Chapter 36: Guild (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Guild (1)
"Hey! Mr. Yandel! Wake up!"
While Raven was shaking Bjorn's shoulder, the other members of their team woke up one by one.
"Miss Raven? What happened...?"
"Bjorn! Is Bjorn dead?!"
"Lady Raven! I'm glad you're all right—"
Questions flew at her from all directions, and Raven was the only one who could provide them with answers... because she hadn't passed out.
"The vampire is dead. Mr. Yandel is alive. Tarzine, I'm fine, so can you stop yelling in my ear?"
"Amazing! Your magic killed a vampire in a single blow!"
Murad's exclamation made her purse her lips. She felt enraged for some reason. It hadn't been the Sunspot Sphere that had killed the vampire. In terms of contribution, their victory wouldn't have been possible without her efforts, but...
"...It wasn't me, it was Mr. Yandel."
"What do you mean?"
"It was Mr. Yandel who killed the vampire."
Murad's eyebrows furrowed.
"This fellow here?"
Although he had praised him as "special" and a "great warrior" earlier, he couldn't believe Bjorn had killed a rank-five monster. And Raven understood how he felt.
If I were the one hearing about it secondhand... I would think the same thing.
Maybe it was thanks to how far away from the battle she had been, but she'd been unaffected by Pain Sharing and had served as the sole witness, watching these incredible events unfold. Yes, literally. Just watching. What else could a wizard who had run out of mana have done?
"Everyone, thank Mr. Yandel. Without him, none of you would have been able to open your eyes again."
"W-Well, yes... But can you tell us a little bit more about what happened?"
She was wondering how to explain it when Ainar interrupted.
"Then what happened to Bjorn?! Shouldn't we give him a potion?"
In other words: If you have a potion, pull it out.
Raven shook her head. "A potion would be... pointless," she replied. "It seems like his body has mostly already healed."
If she were to hazard a guess, this man wouldn't have much of a need for potions from now on. Most of his injuries would heal relatively quickly.
"Then why hasn't he woken up yet?"
"I'm not sure either. However..."
"What do you know?! What is it? Wizard! Speak!"
Raven took a deep breath before answering. "It's probably... exhaustion."
"...Exhaustion? Didn't you just say that his body is healed?"
Ainar placed a hand caked in dirt and dry blood on Raven's shoulder. She looked like the world itself was ending.
"What, are you two actually lovers?" Raven asked.
"Ah, ah, no! Why did you jump to a conclusion like that all of a sudden?" Ainar snapped.
"Huh. Anyway, I don't know for sure either. I am not a priestess. I only know of a few similar cases."
"Cases? Miss Raven, is this common?"
"It's not common, but... occasionally, it happens. The body has healed, but the mind has not recovered enough to wake up."
Warriors who had undergone extreme trauma or who had really poured everything into a battle sometimes fell into this state.
After hearing this explanation, Ainar raised her voice. "I've never heard of anything like that! Besides, it doesn't even make sense! Too mentally exhausted to wake up? Bjorn isn't that weak!"
Not that weak, huh...
On that point, Raven was in complete agreement. A few hours ago, she would have snorted inwardly at that comment, but now she couldn't. She alone had watched as he fought that vampire to the bitter end. But...
That was why she was sure her theory was correct.
"To be honest, I am almost certain. The reason Mr. Yandel is not waking up is because he is mentally exhausted."
Too exhausted to wake up? This had nothing to do with being weak or strong. It was just the logical consequence of what he had endured.
This woman wouldn't have said what she did if she had seen the fight for herself.
She may have just witnessed something incredibly rare today.
"Wizard! So, when will Bjorn wake up?"
"I am not sure. It may take at least a day or two at the latest."
"Then he'll be up in a few hours! Since Bjorn is a great warrior!"
...So why did you ask me?
Raven was getting annoyed again, but for some reason, she didn't feel compelled to argue with her. More precisely, she didn't have the energy for that. In fact, the barbarian's words didn't sound as arrogant as they used to.
