Chapter 250 - Gnometree (4)

At first, I wondered if it was GM again. But GM wouldn't have borrowed the same face twice to approach me. Besides, everything from the escort knights around him to the air he gave off was completely different.

In short, this guy was...

'(Real) Hans I.'

The actual Hans I, not GM pretending to be him.

That left me with just one thing to do.

"..."

Hold my breath.

"I simply must apologize..."

I gritted my teeth and ignored him, pretending I hadn't heard. And then... I took off running.

"Wh-why are you running aw—!"

"Whoa! I suddenly feel like running!!"

"B-but...!"

My mindless sprint threw (Real) Hans I into a panic. But there was no chance I was stopping for that.

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!"

The distance between us quickly widened, and he didn't follow me. Thankfully, he wasn't that persistent.

'... Did I dodge it?'

I ran straight back to our lodgings and tried to calm my racing heart. I'd only heard his voice. I hadn't even looked at his face. That meant we hadn't made eye contact, and since I'd held my breath, the chances of airborne transmission were low too.

... Surely that was enough.

Yeah, I'd be fine.

"Welcome back, sir."

As I caught my breath outside, a servant waiting there greeted me. I followed the servant inside, where...

"Nyaha! You're baaack, Bjorn, nyah!"

Misha greeted me, her face thoroughly flushed. This was what you might call her hyper (alcohol) mode.

Erwin, sitting demurely beside her, wasn't much different.

"Mister... Heehee, heeheehee!"

She called to me in a gloomy voice, then let out a somewhat creepy laugh.

'What the hell happened here?'

Empty bottles were everywhere, and the entire living room reeked of alcohol.

'I haven't even been gone an hour...?'

What had happened in the meantime?

Playing detective, I swept my eyes around the room and finally realized Aynar was missing.

"Where's Aynar?"

"The lady warrior got drunk and fell asleep some time ago."

It was one of the villa's servants who answered. When I asked where she was, the answer wasn't a bedroom, but the courtyard in the center of the villa.

SNOOOORE!!

Oh, for crying out loud.

I picked Aynar up, dumped her onto a bed in one of the rooms, and went back downstairs. Misha was drinking straight from a bottle, apparently having the time of her life.

"Aaah...!"

Sensing something inexplicably menacing, I approached her cautiously.

"Did something happen while I was gone?"

I'd seen her get drunk sipping drinks when we all drank together, but I'd never seen her pour it down her throat like this.

"Happen? Nyaha, nothing happened, nyah!"

"Then why are you drinking so..."

"Just felt good, so I drank, nyah!"

"I-is that so?"

She'd been drinking because she felt good. Apparently, I'd worried for nothing. She was refreshed from the hot spring, and people were bringing her good booze for free. Really, there was no reason not to drink.

"Yeah. At first, nyah."

Misha wiped the liquor from her mouth with her sleeve, her expression turning serious. Without thinking, I turned my head to avoid her gaze. Naturally, my eyes landed on Erwin, sprawled on the sofa.

For the record, she was staring blankly into space by herself...

"Heeheeheehee..."

And grinning away at who knew what. Was laughing her drunk habit?

"Hey, Bjorn, nyah."

Misha grabbed my wrist and spoke.

"Yeah, go ahead."

"When you turned me down that day, nyah."

Uh... We were talking about that now?

It was an uncomfortable topic, but this wasn't the kind of atmosphere where I could refuse. I shut my mouth and waited. Pressing her lips together, Misha finally asked,

"Was it because I can't give birth to a barbarian, nyah?"

Huh? What?

Had Aynar said something weird?

My brain froze for a moment, but a barbarian's body was good in a crisis.

"Of course not."

My mouth opened without a moment's hesitation.

It wasn't a lie, either. I hadn't turned Misha down that day because I wasn't attracted to her, or because she was a beastfolk. There was a reason I had to keep to myself.

"Okay, so that's how it is, nyah..."

Misha stared into my eyes as if trying to determine whether I was telling the truth, then opened a fresh bottle and shoved it into her mouth.

And then...

"Then it really is, nyah..."

Her eyes met mine and darted away. Her lips opened and closed, over and over, before she continued in a small voice.

"Because you're... someday, going to disappear... disappear... nyah..."

Her voice trailed off, and her head flopped down.

"Nyaaah..."

I'd thought she looked well past her limit.

Letting out the breath I'd been holding, I gathered Misha into my arms, took her to her room, and laid her on the bed.

When I returned to the living room, Erwin was smiling at me.

"Finally, everyone's... asleep..."

