Shrouded in the labyrinth's darkness, I couldn't tell how far they were falling from.
But…
9th-grade, 8th-grade, 7th-grade…
The lower-level monsters, pouring down like rain, disintegrated into light the moment they hit the ground.
It was a grotesque sight.
Crack—Squish. Boom!
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and the air was filled with the agonized cries of beasts… but…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Had I ever seen such a bright light before?
"Yandel! Snap out of it!"
I was momentarily mesmerized by the spectacle, but I quickly came to my senses and looked around.
Boom!
We were huddled beneath a tree, inside a barrier that Bersil had spent hours preparing.
But it didn't feel safe at all.
Crack!
The barrier shook violently every time a monster slammed its head against it, and blood splattered across the translucent surface.
And…
6th-grade, 5th-grade…
Unlike the lower-level monsters, these creatures, worthy of being called monsters, were still moving even after being half-crushed.
Of course, there were differences between individuals.
Even within the same rank, some were reduced to mangled corpses, while others were still moving, depending on their size, durability, and regeneration abilities.
Like this.
[Kwaaaaaaaaaaa—!!]
The monsters, spotting us beyond the barrier, charged forward.
But the real problem was…
"Uh… Bjorn? Is that a new species…?"
…the unidentified monsters mixed in with the familiar ones.
It was hard to call them a 'new species,' though.
Their individual characteristics were too distinct.
"I think… those are the strange corpses we saw all over the island…"
I agreed with Bersil's theory.
The monsters with exaggerated characteristics didn't disintegrate after they died. Their bodies remained intact.
And some of them were still alive…
"Uh… it's… coming closer…!"
A monstrous figure, over 10 meters tall, its upper body obscured by the trees, turned towards us.
"That's…"
"What is that…?"
We didn't need a long discussion.
We all knew.
Thump—Thump—Thump—
It was something out of an apocalyptic nightmare.
Marupichi, clinging to my arm, started shaking.
[L-Let's go back to the village! If we stay here any longer, stronger monsters will appear!]
The other teammates probably felt the same way, even though they didn't say anything.
We had started encountering 4th-grade monsters…
And…
Boom!
The giant bird in the distance had started moving.
I hadn't fought it, but I could tell.
Bersil's barrier wouldn't hold against it.
"…It's time to go back to the village."
We had seen enough of the monster rain.
______________________
We entered a large crevice beneath the tree, and the village came into view.
We were all speechless.
"Whoa…"
Lush, green grass, moist with rain.
A soft, white light illuminated the area.
Stone buildings, a clear sign of civilization…
"This is… a monster village…?"
"O-Our sanctuary is better than this!"
Ainar suddenly declared, but I wasn't so sure. Our sanctuary was still mostly tents, even though it was under development.
'I didn't expect this…'
I knew it was different from a typical underground city, based on Marupichi's description, but this was beyond my expectations.
It felt like I had entered Wonderland.
"You're here."
The Elder was waiting for us at the entrance.
"Do you believe me now? About saving your lives?"
His nonchalant tone was annoying, but I decided to acknowledge his help.
"Sort of."
He had saved us.
Well, there was a chance that we could have obtained the information about the 'rainy season' from Marupichi…
'But we didn't even know if the 'rainy season' affected the entire floor, or if it was just a local phenomenon.'
If it was the former, he had indeed saved our lives. We would have been in serious trouble if we hadn't entered the village.
"Let's continue this conversation inside. I'll give you a tour of the village."
The Elder led the way, and we followed.
There was no point in turning back now.
"I… I never thought I would enter a monster's den…"
"Don't worry! I'll protect you! They don't seem that strong anyway!"
"Frenelin! Keep your voice down! They can hear you! And that old man understands our language…!"
"Haha! He's one of the ancient heroes! It'll be fine!"
"B-But still…"
Bersil trailed off, glancing at the Elder, but the Elder didn't react.
He must have heard her.
But he didn't seem to care.
"…Erwen, you don't have to stick so close."
"But something might happen. I have to protect you."
"…Whatever."
Erwen stayed by my side, still wary, while Amelia seemed more interested in the village itself.
I thought she was trying to make the best of a bad situation, but I was wrong.
"There are many differences from human cities."
"Like what?"
"Don't talk to me. I'm trying to memorize the route."
"…Memorize the route?"
"It's important to know the terrain in case we have to escape. If that happens, follow me."
Ah… so she wasn't enjoying herself.
I decided to stop observing my teammates and focus on the Elder. He seemed to be only talking to me.
"That's the forge. Metallurgy wasn't my specialty, so it took a lot of effort to develop it to this level."
"Impressive. But where do you get the minerals?"
"We melt down the debris that washes ashore, and after the rainy season, we gather resources from the island. It's not just monsters that rain down from the sky."
"Really? I didn't know that."
"You probably didn't see it. It only happens after three days."
"I see."
I continued listening to his explanation, asking occasional questions.
And after a while…
"This is my house."
"It's spacious… but surprisingly simple."
"What good is wealth and glory in a place like this?"
His casual remarks revealed his true nature.
He was similar to Lee Baekho in some ways.
He spoke in a gentle, almost emotionless tone, but I could sense a hidden ruthlessness. A willingness to do anything to escape this place.
"…Where are the captured explorers? Are they still in prison?"
"Of course not. Come inside. They're waiting."
We entered the Elder's house and found seven explorers from the Silver Lion Clan.
So many of them had died…
"…Hey, Baron Yandel!"
The clan leader, who had lost a lot of weight, looked at me with a complicated expression. He then rushed over to his teammates and embraced them.
"Marina…! You abandoned us…!"
"N-No, I was just…"
"Chen! You too! You left your brother behind! How could you?!"
"I-I didn't abandon you! I went to get help!"
"Krian! You ungrateful bastard…!"
"...."
I could understand his feelings. It was even a little amusing.
But…
'How long are they going to keep this up?'
I was about to intervene when the Elder spoke.
"That's enough."
"Ah, y-yes… I apologize, Elder Brugrid."
The clan leader straightened up like a scolded child.
But there was something that bothered me.
"…Elder…?"
"Uh… didn't you hear, Baron? He's Dragon Knight Brugrid, one of the Last Sage's companions—"
"I know."
"Oh… you do?"
"I'm curious about something else. You seem… surprisingly cheerful, considering your subordinates are dead."
I was being subtle, but my question was clear: Why were you so friendly towards the leader of the monsters who killed your men?
Thankfully, he understood.
"We've already heard Elder Brugrid's story… and it was an accident. He actually saved us. And he even punished the monsters who killed our comrades."
Punished them…
That was a joke.
How could he be so forgiving after his men were killed?
'…It's none of my business.'
It didn't matter whether he was hiding his true feelings or if he was just that naive.
I only cared about my own people.
"Now that you're done, can we talk?"
I turned my attention back to the Elder. He had gathered everyone here for a reason.
'What is he planning?'
As we waited in silence, the Elder finally spoke.
"I have a favor to ask of you all."
"…A favor?"
"I assure you, it's not a coercive request. In fact, it's a mutually beneficial proposition."
I would be the judge of that.
"Go ahead."
"I will provide you with all the support you need for your exploration. In return, I'd like you to share your findings with me."
It sounded like a quest.
______________________
Sharing our exploration findings.
