Day 63 of the expedition, 3 p.m.
We had scheduled plenty of time and arrived at Human Island one day before the rainy season began. Originally, I planned to spend the leftover time hunting around the island, but changed the plan and went straight into the village.
"…As I heard, this is truly a village of monsters."
"Mr. White… is this really safe?"
"Didn't the Baron tell you all to be cautious?"
Though we had briefed the explorers beforehand, they still showed signs of unease when they entered the village and saw monsters everywhere.
Of course, this only applied to the Hexts Clan.
"A monster that claims to be human…"
"This is… very rare indeed."
"I heard that if you speak the ancient language, communication is possible?"
"Haha! Haven't I told you over and over? In this vast labyrinth, it would be a huge waste of space if there wasn't a single intelligent being who could communicate!"
Members of the Armin Expedition, who had explorer blood flowing through their veins, showed curiosity rather than fear toward the monsters.
Naturally, the three mages were the most excited.
"They said we'll stay here until the rainy season passes, right? If there's a chance, I want to try conversing with them."
"…Damn, I should've studied ancient language more seriously."
"Don't worry. All conversations I have will be recorded and translated. This is an unprecedented great discovery in the history of this labyrinth!"
From their perspective, the monsters on Human Island must feel like aliens.
Some would feel fear; others curiosity.
"From here on, I'll go alone. You all stay back. Emily, you can lead them, right?"
"No problem."
I made the rest of the team wait in the house given by the chief, then entered the chief's house alone.
"Good to see you back without delay."
"Were you worried?"
"Of course. After all that long wait, you finally showed up."
Yet there was no emotion in the chief's voice when we met again.
It felt like talking to a machine.
When I saw the monster who became friends with Ainard, his voice wasn't emotionless, so maybe it wasn't just monsters who lacked feeling.
"By the way…"
While thinking that, the chief spoke first.
"I see your comrades have increased while I didn't see you. What happened?"
Apparently, he'd already heard from monsters in the village that our numbers had grown since arriving here…
"That's because time seems to pass outside, even if we're here."
"So time passed and new explorers arrived here?"
"Yes."
I nodded but asked a question.
"But you don't seem surprised?"
"The fact that time passes outside has already been proven through you."
Well, that's true.
But now that I think about it, one question arises.
[Glad to meet you again. You must be explorers from Rafdonia.]
The first day I met the chief on this island.
[Yes, how much time has passed outside?]
That question could only be asked by someone who knew time was passing.
'The more I think about it, this guy is suspicious as hell…'
Still, I kept that suspicion inside and never voiced it.
Right now, I need the chief's power and knowledge.
And if he had some scheme, he wouldn't tell me honestly anyway.
"So what's been happening outside the island?"
The chief asked, and I summarized our stories.
From exploring Tree Island, meeting explorers on Rock Island, rescuing explorers on Giant Island, to the portal stele found in the cave.
And finally, the colossal giant seen when leaving that island.
"…You found many things in such a short time."
The chief spoke, sounding anything but impressed, then asked.
"But why did you suddenly return to Rock Island?"
I expected that question.
I had omitted any mention of the evil spirit when telling the story before.
So there was a gap in the tale.
"Chief, after thinking about your words, I concluded that time passes outside as well. So I went just in case. Also, I got stuck in a dead end while exploring Tree Island."
"Hmm… I see."
The chief accepted my prepared excuse without suspicion, and the info sharing ended there.
Then the chief moved on to the next topic.
"The portal stele that doesn't work… maybe that's the key to escape. What are your next plans?"
"Oh, about that."
Before answering, I mentioned this first.
"Chief, you and I made a deal. You help our expedition, and we give you information we discover."
"Is that so?"
The chief seemed puzzled about why I suddenly said this.
Trying to get something for free, huh.
I smiled wryly.
"From now on, I'll need your help."
The first step of the escape plan.
"My help…?"
We need to become stronger.
I felt the desperate need to level up right after leaving Giant Island. After all, we saw that colossal giant at the end.
'If difficulty rises exponentially… I have to keep in mind that the Library Island and Tree Island might also have such monstrous bosses.'
Well, it's just a possibility for now.
Still, it was clear that giant «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» was the boss of that island.
That island was where the portal stele was found.
According to the big data accumulated from long play of [Dungeon & Stone], it's very likely that the giant is the key to escape.
But…
"I need time to think."
The chief gave a lukewarm answer.
Even though he's been trapped here for countless ages, he must want to leave more than anyone.
"The rainy season will start tomorrow, so give me your answer before then."
"Understood."
So the topic was postponed for now.
After that, we talked about less important matters.
"With more people, one house won't be enough. I'll prepare new lodgings by tomorrow, so bear with the inconvenience."
"A day won't matter. These people are used to sleeping on the bare ground."
"That's good."
"But where did those guys go?"
"If you mean the Silver Lion Clan, they left the island not long after you departed. And haven't returned yet."
Hmm… really?
The rainy season is about to start.
'Could they have gone to some strange island and met disaster?'
Given their level, that was believable.
We ourselves started actively recruiting because we lacked people to reach end content.
"We'll wait as long as possible, but once the rainy season starts, we'll lock the village gates."
"That's only natural."
They might be on their way back to the island now, so we ended the discussion about the Silver Lion Clan.
And then…
"Anything else?"
"No. Tell me your decision immediately once you have it."
"Will do."
Having shared all that needed sharing, I returned to where the comrades were staying.
The lodging that was roomy during last rainy season had now turned almost into a refugee camp.
Well, seven people became thirty-nine, so naturally.
"Hext, Muul, hang in there. The chief said he'll prepare a new place by tomorrow."
"That's a relief."
While White Hext showed relief as survival was top priority, Armin was different.
"I don't care about lodging. But… I heard stories about the chief…"
"Oh?"
"That the chief is the Dragon Knight, Cornelius Brüngrid—is that true?"
"Who told you that?"
Muul flinched at my question and stared at one spot.
Ainard, sitting at that spot, avoided my eyes.
"Hah…"
Yeah, that's my fault.
I hadn't told him to keep it secret this time. If I had, he wouldn't have spread it.
Muul noticed the mood and quickly defended Ainard.
"Sorry, I asked an unnecessary question…"
"No, it's not a secret anyway. To answer, the story is only half true."
"Half true?"
"Yes. He claims to be that, but it's not confirmed."
"I see…"
Since it came to this, I wanted to hear Muul's opinion. He's been searching for labyrinth secrets almost all his life.
Maybe he knows something.
"Muul, what do you think? Could that be true?"
"Hmm… I haven't met him myself, so I can't say for sure. But if it's true, one thing bothers me."
"What is it?"
"That he inhabits a monster's body and enjoys immortality."
"Why?"
"The Sage's biography is famous… but records about his comrades are suspiciously scarce. I once collected their records eagerly because I was curious about their secrets—"
"Enough, get to the point."
"I once found an old document about Brüngrid at an antique market."
"What was it?"
"Before I explain, I must say this clearly: although the document is confirmed as a record written at that time, its authenticity remains unproven."
Come on, just give me the gist.
"Of course. So what was in it?"
Muul Armin carefully began.
"The dragon knight Cornelius Brüngrid was obsessed with immortality and clashed repeatedly with the Sage because of it."
An ancient secret I heard from Muul for the first time, with uncertain authenticity.
But somehow…
"Immortality…"
Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?
Day 64, 9 p.m.
The chief visited our lodging.
He had two reasons.
One, to solve the cramped housing problem by preparing new lodgings…
"I have decided to accept your proposal."
And second, the chief finally made a decision.
After hearing about immortality, the chief felt a bit more awkward, but didn't mention it.
It's not good to confront the chief now.
Better to take what's offered first, then investigate carefully.
Therefore…
"All the warriors in the village are ready."
The chief gathered the village warriors and went outside with us.
The reason was very simple.
Basement 1, the records repository.
Escaping from here is difficult at our current level.
We must get stronger.
And to get stronger, hardship is necessary.
"There are about two hours left. If you change your mind, tell me. Charging headlong into disaster is foolish."
"No matter what, I won't change my mind."
