Chapter 208: Chapter 208 Leader (1)

Leader (1)

Leader (1)

We’re moving forward slowly, cautiously observing our surroundings.

It’s a change that occurred a few minutes ago.

We stopped running towards the 2nd floor and started focusing more on safety.

It was an unavoidable choice.

Because fog had engulfed the entire cave.

“…I’ve heard of this. It’s dark magic. They said dark mages used it during the subjugation.”

My heart beats slowly.

Thump!

Our visibility is only about 5 meters, even though Raven is using wind magic to clear the fog.

It’s difficult to deal with danger in this environment.

This isn’t a game where everything is just HP and MP.

A single mistake can lead to death.

And there’s no ‘retry’ button.

Thump!

I have to stay alert.

To return alive without losing anyone.

“Mr. Yandel…”

We were too weak to protect ourselves.

That’s why we lost a companion.

It was a crisis we couldn’t overcome otherwise.

Then what about this time?

‘Right, we’re much stronger than back then…’

I engrave the positive aspects in my mind to prevent my body from stiffening with tension.

That’s when…

“Mr. Yandel!”

“Don’t shout.”

“Then answer me quickly.”

“So what is it?”

Raven, riding on Ainar’s back, asks cautiously.

“Is going to the 2nd floor the right choice?”

“What do you mean?”

“There are a lot of royal knights who entered. And many large clans too. Wouldn’t it be safer to join them?”

It’s not a completely unreasonable suggestion.

No, if we were near the starting point, I would have definitely chosen that option.

But in the current situation…

…it doesn’t seem like a good choice.

And there’s one thing I need to correct.

“Raven, more than half of the large clans didn’t enter the labyrinth.”

I heard it from Fox at the Round Table.

The large clans that were dissatisfied with the royal family started a large-scale boycott.

Well, some of them backed out after realizing that the royal family was making a list of those clans…

But it wouldn’t be a significant number.

“…At a time like this.”

No, they did it because of this situation.

“Avman, which direction?”

I continue navigating, confirming the portal’s location with the bear-like man. It’s another change that occurred after the fog engulfed the cave.

The compass stopped working.

“…Will it be okay if we just find the portal?”

“It won’t be safe just because it’s the 2nd floor. But we just have to reach the 4th floor.”

The Tower of Heaven is an independent floor.

If we just get there, we’ll be able to return to the city safely, even in the midst of this war.

As expected, that’s our best option—

“No. I meant, what if there’s no defense at the portal?”

“What do you mean?”

“Literally. If I were a Noark tactician, I would first find a way to block the path to the 2nd floor.”

That’s… true.

But what am I supposed to do about it?

We have to at least try.

We’re already in the outermost area thanks to the dimensional instability phenomenon.

“If it’s impossible to go to the 2nd floor… what are you going to do?”

Raven keeps asking me questions, unlike usual. It seems like she’s also feeling uneasy.

Well, she needs someone to rely on.

She’s inexperienced in this area.

“Then we’ll join the people from the city, as you said. In the first place, there’s no other way.”

I try to speak calmly.

Although I don’t know if it’s really the best option, at least someone has to do it.

“If you understand, let’s keep moving.”

“Okay…”

That’s when, as we’re heading towards the 2nd floor as quickly as possible…

“We’re finally meeting someone. Do you guys know what’s going on?”

…we encounter explorers.

A team of three humans and two beastmen.

Their equipment is about the same level as ours, or even better.

Well, they wouldn’t be low-level explorers if they’re here at this time.

Our strength would increase significantly if we joined forces.

But there’s something I need to confirm first.

“Identification tags first.”

Are they trustworthy?

____________________

“They’re real.”

“Then would they be fake?”

We first confirm that we’re all from the city by checking the identification tags engraved on our wrists.

And we naturally start talking.

Normally, we would have gone our separate ways after confirming the identification tags…

…but it’s clearly an emergency situation.

“Do you guys know anything?”

“Not much. Just that Noark is up to something.”

“Noark… as expected.”

I narrow my eyes, looking at the leader of the other team as he nods at my words.

