When I opened my eyes again, it was midnight. I decided there was no point in waking up now and went back to sleep. That's why I thought I had only slept a total of two days.
«Did I sleep three days?»
At first I thought Amelia was joking. She was still exhausted despite having slept three days in a row. To be honest, today I forced myself to get up although I could have slept more.
But has it really been three days?
«Still, I'm glad you woke up. I was going to force you to wake up if you didn't today. I'm tired of the elf making a fuss».
«...And where is Erwen?»
«Out.»
«Out?»
«He said he was going to his sacred land. It seems like things aren't being resolved there as easily as she thought».
The context was missing from his sentence, but I knew what he was talking about. It must have been about Erwen's departure from the elven special forces unit and her role as pureblood. Since Erwen had received considerable support from the elves while I was away, she would have to make many sacrifices to become a free woman again. A main example would be the Sacred Arch. If not that, then the funds used to buy this mansion, which she blackmailed them by holding said Sacred Arch hostage.
Well, the real problem is the Pureblood part itself.
Pureblood's elf role was something of a race secret. Only one person could inherit the title at a time, and the successor's Natural Power skyrocketed. That was the reason why Erwen had been able to make a contract with the Spirit King in the first place.
You should resolve this issue as soon as possible. There's no point in letting Erwen figure it out on her own.
The time I spent sleeping suddenly seemed like a waste to me. Although not even a month had passed since I returned from Ice Rock, it was not the time to rest.
Growl!
«...There is food in the kitchen, you should go eat something.»
Yeah, wait, let's eat first.
***
After filling my stomach after three days of starvation, the first thing I did was analyze what I had learned about Baekho, the GM, Hyeonbyeol, Ragna, Auril Gavis, and the numerous other pieces of information I had obtained from the Round Table. I excused myself from Amelia and locked myself in my room for a while to organize my thoughts.
Ha... The truth is that my head is going to explode.
I felt like I was a student again right before starting the course. I had to catch up on a lot of homework, but I didn't know what to do first. So I decided to rank everything in order of priority, like I did when playing a game. What needed my immediate attention?
It's easier now that I've organized everything as if it were a search.
After assigning forced classifications, my head felt clearer.
So the quest I have to fulfill today is... finish creating the clan.
«Amelia, how was the creation of the clan?»
«They finished reviewing the documents yesterday, so all you have to do is go in person and put your name on the list».
I had actually considered reviving my old clan for a while. But since it dissolved after I was presumed dead, the administrative process to restore it would be too complicated, so we decided to create a new one. It was a little disappointing. Being an ancient clan had many advantages.
Well, I guess I can use my noble title to make up for it in the future.
Negotiating with the guild, at least, was something he trusted. I changed my clothes and was about to leave to tackle today's to-do list when Amelia followed me, jacket already on.
«Do you want to come?»
«I think it's the best. Since I have taken care of most of the paperwork».
True, if we went together, there was less chance of something missing. Raven normally took on this role.
It will be a long time before we can get that girl out of the army.
Of course, that didn't mean I had given up. However, the most important thing was what Raven wanted.
«Wait.»
«¿Eh?»
«Use this. If you go out like this, there will be a big commotion».
«Ah...» I put on the iron helmet that Amelia handed me and walked out the door.
«It's been a while since we've gone out together like this», Amelia commented.
¿Ah, si?
Well, now that I thought about it, the last time was when we went to the art gallery to buy Vol-Herchan essence at auction. After returning to the present, we were not in a position to roam freely.
«Oh, there it is».
As the mansion was located in the center of the city, it didn't take us long to walk to the nearest branch of the guild. We took a number and waited like the other adventurers. When it was our turn, we presented our IDs.
«¡B-B-B-Bjo... ah-!»
An employee took us to a private reception on the second floor and started hyperventilating as soon as he saw my license. The branch director came running and did the remaining administrative procedures for us. I felt weird.
