C64, 65, 66
Chapter 64: Cabin (3)
After getting lost in the Witch's Forest, I sometimes wondered if the dwarf’s group might be wandering around the forest trying to find us. If that were the case, then maybe a chance reunion wasn't entirely impossible?
To cut to the chase, it was a futile delusion.
‘There’s no way that would happen.’
Imagination and reality are always different.
I smile bitterly as I realize there are three of them, despite my hopes.
Miracles don’t suit me.
Tragedies, maybe.
“…Bjorn.”
Misha climbs onto my back and whispers very softly into my ear.
“What are we going to do now?”
Well, I’m thinking.
I also never imagined we would meet these bastards here.
‘His name was… Davis something, right?’
I prepare myself to smash his head in with my mace at any moment and then carefully examine the man who is sleeping soundly.
Davis.
He’s a hardcore religious fanatic who is covered in Leathlas Church symbols, from his necklace and bracelet to the buttons on his shirt.
In short, he’s the leader of the explorer group that attacked us after falling for Elisa’s scheme.
‘Why the hell is this bastard here?’
The more I look at his face, the more questions I have.
Why is he resting here?
And why are they only three, excluding Elisa, who they sold off?
And why are they in such a pathetic state like us?
“…….”
I put aside my questions for now and check the interior through the window again.
Fortunately, the other two are still sound asleep.
And now that I know they’re from the religious group, I can guess their identities based on their body types and hair color.
‘They must be the archer and the swordsman from before.’
The shield warrior with the particularly large build and the red-haired archer are nowhere to be seen.
‘…Could it be that these guys got separated from their group too?’
That thought suddenly comes to mind, but I’m not sure.
Damn it, what should I do?
I’m feeling uneasy… should I just smash their heads in while they’re sleeping, regardless of any questions?
As I’m contemplating…
Misha whispers,
“Bjorn, if we’re lucky, we might be able to hear about Hikurod and the others.”
Hmm, that’s true.
I guess it’s better to talk to them.
But before that, we need to create an environment for conversation.
“First, let’s knock them all unconscious and tie them up with rope.”
“Good idea.”
After reaching an agreement, I send Misha inside the cabin.
Just in case they wake up, she can subdue them before they come to their senses.
“…….”
Then I guess we’re all set.
I exchange glances with Misha through the window and nod.
And I raise my mace above my head.
Thwack-!
I swing it down with about half my strength.
As expected, the religious fanatic collapses without even a whimper.
I wipe the blood and flesh that splattered on my clothes and exhale deeply.
‘Whew, I’ve knocked out one of them.’
Now it’s time to knock out the next one.
I enter the cabin stealthily, and I see two people fast asleep, lost in their dreams, as if exhausted.
Then who should I go for first?
As I’m contemplating for a moment, one of them stirs.
“Ugh…”
Alright, you’ll be the second one.
Just as I’m about to swing my mace down to knock him out…
“You said we’re knocking them out!”
Misha approaches me hurriedly, grabs my arm, and whispers.
I tilt my head.
And I nod as I belatedly realize what she meant.
“Don’t worry.”
Even when playing fighting games, my specialty was low jumps.
I’m confident in controlling my strength.
Well, if he dies, it can’t be helped.
That’s the kind of world this is, right?
Thwack!
The moment I swing the mace down…
The man who was resting on the rocking chair slumps over.
And at the same time…
“Wh, who—”
This time, the man on the bed sits up, as if he heard the sound.
But there’s no problem.
Whether he’s awake or asleep, my mace is impartial.
Thwack!
I don’t even bother sneaking up and just dash forward, plunging my half-powered mace into his face.
Since the goal was to knock him out, the skill name is…
‘Bash seems appropriate.’
The initial subjugation is complete with a successful ‘Bash’.
I look at Misha and say,
“What are you doing? Tie them up with rope.”
Misha looks at the three bloody messes and replies,
“Do we need to tie them up…?”
Uh, well…
There’s a saying, ‘better safe than sorry’, right?
There’s no harm in being thorough.
That’s my principle.
________________________________
“Wow, they’re actually alive…”
The three who received a mace to the head each have fortunately survived.
“I told you not to worry—”
“But they look like they’re going to die soon.”
“…….”
However, their breathing is ragged and getting shallower, as if they’re about to breathe their last.
The one who got hit in the face is in the worst condition.
But as long as they’re alive, there’s no problem.
This is literally a fantasy world, isn’t it?