"A Great Warrior..."
Since ancient times, fewer than ten barbarians had officially received that title from the king.
Well, it seems barbarians these days use it more as a regular compliment.
She organized her thoughts again before continuing. The Essence of a Corpse Golem and the Essence of a Vampire—and the Essence of a Guardian, at that. The barbarian had absorbed both.
He had completed his coming-of-age ceremony just last month, and hadn't he said that this was his second time entering the labyrinth? As she looked at the dead-to-the-world barbarian, she opened her mouth.
"...Truly, that may one day be the case."
Of course, in order for that to happen, he would have to survive dozens of more trials like this one.
***
Did I survive...?
When I woke up, it was late at night. For some reason, I was lying on Ainar's lap, and as soon as our eyes met, she shouted, rendering me wide awake.
"Bjorn!"
"...Where are the others?"
"Everyone is gone! Bjorn, are you okay? I was worried! You were passed out for three whole days!"
It's been three days? So, does that make today the seventh day?
That sobered me up, and I sat up right away. Then I took stock of my current state. No visible external injuries. Health-wise, besides being hungry, I was generally all right.
"By the way, Ainar, what are these pants I'm wearing?"
"Pants" was a generous description. A cloth that could have been used as a handkerchief was wrapped around my lower body, covering only the important parts.
To be more accurate, it was closer to a skirt than pants... and a very small one at that.
"Oh! The wizard gave me some extra cloth."
After hearing this explanation, Ainar raised her voice. "I've never heard of anything like that! Besides, it doesn't even make sense! Too mentally exhausted to wake up? Bjorn isn't that weak!"
Not that weak, huh...
On that point, Raven was in complete agreement. A few hours ago, she would have snorted inwardly at that comment, but now she couldn't. She alone had watched as he fought that vampire to the bitter end. But...
That was why she was sure her theory was correct.
"To be honest, I am almost certain. The reason Mr. Yandel is not waking up is because he is mentally exhausted."
Too exhausted to wake up? This had nothing to do with being weak or strong. It was just the logical consequence of what he had endured.
This woman wouldn't have said what she did if she had seen the fight for herself.
She may have just witnessed something incredibly rare today.
"Wizard! So, when will Bjorn wake up?"
"I am not sure. It may take at least a day or two at the latest."
"Then he'll be up in a few hours! Since Bjorn is a great warrior!"
...So why did you ask me?
Raven was getting annoyed again, but for some reason, she didn't feel compelled to argue with her. More precisely, she didn't have the energy for that. In fact, the barbarian's words didn't sound as arrogant as they used to.
"A Great Warrior..."
Since ancient times, fewer than ten barbarians had officially received that title from the king.
Well, it seems barbarians these days use it more as a regular compliment.
She organized her thoughts again before continuing. The Essence of a Corpse Golem and the Essence of a Vampire—and the Essence of a Guardian, at that. The barbarian had absorbed both.
He had completed his coming-of-age ceremony just last month, and hadn't he said that this was his second time entering the labyrinth? As she looked at the dead-to-the-world barbarian, she opened her mouth.
"...Truly, that may one day be the case."
Of course, in order for that to happen, he would have to survive dozens of more trials like this one.
***
Did I survive...?
When I woke up, it was late at night. For some reason, I was lying on Ainar's lap, and as soon as our eyes met, she shouted, rendering me wide awake.
"Bjorn!"
"...Where are the others?"
"Everyone is gone! Bjorn, are you okay? I was worried! You were passed out for three whole days!"
It's been three days? So, does that make today the seventh day?
That sobered me up, and I sat up right away. Then I took stock of my current state. No visible external injuries. Health-wise, besides being hungry, I was generally all right.
"By the way, Ainar, what are these pants I'm wearing?"
"Pants" was a generous description. A cloth that could have been used as a handkerchief was wrapped around my lower body, covering only the important parts.
