Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 409, 410, 411

    

C409, 410, 411

Chapter 409: Dilemma (6)

Luring out the Dragon Slayer and his subordinates was very easy.

Well, there’s a saying that the enemy within is the most terrifying one, right?

Noark’s explorer, Gwang Myeong, who had been converted to our side and found enlightenment under Jun’s influence, provided false information to them, and they took the bait immediately.

[“So, around thirty royal explorers are out there?”]

“Yes! It seems they crossed over from Ice Rock!”

[“You mentioned they’re trailing us in secret? Keep things steady until I arrive.”]

“Understood!”

Heh, fell for it again, fool.

I sensed this back in Larkaz’s maze—there’s a strange naivety to the Dragon Slayer. 

If he hadn’t given up his “Restrained Desire” back then and given me time, he wouldn’t have been cornered to the point of having his sword taken away.

“Well, then, let’s move.”

After luring the Dragon Slayer, we headed south toward the Dragon’s Depth.

Our paths wouldn’t overlap, so there was no worry of encountering them en route.

Because we had Gwang Myeong with us.

[“What’s your current position?”]

“We’re in the western area of the Dragon’s Depth.”

[“You’re moving west. Heading toward ‘Iron Falls’?”]

“Seems that way for now.”

[“Understood. We’ll head that way too, and if they change direction, inform me immediately.”]

“Understood!”

At this pace, by the time the Dragon Slayer reaches the west’s “Iron Falls,” we’ll have arrived at his base.

Even if he rushes back, by the time he returns, we’ll be long gone.

“There’s a group of Noark scouts ahead.”

“Stop. We’ll hide here and wait until they pass by.”

Continuing to minimize battles, we pushed through two days of forced marches until we reached a vast wilderness.

Well, our field of view was limited because of the dim surroundings, but that’s not important.

“Finally, the Gray Plains.”

The Gray Plains.

A middle region between the Dragon Mountain in the continent’s center and the northernmost Dragon’s Depth.

It’s also the starting point for the Noark faction’s direct access to the 7th floor.

“It’s unexpectedly quiet, I thought there would be more people wandering around since it’s a base.”

“I guess the main unit is keeping them busy.”

Our entire plan for this expedition is a kind of feint operation.

While the royal army, which entered the Dark Continent via the standard route, engages with Noark’s main forces along the Dragon Mountains, we strike them from behind.

“From here on, we move as quietly as possible, even if we have to slow down.”

“I’ll order the scouts to widen the distance from the main unit, so we can detect the enemy from further away.”

“Yes, I’ll leave the detailed troop deployment to you.”

Even after entering the Gray Plains, we moved very cautiously, but we still had to engage in continuous battles.

It’s the labyrinth after all, filled with monsters everywhere.

It’s impossible to avoid monsters even if we can avoid humans.

 [You have defeated a Void Ant. EXP +4.]

[You have defeated a Dark Crystal. EXP +6.]

[You have defeated a Mainum. EXP +5.]

[You have defeated a Hell Ghoul. EXP +4.]

[You have defeated a Jambet…]

[…]

Various monsters crawled out of cracks in the ground that resembled a drought-stricken rice field.

Among them were some Level 3 monsters.

“It’s a Bol-Herchan!”

The very monster that belongs to the final growth path of my Shield Barbarian.

Of course, the battle itself wasn’t particularly difficult.

“What are you all doing? Is this your first time fighting one? Spread out!”

“Warriors, just defend! The mages will deliver the final blow anyway!”

We fought three Level 3 monsters at a time in Ice Rock, so taking on just one isn’t a big deal.

And our bellies are full right now.

Boom!

The Bol-Herchan, with its highest-level defense, withstood for a long time, but it eventually collapsed to the ground, disappearing into light particles.

「You have defeated a Bol-Herchan. EXP +7.」

It didn’t drop an essence, but I wasn’t particularly disappointed.

I already had its essence anyway.

‘This is kind of ironic.’

In the game, I never imagined I’d acquire the essence of a monster before actually defeating it. But reality is different from the game, and things seem to be happening out of order.

‘Is this some weird snowball effect from getting the Ogre Essence in the early to mid-game?’

I briefly considered that possibility, but thinking back, this abnormal growth probably started with the ‘Corpse Golem’.

If I hadn’t gotten that essence, I wouldn’t have been able to kill Vampire Duke Camboromire either.

“Schuiz, the scouts have reported that they found the enemy’s base.”

After traveling through the Gray Plains for another day, we finally arrived near our target location.

A massive tower structure stood there, guarded by around a hundred explorers, confirming this was indeed the place.

However, there was one puzzling detail.

“…That’s far fewer than we expected.”

