Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 136, 137, 138

  

C136, 137, 138

Chapter 136: Orculus (2)

Emotions are contagious.

If you see someone close to you crying, you feel sad, and if they're laughing, you feel happy.

The same goes for fear.

You might think, 'Eh, there's no way that would happen', but if you see someone next to you constantly anxious, you can't help but feel a sense of unease.

That's how humans are wired.

"You're making me feel like something bad is really going to happen."

"St, still, it wouldn't hurt to be careful..."

My companions start to realize the gravity of the situation as they see my serious expression.

It's a situation I can't help but welcome.

Of course, Rotmiller's words were the decisive factor.

"I still can't logically understand it. But somehow, I have a feeling that something very ominous will happen if we don't follow your lead."

Rotmiller, who absorbed the Mimic's essence, has the 'Sixth Sense' stat. And our Team Misfits has received a lot of help from that stat.

But for him to suddenly say something like this?

The weight of his words is different.

"Bjo, Bjorn, let's just move. Okay?"

"Ha, haha! Right! That would be better! We just have to endure for one more day!"

It's a bit absurd.

They were saying it was just my imagination, but they're completely convinced by Rotmiller's single sentence.

'Well, even I'm getting more anxious because of what this man said...'

Sixth Sense is just a feeling.

But our stats have increased significantly due to the intruder's arrival.

'Phew, I really need to prepare myself mentally.'

It feels like the veil of unease has been lifted, revealing its true form. Even while assuming the worst, I was hoping that it would all turn out to be just my imagination, but...

As expected, that's not going to happen.

Thump!

My heart clenches even tighter.

But nothing changes.

I just do what I can right now.

"Let's move again."

We end our brief rest and resume our journey.

Even though we've increased our speed compared to before, my companions all follow without a word of complaint.

That's when, as we're running through the labyrinth in heavy silence...

"Now that I think about it, maybe you're similar to me, Bjorn."

Rotmiller suddenly speaks to me.

"Similar? What do you mean?"

"I acquired this ability through an essence, but maybe you're naturally intuitive."

Uh, I've never thought about that before.

It's not entirely impossible.

In [Dungeon and Stone], when you choose a character, their base stats are randomly set within a certain range.

'The base value for Sixth Sense was 0 to 50, I think?'

Considering that the Sixth Sense stat from the Mimic's essence is only 50, it's a stat with a very high maximum base value.

Since it's not a main stat like Strength, I never bothered creating a new character just to increase Sixth Sense, but...

"I've always thought this, but you've always had a sharp side to you."

"That's right! You even took care of that Elisa bitch. Everyone was flustered because she was a priestess."

Hmm, is that so?

Hearing them say this, I'm starting to think that it might be true.

Like I said before, that's how humans are.

There's a possibility that Bjorn's Sixth Sense stat was naturally high.

But that's not what I should be worried about right now.

"Enough, just follow me closely."

I decide to think about it later and focus on clearing the path.

Everything has a priority.

Therefore…

Thwack-!

…I swing my mace.

Whoosh!

…Ice Spears are shot.

Slash!

We continue to move forward, defeating Vykuntus with their necks severed.

[05:13]

Day 21 has already begun, and this much time has passed.

It means we've been running almost nonstop for 12 hours after defeating Baphomet.

"Phew, phew, phew..."

The breath coming out of my nose and mouth is hot.

And it's probably the same for them.

I check my companions' faces one last time.

They all look tired and exhausted.

Well, it's only natural since they haven't slept properly for two days, even though their stats have increased.

But the end is in sight.

"If we turn this way, we're there!"

After running through a long, straight passage, we reach our destination.

It's a huge stone chamber, not a cramped maze-like passage.

Clank!

As soon as we enter, iron bars come down on the three entrances to the chamber.

"Eek! We're trapped!"

"Everyone, get a grip! We don't know what's going to appear!"

Although they're flustered by the unexpected situation, everyone gets into formation and prepares for battle.

And their gazes naturally turn to one place.

Because that's the only place where something could appear.

“…A 4th-grade monster won’t suddenly appear, right?”

An intimidating stone door is located on one side of the chamber.

「The master of the labyrinth senses challengers.」

The geometric patterns engraved on it start to glow, and the door begins to open.

And…

Rumble, rumble.

…a giant, about 4 meters tall.

A massive body to match its height.

Menacing horns protruding from its head.

Short brown fur that reveals the contours of its blood vessels and muscles, and hooves on its legs that support its thick thighs.

Thud!

A monster appears through the fully opened stone door, letting out a characteristic roar.

[MooOOOOOOO—!!]

