Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 400, 401, 402

   

C400, 401, 402

Chapter 400: Ice Rock (1)

The grand expedition to the Dark Continent via the 8th floor.

We had allocated 20 days for traversing Ice Rock on this expedition and brought enough food for three months.

This wasn't out of an abundance of caution.

Ice Rock wasn't a place where you could afford to take your time.

We simply needed extra food.

Not only did the [Starvation] status effect make us consume three times the usual amount of food, but the food itself could spoil.

Because of this damn thing.

"Ice storm!"

The blizzard that swept through the area every 30 minutes to 6 hours.

「Field Effect - 'Festering Cold' applied.」

「Accelerated decay rate for affected targets.」

This wretched storm could even spoil frozen food.

There was only one way to protect it.

Prioritize the food over the people and use magic to preserve it.

Of course, there was a problem with that too.

「Liard Ashid has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block].」

「Mckelly Leyaders has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block].」

「Bersil Gowland has cast the 4th-grade space-time magic [Block]...」

The mana consumption of the 4th-grade [Block] spell was significant, and if you wanted to be ready to cast it at any time, the cost would be even higher.

We had to take turns even at night.

"Ashid, go rest by the sled."

"Yes? But..."

"Don't worry, I'll call you if we need you."

"...I apologize."

Apologize? Why?

The other mages were all comfortably sitting on the sleds, resting.

「Field Effect - 'Festering Cold' deactivated.」

As soon as the blizzard subsided, we resumed our march.

Crunch, crunch.

The snow reached our ankles with every step.

Rumble.

I was starving, but we had to ration our food.

We had managed to protect the supplies so far, but we couldn't be sure what would happen next.

What if a blizzard hit during a battle, and we ran out of mana to protect the boxes?

Things would get really bad.

'Well, I wouldn't say we're in a good situation right now...'

Third day in Ice Rock.

Everyone was exhausted, and there were no idle chatter or jokes.

We just silently marched forward, conserving our energy.

The atmosphere was tense and edgy.

'This is the team I'm supposed to lead into battle against Noark?'

Morale was crucial in war.

I wasn't sure if we would even be able to complete the mission in this state.

The only positive thing was the rapid accumulation of experience points.

「Frozen Soul defeated. EXP +4.」

「Tainted Snow Spirit defeated. EXP +6.」

「Frost Guardian defeated. EXP +7.」

「Lich defeated. EXP +6.」

「Glacier Giant defeated. EXP +7.」

「Frostfire Turtle defeated...」

「...」

Most of the monsters in Ice Rock were high-level, so the experience points flowed in quickly.

Well, we still had a long way to go.

Even if we killed every monster in Ice Rock, it wouldn't be enough to reach level 8.

'But it's a rare opportunity, so I should hunt as many as I can.'

We continued fighting monsters and marching forward, our bodies growing increasingly weary.

As the sun began to set, we set up camp by a cliff.

We unloaded the tents and sleeping bags from the supply boxes and set them up.

And...

「Heating Stone activated.」

We placed a few activated magic tools in each tent, creating a cozy shelter.

"We don't have any night watch duty today, so get some rest."

Only two members were assigned to night watch duty for the entire expedition force.

Our turn wouldn't come until tomorrow, so we could all sleep soundly tonight.

It was thanks to the four paladins.

They would take turns casting [Purge Evil], keeping monsters away.

And there was no chance of encountering a looting party in this barren land.

Even if there were, they wouldn't dare attack a group this large.

Not if they wanted to keep their heads.

"Good night, Mister. See you tomorrow."

The tents were for three people, separated by gender.

No matter how close we were, men and women shouldn't sleep together.

I also preferred sleeping with other men.

Well, the old man and the mage might feel a bit cramped.

"Ashid, Aldidi. You two go to sleep first."

"Are you going on patrol?"

"I'm the expedition leader, after all."

I sent Didi and Ashid to bed and then patrolled the campsite, checking for any problems.

There were already snoring sounds coming from various tents.

They must be exhausted.

'Everything seems fine, so I should go to sleep too.'

I walked towards our team's tent.

Crunch.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned around.

