The next day, Missha woke me up early in the morning. "Wake up, wake up! How long are you going to sleep?"
It was 6:30 am. Even considering Kommelby's itinerary, it was quite early.
"Let's eat out today. I couldn't pack lunch because I woke up early."
"Then let's go to the first floor..."
"It's not nice here! Let's go eat outside. Okay?"
"Even though I'm hungry..."
"Come on, I'll buy you something delicious. Okay?"
I didn't even get to breakfast because of Missha's insistence, and I was dragged along. Then, as if something were chasing us, we climbed into a carriage. Only when we arrived in the Kommelby shopping district did we eat at a restaurant 30 minutes from the public platform, which Missha explained was famous.
"How is it? Does it taste good?"
"It's delicious!" She didn't know what they had done to the stew, but it had a very familiar salty flavor. She was determined to remember this place and return whenever she was nearby.
"I'm glad you seem satisfied. Did you like it that much?"
"Except for the price of a meal."
"That's because you ate four plates, you barbarian!"
After a late breakfast, we stopped by the armor shop and general store we frequented and got rid of all the loot.
Three million stones, huh?
That was the amount we got from selling all the equipment and consumables from the trio we met on the second floor, plus Jencia. It wasn't a small amount, but it didn't seem that big either. It would have been many times that amount if we'd sold the Serpent Fang and the second-grade leather armor.
Well, that's something we can sell later.
After that, I entrusted the repairs to the blacksmith Hikurod had told me about. I was worried about the cost of the repairs because the shield and breastplate were badly dented in the battle against the trolls.
"In total, 300,000 stones."
However, the repairs were cheaper than I expected. Well, it was probably easier to repair dented equipment than melted equipment.
"Do you handle leather too?"
"Yes, do you have anything to repair?"
"Ah, this one is tight around the chest..." While we were there, Missha also arranged for the armor to be repaired.
Since it was leather, I wondered if alterations would cause any problems, but it wasn't a big deal. "I don't even need to add any new material. I think I can just use some softener on the narrow parts to lengthen them slightly."
The repair cost was only around 50,000 stones. Perhaps it was because I came here with Hikurod's introduction, but there was no way to change the blame. It seemed like a very conscientious business.
"Come back in three days."
After leaving the blacksmith shop, we wandered around and bought expedition supplies for next time. I repurposed the Witch's Lamp solution, which was a consumable to counter stealth, and purchased some additional items I could think of.
«I'll give you two bottles together for two million stones».
I bought two bottles of the advanced potion again at the general store I had gone to earlier. I didn't know I would use an entire bottle so quickly. It was a considerable expense, but it was a little better because we both paid for it together.
«Fortunately, we didn't have to touch the money in the shared account. There are 325,000 stones here». I shared the remaining money with Missha. With that, today's program was over.
«Then I'll leave now! Good evening, Bjorrrn!»
«Good night.»
Returning to Ravigion in the evening, we parted ways after a simple meal.
What is this?
When I returned home, I saw a silver-haired fairy crouching in front of my door with her head bowed. «Erwen?»
«Oh, are you here?» Erwen greeted me with a smile as soon as she saw me. His eyes seemed tired for some reason, so I couldn't help but ask.
«...How long have you been waiting for me?»
«Not much. Have you both gone out?»
«Ah, we had business in Kommelby».
«Ah... of veo.»
«So what are you doing here?»
It was time to wash up and go to bed, so I asked him why he was here, but Erwen just kept her mouth shut as if she wanted to organize her thoughts. He had a somewhat serious expression, but Erwen spoke in her usual lively voice. «Sir, I can't come as often as before. I have come to tell you».
«Hmm? Ah... well, things have changed since then».
She was no longer a month-old rookie explorer, although she hadn't made it to the full year either. But that was all the more reason to focus on growth right now.
«Yes, I have decided to start special training with my sister tomorrow. So maybe once a week? I don't think I can come more than that. I wish I could, but... in that case it would take a long time».
«A long time?»
«...It's nothing». Erwen didn't give a proper answer and before he could ask, he smiled happily and disappeared. «Anyway! I'll be back next week, see you then, sir!».
«Oh, sure...»
What was that feeling of restlessness?
***
The next day, at lunchtime, the entire team met at a bar. Having a drink back, we dedicated ourselves to distributing the loot from the previous exploration.
