Chapter 17 - Raphdonia (1)

I slowly open my eyes. Then I close them again and tell myself,

'Get up and do what needs doing.'

Thinking of all the tasks awaiting me in the city starts to energize my still-groggy body.

Right. Let's do this.

First, I checked the time.

[21:18.]

Since I'd left the Labyrinth at noon, subtracting the time spent doing everything else meant I'd slept for roughly four hours.

Was it because I'd slept in a bed? I felt incredibly refreshed for how little sleep I'd gotten.

GRRR.

I still had some of the bread I'd eaten in the Labyrinth, but I decided to go out for a meal. Money was practically life itself in this world, but... surely I could afford that much luxury.

"..."

Despite all the washing I'd done earlier, I somehow still smelled, so I gave myself another quick wash before leaving the inn.

As I trudged through the nighttime streets, quieter than they'd been during the day, I felt a little constricted.

Physically, not mentally.

The beige shirt I was wearing had a medieval-style plunging neckline and lace-like trim at the neck and sleeves. Instead of buttons, the deep V-neck had laces that crossed and tightened like shoelaces...

But even with them completely undone, it was too small.

Now I understood why barbarians went around shirtless. They couldn't find clothes that fit. What a tragic race.

'... But where am I supposed to go?'

My first priority was to meet Erwin at our agreed location. Unfortunately, I didn't know where the Black Whale Tavern was.

I knew for certain it was somewhere south of the Dimensional Plaza, where the Labyrinth portal opened, but the city in the game had been scaled down tens of thousands of times. My knowledge was no help with things like this.

In the end, I asked passersby for help.

"The Black Whale Tavern? Was there a place like that?"

"Never heard of it."

Most people had never even heard of it, but one middle-aged man with graying hair was different.

"The Black Whale Tavern, eh? Haven't heard that name in ages. You look young. How do you know about it? It must have disappeared more than ten years ago."

I appreciated being told I looked young, but the rest wasn't nearly as welcome.

"... Disappeared?"

"Yes. It had been in the family for generations, but the son got hooked on gambling, and it changed hands. They changed the name, too."

That lent credibility to a theory I'd been nursing since the Labyrinth.

Was the world of the game I'd played really set in this world's past?

That would explain things like the 'evil spirits' and the enmity between barbarians and elves. I'd have to visit a library once daylight came.

"Thank you. That was a great help."

"Hoho, I don't think I've ever met such a polite barbarian in all my life."

I parted ways with the local man and walked through the nighttime streets. Apparently, only the name had changed and the place was still operating as a tavern, so I figured I'd try going there.

Hopefully, Erwin had found her way there, too.

'Python Puth.'

When I reached my destination, I paused. I could read it aloud, but I didn't know what it meant. Was it some ancient language in this world?

At some point, I'd need to investigate the linguistic knowledge that had simply appeared in my head.

"Bwahahahaha!"

"Take it outside if you're going to fight, you bastards!"

The tavern looked exactly as I'd imagined when I stepped inside. Drunks, explorers, music, clutter, tobacco smoke, and even the occasional nonhuman.

Scanning the room from the entrance, I spotted the back of a familiar silver-haired head in a corner. Even the ears sticking out a little were pointed.

Delighted, I was about to head over when—

BUMP.

Some drunken little shit bumped my shoulder and went down the aisle ahead of me.

Well, that alone wouldn't have been a problem...

"You elf ladies look lonely. How about a drink with a guy like me?"

He went over to Erwin and delivered that tired old line.

Hmm. Come to think of it, even that wasn't much of a problem.

Except...

"Is it because this tavern is a sewer? Nothing but worthless little rats crawling in."

E-Erwin...?

When did you turn into this?

"... What? A r-rat?"

The little shit trying to hit on her looked dumbfounded by that biting insult.

I probably looked much the same.

"Get lost, unless you want a hole in your forehead."

Considering that particular fondness for the spot between the eyes, I didn't think I'd mistaken her for someone else...

What the hell?

I needed to find out, fast. Though first, I'd have to get rid of this guy.

"W-what do you want?!"

When I walked over and grabbed his shoulder, the pest whipped his head around...

"Uh, uh..."

And immediately lowered his eyes.

"Didn't you hear her tell you to get lost?"

"... Yes, sir."

"Then why are you still here?"

Instead of answering, the man carefully squeezed past me and returned to his seat without so much as a stagger.

That was when I heard it.

"M-Mister!"

That familiar way of speaking.

But I wasn't surprised. After all, I'd never believed the rumor that Erwin had a split personality.

... Really.

That man had addressed them as 'elf ladies,' hadn't he?

"So you're that barbarian?"

There were actually two people sitting at the table, though the pillar had hidden the other one in that corner.

"Yes, I'm probably that barbarian. And who are you?"

"Her older sister."

So she really was her sister. No wonder their profiles looked exactly alike.

"Is 'her older sister' your name?"

