Extra chapter: thanks to Barbarian for the donation
The abyss below was shrouded in darkness. The woman looking towards him, towards a place filled with nothing but the sound of cold swirling, parted her lips to speak. «Six, have completely entered the lower levels of Glacier's Eye».
«The attempt at external intervention had me worried, but I suppose they decided to continue the expedition despite everything».
«So what are you going to do now?»
«Everyone will remain waiting, except the security team».
The woman silently nodded to the order of the person named Six. Then he asked carefully, with a voice that contained a hint of human emotion: «But six?».
«Speaks».
«Do you think those people will come back?».
Six did not answer that question. It didn't make sense. Whether those people came back or not, what did it matter?
¡Shaaaaaaa!
All they had to do was follow orders.
***
Chew, chew.
I walked forward, chewing jerky. It was specially made, high-calorie jerky made specifically for adventurers that was distributed this morning. If anyone was wondering why I was eating breakfast now, the answer was simple. This was the last of our supply.
Chew, chew.
As of today, all our food was gone. Simply put, we had no more food until we reached the eighth floor. Was that why?
Chew, chew.
Today's jerky tasted several times better than usual.
But what...? Why has it disappeared?
I only had a moment to savor the jerky, and anger took hold of me when I realized my hand was empty. «Have I already eaten it all?».
Really? This is our last meal! I'm still starving. Why are we distributing the same amount to each person when each person consumes different amounts to begin with?
¡Gruuuu!
This is discrimination. I'm wrong? Those pencil-like wizards and priests will have lower metabolisms, and all they have to do is wave their wands behind their backs, so they consume less energy. And yet we still apply the policy of one beef-jerky per person? This is an insult and a hate crime against warriors who sweat and bleed on the front lines. If our leader were in his right mind, this kind of policy would never...
Ah, I am the leader.
Yes, what could you do? Honestly, I didn't want to do this either. But if he gave special treatment to warriors, people would object, saying that he only did it out of self-interest. So I took the initiative to implement this policy.
Well, it seems like it's a failure.
With this policy, I had not earned the gratitude or hatred of the other classes but rather the hatred of the warriors. Oh, how did I know warriors hated me? The source was me. I hated myself right now.
«How.»
«Sir, what's wrong?»
«Warriors laugh when times are tough.»
«Do you... call that laughing?» Erwen, who broke the formation to walk next to me, gave me a disturbed look before handing me something.
«¿Carne... seca...?»
«¡Sí!»
«Are you... giving this to me...?». I asked in disbelief.
Erwen nodded her head, without changing her expression. «Yes!»
I picked up the jerky in a daze before belatedly coming to my senses. «No problem! I'm not hungry, you eat it!».
«If you're going to say that, why don't you get that smile off first?».
Smile?
Just as I was wondering what he was talking about, Erwen summoned a water spirit and turned it into a mirror. On the other side of the reflection was me, smiling like an idiot. «Look, this is real laughter! He he. Come on, eat it. I'm fine. Everyone else is giving their share to others who need it».
"...¿Which?"
At my confused look, Amelia intervened from behind me to give an answer. «The people in the rear, who have plenty of stamina, have been saving their food little by little instead of eating it».
«Saving her? As? It would have spoiled quickly».
«I mean after entering the cave. There have been no ice storms since then».
«Oh, right...» Was it because I had been very hungry? I couldn't believe I hadn't been able to realize something so simple right away. Anyway, none of that was important. «But it's true? That people are giving away the little food they have?».
«If you can't believe it, you can see for yourself later».
Hmm, I need to see it right now.
«Stop!» I used my authority as commander to stop the march. It was time for a break anyway.
«Oh, a break!»
«I can catch my breath!»
«Ahhh! Provision Officer! Give me a blanket! I need to rest my eyes, even for a moment!»
A priest activated the Destruction of Evil to turn this place into a safe zone. The crew immediately took the opportunity to lie down and regain strength.
I pretended to be on patrol so I could get away and watch. It turned out that what Erwen said was true.
«Here, take this». A priest was giving his food to some warriors.
«...JJ-Jerky? For me?» The warrior was stunned, with an expression of deep disbelief on his face.
«Yeah. You must be tired».
«Are you in love with me? If so, I can't accept this jerky. I have a wife and children in the city-»
«I'm not giving it to you for that, don't worry».
