Chapter 285: Cause and Effect (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 285: Cause and Effect (1)
The sea was raging with violent waves.
"Bjorn? Is Bjorn not here yet?"
"No. He should be here soon..."
Arua Raven kept her eyes on the horizon, the coordinate transmitter clutched tightly in her hand. As was the case for everyone on the boat right now, an unfamiliar unease was beginning to fill her. Bjorn Yandel, their leader, was facing a rank-three monster alone to buy them time to escape.
"Something must have gone wrrrong. We have to go save him!"
"No! Didn't you hear what he said? He said to absolutely not go near there."
"That guy always says stuff like that and then does whatever he wants! I don't carrre. I'm going to do whatever I want from now on too!"
"But how are you going to get down there? Mr. Yandel is fighting under the sea!"
"That's..." Missha trailed off.
At that, Raven bit her lip and took care to be more patient rather than getting emotional and raising her voice. "Just wait. Mr. Yandel will surely come back in one piece."
"Sorry for shouting."
"It's okay. I feel the same way."
"The same way?"
Raven answered Missha's question after a moment's pause. "...We're comrades."
"Ah, right... yes."
There was an awkward silence after that. All the while, everyone on the boat kept their eyes fixed on the point they had started their journey from. About five minutes later, the anchored ship began to rock violently.
"Th-the water is going down!" The elevated sea level was lowering as they spoke.
"W-What? But Bjorn isn't here yet. Did he... fail?"
"I don't think so! If the Storm Gush were alive, there would be another storm!"
"Oh, then..."
"Yes! Mr. Yandel defeated the Storm Gush!" Raven shouted, unable to hide her joy.
Missha was in the same boat. "Ahh, you barbarrrian bastard! You said you were just going to hold out! What the hell were you doing down there?!" In sharp contrast to the contents of her rant, Missha's expression was filled only with bright relief.
"Mr. Patzran! Turn the boat around, quickly!"
"W-Will do!"
Raven hurriedly turned the boat around and headed for the island.
Flash!
Then, as if lightning had struck under the sea, a white light shimmered on the surface of the water before disappearing.
"W-What was that just now?"
"D-Do you think something went wrrrong down there...?"
The priestess and everyone else turned their eyes to Raven, but being a wizard didn't mean you knew everything. "I-I don't know either..."
That was what the labyrinth was like. There were more things you didn't know than things you did. This was her first time seeing a Storm Gush too.
With time, the water level went down and the island started reappearing, starting from the center and highest point. However, the person they were looking for was nowhere to be found.
"W-Where on earth did they disappearrr too? And is that their equipment?"
All that was left in the center of the island was the equipment Bjorn and the woman named Amelia had been wearing.
"There's a stake here. The rope is still attached, too, so it looks like Mister was just here a moment ago..."
"It looks like they tried not to get swept away by the current. But where...?"
"But wait, the equipment...? What's with the equipment? There would be no reason for them to take it off..."
Nothing about this made sense.
"...Let's search the area first. If they were swept away by the water, they couldn't have gone far." Raven's head felt just as jumbled, but she doled out instructions as calmly as possible. Didn't Bjorn tell her that she had to act as the leader when he wasn't there?
"Here! There's more equipment over here! This is the necklace Bjorn wears!"
"H-His underwear is here too!"
After that, the group split up and started searching. All the while, the sea level continued to drop and the island returned to its original state.
"Why... why can't we find them anywhere?"
Even after they searched all over the island, Bjorn was nowhere to be found. Just what the hell had happened here?
"Did Yandel..."
They didn't know anything for sure right now, but when Raven spoke, her voice was firm. "Mr. Urikfried, don't spout nonsense. He's most definitely alive."
Being optimistic even when there was no evidence to back it up—yeah, that barbarian said that was what a leader was supposed to do.