The final boss of Larkaze's Labyrinth.

“Minotaur! It’s a Minotaur!”

It’s a monster that’s famous enough for Misha to recognize at a glance.

A level 5 monster, the Minotaur.
______________________

Although it’s not a level 4 monster like Misha was worried about…

‘If I had to be precise, it’s probably around level 4.5.’

This guy is different from regular Minotaurs.

It’s a named monster with the unique name Larkaze.

In other words, it’s a higher variant that possesses other monsters’ skills.

Thud!

Everyone notices it as soon as the bastard takes its first step towards us.

How could they not?

It’s clearly not a skill that a Minotaur would use.

[Moo!]

The moment it lets out a short shout and raises its arm…

「Larkaze, the master of the labyrinth, has cast [Burning Hide].」

…a giant flame engulfs its body.

Whoosh!

A scorching heat that can be felt even from 30 meters away.

Everyone is speechless.

“Uh, did it know how to use fire?”

“Th, there’s no way. There was nothing about that in the books.”

“Then it must be a higher variant. Like the Baphomet we encountered in that hidden room.”

Dwarkey, with a look of realization, quickly shares information.

“Ifrit! It must be the Ifrit’s ability!”

He’s right.

It seems like he’s been diligently reading books about the labyrinth for months, as he’s finally showing his mage-like side.

Well, there’s no time to praise him.

[MooOOOOOOO—!!]

The bastard, who was observing us with an expression that seemed to say, ‘what the hell are these guys?’, charges towards us.

With heavy footsteps.

Thud! Thud!

The sight of the 4-meter-tall monster approaching with its entire body on fire is beyond grotesque.

However, it’s still nothing compared to Riakis.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

I even let out a battle cry and dash forward.

Tadat.

The distance closes quickly.

As soon as I enter his attack range, a giant double-edged axe swings down from above.

Kwaaang!

Hmm, this is it, huh.

I grin as I feel the weight through my shield.

It seems like there’s no need to use [Gigantification].

As expected, [Burning Hide] is also manageable.

Whoosh!

Although the crimson flames are flickering right in front of me, there’s no significant damage.

It just feels a bit hot.

It’s all thanks to the Fire Resistance from the 3rd stage of the Undying Engraving.

Of course, it would be different if it continued.

「Character has taken fire damage.」

「Damage increases over time.」

Fire damage becomes stronger the more it stacks.

It’s a similar principle to how meat will eventually cook if you leave it in hot water for a few days.

However, the solution is simple.

「Liol Wobu Dwarkey has cast the 8th-grade imbuement spell [Cold Blood].」

「Character’s Fire Resistance is greatly increased.」

Dwarkey’s mana flows into my body, and my heated body cools down.

I’m a bit surprised.

‘I can’t believe he cast the spell before I even gave the order.’

As expected, do people learn through experience?

It feels like just yesterday he was struggling to even land a single ‘Ice Spear’.

“I’ll help too!”

“Oh, it’s not hot at all now!”

After a brief moment of hesitation at the sight of the blazing flames, the dwarf and Misha, who have received the buff, join the front lines.

And…

「Hikurod Murad has cast [Lightning].」

「Misha Kaltstein has cast [Poison Infliction].」

…they easily toy with the bastard, who is supposed to be the final boss, by electrocuting him, stabbing his thick hide with their swords and inflicting poison, and so on.

[MooOOOOOOO—!!]

Of course, he also rampages, swinging his fists, legs, and axe.

And he also uses his unique skills without hesitation.

But nothing changes.

He’s still too slow to catch Misha, and he doesn’t have enough strength to overpower the dwarf and me.

And in the meantime, magical support continues.

「Liol Wobu Dwarkey has cast the 8th-grade curse spell [Deterioration].」

「Liol Wobu Dwarkey has cast the 9th-grade curse spell [Slow].」

「Liol Wobu Dwarkey has cast the 7th-grade curse spell [Softening]…….」

Dwarkey’s magical support, which would have normally knocked him out just from casting ‘Cold Blood’ due to his lack of mana…

Rotmiller is guarding Dwarkey’s side just in case, but…

…that situation doesn’t arise.

He can’t even break through one tank, how could he possibly reach that far?

Kwaaang!

It doesn’t take long.

Misha severs the bastard’s Achilles tendon, and his massive body collapses to the ground. And the battle ends as she plunges her sword deep into his brain.

「Killed Minotaur. EXP +5」

The bastard’s body turns into particles of light and scatters.

I first check the time.

[05:21]

Less than 10 minutes have passed since I last checked.

I feel a strange sense of disappointment at that fact.

