C4, 5, 6
Chapter 4: Tutorial (3)
In terms of [Dungeon and Stone], I am an expert.
I can rattle off where and what monsters appear, their habits, and their weaknesses without even having to think about it.
Based on this, I made my final judgment.
With the body of a barbarian and my knowledge, I can definitely survive in the labyrinth.
At least, that's what I truly believed at the time.
"Ha..."
As soon as I entered the labyrinth, everything went dark.
This is not a metaphor for the future, but literally, I can't see anything. I probably wouldn't even notice if someone put a blindfold on me right now.
It wouldn't make much difference anyway.
"Damn it."
I feel like I've been hit hard on the back of the head.
The barbarians were all only carrying one weapon, so I didn't even suspect this part.
Originally, torches weren't really necessary on the 1st floor.
The crystals embedded in the walls serve as light sources.
Of course, there are dark zones on the 1st floor, but except for the outermost part leading to the 2nd floor, they're only a very small portion—
'Ah, wait, am I in that part right now?'
I quickly form a hypothesis.
The starting location when entering the labyrinth is random.
Of course, it's called random, but you never get thrown into a place like this. Even if you start in the outer area, there are always glowing crystals nearby.
But this isn't just the game world I used to see beyond the monitor.
What if all those things were just a kind of convenience that the developer provided to the players?
What if, in reality, there are shitty cases where you start in a dark zone?
Then it explains my current situation.
No, it has to be that way.
If the entire 1st floor is like this, I don't have the confidence to survive even a day.
"Phew..."
Still, I calm down a bit after organizing my thoughts.
Fortunately, my eyes seem to have adjusted to the darkness, and it's much better than before. Though it's still only to the point where I can barely see outlines.
Well, it's not a situation desperate enough to bite my tongue and die.
Let's start by checking what I need to check.
I'm finally alone now, aren't I?
"Status window, equipment window, character information, stats, inventory. Check log... yeah, fuck that."
As expected, it doesn't work.
Well, I wasn't expecting it anyway.
"Let's go."
With a shield in one hand and the other hand on the wall, I move forward.
My speed is slightly faster than crawling.
Hmm, or is it?
Maybe crawling would be faster, but I can't increase my speed any further.
It's dangerous, so...
"Kyaaaaak!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shoots up from my ankle.
My nerves go haywire from the pain I've never felt before. But even in the midst of that, I grasp the situation.
What the hell went wrong?
I get the answer without needing a combat log.
「Character has stepped on a goblin trap.」
Damn it, I just stepped on a trap.
__________________________________________
What was the mistake?
The answers come pouring out without even having to think.
The shield gave me a sense of psychological security.
But in return, it blocked a significant portion of my vision.
If I had strapped the shield to my waist and focused only on observation, I might have spotted the trap.
What's the point of a shield when I can't see anyway?
I should have prioritized practicality over mental comfort.
Damn it.
"Keuh... heuh..."
My mind goes blank.
I want to scream right now.
But I desperately hold it back.
Screaming won't make the situation any better.
I'm well aware that it will only make things worse.
Thump thump thump thump thump.
My heart beats like crazy, as if it's malfunctioning.
"Huuuk, huuk, huuk..."
I press my lips together and force myself to regulate my breathing.
What I need to think about right now is not how much pain I'm in or how hard it is.
There's only one type of monster on the 1st floor that uses traps.
Only goblins.
And it's definitely nearby.
"......"
I reflexively raise my shield to cover my head.
Then, I completely hold my breath and focus on my hearing.
There's no sound right now. It's quiet as if time has stopped.
...Maybe it's not there?
I don't know.
Maybe it's possible. It could have just left its spot at that moment or something. Even goblins have to poop.
'Bullshit, as if I really believe that.'
I gently fold up the hope creeping out and throw it away from my mind.
There are two reasons.
One, being positive is different from being optimistic.
Two, what I need right now is a negative way of thinking.
"......"
If I can't be sure, let's just assume the worst.
The goblin heard my scream.
It's hiding in the darkness, quietly waiting for me to run out of strength.
That's why I can't hear any sound.
Because that's how it was in the game.
If there's a trap, there's always a goblin nearby.
"Phew..."
I slowly exhale the breath I was holding.
Whatever the truth is, since it's such a quiet environment, I should be able to notice its approach as long as I don't let my guard down.
First, let's do what I need to do.
"...Heuuhp!"
