Chapter 433: Return of the Dead (4)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 433: Return of the Dead (4)

There was a tavern in District Seven that was always crowded with adventurers. It was the type of place where there were always empty bottles rolling around on the ground because they were sold for cheap, and drunkards got into fights with each other whenever they got the chance.

Kwaang!

The doors to the tavern flew open. No matter what world you were in, there were people who liked to talk—especially if it meant money.

"Extra! Extra!"

"What the—a newspaper boy?" At the boy's arrival, the rugged owner rolled up his sleeves and walked out from behind the bar. "Hey, random solicitors are not welcome at our tavern."

"I said it's an extra! Breaking news!"

"What breaking news? It's only news about the ceremony."

A nearby patron laughed. "Haha, hey! You think the drunkards who've been drinking here since broad daylight will care about something like that?"

His neighbor scoffed. "But you've been grumbling about it since earlier! That the whole city is in an uproar over nothing."

"Now, now, come back when you're older, kid." The owner lifted the boy over his shoulder and walked toward the door.

"You morons!" the kid shouted, much to the bargoers' amusement.

"Hahaha!"

"Bjorn Yandel is alive!"

"Haha... ha...?"

For a moment, there was silence in the tavern. Of course, not for long.

"Don't run around making up nonsense, little boy."

"How can someone come back from the dead after two years?"

"Besides, he was an evil spirit anyway."

"I'm saying he's alive, and he's not an evil spirit! While you guys were busy drinking yourselves to death in here, the city's been in an uproar over this!" The boy's sincere cries made the tavern owner pause.

"Wait, I want to hear more about that." One of the adventurers expressed interest, and the owner let the boy down.

"Ugh, you reek of alcohol..." the boy grumbled, brushing off his wrinkled clothes and heading to the table where the adventurer was.

The man threw him a coin as pre-payment. "Tell me. Is it true Bjorn Yandel came back?"

"Of course. Iron Prime Minister Tercerion said so himself during a gathering of thousands of nobles!"

"The Iron Prime Minister?"

"So what happened is..."

The boy trailed off and glanced at all the nearby adventurers who were pretending not to listen. The adventurers sighed and tossed him additional coins, and he finally launched into his retelling. If you took away the seasoning thrown in by the well-spoken boy, the tale could be summed up in a few sentences.

"So... Bjorn Yandel played dead to carry out a mission for the royal family, and declaring him an evil spirit was necessary for its success?"

"But Riehen Schuitz? Isn't that Blood Spirit's man? He was the leader of this mission!"

"I was wondering why some random guy was put in charge of a group of big names like that."

This was the return of a hero who had left a big mark on the hearts of the people even after all this time. Enraptured, the adventurers paid more to hear about what happened at the ceremony.

Kwaaang!

Then, suddenly, a loud rattling noise rang out from a corner table and the adventurers turned to look.

Step, step.

A large woman, whose eyes were clear despite the stench of alcohol clinging to her, was walking toward them.

"Um... w-what's the matter all of a sudden...?" The nearby adventurers fell quiet at the intensity radiating from the large woman, and only the little boy asked what she wanted.

The woman then parted her lips. "Boy, I heard your stories from over there."

"...I-Is that so?"

"Is it true? That Bjorn Yandel was alive this whole time? That he was Riehen Schuitz?" Her voice and the look in her eyes seemed almost desperate.

The boy was confused by this, but dutifully answered her. "...Y-Yes! That's correct!"

"So... I see... That's what happened..." The woman muttered, almost as if possessed, then handed the boy money before leaving the tavern.

The boy's eyes widened when he saw the amount she gave him. "Ten thousand stones...?" It was the biggest sum he had ever received as a storyteller around taverns. This aroused the curiosity of the other patrons.

"Paying this much for a story?"

"To think someone that rich was in such a cheap bar."

"Who is she?"

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"

While everyone was curious about the identity of the woman who passed through their tavern, a man stared after her and breathed, "Holy..."

"Do you know who that woman was?"

"How many blonde lady barbarians can there be? And how many among them carry such huge swords on their backs?"

"So who is it?"

"The Wild Sword, Ainar Fenelin." When the man revealed her identity, the eyes of everyone around him went wide.

"What, that woman was one of the Seven Powerful?"

"Wait, Wild Sword is... she's one of Bjorn Yandel's old teammates!"

"No way... is that why she was so curious?"

"That makes sense now!"

"What, so then even his former teammate didn't know he was alive?"

The tavern was whipped into another frenzy as the customers eagerly shared their thoughts on this exciting new twist. The tavern owner, however, was on the verge of tears.

