The knight who gave me this ring said…
…that if I showed it to them and told them about him, it would immediately vouch for my identity.
Right, that's all he said.
"It's a message ring. And… it's Sir Garfizel's, who went to search the 2nd-floor portal."
One of the knights recognized the ring before I could even say who gave it to me.
And he chuckled, looking at my reaction.
"Message ring…?"
"It seems like you didn't even know what this is. Wait a moment. We'll know soon enough whether you're telling the truth or not."
The knight turned the jewel on the ring, and a blue light seeped out and flowed into his body.
"...."
The knight closed his eyes and remained silent, as if savoring the afterglow.
He opened his mouth after about 3 minutes.
"The Corpse Collector is near the portal…"
The entire chain of events played out in my head at that single sentence.
Damn it, so it was a 'message' ring.
No wonder he just gave it to me without even asking for a reward.
'Now I understand why he gave it to me.'
The knight named Garfizel wanted to convey information.
Using me, whom he happened to encounter.
That must have been why he gave us information about this place.
[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 would be good if it was delivered, and there's no loss if it wasn't.
But he could have just told me honestly.
This really feels like I was tricked.
'Why are there so many bastards who play with people in this world?'
I feel a bitter taste in my mouth…
But I'm grateful that the ring at least served its purpose of vouching for our identities.
"Little Balkan, Bjorn, son of Yandel."
The knight, whom I've never even introduced myself to, calls my name.
"Are you no longer suspicious?"
"It seems certain that you're not from Noark. Although I'm a bit curious how you managed to break through that path… Come in. We'll talk more at the central temporary headquarters."
"That's a relief. Is there a priest here?"
I asked indirectly, even though it was obvious there would be one.
Fortunately, the knight seemed to understand what I meant.
"Right, you need to be treated first."
He nodded, looking at our condition.
It was a bit unexpected.
I thought he would be inflexible and interrogate us first—
"I'll have my men take your companions to the temporary infirmary."
"…What about me?"
"Interrogation first."
Well, I guess this is as good as it gets.
"I'm fine, you guys go rest."
"But…!"
Misha objected to my decision, but I just looked at one spot.
Where a patient in a more serious condition than me, who's missing an arm, was.
"Is Daria okay?"
"I, I don't know. Raven cast a curse removal spell, but she's still unconscious…"
"She'll be fine if she sees a priest. So, go now."
"…I'm sorry."
Sorry for what?
I chuckled and patted Erwen's shoulder, who looked like she had committed a sin. And I approached Raven and had a brief conversation.
"You're the leader while I'm gone. I know it's difficult because of mana exhaustion, but I'm asking you."
"…Don't worry about the team. I'll take care of it. It can't be harder than what you went through, Mr. Yandel."
Hmm, is that something a one-armed guy should say?
"If you're done, follow me. My men will take your companions to the infirmary."
"Okay."
I then parted ways with my companions and followed the knight inside.
It was a strange sight.
The dark zone, which was originally pitch-black, was now illuminated by torches.
'It's like a temporary shelter.'
The outside was guarded by knights and explorers, but the inside was different. Explorers were sitting or lying down, resting in the narrow passages.
"By the way, there's no fog here?"
"Because we set up a defensive magic circle."
"Defensive magic circle…?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know since you came from outside. That fog is a poison-type dark spell. It's not that dangerous since it's spread out over a wide area."
A dark spell in the form of fog…
Then is it [Feast of Evil]?
I thought it was just an ordinary fog spell to obscure vision since there was no problem breathing and it covered the entire 1st floor.
'Just how many dark mages did they sacrifice?'
I shudder.
What would have happened if we had decided to endure in the sparsely populated outer areas?
'…We would have been screwed.'
No matter how weak it is, the symptoms would have appeared after a few days of exposure. I would have realized the true nature of the fog and tried to find a solution.
But the choices would have been limited since we were late.
"Hey, you, it's good to rest, but move to the side so you're not in the way."
"Ah, yes… I'm sorry."
That's when, after about 20 minutes of navigating the narrow passage…
…the central cavern finally appeared.
No, should I call it a plaza?
"…How did they do this?"
"They used mages to collapse the nearby walls and expand the space. They couldn't accommodate everyone in that small space."
Huh, is this military-style civil engineering?
There's nothing you can't do when this many people gather.
The cavern, which was about 30 meters in radius, had been expanded to hundreds of times its original size. Tents with clan emblems were pitched throughout the expanded area.
"Come in."
The knight led us to a large tent in the center.
The Lafdonia royal family's flag was planted at the entrance, and inside, I saw people having a meeting around a round table.
'It's a meeting of the leaders…'
Although it was the royal family's tent, there weren't just knights.
Explorers with emblems of famous clans were also present, discussing something.
For reference, there was a familiar face among them.
"Oh, you're…!"
The woman looked at me as if she had seen a ghost.
I smiled bitterly and greeted her.
"It's good to see you again, Versil Gowland."
I didn't expect to see her again so soon.
___________________
"How are you here…? Did you find a mage who can use teleportation?"
There's no way.
I just waved my arm, which was missing everything but the elbow, instead of answering.
It seemed like she understood what it meant, judging by her expression.
"You really broke through that path…?"
Versil muttered incredulously.
It seemed like she didn't expect us to break through the route they gave up on and even succeed.
"How did you do it?"
Well, it's not something I can proudly brag about.
I used a similar method to what she did.
I discarded what I had to discard, based on priority.
"Enough with the small talk."
A man intervened, and silence fell as Versil and I were catching up.
Right, this man is the boss here.
"Sir Ergos, what are you doing here when you should be on the front lines? And who's this barbarian?"
"I have something to report."
"Tell me."
"I obtained Sir Garfizel's message ring."
"…Sir Garfizel's?"
"Yes. And this is an explorer named Bjorn Yandel, he's the one who gave me the ring."
The knight handed him the message ring, and the man activated it.
And after some time…
"I'm Marco Elburn, the captain of the 3rd Royal Knight Order."
The man looked at me and spoke.
It seemed like he was finally interested in me, who was standing behind the knight.
"I'll ask you a few questions, will you answer truthfully?"
"…Alright."
"First, if the contents of this ring are true, it means the 'Corpse Collector' is stationed north of the Goblin Forest."
A few explorers exclaimed, 'Corpse Collector!' at his words, but it wasn't enough to interrupt the conversation.
It wasn't something I should be concerned about right now.
"So what's your point?"
"Is it confirmed information?"
"It's confirmed. We fought, although he ran away."
"Fought? May I ask what your team's rank is?"
"…5th grade."
The knight commander touched his chin with a strange expression as I revealed our rank.
"If that's true, it's safe to say that he let you go."
"Probably."
I readily agreed.
Indeed, it seemed like his only interest was blocking the 2nd-floor portal. If it weren't for that, we would have had a hard time escaping.
"Is that all you wanted to ask?"
"No, one more thing. From what I heard, it seems like you entered through the path that Sir Ergos was in charge of. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"I want to hear the details. Is there a way to avoid them and move?"
"Do you think I would be in this state if there was?"
"…That's true. Then can you tell me the details of how you got here? It might be helpful for our strategy."
Although it seemed like my identity as a non-Noark explorer had already been confirmed…
…there was no need to refuse and cause trouble.
I briefly summarized the 20-minute bloodbath.
But was that enough to convey how desperate our journey was?
"That was an impressive story."
The knight commander's gaze became more favorable.
The clan explorers who were listening to my story were also looking at me with curiosity.
"I see the qualities of a commander in you."
"If I had those qualities, half of us wouldn't have died."
"That's why I said I see those qualities. All of your companions survived."
"...."
"A good commander isn't someone who makes perfect choices. It's someone who makes the choices they have to make."
Although it seemed like he meant it sincerely, it wasn't a topic I wanted to talk about.
I wasn't even happy about the compliment.
I changed the subject.
"If you don't have any more questions, I'd like to leave."
"Actually, there's one more thing I want to ask. The guy you met at the end, did he have a scar on his chin?"
