Not even once.
Is there really such a flawless person who has never made a single mistake in their entire life?
Misha Kalstein thought there wasn't.
Even the greatest saints must have made mistakes at least once while living. Even with good intentions, things could have gone wrong and produced bad outcomes.
Surely… they must have hurt someone too.
Yes, that's why it can't be helped.
Even such great people must have made mistakes once in a while, so it's obvious that someone like me, a half-breed, would too—
"I…"
Misha Kalstein quietly murmured to herself.
"What on earth am I doing…"
It was a routine repeated for days.
If only she had been fighting monsters and exchanging blows, it would have been different.
But locked alone in her room, there was not much she could do in a day.
She just wanted to live without thinking about anything, like a dead person, but that wasn't something she could do just because she wanted to.
So, throughout the long day, she thought and thought again.
Her thoughts varied, but they were always similar.
She would resent someone, then hate herself, and sometimes, like today, she would try to rationalize herself.
Ah, of course, the end of those thoughts was always the same.
"Let's leave."
Leave Clan Anabada.
No, she was never officially a member of the clan. That made leaving even easier.
So, after this expedition ended and she returned to the city, she would leave. Disappear from Bjorn Yandel's side and never appear before him again.
He would… want that too.
After hundreds of worries, hundreds of times arriving at this conclusion.
The moment she reached that conclusion once more, Misha curled her body and grabbed her chest with both hands.
"Ah…"
It hurt.
Her chest was tight and it was hard to breathe, but more than that, it really hurt.
If she closed her eyes tightly and stabbed something sharp inside, maybe the pain would lessen — that much pain.
But Misha Kalstein couldn't bring that imagination into reality.
Not because she lacked courage.
She simply knew.
'That's not allowed….'
That kind of ending was not what he wanted.
All the memories they shared would darken and fade into terrible recollections that would torment him.
'Dwalke….'
Suddenly, he came to mind.
The noble mage who saved everyone's lives in the labyrinth but gave his own last breath. Misha knew the feelings that mage held toward her.
Not from the start, but after Dwalke left her side and a long time passed, she heard it from the dwarf warrior Hikurod Murad.
He had always adored me…
At first, she couldn't believe it. If he really felt that way, why had he hidden it from her?
Even until the last candle went out.
It was incomprehensible.
If it were her, she would never miss the last chance and would have confessed those hidden feelings.
But Hikurod, when hearing her doubts, answered like it was obvious.
[Isn't it obvious what he was thinking? He didn't want to remain a dark shadow.]
A guess, uncertain but plausible.
She accepted that explanation.
Not because she truly empathized, but because she thought that might be how it was if it were him.
At least until today.
"So… that's how he must have felt…"
Strictly speaking, she and Dwalke were different.
He sacrificed his life to save everyone, and she was just struggling under the weight of her mistakes, trying to find a way to run away.
If only this place weren't inside the labyrinth.
If only she had no hope that he might forgive her—
She would have run away long ago.
Knock knock knock.
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the firmly closed door.
"It's me, Misha. Can we talk for a moment?"
It was Bjorn.
Joy and fear surged together at his visit. But she forced herself to calm down and do what needed to be done.
She couldn't show him this state.
She washed her hair and quickly cleaned her face. Then swiftly tidied the messy room.
Luckily, since she hadn't done anything inside the room, there wasn't much to clean.
"May I come in for a moment?"
As soon as she opened the door, he stepped briskly inside.
Her heart somehow started pounding.
Thump—
Why did Bjorn come?
Was it just because he worried about her?
Would the room smell weird?
Though she had been withered like a wilted flower in this dark room until just moments ago, somehow, from the moment he came, vitality returned to her body.
"Before we start talking, I want to turn this on first. May I?"
She wished he had come just to see her face and said something trivial like that, but Bjorn got straight to the point as soon as he entered the room.
In his thick hands was an object she knew well.
Broken Trust.
The name on that object made her uncomfortable as if it was proving what was currently between them.
But also, it made her happy.
This was an opportunity.
That day when he turned away coldly, he gave her a chance.
A precious chance to undo all mistakes and return to how things were.
…And maybe Bjorn secretly also wanted to go back to how things were.
"Then… alright. Let's start."
Because of that, Misha was determined not to miss the opportunity.
After all, how had things come to this?
She decided to honestly answer whatever Bjorn asked.
Clenching both fists tightly, Bjorn's questions began.
"After I disappeared from Parune Island, how did you end up following Ibaekho?"
He started with a question she had already answered before, then fired off questions that could be answered only yes or no, and Misha answered all truthfully.
Bjorn now was like the watchmaker she saw before.
Like a watchmaker who took all the parts out to find the cause of a broken watch, Bjorn wanted to check everything, even trivial details.
"Did Ibaekho… do anything bad to you?"
"Bad things…?"
"Like, for example, touching your body without permission…"
"…No, never! I swear that's not true!"
Some questions made her feel unfair but also glad, but it didn't matter.
"Did you really not know that using the Resurrection Stone causes memory loss?"
"I didn't know…"
"Then why did you hide it from me?"
"As I said back then… I thought bad things would happen if you found out…"
That was the part when Bjorn's emotions flared up.
He had gotten angry like a storm, asking if she had trusted only Ibaekho and hidden it from him.
Remembering that suddenly, Misha quickly interrupted before he could say anything.
"I thought it was worth a try!"
"…Worth a try?"
"I didn't know it caused memory loss back then… No, even if I had known, it would have been the same…! It's better than you dying…"
"So that's why you believed him?"
"…Ibaekho, he's strong. And somewhere deeply broken."
That was the real reason she accepted Ibaekho's proposal.
She didn't know what he might do if she rejected it. Maybe that's what he meant by "bad things" happening.
So she took the Resurrection Stone and came back to Bjorn. She thought having an item that could save her loved one wouldn't be a loss.
But…
"Phew… so that's all?"
There was one thing left unsaid.
How could she say it?
If she spoke it, would everything really end?
Unsure, she closed her eyes tightly and opened her mouth.
"I… agreed to give information in exchange for the Resurrection Stone."
"…Information?"
"To watch over you…"
Misha opened one eye slightly and looked at Bjorn's expression. So far, ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) his face showed more confusion than anger.
"Oh, don't misunderstand! I haven't given any information yet. We haven't met even once since we parted."
"What if he had come looking for you? What would you have done then?"
"…I don't know. I thought I'd just get through the situation first and think about it later."
After answering, Misha felt her excuse sounded weak and hurriedly added.
"But… I probably would have given something. Of course, just trivial things everyone knows…!"
"Hmm…"
Bjorn listened to her weak excuse and exhaled deeply, stroking his chin.
Luckily, he didn't seem very angry.
He just nodded a few times as if he understood and moved on to the next question.
After some time passed,
"This is the last question."
Bjorn looked into Misha's eyes and said.
"Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
A comprehensive question covering everything.
No.
She told the truth about everything.
That's how she should have answered, but somehow her lips twitched without making a sound.
"…"
The atmosphere that seemed to slowly heal the broken relationship was soon replaced by a silence too uncomfortable for words.
Bjorn muttered just two words.
"Alright…"
"…"
"So you have something."
It sounded like a resigned murmur, as if he was mentally prepared.
Misha, choking on her breath, hurried to speak.
No.
That's all I have told you.
There's nothing else I'm hiding.
She tried to say that, but her mouth wouldn't open.
Why?
Had that device broken?
Truly having nothing to hide, Misha was genuinely baffled.
But…
'Ah…'
She realized.
Broken Trust was normal. Not broken and still working properly right now.
The only reason she couldn't speak was one.
She still had something she wanted to hide from him.
"Words…"
Amid the suffocating silence, Bjorn spoke again.
"Is it something you can't say?"
She instinctively felt it.
If she stayed silent at this question, everything would end.
"…I… don't have anything to hide related to Ibaekho."
"Then?"
Seeing Bjorn's gaze, still not giving up hope on her, Misha took a breath.
"Then you're hiding something else, right?"
"Yeah…"
Nodding like a trance but full of hesitation in her mind.
Could she really say this?
While she was gone, his side had become filled with much better people.
And there was also a promise with them…
Maybe it would be better for Bjorn if she just disappeared.
"I…"
Yet, her mouth moved on its own.