«That? Are you willing to give me jerky, even if you don't love me...?».
The warriors were surprised, but they still ate the jerky they received, and the same scene was repeated throughout the group.
«Mmm, this... debt! Someday I will pay you my debt, I swear on my life!».
Numerous warriors gathered their courage and made similar statements, even shedding tears over a single piece of jerky. It was a very moving scene, even for me.
«My policy... was not a failure...»
The squad had truly become one, helping each other.
«Mr. Schuitz? Did you just tell me something?»
«Ah, Jun... It's nothing.»
«Alright. But what brings you here? Is it related to the reason why you suddenly stopped the procession?»
Actually, I was only here to see what was going on because I felt too guilty to accept Erwen's imbecility, but I accepted it. A commander had to keep up appearances, after all. «How is morale today?»
«Hoy. .? »
«The food supply ran out this morning. Has anyone expressed any complaints?»
«Everyone is strong. Everyone has experienced much worse things than this, so going hungry for a single day is nothing. Everyone considers it inevitable».
«I see...» Since I hadn't come here out of curiosity, I nodded and left. I was heading back to the front line, where my team was.
«Oh, Schuitz! Thanks for the last time!»
«Why does it seem like you're getting thinner every day?»
«I was eating this, but do you want some?»
Family warriors greeted me. This may have been the biggest change since Pyke Neldine's execution. Regardless of party affiliation, we all had to take out our shields and run out together whenever a major battle broke out, so we inevitably developed a feeling of camaraderie. Not only had my relationship with my colleagues improved. Although they were not as friendly as the warriors who joked with me, the eyes of others were warmer. It was very moving, because a while ago they were looking at me and whispering every time I passed by.
Probably thanks to Neldine.
An external enemy had united the group. When his betrayal was revealed, all the resentment directed towards me turned towards him. I had also been the one who discovered the traitor. My reputation had naturally improved as a result.
«Schuitz, that man... I can't say if he's a genius or an idiot».
«I heard he was scolded by his teammate the other day for suggesting we eat monster meat...»
«It's a little slow, but I don't think it's stupid. Seeing how he tracked down the traitor».
«Oh that? But... I heard that he only took credit after his wizard discovered everything.»
Haha, to think there were more traitors here.
I wondered if I should finish them off immediately, but changed my mind at the conversation that followed.
«But having capable subordinates is also a reflection of one's abilities. Plus, he seems like a good one».
«That's true... true. I haven't talked to him much, but he seemed friendly».
«Having the title of commander means he could just shout orders if he wanted to, but instead he always takes care of the tough jobs.».
«Mm-hmm, people like that are the most reliable allies in difficult situations.»
But what...? They were just ordinary comrades.
Step step.
When I finally returned to my post, pretending not to have heard their conversation along the way, our twenty-minute break - according to the unspoken rule - was about to end.
«Lord! How has it gone? You were right, right?»
«Sí.
«Okay, then eat. OK? Don't feel bad, everyone does».
«Ah, I already ate that on the way here».
«Hehe, good job! I'm the best, right?»
«Yes, you are the best», I said benevolently.
With that, I leaned against the wall and fiddled with the ring for the rest of the break. As I did so, Amelia approached me.
«Wondering why the light disappeared?».
«Oh yeah, I guess...».
No. 6111: Seeker of Destiny, the ring I called the Traffic Light Ring, had suddenly lost its light. It happened about four days ago.
«Now that's strange», Amelia said, frowning. «A once felt destiny would not disappear without reason».
«That is what I am saying.»
No matter how I looked at it, it was very strange. I didn't remember anything bad having happened...
***
On Day Twenty of our journey through the Ice Rock, we finally reached the end.
I didn't think we'd actually make it to the twentieth day.
In the planning phase, we had allocated twenty days to tour Ice Rock. Despite several unfortunate events, on the one hand, and moving as fast as we could, on the other, we arrived on the exact date.
Maybe the schedule was too tight from the beginning.
I wasn't sure, but I had a feeling that if we had tried to follow the original schedule, we would have arrived two or three days late. I had also attended the actual meetings as a commander, so if I had to explain it, it was because there were too many unexpected variables.
The fact that most of the crew were first-timers at Ice Rock had been taken into account during the planning phases, of course. But that was just on paper. At that time I didn't know his exact capabilities. Although its hunting speed was exceptional, the squadron lacked a bit of speed. I assumed it was natural, considering that this equipment had been created for war purposes, not adventure.