It was a reasonable request, as long as the Elder's story was true.
But was it?
"Why don't you explore yourself? Instead of asking us?"
"That's—"
"Don't tell me it's because the trees here don't float. You said resources were constantly flowing in from the sea and the sky."
I had seen countless wooden objects floating in the sea.
So what was his answer?
"Seeing is believing. Do you have any wood you've collected? Anything will do."
The Elder spoke gently, and I asked Bersil to retrieve the floating objects she had collected.
And then…
Swoosh.
As soon as the Elder touched a wooden wardrobe…
Fizzle—
…it disintegrated into dust.
"What… did you just do?"
"Nothing. I just touched it."
"But why did it…?"
"It's my passive ability. Any wooden object I touch turns to dust. Even if I wear gloves, it eventually crumbles."
That was ridiculous.
I almost said it out loud, but then I stopped myself.
'Come to think of it… have we seen any wooden objects here?'
…No.
The buildings were all made of stone.
The archers were using bows made of horn and sinew.
They didn't use fire, so they didn't need firewood.
Was the grass on the ground not considered wood?
'And the blacksmiths were using abilities to create fire… not burning wood…'
The only wooden objects we had seen were the tree roots at the entrance to the village…
"Just to be clear, this doesn't apply to living trees."
He was making it difficult to tell if he was lying or not.
So I asked,
"Then why didn't you tell me this before?"
"It would be foolish to reveal a potential weakness to a stranger. I wasn't sure if you were our enemy."
"Uh…"
Well, he wasn't wrong.
"I understand."
"You're surprisingly quick to accept this."
"I'm an explorer."
The Elder nodded, as if he understood.
"Right, you're an explorer."
An explorer didn't waste time on trivial matters.
______________________
The Elder's request was unanimously approved.
There was no reason to refuse.
'Free support? I'll take it.'
If things went south, we could always abandon the quest and run away.
And if we couldn't escape, we could just keep our promise.
'And we have to stay here for a week anyway…'
According to the Elder, the 'rainy season' lasted for exactly seven days.
He had even offered us empty houses to stay in and given us permission to freely roam the village.
"Phew…"
That was why I was alone right now.
Amelia and Bersil were exploring the village.
Ah, I wasn't part of either team.
I had a special mission, befitting my status as a multilingual interpreter.
Swoosh.
I was reading.
'It's been a while since I last read a book…'
The Elder, annoyed by my constant questions, had given me access to his study. Ah, of course, all the books in the study were written by him.
He said writing was his only hobby.
The books were all made of monster leather, as if to prove his claim about not being able to touch wood…
Thwack—
Focus, focus.
I slapped myself lightly and sat up straight.
And then I continued reading.
[Compendium of Monsters]
It had a similar title to a series I was familiar with.
The Elder had warned me to handle it with care, and the contents were indeed valuable.
It was practically a strategy guide.
The Elder had recorded everything he had learned about the monsters on this island after he woke up here.
Well, the quality and accuracy weren't as good as the books in the Archives…
'But there are monsters here that weren't in the Archives.'
I forced myself to stay awake, memorizing the information.
I was tired, but the content was interesting—
"Huh?"
That was him.
The giant monster we had seen during the rainy season.
"Its name is… Hippermachant?"
What a terrible name.
It sounded grand in ancient language, but it just meant 'giant giant'.
[First encountered by a patrol team on the coast after the rainy season. Half of the thirty elite warriors in the patrol team were killed. Estimated rank: 2.]
2nd-grade…
I had suspected it was strong, but I didn't expect it to be that strong.
'It's a good thing we came back to the village before encountering it.'
As I was reading…
"…Huh?"
I froze.
[According to the surviving warriors, the monster grew even larger as soon as the battle began. Judging by the difference in size…]
[Hippermachant's ability is presumed to be the Orc Hero's [Gigantification].]
…I had a new goal.
-x-X-x-
Hippermachant.
The Elder's estimated rank: 2.
Confirmed abilities: 3.
But two of those abilities didn't matter.
'[Gigantification] on a monster with 2nd-grade stats…?'
How could I resist that?
The important thing wasn't the abilities themselves, but its essence.
Its passive skill.
If the passive skill was also useful…
'I could replace my Orc Hero essence.'
Unfortunately, the book didn't mention its passive skill.
Well, they had run away from it without defeating it.
They probably couldn't identify its passive.
'I'm wide awake now.'
As I was thinking about the possibilities, another thought occurred to me.
'What happens if you absorb two identical essences? Does only one activate? Or can you not absorb it at all?'
Hmm… I had a feeling it was the former.
But it would be interesting if both activated.
I decided to consider the worst-case scenario as well.
There was one major problem.
Besides the monster's estimated 2nd-grade strength…
'I don't know if it even drops an essence.'
That was one of the unique characteristics of this floor.
There were two types of monsters.
Normal monsters that dropped magic stones and essences, and monsters whose bodies remained intact even after being slain.
And they fought each other to the death.
That's why their numbers decreased significantly after the rainy season.
'The entire island becomes a field of magic stones.'
And the natives collected those magic stones and used them to create 'life water.'
'I've been distracted for too long.'
I would think about the Hippermachant later. For now, I had to focus on reading.
'I didn't expect there to be so many new species…'
The monsters I had encountered so far were just the tip of the iceberg.
From the creatures that appeared during the 'rainy season' to the ones that washed ashore…
'I should write this down somewhere… I might forget.'
I had been reading for hours…
"Bjorn…"
…when I heard a voice.
"Misha? I thought you went out with Emily."
"We just got back…"
I checked the time. It was much later than I thought.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I would have stopped reading."
"She… told me not to disturb you. She said you were busy…"
"Amelia?"
"…Yes."
Misha nodded and then asked cautiously,
"Can we… talk for a moment?"
"Of course."
I closed the book and turned to face her.
If a teammate came to see me alone, it meant there was a reason.
"Is there a problem?"
"…Not really."
"Then why?"
"I just… we haven't had a proper conversation since we met again…"
"Ah…"
I opened my mouth to say something, but Misha spoke first, her voice bitter.
"You're asking me why I came."
I felt a pang of guilt, but I also had something to say.
"You were the one who said we should just be comrades."
And she had been the one who drew the line after we reunited.
So I hadn't tried to cross it.
Time was needed to heal old wounds.
"Right… I did…"
She didn't say anything more.
An awkward silence followed.
I finally spoke.
"…Is there anything you're uncomfortable with?"
It was a signal to change the subject.
Misha's voice brightened, as if she was putting on an act.
"Ah, no… I'm just… a little surprised…"
It was understandable.
Floating objects in the sea, monsters that claimed to be human, monsters raining from the sky, and the Last Sage's companion trapped in the labyrinth…
It was a lot to take in.
"It's just… strange… being back in the labyrinth with you…"
Ah… we were back to that topic again?
I didn't interrupt her.
"So… don't worry too much… I'm just… surprised… it's still hard to believe… I never imagined this would happen…"
She glanced at me, as if checking my reaction, and I chuckled.
"I'm not worried."
Misha smiled faintly.
"What's that supposed to mean…?"
"I'm serious. You're nothing compared to Erwen."
Right, Erwen had been much more difficult to deal with.
Amelia and I had also been constantly bickering.
"So just relax and do whatever you want. We'll get along eventually."
