The private meeting with the chief continued for some time afterward.

I kept asking what it was about this floor that I didn’t know, what had to be done to open the portal stele.

I pressed persistently, but the chief dodged the answers with vague words.

“You’ll naturally come to know when the time comes. And what reason is there to worry already? Sooner or later, you’ll leave this place and return to the city anyway.”

“Why won’t you just speak plainly? Could it be–”

“It’s not because I have some other thoughts in mind. I’ve only been considering what might help you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You never know. There might be something about this floor that even I haven’t discovered yet. If I were to advise you, it would surely erase the chance to find those things on your own. After all, you’d just follow my advice.”

Is this like the saying that lions push their cubs off cliffs?

If so, I understand it even less.

The chief and I aren’t bound by any close parent-child ties.

I find it hard to trust that he “wants to help” me at all.

But…

“Heh, don’t look at it that way.”

The chief gave me his characteristic smile and continued.

“Given how things have turned out, you and I are in the same boat now. I’m sure you’ve thought about what benefits I could provide you going forward. Isn’t that so?”

“Well… it’s not like I haven’t thought about that.”

“Same here. If my ally grows, so will what I’m capable of.”

All talk and no substance, really.

“So I’ll think about it some more and tell you later. It’s not like I’m leaving right this moment.”

Hearing that kind of soothing tone like consoling a sulking child, I just nodded. No matter how much I insisted, it didn’t seem like the situation would change.

Better to use the time for something productive.

“So what will you do now?”

This was the question I’d been asked several times today.

But this time, it was different.

Earlier questions referred to the chief personally or to us, but this one meant the entire exploration party.

“Will we stay on this island?”

What were the plans going forward?

The chief answered straightforwardly.

“We’ll probably stay until today. We still haven’t officially discovered the dimensional stele, right? We must find that first and give the mages time to study it.”

“If it were Jerome Saintred, he would do just that?”

“Indeed.”

“Then what after that?”

“Still undecided. But I’ll finish thinking it through and let you know by tomorrow.”

“…Understood.”

That ended today’s conversation.

After the private talk, I returned to where the others were, killing time until orders came through the deputy commander.

They planned to search the whole village again, telling each squad to roam freely and find anything suspicious…

“Basically a rest order. Then let’s find somewhere suitable and rest.”

Our temporary 4th squad, under my command, entered an empty house and started chatting.

Was our goofing off a problem?

“We’ll go check around a bit. Staying here like this feels off…”

“Concerned about the commander’s gaze?”

“More that something hidden might be overlooked.”

Muul Armin said this and led exploration party members out, and so did White Hext, leader of the Hext clan.

“…If we find something, it might be recognized as an achievement.”

If Armin’s group focused on “exploration,” those guys seemed more interested in the loot.

Either way, it wasn’t my concern.

Eventually, word would come that the dimensional stele’s cave was found, and I’d just casually show up and react a bit.

‘Looks like it’s just us left again.’

With the Hext clan and Armin’s team gone, only Clan Anabada members remained to chat.

“Ah! D-Don’t look!”

Elwen suddenly covered her face, startled as our eyes met.

Sigh, she still does this.

Watching her run off to a corner, I sighed inwardly. Then Versil approached.

“Don’t worry. There’s a potion that makes hair grow fast. When we return to the city, I’ll make it for you.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

“Wow… your tastes really are steadfast.”

“…Huh?”

Why mention tastes all of a sudden?

Seeing my confused look, Versil averted his gaze.

“Well… I thought Tersia really suits short hair…”

I felt the same.

But she freaks out whenever we make eye contact.

Saying anything now would probably sound like empty comfort, so I didn’t.

‘We’ll be here for a while longer anyway…’

Worried about the future, but with no solution, I cleared my mind.

Just then–

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you a while.”

A man entered the house where we were slacking off.

“Kaislan? What brings you here?”

“I heard Armin’s team was wandering alone, so I stopped by when I heard you were resting here.”

“Good to see you. Don’t work too hard; you need to rest too.”

“That’s the plan. After this expedition, I’m done with this damn soldier life.”

Was the Ice Rock incident fueling his resentment against the royal family?

Planning to slack off on salary–Kaislan would never have done that before.

Well, not my problem.

Anyway, Kaislan wasn’t the only unexpected visitor.

“Is anyone here…?”

Soon after, someone cautiously entered the building.

“Sven Parab? What brings you?”

“I met the Hext clan on my way by… If it’s alright, could we talk for a bit? Just the two of us.”

“Of course.”

At the goblin’s request, I stepped outside alone and talked with him in a nearby empty house.

He seemed curious about many things.

“So… what’s going on?”

A vague question with no subject.

From his perspective, it was natural to wonder.

Our people had gotten explanations, but he hadn’t.

I briefly summarized.

“It’s hard to explain in detail, but it ended well.”

“Eh?”

“It means the scene from your prophecy was avoided safely.”

“Ah… that’s a relief, but…”

His eyes clearly wanted the omitted details, but he swallowed the questions.

Guess he’s somewhat socially skilled.

I patted his shoulder in encouragement.

“Sven Parab. I realize I never thanked you before. Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t say much because of circumstances, but if it weren’t for you, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

“Ah…”

“I’ll be counting on you from now on. If any problems arise, come to me right away. I’ll help with all my might.”

My thanks must have surprised him, as he looked stunned a moment. Then, modestly saying it was nothing, he left.

If he stayed away too long, the archbishop would make a fuss?

“You’ve worked hard too. Take care. See you later.”

