Chapter 288 - Cause and Effect (4)

The week of building repairs flew by.

Nothing particularly eventful happened. I focused on the work without getting distracted, then spent my breaks telling the children how hard being an explorer was. That was about it.

Even that stopped on the third day. The children no longer came over when I sat down in the shade to rest.

"..."

"..."

So spending my breaks sitting quietly in the shade with Dwalki became my routine.

Oh, we did talk now and then, of course.

"Why did you end up here?"

"... They told the director my parents couldn't afford to raise me."

"I see."

"B-but I'm better off than the other kids. My family will come get me before long..."

"... Have you said that in front of the other children?"

"Y-yes?"

Sheesh. I could see why he had no friends here.

When I sighed, Dwalki started making excuses.

"I-I'm fine. It's not like... I'll be here that long anyway. M-my parents are merchants. They said things are just a little hard right now..."

'Hard, my ass.'

His words immediately left a bitter taste in my mouth. After all, I knew his circumstances.

The current baron had registered Dwalki with a branch family as soon as he was born, and that family had irresponsibly dumped him here.

'He said it wasn't until his birth mother found out and told the baron that the two of them moved into an annex of the Dwalki estate...'

He'd also said that, in over ten years there, he'd barely ever seen his adoptive parents. Still, their financial support had been fairly generous, allowing him to learn magic and live without wanting for anything.

"You've had it rough. Here, have some jerky. You need to eat well when you're young if you want to grow tall."

"Oh, yes... Thank you."

We sat there chewing jerky together, and before long, the break was over.

"Um... Today's your last day, right?"

"Yes. We're just about done with the repairs. The roof won't leak when it rains anymore."

"... Thank you."

Well, at least he had manners. The other kids seemed to take it for granted that volunteers would come and fix their home.

"If you're really grateful, never become an explorer."

"Huh? Where did that suddenly..."

"Never mind that. Just answer me."

"An explorer? I-I couldn't do something like that... And I don't want to, either."

Little Dwalki looked sincere as he answered.

Well, that was the normal reaction after hearing those stories. All the other kids were terrified of explorers now, too, so there wouldn't be anyone putting foolish ideas in his head.

... Though, honestly, I still couldn't relax.

'But I can't stay here forever. All I can do now is leave the rest to fate.'

"Hey, Enche! If you're done resting, come give me a hand with this!"

"Leor, I'll be going now."

"... Okay. Goodbye."

I gave Dwalki all the jerky and snacks in my bag before returning to the worksite. The little brat kept trying to refuse, but what could he do when a barbarian insisted on giving them to him?

"Thanks to you, we've finished early again today. Well, good work, everyone!"

Anyway, after a few more hours of repairs, the foreman announced that we were done.

Our weeklong job was over.

"We're going for a drink after this. Would you like to join us?"

"But I'm an explorer."

"Haha! We all know you're not the sort to swagger around like the other explorers. It's fine."

The foreman invited me to the crew's gathering, and after a moment's thought, I accepted. I didn't have anything else to do afterward anyway. Raven would already have left the library by now.

"The order gave us a generous gratuity for our work, so drink up, everyone!"

We all headed to a nearby tavern for drinks. Maybe it was because I'd never been out drinking like this with people who weren't explorers, but...

'This is a little awkward.'

I couldn't keep up with the conversation. My crowd talked about which smithy made quality goods, or who in which clan was dating whom.

"Excuse me..."

As I sat there feeling left out, someone beside me spoke up.

Now, what was her name...?

"Wuerv Emirn."

Oh, right.

Despite her small frame, she'd carried heavy loads without slacking off and worked hard. It had left an impression on me.

"Did you want to tell me something?"

"Well... I heard the stories you told the children."

Ah, so that was why she'd been giving me those odd looks whenever I spoke.

"About the Labyrinth?"

"Yes."

Emirn nodded, looking a little bashful, then cautiously asked,

"Is it... really such a terrible place?"

"Not entirely."

"Huh? But..."

"I said those things to the children because I didn't want them getting any foolish ideas. It certainly isn't a place you can survive with halfhearted commitment."

"Oh..."

While I was at it, I told her a few more stories: the scenery on the third floor that Dwalki had particularly loved, the vast forest, the snowfields blanketed in white I'd seen in the Glacial Cavern, and all sorts of other wonders.

As I went on, I noticed the people around us gradually falling silent. Well, adults and children alike loved this sort of thing.

"Snow, eh...? I've never seen it, so I can't picture it even with your description."

"Would it be like cold sugar?"

For people who'd spent their entire lives confined within the city walls, events in the Labyrinth might as well have been stories from another world.

Just as their conversations were unfamiliar to me, they probably rarely had occasion to mingle with explorers.

"It's been a long time since I heard such fascinating stories."

"I'll have to tell my son when I get home."

Of course, I didn't monopolize the conversation for long. Once I'd told enough stories, the discussion naturally returned to their everyday lives, and I passed the time joining in whenever I could.

'This isn't so bad, either...'

As time passed and the sun began to set, people headed home to their families one or two at a time, bringing the gathering to a close.

I'd just stepped outside to return to my lodgings when a woman followed me out and stopped me.

"Excuse me...!"

"Oh, Emirn. What is it?"

"There's just one thing I'd like to ask. Would that be all right?"

"Go ahead."

Emirn seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking in a strained voice.

"Earlier, you said even you get scared sometimes, Mr. Enche."

"I did."

"I-I do, too. Sometimes everything goes dark, and just thinking about it scares me so much I feel like my heart will burst. How do you overcome it when that happens?"

That was a rather difficult question. All the more so coming from someone who, until a few days ago, had been a complete stranger.

Still, I decided not to overthink it. She was already standing before me, hoping for courage, wasn't she?

