Month 13 (6)

Erwin’s younger sister was completely different from what I had imagined.

Daria and Erwin, the eldest and second sister, were both tall and slender, so I’d assumed the youngest would be the same.

‘…She’s small.’

Her height was around 150cm. She seemed similar to or even shorter than Raven, but unlike Raven’s cold impression, her aura was different.

She didn’t look overweight, but her face… no, more precisely, her baby fat hadn’t quite disappeared yet.

‘…She looks squishy. If I touch her, she’ll get mad, right?’

In any case, the petite girl in front of me didn’t look twenty-one in the slightest. That was my first impression of Erwin’s younger sister.

“…Your stare… it’s unpleasant.”

I flinched without realizing it.

With that appearance? She’s the blunt and straightforward type?

It was rare to see someone like that in real life, but that didn’t matter right now.

“Now, now… you shouldn’t say things like that. Shall we start with an introduction?”

At Erwin’s gentle prompting, the small, adorable elf puffed out her cheeks and finally introduced herself.

“…May Fowin di Tercia.”

“I am Bjorn, son of Jandel. Nice to meet you, May.”

I wondered if she’d take offense at me calling her by her first name, but fortunately, May didn’t say anything. Was she being polite because I was her sister’s ally? I didn’t know the details, but as an adult and a senior explorer, I decided to break the ice first.

“May, how many times have you entered the Labyrinth?”

“……Four times. After that, I couldn’t go back because the Labyrinth was closed.”

“That must’ve been frustrating.”

“Not really… It’s not like entering the labyrinth is anything special.”

“…Huh?”

That response was unexpected.

At her age, I figured she’d be interested in exploration, so I thought it’d be easy to start a conversation that way. However, her reaction wasn’t out of annoyance, but a genuine disdain for exploring.

“By any chance… did you not want to become an explorer, May?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? You have to sleep every day in a place that’s dirty, cold, and hard, the food tastes terrible… and whether you like it or not, you have to stay with other people…”

Well… she wasn’t wrong. Honestly, unless you need a lot of money or have another specific goal, there’s no reason to become an explorer. In fact, that’s exactly why there are so few explorers from noble backgrounds.

“Besides, the Labyrinth always takes things away…”

“I wish something like the Labyrinth didn’t even exist.”

Knowing Erwin’s family history in detail, I had nothing to say to the tiny girl’s complaints.

“…Haha, but someone has to go in, right? The fact that we can eat, sleep, and wear clothes is all thanks to the mana stones we bring back from the Labyrinth…”

“I know that too.”

At May’s cold remark, Erwin looked flustered and didn’t know what to do. It felt like her past wrongs toward her younger sister made it impossible for her to be strict with the small girl named May.

However, all conversation comes from experience.

‘I’m used to handling kids like this.’

First, I decided to spark her interest.

If I talked about something too grand, she’d probably lose interest, so I chose a topic she’d be most curious about.

“Oh, Erwin. Did you tell May about how we first met?”

“Huh? Ah, briefly. Um… when I was in trouble… M-Mister Jandel helped me…”

“…Mister Jandel?”

“Haha… why, why are you looking at me like that, Mr. Jandel?”

Erwin smiled awkwardly as she looked at me.

It didn’t take long to understand the situation.

‘She’s… embarrassed to say that in front of her sister.’

Well, it was true that “Mister” had basically become more of a nickname by now. And since we were here to show May that I wasn’t some kind of weirdo, sticking to just “Mister” might end up giving the wrong impression.

“…Is there something I don’t know about?”

At that moment, May stepped in and asked me directly. It seemed her interest picked up after realizing there might be something she didn’t know about my first meeting with Erwin.

“Well, I’m not sure how much she told you… hmm, do you want to hear it?”

“…Tell me.”

The girl fidgeted.

“I’ll tell you.”

After that, things went smoothly.

I started with my first meeting with Erwin and went on to recount our adventures in order of interest. However, she seemed to pick up on the parts I had left out.

“…What about the Goblin Forest?”

May asked for the full story first. There were many things that happened there, but what she really wanted to know about was the incident where her eldest sister, Daria, died.

“…You can tell me. I already know most of it anyway.”

I glanced at Erwin for permission and she nodded slightly. With that, I calmly began the story.

It was longer and more detailed than any other chapter of our adventures, yet the whole story could be summed up in a single sentence.

‘Daria saved her sister, Erwin, and died in her place.’

Unfortunately, the Barbarian’s storytelling time ended there. May remained silent for a long time after the story ended, and both Erwin and I waited quietly.

“If the Labyrinth didn’t exist… sister would still be by my side…”

It was only after a long while that she finally spoke.

I nodded quietly.

“…Maybe. That could be true.”

If Daria hadn’t become an explorer, she might not have died like that.

But then she also wouldn’t have been there to protect Erwin when she was in danger.

“Why is everyone so obsessed with the Labyrinth…?”

In response to May’s follow-up question, I gave a simple answer.

“Because the city is no different.”

“We enter because we don’t want to have things taken from us anymore. This city is also always just taking things away.”

Daria and Erwen clearly knew that fact. That is why the two of them became explorers. To keep from being robbed, and to protect what was precious to them.

