Request (2)

“Can you foresee any imminent events?”

“Well, I cannot see such things. But always beware of those harboring deep grudges. Your fate attracts such individuals.”

“Simplify, please.”

“If you resolve their grudges, it’ll bring fortune; if not, misfortune.”

Doesn’t he understand what ‘simplify’ means?

“Enough, you’re making me hungry. You may leave now.”

“Understood.”

With the shaman’s dismissal, I left the tent and trudged towards the city, feeling drained.
As I walked, my energy gradually returned.

‘Must be thanks to the Soul Engraving.’

The first stage of the Immortal Engraving boosts natural regeneration, and the second stage increases stamina and magical resistance.

Magical resistance refers to resistance against magical damage, while stamina affects the maximum limit and regeneration speed of stamina.

In other words, unlike physical stats like strength or agility, these aren’t directly noticeable attributes.

But…

‘Not bad at all.’

Such underlying stats are crucial; without them, the character won’t function effectively later on.

Moreover, to unlock the core 6th stage of my cultivation method, I need to gradually raise these levels from now.

‘From the 3rd stage engraving onwards, they’re quite useful in themselves.’

I had planned to get up to the 3rd stage immediately, but that’ll wait until tomorrow.

So, for today, since I have some time—

“Bjorn!”

As I was reevaluating my plans for the day, a familiar voice called out.

It sounded like a whisper from somewhere.

For a moment I thought I’d misheard it, but…….

“Bjorn!”

Following the direction of the voice, I saw a face popping out of the swaying bushes.

“…Aynar?”

“Quiet down! We’ll be in trouble if we’re caught!”

Aynar’s urgent request made me squat down in front of the bush and lower my voice.

“…What are you doing here?”

“I heard from the elder that you were at the sanctuary, so I came to see you. You have to pass this way to go to the city, right?”

Ah, I see.

But how did she know when I would come?

“It’s good I came early. My legs were getting sore from waiting!”

She was planning to wait until I showed up.

Typical Aynar.

“Anyway, come inside quickly. We don’t know who might pass by.”

Glad to see a familiar face and curious about her recent activities, I walked through the thick bushes and sat down.

That’s when I saw Aynar properly.

I asked with genuine concern.

“…Why have you become so gaunt?”

Her height, which had reduced to the mid-170s due to the essence of the Bonenight.

She used to look robust despite hr height, but now?

Aynar smiled bitterly.

“Haha, don’t stare too much, it’s embarrassing. I know I don’t look great.”

In just a month, the once muscular warrior’s body had slimmed down to a lean, muscular physique.

“Is the elder not feeding you properly?”

“No, it’s not that. My muscles have been compressing every day, and before I knew it, I ended
up like this.”

“Compressing?”

“There is such a thing. I don’t understand it well myself, so don’t ask too much.”

“I see…”

How could any training transform her healthy body into this?

Feeling dismayed, I pressed my lips together in silence.

Then Aynar, trying to smile, changed the subject.

“I heard from the elder about you. You got the nickname Little Balkan, right? You’re amazing, Bjorn!”

“It’s nothing much.”

“Did something happen there? I’m curious about your story.”

Aynar looked at me with bright, curious eyes.

Being cooped up in training every day, she was probably eager to hear stories from the outside.

Feeling a bit sorry for her, I settled down comfortably and began to tell my tale.

“Oh, you became part of Hikurod’s team? That’s good to hear. I was worried when I left, but he’s trustworthy.”

I told her about joining Hikurod’s team and various incidents in the labyrinth.

But just as my story was about to end…

“Aynar, the second daughter of Pheneline!!!!!!”

A roaring cry erupted from the distance.

“Did you run away again!!!!”

“Ah, this is bad. It seems the elder has noticed I’ve run away.”

Aynar quickly got up as the roar from afar pierced our ears.

I asked worriedly.

“Are you going to be alright?”

“I’ll be fine. Just double the training today. If I don’t sleep, it’s no big deal.”

