'd built a trusting relationship beyond one of simple teammates, it was foolish to reveal the secret to the other three.
Thud.
When the door closed behind Hikurod, Missha came running. "An escorrrt request? When did you get that?"
"Don't worry about it. That's just an excuse."
"Excuse?" Missha cocked her head as if she didn't understand.
I told her honestly that we'd be going into a rift during our next trip into the labyrinth, and that there was a method for opening them that ordinary people were not aware of.
"Did you learn that at the library too?"
"Well, something like that."
"Well... But why did you keep it a secret from Hikurrrod? Wouldn't it be nice if we went together?"
The question sounded too innocent. I smirked. "Missha, have you told anyone about the soul beast contract you made with the Ring of the Frost Spirit?"
"Hmm? I haven't!"
"Really? No one?"
"You told me to keep it a secrrret."
"I did," I said with a nod. "But what do you think would have happened if it had been Hikurod? If I had asked him to do the same thing, do you think he would have kept it a secret?"
Missha thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "...It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Hikurod to tell everyone after some drrrinks."
"What about Dwalkie or Rotmiller?"
"Well... I think Dwalkie would make a mistake even while sober, and Rotmillerrr... I don't know."
Did every person look at things the same way? To my surprise, Missha's prediction coincided almost exactly with what I had been thinking myself, with the exception of Rotmiller.
Actually, that man is the easiest to read.
Rotmiller would have kept it a secret, and would have wondered to himself how I knew information like that and become suspicious.
"Oh! That's why you kept it a secrrret!" Anyway, at this point Missha seemed to understand what I was trying to say. But another question arose. "So what about me? Why are you telling me?"
There were several reasons for that. Missha was surprisingly conscientious and could hold her tongue. At the same time, though, she was inherently bad at lying. That meant I could check whether the secret had spread in real-time just by asking her, like now.
However, a simple explanation would suffice this time too, because I was a barbarian. "You are someone I can trust."
Missha hiccupped.
***
There were eight days until the labyrinth opened. Once again, this time passed quickly as I checked off things I had to do. To briefly recap...
Day one.
As our destination was a rift, there were quite a few things to prepare. First, equipment.
"Buying equipment again?"
"Not buying, enchanting."
I added properties to my mace and Missha's twin swords.
[Lightning energy has filled your weapon. Some of the damage dealt by your weapon will now be converted into lightning damage.]
The total cost was six hundred thousand stones. It was a short-term enchantment that only lasted for thirty days, but since the two of us were attempting to clear a rift, an investment of this size was worth it.
"If you're going to do it anyway, shouldn't you have made it perrrmanent?"
"Then it would have been twenty times more expensive."
I also bought some consumable items that had the lightning attribute such as Thunder Herbs and Lightning Scrolls. Altogether they only cost three hundred thousand stones, but since these products were not in high demand, I had to go around doing some legwork.
I told her honestly that we'd be going into a rift during our next trip into the labyrinth, and that there was a method for opening them that ordinary people were not aware of.
"Did you learn that at the library too?"
"Well, something like that."
"Well... But why did you keep it a secret from Hikurrrod? Wouldn't it be nice if we went together?"
The question sounded too innocent. I smirked. "Missha, have you told anyone about the soul beast contract you made with the Ring of the Frost Spirit?"
"Hmm? I haven't!"
"Really? No one?"
"You told me to keep it a secrrret."
"I did," I said with a nod. "But what do you think would have happened if it had been Hikurod? If I had asked him to do the same thing, do you think he would have kept it a secret?"
Missha thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "...It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Hikurod to tell everyone after some drrrinks."
"What about Dwalkie or Rotmiller?"
"Well... I think Dwalkie would make a mistake even while sober, and Rotmillerrr... I don't know."
Did every person look at things the same way? To my surprise, Missha's prediction coincided almost exactly with what I had been thinking myself, with the exception of Rotmiller.
Actually, that man is the easiest to read.
Rotmiller would have kept it a secret, and would have wondered to himself how I knew information like that and become suspicious.