"Kaislan, you're still awake?"

"I have something to tell you, sir."

"What is it?"

"Can we talk while we walk?"

We walked around the edge of the campsite, talking.

"There's a lot of discontent among the members."

Discontent...

I knew what it was about.

"Mostly about me, I presume?"

Kaislan nodded with a bitter smile.

"Humans are like that. They don't question their happiness, but they always look for reasons when they're suffering."

His words reflected a deep understanding of human nature.

"Is that all?"

Kaislan shook his head.

"If that was all, I wouldn't have bothered you at this hour."

"There's something else?"

"...There's someone spreading malicious rumors within the expedition force."

"Rumors? What kind of rumors?"

"That the 1st Team is hoarding supplies while everyone else is on rations."

"I see..."

I couldn't help but sigh.

This was ridiculous.

They were acting like children.

These were the elites of the kingdom?

"Do you know who started the rumor?"

"Pike Neldain."

"James Kala's teammate."

He was a warrior, just like me.

He had even greeted me with a smile at the banquet...

Damn, that sneaky bastard.

Ah, maybe he was just hungry and couldn't think straight?

"What are you going to do?"

"Well..."

I trailed off, and Kaislan offered me some advice.

"If you're going to punish him, I suggest doing it through me."

"To deflect the blame?"

"If you wish, I can make an example of him in front of everyone. They'll forget all about their resentment towards you."

Wow, he's a loyal subordinate.

I listened to his suggestions.

"Or we could use Akuraba. She's in charge of supplies, and this happened because she failed to fulfill her duties."

He wasn't wrong.

Regardless of the circumstances, Akuraba was responsible for protecting the supplies.

But...

"She's a respected explorer, so everyone is being quiet now, but if this gets out, they'll blame her."

I didn't like that.

I had to make a decision.

"Kaislan, why are you going this far to help me?"

I was suspicious of his motives.

But Kaislan looked me in the eye and answered without hesitation.

"Because you're the expedition leader, whether I like it or not."

An unexpected answer.

"The expedition will fail if you're shaken by these rumors."

I thought he would be the first to try and take my place if my authority was weakened.

Was this a soldier's mindset?

Kaislan was prioritizing the mission over his personal ambitions.

"Tell me what you want me to do."

He offered two options, but they were essentially the same.

Whether it was Akuraba or him, he wanted me to make someone else the scapegoat.

I appreciated his advice, but my decision was already made.

"I'm not going to do anything."

"...?"

Kaislan looked confused and cautiously asked,

"If you do nothing, the members will blame you for everything that goes wrong."

That's true.

But so what?

"I don't care what they say."

"...?"

"They're the members, and I'm the leader. That's how it works."

I wasn't going to shirk my responsibility.

__________________

Ninth day in Ice Rock.

The expedition, which had been plagued with problems from the start, was finally reaching its midpoint.

We had left the plains behind and were now facing a giant ice mountain.

We weren't going to climb it.

Our destination was at the base of the mountain.

"We found the entrance!"

James Kala's team found the path to the next field, and we followed it, descending into a massive ice cave.

Thud, thud.

The sound of our boots echoed through the cave.

But the atmosphere was different from before.

Even in military training camps,

People form bonds when they go through hardships together.

"The ice is so clear, it's like we're in a fantasy world."

"Haha, I feel the same way."

Of course, the improved mood was also due to our recovered stamina.

Half of the members were experiencing Ice Rock for the first time, so there were a lot of hiccups in the beginning...

But now they were all adapting.

"I'm starving. I understand why everyone avoids this place."

"I usually look at my daughter's picture when I'm struggling, but I couldn't even do that here. I should have taken it out of my subspace pocket before we left the ship."

"Oh, you have a daughter? How old is she?"

It wasn't just the atmosphere that had changed.

The expedition force, which had been struggling to work together, was now moving as one.

"Enemies approaching from the flanks and front!"

"The 1st Team will hold them off while the 2nd and 3rd Teams take care of the flanks!"

They followed my orders without hesitation.

「Frozen Webter defeated. EXP +5.」

「Unmelting Cocoon defeated. EXP +6.」

「Frostfire Goblin defeated. EXP +5」

The battles were much easier now.

