It's a coincidence.
His laughter just sounds similar.
The world is vast, there's no way there isn't anyone else with similar habits, right?
I didn't even consider that thought.
I accepted reality the moment I felt the sense of déjà vu.
'Clown.'
One of the members of Watchers of the Round Table, and the one who seemed to know the most and be the most skilled.
That's the man's identity.
'I suspected he was from Noark, but I didn't expect to meet him like this…'
The encounter with Clown, whom I've been curious about.
But I don't feel any sense of welcome.
No, actually…
'I'm screwed.'
What should I do?
He looks strong.
Would he let us go if I reveal that I'm Lion?
'No way.'
I dismissed the weak thought that briefly crossed my mind.
It would be the same as coming out as an evil spirit…
And Clown respects Lion.
Not a weak barbarian like me.
The moment my identity is revealed, he'll lose interest and be enraged.
Therefore, I shouted,
"Battle stations!"
Head-on confrontation.
It could be the best solution if I can just overcome my fear.
"Now you're finally acting like a barbarian!"
He looks at me with an amused expression.
But did that make her snap out of it?
Raven immediately starts chanting.
"Derba Timunes."
It's the team voice spell.
It seems like she thought of activating this as soon as she heard the battle cry since our opponent is a human, not a monster.
"Tsk, how boring."
Clown seemed displeased, as if he had lost something to enjoy.
It's not something I should be concerned about.
"Everyone, get behind me!"
I quickly give the order and activate [Gigantification], blocking the passage.
It's the advantage of the 1st-floor Crystal Cave.
Although the passages vary in size…
Clank.
…most of them are narrow.
Narrow enough for a giant barbarian to block.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I shout the ancestor god's name to shake off my fear.
And I raise my shield just enough so that it doesn't block my vision, and focus all my senses on his movements.
Thump!
My warrior's heart starts beating at just the right speed.
Warm blood circulates rapidly, energizing my body.
It feels like I won't die easily.
"Mr. Yandel, we can't attack like this!"
I firmly dismiss the mage's concern.
"Don't."
"Yes?"
"We don't know his identity. We need to figure out what abilities he has first. Don't attack until then."
Information is the most important thing in PvP.
What kind of character build he has, how he combined his five essences and items to create his class concept.
It's difficult to respond properly without knowing that.
"But… he's the monster who killed the knight. You're saying you'll figure it out alone?"
Then what am I supposed to do?
"This is the most efficient method."
I'm a tank.
So I can endure even if I get hit by an unknown attack.
But they can't.
There's a much higher chance of them getting a game over if they're hit by an unexpected attack.
"This is no fun since I don't know what you're saying."
Clown speaks in a cold voice and extends his hand to the side before we can even discuss our strategy further.
A weapon is in his hand.
'Mithril.'
A stiletto emitting a bluish light.
"Just die."
His figure disappears before my eyes as soon as his low voice rings out.
The time I miss him is short.
After all, it's just a straight passage.
'Trying to play with my vision…'
I slightly lower my shield, and I see Clown moving in my blind spot. I quickly identify his attack point, honed by countless battles.
'The thigh…'
Everything in battle becomes information.
We're long past the level where we just swing our weapons mindlessly, and every movement has a reason and intention behind it.
Then why did he aim for the thigh?
'As expected, is he an assassin type?'
He probably judged that it would be difficult to pierce my shield. After all, the first thing I upgraded with the money I earned after paying off my debt six months ago was my shield.
'He would have known if he had a brain.'
A large shield made of 4th-tier Moonstone.
It's durable enough to withstand even an Akro sword a few times.
In other words…
Clang!
…it's impossible to pierce with a 5th-tier mithril weapon.
Clang!
I don't just block it with my shield, I put strength into my arm.
"…!"
His body is pushed back without much resistance.
I add another piece of information to my mind.
Well, it's obvious, but…
'His Strength is lower than mine.'
I'm starting to think that this might be manageable.
It would have been different six months ago.
I've grown in many aspects, starting with my equipment.
It seems like he's not at the Dragonslayer's level.
'Well, he probably hasn't shown us everything yet.'
I don't let my guard down and stare at Clown, who has retreated.
Although I blocked his first attack, it would be dangerous if I let him hit me even once.
After all, he confidently said, 'Just die'.
That's not something you say while aiming for the thigh.
'Then is it poison?'
There's a high chance that his weapon is poisoned.
Or his ability might be poison-related.
However, I keep all possibilities open since nothing has been confirmed yet.
'It's about time.'
We've only exchanged a few blows.
And since this has been blocked, it's time to use skills.
"Ah, seriously! I wanted to conserve MP…"
I can't help but chuckle.
Regardless of his exaggerated tone…
"…Mr. Yandel! He's an evil spirit!"
…MP?
This crazy bastard isn't even trying to hide the fact that he's a player.
'Are they all like this in Noark?'
Well, there's no reason for him to hide it since he's already made an enemy of the royal family…
"Wait, if he's an evil spirit, don't tell me…"
My body involuntarily flinches at her words.
Because I know what Raven is thinking.
From Noark.
Strong enough to kill a knight alone.
And the most infamous player in this city.
"The Corpse Collector…?"
That's when, as Raven mutters the name blankly…
"Kyaak!"
…I quickly turn my head and check behind me.
「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Puppet].」
The corpses of the knight and soldiers, which were lying on the ground, are getting up and attacking Raven.
'Damn it, it's really him.'
There's no point in denying it anymore.
The Corpse Collector's character concept is famous.
It's a good class that I've also played a few times.
Specialized in curses and summons, and with a high Agility stat to compensate for his weak close combat…
'Agility Poison Necromancer.'
That's the class of the enemy I have to fight now.
___________________
I thought he was an assassin because he was aiming for vital points with a stiletto-like weapon…
'A Necromancer…'
…but I was clearly mistaken.
He was just trying to hit me with a normal attack because he underestimated me.
His real specialty was something else.
'He didn't just happen to be nearby, he came looking for us.'
Now that I know his identity, my surroundings start to look different.
He probably intentionally left the corpses behind.
The reason is simple.
He can use them like CCTV.
Well, it doesn't really matter now.
'There's no need for reconnaissance.'
I decide to focus on the positive aspects.
I gathered information about Orculus after the battle with the Dragonslayer, so I know quite a bit about the 'Corpse Collector'.
'There are 6 known essences.'
Of course, there would be at least 3 unknown essences, and considering his notoriety, they would be a disaster for us.
But at least his class has been confirmed.
"Everyone, don't fight and just retreat!"
I quickly give the order.
In a battle against an ordinary summoner, the standard strategy is to defeat the summons first…
"Don't fight?"
"We need to create distance first!"
…but Poison Necromancers are different. Each of their summons is practically a suicide bomber.
In other words, creating distance is the foundation of the strategy.
"Aruru, come here!"
"Okay!"
That's when, as Ainar takes Raven and prepares to retreat…
Flash!
…a gray light erupts from the slits of his mask.
「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Stone Curse].」
My senses start to go numb from my feet.
I know what skill it is as soon as I'm hit.
The 4th-grade monster, Medusa's essence.
Tadat.
He charges towards me with his stiletto, as if he's going to kill me first.
It's definitely an OP skill.
'The reason why there were no signs of battle around the corpses must be because of this skill.'
Even knights would have a hard time enduring a 4th-grade essence.
The average level of an ordinary knight is 5.
It's only natural that it's difficult for them to invest in Magic Resistance.
'Well, not me.'
The Manticore's passive skill, [Inheritance].
I filled all 200 stat points of this passive with Magic Resistance. Normally, other stats also increase, but there's a loophole for Magic Resistance.
Anyway, as a result…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
…my battle cry has evolved to the point where it can replace the 'Indomitable' skill.
「Character's Magic Resistance is over 400.」
+20 from the 2nd stage of the Undying Engraving.
+80 from the Ogre essence.
+200 from the Manticore's passive skill [Inheritance].
And about 40 from the Magic Resistance increase from [Gigantification] and [Wild Release]. Add the 20% increase from the Earth Dragon's Blessing…
「Character is granted Suppression Immunity.」
…and my Magic Resistance temporarily exceeds 400, granting me immunity to suppression-type skills!
「Status effect [Stone Curse] has been removed.」
I charge forward with my shield as soon as the numbness in my feet disappears.
He also seems flustered.
Well, to be precise, he's dumbfounded.
"Ha! Suppression Immunity? Just how much did you invest in Magic Resistance?!"
Geez, he's praising me.
In the first place, the reason I absorbed the expensive Manticore essence was all for Magic Resistance.
Leaving aside the stat bonus after removing it…
…Magic Resistance +200 alone is enough to be worth it until the later stages of the game.
'But he's really fast.'
Although I pushed forward like a tank, he easily created distance, as expected of an Agility Poison Necromancer.
That's what makes these guys tricky.
