Fifteen days had passed since I returned alive from the Labyrinth. In other words, the portal in the Dimensional Plaza was set to open in about two weeks. I can't say I'd slept well. As I completed tasks each day as if they were homework, time had slipped by unnoticed. However, I wasn't the only one who was busy.
"Hahaha! Isn't this the famous Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel? If you have time today, let's go for a drink..."
"I'm pulled."
Except for Hikurod, who spent all his time doing nothing, all the members of Team Half Ingenuity had two very busy weeks.
First, Brown, who had absorbed the essence of a Mimic during this expedition, dedicated himself to training every day to become accustomed to his new ability. "I think I now understand how to use the sixth sense ability."
Dwalkie was in the same boat. "...Oh, me? Don't worry about me. It's just that I haven't slept in two days." Once his financial troubles were sorted, he learned new spells from the magic tower while cutting back on his sleep. At one point, the dwarf worried he might be exaggerating, but replied, "Nobody knows what will happen on the next expedition, do they? I have to prepare while I can."
He was proud. When on earth had they become so mature? He was starting to think it was a good idea to stay on this team. Even though it had the essence of an Orc Hero, if the average level gain was achieved this way, these members wouldn't be a hindrance.
On the next expedition, we won't have any problems, not even on the fourth floor.
However, the growth wasn't limited to them. In the last two weeks, Missha and I had also experienced many changes. For starters, I...
"Hahaha! Congratulations," Hikurod told me. "You've earned a nickname in three months and even been promoted to level 6 explorer. I'm starting to worry that I'll soon be left behind."
"If you're worried, why not try harder?"
"Actually, I'm looking for some rare objects I could use!"
A few days ago, I was promoted to Level 6 Explorer. Contrary to what I expected, it wasn't possible to skip directly to Level 5. From Level 5 onwards, you had to take a test, and to be able to take the test, you had to complete a sort of public file by filling out applications sent to the guild.
Man, the game didn't have any of this.
In fact, it was pointless to please at this point. The backstory of the game I was playing stretched back some 150 years. Over more than a century, the social system must have underground countless updates, as must the library, which was only under construction in the game.
"Is that the new gun you bought? It looks reliable just by looking at it."
There was also a slight improvement in the equipment area. First, I bought a new mace to replace the one I had lost. It cost me 400,000 stones, more than double the previous one, because it required much more iron.
[Your combined item level increases +185.]
It was overwhelming in size and weight, but since my strength had increased considerably this time, there was no problem in its practical use.
«By the way, I remember Miss Karlstein also said she was going to change weapons. How did it go?», Dwalkie asked.
«Oh that? I don't even want to talk about it, so ask him». Missha pointed at me.
Mm, I thought I was going to stop whining now. «She bought a pair of swords».
Missha's weapon changed a few days ago, to twin lich swords that were about 70% the size of a standard sword. I paid 550,000 stones for them at the blacksmith Hikurod told me about.
«Double swords?»
While Hikurod and Brown murmured at the same time, Misha took the opportunity to whine. «True? Sounds strange to you too, right?».
»Rare»? There seems to be a misunderstanding».
«Hmm?»
«I was surprised because I thought the same thing», Brown agreed. «Being ambidextrous, using both hands is good, but I was wondering if you had any reason to stick with a dagger».
«... What do you mean?»
«I don't know if you're facing a person, but we mainly fight monsters, right? From now on, you will also encounter many large monsters».
In short, it was a little disappointing that she had used a short dagger in the past, so it turned out well. Maybe this was different from the reaction she expected because Missha looked at the dwarf in bewilderment.
«A double sword, huh? Definitely not a bad choice. After all, we will take the front line anyway. Hahaha». Hikurod, in the tank position, was only satisfied with the fact that the melee damage dealer had gone into full attack.
Then, Dwalkie spoke up. «I'm an outsider in that field, but I think dealing with one new weapon, and two, too, will be difficult to adjust...».
«True! That's what I was trying to say. I might end up getting hit by a goblin on the next trip!». Missha gained strength thanks to Dwalkie's friendliness and looked at me.
All I could say was this «Then practice more so you don't get hit by a goblin».
Once again, the easy way was the slow one. It may be difficult to gain skill in a new weapon now, but in the game, a frozen double sword master was the strongest in melee in the second part, because there was an overloaded numbered item for them.
«Ugh, okay, stop nagging.»
«I'm not scolding, but giving you advice for your future».
«So, that's scolding».
When Missha and I started arguing, Dwalkie intervened like a fool. «But if you don't like it that much, can't you keep your gun?».
«Hmm?»
«I mean, it's not like Bjorn is your father. Do you really have to do what he says? To be honest, it seems to me that he is crossing the line, which makes me uncomfortable».
Crossing the line? Well, it might seem that way to a third party, but there was something he didn't know.
«I don't hate him that much. Although it is difficult now, there are certainly some advantages to using a dagger...»
«Is that true?» dwalkie stammered.
«Yeah, so don't blame Bjorn. The decision is mine».
I never forced anything on Missha. I only firmly persuaded her with reasonable grounds.