To be more accurate, it was closer to a skirt than pants... and a very small one at that.
"Oh! The wizard gave me some extra cloth."
"...A-And you put it on me?"
"Of course!"
A bit of shame crept in, but it was a little lessened because Ainar didn't seem at all bothered. True, it would be weird for a warrior to be awkward about stuff like this.
"There is no reason to be embarrassed. Bjorn, you truly are a great warrior!"
Well, that doesn't mean you can sexually harass me.
"...So, what happened after that?"
I changed the topic to wipe the humiliation from my mind. I was wondering what had happened after I blacked out... Especially to the loot.
"The Numbered Item? Murad took it, and the Rift Stones were taken by the wizard."
"What?"
It was one shock after another. The fact that I was alive right now meant that I'd absorbed the vampire's essence... Did that mean that the vampire had dropped all three drop items?
What kind of special event was this?
"Oh, right! We didn't roll any dice when distributing the Rift Stones. The wizard argued that she had to take it all to make up for her losses, so..." Ainar continued to justify what had happened to me. "Murad said he didn't mind, but I said no! But then the wizard said something strange."
"Strange?"
"She said that you took the greatest reward of all, so you can't complain about her taking the Rift Stones."
Sounds like the wizard is the only one who realized that I absorbed the vampire's essence.
I nodded silently. I had no complaints about this loot distribution. Whatever the reason was, the wizard had fed me the Essence of the Corpse Golem. In addition, considering the cost of the potion she had poured on me, she had basically only incurred losses while in the rift. Being greedy about the Rift Stones at this point would only make me an asshole.
Ainar seemed to think a little differently, though.
"W-Well, I told her to wait until you wake up and then we could decide, but I couldn't stop her! They waited for more than half a day, but you still didn't wake up, so they all went through the portal and left!"
"You don't have to blame yourself. You couldn't have done anything."
I could only imagine the expressions on the faces of the people who had been held captive for half a day by Ainar's arm-twisting. The best thing to do here was just to thank her.
"Thank you. I'm glad you were on my side."
"...I-I just did what made sense! We're comrades!"
I checked my belongings, which Ainar seemed to have gathered. A backpack, a mace, a few pieces of scrap metal that might have previously been my shield...
Still, if I sell it, the price of the iron may add up.
Once I put everything I could see in my backpack, I took out food and a canteen and filled my hungry stomach. Then I glanced at the time.
[23:20]
Less than an hour left before the portal closes.
"Bjorn! When you're done eating, how about we leave? There isn't much time left now!"
I firmly refused. "We can't."
In truth, I desperately wanted to leave this nauseating place right now, but... After everything I went through, I should at least take everything I could with me. I also wanted to check out the boss room.
"...A-And you put it on me?"
"Of course!"
A bit of shame crept in, but it was a little lessened because Ainar didn't seem at all bothered. True, it would be weird for a warrior to be awkward about stuff like this.
"There is no reason to be embarrassed. Bjorn, you truly are a great warrior!"
Well, that doesn't mean you can sexually harass me.
"...So, what happened after that?"
I changed the topic to wipe the humiliation from my mind. I was wondering what had happened after I blacked out... Especially to the loot.
"The Numbered Item? Murad took it, and the Rift Stones were taken by the wizard."
"What?"
It was one shock after another. The fact that I was alive right now meant that I'd absorbed the vampire's essence... Did that mean that the vampire had dropped all three drop items?
What kind of special event was this?
"Oh, right! We didn't roll any dice when distributing the Rift Stones. The wizard argued that she had to take it all to make up for her losses, so..." Ainar continued to justify what had happened to me. "Murad said he didn't mind, but I said no! But then the wizard said something strange."
"Strange?"
"She said that you took the greatest reward of all, so you can't complain about her taking the Rift Stones."
Sounds like the wizard is the only one who realized that I absorbed the vampire's essence.