They were finally acting like an elite force.

Their teamwork had improved, and they were able to unleash their full potential.

And there was another positive development.

"Schuitz, that guy... he's a beast in battle."

Explorers respected strength.

As I stood at the front, taking on the most dangerous tasks, my reputation started to improve.

The rumors about me hoarding food had vanished.

Actions speak louder than words—

Crackle—

What was that?

My instincts, honed by years of experience, sensed danger.

"Erwen, did you hear that?"

"I don't know. It came from behind us..."

Behind us?

I turned around.

Crackle.

Spiderweb-like cracks were spreading across the ground, unable to withstand the weight.

'Damn it!'

It was where the troll pulling the sled was standing.

"Summon! Unsummon it now!"

I shouted, and the summoner, who had been spacing out, quickly unsummoned the troll.

But it was too late.

Crack, crack!

The cracking sound intensified.

"...Everyone, get back!"

The explorers near the collapsing ground scrambled to safety. Some, however, prioritized the supplies over their own lives.

"Supplies! Get the supplies!"

"We're done for without them!"

"Move it!"

They carefully pulled the sled away, trying to reduce the weight.

But the ground was collapsing faster.

Kwaaang!

The ground caved in, like a sinkhole.

One of the sleds and two explorers disappeared into the darkness.

And at that moment...

「Liard Ashid has cast the 5th-grade auxiliary magic [Levitation].」

The two explorers floated into the air.

Their expressions, filled with despair, turned to relief.

And then we heard a splash from below.

Splash!

Damn, there's water down there?

We can't retrieve the sled now.

I quickly gave orders, despite my despair.

"Everyone, get away from the edge! Spread out, don't stand too close!"

The team members finally started moving.

I cautiously approached the edge and looked down.

The mage illuminated the area with a light spell, and as expected, there was a river flowing below.

The sled was nowhere to be seen.

"Akuraba!!"

"Yes, sir!"

"How much food was in that sled?"

"About half, sir!"

Damn it, we lost half our food supply.

"..."

Akuraba looked at me nervously.

"Um..."

"Be quiet. I'm thinking."

"..."

I couldn't understand.

'The ground collapsed the first time, and now it's happening again?'

This didn't make sense.

So...

"Akuraba."

"Yes, sir."

"Ask everyone. Now."

I had to confirm something first.

"Is there anyone who changed their name? And was that name Hans?"

That would tell me whether this was just a series of unfortunate coincidences.

Or...

"Hurry up. This is important."

Someone's malicious intent.

----------------------------------

Chapter 401: Ice Rock (2)

The investigation revealed that two members had changed their names.

But their previous names were 'Muljory' and 'Dick', far from that cursed name.

In other words, there was no (former) Hans among us.

Then why did I feel this way?

'It's strange... I'm not relieved.'

I was glad there was no (former) Hans, but I also felt a sense of disappointment.

If he existed, these incidents might have been just a series of unfortunate coincidences...

And even if he wasn't the culprit, it would have narrowed down the list of suspects.

'...Wait a minute.'

"Troll."

"Yes?"

"What are the names of the three trolls you're using as summons?"

I asked out of a hunch, but it was another dead end.

Their names were Pippi, Poppy, and Yeppi, in order of height.

It was a naming sense that I, as a sane person, couldn't comprehend.

'Well, at least this confirms that someone is intentionally sabotaging us.'

A series of coincidences?

I couldn't completely rule out that possibility, but I didn't believe in such things.

Not unless Hans was involved.

And besides, the ground collapsing in Ice Rock wasn't a common occurrence.

It wasn't something you would experience twice in one expedition.

And...

'I have a hunch.'

I discreetly put the ring back in my pocket after briefly checking it.

"It seems like the cleanup is done."

"Yes."

"What's the damage report?"

"It's not good news, but the loss of food isn't significant."

That's good.

The other supplies were also important, but not as crucial as food.

"...What are we going to do now?"

"We continue our journey."

After confirming the damage, I ordered the expedition force to move again.

We didn't have much time.