«I think we can divide it into 550,000 stones per person. The Frog Sorcerer's byproducts were sold at a much higher price than I thought».
«Haha, isn't it all thanks to Rotmiller's dissection?»
«Ahem, since I'm not very useful in battle, I should do so much».
Following Rotmiller's humble words, I settled the proceeds from this exploration. There were 400,000 in mana stones obtained from the crack and the first and second floors, then 320,000 stones after subtracting the cost of consumables from the money from the sale of the equipment, and 550,000 stones from the money from the completion commission and by-products: a total of 1.27 million stones.
Even though he spent so much, he still earned a lot.
Be that as it may, on the fourth floor I earned much more than in the previous two months. No, actually, considering the essence Missha ate, the leather armor and the Snake Fang, it could be said that we made some crazy profits. He also had five million stones to receive from Mr. Bear.
With this momentum, I will soon be able to record the sixth stage.
I smiled and drank my beer. There were still two million stones left in my account shared with Missha. The personal wealth he had accumulated until then was about 2.5 million. I had been a little uneasy about my stagnant growth over the past two months, but looking at my bank balance filled my heart.
«Bjorn! Don't take the first drink back by yourself!», Hikurod rebuked.
« ¿Hmm? »
«Let's all drink together! We haven't celebrated properly yet, have we?».
«...Of course, do what you want».
«For defeating the bastard troll and getting the whole team back alive! Already! Drink everyone!»
Once the settlement was over, everyone drank the drink back and settled the regrets of the previous exploration. Was it because we all overcame another crisis together? The team leader, Hikurod, seemed very happy. However, the drinking party ended quite quickly compared to last time.
«Um... I have to go now. Today I have to stop by my parents' house».
First Missha left and then Rotmiller.
«I'm done for tonight too. I have business in the guild».
Due to their schedules afterwards, the two only sipped their drinks to participate and left. Rotmiller wasn't a talker anyway, but since Missha left, the rowdy drinking party calmed down. I assumed the dwarf would be angry if I left too, so I tried to stay and continue the party.
Surprisingly, Hikurod slipped away and went to the next table. «Hahaha, I'm telling you! That bastard troll wasn't that big of a deal... M-lie? Of course not. Do you see that barbarian over there? It's Little Balkan, I don't know if you've heard...». Hikurod left his companions and toasted explorers he didn't know.
I was about to leave too when Dwalkie grabbed me. «Hey, how about we talk?»
"¿From what?"
«W-well, come to think of it, we've never had a quiet conversation with just the two of us».
That was true. He had talked a lot with Rotmiller when everyone was fainting from the drinks, but he was always one of those who slept.
Will you have something to tell me?
I sat down again and toasted Dwalkie, and that was it. Dwalkie took a hesitant sip of his drink, but didn't speak before.
Damn, I should have left.
Despite the noisy surroundings, an uncomfortable air flowed around me. I opened my mouth first because there was something I was curious about. «How is your body?»
«Ah, well... To be honest, I was a little sick again after being treated by the priest, but now I am completely cured».
«That's fine, so what do you think of this?». I asked, tapping my forehead. Dwalkie tilted his head. «It must have been the first time they folded your body in half. Do you think you can continue in the maze?».
Broken will explorers were more common than one thinks. Sometimes the cruel memories that remained in the body remained intensely in the mind like scars.
«Ah, well...» Realizing the meaning of my question, Dwalkie hesitated to answer. It seemed like it wasn't everything he wanted it to be. «Ugh... To be honest, I haven't been able to sleep well since that day. I thought it was because I was inside the maze, but it's the same in the city». Dwalkie let out a long, alcoholic sigh and confessed that his hands would shake at the thought of re-entering the maze. «But do not worry. Isn't it something that everyone goes through and ends up overcoming? I'll be fine before the next expedition».
Could I get over it? Judging by his eyes, his words seemed sincere. But I had a question. «Is there any reason to go this far?».
Most people overcame their traumas to continue working as explorers because there was no other way to live than that. In a city where they had to pay taxes to survive, they had no choice but to get over it. But Dwalkie, a wizard, was different.
«You would have enough work in the city. Why do you want to continue as an explorer?».
To my question, Dwalkie hesitated, and then answered after a sip of beer. «It's... because it's fun».
It was a completely unexpected response. «Fun?»
«Obviously, at first it was for another reason. Remember what I told you when we met?».
