C79, 80, 81
Chapter 79: Request (3)
"Bjorn, are you going to the sanctuary again today?"
"There's something I couldn't finish yesterday. I'll be back in the evening, so don't slack off and practice."
As soon as day broke, I headed to the sanctuary to receive the 3rd stage engraving that I couldn't get yesterday.
The cost was the same as in the game, 2 million stones.
It was also consistent that you could get a characteristic imbued every time you went through a stage that was a multiple of 3 in the Spirit Engraving.
"Kuku, I've never seen a barbarian with so much money. You have three paths to choose from."
The shaman asked as I put the money into the jar.
"There is the Soul of Flame, the Soul of Steel, and the Soul of Wildness. Warrior, which will you choose?"
Just in case, I listened to the shaman's explanation, but there didn't seem to be any changes due to the reality patch.
Therefore...
"I will choose the Soul of Wildness."
I chose Wildness without hesitation.
It's because each of these characteristics is a core part of my shield barbarian build.
「3rd stage of Undying Engraving activated. Physical Resistance and Fire Resistance greatly increased.」
「Physical stat increased by +50.」
「The Soul of Wildness is imbued into your body.」
「Character's base threat level greatly increased.」
「[Wild Release] can be used.」
Threat level.
In other words, the probability of drawing monsters' aggro just by breathing has increased.
Also, I can now temporarily increase my threat level by 3 times using [Wild Release] and gain physical bonuses proportional to that increase.
'I used to only use it occasionally when I was building a greatsword barbarian.'
In the early days, I often used the Undying Engraving to compensate for the barbarian's lack of survivability.
However, [Wild Release] back then was a double-edged sword.
The stronger the character became, the more enemies swarmed.
Of course, it's different for a shield barbarian.
'No risk, high return.'
Monsters' aggro being drawn?
That's something to welcome as a tank.
And on top of that, physical stats increase?
It means increased stability, and...
If I use it together with [Gigantification], which greatly increases threat level, I can experience a real power boost, even if it's temporary.
'I didn't expect to finish [Gigantification] and the 3rd stage engraving in just 3 months.'
While I'm satisfied with my own growth, I also feel a bit bitter.
I was just struggling to survive...
And somehow, I ended up like this.
"Leave now, you must be tired."
It was 5:00 PM when I came out after receiving the Spirit Engraving.
Misha promised to grill beef for me, so I quickly stopped by the library to confirm the meeting time and then returned to the accommodation.
And...
After various experiments, I figured out the activation condition for [Wild Release].
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
So this is how you use it.
_______________________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 3
Physical: 380 (New +50) / Mental: 124 / Ability: 115
Item Level: 828
Total Combat Index: 822 (New +50)
Acquired Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Vampire (Guardian) - Rank 5 / Orc Hero - Rank 5
_______________________________
The next day, lunchtime.
I headed to the meeting place alone.
The shop's name was 'Promise of Flowing Water', so I wondered what kind of shop it was, but it turned out to be an ordinary dessert shop.
Damn it.
"......Barbarian?"
"What is it? Does the owner owe him a debt or something?"
Gazes gather as I open the door and enter.
It's even worse than the library.
It's not like I came to a place I shouldn't be.
"Mr. Bjorn, right? Over here!"
I don't think it's efficient to change locations, so I go to the designated seat and sit down.
"Are you the client?"
"Yes, I'm Shabin Emuer, a 7th-grade secretary at the Ravigion Administrative Office. Please call me Shabin."
"Alright."
Shabin Emuer.
She's human. I thought she would be young since she's my friend's friend, but she looks to be in her early thirties.
Her first impression is quite kind, but I'll find out her true personality once we start talking.
"I didn't order anything because I didn't know what you would like, what would you like to have?"
"Beer and grilled meat."
"......Yes?"
"It's fine if you don't have it. I don't like sweets."
"Ah, yes..."
I guess that's enough of the silent protest about why she called me to this kind of place...
Let's get to the point quickly.
"So what's the request?"
"Didn't Ragna tell you?"
"Ragna? Ah, you mean that librarian?"
