Surviving The Game as a Barbarian (Novel) Chapter 397, 398, 399

   

C397, 398, 399

Chapter 397: Expedition Force (2)

The founding ceremony was held in an empty mansion in the Imperial City.

It was a place that a certain count had been using as a villa, but he had to put it up for sale due to financial difficulties.

There was no need for a lavish ceremony, so they just set up a banquet and invited thirty expedition members and their sponsors.

And...

'It ended quickly.'

The formal part of the ceremony only took about 40 minutes.

The sponsors, including the Marquis, gave speeches encouraging and supporting the expedition.

"I'm sure you've heard enough about saving the country and being heroes, so I'll keep it short."

"Kill a lot."

"And earn a lot."

My speech, as the expedition leader, only lasted about 10 seconds.

The banquet followed the ceremony.

The sponsors included the Prime Minister, Duke Keallunus, a coalition of minor nobles, the Three Gods Church, the Alminus Trading Company, and the Explorer's Guild.

It was a gathering of influential figures, but the atmosphere was far from festive.

The food was plentiful, but it had been prepared in advance and was cold.

There was no orchestra, no servants to refill drinks, and no spectators to witness the event.

But no one complained.

Everyone knew...

This wasn't a place for laughter, music, and drunken revelry.

"It's an honor to meet you, Schuitz."

"I heard you fought four of Noark's guys at once? How did you win?"

"Four of them? What are you talking about?"

"Ah, you were on Sir Kaislan's team, right? Didn't he tell you about what happened?"

"It's been a while, Blood Spirit Marquis."

I was just sitting there, but countless expedition members came up to me and greeted me.

This is what it's like to be in a position of power?

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Lihen Schuitz, the expedition leader. What's your name?"

"Bentis Gerold. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I didn't turn anyone away and greeted them one by one, trying to memorize their faces and names.

They were the people whose lives I would be responsible for.

I had to know who they were.

As I was exchanging greetings, a familiar face approached me.

"I never thought I'd see the name Lihen Schuitz again, especially not at the founding ceremony."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Bersil Gowland."

Wow, I didn't expect to see her here.

"I'm Lihen Schuitz."

"You probably don't remember me, but I—"

"I know who you are. You were the Vice-Captain of the Laレール Clan, right?"

I first met this woman when the 1st-floor Crystal Cave was in chaos.

They needed fifteen more spots for the teleportation magic, and she used dice to choose who would be left behind.

Our team was one of the unlucky ones.

Damn, it was a nightmare trying to break through with those fifteen people—

"Thank you for remembering me, but I'm not the Vice-Captain anymore."

Bersil smiled bitterly and continued in a self-deprecating tone.

"I slept for too long. When I woke up, my position was gone."

"Ah... You were caught in the explosion, right?"

"Yes. I was unconscious for over a year."

"I'm glad you're awake."

"Yes... If it weren't for the 'Agent', I would still be in that state..."

The 'Agent' was the High Priest of the Tovera Church's alias.

He was known to be the best healer in the city, even surpassing the paladins.

'But her tone is a bit strange...'

Her face and expression were also gloomy.

It didn't seem like she was grateful to the one who saved her.

"Bersil Gowland, what team are you on now?"

"I'm on the 4th Team."

"4th Team..."

The 4th Team was led by the paladin, Jun.

According to the information the Marquis had given me, the team consisted of four members, all from religious factions.

But now there was a mage on the team?

'She must be in debt.'

I could guess her situation.

And she must have realized that I had figured it out.

She looked at me with a meaningful gaze and nodded.

"...You're different from what I expected."

"What did you expect?"

"You wouldn't ask that if you had heard that speech earlier."

Haha, a short and impactful speech is the best.

That's what I learned from the principal's lectures in middle school.

"Are you going to talk to her all day?"

Erwen interrupted us.

"Blood Spirit Marquis."

"It's been a while. The last time I saw you, you were abandoning us."

"...I regret that. I really do."

"You should. Look what happened because you ran away."

Bersil glanced at me and then bowed her head before leaving.

"Good job."

Erwen smiled, as if she had done it for me.

I just chuckled.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Pike Neldain."

As soon as Bersil left, the other members swarmed around me again.