"That woman... she didn't pay for her drinks..."

***

After that whirlwind of a ceremony, we all dispersed and returned to our respective homes. I was worried they might detain us there, but it seemed the marquess didn't intend to go that far.

I guess things have worked out up to this point...

We returned to our mansion for the first time in a long time. I headed to my room on the second floor and thought back on the ceremony as I unpacked my stuff.

First, he was cooler about it than I expected.

Right after I came out in front of thousands of nobles, the marquess smoothly took the reins and sorted things out. He explained that my death was in fact faked, that it was all done to carry out a secret royal mission, and that even the announcement about my being an evil spirit was untrue. While this statement was originally meant to be made two months from now when he'd finished constructing a believable paper trail, it was instead given in front of everyone today. The marquess had had no choice.

Kwaaang!

Then, suddenly, a loud rattling noise rang out from a corner table and the adventurers turned to look.

Step, step.

A large woman, whose eyes were clear despite the stench of alcohol clinging to her, was walking toward them.

"Um... w-what's the matter all of a sudden...?" The nearby adventurers fell quiet at the intensity radiating from the large woman, and only the little boy asked what she wanted.

The woman then parted her lips. "Boy, I heard your stories from over there."

"...I-Is that so?"

"Is it true? That Bjorn Yandel was alive this whole time? That he was Riehen Schuitz?" Her voice and the look in her eyes seemed almost desperate.

The boy was confused by this, but dutifully answered her. "...Y-Yes! That's correct!"

"So... I see... That's what happened..." The woman muttered, almost as if possessed, then handed the boy money before leaving the tavern.

The boy's eyes widened when he saw the amount she gave him. "Ten thousand stones...?" It was the biggest sum he had ever received as a storyteller around taverns. This aroused the curiosity of the other patrons.

"Paying this much for a story?"

"To think someone that rich was in such a cheap bar."

"Who is she?"

"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"

While everyone was curious about the identity of the woman who passed through their tavern, a man stared after her and breathed, "Holy..."

"Do you know who that woman was?"

"How many blonde lady barbarians can there be? And how many among them carry such huge swords on their backs?"

"So who is it?"

"The Wild Sword, Ainar Fenelin." When the man revealed her identity, the eyes of everyone around him went wide.

"What, that woman was one of the Seven Powerful?"

"Wait, Wild Sword is... she's one of Bjorn Yandel's old teammates!"

"No way... is that why she was so curious?"

"That makes sense now!"

"What, so then even his former teammate didn't know he was alive?"

The tavern was whipped into another frenzy as the customers eagerly shared their thoughts on this exciting new twist. The tavern owner, however, was on the verge of tears.

"That woman... she didn't pay for her drinks..."

***

After that whirlwind of a ceremony, we all dispersed and returned to our respective homes. I was worried they might detain us there, but it seemed the marquess didn't intend to go that far.

I guess things have worked out up to this point...

We returned to our mansion for the first time in a long time. I headed to my room on the second floor and thought back on the ceremony as I unpacked my stuff.

First, he was cooler about it than I expected.

Right after I came out in front of thousands of nobles, the marquess smoothly took the reins and sorted things out. He explained that my death was in fact faked, that it was all done to carry out a secret royal mission, and that even the announcement about my being an evil spirit was untrue. While this statement was originally meant to be made two months from now when he'd finished constructing a believable paper trail, it was instead given in front of everyone today. The marquess had had no choice.

If he denied my claim, the prestige of the palace would have gone down the toilet.

That was what I had been aiming for. After all, what else was this whole grand ceremony good for? It would be talked about for about a month and gradually forgotten afterward. I decided this was the best way to make a splash and get the most eyeballs possible on us. I didn't know why, but the palace was sensitive to public opinion.

Okay, then they won't be able to accuse me of any nonexistent crimes for at least a few months...

Either way, I'd started out on the right foot. The next step was expanding my influence as much as possible within the given timeframe so that even if they managed to uncover what really happened in the labyrinth, eliminating us would be seen as a bad political move.

There's a lot of work to be done in the future.

With that in mind, I got changed and headed down to the first floor to see that the living room was now a complete mess. "Emily, what's going on?"

"There was an intruder while we were away."

"Huh?"

"The hair I placed on the doorknob the day we left for the labyrinth was gone. I searched everywhere except your room just in case, but I couldn't find any wiretapping devices."

"Wait, if there was an intruder, can't you just check the recording on the mana crystal?" Erwen's surveillance cameras were installed in our living room and entrance.

