Chapter 194: Bifron (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 194: Bifron (4)
Including today, I had run into her a total of four times: once in the Land of the Dead, once under the sewers, and once by chance at my inn after Noark was sealed off. At this point, we were strictly past the point of coincidence. Therefore, it was time to alter my approach toward this woman.
"...Aren't you going?"
"Nah, I changed my mind."
As the saying goes, knowledge was power. I may have tried to shake off my curiosity up to this point to avoid getting entangled with this woman, but we had already ended up learning each other's names.
"...I'm not a human woman. Amelia Rainwales."
Avoidance was no longer an option.
I need to find out now who the hell this woman really is.
If someone kept hanging around near your house, of course you should find out what kind of person they were. Whether they should be reported to the police or were scary enough that you should abandon your house and bounce... It was only once you had that information that you could respond appropriately.
"Jingkasar Feljain!" After waiting for a while, the door to the rooftop flew open. The person who came in was a bald man wearing a black blindfold. It looked like this guy was the leader of the Eastern group. "You dare enter our territory without a word? I'm sure you came prepared—wait, what happened to your hair...?" Baldy, who had barged in with vigor, didn't finish his sentence. Apparently, Jingjing's jellyfish cut was quite a shock to him. "...It was a wig?"
Jingjing did not respond, instead dropping his head. An awkward silence fell.
It seemed there was too much built-up resentment between them for sympathy, though. The confrontation resumed a moment later. "Y-You think I'll take pity on you for that? As of today, I will end my wretched rivalry with you!"
"Pft, puhahaha! You think a loser like you, who's never even been in the labyrinth, can defeat me just because you have more numbers? A rank-six adventurer like me?" Jingjing followed up Baldy's declaration with exaggerated laughter and confidence.
In reality, he wasn't even rank-six. When I interrogated him about it earlier on account of his being so weak, Jingjing confessed that he was actually rank seven.
There's no way a guy like that could be this relaxed against a group of dozens. Is he confident because I'm here?
That was kind of funny, but Baldy was serious. "Yes, I know you used to be a rank-six adventurer. But that's why I brought someone impressive with me. Make way, kids!"
When Baldy said that, the dozens of thugs behind him stepped aside and revealed a woman: Amelia Rainwales, an eighth-floor adventurer from Noark.
"Barbarian? Why are you...?" Her annoyed expression as she appeared in the middle of the group of men turned into a frown when she spotted me. It was kind of satisfying.
You don't know how surprised I was to see you, too.
"That's my line. Why on earth are you here?"
Amelia ignored my question as she tried to get her thoughts in order, and Baldy looked back and forth between us and cautiously opened his mouth. "...Do you know that barbarian?" He must have been worried that she seemed to know me since he had placed all his faith in this woman.
"Quiet." When Amelia muttered curtly, Baldy flinched and clammed up. About three seconds passed. "Bjorn Yandel, hand over the man next to you." Seemingly finished sorting herself out, Amelia suddenly made a request.
Of course, there was no way I would agree to that. "This guy is my subordinate." Barbarians did not abandon their subordinates. At least not if there was no reason to do so.
"...Boss!" When I answered immediately without a moment's thought, Jingjing looked moved.
On the other hand, Amelia didn't seem to follow. "Subordinate?" She looked like she didn't understand why a rising star in the adventuring industry was here, acting as a gang leader.
"I have my reasons," I said shortly.
Amelia nodded coolly. "I see." You'd think she would ask what those reasons were, but this was just how she was. "Then I'll take him by force." When the negotiations fell through, Amelia immediately took out a dagger and got into an offensive stance. Did she think she was a barbarian or something?
I quickly continued. "Wait, let's talk first."
"Talk?"
"Yes."
Things were different from when we met at the inn. I had no teammates to help me and Bifron was a lawless land. Talking it out was best. I didn't have the character stats to stop an aura yet. And if your body was weak, your mind was bound to suffer.
"Interesting. I didn't think you would be the one to try talking it out first. Are you planning an ambush?"
"Ambush? I don't do anything cowardly like that." I didn't hide that this was insulting to me. Of course, I may have thrown my mace at her mid-conversation in the sewer, but I doubled down. My memory of that time had been erased—at least as far as she knew.
