My head is blank, and my vision, blurry.
Does it hurt? There's no need to ask.
It feels as if my whole body has been shredded, and now being pickled in brine.
I want to put it all down right now and rest, but…
'Like hell I will.'
Kick away all the weaknesses from your heart.
A man must choose when he arrives at a crossroads.
What will you give up? What can you keep in return?
Snikt!
Something sharp pierces my thigh.
It's fine.
That's not an area where an injury would threaten my life, not now.
But maybe 'he' gets frustrated seeing the prey still stnading no matter how many times he's torn apart?
"Kyaaaah!"
The vampire bastard's movements become more and more vicious.
But I still have miles to go before I can sleep.
Lifting my shield that has been crumpled and torn in half, now much smaller in size, I keep protecting only my vital points.
Screech!
The shield, unable to withstand the attack of a level five monster, gets completely torn off, leaving only the handle behind.
Dropping it to the ground, I raise my arms to protect my head, without conscious thought.
At that moment –
Clink!
Something that's definitely not a fingernail hits the back of my head and shatters into sharp shards.
「The essence of the corpse golem seeps into the character's soul.」
The pain fades in an instant.
「Pain Tolerance +70」
A new vitality swells up from inside the body that had already reached its limit.
「Strength +15」
My vision clears.
The first scene I see is that of the vampire's sharp claws, swinging at my arms wrapped around my head.
Unconsciously, I imagine my arms being cut off next…
But what actually happens is completely different.
Scratch!
The nails pierce the soft flesh like butter.
But that's all.
Crack!
The nails are blocked by my bones, and cannot go any deeper.
Then I realize –
What is the identity of this mysterious power?
「Skeletal Density +55」
「Poison Resistance +12」
「Cognition -5」
「Appetite +9」
「Weight +21」
「Passive Skill [acidic bodily fluids] causes the character's blood to turn acidic…」
Relief and regret flood in at the same time.
'So I ate the corpse golem essence in the end…'
Because of this, my growth plan now has to undergo a huge revision.
But, um, from a very short-term point of view…
This is great.
My chance of survival has risen.
Thump!
I drop to the floor and roll, before jumping back up.
Is this the effect of pain tolerance?
Since the problem of pain is resolved to some extent, there's nothing stopping me from moving.
'But what about the essence of the guardian? Since I ate the essence of the corpse golem, is our deal now invalid?'
Such thoughts suddenly cross my mind, but I throw them away.
This is something to think about later.
"Kyaaaah!"
Perhaps he finds the sudden liveliness of the prey very strange, because the vampire rushes in enthusiastically.
My body moves instinctively to avoid it, but what happens next isn't much different from before.
To be honest, something like suddenly overwhelming a grade five monster after eating a grade seven essence is impossible.
All that changes is that the meat shield, which was being beaten while lying down, can now stand up and move.
'So that's the only difference, huh?'
I can only laugh out loud at my own self-evaluation.
Snikt! Scratch! Crack!
Nails cut through my flesh, tearing my intestines apart.
The potion I'd swallowed into the stomach in advance has already been digested, so my regeneration rate is slow.
But it doesn't matter.
The wizard, who'd been passive so far, has realized that her life is in danger, and starts pouring out her fortune.
Clink!
Another glass bottle flows in and shatters, pouring its contents over my body.
「The body regenerates rapidly due to the recovery (high) effect.」
A high-level potion?
Just from how it hurts, I can tell that it's got better effects than what the blond guy had fed me.
Screech!
Really, my wounds begin closing far faster than before.
I take the initiative and rush at my opponent.
So what if my flesh is shredded and my muscles torn?
It'll all get better in a few seconds anyway.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghhh!!!"
I roar loudly enough to drown out the vampire's scream, and enter extreme close-range combat.
There's no other choice.
My hammer is far away, and my shield has turned into a pile of scrap metal.
"Kya, kayak?!"
Perhaps he'd never met any adventurers who used wrestling techniques, because he's quite confused when I stick to his back like a cicada and clinch his neck.
Erm, or maybe he's just annoyed, not confused?
"Kyaaaah!"
Smoke gushes out from each place where our flesh comes into contact.
Screeech!
It's impossible to tell for certain whether the smoke comes from the acid in my blood coming into contact with him, or if it's just from the potion healing my body…
It doesn't matter.
'Might even be a mix of both.'
Even in such a situation, another bottle of potion comes flying and crashes against my skin.
「The body regenerates rapidly due to the recovery (high) effect.」
Ah, so the potion's different from the acid.
As the potion scatters over us, the vampire I have in a chokehold screams even louder and flings me away like a fly.
The overwhelming difference in strength between our forms is apparent.
But…
"Fuck, this is no big deal, you bastard."
Slowly, the path begins to appear.
In my current state, that is, in this barbarian: immortality mode, I can survive a few minutes against this piece of shit.
I'm confident.
"Bjorn! I'll help!"
Even Ainar rejoins the battlefield.
"What about Murad?"
"The porter is looking after him!"
Ainar's addition is even more positive for us.
I take the role of the main tank by chugging down potions, and whenever there's a little danger, Ainar swings her sword so I can take a moment to catch my breath.
The battle's definitely gotten easier.
"Kyaaaah!"
"Ainar! Avoid! Soon the crows will come flying!"
The moment Ainar takes a big step backwards at my shout –
The vampire's body dissolves into hundreds of crows. But they can't reach us, who've already started moving in advance.
"Bjorn really is great! How did you know this was coming?"
Because he always frowns with one eye before using this.
Rather than a racial characteristic of all vampires, it feels like a habit of this particular individual.
Things seem to be coming to an end.
"I'm ashamed! You all endured very well! Ha ha ha ha!"
Soon, the dwarf, his wounds healed with a potion, joins the battlefield again.
Even the porter comes along.
"From now on, I'll help."
"We'll assist you from the side!"
Apparently, the main tank role has become something I would 'naturally' continue to perform.
It doesn't even feel like they're trying to make me sacrifice myself.
It seems that they really think this would be more efficient. The third-year dwarf warrior thus encourages the second-month barbarian.
"Great Warrior Bjorn, son of Yandel! You're good enough to handle it! Ha ha ha!"
It seems to be a compliment, but…
'It means I have to work like a dog till the end.'
Why am I the only one who never gets an easy ride anywhere? No, why is my life like this?
But now's not the time to bitch about it.
"Behel-raaaaaaa!"
As the four of us keep dealing with the vampire with myself at the core of the formation, the turning point we'd been waiting for so long finally arrives.
[It's done.]
If that means 'I'm done', 'I've finished recovering my magic', 'I've finished chanting the 'sunspot sphere', too', and 'I've even completed the 'attribute enhancement''…
Then I'd say that everything is now ready.
In other words, it's time to end this long dogfight and go outside.
[I can cast any time.]
The moment I hear the confirmation, I roar –
"Murad! Now! 'Lightning ejection'!"
An instruction without a single aside, let alone any explanation.
However, the dwarf immediately carries it out without any backtalk.
Crackle, crackle!
A yellow glow shimmers on the dwarf's hammer, and sparks begin to fly.
「Hikurod Murad has cast [lightning].」
The ability of the seventh-grade monster, 'elatrek'.
The effect is to allow a strong current to flow through a part of your body.
The dwarf raises his hammer high.
As if it's a strain to even lift.
"Everyone, better stay away for a while! Ha ha ha!"
After that brief warning, the dwarf swings his hammer into the air with all his might.
The fact that he's far away from the vampire, his target?
Little things like that don't matter.
「Hikurod Murad has cast [release].」
'Release' is one of the rare 'transformation series' abilities in [Dungeon & Stone].
The effect is to 'erupt' any 'energy' acquired through other abilities to the outside.
Booooooooooom!
Lightning shoots out from the hammer in the form of a sphere, like a cannonball…
And, explodes. Literally.
Crrrrrrrrrrrrump!
Compared to the noise, the physical effect seems low.
Because there're no craters on the floor, nor are there limbs of the target scattered about, or anything like that.
But…
「Vampire Duke Cambormere has fallen into a [stunned] state. 」
In the first place, the key to this combo is not pure power.
The dwarf who's made a level five monster go groggy in one hit, turns back and signals.
It's a very analog signal.
"Raven––!!!!"
Fortunately, the signal is transmitted properly, and strong light immediately condenses on a roof about 200m away from us.
I hurriedly take out the item I'd hidden in my boots.
A small jewel the size of a fingernail, the 'Tear of the Goddess'.
Even in the midst of so many crises, I've been cherishing it just for this moment.
Pit-a-pat!
I grab it and run.
And after shoving it into the bastard's open jaws –
Crumpt!
I uppercut as hard as I can to close them.
Crunch.
There's the sound of something breaking, and before long, a pure white brilliance erupts from his mouth.
「The Tear of the Goddess has been destroyed.」
「[Grace] shall descend at the location of destruction.」
「By the effect of [grace], all resistances of Vampire Duke Cambormere are temporarily sealed and he takes great damage.」
Blood flows from the vampire's mouth like crazy.
He looks fine on the outside, but it looks like his insides are messed up.
Surprising.
But this isn't enough.
