NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47
After walking for about an hour at a brisk pace.
“Stop.”
We encountered another adventurer party.
They must have spotted us too, as they suddenly halted and began to observe our movements with a wary look.
During the brief standoff, I looked away.
‘What’s the number of opponents and their equipment?’
It was a standard party of four: two in the front, three in the back, a mix of men and women.
The gear? Clearly subpar.
An old shield slung over their backs and a dangling arming sword at their waists.
They wore tattered robes and cloth armor, faces hardened without a hint of ease.
No need to check their status window.
It looked like they were just a farming party hanging around on the first floor.
‘But just to be sure…’
────
[Andrew]
[Strength: E] [Agility: E-] [Durability: E]
[Health: E] [Magic Power: F+] [Luck: E-]
[Traits] (Collapse)
Beginner’s Sword Defense
Defensive Stance
────
I felt relieved.
Come to think of it, most front-liners I’d seen until now had the beginner’s sword defense as a necessity and each possessed some unique trait.
‘Is there some guild or training center that teaches front-liner’s shield sword techniques?’
Anyway, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
I exchanged glances with the leader of the opposite party, indicating that we had no intention of hostility.
Adventurers swished by us.
“Let’s go.”
“Phew, I get chills whenever I encounter the same adventurers after that human hunter incident last time.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me. Most are just ordinary adventurers. After that incident, I can’t help but be suspicious.”
“I think it’s not bad to be more cautious. It’s a bit exhausting, though.”
“Right. It’s better to be cautious than to fall victim to carelessness.”
Enough small talk. In the end, I’d have to find the right balance when dealing with people in the labyrinth.
We made our way back toward the portal.
*
We walked for several hours without resting.
Encountering monster hordes and other adventurers repeatedly.
While checking the map, we eventually saw a large hole in the wall nearby.
“I guesstimated that the distance to the portal seems a bit vague.”
Not sure if we could rest immediately on the second floor.
I suggested to both that we walk this far and then take a break at a shelter.
Well, it was shrouded in darkness, so day and night didn’t really hold meaning here.
But still, considering the time, it was night, and people have biological rhythms, so we should rest when we can.
Luckily, as we entered the hole in the wall, the shelter was empty.
‘Well, at least I’m lucky in this regard.’
I had never encountered other adventurers in the shelter until now.
Yeriell and I spread out our sleeping bags and prepared food for a rest.
“The darkness is my servant. Move at my command.”
[Looming Puppets]
Lumia cast an alarm spell through her summoned magic.
Something with a black form began to spread throughout the shelter entrance and other areas.
“I remember there were only three last time. Seems like the number has increased?”
“Yeah, it’s a bit different from the usual alarm spells that normal mages use. We’ve been practicing to make sure the party can rest safely.”
Lumia insisted this was different from just making sound; it also included some level of protection and showcased her ability.
“Thanks to you, I’ll be able to rest easy. I appreciate it.”
Hearing that, Lumia felt a sense of pride.
After finishing our meal, we spent time leisurely chatting without worries, and one by one, we fell asleep.
I should sleep too… so I can walk diligently to the second floor tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.
⋯
Kyaaaak! Kyaaaa!!
An indescribable scream, not of human origin, pierced my ears.
What the hell is this?
“Ugh!”
Instinctively, I opened my eyes and jumped up.
Yeriell, Lumia! Where are they?
I quickly gathered my wits and looked straight ahead.
The puppets Lumia had set as alarm magic were shrieking as they inflated their bodies with dark power.
“Cough!”
The screams acted as a mental attack, causing confusion among the enemies.
Lumia stood in front of Yeriell and me, who were just regaining our senses.
“Damn it, what’s going on? My ears are about to burst.”
“I warn you, do not approach any closer.”
A dark aura swirled around her, as though she was ready to cast magic at any moment.
“Gonna cast some magic? Hey, we just wanted to share the shelter. What’s the problem?”
A muscular man with a scar across his nose smirked.
“Really, what kind of confidence is this? You’re outnumbered three to one and you’ve already turned hostile?”
Unbelievable. How long has it been since I thought “lucky” or something similar?
In an instant, I understood the situation.
“Lumia, good job. Step back.”
“That group isn’t just here for the shelter,” Lumia whispered into my ear.
The shrieking of the puppets was gradually diminishing, and taking that opportunity, she continued to whisper.
“There’s definitely a motive behind their approach. The summoned puppets are sensitive to negative emotions like malice and intent to kill.”
Malice and intent to kill?
“Usually they just make noise to wake me, but for them to react this strongly… Be careful.”
I had an inkling from her tone.
In other words, given their level and their overwhelming numbers, they probably aimed to create a distraction and then attack when we let our guard down.
‘They wouldn’t just be aiming to kill us outright.’
‘Yeriell. Give the signal when ready. Cast the buff immediately.’
─Sure! Leave it to me.
Fortunately, there was no blunder of responding loudly.
I sent Lumia back and stepped forward.
Quickly scanning the adventurers, my mind was racing.
‘They’re a party of six: five men and one woman. …What in the world happened to that girl?’
The girl, the only one among them, looked disturbed.
Bluish bruises were etched across her exposed skin.
Tears streaking down her face.