Though the chief spoke persuasively, I never wavered.
And then, how much time passed?
"…"
Nearly 300 soldiers, including the village warriors, waited with grim expressions.
Finally, the moment arrived.
[Uuum!]
[Gero, gero, gerok…!!]
[Keng! Keng! Khreuherhng!]
Countless monsters' howling echoed loudly from the sky in harmony.
Crunch!
Monsters plunged headfirst into the hard ground, then vanished in bursts of light.
Shwaaaaaa—!
The surviving monsters, battered and bruised, charged at us.
The waiting explorers and monster warriors drew weapons to fight back.
And…
'What disaster?'
I raised my shield high and shouted.
"Behel—laaaaaa!!!"
The rainy season.
A disastrous event where monsters pour down from the sky.
But as I expected, this event went as planned.
「Defeated Ritule Talisman Caster. EXP +4」
「Defeated Werewolf.」
「Defeated Wall Mole.」
「Defeated Akeltas. EXP +5」
「Defeated Underground Dragon. EXP +4」
「Defeated Aiantro.」
「Defeated Orc Warrior.」
「Defeated Archipelago Guardian…」
「…」
「…」
Cracks, hidden fields, and monsters that appear very rarely in normal fields fell from the sky.
「Character leveled up.」
「Soul power increased by +30.」
「Maximum absorbable essences increased by +1.」
If this isn't a burning event, then what is?
-x-X-x-
The level of the soul.
Explorers have different expressions of the unique feeling they get when they level up.
Some people say that their stomachs are full.
Some people say that they felt fulfilled when connected to their beloved lover.
Some people say it feels like they've just woken up from a drunken stupor.
As they talk, they eventually strongly agree on one expression.
It's hard to explain in words.
Swaaaaaaaaaah.
The feeling that something outside was seeping into me, as if my existence was becoming more intense. That feeling was so vivid even during the battle.
"Behel—raaaa …
Reached level 8.
It was much sooner than I had expected.
To be honest, I thought it would take a year before I even got down to the basement level.
'Will this allow me to eat two more integers?'
Even I think it's an abnormal growth rate.
According to statistics compiled by the guild, the average time it takes to go from level 7 to level 8 is about 6 years.
Even these statistics are only for those who broke through the wall and reached level 8, and do not include those who retired from being explorers at level 7—.
Kwajik-!
He stops his thoughts and swings his hammer.
'Think about it later.'
I quickly scanned my surroundings, checking the battle situation, leaving behind the orc warrior who disappeared into the light.
"Ugh… Ugh…."
It's only been 30 minutes since the rainy season started.
The expressions of the explorers and monster warriors swinging their weapons diligently under the barrier spread out like an umbrella are clearly exhausted.
But even in that situation.
"Jeongsu...! Jeongsu has appeared!"
"Whoa...! Whose was it? Has anyone seen it? Has anyone seen it?"
"…I, I saw it! It's Bone Drake's!"
"It's a 4th grade! What are you guys doing! If you don't hurry up and pack it!"
When the essence runs out, the wizard runs and pushes the test tube in, and while he fills it with the essence, the explorers and warriors desperately protect the wizard.
"Hey! What are you doing now! I said this isn't the time to be collecting magic stones!"
"Ah… Ah! I was just worried I'd trip… Got it!"
A bizarre sight, as explorers tend to the magic stone.
Well, what can I do? If I go around collecting magic stones here, the work will increase several times.
In the first place, magic stones don't disappear like water, they can just be collected at the end of the rainy season—.
Kwaaaaaaaang-!
At that moment, something huge fell down on the barrier.
The impact was so great that even though it was received from thin air, the ground shook just from the impact.
[Woooooooooooooooooo—!]
I looked up wondering what was going on, and my eyes met with a giant looking down at me from above the cracked barrier.
"It's Hip-Plamagant...!"
Yeah, it fell from the sky again this time.
I haven't seen you for a long time today.
Crackle-
"Baron! The barrier's damage is over 70%!"
The fact that the bastard fell right from above made our days during the rainy season a little short.
It was thanks to this giant umbrella that I was able to fight when monsters fell from the sky.
"I… I, Baron! I'm satisfied with this, and first I'll go down to the village and do some maintenance—."
"Everyone, stay in your seats!"
"Where are you going, Baron!"
"First, let's get that guy out of the barrier."
With those words I went out under the umbrella.
Kwah! Kwaang! Boom!
Head, back, shoulders, waist… … .
As I go outside, monsters pouring down from the sky hit my body in [Giant] state, transmitting the shock of the fall.
It was quite a novel experience.
Whaaaa …
The monsters just hit my body and disappeared instantly.
If I had the ultra-reflective settings, would every battle be like this?
Aside from such pointless thoughts, I moved as cautiously as possible.
If I were to step on a pipe like this, it would be a big problem.
Unless you are a saint or saintess, essence removal is only possible in a temple.
'Hey.'
As I quickly jumped up and stood on the translucent barrier, the explorers began to murmur and look up at me from below.
"...The Baron has ascended above the barrier!"
"What on earth are you trying to do?"
"We can't help you in this situation...."
Yeah, you'll know if you look.
[Whoa...?]
Within seconds, I grabbed Hipramagent's hair, which was stretched out across the barrier, with both hands.
and....
"The Baron is bringing down the giant!!"
"Does that… make sense?"
"I feel it again… but you are not human."
I use all my strength to drag him down, taking advantage of the slope of the barrier that resembles a roof.
[Wow, woooooooooooooo!!]
The guy started to struggle, flustered by the situation he was experiencing for the first time, but in the end, it had a positive effect on me.
Boom-!
A guy who tried to raise his large body on top of the barrier, but ended up slipping and rolling down.
Crackle!
In the process, the barrier was further damaged, but this was an unavoidable problem.
[Wow, woooooooooooooo… … !!]
Within, the one who fell to the ground above the barrier cried out as if it was unfair.
By the way, it's not like the one who farted is the one getting angry.
'Where should I stop selling?'
I took the bastard's roar head-on and didn't even blink.
No, rather, he responded with a loud cheer.
"Waaa …
But did this action make him realize that I was a formidable opponent?
"...The, the giant is stepping back!"
"The giant was pushed back by the Baron's momentum!"
A giant who slowly steps back from his prone position while looking at me.
I felt that he was looking at me, so I quickly picked up the hammer and hit the bridge of his ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ nose with it.
Phew-!
It didn't seem like there was any significant damage.
But this was enough for the entity called Hipramagent.
[Ugh… Ughh …
The giant immediately turns around and starts running.
"Hey, the giant is running away!"
Yeah, go quickly.
This coward—.
Flash-!
uh?
The moment I turned around at the sudden flash of light.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-!
A single sword, shining white, shoots out in a straight line as if a spear had been thrown.
and....
Sigh.
Soon the sword was stuck in the giant's neck.
Kwakwakwakwaaang-!
It just exploded.
"I defeated Hipramagent."
The giant's body fell down, losing its head before it could cast a distortion spell.
"He died… you say?"
That guy in one room… …?
"...."
"...."
All the explorers, including me, gulped and looked at one place.
To be exact, the starting point from which the sword was first thrown.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Weren't you trying to catch me?"
There was a village chief there.
With the same expressionless face as always.
***
A village of monsters who call themselves humans.
And the village chief there, the knight Cornelius Brungrid.
In fact, the reason I brought him to this Burning event was because I wanted to indirectly confirm his power.
but....
'What is this old man… … .'
The skills he first displayed in front of us were nothing short of shocking.
You're catching something that Erwen couldn't catch in one shot? You're catching it in one shot?
'I knew there was definitely some hidden secret… … .'
I never thought it would be this big of a monster.
For some reason, my spine feels creepy.
"What are you doing? Didn't you say that you have to become stronger to escape? Are you going back from here?"
"…That can't be."
It wasn't a good time to be thinking about the village chief's power, so for now I just focused on dealing with the monsters.
And how much time has passed?
"Baron! I can't take it anymore!"
"…I'm going down to the village now."
We held on above until the barrier was about to disappear, and then went back down to the village.
and....
