GM, Jurben Havelion.
A player using a very unsettling nickname, Elfnunalove, and an old user who has survived in this world for over 20 years.
By the way, Versil also knows his true identity.
[Jurben Havelion. That's the GM's name.]
This was already revealed at the round table.
So I feel there must be a hidden reason why he recommended this guy.
"…If he's an Arcane Engineer, I know of him too. But realistically, can we even summon him? I heard he hardly goes outside."
To Amelia's sharp question, Versil nodded confidently as if it was no problem.
"Don't worry about that part. We have a friendly relationship."
'Though it might not work,' Versil hedged, but his voice carried confidence.
Why was he so sure?
Because there's no way Versil is truly close friends with that reclusive GM.
'He must be relying on some leverage he holds.'
But can you really get what you want by threatening someone with their identity? It seems even the royal family knows who he is.
Maybe it's a mutually beneficial relationship.
'Since the community disappeared, I'm curious what kind of situation he's in now.'
I've been interested in this guy for a long time, but was cautious to approach.
Lacking a legitimate reason, going straight to someone who's always holed up in the tower would get no audience and seem suspicious.
But…
"Not bad. Proceed with it."
If Versil acts as the middleman, we could probably meet him naturally.
"Yes. I'll go back and bring it up right away."
I was a little worried, but trusted Versil's personality to threaten tactfully without revealing his identity.
"Make sure to stress that this must be kept secret outside. And if he agrees to help, arrange a meeting. We'll need to see him first."
"Yes. I will."
With nothing more to do here, we wrapped up today's journey and returned to the city.
And…
"I'm going to the mage tower."
About three days after Versil left to talk to the Arcane Engineer,
"It's done. The Arcane Engineer will take a look."
The meeting was set.
The meeting with the Arcane Engineer was conducted with extreme caution and secrecy, like Cold War spies.
'Turn left here, open the third door beside the red roof building ahead, then go down… Ah, here it is.'
After winding through alleyways for a long time, we reached a building.
Descending underground stairs, we activated a magic circle like entering a secret market to enter a mysterious space.
Flash!
A fairly spacious room arranged like a study.
But no doors or windows could be found anywhere.
Apparently, it's a special space accessible only by magic…
"You're here. I've been waiting, Baron."
The man who was sitting on a sofa stood and greeted me.
'So that's what he looks like.'
I'd met him once in the city, but then he was disguised as Hans I, so this was the first time seeing his real face.
First impression keywords: youthful, skinny, glasses.
But I wasn't here to evaluate looks, so I just memorized his face and started talking.
"…Why so cautious?"
"Sorry for the trouble. Lately, I've had many enemies around me. Please understand."
Enemies…
Well, Ibaekho was the one who chased after him before.
"Anyway, nice to meet you. Jurben Havelion. I'm Bjorn, son of Yandel."
After a brief handshake, I sat down on the sofa that seemed like my seat—
Crack.
Hmph, barbarian discrimination from the start.
"That's fine, no need to apologize—"
…Huh?
Why should I apologize?
"Next time, buy sturdier chairs. Buying these makes you look like a discrimination supporter."
"Eh…? Ah, yes…"
"Buying chairs that barbarians can't sit on is the beginning of discrimination."
"…Haha, I'll remember that."
My impression was clearly dropping in real time, but I couldn't help it.
I had to be extra careful when talking to this guy.
Never look like a modern man; act barbarian.
Even if it looks a bit excessive.
Thunk.
I pushed the sagging sofa aside and just sat cross-legged on the bare floor.
Surprisingly, the eye-level difference wasn't noticeable.
No, I might have been a little taller…
"Anyway, thanks for agreeing to help. I didn't expect you to be friends with Versil. How do you two know each other?"
To avoid suspicion, I spoke as if knowing nothing.
From his point of view, he might think I was the one who sent Versil to threaten him.
"Haha… We're both officially affiliated with the mage tower. Naturally, we became friends."
"Oh?"
"So… what exactly do you want me to [N O V E L I G H T] investigate? Miss Gouland wouldn't tell me everything."
"It's about investigating the magic circle in the underground fortress. More precisely, how to activate it."
"The magic circle…?"
"Yes. It's a very ancient magic circle, and Versil said he can't handle it alone."
Getting to the point, the GM put his chin on his hand, looked thoughtful, and cautiously asked,
"Are you planning to go outside the city walls?"
…So you knew something too.
Since I was going to get help anyway, I answered honestly.
"Yes. Specifically, to go out and check on those bastards."
"…I see."
"Do you already know how to activate the magic circle?"
"No. Not really. I just got lucky to learn of its existence."
"You can't give a definite answer until you see it yourself?"
"Yes."
The GM's voice had no confidence and even seemed apologetic.
But…
'Why do I feel like he's just feeding me a line?'
Feeling strongly that he was trying to get by quickly, I said kindly,
"Don't worry. Even if you fail, I won't blame you."
"Ah, that's a relief."
"You just have to keep trying, right?"
"…Yes?"
What kind of 'yes' is that?
Did he think I'd just go underground, check the magic circle, and accept if he said it was beyond his ability?
"I don't care if it takes months. Eventually, you'll succeed!"
"…"
"As the requester, it's not right to leave you alone. I'll stay with you."
In other words, I'll lock you up and watch you so you don't slip away.
"Since we're talking about it, how about we go right now?"
"…Yes?"
"I heard you're always holed up in the tower. No appointments anyway!"
"B-but I need to prepare equipment…"
"Don't worry! Just say the word and I'll tell Versil to bring it."
"I-I'll bring it myself. Without it, it's meaningless and hard to find just by description!"
Maybe realizing he might actually be dragged along, the GM's voice quickened.
"Hmph… You're not going to disappear, right?"
"…Yes?"
Seeing his stunned face, I laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Just kidding! You wouldn't disappear! I'm not worried!"
"Ahaha… Is that so?"
"Even if something unavoidable happens and you can't come, I'll just come find you!"
"…"
When I said the mage tower is well known to me after visiting several times, his face paled, probably recalling the last mage tower raid.
And then…
"Don't worry. An hour is enough."
Leaving after those words, the GM really returned before an hour passed.
Going to Noark with the GM alone was no problem.
After all, I knew the way down to Noark well…
Step, step.
The knights patrolling the sewers were dealt with by the magic tools the GM had.
I worried the patrol might have magical detection tools, but it was needless.
'…His gear is strong.'
Should I really call him an Arcane Engineer?
His gear seemed superior to the knights', as they didn't notice him passing nearby.
"You said you made it yourself? What's it called?"
"It has no name… It wasn't made to be sold anyway."
"Why not sell it?"
"It requires very rare byproducts to make and has a very low success rate. That's why only one exists."
"Oh?"
Hearing that made me want it even more.
Is there any way to steal it?
As I pondered, the GM quickly changed the subject.
"The world has changed a lot. I never thought I'd see knights roaming the sewers."
"So you should go outside more."
"Haha… I will."
Uncomfortable or stressed by being outside, the GM said nothing until we reached Noark Plaza.
I tried to make small talk, but he just ignored it.
'Less fun than I thought.'
Personality aside, as long as he does his job well, it's fine.
"Here we are. Do you understand anything?"
"I'll take a look."
At the plaza, the GM showed expert flair, pulling out various equipment and tinkering.
Some time passed.
"Um…"
The GM approached me, walking quickly, as I watched from a distance to avoid interrupting.
"It's done."
At first, I didn't understand.
"…Done?"
"Yes. I wrote the formula to activate the magic circle here. If you follow this method, even a 4th-rank mage can activate it."
He handed me a parchment with elegant writing, but I found it hard to believe.
Could it really be finished this quickly?
Squinting skeptically and scanning the paper up and down, he added defensively,
"…It was easier than I thought. Ancient magic circles are my specialty."
"Then why couldn't you give a definite answer before?"
"That's a bad habit of mine. Sorry."
Well, I had no argument against that…
"So… is it okay to leave now since the work's done? I prefer eating dinner at home…"
Honestly, I didn't believe him.
Though I couldn't say that to his face.
"What do you mean the work is done?"
"…?"
"Haven't you tested it yet? Try activating it."
Giving a reasonable excuse, I held him back.
The GM sighed and nodded, unable to refuse.
"Yes… I'll prepare briefly, so please wait."
About five minutes later, he called me, saying he was done.
Approaching him, he counted one, two, three.
And…
Flash!
