Chapter 377 - Treasure Hunter (5)

My surprise at the light flashing the moment I slipped on the ring lasted only briefly. Once I checked its color, I smacked my lips.

'A yellow light...'

That color meant only one thing: something nearby could affect my future either positively or negatively.

“Erwin, is there anything around us?”

At my hushed question, Erwin focused on her hearing without asking why. And...

“One of those people from earlier is here.”

“How long has he been there?”

“I don't know. But... judging by how he's hiding in the dark, I don't think he just arrived. His breathing is steady, too...”

After trailing off, Erwin continued.

“Oh, he's talking now. I think he's using a message stone. He's saying a Numbered item dropped, too, and asking how much longer until they arrive.”

So that was why the ring had lit up. Apparently, he'd even watched us kill the Raffle Mimic...

“Looks like they left a scout behind. Erwin, keep your attention on him. We'll pack up camp.”

“Yes.”

Leaving Erwin to keep watch, we quickly gathered our things and prepared to leave. But they were a step ahead of us.

“The others are here.”

“How many?”

“Eighteen altogether. Oh, they're discussing what to do with us now.”

“I see... And what have they decided?”

“I don't know. They must have used magic, because the sound cut off partway through. I'm sorry...”

“What's there to be sorry about? Whatever they decide, we'll find out soon enough.”

Sure enough, no sooner had I said that than an artificial light burst from their hiding place, illuminating the surroundings.

“Hello there, friend! What was your name again? I seem to have forgotten to ask earlier.”

Forgotten to ask, my ass. He hadn't offered his own name, either.

“Well, I don't think we're close enough to exchange names.”

“Haha, you're rather shy for someone with your looks, aren't you?”

He continued with a laugh, but his eyes were cold. He'd also been standing at an angle with a hand on his hip this whole time—because that put it closest to the weapon at his waist.

“So, what do you want?”

“One of our members happened to see you kill a Raffle Mimic while on patrol.”

“What a coincidence.”

“That's how life goes, isn't it? Anyway, I'll get straight to the point. Hand over the loot you just obtained.”

“Why should I?”

“As I said, this area is our clan's territory. I believe you agreed to that earlier.”

“Agreed?”

I couldn't help snorting, but I did understand where they were coming from. They must have roamed this island every day waiting for a Raffle Mimic to appear, only for some explorers passing through to snatch up the prize.

But what could I say?

“You wanted us to leave early in the morning, and we accepted. That was the full extent of our agreement, wasn't it?”

I certainly didn't remember discussing any loot.

“That's sophistry.”

“No, it's a perfectly sound argument.”

“...”

He clenched his jaw so hard his teeth ground together.

I could more or less understand how he felt. He must have assumed the agreement covered that, too. No, he probably hadn't even considered that a monster might appear near us during our one-night stay.

“The Labyrinth has its unwritten rules. If you infringe on our rights, no one can blame us for harming you.”

An utterly blatant threat. I stared at him as if to ask whether he was serious, and he met my gaze without flinching.

“...”

“...”

Either side could have drawn their weapons at any moment.

Someone swallowed.

As the silence stretched on, the group behind him tightened their grips on their weapons, as though ready to launch an attack the instant they heard my answer.

Of course, that wasn't enough to stop me from speaking my mind.

“I don't know about any unwritten rules,” I continued firmly, “but anyone who tries to take what's mine is a plunderer.”

“... You're making a bad choice.”

I let that go in one ear and out the other and shrugged.

“I've heard that plenty of times. Where do you think all those people are now?”

“...”

“Still, at least things are clearer now.”

Then I delivered my ultimatum.

“What are you waiting for? If you're going to attack, do it. Otherwise, fuck off.”

The dynamic was completely different from our first meeting. Earlier, the moment I'd agreed to leave at dawn, he'd looked down on us and started meddling. But now? Faced with an almost extreme show of aggression, he didn't know what to do.

Well, he had reason to be uneasy. He couldn't possibly understand why we were so confident when they outnumbered us five to one.

'Erwin probably has something to do with it, too.'

They didn't seem to have recognized Erwin yet. But he must have heard that the elf archer on our team had killed a Raffle Mimic with a single arrow. He would instinctively know she was no ordinary explorer.

“...”

Even so, he seemed to be struggling to make a decision, perhaps because his clan members were watching. So...

“If you're having trouble choosing, I'll help.”

“...?”

“If you're still in front of me when I finish counting down from three, I'll take that as a declaration that you intend to attack.”

“... What?”

He looked as if he'd heard something utterly absurd, but his expression changed when I actually began counting.

“Three.”

“...!”

“Two.”

Rather than dragging it out, I counted faster than actual seconds. And just as I was about to call out the final number...

“... There's no need for pointless bloodshed.”

He surrendered.

* * *

“Commander! Why did we back down?”

Ekshur Mellick, commander of the Huntsman Clan, frowned at his subordinate's outburst. One of his trusted aides quickly stepped in to speak for him.

