C22, 23, 24
Chapter 22: Level Up (2)
I skipped the daily routine I've been doing every day for a month – library, city adaptation, combat training.
On the day the labyrinth opens, those aren't the things an explorer should be doing.
[08:10]
As soon as I wake up, I skip breakfast and run to the meeting place I agreed on with Ainar.
I heard that if I'm even a little late, I'll have to wait for several hours.
"Here! Bjorn, son of Yandel!"
Surprisingly, Ainar was there before me.
"...Since when have you been here?"
"You said you'd leave me behind if I'm late! So I slept here! Come on! We're the first!"
"......"
There's a long line in front of the entrance even though there are still 30 minutes left until opening time.
But thanks to Ainar, we can enter the Explorer's Guild as soon as the door opens.
"What can I help you with?"
"We're here for the Bonding spell."
"Are there two of you in the team?"
"Yes."
"Please place your hands on this together."
As we follow the instructions, a faint light emanates from the crystal ball.
It has a green hue.
"It seems both of you are 9th-grade explorers. The cost is 15,000 stones."
15,000 stones...
It would have been a bit tight if I hadn't been saving on living expenses.
I readily open my pouch and pay the fee.
It hurts my heart, but it's an unavoidable expense.
Although the starting point when entering the labyrinth is random, receiving this spell beforehand ensures that at least we start in the same place.
"What is the basis for determining an explorer's rank?"
"It's measured by the total amount of essence engraved on the soul."
"I see. So the cost of bonding increases each time the rank goes up?"
"Of course."
Ha, there's no need for even this to be the same as the game.
"It's done. Please note that it only lasts for 24 hours."
"Alright."
We finish our business and leave the Explorer's Guild, and it's a little past 9:00 AM.
"Let's go back to our inn for a meal. The food there is quite decent."
"Inn? They cook at the inn?"
What kind of life has she been living?
When I indirectly ask, Ainar replies as if it's no big deal.
"I usually ate the bread I had in the labyrinth."
Ah, that one that costs 20 stones each.
I tried it once to save on food expenses, but I gave up soon after.
For some reason, even though it was quite edible in the labyrinth, here it was as hard as a rock.
'That's why it's called 'stone bread'...'
But to eat only that for a month?
Feeling a bit sorry for her, I order meat and stew, and Ainar swears her loyalty.
"Bjorn! I'll even jump into a pit of fire if you tell me to! So don't abandon me!"
After a tearful meal, we go up to the room and spend time organizing our backpacks.
"Do it meticulously. It'll be troublesome if you need something and forget to bring it."
"Don't worry! There's nothing to bring anyway!"
As I check the equipment and carefully pack exploration tools and consumables into the backpack, time passes surprisingly quickly.
"Then let's get some sleep now."
"This is the first time I've seen such a soft bed. It seems big enough for two people! And it doesn't even smell!"
Having finished our preparations to enter the labyrinth as soon as possible, we lie down side by side and try to sleep.
But lying down with her like this feels quite cramped.
When I was lying down with Erwen, there was space left over.
"Even if you can't sleep, try to close your eyes. You won't be able to sleep properly for a while—"
Hmm, what was I worried about?
Snore, snore, snore!
Before I can even finish speaking, the sound of native barbarian snoring fills the room.
I chuckle and close my eyes too.
How much time has passed?
[20:30]
We wake up a bit early and have our last meal on the 1st floor.
We splurge and order the special meal for 800 stones per person.
"What, what is this taste?"
Ainar, who has been making a fuss throughout the meal, takes a bite of the cream pie that came out for dessert and freezes.
"Is, is this magic? T, tears are coming out of my eyes."
"Ah, that's called 'sweetness'."
"I, I feel like I need to live diligently..."
I didn't intend to, but it seems like I've successfully motivated her.
"Let's go."
As we pack our things and head out into the night street, I see people passing by, unlike usual.
Most of them are armed like me and carrying large backpacks.
As I said, not everyone is like that, and I also see some barbarians with nothing but their bare bodies and one weapon.
They seem to have just finished their coming-of-age ceremony and entered the city...
"Halt! I think we're lost."
"No way! We have to get to the labyrinth within the allotted time!"
"Partun is not qualified to be the leader!"
So this happens every month, huh?
How do these guys even make it to the labyrinth every time?
As I'm seriously pondering this...
"If you follow them, you'll arrive at the labyrinth."
Ainar approaches them and offers advice.
The young warriors look at her with grateful eyes, as if she's a successful senior.
"Thank you. I will definitely repay this favor!"
Ainar wipes her nose as she watches the barbarians leave.
