Chapter 44 - The Line (1)

'But do I really need companions?'

That was my first thought when Aynar told me she was leaving the party. After all, I wasn't the same person I'd been two months ago.

'At this point, I could probably hunt a pack of deathfiends on my own.'

I'd absorbed the Essences of a Corpse Golem and a Vampire—and a Guardian Vampire at that. My base stats, including Strength, had increased tremendously. Taking my regeneration skills into account, it was fair to say I had practically no equal on the second floor.

'I certainly could do it if I wanted to.'

There would be no one to stand watch, and no companion to watch my back in an emergency. But I made an objective assessment. Even accounting for all that, I was strong enough to play solo with a comfortable margin of safety.

'Well, the third floor would still be out of the question.'

[Dungeon and Stone] was fundamentally a game that forced you to play in a party. No matter how powerful your character became, the game's structure made it impossible to steamroll everything alone. Roles were finely divided, and the higher you climbed, the more deadly the absence of a particular role became. Goblin Forest, where a Scout was essential, was one example. There were walls that a barbarian in the tank role simply couldn't overcome alone.

'Besides, starting on the third floor, the sheer number of monsters changes.'

After some deliberation, I made my decision. I'd find new companions at roughly my level. If that proved impossible, I'd join a team at that level instead. Then we'd hunt monsters on higher floors together and aim for the top.

'That's more efficient than wasting time grinding alone on the second floor.'

Of course, that would be a considerable headache in its own right. It wasn't just a matter of combat strength or team composition. I also had to find out whether they were trustworthy.

'Whew. Where the hell am I going to find people like that?'

This month was shaping up to be another busy one. Apart from Erwin and Aynar, I barely knew anyone in this world.

"Ahh..."

I drained the rest of my beer and was about to head upstairs when someone called out to me.

"Hey, you there, barbarian! What do you think?"

It was a group of explorers who had been drinking noisily at the next table.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, you didn't hear? This young fellow here has been saying the cutest things."

Hmm. It didn't seem like he was picking a fight. When I gestured for him to go on, the explorer, who looked to be in his mid-twenties, launched into an explanation. In short, this was what had happened.

Somehow, the topic of the Barbarian of Freedom had come up. Naturally, the explorers had gleefully heaped abuse on the guild. Then a young explorer had come over, asking how they could believe such baseless rumors, and started singing the guild's praises. The others had openly mocked and laughed at him, then spotted me passing by and stopped me.

"That's why I wanted your opinion. Well? Do you trust those guild bastards?"

Fuck. Was that even a question?

"I'd sooner trust a passing piece of shit than those bastards."

"Bwahahaha! I knew you'd say that! One look in your eyes tells me you're not like the rest of the riffraff!"

The man threw his head back, laughing as though nothing could have delighted him more. A boy who had been huddled in a corner shot to his feet, his face red.

"Wait a minute! You're all explorers, so why are you acting like this? Without the guild, who would protect us in this city? You ought to be grateful!"

A brief silence followed. Then everyone at the table burst out laughing.

"What? Grateful? Bwahahaha!"

"Kid! That's exactly why everyone treats you like a greenhorn!"

Apparently, explorers had a culture of only acknowledging you as a proper explorer once you distrusted the guild.

"All right, isn't that enough? He'll understand once he's been through a little more. Nobody can protect you but yourself."

"Ahh, now that strikes a chord!"

"Let's drink to that!"

With that little incident over, the explorers went back to drinking. I was about to leave as well when the man who had first called out to me approached with a friendly expression.

"I'm Hans."

"Hans...?"

"Haha! Common name, isn't it?"

I couldn't say for sure, but it did seem common. The first man I'd killed in the Labyrinth had been named Hans too.

"I am Bjorn, son of Jandel."

"I see! Since fate brought us together, how about another drink before you go, if you're not tired? On me, of course!"

After a moment's thought, I nodded. I'd wandered all over the place eavesdropping on explorers, but I hadn't actually talked to many.

"So, what was troubling you, sitting there all alone?"

Thinking he might offer some unexpected advice, I told him honestly.

"My team broke up, so I'm looking for new companions. But I don't know where to start."

Hans, who had been listening seriously, tilted his head with a puzzled look.

"If that's your problem, wouldn't it be easy enough to just go to the guild?"

"The guild?"

"Haha! Sure, they're untrustworthy bastards, but shouldn't we use what we can? Think of how much of our tax money goes to them!"

Hmm. He certainly had a point. Whatever else might be true, explorers couldn't sever their ties with the guild. In the game, too, it had been easy to find companions through them.

But...