Commander, Bjorn Yandel
Sub-Commander, Vacant
Member, Vacancy
Membro, Emily Raines
Member, Ainar Fenelin
Member, Auyen Rockrobe
This was the minimum number of people needed to create a clan. For reference, Erwen couldn't join right now because we hadn't solved the problem of her Pureblood march yet.
«Come back to us soon, please!»
After a warm reception and farewell by the branch director, we left the guild and headed to a nearby restaurant. Considering that I hadn't eaten for three days, I was already starving again.
«Amelia.»
«Soy Emily.»
Oh, right. I'm too hungry to think clearly.
«So what did you want to tell me?»
«Oh, nothing special. I'm just curious. Why did you tell me to leave the spot blank for the first member?». I did as he advised, but I had not yet received an explanation. So why?
«Sometimes impatience can cause things to fall apart».
«…¿Eh?»
«While she takes care of removing the title of Pureblood, tell her that you left the position empty on purpose. That will calm that elf».
«Hey...» What was he listening to now? «...Did you leave it vacant for Erwen?».
Amelia looked away, looking a little embarrassed. «...She seemed upset», she murmured before changing the subject. «Anyway, the name of the clan».
«¿Eh?»
«Is there a reason you called him that? As far as I remember, it is a well-known ancient word meaning 'group of wild beasts'».
So you also assumed it was an old word as soon as you heard it. So I guess I've been successful.
After thinking about it for a moment, I told Amelia the truth, leaning in so no one would hear me. «It's not really the ancient language. He's Korean».
When I whispered in her ear, Amelia shuddered. «Korean?», he whispered. «Are you saying it's from your home country?».
«Yeah». I nodded and, in the process, explained the meaning. «It is a word that captures the spirit of working together with one heart and one mind towards a better future».
«...¿Ah?»
«That's what anabada means: reduce, reuse, recycle».
That was also going to be our clan's creed for the moment, since, given the corner they had put us in, we couldn't afford to do anything else.
***
After the meal, Amelia left because she had to take care of some business. It was obvious where he was going. He was probably heading to his sister's workplace to sneak see her again, unable to even dare to talk to her.
Well, if she's satisfied with that, it's not like I can say anything.
My search today was over, but I headed somewhere else instead of home. There was something I wanted to do myself.
¡Tintinear!
When I opened the store door and walked in, I saw a reasonably full restaurant. The tavern sold food during the day and drinks at night, with an inn on the second floor.
«Welcome! Are you here alone?» When I walked through the door, a young waitress in her twenties led me to a table with a bright smile. «What good am I?»
«Something with a lot of meat, please. I'm hungry to walk here».
«Sure, wait a...»
«Wait, the owner isn't here today?»
«Ah, the priest told him that he has to start being careful. She's not coming these days.»
...Is she sick?
I was a little worried about that, but decided to correct the misunderstanding first. «I was asking about the male owner».
«Ah! Mr. Urikfried will be coming soon. Probably in about thirty minutes? It's always everywhere though, so don't quote me!».
Okay, then I'll be able to see him if I wait a while.
«Thanks for letting me know.
I tipped the waitress for stealing her time and then sat at a table to kill time. I had finished my first portion and had just ordered another when the door opened and the person I was waiting for arrived.
¡Jingle!
«¡Ya está aquí, Sr. Urikfried!»
«Yes, has something happened?»
«Your friend is here».
«...Friend?» Mr. Bear turned to explore the store and stood still as soon as his eyes met mine. It seemed like he had realized what was happening. «Myla, don't accept any more clients from now on. And fire the customers who are here as soon as they finish eating».
«Excuse me?»
«Oh, and after kicking them all out, you and the chef can go home.»
«jaEhh?»
«If you can, don't let anyone come to my table», Mr. Bear quickly indicated to the waitress before approaching me. «So it's you, Bjorn Yandel».
«Long time no see, Abman».
Mr. Bear stared at me for a long time before sitting down without hesitation. There was a brief silence. Mr. Bear was the first to break it.
«I have heard the news...».
Wow, why is it so uncomfortable?