"...Huhu, it reminds me of old times."
I hope she doesn't pretend it's something from the past.
As far as I can see, she's not much different from back then.
"Everyone, please step back!"
Thousands of people have already gathered in the Dimensional Plaza. As I'm waiting for midnight among the crowd, light starts to burst from the center.
It's small at first, but the light quickly grows larger, forming a shimmering sphere.
"You may enter now!"
As the official shouts, the nearby explorers start throwing themselves into the portal.
I lead Ainar and escape the crowd, moving towards the outer area.
"Bjorn, are we not going in?"
"Wait."
Although the number of explorers gathered in the plaza is decreasing by dozens every second, the crowd remains.
It's because other explorers are arriving just in time.
About 40 minutes after the portal opens, the crowded Dimensional Plaza finally becomes less crowded, with around seven or eight hundred people remaining.
"...Shouldn't we go in now?"
The portal, which has already swallowed tens of thousands of explorers, has become noticeably smaller.
But I keep waiting.
Ainar, as if sensing something, changes her tone of voice.
"Bjorn, what are we waiting for?"
Well, it's a long story...
And I don't even know if it will work.
But since there's still some time left, I decide to explain briefly.
"We're going to enter when the dimension is unstable. The book said it's something that happens once every hundred years, but if we can use this phenomenon—"
"I'll follow your lead, whatever it is."
"......?"
"I have a feeling I won't understand anyway!"
Honestly, I expected this.
She asks and then says that, which is annoying, but...
The fact that I don't have to explain every single action is actually quite convenient.
"The gate will close soon! Step back!"
The light of the portal starts to fade.
There are no explorers left at this point.
Only then do Ainar and I slowly walk towards the labyrinth.
The staff member shouts at us as we walk.
"It's dangerous to enter now!"
I pretend not to hear.
I don't understand why they say it's dangerous.
There's even a book with statistics on it, so they must be aware of this phenomenon...
"B, Bjorn! The tall-looking person says it's dangerous! We need to step back!"
Why don't they think of using it?
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds...
Hmm, is there any point in counting?
When I get the feeling that this is enough...
"Now. Let's go in."
"Kwek!"
I push Ainar's back and enter the labyrinth at the same time.
Flash-!
A flash of light blinds me, and when I open my eyes again, deep darkness greets me.
It means what I intended worked perfectly.
"I can't see! I can't see! We should have listened to the tall-looking person! Bjorn is an idiot!"
"Ainar, calm down."
As I quickly light the torch I took out of my backpack, Ainar regains some composure.
"Wh, what the hell is going on?"
"You won't understand even if I tell you."
"That's... that's true!"
After easily convincing Ainar, I calmly look around. And I discover the stele in front of the dead end wall and am overcome with a strange feeling.
As expected, the dimensional instability phenomenon is closely related to the starting point of the portal.
This fact is both happy and sad.
In other words, if I had made a decision just one minute earlier during the first entry, I wouldn't have had to crawl on three legs with one foot fucked up!
Whoooooooooosh!
As I place my hand on the stele, a light erupts and takes the shape of a sphere.
"What is this?"
"It's a portal to the 2nd floor."
In other words, we skipped the entire process of finding our way with a compass, fighting monsters as we encountered them, and wandering around in the darkness.
We saved at least a day or two.
"What?! The chieftain said it would take 3 days to find a portal! What kind of magic did you use?"
You won't understand even if I tell you.
「Opened a portal for the first time. EXP +2」
「Character level has increased.」
「Soul Power increased by +10.」
「Maximum absorbable essence increased by +1.」
To become a veteran player, you also need to be good at using bugs.
_____________________________________
「Bjorn Yandel」
Level: 2 (New +1)
Physical: 46 / Mental: 36 / Ability: 4 (New +3)
Item Level: 202
Total Combat Index: 136.5 (New +3)
_____________________________________
「You have entered the 2nd Floor Goblin Forest.」
I float about 3 meters in the air and quickly regain my balance, landing on two feet.
Thud!
Well, I practiced.
While wrestling with the barbarians.
"Ugh!"
Seeing Ainar fall on her butt, I'm newly aware of my own growth.
I think I understand how Erwen felt when she giggled at me.
"Ugh, my butt hurts."
It's quite amusing to watch.
Well, with her athleticism, she'll soon be able to land properly.
"What's with that disappointed look?"
"It's nothing."
I roughly brush it off and take out my watch, adjusting it to 00:05.
I should have done it as soon as I woke up, but I forgot.
Well, it should be fine since I set it 5 minutes fast.
