The investigation discovered that two people had changed their names. However, the names they had used were Margery and Dick, which were far from that cursed name. So, simply put, there was no (ancient) Hans among them.
But what is this feeling? It seems strange to me that there really weren't any...
It's not that I wasn't relieved that there wasn't an (old) Hans, but that relief was accompanied by some disappointment. If it had existed, this series of events could have been a mere coincidence. And if that weren't the case, we would have at least been able to considerably reduce our list of suspects.
...No, wait.
«Los Trolls».
«¿Sí?»
«What are the names of the three Trolls you summoned?» I asked just in case, but to no avail. Apparently, their names were Pippi, Poppy, and Yeppi in order from highest to lowest. As a layman, I couldn't understand the thought process behind that naming scheme.
Anyway, this confirms that someone deliberately caused this.
A coincidence? Although that possibility couldn't be completely ruled out, I didn't believe in those kinds of coincidences, unless a Hans was involved in some way. Not to mention that Frozen Rock soil collapse was not such a common phenomenon that it occurred twice during a single expedition.
I have an assumption too.
I carefully put the ring I had just put on in my pocket and quickly took it off.
«It seems like he's pretty determined, then».
«Sí.»
«What are our losses?»
«It's hard to call any of this luck, but the proportion of food on that sled was not that great. »
In that case, it was. The other items we brought on this expedition were also important to our survival, but not as important as food.
«...What will you do now?»
«What needs to be done? Let's move on».
After confirming the extent of the damage, I set our squad back on the move. We were on a tight timeline. It wasn't like the culprit was going to come out of nowhere if we killed longer here. I needed to think about my feet.
«How far can you send the Ice Trolls?»
«...A-anywhere, as long as it's within my line of sight!», the summoner immediately responded. She seemed worried that she would be held responsible for this incident.
...Is it a performance?
He was the most suspicious. But I didn't dig too deep, deciding that now wasn't the time to do it.
«From now on, the remaining three sleds will travel front, center and rear».
To avoid further unexpected complications, the sleds were divided into a larger formation.
Step step.
As we continued marching through the cave of transparent ice walls, I continued to contemplate the situation. If someone among us had really destroyed our provisions, who could be to blame? The problem was that there were too many suspects. But in case there was a traitor, the first people he should consider were those who would have the most means and motives. For example, the leaders of each team.
«...Schuitz, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I should have split the sleds a long time ago».
First of all, Titana Akurava. Needless to say, the woman was suspicious. She was in charge of managing supplies, and whenever something bad happened, she was always closer to the sleds.
«I'm sure Lady Akurava didn't want to do it on purpose, but it's the second time now», Kaislan said, approaching me. «Whether you like it or not, everyone will look down on you if you don't do something». He was just as distrustful. I appreciated his kind advice and self-sacrificing mentality, but honestly that was even more suspicious to me. Furthermore, he was the one who most coveted the position of commander.
«I think it's hard to call this accident anyone's fault. But... I think holding someone accountable this time is a way to fix things». James Calla, although the least suspicious, was also not without motives. He had the lowest status of the four. His sponsors could easily intimidate him into doing whatever they wanted.
«...Do what you want. It is your duty and your right as a leader». The last one was Paladin Jun. He had been strangely friendly with me for a while, which made me quite uncomfortable.
«Mr. Schuitz, the squad is extremely tired.»
The march lasted two hours longer than expected.
«Lift camp!»
While the rest of the group broke camp, we had a leaders' meeting.
The first issue to be discussed was the following. «Loss of potions and consumables to maintain body temperature is also a problem, but the biggest problem is the loss of our tents and sleeping bags».
«We are already hungry. If we can't sleep either, everyone's discontent will surely skyrocket».
«We have to resolve this in a way that does not raise issues of injustice. If some sleep well and others don't, everyone will start to resent it».
The number of tents and sleeping bags left could not accommodate the thirty of us. The solution I decided was simple.
«What are you going to do with this problem?».
«Increase the number of people on night duty in proportion to the shortage of beds».
«...Night surveillance?»
Well, the number of sleeping bags wasn't up to par, was it? But if the number of lookouts outside increased, the number of people who could sleep inside would also increase.
«... That's too extreme.»
«Let's burn more energy this way.»
«Why don't we take turns using the sleeping bags and tents?».
The team leaders expressed their concerns, but with my authority as commander behind me, I ignored them and ratified the motion.
«Schuitz, this will only make resentment towards you grow more».
It's not that I didn't understand what they were saying. This solution eliminated the problem rather than actually solving it. Tomorrow, the squad would probably start calling me a barbarian and criticizing me for not knowing anything about strategy. People would say that he did not have the qualities of a true leader.
«I don't care. Let everyone know. Each team can choose who will be on duty and the order in which they will take their turns».
Increasing the number of people on night duty was mandatory. If the number of non-sleepers increased, night safety would also increase, right? From now on, he had to be on guard against traitors within our squad.
«Ravien», I said, stopping the tired dragon tribe woman heading to a store.
«What's happening?» This woman was also a bit suspicious. I was also curious about his exact relationship with the marquis.
«I was wondering if we could talk for a moment».
«Is this what happened today?»
«Yes, what do you think?»
«Sounds like you think someone did it on purpose».
«I have to leave all possibilities open». Having worked together for a while, the conversation between us flowed much more naturally than before, but unfortunately I didn't learn much from it.