A scar…
"He did."
The knight commander laughed as I nodded.
"I thought it might be the case since he was using an Adamantium greatsword, but it really was the Serpent Knight."
"Serpent Knight?"
"He's the guy who stabbed his lord's son with a sword and ran away. He's a famous guy, don't you know him?"
No wonder he was using Aura, he was a former knight.
Judging by the murmurs of the surrounding explorers, he must have been quite famous.
"Anyway, congratulations. Your fame will increase even further since you killed someone like that."
"Fame…"
"Why, don't barbarians like that kind of thing?"
He wasn't wrong, but I'm different from ordinary barbarians.
Of course, it wouldn't be bad if my fame increased.
I have to obtain permission to enter Karnon, the Imperial City, after all.
But…
"If I return alive."
I could worry about that later.
It hasn't even been a day since the labyrinth opened.
__________________
"Ah, I've kept you for too long. Go and rest. Sir Ergos will tell you about the rules here."
I left the tent and then went to the temporary infirmary, guided by a knight, and reunited with my companions.
"Mister!!!"
"How's Daria?"
"She's completely healed after receiving purification from the priest. She's sleeping now because she's tired… Anyway, it's all thanks to you!"
Erwen, who was back to her usual cheerful self now that her sister was treated, hugged me.
Misha approached and pulled Erwen away.
"Hey! Stop bothering him and get away."
"Yes?"
"What are you doing? Can't you see Bjorn is injured?"
"Ah…"
"Let me see. Are you okay? Nothing else hurts? You've worked hard, being called away like that. Let's go and show the priest your arm."
Since it seemed like my injuries were all treated, I followed Misha to the priest and received treatment.
Ah, for reference, it was free.
It's a wartime situation.
All explorers have to follow the royal family's orders.
In the first place, the infirmary here was probably set up by conscripting priests from other teams.
"You'll feel a bit weak and strange for about a day. Well then, I have many other patients. May the radiance of the sun be with you."
My arm regenerated in less than a few minutes after a single heal.
I'm reminded once again of the importance of priests.
I would have had to use two or three top-grade potions if it were me.
And besides…
…the potion's effectiveness decreases as your physical abilities increase.
'I have to get a priest as soon as I form a clan.'
After receiving treatment, I reunited with my companions and talked.
"Raven, did you hear about the situation here?"
"I heard a bit while we were getting our area assignments."
"Area assignments?"
"The place where we'll be sleeping. Looking at the map they gave us, it's a passage in the outer area. I guess it's because we came late. The safe areas inside are already full."
I smiled silently at Raven's words.
Only the tents of large clans were in the center, so I wonder if they were assigned there because they came early?
"Anyway, let's go there quickly. They said we have to take turns keeping watch from tomorrow."
Geez, it's like we're in the army.
That's when, as I was looking around at the tense atmosphere…
"…But where's Takelan?"
…I asked a question that suddenly came to mind.
Takelan Arbenon.
The 5th-grade explorer who was practically the only survivor of this plan.
"...."
My companions all froze when I mentioned Takelan's name.
"Ah, that person…"
Raven forced a smile and spoke.
"He went there as soon as he received his area assignment. They said explorers who are alone or in groups of two or less are assigned to teams with vacancies."
"Really?"
But he could have just joined our team, right?
It seemed like clans were all sticking together.
And there were quite a few groups with six or more members that we passed by.
Raven smiled awkwardly and said as I expressed my doubts,
"He wanted to. So don't worry about it, Mr. Yandel."
"If that's the case…"
I nodded nonchalantly and thought,
'Something must have happened while I was gone.'
There was an incident.
Although I don't know why they're hiding it from me…
I can just subtly ask Ainar or Misha later…
"Erwen, you said you were joining the Blue Wall Clan, right?"
"Yes… I, I don't want to, but my sister said I have to… She said there might be problems with the contract later."
Well, leaving aside the contract, she probably thought it would be much safer. The Blue Wall is a clan that operates six teams.
Well, one of them disappeared on the way here, but…
"Then we'll be going. You take care of your sister when she wakes up. And always be wary of your surroundings."
"Okay…!"
We then parted ways with Erwen and headed towards the area we were assigned to.
It was a passage in the outer area, and the distance between us and the team next to us was less than 2 meters.
"It's been a while since I slept on the 1st floor…"
But we spread out our sleeping bags on the ground and lay down next to each other, without any complaints, as expected of explorers.
We all knew.
That we should be grateful to even be able to sleep like this.
Snore!
Ainar started snoring as soon as she lay down.
I don't know why, but listening to it reminded me of the things I had to do.
I had to check the loot I obtained today, inspect the equipment that was covered in lava, and clean my body that was soaked in blood and sweat.
Ah, and I have to find out what happened with Takelan.
There was a mountain of things to do.
But even though I did so much…
'Ah, whatever, I'll do it tomorrow.'
Strength drained from my body as soon as I closed my eyes.
As if I was sinking into water.
That's when, as my consciousness slowly faded into sleep, I heard Misha's voice next to me.
"Bjorn, you've worked hard."
And I also heard Raven's voice on the other side.
"Yes, you really did a great job."
Avman also chuckled awkwardly and said,
"Rest, Yandel."
Only then did I realize…
Snore!
…that the unusually long Day 1 had finally come to an end.
-x-X-x-
Orculus.
A notorious group of criminals who rebelled against the royal family.
This group, formed only a few decades ago, had been infamous for its countless acts of terrorism and crime.
Although the royal family had offered a huge bounty and started hunting them, they were so secretive that only seven of them had been killed so far.
"Seven of them are here…"
Marco Elburn, the captain of the 3rd Royal Knight Order, couldn't hide his dismay as he listened to his subordinate's report.
He had quickly responded to the situation and established a safe zone in the center, declaring a state of emergency and taking command.
The first thing he did was gather information.
He sent a search party to the 2nd-floor portal, which could be a breakthrough, and he had been checking and rechecking all the information coming from the front lines without sleeping since the incident occurred.
As a result, seven members of Orculus were identified.
The Screaming Witch, Black Claw, and the Lighthouse Keeper.
These three were currently rampaging around the safe zone, while the other four were blocking the 2nd-floor portal.
'This was their goal from the beginning.'
Elburn clenched his fists in frustration.
The three were one thing, but these four were the biggest obstacle.
The Corpse Collector, infamous for his grotesque and cruel acts, even more so than for being an evil spirit.
The Ruin Scholar, once the leader of a large school, who became a criminal after dabbling in forbidden magic.
The Blood Knight, who started as a soldier born in Bifron and gained fame by killing the previous captain of the 1st Royal Knight Order.
And lastly…
'The Traitor.'
The one who gathered those madmen and formed Orculus, the one who created their countless infamous deeds and history of slaughter with his own hands.
Four of the most representative members of 'that group' were all here.
But it wasn't just Orculus they had to be wary of.
There were also countless notorious criminals who had escaped to Noark, and if they joined forces, it would be a situation where they couldn't be confident in victory even if they fought with all their might.
Elburn finally broke the long silence and spoke.
"We're abandoning the plan to break through them and reach the 2nd floor."
An even heavier silence fell upon the room.
One of the knights spoke with difficulty.
"…Day 3 is about to begin."
"I know. But now that we've confirmed that even the Ruin Scholar is here, there's a high chance that the portal is already unusable."
"Then…"
Elburn closed and opened his eyes as if to clear his thoughts.
A commander is someone who has to make decisions.
"Gather all the mages who can use the Dimensional Gate spell as discreetly as possible."
He had to make the necessary decisions.
No matter the sacrifice.
_________________
I open my eyes and check the clock.
[00:17]
Another day has passed, and it's Day 3.
There wasn't anything special yesterday.
I checked the loot we obtained on the way here.
I found an explorer with a repair ability and had him fix our damaged equipment.
I stood guard duty with my team.
I gathered information after my shift ended.
Ah, and I also heard about what happened with Takelan.
[…Uh, that guy?]
