A tavern in the 7th District, always bustling with explorers.
A place where cheap liquor flowed freely, empty bottles littered the floor, and drunken brawls erupted at the slightest provocation.
Crash!
The door swung open.
After all, every world has its gossipmongers.
Especially when there's money to be made.
"Extra, extra! Read all about it!"
"What's this? A newsboy?"
The tavern owner, a burly man with a gruff deanor, approached the boy, rolling up his sleeves.
"Hey, kid, no soliciting in my tavern."
"But it's an extra, sir!"
"Extra, my foot. It's probably just about the victory parade."
"Yeah, kid! You think we'd be interested in that? We're too busy drowning our sorrows in booze!"
"You've been complaining about it all day, haven't you? How the whole city's in an uproar over nothing."
"Alright, kid, co back when you're older."
The owner lifted the boy onto his shoulder and headed for the door.
And at that mont...
"You fools!"
"Hahaha!"
"Bjorn Yandel is back alive...!"
"Ha, ha...?"
A sudden silence fell over the tavern.
But it didn't last long.
"The kid's spouting nonsense."
"How can soone who died over two years ago co back to life?"
"And besides, he's an evil spirit!"
"That's why he's back! And he's not an evil spirit anymore! While you're all here getting drunk, the whole city's gone mad because of this!"
The boy's words, filled with an indignant sincerity, made the owner hesitate.
And...
"Wait a minute, I want to hear more about this."
One of the explorers showed interest, and the owner put the boy down.
"Ugh, the sll of alcohol..."
The boy, brushing off his wrinkled clothes, approached the explorer's table, and the explorer tossed him a few coins.
"Tell more. Bjorn Yandel is alive? Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! The Iron Marquis himself announced it in front of thousands of nobles!"
"...The Iron Marquis?"
"You see, it's like this..."
The boy trailed off, glancing at the explorers who were pretending to be uninterested but were eavesdropping on their conversation.
The other explorers sighed and tossed him more coins.
And so the story began.
It was a simple story, once you removed the boy's embellishnts.
"So... Bjorn Yandel faked his death to complete a secret mission for the royal family, and the announcent about him being an evil spirit was also part of the mission?" ＲâＮОΒʧ
"But what about Lihen Schuitz? Isn't he the Blood Spirit Marquis's man? The one who led the expedition force?"
"That's right. I was wondering how an unknown explorer could lead such a powerful team."
The return of a hero.
The explorers were intrigued and paid the boy to tell them more about the victory parade.
And after a while...
Crash!
Sothing shattered in the corner of the tavern, and the explorers turned to look.
Thud, thud.
A tall, muscular woman with a sharp gaze approached them.
"Um... what's going on...?"
The explorers, intimidated by her aura, remained silent.
Only the boy, despite his nervousness, asked her what she wanted.
"I heard your story, boy."
"...Y-yes?"
"Is it true? That Bjorn Yandel is alive? That he was Lihen Schuitz?"
Her voice was filled with a desperate longing.
The boy, sensing her sincerity, answered truthfully.
"...Yes! It's true!"
"I see... So that's how it was..."
The woman mumbled, as if in a trance, and then she pulled out a pouch and handed it to the boy before leaving the tavern.
The boy's eyes widened as he checked the amount.
"10,000 stones...?"
It was an exorbitant amount for a storyteller, especially one who frequented cheap taverns.
The other explorers were also surprised.
"She paid 10,000 stones for a story?"
"...To think there was such a wealthy person in a cheap tavern like this."
"Who was she...?"
"Hey, why are you so quiet?"
As they were wondering about the woman's identity, one man spoke softly.
"Holy shit..."
"You know her?"
"How many blonde female barbarians are there? And how many of them carry a giant greatsword on their back?"
"Just tell us who she is!"
"Ainar Frenelin, the Storm Sword."
The man's words stunned the explorers.
"What? She's one of the Seven Strengths?!"
"But... the Storm Sword... she was Bjorn Yandel's forr comrade!"
"So that's why she was so interested..."
"It all makes sense now!"
"Wait, then even his forr comrades didn't know he was alive?"
The tavern was buzzing with excitent again.
The patrons eagerly discussed the new information.
Only the owner was frowning.
"She... she didn't pay for her drinks..."
_______________________
The chaotic victory parade ended, and we returned to our hos.
I had been worried that the Marquis might try to detain us... but he didn't seem to have any such plans.
'So far, so good...'
I went to my room on the 2nd floor and unpacked my luggage, replaying the victory parade in my mind.
'He accepted it surprisingly well.'
When I revealed my true identity in front of thousands of nobles, the Marquis calmly continued the ceremony and managed to salvage the situation.
He said that my death had been faked for a secret mission, and that the announcent about being an evil spirit was also part of the mission.
He even announced it publicly, even though the supporting docunts weren't ready yet.
He had no choice.
'If he had denied it, the royal family's reputation would have been ruined.'
That was my intention.
What was the point of a victory parade if it was just going to be forgotten in a month?
This was the best way to make sure people rembered .
The royal family was very sensitive to public opinion.
'Okay, so at least they won't try to fra for anything in the next few months...'
The first step was successful.
Now I had to use the ti I had to increase my influence.
So that even if the truth about the expedition was revealed, they would hesitate to eliminate .
'I have a lot to do...'
I finished unpacking and went downstairs.
The living room was a ss.
"...Emily, what happened here?"
"We had an intruder."
"...Huh?"
"My hair, which I always leave on the doorknob, was gone. I searched the entire house, except for your room, but I couldn't find any listening devices."