‘It would be great if they were always like this outside too.’

If there were an ultimate form of Team Misfits, it would probably look like this.

A stable 2-tank composition.

A melee damage dealer who moves aggressively and consistently deals damage based on that stability.

A mage with high AoE and single-target damage, and even support capabilities.

And a scout who’s not a burden in battle.

‘…What am I thinking?’

Such unnecessary sentimentality is unlike me.

Especially when the real problem hasn’t been resolved.

I shake my head as if to clear my thoughts.

And I think.

What do I need to do right now to save time?

‘Quickly take what we need and leave.’

Just as I’m reaffirming my goal…

Swaaa!

…the scattering light particles completely disappear, and everyone lets out a sigh of disappointment.

“Ah…”

“It didn’t drop again.”

The Minotaur didn’t drop an essence.

Well, it’s not a rift boss, even though it’s a higher variant, so this is actually more realistic.

Tsk.

If a yellow essence had dropped, it would have been quite useful until the later stages of the game.

‘…But the real reward is something else.’

I push aside my regret and check the surroundings.

Clank!

As if to signal the end of the boss battle, the iron bars on the passage rise back up.

“The portal? Why didn’t the portal open?”

“Could it be… that it’s different from a rift?”

“Uh, maybe there’s another monster besides the Minotaur.”

While the three of them are making various guesses, unable to hide their confusion…

…Rotmiller speaks first.

“I have a feeling there’s something inside. How about we check it out?”

As expected of this man, he’s a scout to the core.

“Ah, right! There was that place, wasn’t there?”

“Let’s go. Maybe the portal is open there.”

We then enter the room where the Minotaur appeared. Of course, there’s no way the portal that opened at the starting point would be here…

But even if we’re in a hurry, we have to take this.

It’s an item that you can’t even buy with money.

“It… looks very suspicious.”

It’s a cave located inside the room.

Just like the mid-boss room, there’s a summoning magic circle drawn on the floor.

“I can sense a powerful magic emanating from this object.”

“Then we should take it with us.”

As soon as Dwarkey finishes speaking, I put the jewel embedded in the center of the magic circle into my backpack.

And I turn around and head outside without hesitation.

I dismiss Dwarkey’s suggestion to investigate further as ominous.

Because this is the only reward here.

“Phew, this is troublesome. I can’t believe there’s no portal here either.”

“I know, right?”

“Rotmiller, I think there was a blue dot marked in the center of that map, is there a chance that the portal opened there?”

“Actually, I was thinking that might be the case. I have a strong feeling about it.”

Is this what a Sixth Sense-type scout is like?

Just as I’m having that thought, leaving the cave where the Minotaur was trapped…

“See, I told you.”

The final boss room is generated at a random location within the labyrinth.

And we rushed here as soon as we obtained the map and defeated the final boss in less than 10 minutes.

But…

‘It doesn’t matter how they found this place so quickly.’

It’s already happened.

There’s no way they found it by chance, they must have some kind of ability.

‘Even though the ‘Guide’ characteristic is useless here, essences, items, and other abilities still work.’

But I’ll leave the question of what that ability is for later.

“Hey, barbarian. Shouldn’t you be thanking me? You were able to defeat him easily thanks to me.”

A man whose face and even the slightly exposed part of his wrist are covered in burns.

One person.

“I beg of you. Please take what you want and let them go.”

An old man in black priestly robes pleading to the man.

Two people.

“…….”

And a middle-aged man who’s following them blankly, both of his arms severed.

A total of three people.

‘Damn it.’

I discard all the plans I made in case we encountered them.

From Plan A to Plan D.

“Hey, why isn’t anyone saying anything?”

My instincts, honed from encountering countless bastards, are telling me…

…that those plans won’t work on this guy.

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

Chapter 137: Orculus (3)

I feel a chill run down my spine.

“Hey, why isn’t anyone saying anything?”

At that single sentence.

Even though we haven’t even properly clashed yet…

…a sense of urgency echoes in my ears.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

My warrior’s heart, sensing a natural enemy, pumps relentlessly, sending oxygen throughout my body.

It’s already preparing.

For the worst-case scenario that could happen.

Swoosh.

I move only my gaze to check on my companions amidst the suffocating silence.

They’re all frozen in place, mid-stride.

They must be feeling it too, right?

The ominous aura that he’s emanating.

“Hello?”

He frowns and speaks again.

Thanks to that, my mind calms down a bit.

Golden time.

It’s not the time to waste precious seconds that will become even more valuable from now on.

Therefore…

“Are you all really just going to stand there?”

