Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian - Chapter 288

Episode 288 Cause and Effect (4)

The week-long work schedule for building repairs went by quickly.

There were no incidents like this.

Even though I’m engrossed in my work without looking away, when it’s time for a break, all I can say is how hard it is to be an explorer in front of the kids.

Even that was skipped from the 3rd day.

Now that I’m resting, the children won’t come even if I sit under the shade.

“…….”

“…….”

So during breaks, it became a daily routine to sit quietly under the shade with Dwalki.

Oh sure, we chatted occasionally.

“Why did you come here?”

“……I told the director that my parents couldn’t afford to raise me.”

“Right.”

“But compared to the other kids, I’m better. I’ll pick you up from home in a little while…” ”

……Did you say that in front of the other kids?”

“What about that?”

Hey, I think I know why I don’t have any friends here.

I let out a sigh, and Dwalki came up with some kind of excuse. “I’m fine. Anyway… I’m not going to be there for that long. My parents are merchants.

It’s

a bit difficult right now…”

As soon as I heard it, I was overcome with bitterness.

Yes, I know the circumstances of this guy.

As soon as Dwalki was born, the current baron enrolled him in a collateral family, where he irresponsibly left him here.

‘Later, after her birth mother found out about it and told the baron, she went into the Dwalki family’s annex and lived together…’ For reference, she had

lived there for over ten years and had hardly seen her adoptive father or mother. However, the financial support was quite good, so I was able to continue my life without lacking, such as learning magic.

“You’ve worked hard. Eat beef jerky here. Eat well when you’re young to grow tall.”

“Ah yes… thank you.”

The break ended soon after the two of them sat down and munched on beef jerky.

“Uh… is today the last day?”

“Yes, the repair work is now finished. Now, even if it rains, the ceiling won’t leak.”

“……thank you.”

You’re still polite.

The other kids thought it was normal for the volunteers to come and fix the house.

“If you are grateful, never become an explorer.”

“Yes? Suddenly, what is that…”

“Okay, answer me.”

“Explorer. I can’t do that… I don’t even want to.”

The expression on the face of the little Dwalkie who replied was sincere.

Well, if you’ve heard that, then this is normal.

If the other little ones are also explorers, they’re in the middle of taking off their cranes, so there won’t be anyone to blow the wind on.

……Honestly, I’m not relieved though.

‘But since I can’t stay here forever, I have no choice but to leave the rest to the sky.’

“Hey Enche! After you’ve rested, come and help me with this!”

“Leol, then I’ll be gone.”

“……Yes. Goodbye.”

Then I gave Dwalkie all the jerky and snacks in my bag and went back to the job site.

I refrained from being a kid, but the barbarian said he had to give it to me, so what am I going to do?

“Thanks to you, today’s schedule was finished quickly. Well then, everyone worked hard!”

Anyway, after a few more hours of repair work, the foreman announced the end of the work.

The end of a schedule that took a week or so.

“I’m going to have a drink after today. Would you like to come too?”

“But am I an explorer?”

“Haha, it’s okay, everyone knows that you’re not a condescending person like the other explorers.”

The class president asked me if I would like to attend the dinner, and after thinking about it for a while, I said yes.

There’s nothing else to do after that anyway.

It’s time to go to the library and Raven won’t be there.

“The church has generously paid for your hard work, so don’t worry and drink!”

So we all went to a nearby pub and had a drink. But is it because it’s the first time I’ve had a place like this with people who aren’t explorers?

‘It’s a bit awkward.’

I can’t keep up with things like conversation topics.

We talk about which smithy is of good quality and who from which clan is dating who.

“Hey……”

When I was alone, someone called from the side.

So the name is…

“Warb Emirn.”

Oh yes.

It was impressive that even though he had a small body, he carried heavy loads and participated in the work diligently without flinching.

“Do you have anything to say?”

“That… I’ve heard what you’re saying to the kids.”

