Chapter 285 Cause and Effect (1)

Chapter 285 Cause and Effect (1)

The sea was rough, waves crashing against the shore.

"Where's Bjorn? Is he back yet?"

"Not yet. He should be here soon..."

Arrua Raven clutched the 'Coordinate Transmitter' tightly, staring at the horizon. Everyone on the boat was feeling a sense of unease.

Bjorn Yandel.

Their leader, the barbarian who had stayed behind to buy them time, facing a 3rd-grade monster alone.

"Something must have happened. We have to go back and save him!"

"No! Didn't you hear what he said? We're not supposed to go near him."

"He always says that and then does whatever he wants! I'm going to do what I want this time!"

"But how are we going to get there? He's fighting underwater!"

"That's..."

Misha trailed off.

Raven, who had been shouting emotionally, also calmed down a bit and spoke.

"Just wait. He'll be fine. He'll come back."

"Sorry for shouting."

"It's okay. I feel the same way."

"You feel the same way?"

Raven hesitated for a moment at Misha's question and then answered,

"...He's our companion."

"Ah, yeah... That's right."

An awkward silence followed.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the spot where they had left Bjorn.

About five minutes later...

The boat, which had been anchored at sea, suddenly rocked violently.

"The water! The water is receding!"

The sea level, which had risen like a flood, was rapidly decreasing.

"Wh, what's going on? Bjorn's not back yet! Did he... fail?"

"That's impossible! If Stormgush was still alive, there would be another storm!"

"Th, then..."

"Yes! Bjorn defeated Stormgush!"

Raven shouted joyfully, and Misha couldn't hide her relief either.

"That crazy barbarian! He said he would just hold out, but what the hell was he doing down there?!"

Despite her words, Misha's face was filled with relief.

"Partslan, turn the boat around!"

"A, alright!"

Raven quickly steered the boat back towards the island.

That's when...

Flash!

A white light flashed from beneath the surface, like a bolt of lightning.

"Wh, what was that?"

"I, is something wrong...?"

Everyone looked at Raven, including the priestess.

...But a mage doesn't know everything.

"I, I don't know..."

The labyrinth was full of mysteries.

She had never even seen Stormgush before.

"..."

Time passed, and the water level continued to recede, revealing the center of the island.

But Bjorn was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the hell is he?! What are these equipment doing here?"

The only things left in the center of the island were Amelia and Bjorn's equipment.

"There's a nail here. And a rope tied to it. He must have been here..."

"He probably tried to tie himself down so he wouldn't be swept away. But where did he go...?"

"Then what about his equipment? Why would he take off his equipment...?"

The scene was full of contradictions.

"...Let's search the area. If he was swept away, he wouldn't have gone far."

Raven, confused, tried to stay calm and gave an order.

Bjorn had told her that she had to be the leader when he wasn't around.

"There's more equipment here! It's the necklace Bjorn was wearing!"

"Th, there's underwear here! It's his!"

The others spread out and searched the island.

The water level continued to recede, and the island returned to its original state.

But...

"Why... why isn't he anywhere...?"

They couldn't find Bjorn, even after searching the entire island.

What the hell had happened here?

No one knew, but Raven spoke firmly.

"Maybe Bjorn..."

"Don't say anything stupid. He'll be fine."

A leader should always be positive.

That's what Bjorn had taught them.

So...

"It's clear that he defeated Stormgush. He even had the presence of mind to tie himself down. I don't know why he took off his equipment, but maybe he was swept away to another island. Let's go look for him."

Well, her apology was a bit late.

"So is that why you called me?"

"No, I have something else to ask. I wouldn't have told you if you were planning to stay."

She was testing me, wasn't she?

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me."

"I need your help while we're stuck in the past."

Damn it, she wouldn't answer my questions, and now she wants my help?

Does she think I'm an idiot?

"What do I get in return?"

"I'll help you find a way to go back."

"You don't even know how to go back, how can you help me?"

"...There's one thing we could try."

"Tell me."

I was ready to leave if she said I had to make a decision first, but...

"We could use the Fragment of Records again."

Amelia told me her plan.

But I didn't understand.

"The Fragment of Records? It disappeared when we time traveled..."

I stopped mid-sentence.

"Ah..."

It didn't disappear completely.

This was twenty years in the past.

"Yeah, the one I used is gone, but there's still one left. It should be with the Lord of Noark."

I suddenly thought of the Genesis Artifact.

If this theory was correct, then the 'Genesis Artifact', the key to the final floor that had been stolen, would also exist in this time period.

'What happens if I take it back to the future? Will I be able to clear the game?'

I was curious, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

I should focus on returning to my original time first.

'And it probably wouldn't work anyway.'

Amelia and I had been stripped of our equipment when we time traveled.

It meant we couldn't take anything back to the future.

"..."

Ah, I got sidetracked again.

Amelia was staring at me.

Damn it, I'm a barbarian, I can't focus for that long.

"Ahem, continue."

"...I'll tell you after I hear your answer."

Damn it, she's playing hard to get.

I sighed, but I didn't have a choice.

The Fragment of Records was the only plausible way to return.

And...

'I can't do it alone.'

I needed Amelia's help to obtain it.

I didn't even know where the Lord of Noark kept it.

"Alright, tell me. How can I help you?"

Amelia had a strange expression when I agreed.

She didn't seem happy.

No, she looked annoyed.

"Is there a problem?"

"...No. It can't be true."

"What can't be true?"

Amelia didn't answer.

She just composed herself and started talking.

It was a long story, and when it was over, I finally understood.

What Amelia Rainwales had wanted to change.

_____________________

The next day...

"I'll be busy for a while. I can't stop you from doing whatever you want, but try to stay out of trouble. You might do something irreversible."

Amelia moved out and left.

She was going to meet with those shady scouts who tried to recruit criminals for Noark.

We both had to enter Noark to achieve our goals.

'Damn it, I never thought I would have to go to Noark.'

Amelia said she would be back in about three weeks.

She would come back occasionally to update me on the situation.

'Then what should I do now?'

I felt restless, being alone in the room.

Maybe it was a gamer's instinct.

I was in a world twenty years in the past.

'Should I go explore?'

I quickly got dressed and left the inn. Amelia had told me to lay low...

'But I can't just stay here.'

What could possibly happen?