NOVEL NEXT Chapter 102
Stay alive until every path closes.
I remembered the hidden rule Adelaia hinted at.
“I guess I’ll have to treat this as yet another trial. The ultimate finality? What a filthy gimmick.”
They say the portals lose their light when each party enters, completely obliterating them upon successful challenges. Great, just great…
Adventurers who endured their own tough trials are likely stressed to the max already.
Before all portals are conquered, if those who came out early get into a fight with each other, that would be a headache.
Even if we pass through the trial safely…
We could end up dead at the hands of fellow adventurers at a crossroads, so it’s not over until we’re truly free.
“The problem is that the levels of the parties gathered here are all over the place, and I don’t have to worry about starting points and whatever anymore.”
Adventurers prioritize practicality and reputation, pursuing romance and curiosity at times.
In a way, it’s a job where light and dark coexist like two sides of a coin.
Now that there’s nothing to hold back and we’re already in the portal, what happens if someone pokes us?
Unless the opponent looks downright weak, it’s obvious we’re diving right into life-and-death combat.
“Dammit. How nice would it be if they just dumped me in a random spot on the third floor?”
Especially that Logan Muhabes, right? If that jerk survived, he’d be charging at us with fire in his eyes.
I should prepare for a fight in advance.
Before entering the portal heading to the crossroads outside the sanctuary, I warned my teammates.
“As soon as we return to the starting point, we might have to fight that warrior party that was throwing a tantrum earlier.”
I made my instructions short and to the point.
“Maintain the formation as usual. Yeriell, buff us up right away, and during combat, Veronica, you provoke, and Lumia, use restraints first. Let’s stay sharp.”
“Restraints? Leave it to me.”
“Remember, I’ll lead the way.”
“May his sword be infused with light, and his body with wind.”
[Due to the effect of Divine Weapon, strength increases by one level for one hour.]
[Due to the effect of Haste, agility increases by one level for one hour.]
Ah. I had one more thing to tell Yeriell.
“Even if you see someone in need of a healer, don’t treat them recklessly until we confer first. Can you manage that?”
“…Yeah! I’ve graduated from the phase of just healing anyone that’s hurt the moment I see them, especially after coming out of the labyrinth. Don’t worry!”
I mentioned that because I remembered the phrase not to ignore those dying during the teachings of the trial… thankfully, she understood.
Whooooom.
We entered the portal heading back to the crossroads.
*
Bang!
As I landed steadily, I scanned the surroundings.
First and foremost, that jerk was nowhere to be found.
To our side, two portals remained, still unexplored and not fading away.
Coincidentally, those portals were the ones the Logan party and the Halfling Archer party entered.
In other words, they were the notably peculiar fourth and seventh portals among the seven.
“Hmm?”
「As I mentioned before, to exit, all entrances must eventually close in some way.」
Zzt!
「For the time being, they’re all unstable, making simple conversations difficult. Please survive until the end. Farewell.」
Click.
With that brief worry, my connection with Adelaia was severed, but glancing at the horrific scene before me, I had no time to concern myself with communication.
Each party had either lost members or had one or two severely injured, crying out in pain.
Among them, the old wizard Dyson’s party appeared to suffer the most damage.
There had clearly been a tall priest in that party, but he was nowhere to be seen as he must have died during the trial.
One frontliner was precariously regenerating while spewing blood—a bit of a bonus.
‘Geez, did they run out of potions and have the healer die too? What kind of trial did they undergo inside?’
Did Dyson really pick the second portal? Picking the portal with that ominous demon? Talk about rotten luck.
“Uweeeck. Ugh.”
“Ben, snap out of it and open your eyes!”
“Is there anyone with a high potion or a capable healer?! I will surely repay you! Please, don’t hold back and come forward!”
Hadn’t it been long since they returned through the portal?
The venue sounded like a nightmare, filled with the wails of the injured and their comrades.
For some reason, no one paid any attention to us, who had just come back.
“For now, it doesn’t seem like we’ll have to fight. Let’s head over there.”