«I still don't understand what's happening, but it seems like something big has happened to you».
«Ah, to... pasó...»
«Did you meet with... the others?»
«With everyone except Missha».
«So... I see...» Mr. Bear seemed to think something for a moment before continuing. «Actually, I went to your house a few times after hearing the news. But I left as there was no sign of you leaving».
«You should have knocked on the door. I would have let you in at any time».
«I don't know, I changed my mind».
There was some kind of hidden meaning in his words or... No, certainly not. Yeah, so ... First of all, let's set the record straight.
«Abman, I never planned to fool you. The reason I couldn't show up for two and a half years is all...»
«Enough. Bjorn, I think you misunderstood. I'm not mad at you for that. Of course, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel betrayed at all... But this has nothing to do with it». Mr. Bear clarified it right away. Then he stole my drink, drank it in one gulp, and took a breath. «I just didn't want to hear what the reason for your disappearance was. Because it could be related to something dangerous. And that has nothing to do with me anymore, anyway».
I felt like something was squeezing my chest. «Nothing to do with you, huh?».
«I'm sorry, but I think I should make this clear before continuing: if you're here to get me back on your team, that's going to be impossible.».
Was this what it meant to be dropped off before you even asked someone out? However, he was more curious than upset. «It seems like you don't say it because you love the clan you're in now».
«Yes, I'm not».
«Then can you tell me why?».
Mr. Bear exhaled deeply through his nose as if he were suppressing a sigh. «The day we heard the news of your return... my wife took me aside. Very worried, she asked me if I was going to see you».
«Ya veo... »
«Do you know something, Bjorn? Two and a half years is a long time. Enough to change the mind of an adventurer whose dream was once to see the end of the labyrinth», Mr. Bear said solemnly. «So... what I mean is that... I can't go back to the life I led before. If I continue working with you, I don't think I'll ever see my children get married.»
«Hm... Ya veo...»
With that, I got rid of even the slightest hint of regret. No, there were no regrets to begin with. There was a reason I hadn't classified today's visit as a search per se. I never planned to recruit him. In fact, he planned to stop me from doing so. Think about it: how could I ask him to join a clan that could turn against the king one day? To a married man with children?
«I'm sorry», said Mr. Bear.
«Don't be sorry, let's drink». When he hesitated, I mockingly incited him. «That? Can't you drink with me if we don't go to the maze together?».
«...Not at all».
Mr. Bear then took his glass and we spent the time chatting about trivial things while the tavern was slowly emptying and all the employees went home. The sun set and night came. We talk about the past, we laugh and sometimes we get into serious debates.
«…In the afternoon.»
«It's only night».
«My wife will be waiting».
«So... it's a shame.»
«I'm sorry. If my wife wasn't about to give birth, I would have stayed a little longer.»
¿Casi?
My mind momentarily went blank, but it only took me a second to process it.
So he has a second child on the way.
For some reason I felt strange realizing this. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't been able to be by his side when her first child was born. He used to talk about being his godfather every time we drank.
«It's raining. Take. I should get ready before I go».
«...Ah, thanks.»
After exchanging a few more words, I put on the raincoat that Mr. Bear offered me and went out into the street.
Learn.
It was pouring.
I'm not exactly sad, but...
Was it because it was the first time in a long time that he had drunk so much? The realization that two and a half years had passed without me suddenly felt cruel. I felt like I had missed something precious. But what could he do now? I had no choice but to accept it.
I'm watching.
I walked down the rainy street.
I'm watching.
Although I concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other, my drunk body stumbled here and there. I wondered if it was because of my trembling walk that kept thinking about the end of our conversation.
«Bjorn Yandel... Take big strides. Don't regret a straggler like me».
Gosh, there are no stragglers in life.
«If you keep moving, I know you can go wherever you want.»
Why does everyone treat me like I'm special?
I'm watching.
I couldn't be sure, but I walked forward anyway, repeating over and over in my head my to-do list for tomorrow.