Her lips that had been frozen moments ago now opened, and she spilled her heart stained with long regret.
"I lied to you before, Bjorn."
"…?"
Bjorn's eyebrows furrowed at the word 'lied.'
Come to think of it, Bjorn always hated being deceived.
Besides, wasn't this a situation where hiding something meant you had to speak?
Yeah, so…
'This isn't cowardice.'
She wiped away the last lingering regrets and continued.
Originally, she had planned to say this on Parune Island.
She had tried to kill her feelings for him but thought she might confess in case he died.
"I said it would be better if we just stayed as comrades."
Though it took such a long time to say it.
"That was a lie."
They say the best time is when you think it's too late.
Hadn't she said something like that before?
"Come to think of it… I never gave you any answer back then, right?"
Misha lifted her head, met his eyes, and carefully pronounced.
"Bjorn Yandel. I… like you too."
That day, when she first confirmed his feelings, she was too flustered to answer.
No reply came.
But she kept going.
"That day you said it to me, it was like that."
"Even before you said it."
"And…"
With a barely audible voice like an ant crawling, she clearly said.
"Even now…"
That was the only thing she had hidden from him.
Sometimes there are days when feelings are strangely peculiar.
The day is bright and sunny, but somehow dark clouds gather and threaten a sudden downpour.
For Elwen, today was such a day.
"Sir! You're awake… huh?"
Early in the morning, excited, she ran to find him, but the room was empty.
From then on, Elwen felt an inexplicable foreboding.
She searched everywhere in the mansion but Bjorn was nowhere to be found.
"Are you talking about the chief? Well… he didn't say anything about going anywhere… He's probably still inside the mansion."
"…Really? I've checked all other rooms but couldn't find him."
"Hmm, then maybe he just went outside for a while on some errand…"
Auyen Rockrove, Anabada's navigator, tried to reassure her it was nothing.
But Elwen's lips kept drying.
In fact, there was one room she hadn't checked yet.
'Misha Kalstein.'
The reason she hadn't checked that room was simple.
She didn't think Bjorn would be there. Lately, something seemed off between them.
Since then, Misha had been sulking, locked alone in her room every day, as if protesting.
But it was a mystery.
Step, step.
Though thinking Bjorn couldn't be here, Elwen naturally headed there.
Even though it made more sense, as the navigator said, that he probably just went out for some errand.
Why did a terrible feeling keep rising that he was here?
Step.
Among those unpleasant feelings, Elwen arrived at her destination. A room on the third floor of the large mansion in a corner. The door was firmly shut.
She thought about knocking, but stopped, feeling it would be awkward if Bjorn wasn't inside.
'There's no magical power detected.'
No sound-blocking spells or barriers.
Meaning, if she wanted, she could hear every sound inside.
Elwen deliberately opened her hearing wide as she usually kept it closed during daily life.
Then—
"Bjorn Yandel. I… like you."
A familiar voice came to her ears.
She instantly recognized the speaker, but the words were hard to understand.
What… was she saying?
Was she mistaken? She listened more carefully.
"That day you said it to me, it was like that."
"Even before you said it."
"And… even now…"
Her mind still couldn't comprehend.
Because this was a confession of love.
One she herself had never made in her life…
'Not knowing my place…'
It was ridiculous. Anger welled up.
The woman who vanished without any vengeance as soon as she heard he was dead.
The pure and kind Bjorn was taking care of her out of old feelings, but she still hadn't forgotten.
But…
[Bjorn Yandel. I… like you.]
That one phrase she first heard kept ringing in her ears.
Elwen finally noticed something strange.
'"I… too?"'
The catlike beast of the Akmyo tribe said "I too" liked her.
And "I too" is a phrase used to express agreement when the same words are heard.
Meaning that phrase implied—
'…The chief said it first?'
It was such an unbelievable story.
Her once heated mind suddenly went cold.
As the heat in her head cooled down, the situation became much clearer.
She chuckled.
Pfft.
It was all that woman's delusion.
She was trapped in a fantasy, talking to the chief.
As proof, after that phrase, no conversation was heard from inside the room.
'Still… it's a pity.'
It was a strange behavior hard to understand for most, but Elwen herself had done something similar when mentally troubled, so she could understand a little.
'Sigh… then where on earth did the chief go…'
Elwen turned around as if she regretted having heard something she shouldn't have.
Then she tried to restore her hearing to normal from the wide-open state.
Or rather, she tried to.
"…I see."
A familiar voice was heard from inside the room.
-x-X-x-
Suddenly, my mind went blank.
Even my usually reliable brain, which had managed just fine back when I woke up in a strange barbarian's body and had to undergo a coming-of-age ceremony without even knowing my own name, now felt soaked in alcohol and unable to form any coherent thoughts.
For a moment, silence stretched between us.
"...."
Misha looked up at me with eyes full of fear, but also some expectation. Unable to bear that gaze, I finally spoke.
"...I see."
It wasn't an affirmation, denial, or question—just a meaningless murmur.
After such a long silence, all I could say was "I see," and it was the first time in a long while I felt so pathetic.
But thanks to that, my frozen mind began to function again, as usual.
'Yes' or 'No.'
For now, the choice was not simply picking between those two.
If what Misha said was true—
Well, since Broken Trust was working, it surely was true—but there was something even more confusing.
"So then."
"...Hmm?"
"Then why did you put such a line between us back then?"
It was a question I had held in my heart for so long.
Why did Misha push me away that day? At the time, I could interpret it as her not liking me as a man…
But now, hearing her words, that didn't seem to be the case.
"Ah… about that..."
Misha's slightly parted lips gave me the answer.
"It's because back then, I found out you were a fiend… no, a player..."
"A player…?"
I tilted my head in confusion, and Misha asked cautiously,
"I heard you dislike being called a fiend… isn't that so?"
Well, I'd never thought about it, but 'player' does sound better than 'fiend.'
But did I hear this from Ibaekho?
If so, somehow I felt bad again.
"Then… if you don't like it, I won't say it. Sorry..."
I forced myself back to the point and continued.
"…Anyway, what does you knowing I'm a fiend have to do with anything? Did you think that regardless of feelings, you couldn't be with a fiend?"
I tried to suppress my emotions, but maybe they slipped out unintentionally.
Hearing that, Misha was startled and shouted,
"Th-that's not it!"
She was so embarrassed that her old self came out.
Raising her voice briefly, she seemed ashamed and looked away.
"It's just… it was hard to watch… you getting weak because of me..."
"That needs more explanation."
When I asked for details, she hurriedly explained in a flustered voice.
To sum it up simply:
"You thought I was pretending to 'fulfill my duty' by switching faces with Charon, and you believed such actions wouldn't help me. Also, you worried that my identity might be discovered someday?"
"Mm…"
Misha bowed her head like a guilty student but kept her eyes on me.
"But maybe… I misunderstood…?"
Hoo, how was I supposed to answer that?
Strictly speaking, the reason I switched faces with Charon using the Golden Mask that day was because of the GM. It was to create an alibi and avoid suspicion of being a fiend.
But…
'It's not entirely wrong.'
I've never once truly fulfilled my 'duty' at the holy site. As a modern person, it felt uncomfortable—that was the first reason. The second was Misha.
It just felt like I was committing a huge sin, so that's why.
"Good to know it wasn't a misunderstanding… that's a relief..."
Misha sighed with relief, as if she had read my expression. Checking Broken Trust again, I saw the time was running out.
I wondered how meaningful this all was now…
Even if it seemed a little cowardly, I wanted to clear away all doubts with this opportunity.
"So, is that all?"
"Hmm…?"
"I thought maybe there was more to why you pushed me away..."
When I let my sentence trail off, Misha showed a flustered look.
Yeah, there was something else.
When I gave her a look urging her to speak, she finally opened her mouth, cheeks flushed red.
"Well… you see..."
"...."
"I can't have children..."
My mind blanked for a moment.
Even being hit with an ogre's club probably wouldn't shock me this much.
"Children…?"
"Don't misunderstand! I don't mean I can't give birth, just that any child I bear wouldn't be a barbarian..."
I understood the meaning in my head.
It referred to a racial trait of barbarians.
Only barbarian women can give birth to barbarians.
Though I grasped the context, I still didn't understand.
"What does it matter whether my child is a barbarian or not?"
