Do you know what will happen in the near future?" I asked the shaman.

"No, I don't see anything like that. However, beware of those who experience bitterness anytime and anywhere. Your fate attracts such people.

"Put it simply.

"If you can get rid of their pain, it will be a blessing, and if you can't solve this problem, it will be a curse.

Didn't he know what "simpler" meant?

"I'm hungry, so you can go."

"Good.

After the shaman's order to leave, I left the tent. Then, with my body running out of energy, I trudged towards the city. As I walked, the energy slowly returned to me.

Is it because of the [Spiritual Imprint]?

In the 1st stage [Imprint of Immortality], the power of Natural Regeneration increased, and in the 2nd stage, Stamina and Magic Resistance increased. Magic Resistance is literally resistance to magical actions, and Stamina affects maximum stamina and regeneration rate. In other words, unlike physical stats like Strength and Agility, these stats didn't stand out.

Not bad.

However, if these stats were not maintained, the character would not be able to function normally in the future. Not only did I unlock the 6th stage, which was the key to my growth method, I needed to slowly build it up from now on.

Starting from the 3rd stage, it is quite useful in itself.

Initially, I planned to go straight to the 3rd, but this was postponed until tomorrow.

So, since I didn't have much time today-...

"Bjorn!"

As I double-checked my plans for the day, I heard a familiar voice from somewhere—a scream like a whisper. I wondered for a moment if I had misheard, but-...

"Bjorn!"

As soon as I checked the direction from which the sound was coming from, a face poked out of the stirring bush.

"Ainar?"

"Quiet!" If I get caught, I'll be in big trouble!

At Einar's insistence, I squatted down in front of the bushes and lowered my voice.

— ... Why are you here?

"I heard from the elder that you have come to the Holy Land, so I have come to visit you. You need to walk this road to get into the city, don't you?

Hmm, I see. But did you know when I would pass by?

"I'm glad you came early. My legs are already numb!

I guess she planned to wait here until I came. Very similar to Einar.

"Anyway, we don't know who's going to pass through here, so come in."

I was glad to see her, but I was curious how she was now, so I climbed over the thick bushes and squatted inside. Only then could I get a good look at Einar's body. I asked with genuine concern:

"Why are you so thin?"

Because of the Bone Knight essence, her height had shrunk to 170 cm.

Ainar smiled bitterly.

"Hahaha, don't look too closely, or I'll be embarrassed." I know I don't look good.

In just a month, the bulging body of the stern warrior had turned into a slender, muscular figure.

"Isn't the elder feeding you?"

"She feeds me, but because I squeezed my muscles every day, I became like that.

"Squeezed?"

— It's a long story. I don't know much about it either, so don't ask for details.

"I see...

Whatever it was, what kind of training turned a healthy person into one? I could not get rid of the unpleasant sensations and remained silent.

Ainar smiled and changed the subject.

"I heard about you from the elder. You got the nickname Little Balkan, right? You're amazing, Bjorn!

"Nothing special.

"What happened there?" I'm curious about your story," Ainar looked at me with shining eyes. She must have been curious about the outside world because of her daily training.

I felt sorry for her, so I sat down and began to tell her the story in all seriousness.

"Oh, you're on the same team as Hikuroda?" This is pleasing. I was nervous about leaving you, but I can trust him.

I told her about working with Hikuroda and the many events that had taken place in the labyrinth. But just as the story was coming to an end, a roaring scream came from afar.

"Ainar, Feneline's 2nd daughter!" Did you run away again!?

"That's bad. I think the elder noticed that I wasn't there.

Ainar hurriedly rose to her feet from the crash that reached our ears.

I asked anxiously:

"Will you be all right?"

"It's all right. It's just that my training today will double. Don't worry too much, I'll just have to forget about sleep.

No, it only worried me more...

"I was about to die of boredom, but it was nice to hear an exciting story from you. So please come back next time.

