bookpower Chapter 429: Ice Like This (4)
Chapter 429: Ice Like This (4)
Chapter 429: Ice Like This (4)
The moment [Elemental Barbarian] was activated.
「The character’s body is imbued with the Wind Spirit.」
A translucent wind starts to swirl around my skin.
Though we couldn’t exchange a word, not even a glance, I could sense what Erwen was aiming for.
「Evasion bonus applied to all damage.」
An evasion bonus that activates based on probability.
For reference, this evasion bonus reaches its maximum probability when applied to attacks classified as magic damage.
That’s why this condition is attached to the mode itself, but...
「Magic damage received is doubled.」
...because of this, I never activated Wind Mode when facing mages or ability users.
The risk was too great.
A 50% chance of dodging? Sounds good, but if you get hit, and the damage is doubled, it could lead to even greater danger, considering the game’s mechanics.
But...
Whiiiish!
...the die was already cast.
So, the only thing I could do was...
Thump.
...wait for the result.
Whiiiiish!
In that split second that could decide everyone’s fate...
The result was immediate.
「Character has successfully evaded the attack.」
[Earth Spike], which had been flying towards me with enough force to pierce through my body, is deflected by a gust of wind, barely grazing my skin as its trajectory changes.
And...
Kwaaang!
...it crashes into the ceiling with a deafening roar.
“······!”
The wind that had been swirling around me subsides, leaving behind a sense of relief that makes my heart pound.
「Erwen Fornachi di Tersia’s natural energy is completely depleted.」
「[Elemental Barbarian] is deactivated.」
So, that’s all she had left.
‘...I’ll think about this later.’
I roll on the ground, still holding Erwen in my arms.
“Bjorn...”
Huh? She’s not calling me ‘Mister’?
The sudden change in her address is strange, but I don’t dwell on it.
Her condition is more important.
“I know it’ll be hard, but can you hold off that ability user over there? You just have to keep him busy.”
“...I can do it.”
Good, that settles that.
“You...!”
As I turn around, I feel an impact on my shield.
Clang!
Dragonslayer, Regal Vagos.
The one who taught me the meaning of a comrade’s death.
Clang!
I block his attacks, which seem random but are filled with a certain momentum, and I think...
‘I thought I would be overjoyed...’
But I’m not.
Well, it’s understandable.
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, but...
I had to sacrifice so much to get here.
“You... You... How are you so persistent?!”
“You’re the one who chased me all the way here.”
“This ends now!”
He puts more power into his attacks, his sword a blur.
The source of his strength is obvious.
It’s not just his grudge against me, he knows that he has to kill me to survive.
Clang!
The situation is simple.
Erwen, barely conscious, is using her last reserves of strength to keep the ability user at bay.
“Emily! Is he taken care of?”
“...Obviously.”
Amelia is fighting the bald pugilist, Repeles.
And everyone else is down.
Some are still alive, but they’re just clinging to life.
They can’t fight.
So...
Clang!
This battle will decide the victor.
Clang!
I push back his sword with my shield.
My Resistance stats might be lowered because of the backlash, but my Strength is still intact.
“······!”
He stumbles back, caught off guard.
I’ve figured out his condition from blocking his attacks.
It’s my turn now.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!”
I charge at him, roaring.
It’s pointless, my active skill [Wild Release] is sealed...
‘But I can’t fight without it anymore.’
Whooosh!
I swing my hammer with all my might.
Tadat.
He retreats, dodging my attack.
And then he thrusts his sword at the opening I created.
He’s experienced.
But...
‘That makes him predictable.’
His sword pierces my side.
The reduced Resistance stats make the pain unbearable.
Puk-!
I could have dodged it, but that would have prolonged the fight.
Whiik.@@@@
I pull out the sword and extend my arm, ignoring the pain.
My target is his neck.
I’m much stronger than him. Once I grab him, he won’t be able to escape.
But he knows that too.
Tadat.
He quickly retreats, abandoning his weapon.
‘Was I worried about a feint for nothing?’
If it were me, I would have pretended to pick up the sword and then turned around to attack.
Well, he’s a swordsman, so it can’t be helped.
Hmm, but if the sword is that important to him, he could have sacrificed an arm to retrieve it.
‘...Maybe he has something else planned.’
I’m not underestimating him.
It’s always better to be cautious than arrogant.
So...
Whooosh!
I swing my hammer, keeping my distance.
Tadat-!
“Ashid... his wife was waiting for him. Priest Eriabosti... she had a child.”
“Bentis Gerold dreamed of reaching the Abyss.”
“Iribun said he wanted to open a shop after the expedition.”
“They... they didn’t deserve to die here. Why...? Why?!”
Grief turned into anger.
