How a Black-Haired Barbarian Survived the Labyrinth in Another World-Chapter 27: Reunion

Jarik smiled and extended his hand.

"It’s been a while. I heard you got a job at the blacksmith’s, but here you are."

Ainhofer grasped Jarik's hand and shook it.

"Yeah."

"Have you completely quit being an explorer?"

"Yeah. I’m getting older, and my skills are fading. I hit a wall."

Borun scratched the bridge of his nose.

"What? You two know each other?"

"Yes. We were in the same party last time."

"Really? That’s interesting. Anyway, what do you need?"

"A helmet and armor. I’d like light armor."

"Not using a shield?"

Jarik thought for a moment before replying.

"I don’t need one this time."

"Got it. The helmet will obviously be metal, and light armor will be perfect. We need to take your measurements, so come into this room. Ainhofer, you come too. I’ll teach you how to take measurements."

"Yes."

Jarik and the two dwarves entered the room at the corner of the blacksmith’s workshop.

The room had a large wooden table and a bookshelf. On the bookshelf, tightly packed rolls of paper scrolls were stacked.

Borun grunted as he dragged over a wooden chair and pulled out several scrolls, spreading them out on the table.

The scrolls depicted armor designs.

"These are the blueprints for light armor. There are a few more. Take a look here and decide. Don’t worry about the fit, we’ll take your measurements and make it perfect."

Borun pointed to the other scrolls.

"Understood."

Jarik carefully examined the blueprints laid out on the table. As he flipped through the scrolls, one blueprint caught his attention and he paused.

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Jarik’s eyes lit up.

"Looks good."

The armor was made of a leather base with segmented iron plating covering the chest, waist, and back. It had shoulder plates and additional iron plating for the thighs, shins, and arms, which could be attached.

It was a practical design that would provide protection for vital areas without greatly reducing mobility.

"How much is this?"

Borun approached, folding his arms and glancing at the blueprint.

"It’s a really good set of armor. Originally it’s 5 gold coins, but..."

Borun looked up at Jarik, giving him a sidelong glance.

"Only 1 gold coin."

"Hahaha."

Jarik ran his hand through his hair and looked at the ceiling.

"One gold coin, just like that? I don’t have that kind of money."

"We also have installment plans."

"Really, people are all the same."

Installments, huh?

Still, it’s too expensive to accept. 1 gold coin could cover about three months of training at the swordsmanship guild.

He was about to refuse.

Then, he noticed Ainhofer.

In his shabby clothes, clenching his fists.

Ainhofer met his eyes.

"Don’t worry about me."

Ainhofer spoke calmly, as if he had read Jarik’s mind.

‘He’s the one who should be saying that.’

Despite the forbidden mark, Ainhofer, unlike Ditto, didn’t stray from the righteous path.

A man worth respecting. Unlike him.

Unable to keep looking into his eyes, Jarik turned and looked at Borun.

"Let’s make a deal. If you give me a discount on the weapons and armor, I’ll buy this light armor."

"Got it."

Borun answered immediately.

Seems like running the blacksmith’s shop isn’t going too well.

"Goodbye, my love."

Jarik shakily pulled a gold coin out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Heh, pretending to have none when you actually have it, you sly dog."

Borun grinned and picked up the gold coin.

He’d suspected something when Jarik bought expensive alcohol earlier.

‘The barbarian guy really made it big.’

The orders had been overflowing these past months.

It had become too much to handle alone, so he’d hired a dwarf with the forbidden mark as an assistant for cheap, but suddenly, the labyrinth closure order was issued.

All the delayed orders were canceled, and he was left with nothing to do, but today a good customer had appeared.

"What about the helmet?"

He couldn’t miss this customer.

Borun’s eyes lit up as he asked.

Jarik felt like pulling his hair out.

‘Damn. Sucking the blood of a flea!’

"The same kind as last time for the helmet."

"There’s a decent one this time. Take a look."

Borun rushed out of the room and came back with a helmet in hand.

It was a metal helmet in the Barbut style, but with a visor that could cover the mouth.

"What do you think? Looks good, right? Normally it’s 30 silver coins, but I’ll give it to you for 20."

"Ya, damn."

???

Borun’s eyes widened at the sudden curse.

