A man shouted in the middle of the silence: «How come not everyone can reach it?!». His voice clearly conveyed the anxiety that they might be abandoned by this group of kickers.
«Let me explain», Subcommander Versyl continued calmly. «Our explorer tells us that Noark's explorers are camped in all the passageways leading to the dark area so that no one can leave or enter».
Troops of incomparable size to anything we had seen so far camped ahead. At that, another man shouted: «You mean sacrifices are inevitable to clear the way!».
That was the true meaning behind the words that not everyone would reach the dark zone. I also had a similar interpretation to that man.
«It may be similar in a way».
However, the moment I heard those hollow but meaningful words, my heart began to beat uncontrollably.
Hit!
Versyl continued without delay, omitting any excuse, just the conclusion. «We will use mass teleportation magic».
Mass Teleportation was a high-class spell that could only be used by rank 4 or higher mages of certain schools. Now it made sense why not everyone could go. A deeper silence weighed on the cavity than the first time.
«B-Bjorn? Isn't it possible to pass without a fight if we use teleportation magic? But why everyone's expression...»
The reason was simple. «Multiple teleportation magic can only be used with a maximum of twenty people».
As Raven said, Mass Teleportation was only available to a maximum of twenty people and at this time there were thirty-five of us.
Fifteen people.
Simply put, a total of three teams would be abandoned in a situation where the security zone in the central region was right under our noses.
«If you were going to abandon people, why did you suggest joining forces!», someone shouted angrily.
However, Versyl only dryly apologized without a change in her expression. «I apologize for that. We didn't know it would end like this either». His voice seemed soft, but left no room for rebuttal.
I sighed silently. Persuasion was meaningless with these types of people. Whatever they said, that woman wouldn't change her mind.
«So how are you going to choose the fifteen people to abandon?».
When I asked, Versyl looked at me with a strange expression. I assumed that a barbarian who remained calm in this situation was peculiar. «Each team will do a draw».
«Everyone except your team?»
«No. Us and one more team». Saying that, Versyl moved his eyes somewhere, towards the team fighting alongside them as they paved the way for them all the way.
«I'm sorry. Subcommander Versyl and I have known each other for a long time». The leaders of each team expressed their regret to us without being surprised, as if they already knew it.
Yeah, so this was promised in advance, huh? There is nothing strange about it. Those guys are also from a big clan. Except... Damn.
A headache appeared instantly. Now there were only two bills left in the teleportation seat. Furthermore, there were three entrances for the stragglers. If we went by draw, there was a better chance of being abandoned here.
But was it because they knew? The faces of the remaining teams all changed desperately.
«Please take us».
«Five million... no, we will pay ten million stones per person.»
Some offered money.
«We are a team under the Blue Wall Clan. If you take us with you, the Master will surely give you a great reward...»
Some promised a future with their faction.
«N-we don't have a clan yet. It turns out that we are women too. We may now be active on the fifth floor, but we are originally from the sixth. I have heard that the Larer Clan is recruiting members due to recent losses...»
Some were even placed as work tools. No one voluntarily agreed to draw lots for him. It was to be expected. After all, no one wanted to leave their only life to chance.
«Yandel.» Mr. Bear's heavy voice called me. He was probably also asking if we should do something. I was just watching for now, judging that it wouldn't be too late to make an offer after seeing what Versyl had decided.
«I'm sorry. It will not be correct to do so».
«T-that means...!»
«Yeah. The rest will be decided precisely by draw. Please, I hope you understand my decision». Making an exception for only one team, as promised, Versyl stuck to the principle he had talked about from the beginning.
«Versyl Gowland, deputy commander of the Larer Clan. It's just as I heard». Raven admired that haughtiness, but couldn't sympathize with it.
Rather, there was no offer that attracted her.
If he really was a fair person, he wouldn't have excluded that other team in the first place, especially when it was obvious what situation the rest would find themselves in.
Anyway, cast lots, eh?
I didn't know if this was a good thing. Not once had I been selected for something like that.
«Then we're running out of time, so let's start now».
Versyl made a bag containing five stones and finished preparations for the drawing. The rules were simple: Two white stones win. Taking out one of the other three black stones meant that they would throw you out without hesitation.
«Which team wants to go first?»