Hikurod interrupted: «So, for the next expedition, we can aim for the middle of the fourth floor. Hahaha».
«If possible, moving to the second floor, I would like to stop by a place I haven't been yet», Brown asked.
«Hmm, is it because of merit values? If so, I'll have to check the route again».
Once we prepared our exploration plans over dinner, this week's meeting ended quickly. It was actually called a meeting, but it was more of a once-a-week meeting to discuss our updates.
«Bjorn, are you going together again?» Hikurod asked, looking at Missha.
«We are going in the same direction».
«Hmm, I mean, you've become good friends these days».
Well, it seems to me that you and Dwalkie are closer.
Ignoring the dwarf's intrusion, Missha and I left the tavern. «Oh, right. Bjorn! The equipment we ordered last time is ready to be picked up!»
«Today is late, so I can go pick it up tomorrow.»
«But what did you ask for that took so long?»
«Oh, hadn't I told you? They are underwear».
«Underpants...?»
Of course, not just briefs. Among male scouts, he was a part of the team called an egg protector in slang. Put bluntly, it was a scrotum protector. «I bought it at a slightly higher price because it had to be imbued with magic».
«Hey? Why do you need to enchant something like that with magic?!»
«Something like that?»
«N-no, I don't mean that... Well, I'm sure it's hard to find one that fits, so I can understand...».
And now what? «I can't stay naked every time my body increases in size».
The role of a player was to equip himself according to the consumed essence. In preparation for gigantization, I made clothes in the desired shape and then enchanted them with Automatic Repair, Shape Change, and Acid Immunity. Since it was unlikely that the panties - no, the underpants - I wanted would be sold on the market, I spent about 900,000 stones.
«Ah, that's why you loved it. I thought it was something else...» Missha let out a big sigh as if the misunderstanding had cleared up. But he seemed to have a new question and asked in a strange voice: «So... are you just going to carry that in the maze?».
«That's right», I responded proudly.
I didn't have a word to explain them, so I called them briefs, but they were actually more like thigh-high shorts than cyclists usually wear. Plus, they weren't made of tight material, but leather, so there was nothing to be ashamed of. Well, I hadn't tried them on yet, but there certainly wasn't. Wasn't I a barbarian? Efficiency was more important than emotion.
Anyway, while we were both chatting and walking, we arrived at the bedroom. «So, go to sleep».
«Mmm, I will. But do you want me to accompany you to pick up the equipment tomorrow?».
«Don't be lazy; keep brandishing your sword while I'm away».
«I'm not being lazy!»
Of course not. «Anyway, tomorrow I have to go somewhere alone.»
«Alone? Where are you going?»
I responded briefly: «I'm going to the Holy Land».
I had money, and now I had the essence of an Orc Hero, which was the core of my cultivation method. It was time to gradually improve the Soul Footprint level.
***
I got up early in the morning and organized the ledger once again.
The mace, underpants and double sword together are 1.85 million stones.
The Beast Blood I purchased to level up Missha's Soul Beast was 2 million stones. The cost of enchanting Acid Immunity on the lithium shell and shield was 510,000 stones.
If I subtract 90,000 stones for a month's expenses...
There were only 3.7 million stones left. Of course, they were all necessary expenses, so it didn't seem like a waste. Without Beast Blood, it would have taken Missha a long time to be able to put an Ice Attribute on her weapon.
The enchantment of the equipment should have been done sooner as well.
When I first purchased the equipment, I had the Frost Spirit Ring, and I had no money on hand, so I had skipped it. As a result, 500,000 stones came out as a repair cost. Shit, I should have saved money on something else.
After washing roughly and walking for a while, I arrived in the Holy Land, where the chief of the tribe welcomed me with a small smile on his lips. «Bjorn, son of Yandel! I can't call you a young warrior anymore. I heard you have the nickname Little Balkan».
«So it is!» I nodded proudly as I played the role of a barbarian making a glorious return. But this was a barbaric cold world.
«So why are you here?» After exchanging a word or two, the boss got straight to the point. Like a barbarian, the introduction was very short. To be honest, I thought words of admiration, praise, or encouragement would follow.
Well, this saves me time, which is nice.
Perhaps the most rational race in this city was a barbarian. As I seriously pondered this, I immediately brought out my goal. «I have come to receive an Impression of Soul».
«I see. I'll call a shaman. Talk to him».
Everything that followed was also quickly fixed. The chief left on important matters, and the shaman's apprentice came and led me to the tent.
Upon entering, I was greeted by a shaman with impressively wrinkled skin. «Ha ha. It's you again».
«How did you know it was me?». asked.
«Well, it's rare for a warrior to thank a shaman».
No, I meant how you recognized me wearing a blindfold.
I didn't ask again. Being a shaman, he must have a mystical side.
«Are you here to get the second footprint of the Path of Immortality?»
«That's right.»
«It costs a million stones».
I shuddered. «A million stones?»
«Are you not ready?»
«...Not that.» I was just surprised that the price was the same as in the game. The first stage was 150,000 stones more expensive.
Clink.