「Due to the strong impact, [stunned] status of Vampire Duke Cambormere is adjusted to [paralysed].」
The bastard's fingers twitch as if the stun is over.
'Is it time yet? Any later and… '
The moment I turn back and run, thinking that –
「Arua Raven has cast the sixth-grade attack magic [sunspot sphere]. 」
A dazzling sphere flutters in the dark sky.
My regret is immediate.
Boooom–!
Ah, fuck, it's been a while since I…
「The character is caught up in an explosion of [sunspot sphere] and is [stunned].」
「Vampire Duke Cambormere has cast [pain sharing].」
「Hikurod Murad is [stunned].」
「Ainar Penelin is [stunned]…」
Beep–.
A clear sound echoes in my head, like in a TV channel after the national anthem has ended.
And over my ringing ears, I can as if hear conversation.
Dialogue that wouldn't be out of place on TV or in some comic book.
[Why would a butcher sell grilled meat?!]
[No! This is raw meat!]
[No, just look at it, it's grilled! How is this raw meat?!]
[But…]
As I listen to this absurd conversation, I open my eyes.
[Are you alive?]
I see a dark sky looming above.
I can smell roasting meat.
Is this the smell of my own body?
"Hey… "
When I open my mouth, I hear a scratching groan from my parched throat.
My ears seem fine though.
I decide to only think about the positives, as much as possible.
"Heh heh heh! Ugh!"
The attack spell 'sunspot sphere', with solar attribute which is a combination of the fire and holy attributes.
Naturally, its power is weaker than its purer equivalent, the 'fireball'.
That was the fortunate part for me.
If not for that, I might've become charcoal by now.
'But why is it so quiet…?'
I got caught in the 'sunspot sphere' and fainted for a moment.
That's clear enough, but doesn't explain the current situation.
Why haven't I been healed yet, and why can't I hear anything around me?
"…"
I push against the ground with my wet hands and stand up. Then I force my eyes to focus.
The first thing I see is the vampire bastard.
"Fuck."
Why is he still alive?
Of course, this bastard also seems spent.
Both his arms are missing, and bones are visible through the exposed upper part of the chest.
He doesn't even seem conscious.
But…
「Vampire Duke Cambormere 's regenerative power is greatly increased by the effect of [eternal life].」
Even right this moment, his wounds are healing.
Since his regeneration is proportional to strength he's lost, it won't take long for the gaping wound in the chest to heal, and for the torn arms to grow back.
"Mo… therfu…"
I look around and see the several people scattered on the ground.
The dwarf, Ainar, even the porter bastard.
For some reason, even the wizard who'd been hiding on the roof in the distance seems to be in the same situation…
Weird.
What kind of crazy mystery is this?
Why did everyone faint all of a sudden?
What the hell happened while I was unconscious?
It looks like it's been a while, doesn't it?
All kinds of questions are rising up in my mind…
But I decide to put it all away and try to take a step, pushing my numb legs forward.
Step.
The situation still doesn't make sense.
But only one thing is far too clear.
What should I do now?
Step.
Vampire Duke Cambormere.
I need to get rid of him before he comes back to his senses.
There's no choice other than that.
No matter how rich the wizard might be, she wouldn't have an endless supply of potions. In fact, it'd be better to stop using the strategy of sustaining the battle with potions.
Step.
So I walk, with staggering steps.
What about the pain that even my new pain resistance passive can't handle?
Ignoring the piercing sensations, I put one leg, smelling of roast meat, forward after the other.
Step.
Pain is a signal that tells you that you are alive.
At least, I think so.
It's not like there wasn't a time when I thought the opposite, but that's how it is right now.
So I keep walking.
Step.
As I get closer, even the vampire bastard smells of grilled meat. My knees buckle and I fall down almost bonelessly, then crawl up on top of him.
"Son, of a, bitch…"
The wound on his chest, which had been severe enough to see the bones inside, has already covered up quite a bit while I was walking.
I can't help but curse.
Puff!
So I smash the bastard's chest with my fists.
A vampire's weakness is the heart.
Even if their brains are destroyed, these bastards can revive as long as their hearts are intact.
'Ah, that's why this bastard's arms are missing. He blocked the 'sunspot sphere' with them, huh?'
Belatedly, an idea of what happened in that moment I'd missed is drawn inside my head, but as usual, I just let it go.
Puff!
I clench my fists again.
I can feel the barrenness of my equipment slots more keenly than ever.
But if you don't have any teeth left, you just have to chew with your gums so you can swallow, don't you?
Puff!
Who even knows where my mace is, and my shield has become a lump of waste that I randomly dropped somewhere.
Of course, Ainar's greatsword and the dwarf's battle hammer are on the floor…
'I didn't even think of picking them up.'
Eh, with my strength right now, I couldn't have picked them up anyway.
As I'm slamming down my fists, my crumpled and perforated half armour is torn off at the seams and falls to the floor.
'My 360,000 stones… '
Looking at the half armour that's been corroded and pitted due to my acidic blood, it seems that repairs would be difficult.
This really hurts. It's a different kind of pain.
"Shite."
It's like pouring water into poison.
No matter how much you do it, nothing changes.
Why are his ribs so hard?
I thought if I kept smashing, they'd break and pierce the heart.
'Okay, let's give up on this plan.'
I always like to have a plan B.
Because my plan A's are rarely successful.
Maybe it's because of my dogshit luck, but no matter what I do, some shit always crops up at the end.
'By the way, I've never tried this before… '
… Can I do it?
Erwen said that it's important to have an accurate image in your mind.
'Flesh explosion.'
Oh, it worked.
Puff!
My hand placed on the bastard's chest explodes.
Although the explosion isn't particularly powerful, the acid mixed in my blood is enough to dent his chest slightly.
But even that heals back up quickly…
'I never expected to do it one shot anyhow.'
I cast [flesh explosions] in rapid succession.
Maybe it takes about ten tries?
Puff! Puff! Puff!
My left hand is completely insensate.
Perhaps because of the increase in skeletal density, the bones are still intact and only the flesh has disappeared, as if it were the hand of some kind of skeletal monster.
Anyway, I can't use the left hand anymore.
'Now it's the right hand's turn.'
Even though I can't help but think I'm just being crazy, I continue to visualize the ability in my mind.
First, I put my right hand on the bastard's chest.
'Flesh explosion, flesh explosion, flesh explosion… '
And keep at it.
The pain that breaks through some kind of limit and reaches new heights? I ignore it as much as I can.
It feels like I'm going to die, but I'm not doing this to die.
I will definitely survive.
Puff!
Maybe after doing that eight more times?
My body suddenly trembles.
I think I just need to add a few more…
「Warning: Your character has less than 1% health. If not treated promptly, the character may perish.」
It's instinct.
That I've reached a point where I can no longer endure with just my mental strength.
I have to stop.
Otherwise, I might be able to kill the vampire bastard, but I'll die, too.
As my intuition lets me know that fact, cold reason makes a judgment.
'If I stop, I'll still die in the end…'
So I don't.
There is absolutely no intention of sacrificing myself for the sake of my colleagues.
Puff!
I don't know if I might look like a crazy bastard to some…
But in this moment, I am certain of one thing.
If there is to be even the slightest chance of survival, this is definitely the way to go.
Puff!
The moment when I break my flesh one more time –
「Warning: Your character's health has reached 0%.」
I feel like something has changed.
As if something is escaping from my body, but should I say that it feels strangely light?
Soon enough, I realize –
「The countdown begins.」
Oh, so that's it.
This what they call the final reflection, the last moment of perfect serenity before your death[1].
「Mind consumed 3/second. (43/46)」
「Mind consumed 3/second. (40/46) 」
「Mind consumed 3/second. (37/46)」
Even though it feels like the reaper is hovering at my back, I explode my flesh once more.
Puff!
Once more, his chest is dented, just like every other time.
But is this the battle intuition of a barbarian?
I can somehow feel it, clearer than ever.
'Once.'
Just one more time.
I only need to do it once.
So…
'Flesh explosion.'
Instead of my right arm, which now has almost no flesh left, I hold him tight to my chest as I cast.
And at that moment –
「Vampire Duke Cambormere has been slain. EXP +5」
The body of the vampire bastard turns into motes of light.
That's right, bitch. You have to die, too.
「Bonus for killing a high variant. EXP +1」
「Guardian kill bonus. EXP +3」
My heart is pounding.
It's not a metaphor. It really is pounding.
Having experienced it before, I can accurately grasp my current situation.
「The character's level has risen. 」
「Spirit Power +10」
「The maximum number of absorbable essences increases by +1.」
I've levelled up.
But this doesn't make me particularly happy.
Not only had I been expecting it already, but…
[Dungeon & Stone] isn't a kind enough game to top up your health when you level up.
「Mind consumed 3/second. (16/46)」
How many seconds do I have left in my life?
I don't know for sure, but it'd be about five seconds at the most.
'… In the end, I'll just leave the last part to luck.'
No matter how many times I think about it, I can't call this situation favourable.
Still, I decide not to regret it.
'In the game, there was about a 33% chance that a rift guardian would drop an essence.'
33%.
It's too low to bet your life on.