I open my ears and stare at him with my eyes.

And in that state, I quickly combine the information I might have missed.

[Hey, barbarian. Shouldn’t you be thanking me? You were able to defeat him easily thanks to me.]

He knew about this space.

So as soon as he sensed our presence, he rushed towards the boss room.

But…

‘Even so, he’s too fast.’

To arrive almost at the same time as us, who obtained the map?

It’s impossible unless he found the way without getting lost.

How is this possible?

Or to be precise…

‘What skill is it?’

I need to find that out.

My plan will change depending on it.

Thinking back, there’s an answer in our previous conversation.

[If I hadn’t sacrificed one more arm, we might have missed you.]

He sacrificed an arm.

Whose arm is obvious. It must be the poor man behind him.

‘…A priest of Karui.’

There’s a priest of Karui among them.

It’s a blessing in disguise.

If he had just found his way using the scout’s ability, it would be hopeless…

[I beg of you. Please take what you want and let them go.]

…and the old man, who seems to be a priest of the evil god, doesn’t seem to be in a cooperative relationship with that man either.

‘Could it be that he kidnapped a priest and forcefully converted him? And that man who sacrificed his arm is in a similar situation?’

I have about three breaths’ worth of time.

After calmly analyzing the situation, I open my mouth.

Because there’s no time now.

“Well, whatever. Just give me everyth—”

“I never expected to meet explorers in a place like this.”

“So you’re not mute?”

He looks at me with an amused expression as I break the silence.

Okay, I’ve bought some time.

“Do you happen to know how to get out of here?”

I ask about something I already know, pretending to be clueless.

The more I seem like a pushover, the more he’ll let his guard down—

“You… what are you?”

A cold voice suddenly rings out.

What? What did I do wrong?

“Not even green, but yellow? Because of these pathetic bastards?”

His gaze is filled with wariness rather than interest or curiosity.

My eyes involuntarily move towards the ring on his finger.

It’s similar to a Numbered Item I know.

It’s the one I call the Traffic Light Ring, with green, red, and yellow jewels embedded in it.

No. 6111 Fate Tracker.

Green means a positive event is nearby.

Red means a negative event is nearby.

And yellow means a mixed event is nearby.

The yellow light on that item is shining brightly.

‘Damn it.’

Is this what they mean by mixed feelings?

The fact that the yellow light came on means that there was a chance for me to exploit his arrogance.

That’s good news for me.

The bad news is that he also knows it.

‘I’m screwed.’

My only advantage as a weakling, to exploit the strong when they’re careless…

…has disappeared.

Because of that damn ring.

“You seem to know what this is.”

To make matters worse, he even notices my brief reaction and reveals his true colors openly.

Swoosh!

A blue blade is drawn from his waist.

The former aspiring blacksmith’s mouth reacts first to the dazzling light.

“Th, that’s a sword made of Akro…”

Akro.

It’s a 6th-tier metal, practically the final stage in this world, that can easily cut through most Numbered Items.

That’s why I was hoping that there would be more enemies.

The higher the level of the explorer, the greater the difference in not just the grade and number of essences, but also in equipment.

‘At least 9th floor.’

However, I don’t avoid reality and accept the cruel truth as it is.

It’s not a clan with dozens of members.

Assuming his skills match his equipment, he’s a strong individual who can easily operate on the 9th floor with a 5-man team.

He must have at least eight essences.

And all of them 5th-grade or higher.

“Barbarian.”

At this point, stats or whatever are meaningless.

“Hand over the item you obtained inside.”

He’s at a level where he can easily wipe out all five of us without the help of a priest.

“If you don’t want to die.”

But I’ve made a judgment.

What I need to do to survive.

Therefore…

“Ah, are you talking about this?”

I take out the jewel I obtained from the boss room and hold it in my hand.

It was originally Plan D.

To give him everything he wants and beg for my life.

“You had it after all. Now, hand it over. Then I’ll let you live.”

“…….”

I stare at him silently.

As the silence drags on, my companions start speaking up one by one.

“…We’re fine. Just give it to him. We don’t even know what it’s for anyway.”

“I agree. It’s better to avoid fighting if possible.”

They’re not even worth listening to.

This jewel is the only reason we’re still alive. To make a deal with a lunatic who kidnapped a priest and converted him?

Say something that makes sense.

“My stomach…”

All eyes turn to me as I cautiously speak.

He’s also watching me silently.

I see a wicked smile on his lips.

An arrogant smile as if he already knows what choice I’ll make.

Therefore, I also grin.

“Oh, no! My stomach hurts!!”

“……What?”