But that didn't matter. I took out the money and dropped it into the jug in front of me just as the shaman had told me. Then he giggled. «I'm glad you paid the right amount. Last time I received 50,000 fewer stones, which was a headache».
«... 50,000 fewer stones? What do you mean?»
«Young warrior, you have nothing to worry about. It's all the fault of a stupid chief».
Was it still bothering me? I had a feeling, so once I was lying face down on the blanket as ordered, I asked again. «Shaman, what is the original cost of the first stage of engraving?»
«There are 550,000 stones».
«...I see.»
With that one answer, all my doubts were resolved. At the time, the chief said the cost was 700,000 stones. Of course, I didn't think he said it to scam me. It was just that I didn't realize it at the time.
«The cost of the Immortality Imprint is... well, it must be around 700,000 stones!».
The boss was also a barbarian, very weak in letters and numbers.
Hey, and he still told me he was giving me a discount of 200,000 stones or something?
Well, as a result, I could now save 50,000 stones, so there would be no loss on my part. Still, I felt like an idiot for being so innocently happy.
«So, let's get started.»
As soon as the needle pierced my skin, all the worries, concerns and thoughts that filled my head disappeared. It was the first living pain I had felt in a long time.
«Young warrior, don't hold back. Even if you scream...»
«Aaaaaargh!»
Damn, I thought I'd be fine with Pain Resistance. I didn't think this wouldn't work.
...I will have to proceed with the third stage tomorrow.
Apparently, the plan needed to be reexamined.
[You have activated phase 2 Immortality Imprint. Your Stamina and Mana Stamina increase significantly. Your Physique increases +20. Your Spirit status increases +20].
Would it be the longest 15 minutes of my life? I was a fool when I said that.
«Ok, it's over.»
The first stage took 12 hours to complete, but the second stage only took ten minutes. However, the pain was beyond imagination, to the point that I wondered if the pain I had to endure for 12 hours had been compressed for it.
«Haha, I've never seen one end while awake». Seeing me half cross-eyed, the shaman gave a psychopathic giggle. Then he extended something to me. «Take. Choose one. There's still time, so let me take a look at your destination».
What was this? Divination? Since it was a fantasy world, the accuracy had to be high...
«It's nothing great, so go ahead and pick one. I can still determine if good things will happen in your future or not.»
In that case, since I didn't feel any malice, I took one of the dozens of sticks out of the barrel without thinking much about it.
Then the shaman was silent for a moment. That made me anxious. «Young warrior, what is your date of birth?».
I didn't think I needed to read my birth chart...
As he contemplated how to respond, the shaman giggled again. «Hahaha, it was a joke. How can a warrior know something like the date of birth?».
«...So what is my destiny like?».
«Is special. I have seen the fates of many warriors, but this is the first time I have seen such bad luck.»
Hmm, that's exactly what the shaman my mother went to see a long time ago said, too. I guess my destiny was rotten from the beginning.
«You have probably gone through countless hardships that others only go through once in their lives, and you will continue to experience them».
«I see.» Damn, this was why you shouldn't go to a fortune teller. Deep down I knew it, but hearing a shaman from a fantasy universe say it directly depressed me.
«Don't be too discouraged, young warrior. Bad luck is not necessarily a bad thing for you».
«Isn't that a bad thing?»
«Your destiny is not only bad luck, but insurmountable good fortune. And if evil doesn't engulf you, bad luck will end up turning into good luck».
«What do you mean? Simply say it». This time he wasn't pretending to be a barbarian, he was serious. Was it customary in this industry to speak without understanding, whether on Earth or here?
«Ha ha ha. It means that you are destined to experience countless once-in-a-lifetime events, both good and bad». I felt like my head was vibrating. «It is a destiny with which many who are considered heroes are born».
He didn't know what it was like to be a hero, but one thing was clear. There had been countless shits in my life, but in the end I was still alive and breathing. I thought it was because I was very unlucky. But looking back now, it wasn't just shitty things that happened.
«Haha, it sounds like you know what I'm talking about.»
Even in the Bloody Citadel, I nearly died when Vampire Duke Cambormere appeared, but as a result, I was able to acquire the bastard's essence. And the Floor Lord recently? All sorts of crazy things happened, but in the process, I was able to obtain the Orc Hero's essence.
"If it's the destiny of a hero, won't I die no matter what?"
"Of course not." The shaman smiled as if he were addressing an innocent young warrior. Then, sternly, his mood changed, and he murmured, "Some are devoured by fate, others accept it, and still others overcome it."
"Easier to understand."
"It depends on you, not on fate."
So you're going to say things I don't understand until the very end, I see.
Fate or whatever it is, this didn't change anything. I shouldn't even think about trusting in anything anymore, just stay alert and do what I have to do to be able to hard whatever comes.
***
[Bjorn Yandel]
Level: 3
Physical: 330 (New +20) / Spirit: 124 (New +20) / Special Ability: 115
Level item: 828 (New +145)
General Combat Power: 772 (New +76.25)
Essences acquired: Corpse Golem – Rank 7 / Vampire (Guardian) – Rank 5 / Orc Hero – Rank 5