But compared to 0%, it's so high that they're not even in the same league.
'There's no point thinking about it.'
I grin, as if to shake off my regrets.
To the last, to the very last inch, have I struggled.
So now I just have to wait for the result.
「Mind consumed 3/second. (13/46)」
「Mind consumed 3/second. (10/46)」
「Mind consumed 3/second…」
One second, two seconds, three.
As time ticks by, my eyes flutter close.
'I failed, huh…'
It's not because of some kind of accident.
I just wasn't lucky.
'Maybe this is the ending that suits me best.'
I close my eyes as if to let the world pass me by.
I hope that I can wake up again. As the twenty-year-old office worker, Lee Han-soo.
"Keh."
Nah, as if that'd happen.
⋮
⋮
⋮
⋮
「[Vampire Essence – Guardian] permeates the character's soul. 」
「Natural Regeneration +40」
「Strength +15」
「Agility +15」
「Magic Resistance +30…」
⋮
⋮
⋮
「The character will not die until his heart is destroyed, by the effect of the passive skill.」
「The character's regenerative power is greatly increased by the effect of [eternal life]. 」
「The character's HP has recovered to more than 1%.」
「The countdown is over.」
「Achievement complete」
「Condition: Survive the countdown.」
「Reward: Sanity permanently increases by +10.」
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 3 (New +1)
Body: 155 (New +75) / Mind: 90 (New +44) / Ability: 115 (New +85)
Item Level: 98 (New -104)
Combat Index: 381.5 (New +204)
Acquired Essence: Corpse Golem – Rank 7, Vampire (Guardian) – Rank 5 (New)
⋮
⋮
⋮
「Abnormal growth rate」
「The administrator is keeping an eye on the character.」
Editor's Notes:
[1] 回光返照 is a metaphor in Zen Buddhism, and it's a concept of one's last moments in life being perfect in spirituality, without relying on words or symbolism.
-x-X-x-
"Hey! Mr. Yandel! Wake up!"
Raven shook Bjorn by his shoulders.
The rest of the colleagues who'd fainted, were waking up up one by one.
"Miss Raven? What the hell is this…"
"Bjorn! Is Bjorn dead?!"
"Miss! I'm so glad that you're safe… "
Questions were popping up all over the place.
Questions only Raven could answer.
Indeed, because she didn't faint.
"The vampire is dead. Yandel is alive. Tarzine, I'm fine, so could you please stop yelling so loud?"
"Great! To think your magic could kill the vampire in one shot!"
Hearing Murad's exclamation, she pursed her lips. She was somehow feeling upset.
It was not the 'sunspot sphere' that had killed the vampire.
In terms of contribution, although she did contribute…
"… It wasn't me, it was Mr. Yandel."
"What do you mean?"
"Mr. Yandel was the one to kill the vampire."
Murad furrowed his eyebrows.
"No, you mean this little friend?"
He'd been praising the barbarian as 'special' and a 'great warrior' some time ago, but he didn't seem to believe that he could've killed a level five monster.
It wasn't that she couldn't understand how he felt.
'If I'd only heard the story… maybe I would've felt the same, too.'
Was it because of the distance?
Unaffected by 'pain sharing', she'd watched the whole story unfold, that no one else knew about.
Yes, literally.
She'd just watched.
What could a sorceress who'd run out of magic even do?
"Everyone, be thankful to Mr. Yandel. Perhaps, without him, none of you would've been able to open your eyes ever again."
"B-, but that's… could you explain a little bit more about what happened, please?"
She was wondering how to explain, but just then, Ainar cut in on the conversation.
"Then what happened to Bjorn! Aren't we supposed to feed him potions right now?"
In other words, asking if she still had any potions left.
Raven shook her head and answered.
"A potion… wouldn't help. His body has mostly already recovered."
If she dared to predict the future, she might say that this man wouldn't have many occasions to drink potions in the future.
Because any injuries he took would heal back up far too quickly.
"Then why hasn't he woken up yet?"
"I don't know either. But…"
"Looks like you know something! What is it? Wizard! Come on, tell me!"
Raven took a deep breath and answered.
"Maybe… he's exhausted."
"… Exhausted? Didn't you say his body was all healed up, earlier?"
Ainar placed a hand on Bjorn's shoulder, which was still filthy with grime and coated in crusted blood.
She looked as if the sky had collapsed.
"Wait, don't tell me you two are really lovers?"
"Ah, ah, no! What's with that, all of a sudden!"
"Hmm? Anyway, I can't tell for sure. I'm no priest, and I only know of a few cases like this."
"Cases? Miss Raven, is this common?"
"It's not that common, but… occasionally, there are cases like this. The body is healthy, but the mind can't recover."
Warriors under extreme traumatic stress, or who really put their all into battle, can sometimes fall into this state.
Hearing Raven explain this, Ainar raised her voice.
"I've never heard of anything like that! Besides, it doesn't even make sense! Too tired to even wake up? Bjorn isn't that weak!"
He wasn't that weak…
That was something she completely agreed with.
A few hours ago, she would've snorted inside her own thoughts, but at least now, she believed it.
Because she alone had watched him fight the vampire till the final moment.
However…
No, that's what made things even more difficult.
"To be honest, I'm almost certain. The reason Mr. Yandel isn't waking up is because he's mentally exhausted."
Too tired to even wake?
That went beyond the realm of being weak or strong.
It was the natural response of a living sapient organism.
'Perhaps this woman wouldn't have said this to me if she'd seen him fight in person.'
Perhaps today, she herself had witnessed an incredibly valuable scene.
"Wizard! So when will Bjorn wake up?"
"Well. It could take a day or two at the earliest."
"No, I think he should be up in a few hours! Bjorn is a great warrior!"
'… Then why did you have to ask me?'
Raven's heart became uncomfortable once again, but for some reason, she couldn't find any desire to retort.
It was almost like she didn't have the energy to do so.
In fact, those words didn't sound as pretentious as they used to.
"A great warrior, is it…"
In the eternal flow of history, there were fewer than ten barbarians who had officially received such a title from the king.
'Well, it seems to be used as a compliment among the barbarians these days.'
She put her thoughts together one last time before continuing.
The essence of a corpse golem, and the essence of a vampire.
A barbarian who'd eaten them both, and the latter was even from a rift guardian.
He'd completed his coming-of-age ceremony only last month, so was this his second time inside the labyrinth?
She opened her mouth as she looked at the barbarian lying asleep, as if without a care for the outside world.
"… Maybe, he really might."
Of course, in order for that to happen, he'd have to survive dozens more crises as dangerous as today.
'Am I alive? …'
It was midnight when I woke up.
Ainar was giving me a lap pillow for some reason, and as soon as our eyes met, she screamed 'Bjorn!!!' loud enough to chase all my drowsiness away.
"… Where are the others?"
"Everyone left! Bjorn, are you okay? I was worried because you'd passed out for three full days!"
It's been three days?
So, in terms of time, now was the seventh day?
Thoughts flashed through my mind, and I stood up as fast as I could. And then I gave myself a once-over.
There were no visible signs of injury or trauma.
In terms of health, except for the pangs of hunger being sent out from my stomach, I generally seemed to be in good shape.
"By the way, Ainar, what are these trousers I'm wearing?"
In fact, the word trousers was a bit of a misnomer.
A cloth folded like handkerchief was wrapped around my lower body, covering only the important bits.
To be precise, it was closer to a skirt than trousers.
It was quite, ah, minimalistic.
"Ah! That, well, the wizard gave you her surplus cloth."
"… Well, were you the one to dress me, then?"
"Of course!"
A hint of shame crept in, but it wasn't too bad because Ainar herself didn't seem to much care.
Seriously, it was a little funny to see two warriors face each other in this situation.
"You don't have anything to be ashamed of. After all, Bjorn is a great warrior!"
… Wait, was this sexual harassment?
"… So what happened afterwards?"
I changed the topic to forget my feeling of shame.
I was wondering what'd happened after I'd fainted. Especially when it came to loot.
"There was a numbered item or something? Murad took it, and the wizard took the rift stone."
"What?"
It was a series of surprises from the start.
Being alive right now meant I'd absorbed his essence… did that mean the vampire had dropped all three possible loot items?
What kind of good fortune was this?
"Oh, right! There were no dice rolls when distributing the rift stone. Because the wizard forcefully took it away to make up for the damage she'd suffered…"
Ainar continued speaking as if making excuses.
"Murad said he didn't mind, but I said no! But then the wizard said something strange."
"Something strange?"
"She said you won't mind, since you got the biggest reward."
'Only that woman seems to know that I ate the vampire's essence.'
I quietly shook my head.
I had no regrets at all regarding the distribution of loot.
Whatever the reason, the wizard had fed me the essence of the corpse golem from her share. In addition, considering the cost of the potion she'd poured on me, the wizard had actually gained almost nothing.
If I got greedy for even the rift stone after all that, I'd just be a thief.
Ainar seemed to think a little differently, though.
"Well, I told them to wait until you woke up and then decide, but it couldn't be helped! After waiting for more than half a day, you still wouldn't wake up, so they all left through the portal!!"
"You don't need to blame yourself. This was unavoidable."
