Chapter 217: Chapter 217 Monarch (1)

Monarch (1)

Monarch (1)

Dimensional Gate.

A unique magic spell handled only by a few schools.

It goes without saying how overpowered this spell is in this game filled with game over flags.

To be able to return to the city without waiting for the labyrinth to close?

It’s the ultimate survival skill.

‘Well, it’s not without limitations.’

First, it’s not easy to use as an escape tool during battle since the countermeasures are widely known, at least in PvP.

And it can only be used by up to 30 people.

That’s why expedition parties on the upper floors are almost always formed in groups of 30.

‘And most importantly, the mage can’t use that spell again once they use it.’

For reference, this is different from the game.

Originally, in the game, only Archmages who reached 1st grade could use the ‘Dimensional Gate’ spell.

And if they used it, they always died.

But this world is 150 years in the future compared to the game’s timeline.

The six schools that possess the Dimensional Gate spell formula conducted joint research and created a method for lower-ranked mages to use it.

Although I don’t know the details since I’m not a mage, I do know that it’s a method that can only be used once in a mage’s life.

‘There’s no mage in this situation who would refuse to use the Dimensional Gate spell…’

Then how many of them entered the labyrinth?

Hmm, it would be quite a few.

Large clans prioritize recruiting mages who can use Dimensional Gate, and those schools also encourage mages who still have ‘Dimensional Gate’ uses left to participate in exploration support.

But…

‘Even if they gather everyone they can, it won’t be more than 150.’

Realistically, less than 4,500 people can escape this hell through Dimensional Gate.

‘Excluding the royal knights and the elites of large clans who have mages… it’s safe to say that the rest are all abandoned.’

The more concrete the numbers became, the more I realized how insane this plan was.

The scale was different from the 3rd-floor Floor Master incident.

At least tens of thousands of explorers would die.

‘To make this decision knowing that…’

I pushed aside the feeling of dread and continued my reasoning calmly.

Maybe this is the most important thing right now.

Why did the knight commander make this decision?

‘…He must have judged that the path to the 2nd floor is blocked, or at least no different.’

It’s impossible to escape the 1st floor.

No, it might be possible, but it would result in more casualties than having a small number escape through ‘Dimensional Gate’.

So the knight commander made this decision.

He judged that it was strategically the right choice to preserve as much strength as possible and return to the city—

“It’s good to see you again.”

I turned around abruptly at the sudden presence behind me and froze.

Phew, that startled me.

“You’re Bjorn Yandel, right?”

The knight commander was standing behind me.

So, his name was…

“Marco Elburn.”

“You have a good memory for a barbarian.”

Normally, I would have retorted, but I responded gently,

“Thank you for the compliment.”

He’s the highest authority here, after all.

It’s a golden opportunity to have a private conversation with him, even for a short time.

I asked him after much deliberation.

Directly, like a barbarian.

“You’re looking for mages who can use Dimensional Gate, are you planning to escape?”

This question was the most important, to confirm whether it was true.

His eyes turned cold as soon as he heard it.

“You’re like a barbarian in this aspect. If it were someone else, they wouldn’t have dared to ask me directly, even if they knew.”

That’s because I’m a barbarian.

He asked back as we maintained eye contact,

“Where did you hear that?”

That was enough.

Right, it’s true.

I was hoping there might be another strategy…

“I heard a knight giving orders to an administrator earlier.”

“…He’s not very careful. Or maybe he let his guard down because he thought you were a barbarian.”

Judging by his gaze, that knight wouldn’t get off easily, but it’s not my concern.

Just as I’m about to continue the conversation…

“Hmm, maybe you’re smarter than I thought.”

…he spoke with a strange look in his eyes.

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll just tell you. I heard about your team composition from the administrator.”

“…You investigated me?”

“I became interested.”

Interested…

Is this a positive variable, or the opposite?

Well, it turned out to be both.

“I can take you and the mage. If you promise to serve the royal army for one year.”

He offered me a Dimensional Gate ticket.

The problem was that there were only two tickets.

“What about the others?”

“You know, don’t you? What kind of choice you have to make.”

Damn it, so they don’t meet the criteria.

I thought I raised them well for the past few months.

“So, what are you going to do?”

I’m at a crossroads.

“I’d like you to answer now. We don’t have much time.”

My life and one of my companion’s lives?

Or a gamble where we risk all our lives?

