«Are you awake?»
With the characteristic taste of the potion on the tip of her tongue, Missha Karlstein opened her eyes. The first thing he saw was Abman.
«... W-What happened? We win?» As soon as he opened his eyes, Missha asked this and tried to remember the answer. His memory was not perfect. It cut intermittently.
«¡Protege a Raven!»
The Corpse Collector transformed into a skeleton and charged at her. She was unable to withstand a single attack and was knocked out.
¡Bang! ¡Bang!
He woke up from the thunderous sound to see Bjorn lying face down with both hands on the ground and protecting them with difficulty. That was his last memory.
«I don't know if we have won, but at least for now we are safe. All enemies have retreated».
«Really? That's a relief. But someone d-dead...?».
Abman frowned as if someone had really died. Seeing the expression in his eyes, she looked at him twice. Abman quickly said: «Ah, don't think strange thoughts. Everyone on our team survived. It was the fairy who died».
«Fairy...?» His heart trembled at those words. «Was it Erwen?» Although it could not be said that they had a good relationship, a sadness was transmitted from the depths of their hearts.
«No, it was his sister who died. She covered Erwen at the end and protected her from the explosion».
«...And what happened to Erwen?»
«They said she would have died if she had been treated later. I don't know if I can say it's lucky, but right now he's unconscious. I'm worried about how he'll stay sane when he wakes up».
«Ya veo... »
Missha also listened to the status of the rest of the team. Raven had also lost consciousness and Ainar woke up early and went to look for Bjorn.
«But don't go. I also wanted to stay by her side, but the priestess kicked me out. It's over there».
Missha asked Abman for the address and left. Now that the battle was over, the Goblin Forest was brightly lit thanks to the flames created everywhere.
Step step.
Missha walked and walked among the explorers. He saw some sitting on the ground naked to rest, and others crying. Some gulped alcohol happily, and others were busy carrying soldiers motionless corpses and throwing them into the flames.
«Oh! She's the cat woman on Yandel's team!» As she walked silently, the explorers struck up a conversation with her.
«Are you going to see Yandel? It should be over there».
«Although I would advise you not to go».
«Yes, you must be worried about your partner». Everyone left unusual comments.
On the other hand, there were those who spoke calmly. «Don't worry. That companion cannot die».
«Bjorn, son of Yandel is immortal!»
«I heard he half killed the Corpse Collector, too? And that, if it weren't for Fallen Scholar, he would have won. He's going to become incredibly famous when he's away».
The explorers recognized Bjorn's greatness. The more it happened, the faster Missha's feet moved. Soon, a store appeared. A number of other explorers gathered here as well.
«Ah, Miss Karlstein is here». The first thing he saw was Ainar arguing with Kyle Pevrosk in front. «Please excuse me for sitting down. In truth, even being awake is overkill right now».
«Why don't you let me in?»
«I told you. Even the priestess is risking her life to save him. So please keep your voice down if you really want to help him».
«But...!»
«Ainar, stop!» Missha hurried to stop Ainar. She wasn't sure what was going on, but it was clear she wasn't helping.
«M-Missha! You're awake!» Ainar greeted her happily, but Missha turned to Kyle to ask about Bjorn's condition.
It was terrifying just hearing it. Apparently poison had been sprayed all over his face and eyes and everything had melted. «It seems that the poison has melted the bones and sneaked into the brain a little».
She felt suffocated. Dizzy, the whole world moved as if she had been drinking.
«...You can enter now.» The priestess left the tent sporting a pale complexion.
Missha entered, unable to even say thank you. «Bjorn...»
He could see him asleep on a makeshift bed made of several layers of sleeping bags. Outwardly, it seemed fine. Although he had burn-like scars on his face, at least nothing seemed serious.
«The scars will gradually disappear over time. My powers weren't enough for that...»
«Really... Thank you...»
«It's nothing. Compared to what he did, I did nothing. Anyway, I should go rest now...»
