Chapter 232 - New Age (2)

A very, very, very big reward from the royal family.

I hadn't heard the details yet, but my mouth was already watering. Experience told me, however, that this was when things were most dangerous. Wasn't it an unspoken rule of the world that a gift had to be repaid someday?

I needed to check whether this was safe to swallow.

"What exactly is the reward? And what do I have to do?"

Kyle kindly answered my questions one by one. The specifics of the reward hadn't been decided yet. Besides, I wasn't the only one receiving one. Apparently, everyone who survived that day would be rewarded.

Something about inviting us to the royal castle soon for a consolation banquet?

"What I can say for certain is that there will be an evaluation of merits, and yours will receive the highest praise."

"I see. Any guesses as to what I'll get?"

"I do have a few..."

Kyle trailed off, then listed the possible rewards, asking me to bear in mind that these were only his personal opinions.

"The first is a title."

A noble title.

"Of course, the chances of receiving an actual title are very slim. Even if you do, it likely won't be hereditary. Nor will it come with a fief."

I wasn't getting my hopes up either. That was how nobility worked in this world. You couldn't become a noble just by distinguishing yourself once or twice.

Hmm, if I had to guess, at best I'd probably just get permission to enter the imperial capital.

"The second is an Essence. The royal family has even agreed to open the Golden Soul Vault, so you can afford to be hopeful."

The Golden Soul Vault was the royal treasury that held Essences as high as rank three.

"And the third?"

"Equipment."

"The most conventional choice."

The third possible reward was equipment made from high-tier materials or a Numbered item. The fourth was simply money.

"Apart from titles, they'll most likely distribute the rest according to each person's merits."

I more or less understood. Those who'd contributed little would be handed some money, and that would be that. Those who'd distinguished themselves would get equipment or an Essence around rank five.

'Up to a rank-three Essence, depending on merit...'

Now my mouth was watering even more.

Rank-three Essences were high-tier Essences that you normally couldn't farm until the seventh or eighth floor. And I'd even get to pick the one I wanted?

My growth had stalled for a while, but this was sure to give it a massive boost.

However...

"So what does the royal family want from me? You still haven't told me that."

I hadn't heard the most important piece of information: what I had to give in return for this gift.

Before long, the royal family would surely try to regain the people's trust by fucking Noark up. If they wanted me to enlist and fight in that battle, refusing was the right choice, however tempting the reward might be.

"Nothing particularly substantial. All you need to do is show that you're friendly toward the royal family during the evaluation of merits. They'll handle the rest."

"... That's both an easy and a difficult request."

Kyle smiled bitterly at my answer.

"As I thought, you don't have a very favorable view of the royal family."

I answered with silence.

"..."

And really, how could I view them favorably? They hadn't even tried to look for another solution. They'd taken the easy way out, only to end up fucking dead.

"Still, I hope you'll understand that not everything that happened that day reflected the royal family's wishes. The commanders of the royal knight orders have different values. I'm certain things would have turned out differently had another commander been there."

Kyle spoke in their defense, but I couldn't shake my unease. Perhaps it was a sense of responsibility. It felt like I was betraying those I'd fought alongside after the royal family abandoned us.

Like I was becoming a collaborator under colonial occupation.

I cautiously asked a question.

"... What do you think of the royal family?"

It was a question that could easily be deemed disrespectful. Kyle stiffened in surprise, then gave a small chuckle and answered.

"To be honest, my view of them isn't entirely favorable either."

It didn't seem like he was merely telling me what I wanted to hear. He wasn't that sort of man to begin with.

Still, I hadn't expected a rank-three military mage to say something like that, even in private...

"But the royal family is necessary to keep this world going. Though I suppose that's hardly my place to say, having turned my back on the Magic Tower and joined the military for my own selfish ends."

"Selfish ends?"

"Surely you've already worked it out. The relationship between me and that old geezer, the Scholar of Destruction."

Well, yes, I had, but...

"May I ask for more details?"

"He murdered my master. One day, he killed the man he'd been conducting research with, and eventually completed that forbidden magic."

"So you joined the military for revenge?"

"Yes. When I heard he'd taken refuge with Orculus, everything went dark before my eyes. There was nothing I could do alone."