"First, it's clear from the circumstantial evidence that they killed the Storm Gush. They also had the mind to stick a stake into the ground to avoid getting washed away. I don't know why they took off all their equipment, but it's possible they were washed to a nearby island. Let's go look around."
After that, Raven got on Patzran's boat and searched all the nearby islands. In the process, they threw around many theories and even had the occasional argument, but no one lost hope. Time marched on and in the end, they reached the labyrinth closing day without finding Bjorn.
"...We'll meet in the city."
Shaaaaaa!
The light of the labyrinth announced their return. Arriving in the city, Raven searched the empty Dimension Square for a barbarian. None were immediately visible. Thinking he could have wandered somewhere else before she could spot him, Raven even headed to the checkpoint, but it was just more of the same.
"Bjorn? Was he in the square? The staff here said no one matching his description passed through."
"...I couldn't find him in the square." Raven continued to wait at the checkpoint with her comrades, who had arrived there before her. Even after all the other adventurers passed through the checkpoint, leaving the square empty, Bjorn didn't turn up even though they should have reunited here no matter where he had ended up in the labyrinth. As long as he was alive, at least.
"Um... it's nearing closing time."
Even as the staff hinted at them to leave, Bjorn did not appear. That could only mean one thing, but no one could say it out loud.
A heavy silence fell, and his one and only warrior comrade, Ainar, was the one to break it. "So, Bjorn is dead," she said bluntly.
It was time to face reality.
***
Conventional wisdom said that even mountains and rivers would change over ten years, but that wasn't the case here, at least. Although enough time had passed for mountains and rivers to change twice, this city hadn't changed much, just like the street in front of the checkpoint I was at now.
"There's a stake here. The rope is still attached, too, so it looks like Mister was just here a moment ago..."
"It looks like they tried not to get swept away by the current. But where...?"
"But wait, the equipment...? What's with the equipment? There would be no reason for them to take it off..."
Nothing about this made sense.
"...Let's search the area first. If they were swept away by the water, they couldn't have gone far." Raven's head felt just as jumbled, but she doled out instructions as calmly as possible. Didn't Bjorn tell her that she had to act as the leader when he wasn't there?
"Here! There's more equipment over here! This is the necklace Bjorn wears!"
"H-His underwear is here too!"
After that, the group split up and started searching. All the while, the sea level continued to drop and the island returned to its original state.
"Why... why can't we find them anywhere?"
Even after they searched all over the island, Bjorn was nowhere to be found. Just what the hell had happened here?
"Did Yandel..."
They didn't know anything for sure right now, but when Raven spoke, her voice was firm. "Mr. Urikfried, don't spout nonsense. He's most definitely alive."
Being optimistic even when there was no evidence to back it up—yeah, that barbarian said that was what a leader was supposed to do.
"First, it's clear from the circumstantial evidence that they killed the Storm Gush. They also had the mind to stick a stake into the ground to avoid getting washed away. I don't know why they took off all their equipment, but it's possible they were washed to a nearby island. Let's go look around."
After that, Raven got on Patzran's boat and searched all the nearby islands. In the process, they threw around many theories and even had the occasional argument, but no one lost hope. Time marched on and in the end, they reached the labyrinth closing day without finding Bjorn.
"...We'll meet in the city."
Shaaaaaa!
The light of the labyrinth announced their return. Arriving in the city, Raven searched the empty Dimension Square for a barbarian. None were immediately visible. Thinking he could have wandered somewhere else before she could spot him, Raven even headed to the checkpoint, but it was just more of the same.
"Bjorn? Was he in the square? The staff here said no one matching his description passed through."
"...I couldn't find him in the square." Raven continued to wait at the checkpoint with her comrades, who had arrived there before her. Even after all the other adventurers passed through the checkpoint, leaving the square empty, Bjorn didn't turn up even though they should have reunited here no matter where he had ended up in the labyrinth. As long as he was alive, at least.
"Um... it's nearing closing time."