"Oh! That's why you kept it a secrrret!" Anyway, at this point Missha seemed to understand what I was trying to say. But another question arose. "So what about me? Why are you telling me?"
There were several reasons for that. Missha was surprisingly conscientious and could hold her tongue. At the same time, though, she was inherently bad at lying. That meant I could check whether the secret had spread in real-time just by asking her, like now.
However, a simple explanation would suffice this time too, because I was a barbarian. "You are someone I can trust."
Missha hiccupped.
***
There were eight days until the labyrinth opened. Once again, this time passed quickly as I checked off things I had to do. To briefly recap...
Day one.
As our destination was a rift, there were quite a few things to prepare. First, equipment.
"Buying equipment again?"
"Not buying, enchanting."
I added properties to my mace and Missha's twin swords.
[Lightning energy has filled your weapon. Some of the damage dealt by your weapon will now be converted into lightning damage.]
The total cost was six hundred thousand stones. It was a short-term enchantment that only lasted for thirty days, but since the two of us were attempting to clear a rift, an investment of this size was worth it.
"If you're going to do it anyway, shouldn't you have made it perrrmanent?"
"Then it would have been twenty times more expensive."
I also bought some consumable items that had the lightning attribute such as Thunder Herbs and Lightning Scrolls. Altogether they only cost three hundred thousand stones, but since these products were not in high demand, I had to go around doing some legwork.
"...Are you seriously buying something that expensive? You have an expandable backpack, why do you need that? That's a consumable! Something that disappears after you use it!"
Finally, after much thought, I also bought a bottle of the highest quality potion on the market. The purchase price was 1.03 million stones. However, I wasn't exactly buying it for the rift. It was just something I'd been wanting to have in my possession and was just now purchasing. For an adventurer without a priest, a high-rank potion was the same as an extra life.
"If I'm ever in a situation where I need to use it, I won't think it's a waste of money."
"Hmm, that's trrrue..."
"Since we're both paying for it, it's not that much of a burden."
For reference, the nearly two million stones that I had spent up to this point were all borrowed from the shared account.
"Ugh, then arrre we done spending money now?"
"You are."
Day two.
I headed to the holy land first thing in the morning. The chieftain welcomed me this time too.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! I heard the rumors! I'm so proud! I heard your new nickname is Knight Crusher!"
Unlike the last time, when he just briefly stopped by, the chieftain spent a long time praising me. Apparently, rumors about me had already spread through the holy land and were hot amongst the young warriors. Anyway, this conversation was a waste of time to me, so I gave him a vague answer and headed to the shaman's tent.
"Hehe, Warrior, you are resourceful, earning this much money in just two months."
I paid a whopping four million stones to activate the fourth stage of the Immortality Imprint.
[You have activated Immortality Imprint: Stage 4. Your Willpower and Soul Power have increased. Your Spirit stat has increased by +30. Your Special Ability stat has increased by +10.]
All the money I had earned from getting entangled with the baron was now blown, but it was still worth it. Aside from Willpower, which gave a big bonus to resistances against psychological magic or status abnormalities, there was virtually no way to raise Soul Power, which served as MP in this game, besides leveling up and a few specific essences.
Day three.
After returning to the dorm almost half-dead, I experimented with the change in MP as soon as I woke up. The duration of Giantization had increased by 1.5 times.
"Why are you up so earrrly? Go wash up. Let's eat."
Missha arrived after that so we had a simple breakfast, something that happened every day and had somehow become routine.
"You're going to the librrrary? Can I go with you?" she asked.
"You?"
"What's with that look?! Sometimes I want to read a book too!"
After eating, I headed to the library with Missha.
"Parsytiev."
Why was it that Ragna was casting the basic Book Recognition spell and not the Special Book Recognition spell? Since this was strange, I asked why, but the answer I received was even stranger. Apparently, since it was specially done in secret, she couldn't cast it in front of someone else.
"Well, if that's the case, shouldn't you be a little quieter when you explain that?"
"That is also true. Miss Karlstein, am I right? Please forget what you just heard."