The moment he’s flustered by my sudden shout…

…I shove the jewel into my mouth without hesitation.

And…

Gulp!

…I force myself to swallow it.

My esophagus stings as I force down a jewel the size of a tangerine, but whatever.

It’ll heal in a few seconds.

“Burp-”

I burp as I hold back the urge to vomit.

Only then does everyone come to their senses.

“What the hell did you just do?”

He asks with eyes gleaming with killing intent.

“I just felt like it!”

I answer.

A brief silence follows.

“…….”

“…….”

He looks at me as if I’m a complete idiot.

Hmm, my teammates aren’t much different, are they?

Anyway, it doesn’t matter.

To silently do what needs to be done, regardless of what others think…

…that’s the barbarian way.

“Barbarian, don’t think you’ll die easily.”

He pushes off the ground and lunges at me.

It’s a speed that’s hard to believe even with equal stats.

Swoosh!

As expected of an expensive item, his sword pierces my shield without any resistance.

His thoughts are obvious.

He’s planning to kill me, cut open my stomach, and take the jewel.

But…

‘So what? What’s he going to do about it?’

I punch my stomach with my fist the size of a watermelon.

Thwack! Thwack!

His eyes flinch every time I swing my hand.

I can see the fear on his face, worried that the item in my stomach might crack.

“Ah, my stomach is just feeling a bit bloated.”

“…You’re insane.”

It’s a welcome sound.

No one walks on fallen leaves in autumn to avoid stepping on them.

But what about filth?

You might accidentally step on it, but no one would intentionally do so.

Therefore…

Thwack!

…I stop punching my stomach.

The key to Plan E is to push the boundaries without actually crossing them.

It seems like the warning has been delivered sufficiently.

“What do you want?”

He tries to initiate a conversation.

He’s even sheathed his sword, as if he doesn’t want to provoke me.

‘Right, this item is that important to you.’

Although I want to tease him and mess with him…

…I move towards the opposite passage with my companions and get to the point.

“One day. Just give me one day.”

“You’re not asking for your life?”

He looks at me as if I’m strange.

It’s understandable.

Everyone who was in a similar situation must have begged him for their lives.

But…

“I don’t beg for my life like that.”

To be precise, I don’t do meaningless things.

“Just give me one day.”

A one-day reprieve.

I judged that this is the maximum he would allow.

“Then I won’t resort to these cowardly tactics.”

“How can I trust you?”

He asks briefly at my final offer, and I take out the card I prepared without a moment’s hesitation.

“I swear on my honor as a warrior. We haven’t slept properly for days and are exhausted. But if you just wait one day, I’ll fight you fair and square.”

As if that’s what I wanted to do from the beginning.

As if I didn’t want to resort to these cowardly tactics. He looks uncertain, but then asks quietly,

“Do you really think you can win?”

I chuckle.

Can I win?

Well, I still think the chances are slim.

But so what?

“Is that a reason to give up?”

I speak my mind without any acting.

He stares intently at my face.

And after a moment of silence, he finally answers,

“Twelve hours.”

His voice is firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

“I’ll give you twelve hours.”

It’s his bottom line.

“Just so you know, don’t think the same trick will work then.”

His eyes and expression clearly show that he won’t let us go, even if it means giving up the item.

Therefore, I let out the breath I’ve been holding back.

[05:40]

I obtained the thing I needed most…

…time.
___________________

We’re running through the labyrinth.

The formation is a bit different from usual.

Rotmiller and the dwarf are at the front, and I’m following them from the rear.

The reason is simple.

“It doesn’t seem like he’s following us.”

Although Rotmiller said that…

…who knows how long he’ll keep his promise?

I have to protect my own back.

“So what are we going to do now?”

Rotmiller asks as he leads the way.

No, it’s not just him.

“Bjorn… are you really going to fight?”

“It do, doesn’t seem like a good choice. You saw it too, didn’t you? How your shield was sliced through like mud.”

The pent-up questions and concerns are directed towards me.

They initially entrusted everything to me, but they’re starting to worry belatedly.

But democracy is over for today.

There’s no time to gather everyone’s opinions and persuade them.

“Hikurod, Misha, Rotmiller, Dwarkey.”

I call out their names.

And I ask,

“I might say or do things you don’t understand in the future. But can you trust me and follow me one last time?”

“Of course.”

The other three, except for Misha, don’t answer immediately.

But I wait silently, trusting in the image I’ve shown them over the past few months.

The dwarf is the first to speak.

“If it weren’t for you in the Crimson Fortress, I would be dead. I trust your judgment.”

The second is Dwarkey.

