Chapter 71 - Barbarian Hero (4)

[Prey]

Anyone afflicted with this becomes unable to act. It's easiest to think of it as a curse. The difference, though...

'Riakis's aggro locks onto the [Prey].'

In other words, we need to put as much distance between us as possible before it wakes up. That's our best chance.

As I hurry to prepare to leave, McGlane looks at Misha and asks bluntly,

"You're not abandoning her?"

"Of course not."

What a stupid question.

I give a dismissive chuckle, and McGlane nods approvingly.

"Valuing your companions is an important virtue in an explorer. Are you truly not interested in joining our clan?"

"I'm not."

"Even if we help you protect that young woman?"

"... My answer is still no."

"Hmm, a pity. If you had been designated as [Prey], you wouldn't have had a choice."

He's right about that. I doubt Misha could carry me on her back and run for fifteen minutes. I'd have accepted the risks of joining the clan to stay alive.

But is this just how explorers are?

Saying that to my face makes him sound like a fucking psychopath.

"At any rate, our deal ends here. We'll be leaving now. Perhaps we'll meet again in the city someday."

"If I make it back alive."

"Well, I wouldn't say this about just anyone, but you should be more than capable. I have a feeling."

Seriously, could he please stop raising death flags?

I'd listened in case he had something useful to offer, but this was just a waste of—

"I hope this will be of some help on your journey. What are you waiting for? Get started!"

At McGlane's shout, light begins pouring out from clan members all around, as though they'd been waiting for his cue.

「Daniel Carmine has cast [Wind's Blessing].」

「The character's movement speed increases greatly.」

「Tarotes Pian has cast [Voyage].」

「The character's Magic Power regenerates more quickly.」

「Aaron d'Plain has cast [Flames of Regeneration].」

「The character's bodily regeneration increases greatly...」

「...」

「...」

Is this what loyalty looks like?

Their own MP must be nearly depleted after our escape, yet they're doing this for me.

Whatever I think of their flat refusal to protect Misha, the right thing to do here is simply thank them.

"... Thank you."

"Don't thank us. Just don't die. If you two die, won't it come after us?"

Having said something befitting a true efficiency freak, McGlane begins preparing to lead his clan members away.

Fair enough. All I need to do is carry her and secure the backpack so it doesn't fall off. Their preparations won't be that simple.

"Then we'll head off first."

"Please do. Once you've left, we'll head in the opposite direction."

Rational to the very end, aren't you, Mister?

There's nothing left for me to be upset about, so I chuckle and start running in one direction with Misha on my back.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!]

Before long, its roar reaches us from far away.

* * *

We're being chased.

Dangling like a piece of luggage from a barbarian's back, I'm fleeing a terrifying monster called Riakis, Lord of Chaos, or something.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

His body is hot.

Not figuratively. Literally.

Like a campfire doused in oil, he radiates heat as he runs, and I can feel it against my skin.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!]

My body is too stiff to turn and look back. But I can hear it. That bone-chilling roar is drawing closer.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel."

So I call his name. Maybe he doesn't hear me, because he doesn't answer. I call a little louder.

"Bjorn, son of Jandel!"

"Speak."

"You can stop now, nyah."

I'm not oblivious.

That monster is chasing me, not Bjorn. That's why everyone looked at me that way. Even my own flesh and blood.

Because my very existence is a burden.

"What do you mean?"

He speaks in his usual tone, as though he doesn't understand, as though I'm bothering him with pointless questions.

So I try to sound as cheerful as usual, too.

"Haven't you done enough, nyah? You'll die too at this rate, nyah. It's not like we're that close, nyah."

There's no answer, so I shout louder.

"I would've died ages ago if it weren't for you, nyah! B-besides, I even got to fulfill my lifelong dream at the end, nyah!"

His answer comes after a short pause.

"Ridiculous."

"... What, nyah?"

"You don't want to die in the slightest. Why say things you don't mean?"

There's something cynical in his voice. Feeling as though I've somehow made a mistake, I find myself making excuses.

