We wandered through the labyrinth. No breadcrumbs, no balls of yarn, but it was all right because we had Rothmiller.

"Wait, I'll leave another mark in this place, just in case."

I used to wonder why you need a scout in a place where he can't even find his way, but that's all my arrogance. Rising from the bottom step by step, Rothmiller was a truly versatile person.

"Can I look at the map?"

— Of course.

He made a map based on the path we were taking. It was not just a crudely made map, but a complex one that resembled a mini-map. He was able to do this just by pausing every 10 minutes and drawing something.

"Okay, everything is ready, so give it to me." I need to update my map.

— ... Here.

Every time I watched Rothmiller run his pen across the map without hesitation, I was amazed. I didn't ask how this was possible, because he had already explained it earlier:

"The terrain here is not too difficult, so I can remember it just by walking around. To measure distance, I can count my steps and write them down."

Obviously, mapping and observing was what he was most sure of, as he had been doing it for several years. I never thought he had that kind of talent. It was a little unfortunate. It must not be a talent, but a naturally acquired result of the hard work of a person without innate skills.

"I'm sorry to take up my time. Come along.

After stopping for about 30 seconds, we walked again through the dark labyrinth. Rothmiller followed behind. In his hand was not a crossbow, but a long sword. It was a change that came about after a few battles.

"That should be enough to apprehend one of the monsters."

Rothmiller, whose stats had grown, began to take an active part in the battle, as the best scouts usually did, in order not only to search, but also to do his job.

"It's yours this time."

After a warning from Rothmiller, who had a developed sense of smell, four Vaikundus appeared in front.

Four rank 6 monsters was a number that I had never dealt with even on the 4th floor, but I wasn't particularly nervous or worried. We had Dvalki.

Simultaneously with the appearance of monsters, an improved ice spear was used. Even this was not the same as before. Two ice spears followed, several times stronger than before.

I didn't know that he could use a double spell.

When I found out about this, I felt a little ashamed.

Even though we've been together for a few months, I didn't know anything about them at all.

Bloody hell.

In addition to having abnormally low mana, Dvalka's magic talent was great enough to use additional auxiliary magic during the double spell.

[Riol Varb Dvalki cast an 8th rank spell [Trajectory Adjustment]].

Ice spears flew over our heads like cannonballs fired from afar, and we didn't have to step aside to make room.

*Boom!*

Even before the battle began, the two rank 6 monsters turned into beams of light and disappeared.

"Get rid of them and move forward. This time, Miss Karlstein and I will take one of them.

While I was busy with one of the monsters, Misha and Rothmiller teamed up to deal with the other.

*Shuuuuuh!*

At about the same time, after a second spell, Dvalka's ice spear shattered the head of Vaikundus, who was beating me.

It took about 4 minutes.

"Bjorn, what are you doing?" Let's go.

This was the latest change in our team of losers.

"Hahaha, whatever comes up, don't worry. I, Riol Warb Dvalki, will take care of it.

Dvalki started acting like a jerk again.

***

Usually, Magi benefited the most from this field effect, the [Keeper of Balance], because they couldn't absorb essences.

It was a place where their main indicator, MP, was inevitably gaining explosive growth.

But...

There is still a limit to this.

I've never seen a case as extreme as Dvalki. However, if you think about it, it was an acceptable change. All the mages I had in the game were talented, so they had high stats related to magic, unlike Dvalka, a former nedomag.

"It's a truly magical feeling. It was as if all my shackles had been removed.

Dvalki was a human being, and his body was far from athletic.

Moreover, he has an average, if not lower, mana stat...

Only its indicators were three times lower than ours.

I didn't know about an all-human team, but with Misha, Hikuroda, and me, there were three other races on the team with naturally high baselines. As for Rothmiller? Although he was at a disadvantage, he could not be compared to Dvalki in any way since he was a four-essence veteran.

... Did all the indicators somehow go to the mage?

After watching all day, I finished analyzing the strength of the team. I was the only one who suffered the most.

Can things really turn out that well?

If you look at the team as a whole, it has become at least twice as strong.

Because Dungeon & Stone was a team game.

The greatest efficiency was achieved when everyone performed their role, rather than one exceptional person doing all the work.

It was a bit bitter, but that's why I wanted to leave the team of losers.

This will be our first and last real team game.

Today I was able to see something that I didn't see in Rothmiller or Dvalki, but it didn't change anything.

If they work hard and if they are lucky, they will still be able to reach the level that they showed today.

But...

It will take years.