"Damn, it really is good. Yeah, a masterpiece! Can I really just get it like this, Borun?"

Borun smiled broadly.

"Barbarian, what kind of nonsense is that? Aren’t we friends?"

‘What are we even to each other?’

Grumbling inside, Jarik pulled 20 silver coins from his pocket and handed them over. Borun grinned as he took the coins and shouted.

"Heh heh. Nice! Ainhofer, bring it over! Let’s take our customer’s measurements!"

"Yes."

Jarik stood there staring blankly at the air for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, Borun and Ainhofer busied themselves taking Jarik’s measurements and recording them on paper.

"Finished. The armor will take about 2 weeks to complete."

"Then we’ll see each other then."

"Take care!"

Borun waved with a smile as Jarik stumbled out of the blacksmith’s shop.

On the way, Jarik stopped by the market to buy the necessary supplies.

He bought torches, healing salves, ropes, bandages, flint, and a thick robe, and just in case, he also bought two small healing potions.

"Do you sell bags too? Something to wear on the back of my waist."

"This is the best-selling one here."

The shopkeeper placed a small leather bag on the counter.

"The torch won’t fit in this, will it?"

Jarik stroked his chin.

"You can tie the torch to the rope and secure it on top of the bag. If it’s really inconvenient, you can cut the handle short."

The shopkeeper answered indifferently.

"Oh!"

"Altogether, it’s 6 silver coins. Pretty cheap, huh?"

"Oh."

Jarik took the silver coins out of his pocket with trembling hands and placed them on the counter.

Is this what it feels like for a mother sending her child off to the army?

His chest felt tight.

"The razor blade’s a free gift."

The shopkeeper, as if being generous, tossed a razor blade that was lying around into the bag.

"Phew. Good business."

"Come often. Just don’t come when my daughter’s around."

"Yes, yes."

Jarik left the shop and walked slowly. The market street was deserted and quiet.

Feeling dizzy, he crouched down by the side of the road for a moment.

"Ah. Am I crazy? What am I doing, chasing after wealth?"

In just today’s spending, he had used up a gold coin and 26 silver coins. He had almost burned through all the reward he received from licking Karin’s boot.

The remaining silver coins in his pocket were 28. After paying for the inn and the temple tuition, he would have about 26 silver coins left.

Suddenly, his chest tightened and breathing became difficult.

"I can’t do this. Focus, Yushin. This is an investment for the future. The labyrinth investigation team is no joke. Phew. Peace of mind. Peace of mind. Asura Balbalta. Asura Balbalta. The one who smiles in hardship is first class."

As he muttered to himself, people passing by glanced at him in confusion before walking away.

Sitting on the street and closing his eyes to meditate, he stood up.

He couldn’t find peace of mind, but there was something he had to do.

It was around lunchtime, and there was training at the swordsmanship guild.

A 30 silver coin class for the month. He couldn’t delay any longer.

He returned to [N O V E L I G H T] the inn, organized his things, and rushed to the swordsmanship guild.

"Your sword is sharp today."

Asher, the head of the swordsmanship guild, complimented him.

"Yes. There’s not much time left."

"Left for what?"

"Left for learning here. It’s less than two weeks now, right?"

"You got money from Karin, right?"

Jarik’s eyes widened.

"...How did you know?"

"I can hear things when I’m here, you know? Didn’t I tell you that last time?"

"I spent all that money today."

This time, Asher’s eyes grew wide.

"1 gold coin and 50 silver coins? You’re not just a beginner explorer, are you?"

Asher was shocked by the barbarian’s lavish spending.

He pointed at Jarik with disbelief.

"When I was a beginner explorer, you know? Hmm? I had to save and scrape by, eating just a piece of bread and a slice of jerky a day. What’s with this ridiculous spending habit?"

"Well, that’s just how it happened."

Jarik’s calm reply left Asher speechless for a moment.

"Where did you spend it?"

"Let’s train. Don’t waste time."

"Did you go to a brothel or something?"

"No."

Just then, someone approached.

"Brother."

Asher turned his head.

"Did you come, Delia?"

A tall female elf approached, crossing the training ground. She had long green hair and an elegant, somewhat aloof beauty.