"It's not that I don't mean it, I really—nyah!"

"Aren't you just afraid of being abandoned?"

For an instant, I feel as though he's struck right at the heart of it. Is that why my voice grows louder?

"Why won't you listen, nyah! I just don't want to be a burden anymore, nyah!"

"And is that feeling more important than your life?"

"..."

That single sentence leaves me speechless.

I've wondered this before, but why is this barbarian so good with words?

I don't know, but he continues with a hint of irritation.

"Stop beating around the bush and testing me. It's annoying. If you want to live, just ask me to save you. At least then you'll have a chance."

Simple words, befitting a barbarian. Still, I think I understand what he's trying to say.

Ever since we became stranded in Witch's Forest, he's shown me through his actions how to think and act to survive.

'I must look pathetic to him...'

He's always told me to do what needs doing if I want to live.

Then what should I be doing now?

Well, whatever it is, it probably isn't giving up because my family abandoned me and pouring out my misery to someone who's trying to help.

"Bjorn, nyah."

I call to him again. I'm starting to understand what I should have done.

"If you save me, I'll follow you and help you for the rest of my life, nyah."

If I was truly afraid of being abandoned, the proper first step was to at least try to give him a reason not to abandon me.

Except...

"I believe I've heard that one before."

His answer makes me realize my mistake, and my mind goes blank.

Uh, then what am I supposed to say?

I don't think for long.

"If I make it back alive, I'll give you everything I earned on this expedition, nyah! How's that, nyah?"

He gives a little chuckle and answers,

"Much better."

* * *

"I-I'm glad you like it, nyah..."

A relieved sigh comes from behind me. I let out a sigh of my own, for a different reason, and pick up the pace.

Well, that should take care of her mental state. If she has any sense, she won't keep bothering me.

'Now comes the real problem...'

I turn my head for a quick glance back. Hundreds of Chaos Spirits are chasing me.

Of course, they're not much of a problem. Once aggroed, they'll follow you to the bitter end, but they're relatively slow.

Unlike that motherfucker.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!]

I must have started with at least three kilometers between us, but it's already this close. At this rate, it'll catch up in less than five minutes.

Assuming, of course, I can maintain my current speed.

「[Wind's Blessing] has expired.」

「[Voyage] has expired.」

「[Berserker] has expi...」

「...」

That's my biggest problem. The buffs the Djarwi Clan gave me are starting to expire one after another.

The vitality filling my body slowly drains away. Before I know it, my pace has slowed enough for even me to notice.

'Three minutes at most, then.'

I reassess the variables and adjust my plan. Not that much changes. Ultimately, there's only one thing I need to do right now.

Run as hard as I can.

PITTER-PATTER.

As expected, rain begins falling about two minutes later. Proof that it's right on my heels.

The number of Chaos Spirits blocking my path has visibly increased, too. But I don't bother looking back. I simply accept that the time has come and pull out what I've been saving.

「The character has cast [Gigantification].」

「The character's body enlarges, increasing Threat stat and Physical stats in proportion to size.」

My muscles and frame swell in an instant, my arms and legs lengthening proportionally. The increase in Physical stats should also have raised my Overall Combat Index.

But what matters here is the increase in movement speed.

THUD! THUD!

Every step sends out a heavy tremor, but my strides are much longer now.

Unfortunately, I can't maintain this for long. Escaping the [Crevice of Evil] completely drained my Magic Power—in other words, my MP.

'In this state, two or three minutes at most?'

I draw on all my veteran knowledge to estimate the remaining time. Thank goodness for the [Voyage] buff that increased my Magic Power regeneration. Without it, I wouldn't have lasted even a minute.

"Misha, the time?"

At my brief question, Misha hurriedly answers, the watch already placed in her hand.

"Uh, uh, fifty-six minutes, nyah!"

"Exactly."

"One hundred ninety-six seconds left, nyah!"

Right. A little over three minutes until this goddamn Labyrinth closes.

