Ironically, human relationships are all like that.
The one who's more desperate usually becomes the underdog.
Like right now.
"One more."
"Ah, here."
"Ahhhhh."
I refilled my Sprite and drank it.
The old man seemed eager to continue the conversation…
…but no way.
"Do you have Coke too?"
"Haha, you must be homesick."
"Ahhhhh!"
This is the life.
My whole body trembled at the refreshing taste of carbonation, something I hadn't had in a long time.
But I decided to stop abusing my drink privileges.
'He knows what Sprite and Coke are, so he must have been to our world. But how did they get here? They didn't open the 'Gate of the Abyss'…'
Various questions filled my mind.
'If I could just figure out how they did it, could I go home without climbing the floors?'
Of course, it was just a thought, I wasn't that desperate. Honestly, my biggest concern these days was whether I even had to go back.
I had already adapted to this world.
Although it was a bit inconvenient, it was a livable place.
Yeah, even without carbonated drinks.
"Haha, seeing you so happy makes me happy too. Do you want another one?"
"No, I'm good."
"Really?"
Auril Gabis tilted his head and then asked me the same question as before.
But…
"It's my turn now, isn't it?"
He coughed awkwardly as I rebuked him.
"Ahem, ah, I apologize. I got carried away. You're right, it's your turn, so ask me anything."
What the hell, he didn't even answer my questions properly.
I said firmly,
"No more questions."
"Huh?"
What do you mean 'huh'?
How shameless.
"What's the point? I can't even tell if you're telling the truth or not."
The old man looked indignant as I pointed out his underhanded tactic of using a lie detector.
"But I've never lied!"
Yeah, that's right.
He just didn't tell me the important parts.
His actions actually made me trust him more.
But…
"It's still unfair, isn't it?"
This old man could just change the subject when it was uncomfortable, but I couldn't even stay silent.
"…What do you want me to do?"
Well…
I pretended to think for a while and then spoke.
"How about I ask ten questions, and then you ask one?"
"What…?"
The old man exclaimed in disbelief.
Damn it, was that too much?
I quickly made an excuse.
"In the first place, I'm taking a huge risk just by talking to you."
"Risk?"
"I don't know how this will change the future."
It was a line that implied the risks I was taking and the value of information from twenty years in the future.
But…
"What? Hahahahaha!"
Auril Gabis burst into laughter as if he had heard something truly funny.
It was so hearty that I felt offended.
I wasn't telling a joke.
"Ah, sorry for laughing suddenly."
He cleared his throat and composed himself as I just stared at him.
And…
"It's just… I didn't expect that. Well, it's understandable from your perspective, but…"
Auril Gabis continued.
"You can't change anything with the Fragment of Records."
That was why he laughed.
______________________
My mind momentarily short-circuited.
But even after regaining my composure and thinking about it again, I couldn't understand.
So I just asked him directly.
"What do you mean I can't change anything?"
"Ah, is that a 'question'?"
Uh…
"...."
I felt speechless.
I suddenly wanted another sip of Sprite.
"Haha, I'm just kidding."
Auril Gabis chuckled and answered my question.
"It's difficult to explain the concept of time and causality to you now, so just know this."
"...."
"Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The order isn't important. The history of the universe only happened once."
I didn't understand what he meant by the history of the universe.
But I understood what he was trying to say, even if I didn't know the principle.
So, this old man was saying…
"You're saying that no matter what I do here, the future won't change?"
"That's right. Once a timeline has been observed, it can't be changed."
"Simply put."
"No matter what you think or do here. No matter what conversation we have. It's already happened in the past."
Understanding and accepting were two different things.
I understood the theory…
But what about Dwarkey?
The letters I left at the sanctuary?
So no matter what I did, nothing would change?
'There's no way.'
I decided to take his words with a grain of salt. This old man wasn't omniscient.
He didn't even know I had cleared the original game.
"You don't seem to believe me."
"...."
"Well, you'll understand when you finish what you have to do here and return. What it means to be called by fate."
Auril Gabis then changed the subject and returned to our original conversation.
"So about fairness… ten questions is a bit much. How about three for one?"
Geez, he's taking advantage of me while I'm confused.
I focused on the negotiation, deciding to think about the history of the universe later.
"Three is too few. How about five for one?"
"…Aren't you being too shameless? Although information from twenty years in the future is valuable, the things I know are no less valuable."
Auril Gabis frowned as if his pride was hurt.
Well, I could understand.
If you asked a hundred players from Earth, all of them would be interested in the information Auril Gabis had and think it was more valuable.
But…
"Then don't do it if you think that way."
The value of water is relative.
To a thirsty person, a drop of water is more valuable than a hundred pounds of gold.
"Five questions for one. Take it or leave it."
I gave him my final offer.
That's when…
"These damn bastards…"
…the old man's expression hardened.
I was nervous, thinking I might have crossed a line, but…
"Ah, I apologize. I wasn't talking about you. It's just that those guys I saw earlier are breaking the rules again."
Fortunately, it wasn't because of me.
He even seemed worried that I might have misunderstood.
"It seems like I have to go now. How about we continue this conversation next month? I'll think about the fairness issue."
Although it was sudden, I didn't show my disappointment. If I did, our negotiation might fall apart.
"Okay."
I nodded as if I wasn't in a hurry, and he waved his hand.
And…
"…I'm back."
…I was lying in bed in my room when I came to my senses.
_______________________
[00:00].
I checked the time, midnight on the 15th, and then lay down and tried to sleep.
Of course, sleep didn't come easily.
Countless thoughts, worries, and anxieties flashed through my mind.
But the sun still rose.
"…Nothing has changed."
I got dressed and headed towards the library as soon as I woke up.
That the future wouldn't change no matter what I did?
That it was meaningless since it had already happened in the past?
So what?
That couldn't be a reason for me to just stay still.
There was a chance that Auril Gabis, that old man, was mistaken.
The probability was zero if I didn't do anything.
'She's not here today.'
I went to the library, but Raven wasn't there.
Where did this kid go?
Did she get in trouble for electrocuting someone?
'…She didn't come after all.'
I waited until the time Raven usually went home, but she didn't appear.
It was the same the next day.
'…Damn it, this is making me worried.'
I regretted not finding out where she lived, but I continued to visit the library. Raven finally appeared the next day.
"Why didn't you come for the past few days?"
"I had something to do. What about you?"
"Just…"
Raven answered vaguely and sat down, starting to read a book.
But then…
"Why do you keep turning your head?"
"I'm not."
No, you are.
And your hair is a mess.
"Come here."
"No."
"Then I'll go to you."
I strode towards Raven and moved her bangs aside.
And I barely managed to control myself.
'So that's why she was hiding it.'
There was a large bruise around Raven's eye.
"Who did this?"
"…It doesn't matter."
Damn it, how do I get her to talk?
As I was sighing…
…Raven looked at me cautiously and muttered, as if trying to comfort me.
"…Don't worry about it. I just came home late and my mom found out I was at the library."
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
Aside from the fact that this child was beaten up by her mother…
'Came home late…'
She was always on time.
Then how did she end up coming home late?
"Did you wait for me and come home late?"
"...."
Raven remained silent, and her silence was a clear answer.
Well, she did say 'no' belatedly…
But it was too late.
"Forget about me, tell me about the labyrinth. We were talking about it before."
"…Where did we leave off?"
"The Doppelganger Forest. We talked about how doppelgangers are good at playing dead. But that's not very interesting, so tell me something else."
I told her stories about the labyrinth, as if entertaining a child, and then it was time for Raven to go home.
"Then I'll be going."
"Okay."
"Are you… coming tomorrow?"
"If nothing comes up."
Raven left the library after hearing my answer.
So I also left.
And…
'Should I follow her?'
I started following Raven.
I didn't want to get involved in her family matters…
'But she didn't do anything wrong.'
Damn it, this was crossing the line.
-x-X-x-
The city of Noark, overflowing with camaraderie.
However, interpreting this differently, it could also mean that there was nothing to see but 'camaraderie'.
Prices that were too chaotic and difficult to adjust to.
Outdated and inefficient administrative services.
This morning, when I visited the Labyrinth Management Office to receive the Bonding spell, the administrative mage in charge of the line even said he was tired and took an hour break.
Well, I did manage to get to the front of the line after that, but...
"How long are you going to stand there?"
"Ah, I just feel a bit strange. This place is the same as twenty years later."
"What are you talking about?"
Geez, she has no sense of romance.
It's still the labyrinth twenty years ago.
"Follow me."
I quickly followed Amelia, who started running.
It was a bit strange.