White light enveloped us, and when we opened our eyes,
'This place…'
The sight was familiar yet strange.
A wide circular corridor that a huge serpent could pass through.
One wall was blocked, carved with unknown patterns…
"That's the magic circle inscribed here. From what I've seen, the activation method seems the same."
"…Seems the same?"
"Uh… That was a slip of the tongue. It's not wrong, so don't worry."
"…"
"Oh, and one caution… be careful not to damage the magic circle. Unlike the one in the plaza, this one is exposed."
"What happens if it breaks?"
"There's a permanent restoration spell, but it will take at least a year to fix."
"…I see."
Better than never returning, but a year is still a big risk.
"Can't we use teleportation magic to return to the city?"
"Yes. Coordinates are set below the city, but since there's no trajectory, we're probably outside the protective magic circle."
Simply put, we're under the city but outside the barrier covering the entire city.
Still, something feels suspicious.
Of course, I don't doubt the truth of what he said.
But…
'Something's definitely suspicious…'
Arcane Engineer Jurben Havelion.
I get that he's a talented mage.
'But even so, how can he answer everything just by a quick glance?'
Even I, an outsider, feel something is off.
It feels like he's pretending not to know what he already investigated.
"Then I guess my work here is done… Shall I go back now?"
I hesitated at the GM's request.
There's no denying the work was done, but I felt reluctant to send him off just like that.
I expected it to take at least a few weeks, so I had been waiting quietly.
I actually planned to chat and find out more during the investigation.
So…
"We've come this far. Aren't you curious? Let's go together!"
"Yes?"
"Then I take that as permission!!"
No way I'd let him go easily.
-x-X-x-
A vast circular corridor.
As we kept walking along the path opposite the wall painted with a magic circle, the corridor gradually narrowed.
"Um… I honestly don't care at all about the outside…"
Step, step.
"Why don't you go explore with the other companions, and just head back for today…"
Step, step.
"Th-this is ridiculous! Let me go!"
I thought there was no answer if it went on like this, but the GM's tone, who had been dragged along almost like a kidnap victim, gradually grew harsher.
Ah, of course, from a barbarian's point of view, that was cute too.
Like a chick chirping.
"Yurben Havelion."
I released the arm I was holding and looked at him.
"…Why do you look at me like that?"
"Just give me a little time. After all, meeting like this is fate in a way, isn't it better if we get closer?"
"If it's for social purposes, I can always make time anytime…"
You say you can make time anytime.
But as soon as you get sent back, you lock yourself up in the magic tower and never come out.
"But it's a bit strange."
"Hm?"
"Why are you whining so much to be sent back? You're a wizard, aren't you curious about the outside world?"
"…I only question what I can handle."
That was a pretty impressive principle.
If you want a long and thin life, there's no easier or faster way than to close your eyes and plug your ears.
'…Maybe that's how this guy has survived so long.'
That one sentence made me feel like I understood the GM better.
Not that I'm going to just let him go.
"But help me out a little, huh? At least for Versil's sake."
If you listen quickly, it sounds like begging by using his friendship with Versil, but from the GM's point of view, it sounded like a threat.
"Ahem…"
"I promise. If something dangerous happens, I'll throw myself to stop it. Okay? And it won't take more than a few days; I just want to check and come back."
"If you say it like that…"
When I threw in the carrot, the GM grudgingly nodded.
Okay, that problem was settled now…
"Then, let's keep moving."
After the agreement, we walked along the corridor again.
The corridor, which had been narrowing little by little, stopped narrowing at a certain point, and after walking some more in that state, the corridor gradually widened, revealing a sloped path.
And then…
Swooooosh—!
Going up along the hill, I felt the wind and gradually light seeped in.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt somewhat different from the nature I'd felt in the city.
[Character has entered a forbidden area.]
Having come completely outside, I took a deep breath and slowly glanced around.
Far off, a sunset half-hidden by the mountain range.
A stream dyed red by the sunset.
Birds perched on trees chirping.
And then…
"That must be Rafdonia…"
In the far distance opposite the sunset, a massive fortress wall stood tall.
It was so high and so wide to the side that, like the Great Wall, its end was invisible…
'It's my first time seeing the exterior.'
I had never gone outside the fortress walls while playing the game, so seeing Rafdonia from this angle felt very unfamiliar—
"Havelion, what are you doing now?"
"Just taking a look. I saw some unfamiliar letters I've never seen before…"
Unfamiliar letters?
Tilting my head, we approached the cave entrance we had just exited, and on the smooth wall, there was a scratch mark that looked like it was carved with a knife.
[Was here.]
[Daehan Geona Ibaekho.]
Ha… why am I feeling embarrassed for this?
I almost let out a hollow laugh, but held it back and opened my mouth, pretending not to know.
"…It doesn't look like an ancient language, but it's unusual."
"Yes. It is unusual. It feels somewhat familiar, though…"
The GM didn't seem to know much about Hangul, which is understandable.
I think even I wouldn't recognize a language if I suddenly saw Hebrew or something.
Swish.
While looking at the scribble Ibaekho had left, the GM quietly gave me advice.
"If you plan to leave your name or something, it's better not to. It would be proof that you came outside. The royal family might interpret it as treason."
"…I didn't even think about it."
"That's fortunate then."
Watching the GM nod, I quickly turned my back and wet my lips.
"…"
Why do I suddenly want to leave a mark too?
According to the clown's words, the outside world beyond the fortress walls has a structure similar to the dark continent's 7th floor labyrinth.
Then, where exactly are we now?
I guess I need to find a reference point first…
'If that's the Dragon Mountain Range… then maybe we're near the Great Forest?'
If that's true, we can roughly estimate our location.
The Great Forest is located in the southeast of the dark continent.
And since we seem to be even further east than the Great Forest…
'Maybe this is around the eastern Great Forest?'
Of course, it's all speculation; I can't be sure.
The atmosphere is totally different from the labyrinth, so I'm not sure.
'Anyway, I'll figure that out gradually…'
"So… where to now?"
When the GM asked about the next plan, I answered without hesitation.
"First, toward the city."
"The city… you mean?"
"Why that expression?"
"Honestly, I thought you'd want to head straight into the forest."
Well… honestly, I'm curious about that forest.
But it's risky for just the two of us to go too far, and first, there's something I want to check around the fortress walls.
So…
"Keep using detection magic and follow me. This is an unknown world. Anything could happen."
"Yes. I'll just memorize the coordinates, just in case."
"Oh, good."
Leaving behind the forest that looks peaceful enough to be the Great Forest of the dark continent, we headed east.
And how long had it been?
'This map is ridiculously huge.'
The sunset had completely disappeared beyond the mountain range, and the night sky was full of stars, but we still hadn't reached the fortress walls.
Maybe halfway there?
'I thought we'd get there in a few hours.'
Since we were on high ground and the fortress walls were so tall, this was an odd experience.
Like a mirage?
No matter how far we went, it never felt like we were getting closer.
"Let's stop here for today. We'll spend the night here and move again tomorrow."
Since the fortress walls were no longer visible at night, we prepared to camp here.
If we moved in the wrong direction, it would just waste more time.
"…It's been a long time sleeping in a blanket."
Lying inside the sleeping bag and looking up at the starry night sky, the GM spoke first.
Maybe night made him a bit sentimental?
I can't tell the exact change in mood, but it was clearly the start of the small talk I wanted.
"You used to be an explorer, right?"
"Yes. Though it's been over seven years."
"…Why did you stop exploring?"
"Just… a lot happened. It was also a time when I felt my own limits…"
He summed it up as "a lot happened," so it seemed he didn't want to talk about the details.
Or maybe it was something he couldn't talk about carelessly.
"As soon as I stopped exploring, I locked myself up in the magic tower for seven years…"
I don't know his full story, but I'm not completely ignorant about his past.
I did some background research.
'There must be a reason he became a recluse…'
My intuition says the cause isn't him, but external factors.
The royal family, or maybe Ibaekho.
"Still, lying here like this somehow feels comforting."
"What kind of mood change is that? You hated this place like hell earlier."
"I still hate it. But this one thing is comforting."
"What's that?"
"No one knows I'm here."
Only then did I understand why he said he felt comforted.
He seemed to be under surveillance by the royal family too.
Last time, he was ambushed by Ibaekho right after briefly leaving the magic tower.
The city has more enemies, it seems.
'So I must never say that Ibaekho is outside…'
I carefully avoided saying anything disadvantageous and continued light conversation.