“I, I’m the same. Bjorn, I’ll trust in your hero’s destiny.”

Hero’s destiny.

It’s the speculation that was added as seasoning when my title, Little Balkan, spread throughout the city, and it’s also what the shaman told me.

It’s a bit strange coming from him, considering that he’s not just some random person…

Well, it’s a good thing in this situation.

“I could only tremble in fear when I encountered him. I couldn’t do anything.”

The last one is Rotmiller.

“I’ll trust and follow you no matter what you say.”

I can feel his deep trust in his brief words.

However, before I can even dwell on it, Rotmiller continues,

“But I have something to tell you, regardless of that.”

“What is it?”

“If my guess is correct, he’s a very dangerous person.”

“Do you have information?”

I ask back, my eyes widening, and Rotmiller answers,

“A long time ago, I heard about an explorer who used a sword made of Akro. According to rumors, he was cursed by a dragon and his entire body is covered in burns.”

No, so who is he?

Unlike me, who’s only more confused, it seems like the three of them already have a guess.

“Dragon’s curse? Don’t tell me…”

“Dragonslayer! Rotmiller, are you talking about the Dragonslayer?”

“Th, th, then that means he’s a member of Orculus…?”

I frown as I listen to their urgent cries.

I still don’t know who this Dragonslayer bastard is.

But…

‘Orculus.’

It’s an ancient word in this world that means ‘Witch’s Eye’.

I’ve already learned about the group that uses this name from books.

‘A gathering of lunatics who openly claim that their goal is to kill the King.’

However, they can’t just be dismissed as lunatics.

The fact that they’ve been around for decades despite doing such crazy things…

…proves the strength of each individual member.

They say that only seven of them have been killed so far, despite the huge bounty offered by the royal family?

‘I’ve gotten involved with someone much more troublesome than I thought.’

As I click my tongue in dismay, one thought becomes clearer.

Running away is not the best solution.

There’s a famous saying, isn’t there?

“So, what should we do?”

I take the map from Rotmiller and designate our destination.

“We’re going here.”

There’s no paradise where you run away to.

At least not this time.

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

Chapter 138: Awakening (1)

Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.

A Dragonkin who killed his clan's ancestral dragon and was cursed by a dragon.

He disappeared after the incident, but about 10 years ago, he reappeared by single-handedly terrorizing the Fairy sanctuary and began operating as a member of Orculus.

His main weapon is an Akro longsword nicknamed Dragonslayer, and he's said to have six confirmed essences so far...

'Three 5th-grade, two 4th-grade, and one 3rd-grade.'

Judging by the known essences alone, he's a typical stat-heavy swordsman.

It's a class with no real weaknesses as long as the equipment is good, since all his skills are self-buffing.

Well, it's 10 years old information, so it might have changed...

...but that's unlikely.

How could a criminal remove essences?

'That's why he came all the way here for this item.'

For reference, the Dragon Speech, the unique skill possessed by Dragonkin, is said to be sealed due to the 'Dragon's Curse'.

That's good news.

Honestly, I was scared shitless when I found out he was a Dragonkin.

"That's all I know."

"I see, thanks. It was a big help."

I calmly organize my thoughts after learning about the enemy through Rotmiller.

Ah, of course, while running towards our destination.

Tadatadat-!

First of all, Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.

He's an unexpected big shot.

If it weren't for the 'Guardian of Balance', we would have been beheaded before we even realized what the jewel was.

Tadatadat-!

I check the time, feeling a strange chill.

[08:57]

It's been about three hours since we encountered him.

In other words, the hide-and-seek game will begin in 9 hours.

Of course, that's assuming he keeps his promise.

'Twelve hours...'

It's a bit disappointing.

My confident attitude along with the warrior's oath.

He agreed to the deal because of that, thinking there might be a chance, or maybe just because he had nothing to lose.

But...

'If it weren't for that damn ring, he might have waited for a day.'

24 hours and 12 hours are vastly different.

It's enough time to prepare everything and even get some rest.

'Phew, nothing ever goes smoothly.'

I sigh, but I gather my resolve.

Goblin traps, the psychopath bitch, Crimson Fortress, Witch's Forest, Floor Master, and so on.

I clear my mind by recalling the despairing past...

...and engrave one goal in my mind.

Survival.

If possible, all of us together.

Without fail.

"Bjorn, we're here."

Just as that thought crosses my mind, Rotmiller stops walking.

There's a dead end in front of us.

It's the corner at the 11 o'clock direction, the closest to where the boss room was.

In other words, it's the location of the second mid-boss.

Click, rumble.

