Enemies swarming from all directions.
The expedition force defending in formation.
"Kill them!!"
"Hold the line!!"
It was like a scene from a tower defense game.
Well, there were some key differences.
Whiiiiiish!
A barrage of arrows rained down.
"Revive Ascender!"
Black magic spells erupted.
Kaboom!
Lightning, ice, and fire spells from various essences.
Normally, mages would be the ones to intercept these ranged attacks.
But our mages were busy channeling the Multiple Teleportation spell, their mana reserves almost depleted.
There was only one way to protect the squishy backline.
「Character has been hit by [Piercing Chill].」
Tank it.
「The next instance of ice damage received is doubled, and ice resistance temporarily decreases proportionally to the damage received.」
「Lightning damage exceeding magic resistance and lightning resistance.」
「Character is inflicted with [Paralysis (Medium)].」
「Character has been hit by [Piercing Light]...」
「...」
The damage was taking its toll.
But I stood firm, my giant body a shield for my companions.
Crack.
I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain.
Kaboom!
I took the brunt of the attacks, shielding my allies.
「Benjamin Orman has cast [Moon of Purification].」
「All status effects on the character are removed.」
「Niaro Cambel has cast [Blessing of Light].」
「All healing effects on the character are amplified...」
「...」
The paladins were supporting us, but it wasn't enough.
They could only borrow the power of God.
They couldn't bring back the dead.
"...Mite!!"
Our deaths were silent.
"Everyone, fall back!!"
Mite Million, a warrior from the 2nd Team, stood to my left.
Whoosh!
A rock spear shot through the air, piercing his shield and his chest.
"No...!!!"
An instant death.
The divine light that had enveloped his body dissipated.
Swaaaaaaaaaaa!
He was no longer a target for healing spells.
"M-Mite...!"
An archer from his team rushed forward, trying to pull the spear from his body.
It was a futile effort.
He wouldn't be able to remove it, and even if he did, it wouldn't bring him back.
'...Were they friends?'
It didn't matter.
"Emily, I'll be right back."
"...What?"
I grabbed the archer by the scruff of his neck.
And...
"Don't do anything stupid. Stay back."
I threw him towards Akuraba.
Thud!
"W-what are you doing?! M-Mite is...!"
"Mite is dead. He died protecting you."
"...!!"
Mite Million had seen the spear coming.
He could have dodged.
He would have dodged, if it were just for himself.
But he chose to block it.
[E-everyone, fall back!!]
He was a warrior.
His duty was to protect his comrades.
He probably didn't know it would be fatal.
It was difficult to tell in the chaos of battle.
The rock spear was a high-level skill, one of the strongest 2nd-grade abilities.
'...Maybe he knew and blocked it anyway.'
But the truth would remain unknown.
"Stay back. I'll take over from here."
"..."
"Emily! Join the 2nd Team!"
I filled the gap left by the fallen warrior.
I was now responsible for defending two teams' worth of space.
But I felt relieved, not frustrated.
'It's a good thing I'm big.'
I considered activating [Transcendence] and increasing my size even further... but I decided against it.
I couldn't just stand there and take hits forever.
「Character has cast [Risk].」
「Damage received and reflected damage from [Probabilistic Retaliation] are doubled.」
I had tested it earlier, and I could endure the doubled damage.
「The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.」
「The damage immunity effect of [Probabilistic Retaliation] is removed, but the activation probability is fixed at 100%.」
Skeletons rose from the ground behind me, their bones clattering.
And...
[Gachaaat—!]
They retaliated, reflecting the attacks I received.
"W-what's going on?!"
"Gachabon! It's the Gachabon essence!"
"But that skill doesn't activate this often...!"
The enemy was confused.
Their own attacks were being turned against them.
'I should have activated it sooner.'
The best defense is a good offense.
The enemy's attacks lessened as they realized my ability.
It made defending the gap easier.
Okay, we just have to hold out until the teleportation spell is ready...
"...Move aside, you fools!"
A figure emerged from the enemy ranks.
His appearance was repulsive.
"It's Regal Vagos!"
"The Dragonslayer...!"
He had arrived.
_______________________
Kaboom!
Explosions roared.
Allies screamed, blood splattered.
The chaos of the battlefield was silenced.
At least for me.
And probably for him as well.
"..."
"..."
We stared at each other, the distance between us shrinking.
'Did he recognize me?'
That thought crossed my mind as he spoke.
"I told you before."
"..."
"That death wouldn't save you."
He had recognized me.
He remembered.
He didn't seem to care that I was shorter now.
He must have realized I had absorbed the Gachabon essence.
Alright, let's say hello.
"That's a nice sword you have there."
I looked at the sword at his waist.
"Are you giving it to me again?"
His reaction was immediate.
"You bastard...!"
His hand trembled.
But there was more to come.
"How much time is left until the spell is ready?"
"...One minute, sir!"
The answer was loud enough for everyone to hear.
"One minute... that's—"
"One minute is enough."
He charged at me.
「Regal Vagos has cast [Advanced Haste].」
「Regal Vagos has cast [Afterimage].」
His Agility skyrocketed.
But it was different from before.
We had met in Lalkas's Maze.
'He's much faster now.'
This was his true strength.
But it didn't matter.
Klang!
I blocked his attack.
"...!"
He was surprised.
"What happened to the holes in your armor? This isn't Lalkas's Maze."
He swung his sword again.
「Regal Vagos has cast [Holy Blade].」
A white aura enveloped his blade.
But the outcome was the same.
Clang!
My defenses held.
"How... are you still the same?"
It was a good thing he hadn't gotten stronger in the past two years.
I had been planning to test his strength...
"You bastard...!"
I pushed him back with my shield.
"...Ugh!"
He stumbled, caught off guard by my strength.
I was much stronger now.
"...Ten seconds left!"
The spell was almost ready.
"I've seen enough. Get lost."
"..."
"You're weaker than me now."
He didn't answer.
He was stunned.
I swung my hammer, but he dodged.
Kaboom!
I looked at my hammer, embedded in the ground.
I could have finished him off if it weren't for the increasing number of enemies...
"Schuitz! Over here!"
Amelia called for me.
The magic circle was glowing.
The teleportation spell was ready.
I joined my team at the center of the formation.
"You think you can escape?!"
What? You think you can stop us?
I'm the one who's disappointed.
"You fool!"
"Vagos, sir! You'll be caught in the teleportation spell!"
His subordinate's warning made him hesitate.
Damn it, I could have taken him with us and ganged up on him...
Swaaaaaaaaaaa!
The magic circle glowed brightly.
"See you later. Take care of your head."
The light flashed.
_______________________
Flash!
The light faded, and I opened my eyes.
A forest of giant, withered trees.
We were still in Deadwood.
We couldn't teleport across fields.
"...No one here."
We were in the western region of Deadwood.
There were no enemies nearby.
They must have been redeployed to search for us.
"Paladins, heal the injured. We're moving as soon as they're done."
We took a short break and then resumed our march.
We were heading north, not south towards our allies.
"Casualties?"
"Three dead."
So two more had died, besides the one I saw.
In that short time.
"Who?"
Kaislan reported the casualties.
"Mite Million, Fiona Aimers, and Niaro Cambel."
A warrior from the 2nd Team.
A priest from the 4th Team.
And a mage from the 3rd Team...
"A mage died...?"
"He was hit by a stray attack after the Dragonslayer and his men arrived. The teleportation spell was almost complete, so it wasn't interrupted."
Damn that Dragonslayer.
Crack.
I clenched my jaw.
The expedition had started with thirty members, and now we were down to twenty-five.
The 3rd Team had suffered the most casualties.
They had lost their traitor, Pike Neldain, and now their mage.
"The 2nd Team is also in a precarious situation. Million was their only warrior."
Akuraba's team was also vulnerable.
They had a summoner, so they could use trolls as temporary tanks... but she was a damage dealer.
"We need to change the formation."
"I agree. We can't afford to be divided anymore."
We had been marching with the teams separated to minimize the risk of detection.
But it wasn't feasible anymore.
We had to become a single unit.
"I'll reorganize the formation if you allow it."
"Go ahead. I'll talk to my team."
I gave Kaislan permission, and he quickly merged the teams.
He gathered the weaker members in the center, surrounded by the agile attackers.
They would protect them during combat.
And carry them when they were tired.
"Ugh... this is tiring..."
