Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 403, 404, 405

   

C403, 404, 405

Chapter 403: Ice Rock (4)

After confirming the existence of the traitor,

I started asking around every day.

Of course, I wasn't acting like a detective. I just casually chatted with the members during breaks and at camp.

Otherwise, he might have tried to hide—

"Wait! Explain it so we can understand!"

As the team leaders restrained Pike Neldain, one of the explorers watching the scene interjected.

"Explain...?"

Well, I could do that.

It would help clarify the situation.

"I first suspected Pike Neldain because of Elcopson Liadkei."

"Liadkei...?"

"The summoner on Akuraba's team?"

The summoner flinched, embarrassed by the sudden attention.

"Y-yes? Me?"

"Yes, you mentioned something strange when I asked you a few questions. You said the trolls were getting tired too quickly."

"Ah, yes... I did say that, but..."

He looked at me nervously.

Was he worried about being blamed?

He didn't need to worry.

I wouldn't punish the one who helped me the most with this investigation.

"Anyway! That's where it all started."

It was a turning point.

Before that, I had been focusing on the possibility of a spell or skill causing the ground to collapse.

But his testimony made me think differently.

I started focusing on the trolls themselves.

"I suspected something was wrong with the trolls, so I investigated who had approached them before and after the incidents."

I explained my deduction to the crowd.

"At first, I suspected Akuraba's team members or the mages who were always near the sleds because they had to maintain the 'Preservation' spell."

It was the Barbarian Detective Mode.

"But I found out that there was one other person who had approached the trolls."

I pointed at the bound traitor.

"Pike Neldain."

"...!"

"He approached the trolls under various pretexts, and after the incidents, he mysteriously disappeared—"

"T-that's just circumstantial evidence!"

Pike Neldain protested.

"You're accusing me based on that?"

He wasn't done talking yet.

Jun, the paladin, tried to gag him, but I stopped him with a gesture.

He was digging his own grave, there was no need to stop him.

"Evidence! You don't have any evidence!"

That's right, I didn't have any evidence.

That's why I had to resort to this method.

People only believed what they saw.

Akuraba stepped forward before I could say anything.

"The ability you just used was [Overload]."

"S-so? What about it?"

"Why did you hide that ability?"

"E-everyone has their trump cards!"

"Hmm, and that's your trump card, as a 'warrior'? The 7th-grade [Overload]?"

Her sarcastic tone made him shut his mouth.

[Overload] was a skill that temporarily increased your weight, reducing your movement speed but increasing the damage of ranged attack skills.

It wasn't a suitable skill for a warrior.

So...

"D-don't change the subject! [Overload] only affects the user!"

He was trying to find a loophole.

"Yes, [Overload] only affects the user."

"I've seen someone use it before."

"It was definitely a skill that couldn't be used on others."

"What? Then you've arrested the wrong person!"

The members started to waver, swayed by his logic.

"He's falsely accusing me! Help me! You could be next!"

He shouted, trying to turn the crowd against me.

This was good.

The logic he had used to defend himself was now trapping him.

There was no escape.

It was time to draw my sword.

"Can I borrow your sword?"

I took a sword from a nearby explorer and approached him.

"W-what are you doing...? H-help—"

"Everyone, stay back!"

"Gah—!"

I grabbed his neck and lifted him up for everyone to see.

The explorers flinched and looked at each other.

They seemed to be contemplating whether to intervene.

I spoke before they could reach a consensus.

"What you just saw... is the physical ability of a 5th-grade monster, the Blood Roar! It's called [Blood Spring]!"

Physical ability.

It meant a passive skill in this world.

"...[Blood Spring]?"

"What's that?"

"I read about it in a book. It makes you immune to death by bleeding."

"Wait, Blood Roar... wasn't that one of the monsters that had [Bestow]?"

"Yes, it always travels in packs with other monsters, making that ability even more troublesome."

"Then...!"

They started to understand without me having to explain further.

I threw him to the ground.

Thud.

He didn't even groan, despite the impact.

He was too busy trying to survive.

"W-wait! I-I have the Blood Roar's essence, but that doesn't prove I have [Bestow]!"

He was still clinging to the lack of evidence.

But Akuraba was ready.

"Then use another one of Blood Roar's abilities."

"T-that's..."

"There were four, if I remember correctly. All of them were easily recognizable."

"I-I admit it! I have [Bestow]! But that doesn't mean I'm the traitor!"