“It seems Regal Vargos took more troops than anticipated to chase after us.”

“Is that so? Then that’s good news, but we can’t be certain, so let’s gather more intelligence on the surrounding area first.”

“Then I will dispatch the scouts again.”

“What should the rest of the troops do?”

“Since there will soon be a battle, have them rest as much as possible to recover their strength.”

“What about the ‘Declaration of Annihilation?’”

“Tell them not to use it. They might detect our presence. We can’t risk losing everything for a small advantage. If monsters appear, they should deal with them as quietly as possible.”

“Understood. I’ll pass the message along.”

We sent out scouts composed of characters with stealth skills to gather intelligence around the base, the rest of us hid beneath the cliff edge and rested to recover our energy.

This applied to me as well.

“You look tired.”

While leaning back and resting, Amelia approached and handed me a piece of jerky.

In Ice Rock, she didn’t give me even a single piece of jerky, but here she has some to spare.

Chomp, chomp.

While I was chewing on it, Amelia spoke with a note of concern in her voice.

“Schuiz, things are going too well for you.”

“Dammit….”

She just had to say it out loud.

There’s a superstition that words have power. I had avoided bringing up how smoothly things were going, but she did anyway.

“…?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, don’t mind it. So, what were you going to say? Did you find something suspicious?”

“It’s not that, but…”

When I asked, Amelia trailed off.

She didn’t seem to have any concrete evidence; it was just a feeling.

“Don’t worry. Things aren’t going smoothly by chance. It’s because we’ve done all the necessary groundwork.”

“Groundwork?”

“Think of all the hardships we endured to get here, like crossing the Ice Rock. We faced betrayal from within as well.”

“That’s true. Sorry, never mind what I said.”

Even as I reassured her, I couldn’t help but remain a bit uneasy.

I continued to think quietly to myself.

‘A hundred of them…’

With this number of troops, the mission itself should be a success.

The scouts only got a distant view, but they didn’t spot anyone noteworthy.

‘This must be because they didn’t expect an attack from behind.’

Noark’s main force is out on the wide front line to prevent the royal army from crossing the mountains.

Of course, they left behind some troops led by Regal Vargos, at this key base, but…

‘Now that he’s away with his troops…’

Right now, it’s a perfect opportunity.

‘And we have Gwang Myeong on our side.’

The only concern now is any unforeseen factors the scouts might bring back, but…

“Schuiz, the scouts have returned.”

“What did they report?”

“They found nothing suspicious within a 5 km radius.”

Everything checked out. There didn’t seem to be any hidden threats nearby.

I had been worried that things were going too smoothly and that there might be some kind of trap, but I decided to push those thoughts aside.

“Tell the returning scouts they did well and let them get some rest. Well, they won’t have long to rest, but still.”

“…You’re planning to make a move?”

“Yes, start making preparations.”

It’s time to end this long expedition.

***

I stood there, alone in the pitch-black wilderness.

Although it’s hidden by the darkness of the labyrinth and can’t be seen with the naked eye…

I stare intently at the Noark’s base.

“….”

In the silence, we wait for the right time.

All the expedition members are prepared to charge forward at any moment.

Boom, boom, boom, boom-!

Soon, loud noises began to echo through the darkness.

To someone with some experience as an explorer, it would be clear that this noise was the sound of a large monster walking.

“M-monsters!”

“Everyone, come out!”

The quiet darkness beyond turned into a noisy commotion.

I can’t see them with my eyes, but I can clearly picture the expressions on each of their faces.

“Fuck, what on earth is up with these numbers?!”

Panic.

“Man, our luck sure is terrible. What are you all doing? Hurry up and draw your weapons!”

Irritation.

“Why are the monsters swarming here?”

And confusion.

Of course, among them, there were those who knew the real reason.

“Get a hold of yourselves! It’s the enemy! Someone is leading these monsters right toward us!”

As expected from the people of Noark who have studied every kind of plundering technique.

They’re quick to catch on.

It’s obvious that the waves of monsters swarming them from all sides aren’t just a coincidence.

After confirming that there was no one within a 5 km radius, I had the scouts gather all the monsters nearby.

They drew the monsters’ aggro and then used Stealth to return to us, leaving the monsters to charge at the enemy base.

“What?”

“Enemies… ?”

“Shit, are they the ones Lord Regal Vagos was talking about?”

“Call for reinforcements! Quick, request support immediately!”

Oh no, are you trying to call for support?

Even if they do come, it’ll all be over by then.

“Kaislan.”

At my brief command, Kaislan, standing beside me, raised the flag with the royal crest high and shouted:

“Fire!!”