"...Ainar, do you feel it too?"
"Feel what?"
"It feels like my heart is vibrating."
It's like a feeling of something dense entering my blood vessels and filling my entire body.
I've been feeling it since the moment we came through the portal, and now I can feel it clearly.
What is it?
When I explain the symptoms, Ainar quickly makes a diagnosis.
"It seems like your soul rank has increased! Congratulations!"
Ah, I leveled up.
[Dungeon and Stone] also has levels.
Leveling up increases Soul Power, which is the resource needed to use abilities, and increases the total number of essences that can be absorbed.
For example, when I was level 1, I could only absorb one essence, but...
Now that I'm level 2, I can absorb up to two.
Well, it only matters if both essences appear.
"That's strange. My soul rank increased even though we haven't killed any monsters yet!"
"There's nothing strange about it. Opening the portal for the first time must have been recognized as an achievement."
Achievement means experience points here.
"Hmm, even that counts as an achievement?"
It does.
No, once you reach a certain level, 'speedrunning' is the easiest way to gain experience points.
[Dungeon and Stone] has a rather unique growth system.
You can only gain experience points from the same monster once. Therefore, to level up, you need to defeat various monsters, as if filling up a collection book.
Uh, wait a minute, isn't this a bit dangerous?
"...Ainar, this is a secret between you and me. Got it?"
"Secret? What do you mean?"
"That we opened the portal first. That's all you need to know. If anyone asks, tell them it took us about two days to get to the 2nd floor."
The experience points for opening a portal are only 2, which is equivalent to about two 9th-grade monsters, but...
'Unlike monsters, it accumulates.'
Therefore, adventurers who reach a certain level are desperate for speedrunning.
The monsters you can hunt are limited by compatibility, active area, whether you have a mage, and the characteristics of the god the priest worships.
When you hit a wall, the only way to break through is by grinding achievements.
But to be able to do this from such a low level?
I need to keep this trick to myself and reap the benefits.
It won't end well if it becomes known.
"I swear on my honor as a warrior."
Was my expression that serious?
Ainar looks at me with a different gaze and even swears an oath without me asking. Thanks to that, I feel somewhat relieved, but we need to move quickly.
"We need to leave this place first."
In a few hours, adventurers will start entering the 2nd floor. And they'll look at us, who seem like newbies, and wonder.
Why did you get here before us?
It's best not to be noticed at all.
As always, I'm more scared of explorers than monsters.
--------------------------------------
Chapter 23: Level Up (3)
I insert the torch into the slot carved on top of the helmet.
And I tie it tightly with a string.
It's called Barbarian Candle Mode.
...I feel a sense of self-deprecation, but it's a practical method that other explorers also use.
Ainar reaches out to the flickering flame and lets out a gasp of admiration.
"Oh, that's amazing! It really isn't hot!"
Well, this torch is also a magic tool, you know.
It's only about a hand span long, so it doesn't hinder my movements, and once lit, it lasts for about three days. It's a useful item.
It was among the exploration tools that the crossbow party had.
The average market price was 10,000 stones, wasn't it?
...Suddenly, I miss Erwen.
"But where are we?"
Ainar asks, looking around as her surroundings come into focus.
There's a huge gap between seeing things in person and in 2D pixel graphics, but this time it's quite easy to recognize.
The black earth that squishes with every step.
The remnants of stone buildings scattered around.
And the mournful cries faintly echoing in the distance.
"The Land of the Dead."
"Ah, the place where ghouls and death fiends appear!"
For now, that's correct.
To be more specific, elder ghouls, skeletons, banshees, and even the mid-boss-level Dullahan also appear, but...
"I'll take the lead."
The Land of the Dead has much stronger monsters than the Goblin Forest in terms of combat power.
However, if we're talking about difficulty, I would say the Goblin Forest is worse.
This place is much darker, but...
At least there are no traps here.
This place is much more suitable for two barbarians to operate in.
"Ghouls."
Soon, we encounter monsters.
There are only three of them.
Of course, by Day 3, the number will increase to about three times this amount.
Another reason to move quickly.
"Bjorn, here's a magic stone!"
"Just pick them up as you see them, no need to report each one. We'll distribute them later. Let's speed up."
Unlike in the Goblin Forest, I immediately leave the entrance area and head north.
As we're doing so, we hear a scream from nearby.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!"
"Bjo, Bjo, Bjorn?!"
"It's a banshee's howl. Just ignore it. They rarely attack first."
"I, I see... But is it really okay not to kill it? It could be dangerous."
Well...
If we had Erwen, who can use spirits, maybe.
