Everyone had their own plan, although there was no guarantee it would work. Amelia was like that too.
«There was an organization that I was always attentive to. These people disguise themselves as a relief post and sell opium at a high price in the shadows... I was originally planning to rob them for cash».
«¿Y?»
«While he was tracking his base, the Public Peace Agency stormed in».
I had nothing to say. Should I have said this was very much her own? Should I have been glad it was so much healthier than robbing a bank?
When I chuckled, Amelia apologized. «...This was my mistake so I will find a solution somehow.»
What was this child saying? I stubbornly said: «Alright. Why would you solve that on your own?»
If I hadn't extended the vault storage period in the first place, this item would have disappeared into thin air a long time ago. Amelia also had about half the share of this article. That was because we were in the middle of a group hunt when he fell. More importantly, it was ridiculous to hold her accountable when she was the one who found the money to purchase Vol-Herchan's essence in the first place.
«We will solve the money problem together. Understood?»
«... Because we are comrades?»
Oh, does she know how to say things like that?
«Yes, because we are comrades. If there is a problem, we look for a way to solve it together, we don't decide who is to blame».
«...Good.»
In that sense, we discussed countermeasures after that. It was a difficult amount to raise in two months by normal means, but it was not easy. The shares I bought two and a half years ago paid off.
«Borrow money from that fairy, huh? Certainly, that could be possible if she had enough money to buy a mansion like this. But it's okay?»
«Hey? What's good?»
«That fairy is also one of your comrades.»
«Ejem ... »
Geez, stabbing where it hurts.
«Amelia, it seems like you don't know because you've been alone for a long time, but colleagues help each other when they go through a difficult time. Understood?»
«So... this is how you treat your comrades.»
I never said I was just going to get help. I'll give it back to you, with interest on top.
«Anyway, enough of this topic. Let's talk about something else».
«You decided it was an unfavorable situation».
«... ¿Mmm?»
«I'm wrong? That's how I remember it used to be when you changed the subject».
It was such a solid argument that I had nothing to refute. But was his personality always like that? Why did I feel like she kept making fun of me?
«Anyway, just say what you were going to say, Yandel.»
Seeing that he didn't give me a chance to argue, I thought he was intentionally making fun of me. But since I only had one guess, I let it go for now. After all, there were more important questions.
«Oh, it's nothing special, I wanted to talk about introducing you to Erwen.»
I refuse to watch a team be killed.
***
Touch, touch, touch, touch, touch.
As she hit the table at a regular pace, Amelia clicked her tongue. «That's very annoying. Why don't you calm down? Is that fairy so scary?»
«W-who said I'm afraid? Erwen listens to me very well».
I was a little nervous. I told Erwen that I was going to accept Amelia as a comrade, but a person's impulses couldn't always be controlled. He didn't want to see Amelia explode again, especially if that was her main body, not a double.
Tic, tick.
Time passed and just as I began to feel hungry, I heard the front patio door close.
Metallic sound.
Erwen was home. He probably had his hands full of food for dinner tonight.
Step step.
The sound of the fairy's characteristic light footsteps crossed the courtyard and quickly approached.
Tap.
He stopped in front of the front door. It was something strange. There was definitely a rattling sound and the doorknob turned, but why didn't the door open? And why did he stop humming excitedly?
The moment I had that question, Erwen muttered. «Door open... Smell of a woman».
At those words, I immediately stood up. He had the feeling that if he carried out the surprise event he had prepared like this, there would be a disaster.
«E-Erwen! You're at home!» When I quickly went to greet her at the door, Erwen ignored my greeting and looked around inside.
Then he fixed his eyes on Amelia inside. «Amelia Rainwales.»
«How long have I not seen you, Spirit of blood. Is this our first meeting in the city?»
«... How are you here?»
«I followed you from the bank. You've gotten better at occult magic, but you don't seem to use it often in real life. You better be more on your guard in the future since you don't live here alone». «.
Erwen murmured briefly in response: «... Should I kill her?»
«Eh, ¿Erwen?»
«Oh, sorry. I forgot to say it internally».
«Uh... seriously? Yes, that happens. First... let's sit down. Let's work together from now on, we can't be so uncomfortable with each other».
«Well.» Surprisingly, Erwen quickly calmed down and sat down at the table while I asked her. In a casual tone, he said: «So from now on I'll have to get along with this woman?»
«Call her by her name, not by 'this woman'».
«Then I'll use your last name. It's Rainwales, right?»
«That's right. I will also call you Tersia».
«Well.» When Erwen gave a one-word answer, the conversation ended there.
It was my turn to take a step forward. «Erwen, like I said last time, Amelia is moving in with us from now on».
«What about the question of identity?»
«You don't need to worry about that part. I have prepared something suitable while I wait for Yandel to return», Amelia responded.
«... Why didn't you tell me he was alive before?»