"Everyone, take a rest!"
First, we took a break at the entrance and did some maintenance.
The wizard lies down and meditates, recovering MP.
The priest and healer went around healing the wounded, while Bersil went about counting the number of people.
"Casualties?"
"There are twelve injured people in total. Three were lightly injured and nine were seriously injured."
"Are there any casualties?"
"It seems that some of the village warriors are dead… but none of us."
"That's fortunate."
When the conversation reached that point, the village chief appeared behind me without a sound.
"It's all over."
Wow, that's surprising.
"It's… over?"
"That means the entrance to the village has been closed. That means we can't go out anymore until the rainy season is over."
Oh, that's what you meant.
"Is it impossible to open and close it?"
"It's impossible."
It was disappointing in many ways.
If that had been the case, then from now on, a small group of elite people could have gone out and come back to pick up the ownerless essences.
'I told you not to leave the entrance open and go hunting monsters under the village. There's a high chance that the 'door' will be permanently damaged… . '
It's a shame that the Burning event ended like this, but I quickly gave up on it.
There was a more pressing question now.
"Chief, what was that just now?"
"that?"
"The shining sword. I've never heard of such a thing."
"I see."
"That's not what happened—"
Just as I was about to say something, the village chief cut me off and opened his mouth.
"But is there any reason why I should tell you first?"
"uh...."
Certainly… if you say that, I guess I have nothing to say.
As I was momentarily at a loss, the village chief stared at me and said:
"As you said, there was a deal between you and me. We would help you, and you would find a way out of here."
"...however?"
"You just focus on what you have to do. Don't get curious about the hard stuff."
Let's each do our own thing…
That's not wrong, but why does it sound so cheap?
"Many warriors were killed and wounded in this incident. I will go and take care of them."
"Oh, okay."
"Come see me later when you have time. We can talk more then."
After that, the village chief led the warriors into the village first, and soon we also headed to the residence prepared in the village.
And immediately began to settle the spoils.
"Here is a list of the essences I acquired this time."
Let's see… … .
"Two third-class, seven fourth-class, one fifth-class...."
It's an income that is beyond words.
It hasn't even been two hours since the rainy season started. And this isn't all I've gained from this fight.
"Oh, and Mr. Tercia and Mr. Rockrobe's soul levels were raised in this battle."
Even if Auyen is now level 7, it is very significant that Erwen has leveled up by one to level 8.
Because it means that by eating the essence of chaos, an empty space is created in the full essence space.
"My soul has also been elevated in level."
As soon as I revealed that I had leveled up, the surroundings became noisy.
"What? Bjorn! Is that true?"
"That's three slopes in one go. What, should we have a banquet tonight?"
"What is a banquet...."
The rule is that when a teammate levels up, it ends with a single 'ㅊㅊ'.
"Ugh… I thought I was barely keeping up, but am I the only one left behind again?"
Ainar clenched his fists with an indignant expression.
Well, he's still level 7.
Oh, of course, I don't think there will be much experience left until leveling up.
Maybe he'll be the one to level up next.
"Congratulations… Bjorn."
Then Misha came up to me and congratulated me.
Unlike Ainar, there was no impatience.
Well, this guy is already level 8.
It's a natural result, after being bullied by Baekho Lee for over two years.
Oh, by the way, Amelia's level is a full 8.
He said that when we first met on the second floor, he had just reached level 8, so I think he might be able to reach level 9 by the time he leaves here… … .
"Is this why everyone was so obsessed with new areas? The clan's growth rate is ridiculous...."
When Ainar reaches level 8, there will be only five level 8 members in the 7-person clan.
If you just fill in all the empty spaces with integers, you can become much stronger than you are now.
"Anyway, I'm going to start distributing it soon...."
After the harvest tally was finished, settlement began under the leadership of Bersil. Since there was nothing to take first, the Armin Exploration Team, which had a 30% share of the exploration income, started first.
"We would like to receive the essence of Lakrelle, the essence of Malacca, and the essence of the Demon Tracker."
I gave one 3rd class essence and two 4th class essences in a legitimate way, and then it was the Hex Clan.
Well, actually, they are in an unpaid slave position… … .
"You guys take your pick too. Do you want something?"
"Yes? Can we do that…?"
"Aren't we comrades who fought together? And if you become stronger here, it will be easier for us too. So don't think about money and choose the essence you need."
We need to provide this level of welfare so that problems don't arise later.
"Then… we will go with these three integers."
Within, the Hex Clan consulted with its members and chose two tier 4s and one tier 5s.
Is not choosing the 3rd grade your last conscience?
'I guess I should keep this for now.'
After the settlement was over, we were given some free time.
The explorers, exhausted from the previous battle, dispersed to rest, and those who had obtained new essence set out to test the new essence with shining eyes despite their exhaustion.
"It seems like it's been a while since we were left alone."
"Yes, that's right."
"Yandel, when are you going to visit the village chief?"
"Let's rest for today and maybe tomorrow."
"I see...."
"By the way, the Silver Lion Clan didn't show up until the very end."
"It's highly likely that they're dead. They were greedy compared to their skills."
After that, we all ate together and talked, and then each of us did whatever we wanted.
"I'll just take a quick look around."
"Can I help you?"
"Then good."
Amelia scouts with Erwen.
"I… can I go out too? I'm not that tired...."
Einar goes out, saying he is going to meet his monster friend who works at the blacksmith shop.
"Bjorn… I'm going to rest for a bit. See you later..."
"Me too… I'm tired after going through that."
Misha and Auyen went into the room and went to sleep.
Before I knew it, only Bersil and I were left in the living room.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to meditate a bit more. I used too much magic this time, so my head hurts a bit."
"I see."
"What about Mr. Yandel?"
"I think I'll read a book and get some sleep."
With those words, I went into my room, turned on the magic lamp, and opened the book.
For some reason, I couldn't focus on the contents of the book at all.
'Cornelius Brungrid.'
I wonder how strong this guy is.
Looking at it, it seems possible that he still possesses all the essences he had during his human days.
If we all put down the sticks together, can we win?
No, from the beginning.
'If he tries to kill us… … .'
Will I be able to protect my colleagues then?
After thinking about this and that, I laid down on my desk and fell asleep.
"Yandel, wake up."
"…Huh?"
When I woke up, Amelia was back there, shaking my shoulder.
At first, I thought he was going to nag me like usual while I was lying in bed… … .
'That look in your eyes is the expression you make when something happens.'
"…What's going on?"
As I quickly came to my senses and asked, Amelia placed an iron dagger on the desk.
"What is this?"
"This weapon was discovered at the blacksmith shop in this village."
"Uh… but?"
When I tilted my head, Amelia nodded as if telling me to take a closer look.
So, while I was observing the dagger closely.
"...."
A chill ran down my spine.
"You found this… in the blacksmith shop?"
The dagger was engraved with the symbol of the Silver Lion Clan.
-x-X-x-
A dagger emblazoned with the Silver Lion Clan's emblem.
Why was it here?
The moment I pondered this, a possibility naturally arose in my mind.
[If you mean the Silver Lion Clan, they left the island not long after you departed. And they haven't returned.]
The chief's previous words could be false.
Perhaps… the Silver Lion Clan didn't fail to return—they crossed a river from which there was no return.
By someone's doing.
"…"
"…"
Judging by her expression, Amelia seemed to think similarly…
"Was there anything else besides the dagger?"
"That's all. At least from what we've confirmed so far."
"I see…"
It was hard to draw any definite conclusion for now.
It's possible monsters accidentally took the dagger, or maybe these monsters bought it from the Silver Lions.
In short, you can spin hopeful scenarios as much as you want.
But…
"This is troublesome."
When variables arise, it's always best to assume the worst.
"As you saw, that person is dangerous."
The chief's power wasn't just monstrous.
With a flick, he threw a sword and instantly killed a Hiphramagent. But if that sword flew at me—would I survive?
Since I couldn't know, I first confirmed this.
"…Who knows that we have this dagger?"
"Still no one. Fnelin found it by accident when checking if she had caused trouble."
"Is it possible to put it back without being noticed?"