"Ah, I already destroyed them. The records are only stored for one day and it's not difficult to manipulate them, anyway. Someone might have interfered with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the magic circuits. I couldn't leave them up."

"...I see."

"Whoever it was, though, they're amateurs. They broke into an empty house and didn't even touch the basement."

"Basement? Ah, the navigator!" It was then that I remembered someone—the plundering sailor we acquired during our last trip into the labyrinth.

I heard Amelia left him plenty of food while we were training, but...

It had already been several days since the labyrinth closed. Had he been starving this whole time?

"Is he okay?"

"He was fine when I checked. A little skinny, though. But I like skinny better."

No, I don't think that's the issue here...

"Besides, it was unintentional but he's gotten a lot more obedient. Though he found out we lied about the fact that he had to take an antidote every day, he's even more dependent on us now."

"Uh..."

"Will you go see him? He asked to be praised for holding his breath and staying quiet even when he heard noise from upstairs."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"N-No... I'm fine."

"Hmm, I think you should pay some attention to him, too, instead of leaving it all to me."

"...Later."

Anyway, since she said he was fine, I decided not to touch any thoughts about Auyen with a ten-foot pole. After that, Amelia went up to search my room. Once that was done, all three of us gathered in the living room.

"Um, is the house safe now?"

"For today."

That was enough for Erwen. She slumped on the sofa, the tension draining out of her. "Coming home makes it all feel like a dream."

If he denied my claim, the prestige of the palace would have gone down the toilet.

That was what I had been aiming for. After all, what else was this whole grand ceremony good for? It would be talked about for about a month and gradually forgotten afterward. I decided this was the best way to make a splash and get the most eyeballs possible on us. I didn't know why, but the palace was sensitive to public opinion.

Okay, then they won't be able to accuse me of any nonexistent crimes for at least a few months...

Either way, I'd started out on the right foot. The next step was expanding my influence as much as possible within the given timeframe so that even if they managed to uncover what really happened in the labyrinth, eliminating us would be seen as a bad political move.

There's a lot of work to be done in the future.

With that in mind, I got changed and headed down to the first floor to see that the living room was now a complete mess. "Emily, what's going on?"

"There was an intruder while we were away."

"Huh?"

"The hair I placed on the doorknob the day we left for the labyrinth was gone. I searched everywhere except your room just in case, but I couldn't find any wiretapping devices."

"Wait, if there was an intruder, can't you just check the recording on the mana crystal?" Erwen's surveillance cameras were installed in our living room and entrance.

"Ah, I already destroyed them. The records are only stored for one day and it's not difficult to manipulate them, anyway. Someone might have interfered with the magic circuits. I couldn't leave them up."

"...I see."

"Whoever it was, though, they're amateurs. They broke into an empty house and didn't even touch the basement."

"Basement? Ah, the navigator!" It was then that I remembered someone—the plundering sailor we acquired during our last trip into the labyrinth.

I heard Amelia left him plenty of food while we were training, but...

It had already been several days since the labyrinth closed. Had he been starving this whole time?

"Is he okay?"

"He was fine when I checked. A little skinny, though. But I like skinny better."

No, I don't think that's the issue here...

"Besides, it was unintentional but he's gotten a lot more obedient. Though he found out we lied about the fact that he had to take an antidote every day, he's even more dependent on us now."

"Uh..."

"Will you go see him? He asked to be praised for holding his breath and staying quiet even when he heard noise from upstairs."

"N-No... I'm fine."

"Hmm, I think you should pay some attention to him, too, instead of leaving it all to me."

"...Later."

Anyway, since she said he was fine, I decided not to touch any thoughts about Auyen with a ten-foot pole. After that, Amelia went up to search my room. Once that was done, all three of us gathered in the living room.

"Um, is the house safe now?"

"For today."

That was enough for Erwen. She slumped on the sofa, the tension draining out of her. "Coming home makes it all feel like a dream."

"Yandel, can't we open them now that it's safe?"

"Ah, the sub-spaces?"

"Yes." Amelia looked like a child on Christmas. Well, I must have looked the same. I wondered what items were stored in a sub-space owned by the Order of the Rose.

"Okay, let's open it on three." I quietly began to count, but just as I hit two—

Knock, knock.

There was a visitor. We postponed the sub-space haul for later and checked to see who it was. I was wary as soon as I heard the knock but fortunately, it was a friendly face.

"Raven."

"Sorry, I know you must be busy. But I couldn't sit still after hearing the news."

"Come in."