Waiting here wouldn't solve anything.

I had to keep thinking while we marched.

"How far can you send the Ice Trolls?"

"...As long as I can see them, sir!"

The summoner answered immediately, as if he was worried I might blame him for the incident.

'...Is he acting?'

He was the most suspicious one.

But it wasn't the right time to interrogate him.

"The remaining three sleds will be divided into front, center, and rear."

I changed the formation, separating the sleds to minimize the risk of another collapse.

And...

Thud, thud.

We continued our march through the icy cave, my mind racing.

If there really was a traitor among us, who was it?

There were too many suspects.

But I had to start with those who would benefit the most from our failure.

The team leaders, for example.

"...Schuitz, I'm sorry. This is my fault. I should have separated the sleds sooner."

Titana Akuraba.

She was the most suspicious one.

She was in charge of supplies, and she was always near the sleds when the incidents happened.

"It wasn't intentional, but this is the second time. Whether you like it or not, you have to punish someone, or everyone will think you're weak."

Kaislan was also suspicious.

His helpful advice and self-sacrificing spirit were too good to be true.

And he was the one who was most eager to be the leader.

"I don't think this was anyone's fault. But... this time, we need to hold someone accountable."

James Kala.

He was the least suspicious, but he still had a motive.

He had the least influence among the team leaders.

His sponsors could easily control him.

"...I'll leave it to your judgment. That's your duty and right as the leader."

Lastly, Jun, the paladin.

He had always been strangely friendly towards me, which made me uneasy.

"Schuitz, the members are exhausted."

The march had been going on for two hours longer than usual.

"We'll set up camp."

I ordered them to set up camp and then called for a meeting with the team leaders.

The first issue on the agenda was this:

"The loss of potions and other consumables is a problem, but the shortage of tents and sleeping bags is the biggest concern."

"They're already hungry and tired. If they can't even sleep properly, they'll be furious."

"We need a fair solution. If some people get to sleep comfortably while others have to sleep outside without sleeping bags, there will be resentment."

We didn't have enough tents and sleeping bags for everyone.

My solution was simple.

"What are you going to do?"

"Increase the number of night watch duty personnel."

"...Night watch duty?"

They didn't have enough sleeping bags anyway.

If more people were on guard duty, more people could sleep inside.

"...That's too extreme."

"It will only increase their fatigue."

"How about we rotate the use of tents and sleeping bags?"

The team leaders expressed their concerns, but I overruled them.

"Schuitz, if you do that, they'll resent you even more."

They weren't wrong.

It was a solution that eliminated the problem, not solved it.

They would probably complain about the barbarian leader's lack of tactical sense.

They would say I wasn't fit to be a leader.

But...

"I don't care. Announce it and have each team choose their night watch duty personnel."

I had to increase the number of guards.

More people on guard duty meant better security at night. And I had to be wary of the traitor.

That's why...

"Raviyen."

I stopped the Dragonkin woman as she was about to enter her tent.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier."

"You think someone did it on purpose?"

"We have to consider all possibilities."

The conversation was more relaxed than before, since we had spent some time together on the expedition...

But there wasn't much progress.

"I don't know. I'm not good at that sort of thing."

"I see..."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, you should get some rest. You must be tired."

I let her go. I wanted to talk to her more, but it seemed pointless.

And...

"..."

I walked to a secluded spot behind the tents and took out the ring from my pocket.

「Character has equipped No. 6111 Fate Tracker.」

As always, it glowed as soon as I put it on.

「The ring has detected the character's fate.」

It was a bright red light.

I quickly took it off.

'Damn it.'

It had been like this since we entered the 7th floor.

__________________

There were some Numbered Items that couldn't be used in the city.

No. 399 Cage of Silence was one of them, and so was the Fate Tracker.

So I put on the ring as soon as we entered the labyrinth.

And...

'It didn't glow back then.'

It was the same when we met the other expedition teams on the 6th floor, and during the voyage.

But as soon as we arrived at Ice Rock,

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The ring emitted a red light.

It meant there was a negative event nearby.

'What if the traitor was only supposed to act after we reached the 7th floor? That would explain why the ring didn't react before.'