Slumped shoulders and half-dead eyes.
And even from quite a distance, a foul stench wafting from her direction.
‘Are they killing other adventurers and dragging only her around? No, that doesn’t add up timewise.’
The portal in the labyrinth opened today.
It wouldn’t make sense for them to have entered last month and only stayed on the first floor for over a month.
Guild-managed slaves are merely there to fill in gaps after paying a fee for a period of time.
Actions like unprovoked violence against slaves or demands for sexual favors are strictly prohibited.
Why? Because unless they meet the criteria to be released from the status of a slave, all slaves are treated as the guild’s property.
Then… there’s a high chance she’s a certified personal slave or an illegal one obtained from Zone 8.
‘Of course, this makes sense. These scumbags aren’t just here for a shelter share.’
I had no argument against slaves, having previously sold Hans as one myself.
But looking at how those five men treated a single woman so brutally, it was clear what their intentions were in approaching us.
Yeah. That’s how adventurers are.
For every number of righteous adventurers, there are numerous vile and rotten ones in this profession.
Do you expect the guys who want to get strong by hunting monsters in the labyrinth to be all good-hearted?
“Are you the leader? Stop talking and let us share this shelter. It’s an unspoken rule that two parties can share such shelters when they find them in cave-like floors. Don’t you know basic common sense?”
I gestured toward Lumia.
“How the hell did your party members get trained at the guild to want to attack right away? I deserve compensation for this mental suffering, don’t you think?”
“Right. We simply found this shelter and approached it, but to treat a person like they’re a monster is a problem!”
This was getting ridiculous.
“Don’t you know what the word ‘agreement’ means? Your intentions are plainly showing, so you might as well just leave.”
“Puhahah. You wanna cry? Just go ahead and get over with it.”
[Chaos insists on killing that bastard right now.]
The guy smirking at me shrugged his shoulders.
“Looks to me like you’re not even a mid-tier adventurer, so what kind of guts are you boasting about? You’ve got nothing going for you.”
[Chaos shakes his head, saying these guys are always around in the labyrinth.]
Since they wouldn’t listen, I quickly skimmed through the guy’s status window.
────
[Kariks]
[Strength: D+] [Agility: D-] [Durability: D+]
[Health: D] [Magic Power: E+] [Luck: E+]
[Traits] (Collapse)
Intermediate Demolition
Thick Skin
Enhanced Muscles
Magic Resistance Mark
Jump Slam
────
Looking at his stats and traits, he was at the level of mid-tier adventurers I had seen so far.
‘Considering this is the first floor and with their numbers doubled, he must feel pretty cocky.’
“This guy talks too much, when it could all just be done here and now without a fuss.”
He clutched the double axes strapped to his back.
⋯Then our eyes met with the woman behind him.
Her lips moved soundlessly.
‘Run away?’
⋯
Ha. Good. I’ve held back enough until now.
I’ll save the woman to escort her to the portal, then we’ll head to the second floor while she goes to the city, and the rest will be dealt with.
Two-to-one odds? Bring it on.
No, I will definitely win.
Swish.
Pretending to scratch my head with one hand, I discreetly signaled with my left hand.
“May the light divine my sword, as the winds guide my body.”
Yeriell immediately cast the buff with her incantation.
[Due to the effect of Divine Weapon, your strength increases by one level for one hour.]
[Due to the effect of Haste, your agility increases by one level for one hour.]
“Buff? Hey! Fire!”
The die had been cast.
In an instant, arrows and daggers flew toward me.
Tada-tang!
“Ugh.”
I drew my great sword and blocked them all with its broad blade.
Aside from being pushed back a little, I suffered no physical damage.
‘Lightning.’
Crackle!
“Shit, he’s a magic swordsman!”
To create a brief distraction, I let fall weak bolts of lightning around Kariks.
It was only natural for them to be startled by sudden lightning in front of someone wielding a great sword.
Zahh!
A strong leap filled with magic power.
Jumping past the stunned Kariks, I targeted the ones behind him.
‘It’s a basic principle in combat to eliminate troublesome ranged attackers first.’
“What the hell-.”
I dove straight for what looked like an emaciated archer.
Whoosh!
I swung my great sword with the intent to split his head open from above.
Crack!
“Denis!”
[Rone casts ‘Double Pierce’.]
From behind near the archer, a rogue rushed in with a dagger, but it was useless.
Boom!
I spun halfway around, releasing magic from my arm, accelerating as I slashed diagonally.
The rogue’s arm reached out to stab, but I simply sliced it off.
Thwok, the sound of the arm thudding to the ground lingered helplessly in the air.
“Ugh! Aaargh!!!”
“Why are you crying? If you’re going to stab someone, you should’ve thought about your life on the line!”
Scrape.
“You rotten bastard-a—!”
[Kariks casts ‘Jump Slam’.]
Seeing the red circle spread underneath him, I quickly dashed back.
Thud!
Boom—!!
I watched as he landed with a resounding crash, gripping my sword tightly.
Damn it. Was I supposed to be dragged around here on the first floor just when I was close to the second?
With the woman excluded from the fight, that leaves three adventurers left.
Now, before they can make a move, I’ll strike first.
These damned adventurers, this time it’ll be different.