«What a pathetic question. How can I trust you with that?»
«That? You've only been with him for half a year at most».
«Hmm, I understand that your time with Yandel in the maze was less than half a year?»
Why are they talking without me again?
«Now everyone, calm down». I quickly intervened in the conversation again. «I don't know what exactly happened between you two at the time, but since it was all a misunderstanding, why don't we clear things up here and now?» With that, I gave the signal to Amelia with a look. It meant stopping being a fighter and starting to give in to Erwen.
«I don't know, I don't hold a grudge against him. Thanks to her, my legs once blew off on the sixth floor and I had to hold on to a board for three days because I couldn't swim. But in the end I survived». «.
So, you had a reason to be a fighter.
«...I was wondering how you escaped from the ship in that state.»
«Erwen.»
«Don't worry. I don't have any particular grudges either. It's just that the body of a Noark scout I caught after all kinds of trouble was taken right before my eyes. Oh, should I include how my arm was?» Did she cut when I followed her?
«But I didn't kill you.
«You talk like you could have done it. It was you who fled as soon as support came from my side».
«Well... I achieved my goal. He was in a difficult financial situation, but thanks to the sale of his equipment, I was able to purchase this dagger here».
Well, let's stop being on good terms. Nobody said a team has to be harmonious, right?
I forced a smile and ended the conversation. «Haha, they fight over really trivial things! Now, shake hands quickly and make peace».
In any case, it was always the person who smiled first class. After Erwen and Amelia shook hands with bitter faces, I moved on to the next matter, straight, like a barbarian.
«Erwen, can you lend me some money?»
«Money for what...?» I confessed to him about the Demon Crusher without secrets and Erwen's face hardened. «So, do you want me to pay for the essence this woman bought with my own money?»
«I guess you can look at it that way?»
«...I'm sorry, but that's going to be difficult.»
«¿Mmm?»
«Do not misunderstand me. It's not because I don't want to».
So what is that?
When I looked at her with questioning eyes, Erwen murmured softly, as if she had committed a sin: «I... don't have much money now... Really».
Oh, it makes sense... Now that I think about it, he said that he barely managed to buy this house with the extorted money by threatening the chief of his tribe.
I still asked just in case: «So how about we use this house as collateral to borrow money?». I felt like trash too, but what could I do? I had to prepare for the worst case scenario.
«... E-this house? E-this house is full of memories...»
«We just have to return it on time, right?»
«Yandel, really—»
Erwen interrupted: «Don't tell him anything. This all happened because of you, what a shame».
"¿What?"
«Understood? So you don't have to regret it, sir. A house... can be bought again later...»
But your hands are shaking...
«…I regret it.»
«I told him not to say that. After all, this is for you, sir».
Anyway, it was decided that the Demon Crusher would be recovered using a reverse collateral blocking technique. It was time to come up with the next plan.
«Whatever we do from now on, we will have to get funds first».
«Yeah. If you are entering the maze again, you will also need new equipment. If we have money... we can keep this house...»
«Wait, labyrinth? Am I sure removing the false accusation comes first?» amelia asked.
Oh i see...
«I'm going to postpone that for a while because there's something suspicious about it». When I told her the questions and concerns I had, Amelia nodded as if she understood. It seemed like she felt the peculiarity too. «Anyway, that's why I want you to find me a suitable identity.»
«Finding an identity won't be difficult, but it will be like trying to hide an elephant in a room. It may have been more than two years since your death, but there are still many people who remember you».
To interpret this, it meant that there was a high possibility that my identity would be exposed with something like an iron helmet. This wasn't twenty years ago when I was nobody. People would think of Bjorn Yandel even if he only used Gigantization.
«Hmm, I still think I should be careful in the maze...»
«Maybe for a month or two, but if that drags on, there will surely be those who recognize it...»
«Wait, why don't you take an essence?» Erwen interrupted.
«Essence?»
«Like the one Miss Ainar took. There is also an essence that reduces your height. If you shorten your height a little and present yourself as human, I don't think anyone will notice». Erwen watched Amelia's reaction. It seemed like he was on guard for the flaw he was going to find in his words.
Contrary to expectations, Amelia recognized Erwen's idea and even magnanimously praised her. «Certainly, if it's not a month or two, it would be much safer to hide your identity for a long time». I figured that felt a little strange. «You came up with a pretty good solution», Amelia added.
«...That's because it's related to the lord», Erwen replied coldly and turned her head. It was a spectacle that would excite the viewer, but I had no choice but to intervene.
«Um... I'm sorry to say this suddenly, but I don't have room to take an essence». There was still a long way to go until level 7 and it didn't have an essence that it could erase.
As soon as I explained my situation to her, Amelia chuckled. «Manticore. I'm sure you said it's an essence you'll have to erase someday.»
... Are you going to take my jump key?