It's been 15 days since I returned alive from the labyrinth. In other words, there were about two weeks left before the portal opened in the Dimension Square. I can't say that I had a good rest. While I was doing my homework every day, time flew by. However, I was not the only one who was busy.

"Hahaha!" Is this not the famous Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel? If you have time today, let's have a drink...

"I'm tired.

With the exception of Hikuroda, who hadn't done anything the whole time, all the members of the loser team had a busy two weeks.

First, Brown, having absorbed the essence of Mimic during this expedition, devoted himself every day to training to get used to his new ability.

"Hmph, I think I now understand how to use the 6th sense ability.

Dvalki was the same.

— ... Oh, me? Don't worry about me. I just didn't sleep for two days.

After his financial problem was solved, he learned new spells from the magic tower, while reducing the time spent sleeping. At one point, the dwarf wondered if he had overdone it, but replied:

"Nobody knows what will happen on the next expedition, right? I have to prepare while I can.

I was proud. When the hell did he become such an adult? I started to think it was a good idea to stay in this team. Although I had the essence of an Orc Hero, if the average level was reached in this way, then these members wouldn't be a hindrance.

In the next expedition, we will have no problems even on the 4th floor.

However, the growth was not limited to them. Over the past two weeks, Misha and I have also undergone a lot of changes. Let's start with the fact that I...

"Hahaha!" Congratulations," Hikurod told me. "In 3 months, you've earned a nickname and even been promoted to a rank 6 researcher. I'm starting to worry that I'll soon fall behind!

"If you're worried, how about making an effort?"

"Actually, I'm looking for rare items that might be useful to me!"

A few days ago, I was promoted to a rank 6 researcher. Contrary to my expectations, it was impossible to go straight to the 5th.

Starting from the 5th rank, one had to pass a test, and in order to pass the test, one had to make a kind of public record by completing the requests sent to the Guild.

Damn, there was nothing like that in the game.

Best Game Consoles

 

In fact, it was useless to complain at this moment. The backstory of the game I played was about 150 years ago. For more than a century, the social system had to undergo countless updates, as did the library, which was just being built in the game.

"Oh, is that the new weapon you bought?" On the surface, it seems reliable.

There has also been a small update in the equipment area. First, I bought a new mace to replace the lost one. It cost 400,000 stones, more than twice as much as the previous one because it required more iron.

[General item level +185].

It was prohibitively large in size and weight, but since my strength had increased significantly this time, there were no problems with practical use.

"By the way, I remember Miss Karlštejn saying she was going to change weapons too. How did it go? Dvalki asked.

"Oh, that?" I don't even want to talk about it, ask him," Mike pointed at me.

Hmm, I thought she stopped whining.

"She bought a pair of swords.

Misha's weapon had changed a few days ago to dual lich swords, which were about 70% larger than the standard sword. I paid 550,000 stones for them in the forge that Hikurod told me about.

"Double swords?"

When Hikurod and Brown muttered at the same time, Mike took the opportunity to whimper.

"That's right!" That sounds weird to you guys too, right?

"Strange?" It seems to be a misunderstanding.

"Hm?

"I was surprised, because I was thinking the same thing," Brown nodded. "Being ambidextrous, using both hands is good, but I was wondering if you had any reason to stick with the dagger.

— ... What do you mean?

"I don't know if you've encountered a human, but we're mostly fighting monsters, right?" From now on, you will encounter many big monsters.

To sum up, she was a little disappointed that she had used a short dagger in the past, so it turned out well. Perhaps it wasn't the reaction she expected, because Mike looked at the dwarf in bewilderment.

"Double sword, huh?" It's definitely not a bad choice. In the end, we will still hold the front line. Hahaha! "Hikuroda, who is in the tank position, was only pleased that the dealer of melee damage went into a full attack.

Then Dvalki spoke.

"I'm a stranger in this field, but I think that it will be difficult to get used to a new weapon, and even two...

