The next day, Misha woke me up early in the morning.

"Wake up, wake up!" How much are you going to sleep!?

The time was 6:30 in the morning. Even with the route to Commelbi, it was quite early.

"Let's eat today." I couldn't pack lunch because I woke up early.

"Then let's go to the 1st floor-...

"It doesn't taste good here!" Let's go somewhere to eat. And?

"I'm hungry...

"Come, I'll buy you something delicious." Ok?

I didn't even have time to have breakfast because of Misha's insistent requests and I was dragged away. Then, as if pursued by something, we got into the carriage. It wasn't until we arrived in the commercial area of Commelbi that we ate at a restaurant located a 30-minute walk from the public platform, which Misha explained was famous.

"Well, is it delicious?"

"Very tasty!"

I didn't know what they did with the stew, but it had a very memorable savory flavor. I was determined to remember this place and come back whenever I was around.

"You look pleased. Did you like it so much?

— Except for the cost of one dish.

"It's because you ate four plates, barbarian!"

After a late breakfast, we went to the armor shop and the general store, which we frequented, and got rid of all the loot.

3 million stones, right?

This was the amount raised from the sale of all the equipment and consumables of the trio we met on the 2nd floor, plus Jencia. It was not a small amount, but it did not seem large either.

If we were to sell Snakefang and Class 2 leather armor, the amount would be many times higher.

Well, we can sell that later.

After that, I entrusted the repair of the equipment to a blacksmith, which Hikurod told me about. I was worried about the cost of repairs because the shield and breastplate were badly dented in the battle with the Troll.

"In total, 300,000 stones.

However, the repair turned out to be cheaper than I expected. Well, it was probably easier to repair the dents than to melt the equipment.

— Do you also deal with leather?

"Yes, do you have anything to repair?"

"Oh, it's a little cramped in the chest area...

While we were there, Misha also gave the armor for repair.

Since it was leather, I wondered if there would be any problems with the alteration, but it worked out.

— I don't even need to add new material. I think I can just use an emollient on the tight parts to lengthen them a bit.

The cost of repairs was only about 50,000 stones. Maybe it's because I came here at Hikuroda's suggestion, but it seemed to be a place of very conscientious business.

– Come back in 3 days.

After leaving the smithy, we wandered around the neighborhood and bought expedition supplies for the next time. I restocked the Witch Lamp Potion, which was a consumable for fighting invisibility, and bought a few additional items that came to mind.

"I'll give you two flasks together for 2 million stones."

I bought 2 flasks of advanced potion from the general store I went to before. I didn't know that I would use up the last vial so quickly. It was a significant expense, but it was a little better because the two of us paid for it together.

"Fortunately, we did not have to touch the money in the joint account. Here are 325,000 stones.

I divided the remaining money with Misha. At this point, the schedule for today was over.

"Then I'll go!" Good night, Bjorn!

"Good night."

Returning to Ravigion at night, we parted after a simple meal.

Who is this?

When I returned home, I saw a silver-haired elf with her head bowed in front of my door.

"Ervena?"

"Oh, are you here?"

Ervena greeted me with a smile as soon as she saw me. Her eyes looked tired for some reason, so I couldn't help but ask.

— ... How long have you been waiting for me?

"Not for long. Did the two of you go somewhere?

"Oh, we had business in Commelbi.

"Oh... Got it.

"So what are you doing here?"

It was time to wash and go to bed, so I asked why she was there, but Ervena just didn't say anything, as if she was collecting her thoughts. She had a somewhat serious expression on her face, but Ervena, as usual, spoke in a lively voice.

"Uncle, I can't come as often as I used to. I've come to tell you about it.

"Hm?" And... Well, things have changed since then.

She was no longer a month-old novice researcher, although not even a year had passed. But that was another reason why she had to focus on development right now.

"Yes, I decided to start special training with my sister tomorrow. So, maybe once a week? I don't think I'll be able to come more often. I would like to, but... In this case, it will take a lot of time.

"A lot of time?"

— ... Nothing much.

Ervena didn't give a proper answer, and before I could ask, she smiled brightly and disappeared.

"In any case!" I'll be back next week, so see you there, Uncle!

"Oh, yes...

… What was that anxious feeling?

***

The next day at lunchtime, the whole team gathered in the bar.

After drinking the return drink, we took time to distribute the loot from the previous expedition.

"I think we can divide it at 550,000 stones per person. The by-products of the Sorcerer Frogs are selling for a much higher price than I thought.

