When I returned home after my meeting with Ragna, I had an unexpected visitor. In fact, I had two.
«Oh Lord! Welcome. Your friends are waiting for you».
«¿My friends?»
I tilted my head and entered the living room. On the sofa were two men enjoying some light soft drinks. As soon as they saw me, they jumped up with open arms.
«It is...! It's... Bjorn Yandel, it's really you! You are really here!», snapped the dwarf, Hikurod Murad.
«It's been a while. I heard you were alive not long ago, but to think it was true...» Even Brown Rotmiller had come.
It was great to see them after so long. Although technically, he had already seen the dwarf in his forge. The memory of that meeting still made me stagger a little, honestly.
«Ugh, tsk... what bad luck. And it seemed like he had a lot of money».
I never expected to hear anything like that from him when I went to see his store.
«I'm glad to see you again. Sorry, I was going to visit you soon».
«Haha! Why would you apologize? We all know how busy you've been lately».
«How do you know?»
«It's because everywhere we go, your name keeps coming up like you're a celebrity or something! Even when I'm working on the forge, I still hear your name».
«...Is that so?»
I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by that news. It turned out that they knew I had been going back and forth and meeting heartbroken families in person. They also knew about the recent banquet to celebrate my change of status and even my meeting with the other squad members in Kommelby. Was there an article in the newspaper saying that the heroes had gathered to celebrate with a welcome party?
«That's why we took the initiative to come here. I wanted to do it a long time ago, but Rotmiller stopped me. I kept saying that we needed to give you some time so you could take care of some of your business first.»
«Ya veo... »
I nodded my head in gratitude to Rotmiller before sitting down on the couch. Erwen, who had been watching out of the corner of her eye, approached us. «Can I bring you something?».
«Water, please. Let it be cold».
«Very good!»
As Erwen headed to the kitchen, the dwarf slowly approached me to whisper in my ear. «Ah, that's it! Do you have any idea how surprised I was? That girl, look at her welcoming you home with that big smile. And he even went out of his way to bring you water».
«Oh, is this your first time meeting Erwen?».
Rotmiller nodded, but the dwarf shook his head. «Actually I had already seen her once. When the group broke up, she came to see me all anxious, asking what had happened to you».
Ah, now that I thought about it, I remembered hearing something similar before.
«Hah, back then I had no idea that little elf would become such a famous adventurer... You can never guess what the future holds».
«True...» I had always thought that Erwen had incredible potential and talent, but not even I could have predicted her meteoric rise. I especially didn't expect it to end with a nickname like Blood Spirit.
«By the way, Yandel», Rotmiller intervened. «Have you seen Miss Karlstein yet?»
Yeah, I was wondering why no one had mentioned her yet. «I haven't seen it yet.»
«Ya veo... »
«¿The Vist?»
«Only once, after she was presumed dead. I was worried, so I went to check on her, but I never had a chance to meet her after that. It was as if he had vanished into thin air».
«¿Y tj, Hikurod?»
«That goes for me too. Damn. With the news of your return running through the city, I was sure he would come to see you... Are you sure nothing bad has happened to him?».
The dwarf may have been a wanderer, but he could understand why he was worried. Fortunately, Missha was safe. Well, I couldn't talk about how she was emotionally, but at least I knew she was alive. «I'm also researching what Missha is up to. I'll be sure to find her and bring her back safely, so don't worry».
«Well, if you're on the case, I'm sure things will work out, but I wonder... Is Missha acting like this because of the Blood Spirit?».
«...Why do you suddenly mention Erwen?»
«Well, there's a rumor that you two are in a relationship... Is that true?»
I sighed. He was always a gossip. «No, it is not».
The dwarf immediately exhaled in relief. «Oh well, that's okay...».
It was just a passing comment, but it made me hesitate. «Is that... good?».
«Ultimately, it depends on you and your feelings. But you and Miss Karlstein have spent a lot of time together, haven't you? And Dwalkie, it was his last wish before he died... Honestly, I had been watching you for a while, and secretly I always thought you made a good couple...»
