Back at the inn, I was organizing my backpack when I started thinking about the metal helmet I was holding in my hand.
Should I sell it or not?
The official name of this helmet in the game was the Golden Mask, an item that could be obtained by defeating the boss monster of the Bloody Citadel and fulfilling several special conditions. The effect was simple: It customized the user's facial appearance for 30 days.
It is even a consumable item with a limited number of uses.
Was it a maximum of five times? After that, it disappeared naturally. Of course, my memory wasn't perfect, mainly because, apart from the first time I acquired it, I had never used this object. After that, I always sold it on the market for about 500,000 stones.
Even so… I don't know what to do about this.
Of course, if this were a game, I wouldn't even be bothered about this. That was obvious. A decorative item? What was the point of accessorizing a 2D pixel character, and for a short period of time of 30 days? Even if the market price were 10,000 stones, it would be more profitable to sell it. But right now, this was an undeniable reality. After a brief moment of contemplation, I made a decision.
You never know. I'll keep it for now. It's not like I'm short of money.
The situation was different from a game in many ways. I was even framed and sent to jail recently. If the time came when this city became my enemy, this object would surely play an important role. Perhaps it could even have a different use.
After all, money is the best.
After that reflection, I was reminded once again of the importance of money. If I hadn't earned a lot of money this time, I would undoubtedly have chosen to sell it. As you can see, the more money you have, the more options you have, whether in a game, in real life, or even in a distant world.
***
"Hey! Did you hear? The Crystal Union has been dissolved!"
There was a silver-haired fairy eating peacefully in a corner of the restaurant. Her name was Daria Whitember di Tersia, and her ears perked up because this was a matter of interest.
"What? Has the Crystal Union dissolved?"
The Crystal Union was a clan of explorers that had achieved explosive growth in the last ten years by providing various amenities to first-floor explorers, forming an extensive network of contacts through countless numbers of message stones.
"Isn't it amazing? An entire clan of ordinary explorers vanished overnight."
"Ha! Ordinary? When have those explorers ever done any scouting work?"
From what Daria had heard, the members of the Crystal Union were mostly ordinary civilians who, under the pressure of having to pay taxes, entered the scout realm. He remembered hearing that they had primary jobs in the city and that they made time one day a month to enter the labyrinth. Of course, there was nothing wrong with that. No, it was rather good for the purpose. In fact, he had heard that the union had saved many civilians from getting into trouble for not being able to pay their taxes.
«Anyway, good news! I was starting to get fed up with them calling themselves explorers and acting unruly».
However, lately, the Crystal Union was corrupted. As their power grew, they began to repel outsiders, even manipulating them into committing immoral acts against beginning explorers. His sister was one of them. It wasn't enough to cause an unforgivable atrocity, but they even tried to silence her.
I hate to admit it, but if it hadn't been for that barbarian, something unimaginable would have happened.
When Daria heard that story, she was determined to teach them a lesson one day. But now, it seemed that it was not necessary; coincidentally, this time also thanks to a barbarian.
«By the way, I haven't asked yet. Why did they suddenly dissolve?»
«Oh, haven't you heard the other news?»
«Other news?»
«The free barbarian!»
Secretly hearing the story that followed, Daria frowned involuntarily. It was an increasingly interesting story. It was not enough for him to escape from prison and clear his name, but he had even taken the district chief's daughter hostage.
«Now that the incident has gotten out of control, they say that the looting law that was only going to apply to rank 9 scouts may even collapse».
It was truly an incident worthy of uproar. The person who allegedly framed the barbarian had already been hanged, and even the Crystal Union, which boasted of its vast influence, seemed to be held accountable for its past behavior and taken a hard hit.
«But do you know what's even more surprising? That barbarian is just a rank 9 scout! In other words, it hasn't even been long since his coming-of-age ceremony!».
For some reason, hearing that story brought to Daria's mind a barbarian who had behaved with dignity even in front of her, and who also showed a differentiated side in many other aspects.
It can't be such a coincidence...
He shook his head as if to shake his thoughts, then left the restaurant and went home. But with every step, he began to wonder.
Is that barbarian really dead?
So far, there was no doubt about the circumstances. But if he was the subject of that news, then it explained why he didn't return to the inn for two days. Could he really tell this to his younger sister?
Clic.
When he opened the door in the midst of such worries, he saw his sister, who had noticeably lost a lot of weight. Sitting on the bed with her eyes closed, she manipulated three sparks of fire that seemed about to go out. Two was his limit in the maze.
«Oh, are you here?»
«...You haven't been summoning spirits since, have you?»
«Mhm. This way I can increase my affinity...».
Daria's lips hardened at those words. The training method itself was not surprising. It was a method that she herself had taught her sister. However, she had never pushed herself to that limit before.
«You know, I think I've heard the voice of fire».
"¿What?"
«Now I understand. How to get stronger. Why did I have to be weak all this time. Why I always had to receive help from another». Her sister, who always looked away and seemed self-conscious when she spoke, looked directly into Daria's eyes and continued: «I wasn't desperate enough».
There was no vitality in his broken voice, but the desperation was at least clear. It was a spiteful rage. Finally, what his little sister was missing most was full. It was clear what was causing the change, and that's why Daria kept her mouth shut.