Shabin flinches at my question, then nods as if she understands.
"You didn't know her name. Well... that's understandable, considering her personality. Her name is Ragna Ritaniyel Peprok. She's not a bad person, so don't be too angry."
There's nothing to be angry about.
I didn't even ask in the first place.
I mutter to myself,
"Ragna Ritaniyel Peprok..."
"It's Ritaniyel, not Ritaniyel."
Yeah, whatever.
Why is her name so hard to pronounce?
"...Is she a noble by any chance?"
"No, but..."
I ask involuntarily, and I get a somewhat strange response.
"I can't tell you the details. She'll definitely get angry if she finds out."
So there's a story, right?
"Just tell me about the request."
"It's a simple patrol request. Criminals and tax evaders sometimes hide in the sewers, so we need to patrol them periodically. But..."
Shabin trails off with a strange tone.
As if she's waiting for something.
"...But?"
I play along just in case, and Shabin continues her explanation as if she's been waiting for this.
"The explorers we used to entrust with patrol requests didn't return from the labyrinth this time, you see? As Mr. Bjorn knows..."
"...Knows?"
"There was a big incident on the 3rd floor, wasn't there? It seems like they got caught up in it! Oh, what a sad story, right?"
I don't know about it being a sad story, but I do know there's something wrong with this girl.
"So you decided to entrust the request to me."
"Yes. It's an official request from the administrative office, so we can't just give it to anyone. So while we were looking for the right person, Ragna told me about Mr. Bjorn!"
"I see."
I understand the general situation.
But...
"Why me? There must have been more suitable people."
From what I hear, it's practically a chore.
The administrative office must have been outsourcing the request to explorers.
The reward probably isn't that great either.
'It's not like those Evil Spirit Hunter bastards sent her...'
I inwardly consider even the worst-case scenario, but the answer is ridiculously simple.
"You're the hottest topic these days?"
"What?"
"Honestly, I was a bit curious. I also wanted to meet you in person..."
In other words, she used the excuse of an administrative office request to satisfy her personal curiosity.
"Ah, I'm going to pack some cookies from here later, is it okay if I brag to my colleagues that Mr. Bjorn gave them to me as a gift?"
"...Do as you please."
Judging by her bright expression, it doesn't seem like she's acting.
"So what do you think? The reward is only 200,000 stones, but it's not a bad offer for Mr. Bjorn either. It's a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but..."
Ugh, again?
Can't she just speak directly?
This is like playing with people.
"...It is, but...?"
I play along once more with a lifeless voice, and Shabin continues with a smile, as if she's enjoying it.
"Some people consider just receiving a request from the administrative office as a reward! Our selection criteria are a bit strict, so they think of it as a sign of being a verified talent, you know...?"
This time, her voice trails off upwards for some reason.
It seems like it's a bit awkward for her to explain it in a way that a barbarian can understand...
"It means my credibility will increase."
I'm a barbarian who possesses both the mind of a modern person and the body of a savage.
Shabin claps her hands as I summarize it briefly and concisely.
"Yes! That's right! Hmm, well... with your fame, Mr. Bjorn, I guess you would get requests from everywhere even without this."
"That's not exactly the case."
I smile bitterly.
It's been two weeks since I gained the title of Little Balkan.
Yet this is the first time someone has contacted me for a request.
I can roughly guess the reason.
'It's because I'm an unrefined barbarian.'
Being good at fighting is different from being good at work.
But maybe I can use this opportunity to change people's perception of me.
Of course, I can't stand out too much either...
"I'll take the request."
I finally make my decision.
___________________________
"Then I'll be on my way."
As soon as the explanation of the request's details is finished, the barbarian leaves without hesitation.
Shabin smiles as she watches him leave.
'He was an interesting person for once.'
She wondered why that girl mentioned someone else for once, but now she thinks she understands.
It's been a while since she had a conversation with someone so pure, and it makes her feel mentally at ease.
That girl must have felt something similar.
Even though it was just a passing remark...
It's been years since that girl mentioned another person first.
'Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself...'