To be honest, I could only imagine the expressions on their faces as they were held captive for half a day at Ainar's coercion…
It would be better to just give her a compliment.
"Thank you. I was lucky to have you with me."
"… Of, of course! Aren't we friends!"
I checked my belongings that Ainar had gathered.
A backpack, a mace, a few pieces of scrap metal that might've been a shield in the past…
'Still, if I take it outside to sell, I'd at least recoup the price of the iron.'
Sorting out everything and putting them into my backpack, I took out some food and a canteen to fill my hungry stomach.
And I checked the time.
11:20 p.m.
'There's less than an hour before the stairs close.'
"Bjorn! When you're done eating, how about heading out? There isn't much time now!"
"I can't."
I stubbornly refused.
I desperately wanted to leave this disgusting place right now, but…
Since I'd suffered so much, shouldn't I grab everything I could afford to grab?
I wanted to check out the boss room, too.
'The wizard took away the Necronomicon, so there's only one left.'
Looked like I'd have to move quickly.
「You have moved to the entrance to the first floor.」
「The labyrinth has been closed.」
「The character is moved to Rafdonia.」
I breathed out, feeling the kiss of the sun on my skin.
'Just barely safe…'
The schedule had been tighter than expected.
It'd taken less than ten minutes to find the item hidden in the ceiling of the watchtower of the outer walls, climbing up the ladder…
But going to the boss room and coming back had been tough.
'… In the end, it was all in vain.'
When Ainar said they'd waited for half a day, was it really so that the wizard could investigate?
'Well, with that personality of hers, it'd be weird if she just passed by.'
Broken walls everywhere.
Window and door frames torn out.
Even the treasure chest had been left open and empty.
'There must've been some additional rewards, but she swallowed it all up by herself… '
In the boss room, where I'd arrived in such a hurry, I'd only found the aftermath of a thorough investigation.
However, rather than anger at being one-upped, I was feeling curiosity.
Wasn't this a variant rift that had never been cleared?
Something that even I, who'd been playing the game for nine years, wasn't familiar with?
My curiosity as a gamer was burning.
'There's no way she'd give me anything if I ask… I'll just have to ask in a roundabout manner when we meet later.'
Anyway, after searching all around to see if there was anything the wizard had missed, the schedule had become very tight.
In fact, the stairs closed as soon as we came out of the rift, so it wasn't at a level that could even be called 'cutting it close'.
Any later, and I would've been caught by the boss mob and trapped there forever.
"Serum, fourth son of Kennick! Got some new scars, I see! I'm envious!"
"It was nothing much! Karak, third son of Farun!"
As I was sorting out my thoughts, the voices of the barbarians could be heard here and there.
Fortunately, they hadn't found me yet.
I bowed my head to duck out of sight and headed to the money changer for level nine adventurers.
Fortunately, we managed to arrive early so the line wasn't long.
There were no barbarians to bother me, either.
When I handed the mana stones, the official exchanged it for money just like last time.
"231,520 stones."
Around 230,000 stones.
It was an amount that felt infinitely small compared to the hardships I'd been through...
'Because that's not all.'
In this expedition, I'd absorbed two essences.
Besides, after disposing of the items I'd gotten in kind, the profit would be several times the mana stones.
'Somehow, the mana stones have just become extra income.'
I didn't know if I should feel happy or sad about this.
I could only give a bitter smile and picked my pouch back up.
"That's too much for a tier nine adventurer."
As I took back the pouch the official had put down, he stared at me with a meaningful gaze.
"What's in that backpack on your back?"
What?
I wasn't something I couldn't answer, but…
"… Why are you asking that?"
Somehow, a chill was running across my back.
I looked around and saw that the guards were rapidly approaching this way from afar.
It looked like he'd pressed something like an emergency call button hidden under the desk.
"Is it this guy?"
"Yes."
I raised my arms to express my intention to cooperate with the public authorities, but the guards who had a quick conversation with the official forcefully grabbed my arms.
Fuck, I just came back alive after so much trouble, so what the hell was this now?
"Barbarian, let's go over there for a moment and have a chat."
Instinctively, I felt that something was off.
-x-X-x-
I'm sitting on a chair.
Unusually, the chair is made of iron, has shackles that can be attached to the arms and legs as an option, and is fixed to the floor with nails.
'Aren't you supposed to give me some time to rest as a human being?'
To summarize the current situation further, where I am currently at is the interrogation room, located in the basement of the Adventurers' Guild.
Across the table sits the investigator.
His age is somewhere around the mid-thirties, and he's got a high-pitched tone of voice that's often related to obesity.
"I'm Cordo Biermann, the investigator in charge of this case. I'll be asking you some questions, so I hope you respond cooperatively."
"Investigation? Why don't you first tell me why you arrested me?"
I ask impatiently.
I'm not even asking about the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty, but this much should at least be a reasonable right for a defendant in this age.
Thud–!
The cunt of an investigator kicks me in the shin.
His mouth rips into a sly smirk.
"Rule one, you only answer what I ask. Understand?"
"… I get it."
"Hey, if you properly follow the rules, you won't get hurt anymore, rest assured."
You really think you hurt me just now?
Compared to what I've suffered inside the labyrinth, being kicked in the shin tickles at most.
This bastard must have some kind of a fetish regarding his profession.
"Anyway, to answer your question… Bjorn Yandel. You have been arrested for pillaging inside the labyrinth."
"… A pillaging charge?"
What kind of a bullshit rip-off is this, I can't help but wonder.
The investigator bastard picks up my backpack and upends it, spilling the contents on the floor.
"Whew, that's a lot."
Exploration items such as torches and sleeping bags.
A special item obtained from the Blood Citadel.
From the rest, food and other miscellaneous items, the investigator takes out only the equipment and puts them on the table.
Mostly stuff from the party of four who'd ambushed us in the Land of the Dead.
"If you hadn't pillaged, where did this come from? A barbarian wouldn't use a bow."
"That… They belong to those who tried to kill me first."
"Evidence?"
Evidence?
There's no such thing, but there's no reason for me to be meek.
I ask the other way around.
"Then do you have any proof that what I'm saying isn't true?"
"Well, I'll have to investigate that from now on."
"Are you capturing people and investigates them without any proof?"
This is the part I can't understand the most.
This is different from the usual habits of the Adventurers' Guild.
It's the unwritten rule of this city to not ask anything without evidence, no matter what the adventurers bring out in the labyrinth.
Therefore, the guild never proactively searches for pillagers unless reports or testimonies came in.
But…
"The guild's internal rules changed a few days ago."
Since he says that, I have nothing to respond with.
This isn't a game, but a fully realized, fleshed-out world with innumerable people.
"The official guideline is to start with level nine adventurers, to deter pillaging."
In a nutshell, it means to test out the doctrine from the weaklings.
Wherever you go, if you have low status, you will suffer.
I can roughly guess the criteria to be investigated.
Did you collect a lot of mana stones, or do you have equipment that appears to belong to someone else in your backpack? Something like that, it must be.
So I got two strikes from the start?
"Well then, tell me. Where did you get all this?"
Anyway, the initial attitude was probably just to kill my fighting spirit, and after that, the investigator bastard continues the investigation normally.
So, I try to be as open and cooperative about what I'd experienced as possible.
Oh, of course, I leave out the psychopath I'd met.
If I talk about her, I also have to talk about the oath, and a barbarian who breaks an oath will be considered strange wherever he goes.
It's far more dangerous to be hunted down by that demoness than to be framed for murder. Especially in the aspect that there's no room for excuses.
'If I report her for no reason, I might get butchered by that woman without tipping off even a mouse or a bird.'
Therefore, I only briefly state about meeting a four-man pillager group, falling into a state of 'suppression' and then killing them in a dramatic reversal.
However, the investigator bastard doesn't buy any of it.
"What? Can you survive being stabbed in the neck? You're telling lies that even a child won't believe."
"I'm only telling the truth."
"Then where did the scar on your neck go? According to what you said, it should have left a mark, right?"
I unconsciously touch my neck.
It's smooth, with not even a scab.
There's no reason why it would stay.
After eating the vampire essence, my natural regeneration increased so much that even the scar got healed.
'… Why are things like this again?'
I don't like it, but in the end I have to spill my guts about the rift.
The only problem is that the investigator bastard doesn't even listen to me to the end.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Rift? And a vampire came out? Because you're a barbarian, there's no logic in your words!"
"I swear, everything I say is true."
Perhaps he's finally hardened his heart, because even my oath as a warrior, which worked every time like a cheat, is useless this time.
"What honour can a pillager have?"
I, too, am fed up by now.
"Then, call a wizard! Shouldn't it be verified through magic?"
In fact, there was no need for such a long conversation.
Just one magic technique can reveal the truth.
However, the investigator bastard only grins back.
"It's possible to make a formal verification request to the guild – from level seven or higher."
Damn, when did this change again?
They aren't treating level nine adventurers like human beings atll.
"Even if I pay the fee?"
"It's money that'd be returned to the state when you die. We can't waste it on meaningless things."
Shit, it's probably because I don't have enough money to spend.
"Come on, just admit your crime."
It seems that it'll take a while to prove my innocence.
