“Anyway, so what exactly happened between you and that guy?”

She asked again, and I hesitated for a moment. Was it right to tell her about the records I saw there? After all, they couldn’t be changed.

Would it just make her troubled for no reason? That thought kept me silent at first, but it didn’t take long for my mindset to change.

There was just one thing I learned from watching Ibaekho.

“Emily, there’s something you need to hear.”

I don’t have to carry the whole world alone.

In the end, I told Amelia about the ‘record’ Auril Gavis showed me.

[The evil spirit from another world ‘———’ lost three comrades and only then realized the path they must take.]

Losing three comrades in the future. After hearing this, Amelia didn’t question the absolute nature of the ‘record’ at all.

That’s because she had experienced it firsthand with me. We had fallen into the past and changed history by running all over and enduring countless hardships.

“Beating it the same way as before... it seems difficult.”

After a moment of silence to organize her thoughts, Amelia was the first to speak.

“I think the same. To use that method, you’d have to deceive yourself. Not be the clueless kid.”

I nodded in agreement, and Amelia muttered quietly.

“...Though you weren’t really a clueless kid.”

What’s that supposed to mean? She was smart for her age, but compared to now, she was still clueless.

I chuckled recalling the cute baby Amelia after a long time, when she suddenly asked seriously.

“But are the future records certain?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said no exact time was mentioned. I wondered if it might already be a ‘record’ that has happened.”

“Oh?”

“Riol Warb Dwalki. Starting with that mage, haven’t you lost many comrades so far? Of course, even counting them all won’t reach three fingers...”

“Maybe they meant the three who influenced you most.”

It was a plausible hypothesis, if not for Auril Gavis’s words.

[Judging from how the records are inscribed on the record stones, this too is surely one event.]

Simply put, it’s not counted one by one, but three people dying in one ‘event.’ At least judging from past patterns.

I don’t believe anything is 100%. But the old man who gathered hundreds of fragments said it, so it wasn’t easy to dismiss.

Apparently Amelia felt the same.

“...Then it’s highly likely a record that hasn’t happened yet.”

Amelia resumed her serious gaze and began speculating various possibilities. Her most novel opinion was this:

“It definitely said ‘loss,’ right? If so, there’s room for interpretation.”

If it literally meant losing comrades, it could also end with no one dying...

“How nice would it be if that really happened...”

No matter how much I hope, the ominous feeling wouldn’t leave my mind.

The many past experiences I had were already telling me in intuition: it won’t happen that way. Ominous feelings always prove true.

“...Yandel?”

“Ah, sorry. I was just thinking. Thanks for your opinions. They all made sense. But I still think it’s better to prepare for the worst rather than the best.”

“So you mean prepare measures assuming three die?”

“Yes. Though I don’t know if there’s a way.”

Amelia said nothing to my pessimistic and resigned words. Understandably, no matter how much we struggled, the ‘record’ would happen.

Whap! Amelia flicked my forehead. It didn’t hurt, and I thought her finger must hurt more.

‘Why did she suddenly hit me?’ I looked down, puzzled, and saw Amelia’s somewhat angry face.

“Why are you giving up already?”

“...Huh?”

“Bjorn Yandel, wasn’t it you?”

“......”

“When even I gave up on myself back then, you were the one who never gave up until the very end and made a way.”

Amelia grabbed my shoulder and brought her face close. Then...

“So don’t ever make that expression again, Bjorn Yandel. To that clueless kid, you were a hero who could do anything.”

Hearing that, my body trembled for some reason. It was a strange feeling.

The people of the city called me a hero, silently expecting much from me when things were tough, which always felt burdensome.

“......”

But today, the word ‘hero’ didn’t feel burdensome. Although it was somewhat embarrassing.

I know well enough that I’m not a hero.

“......”

But still. Somehow. Though my poor words can’t explain well. Thump! I felt like I could do anything.

“......”

Like I could do anything. Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last long.

“Um... sir...? Are you awake...?”

“...Ahem ahem!”

Damn, that was close.***

Starting with Erwen, the other comrades woke one by one, and the conversation with Amelia was temporarily paused. In the end, I couldn’t even bring up the second record.

[·········The day Noni burned, the evil spirit ‘———’ was betrayed by trusted comrades.]

The record that made me interpret betrayal by trusted comrades on the day Zod Karnon burned.

‘Maybe it’s better not to say.’ The timing was off today, so I didn’t get to talk about it, but maybe it’s better I keep this one to myself.

Besides, I’m not even sure my interpretation is correct...

‘And even if it is, can this be changed?’ This seems even harder than the previous case.

Even if you knew who would betray you, what could you do? No matter how much you treat or persuade in advance, they wouldn’t change their minds.

If it were that easy, it wouldn’t be recorded.

‘It’s already complicated enough, no need to add this.’

Since it wasn’t the right time to talk now, I decided to think more about whether to discuss it openly.

There’s always a priority in everything.

“Looks like I woke everyone up by accident...”

Thanks to Erwen freaking out when he found me awake, soon all the comrades who were sleeping had woken up.

“Biii-jorn—!!!”

“Yeah, yeah, Ainar. Nice to see you too.”

“Are you feeling okay? You didn’t snore and slept like you were dead, so everyone was worried.”

“I’m fine now. Just tired, don’t worry, Kaislan.”

“Glad you’re safe, captain. The ladies... no, everyone was worried about you.”

“But, Auyan. You seem to have gained some weight?”

“Is that so? Sorry...”