“As expected, there it is.”
I pick a random backpack and take out a potion bottle. And I sprinkle the potion on their heads.
Just a little, so they don’t become too lively.
Sizzle-.
The reactions appear one after another with a slight delay.
“Aak!!! Aaaaak!”
“Heuk!”
Their broken heads slowly heal, and the three of them flop around on the grass like fish out of water.
I take out the rocking chair, sit down, and wait for them to come to their senses.
“You barbaric bastard…”
Misha insults me as she sees me, but what can I do?
Whether they were tricked by that bitch Elisa or whatever…
They once tried to kill us.
And the barbarian heart within Bjorn rarely feels sympathy for enemies.
“Yo, you…!”
“That barbarian from before!”
“It was a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! We’re not enemies!”
After some time, the three finally come to their senses.
But it’s chaotic with all three of them talking at the same time.
“One at a time.”
I mutter while wiping the blood-stained mace with a cloth, and the room falls silent.
The three, tied up like dried fish, look at each other and reach an agreement with just their eyes.
“Listen, it was all a misunderstanding. There was a misunderstanding.”
The leader, the religious fanatic, is chosen as the representative.
“I’ll explain everything, so please untie this—”
“Stop talking about that.”
What’s important right now is not how wronged or difficult things were for them.
“Tell me what happened after we escaped, from start to finish.”
Confirmation of causality.
That’s the only reason I used ‘Bash’ instead of ‘Smash’.
“Uh, that is…”
“Don’t try to play smart.”
“Ah, alright! It was our fault for trusting that bitch, but I’ll tell you everything without hiding anything.”
“Whether you’re hiding something or not is for me to decide.”
The religious fanatic gulps.
And he spills the beans about everything that happened, things that I don’t know about.
“When we, tricked by that evil woman’s scheme, caught up to them, there were only three of them for some reason.”
Well, of course there were.
It was right when we got separated.
Crack.
It really makes my blood boil.
What kind of shitty timing is this?
“Keep talking…?”
“Of course, continue.”
“We couldn’t just keep running away, so we ambushed the guy who seemed to be the scout and injured him.”
“Do, don’t tell me you’re talking about Rotmiller!”
“I don’t know his name. But don’t worry, he’ll be alive with that level of injury.”
Anyway, to summarize the story, it’s like this:
Rotmiller became incapacitated after being ambushed.
It was truly a desperate situation.
The dwarf must have made a judgment.
That they could only escape safely if they killed the enemy’s scout.
“Something like that time, a light erupted and pushed us back.”
“When we came to our senses, Anderson’s head was pierced by an ice spear.”
“Ah, Anderson is the name of our scout.”
“He wasn’t the type to fall for something like that…”
“Maybe he was careless because we had the advantage in numbers and didn’t dodge in time.”
Whatever the details, the dwarf bought some time.
Dwarkey killed the opposing scout.
And then they ran away, carrying the injured Rotmiller without looking back.
As soon as I hear this story, Misha hits my back.
“It was all thanks to Hikurod! He killed the scout because he was thinking of us!”
Well, I don’t know about the dwarf’s true intentions.
But there’s no denying that we’re alive thanks to his actions.
Anyway, back to the main story.
“Because Anderson died, we couldn’t even chase after them, and we were left wandering around this forest.”
The religious fanatics, who were excitedly chasing after us, ended up in a similar situation to ours when their scout died.
Of course, they were still a bit better off than us.
They had five people, and they even had a priestess among them.
But…
“It was about two days after we started wandering around.”
Day 2 of being lost.
At some point during their watch rotation…
That bitch Elisa revealed her true colors and killed another member.
“Seeing that guy wither away as his life force was drained, we instantly knew. That she was a follower of that evil Karui!”
“Alright, so why did that bitch kill your friend?”
“I… don’t know. The moment we witnessed that horrible sight, all we could think about was escaping this place and telling the world.”
Bullshit, you just ran away because you wanted to live.
Even abandoning your companion.
Anyway, I skip the rest of the story.
It’s not much different from what Misha and I went through, except for the fact that there were three of them.
“So, now that the misunderstanding is cleared, please untie this—”
“I told you to stop talking about that.”
I sigh at their third request for release.
“Bjorn, what are we going to do now?”
“Ahem, it seems like we’re in the same boat, so how about we cooperate?”
“You just shut up.”
I’m deeply troubled.
Of course, I have no intention of accepting his offer and joining forces for the remaining two days.
