Chapter 20 - Raphdonia (Part 4)

 

"Good job. You can go.

"Goodbye!"

Ervena did not refuse and quickly prepared to leave. It seems that the half day I spent studying her abilities went down the drain...

"I'll be back!"

Will you come back? Oh, I forgot to mention.

"You don't have to carve out any more time to go all this way.

"Ehhh?"

Why are you surprised? It is ok. You're not my teammate anymore.

"You'll need some time to get used to your new ability. It is better to spend time with more benefit until the labyrinth opens again.

Strictly speaking, this applied to me as well.

Yesterday, I set a new goal for myself: to become a middle-class researcher and get to the 8th floor.

So, there was a lot of work to be done. First of all, I had to use a million stones to develop my abilities. If possible, I also wanted to undergo professional combat training. I was not yet able to fully use the capabilities of this monstrous body. In addition, I needed to acquire local common sense and knowledge about this world by reading more books, and spend as much time as possible wandering around the city to adjust to its prices and culture.

In short, there was no reason for me to fool around with Ervena.

"Yes!" It's true?

"You said you have a younger brother or sister. You should spend time with them, as in three weeks you will be back in the labyrinth.

"That's right...

Ervena nodded with a sullen face.

Is it because I was her first friend?

She seemed to have some strange fantasies about me. To be honest, I could predict what these fantasies were. But business relationships last longer.

"I plan to stay here until then, so if something goes wrong, don't hesitate to come to me." I will help as much as I can.

"Really?"

"Aren't we comrades?"

"Hehe, yes!" Ok!

As soon as I added this phrase, Ervena left with a satisfied face.

Still, it was easy to deal with.

Since this was the case, I decided to maintain my friendship with Ervena. This was also a kind of cooperation. I may not have any blood ties here, but I can get along with the locals.

Perhaps someday they will come in handy.

— ... Does that make me a snob?

Well, so be it. This was not the time for nitpicking. After a quick shower, I went back to the library. I read books for about 5-6 hours after the lazy librarian I had seen the day before cast her magic on me.

Is there a restaurant that sells beef soup?

It was already late, but for lunch I went to a cheap-looking restaurant and had lunch of nondescript stew and a few slices of bread. The price was 450 stones. It seemed to me that it would be more economical to dine at the inn.

"This is Bjorn, son of Yandel, the Greatest Warrior!"

After the meal, I visited the Angry Rhino Inn, where Einar was staying.

Surprisingly, it was teeming with barbarians.

"Do you want to stop at this inn too?" Right decision, boy! Only 300 stones a day!

What, 300 stones?

Surprised by the incredible price, I took a closer look, and there was definitely a reason for this figure. As soon as we entered the room with five narrow beds, a thick smell of sweat hit our nose, which had been ripening for several days.

"Do 5 people really share a room?"

"No!" 10 warriors live together!

— ... But there are only 5 beds?

"We set a time and take turns sleeping!"

Not that it was cheap, just a few people paid for it. Although, these guys earned a maximum of 30-40 thousand stones, so they probably didn't have a choice.

"But what brings you here?"

"I'm looking for Fenelin's 3rd daughter, Ainar.

"Fenelin's 2nd daughter, Ainar, left in the morning!

That's right. 2nd daughter.

After all, I shouldn't have changed it. In any case, after waiting for about an hour, Einar returned.

"Björn, son of Yandel?" Did something happen?

Being a barbarian herself, she immediately got down to business.

"I want to fight you.

"Are you talking about a duel?"

— Yes.

Now I needed training. I had achieved more in the labyrinth than any other barbarian, but in pure combat skills I was no match for them.

"How strange.

Ainar tilted her head. Although, I don't think it's because it's a difficult request...

"If that's the case, why not just go out into the yard instead of asking me?"

Yard?

Soon Ainar led me out the back door of the inn. About 15 barbarians had already gathered there, they were sweating, throwing their fists and rolling on the ground... they even shed some blood.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Your fist was quite heavy just now!

"Yours too!"

No wonder it was so noisy all this time. While the elves were just chattering about spirits, the daily life of a barbarian was like that. As I watched the barbarians smile bitterly and fight viciously, as if they had met an old enemy, Einhar asked:

"Is there a reason why you should fight me?"

Not really. I just thought that Einar would agree to my request.

But if I had said no, it would have looked strange.

"Because you're the only one who wields a sword.

"Do you want to learn how to fight against a swordsman?"

— Yes.

"If that's the reason, then fine. I need to learn the alphabet in the morning, so come here around this time, and I'll fight with you for as long as you want.

In other words, her schedule was free from 5 p.m. From now on, I will visit this place every day.

"Do you want to start today?"

— Of course.

After waiting for a while, Einar went to her room and returned with a sword.

"Einar and Bjorn will fight head-to-head!"