Although I had Misha work hard to get her to talk…
…it wasn't much of a story.
He just lost his mind for a moment.
He said some aggressive things to us, who had all survived.
But it didn't last long.
[Aruru was really amazing. She scolded him, asking how he could say that when you were in that state and couldn't even receive treatment. Ugh, I was sweating just listening to her.]
Hmm, she's scary when she's angry.
It's still a mystery how she can unleash that kind of energy from that small body.
[Anyway, that's all. And Ainar was about to draw her sword, but he just disappeared.]
Although I'm grateful for my companions' actions, my expression hardened as I heard the whole story.
Because they don't know.
That I intentionally placed them in the back, even though it might have been more suitable for them to be in the rear, to increase our chances of survival.
[Huh? Why that expression?]
[It's nothing. I'm just hungry.]
Takelan's anger is justified.
More people could have survived if I had just formed the lines based on efficiency.
But I didn't.
I placed everyone behind me, where it was relatively safe, even if it wasn't the most suitable position for them. Takelan probably acted that way because he realized that belatedly.
'…It's better if only I know this.'
I briefly woke up and then slowly got up and organized my sleeping bag.
Although Day 2 was peaceful compared to the intense Day 1…
…it was only until today.
"Hmm, Mr. Yandel…?"
Raven peeked her head out of her sleeping bag, rubbing her eyes as if she woke up because of me.
"Did I wake you up? Sorry."
"No, I just couldn't sleep…"
"Aren't you going to sleep more?"
Raven sat up in her sleeping bag at my question.
"What about you, Mr. Yandel? Aren't you going to sleep more?"
"I can't sleep either."
"So you were going to keep watch alone?"
I chuckled and admitted it.
It would be ridiculous to deny it when we're both in the same situation.
"It's already Day 3…"
The Floor Master is summoned from Day 3 onwards.
The only condition is that there are five or more people gathered in one place.
Of course, it's a certain probability, and the chance of it being summoned near us is low since there are already over ten thousand explorers gathered on the 1st floor…
'But you never know.'
I'm the tank of this team.
I can at least buy some time for my companions to run away even if the Floor Master appears right in front of us—
Whoosh!
That's when the ground trembles slightly, and the colorless crystals embedded in the cave walls emit a brilliant light.
The color of the light is blood red.
"Mr. Yandel, this is…!"
It means the Floor Master has appeared somewhere.
"What, what?!"
My companions, including Ainar, wake up one after another. And it's the same for the explorers from other teams who were sleeping nearby.
I calmly soothe my companions.
"Don't be too surprised. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like it was summoned near us."
There's always a loud noise where the 1st-floor Floor Master is. But there's no sound, so it must be far away.
"Everyone, go back to sleep."
"But…"
"I'll wake you up if something happens. It hasn't been long since our watch duty ended."
"You're tired too."
"I dozed off a bit during my shift, so I'm fine."
Although I don't know if I can actually fall asleep, I force my companions to lie down and close their eyes.
Recovering stamina is the priority.
After about 20 minutes…
Whoosh…
…the crystals that were illuminating the surroundings go out as if their batteries have died.
It means the Floor Master has been defeated.
Of course, it's too early to relax.
Unlike the Floor Masters on the upper floors, who have long respawn times of at least a few months to years…
…this guy can be resummoned countless times.
"Will it be okay from now on…?"
"Don't worry, it takes about 30 decent explorers to defeat the 1st-floor Floor Master. In the current situation, it will be taken care of quickly no matter where it appears."
Actually, that's one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to join the royal forces after that desperate journey.
We're safe from the Floor Master here.
Even if it appears right in front of us, help will arrive quickly as long as I hold out for a bit.
"Then I'll leave this to you."
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to see if I can get some information."
"If that's the case, I'll come with—"
"It's a waste of manpower. If you really can't sleep, keep watch next to me."
As soon as the first Floor Master was defeated, I left our assigned area and headed towards the center.
The Floor Master's respawn time is six hours.
I was planning to wander around and see if there was anything unusual during that time.
There's nothing else to do anyway.
[North 172-21]
I listened to the conversations of the surrounding explorers as I moved forward, using the signs the royal family had drawn on the walls to distinguish the terrain.
"Hey, did you hear? It was the south passage."
"You mean where the Floor Master appeared?"
"Yeah, about twenty people died before backup arrived."
"Damn it, if it was going to appear, it should have appeared near those underground city bastards."
Although the information wasn't very reliable since it was just a conversation between explorers in a similar situation to me…
…it wasn't something I could completely ignore.
It was very useful for gauging public opinion.
"I don't know how long we have to stay cooped up here."
"I know, right? In the last speech, they said they would open a path to the 2nd-floor portal soon. It's already Day 3."
"It's unsettling that they're so quiet."
As expected, the explorers were expressing their distrust towards the leaders, who hadn't made any announcements since the first day.
For reference, I felt the same way.
'It's about time for them to make a decision.'
If we assume that a Floor Master is defeated every 6 hours, a total of eight Floor Masters would have been defeated in two days.
In other words, it will definitely appear on Day 5.
'They have large clans and even a royal knight captain, so there's no way they don't know that…'
But why haven't they done anything yet?
I'm dying to know what was discussed in that tent where the meeting was held when we arrived.
'They should be able to tell that this is what Noark was aiming for…'
Why are they just waiting here?
I naturally assumed they would open a path and move towards the 2nd floor, one way or another.
Thud, thud.
I increased my pace as my worries deepened.
That's when I saw a familiar face.
The guy who first discovered the backpack duplication bug and spread it throughout the tribe.
"Karon…?"
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, the great warrior!!!!"
Karon immediately got up and ran towards me enthusiastically as I recognized him and called out his name.
"To think we would meet here!! You're truly destined to lead us!!"
Although I was a bit flustered, I greeted him in a barbarian-like way since I was happy to see him.
And I asked what I was curious about.
"But who's that next to you?"
"They're warriors I met here!!"
"Met here?"
I didn't understand at all.
The barbarian backpack duplication bug had already been patched. It was partly because the method was revealed to other explorers, but the main reason was that low-level explorers had disappeared after the introduction of the identification tag, which is a kind of magic tool.
It costs 70,000 stones to get one.
So I thought Karon had also joined a 3-person team recently…
"Where's your team?"
"Ah, those guys died on the way here! So the soldiers introduced me to other warriors who were left alone like me!"
Those damn soldiers.
A 5-man barbarian warrior party…
They must have just formed a team because they were too lazy to deal with them individually.
"Is, is it really Little Balkan! It's an honor to meet you!! I, I'm Dban, the second son of Beroks!!"
"Uh, yeah. Nice to meet you too."
After briefly greeting the excited barbarians, I continued talking to Karon.
I couldn't just leave him after seeing him.
"Instead of staying here, how about joining our side?"
"Is, is that okay?"
The fact that they paid 70,000 stones for identification tags and the equipment they were wearing, these alone indicated that they were at least 3rd-grade warriors.
They would definitely be helpful.
And most importantly, they're trustworthy.
"Why not?"
I told the overwhelmed Karon the location of our assigned area.
"I'll tell the administrator on my way there, so you guys go ahead. Tell the mage that I sent you when you see her."
"Okay!"
"Ah, if you don't know the way, ask other explorers. They'll answer if you're annoying enough."
"Ooh!! As expected!"
That's when, just as I'm about to leave after sending Karon and his party…
"Bjorn Yandel."
…I stop at a low male voice.
I turn my head, and a person I didn't want to see is standing there.
"Takelan Arbenon."
He's with a group of explorers I've never seen before.
Well, it's only natural.
He lost all his companions on the way here.
"...."
Takelan stares at me in silence.
His slightly trembling jaw shows that he's struggling to hold back something.
I ask first,
"I heard about what happened while I was gone."
"...."
"Do you resent me?"
Takelan doesn't nod or shake his head.
He just stares at me and endures.
His answer comes after a long time.
"No, I don't resent you."
It's an unexpected answer.
