Chapter 434: Return of the Dead (5)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 434: Return of the Dead (5)

Reuniting with Ainar went exactly like I expected it would. A tearful reunion didn't suit barbarians, after all. Yeah, this was better.

"Bjorrrrrrn!"

"Yeah, Ainar. Long time no—"

"Behel—aaaaaah!" No sooner had I opened the gate than Ainar shoved me into the yard. "You lied to me!"

Immediately, a fistfight began. It seemed she was very angry at the fact that I'd faked my death for over two years and then pretended to be Riehen Schuitz when we met again in the library. Considering everything I put her through, I was honestly willing to take some punches, but I knew that probably wasn't what Ainar wanted.

"Behel—aaah!" So I cried out to our ancestral gods and fought back.

Punch!

I punched her in the face.

"Rahhh!"

A dogfight ensued, the two of us rolling around on the lawn like wrestlers. I didn't know how long the fight lasted, but when Ainar finally got worked up enough to pick up the greatsword she left on the ground, I shouted for Erwen to bring me my hammer.

"Both of you... stop!"

Erwen's intervention put an end to our reunion fight. She was pissed that her well-maintained garden had become a mess, but I ignored her as best I could. Right now, Ainar came first.

Spit!

Ainar spat out the blood in her mouth and grinned. "You really are Bjorn..."

Was this what it meant to be a natural barbarian? I couldn't believe she'd already gotten over it. Missha would've cursed me out for ages and jammed cold damage down my throat.

"Ainar, you haven't changed at all."

"Really? I think I've changed a lot." Ainar shrugged and nudged my chest with her fist in a friendly jab. "Even if you explain what happened to you, I probably won't understand. It was always like that. But, still..."

"Still?"

"I'm glad you're alive, Bjorn."

"Ah..." I was left momentarily speechless by the sincerity contained in that calm, simple statement.

But she must have found this touchy-feely vibe awkward, too. She looked down at me and changed the subject. "But... what's up with your body? Why are you so skinny?"

I felt oddly ashamed by the question. Maybe my barbarian pride was hurt. The words flew from my mouth. "A-An essence!" I blurted. "It's like the essence of the Bone Knight you took! Don't worry! Now that I have my name back, I'll erase it in no time!"

"Hmm, really? Do it as quickly as possible, then. Bjorn being shorter than me is too weird to bear." Every word landed like a knife in the chest. "And... I guess I'll have to hold myself back from dragging you to the holy land today. If our people see you like that... they'll definitely be disappointed." My heart shriveled. I would honestly feel less hurt if she told me I was a bad gamer.

Whew, I should really erase the Gachabone essence soon.

"So... is your reunion over now?" Raven interrupted the conversation and it was then that Ainar noticed her presence.

"Oh! Aruru! Long time no see too!"

"This is the first time we've seen each other in half a year, right?"

"Hahaha! You worry about weird little details! If you keep doing that, you won't grow any taller."

"I'm not getting any taller anyway!"

"Don't lose hope. Look at me!"

"That's because of your essences!" Raven shouted, annoyed, and Ainar chuckled and picked her ear. That only made Raven angrier. The scene was oddly touching.

It's been a while...

I missed this. It wasn't just me, either, because I could see Raven was grinning as she shouted at Ainar and stomped after her into the house.

"...I'm glad," she said quietly as she passed me by.

"Huh?"

"You seem happier now."

"...I don't know what you mean. Let's go in."

"Okay."

After being reunited in the garden, we moved into the house and continued our conversation. Ainar greeted Erwen as awkwardly as Raven did, and next came Amelia.

"Barbarian, long time no—"

Why are you pretending to be all buddy-buddy?

I quickly covered Amelia's mouth and interrupted. "You already know each other, right?"

"We do...?" Ainar cocked her head. I was honestly dumbfounded. I could still remember how depressed she'd been that Amelia trampled on her warrior's honor or whatever. Then again, she didn't even recognize her on Farune Island, either. "A-Ahhh! I remember! You were the woman from Noark who got left behind with Bjorn!" It seemed Ainar at least still had memories of Farune Island because she nodded. "Your name was..."

"Emily Raines."

"Ah, it was definitely something like that!"

What do you mean, "something like that?" You two never introduced yourselves back then.

At the time everyone just called Amelia a plunderer and a bitch—no one cared about her real name.

About her honor being trampled on the second floor... I should just pretend not to remember that, right?

