Chapter 262 - Bug (1)

At my announcement that we would enter the Labyrinth, Raven quietly asked me a question.

“So you believe that rumor, Mr. Jandel?”

Belief had nothing to do with it. I knew the rumor was true. The outside world was perfectly fine, and all of Noark’s forces had now left for it.

But...

“I don’t believe it completely, but I think there’s a good chance.”

Since my information came from the evil spirit community, I couldn’t appear too certain.

So I told her about the sense of unease I’d felt on my earlier visit to Bifron, when I saw the guards watching the inside of the city walls.

“I thought something was strange back then. If that rumor is true, it explains it.”

“Hmm. To be honest, I’ve had my own suspicions about that sort of thing. Take the Magic Tower—it doesn’t have a single window, does it?”

The Magic Tower was a high-rise building that stood taller than the city walls. In exchange for permission to build it, the royal family had required that it have no windows. The official reason was that they couldn’t allow anyone to look down on the palace from the tower.

“What? Hold on... So the outside really is fine?”

“We’re still only discussing a possibility.”

Raven firmly reined in Mister Bear’s excitement, then looked at me.

She said nothing, but her meaning was easy to understand. Was I really going into the Labyrinth based on a mere possibility?

I gave the answer I’d prepared.

“Honestly, I don’t think it matters whether that rumor is true.”

“Why not?”

“Because the royal family’s occupation of Noark’s castle appears to be an undeniable fact.”

What did it matter whether those bastards were outside or still hiding underground? The army already occupied Noark’s fortress, where the portal was located. That meant we didn’t have to worry about running into them inside the Labyrinth.

“We’re thinking along similar lines. All right. I’m in favor.”

Raven had only wanted to hear my reasoning. Apparently, she too saw this as an opportunity, and cast her vote in favor.

Just like that, we found ourselves taking a vote.

“Well, if you two say so, that must be how it is. I’ll come along.”

“Ohh! We’re finally going back into the Labyrinth!”

Along with the thoroughly excited Mister Bear and Aynar, Misha and Erwin also agreed to the expedition.

Now it was time for the next item on the agenda.

“So what will we do about our numbers? With Erwin, there are six of us now.”

“We’ll split into groups of three and meet on the second floor.”

“Hmm. Then we’ll be spending quite a while on the fourth floor, won’t we?”

At Raven’s question, Erwin went pale and hurriedly apologized.

“I-I’m sorry for being a burden...”

“Th-that isn’t what I meant. Really.”

“But...”

No buts about it. I stepped in before things could get any more awkward.

“It still won’t take as long as you think. Unlike me, Erwin is a proper navigator. Our overall time might even end up being about the same.”

“Oh, then there’s no problem.”

That settled the discussion about Erwin. Next, we discussed our exploration plans and reached a unanimous decision.

“Yes, although I do feel we’re not quite ready yet...”

“We’ve gotten a lot stronger now too, nyah.”

“Heh heh. It’s about time we started preparing. It’s been a very long time since I went there.”

Our goal was the sixth floor.

* * *

Life remained fairly busy even after the clan meeting. It was time to start spending the money I’d been sitting on.

“If there’s any equipment or anything else you want, buy it now. Aynar, consult me before you buy anything.”

“Wow... I’d heard about it, but I didn’t realize it was this bad, nyah. Laitinium equipment for 700,000 Stones...”

While prices for food and everyday necessities had soared by comparison, exploration equipment and consumables had quite literally crashed. Seventy percent of their customer base had vanished. With most explorers dead, the related supplies left in the city had become dead stock.

'Still, this is probably the bottom.'

All the money I’d saved, plus what the royal family had given me—I’d held on to that sizable sum because its value rose even if I did nothing. But now it was time to spend it. Prices would gradually climb once the Labyrinth returned to normal.

“Here are the recent transaction records you requested, Baronet.”

“Ah, thank you. I’ll take a quick look and return them.”

Indeed, recent prices at the Central Trade Market had barely changed, despite having been in free fall just a few days earlier. Other people were starting to spend their money, just like me. Sellers’ expectations that prices would soon recover were probably having some effect as well.