Takelan then speaks, pouring out his emotions.
"I kept thinking about it. Because there was nothing else I could do. Why did this happen to me? Why could you guys laugh when Lena died? If those bastards hadn't run away, wouldn't she still be alive?"
"...."
"No, most importantly…"
"...."
"Did you really not know this would happen?"
"So have you reached a conclusion?"
"I don't know. You were the one who was most injured. You were the one who did the hardest work. And there was no guarantee that even your companions would survive."
Is there even such a thing as a guaranteed situation?
I just did my best.
To increase our chances of survival, even a little.
Therefore…
"I shouldn't have followed you."
It felt like a sharp knife was scraping something inside me.
"But."
Takelan continued.
"I was the one who decided to follow you."
"...."
"I was the one who voted for you to be the leader."
"...."
"And I was the one… who couldn't even offer anything and just watched when that woman said she would use the Mass Teleportation spell…!"
Self-loathing.
I'm overwhelmed with indescribable emotions as I look at him, blaming himself for everything.
"So I don't resent you."
"…I see."
What should I even say in this situation?
I couldn't even offer any words of comfort.
But did he sense my hesitation?
"Don't pity me."
Takelan ended the conversation and sat back down.
"The day will come when you'll feel the same way."
His gaze is no longer on me.
It's just on the ground.
I sense that our conversation is over.
Thud, thud.
Therefore, I continue on my way.
Takelan doesn't say anything.
After some time…
…the passage widens, and the expanded central cavern appears.
I first find an administrator and inform him that Karon and his party will be joining us.
"Team Apple Nark… Ah, the outer passage in the northern district. Confirmed."
With that, my errand is done.
But just as I'm about to turn around…
Clank, clank.
…a knight comes out of the tent and glances at me as he heads towards the administrator who helped me earlier.
And he names six schools.
"Ah, yes. Mages from those schools? I'll check the list."
They're conscripting mages on top of priests?
That thought crosses my mind at first, but…
'Delta, Spheris, Jacquard…'
I realize one thing in common as I think about the schools the knight mentioned.
'Dimensional Gate magic.'
Mages above 4th grade from those schools can open a 'Dimensional Gate' that can be used by up to 30 people.
The moment I realize this…
Thump!
…my heart pounds uneasily.
And a conversation I had recently flashes through my mind.
There's no point in denying it.
[A good commander isn't someone who makes perfect choices. It's someone who makes the choices they have to make.]
He would discard them without hesitation.
Those he judged to be low priority.
Everything.
-x-X-x-
Dimensional Gate.
A unique magic spell handled only by a few schools.
It goes without saying how overpowered this spell is in this game filled with game over flags.
To be able to return to the city without waiting for the labyrinth to close?
It's the ultimate survival skill.
'Well, it's not without limitations.'
First, it's not easy to use as an escape tool during battle since the countermeasures are widely known, at least in PvP.
And it can only be used by up to 30 people.
That's why expedition parties on the upper floors are almost always formed in groups of 30.
'And most importantly, the mage can't use that spell again once they use it.'
For reference, this is different from the game.
Originally, in the game, only Archmages who reached 1st grade could use the 'Dimensional Gate' spell.
And if they used it, they always died.
But this world is 150 years in the future compared to the game's timeline.
The six schools that possess the Dimensional Gate spell formula conducted joint research and created a method for lower-ranked mages to use it.
Although I don't know the details since I'm not a mage, I do know that it's a method that can only be used once in a mage's life.
'There's no mage in this situation who would refuse to use the Dimensional Gate spell…'
Then how many of them entered the labyrinth?
Hmm, it would be quite a few.
Large clans prioritize recruiting mages who can use Dimensional Gate, and those schools also encourage mages who still have 'Dimensional Gate' uses left to participate in exploration support.
But…
'Even if they gather everyone they can, it won't be more than 150.'
Realistically, less than 4,500 people can escape this hell through Dimensional Gate.
'Excluding the royal knights and the elites of large clans who have mages… it's safe to say that the rest are all abandoned.'
The more concrete the numbers became, the more I realized how insane this plan was.
The scale was different from the 3rd-floor Floor Master incident.
At least tens of thousands of explorers would die.
'To make this decision knowing that…'
I pushed aside the feeling of dread and continued my reasoning calmly.
Maybe this is the most important thing right now.
Why did the knight commander make this decision?
'…He must have judged that the path to the 2nd floor is blocked, or at least no different.'
It's impossible to escape the 1st floor.
No, it might be possible, but it would result in more casualties than having a small number escape through 'Dimensional Gate'.
So the knight commander made this decision.
He judged that it was strategically the right choice to preserve as much strength as possible and return to the city—
"It's good to see you again."
I turned around abruptly at the sudden presence behind me and froze.
Phew, that startled me.
"You're Bjorn Yandel, right?"
The knight commander was standing behind me.
So, his name was…
"Marco Elburn."
"You have a good memory for a barbarian."
Normally, I would have retorted, but I responded gently,
"Thank you for the compliment."
He's the highest authority here, after all.
It's a golden opportunity to have a private conversation with him, even for a short time.
I asked him after much deliberation.
Directly, like a barbarian.
"You're looking for mages who can use Dimensional Gate, are you planning to escape?"
This question was the most important, to confirm whether it was true.
His eyes turned cold as soon as he heard it.
"You're like a barbarian in this aspect. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have dared to ask me directly, even if they knew."
That's because I'm a barbarian.
He asked back as we maintained eye contact,
"Where did you hear that?"
That was enough.
Right, it's true.
I was hoping there might be another strategy…
"I heard a knight giving orders to an administrator earlier."
"…He's not very careful. Or maybe he let his guard down because he thought you were a barbarian."
Judging by his gaze, that knight wouldn't get off easily, but it's not my concern.
Just as I'm about to continue the conversation…
"Hmm, maybe you're smarter than I thought."
…he spoke with a strange look in his eyes.
"Since it's come to this, I'll just tell you. I heard about your team composition from the administrator."
"…You investigated me?"
"I became interested."
Interested…
Is this a positive variable, or the opposite?
Well, it turned out to be both.
"I can take you and the mage. If you promise to serve the royal army for one year."
He offered me a Dimensional Gate ticket.
The problem was that there were only two tickets.
"What about the others?"
"You know, don't you? What kind of choice you have to make."
Damn it, so they don't meet the criteria.
I thought I raised them well for the past few months.
"So, what are you going to do?"
I'm at a crossroads.
"I'd like you to answer now. We don't have much time."
My life and one of my companion's lives?
Or a gamble where we risk all our lives?
[Can… we win?]
[Don't worry, I'll save everyone and get us back.]
A fleeting conversation we had flashes through my mind.
"I…"
I answered without hesitation.
"Don't abandon my companions."
Maybe I've really become a barbarian, even in my mind.
_________________
「The second Lord of Fear has been defeated.」
「The third Lord of Fear has been defeated.」
「The fourth Lord of Fear has been defeated.」
「The fifth Lord of Fear has been defeated....」
「....」
_________________
Time passes.
I kept the conversation I had with the knight commander a secret.
[Keep the Dimensional Gate a secret. If you value your companions.]
It wasn't just because of his threat, but I didn't feel the need to tell them. It would spread soon enough even if I didn't.
And indeed, it did.
"Mr. Yandel, you heard, right? About that."
It's impossible to silence thousands of people.
Especially if they're not united as one.
The knight commander's plan to escape through Dimensional Gate spread through word of mouth, and it didn't take long for it to reach Raven's ears.
"Yeah, I know."
"…What are you going to do? Do you also think it's a rumor?"
The bear-like man and Misha's gazes turn to me at Raven's question. So they already discussed it among themselves before talking to me.
Well, they're probably the only ones who didn't feel the killing intent that's filling this cave.
"Karon, you can't even lift that greatsword! How can you call yourself a man!!"
"I, I can lift it! Lo, look!"
"Oh! Then are you half a man?!"
The barbarians have been playing with one Adamantium greatsword for an hour.
