Chapter 366: Responsibility (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 366: Responsibility (4)
Raven was the one to end the awkward silence. "Are you going to keep making that face? This isn't even your fault, Mr. Y—I mean, Mr. Schuitz."
She probably wasn't saying this knowing the entire context, but she wasn't wrong. It would be unrealistic to say this was all my fault, but I couldn't shake the thought that I had been the one to give a person standing at the edge of a cliff the final push. If I hadn't gone to see that woman, perhaps she wouldn't have made that choice.
Dwalkie... Bjorn's biological father, Yandel Jarku...
When I thought of these two cases, I was forced to acknowledge the possibility even more. My presence had changed the future.
"Ha... if I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have brought it up," Raven said. It began to hit me that I could no longer play the oblivious card and keep my mouth shut anymore, couldn't deceive her yet again.
On the other hand, I also thought this: was it okay for me to pick at a wound that had finally healed just because I didn't want to turn a blind eye to the part I'd played in causing it? That thought made it hard for me to open my mouth and speak.
"What a strange tension. Are we interrupting something?"
"Strange? That can't be possible. But... Mister... what were the two of you doing...?"
When I turned toward the entrance at the sound of voices, I could see Amelia and Erwen lifting the tent flap and walking in. When I turned my head again, Raven had already returned her attention to the documents in front of her.
Yeah, this isn't the time to have this conversation.
In the end, I couldn't say anything that day.
***
[The labyrinth is now closed. You are being transported to Rafdonia.]
***
On day seventy-five of the quest, the closing date for the seventh floor, we returned to the city.
Wow, it really feels like it's been a while.
After spending over two months in the labyrinth, the city felt alien. I had heard some upper-floor clans tended to rest for a month or two after an expedition, and I was beginning to understand why.
"Are you going home straight away, Mister?"
"For now. Let's rest, and then we can eat some good food."
"Okay!"
After leaving the currency exchange, we headed straight to the mansion. We didn't actually exchange a lot of mana stones. After we got to the sixth floor, all loot was received in the form of vouchers with the seal of the royal family. Apparently, these could be exchanged for money at the Office of Merit, but since it would be crowded for a few days, I decided to wait a while before heading over there.
"Whew, finally home."
'Home' was a mansion with a small garden, and anything that could be called a window boarded up. I never thought I'd be glad to see this place.
Anyway, let's eat the takeaway after washing up...
"Then who's going to wash up first?"
We were trying to decide on the order when Amelia said to me, "Schuitz, you use the second-floor bathroom."
"Huh? That's fine with me, but you're okay with me going first?"
"The first-floor bathroom is bigger than the second. The two of us can just use it together."
I didn't quite understand. "...What? You guys are going to use it together?" For some reason, I couldn't really picture it. "You guys... when did you get so close?"
At my obvious shock, Erwen waved her hands, extremely flustered. "C-Close? That's not true! You! Say something! Why would I take a bath with you?"
"Because it's more efficient. Well, if you don't want to, I'll take a bath first."
"What? Why do you get to decide—"
"Then I'm going in."
"...Wait, stop!" When Amelia headed toward the bathroom, Erwen ran after her with a shout.
How is it that they never have a quiet day?
I turned away and headed to the second-floor bathroom. I was a little curious about who was going to use the bathroom first or if they'd wash up together... But what did it matter either way? At this point, I was at least sure they wouldn't draw their weapons on each other.
"Whew, that feels much better."
As soon as I poured hot water on my body, I felt all the fatigue I had accumulated melt away. It felt like the expedition was finally over.
Considering everything that happened... things ended up going quite smoothly.
There weren't any noteworthy incidents after that initial ambush. I continued to join patrol duty until I gained enough XP to reach level seven, and that peace persisted. It seemed something happened to the main unit in the middle of our stay because they requested our support, so we joined the troops for a while. Of course, that didn't affect me very much. Raven had to remain in the rear because of her strategic role, and that also applied to us as her unit.
For this loot settlement, I'll have to first sell the equipment and exchange the vouchers for money...
As I was cataloging our gains from this expedition while washing up, it all felt very novel.
"Level seven, huh?"
I was now at a level where I could proudly say I'd entered the mid-to-late stages of the game. Not to mention the number of rank-three essences I'd obtained despite still technically being at the beginning of the second half. It seemed like just yesterday that I was crawling around after stepping on goblin traps.