No need for long discussion.
"Now, yes."
"Please do."
"Understood."
Amelia carefully tucked the dagger back into her clothes.
She already knew everything.
That opposing the chief now would be far too risky.
'We're trapped in this village until the rainy season ends.'
The chief held a secret.
That much was clear.
But we weren't ready to handle it yet.
The day after Amelia safely returned the dagger to the forge.
"From today, investigate the Silver Lion Clan's whereabouts as discreetly as possible. Don't tell Ainard, Versil, or even Elwen."
"Yandel, what about you?"
"I'm going to meet the chief again."
After assigning Amelia the new quest, I headed to the chief's mansion.
"You came earlier than expected."
"I have nothing better to do than rest."
"I'd offer you tea, but this village has none. Sit."
Perhaps because I came after seeing the Silver Lion dagger?
Although we talked normally as before, I found my muscles tensing unconsciously.
Thump!
Like standing before a psychopath killer, but I tried to act naturally without showing it.
Acting like this is my specialty anyway.
"So, what did you want to talk about? Since you called me out alone, it's not just for chit-chat, right?"
"Hmm, it's ambiguous, but if it's business, it's business."
The chief said with his usual deadpan voice.
"Bjorn Yandel. I'm curious about you."
"…What?"
"Strange? Perhaps I'm interested in the explorer who might let me out of here?"
"That's not it…"
It was an awkward topic, but I quickly assessed the situation.
The Silver Lion is one thing, this is another.
"Why should I tell you because you're curious?"
I rephrased yesterday's answer in my own style.
"You once told me to focus on the task, not pointless curiosity."
Though I deliberately spoke bluntly, the chief surprisingly showed no displeasure.
"That's true."
No, he accepted it so easily it almost embarrassed me.
"Then how about we answer each other's questions? You probably have many questions about me as well."
Hmm…
A one-on-one truth game…
"All right."
No long hesitation.
This world isn't made so easy that you get what you want without risk.
'I'm used to this kind of situation now.'
I quickly took the initiative.
"May I start asking?"
"Go ahead."
"Do you still possess the essences you had as a human?"
The most important question at this point.
Brüngrid's essences were quite famous.
Like other legendary heroes, his essence combinations, called 'vision', were passed down.
Not all his essences are known, but knowing this would roughly show his strength.
"No, I don't."
Hmm, no?
"Then what was that glowing sword yesterday?"
"Now it's my turn."
"…Go ahead."
Since I could gain something from the chief's question, I passed without resistance.
What would be his first question?
Curiosity grew as the chief slowly spoke.
"How old are you?"
A totally unexpected question.
"Age…?"
"Was that a difficult question?"
"…Twenty-four."
I answered honestly despite feeling a bit stunned.
'Why ask age? To lull me before an important question?'
I felt uneasy, but it wasn't bad to pass the turn with age info.
"You're much younger than I thought. And at that age, with your skills and noble lineage, very impressive."
I ignored the flattering words and began my turn.
"If not essences from your human days, did you gain your abilities on this island?"
Those calling themselves 'human' are a very special type.
Innately possessing passives and actives.
This is a trait shared with other monsters.
But…
"Yes. I was given only time, and as you saw, this island is full of monsters."
They can absorb essences.
But they cannot level up, and each has from 3 to 7 innate essence slots.
'…It's hard to say if I should even call them monsters.'
Honestly, they could be considered races like elves, dwarves, barbarians, or beastmen.
The races of Rafdonia have unique traits.
Elves summon spirits, barbarians grow stronger through spirit engravings, dwarves gain bonuses from equipment, and beastmen use soul water to strengthen themselves.
In that sense…
'They start with a fixed level at birth and have one innate race-specific essence.'
From this viewpoint, that can be considered a 'race-specific trait.'
But…
'Essences dropped.'
I saw monster warriors turn into light and vanish upon death in the recent battle.
Which confirms they're monsters…
'What matters is… this.'
I finished the biological pondering on whether it's appropriate to call them monsters.
It was the chief's turn.
"Tell me about your first entry into the labyrinth."
"…Why are you curious about that?"
"To understand who you are."
"That'll be a long story."
"My longest possession is time. But you may be different. A summary is fine."
"…Then fine."
I told a few episodes from my first expedition, and it became my turn again.
'Now, what should I ask?'
After brief thought, I decided on a sensitive question.
"Tell me about the Immortal King."
"The Immortal King…?"
Isn't he the one who claims to be an ancient hero?
If ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) true, I could learn secrets of old from him, or if false, I could approach the chief's identity.
"The first king of Rafdonia."
"Oh, you mean the lord? But that'll be a long story, are you sure?"
"I have plenty of time for now."
"Hmm… it's too broad, I don't know where to start. The lord was a very lucky man."
"Lucky?"
"Yes. The lord was an ordinary man. But… he had the most talented mage as a friend."
"You mean the Sage."
The chief nodded and continued.
"The Sage foresaw the apocalypse and prepared for it long ago. He persuaded his lord friend and spent the entire family fortune to prepare. People laughed at the foolish lord. Nobles across the continent snickered."
But after the apocalypse was realized, the story changed completely.
"The kings of neighboring countries, the continent's best swordsmen, and the mages of Inkharun—all took what they could and fled there. They begged to be allowed inside."
The lord and the Sage strictly filtered refugees.
And…
"That's how Rafdonia was born."
"Wait, then what is Noah Arc?"
"…?"
"The underground city. It also has a portal to the labyrinth."
"Oh, you mean the underground shelter? I haven't been there but heard of it."
Hmm… a shelter…
"Sorry to interrupt, please continue."
"Anyway, since so many were trapped in the city, supplies quickly ran out. Then the Sage finally created a portal connecting to another dimension."
That was the labyrinth.
A mysterious land full of monsters.
Initially, the plan was for the entire city to migrate to the new land.
"To realize the migration plan, the Sage formed an expedition team, and I was lucky to join."
The team explored the labyrinth actively.
Then, with the mages' research discovering the value of magic stones, the migration plan was scrapped.
Magic stones.
A universal substance that can be food, water, even iron.
"That stabilized the city and created a foundation for permanence. The city grew, and the number of portals increased. But if you ask what the lord did in the process, there's nothing much to say."
All achievements belonged to the Sage; the lord was just the luckiest man alive.
That was the chief's assessment.
'That's suspicious in itself…'
I wanted to ask a new question, but sadly, it was now his turn.
"How was your second expedition?"
The chief asked about my expedition episodes again. I was cautious but told the story.
"The Blood Fortress… a nostalgic name. An interesting tale."
"Then it's my turn."
Hmm, what to ask next?
I decided on a possibly sensitive question.
"How did the Immortal King gain immortality?"
It's info related to royal power and could probe Cornelius Brüngrid.
What answer would the chief give?
Just then—
Knock knock.
At the door came a knock and ancient language words.
[Chief, urgent news.]
"Sorry. Let's continue this another time."
The chief dismissed me, and I left his house. Outside was a familiar monster.
'Marupichichi's dad.'
A warrior recognized in the village, almost the chief's right-hand.
"…"
[….]
We awkwardly greeted with eyes and I passed by toward the lodging.
Walking, I kept thinking.
'Urgent news… if it came to this, it must be important… what could it be?'
The conversation with the chief was suspicious in many ways.
'…Asking my age.'
I couldn't grasp his intent.
If he'd been so interested, he could've interrogated the Silver Lion Clan earlier.
'Maybe he was totally wrong.'
Suddenly, I thought the dagger found at the forge was nothing, and maybe they left and never came back.
But—
Ding!
That's exactly when danger strikes.
So I reviewed today's conversation.
'The chief asked my age.'
Why?
Was he really curious?
'No way.'
Even without interrogating the Silver Lion Clan, he could've gotten that info easily.
That means…
'His claim of curiosity is a lie.'
Then why did the chief propose the truth game?
It's like buying a piece of bread with a gold nugget…
'Wait.'
The moment that thought came, lightning struck in my mind.
'Maybe… that was his purpose.'
He gave me the 'gold nugget.'