I greeted them and exchanged brief conversations.

The Marquis had only given me a list of twenty members.

It meant that the other teams weren't finalized yet—

'What? Why is he here?'

As I was greeting the members I hadn't met yet, a familiar face caught my eye.

"...Sven Parab."

The Vice-Captain of the 2nd Paladin Order of the Leathlas Church.

He was sitting in a corner, sipping his drink with a troubled expression. He looked a bit surprised to see me.

"You know me?"

Of course, I did.

I had seen him several times at the church, and I was certain he was the one behind the 'Goblin Mask'.

"Don't underestimate the Marquis's information network."

"...I wouldn't dare."

"That's good to hear."

"If you're going to stay here, I'll—"

"Let's talk."

"Yes...?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, of course not..."

He said that, but his face clearly showed his displeasure.

Or rather, nervousness?

"Did Jun tell you about me?"

"About the bet? Yes, I heard."

Ah, so that's why he's so tense.

He must have heard about the fight.

"But why are you here...?"

"We'll be entering the labyrinth together soon. I just wanted to greet you. We'll be working together inside."

"Y-yes, I look forward to it."

I left Sven Parab after a brief conversation.

I felt a strange mix of emotions.

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

Sven Parab was the Goblin Mask.

It meant he was likely to reveal information about the expedition force at the Round Table.

'Why did they choose him?'

Damn it, how can I shut him up?

I could pretend to suspect him of being an evil spirit and keep an eye on him every 15th.

Then he would be forced to log out immediately.

'...I'll think about it later.'

I continued greeting the remaining members, including those I hadn't received information about from the Marquis.

Sven Parab was a negative variable... but there was also a positive aspect to this situation.

I can't emphasize this enough.

No Hans, no pain.

There was no Hans on the team.

It was a good sign.

_______________________

The banquet continued until evening, and then the founding ceremony officially ended.

But we stayed at the mansion.

Our existence was top secret.

Most of the expedition members were well-known figures, so they decided to stay here and practice together until the labyrinth opened.

'Practice... what a joke.'

What could possibly change in two days?

It would take weeks for the five teams to gather on the 6th floor.

They would forget everything by then.

So...

"It's best for each team to fight independently and help each other in emergencies."

That was the conclusion of our leadership meeting.

It would be inefficient and problematic to force everyone to move as one unit.

"But we should at least create a formation, just in case."

They decided to categorize the members.

Mages with mages, healers with healers.

They would be given different markings to distinguish their roles, and they would be trained on their positions in the formation.

It would be much safer that way.

"Warriors with shield markings will be on the outer perimeter, and those with sword markings will be behind them."

"What about the healers?"

"They'll be in the center, of course. They need to be protected so they can heal the wounded. Archers and ranged support will be positioned to protect the healers and mages."

Okay, this should be manageable in two days.

None of them were rookies.

They all had experience working in groups.

"Schuitz, are you listening?"

"...Of course."

Geez, I was just resting my chin on my hand.

There were only two commands for the expedition leader.

Independent combat for each team.

And 'Gather!' for the entire expedition force.

Well, there would be more commands later on, like 'Charge!', 'Focus Fire!', and 'Shield Wall!'

But for now, that was all.

"Then let's leave it at that for now, and we'll continue the formation training on the 6th floor. Or rather, what do you think?"

"I agree. Let's do that."

The meeting proceeded with them discussing and then asking for my approval.

After the meeting, James Kala, the former clan Vice-Captain, diligently trained the expedition force on the 'Gather!' command.

And two days later...

「Entered the 1st-floor Crystal Cave.」

It was time to enter the labyrinth.

_______________________

The Crystal Cave, shimmering with a faint glow.

All team members were wearing robes that concealed their identities.

They wanted to avoid attention.

Tadat, tadat.

The team's movement speed was surprisingly fast, despite having a mage and an ability user who weren't known for their physical abilities.

They both had their own ways of getting around.

「Liard Ashid has cast the 4th-grade transformation magic [Foxfire].」

The mage transformed into a ball of light and flew through the air.

And...

「Gruold Aldidi has used [Luberta's Dove Boots].」

The ability user relied on a Numbered Item.