But with two physical attackers, there's no way to catch a banshee, no matter what we do.
Even if we could catch it, it would be a problem.
"If you attack a banshee first, you'll be cursed."
"Cursed?"
"It's a curse called the Mark of Resentment. Banshees will relentlessly target you until you leave the labyrinth."
Unless you're going to spend ten days just hunting banshees, it's best not to touch them at all.
If you're aiming for experience points, it's common to just kill one or two on the last day.
"You truly are a wise warrior. I'm glad I followed you."
I appreciate the compliment.
Although she tries not to show it, I understand that she's actually quite scared of things like this.
But that's one thing, and this is another.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaak!"
"Clench!"
I wish she would stop clinging to me every time she hears that sound.
It's embarrassing, and...
My arm feels like it's going to break.
"Let, let go... Skeletons."
Just in time, a group of skeletons appears, making clattering sounds as their joints rub against each other.
There are ten of them.
As a monster known for its numbers even on Day 1, there are quite a few of them.
Well, even if we kill them all, we'll only get three or four magic stones.
"Ahem! I'll take care of them!"
As if embarrassed by being scared of the banshee's cries, Ainar charges forward first.
Tsk tsk, I click my tongue inwardly.
"Ainar! If you look between their ribs, you'll see a core. To kill skeletons with bladed weapons, you have to aim for that spot..."
Kwagic-!
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing, just focus on fighting."
Kwagic-! Kwagic! Kwagic!
Forget about weaknesses or whatever.
Every time Ainar swings her huge greatsword, skeletons shatter.
And they never get up again.
「Killed Elder Ghoul. EXP +1」
「Killed Skeleton. EXP +1」
「Killed Skeleton Warrior. EXP +1」
「Killed Skeleton Archer. EXP +1」
______________________________________________
Afterwards, we travel north for about 8 hours.
Naturally, we encounter various new monsters along the way.
Elder ghouls that are about twice the size of regular ghouls.
Variations like skeleton warriors and archers.
I haven't encountered a skeleton mage yet, so it's hard to say for sure, but so far, there's nothing too difficult.
It's Day 1, so the number of individuals is small, and my combat power has also significantly increased compared to before.
Thwack-!
Just look at the equipment.
The man's two-handed hammer had to be gripped short due to its center of gravity.
But with this mace, which is about 70 centimeters long, I can strike from a greater distance.
It's much safer and more powerful.
And most importantly...
Clang-!
I have armor now.
Although my forearms are exposed due to the vest-like plate armor, it still reduces the area I need to cover with my shield.
This allows for a much more aggressive fighting style.
It feels like I've finally been released from shackles.
"Bjorn, be careful! There are skeleton archers too!"
The steel helmet, with only my eyes, nose, and mouth exposed in a T-shape, protects my head, the most important vital point.
Of course, it would be dangerous if I were to be hit directly by something like a crossbow, but it easily deflects arrows shot from those rickety bows.
And there's another barbarian with combat power similar to mine.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Together, we shout the name of the barbarian ancestor god and continue our massacre-like battle.
Thwack! Thwack! Kwagic-!
No matter what monster appears, it only takes about 10 seconds to completely destroy a group of them.
Is that why?
After each battle, I feel a sense of exhilaration that I couldn't experience when I was with Erwen.
Ah, is this the true taste of being a barbarian?
"Bjorn, you're injured."
Huh?
When I check after hearing Ainar's words, I see a slight scratch on my forearm.
However...
"Don't worry. It'll heal soon."
I don't even need to apply herbs, let alone use a potion.
"Oh! The wound is already closing up! Is that the power of the Spirit Engraving?"
The first stage of the Undying Engraving path greatly increases natural regeneration.
Of course, it's not comparable to a potion...
I checked the other day, and it takes about a minute for a 0.5 cm deep cut to heal to some extent.
But even this alone significantly increases stability. My stamina has also increased tremendously because my health regeneration has become faster.
"Get ready. It seems like we're almost there."
I warn Ainar to be on guard and slow down our pace.
The terrain has changed.
The ground is no longer muddy but hard, and it's uneven with bumps here and there.
The banshee's howls have also become much louder.
"Kihihihihihi!!"
"Keuheu, heuaaaaak!"
Of course, there's another, more significant change.
From this point onwards, higher-ranked monsters appear.
In other words, 8th-grade monsters.
"...Bjorn, are you sure they don't attack first?"
Ainar has been clenching her teeth since we started hearing the banshee's cries, probably because she's scared.
I heard that barbarians clench their jaws when they're scared...
I don't really know.
Maybe it's because I haven't been that scared yet?
