Chapter 72 - Ghostbusters (Part 1)

 

I looked at the strange ceiling and thought:

Since the last thing I saw before I passed out was the city's typical gloomy sky, it must have been a temporary tent for patients. There must be many other wounded here besides me.

In fact, when I looked to the side, I saw many beds lined up next to each other. Of course, I understood the situation. Silence reigned in the tent.

Most of the usable beds were empty.

This means that a lot of time must have passed.

So, my problem was solved. First, it was necessary to check how much time had passed. When I tried to slowly lift my body so as not to strain my muscles, I felt a strange heaviness in my stomach. As soon as I realized what it was, I laughed.

And I was wondering where you had gone...

Misha slept on my stomach, emitting her characteristic purring snoring. On the one hand, it was commendable that she had taken care of me, but on the other hand, it seemed pointless.

She must be tired too.

Priestess of Karui. Being in the Witch Forest. Pursued by the Lord of Chaos, Riakis. It wasn't hard to understand this when I thought about what we'd been through.

"Misha, wake up."

At the moment, curiosity was above all, so I woke Misha up without hesitation.

"Hm? Mm... B-Bjorn! You're awake! How is your body? All is well?

"As you can see, it's all right.

The injured left ankle moved well, and the severed arm was restored to its original state.

On that note, my first question was:

"Did you use an advanced potion?"

"No, a priest came and cured you.

"And the cost?"

"Don't worry. The guild provided disaster relief, so it's not that expensive...

In fact, her words worried me even more.

"So how much?"

— ... 300,000 stones.

- I see.

Phew, it was still cheaper than an advanced potion. I was worried when she mentioned a priest, but luckily it turned out that the Guild's subsidy was quite generous.

"Why do you have such a face?" You did a good job.

"But you love money...

Well, yes, but... Wait, is this her opinion of me?

"Even so, money can't be more important than my body, right?"

It wasn't just a process of repairing broken flesh or joining the severed parts together, it was growing back an arm that had been torn to the bone and left in a labyrinth.

Natural regeneration was out of the question.

I erased all my regrets. During past experiments with Raven, it took an incredible amount of time to regrow even a severed finger.

In any case, the second question.

"So how long has it been since we came out of the labyrinth?"

"About 6 o'clock.

Hmm, no wonder it was still light outside the tent. So I didn't lose a whole day.

"Backpacks?"

"They're fine. And everything inside, too!

" Kamni ma'am?

"I turned both yours and mine into money.

"Did anyone come to see me while I was passed out?"

"Ah, Hikurod and the others came!"

— ... Did the dwarf come?

When I looked up, Misha explained everything that had happened.

Anyway, Hikurod and the others had come about 5 hours before, in case we happened to be here and met with Misha.

"I'm glad all three are okay. So where did they go?

"After they confirmed that we were alive, they said that they were tired and went to rest.

- I see.

This did not upset me. I would do the same. I wasn't going to wake up faster just because they were here. We could discuss everything we missed at the promised meeting in 2 days.

"Then what do I need to do to get out of here?"

"You just need to pack your things and leave. I have already taken care of all the trouble.

- I see.

When I was about to throw back the blanket and leave, Misha hurriedly stopped me.

"Wait, don't get up!" Put it on first...

"Oh...

No further explanation was needed.

While Misha turned away and looked somewhere into the distance, I put on a new set of clothes folded on the table. I didn't expect her to prepare her clothes in advance. She may have seemed clumsy, but I think she has a graceful side as well.

"Does it fit?"

"It fits well.

To be honest, it was a little small, but it was generally difficult to find clothes that suited me in the city. In any case, when we left the tent, the sun was already setting.

"Misha, where are you staying?"

- In the 8th sector.

"Then we can go together."

We were heading towards our inns, which were in the same direction, when I noticed the contrast between our appearance and that of other people. People on the streets were dressed in clean, casual clothes, not heavy and sturdy armor.

"Bjorn, what are you looking at?" Come on, I'm very tired.

After walking for about 30 minutes through clean streets, we reached my accommodation. Misha's tavern was still about a 10-minute walk away.