Amelia looked at the old man running effortlessly beside her with a curious expression.

"...Is that a Numbered Item?"

"It's a 3000-series Numbered Item called Luberta's Dove Boots. It can only be used outside of combat, but... it's very useful for someone like me in the labyrinth."

"Won't you run out of Soul Power if you keep using it?"

"Haha, you underestimate ability users."

Ability users always prioritized Soul Power in their builds, so they had more MP than any other profession.

"Don't worry. I usually only use it up to the 3rd floor. It's difficult to use on the 5th floor because the passages are too narrow, and on the 6th floor... we'll be sailing anyway."

Having a high-level explorer on the team was definitely convenient.

He was prepared for everything.

'Maybe we can even speedrun this time?'

"Emily, increase the speed."

I gave a new order and felt a strange sense of excitement.

Whoosh!

The ball of light flew forward like a meteor.

Whiiiish!

Didi tilted his body and ran with his feet barely touching the ground.

"...Schuitz, why are you falling behind?"

"In, case, enemies, appear, from, the rear."

Damn, I'm out of breath.

"..."

I can't believe I'm the slowest one on the team.

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

Chapter 398: Expedition Force (3)

To summarize the result, the speedrun failed.

The portal to the 2nd floor was already open when we arrived, and we couldn't claim the first clear achievement.

Damn, I thought we could do it this time.

"How much time did we lose?"

"About 10 minutes."

10 minutes?

Even our arrival time was fast enough for a speedrun in the game.

It seems like the overall level of explorers has increased.

'Well, 10 minutes... if I just increase my movement speed, it might be possible.'

A stable speedrun strategy was crucial for maximizing experience gain.

That's probably why that Dragonkin woman requested to explore alone.

'I wonder if Raviyen succeeded in her speedrun.'

Raviyen, the Dragonkin woman.

She was the last member of our team, the one I added because of the deal with the Marquis.

She left the mansion as soon as the founding ceremony ended, without even participating in the banquet.

She said it would be much faster to explore alone, and that we could just meet on the 6th floor.

'If it weren't for the Marquis...'

Her individualistic mindset was a problem.

I wanted to correct it, but the Marquis intervened.

He said she had a special agreement with him, and that I should respect her autonomy.

He also asked me to refrain from forcing her to do anything.

Basically, he was telling me not to beat her up.

'...It's like I have a princess on my team.'

Of course, I wasn't going to give up on controlling her just because he said that.

I had to discipline her.

One way or another.

「Entered the 2nd-floor Goblin Forest.」

「Entered the 3rd-floor Pilgrim's Path.」

「Entered the 4th-floor Sky Tower...」

Anyway, her absence didn't affect our exploration. We continued as planned.

We speedran the first four floors.

And then we started practicing together from the 5th floor, where combat was unavoidable.

We naturally had a lot of conversations during that time.

"Hmm, it seems like you three really were living together..."

There were many personal conversations, but no one crossed the line.

For example, asking if my relationship with Erwen was as rumored.

Or being curious about my relationship with the Marquis.

Or wondering how we managed to stay hidden for so long.

Didi occasionally showed interest in those topics, but Ashid always intervened and changed the subject.

"But if—"

"Raines, I noticed something while watching you fight. Can your clone also use aura?"

"No, that's impossible."

"Is that so? It seems like your clone can use other abilities. I'm curious to know more about it. It's a rare essence."

At first, I thought it was a coincidence... but now I'm sure.

Ashid was intentionally diverting Didi's attention whenever he was about to ask something sensitive.

'He's a smart one.'

I don't know why, but he reminds me of Dwarkey.

Well, unlike Dwarkey, Ashid was much more sociable and eloquent.

He was also more mature and perceptive.

But that's why...

"Why are you looking at me like that, Schuitz?"

"I wasn't."

I couldn't help but think...

Riol Worb Dwarkey.

Would he have been like this if he had grown up?

_______________________

「Entered the 6th-floor Great Ocean.」

_______________________

18th day of the expedition.

We arrived at Starting Island Laimia after speedrunning most of the lower floors.

It was deserted, as expected.

No one would be here at this time, not after we had pushed ourselves to get here.

Except for...

"...There she is."

The royal reconnaissance team.