It seemed like she was navigating properly…
But how is she finding the way without even looking at a compass?
'Ah, don't tell me…'
"Are you a Guide?"
Amelia glanced back at my question and then continued running.
But that was her answer.
'Crazy…'
A human character with Aura, Doppelganger essence, and even the Guide trait?
The world is truly unfair.
I was a bit envious.
'It would be reassuring to have someone like her on the team…'
I wonder if she would accept if I became closer to her and then tried to recruit her after returning to my original time? There were still quite a few spots left in the clan…
Ah, by the way, I hope my clan is doing well without me.
"...."
That's when, as I was thinking about various things while running, following Amelia…
"Oh, you two are together?"
…a group of explorers we encountered spoke to us.
They weren't low-level explorers, they were running towards the 2nd floor like us to save time.
'This is a bit nerve-wracking.'
I was currently affiliated with Noark, not Lafdonia.
So I was worried that they might find us suspicious.
Well, it turned out to be a pointless worry.
"Don't mind us."
"Haha, she's prickly. Good luck!"
The explorers laughed and disappeared as Amelia spoke coldly.
"Why are you so stiff?"
"Just… nothing. I was just thinking that I probably wouldn't be able to live as a criminal."
"…What?"
Amelia asked back as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard, and then she burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
It was a strange sight.
I hadn't said anything funny, and it was my first time seeing her laugh this much.
"…Huhu, do you like that kind of thing?"
Amelia stopped laughing and glared at me as I asked, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment.
"Don't misunderstand. I just laughed because it was ridiculous."
Well, then stop smiling.
Her sense of humor is strange, as expected of someone from Noark.
Was it that funny to see me anxious?
Tsk, I clicked my tongue in displeasure, and Amelia spoke.
"Those guys were from Noark."
"What?"
Those friendly-looking guys were from Noark?
"How do you know? I heard it's up to them whether they wear the faction emblem or not."
Amelia briefly explained.
They didn't have a mage or a priest in their team.
The equipment they were wearing wasn't uniform, as if they had looted it from someone.
And most importantly…
"Only people from here bring kids to the labyrinth."
"Kids? Ah, you're talking about that small explorer in the back?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, I thought she was just a short woman or a dwarf… How can you be sure?"
Amelia answered in a slightly stiff voice.
"I just know."
"What?"
"Enough, let's move."
Amelia ended the conversation, as if she didn't want to talk about it.
It was one of her bad habits.
Damn it, she's making me curious.
"Amelia."
"...."
"But if you're right, why do people from Noark bring kids to the labyrinth?"
I asked something else instead of asking how she could tell.
She seemed okay with this question, as she answered,
"First, you can use them for cheap labor."
"Hmm, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to bring them to the labyrinth."
"They're surprisingly useful. You can make them do chores like cooking and keeping watch, and they're also helpful for looting."
"Helpful for looting…?"
"They're used as bait. Even the most wary explorers would at least listen if a child approached them and asked for help."
Hmm, is that so?
"That's strange. I would be even more wary if a child approached me. In Lafdonia, they prevent minors from entering the labyrinth."
"That's because you're from twenty years in the future. The law is the same, but they tacitly allowed it back then."
Wow, she sounds like an old person saying 'Back in my day…'
"But Amelia, how old are you?"
"…Just keep moving."
Anyway, we continued chatting and running towards the 2nd floor, and we soon arrived at our destination.
As expected, the portal had already been opened.
Damn it, we came early.
"Let's go up."
We entered the portal, and a musty, damp air greeted us.
'This place always feels creepy.'
The Land of the Dead.
The area where undead monsters like ghouls and death fiends appeared, and the place where Amelia and I first met.
'Damn, I was so scared back then.'
It made me realize that you never know what will happen in life.
I didn't expect to be back here with her, as companions.
"Amelia, I have a question."
"Don't."
"You said in Bifron that those you killed here deserved to die. Were they related to the past you're trying to change?"
"You… are very curious about me."
"Of course."
Amelia clicked her tongue and answered,
"Yes, they're related."
Hmm, as expected.
I wanted to hear more, but she looked like she was about to get angry, so I stopped.
I'll ask her again later.
"Let's move if you're done with your questions."
We continued moving on the 2nd floor, slaughtering monsters.
But maybe because there were only two of us…
…it reminded me of the time I explored with Ainar as a two-person team.
Every battle was a struggle back then.
Time flies.
Thwack!
I could now kill a death fiend with my bare hands.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
"...."
"Ah, sorry. It's a habit."
"Enough, sit down. Let's rest here for a bit."
We found a spot and sat down after traveling all day. We had a simple meal and agreed to sleep for three hours and then continue moving.
For reference, there was no one keeping watch.
She could just summon a clone with [Self-Replication]?
"…You can do that?"
The Doppelganger essence didn't have an 'auto-hunt' mode in the game.
Then how was this possible?
The answer was simple.
"Don't worry. I haven't slept properly since I became an adult."
She could somewhat control her clone because she was always half-awake even when she was sleeping.
Well, that's what she said.
I didn't know if it was biologically possible.
"Tsk, no wonder you always look tired."
"Do you want to fight?"
"I was just telling you to get some sleep."
"...."
Anyway, she said her movements were slower in auto-hunt mode, but it would be enough for the lower floors.
"Then go to sleep."
So I just lay down.
Sleep didn't come easily.
It wasn't because I was worried about not having anyone keep watch.
I was a tank, so I wouldn't die easily even if I was attacked in my sleep.
'I wonder if my companions are doing okay…'
I couldn't help but think about them as we camped in the labyrinth.
And so, the first night passed.
__________________
Day 2 of the labyrinth expedition.
We arrived on the 3rd floor right on schedule.
It was time to do what we came here for.
Ah, there was only one thing.
To return with enough achievements to impress the Lord of Noark.
[We caused a stir in the city on the first day we arrived, so our strength has already been proven. But the Lord still hasn't contacted us.]
Amelia said this about the reason:
[He's definitely being cautious. The royal family has sent spies to the underground several times.]
In other words, what we had to prove in the labyrinth this time wasn't our strength, but our 'character'.
Were we worthy of Noark?
[The easiest way to prove ourselves is to loot. If we return with a lot of loot, his suspicion will decrease.]
Amelia suggested looting as the first method, and I agreed.
Ah, of course, I added one condition.
To loot from looters, not ordinary explorers.
[Is that a condition?]
[Yeah. I don't value human lives as much as I used to, but I'm not going to kill innocent people for my own gain.]
[…But how are we going to distinguish between looters and explorers?]
Amelia agreed, saying she would do it if there was a way, and I said I would show her later.
And so, time passed, and now…
"So, what are we going to do now?"
…we had arrived on the 3rd floor, our target floor.
There were no looters on the 4th floor, and the 5th floor was too difficult for a two-person team.
The 3rd floor was perfect for looting.
"If you really have a way to distinguish between looters and explorers, show me."
Geez, she's impatient.
I then gave Amelia a few instructions.
"Amelia, use your stealth ability first."
"…Stealth?"
"Don't play dumb. You know, the one you used in front of me. When you suddenly disappeared into the darkness."
"...."
Amelia disappeared into the darkness without any questions.
Damn it, I can't even feel her presence.
I should buy a detection-type Numbered Item when we get back.
"So what's next?"
It was awkward to hear her voice from the void, but I answered calmly.
"It's nothing special. Just follow me in that state. I'll find the looters."
"Alright."
That was one of the good things about having Amelia as a companion.
She didn't ask unnecessary questions and just observed, no matter what I did.
Well, that should have been the case…
"Barbarian."
Amelia suddenly asked me,
"Why… are you taking off your equipment?"
Ah, so she couldn't endure her curiosity.
Well, it was hard to understand from an ordinary person's perspective.
But I thought she might understand.
"It's hard to explain, so just watch."
I put most of my equipment in my subspace ring, except for a few items. And I took out the beginner set I had prepared and put it on.
"...."
Judging by the silence, it seemed like Amelia still didn't understand what I was trying to do.
But seeing is believing.
"I'll start now, so follow me closely."
I started running forward.
And I shouted with all my might.
"I, I'm lost! I'm separated from my companions! I, I can't see! Is anyone there?! Help me!!!"
A barbarian's secret technique.
Those who come are not good.
"Help me!!! I have a lot of money!!"
-x-X-x-
After running for almost 30 minutes, we encountered a 5-person team.
It consisted of three humans, a dwarf, and a fairy.
Judging by their equipment, they were at least 5th-floor explorers…
"You're lost? Calm down and come rest here for a bit."