"As I said earlier, being a barbarian doesn't mean you don't know fear."

That was especially true of me, a former ordinary office worker.

But...

"We simply know that if fear keeps us from doing what we must, only the worst possible outcome awaits us."

"The worst possible outcome... Yes, I suppose you're right..."

An awkward silence followed. I gave her a little time to think before asking,

"Is it something you have to do?"

"Yes."

Her voice was quiet, but there was no hesitation in it. That left me with only one thing to say.

"Then do it."

Encouragement that only a barbarian in this world could offer.

Her answer came after a short pause.

"... Thank you for giving me courage. I'll give it my best shot."

"Will you? I don't know what it is, but I hope it goes well."

"Thank you. And I really enjoyed the stories you told us earlier."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Especially that place called the sea. I've only heard stories, but it sounds wonderful. Though... someone like me will probably never get to go there."

I had nothing to add to her self-deprecating remark.

What could I say? That she could go there, too, if she just put her mind to it?

I knew better than anyone how dishonest that would be.

"... I'll be going now."

"Oh, all right. Take care."

Emirn and I said goodbye once more and parted ways.

But why was it?

'Wuerv Emirn...'

For some reason I couldn't explain, that name kept nagging at me all the way back.

* * *

When I returned from the gathering reeking of alcohol, Amelia was in my room.

"You've been gone since midday. Where were you?"

"Oh, I was doing some volunteer work."

"Volunteer work...?"

Look at that frown. Had I said something so outrageous?

"People need to know how to give, too."

"... I see."

"Anyway, good timing. I'd run out of money. Leave me some while you're here."

"Don't tell me you've spent all of it."

"Oh, after buying equipment and taking care of a few things, there wasn't anything left."

"... I see."

Amelia rummaged around at her waist, then tossed me a pouch. It was quite heavy.

'Won't have to worry about paying for meat for a while.'

"I'll put this to good use."

After thanking her, I took the opportunity to recommend a few good restaurants I'd visited in this city twenty years in the past.

Judging by her expression, she wasn't likely to visit them.

Whew. She looked ready to get angry if I didn't get to the point soon.

"Oh! So how's your business coming along? You said you'd met that broker or whatever last time, right?"

"We're still establishing contact. Fortunately, everything is proceeding according to plan. If nothing else goes wrong, we should be able to leave next week. Be ready."

"I will."

As soon as that brief discussion was over, Amelia left, saying she had things to do.

'Leaving in a week...'

After a quick wash and a change of clothes, I lay down on the bed and went over what I needed to do in the time remaining.

There wasn't really enough to require sorting out.

'If we're leaving next week, I'd better wrap things up with Raven soon, too.'

The equipment I'd ordered should be ready sometime next week, so Raven was probably all I had left to take care of. I'd head straight to the library tomorrow.

'The important part starts once we go down to Noark, huh?'

I'd probably have to stay on my toes from that point on. Amelia and I had worked out a plan for what to do once we got there, but...

When did anything ever go exactly to plan?

'Whew... Whatever. I just want to get back soon.'

With all sorts of wishes filling my head, I slowly drifted off to sleep.

* * *

I was in the two-story house Misha and I had rented, laughing and chatting with my companions.

I didn't realize it at first, but soon enough I understood.

'It's a dream.'

The mirror was what convinced me. In the middle of laughing and talking, I'd glanced to the side and seen Lee Hansoo reflected there, not Bjorn.

Something that could never happen in reality.

The moment I noticed, the background blurred and the setting changed.

["Bjorn, what are you doing, nyah? Come on!"]

This time, I was in the Labyrinth. We were exploring and climbing the floors as usual.

But once again, I was Lee Hansoo, not Bjorn. My shield was heavy, and my eye level relative to the monsters had changed. Now I had to look up at them.

Was that why?

["Why couldn't you even block that, nyah!"]

I kept making mistakes, and my companions suffered for it. At first, they only got injured, but in the end, one of them died.

["If it weren't for you..."]

It was Dwalki.

Only then did I recognize once more that this was a dream, and the background swirled again.

This place was familiar, too. A quiet room reminiscent of a medieval noble's study.

"What, the Round Table this time?"

At first, I just chuckled, but before long, something felt off.

'It's a little different...'

The room's layout and atmosphere were similar. But the outfits, decorative accessories, and masks that should have covered one wall were missing.

Well, perhaps the details were lacking because it was a dream...

"... But it feels too real for that."

I absently opened and closed my hand. Every time I tensed it, I could distinctly feel my muscles moving. Even my thoughts flowed naturally.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

The sound and texture of the wall when I tapped it, too—everything was indistinguishable from reality.

I moved over to check the full-length mirror off to one side as soon as I realized that.

Sure enough, Lee Hansoo stood there instead of Bjorn.

So what was going on?

Once I started thinking on the assumption that this wasn't a dream, a surprisingly plausible theory quickly came to mind.

'Oh... Today's the day the community opens.'

I'd been summoned while I slept. That would explain why I looked like this.

It also made sense that it worked differently from the community twenty years later, where we communicated through computers. This was its early phase, after all.

Perhaps if I opened that door and stepped outside, I'd find a startled GM.

But...

"..."

Suddenly, a conversation I'd had with Lee Baekho came back to me.

["There have been evil spirits in this city for over a hundred years. In Earth time, that would be over twenty years ago. So who do you think they were?"]

I'd told him I didn't know and to just tell me, and Lee Baekho had said this:

["The answer is people from other dimensions!"]

Evil spirits summoned from other dimensions. There were fewer of them than those from Earth, but every one of them had unusual powers.

Hadn't he said that one of them created this space, and the GM we knew had inherited it?

'No way...'

One entirely plausible possibility.

Just as that possibility flashed through my mind...

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Someone knocked on the door.