Eventually, after the battle with the Troll, this expedition stopped.

Dvalka's condition did not improve as before.

"Even if he takes more potions, he won't get better. Not everyone has a body as strong as yours."

Without the nourishment of Natural Regeneration, it will take time for the muscles and bones to fall back into place even after the wounds have healed. Therefore, when I returned to the city, I had to skip the checkpoint and start with the temple. Unlike Rothmiller, Dvalka's injuries could not be resolved over time.

"Phew, I'm much better now..."

Dvalki, who couldn't stand for a whole week, was finally able to walk on his own after receiving a high-end healing.

— Are there any consequences? I was worried because the treatment was delayed...

"Haha, don't worry. My condition has improved so much that I can enter the maze right now.

"It's a relief.

Due to the fact that the injury had been suppressed by the advanced potion from the beginning, Dvalki had bounced back after being injected with divine power. This calmed me down. If there were any consequences, they would prevent further research.

"Then let's meet again in 2 days." In the meantime, we need to go home and rest.

The mana stones that the team collected were not very numerous, so the distribution was postponed until the completion of the surrender of requests.

Hmm, will there be about 400,000 stones per person?

We'll have to split them up later to be sure, but the sale of the Sorcerer Frog's by-products should be roughly equal to that amount, since we've promised to give away 200,000 stones each for the price of the potion.

Wow, that fucking Troll.

The losses from this son of a were serious. Repairing bent equipment will probably cost a tidy sum.

If you made me go through such hardships, then you should have at least left the essence.

If I hadn't procured something beforehand, it would have been a loss.

"Bjorn, what are you going to do now?"

"I plan to go to the inn and wash up, and then take care of organizing my things. Oh, with you, of course.

"Huh?" Me too...?

"Didn't you have a good rest in the labyrinth?" Don't even think about jumping off.

"I didn't think so!" In any case, I can't walk all the way to my inn. Can I just wash at your place?

"Good.

We moved into my accommodation because I didn't want to waste time on unnecessary trips. I washed first. We needed to move fast to get to the commercial area before the carriages stopped running.

"Huh?" Are you done yet?

"It's okay if you stay late. In any case, it will take time to sort everything out.

"Really?"

Pushing Misha into the bathroom, I laid out the loot obtained during this reconnaissance and organized it: equipment and consumables obtained after defeating the three marauders who were hunting the young barbarian, as well as Jencia's belongings.

I can sell this, and leave it for us for later...

While I was putting everything in order, making a list on paper, someone knocked on the door.

"Are you inside?"

It was a man's voice that I had never heard before. When I opened the door, I saw a man with a badge of an employee of the Explorers Guild.

"Are you Bjorn Yandel?"

— ... I do.

"Could you come with me to the Guild?"

Damn, what now?

It reminded me of the time I was incarcerated after being asked for something like this, but judging by the tone of voice and expression on the worker's face, things were different then. There were no guards around either.

I decided to calm down and sort out the situation.

"Tell me why." After that, I will decide whether to go or not.

"Oh, exactly, I didn't tell you. The employee carefully explained the situation. "A barbarian named Charon Tarson has asked you as a witness.

— ... Witness?

— Yes. He said you could prove that he wasn't a looter...

The young barbarian was in danger.

***

"Initially, such a request would not have been accepted, but as you know, all related rules have become stricter since that incident. I know I'm bothering you, but I've come to check it out. If you have nothing to do with him, you can simply say no.

"Let's go."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll just change my clothes." Wait here.

Closing the door, I put on my raincoat and told Mike, who was in the shower, that I was leaving.

"Misha, today's schedule is canceled.

"What?" Why all of a sudden?

"It seems that something has happened to Charon. I'm going to visit the Explorers Guild, so go home after the bath.

"What?" What are you doing to them...! No, explain in more detail!

"I'm ready." Come along.

"Does it bother you so much, stupid barbarian?!"

Ignoring Misha's justified shout, I headed to the Guild with an employee waiting outside. Coincidentally, the place I was brought to was the branch I had escaped from.

"It's been a long time.

"Excuse me?" Oh, yes... Let's go inside. The branch manager is waiting for you.

"The head of the branch?"

After looking around, reflecting on the past, I followed another employee to the 3rd floor and saw Charon sleeping on the sofa. Opposite him sat a mustachioed branch manager with a very dissatisfied expression on his face.

"Oh, how are you?"

— ... Just super.

