Baron Martoin (1)

When I emerged from the sewer.

I was greeted by a dark sky and two familiar faces.

“Bjorn! You’re safe!”

“Shabin ? Why are you here?”

“Why am I here? You didn’t report back for hours after the request, so I got worried and came!”

Hmm, I see.

I feel grateful that they came to find me.

But…

“Just the two of you?”

If something really happened to us, wouldn’t it be more logical to wait for daylight and send other explorers?

Instead of forming a party with an administrator and a librarian.

“What’s with that look? Do you know how skilled Ragna is as a mage?”

Only then did I take a good look at the librarian who came with her.

TL/N- Shabin Emure is a girl, as the subsequent chapters suggest

Certainly, she looked different from when I saw her in the library, starting with her appearance.

“Hmm.”

Shiny robes.

Scrolls and potions hanging from her belt.

And in her hand, she was holding a magic wand that looked quite expensive.

I’m not sure about her skills, but that gear is definitely beyond what a typical librarian’s salary could afford.

Wait, is she actually rich?

“Bjorn, who are these people?”

“Shabin Emure. She’s the administrative office clerk who assigned me this request. And this is… Ragna Litaniel Phefroc.”

“It’s not Litaniel, it’s Ritaniel!”

“Anyway, she’s the librarian from the library I used to go to.”

“Heh, I see.”

After briefly introducing Misha and the others, I spoke formally.

“I’m sorry I made you come all this way tonight.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“Then I should thank you. I didn’t expect you to come all this way.”

“…Thank Shabin for the gratitude. I was just dragged into this against my will.”

The librarian said this and turned her head away.

Why does she seem so cold today?

Just as I was wondering if it was just my imagination, Shabin grinned and clung to her.

“Ragna, you were dragged into this? Weren’t you really worried?”

“Worried? When did I ever!”

“You said they might have gotten lost in the complex sewer system, didn’t you?”

“Shabin, stop making things up. I was just discussing the possibility. And I meant it in the sense that it was nothing serious.”

“Hmm, was that so?”

Watching the librarian getting flustered, Shabin grinned. Just that was enough to give me a rough idea of their relationship.

Well, that’s not important right now.

“Let’s end the small talk and proceed with the mission report.”

We need to move quickly if I want to return to my lodging and rest before the day ends.

****

The results of the sewer patrol were straightforward.

One vagrant found and eliminated, nothing else.

There’s no evidence to prove the request was fully completed since the video recorder was smashed…

But keeping Hans’ identity badge was helpful.

“Hans Markom. I remember him. A fugitive criminal wanted for robbery and murder. The fee for the request, along with an additional bonus, comes to 180,000 stones. Please visit the administrative office tomorrow, and we will make the payment immediately.”

“Do I not have to compensate for the broken video recorder?”

“That… I’ll try to talk to the higher-ups about it. They will probably be okay with it, considering the unusual circumstances you encountered.”

“Unusual circumstances…”

Not exactly incorrect, but I didn’t expect them to consider that aspect.

However, it seemed like Shabin was showing me favor rather than the administrative office being more flexible than the guild.

“May the star at dusk guide us…”

After a short wait, a person from the temple Shabin had contacted arrived.

Not just any priest, but…

A fearsome paladin with a massive sword on his back. He meticulously examined the corpse we showed him and then nodded.

“It is indeed the apostate Elisha Behenk. Our order will never forget this contribution.”

His voice was kind and respectful, without any hint of arrogance.

But ‘never forget’?

That sounds rather vague.

“By contribution, do you mean the reward?”

I ask, straightforwardly, like a Barbarian without pretense.

The paladin just smiled amiably.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. The bounty was offered by the Adventurers’ Guild.”

“So if we hand her over to you, we won’t get the money?”

“Haha, don’t worry. I will send a formal letter to the guild first thing tomorrow morning, so there’s no need for concern on that part.”

“…I see.”

Well, that’s a bit embarrassing.

He should have just said that from the start.

“Excuse me, paladin sir? I lost my memory during the fight with that woman… Can you check if there’s anything else wrong with me?”

“Of course.”