"KuoOOOOO—!!"
As we continue moving, we hear a bizarre roar from the darkness.
Whew, hearing it in person really sends chills down my spine.
"Ainar, prepare for battle."
"But, didn't you say we're not going to fight banshees?"
Does she have no ears?
"That's not a banshee."
Death Fiend.
Among the various 8th-grade monsters that contributed to the high entry barrier of the game, it's definitely the biggest asshole.
__________________________________________
The heavy footsteps that could be felt from afar gradually grow louder, and soon the creature reveals itself before us.
"...We're going to fight that?"
Ainar asks me, and then mutters before I can even answer.
"This will be fun."
Her emotions are hard to understand.
Earlier, she said she was afraid of dying, but how can she smile while looking at something like this?
While being scared of banshees?
Thud!
Perhaps annoyed by the light, the Death Fiend stops at the edge of the torch's illumination.
"Don't be nervous."
"Don't worry, I'm not nervous."
Why are you answering? I was talking to myself.
...Let's stay calm.
Although this is our first try, as long as we don't let our guard down, there won't be any danger.
If the situation gets worse, let's just run away without looking back.
"As I said before, aim for the head. Anywhere else is pointless. Got it?"
"Got it!"
No, I didn't mean to charge in right away...
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
Ainar charges forward, holding the greatsword with both hands.
It's too late to stop her.
The creature, its aggro properly drawn by her battle cry, charges forward with its sword and shield.
"KuoOOOOO—!!"
Kwaaang!
Ainar's greatsword clashes with the Death Fiend's protein blade, creating a deafening roar.
"Bjorn, be careful! This monster has ridiculous strength!"
Don't you usually realize that just by looking at it?
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!"
I also shout loudly and charge forward.
And after putting up a wall with my shield, I strike the creature's side as it tries to attack Ainar, who was thrown back.
Is this the heaviness that comes from its size?
It feels like I hit a rock.
Crackle.
As the creature exerts its strength, my body is pushed back along with the shield.
There's no need to resist, but my pride is hurt.
So, I dig my heels in.
And I put my entire weight forward, letting out a scream rather than a roar.
"Aaaaaaaaak!"
Damn it! It feels like my muscles are going to explode.
But I feel an indescribable thrill.
I'm about to die, but... I held on.
And Ainar isn't inexperienced enough to miss this opportunity.
Whoosh!
Her greatsword, swung with a heavy whooshing sound, strikes the side of the Death Fiend's head.
Not cutting, but literally striking.
Clack!
Even though she swung that thick greatsword, the blade only penetrated about 1 centimeter.
The dull sound must have been from the skull.
Well, even in the game, the Death Fiend's defense was notorious.
Of course, what made many beginners quit the game wasn't its defense, but its regeneration ability.
"KuoOOOOO!"
"Retreat for now!"
We create some distance to avoid the enraged Death Fiend.
Dark red blood flows from the spot where the greatsword was pulled out, but the bleeding stops within 3 seconds.
The creature's passive skill, 'Physical Preservation.'
"Ainar! Create an opening! This time, I'll attack!"
I give a quick order and am about to charge in again when...
Drrdrdrdrdr!
The ground suddenly starts shaking.
Although this is the first time I've seen this effect, I instantly recognize what it is.
The Death Fiend's active skill.
'Call of the Dead.'
"Get away, ghouls are coming!"
As the tremors end, ghouls emerge from the ground, digging their way out.
Exactly ten of them.
"Let's deal with these guys first!"
"Alright!"
While Ainar swings her greatsword at the ghouls...
"KuoOOOOO!"
I focus solely on the Death Fiend and stay close to it.
However, the ghouls, whose aggro was drawn, scratch me with their claws, turning my skin into a mess.
Of course, it's not a big problem.
I have regeneration too, you know.
Although not as good as yours.
"Bjorn! I'll take over this guy now!"
After about 2 minutes of holding out, the ghouls are dealt with.
Somehow, I find it funny myself.
I endured the Death Fiend's summoning pattern while just taking hits.
'I rarely did this kind of thing even in the game.'
After switching roles, while Ainar focuses on the creature one-on-one, I take out my mace and move behind it.
And I deliver a Smash to the back of its head.
Thwack-!
A satisfying sound with a satisfying feel.
Rotten blood even oozes out from the back of its head, where the hair is sparse.
Even so, I continue to swing the mace.
Thwack-! Thwack-! Thwack-!
Each blow carries the power that would have turned a goblin into light upon impact.
But damn it, why isn't it dying?
Clack!