"Then why did you deny it at first?"

"I-I was scared...! I was afraid of being accused!"

His last desperate plea.

He looked pathetic, covered in blood and bound by ropes.

But I didn't feel sorry for him.

"Why are you all just watching?! Just because I have that ability doesn't mean I'm the traitor!"

Innocent until proven guilty.

That would have worked in a modern court.

Or even in a city court, where there was at least a semblance of law.

But...

"Pike Neldain, how long are you going to act so naive?"

This was the labyrinth.

And most importantly...

"What are you all waiting for? He's clearly lying."

Explorers weren't stupid.

"It was strange that the ground collapsed twice. It never happened when I came here before."

They finally realized the truth.

"It was all his fault, wasn't it?"

Pike Neldain was the traitor.

And all the hunger and discomfort they had endured were because of him.

Thud, thud.

He crawled towards the other members, trying to escape me.

"W-wait! S-spare me! I'll tell you everything!"

It was time for interrogation.

__________________

Pike Neldain, a 4th-grade explorer.

He had been a member of various teams, from small groups to large clans.

Then why did he betray the expedition force?

Or rather...

"Who's behind you? Noark? The Alminus Trading Company? Or the Explorer's Guild?"

Tell me now, and I'll spare you.

I'll let you keep your head.

"...T-there's no one! I just hate you..."

This idiot still didn't understand the situation.

"Jun."

I called his name, and Jun, the paladin, immediately drove a long awl under his fingernail.

"Aaaaaargh!!"

"It's fascinating to see a body that can't die from blood loss."

"G-guh, g-guh, ugh!"

"Be careful, he might not die from bleeding, but he can still die from organ damage."

"Don't worry, sir. He's not dead yet."

That's not something a paladin would say...

And he was surprisingly skilled at torture.

'Wait, was he an inquisitor in the past?'

It was a valid suspicion.

He had abandoned his secular name, and no one knew his real name...

He was a bit suspicious, wasn't he?

Well, at least his skills were useful right now.

"S-stop...! I'll tell you everything...!"

He finally broke after over an hour of torture.

"Who's behind you?"

"Iriya Adnus..."

"The Guild Master of the Explorer's Guild?"

Damn it...

Why is he suddenly bringing up a big shot like that?

"Are you sure? Tell me the truth."

"I-I'm sure! I didn't meet him personally, but his assistant contacted me and gave me the orders!"

He didn't seem to be lying.

I continued the interrogation, putting the Guild Master issue aside for now.

"What were your orders?"

"..."

"Jun?"

"He told me to sabotage the expedition...!"

"Be specific. What did he tell you to do?"

I asked a series of questions, trying to get a clearer picture of the situation.

To summarize:

The Guild Master knew we were going to Ice Rock and had planned to sabotage the expedition by targeting our supplies.

"I-I swear I didn't intend to hurt anyone! I wouldn't have done it if I knew..."

"What are you talking about? Two members almost fell to their deaths! If our mage hadn't intervened, they would have died!"

"T-that's...! I didn't think they would try so hard to protect the supplies!"

He sounded genuinely regretful.

Damn, I don't think he's lying...

Thwack!

I knocked him out after getting all the information I needed.

I then called the team leaders and shared the information.

"He really was the traitor..."

"The Guild Master is behind this? This is going to be a big problem when we get back..."

"I wish it was Noark."

They had agreed to help me find the traitor, but they must have been hoping I was wrong.

Their expressions were grim.

But they were different from ordinary people.

They accepted reality quickly.

"Let's discuss this. Why would the Guild Master want the expedition to fail?"

"It's probably a political move. If the expedition fails, he can blame the Marquis."

"Maybe the Explorer's Guild wanted to remain neutral in the war between the royal family and Noark."

"I doubt that, but... it's not impossible. Explorers are benefiting the most from this war."

"Jun, what do you think?"

"..."

The discussion didn't lead to any conclusions.

There were many speculations, but we didn't have enough information to confirm anything.

"Um... what are we going to do with Pike Neldain?"

James Kala cautiously asked, and the other team leaders shared their opinions.

"We have to execute him. It will damage morale if we let him live."

Melend Kaislan.

"I disagree. If we take him back to the city, we can use him to pressure the Guild Master."

Titana Akuraba.

"It's Schuitz's decision."

Jun, the paladin.

"..."

