Chapter 26 - Marauders (Part 3)

 

"Ainar." When something happens, always think of the worst-case scenario first. Remember what happened before, when we hoped for a chance encounter with human explorers.

Life doesn't always turn out the way you want it to.

"We were able to escape only because she let us go. She probably thought that if she wanted to, she could easily catch us. So it's too early to calm down.

The explanation was starting to get long against my will.

Let's get to the main thing.

"It should be there by this time-...

"He's watching you nearby."

Your...

I thought she would be on her way here at best. Obviously, there was another bottom below the bottom. Or perhaps I had IQ problems.

"Bjorn!"

As Ainar and I lowered our backpacks and prepared for battle, a woman emerged from the darkness.

Again, without a mask.

"I'm sorry, barbarian.

... What kind of creepy bitch is this?

"Nevertheless, the previous match was impressive.

Dwarf's abilities or not, it seemed like she had been watching us for a long time...

It didn't make logical sense.

"Why did you appear only now?"

It took a few minutes before I drank the potion and was able to move again. Why didn't she target me at this time?

While I was waiting for an answer,

"Ahh!!!

The yellow-haired man jumped off the ground and began to run with all his might. Einar and I reacted late because we noticed a crazy.

However...

*Tud*

A thin needle-like contraption flew in a straight line and pierced Yellowhair's neck.

Maybe he was poisoned?

Even with a minor injury, Yellowhair twitched like an aspen tree and soon went limp.

And then I understood... Now is not the time for leisurely questions about the reasons.

"Ainar!"

There was no need for long words between us.

As soon as I called her name, Einar pushed herself off the ground and jumped forward, as if she was waiting for it.

I did the same.

If you can't escape, all you have to do is fight!

*Ears!*

The marauder bitch, crouching, easily dodged Einar's sword. Then, at the same time, she blocked my mace with a dagger that landed on it.

*Klang!*

What the heck...

How much essence did she rake out? The dagger that blocked my mace was perfectly fine. And when the woman applied more force, I was helplessly thrown back.

"Stop this senseless battle, barbarian.

Well, that sounds like a very complicated request.

Even if it's pointless...

"Behella-aaaa!"

I was a barbarian.

Of course, my mind has not yet moved away from the time when I was a member of modern civilization.

*Klang!*

I was scared every day, there was no sign of getting used to the pain, and I was still thinking about how to escape every time.

Nevertheless, some things remained the same as those of the barbarians.

*Klang!*

If there is only one possible way.

I choose to go through it.

No hesitation.

*Klang!*

At the same time, when my mace collided with her dagger, I threw it away and tried to grab it.

As expected, she didn't budge.

Why are the physical abilities of researchers so high? I involuntarily complained.

But even if I couldn't knock her down, my resilience might have held her back.

"Ainar!" Right away!

Before I could shout, Einar swung her sword violently in a straight line.

For the first time, the looter, who had been expressionless all this time, showed emotion.

Fright, or irritation.

Maybe it was anger.

*Blow!*

Pain flared up in my back.

Did she hit me on the spine?

But what happened to my armor?

Before I could ask a question, my strength left my body.

***

[Character is in a state of [Paralysis]].

***

I tried to grab hold of her trousers and somehow hold on, but my body, which was raging like a monster even when stabbed in the neck, would not obey.

*Blow!*

Then the sound of a knife being stabbed in the flesh came again.

*Clang!*

With that sound, Ainhar's sword fell to the ground. Looking up, I saw that the dagger had plunged deep into Ainhar's wrist.

I thought this was our end...

But even writhing in pain, Ainar did not stop.

"Oh!"

Having lost her weapon, instead of her paralyzed right arm, she swung her left fist. Seeing her fighting spirit, I realized it again...

Why barbarians, who looked no different from big people, were treated like monsters.

However, this was not the best opponent.

*Woouuh!*

Dodging her fist, the woman did not stop there, but grabbed Ainar's wrist, twisted it and...

*Boom!*

I threw it on the ground.

Ainar immediately pushed herself off the ground and tried to get up, but she kept slipping and falling. Her hand, tightened by tendons, was trembling. Seeing this, the woman sighed coldly.

"Surrender." You can't do anything while you're paralyzed by the Basilisk's venom.

Like a death sentence. My mind turned white and my eyes darkened.

Equipment, skills, experience... There was a stark difference in every aspect.

No matter how much I turned the gears in my head, I couldn't figure out how to turn the tide.

When the word "death" was imprinted in my mind,

"That's why you had to listen when I gave you the chance.

The woman bent down and let go of my hand, which was frozen on the hem of her trousers.

And she said dryly:

"Barbarians, swear that you will not tell anyone about what happened today. Then I'll spare you.

... A what?

After that, there was a short silence. Then the woman opened her mouth.

"I was going to propose before you ran away. I owe something to the barbarians.

I instinctively felt that this was the only way to live, but... I couldn't understand it.

Desperately raising her head, the woman briefly explained,

"I don't want to kill a barbarian with my own hands if I can avoid it.

With your own hands...

So that's why she was just watching when Yellowhair attacked me? To let someone else take care of her mess?

"Bjorn... The words of the marauder... don't believe them... She's just playing with us.

But even if you say so, we have no choice.

Whether she plays with us and then kills us, or just kills...

In any case, there is no difference.

I spat out the blood that filled my throat and asked,

"If I refuse the offer, what will you do...?"

"I'll kill you, of course. It was just a promise.

"A promise... To whom?

"You don't need to know.

Her voice was the same as usual, but somehow it sounded a little harsher.

"Choose. I'll give you some time...

"By the honor of a warrior.

