Chapter 363: Responsibility (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 363: Responsibility (1)

Once we exited the cage, we moved to the gunroom located at the center of the ship because the talk we were about to have had to remain secret.

"You can speak freely here. This place is designed for private conversations."

Oh, in that case.

"I want to hear about the current state of affairs. What happened with the ambush?"

This was what I had been most curious about while locked in the cage, so I decided to get caught up on the information I had been thoroughly cut off from. How did Orcules's ambush go?

"Count Ramleonde was killed in action. He was attacked by the Traitor, Ricardo Lüchenprague, during his retreat."

My heart dropped when I heard that the captain of our corps had been assassinated, but upon closer inspection, it seemed the war situation wasn't as dire as I thought. Apparently, as soon as the dozens of boats on the lake were essentially turned into fortresses, the attacks stopped. They'd been in a standstill for going on two hours now.

"Command assumes that the goal of this ambush was to take advantage of the confusion and assassinate key figures."

Assassinate key figures, huh?

"That's highly plausible." After all, that was what Blood Knight had said as soon as he saw us.

"The Golden Sorcerer, Arua Raven. One of the targets to be killed."

Raven must have been one of the key figures on the hitlist. I could roughly piece together their strategy for this attack in my head with no issue.

Have Corpse Collector spread his undead over a wide area and use that to locate the assassination targets.

The number of undead grew drastically over the course of the battle with Blood Knight, and before long, a three-person team arrived to provide reinforcements.

"Anyway, the situation isn't that dire right now, so let's talk about you first. What is your plan from here on out, Mr. Yandel?"

Hmm, a plan, huh? I have to start thinking about that now... I never expected the old man's gift to work that way, either. Thanks to that, my head is—

"Um, and..." Just then, Raven spoke up again, trailing off. "I'm going to warn you in advance. I may have helped you this time because I had no choice, but I can't keep it up."

Huh? We're not back to being comrades ...?

When I shot her a look of betrayal, Raven avoided my eyes. "It's no use looking at me like that. I think I've taken on enough risk just by not reporting this incident. I've done my part."

That was disappointing, but nothing I couldn't understand. She may not have reported it because she couldn't bring herself to let me die like this, but I was sure she wasn't prepared to throw herself into the pit with me. That was what it meant to help evil spirits in this world. The moment you were caught, execution was guaranteed.

"Raven, I don't blame you, so don't make that face. I'm grateful that you helped me out this time. If something goes wrong in the future, I'll do my best to make sure you don't get dragged into it." I laughed like a barbarian and patted Raven on the shoulder.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

What was up with this? Normally she would have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yelped in pain and glared at me, but Raven didn't do that this time. She simply pursed her lips and looked down at the ground. "Mr. Yandel... how can you be like that even in a situation like this?"

Ugh, that's what's bothering you? You're needlessly emotional. I told you, I get where you're coming from.

"The fact that you tried to help me despite knowing the truth... that's already enough for me." I didn't blame her—on the contrary, I felt apologetic. After all, this kid who was doing well for herself and had a stable life ahead of her was risking everything because of me.

An awkward silence ensued after that. Once Raven came back to her senses to some extent, she returned to the original topic of conversation with a bashful look. "Anyway... so what are you going to do now?"

"Well, I think you shouldn't hear it. If you hear my plan and get more involved with me, it'll be hard for you to distance yourself from our actions later. You said this will be the last time you help me anyway, right?"

Raven flinched when I tried to establish boundaries, but I guessed she had an opinion on that. "Mr. Yandel, you said you'll do your best to keep me out of it, but you never know what will happen."

"That's true."

"For now, you not getting caught is our best bet. And to do that..."

"To do that...?"

"I'm willing to help. To some extent."

I knew she was going to pull through in the end. When I grinned, Raven glanced up at me, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Whatever, so just tell me what you plan to do now. I'm sure you had a plan, which is why you came out onto the battlefield with your identity hidden. You would have known you would stand out."

I answered after some thought—honestly, like the barbarian I was. "I have none. For now."

"...Excuse me?"

Even if you look at me like that, the plan still doesn't exist.

I truly never imagined Auril's gift would turn out like that. I came to the labyrinth because I needed money, but I hadn't been planning on doing anything that could attract attention.

I guessed she hadn't expected that answer at all. "...By none, you mean... So you have no plan at all?"

Raven confirmed this with a stammer and I reaffirmed it like a man. "Yes."

"Really? If people find out I helped you, I could be dishonorably discharged from the military and even kicked out of the Magic Tower."

Wow, you could end up getting kicked out of the Magic Tower too? Did she really risk all of that for me?

Once again grateful for Raven's decision to help, I changed the subject. "Anyway, I'm hungry after being locked up for so long. Can I take out some beef jerky—"

"Don't change the subject!"