In addition, this will be the peak to which they can grow. Thus, their disadvantages were all too obvious.

Rotmiller?

His combat power could be replenished with essences. However, in order to carry out the spectacle I had in mind, I needed an explorer with the ability of a scout, starting from the 5th floor.

Dvalki?

Double spell or not, the main quality of a mage was his amount of mana. Perhaps that was why he was not accepted into the magic tower. It was a cool-headed assessment, but by the standards of the magic tower, Dvalka's talent was nothing special.

When my thoughts reached this point, my heart suddenly went cold. It was not just a feeling, but a reality.

[You took damage from the cold].

The cold pierced my skin to the bones. When I came to, Misha snorted.

"Hey, Bjorn!" How long are you going to ignore me!?

"Oh, what did you say?"

"What did I say?!" I said everyone was going to bed, so be careful!

After several blows to my chest in anger, Misha belatedly asked in a soft voice out of concern:

"But... Are you okay?

"I'm fine. It's still cold, but it doesn't hurt anymore.

"No, that's not what I'm talking about... You've had a serious face for some time now.

I shook my head in genuine confusion.

"Really?"

— Yes. It's hard to explain in words, but... about! It was like your face when I tell you to eat a carrot.

Ugh, it's even harder to understand.

"Forget about it, just go to bed." I'm on duty, so don't worry.

"Hmm, okay," Mike returned to her seat, climbed into her sleeping bag and chatted with the rest of the team.

"Wow, it was very tiring today.

"Haha, no wonder. We were swept into unknown territory and had to fight all these rank 6 monsters.

— ... Maybe I shouldn't say it, but I had fun. It was as if I was participating in a real expedition for the first time. Until now, it was not the expedition I dreamed of.

"Ah, I think I understand what you mean.

"Haha, I felt like an explorer in a fairy tale.

During a little lying down, the day ended. Of course, this did not last long, as this time was intended for rest.

"Oh, that's right. Dvalki, you were just great today.

"W-There's nothing special about that. The ability to shoot spells without having to save mana or calculate the formula over and over again? Any mage could do that.

"Uh... Really? I don't know about it. Anyway, you did a good job today. Good night.

"Good night, Miss Karlstein."

After the end of the meager conversation, silence fell.

[01:04].

An hour has passed since the 20th day. I kept a watchful eye on my surroundings, checking my plans.

I should be able to get that item in a few more hours, so now I just need to find the boss room.

With our current forces, the boss fight shouldn't be too difficult, so there was no reason to worry. However, if we're unlucky, we may not make it to the boss room in time.

If we had another week, we could pick up everything we needed...

While I was biting my lips in frustration, I turned my head to the rustle. I saw Dvalki getting up from his sleeping bag.

— Em, Bjorn...

"Sleep, even if you can't. Tomorrow-...

"I don't suffer from insomnia.

And?

Before I could say anything, Dvalki stood up and walked over to me. He lowered his voice so as not to wake the others.

"I have to tell you something.

Yesterday it was Rothmiller, so it seems like it was his turn this time.

— ... Speak.

"Do you remember what you said about Miss Karlstein's preference last time?"

"I remember.

I have never forgotten a lie once told. So there will be no gaps later. It didn't matter now, though.

"So, what do you mean?"

As I stared at him, Dvalki opened his mouth with determination in his eyes.

"I wanted to ask if what you said was true. But now that I think about it, it doesn't matter if it's true or not," Dvalka's voice was different from usual.

There was not the slightest tremor in it, and the eyes that looked at me were also hard.

"Whatever her tastes are, it's wonderful. It would be cowardly to wish for her sincerity without showing her true nature.

— ... What do you mean?

"You must know that I am secretly in love with her.

So we arrived. I wanted him to at least wait until we got back to town.

"If we survive this and go back to town-...

"Stop it.

I hurriedly cut off Dvalka's words. There was a big difference between thinking about it and talking about it.

However, he did not seem to understand my sincere concern.

"As expected, Bjorn, you too...

Dvalki pursed his lips and shook his head, as if to dispel thoughts. He spoke in a firmer voice than ever before.

"And nothing will change anyway.

"Stop talking. I know you've misunderstood-...

"When I return to the city, I will open my feelings.

No, it is a sign (flag) of death. Gosh darn.

Suddenly I began to feel as uneasy as when I met Hans.

***

"That's all I had to say. Now I'll go.

Then Dvalki turned around and ran to bury himself in his sleeping bag.

Not long after, he let out a sleepy sigh. I was worried that it was wasting his precious rest time staying awake because of this, but it seems that today's journey was quite tiring.