I've become much stronger.
I was starting to feel my growth. After all, the reason why I could say that this expedition had ended smoothly in the first place? I'd had to fight four members of Orcules: Corpse Collector, Wailing Witch, Lighthouse Keeper, and Blood Knight. In the past, someone would have had to make a sacrifice to get us out of that encounter, and I also would have had to put my life at stake.
I have to get even stronger.
Rather than feeling satisfied, though, I felt my own inadequacy even more. I still had a long way to go before I could guarantee complete safety for myself and my comrades from the palace and monsters like Auril Gavis and Baekho.
I have to hit level nine somehow. And I have to resolve the issue of the Spirit Imprint as soon as possible...
Just as I was thinking that, I heard, "Mister, are you almost done? I'm thinking of reheating the food now."
"Ah, I'll be out soon." Realizing I had been in the bathroom for a lot longer than I thought, I quickly finished up and exited. Then, eating the reheated food, we talked.
"Schuitz, what's your plan for dealing with the guild issue?"
"Guild issue?"
"What Raven mentioned. That if you want to avoid the palace's attention, you should make sure to deal with the information the guild has on record first."
I didn't quite understand. "...What? You guys are going to use it together?" For some reason, I couldn't really picture it. "You guys... when did you get so close?"
At my obvious shock, Erwen waved her hands, extremely flustered. "C-Close? That's not true! You! Say something! Why would I take a bath with you?"
"Because it's more efficient. Well, if you don't want to, I'll take a bath first."
"What? Why do you get to decide—"
"Then I'm going in."
"...Wait, stop!" When Amelia headed toward the bathroom, Erwen ran after her with a shout.
How is it that they never have a quiet day?
I turned away and headed to the second-floor bathroom. I was a little curious about who was going to use the bathroom first or if they'd wash up together... But what did it matter either way? At this point, I was at least sure they wouldn't draw their weapons on each other.
"Whew, that feels much better."
As soon as I poured hot water on my body, I felt all the fatigue I had accumulated melt away. It felt like the expedition was finally over.
Considering everything that happened... things ended up going quite smoothly.
There weren't any noteworthy incidents after that initial ambush. I continued to join patrol duty until I gained enough XP to reach level seven, and that peace persisted. It seemed something happened to the main unit in the middle of our stay because they requested our support, so we joined the troops for a while. Of course, that didn't affect me very much. Raven had to remain in the rear because of her strategic role, and that also applied to us as her unit.
For this loot settlement, I'll have to first sell the equipment and exchange the vouchers for money...
As I was cataloging our gains from this expedition while washing up, it all felt very novel.
"Level seven, huh?"
I was now at a level where I could proudly say I'd entered the mid-to-late stages of the game. Not to mention the number of rank-three essences I'd obtained despite still technically being at the beginning of the second half. It seemed like just yesterday that I was crawling around after stepping on goblin traps.
I've become much stronger.
I was starting to feel my growth. After all, the reason why I could say that this expedition had ended smoothly in the first place? I'd had to fight four members of Orcules: Corpse Collector, Wailing Witch, Lighthouse Keeper, and Blood Knight. In the past, someone would have had to make a sacrifice to get us out of that encounter, and I also would have had to put my life at stake.
I have to get even stronger.
Rather than feeling satisfied, though, I felt my own inadequacy even more. I still had a long way to go before I could guarantee complete safety for myself and my comrades from the palace and monsters like Auril Gavis and Baekho.
I have to hit level nine somehow. And I have to resolve the issue of the Spirit Imprint as soon as possible...
Just as I was thinking that, I heard, "Mister, are you almost done? I'm thinking of reheating the food now."
"Ah, I'll be out soon." Realizing I had been in the bathroom for a lot longer than I thought, I quickly finished up and exited. Then, eating the reheated food, we talked.
"Schuitz, what's your plan for dealing with the guild issue?"
"Guild issue?"
"What Raven mentioned. That if you want to avoid the palace's attention, you should make sure to deal with the information the guild has on record first."
"Ah..."