“Isn’t the fact that you became an explorer despite hating it because you know that truth as well?”

May said nothing to my question. Her expression looked as if she was partly convinced but didn’t want to admit it.

‘Well, at her age, it’s hard to make sense of what she’s feeling.’

It wasn’t my place to say that to May. I wasn’t even sure of my own feelings about my current situation.

I smirked and offered her a piece of advice instead.

“May Fowin di Tercia.”

“The Labyrinth will open soon, so try going back in. You’ll realize that not only bad things happen there.”

Once again, her reply came after a long pause.

“…Do you really think so?”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“It definitely will.”

Because it was the same for me.

***

Afterward, as I spent time talking with Erwin and May, I started to understand their relationship better.

“Do you want more cookies? I happen to have some from a famous bakery in the city.”

“No, I’m fine, Sister.”

Whenever Erwin tried to do something for May, May would push back and try to stop her.

They clearly cared about each other, yet their relationship felt strangely distant.

‘…This is frustrating.’

It was obvious they loved each other, so why did they act like strangers?

It was suffocating to watch, but there was nothing I could do.

I didn’t have enough experience to give advice on family matters.

‘I’ll just stay put and observe for now.’

So I kept things light and continued the conversation.

Then, after some time passed—

A visitor arrived.

“May, are you inside?”

A somewhat familiar young man’s voice called from outside.

“Ah, uncle…”

As soon as she heard it, May jumped up and went to open the door.

Watching her, Erwin gave an awkward smile. She probably knew too—how different that reaction was from the way May treated her.

“May, have you been well?”

“Geez, how long has it been since you left for you to say that?”

“Haha… I can’t help worrying, even though it’s only been a few hours.”

The male fairy gently patted May’s head with a fatherly smile before turning to me and offering his greetings.

“It’s been a while, Baron Jandel.”

Coincidentally, he was someone I already knew.

“It has. Beleg Shucia di Tersia.”

An explorer regarded as a hero among the fairies—and Erwin’s maternal uncle.

I had briefly greeted him the last time I attended the Races Summit.

“I heard you came with Erwin… so it’s true, you actually came.”

“Were you looking for me?”

“Somewhat. But I would’ve come regardless. My precious niece has returned home after so long. Erwin, have you been well?”

“Yes..”

“…That’s good. May I sit?”

“Do as you like. It’s not like I’m the owner of this house.”

I shrugged, and Beleg smiled as he took a seat across from me.

“I heard what happened in the town on my way here.”

I couldn’t help but flinch as the one responsible for the incident. After all, this man was Erwin’s uncle.

“I understand your intentions… but was it really necessary to do it that way?”

“…I have nothing to say.”

“Uncle, I told you—I’m fine… no, I’m actually grateful.”

As I lowered my head, Erwin stepped in to defend me.

As a tank barbarian, it was rare for me to feel protected by someone else.

“…What happened?”

May’s eyes went wide, but none of us dared to answer.

“I’ll step outside for a bit,” she said, picking up on the cue. “You two can keep talking.”

With that, she left the house and the situation settled down for a moment.

“…She’s a good child.”

“Seems like it. She reminds me of her older sister as well.”

“I was talking about Erwin, not May.”

“Ah…?”

“So please, treat her well. No matter how much you try to explain her situation, she won’t get another chance to marry anyone else, so take responsibility and…”

“U-uncle… what are you talking about?!” Erwin cried out.

“Erwin, no matter what you think, I am the guardian of you and May. I must say what needs to be said. Isn’t that right?”

I had nothing to say in response except this. “Th-that’s right.”

“And I assume you understand what I was trying to tell you?”

“O-Of course.”

“Then I am glad. Please don’t take it personally; think of it as the worry of an adult who cherishes Erwin.”

Once again, I couldn’t make a sound and had no choice but to nod. Fortunately, Beleg didn’t pressure me any further, and a normal conversation followed.

“Beleg, since we’ve met, I want to ask you something. Is the public opinion still bad after Erwin left the Pure Blood Special Forces?”

“I can’t even pretend it’s fine, given the things some of the elders have been saying.”

“You must’ve put in a lot of effort. Thank you.”

“I only did what was necessary.”

“I’d like to help from here on out as well. Could you tell me more about the power structure of the fairy race?”

“Hmm… alright. I can’t really treat you as an outsider anyway, Your Lordship.”

There were a few remarks here and there meant to pressure me, but the conversation with Beleg was still productive. I got a rough idea of how to improve Erwin’s standing. Once I return, I can work out the details.

“Erwin, would you mind stepping out for a moment?”

“I have something private to discuss with the Baron. It will only take a moment.”

“Yes…”

Just as I was about to wrap up the conversation and head out, Beleg sent Erwin outside.

I couldn’t help but feel nervous. He was the one who’d brought up taking responsibility right in front of Erwin, so what was he going to say now that he’d sent her outside?

“…Go on. You said you had something to tell me?”

I asked cautiously, and after a brief hesitation, Beleg spoke bluntly.

“Baron, I’ve heard that you possess a Resurrection Stone.”

…It was a topic I had never expected.

 

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