I was about to tell her about my experiences with Erwen and Amelia…
"Amelia and Erwen fight a lot—"
…but she interrupted me.
"What's that book?"
"Oh, this? It's written by the Elder. It contains information about the monsters on this island."
"Really? That's good. It'll be helpful for our exploration."
The topic had changed, but the atmosphere was still relatively relaxed.
We talked about the island, and whether Elder Brugrid was really one of the ancient heroes.
It felt like old times.
But…
"Yandel, are you busy? We should share the information we've gathered today."
…the conversation ended when Amelia knocked on the door and Misha excused herself.
'Someone told me you were a traitor. What does that mean?'
I couldn't ask her today either.
______________________
One day, two days, three days…
Time flew by.
Our daily routine was simple.
I gathered information, talking to the Elder and reading his books.
Amelia and Erwen searched the village for hidden facilities and locations.
Bersil, Auyen, and Misha investigated the natives' lifestyle, culture, social structure, and military strength.
And Ainar…
"I'll be back!"
…was busy making friends.
"Where are you going today?"
"Sparring with Itaphia in the morning. Then I'll visit the forge and watch them make weapons. And then I'll meet with Kagudi and explore the underground warehouse. He said I would be surprised, so I'm looking forward to it!"
I didn't understand how she had made so many friends in such a short time.
"Frenelin is… amazing. She can't even speak their language, and yet she's so close to them."
"It's nothing! And who needs words? Warriors can communicate with gestures!"
"I-Is that so? But how can you make such detailed plans…?"
"It's because you lack sincerity! You mages are always reading books! Try looking someone in the eye and focusing on their words! Then you'll understand their true feelings!"
"Ah… okay…"
It was a strange sight, a barbarian lecturing a mage.
But only Ainar could make friends without being able to communicate, so I didn't interfere.
"Ah! I'm late! I'll be back!"
"Don't cause any trouble. And tell me what you find in the underground warehouse!"
"Okay!"
Ainar was always the first to leave in the morning, followed by the other teammates.
And in the evening, we would gather at the house the Elder had provided and share our findings.
"I found a strange place today. It's about fifteen minutes from the Elder's house. It looks like an ordinary house, but there are guards everywhere. I think I can sneak in, but I wanted to hear your opinion first."
"Don't be reckless. We have to be careful until the rainy season is over."
"The Silver Lion Clan… they're in a worse state than I thought. The relationship between those who escaped and those who were left behind is deteriorating."
"It seems unlikely that they'll be able to continue exploring after the rainy season. Auyen, anything to report?"
"Well… I've been feeling this for a while now, but… Brugrid… he's not just the Elder, he's practically the king of this village."
"More like a god. They obey his every command without question."
"That's enough for today."
After the meeting, we would go back to our respective rooms and sleep.
That was our routine.
Of course, there were minor variations.
Day 4 of the rainy season.
I had finished reading all the books in the Elder's study, so I started exploring the village.
I couldn't let the only person who could communicate with the natives stay cooped up in a room all day.
As I was walking around…
I ran into Marupichi again.
Most of the villagers avoided me, but Maru's attitude hadn't changed.
We chatted for a while, and it told me about a local legend.
[Did you know? A long time ago, a giant dragon lived on this island!]
A giant dragon…
Day 5.
I met Ainar's friends, but I couldn't become close to them like she had.
They were all wary of me.
Even though Ainar and I were close enough to joke around physically.
Had the Elder given them some kind of instruction?
I asked them several times, but they didn't answer.
Day 6.
The leader of the Silver Lion Clan came to see me in the morning and asked if they could join our exploration team.
I refused.
Another group from the same clan came in the afternoon with the same request.
I refused again.
Day 7.
We finished our investigation of the village and returned to our house to prepare for the next expedition.
The 'rainy season' would be over today.
As I was preparing for tomorrow…
The Elder summoned us. He just gave us some words of encouragement.
Day 8.
Or rather, Day 21 of the expedition.
We left the village and returned to the surface.
The island, which had been covered in grotesque corpses, was now beautiful.
Covered in magic stones.
If they didn't disappear after 30 minutes, the entire island would be covered in essences.
The Elder had told us to leave the magic stones on the ground for the patrol team to collect, but…
I couldn't resist picking up a few.
Day 22.
The island was still swarming with monsters, so we used the village as our base and explored the surrounding area.
And then I found an essence.
I didn't fight for it. I just picked it up.
It must have been dropped by a monster that had been killed by another monster…
It had to be a high-grade essence, since it had survived the rainy season.
I immediately put it in a test tube.
We also encountered the Silver Lion Clan for the first time since leaving the village.
They didn't look well.
Day 23.
We spent the night in the village and then returned to the island in the morning. The Silver Lion Clan decided to stay in the village.
One of their members had died yesterday.
They said they would stay until the island was safe.
We, on the other hand, expanded our search area.
Day 24.
The villagers started sending out patrols to collect the magic stones.
I felt a pang of envy.
That was a lot of money.
Day 25.
The island had returned to its pre-rainy season state.
We had been searching for the Hippermachant, but we hadn't found it.
Had it been killed by other monsters?
I asked the Elder, and he said that some monsters left the island by swimming across the sea.
Day 26.
There wasn't much to do on the island, so we left and resumed our voyage.
Day 27.
We discovered another island before nightfall.
Or rather… could you even call it an island?
A giant tree, rising from the silver sea.
It was much larger than the monster island.
And much taller.
I wondered if all the islands here were like this.
Day 28.
We spent the night on the ship and then entered the tree island.
As soon as we docked at the base of the tree, vines sprouted from the bark, and monsters emerged.
It was a new species, not mentioned in the Elder's book.
After a vote, we named it Nanari.
Day 29.
We explored the roots of the tree and found a giant knot hole, larger than most caves.
It seemed to lead deep underground.
Was it a passage?
We explored cautiously, encountering new monsters.
The battles were challenging.
Ainar was seriously injured, even though she quickly recovered with a potion.
Day 30.
I started seriously considering the labyrinth closure timer.
When would this floor close?
Would I be trapped here forever, like the Elder?
If that was the case, we would be in trouble.
We couldn't survive on magic water like the natives.
We needed meat.
…Should we start rationing our food?
Day 35.
After six days of exploring the winding tunnels, we finally found an exit.
It led to the base of the tree.
It was about knee-high.
I wondered how long it would take to reach the top.
Anyway, it wasn't really an exit. It was more like a window.
We returned to the tunnels and continued searching for another exit.
But we couldn't find one.
Everyone looked tired, so we set up camp and went to sleep.
And…
"...."
I suddenly woke up.
「Character's soul resonates and is drawn to a specific world.」
I was back in my room.
"What the… why am I here?"
I was genuinely confused.
-x-X-x-
They say time heals all wounds.
That no matter how difficult things are, they will eventually get better with time.
So…
One, two, three…
I counted to three and opened my eyes.
My mind was clear now, but the scenery hadn't changed.
A single bed.
A computer on the desk.
The living room and kitchen visible through the open door.
It was Lee Hansu's room, without a doubt.
The place I had been transported to every 15th of the month at midnight, ever since I took that pill.
'…I'm not dreaming, am I?'
That thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.
I didn't know the reason, but it had happened.