"Then we should check the recording crystal ball."
Erwen had installed CCTV in the living room and the entrance.
But...
"I already destroyed it. It only stores one day's worth of footage anyway. And it's not that difficult to tamper with. They might have already done sothing to the magic circuits. We can't leave it there."
"...I see."
"They were amateurs, though. They didn't even touch the basent."
"The basent...? Ah, the navigator!"
I had forgotten about him.
Auyen Lokrob, the navigator we had captured from the pirates.
'Alia said she had brought him enough food...'
But it had been several days since the labyrinth closed.
Could it be that he had been starving all this ti?
"Is he alright?"
"He's fine. A bit skinny, but I prefer them that way."
That's not what I ant...
"And his obedience level has increased. He knows that I lied about the antidote, but he's even more dependent on us now."
"Uh..."
"Do you want to see him? He said he wants to be praised for staying quiet when he heard us coming."
"Ah, no... I'm good..."
"You should show him so concern too. Don't leave everything to ."
"...Later."
Anyway, I decided to put Auyen out of my mind for now. Alia went to my room and searched it for listening devices, and then we all gathered in the living room.
"So... is the house safe now?"
"For now."
"Ha... It feels like it was all a dream."
Erwen slumped on the sofa, her tension released.
"Yandel, now that it's safe, can we open them?"
"Ah, the subspace pockets."
"Yes..."
Alia's eyes sparkled like a child's on Christmas morning.
Well, I felt the sa way.
I was curious about what was inside the Rose Knights' subspace pockets.
"Okay, let's open them on the count of three."
I counted silently.
And then...
Knock, knock.
We had a visitor.
We put the subspace pockets aside and checked who it was. I had been wary when I heard the knock, but thankfully, it was a familiar face.
"Raven."
"Sorry to interrupt you. I couldn't just sit there after hearing what happened."
"Co in."
Raven entered the living room and sat down on the sofa, bombarding with questions.
Was reclaiming my identity part of the plan?
What were my plans for the future?
And...
"I'm so glad you're safe..."
The topic eventually shifted to the expedition.
"Yandel... are you okay?"
"Okay? What do you an?"
"So many people died... I was at the Palace of Glory on the day of the victory parade... I saw everything. You apologizing to the families, reciting their nas..."
"...I see."
"I'm worried about you. Are you really okay?"
Okay? How am I supposed to answer that?
I hesitated for a mont and then forced a laugh, patting Raven's shoulder.
"Why wouldn't I be okay? We're back alive."
"...What happened there?"
Only ten of us had survived.
It was a story that couldn't be told in a few words.
But...
"Nothing. It's just like the Marquis said."
I couldn't tell Raven the truth.
She was already burdened enough by helping , an evil spirit.
And besides, she wasn't involved this ti.
I couldn't burden her with our fight against the royal family.
"You seem distant today. Or rather, you've always been distant..."
"It's just your imagination."
"Yes, I guess so..."
An awkward silence followed.
Raven sipped her tea and then stood up.
Or rather, she tried to stand up.
Bang, bang, bang!
A loud banging sound ca from the front door.
What? Is it a thief?
As I stood up, I heard a familiar voice.
"Bjorn!"
"Bjorn! Co out! Are you really alive?!"
It was my comrade.
It was like magic.
"Bjorn!"
I couldn't help but smile.
Heh.
I had reclaid my na.
It was ti for us to reunite.
'Only Misha and Bear are left now...'
It was ti for us to gather again.
_______________________
Clatter, clatter.
The sound of cutlery echoed through the dining room.
Lee Baekho, chewing on the end of his spoon, cautiously spoke.
"Hey, owow."
"...I told you not to call that."
"You don't like your surna, and you don't want to call you by your first na?"
"Can't you understand? Just don't call ."
"Wow, you're so cold..."
He sighed and glanced at the others.
It was an ordinary al, but everyone was awkwardly eating, watching his reaction.
Except for one person.
"owow."
"..."
"Why don't you go outside?"
"..."
"You're not a real cat, why do you never leave the house except for labyrinth expeditions? Look, your skin is so pale—"
Clang!
The Red Cat beastwoman slamd her spoon on the table.
And...
"I'm done."
She took her plate and went upstairs to her room.
Click.
Lee Baekho sighed as he heard the door close.
He looked at the others and asked for their opinion.
"She... she still doesn't know, right?"
The Ruin Scholar was the first to answer.
"You can't hide it forever."
"Yeah, I know, but... just be careful what you say. Okay?"
The Guide nodded.
"...I'll try."
"Good. Then that's it for today. Everyone, go do your own thing."
Lee Baekho smiled and left the dining room.
And...
Click.
He entered his room.
"..."
His smile vanished, his face hardening.
"Bjorn Yandel is alive..."
He didn't have any ill feelings towards Bjorn Yandel.
They were both evil spirits, after all.
He felt like he was looking at a promising junior.
He reminded him of his past self.
That's why he had taken Misha in, even though he knew she was an evil spirit. He was intrigued by her unwavering loyalty.
He genuinely felt sorry for them when they were separated.
But...
"This is interesting."
It was too late now.
He couldn't welco Bjorn Yandel's return with open arms.
His carefully nurtured Ice Swordsman might be taken away from him.
Well, to be precise, he would be returned to his original owner...
"He should have co back sooner. This is just a nuisance."
Lee Baekho contemplated seriously.
"Should I just kill him?"
Eliminating any obstacles that stood in his way, regardless of his personal feelings.
That was his long-standing rule.
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