They all looked at me.

My decision was already made.

"We execute him."

I wasn't going to drag a rat along on this long journey.

__________________

The execution took place that night, with all the expedition members present.

I chose the most efficient method, beheading.

Hanging would take too much time and effort, and I could feel their bloodlust.

Swish!

It was over in an instant.

Some members, still unsatisfied, spat on the cooling corpse.

Explorers hated traitors more than looters.

"Where are you going...?"

"Patrol."

I left the execution site and walked towards the edge of the camp.

And...

「Character has equipped No. 6111 Fate Tracker.」

I put on the ring.

But...

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

The ring glowed again.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

I sighed as I checked the color.

Well, at least it had changed to yellow.

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

Chapter 404: Dilemma (1)

The yellow light from the Traffic Light Ring meant only one thing.

Something bad was going to happen, but if we overcame it, it would lead to a positive outcome.

'Could there be another traitor?'

That was my first thought.

Pike Neldain hadn't mentioned any accomplices during the interrogation, but there could be another spy from a different faction.

Maybe we would encounter a negative event if we didn't catch him, and a positive one if we did.

'...Or maybe the ring isn't reacting to a traitor.'

I was the leader, responsible for the lives of thirty people, so I had to consider the worst-case scenario... but I couldn't dwell on it.

Nothing was certain yet.

I just had to stay vigilant and observe my surroundings carefully.

「Character has entered a special area.」

「Field Effect - Eye of the Glacier applied.」

The day after the execution, we packed up camp and entered a deep chasm that seemed to lead to the Earth's core.

It was a giant cylindrical field.

We descended a spiral path along the outer wall, like a staircase carved into the ice.

It was the final gateway to the 8th floor, and the difficulty was significant.

The monsters themselves weren't much stronger than the ones we had encountered before...

But the field effects were brutal.

「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」

The vicious curse that resurrected you as an undead upon death, forcing you to attack your former companions.

「Status Effect [Opportunity Denied] applied.」

The 'countdown', also known as the golden time, was removed.

And...

「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」

This was the worst part.

'...Reversed regeneration? What am I supposed to do?'

Any wounds we received wouldn't heal.

They would fester and worsen.

And the faster your natural regeneration, the faster the decay.

It was a tank's graveyard.

'How many shield barbarians have I lost here...'

I didn't even want to think about it.

It must have been hundreds.

Until I finally figured out the solution.

"This place is even creepier than before."

"Erwen, stop chatting and focus on your surroundings. The monsters will be here soon. I told you—"

"To be careful not to get hurt? Hehe, I know."

"..."

The passage was narrow, so the expedition force was divided into teams, following each other like a train.

Ranged attackers were crucial in this area.

Almost 90% of the monsters here could fly.

"Gargoyles...!"

Not the 'Gargoyle Statue', the 8th-grade monster we encountered in the Crimson Fortress, but real gargoyles.

"Death Knights!"

Death Knights riding gargoyles, wielding spears.

[Keeeheeheeheehee!]

Banshee Queens screeching and casting debuffs from the air, along with various spectral undead monsters.

It was a nightmare for melee attackers, but they were all intercepted and turned into light before they could reach us.

「James Kala has cast [Piercing Light].」

「Titana Akuraba has used [No. 1911 Paveler's Broken Pocket Watch].」

「Cooldown for all skills is removed for 5 minutes.」

「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia has cast [Elemental Fusion].」

Archers, ability users, mages...

The expedition force had a lot of ranged attackers, and with four paladins, we had more than enough firepower.

「Niaro Cambel has cast [Healing Wave].」

「Benjamin Orman has cast [Emergency Regeneration]...」

「...」

Divine spells dealt 1.5 times damage to undead.

Not all the monsters were undead, but it wasn't a big deal.

We could still kill them.

「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」

We couldn't heal our allies anyway, so the paladins were basically ranged attackers in this area.

「Gargoyle defeated. EXP +6」

「Ghost Horse defeated. EXP +4」

「White Wyvern defeated. EXP +6」

「Blue Flame Bird defeated...」

「...」

Monsters melted away under the barrage of high-level healing and AoE divine spells.

The melee attackers focused on defense, blocking the monsters that tried to climb the walls.

And...

"Combat over!"

"10-minute break, then we move again!"

We cleared each wave of monsters and quickly descended further into the chasm.

After several hours and countless battles, we finally reached the first checkpoint.

