Auril Gavis, the creator's nickname, always appeared at the bottom of the loading window. I didn't know if it was a nickname or his real name, but whatever.
Why that name...
It was a bit sudden, but there were two possibilities. The Complete Book of Rifts II was written by a player, or by Auril himself. If it was the later, it unsettled me. At the very least, it means that the game's creators had a close connection to the events of my awakening in this body.
Is that bastard really some kind of divine being?
Anyway, getting this clue was a good sign. Auril Gavis. If he followed this name carefully, one day he might find his way home. Again, he still knew nothing. He didn't even know if reaching the top floor and reopening the door to the abyss was the key to getting back.
Asking around recklessly would end in bloodshed, so I had to investigate it carefully.
So I read the book carefully. Actually, nothing came up. Only the author's signature, which was supposed to be on the back cover, not even the year the book was written. After confirming that Ragna wasn't around, I tore off just the corner and put it in my bag.
If I can find out what year this book was written, it will be a great...
Wait, was it already daytime? I finished thinking and got up from my seat. When I approached the desk, I saw Ragna nodding off. Just as I was about to cover her with the blanket next to her, she woke up at the sound. "Mmm."
"Why didn't you tell me? If I had known so much time had passed, I would have left sooner."
"Don't get me wrong. I was just taking a break because it was taking me a little longer to organize the books."
A little more? I was almost ready to open.
"That's true. Don't misunderstand me."
"...Okay."
Since she insisted, I nodded and left the library. Before opening the door, I glanced behind me and saw her stretching, looking pulled.
"What are you doing? Aren't you leaving?"
Perhaps he was a good person?
***
It was morning, so I started my day. I was a barbarian anyway, so it didn't matter whether I washed or not.
But I would still have to eat first.
I went to any nearby restaurant that was open, ate something quick, and headed straight for the magic tower.
Raven asked, "What are you doing here so early, Mr. Yandel?"
"I've come to ask you something."
"Well, hurry up. I'm pulled."
"There's an opening for a magician on our team, and I was wonderful if I could come in..."
Click.
He closed the door.
Damn it, if you don't want to, just say so.
Another failure. Never mind, I wasn't expecting her to agree anyway. "Wait! I need to ask you another please!"
When I shouted hurriedly and banged on the door, a crack opened with a creak. "Another please?"
"I want to know when this paper was made."
«Hmm? Let me see». Raven carefully inspected the piece of paper I handed her with interest, but couldn't find anything interesting. «It's not impossible, but why do you want to know?».
«Can't you just do it?».
«Well, it's okay. But it's not free, I'll have to get something in return...» Raven interrupted herself and continued as she thought of something appropriate. «The older ones are very interested in you, so go help them with their research. They've been bothering me with that for a while».
Are you telling me to trust my body to those perverts, now?
«...Only once?»
«Yes, it's not such a difficult favor. I will have the complete analysis for your visit next week. Ah! Good. And don't come looking for me at such an early hour if you can help it».
«...Okay.»
When I finished my business and left the tower, it was 9:00 am. It was a little early, but there was nothing to do, so I headed to the meeting place, a bar. To my surprise, someone was there before me.
«Bjorn! That! I went to your inn and you weren't there!» Missha shouted.
«Oh, I was in the library».
«W-what? All night...? Is that what you meant by business?!»
«What are you talking about? I was reading thanks to Ragna»'s consideration. I only told the truth, but Missha looked at me with doubtful eyes. Not even if it was my mother...
«It's true...?»
«Why would I lie to you?»
«It's... true. Okay.» Surprisingly, when I looked her straight in the eyes and told her that, she gladly accepted it. A kind son doesn't lie... that kind of feeling? Anyway, when I sat next to him, Missha gave me the drink she was sipping. «Drink some of this. It is made from a fruit called tomato and has a very interesting flavor».
I didn't know if it was interesting, but that reminded me of something. «Before that, what did you mean yesterday?» Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like she was going to say something important, but as Hans B interrupted her, I couldn't hear the end.
«Hey? What are you talking about?»
«Don't you remember?»
«Hey, hey... Could it be that I expressed myself wrong?». Looking into those innocent eyes, it seemed like she was too drunk to remember. I even asked him if there was anything he wanted to tell me, but he didn't say anything. «Hey? I don't have any of that».