I lower my posture and use both hands to pry open the trap and pull out my foot. Then, I tear off a piece of my trouser leg, take off my shoe, and apply pressure to the wound.
I decide to throw away the shoe that's turned into a rag.
Actually, it's hard to even call it a shoe.
What I was wearing was closer to a flip-flop.
Damn barbarians.
If they had at least sent me off with leather boots, I wouldn't be half-crippled like this from just one trap...
'Damn it, what am I even thinking right now?'
I discover my irrational self and my mind cools down.
No matter how much I curse them, the situation I'm facing won't change.
It's my fault for not properly checking the ground.
So stop whining and check my physical condition.
'Phew, this is really bad.'
I already can't feel anything in my right foot.
I can feel the heat, but even that is gradually fading.
"I know you're hiding, so come out."
I quietly mutter.
Still, there's not even a slight movement from beyond the darkness.
So, I slowly move forward.
Thud. Thud.
One leg is broken, but the pain is not as bad as I thought. It's probably thanks to the paralysis poison...
I'm not sure if this is a good thing.
"Come out, you son of a bitch."
I continue to move forward, not hesitating to provoke them.
Because time is not on my side.
If I have to fight, the sooner the better.
The injury is one thing, but I also can't ignore the possibility that it's waiting for its friends.
"Not coming out?"
Of course, this could all be my delusion, and there might not be a goblin at all.
Then I guess I'll just be an idiot who stepped on a trap and made a fuss all by myself.
But so what?
Even so, I want to be an idiot who survives.
"Then just stay there. I'm going."
I pick up the pace.
It's still just slightly faster than crawling, but it feels like I'm sprinting a marathon.
One step, one step.
As I force myself to walk, my right foot starts to throb.
"Hiss, haa, haa..."
It's one of two things.
Either the paralysis poison has worn off, or the pain has become so severe that even the poison can't keep up.
Come to think of it, neither one is bad.
If the poison has worn off, that's good.
And feeling pain means that my nerve cells are still alive.
'Wait, why am I only positive about this kind of stuff?'
Well, I don't want to think about it.
I don't have the mental capacity for that either.
"...Your mother's a goblin."
Words come out of my mouth without any filtering from my brain.
Is it because I've lost so much blood?
My brain feels like it's pickled in alcohol.
"Your father's a goblin too."
Of course, even as I spit out whatever comes to mind, I don't stop walking.
"That's why you're a goblin too."
That's when I hear a sound for the first time.
It was definitely a small sound, but it sounds very loud to my focused ears.
Chak-
The bastard finally reveals itself for the first time.
"Why can't you stand insults about your parents either?"
Of course, I know that's not the reason.
It wasn't even an insult in the first place...
The sound came from behind.
It must have moved because it had no choice but to do so as I got further away.
I increase my speed even more.
And the sound of its footsteps quickens too.
Chak- chak- chak- chak-
The sound of its footsteps, which have become clearer, is peculiar.
It sounds like something sticky is sticking to a smooth surface and coming off with every step.
Even though I know it's supposed to be less than 1 meter tall, I feel the pressure as if a giant monster is chasing me.
To shake off the fear, I keep talking to it.
I'm a barbarian.
If I can just lure it into close combat, there's no way I'll lose to a goblin.
"Don't just follow me, come on. You weakling."
I continue to provoke it, but it just keeps following at a certain distance.
It seems like it has no intention of hiding anymore.
"Grrr, grrr...!"
It's a sound close to a howl, but somehow I can feel it.
"Grrr! Grr!"
It's giggling right now. It's genuinely happy watching its prey bleed to death. It wants me to be afraid of that sound.
...Clever bastard.
Alright, change of plans.
I stop walking. And I stumble and collapse to the ground.
Thud!
My forehead, which hit the rock, hurts like it's about to crack, but I don't make a sound.
From now on, it's a battle of patience.
If it thinks I've collapsed and approaches first, it's my victory.
If I actually collapse before then, it's my defeat.
"Grr?"
I decide to trust the toughness of this body that has walked about 300 meters with a broken foot.
Chak-
The sound of its footsteps slowly gets closer.
It's a speed that's almost yawn-inducingly slow.
Even though its prey has collapsed as it wanted, it's still suspicious.
'Crazy, how can a goblin be so cautious?'
Curses come out involuntarily.
In the game, goblins were the weakest mobs. They used poison and set traps, but apart from that, their combat power was pathetic.
