Daria Wittenberg di Tersia.
As a fifth-year explorer, she was wandering around the first floor of the crystal cave at that moment. She was accompanied by a younger sister, who looked like a little girl to her.
"Erwen, you've used a spirit again."
"Ah, it's too difficult with just the dagger..."
"I already told you. Even if you don't have a bow or can't use a spirit, you should still be able to protect yourself."
"No, I know, but..."
"Stop. If you keep practicing, you'll improve."
Tersia led Erwen through the first floor and trained her relentlessly. It was all for her younger sister's sake, and Erwen was well aware of this. But as the training dragged on, it was clear that Tersia was growing weary.
"Mr. Barbaro said it's best to specialize in what you're good at..."
"… That?"
"Trust your team and do your best to fulfill your role. That—that's the essence of being an explorer..."
Tersia, who listened impassively, was left speechless.
It was a reasonable argument. Wouldn't it be great if the world worked that well?
"Erwen, teammates are just teammates. Don't place too much value on them."
Tersia had experienced many teams.
From the sixth-floor exploration team he had recently belonged to, to the hunting team that had only hunted particularly profitable monsters, to the racing team whose objective had been to open the portal.
Working with so many different people, I had experienced many different things. Among them were even things I didn't want Erwen to know.
Teammates could not be trusted unless they were related by blood.
"OK.."
Erwen did not resist, seeing Tersia's hardened expression.
Time passed, and soon it was the fourth day. Erwen had traversed the first floor clockwise and was now able to defeat any monster with just his dagger. In the process, he had naturally leveled up.
"Tersia? I've already gone up a level. Can't we go to the second floor now? Mr. Barbaro must be making a lot of money up there right now..."
Tersia laughed at how cute her sister was. What was the problem with catching a few more monsters on the second floor?
"Erwen, the Rift will open soon."
The Rift.
A place that even mid-level explorers who had been in the business for several years couldn't enter without the right luck.
Erwen tilted his head.
"How do you know?"
"Because the last Crack opened on the first floor eight months ago."
Tersia explained it gently, step by step, as if she were talking to a small child. Today was the fourth day, so she explained the statistical reason why the Rift should open within the next three days.
"I see... Mr. Barbaro didn't mention that."
Of course, Tersia thought.
Erwen continued to praise the barbarian at every turn, but after all, he was just a beginner. Advancing towards the ground recklessly and going through all kinds of trial and error was the epitome of inefficiency for an experienced explorer.
«Erwen, don't be impatient and trust me. In a year, you and that barbarian will have a huge difference in levels».
Sometimes the slow road was the fastest.
«Mm... then I can help you when that time comes!»
«Yes, you can do it».
Tersia nodded and praised her sister. It was uncertain whether or not the barbarian would still be alive by then, and even if he was, Tersia might think about dissuading her sister when that time came.
He wanted his sister to preserve her innocence as much as possible.
Just when I was thinking this...
¡Ddddddd!
The labyrinth began to shake as if there had been an earthquake. This is a phenomenon that occurs every time a Crack opens.
«¡Erwen!»
Tersia grabbed Erwen's hand and ran through the tunnel at full speed. Shortly after, he found a portal shaking unsteadily.
Eas ea Grieta.
There would already be thousands of portals like this all over the first floor, and every minute from now on was going to be a major battle against time.
¡Wooooom-!
Tersia and Erwen rushed towards the portal.
But at that moment,
Whoom-
The portal disappeared.
Coup seco.
Tersia, who had jumped into the air and landed on the ground naked, clicked her tongue in disappointment.
«...One step too late».
If they had not tried to enter at the same time, and had pushed their sister before her, they could have entered successfully.
But...
«...There will be another opportunity.»
It couldn't be helped.
After all, what if her little sister had entered the Rift alone and ended up losing her life?
«Erwen, let's go to the second floor.»
Again, sometimes the slow path was the fastest.
***
The Law of Equivalent Exchange
I really liked this theory. But, sadly, the world is not governed by this law.
Just consider when we meet that psycho bitch. We had barely survived, and we gained nothing.
No, rather, they kicked us out of the Land of the Dead and wasted our time.
But this time it was different. This time I had made the decision, so the price would come later.
Mm, probably.
Burn.
I looked at the human man and woman who had become our last two companions and raised my guard.
The man who had landed with a loud sound had no special characteristics, but...
The woman was different.
Grifo.
As if defying the laws of gravity, the woman slowly descended and landed softly. Even the talkative dwarf opened his mouth at this sight and could not hide his surprise.
I was the same.
«I didn't expect to see a magician here».
Mago.
The biggest class choice in Dungeon and Stone who deserved the name, and someone who was treated with respect wherever he went just because of his status.
«Bjorn, are magicians that great? The librarian was also a magician».
At Ainar's question, the magician frowned in disgust. Before we could dislike the magician, I opened my mouth.
«The librarian is a rank 9 mage».
«Is this different?»
Was different. Very different.
While librarians were upper-class workers who worked in guilds, public institutions, or workrooms, this woman was a real magician.
The fact that he had entered the labyrinth was proof of this.
Wizards were an important resource in Rafdonia, so if they couldn't prove themselves capable, they couldn't enter the labyrinth.
«¡Ya veo! »
When I explained it clearly to Ainar at eye level, the sorceress joined the conversation in a calm voice.