…and they didn't even seem wary when they saw me approaching their camp. They even offered me jerky and a seat by their campfire.
At first, I thought the jerky might be poisoned.
But…
"Hmm, what should we do? We don't have time to search the entire 3rd floor for your team."
…none of them showed any greed throughout the conversation, and they didn't even ask for my equipment in return for saving my life.
Well, that's practically a custom.
"Haha, you're offering us your weapon? No, thank you. How would you explore without your equipment?"
"It's fine. If you feel bad, just help someone else in need next time."
They were incredibly kind. It was so suspicious that I even pretended to doze off by the campfire…
"You must be tired."
"Jess, what should we do? I don't feel good about leaving him here. It's practically the same as telling him to die."
"How about we look around for his companions for a few hours?"
"And if we can't find them?"
"Hmm, then we'll just take him with us. It will be a hassle, but we can't just leave him here to die."
…but they didn't change their attitudes.
It seemed pointless to test them any further, and it would just be a burden.
So I sent a signal to Amelia, who should be nearby.
The signal we agreed on beforehand, to come and get me.
"There are a lot of people looking for someone today. Who are you?"
"…Sorry for interrupting. I'm looking for my companion."
"Companion? Ah, don't tell me…!"
I jumped up and ran towards Amelia as soon as she appeared.
"Oh! Emily!! I missed you!! Why are you so late?!"
"So, sorry… but, this…"
"Emilyyyyy!!"
I hugged her tightly, pretending to be relieved, but I was also wary of the others.
They seemed like good people, but they might change their minds after seeing Amelia.
Well, that's what I thought…
"It's good that you found your companion."
…but there was no twist.
"Huhu, make sure to stay close to your companions from now on."
"You have good companions. It's not easy to get separated and search for each other in the labyrinth. Take care of each other."
They were nice people from beginning to end.
So it was time for us to leave.
"Let's go. Everyone is… worried about you…"
Amelia took me to the place where we agreed to meet with the others, saying she had a meeting point, and they sent us off with warm smiles.
And time passed, and now…
'Did I really come back without any problems?'
I felt a sense of wonder and gratitude.
Is this what healing feels like…?
What kind of life have I been living?
There are so many wonderful people in the world.
"It seems like your method didn't work."
Amelia looked at me as if asking what we were going to do now, while I was lost in my emotions.
Damn it, she's making me feel embarrassed.
Did I know this would happen?
"Are you going to continue?"
I seriously contemplated her question.
That's when…
"Hey, are you separated from your companions? What are you two doing?"
…five explorers appeared from the darkness.
"Come here if that's the case. We'll help you."
They were all smiling brightly.
As if they had found gold on the street.
So I ended my admiration for humanity and approached them with a smile.
"Oh, really?! We need help, this is great!"
These kinds of people always come to you, even if you don't look for them.
_______________________
The second team we met was even more blatant than the first. They surrounded us as soon as we joined them.
And…
"Oh, this is a subspace ring? Your equipment is trash, but you have something valuable."
…they created a threatening atmosphere by grabbing my hand and touching my subspace ring.
"So where's your companion?"
"I don't know."
"Hmm, really?"
Did they judge that we weren't a threat after getting some information?
One of them approached Amelia.
And he reached out towards her exposed thigh…
Thud.
…but a dagger pierced his hand before he could even touch her.
"Aak!! You crazy bitch!"
"Kill them!"
The battle began less than three minutes after we met.
Whoosh!
They were experienced in PvP, judging by how they counterattacked without hesitation.
But it wasn't a problem.
Because we were the same.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
[Gigantification], [Swing], and so on.
The battle quickly ended as we started using our skills. The fact that they had surrounded us to prevent us from escaping worked in our favor.
It's advantageous to surround goblins and beat them up…
Kwagic!
…but they weren't trolls or ogres.
We first took down the backline with bows and staffs, and then they were all on the ground.
"We, we were tricked… Damn it."
Kwagic!
"...."
A pleasant silence fell as I crushed the leader's head.
It was time to loot.
As expected, we found evidence of looting in their bags.
There wasn't much equipment since it was only Day 3, but their bags were filled with consumables like sleeping pills, poison, and mental scrolls.
There were also several stolen ID cards.
But could it be because we had earned a large sum at once?
"We just have to do this ten more times."
Amelia no longer questioned my method.
She must have realized.
That there was no more efficient way.
If we killed looters who had looted others, we could get multiple pieces of equipment and ID cards.
The effort-to-reward ratio was much higher.
"Then let's clean up the blood and move on."
We continued using the same strategy and met several teams.
Their reactions were all different.
But to broadly categorize them…
[We're not interested, so leave.]
…90% of them wouldn't even let us approach when I went alone.
[We'll let you stay since you seem to be in a difficult situation.]
…5% of them would let us rest after hearing our story and then ask for a reward.
[…You're suspicious. Show me your ID card.]
…3% of them would misunderstand us as looters and attack.
[Even if items are valuable, they're not more valuable than your life.]
…About 1% of them would try to take all our equipment, even if it meant leaving us to die to monsters.
[I apologize. I don't do things that might cause trouble later.]
…And about 1% of them would try to kill us just because they saw our faces.
'The success rate is much lower than I expected.'
We could only find one team out of a hundred.
Damn it, why did I encounter those guys so often?
I don't know, but time passed, and when it was Day 8…
…we met a team we had never seen before.
"Oh, so you're the famous newbies."
They were a team of looters from Noark.
_______________________
To summarize the result, there was no battle.
It wasn't because we didn't want to fight, but because they didn't give us the chance.
"Haha, it's nice to meet you, but please keep your distance."
They didn't even give us any space, and Amelia didn't show any hostility.
No, she actually warned me.
"Don't do anything stupid, they're from the Lord's faction."
Geez, I wasn't even thinking about it.
We had to pretend to be on their side.
If we attacked first, and one of them survived and reported us, our plan would be ruined.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
"Alright."
Amelia readily agreed to their suggestion. It didn't take long for me to realize her intentions.
We had to join the Lord's faction.
This was actually a chance for her to appeal to them.
"I'm Bek."
"We're…"
"I know. Emily, and you're Iron Mask, right?"
"Iron Mask?"
"Ah, you didn't know? It's your nickname."
I didn't know I had that nickname.
Well, it did suit me since I always wore a helmet.
"But you're quite handsome, for a barbarian."
Ah, right, I'm not wearing a helmet because we're fishing.
I felt a sense of dismay, but I didn't bother putting it on.
What would change even if they saw my face?
Nothing would change anyway.
"By the way, is that your tactic? It was impressive. You used the prejudice against barbarians very well."
"…What do you mean?"
"Ah, it was just a compliment. Don't look at me like that. We might become companions."
Amelia interjected,
"Companions?"
"Ah, I didn't tell you. I didn't say it because you need time to adjust to this city, but the Lord has a good impression of you."
In other words, it meant that he thought we were skilled, but he was observing us because he didn't know what kind of people we were.
"The Lord likes bold people. Especially those who aren't bound by morals like you."
It meant that there was no need to test us any further.
"He'll probably contact you when we get back, so think about it. It's an unfamiliar city. You need a place to belong, right?"
"…I'll think about it."
"Haha, that's good."
He laughed heartily and then looked at me.
"Ah, and you. It hasn't been long since you came to the human world, but you've already adapted so well."
"You've been in the world for too long, your hair's all gone."
"…What?"
I couldn't help but retort, as it sounded like he was mocking me.
But was that really his intention?
"Ah! It was a compliment! I apologize if you misunderstood."
He apologized instead of being offended.
So it was my turn to apologize.
"Ah, I also meant it as a compliment. I apologize if you misunderstood."
"…I, I see?"
He laughed awkwardly, and I awkwardly laughed along.
But I kept looking at him.
It was a strange feeling.
'His name was definitely 'Bek', right?'
But why did I feel like punching him?
I felt an inexplicable sense of unease as I shifted my gaze.
I saw an explorer wearing a robe.
He was small, like a child.
"Ah, you guys probably don't know yet, right?"
Bek, as if sensing my curiosity, pulled the kid's robe off.
"It's similar to your tactic. We use her as bait. Most people don't suspect a child. And if you send her inside, you can check the opponent's strength beforehand. She's also surprisingly helpful in battle. Most people have a psychological barrier against killing a child."
Bek explained about the child as if he was showing off his merchandise.
But I couldn't hear a word he said.
I had already heard it from Amelia…
'Wait, where have I seen her before?'
…and I felt a sense of déjà vu from the child who was standing there expressionlessly, even after her robe was removed.
