Chapter 2494 - SB 5

A ninth-grade mana stone is equivalent to a rock-bread.

Meaning, each one is valued at about twenty stones.

Then what about an eighth-grade mana stone?

Unfortunately, one deathfiend is worth only five goblins.

"What? You mean only a hundred stones?!"

"… Including the summoned ghouls, it can drop up to 300 stones."

Of course, even considering that, there was no denying that the amount was low.

Because we'd just had to risk our lives.

"Bjorn… How much was that bread we ate at the inn?"

"… I remember it was about 300 stones."

"Then… Still, it means you can taste that sweetness once every time you catch a deathfiend!"

Apparently, the cream pie she'd eaten earlier had now established itself as the new unit of currency for Ainar.

Of course, if you divided it 8:2, you'd only get 0.2 units of sweetness per hunt, but…

I decided to not mention that out loud.

"Bjorn! This is not the time to be hunt! Let's go hunting!"

Although she'd been disappointed for a bit at the paltry reward –

I smiled as I looked at Ainar who'd regained her enthusiasm.

In this respect, it wasn't a bad choice to team up with a barbarian.

I'd liked Erwen, my former teammate, but her downside was that she was too passive about everything.

My current colleague was much better when it came to motivation.

"Okay, let's go!"

After that, we continued to hunt around the neighbourhood for deathfiends.

With one hunt taking more than 20 minutes, we should've been at a loss even at 300 stones, but…

Turned out, our first attempt had been an outlier.

"Coooooooooo!"

"Behel-raaaaaaaaah!"

Each time we met a deathfiend, we rushed at it together, crying out the name of our ancestor.

Then we grabbed one leg each, lifted, and threw the creature to the floor.

Let's call it, a double barbarian tackle.

Coo!

A fallen deathfiend was just easy prey.

As we kept making chitchat, it ineffectually tried to reach us with its arms, and quickly dissolved into motes of light.

It took about three minutes each time.

The moment one fell to the floor, it'd feel a sense of crisis and summon ghouls, so it was difficult to shorten it further.

"Oooh!"

As the hunts continued, our mana stone pouches got filled up quicker and quicker, but we were not satisfied with the speed and accelerated even further.

Because hunting deathfiends would become impossible from the third day.

If I hadn't reached the second floor faster than anyone else using the bug, I wouldn't have even dared to fight these guys.

Because they wouldn't be travelling alone anymore.

No matter how much could be done with a party of two, facing a group of three or four of them would be difficult to say the least.

[14:27].

I checked the time and decided to take a short break.

There's a saying about rowing hard when the tide is high, but accidents always happen when you are impatient.

"Bjorn, thirsty."

"Drink sparingly. The corpse flowers will bloom only from tomorrow."

"Corpse flowers?"

They're the only means of replenishing moisture in the Deadlands. When the time comes, flowers bloom on the vines covering the rubbles of stone buildings, and you can open them to find water within.

Ainar became a bit unsettled at my explanation.

"Bjorn, isn't that unsanitary?"

It surely was.

I'd heard that it was okay to drink, but I still felt bad.

However, this wasn't an appropriate response from somebody who shared a room with four other people and never washed.

"Then do you have any other way?"

"None! I will drink!"

After resting for about twenty minutes to replenish our stamina, we again resumed our hunt.

And until we were on the brink of collapsing from exhaustion, we managed to hunt a total of seventy deathfiends.

Meaning, we'd earned more than 20,000 stones in a single day.

'Isn't this better than hunting only level nine monsters?'

But the essence I'd been hoping for never dropped.

Even the word 'atrocious' isn't enough to describe how rare essence drops are.

So in the early game, tweaking your playstyle according to the essence drop you actually get is the basics…

The results depend on your skill as the player.

In that sense, I'd been looking forward to this.

Deathfiend essence is one of the top items you can get in the early game.

'The problem is that there's no sign of it dropping.'

The active skill 'call of the dead' that summons the ghouls is frankly a bit esoteric, but the passive skill 'preservation of the flesh' is good enough to make up for that.

Of course, eating the essence doesn't mean you'll regenerate as fast as those bastards…

But it has a good synergy with the undying imprint, which also increases your regeneration factor.

[02: 57].

I checked the time while listening to Ainar's snores.

One day had passed, and the second day started.

From now on, we'd have to fight two deathfiends at once, but there was another aspect that made me feel a bit more relaxed.

At least it won't look weird when we ran into other adventurers.

Again, I feared our fellow adventurers the most.

"Ainar, get up."

"… I, I didn't eat it!"

"It's your shift."

Three hours each.

After resting for a total of six hours, we unceasingly kept hunting deathfiends the second day as well.

"Coooooooo!"

Even though they came in pairs.

Even with twenty ghouls summoned by their active skills, it was still worth the effort.

Because we'd learned all their tricks by hunting them again and again on the first day.

Coo–!

I fearlessly charged in to smash one of them to the floor.

The other one was also knocked down at the same time.

Even the smallest hitch in the whole process meant the whole operation would be a bust, but …

Whenever that happened, we simply ran away without looking back.

"Ainar, let's bounce!"

"Yeah!"

The deathfends moved pretty lumberingly, and they by habit didn't pursue if one escaped their territory, so we hadn't faced any danger thus far.

Swaaaaaa–!

Each battle took about ten minutes.

Although about three attempts out of ten resulted in failure, since we were hunting a pair at a time, our profits were pretty similar to the first day.

Groups had been fairly rare at first.

However, as the afternoon passed, groups of three began to appear occasionally, and the frequency of such encounters kept increasing with time.

"We'll have to leave this place soon."

"A wise warrior knows when to retreat."

It was the end of the second day.

I left the deathfiends' territory, leaving my regrets behind me. We returned to the area with the soggy mud, and found a suitable campsite inside a pathway.

That was then –

"…!"

It was our first time encountering another group of adventurers.

It was a group of three humans, prowling in the dark, relying on a torch like us…

We saw each other only after we'd approached within 10m of each other.

"What're you looking at? If you don't have any business, go away."

"Hmm, excuse me."

Ainar spat out coldly, and the other group passed us by, disappearing back into the darkness.

It was a little strange.

Step, step.

They were only about twenty steps or so away, and the sound of their footsteps was still faintly audible.

But their torchlight was no longer visible.

I'd heard that most of the stairs in the labyrinth devour light, this must've been what that meant.

The bright light of a torch became almost impossible to see with the naked eye even from just 10m away…

While I was pondering over this phenomenon for a while –

"Bjorn, we have to move."

Ainar spoke up with a note of stubbornness in her voice.

"They know where we are. The walls here are convenient, but it'd still be safer to find a new campsite."

That was certainly true.

I was indeed going to do that.

But, something here didn't fit.

What the heck, as soon as she saw another group of adventurers, she growled at them to fuck off…

What a sudden shift in character.

"Bjorn, humans can't be trusted."

"… I agree."

I see, we had one more thing in common other than both of us being barbarians.

Our distrust in the race called 'humans'.

Looked like something'd happened to her during her first time in the labyrinth.

I'd have to ask her later.

"Then let's go."

We packed our bags and moved on.

But finding another campsite with as good a location as before turned out to be difficult. Perhaps a compromise was in order, with just one wall protecting our backs?

While I was busy thinking –

"Stop it…"

I could hear a moan, coming from somewhere nearby.

"Kahk! Huuk!"

It was no banshee.

It wasn't even a woman's voice in the first place…

"… Wa-, wait!"

The words were clearly discernible.

"Live, please let me –"

Damn it.

Why couldn't I have just sat down and slept anywhere?

"…"

As the screams stopped, silence reigned again.

Ainar whispered.

"It wasn't a monster attack."

I knew that. I, too, had working ears.

It's unlikely for a person to beg for their life in front of a monster.

The situation was clear. Somebody killed somebody else.

Fuck, what kind of dogshit situation was this?

I wasn't some kid detective.

Since I had no intention of getting involved, I just grabbed Ainar's wrist and slowly started backing away.

But did they sense our footsteps?

"Who's there?"

It was a cold, subdued voice.

It sounded rough, but it was a woman's.

We held our breaths and didn't move, not giving any response.

But at that moment –

Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiish! Popopopop!

Something like a flare shot into the sky, softly illuminating an area about 50m in radius.

As a result, I was also able to meet the eyes of the owner of the voice.

We were less than 15m apart.

… Erwen would've been able to notice her presence from afar and avoid her, had she been here.

"Hmm, rookies, is it?"

The nameless woman looked at us and made a quick judgment.

I was doing the same.

A dagger dripping with blood.

Four scattered corpses.

"… Pillager."

The woman asked calmly.

"First time seeing one?"

"So-so."

My first time seeing somebody as professional as this chick, at least.

"I see."

Although some witnesses to her murder scene had just popped up, the woman who was meaningfully nodding her head still looked very calm.

Somehow, I could guess the reason.

Pillagers.

Those who professionally hunt their fellow adventurers, instead of monsters, are called that.

They earn good money by looting equipment off adventurers, instead of farming mana stones from monsters.

Of course, if you get caught, you should be sentenced to death the moment you get back to the city…

Except there's nothing like that.

