To summarize the result, the speedrun failed.
The portal to the 2nd floor was already open when we arrived, and we couldn't claim the first clear achievement.
Damn, I thought we could do it this time.
"How much time did we lose?"
"About 10 minutes."
10 minutes?
Even our arrival time was fast enough for a speedrun in the game.
It seems like the overall level of explorers has increased.
'Well, 10 minutes... if I just increase my movement speed, it might be possible.'
A stable speedrun strategy was crucial for maximizing experience gain.
That's probably why that Dragonkin woman requested to explore alone.
'I wonder if Raviyen succeeded in her speedrun.'
Raviyen, the Dragonkin woman.
She was the last member of our team, the one I added because of the deal with the Marquis.
She left the mansion as soon as the founding ceremony ended, without even participating in the banquet.
She said it would be much faster to explore alone, and that we could just meet on the 6th floor.
'If it weren't for the Marquis...'
Her individualistic mindset was a problem.
I wanted to correct it, but the Marquis intervened.
He said she had a special agreement with him, and that I should respect her autonomy.
He also asked me to refrain from forcing her to do anything.
Basically, he was telling me not to beat her up.
'...It's like I have a princess on my team.'
Of course, I wasn't going to give up on controlling her just because he said that.
I had to discipline her.
One way or another.
「Entered the 2nd-floor Goblin Forest.」
「Entered the 3rd-floor Pilgrim's Path.」
「Entered the 4th-floor Sky Tower...」
Anyway, her absence didn't affect our exploration. We continued as planned.
We speedran the first four floors.
And then we started practicing together from the 5th floor, where combat was unavoidable.
We naturally had a lot of conversations during that time.
"Hmm, it seems like you three really were living together..."
There were many personal conversations, but no one crossed the line.
For example, asking if my relationship with Erwen was as rumored.
Or being curious about my relationship with the Marquis.
Or wondering how we managed to stay hidden for so long.
Didi occasionally showed interest in those topics, but Ashid always intervened and changed the subject.
"But if—"
"Raines, I noticed something while watching you fight. Can your clone also use aura?"
"No, that's impossible."
"Is that so? It seems like your clone can use other abilities. I'm curious to know more about it. It's a rare essence."
At first, I thought it was a coincidence... but now I'm sure.
Ashid was intentionally diverting Didi's attention whenever he was about to ask something sensitive.
'He's a smart one.'
I don't know why, but he reminds me of Dwarkey.
Well, unlike Dwarkey, Ashid was much more sociable and eloquent.
He was also more mature and perceptive.
But that's why...
"Why are you looking at me like that, Schuitz?"
"I wasn't."
I couldn't help but think...
Riol Worb Dwarkey.
Would he have been like this if he had grown up?
_______________________
「Entered the 6th-floor Great Ocean.」
_______________________
18th day of the expedition.
We arrived at Starting Island Laimia after speedrunning most of the lower floors.
It was deserted, as expected.
No one would be here at this time, not after we had pushed ourselves to get here.
Except for...
"...There she is."
The royal reconnaissance team.
The elite members of large clans waiting for their reinforcements.
And...
"...Hello."
The other expedition teams who greeted us from afar, wary of our presence.
Wow, two teams had already arrived.
I had expected the dwarf woman's team to be here, but I didn't think the paladin, Jun's team would be faster than us.
"...There you are."
The island was deserted, so it was easy to find the one I was looking for.
Raviyen, the Dragonkin woman.
The last member of our team, the one I had to add because of the deal with the Marquis.
"You two, wait here for a moment."
I left my teammates behind and approached the woman who was sitting on a chair under the shade of a tree, staring blankly at the ocean.
"18th day... You're early."
She spoke without turning her head.
Does she have eyes on the back of her head?
"The meeting point is on the east side of the island, isn't it?"
"We're not leaving until the 20th. And the other teams seem to be resting here too."
Well, that's true.
I wasn't going to criticize her for that.
"When did you arrive?"
"Two days ago."
"Two days ago...?"
...That means she arrived on the 16th?
She cleared the first five floors in less than two weeks?
I couldn't help but be impressed, despite my dislike for her individualistic mindset.
"...You're fast."
She must have speedrun all five floors.
I could understand why she didn't want to join us.
If she had explored with us, she would have missed out on 12 free experience points.
'This is going to be difficult to handle.'
I was conflicted.
It felt like I was being a bossy leader for insisting on exploring together.
"Anyway, get up."
"Why?"
"We haven't had a chance to talk in the city."
"Okay."
I was worried she might refuse and stay here until the 20th... but Raviyen readily agreed to my suggestion.
We headed towards the east side of the island, where the meeting point was.
"Nice to meet you. This is our first time meeting since the founding ceremony, right?"
"I apologize for that. I had some family matters to attend to. I'll try to make time for you in the city next time."
"I appreciate that. Can I call you Raviyen?"
"Yes, please call me whatever is comfortable for you, Ashid."
The conversation flowed smoothly.
"Can I call you Miss Raviyen?"
Didi cautiously asked, aware of the difference in lifespans between Dragonkin and humans, and Raviyen readily agreed.
And...
"What about you two? How should I address you?"
Raviyen turned to Amelia and Erwen.
"Emily or Raines, whichever is fine."
"Call me Raines."
"Tersia."
Erwen's curt response made Raviyen stare at her with a strange expression before smiling.
"Okay, Tersia."
Okay, that settles the naming issue...
'...Why are we even discussing this on the 6th floor?'
Can we even call this a team?
I shook my head and got to the point.
"We've already practiced together in the city, and we learned about each other on the way here."
"I understand. You want to know more about me."
"We need to know who we're entrusting our lives to."
"Okay."
Raviyen drew her sword and demonstrated a few of her skills.
She explained her role in combat, but...
It seemed like she was hiding a few things.
Well, that wasn't unusual for warriors, especially mages, priests, and ability users.
"Where should I stand when we're traveling?"
"Rear."
"And in combat?"
"Emily will be on my left, and you'll be on my right."
"That's a classic formation."
"We don't know much about each other, so it's best to keep it simple."
Raviyen chuckled, sensing the hidden message.
"Are you going to keep talking down to me?"
"I'm just stating the truth."
Well, let's end the power struggle here.
Ashid and Didi then explained their roles to Raviyen.
It didn't take long, but it was still annoying.
We had already discussed this in the city.
Why are we repeating this?
Maybe individualism is synonymous with inefficiency.
"You're here."
"We can't be slacking off while the expedition leader is here, can we?"
Akuraba's team and the paladin's team arrived from the beach.
And after some time...
"The 3rd Team has arrived."
We were all gathered on the east side of the island, overlooking the 6th-floor portal.
James Kala, the Vice-Captain of the Sawtooth Clan, led the 3rd Team.
"...That team looks exhausted."
"It seems like they pushed themselves to get here."
I could understand why.
The official meeting date was the 20th, but they probably thought it would reflect poorly on their skills if they were the last to arrive.
It was a kind of power struggle.
'This is like herding cats.'
I was thinking about how to unite them when the sun started to set.
The 5th Team, led by the knight, Kaislan, arrived just as the sky turned dark.
"Damn it...!"
He clenched his fist in frustration, realizing he was the last to arrive, even though he had arrived two days early.
He was clearly overreacting.
"What are you doing? Get over here."
"...Alright."
He flinched and walked towards me.
I patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry, we have two more days. It's not a big deal."
I stood up, using his shoulder as support.
"We're all here now, so there's no need to waste any more time."
"Are you finally going to tell us about the mission?"
"Ah, wouldn't it be better to have the other members step back?"
"It's fine. It's not a secret. And besides, they can't tell anyone anyway."
The other members, who had been awkwardly observing us, moved closer.
They had my permission, so they were free to listen.
"Tell us. What's the mission? You're the only one who knows."
Akuraba's curious gaze met mine across the flickering campfire.
I wish the dwarves would just sit on chairs.
The fire is blocking their faces.
It's not even that big of a fire.
Anyway, that wasn't important.
"Ahem."
I cleared my throat and spoke with the authority of an expedition leader.
"I'm sure you're all curious. Where is Noark's base in the Dark Continent?"
"Yes. If they're using a portal to enter the 7th floor, there must be a starting point, like the Crystal Cave."
"Do you mean to tell us that the royal family has finally found it?"
"That's right."