"... Idiot. Call me Tersia."

Erwin's surname was Tersia. Apparently, her sister had no intention of telling me her first name.

"Very well. Tersia, may I sit down now?"

"Suit yourself."

I sat without hesitation and studied Tersia.

For starters, they didn't seem to be twins. She looked three or four years older, and from the front, her features were quite different.

Perhaps it was the shape of her eyes, but she had a fierce air about her.

Actually, maybe it wasn't just her eyes.

"Barbarian."

"I am Bjorn, son of Jandel."

"Whatever. Why exactly did you ask this child to meet you in a tavern like this?"

"Um, Sis...?"

"Stay out of this."

Sensing the tension, Erwin tried to mediate, only for her sister to shut her down.

Hmm. This was getting interesting.

Leaving aside why Erwin had brought her sister, I had a feeling her disapproval wasn't simply because I was a barbarian.

That was my gut feeling, anyway. I'd have to get to the bottom of that first.

"Tersia, why did you want to see me, then?"

"Erwin stayed out last night. When I questioned her, she said she'd spent the entire night waiting for someone at a tavern. I wanted to see what sort of bastard had stood my sister up."

Wait. That didn't make sense.

"What do you mean, last night?"

"Playing dumb?"

Judging by her expression, she wasn't joking.

"... Erwin, how many hours has it been since we left the Labyrinth?"

"Oh, um... About thirty hours!"

Holy shit. I'd slept for over a whole day, not just four hours.

No wonder I felt so fucking refreshed.

"I apologize. I was asleep and didn't realize a day had passed."

Tersia looked surprised by my ready apology.

For some reason, that saddened me. She didn't seem to question the fact that I'd done nothing but sleep for over a day.

"I never expected a barbarian to be punctual anyway."

I had no comeback.

"So why did you ask Erwin to come here?"

Well, I could have given her a long list of reasons...

But I drew a firm line.

"I'm under no obligation to tell you. If you're that curious, ask Erwin later."

Translated literally, that meant mind your own business and fuck off. Fortunately, Tersia seemed to understand; the corners of her mouth twisted upward.

"How amusing. From a beginner who's barely set foot in the Labyrinth."

"What does being a beginner have to do with it? Erwin is an explorer. Unless you intend to look after her for the rest of her life, you'd do well to drop that attitude."

"How barbaric."

"Um, Sis? Mister...?"

As our staring contest began, Erwin alone fidgeted anxiously, stamping her feet.

Then Tersia placed a pouch on the table.

"350,000 Stone."

"... Why are you giving me this?"

"Payment for the Essence Erwin absorbed."

Oh, so she wanted me to take the money and disappear.

It was a scenario I'd seen plenty of times in morning soap operas, which made it feel rather strange.

"Why aren't you taking it? Did you have ulterior motives after all?"

That wasn't it. If I received payment in money, I had no intention of asking Erwin for a 'promise' in exchange for the Essence.

But I hadn't heard what Erwin wanted yet.

"Do you agree with her?"

"Well..."

Erwin trailed off. Was she that afraid of her sister?

I'd planned to discuss this when we were alone, but since things had come to this, I decided to say it now.

"The promise I wanted was for you to help me until I obtained the Essence I want."

"Huh? That's all?"

"Yes. I'd like to keep working as a team afterward, if possible, but that's a separate matter. No promise needed. And we'd split everything fifty-fifty from now on."

In short, I was asking her to form a two-person party.

What would Erwin say?

It didn't take long to find out.

"I'm sorry."

The answer was no.

As Erwin hung her head, her sister explained why on her behalf.

"Erwin will be entering the Labyrinth with me from now on."

"Only now?"

"Tradition required her to complete her first expedition alone. I never intended to leave her on her own after that."

... I see.

She'd had someone lined up to carry her the moment she finished the tutorial.

Goddamn family connections.

"If you understand, take the pouch."

I decided to give up on recruiting Erwin. We worked well together, but there was no reason I absolutely had to have her.

Still, we'd have to settle the bill properly.

"350,000 Stone is half the average market price of the Essence, I assume?"

"Of course. You obtained it together."

In my judgment as a veteran player, 700,000 Stone was quite a good price.

But the ratio was wrong.

"Then you're 280,000 Stone short. Our agreed split was nine to one."

"Very well."

Tersia readily produced another pouch.

Suspicious, I checked it. It contained exactly 280,000 Stone.

Fuck. Had she just tried to take me for a sucker?

If I hadn't spoken up, I definitely would've walked away with only 350,000 Stone.

These sneaky pointy-eared bastards...

Now I understood why barbarians hated elves so much.

"If we're finished, would you give us some space? I have things to discuss with Erwin."

"Is there really anything left to discuss?"

Just as another battle of wills was about to begin, Erwin intervened.

"Sis, thank you for worrying about me and coming all this way with me, but I think you can go now."

"Erwin?"