The narrow path ended,

And a wide ledge jutted out from the cliff.

And...

"This is insane. We have to fight them without getting hurt?"

Hundreds of monsters were swarming the ledge.

It couldn't be helped, this was the spawning area for the Eye of the Glacier.

"Stop complaining. You had your rest, now it's our turn to work."

The ranged attackers had done their part in the narrow passage.

Now it was time for the melee attackers to shine.

"Get into formation!"

"Focus! Unless you want to spend the next week with a rotting arm!"

We formed a single line, with the warriors at the front, their shields forming a wall.

And...

"Let's go!"

We pushed forward, clearing a path through the horde.

And then the chaos began.

The warriors held the line, risking their lives, while the ranged attackers unleashed their firepower from behind.

Our overwhelming strength made the battle relatively easy.

But even so...

"Damn it, my arm...! Aaaaaargh!!"

There were casualties.

__________________

Four explorers were injured.

Three of them had minor injuries, just scratches and bruises. They wouldn't die.

We would reach the 8th floor in six days.

Even if their wounds festered, they could endure until we reached a safe zone where they could be healed.

The problem was the other one.

"A-am I... going to die...?"

Rick Jugsta.

He was a melee attacker on James Kala's team, filling the vacancy left by Pike Neldain.

He was clutching his mangled thigh, his bone protruding from the wound.

James Kala stood next to him, his face pale with worry.

"Don't be ridiculous! You'll be fine!"

They were old friends.

"Schuitz! We have to turn back!"

"Why?"

"Why? What do you mean? He won't survive until we reach the 8th floor!"

His desperate plea made me chuckle.

Would he have reacted this way if it were someone else?

I doubted it.

He would have been more rational, like Akuraba.

"We spent the entire day descending. It will take two days to go back up and down again."

Two days wasted to save one person.

Well, that wasn't a problem in itself.

But...

"Kala, we only have enough food for five more days. Even now, we'll have to starve for the last day."

As Kaislan said, it wasn't just time we were sacrificing.

It was lives.

They could endure one day without food, but not three.

"And it's all thanks to the traitor on your team."

Is he really a paladin?

He's surprisingly good at sarcasm.

"Enough about the traitor. Just answer me this. Did you really think this expedition would be without casualties?"

James Kala remained silent.

Kaislan continued, his voice cold and sharp.

"And what are you going to do if there are more injuries? Are we going to turn back every time?"

James Kala couldn't answer.

He just gritted his teeth in frustration.

Reality was harsh.

"How about we send him to God's embrace? I can help if you find it difficult."

Jun's suggestion was practically euthanasia.

James Kala, his body trembling, looked at me and asked,

"Schuitz... do you agree...?"

I didn't answer.

"Kaislan is right."

It was always like this in extreme situations.

There would be a time when you had to make a choice and sacrifice something.

But...

"I understand. I'll do it."

What?

"It's not time for that yet."

I couldn't let a precious teammate die.

Well, he could die during the expedition...

But not here.

"...Yes?"

James Kala looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, and I shrugged.

"We're not going back, and we're not abandoning him here."

The team leaders all looked at me with the same expression.

'What is he talking about?'

They couldn't understand.

"We're going down."

It was time to use the exploit.

__________________

The 'Eye of the Glacier' was my least favorite field.

At least until I discovered the exploit.

「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」

A week-long journey with this insane penalty.

It meant only one thing in this game.

There had to be a way to overcome it.

I experimented countless times and finally found the solution.

It was surprisingly simple.

"Distortion magic... you're talking about that?"

"Yes. From now on, we'll use distortion magic on all the monsters we encounter."

"The mages are already exhausted from maintaining the 'Preservation' spell. Why are you adding to their burden?"

Because 'Distortion' was the key to this exploit.

Monsters affected by Distortion didn't drop magic stones or essences, but there was a chance for their bodies to be preserved upon death.

Wyvern leather.

Adamantium.

Troll blood, the main ingredient for potions.

These were just a few examples of the valuable byproducts obtained through Distortion.

And...

'All the monsters in the Eye of the Glacier also appear on other floors.'

That's why it took me so long to figure out the solution.

'Use Distortion to obtain byproducts in a place where we can't even use our subspace pockets?'

It seemed incredibly inefficient.

We could hunt those monsters much more easily on other floors.

Well, this damn game always had a hidden solution for seemingly illogical actions.