My words, revealing the top-secret information I had received from the Marquis, caused a stir.
But it was too early to be surprised.
"Our mission is to attack their base."
We were a mobile strike force.
Our role was to infiltrate and destroy the enemy's core facilities while the main force distracted them.
"...There's something I don't understand. If that's our mission, why is the schedule so tight?"
"Are you planning to have us break through the Ghostly Canyon?"
"...That's insane! Unless we're with the main force, there's no way we can cross that canyon with just one ship!"
Damn, they're interrupting me again.
It was a typical characteristic of the Tang Dynasty army.
They couldn't hold back their excitement.
I had to clear up the misunderstanding before it got out of hand.
"We're not crossing the Ghostly Canyon."
"What? But you said we're attacking their base in the Dark Continent..."
"Last warning. Don't interrupt me again."
"..."
Okay, it's much quieter now.
I calmly explained the mission.
"The Ghostly Canyon isn't the only way to enter the Dark Continent."
"Ah! You mean...!"
They finally figured it out.
That's why I had them gather on the east side of the island.
"We're going to Ice Rock on the east side."
Just like the four 2nd-floor fields, Goblin Forest, Beast's Lair, Rocky Desert, and Land of the Dead, were all connected to the 3rd-floor Pilgrim's Path...
The 7th floor wasn't just the Dark Continent.
In other words...
"We'll enter the Dark Continent through the 8th floor and attack them from behind."
It was like eating a frozen cake.
It was hard to chew.
It might even hurt your teeth.
And you might even wonder if it's worth the effort.
"But the reward will be sweet."
"Anyone who doesn't understand, step forward."
"..."
"I'm glad no one is scared."
Then let's begin.
-x-X-x-
Labyrinth entry, 18th day.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A medium-sized warship carrying thirty crew members set sail, cutting through the waves.
For reference, this was a warship supplied by the royal family, and its ownership had been temporarily transferred to me, the expedition leader.
While the team members went to their assigned cabins to organize their luggage, Amelia approached the navigator who was holding the helm.
"Excuse me."
"Ah, you're Emily Raines, right? What can I do for you?"
"How long will it take to reach Ice Rock?"
"I estimate about 12 days."
"Is Ice Rock closer than the Dark Continent? It took 15 days to reach the Dark Continent on the warship last time."
"The distance itself is similar, but the ships are different. The Type 7 warship we're on is classified as a medium-sized vessel, but it's known for its superior maneuverability."
"I don't understand how a three-day difference can be considered 'superior maneuverability'."
"The easternmost sea is different from the ordinary ocean."
"Hmm, I see."
Amelia, who had recently been showing a keen interest in sailing, nodded as if she understood.
"You seem to know a lot about warships."
"Haha, I have to. I've been sailing them for most of my life."
The only navigator on our expedition force was from the 5th Team, and he was originally a member of the royal navy.
Hmm, that explains why Kaislan was the last to arrive on the 6th floor.
He wasn't speedrunning with a navigator.
"Can you tell me more about warships?"
"I apologize, but I'm not allowed to disclose information about warships."
"I understand..."
"...But since we're on the same ship, I can't stop you from observing."
"I won't bother you."
As Amelia expressed her gratitude with a bright expression, I entered the ship.
And headed towards a room located deep within.
"Oh, you're all here."
"You ordered us to gather here after we finished organizing our luggage."
The team leaders were waiting for me in a room designed for leadership meetings, and I quickly asked them a question.
"Has anyone been to Ice Rock?"
Only Akuraba and James Kala raised their hands.
"No one else?"
"It's not a place people often go to."
"We've only been there a few times, for clan expeditions to earn achievements. We usually avoided it."
It wasn't a suitable place for ordinary hunting.
Even on this ship, where skilled explorers were gathered, I guessed that less than half had been to Ice Rock.
"I see."
I nodded and gave them their assignments.
"James Kala, you're in charge of training the members while we're sailing."
"Training?"
"Formation training, tactics, that sort of thing. We didn't have much time in the city. They're all experienced, so a few practice sessions on the deck should be enough." ȓ₳Ｎo͍ＢĚş
"Understood."
We needed to expand the list of commands for the expedition leader.
Otherwise, there could be unexpected casualties in emergencies. We didn't even have a proper formation for retreat or escape.
"Since our destination is Ice Rock, we'll prioritize training for that environment."
"I'm glad you're keeping it short."
Okay, he's from a large clan, so he should be familiar with various formations.
"Titana Akuraba, you're in charge of managing the supplies."
"What about my authority?"
"I'm giving you full control."
I entrusted Akuraba with managing the consumables and equipment.
If Jun, who was from a religious faction, or Kaislan, the inflexible soldier, were in charge, there would be objections.
But Akuraba was a legendary explorer with years of experience. She would be able to handle any complaints from the members.
"Melend Kaislan."
Next was the knight.
He gulped, looking eager to receive his assignment.
He was kind of cute, in a way...
"You're in charge of maintaining order within the expedition force. If any conflicts arise between the members, you'll be the first to intervene and mediate. And if any unfortunate incidents occur, you'll be responsible for resolving them."
"You're making me your right-hand man. I understand. I'll do my best."
Uh, why is that being my right-hand man?
Soldiers have a different mindset.
"Then I guess I'm the last one."
Jun, the paladin, smiled and looked at me.
"How can I be of service?"
He had become surprisingly friendly after our spar.
Sometimes I wondered if he had ulterior motives...
But I ignored those thoughts and spoke.
"Explorers often seek out paladins during expeditions, don't they?"
"Yes, I've heard that. The labyrinth can be mentally draining."
"Listen to them. Be open to their concerns. And if you hear anything I should know, report it to me. That's your mission."
"The other races won't seek me out."
That's true.
The Three Gods Church was a human religion.
But...
"That's enough."
More than half of the expedition force were human.
And those humans were spread across the five teams.
If he listened to their voices, he would be able to gauge the overall sentiment within the expedition force.
"Is that all?"
Akuraba asked, and I nodded.
She then cautiously asked another question.
"Why are you delegating your authority to us? We're not your subordinates."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
'What a strange question.'
I answered without hesitation.
"Because it's efficient."
We're all on the same boat now.
_____________________
18th day of the labyrinth expedition.
The warship carrying thirty explorers arrived at its destination.
It was a bit early, considering the navigator's estimated arrival time of 12 days and 7 hours.
'Warships are really something else.'
It wasn't just about its ability to quickly cross the windless zone.
It was also impressive how it rammed through the ice floes in the eastern sea, relying on its sturdy hull.
The icebreaker on the bow was quite something.
Crack, crack, crack! Crack, crack, crack!
'It's not an official 'Frozen Sea' area, but...'
The warship crushed the ice floes as it sailed through the icy waters.
"We're here..."
The expedition members gathered on the deck, their breaths forming white clouds in the frigid air.
They were all wearing thick fur coats over their armor, regardless of whether it was leather, plate, or cloth.
They were supplies from the royal family.
'Damn, I prefer heat over cold...'
I also prepared myself mentally.
And...
"Hold on tight! We're entering the portal!"
As the navigator shouted,
「Entered the 7th-floor Ice Rock.」
The blue portal engulfed our ship.
Well, even without the visual effect, I could tell we had arrived at Ice Rock.
「Character has entered a special area.」
「Field Effect - Ice Rock applied.」
「Cold Resistance decreased by -100.」
The first thing I felt was a chill that pierced through my bones.
It was just the beginning.
The infamous effects of Ice Rock, the reason why most explorers avoided this place, were also active.
「Status Effect [Frozen World] applied.」
「Space-related items are deactivated.」
The status effect that rendered subspace pockets and expandable backpacks useless.
This one line was enough to drive explorers crazy.
"Let's unload the supplies!"
Akuraba, in charge of supplies, led the team members as they unloaded the 'Preservation' enchanted supply boxes.
We would be dragging these boxes from now on.
And...
There was another thing that made this place even more challenging.
「Status Effect [Starvation] applied.」
「Resources gained from consumption are reduced by 3 times.」
It meant that you would get hungry three times faster in this area.
That's why we needed so many supplies.
This was the main reason why most explorers avoided Ice Rock.
You could endure the cold, but not hunger.
Our time here was limited by our food supply.
'We have enough for a month.'
That was assuming nothing unexpected happened.
"Mister! They're ready to depart!"
The team members efficiently unloaded the supplies.