“Yandel... Tell us. What did we do wrong? Why did they have to die?”
The fundamental question that had been plaguing them.
“Were we... really that bad? Did we deserve this punishment?”
“I’ll kill that Clan Master when we get back. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“That won’t solve anything. We have to expose this. We have to tell everyone what happened here!”
“It won’t be easy, with the royal family involved... but it’s possible. Raviyen is a Dragonkin, and you have a voice in the dwarf tribe, Akuraba.”
“You were a candidate for chieftain, weren’t you, Yandel? And Erwen is an important figure in the fairy tribe...”
“Yes, if we all join forces...!”
The more they spoke, the colder my heart became.
I wanted to join them, to scream and rage...
But I couldn’t.
[...You... you’ll become a giant...]
I had to be the person Didi believed in.
“Yandel! You’re not going to just sit there and do nothing, are you?!”
I looked at them, their bodies trembling with anger, and spoke.
“We... we’re going to do nothing.”
“...What?”
“That’s the only way to survive.”
“······!”
“Kaislan, you’re a knight. You know that even if all our races joined forces and attacked the royal palace, we would all die.”
Even Kaislan, who had always been on my side, remained silent.
He didn’t want to answer.
I continued.
“It’s impossible for all our races to join forces in the first place. Do you really think they would risk their lives for us? The fate of their entire race?”
I didn’t think so.
Reality is different from fairy tales.
The people in this world made calculated decisions, weighing the risks and benefits.
“But...! We have to do something!”
“Even if it means we all die?”
“It’s better than doing nothing!”
“Marone, do you really think that? Do you think the dead would be happy if we wasted our lives like that?”
“Then... then what are we supposed to do?!”
I had never seen this cheerful mage shout like this.
But I didn’t stop.
“We have to stay silent.”
“······.”
“We can’t say anything.”
“······.”
“We have to believe that the main force couldn’t reach us because of unforeseen circumstances.”
“······.”
“And we have to pretend we didn’t kill the elite Noark force that was being trained on the 8th floor.”
It would be a great achievement if we revealed the truth...
But we couldn’t.
“The Rose Knights...?”
It was the same.
Fighting them would be a story to tell for the rest of our lives, but...
“We never encountered them.”
We had to pretend it never happened.
If we acted like we didn’t know anything, those who sent us here would fill in the blanks themselves.
They would create a story that made sense to them.
Maybe they would think that Noark and the Rose Knights clashed by chance while pursuing us.
“But... but what about the dead...?”
Marone’s voice trembled as she trailed off.
“They...”
I gritted my teeth and said,
“They... died fighting monsters after escaping the Eye of the Glacier.”
“M-monsters...?”
“Yes, they were exhausted from escaping the Eye of the Glacier, they had discarded their equipment, and they were out of food. So... it’s not a completely unbelievable story—”
“You’re lying! They didn’t die like that! They fought against those strong explorers! We were so exhausted that we thought about just giving up and dying...!”
“······.”
“But they fought! Until the very end! No one gave up! We won! We actually won...! But... but...!! Monsters? You’re saying they died to monsters...?”
“Marone... calm down...”
“Aaaaaargh!!”
Kaislan hugged Marone, trying to calm her down.
Then Sven Parab spoke up.
“So... what happens next?”
“We survived after hiding like cowards until the labyrinth closed. That’s the ending of our expedition.”
“I see. It’s definitely the safest option. But...”
He looked at me and said,
“I don’t like it.”
It was a firm tone I had never heard from him before.
But there was no hostility in his eyes.
Why?
“But I’ll do as you say.”
“Why?”
“I can tell just by looking at your eyes. You’re the one who hates this the most.”
I was speechless, and Akuraba stepped forward.
“You’re not... planning to stay silent forever, are you?”
“...Of course not.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
Akuraba stepped back, and then James Kala spoke.
“I’ll... try my best. I’ll have to pretend I don’t know anything when I see the Clan Master... But it’s better than watching my comrades die...”
I could feel his determination, even with his eyes closed.
I approached the other members and confirmed their decisions one by one.
And when I was done...
“Liris Marone.”
I approached the last remaining mage.
She looked up at me and asked,
“How long...?”
“······.”
“How long do we have to endure this?”
I didn’t know.
But if I had to be honest...
“A very long time.”
Even years wouldn’t be enough.
But one thing was certain.
“...I see.”
71st day of the expedition.
The icy cave of the 7th floor, Ice Rock.
Standing on the frozen ground, the frigid air seeping into our bones...
“If we wait... if waiting is enough...!”
Even if it wasn’t a burning rage...
But a cold, unwavering anger that wouldn’t be extinguished by time...
“I’ll... wait too.”
We engraved it in our hearts.