After that, the paladin performed [Advanced Purification] on each of us and then left. Something about needing to take the body to the temple?

“We should be going too. Looks like I have a lot of reports to write tomorrow, better get some sleep.”

Shabin and the librarian were in the same boat.

With the late hour, they quickly left as soon as their business was concluded.

Hmm, does that mean all my immediate tasks are done?

“We’ll talk more about the bounty tomorrow.”

“Finally, we’re heading back!”

“I smell worse than when we returned from the labyrinth! Hahaha!”

We also dispersed and headed to our respective lodgings.

It was half-past eleven when I arrived.

I wanted to rest immediately, but first, I headed to the bathroom to scrub off the grime.

Only after a thorough wash did I finally lie down in bed, feeling the weight of the day.

‘It’s been a tough day.’

I’m not sure why a 150,000-stone quest made me feel this way, but…

At least I made it back alive.

***

The next morning, we all gathered to collect the bounty at the Guild.

Luckily, the paladin expedited the process and it was a simple matter of showing our ID cards and receiving the payment

And the amount was…

“Ten million stones, I can’t believe it, hahahaha!”

Divided by five, that’s two million stones.

This morning, they were still grumbling about the lingering sewer smell, but now their faces bloomed with smiles.

“Now that I think about it, Bjorn, you’re a lucky charm! Ever since I met you, it feels like money is just raining from the sky!”

Yeah, you would feel that way.

I was the one who got my head cracked open by a psychopath, after all.

Rotmiller added his piece.

“…I don’t believe in superstitions, but at this point, it’s undeniable. Bjorn, it’s clear that the goddess of fortune accompanies you on your journey.”

I appreciate the compliment, but it doesn’t feel great to hear it. Why is it that my hard-earned achievements are attributed to some unseen goddess?

“Well, I’m off then.”

“Huh? Where are you going? Shouldn’t we have a drink or something?”

“I also need to stop by the administrative office.”

“Ah, right, to collect the mission payment. We’ll be drinking without you then; take care.”

Hmm, not even a polite offer to join me.

“Bjorn! Do you want me to come with you?”

“It’s okay, you worked hard yesterday. You should rest.”

“Um, alright then.”

After distributing the bounty, I headed straight to the administrative office.

The five-story building reminded me of the old Seoul Station building.

I walked up the stairs to the third floor, the Facilities Management Department, and it didn’t take long to find Shabin.

“Bjorn! You’re here!”

Shabin, as usual, was in her uniform, a standard form of dress here. In fact, since everyone wore the same, she didn’t stand out at all.

Or perhaps, I was the one who stood out?

“Hey, is that the little Balkan?”

“I heard he gets really big when he uses that ability…….”

“What are you all talking about! Oh my, you’re so embarrassing…….”

Was this a predominantly female workplace?

As soon as I entered the Facility Management Department, there was a flurry of excited whispers.

I felt like a monkey in a cage and decided to finish my business and leave as soon as possible.

“Here, just sign the payment confirmation form. If you don’t have a registered signature, just writing your name will do.”

“Alright.”

I quickly received the payment and completed the paperwork.

Just as I was about to leave, Shabin caught up to me with one last thing to say.

“Oh! Right! If you have time, please stop by the library.”

“The library?”

“Ragna, that girl, has prepared something special for you, Bjorn.”

She did?

Seeing her playful eyes, I guessed I should take it with a grain of salt…

“I’ll stop by when I have time.”

“Yes! Please do!”

It seemed there was a genuine reason, so I decided I should pay a visit.

***

After leaving the administrative office, I returned to the tavern where the others were.

It was complete chaos.

It was still broad daylight, so I thought they’d have some restraint.

“No way, is that true? Hahahaha!”

“Stop lying, you dwarf fool! How can a person’s name be Dick Johnson… Nyaha! Nyahaha!”

The Dwarf and Misha were clearly drunk, laughing and talking, while Dwalki was face down on the table, giggling to himself.

“Haha, I, the great magician Leor Wuerv Dwalki…”

I sighed at the sight, and then Rotmiller greeted me politely.

“Ah, you’re here too? How was it? No trouble, I hope?”

