A short sword with the insignia of the Silver Lion Clan. Why was there something like that here?
A possibility immediately came to mind.
«If you mean the Silver Lion Clan, they left the island shortly after you. And they haven't returned yet».
What the boss told me earlier could have been a lie. There was a possibility that instead of the Silver Lion Clan simply not returning, the point was that they had already crossed a river from which they could never return.
And by the hands of a certain someone.
Judging by Amelia's expression, he was thinking about the same thing.
«Did you find anything more than this short sword?» Asked.
«This is all we've managed to find so far».
«Ya veo... »
It was too early to reach a definitive conclusion. The clan could have simply left a short sword that the monsters took for themselves, or they could have sold the short sword to the monsters of their own free will. Simply put, we could interpret this as optimistically as we wanted.
«Things got complicated».
However, we had to prepare for the worst-case scenario every time new details came to light.
«You should already know, since you were there too, but it's dangerous».
«Monstrous» was not a strong enough word to describe the boss's power. With a single wave of his sword, he instantly killed the Hipramajent.
If one day that sword was pointed at me, would I be able to survive?
Since I didn't know the answer, I had to make some decisions, and quickly. «Who knows what you took this short sword?»
«No one else should know at this point. I discovered it when I went to check if Fenelin was causing problems».
«Would it be possible for you to go and return this where you found it without being discovered?».
There was no need for long explanations.
Amelia nodded. «If I go now».
«So please».
Upon receiving my request, Amelia hid the short sword again in her clothes. «Understood».
He probably understood as well as I did all the ramifications of what had just happened. And that in this situation, facing the boss was too risky.
We are trapped in this village until the rainy season is over.
The boss was hiding something. Of that, at least, he was sure.
However, we weren't ready to find out what it was yet.
***
The day after Amelia returned the short sword to the forge, I tasked her with a search.
«Starting today, investigate what happened to the Silver Lion clan, and do it with the greatest discretion possible. Don't tell anyone, not even Ainar, Versyl or Erwen».
«Yandel, what are you going to do?»
«I'm going to meet with the boss, as agreed».
With the search delivered, I headed to the boss's house.
«You arrived earlier than I expected», he greeted.
«There's not much to do other than rest right now».
«I would have liked to at least serve you tea, but there is nothing like it in this village. Take a seat».
We were just chatting as usual, and yet, perhaps because I came here after seeing the short sword of the Silver Lion Clan, my muscles unconsciously tensed more and more.
¡Ba-dump!
I felt like I was sitting in front of a serial killer. However, I did everything I could to keep it from being noticed and act naturally.
After all, that was pretty much my specialty at the time.
«So what did you want to talk to me about?». asked. «Seeing as you've invited me, I'd bet we're not here for a friendly chat».
«Hmm, I don't know how to say it. I guess this could be considered another request I'd like to make», the boss said in his characteristic neutral tone as he looked at me. «Bjorn Yandel, I'm curious about you».
"...¿Which?"
«Does it seem strange to you? How does that feel for the adventurer who could one day free me from this place?».
«In especially…»
The topic baffled me, but I quickly compartmentalized it. This and the Silver Lion Clan problem were two different issues.
So, gathering my wits, I took the answer he gave me yesterday and rephrased it in my own way. «Why should I tell you about myself just because you're curious? Weren't you the one who said not to get distracted by idle curiosities and focus on the work at hand?».
My response was deliberately rude, but surprisingly, the boss showed no signs of displeasure. In fact, he showed an easy acceptance that only made me more worried. «That's right. So how about we both answer each other's questions? You must have quite a few questions about me too».
Hmm, a one-on-one game of truth...
«Clear.»
It didn't take me long to make a decision. This world wasn't kind enough to give you everything you wanted if you weren't willing to take some risks.
And I'm no stranger to this type of setup either.
I quickly took the initiative. «So can I ask the first question?».
«Of course.»
«Do you by any chance still retain the essences you possessed when you were human?».
That was my most pressing question. The essences that Bruingrid possessed while he was alive were well documented. Like the other legendary heroes of his party, the combination of essences he used was passed down from generation to generation.
Well, not all of his essences were in the public domain, per se, but if you answered my question, I could at least get a rough idea of how strong he was.
«No.»
Hmm, right? «So what was that shining sword from yesterday?»
«Now it's my turn.»
«…Ve por ella.»