So instead of denying it, I had to figure out the cause and find a solution.
"Why am I here?"
I muttered to myself, jotting down notes as I organized my thoughts.
Time flowed differently in the labyrinth and the city.
No matter how many days I spent in the labyrinth, only 36 hours would pass in the city.
That's why I had never been summoned to the community during a labyrinth expedition.
But…
"It happened."
I put aside the question of whether it was even possible and continued thinking.
No matter how unrealistic it seemed.
Being summoned to the community while exploring the labyrinth… it didn't make sense. And illogical outcomes usually had illogical causes.
"Time… is flowing outside."
If that was true, it would explain how I had entered the community from the labyrinth.
"Damn it."
Now that I had a clearer understanding of the situation, the vague anxiety was replaced by more concrete, practical problems.
Was I trapped here forever?
If the labyrinth had closed normally, they would think I was dead.
How was I going to clean up this mess?
"Haa…"
I couldn't find the answer just by thinking about it, so I went to my computer.
[Long Live Korean Independence] – 2 users online.
Baekho and Hyunbyul were online.
I had been late, but I decided to check the forums first before joining them.
The forums were filled with posts about me.
Click.
I clicked on the post with the most comments.
[Is the Giant really dead?]
He's not faking his death again, is he?
[BurtusMaximus: It seems like it's real this time. There was a witness who saw him open a portal on the 1st floor and enter a hidden area.]
[└OP: Really? How is that possible?]
[BurtusMaximus: The people who were with him also entered the portal, but it closed before everyone could get through.]
[└OP: Thanks for the info. But is it okay to share this here?]
[BurtusMaximus: Everyone knows about it already.]
[└Nyacreeps: Only one of the stragglers survived. He's incredibly lucky. Not only did he not enter the portal, but he also survived Verzak on the 1st floor.]
Right… I had expected this.
The community was the only way to get information about the outside world, so I continued reading.
The players' reactions were varied.
[Must Read) Three pieces of evidence that prove Bjorn Yandel is still alive.]
[Futuralis: Where's the evidence?]
[└NExtlevEL: Are you stupid? There isn't any.]
[└Futuralis: What do you mean?]
[└NExtlevEL: Your brain.]
Some were making jokes, while others were spreading baseless rumors.
And then…
[Sharing the method to open the portal.]
Everyone knows about the new stone tablet in the Dark Zone of the Crystal Cave, right? Bjorn Yandel opened it and entered, and then something bad happened.
So the question is, what are the conditions to open the portal…?
The answer is probably on the 3rd floor. There were many explorers who saw Bjorn Yandel on the 3rd floor during this cycle.
So they had figured that much out.
[these99: That's plausible. He went to the 3rd floor and then came back down to the 1st floor to open the portal.]
[ionboii: Look at this attention seeker. He's just spreading baseless rumors.]
[└EdwardBless77: It doesn't sound like a rumor. There were many explorers who saw him on the 2nd floor too.]
[└AI_DIDIGO: Correction: Bjorn Yandel went down to the 1st floor on the 7th day and immediately opened the portal.]
They were talking about the 3rd floor, but it seemed like our entire route had been leaked…
[└EdwardBless77: DIDIGO, no second piece of information today?]
[└AI_DIDIGO: Correction: 60 people entered the portal before it closed. The maximum capacity of the hidden area is estimated to be 60.]
They knew everything about our expedition, even though they weren't even there.
'I've gathered enough information…'
I was about to join Baekho and Hyunbyul in the chat room when…
I saw a post that caught my attention.
[I'm an explorer who entered the hidden area with Bjorn Yandel.]
…Who was this?
______________________
[I'm one of the 60 people you're talking about.]
[I can't reveal my real name, but everything I'm about to say is true, so please take it seriously.]
[We're currently on the 1st Basement Floor: Archives.]
[This floor is very unique…]
Who had written this post?
My first suspect was Bersil.
But she wouldn't have done this. She was the only player I knew for sure.
'There might be other players among the 60…'
And as I continued reading, the number of suspects decreased. The details the author had included to build credibility revealed their identity.
[After being separated from Bjorn Yandel, we explored on our own…]
It wasn't the Silver Lion Clan or the smaller teams that had joined them. The only remaining suspects were the explorers we had met on the library island.
[We don't know where Bjorn Yandel is right now. Our exploration was interrupted by a sudden downpour of monsters, and we were separated.]
So the 'rainy season' wasn't just a local phenomenon. It affected the entire floor.
I wondered how they had survived.
Did the monsters not enter the library?
[We're currently trapped on an island. The island is swarming with monsters, and our ship is damaged, so we can't escape. Our only hope was to wait for the labyrinth to close, but…]
[It seems unlikely now that I've woken up here today. That's why I'm writing this post, revealing our findings.]
[To those who are planning to enter this floor, or those who are already here… please come and rescue us. We'll share our information, and we'll reward you handsomely.]
[Our island is located at 19 degrees from the starting island…]
The author then provided the coordinates of their island.
I wasn't a navigator, but the route seemed complicated and time-consuming. It wasn't the library island.
[And if you happen to meet Baron Yandel, whether he's already escaped or still trapped here, please tell him…]
[…that we're waiting for him.]
The post ended with that message.
As I was wondering who the author was, I remembered Wyte Hex's words.
[So… you haven't found a way out either?]
He had been strangely anxious.
And now I understood why.
It was a strange feeling.
I started reading the comments.
[Darulus: Is this for real?]
[rafal: Scrolled down to 60. Try again.]
[MarkG: No one's falling for this, right?]
[Pawel: If he had put this much effort into something else…]
Most of the comments dismissed it as a troll post, but not everyone agreed.
[TheRobson75: The details seem too specific for a made-up story… Is time really flowing normally in the hidden area, even after the labyrinth closes?]
Some were skeptical, while others believed it.
[Bling0_0: I think it's true. I can't imagine Bjorn Yandel dying. This makes more sense.]
[└AI_DIDIGO: Information 1: The writing style doesn't show any of the typical patterns of a liar.]
[└EdwardBless77: So what's your conclusion?]
[└AI_DIDIGO: Conclusion: There is a 72.8811% chance that this is true.]
[└Pnec: Bullshit. He's dead. Good riddance.]
[└Bling0_0: Here we go again.]
[└Pnec: Who are you? Do I know you?]
[└Bling0_0: Judging by your 3cm dick and 3kb brain, I don't think so.]
[└Pnec: Ah, I remember you now. That loser, lol.]
[└Bling0_0: You'll forget in three seconds anyway.]
Why were they fighting in the comments?
'There are so many people with nothing better to do…'
I read all the comments, but the author hadn't replied to any of them.
Maybe they didn't want to make it seem like a lie?
It had been almost 30 minutes since the community opened, so I closed the forums and went to the chat room.
[Long Live Korean Independence] – 2 users online.
They were both still there.
Click, click.
I didn't want to keep them waiting, so I quickly entered the chat room.
Hyunbyul and Lee Baekho were standing a few feet apart, facing each other.
They were having a serious conversation…
"Oh, hyung! You're here!"
"…Huh?"
They both turned to me.
"…O-Oppa?"
"Sorry I'm late. What were you talking about?"
"W-Well…"
Hyunbyul looked flustered.
And Lee Baekho, sensing an opportunity, chimed in.