But it's time for that girl to make a friend.
__________________________________
Two days later.
Ten days before the labyrinth opens.
I arrive at the sewer entrance, guided by administrative office employees.
Somehow, I'm here with all the members of Team Misfits.
"...Bjorn, you didn't say it would smell this bad."
"I didn't know it would be this bad either. But you should have expected it to some extent since it's a sewer, right?"
"Th, that's true, but..."
This is what happened when I mentioned the request at yesterday's gathering.
[You don't have to share the reward. Exploring the sewers, a place with all sorts of ghost stories? Hahaha! How could I miss out on such an opportunity?]
[Is it okay if I tag along? My head has been hurting from reading books lately, it would be a good change of pace.]
[Hmm, the sewers must have a complicated layout, right? It would be perfect for testing out my new abilities.]
[You said criminals hide there? It might be dangerous to go alone.]
Everyone seemed bored from training every day and wanted to come along.
So I just said okay.
There's no reason to refuse free labor when they even said they don't need a share of the reward.
'Rotmiller, the scout, will be quite helpful, at least...'
I hand the map I received from the administrative office employee to Rotmiller and attach the video recording device to the slot on my helmet to record the patrol process.
Then the preparations are complete.
"Let's get going."
I take the lead and open the iron gate.
And I descend the damp stairs into the underground.
By the time I reach the last step, it's so dark that I have to light a torch.
"It's more spacious than I expected?"
"That's why there are people who live here in hiding. Hahaha!"
Sewage flows slowly, and there's a ditch next to it.
The torch flickers, creating a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
"This way."
I follow Rotmiller's guidance and walk carefully along the ditch to avoid falling into the water. The surroundings become noticeably darker as we move away from the entrance.
"You know that ghost story about a terrifying monster living in the sewers...?"
The dwarf laughs and spreads rumors, as if he's enjoying it.
Misha and Dwarkey listen intently.
"Dwarkey, do you think there really are monsters?"
"I heard that waste from the Magic Tower also flows into the sewers. If reagents or monster corpses were to mix randomly and react in some way, it's possible that such monsters could be created."
"Uh, is that really true?"
What does he mean, 'really true'?
Our predecessor received 150,000 stones per visit and went in and out of the sewers for 2 years without any problems, so realistically, how could there be such things?
Splash, splash-
I sigh inwardly and move my feet carefully.
But is it because of the ghost stories that the dwarf kept talking about?
The sound of my footsteps seems particularly loud.
'With five of us here like this, it feels like we've entered a dungeon.'
Damn it, nothing will really happen, right?
-----------------------------------------
Chapter 80: Sewers (1)
After walking through the sewers for a while, keeping an eye on the surroundings…
The dwarf and Misha start to get fed up.
“There’s really nothing here.”
“I know, right? I wish something would appear soon…”
They were so eager to come along.
What were they expecting?
“I told you, it’s just a request where we walk around once and then leave.”
This request is simple.
We just need to wear the borrowed video recording device on our heads, walk around the designated route once, and check if there are any people hiding.
Well, there could be battles in the process, but…
‘The predecessor said he found less than 30 people in 2 years.’
The frequency of encountering strangers is low.
And even if we do encounter someone, it’s not like we have to chase after them and fight.
“Huh? We don’t have to chase them?”
“I heard there’s a bonus if we capture them, but there’s no need to obsess over it.”
“Why?”
Because the request I received was ‘sewer patrol’.
Subjugation or capture will be handled by the administrative office after they review the video recordings and send new personnel.
“I see…”
Just as I’m explaining the request to Misha…
Rotmiller, who was leading the group, suddenly stops.
“I have a feeling there’s something nearby.”
It’s a baseless mumbling based on intuition.
But at his words, everyone starts looking around.
Since it’s a sewer filled with a pungent smell, his olfactory stats won’t be as effective as before, but…
Rotmiller’s Sixth Sense stat increased by +50 and his Luck stat increased by +20 thanks to the Mimic’s essence.
“Uh! Th, there’s someone over there!”
Misha points to one spot and shouts.