As I was thinking this, Ainar addressed Amelia in a surprisingly friendly tone. "Did you say Emily Raines?"

"Yes?"

What followed was unexpected. "First, let me say thank you."

"...Huh?"

"I don't know much about you, but I'm sure Bjorn kept you by his side because you are reliable," Ainar said, uncharacteristically serious. "Thanks. For being by Bjorn's side during his biggest challenge yet."

"...That's not something worth thanking me for."

"Haha! It is to me! I'm sad I wasn't the one he relied on, but I'm sure it's because of who I am! I'm not as smart as Aruru or blindly determined enough to turn my back on my tribe like that elf."

Erwen thought that over for a moment and then frowned. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"...Um, did you just insult me?"

Ainar wriggled out of trouble like a snake. "Haha, is that how it sounded?"

Wow, she's not even denying it.

I didn't know what happened but Ainar's conversational skills had improved a lot.

"Anyway, enough about that. I came as soon as I heard your news at the tavern. What on earth happened to you?"

After that, I took the time to explain. Of course, it wasn't 100 percent the truth—some things were filtered out. Ainar cycled through four particular reactions as she listened to my tale:

"Oh!"

"Ah!"

"Uh!"

"I see."

"Don't lose hope. Look at me!"

"That's because of your essences!" Raven shouted, annoyed, and Ainar chuckled and picked her ear. That only made Raven angrier. The scene was oddly touching.

It's been a while...

I missed this. It wasn't just me, either, because I could see Raven was grinning as she shouted at Ainar and stomped after her into the house.

"...I'm glad," she said quietly as she passed me by.

"Huh?"

"You seem happier now."

"...I don't know what you mean. Let's go in."

"Okay."

After being reunited in the garden, we moved into the house and continued our conversation. Ainar greeted Erwen as awkwardly as Raven did, and next came Amelia.

"Barbarian, long time no—"

Why are you pretending to be all buddy-buddy?

I quickly covered Amelia's mouth and interrupted. "You already know each other, right?"

"We do...?" Ainar cocked her head. I was honestly dumbfounded. I could still remember how depressed she'd been that Amelia trampled on her warrior's honor or whatever. Then again, she didn't even recognize her on Farune Island, either. "A-Ahhh! I remember! You were the woman from Noark who got left behind with Bjorn!" It seemed Ainar at least still had memories of Farune Island because she nodded. "Your name was..."

"Emily Raines."

"Ah, it was definitely something like that!"

What do you mean, "something like that?" You two never introduced yourselves back then.

At the time everyone just called Amelia a plunderer and a bitch—no one cared about her real name.

About her honor being trampled on the second floor... I should just pretend not to remember that, right?

As I was thinking this, Ainar addressed Amelia in a surprisingly friendly tone. "Did you say Emily Raines?"

"Yes?"

What followed was unexpected. "First, let me say thank you."

"...Huh?"

"I don't know much about you, but I'm sure Bjorn kept you by his side because you are reliable," Ainar said, uncharacteristically serious. "Thanks. For being by Bjorn's side during his biggest challenge yet."

"...That's not something worth thanking me for."

"Haha! It is to me! I'm sad I wasn't the one he relied on, but I'm sure it's because of who I am! I'm not as smart as Aruru or blindly determined enough to turn my back on my tribe like that elf."

Erwen thought that over for a moment and then frowned. "...Um, did you just insult me?"

Ainar wriggled out of trouble like a snake. "Haha, is that how it sounded?"

Wow, she's not even denying it.

I didn't know what happened but Ainar's conversational skills had improved a lot.

"Anyway, enough about that. I came as soon as I heard your news at the tavern. What on earth happened to you?"

After that, I took the time to explain. Of course, it wasn't 100 percent the truth—some things were filtered out. Ainar cycled through four particular reactions as she listened to my tale:

"Oh!"

"Ah!"

"Uh!"

"I see."

Unlike with Erwen and Raven, I was done before long. One pro of barbarians was that conversations between them didn't drag on.

"...That's what's happened so far."

"Oh!"

At the same time, that was also the problem with talking to barbarians. I had no way of knowing if she understood anything I said unless I asked directly. "Did you understand?"

"Somewhat!"

"...That's good enough for me." The story ended there, and I moved on to the next topic as if on cue. "But Ainar, you must have been very surprised."

"Huh?"