"About lovers…? I've had relationships considering my age, but none ended well."
He wasn't one to be good at romance.
"The sect I first joined? Actually… I don't want to talk about it. Sorry."
Surprisingly, when faced with a lie or an awkward topic, he chose to confront it head-on.
Or maybe that incident is his taboo.
'I'll have to investigate that later.'
The sect he originally belonged to was completely disbanded by some incident, and he founded the current sect afterward.
Unfortunately, detailed records of 'that incident' were hard to find.
Everything was treated as top secret.
All I know is that the incident was related to forbidden magic.
'I'll have to ask Uncle Kyle later; he knows a lot about forbidden magic.'
After that, we talked about trivial things until falling asleep, and through that small talk, I realized something.
Me, Ibaekho, and this guy are similar in many ways.
Neither on the player's side, nor the royal family's, nor Noark's.
The next morning brightened.
"Did you sleep well?"
"My whole body aches."
"Here, drink some water. That should help."
"…What does that have to do with the ache?"
"Don't sweat the small stuff."
We got up, quickly ate, and headed toward the fortress walls.
And then…
"We finally arrived."
"Arrived? No, this is just the beginning."
Around sunset again, we reached near the fortress walls and moved along the outer wall.
It's in even the few historical records.
'Rafdonia, located at the edge of the continent, was a territory relying mainly on trade.'
Which means…
There must be a sea near Rafdonia.
Tap, tap.
A transparent barrier formed along the outer wall that you could feel even if you tapped it.
We followed this all night and reached Districts 10 and 9, which could be called the eastern side of Rafdonia, before dawn.
But…
"It's too dark to see anything. Better to wait till sunrise."
"You must be tired; just rest until then."
The problem started after waking up from that nap.
"Baron…? Wake up! W-what is that…?"
"…Let's get closer first."
After snapping out of sleep, stunned by the distant view, we hurried toward the spot.
And then…
"…"
"…"
Both of us were speechless.
Trying to piece things together as best as we could.
'First.'
There was a sea.
From the cliff at the continent's edge, the sea stretched widely along the ridgeline.
One problem was…
'It was gray.'
The sea was gray.
Not just the sea, but the sky too.
The waves rippling.
The clouds painted in the sky.
Everything beyond the canyon looked like a black-and-white photo, frozen without color.
Staring blankly at the scene, the GM muttered.
"…The world has never really been whole."
-x-X-x-
A witch's curse that once covered this world in ancient times.
To put it simply, this curse is similar to "radiation."
After the curse, the entire continent turned into a land of death where no living creature could survive, and only Rafdonia was said to have escaped the disaster.
…Or so the common belief goes.
But there was no witch's curse outside the fortress walls.
Or more precisely, not the witch's curse as we knew it.
[Outside right now, it's actually fine. Plants are growing, and if you get close, you can even see bugs eating leaves. Wild animals too.]
Just like a post on the Ghost Busters board from some Noark player.
Outside the walls was not a land filled with death.
'Well, that's not to say it's in perfect condition either.'
Standing at the cliff's edge, I gazed at the ash-gray world unfolding before me.
Everything was gray, yet only the sun rising far away glowed red, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"…The world has never really been whole."
Just as the GM muttered, it was clearly a world that had perished.
But that only raised more questions.
Because there wasn't a single truth in what the royal family said.
'Radiation my ass…'
There was no poison scattered in the air.
There was simply a world that had perished in a different way.
Of course, I had no idea why the royal family hid this fact—
"I think I understand why the royal family distorted the truth."
"Hm?"
Lowering a telescope that had somehow appeared in his hands, the GM continued.
"How could they tell the residents inside the walls that this world is heading toward destruction?"
"…What do you mean?"
"Look down there."
The GM pointed to the boundary where the ash-colored waves met the land.
"The speed is slow, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, but that area is gradually expanding."
Taking the telescope handed to me, I focused on the spot and saw that the boundary was slowly eroding.
"The problem is… this isn't happening only here."
"What do you mean?"
"Those who went outside the walls have returned to the city, right? Surely, the other side can't be any different."
"But is there any reason for them to return to the city? If your theory is correct, the city should be the first to perish."
"Well, maybe they know information we don't. Hmm, perhaps even if the erosion proceeds, the protective magic circle can't be breached."
Listening to him, it sounded like a guess unbefitting a mage — a 'whatever' kind of guess.
But…
'It's probably not wrong.'
The Noark bastards did invade the city.
That means the means to survive lies within Rafdonia.
What exactly that is, I still don't know.
'I'll have to find out by exploring it myself.'
With that in mind, the GM and I went down to the coast and investigated various things.
Unfortunately, we didn't learn much.
But to summarize what we did find…
Bang!
First, that erosion zone is literally a land of death.
Anything that touches it immediately loses color and hardens like stone.
I haven't experimented on humans, though.
I'm curious if high resistance could withstand it, but I lack the courage to try.
Anyway.
"A corpse… huh."
Second, while checking around the coast, we found a skeleton inside a cave.
It looked like it had been there for several years, but searching the area didn't reveal anything else.
Lastly, the most important third point.
"At this rate, it will take about ten years to reach the outer walls of District 10."
Assuming the erosion proceeds at the same speed, the calculation is that it will reach the city in ten years.
Well, if the protective magic circle surrounding the city can stop the erosion, there should be no problem.
"Let's end the search and head back."
"Are you going all the way back now?"
"I can't keep holding you here forever, and you should be going home soon, right?"
I said this with a smirk, and the GM's eyes widened.
It was like he couldn't believe I was speaking normally.
"You don't want to go—"
"No! Let's go! Hurry!"
He was so happy it was almost touching.
I thought we were getting closer.
"Alright, let's go."
From then on, we left the coast and moved toward the fortress walls, chatting along the way.
"Havelion, isn't it a bit strange?"
"What is?"
"That something like this hasn't been revealed yet. From atop the District 10 walls, you could see the world turned upside down. I don't think anyone's ever heard of a rumor like this."
"Have you… ever been atop the fortress walls, Baron?"
"I have."
I told him about my experience climbing the walls of Viphron and admiring the vast nature, and he nodded in understanding.
"That's because Viphron is an exception. Other fortress walls have illusion magic cast on them, but Viphron's wall is known to have some problems with that magic."
"Oh, really?"
"It's natural you wouldn't know, since this information is not publicly available. By the way, the soldiers and knights who served atop Viphron's walls believed the outside nature was an illusion caused by magic."
I'd never heard that before.
It made sense, though. He's a high-ranking mage with a lot of experience.
"But… isn't the holy land protected by illusion magic too?"
Ah, that…
"Yes, but I didn't know the fortress walls were like that too."
The holy land lies outside the walls.
Historical records say the royal family respected the non-human races and granted them independent lands to live in, but in reality, it was discrimination and exclusion.
Look at the recent District 7 invasion.
When Noark triggered the magic circle made long ago by the royal family, the holy land was completely cut off and isolated—
'My thoughts have wandered.'
Anyway, walking through the holy land leads to an invisible wall blocking further passage.
Behind it was a forest—
[Everything has its order.]
[…]
[Warrior, it's not yet time to be curious beyond that.]
Thinking back, the shaman said something very meaningful then. I wonder.
I've grown far beyond then.
Is it finally time to be curious beyond the fortress walls?
"Well… I guess you might have thought only the holy land was special. Nominally, it's said the illusion magic was cast out of consideration for the non-human races."
"But it suddenly makes me curious. I wonder what it's really like."
"Hmm…?"
"Since we're on the subject, we should check it out. We're passing by anyway."
Taking advantage of the situation, I slightly changed course to approach the walls.
"The whole area around the walls is forested and inconvenient."
"Stop complaining and move your feet."
Comforting the GM who was eager to return home, we soon arrived at one of the six holy lands in Rafdonia.
Thud.
A transparent barrier blocked the path, refusing any further approach.
This was the fairies' holy land in District 9.
It wasn't difficult to look inside from outside.
'…Just trees as far as the eye can see.'
Since it was the very outer boundary of the holy land, seeing the fairies' living environment or cityscape was impossible, but it was still somewhat fascinating.
'It's huge…'
The trees were enormous and tidy beyond comparison to the barbarian holy land.
Almost as if they had been carefully maintained for thousands of years.
"…We came because you said so, but are you planning to just wait here?"
As I curiously peered inside, the GM started to give me a hint.
And surprisingly at that moment—
"…Hm?"