"She kept asking me if you were really Bjorn Yandel."
"What?"
"I told her you weren't, but she didn't believe me. Why did she even ask if she wasn't going to believe me anyway?"
"Hyunbyul, is that true?"
"…Do you believe him?"
So it was true.
She would have just denied it if it wasn't.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
'She wouldn't have asked unless she already suspected something…'
It was a sudden crisis, but crises could also be opportunities.
"Why did you think I was Bjorn Yandel?"
Bjorn Yandel was supposedly dead, so Hyunbyul would probably think she had made a mistake and answer honestly.
"…Do you really believe him?"
"I won't be mad. Just tell me."
I reassured her, and she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
"I… wasn't sure."
"But?"
"…I know when you joined the community."
"Continue."
"There aren't any other explorers who joined around that time and became as famous as Bjorn Yandel. The only other possibility is the Blood Spirit Marquis… but she's a woman."
Ah, so that's why she had suspected me.
"…And you kept talking about the game. About how Shield Barbarians were the best."
"You remember that…?"
"Of course. You said it."
She looked at me as if I had asked a stupid question.
I was speechless, and Lee Baekho whistled.
"Wow… Hyunbyul noona is amazing. Hyung, you should reconsider. I wouldn't let a girl like her go—"
"Shut up. Please."
I agreed with him.
Did Lee Baekho have some kind of verbal diarrhea? I glared at him, and he shrugged and closed his mouth.
"...."
"...."
The atmosphere was awkward again.
Hyunbyul averted her gaze and spoke.
"Anyway, that's why… I thought you were Bjorn Yandel… and then… you died…"
"...."
"And… you never came back… so I asked him… he knows your identity…"
Ah…
"So why are you so late today? I was worried!"
She raised her voice, trying to change the subject, and I apologized.
"Sorry."
"I'm not asking for an apology, I'm asking for an explanation."
"I was about to come in, but I saw some interesting posts on the forums."
"Huh? Interesting posts? What posts, hyung?"
Lee Baekho was also curious, so I told them about the posts I had seen. It wasn't a secret, anyway.
"They said time flows normally in the labyrinth now."
"Oh, really?"
"Wait! Then Bjorn Yandel might still be alive!"
"Yeah, I guess so."
I replied casually, and Hyunbyul glared at me.
I could almost hear her voice.
'Don't be so nonchalant! It means you could still be Bjorn Yandel!'
I chuckled, meeting her gaze head-on, and Lee Baekho exclaimed,
"Wow… that's how you keep your girlfriend in check? Impressive, hyungnim!"
What? He was the one who was full of secrets.
I was speechless, but then he said something that made me feel a little strange.
"It's a little disappointing, though."
"...."
"I wish I was as smart as you."
Damn it, he was making the atmosphere heavy again.
-x-X-x-
Lee Baekho's sudden comment had made the atmosphere heavy, but it didn't last long.
He quickly regained his usual cheerful demeanor, and I didn't mention it again.
But I couldn't help but wonder…
'…What would he be like now?'
I knew about his past.
A few years before I woke up in this world, his identity had been revealed due to a teammate's betrayal.
And he had become the person he was today.
Just like me, he had been diligently clearing the labyrinth when his team disbanded, and he had to continue on his own.
His distrust of others was a natural consequence.
'Well, it's a bit strange to call it a 'betrayal' from a native's perspective…'
But if he hadn't been betrayed…
What would he be like now?
"Huh? Hyung, why are you staring at me? Did I do something wrong?"
"Just looking. Did you do something wrong?"
"…Hyung, you're too much! Of course not. Haha."
"...."
"Anyway, can we talk privately for a moment?"
Lee Baekho glanced at Hyunbyul, and she sighed.
"It's not like you two are dating."
"Haha, are you jealous, noona?"
"…I'll be back."
Hyunbyul left the room without much fuss, as usual.
I was a little surprised.
She didn't seem to mind him calling her 'noona' anymore.
Had she finally given up on correcting him?
"Hehe, so it's just the two of us now? Let's have a nice, private—"
"Cut it out. I'm serious."
"Yes, sir."
"So what's the rush? Why did you ask Hyunbyul to leave?"
"Ah, that? It's not really a rush…"
"Then what is it?"
I sat down on the sofa and rested my chin on my hand. Lee Baekho sat across from me and asked,
"Hyung, are you really trapped in the labyrinth?"
"Yeah."
"Time flows normally even after the labyrinth closes… that's amazing. Have you found a way out?"
"Not yet."
"Hmm, that's a problem. Should I come rescue you?"
"Just focus on your own business."
"Hehe, I knew you would say that. And I can't go anyway."
"Are you outside now?"
"Yes. I thought there would be amazing discoveries out here, but there's nothing. Not even a single rat. I should have stayed in the labyrinth and searched for the hidden area."
"I was wondering… why did you leave the kingdom?"
"I didn't expect you to find the hidden area so quickly."
So that was the reason.
I had found it strange that he, who was so obsessed with the labyrinth, had left the kingdom at this point in time.
"Hyung, how's the hidden area? Tell me about it."
"For free?"
"Come on… you're curious about the outside world too, aren't you? Let's share information."
"You said there was nothing out there."
"Not yet. But my intuition tells me there's a huge secret hidden out here!"
He sounded like he was trying to sell me something, but I had a similar feeling.
There was something hidden beyond the walls.
I didn't know what it was yet.
"Fine. Deal."
"As expected of my hyungnim!"
I told him about the 1st Basement Floor.
The variant and new species of monsters.
The summoning books in the library.
The floating objects in the sea.
But I didn't mention the Elder.
I didn't feel guilty.
I hadn't received anything from him yet, and he probably wouldn't tell me everything he had discovered outside the walls either.
'Maybe I could learn something new if I discussed the Elder with him…'
But I couldn't trust him.
I had a feeling he would betray me eventually.
But he was too valuable to just abandon.
"So that's it for now."
"Huh? What about the tree island? That was getting interesting."
"We're still exploring it. I was taking a break when I was summoned here. I was so surprised."
"That's good. I was worried when Hyunbyul noona asked me if you were really dead. She looked like she was about to cry."
Right, he was outside the walls, so he must have heard about it from Hyunbyul.
He didn't seem to read the forums.
"Hyung, I'm leaving now."
"Huh? But you still have plenty of time left."
"I know, but I think I should go now."
"What do you mean?"
He grinned at me.
"I'm spending time with Hyunbyul noona today. She was really worried about you."
"Ah…"
"I'll be going now."
"Baekho, wait."
I stopped him, and he tilted his head.
I hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
It might be unnecessary…
"Being smart isn't about keeping secrets."
"…What? Did I hear you correctly?"
He looked confused, so I continued,
"It's not about being secretive."
"…Then what is it?"
"It's about being afraid."
You.
And me.
We were always thinking about the worst-case scenario.
______________________
Lee Baekho left early, and Hyunbyul rejoined the chat room soon after.
"How did it go?"
"It went well."
"You ended early today."
She asked casually, and I answered in the same tone.
"He said he was spending time with you."
"…W-What?! That… that liar!"
"Why are you so flustered? It's not like it's the first time he's said something like that."
"That's true… I guess…"
She said that, but she was fanning herself with her hand, as if she was feeling hot.