“That’s what I should be asking. Why is everyone like this already?”

“We’ve just made a quick fortune, haven’t we? Everyone’s in high spirits.”

“…I see.”

I responded and then approached Misha.

I snatched the beer mug from her hand and lifted her by the nape of her neck.

“Aack!

Who, who’s that…? Bjorn? When did you get here?”

“Just now. And you should stop drinking.”

“…Nyah! Are you my dad or something?”

She looked at me with a face full of disdain, as if rebelling.

Before I could scold her for climbing any higher on the drunk ladder, Misha burst into laughter.

“Ah! Right! My dad wouldn’t care about this stuff! Nyahaha!”

…She’s really not in a good state today.

Sigh, I just wanted to relax today.

“Forget it, if you’re bored, drink this.”

“Okay.”

Not wanting her to get more intoxicated, I ordered tomato juice for Misha and sat next to her.

I’m not concerned about the dwarf, but if she gets too drunk to handle herself, I have to take her home.

I’m the only one going in the same direction.

“Hahah! You two are really something! There must be something going on!!”

“Stop talking nonsense and drink some water if you’re drunk.”

“Hahah, you’re still young, aren’t you? Do you think this is beer to me? This is just water! Water!”

“…Do as you please.”

Deciding to ignore the Dwarf’s antics, I ordered some food to satisfy my hunger.

As I was eating, Misha, who seemed a bit more sober, started fidgeting beside me, looking intently at me.

“What… Got something to say?”

“I do!”

She responded eagerly as if she had been waiting for this.

“…Go ahead.”

Misha tapped her flushed cheeks a couple of times to compose herself, then began to speak.

“My father asked me to bring you over once-”

“Oh! Who do we have here! Isn’t that Jandel’s son, Bjorn?”

“Huh? Who’s that guy?”

Misha’s words were cut off by a loud voice calling out to me.

It was someone I remembered.

“You’re…”

“Forgot my name already? It’s Hans! Hans Hodie!”

“…Right.”

I remembered the name but got the sequence mixed up.

This Hans, identifiable by his skinny, mackerel-like body and freckles, was code B.

I had incidentally met him in a tavern when Aynar left our party. He had advised me to go to the guild if I was looking for a companion.

“But what does this bastard want with me?

Maybe it’s because I’ve run into so many Hanses since then?++0

As soon as he spoke to me, I started to feel uneasy.

As if something unpleasant was about to happen.

“Can I sit?”

“No, I have nothing to talk about with you.”

“Hmm, even meeting like this must be fate—”

“I’ll be leaving soon. So, you should go now.”

“That, that’s unfortunate. I was just happy to see you…”

Seeing that I was putting up walls, Hans B looked dejected and walked away.

I had a feeling that I had just avoided a potential problem.

At that moment…

Bang!

The tavern door swung open, and a group of knights bearing the same family crest on their chests entered.

“It’s the Mozelans!”

The Mozelans.

One of the city’s most powerful military organizations, only accessible to knights of noble origin.

“Why would they come to a place like this…?”

True to their notorious reputation for leaving nothing but blood and death in their wake, everyone’s attention turned to them as soon as they entered.

The tavern, which had been lively moments ago, was now filled with an eerie silence.

“Over there.”

Following the commander’s direction, the knights moved in unison towards one spot.
Unfortunately, it was in my direction.

‘Damn it.’

What now?

As I recalled my recent actions, wondering if I had made a mistake.

[Always be wary of those with many grievances.]

The words of the tribe’s shaman who read my fortune suddenly came to mind.

And then, I saw Hans B, who had been on his way back to his seat, pressing himself against the corridor to let the knights pass.

‘Wait a minute, grievances… could it be about Hans?’

Surely, every time I got entangled with them, things never ended well…

As these thoughts crossed my mind…

Click.

The group of knights stopped right in front of our table.

Frozen with a fork in hand, I tensed up as the commanding voice, both deep and intimidating, addressed us.

“Leor Wuerv Dwalki, you are under arrest for the crime of insulting nobility.”

Surprisingly, this time, it wasn’t me.

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