I froze for a moment, looking ahead. In the room, which I thought would be empty after Misha left, there were two people, Misha and Ervena.

It is impossible that these two know each other. Had Ervena come to visit me and met her by chance?

As soon as I entered the room, out of habit, I analyzed cause and effect through the given circumstances. However, that was all I had.

*Cap-cap-cap!*

Unlike the outside air, humid from the pouring rain, for some reason there was cool air in my small single room. The room was full of questions.

What the heck...? Why is she so upset?

Being around each other for months, I could figure it out just by looking at her face. Mike was very, very angry now, incomparably more angry than she had been when she had caught me plucking only meat out of food and throwing carrots away. Seeing that even the hairs of her tail were slightly reared, she seemed to be afraid of something too. Ervena was also acting strangely.

She is... Crying?

There were tears in her eyes. She didn't spill them, but it seemed like she was struggling to hold them back.

Instead of crying with sadness, she looked like she was gnashing her teeth with anger.

Did they quarrel or something like that?

Based on the information provided, I came to the conclusion that Ervena and Misha had a quarrel. Reason? Well, I wasn't sure about that. I didn't think that any of them would be capable of such an emotional confrontation with someone they met for the first time.

*Rumble*

As I closed the door, both of their eyes turned to me. Perhaps it was because of the sound of rain and thunder, but it seemed that it was only after the door closed that they felt my presence.

Mike was the first to speak.

"Oh, are you here, Bjorn?" You have a guest.

Mike grinned and greeted me as usual. For some reason, her eyes weren't smiling at all.

"Waaaaa!" Uncle...!

Ervena burst into tears, which she was holding back, and threw herself on me. I dodged her reflexively. I don't think it was the picture she imagined. Ervena landed with a balance like a character of agility and bit her lip as she asked.

"This... Because of that woman?

What does it mean?

For some reason, she seemed very different than the last time I saw her, but... Well, it's been a long time since then.

"Because of that woman?"

"I... No problem!

When I asked again, wondering if they had really quarreled, Ervena flinched and shook her head. Then she looked shyly in the direction where, as it turned out, Misha was.

"Bjorn, why are you taking so long?"

Misha met my gaze and came up to me with quick steps.

"You left in a hurry, did something happen?"

It was a nasal voice that I could not get used to.

For some reason, it gave me goosebumps, but I've answered the question for now.

"Nothing special. Charon was accused of looting, but everything ended well after my conversation with them.

- I see. It must have worn you out.

Misha said strange words and stroked my hand. Usually she patted me on the forearm or back.

At this moment, I had no choice but to ask honestly.

— ... What are you doing?

"What do you mean?" I just complimented you on your good work. Barbarians are not strangers.

I shook my head involuntarily. It wasn't even my question, and the answer itself was full of contradictions.

"Aren't they strangers?"

"Why?" Aren't barbarians and beastmen on good terms?

Perhaps? Well, I think it's better than with the elves.

"Here's a towel!"

I was about to say something else when Misha jumped up and put the towel on my head.

"Dry your hair first." You'll catch a cold.

"Ah, oh... Yes.

It seemed a little suspicious, but I turned my gaze to Ervena while I was drying my hair. I could not leave the guest unattended.

"Ervena, were you looking for me?"

"Excuse me?" Oh, yes...

When I turned to her, Ervena threw up her shoulders and avoided my gaze.

Wasn't it she who ran up to me earlier?

Oh, was it because I evaded her?

"Anyway, it's good that you're here," I said.

"Excuse me?" Were you looking for me?

— ... I do?

"Really?" I am happy. I thought you forgot about me...

I responded with a smile to the atmosphere, which changed in just a few words.

"I could never forget a comrade from my 1st expedition.

"Wh-really?" He's special to both of us, right?

And? Feeling a strange discrepancy, I nodded, struck by Ervena's sincere gaze.

— ... Probably, yes?

"Yes!" In the end, it was!

I don't know what happened, but Ervena's complexion suddenly brightened at my answer.

This communication was enough, so I decided to ask something that was interesting to me.

— In any case, a lot of time has passed. How are you?

"Me?" Are you wondering how I'm doing?

"Yes...?"

"Then I'll tell you!"

Soon after, Ervena was chirping like a bird, talking nonstop about what had happened since we parted. Most of this was associated with the labyrinth. She climbed the floors with her sister, defeated monsters and absorbed new essences. Oh, and also that I used to spend my days locked up in my room, training day and night?

"Look at this!" Now I can deal with all four Great Spirits! I have already endowed three of them with will!

"What?" Are there already three?

"Yes!" I tried very, very hard!

To be honest, I was a little surprised. Even if it developed on her sister's back, it was hard to believe that it was the result of several months.

Isn't that talent?

She was different from me in many ways. If I became stronger with advanced essences and equipment, then she became stronger with real practice, which allowed her abilities to blossom.

An elf archer who had managed to cultivate three attributes in less than a year...

It was definitely rare. If all four basic attributes were endowed with will, there were some things that could be done in the second half of the game.

If it weren't for her sister, I could have taken her on my team.

It was a pity to lose such a talent. However, I decided not to say anything. I didn't assemble a team right now anyway, and there was no way she would leave her family.

"Anyway, I'm glad you were busy training. I thought you wouldn't be able to find me because I moved to another place to live. Well, anyway, it was time for you to focus on growth, not me.

"Oh, that's not entirely true-...

"Yes, Bjorn is right. If you haven't reached one year as an explorer yet, you should look for your own ways to survive, right?

Misha, who had been silently listening to the conversation, stood up and put her arm around Ervena's shoulders.

Ervena tensed and nodded weakly.

"That's right...

Did I think she was embarrassed by Misha's reaction?

Remembering the atmosphere when I first entered the room, I belatedly asked:

"Oh, so what happened to the two of you while I was gone?"