However…
“Co, come to think of it, we haven’t apologized yet! We’re sorry! We were stupid and fell for that bitch’s tricks. We’re sorry!”
There’s room for consideration.
Can I really judge these guys as ‘bastards’?
Although we went through a lot of trouble because of them, no one died, did they?
It seems like the dwarf’s group is also alive.
“Of, of course, we’ll compensate you for the damage we caused!”
They’re even offering material compensation.
Do I really have to kill them?
“Bjorn, I’ll do whatever you want.”
I’ve killed many people so far.
But back then, my life was on the line, and they were all irredeemable pieces of trash.
But what about these guys?
It’s ambiguous.
Yes, like I said, there’s room for consideration.
My modern mind, which hasn’t completely shed its past, is trying to postpone the decision.
“Wh, what are you contemplating! It, it was a mistake! I never imagined a priestess would lie—”
“Be quiet. If you keep talking, I might accidentally smash your head.”
“…….”
While answering harshly to avoid being underestimated, I continue to contemplate inwardly.
Is it right to kill them?
I ask myself one last time, and…
Bjorn Yandel, the barbarian warrior, answers.
[Does right or wrong matter? It would be easier to just kill them, why should I leave potential trouble behind?]
It’s a very practical answer.
Lee Hansu, the 29-year-old from Seoul, also speaks up.
[Idiot, what are you contemplating? Of course it’s wrong to kill them just because they made a mistake. But…]
For once, the two of them agree.
[That’s the logic of the world we used to live in.]
Killing someone just because they made a mistake.
As expected, it’s absurd.
If this were the place where I was born and raised…
Clench-
…that’s why I grip my mace.
However, could it be that I’m still hesitant?
I blurt out a question without thinking.
“Misha, what do you think?”
Misha, who was born and raised here, answers,
“I don’t trust these guys.”
“So?”
“Whether it was a mistake or not, they tried to kill us once. When that happens… you should never forgive them, that’s what my father taught me when I was young.”
Hmm, I see.
So that’s how it is in this world.
My mind clears up as if the fog has lifted.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
The reason is simple.
Otherwise, I might die.
Swoosh.
Therefore, I raise my mace.
“Yo, you said it was a mistake!”
The religious fanatic lying on the ground shouts.
“A mistake…”
I nod.
Indeed, it might have been a mistake.
But somehow, I have a feeling that you guys will make the same mistake again.
Kwagic-!
Therefore, I swing down my mace.
With all my might, as if to erase any hesitation.
Kwagic-!
Again and again.
Kwagic-!
After three swings of the mace, the surroundings become silent.
「Achievement Unlocked」
Condition: 10 kills.
Reward: Mental stat permanently increases by +1.
I have no intention of justifying my actions.
If I did, I would have set a trap, waited for an opportunity, and waited for them to make a ‘mistake’.
The more of a ‘bastard’ the person I kill is, the better it is for my mental health.
But…
‘It’s time to let go of that kind of thinking.’
On the first day I woke up in this body…
I already knew it.
‘Bjorn Yandel.’
I have to live with this name from now on.
No, I have to completely become this barbarian, not just in name.
That’s the only way to survive in this place.
Thud-
Blood and flesh drip from the mace.
“Bjorn… are you okay? Your hands are shaking.”
If you’re weak, you die.
If you make a mistake, you die.
If you’re unlucky, you die.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
The trembling in my hands soon stops.
I strip the religious fanatic of his equipment.
And I drag the corpse, now in its underwear, into the cabin.
“Eek? Wh, what are you going to do?!”
Misha asks in disgust, and I answer,
“I’m doing what needs to be done.”
Something I have to do even if I don’t want to.
I throw the corpse into the dying fire without hesitation.
Whooooosh!
The flames come back to life in an instant.
And a disgusting smell fills the air.
No, to be precise, I just think it’s a disgusting smell.
The barbarian’s strong stomach doesn’t differentiate between this and the smell of meat.
Whooooosh!
I exhale as I watch the flames grow stronger.
As expected, this is also the same as in the game.
「A new offering has been made.」
「The duration of the Witch’s Cabin is extended by 8 hours.」
With two more pieces of firewood left, we can rest in the cabin for at least 24 hours.
“What are you doing? Go and get some rest.”
I say and lie down on the bed.
Misha says something, but honestly, I don’t hear it.
“…This is comfortable.”
I close my eyes and count numbers from 1, pointlessly.