"S-sorry..."
"It's okay. It can't be helped. Just heal me properly when I'm injured."
The members didn't seem to mind being treated like pack mules.
They knew.
They had to work together to survive.
"Mister... be careful. Call for me if you need help."
"You too. Stay safe."
We were separated again.
I was a warrior.
My place was at the front.
"You two seem close."
Raviyen commented as I rejoined the front lines.
Hmm, it seems like she's jealous.
"Thank you."
"...For what?"
"For staying behind when the Dragonslayer appeared."
Raviyen was strong.
She was probably stronger than Amelia and Erwen, at least in a normal situation.
If she had acted recklessly, our team might have suffered casualties.
"...I'm not an idiot."
"That's what I'm grateful for."
"..."
We didn't talk much after that.
And then...
"Let's take a break."
We stopped to rest.
"Finally!"
The team members collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
But one man approached me.
"Um..."
He looked exhausted, his eyes shadowed with dark circles.
"Sven Parab."
The Goblin Mask.
He was always surprisingly resilient, despite his lack of combat prowess.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you resting?"
"I... I have something to tell you..."
"Then speak. I need to rest."
I sounded impatient, and he blurted it out.
"W-we can't keep moving! We have to stop!"
"Stop...?"
What was he talking about?
"Why?"
"I-I don't know, but... I-I feel uneasy... I can't breathe... My heart is pounding..."
...What the hell?
He was making me nervous.
-x-X-x-
"Ever since I was young, I've had a good feeling about things..."
Goblin started listing his past experiences as I looked at him, dumbfounded.
His rambling was so incoherent that I wondered if he even understood what he was saying... but one story caught my attention.
"It happened on the day of the fire pillar incident! I was supposed to enter the labyrinth, but I had the same feeling as today..."
At first, I thought he was delusional... but if his stories were true, I couldn't ignore them.
'Sixth Sense' was a real stat in [Dungeon and Stone].
"Alright, go back to your position."
"A-are we leaving then?"
"We can't just keep marching based on a baseless feeling."
"...Y-yes, of course..."
He seemed relieved that I was at least considering his warning.
"But I'll think about it."
I left him with that, and the other team members chimed in as he left.
"He's a strange one."
"Strange" was a euphemism for "crazy", coming from Didi, the ability user.
"Maybe he received a divine revelation. He's a paladin, after all."
Ashid defended him, while Erwen looked annoyed.
"What was that about? We're all exhausted, and he's just making things worse."
"Calm down, Erwen."
As I was calming Erwen down, Amelia approached me.
"Schuitz, what are you going to do? You seem to be taking him seriously."
"There's always a reason why explorers believe in superstitions."
"So you're going to follow his advice?"
"Well..."
I had to think about it.
I had a bad feeling too.
Swoosh.
I looked down at the Traffic Light Ring.
It wasn't glowing.
But that didn't mean I could relax.
'It doesn't always work.'
That's how it was in the game.
The ring didn't activate every time there was an event nearby.
It was unpredictable.
Green meant good fortune was guaranteed.
But no light didn't mean there was no good fortune...
'What should I do?'
I was lost in thought when...
「The ring has detected the character's fate.」
The ring suddenly glowed.
Swaaaaaaaaaaa!
It was a bright red light.
"Mister...?"
I ignored Erwen's worried voice and stood up.
And...
"Everyone, get ready to move!"
We resumed our march.
"...But we haven't even rested for ten minutes."
"The members are exhausted."
The team leaders expressed their concerns, but I overruled them.
It was better to be tired than to experience a red event.
"Formation! We're leaving!"
We continued our march, and about 30 minutes later...
Swaaaaaaaaaaa.
The ring's light vanished.
I didn't know what kind of negative event we had avoided...
But I couldn't help but feel dumbfounded.
'What the hell was that about?'
Was it just a coincidence?
His 'sixth sense' couldn't possibly be more accurate than the Traffic Light Ring.
I approached Goblin, who was resting.
"How are you feeling? Any better?"
If he was still feeling uneasy, I would dismiss it as a coincidence.
He didn't know about the ring.
"Y-yes... I-I feel much better..."
What the...?
_______________________
The 7th-floor Dark Continent.
A muscular human explorer bent down and touched the ground.
"Baekho, there are traces of a camp here!"
"Really? How many?"
"Over twenty! I can't be sure, but they left recently!"
He shouted.
The old man next to him winced, but spoke in a low voice.
"It could be them."
"Them?"
"The ones who destroyed the Sky Eye. The ones who are on the run."
"Ah, those bastards..."
"Should we go after them? We could demand a lot from Noark if we capture them."
"Hmm..."
The blonde man pondered for a moment and then smiled, looking at a woman.
"Meowmeow, what do you think?"
He asked playfully.
The beastwoman frowned.
"It's a waste of time."
"You're saying it's not worth it?"
"...Yes."
"You're just saying that because you don't want to deal with the city folk."
"..."
"You're no fun."
Their conversation ended, and the warrior who had discovered the traces spoke.
"So, what are we going to do? Are we going after them?"
"No. It's not worth the effort."
The blonde man shrugged.
"We don't even know if it's them. What if it's just some random explorers?"
"We'll be wasting our time. But it's a shame. We could catch them if we hurry."
"Nah, it's not worth it. We have our own mission."
He dismissed the suggestion and pulled out a chair from his subspace pocket.
"We'll focus on our own goals. They can do whatever they want. It's their problem."
"If that's what you want..."
"Okay, enough about that. Let's take a break and eat. Hey, Aures!"
"Haha! Coming right up! I'll cook you some delicious meat!"
The smell of grilled meat soon filled the air.
_______________________
60th day of the labyrinth expedition.
Fifteen days until the 7th floor closed.
"We've come this far..."
We arrived at 'Loser's Rest', a field located in the western region of the Dragon's Lair.
Swaaaaaaaaaaa.
A thick black fog, unmoved by the strong wind.
An endless plain, littered with thousands of rusted swords.
It was a desolate and eerie place, but no one commented on it.
We didn't have the luxury.
"Schuitz, we have to keep moving. If they surround us—"
"I know, so be quiet."
"..."
Did I sound too harsh?
I wanted to apologize, but I couldn't.
I didn't have the energy.
"Schuitz, don't worry. A leader can't afford to break down."
His words were surprisingly comforting.
I sighed.
'Don't worry? That's easier said than done.'
My plan had failed.
We had chosen to head north, into enemy territory, hoping to hide in plain sight.
But...
'They're relentless.'
They were always on our tail.
We couldn't rest, we couldn't sleep.
We had been marching for days.
"I don't understand. How do they know where we're going?"
Kaislan was baffled by Noark's pursuit, but I knew the answer.
I had experienced it before.
[I would have lost you if it weren't for that arm.]
In Lalkas's Maze, the Dragonslayer had used a priest from Karui to track us.
They were probably using the same tactic.
They wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice anything to achieve their goals.
"Parab, how are you feeling?"
"I-I'm fine, sir..."
Goblin's intuition had been crucial in keeping us alive.
He seemed to sense the enemy's presence even when they were resting.
Whenever he suggested changing direction, we would find an ambush waiting for us.
That's why I had been keeping him close.
"Alright, you can rest. Let me know if you feel anything."
"Yes, sir."
He collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
I wanted to do the same.
But...
'I can't.'
I had to stay strong.
I gathered the team leaders for a meeting.
"Kala, Kaislan, Jun, Akuraba. I apologize."
"...?"
"I thought we could hide here until the labyrinth closed, but I was wrong."
My apology caught them off guard.
They tried to comfort me.
"It's not your fault."
"We wouldn't have survived this long if we had stayed at Deadwood."
"You saved our lives."
"I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'm glad I'm not the leader. A leader can't afford to break down..."
His words were strangely comforting.
I had been thinking the same thing.
Maybe we should have stayed at Deadwood.
Maybe we should have risked it and headed south.
And...
Maybe it was my fault that we were all going to die.
Boom.
I tapped my knee, and the team leaders gulped.
"Schuitz has made a decision."
"He always does that when he's thinking."
...Did I have that habit?
I had never noticed.
But that wasn't important now.
"Anyway, I called you here to ask for your opinions."
I laid the groundwork.
"We can't stay here forever."
"We'll be caught soon if we don't move."
We were like sharks, we had to keep moving to survive.
If we stopped, it was game over.