"Exactly! That's exactly what I wanted to say! Perhaps on the next campaign I will get hit by a Goblin! Misha gained strength from Dvalka's sympathy and looked at me.

All I could say was the following.

"Then train more to avoid getting hit by the Goblin.

Again, the easy way was slow. It may be difficult to acquire skills with a new weapon now, but in the game, the Freezing Greatsword Master was the strongest dealer of melee damage in the second half because there was one super cheating item for them.

"Phew, okay, stop grumbling.

"I'm not grumbling, I'm giving you advice for the future.

"So that's grumbling.

When Misha and I began to argue, Dualki intervened like a dummy.

"But if you don't like it so much, can't you just leave your weapon behind?"

"Hm?

"I mean, Bjorn isn't your parent. Do you have to do what he says? To be honest, it seems to me that he crosses the line, and I feel uncomfortable.

Am I crossing the line?

Well, it may seem so from the 3rd side, but there is one thing he didn't know.

"I don't hate it that much. Although it is difficult now, but there are certainly some advantages over using a dagger...

"Uh... It's true? Dvalki stammered.

"Yes, so don't blame Bjorn. The decision is mine.

I have never imposed anything on Misha. I only persuaded her, with good reason.

***

"Then for the next expedition, we can aim for the middle of the 4th floor. Hahaha! Hikurod cut in.

"If possible, on the 2nd floor, I'd like to pass by a place I haven't been before," Brown said.

"Hmph, is it because of the value of merit?" If that's the case, then I'll have to reconsider the route again.

Once we had our research plans ready during dinner, this week's meeting ended quickly. Actually, it was called a meeting, but it was more like a meeting once a week to discuss our updates.

"Bjorn, are you leaving together again?" Hikurod asked, glancing at Mike.

"We are going in the same direction.

"Hmph, I mean, you guys have become very close these days.

And it seems to me that you from Dvalka are even closer.

Ignoring the dwarf's interference, Mike and I left the tavern.

"Oh, that's right. Bjorn! The equipment we ordered last time is ready!

"It's late today, so I can pick it up tomorrow."

"But what did you order that took so long?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" These are cowards.

"Cowards...?"

Of course, not just ordinary underpants. Among male explorers, it was a piece of equipment called "egg protection" in slang. Simply put, it was the protection of the scrotum.

"I bought them at a slightly higher price because they have to be enchanted with magic.

"Huh?" Why do you need to enchant something like this with magic?!

"Something like that?"

"N-No, I didn't mean that... Well, I'm sure it's hard to find the right one, so I can understand...

What now?

"I can't stay naked every time my body gets bigger.

The player's role was to set the equipment according to the essence consumed. In preparation for [Gigantization], I made clothes in the desired shape, then enchanted them with [Auto Repair], [Reshape], and [Acid Immunity]. Since the briefs I needed — no, shorts — could hardly be found on the market, I spent about 900,000 stones.

"Ah, that's why you enchanted them. I thought it was something else..." Mike let out a big sigh, as if the misunderstanding had dissipated. But she seemed to have a new question, and she asked in a strange voice:

"Then... Are you going to wear them only in the maze?

"Exactly," I replied proudly.

I didn't have a word to explain them, so I called them underpants, but in fact they were closer to shorts that went down to the hips, such as cyclists often wear. In addition, they were not made of dense material, but of leather, so there was nothing to be ashamed of.

Well, I haven't tried them on myself yet, but I definitely haven't.

Am I not a barbarian? Efficiency was more important than emotions.

In general, while the two of us were chatting and walking, we came to the tavern.

"Then go to bed."

"Mmm, I'll go." But do you want me to go with you to pick up the gear tomorrow?"

"Don't be lazy, keep swinging your sword while I'm gone.

"I'm not lazy!"

Of course, you are not lazy.

"Then I still have somewhere to go alone.

"Alone?" Where are you going?