The last time rank-five adventurer Riehen Schuitz entered the labyrinth was about five years ago. If the palace were to look at the documents stored in the guild, my fake identity would quickly be exposed. The team Schuitz worked with and the essences he was confirmed to have would all be written down there.
"Plus, if they find his old colleagues and ask them a few questions, they'll be sure to notice something is off. Not to mention if they're brought in to meet you personally."
I had to either burn Schuitz's records or modify them to make them inconspicuous. This was something only a guild insider could do.
"Is there someone who can help?"
"I don't know, I've never been close to the guild."
Of course, even as I said that, there was one person who came to mind: Julian Urbans, the precious daughter of the district chief whom I once took as a hostage to clear my name.
Hmm, maybe 'precious daughter' isn't the right description.
Thinking back, even now, she had been an unusual woman, wishing for her father's downfall because she didn't want to live like a puppet. I wondered what happened to her. If I had helped her back then, could I have cashed in that favor now?
***
The day after we returned to the city, Amelia headed out to dispose of the Lighthouse Keeper's equipment, and Erwen left to drop by her holy land.
"Then should I head out too?"
I also got dressed and went out. After some discussion, we concluded it was okay. Even Raven, my former clanmate, hadn't recognized my face, as it was unfortunately next to impossible to look at this face and think 'Bjorn Yandel.' So it would be weird for me to stay holed up at home.
I should have met that dragonian kid with this face instead.
Even the dragonian shaman, who claimed I was ugly as hell the first time we met, wouldn't be able to tell such a lie when she saw my current look.
Tsk, what's so great about a scrawny face like this? Anyway, I should go there first...
This was my first proper outing since returning to the present. As I walked along, leisurely taking in my surroundings just like I did twenty years in the past, I soon arrived at my destination: Carcia Romne, a forge with a fancy, ancient name that didn't seem to suit the trade. Apparently, it meant "magic flame." It was the forge Hikurod Murad built after he left Team Half-Wit.
I heard business was good these days. I guess that was true.
I'd heard this from Raven but I didn't expect things to be going this well. Seeing as he had apparently added a floor on each of the nearby buildings, it seemed business had been booming in the two and a half years I'd been gone.
Should I take a look inside?
I was curious so I went into the forge and slowly looked around at the equipment on display.
"Hahaha! The items on display are not for sale—they're samples of custom-made items. If you're looking for something in particular, let me know!" When I turned around at the familiar voice, a familiar face stood there.
"Hikurod Murad."
"Oh, do you know my name? Hahaha! I guess I have become famous." Hikurod laughed heartily and looked up. Then he flinched as his eyes met mine. "...Huh?"
"What is it?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Just a strange feeling. Why, you're a tall and handsome fellow."
I thought he might have recognized me but it seemed he didn't.
"Ah..."
The last time rank-five adventurer Riehen Schuitz entered the labyrinth was about five years ago. If the palace were to look at the documents stored in the guild, my fake identity would quickly be exposed. The team Schuitz worked with and the essences he was confirmed to have would all be written down there.
"Plus, if they find his old colleagues and ask them a few questions, they'll be sure to notice something is off. Not to mention if they're brought in to meet you personally."
I had to either burn Schuitz's records or modify them to make them inconspicuous. This was something only a guild insider could do.
"Is there someone who can help?"
"I don't know, I've never been close to the guild."
Of course, even as I said that, there was one person who came to mind: Julian Urbans, the precious daughter of the district chief whom I once took as a hostage to clear my name.
Hmm, maybe 'precious daughter' isn't the right description.
Thinking back, even now, she had been an unusual woman, wishing for her father's downfall because she didn't want to live like a puppet. I wondered what happened to her. If I had helped her back then, could I have cashed in that favor now?
***
The day after we returned to the city, Amelia headed out to dispose of the Lighthouse Keeper's equipment, and Erwen left to drop by her holy land.
"Then should I head out too?"
I also got dressed and went out. After some discussion, we concluded it was okay. Even Raven, my former clanmate, hadn't recognized my face, as it was unfortunately next to impossible to look at this face and think 'Bjorn Yandel.' So it would be weird for me to stay holed up at home.
I should have met that dragonian kid with this face instead.
Even the dragonian shaman, who claimed I was ugly as hell the first time we met, wouldn't be able to tell such a lie when she saw my current look.