[Can… we win?]

[Don’t worry, I’ll save everyone and get us back.]

A fleeting conversation we had flashes through my mind.

“I…”

I answered without hesitation.

“Don’t abandon my companions.”

Maybe I’ve really become a barbarian, even in my mind.

_________________

「The second Lord of Fear has been defeated.」

「The third Lord of Fear has been defeated.」

「The fourth Lord of Fear has been defeated.」

「The fifth Lord of Fear has been defeated…….」

「…….」

_________________

Time passes.

I kept the conversation I had with the knight commander a secret.

[Keep the Dimensional Gate a secret. If you value your companions.]

It wasn’t just because of his threat, but I didn’t feel the need to tell them. It would spread soon enough even if I didn’t.

And indeed, it did.

“Mr. Yandel, you heard, right? About that.”

It’s impossible to silence thousands of people.

Especially if they’re not united as one.

The knight commander’s plan to escape through Dimensional Gate spread through word of mouth, and it didn’t take long for it to reach Raven’s ears.

“Yeah, I know.”

“…What are you going to do? Do you also think it’s a rumor?”

The bear-like man and Misha’s gazes turn to me at Raven’s question. So they already discussed it among themselves before talking to me.

Well, they’re probably the only ones who didn’t feel the killing intent that’s filling this cave.

“Karon, you can’t even lift that greatsword! How can you call yourself a man!!”

“I, I can lift it! Lo, look!”

“Oh! Then are you half a man?!”

The barbarians have been playing with one Adamantium greatsword for an hour.

Sometimes I envy their carefree nature.

To be able to move forward without any doubts.

“Um, Mr. Yandel…?”

“Ah, sorry, I was lost in thought.”

I forced a smile and patted Raven’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry about the rumor! Everything will be fine!”

Everything will be fine.

I’ll make sure of it.

So I just want them to move forward without any doubts.

I’m the only one who needs to be constantly wary and anxious about what traps and enemies lie ahead.

“No, why are you being so unnecessarily optimistic?!”

“That’s what a leader does.”

“Ah, okay, stop hitting my shoulder!”

I roughly ended the conversation and closed my eyes, lost in thought.

My only concern recently has been one thing.

How can we all return alive?

I’ve contemplated thousands of times, made and discarded countless plans, and even after making one plan, I repeatedly reviewed it to see if there were any variables or miscalculations.

‘It has to be perfect.’

If Plan A doesn’t work, then Plan B.

And if that doesn’t work, then Plan C.

I simulate the worst-case scenarios I might encounter, from beginning to end, whenever I have time, just like now.

After some time…

Whoosh!

…a faint tremor emanates from the ground, as if we’re getting closer to the critical point.

“It’s already the eighth one.”

With this, the eighth Floor Master has been summoned.

Raven and the others don’t react much since it’s something that’s been happening for days.

Because they don’t know.

What event occurs when the ninth Floor Master is defeated.

‘That’s probably why there haven’t been any protests, even though there’s a rumor about it. Most people probably think it’s a groundless rumor.’

From an ordinary person’s perspective, there’s no reason for the leaders to escape through Dimensional Gate.

Because they don’t know about ‘that’.

“By the way, it seems like it’s nearby since I can hear screams…”

“Everyone, be on guard, it might come this way.”

We get ready, just in case, and wait for the Floor Master to be defeated.

That’s when we hear footsteps from the passage behind us.

“We’re just passing through, so everyone, move to the side!”

A group of people is moving quickly, pushing aside the explorers in the narrow passage as if an ambulance is on an emergency call.

They graze past us as soon as we move to the side.

“It’s the Star of Eramel Clan.”

It’s a group from a large clan that’s quite famous.

They’re probably heading towards where the screams are coming from to defeat the Floor Master.

“It will get dark again soon since the backup has arrived.”

30 7th-grade explorers are enough to defeat the 1st-floor Floor Master. And it’s possible with even fewer people if you know the strategy.

I smile bitterly.

‘I don’t understand why they even bother defeating the Floor Master when they’re just going to abandon everyone.’

The 1st-floor Floor Master doesn’t drop any noteworthy loot.

It doesn’t even drop an essence, and the byproducts that can be obtained with the ‘Distortion’ spell aren’t that valuable either.

The only reward for defeating it is that you can be promoted to a 4th-grade clan, which is when the real benefits start.