My exhausted body, as if finally finding peace, slowly drifts off to sleep.
Tadat, tadat, tadadat-.
The sound of the crackling fire gradually fades from my consciousness.
‘As expected, you should sleep in a bed.’
It’s not even ironic anymore.
The more I shed my modern ways…
…the more I can live like a human being here.
-----------------------
Chapter 65: Field Boss (1)
I slept soundly for a whopping 12 hours.
And when I woke up…
For some reason, Misha was sleeping on my stomach, drooling, just like before.
“…….”
Anyway, since there’s still some time left, I organize the loot.
I check what’s in the backpacks and strip the remaining three of their equipment.
And I put everything into the expandable backpack.
It’s a good thing Misha also has an expandable backpack.
I stuffed so much equipment in that it’s quite heavy even with the weight reduction enchantment.
‘Is this enough compensation for all the hardships we went through?’
I ignore Misha, who is still asleep, and take out some jerky to chew on.
Well, she’ll eat when she wakes up and gets hungry.
Whooooosh!
After finishing my meal, I dampen a cloth with water and give myself a quick wash.
Ah, I also shaved for the first time in a while.
‘Now I look somewhat human.’
After burning all the remaining firewood in the fireplace, there’s nothing left to do.
So I go outside and sit in the rocking chair.
A faint smell of blood lingers in the peaceful meadow.
As I’m lost in thought, basking in the sunlight, my eyes slowly close.
The religious fanatic whose head I smashed while he was sleeping briefly comes to mind, but…
‘The entrance would have closed by now, so I don’t have to worry about that.’
It’s peaceful.
At least I’m safe as long as I’m here.
Yeah, that’s enough.
“Bjorn, wake up. You need to eat something after sleeping, or you’ll get an upset stomach!”
When I open my eyes, Misha is shaking my shoulder.
I check the watch, and 14 hours have passed since I last checked.
“Here, eat this even if you don’t have an appetite, quickly!”
Misha tears off some jerky and bread and feeds me.
Although I woke up in the middle and ate, I’m hungry again, so I accept it readily.
“Are you going to sleep more?”
“No.”
“Hmm, I see. Ah, right! But how did you know that we could stay here longer if we put people in?”
“I read it in a book.”
“…Do you like smart women?”
“I do.”
I answer her questions roughly while finishing my meal and then check the fireplace.
Judging by the fire’s strength, it seems like there’s less than an hour left…
Click.
I close my watch and carefully store it in my pocket.
And I stretch my body that has been asleep for a long time, preparing to leave.
Although it’s too early to celebrate, my chest swells with emotion.
‘This day has finally come.’
Day 15 is about to begin.
In other words, if we can just endure today, we can escape this damn forest and return to the city.
So…
「The Witch’s Cabin is closed.」
「Character is being transported to the Witch’s Forest.」
Let’s focus until the very end.
As always.
“Bjo, Bjorn! What the hell is this?!”
“Damn it…”
It’s not over until it’s over.
_______________________________________
「The fifth offering has been made to the cabin.」
「The sixth offering has been made to the cabin.」
「The seventh offering has been made to the ca… 」
「Special conditions met – seven offerings.」
「Lord of Chaos Riakis begins to roam the floor.」
_______________________________________
The moment we step out of the cabin…
The change in the forest is felt through every sense in my body.
「Field effect – Witch’s Forest is deactivated.」
I can see clearly.
The auditory and visual hallucinations are gone.
And the surroundings are so bright that I can see far into the distance even without a torch.
“Bjo, Bjorn…?”
The ceiling emits an ominous red light.
And the incorporeal monsters that were everywhere in the forest have all disappeared.
“…….”
The silence that greets us for the first time since entering the Witch’s Forest.
I bend down and touch the ground.
Drrdrd.
I feel a faint tremor through my fingertips.
Therefore, there’s no need to confirm any further or try to deny the current situation.
I know the cause of this phenomenon.
“…It’s a Floor Master.”
Floor Master.
It’s a monster that acts as a field boss.
In the game, it was referred to as a Floor Master, and each floor had one ruler with a different title.
For reference, except for a few floors, most of them were summoned when a trigger was activated, but…
“Fl, Floor Master? Do, don’t joke around. I heard there are no Floor Masters on the 3rd floor!!”
“It’s not that there aren’t any. It’s just that the summoning method is kept secret.”