In his youth, Kyle had decided he needed the military and the royal family's help to get revenge. So he'd entered their service, reasoning that the enemy of his enemy was an ally.

"So don't make this harder on yourself than it has to be. What does it matter if you dislike them? If there's something you can use, the rational thing is to use it."

Kyle's advice was absolutely right. Realistically, what would I gain by making an enemy of the royal family? The same went for the other survivors who resented them.

After everything we'd suffered, we ought to get something out of it.

"You look a little better now."

"Thanks to you."

"It's nearly time for my next appointment. I'd best be going."

"Thanks for coming. You'll have to see yourself out, with me like this."

"Haha! Were you actually planning to see me to the door? Never mind that. Get some rest. You'll be busy soon."

"Busy?"

Kyle turned back from the doorway at my question. Then...

"You'll find out soon."

He left with a knowing smile.

* * *

「The character's Fame has increased by +10.」

「The character's Fame has increased by +10.」

「The character's Fame has increased by +10.」

「The character's Fame has increased by +10...」

「...」

「...」

* * *

The day after Kyle left, I had visitors: Raven and Mister Bear.

"If everyone's had enough rest, let's divide the loot."

"Shouldn't you ask how I'm feeling first?"

"You look perfectly fine to me. Besides, you're the one who put your body through all that reckless abuse. Do we have to worry about you on top of everything else?"

Uh, was that how it worked...?

As the tank, I couldn't help feeling a little hurt, but her next words swept that away.

"So please, just stop getting hurt."

She tossed the words out brusquely, then continued, apparently embarrassed by what she'd just said.

"What did Miss Karlstein ever do to deserve this? It seems like she always has to look after you all by herself."

"Huh, me? I don't mind, nyah... Though, um, I'd prefer it if he didn't get hurt, nyah..."

"You're too nice for your own good, Miss Karlstein. Leave that man to his own devices and he'll never die of old age."

"... Enough. Let's get down to business. Dividing the loot? Did you sell all the equipment?"

"Yes. I was dead tired, but I forced myself to push through and sell it, so you'd better be grateful."

Apparently, Raven had sold the loot on our very first day back in the city. Instead of going home to rest after the questioning, she'd gone straight to selling it.

Her reason for pushing herself to sell it so quickly was simple.

"Obviously, the sooner I sold it, the better the price I'd get."

The explorer population had suffered enormous losses. With demand falling, equipment prices were obviously going to drop. Moreover, equipment made up 99 percent of the loot the survivors had brought back, so apparently there would be a glut of supply.

"Thanks. I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"... If you could think that far ahead under those circumstances, you'd be superhuman, not a barbarian, Mr. Jandel."

She could've just said, "You're welcome."

"Aruru! What are you talking about?! Bjorn is a Super Barbarian!!"

What was she on about now?

Was it because this expedition had been so grim? I just couldn't get used to this ordinary, everyday racket.

"Let's all sit down, then."

Before the preamble could drag on any longer, I brought things to order and had my companions sit on the sofa. Then we began dividing the loot.

It didn't take long, thanks to Raven having everything neatly organized. All we had to do was listen to the breakdown and receive our money.

The division was over in no time, and as we passed the time chatting, Mister Bear brought up a new topic.

"Oh, by the way, since you've been stuck at home, I don't know if you've heard. Jandel, you've got a new epithet."

"Oh, really?!"

Aynar looked positively excited, and Misha and even Raven looked curious. If Raven hadn't heard either, it probably wasn't widely known yet.

As a tavern owner, he evidently picked up this sort of news quickly.

'A new epithet...'

Did that mean I could finally leave Little Valcan behind?

"What is it? Hurry up and tell us, nyah."

"Heh heh. What do you think it is?"

Mister Bear held off on answering, as though enjoying the attention. My companions offered all sorts of guesses before he finally asked me as well.

"And you, Jandel? Any ideas?"

"Who knows? I just hope it's not Big Valcan."

Apparently a little disappointed by my reaction, Mister Bear smacked his lips before revealing my new epithet.

"TITAN."

"Huh?"

"TITAN. That's your new epithet."

Hmm, simpler than I'd expected. So now I was Bjorn, son of Giant Jandel? As I chuckled at that silly thought, Misha offered her opinion.

"It suits you, nyah. It also represents [Gigantification], one of your Essences, nyah."