But what about the goblin I'm actually facing?
Chak-
It's not an opponent to underestimate at all. I realize why the village NPCs talked so much about the cunning of goblins.
In terms of intelligence, these guys are several times smarter than those barbarian bastards.
Chak-
It stops walking somewhere between 5 and 10 meters away.
Why?
As I'm wondering why...
I feel a blunt impact on my shoulder.
Thud. Degurururu.
What the, did this fucking bastard just throw a rock at me?
'...It's not going to keep throwing until I'm a bloody mess, right?'
"Grrr! Grr!"
Contrary to my concerns, it lets out a howl of joy.
It seems to think I'm dead since I didn't react to the rock throwing.
Chak- chak- chak- chak-
It quickly approaches me.
I can feel how excited it is from its leaps and bounds.
I suppress my excitement and calmly gauge the distance by sound. And when I judge that it's right next to me...
"You bastard!"
I jump up and reach out towards it.
I decide that reaching out is faster and has a longer effective range than picking up the shield and swinging it.
However, I soon realize that my plan has gone awry.
There are two reasons for this, again.
First, the distance between me and it is about one step too far.
And its movements are much more agile than I expected.
"Grr!"
It bends its waist and leans back.
That's exactly how it feels, even though I can't see it.
I instinctively realize that I've missed.
Damn it, what do I do now? I rack my brain and prepare the next plan.
But at that moment, my body moves on its own.
"......?"
It's a truly strange feeling.
Everything is still pitch black.
But I instinctively know where the goblin has jumped to.
By the time I realize this, my hand is already changing its trajectory and moving towards it.
"Grr?!"
I feel something in my grasp.
Whether it's its wrist, ankle, or neck doesn't matter.
"Uwaaaaaa!"
I let out a roar and slam it to the ground. Kwak! I hear something breaking. But I can't let my guard down, so I immediately straddle its upper body.
"Grr, grr!"
Now the tables have turned.
"I'm on top, and you're below. You little shit!"
I punch its face like a madman.
I'm so worked up that I sometimes hit the ground, but this barbarian body is much stronger than I thought.
Instead of my fists hurting, the stone floor is breaking apart.
"......"
Soon, its movements stop.
And...
Swaaaaaaaaaaa!
Dust scatters.
Strangely, it's glowing dust.
I stop punching.
The goblin's body, which I was sitting on, is gradually breaking apart and scattering into the air.
Man, I'm so speechless.
"Ha, fuck, even this is the same?"
Please, just pick one.
Whether it's a game or a reality that's just similar.
I keep getting confused about which one to follow.
「You have defeated a goblin. EXP +1」
Soon, the goblin's body disappears without a trace.
Feeling an inexplicable emptiness, I pick up a small stone that has fallen on the spot.
「You have acquired a 9th grade magic stone.」
It's not that strong, but it glows faintly.
It's a magic stone, which serves as currency in [Dungeon and Stone].
How much was this again? I soon remember.
"One piece of bread."
The average value of a magic stone dropped by a goblin in the game.
Somehow, a laugh escapes my lips.
"Keuheuheuheu..."
All that struggle for just this?
My complicated mind feels much clearer.
It's like the feeling of laughter bubbling up after a good cry.
"Keuheu, keuheuheuheu."
There's a labyrinth, and there are monsters.
Dead monsters drop items and disappear.
And outside, in the city, various races coexist.
Clearly, this is that kind of world.
But...
I won't get confused again.
------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 5: Give and Take (1)
Looking back, I was a funny person.
While I always thought life was boring, I never once thought about killing myself.
Boredom was just an emotion after all, and life was more precious to me than anything else.
I thought it was a bad deal in many ways, and that thought still remains.
That's why...
I'm crawling through the darkness on three legs.
It might sound strange, but it's literally what I'm doing.
I'm dragging my completely wrecked right foot and moving by crawling on the ground with three limbs.
If someone saw me now, they would definitely think of an abandoned dog with a broken leg.
How do I know?
'Because that's what I'm thinking right now.'
The reward for giving up human dignity was sweet.
First of all, I don't have to use my injured foot, so it doesn't hurt, and my movement speed is actually faster than before.
And most importantly, there's no chance of stepping on a trap.
On the other hand, my elbows and knees are sore, but well...
I can bear it. I can endure it.
What can't I do to survive?