I follow her gaze and see a man with a flustered expression.
‘Huh, how did she even see that?’
It’s a gap that’s barely big enough for one person to squeeze through.
The man is hiding inside, curled up like a shrimp.
“Eek!!”
I reach in and grab the man by the collar, pulling him out.
He’s quite tall, but since he’s so skinny, it feels like I’m holding a goblin.
His actions are also not much different from a goblin’s.
“Die!!”
The man thrusts the dagger he was holding tightly in his hand as soon as he’s pulled out.
It’s a good attempt.
If you want to live, you have to try everything, right?
“Keugh!!!!”
The battle ends as soon as I grab his wrist holding the dagger and twist it.
“Why were you hiding here?”
The man quickly changes his attitude at my question.
“Pl, please spare me! Please! I, I haven’t harmed anyone, I just don’t have any money, that’s all!”
It’s not the answer I was hoping for, but…
If I had to interpret it, it means he ran away because he couldn’t pay his taxes.
No one believes his words, though.
“It reminds me of old times! Even when I was working at the blacksmith’s, thugs with tattoos like these used to come by often. Hahaha!”
It’s different from the geometric patterns of barbarian tattoos.
His skin is covered in tattoos of skulls, naked women, and monster figures.
Of course, I don’t judge a person’s inner self by their appearance.
But…
“Bjorn, look at the brand on his forehead. He’s definitely a criminal who escaped to the sewers.”
The brand on his forehead, hidden under his hood, is proof that he committed a heinous crime that couldn’t even be covered by a ‘fine’.
There’s no room for sympathy.
Well, the outcome wouldn’t have been much different even if he were a tax evader.
“Bjorn, what are we going to do with him?”
“Well…”
“The administrative office must have given you some guidelines, right?”
Hmm, they did give me some advice.
The basic principle is to capture and bring them back, but if we properly recorded the video, it’s okay to kill them and leave them in the sewers.
“They said it’s okay to kill him? What if he’s an ordinary person?”
“There’s no way an ordinary person would have wandered into this place.”
“Hahaha! As expected of the ruthless administrative office!”
Well, I think it’s more like they’re being considerate of ruthless explorers, but…
That’s not what we need to worry about now.
“So what are you going to do?”
“Let’s take him with us for now.”
If I were alone, it might be different…
But since we’re here with five people, we have extra hands.
And besides, there’s a 5,000 stone bonus for bringing them back alive.
“Pl, please let me go! Just pretend you didn’t see me and move on. I only ended up like this because I was trying to make a living—”
“Enough.”
There’s no need for a long-winded conversation.
Whether he’s a tax evader or a criminal, or if he committed a crime for unavoidable reasons…
So what?
“I received a request. So I’m taking you with me. They’ll make the judgment.”
“…Damn it! You fucking assholes! What’s the difference between you and me!”
There is a difference.
If there wasn’t, would you be begging me like this?
“Dwarkey, shut him up.”
“Ah, alright.”
Dwarkey then uses the [Paralysis Poison] spell he recently learned to silence the man.
His body stiffens.
I sling the man over my shoulder like a sack of rice and continue walking.
After about an hour…
“Rotmiller, how much further do we have to go?”
“We’re about halfway there.”
“Eek? There’s still half left?”
Misha sighs as if she regrets coming along.
And then she asks as if she’s curious about something,
“But Dwarkey, why are you so fine? Last time, you were throwing up and everything.”
“Huhu, about that? I actually learned a spell that prevents me from smelling. It turns out it’s considered essential among mages who have experience exploring the labyrinth.”
“Ooh, I see. But you can’t cast it on others?”
“Uh… that is, I’m not used to spell modifications yet…”
Dwarkey, who was proudly explaining his new spell, trails off.
I chuckle.
It’s not that he’s not used to it, it’s that he can’t do it.
‘Spell modification’ is practically the bread and butter of Magic Tower mages.
Although they teach basic spells for a fee, they never reveal the methods for modifying magic or creating new spells to outsiders—
“Le, let’s make a deal! If you let me go, I’ll give you information!”
