Chapter 264: Chapter 264 Bug (3)

Bug (3)

We’re walking along the shaking canyon.

I’m in the lead, Iron Bear, the tank apprentice, is in the rear, and the rest are huddled together in the center.

[Kyaaaaaaaaaaaak—!]

With every step we take, we hear the howls of specters from the darkness.

It’s a characteristic of ‘Specter Canyon’, one of the four paths leading to the 6th floor.

「Character has entered a special area.」

「Field effect - Specter Canyon applied.」

The ground shakes violently every few minutes.

The eerie background music created by the specters.

And…

「Status effect [Bound Spirit] applied.」

「Darkness Resistance and Physical Resistance decreased by -100.」

…even this unpleasant sensation of my skin feeling thinner.

‘It feels even more eerie because there are no explorers.’

It’s already been a day since we entered Specter Canyon, but we haven’t encountered any other explorers yet.

We’ve only encountered monsters.

「Killed Curse Stone. EXP +4」

「Killed Corrupted Creature. EXP +2」

「Killed Blood Ghoul. EXP +5」

「Killed Dakyrion. EXP +5」

「Killed Ancient Dusk…….」

Well, it’s actually an advantage.

We were able to obtain most of the experience points available in this route in just one expedition.

‘It seems like we can just pass through here one more time and hunt the ones we missed…’

“Be careful not to fall.”

We invested all our time in fighting and moving, except for stopping briefly whenever the ground shook.

We only rested when we camped.

Although it was a tight schedule, we should be fine for a few days since we had plenty of rest on the 4th floor.

“It’s a bit strange. I thought the next area would be Frost Canyon.”

“We weren’t ready to go to the 6th floor back then. This is the closest path to the 6th floor.”

“Hmm, I heard that… but wouldn’t it have been better to go through the Hellfire Canyon, which we’re familiar with, than this place, which we’ve never been to?”

“But we already collected all the achievement points there.”

Although I gave Raven various reasons for coming here…

…there was another reason why I chose this route.

‘Because I already obtained the essence I was going to absorb in Frost Canyon.’

I obtained the essence I was originally going to give to Misha as a reward from the royal family.

And most importantly…

‘That guy’ appears here.

A monster I had to defeat if I wanted to enter the 6th floor appeared in this route.

Of course, I couldn’t tell them that this guy was my goal.

If I did, I would have to come up with an excuse for how I was going to find him, and I didn’t have one.

As expected, it was best to just say I was lucky—

“Mister.”

Huh?

“You have to go this way.”

I ended my thoughts and looked ahead, and a three-way intersection blocked our path.

Actually, it wasn’t exactly a three-way intersection.

“It’s a bit of a distance to the other side. I’ll go first and throw a rope.”

I used [Leap] to jump over 30 meters in an instant and threw the rope I had prepared to the other side of the cliff.

It was one of the interesting aspects of the 5th-floor Great Magical Forest.

The number of routes you could choose increased depending on your character’s abilities.

“It’s set up! I’m coming over now!”

My companions crossed over to where I was one by one, using the rope. It wasn’t difficult since it was sloped.

They just had to attach a hook to the rope and slide down.

“Then I’ll go get it.”

I used [Leap] to go back to the other side and retrieve the rope after they were all over.

After all, we couldn’t just use it once.

It cost a fortune to have a rope specially made for this path.

“Erwen, how far down have we come?”

“About one-seventh.”

“So we can reach the 6th floor in a week.”

“Yes. If we can maintain our current speed.”

We continued down, following Erwen’s guidance.

Although she didn’t make a map like I did since her exploration method was different, she never made us wander around aimlessly.

“The fairy girl is a good navigator.”

“I haven’t been to the 6th floor, but I’ve experienced all four paths while I was with the clan. And besides, Mr. Avman tells me the direction of the portal, so I have to be able to do this!”

“Whatever. You don’t have to be so humble. I think you can be more confident.”

Although I didn’t have a bad impression of her from the beginning…

…the companions’ gazes towards Erwen became more favorable as she proved her abilities.

It seemed like she was also getting along well with Misha these days.

“Sister! Come a little further inside. It might be dangerous on the outer side…”

“Okay, thanks.”

Anyway, it was time to find a campsite and rest as we were moving along the shortest route, following Erwen’s guidance.

“This place seems good.”

The place I chose for our campsite was a cliff.

We only had to keep watch on one side, and if something went wrong, we could just jump over to the side path, which was about 5 meters away.

Ah, of course, the watch order didn’t really matter.

“Bjorn, wake up.”

“Monsters again?”

We had to wake up and grab our weapons every 20 minutes because monsters kept appearing.

It was the same for Raven, who had low stamina.