"Good.

"Then I'll go!"

Soon Ainar turned around and began to run in the direction of the sound. As I was about to leave, Ainar suddenly turned around and called me.

"Oh, exactly! Bjorn!

She said something unexpected.

"I didn't say it before, but it's nice to see that your face looks good!"

"My face?"

"In the past, I suppose, it was full of malice?" Well, that wasn't bad either, but...! Now it looks more relaxed! Perhaps because your new teammates are reliable people!

Hmm, right? I'm not sure about that...

— Айнар! Иди сюда!!!

"Phew, I'll see you later!" I will continue to train hard and return as a more reliable warrior!

Soon the figure of Einar disappeared from sight. I kept looking in that direction, lost in my thoughts for a moment.

No more malice, right?

Could this be a positive or negative change? I couldn't be sure yet.

***

Since the casting of the [Spiritual Imprint] ended early, I had quite a bit of time left, so I visited the magic tower to fulfill this week's research quota.

"Oh?" Mr. Yandel? Why... Didn't you come tomorrow? Raven asked.

"I'm here today because I have things to do for tomorrow.

"Shouldn't you plan your affairs with the things you already do and reschedule them to another date?"

... It was a reasonable argument. However, I was a great barbarian, not bound by public manners and customs.

— What is planning?

"Phew, why at such moments... Okay. Wait here. I'll finish what I'm doing now, and we can begin.

— Of course.

After waiting for a while, the preparation for today's test was complete. She told me that today's experiment was to test how the Vampire's Magic Resistance affects psychological magic, and to measure the exact threshold for the decrease in Sun Resistance...

"Enough of explaining. Just do it.

"Okay, then I'll begin.

*Zzzzzzzz!*

The experiment ended faster than I thought, as I was absorbed in the brutal experimental tools. Just as I was about to jump out, Raven hurriedly called out to me.

"Wait, Mr. Yandel!"

I wondered if it had anything to do with research, but she asked:

"So when are you going to tell me?"

"What do you mean?"

"The sacred relic you used to kill the Vampire!" How did you know that the [Tear of the Goddess] was there?

Again?

We had this conversation every time I came to this place.

"Again, I told you I didn't even know what it was.

"Again, isn't it?"

Raven crossed her arms and looked at me. Did she know? With such a small stature, she only looked cheeky in this pose.

"Arua Raven, what is this [Tear of the Goddess] that you're so obsessed with?" I asked bluntly.

At first I wondered if she suspected that I was an evil spirit. However, judging by her behavior since then, this was not the case. Remember how I asked her about the pill and the letter. If she had suspected me, it would have been revealed in one way or another in the conversation.

— ... It's not because of that relic," she finally replied.

If you don't suspect me, then what's the matter?

The answer was something I had never thought about.

"It's because of the book that contains information about the relic.

"A book?"

— The Complete Book of Rifts. You won't deny that you know about her, will you?

No, I really don't know, even if you're looking at me like that...

"I understand that you want to keep the existence of the book a secret, because I wanted to too. Knowledge becomes more valuable the fewer people know it, right?

— ... So what do you mean?

"If you have this book or know its contents, I want to buy it. There are many parts that I can't read because mine hasn't been preserved properly.

Looking into those zealous eyes, it did not seem to me that she was saying invented words to me. Is it really because of the book?

"If this was your goal from the beginning, you should have just asked me directly instead of beating around the bush.

"But the one who loses the negotiations is the one who seems desperate.

It was true. As I nodded unconsciously, she frankly confessed her intentions.

"If you had confessed that you had found the relic, I would have thought of acting as if there was no need to negotiate with you. It didn't help that you seem to know its cost...

"So you've chosen a straightforward tactic.

— Yes. So can you tell me the truth now?

I thought about it for a moment. At the time, I was completely convinced that the item I was using was a holy relic, so I don't think it's a good idea to lie again. Perhaps it would have been better to admit it.