I answered briefly:

"I'm going to the Holy Land.

I had money, and now I had the essence of the Orc Hero, which was the core of my cultivation method. It was time to gradually increase the level of the [Spiritual Imprint].

***

When I woke up early in the morning, I turned my attention to the ledger again.

The mace, underpants and double sword combined cost 1.85 million stones.

The Beast Blood I bought to level up Misha's [Spirit Beast] was worth 2 million stones. The cost of enchanting [Acid Immunity] on the Lithinum Chest and Shield was 510,000 gems.

If you subtract 90,000 stones for daily expenses for a month...

Only 3.7 million stones remained. Of course, it was all the necessary expenses, so it didn't feel like an embezzlement.

Without the Blood of the Beast, it would have taken Misha a long time to put the Ice attribute on the weapon.

The equipment enchantment should have been done earlier, too.

When I first bought the gear, I had the Frost Spirit Ring and I didn't have any money on hand, so I put it down.

As a result, 500,000 stones were lost as the cost of repairs.

Hell, I should have saved on something else.

After a light shower and some walking, I arrived in the Holy Land, where the tribal chief greeted me with a small smile on his lips.

"Bjorn, son of Yandel!" I can't call you a young warrior anymore. I heard that you have a nickname Little Balkan?

"Exactly! I nodded proudly, playing the role of a barbarian making a glorious comeback. But it was a cold, barbaric world.

"So, why are you here?" After exchanging a few words, the chief immediately got down to business. As befits a barbarian, the introduction was very short. To be honest, I thought that words of admiration, praise, or encouragement would follow.

Well, that will save me time, which is nice.

Perhaps the most rational race in this city was the barbarian. Thinking about this, I immediately remembered my goal.

"I've come to raise the [Spiritual Imprint].

- I see. I'll call the shaman. Talk to him.

After that, everything was also quickly resolved. The chief left on important business, and the shaman's apprentice came and brought me to the tent.

As I entered, I was greeted by a shaman with impressive wrinkled skin.

"Haha. It's you again.

"How did you know it was me?" I asked.

"Well, it's rare for a warrior to thank a shaman.

No, I mean, how did you recognize me with the blindfold?

I did not ask again. Since he is a shaman, it means that there is some mystical side to him.

"Are you here to obtain the 2nd stage of the Imprint of the Path of Immortality?"

— That's right.

"It's worth a million stones.

I shuddered.

"A million stones?"

"Are you not ready?"

— ... That's not the point.

I was just surprised that the price was the same as in the game. The 1st stage cost 150,000 stones more.

*Kling*

But it didn't matter. I took out the money and put it in the jar, as the shaman had ordered. Then he chuckled.

"I'm glad you paid the right amount. Last time I got 50,000 fewer stones, which was a headache.

— ... Is 50,000 gems less? What do you mean?

"Young warrior, you don't have to worry. It's all the fault of a stupid leader.

But it seems to still bother you!

I guessed, so when I lay face down on the blanket, as ordered, I asked again.

"Shaman, what is the initial cost of the 1st stage of the Imprint?"

- 550,000 stones.

— ... Got it.

With this one answer, all my doubts were resolved. At the time, the chief said the cost was 700,000 stones. Of course, I didn't think he said that to deceive me. I just didn't pay attention to it then.

"The cost of the imprint of immortality... well, probably about 700,000 stones!"

The chief was also a barbarian, very weak in letters and numbers.

Huh, and he still said he was giving me a discount of 200,000 stones or something?

Well, as a result, I was able to save 50,000 stones, so there will be no loss on my part. Still, I felt like an idiot because I was so innocently happy.

"Then let's begin."

As soon as the needle pierced my skin, all the worries, anxieties, and thoughts that filled my head disappeared. It was the first bright pain I felt in a long time.

"Young warrior, don't hold back, even if you shout..."

"Ahh!"