We would be surrounded and wiped out.
"...Where are we going?"
I looked at the team leaders and sighed.
"I have a destination in mind."
I had been thinking about it since we arrived at Deadwood.
It was our Plan B.
A last resort, a desperate gamble.
"You seem to have something in mind."
I finally revealed my plan.
"We're going back to Ice Rock."
If it was a difficult path for us, it would be difficult for them as well.
Let's see if they can follow.
-x-X-x-
62nd day of the labyrinth expedition, Dragon's Lair.
About 30 minutes before reaching the portal to the 8th floor.
「The ring has detected the character's fate.」
The Traffic Light Ring lit up.
"Mister, it's red!"
Yeah, it's a red event.
I had hoped for at least a little green...
Damn it.
"...What should we do? Should we change direction?"
Erwen asked nervously.
We had been avoiding red events and Goblin's premonitions by changing direction...
But...
"It's too late to change our destination."
"I know, but..."
We were surrounded by flames.
Even if we ran, the flames would only close in on us.
There was only one way out.
To break through the flames.
"Parab, what's wrong?"
Goblin approached me, a troubled look on his face.
"I... I feel safer near you, Leader..."
Safer near me?
That's a bit insulting...
But I let it slide.
He had been helpful so far.
"How do you feel?"
"I can't breathe... It's like... we're entering a burning forest..."
"Really? But why didn't you say anything? You always suggest changing direction when you feel uneasy."
"I... I feel uneasy, but... I also feel like this is the right path..."
I see...
"The portal is just ahead! Everyone, speed up!"
I ordered the expedition to speed up.
And after a while...
"There's the portal!"
The portal shimmered in the distance, emitting a five-colored light.
And...
"...Enemies!"
The portal's light illuminated the area, revealing a group of enemies.
About 40 explorers.
They were also heading towards the portal.
"Royal bastards!!"
"They really came this way!"
They had spotted us as well.
Damn, how did they know we were here?
As I was wondering, a familiar face appeared among them.
"You...!!"
Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.
"I knew you would come this way!"
He knows me as well as I know him.
What a persistent connection...
"This is the end of the line for you rats!"
What? He's acting like he's cornered us.
'Good thing we sped up.'
I was glad I had made that decision 20 minutes ago.
If we had hesitated, we would have been surrounded by now.
"Don't just stand there! Run!"
We ran with all our might.
We were heading east, towards the portal.
They were heading north, also towards the portal.
"Run!"
We had to reach the portal first.
They were also running desperately.
'We're faster.'
We were closer to the portal.
"Damn it, what are you waiting for?! Attack!"
They started attacking us with ranged skills.
They had the numbers advantage.
Whiiiiiish! Boom!
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Arrows and abilities rained down on us.
"Faster! If we fall behind, we're dead!"
"M-my legs...!"
"Damn it! Get on my back!"
"But..."
"Now!"
I could endure the attacks, but the others couldn't.
"Ugh!"
One of the members was hit and injured.
And...
"Just hold on! We'll heal you soon!"
Another member carried him on his back.
'Damn it, we're going to lose people at this rate...'
I gritted my teeth, and then...
A giant shadow appeared above us.
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has summoned [Dicloe, the Dark Spirit King].」
Erwen had summoned her trump card.
Dicloe, the Dark Spirit King.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
The Spirit King unleashed a barrage of dark energy.
It was overwhelming.
But it wouldn't last long.
The maximum duration was 5 seconds.
But it was enough.
"Run!"
"We're clear! Go ahead!"
We rushed through the gap created by the Spirit King's attack.
And...
Kwaaang!
The Spirit King was unsummoned, and Erwen stumbled.
"Mister, you're here..."
"Of course."
The other members had already entered the portal.
I carried Erwen on my back and ran towards the portal.
And then...
"You think you can escape?!"
His voice came from behind us.
He was fast.
But too late.
Tadat.
I jumped into the portal.
「Entered the 8th-floor Dawn Land.」
I rolled on the ground and opened my eyes.
The other members were waiting for me.
"L-Leader..."
They lowered their weapons as they recognized me.
But then...
"The portal... it's glowing!"
They raised their weapons again.
We had all entered.
It meant someone else was coming.
'He followed us...'
Damn it, he's fearless.
But we didn't have time to be scared.
"Battle formation!"
"Kill them all!"
We had to stop them before they could enter.
"He's here!"
"Kill them...!!"
We were ready.
_______________________________
I stand before the portal.
Or rather, I stand guard before it.
Hammer in one hand, shield in the other.
"..."
Alongside my teammates, ready to unleash their skills and weapons at a moment's notice.
"...It's too quiet. It's unsettling."
It's been over an hour since we barricaded the portal.
During that time, the portal only spat out enemies once.
Right after we entered the 8th floor, when Dragonslayer and his men arrived simultaneously.
'I should have killed him then.'
We killed eight of his men, but unfortunately, we let Dragonslayer escape.
He was caught off guard by the entrance blocking tactic and retreated to the 7th floor, abandoning his men.
Since then, this eerie silence has persisted.
Like the calm before a storm.
'They're probably waiting to attack with a larger force.'
Once they gather enough troops, they'll try to push through.
And when that happens, we won't be able to hold them off, even with the entrance blocking tactic.
Well, I never planned to stay here forever anyway.
All I needed was time to regroup.
And thankfully...
"Schuitz, the injured have all recovered."
"Food and supplies?"
"We've gathered everything we have and loaded it onto the sleds."
We were ready to enter Ice Rock.
But I decided to push a little further.
"We'll hold the line here. Everyone, take turns resting."
"...As you command."
Kaislan ordered the exhausted members to rest, and Akuraba approached me.
"Shouldn't we leave soon? It's dangerous to stay here."
Despite the peaceful atmosphere, Akuraba's expression was grim.
Her gaze kept shifting towards the portal, her anxiety evident.
"...Schuitz, you know they could return at any moment."
Noark's elite force was currently exploring the 8th-floor rift.
If they cleared it and returned, we would be trapped.
'Well, at least we're lucky so far.'
My biggest concern was encountering them right after entering the 8th floor.
It was a slim chance, but a possibility nonetheless.
'The problem is, we don't know when they'll be back.'
It's like standing on a time bomb.
If we're unlucky, they'll emerge from the portal at any moment and wipe us out.
But...
"We've been marching for days without sleep. They'll collapse before they even reach the center of Ice Rock."
We had no choice.
Akuraba understood and left without further argument.
And then, after about 12 hours...
Swaaaaaaaa!
The portal shimmered, spitting out a Noark explorer.
He wasn't even wearing his armor, and he was immediately killed by the guards.
"Just one...?"
"...A scout?"
It was a typical Noark tactic.
If the scout died, they would know we were still blocking the entrance.
If he survived, he would report back.
'But even Noark wouldn't keep sending scouts.'
I contemplated briefly and made my decision.
They wouldn't send another scout for at least an hour, maybe even three.
And we had rested enough.
"Everyone, get up and get dressed!"
Thirteen days until the labyrinth closed.
"We're entering Ice Rock!"
It was time to face the final chapter.
_______________________________
The 8th-floor Dawn Land.
A peaceful expanse of green hills and meadows.
But the atmosphere was far from serene.
The explorers gathered there were surrounded by an air of bloodlust and tension.
"Tell me again. Cale Elbad Jeneger. What did you just say?"
"Give up, Vagos. We've already lost them."
"What?!"
Dragonslayer grabbed the man by the collar, but he didn't back down.
"It won't change anything. It's suicide to follow them into Ice Rock without any preparation."
"What are you talking about? We outnumber them by a large margin! If they could do it, why can't we?"
"You're saying that because you don't know Ice Rock. Numbers are meaningless there. They'll only hinder our movement."
"..."
"I'm sure you're wondering if we could send an elite force. But that's also dangerous. They were able to escape because they were surrounded by enemies. If we follow them with a small group..."
"You're saying we'll be ambushed? By them?"
"Yes. They are... especially their leader. He's a monster—"
The man answered firmly, and Dragonslayer tightened his grip.
"Ugh...!"
"You worthless trash."
Dragonslayer's eyes were filled with killing intent.
The man, realizing his imminent death, blurted out,
"The Captain will hear about this—"
"The Captain, that damn Captain."
"Ugh—!"
"Do you think he'll choose you over me? Will he kill me for this?"
