We had me, a tank, and Missha, a melee dealer with cold attributes. We now needed to recruit three more team members to match this combination.
A priest, a magician and an archer or explorer.
The first setup that occurred to me was this. Should I say that it was the fundamental combination of Dungeon and Stone? Since the vampire essence had disappeared, the existence of a priest would be of great help to the team.
But I give up on the priest.
In fact, quitting was misleading. I even asked Krovitz if I could introduce myself to a priest, but he flatly refused. Apparently, there had to be at least three rank 5 scouts on the team and this one had to surpass a certain number of achievements first.
The basic recruitment conditions are stricter than in the game.
It was disappointing, but not a big deal. Although having a priest would greatly increase the stability of the team, he had also been deliberately leaving him out for the inconvenience of no dealings.
I'm starting to get an idea of how to form the team.
That night, I learned of the shocking fact that Missha was racist. When I finished organizing my thoughts, I got dressed, went out and headed to the tavern I wanted to visit.
Jingle!
As soon as I opened the door, I saw the woman from the Black Bear tribe, who was like a rock. He asked me if I was alone. When I responded with Mr. Bear's name, the woman licked her lips and pointed to a point with her chin. Mr. Bear, a rank 5 scout, brought drinks and food to his guests with his apron on.
«We don't even have clients, but he always invites his friends».
I sat in an empty seat, trying to ignore the words coming from behind me. When Mr. Bear finished serving a round, I silently raised my hand and called him.
«Oh wait. Will I be Bjorn Yandel?».
«Let's talk for a moment».
Hearing my words, Mr. Bear gently rolled his eyes and glanced askance at the counter. He didn't expect her to get like this, but his wife had beaten him up. I was going to talk briefly, but ended up ordering two snacks and drinks. I judged this would make things less uncomfortable.
«...Ahem.» Shortly after, Mr. Bear, who had brought the order, sat in front of me with a embarrassed face. He said as an excuse: «It's not always like this. You know it, right? The thing is, the store is very busy these days...».
It was pretty quiet for such a busy tavern, but I didn't bother to say it. What was shameful about being a parent?
Soon, Mr. Bear opened his mouth as if to change the subject. «So seeing as you're here, does that mean you've left your original equipment?».
«... The team disbanded.»
«From the look on your face, you must have lost someone.». I neither affirmed nor denied it. However, my silence was enough of a response. Mr. Bear smiled bitterly and swallowed the entire glass. «It's a damn thing, that is».
«Yes, it really was». I also swallowed the whole glass and ordered two more. Then we finally started talking.
«How many have you gathered?»
«Only two for now».
«It must be you and the red cat's wife».
«So, your answer?»
«Okay, I'll join you.»
After Mr. Bear coldly accepted, he began to ask questions: what floor we were aspiring to, how the layout worked and how he was going to fill the two remaining spaces. I briefly mentioned the composition I was thinking about.
«First of all, there has to be a magician, for sure. And the remaining square... leaves no choice but to look for an explorer».
In fact, there was also the option of putting Erwen on the team instead of Mr. Bear in the goalkeeper position. However, it was unclear how well a boy who had just started explorer classes would do. Furthermore, Mr. Bear, who had a tank summoning beast, could cover the absence of a priest to some extent, so I made this decision.
«Until a guide is found, we will hire an explorer. We intend to distribute the rest equally, except for the explorer».
«I see.» Mr. Bear nodded and asked bluntly: «If I play scout, can you increase my cast?».
«What?»
«Just like I said».
What the hell was this old man talking about? Did you just say you were a guide? If so, I didn't understand it at all. «Didn't you say you were lost on the first floor for 19 hours last time?»
«...Did I even tell you the time?»
«It was around 7:00 p.m. on the first day when the crack opened».
Even then, Mr. Bear wandered through the glass cave unable to find the portal to the second floor. No matter where in the maze you were, a guide would know exactly the direction of the first floor portal. It didn't make sense considering Rotmiller's record was six hours.
«Ah, that... You know the path in the crystal cave is a bit complicated».
«Hey?»
«I know where the portal is, but it's always hard to find it». Mr. Bear said that he only gave directions, and went on to say that other teammates were usually in charge of finding their way.
I didn't know what to say, so I asked: «Simply put, are you saying you're a guide, but bad with directions?».
«Ahem! That's what my former coworkers said. It's hard to admit, honestly».
What was difficult to admit? Even an ordinary person could find his way to the second floor portal in a day, as long as he had a compass.
A guide who is bad with directions...
I didn't know how it was possible, but I didn't express those thoughts and ended the conversation. «I'll think about distribution. I also need to hear the opinions of those who will come later».
«It's enough».
«Then our conversation is over».
We had our first companion: Abman Urikfried, a rank 5 archer with a tank summon, and a guide with a search ability close to zero.
«I hope we work well together, Bjorn, son of Yandel».
The specs may have gone up a lot, but was it just me or were we starting to see the return of the Half-Wit team?
To commemorate that we had become a team, we even bumped glasses for a while. Soon, Mrs. Osa glared at us. «Honey, how long are you going to be playing?».
«Honey? No, this is not playing». Mr. Bear hurriedly got up and addressed his wife, after which they spoke in low voices. At first, it seemed like a scolding.
«Oh my god, you should have said it before. The person who will be my husband's teammate». He approached me and gave me a friendly smile after their conversation. «Nice to meet you. You also have the nickname Little Balkan, right? Seeing that you are tall and strong, I feel a little relieved».
«I'm glad».
«Yeah. To be honest, I didn't really like his previous teammates. How can they not show their face after working as a team for more than half a year?»
«...Previous teammates?» You were sure this man was playing alone, right? I looked silently at Mr. Bear. He shook his head repeatedly with a pale face. A conversation from the past came to mind.
