Chapter 53 – A Team of Losers (Part 3)

 

After my shocking confession that I had no mother, a strange silence reigned among us, and astonished glances were directed in my direction.

"Uh...

"S-I see...

I quickly continued to explain.

"My mother died after she gave birth to me. And my father didn't come back from the maze when I was little. I'm an adult now, but I can't meet them even if I wanted to!

For reference, what I said was one hundred percent true, as Ainar told me.

"I see...

— Probably, it was hard for you as a child.

Perhaps because it was the confession of the youngest member of the team and a barbarian who had just completed his coming-of-age ceremony, a spark of sympathy lit up in the eyes looking at me.

"Bjorn, you don't have to pretend to be okay in front of us anymore.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were going through something like that, and I was talking about my family...

"Bjorn, I may not be able to be your parent, but if you want to-...

What was this freak talking about?

I decided not to listen to the dwarf's speech to the end.

"There is no need.

For some reason, it seemed that I quickly became the most pathetic here, but... Well, okay. Since this wasn't true, I probably shouldn't have worried about it. It's not like I didn't have a mother. Moreover, I was a barbarian munchkin* who, unlike them, was advancing on an ultra-elite course, reaching the 7th rank of researcher in 3 months. The essence was the most important.

____

Munchkinism is the use of in-game rules or resources in a role-playing or computer game in a way not intended by the creators of the game for the sake of obtaining a clear benefit.

____

Hmm, but doesn't that really make me the most pathetic here?

Suddenly I began to think that this was the case. I was drawn into a game world that was not part of my life plans, and up to this point I had to overcome the risk of death many times.

Damn, why was my life so miserable?

"Bjorn, you don't look well!" Have you thought about your mother?

"Yes, something like that...

"If you miss your family, you can call me sister-...

I cut off the beastman's words before she could start again, and went straight to the point.

"But what are we going to do next?"

Our first destination, the Orc colony, was no longer huntable because of these jerks. Of course, they said it was possible to stay on the outskirts, but what would be left of my share if we hunted at this rate here and divided it by five?

Hikurod offered his opinion as a leader.

"I think it's best to go to the Witchwood first.

The Witchwood is a huge forest surrounding a portal that connected to the 4th floor. The main monsters that appeared were rank 7 and 8, and among them were spirit type monsters that were immune to physical attacks.

"Of course, the compatibility of the monsters living there with our team is not very great, since we are mainly engaged in close combat, but since we have a mage, it won't be too bad.

"Hmph, wouldn't it be better to just go up to the 4th floor in that case?" Brown offered a new opinion.

I also thought it was a better option than the one Hikurod suggested. For most explorers, the Witchwood was just an area they had no choice but to pass through because it was not suitable for hunting.

And there is no essence that suits me.

The problem was that the dwarf didn't really like the idea.

"4th floor... It's too early.

I also knew what the dwarf was worried about. The main monsters that appeared on the 3rd floor were rank 7 and 8, and the 4th floor was the same. However, there was a very important difference between them.

As I have said many times during our meetings, I have seen many teams that underestimated the 4th floor and then were destroyed. Hikurod explained. — Once it was almost my own team.

The difference was the presence or absence of a rank 6 monster.

Starting from the 4th floor, rank 6 monsters had a small chance of spawning. In terms of meeting frequency, it was close to walking all day and maybe meeting once every 3 days, but that meant that you would inevitably encounter a rank 6 monster when you were active on the 4th floor.

Whether we can overcome this chance encounter or not is the question.

In fact, even when I was playing the game, there were many instances where I would enter the 4th floor on the middle level and see blood. So the dwarf's comment was reasonable.

"I don't think it's too early to make the decision to visit the 4th floor after we've been working together for a few days now," Brown objected.

Despite the deep emotional exchange and increased bond that this incident caused, this was our first expedition together. It had only been 3 days since we entered the maze and we still didn't know each other.

"Moreover, as you know, this is Dvalka's first expedition. And Bjorn had never been on the 3rd floor before, either.

To sum up, Hikuroda's argument was that it was okay to go to the 4th floor, but you shouldn't be so impatient.

"Well, then why don't we just go to another area on the 3rd floor?" I think Greentail Marsh will be just right.

Misha, who had been listening to the debate with what seemed to be a headache, offered a new opinion and was immediately blocked by Brown.

— If we had been moving in that direction from the very beginning, then yes. However, it will take us at least 6 days to reach the Greentail Marsh from this point.

The labyrinth closed at the end of the 7th day on the 1st floor, the 10th day on the 2nd floor, and the 15th day on the 3rd floor. Spend another 6 days just on the trip? Since today was already the 3rd day, even if we hit the road right away, it would mean that we would only have 6 days to hunt.

"In that case, I think it's best to go back to Ironstone Hill.

"Oh, back?" Since I always followed someone else there, I didn't know..." At these words of the expert, Mike smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek.

I listened to their conversation to see if anything useful would come out, but in the end, nothing came of it. It's time to end the conversation.

"How long will we just stand and talk?" Stop talking. Everyone gather here. Let's decide what to do by a majority vote.

— By a majority vote?

"Why, Brown?" Do you prefer rock-paper-scissors?

