Auril Gevis. A man who lived at least 150 years ago. When I once asked Raven to determine the year the [Complete Book of Rifts] was written, she pointed to that exact time, so it was even more surprising.

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… Is this bastard alive?

I thought he was dead. Of course, now I don't know why I thought so.

He was the creator of Dungeon & Stone, and most likely the culprit, who sent a lot of players into this world, including me.

This place is literally a fantasy world.

Of course, there was a chance that he was alive. For example, even the same dragons lived for hundreds of years.

*Tudum*

When I realized this, my heart began to beat faster. It was a very different emotion than when I first heard the name—a vibration that contained anticipation rather than shock.

*Tudum*

If this son of a bitch is really alive and if we can find him, then perhaps there would be a way to return to his old world. For the first time, a vague clue to "return" appeared in front of me.

... Calm down.

I stifled my heartbeat and regained my composure. You can indulge in fantasies and take wishful thinking for reality later, before going to bed. Right now, I needed to focus on that.

"Barbarian, you are definitely unique. Amelia looked at me and said something ambiguous. For a moment it seemed to me that she saw the lie in my justification, but...

"Needless to say, you're impudent?" To think that you can joke in front of me after those events... Aren't you afraid of me?

Now I realized that she was just fascinated by this situation. Or maybe she'd never met someone like me in her life, so it seemed a little awkward. The main thing is that everything worked out.

That's why people have to live like crazy all the time. Then, no matter what you do, no one will think it's weird.

"What are you talking about, human woman?" I am Bjorn, son of Yandel, not a barbarian.

"Okay, Bjorn Yandel," Amelia grinned. For me, it was a sign that I could relax.

In this sense, my next question was:

"Is Auril Gevis a man or a woman?"

"A man.

"Can he disguise himself as a woman?"

— I don't think so. Judging by the records, he was a man with a strong male superiority complex.

"Then he wouldn't do anything like that, regardless of his abilities. Then what about the baby? Will he be able to disguise himself?

— ... He wouldn't turn himself too small.

"On what grounds?"

"Because this man values his honor.

"I see," I nodded and asked, "But why are you looking for him?"

This was the follow-up question after the easy questions to which she had no choice but to answer. I read about it somewhere in a book.

Allegedly, asking questions in this sequence increased the chances of getting an answer, although it was unclear whether it worked in practice. Still, there was no reason not to give it a try.

And, indeed, the answer was not long in coming.

— ... It's personal.

Personal.

Modern people often use this excuse to draw a line when they don't want to respond or want to deny the connection. This was also used to brush off the answer. But since Amelia was saying it, it was difficult to say.

"It's none of your business." Why do I have to answer?"

She could refuse to answer such questions, but she never lied or tried to hide anything.

So that's why? Perhaps this was not Noark's order, but a truly personal matter.

However, it doesn't matter now.

If Auril Gevis is really in Bifron, I must find him. I had a whole mountain of questions that I wanted to ask.

***

After the conversation, Amelia said that she would go to the city and return at night. Apparently, she had business there during the day. At first, it seemed so natural that I involuntarily nodded, but then...

"Wait a minute, how are you going to get to the city?" Is there a way to avoid the surveillance of the guards?

"There's a secret passage under the sewers.

I would regret if I left this question. A secret passage leading to the city!

"Could you show me this move?"

"Hmmm.

"What are you thinking about?" It's like I'm asking you to do something you can't do.

— ... All right, I'll show you.

When I casually reminded her that I was currently helping her find Auril Gevis, she readily informed me of the passage. She seemed relieved. Does this mean that her debt has now been paid?

Thanks to this, I learned something useful.

I had a pass to Bifron that I could use whenever I wanted. Of course, I had no intention of using it during my exile. I knew I was standing out in the crowd. If I got caught, I'd be in trouble.

The knight who brought me here even warned me. He said I could do whatever I wanted except escape.

"Then lead."

"Vesti?"

"Didn't you say you'd leave and come back late tonight?"

"Yes, I did...

To find out where the secret passage was, Amelia and I went down under the sewers and said goodbye. Then I looked at my watch and realized that 3 hours had already passed since the order to assemble.

And so, asking for directions on the way, I headed to the meeting point, the Plaza de la Dimension, which was once full of explorers.

"Hey, do you know anything why the boss suddenly called everyone together?" And what are these bastards from the Western Alliance doing here?

"I'm not 'hey.'"

—…?

"I'm your boss.

"What does that mean-...

"Reverse conversation is prohibited.

I squeezed through the crowd to the center.

Along the way, members of the Western Alliance recognized me and greeted me.

"Salute!"

Yes, this is what you need.

"What the...?"

The members of the Western Alliance knelt in front of me, and the Eastern ones stood with a puzzled expression on their faces. Still, they were smart enough to make room to make it easier to get to the center.

"Boss, the scene is there.

When I got to the center, I went to the podium with the help of Whiner. Apparently, he had prepared it in advance, thinking that I might need it.

And he knows his business well.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to take him outside and use him as a butler.

Now that there is a secret passage, it would be wasteful to take it only here. Although, if the guards catch me, it won't end with a fine.

Thinking about it, I was about to get on the podium.

*Crunch*

The staircase, made of wooden planks, was torn. These thin boards could not withstand the weight of me and my equipment. Unable to hide my devastation, I asked:

"Whiner, how did it happen?"

"I'm sorry.

An apology was made immediately, without a single excuse. It improved my mood a bit, but the creator of this catwalk must hate barbarians. Otherwise, he would have designed this staircase so that it could support one of them.

"This podium is dangerous.

"Yes, boss. I'll burn it right away.