But did she misunderstand my gaze?
"Hmm, now that I see it, you're not just curious, you like her, don't you?"
Bek said something ridiculous.
Normally, I would have smashed his head to clear up the misunderstanding, but I just asked,
"What's her name?"
"Name?"
Bek tilted his head as if it was a strange question.
He didn't seem to understand why her name was important.
But he still answered.
"Zencia Nayfrin."
Right, it was you.
No wonder I felt strange.
[We, we're human… humans, right? This is murder!]
She was the evil spirit I killed for the first time in the 'Glacier Cave'.
Of course, the Zencia I killed would be different from this child.
Evil spirits only possess adult natives, and there haven't been any other cases.
'Wait, then…'
I realized something.
A child born in Noark.
This child would most likely still be living in the underground when she became an adult.
In other words…
[I want to go home. I can't die here. I can't die in this shithole… I survived all this, you know? Please…]
Now I understood why that woman had been so frustrated.
Human characters are easy to survive with.
Their taxes were much lower than other races, so they could live for several years without any problems even if they didn't work as explorers.
That's why I couldn't relate to her back then.
I just thought she was a looter who wanted to live an easy life.
But…
[Mo, mom…]
…she started from this hell.
I had thought that barbarians had the worst starting point…
"...."
…but there was a bottom even lower than that.
-x-X-x-
I felt strange.
It wasn't sympathy or regret for smashing her head with my mace.
It was an unsettling feeling.
"You don't look well."
"...."
"Did you know her?"
I shook my head at Amelia's question.
And I asked her something I was curious about.
"What happens to those kids when they grow up?"
"They become explorers."
"There's no other option? They could work at the Lord's Castle."
"Impossible. They're here because they made a promise."
"Promise?"
"To do whatever he tells them to in exchange for being raised."
I was dumbfounded.
"You're saying that using them for chores and as bait for looting is considered 'raising' them?"
"Children who survive hell grow up strong."
I suddenly remembered what the chieftain had said to me.
[You know, don't you? Only those who survive become strong warriors.]
It was a similar context.
An environment where you had to be strong to survive.
The Lord intentionally put the children in that environment.
"But the mortality rate decreases as they get older and stop being used as bait. And the treatment they receive from their assigned team also improves."
Amelia continued.
She said that if they survived for about three years as bait, they would be acknowledged for their talent and start receiving combat training.
And if an unclaimed essence dropped during a hunt, they could even absorb it…
"They become usable assets as soon as they become adults."
"What if they want to quit after becoming adults?"
"That won't happen. They're brainwashed from a young age. By the time they become adults, they're completely loyal to the Lord."
"But what if they come to their senses and quit?"
Amelia frowned and then answered,
"They'll be re-educated. To be loyal again."
"...."
"Don't worry too much. No child would join the Lord without knowing that."
The conversation ended there.
But I continued thinking about it.
What kind of life did the player who possessed 'Zencia Nayfrin' have to live?
Well, maybe it wasn't that bad.
They didn't kill evil spirits in Noark.
'…But they wouldn't let her go free.'
From the Lord's perspective, an evil spirit had possessed the body of a valuable asset he had raised for years, feeding her essences.
He would have made the evil spirit, whoever it was, live as 'Zencia'.
Even if it meant 're-educating' her.
'Anyway, she would have had to start looting as soon as she arrived, whether she was exposed or not. Then maybe the fact that she treated everyone like NPCs was also a defense mechanism…'
Wait, why am I even curious about this?
'Stop thinking about it.'
I stopped thinking.
It didn't matter what kind of environment that player had to survive in.
She tried to kill me.
Yeah, so…
'I just did what I had to do.'
That was all there was to it.
Phew, I feel better now.
"Come on, Amelia. Let's go. We have work to do."
"You… why are your emotions so unstable?"
"Because I'm a barbarian!"
I dismissed my unsettling feelings and continued using my secret technique, 'Those who come are not good', to lure looters.
And after a few more days…
"Oh, another subspace ring."
…I was casually organizing the equipment we had looted from another team when…
Rumble.
…the ground suddenly shook as if there was an earthquake.
Honestly, I was quite flustered.
Damn it, I didn't even consider this possibility.
Rumble!
A rift had opened on the 3rd floor.
___________________
A rift opening on the floor you're currently on.
Although it was sudden, it wasn't something to be surprised or amazed by.
It was something that could happen at any time during exploration.
But the problem was…
'Why now?'
We didn't enter the labyrinth for normal exploration.
And besides, there weren't any essences I could absorb in the 3rd-floor rift.
No, in the first place, I couldn't even absorb essences unless I removed the Corpse Golem essence since all my slots were full.
You're saying there are Numbered Items and rift stones?
I couldn't take them back to the future anyway.
Well, I could sell them and use the money to live here…
'Let's stop getting ahead of ourselves and confirm first.'
I quickly made a decision.
Opening a rift and being able to enter it were two different things.
"Amelia, where is it?"
A Guide could sense the location of a rift when it opened.
Then where did it open?
If it was hours away, we wouldn't be able to enter it, no matter what we did.
So there wouldn't even be a need to—
"Five minutes north."
Damn it, it's right next to us.
It should have opened here from the beginning.
The last time we were on the 5th floor, it opened in a completely different area.
"What are you waiting for! Let's go!"
Amelia asked as I was about to run.
"You're going in?"
What the hell.
Of course, we are.
You have to enter a rift if you can.
Essences, items, whatever.
It had experience points that you could only obtain in rifts…
'Wait a minute.'
"Amelia, have you ever been to the 3rd-floor rift?"
"Once, a long time ago."
Right, so you've already gotten all the experience points.
No wonder she wasn't enthusiastic.
"I haven't! So let's go!"
"...."
"We've practically succeeded in impressing the Lord! Nothing will change even if we miss out on a few loot!"
"But what if something happens if we go to the rift…?"
"I won't cause any trouble! And we're companions! Just help me out this once! I'll just get the achievement points and come out!"
"…Fine, follow me."
Amelia sighed and then started guiding me.
She probably didn't change her mind because of the word 'companion'.
She probably judged that it was better to endure a few days of annoyance than to ruin her relationship with her 'collaborator'.
After all, she was a rational woman.
'She's surprisingly compatible with barbarians.'
Amelia, who wasn't emotional, was susceptible to a barbarian's mindless 'Do it for me' tactic. It was more rational for her to just give in.
Tadat.
Anyway, we soon reached the portal.
"Yandel, think about it one more time…"
Think about what?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
I jumped into the portal without hesitation.
And…
Flash!
…we were in a white temple when I opened my eyes.
______________________
A high ceiling.
White marble pillars.
And a hundred statues lined up along the walls.
'We must be the first ones here since there's no one else.'
I slowly looked around after confirming that there were no other explorers.
It wasn't to figure out where we were, but out of pure curiosity.
After all, there was only one rift on the 3rd floor.
The Hundred Colors Temple.
Not white, but a temple with a hundred colors.
For reference, it was a place you had to visit at least once during your playthrough.
The experience points were incredible.
"Yandel, do you know about this place?"
"To some extent."
"Then there's no need for me to explain."
The Hundred Colors Temple had three characteristics.
1. Elite monsters that didn't appear in normal fields, like the Corpse Golem, swarmed the place.
You could get first-time kill experience points no matter what you killed…
2. Unlike ordinary rifts, you had to compete with other explorers instead of cooperating.
Only one team could enter the boss room.
And if they failed, the opportunity would pass to another team.
Ah, but that didn't mean Amelia and I had to compete with other teams.
3. Five portals opened on the floor when a rift was generated, and those who entered through the same portal became a team.
This was the most annoying part in the game.
It was only natural.
What would you do if you found a rift while exploring as a 5-person team, but two people had already entered?
Two of your companions would be left behind.
Like this team of explorers who just entered.
"…Huh?"
"Damn it, there were already people here."
The portal, which had been floating in the air, closed after spewing out three explorers.
It seemed like they had left their teammates outside…
"This is bad! Lemud and Hans didn't get in!!"
Oh, nice.
"…Calm down! They might be separated from us, but Lemud and Hans can handle the 3rd floor even if they're alone!"
A human swordsman, after calming his panicked companions, approached us.
"Greetings. You two came together?"
"That's right."
The man smiled kindly despite Amelia's curt answer.
"Haha, we'll be spending some time together. It's fate that we met, so let's introduce ourselves first. I'm Kalton Drek."
"Emily."
"Bjorn."
Kalton then cautiously asked me,
"Bjorn, are you a barbarian?"
It was a natural question.
I was wearing a full set of plate armor.