«I remember. You said you would become a great explorer and bring glory to the baron».
«Actually I was lying. I just thought that if I became a famous explorer my father... no, the late baron would show interest in me».
Dwalkie was the illegitimate son of an aristocratic family. Like all illegitimate children, he felt a deep love and hate for his blood relatives, the contradictory feelings of hating them, but wanting to be loved by them.
«As you know, the baron is dead. And as you have seen... my brother, who inherited the position, did not even know of my existence». At first he felt frustrated. He said he felt like he was floating in the water all day after losing his life goal in an instant. Poetizing his feelings at the time, Dwalkie looked me straight in the eyes. «But I was able to overcome it, because there were four people around me to lean on».
«Are you... talking about us?».
«Who else is there? At first I didn't know that was a comrade. It felt like something beyond friends you can trust and lean on... a family».
« ¿Ya veo?»
«That's right. After my mother passed away, I felt like I was left alone in the world every day... I never felt like this when I explored, laughed, and chatted with you.» Maybe he also knew this was embarrassing, because Dwalkie ordered another beer and emptied it in one gulp. «Thanks, Bjorn. Thanks to you, I am enjoying every day. That's why... even though I went through something like this... I was able to overcome it».
«...Ya veo.»
«That's right. So don't worry too much.»
«Okay, I won't bother with that part anymore.» Soon, I cleared up my worries. Whatever the reason, at this point I wouldn't have to worry about Dwalkie's mental health.
«Huhu, if you look closely, you have a lot of affection, even if it doesn't seem like it».
«Shut up, let's go drink».
Perhaps thanks to the sincere conversation, the somewhat uncomfortable atmosphere disappeared. Dwalkie, who had been hesitant in front of me, got excited and started talking about this and that, and I intervened and listened too.
«Hey, Bjorn... I have a question for you».
«Speak.»
«Are you and Miss Karlstein... dating?»
Instead of responding, I stared at Dwalkie. His face, reddened by drunkenness, was full of nervousness and tension. That's when I realized something.
No wonder he asked to speak alone. So this was his goal.
***
«Brown Rotmiller. Thirty-four years, and has been an explorer for eight years».
As soon as he entered the office, they gave him looks of contempt. Feeling humiliated by it, Rotmiller responded: «...That's right».
I was more curious than bewildered. He had received a call from the Scout Guild this morning, so he arrived at the guild on time even after catching up with his companions. When he followed the worker, he ended up in this room. A man was sitting in a chair, and he had a face that Rotmiller knew.
Niall Urbans, the head of the 7th district of the Explorers Guild. Why did this man call me?
Questions filled his throat, but instead of acting rashly, he waited for the man's explanation to continue. You never knew what kind of misfortune could happen to him if he made a mistake.
«Hmm, I like you. Above all, wait for him to explain instead of relieving your curiosity».
«So can you tell me your affairs with me now?»
At his request, the district chief nodded with a pleased smile and explained why he had called him. The more Rotmiller listened, the more ridiculous it seemed to him.
«Do you mean I should betray my teammate?».
«That's up to you. To be precise, I just need to fix that barbarian friend's manners».
Rotmiller gritted his teeth. He was one of the thirteen district heads of this city, an existence that could provide an explorer with a huge disadvantage just by disturbing them. That's why so much courage was needed.
"That offer... I'll pretend I didn't hear it." He spat out the words of rejection through a closed fist.
The district chief smiled, intrigued by that.
"If we're finished talking, I'll leave." Rotmiller turned hurriedly toward the door before fear could consume him.
"It's nice to value your comrade. It's a wonderful virtue. But... how long do you think you'll be comrades?" Rotmiller paused at the next words. "I've seen your records. How terribly unfair. It took you eight years to reach rank 7. On the other hand, didn't a certain barbarian reach rank 6 in half a year?"
"I've never felt such feelings."
"If you say so. But isn't it time you accepted reality? Your comrades will keep rising. They're not ordinary humans like you."
Rotmiller pursed his lips at the harsh words. However, he couldn't object. It wasn't because he feared the man's power; he knew very well that what he said was true.
"How long do you think you'll be with them? Three months? Four months? Well, maybe even longer, if they take pity on you."
Rotmiller didn't listen anymore and opened the door.
"I trust you will make the wise decision." The district chief, who could be seen through the crack in the closed door, had a friendly smile on his lips.