After ending the talk and returning inside, Ainard ran up shouting,

“Bjorn!!”

Hmm, that tone usually means he has something to brag about.

Scanning around, I noticed something immediately.

For some reason…

“Raven?”

Raven was here.

And…

“Forget Aruru! Look at this!”

Elwen wore a dark iron helmet.

“…What is that?”

Not asking Ainard but Raven, who sighed deeply and explained.

“Tersia looked gloomy, so Pnellen came up with this plan.”

Yeah, judging by that proud smile, it made sense.

“Ha ha ha! Novelirht (Don’t copy, read here) What a genius idea! This hides that embarrassing short hair. Not only that, wearing this safely protects the head!”

Ainard proudly offered this barbarian-style solution.

“Enough, since you saw it, stop it already.”

Raven whispered hurriedly.

I delayed answering and instead met Elwen’s eyes.

“How do you… uh, like it?”

Surprisingly, Elwen no longer avoided my gaze even wearing the helmet.

I’d worried that hair bothering her in battle might restrict her movements, but that concern was solved by one helmet.

“…Not bad.”

Though the delicate outfit she wears as an explorer looked a bit unbalanced with the helmet.

But who cares?

“Good thinking, Ainard.”

“Heh, it wasn’t easy. But Elwen’s my friend!”

The problem was solved.

“Are you really going to let Tersia wander around like that? She’ll be a laughingstock. Hey, Raines? Shouldn’t you say something–”

“Leave her be. If she’s fine with it, what can we do?”

“Tersia! Are you really okay with this?”

“Yes? Yes… wearing this definitely makes me less embarrassed…”

Raven’s disbelief ended the subject with a shocked open mouth.

Elwen would wear the helmet from now on.

“Oh my… how did it come to this?”

What is she saying?

“Anyway, Raven, what are you doing here?”

“Oh, that? I was just wondering what Yandel was up to.”

“Huh?”

“There was the free search order, and I thought Yandel might find something…”

Ah, in other words, came to slack off.

If something was found, being nearby could mean first dibs on the research.

“Too bad. As you see, we’re just resting.”

“…Yeah. Didn’t expect that.”

After talking with Raven, Amelia interrupted.

“By the way, Yandel, are you done talking?”

“Finished well, Sven Parab left.”

“I see… Can you spare me a moment too?”

Seems like a lot of people want to see me today.

“Excuse me for a moment. This might take a while, so Raven, you can hang around and go when you like.”

“Do I look that idle? Never mind. I was just about to leave anyway.”

“Alright, take care.”

After seeing Raven off, I went outside with Amelia.

Honestly, I was curious.

What on earth did she want with me?

I soon found out.

“I was going to ignore it, but seeing you sulking alone in a corner, I couldn’t just watch.”

Ah…

So this is coming.

“What happened with Misha Kalstein yesterday?”

Honestly, there was no reason not to tell.

Ibaekho, the Resurrection Stone, the two-and-a-half-year gap, the cracks of distrust…

But somehow, the words wouldn’t come out.

So I just answered,

“Nothing happened.”

A lie that even a three-year-old wouldn’t believe.

But Amelia just quietly nodded.

“Yeah, I see.”

“…”

“If you want to talk later, tell me. I’ll be waiting.”

Talking to me like I’m a child.

I smirked and replied,

“Got it.”

Still, somehow, it felt a little better.

Our stay on Chief’s Island grew unexpectedly long.

The reason was simple.

Originally, after discovering the dimensional stele, we were to head to the next destination the next day, but…

“The magical energy flow from the dimensional stele recently shows a pattern similar to the bidirectional transmission device described in a recent paper!”

“If this is so… maybe we can forcibly activate the stele!”

The mages studying the dimensional stele had discovered something unusual, spouting incomprehensible words and begging to stay longer on the island.

And…

“I’ll grant you ten days. You must accomplish it by then.”

The chief accepted their request.

He had no choice.

If it were Jerome Saintred, he would have made the same call.

Of course, he might have held onto hope.

If the mages really succeeded in activating the stele, we could return to the city immediately.

‘In the first place… the chief isn’t interested in exploration.’

Since he planned only to “adapt” and return, whether staying in the village or exploring outside wouldn’t make much difference…

One day, two days, three days…

Time passed endlessly.

The mages spent all day trying various experiments in front of the dimensional stele, while the rest rested in the village or climbed the island to hunt monsters.

And how many days passed like that?

[The character’s soul resonates and is drawn to a certain world.]

Before long, the day of the community opening arrived.

A place to communicate with the outside world, and the only space to meet that bastard Ibaekho.

‘Finally, I can question him.’

As I had awaited this moment, I woke up and immediately turned on the computer, moving the mouse.

Click, click.

But then, what was this?

As soon as I opened the community, a popup filled more than half the screen.

[Notice to all Ghost Busters players.]

“…A notice?”

I don’t think they’d ever put up such a big poster before.

Did something happen outside?

I hurried to read to the bottom, then froze like stone.

[Hello, this is the GM.]

The usual opening contained when the community started, the reason it was made, and how much effort the staff put into maintaining it.

Anyone who has played a minor game would immediately sense something ominous.

Because when these messages appear, the conclusion is always the same.

‘Damn it.’

Still hoping it wasn’t true.

There was nothing more to see.

[We deeply thank all players who have used Ghost Busters and sincerely apologize for this announcement.]

[Due to personal circumstances of the staff, the service of Ghost Busters will end today.]

[For inquiries about refunds for GP purchased with real money, please use the newly created refund inquiry tab…]

The server was shutting down.