How straightforward. Still, the situation didn't seem as unpleasant as I thought. If Charon had really been accused of looting, he would not have slumbered here, but would have been sitting in an underground prison.

*Hraaaap!*

First of all, I woke Charon. Well, I guess I can't say I woke him up.

"Charon, stop pretending to be asleep and get up. You don't have to do it here.

At my words, the head of the branch and my conductor raised their heads at the same time. Then Charon slowly opened his eyes.

— ... How did you know?

What do you think? The last time I saw you, you disappeared, saying very mysterious words.

"I thought... that you can do something like that.

"Does this mean that you recognize me as a warrior?"

"Yes, something like that.

When I nodded to him half-seriously, Charon smiled sincerely and greeted me with his shoulder.

"In any case, thank you for coming, Bjorn, son of Yandel.

— This is natural. Did they do anything to you?

"They didn't do anything, don't worry," said the branch manager. "If they did, would this guy be here?"

That's true, but I didn't ask you.

"Charon, answer me.

"Nothing.

- I see.

I nodded and grinned. That is why precedent was important.

Would they have treated me so well if I hadn't thrown that shit away?

*Creak*

In this spirit, I did not ask permission and sat comfortably on the couch, in case the branch manager forgot what a barbarian I was.

"I'll be a rum."

— ... I don't remember offering you anything to drink.

"Are you discriminating against me for being a barbarian?"

The head of the branch let out a long sigh.

"Phew... We don't have alcohol. I can give you tea...

"Cold water." Iced.

— ... Ok.

Humans were definitely teachable creatures. Instead of paying attention to my undesirable tone or behavior, the branch manager gave me what I wanted. He wholeheartedly learned how to deal with ignorant barbarians.

After all, barbarians are cheaters.

As I set my dusty feet on the expensive-looking table, Charon stared at me with shining eyes.

"You... A real warrior...

Apparently, his indifferent behavior in front of the head of the branch of the Explorers Guild made an impression on him. It seemed to be the same thing with the head of the branch: his mustache twitched in surprise.

"You guys really...

"What, do you want to say something?"

— ... No.

As soon as I growled in response, the branch manager lowered his tail, afraid of being caught.

*Smirk*

This was the reaction I expected. A lot has changed since our last meeting. I am no longer the barbarian of the 9th rank that I was then.

"I've heard rumors about you. Do they call you the Little Balkan?

In a few months, I became a researcher of the 6th rank, and a well-known one with a nickname. I was also acquainted with Baron Martoan, and there were even rumors that the Count had his eye on me. If he had been following me, he would have known that I had visited the magic tower for Raven's research. Of course, there were other important things.

"Here's your water with ice...

I was stronger, strong enough to smash the head of the branch office like a tomato in one second. Perhaps we were in the center of the city, where the law preceded violence. So what? The branch manager should know that I'm not the kind of bastard to worry about something like that.

"Stop chatting and let's get down to business. What do you plan to do with Charon?

As I pushed aside the iced water and asked a question, the branch manager shrugged.

— ... No problem. This guy can leave now if he wants to. The magician confirmed that it was self-defense.

— ... A what?

I was momentarily stunned by the unexpectedly cold response.

Has this already been confirmed by a magician?

Of course, this wasn't unusual, because he didn't have as high a Magic Resistance as I did. They could determine whether Charon's words were true or not with a single spell, without having to summon me here.

It means that they did not need Charon, but me.

I quickly figured out the situation. Yes, it was the Explorers Guild.

Only now did my heart begin to shrink.

"Charon, you can go," I said.

"May I?" I'm hungry-...

"If you skip meals, you won't grow taller. Go.

"Good!" See you next time, Bjorn, son of Yandel!

First I sent Charon away. It seemed that the branch manager wanted fewer people to hear him.

"Audrian, you did well. You can go downstairs too.

"Yes, sir.

Shortly thereafter, the employee who had brought me in and given me water left, and only the two of us remained in the branch manager's office. No one said a word, and naturally there was silence.

—…

I took my time and waited for him to speak first.

"Actually, I was thinking of contacting you sometime, even if not today.

"The reason?"

"Lord Urbahns' daughter wants to meet you."

"Urbahns?" Who is this?

I looked at him with eyes that demanded an explanation.

The dumbfounded head of the branch asked:

"Are you serious?" Do you really remember the person you held hostage?

Ah, the daughter of the head of the district. Hell, I should have said that from the beginning.

— ... I guess you haven't completely forgotten.

"Ahem, anyway, why is she trying to meet me?"

"Well, you'll find out when you meet..."