"...I can't believe there's a way to heal injuries with this."

I briefly explained the exploit, and everyone was amazed.

No one questioned it.

"The Marquis's information network is impressive. Or maybe it's the royal family's hidden power. To know about this 'arrangement' that even a seasoned explorer like me is unaware of."

They thought the exploit came from another source, just like when I used the Barbarian Detective Mode to catch the traitor and they assumed there was another strategist on my team.

'Maybe it's better if they misunderstand...'

Yes, it's better this way.

There's no benefit to showing off.

Humility is a virtue.

"That's enough for today. We'll set up camp here and depart again tomorrow morning."

We decided to stay on the ledge for the night, believing that James Kala's friend could endure for another two days.

And the next morning, we resumed our journey.

「Liard Ashid has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」

「Mckelly Leyaders has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion].」

「Bersil Gowland has cast the 6th-grade space-time magic [Greater Distortion]...」

We spammed [Greater Distortion], which had a 1.5 times higher success rate than regular Distortion, and by afternoon, we were lucky enough to obtain a preserved corpse.

"Schuitz! Is this what you were talking about?"

James Kala rushed over and found a bead inside the corpse.

I quickly fed it to the injured explorer before it melted.

「Rick Jugsta has consumed the 'Frozen Trace of Life'.」

Okay, one person revived.

"Um... what are we going to do with the rest?"

We decided to abandon the other byproducts.

They were valuable, but we couldn't carry any more weight.

It was better to just leave them behind—

Rumble.

My stomach growled.

'...It's meat, even if it's a bit rotten.'

It seemed like a good idea, so I ran over to Amelia and shared my plan.

"Emily! I found a way to solve our food problem!"

"What are you talking about now...?"

"This time, it's not a joke! It's real!"

"Ha, just tell me."

"...So..."

I explained my food supply plan to Amelia.

And...

Slap—!

She slapped me on the back.

'...Was that really that bad of an idea?'

Damn it, I thought it was a good idea.

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

Chapter 405: Dilemma (2)

Chew, chew.

I savored the jerky, trying to make it last.

It was a special high-calorie jerky, made for explorers.

If someone asked why I was eating breakfast so late, the answer was simple.

This was our last meal.

Chew, chew.

We had run out of food.

It meant we wouldn't be eating anything until we reached the 8th floor.

Maybe that's why...

Chew, chew.

It tasted even better than usual—

'What? Where did it go?'

I was lost in the blissful taste of the jerky when I realized it was gone.

"It's... already gone?"

Seriously? This was our last meal!

I'm still starving!

And why were the rations the same for everyone when our calorie needs were different?

Rumble.

This was discrimination!

Mages and paladins were weaklings with low metabolisms, and they didn't even have to exert themselves. They just had to wave their staffs and chant their spells.

But they get the same amount of food as the warriors who risk their lives on the front lines?

This was an insult!

If I were a competent leader, I would never—

'Wait, I'm the leader.'

Right, what can I do?

I didn't want it to be like this.

But if I gave special treatment to the warriors, they would accuse me of favoritism.

So I had to set an example.

'Well, it seems like a failed policy.'

I had earned the indifference of the other professions and the resentment of the warriors.

Ah, how do I know they resent me?

Because I'm one of them.

"Heh heh heh."

"Mister, what's wrong?"

"Warriors always laugh when they're in pain."

"Is... is that a laugh?"

Erwen approached me, her face contorted with disgust.

Then she smiled and offered me something.

"J-jerky...?"

"Yes!"

"You're... giving this to me...?"

"Yes!"

I couldn't believe it, but she nodded without hesitation.

I stared at the jerky, and then I realized what I was doing.

"N-no! I'm not hungry! You eat it!"

"You should at least try to control your expression when you're lying."

My expression? What does she mean?

Erwen summoned a water spirit and shaped it into a mirror.

I saw my reflection.

I was grinning like an idiot.

"..."

"See? That's a real smile. Hehe."

"..."

"Just eat it. I'm fine. The others are also sharing their food with you."

"...What?"

What is she talking about?

Amelia answered my question.

"The ranged attackers saved some of their rations. They're sharing it with the warriors."

"They saved it? How? It would have spoiled."

"They're talking about after we entered the cave. There haven't been any blizzards since then."

"Ah, right..."

I was so focused on my hunger that I had forgotten about that.