Summoners are usually weak in close combat, but it's really hard to catch these guys.
Well, it's a good thing he's not an assassin.
"Raven!! Freeze the corpses!"
"Yes? Yes!!"
"And Avman, shoot something big when I give you the signal! To create an opening for us to escape!"
"…Escape? Do you think that's possible?"
Well, it's 50/50.
But we have to try.
It's a much higher chance of success than fighting him.
"I have to put everything into one shot. Okay!"
Fortunately, the bear-like man follows my order.
He must have sensed it as soon as he heard the name 'Corpse Collector'.
That the probability of winning in a fight is slim, and that even if we do win, there will be casualties.
'Of all people, the Corpse Collector.'
He's one of the top members of Orculus.
He's definitely stronger than the Dragonslayer.
But…
'There's a chance now.'
Necromancers, due to their class characteristics, aren't very good at chasing. And he's also trying to conserve his resources.
'He wants to minimize any waste since he'll have to fight until the labyrinth closes.'
That's when, as I'm quickly backpedaling with that thought…
Swaaa!
…I feel a chill from behind.
It seems like she used an ice spell to freeze the corpses.
"They're frozen!"
Okay, confirmed.
"Avman!"
"Ah, just say the word!"
It seems like the bear-like man is ready.
I give him a brief signal and then ask Raven for one thing.
"Raven, deactivate the Voice Control spell."
"Yes?"
"Quickly."
"It's off."
As soon as the team voice magic is deactivated, I look at him and say,
"Hey."
"Hoo?"
He looks at me with a questioning gaze.
This is why foreigners are…
As expected, he doesn't know.
"Do you know the two ways to piss someone off?"
"Well? I've never heard of it."
This is why foreigners are…
I knew he wouldn't know.
"The first is to stop talking in the middle of a sentence."
"I see. What's the other one?"
Clown nods in understanding.
"That is…"
I trail off and deactivate [Gigantification].
And at that moment…
「Avman Urikfrit has cast [Enhancement].」
「Avman Urikfrit has cast [Dangerous Substance]….」
…an arrow imbued with all the bear-like man's skills is shot, piercing through the widened passage.
Kwaaang!
The cave shakes as if there's an earthquake.
Whoosh!
I shout with more enthusiasm than ever, looking at the other side of the passage, which is blocked by flames,
"What are you doing! Run!"
-x-X-x-
Thick bones instantly cover his entire body.
「Abet Nekrapetto has cast [Bone Armor].」
The man chuckled and looked straight ahead.
The flames that had caught onto the bones were quickly extinguished, but the remaining flames in the passage formed a wall, blocking the path.
"Hmm, I didn't expect you to run away."
Should I chase after them?
The man contemplated, looking at the other side of the blazing flames, and then decided to give up.
Although he wasn't curious about the second way to piss someone off…
[…Captain, it's the knight's corpse.]
[As expected, he set a trap here too. Everyone, be on guard. There must be enemies nearby.]
Explorers appeared from another passage connected to the 2nd-floor portal just in time.
There were about 20 of them.
They seemed to be a small clan, judging by the identical emblem on their chests…
"Tsk."
The man clicked his tongue in displeasure and moved on.
His mission in this operation was to block anyone trying to escape through the 2nd-floor portal.
It was originally the Dragonslayer's mission.
"That snake-eyed bastard is useless. Useless."
If he had just recovered in time, he would have been able to join the main force in the center and focus on his specialty, mass slaughter.
"Well, I'm sure they'll take care of the ones who ran away."
There's no need for him to chase after them and kill them.
Just thinking about it was already annoying.
I just have to do my job.
That's when, as he was heading towards the 2nd-floor portal…
Buzz.
…the message stone in his pocket vibrated.
[Nekrapetto, what's the situation on your end? Did you reach the target location?]
"Oh, Vice-leader! Don't worry. I arrived a long time ago, and I've blocked it off so that not even a single rat can escape. Pfft!"
Although he answered confidently, the reply came after a long pause.
To be precise, it wasn't even an answer.
[…What's with that tone? And that strange laughter?]
"Strange laughter?"
The man tilted his head in confusion at first, but then he chuckled as he realized what it meant.
"Ah, it's just a habit, Vice-leader, don't worry about it."
[Habit?]
"Yeah, a habit that comes out when I'm wearing a mask."
[…I don't understand what you're saying. Anyway, contact me immediately if something happens.]
The call ended there.
The man tapped the skull mask he received as a supply with his index finger.
He suddenly thought of the Round Table members.
'Fox and Goblin definitely entered.'
He wondered how many of them would be alive and attend the next gathering.
He was already looking forward to it.
__________________
We're running with all our might.
Anxiously, in case he's chasing after us.
"Huff, huff."
That's when, after over 10 minutes of sprinting through the passage…
"Did we lose him…?"
…the bear-like man muttered.
I felt a surge of anxiety at his jinx-like line, but I didn't say anything.
I had a similar thought.
'To be precise, it's not that we lost him, but that he's not chasing us.'
But it's a fact that we can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Let's slow down from now on."
"…Aren't we running away anymore?"
"He's not the only one we have to be wary of."
We're currently in the Crystal Cave, shrouded in fog.
If we move too quickly, it will be difficult to react to unexpected dangers in time.
It's safe to say that the entire 1st floor is a minefield—
"Bjorn, shouldn't we have fought?"
Huh?
"What do you mean, Ainar?"
"The Corpse Collector? It was a chance to spread your name even further! But you ran away!"
Right, no wonder she was so quiet.
This is what she was unhappy about.
She tends to admire me as if I'm some ancient barbarian hero.
A chance to gain fame, my ass.
'I'm just grateful that no one got hurt.'
A Necromancer's true strength is revealed when they start pulling corpses out of their subspace pocket.
And the Corpse Collector even has a Numbered Item that gave him his fame.
It's his signature item, similar to the Dragonslayer's Dragonslayer.
If he had taken that out, some of us would have definitely died or been seriously injured.
But…
"Ainar, don't be ridiculous."
Misha coldly rebukes her before I can even say anything, and Ainar shrinks back.
"I, I'm okay…! I can understand since you're an adult. But ho, how can I explain this to the young warriors…!"
Ah, so that's the real problem.
Ainar tells the young warriors at the sanctuary about our expeditions.
It's so embarrassing that I want to crawl into a hole, but I've been letting her do it since I thought it would increase my support within the tribe.
"Just make something up."
"That's not right! Warriors don't lie!"
"Tsk! Are you going to talk back?!"
Ainar shuts her mouth as Misha scolds her firmly.
Her slumped shoulders make me feel bad.
A barbarian's charm lies in their confidence.
I hesitate for a moment and then speak.
"Ainar, we didn't run away."
"Huh?"
"He ran away after seeing us."
It's the typical barbarian mental victory.
"Wh, what do you mean? Don't tease me… I, I also thought that!"
Hmm, I didn't know that.
I repeat myself with a serious expression.
"I'm not teasing you. Ainar, a wise warrior also knows how to choose the battlefield. We retreated to fight on favorable ground, and he ran away because he knew that."
Ainar furrows her brows as if in deep thought and then asks cautiously,
"Is that… really true?"
I was secretly worried, but it seems like it worked. Ainar returns to her usual cheerful self as I nod firmly.
"Mr. Yandel is…"
"What? Do you have something to say?"
"No. I was just thinking… that this is the kind of person who should be a leader."
Raven shakes her head, looking at me with a strange gaze.
It seems like she was impressed by me comforting Ainar, who was disheartened.
"Then let's keep moving."
We end the small talk and continue cautiously, observing our surroundings.
Our destination is the center of the 1st floor.
The place where I judged a bloodbath would be taking place.
"Wouldn't it be better to open another portal?"
"It won't be much different."
I've completely given up on the option of heading towards the 2nd floor.
The Corpse Collector was standing guard at the path leading to the Goblin Forest.
'He's probably trying to block the portal.'
If my prediction is correct, there's a high chance that someone of a similar level is waiting at the other portal.
"If that's the case, I'll follow your judgment. Yandel, you have good intuition in these aspects."
We continue forward, pushing through the fog.
After some time…
Clank, clank.
…we encounter a group of about 10 people at a crossroads.
We're already within each other's line of sight when we sense their presence.
Fortunately, they don't seem to be enemies.
"…Knights."
They're all wearing knight armor, and each armor has their family emblem engraved on it.
Well, it's not impossible to disguise themselves if they're determined…
"Explorer, raise your wrist so I can see your identification tag."
…but judging by their arrogant tone, it seems like they're the real deal.
Therefore, I follow their instructions and show them my identification tag, then ask,
"Is the identification tag important?"
It's the information I'm most curious about.
The knight answers briefly,
"To some extent."
"I'd like to hear more details."
"There was someone who ambushed us using our identification tags. We suffered quite a bit of damage because of that."