Just like I'd killed six adventurers in self-defence, and yet wasn't investigated at all.

There's no way to know what happens inside the labyrinth from the outside.

Unless someone tells you otherwise.

"… You aren't wearing a mask."

This is the most absurd aspect of the current situation.

This psychopathic bitch is blatantly showing off her face.

A little over 170 cm tall, with a skinny figure.

Tattoos running from under the eyes to her shoulders, and the back of her right ear cut in half.

With this much information, identification wouldn't even be difficult.

In the modern age, it'd be possible to collect evidence from this place itself…

But this is a fantasy world.

There are even ways to distinguish truth from falsehood without physical evidence.

"… Were they your colleagues?"

"Well."

The woman looked at the scattered corpses and shrugged.

"They might've thought so."

That's why her face was bare.

While asking questions that I could reasonably expect to be answered, I quickly organized the information that could be seen with the naked eye.

There were four bodies in total.

Due to their equipment level and the fact that one looked to be a wizard, I could tell that they were adventurers who were active on at least the fifth floor.

And there were no traces of traumatic injury on three of the corpses.

But since traces of vomiting up blood and gastric juice remained on their lips…

'Were they all poisoned? The man who was dealt with at the end had some tolerance, so he managed to endure for a little while?'

I hoped my guess was correct.

The situation would be even more bleak if she was a talent who could kill four mid-level adventurers alone without receiving a single wound.

Slowly, bit by bit.

The woman squatted down and started skilfully removing the equipment from the corpses.

And put them one by one in her bag.

It might've been a magic tool or something, because even the bulkier items fit in without any problem.

Making me feel fear before envy could arrive.

Just having such a thing made the difference between us desperately clear.

"Barbarian."

The woman called to us.

I didn't respond.

Ainar asked me quietly.

"Is it a fight?"

She really was great.

Erwen would've become terrified by now.

No matter how big the gap might be, did a warrior's pride lie in never giving up or something?

I answered briefly.

"I'm thinking."

To be honest, I wanted to avoid the option of fighting.

Our difference was obvious just from the equipment.

And, if her skills matched her equipment, well… Even 2:1, our odds weren't anything to write home about.

Whooooosh–!

As its life expired, the light in the sky winked out, bringing back the darkness.

I immediately made my decision.

"Run. Full speed."

Pride won't save your life.

-x-X-x-

We run through the darkness.

I flip open the compass to check the direction from time to time, and do my best to run like crazy.

"Groooooooowl!"

Ghouls, skeletons and other such monsters keep blocking the way, but they're too slow to cause any problems.

But the same would be true for our pursuer.

Pit-a-pat pit-a-pat pit-a-pat! Go our footsteps.

Has it been about five minutes?

That psychopath bitch must've been slow to finish her looting.

That's the lucky part.

If we hadn't been dressed like rookies, that bitch would've given up on the loot and came after us straight away.

But this also proves that she has the means and the confidence to catch us even with such a long head start.

Still, at least that's bought us a little bit of time.

"Bjorn, isn't that the mark?"

Good news keeps coming.

Collapsed stone buildings are everywhere, here in the Deadlands.

Every time I'd passed one, I'd marked it.

So I could find my way back to the first floor portal later.

"This way!"

Although I already knew we were in the vicinity, we come upon it earlier than expected.

Maybe I got lucky –

"Who are you!"

Damn, I didn't mean to raise a flag.

Ainar and my feet halt at the same time.

Because we've encountered another group of adventurers.

No, in a way, isn't this better?

Pillagers are natural enemies of adventurers.

If we explain the situation and offer appropriate compensation, we might even be able to get their help.

"Barbarian?"

The group of adventurers who suddenly appeared in the dark, point their weapons at us and tilt their heads.

They are four in number.

Everyone is human, and the equipment looks at least twice as good as ours.

Humans are hard to trust, but we probably have no choice here.

"We're being chased by a pillager. We request help."

"So you guarantee that you are not pillagers?"

"I swear on my honour as a warrior. Everything I say is true."

Contrary to my promise with the fairy, this time I offer my warrior's oath unasked…

Surprisingly, this oath works everywhere.

A bald-headed guy, who seems to be the leader among the four, thinks for a moment before speaking.

"If we catch the pillager, we will take all the rewards. Do you agree?"

"Of course."

"Good."

As the bald-pated guy beckons, the other adventurers lower their weapons.

Obviously, this wouldn't have been as easy if I weren't a barbarian.

"Come here at once. We'll talk more later."

As I approached them, the yellow-haired man, about 160cm tall, uses this ability.

"This is my power, power of the earth gnome[1]. It can help you assimilate with your surroundings up to a radius of three meters."

To put it simply, an AoE version of the goblin archer's stealth ability.

In return, it has the disadvantage of not being able to move.

"Any injuries?"

"None."

"How lucky."

The bald-headed man looks at me as he says so.

He's definitely right.

Did I accidentally stumble upon a bunch of adventurers who have an AoE stealth ability? We can even avoid combat altogether –

"Two barbarians rolled in."

Fuck you, so you were talking to yourself?!

Really, I thought things were finally working out.

No, maybe there isn't any problem?

「The character has fallen into a state of [suppression].」

"Hoho."

A flash of greed can be seen in the adventurers' eyes, including the baldie.

One of them's already rummaged through my backpack and opened the magic stone pouch.

"You made a lot of money in just two days."

I want to cave his ribs in with my mace right now, but my body doesn't move.

And the same goes for Ainar.

"Were you surprised that your body suddenly stopped moving?"

It's the power of an essence, of course.

I can already guess what kind of essence it is.

There are many similar abilities, but there's only one that these guys, who are adventurers on the same floor as us, can have.

'A stone golem's [suppression], is it… '

I'm sure.

I got hit by the active skill of the eighth-grade monster, stone golem.

The easiest way to break free is to take damage, even a trivial hit for 1 damage is fine…

If these bastards aren't completely brainless, they'd be careful about that.

"Hey, buddy, it's no use glaring like that. It's not like you can solve the ability that way."

This is the worst situation, that can't even be described as disgusting.

Damn, I said I was going to live, but I'm just going to die like this?

"Look at how he's glaring. Hey, you still don't understand the situation you're in?"

"It's fine, Ramod. Just end it like this. That pillager they mentioned might come along any moment, it's bothering me."

"Sheesh, this is too bad. We finally caught a woman, but she's a barbarian."

"You idiot, isn't a barbarian better? How much would its heart sell for?"

Their ugly desires, now revealed in full, prickle my skin and chill my bones.

The bald man pulls out a sharp blade and lifts it.

"Kill them in one blow. Don't bother me."

"Tsk, don't worry."

Whiz!

Killing intent suffuses the wind.

Pointing towards my neck.

'… Neck?'

Even when death is imminent, my brain synthesizes all sensory information and suggests a way.

Of course, I don't know if it really would work.

But it'd be much more productive than ruminating on my life and pondering over my regrets.

Snikt!

The sharp blade cuts through my neck.

At the same time, a tingling sensation rises, and the stiffness that covered my body is released.

I immediately tilt my head back.

Like a boxer turning his face and bleeding off the power of an incoming punch.

Time slows down to a crawl.

"… Huh?"

I can see the grumpy expression on his face.

The hand that'd been holding the dagger is now empty.

That's when I feel a foreign object stuck in my throat.

'Oh, it's stuck halfway.'

The moment I realize it, my brain makes a brief conclusion.

It's not bad.

As long as it doesn't bleed as much, I can hold on a little longer.

Creak.

Balancing on one leg by forcing the other to loosen –

I swing the mace in my hand.

Towards that shiny, smooth, hairless crown.

Crunch–!

The bald man starts collapsing, his skull half caved in.

Slowly, at about 0.5x speed.

"Darvan!!"

There are so many confused faces all around.

What, you fuckers didn't expect the guy with a knife stuck in his neck to hit back?

"Y-, -ou…"

Actually, I didn't expect to either.

But this is how it is.

"Fu-, -cks…"

Something is seeping out of my throat all the while.

My body loses strength and the light blurs.

Is this shock?

A tingling sensation is spreading from head to toe.

Lack of oxygen and blood.

It hurts!

The mace and the shield I've been holding fall to the floor as if I can't even grasp them properly.

I want to collapse right away and rest…

But there's still work to be done.

I'm not doing this shit just to take one more bastard down with me.

Creak!

Stomping on my feet, I raise up my staggering body.

Pulling out the knife directly from my neck –

I throw it at Ainar, who's only about four steps away.

Snikt!

Uh, I didn't know it would stick like that.

"Ouch!"

Sorry, but at least your body can move now.

Slash!

At the instant the dagger pierces her forearm, Ainar swings her greatsword and cuts the nearby archer in two at the waist.

From there she flows into a pirouette, rotating once, then leaps and slam her weapon down on the third guy's head.

His steel helmet is completely useless.

Crunch–!

Blood trickles out from the cracks covering the mass of scrap metal that the helmet has become.

"Hey, this crazy…!"

The blond, who's standing the farthest, immediately leaps away and runs without looking back.

He's no slower than a goblin in assessing the situation.

"Bjorn!"

Ainar, who's finished cleaning up the surroundings, comes running, kneeling down.