... At least, he's not going to propose, is he?

I tried to forget about my worries and focus on the watch.

Another 2 hours passed in this way, and after waking Hikuroda for my shift, I lay down.

When I opened my eyes again...

[05:07]

… It was time to leave.

It was decided that the dwarf and I would be on duty for 4 hours today.

"You're both probably tired, but you've done a good job.

"Haha, there's nothing you can do. There is not much time left.

"It's Rothmiller's turn tomorrow, so you can rest a little after today."

We put the camp in order and continued on our way. Today's goal was clear.

Rothmiller summed it up:

"As Bjorn said, it looks like we've reached the outer wall of the labyrinth. Now we will go only in one direction along this wall.

In the corner of Larkaz's Labyrinth was a square structure. There we had to defeat an intermediate boss and get a hidden reward. For reference, I didn't know which of the four intermediate bosses would appear. A lot of things in the game were accidental.

Whatever it is, we can easily deal with it with our combat might. In addition to one, all the others have obvious vulnerabilities.

"Mehhh!"

We accelerated our movement and defeated hundreds of Vaikundus in the process. However, there was still no sign of the essence appearing. Instead, a whole bunch of mana stones were accumulated.

"Hahaha!" Mana gems alone can earn a lot of money.

In fact, this was the second reward of the labyrinth. On the 5th floor, there was no place where many rank 6 monsters of the same type could be caught. On the 4th floor, it was usually difficult to meet even 20 such monsters in a day.

After walking for about 12 hours, we reached our destination, a point corresponding to the corner of the labyrinth.

— ... Cul-de-sac?

"It can't be, there's really nothing here.

"It could be in a different direction or in a completely random place.

"Haha, there must be a way out, right?"

"It must be, because it's a labyrinth.

When the group reached the dead-end wall and everyone made their comment, Rothmiller carefully examined the wall and muttered:

"Wait, there's something strange here.

To be honest, I was a little surprised. Was it because of the Sixth Sense attached to Mimic's essence, or was it just his observation skills? I didn't know the exact reason, but because of that, I didn't have to do anything pretending it was a coincidence.

*Click, grind*

When he touched something, the wall moved to the side, revealing a hidden space.

"Wow, the door is open.

"It can be dangerous, all of you stand back!"

Hikurod jumped forward and raised his shield, and I hurried to join him. Of course, no monsters jumped out.

— ... I don't think anything will jump out of there.

It wasn't that kind of place. The space inside was obscured by darkness, making it impossible to see it with the naked eye. In fact, it didn't matter to me.

"I'll go forward."

"Bjorn!" This can be dangerous!

"I'm fine. This is my role.

As I stepped forward instead of the hesitant dwarf and stepped inside, the torches on the wall immediately lit up the hall. I quickly scanned my surroundings.

"This...

It was a stone room with an area of about 30 square meters, a magic circle with geometric patterns was painted on the floor, and a pole with a goat skull decorating it.

"What a sinister place...

"I don't see a portal here. Can't we just walk away?

Seeing that Misha and Dvalki were muttering like that, I secretly smiled. Well, they didn't know that compared to the other rooms, this one is nothing.

In any case, since we have obtained this room, finding the boss will be a piece of cake. As for how to use it, I can just give Rothmiller a few hints...

This took the excitement away. Defeating the boss has become a bit more difficult, but if we hadn't been lucky, we could have finished the exploration without finding the boss.

How do I summon it? If I do it just like that, it will look very suspicious.

I was pondering these joyful thoughts when everyone, including me, shuddered at the same time.

"Huh?"

— ... With you too?

After all, I wasn't the only one who felt the change.

"What is it?" My mana suddenly increased a lot.

"Me too. Why did this happen?

The pressure of the heavy armor after losing the Strength stat disappeared, as if I was wearing foam armor for cosplay now. How could this happen? As soon as I realized the truth, curses burst out of my mouth.

What the hell...?

The life force poured into my entire body, changes that could not be felt even with the help of [Gigantization]. I already knew the reason.

"Rothmiller."

— ... It looks like you have the same thoughts as me.

The hidden field on the 4th floor is Larkaz's Labyrinth.

Someone else entered this place.

Minimum 1, maximum 5 people.

Common sense suggested that it would most likely be a team of 5 people, but it was too early to draw conclusions. All possibilities were open. But at least one thing was certain.

[Field effect applied - [Keeper of Balance].

Whether it was one guy or several, they were frighteningly strong.