"I see."
"Now that your curiosity is satisfied, lower your weapon and stand against the wall. Until we pass."
The knight then speaks authoritatively, and I obediently follow his instructions.
The atmosphere is truly hostile.
All the knights are drenched in blood, as if they've been through countless battles.
But I still have to ask what I need to ask.
"Can you tell me what's going on?"
"…That's a suspicious question."
"We headed straight to the 2nd floor as soon as we entered, so we don't have any information about the inside."
"Hmm."
The knight, who was walking, stops and stares at me.
It's a gaze that's trying to determine whether I'm telling the truth.
That's when, as I start to regret asking…
"Hello. I'm Arrua Raven, a mage from the Artemion school."
…Raven steps forward and reveals her identity.
"If you're suspicious of our identities, we can prove it with magic—"
"Stop, don't come any closer. If you don't want to die."
"No, but I—"
"Do you think there are no mages in Noark?"
Raven shuts her mouth, speechless at the knight's menacing voice.
"...."
"...."
A heavy silence falls upon us.
"Sir Garfizel, there's no way they're from Noark, so you don't have to worry about that."
The situation is reversed as a knight from the backline intervenes.
"How can you guarantee that?"
"Because he's a famous explorer."
"Hmm, this guy?"
The knight who seems to be the leader tilts his head, looking at me, and I do the same.
"…Do you know me?"
"Of course."
The knight who received my question pushes up the visor of his helmet.
And a familiar face is revealed.
So, his name was…
"Kars Erimore?"
"It's an honor that you remember. It's been a while."
Kars Erimore.
It's the knight from Baron Martoan's family whom I met at the Count's estate.
Although he was an apprentice, he was still a knight.
I can't believe I'm seeing him again here.
"So who is this?"
"His name is Bjorn Yandel, he's more famous in the city by the title of Little Balkan."
The knight's gaze changes as my identity is confirmed through my connection with Kars.
"Little Balkan… I've heard of you. In social circles, you're called the 'Knight Crusher', right?"
His gaze is far from favorable.
But at least he's no longer suspicious of us as enemies, so it's much better than before.
"So, can I hear what's going on now?"
The knight briefly explains the situation.
That explorers from Noark attacked them as soon as they entered the labyrinth.
That there were even some among them who had identification tags, so they suffered significant damage in the beginning.
And that they're currently gathering their forces and protecting explorers in the dark zone of the center after the fog appeared.
"By dark zone of the center, do you mean the place with the monument?"
"Yes, go there. You'll be safe if you can reach it."
It's good news.
I stop him as he's about to leave and ask cautiously,
"Are you guys going to the portal?"
"…Why are you curious about that?"
Geez, he's prickly.
"Because we're coming from there."
"Interesting."
I share the information I know with the knight who's showing interest.
After all, we can be considered allies.
I can't just let him die.
"The Corpse Collector is near the portal. So if you see any corpses in the passage, be careful. It means he's also found you."
Unexpectedly, the knight listens to my words and then nods without questioning them.
"Every piece of information is valuable in times of war. The Corpse Collector… Thank you for telling me."
He even expresses his gratitude and hands me a ring.
"If any knight suspects you, show them this and tell them about me. It will vouch for your identity."
"…I'll put it to good use."
"Then I'll be going. I don't have time."
The knight leaves with his party as soon as I receive the ring.
He doesn't seem as annoying as before.
He's a guy who knows his duty.
'It seems like it's not enchanted with the size adjustment spell.'
I try to put the ring on my pinky finger, but I give up and hand it to Misha.
"Huh? Me? You're giving it to me?"
"It doesn't fit my finger."
"…Th, then I guess I have no choice."
Misha then holds out her left hand.
What? Does she want me to put it on for her?
"Ahem…"
I turn her hand over so that her palm is facing down and then place the ring on her finger.
"Put it on."
"Geez, you're so shy."
…What is she talking about?
___________________
We increase our speed after meeting the knights. The smell of blood intensifies as we leave the outskirts and approach the center.
"Even here…"
"Stop looking and keep moving."
Corpses are visible every few minutes, wherever we go.
Most of them are naked.
They're taking everything even in this situation.
Well, we're all the same, so I have nothing to say.
"Yandel! Ambush!!"
We've also had quite a few battles on the way here.
About nine times now?
Once, they ambushed us after checking our identification tags, and the rest of the time, they attacked as soon as we encountered them, drawing their weapons.
Most of them were around 5th-grade level like us…
…but there haven't been any major problems so far.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
After all, we're quite strong on average.
We've grown to the point where we're aiming for the 6th floor, and our combat power is high since we don't have a professional scout.
"Bjorn, what about the two who ran away?"
"Leave them. We don't have time, just gather their equipment quickly and let's move."
Equipment piles up in my subspace pocket as we travel.
It feels like I'm in a dungeon with an unlimited PK concept.
'I didn't expect to feel this kind of thrill on the 1st floor.'
My anxiety gradually grows.
Although we've been moving without any major problems so far, how long will this last?
"Bjorn…"
"Don't worry, we're almost there."
I try not to show my anxiety and continue leading the team forward.
And after some time…
"Halt."
…we encounter a group of unknown explorers at a crossroads.
There are about thirty of them.
They seem to be resting after a tough battle, and they immediately take out their weapons and become wary as soon as they see us.
Thump!
My heart pounds like crazy.
If they're from Noark, we're as good as dead—
"Uh…! Mi, mister?!!"
That's when I hear a familiar voice.
"Mister!!!!"
Erwen, emerging from the group of explorers, hugged one of my arms.
"I'm so glad! I was so worried!!"
Huh, I didn't expect to see her here.
Of course, I wasn't unhappy about it.
I relaxed a bit and looked around.
Her sister, Daria, was also there.
'They're definitely not all from the same clan…'
At first, I thought they might be from the clan Erwen joined as a mercenary.
But it seemed like that wasn't the case either.
Most of them were wearing clan emblems, but not all of them. And the emblems were all different.
Then what kind of group was this?
"Miss Erwen, who is he?"
A human woman, seemingly in her early thirties, lowered her weapon and asked, and Erwen finally let go of my arm and turned around.
"Don't worry, I know him! Ah, and my sister knows him too! Right, sis?"
"…That's right. His identity is confirmed, so you don't have to worry about him being from Noark."
"That's a relief."
The woman, after hearing Daria's words, ordered the wary explorers to lower their weapons.
Hmm, is this woman the leader here?
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Versil Gowland, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan."
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel."
"Little Balkan…?"
The woman looked at me with a welcoming gaze as I shrugged.
"My, we have a very important person here."
It was a compliment that subtly raised my status.
An ordinary barbarian would have puffed out his chest and acted arrogantly at this point.
Is this how leaders talk?
"I'm not that important. I should be the one saying that."
I answered briefly and looked at the woman.
I wasn't just being polite, I meant it.
"The Lalel Clan, if I'm not mistaken, is a pretty big clan."
It wasn't one of the Top Ten Clans, but it was big enough to be considered a large clan.
The unique characteristic was that 80% of the clan members were women.
"And the vice-leader…"
I met a big shot in an unexpected place.
But I had no intention of just socializing.
"So what are you guys doing here?"
"I'll explain."
Versil, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan, briefly explained the situation as soon as the introductions were over.
It seemed like they were in a similar situation to us.
They had moved quickly to reach the 2nd floor as soon as they entered the labyrinth.
And…
"That incident happened."
Versil returned to the starting point to assess the situation.
However, it was already pandemonium.
So she started gathering forces as a temporary measure.
"Everyone gathered here are people we met nearby. Their identities are confirmed."
"Confirmed?"
"I don't know everyone personally, but we're all acquainted one way or another. Unfortunately, we had to exclude those who couldn't be vouched for, so you can relax."
Right, so they used that method because they couldn't trust the identification tags.
Just like how Erwen vouched for me.
They were a group that had formed a minimum level of trust by vouching for each other.
"Our goal is simple."
Versil then presented the group's objective.
"To protect ourselves by joining forces. And ultimately, to break through the enemy lines and reach the safe zone."
"By safe zone, do you mean the dark zone in the center?"
"Yes, it seems like you know. That's good."
As expected of a vice-leader of a successful clan…
…she was skilled at handling people.
Her personality also seemed quite cautious.
'And she must be quite skilled, being a vice-leader.'
I accepted Versil's offer to join them after a brief moment of contemplation.
"Alright, I look forward to working with you."
In this chaotic situation where I don't know how the day will end…
…I found a temporary shelter.
___________________
"You don't have to keep watch, so please rest for a while. I'll explain everything when we're about to leave."
I gratefully accepted Versil's consideration.
I desperately needed a break.
The fog blocking our vision.
Battles against humans, not monsters.
And the chaotic situation where it's impossible to predict what will happen next.
I was physically tired, but the mental stress was even greater.