I said, sounding incredulous, and Misha flinched.
"Uh…? It doesn't matter?"
Of course.
I'm not a true barbarian myself.
Whether my child is barbarian or Akmyo, I will give all my love to that child.
But Misha couldn't easily believe my words.
"Lies… don't all men care about that...?"
Well, for Misha who grew up in this world, that might be a natural thought.
But still.
"The world I lived in was different."
"But… now you're a noble, right? P-people will surely think weird things and talk behind your back—"
"Stop."
I ended the topic here.
Talking about children already felt awkward and kind of embarrassing.
"Let's stop talking about this."
"Ah… yeah… yeah, you don't even still like me…"
"Technically, I haven't answered yet."
"...Then? What's your answer…?"
"Before I answer, let me check this."
I checked the remaining time once again and spoke.
"Is there still something you're hiding from me?"
Misha answered confidently without hesitation.
"No."
Yeah, this was really it.
I felt silly for doubting there was something she was hiding.
Click.
The second hand of Broken Trust reached its end, and its light faded.
"Then… will you answer now?"
For some reason, I found it hard to meet her eyes.
Misha looked at me as if nothing in the world was more important than my answer.
'I have to answer…'
Broken Trust was already off.
Even if it were still on, it wouldn't have meant much to me.
"My answer is..."
I honestly revealed my true feelings.
It felt as if I were under a spell.
Surely a very cruel curse spell.
[Bjorn Yandel. I… like you too.]
[Bjorn Yandel. I… like you too.]
[Bjorn Yandel. I… like you too.]
No matter how much I doused cold water on my head or banged my helmeted head against the wall, that voice kept echoing in my ears.
Ah, and that last thing Bjorn said too.
[...I see.]
It wasn't an affirmation.
Nor was it a denial.
But Elwen felt deep relief in that voice. If she felt it right, Bjorn was relieved at that moment.
Misha Kalstein, that ungrateful woman's answer.
"......."
What happened between those two?
And what was the meaning of 'I see'?
For Elwen now, no matter how much she thought, it was a mystery.
As Bjorn's voice was heard from inside the room, she fled from the place.
"......."
Why did she run away?
Why couldn't she listen and had to run?
Though she regretted it later, even if she went back to that moment, it was uncertain if she would act differently.
Because even now she was scared.
She feared that hearing the truth would lead to an irreversible, dreadful event.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia."
So she didn't immediately seek Bjorn out. She thought alone for a long time, daydreamed, then fled here.
"How long are you going to keep doing that?"
Amelia Rainwales.
A raider from Noark, but a woman who, having crossed paths with Bjorn, was living a new life under the name Emily Raines.
"If you have worries, just say them. If you want someone to listen, I'll listen."
"...…No thanks."
Elwen eventually turned back, and Amelia did not try to stop her, only telling her to come back if she changed her mind.
But Elwen had no intention of returning.
She had only come here briefly, out of a momentary lapse of reason.
"...."
Elwen went back to her room and suffered alone, then finally came to a conclusion.
It's impossible.
Bjorn wouldn't become involved with that Akmyo woman, it just didn't make sense.
Am I really inferior to that woman?
After reaching that conclusion, her mind relaxed and she left the room.
But…
"Uh…?"
Downstairs, she saw two people sitting at the table talking quietly.
"Ah! Don't laugh! You asked me to make it, didn't you? I haven't made it in a while, so I might've messed up… There weren't many ingredients in the labyrinth… Is it too salty?"
"Don't worry. It's delicious enough."
The woman seemed to have made a nostalgic dish for the man. Standing frozen on the stairs watching that scene, Elwen suddenly caught the woman's eyes.
"Ah, Elwen..."
When their eyes met, the woman's expression stiffened awkwardly, then she started putting food on a plate.
"Want some? I made a lot, so there's leftovers…"
That somehow reminded Elwen of old memories.
"Oh! If it's because of that helmet, you can take it to your room—"
"No need."
Elwen cut her off coldly and went back upstairs. Just resisting the urge to throw the plate was an achievement.
Clack.
Going up the stairs, Elwen opened Amelia's door and stepped inside. Amelia looked puzzled at her sudden return, but that wasn't important now.
"Amelia Rainwales."
Elwen said the woman's real name, which she normally didn't use.
Back when she had left Bjorn and was learning from her sister.
Back when that Akmyo woman acted like the mistress and treated her like a guest.
"…I need help."
There was no going back.
After Elwen disappeared upstairs again, Misha looked at me worried.
"Is she… going to be okay…?"
"I'll talk to Elwen, so don't worry. And… you did well."
"…Huh?"
"I mean the food you tried to give her. Even though she knows you hate her, it can't have been easy."
"Oh, that… it's nothing. We can't keep living like this forever… We have to stay together…"
Misha scratched the table awkwardly. Even that looked admirable to me.
I had just told her to try getting along with the other clan members and not isolate herself anymore, and she was already trying.
Though it was still a bit awkward.
"...."
"...."
The silence wasn't natural or comfortable, but it wasn't unpleasant either. Amid it, I recalled my last conversation with Misha.
Thinking back, it was a little pathetic, but my answer then was 'I don't know.'
[You don't know…? What does that mean?]
It's definitely not dislike.
The remnants of feelings from those days still remained.
But they were just remnants.
[Because a lot of time has passed since then…]
Since that day, I had tried countless times to shake off the feelings I had for Misha—and I succeeded.
No matter what happens later, the feelings I have now are closer to those of comrades than lovers.
Amelia, Elwen, Ainard, Raven…
Any one of the four would have suffered as much and acted similarly if they were in Misha's situation.
Anyway, that's not important.
[Ha, haha… well, can't be helped…]
Misha curled up as if hurt by my honest words but ended the matter maturely.
[But… we're still friends, right?]
[Huh?]
[We started out as friends, after all…]
[Ah, yeah…]
By the way, at that time I replied with a dumb 'Y-yeah?'
Looking back, it was a pathetic scene I wanted to throw something at.
But what can you do?
It's already in the past.
"All done? Want some more?"
That was when the food on the plates was gone in silence.
"Yandel, you're on the first floor? I was just looking for you."
Versil appeared at the entrance and delivered the news, perhaps having gone out since morning.
"Count Saintred called. It seems the research on the stele is finally finished. He's asking you to come."
"Research finished… do you know how it went?"
"I'm not sure, but it looks like it failed."
"I see… well, we'll find out when we go. Let's get going."
"Okay… have a good one."
As I stood up, Misha greeted me, and Versil tilted his head at the sight.
"You two…"
"Anything to say?"
"…No. Nothing."
I snorted at Versil's words.
Nothing, indeed.
"When you come back, can we talk for a bit?"
"Sure."
I already knew what he wanted to say.
Probably concern over Misha, whom he suspected as a traitor, and naturally sharing the events that happened in the community yesterday.
'I think I can tell him it's no longer a worry…'
Heading toward the mansion where the dimensional stele stood, the chief was waiting for me on the first floor.
"You're here."
"I've greeted you ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) already. Get to the point."
Pressing him to hurry up, the chief informed me that the ten-day research on the dimensional stele had failed and so they decided to leave the village today.
"Today, huh…?"
"I was hoping for a miracle, but since it was a complete failure, there's no point wasting more time."
Well, that was that.
I hadn't expected to rest this long in the first place.
"So before leaving, I wanted to hear your opinion. I won't interfere with your expedition. Where do you want to go next?"
I had unintentionally rested enough.
Now it was time to go explore again.
-x-X-x-
Where should we head next?
I tried to test the chief by asking where would be best, but he just kept parroting back that I should decide as I please.
'I really have no idea what's on his mind.'
In the end, I sighed and set the destination myself. The chief said he would announce it at the upcoming leadership meeting.
It seemed he truly had no intention to interfere with the expedition, sticking strictly to a figurehead role.
"So, how's the research going?"
Before parting with the chief, I brought up the research again.
The study that had lasted over ten days, started from the possibility that the mages might forcibly activate the dimensional stele.
"Hmm, didn't I say it failed?"
"We held on that long, so I was hoping there might be some result."
"A result, huh…"
The chief trailed off but then spoke with a meaningful tone.
"Actually, it wasn't completely fruitless."
"Not completely?"
"We gained certainty that we can escape this place through the [Heretic Cult]."