Experiencing it firsthand, the hardness of its skull is beyond imagination. The flesh is even healing as I'm hitting it.
...What should I do?
My attack power is lacking.
I should have bought the one the weapon merchant recommended earlier.
Should I just give up on catching this guy and hunt 9th-grade monsters instead?
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I keep hitting it with the mace while contemplating, but it's not enough to shatter its skull.
Whoosh!
In the end, I have no choice but to retreat to avoid the protein blade that's swung at me.
But at that moment...
"Kuot!"
The Death Fiend suddenly loses its balance and tilts to the side.
I check and see Ainar, who has taken advantage of an opening, grabbing one of the 3-meter-tall creature's legs and lifting it up.
It's a technique I often see in UFC.
Could this be...
'Single leg takedown?'
"Behel—laaaaaaa!!"
Her muscles are pumped and her veins are bulging, making her look more like a monster, but...
Her intention is clear, and I can see the possibility.
So I immediately join in.
Thwack-!
I strike its ankle with my mace with all my might, and the massive body loses its balance and momentarily floats in the air.
And...
Thud-!
It slams onto the ground.
In technical terms, a takedown.
This is the first time I've realized that this kind of fighting is possible against a monster classified as medium to large.
...There's nothing barbarians can't do.
"KuoOOOoooot!"
The Death Fiend struggles like an overturned bug.
Ainar and I, about to pounce on it, freeze at the same time.
"KuoOOOoooot!!"
You, you can't get up on your own?
"Bjorn!"
"Ow!"
We understand each other's thoughts with just a look.
Ainar and I run towards the fallen creature and strike it with our weapons like crazy.
We take turns, one after the other, as if we're pounding rice cakes on a mortar.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Come to think of it, this is exactly how we pounded rice cakes when I visited the Korean Folk Village in elementary school.
"This is fun!"
Is it because I remember my partner from that time crying and asking to switch places?
Seeing Ainar enjoying it together with me heals the wounds in my heart.
It feels like even my soul is becoming pure.
「Killed Death Fiend. EXP +2」
As the Death Fiend disappears into light, we both smile brightly.
Without the powerful magic of a mage, the divine power of a priest, or the spirit magic of a fairy...
"Bjorn! Look at this! The magic stone is huge!"
We successfully hunted an 8th-grade monster.
------------------------------
Chapter 24: The Marauder (1)
A 9th-grade magic stone is worth one stone bread.
In other words, each one has a value of about 20 stones.
Then what about an 8th-grade magic stone?
Unfortunately, one Death Fiend is only worth five goblins.
“What? It’s only worth a hundred stones?!”
“...If you include the ones dropped by the summoned ghouls, it’s 300 stones.”
Of course, even considering that, it’s a low amount.
We just risked our lives.
“Bjorn… how much was that bread we ate at the inn?”
“...I remember it being around 300 stones.”
“Then… that means we can enjoy one sweetness each time we catch a Death Fiend!”
It seems the cream pie we ate earlier has become Ainar’s new unit of measurement.
Of course, if we split it 8:2, it would be 0.2 sweetness per monster, but…
It’s probably better not to mention that.
“Bjorn! We don’t have time for this. Let’s hunt! Let’s hunt!”
Disappointed by the smaller-than-expected amount, Ainar quickly becomes enthusiastic again.
Seeing her like this, I smile.
In this aspect, it’s not bad to have a barbarian as a companion.
Erwen, my former companion, was good in many ways, but she had the disadvantage of being passive in everything.
Motivation is much simpler with Ainar.
“Alright, let’s go!”
After that, we continue to roam the vicinity, hunting Death Fiends.
It takes over 20 minutes to hunt one, so even if we earn 300 stones, it’s almost a loss, but…
The first try is always an exception.
“KuoOOOOO!”
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!”
Whenever we encounter a Death Fiend, we charge together, shouting the name of our ancestor god.
And we each grab one of its legs and lift it up, slamming it onto the ground.
It’s called the Double Barbarian Takedown.
Thud!
Once it’s down, the Death Fiend becomes easy prey.
We take turns pounding its head from a position where its arms can’t reach, and it soon disappears into light.
The whole process takes about 3 minutes.
It’s hard to shorten the time any further because the Death Fiend, sensing danger once it’s on the ground, summons ghouls.
“Uooooooh!”
The more we hunt, the faster our magic stone pouch fills up, but we’re not satisfied and push ourselves even harder.
Hunting Death Fiends becomes impossible from Day 3 onwards.
In the first place, if we hadn’t used a bug to reach the 2nd floor faster than anyone else, I wouldn’t have dared to fight this thing.