Since I was also getting something out of this deal, I didn't argue and handed him the proverbial microphone.
So what was going to be the boss's first question?
He was in the middle of trying to find possible answers to some of the things he might ask when he opened his mouth.
«How old are you?
It was a question I hadn't anticipated at all.
«How many years...?»
«Are you a difficult question?»
Although I was still a little surprised, I gave him an honest answer. «...I'm twenty-four».
Why are you just asking me my age? Are you trying to trip me up and then ask me an important question?
I felt a little uncomfortable about the whole thing, but I wasn't going to argue about leaving again after a question as easy as that.
«You are much younger than I expected. Having that many skills and even forming a noble house at that age... I must praise you».
I ignored their praise and took my turn. «If it wasn't an essence you had as a human, did you gain that ability while on this island?».
These beings who called themselves «humans» were quite special. Members of his species seemed to be born with both passive and active innate ability, like most other monsters.
«That's right. I've had a lot of time, and as you can see, this island is full of monsters».
But unlike other monsters, they were capable of absorbing essences.
Of course, they couldn't level up, and it seemed like their essence slots were fixed at birth, ranging from three to seven. But...
...I don't know if they can be considered monsters.
In reality, these people could be considered a different race, like elves, dwarves, barbarians, and beastmen. After all, Rafdonia breeds also had their unique characteristics. Elves could control spirits, barbarians became stronger thanks to Spiritual Footprints, dwarves were strengthened with their equipment, and beastmen could be strengthened with Soul Beasts.
They have a fixed level from birth, and everyone is also born with their own race-specific essence.
Depending on how you look at it, all of this could be classified as a race-specific ability.
But... they release mana stones.
During our recent battle, I noticed the dead warriors disappearing in a flash of light. In that sense, they were definitely monsters.
Well, it's not like this really matters in the grand scheme of things.
With that, I concluded my little anthropological exercise. Now it was the boss's turn.
«Could you tell me about the first time you entered the maze?», he asked.
«...Why are you curious about that?».
«I want to understand who you are as a person».
«It would take me too long to tell you everything».
«If there is something I have in abundance, it is time. However, that may not be the case for you. You can give me a summary».
«...Of course».
I went on to tell him some chapters of my first expedition, and then it was my turn again.
Alright, what do I ask you this time?
I took my time to think about it.
What I really wanted to ask him was about the Silver Lion clan's short sword in the forge... but it was very likely that he would not get a definitive answer. It's not like he had Wrong Trust on at the time, although it wouldn't work on him either. Asking him that question would only make him guard against me and make it harder for me to get the truth out of him later.
So I decided to ask this question instead.
«Tell me about the Immortal».
«The Immortal...?»
This guy claimed he was a former hero. If that was true, I could learn more about that time through him, and even if it was a lie, I could get closer to finding out his true identity based on the falsehoods he told.
«I speak of the first king of Rafdonia».
«Oh, are you talking about Spanish? I must warn you that it will take me quite some time to tell you the full story. Is that okay with you?»
«I have plenty of time right now too».
«It's such an open question that I don't know where to start. The Castilian was a very lucky man».
«...Lucky?»
«That's right. He was an ordinary person. However... he had the privilege of calling the world's greatest magician a friend».
«You mean the Great Sage.»
The boss nodded. «The Great Sage had foreseen the calamity long before it arrived and made the necessary preparations. He convinced his friend, the Castilian, that his prophecy was true and got him to use all the wealth his family owned to prepare for that day. It is said that all the inhabitants of the continent laughed at Spanish for doing something so ridiculous».
However, everyone changed their minds when the end of the world began.
«The kings of the neighboring countries, the strongest swordsman on the continent, the wizard of Incarun... They all took everything they could carry with them and headed to the castle. And then they knelt before him, begging that he allow them to enter his city».
The Castilian and the Great Sage harshly scrutinized the refugees and only let in a select few.
«This is how Rafdonia was born».
«Wait, so what about Noark?».
The boss gave me an almost interrogative look.
«The city under the city», I explained. «There is a portal that leads to the labyrinth».
«Ah, you talk about the underground shelter. I haven't been there personally, but I've heard of it».
Hmm ... a refuge ...
«Sorry for interrupting. Please continue.»
«...In any case», he continued, »with so many people trapped in the city, our resources ran out very quickly. But just at that moment, the Great Sage created a portal that led to another dimension».