"N-no..."
The man's body went limp, his blood flow constricted.
He would have died if Dragonslayer hadn't let go.
"Tsk."
Dragonslayer threw the man to the ground and spat.
He had lost control momentarily, but he couldn't kill him.
He was a useful asset, despite his annoying habit of talking too much.
That's why the Captain favored him.
"Damn it..."
Dragonslayer clenched his fist, his anger still simmering.
The other explorers looked down, avoiding his gaze.
But Dragonslayer's mind was cold.
'...He's right.'
If they couldn't overwhelm them with numbers, it was too dangerous to follow them into Ice Rock.
They were all elite, even if they weren't as strong as him.
'And Cale is the most competent one among them.'
If he had to push himself and use Dragon Speech, his recovery would be delayed.
It would take months to fully heal.
'The Captain will be furious.'
He would be risking everything.
But...
'Am I supposed to let them go? That bastard...?'
The thought was unbearable.
It wasn't just about revenge.
He had learned from experience.
[You always hesitate. When you need to make a decision, when you need to take a risk.]
He had ended up in that state because he had hesitated.
He had been crippled and lost his memories.
He had to endure over a year of humiliation and pain.
He couldn't let that happen again.
'I have to kill him.'
He couldn't give him any more time.
He had to end this grudge, no matter the cost.
That was the only way to ensure his own survival.
As he reached that conclusion...
Swaaaaaaa!
A warm spring breeze swept through the plain, swirling into a vortex of light.
It meant only one thing.
"...A rift! A rift is opening!"
Noark's elite force, secretly trained and nurtured.
They wouldn't even touch a 4th-grade essence.
'Those lucky bastards.'
That was Dragonslayer's assessment.
They were receiving countless resources and support because of their potential and their empty essence slots, while everyone else had to struggle from the bottom.
'Well, it's good timing.'
Dragonslayer smiled and walked towards the portal.
The rift explorers soon emerged.
They looked exhausted, as if they had just finished a difficult battle.
"You're... Regal Vagos? What are you doing here?"
Dragonslayer smirked and answered their question.
"The Sky Eye has been destroyed."
"...What? The Sky Eye?"
"And the ones who destroyed it have escaped to Ice Rock."
"But why are we..."
"The Captain ordered us to pursue them."
-x-X-x-
Back to the 7th floor, Ice Rock.
The final stage of that floor, the Eye of the Glacier.
「Character has entered a special area.」
「Field Effect - Eye of the Glacier applied.」
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」
「Upon death, the character will be resurrected as an undead.」
「Status Effect [Opportunity Denied] applied.」
The icy air chills me to the bone.
The warmth of the 8th floor feels like a distant memory.
But there's no time to adjust to the sudden change in environment.
"Naria, summon the trolls!"
Three Ice Trolls begin pulling the sleds loaded with supplies.
Each sled carries thirteen days' worth of food.
We could have brought enough for a few weeks if we had pooled all our personal rations, but we deliberately brought just enough to last until the labyrinth closed.
We needed to maximize our carrying capacity for combat and exploration supplies.
"Formation!"
Our expedition force is down to twenty-five members.
I made a cold calculation: thirteen days' worth of food should be enough.
"Let's move!"
As soon as we formed our ranks, we began ascending the Eye of the Glacier, retracing our steps from ten days ago.
It's a steep climb, a narrow spiral path carved into the ice.
But our pace is faster this time.
There are no monsters here after the portal has been opened.
We should be able to reach the top in five days at most.
The real problem is the pursuit.
'If they're rational, they'll leave us alone.'
Entering Ice Rock requires extensive preparation.
Thick fur coats to ward off the cold, heating stones, food supplies, and sleds to carry it all.
Any explorer who relies solely on their subspace pocket would be in serious trouble here.
But...
'Knowing that guy... he'll come.'
It's too early to relax.
My life is on the line, along with my companions' and the other members'.
I have to prepare for the worst.
Thud, thud.
We push forward, urging the exhausted members to increase their pace.
About eight hours later.
"Schuitz!"
A female mage from Kaislan's team rushes towards me.
She's from the 2nd Magic Corps, if I remember correctly.
Her voice and tone are unusually childish for a soldier...
"Schuitz! Schuitz! We have a problem! A big problem!"
I can't understand why she speaks like that, despite her tall stature and mature appearance.
But that's not the issue right now.
"A problem? Is it them?"
"Yes! The detection magic we set up at the portal has been triggered!"
"I see..."
So they followed us into Ice Rock.
I had expected it, but it still made my stomach churn.
"How many?"
"I immediately entered a mental trance to observe them, and there were definitely over twenty!"
"What do you mean 'definitely over twenty'?"
"They noticed us sooner than expected. The Eye of Mind was destroyed, so I couldn't see anyone else entering."
Damn it, I missed the most important part.
Knowing the enemy's strength would have been a huge advantage.
"How were they equipped?"
"Heh, you're wondering if they prepared properly, right?"
"Yes."
I nodded, and the mage grinned.
"They're completely unprepared! They're just wearing thin cloaks over their armor! They have backpacks, but those are probably filled with food. They wouldn't have expandable backpacks, so they'll have to turn back soon."
Her initial worry had vanished, replaced by a smug confidence.
It was good news.
'Forget about the cloaks, they're using backpacks? Well, I guess it's unrealistic to expect them to bring sleds or carts.'
Backpacks have a limited carrying capacity.
They wouldn't be able to carry thirteen days' worth of food in those backpacks, not with the [Starvation] status effect active.
And backpacks are a liability in combat.
They're bulky and heavy, hindering movement.
In the early game, when subspace pockets were rare, low-level teams even hired porters to carry their supplies.
"Alright. We'll set up another detection magic here and move on. We need to know their exact numbers."
"Yes, sir!"
We stopped briefly and set up another detection magic, then resumed our journey.
This time, we pushed ourselves even harder.
______________________
"Schuitz! Schuitz!"
Six hours later, the same mage came running towards me again.
"The detection magic has been triggered!"
Her trembling voice made it clear this wasn't good news.
"...They're faster than I thought."
The magic we had set up after eight hours of marching had been triggered after only six hours.
It meant they were moving faster than us.
If this continued, they would catch up to us in two days.
"I-it seems like they're desperate... They don't have enough food, so they're trying to catch up as soon as possible..."
I could understand their desperation.
They were running out of time.
"How many are there?"
"I confirmed it this time! Forty-six!"
"That's good news. Thank you."
"It's my duty, sir!"
The mage saluted playfully.
And then she seemed to remember something.
"Oh, right. There's one more thing..."
She stopped and turned to face me.
And then she spoke cautiously.
"There are some unusual individuals among them. They're different from the others, just by looking at their equipment... The black mage who detected my magic first was one of them."
"..."
"I-it's just my opinion, so don't worry too much about it!"
"Alright, I'll keep that in mind."
"Yes, sir... Oh, and one more thing! What about the detection magic? Should we set up another one?"
"No, we've confirmed their numbers. We just need to know when they passed by."
"Yes, sir!"
After the mage returned to her position, Goblin mumbled in a strange tone.
"That... Marone is always so energetic, isn't she?"
What is he talking about?
Does he even understand the situation?
I was about to tell him to focus on the path ahead...
"It's a shame. I hope she survives..."
His next words stopped me.
He was staring at the mage's back, his voice filled with a strange sadness.
I couldn't help but agree.
"Yes, it would be a shame..."
"..."
A heavy silence fell between us.
And then...
Raviyen, who had been walking beside us, spoke up.
"Speaking of survival, Parab, how are you feeling now?"
She had been looking down on him before...
But now she was asking for his opinion.
She must have witnessed his uncanny intuition firsthand.
"Well... I'm not sure anymore. I just feel like we have to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult it gets."
"...I see."
The mood suddenly turned gloomy.
I cleared my throat and changed the subject.
"By the way, Parab, why did you join the expedition?"
"...Yes?"
"You have that amazing intuition. You should have been able to avoid this."
I had been curious about this ever since we left the city.
He had avoided the 1st-floor incident by trusting his intuition, so why was he here?
"Well... I didn't want to come in the first place."
"What?"
"I'm not saying this because I regret it now. It's the truth."
"Really?"
"Yes, sir. The Archbishop tried to persuade me, offering all sorts of rewards... but I wasn't convinced. I tried to come up with excuses to avoid it, but..."