"Come on, let's rest here."
I led my teammates, who were standing awkwardly as if they were uncomfortable with the unfamiliar explorers, to an empty spot and sat down.
And we rested.
"This is great. To think we would meet these people… there's still hope…"
Could it be that they're finally relaxing?
My companions, who were initially wary of their surroundings, also enjoyed the brief respite with relieved expressions.
That's when…
"Mister, you made a good decision. That vice-leader, she's very strong. And the others are too."
Erwen, who had been tactfully staying next to her sister, naturally approached me and sat down.
"By the way, we must be fated. I was just thinking about you. And then you really appeared! Hehe."
"Tsk."
Even Ainar and Misha, who usually didn't like Erwen, just frowned slightly and didn't start anything.
They knew too.
How foolish it would be to cause trouble with personal feelings in this situation.
"But how do you two know each other? I heard that fairies and barbarians don't get along."
Raven, who was meeting her for the first time, expressed her curiosity and joined the conversation.
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm—"
"I know! Mister told me about you a lot. He said a very talented mage joined his team…"
"…Did Mr. Yandel really say that?"
Hmm, not exactly…
I decided to just watch silently, thinking that she's just being sociable.
"I'm Erwen Fornachi di Tersia. It's Miss Arrua Raven, right?"
"Just call me Raven."
"Then please call me Erwen."
Erwen, after finishing the introductions in a friendly atmosphere, told them about how we met, as if bragging.
Even the bear-like man, who was leaning against the wall, was pretending not to listen but was actually listening intently, as if he was also curious about our relationship.
"To think that this pretty fairy is the one he had his first return drinks with… Yandel, you really have a lot of luck with women."
What is this man talking about?
"Mr. Urikfrit, was it? Hehe, thank you for the compliment!"
"…Call me Avman."
"Okay, Mr. Avman!"
Erwen, acting like the youngest, quickly made friends with everyone.
Honestly, I was quite impressed.
"But how do you use this crossbow? It seems like an ordinary person wouldn't even be able to pull it because of the tension."
"Ah, this? It's nothing special. Do you want to try it?"
"Is it okay? Ugh… wow! It's on a completely different level from my bow."
"Huhu, it's only natural since I used troll tendons."
I can't believe she's this good at socializing.
It's like she's showing off her skills in front of her mother-in-law—
'Ah, maybe that's not wrong.'
Come to think of it, I said I was going to form a clan.
Naturally, Raven and the bear-like man are the top candidates for recruitment.
She probably judged that it would be good to get on their good side since we might end up in the same clan someday.
Well, she was making enemies with the other two.
"Beefcake. Put your lips down. Is this a situation to be smiling?!"
"…Huh?"
The bear-like man freezes, stunned by Ainar's unexpected attack.
But did he realize the situation belatedly?
He said something incomprehensible, as if making an excuse.
"Ah, ah! I, I'm a cat person, of course."
"Right? I almost suspected you! So come here and look at my greatsword. Talking about bows is boring!"
"Uh… boring?"
"Of course!!"
Ainar drags the bear-like man to her side and makes him sit down.
That's when…
"Erwen."
"Ah, sis."
Daria, who was watching us from afar, approaches.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I have something to talk to you about."
"Uh, with mister?"
"Yes."
I was about to get up since she said she had something to talk to me about, but Daria stopped me.
"There's no need to do that while you're resting."
"Really? Then what is it?"
Daria looked at me awkwardly as I asked. She seemed uncomfortable talking to me.
I soon realized why.
"You… became a 5th-grade explorer?"
As far as I know, Daria was also a 5th-grade explorer, and that hasn't changed.
But what about me?
I, who was a 9th-grade newbie back then, had become a 5th-grade explorer leading a team in just one year.
So it's only natural for her to feel awkward.
"So? Is that all you wanted to say?"
"…I have a proposal."
"Go ahead."
"How about you join us for a while?"
"Explain in more detail."
Daria spoke in a completely business-like tone at my request.
She said that although seven teams had gathered, it was all just temporary, and most teams were sticking with teams they were acquainted with.
"If you agree, our two teams will stay close together when we move. So that we can join forces immediately if something happens."
Wherever people gather, factions form.
Daria was proposing an alliance.
"That's not a bad offer."
The offer itself was quite attractive.
Well, if one condition was met.
"But did you get permission from your leader?"
Daria was a mercenary member of the 4th team of the Blue Wall Clan.
Naturally, the team leader was one of the clan's executives.
Did she already discuss it with him?
"That guy… don't worry, I can persuade him. So what's your answer?"
"Alright."
"Okay, then I'll be back later. Erwen, let's go back for now."
"Uh-huh…"
Daria then returned to her team with her sister, and I watched them leave.
I felt a strange sensation.
When we first met, she just treated me like a naive barbarian. And a guy who was just hanging around her sister.
But to think I would receive an offer like this from her…
"Everyone, finish your preparations, we'll be leaving soon."
Versil announced our departure after a few more minutes of rest. Ah, for reference, she also told us the formation our team should maintain while moving, and we were positioned third from the front.
The team right behind us was Erwen's.
'This feels like we're being taken advantage of.'
It's a structure where each team follows the other like a train.
Of course, I didn't have any complaints.
It's only natural to move in a single file in the Crystal Cave, and Versil's team, with the strongest combat power, was clearing the path at the forefront.
But…
"I heard about you from Daria and Erwen. You're called Little Balkan, right? I look forward to working with you."
"Yeah, I'll leave the rear to you."
Why are we ahead of them?
Could this be a coincidence?
'There's no way.'
Although the third and fourth positions might seem similar, it's a fact that the front is more dangerous.
It's a minor detail, but we're definitely at a disadvantage.
It seemed like Raven also thought so.
"Um, I don't feel good about this."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"The formation. We're not going to keep going like this, right? It would be better to take turns, whether it's the front or the back."
The leader of Erwen's team, let's just call him Lantern Jaw, smiled kindly at Raven's objection.
"Haha, we have more ranged attackers, and you guys have more melee attackers. It's just a rational arrangement."
"That's—"
"And besides, we're positioned in the safest spot, the center. Who do you think that's thanks to?"
Lantern Jaw cut Raven off and drew a firm line.
Even Raven, the rationalist, couldn't say anything.
"...."
If it's really thanks to him that we're in this position…
…then it's only fair for us to be in the front since we didn't contribute anything.
We could even say that we're benefiting from it.
But…
'A mere team leader from a small or medium-sized clan can influence the vice-leader of a large clan?'
It sounded like bullshit.
I needed to observe a bit more.
"Alright, let's end this conversation here and go. It seems like the front has already left."
Geez, he's rushing us.
I pushed aside my suspicions and moved forward.
Thud, thud.
And so, the journey began in earnest.
__________________
The journey itself was smooth.
It felt like a stroke of luck that we encountered them and that Erwen, who could vouch for my identity, was among them.
"Vice-leader! It's a dark mage!!"
"Buy some time. I'll take care of it soon."
The combat power of the team with the vice-leader of a large clan was truly impressive.
'They said their clan mainly operates on the 7th floor.'
It was very comfortable for us to just follow them as they cleared the path.
'Is this what it feels like to be carried?'
I barely even swung my mace, except for a few ambushes from side paths.
That's when, about an hour into the journey…
"There's good news and bad news."
…Versil, the vice-leader, stopped and spoke to us.
"The good news is that we're almost there. We can reach the dark zone in 20 minutes if we run."
Right, I already knew that.
"What's the bad news?"
Versil muttered in a neutral tone at an explorer's question.
"We can't all go together."
A chilling silence started to fill the cave.
-x-X-x-
A man shouted amidst the silence.
"We, we can't all go together? What do you mean?!"
His voice was filled with the anxiety of being abandoned in this golden opportunity.
"I'll explain."
Versil, the vice-leader, continued calmly.
"Our scout said that explorers from Noark are stationed at all the passages leading to the dark zone. They've blocked it off so that no one can enter or leave."
It means a much larger force is stationed ahead, compared to what we've encountered so far.
Another man shouted,
"…So you're saying there will be sacrifices if we want to break through from now on!"
The true meaning of her words, 'we can't all go together'.
I also interpreted it the same way.
But…
"It might be similar in some aspects."
…the moment I heard that slightly bitter and meaningful mutter…
Thump!
…my heart started to pound uneasily.
Versil continued without pause, skipping any unnecessary excuses and getting straight to the point.
"We're going to use the Mass Teleportation spell."
Mass Teleport.
A high-level special magic spell that only mages above 4th grade from certain schools can use.
Now I understood.
Why she said we couldn't all go together.
"...."
A deeper silence than when I first heard those words weighed down on us.
"Bjo, Bjorn? If we use the teleportation spell, we can get through without fighting, right? But why are everyone's expressions…"
The reason is simple.