Sometimes I envy their carefree nature.
To be able to move forward without any doubts.
"Um, Mr. Yandel…?"
"Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought."
I forced a smile and patted Raven's shoulder.
"Don't worry about the rumor! Everything will be fine!"
Everything will be fine.
I'll make sure of it.
So I just want them to move forward without any doubts.
I'm the only one who needs to be constantly wary and anxious about what traps and enemies lie ahead.
"No, why are you being so unnecessarily optimistic?!"
"That's what a leader does."
"Ah, okay, stop hitting my shoulder!"
I roughly ended the conversation and closed my eyes, lost in thought.
My only concern recently has been one thing.
How can we all return alive?
I've contemplated thousands of times, made and discarded countless plans, and even after making one plan, I repeatedly reviewed it to see if there were any variables or miscalculations.
'It has to be perfect.'
If Plan A doesn't work, then Plan B.
And if that doesn't work, then Plan C.
I simulate the worst-case scenarios I might encounter, from beginning to end, whenever I have time, just like now.
After some time…
Whoosh!
…a faint tremor emanates from the ground, as if we're getting closer to the critical point.
"It's already the eighth one."
With this, the eighth Floor Master has been summoned.
Raven and the others don't react much since it's something that's been happening for days.
Because they don't know.
What event occurs when the ninth Floor Master is defeated.
'That's probably why there haven't been any protests, even though there's a rumor about it. Most people probably think it's a groundless rumor.'
From an ordinary person's perspective, there's no reason for the leaders to escape through Dimensional Gate.
Because they don't know about 'that'.
"By the way, it seems like it's nearby since I can hear screams…"
"Everyone, be on guard, it might come this way."
We get ready, just in case, and wait for the Floor Master to be defeated.
That's when we hear footsteps from the passage behind us.
"We're just passing through, so everyone, move to the side!"
A group of people is moving quickly, pushing aside the explorers in the narrow passage as if an ambulance is on an emergency call.
They graze past us as soon as we move to the side.
"It's the Star of Eramel Clan."
It's a group from a large clan that's quite famous.
They're probably heading towards where the screams are coming from to defeat the Floor Master.
"It will get dark again soon since the backup has arrived."
30 7th-grade explorers are enough to defeat the 1st-floor Floor Master. And it's possible with even fewer people if you know the strategy.
I smile bitterly.
'I don't understand why they even bother defeating the Floor Master when they're just going to abandon everyone.'
The 1st-floor Floor Master doesn't drop any noteworthy loot.
It doesn't even drop an essence, and the byproducts that can be obtained with the 'Distortion' spell aren't that valuable either.
The only reward for defeating it is that you can be promoted to a 4th-grade clan, which is when the real benefits start.
So it's mostly used for verification.
It's a monster that you defeat once as a rite of passage when you reach a certain level and then move on.
'Could it be guilt? Like, 'we did our best until the end'?'
That thought briefly crosses my mind, but the real reason is probably more practical.
They have to act like they're fulfilling their roles until the very end so that those who will be abandoned don't notice.
[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!!]
About 20 minutes later, a giant roar echoes from afar, and the red crystals that were glowing brightly lose their light.
It means the Floor Master has been defeated.
"It will be Day 5 from tomorrow, so we just have to endure for two more days."
I check the time from time to time and continue to review my plan.
How much more time has passed?
[22:07]
It's already been about two hours since the eighth Floor Master was defeated.
In other words…
"Damn it!!"
…it's 4 hours until hell breaks loose.
"Everyone, run inside! The rumor was true!"
"Those royal bastards are trying to abandon us and escape!! Stop them!!"
Commotion spreads from the inner part of the cave.
___________________
At that time, in the central area where the tents of the large clans and the royal knights were located…
"You bastards!! Move aside, move aside!!"
"Step back, explorer, I'll cut you down if you come any closer."
"We're all going to die anywa—!"
Slash!
Thud, roll.
An explorer's head falls to the ground.
"Anyone else?"
The explorers hesitate for a moment at the knight's menacing words.
"What are you doing, push forward!!"
"I'm getting out of here! I'm getting out!!"
"Aak! My arm! My arm…!"
Explorers, blinded by the desire to survive, charge forward like moths to a flame.
It's a scene that's unfolding simultaneously at all the passages leading to the center.
"The real enemy is out there, but they're determined to shed blood unnecessarily."
Marco Elburn, the captain of the 3rd Royal Knight Order and the one who created this situation, clicked his tongue and asked his adjutant,
"What's the current progress?"
"A little over half of the personnel have escaped."
"Half… it's taking much longer than planned."
There wouldn't have been this commotion if they had all used Dimensional Gate simultaneously and escaped to the city.
But they had to cast the spell sequentially because of its characteristic of absorbing the surrounding mana.
"It's almost our turn. Leave this place to the remaining knights and let's go, Captain."
Marco Elburn followed his adjutant towards the center. A new Dimensional Gate was open, emitting a brilliant light.
Whoosh!
Marco Elburn dismissed all his lingering thoughts and slowly walked towards the portal.
"Please, take me too!!"
"Aaaaaak!"
Screams filled with emotion and the clash of weapons echoed behind him with every step he took.
Clank, clank.
Marco Elburn stopped for a moment in front of the portal.
He suddenly remembered a conversation he had two days ago.
[I don't abandon my companions.]
He was an impressive person.
Barbarian-like, but not at the same time.
He was a bit disappointed.
[I misjudged you. To think you would make such a wrong choice.]
He lost interest in the barbarian.
He had made that offer purely out of whim.
But to think he wouldn't even grab that opportunity…
[Keep the Dimensional Gate a secret. If you value your companions.]
He was about to leave after threatening him to keep quiet.
But at that moment…
[You feel guilty.]
…the barbarian said something strange.
[Guilty…?]
[That's why you were disappointed when I refused your offer.]
He didn't understand at first.
But then a cold voice pierced his ears.
[You wanted to use me to ease your guilt, didn't you?]
Marco Elburn couldn't refute him.
Even he had the thought that it might be true, although he didn't realize it himself.
[Knight, I'm different from you.]
[So don't try to use me to discard your emotions.]
That was the end of his conversation with the barbarian.
They would probably never see each other again.
"Captain, we have to go now."
Marco Elburn looked ahead.
The bright city was visible beyond the portal, unlike this dark labyrinth.
The only city in this cursed world.
The place we have to protect.
The last bastion.
"For Lafdonia."
He stepped into the portal.
It was the choice he had to make.
_________________
I close my eyes for a moment and catch my breath.
And I remind myself.
The moment has finally come.
So…
'Do what you have to do.'
I open my eyes.
"Everyone, follow me. We're heading to the center."
"Yes? What are you going to do there?"
What else is there to do?
By the time we arrive, all the talented people abandoned by the various groups will be drowning in despair.
'I need to increase our numbers first.'
We have to gather forces.
That's the first step to survival.
-x-X-x-
"No! Take me too…!"
"…I'm sorry."
The battle ended as soon as an explorer closed his eyes and entered the Dimensional Gate.
The reason was simple.
Although knights were still blocking the explorers in various passages…
"Surrender."
"Yes? But our Dimensional Gate spell isn't ready ye—"
"That was the last Dimensional Gate. I'm sorry."
"Ca, Captain, what do you me—! Aaaak!!"
The explorers charged towards the knight and trampled him, punching him mercilessly as soon as he lowered his sword.
"Tell me! What did you mean just now! The last Dimensional Gate?!"
The knight just endured all the violence.
And he answered their questions even as his teeth were knocked out and his eyes were bloodshot.
"It means what I said."
"You, you bastard! You knew we were going to be abandoned, and you still…!"
"Someone has to stay behind. Your anger is justified. So please, unleash it on me. My body still has that much value."
"I'll kill you!!"
"For… Lafdonia…!"
Some knights surrendered, and some fought back with their swords until the end.
But the result was the same.
The explorers overwhelmed them with their numbers, and they mercilessly unleashed their despair and anger.