“Don’t you have a mage on your team?”

It’s a well-known fact that there are few mages in Noark.

“As you can see.”

But the leader shrugs confidently.

“We’re a team that aims for achievement points. There’s no need for a mage.”

Damn it, that actually makes sense.

Mages usually don’t participate in speedruns.

They would just be a burden because of their slow movement speed, and mages can’t gain experience points from speedruns anyway.

Therefore, we introduce ourselves.

“I’m Bjorn, son of Yandel.”

I figured that if he had any fame, I might have heard of him, just like how I have the title of Little Balkan.

“I’m Hansen Kelders.”

“Hansen?”

“Oh, do you know me? Maybe we know each other through someone—”

“I don’t think so.”

I shake my head.

Although I flinched because the name sounded ominous, I’ve never heard of it.

Then what should I do?

Just as I’m contemplating, Hansen whispers something to his companions.

“Little Balkan? Ah! The barbarian from the Floor Master incident!”

It seems like one of them knew my title.

Hansen’s gaze becomes a bit more favorable.

“Now that I see it, you’re a famous guy, huh? How about we move together? It doesn’t seem like either of us is in a situation to be exploring leisurely.”

Hansen’s team proposes to join forces.

“Can you give me some time?”

“A few minutes, if that’s all. I’m not comfortable staying in one place for too long.”

I ask for Hansen’s understanding and then have a discussion with my companions.

There’s a saying, ‘two heads are better than one’, right?

Maybe they noticed something strange that I missed.

“I don’t know. It seems like it would be safer with more people… but I think it’s better to do whatever Bjorn wants.”

“I’m the same as Misha!”

The melee damage dealer duo expresses their intention to follow my decision.

The bear-like man is against it.

“Something’s strange. If they’re at that level, they should be famous, but I’ve never even heard of that name? Even if they’re not from the underground city, they might be marauders.”

This is a bit concerning.

The bear-like man has the widest connections among us.

“Raven, what do you think?”

“I, I don’t think there’s anything strange. So wouldn’t it be better to just join forces? Their identification tags were fine.”

Hmm, right, that’s true.

I was secretly relying on Raven the most, but it seems like I need to change my thinking.

Is it because this is her first time experiencing something like this?

She’s not as sharp as usual.

“Forget about the identification tags and just look at the people.”

“Yes? What do you mean… ah!”

Raven’s eyes widen as she realizes the meaning of my words.

Considering the current situation, it’s foolish to just trust identification tags.

There’s a chance they’ve created counterfeits.

There are two possibilities.

They couldn’t create counterfeits and are acting out of desperation.

Or they succeeded in creating counterfeits and are boldly making a move, trusting in them.

I don’t know which one it is yet.

Therefore, I have to trust my gut and make a decision. Just like when I played [Dungeon and Stone], where you get a game over if you die once.

“I, I don’t know. Mr. Yandel, please decide.”

Raven leaves everything to me, as if she’s confused.

What the hell happened to her mental state?

“Raven, get a grip. You were fine even when there was a hidden assassin next to us in the Tower of Heaven.”

“Th, that was different. If I make a mistake now, other people will be harmed.”

Ah, so that was it.

I learned something new about Raven.

I can’t believe she can’t make a decision when she has to take responsibility for others.

Someone might die because of my judgment.

It’s not an easy burden to bear and make a decision.

This isn’t a game.

It’s not just a matter of a character dying.

‘Damn it.’

In the end, the decision is up to me.

It’s nothing new, but…

‘This is troublesome.’

I sigh and look at Hansen’s party, who are standing a distance away.

If they had a mage…

Or if they were explorers I’ve heard of, or a team from a famous clan…

Then I would have trusted them more easily.

‘But they’re neither.’

Unfortunately, time is short.

“Have you made a decision?”

“Yes.”

I finally make up my mind.

“Sorry for making you wait, but I’m refusing your offer.”

My final decision is to not gamble unnecessarily.

“Really? That’s a shame.”

Unexpectedly, Hansen nods without any sign of displeasure. It seems like he already understands my reasoning.