How they arrived at that conclusion, I wasn't told.
Still, that statement had to be true. After all, that was probably why he gave the mages more than ten days to research.
I asked bluntly.
"When do you plan to return to the city?"
In my opinion, the chief's real reason for staying in the labyrinth was 'uncertainty.'
The first basement level was quite unusual.
For example, when the expedition first arrived, they tried to open the dimensional gate, but it wouldn't open.
That caused a lot of debate.
Could this be considered a normal labyrinth field?
There was fierce argument between mages and explorers, but eventually, the consensus leaned toward 'yes.'
The decisive proof was the Honor Stone.
[The great barbarian warrior Bjorn Yandel and his comrades first discovered the first basement level.]
Despite many peculiarities, this phrase left no doubt that it was inside the labyrinth.
Why the gate wouldn't open was unknown.
Well, it wasn't unheard of for special spaces to exist inside the labyrinth where gates couldn't be opened.
"Now that you're certain, shouldn't you just return?"
I pressed, but the chief shook his head firmly.
"We're not ready yet. I'm not confident we can return immediately without arousing suspicion."
Fair enough.
If I were in his position, I'd also stay for a while to gather information about Jerome Saintred.
"So, you want me to leave quickly?"
"Heh, do I have to say that?"
"Why? We're supposed to be on the same boat."
'Why?' Like I don't know.
'Same boat? You still haven't told me how to activate the dimensional stele.'
"Well… it's natural you don't trust me."
The chief grumbled but then nodded in understanding, lightly tapping my forearm like the upper-ups would.
"Don't be so anxious. I will definitely leave this place, and when that time comes, I'll tell you everything."
That was a bit funny.
Did the chief even realize that his cryptic words only increased my anxiety every time he spoke like that?
'…Maybe I should just take him out first?'
That thought flared briefly, but I decided to watch the situation a bit longer.
As I was about to leave.
"Oh, by the way, did that thing I gave you this morning work? The Broken Trust."
"…Ah, I forgot to return it—"
"No need to return it. Seems you need it more than I do."
Damn, that felt like a backhanded curse.
I got annoyed for a moment but still took the Broken Trust with me when I left.
When I returned to the mansion where I lived, neither Elwen nor Amelia were to be seen, and Misha was the same.
Instead, Versil Gowlund was waiting for me.
"You're back?"
"Oh, right, you said you had something to say."
I already knew what it would be but pretended not to and sat down. After casting a spell to block sound, we began our conversation in earnest.
Just as I expected.
"There's a rumor that the assembly of evil spirits has been disbanded."
Versil delivered the key information with the word 'rumor.'
I was a bit dumbfounded.
"A rumor?"
"Yes. After all, not all of us are free of evil spirits."
But where did he hear that rumor?
A normal person might press for details, but I nodded silently again.
Perhaps because I never asked about sources, Versil seemed a bit careless around me.
'He shouldn't do that elsewhere…'
It made me worry a bit as the leader.
Anyway, after talking about the 'rumor,' naturally, Misha became the topic.
"What about that from this morning… what happened?"
"Misha, you mean?"
"Yes. The info that Kalstein might be a traitor—is that still valid? It seems you two are a bit too close…"
Versil cautiously expressed concern.
That's why I cut her off firmly.
"You don't need to worry about that. I recently confirmed circumstances that could be considered betrayal myself."
"…Really? Then why didn't you tell me…"
"It was nothing serious. From what I heard, there was no intent to harm us."
"I understand wanting to trust Kalstein, but how can I believe that?"
Ha, I knew that question was coming.
"I used the Broken Trust. After hearing everything, I confirmed there's nothing hidden."
Upon hearing that, Versil fell silent like a mute who'd just tasted honey. If she doubted any further, it would be unreasonable.
Of course, she was curious about what betrayal I was talking about, but I didn't intend to explain that part.
"Anyway, there's no problem with Misha now. No need to monitor her; treat her as a normal comrade from now on."
"…Okay, I will."
Okay, that ends this topic.
Afterward, I asked Versil to gather all the members of the temporary 4th Squad, and once everyone assembled, I told them to prepare to leave the island today.
"Ah…! We're starting the expedition again?"
"So the stele research failed…"
"Sigh… my family must be worried."
Some were disappointed they couldn't return home immediately, but the mood wasn't bad overall.
"I was getting bored anyway, so this works out."
"There are still many unexplored places."
They were all explorers after all.
Swoooosh.
Four ships cut through the silver waves.
By the way, our clan Anavada's ship, infinitely smaller and more precious than warships, was at the rear.
Sitting at the bow, I stared blankly at the warships ahead.
'How much more money do I need to buy a ship like that…'
Actually, I could sell the Aegis barrier and the Evergreen Monument, but then I'd just become a pauper.
Unless I had enough wealth to buy such a ship comfortably, buying it would be pointless—
"Yandel! What are you doing sitting there?"
While I was lost in thought at the bow, a sharp voice called from behind.
It was Raven, deputy captain of the 3rd Mage Corps.
"That's dangerous! Come down now!"
Her tone sounded irritated, so I hurried onto the deck. Raven looked down at me with eyes smaller than my chest height, like looking at a child.
It was funny how she looked up like that.
"What's with that look…?"
"…Nothing."
Stretching, I glanced around the deck. Besides Raven, I saw familiar faces here and there.
Meland Kaislan, Sven Parab, and a few knights I'd noticed during the library island raid.
From now on, they were all members of the temporary 4th Squad.
Before departure, I asked the chief and he readily agreed.
"By the way, Raven, I have something to ask."
"…What is it?"
"Did anything happen during the stele research in town? Weren't you involved in it?"
"Oh, that?"
Having time during the voyage, I asked out of curiosity, and Raven explained passionately, even using technical terms.
But the result was—
'I don't understand a single word.'
Dimensional disconnection, spatial coordinates, and all that—it was impossible for a modern man disguised as a barbarian to understand.
I mostly listened half-heartedly, but Raven noticed and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Ahem! I think I spoke too complicatedly… But Yandel, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Where exactly are we going? I thought you'd know."
"Oh, you didn't attend the last leadership meeting."
"The mages were all exempt. We had to hurry to organize research materials."
"We're heading here."
I unfolded the map I'd stolen from Ham's House and pointed at the destination.
An uncharted island about a week's travel from Library Island. Unlike Rainbow Island, it was closer, so I planned to explore it first…
When I asked the chief if he knew anything about the island, he said:
[It's a very secretive island. Strange too.]
[Strange?]
[You'll understand when you get there. I'll tell you the rest upon arrival.]
I didn't quite know what was strange, but it definitely sounded like a mysterious island.
"Hmm… I'm curious about this place. I hope we find clues to the secrets of this layer…"
Perhaps because it was uncharted, Raven didn't ask what kind of place it was, and the conversation ended there.
Time then passed endlessly.
And—
"Captain! ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) The flagship has stopped!"
"We've received confirmation of arrival at the destination."
After a week of sailing, I understood why the chief said it was a strange island.
"…Is that really an island?"
No trees, no soil.
Or rather, there was no ground for anything to stand on.
Swoosh!
Only a gigantic stele-like structure stood tall among the shimmering silver waves.
After roughly mooring nearby, I boarded the flagship with the chief and had a private talk.
"Now that we've arrived, tell me. What exactly is that stele floating on the sea?"
As soon as I entered, I activated the Broken Trust and asked, and the chief gave me a baffled look.
"Why? Didn't you say you might need it?"
"That's not what I meant…"
"Enough, answer. Time is precious."
I wasn't letting this slip by again.
Perhaps sensing my resolve, the chief finally told me.
"That's not a stele, but a gate."
"A gate…?"
"When you touch it, the gate opens, letting you enter an unknown space."
"What's inside?"
The chief paused for a moment.
"I don't know."
Not the answer I wanted.
"Don't know?"
"Yes, my previous body couldn't even open that gate."
"How did you know it's a gate then?"
"I experimented. Unlike you, I used a survivor who drifted here by chance. But I couldn't enter it myself, so I have no idea what's inside."
"…"
"The one who entered never returned alive."
That sentence sounded chilling somehow.
Putting the ominous feeling aside, I quickly sought confirmation.
"What do you mean by survivor?"
"Didn't I say before there were humans who sometimes drift in here? Some survived."