Five sleds loaded with boxes were waiting on the frozen ground.
"Let's go back."
After unloading the supplies, the navigator and I returned to the 6th floor on the warship.
We then transferred to a small rowboat and unsummoned the warship.
「Entered the 7th-floor Ice Rock.」
We rowed back to the same spot.
It was a bit of a hassle, but it was a necessary process.
We couldn't just abandon the warship.
"What are we going to do with this boat?"
What do you mean, what are we going to do with it? We have to leave it here.
I hid the rowboat in a secluded spot, making sure it wouldn't drift away.
That concluded the preparations.
"Each team, get into formation!"
The team members moved swiftly, forming their assigned formations.
They had been well-trained.
"Let's go!"
At my command, the expedition force began its march.
___________________________
The formation on the vast plain was simple.
My team, the 1st Team, was at the front.
The 3rd and 5th Teams were on the left and right flanks.
The 4th Team was at the rear, and the 2nd Team, in charge of supplies, followed us in the center.
Thump, thump, thump!
We marched forward, the heavy sleds dragging behind us.
"Mister, are those Ice Trolls?"
Three Ice Trolls were pulling the sleds loaded with supplies.
It was thanks to the summoner on Akuraba's team.
Otherwise, we would have had to pull the sleds ourselves.
"Halt!"
We had just left the starting area of Ice Rock and were about to enter the eastern region when the 1st Team stopped.
There was no need to ask why.
Crash, crash, crash!
The ice wall that had looked like a cliff crumbled, and a giant monster emerged.
"It's a Stonewinter!"
Three Stonewinters.
3rd-grade super-sized monsters.
Kuuuuuung!
Damn, this is Ice Rock, but...
Three 3rd-grade monsters right from the start?
"All units, battle formation!"
At my command, the team members moved swiftly.
Thankfully, no one seemed scared.
Well, with this firepower, three 3rd-grade monsters should be easy, right?
I thought that as I led the charge...
But that expectation was shattered quickly.
「Stonewinter defeated. EXP +7」
The first battle ended, and a heavy silence fell over the expedition force.
"...Casualty report."
I suppressed my frustration and asked the team leaders, and they answered nervously.
"Four minor injuries, three serious injuries. We're prioritizing the serious ones."
The injuries themselves weren't a big deal.
It could happen.
It was their first time fighting together.
And they had encountered three 3rd-grade monsters at once.
It was understandable.
The paladins could heal them.
But...
"And?"
"...One sled is half-destroyed, and the supplies are gone."
That was the real problem.
One of the super-sized monsters had reached the supply sleds.
And unfortunately, the ground couldn't withstand the weight and collapsed, taking a fifth of our supplies with it.
"What was the ratio of food in the sled?"
"...It was all food."
Akuraba's words made me curse.
"Damn it."
We had only been in Ice Rock for one day.
"We're increasing the pace."
The march of suffering had begun.
-x-X-x-
The grand expedition to the Dark Continent via the 8th floor.
We had allocated 20 days for traversing Ice Rock on this expedition and brought enough food for three months.
This wasn't out of an abundance of caution.
Ice Rock wasn't a place where you could afford to take your time.
We simply needed extra food.
Not only did the [Starvation] status effect make us consume three times the usual amount of food, but the food itself could spoil.
Because of this damn thing.
"Ice storm!"
The blizzard that swept through the area every 30 minutes to 6 hours.
「Field Effect - 'Festering Cold' applied.」
「Accelerated decay rate for affected targets.」
This wretched storm could even spoil frozen food.
There was only one way to protect it.
Prioritize the food over the people and use magic to preserve it.
Of course, there was a problem with that too.
「Liard Ashid has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block].」
「Mckelly Leyaders has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block].」
「Bersil Gowland has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block]...」
The mana consumption of the 4th-grade [Block] spell was significant, and if you wanted to be ready to cast it at any time, the cost would be even higher.
We had to take turns even at night.
"Ashid, go rest by the sled."
"Yes? But..."
"Don't worry, I'll call you if we need you."
"...I apologize."
Apologize? Why?
The other mages were all comfortably sitting on the sleds, resting.
「Field Effect - 'Festering Cold' deactivated.」
As soon as the blizzard subsided, we resumed our march.
Crunch, crunch.
The snow reached our ankles with every step.
Rumble.
I was starving, but we had to ration our food.
We had managed to protect the supplies so far, but we couldn't be sure what would happen next.
What if a blizzard hit during a battle, and we ran out of mana to protect the boxes?
Things would get really bad.
'Well, I wouldn't say we're in a good situation right now...'
Third day in Ice Rock.
Everyone was exhausted, and there were no idle chatter or jokes.
We just silently marched forward, conserving our energy.
The atmosphere was tense and edgy.
'This is the team I'm supposed to lead into battle against Noark?'
Morale was crucial in war.
I wasn't sure if we would even be able to complete the mission in this state.
The only positive thing was the rapid accumulation of experience points.
「Frozen Soul defeated. EXP +4.」
「Tainted Snow Spirit defeated. EXP +6.」
「Frost Guardian defeated. EXP +7.」
「Lich defeated. EXP +6.」
「Glacier Giant defeated. EXP +7.」
「Frostfire Turtle defeated...」
「...」
Most of the monsters in Ice Rock were high-level, so the experience points flowed in quickly.
Well, we still had a long way to go.
Even if we killed every monster in Ice Rock, it wouldn't be enough to reach level 8.
'But it's a rare opportunity, so I should hunt as many as I can.'
We continued fighting monsters and marching forward, our bodies growing increasingly weary.
As the sun began to set, we set up camp by a cliff.
We unloaded the tents and sleeping bags from the supply boxes and set them up.
And...
「Heating Stone activated.」
We placed a few activated magic tools in each tent, creating a cozy shelter.
"We don't have any night watch duty today, so get some rest."
Only two members were assigned to night watch duty for the entire expedition force.
Our turn wouldn't come until tomorrow, so we could all sleep soundly tonight.
It was thanks to the four paladins.
They would take turns casting [Purge Evil], keeping monsters away.
And there was no chance of encountering a looting party in this barren land.
Even if there were, they wouldn't dare attack a group this large.
Not if they wanted to keep their heads.
"Good night, Mister. See you tomorrow."
The tents were for three people, separated by gender.
No matter how close we were, men and women shouldn't sleep together.
I also preferred sleeping with other men.
Well, the old man and the mage might feel a bit cramped.
"Ashid, Aldidi. You two go to sleep first."
"Are you going on patrol?"
"I'm the expedition leader, after all."
I sent Didi and Ashid to bed and then patrolled the campsite, checking for any problems.
There were already snoring sounds coming from various tents.
They must be exhausted.
'Everything seems fine, so I should go to sleep too.'
I walked towards our team's tent.
Crunch.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned around.
"Kaislan, you're still awake?"
"I have something to tell you, sir."
"What is it?"
"Can we talk while we walk?"
We walked around the edge of the campsite, talking.
"There's a lot of discontent among the members."
Discontent...
I knew what it was about.
"Mostly about me, I presume?"
Kaislan nodded with a bitter smile.
"Humans are like that. They don't question their happiness, but they always look for reasons when they're suffering."
His words reflected a deep understanding of human nature.
"Is that all?"
Kaislan shook his head.
"If that was all, I wouldn't have bothered you at this hour."
"There's something else?"
"...There's someone spreading malicious rumors within the expedition force."
"Rumors? What kind of rumors?"
"That the 1st Team is hoarding supplies while everyone else is on rations."
"I see..."
I couldn't help but sigh.
This was ridiculous.
They were acting like children.
These were the elites of the kingdom?
"Do you know who started the rumor?"
"Pike Neldain."
"James Kala's teammate."
He was a warrior, just like me.
He had even greeted me with a smile at the banquet...
Damn, that sneaky bastard.
Ah, maybe he was just hungry and couldn't think straight?
"What are you going to do?"
"Well..."
I trailed off, and Kaislan offered me some advice.
"If you're going to punish him, I suggest doing it through me."
"To deflect the blame?"
"If you wish, I can make an example of him in front of everyone. They'll forget all about their resentment towards you."
Wow, he's a loyal subordinate.
I listened to his suggestions.
"Or we could use Akuraba. She's in charge of supplies, and this happened because she failed to fulfill her duties."
He wasn't wrong.