So it’s mostly used for verification.

It’s a monster that you defeat once as a rite of passage when you reach a certain level and then move on.

‘Could it be guilt? Like, ‘we did our best until the end’?’

That thought briefly crosses my mind, but the real reason is probably more practical.

They have to act like they’re fulfilling their roles until the very end so that those who will be abandoned don’t notice.

[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!!]

About 20 minutes later, a giant roar echoes from afar, and the red crystals that were glowing brightly lose their light.

It means the Floor Master has been defeated.

“It will be Day 5 from tomorrow, so we just have to endure for two more days.”

I check the time from time to time and continue to review my plan.

How much more time has passed?

[22:07]

It’s already been about two hours since the eighth Floor Master was defeated.

In other words…

“Damn it!!”

…it’s 4 hours until hell breaks loose.

“Everyone, run inside! The rumor was true!”

“Those royal bastards are trying to abandon us and escape!! Stop them!!”

Commotion spreads from the inner part of the cave.

___________________

At that time, in the central area where the tents of the large clans and the royal knights were located…

“You bastards!! Move aside, move aside!!”

“Step back, explorer, I’ll cut you down if you come any closer.”

“We’re all going to die anywa—!”

Slash!

Thud, roll.

An explorer’s head falls to the ground.

“Anyone else?”

The explorers hesitate for a moment at the knight’s menacing words.

“What are you doing, push forward!!”

“I’m getting out of here! I’m getting out!!”

“Aak! My arm! My arm…!”

Explorers, blinded by the desire to survive, charge forward like moths to a flame.

It’s a scene that’s unfolding simultaneously at all the passages leading to the center.

“The real enemy is out there, but they’re determined to shed blood unnecessarily.”

Marco Elburn, the captain of the 3rd Royal Knight Order and the one who created this situation, clicked his tongue and asked his adjutant,

“What’s the current progress?”

“A little over half of the personnel have escaped.”

“Half… it’s taking much longer than planned.”

There wouldn’t have been this commotion if they had all used Dimensional Gate simultaneously and escaped to the city.

But they had to cast the spell sequentially because of its characteristic of absorbing the surrounding mana.

“It’s almost our turn. Leave this place to the remaining knights and let’s go, Captain.”

Marco Elburn followed his adjutant towards the center. A new Dimensional Gate was open, emitting a brilliant light.

Whoosh!

Marco Elburn dismissed all his lingering thoughts and slowly walked towards the portal.

“Please, take me too!!”

“Aaaaaak!”

Screams filled with emotion and the clash of weapons echoed behind him with every step he took.

Clank, clank.

Marco Elburn stopped for a moment in front of the portal.

He suddenly remembered a conversation he had two days ago.

[I don’t abandon my companions.]

He was an impressive person.

Barbarian-like, but not at the same time.

He was a bit disappointed.

[I misjudged you. To think you would make such a wrong choice.]

He lost interest in the barbarian.

He had made that offer purely out of whim.

But to think he wouldn’t even grab that opportunity…

[Keep the Dimensional Gate a secret. If you value your companions.]

He was about to leave after threatening him to keep quiet.

But at that moment…

[You feel guilty.]

…the barbarian said something strange.

[Guilty…?]

[That’s why you were disappointed when I refused your offer.]

He didn’t understand at first.

But then a cold voice pierced his ears.

[You wanted to use me to ease your guilt, didn’t you?]

Marco Elburn couldn’t refute him.

Even he had the thought that it might be true, although he didn’t realize it himself.

[Knight, I’m different from you.]

[So don’t try to use me to discard your emotions.]

That was the end of his conversation with the barbarian.

They would probably never see each other again.

“Captain, we have to go now.”

Marco Elburn looked ahead.

The bright city was visible beyond the portal, unlike this dark labyrinth.

The only city in this cursed world.

The place we have to protect.

The last bastion.

“For Lafdonia.”

He stepped into the portal.

It was the choice he had to make.

_________________

I close my eyes for a moment and catch my breath.

And I remind myself.

The moment has finally come.

So…

‘Do what you have to do.’

I open my eyes.

“Everyone, follow me. We’re heading to the center.”

“Yes? What are you going to do there?”

What else is there to do?

By the time we arrive, all the talented people abandoned by the various groups will be drowning in despair.

‘I need to increase our numbers first.’

We have to gather forces.

That’s the first step to survival.