"…The Mass Teleportation spell can only be used on up to twenty people."
As Raven, a current mage, said…
…Mass Teleport can only be used on up to 20 people, but there are currently 35 of us.
In other words…
'15 people.'
…three teams will be abandoned.
Right before reaching the safe zone in the center.
"Wh, why did you even tell us to join forces if you were going to abandon us at the end?!"
Someone shouted in anger.
But Versil just apologized briefly without changing her expression.
"I'm sorry about that. We didn't expect this either."
Her voice was gentle but firm.
I sighed silently.
Persuasion was meaningless against this type of person.
She probably wouldn't change her mind no matter what I said.
"So how are you going to choose the 15 people who will be abandoned?"
Versil looked at me with a strange expression as I asked.
It seemed like she found it strange that I was so calm in this situation.
"We'll draw lots for each team."
"Everyone except for your team?"
"No. One more team will be excluded."
Versil then looked in one direction.
It was where the team that had been fighting alongside them, clearing the path right behind them, was located.
"I apologize. It seems like she has a long-standing relationship with Vice-leader Versil."
The leader of that team didn't seem surprised and just expressed his regret to us, as if he already knew.
Right, so it was pre-arranged.
It wasn't strange. They were also a team from a large clan.
But…
'Damn it.'
A headache throbbed in my temples.
Now there were only two tickets left for teleportation.
And three tickets for being left behind.
The probability of being abandoned here was higher if we drew lots.
But could it be that they realized that?
"Please take us with you."
The expressions of the remaining teams all changed.
Desperately.
"I'll give you 5 million… no, 10 million stones per person."
Someone offered money.
"We're a team under the Blue Wall Clan. If you take us with you, our Master will definitely reward you greatly…"
Someone promised future benefits through their connections.
"We, we don't have a clan yet. And we're all women. We're currently operating on the 5th floor, but we used to be on the 6th. I heard the Lalel Clan is also recruiting members because they've lost some strength recently…"
Someone offered themselves as a bargaining chip.
No one volunteered to draw lots.
It was only natural.
No one would want to leave their only life to chance.
"Yandel."
The bear-like man called out to me in a heavy voice.
He must be thinking that we should do something too.
But I decided to wait and see.
I judged that it wouldn't be too late to offer something after seeing what kind of decision Versil Gowland made.
"I apologize. But I don't think it's right to do it that way."
"Th, that means…!"
"Yes. The rest of you will be decided fairly through a lottery. I hope you understand my decision."
Versil, having made an exception for just one team she had promised beforehand, stuck to her principles.
"Versil Gowland, the vice-leader of the Lalel Clan. She's exactly as I heard."
Raven muttered in admiration of her integrity, but I couldn't relate.
'She just didn't receive any tempting offers.'
If she were truly fair, she wouldn't have excluded that other team in the first place. Especially when she knew what kind of situation the remaining teams would be in.
'Anyway, we have to decide by lottery…'
I don't know if it's a good thing.
I've never won a lottery in my life.
"Then let's begin right away since we don't have much time."
Versil then prepared for the lottery by creating a pouch with five stones inside.
The rules were simple.
Two white stones were winners.
If you drew one of the three black stones, you were abandoned here.
"Which team wants to go first?"
"I will."
The team that offered 10 million stones per person was the first to step forward.
"My fate is left to a damn stone…"
The dwarf warrior, clad in fancy equipment, nervously put his hand into the pouch.
And…
"Ha, hahaha… I got it!!"
…he succeeded on his first try.
The dwarf's team was filled with joy, while the expressions of the other teams darkened.
"Come over here. Then who's next?"
No one stepped forward in the midst of the mixed emotions.
There was only one winning ticket left.
And three tickets to hell.
"Mr. Yandel, we have to wait. The probability of drawing a white stone is higher if we wait."
25% chance of winning.
75% chance of losing.
But as always, probability was meaningless.
"Phew, we'll go first."
One of the teams that were awkwardly watching stepped forward.
It was a team composed entirely of women.
"Kyaaaaaak!!!"
They drew the last white stone.
"...."
Damn it.
__________________
"Then it's all over."
The fate of five teams was decided with just two draws. The remaining three teams didn't even have a chance to leave their fate to chance.
"Kyaaaaaak!!!"
What was I doing while that female team was drawing the white stone?
I was contemplating whether to have Misha, Ainar, or Raven draw.
I didn't expect it to end in just two draws.
'Is this even possible?'
Just as that thought crossed my mind, Versil turned the pouch inside out and scattered the three black stones on the ground.
As if to prove that there was no foul play.
"Then everyone gather here. I'll cast the spell as soon as we're ready."
The chosen ones quickly gathered at Versil's words.
That's when…
"Wa, wait!"
One of the three teams that were mentally broken.
Lantern Jaw, the leader of Erwen's team, hurriedly approached them.
"Pl, please take us with you! I'll do anything!"
A pathetic plea.
But she wasn't the type to be swayed by something like that.
"There's no more room."
Lantern Jaw turned to the others at Versil's emotionless words.
"I'll give you 10 million stones! No, 20 million stones if you give me your spot!"
To buy a spot with money…
He's truly pathetic.
Judging by how he didn't even mention his teammates, he just wanted to survive on his own.
"...."
Daria, who was on the same team, frowned as if he was a bug, but Lantern Jaw didn't stop.
He even approached each person and asked if they would take the deal, but they all ignored him.
"Is, is there really no one?"
Would you do it if you were them?
It wasn't just about the money, but if they sold their spot, they would be separated from their companions.
"Would you please step back if you're done talking?"
"...."
Lantern Jaw dejectedly turned around and returned to his team at Versil's brief words.
And so, the commotion ended.
The mage from Versil's team was drawing a magic circle on the ground to cast Mass Teleport.
"Bjorn…"
"We'll talk later."
I ignored Misha's call and spoke to the vice-leader.
"Versil Gowland."
"Yes. What is it?"
Her voice was polite but devoid of any other emotion.
No pity or curiosity.
Hmm, maybe she thought I would whine like Lantern Jaw.
I chuckled and asked,
"Why did you put us in the safest position, the center, when we were moving?"
Versil tilted her head.
But she didn't seem particularly curious about why I was asking.
She just answered as I wanted.
"We drew lots. To be fair."
Right, so everything she said was a lie.
I expected it, but the reason we were placed in the center wasn't because of Lantern Jaw.
'Okay, so she's a sly bitch.'
Whether I like it or not, we'll have to work with the three abandoned teams from now on. It became clearer how I should treat Lantern Jaw.
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"
"No, one more thing."
"Go ahead."
"You said they're stationed at the passage, right? I want to hear more details. How are they positioned, and how strong are they?"
"…Don't tell me, you're planning to break through on your own?"
Did she think we would just die here?
"If necessary."
In the first place, my destination was that place, even though I met them and comfortably traveled here.
So nothing changes.
"So, what's your answer?"
Versil stared at me for a moment at my urging.
"…You're truly as they say. Alright. Jenia?"
"Yes, Vice-leader."
"Go and answer all his questions."
"Yes."
Versil then sent the scout from her team to me, and I listened to her briefing on the surrounding area.
And after about 5 minutes…
"Jenia, come here."
All preparations for the spell were complete, and Versil left after saying one last thing to us,
"I hope you won't resent us."
It meant that we had to make our own way from now on.
Well, it's nothing new.
______________________
"…They're really gone."
The empty space felt even bigger after more than half of the people disappeared.
But I focused on one thing.
What do I have to do right now?
Dwelling on my feelings of emptiness wouldn't be the right way to spend this precious time.
"Mr. Yandel, what are we going to do now?"
"Let me think for a moment."
There were two options.
To break through the route that Versil gave up on and head towards the center, our original destination.
Or to turn back and find another way.
The latter wasn't a bad option either.
'We can survive if we just stay in the outer areas.'
The war is raging in the center.
And Noark's strongest explorers are blocking the paths in the outermost areas.
But there would be relatively few people in the outer areas.
And the area is vast, so we could somehow endure if we just avoided them and hid.
But…
'We won't know what's going on.'
That's the biggest disadvantage.
Every second is precious in this chaotic situation.
If we just hide, we won't be able to get any information about what's happening.
And besides…
'The Floor Master appears on Day 3.'
We can't defeat the 1st-floor Floor Master on our own.
If it's summoned while we're waiting, we'll definitely be wiped out.
"I need to check our strength first."
"Yes?"
"Can everyone gather here?"
I put my decision on hold and gathered the other two teams who were in the same situation.
And I immediately got to the point.
"Tell me your explorer rank, the essences you've absorbed, and your specialties, one by one."
"You're saying to reveal everything?"
"Is that important in this situation? We have to join forces now."
"You're talking like you're the leader."
Lantern Jaw frowned at my suggestion.
Even he didn't seem to like the fact that I was naturally speaking like a leader.
