In a mountainous area on the seventh floor, Dark Continent, enveloped by the black fog that indicated that region, five explorers were preparing camp.
«Scholar Grandpa, how long does the blocking magic circle take?»
«It will take about ten minutes».
«Still? Ugh, that's why you need a priest».
At the blonde's complaints, there was a subtle change in the old man's face as he drew a magic circle. Although it was not very noticeable, that emotion was one of disgust. «If you are so dissatisfied, why don't you put a priest in the remaining place?»
The blonde smiled at the old man's words. «Grandpa, do you think a priest will join our team?»
«There are also priests from Karui.»
«Rejection of half-hearted healers». Murmuring that, the blonde man looked away from the old man and stared into the mist.
Although absolute darkness blocked the view, the man could see the shape of a monster passing through him and heading there, the rank 5 Beast-type Dieville Wolf. Although these monsters originally moved in groups, it seemed that this one lost in the battle for dominance and was left behind.
The blonde spoke to the woman with his characteristic light tone. «Kitty, take care of that.»
«I told you not to talk to me like that».
«Sensitive. Your answer?»
At the man's question, the red-haired shapeshifter woman, Missha Karlstein, raised her sword without saying a word.
¡Woof Woof...!
He moved his sword towards the monster that appeared in the fog. Two cuts were enough.
Stab!
The moment the sword in his left hand pierced the monster's skin, a chill swirled and froze the monster's body, which suffered a penetrating wound.
Burst!
The sword in his right hand shattered the frozen monster.
«Oh, can rank five now make a combination?» Missha did not respond and returned to her original place. Then the blonde man murmured, as if she were being unfair: «Hey, why are you so cold to me?»
«Do you really not know?»
«Do you think I would? I take you with me and feed you with essences, I grow your skills and even teach you how to save your husband. Why do you have so many complaints?»
«Stop.»
«Just look at the way you talk. You were cute when you used to meow—»
«Part.»
When Missha gave him a cold look, the blonde shrugged and sat in front of the bonfire. «Ah, talking about your husband was forbidden, right? Sorry». After making an apology that had no sincerity, the blonde began to chat with his other classmates as if nothing had happened.
Missha silently contained her seething emotions.
...They are Lee.
That was the name of the blonde man sitting in front of her, the only individual the palace distrusted, and a talented man who was always more cunning than Noark.
Crunch , Crunch.
Seeing the sparks fly irregularly, Missha remembered their first meeting.
***
It was like a hand extended by the devil, especially since it was an offer he couldn't refuse.
«What if I told you there was a way to resurrect Bjorn Yandel?»
That day, Baekho said that there was something called the Revival Stone on the ninth floor. With that it was possible to give back to someone who was lost. Of course, it wasn't a well-intentioned offer without demanding something in return.
«In return, there is something you must do for me». There were two conditions that Baekho presented. «First, testify that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit».
"... ¿Which? ⁇
«Did I hear they were practically lovers? If you testify, it won't seem like complete nonsense».
He couldn't understand the intention behind the first condition at all. «Don't be ridiculous! That means Bjorn will have nowhere to return even if he returns alive, why me—!»
«So you're not going to do it?» Baekho interrupted her with a smile.
Even when the desire to leave that place immediately took hold of her, Missha suppressed it by biting her lip. The reason was simple. I had a feeling that if I said one more word here, he would cancel the offer and leave.
«Good girl.» Smiling at Missha's patience, Baekho continued speaking in a more generous voice. «Now, I understand you must be confused, but I'm not making a thoughtless suggestion. If my plan goes well, I can completely destroy the palace».
«... The Palace?»
«To overcome the Gate of the Abyss, it seems that I first have to tidy up the palace, and that begins by revealing that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit».
That bastard.
Those words threatened to come out, but Missha restrained them.
«Anyway, what I mean is... once the palace disappears, there will be no problem whether it is an evil spirit or not».
«... What if that plan fails?»
«Then I will take responsibility and help you escape from the castle walls. I heard it's a better place to live than people think. Well, if you don't want that either, I'll create new identities for you so you can live». together secretly on the outskirts of the city. Don't you think that's a pretty good plan?
