Becoming a boss had three big advantages. First of all, he wouldn't have to hide that he had received an oracle. Furthermore, I could change the irrational system of the barbarians, which had been in decline for decades, to my liking. Third, in the future, when I recovered the Barbarian Genesis Treasure, I could use it as I pleased.
The good thing was not being the chief. It was just a matter of changing the tribe's policy first. In fact, the barbarians were a conservative race that valued tradition, but they had progressed (albeit little by little) with certain chiefs of the past, such as the use of honorifics and courtesy to the king. They also recognized the existence of evil spirits and sent their corpses to the Great Temple. Given the long history, it had not long been assumed that warriors lived in the city and not in the holy land. Maybe 600 years?
In the past, erasing essences in the temple was prohibited on a racial level.
In fact, it was quite absurd that this had only changed for thousands of years. Instead of saying that the chief had no authority to make changes, it was more correct to assume that such a person had not yet emerged. Not only did the chief of the tribe have overwhelming authority in the affairs of the tribe, but the warriors tended to believe and follow most of the chief's words because they thought he was smarter than them. Still, if reform began there would inevitably be resistance, but this was the part that could be slowly changed with enough time.
Not bad.
The shaman's words only sounded irrational for a moment. The more I analyzed it, the more it seemed like a very sensible option to me. The problem was that it would take him at least a few years to become chief of the tribe as normal.
He had heard that the current boss had been a scout on the eighth floor.
His exact scout rank was unknown, but it was clear that it would take a long time to catch up with him in the combat part.
I don't necessarily have to get to the eighth floor.
The limit should be around the sixth floor. Not all tribal chiefs of the past were as strong as they are now. Although they lacked combat strength, if they had good leadership or judgment, they were promoted to chieftains of the tribe.
I need to create my own followers from now on. Even if it's not to become a chief, having influence within the tribe will certainly help.
That's when I was finishing organizing my thoughts like this.
«Guerrero, it seems like you have a lot on your mind. I'm hungry, so go».
«Ah, oh... yes. Clear. Enjoy your food».
The shaman ordered me to leave. Gosh, he was the first one to light the fire in my heart.
Growl!
Actually, I was hungry too.
***
When I left the shaman's tent around 9 in the morning, I smiled bitterly.
Somehow, every time I come here, I end up wasting an entire day.
Still, perhaps because I passed out, my body felt cooler than when I normally woke up, enough to start the day like this. In that spirit, I grabbed one of the old men who were passing by and asked him: «Do you know where Ainar is?».
«I didn't see her yesterday after the warrior forest».
Hmm, could it still be there? I was a little worried, so I went to the forest where the funeral was held yesterday. How much time had passed? I saw Ainar lying in the bushes, drooling.
«B-Bjorn?»
«Have you slept here?»
«I wasn't planning on doing it, but...». Ainar looked away, embarrassed, while wiping his saliva with the back of his hand. Unfortunately, his eyes fell on Kiduba. «Oh...» As if waking up from a dream and facing reality, Ainar let out a brief sigh. After remaining silent for a while, he opened his mouth carefully. «Bjorn?»
«Speak.»
«Do you have anything to eat?»
Now that was outrageous. I laughed and left my backpack. So, I took out the canned food I ate in the maze and we ate together.
«Are you okay now?»
«I'm a little upset, but even better».
«Annoying?»
«He cheated on me. If I had been honest, I wouldn't have shown such a nasty side of me. Kiduba has turned me into a coward in front of everyone». Ainar snorted angrily, as if those words were true. It was quite fascinating that he could overcome the sadness and enter this stage in a single day. «By the way, Bjorn, has something happened to you too?».
«What do you mean?»
«It's just that I feel that way. Your expression is darker than when we last saw each other. If it was up to me, I just wanted to tell you that you don't have to be».
A darker expression, huh? «...It's not about you, don't worry.»
«If it's not me, who is it?»
«That is...» I thought about making an excuse, but I left it. «Probably because a teammate died».
«...I see. Is it okay if I ask what happened?».
I briefly explained to him what happened on this expedition. Unlike usual, Ainar listened in silence without making a fuss in between. When it was all over, Ainar quietly recited the name so as not to forget it, and then briefly expressed his regret. «Riol Warb Dwalkie... I wish I had met him sooner».
Ainar and Dwalkie, huh? It wasn't easy to imagine the two together, but Dwalkie was even the dwarf's best friend. They could have ended up being good friends. Well, not that it mattered now.
«Anyway, Bjorn, why don't you fight me?» Shortly after, Ainar stood up from his seat and made a sudden proposal. «I want to see if I have become a warrior strong enough not to hold you back».
«Do you mean you want to join the team I'm forming?».
«If you think I deserve it».
What an outrage. The fact that she didn't expect any friendship bias was reliable. However, business and personal life must be distinguished.
«Ainar, apart from the magician's position, there is only one position left. And I was thinking about putting a magician in that position too».
«Simply say it.»
«It means do the best you can». I smiled.
Ainar replied: «Behell-aaaaaaaaaa!». Suddenly, a great sword was in his hand and swinging towards my neck.