As if announcing the end of the fortnight spent inside the labyrinth, the dazzling noon sunlight wrapped around her body.
Erwen stood still for a moment, as if to bask in that warmth.
Fragments of memories were interspersed in her head, perhaps because of the sudden stark shift in environment.
'I didn't know that the third floor would be so hard…'
The third floor that she'd entered with her sister.
For the first time in her life, she'd experienced the might of level seven monsters.
Even though it was her sister who'd almost fought alone, even the sixth-grade monster they'd met by chance at the end.
Truly, this was her first journey that actually felt an expedition.
Well, my first time in the labyrinth with uncle wasn't bad either… But I was just in a hurry to survive then, so it was a different experience.
'Would he be very surprised if I tell him?'
She wanted to run to him and tell him about what she'd experienced in the labyrinth. And she also wanted to ask him, how was his trip this time?
Just thinking about it made her tired body feel refreshed.
'If I tell him that I got a new essence, would it again be like last time? … ?'
That was a bit worrisome, but…
For some reason, her steps felt lighter than usual.
Erwen quickly headed to the money changer for level nine adventurers.
'Is it different this time? I can't see him anywhere… '
"It's 184,100 stones."
"Wow…"
"Isn't that a lot of money for a level nine adventurer?"
"I went with my sister!"
"May I know her name?"
"Daria Wittember di Tersia."
"Yes, it's been confirmed. You may go."
After exchanging the mana stones, meeting her sister outside, unpacking at the inn, washing herself and changing into new clothes (that took three hours), she finally headed straight to Bjorn's inn.
But how could this happen?
"Ah, you're the fairy girl who came every day. But what's this? The guy at room 302 hasn't come back yet."
"Um, is that so?"
Bjorn was not at the inn.
How could this happen?
It seemed that the room had been paid for in advance, and there was other luggage left in the room…
"Are you going to keep waiting?"
"Yes! He should be back soon!"
"Tch."
The owner of the inn, who was usually kind, clicked his tongue, expressing some kind of displeasure.
How long had it been since then?
The sun had gone down. That too, a few hours ago.
"Hey, why are you taking things out of his room?"
"Tch, annoying. Hey lady, do you have any paperwork?"
"P-, paperwork?"
"You don't? A certificate stating that you, young lady, are an associate of that barbarian, or that hr's agreed to hand over his keepsakes to you, or something like that."
"There is no such thing… no! What's this about a keepsake!"
"The labyrinth is closed and it's been this long, why do you think he hasn't come back yet? Because he's dead meat now, dead inside the labyrinth!"
Finally, the innkeeper kicked her out semi-forcibly.
Erwen squatted down in front of the inn.
'He can't be dead… '
It was ridiculous.
No matter how common it was for an adventurer to die in a labyrinth, it was impossible to imagine his death.
So she sat down and waited.
Then it became morning, then night, and then morning again.
"There you are."
Her sister finally came.
She didn't complain about staying out for two days, nor did she ask any other questions.
She just put her hand forward.
"… Let's go eat first."
Erwen took her hand and stood up, thinking.
She didn't know the exact reason, but –
Even though it had nothing to do with anything, but –
"Sister, I want to be strong."
She just kind of felt that way.
More intensely than ever.
I was trapped inside a cage with thick iron bars.
All my luggage had been taken away, and I was wearing only a piece of cloth rolled up below my waist.
I stood slumped against the wall.
It was the second day.
'Motherfucker… '
After the first day, the situation got worse and worse.
In response to my repeated denial and verification requests, the investigator had no choice but to call a wizard…
「The character's mind stat is over 90.」
「You have resisted spirit magic with anti-magic correction.」
The magic of a level nine wizard who worked as a guild employee, didn't work on me.
"His mental barrier is too thick. It seems like we should call somebody from the magic tower."
The situation got worse.
Even from the guild's point of view, the help of a high-level wizard was too much a waste to close my case.
"It doesn't make sense to call them for a level nine adventurer's case."
From then on, the investigator threw all kinds of bullshit at me to get my confession.
He must've thought it would be easier.
But there was no way I'd be afraid enough of this bastard to make a false confession.
I even tried to name the sixth-grade wizard Arua Raven as well as the dwarf, but this frustrating investigator bastard didn't even listen.
It was such a long and tedious case.
"Hahaha! Bjorn Yandel, apparently this isn't your first time pillaging?"
A completely new charge was made, unrelated to previous investigations.
"What do you mean?"
"It was discovered while investigating you."
It was nothing other than the message stone that the investigator held out with triumphant eyes.
"Message stones have a unique serial number, so the owner can always be found. I looked up what was in your backpack, and I found it. It belongs to a dead adventurer."
By the way, the owner had been called Artoa Serdin, apparently.
"He was in a clan, so I inquired there, and they told me everything about what you did. It wasn't enough to run away after injuring this Hearth Young, you even killed the people pursuing you, right?"
This bastard thought he was the main character of a detective story, and he loved the sound of his own voice.
"So what happens now?"
Being naïve, I'd gone directly to the point.
After all, this bastard who was only dreaming of dealing with me wouldn't listen to anything I said anyhow.
"Since the circumstances, testimony, and evidence have all come out, this guild has decided to reject your request for verification, and will perform your sentencing."
This shitty guild…
So they'd turned down my request.
"… So what will I get?"
"You are saying something strange. Rafdonia's royal law has never tolerated pillagers. Oh, are my words too complex for a barbarian?"
The investigator bastard had continued with a grin.
"It means, the death penalty."
This was what had happened last night.
By the way, this morning, the jailer had come to visit and inform me of the date of my execution, and asked if there was any food I wanted to eat.
At that moment, I realized.
"…"
If I stayed still, I'd be finished.
That meant I shouldn't stay still.
The stage of resolution through dialogue had already passed.
But if I broke this iron cage and left, I'd be nothing but an escaped pillager.
'I might be able to lose myself in the city, but I'll soon become a wanted criminal.'
I thought about it for a while, but in the end there was only one way to survive.
To prove my innocence somehow.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy.
You can tell the forest by looking at the trees, and looking at this young investigators bastard, communicating with them wasn't worth it.
'It doesn't matter if I'm guilty or not, the Adventurers' Guild will judge that the easier and quieter way is for me to disappear.'
With such a premise, I could make some headway into devising a plan, and a path began to come into focus.
First of all, the key was to create a situation where the Adventurers' Guild could not silence me.
There was a possible method that came to mind.
Of course, I'd have to go through a lot of troublesome things in return…
Crack– bang –.
Recalling the investigator's smug face again, I raised my motivation.
I'd been a rude child since young, who never turned the other cheek whenever somebody said something to him.
'No matter how much I think about it, saving my own life won't be an easy trade.'
I'd surely have to pay a commensurate price.
「The character has cast [flesh explosion].」
But that was fine.
-x-X-x-
[Flesh explosion].
It's one of the few crazy skills that use the character's life force itself as fuel.
Maybe it's because of the adrenaline rush, the pain does break through my pain tolerance, but…
That's just the price I have to pay.
Screeeeech!
The grate melts halfway, as it's drenched in my acidic blood that splattered along with the explosion.
When I apply some force sideways, it bends very easily.
"Ouch…"
Aside from the pain, both my hands heal up quickly.
It's not just the effect of the undying imprint, it's thanks to the vampire essence I got this time.
As soon as I go out into the hallway, I encounter a guard.
"What, what! You!"
It's the same guard who'd visited me before to ask about my final meal.
It seems like he heard something explode and ran in straight away…
"You! Everybody, jailbreak! Jailbreak!"
Before he can get any louder, I immediately dash forward and sink my fist into his stomach.
Puff–!
He falls to the ground, insensate.
As I riffle through his clothes and take out the keys, the other prisoners, who'd been watching the situation with interest from the other cages, begin to go crazy.
It's pretty obvious what I'm trying to do.
"Hey! Barbarian! Are you really doing this!"
"Kiheeheee! You're crazier than I thought!!"
"Me too! Take me too!"
Considering that this place is inside the basement of the Adventurers' Guild, most of them must be pillagers.
But…
'I'm not in a position to be picky about my methods.'
A poor barbarian who'd been unfairly framed can't care about all that, right?
'Anyway, things won't last long.'
The only good pillagers are dead pillagers.
This belief, which I've formed within the first few days after waking up in this world, is probably something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.
"Hahahaha! I'm finally free! Freedom!"
"Let's get out of here!!"
I release all the prisoners on the floor.
I naturally can't rein in these bastards, but that doesn't matter.
That's not my motive in the first place.
"Waaaaaaagh!"
After that, I don't really need to do anything.
An infectious insanity spreads through them like a bonfire, as the prisoners unite and head upstairs, subdue the guards, and release more and more prisoners with the keys they find.
Of course, there are quite a few who don't participate in the mass escape even after the doors to their cells are opened wide.
As a percentage, about 50%.
'Either their cases are still under investigation, or they're really innocent, like me.'
As I make my way quickly through the chaos, I see a group of prisoners gathered in front.
It's the door to the interrogation room, which I've gone into and out of countless times in the past two days.
The situation is quite simple.