We had experienced a series of unfortunate events during the journey, but the ring's light remained the same.

It meant that there was still a negative event ahead of us.

"Mister, wake up!"

I opened my eyes and saw Erwen.

The heating stones were running low, so we had to ration them.

I was shivering from the cold.

"Where are the old man and Ashid?"

"They're already awake and getting ready."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You looked tired."

Hmm... I appreciate the concern, but it's embarrassing for a warrior to be worried about his stamina by a mage and an ability user.

"Can I shave your beard?"

Erwen smiled and asked as I sat up.

I touched my chin, and a thick beard had grown.

But I didn't mind.

"It's fine. It's not bothering me."

It was actually helpful in this environment.

It was extra insulation.

"But you look much more handsome without it..."

I ignored Erwen's whining and stepped outside.

The frigid air pierced through my skin and lungs.

But the biggest problem was hunger.

Rumble.

My stomach growled as soon as I woke up.

"You're awake."

"Let's take down the tents."

I joined Didi and Ashid and helped them dismantle the tents and load them onto the sleds.

And...

Crunch, crunch.

I chewed on a piece of jerky, rationing my breakfast.

We resumed our journey.

Tenth day in Ice Rock.

The path ahead was simple.

We had to navigate through a maze-like ice cave beneath a giant mountain range.

At the end of the maze, there was a giant sinkhole called the Eye of the Glacier.

And at the bottom of the Eye of the Glacier...

"An essence! An essence!"

We heard a commotion from behind us.

"Is that from Meran? Did someone kill a Meran?"

"What? Wait, then that's a 3rd-grade essence!"

It wasn't just any 3rd-grade essence.

It was a rare essence that could only be obtained in Ice Rock.

"Everyone, step back!"

I had the explorers move away and sent the mage to collect the essence.

It was confirmed to be a Meran essence.

Good news always followed bad news.

Even the high-level explorers were excited by the 3rd-grade essence.

"Everyone, calm down. If anyone is interested in purchasing this essence, they'll be given priority based on the average market price, excluding the cost of the test tube. If there are multiple buyers, we'll hold an auction!"

Kaislan intervened before the excitement could turn into chaos.

"..."

Some explorers looked disappointed, but most were just happy.

We had obtained a few essences during the expedition, but they were all low-grade.

A 3rd-grade essence was in a different league.

Well, even if we split it thirty ways, the individual share wouldn't be that much.

But it was still a profit.

"...We'll also be splitting the loot from Noark."

"And the royal family will reward us based on our achievements. That's not a small sum either."

"Those who want the essence should focus on earning achievements. Otherwise, they won't be able to afford it."

"So we'll be compensated for our efforts."

"If the expedition is successful, that is."

The positive news had lifted the mood, despite the recent incident.

Well, they're probably still complaining about me behind my back.

But I didn't mind.

If that helped them cope with the situation,

It was a good thing for me, as the leader.

'Every group needs a villain.'

Three days passed.

Thankfully, there were no more incidents. No one died, and we didn't lose any more supplies.

But...

「The ring has detected the character's fate.」

The ring's light remained red.

I continued to investigate the traitor, interrogating the summoner and rechecking the members' information.

And finally...

"We're here! The Eye of the Glacier!"

13th day in Ice Rock.

We were nearing the end of the 7th floor.

"What's going on? Why are we setting up camp so early?"

I ordered them to set up camp and called for a meeting with the team leaders.

It was still early, but...

"There's a traitor among us."

I knew who it was.

-----------------------------------------

Chapter 402: Ice Rock (3)

"A traitor...?"

"What do you mean?"

The team leaders frowned at my blunt statement.

But they must have understood the gist of it.

James Kala cautiously spoke.

"...Are you referring to the incident where we lost the supplies?"

I nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

"But that incident was—"

"A coincidence? You brought it up as soon as I mentioned the traitor. You must have suspected something too."

"..."

James Kala fell silent.

Akuraba, as if defending him, interjected with a hint of annoyance.

"Thinking about it and mentioning it are two different things. A traitor? That's a very sensitive and dangerous accusation to make without any evidence."