In fact, I was curious to know about it from the very beginning.

However, when I asked, Misha casually tilted her head, as if I had asked something strange.

"Hm?" Nothing happened.

"Has anything happened?" I thought you two were fighting...

"Why should we quarrel?" On the contrary, we have become closer. Isn't it, Erwena?"

" And Miss Carlstein...

"Miss Karlstein?" Just call me Sister.

"Yes, sister...

She was like a bully dragging an innocent student into an alley.

Something was clearly wrong, but as long as they kept their mouths shut, it seemed that it would be difficult to hear the answer I needed.

In due time, I will find out what happened.

I walked past the two of them and threw the window wide open. The dark clouds in the sky had already dissipated. The sun's rays glittered on the wet asphalt. Therefore, I gave the order to leave.

"The rain stopped. The two of you had better go back. I want to wash and rest a little.

For some reason, fatigue made itself felt.

***

Leaving her Uncle's room, Ervena found herself in a difficult position.

"Huh?" Are you going this way too?

"Yes, but what?"

"Then you go first." I'll leave a little later.

She was walking in the same direction as the beastman.

Fortunately, this woman didn't seem to want to go with her either.

"Then you go first." I'll go later.

— No, I don't. You'll go first.

It was the most severe headache. Leave later? How could she believe these words? It seemed that as soon as she left, this woman would return to his room. It was clear from her appearance that Mike had doubts about the same.

"Phew...

Ervena and Mike sighed at the same time.

"Then shall we go together?"

"Yes, it will be better that way.

On the way back, there was an awkward silence. No one was talking, and they just focused on walking. This was expected. Although they told Bjorn that nothing had happened, it wasn't.

"I don't know. Don't you already understand what I mean?

Hearing these words, Ervena felt as if a screw had been unscrewed in her head. Her heart was beating like crazy, and she couldn't take it anymore. Therefore, without realizing it, the words burst out.

— Ты драная кошка...!

For the first time in her life, she was scolding someone, and it wasn't enough. When she came to, her hand was touching the dagger on her belt. Then Ervena understood.

"You, are you unwell in the head?"

If it hadn't been for those words, she would have come to her senses only after swinging her dagger. The Beastman was strong. It was not just a supposition, but the truth. Elves were naturally sensitive and could sense the spiritual power of others.

She's double... no, maybe even three times as strong as I am.

The difference in spiritual force was huge, which meant that this woman had absorbed as many advanced essences. From her posture and energy, she could sense that Mike wasn't just an explorer who struggled with the abilities of his essences. The moment she realized this, Ervena felt dizzy.

Misha Karlštejn: This woman was an enemy, but she couldn't beat her in a duel. This meant that something valuable would be taken away from her, as on that occasion. Yes, it will be taken away from her.

Feelings, detached from her mind, raged inside her. A momentary memory imprinted on her brain paralyzed Ervena's thinking. Buried by emotion, her mouth moved on its own.

"Don't take it from me... You are welcome...

A pitiful plea, something she would never have said if she had been in her right mind, these words poured out one after another.

"What...?"

The beastman who had been staring at her with cold eyes opened her mouth, stunned.

Ervena imagined in her mind how ugly and grotesque she must have looked, but in that moment, she thought that if it protected something dear to her, she might do even worse. She really could have burst into tears and prayed on her knees if he hadn't arrived just in time.

*Rumble*

"Waaaaa!" Uncle...!

She shook her head, as if to drive away thoughts. It was a shameful memory that she didn't even want to think about.

For some reason, it was difficult to think rationally when it came to Uncle.

... I must have looked like a strange woman.

Blush with shame, Ervena looked at Misha. She was standing at a fork in the road.

"I go there, and where are you going?"

"Fortunately... me in the other direction.

"I see...

It was time to break the awkward silence, but they both stopped and stared at each other, unable to move their legs.

Mike was the first to speak.

"You... You won't come tomorrow, will you?"

"Yes, I'll come."

"Ha... how am I in general...

Mike clutched her forehead, as if she couldn't believe she was in such a situation.

It was the same with Ervena. As she ran there, all she thought about was seeing Uncle again and laughing.

"Anyway, I'm leaving." You go home too. I got it? Mike said.

"Uh...

"Huh?"

Ervena grabbed Misha as she was heading to another fork in the road. She had something to say, though she was very reluctant to say it.

— ... Thank you.

"For what...?"

"You didn't tell Uncle what happened before.

"Why did you try to fight me with your dagger?"

"That's right...

Ervena lowered her head. Mike let out a big sigh.

"Forget it. Let's promise.

"Do we promise?"

"You'll come even if I tell you not to come, right?" So let's keep what happened between us a secret from Bjorn. Well... You're probably just like me, but... I don't want him to worry about something like that.

— ... Ok.

"Then I'm leaving." You have to go home too, okay?

"Good.

Then Ervena parted with Misha and went to her inn. It was quite a long distance, but it didn't seem long, perhaps because her mind was preoccupied.

When she opened the door, Daria met her with an expression of concern.

"Ervena."

"Daria...

Ervena fell into her sister's arms.

"That barbarian... Have you met him?

— Yes. He was really alive.

"Wh-really...?" That's great.

She floundered in her sister's arms for a long time to console herself, then she made up her mind.

"Daria, I will become stronger.

"Do you want to become stronger...?"

— Yes. That's weird?

"No, I thought you wouldn't want to train anymore.

At these meaningful words, Ervena's sister tilted her head.

Why should she want to stop exercising? Well, when she found out that Uncle was alive, the time spent training in her room seemed pointless, but rather, Ervena felt a roaring desire, stronger than before.

"I have to defeat someone, so please help me."

If she didn't want something to be stolen from her in the end, she had to be the one stealing.