Nod.
We relaxed our combat stance and approached them from a distance, eavesdropping on the conversation.
It seemed Dyson was wandering around looking for a priest or potion to help the dying frontliner.
He went up to a man with a scarred face who looked almost as strong and seasoned as him.
“Our priest is out of mana. You must know that a certain amount must remain to convert it into Divine Power.”
“Ugh. Can’t we find a way?”
“If you can replenish mana, I’d accept your help.”
The scarred man showed a cold demeanor, signaling it would be pointless to talk if it wasn’t possible.
“Potions! Do you have any potions?! I’m fine with mid-grade ones, just buy them all!”
“It’s unfortunate, but we can’t afford to spare any right now. We’re aiming for a mid-level rupture, and if we waste supplies here, we won’t make it.”
“How can you be so heartless when someone’s dying?!”
“Old man. It’s better to face reality. Do you think the adventurers would be shaken by being called heartless?”
The man seemed to have some experience in the labyrinth, so he turned his back to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
If I think with an adventurer’s mindset, the scarred man’s words were a hundred percent correct.
If there’s a quest for a specific floor, a hidden rupture or Layered Ruler suppression, or even hunting superior breeds or breaking high records;
Failing and returning could cost a whole month, so they’d hesitate over any rewards or anything.
It’s not like they’d mass raid; replenishing supplies like potions in the labyrinth is limited.
‘But… seeing Dyson so disheartened is a strange feeling.’
Perhaps it’s the sight of a comrade’s death that weighs heavily on me.
I grabbed his slouched figure, dragging him back from wandering.
“Old man.”
“Hoo. It’s you. You returned much later than expected. Just out of curiosity, can you tell me if you still have any potions left with your party? Of course, you don’t.”
He grumbled about how low-grade potions are practically useless due to potion addiction, and he was losing his mind over not being able to find even a mid-grade healer.
Potion addiction, huh?
A state induced by chugging down potions like water for hours continuous to produce a negative trait; what the hell kind of dreadful trial lay hidden in that second portal?
Anyway, then Yeriell’s regular healing probably won’t suffice… but…
‘I have methods left to me beyond potions or divine spells.’
“Sorry. You really seem to be at the entry level of mid-layers. You must have struggled in there as well. I’ll be on my way.”
What’s with this clearly hopeless attitude?
Realizing my silence meant nothing, Dyson tried to walk away, but I grabbed him again after a brief moment.
Fwoosh.
“Just a moment! Why are you trying to shut me down?”
I extended a hand towards him for a bargain.
“Old man. Even if it’s not a potion, if I can save your comrade, what can you offer in return?”
Hearing my confident voice, he whipped around in shock.
“…Are you serious? You truly think it’s possible?!”
“Our priest is in perfect condition. If I use my recovery-related traits one after another, then if she casts a heal, it’ll have a high chance of working.”
“Oh! Well then, it’s not the time to be standing around.”
Rustle.
“If you can save Douglas, I’ll not only pay you in gold, but I’ll also give you this.”
He pulled something out of his pocket.
Finally, Dyson demonstrated an emotional scroll and explained the items’ effects and details with enthusiasm, but…
I figured it’d be better just to skim through the chaos. So I let it go in one ear and out the other.
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[Shattered Wings of Medeline] (B)
A piece of fairy queen Medeline’s wings given to those who endured her mischievous pranks. High on mystique, it dazzles in captivating colors when glanced at.
…A good thing might happen if you hold on to it.
─Increases luck by two tiers for items of grade B or lower when possessed.
─On hit, grants the attacker a rare hallucination effect.
─Slightly increases the chance of gaining favor from beings related to mystique.
─While infusing mana in the labyrinth, allows entry into the Fairy Forest regardless of tier.
(Remaining uses: 1)
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“What do you think? On top of that… yes. I’ll give you 20 gold coins. Will you trade?”
A B-grade item? And 20 gold coins?
I never expected to hit the jackpot.