The whiner brought a torch and lit the podium. When he poured a liquid on it, which I thought was oil, the flames shot up and instantly engulfed the three-tiered podium. Now it looked like we were building a fire.

*Whoosh! Crackle!*

My heart warmed, as did the heat of the fire. Then there was no one next to me, and now? I had more than a thousand subordinates.

"Then what are you going to do?"

"The inauguration ceremony will continue.

- The inauguration ceremony... Yes, I understand. That's why you've gathered everyone...

"Isn't that obvious?"

"I'm sorry.

As a sign of forgiveness, I patted Whiner on the shoulder and used [Jump]. My goal was the roof of a nearby four-story building.

*Kwaaaang!*

A crack formed on the roof, but, fortunately, it did not break. For some reason, I felt lucky. If I had fallen under the roof after such a steep jump, it would have been too shameful.

That's why a position makes a person.

I tried to maintain my dignity without even realizing it.

"Ahem...

In any case, when I headed for the railing, I had an impressive view of the crowd in the square. So, it's time to start the inauguration ceremony.

'Behellaaa I began.

"Behella!" The members of the Western Alliance immediately shouted in response. The Easterners only blinked in bewilderment, as if wondering what kind of abnormal sight this was.

I clicked my tongue.

"Click."

I still had a lot to teach them.

***

After the inauguration ceremony, at which the members of the organization captured the face of the new boss, was over, I called Whiner and Slow-witted to give orders.

"Check the backs of everyone in Bifron. And bring all the tattooed ones to me.

Of course, women and children under 14 years of age who did not yet have documents were excluded from this number. On the first day, 37 suspects were dragged to me.

But...

"It's not a tattoo.

When Amelia returned in the evening, she checked on each of them and shook her head.

Yes, it can't be that easy.

To increase efficiency, I scolded the deputy leaders of the Bechel Alliance, Whiner and Slow-witted, and on the 2nd and 3rd days, many more suspects were caught. Of course, none of them were the ones we were looking for.

While the quantity increased, the quality decreased.

"It's a birthmark, not a tattoo.

— That's right. How did it happen?

"I'll fix it."

Simply put, these guys scolded their subordinates in order to increase the efficiency of work.

Fortunately, it worked, because from the next day, the tattoos began to look more like tattoos.

Day 4, Day 5...

Two more days passed in this way.

And again, little worked. To think that Auril Gavis could be found in such a simple and illiterate way was simply ridiculous.

But what to do?

An attempt is not torture. It doesn't seem like there's a better way.

Looking for a needle in a haystack, if that needle would lead me home, was worth a try. And I continued my search. Of course, I've changed the method a bit. Not much, just added "reward".

"Everyone who does not fulfill their daily norm will receive psychological education that night.

You may ask how this can be considered a reward, but happiness is always relative.

In other words, if you are better off than everyone else, then this is a reward in itself. Do you think primitive people weren't happy just because they ate raw meat and slept naked in caves?

Day 6, Day 7, Day 8...

Another 3 days passed to no avail. However, Auril Gavis still hadn't appeared, and I, too, had begun to lose hope.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, as that was the first clue to my return, but I had another real reason I decided to help, and I decided to focus on it: none other than Amelia Rainvales. What kind of girl was she?

Using Auril Gevis as a reason, I met with her every day and gathered information. Surprisingly, she answered my questions well, although she limited herself to insignificant information.

"I don't eat food that contains wheat. For some reason, it makes my skin itch.

The fact that she was allergic to wheat, or that her hobby was reading, I learned without difficulty, but she avoided questions like: who is this barbarian to whom she is indebted.

"It's none of your business.

"But I'm curious. For a woman like you, he must be a great warrior! Tell me what kind of person he was!

— ... If I had to describe him, he would be a bit like you.

Although she added an uncharacteristic remark, it wasn't meaningful information. After all, we were both barbarians. Of course, there was a resemblance. In general, after such casual chatter, she relaxed her vigilance a little.

"Why are you looting?" To be honest, it doesn't suit you at all.

"Isn't it coming?" Instead of getting angry at the question, which could have been a little delicate, Amelia asked the question.

I had no difficulty in producing the phrases I had prepared.

"Since then, I've met many marauders besides you. After that, I became more confident. You're not one to kill people for money.

— ... Amusingly. What do you know about me?

"Nothing. But I know that there are many other ways for a person of your caliber to make money that don't involve looting.

—…

Amelia was silent for a moment, but then briefly explained her circumstances.

— ... I don't usually do that.

"And what about then?"

"Those guys... have committed a sin that deserves death.

— That is, it was a personal enmity?

— Yes.

As if remembering distant memories, Amelia stared into the void. I was curious to find out what was behind it, but I couldn't dig that far. Amelia came to her senses.

"Why am I telling you that at all?"

"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Anyway, in a few days we will go in different directions. There are things that can only be told to strangers.

— There are things that can only be told to strangers...

She thought about these words, which seemed to have made an impression on her, then smirked and stood up.

"It's too late. I have to go.

"Will you come tomorrow at the same time?"

— Maybe.

Amelia disappeared before my eyes, as without a trace as she had appeared. Is this really all for today? I went out onto the terrace to refresh my thoughts a little. The night panorama of Bifron was completely different from the rest of the city: here the streets and buildings were plunged into darkness without a single light.

There were only a few days left.

I sat down on a rocking chair on the terrace, peering into the darkness and collecting my thoughts. I didn't know how much time had passed. After checking the time on my watch, I went to the bedroom.

[23:57]

It was time to go to bed.

However, it will be a long time before I can fall asleep.

[Your soul has resonated and is attracted to a certain world].

I hope everyone will be online today.