"Hm? Sika? Long time no see!"

The female elf looked Jarik over before greeting him.

"Who’s this?"

"Del!"

Jarik’s mouth dropped open.

"...That goblin?"

"That’s right."

It was hard to get used to her changed appearance.

"I heard you retired? Did you save up money and remove the goblin mark?"

"That’s right. I retired. I didn’t save up money, though. I got help from my family to remove the mark."

Jarik was confused, unable to understand.

"Why did you even have the goblin mark in the first place? You could have just gotten help from your family to remove it."

"Explorers can’t rely on their family. Especially the children of prestigious families from the Eastern Union, they have to stand on their own. That’s the law of the labyrinth city. No exceptions."

"I see."

It didn’t make sense, but this wasn’t something for an outsider to question.

Thoughts about Karin’s spending appeared in his mind, but he pushed them aside.

Even if the high-ups talked about laws and exceptions, it was useless information to him. It had nothing to do with the labyrinth directly.

He just accepted it and adapted.

Del bowed her head to Asher.

"Brother. I came to say goodbye before leaving the labyrinth city."

"Alright. Be careful on your way home. Do you need a guard?"

"No."

"Got it."

Del turned to Jarik.

"Sika, thank you so much. You saved my life."

Del reached out and firmly grasped Jarik’s hands.

Their eyes met in the air.

"Don’t mention it. I just did what I had to do."

Jarik replied, pulling his hands away discreetly.

"And this is a gift. Thanks for saving the party."

Del handed him a scroll sealed with a blue seal from her pouch.

"What’s this?"

"Anti-Poison Scroll. Area-wide antidote magic."

"I’ll use it well."

Jarik tucked the scroll into his pocket. She already looked beautiful, but now she looked even more beautiful.

"Sika, see you later."

"Yes. Let’s meet up if we cross paths."

Del smiled at Jarik’s reply and turned to leave the training ground.

Once Del disappeared beyond the training ground, Jarik turned to look at Asher.

"Was she your little sister?"

"She’s the youngest of our family."

"Doesn’t look like there’s much of an age gap."

"It’s embarrassing, so don’t ask."

"Yes."

"But where did you spend the money?"

Asher, looking genuinely curious, asked again.

"It’s embarrassing, so let’s not talk about it."

"Heh. You bastard."

A vein popped on Asher’s forehead.

That evening, Jarik was beaten by Asher’s sword until dark.

A week passed.

The city’s labyrinth closure order remained in effect.

On the streets, people’s baseless speculations ran rampant, and the explorer guild was flooded with endless inquiries.

In the bars and inns, more explorers gathered, chatting away.

But Jarik’s daily life remained unchanged.

It was a continuous cycle of training.

His body’s growth, after leveling up, was following a gradual curve.

He had reached his limit.

He added some new exercises to his morning routine.

After asking Darmong for permission, he began squatting with a bag of flour on his shoulders.

Then he ran around the yard with the bag of flour.

Finally, he summoned his Sacred Weapon repeatedly, draining the magic left in his body mercilessly in order to unfold it quickly.

"Huuh. Huuuh."

"Working hard, huh?"

After finishing his morning routine, Jarik heard someone speak behind him.

He turned around to see Karin standing there, arms crossed.

"What’s going on?"

Karin slowly walked toward him.

"The blockade will be lifted in a week. Get ready."

"I’ve already prepared."

"That was quick. Nothing’s missing, right?"

"Nothing."

Karin’s nose twitched as she got closer.

Jarik, seeing that, took a step back.

"Why?"

"No, I just thought you might not like my sweat smell."

"Not at all. I’m a mid-level explorer. Would I really be bothered by a little sweat smell?"

"Sorry for thinking that way."

"And if you’re a porter, you should be able to carry at least three of those flour sacks, so practice properly."

"Yes."

Karin tossed a white towel to him.

"Here. Use this to wipe your sweat."

Jarik caught the towel. It felt soft and fluffy, so it was probably quite expensive.

"Thank you."

He wiped his face and neck with the towel before draping it over his shoulder.

"Let’s go have breakfast, Karin."

"Alright."

They walked side by side out of the yard.

What Jarik didn’t realize was that Karin’s eyes were fixed on the towel.