Geez, how annoying.
"Does it matter who the leader is? To be worried about something like that in this situation, you're a real idiot."
"…Wh, what? What the hell are you—"
"If you want, we can decide on a leader first. Should we vote?"
I naturally led the conversation towards voting.
Because Erwen was here.
If she, a member of another team, voted for me, I wouldn't lose.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn.
"There's no need to vote."
"…?"
"If we were to vote, our team would vote for you."
It was the man who was the leader of the remaining team.
"With our team, it's already 10 votes, so there's no need to waste time."
Hmm, so it's like this?
Honestly, I'm a bit flustered.
But could it be that Lantern Jaw was also flustered? He helpfully asked the reason for me.
"…What do you mean? You're saying you'll make the barbarian the leader? Are you insane?"
"First of all, I'm not good at leading."
"Then it should obviously be me—"
"If we had to choose between the two of you, he's much more trustworthy."
I think I understand their reasoning.
They judged that I was better than Lantern Jaw, who tried to save himself by abandoning his team.
But there was another reason.
"And most importantly, he was the only one who asked that woman for information when everyone else was in denial."
…This is a bit embarrassing.
"What's your name?"
"Takelan Arbenon."
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel."
After formally exchanging names with Takelan, I returned to the original topic.
"Anyway, it's decided. Now tell me your explorer rank, the essences you've absorbed, and your specialties, one by one. So that we can decide what to do—"
"Wait, who said it's decided?"
Ha, this bastard again.
"Do you have a problem?"
"Of course I—"
"Then get lost. Our two teams will move together."
I cut him off and said firmly, not wanting to waste any more time.
"…Damn it."
Lantern Jaw clenched his fists in frustration, but he didn't leave.
Well, where would he go in this situation?
I chuckled and said to him,
"If you interrupt me or disobey my orders one more time, that's it. Got it?"
"...."
"Answer me."
"…Got it."
Okay, then the hierarchy is established.
I then quickly finished what I was trying to do.
Who's in what position and what essences they have.
'Hmm, this is a bit ambiguous.'
Although I checked their approximate strength, my worries deepened.
I still wasn't sure.
So I went through an additional confirmation process.
"Let's at least introduce ourselves. We should be able to call each other's names in an emergency."
I made up an excuse and listened to each of their names.
Honestly, it would be difficult to remember them all…
'But there's no Hans.'
Fortunately, there was no Hans.
It was a positive sign.
It meant that the probability of success increased, regardless of what decision I made.
"What are we going to do now?"
14 pairs of eyes turned towards me at Raven's question.
It's time to make a decision.
I spoke, erasing my doubts about my choice.
"We're heading towards the safe zone."
"What are the chances of success?"
I just smiled wryly at Takelan's question.
I had just witnessed how meaningless probability was, but…
One thing was certain.
Not everyone would survive even if we succeeded.
'About half will probably die.'
We have to risk our lives to reach a place where some people were able to get to with just one spell.
-x-X-x-
The 1st-floor Crystal Cave, shrouded in fog.
A man was chuckling and chatting with his companion in that place, filled with the stench of blood and scattered corpses.
Their conversation was trivial.
About how pretty the woman they just killed was, and whether he felt a bit sorry for her.
It inevitably ended with a complaint.
"Tsk, there's nothing fun happening here."
"Haha, think of it differently, it's good because it's less dangerous."
"…You're unnecessarily optimistic."
"But I'm not wrong, am I?"
"Well, that's true, but…"
The man suppressed his frustration and took out some jerky from his pocket and chewed on it. It was his first time eating meat in a long time, as he was practically a low-ranking member.
Noark, where he belonged, was suffering from a severe food shortage since they hadn't been able to enter the labyrinth for six months.
'…We'll be able to win, right?'
The man shook his head, dismissing the anxiety that briefly crossed his mind.
It wasn't a matter of whether they could win.
They had to win.
So that they could live like humans.
Even if it was in a dark underground city.
"Rex, focus on your mission."
The man, who was leaning against the wall and resting, sighed and adjusted his posture at his leader's words.
"You look dissatisfied."
The man spoke honestly,
"We haven't seen anyone for over two hours."
"So?"
"It means no one will come. The ones who were going to enter have already entered, and the rest are either dead or ran away."
And besides, the area they were assigned to was quite far from the central dark zone.
It meant they wouldn't encounter anyone coming from inside.
"Still, you never know, so keep an eye on your surroundings."
"Yes, sir."
The man casually answered his stubborn leader and stood at one of the forks in the road.
He couldn't see far because of the fog.
But he wasn't anxious.
What would be the problem even if something jumped out from beyond?
'There are so many of us here.'
The loot he would bring back to Noark would just increase.
That's when…
"Leader! I sense a presence!"
…his companion, who was keeping watch at another fork in the road, shouted. The man grabbed his weapon and moved towards him.
'Someone's really here?'
It was a bit unexpected, but he wasn't anxious.
'Does he not know anything about the situation here?'
He probably didn't.
If he knew even a little, he wouldn't even think of passing through here.
He must have taken this path without knowing anyth—
"Huh?"
The man tilted his head.
And it wasn't just him.
Everyone tilted their heads and listened.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
What the hell is that sound?
"Footsteps?"
Someone muttered briefly, but it didn't explain anything.
How could those be human footsteps?
Maybe if it were a large monster like a troll…
'But there are no monsters like that on the 1st floor.'
The man gripped his weapon tighter, feeling an unknown sense of unease.
That's when…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
…it appeared from beyond the thick fog, letting out a ferocious shout.
"What, what the hell is that?!"
"Block him!!"
It was a barbarian.
A giant one.
_____________________
Survival means letting go.
What will you discard to survive?
This process is strictly based on priority.
Humans are rational beasts.
Thump!
It often appears in movies, doesn't it?
Scenes where they discard luggage to make the helicopter fly, to prevent the ship from sinking, or to escape from enemies.
The more you discard, the higher the probability of survival.
But…
Thump!
…reality is different from movies.
It's not that kind.
What we have to discard for survival isn't luggage, but something else.
Thump!
Versil probably knew that.
That's why she left without hesitation.
Leaving behind just these words:
[I hope you won't resent us.]
Of course, I didn't resent her.
Because I knew it was a completely rational decision.
She had her priorities, and she boldly discarded everything else to achieve them.
Just like I am right now.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
I shout and put strength into my feet.
I feel an unprecedented resistance from the shield I'm holding with both hands.
It's like I'm climbing a tidal wave with just a shield.
Well, maybe it's not a completely inaccurate description.
Although it's a bit exaggerated.
"What, what the hell is this guy?!"
"Block him!!"
I'm clearing the path at the forefront.
To cover the 20-minute distance.
Pushing aside the swarming enemies.
Like a tank on a battlefield.
"Bjorn!!!"
Misha is following right behind me.
Her role is simple.
To take care of the enemies who are pushed aside by my charge.
Slash!
It doesn't matter if she can't kill them in one shot.
Our goal isn't to reduce their numbers, and besides…
…we have more power behind us.
"You, damn bitch—!"
If Misha is the first filter…
…the second filter is Raven and the bear-like man, who's carrying her.
Kwaaang!
The enemies Misha couldn't defeat are hit by crossbow bolts and magic before they can even get up.
Of course, it's not a problem even if it doesn't end there.
We have more filters behind us.
"Erwen, be careful!"
The ranged damage dealer duo, Erwen and Daria.
And Takelan's team, with an average rank of 5, following right behind them, and Lantern Jaw's team at the very back.
It's like a medieval cavalry charge.
"Aaaaaaaaaak!!!"
Our only goal is to charge forward.
The enemies we couldn't defeat at the front are taken care of by those behind us. And even if there are enemies who survive the last filter, it doesn't matter.
That's for the rear to deal with.
'It's their own fault.'
When I came up with this strategy and formed the lines, Lantern Jaw insisted on being at the very back, even offering to give us the ranged fairy duo.
His thoughts were obvious.
He judged that the front was the most dangerous since we were charging. And he probably thought he could run away if something happened.
He treated Erwen's team like sacrificial pawns.
'That idiot.'
The rear is actually the riskiest position in this strategy. Right now, they can freeload since everything is being taken care of at the front…
…but that won't last forever.
Although I didn't expect that moment to come so soon.
Thud!
A heavy impact is transmitted through my shield.
I can't move forward even though I'm putting all my strength into my feet.
I lower my shield slightly to check my front.
"What a crazy bastard."
A warrior from the Black Bear tribe, like the bear-like man, was blocking my path. He was about 1.5 times smaller than me in [Gigantification] state.
But…
'Damn it.'
Just how strong is this guy?
I'm reminded once again that the level of Noark explorers is high, but I'm not too worried.
"You barbarian, do you think you're some kind of hero from a—"
I ignore the bear bastard's words and shout to the back,
"Raven, now!!"