In the case of the 1st-floor Crystal Cave…
It’s common knowledge that there’s a certain probability of it appearing after Day 3 if a party of 5 or more people is exploring.
However, the 3rd-floor Floor Master is different.
The royal family and the guild have kept the summoning method a secret, and they even created a new law stating that those who summon it without prior notice will be severely punished.
According to the book, it was about 150 years ago.
“The guild kept it a secret? Why?”
“Because if some crazy bastard summons it, it won’t end with just a few deaths.”
The 1st-floor Floor Master just kills the explorer who triggered it and disappears.
But the 3rd-floor Floor Master is different.
Lord of Chaos Riakis.
「Erosion begins, and all monsters within the floor disappear into chaos.」
「Creatures of Chaos awaken from their slumber.」
This guy affects the entire 3rd floor…
「Lord of Chaos Riakis begins to roam the floor.」
…and once summoned, it roams the labyrinth until it dies, causing a massacre.
And to make matters worse, even inter-floor travel is blocked.
「Portals are temporarily deactivated due to erosion.」
That means it’s impossible to even escape to other floors.
Misha’s face turns pale as I explain this to her.
“Th, then what is this? If, if it’s kept secret, why did the Floor Master appear now?!”
Ah, uh, hmm…
Should I tell her the truth or not?
I’m a bit hesitant, but the decision isn’t difficult.
“It’s probably because of us.”
It’s better to make her an accomplice in this situation.
Benefactor or whatever…
That will be more effective in keeping the secret.
“Be, because of us? I, I don’t understand…”
“We burned corpses in the fireplace at the cabin, didn’t we? That’s one of the conditions.”
I explain kindly, and the reaction comes with a slight delay.
“…Th, that was the summoning method?!! Bjorn! What the hell did you do?!”
No, I didn’t know this would happen either.
Even the book I read at the library said that almost no one knows about it.
They said the last time it was summoned was over 10 years ago?
So I thought it would be fine even if we burned three people.
‘Damn it, who would have thought someone would have burned four people first…’
Curses escape my lips at the unbelievable coincidence.
But who can I blame?
In the end, it’s my fault for not considering the worst-case scenario.
So, in that sense…
“Misha, make one promise with me.”
“Promise?”
“We must never tell anyone that we summoned the Lord of Chaos.”
It wasn’t summoned by a large clan with thorough preparations.
Countless explorers will surely die.
But if it becomes known that we were the cause…
‘They’ll make us take responsibility and pay the price somehow.’
Has she finally realized the situation?
“Us, us? What do you mean? You’re the one who burned the corpses!”
Misha draws a clear line.
She’s so flustered that her usual slurred pronunciation is perfectly clear.
I feel a bit hurt.
She said she would treat me as her benefactor and repay me until the day she dies.
Anyway, if she acts like this, I have no choice.
I have to push her a bit.
“Do you think the guild will believe that? No, even if they do, the outcome will be the same. They’ll want as many sacrifices as possible to appease their anger.”
“Ugh…”
Hmm, judging by her reaction, I don’t think I need to threaten her with dragging her down with me by giving false testimony.
“If you understand, get a grip from now on. Even dying after returning to the city requires luck.”
“…Alright. So what should we do now?”
The answer is simple.
“Let’s run.”
First, we need to get as far away from this place as possible.
I never imagined we would leave this place like this…
‘But for now, going there is the safest option.’
It’s time to leave the Witch’s Forest.
_____________________________________
The way to escape this goddamn forest is simple.
Since the status effect [Disoriented] has disappeared, we just need to follow the compass and move in one direction.
However, the problem is that the entire 3rd floor is swarming with a new type of monster.
“Bjorn! Something’s following us from behind!”
“Chaos Spirits.”
For reference, they’re unranked.
They don’t drop magic stones, and they don’t have essences.
But…
“We’ll have to deal with them.”
Chaos Spirits are aggressive monsters, and once they aggro onto you, they follow you relentlessly.
“…Can we catch them on our own?”
Misha seems anxious since it’s a monster she’s never encountered before.
Well, ignorance is like death in this place.
I also learned that through countless deaths in the game.
“Their attack power is high, but that’s all. I think they’ll disappear with one elemental attack, so don’t worry.”
“…Is that information reliable?”
“Yes, I read it in a book.”
“Alright.”
Misha seems relieved after I explain their characteristics and readjusts her spear that’s enchanted with holy water.
And she thrusts it towards the Chaos Spirit that was slowly following us.
Boom!