Of course, the explorers knew.
That these knights were also in the same situation, and that they would be valuable allies.
But they needed someone to vent their emotions on.
That's when, as similar scenes were unfolding throughout the center…
"Aak! What the hell! Don't push—!"
…a barbarian appeared from one of the passages, easily pushing aside the crowd.
And…
"Hey, knight."
…he spoke, grabbing the wrist of an explorer who was beating up a knight.
"Killing him."
"Le, let go of me?!"
"Troublesome."
"What! You abandoned us, and you're saying you're on his side—!"
The barbarian's fist slammed into the explorer's face as he protested vehemently.
Thwack!
The explorer's body collapsed limply.
"I said… it's… troublesome."
The barbarian spoke, catching his breath.
And a brief silence fell.
"...."
No one else dared to attack the knight.
At least not in that area.
__________________
The situation in the center wasn't much different from what I expected.
Except for one thing.
'I didn't expect there to be this many knights left.'
It was a pleasant miscalculation.
Although they wouldn't be under my command…
…they were still valuable assets.
Just by existing and walking around in this cave, they would be good bait for me.
"Mr. Yandel!"
My companions appeared a moment later, following the path I had created.
"Ah, you're here. Can you take care of this?"
"Yes?"
"Just make sure they don't die."
I left the half-dead knights to my companions and headed towards the center of the cavern.
"Aak! St, stop…!"
Screams echoed from all sides with every step I took.
Most of them were from knights.
Right, you guys are also human.
You feel pain when you're beaten up.
"…Damn iiiit!!!"
Anger welled up inside me.
And I also saw people who were sitting blankly, lost in despair, having retreated from the violence.
Those who had lost even the will to be angry.
"We're all going to die."
"Cecilia… I'm sorry…"
Those who had accepted their deaths.
There were even some among them who were wearing emblems of large clans. Some were in teams, and some were alone or in pairs.
Well, even large clans couldn't save everyone.
Even knights were abandoned.
They must have prioritized their members.
Because tickets were limited.
"Stop it…! Even so, nothing will change! They're in the same situation as us!"
Sometimes I heard voices trying to quell the anger.
They were divided into two categories.
Those who appealed to emotions and morality, raising their voices to protect humanity.
And…
"Are you all crazy! This will just get us all killed!"
…those who hadn't given up hope.
Those who tried to stop the violence rationally, pushing aside their anger.
I would probably belong to the latter category.
And they were the ones who would be most helpful to me in the current situation.
Thud.
I finally stopped.
There was a monument in front of me that I had seen countless times.
The last Archmage.
The only structure in the labyrinth, built to commemorate the achievements of Diflun Groundel Gavrilius.
[In commemoration of his great first step]
There's a hidden piece in this monument.
It's the one that allows you to open the 1st-floor rift.
But we can't escape the war by entering the rift.
We don't have any 8th-grade magic stones…
And even if we did, it would be useless.
The last time the rift opened was a month ago.
We didn't go because we thought it would be more profitable to explore the 5th floor, and it opened naturally.
Well, there's nothing I can do by regretting it.
"Ahem."
I clear my throat.
But I'm not worried.
If there's one thing that barbarians are good at, besides their physical abilities, it's their loud voices.
"Stoooooooooop———!!!!!"
I shout with all my might in [Gigantification] state.
It's loud enough to reach everyone's ears even in this chaotic situation.
Everyone stops and looks at me.
Of course, it doesn't last long.
The explorers look at me with a 'What the hell is that?' expression and then lose interest.
'Right, this much isn't enough.'
Honestly, I didn't expect much.
That kind of thing only happens in cartoons.
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel, Little Balkan!!"
I continue shouting, even if they ignore me.
Barbarian rule number one:
If your voice doesn't reach them, it's because you weren't loud enough.
Therefore…
"If there are any of my tribe who know me, repeat after me!!!"
I ask for support.
I'm not the only barbarian here.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel, Little Balkan!"
"Great warrior!"
"It's the next chieftain's order!! We have to follow him!"
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
The barbarians scattered throughout the cave let out battle cries as if they've been waiting, starting with Karon and Ainar.
They had been watching me since I started shouting.
They probably thought they had to help since I'm their tribesman, even if they didn't know what I was trying to do.
"I repeat—! Everyone, stop—!!"
"Stop!"
"Stop!"
"Stop!"
The crowd stops again and focuses their attention on me as the chorus follows.
It's only natural for them to be curious when the same shout is repeated everywhere as if it's an announcement, unlike when I was shouting alone until my throat was sore.
"Who are you to tell us to stop?!"
"We're in this state because of these bastards, and you're telling us to hold back?!"
But the negative gazes are still stronger.
Many of them are still enraged and beating up the knights.
Therefore, I continue shouting.
"I repeat—! Everyone, stop—!!"
Like a simple-minded barbarian.
Stubbornly repeating the same thing over and over again.
Until my demand is met.
That's when, after shouting about ten times…
"I repeat—! Everyone, stop—!!"
"Someone shut that bastard up!!"
…the arrows of anger, which never seem to decrease no matter how much they're vented, finally turn towards me.
"If you're going to side with the royal family, you die too!!"
Some explorers even charge towards me.
"Protect the next chieftain!!"
The barbarian warriors charge forward to protect me.
But I stop them.
"Stop!!! We shouldn't fight among ourselves!!!"
The naive barbarians stop at my shout. But the explorer who was charging towards me doesn't.
Whoosh.
He swings his sword as if I'm his enemy.
Clang!
As expected, judging by his equipment, my body is unscathed.
No, how could an ordinary iron sword even scratch me?
"Uh, uh…"
I just took the hit with my body, maintaining my original posture, without even blocking.
The difference in skill is evident just from that.
Did he realize his mistake belatedly?
"...."
The explorer, as if scared of me, steps back as his excitement subsides and his head cools down.
Geez, where does he think he's going?
I grab his shoulder and pull him towards me.
And I ask,
"Do you want to live?"
"...?"
"I asked if you want to live!!! Why are you running away when you're going to die anyway?!"
The explorer's face turns pale as I shout at him.
"Tell me, do you want to live?!"
The explorer, cornered, shouts back at me,
"Wh, who would want to die?!"
It's the line I've been waiting for.
Everyone is looking at us because of his sudden outburst.
I let go of his shoulder.
"Then run away. If you think you can survive that way."
The explorer, having regained his freedom, doesn't turn around and run away.
To be precise, he can't.
His legs give out, and he collapses to the ground.
But does he still have some energy left?
He shouts, venting his frustration,
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do?!"
What else is there to do?
I've already said it countless times.
I turn my gaze away from him.
And I shout again, looking around,
"I repeat—! Everyone, stop—!!"
My life as a barbarian has taught me.
Stubbornness eventually becomes perseverance.
If you don't give up first.
____________________
A brief silence falls.
It's a miracle.
That barbarian just shouted. He didn't use violence, he just kept shouting.
At first, he thought it was foolish.
He didn't think this chaos would subside, no matter how many times he shouted.
So he had been staying away from the situation with his clan members, judging that everyone would regain their composure and come up with a plan after the knights were all dead.
But…
"Amazing."
The one-sided violence against the knights had almost completely stopped.
The result of a single barbarian's actions.
Then how was this possible?
He still didn't know the exact reason.
But he could only guess.
Just like how they say words have power…
…maybe that barbarian's words carried even greater power.
Just like how a single action can be more deeply engraved in your mind than a hundred words…
…maybe they started to have hope, even if it was just a sliver, because of that foolish persistence.
Smirk.
No, maybe they just regained their composure after watching him do something stupid over and over again.
You know how it is, right?
The atmosphere changes when someone says something silly in the middle of a serious conversation.
Of course, it's just a guess.
He doesn't know the real reason.
Maybe he's just curious about what that barbarian is trying to say.
But one thing was clear.
That barbarian did something he couldn't.
Little Balkan, a 5th-grade explorer.
Although his strength and the force he commanded were much weaker than his…
…he did it.