I can even eat dog poop with a smile.
Hmm... if I'm given enough time to prepare myself, I'm sure I can.
'But what happened to that guy?'
"Guy" is just what I call him.
I don't know his gender, age, or name.
I'm just guessing from his way of speaking.
I have a feeling he was a 30-something white guy with glasses.
Whatever.
「[Bleeding] is ongoing.」
Anyway, what happened to that person who woke up in the body of Orm, son of Kadua? Did he die? Or did he wake up in his original body?
It's a question I've been carrying since I opened my eyes.
Even if I try not to think about it, the more fucked up the situation gets, the more I think about that guy.
「[Bleeding] is ongoing.」
I think I understand why humans believe in religion.
Reality is too harsh to live through alone.
When despair strikes, you need somewhere to turn your gaze. Just like I am now.
「[Bleeding] is ongoing.」
「[Bleeding] is ongoing.」
「Warning: Character's vitality is below 5%. If not treated promptly, the character may die.」
Phew, I've come quite a way while thinking about other things.
It's a subtle difference, but I can feel my surroundings getting brighter.
It's a positive situation in many ways.
At least it means I'm going in the right direction, and my hypothesis that the entire 1st floor wouldn't be this dark was correct.
Let's just get to a bright place somehow.
There will be people there. Let's ask them for help by giving them this magic stone. And then somehow...
'Bullshit, who am I kidding.'
While I'm whispering positive things to myself and giving myself carrots, another version of me appears.
'Hey you idiot, as if they'd be willing to help for just one piece of bread when they're busy. They might just take the magic stone and shield and kill you.'
Is it because it's me?
This guy is smart.
'And what are you going to do if you encounter a goblin before a person anyway? Do you have no brain? Huh?'
As the original, I can't stand any more insults.
'Idiot, then what are you going to do? You still have to go, right? At least you can see there. Wouldn't it be better than fighting here even if a goblin pops out?'
'...That's true.'
My other self agrees, and my mind becomes quiet again.
I keep crawling.
"Keuheuheuheu..."
I feel like I'm going crazy.
No, maybe I'm already crazy.
Well, it's natural after losing this much blood, right?
My self keeps splitting into two, then merging again, and then repeating the process of becoming numb.
It's a kind of positive cycle.
If I become any more numb, I'll definitely never open my eyes again.
"Heuheuheuheu..."
I laugh out loud.
I don't even have the energy for that, but I laugh anyway.
My surroundings are bright now.
I can see a crystal shining brightly at the end of the passage in the distance.
And more importantly, I can see the silhouette of a person standing in front of it, backlit.
I'm not mistaking it for a goblin.
It's definitely the silhouette of a person.
"He...lp..."
I want to shout something, but my voice won't come out.
I desperately crawl and blink my eyes open and closed.
And what do you know?
The silhouette of the person has gotten closer. As if they teleported.
Surprised by this, I blink my eyes open and closed again.
「[Bleeding] is ongoing.」
This time, they're even closer.
There are about five or six people standing in front of me.
I can't be seeing things, right? I blink my eyes open and closed again.
「Achievement Unlocked」
Condition: Vitality falls below 2%.
Reward: Mental stat permanently increases by +1.
Then I see a blonde man kneeling.
Our eyes meet right in front of me, but he just observes me and my surroundings with a strange look, without asking anything.
Like a veteran, he's making a judgment based on his own experience and intuition rather than listening to others.
He quickly comes to a conclusion.
"A newbie."
Damn it, then help me, you bastard.
As you can see, I'm just a shitty barbarian with only a shield, and the only other thing I have is a goblin magic stone that I traded my leg for.
I'll give you everything I have if you want. So...
"Suspicious. How did a newbie get here faster than us?"
I quickly open my mouth. But what comes out is a sound similar to phlegm gurgling.
"Grrr..."
No, honestly, it sounds more like the sound a goblin made...
But it's enough to let them know that I can't answer.
Soon, the blonde man asks his companion.
"Priestess Ersina, would you be able to heal him?"
A priestess? Is there really a priestess in the party?
I look to the side with the eyes of a believer who has just witnessed a miracle. And there she is, a red-haired priestess in a white robe.
The priestess, whose eyes meet mine, speaks clearly with her delicate lips.
"I refuse."
Huh? What did you say?
"I see. Alright."
Why are you agreeing so easily?
I feel wronged. Damn it, I don't understand why I was dragged here and am being treated like this.