"If you're bored, watch that and count down."

"O-okay, nyah! One hundred ninety, one hundred eighty-nine..."

While Misha counts, serving as my timer, I launch into my final sprint with the battle cry that's become second nature to me.

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

My body surges forward as though the ancestral god is pushing me from behind.

"One hundred seventy, one hundred sixty-nine, nyah..."

With each tick of the second hand, the rain grows heavier, and more enemies block my path.

That changes what I need to do. Until now, I've focused entirely on charging ahead, regardless of whether they follow me...

Now I have to clear a path, too.

"This will sting a little."

Is she too focused to hear me? Or does she think doing her part takes priority, no matter what?

Probably the latter. That must be why Misha doesn't answer.

「A Chaos Spirit has been destroyed.」

「The location is corrupted.」

Struck by my holy-water-coated mace, a Chaos Spirit bursts, spraying slime everywhere. Even though it must have touched her skin, Misha concentrates solely on counting, as though it's the only thing she can do.

"O-one hundred sixty-five, nyah!"

So I do my best at my own job, too. I smash the Chaos Spirits surging in like a tidal wave, sometimes launching my enormous body over their heads.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!]

I put everything I have into widening the gap between us and that motherfucker.

Is that why?

"One hundred twenty, one hundred nineteen, one hundred eighteen, nyah..."

My mace-wielding right arm starts going numb, perhaps from all the slime coating it.

Fuck, is that a Paralysis proc?

Making a quick decision, I switch my shield and mace between hands.

"N-ninety, nyah!!"

Suddenly, I feel searing flames behind me. I don't need to look to know what it is.

'Its breath attack.'

Fortunately, it doesn't do much damage. In fact, since the attack landed behind me, it must have destroyed a good number of the Chaos Spirits following me.

But it's too early to celebrate. If it's using its breath, that means I'm within attack range.

"Seventy-five, nyah..."

One minute and fifteen seconds left.

Following its breath, the first direct attack comes my way.

BOOOM!

An enormous forepaw slams down where I stood. My barbarian combat reflexes, honed to a fever pitch, kick in, and I dodge sideways just in time, but...

"Seventy-four, nyah..."

When I look forward again, it's blocking my path.

A bloated body thirty meters across. Even the Orc Hero's Fighting Spirit is useless against that enormous form, which crushes the will to fight just by existing.

Well, Fighting Spirit only means anything against something you have a chance of taking on.

THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!

My heart pounds like mad. With good reason. Veteran knowledge or not, there's no way to guarantee my survival against this thing in my current state.

Perhaps sensing that instinctively, Misha stops counting, too.

"B-Bjorn. That's enough, nyah."

Ugh, here we go again. I thought she'd graduated from whining.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!!]

As it roars right in my face, I immediately turn and run the other way.

It's still noisy behind me.

"Can't you hear me, nyah! Leave me and save your—"

I speak firmly.

"Enough."

At least say something sensible.

"I have no intention of letting you die."

She wants me to abandon her now? Then who's going to pay for the Frost Spirit Ring I invested in?

"What am I to you... Why are you going this far for me, nyah...?"

Leaping over a pack of Chaos Spirits, I give a brief answer.

"We already made a promise."

The companion's oath. A promise to help each other.

I'll take a huge loss unless I get enough work out of her to justify the ring's price.

"A promise? You're going to die with me over something like that, nyah?!"

Misha shouts as though she can't understand, but...

"Who said anything about dying?"

I'm going to live. Like the efficiency freak I am, I'll take every reward I can get my hands on and return to the city outside this Labyrinth.

Sure, it'll be hard as hell... but that's nothing out of the ordinary.

I've never gotten what I wanted without taking a risk in the first pla—

BOOOM!

An enormous forepaw descends from overhead. I try to dodge, but I'm a little late.

"B-Bjorn! Your arm, nyah...!"

The arm holding my mace is torn off. Not cut off by a claw or anything. Literally torn off.

But there's something else I need to worry about right now.

"The time?"