The elite members of large clans waiting for their reinforcements.

And...

"...Hello."

The other expedition teams who greeted us from afar, wary of our presence.

Wow, two teams had already arrived.

I had expected the dwarf woman's team to be here, but I didn't think the paladin, Jun's team would be faster than us.

"...There you are."

The island was deserted, so it was easy to find the one I was looking for.

Raviyen, the Dragonkin woman.

The last member of our team, the one I had to add because of the deal with the Marquis.

"You two, wait here for a moment."

I left my teammates behind and approached the woman who was sitting on a chair under the shade of a tree, staring blankly at the ocean.

"18th day... You're early."

She spoke without turning her head.

Does she have eyes on the back of her head?

"The meeting point is on the east side of the island, isn't it?"

"We're not leaving until the 20th. And the other teams seem to be resting here too."

Well, that's true.

I wasn't going to criticize her for that.

"When did you arrive?"

"Two days ago."

"Two days ago...?"

...That means she arrived on the 16th?

She cleared the first five floors in less than two weeks?

I couldn't help but be impressed, despite my dislike for her individualistic mindset.

"...You're fast."

She must have speedrun all five floors.

I could understand why she didn't want to join us.

If she had explored with us, she would have missed out on 12 free experience points.

'This is going to be difficult to handle.'

I was conflicted.

It felt like I was being a bossy leader for insisting on exploring together.

"Anyway, get up."

"Why?"

"We haven't had a chance to talk in the city."

"Okay."

I was worried she might refuse and stay here until the 20th... but Raviyen readily agreed to my suggestion.

We headed towards the east side of the island, where the meeting point was.

"Nice to meet you. This is our first time meeting since the founding ceremony, right?"

"I apologize for that. I had some family matters to attend to. I'll try to make time for you in the city next time."

"I appreciate that. Can I call you Raviyen?"

"Yes, please call me whatever is comfortable for you, Ashid."

The conversation flowed smoothly.

"Can I call you Miss Raviyen?"

Didi cautiously asked, aware of the difference in lifespans between Dragonkin and humans, and Raviyen readily agreed.

And...

"What about you two? How should I address you?"

Raviyen turned to Amelia and Erwen.

"Emily or Raines, whichever is fine."

"Call me Raines."

"Tersia."

Erwen's curt response made Raviyen stare at her with a strange expression before smiling.

"Okay, Tersia."

Okay, that settles the naming issue...

'...Why are we even discussing this on the 6th floor?'

Can we even call this a team?

I shook my head and got to the point.

"We've already practiced together in the city, and we learned about each other on the way here."

"I understand. You want to know more about me."

"We need to know who we're entrusting our lives to."

"Okay."

Raviyen drew her sword and demonstrated a few of her skills.

She explained her role in combat, but...

It seemed like she was hiding a few things.

Well, that wasn't unusual for warriors, especially mages, priests, and ability users.

"Where should I stand when we're traveling?"

"Rear."

"And in combat?"

"Emily will be on my left, and you'll be on my right."

"That's a classic formation."

"We don't know much about each other, so it's best to keep it simple."

Raviyen chuckled, sensing the hidden message.

"Are you going to keep talking down to me?"

"I'm just stating the truth."

Well, let's end the power struggle here.

Ashid and Didi then explained their roles to Raviyen.

It didn't take long, but it was still annoying.

We had already discussed this in the city.

Why are we repeating this?

Maybe individualism is synonymous with inefficiency.

"You're here."

"We can't be slacking off while the expedition leader is here, can we?"

Akuraba's team and the paladin's team arrived from the beach.

And after some time...

"The 3rd Team has arrived."

We were all gathered on the east side of the island, overlooking the 6th-floor portal.

James Kala, the Vice-Captain of the Sawtooth Clan, led the 3rd Team.

"...That team looks exhausted."

"It seems like they pushed themselves to get here."

I could understand why.

The official meeting date was the 20th, but they probably thought it would reflect poorly on their skills if they were the last to arrive.

It was a kind of power struggle.

'This is like herding cats.'

I was thinking about how to unite them when the sun started to set.

The 5th Team, led by the knight, Kaislan, arrived just as the sky turned dark.

"Damn it...!"