“They hunted a Raffle Mimic without a mage. At the very least, that elf archer is a rank-three explorer. If the other two are traveling with her, they're probably at a similar level.”

“Even if all three are rank-three explorers, we far outnumber them!”

“Remilton, have you ever fought a rank-three explorer? They're monsters.”

“But they didn't even have a mage! With our numbers, we could still have won!”

“And more than half of us would have died. Do you think that one Numbered item is worth that much?”

“Well...”

Confronted with the aide's reasoning, the man who had first objected trailed off. Then the divisions began in earnest.

“But if word of this gets out, we'll be a laughingstock wherever we go.”

“That hasn't happened yet. And even if it does, I still believe the commander made the right decision.”

“Who is that elf, anyway? Killing a Raffle Mimic in one shot...”

“A silver-haired woman... Could she be the Blood Spirit Marquis?”

“If that's true, we could have been in serious trouble.”

“The Blood Spirit Marquis? Have you all eaten something strange? Why would that crazy woman be here? She's obsessed with war. She's probably slicing people up even as we speak.”

They argued against one another, their sharp voices growing ever louder. Naturally, factions formed among those who shared the same opinions. Then...

“Commander! They're leaving the island on their ship!”

At the scout's report, the clan members stopped their heated argument and all looked at one man. Their eyes asked what he intended to do now. Ekshur Mellick sighed without letting anyone notice.

'Damn it.'

Running a clan was like captaining a ship. Even when trials came in the form of typhoons, crashing waves, or lightning strikes, the captain had to show that he could weather them. And so...

“Enough, all of you. Pack your things.”

He made his decision.

“Commander, do you mean...”

“We're going after them.”

The hardliners' faces brightened. Those who had called for restraint, on the other hand, voiced their concerns.

“But they're a formidable force.”

Three explorers estimated to be rank three on average. But he wasn't particularly worried.

“I understand your concerns. On land, perhaps. But there's no way we could lose a battle at sea, is there?”

“Of course! So that's why you let them go so easily!”

The hardliners marveled at his cunning, and even the opposing faction seemed somewhat convinced. That was how confident they were in naval combat. Still, perhaps one lingering doubt remained.

“Even so... is one Numbered item worth that much?”

At one member's cautious question, Ekshur Mellick gave a faint smile.

“Certainly, a single Numbered item wouldn't make it worthwhile.”

“Then you mean—”

“But that's not all they have, is it?”

The Huntsman Clan. These days, they were holed up on an island hunting for treasure, but once, they had been pirates roaming the sixth floor's Great Ocean. Hunting people for profit.

* * *

It was the early predawn, with the sky gradually brightening.

WHOOOOSH!

A refreshing wind struck the sail, pushing the ship forward.

Behind us, clusters of stars shone in the dim sky. Ahead, to the east where our bow pointed, there was a faint sense of the sun hidden beyond the horizon. It was quite an atmospheric sight. Unfortunately, we had no leisure to enjoy it.

“Mister, ships are following us. Three in total, with no emblems or anything.”

The pursuit began almost as soon as we left the island. It was obvious who they were.

'So they never intended to let us go in the first place.'

I'd thought things had ended far too anticlimactically for a yellow light. This was probably why they'd let us leave. Anyone sailing around with three ships would be fairly well versed in naval combat. They must have decided they could fight with a much greater advantage at sea.

Of course, one question remained.

'But why did it light up yellow instead of red?'

If we were going to be attacked anyway, wouldn't red have sufficed? What was positive about this situation? Amelia interrupted that train of thought.

“Schuitz, what are you going to do?”

“Losing them would be difficult, right?”

“Probably.”

Their ships must have been built with a particular emphasis on speed, because they were closing the distance despite our activated mana propulsion. That left us with only one choice.

“Emily, stop feeding it magic crystals. It's a waste.”

“You intend to fight?”

“Do we have any other option?”

Amelia didn't answer. She simply let go of the helm and began furling the sail. I helped her, and our wind-driven ship slowed sharply. Then...

SHHHHHH!

The three ships rapidly cutting through the water came into my view as well. The one in the middle stood out the most.

“...”

It looked at least three times the size of ours. Mana cannons were mounted along its sides and front, and it had no fewer than three sails. And that wasn't all. It even had an icebreaker fitted to its bow. It wasn't quite on par with the royal family's warships, but it looked only about two tiers below them...

“Schuitz, if they fire those cannons, our ship will sink in no time.”

Faced with that overwhelming display of might, Amelia voiced her concern.

It wasn't an unreasonable worry. Once a naval battle began, a ship like ours would definitely be smashed to pieces in short order. But...

I licked my lips and checked the Traffic Signal Ring. The yellow light from earlier had long since faded.

But now I thought I understood. Why it had lit up yellow, rather than red.

“That ship... looks awfully big and sturdy.”

Monsters weren't the only things in the Labyrinth that coughed up treasure.