"The palace announced that I'm an evil spirit. I'm sure that must have come as a shock. Not just to you, but to our compatriots too."

"Oh, that? It wasn't really a big deal."

"...It wasn't?"

"Only to morons. How could you possibly be an evil spirit? No one in our tribe believed it. We just figured the palace made another mistake."

Oh, I see...

That was a different answer than I expected, but I couldn't just let it go without pushing a bit further. "By the way. I'm just asking this out of curiosity and no other reason but..." I kept my tone carefully light as I asked, "What would you do if I was an evil spirit?"

This was very critical information to have in deciding how I'd deal with Ainar going forward. Depending on her answer, I may take back everything I said earlier and tell her the truth. I wondered what she would say, and it seemed I wasn't the only one. Erwen, Amelia, and Raven gulped silently along with me.

"Hahaha! Bjorn, you, an evil spirit? That's funny!"

"Don't just laugh it off as a joke—think about it. I want to know your answer."

Ainar must have picked up on the strange vibe because she couldn't seem to ignore my prompting. "Hmm, Bjorn an evil spirit... Well, there's only one answer."

"Which is...?" asked Erwen.

"Will you accept him regardless?" Raven prodded. "Since he's your teammate whom you've shared time and affection with?"

Ainar tilted her head. "What are you both talking about? Of course I'd beat him to death!"

"Beat... to death...?"

"The chieftain said so himself! Evil spirits are meant to be beaten to death!"

Whew, yeah... She's not going to be an easy sell.

***

Raven and Ainar's visit went into the night. We drank tea and talked for a while, and then had a couple of drinks over dinner. This naturally evolved into a drinking party after dinner was over.

"It's getting late... I should get going." Raven picked up her coat and left late at night.

Ainar, who had been drinking like no tomorrow from the get-go, was already passed out. She left in the morning after a hangover meal.

"You said you had things to do starting today, right? Tell me when you're all done. Come by the holy land too. I know what I said yesterday, but everyone will be happy if you come."

"Sure..."

After sending Ainar off, Erwen also got ready to go out. Considering the things that happened in the labyrinth, apparently, she had to show her face at her holy land today as well.

"Then take good care of the house." After Erwen headed out, I did too, leaving the house to Amelia. As I told Ainar yesterday, I had a lot of work to do starting today.

Unlike with Erwen and Raven, I was done before long. One pro of barbarians was that conversations between them didn't drag on.

"...That's what's happened so far."

"Oh!"

At the same time, that was also the problem with talking to barbarians. I had no way of knowing if she understood anything I said unless I asked directly. "Did you understand?"

"Somewhat!"

"...That's good enough for me." The story ended there, and I moved on to the next topic as if on cue. "But Ainar, you must have been very surprised."

"Huh?"

"The palace announced that I'm an evil spirit. I'm sure that must have come as a shock. Not just to you, but to our compatriots too."

"Oh, that? It wasn't really a big deal."

"...It wasn't?"

"Only to morons. How could you possibly be an evil spirit? No one in our tribe believed it. We just figured the palace made another mistake."

Oh, I see...

That was a different answer than I expected, but I couldn't just let it go without pushing a bit further. "By the way. I'm just asking this out of curiosity and no other reason but..." I kept my tone carefully light as I asked, "What would you do if I was an evil spirit?"

This was very critical information to have in deciding how I'd deal with Ainar going forward. Depending on her answer, I may take back everything I said earlier and tell her the truth. I wondered what she would say, and it seemed I wasn't the only one. Erwen, Amelia, and Raven gulped silently along with me.

"Hahaha! Bjorn, you, an evil spirit? That's funny!"

"Don't just laugh it off as a joke—think about it. I want to know your answer."

Ainar must have picked up on the strange vibe because she couldn't seem to ignore my prompting. "Hmm, Bjorn an evil spirit... Well, there's only one answer."

"Which is...?" asked Erwen.

"Will you accept him regardless?" Raven prodded. "Since he's your teammate whom you've shared time and affection with?"

Ainar tilted her head. "What are you both talking about? Of course I'd beat him to death!"

"Beat... to death...?"

"The chieftain said so himself! Evil spirits are meant to be beaten to death!"

Whew, yeah... She's not going to be an easy sell.

***

Raven and Ainar's visit went into the night. We drank tea and talked for a while, and then had a couple of drinks over dinner. This naturally evolved into a drinking party after dinner was over.

"It's getting late... I should get going." Raven picked up her coat and left late at night.