Even as the staff hinted at them to leave, Bjorn did not appear. That could only mean one thing, but no one could say it out loud.
A heavy silence fell, and his one and only warrior comrade, Ainar, was the one to break it. "So, Bjorn is dead," she said bluntly.
It was time to face reality.
***
Conventional wisdom said that even mountains and rivers would change over ten years, but that wasn't the case here, at least. Although enough time had passed for mountains and rivers to change twice, this city hadn't changed much, just like the street in front of the checkpoint I was at now.
"Dad! Here! Over here!"
"Ramirion, I'm glad you came back safely again. Let's head home. I prepared all your favorites."
The acquaintances and family members of adventurers filled the checkpoint. Even the buildings around hadn't changed much. The only slight differences I could find were the signs hanging on the first floors of the buildings.
So that was originally a bar, not a general store.
While I was busy being mildly fascinated by the differences between past and present and searching around for more, a woman came up next to me. It was Amelia.
"Ah, you're here."
"I kept you waiting. Were there any problems during the inspection?"
"I just handed over my ID and exchanged the mana stones like you told me to."
"Really? That's a relief. Then let's move."
"Where are we going first?"
"First, a clothing store."
After meeting up with Amelia, we headed to a nearby store to buy clothes and found an inn in District Seven, the place I usually lived.
"Come to my room after you wash up. Let's discuss some things."
I first went into the bathroom and scrubbed myself clean, then I put on my new clothes and went to Amelia's room. Fortunately, she was done washing up too and the door opened quickly.
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked as I sat down on the bed.
Amelia shook the water out of her hair and sat at the table across from me. "First, I have one thing to ask you."
"Hit me."
"Are you... thinking of going back?"
I'd wondered what she wanted to ask me, but wasn't the answer to that obvious? "Of course. I'm going back no matter what."
"Hmm, I see."
"Did you really think I would want to stay?"
"I thought it was possible. You must be slowly coming to terms with the fact that you are in the past now."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"...This is twenty years ago. You may not have realized this, but if you take advantage of this time difference, you could lead a much more comfortable life than before."
"I see."
"...This isn't an 'I see' kind of situation. Barbarian, you may not realize, but the opportunity you have now—"
I cut Amelia off before she could go on any longer. "That's enough." I got what she was saying, but I wasn't particularly interested. There was no bitcoin mine here. Staying here would just mean my equipment, hard-earned nobility status, and diligently cultivated comrades were all gone. It was a total loss. For me, there was no reason to stay. "If there is a way to go back, I'm going right away. So don't bring this up again. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten sucked into this in the first place."
"...I'm sorry about that."
Yeah, that apology was a little too late. "Never mind. So is that why you asked to see me?"
"No, the main thing I wanted to discuss was something else. If you were going to stay here, I wasn't going to tell you."
No wonder she kept feeling me out. "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point."
"I want you to help me while you are here in the past."
Huh, she never once answered any of my questions properly on the island but now she wanted my help? Did she think I was a fool? "And what do I gain from that?"
"I will help you get back in return."
"You don't even know how, so how are you going to help?"
"...There is one method worth trying."
"Tell me." If she said I had to give her my answer first before she would tell me what it was, I was going to leave immediately.
But Amelia readily told me the method she was referring to. "Using the Fragment of Records Stone one more time."
I didn't immediately understand. "The Fragment of Records Stone? That disappeared when..." I paused halfway through the question. "Ah..." It wasn't actually gone, since this was twenty years in the past.
"Yes, the one I used is gone, but there is still one here. At this point in history, it would be in the possession of the castellan of Noark."
Suddenly, the Genesis Treasures came to mind. Just as the stone was still here, the stolen keys to the final floor also still existed in the present day.
What happens if I take them back with me? Would that mean there would be a way to clear the final level?
