Chapter 200: Crossroads

Let’s rewind time a bit.

On the second floor of Lutz’s workshop, Lutz was explaining the details of the test slashes to his close friend, Ricardo. As a matter of course, Ricardo was being treated to lunch, nibbling on bread soaked in soup while attentively listening.

“I have both good news and bad news.”

“…Did you really have to put it that way?”

“Well, you know.”

Lutz shrugged, momentarily showing a carefree expression before returning to a serious look.

“So, which one first?”

“Give me the good news. Save the bad news for after the meal.”

“Alright. The test slashes against the undead were a success.”

When Lutz shared the story of defeating the zombie undead in the labyrinth one after another, Ricardo’s eyes widened in surprise.

Ricardo, being an adventurer, was well aware of the troublesome nature of undead creatures with seemingly infinite durability. When faced with a horde of undead, even Ricardo, with all his experience, couldn’t think of any options other than running away.

While it seemed unbelievable to easily defeat them, there was trust in Lutz that he might be able to pull it off. Moreover, it was essential to have that level of strength to defeat the Flame Demon.

After hearing the story, Ricardo, who had just swallowed the last piece of solid bread, responded. It seemed adventurers tended to value early meals as a virtue.

“Isn’t that just a sword for killing undead? I’m not sure if you can call it a sword that seals the opponent’s abilities.”

“It wasn’t like destroying the undead with holy power; it was more like cutting them down, and that’s it.”

“…It sounds terribly plain. I get that it’s amazing, but it’s plain.”

“Your sword is the strange one.”

“Indeed, I’ll make sure to convey that to the creator.”

Ricardo stood up, soaking the empty dishes in the water bucket in the kitchen on the first floor before returning. He was already accustomed to the routine.

“Well, now I just need to actually strike the Flame Demon.”

Lutz said as he pulled the sword he had placed aside.

“I don’t want to attack it directly, but I can’t tell it to stand and let me cut it. I’ve done everything I can; I’ll just convince myself of that.”

“Do you have confidence?”

“I do.”

Ricardo mumbled, then nodded. If Lutz said he had confidence, there was nothing else to do but believe.

“Now, onto the bad news.”

“I don’t want to hear it. I feel like I’ll definitely regret it if I do.”

“If you don’t hear it, you’ll regret it even more.”

“Well, I hope you’ll tell me gently enough not to reverse my lunch.”

“There’s a possibility that the Flame Demon is evolving.”

“The world is a piece of crap.”

As Ricardo slumped in disappointment, Lutz continued his story, dealing a finishing blow.

He explained the encounter with Kasim in the labyrinth, how Kasim had been hit by a fireball from the Flame Demon. Ricardo, raising his palm, interrupted the story.

“Who’s Kasim again?”

“That guy we saw getting expelled from the tavern last time.”

“…Ah, I remember that guy. I’m more impressed by the former leader I fought. I’d completely forgotten about him.”

Scuffles in the adventurer’s tavern were commonplace. Remembering every person he spoke to briefly was not something Ricardo bothered with.

“If the Flame Demon has learned long-range attacks, having you get a crossbow might turn out to be a big deal.”

“I didn’t want to let an amateur get involved in close combat, but I never expected things to turn out like this.”

“By the way, Kevin drew the crossbow while standing. You can expect good firing speed.”

“…Can’t everyone just fight within the bounds of common sense?”

Ricardo, who had slumped even more, as if giving the finishing blow, Lutz continued his story.

Just as he finished speaking, Ricardo seemed to realize something as he turned his face towards the window.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I just felt like I sensed someone’s voice or presence…”

Ricardo stood up, leaned out of the window, and peered below. There was a shabby man leaning against the door, groaning.

“I hope you didn’t bring an undead from the labyrinth or something.”

“Hey, hey, it’s not the season for ghost stories.”

Lutz also stuck his head out of the window. It was difficult to tell from the second floor, but the man knocking on the door with slug-like movements seemed somewhat familiar.

“Could that be Kasim?”

Although he had a policy of not accepting unfamiliar visitors, seeing someone who had returned from the labyrinth in such a weakened state made him curious about what had happened.

“Well, I guess there’s no helping it. Damn it…”

Muttering complaints, Lutz removed the bolt and slowly opened the door. Through the gap, he could see Kasim’s face, which was much more haggard than before.

Seeing Lutz, a sudden blush appeared on Kasim’s undead-like expression.

“Uh, hey Lutz-san. How are you doing?”

Lutz wrinkled his nose at the pungent odor.

…Could it be that this guy hasn’t taken a bath since coming out of the labyrinth?

In this era, the habit of frequent bathing was not common. It was tough to wash in the river in winter, but there had to be some limit to it.

“You look terrible.”

They hadn’t just come back from a picnic in the fields; they had escaped from the labyrinth filled with the stench of death and decay. Imagine a man soaked in a garbage bag for about a week. That’s essentially what Kasim was like now.

Even for Lutz and his companions, who lived in an era with much laxer hygiene standards than the modern world, Kasim’s body odor was unbearable.

“Well, for now, come inside.”

“Y-yeah!”

Entering the room cheerfully, as if he had just cleared the first checkpoint, Kasim looked around the blacksmith shop with curiosity. Pointing to a large tub, Lutz spoke.

“Strip.”

“Even if you suddenly say that, I need some mental preparation…”

“Don’t say disgusting things. I don’t know why you came, but before I let you in the house, I’ll give you a thorough wash.”

“…Is my appearance really that bad?”

“An unwashed dog looks stylish compared to you.”

Saying that much, Kasim smelled his own sleeve. He made a disgusted face and recoiled, realizing how bad the odor was.

Ricardo, who came down from the second floor, also raised his lips in a grimace.

“Ricardo, keep heating up water! We’re going to wash this guy thoroughly!”

“Got it.”

“Wait, you’re not joking, right!?”

Kasim’s protest was ignored as he was stripped naked and made to sit in the tub.

A man, naked, completely naked.

Why was he naked in someone else’s house, let alone a blacksmith’s workshop? He didn’t understand. He had come seeking help, but this turn of events was unexpected.

Hot water was poured into the tub, and warmth enveloped him gently up to his waist. It was a pleasant sensation he hadn’t experienced in the past few days.

Water was poured over his head, and his back was vigorously scrubbed with a towel. During this process, Kasim didn’t have to deal with monsters or ghosts. He really had more pressing matters to worry about.

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