Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 648

After finishing my conversation with Elder Heoju, I sought out the dwarf after a long time.

“Hikurud Murad.”

“Bjorn! Why now…! Why are you only coming now…! I’ve sent you so many letters…!”

The dwarf’s reaction upon our reunion was more intense than ever. It was understandable, considering that his smithy hadn’t escaped the recent turmoil, leaving him unemployed.

That’s why I was meeting him in the lobby of the Commelby Inn, something I never expected to do.

“Sorry. I wanted to come sooner, but I was busy.”

“Busy? It’s been over a month since you returned!”

“Ah, I said I was busy, didn’t I?”

“……”

In truth, I could have made time to see him whenever I wanted, but I kept putting it off, and before I knew it, it was now.

‘It seems most of my assets, including the Mystium [a rare and valuable metal] I entrusted to him, have been safely preserved.’

I guess it wasn’t that urgent of a situation?

According to his letters, as soon as the trouble started, he managed to gather all the important assets and evacuate amidst the chaos.

Well, he still lost his smithy, though.

“So, Hikurud, how are you doing now?”

“Hah… I’m currently monitoring the situation. I was thinking of mobilizing my connections to repair the smithy… but as you know, there’s no way business would be good if I reopened it now. So, I’m also considering starting anew in Commelby…”

“And?”

“Recently, the average monthly rent in all areas, including Commelby, has skyrocketed. It seems like many people are thinking the same thing as me. I heard from a contact that the number of adventurers trying to open shops is also increasing dramatically.”

Oh, this is information I didn’t know.

Is it because people from Districts 7 and 13 are flowing into other districts, and the closure of the labyrinth is adding to the problem?

‘……The nobles who own the land are also in a financial pinch.’

They say the common people suffer the most when times are chaotic.

That’s exactly right.

“So, I wanted to meet you and hear your thoughts before making any decisions… Do you perhaps know? How this situation will turn out…”

…Come to think of it, has the dwarf always been this small?

The way he subtly asked was as if he was asking a stock expert for good information.

Well, I guess he thought that as a noble, I might know something.

“I don’t know when this situation will end either.”

“Hah… I see…”

“But if you’re thinking of reopening your smithy, do it in District 7 as soon as possible.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Because reconstruction will start soon. You can make a profit just by producing and supplying steel bars and shovels. Maybe I can even give you some work.”

When I told him that I would be participating in the bidding competition on behalf of Melbes, the dwarf’s expression changed.

Of course, he knows.

In any world, businesses related to the ‘government’ are very lucrative.

“Ah! Then I must hurry! Just trust me! I’ll work hard!”

“Ah, but you don’t need to rush from now.”

“Huh…? You don’t need to rush?”

Looking at the dwarf tilting his head, I took the opportunity to explain the ‘Jeonse’ system [a Korean-style deposit-based lease].

“What? There’s a way to rent for free without paying monthly rent?!”

“Yes. If you buy land in the near future, you can sign a contract using the method I mentioned. So, until then, just think about how you’re going to build your building.”

I patted the dwarf’s shoulder, who must have had a hard time recently, and his eyes welled up with tears.

“Bjorn…! Even though we’re friends, this is too great of a benefit…! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

…People in this world are really naive.

***

The conversation with the dwarf continued for a bit longer.

Even though he’s a merchant now, he’s still an adventurer at heart, so he asked me about the exploration of the first basement level.

Ah, I guess it’s something that anyone in this city would be curious about, not just adventurers?

Anyway.

“The first basement level has a silver sea. And on top of it, there are things that were abandoned when the labyrinth closed.”

Since the dwarf is quite talkative, I filled the conversation with things that were okay to share, leaving out anything that needed to be kept secret.

However…

“A silver sea… If that friend had seen it, he might have liked it.”

“He would have liked it even if it wasn’t a sea. He was such a curious guy.”

“I guess so…”

At some point, the dwarf’s eyes, which had been happily listening to my story, dimmed.

And like a drunkard reminiscing about his youth while drinking, he stared blankly into space.

“Bjorn, what do you think?”

“What do I think about what?”

“If… if that incident hadn’t happened, do you think I would still be exploring?”

A voice filled with deep regret and disappointment.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering how to answer, but then I snapped out of it and said jokingly.

“Well, maybe, but either way, you wouldn’t have been exploring with me.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m not soft enough to drag along a lagging companion.”

At my words, the dwarf chuckled.

“A lagging companion… Looking at you now, I can’t argue with that. I wouldn’t have been able to keep up. Maybe that friend would have.”

“Well, to be honest, I think you had more potential than Dwarki, but…”

“Haha, is that so? Anyway, we would have followed you no matter what.”

“No, what did you hear? I had no intention of accepting you guys!”

“You’re joking. You’re not the type to abandon your companions, are you?”

What joke.

In fact, I was planning to disband Team Half-Pint right before that incident happened.

That’s why I regretted it so much afterward.

I should have made that decision sooner.

“……”

After a moment of silence, the dwarf changed the subject.

“Still, now that the smithy is completely destroyed, I feel somewhat relieved.”

“Relieved? Are you perhaps sick in the head?”

“I’m not sick. I just said that because it feels like that friend is pushing me on. Telling me to let go of the past and move forward…”

At those words, I couldn’t help but feel a bit solemn.

Come to think of it, the smithy that this guy was running.

‘It was originally a remodeled version of Dwarki’s house…’

Afterward, the dwarf talked about his ambitions to build a bigger and more modern smithy.

And how much time passed?

“I don’t know why I always become so talkative when I meet you. Sorry. But can I ask you just one more thing?”

“Of course.”

“What do you think that friend… would think of me now?”

“……?”

“I’ve become just a merchant, not an explorer or a blacksmith… Would he perhaps look down on me?”