"Haha, isn't it all thanks to Rothmiller's dissection?"

"Ahem, since I'm not very useful in battle, I should at least do that.

After Rothmiller's modest words, I calculated the income from this expedition:

400,000 stones obtained from the Chasm and from the 1st and 2nd floors,

320,000 gems after subtracting the cost of consumables from the money from the sale of equipment,

550,000 gems from the money for completing the request and by-products.

A total of 1.27 million stones.

Even though I spent a lot, I still earned a lot.

Be that as it may, on the 4th floor I earned much more than in the last 2 months. No, in fact, considering the essence that Mike had absorbed, the leather armor, and the Snake Fang, it was safe to say that we had made a crazy profit. I also had to get 5 million stones from Mr. Bear.

With this kind of dynamics, I will soon be able to obtain the 6th stage of the Spiritual Imprint.

I grinned and drank my beer. On our joint account, Misha and I still had 2 million stones. My personal fortune accumulated at the moment was about 2.5 million. For the past 2 months, I have been a little worried that my growth has stopped, but when I look at my bank balance, I felt a warmth in my heart.

"Bjorn!" Don't drink your first return drink alone! Hikurod reproached.

"Hm?"

"Let's all drink together!" We haven't even had a proper celebration yet, have we?

— ... Of course, do what you want.

"For defeating the Troll bastard and making the whole team come back alive!" Immediately! Drink it all!

After the toast was over, everyone drank the return drink and got rid of regrets about the previous expedition. Was it because we all got through another crisis together? The team leader, Hikurod, looked very happy. However, compared to last time, the party ended quite quickly.

"Uh... I must go. Today I have to go to my parents.

Misha was the first to leave, then Rotmiller.

"That's all I'm for today, too. I have business in the Guild.

Because of their plans, both only sipped their drinks for participation and then left. Rothmiller was not a talkative man anyway, but after Misha left, the noisy drinking subsided. I thought the dwarf would be upset if I left too, so I tried to stay and keep the party going.

To my surprise, Hikurod slipped out and sat down at the next table.

"Hahaha, I'm telling you!" That bastard troll is nothing special... L-Liar? Of course not. Do you see that barbarian over there? It's the Little Balkan, I don't know if you've heard...

Hikurod left his teammates behind and raised his glasses to the explorers he had never met.

I was about to leave too, when Dvalki grabbed me.

"Hey, how about we talk?"

"What?"

"Well, come to think of it, we've never had a quiet conversation together.

It was true. I talked to Rothmiller many times when everyone was disconnected from drinking, and Dvalki was always one of the sleepers.

Does he have anything to say to me?

I sat back down, exchanged glances from Dvalka, and that was the end of it.

Dvalki sipped his drink hesitantly, but he was not the first to speak.

Damn, I should have just left.

Despite the noisy environment, there was an awkward air around me. I just opened my mouth first, because I was curious about something.

"How is your body?"

"Oh, all right... To be honest, after the priest's treatment, I felt a little sick again, but now I am completely healed.

"That's good, then how about that?" I asked, tapping my forehead.

Dvalki tilted his head.

"It was probably the first time your body was folded in half. Do you think you can continue your journey in the labyrinth?

Broken explorers have been more common than you might think.

Sometimes the cruel memories left in the body were intensely imprinted in the mind, like scars.

"Oh, well...

Understanding the meaning of my question, Dvalki hesitated to answer. It didn't seem to be all he wanted.

"To be honest, I haven't been able to sleep properly since that day. I thought it was because I was in a maze, but it's the same in the city.

Dvalki let out a long, alcoholic sigh and admitted that his hands were shaking at the thought of entering the maze again.

"But don't worry. Isn't that what everyone goes through and eventually overcomes? I'll be fine until the next expedition.

Will he be able to overcome it?

Judging by his eyes, his words seemed sincere. But I had one question.

"Is there a reason to go this far?"

Most people overcame their trauma to continue working as researchers because there was no other way to live than that. In a city where they had to pay taxes to survive, they had no choice but to overcome it. But Dvalki, the mage, was different.

"You'd have plenty of work to do in town. Why do you want to continue to be a researcher?

Dvalki hesitated to my question, then answered after a sip of beer.

"This... Because it's fun.

This was a completely unexpected answer.

"Fun?"

— Obviously, at first it was for a different reason. Do you remember what I said when we first met?

