I only asked about the third option out of pure player curiosity and animosity towards him, but in reality, I had already made my choice. I didn't know what kind of reward choosing that other door would give me, but whatever it was, it couldn't be worth more than three comrades I could trust.
And... I don't think I can defeat that thing by myself.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked up. Every time I looked into his eyes, I felt a strange sense of unease. It was like he was looking at something completely strange.
«It seems like you've made a decision».
«Yeah. I'm going out that door», I declared, and then walked towards my choice. He just looked at me without saying a word. It seemed as if he was silent out of respect for the decision I had made.
Step.
When I finally reached the door, I didn't go through it immediately, but turned to ask him something. If I left it at that, I knew I would be tormented by this question for the rest of my life. «Yes... If any of us had fallen for your tricks and betrayed each other, what would have happened?».
This had been my first time seeing this secret level. Luckily, things had ended well, but I couldn't get the «and yes...» out of my head.
Fortunately for me, he answered my question. «According to established providence, my clone would have gained even more strength».
«...So that's what would have happened». No wonder he kept trying to get us to betray each other, even when he could have easily killed us from the beginning. Little by little I was beginning to understand the design of this event. The endgame was always a one-on-one battle against the boss, but in case of betrayal, the difficulty of such a battle increased significantly.
And if you lost the battle against the boss, the game was over.
Since it was a game after all, I assumed that even the path of betrayal had to be overcome somehow, and that it would probably have its own specific rewards as well. However, none of that mattered now. Thanks to him, I had been able to calm my curiosity.
Still, while I was at it, I decided to ask one last question. «What the hell... are you?».
«What do you mean?»
«Don't you already know exactly what I mean?»
It wasn't the first time he had a conversation with one of the monsters in the maze.
«You are the first living beings I have seen in a long time. Where did you come from?»
The first had been the Vampire Duke Cambormere of the Bloody Citadel.
«Wild dogs of the empire, trapped by greed... Today I will punish you».
There was also the Knight of the End of the White Temple.
«If it is... a lie... nobody knows... how is it different... from the truth?».
Even the Doppelganger had spoken to me, and that's just to name a few.
However, despite having had similar encounters in the past, he had always had the feeling during each of them that the monsters were simply saying dialogues for which they had been programmed. In fact, they never seemed to have much sense of reason and attacked any adventurer who approached them with blind rage. However, this guy was different. It seemed almost as if he was a real being capable of conscious thought.
And before that he said something that caught my attention...
He had clearly said that in case of betrayal, according to established providence, his «clone» would have received an increase in power. I couldn't quite get the idea, but there was something I could say with some certainty after combining all the information I had gathered so far. Just like Dungeon and Stone was based on this world, this maze also had to be based on something.
«By chance», I started carefully, «are all the monsters in the maze original and you are one of them?».
He looked at me intently, in silence. As I watched him contemplate the question, the strength seemed to run out in him. Then, after a long moment, he shook his head. «Maybe». The moment that word left his mouth, I felt like I was one step closer to unraveling the secrets of this labyrinth. «Maybe one day you will discover the truth».
That was the end of my conversation with him.
Hit!
The moment the stone door in front of me creaked open, something pushed me from behind and ushered me in.
***
[You have perfectly passed the scariest test in the maze. No.12: Trust has been permanently equipped for you.]
[The Nameless Pilgrim has disappeared from the labyrinth forever. Special condition: Distorted memories have been permanently erased. A hidden area has been opened].
[First achievement unlocked: The great feats you have achieved will be engraved on the Stone of Honor, recorded forever].
[The maze has closed. They transport you to Rafdonia].
***
A warm glow covered my closed eyelids. When I slowly opened my eyes and raised my head, a gloomy sky welcomed me. I sat for a while, staring into the clouds. He had really come back alive. It was like this every month, but every time I came back and looked at that familiar sky, I felt the tension leave me.
Of course, the feeling never lasted long.
«... Bjorn Candle.»
«Weren't you fighting the Lord of the Soil? I wonder what happened».
«Did you really have success with just five people?»
Nearby adventurers quickly recognized me and began gossiping. I shook off my stupor and stood up to head to the checkpoint. However, only one person was waiting for me there. It was Amelia, who had left the group to interrogate the intruders.
«...I'm glad to see you're back alive. Do you know how worried I was? You didn't appear until the maze closed». He had been frantically scrutinizing the crowd from his post near the checkpoint, but when he saw me, he let out a sigh of relief. However, it didn't take long for her to become tense again. «Any casualties?»