Who does he take me for?

"Then I refuse.

"What?"

"I'm hungry every day, so why should I waste time?"

When I stood up, as if the conversation was over, the head of the branch hurriedly added:

"I can't say much, but it won't hurt you. Rather, it will be good for you.

Seeing that he had come this far, I didn't think he would give out any more information.

The woman I held hostage wants to see me, doesn't she?

Okay, I shouldn't have thought much about it.

"Tell her no!"

I'm busy enough as it is. I refuse to get involved in anything troublesome.

***

In the middle of the street, in broad daylight, Ervena ran through the crowd.

"Half, half, half."

Sweat had already seeped not only onto her body, which had been cleanly washed, but also onto the dress that she had taken out for the first time in a long time.

And... It won't smell, will it?

Everything should be in order. They also saw each other's worst states. At the moment, meeting him was more important.

... He was really alive!

Although she was very happy about this fact, she also felt a sense of shame.

Björn, son of Yandel. Her first teammate and the barbarian who saved her while she was wandering alone through the maze. A man she thought was dead and who disappeared before her eyes before she could thank him. She felt like an idiot for deceiving herself and locking herself in her room.

To think that he became so famous...

She didn't even need to question people. After returning to the city, she asked only a few people, and most of them knew his name. One of them even knew where he was staying.

Oh, wait... Then why didn't Daria say anything?

The question came to her suddenly, but Ervena did not dig deeper.

She didn't know for sure.

Her sister would never deliberately hide it. And it didn't matter now.

Phew, what should I say when I see him? If you think about it, at some point I just disappeared.

Her heart continued to beat non-stop. It was the first pleasant vibration she had felt in a long time. Until now, she had lived with the curtains closed because she didn't want to see the sunrise and sunset, but today the sunlight that touched her skin was warm and cozy.

First you need to apologize. He must have been looking for me too. Perhaps this is because he could not remember where our house was.

Arriving at her destination, Ervena prepared for the upcoming meeting and put her thoughts in order one last time. Straightening her disheveled clothes, she knocked on the door.

*Tuk-tuk*

*Top, Top*

She heard someone walking inside. Footsteps quickly approached her.

*Tump, Tump!*

It seemed that her heart was about to break. She wanted to hurry up and talk to Uncle like she used to do when they talked to each other about everyday life and laughed.

Would he be surprised to learn that I command all four Great Spirits? Wait up... Now that he's much stronger than me, I don't think I can boast of that.

She was a little worried, but he would definitely praise her, tell her that she did a good job and understand that she had a hard time. Unlike others, Uncle will definitely praise you.

"Hehe...

Just as she was smiling at such a fantasy, the door finally opened.

*Rumble*

But what was it?

"Huh?" Who are you?

The person who opened the door was a beastman, someone from the cat tribe with triangular ears on his head. Ervena checked the number on the door: "201". She was in the right place. She could not mishear, as she asked to repeat it several times to make sure.

Could it be that the informant was mistaken?

Hmm, it looks like it. However, it could be the next room, so she should ask. Since he has become so famous, then someone from the same inn may know.

"Uh... you don't know, Uncle... no, in which room is Bjorn Yandel staying?

— Хм? Вы к Бьорну?

"Excuse me?" I don't quite understand what you mean...

"Bjorn has just washed and left. Don't want to wait inside?

Did he just wash up and leave? No, wait a minute... Does this mean that this is his room?

Ervena was confused.

What is going on?

"Or tell me who you are." When Bjorn comes back later, I'll tell him you've come.

It was almost as if they lived together. Ervena raised her head to see the Beastman's face once more. She was beautiful, so beautiful that even she, as an elf, couldn't argue with it.

*Cap*

Water dripped from her red hair as if she had just taken a bath.

"You said he just left, didn't you?"

"Yes, but what?"

Ervena's lips curled as the woman answered, as if asking what was wrong with that. Of course, this did not last long.

— No, I don't. No problem. Can I go inside and wait?

"Oh, of course...

Soon she entered the room. Prey was scattered on the floor.

"There's a little mess here..." Usually it doesn't happen like that...

"I know what it is. I've done it to him before, too.

"Hm?" Did? About... Are you also a researcher?

— Yes.

"But don't get me wrong, it's all from the looters-...

"Don't worry. I know.

Ervena interrupted the beastman's words and focused on the vibration in her heart. Then she said with a smile.

"Wanting to possess something that belongs to someone else deserves punishment, doesn't it?

Her beating hot heart suddenly turned cold.