"I-I'm not, I'm just really hungry—"

"What are you saying?! You're not even a real barbarian!"

Huh, come to think of it, that approach wouldn't work on her anymore. The thought was kind of bittersweet.

Sigh...

A sigh echoed through the quiet room. As an uncomfortable tension settled between us, I sneakily pulled out some beef jerky and gnawed on it.

"What... are you eating right now?"

I wasn't lying about being hungry. My body was a barbarian's, after all. It needed to be supplied with nutrients at all times.

"...Do you want some?"

"No... Ha, how could I have realized you were an evil spirit when you're like this all the time?" Raven sighed again, but I decided to take that as a compliment on how thorough I was.

Ugh, that's what's bothering you? You're needlessly emotional. I told you, I get where you're coming from.

"The fact that you tried to help me despite knowing the truth... that's already enough for me." I didn't blame her—on the contrary, I felt apologetic. After all, this kid who was doing well for herself and had a stable life ahead of her was risking everything because of me.

An awkward silence ensued after that. Once Raven came back to her senses to some extent, she returned to the original topic of conversation with a bashful look. "Anyway... so what are you going to do now?"

"Well, I think you shouldn't hear it. If you hear my plan and get more involved with me, it'll be hard for you to distance yourself from our actions later. You said this will be the last time you help me anyway, right?"

Raven flinched when I tried to establish boundaries, but I guessed she had an opinion on that. "Mr. Yandel, you said you'll do your best to keep me out of it, but you never know what will happen."

"That's true."

"For now, you not getting caught is our best bet. And to do that..."

"To do that...?"

"I'm willing to help. To some extent."

I knew she was going to pull through in the end. When I grinned, Raven glanced up at me, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Whatever, so just tell me what you plan to do now. I'm sure you had a plan, which is why you came out onto the battlefield with your identity hidden. You would have known you would stand out."

I answered after some thought—honestly, like the barbarian I was. "I have none. For now."

"...Excuse me?"

Even if you look at me like that, the plan still doesn't exist.

I truly never imagined Auril's gift would turn out like that. I came to the labyrinth because I needed money, but I hadn't been planning on doing anything that could attract attention.

I guessed she hadn't expected that answer at all. "...By none, you mean... So you have no plan at all?"

Raven confirmed this with a stammer and I reaffirmed it like a man. "Yes."

"Really? If people find out I helped you, I could be dishonorably ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠discharged from the military and even kicked out of the Magic Tower."

Wow, you could end up getting kicked out of the Magic Tower too? Did she really risk all of that for me?

Once again grateful for Raven's decision to help, I changed the subject. "Anyway, I'm hungry after being locked up for so long. Can I take out some beef jerky—"

"Don't change the subject!"

"I-I'm not, I'm just really hungry—"

"What are you saying?! You're not even a real barbarian!"

Huh, come to think of it, that approach wouldn't work on her anymore. The thought was kind of bittersweet.

Sigh...

A sigh echoed through the quiet room. As an uncomfortable tension settled between us, I sneakily pulled out some beef jerky and gnawed on it.

"What... are you eating right now?"

I wasn't lying about being hungry. My body was a barbarian's, after all. It needed to be supplied with nutrients at all times.

"...Do you want some?"

"No... Ha, how could I have realized you were an evil spirit when you're like this all the time?" Raven sighed again, but I decided to take that as a compliment on how thorough I was.

Chew, chew.

Whew, I feel more energized now that I've eaten something.

"Raven, did you know already?"

"Know what?"

"It seemed like you had another reason to suspect me other than the royal announcement."

"Oh, that..." Raven's expression instantly darkened, but it seemed she decided that whatever was making her react like that wasn't something she had to hide. "The magic device that contained the conversation between Hans Chrisen and the dwarf from Noark."

Ah, so that recorder ended up with her. But what about it?

When I shot her a questioning look, Raven slowly continued with her explanation. "Maybe it was because it used a cheap core, but that recorder had a maximum number of times you could listen to the recordings on it."

"So?"

"The limit was one hundred, but there were only two plays remaining. I started to wonder why you would have listened to that over and over again."

"...I see." To think that ended up being a clue. I never would have imagined.

"To be honest... there was something much more decisive than that, though. Miss Missha came to see me at the lab about fifty days after you died, Mr. Yandel."

"...What did she say?"

"She said that there were going to be rumors circulating that you are an evil spirit."

Was it because the topic of conversation was Missha? I felt my heart go cold. "And?"

"Because of the thing with the recorder, I got the feeling something was off. I asked her if that wouldn't just be a rumor."

At the time, Missha had avoided answering, but ironically, that served as a clearer answer than anything.

Erwen jumped in. "Was—so it was that bea—no, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that woman who started the rumor?"

Raven looked slightly uncomfortable and lowered her head. "Probably. Although I don't know what her circumstances were."