The heck? I didn't want to think about this anymore, so I just took Missha and started reading.
Day four.
I visited the Magic Tower and helped Raven with her research. This was my last day, as I had filled my quota. From now on, I didn't have to come here every week.
"You did well."
"Thanks for noticing."
"Geez... Anyway, don't die."
As our relationship was a business relationship, our goodbyes were brief. However, unlike what I was expecting, Raven did not take my Magic Tower pass.
"You can come if anything happens. Ah, but that doesn't mean you can bother me by coming willy-nilly... You know what I mean, right? Since it seems you get involved in strange situations pretty often, I'm sure I'll be curious what you're up to."
"All right."
I ran into the old man on the way out, but he showed surprisingly little interest in me. It wasn't anger or disappointment, but an absolute indifference. Then I realized that this old man must have suspected me of being an evil spirit from the moment we met. So that was why he had pretended to be friendly back then...
Day five, day six, day seven.
Time marched on as usual. I ate with Missha in the morning, I practiced sparring with her during the day, and in the evening, I went to the library and spent a while reading a book. The days flew by like that.
"Everyone, back away!"
Now, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.
Shaaa!
In Dimension Square, which was full of adventurers, a dazzling brilliance began to burst out from the center of the plaza.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! Thank you for your advice today! I'll head in first!"
"Behelaaah!"
As soon as the city and the labyrinth were connected, a group of nearby barbarians rushed into the portal. To think they even knew how to say thank you. Why were we barbarians so polite?
"Hahaha! They're a very lucky bunch to have a good senior like you."
"I just pointed out the way."
"Don't be embarrassed."
Currently beside me were Hikurod, Rotmiller, and Dwalkie. Apparently, they had decided they didn't want to spend an entire month slacking off.
"Be careful. If anyone is nice to you, always be suspicious," I advised.
"Hahaha! Do I look like those young barbarians to you?"
Similar, actually. Well, I was sure Rotmiller would take care of them. Since they'd only be staying on the second floor this time, things shouldn't get dangerous even for just the three of them.
"Then we should head in soon... Aren't you guys going in?"
"Ah, our client is not here yet."
"I see. Then tomorrow—No, see you later!"
After exchanging brief goodbyes, the three of them entered the labyrinth first. I just stayed where I was and watched people trickle out of the square.
"Bjorrrn, are we not going in?" Missha asked, curious.
"Just wait."
"Hmm? Until when?"
Oh, newbies... Just wait if I tell you to.
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
That was how you multiplied your EXP.
***
[Bjorn Yandel
Level: 4 (new +1)
Physique: 330
Spirit: 154 (+30)
Special Ability: 128 (New +13)
Item Level: 828
General Combat Power: 865 (New +43)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5]
"...Are you seriously buying something that expensive? You have an expandable backpack, why do you need that? That's a consumable! Something that disappears after you use it!"
Finally, after much thought, I also bought a bottle of the highest quality potion on the market. The purchase price was 1.03 million stones. However, I wasn't exactly buying it for the rift. It was just something I'd been wanting to have in my possession and was just now purchasing. For an adventurer without a priest, a high-rank potion was the same as an extra life.
"If I'm ever in a situation where I need to use it, I won't think it's a waste of money."
"Hmm, that's trrrue..."
"Since we're both paying for it, it's not that much of a burden."
For reference, the nearly two million stones that I had spent up to this point were all borrowed from the shared account.
"Ugh, then arrre we done spending money now?"
"You are."
Day two.
I headed to the holy land first thing in the morning. The chieftain welcomed me this time too.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! I heard the rumors! I'm so proud! I heard your new nickname is Knight Crusher!"
Unlike the last time, when he just briefly stopped by, the chieftain spent a long time praising me. Apparently, rumors about me had already spread through the holy land and were hot amongst the young warriors. Anyway, this conversation was a waste of time to me, so I gave him a vague answer and headed to the shaman's tent.
"Hehe, Warrior, you are resourceful, earning this much money in just two months."
I paid a whopping four million stones to activate the fourth stage of the Immortality Imprint.