"I don't understand. Then why didn't you take their bodies away?"
The chief pulled a black stone from his pouch.
"At that time, this stone hadn't collected enough sacrifices. Actually, only recently has it gathered enough. As you know… quite a few came in this time."
He meant the Silver Lion Clan, missing from the village and found dead in the basement.
That cold look in his eyes that doesn't see people as people really irritated me today, but I listened carefully without showing it.
"The explorer who entered alone was as strong as you. Still, they didn't come back. That's all I can tell you. I'm not even sure how many can enter."
"…"
"And yet you still plan to explore inside as scheduled?"
Maybe it was just my imagination, but his tone sounded like he was testing me. Whatever the tone, my answer was decided.
"Of course, I'll investigate inside."
I resolved to uncover everything about this layer.
Before the Broken Trust deactivated, I seized the moment to ask various questions.
The chief simply remained silent, so I had to settle for satisfaction and returned to my ship.
After selecting who and in what order would enter, I informed the chief.
"I'll arrange personnel as you said. But… is that okay?"
"What do you mean 'okay'?"
"You'll be the first to enter. A dangerous place with unknown threats."
"That's why. That's why I want to go first."
"Hmm?"
The chief only gave a curious look but said nothing else.
Back on the ship, we finished preparations and took a small boat toward the massive stone gate.
Swoooosh!
The stone gate, wide open thanks to the previously sent survey team.
Inside, a dazzling mirage swirled.
A portal.
Any explorer would recognize it instantly.
But it was the first time I'd seen such a gigantic portal, so I was fascinated.
"Yandel, maybe you should reconsider?"
Amelia, on the same ship, spoke to me.
"We don't mind, but you going first seems reckless."
"What are you saying? Weak as you are."
Those who know would understand—the barbarian never listens to those weaker than himself.
So in that spirit:
"I'll go in first. Wait one minute before following, just in case."
After exchanging glances with my comrades, I prepared to leap in front of the boat.
What awaits inside?
Honestly, I was a little scared and tense too.
But I trusted my experience.
[Dungeon & Stone] is an unforgiving game, but monsters and traps rarely spring out immediately after a portal.
Yeah, so…
Thud.
I leapt through the portal.
Whoooosh!
Multicolored light wrapped my body.
That peculiar sensation of floating.
Thump.
When I opened my eyes again, darkness surrounded me.
No need to light a torch or turn on the barbarian candle mode after so long.
After all, what level am I now?
Fwhoooosh!
I fired the flare I had stuck on my waist anywhere in the room.
At that moment—
Flare!
The area lit up, securing my vision.
'Looks like indoors.'
The floor was smooth marble.
Walls on both sides, ceiling above.
And…
"…"
Monsters filled the surroundings.
More precisely, statues crafted to resemble monsters.
'Death Knight, King Slime, Lycanthrope, Iron Cavalry…'
I immediately realized what these statues represented.
'The Rift Guardians.'
Statues of Rift Guardians stretched endlessly down the long corridor.
-x-X-x-
A linear corridor.
Although the structure was similar, calling it a corridor might be a bit misleading.
The length-to-width ratio might be comparable, but there was a huge difference in absolute width.
This place seemed at least three times larger than the Hall of Glory where knighthood was bestowed…
Swoooosh—
Even with the flare lighting the way, the end was nowhere in sight.
Dark shadows fell over the rows of statues standing in formation along the walls, creating an eerie atmosphere.
'Statues of the guardians…'
What on earth was this place for?
Surely, it wasn't a place meant for solo play rather than party play?
While cautiously watching my surroundings for any hidden danger, the promised time passed and portals materialized in the air.
Whooosh—
Portals just large enough for one person.
Each portal opened briefly, expelled one person, then vanished as if its purpose was fulfilled.
"Fortunately, everyone came out safe."
Amelia entered right after me.
"Ugh… this place is creepier than I thought."
Next came Ainard, the warrior, showing no fighting spirit at all, looking completely unmotivated. After that, portals continued to open, letting our comrades inside.
"There might be traps nearby, so stay put and wait!"
Though all temporary 4th Squad members had entered, I didn't start the exploration immediately but waited for the rear guard.
No harm in waiting until all preparations are complete before searching.
3rd Squad, 2nd, 1st…
Quietly waiting, over a hundred people entered in sequence, including the chief.
"Mages, secure sight first, and the rest, don't act rashly—await orders!"
The chief shouted with Jerome Saintred's face, his forced acting somehow unsettling, but at the same time, it brought a bit of relief.
Yeah, they really came in.
I had quietly worried if I'd be the only one thrown in.
'Anyway, all have entered successfully…'
There seemed to be no limit or a very loose limit on the number of entrants here.
Of course, that wasn't cause for pure joy.
Because in Dungeon & Stone, places like this usually had high difficulty.
"Baron Yandel, what should be our next move?"
The chief approached and asked, and I pretended to consider before passing instructions.
"Hmm… sounds reasonable."
Trying not to reveal his figurehead status, the chief feigned hesitation briefly before ordering the deputy commander:
"We'll first organize a search party and start investigating!"
The search began.
Initially, the knights scouted the area, calling mages to investigate anything suspicious instead of touching it carelessly.
Before I knew it, the map was complete.
'Having many people to delegate to sure makes things convenient.'
It really felt like cheating.
If only our Anavada clan were here, making a map alone would have taken ages.
"No monsters detected within the radius."
"Do not touch any statues! There is a faint but unknown magical reaction coming from inside!"
"Though we passed through the portal, it seems this is not inside the rift."
"All terrain features here have restorative properties."
A task that would normally take all day was finished quickly thanks to the manpower.
I simply stayed quiet, listening to reports with the chief, organizing and making judgments.
'Is this… the taste of power?'
The convenience was so great it made my past barbaric expeditions look crude.
Instead of pen and paper, I racked my brain and summarized the collected info alone.
Three main points stood out.
The guardian statues.
If the mages' guesses were right, these statues were no mere decorations.
They certainly had some role, and I had my suspicions—well, hopes, rather.
'Not confirmed yet, so let's skip for now…'
Possibility of new guardian types.
All statues represented guardians of fifth floor or below.
But peculiarly, among the statues was the vampire duke Cambormier, a sort of hidden boss…
Yet the real problem was different.
'Why are some guardians here that I've never seen?'
These were not unidentified entities.
Even if guardians, just like Cambormier was essentially a Grade 5 vampire monster, most had finished their experience gain.
But here's the issue…
'Drakes shouldn't appear as guardians, though…?'
Among all rifts, drakes never show up as 'guardians,' yet one proudly stood among the statues.
Were these statues only of guardian monsters? It didn't seem so, but all others had guardian traits.
Look at the lycanthrope statue.
Only the tyrant Tarunbas from the Glacier Cave used an ice club like that.
"If that's really a guardian… it means new guardian essences have appeared!"
"But nothing has been confirmed yet."
"No, I'm sure! Just as Baron Yandel defeated the vampire guardian before and acquired its essence, these must be undiscovered guardians of unknown rifts!"
Maybe this was truly a case similar to the Blood Castle.
It's hard to accept that so many rifts exist that I didn't even know about.
But the longer I stayed in this world, the more I quietly accepted it.
I just knew far more than others.
Knowing everything about Dungeon & Stone is my arrogance.
The first basement alone was proof.
I didn't even know that a restrained wish could upgrade vampire essence into ogre essence.
Anyway, next.
The gigantic stone gate.
At the end of the corridor, past the statues, stood a huge stone gate impervious even to first-rank magic.
And…
That's it.
Simply put, only by fulfilling certain conditions with what we've found can the gate be opened and the next stage accessed.
Therefore…
"Search is enough for now. Gather everyone. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) No, better to get them all together."
I told the figurehead chief to assemble the troops.
That much clue was sufficient, right?
"Prepare for battle, all units…!"
The deputy commander shouted, commanding the troops, and I slowly approached the statues amid the tense atmosphere.
Then…
Step, step.
I first laid my hand on the easiest King Slime statue.
Ziiiiiing—
For some reason, I felt an electric current run through my fingertips.
I instinctively knew something had activated.
But…
'This I didn't expect.'
I only guessed the statues would come to life, so I was quite taken aback.
"…A portal?"
A portal appeared around the statue.