It didn't matter if it was good or not. If those words were true, he had no choice. It was better to be alive than dead, and in a world without Bjorn, she was almost dead.
But Missha wasn't foolish enough to accept right away. «...Tell me the second condition.»
«Oh that? It's simple. I need you to help me. I've been needing a double-wielding frozen swordsman». Missha shuddered as the man spoke calmly. She was definitely smiling, but the look in her eyes seemed to treat her like an object rather than a person.
«... Why does it have to be me?» Missha felt an inexplicable pressure and spoke with difficulty. I was curious about this man's hidden intentions.
«Just a whim.» The response he received was different than what he expected.
«... ¿Whim?»
«Yeah, it doesn't really have to be you. It's not that I can't create rumors that Bjorn Yandel is an evil spirit without you, and I even have to find you the Revival Stone, which adds to the annoyance...» He spoke as if he was dealing with a troublesome burden. Just as contempt boiled on the balls of his feet, Baekho smiled and stared at Missha. «Ah, but you have an advantage. You have a reason not to betray me».
That was the reason why he had come to this place.
***
Erwen's question almost drives me crazy as it seemed like I would have to start proving my identity again, but it wasn't very difficult to dispel her suspicions. I just had to tell him the truth from the beginning. I told him about the Record Fragment Stone that was activated on Farune Island, the city I arrived in twenty years ago, and the six-month struggle to return to the original time. For reference, any mention of evil spirits was omitted entirely.
«No matter what they say, to me you are Bjorn Yandel».
It wasn't easy lying to the first person who told me this, but I had no choice. This was the best for both of us.
«It is a skill that will be of great help to you to keep your identity hidden in the future».
I received the gift from Auril Gavis. If this worked correctly, it would not be impossible to prove that I am not an evil spirit. But what if this verification was directed at Erwen and the confession that I was an evil spirit was revealed to the world? Things would get very problematic. No one could say how things would happen in the future. Therefore, it was absolutely correct to take these situations into account and act with caution.
But Auril gave me a gift because I had already thought about this?
The question came to mind as this was the first news I had heard since I returned to the future, but nothing could be determined at this time.
«Hmm... So you're not an evil spirit?» It seemed like Erwen was telling the truth when she said she wasn't interested in what my identity was as she didn't meddle in the matter. But she persistently verified something unexpected. «Hey, then...»
«¿Mmm?»
«You and Amelia Rainwales were together for over half a year...?»
«T-is that true?»
«And she fell in love with you for saving his life and said he would be your comrade?»
«She didn't fall in love with me or anything like that, she was just paying me—»
«If she was just paying you a favor, then I guess you can abandon her now?»
«… ¿Eh?»
Abandon? Amelia? Why is that suddenly the conclusion?
Unlike before, the conversation with Erwen was a little difficult to follow. As I carefully chose my words, Erwen spoke first. «Even if there was a special circumstance, she is still a Noark raider. How can you trust a woman like that?»
«But Amelia has a very useful talent...» I stopped and then shut up.
For some reason, Erwen was smiling with a peculiar look in her eyes. «Haha, sir, that's nice...» It was probably the first time I had heard that compliment since I entered the body of a barbarian. It was only when I looked that Erwen realized I was looking and covered her mouth with her hand as if she was embarrassed. But I figured she really meant this. «Sir, don't worry about that woman. You have me. Now I'm very strong, strong enough that it doesn't even matter if a woman like that is gone. I make good money and I also have subordinates that I can control». with a single word from my mouth.»
«Ah, really...»
«Yeah. Of course, I know what you're thinking. In a situation like that, suddenly, you would have needed someone to trust». He spoke as if he thought he couldn't live without a woman. As I wondered if he was simply being sensitive, Erwen said something that clearly indicated a distortion in his memory before grabbing my hand tightly. «That woman may have been pretty trustworthy there. I-like when you met me... But don't worry. Now you have me».
