SGB: Episode 123

Episode 123: Veteran (2)

“Misha and I are just companions.”

“Is, is that so? Ah… as expected…”

What does he mean, ‘as expected’?

I try to ignore his knowing gaze and take a sip of my beer. Dwarkey then slams his head on the table.

Thud!

No wonder he was chugging several glasses even though he can't hold his liquor.

‘Damn it.’

Anyway, our daytime drinking session ends without even lasting a few hours.

I leave Dwarkey, who’s passed out, to his best friend, the dwarf, and step out of the bar. It’s still daytime.

Therefore…

‘I should just go to the library.’

I change my plans, deciding to head to the library instead of going back to the inn and resting.

There are still many things I don’t know about this place.

‘It’s almost the same, but subtly different.’

Just look at the troll we encountered this time.

We blinded it by stabbing its eyes, but it still charged towards Dwarkey, sensing mana.

There was no such setting in the game.

But who knows, maybe there’s something about it in the books of this world.

I need to keep studying, not just rely on my knowledge from the game.

‘Auril Gabis. I need to keep looking into that name too.’

Somehow, I think I’m reading more books here than I did in the civilized world.

“You’re safe, I see.”

I arrive at the library, and Ragna greets me with sleepy eyes.

It’s been a few months since we exchanged names…

But we’ve gotten closer than before.

Now she even offers unsolicited advice.

“I understand you rested on the day you came back, but why didn’t you come yesterday?”

“I had things to do.”

“I know explorers are busy, but you shouldn’t neglect your studies.”

She has a strange side to her too.

Telling a barbarian not to neglect his studies.

“Alright, then I’ll leave it to you.”

“…Bierdo Parsityev.”

After a brief greeting, I receive the [Special Book Detection] spell as usual and enter the library.

And this time, I focus on books related to monsters. I didn’t usually look into this area because I already had knowledge from the game, but the situation has changed.

“I’m getting hungry, so I’ll be going. Keep up the good work.”

“Um…”

“Huh?”

“I’m still… never mind. Don’t worry about it.”

It’s evening when I leave the library.

But what is this?

“Hello, Mr. Yandel.”

Just as I’m returning to the inn, thinking I had a productive day, someone is pacing in front of my room.

A woman dressed in black from head to toe, as if attending a funeral, with an elegant aura.

So, her name was…

“You’re… Urbans?”

“…Julian. Julian Urbans.”

“Right, that was your name.”

“…I heard about it from Peta, but I didn’t expect you to really not remember.”

She mutters dejectedly, twisting her curly brown hair with her index finger.

It might just be a habit, but maybe it's an unconscious manifestation of her anxiety.

‘She doesn’t look like it from her expression, but is she nervous?’

With that thought, I ask,

“So who is Peta?”

The regional manager's daughter’s eyes tremble at my question.

As if she heard something unbelievable.

“…You don’t even know Branch Manager Peta’s name?”

“Ah.”

So that was the mustached man’s name.

But how would I know?

We've never even introduced ourselves before.

Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing, but I don’t show it and get to the point.

“So what brings you here? Alone, at that.”

“I had no choice but to come since you wouldn’t meet me.”

“I’m pretty sure I refused that offer.”

“Can’t you understand that I’m desperate?”

Desperate…

For the regional manager’s daughter to say something like this, there must be a reason. It’s probably something she can’t tell others.

Or else, she wouldn’t have come alone to meet her hostage-taker.

But I’m a barbarian who doesn’t know the meaning of being nosy.

“Just go back. I don’t want to get involved in troublesome things.”

I suppress my curiosity and enter the room.

However, just as I’m about to close the door…

Clack!

…Lady Urbans quickly wedges her parasol into the gap.

Of course, there’s no way it would work.

Bang!

The parasol shatters with a bit of force, and the door closes tightly.

“Huh?”

Perhaps she didn’t expect things to go this way. Lady Urbans hurriedly knocks on the door.

“Wai, wait a minute! Let’s just talk! It won’t take long—”

“Stop it and go back.”

“No, really! Aren’t you even curious about why I’m doing this?”

“I’m not curious.”

“Ugh!”

Did my firm attitude work well?

Lady Urbans, whose parasol even ended up broken, kicks the door in frustration and then leaves with the sound of her clicking heels.

Only then do I breathe a sigh of relief.

‘Phew, it seems like it worked out—’

Click, clack.

That’s when the receding sound of heels starts coming back towards me.

Could it be that she hasn’t given up yet?

Knock, knock, knock.

As soon as I hear the knocking, I start snoring.

Snore, snore!

I judged that this would be enough for her to completely give up, without any further response.

“Ha… why am I doing this…”

I hear a lament from beyond the door.

However, did she decide to change her tactics?

“I know you’re not sleeping, so just listen.”

Lady Urbans whispers from behind the door.

“Braun Rotmiller. Be careful of that man. I don’t know the details, but he met with my father today… Kyaak! How could you suddenly open the door!”

…It was worth listening to.

_______________________

An awkward atmosphere fills the room where a man and a woman are together late at night.

Well, that’s only natural.

I opened the door for her, but there’s no substance.

“So that’s all?”

“Yes…”

That Rotmiller was summoned to the Regional Manager’s office and then left after 5 minutes.

That’s all the information Lady Urbans gave me.

I shouldn’t have opened the door.

“So what’s your goal?”

Since things have turned out this way, I decide to satisfy my curiosity.

I’m even more curious now.

Why would the Regional Manager’s daughter tell me this, even betraying her own father?

Lady Urbans says with a determined expression,

“My goal is my father’s downfall.”

“…Huh?”