Rotmiller operates a mechanism, and the wall slides open, revealing a hidden space.

Whoosh.

Torches light up as we step inside, illuminating the stone chamber.

The only difference from the 7 o'clock corner where 'Baphomet' appeared is...

"Ugh, I think that place was better."

...a mountain of corpses with their eyes gouged out, instead of a goat's head.

I ignore the stench and drop a drop of blood onto the magic circle.

「The demon of the labyrinth senses blood.」

Okay, one down.
_____________________

「Killed Argos. EXP +5」

「Higher Variant Kill Bonus. EXP +1」
_____________________

In Larkaze's Labyrinth, there are many hidden spaces besides the mid-boss rooms.

The rewards vary.

There might be one-time consumables, or rare monsters might appear.

Well, I need something else.

‘Another dud, huh.’

We focus on searching the surroundings and finding hidden rooms after defeating ‘Argos’.

We don’t have enough time to go after another mid-boss…

…and I need to find ‘that room’ for my plan.

‘Phew, we’re finding them quite well, though.’

Since we’re actively looking for hidden rooms with Rotmiller in the lead, we find one about every two hours.

It’s thanks to the increased Sixth Sense stat from the Dragonslayer’s party entering the labyrinth. Rotmiller is able to find things that we would have missed before.

The problem is that the room I want hasn’t appeared yet.

[05:30]

That’s when, as time passes and it’s almost the end of the 12 hours we promised him…

“Wait, stop for a moment. I have a strange feeling.”

Rotmiller stops the party and searches the surrounding walls, finding a hidden room.

Swoosh.

It’s a small stone chamber, about 3 or 4 square meters in size, with no monsters or hidden treasures.

I close the door after checking the interior.

‘Found it.’

I’ve finally gathered all the materials for the first step of my plan.

Therefore, I stop the party and have them rest.

“Everyone, rest for a while. I’ll keep watch.”

“Rest? What is this room…”

“I’ll explain everything when we get out alive. So just follow my lead for now.”

“…Alright.”

The dwarf dismisses his questions at my firm voice.

No, it’s more accurate to say that he’s decided to trust me and not ask for now.

“Phew…”

As soon as my exhausted companions fall asleep, I let out a long sigh.

Leaving aside the others…

…just thinking about making excuses to Rotmiller gives me a headache.

From dropping blood on the magic circle to summon the mid-boss to this very moment… there are too many parts that he wouldn’t be able to accept as something I learned from books.

‘Anyway, let’s think about that later…’

I take another deep breath and dismiss my worries about the future.

I’ll figure out the excuses somehow.

Yeah, as long as we can get out alive.

I focus on this moment and organize my thoughts one last time.

[You said there might be a portal in the center? Aren’t we going there?]

The reason we’re not heading towards the portal is simple.

Because that bastard will be there for 12 hours.

If he thinks we’re trying to run away, the 12 hours we earned will be wasted.

I judged that it’s better to use that time to prepare.

But…

‘He must have also started looking for us by now.’

The 12 hours we promised have ended.

Fortunately, the first stage of preparations is complete, and thanks to that, we were able to get some rest before he arrives.

However, the situation is still grim.

‘The success rate is less than 10%.’

That’s the probability I coldly calculated.

After all, only six of the essences he possesses are known. Two or three unknown essences remain as variables, and the biggest obstacle, the High Priest of Karui, is still there.

Therefore…

Clench.

…I take out the brilliant red jewel and hold it in my hand.

Although I swallowed it to use it as a hostage, it’s the item I threw up using [Gigantification] as soon as its safety was confirmed.

It’s the final reward of Larkaze’s Labyrinth, the item that the worst criminal with the title of Dragonslayer desperately sought after.

‘Tempered Wish.’

If possible, I didn’t want to use it now.

This item is most effective when used with a 4th-grade guardian essence.

But it’s an item that will be useless if I die.

‘I guess there’s no choice but to use it.’

I make a decision.

Even I don’t know how the situation will unfold.

And I can’t use this item later.

“…….”

This moment of calm before the storm…

…will soon come to an end.

It’s better to be prepared.

Because I won’t have time to do it when the time comes.

‘It’s a bit of a waste…’

I put strength into my hand.

Crack!

The jewel shatters, emitting a brilliant red light.

And when I come to my senses…

「Character has used ‘Tempered Wish’.」

「Character is being transported to the Chamber of Balance.」

…I’m standing in an unfamiliar space.
_____________________

Whoosh!

A flame appears, illuminating the space.

I take a step forward and look around.

Thud.

It’s a stone chamber reminiscent of the Tower of Heaven.