I nodded silently. I had no complaints about this loot distribution. Whatever the reason was, the wizard had fed me the Essence of the Corpse Golem. In addition, considering the cost of the potion she had poured on me, she had basically only incurred losses while in the rift. Being greedy about the Rift Stones at this point would only make me an asshole.
Ainar seemed to think a little differently, though.
"W-Well, I told her to wait until you wake up and then we could decide, but I couldn't stop her! They waited for more than half a day, but you still didn't wake up, so they all went through the portal and left!"
"You don't have to blame yourself. You couldn't have done anything."
I could only imagine the expressions on the faces of the people who had been held captive for half a day by Ainar's arm-twisting. The best thing to do here was just to thank her.
"Thank you. I'm glad you were on my side."
"...I-I just did what made sense! We're comrades!"
I checked my belongings, which Ainar seemed to have gathered. A backpack, a mace, a few pieces of scrap metal that might have previously been my shield...
Still, if I sell it, the price of the iron may add up.
Once I put everything I could see in my backpack, I took out food and a canteen and filled my hungry stomach. Then I glanced at the time.
[23:20]
Less than an hour left before the portal closes.
"Bjorn! When you're done eating, how about we leave? There isn't much time left now!"
I firmly refused. "We can't."
In truth, I desperately wanted to leave this nauseating place right now, but... After everything I went through, I should at least take everything I could with me. I also wanted to check out the boss room.
The wizard took the Necronomicon, so there is only one thing left.
It looked like I was going to have to move quickly.
***
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
[The labyrinth is now closed.]
[You are being transported to Rafdonia.]
***
As I felt sunlight on my skin for the first time in a while, I exhaled.
Just barely made it...
Time had been tighter than I expected. It had taken less than ten minutes to find the item that was hidden in the ceiling of the outer wall's watchtower after climbing up the ladder... But reaching the boss room had been a race against time.
...And it was all in vain.
Ainar said the others had waited for me for half a day, but maybe the wizard had actually just wanted to use that time to conduct her research.
Well, it would be weird for someone with her personality to just sit around doing nothing.
The boss room had walls that were caved in here and there. A torn picture frame. There was even a box in a shape I had never seen before, left open and abandoned.
I'm sure there was an additional bit of loot there, but she must've grabbed it for herself.
We had run over at full speed, and the room already showed signs of a thorough investigation. However, rather than feeling angry about being dine-and-dashed, I was more curious about what the item had been. And rightfully so, because this was an unusual rift that had never been cleared before. An element that even I, someone who had been playing this game for nine years, didn't know about?
My curiosity as a gamer was piqued.
It's not like she would have let me have it if I'd asked... I'll just have to ask about it the next time I see her.
Anyway, I searched everywhere to see if there was anything the wizard had missed, and soon time got tight. In fact, the portal closed as soon as we came out of the rift, so we had been cutting it closer than close. We had almost been trapped in the boss room without a boss monster, forever.
"Serum, fourth son of Kenick! You have more scars! I envy you!"
"This is nothing, Karak, third son of Fanun!"
As I was getting my thoughts in order, I heard the scattered voices of barbarians in the crowd. Fortunately, they hadn't noticed me yet. I bowed my head to stay out of sight and headed to the currency exchange for rank nine adventurers. Fortunately, I had arrived early, so the line wasn't long. There were no barbarians to bother me either.
When I handed them my mana stones, the worker exchanged them for money just like last time.
"That's 231,520 stones."
230,000 stones.
It was an amount that seemed infinitely small compared to the hardships I'd suffered.
That's not all of it, though.
I had absorbed two essences during this adventure. Plus, the profits I would receive once I sold off the items in my possession would be several times higher than the profits from the mana stones.
For whatever reason, mana stones always become an adventurer's supplementary, not primary, source of income.
I didn't know if I should be happy or sad about that.
With a bitter smile, I was about to pick up my pouch when—
"That amount is too high for a rank nine adventurer."