"But?"
"He sighed and looked at me. I suddenly felt a chill down my spine, so I changed my mind and agreed to join. I mean... wouldn't you rather walk a thorny path than face the executioner?"
"...? Executioner? I don't understand."
"Well... this might sound strange, but I felt like I would die if I refused. I mean it. I thought entering the labyrinth would be safer."
"Ah..."
"Anyway, I regret it now. He wouldn't have actually killed me, would he? Hahaha..."
Goblin laughed awkwardly, and Raviyen seemed to accept his explanation.
But...
'This is strange...'
Something felt off.
I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Parab, do you have any idea why the Archbishop made you feel that way?"
"Hmm, well... I haven't thought about it much... Maybe he was planning to send me on a more dangerous mission if I refused."
We continued the conversation as we marched, but I couldn't figure out what bothered me.
We had too much on our minds.
'At this rate, we'll be caught by them in two days.'
Even if we increase our pace, it's not enough.
We'll be overtaken before we reach the end of Ice Rock.
What should we do?
How can we escape this pursuit?
Thump, thump, thump, thump—
My heart pounded, filled with anxiety.
______________________
Scrape, scrape.
The sound of a whetstone sharpening a blade.
Chew, chew.
The sound of someone savoring their jerky.
"Haha, really?"
"Yeah, we should go together when we get back to the city. You wouldn't believe me if I just told you."
Some explorers were chatting and laughing, while others were meditating, their breaths deep and even.
Everyone had their own way of dealing with stress.
"...Shouldn't you get some rest too, sir?"
"I'll be fine here. You go back to your position."
"But..."
"Go, now."
At my order, Erwen reluctantly returned to her position, her shoulders slumped. I stared into the darkness of the descending path.
"They were trying to be considerate, weren't they? You didn't have to be so harsh."
"They crossed the line."
"...I understand."
Raviyen was about to say something, but she stopped when she saw my expression.
We were currently in the middle of the Eye of the Glacier.
"We've reached the midpoint."
We had arrived here after ten days of nonstop marching.
And now we had to stop.
Because...
"...They'll be here soon."
My heart pounded.
It wasn't excitement for the upcoming battle, but anxiety.
"..."
I had been brainstorming for days, trying to find a way to avoid the inevitable... but nothing came to mind.
There was no way to escape this fight.
So...
"..."
All I could do was prepare for it.
No matter how strong the enemy was, we had to fight.
'Forty-six...'
That's almost twice our number.
And according to the mage, ten of them were particularly strong. Their equipment alone rivaled the Dragonslayer's.
'Maybe some of them are from the 8th-floor expedition team.'
If that's the case, we're in deep trouble.
They would be strong enough to clear the 8th floor.
We wouldn't stand a chance in a head-on battle.
But...
"..."
There's no other choice.
We have to fight.
'But if we win...'
We can end this expedition here.
We wouldn't have to climb any further.
We could just stay here and eat until the labyrinth closed.
Crunch.
I clenched my fist.
Yes, there's that possibility.
"...!"
"Everyone, get ready!"
The mage suddenly shouted, her voice trembling.
"They're coming...!"
It was time.
-x-X-x-
Exhale.
Inhale.
Each breath forms a white cloud in the frigid air.
Drip, drip.
Sweat freezes and falls to the ground.
My muscles scream, my vision blurs.
But I push forward.
Thud, thud.
One step at a time.
I focus on my breathing, dragging the sled behind me.
Thud, thud.
I grip the rope tightly, leading the way.
The troll summoner is gone.
"How's Milburn Naria doing?"
"...She won't last long."
"I see..."
Crack.
I grit my teeth, replaying the battle in my mind.
The beginning wasn't bad.
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
I stood firm, my giant body a wall blocking the enemy's advance.
"Teyrun Shear Diem!"
The mages protected me with their mana shields.
「Jun Arsene has cast [Light of Protection].」
「Periton Eriaboti has cast [Sacred Skin].」
「Benjamin Orman has cast [Damage Reduction]...」
「...」
The paladins supported me with their protective barriers and buffs.
We had focused all our resources on me.
It was an all-in strategy.
And it worked.
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
They couldn't risk attacking me head-on, knowing that a single blow could turn into a fatal wound.
We used the terrain to our advantage, unleashing our full firepower on them.
We threw healing potions.
We cast healing spells on them, reversing their effects.
And whenever we had the chance, we grabbed them and threw them off the cliff.
「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」
「Upon death, the character will be resurrected as an undead.」
The fallen enemies rose as undead, attacking their former comrades.
We maintained our formation, pushing forward relentlessly.
But...
[They were tough, even for Regal Vagos.]
The situation changed when their reinforcements arrived.
「Manua Repeles has cast [Iron Fist].」
「Ricky Aimond has cast [Punishing Steps].」
「Puran Cullen has cast [Spirit Possession]...」
Fifteen explorers armed with high-grade essences, the kind you could only obtain on the 8th floor.
The moment they joined the fight, our lines crumbled.
[Schuitz, Leyaders is out of mana!]
The mages who had been maintaining my mana shield fell one by one.
And then they broke through our defenses, reaching the heart of our formation.
The three paladins who formed the main tank line.
The two knights who acted as secondary tanks, along with a warrior from the 3rd Team.
Amelia, Raviyen, and the other melee damage dealers tried to push them back, but it was futile.
[We have to retreat!]
We all knew it was over.
The reason for our defeat was simple.
They were stronger than us.
If we fought to the death, we could inflict heavy casualties on them, but that's all.
We would all die in the end.
So...
'I gave up on killing them all.'
I immediately activated Plan B.
Plan B's key was the summoner, Milburn Naria, from the 2nd Team.
She was an AoE burst summoner.
She controlled three Ice Troll 'Shamans', Pippi, Poppy, and Yeppi.
「Milburn Naria has cast [Harsh Command].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Beast Taming].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Hidden Instinct].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Stability]...」
She unleashed all her buffs on her summons the moment I gave the order.
And...
「Summon Pippi has cast [Avalanche].」
「Summon Poppy has cast [Avalanche].」
「Summon Yeppi has cast [Avalanche]...」
The Ice Trolls unleashed their amplified skills, creating a massive avalanche that bought us time to retreat.
But...
"Kyaaa!"
Naria was injured in the process.
She had been standing close to her trolls to maintain [Stability], which tripled their skill range, and was caught in the blast.
Thankfully, she managed to maintain her concentration and control her summons even after being injured, allowing us to escape.
And that brings us to the present.
"Schuitz, are you okay...?"
"Don't talk to me."
"..."
Naria had lost consciousness, and we had to redistribute the food from the destroyed sled among ourselves. It wasn't enough.
Heave, heave.
I pulled the sled uphill, my muscles screaming.
I would switch with another warrior when I reached my limit, but I could still endure.
I focused on the task at hand, trying to clear my mind.
"Ugh..."
Naria stirred on the sled.
She was bundled in thick fur coats and surrounded by activated heating stones, but her first words were...
"I-I'm cold..."
"Just hold on a little longer. It's because you're injured. You'll feel better once we reach the top and get healed."
"D-do you think so...? C-cough!"
"...Yes, you will."
There was no answer.
She must have lost consciousness again.
Thump.
My heart felt heavy.
'You will? How can I be so sure?'
I knew she was dying.
'No, she probably knows it better than anyone...'
The icy chill creeping into her body.
The approaching death.
"Home..."
I heard a whisper from behind.
"I... want to go home..."
It was Naria.
Her voice was weak and filled with longing.
I gritted my teeth and lied.
"You will. You'll be able to go home. I promise."
"D-do you think so...?"
"Yes, if you hold on."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer me..."
Her voice was barely audible.
I finally gave in.
There was no point in lying anymore.
It would only be cruel.
"Alright. I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want me to tell? In the city?"
Her answer came after a long pause.
"...No... Don't."
"...Why not?"
"I... don't deserve to..."
Her voice trembled, her words disjointed.
It was a familiar pattern.
The way people spoke when they were close to death.
"I-I'm so sorry... I... deceived you all..."
"I... didn't want to... I wanted to help..."
"I should have... I should have... I should have...!"
"Sob... Sob..."
I didn't pry.
I just listened to her regrets, my heart heavy.
And then...
"P-please... let me down here..."
Her voice was clearer this time.
"What do you mean?"
"Just leave me here... It'll... help you all..."