I'm not a hero who saves everyone.
But neither is he.
"Everyone, get back!!"
An explosive impact hits me from behind as soon as I hear Raven's warning.
「Arrua Raven has cast the 6th-grade support spell [Oxygen Explosion].」
It's a 6th-grade wind-attribute support spell.
The reason she detonated it behind me is simple.
Although the damage is low, it has a high knockback effect.
"Ugh! What the…!"
I use the wind as a driving force, like a sail, and push the enemy back, ending the stalemate.
And…
"N, no—!"
Kwagic.
I stomp on the bear bastard's face with [Leap] as he loses his balance and falls backward, then continue dashing forward.
Well, he probably won't die just from this since he's also a tank…
Thump!
…but I hear the sound of flesh being torn from behind.
Geez, it sounds like they're stabbing tofu.
It seems like his Physical Resistance is low, even though his Strength is high.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I use [Wild Release] to boost my stats and continue charging, as enemies have gathered behind me while the bear bastard was blocking my path.
But…
"We have to move faster!!"
…we're not as fast as before.
It's a big problem.
One of the weaknesses of a cavalry charge is that they get surrounded if their breakthrough is stopped.
"These, crazy bastards!!"
"Kill them!!"
The enemies who were pushed back and fell get up like zombies and charge towards my companions.
It means we have to fight our way through this chaos now, instead of just clearing the path.
Slash, thump, kwagic! Kwaaang!
Fierce battle sounds overlap from behind.
Of course, I can't know the exact situation.
But the more that's the case, the more I look straight ahead.
"Bjorn, don't worry about the back!!"
Of course, I'm worried.
Human lives are like flies in this war.
I'm anxious that someone might get seriously injured by a stray sword.
Slash!
I don't know whose body that sound of flesh being pierced came from.
Could it be Misha?
Ainar?
Raven?
The bear-like man?
Negative thoughts keep popping up in my head.
But so what?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
If I stop here, the situation will only worsen.
I embrace the fear I couldn't discard and focus everything on my single role.
"Wh, what kind of strength is this?!"
To just open the path.
To trust my companions with the rear and move forward resolutely.
It's what I have to do right now, and what only I can do.
[The good news is that we're almost there. We can reach the dark zone in 20 minutes if we run.]
An eternity passes.
Inside the cave, filled with sweat, blood, and screams.
'Has it been about 3 minutes?'
Although it feels like at least an hour has passed…
…it can't be more than that. I can tell where we are just by looking at the walls of the 1st floor now.
'Damn it.'
It feels like I'm trapped in a cave where time is distorted.
I estimate how much time has passed by checking my location in real time.
4 minutes. 5 minutes. 6 minutes.
And…
'7 minutes.'
The first casualty.
"Cayenne!! Cayenne is injured!! Help me. We, we have to carry him together…"
"Let go, Lena."
"Yes? But…!"
"He's… already dead."
"...."
"We're leaving him here."
Cayenne was an archer from Takelan's team.
That's all I know about him, but he seemed like a good guy when we introduced ourselves.
'8 minutes.'
The path is blocked by a barrier someone summoned.
I immediately change course and take a side path.
It's an improvisation I wouldn't have been able to do if I hadn't received navigator training from Rotmiller.
'It will take at least 3 more minutes to reach our destination.'
The bad news doesn't end there.
'9 minutes.'
Another one dies.
This time, it's a member of Lantern Jaw's team, who was following us from the rear.
And one more thing.
"Bjorn, Misha is injured!!"
Misha is injured.
"Where and how bad?"
"Lo, lower left chest! Her organs aren't damaged—"
"Give her a potion while we're running. Ainar, carry Misha too!"
Fortunately, it's not life-threatening, but Ainar, who was carrying Raven and helping with the battle with one hand, is now only a transporter.
'10 minutes.'
More bad news from behind.
"Mr. Yandel! Those people in the back are gone!!"
Lantern Jaw's team, who was in charge of the rear, ran away.
It seems like they saw people dying in the front and decided it was hopeless…
It was my misjudgment.
'I can't believe he's that stupid.'
I didn't think he would be foolish enough to think he could escape alone when we're surrounded by enemies.
Damn it, if he was going to commit suicide, he could have at least died for us.
Anyway, the burden on Takelan's team increased significantly after those bastards left.
Is that why?
'13 minutes.'
Two people died this time.
The mage from Takelan's team and the warrior who was carrying him.
"Damn it! Because of a measly goblin…!"
The primary cause of death was a respawning goblin.
It flew into the sorcerer's face in the chaos and blocked his vision, and he was turned into an ice statue by a skill cast by the ice-type sorcerer in that instant.
'15 minutes.'
A dark mage who appeared from a side path unleashed an AoE spell.
Although there were no casualties…
"Sister!!"
Daria, who jumped in front of Erwen to protect her, is incapacitated.
Fortunately, she's not dead.
But…
"Don't just stand there and move. I'll carry your sister!"
Avman carries Daria, and we lose another fighter.
'17 minutes.'
I've been spamming [Leap] to boost my stats.
And my MP is depleted because I haven't deactivated [Gigantification] even once.
「Character's Soul Power is insufficient.」
「[Gigantification] ends.」
As planned, I fill the empty space next to me with the bear-like man's tank summon, Iron Bear.
'18 minutes.'
Iron Bear is unsummoned.
But Misha, who drank a potion, regains consciousness and returns to the battlefield.
'19 minutes.'
There's hope.
We're almost there.
Although we've lost almost half of our people, there are no casualties among those I decided to save.
'20 minutes.'
A high-ranking explorer, presumed to be at least 4th grade, blocks my path.
He's a swordsman.
He's wielding a greatsword made of 5th-tier Adamantium…
"You look like you would be fun to cut."
…and he's using Aura.
-x-X-x-
A 4th-grade explorer who uses Aura.
He must have thought it was a hopeless situation.
Well, the old me would have.
Whoosh!
Of course, I haven't completed my Aura setup yet.
A 5th-tier Adamantium greatsword and Aura?
My Moonstone shield would surely turn into scrap metal in an instant.
But…
"You look like you would be fun to cut."
…[Dungeon and Stone] isn't a game you play with just HP/MP or item level.
4th-grade, swordsman, 3rd-grade tank, whatever.
It's a hardcore game where a single misjudgment can lead to your character's death.
"Fun to cut, my ass."
No matter how strong you are, you die if you take a fatal blow.
In that sense…
"Come at me."
…he's not an unbeatable opponent.
Although there's a penalty of having to finish the fight quickly since enemies are also coming from behind…
…it's just a matter of discarding something.
"Barbarians are all the same, they don't know their place."
I just pray.
That he's not prepared.
There's no time to scout, figure out his skills and equipment, and strategize safely.
The winner and the loser will be decided in an instant.
As it always has been.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I discard my fear.
Tadat.
I hear him pushing off the ground.
Whoosh!
He charges towards me through the fog, a giant for a human, over 190 centimeters tall.
Whoosh!
His greatsword swings.
Tadat.
I hurriedly dodge to the side instead of blocking with my shield.
It's not because I'm worried about my expensive shield, but because it's pointless.
If you discard something, you have to gain something in return.
Like this.
Slash!
His greatsword cuts through my left arm above the elbow.
"Mr, Mr. Yandel…!!"
I become one-armed in an instant.
It's my second time experiencing this since the battle against Riakis, the Lord of Chaos.
I'm not particularly depressed.
I discarded any naive thoughts of winning with all my limbs intact the moment I saw him.
Sizzle!
I aim my severed arm at him and spray acidic blood like a fountain.
"Aaaaaaaaaak!!"
It hits his eyes.
'Jackpot.'
I blinded him in exchange for my arm.
Of course, it won't last long…
"Raven, use Lava Eruption!"
I give the order and cling to him.
He can't hurt me with Aura at this distance since he's using a greatsword.
If I hadn't blinded him, I would have had to sacrifice something else to get this close.
"But then Mr. Yandel will also…!"
"It's fine, just do it!!"
"Okay…!"
I hurriedly hold my breath and tense my muscles.
It's similar to when I was wrestling with the troll on the 4th floor.
"You bastard!!"
Fierce resistance.
Scales appear on his body.
It's one of the effects of [Test Subject], which temporarily increases physical stats.
I expected it since he uses Aura…
'As expected, he's a stat-heavy build.'
Coincidentally, I'm also a similar type.
"Stay still."
I use [Gigantification] again.
I judged that I would have recovered enough MP to use it for about 30 seconds since I haven't used it for a few minutes.
"Ugh."
He groans and bends his waist as the weight suddenly increases.
Whoosh, whoosh!
He swings his greatsword around wildly while carrying me on his back. Aura cuts through the walls of the passage.
"Are you scared because you can't see?"
"I'll kill you!!!"
"Everyone, get back!!"