The rest of the barbarians stopped fighting and came to watch.

I came here to learn, but I wasn't going to lose in vain, so I grabbed my shield and got ready.

However, the result was...

"Then I'll begin!"

She beat me completely. It took about three minutes for me to lower the shield after all the shit was knocked out of me.

Einar fought very well. Still, it was a good experience in many ways.

"Bjorn, Yandel's son, was not the greatest warrior of all time!!

"Now Einar is the greatest warrior of all time!!

"Ah!"

Here are the bastards.

***

How many more blows have I taken since then? Soon the sky darkened.

"Do you want more?" I'd like to take a break sometime.

— No, I don't. Today's match will end here.

The rest of the barbarians had already left the courtyard. After much deliberation, I made a decision.

"Ainar."

"What is it?"

Ainar walked towards the building, then stopped and stretched.

"Do you plan to enter the labyrinth alone next time?"

— Yes. I don't have enough money to assemble a team. This time I want to try to go to the 2nd floor if possible.

Once again, I realized how harsh these barbarians were.

Compass and torch. With these two things, they could advance to the 2nd floor. But they earned money to buy consumables on the first run, and with this money they immediately tried to move to the next floor...

"Wouldn't it be difficult alone?"

"I have no choice.

No choice, hmm...

Perhaps this is the reason why only people crowded on the lower floor. Otherworldly races, whose taxes were several times higher than those of humans, couldn't pay their annual taxes just by working on the 1st and 2nd floors. This was clear from my fellow barbarians. The guy who earned the most of them earned a little over 40,000 stones.

"If I'm lucky, I might even be able to meet other barbarians on the 1st floor and form a team.

- I see.

"So, what did you want to say?"

As my thought grew longer, Einar immediately got down to business.

Like a barbarian, I said bluntly,

"Ainar, would you like to be my companion?"

"A comrade?"

— I will take care of the costs of creating a team.

I felt it after fighting her a few times today. Einar was strong.

From what the others said, it seemed that she was at the top of the class among the barbarians. Among other things, she was quite intelligent.

"Thank you for the offer, but why me?"

After all, I needed a teammate. Looking for a night companion every night was hard work, and having a companion increased profits.

However, Einhar not only had strong combat power, but also the advantage of not having to worry about betrayal due to the nature of the barbarians.

The classes could overlap, but... since Ervena is no more, Einar was the best option I had.

Of course, there was no need for long explanations.

"I just want to."

- I see.

Ainar nodded and immediately made a decision.

"Great. Entering a labyrinth with a smart warrior like you is what any warrior desires.

It was a much more positive response than I expected. Maybe I'm a little more greedy?

"However, there is one condition.

"What is it?"

- I give 80%.

Ainar frowned at my abuse of power.

Did this really offend her?

I opened my mouth again and continued to explain.

"I will pay the costs of forming the team. And I promise that even with that ratio, you'll make a lot more money than if you went into the maze alone. In addition, I pay for all other expenses—...

"Wait, no further explanation. Even if you explain, I won't understand. So pay me what you want. I trust you.

— ... Got it.

I had no choice but to admit that I had underestimated the barbarians.

"I'll be indebted to you." Björn, son of Yandel.

Soon after, Einar came over and slapped me the back. The cotton was too heavy to count as goodwill, but...

Well, I'd better get used to it as soon as possible.

"I'll try."

Now I had a reliable barbarian comrade.

***

The next morning, Ainar and I visited the Holy Land.

The Holy Land was a kind of public children's institution. Barbarians who went to the city sent their children here. Since they were supposed to be warriors until death, they did not have the opportunity to raise children. And as soon as these barbarians left for the city as adults, everything repeated in a circle.

There was no need to worry about that now, though.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel."

Upon arrival, the chief came out to greet us.

Damn, that's why I didn't want to come here...

"Rarely do any warriors who have left the nest visit us. Did you come to learn to read, like Einar, Feneline's 2nd daughter?

Calming my pounding heart, I shook my head.

— No, I don't. Chief, I have come to the holy land for a different reason.

"For another reason...

The chief looked at me with curious eyes.

Don't be nervous.

Didn't I learn from Einar such things as tone of voice and barbarian titles?

Just don't make mistakes.

"Tell me what it is."

I took a deep breath and said calmly:

"I want a Spiritual Imprint."

Different races had different characteristics. For example, elves dealt with spirits, and dwarves dealt with artifacts. Likewise, barbarians had a "Spiritual Imprint."

It was a way of gaining power that couldn't be used at the beginning of the game because it required a lot of money... But, fortunately, I now had a huge million stones. Therefore, after much deliberation, I made a decision.

Although it is still scary to stand in front of this bastard leader...

"To be precise, I want to get the Imprint of Immortality."

There was no doubt. It was the best way to spend that money.