¡Crash!
Just as the dwarf was about to launch one of his usual lunges, the cup of tea in front of him on the table shattered.
Step.
Erwen left the kitchen.
«Oh. He broke his cup of tea», he commented with a smile, with the cold water he had asked for in his hand. «Sir, here is your water».
¡Fwooosh!
As Erwen placed the cup in front of me, the broken pieces of the other cup and the liquid that had spilled on the carpet floated in the air. «That's it. Now everything is clean». He used the power of the spirits to cleanse everything in an instant, then quickly turned around and left after announcing that he would return to his room.
The dwarf sat there as Erwen walked up the stairs, and although he no longer had a cup of tea, he couldn't seem to find the voice to ask for another one. He always had the habit of talking too much, but it wasn't that he was completely tactless.
«Why didn't you take care of your tongue? We are guests, after all».
«...Hahaha, yes. I made a big mistake». The dwarf exhaled heavily, but smiled uncomfortably, clearly wanting to move on and not think about what had just happened. He really was a very nosy loudmouth.
Everything had gotten pretty awkward, so as the owner of the house, I took the liberty of changing the subject. «Well, how has it been for both of you? Hikurod, I see you haven't been doing much blacksmithing these days».
«Hey? How do you know?»
«Actually I've visited your blacksmith shop before. But you didn't recognize me because I was much smaller then».
«Hey! That has happened? I really couldn't recognize you just because you were a little smaller?», the dwarf asked, sounding incredulous.
Well, it was the truth, so I told him what had happened that day. «I have to admit I was surprised».
«Oh well, business has been going well lately, so...».
«No, that's not why. I was surprised because you told me it was taking up so much space that other customers couldn't get in. And since I wasn't planning on buying anything, you kicked me out. Anyway, I'm glad business is going well these days».
The dwarf blushed like someone who had been caught red-handed and then laughed timidly. «Ha ha. I can't believe you saw me like this. It's quite embarrassing».
«I didn't say I blamed you. There is nothing wrong with trying to make more money. I just realized that you had changed a lot».
«True. It must seem pathetic to you that I left the party to pursue my dreams and ended up becoming a merchant».
Huh, that's not what I meant at all. Still, I was curious to know where he wanted to go, so I let him continue.
«But you know what, Bjorn? Now I have another dream. One that is bigger than holding a hammer and hitting iron at night».
«Is your dream to make a lot of money?».
The dwarf smiled satisfied. «Something like that. After all, it takes a lot of money to sponsor an orphanage».
«¿What?» Wait a second. «…¿Really?»
«I'm still short of funds, so I haven't been able to do much. But just the other day, I was able to increase the number of orphanages I support by two.»
Damn, that made me feel like trash. I sighed to myself, momentarily lost in thought.
«Bjorn, I plan to make a lot of money. No matter how pathetic it makes me look. At this point in my life, I don't have much left to offer, but those children are different. I do this so that those children can achieve their dreams like I never could. That's my new dream».
The dwarf seemed a little taller today. Still, he seemed quite embarrassed for having told his dream so openly. I was speechless and clumsily sipped the water.
Then, Rotmiller opened his mouth to tell us his story. «I'm not working right now».
In some ways, that update was more shocking than the dwarf's. He couldn't believe that a man as hardworking as him was unemployed. «And the teaching center? Weren't you using your scouting skills to teach other adventurers?»
«Unfortunately, I don't have what it takes to run a business».
So, in the end, the company had failed. I wanted to offer him a few words of comfort, but the dwarf jumped to his feet. «Hey, Rotmiller! The school's failure was not your fault...»
«Enough. Enough, Murad. We're not here to talk about that».
«W-But still! Bjorn is Baron Yandel now! With one word, he can...!»