"C-come on, hurry, go back to your rooms!! I-, if you go back now, we can pretend nothing happened… "
The guards tremble at the other side of the locked door, and the prisoners try to rip the door open.
"They've got the keys we need to go upstairs!"
"Tear it out!"
However, it's unlikely that the thick iron door would break, no matter how much you pound on it with your arms.
Do I have to do this shit again?
While I'm busy pondering –
"Do you think you're going to go scot-free after this? You're all getting death sentences! Execution!!"
A familiar voice comes from beyond the door.
Looking through the small grate, I see that polite investigator bastard, sandwiched between the two guards.
I hadn't expected to see him this early.
"Get out of the way!!"
With a happy heart, I push away the prisoners blocking my way.
And then I explode my left arm, which had just recovered, again and again.
'Flesh explosion, flesh explosion, flesh explosion… '
After repeating it five times, the door handle melts and the locking mechanism is disabled.
The price being only my flesh, blood, and pain.
The prisoners burst into cheers like crazy.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaagh!!"
"Barbarian! Barbarian!! Barbarian!!!"
"He's the barbarian who freed us!!"
The investigator's eyes widen as I enter the interrogation room.
"You, you! Bastard, what… uh, how…!"
It's not easy for him to understand.
Because the abilities a ninth-grade adventurer can have are insignificant for the most part. That was why they hadn't put any restraints on me other than locking me inside the iron cage.
How could he have known that I have such an ability?
All I can say is this –
"Blame your poor family environment, where you had no choice but to grow up with a lack of imagination."
"I, I grew up in a decent family!!"
"It was so terrible that you even grew up a liar."
"Ugh, what! Cough!"
The investigator falls to the floor and wriggles like a worm when I hit his solar plexus with all the anger I'd been holding back.
He's still conscious, perhaps due to the thick layer of fat that absorbed the shock.
"You, you crazy…!"
The uneducated swine slurs all kinds of curse words at me, unable to even breathe properly.
"You're dead! Your power might've been enough to cause a riot inside the prison, but do you think you'll be able to handle what comes next?!"
Can I handle it?
"I think that's rather a question for you to think about. After all, if my plan works out, you'll be fucked."
"Yeah, what do you think you can do?"
A chuff of laughter breaks out.
"What can I do?"
What a fucking useless question.
"You should rather ask, what can't I do?"
I'm an asshole who won't balk at anything, however crazy it might be, if my life is at stake.
It's this pitiful lack of imagination that I was referring to, you piece of shit.
"So take a nap for now."
When you wake up, either you will be in hell or I will.
Puff–!
This time my fist kisses his face instead of his plump belly, and the investigator bastard faints in a single blow.
It's a guard who shouts at me next.
"Key."
"All, all of you, do you even know what you are doing right now?!"
I do know.
But what're you trying to say?
That it'd have been better if I'd just stayed there?
I only repeat that one word.
"Key."
"It, it's still not too late –"
"Key."
"H-, here you are…"
As I pluck the key from his hand and turn back, the prisoners smoothly part before me, like it's some kind of a movie.
Step, step.
Passing between them, I find myself standing in front of the stairs that lead to the ground, and take a deep breath.
Is it really okay to up the ante even more?
Such worries suddenly arise, but…
'It's those bastards who didn't give me a choice.'
I raise the key up, and roar.
"Let's go!!!!"
Everything that's gonna happen next is self-defence.
To protect this precious life of mine.
The prison was built deep underground beneath the Adventurers' Guild branch office.
The double doors that connected the basement to the ground floor were so thick that the people outside hadn't felt anything even when the situation underground had reached this point.
'It's pretty lucky for me.'
Creak.
Climbing up the long stairs and opening the door, I could see a peaceful interior room that was completely different from the dungeon I'd just escaped from.
Lots of administrative staff, and adventurers bustling in front of the counter.
"Uh, how did you get in here?"
A staff member asked as he saw me come from inside the building, where ordinary adventurers were not allowed to go.
Of course, I didn't need to answer.
The staff member noticed the open door behind me and understood the situation in an instant.
"J-, jailbreak!!"
The eyes of everyone present converged on me at his cry.
A heavy silence descended in an instant.
However, among the careless adventurers, there was a bastard who was particularly quick in judgment.
"Sister clerk! If I catch this guy, will you have a drink with me after work?!"
A man standing next to a female employee jumped over the counter in an instant and ran towards me.
And then.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaagh!!"
"The smell of freedom!!"
Prisoners started pouring out from the stairs.
"Uh, uh, uh…?"
"No, stop!"
"The reward will be paid by the guild! Adventurers, lend us your strength!"
"Aaaaagh!!"
Prisoners rushed in without fear, and adventurers took out their weapons to fight back.
"Kill!!"
In the peaceful Adventurers' Guild office, blood began to flow.
I, who'd been the cause of all this, took a step back from the front and hurried towards my destination.
'I don't have time.'
The prisoners could perhaps earn me five minutes, or even less.
Except for a few clubs that I'd stolen from the guards, I didn't have any weapons.
I climbed the stairs to the second floor and looked out of the window.
'It'd be unreasonable to escape, too.'
Perhaps the commotion had already reached the outside, because adventurers all along the street were also paying attention to the building.
If I went out in this state, I'd just get beaten up and taken down again.
The answer, therefore, was above.
"You, who are you!"
All the staff I encountered in the hallway, I stunned with a hit from my fists, and then peered over the railing to check out the situation on the first floor.
Dozens of people were fighting.
I reached out my hand to the air, over their heads.
And…
'Flesh explosion.'
As my hand burst, acidic blood poured down like a sprinkler.
"Aaaaah!"
Adventurers, prisoners, and shitheads were all splattered without discrimination, and dozens of screams sang in unison.
Somehow, I felt a bit guilty, but…
There was no helping it.
I had to increase the chance of success of the next step of my plan.
「The character has cast [mark of sacrifice].」
As the link activated, tattoos were engraved on the foreheads of those stained with my blood, and red light sparked here and there.
「The character's physical ability temporarily increases proportional to the number of sacrifices within a 100m radius.」
The sacrifices numbered at least several dozen.
'This is why the players were so addicted to this skill.'
Power boiled all over my body.
The railing I grabbed unintentionally was starting to creak as if it'd snap any moment.
Even the anxiety in my heart had disappeared.
This much, was sufficient.
"Ahhhhhh!!"
Leaving the commotion behind, I climbed the stairs again and headed to the third floor.
'Fortunately, it doesn't look like he's gone.'
The third floor was completely different from the lower floors, with the door only slightly ajar.
The entire floor was made up of offices.
The wooden furniture, decorations and the plaques on the walls gave off a rather old-fashioned vibe.
"What the hell is that commotion! Go down and check it out!"
"Yes! Branch Manager!"
'There's the branch manager.'
Having identified the target, I hid behind the door.
And the moment the man who'd gotten his orders opened the door and came out –
I hit him on the chin with my fist, holding nothing back.
Crunch.
Uh, I didn't mean to break your jaw…
Thump.
He was an assistant to the branch manager, so I'd been cautious thinking he might be strong, but he collapsed to the floor bonelessly in one shot.
At the same time, the branch manager jumped up.
"Who, who are you!"
Me?
"A poor barbarian."
If more clarification was needed, then I was here to prove my innocence.
Like a proper barbarian, in a physical manner.
"You must've caused that disturbance below!"
The man quickly judged the situation, as expected of a branch manager of the guild, and immediately pulled out a sword that'd been hanging on the wall.
Perhaps he was a former adventurer? His posture was different from the rest.
All of the staff below had been civilian pencil-pushers.
Well, it didn't matter in the end, because I'd doped up in advance expecting something like this.
"Girl, come stand behind me."
"Ye-, yes!"
The woman who'd been sitting facing the branch manager quickly hid behind him, and both sides were now ready to fight.
'Is this what you'd call a boss battle, in game terms?'
I took a deep breath.
For my plan to succeed, I had to defeat this guy.
Ideally, before the commotion on the first floor calmed down.
"Behel-raaaa!!"
Was it because of my [mark of sacrifice] that'd targeted dozens of people below?
The moment I kicked off the ground, my body surged forward with an explosive acceleration.
To be honest, even I myself wasn't used to this kind of speed…
But the branch manager wasn't helpless either.
"Damn it!"
His sword accurately read my movements, traced a precise trajectory, and dug into my wrist.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to cut my bones in ultrabarbarian[1] mode.
Crack!
A dull sound rang out, as if something had gotten stuck.
Then, blood sprayed from the cut and drenched the branch manager's head.
Screeech!
"Ugh! Aaaagh!"
The unexpected pain made him lose focus.
It was ridiculously simple after that.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I hit his throat with my fist, and that was the end of it.
"Ka, kahagh!"
The branch manager groaned and knelt down.
Contrary to how nervous I'd been, the boss battle ended so quickly…
I really hadn't thought that a simple blood spray would result in something like this.
Apparently, lack of imagination was a tradition in the Adventurers' Guild.
But not for me.
"You, you bastard…!"
I always planned imagining the worst possible outcome.
Since I didn't know what kind of essence this former adventurer might have, I slapped him on the back of his head and stunned him.