She was right.

But she was missing the most important part.

"So what's your point?"

"Whoever you suspect, you need concrete evidence that everyone can agree on."

Ouch, that hit a nerve.

Did she think I was suspecting her?

Well, she was in charge of supplies.

Maybe she thought I was blaming her and was already defending herself.

I had to clear up the misunderstanding before it got worse.

"Don't worry. I'm not suspecting you."

"Yes? But you just said..."

"If I suspected you, I wouldn't have called you here."

To be precise, I had suspected all of them, but not anymore.

I knew who the culprit was.

Thankfully, it wasn't one of our precious team leaders.

"Then... who do you think the traitor is?"

"Pike Neldain."

As soon as I said his name, everyone looked at James Kala.

"...He's a warrior on James Kala's team, right?"

"He's also the one who's been badmouthing the expedition leader."

"Hmm... then his motive might have been to undermine the leader."

They started analyzing the situation, assuming my accusation was true.

James Kala quickly spoke up.

"W-wait! There must be some misunderstanding! Neldain, he's a bit narrow-minded, I'll admit that, but—"

"It's surprising to hear you say that. How well do you even know him?"

"...?"

"I've already investigated him. He joined the expedition through the Explorer's Guild's recommendation, right? You didn't know him before."

"That's true, but..."

James Kala trailed off, and Akuraba came to his defense.

"Schuitz, I think we should hear your reasoning first. Why do you think he's the traitor? Do you have any evidence?"

Ugh, evidence, evidence, evidence.

I'm sick of hearing that word.

But I calmly explained my reasons for suspecting Pike Neldain.

And when I finished...

"I see..."

"I understand that you're not just making this up."

"It's still just circumstantial evidence, but it's enough to raise suspicion."

All the team leaders, except for James, agreed that my suspicion was valid.

"But we don't have any concrete evidence! You can't just accuse someone without proof! Someone might even think this is a personal vendetta!"

James raised his voice for the first time, but I wasn't offended.

It was natural for a team leader to protect his teammate.

"Calm down. I know that, that's why I called you here."

I looked at James Kala and asked,

"Do you still think I'm making this up?"

"I... don't think so."

"Good. Then that's settled."

I clapped my hands, trying to lighten the mood, and continued.

"Listen. I need your help."

"Help?"

"I'll explain."

I shared my plan with the team leaders, and they all agreed.

And...

"It's getting dark outside."

Night had fallen.

Well, it was always dark inside the cave.

"That's all for today. Go and gather everyone, including Pike Neldain."

It was time for a trial.

__________________

A frozen cave with a giant sinkhole in the center.

Thirty expedition members were gathered around a campfire.

"...What's going on? Why are we all here? Does anyone know?"

"I heard there's a traitor among us."

"...A traitor?"

"They say he's the one who caused the supply loss."

The team leaders had shared some information, and the members looked confused.

But their confusion soon turned to curiosity.

"So who is it?"

"You'll find out soon."

"I guess they figured it out, since they called us all here at this hour."

The murmurs subsided, and all eyes were on me.

But I ignored their gazes and focused on one person.

"Neldain, what's wrong?"

Pike Neldain.

The warrior from James Kala's team who had been badmouthing me.

'He's scared.'

He had avoided eye contact at first, but now he was staring back at me defiantly.

It was a common trait of liars.

They were afraid of being seen as suspicious if they averted their gaze.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

Kaislan stepped forward and silenced the members, and a heavy silence fell over the campsite.

It was the perfect atmosphere for a one-sided conversation.

"Pike Neldain, step forward."

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone looked at him.

"...What? Is it him?"

"Don't call him 'him' yet. We don't know for sure."

Whispers filled the air.

"Are you going to keep hiding?"

As I spoke, the explorers around Pike Neldain stepped back, creating a path.

And...

Thud, thud.

He walked towards me, his face contorted with anger.

"...Here I am."

"You're quite bold."

"I have every right to be. What is this about?"

He glared at me.

I had expected this.

I didn't think he would confess just because I created a tense atmosphere and intimidated him.

"Pike Neldain."

"I'm listening."