As frustration wells up within me...
"Partslan, will you give him a potion?"
"The one we saved for when you can't use divine power?"
"You have plenty anyway. I'll pay you back later."
"Tch."
Only then does the man with a sword at his waist click his tongue and pull out a potion from his bag and throw it.
My heart sinks, knowing that this is my lifeline.
Thud.
Fortunately, the blonde man catches the potion properly.
"It will hurt a bit since it's not divine power."
The blonde man opens the lid and pours half of it on the wound and the other half directly into my mouth.
Soon, I feel unbearable pain.
Is this what it feels like when all the pain that has accumulated in my body without me realizing comes rushing in at once?
「[Recovery (Medium)] effect rapidly regenerates the body.」
My whole body feels like it's melting.
This is why potion use was disabled during combat in the game.
I thought they just blocked it in the system, but it turns out it was a pretty accurate reflection of reality.
Damn it.
"Heuk, heuk, heuk..."
How many minutes have passed?
The pain gradually subsides, and I come to my senses.
"Now, will you tell us, barbarian? How did you, a mere newbie, get here before us? If you know of a new passage, I'd like to buy the information."
So that was their purpose.
I don't feel bad. In fact, it's reassuring to think that they treated me well because they had a purpose.
There's nothing more ominous than kindness without reason.
I feel a bit sorry though.
I don't know of any secret passages.
"...This is where I was as soon as I entered the labyrinth."
Honestly, I tell them exactly what happened.
The blonde man tilts his head and then nods as if he understands something.
"Indeed... I've read about it in books. It seems that sometimes, due to dimensional instability, such cases occur."
My heart pounds heavily.
I ask back as if I misheard.
"You've never seen it before...?"
I can't believe it.
This party has a priestess and a mage. This means they're a proper group that operates at least on the middle floors.
But they've never seen this before?
"Yes, the book said it's a case that might happen once every 100 years. To end up this far out in the outer area..."
Ah, I see. It's something that might happen once every 100 years. And I experienced it the moment I entered the labyrinth for the first time.
Now I understand why the other barbarians weren't carrying torches.
Just because it rains, no one worries about getting struck by lightning, right?
"From the looks of it, you seem like a first-timer, but to experience such a rare event, that must have been a disaster."
The blonde man looks at me with a pitying gaze.
"Although it wasn't the information we were looking for, it was still an interesting story. Don't worry about the potion cost and be on your way."
His tone is a bit annoying, but he seems like a decent guy at heart.
"Oh, and take that shield that fell over there."
The blonde man points to where I see my shield lying on the ground. It's about 20 meters away. I must have tied it to my waist well, but it seems to have slipped off.
"Then we'll be on our way."
They pass me by without even giving me a chance to thank them.
I can understand, as time is money in the labyrinth.
No, in the first place, it's close to a miracle that they even spent this much time on me.
I stare at the spot where they left for a moment, then quickly run over and pick up the shield that had fallen on the ground.
It's definitely a happy thing that I survived...
But I still feel strange somehow.
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 1.
Physical: 25 / Mental: 36 (New +1) / Ability: 1
Item Level: 24
Total Combat Index: 68 (New +1)
"That barbarian from earlier is lucky."
"Well, I'm not sure if it's luck. To experience something like that on his first time..."
The blonde man smiles awkwardly in response, and the male swordsman scoffs.
"If he's the type to step on a goblin trap, it would have been the same even if this hadn't happened. In the first place, he's lucky he met us."
"More accurately, he met the Drow. You were reluctant to even use a potion, weren't you?"
The female archer, who had been listening quietly, joins in, and the male swordsman shrugs his shoulders.
"Well, guys like that are everywhere. They won't survive long anyway. I'm sure our priestess was thinking the same thing, right?"
The priestess smiles bitterly and doesn't answer, and the female archer retorts instead.
"Lady Ersina would have healed him if it weren't for the temple rules. No, if there hadn't been a potion, she might have broken the rules herself. Do you think everyone is like you?"
"Well, you never know. I've seen too many people with two faces."
"...Partslan, you need to learn a little from the Drow."
"Like, the consideration of asking if he knew of a secret passage?"
"Yes. I've heard that barbarians don't welcome the help of others. He probably did that out of consideration for that."
"...Hey, it feels like you're praising me too much."
As the topic shifts to him, the blonde man smiles awkwardly and scratches his head.