"I'm worried whether I can trust the people I meet there."

"Hahaha! Looks like you've never properly used their services! Things have changed quite a bit. There were so many betrayals that they made wearing a video-recording orb mandatory."

Really? There hadn't been anything like that in the game.

"Trust me and give it a visit. Unless you're very unlucky, the things you're worried about won't happen."

When he put it that way, going there didn't sound like a bad idea.

* * *

The next morning, I woke with a slight hangover and headed straight to the Magic Tower.

"You cannot enter without a visitor's pass."

Shouldn't you ask whether I have one first?

Being subjected to racial discrimination first thing in the morning irritated me, but once I showed the attendant the token Raven had given me, he let me through without another word.

DING!

I arrived on the thirty-first floor. Inside Raven's private laboratory, I was greeted by a room even more cluttered with activity than it had been two days ago.

"Oh, you're here?"

A good many of the scattered books and documents seemed to have been cleared away, but in their place, the room was filled with terrifying-looking devices.

"... What is this used for?"

I pointed to the most vicious-looking object of the lot and asked its purpose.

"Nothing special. It's a magic device that makes it easier to collect blood."

Her answer surprised me twice. First, because it wasn't meant for smashing human skulls. Second, because this barbaric-looking contraption was a magic device.

"Well, are you ready?"

"... I don't think I am yet."

"Oh, don't be such a baby. Come over here."

"... All right."

I'd initially been equal parts suspicious and worried, but the tests using the magic devices were all surprisingly humane. The process was also extremely efficient, so it didn't take long to finish everything.

As for the results, though...

'They're no different from what I worked out on my own in prison.'

"For now, I haven't found any features that differ significantly from other Guardian Essences. Oh, you know what I'm referring to, right?"

"I do."

Essences dropped by Guardians had two distinguishing features. The first was that their base stat bonuses were 1.5 times those of ordinary Essences.

"Since you know, you might as well take a look at this yourself."

She showed me a compiled list of the Vampire's Essence's stats, estimated using various magic devices. It wasn't particularly meaningful. As expected, the paper only contained crude ratings like (High), (Medium), and (Low). Besides, I could calculate the precise values simply by multiplying an ordinary Vampire's stats by 1.5.

[Vampire]

Natural Regeneration +45 Strength +15 Agility +15 Mana resistance +30 Physical Resistance +12 Magic Power +21 Mana Sensitivity +30 Darkness Defense +12 Solar Resistance -12

Some might consider those stats low for a rank-5 monster. They wouldn't exactly be wrong. The Essence of the mere rank-7 Corpse Golem had offered massive bonuses of 70 to Pain Tolerance and 55 to Bone Hardness. And these values had already been multiplied by 1.5.

But...

*'Natural Regeneration, Mana resistance, Physical Resistance, Magic Power, and even Mana Sensitivity... '

These stats were in an entirely different league of rarity. Even in the game, such valuable stats tended to come in much smaller numbers. Handing them out generously would create monsters.

"It strikes me all over again how lucky you are, Mr. Jandel. I hear even ordinary Vampire Essences are so rare that people can't get their hands on them, and you got yours from a Guardian."

Actually, calling me lucky didn't begin to cover it. Guardian Essences of rank 5 or higher were more than good enough to be considered endgame Essences. In every sense, this was absolutely not something you were meant to obtain early on.

"Once you're done, have a look at this too. I've compiled all the abilities in case you don't know them. Four in total."

The corners of my mouth lifted once more.

"Four..."

That was the second distinguishing feature of Guardian Essences. Ordinary Essences came with only two skills: one passive and one active. Guardian Essences were different.

(P) Source of Darkness — Resists death while your heart remains intact.

Besides the standard Passive Skill...

(A) Sacrificial Seal — Temporarily increases physical capabilities according to the number of living beings marked with your blood.

(A) Immortal — Temporarily increases regeneration dramatically in proportion to health lost.

(A) Owner of Blood — Temporarily absorbs one of the target's skills when you drink their blood directly.

They came with every possible active skill.

Normally, getting [Sacrificial Seal] required absorbing a yellow Vampire Essence, while [Owner of Blood] required a red one. Guardian Essences had no such restrictions. Granted, they were that much harder to obtain.

'With this on top of the Immortal's engravings, can I pretty much consider my regeneration build complete?'

I was growing at a speed that even I, with ten years of experience playing this game, could hardly believe. As I basked in quiet satisfaction, I heard her talking to herself.

"All right, that's it for today. Thank you for your cooperation. Come by whenever is convenient next week. I'll be here anyway."

"Is there anything more to investigate?"