What was she on about?

"If you're drunk, go to sleep."

'Neck Slice.'

"... Gack."

I casually knocked her out and dumped her beside Misha.

* * *

It was late, with midnight gradually approaching. I considered clearing away the scattered bottles, but decided to leave them. It wasn't our home, after all. Once I got out of the way, the servants would clean up.

"Haa..."

I collapsed onto a sofa that was a little too small for me. My mind was a mess, all because of what Misha had said at the end.

["Because you're... someday, going to disappear... disappear... nyah..."]

It was obvious what the rest of that unfinished sentence would have been. She'd probably been about to ask whether I'd done it because I was someone who would disappear someday.

Of course, she probably wasn't certain I was an evil spirit. No, she probably thought it was more likely that I wasn't. She'd seen me receive an oracle herself, after all.

In this city, evil spirits were known as enemies of the gods. Yet a god would help one, even grant it a sacred relic? By this world's accepted beliefs, that made no sense.

It was just a sliver of unease that remained in her mind like a seed that had taken root, slipping out under the influence of alcohol.

'... Still, I guess it's a relief that she doesn't seem likely to turn against me even if I am an evil spirit.'

That realization reassured me. I felt grateful, and even proud that I hadn't lived my life in vain. But the strongest feeling was self-loathing.

'What the hell do I even want?'

When I'd woken up in Bjorn Jandel's body, survival had been my top priority. First, I'd survive however I could and adapt to this world. Then I'd find a way back to my original world.

But...

Would it really be so bad to keep living like this?

Did I have to go back?

Hadn't good things been even rarer there?

Lately, those thoughts had been growing stronger.

I thought I was starting to understand why Players insisted on calling the locals NPCs and setting them apart. They needed to draw a line. To tell themselves this wasn't the world they belonged in. That they had somewhere to return to.

'Stop.'

I forced the endless flow of thoughts to a halt. Going home or staying here—neither was a decision I could make yet.

Hadn't I made up my mind when I saw those condemned prisoners dying because they couldn't pay their taxes? I'd wait until I reached at least the sixth floor before deciding.

'There's no point agonizing over it now anyway.'

Taxes weren't the only problem. The Dragonslayer, the Clown, Noark, the royal family. This world was full of things that could threaten my life. Like it or not, I had to get stronger. Whatever I wanted to do, it would only matter if I was alive.

So, on that note...

"Where are you going at this late hour, sir?"

"Oh, just out for a short walk. No need to wait up."

I informed the servant and left our lodgings. It was about time for the streets to be deserted.

[02 : 37]

Outside, the cool night air filled my lungs. Was it because we were right below a mountain? It felt a little chilly. I walked steadily on.

As expected, there were few people on the streets, though they weren't entirely empty. The brightly lit gambling house was still bustling, spilling raucous noise into the night. Well, that didn't really matter. My destination was outside the village.

'It's dark.'

Beyond the village, darkness comparable to the Labyrinth spread before me. The countryside in Korea had been exactly like this. Stray just a little from the lights, and eerie wilderness greeted you.

'Anyway, it should be coming into view soon.'

I considered lighting a torch, but decided to be cautious, just in case, and kept walking carefully. Some time later, the cave marked on the map provided at our lodgings appeared. It was also one of the local tourist attractions.

'... No guards, huh.'

I stepped cautiously inside, and my surroundings gradually brightened. After all, this place was similar to the first floor. Crystals covered the walls, giving off blue light that lent the cave a mystical air.

I kept walking without hesitation. There were side passages, but in the game, all you had to do was head straight from the entrance.

WHOOOOM!

Sure enough, I soon reached a vast cavern. At its center sat a single boulder that vibrated at regular intervals.

'Rignarasia.'

According to the brochure-like map, its name came from an ancient language and literally meant "Blessing of the Earth." Touching it was supposed to bring good luck, or something. Probably just superstition. That boulder wasn't where the actual hidden piece was.

I slid open my subspace bag and took out my mace. Then I walked past the central boulder and clicked the interaction button on a section of wall covered in murals.

Oh, I mean I smashed it with all my might.

KRAAASH!

Under a mace blow backed by an Ogre's strength, the wall shattered and collapsed. I wasn't worried, though. This cave had a self-repairing magic circle. It would fix itself in about five minutes.

'Shall we, then?'

I squeezed into the passage revealed beyond the broken wall. Inside was a small chamber, just as there had been in the game.

'Considering how they've hidden it, the one outside is probably a fake, and this is the real thing.'