'If this had lasted a few more months, I might have been able to finish gearing up with everything the market could offer.'

Despite that slight regret, I went to the market with my teammates every day as though clocking in for work, continuing to shop for good deals.

I bought three items in total.

「The character has equipped an adamantium large battle shield.」

「Total Item Level increases by +1,750.」

First was a replacement for the shield destroyed in my last battle. Since I was buying one anyway, I upgraded to a tier-five material. The price was almost too cheap to believe. Partly because it wasn’t custom-made, it had actually cost less than a shield made from Moonstone, a tier-four material.

「The character has equipped No. 8,820, Iron Wall.」

「Total Item Level increases by +310.」

The second item was a pair of steel boots. When activated, they doubled Physical Resistance and Mana Resistance for three seconds, making them a great fit for my shield barb build.

Of course, that didn’t mean they were my final boots. There was a much better pair among the higher-ranked Numbered items.

'These boots should be plenty to get me to the late game.'

The last item I bought was a material called “Soul of the Dead.” Required for the seventh stage of Spirit Seal, it was the most expensive of my purchases.

It was also used in alchemy and magic. Its price had crashed too, but the drop was inevitably smaller by comparison.

Still...

'Who knows when I’ll be able to find another one?'

Price wasn’t the issue. Materials like this were harder to obtain than equipment because there were so few on the market. That was why I’d decided to buy it as soon as I saw it.

'Yep. Paying for this is a hundred times better than farming it myself.'

Soul of the Dead had a chance to drop when you applied “Distortion” to a rank-four monster, a Lich, and killed it. In other words, there was no telling how long it would take to get one myself. I could do far more with that time.

“Bjorn, I’m off to the training grounds, then!!”

Anyway, when it was time to clock out of the market, Aynar ran off to the training grounds as usual. She seemed very pleased with the two Numbered items she’d bought.

“What about you, Misha?”

“I’m heading home. I need to make dinner too, nyah.”

“Then you can take Avman back.”

“Huh? Aren’t you coming home, nyah?”

“I’m stopping by the sanctuary today. I might not be back tonight.”

Misha flinched briefly, then stared at me.

“The sanctuary...?”

Ah, so that word was the problem. I hurriedly explained.

“You know the material I just bought? I’m going to get my Spirit Seal.”

“Oh, right. I see. Yes, of course...”

Ever since that day, we’d occasionally found ourselves in awkward situations like this. We’d agreed to pretend it had never happened, but how could that be easy?

“W-well, have a good trip, nyah. I’ll look after the others.”

“Right... I’m counting on you.”

I parted ways with Misha and boarded a carriage headed near the sanctuary. I could see her sitting on a bench, apparently still waiting for her carriage.

“...”

“...”

When our eyes met, Misha hastily looked away, then turned back and gave me a stiff wave.

'God, this is so awkward I could die.'

I nodded awkwardly and drew the carriage curtain. A moment later, I wondered what the hell I was doing and felt a wave of self-reproach, but...

This was still a big improvement. Didn’t they say time healed all wounds? If we kept pretending nothing was wrong, eventually it really would be that way.

“We’ll be departing now.”

The carriage soon pulled away from the platform. I dozed for a while, and before I knew it, we’d reached our destination: the platform on the outskirts of District 7 closest to the sanctuary.

I passed through the city gate and followed the forest path until the barbarian camp came into view.

“It’s been a while. Here to spar?”

First, I entered the chieftain’s tent and exchanged greetings.

'Phew. Thankfully, he hasn’t heard about the oracle yet.'

I’d been a little worried after that Goblin bastard brought up the oracle at the Round Table, but thankfully, word didn’t seem to have reached the chieftain’s ears yet.

Well, that was only a matter of time.

“I came to see the shaman.”

“The shaman? Bad timing, then. You can’t see the shaman right now.”

“Why not?”

“The shaman is undergoing ‘Spirit Receiving.’”

“Spirit Receiving...?”

That was a term I’d never heard even in the game.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what it is?”

The chieftain narrowed his eyes when I tilted my head. It wasn’t much of a problem. In the past, I would’ve flinched, wondering if this was yet another bit of common knowledge only I didn’t know, but...

“I forgot.”