He clenched his fist in frustration, realizing he was the last to arrive, even though he had arrived two days early.

He was clearly overreacting.

"What are you doing? Get over here."

"...Alright."

He flinched and walked towards me.

I patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry, we have two more days. It's not a big deal."

I stood up, using his shoulder as support.

"We're all here now, so there's no need to waste any more time."

"Are you finally going to tell us about the mission?"

"Ah, wouldn't it be better to have the other members step back?"

"It's fine. It's not a secret. And besides, they can't tell anyone anyway."

The other members, who had been awkwardly observing us, moved closer.

They had my permission, so they were free to listen.

"Tell us. What's the mission? You're the only one who knows."

Akuraba's curious gaze met mine across the flickering campfire.

I wish the dwarves would just sit on chairs.

The fire is blocking their faces.

It's not even that big of a fire.

Anyway, that wasn't important.

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat and spoke with the authority of an expedition leader.

"I'm sure you're all curious. Where is Noark's base in the Dark Continent?"

"Yes. If they're using a portal to enter the 7th floor, there must be a starting point, like the Crystal Cave."

"Do you mean to tell us that the royal family has finally found it?"

"That's right."

My words, revealing the top-secret information I had received from the Marquis, caused a stir.

But it was too early to be surprised.

"Our mission is to attack their base."

We were a mobile strike force.

Our role was to infiltrate and destroy the enemy's core facilities while the main force distracted them.

"...There's something I don't understand. If that's our mission, why is the schedule so tight?"

"Are you planning to have us break through the Ghostly Canyon?"

"...That's insane! Unless we're with the main force, there's no way we can cross that canyon with just one ship!"

Damn, they're interrupting me again.

It was a typical characteristic of the Tang Dynasty army.

They couldn't hold back their excitement.

I had to clear up the misunderstanding before it got out of hand.

"We're not crossing the Ghostly Canyon."

"What? But you said we're attacking their base in the Dark Continent..."

"Last warning. Don't interrupt me again."

"..."

Okay, it's much quieter now.

I calmly explained the mission.

"The Ghostly Canyon isn't the only way to enter the Dark Continent."

"Ah! You mean...!"

They finally figured it out.

That's why I had them gather on the east side of the island.

"We're going to Ice Rock on the east side."

Just like the four 2nd-floor fields, Goblin Forest, Beast's Lair, Rocky Desert, and Land of the Dead, were all connected to the 3rd-floor Pilgrim's Path...

The 7th floor wasn't just the Dark Continent.

In other words...

"We'll enter the Dark Continent through the 8th floor and attack them from behind."

It was like eating a frozen cake.

It was hard to chew.

It might even hurt your teeth.

And you might even wonder if it's worth the effort.

"But the reward will be sweet."

"Anyone who doesn't understand, step forward."

"..."

"I'm glad no one is scared."

Then let's begin.

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

Chapter 399: Expedition Force (4)

Labyrinth entry, 18th day.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

A medium-sized warship carrying thirty crew members set sail, cutting through the waves.

For reference, this was a warship supplied by the royal family, and its ownership had been temporarily transferred to me, the expedition leader.

While the team members went to their assigned cabins to organize their luggage, Amelia approached the navigator who was holding the helm.

"Excuse me."

"Ah, you're Emily Raines, right? What can I do for you?"

"How long will it take to reach Ice Rock?"

"I estimate about 12 days."

"Is Ice Rock closer than the Dark Continent? It took 15 days to reach the Dark Continent on the warship last time."

"The distance itself is similar, but the ships are different. The Type 7 warship we're on is classified as a medium-sized vessel, but it's known for its superior maneuverability."

"I don't understand how a three-day difference can be considered 'superior maneuverability'."

"The easternmost sea is different from the ordinary ocean."

"Hmm, I see."

Amelia, who had recently been showing a keen interest in sailing, nodded as if she understood.

"You seem to know a lot about warships."

"Haha, I have to. I've been sailing them for most of my life."

The only navigator on our expedition force was from the 5th Team, and he was originally a member of the royal navy.

Hmm, that explains why Kaislan was the last to arrive on the 6th floor.

He wasn't speedrunning with a navigator.