"Help us...?"
'Whisper of Immortality.'
The cruel field effect that resurrected the dead as undead, forcing them to attack their former comrades.
She wanted to help us, even in death.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer me..."
Her voice was weak, but her gaze was firm.
I finally admitted it.
There was no point in pretending anymore.
"Alright, I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want me to tell? In the city?"
Her answer came after a long pause.
"...No... Don't."
"...Why not?"
"I... don't deserve to..."
Her voice trembled, her words disjointed.
It was a familiar pattern.
The way people spoke when they were close to death.
"I-I'm so sorry... I... deceived you all..."
"I... didn't want to... I wanted to help..."
"I should have... I should have... I should have...!"
"Sob... Sob..."
I didn't pry.
I just listened to her regrets, my heart heavy.
And then...
"P-please... let me down here..."
Her voice was clearer this time.
"What do you mean?"
"Just leave me here... It'll... help you all..."
"Help us...?"
'Whisper of Immortality.'
The cruel field effect that resurrected the dead as undead, forcing them to attack their former comrades.
She wanted to help us, even in death.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer me..."
Her voice was weak, but her gaze was firm.
I finally admitted it.
There was no point in pretending anymore.
"Alright. I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want me to tell? In the city?"
"Just... tell them... that I... I..."
She trailed off, her eyes closing.
And then...
She was gone.
"Damn it..."
My heart felt heavy, as if a giant rock had been placed on it.
The warrior next to me cursed.
"May the warmth of the Goddess embrace your soul."
The paladin closed his eyes and prayed.
We all knew.
Her last flame had been extinguished.
"Akuraba..."
The dwarf woman, who had been standing silently, approached the body and gently closed her eyes.
And then she spoke, her voice trembling.
"...Let's go. Don't... don't just stand there..."
We couldn't leave her body behind.
So we lifted her onto the sled.
"I'm... not scared..."
Her final words echoed in my mind.
"I'm... finally going home..."
"To a real home... filled with the scent of coffee in the morning..."
Damn it.
[...I regret it now. He wouldn't have actually killed me, would he? Hahaha...]
I finally understood the reason for his unease.
______________________
Twenty-four survivors.
The expedition force marched on.
Their steps heavy with grief and a growing sense of unease.
"About what Naria said..."
"Home... It must be that."
The explorers had seen countless deaths in the labyrinth.
They knew.
What the dying wished for the most.
"Then Naria was an evil spirit...?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down. We can't be sure yet."
Whispers spread through the ranks.
And then someone spoke up, his voice filled with anger.
"Are you all insane?! She was injured trying to save us, she died trying to help us, she chose to die alone so we could live! What does it matter if she was an evil spirit?!"
It was a bad sign.
"No, I mean... It's strange! Why would an evil spirit sacrifice herself for us...?"
"You damn fool! If you don't understand, I'll show you myself!"
The tension was rising.
"Stop it!"
Kaislan shouted, stepping forward to intervene.
"We have to work together to survive! What are you doing, fighting amongst ourselves?!"
I didn't stop him.
I had learned something.
Sometimes, you had to use force to maintain order.
"If anyone says another word, I'll execute them! Under the authority of the King! Do you understand?!"
His harsh words and threat silenced the members.
Well, not everyone.
"...Try it."
A voice came from the back.
It was Puta Rikerburn, a melee attacker and guide from the 2nd Team.
"...Try it? What do you mean?"
"You all know it, don't you? We're finished!"
"You bastard...!"
"Stop it, Kaislan!"
Kaislan drew his sword, but was stopped by the other knights.
Rikerburn's voice grew louder.
"Did you see them? They're much stronger than us! And there are more of them! What difference does it make if we run? They'll catch up to us soon!"
"...Let him go. That's an order."
At Kaislan's command, the knights reluctantly released Rikerburn.
This is bad.
We're going to fight each other.
"Kaislan, step aside."
I couldn't just stand there and watch.
I walked towards the commotion.
And...
Grab!
I grabbed him by the collar.
"Ugh!"
"What do you want to say? That we're all going to die anyway, so we might as well give up? Is that what you want? Because I can grant your wish right now."
"C-cough!"
He coughed, but his defiant gaze didn't waver.
He was staring at me, as if daring me to kill him.
"...Try it."
"...What?"
I loosened my grip, taken aback by his unwavering defiance.
He fell to the ground and shouted.
"What difference does it make if we escape?! We're all going to die anyway! Do you think we'll be able to live happily ever after once we get back to the city?"
I wanted to shut him up.
But it was too late.
He had already said what he wanted to say.
"Don't you understand?! The main force isn't coming! They abandoned us! Not because something happened, but because it was planned from the beginning!"
"...What? Planned from the beginning?"
"That's nonsense! Why would the royal family abandon us?! We're all valuable assets!"
"Yes! That's what I thought! We're all elites! This is a trap! A trap!"
"...A trap?"
It was too late for me to intervene.
I sighed and watched the chaos unfold.
"I'm Puta Rikerburn! I'm from the Keallunus family! They forced me to join this expedition because I owed them a debt! I've been doing their dirty work for years!"
"..."
"Don't you understand?! They abandoned me! They sent me here to die! They gave me a fancy title and sent me to the trash!"
"..."
"Hahaha! I guess I'm not the only one here with a story to tell! Don't tell me you all thought you were here because you were special?"
His words silenced the expedition force.
A heavy silence, heavier than any blizzard we had encountered.
"The Alminus Trading Company... they abandoned me...? N-no, that can't be true. They promised to forgive my embezzlement if I succeeded..."
Someone whispered, his voice trembling.
And then...
Everyone looked at each other.
'Could you be one of them?'
That's what their gazes seemed to say.
The team leaders received the most attention.
They were the most influential figures among us.
We needed them to reassure us.
But...
"...Maybe he's right."
Reality was cruel.
"Titana Akuraba... she's been questioning the royal family for years. Maybe they wanted to get rid of her."
Akuraba was the first to speak.
"The Clan Master has been wary of me lately. Maybe he was worried I would become too powerful..."
Next was James Kala.
"Hmm... I'm in a similar situation. I don't care about the family title, but my brother might have felt threatened. That's why I joined the military..."
Kaislan.
And...
"I was an inquisitor for the Tovera Church. I was supposed to hunt down heretics... but I saw them framing innocent people. There are many who want me dead."
Jun's confession was the final blow.
Each confession chipped away at our hope.
But there was still one person left.
"Schuitz, what about you?"
"You were recommended by the Marquis, and you're the expedition leader. Are you one of them too?"
The explorers looked at me, their eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair.
'There's no point in hiding it anymore.'
I sighed and spoke.
I didn't need a long explanation.
"...I'm Bjorn Yandel."
One sentence was enough.
-x-X-x-
A simple declaration, revealing my true identity.
But the impact was significant.
"Holy shit...!"
Some were shocked.
"So that's why he was acting so naturally."
Some were convinced.
"Wait, but isn't this a big deal? Viscount Bjorn Yandel is..."
And some were wary.
I quickly intervened before the rumors could spread.
"Don't worry, I'm not an evil spirit. I can't tell you the details, but I made a deal with the royal family and faked my death. That's why they announced it."
It was a lie.
But it was a plausible explanation, and the explorers seemed to accept it.
"That makes sense. Why would they appoint an unknown explorer as the expedition leader?"
"So that's why the Blood Spirit Marquis is following him."
"I never believed he was actually dead."
"But what was the reason for spreading that false information about him being an evil spirit...?"
Their curiosity was piqued, but it wasn't the time for explanations.
"I'll tell you all about it later. It's not important right now."
I silenced them, and James Kala, who had been speechless, finally spoke.
"Schuitz... No, Bjorn Yandel... No, Viscount Bjorn Yandel!"
He was struggling to address me properly.
"I... I don't understand. Why would the royal family use you as a pawn?"
I chuckled at his question.
"Well..."
There were many possibilities.
"He's a hero who saved countless lives and earned a noble title after decades of service."
I was a symbol of hope.
"They wouldn't want him to just disappear, especially if they had to retract their announcement about him being an evil spirit."
"Ah..."
James Kala nodded.
But that wasn't the whole story.
I couldn't tell them about my suspicions...
'The Marquis might have known all along.'
He probably did.
He sent his son to confirm whether I was an evil spirit...
'It was all an act.'