Regardless of the circumstances, Akuraba was responsible for protecting the supplies.
But...
"She's a respected explorer, so everyone is being quiet now, but if this gets out, they'll blame her."
I didn't like that.
I had to make a decision.
"Kaislan, why are you going this far to help me?"
I was suspicious of his motives.
But Kaislan looked me in the eye and answered without hesitation.
"Because you're the expedition leader, whether I like it or not."
An unexpected answer.
"The expedition will fail if you're shaken by these rumors."
I thought he would be the first to try and take my place if my authority was weakened.
Was this a soldier's mindset?
Kaislan was prioritizing the mission over his personal ambitions.
"Tell me what you want me to do."
He offered two options, but they were essentially the same.
Whether it was Akuraba or him, he wanted me to make someone else the scapegoat.
I appreciated his advice, but my decision was already made.
"I'm not going to do anything."
"...?"
Kaislan looked confused and cautiously asked,
"If you do nothing, the members will blame you for everything that goes wrong."
That's true.
But so what?
"I don't care what they say."
"...?"
"They're the members, and I'm the leader. That's how it works."
I wasn't going to shirk my responsibility.
__________________
Ninth day in Ice Rock.
The expedition, which had been plagued with problems from the start, was finally reaching its midpoint.
We had left the plains behind and were now facing a giant ice mountain.
We weren't going to climb it.
Our destination was at the base of the mountain.
"We found the entrance!"
James Kala's team found the path to the next field, and we followed it, descending into a massive ice cave.
Thud, thud.
The sound of our boots echoed through the cave.
But the atmosphere was different from before.
Even in military training camps,
People form bonds when they go through hardships together.
"The ice is so clear, it's like we're in a fantasy world."
"Haha, I feel the same way."
Of course, the improved mood was also due to our recovered stamina.
Half of the members were experiencing Ice Rock for the first time, so there were a lot of hiccups in the beginning...
But now they were all adapting.
"I'm starving. I understand why everyone avoids this place."
"I usually look at my daughter's picture when I'm struggling, but I couldn't even do that here. I should have taken it out of my subspace pocket before we left the ship."
"Oh, you have a daughter? How old is she?"
It wasn't just the atmosphere that had changed.
The expedition force, which had been struggling to work together, was now moving as one.
"Enemies approaching from the flanks and front!"
"The 1st Team will hold them off while the 2nd and 3rd Teams take care of the flanks!"
They followed my orders without hesitation.
「Frozen Webter defeated. EXP +5.」
「Unmelting Cocoon defeated. EXP +6.」
「Frostfire Goblin defeated. EXP +5」
The battles were much easier now.
They were finally acting like an elite force.
Their teamwork had improved, and they were able to unleash their full potential.
And there was another positive development.
"Schuitz, that guy... he's a beast in battle."
Explorers respected strength.
As I stood at the front, taking on the most dangerous tasks, my reputation started to improve.
The rumors about me hoarding food had vanished.
Actions speak louder than words—
Crackle—
What was that?
My instincts, honed by years of experience, sensed danger.
"Erwen, did you hear that?"
"I don't know. It came from behind us..."
Behind us?
I turned around.
Crackle.
Spiderweb-like cracks were spreading across the ground, unable to withstand the weight.
'Damn it!'
It was where the troll pulling the sled was standing.
"Summon! Unsummon it now!"
I shouted, and the summoner, who had been spacing out, quickly unsummoned the troll.
But it was too late.
Crack, crack!
The cracking sound intensified.
"...Everyone, get back!"
The explorers near the collapsing ground scrambled to safety. Some, however, prioritized the supplies over their own lives.
"Supplies! Get the supplies!"
"We're done for without them!"
"Move it!"
They carefully pulled the sled away, trying to reduce the weight.
But the ground was collapsing faster.
Kwaaang!
The ground caved in, like a sinkhole.
One of the sleds and two explorers disappeared into the darkness.
And at that moment...
「Liard Ashid has cast the 5th-grade auxiliary magic [Levitation].」
The two explorers floated into the air.
Their expressions, filled with despair, turned to relief.
And then we heard a splash from below.
Splash!
Damn, there's water down there?
We can't retrieve the sled now.
I quickly gave orders, despite my despair.
"Everyone, get away from the edge! Spread out, don't stand too close!"
The team members finally started moving.
I cautiously approached the edge and looked down.
The mage illuminated the area with a light spell, and as expected, there was a river flowing below.
The sled was nowhere to be seen.
"Akuraba!!"
"Yes, sir!"
"How much food was in that sled?"
"About half, sir!"
Damn it, we lost half our food supply.
"..."
Akuraba looked at me nervously.
"Um..."
"Be quiet. I'm thinking."
"..."
I couldn't understand.
'The ground collapsed the first time, and now it's happening again?'
This didn't make sense.
So...
"Akuraba."
"Yes, sir."
"Ask everyone. Now."
I had to confirm something first.
"Is there anyone who changed their name? And was that name Hans?"
That would tell me whether this was just a series of unfortunate coincidences.
Or...
"Hurry up. This is important."
Someone's malicious intent.
-x-X-x-
The investigation revealed that two members had changed their names.
But their previous names were 'Muljory' and 'Dick', far from that cursed name.
In other words, there was no (former) Hans among us.
Then why did I feel this way?
'It's strange... I'm not relieved.'
I was glad there was no (former) Hans, but I also felt a sense of disappointment.
If he existed, these incidents might have been just a series of unfortunate coincidences...
And even if he wasn't the culprit, it would have narrowed down the list of suspects.
'...Wait a minute.'
"Troll."
"Yes?"
"What are the names of the three trolls you're using as summons?"
I asked out of a hunch, but it was another dead end.
Their names were Pippi, Poppy, and Yeppi, in order of height.
It was a naming sense that I, as a sane person, couldn't comprehend.
'Well, at least this confirms that someone is intentionally sabotaging us.'
A series of coincidences?
I couldn't completely rule out that possibility, but I didn't believe in such things.
Not unless Hans was involved.
And besides, the ground collapsing in Ice Rock wasn't a common occurrence.
It wasn't something you would experience twice in one expedition.
And...
'I have a hunch.'
I discreetly put the ring back in my pocket after briefly checking it.
"It seems like the cleanup is done."
"Yes."
"What's the damage report?"
"It's not good news, but the loss of food isn't significant."
That's good.
The other supplies were also important, but not as crucial as food.
"...What are we going to do now?"
"We continue our journey."
After confirming the damage, I ordered the expedition force to move again.
We didn't have much time.
Waiting here wouldn't solve anything.
I had to keep thinking while we marched.
"How far can you send the Ice Trolls?"
"...As long as I can see them, sir!"
The summoner answered immediately, as if he was worried I might blame him for the incident.
'...Is he acting?'
He was the most suspicious one.
But it wasn't the right time to interrogate him.
"The remaining three sleds will be divided into front, center, and rear."
I changed the formation, separating the sleds to minimize the risk of another collapse.
And...
Thud, thud.
We continued our march through the icy cave, my mind racing.
If there really was a traitor among us, who was it?
There were too many suspects.
But I had to start with those who would benefit the most from our failure.
The team leaders, for example.
"...Schuitz, I'm sorry. This is my fault. I should have separated the sleds sooner."
Titana Akuraba.
She was the most suspicious one.
She was in charge of supplies, and she was always near the sleds when the incidents happened.
"It wasn't intentional, but this is the second time. Whether you like it or not, you have to punish someone, or everyone will think you're weak."
Kaislan was also suspicious.
His helpful advice and self-sacrificing spirit were too good to be true.
And he was the one who was most eager to be the leader.
"I don't think this was anyone's fault. But... this time, we need to hold someone accountable."
James Kala.
He was the least suspicious, but he still had a motive.
He had the least influence among the team leaders.
His sponsors could easily control him.
"...I'll leave it to your judgment. That's your duty and right as the leader."
Lastly, Jun, the paladin.
He had always been strangely friendly towards me, which made me uneasy.
"Schuitz, the members are exhausted."
The march had been going on for two hours longer than usual.
"We'll set up camp."
I ordered them to set up camp and then called for a meeting with the team leaders.
The first issue on the agenda was this:
"The loss of potions and other consumables is a problem, but the shortage of tents and sleeping bags is the biggest concern."
"They're already hungry and tired. If they can't even sleep properly, they'll be furious."