Erwen gritted her teeth when Raven confirmed her suspicions. "What circumstances? That woman... I knew she would do something like this one day..."

"Calm down, Erwen. No one knows what happened to Missha yet."

"But...! No matter what her circumstances were, I would have never done something like that to you! Aren't you angry, Mister? You were betrayed!"

"I'm telling you we don't know that yet."

To be honest, I was more worried than angry. After all, there was the matter of that intel I had gotten at the Round Table. Missha was with Baekho.

"Baekho Lee has the Stone of Revival."

She might have made some kind of deal with him to revive me. Well, that was just a working theory on my part. Whether or not that was true, her decision was ultimately detrimental to me.

Jeez, what is that girl doing right now?

"Honestly! Mister, you... why are you so ridiculously kind?!"

What was she saying? "Anyway, Raven... then you don't know why the palace acknowledged the rumor and made it public, either?"

"No. But... I did hear something from Captain Pevrosk."

"Hear something?"

"As soon as the announcement was made, he came to me and said that no one can know the truth about a man who's already dead. Of course, I thought he was just saying that to comfort me, but... Now that I'm looking back on it, there seemed to be a strange hidden meaning behind his words, almost as if the captain knew the truth? You might find something there."

"Can you look into it when you get back to the city?"

"Sure, I can do that much..." Despite my concerns, Raven nodded. Fortunately, it seemed this kind of favor was included in "to some extent."

After that, we all conversed and made plans for the future, and we soon came to a conclusion.

"Then it would be best to hide your identity for the time being." Now that we knew how verification through Misplaced Trust worked, we decided it was necessary to be more careful about revealing my identity. "But... why did it only malfunction for you, Mr. Yandel?"

I glossed over the gift I got from Auril Gavis. "I don't know. Maybe it's because of the Fragment of Records Stone."

This was yet another lie, but it couldn't be helped. I was the only one immune to Misplaced Trust. This may not have mattered, considering she already knew I was an evil spirit and was fine with it, but who knew what would happen in the future? That was also the reason why I hadn't told Amelia yet.

Plus, if I tell Raven about this, I'd have to mention Auril Gavis.

Auril Gavis was an enemy of the palace. If it became known that I had received a gift from him on top of being an evil spirit, I'd be in an even tighter spot. There'd be no room to even negotiate.

"Still... I'm glad. If this isn't a one-time phenomenon, this means you're a little safer now."

"Yeah, I think so too."

"But... Mister, do you really have to reclaim your identity? I like the way you look even now..." Erwen offered her two cents, but my ultimate goal of clearing the rumor didn't change.

"If I don't, I'll never be able to receive another Spirit Imprint."

Do you know why I cultivated a barbarian? If I want to create more synergy with the essences I've consumed so far, the Spirit Imprint is essential.

But I guessed Erwen couldn't empathize with that logic. "But... you can live without that." She sounded kind of sad. "Mister... why are you so hellbent on getting stronger...?"

At that question, everyone turned to me.

"Come to think of it, Mr. Yandel, you were like that in the past too... Only interested in climbing the labyrinth's floors." Raven's eyes held some unease.

"I've heard rumors before that evil spirits might be able to return to their original world after reaching the end of the labyrinth." Amelia calmly summed up my predicament, but I wasn't particularly grateful to her for doing so.

Don't say it like that. That's bound to create a misunderstanding.

"No way, Mister, is that why...?"

"I guess Mr. Yandel has a reason to go to those lengths to get back, then. Well, it's his home, after all..."

"Mister... can't you just live here...? I-I'll do better... and I won't make any trouble..."

Ugh, what were they saying? "Erwen, calm down. I think there's been a misunderstanding."

Return? Returning hadn't been my primary goal in the past, and it wasn't right now, either. My number one goal had always been survival. But after meeting people, exploring, and experiencing so many things, said number one goal had changed a bit. It was still to survive, but not just on my own. With everyone together.

"Why am I so hellbent on getting stronger...?" I continued without any hesitation. "So that I can protect you guys."

I'm no longer protecting just myself with this shield.

Chew, chew.

Whew, I feel more energized now that I've eaten something.

"Raven, did you know already?"

"Know what?"

"It seemed like you had another reason to suspect me other than the royal announcement."

"Oh, that..." Raven's expression instantly darkened, but it seemed she decided that whatever was making her react like that wasn't something she had to hide. "The magic device that contained ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the conversation between Hans Chrisen and the dwarf from Noark."

Ah, so that recorder ended up with her. But what about it?

When I shot her a questioning look, Raven slowly continued with her explanation. "Maybe it was because it used a cheap core, but that recorder had a maximum number of times you could listen to the recordings on it."

"So?"

"The limit was one hundred, but there were only two plays remaining. I started to wonder why you would have listened to that over and over again."