The portal opened.
The portal that appeared after opening the unknown stone gate in the first basement level.
It wasn't hard to guess where this portal led.
"Is it a portal to the Green Mine…?"
"That seems highly likely."
Hearing the whispers, other explorers seemed to share my thoughts.
But I didn't rush to conclusions.
"We need to decide who goes through first."
There was no guarantee the portal connected to the Green Mine, nor how many could pass at once.
So I began personnel selection with great care.
There were three portal types:
Permanently activated portals open until the labyrinth closes.
This includes dimensional steles.
Though in the rift, such portals haven't opened yet, so unlikely here.
Non-single-use portals that remain until all designated people have passed.
Typical for first-floor rifts.
When a rift opens, dozens of portals appear, and when five pass, all vanish.
One-time-use portals.
The doppelganger forest on the 4th floor is this type.
Portals can be used only once.
If someone is bound nearby, they also move together.
This was proven long ago even for six-person bonds.
'Okay, personnel selection is done…'
For teams of 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 18… arranged in multiples of 5 and 6, and order set.
Might all be useless, but I believed not preparing was a sin in the labyrinth.
But…
"Then I'll go in first."
After freshly casting the bonding magic, I carefully stepped into the portal, soon to be surprised.
"…"
Iron rails covered the floor.
Scrap materials scattered around.
A broken cart wheel and coal inside.
So far, no problem.
The place I arrived was indeed the Green Mine.
But if there was a serious problem here…
"What the hell is this? Why is no one coming?"
No matter how much time passed, no one entered.
"…"
I explored around just in case and waited longer, but the portal showed no sign of reopening.
My thoughts grew more complicated.
'Why aren't they coming?'
Is there a problem outside?
Could the chief be scheming again?
Or maybe everyone entered but at different start points, so we haven't met?
"…I'll proceed alone for now."
Waiting here seemed pointless, so I slowly started the攻略.
This was no ordinary Green Mine.
Strong monsters could appear any moment.
Repeating caution in my mind, I moved carefully.
"…Huh?"
After just a short walk, a sudden clearing appeared.
And then—
[Kyuuiiiit-!]
The Green Mine's guardian appeared abruptly.
Normally, I'd have to walk much further after defeating the mid-boss…
Crack!
As soon as it saw me, it charged, so I killed it with my hammer.
「King Slime defeated.」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
…Looks like I got proper experience.
Maybe just my imagination, so I put it aside.
Swoooosh!
I stared blankly at the portal that appeared right after the kill.
'Is this the end…?'
A little anticlimactic, but it really felt like the end.
Unless some other event awaited beyond the portal.
Since the portal wouldn't disappear immediately, I gradually regained composure and checked the fallen King Slime's spot.
"Could at least have dropped a Rift Stone."
The loot was a rainbow-colored essence proving it was a guardian's.
Trash to me.
Even if I put it in a test tube and sold it, it wouldn't be worth much…
And no mage would bother putting it in a test tube anyway.
Not like I'd consume it.
Thud.
Without any regrets, I tore my eyes away from the guardian essence and quickly exited through the portal.
"Ah, sir…!!"
Thankfully, I arrived back at the previous place through the portal.
"Bjorn…!"
"Thank goodness! Captain!!"
My squad members rushed to me worriedly.
Before telling my story, I first listened to theirs.
Why hadn't anyone followed?
The answer matched my expectation.
Sadly indeed.
"They didn't not enter, they couldn't enter. Bjorn, the portal disappeared right after you went in."
…So it really was a one-person rift.
Well, better than others being blocked by outside problems…
"Phew…"
I sighed.
Taking my eyes off my comrades, I scanned the statues in the corridor.
Different types, difficulties, and ways to fight—guardians below the fifth floor.
'I have to kill all of these alone…'
I could already see the hard road ahead.
-x-X-x-
A single-person rift that opens when you touch a statue.
All officers, mages, and explorers unanimously agreed on this phenomenon.
All statues—or activating a certain number of them—likely opens that firmly closed stone gate, allowing progress to the next stage.
Of course, I agreed with that view as well.
So after clearing the Green Mine, I spent quite some time experimenting.
I tried reopening a cleared rift.
Checked whether someone who had already cleared a rift could enter it again.
Observed when opened portals would disappear.
I paused the main攻略 and continued the research.
Not a wasted moment.
After all, aren't other games like that?
To excel, you need to know activation conditions, enemy traits, skill interactions perfectly.
'Okay, I'm starting to get it.'
As the research progressed, lots of info gathered.
If no one enters, the portal closes after 10 minutes; portals can't open if someone is inside; and so on.
Among these, five key points stood out:
Statues activate at least seven times.
I say at least seven because that's the sample size.
Including me, seven people cleared the Green Mine, and statues still created portals each time touched…
'So there's basically no usage limit.'
Next.
Guardians drop essences without fail.
But nothing else drops besides essences.
In seven attempts, no Rift Stones or Numbers items dropped once.
Though more samples needed for certainty, due to randomness.
Anyway.
When a rift is cleared, a red light illuminates one carved spot on the closed stone gate.
This seems unique—only lit once when I first cleared it.
To light all lights, all statues must be cleared.
The highest difficulty statues on the 5th floor open two portals when activated.
No usage limits for statues; portals close 10 minutes after opening.
5th floor rifts have two portals.
In other words, two people can enter.
Below 4th floor, all are one-person-only, so you must clear solo.
Finally…
Even if you buff up before entering, all buffs disappear upon entering.
No cheating here; only those truly strong enough can clear the rift.
For me, that was discouraging.
Dungeon & Stone isn't a game where just leveling up and gathering good essences means winning.
I pride myself as among the strongest in the world, yet there are always tough counters.
'…But two can enter, so maybe it's doable.'
Though the field concept was a single-person rift, there was no entry limit.
That let us bring in hundreds of elite members.
We could pick the best explorer matchup to send inside.
'Alright… let's start.'
It was time to begin real攻略.
Unlike normal rifts, where the boss room appears after a short walk from the entrance, the early攻略 ended quickly.
The cursed knight Blatter of Blood Castle.
The tyrant Tarunbas of Glacier Cave.
The iron man Ildium of Steel Tomb.
All defeated in a flash, all dropping essences.
Though I had no use for those essences now.
Still, it wasn't a total loss.
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
After several kills, I was sure—the guardian bonus applied here.
But…
'Too bad.'
You can't enter a cleared rift again.
Even if someone else opens the portal, you just pass through it to the front.
'If not for that, I'd have duplicated experience.'
It was disappointing, but I decided to think positively.
After all, killing all but the bosses I can't yet get experience from is still plenty.
Maybe that's better than mediocre essences.
'There are still many guardians I haven't beaten.'
Adding initial hunt experience here, I could theoretically get 200 experience points from this攻略 alone.
Though, maybe other explorers thought the same.
As we moved to the 2nd floor guardians, someone approached.
"May I try the challenge too?"
"Your name is…?"
"Miles Humbrake, Baron."
Ah, right.
I remembered him as an explorer recruited into the expedition after being called, not a knight.
Come to think of it, many such explorers were in the expedition…
"Except for the Blood Castle, I haven't yet earned any guardian merits in the 1st floor rift. If you allow me—"
"Get permission from the count, not me."
"The count said it's fine if the baron permits."
Looks like the chief was still playing figurehead here.
"Hmmm…"
What to do?
Sending him out and having him die only weakens our force.
While I pondered, the guy earnestly continued.
"I understand your worry. You're anxious about someone entering where there's no real reason."
"…"
"But don't worry. Though called a guardian, I'm not weak enough to lose to a Grade 7 monster."
"There's a condition before permission."
"A condition…?"
Seeing his serious face, I chuckled.
"What are you nervous about? Go to the mages, learn everything about the guardians perfectly. That's my condition."
"…Yes? Understood! Thank you! Really, thank you!"
He left, apparently expecting more demands but touched by my words.
What I didn't know then was why the judges hated precedents so much.
"Baron…?"
"May I try too…?"
Starting with him, others shyly approached.
'Phew… I let him in, can't refuse these guys now…'
Getting tired of answering one by one, I finally left it to Raven.
"Ask Arua Raven whether you can challenge. If she permits, I will too."
"Me? Why me?"
"You're the most knowledgeable about rifts here."