“The cautious ones survive longer. I hope we’ll see each other again.”

“What about you guys?”

“We’re going to the 2nd floor. I’m not sure if it’s safe there either, but it’s better than here.”

“I see. Let’s meet in the city if we have the chance.”

“What are you doing? Let’s move.”

The short conversation ends, and Hansen’s party leaves first, disappearing into the fog.

Did I make the right choice?

Smirk.

I force a smile as if to erase my doubts and anxiety.

When did I ever make a choice knowing the outcome?

“Let’s go too.”

We have no choice but to trust and move forward.

_________________

About 5 minutes after parting ways with Hansen’s party, we find five corpses.

They’re not from Hansen’s party.

Although they’re naked, as if their equipment was looted, it’s not a problem to confirm their identities.

“It’s a knight.”

“…A knight?”

“Yes. The tattoo on the back of his neck. It’s the emblem of Viscount Terten’s family.”

“To engrave their family emblem… it’s like a brand.”

To be precise, it’s like they’re not even people, but objects.

Is that why?

I feel a bitter taste in my mouth.

It’s a stark reminder that even knights are treated as consumables in this world.

“…Not all noble families are like this.”

I organize my thoughts, ignoring Raven, who’s speaking defensively.

The corpse of a knight and four soldiers.

And the surroundings, devoid of any signs of battle.

It means one thing.

“There’s a monster out there.”

“Yes. Judging by the wounds, they were all killed in one blow. And the wounds are identical, so it doesn’t seem like they were attacked by multiple people.”

Knights, who use Aura, are the strongest in PvP, the swords that protect the privileged in this world where magic and abilities exist.

But to think they died without being able to do anything…

It makes me realize that we’ve entered the eye of the storm.

A knight who probably spent his entire life wielding a sword and enjoying immense authority died like an extra.

No, they’re probably still dying.

Just like during the Noark subjugation that took place in the underground a few months ago.

“Time of death?”

“About 20 minutes ago.”

Right, so it’s not like he’s right next to us.

It’s a positive clue, but it’s too early to relax.

Anything could happen from now on.

“Are those bastards… really planning to start a war?”

The bear-like man frowned and muttered.

It seemed like he finally realized the gravity of the situation after seeing the knight’s corpse.

Well, we haven’t fought anyone yet.

I said firmly,

“They’re not planning to, Avman.”

“…….”

“The war has already begun.”

We’re lucky to be in the outermost area.

So we haven’t experienced the aftermath directly yet.

Well, it’s just a matter of time.

“What are you going to do?”

I sighed at Raven’s question.

I’ve lost count of how many times she’s asked me this since we came down to the 1st floor.

We’re at a crossroads again.

“There’s nothing but a portal in this direction.”

“You don’t have to explain. You’re saying that bastard who killed this knight went that way.”

The only escape route I judged to be possible, the 2nd-floor portal.

A monster is lurking there.

But even if we turn back, the situation is grim. The battle that started in the center will soon engulf the entire 1st floor.

‘Damn it, we shouldn’t have come down to the 1st floor, even if it meant going through the Beast’s Lair.’

I can’t help but regret it.

I can’t believe that trivial choice put me in this shitty situation.

It’s like the cruel world is testing me.

Do whatever you want.

But you’re responsible for the consequences.

I involuntarily look at my companions.

“…….”

Misha, Ainar, Raven, the bear-like man.

They’re also looking at me.

As if to say the choice is mine.

“…Let’s go back.”

I finally make a decision.

I don’t know who’s ahead of us.

It might even be a member of Orculus.

There can’t be many people at that level even in Noark.

Just as I’m about to turn back…

“Ha, are you really just going back?!”

…I hear a voice from beyond the fog.

Thud.

Footsteps follow.

Swaaa!

Raven immediately dispels the fog with a gust of wind.

A man is revealed.

A man wearing a simple black outfit, with no visible equipment.

He’s wearing a skull mask.

“What kind of barbarian is so timid? Huh?”

My body freezes at his voice.

It’s a voice I’ve never heard before.

That much is certain.

But…

“Pfft.”

…it’s familiar.