At the same time, the mages, archers, and supporters who had finished casting spells unleashed their deadly attacks simultaneously.

Boom—!

Attacks landed amidst the monsters’ onslaught.

Part of the enemy formation was completely wiped out, creating a gap that the cunning monsters did not miss.

“Dammit! Where did that come from? Where are they attacking from?!”

“Aaaaaah!”

Monsters surged in through the collapsed battle line.

“Hold them back at that point!”

They hastily tried to re-form their line, but there was no way we’d let them do so easily.

“Kaislan, one more time.”

We continued to fire all of our ranged attacks whenever casting was complete. In response, the enemy finally located our position.

But…

“There they are!”

“They’re over there!”

Even if they know, what can they do about it?

They’re too busy fighting off monsters to be able to do anything about us.

Kwaaaaang-!

Kwoom!

Whooooooosh!

We continued our ranged bombardment for quite a while.

Zzzzziiiing-!

Suddenly, the message stone I kept in my pocket started vibrating.

There was no need to guess who the sender was.

After all, the only person who’s been contacting me so frequently with this message stone since we arrived here was a single individual.

Click.

Since there’s nothing else to do but watch the battlefield, I connected the communication without hesitation.

[You! Where the fuck are you right now?!]

The furious roar came the moment the call connected.

Oh, that’s right—the last report said we were at the edge of the continent, and they had to come all the way over there, right?

[We’ve arrived where you said, but no one’s here! There are also reports that a battle has broken out near the ‘Eye of the Sky’.]

The “Eye of the Sky” is the name given to the magic device that acts as a communication tower.

“Tsk, so the news has already reached them.”

I can understand why the palace is so desperate to destroy the Eye of the Sky. They must have suffered countless losses due to this extensive communication network.

[Are you ignoring me right now?! Answer me! Where exactly are you?!]

There’s no need to lie anymore, so I answered honestly.

“Me? I’m right in front of your house.”

A bit of trash talk is a legitimate part of warfare.

After saying that, I waited to see how he would react, but surprisingly, there was silence for a long time.

I checked to see if the call was disconnected, but then I heard his voice again—though nothing particularly amusing.

[…Who are you?]

What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?

Trying to sound all heavy and ominous, are we?

“If you’re that curious, why don’t you come and find out?”

[…From the beginning, this was all your scheme, wasn’t it?]

“Well, obviously. But hey, enjoy the scenery while you’re there. It’s not every day you travel so far.”

[I don’t know who you are, but don’t think you’ll die easily. Even death won’t save you from what’s coming.]

His voice was dripping with malice, but I casually cleaned my ear and shrugged it off.

Death won’t save me?

Heh, wasn’t that the same line he used last time?

“Sure, good luck with that.”

[What? Do you think this is a joke? I will ensure—]

But before he could finish, I cut the connection. It was time to move on.

***

Just then, Akuraba’s voice came through with an urgent report.

“Schuiz, the monsters are almost all dealt with!”

The enemies had fought back in desperation, and most of the monsters had been killed.

Therefore…

“Formation! Charge forward!”

“Front line, forward…!”

We charged into the battlefield before they had a chance to re-form their lines.

“Chaaaarge!”

Our veteran warriors led the combat formation from the front.

Noark’s forces also formed a wall of warriors to block our advance.

A basic shield-wall formed by warriors during large-scale battles.

“Block them!”

“Kill them all!”

Soon the warriors at the front clashed, and a full-blown battle for strength began.

And…

“Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!”

The victor of this power struggle was, of course, us.

Our warriors are far superior in average skill level compared to theirs and…

Most decisively:

[Niarro Cambell casts [Wave of Healing].]

[Benjamin Orman casts [Moonlight of Regeneration]…]

[…]

They have no healers!

How can they stop our warriors who charge aggressively even at the cost of injury, when they have no way to heal their own injuries?

“They’ve broken through!”

Our warriors, pushing through with the strength of a hundred men, broke through the enemy line, and our expedition forces quickly exploited that gap.

The center was not completely empty, but it was open enough.

“Shield wall!”

We changed formation into a circular defensive formation.

And then…

“Advance while maintaining this formation!”

Now the situation changed: we advanced towards the center while defending against enemies attacking from all sides.

After all, our goal isn’t annihilation, but to strike a decisive blow.

“T-those bastards are heading for the Eye of the Sky!”

“Stop them!”

Realizing our goal, they rushed at us even more fiercely, but it wasn’t enough to break the unity of our forces that had formed after crossing Ice Rock.

Additionally, we have a lot of priests on our side.

“Halt!”

While dealing with the enemies as we moved, we soon arrived in front of the ‘Eye of the Sky’.

We stood with our backs against it, desperately holding off the enemy.