Although we tried to finish off the small groups without waking her up, we had no choice but to wake her up when dozens of monsters swarmed us.

“…Haam, I’ll go back to sleep.”

“Okay, good work.”

“…….”

Raven let out a small snore without even answering.

It was a bit funny to see her like that.

She had really become an explorer.

“Heh, she doesn’t even wake up to most sounds anymore.”

“No, I think she wakes up every time she hears something. Well, it seems like she falls asleep right away if it’s nothing serious.”

“It’s a bit strange. That’s actually the hardest part.”

“Well, she’ll get used to it.”

“Yeah, that’s true… you get used to everything eventually…”

It was like my relationship with Misha.

Although it was awkward for a while even after we entered the labyrinth, we could now talk comfortably without any burden. Time heals all wounds.

“Anyway, you should go to sleep too. I’ll keep watch.”

“It’s still a few minutes until your turn.”

“It’s more troublesome to wake up again after falling asleep.”

“Hmm, but I feel bad…”

Bad for what?

I would have to wake her up in 20 minutes to fight anyway.

______________________

The expedition continued, and it had already been ten days since we entered the 5th floor.

But we were still on the 5th floor.

“How much further to the 6th floor?”

“About a day, I think.”

“At our current speed?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s assume it will take two days, just in case.”

Unfortunately, our speed gradually decreased as the expedition progressed.

We were reaching our physical limits.

Well, it would be strange if we were fine after fighting all day without proper sleep.

Explorers weren’t superhuman.

They were just much stronger than ordinary people.

‘Well, at least we caught that guy yesterday.’

Although the schedule was delayed more than I expected, we achieved one of the side goals of this expedition.

The 5th-grade rare species, Soul Eater.

It was a very unique monster in many ways.

Not only did only one appear when the labyrinth opened…

「Killed Soul Eater. EXP +177」

…but its experience points were insane.

I thought it was a bug when I first saw the experience log.

After all, how could I have known that there was a monster that gave a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 200 experience points randomly upon first kill?

‘I wonder how much I got.’

Although I couldn’t calculate experience points accurately anymore, I wasn’t disappointed.

Because I finally reached level 6 with this.

「Character level increased.」

「Soul Power increased by +30.」

「Maximum absorbable essence increased by +1.」

Corpse Golem, Orc Hero, Ogre, Manticore.

And Bion’s essence, which I obtained as a reward from the royal family.

That was why I entered the labyrinth without removing the Corpse Golem essence, even though all five slots were filled.

I thought I would be able to level up if I just killed this guy since I had also duplicated experience points quite a bit.

“I can’t believe we encountered him. We were lucky.”

“Huhu, I told you several times, didn’t I? This team is lucky.”

Lucky, my ass.

You guys have no idea how much effort I put into fulfilling the spawn conditions without you knowing.

“Aruru, it’s a clan now, not a team!”

“Ah, ye… yes, yes.”

“Stop chattering and focus.”

I continued leading the way, making sure they didn’t get too distracted, as the leader… no, the clan master now.

Although the expedition was progressing smoothly, except for the delay…

…there were a few close calls.

Although our overall strength exceeded the 5th-floor level thanks to the royal family’s reward, this world wasn’t a place where specs were everything.

“Miss Misha, you’ll have to repair your armor as soon as we get out.”

“Ah, ye… ha, I just bought it. This is so frustrating.”

Misha was directly hit by the spear of a Soul Knight summoned by the Soul Eater.

Of course, she wasn’t injured.

But…

“Misha, what are you even frustrated about? You would have died yesterday if it weren’t for that.”

The spearhead pierced through Misha’s armor.

It was where her heart was.

It would have been life-threatening if it had gone in just a finger’s width deeper.

It was a close call.

If she had still been wearing the 2nd-tier leather armor she obtained by killing Zencia, our first PK opponent, she wouldn’t have been able to endure it.

‘It’s a good thing I bought a 5th-tier leather armor this time, even if it meant spending a bit more money—’

“But, but it’s still frustrating…”

Huh, she still doesn’t get it.

“Enough, don’t even think about saving money on equipment from now on.”

“Okay…”

This is why those with low Physical Resistance are…

I can’t relax.

“Ahem, it’s nice to see, but shouldn’t we get moving?”

“…….”

We resumed our exploration after a brief awkward moment.

We reached the bottom of Specter Canyon after about a day and then found the portal after traveling for half a day.

“Wow, it’s really the 6th floor…”

“It’s my first time here too.”

“I’m so excited. I’ve heard so much about this place.”

Everyone expressed their feelings as we entered a new floor.

Of course, I also felt the same way.

‘We finally made it to the 6th floor.’