Ah, for some reason, every time I talk, he looks at me from the side with a strange look.

“You mean the labyrinth?”

“yes.”

At my question, Emirn nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression and asked cautiously.

“Is that… is it really such a terrible place?”

“Not really.”

“Yes? But…”

“I said that in front of the kids because I didn’t want any strange winds to come in. It must be a difficult place to hold on to with a half-hearted mindset.”

“Ah…”

I told her a few things while I was away.

Starting with the view from the 3rd floor that Dwalki particularly liked, the white snowy field and various mysteries seen in the wide forest ‘Glacier Cave’, and so on.

As the conversation went on, I felt that the people around me became quiet before I knew it. Well, I’m an adult and I like it without saying anything about it.

“It’s snow…… I’ve never seen it before, so I can’t imagine saying that.”

“Is it like cold sugar?”

For them, who must have been confined within the castle walls all their lives, what happened in the labyrinth was like a story from another world.

Just as I was unfamiliar with their stories, it would be rare for them to get along with explorers.

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard a strange story.”

“I’ll have to tell my son when I get back.”

Of course, I didn’t spend too long talking to myself.

After talking roughly enough, the topic naturally returned to the story of their lives, and I spent time talking about what I could reasonably say.

‘This isn’t bad either…….’ As

time passed and the sun began to set, the dinner ended with one or two returning to their homes.

It was the car that came out to go home like that.

“hey……!”

A woman followed and grabbed me.

“Ah Emirn. What’s going on?”

“I just want to ask you one question. Is that okay?”

“do it.”

Emirn seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke in a voice that was somehow burdensome.

“You said earlier that Mr. Enche also has times when he’s afraid, right?”

“It did.”

“Me too. There are times when your eyes go dark and you feel as if your heart will burst just thinking about it. How does Mr. Enche overcome such times?”

This is a bit of a difficult question.

Especially if the target is a person with whom he hadn’t had a one-on-one relationship until a few days ago.

But I decided not to think about it too deeply.

Aren’t you the one who already stood in front of me hoping for courage?

“As I said before, barbarians are not fearless beings.”

Even more so for me, who was an ordinary office worker.

But…

“We just know. If you don’t do what you’re afraid of, there will be only the worst possible outcome.”

“The worst outcome… yes, I’m sure it’s the same…”

After that, there was an awkward silence.

After giving her a moment to think, I asked her.

“Is this something you have to do?”

“yes.”

His voice was small, but there was no hesitation.

So I have only one more thing to say.

“Then do it.”

A cheer that only a barbarian can do in this world.

It took a while for the answer to come back.

“…Thank you for giving me courage. I’ll try my best.”

“Really? I don’t know what it is, but I hope it goes well.”

“Yes. And the story you told me earlier was really interesting.”

“Then I’m glad.”

“Especially the place called the sea. I’ve only heard about it, but I think it’s a very cool place. Maybe… I’ll never be able to go to something like that in my life.”

I didn’t add anything to her self-deprecating remarks.

what would you say

You can go if you like too?

I know very well that these are words of deception.

“…… I’ll go now.”

“Oh yes. Go see.”

After that, I exchanged greetings with Emirn once more and parted ways.

But why?

‘Wave Emirn…….’

I don’t know why, but the name kept coming to my mind all the way back.

***

When I came back from the party, smelling like alcohol, Amelia was in my room.

“I haven’t been there since daytime. Where have you been?”

“Oh, I went to volunteer work for a while.”

“volunteer……?”

That facial expression.

Did I say anything I couldn’t?

“People should also know how to give.”

“……Right.”

“Anyway, I’m glad you came. I didn’t know, but I ran out of money, so give me some money and go.”

“Did I really spend all that money?”

“Ah, when I said I was going to buy equipment, there was nothing left.”

“……Right.”

Then Amelia rummaged around her waist and threw a pouch at me.

It was pretty heavy.