[You have activated Immortality Imprint: Stage 4. Your Willpower and Soul Power have increased. Your Spirit stat has increased by +30. Your Special Ability stat has increased by +10.]
All the money I had earned from getting entangled with the baron was now blown, but it was still worth it. Aside from Willpower, which gave a big bonus to resistances against psychological magic or status abnormalities, there was virtually no way to raise Soul Power, which served as MP in this game, besides leveling up and a few specific essences.
Day three.
After returning to the dorm almost half-dead, I experimented with the change in MP as soon as I woke up. The duration of Giantization had increased by 1.5 times.
"Why are you up so earrrly? Go wash up. Let's eat."
Missha arrived after that so we had a simple breakfast, something that happened every day and had somehow become routine.
"You're going to the librrrary? Can I go with you?" she asked.
"You?"
"What's with that look?! Sometimes I want to read a book too!"
After eating, I headed to the library with Missha.
"Parsytiev."
Why was it that Ragna was casting the basic Book Recognition spell and not the Special Book Recognition spell? Since this was strange, I asked why, but the answer I received was even stranger. Apparently, since it was specially done in secret, she couldn't cast it in front of someone else.
"Well, if that's the case, shouldn't you be a little quieter when you explain that?"
"That is also true. Miss Karlstein, am I right? Please forget what you just heard."
The heck? I didn't want to think about this anymore, so I just took Missha and started reading.
Day four.
I visited the Magic Tower and helped Raven with her research. This was my last day, as I had filled my quota. From now on, I didn't have to come here every week.
"You did well."
"Thanks for noticing."
"Geez... Anyway, don't die."
As our relationship was a business relationship, our goodbyes were brief. However, unlike what I was expecting, Raven did not take my Magic Tower pass.
"You can come if anything happens. Ah, but that doesn't mean you can bother me by coming willy-nilly... You know what I mean, right? Since it seems you get involved in strange situations pretty often, I'm sure I'll be curious what you're up to."
"All right."
I ran into the old man on the way out, but he showed surprisingly little interest in me. It wasn't anger or disappointment, but an absolute indifference. Then I realized that this old man must have suspected me of being an evil spirit from the moment we met. So that was why he had pretended to be friendly back then...
Day five, day six, day seven.
Time marched on as usual. I ate with Missha in the morning, I practiced sparring with her during the day, and in the evening, I went to the library and spent a while reading a book. The days flew by like that.
"Everyone, back away!"
Now, the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.
Shaaa!
In Dimension Square, which was full of adventurers, a dazzling brilliance began to burst out from the center of the plaza.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel! Thank you for your advice today! I'll head in first!"
"Behelaaah!"
As soon as the city and the labyrinth were connected, a group of nearby barbarians rushed into the portal. To think they even knew how to say thank you. Why were we barbarians so polite?
"Hahaha! They're a very lucky bunch to have a good senior like you."
"I just pointed out the way."
"Don't be embarrassed."
Currently beside me were Hikurod, Rotmiller, and Dwalkie. Apparently, they had decided they didn't want to spend an entire month slacking off.
"Be careful. If anyone is nice to you, always be suspicious," I advised.
"Hahaha! Do I look like those young barbarians to you?"
Similar, actually. Well, I was sure Rotmiller would take care of them. Since they'd only be staying on the second floor this time, things shouldn't get dangerous even for just the three of them.
"Then we should head in soon... Aren't you guys going in?"
"Ah, our client is not here yet."
"I see. Then tomorrow—No, see you later!"
After exchanging brief goodbyes, the three of them entered the labyrinth first. I just stayed where I was and watched people trickle out of the square.
"Bjorrrn, are we not going in?" Missha asked, curious.
"Just wait."
"Hmm? Until when?"
Oh, newbies... Just wait if I tell you to.
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
That was how you multiplied your EXP.
***
[Bjorn Yandel
Level: 4 (new +1)
Physique: 330
Spirit: 154 (+30)
Special Ability: 128 (New +13)
Item Level: 828
General Combat Power: 865 (New +43)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5]