***
Tank, melee, ranged, mage: all required positions had already been determined. However, because Mr. Bear was a guide, the scout position became vacant, a sort of extra position. The identity of the team he would create would be determined by the type of character he put in that position. Would it be the instant power of two mages, or the sustained damage of two long-range dealers? If not, should I look for stability and hunting speed with two delivery drivers at close range? After much deliberation, I decided on two magicians.
«Behell-ahhhhhhhhh!»
However, when the fight with Ainar began, my worries increased.
He had definitely become much stronger.
He had been training with the sword for half a year, had increased his stats with the forge, and had inherited the old man's rank 4 essence.
I didn't expect him to inherit that essence. She's really lucky.
Right now, in terms of power, she was almost no different from Missha. Considering the fact that he only had two essences, his potential for the second half was considerable. There was only one part that bothered me.
This causes him to focus too much on melee.
Thanks to the essence of the ogre, I was also able to make deals. So, if Ainar joined, our team would have three hand-to-hand fighters.
«Let's stop here.»
«I can still do more!»
«I know. But I don't think it makes sense to continue.»
«...Am I not qualified?»
I shook my head firmly. «It's not that». Even though I didn't have equipment, the fact was that she made me bleed even in a state of gigantization. Needless to say, it had happened.
«Then can I follow you on the next expedition?!»
«Can you give me some time to think about it?»
«Ahh! Okay! Of course. Is one minute enough?»
«...One minute is very little, let it be three.»
«I can wait so long! As you know, I am very patient!».
I closed my eyes and ignored Ainar, discreetly appealing to herself. Since I had already made a decision in my heart, it didn't take long. I just wanted to check it out one more time.
Soon, I opened my eyes and looked at Ainar. He didn't have any necklace to put around his neck. «I hope we work well together».
«E-wait. Does that mean...?»
«It's how you think».
Ainar, Fenelin's second daughter: Come in.
The reason for approving Ainar was simple, and not because of the pleasant memories of hitting Death Demons together. I looked a little further into the future to decide.
I'll have to deploy two teams to the sixth floor, anyway.
On the sixth floor, the ideal was to form a small clan instead of a single team. The scale of the monsters and exploration methods were too much for five people. I judged that it would be reasonable to send Missha or Ainar to the other team when the time came, as their growth potential was certain.
«Ainar, did you get a print?»
«Not yet. As you know, I don't have money...»
«I see. Good job».
I would explain the printing route to you in detail later. There I concluded the conversation. Ainar went to the old man's tent to pick up his things and I waited outside to organize my thoughts.
A magician was missing...
In reality, this was the biggest challenge when creating a team. The magicians were all elevated beings. Anyone who was not was destined not to be a magician per se.
Ugh, I'm tired of thinking about doing the legwork.
That reminded me that it was a good idea not to follow the two wizards' strategy. I knew two wizards, Raven and Ragna, but it wouldn't be strange if they both rejected me.
Once I return, I will have to raise Missha and Ainar's scout ranks first.
As I hatched a plan and toured the holy land, a barbarian spotted me and shouted loudly: «Bjorn, son of Yandel!».
«Kharon, son of Tarson?»
«I'm glad to see you! But what are you doing here?»
When I told him I was coming on business, Kharon said it was a good coincidence and asked me to say a few words to the young warriors. I thought about it for a while and answered yes. Wasn't I in the middle of a serious race for the boss position? I had no intention of missing the opportunity to get support. It seemed like Ainar needed some time too.
«Really?! The young warriors will be delighted!»
Soon, I followed Kharon into empty ground. Dozens of young warriors had already gathered, and as soon as I announced my name, heated cheers erupted.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel!»
«A great warrior!»
«Whooo!»
Even though I knew this was the result of Kharon's brainwashing, it still gave me a strange high. I guess he was a man after all.
«Behell-ahhhhhhhhh!» I felt like screaming, so I screamed.
Then the baby barbarian did the same. «Behell-ahhhhhhhhhhh!»
It was a kind of ecstasy that he couldn't experience since Ainar left the team. Yes, that was it.
I tried my best to hide my satisfied smile and began playing the role of guest speaker seriously. It wasn't too difficult. Once I had them fight each other like barbarians, I wandered around and provided unlimited advice to crush the enemy's head, filling in the gaps in Kharon's education.
«When you have money, buy a video recorder first. It will be useful if you are accused of being a looter».
He had no intention of stopping the money copying bug created by Kharon. It was too much even for me, but the victims were looters anyway, right? That they existed less would benefit the world.
«Now, all together. A good looter?»
«He's a dead looter!»
«The Explorers Guild?»
«Not to be trusted!»
«If you meet a Hans in the maze?»
«No! Go away! Unless you want to die!»
While I was recording in their heads the things that a barbarian needed to know as an explorer, suddenly, goosebumps ran down my spine.
...Killer energy?
Soon, I stopped teaching and turned around. I saw a known barbarian right behind me, like a ghost, with a large scar on his face, a long braided beard, and even the characteristic smell of sweat, as if he hadn't washed in several days.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel». It was the chief. «Recently, there have been many calls from the guild. Was it all your fault?»
I slowly rolled my eyes and looked at Kharon, who had assured me that the chief would not come looking for us during training. He was already distancing himself from me with a pale face.
«Explain quickly. Before I misunderstand you».
Ah, uh... uh... Damn.