My entire body was covered in metal, so he couldn't even see if I had any tattoos.
Therefore…
"What does that have to do with anything?"
…I asked back defiantly. Kalton quickly apologized.
"I apologize. I was just curious, but I guess that was rude."
It seemed like he thought I was just a large human.
Well, it's usually the narrow-minded people who are sensitive to trivial questions.
"Kalton, come here for a moment."
Anyway, the fairy called Kalton over as soon as we introduced ourselves.
And…
'I can't hear them.'
…they whispered to each other.
It seemed like they were discussing something…
"He says we're suspicious."
"Huh?"
"I can hear them from this distance. Unless they're using magic."
"…I see."
So she has good hearing.
I didn't know that.
I should be careful not to whisper in front of her.
"So what are they saying? They look serious."
I then eavesdropped on their conversation through Amelia.
'They're just casually introducing themselves. And they're exploring the 3rd floor as a two-person team on Day 13, and one of them is even wearing a mask. They might be looters.'
The fairy pointed out the suspicious aspects, and Kalton said,
'But there's nothing we can do. We can't just attack them. Let's just keep an eye on them and see what kind of people they are.'
Did their discussion end there?
"Ah! I apologize! My friend is worried about his companions who were left behind."
Kalton laughed heartily and approached us.
And he gave the other two a chance to introduce themselves.
"Well, then this friend here, who's from the fairy tribe…"
"I'll do it. Aimburn Berta Garcia. As you can see, I'm an archer."
Aimburn briefly introduced himself, only revealing his name and weapon. It seemed like he didn't want to give us any more information.
Anyway, the barbarian warrior was next.
"Hahaha! Nice to meet you all!"
The warrior, who hadn't even been included in the whispered discussion, approached us with a bright smile.
And he introduced himself without any hesitation.
"I'm Yandel, the third son of Jarku!"
"...What?"
My mind went blank.
If I heard correctly…
"Ah, is it difficult for humans? Just call me Yandel Jarku!"
…he was my biological father.
-x-X-x-
Barbarians have a very straightforward naming system.
If a child is a son, they use their father's name as their last name, and if they're a daughter, they use their mother's name.
Therefore, there are no family names within the tribe, and all barbarians consider each other as family.
Well, that wasn't important right now.
'Yandel Jarku.'
The probability of it being a coincidence was very low.
After all, how many 'Yandels, third son of Jarku', could there be?
It was practically confirmed that he was my biological father.
But…
"Hahaha! How long are you going to leave my hand hanging?!"
…right, let's get a grip first.
My father? So what?
I could be surprised and flustered, but I shouldn't be this dazed.
It's not like I'm the real Bjorn Yandel.
"Ah, I was lost in thought."
I shook his hand and stepped back.
The introductions were over.
Kalton laughed awkwardly and got to the point.
The first thing explorers from different factions should do when they meet in a rift.
"Haha, that's enough introductions. We'll be exploring together, so let's discuss how we'll distribute the loot."
Amelia grabbed my wrist and pulled me aside as soon as loot distribution was mentioned.
"Let's discuss this with our companion for a moment."
Huh? Discuss?
I tilted my head but followed her.
And I quietly asked her when we were alone,
"Why do we have to discuss this? We already decided on the loot distribution."
"It's not about the loot."
"Then what is it?"
Amelia asked cautiously,
"Are you okay…?"
Now I understood why she pulled me aside.
She probably knew why I had frozen.
"I'm fine. I was a bit surprised, but I won't cause any trouble."
"I'm not worried about you causing trouble…"
Huh? Then what is she worried about?
Amelia trailed off as I stared at her.
"Never mind, it's none of my business if you're fine. Let's go back. We'll stick to the loot distribution we decided on earlier."
We returned to the center and started discussing the loot distribution, and it ended quickly without any conflict.
After all, we weren't here to absorb essences.
"…Are you really okay with just taking the magic stones?"
We decided to take all the magic stones, Numbered Items, and rift stones, and give them all the essences.
"Not just the magic stones, but the Numbered Items and rift stones too."
"But we're not even sure if we can defeat the Guardian."
"That's our problem, don't worry about it."
"Hmm, if you say so."
Kalton seemed bewildered by the favorable conditions, but he didn't say anything more.
That settled the loot issue.
"…Yandel, come here!"
Damn it, this is so awkward.
I flinch every time I hear that name.
"Huh? I was going to talk to them more…"
"You can do that later. Your axe blade seemed dull, so sharpen it with the whetstone."
"Huh? It seems fine… Alright!"
Anyway, Yandel Jarku was called over by his companions as soon as the loot conversation ended, and we didn't approach them.
An awkward silence fell as we kept our distance.
"What are they talking about?"
"They're guessing why we're not absorbing essences."
"Guessing?"
I thought it was a bit much, but it was understandable from their perspective.
After all, the fact that we weren't absorbing essences could be interpreted as us being strong enough that we didn't need the 3rd-floor rift essences.
They must be uneasy because they didn't know what kind of people we were…
"Bjorn, what kind of person is your father?"
…when Amelia suddenly asked me a question.
I chuckled at her obvious intention.
My father?
"Are you curious about my father?"
"A little."
"Then I'm sorry. I don't know much about him either. I just know that he died in the labyrinth when I was very young."
It wasn't a lie.
Even the original owner of this body didn't know much about his father.
It was a common occurrence in barbarian society.
After all, 99% of the tribe members made a living by exploring the labyrinth.
The mortality rate was naturally high.
"Let's not talk about this anymore."
Amelia didn't pry further and leaned against the wall, chewing on jerky, as I spoke firmly.
After some time…
Rumble.
…the stone door, which hadn't budged no matter how hard we pushed, started to open.
"It seems like the portals on the other side are all closed."
It was time to start exploring the rift.
____________________
The Hundred Colors Temple was a competitive rift.
Only one team could enter the boss room, and it was decided on a first-come, first-served basis.
We had a good start.
The 5-person entry deadline ended quickly, so we were able to take care of the loot distribution beforehand…
"Alright, then let's go. Ah, but who's going first?"
Geez, they're going to waste time arguing about the formation?
"I'll go first."
"Ah! Then I'll be next to—"
"Yandel!"
"...?"
"Come here. Monsters can also appear from behind."
"Ah, okay!"
The battle formation was naturally formed as I took the lead.
Jarku was at the back, and the other three were in the center.
Of course, the formation didn't really matter to us.
This was just a 3rd-floor rift.
And the difficulty was based on 5 people.
'Let's clear this quickly and get out of here before something troublesome happens.'
I entered the room beyond the door with that thought, and another stone chamber with the same structure as the previous one appeared.
It was about the same size, but there was only one statue.
And…
Swaaaaaaaaaa.
…a blue jewel in the statue's hand emitted light that spread throughout the room like fog.
'It's a boss type from the beginning.'
I cleared my throat and stepped into the fog after confirming the room's characteristic from the color.
Kalton panicked and warned me,
"H, hey! We don't even know what's going to appear…"
Hmm, right, they don't know much about this place.
I had a hunch, but…
It seemed like they had only heard a little about the Hundred Colors Temple.
Thud.
A giant shadow appeared from the fog.
It was bipedal and almost 5 meters tall.
Blue Armored Giant Soldier.
It was a mid-boss type enemy that 3rd or 4th-floor explorers usually had to fight in a 5-person team.
But it was just a 3rd-floor rift monster.
Its experience level was only 6th-grade…
'And its combat power is lower than a 5th-grade monster.'
It wasn't even comparable to a 5th-grade monster like a troll.
Therefore…
"Be—"
Ah, I shouldn't do that.
"Ugaaaaaaaaaa!!"
I let out a primal scream and charged forward.
"Wait! We have to fight together…!"
I ignored Kalton's words. It would be more convenient for everyone if I just showed my true strength instead of hiding it.
'Gigantification.'
I first matched its size…
'Leap.'
…and then closed the distance.
And…
'Swing.'
I swung my mace with all my might.
Kwagic!
The giant soldier's neck, clad in blue armor, bent at a grotesque angle.
"Wh, what kind of strength…!"
I heard the newbies' compliments from behind, but I felt a bit bitter.
Is this the sorrow of a tank?
I couldn't even kill it in one hit with my current Strength.
Damn it, how embarrassing.
I should have just left it to the damage dealer.
"Emily!"
I called the damage dealer, and I felt a presence behind me.
And…
Thud.
…a dagger imbued with Aura pierced the giant soldier's heart.
Kwagic!
The giant soldier disappeared into particles of light, and the fog cleared.
The battle was over in 3 seconds.