The priestess left and Missha knelt next to Bjorn. He caressed her face. For some reason, it reminded him of the time they were chased by the Third Floor Lord, but this was completely different from then. Then, he slept comfortably, as if he had fulfilled all his responsibilities. Seeing him, he thought he was like a hero. It was the same after that. Bjorn accomplished many things, and was recognized by new people alike. There were times when Missha was quite happy and proud of it.
"¿Por qué... ⁇
But how was his face now? He seemed sad and distressed. It also seemed like he was blaming himself.
Squeeze.
Missha clenched her fists, unable to finish her words. She thought she knew the reason for that expression. It was impossible for him not to know, since he had been observing that man from his side for a long time.
Erwen... You probably think it's your fault.
Slide.
Missha removed her hand from Bjorn's body. He hadn't even become conscious yet, but every time her hand touched his skin, his body shook as if convulsing. How hard had it been for him that this iron man was like this?
«Now...»
Missha closed her eyes and prayed fervently. God had never heard her prayers, but she clasped her hands and prayed regardless that this man would never be recognized.
***
When I opened my eyes, the entire team was gathered. While we were greeting each other, the priestess came in and checked my condition. I could see well. Smell was also normal. But my body wasn't moving well. The senses were alive, but the force did not reach my arms and legs well and, if I forced them, they began to tremble.
«It is a common phenomenon with a brain injury. If you take care of yourself for a month, you will be fine».
«I see. Thanks.»
«It's nothing. Now that you're awake, I'll bring Mr. Pevrosk».
As the priestess went to find Kyle, I learned from my companions of the aftermath that followed my collapse. There was now less than an hour left until the end of Day 7.
«Any ambush?»
«Ningi».
They said that while I was unconscious, Fallen Scholar and Clown did not return. Well, what would they do alone? It would take them time to recover and the corpse soldiers Clown left behind were all burned with fire, so they lacked quantity. Furthermore, it was difficult to call for reinforcements since it took only a day to go up to the third floor from here. Going up and down again would take two days.
Fallen Scholar, with his personality, won't go first no matter how much Clown insists. He is not someone who acts out of revenge.
No wait. As I talked to my classmates, I remembered something I had forgotten. Why hadn't he remembered it until now?
«Ah! Erwen. What happened to Erwen?» When I hurriedly asked, there was a moment of silence. My companions looked at me with gloomy faces. «So, she's dead».
«No, the one who died was his sister».
«His sister?»
I heard Mr. Bear's detailed information, a brief account of how Daria used short-range teleportation just before the explosion to sacrifice herself for her sister. The weight of death moved me again. It really was a light world. Everything happened in an instant. No one could have prevented it, and Daria couldn't even leave a will at the time of her death. Thank goodness I found out in advance.
«Where is Erwen right now?»
«...It's there.»
«There?»
«Sí. Allí.»
I wanted to go there, but the moment I tried to lift my body, it staggered.
«Give me your arm.»
Finally, with Mr. Bear's help, I managed to get out of the store. Just in time, Kyle was there. «You're awake».
While talking to Kyle, I slowly headed towards where the battle was taking place. «There are many people, what happened?»
«They are people who went up after the battle. There are about a thousand people in four groups».
«¿Mil...?»
«We leave marks along the way, remember? Once the teams were made, they followed us east and then the rest of the way«.
I see. I wish they had come a little earlier. If they did... What are you thinking about now?
I kept walking, shaking off remorse and resentment. What was the point of blaming past events?
«Oh, it's Yandel's son, Bjorn!»
While I was walking with Kyle, some explorers recognized me and came up to talk to me. They wanted to go out for a drink later, or pay off the debt on behalf of their clans. Some even promised to be the first to help me when I was in trouble and thanked me. But there were no words of comfort between them.
«...Don't think so badly of them. They say that heroes are never comforted by others».
I didn't know if this proverb also existed in this world, but I didn't think badly of them. They also made many sacrifices. It was because they were suffering that they could laugh while talking.
