Bifron (4)
Bifron (4)
Once in the Land of the Dead.
Once under the sewers.
And once by chance in front of our inn after Noark was locked down.
‘Counting today, it’s a total of four tis.’
It's hard to even call this a coincidence anymore.
Therefore, it was ti to change my approach towards this woman.
“……Aren’t you going?”
“Yeah, I changed my mind.”
There’s a saying, ‘knowledge is power’, right?
Until now, I’ve been avoiding her, trying to erase any interest and not get involved…
[…You’re not a human woman.]
[Alia Rainwales.]
…but we’ve beco acquainted, even knowing each other’s nas.
It ans that avoiding her is no longer the solution.
‘I need to find out now. What this woman is up to.’
If soone keeps loitering around your house, you have to check who they are.
Whether they’re soone you should report to the police and get rid of.
Or soone so dangerous that you have to abandon your house and run away.
You need to know that to respond properly.
“Jinkasar Peljain!!”
The rooftop door bursts open after a short wait.
The one who entered is a bald man wearing a black eyepatch.
It seems like he’s the leader of the eastern faction…
“How dare you enter our territory without a word, are you prepared for the conseque… But your hair…?”
…but he trails off.
He’s shocked by Jingjing’s jellyfish haircut.
“…Don’t tell , it was a wig?”
“…….”
Jingjing hangs his head low, speechless.
An awkward silence follows.
But is there too much bad blood between them to feel a sense of camaraderie?
The interrupted situation resus.
“Do, do you think I’ll let you off the hook because I feel sorry for you! I’ll end our bad blood today!”
“Pu, puhahaha! You think you can defeat just because you have more people, you newbie who’s never even been to the labyrinth? And , a 6th-grade explorer?”
The bald man declares war, and Jingjing laughs exaggeratedly and expresses his confidence.
To clarify the facts, he’s not even 6th-grade.
He confessed that he was actually 7th-grade after I interrogated him because he was so weak.
‘There’s no way a guy like that would be so relaxed against dozens of people, so he must be confident because he trusts ?’
Although it’s funny, the bald man is serious.
“Right, I know you were a 6th-grade explorer. But that’s why I brought soone special.”
“……?”
“Make way!”
The bald man’s underlings step aside and create a path as he speaks, and a woman appears.
Alia Rainwales.
The 8th-floor explorer from Noark.
“Barbarian? Why are you here…?”
She frowns as she appears among the n with an annoyed expression.
I feel a sense of satisfaction.
I was also surprised when I first saw you.
“I should be the one asking that. Why are you here?”
Alia ponders for a mont, and then the bald man, who was watching us, cautiously speaks.
“…Do you know this barbarian?”
He seems worried that she might be acquainted with , even though he ca here trusting only her.
“Quiet.”
The bald man shuts his mouth at Alia’s curt words.
And about 3 seconds pass.
“Bjorn Yandel, hand that man over to .”
Alia makes a sudden demand after finishing her thoughts.
Of course, there’s no way I would agree.
“He’s my subordinate.”
Barbarians don’t abandon their subordinates.
…At least not without a reason.
“…Boss!!”
Jingjing looks at with a touched expression as I answer without hesitation.
On the other hand, Alia seems confused.
“…Subordinate?”
She has a look that says she doesn’t understand why I, the rising star of the explorer industry, am here and why I’m acting as the boss of a gang.
I mutter briefly,
“I have my reasons.”
“I see.”
Alia nods coolly.
Although she could have asked what my reasons were, she doesn’t, probably because of her personality.
“Then I’ll take him by force.”
Alia imdiately draws her dagger and takes a fighting stance as the negotiation fails.
Does she think she’s a barbarian?
I quickly speak,
“Wait, let’s talk first.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah.”
The situation is different from when we t at the inn.
I don’t have any companions to help , and Bifron is a lawless zone where strength is law.
It’s only natural to try to resolve this through conversation.
I haven’t completed my Aura resistance setup yet.
If your body is weak, your mind has to work harder.
“Interesting. I didn’t expect you to be the one to say that. Don’t tell you’re planning a surprise attack?”