No, that’s exactly why I’m worried…

“I was so bored I thought I’d die, but your stories made it enjoyable. Come again next time.”

“Sure.”

“Then, I must go!”

Aynar quickly turned and ran in the direction of the sound.

As I was about to continue on my way…

“Oh, right! Bjorn!”

Suddenly, Aynar turned back to call out to me.

She then said something unexpected.

“I forgot to mention earlier, but it’s good to see you looking well!”

“Looking well?”

“Before, you seemed filled with more venom, if that’s the right word? Not that it was bad… But now, you look more relaxed! It must be because of your new trustworthy comrades!”
Is that so?

I wasn’t quite sure…

“Aynar!!! Won’t you hurry up!!”

“Anyway, see you later! I’ll train hard and return as a more reliable warrior!”

With that, Aynar disappeared from my view.

I stood there for a moment, pondering.

‘Lost my venom, huh…’

Is this a positive change, or not?

It was still unclear.

The Soul Engraving finished early, and with plenty of time left, I visited the Mage Tower.

I needed to meet my research quota for the week.

“Huh? Mr. Jandel, why are you here today? Weren’t you supposed to come tomorrow?”

“I have other things to do tomorrow, so I came today.”

“Shouldn’t you avoid making plans if you have a prior engagement?”

…That’s a fair point.

But I’m a fine Barbarian.

“What does a prior engagement mean?”

“You always act like this… Fine, sit down and wait. I’ll start as soon as I finish what I’m doing.”

“Alright.”

The preparations for today’s experiment were soon completed.

Today’s experiment was to check how the Vampire’s magical resistance affects mental magic and to measure the reduced solar resistance…

“Just do what you need to do.”

“Then shall we start?”

Zzzzizzzzz!!

As I numbly endured the menacing experimental tools, the experiment ended quicker than expected.

Just as I was about to leave without looking back…

“Mr. Jandel!”

Raven called out to me hastily.

I thought she had something to say about the research…

“So when are you going to tell me about it?”

“Tell you about what?”

“That holy relic you used to catch the Vampire! How did you know [Tear of the Goddess] was there?”

Ah, this again?

Every time I visit, we have this conversation.

“As I’ve said before, I don’t even know what that is.”

“And you say that again?”

Raven crossed her arms and glared at me.

But does she realize that with her small stature, it just makes her look more stubborn?

I asked directly.

“Alluva Raven, why are you so obsessed with [Tear of the Goddess]?”

At first, I thought she suspected me of being an evil spirit.

But her actions suggested otherwise.

Like when she asked about the pill and the letter. If she suspected me of being an evil spirit, there would have been some hint in our conversation.

“…It’s not because of the holy relic.”

She finally gave an answer.

If it’s not suspicion of me being an evil spirit, then what is it?

Her reason was something I hadn’t anticipated.

“It’s because of a book related to the relic.”

“A book?”

“The Chronicles of the Fracture. Surely you’re not going to say you don’t know about it?”

No matter how she looked at me, I genuinely didn’t know.

“The secrecy around the book I can understand. I’d do the same. After all, knowledge becomes more valuable the fewer people know about it, right?”

“…So, what are you trying to say?”

“If you have the book or know where it is, I want to buy it. My copy is incomplete, and I can’t read much of it.”

Looking at her earnest expression, it seemed she wasn’t just probing me with a fabricated story.

Was it really just about the book?

“If that was your purpose, why not just ask directly from the beginning?”

“But negotiations tend to favor the side that seems less desperate, right?”

Well, that’s true.

As I unwittingly nodded, she candidly confessed her strategy.

“I planned to acknowledge finding the relic and then try to negotiate casually, as if it was no big deal. It wouldn’t have worked since you knew its value, but…”

“So, you decided to be straightforward instead.”

“Yes. So now, can you be honest with me?”

I pondered for a moment.

Since I was certain the item I used was a holy relic, it didn’t seem right to keep denying it like before.

It might be better to admit what needs to be admitted.