In other words, using the truth game as an excuse to naturally give me 'information.'
That would explain a lot.
'That glowing sword… now I realize there was no need to show it.'
I didn't know the chief's power then.
Simply put, if the chief wanted to hide his strength, he could've easily.
But he killed the giant with one strike right in front of me.
'So it was all deliberate…'
I don't yet know the purpose.
With little info, I need to talk more with the chief to approach the truth.
But…
Day after day…
I went to the chief's house for clues, but it was always empty. When asking village monsters about the chief, they said he was busy.
'Is he avoiding me? Or is it really urgent?'
My doubts only grew.
"Mr. Yandel…"
"What is it?"
"Mr. Raines is missing. Usually he's back by now, so I wondered if he's here."
Versil reported Amelia's late return. I tried to suppress my worry and waited until morning.
But…
"He's not coming."
I refused to waste the golden time hoping.
"Everyone, get your extensions ready."
Amelia, who searched the village daily, was missing.
-x-X-x-
None of our entire expedition team took long to gather. That was thanks to having already called everyone together earlier, just in case.
Well, that didn't mean anyone was mentally prepared.
"If you mean… equipment, you're talking about weapons?"
"Yes."
"You don't mean… you plan to fight them…?"
"Why, is there a problem with an explorer wanting to kill monsters?"
I asked those who weren't ready yet, and that was enough.
"…No, sir."
"What are you all doing? Not obeying the baron's orders!"
Reckless.
Nothing had been properly confirmed yet, and if we waited longer, maybe we'd return safely.
So let's wait a bit more.
Though everyone was likely thinking that inside, no one spoke it aloud.
They only whispered among themselves while grabbing their weapons.
"Really… is this okay?"
"Or what are you going to do? Say you don't want to go."
"…That won't happen."
"How could you handle saying that now?"
"Hmph, better to fight those monsters anyway."
No wonder there weren't any backtalkers, it was strangely quiet.
"Bjorn… calm down. Isn't everyone scared…?"
Only after hearing Misha, who had quietly come close beside me, did I realize what kind of expression I was making.
"…!"
Auyen, glancing around, locked eyes with me, then startled and quickly looked away.
Ainard was similar.
"Are you sure you're wrong? Those guys… even if they don't talk well, they're good… Ah, I didn't say anything! I swear I didn't!"
He mumbled something but stopped when I stared, shaking his head to make excuses.
I stepped forward and stood before him.
"Ainard."
"Y-Yeah! S-Speak!"
"Have ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) you grown attached to those monsters you've been hanging out with?"
"N-No! This is a problem with my head! That… that essence! Because of that essence—!"
Unlike usual, I couldn't listen calmly until the end.
Cutting him off, I spoke firmly.
Honestly, I could understand it was due to his fighting spirit, but still…
"This is a situation where comrades could be in danger. Pull yourself together before I lose faith in you."
"…Understood."
Okay, his mental reset was done.
The other explorers also seemed ready.
So no long talk was necessary.
"Let's go."
As I stepped out into the street first, dozens of explorers followed at once.
I almost ran as I moved forward.
Even my dull senses detected a presence.
"Mister."
"Is that him? The one who used to watch our house from afar every day."
"Yes. Shall we catch him?"
I hesitated a moment before answering.
"No, leave him be. He'll guide us. From now on, where we need to go."
"Ah…"
"Speed up!"
With Elwen's help, we pursued the watcher somewhere.
[Explorers… explorers!]
[Aquitity…! G-Go inside! Hurry home!]
Monsters living ordinary lives in the village noticed us moving armed in a group and were startled, hiding quickly.
How much time passed, I wondered.
'Not the direction of the chief's house…'
Where exactly was this guy heading?
That question was soon answered.
[Today I found a strange place. About 15 minutes from the chief's house, a building looking like a normal house. But there were guards everywhere.]
The suspicious house Amelia mentioned before.
"Stop."
Reaching the destination, I halted.
[…Explorer! Lower your weapons!]
How many had gathered already?
Looking at the monsters swarming like cockroaches, I muttered shortly.
[No.]
I wasn't here to negotiate.
I was looking for someone.
If you have nothing to hide, get out of the way.
Such words weren't needed.
There could be no time wasted on talking — something could happen to Amelia.
So then…
[Step aside. If you block me, I'll kill you.]
That was the minimum courtesy I could offer at this point.
However, Nyuachichi, the village warrior and right hand to the chief, and the father of Marupichichi, ignored my final warning.
[The chief ordered no one to be let in. Stand down.]
I wasn't particularly sorry.
Also, I didn't repeat the same warning or try to persuade him again. I gave the warning, he ignored it.
So there was only one thing I could do.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. Then calm down first—."
"Then die."
As warned, I swung the hammer with murderous intent.
「Character has cast [Giant Form].」
My body swelled as vitality surged.
I gathered it all and smashed the hammer down with full force.
「Character has cast [Swing].」
Nyuachichi, an archer class, stepped back quickly and drew his bowstring.
He was fast for a bow user.
「Character has cast [Transcendence].」
「Character has cast [Eye of the Storm].」
As I swung the hammer and cast a grab at the same time, a gust blew and pulled Nyuachichi's body closer.
And then…
Crack!
The hammer struck the crown of his head with perfect timing.
This wasn't a coincidence or luck.
Fighting daily, matching this timing wasn't difficult.
Especially with the body of a skilled warrior.
[…]
Nyuachichi's head crushed like a dented tin can in an instant.
He looked at me with dazed eyes like he was dreaming.
Blood streamed down his forehead.
But being the chief's trusted right hand, he didn't die instantly.
So…
'One more time.'
I pulled back the hammer, raised it high.
Whoooosh!
Again, I struck down with all my might.
Well, this blow would leave Marupichichi an orphan, but so what?
This wasn't new.
Hans A also had children…
'That bright kid will live well.'
Or soon be with his father—
'…Huh?'
Just when Marupichichi's single-parent household was only a few centimeters away, something interfered with the hammer's trajectory.
'A sword.'
From my dexterity stat, I could tell it was a weapon.
And it shone pure white.
Kraaaang!
The moment the white sword met the hammer, a powerful recoil ran along the hammer's shaft to my hand.
Flash.
Blinded by the burst of light, I forced my eyes open and stared ahead.
Then I twisted my lips coldly.
'When you said you're too busy to meet, was that before?'
The subordinate rushes out as if his guy's about to die.
"..."
"..."
A tense standoff lasted a while.
[…]
The monster warriors who had endured the rainy season together all held weapons, staring at us.
Actually, it was no different for us.
"..."
Magic, holy spells, psychic powers.
The explorers following me prepared to fight at any moment, watching the situation.
And in that moment.
"Chief."
I was the first to speak.
My patience was already at its limit.
"Give me my comrade."
Cutting everything short, I demanded.
The chief didn't ask what I meant or treat me like a freak.
That was unexpected.
"So it was because of her that you came."
The chief admitted quite plainly.
And with that.
My heated head cooled down, and my already tense muscles tensed further.
There was room to interpret his reaction.
That despite our use of force, they were fully prepared to block us easily.
Ah, but I had no intention to back down.
"…Is she dead?"
After a moment of glaring, he barely uttered the question.
The chief lifted his index and middle fingers twice in a gesture used only by monsters calling themselves human in this tribe.
And surely that gesture meant…
"Don't worry. She's alive."
Yes, it was a negative response.
The suffocating tension eased a bit, and relief bloomed.
Though the chief might be mocking me, just hearing that allowed me to breathe.
"Give her."
Once again, I spoke with a stronger tone.
The chief glanced at me and replied.
"If not, what will you do then?"
"I'll come find her myself. Breaking through anything that blocks me."
"Surprisingly… you seem sincere."
It goes against my principles to bluff risking a comrade's life.
"I am stronger than you."
I nodded.
"Could be."
"Aren't you afraid?"
Well.
"I've never not done what needed doing just because I was scared."
"Hmm, I see. Truly aggressive. Are you a lover?"
"..."
I didn't answer such pointless talk.
"If not, you must cherish your comrades very much."
The chief muttered ambiguously, then ordered his men.