Honestly, his words just left me dumbfounded. It was true that we were close, but were we that close? Enough to say something like that without hesitation, even meeting after two years and six months?
«I will protect you from now on. Yes then...»
«So...?» I asked, an ominous feeling came over me and Erwen smiled.
«Next time you see her, make sure you kill her».
«OMS...?»
«Rainwales»
I thought I understood now why Amelia said that.
«Yandel, that woman is not the fairy you met back then.»
The innocent twenty-year-old fairy no longer existed. There was only one fairy with extremist tendencies apparently because she was missing a screw in her head.
If I let him drag me here, it's over.
I instinctively realized that laughing at it meant the end.
«¡Diablos—aaaaaaaaaaa! »
First I screamed because I felt like I could do anything when I did that. He didn't know what Erwen had been through at that moment, but she didn't blink even once despite the sudden scream. No, on the contrary, he applauded happily.
«Wow! It's the Lord!»
...Geez, how anticlimactic.
I forced myself to ignore Erwen's reaction and spoke in a strong tone. «Erwen, I'm not going to kill Amelia».
But as expected, Erwen wasn't easy. «Excuse me? Why not? It's better to keep secrets between fewer people, right? The Record Fragment Stone too. I think we need to hide that you're alive for now, so there's no reason to keep that woman alive—»
«Stop.» When I interrupted her, Erwen tilted her head with an expression as if she couldn't really understand. «I'll take care of it with Amelia so don't say anything like that again. Understood?» Speaking firmly again, I looked at Erwen until she responded.
Erwen then looked around with a somewhat surprised expression before dropping her shoulders. «...Okay. I won't.»
Wow, seeing this, I think I can control her somehow.
***
After resolving the matter with Amelia, I discussed a few things with Erwen before taking the secret passage to the overworld.
«Don't worry. Nobody will see you».
Once we left for the overworld, Erwen hid me with the spirit of darkness and we moved into an inn. There weren't many people on the streets in the middle of the night, especially those skilled enough to spot Conceal.
«It's small, but please stay here tonight. I'll get you a better place tomorrow...»
«Best place...?»
This was already the top floor with four rooms attached to the suite. It was hard to believe this came from Erwen, who once traveled an hour round trip to have a thousand stone meal just because it was cheap and tasty, but I assumed this was what was called the passage of time. It would be best to adapt quickly.
«Okay, then let's go in!»
«... You too?»
«Of course? I booked it with my own money».
Hey, that's true.
As I was left speechless and with nothing to reply, Erwen pushed me into the room. «Sir, do you remember this?» He suddenly took out a bottle of alcohol from the subspace. I felt like I had entered a new test.
Remember...? Oh, I remember.
«Our first drink back».
Fortunately, that seemed to have been the right answer when Erwen laughed and said, «I knew you'd remember!». But in the process I learned something I didn't want to know. «Isn't it so romantic?»
«Romantic...?»
«This drink. I've been saving it to drink by myself once I kill all the bastards and bitches I need to kill. Ha, but to think I'll drink this with you...»
What the hell happened to this child? If this is the state you're in, I'm starting to worry about the state of the other kids...
«Okay, let's have a drink». Since my specialty was keeping my head straight after having a drink, I accepted Erwen's offer.
She still can't drink very well.
Before long, Erwen was drunk and lying in bed. Seeing her collapse helplessly, I worried that it would be like this in other places as well.
I shouldn't worry about her.
I chuckled and sat in the chair by the window. It was a moment when we realized why husbands so longed to spend time alone once they got married.
It's peaceful...
Enjoying the silence in front of the moonlit window for a moment, I officially began to activate my thoughts. The amount of information I heard through the drunken conversation with Erwen was considerable, so it needed to be organized.
Raven was in the third Magic Troop. Mr. Bear had joined a clan to earn a living. She didn't know anything about Missha. And Ainar...
If everything is resolved well, it will be the easiest to recover.
I sighed and shook my head. There was actually a much bigger obstacle than gathering my scattered clanmates. All missions came with an order.
He said the palace recognized that I am an evil spirit a few months after the rumor spread...
Let's deal with this first.