Huh, then I can leave the rest to you –

"Bjorn…!"

Ainar hugs me and shouts my name like a dirge.

… As if she's talking about a dead man.

Feeling an ominous sensation, I forcefully open my drowsy eyes and try to talk.

"P-, cough!"

"I get it! I will definitely get payback for you!"

No, it's not about payback.

「 Achievement complete 」

「 Condition: Health drops below 0.1%. 」

「 Reward: Mind permanently increases by +3. 」

I desperately force out the word.

"Potion…"

Fuck you, save me.

「Bjorn Yandel」

Level: 2

Body: 46 / Mind: 39 (New +3) / Abilities: 4

Item Level: 202

Combat Index: 139.5 (New +3)

Screeeech!

The hole in my neck began to heal, accompanied by a wave of pain.

But I was still ecstatic.

Because I could feel so clearly the life being breathed into my almost-corpse.

"Heh heh heh."

The burning pain awakened the mind that had dulled.

… I lived.

I really thought I was going to cross the Jordan River and step foot into the promised land this time.

Thankfully, I didn't use those 1.4 million stones for anything else and got the undying imprint first.

If not for that, I wouldn't be sitting here now.

"Ainar."

"Did you wake up?"

"Gear, grab all the gear first…"

As soon as I had the energy to speak, I gave Ainar instructions.

After that, I somehow hauled myself up and splattered the rest of the potion all over my neck.

Splosh.

It felt like splashing money, but it couldn't be helped.

Even though the wound on my neck seemed to be getting better, who knew what state the insides were in.

What kind of damage had it done to my brain?

So, it was better to take precautions in advance.

"Ouch…"

In fact, before long, a tingling sensation appeared in the back of my skull.

Considering the intensity of the pain, it didn't seem serious, but it might've developed into a major problem if left unattended.

"Can I check it for a moment?"

"… What about the equipment?"

"I've already grabbed everything."

I see.

At my nod, Ainar lifted my chin and carefully inspected the wound.

"This is going to scar."

It was a bit weird.

Erwen had said something pretty similar.

Well, the feelings behind the words were completely different, though.

"Great. You'll be the only barbarian with a scar from a pierced neck!"

Did she consider this body art?

Seriously, no matter how much the barbarians' way of life is to believe only in your own body, even they don't make a habit of surviving with a hole drilled into their neck.

"Now what?"

Ainar asked about my future plans.

I was also nervous about this.

Even though I'd just finished walking a tightrope between life and death…

Nothing had actually been resolved.

"How long has it been?"

"At the longest, about five minutes."

Five minutes…

On the contrary, meeting these bastards had made the situation worse.

I'd been crazy to consider it.

No matter how urgent the situation, to try and borrow the power of other adventurer bastards?

Anyway, there'd be time to regret it later.

"Which way did he run?"

"Towards there."

Leading Ainar, I moved in the direction the blond had escaped to.

Although because the floor was muddy, there were no footprints left, so it was impossible to track him properly…

But, just as expected –

"Here you are."

I found him not too far away.

It was so dark around here, how far could he run?

Perhaps while running, he'd banged his head on the rubble of a building, and fallen to the ground unconscious.

"Hey! S-, spare me!"

After taking everything that could be used a weapon, I roughly stomped on his back to wake him up, and he immediately started grovelling.

A very polite attitude compared to before.

When he'd been clicking his tongue earlier because the woman they'd caught was a barbarian.

"Uuggghhhh!"

Ainar grabbed the man by the neck and lifted him up with one hand.

However, he was so short that his feet couldn't touch the ground.

"Kaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Seeing him struggling, being strangled, made me feel refreshed rather than sympathetic.

Rather, I wanted to give him some unasked-for advice. You should have done it properly.

Always aim at the head, not the neck.

If you do that, even a potion or an undying imprint won't help.

"Ainar, release him."

Despite looking like she was questioning my instructions inside, Ainar let go.

I approached the fallen man and growled my order in his ears.

"Use your power. If you want to live."

That was the only reason why I hadn't dealt with this yellow rat yet.

The power of the earth gnome that this guy had.

Because I needed it right now.

"Done, I used it!"

"How long can you keep it up?"

"Thirty minutes! No, I can last forty minutes! So –!"

He was a chatterbox.

I wished he could just answer my questions.

I asked again, his collar clenched in my hand.

"How long will it take to use it again?"

"I have to rest afterwards for as long as I keep it up."

"Right."

I released my grip on his neck.

And pressed my feet down on his torso to prevent him from escaping.

As was my usual way with the goblins.

"Isn't it better to just kill him? I think she gave up on us anyway."

I wondered what kind of bullshit she was spouting now, but it might've looked like that from her point of view.

Although we managed to escape, it was unknown whether or not we were actually pursued.

Even considering the time to track us down, it was definitely strange that we hadn't even seen her hide nor hair yet.

"Gave up…"

Certainly, the possibility existed.

Maybe that psychopath bitch thought rookies like us weren't even worth chasing after.

So what if we returned to the city and testified?

If that bare face we saw earlier was actually some magical disguise, that'd fit as an explanation.

But…

Squelch.

Things couldn't possibly go that well.

I mean, this was me we were talking about.

Editor's Notes:

[1] 노움 (lit. gnome), gnome – a fantasy species or a spirit of the earth. Translating as earth gnome for the name of the power only.

-x-X-x-

"Ainar, whenever something happens, always consider the worst-case scenario first."

Just see what happened only a little while ago.

Did we not burn with the light of hope when we accidentally encountered human adventurers?

The world won't turn some specific way just because you want it to.

"The reason we were able to run from that place was because she let us go. She must've thought that she could catch us quickly if she wanted. So this is too early to feel reassured."

The words are getting too long for her.

Let's summarize around the main point.

"By now, she must be –"

"She must be secretly watching from nearby."

This motherfucking…

No, I was guessing you were in hot pursuit at the worst.

I see, so there's another abyss underneath the abyss.

Or maybe the problem is with my own intelligence.

"Bjorn!"

As Ainar and I put down our backpacks and prepare to fight, the woman emerges from the darkness.

Still unmasked.

"I'm sorry, barbarian."

… What's with this creepy bitch?

"Still, that last struggle was impressive."

What about the power of the earth gnome or whatever? No, seems like she's already been observing us for quite a while…

It doesn't make sense, logically.

"… Why did you show up now?"

It'd taken me a few minutes after drinking the potion to be able to move.

Yet, why didn't she aim for that gap?

While I'm waiting for her to answer –

"Ahhhhhhhhh!"

The yellow-haired man gets up from where he'd been thrown to the floor, and starts running with all his might.

Me and Ainar react a beat late, because all our attention is on the psychopathic bitch.

But…

Thwock!

A thin needle-like projectile flows in a straight line and pierces the blond's neck.

Might it be poisoned?

Despite such a minor trauma, the blond trembles like an aspen in the wind, and soon falls down, limp.

And I realize –

This isn't the time to be leisurely asking questions.

"Ainar!"

We don't need many or complex words to communicate.

The moment I call her name –

Ainar pushes herself off the ground and leaps forward, as if she'd been waiting for my signal.

I am the same.

If you can't run away –

What can you do except fight?

Claang!

Yet the pillager easily ducks under the swing of Ainar's greatsword. And with a dagger, she blocks the mace that came swinging from the side in perfect synchronicity.

Claaang!

This crazy…

Just how many essences have you eaten?

Of course, the dagger that she blocked the mace with is still intact.

When the woman starts exerting force, my body starts getting pushed back.

"Stop doing meaningless things, barbarian."

Well.

That sounds like a very difficult request.

Even if it's pointless –

"Behel-raaaaaaaaaa!"

I am a barbarian.

Of course, my mind has not yet escaped the fetters of modernity.

Claaang!

I feel afraid every day, there's no sign of getting used to pain, and I still keep trying to come up with a way to escape.

Nevertheless, if there's one aspect where we are the same –

Claang!

If there is only one path left before me –

I choose to walk it and beyond it.

Without hesitation.

Claang!

As the mace collides with the dagger, I discard it and attempt a tackle.

She doesn't budge, as expected.

You're also just an adventurer, why are your physical abilities so high?

Sullen thoughts rise up out of nowhere.

But even if I can't knock you to the ground, I can bite you and bog you down.

"Ainar! Now!"

Before the shout even leaves my throat, Ainar's greatsword is already swinging in a beautifully clean straight line.

For the first time, the pillager bitch, who's been expressionless the entire time, shows her emotions on her face.

"…!"

Upset, or annoyed?

Well, maybe it's anger.

Thwock!

Pain erupts from my back.

Did she just stab my spine?

No, what about my armour?

Irrespective of my doubts, my strength drains away.

「The character has fallen into a state of [paralysis].」

I try to cling on to her somehow, but my body, which ran wild like a monster even after being stabbed in the neck, doesn't listen to me at all this time.

Thwock!

Then the same sound comes again.

With a clang!, Ainar's greatsword falls to the floor.

I force my pupils up, and see the dagger deeply embedded in Ainar's wrist.

Even now, I want to…

Ainar is in pain, but doesn't stop.

"AaaAAAA!"