"I remember. You said that you would become a great explorer and bring glory to the baron.

"In fact, I was lying. I just thought that if I became a famous explorer, my father... No, the late Baron will take an interest in me.

Dvalki was an illegitimate son in an aristocratic family. Like all illegitimate children, he felt a deep love and hatred for his blood relatives, conflicting feelings of hatred for them, but a desire to be loved by them.

"As you know, the baron is dead. And how did you see... My brother, who inherited the title, did not even know of my existence.

At first, he was broken. According to him, it seemed to him that he was going with the flow all day, having lost the purpose of his life in an instant. Poeticizing his feelings at the time, Dvalki looked me straight in the eye.

"But I was able to overcome it because there were four people around me that I could lean on.

"Oh... You will... Are you talking about us?

"Who else?!" At first, I didn't know what a comrade was. It seemed to me that this was something more than friends who could be trusted and relied on... family.

"Really?"

"It's true. After my mother's death, I felt every day that I was left alone in the world... I never felt this way when I was researching, laughing, and chatting with you.

Perhaps he also knew that it was embarrassing to say such a thing, because he ordered another beer and immediately emptied it.

"Thank you, Bjorn. Thanks to you guys, I enjoy every day. Therefore... although I went through a similar thing... I was able to overcome it.

— ... Got it.

"So don't worry too much.

"Alright, I won't worry about it anymore.

Soon I got rid of my anxiety. Whatever the motive, I won't have to worry about Dvalka's mental health.

"Huhu, if you look at this, you have a big heart, even if you don't seem like one.

"Hush, let's just have a drink."

Perhaps thanks to a sincere conversation, the rather awkward atmosphere disappeared. Dvalki, who was hesitating in front of me, was agitated and began to talk about this and that, and I also joined in and listened.

"Hey, Bjorn... I have a question for you.

— Speak.

"You and Miss Karlstein . . . Meet?

Instead of answering, I stared at Dvalki. His face, flushed with drunkenness, was full of nervousness and tension. That's when I realized something.

No wonder he asked to talk in private. So that was his goal.

***

— Brown Rothmiller. 34 years old, and you have been a researcher for 8 years.

As soon as he entered the office, a gaze was directed in his direction. Feeling humiliated, Rothmiller replied,

— ... Faithfully.

He was more curious than puzzled. He had been summoned to the Explorers Guild this morning, so he had arrived there on time, even leaving his teammates behind. When he followed the clerk, he found himself in this office. In the chair sat a man whose face Rothmiller was familiar with.

Neil Urbahns, head of the 7th District of the Explorers Guild. Why did such a person call me?

Questions filled his throat, but instead of acting rashly, he waited for the man's explanation to continue. You never know what misfortune may befall you if you make a mistake.

"Hmph, I like you. Especially that you're waiting for me to explain, instead of satisfying your curiosity.

"Then could you tell me about your dealings with me now?"

At his request, the district chief nodded with a satisfied smile and explained the reason why he had summoned him here. The more Rothmiller listened, the more ridiculous it looked.

"Are you saying that I should betray my teammate?"

"It's up to you. To be precise, I just need to correct this barbarian's mannerisms.

Rothmiller gritted his teeth. He was one of the 13 district governors in that city, whose mere irritation could put the researcher at a great disadvantage. That is why it took him so much courage.

"This proposal... I'll pretend I didn't hear him.

He spat out words of refusal with a clenched fist.

The head of the district, intrigued by this, smiled.

"If we're done talking, I'll leave."

Rothmiller turned hastily toward the door until fear consumed him.

"It's nice that you appreciate your comrade. This is a wonderful quality. But... How long do you think you will be comrades?"

Rothmiller stopped at the following words.

"I've seen your notes. How terribly unfair. It took you 8 years to reach rank 7. On the other hand, hadn't a certain barbarian become a rank 6 in half a year?

"Such feelings... I have never experienced them.

"Well, since that's what you say. But isn't it time for you to accept reality? Your companions will continue to rise. They are not ordinary people like you.

Rothmiller pursed his lips at these harsh words. However, he could not object. Not because he feared the authority of this man; He knew perfectly well that what he said was true.

"How long do you think you'll be with them?" 3 months? 4? Well, maybe even longer, if they feel sorry for you.

Rothmiller listened no further and opened the door.

"I believe you'll make a wise decision.

A friendly smile played on the lips of the head of the district, visible through the crack in the closed door.