"I need to say goodbye to Mister, too... Okay?"

"... I suppose you're not a child anymore."

Tersia let out a deep sigh, clearly not meaning what she'd said, then looked at me.

"Barbarian, swear you won't sleep with Erwin. Then I'll leave immediately."

Huh? Had I misheard?

"S-Sis?!"

Hmm. Apparently, I'd heard her correctly.

Don't sleep with her...

Did that mean every other kind of touching was allowed?

"I swear it on my honor as a warrior."

"M-Mister?"

"Then we're done."

At last, Tersia rose from her seat.

And...

"Oh, I almost forgot. Barbarian, thank you for saving Erwin."

With that parting remark, she coolly walked out of the tavern.

* * *

JINGLE, JINGLE.

At the sound of the bell above the door, Erwin slumped over the table.

"Aah! What do I do? I've never talked back to her like that before... Do you think she's angry?"

"I doubt it."

"How would you know, Mister?"

Because she glanced at you and grinned before she left. You couldn't see it, though.

... Wait. Why ask if she was going to react like that?

Erwin vigorously scratched her head a few times before pulling herself together.

"Oh, right! I'm sorry. Thank you for the offer, but my sister and I agreed a long time ago that we'd go together..."

"There's no need to apologize."

If a high-level elf offered to power-level me, I wouldn't stick with a low-level barbarian and suffer through hell out of loyalty, either.

"Um, please take this first."

Erwin took out a small pouch and placed it on the table.

"It's exactly 63,000 Stone."

That would be the money from the crossbow and the magic crystals the leader had held. I had no way of knowing how much they'd actually been worth, but I didn't question it.

There was no point anyway.

So how much did I owe her from a nine-to-one split?

"Oh, I already took my share, so you don't need to give me anything."

Right, of course she had.

She really was thorough about these things.

"I left their backpacks at my lodgings for now. There's quite a lot of stuff... You should probably look through it yourself tomorrow."

"All right."

Maybe it was because we'd spent several days together, but she was very good at figuring out what I wanted to know. Without my saying a word, the loot division had been settled in no time.

When we moved on to the next matter, however, Erwin spoke much more cautiously.

"Then... how should I repay you?"

"Repay me?"

"I told you. I'd make sure to repay your kindness."

Oh, she had said that.

"My kindness..."

As I trailed off, Erwin gulped.

... Was that why her sister had made such a fucking fuss about that oath before leaving?

Because she thought I'd demand something indecent in return?

"Stop teasing me and tell me already."

She'd become much more perceptive. She even recognized right away when I was teasing her.

"Nothing comes to mind right now. I'm going to order something first. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"I'm not hungry..."

"Then I'll just order for myself."

As I studied the menu on the wall, Erwin spoke as though she'd remembered something.

"Oh, drinks, then! Please order drinks!"

"Drinks?"

"Yes. I deliberately didn't have a single sip yesterday. I wanted to have my first return drink with you, Mister! Hehe."

Erwin beamed at me, looking as though she wanted praise.

A return drink...

Come to think of it, that was a custom here. It wasn't quite like having a can of beer after work, though.

For nonhumans who grew up entirely within their sanctuaries until adulthood, their 'first return drink' held more significance than one might expect.

Hmm. What was I supposed to say in a situation like this?

"... That's very fortunate."

"You're supposed to say thank you!"

"Thank you?"

"Don't mention it! We're companions who've been through thick and thin in the Labyrinth. Of course we should have our first return drink together."

What exactly did she want from me?

As I puzzled over that, Erwin scratched her cheek.

"Of course, it won't be your first return drink, Mister..."

"What do you mean? This is my first return drink, too."

"Whaaat?!"

Why was she surprised?

"I'm sure I told you I was twenty, too."

"... That wasn't a joke?"

No wonder she'd kept calling me Mister even after I told her.

"That was my first time in the Labyrinth."

"I-I see..."

After a few cautious glances at me, Erwin went to a server and placed the order herself.

The food arrived about twenty minutes later.

"Mister, thank you for all your hard work."

So she was just going to keep calling me Mister.

Fine, suit yourself. It wasn't as though we'd be seeing each other for much longer anyway.

"... You worked hard, too."

We ate and drank, chatting about this and that. In the Labyrinth, we'd mostly spoken only when necessary, so this was our first personal conversation.

But we couldn't keep this up forever.

"Mister, you're wearing a shirt today!"

Yes, and you're wearing a skirt.

We'd had plenty of that sort of conversation. Enough.

"Erwin, you said you'd repay my kindness, didn't you?"

"Huh? Yes, I did?"

"Then use the Ability you used back then, right here."

Erwin tilted her head. She seemed to be wondering whether that could really count as repayment...

But it was important to me.

How did Essences in reality differ from those in the game, and how were they the same?

I needed to find out in advance. I might have to revise my build plan.

"But why do you suddenly want me to use my Ability?"