Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 372

Treasure Hunter (1)

Three days after the community closed.

While I was spending my days looking for a ship to use on the 6th floor and a navigator to sail it, Amelia delivered good news.

“Schuitz, don’t worry about the guild anymore.”

“Don’t worry about it?”

“I found a suitable guy and took care of him.”

“…What?”

When I asked for details, it was a very Amelia-like way of handling things.

She found a guild executive who had committed crimes that would end his life if caught, such as embezzlement and tax evasion.

She used that evidence to blackmail him and succeeded in having the guild information about ‘Riehen Schuitz’ destroyed.

“It would have been much safer to modify the information to what we wanted rather than destroying it, but it seems that was too difficult.”

“What’s the possibility of the data being destroyed causing problems?”

“Generally, there isn’t any. It’s more common than you think for administrative data to be lost or damaged.”

Hmm, I see…

As I was nodding quietly, Amelia continued, saying that not all the data was destroyed, and the data that Riehen Schuitz is a 5th-grade explorer remains.

In short, it means that the 5th-grade status is maintained.

“You look a bit unconvinced?”

“Even if it’s a world where loss is common, it seems a bit suspicious that my data suddenly disappeared.”

“But it’s much better than leaving the old data as it is, right?”

Well, that’s certainly true.

Even if it’s difficult to eliminate suspicion, at least I can prevent the people chasing me from getting concrete evidence.

“Good job… no, thank you, Amelia.”

“…It’s only natural for the one who’s good at it to do the job.”

“Because that’s more efficient, right?”

Amelia nodded and changed the subject.

“So, how’s the work you’re in charge of going? Have you read all the documents I gave you?”

Ah, the ship list.

It was a document that neatly summarized the specs and prices of the ships on the market.

“If you don’t like any of them, I’d like you to tell me quickly, because I’ll have to look again.”

“No, there’s no need for that. As long as the actual ship is the same as the document, there was one that was just right.”

When I told her which ship I had chosen, Amelia asked for the reason, and I excitedly explained.

“The price is the highest among the candidates, but considering the performance and price, it can be seen as rather cheap.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, if you avoid special areas, it’s capable of sailing up to the 7th floor in its current state, and even later, if you add options, you can sail through special areas, so there’s no need to get a new ship.”

“Is that so?”

Amelia replied without any emotion.

If she was going to react so indifferently, I wondered why she even asked…

“Well, if you say so, it must be right. This is what you’re best at.”

At Amelia’s words, I couldn’t help but stutter.

“Uh… is that so?”

“We’re already on the same boat, and you’re the captain of that boat.”

It was a statement that could only make the listener feel awkward.

However, apart from that, I also had this thought.

Is she doing this on purpose to boost my morale?

Come to think of it, recently I’ve been mostly cooped up at home, just asking them for favors.

Maybe it was consideration—

“Then, since the ship has been decided, I’ll go first. If I move quickly, I’ll be able to make an appointment before the exchange closes.”

I wanted to ask if she really said that for my sake, but Amelia put on her coat and went out, so I couldn’t ask.

Well, it’s not important anyway.

‘Anyway, so I’ve got the ship with this…’

If I had more budget, I could have gotten a better ship, but I’m not particularly disappointed.

The ship I chose this time was pretty good.

‘The problem is the navigator…’

Since ancient times, the problem has always been people, not things.

***

Knock knock.

As I was lying in bed reading books borrowed from the library, I heard a knock.

Hmm, is it already mealtime?

“Come in.”

As soon as I gave my permission, the door opened as if they had been waiting.

As expected, the visitor was Erwen.

Amelia must be in the middle of negotiations with the seller who agreed to sell the ship.

“What’s the matter?”

I put down the book and asked what was going on, and Erwen muttered briefly in a somewhat dissatisfied voice.

“We have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

No sooner had I tilted my head and asked back than a woman appeared at the door.

Shimmering platinum blonde hair and blue eyes.

“It’s me.”

It was Raven.

Unlike the last time I saw her, she was wearing casual clothes instead of the Magic Corps uniform, and her hair was down instead of tied up.

Wow, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

“May I come in?”

“Ah, uh…”

Before I could answer, Raven came into the room and sat down, and Erwen followed her in and took a chair, sitting far away.

“Why did you come in?”

“Can’t I?”

No, I didn’t mean you couldn’t… I was just asking why…

Well, whatever.

Seeing her sitting so far away, she probably won’t be a bother.

“It’s been a while, Raven.”

“Yes. How have you been?”

“So far, so good. But is it okay for you to come here like this?”

“I came here without being seen, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, so that’s why you let your hair down and dressed like that?”

“………Is there any other reason?”

Why is she answering so sharply again?

I was just asking, did something bad happen to her?

‘I should be careful when talking today.’

As I was thinking that and about to ask her what she came for, Raven spoke first.

“Books.”

“…?”

“It seems you were reading a book. Did you buy it?”

“No, it seems you can borrow them these days.”

“Ah… I heard about that before. It’s said that the external removal of books has become possible for people whose identities are clearly guaranteed, right?”

“That’s officially the case, but in reality, you have to deposit a security deposit unless you’re a noble or a high-ranking official.”

“But you didn’t have to, sir.”

Erwen suddenly joined the conversation, but Raven nodded without showing any reaction.

“Well, with your status, Mr. Tersia, that’s possible.”

“So, what’s the reason you came all the way here while hiding your appearance? Was there something going on?”

Before the conversation went off on a tangent, I quickly checked what she came for, and Raven also finished the introduction and got to the point.

