«It's been a while, Miss Rainwales».
Upon receiving a call from the city through the crystal ball, Amelia found herself tilting her head. It was not the voice of the castle lord that she remembered. «...Grandpa, the alchemist?»
«Haha, it's an honor that you recognize my voice».
«...How are you able to use the communication network?»
«I asked the gentleman. I have to ask you a favor and I wanted to ask myself. Isn't it more comfortable for both of us? We can also hear each other's voices».
«I see.» It's not that she didn't understand it. The alchemist was more important in Noark than the lord of the castle. If this was his request, the lord had to listen. Amelia was quick to get to the point. «So what's the favor you want to ask for?».
«Oh, it's nothing important. But other than that, how are you?»
«...You know that question doesn't work for me».
«Haven't you shaken it off yet?».
Amelia kept her mouth shut and avoided responding. Having known her since he was young, he was one of the few people who knew her past.
«Miss Rainwales, I have my guesses as to why you accepted this mission. But you must forget it now. Your sister wouldn't want you to get revenge...»
«Enough.» Amelia cut it coldly. «Stop talking about it and get to the point». Those left behind had their own work to do. She didn't want anyone's interference in doing that, even this old man.
«...Okay. Then I'll go about my business».
Afterwards, the alchemist recited a few items he needed and Amelia wrote them down on paper so as not to forget them. Most of them were alchemical ingredients like magic reagents, nothing special, but things that were difficult to achieve in confinement.
«How long will it take to get them all?»
«A few days is enough».
«Is that so? So can you just get me the sleeping flower powder a little earlier?».
«I can send it to you right now».
«Oh, do you have?»
«You know it is.» Sleeping flower powder had a sleeping effect. Although not as strong, she often used it because it had the ability to pierce tolerance to poison, not for the enemy, but for herself. «I'll put it in subspace once this broadcast ends».
«Haha, so I guess today's thing is already done?». The old man laughed with a somewhat dejected voice.
Just as the broadcast was about to end, Amelia stopped when a question suddenly blossomed. «But... why do you need flower powder to sleep?».
Amelia felt uncomfortable even asking that. It was a question I normally wouldn't have asked. He rarely asked others first, especially out of simple curiosity. However... Something was different today. I felt like something important was being lost.
«There are no alchemical formulas that require sleeping flower powder».
«Oh, that?» Before long, the old man's voice came through the crystal ball. «The dragon hunter, Regal Vagos. I'm going to use it to treat that guy. Not to do the medicine, but because it will be more convenient to put him to sleep first».
«Have you found a way to restore his memory?»
«No, but first I will treat his damaged body. As you know, we need all the strength we can get».
«I see.» Amelia involuntarily let out a sigh of relief. As long as his memories did not return, whether he recovered or not would not affect anything.
«Haha, but once his body recovers, I plan to recover his memories too».
Amelia stiffened.
«It's just that the method is so radical that it's too much for your body right now. But because the sample is so small, the success rate is only half».
A 50% success rate, too big a chance to leave to chance. However, that wasn't a big problem. That would only be resolved if his body did not recover.
«Ya veo.»
After that, Amelia cut off the transmission. As promised, he put the dream flower powder into the bidirectional subspace... after applying a poison on top that destroyed living tissue.
***
The second vine had torn apart. I had been silent for a while, which had calmed me down.
What the hell is this bastard up to?
Impatience began to invade me. I wasn't ready to meet him yet. Although he had grown up in many areas, the scope of that was only a fourth-floor explorer becoming a fifth-floor explorer. And to think that now there was only one vine left...
Sixth floor. I have to get to the sixth floor as soon as possible.
On the sixth floor, there was a chance that I could eat that essence, my second main essence after Gigantization. If I could somehow go against that...
«Sir!»
«¿Eh?»
«What are you thinking so deeply about?»
Hearing Erwen's voice woke me up from my thoughts. Was it because the peace had lasted so long lately? It wasn't like the last vine had broken, but anxious imaginations continued to blossom and complicate my head.
«Sorry. What were we talking about?»
«We weren't... I was asking you what we should ask for».
«Oh, sure.» Reading the menu, I ordered a suitable sandwich and beer.
«But this place hasn't changed anything», Erwen said as she watched the worker leave after taking our order. I didn't have to ask him what exactly he meant. «Even though we've changed so much».
The tavern was called Fidenpus, the same one where Erwen and I had our drink back after completing our first exploration. That's why we couldn't avoid the strange feeling. The barbarian who had a terrible time on the first floor for not having a companion at night was now a well-known explorer in the city. Not only had she gained great fame, but Erwen had also grown enormously by the time she reached her first full year. It was enough to look at his equipment to understand that change.
«It's the first time we've had anything since then, right?»
«Oh, when did you pay your taxes for the first year?»
For reference, that was right after I moved. Wondering where to meet today, I chose this place for that reason. It was obvious that Missha wouldn't like me to invite her to her house. Since our house was a space shared by three people, I couldn't do whatever I wanted.
«Did something happen on this expedition?»
«...Yes, well. The same as always».
Once the drinks and dishes came out, we started talking seriously. The main topic was each other's recent news. Now that he had fewer encounters with the girl he used to come every day, there was no more common theme than this.