"...That's almost laughable." She couldn't argue with me over it, though, and she moved on without a hint of frustration. Her body was still preparing for an ambush. Was she finally recognizing me as a worthy adversary?
"First, take away the men."
"Fine."
An agreement was made and, when given a look, Baldy took the thugs back down. Next was Jingjing's turn. "Um..."
"Don't worry. I won't abandon you."
"Yes, boss!" He seemed anxious, but he still trusted me and headed downstairs. Before long, it was just the two of us on the rooftop. Thus, it was time to have a heart-to-heart.
"Amelia Rainwales. What are you doing here?"
"Why should I answer that?"
"It's funny for adults to get involved in a children's fight."
"...Didn't you just turn twenty?"
Come on now, details weren't important here. I was sure Jingjing and Baldy were older in terms of age, but in this industry, the strong were the ones with seniority.
"Anyway, your answer?"
Amelia thought it over for a moment before opening her mouth. "You first. Why the hell are you in Bifron?"
"I was arrested for using a special ability in the city. I thought it would end with a fine, but they told me to come live here for twenty days. Today is the third day."
"And the subordinate?"
"He tried to mug me, so I beat him up in return and took over his gang."
Amelia smirked. "You really do whatever you want, don't you?" Her tone wasn't tinted with sarcasm. Instead, there was a hint of envy.
"Your turn. Why did you come here?" I had already asked the same question several times.
Finally, Amelia gave me a brief summary of her story. "I'm looking for an adventurer who might be here. In return for their help, I agreed to help them with something."
Of course, there was no way I would agree to that. "This guy is my subordinate." Barbarians did not abandon their subordinates. At least not if there was no reason to do so.
"...Boss!" When I answered immediately without a moment's thought, Jingjing looked moved.
On the other hand, Amelia didn't seem to follow. "Subordinate?" She looked like she didn't understand why a rising star in the adventuring industry was here, acting as a gang leader.
"I have my reasons," I said shortly.
Amelia nodded coolly. "I see." You'd think she would ask what those reasons were, but this was just how she was. "Then I'll take him by force." When the negotiations fell through, Amelia immediately took out a dagger and got into an offensive stance. Did she think she was a barbarian or something?
I quickly continued. "Wait, let's talk first."
"Talk?"
"Yes."
Things were different from when we met at the inn. I had no teammates to help me and Bifron was a lawless land. Talking it out was best. I didn't have the character stats to stop an aura yet. And if your body was weak, your mind was bound to suffer.
"Interesting. I didn't think you would be the one to try talking it out first. Are you planning an ambush?"
"Ambush? I don't do anything cowardly like that." I didn't hide that this was insulting to me. Of course, I may have thrown my mace at her mid-conversation in the sewer, but I doubled down. My memory of that time had been erased—at least as far as she knew.
"...That's almost laughable." She couldn't argue with me over it, though, and she moved on without a hint of frustration. Her body was still preparing for an ambush. Was she finally recognizing me as a worthy adversary?
"First, take away the men."
"Fine."
An agreement was made and, when given a look, Baldy took the thugs back down. Next was Jingjing's turn. "Um..."
"Don't worry. I won't abandon you."
"Yes, boss!" He seemed anxious, but he still trusted me and headed downstairs. Before long, it was just the two of us on the rooftop. Thus, it was time to have a heart-to-heart.
"Amelia Rainwales. What are you doing here?"
"Why should I answer that?"
"It's funny for adults to get involved in a children's fight."
"...Didn't you just turn twenty?"
Come on now, details weren't important here. I was sure Jingjing and Baldy were older in terms of age, but in this industry, the strong were the ones with seniority.
"Anyway, your answer?"
Amelia thought it over for a moment before opening her mouth. "You first. Why the hell are you in Bifron?"
"I was arrested for using a special ability in the city. I thought it would end with a fine, but they told me to come live here for twenty days. Today is the third day."
"And the subordinate?"
"He tried to mug me, so I beat him up in return and took over his gang."
