Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

While I was spending my days looking for a ship to sail on the 6th floor and looking for a navigator to drive it, Amelia delivered good news.

“Don’t worry about the Suits Guild anymore.”

“Don’t you mind?”

“I found the right guy and took care of it.”

“…what?”

When I asked for details, it was Amelia-style work.

Did you find a guild executive who committed a life-threatening crime, such as embezzlement and tax evasion?

It seems that they succeeded in destroying the guild information about ‘Leehen Suits’ by threatening them with the evidence.

“Rather than scrapping it, it would have been much safer to modify it to the content we wanted, but they said it was difficult.”

“Is it possible that the data being discarded is a problem?”

“Generally not. Losing or damaging administrative data is more common than you might think.”

Well, that’s right…….

As I nodded my head quietly, Amelia continued to say that not all the data was discarded and that the data that Lichen Schuitz was a 5th-class explorer remained.

In simple terms, it means that the 5th grade status is maintained.

“Is there a strange face somewhere?”

“Even in a world where loss is common, it would seem a bit suspicious that my data suddenly disappeared.”

“It’s still better than leaving the old data unattended, right?”

well that’s for sure

Even if it is difficult to get rid of the heart, at least the physical evidence may not be given to the side pursuing me.

“Nice job… no thank you, Amelia.”

“…It’s only natural that those who do well do what they do well.”

“Because that’s efficient, right?”

Amelia nodded and changed the subject.

“So, what happened to your job? Have you read all the materials you handed over?”

Ah, the list of ships.

It was a document that neatly summarized the specifications and prices of ships on the market.

“If you don’t like something, I want you to tell me quickly, but I’ll have to look for it again.”

“No, there’s no need to do that. As long as there’s no difference between the contents of the document and the real thing, there’s something that’s just right.”

Soon after I told them which ship I had chosen, Amelia asked why, and I recited excitedly.

“The price is the most expensive among the candidates, but if you look at the performance and price, you can see that it is rather cheap.”

“Hmm.”

“In addition, as long as you avoid special areas, you can sail up to the 7th floor with just the current state, and if you add options later, you can navigate special areas as well, so you don’t need to find a new ship again.”

“Right?”

Amelia responded without a soul.

I wondered why he would ask if he was going to react so calmly

, but…

At Amelia’s next words, I stuttered involuntarily.

“Uh… is that so?”

“We’re already on the same boat, and you’re the captain of that boat.”

Words that will make listeners feel embarrassed.

But apart from that, I thought of this.

Is he doing this on purpose to cheer me up?

Well, lately I’ve been in a position where I’ve been almost confined to my house and just asking these guys for a favor.

Maybe it was consideration—

“Then, the ship has been decided, so let’s go first. If we move quickly, we’ll be able to make an appointment before the exchange closes.”

I wanted to ask if he really said that because of me, but I couldn’t because Amelia went out wearing a coat.

because nothing is important

‘Anyway, then I got a boat with this…….’

If I had a lot of budget, I could have gotten a better boat, but I’m not particularly regretful.

The boat I picked this time was pretty good.

‘Is the problem a navigator?’

Since ancient times, problems have been people, not things.

***

Smart.

As I was lying on the bed reading the books I had borrowed from the library, I heard a knock.

Um, is it lunch time already?

“Come in.”

As soon as my permission was given, the door opened as if it had waited.

As expected, the visitor was Erwen.

Amelia must be in the middle of negotiations with the seller who is about to sell the boat.

“What’s going on?”

As soon as I closed the book and asked about business, Erwen muttered in a dissatisfied voice.

“A guest is coming.”

“customer?”

As I tilted my head and asked again, a woman appeared in the doorway.

Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.

“It’s me.”

It was Raven.

Unlike the last time I saw him, he was wearing regular clothes, not the magic corps uniform, and his hair was undone without being tied up.

After that, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

“Am I going in?”

“Ah uh…”

Before she could answer anything, Raven came into the room and sat down, and Erwen followed suit, picked up a chair, and sat down far away.

“Why did you come in?”

“No?”

No, I’m not saying no… I was just asking for a reason…

but whatever.

Seeing you sitting so far away, I wouldn’t bother.

“It’s been a while, Raven.”

“Yes. How are you?”

“Not yet. But is it okay to come here like this?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve come here to avoid people’s eyes.”

“Ah, that’s why you let your hair down and dressed like that?”

“……Then, is there any other reason?”

No, why is he answering so harshly?

I was just asking, did something bad happen?

‘I’ll have to be careful when talking today.’

With that thought in mind, when I was about to ask about it, Raven opened her mouth first.

“book.”

“……?”

“I see you’re reading a book. Did you buy it?”

“No, it seems that you can borrow money these days.”

“Ah… I’ve heard about that before. Only people whose identities are clearly guaranteed can take books out, right?”

“Officially, but in practice, it is a way to leave a deposit unless you are aristocrats or high-ranking officials.”

“It’s okay, uncle.”

Erwen suddenly interrupted the conversation, but Raven nodded without showing much.

“Well, if you’re Mr. Tersia, you can do that.”

“So what’s the reason you came all the way here while hiding? Did something happen?”

Let’s hurry up and check the business before the topic of the conversation goes to a strange place, and Raven also finished the introduction at this point and moved on to the main topic.

