Chapter 86 - Baron Martoin (2)

Mozlan handled the matter with breathtaking speed.

"Hehe, I am a great mage... Huh? Who are you...?"

"This is the man. Take him away."

The knights grabbed Dwalki by the hair, lifting his head off the table to check his face, then swiftly restrained both arms.

"E-excuse me, what's going on...?"

Only then did the drunken dwarf snap out of it and try to understand the situation, but he got nowhere.

"You don't need to know."

"B-but..."

"Do you have a problem with our methods?"

They looked ready to drag him off too if he nodded.

I covered the dwarf's mouth and answered for him.

"No."

"... Are you Little Valcan? Wise for a barbarian."

His tone and the look in his eyes made it hard to take that as a compliment.

Once they left the tavern with the thoroughly drunk Dwalki, the dwarf raised a fuss.

"Bjorn! They must have made some mistake. H-he would never do anything like that!"

He certainly wasn't wrong. Insulting a noble? Impersonating one, maybe, but honestly, even I found the charge of insulting one hard to swallow.

Still...

"We have to help him!"

What were we supposed to do to save a companion hauled off by the authorities?

I closed my eyes.

"Hikurod, c-calm down, nyah. Bjorn's acting like that because he has an answer, nyah!"

Sigh. I'd only wanted to rest today...

Why did something like this have to happen again?

* * *

Before doing anything, I needed to get a clear picture of the situation. After all, I had no information yet. I didn't even know whether he'd actually insulted a noble, whether they'd simply made a mistake, or whether someone had framed him.

So I promptly left the tavern and headed to Mozlan's headquarters.

But...

"Wait until the investigation has officially concluded."

Mozlan, every bit as secretive and arrogant as they had been in the game, wouldn't tell us anything.

So I went to Shahvin.

"Mozlan took him away...? I'll look into it. I can't promise I'll find anything, though..."

"That's enough. Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

My reasoning was that, as a civil servant, Shahvin would have easier access to information than an explorer with no connections.

"... He's still alive, isn't he?"

"Hikurod! I know you're worried, but please stop jinxing him and sit still, nyah!"

"A-all right."

We spent the entire day waiting outside Mozlan's headquarters for word from Shahvin. Then...

"H-huh? Isn't that Dwalki, nyah?"

"Looks like him."

Dwalki emerged through the front gate, his shoulders slumped. Contrary to the dwarf's fears, he showed no signs of torture—or even a single injury.

"Are you all right? How did the investigation go? Ah, if they've let you out, they must have made a mistake, right? Yes, I knew it!"

"Ah... Well..."

For some reason, Dwalki didn't seem happy to see us. He merely hung his head.

"... Let's go somewhere else. Then I'll tell you everything."

For the moment, we did as Dwalki asked and moved to another location: a tavern with private rooms where we often held meetings about the Labyrinth. Once our beer and a few dishes arrived, Dwalki spoke in a devastated voice.

"I think... I'll have to leave the team."

After Erwin and Aynar, this was already the third time I'd heard something like that.

The dwarf was aghast.

"What in the world are you saying? Explain!"

"Well..."

Dwalki trailed off, then let out a long breath.

"It would be absurd to hide it at this point. The truth is, there's something I haven't told any of you."

"Something you haven't told us?"

"My elder brother... is Baron Martoin."

"Whaaat?"

"Th-then you really are a noble?"

Everyone, Misha included, gaped in shock, but Dwalki squeezed his eyes shut and continued.

"Halfway, at least. I am the son of the previous Baron Martoin and a maid from his estate."

A noble family's illegitimate child. Having watched plenty of outrageous soap operas in the modern world, I was hardly unfamiliar with that sort of story.

And the rest didn't stray far from the formula.

"As I was a stain on the family name, I was adopted at birth by Tirva, the baroness's third younger brother. Of course, that was merely a formality. My birth mother was the one who actually raised me."

The baron's family had still sent money regularly, allowing him to grow up comfortably and even learn magic.

His complicated family history went on, exhausting even to listen to. The dwarf, however, didn't seem to have the patience to wait.

"And what does any of that have to do with leaving the team?"

"A year ago, my birth father, Baron Martoin, passed away. My second-eldest brother succeeded him."

"Hmm, not the eldest?"