Something seemed to move beyond the barrier.
"Wait a moment."
"…Yes?"
"Quiet."
I silenced the GM and stared intently into the woods, spotting a silver-haired male fairy with a youthful face, likely a minor or newly adult.
"He's coming this way."
The fairy slowly approached us.
"Can he see us…?"
The direction was too precise for me not to wonder that, but it seemed unlikely.
If he had seen a person outside the barrier, he wouldn't have such a calm expression.
Swish.
Reaching the barrier, the fairy reached out and gently brushed the invisible wall as if stroking it.
He muttered something…
"…"
I couldn't hear his voice because of the barrier.
But maybe the GM had a talent for lip-reading too.
"He says it's frustrating."
"…You can understand speech with your eyes?"
"Just a little trick I picked up in life. It wasn't a hard word either."
The GM smiled humbly, but I was genuinely surprised.
Well, we are players after all.
There's a difference between hearing and speaking, and reading lips to understand words.
"Oh, he just muttered, 'What's out there…' to himself."
Thanks to the GM's interpretation, I understood why the fairy wore that expression.
"Curiosity is the greatest desire humans have. Perhaps someday that boy will become famous."
"You said you only question what you can handle?"
"Yes. That's why I said it was great. People like me can only be curious."
Well, he sure talks well for a mage.
"In that case, Baron, if your curiosity is satisfied, how about moving on?"
"Yeah, let's go."
After briefly laughing off the GM's request, I checked the silver-haired fairy once more beyond the barrier and turned my back.
'Hmm, his face looks somewhat familiar…'
Well, if fate wills it, we'll meet again.
As always, the way back was the reverse of the way we came.
But after spending several days in a strange place and building familiarity, casual conversation flowed without breaks, unlike before.
He no longer seemed to be so wary of me.
"How about you, Baron? I've heard many rumors within the city."
"They're all nonsense."
"Hmm, I heard that at least one of them was true—"
"You've gotten really comfortable, huh?"
"Ha ha… S-sorry."
Going beyond light conversation, he even began to ask personal questions I guess he'd been curious about.
"So… Baron, what's your goal?"
"Are you picking a fight?"
"No, no, I'm genuinely curious. You always take on dangerous tasks and stay busy."
"…None."
"Hm?"
"I've never had any grand goals. Just surviving with my people. That's about it."
Of course, the world runs on give and take.
Since he answered honestly about himself, I kept asking him personal questions too.
"What about you? What's your goal?"
"This one?"
"Yeah. Since you're asking me that, you must have a clear goal."
"I…"
He hesitated a bit when asked about his goal, then slowly spoke.
"There's someone I definitely want to meet again someday."
Interpreted as a fellow player, his goal is to return to the original world, and that motivation is 'someone.'
'Family, maybe…?'
I don't know, but I nodded, pretending not to know.
"I see. Whoever it is, I hope you can meet them again."
"…Thank you."
"Stay strong."
I slapped his shoulder with encouragement; he tried to run away from me but chuckled.
And then…
"Putting aside the 'cultural differences' I can't understand… Baron Yandel, you seem like a pretty decent person."
I couldn't tell if it was a compliment or sarcasm.
Well, no wonder he thinks so.
If the locals are fed up, how weird must I look to a player.
'Still, it feels a little unfair.'
If they had started as barbarians, maybe it would have been different?
One hundred percent, they'd act exactly like me.
…Probably.
"Well, then, let's rest here for the night."
"Yes, that sounds good."
After it got dark enough, we spread a blanket in a clearing with fewer trees and lay down.
'At this rate, we should be able to return to the city before tomorrow night.'
Just as I closed my eyes and reviewed tomorrow's schedule, suddenly a sentimental voice came from beside me.
"The sky."
"…?"
"The sky is the same in every world."
Actually, it's a feeling I often get while camping.
Just lying down and staring at the sky at night, I forget where I am.
But after saying that, maybe realizing my mistake, the GM added an unsolicited explanation.
"Whether inside or outside the walls."
"Yeah. There really is no difference."
"…"
We silently continued staring at the sky for a while.
Maybe because he'd spent so many days holed up in the magic tower?
He seemed nostalgic while camping outside. After all, when he used to roam the labyrinth, this would have been everyday life for him.
"Baron."
"What is it?"
"You were curious about the sect you first joined, weren't you?"
"Yes. You drew the line when I said I didn't want to talk about it, so I didn't ask further."
"But why now? Are you thinking of talking about it?"
I asked bluntly, and the GM gave a bitter smile but answered firmly.
"Yes, it's not a very interesting story."
It really seemed like today was the day for him.
A day when anyone would want to talk about something.
-x-X-x-
"I was a late bloomer as a wizard."
The GM's story began with that very first sentence.
"At twenty years old. Honestly, entering the magic tower at such a late age was extremely unusual. Of course, adapting was incredibly difficult."
Well, that made sense.
After all, elites like Raven who entered the tower young tended to dislike latecomers like him.
Though those they disliked even more were non-majors like Dwalke.
Anyway, the important thing was not that…
'A late bloomer…?'
No matter how I thought about it, it didn't make sense.
Was he lying to me now?
Because when I met him in the past, he said he was a 6th-grade wizard in his first year.
[Fortunately, the grade was high, but he still couldn't properly use magic and lived every day on edge…]
He even added that, so I assumed it was because he was possessed by a wizard's body.
But it wasn't?
'Let's hear him out…'
If true, it was a really unusual case.
From what I later learned interacting with players on Ghost Busters, most who crossed the Abyssal Gate had already mastered some magic.
Like our clan's Versil Gouwland, for example.
'He was already training magic in the tower long before he turned twenty.'
So why did the GM want to become a wizard?
If he hadn't started as a wizard, becoming an explorer and consuming essences would have been an easier growth path.
"Is there a particular reason you started learning magic at that age?"
I asked bluntly, and his answer surprised me.
"Actually, I never planned to become a wizard. I just thought I should be an explorer."
"Hm…?"
"Of course, clashing with monsters inside a dangerous labyrinth didn't suit me, so wizardry was fitting… But even the Baron would agree, it's not common to start learning magic after twenty."
"…That's true."
"I originally wanted to learn archery. I figured I could handle a crossbow well enough."
A hoped-for archer career…
Now I was even more curious.
How did someone aiming for archery become a wizard?
"I had to earn money first to buy even a crossbow when I was broke. As soon as I became an adult, I tried everything on the streets. Once, I even got a job at a blacksmith's…"
Surprisingly, while pounding iron, the GM's wizard path opened.
He met the master of his first sect like fate…
"The master was fascinated by a toy I made in my spare time. He called me over, wanting to talk for hours."
The master admired the precision and imagination in the toy's design.
'Well, that figures. He's from the modern world.'
Kind of like a modern cheat code?
Sometimes in novels, you see that kind of thing—
An engineer dropped into another world who wows everyone with every ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) little thing he makes.
"So that's how you got to learn magic?"
"Yes. The Maireta sect specialized in wind-element magic, but since the master was interested in magic engineering and magic circles, I was lucky to catch his eye."
"…That's quite the story."
Nodding as I listened intently, the GM resumed.
"I don't mean to brag, but magic suited me perfectly. Under the master's guidance, my skills improved incredibly fast. As a result, I unknowingly earned a lot of hatred."
The GM's growth was explosive, unprecedented even in the magic tower.
"To enter at twenty and reach 6th grade in one year was unheard of in the tower's long history."
Huh… he really got to 6th grade in a year?
Wait, then what was that about being a half-baked wizard who couldn't use magic?
Coincidentally, the answer came soon from the GM.
"But despite that, I was a half-baked wizard."
"…?"
"Did you know? Among wizards, fields are so different that you can become a high-grade wizard without knowing a single offensive spell."
The GM was exactly that case.
He excelled in magic engineering and magic circle research but couldn't even cast a fireball, yet was a 6th-grade wizard.
And…
"Wizards who knew this always picked fights with me, so I had to live cautiously. Ah… those days in the tower were truly wild."
"But still, my master didn't want me to learn other magic. He said my talent was in magic engineering and that I had no time to waste elsewhere."
"Despite repeated requests, I started learning other magic one by one, but magic engineering remained my main study. I rarely slept more than two hours a day then."
Yet the GM pulled through.
He enjoyed magic engineering and was grateful to his master.
"It may sound strange, but at times the master felt like a father to me. I… didn't have a father."
