True Consciousness (5)

Idelbert said that Balkan looked happier when he received bathwater than when he received money and Relics, but that wasn’t true.

It was closer to being unable to react.

The items Idelbert brought were among the most significant rewards he had earned from his hard work.

“The bounty that had been accumulating for a long time is 450 gold coins. As much as you were at odds with the royal family, they directly bestowed treasures as well.”

As much as he had caused chaos several times using Portal Magic, the reward on Ignorion’s head was considerable.

‘As expected, the Queen is generous.’

The Queen paid this much reward in a lump sum and did not take Ignorion into custody.

Perhaps she thought that the person who had captured and trained several Demon Worshipers was the right person and wanted to entrust him with the task.

It was a beneficial situation for him, so Balkan smiled contentedly.

“I can live without worrying about money for the next three generations.”

As Idelbert said, the sum of 450 gold coins was enough to be free from money worries for a lifetime, but.

“I’m not doing this for money.”

Since becoming an Advanced Explorer and obtaining a noble title, money was no longer the goal.

Most explorers enter the Labyrinth for money, but for him, money was just a means.

“So, do you dislike it?”

“That’s not true either. I feel damn good.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean he has to be serious in front of this pile of gold coins.

He immediately buried his head in the pile of gold coins and took a deep breath.

The sticky scent of money. It’s incredibly stimulating. It might be a good match for Serif’s holy water.

“Open this too. It’ll be something you’ll like.”

Balkan looked at the small box Idelbert handed him.

The treasure that the royal family bestowed along with the gold coins.

What could be inside?

With anticipation, he received the box and carefully opened it.

[Oh, shit…]

Bernie muttered quietly.

Balkan gave Bernie a small wink and looked at the object again.

“…What is this?”

There was an unfamiliar object inside the box.

A torn piece of cloth.

It was well-preserved and had a luxurious atmosphere, but it was a piece of cloth that showed traces of time.

It didn’t contain tremendous Mana like other powerful Relics, and it emitted a subtle Divinity, but its momentum was weak due to the influence of time.

The fact that the piece of cloth was shimmering in blue light clearly indicated that it was a Relic, but it was difficult to know its purpose.

“It’s a piece of cloth from the Banner spear used by the Hero during the Great War hundreds of years ago.”

The answer to the treasure came from Celsia, who had opened the door and entered, looking somewhat languid, not from Idelbert.

“It’s the only trace left in the place where the Hero transcended the current world.”

“…”

The only trace left after his sister, who had been summoned as a Hero hundreds of years ago, became the Mother Earth Goddess.

Balkan gripped the box containing the piece of cloth tightly and took a moment to catch his breath.

“Celsia.”

And he asked carefully.

“Why did the Queen give this to me?”

“I don’t know Her Majesty’s true intentions, but…”

After pondering for a moment, Celsia stared intently at Balkan and replied.

“Her Majesty seems to need a Hero for the new era.”

Balkan felt like he knew what Celsia meant.

In chaotic times, a pillar of support is needed.

An existence that protects people from dangers and disasters, and pioneers through risks.

If there is an existence commonly called a Hero, people will gather around him and endure difficult times a little more easily.

Giving him the Hero’s Castle, talking about fate, and even giving him a treasure that could be said to be the only trace of the Hero… the intention was clear.

“……Hero, or whatever, honestly, it’s still a bit difficult.”

Balkan carefully closed the box containing the piece of cloth, stroked it preciously, and put it in his arms.

“I will fulfill the role I have been assigned.”

[You’ve taken on a shitty role.]

Inside the carriage that only he was riding, thanks to the consideration of Celsia and Idelbert, so he could rest comfortably.

[You are not the right vessel to be a Hero.]

While he was looking at the piece of cloth left by his sister, Bernie sneered lowly.

[Heroes must be noble. They can’t turn a blind eye to the sacrifices of others, and they must run to rescue others the moment they face their misfortune. At least, the Mother Earth Goddess was like that. But even if you go through such hardships, the merits you receive are few. Humans, those insignificant beings, have low intelligence, so they easily forget when and how they received help. Even if you work your ass off to save some unknown person, in a few years, that person will either die somewhere or live without even remembering that they were saved by you. So, there’s no reason to be fascinated by the title of Hero and cling to it—]

“Are you worried about me?”