Because there’s something we need to do first before destroying it…

“Schuiz! Come over here quickly.”

It was then that Akuraba shouted for me, her voice booming over the chaos.

“Hurry! There’s a problem!”

A problem?

“Gregson, I’m leaving this to you.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got it! Go!”

I hurriedly left my position to a warrior next to me and headed to the rear.

Akuraba was waiting for me with an uncomfortable look in front of the ‘Eye of the Sky’ that we had surrounded.

“What’s going on?”

“I-I’ve entered the communication coordinates several times and tried to contact the main army, but I can’t connect at all!”

Tsk, this is a bit of a problem.

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

Chapter 410: Dilemma (7)

Once, twice, three times, four times.

The more we tried to connect with the main force, the deeper the ominous feeling sank into my bones.

There’s nothing else I can do.

“Try one more time.”

“Yes, sir…”

All we can do is keep attempting.

However, even after several more tries, we still failed to connect with the main force.

‘…What in the world happened?’

Originally, our expedition plan was as follows:

Launch a surprise attack and infiltrate the enemy’s base.
Use the Eye of the Sky to contact the main force waiting in the Dragon Mountain Range.
Destroy the target and escape, then rendezvous with the main force who would come to meet us.
The key point of this plan was that the main force would concentrate their power temporarily to break through a section of the front line, then meet us at the rendezvous point so we could retreat together.

But…

“It’s no use. We can’t connect.”

The most crucial part of the plan—contacting the main force—had failed.

‘Could it be… they’ve abandoned us?’

For a brief moment, the worst-case scenario crossed my mind, but I quickly shook my head.

The royal family wouldn’t discard a force of this size so casually. They had no reason to.

Something must have happened on their end. Even in the worst-case scenario, there was only one thing I could do.

The same thing I’ve done since the first day I opened my eyes in this body.

Survive.

“Captain! How long do we have to hold out?!”

Before making my decision, I took a moment to organize my thoughts.

“Priest Cambel says he’s reaching his limit!”

Time was running out.

We have to do the best we can with our limited resources.

What will most aid our survival?

It didn’t take me long to decide.

Though I’m not sure if this is the best possible choice.

Tuk, tuk.

Alright, let’s go with this for now.

No better idea is coming to mind anyway.

“Akuraba.”

“Yes?”

“Deactivate the coordinate lock for communication completely.”

So far, we’ve been attempting to contact the main force by dialing their designated communication coordinates.

But…

“What? If we do that, everything we say will be broadcasted without restriction across the entire region…?”

“That’s exactly what I want.”

There’s no point in leaving missed messages for someone who’s not answering.

“…Alright.”

Akuraba, understanding my intentions perfectly, hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed without objection.

And…

“All set. The bandwidth is also at maximum.”

Akuraba handed me the message stone after adjusting the settings.

Click.

I carefully pressed the button.

I was a bit nervous.

Right now, this device is set to a broadcasting mode similar to a radio transmission.

This means the transmission will be heard all over the continent by anyone who has their message stone activated, regardless of whether they are friend or foe.

But…

“Everyone, listen.”

[Everyone, listen.]

Our transmitted voice echoed through all the activated message stones nearby.

This is all the main force’s fault for not responding.

I don’t know what’s keeping them so busy, but what else can a barbarian do when the main force is ignoring us?

“The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.”

[The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.]

At this point, I could only hammer my voice into their ears.

***

A dreary, barren plain stretching endlessly.

And there…

“….”

…lay the shattered remains of the Eye of the Sky.

A man pulled off his robe, revealing the face hidden beneath.

His skin looked like it had been drenched in some acidic substance.

“…What happened here?”

The man with the grotesque face glanced around, and those who met his gaze were quick to avert their eyes.

“You.”

The man reached out and grabbed the nearest explorer by the neck.

“Cough, cough! Pl-Please spare me, Lord Regal Vagos!”

“If you want to live, speak up. What happened here?”

“I-I’ll tell you…! I’ll tell you everything without hiding anything!”

The trembling explorer spilled his story, and Vagos loosened his grip slightly, willing to hear him out.

[Let me repeat: the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.]
[We are heading to the extraction point now.]

The message stone had gone silent after that final transmission, leaving Regal Vagos in the dark about the events that had unfolded.

“So, let me get this straight: they openly attacked, destroyed the Eye of the Sky, and escaped using mass teleportation—all while you just stood there and watched?”

As the details emerged, an overwhelming tide of fury surged within him.

“Th-that’s because… when you took the main forces out on an expedition—”

“You’re blaming me?”

“Gu- guhuck! No, that’s not what I mean! It-it’s just because they cowardly brought monsters with them…! We-we were outmatched!”