"Vice-leader."
"Yes, sir."
"We're not just watching anymore. If you see anyone attacking a knight nearby, stop them."
The man gave an order to his vice-leader.
And he started walking.
"Leader, where are you going?"
"I'm going to hear what he has to say, why he's doing that. Whether he's just an idiot, or…"
"…?"
Although the vice-leader tilted her head, the man didn't say anything more.
He found it amusing himself.
But…
"Everyone, stop it! He's right! Stop for now! And let's calmly think together!"
…just like he was doing right now…
…he saw people who had been watching from the sidelines raising their voices and stepping forward.
Thump!
His heart pounded for some reason.
The man looked at the monument.
"I repeat—! Everyone, stop—!!"
The barbarian was still shouting.
His tribesmen were chanting along.
"Everyone, stop!"
And now even those who weren't related to him were shouting.
The man couldn't help but think…
"From now on, anyone who causes trouble will be considered an enemy!"
…that everything that was happening right now…
…was like a scene from a legend he read as a child, a story about a hero.
_________________
One person approaches.
"I'm Melter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan. If you have a way to resolve this situation, I'd like to hear it."
Then a woman.
"I'm Lacey Naret from the Heindel Church. I came to thank you for stopping this tragedy."
The third one is a mage.
"I'm a military mage of Lafdonia. Ah, for reference, I stayed behind on my own, not because I was abandoned. I don't like that commander bastard."
More people gather after that.
Priests, mages, clan leaders, vice-leaders, team leaders, or individuals. Those who were abandoned or stayed behind voluntarily.
"Don't you think you can stop shouting now? Everyone is waiting for you to speak."
"Tell us. Do you really have a solution? You didn't just say that to save the knights because you felt sorry for them, did you?!"
Is the barbarian 'Just do it!' tactic invincible?
I deactivated the mindless infinite loop mode after achieving my goal.
"It's good to meet you all. I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel."
The conditions for conversation were finally met.
-x-X-x-
The central cavern, expanded to the size of a plaza.
I look around once more before deactivating [Gigantification].
'This is like Gwanghwamun Plaza.'
Thousands of explorers are standing shoulder to shoulder, staring at me.
Just how many are there?
I can't even begin to count.
If you include those who are still in the passages because of the crowd in the center, it would be a truly staggering number.
I realize once again…
…that there's a huge difference between numbers you hear or read about and numbers you see with your own eyes.
'Would that bastard have made a different decision if he had seen this?'
That thought briefly crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.
It was a meaningless assumption.
And it wasn't something I should be worried about right now.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"…You were supposed to tell us what to do, why are you suddenly shouting?"
"I just felt like it!"
To be precise, I get nervous when this many people gather.
But shouting made me feel a bit better.
I'm a barbarian.
Right, so…
…there's nothing I can't do in this world.
"Everyone, listen carefully!"
All eyes turn to me in the silence, which is hard to believe considering how many people are gathered here.
Geez, how embarrassing.
"Let's put our heads together! There must be someone smart among this many people!"
I continue speaking shamelessly.
Although I already have a plan, I judged that it would seem suspicious if I revealed everything in front of this many people.
"Huh?"
"That's it…?"
The explorers, who were listening intently, make dazed expressions.
Some of them even look disappointed.
"What was I even expecting? From a barbarian?"
It's a barbarian's only weakness.
They can't lead the situation proactively while showing their intellectual side. Well, I wouldn't have been able to stop the fighting if I weren't a barbarian.
"Th, then why were you shouting so passionately earlier?!"
"Because a wise warrior knows where to vent their anger. This isn't the place for us to shed blood."
"No, I understand what you're trying to say, but…"
The explorers don't know what to say.
I feign ignorance.
I've already achieved my goal of saving the knight.
No, is that all?
I also succeeded in creating an environment for everyone to gather and talk, and I even left a deep impression on them.
The first objective is complete.
"He's not wrong. Everyone has their own role, right? He stopped the unnecessary bloodshed and allowed us to gather here, so he's already fulfilled a great duty."
The middle-aged man who introduced himself as a military mage defended me and changed the atmosphere.
It seems like he has a good impression of me.
"Role… that reminds me of a passage from The Prince. That a monarch's role isn't to fight, but to inspire the will to fight."
"Haha, I can't believe there's someone here who read that book. It's nice to meet you. You're Melter Pend from the Nartel Clan, right?"
"Yes, Kyle."
"Oh, you know me?"
"You're quite famous."
The two of them exchange friendly glances as they have a brief conversation.
It's not a good sign.
We don't have time for socializing, and these are explorers who were abandoned by the leaders.
They'll definitely feel uneasy if a bond forms between us.
"Enough, let's talk! Does anyone have any information they don't know?"
I cut in, pretending to be clueless, and steer the conversation back on track.
These people need to have a discussion for my plan to work.
And they need to reach the conclusion I've already reached.
Even if it's a bit troublesome for me.
"First, we need to figure this out. Why did the royal family abandon us?"
Melter Pend initiates the conversation as no one else steps forward.
"That's right! There was no problem enduring until now, so why did those bastards…"
The biggest contradiction in the current situation.
Those who were angry at being abandoned have regained their composure and are expressing their doubts.
The answer comes quickly since there are so many people gathered here.
"It's probably because of the Floor Master."
It was the military mage, Kyle, who spoke.
"…Floor Master?"
"But we've been successfully blocking the Floor Master until now!"
"That's true for now. The commander was probably afraid of what would appear after the ninth Floor Master is defeated."
"…What?"
"The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak. It's another Floor Master."
Most of them are confused, saying they've never heard of it, and Kyle briefly explains the Lord of the Abyss to them.
"That's why we have to report to the guild and get their approval before defeating the Lord of Fear. It's that much of a disaster."
"So you're saying that even hundreds of knights and large clans can't defeat it?"
"No, it's not that bad. But…"
Kyle trails off and looks into the distance.
"We're not the only ones here."
Noark and Lafdonia.
And the Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.
"The command judged that Noark would definitely interfere if we fought Verzak."
"Come to think of it, there haven't been any attacks since the first day…"
"Damn it, I was wondering why, so that was their plan all along!"
It's a kind of endgame scenario.
A strategy of mutual destruction, where they use Verzak to inflict heavy damage on each other.
That's why the knight commander chose to retreat.
High-ranking explorers and knights are valuable assets that can't be easily replaced.
He wanted to protect at least that much.
For that damn royal family.
"Wait! Then isn't that strange? If they knew something so dangerous would appear, why didn't they try to go up to the 2nd floor before that?"
One explorer points out a contradiction.
It's also something I've thought about deeply.
But the answer is simple.
"I think I can answer that."
This time, it's the priestess from the Heindel Church.
"A search party was formed to explore the 2nd-floor portal on the first day we entered the labyrinth. And this is information I heard while treating a knight from the search party who survived."
"Tell us quickly!"
"The portal connected to the west, the Rock Desert, is unfortunately no longer usable."
"No longer usable?"
"The Ruin Scholar. I heard that cursed mage destroyed the portal."
A wave of unrest spreads as the name of the Ruin Scholar, one of Orculus's executives, is mentioned.
I silently organize my thoughts.
'The west…'
Then the probability is 1 in 3 now?
I obtained valuable information.
"If the west is blocked, we can just go through another portal!"
Someone in the crowd shouts, but very few people agree.
Because it's an obvious cause and effect.
"Although we haven't confirmed the other portals, the knight said it's highly likely that the Ruin Scholar has already been there."
"Then…"
"Yes, it means we're completely trapped here."
A heavy silence falls after the priestess's words.
But the discussion continues.
"Those Noark bastards are really serious this time."
"Then what are we going to do?"
"Even if it's not that Verzak monster, if they find out that our core forces are gone, they'll definitely attack."
The explorers are participating in the conversation even more actively than before.
But there are no results.
Because we don't have enough clues to come up with a solution.
"Aren't you all looking at this too narrowly? A skilled warrior always predicts the enemy's next move and acts accordingly."