«I see.»
«...Are you angry?»
«No.» There were two ways to anger someone in this world, but I wasn't angry about something like that. It wasn't like it was his fault. After that, as I spent time using the quiet bar as a cafe, the others arrived.
«Oh, have you arrived earlier?»
«Sorry, you all had to come here so early because of me...»
As always, Hikurod and Dwalkie appeared as a couple. We waited a while, and Rotmiller arrived just in time. The meeting began. The topic was, of course, how to get rid of Dwalkie's prohibition on entering the maze.
«Then let me know if each of you has any ideas. First... Yes, Bjorn, let's start with you.»
Me first? It was quite distressing, but I gave my presentation honest and concise. «I think it would be better to find a new teammate.»
«... What?»
«Of course, it seems unreasonable to find a magician. I suggested it to two other magicians, but they rejected it».
«...W-What are you saying now? Have you already talked to other magicians?».
«Is there a problem?» I asked confidently. Hikurod may have been sad that I tried to find a solution no matter what, but the difference between selfishness and altruism was always a fine line. I assumed the worst and tried to find a realistic alternative for the team. «It was something one of us had to say. Isn't that right, Rotmiller?»
«That's true... true». When I pointed out his opinion, Rotmiller nodded with a rather uncomfortable expression.
At that, the dwarf became serious.
«M-Murad! I'm fine, so don't make that face. Bjorn hasn't said anything bad, has he?». When even Dwalkie spoke like this, Hikurod closed his mouth.
Missha raised her hand happily as if to try to relax the atmosphere. «Then I'll be next!»
«Go ahead, Miss Karlstein».
Of course, it was nothing to really listen to. «I've looked into it and heard that Mozlans are weak against bribery. How about we raise some money and make a puncture?»
Request bribes with an innocent voice. Surely, Baron Martoin or whatever his name would have offered them money to take care of Dwalkie.
Brown explained: «Miss Karlstein, Mozlans never do business with those who are not noble».
The Mozlans completely excluded commoners. Although most of them lacked titles... No, rather, that was why it was their last pride.
«Is that so...? I did not know. So, Rrrotmiller, you continue». Missha spent her turn, embarrassed.
As was Rotmiller's opinion, I also wait to hear him. «To be honest, I don't know how to get what you want from a noble... especially one with a degree. Sorry...» It seemed like Rotmiller hadn't found a suitable answer either.
However, unlike me, Hikurod sighed and comforted him. «How could it be your fault? Actually... it's natural».
So why did he glare at me?
While I growled to myself, the dwarf opened his mouth in a suggestive voice. «So I wanted to ask... Last night, Dwalkie and I put our heads together.».
«Get to the point».
«I wonder if we should go talk to Baron Martoin in person.»
In other words, a face-to-face meeting. But there was a serious problem here. «How are you going to meet him?»
Most of the nobles lived in sector 1, the capital of Karnon. That area wasn't even accessible to low-level explorers like us. Conversation? To begin with, we lived in different worlds.
However, it seemed that Hikurod had already devised a detailed plan. «There is a tea house that Baron Martoin visits regularly. If we wait for him there, we can surely meet him».
In that case, it wasn't a bad idea. The problem was that the baron was unlikely to change his mind. Anyway, there was nothing to lose by trying. «Then no problem. You two go».
«What kind of cold words those are! Come with us!», Hikurod urged.
What was he talking about? «At best you only go there to beg, why should we all go?».
«...We need courage! The opponent is a man of title!»
At my instruction to solve it on his own, the dwarf began to whine. I was already sighing at that desperate reaction, but considering everything we had been through together, I began to calculate the practical benefit of this.
Finding a new wizard when there were only nine days left would be unreasonable...
Even if we were able to find someone regardless of their job, if it wasn't someone with a well-equipped head, it would only lead us to have a hard time. It was even better for Dwalkie to stay on this team.
And if we send only these two, they won't be able to say anything and will cause more problems. No matter how I think about it, it seems like we only have one chance if I go myself. But... I really don't want to go meet a nobleman.
The iron rule was not to tangle with nobles as much as possible in the game, since none of them were sane.
Hikurod offered: «Whatever it ends, I will give you 300,000 stones! Per person».
Hmmm, this was a little tempting. If it weren't just for loyalty, there would be no one I couldn't meet, not even a noble. «If that's the case, then it wouldn't hurt to know him.»