“…Useless trash.”

His grip tightened again. The explorer, sensing his death, blurted out a name in desperation.

“T-Titana Akuraba!”

“Titana Akuraba…?”

Regal Vagos froze for a moment, recognizing the name.

She was a legendary explorer from the era when he joined Orcules.

“That old crone was there?”

“S-she wasn’t the only one! The Golden Falcon, James Carla! The White Blade, Kaislan! There were so many famous explorers! Please, spare me!”

The explorer begged for his life, trembling. At that moment, another man approached from a distance.

“Lord Vagos, that’s enough. There’s nothing they could have done.”

Kael Elvad Genegger.

He was Vagos’s advisor and strategist.

He had been the one to urge caution and guard the Eye of the Sky when news of the royal forces infiltrating Ice Rock first broke.

And perhaps because of that, Vagos felt a mix of regret and resentment toward him.

“Kael, stay out of this. I’m simply delivering justice.”

“Then why him?  Everyone here is equally responsible for failing to defend this place. It’s not fair.”

“So you think I should punish all of them?”

The surrounding explorers flinched, and Kael sighed, pulling out his trump card.

“…If you do, the Commander won’t stand for it.”

The commander of Orcules.


The traitor, Ricardo Lühensprache.

“You bastard…!”

The mention of that name made Regal Vagos seethe, but he restrained himself.

No matter how furious he was, even Vagos couldn’t ignore that name.

“This is already a significant event. The commander will likely return from the front lines to assess the situation. Please, act wisely for now.”

“…Tch.”

In the end, Vagos swallowed his anger.

He couldn’t afford to give the commander any more ammunition to use against him.

But…

“The Blood Spirit Queen’s man? Rihen Schuiz?”

“Yes! He was definitely the leader of the expedition. I heard them call him Schuiz, and he even used [Gigantification]!”

Hearing this, Vagos stiffened.

The mention of [Gigantification] triggered a powerful sense of familiarity.

“Kael!”

“Yes, my lord?”

“Bring me a message stone!”

Without hesitation, Kael handed him the device. Vagos activated it and played back the recorded transmissions.

[Me? I’m right in front of your house]

[If you want to know, come find out.]

[Good luck with that.]

Just hearing that voice caused his fists to clench — that damn voice.

At the same time, he felt as if he’d heard it somewhere before.

Click, click, click.

Regal Vagos replayed the recorded message several times over, then finally loosened his grip and let out a bitter laugh.

“…No wonder it sounded familiar.”

So that was it.

At last, Regal Vagos realized who the voice belonged to.

[Again, I repeat. The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.]

[We are heading to the rendezvous area now.]

Due to Amelia Rainweilz’s betrayal, he had been unable to recall this sworn enemy for over three years. Once his body healed and his memory returned, he realized it was that precious sword that had been stolen.

A thief who’d stolen a treasured sword that cost him so much to acquire.

He had always assumed the thief was dead.

“It appears he’s still alive.”

He suspected the royal family knew about the thief’s identity.

No, maybe the royal family had engineered his supposed death.

Or they wouldn’t have placed a man called ‘the Man of the Blood Spirit Queen’ as the leader of an expedition involving a big shot like Akuraba.”

“Bjorn Jandel.”

Remembering the anger from that day, Regal Vagos quietly muttered the name and stood up.

“Kael! Gather all the troops. We are going after those who escaped right now!”

“But, sir, the Commander hasn’t returned—”

“Enough. I’ll take full responsibility for this.”

It’s time to meet him again.

***

Several Days Later…

 

Deadwood.

A field located west of the Dragon Mountains, an area which Noark considers its territory and where the royal army never managed to set foot during the war…

It’s also the predetermined rendezvous area we’d agreed upon with the royal family in advance.

“…..”

We hold our breath while waiting there.

Trusting that if they hear our message, they’ll come to our rescue.

“….“

Curled up on a branch of a lifeless tree, we endured the restless hours.

This was now our third day.

“If they moved immediately upon receiving the message, they should have arrived yesterday.”

“Why… aren’t they here yet?”

“Sir Kaislan, lower your voice. We don’t have the energy to use voice suppression magic anymore.”

Until yesterday, everyone had been hopeful, encouraging one another with thoughts of an imminent rescue.

But now, tensions are rising.

And understandably so.

That morning, we had our first casualty.

Philip Aintrophy.

He was an explorer belonging to Melend Kaislan’s team.

Class: Scout.

He primarily learned skills that would help in navigation, such as [Current Manipulation], [Lightening], and [Excess Supply]. He died in the battle that took place in the morning.

