Chapter 400

Episode 400 Ice Rock (1)

A grand expedition to the Dark Continent past the 8th floor.

In this expedition, the time taken to cover the ice rock was 20 days, and we brought about three months’ worth of food.

It wasn’t that I was prepared for an unexpected situation.

Ice Rock is not a place you can leisurely pass by.

It was just a need for extra food.

In this place, [starvation] consumes three times as much food per person, and if you don’t care, the food can go bad.

Because of this damn thing.

“It’s an ice storm!!”

A blizzard that blows every 6 hours at the earliest and 30 minutes late at the earliest.

「Field effect – ‘Festering chill’ is applied.」

「The rate of decay of targets hit is accelerated.」

This fucking storm spoils even frozen food.

There is only one way to block it.

They prioritize food over people and protect it with magic.

Of course, there are problems here too.

「Lead Ashed cast 4th grade space-time magic [Intercept]. 』

「McKellie Raiders cast [Interrupt], a 4th-class space-time magic.」

「 Versil Gowland cast a 4th-class time-space magic [Intercept]……」

‘Magic power consumption is considerable, and if you prepare to use it at any time, the large consumption will increase even more.

It is basic to have shifts even at night.

“Go to the Ashed Sleigh and rest.”

“Yes? But…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll call you when I’m in a hurry.”

“……sorry.”

I’m sorry.

All the wizards from the other team are already sitting on the sleigh and relaxing.

「Field effect – ‘Festering cold’ is canceled.]

After the snowstorm stopped, the journey resumed.

Suebuck Suebuck.

Eyes that lock up to your ankles whenever you walk.

Rumbling-

I feel like I’m going to die of hunger, but I can’t fill my stomach as much as I can because I’m saving food as much as I can.

So far, I’ve been protecting the food well with ‘blocking’ magic, but I don’t know what will happen in the future.

During the battle, a blizzard blew in and you couldn’t protect a single chest because you didn’t have enough magic power?

From then on, things really get serious.

‘Well, it’s hard to see that he’s still in good condition.’

Day 3 of entering Ice Rock.

Everyone is tired, so there is no small talk or even pointless jokes among the crew.

I just silently distribute my stamina and move on.

Only a keenly sharpened atmosphere lingers in the relaxed expedition.

‘Take this and go to war with the Noarks later?’

There is a saying that ‘morale’ is the most important thing in war, but it is not even clear whether the mission can be completed in this state.

The only positive thing is that experience is accumulating quickly.

“Kill a frozen soul EXP +4.”

“Kill a Tainted Snow Spirit EXP +6.”

“Kill a Frost Guardian EXP +7.”

“Kill a Lich EXP +6.”

“Ice Giant. Defeated EXP +7.”

「Destroyed Frostfire Turtles……」

「……」

Since most of Ice Rock’s objects are high level monsters, the speed at which EXP accumulates is staggering. .

Well, there’s still a long way to go though.

Even if you kill all the objects that appear in the ice rock, it’s still not enough to reach level 8.

‘Still, it’s a difficult place to come to, so I’ll have to hunt as much as possible.’

How much longer did he fight monsters and continue his journey with a more tired body? As the day wore on, we set up camp on the edge of a cliff.

Take out the tent from the box loaded on the sled, set it up, and put the sleeping bag in it.

And…

[I used a warming stone.]

If you put a few activated magic tools into the tent, a cozy nest is complete.

“There is no night watch on our team today, so everyone sleep comfortably.”

Oh, for reference, the total number of vigils throughout the expedition was two, but we were able to sleep comfortably today because it was our turn tomorrow or later.

It was possible because there were as many as four priests.

Even if they take turns [Declaring the Destruction], the monsters won’t even come close, and there’s no way there’s a looter team operating in this barren land.

Even if there were looters, they wouldn’t mind attacking such a large number of people.

If you have a head stuck in your neck.

“Sleep well and see you tomorrow, mister.”

The tent was for 3 people and was used by dividing it into male and female categories. Even among casual explorers in Amman, it is unusual for men and women to be different.

I also like sleeping with men.

Well, it might feel a bit cramped for the old man and the wizard.

“Ashd Aldidi. You guys go to bed first.”

“Are you on patrol?”