That dimension was the labyrinth, a strange land full of monsters.
Apparently, the entire city had been planning to migrate to the new land at first.
«To make this plan a reality, the Great Sage formed an expedition group, and I was lucky enough to join that group».
The group began to travel through the maze. In the process, the wizards accompanying them discovered how valuable mana stones could be, and their relocation plans were scrapped entirely.
Mana stones.
A versatile material that could be turned into food, water or even steel when needed.
«With that, the city stabilized and had a way of sustaining itself for eternity. The city slowly grew in size and the number of portals also increased. However, if you ask me what Spanish did at this time, there is not much I can tell you».
All the achievements he spoke of were the work of the Great Sage, and Spanish was nothing more than the luckiest person in the world. That's what the boss believed, at least.
But there are too many things that don't fit here...
I wanted to ask another question, but unfortunately now it was his turn.
«How was your second expedition?»
The boss asked me again to share another story arc and, although I still distrusted his intentions, I told him about my second adventure.
«The Bloody Citadel... What a nostalgic name. Thanks for that entertaining story».
«Then it's my turn».
I sighed to myself. What question should I ask now?
I took a moment to think about it, and then decided to make one that might be a bit of a sensitive topic.
«How did the Immortal obtain his immortality?».
The purpose of this question was twofold: to obtain some information about the power of the royal family and, at the same time, to inquire about Cornelius Bruingrid himself.
I was eager to hear the boss's response, so I waited patiently.
Toc, toc.
Just then, there was a knock on the front door and I heard someone on the other side speaking in the ancient language.
«Boss, I have something urgent to discuss».
«My apologies. Let's continue another time».
With that, the boss ended our exchange, and there wasn't much I could do except leave. When I opened the door, I came face to face with the monster outside.
Es el padre de Marupichichi.
He was a respected warrior in the village and the man who served as the chief's right-hand man.
We exchange an awkward look in greeting, and I dodge it to head home. However, despite having put physical distance between us, my thoughts were still consumed by this recent turn of events.
Something urgent...
It must have been something very important for him to come directly to see the boss.
What could be?
***
My conversation with the boss was suspicious in many ways.
He asked me my age.
It was safe to say that he had no idea what his point of view was.
First of all, if he was so curious about me, he could have interrogated the Silver Lion clan and gotten the information out of them.
Am I barking at the wrong tree?
It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps the short sword of the forge meant nothing and that the Silver Lion clan had left the village and had not returned.
¡A slap!
Thinking like that was dangerous. So I totally changed the subject and repeated the conversation we had had today.
The boss asked me how old I am.
¿For what?
Were you curious to know my age?
It can not be.
Even if he didn't interrogate the Silver Lion Clan through torture or something, he could have easily heard everything I told him about them today if he had bothered to ask.
Which means he was lying when he said he was curious about me.
So why did the boss play that truth game with me, if all he was going to ask were things like that? It was the equivalent of buying a slice of bread with a gold bar...
Wait.
Then I realized something, which shook the foundations of my mind.
Maybe... Maybe that was his plan from the beginning.
Giving me that gold bar was, to put it simply, a way of using our game of Truth as an opportunity to cleverly feed myself with information.
If that was his plan, things would add up.
That shiny sword too... In retrospect, there was no need for him to look that way during that fight.
I knew almost nothing about the boss's power level, so if he had wanted to hide his strength from me, I could have done it without much trouble. Still, the boss insisted on shooting that giant in front of me.
Which means that everything he did, he did intentionally...
However, he still couldn't know what he was looking for. I lacked context, and it would be difficult for me to get closer to the truth without talking to him more.
One day, two days, three days...
However, although I visited the boss's house every day hoping to get more clues, it was empty each time. When I asked the town monsters about him, they all told me he was busy.
Are you avoiding me? Is O really busy?
As the days went by, my list of questions only grew.
«Sr. Yandel...»
«What's happening?»
«I can't find Mrs. Raines. She's always back, even if she's late. I thought maybe she was here with you. »
Then, one particular night, Versyl reported that Amelia had not yet returned home, and I forced myself to stay until the next morning despite my discomfort.
However...
«She's not here».
I didn't intend to waste a critical window of time because of a misguided sense of optimism.
«Everyone, get ready».
Amelia, who had been snooping around town every day at my urging, had officially disappeared.