We had me, a tank, and Misha, a melee fighter with the attribute of cold. Now it was necessary to recruit three more team members who would fit this combination.

One priest, one mage, and one archer or scout.

This is the first line-up that came to my mind. Needless to say, this was the main combination of Dungeon & Stone. Since the Vampire Essence was gone, a priest would be a great addition to the team.

But...

I refused the priest.

In fact, "refused" is not quite the right word. I even asked Krovitz if he could introduce me to the priest, but he flatly refused. It turns out that the team must have at least three rank 5 researchers, and the team must have a certain amount of merit for the temple.

The basic conditions for recruiting to the team are stricter than in the game.

It's a shame, of course, but it's not a serious problem. While having a priest would greatly increase the stability of the team, I also deliberately rejected it due to a lack of offensive power.

I began to understand how to form a team.

And in the evening I learned the shocking fact that Misha is a racist.

Having put my thoughts in order, I got dressed, went outside and headed to the tavern I had been planning to visit for a long time.

*Zing!*

As soon as I opened the door, I saw a woman from the black bear tribe who was stacked like a block. When I called Mr. Bear's name, the woman curled her lips and pointed her chin to the side.

Mr. Bear, a rank 5 researcher, was wearing an apron, serving drinks and food to the guests.

"We don't even have clients, and he always invites his friends.

I sat down in an empty seat, trying not to pay attention to the words coming from behind me. When Mr. Bear had just finished serving another portion, I quietly raised my hand and called to him.

"Oh, wait. I'll come up now... Bjorn Yandel?

"I need to talk to you for a minute.

At my words, Mr. Bear quietly rolled his eyes and stared at the counter. I didn't expect him to behave like that, but he was completely dumbfounded by his wife. I thought I'd just chat and leave, but instead I ordered two snacks and two drinks. I decided that it would be less embarrassing this way.

—... Ahem...

Presently Mr. Bear, who had brought the order, sat down opposite me with an embarrassed expression on his face. As an excuse, he said:

— This is not always the case. You know, don't you? It's just that there is a lot of work in the store now...

Although it seems that he does not have much to do, I did not bother myself with such words. What is so shameful about being a family man?

Presently Mr. Bear opened his mouth as if to change the subject.

"Since you're here, does that mean you've left your original team?"

— ... The team has been disbanded.

"From the look on your face, you must have lost someone.

I did not confirm or deny this. However, my silence was enough of an answer. Mr. Bear smiled bitterly and drank the whole glass.

"Shitty.

— Yes, indeed.

I also swallowed the whole glass and ordered two more. Then we finally moved on to the conversation.

— How many people have you already gathered?

— So far, only two.

"It's probably you and the red-haired catwoman.

"So, what is your answer?"

"All right, I'll join you.

After Mr. Bear calmly agreed, he began to ask questions: what floor we were targeting, what the distribution would be, how I was going to fill the remaining two seats. I briefly told you about the composition that I had in mind.

"First of all, there must be a mage there. And for the remaining place... We will have to find a scout.

Actually, there was also an option to take Ervena to the archer position instead of Mr. Bear. However, it was unclear how well she would cope, given that she had begun studying to be an intelligence officer. Besides, Mr. Bear, who possessed a summoned tank beast, could make up for the priest's absence to some extent, so I made this decision.

"Until we find a permanent scout, we'll hire him. We intend to distribute the booty equally, with the exception of the scout.

- I see.

Mr. Bear nodded and asked bluntly.

"If I act as a scout, can you increase my share?"

"What?"

"As I said.

What the hell was this guy talking about? Did he just say that he was a scout? If so, I did not understand it at all.

"Didn't you say that last time you got lost on the 1st floor at 7 p.m.?"

— ... Did I say the time?

"It was around 19:00 on the 1st day when the Chasm opened.