With no way of knowing what had happened to us, Amelia was more worried about the possible losses than the success of our raid. Luckily, I could answer that question, at least. «None. Well... there shouldn't be any».
«Should there be...? What does that mean?»
«... It's hard to explain.» They told me we would all come back alive, but I doubted I could relax until I saw them with my own eyes. «Let's wait here for now».
Amelia nodded, choosing not to harass me anymore. Although I was sure I had a lot of questions. But he bit his tongue as we waited there for what seemed like years, until they finally started appearing one by one.
The first was Erwen.
«Sir...» He started running as soon as he saw me near the checkpoint and, when he finally caught up with us, his knees gave way, apparently exhausted. «This... This is not a dream... right?».
«Don't worry. This is not a dream».
«What... what happened?»
Well, from his point of view, he had died while trying to lure Aggro and then he opened his eyes and found himself here. No wonder she was confused and struggling to process.
«When everyone arrives, I will explain everything to them».
Shortly after, Versyl Gowland appeared.
«Why are you so late? Weren't you worried about us too?»
«L-I'm sorry. This doesn't make any sense... Is it... a dream? I'm sure I'm dead...» Versyl acted the same way Erwen did.
Amelia stared at them, tilting her head in confusion. «...Died?»
«As I said before, it's a long story. I'll explain it to you when we're all back together».
«...Wale.»
A while later, the last wayward member of our group finally appeared just as Versyl was calming down.
«B-Bjorn...!» Ainar, who had seen us near the checkpoint, ran towards us with a scream. Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief, finally certain that we were all back alive. «...Wh-what?! What is this? It has been quite a dream?! I'm sure I'm dead...».
Quickly tapé la boca a Ainar con una bro.
«...¡Agh! ¡Mm! Mph!»
«Shut up! Everyone is watching us because of you. Let's go somewhere else first, then I'll explain everything to you».
Now that we were all gathered, we quickly passed the checkpoint and headed down the street. As usual, the front of the checkpoint was filled with close family and friends of the adventurers who entered the maze this month.
«Versyl, is it okay for you to find your way home from our house in Kommelby?».
«I don't care. I'd actually feel more comfortable discussing this there anyway.»
«Okay then».
We headed towards the platform to wait for a noble carriage that would take us to Kommelby. This was the disadvantage of living on a main street. When I lived in District Seven, Dimension Square was close enough that I could walk home.
«Captain! You're back!» When we got home, Auyen was waiting for us, the aroma of appetizing dishes permeated the air. Did you prepare all this for our return?
«Thanks for this, but we have to talk to each other for a moment. Do you mind waiting upstairs?»
«...Of course. Please rest a little and call me when you need me».
Once he headed to his room, I asked Versyl to launch Voice Control. We talked while eating the delicious dishes, although in reality, Ainar and I were the only ones who touched the food.
«Mr. Yandel... Please stop eating for a moment and tell us what happened. I was dying of curiosity on the way here».
Oh sure. I guess I should explain it.
After swallowing, I began to suddenly relate everything that had happened.
«So you're saying that... From the beginning, the encounter was designed so that all but one of us would have to die? And that everyone would only revive if the last survivor was able to defeat the enemy?».
«Correct.»
When I finished explaining everything except the final conversation I had had with the real Dreadfear, I noticed a strange look in Amelia's eyes. «Hey...», he said. «Are you okay?»
«What do you mean? What do you mean?»
«That must have been like torture for you, given your personality».
Ah, eye.
«I'm fine», I responded with a lopsided smile. Although, if I'm to be honest, I almost lost my mind in the middle of all that. But that ends well, right? In any case, it seemed like he had answered everyone's questions, so now it was my turn. «But Amelia, what happened to you?»
His expression darkened. «I didn't get any proof. They ordered them through the black market, so they didn't know who the customer was».
«Ya veo... »
It was a shame, but it wasn't Amelia's fault. We would find another way to deal with Count Alminus. Honestly, he didn't seem to be a problem as my companions died and came back to life.
However, it seemed like it wasn't over. «Y...»
«...¿Y?»
«Does not matter. I'll tell you later».
I felt a sudden pang of restlessness. However, she said she would tell me later, so I saw no reason to force her to do it now.
«¿Y pour, Erwen?»
«...Oh, me? I'm sorry. You trusted me to protect you, but I couldn't escape him. No matter how fast he ran and tried to get me off his back, he always seemed to catch up with me somehow. It was as if he used teleportation magic».
«Teleportation...» Maybe he really had an ability like that, one that activated if you were some distance away from him.