"Can you tell me more about warships?"

"I apologize, but I'm not allowed to disclose information about warships."

"I understand..."

"...But since we're on the same ship, I can't stop you from observing."

"I won't bother you."

As Amelia expressed her gratitude with a bright expression, I entered the ship.

And headed towards a room located deep within.

"Oh, you're all here."

"You ordered us to gather here after we finished organizing our luggage."

The team leaders were waiting for me in a room designed for leadership meetings, and I quickly asked them a question.

"Has anyone been to Ice Rock?"

Only Akuraba and James Kala raised their hands.

"No one else?"

"It's not a place people often go to."

"We've only been there a few times, for clan expeditions to earn achievements. We usually avoided it."

It wasn't a suitable place for ordinary hunting.

Even on this ship, where skilled explorers were gathered, I guessed that less than half had been to Ice Rock.

"I see."

I nodded and gave them their assignments.

"James Kala, you're in charge of training the members while we're sailing."

"Training?"

"Formation training, tactics, that sort of thing. We didn't have much time in the city. They're all experienced, so a few practice sessions on the deck should be enough."

"Understood."

We needed to expand the list of commands for the expedition leader.

Otherwise, there could be unexpected casualties in emergencies. We didn't even have a proper formation for retreat or escape.

"Since our destination is Ice Rock, we'll prioritize training for that environment."

"I'm glad you're keeping it short."

Okay, he's from a large clan, so he should be familiar with various formations.

"Titana Akuraba, you're in charge of managing the supplies."

"What about my authority?"

"I'm giving you full control."

I entrusted Akuraba with managing the consumables and equipment.

If Jun, who was from a religious faction, or Kaislan, the inflexible soldier, were in charge, there would be objections.

But Akuraba was a legendary explorer with years of experience. She would be able to handle any complaints from the members.

"Melend Kaislan."

Next was the knight.

He gulped, looking eager to receive his assignment.

He was kind of cute, in a way...

"You're in charge of maintaining order within the expedition force. If any conflicts arise between the members, you'll be the first to intervene and mediate. And if any unfortunate incidents occur, you'll be responsible for resolving them."

"You're making me your right-hand man. I understand. I'll do my best."

Uh, why is that being my right-hand man?

Soldiers have a different mindset.

"Then I guess I'm the last one."

Jun, the paladin, smiled and looked at me.

"How can I be of service?"

He had become surprisingly friendly after our spar.

Sometimes I wondered if he had ulterior motives...

But I ignored those thoughts and spoke.

"Explorers often seek out paladins during expeditions, don't they?"

"Yes, I've heard that. The labyrinth can be mentally draining."

"Listen to them. Be open to their concerns. And if you hear anything I should know, report it to me. That's your mission."

"The other races won't seek me out."

That's true.

The Three Gods Church was a human religion.

But...

"That's enough."

More than half of the expedition force were human.

And those humans were spread across the five teams.

If he listened to their voices, he would be able to gauge the overall sentiment within the expedition force.

"Is that all?"

Akuraba asked, and I nodded.

She then cautiously asked another question.

"Why are you delegating your authority to us? We're not your subordinates."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

'What a strange question.'

I answered without hesitation.

"Because it's efficient."

We're all on the same boat now.

_____________________

18th day of the labyrinth expedition.

The warship carrying thirty explorers arrived at its destination.

It was a bit early, considering the navigator's estimated arrival time of 12 days and 7 hours.

'Warships are really something else.'

It wasn't just about its ability to quickly cross the windless zone.

It was also impressive how it rammed through the ice floes in the eastern sea, relying on its sturdy hull.

The icebreaker on the bow was quite something.

Crack, crack, crack! Crack, crack, crack!

'It's not an official 'Frozen Sea' area, but...'

The warship crushed the ice floes as it sailed through the icy waters.

"We're here..."

The expedition members gathered on the deck, their breaths forming white clouds in the frigid air.

They were all wearing thick fur coats over their armor, regardless of whether it was leather, plate, or cloth.

They were supplies from the royal family.

'Damn, I prefer heat over cold...'

I also prepared myself mentally.

And...

"Hold on tight! We're entering the portal!"