Anyway, that wasn't the important part...

"Are you serious? They're sharing their food with others?"

"You can see for yourself."

Okay, I have to see this.

"Halt!"

I used my authority as the leader to stop the expedition.

It was time for a break anyway.

"Oh, a break!"

"Finally!"

"Quartermaster! Blankets! Give us some blankets! We need to get some sleep!"

The paladin activated [Purge Evil], creating a safe zone, and the members collapsed on the ground, exhausted.

And...

Thud, thud.

I walked towards the rear, observing the scene.

Erwen was right.

"Here, have this."

A paladin was offering food to a warrior.

And...

"...J-jerky...? For me?"

The warrior looked at him with suspicion and disbelief.

"Yes, you must be tired."

"A-are you... in love with me? Then I can't accept this. I have a wife and children in the city—"

"It's not like that, so don't worry."

"What? You're giving me jerky without even loving me...?"

The warriors were shocked, but they quickly devoured the jerky.

It was happening everywhere.

"I-I'll never forget this debt! I'll repay you with my life!"

Countless warriors were making vows, their eyes filled with tears.

It was a heartwarming scene.

"My policy... wasn't a failure..."

The expedition force was united, helping each other.

"Schuitz? Did you say something?"

"Ah, Jun... it's nothing."

"Yes, but what are you doing here...? Is it related to the sudden halt?"

I nodded, even though I had just come here to get some jerky from Erwen.

I had to maintain my dignity as the leader.

"How's the mood?"

"The mood...?"

"We ran out of food this morning. Are there any complaints?"

"They're strong people. They've been through worse. They understand that this is unavoidable."

"I see..."

I wasn't really interested in the mood, so I just nodded and left.

_______________________

As I was returning to the front lines after my conversation with Jun,

"Oh, Schuitz! Thanks for last time!"

"You look even thinner than before."

"Here, have some of mine."

The warriors greeted me warmly.

It was probably the biggest change since Pike Neldain's execution.

We had to fight together on the front lines whenever a major battle occurred, so it was natural for us to form a bond.

But it wasn't just the warriors.

"..."

"..."

The other professions weren't as friendly, but their gazes had softened.

They used to glare at me and whisper behind my back...

It was a heartwarming change.

'This is all thanks to Neldain.'

A common enemy unites a group.

His betrayal had shifted the blame from me to him.

And I was the one who exposed him.

My reputation had naturally improved.

"Schuitz, that guy... I can't tell if he's smart or stupid."

"I heard he suggested eating monster meat and got scolded by his teammate..."

"He's a bit eccentric, but not stupid. He helped us catch the traitor."

"Ah, that? I heard the mage did all the work, and he just took the credit."

Haha, there was another traitor among them.

I wanted to punish them...

But I changed my mind after hearing their conversation.

"A capable leader knows how to choose his subordinates. And besides, he's a good guy."

"That's... true. I haven't talked to him much, but he seems kind."

"He's always the first to volunteer for the dirty work, even though he could just order others around."

"That's the kind of person you want on your side when things get tough."

So they were just ordinary companions.

Thud, thud.

I reached my team's position as the 20-minute break was ending.

"Mister! See? I told you!"

"Yes, you were right."

"Now, eat this! Don't be shy, everyone's doing it."

"Ah, I already ate on the way here."

"Hehe, good job! I'm the only one who cares about you, right?"

"Yes, you're the only one."

I finished the conversation and leaned against the wall, fiddling with the ring.

Amelia approached me.

"Are you thinking about why the ring stopped glowing?"

"That's right..."

No. 6111 Fate Tracker.

The Traffic Light Ring, as I called it, had suddenly stopped working.

It happened four days ago.

"It's strange. A detected fate wouldn't just disappear for no reason."

"That's what I'm saying."

It was a baffling phenomenon.

Nothing significant had happened...

"Schuitz, it's time to go."

Ah, already?

"Everyone, get up! We're moving! And if you took anything out of the sleds, put it back before we leave."

I stretched my stiff muscles and noticed Raviyen chewing on something.

"Raviyen, didn't you finish your breakfast? Where did you get that jerky?"

"Ashid gave it to me."

"...Ashid?"

Did she take it by force?

I looked at Ashid, and he chuckled.

"I gave it to her willingly, don't worry."

"But you're also struggling, aren't you?"

"Haha, that's what companions are for. And besides, I need Raviyen to be strong so she can protect me."