Even then, Mr. Bear wandered around the Crystal Cavern, unable to find the portal to the 2nd floor. Wherever you were in the maze, the scout knew exactly the direction to the portal on the 1st floor. That didn't make sense when you consider that Rothmiller's record was 6 hours.

But...

"Ah, that's... You know that the path in the Crystal Cave is a bit difficult.

"Huh?"

"I know where the portal is, but it's always hard to find.

Mr. Bear said that usually he only points the direction, and other team members are responsible for finding the way.

I did not know what to answer, and asked:

"Simply put, do you mean to say that you are a scout, but you do not find the way well?"

"Hm!" My former colleagues said so. To be honest, it's hard to admit.

What was difficult to admit? Even an ordinary person can find their way to the portal to the 2nd floor in a day if they have a compass.

A scout who did not know how to find the way...

I did not know how this was possible, but I did not express these thoughts and ended the conversation.

"I'll think about the distribution. I need to listen to the opinions of those who will come later.

"That's enough.

"Then our conversation is over.

We got our first friend:

Abman Urikfried, a 5th rank crossbowman with a summoned tank beast and a scout with near-zero search abilities.

"I hope we work well together, Bjorn, Yandel's son.

Maybe the performance of the team members has increased, but it seemed to me that Team of Losers 2.0 was beginning to form.

***

In honor of the fact that we became one team, we even clinked glasses for a while. Soon Mrs. Bear was staring at us.

"Honey, how long are you going to rest?"

"Darling?" No, this is not a rest.

Mr. Bear hurriedly got up and walked towards his wife, after which they spoke in a low voice. At first it looked like swearing, but then...

"Oh my God, you should have said earlier that this is the person who will be your teammate!"

After their conversation, she came up to me and smiled affably.

"Nice to meet you. I heard you also have a nickname Little Balkan, right? Considering that you are so tall and strong, I feel some relief.

"I... I'm glad to hear that.

— Yes. To be honest, I didn't really like his previous teammates. How could they not even show up, having worked in a team with him for more than six months?

And?

— ... Previous teammates?

I was sure that this person was playing alone, no?

I stole a glance at Mr. Bear. He repeatedly shook his head with a panicked face. I remembered a conversation from the past.

"You have a wife, but you still go to the maze alone?" The tavern is now at a loss. I have to earn at least a little money."

Working is good, of course, but I never thought he was working alone, cheating on his wife.

Following his weak pathfinding skills, I felt that my idea of him was crumbling. I thought he would be a reliable and wise teammate, like a bear.

Now I saw that he was just a man living for the moment.

"In any case, please consider that today I am treating. And while he's not a perfect husband, I hope you take good care of him in the future.

Not wanting to interfere in other people's family affairs and get caught in the crossfire, I ran away from the tavern as if from a detonating bomb.

When I got to my inn...

"Oh, mister. Did you drink?

Ervena had already ordered a drink and was sitting in the lobby on the 1st floor, waiting for me.

I wondered if she had stopped by to continue her previous conversation.

"I'm sorry!"

Before I could say anything, Ervena apologized.

"Is it a pity?" What do you mean?

"I didn't know what happened to your former teammate, and neither did I-...

"How do you know that?"

"Your face seemed so gloomy to me then, and I asked your other teammate.

When I asked her who she was talking about, she said she was a dwarf. It seems that when she said that she was my former teammate, he told her about what happened without suspicion.

Fortunately, he didn't talk about the oracle and the Dragon Slayer.

"You must have had a hard time. I know... What it feels like to lose someone.

Ervena sobbed and touched my arm. It was very embarrassing, as if I was being comforted by a three-year-old child.

Slowly, I finished sorting out my thoughts.

—... Let's stop talking about it. Anyway, it's good that you're here. I wanted to talk to you.

"Talk?" I still have something to do...

"Do you want to do something?"

— ... No problem. So what did you want to talk about?

I sat down opposite Ervena and asked directly:

"I'm starting a new team, don't you want to join?"