"Don't lie. You think I don't know just because I'm lazy—"
Tsk, that's why the sharp ones are so quick.
I cut him off firmly.
"It's not laziness."
"…?"
"It's because I trust you."
Not untrue.
Though there are many mages I could order, none are as thorough as Raven.
And she's vulnerable to praise.
"Sigh…"
Raven sighed but nodded resignedly.
"I'll only send those who can definitely return alive, only such people. Okay?"
Yeah, I expected that.
Though I dumped the annoying task, I saw responsibility in her eyes and knew I wouldn't have to worry.
While thinking that…
"Yandel."
Amelia called me.
I guessed she wanted to check if she could challenge alongside Raven.
That seemed likely given the timing.
But…
"May I try too…?"
Amelia's uncharacteristically timid question surprised me.
"What…?"
"Ahem, if guardian defeat merits count, it'd be a shame to miss this chance. Actually, I think all members should try at least once."
Caught in her gaze, Amelia cleared her throat embarrassed but argued logically.
Hard to just ignore.
'Hmm… she does have a point.'
I didn't ponder long.
"Fine. But only up to the 3rd floor."
"Understood. Then I'll prepare. Even if others don't, Ainard Frenlin needs to be well prepared before entering."
"I leave that to you."
It would be a lie to say I wasn't worried about them entering without me, but I couldn't care for them like baby birds forever.
So I chose to trust.
Amelia, Ainard, Elwen, Misha.
The four would easily manage up to the 3rd floor.
'Ended up taking a long break.'
After watching explorers taking Raven's rift guardian lecture, I glanced over the statues I hadn't攻略ed yet.
Eight 2nd floor guardians.
One End Knight of the White Temple on the 3rd.
Two on the 4th floor…
Twelve in total including unique rifts on the 5th floor.
And…
'Including Cambormier, fourteen unidentified guardians.'
Add four on the 1st floor, that's forty-one total.
'I've killed four, so…'
That meant 37 guardians left to defeat.
'…Let's start with the easy ones.'
There was no time limit here, right?
No requirement to finish in a few days or anything…
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat bonus. EXP +3」
「Guardian defeat…」
After defeating all eight 2nd floor guardians and exiting, the area was quite chaotic.
They seemed to welcome me, saying I'd done well, but…
"What's the record? How much time?"
"3 minutes 27 seconds!"
Some immediately checked the time and furiously wrote in notebooks.
Now that I think about it, they did that before too.
"What are they writing?"
"…They were recording how long it took the baron to kill the guardians."
For some reason, that answer made me quite annoyed.
I felt like a racehorse at the track.
"Are you betting on me?"
I asked sternly, and the mages freaked out, waving their hands.
"N-No way! Absolutely not. Just… curiosity… Everyone's keeping records, not just you."
Hmm, then I couldn't stay mad.
"Because… the data is important…"
A mage who doesn't keep records isn't a mage.
Knowing how instinctive record-keeping is for mages, I let it go.
'Misha and Elwen are攻略ing… Amelia is attending class.'
Sitting to rest and organize thoughts, a portal opened and an explorer who challenged the Glacier Cave returned.
And…
"How long did it take?"
Someone immediately asked.
"1 minute 24 seconds."
The mage taking notes replied flatly; the explorer asked again with excited eyes.
"So, what place is that?"
"Third."
The explorer looked around disappointed, then whispered something to the mage.
Sadly, I couldn't hear…
"Bjorn Yandel is asking how long it took."
I realized Amelia was beside me.
I had seen her listening to Raven's lecture just moments ago…
Did she slip out when she saw me?
Whatever, doesn't matter.
"Ahem, I see. Thanks for telling me."
The explorer smiled proudly and moved toward Raven's lecture room.
"Want to know what the mage said?"
"No, not really."
"3 minutes 27 seconds."
"…If you're going to say it anyway, why ask?"
A little absurd, but I didn't feel bad about the record.
I can't get a better time anyway.
I took it slow, analyzing as I went through.
'Well… even at best, I probably wasn't faster than them.'
They seemed to be competing, and I felt it was unfair to be included.
What's so great about killing faster than a tank?
Just pathetic—
"By the way, I was 47 seconds."
"…Huh?"
"…And I'm first."
"Ah…"
Maybe I'm blinded by love?
Now it seems less pathetic and somewhat cute…
"Already leaving?"
"Rested enough."
After a short break, standing before a new guardian statue, Amelia tilted her head.
"Isn't this the End Knight?"
I stood before the vampire guardian Cambormier's statue.
Simple ★ ★ reason.
"It's time to check the unidentified guardians."
"Is that so…"
Amelia just nodded, saying nothing.
She knew well enough.
A vampire posed no threat to me.
"Still, be careful, okay?"
"Got it. I'll be back."
I entered the portal, seeing Amelia off.
The sensation of floating lasted briefly, then—
Thud.
I recognized movement had ended and dashed forward.
I could scout terrain while running.
Brick walls reminiscent of a medieval castle.
Candleholders illuminating the walls.
Old bloodstains stained the floor.
The place where I opened my eyes resembled, but differed from, the last chapter of the Blood Castle—The Demon Worship Room.
Not a 'ㅁ' shape but a straight line.
Tatatatat.
Running full speed toward the boss room straight ahead.
I'm human, after all.
I don't care much about records…
But I didn't want to be anyone's consolation prize.
So if nothing happened, I planned to kill the guardian quickly and leave.
But…
Kwahhng!
The sound of the door being kicked open forced me to stop as I saw the vampire awakening.
"How curious… very curious…"
The vampire looked at me with sleepy eyes and spoke.
"…Have we met before?"
-x-X-x-
Long ago in the past.
It's a matter of time now long enough that it's no longer unreasonable to speak of it as such, yet the memories remain vivid.
The first time I opened my eyes in the body of a Barbarian and stepped into the first floor's crack — the Blood-Red Fortress.
There, I met Raven and Hikurod.
The desperate battle against Cambermier, the Vampire Duke, a Grade 5 monster and guardian of that crack, even though I had no essence left in my body…
Of course, I still remember the conversation we had then.
"Myoha-gun, truly mysterious…"
Even back then, that guy said something similar while looking at us.
Well, the lines that followed were quite different, though.
"When I look at you, murderous intent boils up and I simply cannot contain it. Do you know why?"
He possessed intelligence and could speak.
That was no strange thing.
Many of the higher mutants could talk.
Though it was the first time I'd heard Cambermier say something like that…
"At the time, I just let it slide."
Back then, the Blood-Red Fortress was the first crack.
Also, capturing Cambermier was my first time.
So I didn't ponder the matter deeply.
But…
"I cannot lose. I must not lose…!"
The Knight of the End I met at the White Temple hut.
He was more desperate than any monster I had faced.
"If it's a lie no one knows… how different can it be from the truth?"
The doppelganger, guardian of the 4th floor crack.
At the end, he muttered with deep regret.
"Truly astonishing. To grasp even vaguely the laws of the world."
The mysterious being I encountered in the reward chamber after clearing Dreadpier also uttered meaningful words.
"You must not open the Abyssal Gate."
No need to say more about the Witch of the Land, Elise Groundia.
As the number of floors I could explore increased, I met more entities, and my questions only grew bigger.
What exactly is the Labyrinth?
What are guardians and tiered lords?
What lies beyond the Abyssal Gate?
"…Maybe."
Today, that answer might finally come.
That intuition struck my mind the moment I met that vampire.
"Hmm, do you not understand what I'm saying?"
His voice sounded more curious than wary.
Before that curiosity faded, I ended my thoughts and spoke.
"As you said, we have met before. At the Blood-Red Fortress."
"The Blood-Red Fortress…"
The vampire quietly repeated the name, then looked at me again and muttered.
"So you have no memory, it seems. By then, I was already like this."
That answer gave me goosebumps for some reason.
My suspicion grew — yet here we were having a normal conversation.
"No sudden signs of snapping out of it either."
But since I didn't know how long this state would last, I hurried to continue the conversation.
"What do you mean by 'like this'?"
"You can see it for yourself. This monstrous body."
It seemed he simply meant his vampire form. I had hoped for something like being trapped in the Labyrinth or brought by a witch.
"Hmm, so this guy was originally human too?"
I wanted to clarify this, but unfortunately the vampire was quicker with his question.