Raven came into the living room and peppered me with questions the second she sat down. "Was reclaiming your identity today planned? Have you thought about what you're going to do from here?" And, "I'm glad you're all right, really..."

Soon, the topic of the expedition also came to the fore.

"Mr. Yandel... are you okay?"

"Okay how?"

"A lot of people died. I was at the Palace of Glory for the ceremony too. I saw you apologizing in front of the bereaved families and heard you call each person by name."

"...Really?"

"I'm just worried. Mr. Yandel... are you really okay?"

Okay? What should I say to that?

I paused for a moment before plastering on a wide smile and patting Raven's slim shoulder. "Why wouldn't I be okay? I'm alive, aren't I?"

"...What happened in there?"

Only ten people survived the expedition. The things that happened there couldn't be summed up in a few short words. "Nothing. It's exactly as the marquess said."

It would be best not to tell Raven. She already felt so guilty about helping me as a member of the military. She wasn't even part of this squadron. I couldn't burden her with our plan to oppose the palace. That was our cross to bear.

"You feel somehow more distant today, Mr. Yandel. Well, you have for a long time."

"I'm sure you're just imagining things."

"Yes. I guess so."

Awkwardness settled between us. Raven sipped her tea before getting up. Or, rather, she was about to.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A noise that was too loud to be called a knock came from the door.

Who is it? The thieves from earlier?

As I stood up with that question in mind, I heard a familiar voice. "Bjorrrn! Bjorn! Come out this instant! Are you really alive?" It was a long-awaited visit from an old teammate. A truly magical feeling came over me. "Bjorrrrrrn!" Despite my solemn mood just a second ago, my lips immediately curled into a smile as soon as I heard that voice—and that name.

Smirk.

Yeah, I have my name back now. We've been separated long enough, in my opinion. Now it's just Missha and Mr. Bear left.

It was time for us to come together again.

***

Rattle, rattle.

At a dining table filled only with the sound of dull cutlery, Baekho, who was nibbling on the end of his spoon, carefully spoke. "Hey, Kitty."

"...I told you not to call me that."

"Well, you don't like being called by your last name, and you don't like being called by your first name, either."

"Don't you get it? Just don't call me."

"Yikes, so cold..." Baekho pouted and looked to the side, though his eyes soon returned to her. It was an ordinary meal like any other, but while everyone else was awkwardly scooping up their food, one person wasn't. "Kitty. Aren't you going out? It's not like you're a real cat. Why do you never leave the house except to go into the labyrinth? Look, your skin is so pale—"

Slam!

The Red Cat Tribe beastwoman slammed her spoon down on the table in irritation. "I'm done eating." After putting away her dishes, she stormed up to her room on the second floor.

Rattle.

When the bang of a slamming door rang out in the distance, Baekho let out a long sigh and asked for the opinions of the others at the table. "She... doesn't seem to know yet, right?"

The first to respond was Fallen Scholar. "You can't hide it forever."

"I know that... but I want everyone to watch your tongues until then. Okay?"

The scout nodded. "I will for now."

"Okay, then dinner is over for today. Everyone, do your share." Baekho grinned and stood up, leaving his dishes on the table.

Rattle.

The moment he returned to his room, his expression hardened as he lost the composure he'd managed to maintain in front of his comrades. It was only natural.

"Bjorn Yandel is alive, huh?"

To be honest, his feelings about Bjorn Yandel weren't particularly negative. He was an evil spirit, too, after all. Watching him was like watching a promising junior come into his own. It reminded Baekho of himself in the good old days. That was why he took in Missha, who had been left like a cat out in the rain. Part of him was fascinated by her continued affection for Bjorn despite knowing he was an evil spirit. He sincerely regretted tearing the two apart.

But...

"Interesting."

It was way too late now. Now, Baekho could no longer welcome his triumphant return. If he wasn't careful, the ice swordswoman he'd worked so hard to cultivate for the past two years might end up going back to the wrong guy.

Ah, well, strictly speaking, she's technically going back to her original owner... But then you should've come back a long time ago. You're only a nuisance now.

Baekho genuinely thought it over. "Should I... just kill him?"

Eliminating anything that got in the way of his goals without letting emotions stop him was one of Baekho's longest-standing ground rules.

"Yandel, can't we open them now that it's safe?"

"Ah, the sub-spaces?"

"Yes." Amelia looked like a child on Christmas. Well, I must have looked the same. I wondered what items were stored in a sub-space owned by the Order of the Rose.

"Okay, let's open it on three." I quietly began to count, but just as I hit two—

Knock, knock.