“First of all, isn’t it the expedition leader?”

After sleeping with Diddy and Ashed, who had worked hard today, I looked around the camp to see if there were any problems.

It hadn’t been long since the camp had been set up, but snoring could be heard from everywhere.

Well, everyone must have been tired.

‘Everything seems to be fine, so I’m going to sleep soon.’

It was the time when I was thinking about that and moving to the place where our team tent was located.

Subuck.

As I turned my back, I saw a familiar face.

“Hasn’t Kaislan been sleeping?”

“I have something to tell the expedition leader.”

“what?”

“Let’s walk for a while and talk.”

Soon we were talking and making a big round at the end of the camp.

“Recently, dissatisfaction has been growing among the crew.”

Dissatisfaction…….

It was obvious what kind of dissatisfaction it would be.

“Most of it must be my swearing?”

Kaislan answered my question with a bitter expression.

“People don’t look for a reason when they’re happy, but when they’re tired, they always try to find a reason.”

A murmur of deep contemplation of people.

“So is that the end?”

When I asked, Kaislan shook his head.

“If it had been this far, there would have been no need to come here at night.”

“There must be something more.”

“…There is a person who spreads malicious rumors within the expedition.”

“Rumors? What are they about?”

“It is said that only the first team is taking care of their own self-interest in a situation where everyone’s food supply is reduced.”

“That’s right…”

I sighed in front of Kaislan without even realizing it.

It had to be.

It’s not like we’re kidding kids.

Is this the best collected and collected by the royal family?

“Do you know where the original source is?”

“Pike Neldine.”

“A member of James Carla’s team.”

For reference, this guy’s position is a warrior like me, and at the last banquet, he was the one who came to me first and asked for a shout out with a smile.

The big guy is cowardly.

Oh, because he’s so big, is it because he’s hungry and his head isn’t working properly?

“What are you going to do?”

“Well…”

When I blurted out my words, Kaislan even suggested some countermeasures.

“If you want to punish him, it is right to do it through me.”

“Because I can turn the arrow of resentment?”

“If you want, I’ll do something very big in front of all the crew. I hate you so much that I can’t even think of it.”

Hee hee… I never thought he would say such a loyalist.

While feeling strange, I listened to the words that followed.

“Or you can use Acurava. Managing supplies was her job, and the reason for this is because she didn’t do it properly.”

It was not wrong.

Whether the line was broken or not, Acurava should have kept their supplies.

But…

“Right now, she’s a prestigious explorer, so everyone’s talking about it, but once you mention it, everyone will want to put the blame on her.”

I mean, I don’t like it either.

Before I give you my answer, I decided to ask you one thing.

“Why do you want to help me even when you’re determined to become Kaislan’s arrowhead?”

A question I asked in case there was a hidden intention.

However, Kaislan stared at me with straight eyes and answered without the slightest worry.

“I like it or hate it, but now you are the one who leads the expedition.”

It was an unexpected answer.

“If you are shaken in the current situation, this expedition will not be successful.”

To be honest, I thought that if my position was at stake, I would be the first to step forward and covet my position.

First of all, is this because he was a soldier?

Kaislan was the type to prioritize public goals over personal greed.

“Now then, tell me. What are you going to do?”

The guy suggested two options, but if you look closely, they look like one.

Either Aqurava or this guy.

After all, it means to make someone other than myself a public enemy.

I appreciate the advice, but my answer is fixed.

“It doesn’t do anything.”

Kaislan tilted his head in disbelief at the short answer and asked cautiously.

“If you stay still, the crew will want to hold you accountable whenever something goes wrong.”

yes i guess

But what does that mean?

“I don’t care what they say.”

“……?”

“That’s why they’re the crew and I’m the captain.”

There was no intention from the beginning to enjoy only rights.

***

Day 9 of entering Ice Rock.

The expedition, which had been a lot of trouble from the first day, went on far and reached the middle of the day.

A huge ice mountain facing the end of the plains.

It is not that we must climb this mountain from now on, but rather the direction is down the mountain.

“I found the entrance!”

James Carla’s team, who was in charge of the search, soon found a path leading to the next field, and we headed underground through a huge ice cave.

trudge trudge.

The sound of soldiers’ boots resonating on the hard ground.