While we still had some spare mana, the mages had run out of stamina, causing our Stealth Magic to briefly disengage.

The Noark guys searching below discovered us, and Philip’s head was crushed during an intense combat when he attempted to fight them off, leading to his immediate death.

A few more hours passed since that incident.

“Shuiz, it’s not safe here either.”

The anxiety among the members had reached its peak.

It wasn’t surprising. Noark would have noticed the absence of their patrol by now.

As time passes, their search efforts would intensify.

In fact, the frequency of Noark soldiers passing beneath us had already increased significantly.

“We need to make a decision.”

“Hold on, make a decision? What do you mean?”

“We can’t stay here forever. If rescue isn’t coming, it’s better to abandon this place.”

“W-what are you saying?! Are you implying the royal family has abandoned us?!”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just… we failed to establish contact as well. If they have some situation on their end, it would be wise for us to act accordingly.”

“You may have a point, but I disagree. In our current exhausted state, how far can we even go? If we’re discovered along the way, we’ll be annihilated.”

“So you suggest we keep waiting here? For how long? In two days, our mages will run out of mana. At that point, won’t we face annihilation anyway?”

As is always the case in emergencies, opinions were sharply divided.

‘Haah….’

I let out a deep sigh internally.

Even without Akuraba pointing it out, I knew it already.

We have to make some sort of decision now.

‘This is maddening.’

We essentially have three choices.

The first one is to stay here and quietly wait.

In the best case scenario, we’d all remain safe until the rescue force arrives.
In the worst case, however…
‘…We’d die here like dogs, fighting a losing battle.’
The second choice is not to wait but to move on, directly breaking through to the area under the royal family’s control.

Deadwood is far less critical than the Dragon Mountains, so the front lines here are weaker and troop presence is lower.

We chose this rendezvous area precisely for that reason.

It’s not an utterly unreasonable plan.

But…

‘With fewer than thirty of us remaining, it would still be very difficult.’

It would be a miracle if even 10% of us survived to reach safety.

In the worst-case scenario, the result would be the same as the first option.

‘That leaves only one other choice…’

The third choice is a kind of endurance strategy.

Just like how the enemy base near the frontline was left empty, maybe we can hide somewhere behind their main lines until the labyrinth closes.

‘We’ve destroyed the Eye of the Sky, so any detailed information about us might not have been fully transmitted.’

However, this option exposes us to danger for an extended period. We will inevitably face countless variables along the way.

Even if we execute everything perfectly, there will be many casualties.

‘In every choice, if we face the worst outcome, we all die.’

That thought almost made me laugh.

I briefly think, since a total annihilation ending is possible with the worst outcomes anyway, maybe the best choice is the one where everyone lives in the best-case scenario: staying put and waiting.

If it fails, at least we can blame the royal family for failing us.

“…No, that’s nonsense.”

“Huh? What did you just say, Commander Shuiz?”

Ignoring Kaislan’s puzzled look, I spoke up.

Even if I’m not entirely confident in the decision, someone has to make it.

Tuk, tuk.

We have to choose something.

“Everyone, get ready. We’re leaving this place now.”

“You mean… you won’t wait for the main force anymore?”

“Yes, we’ve waited long enough and stood up. Oh, and don’t worry too much.”

I gave Kaislan a slight smile.

“I’ll take full responsibility for everything.”

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

Chapter 411: Bad Blood (1)

When faced with a hopeless situation, the first thing most people do is activate their hope circuits.

If I do this, and then that, and if things go this way…

Then won’t everything work out fine?

By assuming countless “what if” scenarios and becoming blinded by slim possibilities, they miss the golden opportunity.

For years, or even decades.

Though we’ve endured the labyrinth for so long, our expedition team is still made up of ordinary people.

“…Are you saying we’re leaving this place?”

As soon as I announced my decision, an air of unease swept through the group.

“This is a rash decision!” 

“But wouldn’t it be better to wait a little longer?Maybe something happened on their side causing them to be a little late.”

“Exactly! With Noark bastards swarming around, how far can we go on our own?”

Opposition spread like a wildfire in an instant.

Well, of course.

Of course, it was only natural.

After all, it’s the most hopeful option for everyone.

If a rescue team arrives, we can all make it back alive.

The crisis will end, and happiness awaits us in the city. The hardships we’ve endured will become nothing more than bar talk

But…

“It’s dangerous.”

I know.

We aren’t in a truly hopeless situation yet.

True despair begins when the golden hour ends, and even the slimmest hope is crushed.

By then, even if we want to act, it will be too late.

That’s why, if something is to be done, it must be now.

“What is everyone saying? Has the whole team lost their minds?”

I intentionally used sharp and provocative words, expecting backlash.