Having lost her weapon, she swings her left fist instead of the paralyzed right arm.

Seeing her fighting spirit, I feel like I'm realizing it all over again. Why are barbarians, no different in appearance than a human a few sizes too large, treated as monsters by everyone?

But this isn't a good match-up.

Whoosh!

The woman escapes the fist with flexible movements, and not stopping there, grabs Ainar's wrist, twisting it…

Thud!

And throws her down on the floor.

Ainar immediately tries to bounce back up, but keeps slipping and falling.

Her arms, tendons showing, are trembling.

Seeing that, the woman sighs coldly.

"Give up. There's nothing you can do once paralyzed by basilisk venom."

It's like a death sentence.

My head goes blank and my vision darkens.

Equipment, skills, experience…

There is a stark difference in every aspect.

Even when I run my brain ragged, I can't think of any way to turn the situation around.

And when the word "death" is so bleakly engraved in my mind –

"I wish you could've heard me out this quietly."

The woman bends over, and loosens my stiff hands still grabbing her trousers.

And continues indifferently.

"Barbarian, swear that you won't reveal to anyone what happened today. Then I will spare you."

… What?

After a brief silence.

The woman spoke again.

"I was thinking of making this offer from the beginning, but you ran away so quickly. Because I'm indebted to a barbarian."

I could instinctively feel that this was my only way to survive, but…

I couldn't understand it.

Looking at me lifting my head up so desperately, the woman explained briefly.

"As far as possible, I don't want to kill a barbarian with my own hands."

With her own hands…

Was that why she just watched when I fell for that yellow-hair's trick?

So she didn't have to get her own hands dirty?

"Bjorn… the pillager's words. Don't, believe… She just wants to toy with us."

But even if you say that, I don't have a choice.

If I'm just being fooled and toyed with –

What difference does it make in the end?

I asked, spitting out the blood that'd filled up to the tip of my throat.

"If we turn down the offer, what …?"

"Naturally, I'll kill you. Because that was what I promised."

"A promise… who the hell with?"

"That's not for you to know."

Her tone was the same as before, but somehow it sounded a bit harsher.

"Choose. I'll give you a little time –"

"As a warrior, I swear upon my honour."

No time needed.

It's not like there were any other options.

"… Really, you are a bit odd."

The psychopath who levelled a strange gaze at me for a moment, sprayed something on me.

Screeeech, a familiar pain.

No need to guess, It was a potion.

「You have taken a recovery potion (top).」

「The character's state of paralysis is lifted.」

The stiff muscles loosened up, and strength gradually began to enter my body.

"What about you, barbarian girl?"

The woman looked away from me and asked.

Ainar gave her answer after a brief silence.

"… I refuse."

"I see."

The woman did not ask again.

She just nodded her head slightly.

However, I felt it more clearly within that action.

She didn't take out her weapon, nor take any threatening action, but…

Now, this woman was going to kill Ainar.

And to prevent such a thing, there was only one thing I could do.

"… Ainar, make an oath."

"Bjorn?"

"Didn't you say you would follow me without question?"

"Even so, the oath of a warrior is…"

Fuck, how much do you have to protect your pride?

"Penelin's second daughter, Ainar!!"

Ainar stiffened at my shout.

I lowered my voice, looked into her eyes, and spoke calmly.

"Trust me now. This is the right choice."

After a brief and silent struggle, Ainar finally opened her mouth.

"… I understand. I will swear."

"Good thinking."

After that, Ainar made her oath, and the psychopathic bitch healed her by using up another potion.

Was this carrot and stick?

The feeling of being forcibly compelled to make a choice was the same as always.

So damn disgusting. So, fucking, disgusting.

"… Which floor?"

As soon as the treatment was over, the woman turned around and was about to leave, but I asked her before she could.

To this question that could be interpreted in infinitely different ways, the woman tilted her head for a moment and gave a brief answer.

"Eighth."

Not even the fifth floor.

No wonder, so that's how strong an adventurer she was.

Even ten of me together probably wouldn't have been a match for this bitch.

But even so…

Squelch.

As I watched the psychopath disappear like smoke in front of my very eyes, I made a silent vow.

Next time, things will be different.

"Ainar, are you alright?"

"… I'm fine. I can get up by myself."

Ainar pushed my hand away and stood up on her own.

I wondered if she was disappointed in me, but probably the person she was most disappointed in was not me, but herself.

Because barbarians have an honest side.

"…"

Ainar, with a complicated gaze, decided to let the problem rest for a while, and first checked up on my condition.

First, this…

Creak.

When the armour was taken off, one could see a hole the size of a dagger on the back.

The edges of the hole were very clean.

… 'Aura', maybe?

Motherfucker.

On merely the second floor, in so vast a place as the Deadlands, did we really come across such a monster? Dogshit!

All I could think of was that I needed to get stronger. I couldn't afford to waste a single day.

Going home or whatever could come later, first I had to be able to protect myself in this dogshit world.

"Bjorn, what are we going to do now?"

"… Let's go down to the first floor."

The Deadlands wasn't bad as a hunting ground.

But I had no intention of staying here with that crazy bitch wandering around. What if she changed her mind and came back?

"Is it… I get it."

Ainar, who looked exhausted, followed my instructions without asking any questions.

Mental care wasn't my specialty, but…

After all, if somebody is feeling so down, you have to say something.

When they look like their world is crumbling around them.

"Follow me."

Avoiding most of the avoidable battles, we moved along the markers.

About six hours passed since then.

We were finally able to return to the portal that led down to the first floor.

Thud–!

This time I landed fine, while Ainar rolled on the floor.

It was a very bad fall, too.

But she simply got up slowly, as if nothing had happened, without a single moan.

"… Doesn't it hurt?"

"It hurts."

"Then…"

"I'm no longer a warrior, so what is this pain worth?"

… The situation was much more serious than I'd thought.

Was it so disgraceful to swear an oath as if you were begging for your life?

Well, it had been so in the game.

"A-, Ainar…?"

"What is it?"

"The warrior who survives is the strongest. One defeat isn't the end of it all, it simply opens up the possibility of future victory!"

"It's hard to understand if you use so complicated words."

Although she intentionally spoke in a cheerful manner, Ainar's voice was still gloomy.

"However, I think I somehow understand what it means to be a strong surviving warrior."

"Is that so?"

"To overcome such humiliation and the urge to commit suicide every single moment, must mean that you are a strong warrior. Like you, Bjorn."

No, I didn't feel any of that though…?

Suicide? What are you, a samurai?

I didn't originally mean something like that.

But I was happy to just go with it.

"You can do it, Ainar."

"I don't know if I'll ever be able to get through this pain… I'll try."

"Yes, one day we will repay our disgrace."

With sincere mutual support, we resumed our walk. And after deciding to camp in a suitable place, I asked Ainar to sleep first.

"I'll wake you up in two hours."

"… I will repay you for your consideration."

My consideration…

She was half right and half wrong.

[07:39].

Going by the time, it was the morning of the third day.

I hadn't slept in over twenty hours.

Besides, after going through a lot of things, the mental fatigue is enormous.

But even if I'd closed my eyes, I wouldn't have been able to sleep for a long time anyway.

"…"

I wasn't being driven by extreme impulses like Ainar, but…

Because I, too, felt just as dirty.

Similar to the pain of drinking a potion.

No matter how many times you experience this kind of feeling, you never get used to it.

Crackle.

Last time, when I'd been saved by that blond's group, had also been similar to today.

The priest had looked into my eyes and refused to give treatment.

The swordsman had thrown the potion like a toy as if he didn't care about the waste.

Even having watched it all, I'd still taken the potion and gulped it down while lying prostrate like a dog.

Of course, I was happy to have survived, but…

Some indescribable emotions were rising within me.

"Whew…"

I let out a long breath, as if trying to brush off my own thoughts.

What the hell was I doing?

It wasn't like me to be swayed by emotions and to suffer from them.

Maybe it was time to slowly release them.

I closed my eyes and remembered the advice I'd been given by someone I'd admired as a child.

'Remember, you are nothing. You can never be special.'

A magic spell that always made me feel a little bit better.

Yes, let's use even this feeling as raw material.

As always –

That, would be a bit more efficient.

-x-X-x-

People grow.

In various different ways.

Perhaps by reading a book, or looking back on your past, or having an honest conversation with a friend for the first time, or having a dream you truly desire.

Or –

By envying someone else's good fortune, or witnessing someone else's misfortune, or realizing the degree of your lust for someone or something.

Any inspiration that comes from experience contributes to your growth.

The me of today is no exception.

Well, mental growth is probably just a small part of that, though.

"One shortbow, a pair of metal gaiters, three low-level potions, a dozen regular torches… What's this, a portrait? Family, maybe? Anyway, let's throw it away…"

Adding them all up, it's over 800,000 stones.

Sifting through the backpacks of the yellow-hair's party, I smile.

After all, this is how it's always been for me.

Going through some shit doesn't mean growth will inevitably follow.

But…

"With this, there'll be three more pieces of armour."

But growth will never come without going through some shit first.

Damn, now I'm starting to see what I should do next.

I'm walking through a cave.

With Ainar in tow.