“Mr. Yandel… No, I’m sorry.

“Okay.”

“Anyway, I’m here because I have a story to tell Mr. Shuitz.”

Yeah, you didn’t just come to see me.

I wondered if the introduction was long.

“A story? Tell me.”

It didn’t seem like something light, so I put my voice down seriously and focused on the conversation.

“The royal family has started an informal investigation into Mr. Shuitz.”

“An informal investigation?”

“It’s a normal thing when new characters appear. An official investigation without justification looks like control and oppression towards explorers.”

Um, is it like a civilian inspection?

It’s a dictatorship anyway, but it’s looking in strange places.

“So anyway?”

“The investigation came to me as well, so I disclosed information to some extent as I said. I only picked out things that couldn’t be hidden, like Yandel-san’s ability at that time.”

“Nevertheless, if it’s an informal investigation, it seems that I have doubts about my identity itself.”

“Yes. If so, you would have been arrested earlier? Even if it’s informal, there are cases where things are handled moderately, and vice versa.”

Rumors that the royal family is training secret special forces in the shadows are not actually rumors.

The group that is called the Knights of the Rose or something is a representative notice.

“So what happened to you? First of all, from the upper level’s point of view, you must have missed the report.”

“If that’s the case, it’s okay. At the time, I made good use of the fact that the position of commander of the 3rd corps was vacant. I also told my immediate supervisor, Captain Pevrosk, that I had a separate report.”

“Then wouldn’t it be a lie?”

“It’s not a lie. I really reported to the captain as soon as I returned to the city. Of course, it was made up to some extent.”

“That’s right…….”

There is a sense of reassurance in handling the work, but on the other hand, guilt feelings also bloom.

“I’m sorry I got involved in my business, Raven.”

“…isn’t that over?

“I will definitely pay this debt.”

“Yes, you have to do that. I thought it would be a loss if I didn’t.”

It was an atmosphere that could easily become heavy, but as Raven jokingly responded, he felt a little more at ease.

It’s time to move on to the next item.

“Have you ever heard of Raven’s ethnic incorporation?”

“The nation’s incorporation agenda? What is it?”

“It’s not about defining evil spirits as enemies, but about embracing them. It was suggested 150 years ago, but it was canceled for various reasons.”

“Ah, I remember learning about it before. But why?”

“I heard that the matter was brought up at the royal council.”

When I explained why I brought this up, Raven looked surprised.

“I’ve just heard of that for the first time. Mr. Shuitz would have been at home most of the time, but how… Oh, it was the 15th not too long ago!”

One of Raven’s strengths is that it doesn’t need a long explanation.

I said neither affirmatively nor negatively.

“I want you to find out. Who brought up the subject at the meeting and…” ”

And…?”

“Is there really no chance that the royal family will accept the proposal?”

Maybe this will be the key point.

***

Pretty busy days after Raven went.

To be precise, busy days continued for Amelia, not me at home.

I bought the ship I had set up with almost all of my property, but I couldn’t find a navigator to drive the ship.

Very simply Mr. Sailors dried up.

Since everyone is on a military ship and heading straight to the Dark Continent, I thought there would be quite a few things for sale in the market.

“As expected, it was a bit difficult to find in a month…”

“Speak properly. It must be difficult to find someone who looks good in your eyes.”

well that’s right

To be honest, it wasn’t that there were no navigators at all.

However, the problem was that most of them were vague.

Sailing skills are more important than anything else in order to properly reach the subterranean sea, the destination of this exploration.

“Whether you lower your eyes or give up, choose one. Even if a person with such skills is released on the market, other teams will quickly snatch them up, and our team, which is trying to recruit them in the form of short-term contracts like mercenaries, won’t come.”

“Okay? Then give up.”

“That easy…?”

“What can I do? The labyrinth will open in two days from now. I’ll try to save it next month.”

“Then, are you going to leave out the subterranean island from this exploration plan?”

“No, we’re just trying to do it ourselves. I don’t know if it will work or not, but there’s nothing to do on the

lower floors anyway, right?” In the first place, I didn’t get enough experience points even in the beginning of the 6th floor, so even if I couldn’t reach the underground island, it wouldn’t be a big loss.

However, did my words annoy you?

“.. I’m not wrong, but it’s pissing me off. If I had told you in advance, I wouldn’t have been so busy.”

“That’s… I’m sorry.”

After apologizing to Amelia, he also called Erwen into the room to discuss plans for the next expedition.

But it won’t take too long . In case the navigator can’t be saved, I’ve also set up a plan B.

”

Going into the rift…?

” After all, if you arrive on the 6th floor a few days late, it’s not like something big is going to happen. It’s not like we’re joining the expeditionary force this time. From what I’ve heard, it seems like you two haven’t even had enough rift experience, right?” ”

That’s because rifts aren’t places you can enter

just because you want to…” That’s right.

I couldn’t easily share how to open the rift in

”I’m sure it’s a demon, so it’s very comfortable in this part.”

“Anyway, then the exploration plan should be enough.”

After the plan was shared, each person spent their personal maintenance time, and two more days passed like that—

“You entered the crystal cave on the first floor.”

It was the day to enter the labyrinth

. Are you smiling?”

“I’m just looking forward to it. Let’s go to the second floor.”

It must feel like exploring for the first time in a while.