However, it is not as gloomy as before.

Wasn’t it like that at the military training camp?

When you go through hard times together, it is inevitable that a strong relationship will naturally form.

“The ice all around is transparent like glass, so it seems like you’ve entered an illusion.”

“Haha, I felt the same way.”

Of course, the change in atmosphere must have had a big impact on my physical strength.

Half of the members were new to it, so there was a lot of trial and error in the beginning

.

“Ahh, I’m going to die of hunger. I can see why everyone hates ice rock.”

“When I was having a hard time, I endured it by looking at the portrait of a child, but I couldn’t do that here. If I had known it would be like this, I would have taken it out of the subspace before getting off the ship.”

“Oh, do you have children? How old are they?”

Oh, it wasn’t just the atmosphere that had changed.

The expedition corps, which only creaked, now moves like one body.

Just like this.

“Monsters appear from the side and front!”

“While the leading team 1 blocks, the second team and the third team deal with enemies on the flanks first!”

When an order is given, the members carry it out quickly and without fuss. S~eaʀᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

「You have defeated the Frozen Webter. EXP +5.”

“You have defeated the insoluble cocoon. EXP+6.”

“You have defeated the Frostfire Goblin. EXP +5”

The battle itself has become much easier than before.

Should I say I’m a bit elite now?

As the sum began to match, they were able to fully demonstrate their original combat power.

Oh, and there were other positives.

“The author of Suits… Certainly one thing to fight is staggering.”

As an explorer who respects the strong, I stand at the forefront and take on the most dangerous tasks, so my evaluation naturally began to rise.

Rumors about me digging up food at night disappeared before I knew it.

After all, people have to prove it with actions, not words—

Huh

?

Instinct sounds the alarm at the sudden sound caught in the ear.

“Erwen, what did you just say?”

“I don’t know. I think it came from the back…”

It came from the back?

I hurriedly turned my back and could see it with my own two eyes.

support position.

Incontinence spreads across the floor like a spider’s web as if it couldn’t withstand the load.

‘Damn it!’

It was the spot where there was a troll pulling a sled.

“Summon! Cancel the summon!”

As I shouted with all my might, the mesmerized summoner followed the order and reverse-summoned the troll.

But is it already too late?

Kwaji Jiji.

The sound of cracks heard even louder than before.

“……Avoid everyone!”

Explorers in the heart of the rift hurriedly took shelter, and a few courageous ones preferred to pack their belongings rather than personal safety.

“Supplies! Get your supplies!”

“It’s over without that!”

“Move!!”

Explorers pulling the sled with all their might while being careful not to add more weight.

But the floor collapsed even faster.

Kwa-kwa-kwaa-!

The ground sinks and collapses like a sinkhole.

Two explorers who were pushing along with a sled that could not be moved fall into the endless darkness.

and that moment.

「Lead Ashed has cast the 5th grade secondary magic ‘Float’.」

Two explorers floating upward like a miracle.

Their expressions, which had been filled with despair, changed to relief, and at the same time, a voice came from below.

with a plop-!

Was there water flowing down here?

You can’t take it out again.

Apart from feeling miserable, I quickly gave the order.

“Everyone, stay away from the cliff as much as possible! Just in case, don’t stick too close!”

The crew members move their stiff bodies only after the instructions are given.

I cautiously approached the edge and looked down.

As expected, water was flowing underneath it, so I couldn’t even find a trace of the sled.

“Akura bar!!”

“yes yes!”

“What proportion of food was in that sleigh?”

“About half of that!”

Yes, the already scarce food has been reduced again.

“…….”

As I gritted my teeth, Aqlava began to look at me gently.

“Hey……”

“Be quiet. I’m thinking about it.”

“…….”

I couldn’t understand it at all.

‘The ground collapsed the first time, and it happens again this time?’

Even if you think about cancer, this doesn’t make sense.

That’s why…

“Akuraba.”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

“Ask all the members right now to confirm.”

I decided to check things out first.

“Is there anyone among the crew who has changed their name, or if that name was Hans?”

After checking this, it will be a little easier to distinguish.

Is this just a series of misfortunes caused by coincidence?

Otherwise…

“Check it out as soon as possible. It’s important.”

Is it a man-made disaster caused by someone’s malice?