“Surprise attack? I don’t do cowardly things like that.”
I don’t hide my offended feelings.
Although I threw my mace at her and charged in the sewers while we were talking…
…there was no reason for to be ashad.
She doesn’t rember what happened back then.
At least not from her perspective.
“…That’s not funny.”
Although she wants to retort, she can’t.
However, Alia doesn’t seem frustrated and just brushes it off with a single sentence.
Her body is still prepared for a surprise attack.
Is she finally acknowledging as a worthy opponent?
“Let’s get rid of them first.”
“Alright.”
We make a brief agreent, and the bald man, as if sensing it, takes his underlings and goes downstairs.
Then it’s Jingjing’s turn.
“I…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t abandon you.”
“Yes!”
Jingjing goes downstairs, trusting , although he seems uneasy.
Now only the two of us are left on the rooftop.
It’s ti for a heart-to-heart conversation.
“Alia Rainwales. Why are you here?”
“Why should I tell you?”
“Isn’t it ridiculous for adults to fight over a children’s squabble?”
“…You’re only twenty years old.”
Geez, let’s not argue about trivial things.
Although Jingjing and Baldy are older, in this industry, the stronger one is the older brother.
“Anyway, what’s your answer?”
Alia hesitates for a mont and then speaks.
“You first. Why are you in Bifron?”
“I was caught using an ability in the city. I thought it would just end with a fine, but they told to live here for 20 days. It’s my third day here.”
“And that subordinate?”
“He tried to rob , so I beat him up and took over.”
Alia chuckles.
“You really do whatever you want.”
It’s not a sarcastic tone.
No, it’s more like she’s envious.
“Your turn. Why are you here?”
It’s a question I’ve already asked several tis.
Alia finally gives a brief explanation.
“I’m looking for an explorer who might be here. So I made a deal with them to help them with sothing in return for their help.”
“I see.”
I roughly understand the situation.
At first, I wondered why she would even bother making a ‘deal’ with weaklings…
‘She must have wanted to handle it quietly. If she caused a scene like , word would inevitably spread.’
It seems like things will be resolved easily.
That’s when…
“I’m not trying to break my promise.”
Huh?
Alia adds as if making an excuse as I tilt my head in confusion,
“I… didn’t expect to see you here.”
Ah, that.
The promise not to co looking for again.
I can’t believe she’s worried about that in this situation.
Does she have so kind of obsession with ‘promises’?
“Don’t worry, I don’t think you broke your promise.”
“Is that so…?”
Now that I understand the situation, I get to the point.
“Anyway, that’s good. There’s no reason for us to fight.”
“You’re saying you’ll hand him over?”
“No, there’s no need for that. You need soone to do your bidding, right? I’ll lend you my subordinate.”
“I heard the Western Union is the weakest faction here.”
“You’re well-inford.”
“It’s been over ten days since I ca here.”
“I see.”
I nod.
Indeed, as Alia said, the Western Union is small but elite.
Well, they’re too weak to be called elite, but…
…the eastern bastards would be better at finding people.
However…
“Don’t worry about the small number of people.”
There’s still no problem.
I don’t even understand why she didn’t think of this simple solution.
You’re saying there aren’t enough subordinates?
Why worry about sothing like that?
“The east is also my territory from today.”
I can just multiply my subordinates.
_______________
Although I thought she might be inflexible because she values ‘promises’…
…she’s surprisingly similar to in this aspect.
Alia is also a woman of efficiency.
“That’s not a bad thod.”
“You agree?”
“Before that, this. What do you gain from helping ?”
“…Do a favor later.”
“Then I refuse. I have a feeling you’ll ask for sothing I can’t handle.”
Tsk, that didn’t work.
Well, whatever. It wasn’t the main point anyway.
“Then just consider it as volunteer work. It’s better than wasting my energy fighting you.”
Alia nods in agreent, as if it’s a convincing excuse.
Therefore…
“Th, then what happened to him?”
“That’s not how you talk to .”
I go down to the 1st floor and kick Baldy, who’s having an awkward standoff with Jingjing, in the stomach.