«I will.» The first to step forward was the team that said it would pay ten million stones per person. «To think that my destiny would depend on a damn stone». A dwarf warrior dressed in elegant clothes put his hand in the bag nervously. «H-hahaha... We did it!»
He got it on the first try. Laughter spread across the dwarf's team as the other teams' faces darkened in comparison.
«Come here. So who's next?» In a situation of intersection of joy and sadness, no one came forward first. Now there was only one winning ticket, and three to hell.
«Mr. Yandel, we have to wait. In terms of probability, if you roll now, you have a better chance of rolling a black stone».
We had a 25% chance of winning and a 75% chance of losing, but as always, the probability didn't make sense.
«Ugh, let's tie». The women's team clumsily watching the room stepped forward. «Kyahhhhh!» They pulled the remaining white stone.
Damn sea.
«So that's all.» With only two draws, the fates of the five teams were decided. The other three teams didn't even have a chance to leave their fate to chance.
«¡Kyahhhhh!»
What had she done while the women's team took out the white stone? Contemplate which of Missha, Ainar and Raven should choose ours. I didn't really think it would end in two rounds.
It makes sense?
Just when the idea occurred to me, Versyl turned the bag over and scattered the three black stones on the floor, as if to prove that there was no deception here. «Then everyone gather together. We will cast the spell as soon as we are ready».
At Versyl's words, the chosen ones quickly gathered in one place.
«It-wait!» The leader of one of the three teams that were mentally timed in this situation, Big Jaw of Erwen's team, hurriedly ran towards them. «Take us with you! Please, we will do anything!»
A low plea wasn't going to work on this woman. «The places are already occupied».
Big Jaw directed his plea elsewhere, to Versyl's emotionless voice. «If you give up your place, ten million stones! No, I will pay twenty million stones!»
Trying to buy a seat with money, huh? Now that I saw him, he was even abject. Seeing that there was no mention of his team members, he wanted to survive on his own.
Daria, from the same team, frowned as if she were looking at a bug, but Big Jaw didn't stop there. When speaking from a distance wasn't enough, he approached each of them and asked if they were willing to accept the deal, but they all turned their backs on him.
«Is there really no one?»
Do you really think it will work?
Money was not the problem. The moment you sold your house for money, you would separate from your colleagues.
«If you're done talking, can you back off please?»
When Versyl spoke dryly, Big Jaw turned weakly towards his team. With that, the event was over. The wizard on Versyl's side was drawing a magic circle on the ground to use Mass Teleportation.
«Bjorn…»
«Let's talk later».
Ignored Missha's llamada dressed there as a subcomandante. "Versyl Gowland."
«Yeah. Forward». His voice was kind but otherwise emotionless, lacking sympathy or curiosity. Maybe he thought he was going to make a lousy plea like Big Jaw.
I smiled satisfied and asked a question. «On the trip, why did you put us in the safest position in the formation?».
Versyl tilted her head, but I figured she wasn't particularly curious why I was asking her that question. He simply responded: «I cast lots for it. To be fair».
Yes, so everything he said was a lie. I expected it, but it wasn't thanks to Big Jaw that they put us in the middle.
Well, that confirms that this woman is a selfish bitch.
Whether we like it or not, the three abandoned teams would have to work together now. It became clearer how to deal with Big Jaw.
«Is that the end of your questions?»
«No, one more.»
«Clear.»
«Did you say there were enemies camped in the passage? I want to know more about it. What is the disposition and how big are the troops?»
«...Do you really intend to penetrate them on your own?»
So you thought we were going to die here?
«If necessary.» We may have gotten here comfortably by coming with them, but that was my destiny from the beginning. This didn't change anything. «So, your answer?»
At my insistence, Versyl paused and stared at me. «...You are just as the rumors say. Okay. Xenia?»
«Yes, Deputy Commander».
«Go and tell him everything he wants to know».
«Okay.»
Versyl sent a scout from their own team and I heard general information about the surroundings through it. After about five minutes, all preparations for using the spell were over, and Versyl left with a single word for us.
«Xenia, come here. I hope you don't hold a grudge against me».
From now on, we had to overcome this test with our own strength. It was nothing new.
***
«…Really if han ido.»