Ainar, who had been drinking like no tomorrow from the get-go, was already passed out. She left in the morning after a hangover meal.

"You said you had things to do starting today, right? Tell me when you're all done. Come by the holy land too. I know what I said yesterday, but everyone will be happy if you come."

"Sure..."

After sending Ainar off, Erwen also got ready to go out. Considering the things that happened in the labyrinth, apparently, she had to show her face at her holy land today as well.

"Then take good care of the house." After Erwen headed out, I did too, leaving the house to Amelia. As I told Ainar yesterday, I had a lot of work to do starting today.

Just as Erwen warned me before she climbed the fence to go out, a large crowd was waiting in front of the house. I was sure my story had spread throughout the city by now. Some of the people were journalists, and others were curious passersby who had just come to get a look at me.

"Baronet Yandel...!"

"Ah... Baronet! Please say something!"

"Woahhh!"

"Please hold my hand!"

Wow, did Ainar get through this crowd? Well, I guess it isn't that hard.

"Behel—aaah!" I cried the name of our ancestral god and pushed through the wall of people.

"Agh! H-He's running away!"

"Follow him!"

Hey, running away? I'm just charging forward.

Sprint.

After breaking through the crowd with my overwhelming strength, I ran down the empty early-morning streets. Some people stubbornly followed me, but I was able to shake them all off soon enough.

Let's go, then.

Putting on a large cloak in a dark alley, I followed the map to my destination.

So, the closest place is... Here.

It was a small house with a memorable red gate. Checking the name written on the door plate, I took a deep breath before carefully knocking.

Knock, knock.

After a while's wait, a haggard-looking woman opened the door. "You are...!" She couldn't hide her surprise when she spotted me. This was understandable.

"May I come in, Mrs. Ashed?"

She chewed her lip at my question, but still moved to make way. "Um... I have nothing prepared except tea..."

"It's okay. I'm not here to be treated to a meal. I'm here to return something to you."

"Return something?"

I pulled a box out of my sub-space instead of answering. The woman carefully unwrapped the cloth and burst into tears when she saw the remains in the box.

"A-Ah, ahh..."

"I'm sorry. This was the best we could do at the time. I wish I could've brought him to you intact."

"A-Ah..."

"These are the items Ashed had with him. I've stored them in sub-space, so take a look when you can. If there's anything you think is missing, let me know anytime. Or if you need anything, I've written my address here so you can come visit anytime."

Sob.

"If you're uncomfortable with my presence, I'll leave now." There was no answer, but I accepted her silence as confirmation and slowly stood up.

"Wait... Please... wait a minute..." Mrs. Ashed stood, went into the kitchen, and came back with a fragrant cup of tea. "This... is the tea he always served to guests."

"I see... I don't know much about tea but it smells good. It's calm, like him."

"Tell me. How... he was..."

"I guess we'll need more tea."

I quenched my thirst with tea and told her about our quest. Most of the stories were anecdotal since I couldn't tell her the full truth. Instead, I told her about the smaller incidents that occurred during the expedition, the passing conversations we had, the care and consideration behind his actions that duller people might have overlooked.

"That's why everyone in the crew liked him. You would know. He may not stand out, but standing next to him feels comfortable and reassuring."

"Yes... really."

"He always listened to others but strangely never talked about himself. That's why we were so surprised when he mentioned he had a wife."

"Did he... talk about me...?"

"Yes."

"What... did he say?"

"He said you're a strong woman, but that you'll definitely cry once he's gone."

Sob.

The woman who had been stubbornly holding back her tears since receiving his remains dropped her head. I said nothing, looking away as I waited for her to calm down.

A while later, she whispered, "Thank you... for... coming here."

"No need to thank me. Thanks to you, I got to try some good tea."

"...Are you going to visit the others?"

I nodded slightly. "There's only so much we survivors can do."

After I left Ashed's house, I visited each squad member's home one by one. The ashes of the people I was able to bring with me were returned. If there weren't any, I gave the families a few of their belongings. If I didn't even have those, I bowed my head and apologized. Their reactions were all different.

"Huh, aren't you the great baronet? What brings you to this humble place?"

Some were sarcastic. Some just accepted the items and kicked me out. Some questioned the marquess's version of events, and some were honored that a famous hero hadn't forgotten them. But one thing was clear.

"Now, Meirin... say hello to your mom..."

"This... is my mom? Why?"