The man suddenly starts shouting and struggling, as if the duration of [Paralysis Poison] has ended.
“Information?”
I stop Dwarkey, who’s about to cast [Paralysis Poison] again, and ask, and the man hurriedly continues,
“That crazy bitch! If you capture that crazy bitch, you’ll get a much bigger reward than me!!”
“Bjorn, why are you listening to him? He’s obviously just trying to survive.”
I think so too, but…
One word particularly catches my ear.
“…Crazy bitch? Tell me more.”
It’s worth listening to.
_____________________________
Negotiation.
It’s the act of persuading and discussing to reach a decision.
It’s both rational and absurd.
Unless the relationship is equal, someone will inevitably be at a disadvantage.
Just like this.
“…I need a promise before I tell you anything!”
“Dwarkey, just make him like before—”
“I’ll, I’ll talk!!”
The man starts rambling, as if he doesn’t want to miss this opportunity.
“There are many others living in these sewers besides me. They usually avoid the patrol routes, so you don’t see them often…”
“Keep it short.”
“…A few days ago, some crazy bitch took over my hideout.”
To summarize the man’s story…
He was living comfortably in the sewers, but a woman came and took over his place.
She wasn’t an ordinary woman.
She was accompanied by skeletons, so he couldn’t do anything and had to flee.
“Skeletons? Isn’t she just someone who absorbed the essence of a Necramia?”
Misha tilts her head, using the 7th-grade monster Necramia as an example.
However, the man seems certain.
“I don’t know what exactly it is. But! It was completely different from the skeletons that appear in the labyrinth! I used to be an explorer, so I’m sure of it!”
“So what’s your point?”
“She must be using some evil black magic. If you hand her over to the temple, you’ll definitely get a reward. A reward incomparable to mine!”
I contemplate for a moment.
The timing is too coincidental to just ignore.
A woman who uses evil black magic and hid in the sewers a few days ago…
“…Could it be that woman?”
“Elisa Behenk. Indeed, if that woman wanted to escape, there would be no other choice than this place.”
Rotmiller and the dwarf gulp and say something, as if they had the same thought.
‘Damn it, is it really her?’
I need to find out more.
There’s not enough evidence to be sure yet.
“What did she look like? Tell me in detail.”
“She was wearing a robe and covering her face with a hood, so I couldn’t see her clearly. I only knew she was a woman from her figure and voice, that’s all.”
“I see.”
“Ah! I just remembered, she was wearing a very unique necklace…”
“What kind of necklace?”
“It’s hard to explain in words…”
I have a hunch and quickly take out something from my backpack.
It’s the Karui Church symbol I found while rummaging through Hans’s backpack.
“Was it this shape?”
“Yes! That’s it!”
I let out a sigh as I see the man nodding eagerly.
The possibility that it’s really her has increased significantly.
“What are we going to do?”
“I’m thinking.”
“Hahaha, what’s there to think about! Let’s go catch her and deliver justice!”
Justice my ass, he’s just greedy for the reward.
Anyway, if the dwarf is the radical one, Rotmiller is the moderate one.
“I think it’s best to go back to the administrative office and report it officially. We don’t even know for sure if it’s that woman, so there’s no need for us to take the risk.”
Indeed, both opinions are valid.
If we capture her ourselves, we’ll get the reward, and if we don’t want to take the risk, we can just report it and leave the case to others.
But…
‘Something feels off.’
If the crazy woman this man mentioned is really Elisa Behenk, it’s especially unsettling to just go back like this.
Elisa Behenk is not just a ‘bastard’.
She’s a bastard with a grudge against me.
I was worried that she might be up to something in the shadows.
‘Even if the administrative office or the temple cooperates and sends people, it will take at least a few days…’
If she escapes in the meantime…
I’ll have to keep feeling this way.
“I want to confirm it, what do you guys think?”
Misha immediately agrees to my suggestion.
Dwarkey, who was neutral, also casts a vote in favor, following his best friend the dwarf’s decision.
And even Rotmiller, who I was worried about, readily agrees to the majority vote.
