Noark was a city full of warmth. But if interpreted differently, it could also mean that he only had warmth. The prices were so disparate that I couldn't get used to them, and the administrative services were aged and outdated.
Even this morning, when I went to the maze management office to receive binding magic, the administrative assistant on my line took an hour off saying that I was tired. After that, I got in front of the line and got someone to give up their turn out of anger.
«How long are you going to stand there like this?».
«I felt strange for a moment. This place really is no different from twenty years ago».
«Why do you say the obvious?»
Geez, not romantic. Even if it is the same, we are still in the labyrinth of twenty years ago.
After looking around and letting myself be carried away by various emotions for a moment, I ran after Amelia, who had started running before me. I felt a little strange. It seemed like he was leading me on the right path, but how could I find my way without looking at a compass?
Oh, could it be...?
«Are you a guide?»
Amelia looked back at my question and resumed the race without saying a word. That was an answer for me.
Holy…
A human character who used an aura, had a Doppelganger essence, and possessed the characteristics of a guide? The world was so unfair. It made me feel a little greedy.
It would be so reliable to have someone like her on the team...
If we got to know each other better here, would you accept the draft once we got back? There were still many places left to fill the capacity of ten clan members... Anyway, I was wondering if my clan would function well without me.
As he ran after Amelia with these thoughts, a group of explorers we met along the way struck up a conversation. «Oh, are you working together?» This was a group running to the second floor to reduce travel time like us, not low-level explorers.
This is quite stressful.
Currently, I was affiliated with Noark, not Rafdonia. Maybe that's why I was worried that the other side might suspect us. However, it ended up being a useless concern.
«Don't worry about that.»
«Haha, fighter. Take care». When Amelia replied coldly, the group laughed happily and disappeared on their way.
«Why are you so cold?», he asked me.
«It's just that... nothing. I just thought it would be very difficult for me to live a life as a criminal».
«...What did you say?» amelia responded as if she had just heard something she shouldn't have, and then let out a genuinely sincere laugh. «Ha, puahahaha!»
To be honest, from my point of view, it was very out of place. It wasn't like he had said anything to laugh at, and it was the first time he had seen her laugh so hard in the first place. «...Haha, I guess you like these kinds of jokes?».
I felt proud, but Amelia stopped laughing at my question and erased all emotion from her face. «Do not be mistaken. I just laughed because you're ridiculous».
Uh huh, say that without smiling, then.
I assumed his humor was strange, being from Noark. Was it so funny that my anxiety made me nervous?
When I asked without complaint, Amelia opened her mouth. «The people we just saw are from Noark».
«What?» Was that person who seemed so nice from Noark? «How do you know? I have heard that it is at the discretion of this side to wear faction symbols or not».
Amelia briefly resolved my confusion. It was the fact that there were no wizards or priests on their equipment, and that the color and design of their equipment were not uniform, as if they were carrying stolen equipment. «And more importantly... Only people on this side would bring a child with his face covered by a robe».
»Kid»? Oh, are you talking about that little explorer in the back?»
«Sí.»
«Hmm, I just thought I was a short girl or a dwarf... How can you be sure?».
Amelia responded in a slightly rigid voice: «I only know when I see it».
"¿What?"
«Enough, let's go». Amelia ended the conversation as if it weren't something she wanted to talk at length about. This was one of this woman's bad habits. It really made people curious.
«Amelia. If your words are true, why do the people of Noark bring children into the maze?». Instead of asking him how he was able to recognize the boy the first time, I asked him a slightly different question.
I assumed this was okay because Amelia replied: «First of all, children can be enslaved by misery».
«Hmm, I still don't know if that's a reason to bring them».
«They are surprisingly useful. They can be used for cumbersome tasks such as cooking and night surveillance, and are even useful for looting.»
«Are they useful for looting...?»
«As bait. If a child comes to ask for help, even the most suspicious of explorers will at least hear his story».
Hmm, what series?
«Strange. I think I would be more distrustful of a child who approached me. In Rafdonia, minors cannot enter the maze».
«That's because you come from twenty years in the future. The law is the same then and now, but even officials implicitly allow it in this time period.»
Wow, hearing her say that really sounded like an older person to me, in my time.
«But Amelia, how old are you?»
«...Move your feet instead of talking nonsense».
Anyway, we continued chatting as we headed to the second floor and as we ran, we soon reached our destination. As expected, the portal had been opened by someone else. It was a shame. Plus, we arrived pretty quickly.
«Subamos».
When we entered the portal, we were greeted by a gloomy and soggy air.
This place always puts me in a bad mood.
It was the Land of the Dead, a district where Ghouls, Legends of Death, and various undead monsters appeared, and also the place where Amelia and I first met.
I thought I was going to pee my pants.
Seeing this now I realize that you never know how things are going to end. Who knew we would both come back here, this time as comrades?
«Amelia, I have a question.»
«No questions.»
