Chapter 316: Memory (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 316: Memory (1)

Tick, tick, tick...

The second hand of the clock made a full circle, marking the beginning of the next minute, but I still didn't get called to the spiritual world. After checking the date and time again, I even waited until morning just in case my clock was broken, but nothing changed. How did this happen? I discussed the possibilities with Amelia all night and narrowed the list down to three explanations.

First, that this incident was a singular, random error, completely accidental and not the result of someone's handiwork. There was a nonzero probability of this. Whether a device was electronic or magical, it was ultimately created by a person. Although rare, there were times when even sub-space rings malfunctioned and the items inside could not be taken out. The possibility of that was still minimal, though.

The next one made more sense: Auril Gavis had banned me from the spirit world. This was a more likely hypothesis than number one. If you just looked at how the old man treated me, anyone would say he had no reason to banish me, but then again, you could never read someone's mind. I couldn't rule out the possibility that this was some kind of trick on his part.

Finally, something beyond his control could have happened to Auril Gavis. This was also a very plausible theory. Actually, I decided this was the most likely of the three. Although I couldn't even imagine what would have had to happen for that inhuman old man to run into trouble, this was a world full of monsters, after all. Even he could have people he considered a threat, the prime example of this being the palace.

Whatever, let's go to sleep.

Since I had no way of figuring out the answer, it was pointless to spend any more time worrying about it. And so I decided to wait until the fifteenth of the next month to deal with this and as the days passed, I entered the labyrinth once more.

"Hahaha! It went well again! If we keep this up, we'll all be rich soon!"

Nothing of note had happened in the labyrinth. All I did was spend my time looting plunderers until the labyrinth closed like last time.

When midnight on the fifteenth rolled around again, things went the same way as last time.

"You didn't go this time, either?"

"...Yeah."

My mind remained in my body again, even though it was time.

Ha, this is so frustrating...

Just what the hell was going on? While the walls continued to close in on us more and more, time continued its relentless march forward.

***

Wow, time flies.

I wiped the bitter smile off my face and folded the calendar in my hand before putting it in my pocket. It had already been six months since the day I came to the past.

Slide.

When I got up and picked up my coat, Amelia asked without even looking in my direction, "Are you going today too?"

"There's nothing to do here, anyway. You?"

"I'll stay here."

After that dry conversation with Amelia, I left the inn. Most of our conversations were like that these days—short, shallow, and always on an invisible edge.

Ugh, so damn uncomfortable.

It was bearable at first, but now that there were just a few days left until D-Day, it had gotten much worse. That was because we still hadn't found a good solution. The community hadn't opened once since it closed all those months ago.

...Did he really ban me?

I was starting to think that was the case now, which made me want to check it out. The head of Orcules was in this underground city. If I asked him directly, I would be able to find out if I was the only one who got kicked out or if the community server itself was down.

What am I even thinking? It's not like that's going to change anything.

I sighed and walked the streets of the underground city. I'd become quite familiar with this place. Aside from the eastern district, which was the home of Orcules, I'd pretty much memorized the main streets.

"Oh, Captain! You're here!" When I arrived at the clan's base located inside the castle walls, Dumbo greeted me. Having gone into the labyrinth with me for some months, he was no longer as afraid of me as before. Rather, he was acting no different than a henchman. "Come, come, sit here! Would you like something to drink?"

"Something light."

"Haha, just wait a moment! I'll get it straight away!"

As I sat on the empty seat, acting all arrogant, Dumbo quickly brought me a drink and sat beside me. Like a jukebox, he began a one-sided conversation. Most of the chatter was about rumors and recent events in the city, and the way he talked was entertaining enough not to be boring.

"Oh, right, Captain. Did you hear that news about barbarian hearts?"

Suddenly, a topic I couldn't ignore popped up. "Hearts? What about them? Tell me."

"Ah, I guess you didn't hear? Well, they say that word has already spread in the overworld that barbarian hearts are being sold at a high price because they can be used as magical ingredients."

"...What?"