No time was needed. It does not seem that there were other options.

— ... Of course, you're a little weird.

The psychopath looked at me with a strange look for a moment, then sprayed something.

*Chhhhhzz*

A familiar pain. It was a potion.

***

[You have consumed a Recovery Potion (Large)].

[Character removed from [Paralysis]].

***

The stiffened muscles began to relax, and the strength gradually began to enter my body.

The woman turned away from me and asked:

"Barbarian woman, what are you going to do?"

After a short silence, Ainar answered.

— ... I refuse.

- I see.

The woman did not ask again. She just nodded slightly. In this action, however, I sensed her intent more clearly.

She didn't draw a weapon, she didn't threaten, but...

This woman is going to kill Einhar.

And to prevent this, I could only do one thing.

— ... Ainar, take an oath.

"Bjorn?"

"Didn't you say you'd obey me completely?"

"Still, the warrior's oath...

Damn, what's so important about this pride?

"Ainar, Feneline's 2nd daughter!"

Ainar tensed at my scream. I lowered my voice, looked into her eyes, and said calmly.

"Trust me. This is the right choice.

After a short silence, Ainar opened her mouth with difficulty.

— ... Ok. I swear.

— The right decision.

After Einar said the oath, the psychopath healed her by using another potion. It was a real carrot and stick. The feeling of being forced to make a choice was the same.

Sickeningly disgusting.

As soon as the treatment was over, the woman turned to leave when I asked the question.

— ... What floor?

To this arbitrary question, the woman tilted her head for a moment and answered briefly.

- 8th.

Of course, much higher than the 5th floor.

No wonder she was so strong despite being a looter. Even if there were 10 of me, we would not be equal to her.

But...

My eyes closed.

As I watched the psychopath disappear from my sight like smoke, I made a promise to myself. Next time it will be different.

***

"Ainar, are you okay?"

— ... I am well. I can get up on my own.

Ainar pushed my hand away and stood up herself. I wondered if she was disappointed in me, but maybe she was disappointed in herself and not in me.

After all, the barbarians were honest to the smallest detail.

I decided to leave Einar and her complicated expression alone for a while and checked my condition.

First of all, this thing...

*Click!*

Taking off my armor and examining my back, I saw that there was a hole the size of a dagger. The penetration was very clean.

... Could it be an "aura"?

Hell.

Why did we have to meet this monster on the 2nd floor, let alone meet in this vast and vast Land of the Dead? What a shitty situation that was!

All I could think about was that I needed to get stronger as soon as possible.

Going home or whatever, that was the only way to protect yourself in this rotten world.

"Bjorn, what should we do now?"

— ... Go down to the 1st floor.

The Land of the Dead was a good place to hunt. But I wasn't going to stay here when this crazy bitch was wandering around. We can come back if I change my mind.

"Okay... Okay.

Einar was depressed and followed my instructions without asking questions.

Psychological help was not my specialty, but...

Ha... I must at least say something when we come down. She looks like the end of the world.

"Follow me."

Avoiding most of the avoidable battles, we moved along the markers.

About 6 hours have passed since then. Finally, we were able to return to the portal that led to the 1st floor.

*Tud-!*

Again, I landed normally, and Einar rolled on the floor.

And quite unsuccessfully.

But she slowly stood up, as if nothing had happened.

— ... Doesn't it hurt?

"It hurts.

"But why...

"As someone who is not a warrior, I don't deserve to feel pain.

... The situation turned out to be much worse than I thought. Is it so shameful to beg for your life? Well, it was the same in the game.

"Uh, Ainar...?"

"What?"

"The strongest warrior is the survivor of the wars. One defeat is not the end, it simply opens up the possibility of a future victory!

"I can't understand it so verbosely.

Although I deliberately spoke cheerfully, Ainhar's voice was still grim.

"However, I think I understand what you mean: 'The strongest warrior is the one who survives.'

"Really?"

"To overcome such humiliation and the desire to commit suicide at every moment, it must mean that you are a strong warrior. Bjorn, like you.

No, I don't have such thoughts...? Commit suicide? I'm not a samurai.

That wasn't what I meant, but there was no need to deny it now.

"Ainar, you can do it.

"I don't know if I can get through this pain... But I'll try.

"Yes, one day you will pay for this shame.

Having received my sincere support, we continued to move. Deciding to camp in a suitable place, I let Einar sleep first.

"I'll wake you up in 2 hours."

— ... This time I will accept this kindness.

Kindness...

It was half right and half wrong.

[07:39]

If we talk about time, it is the morning of the 3rd day. I haven't slept for more than 20 hours. After going through a lot of things, the mental fatigue was enormous. But even if I closed my eyes, I still wouldn't be able to sleep for long.

Not that I was driven by extreme impulses like Einar, but... I still felt stained.

It was like the pain of drinking a potion. No matter how many times I experienced this feeling, I could not get used to it.

*Chomp!*

The day when the blonde boy and their group saved me was similar to today.

The priestess looked me in the eye and refused to treat me. The swordsman threw the potion at me as if it were nothing. Even seeing this, I took the potion and drank it while lying down like a dog.

Of course, I was glad that I survived, but...

At the same time, emotions that are difficult to describe also rose up.

"*Phew*...

I took a long breath, as if to drive away the thoughts.

What the hell am I doing now? It's not like me that I give in to emotions. Maybe it's time to deal with this?

I closed my eyes and remembered the advice given to me by someone I admired as a child.

"Remember, you are nobody, and there is no way to call you. You can never be special."

A magic spell that has always made me feel a little better. Yes, let's use even that feeling as fuel, as I always do.

That would be a little more efficient.