At his trembling question, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

I felt a bit sorry for doing this in the middle of a serious moment.

“I think he would definitely look down on you.”

“…So you think so too–”

“If he heard you worrying about such useless things, that is.”

I thought he was going to say something important, but he was just talking nonsense. Now that enough time had passed, I started to wrap up the conversation.

And as I got up from my seat.

“Oh, and this is something that shouldn’t be known yet.”

I whispered into the dwarf’s ear.

“The Dragonslayer, Regal Bagos.”

“……!”

As soon as he heard that name, he flinched as if a trauma had been triggered.

Thanks to that reaction, even the little hesitation I had was gone.

“Don’t worry about that guy anymore.”

Even though secrets are best kept to as few people as possible.

This guy deserved to hear it.

“Because he’s no longer in this world.”

Perhaps he didn’t want to burden me and didn’t show it, but deep down, it was a wish he desperately wanted.

And that wish was as good as fulfilled.

“I see…”

Even so, the dwarf remained silent after those words.

Why he was like that.

How I knew that fact.

Or if I was the one who did it.

There were no such words.

As if he was understanding my situation.

After a long silence, the only word he managed to utter was.

“…Thank you.”

At that one word, I awkwardly turned my back.

“………Thank you, my ass.”

There are still a lot of bastards I need to pay back.

***

As expected, it didn’t take long for Elder Heoju to contact me.

Did it take about four days?

In fact, that’s about the time it would take to go home, quickly sort out my thoughts, and then contact me.

‘He said he’d start looking for nobles to sell land from tomorrow, so I can leave that part to him…’

After receiving his reply, I also made an appointment and had a meeting with Count Alminus.

“Truly a genius idea. Shavin Emuer, was it? Why did I only find out about such talent now?”

Whatever, about him coveting our Chief Administrative Officer.

After taking a picture together with a smile, the Count gave me advice on the Jeonse contract method and clauses that I had devised(?).

And…

“It would be good if the clauses you mentioned were included in the contract as mandatory. We will treat the ‘deposit’ you mentioned as ‘collateral’ and give it the same treatment as existing collateral loan products.”

He gave me a definite answer regarding the purpose of today’s visit.

To be honest, I felt a bit uneasy.

I felt strangely anxious because the situation was going much smoother than I had expected?

Because of that, I subtly probed him about various things, but surprisingly, Count Alminus answered without hiding anything.

“Do you think the business will succeed…? Actually, it’s fifty-fifty right now. It’s a business that can be done because of the current situation, but conversely, it’s also a time when nothing can be certain.”

“Hmm…”

“As much as there will be great profits if it succeeds, there will be great losses if it fails. Currently, our Alminus family does not have the capacity to make such an investment.”

Of course, I didn’t quite understand just by hearing that.

“Then shouldn’t you not approve the collateral loan?”

For Alminus Bank to provide a collateral loan.

In fact, just by doing this, Count Alminus is taking on the same level of risk as me.

But why did Count Alminus make this choice?

“I judged that there would be no loss up to that point.”

“…Why?”

“Because you’re there.”

Count Alminus’s gaze was so blatant that I couldn’t help but cover my chest with both hands.

“If the business fails, you will owe me a huge debt, won’t you?”

“……”

“I was just looking at it from a businessman’s perspective. I believe that you will be able to repay that debt safely.”

“……”

“Even if it takes a lifetime.”

At his last words, my question was finally answered.

“Ah…”

Even if he loses money, he can use me like a slave for the rest of my life, so it’s a worthwhile deal.

I suddenly felt a chill down my spine.

But…

“How is it? Do you still want my help?”

“Of course.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I nodded, and the Count burst into hearty laughter.

“I knew you would. But now that I’m used to it, it’s much more comfortable than I thought?”

“What are you talking about?”

“This kind of conversation. We don’t have to hide our true intentions and drag things out, so we can save time and reduce mental strain, making it even more efficient. I wish everyone else was like you…”

The Count, who had lived his whole life in a world of scheming and manipulation, seemed to find this barbarian-style business refreshing and pleasing.

“Anyway, I’ll be going now.”

“Won’t you stay for a meal?”

“I have another appointment!”

“Haha, come with an empty schedule next time. Now that I’m used to it, I find the conversations I have with you surprisingly enjoyable.”

“Okay.”

After finishing my meeting with the Count, I headed straight to the Marquis’s mansion.

“Baron Yandel…?”

The butler of the mansion looked very flustered at my sudden visit.

“Excuse me, but I haven’t received any notice from His Excellency the Marquis…”

Well, who else in this aristocratic world would be a rogue who visits without an appointment other than me?

Especially to the Marquis’s family, who is the second most powerful person in this country.

“It’s natural that you didn’t receive any notice, so don’t make such an apologetic face.”

“…Yes?”

“Is the Marquis inside?”

“He, he is out on official business?”

“Oh, then I’ll just go inside and wait. Please guide me!”

“That… I’m sorry to say, but His Excellency the Marquis is busy with state affairs and we don’t know when he will return, so it would be better to make a new appointment and revisit at a later date–”

What is he saying?

I was trying to make an appointment, but I was ignored, so I came here myself.

“That’s enough! The Marquis and I are not so bound by formalities! I’ll just wait comfortably inside!”

I pushed past the bewildered butler and entered the mansion, and as things went that way, the butler had no choice but to welcome me as a guest.

And…

One day, two days, three days…

Well, I didn’t intend to wait this long, but anyway.

I ignored the butler’s pleas to please go back.

From the second day, they didn’t even give me food, so I ate the jerky I had with me, and I silently endured all the interference from the knights who tried to forcibly kick me out.

“Hah… I don’t have time, so speak quickly. What is your business that you would go this far?”

The Marquis finally appeared.