But even he doesn't deny the word 'consideration'.
"Ah, we need to turn here to take the shortcut."
"It's really convenient having a guide in the party."
"Lady Ersina! Guides usually only know the way to the portal. This is just Drow being amazing. He memorized all the terrain features of the 1st floor."
The male swordsman, looking at the female archer, shakes his head.
"But just how far does that blood trail go? Haven't we already walked quite a bit?"
"Who knows. But just looking at the mental strength it took to crawl this far, it seems like your words about him being just lucky are wrong."
"Huh, what's the big deal about that... It's probably just around here anyway."
The group, following the blood trail, takes a shortcut and changes direction. And about 15 minutes later, they reach their destination.
"Looks like we're the first to arrive through this route. It was worth hurrying. Let's activate it quickly."
As the blonde man places his hand on the stele in front of the dead end, a strong light erupts, taking the shape of a sphere.
It's the portal leading to the 2nd floor.
"Wait a minute."
Just as everyone is about to throw themselves into the portal, the female archer stops them.
"Isn't that what the barbarian was wearing earlier?"
"What?"
The group, looking in the direction the female archer points, falls silent for a moment.
In the darkness revealed by the light emanating from the portal, there's a bloodstained trap and a strange sandal lying alone.
"...It seems to be the case."
The mage makes an interesting expression and creates a new sphere of light, moving it beyond the passage.
Whoooooooooosh!
The blood trail, starting from the trap, stretches along the curved passage.
No matter how much they move the sphere of light, they can't even estimate its end from this position.
A brief silence falls.
"...Hey Drow, how long would it take to get from here to where we were earlier?"
"...Assuming we don't use the shortcut, it would be about 15 kilometers."
"Heuheuheu, what a monstrous body. To crawl that far alone in this darkness."
The mage just lets out a hollow laugh, as if it's amusing.
However, the male swordsman next to him can't do the same.
"...He's out of his mind."
To him, this is a matter of the mind, not the body. He thinks to himself.
'...If I were in that situation, how many hours could I have crawled? With no certainty that I would meet someone and receive help?'
He doesn't know.
But one thing is certain, the barbarian was still crawling when they first found him. He kept moving his arms and legs, even though he seemed unconscious.
And what happened after that?
He held out his hand, even though he could barely speak.
In his hand, he was clutching a small magic stone.
At the time, he didn't think much of it, but now he thinks he understands what that action meant.
'He must have been saying, "I'll give you this, so please help me."'
Because that's all he had to offer.
That's why the barbarian held the magic stone tightly in his hand as he crawled the long distance. So that if he met someone, he could show it to them right away.
Soon, the man comes to a conclusion.
"...I have to take back what I said earlier."
Just lucky?
Those guys die early anyway?
No way.
He knows from long experience.
"Drow, what was that barbarian's name again?"
Crazy bastards like that don't die easily.
No matter how harsh and desperate the present moment may be.
They never choose death as an escape.
Chapter 6: Give and Take (2)
In [Dungeon and Stone], you can't trust your fellow NPCs, especially not the ones you've just met.
__________________________________
I walk through the cave.
Limping, limping.
Due to missing one shoe, I'm off balance.
Despite that, I'm happy.
This discomfort I'm feeling now, at least I couldn't have felt it when I was crawling on three legs.
I've regained my human dignity.
I don't know for how long, though.
"Whew..."
I use my shield to partially protect my upper body as I move forward.
I don't have to strain my eyes to check the floor like before.
There's light here.
The light emanating from the crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling brightly illuminates the surroundings.
Crawling through the darkness while bleeding feels like a dream.
I can confidently say that being able to see is a blessing from God.
Definitely in the sense that it allows me to beat the crap out of those evil goblin bastards.
"Waak!"
"Grr?!"
Startled by my shout, a goblin pops out from behind a rock.
Having already grasped its hiding spot, I use a skill as if I've been waiting for it.
"Smash! You son of a bitch!"
Smash is a skill with decent attack power and no MP consumption.
For your information, I just made it up.
Thwack-!
The goblin, mid-jump, gets hit by the shield and falls to the ground. I quickly approach it and pin its upper body down with my foot.
"Grr, grr?!"
It's no use making those pitiful eyes.
I know how cunning and evil these bastards are.
"Grr, grr!"
What, you're saying it's not you?
Then go complain to your friend who went first. That's the bastard who made me like this.
