After the shocking confession of not having a mother.
“Uh, uh…”
“I, I see…?”
A strange silence descended as bewildered gazes turned to me.
I quickly continued with an explanation.
“My mother passed away after giving birth to me. My father also failed to return from the Labyrinth when I was young. So even though I am now an adult, I cannot meet them even if I wish to!”
For reference, what I just said was something I heard from Ainar, and it is 100% true.
“Oh, dear…”
“You must have suffered a great deal at such a young age.”
Perhaps because it was a confession from the youngest Barbarian on the team, who had just completed his Coming of Age Ceremony?
A glimmer of pity began to appear in their eyes as they looked at me.
“Bjorn, you don’t have to force yourself to act like everything is fine in front of us.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had such circumstances and I brought up family…”
“Bjorn, I can’t be your parent, but if you wish for it—”
What is this bastard saying.
I decided not to listen to the rest of what the Dwarf was saying.
“That’s enough.”
I felt like I had suddenly become the most pitiful one among them… but what could I do? It was not true, so I did not need to let it bother me.
It was not like I really did not have a mother.
More importantly, unlike these folks, I was a munchkin Barbarian on the super-elite track, having been promoted to a Seventh Rank Explorer in just three months.
The essence of the matter is always what is most important.
The essence.
‘Hmm, but thinking about it that way, am I not really the most pitiful one here?’
The thought suddenly occurred to me that it might be true.
I was dragged into a game world that was never part of my fate and had to overcome the risk of death several times already.
Damn it, why is my life so pathetic?
“Bjorn, you don’t look so good! Are you perhaps thinking of your mother?”
“Yes, that’s it…”
“If you miss your family, you can call me Nuna—”
Cutting off the cat-eared girl who was about to go on to a third verse after the second, I got to the point.
“Anyway, what are we going to do now?”
We cannot hunt in our primary destination, the Orc Settlement, because of those bastards.
Of course, they said the Outermost Area was okay, but if we hunt there at this pace and divide the spoils among five people, how much would be left?
“I think it would be better for us to go to the Witch’s Forest for now.”
The Dwarf, being the leader, offered his opinion.
The Witch’s Forest referred to the huge forest surrounding the portal connected to the Fourth Floor.
Seventh and Eighth Rank monsters mainly appeared there, and among them were Spirit-Type monsters with physical immunity.
“Of course, it’s not a good matchup for us, with so many melee warriors, but we do have a Mage, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
“Hmm, in that case, wouldn’t it be better to just go up to the Fourth Floor?”
Rotmiller, who had been listening attentively, suggested a new idea.
I also thought this was a better option than the Dwarf’s suggestion.
To most explorers, the Witch’s Forest was considered a place to pass through out of necessity, as its advantages as a main hunting ground were minimal.
‘Besides, there are no Essences dropping there that are worth my time.’
The only problem was that the Dwarf did not seem to like this option at all.
“The Fourth Floor… it seems a bit premature.”
I knew what the Dwarf was worried about.
On the Third Floor, Seventh and Eighth Rank monsters were the norm.
It was the same on the Fourth Floor.
However, there was a crucial difference between the two.
“As I’ve said repeatedly during our meetings, I’ve seen many teams get wiped out after heading up without thinking it through. My own team almost suffered that fate once.”
The presence or absence of Sixth Rank monsters.
Starting from the Fourth Floor, Sixth Rank monsters would appear, albeit with a low probability.
In terms of encounter frequency, you might run into one once every three days of roaming around all day long… This meant that operating on the Fourth Floor inevitably meant encountering a Sixth Rank monster.
‘Whether you have the skill to survive that one encounter or not.
That is the tricky part.’
In fact, when I played the game, I often entered the Fourth Floor barely prepared and paid the price.
So the Dwarf’s words made sense.
“I think it won’t be too late to decide on heading to the Fourth Floor after we’ve had at least a few more days to get in sync.”
Regardless of the deep emotional exchange or the increase in camaraderie from this incident, we were a newly formed team.
It had only been three days since we entered the Labyrinth, and we were still not used to each other.
“Moreover, as you know, this is Dwalki’s first time, and it’s also Bjorn’s first time reaching the Third Floor.”
To summarize, the Dwarf’s argument was that going to the Fourth Floor was fine, but we should not be too hasty.
“Hmm, then can’t we just go to another area on the Third Floor? I think the Green-Tailed Marsh would be good…”
Misha, who had been listening to the debate with a pained expression, offered a new opinion.
And she was immediately shot down by Rotmiller.
“If we had moved along that route from the beginning, it might be different, but going to the Green-Tailed Marsh now would take at least six days.”
The Labyrinth closes at the end of the 7th day on the First Floor, the 10th day on the Second Floor, and the 15th day on the Third Floor.
But to spend another seven-plus days on travel now? Since it is only the third day, even if we left right now, it means we would only be able to hunt for five days once we get there.
“In that case, it would be a better choice to just return to the Iron Rock Hill.”
“I-Is that so? I’ve always just followed along, so I didn’t know…”
At Rotmiller’s expert-like words, Misha laughed awkwardly and scratched her cheek.
Tsk, I kept listening just in case, but nothing special came up.
It was about time I stepped in and sorted things out.
“How long are we going to stand here and talk? This is enough, everyone gather around. Let’s decide what to do by a majority vote.”
“A majority vote?”
“Why? Rotmiller, do you prefer rock-paper-scissors?”
“No, but that’s a bit…”
Rotmiller made a disgusted face at my question.
I had actually said it as a joke, asking if there was a better way…
Was it because I was a Barbarian? Unfortunately, no one seemed to have realized it was a joke.
“I agree with the suggestion to decide by a majority vote.”