The Magic Tower's announcement about barbarian hearts being a precious magical ingredient was supposed to be made in about ten years, a long while after the war between the elf and barbarian races. But that story was already going around?

Did the future change because of me? No, that can't be possible...

I pressed Dumbo for the details because I just couldn't believe it, and he quickly clarified.

"Ah, it wasn't the Magic Tower that announced this. It was actually just a false rumor."

"False rumor?"

"Apparently, our commander put in a request some months ago for the Melter merchant company to spread that rumor around in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠overworld."

What? What the...

Without needing any further explanation, everything clicked into place for me. That was natural. There was only one reason why Clan Leader Felic Barker would make that request of Noark's one and only merchant company and connection to the aboveground.

"I guess the commander thought spreading those rumors would make plunderers more susceptible to our tactics. Ah, but I don't think he expected the rumors to spread this much."

Dumbo seemed to think I didn't understand because he threw in details I didn't even ask for. In addition to rumors spreading in the overworld, apparently, the rumor was even circulating in Noark now.

When I heard that, a curse flew from my lips. "God damn it."

"...Sorry?"

"Quiet."

Dumbo clammed up at a single word from me and I calmly organized my thoughts, which were all jumbled. It would probably be revealed to be a rumor soon.

But perhaps this was the start of it...

...Did he really ban me?

I was starting to think that was the case now, which made me want to check it out. The head of Orcules was in this underground city. If I asked him directly, I would be able to find out if I was the only one who got kicked out or if the community server itself was down.

What am I even thinking? It's not like that's going to change anything.

I sighed and walked the streets of the underground city. I'd become quite familiar with this place. Aside from the eastern district, which was the home of Orcules, I'd pretty much memorized the main streets.

"Oh, Captain! You're here!" When I arrived at the clan's base located inside the castle walls, Dumbo greeted me. Having gone into the labyrinth with me for some months, he was no longer as afraid of me as before. Rather, he was acting no different than a henchman. "Come, come, sit here! Would you like something to drink?"

"Something light."

"Haha, just wait a moment! I'll get it straight away!"

As I sat on the empty seat, acting all arrogant, Dumbo quickly brought me a drink and sat beside me. Like a jukebox, he began a one-sided conversation. Most of the chatter was about rumors and recent events in the city, and the way he talked was entertaining enough not to be boring.

"Oh, right, Captain. Did you hear that news about barbarian hearts?"

Suddenly, a topic I couldn't ignore popped up. "Hearts? What about them? Tell me."

"Ah, I guess you didn't hear? Well, they say that word has already spread in the overworld that barbarian hearts are being sold at a high price because they can be used as magical ingredients."

"...What?"

The Magic Tower's announcement about barbarian hearts being a precious magical ingredient was supposed to be made in about ten years, a long while after the war between the elf and barbarian races. But that story was already going around?

Did the future change because of me? No, that can't be possible...

I pressed Dumbo for the details because I just couldn't believe it, and he quickly clarified.

"Ah, it wasn't the Magic Tower that announced this. It was actually just a false rumor."

"False rumor?"

"Apparently, our commander put in a request some months ago for the Melter merchant company to spread that rumor around in the overworld."

What? What the...

Without needing any further explanation, everything clicked into place for me. That was natural. There was only one reason why Clan Leader Felic Barker would make that request of Noark's one and only merchant company and connection to the aboveground.

"I guess the commander thought ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spreading those rumors would make plunderers more susceptible to our tactics. Ah, but I don't think he expected the rumors to spread this much."

Dumbo seemed to think I didn't understand because he threw in details I didn't even ask for. In addition to rumors spreading in the overworld, apparently, the rumor was even circulating in Noark now.

When I heard that, a curse flew from my lips. "God damn it."

"...Sorry?"

"Quiet."

Dumbo clammed up at a single word from me and I calmly organized my thoughts, which were all jumbled. It would probably be revealed to be a rumor soon.

But perhaps this was the start of it...

This thought wouldn't leave me. Maybe it was because of these rumors that Felic Barker spread that some wizards began doing research into the subject, which then led to a price tag being placed on barbarian hearts ten years in the future.