I was always the bad guy to them. Until the day I could confidently tell them the truth, I would probably have to live with this weight on my chest.

Time passed. One day, two days, three... A few days weren't enough to send all our dead squad members home. Four, five, six days...

[Your soul has resonated and is being drawn into a different world.]

That day had come.

Just as Erwen warned me before she climbed the fence to go out, a large crowd was waiting in front of the house. I was sure my story had spread throughout the city by now. Some of the people were journalists, and others were curious passersby who had just come to get a look at me.

"Baronet Yandel...!"

"Ah... Baronet! Please say something!"

"Woahhh!"

"Please hold my hand!"

Wow, did Ainar get through this crowd? Well, I guess it isn't that hard.

"Behel—aaah!" I cried the name of our ancestral god and pushed through the wall of people.

"Agh! H-He's running away!"

"Follow him!"

Hey, running away? I'm just charging forward.

Sprint.

After breaking through the crowd with my overwhelming strength, I ran down the empty early-morning streets. Some people stubbornly followed me, but I was able to shake them all off soon enough.

Let's go, then.

Putting on a large cloak in a dark alley, I followed the map to my destination.

So, the closest place is... Here.

It was a small house with a memorable red gate. Checking the name written on the door plate, I took a deep breath before carefully knocking.

Knock, knock.

After a while's wait, a haggard-looking woman opened the door. "You are...!" She couldn't hide her surprise when she spotted me. This was understandable.

"May I come in, Mrs. Ashed?"

She chewed her lip at my question, but still moved to make way. "Um... I have nothing prepared except tea..."

"It's okay. I'm not here to be treated to a meal. I'm here to return something to you."

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

"Return something?"

I pulled a box out of my sub-space instead of answering. The woman carefully unwrapped the cloth and burst into tears when she saw the remains in the box.

"A-Ah, ahh..."

"I'm sorry. This was the best we could do at the time. I wish I could've brought him to you intact."

"A-Ah..."

"These are the items Ashed had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with him. I've stored them in sub-space, so take a look when you can. If there's anything you think is missing, let me know anytime. Or if you need anything, I've written my address here so you can come visit anytime."

Sob.

"If you're uncomfortable with my presence, I'll leave now." There was no answer, but I accepted her silence as confirmation and slowly stood up.

"Wait... Please... wait a minute..." Mrs. Ashed stood, went into the kitchen, and came back with a fragrant cup of tea. "This... is the tea he always served to guests."

"I see... I don't know much about tea but it smells good. It's calm, like him."

"Tell me. How... he was..."

"I guess we'll need more tea."

I quenched my thirst with tea and told her about our quest. Most of the stories were anecdotal since I couldn't tell her the full truth. Instead, I told her about the smaller incidents that occurred during the expedition, the passing conversations we had, the care and consideration behind his actions that duller people might have overlooked.

"That's why everyone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the crew liked him. You would know. He may not stand out, but standing next to him feels comfortable and reassuring."

"Yes... really."

"He always listened to others but strangely never talked about himself. That's why we were so surprised when he mentioned he had a wife."

"Did he... talk about me...?"

"Yes."

"What... did he say?"

"He said you're a strong woman, but that you'll definitely cry once he's gone."

Sob.

The woman who had been stubbornly holding back her tears since receiving his remains dropped her head. I said nothing, looking away as I waited for her to calm down.

A while later, she whispered, "Thank you... for... coming here."

"No need to thank me. Thanks to you, I got to try some good tea."

"...Are you going to visit the others?"

I nodded slightly. "There's only so much we survivors can do."

After I left Ashed's house, I visited each squad member's home one by one. The ashes of the people I was able to bring with me were returned. If there weren't any, I gave the families a few of their belongings. If I didn't even have those, I bowed my head and apologized. Their reactions were all different.

"Huh, aren't you the great baronet? What brings you to this humble place?"

Some were sarcastic. Some just accepted the items and kicked me out. Some questioned the marquess's version of events, and some were honored that a famous hero hadn't forgotten them. But one thing was clear.

"Now, Meirin... say hello to your mom..."

"This... is my mom? Why?"

I was always the bad guy to them. Until the day I could confidently tell them the truth, I would probably have to live with this weight on my chest.

Time passed. One day, two days, three... A few days weren't enough to send all our dead squad members home. Four, five, six days...

[Your soul has resonated and is being drawn into a different world.]

That day had come.