“No need to apologize. You look better now. Keep eating well.”

“Yes!”

After exchanging greetings and small talk breathlessly, I quieted the group down.

No matter how close, this kind of thing needs to be said clearly. I addressed all members of our Anabada clan.

“First, I want to say sorry! I’m really sorry for making you come outside the dangerous city walls because of me!”

At my sincere apology, Kaislan, a knight-turned-explorer, smiled softly.

“No need to be sorry. We’re all explorers.”

“If there’s a chance to explore outside the walls, you’d better run for it.”

James Kalla echoed Kaislan teasingly. Both were former commanders of an organization, so they knew how to ease the mood.

Still, I needed to say what had to be said.

“And thank you! If not for you, things could have been really dangerous. Thanks to you, I’m alive!”

When I bowed, laughter broke out nearby. Hmm, they didn’t seem to be mocking me...

“...Why are you laughing?”

At my question, Lilis Marone shrugged.

“Even though you said you’re grateful, the looks on the enemies’ faces we saw then were priceless.”

“That’s right! Everyone was about to pass out.”

“I heard from the mage engineer they fought for hours.”

“Bjorn is the invincible strongest great warrior!!”

...Maybe because we hadn’t met in a while? Seeing members paint gold on my face somehow made me feel awkward but comfortable.

“Attention everyone! I’m not done talking yet!”

Quieting the crowd again, Bersil spoke on behalf of everyone.

“You don’t have to apologize or thank. It’s only natural.”

Uh... thanks for that.

“I’m not here to apologize or say thanks.”

We already did that earlier, no need to repeat.

“Really? Then... are you going to have a meeting about the future?”

Well, yes, that’s necessary.

“You’re wrong.”

I wasn’t going to start the meeting right away. These people came all the way outside the dangerous city walls looking for me. It would be rude to just settle with a few words.

“Then what are you going to do...?”

“Loot distribution.”

“...?”

“Didn’t we get a lot this time? Besides this, we have many other things! I’ll lay them all out, so if you need anything, just say!”

Use sparingly, share, swap, and reuse.

That is the spirit of our clan.***

The loot distribution lasted longer than expected. Most of the loot we got this time was in kind.

“I also have things I don’t use. I want to put them into the common pool, so if anyone needs them, use them...”

“Oh? Then me too!”

“I have a few too...”

Not only the loot but also individuals began pulling out unused items one by one, and the scale grew.

When everything was arranged, it reminded me of a small marketplace.

“That’s unusual...”

“What’s unusual?”

“Just all these scenes. What clan anywhere would have members so freely putting out their own stuff? These would sell for a high price.”

Hmm... that makes sense. I haven’t lived clan life, so I don’t know well, but Bersil had been ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) in medium-large clans, so it felt even stranger to him.

“Oh, maybe it’s natural since the leader is unusual?”

“What are you saying? Go check if there’s anything you need.”

“I was already planning to.”

After that, even Bersil entered the marketplace and started picking items, and I watched those comrades from afar.

“So, what now?”

Amelia, who had paused conversation when Erwen woke, came to my side and spoke again.

“Hmm, maybe you should just look at stuff for now?”

“After hearing that, do you think I could focus on looking?”

Uh... that’s true.

“Do you have any guesses about the situation? If three are to die, it’s probably dangerous. Unlike you, I don’t know much about outside the walls.”

Fortunately or not, the first thing that came to my mind after hearing the question was:

[The truly terrifying monster.] The one Ibaekho said appears outside the walls.

[It seems to have no habitat. Wherever you go, it eventually appears. Every time it shows up, it kills thousands helplessly...]

Aside from its terror, I only know one thing about that monster.

The more people are around and the longer you stay outside the walls, the more likely it is to appear.

Whooshhhhh! Like a tier lord who appears when conditions are met.

The ‘Anabada Market’ held at midnight lasted longer than expected and ended only when dawn broke.

‘This method isn’t bad.’

It wasn’t like everyone got core items, but every member was able to upgrade at least one or two pieces of equipment.

‘The clan’s strength probably increased by about 5% just by this market...’

At first, I hesitated because the distribution felt like voluntary sharing, but I’m glad we chose this method.

Seems like we can hold markets again later.

“Hehe... It’s a new kind of distribution, but I like it.”

“More importantly, isn’t it fun? Sharing things each other need. It somehow feels like we’re getting closer.”

“Maybe this will become our clan’s tradition someday.”

Everyone praised the idea, so it seemed we could keep having the Anabada Market.

Of course, I have to keep in mind advice from James Kalla, the former deputy leader of a large clan.

“But if the scale grows, we’ll need to be careful. For now, we only took what was needed, but someday, greedy people may join.”

Honestly, I’m not worried yet. I’m not the kind of person who would let that happen...

And I doubt such people will ever join.

“Alright! You might be tired, but everyone gather!”

Everyone had been awake all night until morning, but that level of fatigue is common for explorers. With daylight, we started the next agenda.

“We have something to discuss!”

It was a sort of leadership meeting. Our Anabada clan is small, so it wasn’t really a leadership meeting.

“As you know, the magic circle that allows us to return inside the walls is broken.”

Anyway, before the real meeting started, I briefed the members on the current situation.

The magic circle is damaged. The characteristics of monsters outside the walls.

And the ‘monster’ that made the Noark bastards who left the wide world come back to the city on their own.

While explaining what they needed to know, the conversation naturally turned to GM’s ability to fix the return magic circle if given materials...