As the navigator shouted,

「Entered the 7th-floor Ice Rock.」

The blue portal engulfed our ship.

Well, even without the visual effect, I could tell we had arrived at Ice Rock.

「Character has entered a special area.」

「Field Effect - Ice Rock applied.」

「Cold Resistance decreased by -100.」

The first thing I felt was a chill that pierced through my bones.

It was just the beginning.

The infamous effects of Ice Rock, the reason why most explorers avoided this place, were also active.

「Status Effect [Frozen World] applied.」

「Space-related items are deactivated.」

The status effect that rendered subspace pockets and expandable backpacks useless.

This one line was enough to drive explorers crazy.

"Let's unload the supplies!"

Akuraba, in charge of supplies, led the team members as they unloaded the 'Preservation' enchanted supply boxes.

We would be dragging these boxes from now on.

And...

There was another thing that made this place even more challenging.

「Status Effect [Starvation] applied.」

「Resources gained from consumption are reduced by 3 times.」

It meant that you would get hungry three times faster in this area.

That's why we needed so many supplies.

This was the main reason why most explorers avoided Ice Rock.

You could endure the cold, but not hunger.

Our time here was limited by our food supply.

'We have enough for a month.'

That was assuming nothing unexpected happened.

"Mister! They're ready to depart!"

The team members efficiently unloaded the supplies.

Five sleds loaded with boxes were waiting on the frozen ground.

"Let's go back."

After unloading the supplies, the navigator and I returned to the 6th floor on the warship.

We then transferred to a small rowboat and unsummoned the warship.

「Entered the 7th-floor Ice Rock.」

We rowed back to the same spot.

It was a bit of a hassle, but it was a necessary process.

We couldn't just abandon the warship.

"What are we going to do with this boat?"

What do you mean, what are we going to do with it? We have to leave it here.

I hid the rowboat in a secluded spot, making sure it wouldn't drift away.

That concluded the preparations.

"Each team, get into formation!"

The team members moved swiftly, forming their assigned formations.

They had been well-trained.

"Let's go!"

At my command, the expedition force began its march.

___________________________

The formation on the vast plain was simple.

My team, the 1st Team, was at the front.

The 3rd and 5th Teams were on the left and right flanks.

The 4th Team was at the rear, and the 2nd Team, in charge of supplies, followed us in the center.

Thump, thump, thump!

We marched forward, the heavy sleds dragging behind us.

"Mister, are those Ice Trolls?"

Three Ice Trolls were pulling the sleds loaded with supplies.

It was thanks to the summoner on Akuraba's team.

Otherwise, we would have had to pull the sleds ourselves.

"Halt!"

We had just left the starting area of Ice Rock and were about to enter the eastern region when the 1st Team stopped.

There was no need to ask why.

Crash, crash, crash!

The ice wall that had looked like a cliff crumbled, and a giant monster emerged.

"It's a Stonewinter!"

Three Stonewinters.

3rd-grade super-sized monsters.

Kuuuuuung!

Damn, this is Ice Rock, but...

Three 3rd-grade monsters right from the start?

"All units, battle formation!"

At my command, the team members moved swiftly.

Thankfully, no one seemed scared.

Well, with this firepower, three 3rd-grade monsters should be easy, right?

I thought that as I led the charge...

But that expectation was shattered quickly.

「Stonewinter defeated. EXP +7」

The first battle ended, and a heavy silence fell over the expedition force.

"...Casualty report."

I suppressed my frustration and asked the team leaders, and they answered nervously.

"Four minor injuries, three serious injuries. We're prioritizing the serious ones."

The injuries themselves weren't a big deal.

It could happen.

It was their first time fighting together.

And they had encountered three 3rd-grade monsters at once.

It was understandable.

The paladins could heal them.

But...

"And?"

"...One sled is half-destroyed, and the supplies are gone."

That was the real problem.

One of the super-sized monsters had reached the supply sleds.

And unfortunately, the ground couldn't withstand the weight and collapsed, taking a fifth of our supplies with it.

"What was the ratio of food in the sled?"

"...It was all food."

Akuraba's words made me curse.

"Damn it."

We had only been in Ice Rock for one day.

"We're increasing the pace."

The march of suffering had begun.

Trial

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

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