Amelia smirked. "You really do whatever you want, don't you?" Her tone wasn't tinted with sarcasm. Instead, there was a hint of envy.
"Your turn. Why did you come here?" I had already asked the same question several times.
Finally, Amelia gave me a brief summary of her story. "I'm looking for an adventurer who might be here. In return for their help, I agreed to help them with something."
"I see." The situation roughly made sense now. I had been wondering why she would make a deal with guys so weak.
She probably wants to handle this quietly. A commotion like the one I made will inevitably leak outside.
This might go more smoothly than I expected.
"I'm telling you just in case, but I'm not here to break my promise."
Huh?
When I tilted my head, Amelia continued to offer up what sounded almost like an excuse. "I... didn't think I'd run into you here."
Oh, that—her promise never to come find me again. I never dreamed she would care about that in a situation like this, and before I even thought to. Did she have some sort of obsession with promises?
"Don't worry. I didn't think you broke your promise."
"I see..."
Now that I had a grasp of the situation, I got straight to the point. "Anyway, I'm glad. If that's the case, we have no reason to fight."
"You mean you'll give him up?"
"No, there is no need. Aren't you in need of subordinates? I will lend you my men."
"I heard the Western Alliance has the least authority here."
"You're quicker than I thought."
"Because it's already been over ten days since I got here."
I nodded. "I see."
As she said, the Western Alliance was a small elite, although they were too weak to be called elite. But at the very least, they'd be better at tracking someone down.
"Never mind the small number." This wasn't a problem. Rather, I almost couldn't understand why she hadn't thought to do something so simple. Not enough subordinates? Why worry about something like that? "Because starting today, the eastern sector is also my territory."
Subordinates just had to be copy-pasted.
I had wondered if she was the inflexible type, considering how much value she placed on promises, but she was surprisingly similar to me in this sense. That was to say, Amelia was an efficiency freak too. "That's not a bad idea."
"You mean you agree?"
"Before we get to that, what do you have to gain from helping me?"
"...Do me a favor sometime."
"Then I refuse. For some reason, I get the feeling you'll ask me for something I won't be able to pull off."
Welp, that didn't work. Fine, no matter. The favor wasn't the important thing here. "Then consider it charity. It's better than wasting my energy fighting you."
I guess that seemed plausible enough, as only then did she agree to the deal. I headed down to the first floor.
"W-What happened to that woman?"
"You forgot to add 'boss.'" I kicked Baldy, who was standing in an awkward confrontation with Jingjing, in the stomach. It was customary to cut your opponent off at the pass when you were taking a promotion.
"Urgh!" Kicked right in the stomach, Baldy dropped to the floor on the spot. "You bastard!"
With this as the trigger, the Eastern guys filling the entire first floor charged at me. Swords, hammers, spears, skewers—thugs jabbed at me mercilessly with the weapons in their hands. There was no need to stop them.
"W-Why is this..."
Even though they aimed at exposed skin, the weapons bounced off without even leaving a cut. That was only natural. These were guys who had come out in the dozens to catch one Jingjing, and they thought attacks like that would work against my current Physical Resistance?
"I see." The situation roughly made sense now. I had been wondering why she would make a deal with guys so weak.
She probably wants to handle this quietly. A commotion like the one I made will inevitably leak outside.
This might go more smoothly than I expected.
"I'm telling you just in case, but I'm not here to break my promise."
Huh?
When I tilted my head, Amelia continued to offer up what sounded almost like an excuse. "I... didn't think I'd run into you here."
Oh, that—her promise never to come find me again. I never dreamed she would care about that in a situation like this, and before I even thought to. Did she have some sort of obsession with promises?
"Don't worry. I didn't think you broke your promise."
"I see..."
Now that I had a grasp of the situation, I got straight to the point. "Anyway, I'm glad. If that's the case, we have no reason to fight."
"You mean you'll give him up?"
"No, there is no need. Aren't you in need of subordinates? I will lend you my men."
"I heard the Western Alliance has the least authority here."
"You're quicker than I thought."
"Because it's already been over ten days since I got here."
I nodded. "I see."