"So… where is this place? Why am I here?"
Honestly, I had no clue what to answer.
"Surely our Cambermier Duchy was burning under the assault of the Tri-God Church…"
There was an inexplicable barrier between his words and mine.
It felt like past and future humans meeting by chance, speaking without understanding each other's situation.
"…This is the Labyrinth. I was exploring it when I met you."
"The Labyrinth… what is that?"
Our understanding clashed, so the conversation barely advanced.
So I cautiously asked,
"Before I explain… can you tell me your story first?"
"My story…?"
"Anything is fine. I just want to know your last memories."
"Hmm…"
The vampire seemed to ponder for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"The Tri-God Church's army came to exterminate me. I lost in that battle, prayed for rest, and closed my eyes. And now, I have awakened."
"…"
"The moment I opened my eyes, I saw you… and memories came to me, as if I'd met you somewhere before. Oh, and by the way, the madness that tormented me so badly hasn't flared up. It's been ages since my mind was this clear…"
"…I see."
"Well then, will you tell me? Where exactly is this place — this Labyrinth you speak of?"
"May I gather my thoughts before answering?"
"Take your time."
With the vampire's permission, I quickly assembled the clues I had.
Not just what he said, but everything I had known originally.
[The Dark Continent is real.]
Information spat by the jester who left the castle walls at the Round Table.
[The Tri-God Church's army came to exterminate me.]
The Tri-God Church still exists in our world and remains powerful…
It didn't take long to reach a rough conclusion.
Though it was only my guess, after all.
The Labyrinth is based on actual events and place names.
And…
"Cambermier, don't be shocked, listen."
"I'm listening."
"First, one thing is certain: thousands of years have passed since your death."
"…What does that mean? I am clearly alive now!"
From here on, everything was my speculation.
"No, you are already dead. And this current you… is likely a being created by someone."
"…I can't understand this at all."
For the first time, hostility flared in the vampire's eyes.
It was a reaction I had expected.
After all, who ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) would welcome a stranger suddenly telling them they're dead?
"…Still, this method is difficult."
There was an easier path.
Ignoring the truth, deceiving him by telling what he wanted to hear, making it easier to extract information.
But even knowing that, I told my guess honestly.
In a way, it was very Barbarian of me.
Because I didn't want to do otherwise.
It was time to graduate from such ways.
If I wanted to be someone who could righteously get angry when wronged.
"Cambermier, calm down and listen. I will explain why I think this way."
Sometimes you have to take the hard path.
Afterward, I spent a long time explaining to the vampire what the Labyrinth is.
What the current city is like, how the world has changed.
What I have seen and experienced while exploring the Labyrinth.
And finally… the circumstances of our first meeting.
Explaining all that took far more time and effort than I imagined.
The vampire struggled to grasp the vast gap in common sense across thousands of years, sometimes even denying my words in anger.
But…
"…Enough. I understand now why you said those things."
Eventually, the vampire surrendered.
Though he still had one question.
"But there is something I do not understand."
"…What? Speak. I will explain it as many times as you need until you understand—"
"Why do you tell me all this so earnestly? According to you, I am merely a created being. Perhaps even today's events will be wiped from memory, just as I forgot meeting you that day."
That was not the question I expected, but again I answered honestly.
"If I were you, I would want to know the truth anyway."
"…"
"That's why I said it. If I'm honest first, maybe I can get your help."
"I see…"
The vampire thought deeply for a long while, then spoke.
"Then tell me. How do you want me to help you?"
The line I'd been waiting for.
I took a breath and opened my mouth.
"Cambermier, I want to know about you."
"About me…?"
"Yes. How you lived, what your world was like, what happened to bring you here. Just as I told you everything about myself. Everything."
The vampire looked surprised, but then nodded gravely.
"I will. Though it is awkward to tell a stranger about my life, if you're right, I'm nothing more than a puppet. Better to be remembered by someone, at least."
"…"
"It still feels strange to be suddenly asked about my life. Well, where shall I start… Ah, yes, from there."
"…"
"I had a daughter."
So began his story.
Presumably before the witch's curse engulfed the world.
"It was a turbulent time. The witch's followers and the Empire's army fought all day long, shedding blood."
The story of witches opposing humans was familiar to me.
But what he said next mattered a great deal.
Because ancient records were nearly lost and rare.
"Our Cambermier family, a ducal house of a border state, was relatively unaffected by the war. We stayed neutral to both witches and the Empire, quietly waiting for the war to end."
Then one day…
"My only daughter fell ill."
A terrible disease that neither potions nor the sacred power of high priests could cure.
Day by day, the daughter's life flame dimmed, and the duke couldn't stand to watch.
"She was worth sacrificing my very soul."
The duke searched everywhere and finally reached the witches' followers. They proposed a way to save his daughter.
"I learned later that they were not really witches' followers. They worshipped the evil god Karui and sought to throw the world into chaos."
Unaware of this, the duke accepted their offer. The Empire had built many evils, and he had heard stories of people who gained salvation by becoming witches' followers.
The duke was neutral toward witches.
"That was the beginning of all misfortune."
Karui's priests treated the daughter in a bizarre way. Every day, screams echoed from her room.
Once, the daughter begged them to stop treatment, but the duke ignored it for her sake.
And so time passed…
"My daughter got up from her sickbed."
She recovered, and the priests of the evil god left.
The duke was initially happy to have regained normal life, but that happiness did not last long.
He calmly said,
"She began to swell."
Literally, she swelled.
Slowly, as if her whole body filled with pus.
"When wounds opened and bled, everything around corroded and melted. She lost reason and became violent."
The duke locked her in an underground prison.
There was no choice.
If news of the daughter's transformation spread, neither the Cambermier family nor the daughter would survive.
He planned to hide her and find a cure.
"But the problem was she wouldn't eat."
No matter what delicious food was offered, even forced down her throat, the changed daughter refused.
"Day by day I felt her dying. She was too weak to even open her eyes properly. Her pulse showed her heart was dying."
The duke could do nothing.
One day, while a knight was bringing food to her, the daughter attacked and killed him.
"…Only then… did she eat."
There was no need to ask what she ate.
"The child who used to raise hell at even a single fly now ate. Very ravenously."
The duke fainted at the sight, but the daughter regained strength from that day on.
Needing time to find a way, the duke began bringing criminals to feed her.
But as she ate more, she grew bigger.
The underground prison couldn't hold her anymore, so she was moved to a water reservoir.
Her food intake increased so much that criminals alone couldn't supply it, so innocent people were framed and brought in.
"If I were still myself, I would never have made such a foolish choice. But… the evil god's followers had done something to me."
The duke could not think rationally then.
Violence surged, guilt faded.
Occasional madness attacks happened.
The changes affected both mind and body.
His fangs grew.
His sense of smell sharpened.
When he smelled blood, saliva dripped from his mouth.
He learned black magic he never studied, and used his changed body as naturally as a butterfly flapping its wings.
It became easier to find food for the daughter.
Disappearances increased, and when his retainers began to leave one by one under the duke's brutal hand, his hometown came to be called the Blood-Red Fortress.
Naturally, the news reached the Empire, the witches at war, and even the Tri-God Church.
"After that, it was as I told you. The army came, and I was defeated."
The duke's cruel nature led him to a secret place deep under the fortress for his sinister hobby.
There, a paladin's sword pierced his heart.
"It's ridiculous, but I prayed."
Facing death, he prayed.
Knowing the Tri-God Church gods would not forgive him.
"I begged the goddess who was called the enemy of mankind, the witch, to save my daughter, even if not me. And when I opened my eyes, I was here."
Looking back, that incident was like it had just happened from the duke's perspective.
How could he speak so calmly?
When I asked cautiously, he shrugged and said he didn't know.
"I don't know, but it feels like an incredibly long time has passed. If what you say is true, many years have really passed…"
I had nothing to say, so I just listened until he asked me.
"Do you know? What you told me today was a cruel truth."
I understood well enough.
I thought so, but didn't say it aloud.
I couldn't truly understand it yet. Hearing his story only deepened those thoughts.
"But…"
The vampire said.
"Still, thank you. For speaking honestly."
"…"
"Thanks to you, I won't have to dream vain dreams anymore."
It was a very strange feeling.
-x-X-x-