These guys don’t usually travel alone.
We can manage up to two, but three or four of them together are too much for just the two of us.
[14:27]
I check the time and take a short break.
There’s a saying, “strike while the iron is hot,” but accidents always happen when you’re in a hurry.
“Bjorn, I’m thirsty.”
“Drink sparingly. We won’t find corpse flowers until tomorrow.”
“Corpse flowers?”
They’re the only source of hydration in the Land of the Dead. When the time comes, flowers bloom on the vines covering the remains of stone buildings. If you split them open, there’s water inside.
Ainar makes a face when I explain this.
“Bjorn, isn’t that a bit unsanitary?”
That’s definitely true.
I heard it’s okay to drink, but even I find it gross.
However, that’s not something someone who slept in a 5-person room with ten other people without showering should be saying.
“Then do you have another way?”
“No! I’ll drink it!”
After resting for about 20 minutes and replenishing our stamina, we resume hunting.
And by the time we’re about to collapse from exhaustion, we’ve hunted a total of 70 Death Fiends.
That’s over 20,000 stones in earnings per day.
‘This is better than just catching 9th-grade monsters, right?’
However, the essence I was secretly hoping for didn’t appear.
___________________________________
The drop rate for essences is abysmal.
Therefore, in the early stages of the game, building your character based on the essences that drop is the basic strategy, and…
Your skill as a player depends on how well you do that.
In that sense, I had some expectations.
The Death Fiend’s essence is among the top-tier ones you can get in the early stages.
‘The problem is, there’s no sign of it dropping.’
The active skill ‘Call of the Dead,’ which summons ghouls, is honestly a bit ambiguous, but the passive skill ‘Physical Preservation’ more than makes up for it.
Of course, eating the essence wouldn’t give me the same ridiculous regeneration ability as the Death Fiend, but…
It would synergize well with me, whose regeneration coefficient has increased due to the Undying Engraving.
[02:57]
I check the time while listening to Ainar’s snores.
Day 2 has begun.
From now on, we’ll have to fight two Death Fiends at a time, but there’s something that puts my mind at ease.
At least we won’t look strange when we encounter other explorers.
As I’ve said many times, I’m most scared of explorers.
“Ainar, wake up.”
“…I didn’t eat it!”
“It’s time to switch.”
Three hours each.
After a total of six hours of rest, we continue hunting Death Fiends on Day 2 as well.
“KuoOOOOO!”
Two of them.
There are twenty ghouls summoned by their active skill, but we can still manage somehow.
It’s thanks to the experience we gained on Day 1, where we fought them countless times.
Thud-!
We rush in like we’re stealing candy from a baby and slam one of them to the ground first.
Then we work together to take down the other one.
If we make even one mistake in this process, it could become quite troublesome, but…
In that case, we run away without looking back.
“Ainar, let’s get out of here!”
“Ow!”
Death Fiends have slow movement speed and don’t chase after you if you move away from their territory, so there haven’t been any dangerous situations yet.
Swaaaaaaaaa!
Each battle takes about 10 minutes.
We even failed about three times out of ten, but since we’re catching two at a time, the income is similar to Day 1.
On Day 1, it took quite a bit of time just to find groups.
However, as the afternoon passed, groups of three Death Fiends started appearing occasionally, and the frequency increased as time went on.
“It’s time to leave this place.”
“A wise warrior knows when to retreat.”
As Day 2 draws to a close, I reluctantly leave the Death Fiend territory. And we return to the muddy field and search for a suitable campsite.
That’s when…
“……!”
We encounter another group of explorers for the first time.
The group of three humans is wandering through the darkness, relying on a single torch like us, but…
We only notice each other after approaching within 10 meters.
“What are you looking at? Get lost if you have no business here.”
“Ahem, my apologies.”
When Ainar speaks coldly, the opposing group passes by us first and disappears back into the darkness.
It’s a bit strange.
Thud, thud.
They only moved about twenty steps away, and we can still faintly hear their footsteps.
But the light from their torch is already out of sight.
They say that most floors of the labyrinth have a property that absorbs light, so this is what they meant.
It seems like the brightness of a torch becomes invisible to the naked eye even at a distance of 10 meters...
As I’m thinking about this phenomenon…
“Bjorn, we need to move.”
Ainar speaks in a firm voice.
“They know our location. It’s convenient because there’s a wall behind us, but it’s safer to find a new campsite.”
That’s definitely true.
That’s what I was going to do.
But I can’t get used to it.
What’s with her, telling other explorers to get lost as soon as she sees them…
Her character has suddenly changed.
