Lost World-Chapter 52: New Teammate 2

Only Yamamoto remained expressionless, because he understood the logic even if he didn’t completely agree with the delivery. Thorin was right about one thing—his combat effectiveness mattered more than his social skills at the moment, and emotion wasn’t a prerequisite for good teamwork.

Watching how sour things had turned, Tormund cleared his throat, trying to make sure nothing escalated. "I understand this is difficult, but we are short on options. Thorin’s skills are solid, he will cover the gaps Silas left well. I’m assigning him to your team. How you integrate him is up to you as the leader, Cole."

Cole took a deep breath after hearing that, clearly wrestling with the decision. Finally, he nodded, his jaws clenching from time to time. "Fine. He’s on the team provisionally. But if he causes any troubles, he’s out. Understood?" He said the last part, looking directly at Thorin.

"Understood," Thorin said without reciprocating any emotion.

Tormund breathed a sigh of relief in his heart after seeing that little exchange. ’Had to intervene before he refused... These guys...’ He did feel sorry for their loss, but leaving them mourn for any longer was only going to draw them further down.

Looking around, Tormund’s eyes could only fix upon Yamamoto now for the next part. "Yamamoto," Tormund said, "Kenneth managed to disappear before I could assign this, so you get the honor. Show Thorin around the guild facilities, help him get oriented, then take him to his assigned room in the lodging quarters."

"Yes, sir."

As the meeting came to an end, Thorin followed Yamamoto out of Tormund’s office without comment, simply following behind him as they left the others behind.

Looking at them leave, Cole couldn’t help it and put his head between his legs, and he sat like that for a long while before raising his head back up and cleaning his face.

...

As for Yamamoto and Thorin, the tour was conducted in near silence all through.

When Yamamoto took him to a location, he would just call the name of the place with a gesture, Thorin would take a quick look, and if explanations were needed, Yamamoto would give a quick summarized version and they would move to the next location. Easy, quick, efficient.

It should have been uncomfortable. Instead, it was oddly... easy, and comfortable.

Neither of them was trying to force friendliness. Neither was pretending to care about building a relationship. They were just two people completing a task with professional detachment.

Finally, they reached the lodging quarters and Yamamoto led him up to the second floor.

"You’re in Room 8," Yamamoto said, stopping at the appropriate door. "You should have a roommate. He’s on a quest currently and will probably back in a few days. Five silver per month, includes room and breakfast access."

Thorin pushed open the door after Yamamoto had unlocked it, surveying the space he’d be staying at, still with the same neutral assessment he’d given everything else.

"This works," Thorin said.

"Anything else you need to know?"

"No."

They stood there for a moment, a few second, the silence stretching. Not hostile, not friendly... Just... empty.

Just when Yamamoto moved to leave, Thorin spoke.

"Look," he said, his tone still flat but slightly less aggressive. "I get that your team doesn’t like me. That’s fine. I’m not here to be liked, but I will do my job. When we’re in dungeons, I’ll fight. I’ll follow tactics. I won’t put anyone at unnecessary risk."

"That’s all anyone can ask," Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto was about to leave again when yet again Thorin spoke and stopped him. "You don’t seem bothered by my attitude."

’This brat, are you doing it intentionally?’ Yamamoto thought to himself for a second before answering.

"I’m not. You’re direct about your priorities. That’s better than false friendliness." Yamamoto said. "The others are grieving. They lost someone recently, a teammate, a family. Your timing is unfortunate, but that’s not your fault. Give them time. They’ll come around if you prove reliable."

"And if they don’t?"

"Then we’ll have a functional but cold team. Not ideal, but workable."

Something flickered in Thorin’s expression for a quick moment, maybe surprise, maybe respect, but it was gone too quickly to identify.

"You know, you’re different from the others," Thorin said.

"So are you."

"Fair enough." Thorin said as he looked into the room again as though he would be going in. "Anything else?"

"First team meeting for you will probably be in a few days. Cole will send word. Show up on time, and be ready."

"I will."

Yamamoto lowered his head a bit as if a nod, though it was hard for Thorin to tell since he backed him. "Welcome to Iron Vanguard, I suppose." Yamamoto said finally before leaving.

"Thanks. I guess."

As Yamamoto turned to leave, Thorin spoke again.

"That thing on the caravan. When you and your friend saved me from the bandits and monsters. I never thanked you for that."

Yamamoto paused. "You don’t need to. We were there, we intervened. That’s all."

"Still. I was being stupid, trying to get myself killed. You didn’t have to help."

"You were in pain. People in pain do stupid things. It’s not personal."

Thorin was quiet for a moment. "Yeah. Pain makes you do stupid things."

Yamamoto could feel the weight in those words Thorin just spoke, unspoken history he wouldn’t press for. They all had their stories and their reasons for being here. Thorin’s anger, his self-destructive behavior... all of that came from somewhere specific, and probably, something that still festered...

But that was his business.

"See you at the meeting," Yamamoto said, and left.

...

That evening when Yamamoto returned to his own room, he got back to find Garrick there, sharpening his spear.

"Heard you got a new team member," Garrick said without looking up. "The angry kid from your caravan trip."

"News travels, fast? How’d you even know about the trip?" Yamamoto was genuinely surprised.

"Well, Kenneth aside, this is a guild. Gossip is the primary currency." Garrick said while he tested the spearpoint’s edge. "He really that hostile?"

"Not really, but he could really come off like it."

They talked a little more on the matter, then settled into their usual comfortable silence.

As for Yamamoto, for the time being, he wasn’t bothered about the new team dynamic, he himself was a relatively new member.

’I should check my skills.’