Having been thoroughly gaslit, the GM seemed to drift further from the explorer path but endured the life stubbornly.
But "enduring" means limits come eventually.
"In the end, I couldn't stand it and ran away. I recruited comrades myself and became an explorer, spending years without returning to the sect."
He just increased studying magic helpful for exploring but never stopped magic engineering.
And time passed.
When a wizard named Yurben Havelion had earned some explorer fame—
"That's when the incident happened. Maybe the Baron heard of it, but… my master dabbled in forbidden magic."
Forbidden magic, taboo among wizards.
The royal family's army raided after discovering this, and the master was executed on the spot.
"All the sect's wizards were detained and investigated for months. I, who had researched with the master a long time, was questioned the most."
While detained and testifying daily, the GM accidentally learned—
What the forbidden magic the master researched was.
"It was shocking. Unbelievable."
"…What was it?"
"My master was researching 'soul transplantation' magic."
Magic aimed at imbuing souls into objects to create magical tools.
The idea was that if a conscious entity beyond biological limits could be taught eternally, it would lead to a leap forward.
'This is basically AI deep learning.'
I was marveling at the idea when—
"The most important factor in this plan was 'talent.' The master believed that learning speed depended on the intelligence of the soul transplanted and had shortlisted several candidates."
Only then did I understand why the GM didn't want to talk about this story.
"The list the investigator showed me had my name first. There was even a number after my name, probably a rating, and mine was the highest."
A betrayal by the master he once followed like a parent.
"Afterwards, the whole sect vanished, and somehow I ended up founding my own sect. As it grew, I got busy and stopped entering the labyrinth personally."
I got a rough idea of how he'd been living since.
Managing the community, building the sect, and secret political dealings with the royal family.
With the goal of leaving this damned world and going home.
"So… how was my story?"
The GM asked me with a relieved tone, and after a moment's thought, I answered briefly.
"Definitely not an interesting story."
"…Ahaha, really?"
An awkward laugh that clearly didn't fit.
But just empathizing and feeling sorry would only make the mood awkward.
I didn't think it would help him.
"But at least it's good, right?"
"Hm?"
"Because the bastard who betrayed you didn't live laughing but died miserably."
At that, the GM first looked dumbfounded but then burst out laughing.
And after a while?
"Ahahaha, yeah. I suppose you could look at it that way…"
The GM, laughing aloud, then muttered bitterly.
"…I wish I could think that simply too."
Well… human hearts don't always obey.
The next day after this honest talk with the GM,
We got up early and hurried to the cave leading to the underground passage.
By nightfall, we reached our destination.
But the problem was…
"It's not bad having this kind of time after a long while. It felt like returning to my explorer days. Thank you… Wait, why that face?"
That kind of thing should be said after returning to the city.
Suddenly saying it made me feel like something was about to happen—
"…Stop."
Out of habit, I quickly scanned the surroundings, then immediately stopped moving.
"What's wrong?"
"Quiet."
Lowering my voice, the GM tensed, gripping his staff tightly.
'Why are all wizards so Dwalke-like?'
The question popped up, but I focused on checking the cave entrance instead.
[Was here.]
[Daehan Geona Ibaekho.]
Graffiti by Ibaekho found earlier.
Below it, a new mark appeared that hadn't been there before.
[Rafdonia's king, Mother fucker.]
It was a phrase well-known in Ghost Busters—a meme among community players.
Who else but Ibaekho?
He probably scribbled it on the way back out of boredom.
"Th-that's…!"
"Do you know what language that is?"
"…I believe it's the language of evil spirits. And the letters above look like one of their alphabets too."
The GM was flustered, unable to reveal the truth about evil spirits, and hurriedly made excuses.
Normally, I'd have teased him with ignorant questions, but now there was no time.
"Looks like there were unwanted visitors. Let's get out of here."
"Huh…?"
"Better not run into them. It'd be troublesome if the city found out I'm outside."
"Ah…"
Though I really just didn't want to meet Ibaekho and his gang, the GM nodded in agreement.
So…
Swish.
As soon as communication ended, we slowly backed away.
Step by step, moving toward the opposite side of the cave.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Just as we were about to turn our backs—
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
A man's howl echoed from inside the cave.
It wasn't quite a scream.
Rather—
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck!!"
A shout born of rage.
Surprisingly, the echoing scream rapidly approached—
"Can you hear me? You're nearby! Can you hear me?"
A man burst out of the cave at a speed too fast to follow with the eyes, yelling.
'…Ibaekho?'
Sure enough, it was Ibaekho.
But here's another problem—
"Just try catching me! Huh? If you catch me, I swear I'll—"
Ibaekho leapt forward with acceleration as soon as he exited the cave.
And—
"…."
"…."
His eyes met ours.
Thud.
His body, which seemed about to fly into the sky like a jet, collapsed weakly and landed on the ground.
"…Uh, why is the Baron with him?"
Ibaekho's expression showed unusual surprise.
But it didn't take long before that expression twisted into a demonic glare.
"You two… did this together…?"
"Together…?"
I showed an expression meaning I didn't know, and Ibaekho yelled in frustration.
"Don't play dumb! Did you break the returning magic circle? Was it you two?"
-x-X-x-
A vein bulging on his forehead.
Breathing heavily, tense.
Biting his lower lip and clenching his fists tightly.
Seeing Ibaekho in a clearly furious state, the first thought that came to mind was how unfamiliar it felt.
"…Huh? Why isn't he answering? Guess it's for real?"
It was genuinely strange.
Ibaekho was always arrogant and impulsive, acting on every whim without self-control.
So why did his anger seem unfamiliar?
After thinking for a moment, the answer came quickly.
'Now that I think about it… he never really got seriously angry.'
Though we'd sparred and insulted each other before, it was more like roleplaying—just threats that had to be made.
But this time…
"Hah, I never thought I'd actually get screwed like this."
This time was different.
Ibaekho perceived my action as an attack and reacted extremely sensitively.
So I had to quickly get a grip.
It wasn't even my doing…
"Wait a moment."
More than anything, I needed to understand what had happened quickly.
"…The returning magic circle was broken?"
If that was true, I was in big trouble too.
The magic circle was set to restoration magic, but it would take at least a year to repair.
"…Trying to run away and then denying it?"
"I wasn't running away."
"Then why were you moving away?"
At Ibaekho's retort, the GM cautiously intervened.
"That's because there were signs of visitors at the entrance, so we were trying to fall back. It can't be known that the Baron and I were outside."
"…Is that true?"
"No reason to lie. And if someone intentionally damaged the magic circle, we wouldn't have time to be just standing here."
"Ha… so that's the case?"
At the GM's words, Ibaekho quickly calmed down.
If that one phrase could soothe him, I wondered why he'd gotten so angry in the first place…
'Ah, right, he has lie detection.'
Even if it didn't work on me, the GM's ability would have picked it up perfectly.
At that moment—
"Baekho, their words are probably true."
A crossbowman who had chased after Ibaekho appeared, backing up our innocence.
"The scent from inside and the scent from those two are completely different."
"…Really?"
Ibaekho stepped back awkwardly at the archer's words.
"The scent leads that way."
"Okay, got it."
Immediately, Ibaekho sprang forward like a rubber band toward the pointed spot.
Though he became the target of vented anger and didn't even get a proper apology…
"Let's go too."
"Huh…?"
I grabbed the GM and dashed toward the place Ibaekho headed.
We needed to check it out too.
Who the hell was responsible for this?
Tap, tap—!
Running at maximum output through the forest, the archer soon cut past me silently.
Why couldn't he just keep quiet?
"…Excuse me."
Is rudeness a trait of minor characters?
I don't know, but after running for a while, I saw Ibaekho and the archer stopped at some bushes.
They were both bent over, inspecting the ground.
"Looks like they were really determined."
"Yes. It seems like a plan targeted directly at us."
"Tch, so our info was leaked… who the hell is it?"
"Didn't the Baron's party run into someone at the old Noark fortress? Maybe it leaked from there—"
"Cut the crap. It's clearly our problem. Baron, don't you think so?"
Well, I wasn't sure of the situation, but if someone was targeted, I thought it was more likely Ibaekho than me.
"So, what exactly is down there?"
"Ah, want to come see?"
Slowly approaching Ibaekho, I saw a corpse partially hidden by bushes.
A horrifying body, half the flesh melted away exposing bone.
"…Looks like suicide."
The GM, experienced as a veteran wizard, barely flinched as he scanned the surroundings and muttered.