I interject from time to time and give them hints.
"Do you think they didn't expect us to open Dimensional Gates and escape after preparing for months?"
"…Honestly, I think it would be stranger if they didn't expect it."
Hmm, that's true.
It's a crazy act that ordinary people wouldn't even think of.
But…
"That makes sense. Maybe they cornered us to make us use Dimensional Gate.
The military mage, Kyle, and a few others didn't dismiss my words.
"Yes. Then the real war might be next time, not this time. There aren't many mages left in the city who can use Dimensional Gate."
"It could also be a strategy to instigate internal conflict between the royal family and the explorers. If this incident spreads throughout the city, the distrust towards the royal family will explode. Well, that's only meaningful if we return alive."
They were all questions I had pondered.
Any of them made sense in the current situation.
"I don't know what those bastards are aiming for."
The military mage, Kyle, asked me,
"What do you think? I think your opinion is important."
"What do you mean?"
"You just pointed out the key point. I'm curious about your intuition as a warrior."
I hesitated for a moment.
I had reached a conclusion after much contemplation and speculation.
Of course, I wasn't sure if it was right.
But…
"I think we were their target from the beginning."
"Hoo, not the knights and the large clans?"
Kyle responded with interest, but not everyone felt the same way.
"That's ridiculous. If they knew we would use Dimensional Gate, why would they use this strategy? It would be a loss for them to be annihilated with us after all the valuable people have escaped."
It was the guy who had been talking amicably with the other powerful figures and giving me hostile looks.
I don't know why he's acting like that towards me.
Is it because I'm bald?
I chuckled and spoke,
"Why do you think they want to die with us? They can just go up to the upper floors."
"Like I said before—"
"They can just leave one portal open and escape through it."
That was my conclusion.
After all, it's a world full of efficiency freaks.
If I were the leader of the enemy, this was the only option that made sense.
'It's the most profitable option for them.'
First, they can make over a hundred high-ranking mages use Dimensional Gate and buy time.
And they can weaken the royal family's influence in the city…
And most importantly, they can wipe out tens of thousands of explorers without shedding a single drop of blood, even if the core forces have escaped.
We wouldn't be able to defeat 'Verzak' even if we tried, now that the key players are gone.
But could it be that it was hard for him to accept?
"There's no way it's that simple—"
The guy, who was momentarily speechless, started to object mindlessly.
No, to be precise, he was about to…
"As expected, you also thought the same."
…when the military mage, Kyle, nodded.
'What, so he was testing me even though he already had a guess?'
Although it's a bit unsettling, I keep my mouth shut.
Geez, this is why I tried not to stand out.
But it was comforting that it seemed like he was testing my abilities rather than suspecting me.
"…?"
That's when we heard a commotion from outside.
Although we couldn't hear the sound because it was far away…
…it didn't take long for the news to reach us.
"Captain!"
"What is it?"
"The Noark bastards who were blocking the passages have all disappeared!"
Kyle smiled bitterly, looking at me.
"It seems like you and I were right."
Now we really have to hurry.
____________________
It wasn't difficult to come up with a plan after learning about Noark's strategy.
Even if it wasn't a perfect plan.
What we had to do was clear.
"We have to go up to the 2nd floor too."
"But do we even know where it is?"
"At least we know it's not in the west. Let's split into three groups and search."
We split into three groups and run towards the 2nd-floor portal.
Of course, it doesn't end there.
"It's still a problem even if we go up! They'll be there…"
Another mountain to climb.
More hardships await us.
But so what?
"It's better than dying here. It's up to each of you now."
Kyle spoke coldly, and no one said they would stay behind.
At least not around us.
"Then how are we going to divide our forces?"
One explorer asked about the detailed strategy.
I interjected before Kyle, who had been leading the conversation like a leader, could say anything.
"It's better to divide into groups of 300."
"300? We're already short on manpower, what are you—"
Ha, this bastard is at it again.
"It's a terrain where it's difficult to fight together effectively if there are too many people. It's better this way."
In technical terms, it means we're going for guerrilla warfare.
Although I didn't say it out loud, everyone seemed to understand the meaning behind it.
"Hmm, that makes sense. Leaving aside the battles, more people will survive if we disperse. It will also distract that monster."
"So you're saying we should act as bait for each other and survive individually since most of us will die if we encounter him."
It's a truly ruthless strategy.
But everyone agreed without objection.
That's the good thing about being an explorer.
There's no time wasted on arguing about things like fairness.
"Then how are we going to form the groups?"
"Let's just do it ourselves. I don't want to be under anyone's command."
"Right, we don't have time."
One explorer, the leader of an unknown small clan, left as soon as the plan was roughly organized.
And then it was pandemonium.
"Red Light Clan! I'm looking for people to escape this damn place with! Anyone above 6th grade, any number of people!"
Some were recruiting companions.
"One of our team members is 7th grade. How about it?"
Some were looking for a place to belong.
And in the midst of that chaos…
"Mr. Kyle, I heard you're alone, would you like to join our clan?"
…Melter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan, immediately tried to recruit the mage.
Tsk, I was going to ask him first.
But judging by how they were chatting amicably earlier, it seems like he won't refuse.
'I need to move quickly before they're all taken.'
"Then I'll be going. Let's see each other alive."
I said goodbye briefly and turned around.
I was planning to return to my companions and then quickly start recruiting.
It would be quite difficult to gather 300 people as a nobody barbarian.
That's when, as I was hurriedly walking away…
"Wait, what are you planning to do?"
…the military mage, Kyle, stopped me.
"You're the type to be the leader, right?"
"Of course."
"Then take me with you."
Huh?
"Why?"
"I'm just following my gut. I feel like people will gather around you."
"…You're following your gut in a life-or-death situation?"
Kyle smiled and answered as I glanced at Melter Pend, who had just offered him a position,
"A mage who voluntarily stayed in this mess wouldn't be sane, would he?"
Uh, well, that's true.
"Alright. I look forward to working with you."
I have a high-ranking mage now.
It's a very positive sign.
I can use this to recruit even better members—
"Take us with you."
A group of knights approached me before I could even take a step.
The knight at the front was a familiar face. It was the one who was being beaten up with a resigned expression when we first arrived.
"Four regular knights and six apprentice knights. We won't hold you back, wherever you go."
Are they trying to repay their debt?
It's a win for me.
"Alright, follow me."
The knights stand behind me.
But before I can even take another step, someone calls out to me.
"Wait."
It's Melter Pend, the leader of the Nartel Clan.
What? Is it because I stole the mage from him?
He didn't seem like that kind of person…
"Which direction are you going?"
"East."
The west is blocked, so the east is the best option.
If the first attempt fails, we can change course and head north or south, depending on the situation.
"Coincidentally, I'm also heading in that direction. How about we go together?"
"I don't intend to join your clan."
"Don't worry, I'll follow your orders."
"What?"
This was also unexpected.
I didn't think he was the type to be under someone's command.
What is this? A prank?
"So what's your answer?"
"…If you promise to follow my orders."
"Then it's settled."
Melter Pend and his clan members stand behind me.
Honestly, I'm dumbfounded.
I haven't even made an offer yet, and I've already gathered this many people?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"Follow the next chieftain!!"
More barbarians run towards me and follow as I take a few more steps.
Well, this is only natural.
"Mister!!"
"Erwen? Where's your clan?"
"My sister said this way is safer! You'll take us too, right?"
"Of course."
The fairy sisters also join us, as if they were watching from nearby.
And that's not all.
"If it's okay with you, we'd like to join you."
A 4th-grade team operating on the 6th floor.
"I think you'll be able to save the most people."
A priestess who stayed behind to save people.
"Haha, a loyal guy is the most trustworthy in times like this. Take us with you too."
Even a famous dwarf clan from the city.
Countless people approach me and ask to join as I'm just walking.
"See, I told you. People would gather around you."
"...."
"A mage's intuition is usually accurate."
Kyle smiles meaningfully, looking at me.