«Didn't I tell you to leave it?» Rotmiller's harsh tone reverberated throughout the house. His voice was so cold and determined that the dwarf immediately swallowed whatever he was going to say next. I wasn't much better either.
Let him speak like this...
He had only seen Rotmiller angry once. During the Half Wit Team's final quest, he had become enraged at himself as he faced his limits as an adventurer. He was a good person who did not direct his anger against others, only against himself. Looking at it now, I couldn't help but think that's why people said it was the good guys who were the scariest when they got angry.
Considering that the dwarf was trying to console him, something must have happened.
He would have to ask him later, when the dwarf was not around.
Anyway, the discomfort quickly returned. I didn't want to waste any more time sitting here brooding, so I got straight to the point. «Hikurod».
«Hey? Oh, uh, what's up?»
«I have a business proposal for you».
«A... business proposal?»
«Yeah.» If he hadn't come to see me today, I had planned to see him soon anyway, since I had an important matter to discuss with him.
«It's just you, though, for some reason, I feel a little nervous... Alright, tell me».
«I plan to increase my clan size in the future».
«What do you need me for, then?»
«I want your forge to be the personal forge of our clan.»
«Oh! That's something only offered to large forges!» The dwarf was very happy with the offer, just as he expected.
Alright, now let's move on to the next steps. «Okay, so let's draw up a contract».
«Hm? Contract? We don't need something like that between the two of us».
«When it comes to work, these kinds of things have to be ironed and set in stone».
«Hmm... That makes sense. But aren't you rushing things? Even after writing a contract, it's going to take me some time to review it».
«What should you check among friends? Let's finish things here and now. All you have to do is stamp the palm of your hand here. Just for formality».
«Hmm... Okay, then.»
After getting their approval, I quickly wrote a contract. Then I concentrated some of my Soul Power in the palm of my hand to stamp the paper next to the dwarf.
«Done».
In short, he had provided me with a partner in misdeeds for the future. I wondered what kind of look he would give me when I gave him the Order of the Rose team.
***
The day after the dwarf and Rotmiller's visit, I received my memories of Mr. Bear and Ainar.
Although it's a little strange to call them memories...
Be that as it may, I put on the equipment that I hadn't worn in years.
[You have equipped yourself with a Great Battle Shield of Adamantium. Your total Item Level has increased by +1750.]
[You have equipped yourself with a Lithinum Breastplate. Your total item level has increased by +270.]
First I equipped myself with a grade five metal shield and the armor that characterized me. When the latter broke, I made sure to repair it and, when I couldn't, I bought one of equal size and value.
[You have equipped yourself Idium Gaiters. Your total Item Level has increased by +400.]
[You have equipped No. 8667: Outlaw of the Wildlands. Your total item level has increased by +315.]
[You have equipped number 8820: Iron Wall. Your total item level has increased by +310.]
Then there were the leggings that had been useful to you to escape from the Doppelganger Forest, a belt, boots that doubled your Physical and Mana Stamina for three seconds when you wore them, and...
Why did Mr. Bear take this? I feel a little strange.
Lastly came some special magic briefs that were imbued with Automatic Repair, Shape Change, Acid Immunity, and Cleaning Maintenance. The slang term for this here in Rafdonia was an egg guard-aka a jockstrap.
Actually, now that I have the Union, I don't need them, but...
They were relatively expensive, so even though I didn't need them anymore, I kept them.
Raven also gave me back the Soul of the Dead that I bought and the Fire Orb, so I only have Missha's necklace left...
It was a curious way to look at it. I wasn't going around collecting wish balls to summon a dragon or anything like that.
When I equipped my equipment and looked in the mirror, I was glad I refused to accept the money they received from my will. The equipment they had saved was in very good condition. I would have been grateful just for the fact that they didn't sell it, but they had even repaired and cleaned the parts that had been damaged during my fight with the Water Storm. Considering the basic quality of the equipment, I was sure that the repair costs were quite high.
Missha only took the necklace...
I sighed. It was the most precious thing he owned.