Ibaekho nodded decisively.
"Right? You think the same, don't you?"
"…Cutting tails like this is a common tactic."
"Did you find anything else?"
"…Probably not a wizard."
"That makes sense. Wizards' left ribs tend to protrude more."
"Yes. It's a feature due to their hearts being much larger than normal people's."
They spoke as if it was common knowledge, but I'd never heard of it.
'Left ribs are larger…'
No idea why, but I'd remember it.
Might come in handy someday alone.
"I think the wizard who came with him went back, and this guy here likely damaged the magic circle."
"He came all the way here to destroy evidence, then died alone?"
"Yes. Looking at the yellow powder on the leaves, it seems they used powder from the strong acid fruit. By the way, that powder is a main component of the so-called 'Blue Curse'…"
"I know. It's something the royal family uses often."
Ibaekho's voice dropped cold like a sharp blade.
"…If the royal family were really behind this, they wouldn't have used that stuff."
"Who knows? They might have wanted us to think that."
"…"
Anyway, to sum up the situation simply—
Whether Ibaekho or I—
This unknown corpse guy sabotaged the magic circle to screw us over.
Which means—
"Shit, we're screwed. Grandpa said it'd take at least a year."
We're stuck outside the fortress walls until repairs finish, whether we like it or not.
"There's nothing more to gain here. How about we head back to where we were earlier? I want to check the magic circle again."
At the GM's request, we returned to the cave entrance. Ibaekho's comrades were waiting there—
"Only grandpa follows me; the rest stay here. Okay?"
"Alright, alright! No one gets in here, don't worry!"
The gatekeeper, archer, and the mysterious newcomer stayed at the cave entrance.
Then I, GM, Ibaekho, and the doom scholar entered the cave as two pairs.
"Hmm, maybe we got caught up in this friend's fate."
The doom scholar muttered meaningfully but said nothing more.
Neither the GM nor I spoke either.
"…"
"…"
The atmosphere was really awkward.
Tap, tap.
Ibaekho was deep in thought, lips sealed tight, and this uncomfortable silence lasted until we reached the magic circle.
"…They really smashed it thoroughly."
The scene showed gouges and scorch marks like dynamite had gone off.
"Grandpa said we have to wait no matter what. What do you think?"
"…I agree. There are ways to improve restoration power, but—"
"What? There are ways? Tell me."
"Under current conditions, practically impossible—"
"I'll judge that. Just °• N 𝑜 v l i g h t •° tell me."
Ibaekho's demanding tone made the GM frown briefly, then he listed necessary items one by one.
Listening quietly, I understood why he said it was practically impossible.
Eldritch Force Core.
Soulwinder's Mana Core.
Ghoul Road's Life Stone, etc.
All required materials were rare byproducts only obtainable in the labyrinth.
And naturally, no one carried those byproducts around.
"Ha… why are they all so maniacal? I have plenty of well-selling stuff like ogre tendons, though."
"…That's what I said. Under current conditions, practically impossible—"
"Hm? Not completely impossible though?"
At Ibaekho's sly comment, the GM tilted his head, and the doom scholar nodded to explain.
"Well, if this is your first time, you probably haven't seen it yet."
"…Haven't seen it? What do you mean?"
"There are monsters outside the fortress walls too."
…That was news to me.
Monsters outside the fortress walls.
From what I heard, these monsters have some characteristics.
For some reason, no monsters appear near Rafdonia.
They always drop byproducts when defeated, and when hunted under distortion magic, essences or mana stones can be obtained.
Though their numbers are extremely low, their intelligence is much higher than monsters inside the labyrinth.
In short, these three were the biggest points, and to me, the most important was number two.
"…They always drop byproducts when defeated?"
"Exactly. It's the complete opposite of the labyrinth."
Monsters outside the walls don't disappear as light when they die but leave their bodies intact.
And maybe because of that—
"Some byproducts I've heard of, I just tossed out because they were annoying. Ha… when will I get there…"
Ibaekho could easily get many byproducts while living outside the walls.
Unfortunately, due to space, he only looted expensive materials like ogre tendons…
'Crazy…'
Hearing that gave me goosebumps.
"A hunting ground where distortion is guaranteed when caught?"
In some ways, it's as radical as the essence factory in the basement.
Because hunting there and selling byproducts alone could make massive profits…
'Could I finish endless grinding in one go?'
This fact was too tempting for me.
Barbarians are just as obsessed with 'byproducts' as wizards.
To raise 'Spirit Imprint,' monster byproducts are always needed.
Which means—
'Could I effortlessly gather materials up to tier 9?'
Being trapped outside the walls was unfortunate, but it was definitely the perfect chance to raise the Spirit Imprint level, stuck for so long—
"Hey Baron? What are you chuckling about?"
"…Nothing."
"Alright, then let's get going? I'll properly introduce you to the others later. We're going to be together for a while."
Together…?
"…Understood."
Though uneasy with Ibaekho, logically it was better to stick together.
He definitely knows much more about the outside world than us.
So following him was the rational choice for now.
"Grandpa and I already greeted Aures last time, so no need for that…"
Ibaekho briefly introduced his comrades as we stepped outside.
"This is our archer. Name's Layton Briot."
Human, but his skills rival any fairy archer, they say.
Ah, though he added after seeing me,
"Oh… but he's no match for your fairy archer."
Yeah, how can you beat someone who commands spirit kings and has consumed tiered essences?
"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about Kalstein from you."
"Yeah, nice to meet you."
Briot shyly offered his hand, but I ignored it and looked away.
I wasn't very curious about this archer since Misha had already told me about him.
Unlike the mysterious newcomer.
"Oh, and this is our team healer…"
"I'll introduce myself."
The newcomer in a robe cut off Ibaekho and stepped forward.
Still pressing the hood low, unwilling to show her face…
'I wasn't sure, but turns out she was a woman.'
No wonder she seemed small.
"Name's Jaina."
"…And?"
"That's it."
Not wrong, but her sharp tone reminded me of Raven.
Is this a thing with short girls?
I chuckled, then Aures, the team tank, laughed heartily as he approached.
"Ha ha ha! Not sure how long it'll take, but let's do our best, Baron!"
…Maybe I can get along with him somewhat.
-x-X-x-
The uneasy companionship that started outside the fortress walls.
But even such an uneasy alliance had its clear advantages.
Before the journey even properly began, a treasure trove of information poured out.
"So, where exactly is this place…? Hmm, would you like to see the map we made first?"
Ibaekho had ventured outside # Nоvеlight # the walls much earlier than we did.
Unfortunately, the quality of the map he had made wasn't great. It felt like a map made before the discovery of the American continent.
Well, even if I had made it myself, I doubt it would have been any better.
Anyway.
"…What's this border line here? It looks familiar."
The map, still a work in progress, showed an unfamiliar border line.
It resembled national boundaries on a world map.
"Oh, that marks the terrain matching the Dark Continent on the 7th floor."
…No wonder the shape of the border line felt familiar.
It was the outline of the Dark Continent.
"Isn't it fascinating? In the labyrinth, you can't cross this coast line, but here the land continues beyond it."
Ibaekho's "Isn't it fascinating?" was so convincing that I had no rebuttal.
The jester said the outside world was exactly like the Dark Continent, but that was only partially true.
The Dark Continent lies in the southeast of the continent, and the northern and western parts remain unknown, unexplored lands.
"What's the circular spot marked here?"
"Oh, that? It's an island."
"An island…?"
"There's an island on the 6th floor — you know, the one with a strange, unknown stele in the center."
"You mean Starnels Island?"
"Yeah, that's right. That island and the terrain here are very similar. The monsters that appear there are the same, too."
"Is that so…?"
That was an odd coincidence — or maybe something unsettling.
An island that should be in the middle of the sea is attached to the continent.
Could this be tied to some world secret I don't yet know?
I didn't know, but at least my knowledge was increasing.
"Then this must be the eastern part of the Great Forest."
Ibaekho teased me, saying, "More precisely, the southeast of the Great Forest," but that was a minor detail I let slide.
"So, where are we heading now?"
"Here."
Ibaekho pointed with his finger to a mysterious land outside the Dark Continent.
"You can get most of the materials that guy mentioned over there."
"How long will it take?"
"About half a year on foot."
"…What?"
That meant by the time we returned, a year would have passed.
What kind of nonsense was that?
I frowned and looked at Ibaekho, who smiled playfully.