I entertained the idea for a second, but it was quickly put to rest. Not only did I already have more than enough on my plate just worrying about getting back to my original time, but it wouldn't be possible to bring them back with me in the first place. Considering our foray back in time dropped me and Amelia on Farune Island naked, it was likely that the same thing would happen the other way around. It would be impossible to take an item from here into the present.
Ah, my thoughts were wandering. By the time I tuned back in, Amelia had stopped talking and started staring at me. Jeez, can't a barbarian have a hard time concentrating?
"Ahem, I'm listening. Keep going."
"...I'll say the rest after I hear your answer."
Ha, that's how you want to play this?
My first thought was that she was being a cheapskate, but that didn't really change my answer. Not only did it make sense to use the Fragment of Records Stone to go back, but if she didn't help me, it'd be hard to manage on my own. To get that item, help from Amelia, who was from Noark, was essential, since I didn't know where the castellans stored it.
"Okay, then tell me. How can I help you?"
Once my consent was given, Amelia's expression shifted. Strangely, she didn't seem happy. Rather, she looked somewhat displeased.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No. There's no way what that bastard said was true."
"That bastard?" I asked, but Amelia went quiet.
After calming herself, she slowly parted her lips. It was quite a long story, and when it was over, I finally understood the woman named Amelia Rainwales—and the past she was so desperate to change.
***
The day after said long story, Amelia checked out of the inn.
"I might not be able to come for a while since I'll be busy. I can't stop you from doing anything, but try to avoid causing a scene as much as possible."
Apparently, a scout was operating in the shadows who offered a helping hand to people who became criminals and tried to recruit them into joining Noark. She planned to make contact with them. That was because for both of us to achieve our goals, entering Noark was critical.
Man, I never thought I'd go all the way to Noark.
Anyway, the period of time Amelia said she'd be busy was about three weeks. She said she'd stop by from time to time to keep me updated on her progress, so I could hear about any changes to the plan then.
What should I do now?
Once I was alone in the room by myself, I felt restless. Maybe this was my gamer's curiosity talking. After all, I was twenty years in the past.
Should I look around?
The moment the thought came to mind, I put on my clothes and left the inn. Although Amelia repeatedly told me not to attract attention, honestly, how could I just sit down and take that? What was the worst that could happen?
"Dad! Here! Over here!"
"Ramirion, I'm glad you came back safely again. Let's head home. I prepared all your favorites."
The acquaintances and family members of adventurers filled the checkpoint. Even the buildings around hadn't changed much. The only slight differences I could find were the signs hanging on the first floors of the buildings.
So that was originally a bar, not a general store.
While I was busy being mildly fascinated by the differences between past and present and searching around for more, a woman came up next to me. It was Amelia.
"Ah, you're here."
"I kept you waiting. Were there any problems during the inspection?"
"I just handed over my ID and exchanged the mana stones like you told me to."
"Really? That's a relief. Then let's move."
"Where are we going first?"
"First, a clothing store."
After meeting up with Amelia, we headed to a nearby store to buy clothes and found an inn in District Seven, the place I usually lived.
"Come to my room after you wash up. Let's discuss some things."
I first went into the bathroom and scrubbed myself clean, then I put on my new clothes and went to Amelia's room. Fortunately, she was done washing up too and the door opened quickly.
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked as I sat down on the bed.
Amelia shook the water out of her hair and sat at the table across from me. "First, I have one thing to ask you."
"Hit me."
"Are you... thinking of going back?"
I'd wondered what she wanted to ask me, but wasn't the answer to that obvious? "Of course. I'm going back no matter what."
"Hmm, I see."
"Did you really think I would want to stay?"
"I thought it was possible. You must be slowly coming to terms with the fact that you are in the past now."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"...This is twenty years ago. You may not have realized this, but if you take advantage of this time difference, you could lead a much more comfortable life than before."
"I see."