«Really?» At my acceptance, Hikurod's face lit up noticeably.
However, instead of getting carried away by his tactics, I calmly asked what I needed to know. «So when can we leave?».
He may have been from the nobility, but this was not a world where you could kill someone at will, especially a respected explorer. In any case, there would be no serious danger, but it was still the first time I had seen a real noble since I woke up in this body. I also wanted time to prepare.
«Today.»
«What...?»
«Y-if it's not today, you won't visit that place until next month».
Huh, no wonder I wanted to refuse. Still, I agreed to do it, so I learned the other things one by one: how old the baron was, if he was really a man, if there was anything he didn't like, and anything else he should know. Time flew by as I became familiar with all of this.
«V-let's go», Hikurod said. «If we want to pretend we met by chance like you said, we should be there in advance!».
The baron's visit to the tea house used to be between three and four in the afternoon, so we arrived at the tea house at two and waited for his arrival. How long had it been since then?
«That man is my second older brother», Dwalkie noted.
Baron Martoin appeared with his assistants. Apparently, he himself visited the store to enjoy the tea prepared directly by the owner. If I entered the private room there would be no time to talk, so I got up quickly and took the initiative.
«Who goes there?» As I approached, a gigantic knight blocked my path.
As planned, Dwalkie stepped forward. «B-baron Martoin! It's me! Riol Warb Dwalkie! Please listen to me only once!» Dwalkie fell to the ground to show his surrender, as I advised him.
At this time, the baron's interest shifted from the owner of the cafe to Dwalkie. His reaction was completely different than expected. «Dwalkie...? Sounds familiar». His murmurs sounded like he didn't even remember who Dwalkie was.
A man who looked like a butler spoke in his ear. «The Dwalkie family is the family of the former Baron's third wife, Karlina».
«Ah, that's true! So what matters does that person have with me?».
«Me, me... is that...» Dwalkie had a hard time getting the words out from the beginning, unlike my plan.
It was sooner than I expected, but it was my turn to step forward. «Nice to meet you. I am Bjorn, son of Yandel».
Nobility or not, I spoke with pride. If he had been of another race, that alone would have constituted contempt for the nobility, but a great and precious barbarian was an exception. In the past, my ancestors made a great achievement and received such permission from the king.
Fortunately, the baron seemed interested. «It's been a while since I spoke to a barbarian. It's always a strange feeling». True, when someone like him would meet a barbarian and they would talk to him freely? «So what's your business with me?»
«Since being dragged by Mozlan yesterday, this guy has been banned from entering the maze».
«How unfortunate. But why are you telling me this?»
Because it was you who ordered them to do it. What is this? Why do you seem to have no idea what I'm talking about?
At first, I thought I was just acting, but by now I was starting to have doubts too. Just then, the butler whispered to the baron again.
«Hmm, a bastard? Is there such a thing? I see. It was your work...»
«Yes my lord. I didn't feel like it was something to worry about».
«Well done. Something as trivial as that would have been a waste of time to learn».
Now that he saw it, the baron knew nothing of this. It seemed like the butler took care of everything.
«Something... so trivial?» dwalkie murmured. Despite his shock, judging only by the results, it wasn't that bad. It meant that the chance of achieving our goal had increased, as long as the other party considered it insignificant.
«Could you remove the ban on entering the maze?». I asked for.
«Hmm, why should I?». The baron tilted his head as if he didn't understand. The annoying thing here was that he didn't feel any malice. Their way of thinking was completely different from ours.
This powerful fucking nobleman...
As I was cursing the baron under my breath and wondering what to do next, the butler whispered in his ear again. I wasn't sure how he did it, but once more, I couldn't hear a thing. Still, I had a rough idea of what he was saying.
"Huh? What did you say? Is this that barbarian?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Huh, Little Balkan... I've heard of that name. At a banquet two days ago, the count mentioned that an interesting explorer had turned up." The baron looked at me in a completely different way than before. As if he had discovered an interesting toy, his eyes were full of life. "You said your name is Bjorn? If I grant your request, may I have a favor?"
Ah, uh... um... I didn't expect this to happen...
"It's not a big favor. Besides, I'll offer you a suitable reward for it! What do you think?"
Somehow, I received my second search.