"You're being accused of a serious crime."

"...A crime?"

"You sabotaged the expedition and caused us to lose valuable supplies. It's an act of treason."

"...I don't understand. What did I do? Are you doing this because I badmouthed you?"

"Pike Neldain!"

I cut him off before he could continue his rambling.

"You caused the ground to collapse twice during the expedition! You intentionally led us to those dangerous areas! Do you deny it?"

"Of course I do! It's not true!"

"You're going to deny it until the very end?"

"Why are you all just standing there?! Is it right for the expedition leader to accuse a member without any evidence?!"

He appealed to the other members, trying to paint me as a vengeful leader.

And it seemed to be working.

"This doesn't seem right..."

"What's the point of calling us all here if he's going to accuse him without proof..."

"He's always been badmouthing the leader..."

"But can he really be a traitor? Where's the evidence?"

"The ground collapsing... wasn't that just a coincidence?"

He wanted them to think that I was taking revenge on him for personal reasons.

"Schuitz, you've made a mistake."

He looked at me with a smug expression.

"If you're going to frame me, you need to have evidence that everyone can agree on."

"Evidence..."

That was the biggest obstacle.

It was unrealistic to torture him into confessing.

And I didn't have 'Distorted Trust'.

Verification magic?

Most explorers above the 5th floor were immune to it.

How many of them would it even work on?

I had been struggling with this problem...

'There's no other way.'

"You don't have any—"

There was only one solution.

「Character has cast [Gigantification].」

My body expanded rapidly.

Whoosh!

I grabbed his neck before he could finish his sentence.

"...!"

The explorers were shocked, but no one dared to intervene.

It was an explorer's instinct.

When the situation was unclear, they observed and waited.

"W-what are you doing—!"

"You seem to like making friends. But I guess you didn't have any real friends to help you out."

"L-let go—!"

It's too early to give up.

Squeeze.

I tightened my grip, cutting off his air supply.

Thump! Thump!

He punched my arm with all his might.

It was a futile effort.

Swoosh.

I pulled him closer, ignoring his struggles.

And...

"Neldain, do you know this?"

"...G-guh...!"

"The expedition leader has the right to execute any member in an emergency."

"G-g-guh...!"

"And I think this is an emergency."

As I loosened my grip slightly, he desperately shouted.

"T-they won't believe you... not outside...!"

"That's right, they won't."

The nobles weren't stupid.

And there were too many witnesses.

If I executed him here, the Marquis's rivals would use it against me and try to remove me from the leadership position.

But...

"Why should I care?"

"...?!"

"I don't care what they think."

I tightened my grip, my killing intent surging.

His veins bulged, and his face turned red from the blood rushing to his head.

"...!!"

He had been trying to stay conscious, but he couldn't look at me anymore.

He just looked around, desperately seeking help.

"Should we stop him?"

"This is going to be a problem..."

"Sir Kaislan! We have to stop him!"

The members were worried.

But the team leaders remained silent, observing the situation.

They had already made a promise.

"..."

"..."

They silently watched, their expressions conveying their support.

And...

"I... c-can't..."

Pike Neldain realized the truth.

He was alone.

"It's okay. Die."

I focused my killing intent on his neck.

Crack!

The sound of his neck snapping.

His eyes rolled back, and his pupils dilated.

"Damn it!"

Someone cursed, and at that moment...

「Pike Neldain has cast [Overload].」

His weight suddenly increased, and my arm buckled.

So that's his trump card.

Kwaaang!

He fell to the ground, my grip loosening.

"Gasp...!"

He took a deep breath, his body convulsing.

And he shouted with all his might.

"Y-you madman! Stop him! Stop this madman!"

His desperate cry caused a stir among the members.

They looked like they were about to intervene.

"What are you all waiting for?!"

He looked at the team leaders, pleading for help.

But their expressions were cold.

"So it was true."

"That's [Overload]... a warrior would never use that skill."

"Let's restrain him first. We can't hear his story if he kills himself."

Today's lesson.

If you have a hunch, you can create evidence.

Trial

I like Korean novels (Murim, Dukes, Reincarnation, etc, etc, etc)

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