CHAPTER 95**
“Hahahaha, serves those fools right! They must be going crazy thinking I’m dead and calculating their massive losses!”
The revived Babiyen cackled like a villainous noble lady.
As I stared at her, she let out a snort.
“I’ll never have to see them again. Thank you, Harua.”
Her face looked incredibly bright. She had finally severed the ties with her toxic family. They would never come looking for Babiyen again. For Babiyen, it must have been a good thing.
But why did her laughter not feel genuine?
That’s just how life is. There is no such thing as a truly satisfying revenge in this world, only a lingering, unpleasant feeling.
House Asteria had abandoned Babiyen once. But there must have been a time when they lived as a family.
“Babiyen.”
So I spoke to the Babiyen who was forcing herself to laugh.
“You don’t have to pretend to be cheerful in front of us.”
Babiyen blinked her eyes. Aranseol seemed to feel the same way, nodding beside me. We had all rolled in the dirt and died together. There was no need to hide her true feelings and act tough in front of us.
Babiyen’s expression began to crumble. And then, she slumped into the inn chair as if leaning on it for support.
“...You’re right. I just wanted to act like it was a triumphant victory. To my family, I was always the one full of flaws. I tried to think that it was for the best that the flawed one left.”
Babiyen’s mood sank, and a bitter smile appeared on her face.
“In the end, what was I to my family? A disposable pawn that was easy to use?”
We couldn’t know what happened at the Asteria estate. We had left that place and would never go back. And the same was true for Babiyen. She would never go to the Asteria estate for the rest of her life. She had truly said goodbye to the Asterias.
“I don’t think it was just that.”
Then, Aranseol spoke up. She quietly gazed out the window at the setting sun.
“Sometimes, people only realize things after they’ve lost them.”
Perhaps it was because of her experience losing her own family. That’s what Aranseol said.
I have no memory of losing my family. Still, I know the feeling of helplessness that comes from someone’s death. Resurrection magic isn’t omnipotent. I couldn’t save Shishiroka when her body’s natural lifespan had run out.
Were Babiyen’s family members feeling a belated regret? Or were they clutching their heads, thinking about the losses the family would suffer this time?
The dead can never know. And it was a story she didn’t need to know. For Babiyen, House Asteria was a place she wanted to leave even if it meant dying.
“Harua.”
Babiyen called my name quietly.
“Come here for a second.”
I didn’t know what it was, but I did as she asked.
As I sat next to Babiyen, she buried her face in my shoulder. I could feel a faint trembling from her. I realized she was using me as a shield to hide her tears.
I waited quietly until she could let all her tears out. Everyone has times when they need to lean on someone. That was the same for children and adults alike.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but I’m really not an Asteria anymore. Should I re-register as an adventurer?”
After shedding her tears, Babiyen regained her confidence and returned to her usual self.
“Your family name wasn’t required for adventurer registration anyway.”
Family names are not recorded for adventurer registration. Since there were no cases of nobles working as adventurers, only the first name was recorded. Therefore, there was no adventurer named Babiyen Asteria. There was only the adventurer, Babiyen.
“Be grateful you’re in a world without a national ID system that registers everyone.”
“A world like that exists?”
“It does. It’s a terrifying country called Korea where the entire population is registered and regulated by the state.”
I heard it’s rare for other countries to have individual IDs for everyone, but at least the country I lived in was like that.
“The world the Transferees came from really has all sorts of strange things. Usually, a ledger is the most you’d have.”
“Well, the difference in population is probably a big factor.”
The imperial capital, Valterion, alone is tens of times the size of Seoul. Just as Beijing in China is similar in size to Gangwon Province in Korea, the Empire possessed a territory even larger than China.