Living as a barbarian had naturally taught me something: a lack of common knowledge wasn’t strange for a barbarian.

“I see.”

As expected, the chieftain readily accepted this and briefly explained Spirit Receiving.

“Spirit Receiving is a ritual that must be performed every few years to practice shamanic arts.”

“Then how long do I have to wait?”

“The ritual began at the start of the month, so you should be able to meet the shaman next month.”

Hmm, next month...

“All right. I’ll come back then.”

Setting aside my disappointment, I turned to leave.

* * *

「Bjorn Jandel」

Level: 5

Physical: 607.62 / Mental: 502.19 / Ability: 2175.55

Item Level: 4,627(New +2,060)

Overall Combat Index: 4,442.11(New +515)

Obtained Essences: Corpse Golem - Rank 7 / Orc Hero - Rank 5 / Ogre - Rank 3 / Manticore - Rank 5 / Bayon - Rank 3

* * *

Late that evening, as drunks began appearing here and there in the streets, we gathered at Mister Bear’s tavern.

Incidentally, we were the only ones inside, since he’d hung up a closed sign for the day. His wife had been healthy enough to work at the tavern even while heavily pregnant, but her due date was truly just around the corner now.

“Are you sure it’s all right? Not staying with her, I mean.”

“You worry too much. We’ll only be gone a day. What could happen? With the baby coming soon, I need to work harder to earn money. My wife agreed to this too, so don’t concern yourself.”

“If you say so.”

I’d only half meant the question, so I didn’t press him. Honestly, I was the one who’d be in trouble if Mister Bear pulled out at this point.

“Then I’ll link us with [Unity] first.”

After we finished a simple meal at Mister Bear’s tavern, Raven cast Unity magic on us in groups of three. Dividing the teams was simple: Mister Bear, Raven, and I were Team A, while Erwin, Misha, and Aynar were Team B.

Not that it mattered much, since we’d only be traveling separately on the first floor before meeting on the second.

“It’s about time. Let’s go.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Just as we’d finished our preparations and were about to leave for the Dimensional Plaza, Raven stopped us. Looking a little bashful, she took several small objects out of her subspace.

“Well... we’re a clan now, aren’t we? I’ve had some spare time lately, so I tried making a crest.”

They were emblems. You know, those things explorers in clans always wore on their armor.

“I looked into a few things while making them, and apparently symbolism is the most important part of a clan crest. So I borrowed your epithet, Mr. Jandel, and made it a titan...”

“But this looks more like an ogre than a titan.”

“Well, if you don’t like it, give it back!”

“I never said I didn’t like it. When we get back tomorrow, let’s officially register it as our clan crest with the guild.”

Raven had briefly scowled at my teasing, but her face brightened when I went so far as to say we’d register it as our clan crest. For all her bluster, she’d clearly been looking forward to this.

“Come over here, everyone. I’ll attach them for you.”

Raven personally attached the emblems to my companions’ equipment with magic. Once they were on, they actually looked pretty good. They made me feel like a genuinely successful explorer.

“Thank you, Raven. For taking care of this even though no one asked.”

“... It’s my clan too, you know.”

“That’s what I’m thanking you for.”

“Empty flattery. Enough of that—let’s get going. We’ll be late at this rate.”

Look at her getting all embarrassed.

With our emblems attached, we hurried to the Dimensional Plaza. Quite a few spectators had gathered nearby, watching from a distance.

“Hey, Bjorn Jandel’s here too.”

“He’s already going back in after what happened?”

“I heard he’d founded a clan. There are six of them.”

“What’s that crest, though? An ogre?”

“Probably. One of Bjorn Jandel’s Essences is an Ogre, after all.”

Though the area around the plaza bustled with a larger crowd than expected, very few people were actually waiting to enter. Three or four hundred at most?

Even then, most were lower-floor explorers who’d had no choice but to put on their equipment because they desperately needed money.

'If all the other plazas look like this, the upper floors will be practically deserted.'

I spent the remaining time going over our exploration plan one last time. Before long, light burst from the center of the plaza, and the portal opened.

「You have entered the first floor, Crystal Cave.」

We had quite a lot to do in the Labyrinth this time.