"L-leave me, nyah. You can't, nyah. You're going to die too..."

Her voice trembles as though she's panicking. Running forward with all my strength, I shout,

"Misha Karlstein! Tell me the time!"

"... Sixty seconds! Sixty seconds left, nyah!!"

Right. Just one more minute to survive.

'So much for taking the easy way out.'

I stop running, then turn to face that enormous motherfucker.

My instincts are still telling me to flee immediately. But I've decided that with it this close, escape is impossible.

"Y-you've made the right choice, nyah. Once I die, it'll..."

Even if I run, I'll still be within range. What just happened proves that. If I hadn't been running with my back to it, I might have dodged without losing an arm.

That's why I charge.

"Eek! Wh-what are you doing, nyah?!"

"If you have time to whine, count."

Brushing aside Misha's complaints, hoping the ancestral god's blessing will have even the slightest hand in my fate, I shout,

"VEHELLLAAAAAA!!"

I run not away from the enormous motherfucker, but toward it.

And at that instant...

"F-fifty-five, nyah..."

Perhaps she's had a change of heart, because Misha starts counting again.

At the same time, the enormous motherfucker opens its vicious maw and spews fire.

That's the moment my judgment is proven right.

"Fifty-four, nyah..."

If I'd followed my instincts and fled, the only future awaiting me would have been getting roasted whole alongside Misha.

But I didn't run away.

And so...

"F-fifty-three, nyah!!!"

I slide between its legs just in time, escaping the blast radius.

"Fifty-two, nyah!!!"

Before I can even rise from my slide, it stamps down with the hind foot supporting its weight.

THUD!

I roll sideways to dodge. Immediately, it backs up and swipes with a forepaw.

"F-f-f-fifty, nyah..."

I duck under it. I learned its attack patterns by carefully watching the Djarwi Clan fight earlier.

"Forty-nine, nyah."

A downward smash.

I hop sideways like a grasshopper to avoid it.

"Thirty, nyah."

A swipe.

I flatten myself against the ground like a bug or roll between its legs to dodge.

"Twenty-six, nyah..."

For its sweeping tail, I jump with all my strength. I copy exactly what the Djarwi Clan's warriors did against it for hours.

Aside from its breath, Dark Sphere, and so on, those three moves are its only physical attacks. Well, it does bring out new patterns after finishing off its [Prey]...

"Twenty, nyah."

But that's not happening.

[ROOOOAAARRR—!]

It lets out a fierce roar. Perhaps it's angry, because its attacks grow more vicious.

"Seventeen, nyah."

Trying to catch me off guard, it sweeps its tail a second time in succession.

"Sixteen, nyah."

I leap as though skipping rope. But maybe I don't jump quite high enough.

WHAM!

The tail strikes my ankle, throwing me off balance.

"Fifteen... Aaah, nyah!"

My body spins through the air and crashes down. Somehow, I roll and scramble quickly to my feet, but one ankle is completely shattered.

As I do, it brings a forepaw down.

"..."

I roll sideways again, already knowing I'm a step too late.

I might actually fucking die he—

BOOOM!

What the fuck?

Amazingly, for the first time in ages, my bad feeling was wrong.

「The character has insufficient Magic Power.」

「[Gigantification] ends.」

My body shrank to half its size just in time. Turning my head, I see an enormous footprint right in front of my nose.

A moment later, and my head would probably have been splattered there like a burst watermelon.

TAP.

Reeling from the close call, I quickly get up. Pain shoots through my shattered left ankle, but I can ignore that much.

'Ten seconds now?'

I count silently in place of Misha, who seems to have passed out when we fell after the tail strike.

'Nine.'

Things aren't looking good.

'Eight.'

Those Chaos Spirit bastards have gathered in such numbers that they're restricting my movement. My shattered ankle is slowing me down, too.

So—

'Seven.'

I climb onto the forepaw it just slammed down.

'Six.'

But it's sure to thrash like crazy to shake me off...

'Five.'