«Sir, what are you thinking so much about?»
«...En nada.»
I finished my musings there and looked around. At the lowest part of Glacier's Eye was a symbol reminiscent of a human eye on the ground.
«Now, now, let everyone calm down and wait their turn! We will draw lots in order».
All we had to do now was take the portal to the eighth floor, but the squadron was currently in a state of Chaos. The reason was quite simple. Since it was Ice Rock, a rugged terrain that no one ever reached, we were, of course, the first to reach its portal.
«How are we going to decide the order?»
«I don't care whose turn it is, so can't we come in? I'm starving».
«That? So, you're out!»
«That? Out? I never wanted to go in from the beginning! I'm a magician!»
The maximum number of people that could be connected by a single Bind spell was six. As such, the number of people who could claim experience points for opening a portal was six as well. We decided to do a fair draw to determine who these people would be, regardless of their position or merit, based purely on luck.
«Ahh! Damn! Why is it blank?!»
«Hey! Don't even think about using your ability to look inside the box! I have my eye on you!»
«Woohoo! Opening of the Eighth Floor Portal! I live to see the day!»
The long tail was reduced person to person, and periodically cheers and sighs sounded.
As I watched all this from the background, Ravien, who was next to me, spoke. «Aren't you angry?»
«What do you mean?»
«You are the commander of this mission. No one could have argued if you used your position to claim a position».
«Ah, eye».
In reality, this had already been discussed among the team leaders, that we had to take the experience points for ourselves and draw the remaining position. Kaislan added that the remaining position should be awarded to the person who contributed the most, rather than by lottery. This was how subordinates had to be treated.
«...Um, you're listening to me, right?»
«Ah, I'm listening.»
«Why did you give up so easily?» ravien asked, and I just shrugged in response. What kind of answer were you looking for? It was clear that he knew why he had done it.
«Tsk, blank», said Amelia, who had taken out a ticket before me. When he came back, he patted me on the shoulder. «Schuitz, now it's your turn».
«How many bills are left?»
«Uno.
You, eh...
I turned my head as discreetly as possible to check the number of people still in line. Including me, there were four. Simply put, the probability was 25%.
There are no Hanses among them.
With good fortune behind me, I took a step forward.
¡Shaaaaaa!
A cold wind descended from above and swept across the ground before rising again.
Slip.
I took the ring off my finger. I didn't need it anymore.
Step step.
Destiny was something that one carved out on one's own.
«Good luck». When I stopped in front of the box, Kaislan spoke words of encouragement.
Now was the time to see the reward.
«Ahhh!» I let out a manly roar and pulled out a ticket.
«What a shame. It's blank».
Of course it didn't work. Ha, is it because there is no background music? It's a golden rule that you have to let the cool soundtrack play in the big moments.
Step step.
As I turned around in no spirit to make room for the next person, Ravien passed me. Ah, so it was his turn.
She's not going to shoot, is she?
«Is it the round mark, true? ¿This one?»
«Asi es. Cheers.»
Man, did he? I should have waited one more turn...
I was starting to turn green with envy.
«Can this ticket be transferred to someone else?»
«I guess you haven't heard the explanation before. After a long discussion, we agreed to allow it».
«Really?» After that brief exchange with Kaislan, Ravien turned around without hesitation and approached me. «Here, take it». Suddenly he handed me the ticket.
I couldn't understand it. It was the same person who had entered the maze alone and had only met us on the sixth floor to be able to do a speedrun. I was sure it was because I was in a hurry to earn XP.
«Why are you giving me this...?»
«I just think this shouldn't be mine».
"...¿Which?"
When I tilted my head in confusion, Ravien responded forcefully and clumsily. «I've been by your side all this time, so I know for a fact that you were the one who suffered the most».
What is this...?
Whistle!
«Yes Yes! You were the one who brought us here, so you should open it!».
«What a shame. I was going to give him mine if no one did».
«Liar! You were so happy before!»
«It's true! During the discussion before, I was one of those who argued that we should allow transfers!»
«Whatever you want, hurry up and grab it! An adventurer should look out for his own interests whenever he can!»
In this deep underground place where the wind was so cold it froze your nose, I felt like I was going to cry.
It's hot...