The Chaos Spirit explodes with a single spear strike.
Something like mucus splatters on the ground, staining it black.
「Chaos Spirit has been destroyed.」
「The location is eroded.」
If we step on that ground now, we’ll take continuous chaos damage, but there’s no need to worry about it.
It’s not like we’re hunting the Floor Master here.
It hasn’t even been a day since it was summoned.
‘Since the labyrinth will close after today, we can just ignore the erosion rate.’
It’s a positive factor, at least.
Although the Floor Master was suddenly summoned…
[00:01]
Day 15 has begun.
If we can just hold out for 24 hours, we can leave for the ci—
“Pl, please! He, help me!!”
Just as we’re about to leave…
An explorer runs towards us from afar.
I don’t see any companions.
However, I’m not curious about why he’s alone.
The dozens of Chaos Spirits following him explain his situation.
“Bjo, Bjorn…?”
“What are you hesitating for? Run.”
I grab Misha’s wrist and run in the opposite direction of the man who is asking for help.
We’ll have to take a detour because of this, but…
What else can we do?
It’s better than having those things aggro onto us.
“Ack, aak!”
His stamina must have reached its limit.
I hear a short scream and look back to see the explorer collapsed on the ground.
“Sa, save me—!”
Damn it, we made eye contact.
“Bjo, Bjorn…?”
“Don’t look back.”
I pull Misha’s wrist and continue running, looking straight ahead.
“No! Don’t, don’t go!”
His desperate scream is drowned out by the wind whistling past my ears.
I mutter briefly, as if reminding myself,
“Harden your heart. Do you think that guy would have helped us if we were in the opposite situation?”
“But…! It’s not like it’s our fault that the 3rd floor turned out like this!”
Hmm, she has a point.
‘Damn it…’
I feel shitty.
It’s like every aspect of my character has been exposed.
But even this is just a fleeting emotion that I’ll look back on someday.
…Let’s do what needs to be done.
‘This should be enough.’
We were heading south for a while, but then we change direction and head east. I see eroded ground and explorers’ corpses scattered throughout the forest.
The more I see, the more I just look ahead and run.
Boom!
As we’re blowing up the Chaos Spirits that are following us, after about an hour of moving…
The forest ends.
And a wide-open plain comes into view.
‘I thought it would take at least 7 hours…’
Was the place we were at the eastern outskirts of the forest?
We left the forest much earlier than expected.
‘We were lucky.’
We quickly cross the plain and enter the Orc Encampment.
And after some time…
“Everyone, please calm down and cooperate with the control efforts!”
As expected, the place is swarming with people.
-----------------------------
Chapter 66: Field Boss (2)
The Floor Master.
It's a field boss-like monster that exists on each floor.
These guys have different names, attributes, and patterns, but they share one thing in common.
It's impossible for explorers of that floor level to fight them, no matter what they do.
For example, to defeat the 1st-floor Floor Master, you need to form a raid of at least 30 people.
Of course, that's assuming they're all at least 4th-floor explorers.
That's the absolute minimum number of people.
Therefore, I contemplated.
Misha and I.
If the two of us happen to encounter it, it's game over. It's a monster that's impossible to outrun at normal movement speed.
So where should we go?
What should we do to increase our chances of survival, even if it's just a little, instead of just trembling and praying that we don't encounter it?
The answer was to head to the Orc Encampment.
Just like most of the explorers here.
"Bjorn, why are there so many people here?"
"The Dzarwi Clan is here."
The Dzarwi Clan is a large clan that operates on the 6th floor or higher. The dwarf mentioned that they have hundreds of members.
It's unlikely that all of them are gathered here at the same time, but...
'At least 10 teams must have come down. Even though it's the 3rd floor, they need that many people to control the hunting grounds.'
Of course, even with this much manpower, subjugation is difficult.
Well, it's not impossible if they're willing to accept casualties...
But that's assuming they know the proper strategy and have prepared for months.
'Still, if we stay with these guys, even if we encounter the Floor Master, we'll at least have time to escape.'
Having made a decision based purely on practicality, I lead Misha towards the dense crowd of explorers.
A rather strange situation is unfolding.
"Ex, excuse me! I heard there's a high-ranking mage among you! Please cast a dimensional gate spell for me! I'll pay you any amount of money..."
"It's you! You guys summoned the Floor Master!!"
"Wh, what's going to happen to us? They're a large clan, they wouldn't kick us out, would they?"