“It’s simple, but it’s the most certain way.”
“Anything is fine with me!”
Anyway, it was decided that we would determine our next course of action by majority vote.
And the first one to cast a vote was me.
“I think it would be best to go up to the Fourth Floor.”
I judged that being the first to state my case would help sway public opinion, even if just a little.
“…Suddenly, the Fourth Floor is starting to feel dangerous. I feel like we’re deciding too hastily.”
“Oh, you too, Miss Karlstein?”
“…”
Regardless of their reactions, we went around one by one stating our opinions, and a decision was quickly reached.
“Hoo, since you all have the same opinion, there’s no point in being stubborn.”
We were now going to the Fourth Floor.
There was a reason I pushed for this decision despite the Dwarf’s concerns.
Of course, this decision was made by a majority vote… but that did not mean much.
If I had judged it was too early to enter the Fourth Floor, I would have kept them stuck on the Third Floor, even if it meant completely shattering their self-esteem.
“Huh? I think it suddenly got a little colder…”
“Hmm, already? We still have a long way to go to reach the Witch’s Forest…”
“No, it’s a different feeling from that, I can’t really explain it.”
Under Rotmiller’s guidance, we endlessly pushed through the darkness toward our destination.
The Dwarf still had an uneasy expression.
‘I don’t think he was like this in the Bloodstained Fortress, but he’s become overly cautious lately.’
Was it because this was his first time as a Team Leader, and he had personally met and selected each team member? A strange sense of responsibility seemed to always be with him.
He is a puppet Team Leader, so there is no need for that…
‘Well, he doesn’t know I have the Vampire Essence, so maybe that’s why?’
The Dwarf did not know my exact stats.
That is why he must have been more anxious about going straight up to the Fourth Floor.
The fact that he had not realized how good the Numbers Item he possessed, the Guardian’s Wristguard, was also played a part.
“Hikurod, once we enter the Witch’s Forest, don’t hesitate to use ‘that’ as well.”
At my advice, the Dwarf seemed to contemplate for a moment, then nodded with determined eyes.
“I’ll do as you say.”
The No.3112 Guardian’s Wristguard was a high-grade piece of equipment worth a whopping 50 million Stone.
And as they say, seeing is wanting.
The Dwarf had asked me not to tell the other team members that he possessed such a valuable item.
‘But if you can’t use it when you need to, it’s meaningless.’
It is not like I am the owner anyway.
And just a moment ago, we were having a whole melodrama about relying on each other, were we not?
“‘That’? What is that? Why are you two talking about something only you know!”
“You’ll find out when the time comes.”
I roughly ignored Misha’s curiosity and did a final check.
‘If the tank line’s specs are this good, it should be enough for a Sixth Rank monster.
The problem is the damage dealer line…’
Based on their specs alone, they were a bit lacking, but after hunting together for a short time in the Orc Settlement, I gained some confidence.
As long as the front line was solid, there would not be much danger even against a Sixth Rank monster with these members.
‘As long as they don’t suddenly start trolling from behind and get themselves killed first.’
There were so many NPCs like that when I played the game.
These guys would not do that, right…?
‘Ah, damn, I’m getting anxious again.’
Unlike me, who was belatedly growing worried, Misha had a slightly flushed face.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the Fourth Floor, so I’m a little excited!”
I heard this was her first time returning to the Fourth Floor since her team disbanded a year ago… But was it because she was part feline? It sounded like she was purring every time she breathed.
“It’s about time we looked for a place to camp.”
As we moved along the outskirts of the Orc Settlement, the time to rest soon arrived.
“Rotmiller, everyone seems to have some stamina left, how about we move a bit more?”
“To find a better spot than this, we’d have to travel for another three hours.”
“Hmm, in that case, I understand.”
For reference, the time was around 9 PM, which was almost identical to the camping times on the first and second days.
To be honest, it was very impressive.
‘Is this what a skilled scout is like?’
Rotmiller must have planned the camping spots along our route and adjusted our travel speed accordingly.
Even though the Labyrinth has no day or night, it is best to rest at regular intervals.
“Rotmiller, what’s the schedule for tomorrow?”
“We should be able to reach the Witch’s Forest by lunchtime tomorrow.”
Hmm, then we will be entering the Fourth Floor the day after tomorrow.
The way he answered immediately without any buffering when asked was like a human GPS.
“Bjorn, you’re on the last watch, right? You’ll be pretty worn out once we enter the forest tomorrow, so get some rest today.”
“I will.”
Today’s first watch was the Dwarf, and the last was me.
The Witch’s Forest was a place where melee warriors suffered the most, so it was decided that way regardless of the usual rotation.
Well, I would probably wake up once or twice while sleeping anyway.
“Bjorn.”
I opened my eyes to a whispering voice.
I could see Rotmiller’s face in the flickering torchlight.
So, since Rotmiller’s watch was right before mine…
“…Is it my turn now?”
“Not yet.”
“Then why…”
I, who had been rubbing my sleepy eyes, flinched and froze.
Dwalki, the Dwarf, and Misha.
All the team members except me were already awake.
And they were armed.
I asked briefly, “Monsters?”
“Both.”
Monsters and explorers… Just as I was about to ask how far away they were, urgent shouts came from the darkness far ahead.
“Damn it! They followed us all the way here…”
“Run!”
From the situation, it seemed to be explorers being chased by monsters…
Rotmiller closed his eyes, sniffed the air, and then muttered briefly.
“Now I know for sure.”
“What do you mean?”
When he frowned like this, it usually meant something was up, so I grew anxious without realizing it.
And just as I expected.
“Those who are heading toward us now, I am certain they are the same ones from when we arrived at the Iron Rock Hill.”
Well, this situation is getting interesting again.