"We need a fair solution. If some people get to sleep comfortably while others have to sleep outside without sleeping bags, there will be resentment."
We didn't have enough tents and sleeping bags for everyone.
My solution was simple.
"What are you going to do?"
"Increase the number of night watch duty personnel."
"...Night watch duty?"
They didn't have enough sleeping bags anyway.
If more people were on guard duty, more people could sleep inside.
"...That's too extreme."
"It will only increase their fatigue."
"How about we rotate the use of tents and sleeping bags?"
The team leaders expressed their concerns, but I overruled them.
"Schuitz, if you do that, they'll resent you even more."
They weren't wrong.
It was a solution that eliminated the problem, not solved it.
They would probably complain about the barbarian leader's lack of tactical sense.
They would say I wasn't fit to be a leader.
But...
"I don't care. Announce it and have each team choose their night watch duty personnel."
I had to increase the number of guards.
More people on guard duty meant better security at night. And I had to be wary of the traitor.
That's why...
"Raviyen."
I stopped the Dragonkin woman as she was about to enter her tent.
"What is it?"
"I wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier."
"You think someone did it on purpose?"
"We have to consider all possibilities."
The conversation was more relaxed than before, since we had spent some time together on the expedition...
But there wasn't much progress.
"I don't know. I'm not good at that sort of thing."
"I see..."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, you should get some rest. You must be tired."
I let her go. I wanted to talk to her more, but it seemed pointless.
And...
"..."
I walked to a secluded spot behind the tents and took out the ring from my pocket.
「Character has equipped No. 6111 Fate Tracker.」
As always, it glowed as soon as I put it on.
「The ring has detected the character's fate.」
It was a bright red light.
I quickly took it off.
'Damn it.'
It had been like this since we entered the 7th floor.
__________________
There were some Numbered Items that couldn't be used in the city.
No. 399 Cage of Silence was one of them, and so was the Fate Tracker.
So I put on the ring as soon as we entered the labyrinth.
And...
'It didn't glow back then.'
It was the same when we met the other expedition teams on the 6th floor, and during the voyage.
But as soon as we arrived at Ice Rock,
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
The ring emitted a red light.
It meant there was a negative event nearby.
'What if the traitor was only supposed to act after we reached the 7th floor? That would explain why the ring didn't react before.'
We had experienced a series of unfortunate events during the journey, but the ring's light remained the same.
It meant that there was still a negative event ahead of us.
"Mister, wake up!"
I opened my eyes and saw Erwen.
The heating stones were running low, so we had to ration them.
I was shivering from the cold.
"Where are the old man and Ashid?"
"They're already awake and getting ready."
"Why didn't you wake me up?"
"You looked tired."
Hmm... I appreciate the concern, but it's embarrassing for a warrior to be worried about his stamina by a mage and an ability user.
"Can I shave your beard?"
Erwen smiled and asked as I sat up.
I touched my chin, and a thick beard had grown.
But I didn't mind.
"It's fine. It's not bothering me."
It was actually helpful in this environment.
It was extra insulation.
"But you look much more handsome without it..."
I ignored Erwen's whining and stepped outside.
The frigid air pierced through my skin and lungs.
But the biggest problem was hunger.
Rumble.
My stomach growled as soon as I woke up.
"You're awake."
"Let's take down the tents."
I joined Didi and Ashid and helped them dismantle the tents and load them onto the sleds.
And...
Crunch, crunch.
I chewed on a piece of jerky, rationing my breakfast.
We resumed our journey.
Tenth day in Ice Rock.
The path ahead was simple.
We had to navigate through a maze-like ice cave beneath a giant mountain range.
At the end of the maze, there was a giant sinkhole called the Eye of the Glacier.
And at the bottom of the Eye of the Glacier...
"An essence! An essence!"
We heard a commotion from behind us.
"Is that from Meran? Did someone kill a Meran?"
"What? Wait, then that's a 3rd-grade essence!"
It wasn't just any 3rd-grade essence.
It was a rare essence that could only be obtained in Ice Rock.
"Everyone, step back!"
I had the explorers move away and sent the mage to collect the essence.
It was confirmed to be a Meran essence.
Good news always followed bad news.
Even the high-level explorers were excited by the 3rd-grade essence.
"Everyone, calm down. If anyone is interested in purchasing this essence, they'll be given priority based on the average market price, excluding the cost of the test tube. If there are multiple buyers, we'll hold an auction!"
Kaislan intervened before the excitement could turn into chaos.
"..."
Some explorers looked disappointed, but most were just happy.
We had obtained a few essences during the expedition, but they were all low-grade.
A 3rd-grade essence was in a different league.
Well, even if we split it thirty ways, the individual share wouldn't be that much.
But it was still a profit.
"...We'll also be splitting the loot from Noark."
"And the royal family will reward us based on our achievements. That's not a small sum either."
"Those who want the essence should focus on earning achievements. Otherwise, they won't be able to afford it."
"So we'll be compensated for our efforts."
"If the expedition is successful, that is."
The positive news had lifted the mood, despite the recent incident.
Well, they're probably still complaining about me behind my back.
But I didn't mind.
If that helped them cope with the situation,
It was a good thing for me, as the leader.
'Every group needs a villain.'
Three days passed.
Thankfully, there were no more incidents. No one died, and we didn't lose any more supplies.
But...
「The ring has detected the character's fate.」
The ring's light remained red.
I continued to investigate the traitor, interrogating the summoner and rechecking the members' information.
And finally...
"We're here! The Eye of the Glacier!"
13th day in Ice Rock.
We were nearing the end of the 7th floor.
"What's going on? Why are we setting up camp so early?"
I ordered them to set up camp and called for a meeting with the team leaders.
It was still early, but...
"There's a traitor among us."
I knew who it was.
-x-X-x-
"A traitor...?"
"What do you mean?"
The team leaders frowned at my blunt statement.
But they must have understood the gist of it.
James Kala cautiously spoke.
"...Are you referring to the incident where we lost the supplies?"
I nodded without hesitation.
"Yes."
"But that incident was—"
"A coincidence? You brought it up as soon as I mentioned the traitor. You must have suspected something too."
"..."
James Kala fell silent.
Akuraba, as if defending him, interjected with a hint of annoyance.
"Thinking about it and mentioning it are two different things. A traitor? That's a very sensitive and dangerous accusation to make without any evidence."
She was right.
But she was missing the most important part.
"So what's your point?"
"Whoever you suspect, you need concrete evidence that everyone can agree on."
Ouch, that hit a nerve.
Did she think I was suspecting her?
Well, she was in charge of supplies.
Maybe she thought I was blaming her and was already defending herself.
I had to clear up the misunderstanding before it got worse.
"Don't worry. I'm not suspecting you."
"Yes? But you just said..."
"If I suspected you, I wouldn't have called you here."
To be precise, I had suspected all of them, but not anymore.
I knew who the culprit was.
Thankfully, it wasn't one of our precious team leaders.
"Then... who do you think the traitor is?"
"Pike Neldain."
As soon as I said his name, everyone looked at James Kala.
"...He's a warrior on James Kala's team, right?"
"He's also the one who's been badmouthing the expedition leader."
"Hmm... then his motive might have been to undermine the leader."
They started analyzing the situation, assuming my accusation was true.
James Kala quickly spoke up.
"W-wait! There must be some misunderstanding! Neldain, he's a bit narrow-minded, I'll admit that, but—"
"It's surprising to hear you say that. How well do you even know him?"
"...?"
"I've already investigated him. He joined the expedition through the Explorer's Guild's recommendation, right? You didn't know him before."
"That's true, but..."
James Kala trailed off, and Akuraba came to his defense.
"Schuitz, I think we should hear your reasoning first. Why do you think he's the traitor? Do you have any evidence?"
Ugh, evidence, evidence, evidence.
I'm sick of hearing that word.
But I calmly explained my reasons for suspecting Pike Neldain.
And when I finished...
"I see..."
"I understand that you're not just making this up."
"It's still just circumstantial evidence, but it's enough to raise suspicion."
All the team leaders, except for James, agreed that my suspicion was valid.
"But we don't have any concrete evidence! You can't just accuse someone without proof! Someone might even think this is a personal vendetta!"
James raised his voice for the first time, but I wasn't offended.
It was natural for a team leader to protect his teammate.
"Calm down. I know that, that's why I called you here."