«Sir...» When I reached my destination, I saw Erwen. He was on his knees, clinging tightly to his sister's body, which was stiff from burns here and there. His face, filled with blood stains and dirt, had clear marks of something flowing downward.
«Come here».
Erwen shook her head.
«It's almost time to go down. Are you going to stay here alone?»
«I... am not alone».
Removing my arm from Abman's shoulder, I staggered toward Erwen and tapped her on the back. «Listen to me. Now I am your guardian».
«...Sorry?»
I told him about the will I heard from Daria. It wasn't very long. That woman asked me to take care of her sister upon her death. For reference, he told me before the royal guards escaped through the portal, but it was possible that even then he sensed that something like this would happen.
«Sir... my sister, my sister is...! It doesn't move anymore. Can't speak. It's cold and hard. And I, I haven't done anything for her yet...» Soon, Erwen hugged me tightly. «What do I say to my little sister, to that girl? That after mom, even our older sister is dead? And because of me?»
I stood still and listened as she vomited those words. I didn't comfort her, telling her that it wasn't her fault, or that she had chosen to do that. I just waited until the end. I didn't know how much time passed like this.
«Yandel, we have to go now».
It was time to go down to the first floor. Together with Erwen, I recovered her sister's body. It was better than with Dwalkie. At least now, there was a wizard who could use distortion magic. The funeral could be held in the city.
«Let's go home.»
I brought Erwen back to my team. Missha and Ainar, who were not on good terms with her, said nothing. Instead, they seemed to want to get closer to her, but they couldn't for fear that she would hurt him.
I had never seen Ainar like this.
Soon, we were in front of the portal in the center of the Goblin Forest. It was 11:50 p.m. The clock showed the end of a long journey.
«Come on, let's go home!»
«Woahhh!»
Starting with the teams in the center, we went down to the first floor one by one. Although Berzak was scary, he was sure he wouldn't show up in ten minutes.
«Yandel! See you in the city!»
«Do you remember my name? I'm sure I'll come back to look for you».
The scouts in front of me entered the portal and then it was our turn.
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor].
The cave gave off a more gloomy atmosphere than before. As I moved forward to allow the scouts behind to come down, I continued to watch the time. There was only one minute left until the maze closed. It didn't seem real. Was it really over?
¡Pum!
Yes, it must be over. Now that there was a minute left, what could Berzak do?
«Damn real bastards.»
«Once I get back, I'm not even going to pee in that direction».
Anger towards the palace welled up in the mouths of the explorers convinced of their survival.
Still, you should take care of your mouth.
«Guys, don't say anything strange even when you come back». I warned my team members not to curse the emperor in front of anyone.
[The maze is closed. You are transported to Rafdonia.]
A pure white light began to inhabit beyond my eyelids, the outer light I longed for.
¡Pum!
Soon, the light disappeared and a clear sky appeared. I looked around without understanding.
They were really all dead.
The Plaza de la Dimension, which was always packed with people, was unheard of empty. Wow, how many people had died?
«Woahhhhhhh!»
Hearing the cheers erupting here and there, I naturally fixed my gaze on one place.
«¡A portal!»
«¡Damn bastards!»
In the center of the square where the portal opened, hundreds more portals opened and those who abandoned us revealed themselves one by one. They all appeared like then. Even through the portal, everyone left at the same time.
You can never imagine what we have been through.
Seeing their normal appearances, I expressed my complaint. That was the moment.
¡Shaaaaa!
A huge magic circle flourished in the center of the square where the portals opened.
«¿Eh?»
For a moment, time passed slowly. However, it happened in an instant.
Hit!
The bewildered knights, clan elites, and scouts, sensing something strange, quickly distanced themselves.
Baaaaannnnnnggggg!
An explosion.
¡Saaaaaaaaaa!
The windblown flames shook and pushed me. As I fell to the ground and quickly raised my head, I saw a red-hot column of fire rising into the sky. It was like seeing the end of the world.
Suddenly, a voice rang in my head, the last words that the Fallen Scholar left me. «Congratulations. For being the only winner».