[Nyuachichi… Ah, now's not the time. Bring any female explorer inside.]
Is she really alive?
"Wait a moment. We'll discuss this afterward."
While waiting with anxiety and hope, the monster warriors brought Amelia.
She was lying unconscious on a stretcher…
"What happened?"
"We only knocked her out briefly, did no harm."
No external wounds were visible.
But appearances can be deceiving.
"Take her inside. Judging by your state, no discussion will be possible now."
After receiving Amelia, I ordered priests and mages to check her condition thoroughly.
And…
"As the chief said… it really looks like she's only unconscious."
Hearing the confirmation from an ally, I exhaled the breath I'd been holding.
"Huh…"
Amelia was safe.
That alone felt like crossing a major hurdle, but more challenges remained.
Because nothing was resolved yet.
"Now, are you ready to talk?"
"Why did you kidnap Emily?"
"Kidnap? That's absurd. Actually, we should be the ones questioning. That woman secretly broke in here."
So that's how it went down.
"But if that's true, you should have called me immediately."
"Right. But I wanted to check first if she came out of personal curiosity…"
The chief looked at me then.
With those fishy eyes that always annoyed me.
"Or if it was under your orders."
Before I could answer, he continued.
"Ah, she acted alone. She didn't answer anything else no matter how much we asked. Don't misunderstand—we only scared her a little, didn't cause her any pain."
"I appreciate that—."
"But you must take responsibility for this."
"…?"
"A leader's job. Whether it was your order or not. Your comrade ignored our rules and disrupted the village. Worse, without checking, she came in blindly and tried to kill our warriors."
I had no words for that.
Amelia's survival.
And the fact they brought her in properly as a prisoner.
That proved my actions were excessive.
"So, how will you take responsibility?"
The chief's final ultimatum came like a cold blow.
His tone was void of emotion, which made the pressure even greater.
Because I had no clue what he truly thought.
'What's needed now… isn't an apology.'
I judged quickly and spoke.
First, I wouldn't avoid responsibility as leader.
"Emily Rains did enter there under my orders."
"Oh?"
"But there was a reason."
"I'm curious."
I began to speak.
Originally, I didn't plan to open up so much, but sometimes directness is the answer.
"Recently, I 'accidentally' found a dagger marked with the Silver Claw Clan's emblem."
"And?"
"I wondered why their weapon was inside this village, which they supposedly abandoned. So I started investigating behind the scenes."
"I see, so that's how it happened…"
"Since it's come to this, tell me. What happened to that dagger? And what exactly is inside that house you were hiding?"
The chief hesitated as if thinking.
After a moment,
"First, about the dagger. I can't be sure since I didn't see it myself, but before they left, they traded with the villagers. It's highly likely it got mixed in then."
Yeah, that answer was expected.
Anyway, I couldn't tell truth from lie.
The chief spoke again as I silently watched.
"And about that house you mentioned… It's a bit troubling, but better you see it yourself."
"Fine. Show me."
The warriors guarding the fence stepped aside as the chief motioned, clearing a path.
I followed the chief inside.
"Down here."
Inside the disguised normal house was a staircase leading underground, and descending it, I finally saw with my own eyes what these monsters had been hiding.
"…Damn it."
The stench of rot had been strong even from the stairs above, so I wasn't surprised.
"Well, this is what you were curious about—"
The basement was filled with rotting corpses.
"Our village's secret."
Though the bodies were so mutilated it was hard to recognize their forms, it wasn't too difficult to identify what they were.
"But now you know, don't you?"
…Human corpses.
-x-X-x-
Thump-!
My heart is pounding, but my head is cold and calm.
'corpse.'
It's a human corpse.
And the village chief, standing right behind me, shows me these corpses and says:
These corpses are our town's secret.
Thump-!
Aside from the cold sweat forming on my back, I tried my best to calm my thoughts.
Why didn't you show it to me first when you could have just said you didn't want to show it?
Now that you know the secret, you won't act like you should disappear.
"What are these corpses?"
"You're much calmer than I expected."
"There must be a reason why you showed it to me."
Of course, it is also possible that he deliberately lured me underground with the intention of getting rid of me.
But, I feel like that's not the case.
"You're smart. Your guess is correct. I thought it might help to ease your misunderstanding if I showed you this place."
"Misunderstand...."
Soon I took a quick look around the basement.
Corpses literally piled up like a mountain.
There's definitely something fishy going on.
Should I say that the numbers don't match up? Even if you kill all the explorers of the Silver Lion Clan, this number will never be possible.
"So who are these people?"
"I don't know."
"…what?"
As we looked at each other with eyes that said, "What kind of trick is this?" the village chief slowly opened his mouth.
"Actually, you are not the first explorers to come to this island. There have been others before."
"But why did you pretend to see us for the first time?"
"Oh, I guess I should start with that. I wasn't pretending it was the first time."
Are you trying to make some kind of pun?
Just as he was about to say something in rebuttal, frowning, the village chief continued.
"You are the first living explorers, you know."
"What does that mean?"
"It's true. The corpses here have been like this since I first saw them. Their entire bodies were twisted, their arms and legs were connected, and they were dead. And no matter how much time passed, they didn't decay at all. It was as if time had stopped at that moment."
"So, does that mean you picked up all these corpses that fell during the rainy season?"
"No, that's not true. The expression 'picked up' is not wrong, but… their falling from the sky had nothing to do with the rainy season. However, the cycle was very long."
The village chief bent down and picked up one of the corpses on the floor, holding it by the head. Then, looking at the half-rotted head, he continued speaking in an emotionless voice.
"Shortly, ten to fifteen years. Longly, thirty to forty years. These corpses have fallen from the sky. And I suspect that it might have something to do with the dimensional collapse."
"Dimensional collapse?"
"That's right. Not only is the cycle somewhat similar, but one of the journals I found from these corpses also contained a story about dimensional collapse."
As he said that, the village chief took out a notebook from his bosom and handed it to me. He explained that I only had to read the last page.
Anyway, the damage was so bad that it was difficult to read the other chapters?
First, I opened the notebook and read the last page.
[… … … … The whole world is falling apart and twisting. I think I understand why so many of my predecessors have called it a disaster. This is not a disaster at all.]
[… … Mulk is dead. Ilya is dead. Sir Swalkie is dead. Miss Quiriane is dead. And maybe… I won't be able to hold out much longer.]
[… … No, I must return alive. Because I have a duty to convey the words they left behind.]
Someone's expedition journal that ends with words of determination.
I think I know why the village chief thought dimensional collapse was the cause. The fact that the last entry in the notebook was dimensional collapse was suspicious enough.
Of course, that's that and this is this.
"So why did you keep these bodies in the basement? Why did you keep it a secret from us?"
"This story is going to be a bit long."
As the village chief waved his hand, the monster warriors surrounding him quickly retreated.
Well, why are you sending it when people can't even speak?
I had doubts, but I didn't address them.
"These corpses meant a lot to me. Their presence allowed me to see that time was passing outside, and through the occasional records that appeared, I could hear about what was happening outside."
"however?"
"I started researching. I thought I might find some clues that could help me leave this damned place. But my expectations were wrong. I tried everything I could, but these corpses were just ordinary corpses. Time just didn't pass."
After the last experiment of sending these corpses up to the labyrinth to at least let the outside world know about this place's existence ended in failure, the village chief stopped his research.
And they gathered the corpses and stored them underground.
I was discouraged and gave up for now, but I still had the lingering hope that it might be used again someday.
but....
"In the midst of all that, you came. You were the last hope for me, when I had given up on everything."
"So you decided to hide the story about these corpses?"
"I was already on guard because of your monstrous appearance, but I thought showing you this would avoid misunderstandings. Even if I had to tell you someday, I planned to do so as carefully as possible."
But eventually Amelia sneaked in and saw the truth, so she had no choice but to tell the truth.
To summarize, the story is like this… … .
"Did that answer your question?"
"well."
It's not that the story is completely unconvincing.
However, it cannot be denied that there is something suspicious somewhere.
I wasn't surprised when he talked about the outside world.