"...I see."

It didn't seem like she had forced him, but I felt uneasy.

Could he be interested in her?

'No, that's ridiculous.'

There's a huge age gap between them.

_______________________

20th day in Ice Rock.

We finally reached the end of Ice Rock.

'I didn't expect us to arrive exactly on the 20th day.'

We had allocated 20 days for traversing Ice Rock.

But we had encountered several unexpected events, and we had to push ourselves to make it on time.

'Maybe the schedule was too tight from the beginning.'

We had taken the inexperience of the members into account when planning the expedition.

But we only had their information on paper.

We didn't know their actual skills.

The expedition force was strong offensively, but lacked in safety and mobility.

Well, I guess that's to be expected for a team created for war, not exploration.

"Mister, what are you thinking about?"

"...Nothing."

I shook off my thoughts and looked around.

The bottom of the Eye of the Glacier, marked with a giant eye-shaped pattern.

"Everyone, calm down and wait! We'll draw lots in order!"

We had reached the portal to the 8th floor, but the atmosphere was chaotic.

It was understandable.

This was Ice Rock, a desolate wasteland where no one came.

We were the first ones here this season.

"How are we going to decide the order?"

"It doesn't matter, let's just hurry up and get this over with. I'm starving."

"What? Then you can just leave!"

"Leave? I wasn't even planning to participate! I'm a mage!"

The maximum number of people for the Bonding spell was six.

And the first clear experience points were also limited to six people.

So we decided to draw lots.

It was purely based on luck, regardless of rank or achievements.

"Damn it! Why is mine blank?!"

"Hey! Don't even think about using your abilities to peek inside the box! I'm watching you!"

"Woohoo! The 8th floor! I never thought this day would come!"

Cheers and groans filled the air as the line shortened.

"Aren't you disappointed?"

Raviyen approached me and asked.

"Disappointed about what?"

"You're the expedition leader. You could have just taken a spot for yourself."

"Ah, that..."

It had been discussed among the team leaders.

They had suggested that we take the experience points ourselves and leave one spot for the others.

Kaislan had even argued that we should give the last spot to the one with the most achievements.

He really knew how to handle his subordinates.

"...Are you listening?"

"Yes, I am."

"Why did you give it up so easily?"

Raviyen asked, and I shrugged.

She already knew the answer.

"Damn it, it's blank."

Amelia returned, clicking her tongue.

"Schuitz, it's your turn."

"How many are left?"

"One."

I see...

I discreetly turned my head and counted the remaining explorers.

'Four left.'

So the probability was 1 in 4.

And...

'There's no Hans among them.'

All signs pointed to good fortune.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A cold wind swept through the chasm, chilling me to the bone.

Swoosh.

I took off the ring.

I didn't need it now.

Thud, thud.

Fate is something you create yourself.

"Good luck."

Kaislan encouraged me as I stood in front of the box.

It was time for the final showdown.

"Uwaaaaaaaaah!"

I let out a war cry and drew a lot.

And...

"Too bad, it's blank."

Damn it, I failed.

Why isn't there any BGM?

This is the perfect time for a dramatic soundtrack.

Thud, thud.

As I stepped aside, Raviyen walked past me.

Ah, she was next.

Could she really win—

"Is this the one with the circle?"

"Yes, congratulations."

Wow, she actually got it!

'I should have drawn last...'

I felt a pang of regret, but then...

"Can I transfer this to someone else?"

"Didn't you hear me earlier? We discussed it and decided to allow transfers."

"Really?"

Raviyen finished her conversation with Kaislan and walked towards me.

And...

"Here."

She handed me the lot.

"...?"

I couldn't understand.

She had entered the labyrinth alone so she could speedrun and get more experience points.

She was clearly in a hurry...

"Why are you giving this to me...?"

"I don't think this belongs to me."

"...What?"

I was confused, and she answered with an embarrassed smile.

"I've been watching you. You've been working the hardest."

What...

"Whoo!"

"Yeah, yeah! You led us here, you deserve it!"

"That's a shame. I was going to give it to him if no one else transferred theirs."

"Liar! You were so happy when you drew it!"

"I'm serious! I even argued for allowing transfers during the meeting!"

"Just take it! A true explorer knows how to seize an opportunity!"

The frigid air of the chasm couldn't reach me.

'It's warm...'

I felt like I was going to cry.

Trial

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

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