A kind of shock therapy.

“There was a rat among us at Ice Rock. When we reached Eye of the Sky, no matter how many times we tried, we couldn’t get through. And now?”

“……”

“It’s been three days, and we’ve heard nothing. It’s just a little late? The rescue team is on its way? Ridiculous. If that were the case, the Noark bastards wouldn’t still be swarming around here. They would have been called to the front lines to block the royal army by now.”

After taking a breath, I continued.

“Listen carefully, all of you.”

“……”

“We have been abandoned.”

I don’t truly believe that, but…

I judged that only this level would break their false hopes.

“Why would the royal family abandon us!”

Well, I don’t know the reason either.

Maybe something really happened, and they can’t come.

I think that’s more likely too.

But so what?

Regardless of their circumstances, the result doesn’t change.

“If we haven’t been abandoned, then why haven’t they come yet?”

“That’s…”

The team member who trailed off clenched his teeth and spoke.

“…So you’re saying we should move somewhere else?”

“Yes.”

“In this exhausted state? Do you think that’s possible? We’ll all die—!”

“And What’s different if we wait here?”

As voices grew louder, the mages, even with their insufficient mana, activated ‘Voice Control,’ so I shouted freely.

“Open your eyes, everyone!”

“……”

“No matter what, the fact that they aren’t coming to rescue us doesn’t change!”

At my shout, all the team members fell silent.

Sure, they could have countered, but deep down, they all knew it.

That my words might be true.

If they hadn’t had such doubts in the first place, they wouldn’t be so anxious now.

“……”

“……”

In the brief silence that followed, I spoke up.

“I have no intention of dying in a place like this.”

“……”

“Do you?”

The one who answered that question was a member of Kaislan’s team.

“No one wants to die.”

“Good. Then follow me. Kill the enemy, protect your comrades. At least, that will have more meaning than waiting here to die.”

Saying that, I glanced at the team members sitting on the thick branches.

From their expressions, it didn’t seem like my words had resonated deep in their hearts

Well, that was to be expected.

Rihen Schuiz.

Before joining the expedition team, I had been an unknown explorer.

Even if I’d shown my worth during the expedition, how trustworthy could I seem in this kind of situation?

They naturally looked to their team leaders.

And then…

“I will go where the light leads me.”

 

The first to step forward was Jun.

He looked at me with an overly polite, almost reverent expression, as if to help me.

“Our team 4 will walk this path of hardship with you.”

Next was Kaislan.

“The Raphdonia royal family has appointed Rihen Schuiz as the leader of this expedition. Doubting his judgment and voicing objections can be interpreted as disloyalty to the crown.”

Though his introduction was long, his point boiled down to a single sentence.

“Our team 5 will follow your orders.”

Was he trying to support me just like Jun?

Kaislan knelt on one knee on the uncomfortable tree branch, taking a formal posture.

It was a bit unexpected.

He had looked displeased during the leadership meeting.

“Our Team 2 is a bit different.”

At that moment, Akuraba spoke up.

“It’s not because we have blind faith or fear the military laws of the Royal Family. I just agree with his opinion. It seems difficult for the royal family to come rescue us.”

“So?”

At my urging, Akuraba smirked.

“Team 2 will follow you as well.”

Okay, then only one team remained.

Team 3, led by James Carla, the vice-captain of the Gearfang Clan

As eyes turned to him, James Carla showed a perplexed expression.

“Well…”

Perhaps he felt burdened by the performances of the previous team leaders.

Maybe he thought such things didn’t suit him.

“Same here. It’s not like things will change if I’m the only one opposing. Ordinary people like me always have to find and follow the mainstream.”

It was a bit plain, but it was just like him.

His honest words, mixed with a joking tone, seemed to have conveyed well to the other team members.

“…Guess that’s it.”

“If he’s made up his mind, what can we do?”

“Ha! Never liked the royal family’s inefficiency anyway. Guess it’s time to fend for myself.”

“I’ll make sure to hold the royal family accountable for this incident. But surviving comes first.”

Hearing the murmurs, I clenched my fist tightly.

Let’s do this

***

“The patrols around us have increased. I think they’ve noticed their people have been killed… What should we do?”

What do you mean, what should we do?

The plan is simple from here on.

“We’ll use mass teleportation magic.”

First, we’ll use mass teleport to get out from the heart of enemy territory.

Well, there are issues with this too…

“After using such a large spell, the magicians will be out of commission for a while. Our location will also be revealed.”

Indeed, Noark’s scouts will trace the residual mana and pursue us.

But there’s no other choice.

“We have to accept that risk. No matter how stealthily we move, there’s no way this number of people won’t get caught by the enemy.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Since the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed, they can’t communicate freely either. It’s better to use mass teleport to widen the distance.”