Initially, I did not plan to include Ervena in the team. Of course, it wasn't because of Misha's request. It's just that after much deliberation, I chose Mr. Bear to be the archer, and there was no room left.

However, the situation changed when I found out that Mr. Bear was a scout. The position intended for the scout became vacant.

So far, it lacks combat power, but if it is pumped well, it will be able to pull the weight of at least one person.

The fact that she took intelligence lessons from her sister was a great bonus. It would be perfect if she paved the way with Mr. Bear.

"I...

After a long silence, Ervena was able to find an answer.

"I'm very glad you made this offer. So don't get me wrong.

So, it was a refusal.

"Is it because of your sister?"

— No, I don't. It's because of me. I still have a lot to learn from her.

It was an unexpected answer. Well, it's not that I couldn't understand. Of course, the fact that she is now next to her sister would help her develop. It had only been a few months since she had started her scouting lessons, and I couldn't teach her elemental spirit magic.

- I see. Ok.

"Uh... You're not angry, are you?

"Why should I be angry?" This is a great choice. You've also become a real explorer now.

"Ah, it's been a long time since I've received compliments...

Ervena stared into the void for a minute, then cleared her throat and descended to the ground. Then she spoke in a resolute voice.

"Please wait for me for at least six months." In six months, I'll learn everything I can learn from my sister and join your team.

It was a pleasant thought, but...

Now it seemed to me that I was sending some kind of double agent or something.

For some reason, I thought I could hear her sister's world crumbling.

***

The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I went to the Holy Land without even washing myself. It was a reasonable decision that when going to a place full of barbarians, it was still not worth bathing.

It feels like I'm back in my hometown.

I may not be a true barbarian, but there was something soothing about the green bushes here. I used to feel uncomfortable because I was afraid of the leader, but now, at least, I don't...

Bloody hell.

I suddenly remembered the oracle, and my heart felt heavy. Intuition, trained by misfortune, spoke to me. A secret that more than ten people knew could not be kept forever.

Even if I finish Stage 6 today, it will take a few more years to reach Stage 9...

Unlike other races that had abandoned old traditions, barbarians were stubborn to the point of madness. If it became known that the oracle was entrusted to me by the Goddess of the Stars, and not by the Ancestor Goddess, super rookie or not, the chief would intervene and try to banish me.

I'll think about that later...

I pushed through the bushes and headed for the center of the Holy Land. In an empty clearing, I saw a group of young warriors—young warriors practicing martial arts in anticipation of their coming-of-age ceremony. It's a sight I've seen every time I've come here before, but...

This is... Charon?

Among the young warriors, I saw the face of a familiar barbarian:

Charon, son of Tarson. He was once an ignorant young barbarian, but he embraced the darkness of the world and became a full-fledged warrior. He stood in front of the young barbarians like a drill instructor.

"All together. People?

"Enemies!"

"And our hearts?"

"We must defend it!"

It was memorization, close to brainwashing, but even so, their chances of survival were much higher. I looked at them with a satisfied smile until I realized one thing.

What is this?

Charon and the few senior barbarians who seemed to have followed him looked strange. For some reason, each of them had 3-4 backpacks. I wondered if this was a fashionable trend among barbarians.

"Instructor!" What are these bags? One of the young warriors asked, raising his hand. Apparently, they seem strange not only to me.

Charon replied with a smile, as if he had been waiting for it.

"Good question, young warrior!" It's Robert, it's John, it's Aiden...

Charon called the name of each backpack to his left and right, as well as front and back.

"Hahaha!" It sounds like a person's name! The young barbarian laughed.

"That's because it's a man's name," Charon didn't laugh anymore.

— ... What do you mean?

Charon then explained in detail to the shocked young barbarians how he had obtained the backpacks and continued his mental training again.

"Say it again." Are they people?

"Enemies!"

"Our hearts?"

"We must defend it!"

"Bjorn, son of Yandel?"

"A great warrior!!

Seeing this, I was speechless.

—…

What the hell have I done?