"...I see." To think that ended up being a clue. I never would have imagined.

"To be honest... there was something much more decisive than that, though. Miss Missha came to see me at the lab about fifty days after you died, Mr. Yandel."

"...What did she say?"

"She said that there were going to be rumors circulating that you are an evil spirit."

Was it because the topic of conversation was Missha? I felt my heart go cold. "And?"

"Because of the thing with the recorder, I got the feeling something was off. I asked her if that wouldn't just be a rumor."

At the time, Missha had avoided answering, but ironically, that served as a clearer answer than anything.

Erwen jumped in. "Was—so it was that bea—no, that woman who started the rumor?"

Raven looked slightly uncomfortable and lowered her head. "Probably. Although I don't know what her circumstances were."

Erwen gritted her teeth when Raven confirmed her suspicions. "What circumstances? That woman... I knew she would do something like this one day..."

"Calm down, Erwen. No one knows what happened to Missha yet."

"But...! No matter what her circumstances were, I would have never done something like that to you! Aren't you angry, Mister? You were betrayed!"

"I'm telling you we don't know that yet."

To be honest, I was more worried than angry. After all, there was the matter of that intel I had gotten at the Round Table. Missha was with Baekho.

"Baekho Lee has the Stone of Revival."

She might have made some kind of deal with him to revive me. Well, that was just a working theory on my part. Whether or not that was true, her decision was ultimately detrimental to me.

Jeez, what is that girl doing right now?

"Honestly! Mister, you... why are you so ridiculously kind?!"

What was she saying? "Anyway, Raven... then you don't know why the palace acknowledged the rumor and made it public, either?"

"No. But... I did hear something from Captain Pevrosk."

"Hear something?"

"As soon as the announcement was made, he came to me and said that no one can know the truth about a man who's already dead. Of course, I thought he was just saying that to comfort me, but... Now that I'm looking back on it, there seemed to be a strange hidden meaning behind his words, almost as if the captain knew the truth? You might find something there."

"Can you look into it when you get back to the city?"

"Sure, I can do that much..." Despite my concerns, Raven nodded. Fortunately, it seemed this kind of favor was included in "to some extent."

After that, we all conversed and made plans for the future, and we soon came to a conclusion.

"Then it would be best to hide your identity for the time being." Now that we knew how verification through Misplaced Trust worked, we decided it was necessary to be more careful about revealing my identity. "But... why did it only malfunction for you, Mr. Yandel?"

I glossed over the gift I got from Auril Gavis. "I don't know. Maybe it's because of the Fragment of Records Stone."

This was yet another lie, but it couldn't be helped. I was the only one immune to Misplaced Trust. This may not have mattered, considering she already knew I was an evil spirit and was fine with it, but who knew what would happen in the future? That was also the reason why I hadn't told Amelia yet.

Plus, if I tell Raven about this, I'd have to mention Auril Gavis.

Auril Gavis was an enemy of the palace. If it became known that I had received a gift from him on top of being an evil spirit, I'd be in an even tighter spot. There'd be no room to even negotiate.

"Still... I'm glad. If this isn't a one-time phenomenon, this means you're a little safer now."

"Yeah, I think so too."

"But... Mister, do you really have to reclaim your identity? I like the way you look even now..." Erwen offered her two cents, but my ultimate goal of clearing the rumor didn't change.

"If I don't, I'll never be able to receive another Spirit Imprint."

Do you know why I cultivated a barbarian? If I want to create more synergy with the essences I've consumed so far, the Spirit Imprint is essential.

But I guessed Erwen couldn't empathize with that logic. "But... you can live without that." She sounded kind of sad. "Mister... why are you so hellbent on getting stronger...?"

At that question, everyone turned to me.

"Come to think of it, Mr. Yandel, you were like that in the past too... Only interested in climbing the labyrinth's floors." Raven's eyes held some unease.

"I've heard rumors before that evil spirits might be able to return to their original world after reaching the end of the labyrinth." Amelia calmly summed up my predicament, but I wasn't particularly grateful to her for doing so.

Don't say it like that. That's bound to create a misunderstanding.

"No way, Mister, is that why...?"

"I guess Mr. Yandel has a reason to go to those lengths to get back, then. Well, it's his home, after all..."

"Mister... can't you just live here...? I-I'll do better... and I won't make any trouble..."

Ugh, what were they saying? "Erwen, calm down. I think there's been a misunderstanding."

Return? Returning hadn't been my primary goal in the past, and it wasn't right now, either. My number one goal had always been survival. But after meeting people, exploring, and experiencing so many things, said number one goal had changed a bit. It was still to survive, but not just on my own. With everyone together.

"Why am I so hellbent on getting stronger...?" I continued without any hesitation. "So that I can protect you guys."

I'm no longer protecting just myself with this shield.