«Do you have a wife and still enter the maze alone?».
«The store is in deficit these days. I should at least make some money».
It was good to work hard, but I never thought he would have been working alone while lying to his wife. Following his poor sense of direction, I felt my image of him crumble. I thought he was going to be a reliable and wise teammate like a bear. Now he saw that he was just a man who lived today.
«Anyway, please consider your meal today as my gift. And even if my husband lacks it, I hope you take good care of him in the future».
Not wanting to meddle in someone else's family affairs and get caught in the crossfire, I ran out of the tavern.
When I arrived at the residence, Erwen had ordered a drink and was sitting in the lobby on the first floor waiting for me. «Oh, sir. Have you been drinking?» I wondered if he had come to continue the conversation from last time. Before he had time to say anything, Erwen apologized. «I'm sorry!»
«You feel it? What do you mean?»
«I had no idea what had happened to your old teammate and I...».
«How did you know?»
«Your face looked so dark then, so I asked your other teammate».
When I asked him who he was talking about, he responded with Hikurod. It seemed like he had told her what had happened without suspecting anything, since she must have told him that she was my former comrade. Luckily, it seemed like he had omitted the oracle and dragon slayer parts.
«You must have had a bad time. I know... what it feels like to lose something». Erwen sniffled and touched my hand. It was very embarrassing, like being comforted by a three-year-old child. Anyway, it was a little late. I had already finished organizing my mind.
«...Let's stop talking about that. Anyway, it's good that you're here. I had something to tell you».
«What thing? Uh, I still have something to do...»
«Is there anything left to do?»
«...It's nothing. So what did you want to talk about?».
I sat across from Erwen and asked her bluntly: «I'm going to form a new team, are you interested in joining?».
At first, I wasn't planning on including Erwen. Of course, it wasn't because of Missha's request. It was just that, after much thought, I chose Mr. Bear as my archer, and there was no room left. However, the situation changed when I learned that Mr. Bear was a guide. The explorer's place was now vacant.
For now he lacks combat power, but with enough work he will be able to carry the weight of a person.
The fact that he was taking scouting classes from his sister was a huge plus. It would be perfect if she led the way with Mr. Bear.
«Um...» Erwen managed to find an answer after a long period of silence. «I'm so glad you made the offer. So don't get me wrong».
So it was a rejection. «Is it because of your sister?»
«No. It's for me. I still have a lot to learn from my sister».
It was an unexpected response. Well, it's not that I didn't understand. Certainly, staying with his sister now would help his growth. It had only been a few months since he started taking exploration classes, and I couldn't teach him about elemental spirit magic either.
«I see. Okay».
«Um... you're not angry, are you?»
«Why would I be? It is an excellent choice. Now you too have become an explorer».
«Ah, I haven't received a compliment in a while...». Erwen stared into space for a minute before clearing her throat and returning to reality. Then he spoke in a determined voice. «Please wait only half a year for me. After half a year, I will have learned everything I can learn from my sister and I will go to your team».
Well, the thought was nice, but... This now felt like he was sending some kind of industrial spy.
Fall apart.
For some reason I thought I could hear his sister's world collapse.
***
The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I headed to the Holy Land without even washing. It was a reasonable judgment that there was no need to wash when going to a place full of barbarians, anyway.
I feel like I'm back in my hometown.
He wasn't even a real barbarian, but there was something comforting about the green bushes here. There was a time when it was uncomfortable because the chief was scary, but at least now he felt that way. Was that why?
Damn.
Suddenly, the oracle came to mind and I felt my heart heavy. An intuition trained by misfortune spoke to me. A secret that more than ten people knew could not be kept forever.
Even if the sixth stage ended today, it would take several more years to reach the ninth...
Unlike the other races, which had abandoned the old traditions, the barbarians were almost maddeningly stubborn. If it were known that I was entrusted with an oracle by a star goddess instead of an ancestor god, supernovat or not, the boss would intervene and try to expel me.
I'll think about this part later...
I crossed the bushes and headed towards the center of the Holy Land. As I did so, I saw young warriors gathered on an empty lot, little warriors practicing martial arts as they waited for their coming-of-age ceremony. This was what I always saw when I came here, but...
Is that... Kharon?
I saw the familiar face of a barbarian among the young warriors: Kharon, son of Tarson. He was once an ignorant barbarian baby, but he accepted the darkness of the world and became a full-fledged warrior. He stood before the young barbarians as if he had become an instructor.
«All together. Are humans?»
«Enemies!»
«Our hearts?»
«They must be protected!»
It was a rote education that was close to brainwashing, but even with this, his chances of survival would be much greater. I looked at them with a pleased smile until I realized one thing.
But what is that?
Kharon and several older barbarians who seemed to have followed him looked strange. For some reason, they carried three or four backpacks each. I wondered if it would be a fad among barbarians.
«Instructor! What's up with those backpacks?», one of the young warriors raised his hand and asked. Apparently, it wasn't just strange to me.
Karon responded with a smile, as if she were waiting for him. «Good question, young warrior! This is Robert, this is John, this is Aiden...» Kharon shouted the name of each backpack to his left and right, as well as its front and back.
«Hahaha! Sounds like someone's name!» The barbarian baby chuckled.
«Because they are all human names». Kharon wasn't laughing anymore.
«...W-What do you mean?»
Kharon explained in detail how he obtained the backpacks from the surprised barbarian babies, and again continued his mental education.
«Repeat again. Are humans?»
«Enemies!»
«Our hearts?»
«They must be protected!»
«Is Bjorn, Yandel's son?»
«A great warrior!!!»
Seeing that, I was speechless. What the hell had he done?