"Don't worry. We'll use a portal midway. We'll probably get there in under a month."
"Portal…?"
What was he talking about now?
"It's like a military elevator in Rafdonia, connecting specific points."
Literally a new world.
The more I heard about the outside world, the more I felt like a newbie again.
Like starting a brand-new game.
"Well then, let's get moving. We plan to reach the portal by tonight, so stick close."
…Feels like boarding a bus or something.
In Dungeon and Stone, 'time' is critical.
Each floor of the labyrinth has a set time before the field closes.
If you don't use time efficiently, naturally, you can't advance to the next floor.
Whoooosh!
In some ways, that's an advantage of minor classes.
Explorers, regardless of position, must build their own 'movement mechanism,' but minor classes often achieve that naturally.
Unlike strength classes.
'Sigh… why am I always the odd one out?'
Boom! Boom!
Running heavily through the forest, waves of 'sage time' kept washing over me.
I still haven't figured out my movement mechanism.
Well, at least my endurance and stamina stats are high enough I don't get tired easily…
Boom! Boom!
But my movement speed lags noticeably behind other classes.
Like this.
Whoooosh!
[Whiiir!]
The wizard GM was already flying quickly using levitation and other magic, and the healer named Jaina summoned a mount to move comfortably.
And…
'…Kind of embarrassing.'
I was struggling at the back, barely keeping up, and I could tell the whole party was moving slower just to accommodate me.
An unspoken act of kindness, I suppose.
"Hahaha! It's fascinating! It's been ages since I've seen someone slower than me!"
…Damn it.
How did this tank class finish his movement mechanism so fast?
Instead of focusing on getting stronger, he just focuses on speed.
Tch.
I clicked my tongue and glanced at the woman comfortably riding the mount in front.
'A contracted demon… so she really is Karui's priest.'
I could tell her class by the mount, but it didn't really matter.
They probably thought it pointless to hide the class fully anyway, so they showed it.
"Phew, at least we made it before dawn."
We arrived at our destination after a late-night journey and took a short break.
"We'll rest here today. There's not enough time to recharge magic fully…"
"No need to change plans. Havelion's here now."
"Oh, that's a relief."
"Havelion, come here. Better to check your mana resonance first for safety."
"Ah? Okay…!"
While everyone rested as they wished, GM was called over by the doom scholar for a strange ritual I couldn't understand.
And then…
"Can we talk for a moment?"
Ibaekho quietly approached and called me aside to a secluded spot.
"Don't you think we're really fate? I never thought I'd be roaming around with you like this."
"…"
"Don't worry, no secrets will slip out!"
Haa…
I sighed and glared at Ibaekho, scanning the surroundings.
There was so much I wanted to say—from the weird way he explained how to get out—but I swallowed it for now.
"But hey, I've been meaning to ask—GM still doesn't know you're a player, right?"
"Right. He has no idea, so he's just acting like this."
"Wow, if he knew your true identity, his expression would be priceless."
Hmm, I'm curious too, but I can't risk checking that.
"Can I ask you something too?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Ibaekho's casual permission gave me the courage to ask the question I'd wanted to.
"The Noark guys came into the city, right? You said it was all to survive."
"Yeah?"
"What exactly does that mean?"
"Oh, that…"
"Since I'm outside anyway, just be honest. Is it because of the ash-colored world?"
I asked, not hiding my frustration.
Ibaekho seemed to consider for a moment, then nodded.
"The ash-colored world… that's a poetic yet fitting phrase."
"Enough with that, just answer."
"It doesn't really matter. It's not that dangerous."
"Not dangerous?"
"Well, anyway… the reason the Noark guys desperately returned to the city is different."
He paused and looked at me.
What the hell was he about to say?
"There's a monster."
"…Huh?"
"A really, really terrifying monster."
He emphasized that so much I couldn't keep up with his explanation.
Giving him a look to explain more, Ibaekho shrugged.
"I don't think it has a fixed habitat. Wherever you go, it shows up. Every time it appears, thousands die without a chance."
"Die…?"
"All we know is this: the more people around, especially those who stay outside the walls longer, the higher the chance it appears."
Hearing that gave me a strange sense of discomfort.
Like knowing something but not quite.
Why was I overwhelmed by this feeling?
While I was thinking about that, Ibaekho asked me—
"Isn't it kind of similar?"
"…?"
"It's just like the Floor Lord—when conditions are met, it appears."
Oh, right.
That was it.
"So it's still dangerous?"
"Yeah, very possible. But what can we do? The way home is already blocked. We're few and only just left the city, so we have to trust that."
Sigh… no matter what I told myself, the anxiety didn't fade.
Because what I hate most is uncertainty.
Like how zero and one are totally different numbers.
Unless the chance is zero percent, probability loses all meaning.
What will happen will happen.
'Maybe I'd be better off not knowing…'
But I believe it's better to know than to be ignorant.
So I grilled him about that 'monster' and heard an unexpected story.
"It's not exactly destructive or overwhelming…"
"Not?"
"It doesn't take damage. Not a single bit."
"…What?"
"Really, literally. Magic, aura, skills—all immune."
The first thought was, does this make any sense?
A monster you can't even touch, no matter the method?
"That's why it's nicknamed the Reaper. The Reaper."
From what I heard, the name suited it well.
Especially since it's a being humans can't resist.
"Really…?"
"How do you feel? Creeped out?"
Hmm.
What to say?
My curiosity was growing almost as much as my fear.
It was instinct as a gamer.
'Hmph, there must be some way to counter it…'
Right?
Even monsters with gimmicks that seem impossible to catch have strategies when you keep hitting their heads.
Well, not in real life.
But thinking that way was as natural as a reflex.
"What would it drop if caught…?"
I muttered that without thinking.
Ibaekho tilted his head, then opened his mouth wide.
"Wow… you really are crazy, aren't you?"
…What?
Where else would you find a barbarian as sane and reliable as me?
"Enough. So what's the deal with that?"
"What?"
I quickly changed the topic.
"You said something about an event happening in a year."
"Oh… that…?"
"We might not be able to return by then, so can you just tell me?"
"No. Because we might return sooner."
Ibaekho cut off my follow-up question bluntly.
But even from that, I could gather some information.
'That's what made him so pissed off.'
When the magic circle was broken, Ibaekho got furious and tried everything to find a way back quickly.
It hinted that the 'event' was connected.
Also…
'He hopes I don't find out the details.'
He probably thinks if I know about the event, I'd interfere or cause problems.
Simply put, it's likely a bad event for me.
"Well then, I'm off!"
No surprise, Ibaekho ran off the moment the conversation got uncomfortable.
And…
"Oh, were you done with that old man?"
"Yeah. Synchronizing resonance doesn't take long."
"I see."
After finishing his work, GM cautiously asked for a private talk.
"Could you spare a moment?"
Alright, this time it's his turn.
Pretending I knew nothing, I followed quietly as GM led me to a secluded spot, turned on voice control, and spoke.
"This may be a rude question, but…"
"Just ask freely."
"What is your relationship with Ibaekho?"
Sigh. How do I even explain this?
-x-X-x-
The question was about what kind of relationship I have with Ibaekho.
From the GM's point of view, it was probably a question they had been holding back until now. There simply hadn't been a good timing to ask before.
It seemed like they were even wondering how to bring it up.
"Well… I'm not trying to accuse or anything, I'm just curious. I saw the two of you stepping out to talk earlier…"
"So?"
"Well, the fact that the man consistently uses honorifics with the Baron… it struck me as a bit unusual…"
That was probably the decisive point.
Why on earth did the arrogant Ibaekho speak respectfully and treat me with courtesy?
That question must have been driving them crazy.
'He even knows how I first met Ibaekho.'
Thinking back to my first meeting with Ibaekho still makes me dizzy.
At that time, the GM disguised as Hans I and Ibaekho clashed, and I happened to witness the scene, which led to trouble.
'Back then, I really thought, what kind of crazy bastard is this…'
Just out of curiosity, in a place full of royal knights, Ibaekho grabbed me and threatened me, asking if I was a player.
'That was years ago already…'
Feeling how much time had passed, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Well? We weren't exactly on good terms. At first, he was my enemy."
"Hmm, enemy, you say…?"
"Yeah, some weird guy suddenly fell from the sky and tried to kill me. For some reason, he vanished right before my eyes."
"…That happened?"
The GM tilted their head casually, acting as if they didn't know about this at all. That made me chuckle a little, and I continued without showing it.