It had been a while since I had last seen her like this.
I felt a surge of playfulness.
"Were you that worried?"
I asked, a teasing smile on my face, and she frowned and glared at me.
"…Do you want to fight?"
"Uh… no? Why would you say that?"
"Seriously… you're becoming just like him."
"...."
I had just been teasing her, and yet I was being scolded.
I didn't understand, but I quickly changed the subject.
"How's work?"
"It's fine. I'm gaining Viscountess Peprok's trust."
"What's she like?"
"…She's a kind person. And naive. She's been a little troublesome lately, though."
"Troublesome?"
"Don't you know? It's because of Bjorn Yandel."
"Ah…"
It hadn't been my intention, but I had inadvertently caused trouble for her twice now.
"Well, at least things are looking up. I saw the post on the forums. A lot of people believe it. And it has a lot of views. The news will spread throughout the city soon."
"That's good."
"Yes, it is. If it had been any later, your assets would have been seized, and your family would have been disbanded."
Right, it was a close call.
"…I was talking about your boss not bothering you anymore."
"Oh, really?"
She was openly testing me now.
I would have to show her what a true barbarian was capable of when we met in person.
She would never doubt me again.
"Oppa, what are you thinking?"
"Nothing."
"You had a sinister look in your eyes."
"You're overthinking it."
I cut her off before she could say anything more, and we spent the rest of the time reading and chatting.
And after a while…
"Oppa, it's time for me to go."
"Ah, right. It's already that time."
It was almost time for the Round Table meeting.
I left the chat room and returned to Lee Hansu's room. I checked the forums again and then entered the Round Table just as the timer was about to run out.
A navy blue suit and a lion mask.
It had looked ridiculous at first, like I was wearing a costume… but now I was used to it.
Alright, I was dressed…
Step, step.
…and I arrived at the Round Table. The other members were already there, waiting for me.
"That's ridiculous. It has to be a lie."
"Well, I'm not so sure. The comments on the post say it's probably true."
"Heehee, I know that guy! Didigo, right? The one with the weird roleplaying."
"That's right, but he's not someone to be ignored."
"Well, he does seem to know a lot of things… Ah!"
They stopped talking and greeted me with their eyes.
Except for Clown.
"Pfft, welcome, Lion."
He even stood up and bowed like a medieval nobleman. I ignored him and sat down.
'Parab's sitting next to me today.'
Goblin was sitting next to me, which was unusual.
Did he want to go first?
I was curious, but I would find out soon enough.
"Let's begin."
I gave the signal, and the meeting started without any delay.
"I assume you've all read the post on the forums. There's a high probability that it's true."
"…And?"
"…That's my information."
The other members groaned.
"'High probability'? What kind of information is that?"
"Pfft, then I'll go next. There's a high probability that Goblin's brain capacity is 3kb!"
"Heehee, Clown, you got that from the forums, didn't you? That guy was so pathetic."
"P-Pfft…"
Clown chuckled awkwardly at Butterfly's comment.
But he had anticipated the ridicule.
"Then I'll present the evidence that supports my claim."
Goblin continued, and the members, their curiosity piqued, listened intently.
"…Evidence?"
"Oh, so there's more to it?"
"He wouldn't have revealed such a vague piece of information otherwise."
Goblin, seeing their interest, began his explanation.
"I'm good at using the internet. I love arguing, and my specialty is doxxing."
"…What does that have to do with anything?"
"I've been investigating the author of that post. I read all their posts and comments, looking for clues."
"…And?"
"I couldn't identify them, but I'm certain they're a member of the Hex Clan."
I was genuinely surprised.
The other members looked confused, but I knew he was right.
'…He actually did it?'
It was an unexpected talent.
"I don't know what to say."
"The Hex Clan… they were one of the sixty explorers who entered the hidden area with Bjorn Yandel…"
"Queen, what do you think? You're close to the GM, so you must know something."
Queen nodded, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.
"…I can't believe it, but Goblin's theory matches ours."
"Really?"
"Yes. But… I don't understand how he did it. We had to recover the deleted posts to reach that conclusion…"
"Deleted posts? What kind of posts?"
"There were quite a few. And they were all related to the Hex Clan. They kept praising the clan's welfare system and then deleting the posts before the community closed."
What? Were they advertising their clan on the forums?
It was ridiculous, but Queen's testimony changed the other members' perception of Goblin.
"Hehe… I'm glad my investigation was correct."
…What was this guy's deal?
-x-X-x-
After Goblin's turn, the others quickly followed.
"The Royal Military Strategy Department believes that Noark orchestrated Lafdonia's recent victory and their advance beyond Dragon's Mountain Range. Noark's core members are nowhere to be found."
Stag Antlers, the second to speak, pointedly looked at Clown, a member of Orculus, as he spoke, as if expecting an explanation.
"The Blood Spirit Marquis, who entered the hidden area with Bjorn Yandel, is still alive."
Crescent Moon, the third, made everyone tilt their heads.
"Well, considering the previous information, it's highly likely that she's alive, but… how can you be so sure?"
"Because the Pureblood within her hasn't returned to the tribe yet."
"Ah…!"
Right, there was that method.
Of confirming survival.
"The Fairy Tribe is already certain of her survival and is preparing a rescue team."
"Pfft, isn't the Blood Spirit Marquis a traitor to the tribe? They gave her the Pureblood and raised her, and she just threw it all away for a man."
"…I don't have to answer that."
"Pfft, so sensitive."
Clown and Crescent Moon growled at each other, but it was just a brief interlude.
As the turns continued, they lost interest in each other.
"Fox, it's your turn."
It was the fourth turn.
I rested my chin on my hand and listened intently. I was curious what Bersil, disguised as Fox, would say.
After all, I had given her a quest.
[I'll look into it too. So can you gather some more information?]
I had instructed her to investigate the rumor about Misha Carlstain being a traitor.
How would she approach it?
"Misha Carlstain isn't a traitor. Not to Bjorn Yandel."
She had directly contradicted Butterfly's previous statement.
I was confused.
She would definitely get a red light for this—
'Ah, so that's her plan.'
The jewel glowed.
Swaaaaaaaaaaa.
A bright red light.
"Hehe… this is interesting."
Butterfly grinned, looking at Fox with an amused expression. Okay, so the bait had been taken.
'She probably sat next to Butterfly for this reason.'
I wasn't sure if this would work.
But it was a good attempt.
"Pfft, what's going on?"
As the other members demanded an explanation, Bersil spoke calmly.
"It seems like my conviction wasn't strong enough. I thought I had enough evidence… Anyway, I'll try something else."
Bersil revealed a different piece of information and received a green light.
The turn passed to Butterfly.
Would she take the bait?
"So you don't believe me, Fox? Or is there a reason you don't want to believe me? How amusing."
She had taken the bait.
"Misha Carlstain rejoined Bjorn Yandel's team because she was instructed to do so."
'…What?'
I almost gasped.
'Instructed… by who?'
There was only one possibility.
'Lee Baekho.'
There was no one else who would do something like that. I would have to ask him about it as soon as I saw him—
'Wait a minute…'
As my anger towards Lee Baekho intensified, I suddenly made eye contact with Butterfly.
She quickly looked away…
'What's her deal?'
Was it a coincidence that she had brought up Misha Carlstain?