"It's closer than I thought.

"Really?" Why didn't I know before?

"Anyway, you can go." You're probably tired too. Thank you for today.

"Wait!"

When I was about to enter the tavern after saying goodbye, Misha grabbed me by the wrist.

"Is there anything else I need to know right now?"

"No, but...

Then what?

When I looked at her, as if telling her to spit it out, Mike grinned and let go of my wrist.

"It doesn't matter. You're just going to tell me to stop repeating the same thing over and over again.

"The same thing?"

"Then I'll see you tomorrow!"

Before I could ask what she meant, Mike had disappeared.

"Tomorrow?"

Didn't we all decide to get together the day after tomorrow?

The last sentence was a bit dubious, but I couldn't ask what it meant, so I quickly entered the inn. After a little washing, I quickly ate on the 1st floor.

As always, I only realized this when I lay down on the bed.

So, this time I returned.

I came back alive.

.

***

Noon the next day.

I was woken up by a knock on the door. I wanted to ignore him, but this man was too insistent.

— ... Misha?

"I knew you were going to sleep.

"Why are you here?" We agreed to meet tomorrow evening.

Mike grinned at my irritation and spread her bag on the table.

When I looked, it was full of food.

"Come on, sit down quickly." If you don't eat in between bed, it's bad for your body.

The barbarians did not have such problems. When I looked at her as if it were absurd, Misha dragged me by the hand.

"Just go." You can go back to bed after eating.

Skipping one or two meals wasn't the end of the world, but I obeyed because of her sincerity. The menu included fried vegetables and fried meat with eggs.

"How do you feel?"

— ... Delicious. Did you cook it yourself?

"Of course, who would sell that?"

You could have just said yes.

I had no idea that she knew how to cook.

"At first, I cooked more to save some money, but now I still do it because it's fun.

"Hmm, but aren't you staying at a hotel?"

— Oh, yes, but in the end I became friends with the chef, and they allowed me to use the kitchen sometimes.

- I see.

"If you have a chance later, give it a try." You can save a lot more money than you think, and that's a good thing.

Cook? You shouldn't say such things to a barbarian. Or maybe she just didn't know much about the barbarians?

"Cooking is a disgrace to a warrior.

"Really?" When I nodded decisively, Mike cautiously offered. "Well, then I can do it for you...

What did she mean?

"Why would you do that?" I can just buy myself food.

"Th-That's right.

"By the way, how do you know my room number?" I don't remember telling you that.

"Oh, this?" When I asked the innkeeper where the barbarian was staying, I was simply told.

— ... Got it.

After that, we chatted and put food in our mouths, and the bowl was empty in the blink of an eye.

"Then what are you going to do?" Sleep more?

I thought for a while and answered:

"Now that I'm awake, I'm thinking of visiting the commercial district.

Originally, I was going to sleep until tomorrow, but even if I went back to bed, I didn't think I would be able to sleep at all. It was a kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Until I felt like I was going to collapse from exhaustion, I couldn't afford to put work aside and take a break.

"It'll be better that way. Misha, you come with me.

"Huh?" Me too? I was going to go back and sleep a little more...

Mike interrupted her words with a surprised face.

In my experience, in such situations, it was necessary to decisively get out of the situation.

"It was you who woke me up. Take responsibility.

"Hmm, okay. I still need to fix the gear...

Don't even think about escaping.

***

At first, the purchased equipment was completely disposed of. The money wasn't as smart as I expected, as I'd previously paid Zarvi a 2 million gem defense fee.

Of these, the money from Hans' group will have to be divided among five...

However, after selling the equipment and various consumables of the three religious jerks, there was quite a significant income, especially because one of them owned an expandable backpack. It also meant that there was something to pay for.

— ... Does it cost 500,000 stones to repair?

"It's made of litinum. The corrosion is too strong, so there is no other way out.

But still, how can repairing equipment worth 4 million cost 500,000 stones? Is this guy trying to fool me?

"Bjorn, don't force him. He's not wrong..." It left a bitter taste, but seeing Misha, a researcher with 5 years of experience, say this, I guessed that it wasn't an outrageous price, so I just paid.