“Four of you think the same way, so I’ll follow along. But before that, how about we finish the patrol request first?”
“You’re right, let’s do that.”
We then move more quickly and finish patrolling the route designated by the administrative office.
“Where is your hideout? Lead the way.”
“I need a promise that you’ll let me live.”
“If it’s the woman we’re looking for, or if we judge that you’re worth it, we’ll let you go.”
“Alright, follow me.”
“Wait, put this on first.”
“Huh…?”
What do you mean, ‘huh’?
I tie the man’s waist tightly with rope. And I hold the long end of the rope tightly in my hand like a dog leash.
Because it would be a pain if he runs away, right?
“Alright, now lead the way.”
“…It’s a path that’s not on the map, so follow me closely.”
The man then starts finding his way through this maze-like sewer.
And I realize that the structure is really complex.
Until now, we’ve only been walking along the main paths where sewage flows, but…
If you squeeze through a narrow gap that looks like a wall, you find a new space, there are forks in the path, and there are even places where you have to climb up through holes in the ceiling.
So here’s a question that comes to mind.
“Why were you hiding in a place like that and got caught?”
“…I was looking for a new hideout. And then I heard you guys from afar and had to hide quickly, so I had no choice.”
I see, he’s quite unlucky.
“We’re here.”
The place where the man stops is a spot with a hole about 2 meters in diameter.
I don’t know what purpose this terrain was designed for, but it seems like a large space appears if you follow the path below the hole.
“Everyone, lower your voices from now on.”
“Huhu, this is getting exciting.”
Unlike the dwarf, who seems excited, and Misha, who seems a bit scared, I’m not particularly anxious.
Coincidentally, we’re not alone, but all five of us came down to the sewers together.
And we’re all much stronger than before.
If the woman hiding down there is Elisa Behenk…
“Hey, are there any escape routes inside?”
“There’s no other entrance besides this hole.”
…we’ll finally be able to show her what justice is.
------------------------------
Chapter 81: Sewers (2)
"Rotmiller, can you sense if anyone is inside?"
"The sewage smell is too strong, I can't tell."
"I see. Then I'll go down first, follow me when I give the signal."
It's a pit about 5 meters deep, reminiscent of a water tank.
With my shield on my back, I quickly descend the creaky ladder. And when I give the hand signal, the rest of the party follows.
"It's kinda spooky."
As the torchlight illuminates the area, I see a passage that wasn't visible from above due to the angle.
"You take the lead from now on."
I whisper quietly so as not to make any noise and have the man lead the way. And I hold the rope and proceed through the passage.
After about a minute...
'Damn it...'
I see corpses piled up like rags.
Dozens of corpses, mummified like 'Hans-on', devoid of life force.
No wonder the rotten smell was particularly strong.
"Uh, uh... what the..."
Judging by his flustered expression, it doesn't seem like this place was always like this...
"Be quiet and keep moving."
I push the man's back, who had stopped, and continue forward.
At the same time, I'm on high alert, ready to react immediately if something happens.
That's why I'm able to react.
Click.
A faint light starts to leak from between the pile of corpses with the sound of a mechanical device activating.
And a deep voice echoes through the passage.
[Sabeum, Bania, Hartia]
There's no need to see any more.
It's one of the trap skills possessed by priests of Karui.
I used to call it 'Sabaha' for short because of its unique sound effect.
「Character has entered the [Call of the Evil God] radius.」
Damn it, she set this up?
"Get back!!"
While I warn my companions verbally, I pull the rope with my hand and drag the man towards me.
The reason is simple.
'Sabaha' is not the kind of skill that can be blocked with Physical Resistance or a Laetium shield.
"Hu, huh?"
The man, who is now in my grasp instead of a shield, lets out a dumbfounded sound.
And at that moment...
Hundreds of wraiths that resemble banshees pour out from the other side of the passage.
"Aak!! Aaaaaak!!!"
Seeing this, the man screams and struggles, but I don't let go and hide behind him as much as possible.
It's a good thing this guy is tall.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get away with this much damage.