Was there really no ulterior motive?
'It was a strange timing…'
A cold wave of suspicion washed over me.
Butterfly had revealed this information at the Round Table, which meant she didn't care if it became public knowledge.
Or maybe she even wanted it to be known.
'If that's the case…'
She must have anticipated that Bjorn Yandel would hear about it.
I calmed myself down and thought about it.
'When Bjorn Yandel finds out that Misha Carlstain is a traitor…'
What would he do?
'He'll either kick her out…'
Or…
'…or he'll turn against Lee Baekho.'
Would that be a desirable outcome for Butterfly?
I didn't know yet.
Maybe my suspicions were unfounded. Maybe she had just revealed a random piece of information to get her turn over with.
But…
'I'm more cautious now.'
'If someone is trying to manipulate me…'
I just had to wait.
They would be the ones who got impatient.
Thud.
You had to aim before you fired.
______________________
「Character is being transferred to the Archives.」
______________________
After Butterfly's turn, the meeting continued.
"[There's an inscription in ancient language beneath the stone tablet on the 1st floor. It says…]
Queen revealed the clue to the hidden area, followed by Black Mask, Clown, and Wolf.
And then it was my turn.
Perhaps because of the recent events…
The other members seemed more interested in my information than usual.
But I betrayed their expectations and revealed another useless piece of game information.
The first round ended.
And…
'The second round wasn't very interesting either.'
I heard some news about the outside world, since I was trapped in the labyrinth… but there wasn't anything useful or relevant to my current situation.
'And Butterfly didn't mention Misha again.'
The meeting ended without any further revelations.
I returned to Lee Hansu's room, browsed the forums for a while, and then logged out.
I wasn't in the city, after all.
I had to rest and conserve my energy for tomorrow's exploration.
[00:00]
Day 36 of the labyrinth expedition.
I woke up in my sleeping bag and looked around.
Crackle—
The bonfire was still burning, illuminating the cave… or rather, the inside of the giant tree.
It was the same campsite we had set up before I was summoned to the community.
'…I was only gone for four hours, but I'm exhausted…'
I closed my eyes again.
And after a while…
I heard a rustling sound next to me. Amelia's clone, who was on watch duty, approached the source of the sound.
"Do you want some water?"
"…Yes, please. Thank you."
So it was Bersil.
Judging by the slight difference in our wake-up times, she must have stayed in the community until it closed.
"Is… Yandel asleep?"
"Yes."
It would be awkward to talk now, so I just closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.
And the next morning…
As we were preparing for our next exploration…
Bersil approached me, her face pale with exhaustion.
"Yandel, can I talk to you for a moment? Privately?"
"Sure."
I pretended not to know what she was going to say, but it was obvious.
"Misha Carlstain… there's a suspicion that she rejoined our team because she was instructed to do so."
That was the reason she had come to see me first thing in the morning.
"Instructed…?"
"…I'm not sure. I mean, I'm sure… but I don't know the details."
She was trying to cover up the fact that she had already heard about it at the Round Table.
If I hadn't known the truth, I would have been suspicious.
"Ahem! Anyway, the important thing is… I have something else to tell you…"
"What is it?"
"It's possible that time is flowing normally outside."
I hadn't expected her to report this right away.
Had she decided to tell me immediately, even if it meant arousing my suspicion?
It was commendable.
"What's your reasoning?"
"…The Elder. There are a lot of things that don't make sense about him. He's from thousands of years ago… And he's been here for a long time too, hasn't he? The only way it makes sense is if time is flowing normally in both places."
Her reasoning was surprisingly sound.
'…If I hadn't known the truth, I would have been convinced.'
So she had been preparing her excuses.
"So it's been over a month outside?"
I asked, pretending to be ignorant, and Bersil shook her head.
"No, that's not it. I mean, I don't think so… I think the 'rainy season' was the turning point."
"Why?"
"…I don't know."
She didn't know?
The fact that fifteen days had passed in the city was the biggest clue.
So she hadn't prepared an excuse for that.
Anyway, her theory about the time flow was the same as mine.
The rainy season had ended on Day 21.
And the community meeting had been held on Day 35.
If time flowed at a 1:1 ratio after the rainy season, it would all add up.
"If my theory is correct, the next labyrinth opening will be on Day 50."
"And?"
"The 1st floor will close again on Day 57, and no one will be able to enter. And then the rainy season will start again on Day 64."
That matched the Elder's description of the rainy season's cycle.
______________________
After Bersil shared her shocking(?) information, we held a clan meeting.
"Time is flowing normally in the city…?"
Everyone was surprised, but they didn't doubt it.
I had told them about the community meeting.
Only Ainar and Auyen, who didn't know I was an evil spirit, were oblivious.
"Oh! That's amazing!"
"Th-This is bad! What if we're trapped here forever… like the Elder…?"
Their reactions were mixed, but…
The information sharing was just the beginning.
"We need to decide on our next course of action."
"Clan Master, what do you mean?"
"We have to choose. Do we focus on our own exploration, regardless of the other explorers? Or…"
"Or?"
"Do we help them and build a larger group to find a way out of here?"
We were all explorers, so we didn't need a long explanation.
We started voting immediately, and the votes were evenly split.
"I'm in favor. We need to find a way out, even if it means sacrificing short-term gains."
"I-I agree. It's not just about escaping… if we leave them alone, most of them will die…"
Amelia and Auyen voted in favor.
And…
"I'm against it. I don't think they'll be much help…"
"Me too! They're explorers! They should be able to take care of themselves! And it'll be too troublesome!"
Erwen and Ainar voted against it.
"I think we should at least meet with them. We can confirm the information and hear about what's happening outside. We can decide whether to help them later."
"I don't think we need to go out of our way to find them… We can decide when we meet them…"
Bersil and Misha were neutral.
Why was I always the last one to vote?
I didn't understand, but I voted for what I thought was the best option.
"We should return to the rocky island."
The library, the rainy season, the giant tree…
Considering the high difficulty of the end-game content, having more people would give us more options.
'And we might be able to slay that giant bird if we have enough people…'
We continued exploring for about ten days and then returned to the rocky island.
It was Day 53.
We set up camp at the starting point and waited.
Day 54, Day 55, Day 56…
By Day 57, I was starting to doubt if anyone would even come.
Whoosh-!
"B-Bjorn! Portals! Look!"
Dozens of portals opened in the sky, and new explorers poured in.
-x-X-x-
Sixty newbie explorers freshly arrived on the first basement floor. They were momentarily flustered to see us alive and well, but soon regained their composure, approaching us and introducing themselves.
"Baron Yandel, you're truly alive. It's an honor. I'm Mul Armin, leader of the Armin Exploration Team."
The Armin Exploration Team wasn't one of the Big Four clans, but they were fairly well-known and highly regarded. They were famous for continuing their expeditions even during the war.
"Magnon Nias. I lead the Einperial Clan."
Einperial. I'd never heard of them.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel."
Unlike our haphazard arrival, this cycle's explorers were clearly divided into two groups. Mul Armin cautiously asked me,
"You don't seem surprised to see us, Baron."
"I suspected that time was flowing outside."
"…What?"
Mul Armin flinched and glanced at my teammates behind me. Did he think one of them was a player?
I quickly added,
"I found a clue during our exploration."