“It can’t be helped. If this continues, I’ll really have to live like a doll. Anyway, I need your cooperation to achieve this—”

“Get out.”

“Yes? No, it seems like you’ve misunderstood. You’ll benefit greatly if you help me—”

Benefit my ass.

There’s nothing to gain by making an enemy of the Regional Manager.

“Kyaak!”

I realize how persistent this woman is in this short amount of time, so I pick her up and throw her outside.

And I close and lock the door.

But did my consistent attitude finally work?

“If… you change your mind, please come find me. Ah, and be careful. My father must have done something to that Rotmiller.”

With that, Lady Urbans leaves without making any more fuss. So I also wash up and go to bed.

‘Rotmiller… I’ll have to keep an eye on him.’

Afterwards, the days pass as usual.

Misha grills meat for me every morning, and I spend my time at the library during the day.

When Erwen, who said she would come once a week, visits, the three of us eat together and build our friendship.

Ah, we also had a regular meeting to plan the next expedition.

[Although a troll appeared on the 4th floor last time, it seems like we were just particularly unlucky. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the floor itself, so I think we can proceed as planned. What do you guys think?]

I observed Rotmiller throughout the meeting, but I couldn’t find anything strange.

If I had to point out one thing, it’s that he was quieter than usual.

This made my mind even more complicated.

I was hoping he would mention it at the meeting if he had talked about something with the Regional Manager.

‘…Should I just bluntly ask him what they talked about?’

There’s the option of confronting him directly, but I put it on hold for now.

We still have time before the labyrinth opens, so it’s better to approach it cautiously.

Anyway, time passed, and three days ago…

[With this, I’ve paid back my debt. Return it to me now.]

[…Can’t you just give me this?]

…I received the 5 million stones from the bear-like man.

I asked if he would be willing to just give me the bracelet, but he firmly shook his head.

Geez, it’s not even for ranged attackers.

This item is most effective when used by a character with high regeneration.

Their health recovers quickly during the damage immunity period.

‘I should try to persuade him later when we become companions. To sell it to me cheap.’

With that thought, I open my eyes and check the clock.

[23:59]

It’s just 10 seconds to midnight on the 15th.

I close my eyes again.

「The character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」

It’s time to enjoy a special kind of daily life.

___________________

Lee Hansu’s room, not Bjorn Yandel’s.

I lie down on the bed first, thinking it’s strange even though it’s not my first time.

‘As expected, the softness is different.’

I can definitely feel the gap in civilization.

It’s not like I bought an expensive mattress.

Well, I guess it would be different if I went for the highest quality in this world too, but.

Click.

I turn on the computer using my toe while lying on the bed, and the monitor lights up instantly without any booting time.

Therefore, I get up and sit in front of the computer.

It’s a space that I can only access once a month, and even then, there’s a time limit.

I have to use it efficiently.

Click, click.

First, I enter the exchange.

Most of it is the same as when I last saw it, but new posts are being uploaded in real time.

‘I’ll check this again later…’

I open the chat room list.

When I first came here, I didn’t have enough time to use this function leisurely, but that’s not the case this time.

[Wizardry]

[Beastmen Gather]

[Elves of the Night]

As I look through them, I see that many people are gathered in the class or race communities, unlike the [Newbie Room], which had less than 10 members.

Well, I guess you would have to go to those places to get useful information.

Things like build guides.

‘But… why are there no barbarians?’

As I keep scrolling down, I freeze.

Except for the dragonkin, whose character selection is blocked, every race has a dedicated chat room, but there’s none for barbarians.

Well, it’s not that there isn’t one…

[Behel-laaaaa!] – 0 members online.

…but there are no people inside.

Looking closely, even the last login record is from months ago, and the nickname is crossed out with a red line.

It means that person was either banned or died in real life.

Why are barbarians the only ones like this?

When I think about it carefully, there are a couple of reasons that make sense.

Two reasons, actually.

1. Barbarians aren’t very popular as main characters.

Even I often chose beastmen or elves before I completed the shield barbarian build. Or I would choose humans, who have high potential in the later stages.

2. Barbarians have to grab their weapons and enter the labyrinth as soon as they start. Otherwise, they starve to death.

The insanely difficult coming-of-age ceremony.

And the hardcore growth condition of having to enter the labyrinth as soon as you wake up.

‘There were already few people, and most of them probably died in the early stages.’

For some reason, I feel a sense of empathy, and my heart aches.

So I look for class communities.

[Noblesse] – 21 members online.

[Treasure Hunter] – 34 members online.

[Swordmaster] – 17 members online.

Healers, archers, swordsmen, etc.

They all have over 10 members online.

But…

[Shielder] – 3 members online.

There are only three tanks.

Zero in the race community and three in the class community.

“…….”

What kind of path am I walking?

I feel a bit miserable, so I try looking for country communities.

Fortunately, there’s a chat room.

[Long Live Korean Independence] – 1 member online.

Even if it’s just one person, it’s something.

It’s a foreign game that didn’t even have Korean translation.

Honestly, I thought there might not even be one.

‘Korean…’

I double-click without hesitation.
___________________

Surprisingly, the moment I open my eyes, I see a room that looks like a noble’s mansion.

I thought it would be a default skin like a clearing or a field—

“You cameeeeeeeeee!”

Before I can even leisurely look around, the player who was online greets me with a loud shout.

He’s a man in his early twenties with short hair.

[Sergeant Lee]

I freeze as soon as I confirm his nickname.

“Sergeant Lee… don’t tell me…”

“Hyungnim… you recognize me. It was the day I was discharged.”

What the hell is this bullshit!

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