"Indeed. The moment I heard it, I thought it was perfect. Oh! But why did you get that other epithet before? Did you not have that Essence then?"

Mister Bear's pleased smile gave way to curiosity. Raven answered him.

"No, I heard he had it then too. In fact, didn't he grow much bigger than he does now? Right?"

I nodded.

Back then, I'd used the Vampire skill [Owner of Blood] to borrow [Corrupt One] from Misha's brother, making me one and a half times as big as I was now.

Yet the epithet I'd ended up with was Little Valcan.

"Hmm, you were bigger? Then why was that?"

Mister Bear tilted his head, unable to make sense of it. Once again, Raven supplied the answer.

"Somehow... I think I understand."

"Huh? You do?"

"Yes. Back then... I'm sure your back simply didn't look as big to people as it does now, Mr. Jandel."

My face heated up just listening to her. Especially because everyone was taking it so seriously and nodding along.

"His body got smaller, but he looked bigger... Yes, that could explain it."

"Yeah, I think I know what you mean, nyah."

"Bjorn is a great TITAN!! One day, he'll surely leave the biggest footprint in this world!"

God, I wished they'd stop doing this.

I hurriedly changed the subject to my conversation with Kyle. Since it concerned the royal family, everyone except Aynar forgot about my new epithet and listened with interest.

"A consolation banquet... I wonder how many people will actually attend."

"You're rather naive too, Mr. Urigfried. It would be much quicker to count the people who won't."

"What?"

"They might curse them behind their backs, but realistically, who wants to make an enemy of the royal family? Especially when they're offering compensation for everything we suffered."

"B-but we have our pride as explorers. Jandel! Say something!"

"Actually, I agree with Raven."

"... What?"

"Well, unless we're planning to go over to Noark, shouldn't we take what we can get?"

Explorers never take a loss.

Well, perhaps not quite, but most explorers were very sensitive to losses. Anyway, once we'd discussed everything we needed to, we ate together and called it a day.

"We'll be off, then."

"See you next time. Get in touch if anything comes up."

Raven and Mister Bear left. Aynar went out, saying she was going to the sanctuary, and Misha left to do the shopping.

The house had grown quiet before I knew it. But soon, there was a knock at the door.

"Teterud...?"

"Haha! I heard you're still hobbling around, so I came by. How about it? You can still drink, can't you?"

"... Don't tell Misha."

It was the middle of the day, but he was a welcome sight, so I invited him and the clan members accompanying him inside. We caught up over drinks.

But just as we were winding down...

"Oh, you're here too?"

Another visitor arrived.

"Melter Fend."

"Just call me Melter. It's been a while, Bjorn. I meant to come sooner, but the funerals for our fallen members kept me busy. Oh, may I come in?"

"Of course."

Teterud and his clan members stayed a little longer before leaving, apparently having other plans. Afterward, Melter and I spoke alone, mostly about his battle with the wolf.

During that conversation, he revealed something astonishing.

"You awakened Aura...?"

"Haha, I wouldn't go so far as to call it an awakening. I caught a glimpse of the path for a moment and managed to use a thin layer of it."

He'd once gone from explorer to apprentice knight, and now he'd manifested Aura during battle. Well, it still seemed unstable, but...

'A rank-three explorer who uses Aura.'

I could already picture Melter's name ringing out across the city. It probably wouldn't take very long, either. After all, countless high-level explorers had just died.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

In any case, Melter wasn't the last of my visitors.

"Jandel! You in there? I heard you still can't even walk properly!"

Warriors I'd gotten to know that day and explorers who'd come to thank me visited my house one after another. We drank, and Misha served meals.

"If only Elbertin were here too..."

Sometimes, we observed a moment of silence.

They weren't my only visitors, either.

"Hey, I hear they're calling you TITAN now? How's a dwarf supposed to live with that? Hahaha!"

The dwarf and Rotmiller came after hearing about me.

"I suppose you won't be able to visit the library for a while... I'll bring a few good books next time."

Lagna and the administrator Shahvin, from our circle of friends, came too.

"I hear you've been through quite an ordeal. I'm proud of you."

Even the chieftain left the sanctuary and came all this way.

Oh, and apparently the chieftain knew about the consolation banquet too, because he gave me a warning.

"A king's smile carries poison. Don't grow too close to the royal family."