Then that means I could be the cause of all that insanity...?

It was still just a thought, but the problem was that it didn't feel like a logical leap at all.

"Dumbo, I'm leaving."

"Sorry? Okay!"

I was not in the mood to be socializing at the clan house, but when I left, I found there was nowhere for me to go. I was walking around the interior of the castle when an old man who was passing by suddenly stopped and started talking to me.

"You must be Iron Mask."

It was hard to ignore. Since this world was particularly unkind to the elderly, a person had to have some level of skill to survive to that age.

"And who are you?" I asked cautiously.

The old man chuckled and took out a mana stone from his pocket. "This is the kind of person I am." As soon as he opened his mouth, the mana stone glowed and turned into bread. He was an alchemist—a transmutation-type wizard who had the ability to change mana stones into bread or iron.

I never thought I'd run into someone like this in the hallway.

In a way, an alchemist was a bigger fish than the castellan or the head of Orcules. At least, that was the case in Noark. As far as I knew, there were only two alchemists here. The city wouldn't immediately fall into ruin if the position of castellan wasn't filled for a while, but if the position of alchemist became vacant, the city would collapse. This wasn't an exaggeration, but the reality.

"Haha, judging by your surprise, I guess this is your first time seeing alchemy?"

First time seeing alchemy or not, I couldn't understand it. Who would have imagined I would meet someone who could be considered the very foundation of this city in a corridor?

Wait, even if this is the castle, the alchemist wouldn't be foolish enough to wander around alone...

When I carefully glanced around in disbelief, I sensed gazes on me from all sides. Since they were difficult to see with the naked eye, it seemed that all of them had a concealment essence.

"You are more perceptive than I thought. Don't worry too much. They're just this old man's guards."

Perceptiveness aside, they were the ones who were letting me sense their presence like they had no intention of hiding it to begin with—almost like some kind of warning for me to not even think about doing something foolish.

"Ah, anyhow, I haven't even told you my name yet. My name is Marfa Ipaello. You can call me whatever you prefer, but if I had to choose, I'd prefer you call me by my last name."

"...Iron Mask."

"I'm aware. It's fate that we met like this. Why don't we talk for a moment?"

"All right." I accepted his offer without much hesitation. He could have been another alchemist famous for his foul temper, but I knew this old man's name through Amelia.

This is the person who created the Blessing of Lethe.

That alone was worth talking to him about.

"Hmm, you are as hardy as they say. Come, let's go."

As they say, huh? So this meeting wasn't a coincidence, then. He came to see me.

Ipaello started walking down the corridor first, and I followed behind. Even though we were heading up to the third floor, where access was restricted, no one stopped me because this man was next to me. That was how we arrived at the alchemist's workshop.

"We're okay from here, so everyone can step out."

It's kind of similar to a wizard's lab, but kind of different.

I started scanning my surroundings as soon as I entered, and the old man kicked out the guards who were in hiding before offering me a seat. "Sit. If you want something to drink, let me know."

"I'm fine." Normally, this was the moment I'd stubbornly demand meat and assert my dominance in the conversation, but I skipped that this time. If I were caught being rude, I was certain to get an earful from Amelia. This old man was the savior who took Amelia in at a young age. Even without taking his position into account, I couldn't treat him poorly. Well, I still couldn't use honorifics, either, since I had to save face as a barbarian. "So, why did you call me here?"

"I just wondered what kind of person you were. This is the first time I've heard those children have so much fun while talking about the labyrinth."

"Those children?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm talking about Laura and Amelia. Sweet children. Sometimes when I feel lonely, I call them over to my workshop, give them snacks, and ask them to chat with me for a while."

"...I see."

"I was quite worried, but now that I've met you, my worries have disappeared. They are unfortunate children. I hope you take good care of them."

"I will," I said with a nod. Then, after a moment's thought, I carefully asked, "But if you're going to ask a favor like that, wouldn't it be better if you just took them in?"