"Bjorn, where are we going now?"

"South, to where the gnomes are."

After a total eight-hour break, four hours rest for each of us, Ainar has also cheered up a little bit.

But she's still far from her usual liveliness.

"Bjorn, we can go faster. You don't have to worry about me."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I… I want to become stronger. Even just one day, even just one hour earlier."

"Right."

It looks like I don't have to worry about Ainar anymore.

As long as you have a clear goal, dark emotions will only be your nourishment, not poison.

Hm, is the reverse also true?

"I think the same."

Halting in place, I look back on the steps I've taken so far.

The coming-of-age ceremony, entering the labyrinth, becoming night friends with Hans, Erwen, the Goblin Forest, 4:2 battle with the crossbow party, etc.

Thinking about it now, I didn't make any big mistakes.

I found and chose the best option in every given situation.

But…

In other words, it means I've only ever focused on escaping the trial at hand each time.

"Why did you stop all of a sudden?"

"No, let's keep going."

I do have excuses.

There was no tutorial or system log.

As soon as I opened my eyes, somebody got his head cut off before my eyes, and from then on, a procession of events that were too far removed from normal reality continued to unfold.

Therefore, I had no choice but to act as passively as possible, putting my safety first.

But is that all?

"Bjorn…? You don't look so good."

"Never mind."

Have I always chosen the best option?

Bullshit.

In the end, all I did was react.

How capable I am, to have taken the best course of action every time – after something had already happened!

If I really want to survive, I need to be more proactive in the future.

So I can make some different choices.

Didn't my uncle, a diehard gambling addict, also say so?

Instead of playing on a board made by others, throw the dice on a board you've made yourself.

Okay, time for a change of plans.

"Ainar, do you really want to become strong?"

When I suddenly stop again and ask, Ainar expresses her bewilderment.

"… What do you mean?"

"It's asking for commitment. There definitely is a way to become stronger. But it comes with risks. What will you do?"

High risk, high return.

How will she respond to this proposal?

After watching me for a moment, Ainar gulps, her eyes brightening.

"Of course, I'll do it. If we don't become strong, we'll all die anyway!"

Yes, that's true.

That's how the game had been set.

Ainar, who'd expressed her consent, shouts again.

"I am now a warrior!"

Weren't you one already?

Pfft.

Looking at that barbarian-like attitude that seems so inefficient, but sometimes becomes more efficient than anything else, I understand her a little bit better.

"So, how do I get stronger?"

The easy way is also the slow way.

There are so many things in this world that can only be called natural disasters.

No matter which path you take, you might fall into the abyss anytime, without warning.

And for me who's prone to living an interesting life, it could be much more frequent.

So…

"We'll enter a rift."

Offence is the best defence. Whoever strikes first has the advantage.

This time, I'm going to take the initiative and plunge into danger headfirst.

As someone famous had said –

The pain that doesn't kill me, will make me stronger.

"Oh! I see!"

Ainar heard my plan and exclaimed.

And then asked carefully.

"… But what's a rift?"

How could she be this ignorant despite being a native?

Couldn't she crack open some books once in a while?

Uhm… come to think of it, she still couldn't read the letters properly.

"Rift… In short, it's a labyrinth within the labyrinth."

I skipped over the finer details.

She wouldn't understand anyway even if I explained.

"A labyrinth within the labyrinth?"

"Right."

Should I say that [Dungeon & Stone] is like few games these days?

If I had to explain to another modern person, I would've used the phrase 'instant dungeon[1]'.

"On each floor, a portal can sometimes open at a random location. When you enter it, you see a new space, which is not on the second or third floors."

"Ah! Are you talking about the Frostlord's Palace?"

Apparently, she'd heard about it, at least.

The Frostlord's Palace is a space accessible from the rift on the eighth floor.

Now that I remembered, how much effort did I spend trying to get the Frostlord's essence…

"But is it possible with just the two of us? I heard that even the chieftain almost died when he ventured there in his youth."

"Right. We're on the first floor."

A total of four types of rifts can be opened from the first floor.

The difficulty is far, far easier compared to the rifts on the other floors.

By the standard of us two, I'd have to give them a challenge rating of maybe seven stars?

Of course, that was seven stars out of five.

"But how can we get into a place that appears randomly?"

"Don't worry. There's a way."

I was an old pro of nine years at the game, solidly into the ranks of the 'deceased'.

I'd found hundreds of hidden pieces in this brutal game.

"Bjorn, I will only trust you!"

Instead of heading further south, we turned east.

Originally, I'd wanted to hunt gnomes, kobolds, and stone golems on the second floor of the southern route, at the 'Blackrock Mountain'.

A stone golem's 'suppression' is painful, but as long as you prepare for it in advance, they don't have any other strategy.

However, who knew how long it'd take to reach the eighth floor if I kept playing it safe, and if I even would?

"You two barbarians. Are you looking for a night friend? With three of us, we can get more sleep –"

"Screw off."

"No, I was just asking –"

"I'm going to crack your skull open in three seconds."

As we crossed the first floor, some other people tried sticking to us besides the monsters, but they were all filtered out by Ainar.

… But did she really need to be that harsh?

"I hate humans more than idiots."

It seemed that Ainar had evolved beyond the level of mere distrust for humans and into a state of hatred.

Puff! Puff! Crunch!

We finally reached our destination after traveling for nearly twenty hours, smashing down the monsters that blocked our way.

The time was around 4 am.

I could once again feel how large the first floor was.

The fact that it took more than a day to get from the west end to the centre was enough to prove it, disregarding how treacherous and maze-like the paths were in the first floor that was designed like an anthill.

"Bjorn, isn't this the entrance to the first floor?"

Strictly speaking, the word "entrance" was ambiguous.

Most entrance points tended to favour one side, either north or south.

First of all, there was no light here, right?

Crrrackle!

Holding a burning torch, one of the regular ones I'd looted from the yellow-hair's party, we entered the dark zone.

How long was it after that?

「You hunted a gnome. EXP +1」

「You hunted a blade wolf. EXP +1」

After completing our eighth battle, Ainar exclaimed in wonder as if it were a miracle.

"All four types of monsters appear here! I never knew there was such a place at the centre of the first floor."

This was common knowledge for most adventurers, but this was not a place they usually visited.

By analogy, was it perhaps comparable to a convergence point where warm and cold oceanic currents met?

In the zone where we now stood, blade wolves from the east, ghouls from the west, gnomes from the south and goblins from the north all appeared.

But…

"It's strangely empty."

This area was not popular with the adventurers.

For a simple reason.

Even if all four types of monsters appeared, that only increased the challenge and the risk.

It wasn't like the monsters were any less in number.

'In addition, the most fatal disadvantage is the bad price-to-performance ratio, because you have to spend money on torches.'

In fact, no one came here except for those who crossed it to save on travel time.

But old experts like me, liked this kind of place.

Wasn't it suspicious?

It was a natural fit for hiding stuff from the game producer's point of view.

"But, why are we here?"

"Wait a bit. It'll come out soon."

After an hour of wandering around in the dark, changing directions again and again.

Eventually I got to where I wanted to be.

"Come on, we're here."

An opening about 30m in radius.

In the middle of that open space, uncommon on this first floor which was structured like a maze-filled anthill, stood a monument.

"… What is that?"

"A monument. To honour the first discoverer of this labyrinth."

I cautiously approached, and read the inscription at the bottom.

[In commemoration of that great first step taken by the last of the great sages, Diplan Groundel Gabrilius].

The content of the text was the same as it'd been in the game.

In other words, it was highly likely that this place was the same as the 'hidden piece' I'd found in the game.

"Ainar, what happens next is a secret. Do you understand?"

"I get it."

"It needs to be an oath, not just words. If this news spreads, we may both be in danger."

"… I will swear on my honour as a warrior."

"Thank you."

I slowly loosened the pouch on my waist.

Goblin, gnome, ghoul, and blade wolf.

Mana stones of the four types of monsters that appeared on the first floor, as well as the mana stone of a deathfiend, a level eight monster.

I started placing them all in front of the great sage's monument.

"It'll start soon."

All the preparations for forcibly opening the rift were in place.

The instance dungeons[2] of [Dungeon and Stone] –

Or rather, the rifts, have cooldowns.

Take the first floor as an example. It takes at least three cycles, three months in city time, for a 'rift' to reopen.

Of course, it's rare for a rift to reopen immediately after three months, and most times a rift opens randomly every five to six cycles.

The maximum, maybe eight cycles? Something like that.

"…"

Keep in mind, this is all a result of my own investigation.

When I'd been working hard to get the Frostlord's essence, I'd needed to know more about 'rifts'.

It isn't efficient to just wander around waiting for the rift to open, after all.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No."

Shaking off my old memories, I place the deathfiend's mana stone in my hand in front of the monument.

If the 'rift' had opened within the last three cycles, that is, if it's still in cooldown, there will be no response…

Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrumble!

Before long, the mana stones I'd put down disappear in a flash of light, and the monument starts shaking.

It's really happening.

Boom!

The vibrations intensify, and a black portal opens in front of us.

"Let's go in."

"Uh, um. I get it!"

I hurriedly throw myself into it, with Ainar close behind.