I placed a hand on the boulder at the center. Unlike the one outside, it was an ordinary rock, without periodic vibrations or any mystical aura. But after some time, I felt it.

「The Earth Dragon's energy imbues you. (1/3)」

A sense of fullness flowed into my body through my fingertips.

「Magic Power increases by +10.」

「Earth Resistance increases by +20.」

It was one of the sweeter hidden pieces. You had to become a noble and gain access to the Gnometree District, but it gave you a whole thirty stat points practically for free.

'Most people who've played even a little of the original version probably know about it. They'd have spammed the interaction key everywhere they went.'

It was only a guess, but quite a few Players probably knew this hidden piece. Still, they wouldn't know this part.

「The blessing engraved on your soul reacts.」

「The additional stat gain increases to 30%.」

If you had the Earth Dragon's Blessing, the stat increase upgraded from 20% to 30%.

'I never thought this would be the first unlock condition I'd meet.'

This was definitely a far cry from a normal playthrough. Becoming a noble at only Level 5? If this had been a game, I'd have been convinced I'd used a bug.

'Anyway, time to head back.'

Having collected everything I'd come for, I turned toward the exit—and froze. Of course I did.

Before the wall, which was beginning to crumble back into place as if time were reversing, stood a man.

"Wow, so you really were a Player?"

It was Lee Baekho.

* * *

「Bjorn Jandel」

Level: 5

Physical: 607.62(New +46.74) / Mental: 502.19(New +38.63) / Ability: 2175.55(New +203.35)

Item Level: 2,567

Overall Combat Index: 3,927.11(New +288.72)

Obtained Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5 / Bayon - Rank 3

* * *

All sorts of possibilities swirled through my head.

"..."

Lee Baekho. Why was this bastard here? I hadn't seen so much as a hair of him since that day. Had he been tailing me all along?

The answer was remarkably simple.

"Funny how people cross paths, huh? I was following that guy because I thought GM might be in disguise again, and then you showed up."

Once again, it was Hans. Lee Baekho had run into Hans I by chance in Gnometree and spotted me while tailing him. And then...

'He must've followed me from that point on.'

The rough outline of events fell into place.

So, what should I do now? The decision was as good as made.

"That again. Don't you get tired of it?"

Revealing my identity to Lee Baekho was still a bad idea. One look was enough to tell how fickle he was. Even if we got along, the moment something rubbed him the wrong way, he'd draw a blade and force me to choose.

For example...

"That cat seems to have caught on a little. Wouldn't it be better to kill her after all?"

Yeah. Exactly like that.

I felt cornered, but I stuck firmly to playing dumb.

"I think I understand why the chieftain called evil spirits wicked beings."

"Man, you've got some nerve, I'll give you that. Denying it even in this situation."

"This situation...?"

I put every ounce of effort into making my eyes look puzzled. Lee Baekho merely snickered as if the act was ridiculous.

"Yeah, this situation. Just being here proves you're a Player, doesn't it? Otherwise, how did you know something like this was hidden here?"

Okay, I knew you'd ask that, bastard.

I answered as if I'd been waiting for the question, cleverly weaving together nothing but truths.

"I am a benefactor of the dragons. After I returned the Dragon Sword to their clan, I became close friends with the primordial dragon Laphyr. Even his daughter, the dragons' shamaness, is very fond of me."

An answer implying I'd learned this information from them as well. As soon as he heard it, Lee Baekho tilted his head.

"... Huh? What the hell? That's true?"

Of course it was. I hadn't told a single lie.

"Then you're the one who fucked up that dragon-slaying bastard too? Wow, that's seriously incredible."

Lee Baekho exclaimed, sounding entertained.

Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief. Sure, I'd revealed hidden information about myself to get out of the immediate situation, but...

'Yeah, the ring broke anyway, didn't it?'

All things considered, it wasn't that much of a loss.

Now that the sacred relic's effect had ended, I'd be facing that bastard again soon, whether I liked it or not. There was no need to struggle desperately to keep it hidden like before.

"True."

After watching me for a moment, he nodded.

"It's not implausible. Yeah, if you did that much for them, they might tell you something like this. It's not that big a deal."

Did that mean he'd bought it?

No. No way. It was too early to relax. I remained on guard, waiting for his next words. A few seconds passed that felt like a year.

"But, you know..."

He asked me with a broad grin,

"Why are you being so cooperative?"

My mind went blank.

"Last time I asked if you were a Player, you gritted your teeth and refused to answer."

"..."

"Suddenly you're being awfully helpful, huh?"

Fucking bastard.