"A, Aura…"
"Why are they on the 3rd floor…?"
The 20-year-ago newbies started to murmur.
It seemed like they finally realized.
"What are you waiting for? Follow me!"
"Ah, o, okay…!"
…that they were on an express bus.
_____________________
The Hundred Colors Temple had a stage-based structure.
You cleared one room, and then the next room would open. And the team that cleared it the fastest would get to enter the boss room.
Kwagic!
Amelia and I continued clearing the rooms at an incredible speed, showing our true strength, after clearing the first room in 3 seconds.
But it wasn't always over in a few seconds like the first stage.
There were also waves of enemies.
"Ugaaaaaaaaaa!!"
Monsters would swarm the room for a set amount of time, or monsters that used traps or mental abilities would appear.
The difficulty of the stages increased as we progressed.
It was a characteristic of the Hundred Colors Temple.
It would inflict a status effect on you every time you cleared a stage, or give a permanent buff to the monsters in the next stage.
That's why people usually didn't rush like this.
"Wait! I've heard about that symbol before. There's something hidden here that can lift the curse on us…"
As Kalton suggested, the standard strategy was to activate the hidden elements in each room.
After all, there were hints everywhere.
And at intersections, you could choose the room that could lift the curse based on the symbols.
But…
"It's fine, I'm not in the mood."
"Not in the mood? What the hell does that even—"
"You talk too much. Just follow me."
"...."
We skipped everything that took time.
I judged that the increased difficulty wouldn't be a problem.
That's when, as we were blazing through the rift…
"Emily, why isn't this door opening?"
"It's a characteristic of the Golden Room. I don't know why, but it takes about three hours for it to open."
"Oh, I see."
We finally gathered and rested in the middle of the rift.
"We're resting here?"
I asked, implying that it would be more comfortable to keep our distance like before, and Kalton laughed awkwardly.
"It doesn't matter anyway."
Hmm, that's true.
But I didn't expect him to be so honest.
Kalton apologized as I chuckled.
"I apologize. I was suspicious of you at first. I thought you might betray us."
"But not anymore?"
"That's right."
"Why?"
"If you had any ill intentions, we would have been dead by now. It's not like you can't clear this rift without us."
Kalton, who gave a logical reason, then added,
"And most importantly, you don't seem like the type to do that."
"Intuition?"
"That's right. Not mine, but his."
Kalton's gaze was on the barbarian warrior who was munching on jerky.
Now that I see it, his side profile does look a bit like mine.
"Rest."
I got up after my brief conversation with Kalton and approached Jarku.
"Oh, what brings you here? Ah, do you want some?"
Jarku smiled innocently and offered me jerky as soon as I approached him.
I took it and put it in my mouth.
For reference, I didn't have to take off my helmet. I had it made so that I could open and close my mouth.
"Isn't that uncomfortable? I wouldn't be able to endure it for a day."
"You get used to it."
"Haha! You mean that human adaptability everyone talks about!"
Jarku laughed heartily and then lay down on the ground, using his backpack as a pillow. And he asked an unexpected question.
"Bjorn, do you have any children?"
"…No."
"Really? I do."
"What's his name?"
"Bjorn. Bjorn, son of Yandel."
Right, so you really are the father of this body.
I felt a strange tightness in my chest as I received the most definite proof.
"What do you think? It's a good name, right?"
"…I think so."
Jarku then talked for a while. It was mostly about his son, and I just listened quietly.
That's when…
Thump.
…I couldn't look him in the eye anymore.
So I looked away.
Amelia was watching me with a pitiful gaze.
And I realized the emotion that was filling my heart.
"Huhu, he'll definitely become a great warrior. The child who inherited my and her blood—"
"Stop!"
"Huh?"
"I, I'll be going now…"
It was guilt.
-x-X-x-
The memory of the first day suddenly came to mind.
[An 'evil spirit' has possessed the soul of Orm, son of Kadua.]
The chieftain had beheaded the nameless player next to me with his terrifying axe, and that was when my days of survival began.
Of course, I didn't know back then.
That the whole world was my enemy, and I had to be wary of everyone I met.
[I thought they were NPCs. I wouldn't have done it if I knew.]
Just like Zencia, who considered everyone as NPCs.
I couldn't understand their hatred.
But…
Clench.
…I could now accept it.
[It was you…]
The pity in the chieftain's eyes as he looked at 'Orm, son of Kadua' was sadness.
[Isn't it disgusting? To pretend to be human when you're an evil spirit.]
The anger the citizens expressed when they executed the evil spirit was fear.
It was only natural.
For an evil spirit to suddenly possess the body of a loved one and turn them into a completely different being…
Could there be anything more horrifying?
It's natural for them to hate us.
Even I would feel suffocated if Misha, Raven, the bear-like man, Erwen, or Ainar was possessed by an evil spirit.
"Bjorn, it's time."
"…It's already that time? Okay."
I slowly got up from my seat in the corner.
I still felt like a rock was weighing down on my heart.
But…
'What's the point of being sentimental now? Nothing will change.'
Emotions are just emotions.
Right, so…
Crack.
Let's just finish what I have to do and get out of here.
______________________
Rumble.
The stone door, which hadn't budged, finally opened, and we continued exploring the rift.
White Armored Guardian, Green Armored Scout, Silver Thread Prophet, and so on.
A new type of monster appeared in each room, and my experience points kept increasing.
And essences also dropped occasionally.
But could it be that I hadn't memorized all the hundred or so essences obtainable in the Hundred Colors Temple?
"Do you know what ability this essence has?"
Kalton and his two companions asked for our advice whenever an essence dropped, and Amelia surprisingly answered kindly.
"It's the Blue-White Palace Judge's essence. It has a high Strength stat for an archery or projectile-related essence."
"Hmm, I see. Aimburn, what are you going to do?"
"Strength… I wanted to increase my bow's draw weight, so this is good. I also like the ability. I think I can use it well. I'll take it."
Aimburn took one this time.
And Kalton and Jarku had each taken one earlier.
They had already absorbed three 6th-grade essences just by following us, but I wasn't jealous.
I didn't need them in the first place…
"Haha! Thank you! This is so easy thanks to you guys!"
"…You're welcome."
…and they wouldn't be enough to repay me anyway.
After all, it wouldn't change the fact that he would die in the labyrinth someday.
"By the way, it seems like this is the last one."
We reached the boss room after clearing the rift for a while.
The jewel in the statue's hand wasn't glowing, so we must have been the fastest.
"But how do we open the door?"
"Move aside."
Amelia smashed the statue.
It wasn't a sudden outburst, but one of the fastest ways to progress.
The door would open with an angry voice.
'Who did she come here with to know this?'
I was suddenly curious about Amelia's past as the stone door started to open.
[This is the resting place of noble sacrifices.]
[Intruders will pay for their sins with blood.]
What the hell, you're just a 5th-grade monster.
It was an intro I had seen countless times in the game, so I just listened while munching on jerky.
"Ca, can we go in?"
"He, he just spoke! Is, is he not a monster?"
Kalton and his two companions looked nervous.
Well, it was understandable.
The Guardian of the Hundred Colors Temple was a 'High-Grade Variant' with a random essence on top of its 5th-grade level.
'High-Grade Variants' rarely appeared below the 3rd floor, so they probably hadn't experienced a monster talking.
"Bjorn, how long are you going to stand there?"
"Ah, I was just thinking."
To be precise, I was suddenly reminded of the 'Crimson Fortress'.
The Vampire I met back then was also a 5th-grade 'High-Grade Variant'.
And I met him when I didn't even have a single essence.
Ah, but this boss was much stronger than that Vampire.
We were cursed, and this boss had various buffs stacked on it.
'I wonder what essence it has.'
The stone door closed behind us with a thud as we entered.
"A forest…?"
Unlike the previous rooms, which were made of marble, this room had grass and trees with fruits growing on them.
But it wasn't the outside world.
It was a large dome-shaped room with an artificial garden.
There were five doors on the circular outer wall, including the one we came through.
If we failed, one of those doors would open, and another team would get to challenge the boss.
Well, that wouldn't happen.
"You guys stay back."
"But we're supposed to be the guardians… are you two okay…?"
"I'll call you if I need you."
"…Alright."
Okay, then that's settled.
I left the passengers on the bus and headed towards a hut in the center of the forest with Amelia.
Did our presence trigger something?
Kaboom!
A knight in gray armor, riding a horse, fell from the sky and blocked our path.
It was the Knight of Doom.
Although it was riding a horse, it wasn't a large type. It had a normal human physique, about 180 centimeters tall.