Hey, the team might get filled up in the next ten seconds.

「The character has entered a rift on the first floor.」

I look around and check our surroundings while Ainar collects herself from where she'd hit the ground, ass-first.

A red sky that seems to herald the end of the world.

A murder of crows flying overhead, and a black fortress looming forebodingly in the distance.

Needless to say, this is one of the four rift types on the first floor, the 'Blood Citadel'.

Since the eighth-grade mana stone I'd offered as a sacrifice belonged to deathfiend, it's only natural.

Whoosh!

After we wait for a while, another portal opens in the air and spits a person out.

This is the decisive reason why I'd planned to delay coming here until later, even though I knew not only how to definitively open the 'rift', but also the optimal strategy to conquer it.

Because I'm more afraid of adventurers than monsters.

"Heh heh heh! I finally managed to get in!"

Wouldn't it be nice to have a five-man team with guaranteed confidentiality?

If you enter this way, you must clear the rift with some random adventurers who enter on a first-come, first-served basis.

In gaming terms, auto-matching.

Feeling a bit nervous, I check out our first team member.

"Ooh! It's reassuring to have two barbarians! Lucky! My name is Hikurod Murad! As you can see, I'm a dwarf, hahahaha!!"

A chatterbox dwarf.

No matter how skilled he might be, it doesn't look bad.

With a little luck, maybe the rest would also be like this…

Pfft.

Or am I getting too big for my britches again?

Fuck, just come, whoever you are.

I'm not going to hold on to any hopes or expectations.

「A new colleague has joined your journey. 」

Two more team members are added soon after.

Editor's Notes:

[1] 인스턴트 던전 (instant dungeon). This is different from 인스턴스 던전 (instance dungeon). The former is shared across all users whereas the latter spawns different instances of a dungeon for different sets of users. Shared vs sharded universe, writ small. The labyrinth here is the former, rifts apparently the latter.

[2] 인던 (indun) is a short form for instance dungeons.

-x-X-x-

Daria Wittember di Tersia.

As an adventurer in her fifth year, she was currently wandering around the first floor's Crystal Cave.

With her younger sister in tow.

"Erwen, you used a spirit again."

"Ah, big sis, it's too hard with just my dagger…"

"I told you. Even if you don't have a bow or you can't use a spirit, you have to be able to protect yourself."

"No, I understand that…"

"Stop doing it, if you keep walking around and practicing like this, you'll get better."

Tersia had taken Erwen to wander around the first floor to give her harsh training.

It was all for the sake of her younger sister.

And yet her sister didn't even seem to understand that.

But as time went on, she was obviously flagging more and more.

"Ah, uncle said that it's better to specialize in what you're good at…"

"… What?"

"Believe in your team and do your best in what you can do. Th-, that's the basics of being an adventurer… um."

Tersia, who'd been listening with a blank expression, was speechless.

This was far too simplistic.

Wouldn't it have been nice if that was how this world worked?

"Erwen, teammates are just teammates. Don't put too much value in them."

Tersia herself had gone through many teams.

From the exploration team on the sixth floor she'd belonged to for a while, to a hunting team which had aimed only for certain profitable monsters, as well as a speed-running team which had aimed for the achievement of being the first to open a portal.

She'd experienced a lot of things while traveling with numerous people. Among them, there were several that she never wanted to share with Erwen.

Teammates fundamentally couldn't be trusted.

Unless they were your blood kin, of the same family.

"I see…"

Seeing Tersia's hard expression, Erwen chose to shut up.

Time passed like that, and soon it was the fourth day.

Crossing the first floor clockwise, Erwen had grown enough to defeat all the monsters with just her dagger.

In the process, her level had also naturally gone up.

"Sister, what about now? My level rose, can't I just go to the second floor now? Uncle must've already made a lot of money on the second floor by now… "

Tersia laughed as if she was hearing something cute.

What was the big deal about hunting a few more monsters on the second floor?

"Erwen, the rift will open soon."

Rift.

A place where even mid-level adventurers with several years' worth of experience would never be able to enter without a lot of luck.

Erwen tilted her head.

"How do you know that, sis?"

"Because the last time a rift opened on the first floor was eight months ago."

Tersia was kind enough to explain in detail to her younger sister.

Since today was the fourth day, statistically speaking, the rift had no choice but to open in the next three days.

"I see… Uncle never talked about that."

Naturally.

Erwen sang 'uncle, uncle' every time, but he was still just a rookie in the end.

From the point of view of a veteran, going up to the next floor so recklessly and acclimating to killing monsters via trial and error, was the very peak of inefficiency.

"Erwen, don't be impatient and trust your big sister. Give it just a year, and you'll have outstripped that barbarian by a huge margin."

Sometimes the slow way is the fastest way.

"Yes… Then I'll be able to help him!"

"Ah, is that so."

Tersia nodded her head a bit strangely.

It was unknown whether the barbarian would still be alive or not, and even if he were, it'd be fine to dissuade her at that time.

At least, she wished her sister could preserve this innocence.

While she was thinking that –

Rrrrrrrrumbllllllle!

As if there was an earthquake, the labyrinth began to shake.

A phenomenon that occurred whenever a rift opened.

"Erwen!"

Tersia grabbed Erwen's hand and ran down the passage at full speed. And soon she found a portal, rippling unsteadily.

A rift.

There had to have been thousands of such portals all over the first floor by now.

Now, it was a battle where every single second counted.

Whoosh!

Tersia and Erwen were about to crash through the portal.

But at that moment –

Boom–

The portal winked out.

Thump.

Tersia, who could only sail through the air and land on the bare ground, clicked her tongue as if it was a pity.

"… We were one step late."

They didn't go in at the same time, but if she'd quickly pushed in just her younger sister, Erwen might have been able to enter.

However…

"… There'll be other chances."

It couldn't be helped.

What if her younger sister went into the rift alone and died without Tersia there to protect her?

"Erwen, let's go up to the second floor."

Again, sometimes the slow road was the fastest.

Equivalent exchange (等價交換).

I really liked this phrase.

But sadly, the was not the law that governed this world.

Just look at how I met that psychopathic bitch.

I managed to somehow barely survive, but didn't gain anything in return.

'No, rather, I had to run away from the Deadlands and wasted more time.'

But it was different this time.

This time I myself made this choice.

So, there would definitely be a commensurate price to pay.

Well, maybe.

Thud.

The other two who got auto-matched as our team members looked like a pair of human man and woman, making me raise my guard.

The man who landed with a heavy sound had no special characteristics…

The woman was different.

Step.

As if defying the effect of gravity, the woman slowly fell to a gentle landing.

Even the talkative dwarf could only gape at this sight, unable to hide his surprise.

I was the same, too.

"To think I'll see a wizard here."

Wizard.

The strongest job in [Dungeon and Stone], in name and in reality, one who'd be treated respectfully wherever they went just because of their status.

"Bjorn, are wizards so great? The librarian was also a wizard!"

At Ainar's question, the female wizard frowned as if in displeasure.

I spoke up quickly before things got any worse.

"The librarian is a level nine wizard."

"Is she different?"

She was.

By a lot.

Unlike those upper-class workers in guilds, public institutions, or workshops, this woman here could be said to be a true wizard.

The fact that she was able to enter the labyrinth was proof of that.

Wizards were an important strategic resource for Rafdonia, so if one couldn't prove their skills, they wouldn't be able to enter the labyrinth.

"I see!"

"Yes, that's correct. You have a lot of knowledge for a barbarian."

As I gave a clear explanation, the female wizard joined our conversation with a calm voice.

Seeing that satisfied smile on her lips, I could guess her personality.

"Greetings. I am Arua Raven, a level six wizard. This is the professional porter I've hired. His name… what was it again?"

"I am called Tarzine, Mistress Raven."

So these two people were in one group.

Anyway, it wasn't too bad.

She didn't give off the feeling that she was looking down on other people, which was already the limit of open-mindedness one could expect from a wizard.

The game had been filled with wizards who were mostly shitheads.

"May I ask you to introduce yourselves, too?"

"Hikurod Murad. Although it's a short journey, I hope we get along, Miss Raven."

"How experienced are you, Mr. Murad?"

"It's my third year."

A third-year adventurer…

Each of his pieces of equipment looked pretty good.

"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel."

After briefly mentioning my name, I asked straight-forwardly.

"No matter how one looks at it, there don't seem to be any reason for any of you to be active on the first floor. How did you reach the rift?"

Adventurers active on the first floor were mostly poor wretches without proper equipment.

So, I'd expected having to suffer quite a lot to clear the rift.

But getting matched with a third-year dwarf and a level six wizard?

At this point, I couldn't just rejoice at my good fortune, since this much of a coincidence had to be questioned.

"I can't explain the details, but I'd heard that the rift would open this cycle."

"So did I."

Preserving the information advantage, huh?[1]

As if they'd made the same promises, Raven and the dwarf both kept silent about the method.

Of course, it didn't mean much.

Because I now had a guess as to how it'd been inferred.

"I am Ainar, Penelin's second daughter."

As soon as everyone's introductions were finished, Raven took the lead in the conversation.