Those who plead earnestly.
Those who deny reality and seek someone to blame.
And those who try to calmly assess the situation.
Amidst the cacophony of various people's cries, an executive of the Dzarwi Clan speaks up.
"Everyone, please calm down. This place is safe. Our priestess has cast Evil Banishment, and our scout is already keeping watch in all directions."
"Our Dzarwi Clan will do our best to ensure that as many explorers as possible return to the city alive, in accordance with the regulations agreed upon with the royal family and the guild."
"However! If anyone disobeys our control or causes trouble! We have no choice but to expel them, so please understand."
Although it's a bit long-winded, it's a fairly clear announcement.
The warning at the end was particularly effective, as those who were shouting recklessly all disappear.
"At least we don't have to worry about getting kicked out."
"Whew, that's a relief..."
I look around for a moment and then sit down with my back against a tree at a suitable spot.
"...Isn't that too relaxed?"
"There's nothing else we can do."
We should rest as much as possible when we can.
No one knows how the situation will change in the future.
"Hmm, that's true."
Misha seems to agree and sits down next to me.
"Misha, just in case, are you good with your ears?"
"I don't know, but some people have said they like my ears."
What is she talking about?
"I meant, are you good at hearing sounds from afar?"
"Ah, if that's what you mean, I'm quite confident."
"Then listen carefully to their conversation. Don't stare obviously, it'll be noticeable."
"Got it."
Misha closes her eyes as instructed.
And as if concentrating, she keeps twitching the triangular ears on top of her head.
"Hmm, I'm not sure, but it seems like they're arguing."
"About what?"
"I can't hear very well because of the distance. But one thing's for sure, they're talking about the Floor Master."
Well, of course they would be.
What else would the executives be discussing urgently in this situation?
'If we get any closer, they'll notice, so is this the best we can do...?'
"Keep listening for now. If there's anything special, let me know."
"Got it."
Misha stays in eavesdropping mode and observes the surroundings, checking the crowd's reaction.
There are some complaints and anxieties, but…
The general atmosphere is one of relief.
"When we were about to get kicked out, I thought this was such a shitty situation, but the world really is unpredictable."
"That's right. Such a wide-range Evil Banishment... it's because they're such a large clan that they have a priestess like that with them."
"It's like God intervened. The Floor Master appeared on the 3rd floor for the first time in 10 years, and these guys just happened to be down here?"
Regardless of the Dzarwi Clan's wrongdoings in occupying the Orc Encampment, most people are satisfied and grateful for the current situation.
Well, not everyone is like that, but...
"Hey, are there only two of you?"
As I'm observing the surroundings, a man approaches me.
He's probably not here to pick a fight.
"What do you want?"
"It's nothing special, just that we should stick together in times like this, don't you think?"
"Keep it brief."
"There are about thirty of us gathered here. It seems like you lost your companions in this incident too, wouldn't it be good to have someone to rely on, even if it's just for a while?"
Before answering, I confirm one thing.
"I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel. What's your name?"
"Jack Reacher."
Okay, as long as it's not Hans.
"Alright."
Let's just say yes for now.
If something seems wrong, I can just keep my mouth shut.
It's not like I signed any documents or anything.
"As expected of a barbarian, you're straightforward. Then I'll be on my way, so rest up. I'll come find you later if something happens."
"Alright."
As soon as the man leaves, we spend about 2 hours without any trouble.
Thanks to the high-ranking priest's Evil Banishment, the Chaos Spirits can't even approach, and there doesn't seem to be anything that could become a variable.
At least in terms of external factors.
"Misha, wake up."
I shake Misha awake, who has switched from eavesdropping mode to sleep mode.
"Did something happen?"
Not yet.
But if my prediction is correct…
“It will soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look around, there are too many people.”
The Dzarwi Clan has been accepting refugees unconditionally.
And they’ve finally reached their limit.
The area currently under Evil Banishment is only about twice the size of a school playground.
And it’s not even an open space, it’s a forest.
But there are already over 500 people here.
“…Shouldn’t they stop letting people in?”
“If they accept any more, we won’t even be able to sit down.”
“If monsters come in while we’re like this…”
Selfishness always flourishes using the situation as nourishment.
Anxiety spreads among those who entered first, and such arguments start to arise.
“Bjorn, what’s going to happen to us?”
“Well, it depends on the Dzarwi Clan’s decision.”