The day I first saw the execution of tax delinquents in the plaza.

I thought back then…

…that I would have to reach at least the 6th floor to be able to live in a house with a kitchen, receive treatment when I was sick, and retire at 50 and live comfortably with three dogs.

That I would have to work hard and save money even then.

So…

…I decided to think about how to return home later.

‘…I didn’t expect to arrive 3 years earlier than expected.’

It was at least 3 years earlier than I had anticipated.

But I didn’t want to say I was lucky.

It had been 13 months since I woke up in this body.

Although it was a short time, I had experienced so much.

I struggled hard.

And I lost someone.

And I grew into who I am now through his legacy.

“Bjorn.”

“Ah, I was just lost in thought.”

“You go first. You’re the one who brought us here.”

The bear-like man patted my shoulder.

“Yes. That’s right. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even entered the labyrinth.”

Raven poked my waist with her staff.

Geez, they’re rushing me.

“Then I’ll go in.”

I took a step towards the portal.

________________________

「Entered 6th Floor Great Ocean.」

________________________

A blue sky and a shining sun.

The salty smell of the sea carried by the wind.

And the sound of crashing waves.

Swaaa!

When I landed in midair and regained my balance, the first thing I saw was a vast sandy beach.

The sand was almost white, and beyond the wet mud, an emerald sea unfolded.

“Wow…”

Everyone was speechless.

I wasn’t much different.

It was a breathtaking sight, and I felt a different kind of emotion compared to those who were seeing the sea for the first time.

“…….”

We stood there blankly, gazing at the horizon as if we had forgotten time.

Actually, I came to my senses a while ago…

‘But there’s no need to interrupt this moment.’

I looked away from the sea and observed my surroundings.

‘Starting Island Laimia’, the starting point of the 6th floor.

It was always crowded with people in the game, but now it was empty.

‘Well, they would have all set sail by this time.’

I then turned my head back towards the sea.

And I approached Misha and spoke.

“Misha.”

It was enough to just call her name.

“Ah, right. We should do that first…”

Misha, who understood what I meant, took out an item she had been cherishing.

Raven tilted her head.

“What’s that in the glass bottle? Is it an explorer’s badge…?”

“It’s an explorer’s badge.”

“Ah, don’t tell me…”

“Right, it’s Dwarkey’s.”

We had a simple funeral and burned most of Dwarkey’s belongings, but we kept this.

It was the dwarf’s request.

[That place is so mystical that even though it’s a labyrinth, time flows differently, and there are seasons, right? Please do me a favor. He’ll be grateful.]

[…But he’s never even been there?]

[That’s why he’ll be grateful. If it were him.]

I wonder how it would be.

Although I didn’t know for sure, I came here.

“Can you wait for a moment?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

Raven stepped back with the others without a word.

“Misha.”

“Yeah.”

I walked towards the sea with Misha, past the sandy beach.

Swaaa!

The waves surged and retreated like a beating heart.

Misha bent down and dipped her finger in the sea.

“It’s colder than I thought…”

“I see.”

“I wish he could have come with us…”

“Yeah.”

He really would have.

He was so excited when we first arrived on the 3rd floor.

[…I think I’m starting to understand what explorers mean when they say the world is vast.]

If we had just…

…had a little more time together…

…he could have seen this vast ocean, not just the Milky Way spread out on the blocked ceiling.

“Give it to me now.”

“Huh? But…”

“He’ll probably come down here if we leave it here.”

“Ah, you’re right…”

Misha understood what I meant after looking at the waves, without needing a scientific explanation.

I then received the specially made glass bottle from Misha and entered the sea.

The shallow water gradually deepened, and I moved as far away from the island as possible.

“…This should be enough.”

The water was up to my neck, even though I was using [Gigantification].

I threw the bottle as far as I could.

Splash!

The bottle bobbed on the surface and started drifting towards the other side of the island.

Okay, success on the first try.

I was going to take a boat later if it didn’t work.

“Anyway, I tried to work things out with Misha, but it didn’t work.”

I said, looking at the drifting bottle.

And then I chuckled, finding it a bit funny.

What the hell am I doing?

“Rest in peace.”

I swallowed the rest of my words, thinking he wouldn’t be able to hear me anyway, and turned around.

But I thought.

What would Dwarkey think if he saw me now?

‘He would have been happy.’

Even if it was just an act for the survivors.

He would have smiled.

No, he would have been even happier because it was for us.

That was the kind of guy he was.

Swaaa!

I turned around again, feeling the waves pushing against my back.

And I prayed briefly.

I didn’t know where the bottle would drift…

Swaaa!

…but I hoped that these waves…

…would lead it to the place he wanted.