I also knew that time was passing, etc.
If this story is true, it explains a lot of the questions I had… … .
'I'm saying it feels like it was roughly put together.'
If you think about it, it was like that in any world.
The best way to hide the truth was to tell only a few of the truths.
The biggest question from the beginning was not resolved.
"So you have nothing to do with the disappearance of the Silver Lion Clan?"
"That's right. Why would I have any reason to harm them in the first place?"
Ugh… What should I do now?
If you had just hit me on the back of the head, I would have just said I was right and it would have been the end of it.
Things got a little complicated.
'Should I just believe this or not?'
I thought about it for a moment, but the answer came quickly.
'I can't believe it.'
There is no one in this world you can trust except your colleagues.
Yeah, so… … .
'Okay, conclusion complete.'
What I have to do going forward also becomes clear.
"Since we have hidden things, we will not hold you responsible for your colleagues breaking the laws of our village or for your 'mistakes' resulting from them. What do you think?"
I responded with a hearty laugh to the village chief's words that we should just get through it amicably.
No, to be exact—.
"That's good. I'm glad the misunderstanding has been resolved."
"Yeah, I'm glad your misunderstanding has been resolved… Huh?"
He struck the hammer with a smile.
Phew-!
A strong hand feel from the hammer stuck between the eyebrows.
Blood flows out of the wound that opened up within a moment.
In that state, the village chief showed his emotions for the first time.
"...…why?"
An emotion that was too calm to be anger, and too vivid to be sadness.
I answered, looking into the fish's eyes full of doubt.
There were many questionable parts in the story.
I had a feeling that it was wasting time.
I had a gut feeling that if I gave it time, it would eventually hit me hard in the back of the head.
There was no need to even present such illogical grounds.
Just one sentence was enough.
"Because my eyes feel bad."
"...?"
"So I hit you, is there a problem?"
The Barbarians need no other reason.
***
Is the village chief an enemy or an ally?
If they are enemies, what kind of hidden agenda are they hiding?
What is true and what is false.
Such worries are no longer meaningful.
Because with one hammer blow, a complicated story becomes much clearer.
The village chief and I have an irreparable relationship.
So, I'll kill you here.
If you fail to kill… … .
'Escape this village with your comrades.'
A situation that falls apart so cleanly.
However, the village chief asked me as if he still did not understand.
"There was no reason for you to resort to such extreme measures."
"Oh! Is that so?"
"You care about your comrades terribly. But putting them in danger like this is not like you."
I don't know how many times he had seen me before he said something like that, but it wasn't something I would listen to carefully.
So, at this point… … .
"Behel—raaaa …
He lets out a battle cry and strikes the hammer down once more in surprise.
Boom-!
Unfortunately, the village chief was not flustered and drew his sword to block ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) the hammer. However, was it clear that he had conveyed his intention that he did not want any more conversation?
The village chief recited in a cold voice.
"Wrong choices come with consequences."
Well, saying that with a fish head doesn't sound cool at all.
Is this the patient who needs mirror therapy this time?
I don't know, but I stuck my mouth out like a fish and followed suit.
"A hole in the sunshade will make you sick."
For some reason, the reaction came after a bit of a delay.
"...He was a crazy guy."
Well, I don't think it's worth praising it here.
Kwak-
As I held the hammer with both hands and applied more force, the village chief's sword began to be pushed back more and more.
'Seeing you being pushed around in a situation where you have to use both hands, I can tell that you have less strength than me.'
But would you have made a similar decision?
The village chief also finished the struggle, raised his sword at an angle, and gently pushed the hammer aside.
Boom-!
A hammer that falls to the ground while preserving its mass.
At the same time, the village chief's sword emitted a bright light.
Phew-!
The very same one that previously sent Hipramagent flying in one blow.
It looks similar to Aura, but… … .
'There must be so many skills like this in the labyrinth.'
Because of that, I haven't figured out what that skill is yet, but it wasn't a big problem right away.
"The character cast [Iron Fortress]."
"The effect of [Evolved Shell] increases by 1.5 times."
That makes sense.
"It has a 75% resistance to sword-type weapons only."
It's a sword anyway, right?
Kwaaaaang-!
The sword that pierced Hipramagent's head like a tofu was blocked by the shield and bounced off.
The condition of the shield is… … .
'Is there a slight scratch on this?'
Yeah, as they say, there's nothing as scary as your imagination.
After experiencing it firsthand, I realized that it is more worthwhile than I thought.
Well, it's not like there aren't any problems.
Phew-!
His agility stat is much higher than mine, and he misses all of his attacks except for the first one.
"The character cast [Eye of the Storm]."
Even in situations where [Eye of the Storm] is used, which is particularly effective in narrow areas, Tahal remains at 30%.
Phew-!
Even if it hit, it wouldn't cause much damage.
'It seems like the tolerance is low… but the regenerative power is quite good.'
The wound from the first blow, which was the biggest one, has already completely healed.
Within moments, I quickly reconsidered my decision.
'It's impossible to kill them 1:1 here.'
I give up on killing the village chief alone.
So, what I need to do next is this.
"Chief, do you know of two ways to make people angry?"
First, let's distract them with an unexpected question.
"...?"
When you start questioning what I said.
Jjanggrang-!
He takes the Molotov cocktail out of his subspace bag and throws it on the pile of corpses, shattering it.
and....
Hwaruruk-
Leaving the blazing fire behind.
Tadah.
I run up the stairs with all my might.
"Behel—raaaa …
There were no monster warriors on the stairs, perhaps because the soundproofing was quite good. I climbed the stairs, destroying the ceiling so that the village chief could not easily follow me.
Toodoodo, toodoodoodo-!
The basement, which seemed to have little talent for architecture, began to collapse like dominoes after being slightly destroyed.
Kuung-!
The rocks kept falling nonstop as I climbed the stairs, hitting my head and shoulders.
And then about 30 seconds passed.
Boom-!
Finally, I was able to break down the door and get out. In the living room on the first floor, my colleagues and monster warriors were waiting for me, facing each other… … .
"Something must have happened! We should hurry and go down—"
[I need to check if the village chief is safe—.]
The two groups spot me and gape in amazement.
The only one who had reason and spoke with an open mouth was Bersil.
"Uh… Mr. Yandel? What is the situation right now—."
Hey, can't you tell just by looking at it?
Even though I had destroyed everything, there was no time to explain because it was clear that the village chief's son would come up soon.
Yeah, so… … .
So that anyone, whether a three-year-old or not, can immediately understand the situation clearly.
Kwajik-!
I shouted as I smashed the head of the nearest monster warrior with my hammer.
"We are escaping from this village now!"
-x-X-x-
The main street leading from the chief's house to the entrance.
I was sprinting down it at full speed.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
With [Giant Form] activated, each step sent out a noise comparable to a construction site, but I didn't think it was really causing a nuisance.
Besides, it wasn't the time to be sleeping now…
"F-Fire…!"
"Bring water!"
The village was already in chaos trying to put out the flames.
No one here would be sensitive to the sound of a barbarian's heavy steps.
Ah, wait—maybe they're not human?
That same doubt I'd mulled over several times resurfaced again.
"…Is this really okay?"
Versil, riding on Ainard's shoulder—a traditionally crafted mage's mount—voiced his concern to me.
"What do you mean by 'okay'?"
Not understanding, I asked back, and Versil looked behind us.
The flames and smoke rising from the village center were swallowing the whole place.
"There are quite a few villagers who aren't warriors…"
He was softer-hearted than expected.
Treating me like a human despite that fishy look on his face.
"So?"
I replied, annoyed, not wanting to be bothered while busy.
Versil closed his mouth tight.
And then…
"Um…"
For some reason, Misha took over.
"Why on earth are you like this…? This isn't like you, Bjorn…"
Not like me?
That was the second time today I'd heard that.
"Exactly! I want to know too! What did you see down there to make you like this?"
Misha's words sparked Ainard's curiosity as well.
His fighting spirit may have waned, but his barbarian curiosity remained.
'Human corpses.'
To answer simply: that was all I saw down there.