There was a visitor. We postponed the sub-space haul for later and checked to see who it was. I was wary as soon as I heard the knock but fortunately, it was a friendly face.

"Raven."

"Sorry, I know you must be busy. But I couldn't sit still after hearing the news."

"Come in."

Raven came into the living room and peppered me with questions the second she sat down. "Was reclaiming your identity today planned? Have you thought about what you're going to do from here?" And, "I'm glad you're all right, really..."

Soon, the topic of the expedition also came to the fore.

"Mr. Yandel... are you okay?"

"Okay how?"

"A lot of people died. I was at the Palace of Glory for the ceremony too. I saw you apologizing in front of the bereaved families and heard you call each person by name."

"...Really?"

"I'm just worried. Mr. Yandel... are you really okay?"

Okay? What should I say to that?

I paused for a moment before plastering on a wide smile and patting Raven's slim shoulder. "Why wouldn't I be okay? I'm alive, aren't I?"

"...What happened in there?"

Only ten people survived the expedition. The things that happened there couldn't be summed up in a few short words. "Nothing. It's exactly as the marquess said."

It would be best not to tell Raven. She already felt so guilty about helping me as a member of the military. She wasn't even part of this squadron. I couldn't burden her with our plan to oppose the palace. That was our cross to bear.

"You feel somehow more distant today, Mr. Yandel. Well, you have for a long time."

"I'm sure you're just imagining things."

"Yes. I guess so."

Awkwardness settled between us. Raven sipped her tea before getting up. Or, rather, she was about to.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A noise that was too loud to be called a knock came from the door.

Who is it? The thieves from earlier?

As I stood up with that question in mind, I heard a familiar voice. "Bjorrrn! Bjorn! Come out this instant! Are you really alive?" It was a long-awaited visit from an old teammate. A truly magical feeling came over me. "Bjorrrrrrn!" Despite my solemn mood just a second ago, my lips immediately curled into a smile as soon as I heard that voice—and that name.

Smirk.

Yeah, I have my name back now. We've been separated long enough, in my opinion. Now it's just Missha and Mr. Bear left.

It was time for us to come together again.

***

Rattle, rattle.

At a dining table filled only with the sound of dull cutlery, Baekho, who was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nibbling on the end of his spoon, carefully spoke. "Hey, Kitty."

"...I told you not to call me that."

"Well, you don't like being called by your last name, and you don't like being called by your first name, either."

"Don't you get it? Just don't call me."

"Yikes, so cold..." Baekho pouted and looked to the side, though his eyes soon returned to her. It was an ordinary meal like any other, but while everyone else was awkwardly scooping up their food, one person wasn't. "Kitty. Aren't you going out? It's not like you're a real cat. Why do you never leave the house except to go into the labyrinth? Look, your skin is so pale—"

Slam!

The Red Cat Tribe beastwoman slammed her spoon down on the table in irritation. "I'm done eating." After putting away her dishes, she stormed up to her room on the second floor.

Rattle.

When the bang of a slamming door rang out in the distance, Baekho let out a long sigh and asked for the opinions of the others at the table. "She... doesn't seem to know yet, right?"

The first to respond was Fallen Scholar. "You can't hide it forever."

"I know that... but I want everyone to watch your tongues until then. Okay?"

The scout nodded. "I will for now."

"Okay, then dinner is over for today. Everyone, do your share." Baekho grinned and stood up, leaving his dishes on the table.

Rattle.

The moment he returned to his room, his expression hardened as he lost the composure he'd managed to maintain in front of his comrades. It was only natural.

"Bjorn Yandel is alive, huh?"

To be honest, his feelings about Bjorn Yandel weren't particularly negative. He was an evil spirit, too, after all. Watching him was like watching a promising junior come into his own. It reminded Baekho of himself in the good old days. That was why he took in Missha, who had been left like a cat out in the rain. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Part of him was fascinated by her continued affection for Bjorn despite knowing he was an evil spirit. He sincerely regretted tearing the two apart.

But...

"Interesting."

It was way too late now. Now, Baekho could no longer welcome his triumphant return. If he wasn't careful, the ice swordswoman he'd worked so hard to cultivate for the past two years might end up going back to the wrong guy.

Ah, well, strictly speaking, she's technically going back to her original owner... But then you should've come back a long time ago. You're only a nuisance now.

Baekho genuinely thought it over. "Should I... just kill him?"

Eliminating anything that got in the way of his goals without letting emotions stop him was one of Baekho's longest-standing ground rules.