"No, that's not much—" Brown gave me a look of disgust. I was actually just joking that there was a better option, but since I was a barbarian, unfortunately no one seemed to notice.

- I am in favor of the decision being made by a majority of votes.

"It's simple, but it's the surest way.

"I like everything!"

Whatever the case, we decided to use the vote to decide what to do next.

I was the first to speak.

"I think it's better to go up to the 4th floor.

I reasoned that starting with this would help to give a little push to public opinion.

— ... I'm starting to think that the 4th floor is dangerous. It feels like I'm in a hurry.

"Oh, do you feel the same way, Miss Karlštejn?"

However they reacted, when each of us took turns expressing our opinions, we quickly came to a conclusion.

"Phew, it seems that there is no point in being stubborn against the majority.

Now we were heading to the 4th floor.

***

Despite the dwarf's misgivings, I had a reason for making this decision. Of course, it was adopted by a majority vote, but it didn't mean much. If I decided it was too early to enter the 4th floor, I would keep them locked up on the 3rd, even if I had to destroy their ego.

"Hm?" Suddenly it became a little cold...

"Already?" The Witchwood is still a long way off.

"No, that's something else entirely, I can't explain.

Under Brown's guidance, we made our way through the darkness to our goal. Hikuroda's face still had a worried expression.

I don't think he was like that in the Blood Citadel, but he was too cautious these days.

Was it because he led the team for the first time, which he himself recruited?

It seemed that the sense of responsibility always rested on his shoulders. He didn't really need to do that, after all, he was just a puppet...

Well, since he doesn't know that I have the Vampire Essence, his actions make sense.

The dwarf didn't know my exact characteristics, so advancing to the 4th floor would make him a little nervous. Not to mention, he didn't know how great a numbered item the Guardian Protective Bracelet actually was.

"Hikurod, as soon as we enter the Witch Forest, use this item without delay.

The dwarf pondered my advice, then nodded with a determined look.

"I'll do as you say."

The Guardian's Protective Bracelet, No3 112, was an advanced piece of equipment worth 50 million stones. They say that seeing means wanting.

Hikurod asked me not to inform the rest of the crew that he had such an item.

But it is pointless if he cannot use it when he needs it.

After all, I wasn't the owner, and we had just filmed a series committing to relying on each other, right?

"This object?" What is this? Why are you two having a separate conversation? Mike demanded.

"You'll find out when the time comes," I ignored Mike's curiosity and made one last check.

If the tank's stats are at this level, I think a rank 6 monster is quite doable. The problem is the damage...

Judging by the stats alone, our damage seemed a little insufficient, but after a short hunt in the Orc colony, I gained some confidence in it. With the strength of the front line, even a rank 6 monster wouldn't be too dangerous with these members.

Unless someone suddenly starts to dumb from behind and dies prematurely.

There were many of these NPCs in the game. I was hoping these guys weren't...

Damn, now I'm starting to worry.

Unlike me, who was worried more and more, Misha's face was shining.

"It's been a long time since I've been to the 4th floor, so I'm a little excited!"

I heard that this was her first return to the 4th floor since her team disbanded a year ago. Perhaps because she was a cat, I thought I could hear her purring with each exhalation.

Brown called:

"We should start looking for a place to camp.

After moving through the outskirts of the Orc colony, it was time to take a break.

"Brown, everyone looks physically healthy, maybe we can move a little more?" Hikurod suggested.

"We need to walk another 3 hours to find a better place than this.

"Hmm, okay then.

The time was about 9 pm, which almost completely coincided with the time of the hike on the 1st and 2nd days. To be honest, I was very impressed.

So what does a skilled researcher look like?

Brown had to think over the place for the camp in accordance with the trajectory and adjust the speed of our movement accordingly. Even though there is no difference between night and day in a maze, it is better to have a set time for breaks.

"Brown, what's our route for tomorrow?"

"Perhaps we can reach the Witchwood by mid-afternoon.

Hmm, that meant we would enter the 4th floor the next day.

Seeing how he answered every question without pause, he was practically like a human GPS.

"Bjorn, you're on the last watch, aren't you?" Since tomorrow will be a difficult journey through the forest, you should take some rest.

— Definitely.

Hikurod was on his first watch today, and I was on my last. The Witchwood was the place most difficult for melee warriors, so this was decided regardless of the order of the shift. Well, I was sure that I would wake up once or twice a night anyway.

***

"Bjorn."

I opened my eyes at the sound of whispering. Under the flickering light of the torch, I could see Brown's face. Since he was on watch in front of me...

— ... My turn?

— Not yet.

"Then why...?"

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I tensed. Dvalki, Hikurod, and even Misha: Everyone on the team had already woken up, except me, and were fully armed. I answered abruptly:

"Is it a monster?"

— Both.

Monster and explorer. I was about to ask their distance when I heard an urgent cry from the darkness.

"Damn it!" They followed us all the way!

"Let's run!"

It seemed that some monsters were chasing the researchers, but Brown closed his eyes, sniffed the air, and muttered briefly,

"Now I know for sure.

"What do you mean?"

When he frowned like that, it usually meant some kind of problem, so I couldn't help but worry.

As I expected, he said:

"People who are heading towards us right now. I'm sure these are the people who were waiting for us when we arrived at Ironstone Hill.

Everything was getting interesting.