「Character has absorbed 102 wraiths.」
「Darkness Resistance is above a certain threshold.」
「Effect reduced by 30%.」
「Character’s maximum health temporarily decreased by 29%.」
My vitality drains away as if I have a hole somewhere in my body. My skin dries up like someone who hasn't drunk water for days.
Misha is the first to sense my change.
"Bjo, Bjorn, are you okay?!"
Misha immediately runs to me and checks my condition.
I stop her from giving me a potion right away and straighten my hunched body.
My muscles ache from the tension.
'Damn it, I almost died.'
[Call of the Evil God]
It's a trap skill that unleashes hundreds of souls in a designated direction when activated. The characteristic is that your maximum health decreases by the number of times you're hit by the souls.
Naturally, if your maximum health reaches 0, you die instantly.
Just like this man in my grasp.
"Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine thanks to you blocking from the front. But that guy... is he dead?"
I don't bother answering.
It would be more surprising if he survived in that state with only bones and skin left.
As soon as I put the man down, the dwarf mutters in a daze,
"...It's not something I should say, but it's a good thing we made him take the lead."
I agree.
And I'm not ashamed of that fact.
We're ruthless explorers, after all.
"What are we going to do? If there are more of these, it's too dangerous to continue."
I contemplate for a moment and make a decision.
"Let's keep going."
Setting up [Call of the Evil God] requires various materials.
Most of them are people's life force.
Although there are many corpses around...
...it's probably just one trap since there aren't hundreds of them.
'Besides, I have a feeling that if we don't take care of it now, it will become a headache later...'
I have no evidence, but I have that hunch.
Just as we're about to set off, the dwarf hands me something.
"It's nothing special, but I found this while searching his pockets."
It's the mummified man's ID card.
I don't know why a fugitive would carry an ID card, but...
"We can submit it to the administrative office later when we receive the additional reward... wait, why are you making that face?"
I freeze as I check the ID card.
[Hans Marcom]
...This guy was a Hans too?
Tsk, I'm suddenly feeling uneasy.
_____________________________________
After about twenty steps, we reach Hans E's hideout.
It's more well-furnished than I expected.
There's something that resembles a bed, a table with leftover bread and coffee, and even a candlestick on the wall.
However…
“Hahaha, there’s no one here?”
“Hmm, either she left this place entirely, or she’s just away for a bit.”
There’s no sign of anyone.
And there’s nowhere to hide.
“Don’t let your guard down. She might be hiding.”
We search the vicinity thoroughly, just in case.
Under the bed, under the table, even checking if there are any hidden spaces in the walls.
After about 5 minutes of careful observation, there’s no progress.
Not until Dwarkey uses a spell.
「Liol Wobu Dwarkey has cast the 8th-grade support spell [Mana Detection].」
[Mana Detection]
It’s a search spell that reveals anything that has been magically tampered with.
“How is it?”
“It’s ambiguous.”
“Ambiguous?”
“I can faintly sense mana from the floor here… but it’s too faint. It’s almost like I’m mistaken.”
I then check the spot Dwarkey pointed to.
Since I’m not a mage, I can’t see anything unusual.
There aren’t even any subtle cracks or anything.
“Is there no way to find out more with magic?”
“No. But if I had to guess, this magic seems to be hiding something beneath it.”
“I see.”
After that one-word question, I immediately raise my mace.
The dwarf asks, seeing my actions,
“What are you doing?”
“Smashing it.”
“…Smashing it?”
I don’t bother answering the dwarf’s question. Well, since magical means are blocked, it’s time to use physical means.
Like a barbarian.
Kwaaang!
The mace, which has doubled in size and weight compared to before, hits the ground, and the earth trembles.
But that’s all.
“Bjorn, you can’t open a magical device like that.”
Dwarkey, who was watching, throws in his two cents, but I continue swinging my mace.
Kwaaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
The mace is still intact, probably because it’s made of solid steel.
Of course, the ground is slightly dented, but that’s it.