The preparations were ready.
"P-, please spare me!"
But what about the girl?
Judging by the way she'd crouched behind the branch manager, she didn't seem like a bigshot.
"She, she's the district chief's daughter! Touch her even slightly and you…"
What the hell, how did he wake up so quickly?
Puff!
After applying a little more force this time, I calmly continued my thoughts.
'Daughter, the district chief's daughter…'
It might make things a little easier.
Or, make everything spiral out of control.
"Branch Manager! Are you alright?!"
A staff member came up to check up on the situation once the commotion on the first floor died down.
Of course, there was no problem.
Because the branch manager had already finished changing his job to become my pet parrot.
"Tell them it's okay."
"… I'm okay. What happened downstairs?"
"Everything's sorted out! A few escaped into the city, but they'll be found soon."
"Is that so… Good job."
"Ah! But where's Secretary Robert? I thought he'd be here with you…"
The manager's assistant?
He was resting in a closet with a broken jaw.
Of course, it was impossible for the branch manager to answer honestly.
"Say he's taking a look around."
"… He's got some business outside, so he went out. I have some urgent work to finish, so make sure nobody comes up until I call."
"Yes!"
The staff member left with an affirmative, and I immediately got out from behind the desk.
In my arms was the daughter of the regional chief.
The branch manager brushed his moustache as he looked at me.
"I sincerely advise you; it'd be better for you to quit even now."
"Right."
The advice went through my one ear and out the other.
Better for me? What bullshit.
If I quit here, won't all I have done come to nothing?
"Think about it, I don't know what your purpose is, but I might be able to help –"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you."
As I picked my ear with my little finger, the branch manager couldn't bear it anymore and roared.
"You crazy bastard! Do you even know what you're doing!"
I knew.
No, to be honest, I'd heard it so many times already that my ears were about to scab over.
What choice did I have?
Either I did something crazy, or I died.
It was a simple, binary choice.
"I see."
As I perfunctorily nodded my head again, the branch manager probably got too stimulated and tried to scream again…
"What the hell do you even –"
"If you don't shut up, I'll kill this woman."
When I bluffed and pretended to tighten my grip on the district chief's daughter's neck, the branch manager promptly shut his mouth.
Upon closer inspection, his face looked pale and bloodless.
Well, it wasn't like I couldn't understand his predicament.
Not only did a jailbreak incident occur at his branch, the daughter of the local chief who was with him was also taken hostage…
He was in a terrible mess.
No matter how this ended, this bastard won't be fine.
'You reap what you sow.'
While I was thinking that, the hostage suddenly opened her mouth.
"My name is Julianne Urbans. Not 'this woman'."
Her voice had calmed down compared to the terrified tone from before.
Her heartbeat, which I could naturally feel due to how closely our bodies were entwined together, was also quite stable.
"Tell me what you want. There must've been a reason for someone like you to do this kind of a crazy thing, right?"
"Someone like me?"
Had I ever met this woman before?
As I tilted my head, she continued.
"You aren't intimidated or anxious at all. Your breathing is even, and your eyes are calm and still."
"Summarize."
"Did you plan all this? A long time ago, too."
Plan? I did, at that.
It was about thirty minutes ago, to be precise.
'I thought she was going to say something important, but it turned out to be a waste of time.'
"Maybe you even knew that I was going to be here today –"
"Be quiet."
"Uh, urp!"
Covering the woman's mouth with my hand and shutting up her excessively narcissistic analysis of the current events, I asked the branch manager to make the necessary preparations for my future.
"I need you to bring me the investigator who was in charge of my case, a guy named Hearth Young of the 'Crystal Union' clan who's active on the first floor, a wizard from the tower, and an official priest of the temple."
I'd laid the foundation as much as I could.
Now was the time to turn this thing around.
Editor's Notes:
[1] 초바바리안 (chobabalian). 초 has many meanings but here it means ultra or extreme.
-x-X-x-
"What do you mean, Master? Why do you suddenly want me to visit the guild?"
"Didn't you say that you wanted to visit once, because you were looking for someone?"
"That's true, but…"
Arua Raven, a sixth rank wizard belonging to the Magic Tower, put on a grumpy expression and mumbled.
It was true that she had business at the guild, but…
She'd been planning to take a good rest and do a rough study of the 'object' she'd gotten this time, and go there only afterwards.
"The branch manager made an official request for support. From what I've heard, it seems that something big has happened there. Wouldn't it be nice to earn some pocket money?"
"… I see. Fine, I'll go."
Raven reluctantly agreed.
It was true that the guild was a place she needed to visit at least once.
If she went now, she'd even get a small monetary reward, so there was no justification for procrastinating further.
'I spent a lot of money in the labyrinth this time…'
Besides, it didn't seem bad to meet that barbarian a little earlier, either.
That unprecedented variant rift –
Wasn't he the one who ate the guardian essence from it?
He was as interesting a specimen as that 'object'.
"Alright, I'll be back in a while."
"Ah, take Tarzine with you."
"That's alright. He wasn't particularly useful last time."
Raven travelled to the nearest location to the relevant guild branch office, using the warp gate on the first floor of the tower.
It should take about ten minutes on foot from there to reach the destination.
As soon as she came out to the street, she frowned.
"Why are there so many people here?"
The crowd seemed to be several times denser than usual.
And the closer she was to her destination, the more people were packed into the streets.
As if something big had happened here.
'By the way, did he say that the branch manager has officially requested support?'
Raven let out a long sigh.
She was just here to earn some pocket money, but she thought she might have to really put in the work.
"Hey, let me ask you something. What the hell is going on?"
Raven grabbed hold of one of the spectators, the one that looked the most reliable, and asked.
And she heard something that made her doubt her own ears.
"There's been a mass breakout of the pillagers who'd been locked up in the branch office."
It was truly an unprecedented event.
Not only was there a jailbreak, some prisoners even managed to escape to the city proper…
One of the suspects was said to have taken the daughter of the regional chief, who'd just happened to stop by the branch office, hostage.
"He doesn't seem to have any brains. There's no way the guild will negotiate for something like that."
The guild had no authority for such negotiations in the first place.
The Rafdonia royal family gave the guild a lot of authority related to the labyrinth, but they strictly adhered to the principle of punishing pillagers.
If he'd run away like the rest of the prisoners, he might've at least had a slight chance of surviving.
"But things have gotten kind of fun."
"What do you mean?"
"The hostage-taker is screaming that he's been framed."
"Really?"
"Yes. All he wants is to bring in the parties involved and use magic to reveal the truth fairly, in front of everyone."
So he was rather asking for an indulgence, instead of negotiating for amnesty.
He only demanded 'clarification of the truth'.
Because of this, suspicions were spreading among the crowd of spectators that his words might actually be true.
'What kind of a crazy guy is he?'
Of course, if the story was true, the biggest culprit would be the investigator who'd messed up his job.
But did that mean that this guy had to cause a large-scale jailbreak and, not content with just that, also take the daughter of the regional chief hostage?
It was definitely something no sane person would ever do.
"Anyway, that's why everyone is waiting. The branch manager has already asked for support from the Magic Tower, but eh, who knows when the wizard will come."
Raven smiled awkwardly as she watched the onlooker smack his lips in anticipation.
Now she knew for sure.
That this wizard happened to be herself.
Raven took a deep breath and recited a spell.
"Vatuna corvier."
Her body began to rise into the air, with a shimmering blue light blooming under her feet.
"Ooh, lady! You were a wizard?"
Raven passed over the crowd and landed on the third-floor terrace of the Adventurers' Guild branch.
And when she found the man already witing there, she was stunned.
"Bjorn… Yandel?"
Why was he here?
Was it because the daughter of the regional manager was being held hostage?
All the prep work was done quickly.
"This is Cordo Biermann, whom you asked to bring. Like you said, he was down below, unconscious."
"Thank you. You can go."
The first to arrive was the investigator bastard.
He was still unconsciousness.
It didn't look good, so I shoved him into the closet, too.
After a short wait, the second shipment arrived.
"W-, wait! No matter even if it's the guild, how can force people like this?!"
The name of this male adventurer in his twenties, who walked in with a slumped posture, was 'Hearth Young'.
The asshole who lost his masculinity while trying to do something to Erwen.
"Thank you for taking care of my request. You can go back downstairs."
"Yes."
"A-, are you the branch manager? I, why am I… "
In sync with the footsteps of the staff member going down the stairs –
I jumped out from behind the ajar door and shoved my fist into his face.
Puff–!
One wasn't enough, though.
If the investigator was the number one contributor to the situation coming to this point, this bastard was undoubtedly the second.
Had it not been for this man giving a false testimony, there would've been no basis for the investigator to sentence me to death.
"Ah! Whoa, what are you doing! Who are you –!"
"Okay, let's get it right."
One, two, three…
As I slammed my fists down on his face, Hearth Young passed out with blood bubbles foaming at the corners of his lips.
This time too, it didn't look good, so I put him in the closet as well.
It looked a little cramped thanks to the inspector's girth already taking a lot of room, but it shouldn't be a problem.
The more I looked at them, the more they matched each other.
After watching for a while, the branch manager cautiously spoke to me.