The chief showed the bodies and explained how they were obtained, hoping to clear up misunderstandings.
Up to here, no problem.
But…
[Since we have things to hide, we won't hold you accountable for your 'mistake' of breaking village laws or your comrade's intrusion. How about that?]
He said he would overlook Amelia's trespassing and the fact that I smashed Nyuachichi's head.
Strange, isn't it?
My first night companion Hans A was exactly like that.
[…Fortunately, nothing happened while she was unconscious, so no complaints.]
Anyway, I'd learned a lesson then:
If a complete stranger treats you kindly, it means they have something to gain from you.
And from experience, I had learned even more.
[Why! Why did you harm Lady Elisa! What did we ever do…!]
Elisa, a priestess of Karui we met in the labyrinth.
After hitting that suspicious woman's head, I realized:
The answer is to split the suspicious ones' heads first.
Still, I felt no need to drone on about this.
Reasonable persuasion might be possible, but not necessary here.
"Tell me. What did you see down there to make you do this?"
I asked.
"Nothing much."
Just like with the chief earlier.
One word was enough this time too.
"I just wanted to."
A reason without basis.
Misha murmured quietly.
"That's… intuition?"
Instinct.
A calculation based on unconscious big data from experience.
"Intuition!"
Ainard nodded as if satisfied.
"Oh, then there's no helping it!"
"His intuition is usually right. Thanks to it, I've survived more than once."
Elwen chuckled and agreed, while Versil added a word.
"Surely… there must be a reason for that feeling. Honestly, I was uneasy about that chief myself."
White Hext and Muul Armin, who had been secretly eavesdropping nearby, also spoke up.
Well, they hadn't known me long…
"I'm relieved hearing you say that."
"Baron Yandel's beast-like instincts are famous."
They seemed to trust my reputation.
Mostly because explorers generally think results justify means…
And explorers are superstitious.
"These guys were all a bit strange."
"Honestly, it's a relief. I couldn't sleep for worry before."
"And they said it felt like a revelation? Ignoring that would be much more unsettling!"
"Ah, yeah. Whenever you ignore your gut, bad things happen."
Apparently everyone had felt the unease.
I hadn't meant to predict this answer, though.
"Let's go!"
"Damn those monsters! Burn them all!"
For some reason, that motivated everyone and lifted morale.
Did all doubt really vanish with just one word from me? They firmly believed this was the right choice.
Well, I wasn't completely sure myself.
"…Funny bunch."
The words slipped out without me noticing.
Did someone hear?
"Funny is you, Yandel. You convinced everyone with nonsense."
Huh? That voice…
"Come to think of it, you've always been like that. Always had a knack for making people believe you're right wherever you go…"
"Emily?"
Turning sharply, I saw Amelia, awake, looking at me while carried on Auyen's back.
"If you're awake, say so. When did you wake up?"
"A little while ago."
"Body okay?"
"No problems."
Amelia jumped off Auyen's back and started running.
"I think I get the situation. You're trying to escape this village, right?"
"Yes."
"Sigh… causing trouble while I was asleep. Tell me everything. What happened?"
This wasn't a casual chat over tea, so I gave a quick briefing.
"The chief showed me the underground. Something felt off, so I hit his head. Then, I set the village on fire while fleeing. The chief is probably chasing us through the flames now."
The report was complete.
Amelia fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"…That's just like you."
I couldn't help but laugh.
I think that was the first time today someone said I was myself.
"Anyway, your turn. What happened to you?"
"I went down underground, got caught, was interrogated, and that's it."
Hmm, I see…
No extra info, unfortunately.
More info probably wouldn't change much now anyway.
"Mister, everyone's here!"
Now the real problem began.
This village was built underground like Noark.
The only way to leave the island was through the exit…
"What do we do now?"
The door was closed, and all we could see was a rock wall blocking the way.
Only the chief could open or close the entrance.
Officially, at least.
"Move aside."
Holding my hammer, I approached the wall.
Versil, a former mage, looked doubtful.
"Will this work… like that?"
That's why I don't trust eggheads.
"You'll see."
I swung the hammer with all my strength.
「Character cast [Swing].」
Kraaaaangggg!
The thick smoke around us momentarily dispersed from the impact.
Still, the wall was completely intact.
"…"
"That didn't work."
Hmm, no luck.
A barbarian looking foolish.
"Don't worry. There's a way."
"A way?"
"Yes."
Whether magic, skills, or whatever else.
Nothing physical is unbreakable.
If it doesn't break, it's because the force wasn't enough.
So, time for plan B.
"Elwen!"
Hit it harder.
「Elwen Fornaci di Tersia summons [Dark Spirit King Dichloe].」
Kwak kwak kwak—!
Hundreds of dark orbs slammed against the wall with a roar.
Still, the wall held firm.
So it's no use?
'[Swing] alone was never enough.'
The orbs cracked and chipped the stone a bit, but the rock had great regeneration, quickly restoring itself.
Seems like it needs focused damage instead of burst.
"Elwen."
No need for a long explanation.
Calling her name again, a fierce glow gathered on her arrow.
'Yeah, for focused damage, nothing beats [Concentrated Shot].'
The only downside is it takes a long time to cast.
One second, two, three…
The colors in the arrow grew deeper and more intense as time passed.
After some time passed.
"Yandel."
"You don't have to say it. I can see it myself."
Something was rapidly approaching from the smoke-filled village.
At first a dot, then it grew into a large shape in no time.
'…They're not letting us leave easily, huh?'
Still, it was later than I expected, so no complaints.
"Prepare for battle!!"
I shouted loudly as I stepped forward.
As I leaned into my shield, the thing charging at us collided with it.
Whooooosh!
Smoke scattered like an explosion.
At once, our ranged dealers unleashed focused fire.
Curses, wind blades, fireballs, arrows, energy waves—all shot swiftly in straight lines.
Unfortunately, none hit the target.
Swoosh—
Magic and psychic powers vanished into light before reaching the monster.
It was somewhat similar to the [Speechless Curse] used by the Orculus captain, but there was a clear difference.
We could use skills against that thing before.
So then…
'If this isn't the Essence of Stillness…'
There's only one skill with similar effect.
'Tol-Lapufa.'
A grade 1 monster Tol-Lapufa's skill.
[Cosmic Protection]
A broken OP skill that blocks all ranged projectiles in advance.
Note that [Cosmic Protection] is a passive skill, so the chief's active skills are unknown.
'Could he even have a grade 1 Essence?'
Feeling the weight on my shoulders, I ordered a ceasefire on ranged attacks.
Shooting now would just waste MP.
'…They're probably losing MP too, but it's not a long battle.'
No reason to waste MP unnecessarily.
Especially since we plan to head to the monster-infested land later.
So then…
"Later than expected, chief."
I tried to start a conversation.
Even gaining a second was a benefit.
"Someone has to clean up the mess you made."
Oh, I didn't expect him to accept that.
But the chief didn't seem willing to give me much time.
"It's raining outside, so why the hurry?"
"I'm too restless staying in the village."
"Stop. I'm saying this for your sake."
"For my sake?"
Smirking, I heard the chief's final offer.
"It's not too late. Stop now and all that happened today will be forgotten."
If I were a trapped mouse, that would sound sweet.
But for me, it only strengthened my conviction.
'I was worried I chose wrong.'
Who would forgive someone who smashed a hammer on their face and set fire to their ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) village?
No sane person.
If I hadn't decided to flee today, anything could have happened.
So…
"Can I think about it for a moment?"
Feigning hesitation to buy time.
But the chief seemed to have learned about me.
He responded immediately.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Uh…
"…A little?"
"…I'll count to three. Decide by then."
"Three's too few. Make it four."
The chief counted without responding.
"Three."
Well, I at least gained a few seconds.
No point letting him count all the way.
"Two."
As he said "one,"
Tap tap.
I dashed forward.
Elwen still needed time to finish her skill.
If the fight was unavoidable…
"…!"
Let's see.
Through the eyes of a veteran player who's spent nine years mastering every combination.
How strong a character trained for an eternity really is.
And then…
"Behe—laaaaaargh!!"
What the weaknesses were.