Unless they had an extremely developed internet system like in modern society, it would be impossible to record the population of such a vast territory. So, it was safe to say that Babiyen would not run into anyone from House Asteria. In the first place, the living areas of nobles and commoners were completely different.
“So, I haven’t heard anything about this person.”
Just then, Babiyen finally expressed her curiosity about Lululio. Ah, had I not explained?
“Is it finally my turn-ssumka?!”
Lululio, who had been sitting quietly, raised her arm with an excited expression.
I calmly explained what had happened and what was to come. After hearing the story, Babiyen looked at me as if I were a madman, beyond simple bewilderment.
“Harua, you were preparing all of that without us knowing?”
“I figured you’d just be clumsy about it if I told you. I thought what you didn’t know couldn’t hurt you.”
“...I wasn’t completely in the dark, but you really are insane, Harua. And to think she’s Rapha Hastel’s disciple.”
Rapha Hastel was a great man recognized even among the nobility. Because of that, Babiyen looked at Lululio with a surprised expression.
“You must be incredibly skilled.”
“Hahaha, it’s nothing-ssumda.”
Lululio laughed shyly. She had an easygoing personality, so they would probably get along quickly.
“By the way, what about Horizon?”
“I haven’t heard anything from her yet. Maybe she’s not finished with what she was doing.”
There was still no word from Horizon. Since she said she had something else to do instead of going to the 2nd World, it seemed like it would take some time.
“She’ll probably be back before we go to the 2nd World next time.”
“She’s late. I have a feeling that girl is doing something quite out of the ordinary.”
Horizon does have her unique side. She was also the one among us who revealed the least about her inner thoughts. All I knew about Horizon was related to Monghwagol. And it seemed the same was true for Babiyen and Aranseol. She was a good kid, but she had a lot of secrets.
“Let’s go to the 2nd World as soon as Horizon gets back. Babiyen, are you going back to that inn?”
“My family knew where I was. I can’t go back there.”
But if she went to a high-end inn, she might be found again.
“I’m just going to stay here.”
Just as I was thinking about a suitable inn, Babiyen spoke in a slightly blunt tone. For some reason, she seemed to be watching my reaction, her eyes darting around.
“It’s just… you know. Since Harua volunteered to be the bait, who knows what might happen?”
“I don’t think having you around will be that much of a help, Babiyen.”
“What did you say? Do you want to be burned to a crisp?”
How bloodthirsty.
“More importantly, can you adapt? This place is a mess compared to where you used to live.”
“I’m not the daughter of House Asteria anymore. It’s only right that I gradually adapt to this kind of life.”
Babiyen said so and then gave a short laugh.
“And this kind of life isn’t so bad either. I can do whatever I want, so it’s not suffocating.”
At House Asteria, Babiyen was a nuisance. But here, no one reprimanded her. She could live freely and was more than capable enough to do so. Enough that she didn't need to rely on House Asteria.
“Besides, I have to save money.”
Money.
Money?
Ah.
“I almost forgot. Here’s your share from our earnings in the 2nd World.”
With all the commotion with House Asteria, I had forgotten to give Babiyen the money I was supposed to. As I handed it to her, she checked the amount and her jaw dropped. In her noble days, she would have spent this amount freely, but now she knows the value of money. She seemed to understand just how enormous the sum was.
“...Should I look for another inn?”
Her eyes turned into money signs. Her earlier resolve vanished in the face of cash.
“I’m kidding, kidding! Don’t look at me like that.”
“It’s fine. It’s the look I’m used to seeing.”
“Then close your eyes! Besides, Harua, didn’t you and Aranseol earn just as much? Is there any reason to stay here?”
We had earned enough to stay at a much better inn. Moreover, Aranseol and I were sharing a room. It certainly couldn’t be called spacious for two people.

At that, Aranseol shifted her chair and sat next to me.
“We decided we’re going to buy a house together later.”
“...Huh?”

Babiyen looked at me as if asking what that meant. But what Aranseol said was true, so I had nothing to deny.
Thump.
At that moment, Babiyen shot up from her seat. Her eyes trembled, and she bit her lip as she spoke.
“Are you… are you getting married? When?”
How did she get to that conclusion?
“No, nothing like that.”
“But you said you’re buying a house! Isn’t it a house for the two of you to live in together?”
“Well, yes, but.”
“If that’s not marriage, then what is it?!”
It’s a share house.
Babiyen swayed and collapsed back into her seat.
“...I went through all that trouble to kick a marriage proposal to the curb, and now this.”
Why is she so dejected?
Lululio sipped her drink with fascinated eyes, looking back and forth between us.
Finally, I looked at the dispirited Babiyen and let out a sigh.
“Fine, then you can chip in and live with us too, Babiyen.”
She must be upset that I didn’t offer to live with her.
“Woooah.”
Lululio let out a sound of admiration. The audience is getting noisy.
Babiyen stared at me blankly.
“...Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“A house will have a limited number of rooms we actually use. There will be plenty of spare rooms. You can invest too.”
“You really are something.”
Babiyen looked like she had a lot to say, but she just ran a hand through her hair and stopped. Then, with a serious look, she looked at me and Aranseol.
“You know what? I’m not backing out.”
“I was the one who suggested it in the first place.”
“Yes, you’d better keep that promise. We’ll just see how long you can keep this up.”
Babiyen fumed. I had no idea why she was angry.
“Hmm, so this is their relationship-ssumka!” Lululio exclaimed as if she had a great realization.
“By the way, Harua-nim, since you’re a No-Named, did you happen to lose something-ssumka?”
What did I lose?
“That’s a secret.”
At my answer, Lululio slowly stroked her chin and nodded.
“I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure that’s not unrelated-ssumda.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s grown-up talk-ssumda!”
I just got treated like a kid by someone who looks younger than me.
“I’m going to go pay for this inn right now, so wait here quietly.”
In the meantime, Babiyen got up and promptly left for the innkeeper.
As I watched her go, my eyes fell on Aranseol. Aranseol glanced at Babiyen for a moment, then looked at me. Without a word, she started poking my cheek.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, I just felt like it.”
Aranseol seems a little angry too. What nerve did I strike?
“In your head, Babiyen is something like a pet dog, isn’t she?”
“You shouldn’t treat people like animals.”
“Right, you shouldn’t treat people like animals. So.”
Aranseol looked into my eyes for a moment, then withdrew the hand that was poking my cheek.
“Be careful you don’t get bitten.”
Isn’t Aranseol the one treating Babiyen most like a pet?
Then again, if it’s Babiyen...
'She'd do more than just bite.'
I’d better be careful.