Rotmiller interjected with a question, and Dwalki continued candidly.

"That's right. The second son. That's the problem."

"I don't understand. Why is that a problem, nyah...?"

"After the former baron died, many people lost their lives. Starting with my eldest brother, and then many members of the family's collateral branches..."

That alone was enough to understand how this incident tied into the bloody power struggle within Baron Martoin's family.

"So this second brother of yours was the one who sent Mozlan."

"Yes. A warning, I imagine, to keep living quietly as I always have."

"But why now?"

"I think he took issue with my becoming an explorer. I've learned quite a few spells recently, too... And having someone famous on my team must have concerned him."

Ah, uh, hmm...

Was he blaming me now? Honestly, that felt like a bit of a leap, but...

I briefly summed up what he'd said.

"Anyway, you're saying you can't enter the Labyrinth anymore because you're afraid of your second brother?"

"You... really don't know how to soften your words at all. You're not wrong. But... it would have made no difference what I wanted."

"What do you mean?"

"In exchange for not punishing me for insulting a noble, they revoked my permission to enter the Labyrinth."

Simply put, even if he wanted to stay with us, he no longer had any way to do so.

"Bjorn, isn't there something we can do, nyah?"

Misha and the dwarf turned pleading eyes on me.

I quietly closed my eyes. Rather than search for the answer to a problem that couldn't possibly have one, I thought about today's date.

'Sigh. This is a headache.'

There were nine days left until the Labyrinth opened again.

Could we find a new companion before then?

Nothing ever came easily for me.

* * *

"For now, let's each think this over and meet again tomorrow to discuss it."

"Yes, even you can't come up with a good solution on the spot. Let's do that."

We arranged to meet the next day and went our separate ways.

The dwarf and Dwalki apparently planned to have a drink somewhere quiet, while Rotmiller returned to his family.

As for me, I decided to head to the library.

"Huh? You're going to the library, nyah?"

"I have business with that librarian."

"... This late, nyah?"

"If I hurry, I'll get there before closing."

"I see... D-do you want me to come with you, nyah?"

What was she on about?

"No need. Go get some rest."

"But I don't really have anything to do at home, nyah..."

"Of course you do. If you've got time to spare, go practice your sword swings. You spent the entire day playing around."

After sending off Misha, who kept insisting on coming along, I hurried to the library.

I'd originally intended to take the day off and visit tomorrow...

But things had changed a little.

* * *

"Farcitie..."

When I arrived at the library, the dozing librarian started to cast her spell by rote, then flinched.

"You..."

"Come to think of it, we never formally introduced ourselves. I am Bjorn, son of Jandel."

"... Obviously, I know that."

Hmm, I supposed she would.

Anyway, a brief silence followed that exchange. Things always felt awkward with her.

"... We're closing soon. Are you going in?"

"No, I didn't come to read today."

"... Then?"

How should I explain my situation?

After a moment's thought, I went straight to the point, like a proper barbarian.

"Lagna Litaniel Pefroch."

"You may shorten that to whatever is convenient."

"Lagna, what grade of mage are you?"

My question was straightforward enough, but no answer came for a long time.

Her eyes seemed to ask how anyone could be so rude.

Well, Raven had always gotten angry first when I asked her that, too.

"Let me ask you something first. Why are you suddenly curious about that?"

Perhaps she was gentler than Raven; Lagna calmly asked for my reason first.

So I answered honestly.

"Something happened, and our team's mage can no longer enter the Labyrinth. So, how about taking a break from being a librarian and joining us in the Labyrinth—"

"I refuse."

Right. A refusal, then.

At her firm tone, I promptly gave up on persuading her.

"I see. If your grade's too low to enter the Labyrinth, there's nothing to be done."

"... When did I say that?"

"So you are skilled enough."

Lagna, who'd bristled, realized I'd been fishing for information and gave me an incredulous look.

"You... Don't tell me you only said that to find out?"

"... What are you talking about? Anyway, that's the end of that. If you don't want to, you don't want to."

I changed the subject.

"So what was it? Shahvin Emur said you'd have something prepared for me if I came here."

"... What? Prepared for you?"

She frowned as though she'd never heard anything of the sort, then pressed a hand to her forehead as understanding finally dawned.