‘I won’t have to worry about meat prices for a while.’

“It works well.”

After expressing my gratitude, I let him know about some of the restaurants I visited 20 years ago.

I don’t think I’m going to see the expression on my face.

If I don’t get to the point later, I think I’ll get angry.

“Ah! But how’s your business going? I heard you met the broker or something last time?”

“It’s still in the contact phase. Fortunately, it’s going well as planned, so if there are no other incidents, we should be able to depart next week. Be prepared too.”

“I will.”

As soon as the short main discussion was over, Amelia said she had something to do and left.

‘I’m leaving in a week…’

After washing and changing clothes, I laid down on the bed and organized the things I had to do for the rest of my days in my head.

There wasn’t much to organize.

‘Since it’s leaving next week, Raven should finish it quickly as well.’

I should be able to receive the ordered equipment sometime next week, and I think I’ll just have to deal with Raven.

Tomorrow I should go straight to the library.

‘Is the important thing after going down to Noark?’

Perhaps from then on, I will have to stay alert. How are we going to get down there and move on? I’ve been planning with Amelia all this time…

but where is the world going as planned?

‘after…… It’s done and I want to go back quickly.’

With this and that wish in my head, the thoughts gradually came to me.

***

The place is a two-story rented house that I found together with Misha.

There, I was laughing and chatting with my colleagues.

I didn’t know it at first, but I quickly realized it.

‘It’s a dream.’

The reason I was sure was the mirror.

After laughing and chatting, I looked to the side and saw that it was not Bjorn but Lee Han-soo in the mirror.

Something that could never happen in real life.

The moment I noticed, the background was crushed and the space changed.

[What are you doing, Bjorn? Let’s go!]

This time it was in a labyrinth.

As usual, he was climbing the floor and exploring.

But this time too, I was Lee Han-soo, not Bjorn. The shield was heavy, and the level of my eyes looking at the monster changed, so I was looking up at it.

Is that why?

[Why can’t that be prevented!]

I kept making mistakes and hurt my colleagues.

At first it was only injured, but in the end someone died.

[If it weren’t for you…]

It was Dwalky.

Only then did I realize again that this was a dream, and the background swirled again.

It was a familiar place again.

A quiet room reminiscent of a medieval aristocrat’s office.

“What is the round table this time?”

At first, I laughed and moved on, but soon I felt a sense of incongruity.

‘It’s a little different…?’

The structure and atmosphere of the rooms are similar.

However, there are no costumes, ornaments, and masks that should fill one wall.

Well, it could be because it’s a dream, so the details are lacking…

“……It’s too realistic for that.”

I blankly opened and closed my hands, repeating.

Every time I applied strength to my hand, I could clearly feel the movement of my muscles.

Even the flow of thought was natural.

smart.

The sound and texture when you hit the wall.

Everything was indistinguishable from reality.

Seruk.

Realizing this, I immediately checked the full-length mirror placed on one side.

As expected, Lee Han-soo, not Bjorn, was standing there.

If so, how did this happen?

Let’s think about it under the assumption that it’s not a dream. Surprisingly, a reasonable guess came out quickly.

‘Ah… Today is the day the community opens.’

I was summoned while I was sleeping.

If so, this would be an explanation.

The same is true for the way the community communicates through computers is different from the community 20 years later.

Considering that it was in the early days, it is understandable.

Maybe if you open that door and go out, you might see the GM with a surprised expression on his face.

But…….

“…….”

I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Baekho Lee.

[An evil spirit has existed in this city since a hundred years ago. In terms of Earth, it was more than 20 years ago. So,

who are they?

[The correct answer is those from another dimension!]

Evil spirits summoned from another dimension.

Compared to the people from Earth, they were few, but all of them possessed unique powers.

Did one of them create this space and the GM we know inherited it?

‘No way……’

One possibility that could happen enough.

It was at this moment that the possibility passed through my mind.

smart.

someone knocked on the door