After all, establishing dominance is important for ‘recruitnt’.
“Keugh!”
Baldy collapses, clutching his stomach.
“You bastard!!”
The eastern bastards on the 1st floor charge towards .
Swords, hamrs, spears, stakes…
They attack from all sides, wielding their weapons rcilessly.
There’s no need to even block.
“No, why…”
Their weapons bounce off, unable to even pierce my skin, even though they’re aiming for exposed areas.
It’s as expected.
They ca here in a group of dozens just to deal with one Jingjing, how could they possibly hurt ?
Just how high is my Physical Resistance?
“Are you guys done?”
“…No.”
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”
It doesn’t take long.
The battle ends after I instill fear with [Wild Release] and crush a few of them as a demonstration.
Dozens of n, unable to even think of running away due to the overwhelming difference in strength.
I grab Baldy by the collar and lift him up.
“What’s your na?”
“P, Philip Lazer!”
“I’ll call you Baldy from now on.”
Okay, the introductions are over.
Just as I’m about to move on to the next step, Baldy asks blankly,
“Wh, who are you?”
I correct his mistake first.
“You don’t use honorifics with .”
“…?”
“I’m your boss.”
“Boss…?”
Baldy, who was looking confused, glances at Jingjing, who’s hiding in a corner.
It seems like he finally understands the situation.
Right, that’s how he was defeated too.
“You ca just in ti, give a potion.”
“…Potion?”
“My subordinate is injured, I have to treat him, don’t I?”
Alia looks at as if I’m a strange creature, then takes out a potion and hands it to .
Sizzle.
Baldy screams and squirms as I give him the potion, and after a short wait, he regains consciousness, sweating profusely.
He still has a dazed expression, as if he’s dreaming.
It’s ti to give him a carrot since the stick was enough.
“I’m leaving in 17 days.”
“Yes?”
“Just saying.”
In short, it ans he should just endure it, thinking he stepped in shit. I then order Baldy and Jingjing to go back and gather everyone.
“There are a lot of people, so the Dinsional Plaza should be fine. Can you do it in five hours?”
“Th, that’s absurd—”
“Yes! It’s enough ti!”
Jingjing shouts confidently, cutting off Baldy.
As expected of a senior.
Saying ‘YES’ to any order is the greatest virtue of a subordinate.
Especially if the boss is a barbarian.
“Then it’s settled, go now.”
My subordinates, having received their orders, rush out to carry out their mission.
I’m quite satisfied with the sight.
‘Is this why everyone is so obsessed with power?’
I chuckle and turn my gaze towards Alia. And I ask nonchalantly, as if I’m not interested,
“So, tell . Who are we looking for?”
I’ve been curious since earlier.
She’s from Noark.
There’s a chance that she’s looking for soone on Noark’s orders, not her own.
‘To even send soone from the underground city to find soone in this situation…’
It might be an important clue.
The more I know about things that others don’t, the better. And if it’s information that’s irrelevant to , I can use it to appear knowledgeable at the Round Table.
Either way, there’s nothing to lose.
But contrary to my expectations, Alia only tells the person’s characteristics.
“He looks like an old man, but he might be disguised.”
“So you can’t tell him apart by appearance. Then how do we find him?”
“The tattoo on his back. I heard it can’t be hidden by any magic.”
Hmm, so I have to check everyone’s back?
“Any other helpful characteristics?”
“None.”
“You don’t even know his na?”
“…It’s aningless since he would have used a pseudonym anyway.”
“But you never know. Just tell .”
Alia hesitates for a mont as I ask casually.
But did she judge that I wouldn’t know even if she told ?
She utters a na.
“Auril Gabis.”
What?
“Auril Gabis?!”
“…Do you know him?”
“No, I was just pretending.”
I roughly brush it off and try to control my expression.
Thump, thump, thump!
My heart is pounding like crazy.
It’s only natural.
Auril Gabis?
Isn’t that the na of the author of the ‘Compendium’ series and the creator of [Dungeon and Stone]?
User Comments
0 comments from readers