It was much smaller than the giant soldier we encountered earlier.
But it wasn't an enemy to be underestimated.
In most games, the smaller enemies are more dangerous in the later stages.
Whoosh.
The knight swung his weapon, something between a spear and a greatsword, in the air.
"Greedy dogs of the Empire. I shall punish you today."
Geez, he's still spouting nonsense.
"Emily, do you know what he's talking about?"
"I don't know either."
Right, so that's how it is.
Thud.
I took a step forward, activating [Gigantification] to match his size.
And at that moment…
Neigh!
…the 7th-grade beast-type monster the Knight of Doom was riding, the Spirit Horse, charged towards us.
Well, the Spirit Horse was just a trash mob that I could kill with one [Swing]…
'But its stats are boosted here.'
The Spirit Horse shared the Knight of Doom's stats in the boss room.
In other words, it wasn't a monster I could kill in one or two hits.
Ah, and I couldn't even use [Swing] right now.
We had been cursed on our way here, and [Swing] was sealed.
But it was a minor problem.
Why would I even bother dealing damage when we have a much more efficient damage dealer?
Kaboom!
I blocked the knight's spear with my shield.
It was a heavy blow.
Now I understand why cavalry was so powerful in the Middle Ages.
There weren't any superhumans who could use [Gigantification] back then.
"You can endure."
I shouted, standing my ground.
"Emily…!"
Ah, she's already gone.
Slash!
A blue Aura flashed, and the horse's head was severed before I could even finish my sentence.
And that was it.
'Aura really is OP.'
The Spirit Horse collapsed and disappeared into particles of light.
Thud!
It was time for Phase 2.
_________________________
The Knight of Doom had three phases.
Phase 1, where he rode the Spirit Horse summoned with the [Servant] skill.
And Phase 2, the ground battle after the Spirit Horse was unsummoned.
For reference, the Knight of Doom started using random 5th-grade or lower essence skills from Phase 2 onwards…
'…Why isn't he using any skills?'
I waited, but he didn't use any essence skills.
So we just continued the boss fight normally, and then Amelia stabbed him in the neck, triggering Phase 3.
"Immortality is will, and a promise."
The Knight of Doom was resurrected, boasting.
It was the effect of the passive skill [Chivalry].
A high-risk skill that destroyed all your equipment and recovered HP proportionally to the time you had been wearing them when you received a fatal blow.
'I thought it was a strange skill at first.'
The Knight of Doom became weaker from Phase 3 onwards since he didn't have any equipment.
But it was the same for ordinary players.
If you had similar specs, you would be injured and out of MP by Phase 2.
Well, for us…
"I can't lose."
What the…
The Knight of Doom suddenly grew in size.
I was a bit dumbfounded.
'Don't tell me, it's [Gigantification].'
Damn, I didn't expect him to have the Orc Hero essence as a 'High-Grade Variant' characteristic.
'No wonder he wasn't using any other skills.'
Now I understood why he didn't use any skills in the previous phases. [Gigantification] couldn't be used while wearing equipment.
But the stat increase was incredible.
"I can't afford to lose…!"
The monster, now in [Gigantification] state, started charging at me like a madman.
Of course, it wouldn't work.
What are you going to do even if you get bigger?
You're still weaker than me in terms of stats and size.
Grab.
I grabbed his fist and then hugged him tightly, like a wrestler.
And…
Thud.
…Amelia finished him off with her dagger.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The Knight of Doom disintegrated into particles of light without even a last word.
It was a moment that always made me nervous.
I stared ahead without blinking.
'Please, drop something.'
Contrary to my expectations, there was no essence floating in the air.
Thud.
There was no rift stone either.
But I saw a piece of equipment on the ground.
"A Numbered Item…"
I froze as I saw the hammer.
No, what the hell.
'…Crazy, this dropped here?'
I was momentarily stunned, and then I quickly ran over and picked it up.
I didn't know about the grip.
But I was certain after seeing its manly color and rough design.
No. 87 Kraul's Demon Crusher.
A Double Numbered Item that was so expensive that you could only see it at the Sky Auction House in the Imperial City…
…and the weapon I had planned to use as my graduation weapon after absorbing the Ogre essence.
But it dropped from a 3rd-floor rift?
It was beyond a jackpot.
'Damn it.'
If only this wasn't twenty years ago.
______________________
Although I felt a bit disappointed as an efficiency freak, it was still a lucky break.
But my mind was racing as soon as I grabbed the hammer.
'Damn it, how do I take this back? Should I bury it somewhere and hope it's still there twenty years later?'
But what if someone took it?
Then I would be screwed.
Should I just sell it?
Yeah, I could just sell it and use the money to buy an expensive essence at the auction house before leaving.
That's why I had been saving up equipment…
"Congratulations. It's a shame that an essence didn't drop, but that's just our greed."
Kalton and his companions approached me and congratulated me as I was lost in thought.
"I actually feel relieved! I'm glad you got something!"
Uh, it's a bit much to call this 'something'.
It's better not to tell them.
It seemed like even Amelia didn't realize it was a Double Numbered Item.
I decided to think about it later.
The portal had just opened.
Whoosh!
Kalton asked, looking at the portal that had appeared in front of the hut,
"Then what are you going to do?"
"We'll leave later. We're going to look around for a bit."
To be precise, there were a few things I had to take with me.
But did they already know?
"You're looking for Gavrilius' Arrangement?"
"Yes."
"Then what about those white fruits on the trees? They look strange."
Ah, those…
It was a hidden piece, but it was more of a joke item.
How should I tell them not to eat it?
Amelia answered for me.
"They're called 'Hundred Fruits'. If you eat one, the stats of one of your essences will change randomly."
Her explanation was brief, but accurate.
The 'Hundred Fruit' changed the properties of an essence.
The skill remained the same, but the base stats would change to random values within the essence's grade.
It wasn't something you would eat if you were sane.
There were thousands of detailed stats in this game.
There was a high chance that good stats like Strength and Agility would be replaced with useless or low-value stats like Greed and Obsession.
"So what are you going to do?"
"We're leaving now. Our companions are probably waiting for us outside."
"I see."
After saying goodbye to Kalton, the fairy archer approached me.
"Thank you. We wouldn't have been able to get here without you. It would have been much harder."
"You were just lucky."
"Lucky… well, it's true that it's rare to meet explorers like you in a rift. Please understand why we were wary at first. We've been through a lot recently."
"What do you mean a lot?"
"It's a bit hard to explain. It's not like anyone made a mistake, but things just kept going wrong."
Hmm, really?
I had a hunch.
I hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
"You said you had a Hans on your team, right?"
"That's right."
"Get rid of him. Then your luck will improve."
The fairy archer looked at me with a blank expression and then laughed awkwardly.
"Haha, you're joking."
Hmm, I was being 100% serious.
-x-X-x-
"Bjorn! I just watched from the back, but it was a fun exploration! Let's meet again if we have the chance!"
"...Okay."
After a brief farewell, Kalton's group left the rift. So it was time for us to focus on what we had to do.
"Let's go. We don't know what else there is!"
"...You're planning to just wander around and search?"
No, I was planning to pretend to wander around and find everything I wanted.
"Follow me. I know a few things."
Oh, if you say so.
I followed Amelia, the experienced player, and we moved in reverse order, exiting the boss room.
And we found two hidden elements.
'Fragment of Earth', which increased Earth Resistance and Physical Resistance by 1.
And 'Book of Souls', which gave 3 additional experience points.
For reference, Amelia had already taken them when she came here before, so I took them all, and that was the end of our hidden piece exploration in the Hundred Colors Temple.
Because those were the only useful potions.
The rest had to be 'distorted' to be taken out and sold.
'Then we got everything…'
"Amelia, how about we stay here for a bit before leaving?"
"Why?"
"Honestly, I'm tired after sleeping for only three hours every day. How about we take a nap here?"
"...."
Amelia looked at me with a dissatisfied expression.
I knew what she was thinking.
It was already late, and the labyrinth would be closing tomorrow, so why did we have to rest now?
'Tsk, we already achieved our goal, why is she so greedy?'
But complaining wasn't my style, so I gave her a rational reason.
"My head is a mess, so I need some time to think."
"Ah..."
Amelia seemed to understand and then readily agreed.
"Alright. I'll rest and then we'll leave, so tell me when you're ready."
She's kind in this aspect.
"Thank you, Amelia."
"…Just rest."
Amelia then took out her sleeping bag and lay down, and I sat down about three meters away from her.
And I started calculating.
'Let's see…'
I had gained 156 experience points from first-time kills in the Hundred Colors Temple.