Kwagic-!
I slam the edge of my shield into the goblin's face with all my might.
Unlike Smash, which simply swings or pushes to hit enemies in front...
The name is... Final Shield Attack.
I also just made that up.
Swaaaaaaaaaaa!
The cleanly finished-off goblin disappears into light.
It means that evil has diminished, even if only slightly, and the world has become a little more beautiful.
I pick up the magic stone that appeared as a reward and stuff it roughly into my pocket.
The tenth magic stone I've acquired since entering the labyrinth.
"Phew, you weaklings."
After dying once and barely coming back to life, I've been encountering goblins continuously.
I was nervous at first, but I quickly realized something.
Goblins encountered in areas with visibility were not threatening at all.
They weren't as smart as I thought either.
Just look at the trap carelessly set over there.
'They could have at least dug some dirt and covered it up. Do they have any brains? Who would step on it if it's placed so obviously in the middle of the path?'
The goblin trap was crude enough to be noticeable even from afar. Moreover, if I tried to pass by without stepping on the trap, they mostly jumped out and attacked first.
It seems like that grinning and creepy following behavior like that bastard only happens when you step on a trap...
As I gradually figured out their habits, fighting them became easier and easier.
First of all, their main weapon is a short dagger, and their physical strength is only at the level of an elementary school upperclassman.
On the other hand, I'm currently a muscular barbarian with a height close to 2 meters. If we engage in a head-on fight, I can subdue a goblin within 3 seconds.
Therefore, I only need to be careful of surprise attacks, but since I can know their ambush location through the traps...
'Hmm, maybe becoming a goblin slayer wouldn't be so bad?'
I immediately slap myself hard on the cheek.
Thwack-!
The pain wakes me up.
...What was I just thinking?
I must be crazy.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be giggling while having such pathetic thoughts.
Let's not get arrogant just because I killed a few goblins.
It hasn't even been 2 hours since I died and came back to life, and I haven't solved any of the newly arisen problems.
"Damn, I'm hungry..."
First of all, there's the food problem.
What I lost while crawling through the darkness was not just my shield.
There was a hole in the food pouch that the chieftain gave me, and I lost about 5 days' worth of food out of 7.
Of course, I couldn't go back into the darkness to find it.
It's not like I'm Hansel and Gretel.
Crunch, crunch.
I immediately open the pouch and take out a piece of bread to eat.
The bread is hard and dry, probably for preservation purposes, but as I slowly melt it with my saliva, the sweetness of carbohydrates gradually reaches my tongue.
Why is this so delicious?
Maybe my taste has changed because of this barbarian body.
After a few bites, the bread, which was the size of my palm, disappears.
I let out a sigh, feeling a strange sense of disappointment and dryness in my mouth.
I'm thirsty.
This is the second problem.
...Damn, where do I get water?
「You have defeated a goblin.」
「You have defeated a goblin.」
「You have defeated a goblin.」
「You have defeated a goblin.」
「Warning: The body is lacking fluids. Please procure drinking water soon…….」
__________________________________
[Dungeon and Stone] has a satiety system.
Of course, it only activates inside the labyrinth, and since it was filled by simply eating, there was no need to carry drinking water.
However, this is not the game world.
To be precise, it's closer to another world that's very similar to the game I know.
'The game was already hardcore enough, but now that it's become reality, the difficulty level is going crazy.'
Still, I'm not too worried.
While water is a more important resource than food, the chieftain didn't give me any water either.
There must be a way to be self-sufficient within the labyrinth.
And in fact, it didn't take long to find it.
"Smash!"
After about an hour of wandering through the ant-like maze of the cave, killing goblins...
Drip, drip.
Following the sound of dripping water, I discover a small pond.
There's already an explorer squatting down, drinking water. It's practically the first encounter since the blonde party...
"......"
There's no conversation.
He sees me from afar and wordlessly steps aside, and I don't bother approaching him to talk either.
The other explorers I meet afterwards are the same. They all avoid me as soon as they see me.
Just like in the game, there seems to be an unspoken rule among explorers to avoid contact with each other as much as possible.
Well, maybe they just didn't want to get involved with a blood-soaked barbarian.
Anyway, I kill goblins when I'm tired, eat bread when I'm hungry, and drink water when I'm thirsty. Time flies by, and now it's like this.
"One, two, three, four, five, six..."
I've earned a total of forty-four magic stones so far.