He wanted to deceive me.
"Anyway, that's all from me."
I looked at the explorers.
It was time for them to make their choices.
"I made a deal with the Marquis. But it seems like he wasn't planning to keep his promise."
Raviyen was the first to speak.
"I was in a coma for over a year after the explosion. The 'Agent' saved me, and I've been indebted to the Tovera Church ever since."
Bersil Gowland.
"My granddaughter died last year. I suspect a knight from the Marquis's family was involved. I've been investigating him."
Didi, the ability user.
"I found out that the Mage Tower Master is colluding with the royal family. I needed a powerful backer to expose them, so I joined the expedition. But it seems like he already knew about me." 𐍂ÂＮọꞖÈś
Liard Ashid, the mage.
"Wait! I'm not like them! I just want to live a long and peaceful life!"
Sven Parab, the Goblin Mask, protested.
I ignored him.
He was the only one who didn't seem to have a hidden agenda.
He must have been caught up in something.
The explorers continued to confess their secrets.
"..."
Some remained silent.
But even they seemed to understand.
That they had been abandoned.
"..."
The atmosphere was heavy with despair.
"Is it true... that we've been abandoned?"
"But how could they... We're all elites..."
"Damn it!"
Their eyes were filled with fear and anger.
"Are we going to die? Here? Like this...?"
Some were consumed by despair.
"I... I still have things to do!"
Some were filled with rage.
"...There's something that doesn't make sense! What about Pike Neldain?"
Some clung to a shred of hope, seeking answers.
"If they were planning to abandon us, why would they send a saboteur to ruin the mission?!"
Ah, that.
I had been wondering the same thing.
There were two possibilities.
First, the Guild Master wanted to prevent the Marquis from taking credit for the mission's success.
I was the expedition leader, after all.
If we had lost all our supplies in Ice Rock, we would have died there.
The Marquis would have lost his chance to claim the victory.
'It's plausible. They're rivals.'
But...
Thump, thump.
I decided not to tell them.
It wasn't the time for that.
I had to focus on the present.
"Why did they send a saboteur?"
It was a question everyone wanted answered.
"It's simple, isn't it?"
Maybe they needed to hear this.
Even if it was just a lie.
"There's someone out there!"
I shouted, my voice filled with conviction.
"Someone who doesn't want us to die here!"
"Someone who will help us fight the royal family!"
Even if it was just a glimmer of hope.
We had to move forward.
We were still alive.
____________________
The windows are all boarded up, blocking the sunlight.
Our current situation is no different.
[What difference does it make if we escape?! We're all going to die anyway! Do you think we'll be able to live happily ever after once we get back to the city?]
I didn't stop him when he said that.
[...I'm Bjorn Yandel.]
I revealed my identity.
[Is it true... that we've been abandoned?]
[This can't be happening...]
I crushed their hope.
It was like closing the windows, one by one.
I did it because...
Those who dream of a bright future are easily broken.
So...
A faint glimmer of light shining through a crack in the window.
That's all they needed.
"Will we survive if we get back to the city...?"
"But we don't even know who that person is... Can he really help us...?"
They had seen the light.
Even if they doubted its existence.
So...
"Listen up!"
It was time to motivate them.
To crawl towards the light, even if it meant going through darkness.
Even if they didn't know what awaited them at the end.
"I'm Bjorn Yandel!"
I declared my name.
And then I asked,
"Do you know who I am?"
"Of course we do."
"He's the explorer who became a noble."
"He was a hero."
Their voices were weak and lifeless.
So I shouted.
"Good! I'm glad you know! I'll be blunt! We're in deep shit!"
"We have those bastards on our tail, and the city is filled with wolves waiting to devour us!"
"But...!"
"I've never given up, and I'm not starting now!"
I looked at them and made a promise.
I couldn't promise to save them all...
"I'll take on the most dangerous tasks!"
"I'll do the dirty work!"
"I'll be the first to face the enemy, and I'll be the one who gets hurt!"
"So...!"
I pleaded with them.
"Follow me."
My voice was soft, but it reached them.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
They were still hesitant.
They had heard my promises, but they were still afraid.
Damn it, they're making me angry.
"If you're going to die anyway, might as well die with me!"
I finally snapped.
____________________
"Alright, those who are ready, get ready. We'll be leaving in one minute."
I turned around.
And someone immediately stepped forward.
"Let's go, sir!"
Erwen.
"I'm coming too."
Amelia.
My precious companions, who would follow me even into fire.
"Jun, you were right."
Next was Kaislan.
"He'll be the one standing strong when everyone else falls. I'll follow him, no matter what lies ahead."
He stood behind me.
Then Akuraba.
"I never planned to give up. I've been through worse. I wouldn't be here if I had given up every time."
After Akuraba, Jun joined us. And then James Kala followed suit, and one by one, the other explorers started to rise.
"Bjorn Yandel... he's more barbaric than I thought."
"Heh, I thought he would give us some inspiring speech, but he just ended up yelling."
"We've rested enough. Let's go."
"He said he would take care of the dangerous tasks, didn't he? We can't just sit here and watch."
"We can't die here..."
"Wait! Don't just stand there! Get into formation! Formation! Please!"
Before the minute was up, everyone was behind me.
It wasn't a heartwarming scene.
Even those who stood on the edge of despair clung to a shred of hope until the very end.
They were just afraid to be left behind.
But...
"Yandel! When are we leaving?!"
"Hey, you... show some respect to the leader..."
"Respect? What's the point of respect when we're all going to die?"
Words have power.
Their eyes, once dull and lifeless, were now filled with a spark of life.
"Okay, there's one more thing we have to do before we leave."
"What is it?"
Sven Parab looked at me with an uneasy expression.
I ignored him and walked towards the sleds.
And...
"Wait! What are you doing? You're not going to carry them all by yourself, are you?"
A warrior rushed forward, offering to help.
What is he talking about?
"Wait... why are you taking the supplies off the sleds?"
"We can carry this much in our backpacks."
"...? In our backpacks? Then what about the rest...?"
What about the rest?
I threw the two remaining sleds over the cliff.
Whoosh!
Ten seconds later, a faint thud echoed from below.
"...He's crazy!"
"What have you done?!"
I had expected them to be shocked, but I didn't back down.
"If we travel with the sleds, they'll catch up to us soon."
"I-I understand, but... the supplies..."
"What's the problem? We have enough food in our backpacks to last until we reach the end of Ice Rock."
"B-but what about after that?! What are we going to do then?!"
It was a valid question.
Even if we lighten our load and reach the end of Ice Rock in two days, we still have eight more days to survive until the labyrinth closes.
But...
'Don't worry.'
I had a plan.
"Don't panic. We'll figure it out."
I shared my plan with them before the panic could spread.
"There are monsters in Ice Rock, aren't there?"
"Monsters...?"
"Wait, are you saying...!"
I didn't deny it.
"Yes, we'll hunt them and use Distortion magic to preserve their meat."
They looked even more shocked than before.
"He's serious..."
"This is insane..."
"I... I think I'd rather die here..."
It was the best option.
-x-X-x-
Munch, munch.
We devour jerky as we march.
Every single member of the expedition.
"I... I think I'm going to puke... I can't eat anymore..."
Some members groan, their stomachs full to bursting.
But they are a minority.
Most of us force down the jerky, even as we push ourselves to our limits on this uphill climb.
We all know.
This is our last chance to eat our fill.
"Schuitz! Ah, no, Viscount Bjorn Yandel!!"
Marone, the female mage from Kaislan's team, rushes towards me.
"The detection magic we set up ten minutes ago has been triggered!"
"Damn it, they were closer than I thought."
Close enough to reach us in minutes if they were running at full speed.
"Everyone, ditch the food boxes!"
I shout, throwing the box of jerky I was holding over the cliff.
We need to lighten our load if we want to increase our speed.
Whoosh!
Most of the members follow my lead without hesitation, tossing the boxes over the edge.
But some are reluctant, their hands trembling as they cling to the boxes.
The warriors, the knights, the paladins...
"Damn it, I can still eat more...!"
A warrior complains, his pockets stuffed with jerky.
It's a comical sight, but I understand his frustration.
I'm feeling the same way.
'Why am I already hungry again?'
This damn body is a bottomless pit.
No matter how much I eat, it's never enough.
'Well, that's it for our feast.'
"Marone, set up another detection magic. We need to gauge their speed."