"Haah... Is that how she put it?"

"Explain it so I can understand."

"Let me make this clear first. Don't get any strange ideas."

Only after getting my firm assurance that I would not misunderstand did Lagna launch into a lengthy explanation.

"Shahvin said her standing in the department had improved thanks to you. She wanted to repay you and asked my advice, so I... told her you liked reading."

"And?"

"That was all I said, but she suddenly brought up a favor I owed her and told me to repay it to you instead. So this isn't from me. It's from Shahvin. Do you understand?"

"... I understand."

In short, she'd prepared something for me, hadn't she?

I didn't know why she was going to such lengths to insist it wasn't from her. I would have taken the credit.

"Do you really understand?"

"Yes. So what's this reward?"

"Books."

"... Books?"

When I tilted my head, Lagna closed her eyes and chanted a spell.

"Bierdou Farcitiev."

As the spell took effect, brilliant golden light settled into my body.

Even the incantation had sounded a little different from usual.

"What is this?"

Unlike usual, Lagna gave me a detailed explanation in response.

Apparently, this library contained high-security books that wouldn't respond to the ordinary [Book Detection] spell, and this magic would let me find those as well.

"... I had no idea there were things like that hidden here."

"Normally, this privilege is reserved for nobles and a select few with authorization."

A kind of secret library for the privileged.

It felt like an unexpected gift, but I was just as bewildered.

"Is it all right to give me access?"

"As long as you don't go telling people, there should be no problem. Besides... I've only cast this spell a handful of times since I became the librarian."

Lagna continued, her voice a little lonely.

"Who would take an interest in this place, anyway?"

Hmm. I was starting to wonder what her story was, too.

* * *

TAP, TAP.

Only the sound of shoes echoed through the silent, empty library.

I sat reading within it, thanks to Lagna's consideration.

["Why did you have to come so late? Sigh, all right. Just for today, I'll make an exception and let you stay."]

Closing time had come and all the other patrons had been sent out, but Lagna let me stay while she put the books away.

It felt a little strange. Like I'd snuck into an employees-only area, perhaps?

TAP, TAP.

I set down my book for a moment and glanced at Lagna.

'I'd wondered how she organized them. She uses magic for that, too.'

With each slight movement of her wand, books slotted themselves into empty shelves.

For a moment, I wondered if she knew where they all belonged...

But then I realized the books in this library didn't need designated places. Once the spell was cast, it would find whatever book you wanted.

No, wait.

"Lagna."

"Go ahead."

"When we first met, didn't you tell me to put books back where I found them once I was done?"

"That's what I usually say when I can't be bothered to explain in detail. Since magic is involved, a lot of people ask unnecessary questions."

"... I see."

As a barbarian, I found that deeply hurtful, but I didn't show it and went back to my books.

Was it because these books had a high security clearance?

Their contents certainly showed it.

[Raphdonia's Organizational Structure]

The book about the city's public institutions even discussed the secret Public Security division—the organization that included the evil spirit hunters...

[The World of Evil Spirits]

Another book covered Ghost Busters in depth.

Incidentally, it contained the last words of an agent who'd entered their private spiritual world and returned half-dead...

'With a system like this, I shouldn't be in any particular danger.'

That reassured me that I could take the pill I'd kept when the time was right.

I continued reading intently. Then, just as I finished one book and reached for the next...

[Complete Analysis of Ruptures II]

My hand froze the instant I read the title.

Complete Analysis of Ruptures?

Wasn't that the book Raven had mentioned before? I quickly opened it to the first page and checked its contents. Before long, I understood her attitude.

'... No wonder she was so obsessed.'

It was practically a strategy guide.

Every hidden piece I'd discovered through countless stupid attempts and experiments was written down here.

The physical limitations of a book meant it only covered four ruptures in total, but...

'For the people here, this must be a treasure.'

The information was so perfectly organized that even I couldn't see any gaps to fill.

And perhaps because this copy had been well preserved, the author's name was written on the last page, contrary to Raven's claim that the author was unknown.

"Auriel Gabis...?"

I read the name aloud without thinking, then froze like a statue.

'Holy shit, why is this bastard's name suddenly turning up here?'

Auriel Gabis.

The name of the creator of [Dungeon and Stone].