Even if what I think is true... now is not the best time to tell him.
Just like ten years ago, all of this would be for the sake of his precious little sister.
***
It was after noon. I was visiting the Explorers Guild near the magic tower. To be honest, after the horror I went through here, I never thought I would come back at least for a while. But to continue with my new mission yesterday, I had no choice.
The guild administrator strictly asked the main points without unnecessary words. «How can I help you?»
«I'm looking for a teammate of my own level».
«¿Searches for a particular type?».
I responded without hesitation. «I want an active team on the third floor and made up of a minimum of four people».
Since I was here to find a team, I had no intention of just filling Ainar's vacancy. Rather, I planned to use this promotion to rank 7 to join a team with the best skills and effectively attack the top.
Well, that's assuming there was a good team.
As soon as I revealed my ID card along with the personal data report that I had prepared in advance, according to the procedure, the tired administrator shuddered. Then they looked at him several times with strange eyes. «... Five stars?»
«Is there a problem?»
«N-No!» The administrator was strangely alert. He didn't know what the stars meant, but for some reason, his voice was now much friendlier. «E-This is a list of equipment that meets your requested criteria. Do you want to review them?».
The list was completed in five minutes. «Is it quite short?»
«I swear that among the published recruitment lists, these are the only ones that fit the conditions!».
Have I said otherwise? I was just stating the facts. I didn't know why they swore something like that. «Hmm.» The document they printed contained brief information about each of the 15 teams. The first said:
[Exploration of the Third Floor-Ellen Bornev]
Preferred exploration areas: Twilight Slope, Iron Rock Hill, Jet Black Estuary
Rango medium: 7
Current number: 2 melee human warriors (Rank 7), 1 melee beast warrior (Rank 7), 1 melee dwarf warrior (Rank 7)
Recruitment: 1 melee warrior
*Aquitable distribution
*Sin hadas
*Participation in dinner after battle is required
*Drinking is allowed during the scan if desired
What the hell was this team? I had only read the text, but I could already smell the sweat they gave off. Astonished, I read the other recruitment lists, but there are none that particularly interest me. If the members were good, the distribution ratio was bad. If the distribution ratio was good, there was a problem in the team composition.
If you can see it in the ad, it would be even worse in reality.
Maybe finding a team would have been easier if my career had been a little longer. My maximum reach was the second floor. If it weren't for the fact that I'm a supposed beginner, the range of options would have been much wider and there wouldn't be any team trying so openly to annoy me with the distribution coefficient.
What a disgrace.
If I could, I'd rather put up my own ad to find my teammates, but no one would come in that case. If they did, they wouldn't be normal.
Anyway, I didn't think I'd find one that quickly.
«Is there any team you would like?»
«Not today». I returned the documents while shaking my head and the administrator responded like an NPC.
«Oh yeah? I'm sorry I can't be of more help after you've come this far. If you wish, we may make your information available to other teams-»
«No thanks. I will return another time».
«Oh, is that so? I have been Terbes, you always kind employee of the guild». His voice, his words and his actions were very friendly. His performance was also flawless. «So, goodbye!»
But... why did I feel so strange?
***
Leaving the Scout Guild behind in discomfort, I was on my way back to the inn when I stopped at the corner of an alley because of a barbarian.
Grifo.
Thick beard, frayed pants stained with dirt; most barbarians used to behave like beggars, but even taking that into account, he leaned against the alley wall miserably.
What is this?
As soon as I saw it, I had a feeling of incongruity. Although I stayed in a different place, I often hung out with the other barbarians. No wonder a barbarian was resting on the street.
But... How come he doesn't have weapons?
This was a serious contradiction. No matter how poor, hungry, and cold they were, the barbarians carried a weapon as if it were their life. I usually suppressed my curiosity, but I felt instinctively drawn to this person. What would happen?
"Hey."
"Eeeek!" The barbarian, who had fallen asleep leaning against the wall, saw me and was quite bewildered. Well, fear of strangers was a natural reaction for a living being, but that was for other creatures. We intrepid barbarians didn't do such a thing.
Shit, this bastard…?
The vague feeling of incongruity began to take shape little by little. My heart sank, but I quickly pulled myself together and organized what I had to do in my head. First, I had to let my guard down.
"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you." As proof that I was friend and not foe, I took a bar of jerky from my backpack and placed it in the barbarian's hand—the greatest kindness a barbarian can show. Of course, he only took it and didn't eat the jerky in front of me. However, I could at least clearly sense that the wariness etched in his eyes softened slightly.
Well, this should be enough for a conversation.
As soon as I had the chance, I asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I, I... I have no money, sir..."
I nodded silently. The barbarians had no money at first. That was plausible. No, actually, it was quite natural.
"And your weapon?"
"I sold it, sir..."
Did he sell his gun and was he speaking in honorifics? "Let's introduce ourselves. I'm Bjorn, Yandel's son."
"T-Tarikan, son of R-Riyen!" Realizing his mistake, he spoke louder, but it was too late. He was sure of it.
"Nice to meet you, Tarikan, son of Riyen!"
This guy was an evil spirit, and he hadn't been there long.