"The next time we met was at the Gnome Tree."
"The Gnome Tree…?"
"Yeah, I visited there with my comrades for a request and accidentally ran into him again. After that, a lot happened… including a bitter tie with my comrades."
Since half-assing lies could easily cause contradictions, I roughly summarized the rest.
Anyway, the GM probably already knew about Misha.
"Your comrades, you say…?"
"It's a bit hard to explain in detail, but through that process, there were several dealings, and things have settled to some extent now."
"Settled, you say…?"
"It's close to a truce. Both he and I know that if either of us messes with the other, there will be bloodshed. So we're cautious."
The GM showed a slightly surprised expression at my words.
'That Ibaekho?' you might say.
It seemed they didn't expect my strength to be that much.
'How disappointing.'
I added some dramatic touches to explain, but it wasn't a lie.
I'm not confident I could beat Ibaekho one-on-one.
But on the flip side, I'm not sure I'd lose either.
Anyway.
"You asked what kind of relationship we have, right?"
Seeing the GM nod their head at my question, I summarized the relationship between me and Ibaekho more ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) clearly than anything else in a single sentence.
"To me, Ibaekho is…"
This time, there was no need for lies.
We just have mutual interests now, so we don't draw swords against each other.
No more confusion.
"He's someone I'll have to smash the head of someday."
Ibaekho is an enemy.
"Is that all you wanted to know?"
"Yes… Because he's a dangerous person, I needed to know your relationship with him first."
"I see."
"I'm relieved to hear you're not on the same side. He's someone who brings nothing but trouble… Ah, of course, it seems the Baron already knows that."
Did the GM feel the sincerity in my final statement?
They didn't doubt my hostility toward Ibaekho at all and seemed satisfied with that feeling.
'Well, it's natural to be relieved. If I said I was close to Ibaekho here, I wouldn't have anyone to rely on.'
Anyway, after wrapping up that conversation with the GM, Ibaekho called the GM out.
"Hey, you, come see me for a moment?"
"Y-yes, you mean me?"
The GM flinched like a school delinquent being called out.
Ibaekho looked at me like he wanted help.
"What's up with my comrade?"
"Oh, Baron, don't worry. I won't leave a scratch. We need this guy to fix the magic circle, so why would I do that?"
Well, I wasn't worried about that.
I just couldn't ignore the way the GM kept looking at me like that.
"…Let's talk where we can be seen."
"Okay. Yeah, that's fine. Hey, that works, right?"
"..."
After the situation was settled, the GM followed him like cattle being led to slaughter, and they started talking loudly.
'I should learn some silence magic later.'
Since the sound was blocked, I couldn't hear what they said.
But judging by the atmosphere, Ibaekho seemed irritated while the GM awkwardly laughed and tried to explain something…
'Come to think of it, their last time together wasn't good either…'
The GM expelled Ibaekho from the community, which made Ibaekho resent him.
I don't know if they met since then.
'That ended sooner than I thought.'
Surprisingly, their conversation ended quickly, and the GM returned looking drained.
"What did you talk about?"
"There was an unpleasant incident in the past… I was trying to explain it… hahaha…"
Tch, that means I can't be told.
I'll have to ask Ibaekho about it separately later.
"Well then, let's sleep soon. It'll be morning soon, so we won't get much rest."
"Yes… Baron, please rest as well."
After that, nothing special happened. Everyone got some short rest, and the next morning we immediately began preparing to activate the 'portal' Ibaekho mentioned.
"Dimensional stele…?"
"It looks similar, right?"
"Could something like this be hidden all over the continent…?"
"Who knows if there are more? They say this was discovered by that mysterious old man… I've never seen any other portals connected to this one."
That mysterious old man must be Auril Gavis for sure…
"But although it looks similar, it's a bit different from the dimensional stele we saw in the labyrinth. It doesn't open just by touching it—you have to put magic power into it."
Hmm, so that's why it required a magic power wave or something.
When several mages share magic power, they said they need to have practiced coordination often or prepare in advance.
"Then let's get started."
"Yes…"
The ruin scholar and the GM simultaneously approached the dimensional stele, placed their hands on it, and closed their eyes.
And then…
Whoooooooosh—!
Magic power flowed visibly in dense, multicolored waves.
Sshhhhhhhhhh—!
The flowing magic gradually condensed and took the familiar shape of a portal.
"I'll go first, so follow closely. This portal only lasts about five minutes!"
As soon as the portal opened, Ibaekho jumped in first, and his comrades naturally followed.
"Uh…"
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
"Yes… I'll go in first…"
To prepare for any unforeseen situations, I sent the GM through the portal first, then hurried in myself.
And then…
Flash—!
I felt the floating sensation similar to when entering portals in the labyrinth, and my vision cleared.
I quickly started scanning the surroundings, but froze in place.
An artificial spire-like structure of unknown origin.
The ground was flattened and even for easier walking.
Rows of log houses stood in a grid pattern, and in the distance, half-collapsed wooden palisades were visible.
"A village…?"
"Oh, did I not mention? This is where the Noark guys settled."
It was a Noark pioneer settlement.
While the GM and I were looking around curiously, Ibaekho shrugged and started introducing the Noark settlement.
"It's not comparable to a city, but doesn't it look livable? There are houses, a wooden palisade surrounding the whole village, and several wells drilled so water isn't a problem. Outside the palisade, there are fields where they used to grow crops. It's not a big river, but there's one to the east."
Contrary to my expectations, the Noark settlement was much more properly set up than I thought.
I guess I could have been happy living here, too?
Well, the problem would be that 'monster' I mentioned earlier.
'A completely ghost town…'
The huge wooden palisade surrounding the village was half broken, and the houses showed clear signs of damage.
Blackened bloodstains were easily found here and there as well…
"Oh, and this."
Ibaekho poked the dimensional stele that had disappeared after the portal closed and continued.
"This is how the portal to the labyrinth is opened, but only that mysterious old man can do it; no one else can. Even our old man couldn't figure it out."
"He couldn't figure it out? Didn't he at least identify it as a space-time magic?"
"That's just an excuse," Ibaekho said, mocking the ruin scholar. Actually, Auril Gavis is the strange one.
He opened a portal straight to the 7th floor.
Teleported tens of thousands of people.
It feels like that old man always plays with the rules of this world however he wants.
"But if they worked so hard to build this village, why did they come into the labyrinth so much?"
"Well, they had to eat, right? I heard they couldn't even properly bring food when they fled, so they ate monster meat on the way here."
"…Didn't you say there were fields?"
"Oh, those were made later. Even then, they were only experimental. The crops barely grew, and it wasn't nearly enough for all those people."
"So they came for magic stones?"
"Well, that's probably the biggest reason."
"You sound like there's another reason?"
When I asked slyly, Ibaekho shrugged again.
"Well, monsters show up here too. Eventually, if you don't gather essence, you're doomed to fail. And… the royal family might find them too, so there was some fear."
Hmm, now that he says it like that, I understand.
The Noark settlement is located on the 'Grey Plains' of the Dark Continent's 7th floor.
The monster grades there would have been quite high.
"Oh, of course, after that monster showed up, all of that became meaningless. It destroyed the village several times, so even that stubborn lord finally gave up and decided to stay inside the walls."
"I see…"
"Anyway, that's all the questions for now. Let's get moving!"
After finishing the village introduction, Ibaekho led us out of the village.
And then…
"…This is very different from the Grey Plains I knew."
The plains stretched far with green grass and bushes up to waist height.
"Oh! The labyrinth definitely feels more apocalyptic, right? But the monsters here are all similar. The terrain matches too."
"Is that so…?"
The GM looked embarrassed after Ibaekho kindly answered his murmured question.
"Baekho, there's a monster ahead."
Right after we left the village, archer Layton Briot's sensors detected something and he warned us.
And at the same time…
"Kraaaaaaang—!"
A monster crouched in the bushes rose up and howled threateningly.
"It's a Vaiterion. Grade 3 beast type monster. No particular elemental weakness, very high physical resistance. It's better to use magic against it."
The GM explained in a tone like reading an encyclopedia.
I think I have some idea how he must have felt when he was an explorer long ago.
'Convenient, but he must have been a bit tiring to travel with.'
Anyway, to add to the GM's explanation, the 'Vaiterion' is a rare mob found only occasionally on the Grey Plains.
And…
"Lucky."
It dropped the ingredient for the level 8 Immortal Mark.