A bluish flame is flickering in the air, illuminating the three stone doors at the edges.

‘This is interesting.’

So this is what it’s like in real life.

In the game, you just choose what to pick using the keyboard.

「Choose the essence you want to replace.」

I carefully examine the murals painted on each stone door. Although they’re not colored, it’s not difficult to recognize them.

Thud.

A horrifying monster made of rotten arms and legs, moving together.

‘This must be the Corpse Golem.’

Something in the shape of a human with sharp fangs and claws, its red eyes depicted with a red jewel.

‘This is the Vampire.’

A muscular warrior shouting with a giant banner in the background.

‘This must be the Orc Hero.’

Each door represents the three essences I’ve absorbed so far. Although there are no instructions, what I need to do is clear.

I just have to open the door I want, and the corresponding essence will be replaced.

That’s what ‘Tempered Wish’ is.

It’s a gacha-type item that allows you to exchange an essence below 4th grade for a random essence of the same grade.

Thud.

I walk towards one of the doors without hesitation.

Because I’ve already decided what to choose.

‘Orc Hero.’

Of course, not this one.

Although it’s 5th-grade, it’s a core essence in my final build.

‘Corpse Golem.’

Pain Resistance was unexpectedly useful, but honestly, it doesn’t help me much in terms of ability.

So I was saving it to remove later when all my essence slots were filled.

But I’ll pass on this one too.

Why would I waste ‘Tempered Wish’ on a 7th-grade essence?

‘Vampire.’

I stand in front of the stone door with the monster’s figure painted on it and reach out.

It’s a rare essence with all three skills because it was obtained from a rift guardian, and it has a skill set and stats that suit a tank.

‘Tempered Wish’ also has a hidden element.

「You have chosen the Vampire’s essence.」

「It is a guardian’s essence.」

「The grade of selectable essences has increased.」

When you offer a guardian’s essence as a sacrifice, the grade of essences you can choose from increases.

In short, if you offer a 4th-grade guardian’s essence, you can obtain a 3rd-grade essence.

‘That guy must have done this. Seeing how he came all the way here for this item.’

I also did this when I played the game.

When I absorbed a guardian’s essence that was high-grade but didn’t suit my character, I went to Larkaze’s Labyrinth and tried my luck with the gacha.

But to think I would use this item on a 5th-grade guardian essence, and one that’s useful to me at that…

“Whew…”

I push aside my lingering thoughts and walk through the open door.

The straight passage ends before I can even take a few steps, and three more stone doors appear as the flame flickers.

Whoosh!

As befitting an item with ‘balance’ as its concept, each of the three doors has a mural of a monster representing Physical, Mental, or Ability type.

Up to this point, it’s no different from usual.

But what is this?

「It’s an essence that no one currently possesses.」

「The Guardian of Balance acknowledges its rarity and presents a new option befitting its value.」

I freeze as I examine the murals.

The first option is this:

A skeletal mage holding a staff in one hand and a box containing a red jewel in the other.

The 4th-grade monster, Lich.

It’s a typical ‘Ability-type’ monster with a passive skill called [Soul Vessel] and several destructive active skills.

There’s no problem with this.

It’s just that the jewel embedded above the door is inexplicable.

‘…Rainbow colored?’

The Corpse Golem’s door had a black jewel, and the Orc Hero’s door had a green jewel. So I thought it represented the color of the essence.

But rainbow colored?

It’s the same color as the jewel on the Vampire’s door, which was a guardian essence.

‘So a real guardian essence appeared?’

I quickly check the other doors.

The 4th-grade monster, Soul Colossus.

It’s an incorporeal monster with no Strength or Agility, but all its stats are focused on Mental.

The color of the jewel also signifies a guardian.

Of course, I could have dismissed it as ‘luck’ up to this point.

Very rarely, guardian essences did appear as options.

But…

‘This can’t be a coincidence.’

My last option.

I acknowledge it after confirming the Physical-type monster.

This isn’t ‘luck’ at all. It’s just that there are still elements in this game that I don’t know about.

Whoosh!

The jewel illuminated by the flickering flame is red.

In other words, it’s not a guardian’s essence.

But what does that matter in this situation?

Thud.

I walk towards the door as if possessed.

I can’t believe it, but the mural on the door represents only one thing.

Thud.

A level 3 monster.

And a boss-level monster that operates alone.

In other words, it’s a monster that requires a raid of 3rd or 4th-grade explorers to defeat.

The monster that boasts the highest physical stats among terrestrial monsters.

‘Ogre.’

I open the door without hesitation.

Hallelujah.


Trial

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

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