And if I added the High-Grade Variant kill bonus of 1, the Guardian kill bonus of 3, and the 3 from the Book of Souls, it was a total of 163.
Of course, it was still far from level 7.
But…
'I might even reach level 7 in the mid to late stages of the 6th floor.'
There was no denying that my character was nearing completion.
I had also obtained the Demon Crusher.
'How can I take this back…?'
I was thinking about that when…
"Yandel, I have a question."
"Ah! You're talking about that Numbered Item? I, I don't know what it is, but I like the weight, so I'm going to use it—"
"It's a different question."
Oh, it's not that?
I was worried she was going to suggest splitting the profits.
"Don't you… want to change it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Yandel Jarku, your father."
Ah, that…
Damn it, I was trying not to think about it.
"We might be able to save him."
"How can we save him when we don't even know how he died or when he died? We only know that he died when I was young."
"If you want, I can go up to the city and help after I'm done here—"
"No."
I cut Amelia off and said firmly,
"I don't want that."
"…Why?"
Amelia asked, genuinely curious.
Well, I must seem strange to her.
She didn't know I was an evil spirit.
And…
"If it could be changed that easily, it would have already changed when we met here."
The future doesn't change.
It seemed like Amelia also felt that to some extent.
But the weight of that realization was different for me, who had heard it from Auril Gabis and confirmed it with Raven and Dwarkey.
"What do you mean it doesn't change?"
Amelia sat up and asked.
I hesitated for a moment and then told her honestly.
About how I had tried to change Dwarkey and Raven's futures, but failed.
"There's no way…"
Amelia bit her lip and tried to deny it, and I just asked her directly.
"Amelia, you also knew, didn't you?"
"Knew…?"
"What else could it be? You were surprised when you saw 'Nibels Enche's' name, and you had that look in your eyes when I came here wearing this helmet."
"That's…"
"You knew, didn't you? That the past wouldn't change no matter what we did. No, that it happened that way because we were there."
"...."
Amelia didn't answer.
She just clenched her fists and endured something.
She finally spoke after a moment of silence.
"…So you're giving up? Even though you might be able to save your family."
Her tone was the same as usual, but there was a hint of aggression in her voice.
So did I respond a bit defensively?
"He's a father I've never even met."
"So you're saying you don't care enough?"
"…Yes."
"I see."
Amelia seemed to understand, but she clicked her tongue.
She seemed disappointed in me.
Damn it, I shouldn't have brought this up.
I thought we were getting closer, but I ruined it all.
"...."
"...."
We then rested in silence.
And after about five hours…
…I woke up from a nap and suggested we leave. It would be better to do something than to just lie here on pins and needles.
But…
"Wait, can we stop by that place?"
"Do what you want."
I approached the hut behind us after returning to the boss room to use the portal.
It was out of pure curiosity.
In the game, it was just a background object that you couldn't enter…
'Oh, the door opens.'
…but I entered the hut.
And I felt a strong sense of familiarity.
A bookshelf, a table, a carpet, a fireplace.
There was nothing special about the interior.
It was just an ordinary hut.
But the size, the structure, the arrangement of furniture…
'It's exactly the same…'
One place came to mind without even having to look around.
The Witch's Hut, the only safe zone in the 3rd-floor Witch's Forest.
The place where I had rested with Misha and offered a human sacrifice, which led to the summoning of the Lord of Chaos.
"You can search if you want, but we didn't find anything like Gavrilius' Arrangement when we searched it before."
I quickly came out after briefly checking the books on the bookshelf.
Ah, they were all blank.
The titles were written in the ancient language, so I couldn't read them.
Hmm, would Raven be able to find something if I brought her here later?
"Let's go if you're ready."
"Ah, just in case, I'll go first."
"...."
We then stood in front of the portal.
It would take us back to the place where we first entered the rift.
Thud.
I stepped into the portal first, as the tank.
Swaaaaaaaaaa.
The portal's light enveloped me, and my vision flashed.
And my vision slowly returned.
But what the hell is this?
"Phew! You're finally out!"
A group of explorers were standing there.
As if they had been waiting for us.
"Yeah, a Numbered Item dropped—"
We both flinched as we saw each other.
"Huh? Iron Mask?"
It was Bek's team, the looters who were part of the Lord's faction.
"Ha, this is interesting. I didn't expect you guys to be the ones who met those three inside."
"Three…?"
I unconsciously followed Bek's gaze and froze.
Beeeeeeeep.
I could hear a ringing in my ears.
__________________________
What is this?
My mind went blank for a moment, but my brain quickly processed the visual information.
Kalton Drek.
Aimburn Berta Garcia.
And Yandel, the third son of Jarku.
The bodies of those three, who had left through the portal a few hours ago, were lying on the ground.
And it wasn't just those three.
There were two more bodies.
I could guess who they were.
[This is bad! Lemud and Hans didn't get in!!]
They were probably the two who were waiting outside.
Then how did this happen?
"…Bjorn."
Amelia, who had also come out, grabbed my wrist, as if sensing the situation.
Is she telling me to hold back?
Hmm, it seemed like it…
Beeeeeeeep.
Ugh, it's so loud.
I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them again, trying to regain my composure.
Everything was still there.
"It seems like we're fated, meeting for the second time during this expedition!"
Bek got up from the corpse he had been sitting on.
Amelia asked him,
"…Why are you here?"
"Well, we were looking around after the rift opened, and then we saw these two."
Bek nudged the bodies of Lemud and Hans with his foot and continued,
"We caught them and asked them some questions, and they said their three companions had gone inside. So we waited, and then those three came out."
He shrugged, omitting the rest, and Amelia didn't ask any further questions.
It was obvious.
They killed those three and extracted the information they needed.
Like how the Guardian dropped a 'Numbered Item' at the end.
Beeeeeeeep.
Amelia and Bek were talking.
I couldn't hear them properly because it was so noisy.
So I just thought blankly.
[Ah, is it difficult for humans? Just call me Yandel Jarku!]
I knew he would die.
But I didn't know it would be because of me.
'If it weren't for me…'
Yandel Jarku would have entered the rift with his teammates.
So they wouldn't have been waiting outside and caught by these bastards.
And as a result…
He…
No, they wouldn't have died.
They would have continued their journey.
And maybe…
[Huhu, he'll definitely become a great warrior. The child who inherited my and her blood—]
…he would have been able to see his son grow up. No, maybe he would have even entered the labyrinth with him after he became an adult.
'If it weren't for me…'
Bjorn Yandel wouldn't have been possessed by an evil spirit.
Beeeeeeeep.
The ringing in my ears intensified.
It was a kind of defense mechanism.
To help me ignore the voice inside my head.
A coward's sound.
Clench.
My hand clenched into a fist, but I felt blood rushing to my head.
Beeeeeeeep.
'If it weren't for me…'
Dwarkey wouldn't have died.
Even if he became an explorer, he wouldn't have gone to that dangerous place on the 4th floor.
Beeeeeeeep.
'If I hadn't come here…'
Dwarkey's love might have come true.
Maybe they would have met as companions and healed each other.
'I…'
Maybe.
What if.
Yeah, if it weren't for me.
Beeeeeeeep.
My ears, no, my head was throbbing.
"Hey, why is Iron Mask so quiet?"
"Bjorn."
Like a homework assignment I had been putting off.
That emotions are just emotions.
"Bjorn, snap out of it."
Countless emotions, which I had been suppressing and ignoring, overwhelmed me.
I had to do something.
For myself, not for anyone else, because I knew it was just hypocrisy.
I opened my mouth.
"Amelia."
Her real name, not her alias, 'Emily'.
Did she understand?
"They're from the Lord's faction. Endure it."
Amelia's grip on my wrist tightened.
But it was meaningless.
Thud.
You're an agility character.
"Bjorn…"
I shook Amelia off and stepped forward, and Bek chuckled.
"Huhu, it seems like Iron Mask is angry. Did I even ask for it? I just wanted to see what you got. We waited for a long time."
I didn't hear their conversation properly, but I understood the context.
Right, you're curious about this?
Clank.
I took out the hammer from my subspace pocket.
No. 87 Kraul's Demon Crusher.
"A hammer? There's something like this among Numbered Items…?"
Bek trailed off.
And his expression changed.
"Wa, wait a minute. Can I see it closer? I think I know what that is."
"Go ahead."
I took a step closer, and Bek also cautiously took a step forward.
And when we were at a suitable distance…
"It, it really is that item! Did that really drop?"
"Yes."
I'm glad your curiosity is satisfied.
Thwack!
Now die.