I looked at James Kala and asked,
"Do you still think I'm making this up?"
"I... don't think so."
"Good. Then that's settled."
I clapped my hands, trying to lighten the mood, and continued.
"Listen. I need your help."
"Help?"
"I'll explain."
I shared my plan with the team leaders, and they all agreed.
And...
"It's getting dark outside."
Night had fallen.
Well, it was always dark inside the cave.
"That's all for today. Go and gather everyone, including Pike Neldain."
It was time for a trial.
__________________
A frozen cave with a giant sinkhole in the center.
Thirty expedition members were gathered around a campfire.
"...What's going on? Why are we all here? Does anyone know?"
"I heard there's a traitor among us."
"...A traitor?"
"They say he's the one who caused the supply loss."
The team leaders had shared some information, and the members looked confused.
But their confusion soon turned to curiosity.
"So who is it?"
"You'll find out soon."
"I guess they figured it out, since they called us all here at this hour."
The murmurs subsided, and all eyes were on me.
But I ignored their gazes and focused on one person.
"Neldain, what's wrong?"
Pike Neldain.
The warrior from James Kala's team who had been badmouthing me.
'He's scared.'
He had avoided eye contact at first, but now he was staring back at me defiantly.
It was a common trait of liars.
They were afraid of being seen as suspicious if they averted their gaze.
"Everyone, be quiet!"
Kaislan stepped forward and silenced the members, and a heavy silence fell over the campsite.
It was the perfect atmosphere for a one-sided conversation.
"Pike Neldain, step forward."
As soon as I finished speaking, everyone looked at him.
"...What? Is it him?"
"Don't call him 'him' yet. We don't know for sure."
Whispers filled the air.
"Are you going to keep hiding?"
As I spoke, the explorers around Pike Neldain stepped back, creating a path.
And...
Thud, thud.
He walked towards me, his face contorted with anger.
"...Here I am."
"You're quite bold."
"I have every right to be. What is this about?"
He glared at me.
I had expected this.
I didn't think he would confess just because I created a tense atmosphere and intimidated him.
"Pike Neldain."
"I'm listening."
"You're being accused of a serious crime."
"...A crime?"
"You sabotaged the expedition and caused us to lose valuable supplies. It's an act of treason."
"...I don't understand. What did I do? Are you doing this because I badmouthed you?"
"Pike Neldain!"
I cut him off before he could continue his rambling.
"You caused the ground to collapse twice during the expedition! You intentionally led us to those dangerous areas! Do you deny it?"
"Of course I do! It's not true!"
"You're going to deny it until the very end?"
"Why are you all just standing there?! Is it right for the expedition leader to accuse a member without any evidence?!"
He appealed to the other members, trying to paint me as a vengeful leader.
And it seemed to be working.
"This doesn't seem right..."
"What's the point of calling us all here if he's going to accuse him without proof..."
"He's always been badmouthing the leader..."
"But can he really be a traitor? Where's the evidence?"
"The ground collapsing... wasn't that just a coincidence?"
He wanted them to think that I was taking revenge on him for personal reasons.
"Schuitz, you've made a mistake."
He looked at me with a smug expression.
"If you're going to frame me, you need to have evidence that everyone can agree on."
"Evidence..."
That was the biggest obstacle.
It was unrealistic to torture him into confessing.
And I didn't have 'Distorted Trust'.
Verification magic?
Most explorers above the 5th floor were immune to it.
How many of them would it even work on?
I had been struggling with this problem...
'There's no other way.'
"You don't have any—"
There was only one solution.
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
My body expanded rapidly.
Whoosh!
I grabbed his neck before he could finish his sentence.
"...!"
The explorers were shocked, but no one dared to intervene.
It was an explorer's instinct.
When the situation was unclear, they observed and waited.
"W-what are you doing—!"
"You seem to like making friends. But I guess you didn't have any real friends to help you out."
"L-let go—!"
It's too early to give up.
Squeeze.
I tightened my grip, cutting off his air supply.
Thump! Thump!
He punched my arm with all his might.
It was a futile effort.
Swoosh.
I pulled him closer, ignoring his struggles.
And...
"Neldain, do you know this?"
"...G-guh...!"
"The expedition leader has the right to execute any member in an emergency."
"G-g-guh...!"
"And I think this is an emergency."
As I loosened my grip slightly, he desperately shouted.
"T-they won't believe you... not outside...!"
"That's right, they won't."
The nobles weren't stupid.
And there were too many witnesses.
If I executed him here, the Marquis's rivals would use it against me and try to remove me from the leadership position.
But...
"Why should I care?"
"...?!"
"I don't care what they think."
I tightened my grip, my killing intent surging.
His veins bulged, and his face turned red from the blood rushing to his head.
"...!!"
He had been trying to stay conscious, but he couldn't look at me anymore.
He just looked around, desperately seeking help.
"Should we stop him?"
"This is going to be a problem..."
"Sir Kaislan! We have to stop him!"
The members were worried.
But the team leaders remained silent, observing the situation.
They had already made a promise.
"..."
"..."
They silently watched, their expressions conveying their support.
And...
"I... c-can't..."
Pike Neldain realized the truth.
He was alone.
"It's okay. Die."
I focused my killing intent on his neck.
Crack!
The sound of his neck snapping.
His eyes rolled back, and his pupils dilated.
"Damn it!"
Someone cursed, and at that moment...
「Pike Neldain has cast [Overload].」
His weight suddenly increased, and my arm buckled.
So that's his trump card.
Kwaaang!
He fell to the ground, my grip loosening.
"Gasp...!"
He took a deep breath, his body convulsing.
And he shouted with all his might.
"Y-you madman! Stop him! Stop this madman!"
His desperate cry caused a stir among the members.
They looked like they were about to intervene.
"What are you all waiting for?!"
He looked at the team leaders, pleading for help.
But their expressions were cold.
"So it was true."
"That's [Overload]... a warrior would never use that skill."
"Let's restrain him first. We can't hear his story if he kills himself."
Today's lesson.
If you have a hunch, you can create evidence.
-x-X-x-
After confirming the existence of the traitor,
I started asking around every day.
Of course, I wasn't acting like a detective. I just casually chatted with the members during breaks and at camp.
Otherwise, he might have tried to hide—
"Wait! Explain it so we can understand!"
As the team leaders restrained Pike Neldain, one of the explorers watching the scene interjected.
"Explain...?"
Well, I could do that.
It would help clarify the situation.
"I first suspected Pike Neldain because of Elcopson Liadkei."
"Liadkei...?"
"The summoner on Akuraba's team?"
The summoner flinched, embarrassed by the sudden attention.
"Y-yes? Me?"
"Yes, you mentioned something strange when I asked you a few questions. You said the trolls were getting tired too quickly."
"Ah, yes... I did say that, but..."
He looked at me nervously.
Was he worried about being blamed?
He didn't need to worry.
I wouldn't punish the one who helped me the most with this investigation.
"Anyway! That's where it all started."
It was a turning point.
Before that, I had been focusing on the possibility of a spell or skill causing the ground to collapse.
But his testimony made me think differently.
I started focusing on the trolls themselves.
"I suspected something was wrong with the trolls, so I investigated who had approached them before and after the incidents."
I explained my deduction to the crowd.
"At first, I suspected Akuraba's team members or the mages who were always near the sleds because they had to maintain the 'Preservation' spell."
It was the Barbarian Detective Mode.
"But I found out that there was one other person who had approached the trolls."
I pointed at the bound traitor.
"Pike Neldain."
"...!"
"He approached the trolls under various pretexts, and after the incidents, he mysteriously disappeared—"
"T-that's just circumstantial evidence!"
Pike Neldain protested.
"You're accusing me based on that?"
He wasn't done talking yet.
Jun, the paladin, tried to gag him, but I stopped him with a gesture.
He was digging his own grave, there was no need to stop him.
"Evidence! You don't have any evidence!"
That's right, I didn't have any evidence.
That's why I had to resort to this method.
People only believed what they saw.
Akuraba stepped forward before I could say anything.
"The ability you just used was [Overload]."
"S-so? What about it?"
"Why did you hide that ability?"
"E-everyone has their trump cards!"
"Hmm, and that's your trump card, as a 'warrior'? The 7th-grade [Overload]?"
Her sarcastic tone made him shut his mouth.