"Haha, that's not easy for me to do at the moment." He spoke vaguely and omitted the details, but I knew his situation to some extent.

At first, he was only able to provide snacks for them, but after the death of the other alchemist, he took Amelia out of the team completely and raised her himself.

Previous attempts to take them out had likely failed because there were currently two alchemists in the city. So long as there was someone out there who could replace him, he couldn't enjoy absolute power.

"How are those girls these days?"

"They are well. I'm trying to prevent them from doing dangerous work as much as possible."

"...I see."

After that, the natural topic of conversation was the Rainwales sisters. Alchemist Ipaello asked how the children were doing and I answered him honestly. Then, waiting for the right moment, I began to speak. "But can our conversation be heard over there?"

"If you're talking about the guards, you can speak without hesitation. They won't hear it. Is there something you want to ask?"

"Is there a way to remove the effects of an essence through alchemy?"

"Effects? If you're talking about a poison, that's possible..." The old man answered my question without much thought before trailing off for a beat. "...Are you talking about the Unhealthy Contract?"

"Maybe." I shrugged. Was that enough of an answer?

"...That is beyond the realm of alchemy."

"I see."

"Yes, unfortunately." Ipaello smiled a bitter smile. I was also disappointed, but I didn't let it show. Yeah, it made sense that something that didn't exist in the game wouldn't exist in the past either. "Is there anything else you're curious about?"

Ipaello seemed to really like me, considering how friendly he was being, and so I asked about the pill called the Blessing of Lethe while I was at it. But his reaction to my question was a bit strange.

"Blessing of Lethe? What is that?"

"The... medicine that erases memories."

"Ah, that! But that medicine doesn't have a name yet..."

Uh, I didn't expect that...

"But Lethe, huh? It doesn't sound bad. It's also very romantic, comparing oblivion to a blessing."

I let out a silent sigh of relief at that. No wonder it was called Lethe.

"Okay, I was just wondering what to name it, so I guess I can go with that."

I never thought this would be the backstory.

This thought wouldn't leave me. Maybe it was because of these rumors that Felic Barker spread that some wizards began doing research into the subject, which then led to a price tag being placed on barbarian hearts ten years in the future.

Then that means I could be the cause of all that insanity...?

It was still just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a thought, but the problem was that it didn't feel like a logical leap at all.

"Dumbo, I'm leaving."

"Sorry? Okay!"

I was not in the mood to be socializing at the clan house, but when I left, I found there was nowhere for me to go. I was walking around the interior of the castle when an old man who was passing by suddenly stopped and started talking to me.

"You must be Iron Mask."

It was hard to ignore. Since this world was particularly unkind to the elderly, a person had to have some level of skill to survive to that age.

"And who are you?" I asked cautiously.

The old man chuckled and took out a mana stone from his pocket. "This is the kind of person I am." As soon as he opened his mouth, the mana stone glowed and turned into bread. He was an alchemist—a transmutation-type wizard who had the ability to change mana stones into bread or iron.

I never thought I'd run into someone like this in the hallway.

In a way, an alchemist was a bigger fish than the castellan or the head of Orcules. At least, that was the case in Noark. As far as I knew, there were only two alchemists here. The city wouldn't immediately fall into ruin if the position of castellan wasn't filled for a while, but if the position of alchemist became vacant, the city would collapse. This wasn't an exaggeration, but the reality.

"Haha, judging by your surprise, I guess this is your first time seeing alchemy?"

First time seeing alchemy or not, I couldn't understand it. Who would have imagined I would meet someone who could be considered the very foundation of this city in a corridor?

Wait, even if this is the castle, the alchemist wouldn't be foolish enough to wander around alone...

When I carefully glanced around in disbelief, I sensed gazes on me from all sides. Since they were difficult to see with the naked eye, it seemed that all of them had a concealment essence.

"You are more perceptive than I thought. Don't worry too much. They're just this old man's guards."

Perceptiveness aside, they were the ones who were letting me sense their presence like they had no intention of hiding it to begin with—almost like some kind of warning for me to not even think about doing something foolish.