[……]

Bernie, who had been chattering in his head, closed his mouth at the short question.

Bernie is a Demon who lived in the era when the Hero was alive.

In the first place, he wouldn’t have a good view of the Hero who sealed him, and his words would be full of resentment… but they wouldn’t be far from the truth.

[W, what… are you talking about? Worried? Me? About you? Hmph… I just said what I wanted to say. Don’t get the wrong idea.]

“Thank you.”

[D, don’t get the wrong idea…!]

He smiled and replied to Bernie, who was filling up his tsundere gauge.

Thanks to him, the confused feelings he had when he saw his sister’s piece of cloth felt a little calmer.

Even though he was grumbling like that, Bernie’s true intention was to take care of him, who had a bad atmosphere the moment he saw the piece of cloth.

Knock knock.

At that moment, while he was laughing inwardly, the coachman knocked on the door and informed him that he had arrived at his destination.

Creak—

When he opened the door and came out, a familiar street scene came into view.

The weapon shop street in the Explorer district.

Balkan entered the Jirnier Workshop, the tallest of them all, through the back door.

He felt a little uncomfortable coming in through the entrance and attracting attention every time, so Jirnier had told him about the back door that led to the basement.

Clang! Clang!

Even though it was late at night, the vibrations of a huge furnace and the sound of hammering iron could be heard from inside.

“Jirnier? Are you there?”

Clang—

When the voice looking for someone echoed in the wide workshop, the hammering stopped abruptly.

Balkan, who had come deeper into the workshop, found the half-dwarf hammering cast iron.

The slender and tall woman, who still often gave the impression of a golden-tanned gyaru, beamed as soon as she saw the man who had called her.

“Balkan? You’re already here… Oh, shit…!”

However, that expression didn’t last long.

It was because she had witnessed the Armor that had been hit by the Black Dragon’s Breath and had melted halfway.

“You, you…! Balkan, you! What did you do to my children…! To my children like this!”

“Haha… I survived thanks to it.”

Jirnier, who was facing the results of her harsh parenting training, trembled.

“…It’s a relief that you’re safe. Armor exists to protect people. But still, if the Armor I forged is so fucked up…”

Jirnier, who had rushed over and was carefully checking the condition of the Armor, smiled.

“You, you met it, didn’t you? A huge Monster?!”

“I fought with the Black Dragon for a while—”

“Black Dragon! I heard that some explorer party brought back Black Dragon byproducts, was that your party!”

Had the Black Dragon byproducts that Nuer and Rubia had gone to deal with already spread as rumors?

Jirnier was unable to control her excitement, as if she had seen Bernie’s Soulstone for the first time, and drooled from her mouth.

As a byproduct of a Monster that was a local tyrant of the 32nd floor, it was a very attractive material for Jirnier to see.

But right now, repairing the Armor was more important than the Black Dragon byproducts.

“I’m going into the Labyrinth again tomorrow.”

“…In that state?”

“Yes. That’s why I came to Jirnier first.”

The stronger he becomes, the more he feels it, but the importance of equipment that protects the body is something he can’t emphasize enough.

The problem is that he’s leaving for the Labyrinth at noon tomorrow, but the condition of the Armor is completely fucked up.

“Repair… is it possible?”

“……Sigh.”

Jirnier, who sighed deeply, washed her face with her dry hands, and tightened the overalls she was wearing on her naked body.

Squeeze!

The bronze-colored breasts were pressed tightly against the buckle, and the furnace, which had begun to burn hotly, subtly illuminated the half-dwarf’s back.

Jirnier didn’t stop there, and took out a bottle of alcohol she had stashed in her waist and drank it without hesitation.

Seeing the bottle full of strong alcohol being emptied in an instant, he wondered if she was really the first princess of the kingdom who had received thorough etiquette education.

At the same time, he felt like he understood one of the reasons why she had run away from the royal family.

‘There’s no way she could have been stuck in the calm royal family with that kind of personality.’

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp… Puhah!

“Hic…!”

“……”

“…9 hours.”

“9 hours?”

“Until 9 o’clock tomorrow. I’ll have everything repaired.”

The blacksmith of the deep floors declared with a flushed face.

“Take off your Armor.”