Therefore—
“Stop it. Even Dwarkey said that it wouldn’t work…”
I take off my breastplate, my shoes, my helmet, and put down the backpack I was carrying on my back.
Everyone looks at me with a ‘what the hell is he doing?’ expression.
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
「Character’s size increases, and threat level and physical stats increase proportionally.」
My body doubles in size, and my strength surges. The dwarf still mutters discouragingly,
“Even if it’s you, magic doesn’t work that way…”
It won’t work?
As a veteran of this game and a current barbarian warrior, I still find it hard to agree.
If you can’t break it with strength—
Kwaaang—!!!!
—it’s because you’re not strong enough.
“……???!”
Ah, well, except for ghosts.
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“So it works.”
“Dwarkey, what happened? Weren’t you the one who confidently said it wouldn’t work?”
“Uh, that is… I don’t know either. Why this worked…”
Ignoring their muttering, I check the floor.
After two swings, light starts to leak out and cracks appear, and with the third swing, it shatters. There’s a staircase under the hole.
“A hidden staircase in a sewer like this…”
It’s so deep that I can’t see the end even when I shine the torch down.
It feels like a passage to the underworld.
“Do we really have to go down there…?”
Misha looks at me with a disgusted expression.
Honestly, I don’t want to either.
Since it was used as a hideout, I thought it would just be a small space big enough to hide one person…
‘But what is this?’
I feel like I’ve gotten involved in something troublesome, but at the same time, I’m also a bit curious. After all, the sewers were a restricted area in the game.
Of course, I have no intention of risking danger just out of curiosity.
But…
“Bjorn, I can faintly smell that woman from down there.”
“What?”
“She definitely passed through here. And not too long ago.”
Damn it, what should we do?
Should I just call it quits here and tell them to handle it themselves?
I’m deeply troubled.
So I ask for Rotmiller’s opinion as well.
“Rotmiller, what do you think? Do you think it’s better to retreat?”
“…I think it’s okay to just check for a bit. I can’t smell anyone else down there besides that woman.”
It’s a slightly unexpected answer.
But did my surprise show on my face?
Rotmiller chuckles and adds an explanation.
“Somehow, I have a feeling it won’t be too dangerous.”
Hmm, so it’s because of his Sixth Sense stat.
Although there’s no clear evidence, I don’t ignore his words.
‘His accuracy is quite high.’
In fact, Rotmiller accurately sensed Hans E’s presence when he was hiding.
The reason he was reluctant to go to the hideout?
If he sensed that it was dangerous because of traps, it would also explain why he was the only one who opposed going to the 4th floor during the vote.
‘Sixth Sense… it might be a better stat than I thought.’
I finally make a decision.
“Rotmiller, you take the lead from now on. If you feel anything even slightly off, we’ll turn back immediately.”
Rotmiller’s intuition is quite reliable.
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“Vice-leader, the ‘gate’ has been destroyed.”
A man frowns at his subordinate’s report.
The underground shelter built in the ancient times, when Lafdonia was just a lord’s castle and had not yet undergone countless expansions.
And the city of ‘Noark’ located there.
Most of the entrances to this place are guarded by members who are always on watch.
But…
“The gate is destroyed? Don’t tell me it’s an attack from the royal family?”
“The probability of that is low.”
“…Explain in detail.”
At the man’s urging, his subordinate hurriedly explains the situation.
“It turns out to be a forgotten gate that’s been abandoned since the Karui Church incident. According to the last reconnaissance report, a vagrant was using it as a hideout.”
“Hmm.”
The man strokes his chin.
It’s a habit he has when he’s contemplating something.
“There’s no reason for the royal family to target us now… but it’s clear that they’re intruders, so we need to confirm.”
“Yes. Which unit should I contact?”
“Is there a need to send a unit?”
The man asks rhetorically and looks at the woman next to him.
It’s the woman he was talking to before his subordinate’s report.
They were talking about how the barbarian he let go of has become a famous explorer in the city. It was an interesting story for once, but it was interrupted…
“Amelia, you can handle anyone quietly, right? Would you mind going there on our behalf?”
They can continue their conversation later.