«You told me in Bifron that the people you killed here committed sins that deserved death. Is it related to something you're trying to fix in the past?»
«You... have many questions about me.»
«Of course.»
When I nodded, unaffected by her sarcasm, Amelia clicked her tongue and replied: «Yes, it's related».
Hmm, asy es.
I also wanted to hear the background, but I stopped because it seemed like he was going to be mad at me. I'd have to ask about this another time.
«If it's finished, let's move».
Entering the second floor, we continued slaughtering monsters as we advanced non-stop. Was it because there were only two of us? It reminded me of the time when Ainar and I worked as a duo. Back then, every battle was a fight. Time was flying.
Hit!
And to think that he could now beat a Death Demon to death with his bare fists.
«¡Behell-ahhhhhhh!»
«…»
«Oh, I'm sorry. It's a habit.»
«Whatever, sit down. Let's rest here for a while».
We moved like this all day and found a place to settle in at night. After a simple meal, we agreed to sleep only three hours before moving again. For reference, no one was on night duty. Apparently, he only needed to summon a double through Self-Replication.
«...Can you do that?» In the game, the Doppelganger essence did not come with a self-hunting mode. So how could it happen? The answer was very simple.
«Don't worry. I haven't slept well even once since I became an adult».
His mind was always half awake while he slept, so it was possible to control his double. At least, that was what this woman claimed. I didn't know if that was biologically possible.
«Tsk, no wonder your eyes were always sunken».
«Tsk, no wonder your eyes were always sunken.»
«Are you looking for a fight?»
«It means getting some sleep.»
«It means get some sleep.»
Anyway, Amelia said that her body was slower than usual during self-hunting mode, but that it should be enough on the lower floors.
Anyway, Amelia said that her body was slower than usual during self-hunting mode, but that it should be enough on the lower floors.
So I lay down on the floor without complaining. The dream did not come immediately. It wasn't because he was anxious that there was no night surveillance. After all, I was a tank. Most beatings wouldn't kill me right away.
I wonder if the others will be okay...
Camping in the maze still brought thoughts about my clanmates to my mind. This is how the night of Day 1 went.
***
On the second day of entering the maze we reached the third floor, exactly as planned. Now was the time to begin our mission to enter the labyrinth: Return with achievements worthy of being noticed by the Lord of Noark.
«From the first day we went down to Noark, we snooped around the city and demonstrated our capabilities. But still, the lord of the castle did not approach us», Amelia had said. As for why, he explained it like this. «It is clear that he is cautious. The palace has already sent many spies underground».
So, in other words, what we had to demonstrate in the maze this time was not our abilities, but our character. Were we really fit for Noark?
«The easiest way to prove ourselves is by looting. If we return from the maze with looted objects, their distrust will decrease».
Amelia spoke of looting as the first method and I agreed, on one condition. We would loot, but targeting looters, not ordinary explorers.
«Is that your condition?»
«Yeah. I no longer place too much value on people's lives, but I don't kill anyone for my own benefit».
«...But how will you distinguish the looters?». Amelia was flexible and said she would if there was a way. I replied that it was difficult to explain but that I would show him how later.
Time passed like this and now, we arrive at our destination on the third floor.
«Now, what are you going to do?»
The looters could not appear on the fourth floor, and it would be difficult to work as a duo on the fifth. The third floor was perfect for plundering agriculture.
«If you really have a way of discerning looters, go ahead.»
Wow, what a rush.
So I asked Amelia for some things.
«First, Amelia, use your stealth skill».
«...¿Sigilo?»
«Don't act like you don't know. What you wore in front of me then, when you suddenly disappeared into the darkness».
Amelia disappeared as I told her without further questions. Ugh, I couldn't really feel his presence at all. I thought I should look for a numbered detection object once it came back.
«Now, what's next?»
It was really uncomfortable for a voice to come from the air, but I responded calmly without showing it. «Nothing special. You just have to follow me in that state. I'm going to find the looter».
«I will». This was one of the good things about having Amelia as a comrade. Whatever she did, she refrained from asking random questions and just watched.
Well, that would have been the case, but...
«Barbarian». Amelia called me suddenly. «Why do you suddenly take off your equipment?»
Oh, I couldn't stand your curiosity, could I? True, I'm sure it must be difficult to understand in the eyes of an ordinary person. But I was hoping you would recognize him.
«It's hard to explain, just look». So I took out some pieces of equipment and put the rest in the subspace. After that, I took out the beginner outfit I had been looking at beforehand and put it on.
Since the surroundings were silent, it seemed like Amelia had no idea what she was trying to do. However, just as a picture was worth a thousand words, seeing it once was better than hearing it a hundred times.
«We are starting now. Follow me closely». I began to run forward without thinking and shouted with all my might: «I lost my way and my comrade! I do not see anything. Is there anyone there? Help!»
This was a secret ability of barbarians evolved to protect the heart: Call the Evil One.
«Help me! I have a lot of money!»
Whoever came wouldn't be a good person.