With more than half the people out, the vacancy felt even bigger. But because of that, I had to focus even more on one thing: What did I have to do now? Of course, it wouldn't be wasting precious time ruminating on this feeling of emptiness.
«Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do now?».
«Let me think».
There were two options: enter the route that Versyl had abandoned and head to the original destination in the central region, or turn around and look for another place. The latter was not a bad option either.
We can survive if we stick to the outskirts.
The war was in full swing in the central region, and in the outermost part, Noark's strongest scouts blocked the way. On the other hand, there would be relatively few people on the outskirts. Since the area was also wide, we could probably survive as long as we hid well.
However... We cannot know how things are progressing.
This was the biggest drawback. In this chaotic situation where every second and every minute flowed differently, we couldn't get information about the situation if we just stayed hidden.
Furthermore... The Lord of the Floor will also appear on the third day.
The Lord of the First Floor could not be defeated by ourselves. If it were summoned while we resisted, we would be annihilated.
«We have to confirm our combat power first.»
«Excuse me?»
«Everyone, get together.» I withheld my decision for now, gathered the other two teams that were in the same situation, and immediately got to the point. «Each one will reveal in turns their explorer rank, their essences and their specialties».
«Do you want us to expose ourselves?»
«Is that important now? We have to join forces».
«You talk like you're the captain». Big Jaw frowned at my suggestion. The others also didn't seem to like me speaking naturally as the leader, although they didn't show it.
How annoying.
«Does it matter who the captain is? I've never seen an idiot worry about something like that even in a situation like this».
«...W-what? What did you just...?»
«If you want it so much, let's choose the captain first. What, do you want a vote?» Naturally I took the issue to a vote. That was because Erwen was there. I judged that if a member of another team cast a vote for me, I couldn't lose.
However, things took a slightly unexpected turn. «I don't think it's necessary. If we vote, our team will vote for you». Those were the words of the remaining team leader. «Including your own team that already has ten votes. There is no need to waste time «.
Oh, is it going to work like that?
To be honest, I was a little taken aback. However, maybe it was the same for Big Jaw. He politely asked the reason instead. «What do you mean by that? Do you want a barbarian as a leader? You're crazy?»
«First of all, I'm not skilled at leading anyone».
«Then you should choose me over the barbarian...»
«If I had to choose one of the two, this side is more reliable.»
I thought I knew what I was thinking. He probably thought I was better than Big Jaw, who tried to abandon his team to survive on his own. However, from what I heard below, there was an additional reason.
«More importantly, while everyone denied reality, it was only this man who asked the woman for information».
...This is a bit embarrassing.
"¿Such number?"
«Takelan Arbenon.»
«I am Bjorn, son of Yandel.» After exchanging formal introductions with Takelan, I returned to the original topic. «Anyway, that's decided, then. Now, tell me your scout rank, essences, and specialty one by one. So I can decide how to move next...»
«Wait a minute, what's decided?»
Ha, son of a bitch.
«Do you have any problem?»
«Of course...»
Not wanting to waste any more time, I cut him off and spoke firmly. «Then get lost. Only our two teams can move together».
«...Damn.» Big Jaw clenched his fists angrily, but did not leave our side. Well, where was I going to go now?
I smiled satisfied and said: «If you interrupt me one more time or disobey my instructions, it's over. Understood?»
He remained silent.
"Contestame."
«...Okay.»
Well, that determined the hierarchy. After that, I quickly finished my original action plan to find out who had what positions and what essences.
Hmm, esto es a little vague.
Although I learned our approximate combat power, my worries increased. Should I say I was still unsure? I went through an additional verification process. «First, let's introduce ourselves. We should be able to call each other in case of emergency». I even added a reason to that logic and heard everyone's names. To be honest, it was hard to remember them all.
Still, Hans is not there.
This was a pretty positive indicator. It meant that any decision he made later had a slightly higher chance of success.
«What will you do now?»
At Raven's question, fourteen pairs of eyes focused on me. The time to make a decision was approaching. I parted my lips, erasing any doubt about my choice. «We will go to the safe area».
«What possibilities do we have, do you think?».
Takelan's question was answered with a bitter smile. Although we had just seen how insignificant the probability was, one thing was certain. Even if we were successful, not everyone would survive.
About half would die.
To get to the place where some could easily cross just by casting a spell, we had to risk our lives.