The official took back the pouch they had put down and gave me a strange look.
"What's in the backpack on your back?"
What do I have in my backpack? It wasn't like I couldn't answer the question, but...
"...Why are you asking?"
I felt a chill go down my spine.
I looked around and saw guards rapidly approaching me in the distance. It seemed that the worker had pressed some sort of emergency call button that had been hidden under the desk.
"Is this the man?"
"Yes."
I raised my hands to express my intent to cooperate with the authorities, but the guards exchanged a few words with the officials and forcibly grabbed my arms.
Shit, had I come back from the dead just for this to happen?
"Barbarian, let's have a chat somewhere private."
Instinctively, I knew I was fucked.
The wizard took the Necronomicon, so there is only one thing left.
It looked like I was going to have to move quickly.
***
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
[The labyrinth is now closed.]
[You are being transported to Rafdonia.]
***
As I felt sunlight on my skin for the first time in a while, I exhaled.
Just barely made it...
Time had been tighter than I expected. It had taken less than ten minutes to find the item that was hidden in the ceiling of the outer wall's watchtower after climbing up the ladder... But reaching the boss room had been a race against time.
...And it was all in vain.
Ainar said the others had waited for me for half a day, but maybe the wizard had actually just wanted to use that time to conduct her research.
Well, it would be weird for someone with her personality to just sit around doing nothing.
The boss room had walls that were caved in here and there. A torn picture frame. There was even a box in a shape I had never seen before, left open and abandoned.
I'm sure there was an additional bit of loot there, but she must've grabbed it for herself.
We had run over at full speed, and the room already showed signs of a thorough investigation. However, rather than feeling angry about being dine-and-dashed, I was more curious about what the item had been. And rightfully so, because this was an unusual rift that had never been cleared before. An element that even I, someone who had been playing this game for nine years, didn't know about?
My curiosity as a gamer was piqued.
It's not like she would have let me have it if I'd asked... I'll just have to ask about it the next time I see her.
Anyway, I searched everywhere to see if there was anything the wizard had missed, and soon time got tight. In fact, the portal closed as soon as we came out of the rift, so we had been cutting it closer than close. We had almost been trapped in the boss room without a boss monster, forever.
"Serum, fourth son of Kenick! You have more scars! I envy you!"
"This is nothing, Karak, third son of Fanun!"
As I was getting my thoughts in order, I heard the scattered voices of barbarians in the crowd. Fortunately, they hadn't noticed me yet. I bowed my head to stay out of sight and headed to the currency exchange for rank nine adventurers. Fortunately, I had arrived early, so the line wasn't long. There were no barbarians to bother me either.
When I handed them my mana stones, the worker exchanged them for money just like last time.
"That's 231,520 stones."
230,000 stones.
It was an amount that seemed infinitely small compared to the hardships I'd suffered.
That's not all of it, though.
I had absorbed two essences during this adventure. Plus, the profits I would receive once I sold off the items in my possession would be several times higher than the profits from the mana stones.
For whatever reason, mana stones always become an adventurer's supplementary, not primary, source of income.
I didn't know if I should be happy or sad about that.
With a bitter smile, I was about to pick up my pouch when—
"That amount is too high for a rank nine adventurer."
The official took back the pouch they had put down and gave me a strange look.
"What's in the backpack on your back?"
What do I have in my backpack? It wasn't like I couldn't answer the question, but...
"...Why are you asking?"
I felt a chill go down my spine.
I looked around and saw guards rapidly approaching me in the distance. It seemed that the worker had pressed some sort of emergency call button that had been hidden under the desk.
"Is this the man?"
"Yes."
I raised my hands to express my intent to cooperate with the authorities, but the guards exchanged a few words with the officials and forcibly grabbed my arms.
Shit, had I come back from the dead just for this to happen?
"Barbarian, let's have a chat somewhere private."
Instinctively, I knew I was fucked.