"I got [The Tear of the Goddess] or something by breaking the statue in front of the fountain.

— Of course! I knew it!

"But that's all.

— ... Forgive me?

Seeing her bewilderment, I quickly added:

"When you guys were looking around, I smashed it because I was bored, and that's what happened.

"Then... You don't know about the book?

Muttering with a blank expression, she quickly found the reason and replied:

"Wait. There is a contradiction here. If that's true, then how could you think of using something you don't know in that situation?

Quite a harsh question. However, since it was already expected, I did not hesitate in my answer.

"There was a symbol of the goddess on the box, so I thought it was just such an item. And it works really well.

— ... Really?

"On the honor of a warrior, everything I have just said is true.

Raven's expression turned gloomy as soon as I said the oath, which was nothing more than a cheat at this point.

"Then... What have I been doing all this time?

When she found out that she herself practiced shadow boxing, she felt ashamed.

While I felt sorry for her, at the same time, I thought of this: the community of players, the Ghostbusters. I thought the biggest strength of this community was sharing information, but...

Maybe for someone this is not so.

For some, I'm a player, and for others, I'm an evil spirit.

"I'm hungry, so I'll go!"

Like a barbarian, I threw open the door and left.

Misha, who followed me as if I were her savior; Hikurod, who treated me like a friend; even Einar, who always cheers me on and looks like I'm going to be a great warrior one day, they were all the same. Björn, son of Yandel. In this body, I could not be faithful to anyone.

Well, I didn't think that Li Han-so's body would be any different.

***

After exiting the magic tower, I went straight to the shopping district and picked up the ready-made magic underpants. The time was 5 o'clock in the evening. It was too early to end the day here, so I headed to the library with an emaciated body. It would be more productive than going on vacation.

— [Parsitiev].

After receiving the enchantment from the librarian, I headed straight for the bookshelves. Even if I tried to say hello, she wouldn't accept me, and I didn't have the energy to do that today.

— ... I heard you're famous now.

However, the librarian, who usually didn't bother to even talk to me, came up to me for some reason.

"It's a long story," I replied rudely and went. I used to think that as a magician, it would be helpful if we had a friendly relationship.

In fact, it's even ridiculous to think about such things now.

I was a researcher of the 6th rank and even had the nickname Little Balkan. Not only were my stats enough to get into a team with a Magus, but my current team already had one, even though he might not have been from a magic tower.

Judging by the fact that this one works as a librarian, she should be the same.

Thinking about it, I smiled. I knew that regardless of the reason, it was just a rationalization based only on legality.

*Step*

After all, the intention was different. I just didn't want to. I didn't want to try to win the favor of others by calculating my every action, at least not today. That's why I was a little tired.

*Step*

So I stopped going to the bookshelf and ran into a problem that I neglected without avoiding it.

It was only natural that Einar said that my anger was gone.

I had a problem – a mental problem. Emotions that I thought had dried up showed their heads now that my body was perfectly fine. This was bad news for me, for whom survival was paramount. So what was the solution?

I don't know, let's do what we have to do.

I turned and walked over to the librarian.

"Don't look indifferently. If you want to say something, speak quickly," I said.

— ... How did you know I had something to say?

"In your eyes.

There were a few clues, but they were too cumbersome to explain.

As I looked at her with such emotion in her eyes, the quick-witted librarian briefly explained:

— I have a friend who works in an administrative office. She is looking for a researcher who can be trusted with one request, so I recommended you.

"Did you recommend me?"

— Strictly speaking, this is not a recommendation. Your name came up in the conversation, and when my friend heard it, she asked to meet with you. Of course, if you're busy or don't want to, you can say no.

"Good. Let me listen to her.

The librarian, who looked surprised by my answer, nodded slightly.

"Then I'll tell it to my friend."

Request, right? It was high time to hold such an event.

Now there is a way to make money in the city.

I was glad to hear that.