Damn, I thought I'd be fine with the Pain Resistance. I didn't think it wouldn't work in this case.

... Tomorrow I will have to start the 3rd stage.

Obviously, it was necessary to revise the plan.

[You have activated Imprint of Immortality: Stage 2].

[Your Stamina and Magic Resistance are greatly increased]

[Physical Strength +20]

[Spirit +20].

"Will this be the longest 15 minutes of my life"? I was a fool to say that.

"All right, it's over.

The 1st stage took 12 hours, and the 2nd took only 10 minutes. However, the pain was unimaginable, so much so that I wondered if the pain I had to endure for 12 hours was compressed for this stage.

"Haha, I've never seen anyone end up in a waking state.

Seeing me in a half-fainting state, the shaman laughed like a psychopath. Then he handed me something.

"Here. Choose. There's still time, so let me sneak a peek into your fate.

What was that? Divination? Since it was a fantasy world, the accuracy must be high...

"Nothing grandiose, so go ahead and choose. I can still tell if something good will happen in your future or not.

In that case, since I didn't feel any anger, I pulled one of the dozens of sticks out of the pile without much thought.

Then the shaman fell silent for a moment. This alarmed me.

"Young warrior, what is your date of birth?"

I didn't think you'd need to read my birth chart...

While I was thinking about what to answer, the shaman laughed again.

"Hahaha, that was a joke. How can a warrior know something like a date of birth?

— ... And what is my fate?

"It's special. I have seen the fate of many warriors, but this is the first time I have seen such bad luck.

Hmm, so said the shaman my mother went to a long time ago. It seems that my fate was rotten from the very beginning.

"You've probably gone through countless hardships that others only go through once in a lifetime, and you'll continue to experience them.

- I see.

Hell, that's why you shouldn't go to fortune tellers. I knew this deep down, but hearing a shaman from a fantasy universe say it directly made me depressed.

"Don't be discouraged, young warrior. Bad luck isn't necessarily bad for you.

"Isn't it bad?"

"In your fate there is not only bad luck, but also luck, which has no equal. And if you are not consumed by evil, then bad luck will eventually turn into good luck.

"What do you mean?" Put it simply.

This time I wasn't pretending to be a barbarian, I was serious. In this industry, it was customary to say incomprehensible, both on Earth and here?

"Hahaha." This means that you are destined to experience countless once-in-a-lifetime events, both good and bad.

My head seemed to be vibrating.

"This is the fate with which many who are considered heroes are born.

I didn't know how to become a hero, but one thing was clear. I've had countless shitty things in my life, but in the end, I was still alive and breathing. I just thought it was because I was very unlucky. But looking back now, I realize that it wasn't just shitty things that happened.

"Haha, you seem to know what I'm talking about.

Even in the case of the Blood Citadel, I almost died when the Vampire Duke Cambormir appeared, but as a result, I managed to get my hands on the essence of this bastard. And the recent Lord of the Floor? All sorts of crazy things were going on there, but in the process, I was able to get the essence of the Orc Hero.

"If this is the fate of a hero, then I will not die, no matter what I go through?"

— Of course not.

The shaman smiled as if he was treating an innocent young warrior. Then, sternly, he changed his mood and muttered:

"Someone is eaten by fate, someone obeys it, and someone overcomes it.

"It's easier to understand.

"It's up to you, not fate.

So you're going to say what I don't understand until the very end, as I see it.

Fate or whatever it was, it didn't change anything.

I shouldn't even think about relying on anything else, I'll just be on my guard and do what I have to do so that I can endure whatever comes to my lot.

***

[Bjorn Jandel].

Level: 3

Constitution: 330 (new +20)

Spirit: 124 (нов. +20)

Special Abilities: 115

Item Level: 828 (Nov. +145)

Total Combat Strength: 772 (new +76.25)

Acquired essences:

Corpse Golem - Rank 7

Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5

Orc Hero - Rank 5