"The loot will be divided according to the number of people, minus Mr. Tarzine here. Can you all follow my instructions in return?"

"No objection. It's common sense to follow the wizard's instructions in the labyrinth."

"Thank you for saying so."

When the dwarf expressed his consent first, Raven's gaze turned to the two of us.

I couldn't worry for too long.

As long as there was a wizard in the team, there was nothing good about drawing attention.

Because it'd been the wizards who'd persuaded the royal family to recognize the existence of the 'evil spirits' first, and announce them as marked for annihilation.

Fuck…

Clearing the rift was no longer the issue.

"I agree."

Let's just go half and half.

Earlier, she'd broad-mindedly admired me for being knowledgeable for a barbarian, but who knew when that gaze might turn suspicious?

"I refuse."

Eh?

People's eyes converged on Ainar who'd been the source of that stubborn voice.

"I don't know what's so great about wizards. I wish Bjorn would lead us."

No, I already agreed, why are you doing this?

I wanted to shut her mouth right now, but if I did that, it'd look even more suspicious.

Soon the wizard asked cautiously.

"If it's Bjorn… You're talking about this barbarian, right?"

"Yes. Bjorn is no ordinary barbarian!"

"Not an ordinary barbarian?"

"Bjorn is the wisest warrior ever. He reads books at the library for six hours a day every day."

"Hmm, you are definitely an unusual person."

"He's not unusual, he's great! I've never seen a barbarian as smart as Bjorn!"

Fuck…

Please stop…

Everyone looked at me strangely at Ainar's praise, but it was just that.

They seemed to only chalk it up to us being barbarians.

At least till now.

"Still, it's a majority vote, so there's nothing you can do about it. Ha ha ha!"

"What's a majority vote, why can't anything be done about it!"

"Um…"

Sensing the atmosphere again turning confrontational, I calmed Ainar down.

But who knew why she was so upset, that Ainar grimaced in dissatisfaction?

"But! Bjorn, aren't you a better choice than that wizard!"

Could it be that those words, 'for a barbarian', had offended her to the core?

I wasn't sure, but thankfully I'd made her swear an 'oath' in advance.

Otherwise, the secret about the dimensional instability as well as the fact that I'd been the one to open the rift, might've gotten exposed here.

"It's a blessing to have your wife's respect. I envy you, Barbarian! Ha ha ha!"

"Oh, what wife! We aren't like that!"

"Ha ha ha! There is no need to be ashamed!"

"Eek! I, I'm not ashamed!!"

Anyway, thanks to the talkative dwarf, Ainar's aggro was drawn elsewhere.

I too was relieved, and looked at Raven's expression.

Contrary to what I'd been worried about, she wasn't particularly interested in me.

"Hmm, it's a barrier that won't let you go outside. Interesting. If the dimension has been severed, how are we seeing the other side with our own eyes?"

Should I call it a wizard's passion for learning?

Seeing her muttering by herself and scribbling in her notebook, she seemed to be curious about the principle of this barrier that was preventing us from leaving the map…

I hoped that interest wouldn't focus towards me until the moment we parted.

"Why don't we all stop here and start slowly? I have a lot of research to do, and a lot of samples to get."

"Are you leaving? We still only know each other's names… "

At Raven's words, the dwarf tilted his head.

I too had a similar feeling.

Every team needs to know what each other's abilities are and what they can do.

No matter how impatient a team might be, sharing the core essence is the fundamentals of team play.

However, Raven waved that off as an unnecessary act.

"Is there any reason for that? All of the monsters from the Blood Citadel are level seven or lower."

A voice full of absolute confidence.

The dwarf also showed a slightly uncomfortable expression, but didn't get the chance to say anything out loud.

Because she continued talking.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. I'll keep the loot from the guardians. There're some studies I need to do."

What kind of an ignorant bitch was this?

Haah, in the end, she was a wizard alright.

'Shit.'

Just as expected.

Things were about to take a turn for the dogshit worst.

Editor's Notes:

[1] 사다리 걷어차 (lit. kicking the ladder). Somebody (the rich, the state apparatus, anybody advantaged in some way) climb up a ladder and then kick it down so nobody can follow them up. No literal translation came to mind, however. See Namu Wiki.

-x-X-x-

'Infighting' is a common occurrence whenever you play [Dungeon and Stone].

And the cause behind that 'infighting', hundred times out of a hundred, is 'money'.

Research may be the top priority for an economically affluent wizard, but the reason adventurers enter the labyrinth is to make money.

But now this wizard bitch has just poked at that sore spot.

"Are you going to take all the loot from the guardian?"

The dwarf no longer has the kind smile from earlier.

His voice sinks, and the eyes exposed through the thick fur of his helmet gleam with a dangerous sharpness.

"Do I look like a doormat?"

The air freezes in an instant.

And everybody feels it, too.

Creak.

The human man touches the hilt of his sword.

He's probably not just some porter, either.

It's Raven who finally breaks the heavy silence.

"… Instead, I will give you all the magic stones that come out of the rift."

"You're telling me to pick up and eat the leftover garbage."

"… Don't you think this is a reasonable calculation? I'm not just saying things groundlessly."

She tries to hide it, but Raven's expression of embarrassment is evident.

She hadn't expected such a hostile reaction…

She might be unexpectedly innocent.

Of course, she should've expected it.

The drops from the guardian are nothing less than the best and the most essential loot from the rift.

Among them, 'numbered items' must be like incomparable treasures to a dwarf.

"I won't let any numbered items go."

"… Fine. In return, I'll take the essence of the guardian. And please acknowledge my ownership of any other discoveries that make use of my knowledge."

"Good. Then, the rift stones will be divided equally between the two of us by rolling the dice."

Hurray. What's that bullshit about fairness, again?

These two don't even care about me and Ainar, and have already started fighting for their own interests.

My head throbs from just looking at the scene.

Even the thought that it might've been better to pass the rift with first-floor rookies, crosses my mind.

Whereas now, we'll at best be able to pick up some crumbs after the plate has already been picked clean.

It's such a shame that I don't have the strength to change the outcome.

"Bjorn."

"I know what you're thinking, but for now, be quiet."

"I get it."

What I have to do is becoming clearer.

I have to become strong.

So that it doesn't matter if these dogs high up try to kick away the ladder, I can still climb all the way up.

Only then can I protect my own rights like they're doing.

Of course, that shouldn't be a reason to concede today.

"Wait a moment."

"…?"

When I open my mouth, the attention of the two conversing with a softer atmosphere than before, gather on me.

"You can take the essences and numbered items. But we will have the rift stone."

"You're being greedy."

"Do you think a couple of barbarians are worth so much?"

Their eyes are very sharp.

Fuck, and here they were smiling so kindly just now when we first met.

Yeah, alright, I was just testing the waters.

"Fine, we'll give up on the rift stone. Instead, give us priority to up to two essences other than the guardian's."

"Alright. That much is fine."

"I agree."

As expected, Raven and the dwarf readily accede to my request.

This must've been their line in the sand.

At their level, essences other than from the guardian wouldn't have much attraction anyhow.

"Then shall we go?"

"Sure. My body is already sore from standing still for so long. Yeah! Ha ha ha ha!"

Once the haggling's over, the wizard bitch and the dwarf change back to how they were acting before, and smile cheerfully.

Adventurer bastards sure are scary.

How long had it been since we'd started climbing the mountain road towards the distant fortress that peeked between the ridges?

At the entrance to the fortress, we encountered two sculptures of demons with wings.

"Gargoyle statues."

Level eight monster, gargoyle statue.

It's usually quiet, but once an enemy comes into view, it turns into a tricky monster that starts off with 'petrification'.

A general strategy would be to sacrifice one member to take the hit from 'petrification', and the rest of the team then breaks the gargoyle statue to release the curse…

But we now had a wizard in our team.

"Kyaaaaah–!"

As the three of us including the dwarf neared it, the gargoyles opened their eyes and spread their wings.

My lower body turned to stone in an instant, but it didn't last long.

"Artena viar."

Raven recited the 'curse removal' spell, and the battle began in earnest.

Ainar and I took on one, and the dwarf took on the other.

Clang!

The pint-sized dwarf swung his hammer like a madman and smashed both the legs of his opponent.

And once the gargoyle fell to the floor helplessly, he smashed its head with his hammer as if he'd been waiting for it.

Was that the dwarf's style?

To be honest, it was quite manly to start from the bottom and go up.

It was pretty plain, though.

"You guys are pretty good too!"

There wasn't much difference between us in the time it took to destroy the gargoyle statues.

We, too, were confident in melee combat.

「You have defeated a gargoyle. EXP +2」

The two gargoyles turned into light and disappeared, dropping magic stones, but there was no need to pick them up.

They floated upwards on their own, and shot into a huge burlap bag.

"I'll save the magic stones for now and distribute them afterwards."

"Thank you for doing that! Ha ha ha!"

The dwarf didn't seem worried about the wizard stealing the magic stones or anything.

Seriously, there was no way a wizard would be hung up on such a small amount of money.

"Then let's go!"

The dwarf smashed through the old wooden door with his hammer.

Was this the start of the real dungeon?

A strange feeling was welling up inside me as I followed him inside.

"I'm going to need some light."