I cling tightly to its hide with my one remaining arm and my sturdy barbarian teeth.

Of course it doesn't work.

BOOOM!

It slams the ground again, and the recoil flings me off. Astonishingly, it deftly snatches me out of the air with its other paw.

HISSSSS.

It snorts, seemingly pleased at finally catching its quarry. Its open maw rapidly draws closer.

One good chew with those vicious teeth, and raitinium armor or not, I'll be a bite-sized snack.

But...

"Too late, asshole."

After all, isn't this a world with a Labyrinth and monsters, where dead monsters vanish and leave loot behind?

「The Labyrinth has closed.」

The view before my eyes blurs and scatters. Darkness rushes in all at once.

Watching its faint shape at the center, I think,

'Riakis, Lord of Chaos.'

It really was every bit as much of a bastard as its imposing presence in the game suggested. It hadn't even entered phase two, yet all I could do in my current state was get chased around and beaten senseless.

But...

If the day ever comes when we meet again—

[ROOOOAAARRR—!!!!!]

It'll be different.

* * *

「The character is being transported to Raphdonia.」

* * *

When she opened her eyes, she saw light. Though the sky was overcast, its radiance was incomparable to anything in the Labyrinth.

'I'm alive...'

Misha kept her eyes closed a moment, as though savoring the light's warmth, then hurriedly sat up.

'Bjorn! What happened to Bjorn?'

As she gathered her wits and looked around, she found the Dimensional Plaza filled with an unfamiliar atmosphere.

"A priest! Someone get a priest!!"

"H-hang on a little longer! We're back in the city!!"

Injured people were everywhere, crying out for help.

"What on earth happened?"

"No idea. I asked a Guild employee, but he must have been too busy to answer."

Those unaware of the incident murmured among themselves, their questions mounting.

It was only natural. People often survived by the skin of their teeth when the Labyrinth closed, but the number of times so many injured had appeared at once could be counted on one hand.

"Did you hear? Apparently, a Floor lord appeared on the third floor."

"What? A Floor lord?"

"... Then all these people must have been exploring the third floor."

Her head throbbing, Misha slowly dragged herself forward.

"Hey! Looks like you were on the third floor, too. Sit down and re—"

A male explorer approached, but Misha pushed past him without answering and kept walking.

"Move, nyah."

Rest? Treatment? All good things, but there was something she needed to do first.

So she kept pushing through the crowded Dimensional Plaza.

Then it happened.

"That fellow's going to die soon."

"Even a barbarian, in that condition..."

Barbarian.

At the word from nearby, Misha moved toward it as though entranced. She pushed through the crowd of onlookers to its center, where, just as they'd said, a barbarian lay.

"Bjorn, nyah..."

She slowly approached him.

One arm torn off. His left ankle bent at a grotesque angle. Black slime covering his entire body.

She felt she knew what had happened after she passed out without needing to see it. He must have fought desperately to survive, just as he always had.

"Don't get close! A priest is coming, so you should leave him—"

She could understand why everyone was watching from a distance.

Without answering, Misha went to his side and quietly leaned her ear close. The slime stung her cheek, but she let out an involuntary sigh of relief.

WHEEZE... WHEEZE...

His breathing was as regular as a baby's in peaceful slumber.

"Haah, you were just sleeping, nyah. You scared me, nyah..."

Her arms and legs went weak. Still, she mustered her strength and wiped the slime from his body by hand, bit by bit, so he could rest a little more comfortably.

"They say a priest is coming, so don't worry. Just rest, nyah."

Once she'd wiped the slime covering his face away, she could finally see his expression clearly. He looked utterly at peace, as though he'd finished everything he needed to do.

Suddenly, she remembered a mage's words.

["If Valcan, the man called the hero of the barbarians, came back to life, I imagine he'd look just like that..."]

A mage beside her had said it in admiration as Bjorn cleared their path.

Of course, Misha had no idea who Valcan was.

But...

"I think I understand what that mage meant, nyah."

If heroes existed, surely this was what one would look like.