Tsk, what's so great about a scrawny face like this? Anyway, I should go there first...
This was my first proper outing since returning to the present. As I walked along, leisurely taking in my surroundings just like I did twenty years in the past, I soon arrived at my destination: Carcia Romne, a forge with a fancy, ancient name that didn't seem to suit the trade. Apparently, it meant "magic flame." It was the forge Hikurod Murad built after he left Team Half-Wit.
I heard business was good these days. I guess that was true.
I'd heard this from Raven but I didn't expect things to be going this well. Seeing as he had apparently added a floor on each of the nearby buildings, it seemed business had been booming in the two and a half years I'd been gone.
Should I take a look inside?
I was curious so I went into the forge and slowly looked around at the equipment on display.
"Hahaha! The items on display are not for sale—they're samples of custom-made items. If you're looking for something in particular, let me know!" When I turned around at the familiar voice, a familiar face stood there.
"Hikurod Murad."
"Oh, do you know my name? Hahaha! I guess I have become famous." Hikurod laughed heartily and looked up. Then he flinched as his eyes met mine. "...Huh?"
"What is it?"
"Ah, it's nothing. Just a strange feeling. Why, you're a tall and handsome fellow."
I thought he might have recognized me but it seemed he didn't.
Okay, then this proves no one will recognize me even if I don't cover my face. But... why am I sad?
Pushing the inexplicable feeling aside, I had a conversation with the dwarf. "Is it okay for the boss to be out on the floor?"
"Haha, I don't do blacksmith work."
"Why?"
"Well, why would I when the hired blacksmiths do it for me? They make it better than I do."
"...I see."
"This may even be my calling. I've found my talent late. So, tell me. If you're looking for something, I can match any price."
Now I could see that the dwarf seemed to have given up on his dream of becoming a blacksmith and switched to a sales job instead. No wonder business was doing well.
Oh? He's even wearing a mithril necklace.
To be honest, this was quite a shock. Between the fact that he'd given up on his dream and the clothes he was wearing, he didn't seem like the guy I once knew. The cherry on top was the last thing he said.
"Ugh, tsk... how unlucky. And he seemed like he had a lot of money." When I told him I was only there to look around, all traces of laughter disappeared from his face and he kicked me out. "If you're not going to buy anything, get out! Other customers can't get in because of you!"
Even as I was kicked out, I was flabbergasted. What happened to this guy that he'd become so obsessed with money?
...I guess it doesn't matter since he seems to be doing well.
After leaving the blacksmith, I headed to the training center I tracked down. It was a center Rotmiller ran to teach scouting skills to adventurers.
It's closed. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of his face, even from afar.
For some reason, they weren't open for business today.
So where should I go?
I considered going home, but there was nothing to do there anyway, so I decided on a new destination and got moving. When you had nothing else going on, there was no place like the library.
When I entered through the wide-open doors, I saw a familiar desk.
What the...?
The people sitting at the desk were all different. Normally, there would be just one sleepy-eyed librarian sitting at that wide desk.
"Hello, welcome."
Instead, more than twenty employees were working the desk, much like the library from twenty years ago.
"Um... what happened to the original librarian?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Ragna Litaniel Peprock..."
One of the librarians tilted her head in confusion at my question before heading over to the desk to ask the others. "I asked my seniors and they said that person retired before the library was restructured," she reported.
"...Can you tell me when she retired?"
"Since it was just before the restructuring, it must have been two years ago."
Two years ago, huh? Well, she wasn't the type of person who should be a librarian for the rest of her life. She was using a huge amount of mana to manage a library that should have been maintained by dozens of people all on her own.
"Is there something else I can help you with?"
"It's all right. If you just cast the detection spell on me, I'll take care of the rest myself."
"The Book Recognition spell costs three thousand stones!"
What, you have to pay for it now?
It hit me that there had been a lot of changes while I was gone, but I paid for now, grabbed a few books, and sat down. I wasn't sure how much time passed like that.
Honkkk!
Who is that?
Honkkk!
I couldn't stand the sound of the snoring that kept echoing through the stacks at random intervals and raised my head.
"Um... we received a complaint... could you please wake up...?" One of the librarians was shaking a giant, snoring barbarian's shoulders.
Honkkk!
Ugh, what a disgrace to barbarians... Huh?