“Bjorn, humans are not to be trusted.”
“…I agree.”
Now that I think about it, besides being barbarians, we have one more thing in common.
It’s distrust of humans.
It seems like something must have happened to her during her first entry as well.
I should ask her about it later.
“Then let’s move.”
We pack our things again and move.
However, it’s difficult to find a campsite as good as the previous one. Should we just settle for a wall to cover our backs?
As I’m thinking that…
“Keueueu…”
We hear a moan not too far ahead.
“Keuheok! Heueueup!”
It’s not a banshee.
First of all, it’s not a female voice, and…
“…Wai, wait!”
They’re clearly speaking.
“Sa, save—”
Damn it.
I should have just camped anywhere and slept.
“…….”
Silence falls after the interrupted scream.
Ainar whispers,
“They weren’t killed by a monster.”
I have ears too, so I know.
People rarely beg for their lives from monsters.
The situation is clear. A person killed another person.
Damn it, what the hell is this shitty situation?
It’s not like I’m some kid detective.
I grab Ainar’s wrist and slowly step back, not wanting to get involved.
But did they sense something?
“Who’s there?”
A cold, low voice is heard.
It’s rough, but it’s a woman’s voice.
We both hold our breath and stay perfectly still.
But at that moment…
Phew! Bang!
Something like a flare shoots up into the sky, faintly illuminating a radius of about 50 meters.
Thanks to that, I can also see the owner of the voice.
She’s only about 15 meters away.
…If Erwen were here, she would have sensed their presence from afar and avoided them.
“Hmm, newbies?”
The mysterious woman makes a quick judgment, looking at us.
It’s the same for us.
A dagger dripping with blood.
Four corpses sprawled on the ground.
“…A marauder.”
The woman asks nonchalantly,
“First time seeing one?”
“Sort of.”
It’s the first time I’ve seen one as professional-looking as you.
“I see.”
Although the murder scene has been witnessed, she might be flustered, but the woman’s expression is strangely calm as she nods meaningfully.
Somehow, I think I know why.
_____________________________________
Marauders.
That’s what they call those who specifically hunt fellow explorers, not monsters.
They make a high income by looting explorers’ equipment, not magic stones.
Of course, if they’re caught, they’ll be executed as soon as they return to the city, but…
That rarely happens.
Just like I killed six explorers, even though it was self-defense, and wasn’t investigated.
There’s no way to know what happens in the labyrinth from the outside.
Unless someone tells the outside world.
“…She’s not wearing a mask.”
That’s the most fucked-up part of the current situation.
This psychopath bitch was going around as a marauder with her face exposed.
A little over 170 centimeters tall with a lean build.
Shoulder-length red hair, a tattoo under her eye, and a half-torn right earlobe.
With these features, it wouldn’t be difficult to identify her.
If this were the modern world, she could have just denied it and asked if there was any evidence, but…
The world I’m in is one where magic exists.
There are ways to distinguish truth from falsehood without physical evidence.
“…Were they companions?”
“Who knows.”
The woman shrugs as she looks at the corpses.
“Maybe this side thought so.”
So that’s why she wasn’t wearing a mask.
Even while asking a question with an obvious answer, I quickly organize the information I can see.
Four corpses in total.
Judging by the level of their equipment and the presence of a mage, they were explorers operating at least on the 5th floor or higher.
Also, three of the corpses have no external injuries.
However, they all have traces of blood and stomach fluids around their mouths, so…
‘Did she poison them? And the man she finished off at the end had some resistance, so he held out for a while?’
I hope this speculation is correct.
If she’s skilled enough to kill four mid-level explorers alone without any wounds, the situation is even more grim.
Clatter, clatter.
The woman squats down and skillfully removes the equipment from the corpses.
And she puts each piece into her bag.
It’s a magic bag, as even bulky items fit in easily.
Fear rises before envy.
Just the fact that she has something like that makes me feel the gap between her and us.
“Barbarians.”
The woman calls out to us.
I don’t answer.
Ainar quietly asks me,
“Are we going to fight?”
She’s really something.
If it were Erwen, she would have been scared shitless and stammering by now.
Is it warrior pride or something that makes her think of fighting first, regardless of the difference in strength?
I answer briefly.
“I’m thinking.”
Honestly, I want to avoid the option of fighting.
The difference in equipment alone is clear.
And if she’s as skilled as her equipment suggests, well… even with a 2:1 advantage, our chances of winning are much lower.
Whooooosh—!
The flare shot into the sky burns out, and darkness descends once more.
I immediately make a decision.
“We run. At full speed.”
Pride won’t save your life.