"Yes, sir!"
Marone sets up another detection magic, and we increase our pace.
It's not a drastic change.
We were power-walking before, now we're jogging at a slow marathon pace.
Seven minutes later.
"The detection magic has been triggered!"
The gap, which had been seven minutes, has shrunk to three.
"This is a problem."
The mages and ability users are already being carried by the stronger members.
There's only one option left.
Survival is about knowing what to sacrifice.
"We're ditching the heating stones. Everyone, throw away the backpacks with the heating stones. Keep your weapons and shields, but everything else goes."
"What?!"
I don't wait for their reactions.
I toss my heavy backpack over the cliff.
"Are you serious? We're throwing away the heating stones?"
"You were complaining about dying just a moment ago. Are you suddenly attached to them?"
"No, but..."
"Then throw them away. We can buy new ones when we get back. We'll have plenty of money from the loot."
"Ugh... To think we're throwing away equipment while being chased by the enemy... You're insane."
The warriors grumble, but they follow my orders.
They reluctantly remove their backpacks and toss them over the edge.
And the result?
"Six minutes! The gap is back to six minutes!"
We've managed to maintain the six-minute gap.
They must be confused right now.
'What's going on? Why aren't we catching up?'
'I wonder what their faces will be like when they see us running naked.'
That thought brings a smile to my face.
Thump, thump.
We continue our uphill climb.
"...I never knew you could sleep while running."
"Just one minute... I'd give anything for one minute of sleep..."
Our speed is decreasing.
Days of nonstop marching, without proper rest or sleep, are taking their toll.
But...
"Six minutes... still six minutes..."
We've managed to maintain the six-minute gap.
They're getting tired too.
But then...
"Six minutes... no, five minutes...!"
The wall of six minutes has crumbled.
It's down to five minutes.
What happened?
Why are they suddenly faster?
"I-I used mental trance to check... their numbers have decreased! There are only twelve of them now!"
So they gave up.
They abandoned their numerical advantage.
'Did they send the rest back after redistributing the food?'
That seems like the most likely scenario.
Those who were sent back will be hungry, but they'll be able to eat their fill once they reach the bottom.
'Twelve... that means we outnumber them now.'
But...
'I'm not sure if we can win.'
We'll have to fight them eventually.
But not now.
"W-what should we do? They'll catch up to us soon!"
They gave up on one thing.
So we'll give up on another.
"Warriors, ditch your plate armor. Keep your shields and weapons, but everything else goes."
"What?!"
I don't waste time explaining.
I remove my heavy breastplate and throw it over the cliff.
"Are you serious? We're throwing away our armor?"
"You were complaining about dying just a moment ago. Are you suddenly attached to it?"
"No, but..."
"Then throw it away. We can buy new ones when we get back. We'll have plenty of money from the loot."
"Ugh... To think we're throwing away equipment while being chased by the enemy... You're insane."
The warriors grumble, but they follow my orders.
They reluctantly remove their armor and toss it over the edge.
And the result?
"Six minutes! The gap is back to six minutes!"
We've managed to maintain the six-minute gap.
They must be baffled.
'What's going on? Why aren't we catching up?'
'I wonder what their faces will be like when they see us running half-naked.'
That thought brings a smile to my face.
Thump, thump.
We continue our uphill climb.
"...I never knew you could sleep while running."
"Just one minute... I'd give anything for one minute of sleep..."
Our speed is slowing down.
Days of nonstop marching, without proper rest or sleep, are taking their toll.
But...
"Six minutes... still six minutes..."
We've managed to maintain the six-minute gap.
They're getting tired too.
But then...
"What's going on? The detection magic isn't activating..."
The detection magic, which had been triggering every six minutes, is silent.
Twenty minutes have passed, and still nothing.
Could they be using some method to avoid the detection magic?
'No, they would have used it from the beginning if they could.'
Ten more minutes pass, and still nothing.
I reach a conclusion.
'They're at their limit.'
They've stopped to rest.
Which means...
"Halt!"
We can rest too.
____________________________
"Everyone, rest! Sleep if you can! I'll wake you up when it's time to move!"
My order is met with silence.
The exhausted members collapse to the ground, some falling asleep the moment they hit the ice.
"Aren't you going to rest, Mister?"
"I'll just look around for a bit."
"Sorry, I'd like to stay with you, but I can't hold on any longer..."
"Don't apologize. Go and get some rest."
"Okay..."
Erwen drags her weary body towards Amelia and collapses beside her. They huddle together for warmth, falling asleep almost instantly.
Well, we don't have the heating stones anymore, so sharing body heat is the next best thing.
I chuckle, watching them sleep, and then I patrol the area.
Most of the members are either eating or sleeping, but one man is doing something different.
"Kaislan, what are you writing?"
"Ah! I was just recording what you said earlier, Schuitz... I mean, Yandel."
"What I said...?"
Kaislan hands me his notebook without a word.
[The most difficult tasks, I'll take care of them. The dirty work that no one wants to do, I'll do it. I'll be the first to face danger, and I'll be the one who gets hurt.]
[So... follow me.]
[If you're going to die anyway, might as well die with me!!]
Ugh, reading it like this makes me cringe.
But I can't scold him for being diligent, especially since he's sacrificing his sleep to write this down.
"...You have a good memory."
"Well, it's not about memory. I'll probably never forget it."
He has strange hobbies.
I sigh, wondering why he's even writing this down.
"What are you going to do with it? It's not like it's going to be recorded in history."
"You never know."
"Huh?"
"This might become a part of history."
He's obsessed with history.
I remember that he was always like this.
I pat his shoulder, hoping he lives long enough to see his dream come true.
"You'll have to survive first. If you want your record to be a part of history."
"Ah, right. We have to survive..."
"Get some rest. You can write it down later."
"Alright."
I leave Kaislan and head back towards my teammates.
As I'm walking, the female mage from Kaislan's team wakes up.
"Bjorn Yandel."
It's Bersil Gowland.
"Ah, did I wake you? Sorry—"
"No, I should be the one apologizing."
"...Huh?"
"I'm sorry for abandoning you back on the 1st floor."
She's bringing up something from years ago.
"You said you regretted it back at the banquet. You don't have to apologize again."
"I meant it. When I heard about what you did in the Crystal Cave, I felt so ashamed and miserable."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. You were the leader, you had to make a decision. I would have done the same."
I mean it.
If I had been given the choice between fifteen escape tickets and being left behind, I would have chosen the former without hesitation.
But Bersil doesn't agree.
"Don't joke. You wouldn't have done that."
She's giving me too much credit.
I stare at her, speechless, and she smiles wryly.
"You're like the eye of the storm. No matter how strong the winds rage around you, you never get swept away."
She's using metaphors now?
I'm a barbarian, I don't understand these things.
"It just... happened."
"...I guess I shouldn't have said anything. I didn't mean to burden you. You were on your way to rest, weren't you? Sorry for taking up your time."
"It's fine. You should get some rest too."
Our conversation ends, and Bersil goes back to sleep.
I lie down next to Erwen and Amelia.
'The eye of the storm...'
It's a strange compliment.
I'm more like a black hole.
My bad luck sucks everyone around me into misfortune.
"Mister! Wake up!"
Erwen's voice jolts me awake.
What? Already?
"Did the detection magic activate?"
"No, but..."
Then why did she wake me up so urgently?
"What the hell! Why are there monsters here?!"
"Wait, these aren't the ones we saw before!"
"Skeletons... are there skeletons here too?"
I open my eyes and see a horde of monsters swarming towards us.
And they're not the ones we encountered on our way down.
"Yandel, do you know anything about this?"
Amelia asks, her voice tense.
Know anything?
Of course, I do.
There's only one reason why monsters would respawn in a cleared area like this.
「The Glacier Witch, Kariadaea, has appeared in this area.」
'The boss monster... it spawned.'
We've hit the 10% jackpot.
'This damn game...'
It's like the game is telling us to just give up and die.
Why now, of all times?
My vision blurs, and I sigh in despair.
But I quickly check the time.
[00:12]
It's just past midnight.
Which means...
We're one day away from the end of Ice Rock.
"Viscount Bjorn Yandel! The detection magic has been triggered!"
Marone shouts, her voice trembling.
They're back.
And so is...
"Heh heh heh..."
...my laughter.
My instincts are screaming.
Today is going to be a very, very long day.