"Right."

A sphere of light floated above Raven's hand, illuminating the dark area.

This space we had just entered was the outer checkpoint.

A place for performing various administrative tasks, such as checking the luggage of the wagons coming and going, and verifying the identity of the passers-by before they entered the castle.

"Grrrrrrrr."

As if awoken by the light and the noise, rotten corpses began to rise up from the holes on the wall or from under the scattered furnitures.

"Deadmen."

Deadman.

An unranked monster that doesn't even spit out mana stones, let alone experience.

Even their bodies don't disappear after death.

Except when they drop an essence.

"They just bite and scratch as far as their attack goes, so I'll save my magic."

There was no magical help, but it nevertheless didn't take long for us to clean up the whole room.

"Could Murad and Yandel please handle things over there while I open this door?"

"I'll take care of it in a jiffy! Ha ha ha!"

As I followed the dwarf to the second floor, a space like a shared bedroom appeared.

As before, there were about ten deadmen, but since the space was larger than the first floor had been, the fight was easier.

Puff! Puff!

We cleared up the second floor in an instant and climbed the ladder to the roof to reach the third floor, without much conversation.

Waiting there for us were a dozen deadman soldiers wearing rusty armour, as well as a deadman commander with a slightly larger stature than the rest.

Calling him the first boss was a bit much…

Rather, he was an enemy that had to be beaten in order to progress further.

"It's a bit bigger, but it's not that different from any other deadman, so let's just get rid of it! Ha ha ha!"

Once again, we quickly cleaned up the surroundings, and riffled through the deadman commander's clothes to pick up a horn.

When we went back down to the first floor, the iron door on the other side had already opened.

"It's very reassuring to have a wizard with us."

With light coming in from both directions, the room without a single window now became quite bright, but it was meaningless.

All the work to be done at the outer checkpoint was finished.

Now it was time to cross the 50m long bridge across the moat and reach the castle.

"Be careful of where you step, Mistress Raven."

"Ah, thank you."

The bridge ended in the middle, about 20m away from the gate.

It hadn't broken down with the years.

This was its original design. The other side of the bridge was hinged at the end and was raised at an angle. A drawbridge, that had to be lowered for people to pass.

Ppuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

When we blew the horn we'd obtained earlier, the drawbridge began to descend with the rattle of chains.

Of course, things weren't that simple…

「The water magic circle that has slumbered for a long time activates.」

"Bjorn! Water is rising from below!"

The moat surrounding the castle began to fill up.

Water began to rise from the furrows that had been dug around the fortress walls to prevent enemy invasion.

Or rather – it wasn't water, but dark, crimson blood.

This was why this place was called the 'Blood Citadel'.

The sky was red and so was the earth.

But there was something else that added to this apocalyptic scenery.

"Bjorn! Hands! Over there, you can see hands over the water's surface!"

"Don't be nervous, they're just deadmen."

"Hey, who's nervous?"

As soon as blood rose to touch the bottom of the bridge, the deadmen who'd been struggling in the water, climbed up.

The drawbridge had not yet come down by even a fifth.

The concept of this part was simple.

– Hold on until the drawbridge comes down.

If it were a game, this message would've come out.

"Grrrrrr."

Nobody gave any specific instructions, but everyone knew how to respond – either by pushing the deadmen back down to the water or by knocking them down with a weapon.

Puff! Puff! Crunch–!

Although they were just deadmen, mere unranked monsters, they were quite a difficult opponent here on the bridge.

If you fell down, it was game over.

"It's all done."

After about a minute, Raven completed her magic spell.

"Uterna dart!"

If I were to translate the words directly, it'd be something like 'blade storm'.

A strong gust of wind spread around us, in a dense formation, and mulched the deadmen in an instant like a blender.

Brrrrrrrrr.

The dwarf groaned as he looked at his legs which were stained with bits from the deadman corpses.

"… That's great."

"It was just a few deadmen. "

Contrary to her humble words, Raven's eyes were full of pride.

But I didn't at all feel that she was being arrogant.

This wasn't an area that could be passed so easily without a wizard's AoE spells.

After that, we kept crushing the deadmen who occasionally climbed up to the bridge, and the drawbridge, which had been slowly descending, finally came into contact with the bridge.

Clang!

The first chapter of the Blood Citadel was over.

It'd been ridiculously easy so far.

Now that we'd crossed the drawbridge, three more chapters remained.

The urban battle in the outer fortress.

The dungeon in the inner inner fortress.

The demonic worship room inside the lord's castle.

"This is interesting."

Raven, entering the castle, looked at the ruins with shining eyes.

As if she was looking at a heap of treasures.

"Smithies, taverns, inns, churches, stables used by merchants… Most of these debris appear to be public facilities."

The dwarf grinned.

"Is that so surprising, Miss Raven?"

"Of course. Neither the mountain road we climbed nor the castle has any farmland or dwellings. Meaning there were no farmers. Aren't you curious? How could people survive in a fortified city built in such a remote mountain area?"

"Didn't they have an alchemist in this dimension as well? He could've changed mana stones to bread like we do. Haha."

"… Yes, that is the most popular hypothesis among the scholars."

"Ha ha! Is that so? Even the learned people seem to think the same way as me!"

"But, Mr. Murad, that's not the only thing that's interesting. Whether it's the long drawbridge or the high walls, this citadel is built very practically. Who was their enemy?"

Even the dwarf, who was amiable at first, became fed up with the lengthy conversation and retreated.

"I don't understand why you're asking such a thing. After all, isn't it all a created space?"

"It's a created space, well, people who haven't really learned dimensional theory might think so –"

"Stop it, Miss Raven. Monsters incoming."

As we were passing through towards the inner fortress, monsters began appearing before long.

From deadmen to skeleton archers and mages, ghouls, and even a level eight deathfiend.

The level of the creatures wasn't much different from the Deadlands, but there was a big difference in scale.

Each group included at least several dozens.

"Everyone, gather by my side."

Moreover, if you deal with one group, another group might hear the sound of fighting and rush in.

Within a minute of encountering the first group, hundreds of monsters surrounded the area.

But at that moment –

The 'blade storm' we'd seen earlier swept through the surroundings again.

Sssshhhhhhhhhhh–!

Unlike a magic spell from some western educational institution[1], it couldn't transform everything in its path like before.

Some ghouls survived with only a severed limb, not to mention the deathfiend, which was the epitome of physical defence and natural regeneration.

But…

"Please take care of the remaining monsters."

The deadmen and the skeletons, that had accounted for more than 90% of the whole group, had been swept away.

"Ainar!!"

I shouted out loud, and Ainar ran with me.

The target was a deathfiend.

How to hunt…

There was no need to explain.

One glance at each other was enough.

"Behel-raaaaaaaa!!"

We'd been in hundreds of fights together by this point, and now we hardly ever made any mistakes.

Technique, (true) double barbarian tackle.

Thud!

The dwarf was amazed to see us grab both of the deathfiend's legs, topple it to the floor, then smash its head.

"… Is that how you normally hunt?"

His eyes were filled with some kind of question, like, 'what kind of savages are these people?'

"Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing. Very, very exciting, as expected from barbarians! Ha ha ha!"

I didn't have anything to be ashamed of, but it was a little ridiculous.

His fighting style wasn't particularly elegant or sophisticated either, after all.

"Raviod eheltun."

There were only seven deathfiends left, but when Raven cast the 'curse of exacerbating wounds', it became even easier to hunt them.

A deathfiend, once its passive 'preservation of the flesh' is sealed, isn't such a tricky monster to handle.

"I think I can see why everyone thinks wizards are great…"

Did she really feel the value of a wizard in just two battles?

Ainar was muttering in a frustrated tone.

Raven didn't respond at all, but when I took a peek, I could see her lips twitching.

She was apparently weak to praise.

The dwarf also added a sentence.

"Ha ha! Obviously, having a wizard changes the scope of what you can do."

I also agreed.

If we'd tried to conquer the 'Blood Citadel' with a party of just five rookies, this kind of a head-to-head battle wouldn't have been possible.

Perhaps it would've taken tens of times longer, since we would've had to whittle down the number of monsters starting from the fringes.

"Hmm, well… that's why I study so hard. Of course, you also need talent."

Raven wiggled a little bit at the successive compliments.

Slowly, her character was becoming clearer.

A gifted wizard girl who pretended to be humble but loved to show off, and was passionate about magic and research.

I was starting to get a handle on how to deal with her.

"Then I'm going to go around for a while and get some research data. If it's okay with you, could you all please help?"

"Thanks to Miss Raven, we finished with plenty of time left, so of course I should help. Ha ha ha!"

"Thank you."

Afterwards, we scoured the ruins of the city, collecting antiques, books, soil, metal, and the flesh and bones of the deadmen.

"Thanks to all of you, I finished early. Then let's move on to the next one!"

I was stunned for a moment.

Eh? Wait, what do you mean, finished?

You beat all the monsters, you searched all around, so why not take 'that' too?

"What are you doing there! Not coming?"

… Could it be that none of them knew about it?

The easy loot that dropped when you broke the fountain statue?

Editor's Notes:

[1] At a guess, this is a reference to Harry Potter.