Whether they continue to accept everyone until the limit…
Or stop accepting people and lock the gates…
The clan will also have to make a choice.
And in fact, not long after, there was a new announcement from a clan executive.
“Due to Evil Banishment, this place serves as the only safe zone on the 3rd floor. It is truly a miraculous event. However…”
To cut to the chase, the gist of it was simple.
“Our priestess wishes for everyone here to show reverence to God.”
Reverence.
For reference, it didn’t mean intangible values like prayer, conversion, or worship.
“1 million stones per person. It must be paid immediately on the spot, and magic stones or goods are also acceptable.”
No one believed it was the priestess’s request.
Well, there might have been an agreement between them, but…
The clan must have been the ones who proposed it first.
‘They started off pretending to be honorable, mentioning the royal family and the guild, but in the end, they chose personal gain.’
Even if they stop accepting refugees, they’ll still be criticized for that choice later.
So they decided they might as well make some money.
Naturally, there was backlash.
“There’s no way we would have that many magic stones, and asking us to hand over our equipment in this situation is basically telling us to die!”
The one who raised his voice the loudest was Jack Reacher.
“Our 100-strong suicide squad will not stand idly by and watch your tyranny!”
With a powerful shout, Jack Reacher looks around. I, who had anticipated this and was already looking elsewhere, manage to avoid eye contact.
But was it the same for the other 100 members of the suicide squad?
“Uh, uh… Everyone, please say something. If we just stay silent, we can’t resist their tyranny…!”
Jack Reacher stammers, flustered.
And that’s the end of the short protest.
“1 million stones is reverence for God and a protection fee. You might lose a few pieces of equipment for now, but what’s there to worry about when we’re here?”
Of course there’s something to worry about, you bastard.
Evil Banishment is an OP skill, but it’s like a piece of paper to the Floor Master.
Of course, it’s just a complaint I keep to myself.
I’m a barbarian who knows how to compromise with reality.
“Misha, leave the consumables like potions and just take out anything we don’t need.”
“Got it.”
Just like the other explorers, we hurriedly rummage through our backpacks and sort out anything that can be turned into cash.
Since we looted equipment from the marauders earlier, we don’t have to take off what we’re wearing.
‘Phew, 1 million stones just to rest on the dirt floor…’
It’s a huge waste, but it’s worth paying as a fee for using Evil Banishment.
And besides, didn’t he just say it himself?
That it also includes a protection fee.
“If those guys don’t try to rip us off, this should be enough.”
We finish preparing our offerings, having gathered a few pieces of equipment from the religious fanatics’ party.
However, not everyone is as well-off as us.
Although they’ll probably be able to get 1 million stones if they hand over the equipment they’re wearing…
“Without this, you’re telling me to starve to death next time?”
“To ask for 1 million stones just to survive for a day, it’s ridiculous.”
Quite a few people refuse to pay the protection fee and choose to leave voluntarily.
The clan doesn’t stop them.
And they continue to collect protection fees from newcomers.
At least from over three hundred people.
‘They earned at least 300 million stones. In just one day…’
It’s practically like printing money.
Damn it, is power truly invincible and divine?
I don’t know, but in the end, even these guys have to pray to the heavens.
If the Floor Master arrives here…
At that moment, the market will crash.
‘In the first place, if it weren’t for that possibility, they wouldn’t have even collected the protection fees.’
I keep feeling that the people here lack imagination.
Of course, they must have had their reasons for making this choice.
They probably thought that the 3rd floor is vast, so the chances of not encountering the Floor Master are higher than encountering it.
Since it’s Day 15, even if we encounter it, we just need to hold out for one day, they probably thought.
That this much manpower is enough to do that.
Yes, that’s what they must have thought.
As positively as possible.
In a way that’s most beneficial to them.
But they need to understand.
No one knew that the Floor Master would be summoned, and that all the explorers on the floor would have to stop hunting and face this situation.
‘Well, the same goes for me.’
However, at least I imagine the worst-case scenario that could happen to me.
Of course, these imaginations don’t come true more often than they do…
But what about this time?
‘We’ll see.’
I quietly close my eyes.
And after some time, like the calm before the storm…
[19:07]
5 hours left until Day 15 ends.
Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter-
Black raindrops fall from the ceiling between the trees, staining the ground black.
「The location is eroded, and [Evil Banishment] is deactivated.」
The pure white pattern that covered the ground instantly loses its light.
And also…
[Grooooowl—!!]
A giant beast roars from outside the forest.