In terms of bread, I've acquired 44 loaves.
It's truly a moving thing to think about when I was dying... but there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
In return, I've gained a deep sense of fatigue.
This is the third problem I have.
'I'm getting sleepy...'
As a living being, I need sleep.
Even this high-spec barbarian is no different.
So how do I sleep in a labyrinth where monsters are real?
There are two ways.
Either I entrust my life to the heavens and sleep lightly, or I find a companion to watch over each other.
The choice I have to make is already set.
Entrust my life to the heavens? Based on experience, that's not something I can rely on. At least not for me.
'Let's find a companion.'
Of course, I don't mean forming an official party.
Everyone is probably tired right now, so I'm thinking of finding a suitable person and forming a temporary cooperative relationship.
In the game, most people spent the night that way when their fatigue level was high.
Thud, thud.
Having made my decision, I walk around the labyrinth, focusing more on moving than fighting. As I do this, unlike before, I start to see groups of people here and there.
Thud, thud.
Groups of two or three explorers are resting, taking turns keeping watch.
I examine their appearances and faces, and then I gather the courage to approach a few groups, but I get rejected every time.
"Sorry, but we've already found all the people we need."
Although that's what they say, seeing them frown and cover their noses as I approach makes the reason clear.
...Those bastards.
Just how clean do they think they are?
As I grumble to myself, someone speaks to me.
"Hey."
He's a human man who looks to be around thirty years old.
He's about 180 cm tall.
He has a rather kind and gentle appearance, but he's holding a hammer covered in goblin blood and flesh.
The man grins and asks me.
"Are you looking for a night companion?"
What the fuck is this guy talking about?
I instinctively take a step back, and the man tilts his head.
"You weren't looking for a night companion? I thought it would be safe to trust you and rest comfortably because you're a barbarian, but it's a shame."
Just say that from the beginning, man...
It seems like "night companion" is slang for the temporary cooperative relationship I mentioned.
The in-game term was "Night Companion."
I interpreted it as something like "night comrade" or "night companion," but hearing it in real life, it sounds quite perverted.
"...No, I am looking for a night companion."
"Really? That's great. Then would you like to join me?"
"I will."
And so, I become night companions with the man.
"My name is Hans."
"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel."
"Then I can call you Bjorn?"
The man, who seems experienced, naturally finishes exchanging names and takes the lead in setting the mood.
"Three night companions are the best, but it seems like it would be a waste of energy to go around looking for more. Bjorn, what do you think?"
In simpler terms, he's saying let's sleep together.
This guy, is he really thinking something else? Maybe it's because of his sly way of speaking, but I keep feeling like I'm being taken advantage of.
"Alright."
"That's good. If someone asks to join, we'll discuss and decide whether to accept them or not."
After a brief exchange of opinions, we decide to spend the first night together.
However, the problem is...
"Then let's play rock-paper-scissors to decide the order."
Rock-paper-scissors seems to be the universal rule here too.
Damn, I'm not good at this...
I repeat, I'm not lucky.
"Hmm, I won for once."
Damn it.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Wake me up if goblins or other explorers approach. Got it?"
"...Got it."
"Here, take this."
The man, who lends me a watch with numbers from 0 to 23 engraved on the face, kindly explains how to use it.
"Wake me up when the short hand reaches here."
This must be how people here perceive barbarians.
"Don't break it. It's expensive."
"...Got it."
Geez, so picky.
The man then takes out a blanket, covers himself with it, and lies down with his backpack as a pillow. And soon, he starts snoring.
Is this what experience brings? He looks so comfortable.
If I ask to borrow it when it's my turn, he won't lend it to me, right?
"Phew..."
Anyway, keeping watch is really boring.
I can't see any goblins, and there are no other explorers passing by. Is it because everyone is resting after finding night companions?
The silence makes me drowsy.
Still, as I lean against the wall and contemplate the future, time passes quickly.
"Hans, wake up."
"...Was there anything?"
"Nothing."
"I see. You worked hard. Then give me back the watch and get some rest. I'll wake you up in 2 hours."
The man gets up and packs the blanket into his backpack before I even have a chance to ask to borrow it.
Tsk.
I let go of the thought and approach the wall, leaning my back against it.
And I pretend to doze off.
Well, of course.
Even if this man is kind, seems intelligent, and doesn't seem to have any intention of harming me...
How can I trust someone I just met?