“That thing, the [Tear of the Goddess] or whatever, I found it after breaking a statue by the fountain.”

“I knew it! So that was it!”

“But that’s all there is to it.”

“…What?”

She looked confused as I quickly explained.

“While you were searching the area, I broke it out of boredom and it came out.”

“So… you don’t know about the book?”

Muttering with a blank expression, she soon snapped back to reality and shot back.

“Wait a minute. That doesn’t make sense. If that’s true, how could you think of using something you didn’t even know about in that situation?”

A sharp question.

But I had already anticipated it, so my response was smooth.

“The box had a symbol of the goddess on it, so I guessed it was related. It worked well indeed.”

“…Is that true?”

“On the honor of a warrior, everything I just said is true.”

After giving her a pledge that was as good as a cheat key for a modern person, Raven’s expression turned gloomy.

“So, what have I been doing all this time?”

Realizing she was shadowboxing, she seemed to be hit by a wave of self-loathing.

I felt sorry for her, but it also made me think.

The player community ‘Ghostbusters’.

I always thought its greatest advantage was ‘exchange of information’.

‘Maybe for someone else, it wasn’t.’

To someone, I’m a player,

To another, an evil spirit.

That’s why…

“I’m hungry, so I’ll be going now!”

I stormed out of the room like a true Barbarian.

Whether it’s Misha, who sees me as a benefactor,

The dwarf, who treats me like a friend,

Or Aynar, who always encourages and admires me as a great warrior,

It’s all the same.

Bjorn Jandel, son of Jandel.

In this body, I can never be completely truthful to anyone.

Not that being Lee Hansoo would make much of a difference.

After leaving the Mage Tower, I went straight to the commercial district to pick up my enchanted underwear.

Then, it was five in the afternoon.

A bit too early to end the day, so I headed to the library.

Better to be slightly productive than just resting at home.

“Parsityev.”

After receiving a magical enchantment from the librarian, I headed straight to the bookshelves.

Greeting her seemed pointless as she’d never respond, and today I didn’t have the energy anyway.

But then…

“…You’ve become quite famous, haven’t you?”

The usually reticent librarian unexpectedly started a conversation.

“It just happened.”

I gave a brief reply and left.

I once thought befriending a mage would be beneficial, but…

‘Now, looking back, it’s amusing to be so concerned about such things.’

I had become a 6th-grade explorer.

And earned the nickname ‘Little Balkan’.

I had enough credentials to join a team with a mage, and my current team already included a mage.

Though not from the Mage Tower…

‘Considering she works as a librarian, it’s probably the same for her.’

I chuckled to myself, realizing it was all just rationalization.

Trudging along…

Justifications existing solely for the sake of validity.

Ultimately, there’s a separate underlying truth.

I just didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to calculate every move, striving to gain favor from others.

At least for today, I was too tired for that.

So—

I halted my steps towards the bookshelves.

And faced the problem I had been avoiding.

‘No wonder Aynar said I’ve lost my venom.’

I had a problem.

A mental one.

My once dry emotions were subtly making their presence known, now that my life was relatively stable.

This was not good news for my survival-first mentality.

What then is the solution?

‘I don’t know, but I should just do what needs to be done.’

I turned back.

And approached the librarian.

“Don’t just stare blankly, if you have something to say, say it.”

“…How did you know I wanted to say something?”

“It was just that look in your eyes.”

I had some clues, but explaining them was a hassle.

I stared at her, filled with such sentiments, prompting the quick-witted librarian to succinctly explain her purpose.

“I have a friend who works in the administration. They’re looking for an explorer for a job, and I mentioned you.”

“You mentioned me?”

“Not exactly a recommendation. It came up in conversation, and my friend asked to meet you. Of course, if you’re busy or not interested, you can refuse—”

“No, I’ll meet and hear them out.”

Surprised by my response, the librarian gave a small nod.

“I’ll let my friend know, then.”

A job offer…

It was about time for such events to happen.

‘Now I have a means to earn money in the city.’

It was good I decided to listen.

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