It wasn't a lie.
Now that I thought about it, I could have deduced it from the Elder's story.
"Ah…"
"How did you know we were alive?"
Magnon Nias, an explorer who looked to be in his late thirties, answered my question.
"You must know about the evil spirits' gathering. The information about this place was relayed to the city through them."
Why was he talking to me like that?
As if we were equals. Did he not know how to address a noble?
Mul Armin, sensing my displeasure, quickly spoke.
"Yes. However, considering the source, most people are still skeptical. But they acknowledge the possibility."
"I see."
Okay, so I had laid the groundwork for avoiding suspicion.
Time for the next step.
"You're quite resourceful. You've already figured out how to open the portal."
"It's nothing compared to you, Baron Yandel. We had several clues from the evil spirits. We connected the ancient inscription on the stone tablet to the Sculpture Temple."
"So the two of you are collaborating?"
"For the time being, yes."
This guy's answers were too short.
How could I extract information from him?
Mul Armin, once again sensing my intentions, intervened.
"We met at the Sculpture Temple and decided to pool our fragments since we were short on time."
"We had two, and he had one."
"…Yes. So we adjusted our team sizes accordingly."
So that's why they had 40 and 20 members respectively.
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, can you tell us about this place? We'd like to hear about it before we start exploring."
Damn it, this guy was so rude.
Did he think I was his friend?
"You sound like you're demanding information."
I lowered my voice, and he quickly changed his tone.
"That wasn't my intention… I just thought… it would be beneficial for us to exchange information… since we'll be seeing each other a lot."
"Really?"
"Of course. We can be of great help to you, Baron Yandel. Your clan is quite small, isn't it?"
Even though we hadn't talked for long, I had already made my judgment.
"Our Einperial Clan might be smaller than the Big Four, but we're just as capable. The rest of our members will be arriving next month—"
This guy would only be a nuisance.
I cut him off.
"No need."
"...?"
"I don't need your help. Go explore on your own."
He flinched and stared at me.
And then, realizing I was serious…
"…That's a foolish decision. What if we find the exit first?"
"I doubt that."
"…You'll regret this."
"Oh, most people who said that to me ended up dead."
"Ha!"
He scoffed and then gathered his clan members, preparing to leave.
"Are you sure… we should just let them go?"
Mul Armin asked, concerned.
"Well… now that you mention it…"
I nodded and then called out to Magnon Nias, who was about to leave.
"Wait."
"…Have you changed your mind?"
"Just come here."
I beckoned him, and he approached me with a displeased expression. He looked at me expectantly…
Thwack!
…and I punched him in the back of the head.
"Ow!"
The sound was satisfying.
"W-What was that for?!"
"I just felt like hitting you."
"...…What?!"
He looked dumbfounded, but I didn't care.
What was he going to do about it?
He could only glare at me.
"That's all. You can leave now."
"...."
"Is there a problem?"
"…Rumors are unreliable."
He quickly gathered his clan members and left, as if he didn't want to have anything to do with me.
I chuckled, and Mul Armin asked,
"…Why did you do that?"
Ah, that?
"I didn't want to miss the opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
I just shrugged.
I couldn't hit him after he was dead, could I?
______________________
I didn't dwell on those who had left.
I focused on the remaining explorer.
"Mul Armin, was it?"
"Yes, Baron."
"Call me Bjorn."
"It would be an honor, Baron."
"So what are your plans?"
"I… was about to tell you about that."
"Me?"
It was about the forum post. The one about the explorers trapped on an island.
"Now that we've met you, it seems likely that the post was true. So we're planning to go there first."
"Why?"
"We have to save them. And besides, we don't have any information about this place, so it's better than wandering around aimlessly."
"That's true."
Mul was the complete opposite of Magnon.
Even though we hadn't talked for long, I could tell…
He was trustworthy.
"If you have any advice for us, we would be grateful. It would help us protect our members. And of course, we'll compensate you."
"Don't worry about the compensation."
I chuckled and gave him two pieces of advice.
"If you see an island, be careful. We encountered a Tol-Lafupa near it."
"The Tol-Lafupa…? The 1st-grade monster?"
"That's right. It's the only one we've confirmed so far, but we can't be sure."
"…So there might be more 1st-grade monsters… This place is truly dangerous."
Mul's face darkened.
"But the rainy season is even more dangerous than the monsters."
"Rainy season…?"
"On Day 14, it starts raining monsters. And it lasts until Day 21. So you need to find a safe place to hide."
I told him about the monsters that appeared during the rainy season, and his face turned pale.
"So that's what you meant… by 'no opportunity'…"
"That's right. We'll be going now. Good luck."
"What?"
Mul looked flustered by my sudden departure, but I didn't answer and turned to leave.
I wanted to make him feel uneasy.
One step, two steps, three steps…
'He should be stopping me by now…'
Why wasn't he?
Was the information about the 1st-grade monster and the rainy season not enough?
'Should I make him an offer…?'
As I was thinking that…
"Baron…!"
Mul called out to me, and I slowly turned around, feigning ignorance.
"What is it?"
"Well…"
"Hurry up. I don't have much time."
"…How about we join forces?"
That was exactly what I wanted.
But I just looked him up and down, my expression indifferent.
"Hmm… with you?"
"Yes. We won't be a burden. We'll even give you full command."
Mul then explained that the Armin Exploration Team was a small but elite group that specialized in finding Gavrilius's Arrangements. They had a lot of experience exploring hidden areas.
I already knew that.
They were famous.
And for good reason.
"The offer isn't bad, but what about the loot distribution?"
I cut to the chase, and Mul hesitated for a moment before answering.
"You arrived here first, and you know more than we do, so we won't be greedy."
"Give me a number."
"We won't claim any of the magic stones. But we'd like half of the other loot, including essences."
This guy…
He seemed friendly, but he was still an explorer.
"We'll split the magic stones evenly. But your share of the other loot, including essences, is 30%. And we get first pick."
"Can we lower our share to 20% in exchange for removing your right of first refusal?"
"No."
Mul frowned as I firmly rejected his counteroffer. He seemed troubled by my terms, which were practically a slave contract…
It was time to add the final touch.
"Mul Armin, the choice is yours. But remember this."
I looked him in the eye and said,
"I, Bjorn, son of Yandel, never abandon my comrades."
That, at least, was the truth.
And it seemed to have had an effect.
"…I accept your terms."
I had just gained twenty high-level slaves.
______________________
The Armin Exploration Team's arrival was a huge boon.
They were even better than I had anticipated.
Four 3rd-grade explorers.
Twelve 4th-grade explorers.
A priest and three mages.
It was a luxurious lineup, considering the slave contract they had agreed to.
'If we work together, we might even be able to slay a 2nd-grade monster…'
After assessing their strength, I introduced myself to each member of the Armin Exploration Team.
"Bjorn, son of Yandel. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"I-I'm Charlotte Amblot, the team's mage…!"
"I see. You should eat more. Here, have some jerky."
"Th-Thank you!"
"And you are?"
"B-Brian Amblot…"
"Amblot?"
"Ah…! Charlotte is my younger sister."
"Oh, both of you are explorers? That's impressive! And you are?"
"I-I'm…"
The introductions took a while, but it was worth it.
'This is a good sign.'
Thankfully, there were no Hanses among them.