«Yes it's true. You have the knowledge to be a barbarian».
Seeing the satisfied smile on his lips, I could tell what kind of character he was.
«Hello. My name is Arua Raven, rank 6 Wizard. And this is the professional porter I hired... What did you say your name was?»
«Soy Tarzine, Lady Raven.»
So they were a duo. This wasn't so bad. She seemed to have a tendency to look down on others, but she wasn't that bad compared to other wizards.
In the game, there was garbage much worse than this.
«Can I ask all of you for a presentation too?»
«Hikurod Murad It's a short trip, but I hope we work well together, Miss Raven».
«How much experience do you have, Mr. Murad?»
«I have been an explorer for three years.»
A third year explorer...
No wonder the quality of their equipment looked so good.
«Bjorn, son of Yandel.»
After giving a brief introduction, I asked bluntly,
«I don't understand why someone like you is on the first floor. Why did you enter the Rift?».
Most of the scouts who were active on the first floor were those who didn't even have the proper equipment. Therefore, he hoped that clearing the Rift would be hard work.
But with a third-year veteran and a rank 6 mage? At this point, I couldn't be happy with this. Calling it a coincidence was also questionable.
«I can't explain the details, but I heard that the Rift would open during this cycle».
«Just like me.»
Is this what it meant to guard the door? Both Raven and the dwarf were silent about how they got here.
Of course, it didn't mean much to me. I now have an assumption as to how they deduced the opening of the Rift.
«Ainar, la segunda hija de Fenelin».
As soon as everyone's introductions were over, Raven led the conversation.
«The loot will be divided according to the number of people, except Mr. Tarzine here. In exchange, will they follow all my orders?»
«I have no objection. The most logical thing is to follow the orders of a magician in the labyrinth».
«Thanks for saying that.»
When the dwarf expressed his consent, Raven's gaze turned to the two of us.
I didn't have to think about it much. As long as there was a magician on the team, he gained nothing by standing out.
After all, it was the wizards who first recognized the existence of evil spirits and persuaded the royal family to announce them as objects of annihilation.
Shit...
Cleaning the Crack was no longer the problem now.
«I agree too.»
Just meet them halfway. Before, he may have congratulated me for being a knowledgeable barbarian, but that could turn into suspicion at any moment.
«Me him.»
¿Eh?
Everyone's eyes turned to Ainar at his stubborn voice.
«I don't know what's so good about a magician. I want Bjorn to guide us».
Even I agreed with this! What are you doing?!
I wanted to shut his mouth right now, but if I did, it would only seem more suspicious.
Soon the magician asked cautiously,
«Bjorn... is this barbarian, right?»
«That's right. Bjorn is no ordinary barbarian!»
«What do you mean 'he's no ordinary barbarian'?»
«Bjorn is a wiser warrior than any other. Read books in the library for six hours a day every day».
«Hmm, he's definitely unusual.»
«It's not unusual, it's great! I've never seen a barbarian as smart as Bjorn!»
Shit...
Please stop…
***
Everyone looked at me with strange eyes at Ainar's praise, but the situation ended up as an unimportant event. They seemed to think she was just a barbarian's childishness.
At least, for now.
«Still, it's a majority vote, so it can't be helped. Hahaha!»
«What is a majority vote? What do you mean it can't be helped?!»
«Uhm...»
Feeling the atmosphere cooling down again, I calmed Ainar down. She didn't know what had upset her so much, but Ainar was snorting and was clearly dissatisfied.
«But! Bjorn, you are better than that wizard!».
Could it be that the words «for a barbarian» had offended her?
I wasn't sure, but I was glad I made her swear beforehand. Otherwise, our use of dimensional instability and the fact that I was the one who had opened the Rift might have come to light.
«It is a blessing to have your wife's respect. I envy you, barbarian! Hahaha!»
«Wife! I am not that!»
«Ha ha ha. No need to be ashamed!»
«Gahhh! I'm not ashamed!!
Anyway, thanks to the talkative dwarf, Ainar's aggravation went elsewhere. I was relieved too and looked at Raven's face. Contrary to what had worried me, she didn't seem particularly interested in me.
«Hmm, a barrier that prevents you from going outside. Interesting. It seems to have cut the dimensions, but how can we see the other side with our eyes?».
Should I call it a magician's passion for learning? Seeing her murmur to herself as she wrote something down in her notebook, she seemed curious about the qualities of that barrier that prevented us from leaving the map.
I hoped that interest wouldn't come to me while we worked together.
"Why don't we drop this and get moving? I have a lot of research to do to recover a sample."
"Should we start moving? So far we only know each other's names."
At Raven's words, the dwarf tilted his head.
I shared a similar opinion. Each team should know the strengths and capabilities of the others. No matter how quickly the team was formed, revealing the core essence was fundamental.
However, Raven cut that out as unnecessary.
"Is it necessary? All the monsters in the Bloody Citadel are rank 7 or lower."
A voice filled with absolute confidence. The dwarf seemed slightly uncomfortable at this, but didn't say so.
…Until he added one more thing.
"Oh, I forgot to mention it. I'll take the guardian's loot. I need to study it separately."
What a selfish bastard…
No wonder he had seemed so normal for a magician.
Damn.
Just as expected.
Things were about to go to shit again.