"… What the hell do you want?"
Oh, I hadn't told him yet.
But there was no need to explain twice.
After all, when the next preparations arrived, even if he didn't want to know, he'd have no choice but to know.
With that thought in mind, I refrained from talking.
But…
"Chief! It seems like it'd be difficult to get a priest."
The most important card in this game, the priest, was missing.
The reason being that the priest officially assigned to this branch was currently absent.
It was impossible to just call another priest.
No matter even if it was the Adventurers' Guild, they couldn't just call a priest who worshipped the gods like a friend from the neighbourhood.
'Even at the request of the branch manager, it'd take at least a day.'
In this worldview, priests were like nobles.
Not in their identity, but in their job.
All of a sudden, I had a taste for it.
'There is no way to solve this neatly.'
I'd wanted to do things as quietly as possible.
If the branch manager had heard me, he probably would've pointed to how the situation already was and shouted what kind of bullshit was I spewing…
The jailbreak was an 'accident' and could be hushed up somehow.
But what about the guild sentencing an innocent rank nine adventurer to death?
The moment this was known to the outside world, the prestige of the Adventurers' Guild would sink to the absolute bottom, covered in shit.
'Especially because they claim to be an organization that protects adventurers.'
That was why I'd asked for a priest.
If I could prove my innocence in front of a priest, I could do things relatively quietly.
And the Adventurers' Guild wouldn't have dared to cover this up either.
But from the very beginning, the plan was hampered.
"Thank you for the news. Go back down."
"Yes! You've worked hard, Branch Manager!"
As I listened to the footsteps of the staff moving away, I finished my brief deliberation.
'If it is impossible to entrust a priest to be the notary… '
There was no choice but to enlarge the gameboard even more.
Only then, the Adventurers' Guild won't be able to silence me by killing me.
Of all the methods that came to mind, I chose the most radical and the most effective one.
"Ahhhhh!"
"W-, what are you doing!"
As I went out to the terrace with the sword at the neck of the regional chief's daughter, I saw people flocking to the street.
They seemed to be spectators who'd gathered here because of the previous jailbreak incident.
"Up there! There's a suspicious guy up there!!"
One of them noticed me and shouted.
Their attention focused on me in an instant.
"Hmmmm."
After clearing my throat once, I shouted using the natural outdoor voice of a barbarian.
"My name is Bjorn Yandel! A level nine adventurer that the guild tried to frame and kill! I swear on my honour that I am innocent!"
The reaction appeared immediately.
"Who is this guy?"
"One of the prisoners?"
It didn't matter whether they believed me or not.
Since I threw some bait, people would gather, even if only to sate their curiosity.
Even for the Adventurers' Guild, it wouldn't be possible to forcefully bury the incident, not with all these people keeping watch in real time.
Now I just had to wait until the wizard came.
Instead of my old shield that'd already become a lump of scrap metal…
"Uh, hey!"
I made good use of the regional chief's daughter, who happened to be my new one.
How long had it been since the jailbreak?
"What? Why is Mr. Yandel here?"
"You must be the wizard sent from the tower."
Hearing the conversation between the pair of male and female voices, Cordo Biermann opened his eyes wide.
It was dark, and his body couldn't move.
'What? Am I locked up? Why?'
Forcibly ignoring the blooming headache, he recalled his memories. There were a few scenes that immediately came to mind.
Prisoners running rampant, escaping from the prison.
The interrogation room where he'd escaped to, locking the door behind him.
And the barbarian who smashed the door, and hit him with his fists!
'Oh, but what happened after that?'
He didn't know.
He didn't have the faintest idea.
So he focused on his sense of hearing.
"It'd be quicker for me to explain the situation to everybody at once."
"Quicker, who cares about quicker! What were you thinking! Mr. Yandel, how many lives do you think you have?"
"If I had more than one, I wouldn't have done this."
Mr. Yandel?
What? Maybe that barbarian was out there?
"Okay, now do some magic."
"If you promise to grant me one request later."
"I don't know what you want, but if it's within the range of possibility."
"Nice! Remember, you promised. Dertei narvas! Uh, um…? Why doesn't this work? Mr. Yandel, do you have any magical tool that reinforces mental barriers?"
"Isn't it clear just from looking at me that I don't have anything like that on me? I guess I have no choice but to wake these guys up. Do you even know how to use the 'image of remembrance' magic?"
"Yes. Can I record everything from now on?"
The more he listened to the conversation, the more confusing it was.
"Ouch! Ugh!"
Suddenly, the space widened and the centre of gravity shifted downward. He fell down with a bang and hurriedly raised his head.
It was the branch manager's office on the third floor, which he'd only been to a few times.
"What, were you awake already?"
A total of four people were looking at him.
The barbarian and the branch manager were both there.
There was also woman who was presumably a wizard, and another woman who looked like she had some kind of high status.
He didn't know what was happening, but he cried out.
"B-, Branch Manager! It was this bastard! This bastard led the jailbreak!"
"I know that already."
"Ye-, yes…?"
His head went numb for a moment.
He couldn't understand.
If the branch manager already knew what an outrageous crime this bastard had committed, why was he just observing quietly?
"I heard you were in charge of the investigation of his case. Is it true?"
"Well, it is…?"
It was then that he felt the heavy atmosphere covering the room.
He could tell because he had experience as an investigator.
That this atmosphere was in no way favourable to him.
"This barbarian… no, Mr. Yandel here is claiming that you identified him as a pillager without clear information. What do you have to say about that?"
"Nonsense!"
"The word… it has to be true. It won't end with just hanging up your uniform, otherwise."
"Wh-, wh-, what are you talking about! Isn't he just a level nine adventurer!"
"Watch your mouth! Can a guild staff, of any grade, say something like that!!"
"Ye-, yes?"
Biermann completely froze at the thunderous shout.
Why was this man, who'd always been the first to despise the lower-ranked adventurers, saying this all of a sudden?
As if he was conscious of the gazes of outsiders…
'Ah! I remember, they were talking about 'image of remembrance' magic or something!'
Apparently, the conversations they were having now were being recorded on the crystal ball the wizard was holding.
"Ahem! As far as judging right and wrong goes, the guild's actions must be meticulous and perfect. Please tell me the reasons behind your judgment."
Biermann, focused, recited the contents of the investigation as the branch manager directed.
Because he thought that was the only way for him to live.
"Ah, the first one is the mana stones. At the checkpoint, he presented mana stones that far exceeded the average income of a level nine adventurer, and he looked suspicious, so his backpack was checked. Then equipment that seemed to have been stolen from others were found."
"Therefore?"
"During the investigation, the authenticity of the charges could not be confirmed. Because the truth magic didn't work."
"Then, on what basis did you make the final decision that Mr. Yandel was a pillager?"
"Because of a separate incident. A message stone was found within his belongings. Based on this, we traced the origins of the original owner, and we were able to obtain testimony from his clan members that Bjorn Yandel murdered innocent people and robbed their belongings."
As he talked about the investigation, his voice gradually filled with confidence.
He didn't know why the branch manager was treating him so harshly, but there had to have been something wrong.
"Chief, there's nothing wrong with my judgment. If you suspect that I might've lied to you, you can use magic to determine the truth."
"I'm doing it already. Everything you've said so far is true."
The wizard, who was watching silently, nodded.
However, at that time, the rude barbarian who didn't know his place spoke up sarcastically.
"Yeah, it was only the testimony of the clan members. Neither confirmed by magic nor evidence."
"Is what Mr. Yandel said true?"
"That, that, that's right…"
"Why didn't you check that part?"
The Branch Manager's voice suddenly became cold again.
It wasn't that he had nothing to say.
"First of all, the attitude of this barbarian was the problem! Knowing that magic doesn't work, he just kept making false statements instead of cooperating!"
"He lied? What exactly do you mean?"
Biermann answered confidently.
"One time, he said he survived being stabbed in the neck. But there was no trace of the wound, so I asked him about that, and do you know what he said? Goodness! The scars disappeared because he ate a vampire essence from a rift?"
"He said he ate the essence of a vampire?"
"Yes! Branch Manager! Does this make sense? Vampires coming out of a rift on the first floor?"
From start to finish, this barbarian had been speaking gibberish.
"Spitting out a new lie to hide a previous lie. This is the most common statement pattern for criminals. How could I just listen to this guy and let a precious wizard suffer in vain?"
Of course, there were times when he'd wondered if there was any truth in the barbarian's repeated claims of innocence.
But he thought it wouldn't matter.
After all, what did it matter if an innocent, young adult barbarian died without just cause?
'… Besides, if I called in a wizard, my own take would've decreased.'
Still, it was fortunate in the midst of all this misfortune.
Ignoring everything else, meeting a vampire on the first floor?
If it could be confirmed that the barbarian had made such a rubbish statement, it'd be enough to convince everyone of his judgment.
'If he was really going to lie, he should've done it a little better!'
So he looked at the barbarian with triumphant eyes.
But only for a while.
"That's true, though?"
His thoughts froze at the wizard's voice.
"… Yes?"
"Yeah, I was there… or do you want me to prove it too? You can't use magic on me, though."
What the hell was this wizard talking about?