"...This isn't an 'I see' kind of situation. Barbarian, you may not realize, but the opportunity you have now—"
I cut Amelia off before she could go on any longer. "That's enough." I got what she was saying, but I wasn't particularly interested. There was no bitcoin mine here. Staying here would just mean my equipment, hard-earned nobility status, and diligently cultivated comrades were all gone. It was a total loss. For me, there was no reason to stay. "If there is a way to go back, I'm going right away. So don't bring this up again. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have gotten sucked into this in the first place."
"...I'm sorry about that."
Yeah, that apology was a little too late. "Never mind. So is that why you asked to see me?"
"No, the main thing I wanted to discuss was something else. If you were going to stay here, I wasn't going to tell you."
No wonder she kept feeling me out. "Stop beating around the bush and get to the point."
"I want you to help me while you are here in the past."
Huh, she never once answered any of my questions properly on the island but now she wanted my help? Did she think I was a fool? "And what do I gain from that?"
"I will help you get back in return."
"You don't even know how, so how are you going to help?"
"...There is one method worth trying."
"Tell me." If she said I had to give her my answer first before she would tell me what it was, I was going to leave immediately.
But Amelia readily told me the method she was referring to. "Using the Fragment of Records Stone one more time."
I didn't immediately understand. "The Fragment of Records Stone? That disappeared when..." I paused halfway through the question. "Ah..." It wasn't actually gone, since this was twenty years in the past.
"Yes, the one I used is gone, but there is still one here. At this point in history, it would be in the possession of the castellan of Noark."
Suddenly, the Genesis Treasures came to mind. Just as the stone was still here, the stolen keys to the final floor also still existed in the present day.
What happens if I take them back with me? Would that mean there would be a way to clear the final level?
I entertained the idea for a second, but it was quickly put to rest. Not only did I already have more than enough on my plate just worrying about getting back to my original time, but it wouldn't be possible to bring them back with me in the first place. Considering our foray back in time dropped me and Amelia on Farune Island naked, it was likely that the same thing would happen the other way around. It would be impossible to take an item from here into the present.
Ah, my thoughts were wandering. By the time I tuned back in, Amelia had stopped talking and started staring at me. Jeez, can't a barbarian have a hard time concentrating?
"Ahem, I'm listening. Keep going."
"...I'll say the rest after I hear your answer."
Ha, that's how you want to play this?
My first thought was that she was being a cheapskate, but that didn't really change my answer. Not only did it make sense to use the Fragment of Records Stone to go back, but if she didn't help me, it'd be hard to manage on my own. To get that item, help from Amelia, who was from Noark, was essential, since I didn't know where the castellans stored it.
"Okay, then tell me. How can I help you?"
Once my consent was given, Amelia's expression shifted. Strangely, she didn't seem happy. Rather, she looked somewhat displeased.
"Is there a problem?"
"...No. There's no way what that bastard said was true."
"That bastard?" I asked, but Amelia went quiet.
After calming herself, she slowly parted her lips. It was quite a long story, and when it was over, I finally understood the woman named Amelia Rainwales—and the past she was so desperate to change.
***
The day after said long story, Amelia checked out of the inn.
"I might not be able to come for a while since I'll be busy. I can't stop you from doing anything, but try to avoid causing a scene as much as possible."
Apparently, a scout was operating in the shadows who offered a helping hand to people who became criminals and tried to recruit them into joining Noark. She planned to make contact with them. That was because for both of us to achieve our goals, entering Noark was critical.
Man, I never thought I'd go all the way to Noark.
Anyway, the period of time Amelia said she'd be busy was about three weeks. She said she'd stop by from time to time to keep me updated on her progress, so I could hear about any changes to the plan then.
What should I do now?
Once I was alone in the room by myself, I felt restless. Maybe this was my gamer's curiosity talking. After all, I was twenty years in the past.
Should I look around?
The moment the thought came to mind, I put on my clothes and left the inn. Although Amelia repeatedly told me not to attract attention, honestly, how could I just sit down and take that? What was the worst that could happen?