... How much money did I lose?

All gamers are freaks in efficiency and were afraid of losing money.

I counted one by one.

I left the mace along with one of my hands in the maze, used an advanced potion on the way, paid 300,000 stones for healing and 500,000 stones for repairs...

The more I thought about it, the more painful it became. If I hadn't had to pay 2 million gems in equipment for defense, that amount would have been a trifle.

"Bjorn, don't worry. I'll make a lot more money in the future...

Yes, you need to think positively.

In fact, the second largest income of this expedition was it. Of course, the first was the essence of the Orc Hero.

I've received a lot of consumables like potions, so I don't really have to spend that much money.

"Bjorn, what are you doing?" Aren't you going to come in?

I finished my calculations and entered the tavern with Mike. It was neither mine nor Misha's, but an inn located in the commercial district of Commelbi.

"Who would have thought that carriages would stop running so early?"

"That's why I said we had to move fast," she cursed.

"Okay, stop grumbling.

Entering the tavern, I asked for two rooms at the counter, and Misha slapped me on the back.

"Are you crazy?!" Do you know how much a room costs per day? Just take one.

— ... Only one?

Isn't it usually the other way around?

"Do you think we're in Ravigion?" Such inns have rooms for 10,000 stones per night!

- I see. One room is enough.

I deserve that slap on the back. We came to this inn because it seemed to be the cheapest, but 10,000 stones in one night? In the city center, the prices were crazy. My food expenses last month were just over 20,000 stones.

That's why she urged me to hurry...

However, the room itself was worth paying for. It didn't look like the tiny half-room I lived in, but consisted of a living room, a bedroom, and a separate bathroom. The room had a window, and the living room even had a small terrace, and there was a faint smell of flowers everywhere.

"Bjorn, look at this!" Soap from the Art Studio! It's free!

At first, Misha scolded me for spending extra money, but then she found something and disappeared into the bathroom. When she came out, she looked very pleased.

"Bjorn, we have to make a lot of money in the future.

I wondered why she was making such a fuss, but as I lay down on the spacious bed, I couldn't help but agree.

"Yes... Let's make a lot of money.

This is what the bed should be.

When will I be able to sleep like this every day?

There was a long way ahead. It was a city where barbarism and civilization coexisted.

How many more marauders and monsters do I have to kill in order to live here more humanely than I do now?

Before I could think deeply, my eyes slowly closed.

***

At a time when most were asleep, the pub, where those who felt sorry for themselves gathered today, was noisy as usual. Or even noisier than usual.

"Hey, did you hear the news?"

"Are you talking about the Floor Lord who appeared on the 3rd floor?"

— Yes. It is said that more than 30 Dzarvi were killed because of this monster.

— Who cares about 30? The guild will probably announce it tomorrow, but the total death toll is said to be in the hundreds.

"So the culprit who summoned Lord Floor hasn't been caught yet?"

For researchers, this was intriguing news. However, in addition to what everyone knew, there was a story that was slowly and unconsciously spread by gossips.

"Oh, guys, you know what? This is what I heard from one of the survivors... The reason so many Zarvi have been able to survive is obviously because of one man.

"You're talking about the Iron Lion, Deputy Commander McGrane?"

"No, I heard that it was a researcher from the 3rd floor who happened to be there.

"Hmph, is there anyone among the 3rd floor researchers who could do something like that?" What's his name?

"His name is...

Björn, son of Yandel. A barbarian who got to the 3rd floor after only 3 months. The story of the incredible bravery he displayed in saving so many people from crisis was sometimes accurate and sometimes a little exaggerated as it spread. However, each story ended in the same way.

"The mage who told me this story did not hesitate to say the following about the barbarian.

"What?"

"He may not have achieved the exploits of a hero, but as a young man it is clear that he will follow in his footsteps, and so he borrows the name of a hero who was more valiant and great than anyone else..."

A nickname, a middle name that could only be given to explorers of skill and fame.

— It would be appropriate to call it the Little Balkans.

This nickname has always accompanied retellings.

***

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