"I'll remember that."

"Good, then. Let's drink!"

Those visits continued for several days. Oh, and quite a few people came back again, because the royal family had recently sent out all the invitations to the consolation banquet at once.

"... You're going to stand against them?"

"Of course we must! If we let this slide, we'll be under their heels forever!"

Some came to urge me to stand against the royal family with them, while others offered earnest advice. In fact, the latter were far more numerous.

"Set your anger aside for a moment and think rationally."

"You suffered the most of anyone. Who could possibly criticize you for accepting a reward?"

"If the evaluation of merits is canceled altogether, the dead explorers won't receive any compensation either. You have to think of their families."

"To be blunt, this is a tremendous opportunity for you. Please don't let it pass you by. I'm saying this for your own good, truly."

Talking to them gave me a lot to think about. My choices now affected not just me, but many others as well.

With that sense of responsibility, I listened carefully to each of their opinions.

Well, until Misha blew up.

"Hey! Tell them to stop coming over, nyah!! No, just go out and meet them somewhere else, nyah!!"

She had every reason to be angry.

* * *

May 10.

A little over a week had passed since the catastrophe. We got up before dawn that morning and spent some time getting dressed up.

Today was the consolation banquet.

"Ack! T-tighter, nyah!"

"Y-you'll die, Misha!"

"I'm fine, so hurry... Ngh!"

As I sat waiting quietly on the sofa, Misha emerged from her room in a dress Aynar had helped her put on. She looked rather embarrassed.

"... D-do I look weird, nyah?"

"... No, not at all. It suits you."

I meant that one hundred percent. Her ornate dress was nothing like her usual tight pants or plain, flowing, solid-colored skirts. It was white with red accents, and its knee-length skirt seemed to let her tail move freely.

Had they even taken her being a Therianthrope into account?

'I'll have to thank them when I see them.'

"S-stop staring, nyah."

"Oh, sorry."

"So, is that all, nyah...?"

I quickly added,

"... The pin in your hair looks pretty."

"Hmm, and the necklace, nyah?"

"That too."

"Hmm, really, nyah?"

Apparently I'd passed, because Misha said nothing more. The atmosphere felt awkward, so I changed the subject.

"Where's Aynar?"

"Oh, right! Aynar! What are you doing in there, nyah? Come out, nyah!"

"B-but...! I'm embarrassed too! Can't I just wear armor?"

"I told you, we can't bring weapons or wear armor to the royal palace, nyah! Come out already, nyah. You don't look strange at all, nyah!"

In the end, Misha dragged Aynar out.

For the record, she wasn't wearing a dress. She wore a slim-fit men's suit that fit her as though it had been tailored for her.

'Looks like a uniform.'

Over tight white pants and a shirt, she wore a thigh-length coat made of fine fabric. The coat and shirt were covered in insignia and embroidery, giving the outfit an elaborate air.

"I-it does look strange, doesn't it?! Of course! C-clothes like these could never suit a warrior like—"

"It suits you. What's the problem?"

"Ugh, don't tease me..."

It'd been a while since I'd seen her act like this.

"Who's teasing you? I'm wearing something similar."

I'd been given an outfit similar to Aynar's. Mine was navy blue with brown accents matching my hair. The color scheme, embroidery, and insignia were far more masculine than hers, though.

Well, the biggest difference lay elsewhere.

"This feels restrictive."

I adjusted my tight clothing and took a look in the mirror.

I called it Tailcoat Barbarian Mode. In some ways, I looked far more intimidating than I did in armor.

Had formal suits always emphasized muscles this much? I looked like some damn thug.

"Bjorn! There's a carriage outside, nyah!"

"Is there? Let's go, then."

Once we finished getting ready and stepped outside, the waiting coachman greeted us with the utmost courtesy.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bjorn Jandel, Miss Misha Karlstein, and Miss Aynar Pheneline. My name is Jack Haines, and I have the honor of escorting you to the royal palace. Should you experience any discomfort, please feel free to pull the cord and let me know at any time."

It really made me feel like somebody important.

"Wow, so this is a private carriage, nyah..."

"Ooh! Candy! The candy's free!!"

The wheels rolled along the road as the carriage began to move, heading toward the very heart of Raphdonia.

Toward the place where the king resided.