Kaio's POV
I'm glad to see that one of my oldest challengers has returned. I hope he's not so angry anymore about what happened to Diem a few weeks ago.
I even tried not to mess too much with them and several of the others who were on the expedition, and only get rid of those who deserved it, like those mages. It doesn't surprise me that they were low-ranking even though they were 90 years old (at least in appearance). Ugh, but I'll explain about them, what happened, and why this... little enmity, later.
My concern and focus now is on Connor and the friends he brought from Elbor.
The way they act seems like a mix of young people from wealthy families and young people from ordinary, working-class families; it's hard to know which is the case.
Why would that be even remotely relevant?
Well, simply because this is a world of survival of the fittest, it would be normal for more privileged people to have more comfort and for it to be unnecessary for them to risk themselves with something that could hurt or even kill them. And the way they treat Connor is more intimate, like real friends rather than someone hired.
Anyway, things continued to move forward after the four boys from Elbor had a short briefing about my dungeon, which the locals simply call the Trial (a pretty good name, which I'm considering designating as the official name, but...).
While they were doing this, the girl with the staff, Cali, noticed that just below the mural there were some iron plates with something written on them; this would be the general status of the level 1 monsters that had already been eliminated.
–Excuse me, but what are these things written on the plates?.
–We're not sure yet, but we think they must be the names or something related to the creatures that reside in the Trial. We've already confirmed that shortly after one of the creatures is killed, one of these plates appears. We don't know for sure because Master Akion, who was researching this language, ended up dying in the incident a few weeks ago. — replied the receptionist.
–Hmm, I understand. — the girl said, looking at the plates again, a little disappointed.
–Why bother with what those signs say? I think it's unlikely they'll help you understand this place any better just because they're here. — Max said.
–Actually, the research team believes the opposite. According to the little that Master Akion left behind, the symbols on the plates are, for the most part, the same as those in the images of the tomes that can be obtained from the Trial.— the receptionist informed the fair-haired boy.
—And what's the need for that? The images are already enough to understand the story and obtain the ability, even if it's random.— Max said to the older woman.
—It's difficult to agree, but this is one of the rare exceptions. You really don't need to read the tomes to understand them, thanks to the vivid images. A group of people in strange green clothes killing each other until a monster emerges from the forest and begins to kill the winners of the previous fight, one by one, with that strange metal pipe attached to its shoulder and that three-pointed red light.— Mavak said, defending his brother.
'Oh dear, if they knew half the real story that this "tome" contains, they certainly wouldn't be saying that.'
I hope that this Cali will be more of a studious type, and that she will have more interest in languages as a field of study.
'Speaking of which, you've probably already realized, but this 'tome' is actually a comic book, more specifically an adaptation of the 1987 Predator movie.'
'Why did this become a 'skill tome' or why did it come with the Special Loot?'
'I have no idea, and the system doesn't help either. It's always: Authority too low for this or that, aaaahhh~.'
—Not necessarily, the symbols might contain other hidden abilities, or a way to get the specific ability you want, etc., although that's just speculation from some people. — said the receptionist.
—Well, whatever it is, the point for us to worry about now is to go to the forest and get what we want once and for all! Let's go! — Max reminded everyone of the reason they had come.
—That's right, very well everyone, let's go. — This time, unexpectedly, it was Connor who said, with a good dose of enthusiasm, I must add.
Soon they headed towards the teleportation circle, and from there, to the first floor.
Good luck to you all.
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Connor's POV
Shortly after the light dimmed, we could all feel the warmth, the smell, and the air emanating from the forest. I've lived near forests my whole life, and as a very promising hunter apprentice, the smell of the forests isn't something strange to me.
But the air in this forest wasn't like any other forest I've ever been in; it always seems richer, stronger, more alive.
Soon after the four of us recovered from both the transport and the sight ahead, we checked our weapons and armor to make sure nothing was out of place. One of the things we learn early on is that if you're careless here, your chances of returning are much lower. I have to thank Anna's family for buying this new bow and the green-dyed leather cape, that's yet another reason why I'm making sure everyone comes back safe and sound (ノ｀⌒´)!
We began to advance slowly, heading north towards the cabin near the river. It was the only place where we could safely set up camp.
Thanks to the expedition, we were certain that no monsters would come within 200 meters of the cabin, making it the ideal resting point. But whether it was then or now, we still don't know exactly why.
One of the mages who went on the expedition theorized that there was a magic circle beneath the ground that formed a barrier that repelled them, but the others with him disagreed because they didn't feel any energy fluctuation indicating its activation.
Another believed that the cabin's wood was made of a material that repelled them, but he couldn't prove it because the cabin was completely indestructible regardless of how much it was hit with axes, swords, machetes, or spells; nothing happened.
–Guys, after we get there and settle into the cabin, what exactly are we going to do next?— I asked the others.
–I don't know about you, but I'm going to explore the surrounding area. I heard there's a sweet red fruit that helps restore your energy; I want to take some back to my family. — Anna said excitedly. I still can't believe her family let her come here, even with me and the others. This isn't exactly the best place to play.
–Why bother? I wouldn't doubt your family could buy them from Connor's village, could they? — Max voiced my exact question.
Being the daughter of the third richest merchant in the second most prosperous city in the country, it's easy to imagine how much power, influence, and money Anna's family must have. Yet they let their 13-year-old second daughter come to a potentially deadly place with her childhood friends and a boy they met two weeks ago.
Regardless of how I look at it, this doesn't make sense.
If they want to use me as bait for something, I could understand. But if that was the goal, it would have made more sense if they had hired mercenaries, not their childhood friends. Even if they have some combat experience.
—Tch tch tch tch, my dear Maxuel, you're still very naive. My goal isn't merely the fruit, but to be able to say that I was the one who got it. — Anna declared resolutely, but it still doesn't make sense to me how they accepted that reason?????!!!!!
—I'm sure there's more to it than you're letting on, but if you don't want to talk, so be it. — Cali said.
I may not have known her for very long, but what I've discovered is enough to say that sometimes she simply knows things about others that they don't tell her.
—.....
This created a somewhat heavy atmosphere. To lighten it, I asked Cali what she intended to do.
—I heard there's a book inside the cabin with various symbols identical to those on the tomes. If I can decipher them, I'll be able to enter any higher order I want. — she said with more enthusiasm than I've ever seen her show.
But it was understandable; it was already difficult to enter a normal order, let alone a superior one that is almost entirely dominated by nobles.
—*As always, a bookworm*— murmured Mavak, not as quietly as he thought, considering the blow to the stomach with his staff.
—Honestly, sometimes I find it hard to tell which of you is the mature one, or if you're both still children.— he said to them.
—HEY, THAT WAS CRUEL!!!— they both shouted.
—But completely true, so what are you two blockheads going to do, although I already have an idea.
—HHhhffff, well, you're probably right, yes, we simply came to fight these creatures and get the missing tomes. Nobody wants to sell theirs to us.— said Mavak, still somewhat irritated.
Well, we were all expecting this, after all, the only reasons foreigners come to the village are to enter the Trial to get herbs, meat, and especially the tomes. Even though it's dangerous, from what we've observed, most of them are only obtained by defeating the green demons while riding the furry beasts.
That's why we named the place Trial; it has a high risk and also a high reward.