«What is the atmosphere like in your clan? I'm curious too. Any news?»
«I'm not sure. Even if there are, they don't tell us anything...»
After serving as mercenaries for a known clan, Erwen and her sister resumed their exploration of the labyrinth with the other clan members. Its area of activity was the fifth floor. However, since our team only hunted in the Hellfire Gorge, we had not yet found ourselves in the maze.
«Anyway, I'm frustrated out of my mind. I told you before, right? There is someone who doesn't stop flirting with my sister. Now it even hints to me».
«Sounds exhausting».
«Yeah, it's not like I can plant an arrow between his eyebrows since he's executive level... I just have to be patient. Until I get everything I need and leave».
The more we talked, the more I realized that a lot had changed. She had become an explorer a little over a year ago, but unlike before, she no longer behaved innocently. In a way, it made sense. A year in the maze was enough time to see all kinds of things.
«Anyway, tell me now. Did you say you had something to say?» Thinking it was the right time, I brought up the main topic.
«Ah, that...» Erwen parted her lips after a brief pause. «Do you remember? When I said I had a lot left to learn from my sister...».
«I remember». He said he would absorb it all like a sponge for half a year and would come join my team. Well, it had been over half a year since then, but I never mentioned it before. Not only were there no empty places on our team... «Since you haven't said anything until now, I thought you changed your mind».
I thought the conversation was over. But wasn't it like that?
Erwen vehemently denied my words. «H-hey, what are you talking about! It can not be. We are each other's first night companions».
Technically, my first night companion was Hans A. His was Harts Young or whatever his name would be.
«So what do you mean?»
«I... think it will take a little longer».
«What do you mean?»
«T-You're all rank 5, right? As of now, there's no room for me... To be honest, it almost feels like there's no hope. B-well, you even live together now...»
«What are you saying? Stop murmuring and speak clearly».
At my words, Erwen gobbled up the rest of her drink. «I regret. Back then... why didn't I accept your offer? I thought I could close the gap quickly, but there are more and more...».
Those words were closer to a lament than a period, but I thought I knew what he was trying to say. He wanted to join our team, but he was sure he wasn't able to ask me to eliminate someone. It's not like their specs were better than current members. Hmm, still, it seemed like he hadn't changed his mind.
«Anyway. So what I mean is...»
«Enough.» I stopped her there. First, there was a misunderstanding that needed to be cleared up. «I had no intention of putting you on the team from the beginning».
«...Sorry?» There was silence for a moment. Erwen's eyes, blankly fixed on the air, took a while to develop a questioning look. «What are you referring to? You never said anything like that. I-I thought you were stating it...». Erwen's eyes bounced, unable to focus on one place, as if her mind had been disconnected.
Oops, that's not what I meant. I interrupted her before the misunderstanding escalated. «Erwen, I'm going to form a clan».
«¡¿Clan?!»
«Of course, not now, it will take a few more months. If that still sounds good to you, I want you to...»
«Yes! I want to join!» The answer came before he finished speaking.
«No, but first, a detailed explanation-»
«No problem! I'm in anyway».
«...If you say so. Anyway, this is a secret. I haven't told anyone on my team yet».
«Hey, so I'm the first one you ask...?».
I tilted my head. «Yes, of course you are». I hadn't even told them I was making a clan, how could I ask? Considering our relationship, I didn't even have to ask Missha and Ainar. As part of the magic tower, Raven would probably refuse. I didn't know about Mr. Bear.
He seems to have bad memories of the clans.
As he thought this, Erwen laughed strangely. «Hehe, hehehe!»
***
The drinking party with Erwen, which began in the early afternoon, lasted longer than expected. Originally, my plan was to find out why he had asked to see me, hear some news, and break up.
«That? Is the clan master bald?»
«Yes I tell you. You don't know how hard it was for me to contain my laughter when his wig fell off during the hunt».
The conversation with Erwen was funnier than usual. Was it because he was drinking for the first time in a long time? I didn't know why something so trivial was so funny.
Oh, the others will be waiting for me at home...
The thought occurred to me several times, but every time I did, Erwen brought up a funny story, so I couldn't find the time. Still, it was time to return.
«Um, we should...»
«Oh, sure!»
«¿Eh?»
«Did I mention I ate a new essence this time?»
That? Did you eat an essence? I couldn't let this go.
«It is a very unique skill. It's good for me too».
«Stop wasting time and tell me. What have you eaten?» I fixed my stance and refocused on Erwen's words.
For starters, he was rank 5. As it was an essence that her veteran sister had recommended to her, it was very compatible for a bow fairy like her.
She won't have to delete this later.
Thinking about planning a cultivation route for Erwen once she returned, I asked her all kinds of questions about her newly acquired essence.
«Wow, you know what? Sir, your eyes have become really bright».
That was a fact. Whatever will happen, I used to be a player more in love with this game than anyone.
«It is an essence that is spoken of as super unique. Of course I'm curious to know what it's like in real life».
«Still, I don't know how to explain this. It's not like I can show it to you...»
Hmm, that was true. I was about to nod.
«Um, so about that...» Erwen interrupted herself and looked at me. A red tint remained on her face, probably because she was tipsy. «Do you want to see my special ability quickly above?»
...What should I do?