[Overload] was a skill that temporarily increased your weight, reducing your movement speed but increasing the damage of ranged attack skills.
It wasn't a suitable skill for a warrior.
So...
"D-don't change the subject! [Overload] only affects the user!"
He was trying to find a loophole.
"Yes, [Overload] only affects the user."
"I've seen someone use it before."
"It was definitely a skill that couldn't be used on others."
"What? Then you've arrested the wrong person!"
The members started to waver, swayed by his logic.
"He's falsely accusing me! Help me! You could be next!"
He shouted, trying to turn the crowd against me.
This was good.
The logic he had used to defend himself was now trapping him.
There was no escape.
It was time to draw my sword.
"Can I borrow your sword?"
I took a sword from a nearby explorer and approached him.
"W-what are you doing...? H-help—"
"Everyone, stay back!"
"Gah—!"
I grabbed his neck and lifted him up for everyone to see.
The explorers flinched and looked at each other.
They seemed to be contemplating whether to intervene.
I spoke before they could reach a consensus.
"What you just saw... is the physical ability of a 5th-grade monster, the Blood Roar! It's called [Blood Spring]!"
Physical ability.
It meant a passive skill in this world.
"...[Blood Spring]?"
"What's that?"
"I read about it in a book. It makes you immune to death by bleeding."
"Wait, Blood Roar... wasn't that one of the monsters that had [Bestow]?"
"Yes, it always travels in packs with other monsters, making that ability even more troublesome."
"Then...!"
They started to understand without me having to explain further.
I threw him to the ground.
Thud.
He didn't even groan, despite the impact.
He was too busy trying to survive.
"W-wait! I-I have the Blood Roar's essence, but that doesn't prove I have [Bestow]!"
He was still clinging to the lack of evidence.
But Akuraba was ready.
"Then use another one of Blood Roar's abilities."
"T-that's..."
"There were four, if I remember correctly. All of them were easily recognizable."
"I-I admit it! I have [Bestow]! But that doesn't mean I'm the traitor!"
"Then why did you deny it at first?"
"I-I was scared...! I was afraid of being accused!"
His last desperate plea.
He looked pathetic, covered in blood and bound by ropes.
But I didn't feel sorry for him.
"Why are you all just watching?! Just because I have that ability doesn't mean I'm the traitor!"
Innocent until proven guilty.
That would have worked in a modern court.
Or even in a city court, where there was at least a semblance of law.
But...
"Pike Neldain, how long are you going to act so naive?"
This was the labyrinth.
And most importantly...
"What are you all waiting for? He's clearly lying."
Explorers weren't stupid.
"It was strange that the ground collapsed twice. It never happened when I came here before."
They finally realized the truth.
"It was all his fault, wasn't it?"
Pike Neldain was the traitor.
And all the hunger and discomfort they had endured were because of him.
Thud, thud.
He crawled towards the other members, trying to escape me.
"W-wait! S-spare me! I'll tell you everything!"
It was time for interrogation.
__________________
Pike Neldain, a 4th-grade explorer.
He had been a member of various teams, from small groups to large clans.
Then why did he betray the expedition force?
Or rather...
"Who's behind you? Noark? The Alminus Trading Company? Or the Explorer's Guild?"
Tell me now, and I'll spare you.
I'll let you keep your head.
"...T-there's no one! I just hate you..."
This idiot still didn't understand the situation.
"Jun."
I called his name, and Jun, the paladin, immediately drove a long awl under his fingernail.
"Aaaaaargh!!"
"It's fascinating to see a body that can't die from blood loss."
"G-guh, g-guh, ugh!"
"Be careful, he might not die from bleeding, but he can still die from organ damage."
"Don't worry, sir. He's not dead yet."
That's not something a paladin would say...
And he was surprisingly skilled at torture.
'Wait, was he an inquisitor in the past?'
It was a valid suspicion.
He had abandoned his secular name, and no one knew his real name...
He was a bit suspicious, wasn't he?
Well, at least his skills were useful right now.
"S-stop...! I'll tell you everything...!"
He finally broke after over an hour of torture.
"Who's behind you?"
"Iriya Adnus..."
"The Guild Master of the Explorer's Guild?"
Damn it...
Why is he suddenly bringing up a big shot like that?
"Are you sure? Tell me the truth."
"I-I'm sure! I didn't meet him personally, but his assistant contacted me and gave me the orders!"
He didn't seem to be lying.
I continued the interrogation, putting the Guild Master issue aside for now.
"What were your orders?"
"..."
"Jun?"
"He told me to sabotage the expedition...!"
"Be specific. What did he tell you to do?"
I asked a series of questions, trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.
To summarize:
The Guild Master knew we were going to Ice Rock and had planned to sabotage the expedition by targeting our supplies.
"I-I swear I didn't intend to hurt anyone! I wouldn't have done it if I knew..."
"What are you talking about? Two members almost fell to their deaths! If our mage hadn't intervened, they would have died!"
"T-that's...! I didn't think they would try so hard to protect the supplies!"
He sounded genuinely regretful.
Damn, I don't think he's lying...
Thwack!
I knocked him out after getting all the information I needed.
I then called the team leaders and shared the information.
"He really was the traitor..."
"The Guild Master is behind this? This is going to be a big problem when we get back..."
"I wish it was Noark."
They had agreed to help me find the traitor, but they must have been hoping I was wrong.
Their expressions were grim.
But they were different from ordinary people.
They accepted reality quickly.
"Let's discuss this. Why would the Guild Master want the expedition to fail?"
"It's probably a political move. If the expedition fails, he can blame the Marquis."
"Maybe the Explorer's Guild wanted to remain neutral in the war between the royal family and Noark."
"I doubt that, but... it's not impossible. Explorers are benefiting the most from this war."
"Jun, what do you think?"
"..."
The discussion didn't lead to any conclusions.
There were many speculations, but we didn't have enough information to confirm anything.
"Um... what are we going to do with Pike Neldain?"
James Kala cautiously asked, and the other team leaders shared their opinions.
"We have to execute him. It will damage morale if we let him live."
Melend Kaislan.
"I disagree. If we take him back to the city, we can use him to pressure the Guild Master."
Titana Akuraba.
"It's Schuitz's decision."
Jun, the paladin.
"..."
They all looked at me.
My decision was already made.
"We execute him."
I wasn't going to drag a rat along on this long journey.
__________________
The execution took place that night, with all the expedition members present.
I chose the most efficient method, beheading.
Hanging would take too much time and effort, and I could feel their bloodlust.
Swish!
It was over in an instant.
Some members, still unsatisfied, spat on the cooling corpse.
Explorers hated traitors more than looters.
"Where are you going...?"
"Patrol."
I left the execution site and walked towards the edge of the camp.
And...
「Character has equipped No. 6111 Fate Tracker.」
I put on the ring.
But...
「The ring has detected the character's fate.」
The ring glowed again.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
I sighed as I checked the color.
Well, at least it had changed to yellow.
-x-X-x-
The yellow light from the Traffic Light Ring meant only one thing.
Something bad was going to happen, but if we overcame it, it would lead to a positive outcome.
'Could there be another traitor?'
That was my first thought.
Pike Neldain hadn't mentioned any accomplices during the interrogation, but there could be another spy from a different faction.
Maybe we would encounter a negative event if we didn't catch him, and a positive one if we did.
'...Or maybe the ring isn't reacting to a traitor.'
I was the leader, responsible for the lives of thirty people, so I had to consider the worst-case scenario... but I couldn't dwell on it.
Nothing was certain yet.
I just had to stay vigilant and observe my surroundings carefully.
「Character has entered a special area.」
「Field Effect - Eye of the Glacier applied.」
The day after the execution, we packed up camp and entered a deep chasm that seemed to lead to the Earth's core.
It was a giant cylindrical field.
We descended a spiral path along the outer wall, like a staircase carved into the ice.
It was the final gateway to the 8th floor, and the difficulty was significant.
The monsters themselves weren't much stronger than the ones we had encountered before...
But the field effects were brutal.
「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」
The vicious curse that resurrected you as an undead upon death, forcing you to attack your former companions.
「Status Effect [Opportunity Denied] applied.」
The 'countdown', also known as the golden time, was removed.
And...
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
This was the worst part.
'...Reversed regeneration? What am I supposed to do?'
Any wounds we received wouldn't heal.
They would fester and worsen.