As she said, the Western Alliance was a small elite, although they were too weak to be called elite. But at the very least, they'd be better at tracking someone down.
"Never mind the small number." This wasn't a problem. Rather, I almost couldn't understand why she hadn't thought to do something so simple. Not enough subordinates? Why worry about something like that? "Because starting today, the eastern sector is also my territory."
Subordinates just had to be copy-pasted.
I had wondered if she was the inflexible type, considering how much value she placed on promises, but she was surprisingly similar to me in this sense. That was to say, Amelia was an efficiency freak too. "That's not a bad idea."
"You mean you agree?"
"Before we get to that, what do you have to gain from helping me?"
"...Do me a favor sometime."
"Then I refuse. For some reason, I get the feeling you'll ask me for something I won't be able to pull off."
Welp, that didn't work. Fine, no matter. The favor wasn't the important thing here. "Then consider it charity. It's better than wasting my energy fighting you."
I guess that seemed plausible enough, as only then did she agree to the deal. I headed down to the first floor.
"W-What happened to that woman?"
"You forgot to add 'boss.'" I kicked Baldy, who was standing in an awkward confrontation with Jingjing, in the stomach. It was customary to cut your opponent off at the pass when you were taking a promotion.
"Urgh!" Kicked right in the stomach, Baldy dropped to the floor on the spot. "You bastard!"
With this as the trigger, the Eastern guys filling the entire first floor charged at me. Swords, hammers, spears, skewers—thugs jabbed at me mercilessly with the weapons in their hands. There was no need to stop them.
"W-Why is this..."
Even though they aimed at exposed skin, the weapons bounced off without even leaving a cut. That was only natural. These were guys who had come out in the dozens to catch one Jingjing, and they thought attacks like that would work against my current Physical Resistance?
"Are you done?"
"...No."
"Behelaaah!"
It didn't take long. After implanting fear in them with Wild Outburst and wrecking a few guys as an example, the battle was over. Dozens of men didn't even dare to run away from the overwhelming difference in power.
I grabbed Baldy by the collar and lifted him up. "What is your name?"
"P-Philippe Lazere!"
"From now on, I will call you Baldy."
Okay, that concluded the introductions. Just as I was about to move on to the next step, Baldy asked blankly, "W-Who are you?"
I corrected the error there. "Boss."
"What...?"
"I'm your boss."
"Boss...?" Baldy's confused gaze shifted to Jingjing, who was hiding in the corner. Finally, he understood the situation.
Yeah, that's how I beat him, too.
"You came right on time," I said to Amelia when I noticed her. "Give me a potion."
"...Potion?"
"My subordinate is injured. I need to treat him."
Amelia eyed me like she was looking at a strange creature, but then took out a potion bottle and handed it to me.
Chhhhhh.
Baldy screamed and wriggled as I fed him the potion. After a moment's wait, he regained consciousness in a cold sweat. He still appeared to be dreaming.
Enough sticks, time for the carrots. "I will be leaving in seventeen days."
"Sorry?"
"I'm just saying." To put it simply, just consider this bad luck you'll have to deal with until then. Afterward, I ordered Baldy and Jingjing to go gather everyone. "Since it's a lot of people, Dimension Square will do. Is five hours enough?"
"Th-that's nowhere near enough—"
"Yes, boss! That's enough!" Jingjing forcibly cut Baldy off. That was experience for you. Answering "yes" to anything was a subordinate's greatest virtue, especially if your boss was a barbarian.
"Okay then, get on it."
As time was running out, my subordinates quickly rushed off to carry out their missions. It was a rather satisfying sight.
Is this why everyone is so obsessed with power?
I smiled and shifted my gaze to Amelia, keeping my tone deliberately nonchalant. "Now, tell me. Who are you looking for?"
I'd been curious since earlier. This woman was from Noark, after all. She might have been looking for someone not of her own volition, but on Noark's orders.
Someone the underground city has sent her to look for at a time like this...
This could be an important clue. Any information others didn't know about was always helpful. Even if the information was irrelevant to me, I could use it to seem important at the Round Table. Either way, I had nothing to lose.
But despite what I had been hoping, Amelia only answered with the individual's description. "Looks like an elderly person but could be in disguise."