«But the strange thing is that every moment passed until he killed me trying to persuade me to betray you. He kept saying it wasn't too late».
Although his story was brief, I could feel the pain and suffering he must have endured more intensely than anyone else. «Erwen, you went through a lot».
«...N-No. I'm fine.»
Then it was Versyl's turn.
«Versyl Gowland.»
«...?»
«What the hell were you thinking? Never ever do something like that again.»
«Ok. »
I made sure to scold her a little before moving on to the most critical thing I needed to address.
«Ainar...» I took a detour carefully.
«...Um?» Ainar was gorging on food, but when he heard me say his name, he raised his head for the first time since we started talking.
I had a hard time finding the words, but it was something I had to ask him. «You know... at the end... before you die... do you remember?».
«Remember? What are you talking about?
«From what I told you.» Specifically, I asked him if he remembered that I confessed to him that I was an evil spirit.
Ainar continued putting pieces of meat in his mouth as he responded. «Oh that? I thought you were telling me something... but I don't remember what you said. Maybe it was difficult for me to hear you because I was about to die».
Hm, is that true? I studied his expression carefully, but there was nothing that seemed strange to me. He shouldn't have heard me. If he had, he would have been scared as soon as he saw me in the square.
«Because? What did you say?»
«It doesn't matter. In the era nothing important».
«¿In series?»
Ainar didn't bother trying to figure out what he had told her, but instead happily let him pass so he could continue eating. Meanwhile, all the other women at the table were nervous for some reason.
«What have you told him? Actually, wait, I already have an idea».
«I guess Yandel has always been an emotional guy».
«...Why do you say all those things? He's going to be embarrassed».
What's wrong with them...?
Instead of responding, I followed Ainar's example and chose to gorge myself on food. The rest joined in and we struck up a relaxed conversation while we ate.
«By the way, Mr. Yandel...» Versyl finally said. «What is that bracelet? Have you always worn it?»
I hadn't realized he was carrying anything until he asked me. «What is this...?»
He wore an unknown bracelet on his wrist. This was new to me too, so I was just as confused as the others. Erwen and Amelia stopped eating and did their bit.
«Eh...? I was going to ask, but decided to wait until you told us sooner...».
«Have you been wearing that all this time and you really haven't realized it?».
Why did everyone notice it except me?
«So it could be the reward? The special reward you get if you complete the raid with five or fewer people?». Versyl asked, throwing out a perfectly reasonable explanation. But no, it was not the reward I expected. The standard reward for beating Dreadfear with five people was not a bracelet. Not only that, but I thought my reward this time was saving all my teammates.
...So it's another reward besides everyone coming back alive? Um...
Well, maybe? I had never found that particular level, not even after playing the game religiously for almost ten years. But what was that thing? None of this made sense to me.
Clink.
I took off the bracelet and, as I carefully examined it to find out what it could be, a single object came to mind. Since I wasn't sure, I asked Versyl to confirm it for me. After all, Versyl had the Special Appraiser license that not even Raven had. And as I thought, after a few moments, he was able to determine exactly what it was about.
«This is… a Numbered Object of the digits…»
So that's really it.
Amelia, who adored this type of treasure, stared at him with bright eyes. «Wait, if it's a double-digit numbered object shaped like a bracelet...».
It could only be number 12: Trust.
Was it a fixed or random reward? Well, considering the level issue, there was no more suitable item to be his reward.
...So it was an event that rewarded you with a double-digit numbered item. But what were the activation conditions? If I can figure it out, then I can keep doing it over and over again to reap the rewards.
Ding dong.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Visitors, at this time...?
I stopped eating and headed to the door. Outside was a group of gentlemen who appeared to be from Mozlan.
«Greetings, Baron Yandel». Given the polite greeting they gave me as soon as I opened the door, they must not have come bringing bad news. I quickly waved back and asked them what was wrong. «...Two hours ago, a new achievement was entered into the Stone of Honor».
A new achievement? But what did that have to do with me?
Apparently anticipating my question, the gentleman clarified it to me without me needing to ask him. «An achievement achieved by His Lordship, Baron Yandel».
That meant that saving my companions and obtaining the bracelet were not the only rewards for passing the secret level. I hurriedly asked what he had written on the stone, and as I listened to his explanation, my jaw dropped more and more.
[In the year 157, the Great Barbarian Warrior, Bjorn Yandel, and his companions defeated Dreadfear, the Lord of Terror, and opened a hidden area of the labyrinth].
Who would have thought that there were still more hidden areas of the labyrinth to explore?