«Even if you ask me, I'm not sure. I don't know anything about those things».
«Ya veo... »
«That's all?»
«Yes, you must be tired. Go to sleep». I struggled talking a little more, but it didn't seem like anything was going to come out, so I let Ravien go. Then, heading behind a store and away from prying eyes, I put on the pocket ring.
[You have equipped no. 6111: Fate Seeker].
Like all the times I've worn it in recent days, a light appeared on the ring as soon as I put it on.
[The ring has detected your destiny].
This light was a very bright red. I quickly took it off in case anyone saw it.
Damn sea.
It had been like this since we entered the seventh floor.
As for Numeric Items, there were some that could not be used in the city, such as number 399: Cage of Silence. The Fate Seeker was one of those objects. So as soon as I entered the maze, the first thing I did was put on this ring.
So there was no red light.
The same thing happened when I met the other members of our mission on the sixth floor, and even during the trip through the eastern seas. But as soon as we reached the Ice Rock, the ring began to glow red.
¡Shaaaaaaa!
That meant there was something that would negatively affect me nearby, something I had no chance of turning into a positive. At that moment, not even a traitor came to mind.
If his plan was to betray us only once we reached the seventh floor, it makes sense why the red light only came on now.
Throughout the journey, we had faced one disaster after another, and yet the light on the ring remained the same. That meant this wasn't over yet, and more negative events remained on my horizon.
«Sir, how long are you going to sleep!»
When I opened my eyes, I could see Erwen above me. I had reduced the number of insulating stones in each store as our supply was now limited, so my body temperature had dropped overnight.
«Where are old Didi and Ashed?»
«They are already up and preparing».
«Why didn't they wake me up earlier?»
«I guess you looked tired.»
Hmm... I'm grateful, but it's embarrassing as a warrior to have a wizard and special ability user, of all people, worried about my stamina.
«Do you want me to shave you?» erwen asked with a smile as I sat up. I unconsciously touched my chin and noticed that I had a thick beard. However, I didn't particularly care.
«Alright. It's not uncomfortable». Rather, having a beard was beneficial in this climate. This was hair too, so I should keep warm, right?
«Oh... what a shame. What a shame. He's much prettier without a beard, sir...»
I ignored Erwen's whining and headed outside. The cold air enveloped my skin and filled my lungs. But by far the biggest problem was hunger.
Growl!
I noticed the emptiness in my stomach as soon as I woke up.
«You're awake».
«First things first, let's go pick up the store».
Old Didi and Ashed, who were waiting outside, dismantled the tent we had spent the night in and put it on the sleigh.
Chew, chew.
After gnawing as slowly as possible on the piece of jerky they had provided me for breakfast, we resumed the trip. It was our tenth day at Ice Rock. The rest of our route was easy. Once you have crossed this labyrinthine cave that connected to the center of the region, a huge sinkhole would appear hidden in the depths of Ice Rock, also known as the Eye of the Glacier. From that moment on, we could consider ourselves halfway to this level, since we were heading to the end of the Glacier Eye. Simply put, there was an underground portal that connected to the eighth floor.
Suddenly, I heard a commotion behind me. «An essence... there is an essence!»
«Did it come from the Meran we just killed?»
«That? Wait, so it's a rank three essence!»
In reality, it wasn't just a rank three essence. It was a rare essence that could only be obtained here on the Ice Rock.
«Everyone out of the way!»
First I moved the crew out of the way, I sent a mage to store the essence in a test tube. He confirmed that it was indeed the essence of a Meran. Was this good luck the universe's way of making up for yesterday? Although these were high-ranking adventurers, they all seemed to covet the essence of rank three with sparkle in their eyes.
«Calm down everyone. If someone wants to buy this essence later, we will grant them the right to do so after calculating the average price of it in the test tube! And if there are any competitors, we will hold an auction!». Kaislan quickly infused some of his military discipline into the situation before things could degenerate into a huge uproar.
Some adventurers licked their lips in disappointment, but most didn't care too much and were truly happy. There had been some essences during the expedition so far, but they were all of lower rank. Range three was priced differently. Of course, it wouldn't be too much when it was distributed among thirty people, but the money was the money.
«...They said that Noark's loot will also be distributed equally later».
«Additionally, depending on our achievements in the war, we will receive rewards from the palace. We can't forget that.»
«However, those who go after that essence will have to accumulate many achievements. If not, they won't have the money for it».
«Either way, we will be rewarded for our hard work».
«That's only if the mission is successful».
However, thanks to our first good luck in a long time, the squad's morale was quite high despite yesterday's incident. They were probably still cursing me behind my back, of course, but if that helped them move on, then oh well. As the leader of the expedition, I didn't have to be angry about that.
Every group needs a bad guy, right?
Three more days passed like this. By some stroke of divine intervention, no more supplies or lives were lost in that time.
[The ring has detected your destiny.]
However, the color of the ring was still red. Therefore, I continued my investigation into the traitor, interrogating the summoner and investigating again and again the alibis and possible motives of the other members of the squad as we advanced.
«It's Glacier's Eye!»
It was the thirteenth day of our Ice Rock trip when we finally approached the second half of the seventh floor.
«What's happening? It's still early, why are we preparing the camp?».
After giving the rest of the squad orders to break camp, I summoned all the team leaders. The reason was simple.
«There is a traitor among us».
There was still time until night fell, but I thought I finally knew who the bastard was.