At my judgment, the team leaders showed some concern, but didn’t speak up.

Okay, then that’s settled.

“What next?”

The plan after that is also straightforward.

“Whether a pursuit party comes or not, we’ll head north.”

Our destination is the northern hemisphere of the Dark Continent.

“Not south where our allies are?”

“Yes.”

There’s one reason we’re choosing north instead of south.

The scouts can only track where we teleported to.

They won’t know where we head afterward.

In other words…

“We’re deceiving the enemy into thinking we headed south. If they send troops south, the north will be relatively empty.”

“Exactly. We’ll hide under their noses until the Labyrinth closes.”

“I understand. Did your strategist come up with this too?”

Geez, they don’t believe I thought of it myself.

Well, it’s not important.

“Tell everyone to prepare. Once the magic chanting starts, those bastards will swarm us like a pack of dogs.”

“…Understood.”

After sharing the strategy with the team leaders, each of them relayed instructions to their team members.

With this, all preparations to start the plan were complete.

Tap.

Soon, we descended from the trees where we had been hiding.

Since the mages wouldn’t be able to conceal us with magic while completing the Mass Teleport spell anyway.

“First time stepping on the ground in three days.”

After a moment to feel the unfamiliar texture of the ground, the five mages of the expedition immediately split up and began to draw magic circles on the ground.

Swooooosh—!

To move a large group of 28 people, two mass teleport spells are needed.

Since a vast amount of mana is used, those with keen magic sense will soon notice the disturbance.

Please, let them take just a little longer to notice.

“…”

Leaning against the giant tree, we formed a semi-circular defensive formation as if guarding the mages.

“Mister, someone is coming. Very quickly.”

Soon, Erwin, who had an unusually sharp sense, murmured in a low voice.

And after some time passed…

“They stopped after spotting us. Now they’re hurrying back.”

Yeah, they’re going to call for reinforcements.

Whiiiiish—!

Before I could give any orders, Erwin shot an arrow into the dark forest.

But…

“Did you kill him?”

“No. It got stuck in a tree.”

“I see.”

Well, even if she had hit, it would have only bought a little more time.

After licking my lips once, I shouted loudly.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!!”

There’s no need to keep quiet now that we’ve been found out, right?

Soon, the Noark bastards will swarm in excitement.

And we’ll have to hold out until the mass teleport spell is complete.

Swoosh.

Now that I have some free time, I checked back one last time.

“The coordinates! The coordinate input here is wrong!”

“Oh, sorry. I’ll fix it now!”

The mages, aware of the urgency of the situation, drew their magic circles more urgently than ever.

If only this were a dimensional gate spell.

In the original game, only rank 1 mages could cast Dimensional Gate. And the price was steep: the caster’s life.

The Dimensional Gate currently in use in the Labyrinth is a modified version of the original.

To be precise, it’s a downgraded version.

A Dimensional Gate adapted so that even 4th rank mages can use it.

Moreover, it can only be used once in a lifetime, and using it doesn’t necessarily cost the caster’s life.

But still…

‘Cannot be used on the 7th floor or above.’

This restriction made me acutely aware of what could’ve been.

‘I should’ve insisted on including a first-tier mage.’

I had requested it, but the Marquis had rejected the idea.

There are very few rank 1 mages even in the Mage Tower, and the Royal Family has only one.

Even if Eye of the Sky is destroyed and our entire team returned alive, losing that one mage would be considered too great a cost.

Could that really be their reasoning?

The thought crossed my mind again, but I quickly dismissed it.

It wasn’t a question of logic anymore. Comparing the value of a mage’s life to our own was fundamentally flawed.

The original plan was to send a rescue team to ensure our survival.

Sure, there would be casualties among the rescuers. But given the reputations of the individuals in this expedition, the royal family would have considered such losses acceptable.

So, the reason the rescue team hasn’t come is something else—

‘…Let’s stop thinking about this.’

Why hasn’t the rescue team come?

I had pondered this countless times, but I decided not to think about it anymore.

After all, if we return alive, we’ll find out…

“They’re coming…!”

And if we don’t return alive, there’s no point in finding out anyway.

Boom—, Boom—

Slight vibrations felt through the ground.

“Uwaaaah!”

“Kill them!”

As soon as the enemies appeared from the darkness, I emptied my mind.

Now is the time to think of only one thing.

「The character has cast [Gigantification].」

「The character has used a transformation-type ability.」

「Due to the effect of [Primordial Cell], the soul energy consumption of the skill is reduced by half, and the highest stat increases by 1.5 times.」

Survival.

Trial

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

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