"Ah, anyhow, I haven't even told you my name yet. My name is Marfa Ipaello. You can call me whatever you prefer, but if I had to choose, I'd prefer you call me by my last name."

"...Iron Mask."

"I'm aware. It's fate that we met like this. Why don't we talk for a moment?"

"All right." I accepted his offer without much hesitation. He could have been another alchemist famous for his foul temper, but I knew this old man's name through Amelia.

This is the person who created the Blessing of Lethe.

That alone was worth talking to him about.

"Hmm, you are as hardy as they say. Come, let's go."

As they say, huh? So this meeting wasn't a coincidence, then. He came to see me.

Ipaello started walking down the corridor first, and I followed behind. Even though we were heading up to the third floor, where access was restricted, no one stopped me because this man was next to me. That was how we arrived at the alchemist's workshop.

"We're okay from here, so everyone can step out."

It's kind of similar to a wizard's lab, but kind of different.

I started scanning my surroundings as soon as I entered, and the old man kicked out the guards who were in hiding before offering me a seat. "Sit. If you want something to drink, let me know."

"I'm fine." Normally, this was the moment I'd stubbornly demand meat and assert my dominance in the conversation, but I skipped that this time. If I were caught being rude, I was certain to get an earful from Amelia. This old man was the savior who took Amelia in at a young age. Even without taking his position into account, I couldn't treat him poorly. Well, I still couldn't use honorifics, either, since I had to save face as a barbarian. "So, why did you call me here?"

"I just wondered what kind of person you were. This is the first time I've heard those children have so much fun while talking about the labyrinth."

"Those children?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"I'm talking about Laura and Amelia. Sweet children. Sometimes when I feel lonely, I call them over to my workshop, give them snacks, and ask them to chat with me for a while."

"...I see."

"I was quite worried, but now that I've met you, my worries have disappeared. They are unfortunate children. I hope you take good care of them."

"I will," I said with a nod. Then, after a moment's thought, I carefully asked, "But if you're going to ask a favor like that, wouldn't it be better if you just took them in?"

"Haha, that's not easy for me to do at the moment." He spoke vaguely and omitted the details, but I knew his situation to some extent.

At first, he was only able to provide snacks for them, but after the death of the other alchemist, he took Amelia out of the team completely and raised her himself.

Previous attempts to take them out had likely failed because there were currently two alchemists in the city. So long as there was someone out there who could replace him, he couldn't enjoy absolute power.

"How are those girls these days?"

"They are well. I'm trying to prevent them from doing dangerous work as much as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠possible."

"...I see."

After that, the natural topic of conversation was the Rainwales sisters. Alchemist Ipaello asked how the children were doing and I answered him honestly. Then, waiting for the right moment, I began to speak. "But can our conversation be heard over there?"

"If you're talking about the guards, you can speak without hesitation. They won't hear it. Is there something you want to ask?"

"Is there a way to remove the effects of an essence through alchemy?"

"Effects? If you're talking about a poison, that's possible..." The old man answered my question without much thought before trailing off for a beat. "...Are you talking about the Unhealthy Contract?"

"Maybe." I shrugged. Was that enough of an answer?

"...That is beyond the realm of alchemy."

"I see."

"Yes, unfortunately." Ipaello smiled a bitter smile. I was also disappointed, but I didn't let it show. Yeah, it made sense that something that didn't exist in the game wouldn't exist in the past either. "Is there anything else you're curious about?"

Ipaello seemed to really like me, considering how friendly he was being, and so I asked about the pill called the Blessing of Lethe while I was at it. But his reaction to my question was a bit strange.

"Blessing of Lethe? What is that?"

"The... medicine that erases memories."

"Ah, that! But that medicine doesn't have a name yet..."

Uh, I didn't expect that...

"But Lethe, huh? It doesn't sound bad. It's also very romantic, comparing oblivion to a blessing."

I let out a silent sigh of relief at that. No wonder it was called Lethe.

"Okay, I was just wondering what to name it, so I guess I can go with that."

I never thought this would be the backstory.