“Mr. Yandel… no, I’m sorry. Even if I try to be careful, I can’t get used to it.”

“It’s okay.”

“Anyway, I came to tell you something, Mr. Schuitz.”

Yeah, I knew she didn’t just come to see me.

I thought maybe she did since the introduction was long.

“A story? Tell me.”

It didn’t seem like it would be a light matter, so I also lowered my voice and focused on the conversation.

“The royal family has started an unofficial investigation into Mr. Schuitz.”

“Unofficial investigation?”

“It’s something that happens whenever new people appear. If they conduct an official investigation without justification, it looks like control and oppression of explorers.”

Hmm, is it like civilian surveillance?

It’s a dictatorship anyway, but they’re being careful in strange places.

“Anyway, so?”

“I was also investigated, so I disclosed some information as I said I would. I only picked out things that couldn’t be hidden, like the ability Mr. Yandel showed back then.”

“Even so, if it’s an unofficial investigation, it doesn’t seem like they’re suspicious of my identity itself.”

“Yes. If they were, you would have been caught a long time ago, right? Even if it’s unofficial, there are cases where they handle things gently, and there are cases where they don’t.”

The rumors that the royal family is secretly training a secret special forces unit are not just rumors.

The Rose Knights or whatever they’re called are a prime example.

“So, what happened to you? From the upper management’s point of view, you’ve omitted a report.”

“That’s okay. I managed to get away with it by using the excuse that the position of the 3rd Corps Commander was vacant at the time. I also told my direct superior, Commander Febrosk, that I had reported to him separately.”

“Then wouldn’t your lie be exposed?”

“It’s not a lie. I really did report to the commander as soon as I returned to the city. Of course, it was a somewhat fabricated story.”

“I see…”

I felt a sense of reassurance at her sharp handling of things, but also a sense of guilt.

“I’m sorry for getting you involved in my affairs, Raven.”

“…Isn’t that over? I’m just repaying the debt I received before.”

“I will definitely repay this debt too.”

“Yes, you must. Otherwise, it seems like I’ll be at a loss.”

The atmosphere could have become heavy, but Raven lightened it up a bit by responding with a joke.

It was time to move on to the next agenda.

“Raven, have you ever heard of the ethnic inclusion proposal?”

“Ethnic inclusion proposal? What’s that?”

“It’s a proposal to embrace rather than define evil spirits as enemies. It was proposed once 150 years ago, but it was canceled for various reasons.”

“Ah, I remember learning about it before. But why?”

“I heard that the proposal was discussed at a royal family meeting.”

When I explained why I brought this up, Raven looked surprised.

“I’m hearing about that for the first time. Mr. Schuitz has been mostly at home, so how… Ah, it was the full moon a while ago!”

One of Raven’s strengths is that she doesn’t need a long explanation.

I didn’t affirm or deny it and continued.

“I’d like you to look into it. Who brought up the topic at the meeting, and…”

“And…?”

“Whether there’s really no possibility that the royal family will accept the proposal.”

Maybe this will be the key point.

***

After Raven left, it was quite busy days.

To be precise, it wasn’t me, who was just at home, but Amelia who had busy days.

The ship I had decided on was purchased by throwing in almost all of my assets, but I hadn’t found a navigator to sail it.

It was as if the navigators had dried up.

I thought there would be quite a few on the market since everyone was taking military ships straight to the Dark Continent.

“I guess it was a bit difficult to find one in just a month…”

“Speak properly. It’s difficult to find someone who meets your standards.”

Well, that’s true.

To be honest, it wasn’t that there were no navigators at all.

The problem was that most of them were mediocre.

To properly reach the Subterranean Island sea area, which is the destination of this expedition, navigation skills are the most important thing.

“Either lower your standards or give up. Those with such skills are quickly snatched up by other teams even if they are released on the market, and they won’t come to our team, which is trying to hire them on a short-term contract like hiring mercenaries.”

“Really? Then I’ll give up.”

“So easily…?”

“Well, what can I do? The labyrinth opens in two days. I’ll try to find one next month.”

“Then are you going to exclude the Subterranean Island from this expedition plan?”

“No, I’m going to try it ourselves for now. I don’t know if it’ll work, but there’s not much to do on the lower floors anyway, right?”

From the beginning, I couldn’t properly gain experience on the early part of the 6th floor, so even if I don’t reach the Subterranean Island, it’s not a big loss.

However, did my words annoy her a bit?

“…It’s not wrong, but it’s infuriating. If you had told me in advance, I wouldn’t have been so busy.”

“That… I’m sorry.”

After apologizing to Amelia, I called Erwen to my room and discussed the next expedition plan.

But it didn’t take long.

I had a Plan B in case I couldn’t find a navigator.

“You’re going into the rift…?”

“Not for long. It’s not like anything big will happen if we arrive on the 6th floor a few days late. It’s not like we’re joining the expeditionary force this time. From what I’ve heard, it seems like you two haven’t gained much rift experience either?”

“Well, the rift isn’t a place you can enter just because you want to…”

That’s true.

That’s why even when I was in the half-baked team, and then in the team I created myself, I didn’t easily share how to open the rift.

‘It’s definitely much easier in these aspects since I just revealed that I’m an evil spirit.’

“Anyway, then that’s enough for the expedition plan.”

After the plan was shared, we each spent time preparing, and after two more days passed—

「You have entered the Crystal Cave on the 1st floor.」

The day of entering the labyrinth had arrived.

“Sir, why are you smiling?”

“I’m just a little excited. Let’s go to the 2nd floor quickly.”

It feels like I’m going on an adventure for the first time in a while.