The moment the barbarian woke up, wiping her mouth, I couldn't help but jerk back in surprise. "Ah, sorry! I guess I fell asleep for a second!" She had blonde hair that was half braided and half left down, and gold eyes that carried a hint of stubbornness.
"Ah, right... Then will you be leaving...?"
Huh, I never thought I'd see her at the library.
I almost didn't recognize her with her newly-large frame, but the moment I saw her face, I knew.
"Haha! No need to kick me out. I'm apologizing! Don't be callous. Ah, was 'callous' too difficult a word to understand?" It was Ainar, the second daughter of Fenelin.
Okay, then this proves no one will recognize me even if I don't cover my face. But... why am I sad?
Pushing the inexplicable feeling aside, I had a conversation with the dwarf. "Is it okay for the boss to be out on the floor?"
"Haha, I don't do blacksmith work."
"Why?"
"Well, why would I when the hired blacksmiths do it for me? They make it better than I do."
"...I see."
"This may even be my calling. I've found my talent late. So, tell me. If you're looking for something, I can match any price."
Now I could see that the dwarf seemed to have given up on his dream of becoming a blacksmith and switched to a sales job instead. No wonder business was doing well.
Oh? He's even wearing a mithril necklace.
To be honest, this was quite a shock. Between the fact that he'd given up on his dream and the clothes he was wearing, he didn't seem like the guy I once knew. The cherry on top was the last thing he said.
"Ugh, tsk... how unlucky. And he seemed like he had a lot of money." When I told him I was only there to look around, all traces of laughter disappeared from his face and he kicked me out. "If you're not going to buy anything, get out! Other customers can't get in because of you!"
Even as I was kicked out, I was flabbergasted. What happened to this guy that he'd become so obsessed with money?
...I guess it doesn't matter since he seems to be doing well.
After leaving the blacksmith, I headed to the training center I tracked down. It was a center Rotmiller ran to teach scouting skills to adventurers.
It's closed. I just wanted to catch a glimpse of his face, even from afar.
For some reason, they weren't open for business today.
So where should I go?
I considered going home, but there was nothing to do there anyway, so I decided on a new destination and got moving. When you had nothing else going on, there was no place like the library.
When I entered through the wide-open doors, I saw a familiar desk.
What the...?
The people sitting at the desk were all different. Normally, there would be just one sleepy-eyed librarian sitting at that wide desk.
"Hello, welcome."
Instead, more than twenty employees were working the desk, much like the library from twenty years ago.
"Um... what happened to the original librarian?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Ragna Litaniel Peprock..."
One of the librarians tilted her head in confusion at my question before heading over to the desk to ask the others. "I asked my seniors and they said that person retired before the library was restructured," she reported.
"...Can you tell me when she retired?"
"Since it was just before the restructuring, it must have been two years ago."
Two years ago, huh? Well, she wasn't the type of person who should be a librarian for the rest of her life. She was using a huge amount of mana to manage a library that should have been maintained by dozens of people all on her own.
"Is there something else I can help you with?"
"It's all right. If you just cast the detection spell on me, I'll take care of the rest myself."
"The Book Recognition spell costs three thousand stones!"
What, you have to pay for it now?
It hit me that there had been a lot of changes while I was gone, but I paid for now, grabbed a few books, and sat down. I wasn't sure how much time passed like that.
Honkkk!
Who is that?
Honkkk!
I couldn't stand the sound of the snoring that kept echoing through the stacks at random intervals and raised my head.
"Um... we received a complaint... could you please wake up...?" One of the librarians was shaking a giant, snoring barbarian's shoulders.
Honkkk!
Ugh, what a disgrace to barbarians... Huh?
The moment the barbarian woke up, wiping her mouth, I couldn't help but jerk back in surprise. "Ah, sorry! I guess I fell asleep for a second!" She had blonde hair that was half braided and half left down, and gold eyes that carried a hint of stubbornness.
"Ah, right... Then will you be leaving...?"
Huh, I never thought I'd see her at the library.
I almost didn't recognize her with her newly-large frame, but the moment I saw her face, I knew.
"Haha! No need to kick me out. I'm apologizing! Don't be callous. Ah, was 'callous' too difficult a word to understand?" It was Ainar, the second daughter of Fenelin.