"What are you talking about? We need at least ten more rounds of response testing before this Essence can be accepted into the academic society's official records."

... I see.

"I only asked because I didn't know. Don't get angry."

"I'm not angry. Anyway, if we have time, I intend to examine the Corpse Golem Essence too, so don't even think about running away halfway through."

"... Understood."

Having been nearly naked for the tests, I gathered up my clothes and dressed. Before leaving, I decided to ask one more question.

"Raven, do you have any plans to enter the Labyrinth?"

"Who knows? Probably not for a while... Why?"

"Ahem! Wouldn't it be better to go with people you know?"

I felt awkward enough saying it. Had she seen right through me too? She gave an incredulous laugh.

"Excuse me, but we're not that close, are we?"

"Forget it. Pretend you didn't hear that."

"I don't think so."

Her voice turned prickly in an instant. Come to think of it, she'd always been like this. Usually quiet and well-behaved, but whenever something rubbed her the wrong way, there was no limit to how rude she could get.

"Seriously, what do you take me for, asking me to join a team with nothing but two barbarians?"

To be precise, there weren't even two. One had quit yesterday. Saying that would probably make the atmosphere even more hostile, though.

"... That's why I told you to pretend you didn't hear it!"

"How am I supposed to unhear something I've already heard?"

Was this really something worth raising her voice over? As I considered how to respond to her sudden outburst, she let out a long sigh, as though reminding herself to be patient.

"Haa... Mr. Jandel, even if it's not me, put together a proper team before making an offer like that to a mage. Hmm... All members should be at least rank 6, and having a priest would be nice too."

Fuck, did she think I didn't know that? If things were going that well, I wouldn't have made this damn offer to her in the first place.

"I-I will."

You really had to hand it to mages when it came to being stuck-up.

* * *

"Then I'll be going."

"Oh! Wait a minute!"

Raven stopped Bjorn as he was about to leave. She had belatedly remembered something she hadn't asked.

"Back then! What was that thing? The one you shoved into the unconscious Vampire's mouth. I think I sensed Divine Power from it..."

The question had occurred to her while she was writing an account of the incident for her teacher. Just what had that been? No matter how she looked at it, it wasn't something a rank-9 explorer should be carrying around.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"What?"

"Could you have been mistaken? It was a chaotic situation."

"Mistaken? That's impossible. I distinctly sensed—"

"I'll be going now. There's somewhere I need to be in a hurry."

"Hey! Hold on! Wait—"

SLAM!

Bjorn closed the door and left before she could say another word.

'So, you are hiding something, aren't you?'

Frowning at the spot where he'd stood, she stalked into the study, huffing, and took out a thick volume.

[Complete Analysis of Ruptures III]

A compilation and explanation of information about ruptures. Like its simple title, the old, weathered tome didn't even bear an author's name. She had happened to buy it at the Free Market as a child, and, astonishingly, it contained knowledge that hadn't even been recorded by the academic society.

"What page was Blood-Tinted Castle on again...?"

She flipped through the book, then stopped at a particular page. It contained advanced information about Blood-Tinted Castle: a map of the dungeon section, the precise location of a hidden passage, and how to obtain the Necronomicon in the Demon Worship Chamber.

Unfortunately, some parts were illegible. Two entries, in fact.

[Goddess' Tears]

Acquisition Location: ——————.

[Golden Mask]

———: ——— —.

Two items whose acquisition methods had been erased by the ravages of time, vanishing into the unknown. She had searched all over to find them herself, only to come up empty-handed. She smacked her lips in disappointment, then tilted her head.

'Wait, Goddess' Tears... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere.'

Where could it have been? Searching her hazy memories, she took out several religious books and rapidly flipped through them one by one. Some time passed before her hand finally stopped turning the pages.

[Goddess' Tears]

A consumable sacred relic of unknown origin.

When destroyed, it spreads powerful 'Grace' at that location.

It disappeared from the world 150 years ago, when Cardinal Androne used all three to save the pope during the Dimension collapse.

"A sacred relic?"

Startled, she checked the illustration on the next page as well. She had only seen the object from a distance, so it was too early to be certain, but its general shape and size seemed similar. Even its method of use and effects matched.

"..."

Raven was bewildered. No matter how she looked at it, this didn't feel like mere coincidence. But if it wasn't coincidence, how had a barbarian who had only just come of age known where the [Goddess' Tears] were hidden—and even thought to use them right away?

'Could Mr. Jandel be...?'

A possibility occurred to her, and her eyes lit up as she held the book.

'I'll have to find out.'

No matter how long it took, it would be worth it.