Misha and the others can't attack because he's flailing around.
But it's actually good for me.
Thanks to his struggle, the other enemies can't easily approach to help him.
"You idiot."
"Aaaaaak!!"
He leans forward as if trying to throw me over his shoulder.
But so what?
Clinging to the enemy like a pervert is one of a tank's basic skills.
Thud!
Our bodies collapse and are entangled.
It's far from a scene from a romance movie.
Maybe the final brawl in a thriller movie.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
He finally lets go of his greatsword and starts punching me in the face.
Of course, it's not a problem.
You can't use Aura with your hands.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
I can endure physical attacks with my Physical Resistance.
Well, his Strength is high since he's using an Adamantium greatsword, so my brain is shaking…
But it's just a minor injury compared to my severed arm.
"Sir Kesial!!"
The enemies, who couldn't approach before because of his wild sword dance, charge towards me as it ends.
But…
"Ar, are you really going to shoot…?!"
…they're too late.
"What are you asking?!"
The spell is complete.
"…Iherno Wature Tunbar!"
The 4th-grade fire-attribute attack spell, 'Lava Eruption'.
Whoosh!
Blackish-red lava spews from Raven's staff and engulfs us.
I immediately change my position.
From pinning him down and choking him…
…to me being on the ground and him on top.
"Let go, you barbarian…!"
He shouts as his vision returns.
He must have seen the lava coming towards us.
"Why? Don't you like hot things?"
Then you should have increased your Fire Resistance, you bastard.
"No!!"
I squeeze my eyes shut.
And at that moment…
Whoosh!
…a scorching heat that feels like it will melt everything engulfs me.
"Aaaaaaaaaak!"
And at the same time, I feel something flowing down my skin.
The flowing substance quickly cools and hardens.
「Character's health is below 50%.」
「All resistance and defense stats are increased due to the passive skill [Hero's Path].」
Fire Resistance from the 3rd stage of the Undying Engraving.
Magic Resistance from the Manticore.
And the Orb of Fire.
'This much even with all that…'
My whole body feels hot and itchy.
It's like I drank a potion.
Pain pierces through my Pain Resistance.
But so what?
I don't want to feel pain?
That's something I've already discarded.
I repeat, this world isn't kind.
'…Should I have asked her to cast 'Cold Blood' too?'
I dismiss the weak thought.
Raven's mana is already running low.
I have to conserve resources.
"Keuheok."
I push the guy, who's turned into charcoal, and get up.
It feels like my insides are cooked and turned into sausage.
And something crispy falls off every time I move.
Is this what they call crispy on the outside, soft on the inside?
"Hey, Mr. Yandel? Ar, are you okay?"
"…I'm just a bit burnt."
"A, a bit burnt…"
It's a price I have to pay for defeating an Aura user in such a short time.
And the bleeding from my elbow has stopped.
The fire magic cauterized it.
It's a win-win—
"Keugh."
Damn it, why is this bastard still alive?
Don't tell me he also has Fire Resistance?
I hurriedly turn towards the shield I threw away earlier and reach out with my remaining hand as he also gets up.
That's when…
「Character's Soul Power is insufficient.」
「[Gigantification] ends.」
My body loses balance and tilts as [Gigantification] ends.
And my hand, which was almost reaching the shield, moves away.
Thump!
A chill runs down my spine, even though my whole body is burning.
If he takes out his greatsword now…
No, even if he just takes out a dagger and stabs my neck, it's game over.
The worst-case scenario plays out in my head.
But…
"Keu, keuheok."
…when I hurriedly turn around and check, he's running away.
Staggering, but at a fast pace.
"...."
My body freezes at the unexpected sight, and then…
…I let out a sigh of relief.
'I'm lucky.'
He couldn't let go of his arrogance.
So he tried to block me alone, even though he had companions.
"Huff, huff, heugh…"
He couldn't give up on the hope that there would be another chance.
So he chose to run away to survive, even though he had a chance to kill me.
I can understand his feelings.
"You, damn barbarian…"
To him, the battle with me wasn't about survival.
There was no reason for him to risk his life.
That's why…
…our positions are reversed now.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I grab the greatsword he left behind instead of my shield. The Strength I obtained from the Ogre is enough to wield an Adamantium greatsword with one hand.
"…Bl, block me!"
I hurriedly chase after him.
The distance closes in an instant.
His gait is weak, as if he's taken a lot of damage.
Soon, I'm within sword's reach.
"I'll take your head."
Being a swordsman isn't bad either.
Slash!
I grin at the satisfying sensation from the tip of the sword and shout,
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I survived.
At least for now.
___________________
It took about 2 minutes to encounter the 4th-grade Aura user and behead him.
That's what battles are like.
It doesn't take long for a winner and a loser to be decided.
Even a knight who's trained his entire life…
…or a high-ranking explorer who's been in and out of the labyrinth countless times…
…can lose their life in an instant. That's this world.
"Ainar!!"
I throw the greatsword I was holding at Ainar without even savoring the victory.
"Huh? Huh?"
What is she panicking about?
Take what you can get.
I thought of you as soon as I saw it.
'It's a shame.'
I pick up the shield with my empty hand and deliberately look away from the corpse.
Phew, I feel like there would be more useful items if I looted him further.
'But there's no time.'
I discard my greed and look ahead.
"Sir Kesial is down!!"
"Kill them!!"
The enemies, who had hesitated because of 'Lava Eruption', have regained their composure and are charging towards us.
I drag my battered body forward.
Because that's my role.
Shield Charge.
I hold the shield with my remaining arm and charge, putting my weight into my shoulder.
The level of explorers on this side is much higher than on the outside, perhaps because we're almost at the destination.
That Aura swordsman from earlier is a good example.
Clang.
A potion flies towards me and shatters.
I feel a gentle burning sensation on the wound, as if someone is cauterizing it with fire, instead of a sharp pain from being stabbed with a stiletto.
"It's the high-grade potion that Mr. Yandel likes!"
Right, no wonder.
'I feel energized.'
Let's try again.
We're almost there.
The goal is right in front of us.
"I'll help too!"
Ainar stands next to me.
"What about Raven?"
"I left her with Beefcake!"
Good judgment.
Raven probably told her to do that.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!"
I stop checking our location using the terrain.
I focus solely on this moment.
"Misha! Stick close behind me!"
Just a little further.
"Erwen! Now! Use it!"
Right, just a little further.
"Keheuk! N, no. Not now…"
"Yandel! Raven's out of mana!"
That's when Raven's magical support, which was being provided by the bear-like man, ends.
It means we can no longer use [Oxygen Explosion] to forcefully open paths when they're blocked or when our speed slows down.
"Ah, no! Lena…!"
Another one dies as our speed decreases.
It's the sorcerer from Takelan's team.
She was a support-type sorcerer who specialized in defense and support, and she was a great help in protecting the rear…
"We were almost there…"
It will be even more difficult from now on.
I clench my teeth and push aside my guilt.
"Damn iiiit!!"
I don't have time to cover my ears.
And even if I did, I shouldn't.
It was my decision.
Choice and focus.
What to discard.
And what I can't discard.
What I want to protect.
"…Misha!"
"Don't worry! I can still fight…!"
Everyone is pushing forward with one mind, in the midst of this fierce battle where anyone could die.
After some time…
"This way!"
…a dark passage appears.
We immediately change direction and enter the passage as soon as we see it.
"Erwen, visibility!"
"Ye, yes!"
Erwen summons a fire spirit to illuminate the surroundings, replacing Raven, who's out of mana.
A passage with colorless crystals scattered here and there.
There are no explorers from the city side waiting to greet us.
But…
"Bjorn! They're not following us!!"
As if this is the turning point, the chase stops.
Right, the area is divided from here.
"Don't let your guard down and keep moving."
It's too early to relax.
I don't slow down and continue forward. We can rest, drink potions, and reorganize after we're safe.
About 3 minutes later…
…we encounter the group we've been wanting to see.
"Halt."
A group of ten knights.
The surroundings are filled with naked corpses.
They must be from Noark.
It was a good thing we risked our lives to come here.
I feel reassured just by thinking that they're on our side—
'Huh?'
The knight I make eye contact with draws his sword and slowly takes a step forward.
Aura is surging from his sword.
I hurriedly shout,
"We're not enemies! We have identification ta—"
Ah, my arm… I left it there.
"I don't have one, but the others do!"
I quickly add, but the reaction is cold.
"You're trying to trick us with a pathetic act. You came from the path that's occupied by Noark, and you're talking about identification tags?"
Phew, it's understandable that he doesn't believe us.
We look like we're disguised to infiltrate as spies.
Then what should I do?
Would he believe me if I tell him about my title, Little Balkan?
Just as I'm contemplating…
"Misha, take off your ring and show it to him."
…I realize there's a better way.
Coincidentally, I received an item for this kind of situation.