Okay. Let's see if there is anything else that needs repair...
After checking the condition of my equipment, I left home. I had taken off my helmet, but even so, it had been a long time since I had walked the streets of the city in full armor and ready for battle. Since there was no reason to fight in the city, he usually only wore the breastplate. Which meant he was planning to fight today.
Stomp, stomp.
I finally reached the outskirts of the District Seven hours after beginning my morning walk. The gate connecting to the other districts was closed. The guard on the wall looked at me as if he was waiting for some kind of sign.
Hmph, don't you notice at first glance?
«¡Become-aaaaaa!»
Fortunately, the doors leading to the holy land opened without identification.
Stomp, stomp.
I walked the same forest path I once walked with my fellow barbarians after the coming-of-age ceremony.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel! It's really Bjorn, son of Yandel!»
«The strongest warrior, who is called the Giant!»
All the barbarians I met along the way stopped what they were doing and started following me. I could feel him in my bones like a real barbarian: something funny was about to happen.
«¡Yes!»
«Bjorn, son of Yandel, has returned!»
Finally, the forest path opened towards the barbarian's village. When I arrived, without even lifting a finger, there were already hundreds of warriors following me.
«...So the rumors were true.»
All the barbarians staying in the residential area had found out that I was arriving, and ran barefoot to take a look at me.
Stomp, stomp.
Step by step, I advanced without stopping or saying a single word while the other barbarians made way for me by beating their chests.
¡Whoo! ¡Whoo! ¡Whoo! ¡Whoo!
If a human was watching right now, they would assume it was some kind of festival.
¡Whoo! ¡Whoo!
As I followed the path they had made for me, I finally reached the boss's cabin. In front of the cabin was Ainar, who was waiting standing. I had heard that he trained with him. So he really spent all his time here.
We looked into each other's eyes and I asked: «Is the boss inside?». He stepped aside and cleared the way for me to the cabin. Was he telling me to come in? Well, that's what I planned to do anyway.
Stomp, stomp.
When I entered, a huge barbarian was waiting for me. It was the chief. The day I woke up for the first time in this world, it was he who brutally cut the neck of Oreum, son of Kadua, after declaring him an evil spirit.
«You're late, Bjorn, son of Yandel». The chief stood before me, looking at me with a large ax slung over his shoulder. «I thought you had forgotten about your tribe while you were busy messing with the palace».
He was extremely tall. Although my body had returned to normal, I had to look up a little to meet his gaze. «As if I were going to forget it».
At my response, a bright smile appeared on his face, as if that single statement had erased any feeling of frustration he might carry. «Then welcome home, young warrior!», he said, welcoming me with open arms. «Bjorn, son of Yandel!»
As soon as he finished greeting me, he asked me a question. The question, however, was clearly different from the ones everyone else in my life had asked me when meeting me. Where had he been the last two years and six months? Was the royal family's announcement that I was an evil spirit true? Was he caught up in some kind of political struggle for power? He didn't bother to ask such human questions.
Instead, he got straight to the point. «So what brings you here today?»
«I've come to tell you something», I replied. It wasn't normal to say it after so long, but I was a barbarian too.
«What is it about?» The chief did not hesitate to respond to me with the frankness typical of our town.
«Let's relax with a fight. With the position of tribal chief at stake».
His response was quick and brief. «Good».
As soon as he accepted my request, all the barbarians began to shout.
«¡B-Become!»
«¡Become-aaaah!»
«¡Behel-aaaaah-ghk!»
***
[Bjorn Yandle
Nivel: 7
Physical: 1390.55
Spiritu: 521.3
Special ability: 2197.65
Item level: 7980 (New +1695)
Overall combat power: 6104.5 (New +423.75)
Acquired Essences: Orc Hero – Rank 5 / Ogre – Rank 3 / Bayon – Rank 3 /Waterstorm – Rank 3 / Vol-Herchan – Rank 3 /Deep Sea Giant – Rank 3].