And the faster your natural regeneration, the faster the decay.
It was a tank's graveyard.
'How many shield barbarians have I lost here...'
I didn't even want to think about it.
It must have been hundreds.
Until I finally figured out the solution.
"This place is even creepier than before."
"Erwen, stop chatting and focus on your surroundings. The monsters will be here soon. I told you—"
"To be careful not to get hurt? Hehe, I know."
"..."
The passage was narrow, so the expedition force was divided into teams, following each other like a train.
Ranged attackers were crucial in this area.
Almost 90% of the monsters here could fly.
"Gargoyles...!"
Not the 'Gargoyle Statue', the 8th-grade monster we encountered in the Crimson Fortress, but real gargoyles.
"Death Knights!"
Death Knights riding gargoyles, wielding spears.
[Keeeheeheeheehee!]
Banshee Queens screeching and casting debuffs from the air, along with various spectral undead monsters.
It was a nightmare for melee attackers, but they were all intercepted and turned into light before they could reach us.
「James Kala has cast [Piercing Light].」
「Titana Akuraba has used [No. 1911 Paveler's Broken Pocket Watch].」
「Cooldown for all skills is removed for 5 minutes.」
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Elemental Fusion].」
Archers, ability users, mages...
The expedition force had a lot of ranged attackers, and with four paladins, we had more than enough firepower.
「Niaro Cambel has cast [Healing Wave].」
「Benjamin Orman has cast [Emergency Regeneration]...」
「...」
Divine spells dealt 1.5 times damage to undead.
Not all the monsters were undead, but it wasn't a big deal.
We could still kill them.
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
We couldn't heal our allies anyway, so the paladins were basically ranged attackers in this area.
「Gargoyle defeated. EXP +6」
「Ghost Horse defeated. EXP +4」
「White Wyvern defeated. EXP +6」
「Blue Flame Bird defeated...」
「...」
Monsters melted away under the barrage of high-level healing and AoE divine spells.
The melee attackers focused on defense, blocking the monsters that tried to climb the walls.
And...
"Combat over!"
"10-minute break, then we move again!"
We cleared each wave of monsters and quickly descended further into the chasm.
After several hours and countless battles, we finally reached the first checkpoint.
The narrow path ended,
And a wide ledge jutted out from the cliff.
And...
"This is insane. We have to fight them without getting hurt?"
Hundreds of monsters were swarming the ledge.
It couldn't be helped, this was the spawning area for the Eye of the Glacier.
"Stop complaining. You had your rest, now it's our turn to work."
The ranged attackers had done their part in the narrow passage.
Now it was time for the melee attackers to shine.
"Get into formation!"
"Focus! Unless you want to spend the next week with a rotting arm!"
We formed a single line, with the warriors at the front, their shields forming a wall.
And...
"Let's go!"
We pushed forward, clearing a path through the horde.
And then the chaos began.
The warriors held the line, risking their lives, while the ranged attackers unleashed their firepower from behind.
Our overwhelming strength made the battle relatively easy.
But even so...
"Damn it, my arm...! Aaaaaargh!!"
There were casualties.
__________________
Four explorers were injured.
Three of them had minor injuries, just scratches and bruises. They wouldn't die.
We would reach the 8th floor in six days.
Even if their wounds festered, they could endure until we reached a safe zone where they could be healed.
The problem was the other one.
"A-am I... going to die...?"
Rick Jugsta.
He was a melee attacker on James Kala's team, filling the vacancy left by Pike Neldain.
He was clutching his mangled thigh, his bone protruding from the wound.
James Kala stood next to him, his face pale with worry.
"Don't be ridiculous! You'll be fine!"
They were old friends.
"Schuitz! We have to turn back!"
"Why?"
"Why? What do you mean? He won't survive until we reach the 8th floor!"
His desperate plea made me chuckle.
Would he have reacted this way if it were someone else?
I doubted it.
He would have been more rational, like Akuraba.
"We spent the entire day descending. It will take two days to go back up and down again."
Two days wasted to save one person.
Well, that wasn't a problem in itself.
But...
"Kala, we only have enough food for five more days. Even now, we'll have to starve for the last day."
As Kaislan said, it wasn't just time we were sacrificing.
It was lives.
They could endure one day without food, but not three.
"And it's all thanks to the traitor on your team."
Is he really a paladin?
He's surprisingly good at sarcasm.
"Enough about the traitor. Just answer me this. Did you really think this expedition would be without casualties?"
James Kala remained silent.
Kaislan continued, his voice cold and sharp.
"And what are you going to do if there are more injuries? Are we going to turn back every time?"
James Kala couldn't answer.
He just gritted his teeth in frustration.
Reality was harsh.
"How about we send him to God's embrace? I can help if you find it difficult."
Jun's suggestion was practically euthanasia.
James Kala, his body trembling, looked at me and asked,
"Schuitz... do you agree...?"
I didn't answer.
"Kaislan is right."
It was always like this in extreme situations.
There would be a time when you had to make a choice and sacrifice something.
But...
"I understand. I'll do it."
What?
"It's not time for that yet."
I couldn't let a precious teammate die.
Well, he could die during the expedition...
But not here.
"...Yes?"
James Kala looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, and I shrugged.
"We're not going back, and we're not abandoning him here."
The team leaders all looked at me with the same expression.
'What is he talking about?'
They couldn't understand.
"We're going down."
It was time to use the exploit.
__________________
The 'Eye of the Glacier' was my least favorite field.
At least until I discovered the exploit.
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
A week-long journey with this insane penalty.
It meant only one thing in this game.
There had to be a way to overcome it.
I experimented countless times and finally found the solution.
It was surprisingly simple.
"Distortion magic... you're talking about that?"
"Yes. From now on, we'll use distortion magic on all the monsters we encounter."
"The mages are already exhausted from maintaining the 'Preservation' spell. Why are you adding to their burden?"
Because 'Distortion' was the key to this exploit.
Monsters affected by Distortion didn't drop magic stones or essences, but there was a chance for their bodies to be preserved upon death.
Wyvern leather.
Adamantium.
Troll blood, the main ingredient for potions.
These were just a few examples of the valuable byproducts obtained through Distortion.
And...
'All the monsters in the Eye of the Glacier also appear on other floors.'
That's why it took me so long to figure out the solution.
'Use Distortion to obtain byproducts in a place where we can't even use our subspace pockets?'
It seemed incredibly inefficient.
We could hunt those monsters much more easily on other floors.
Well, this damn game always had a hidden solution for seemingly illogical actions.
"...I can't believe there's a way to heal injuries with this."
I briefly explained the exploit, and everyone was amazed.
No one questioned it.
"The Marquis's information network is impressive. Or maybe it's the royal family's hidden power. To know about this 'arrangement' that even a seasoned explorer like me is unaware of."
They thought the exploit came from another source, just like when I used the Barbarian Detective Mode to catch the traitor and they assumed there was another strategist on my team.
'Maybe it's better if they misunderstand...'
Yes, it's better this way.
There's no benefit to showing off.
Humility is a virtue.
"That's enough for today. We'll set up camp here and depart again tomorrow morning."
We decided to stay on the ledge for the night, believing that James Kala's friend could endure for another two days.
And the next morning, we resumed our journey.
「Liard Ashid has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」
「Mckelly Leyaders has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」
「Bersil Gowland has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion]...」
We spammed [Greater Distortion], which had a 1.5 times higher success rate than regular Distortion, and by afternoon, we were lucky enough to obtain a preserved corpse.
"Schuitz! Is this what you were talking about?"
James Kala rushed over and found a bead inside the corpse.
I quickly fed it to the injured explorer before it melted.
「Rick Jugsta has consumed the 'Frozen Trace of Life'.」
Okay, one person revived.
"Um... what are we going to do with the rest?"
We decided to abandon the other byproducts.
They were valuable, but we couldn't carry any more weight.
It was better to just leave them behind—
Rumble.
My stomach growled.
'...It's meat, even if it's a bit rotten.'
It seemed like a good idea, so I ran over to Amelia and shared my plan.
"Emily! I found a way to solve our food problem!"
"What are you talking about now...?"
"This time, it's not a joke! It's real!"
"Ha, just tell me."
"...So..."
I explained my food supply plan to Amelia.
And...
Slap—!
She slapped me on the back.
'...Was that really that bad of an idea?'
Damn it, I thought it was a good idea.