"You mean they can't be identified by appearance? Then how will you find them?"
"The tattoo on their back. I heard it is impossible to hide it with any spell."
Hmm, so we have to check every single person's back?
"Any other useful traits?"
"No."
"You don't even know their name?"
"...It's useless information since they'll be using a pseudonym, anyway."
"You never know. Let's hear it."
When I prodded, Amelia hesitated for a moment. But she must have determined that I wouldn't know it, anyway, because she soon answered with a name. "Auril Gavis."
What?
"Auril Gavis?!"
"...Do you know him?"
"No, I just pretended to know." I improvised a response and put on a poker face.
Thump-thump-thump!
But despite my calm outward appearance, my heart pounded like crazy. That was a given. Auril Gavis? That was the name of the author of the Complete Books series—and the creator of Dungeon and Stone!
"Are you done?"
"...No."
"Behelaaah!"
It didn't take long. After implanting fear in them with Wild Outburst and wrecking a few guys as an example, the battle was over. Dozens of men didn't even dare to run away from the overwhelming difference in power.
I grabbed Baldy by the collar and lifted him up. "What is your name?"
"P-Philippe Lazere!"
"From now on, I will call you Baldy."
Okay, that concluded the introductions. Just as I was about to move on to the next step, Baldy asked blankly, "W-Who are you?"
I corrected the error there. "Boss."
"What...?"
"I'm your boss."
"Boss...?" Baldy's confused gaze shifted to Jingjing, who was hiding in the corner. Finally, he understood the situation.
Yeah, that's how I beat him, too.
"You came right on time," I said to Amelia when I noticed her. "Give me a potion."
"...Potion?"
"My subordinate is injured. I need to treat him."
Amelia eyed me like she was looking at a strange creature, but then took out a potion bottle and handed it to me.
Chhhhhh.
Baldy screamed and wriggled as I fed him the potion. After a moment's wait, he regained consciousness in a cold sweat. He still appeared to be dreaming.
Enough sticks, time for the carrots. "I will be leaving in seventeen days."
"Sorry?"
"I'm just saying." To put it simply, just consider this bad luck you'll have to deal with until then. Afterward, I ordered Baldy and Jingjing to go gather everyone. "Since it's a lot of people, Dimension Square will do. Is five hours enough?"
"Th-that's nowhere near enough—"
"Yes, boss! That's enough!" Jingjing forcibly cut Baldy off. That was experience for you. Answering "yes" to anything was a subordinate's greatest virtue, especially if your boss was a barbarian.
"Okay then, get on it."
As time was running out, my subordinates quickly rushed off to carry out their missions. It was a rather satisfying sight.
Is this why everyone is so obsessed with power?
I smiled and shifted my gaze to Amelia, keeping my tone deliberately nonchalant. "Now, tell me. Who are you looking for?"
I'd been curious since earlier. This woman was from Noark, after all. She might have been looking for someone not of her own volition, but on Noark's orders.
Someone the underground city has sent her to look for at a time like this...
This could be an important clue. Any information others didn't know about was always helpful. Even if the information was irrelevant to me, I could use it to seem important at the Round Table. Either way, I had nothing to lose.
But despite what I had been hoping, Amelia only answered with the individual's description. "Looks like an elderly person but could be in disguise."
"You mean they can't be identified by appearance? Then how will you find them?"
"The tattoo on their back. I heard it is impossible to hide it with any spell."
Hmm, so we have to check every single person's back?
"Any other useful traits?"
"No."
"You don't even know their name?"
"...It's useless information since they'll be using a pseudonym, anyway."
"You never know. Let's hear it."
When I prodded, Amelia hesitated for a moment. But she must have determined that I wouldn't know it, anyway, because she soon answered with a name. "Auril Gavis."
What?
"Auril Gavis?!"
"...Do you know him?"
"No, I just pretended to know." I improvised a response and put on a poker face.
Thump-thump-thump!
But despite my calm outward appearance, my heart pounded like crazy. That was a given. Auril Gavis? That was the name of the author of the Complete Books series—and the creator of Dungeon and Stone!