Chapter 406

Episode 406 Dilemma (3)

After the lottery, the winners gathered together and formed a ‘bondage’. Then, everyone gathered together and headed to the tombstone standing tall in the center.

Whoa-!

When you put your hand on top of it, a portal opens with five-colored brilliance.

“Oh, it’s amazing. I can clearly feel the flow of magical power, but there is a clear difference from the normal deployment of space-time magic.”

“Is this your first time seeing a portal open?”

“Yes. Wizards have no reason to be obsessed with achievements.”

Even while watching the opening of the portal as the members threw one word at a time, the light that spread in all directions soon formed a distinct shape.

「You opened the portal for the first time. After EXP +2”

, I always think that opening the 8th floor portal is the same as opening the 1st floor portal, which is a bit unfair.

Woo woo woo woo-!

A halo of five-colored light that shimmers in the form of a sphere.

When I look back, everyone just stares at me without saying anything.

Yes, I should be the first to open and enter, right?

“According to the formation!”

I didn’t know if there was someone on the other side of the portal, so I prepared my formation first and stepped over the portal first.

Flash-!

The white light that spreads in front of my eyes.

Before long, the focus came into focus as if fragments were being put together.

「You have entered the Land of Dawn on the 8th floor.」

The Land of Dawn.

The depths of the labyrinth, which was marked as the dawn land in the game.

「Achievement achievement」

Condition: Reach the 8th floor.

Reward: Permanently increase Spirit Power by +50.

Just like when you first entered the 5th floor Great Demon, achievements are achieved and the sense of expanding the vessel of the soul blooms.

That’s why they called it ‘Baptism’, right?

A mysterious phenomenon in which the tower bestows blessings on explorers when they complete their tasks.

Woo-woo-!

I went in first and looked around, and then the crew followed.

“There’s not a lot…”

“It’s fortunate. I was wondering what to do if the enemy waits like the ‘Battle in the Goblin Forest’ I heard before.”

“Finally, I’m on the 8th floor.”

“I think this alone was worth participating in the expedition.”

About half of the members of the crew were baptized explorers. No, in fact, since the wizard and the priest have to be excluded, is it safe to say that it is more than half?

Well, starting from the 8th floor, it is classified as deep.

“It’s a strange place…….”

It seemed like it was Erwen’s first time on the 8th floor.

If I had to pick someone with experience, would it be Amelia or that Lavien over there?

“Enemy, 8th floor, whatever it is, let’s eat it now!”

“Wowaaaaaaaaa!!”

“I’ll start with the wound! Please treat me quickly, starting with this! Since yesterday, it’s been visibly festering, and now my fingertips are numb!”

It seemed that a riot would break out if the combat readiness was maintained any longer, so he quickly ordered a rest.

Yes, the food being loaded on the sleigh has run out, but the things in the subspace are fine, right?

Squeak squeak squeak.

clap clap clap clap.

As soon as permission was given, the crew members took out food from their respective subspaces and hurriedly stuffed it into their mouths.

The one who was classified as minor and did not receive treatment began chewing on beef jerky and looking for a fuse.

“Mister, let’s eat quickly, too.”

“okay.”

It was the same as feeling like I was going to die because I was hungry, so I quickly took out food and ate it together with my teammates.

“I’ve heard of it, but I didn’t know it was such a peaceful place.”

“You mean here in the Land of the Dawning?”

“Yes. I thought it would be a much more scary place to call it the depths…….”

Well, it’s not wrong to say that.

A towering green hill.

You can see only the vast grasslands around you, and the warm breeze blows on your skin.

Just a moment ago, he was trembling even though he was wearing a thick fur coat, so he must feel the change even more.

“You guys rest here. I’ll look around for a while and then come back.”

After filling up to a certain extent, he left his party behind.

You have a job as a captain, don’t you?

It doesn’t matter if you eat beef jerky while walking around.

squeak squeak.

He put five pieces of beef jerky in his mouth at once and chewed them while walking. A luxury that was unimaginable just a few hours ago.

However, the heart is heavy to be simply soaked in happiness.

That was the reason why I couldn’t rest comfortably and wandered around.

‘I can’t see the cracks…….’

The land of dawn on the 8th floor is a very narrow area.

If you only look at the area of the field, it would probably be the smallest among all the floors of the labyrinth.

And no monsters appear.

At least until it goes through the cracks.

‘In this case… it would be more reasonable to assume that someone entered first.’

The 8th floor always has one crack open.

Which type will open is random, and when the crack is completely cleared, two portals will open and you can choose.

Should I head to the 9th floor like this?

Or will it come back to the 8th floor?

No matter which one you choose, the crack is recreated on the 8th floor the moment it is cleared, and the cycle continues.

And the problem here is…….

‘I’m sure it’s the Noark guys who have entered the rift…’

Will they head to the ninth floor?

Or should I choose to return to the 8th floor and continue hunting in another type of rift?

If it was the latter, just resting here right now would be a considerable burden.

If they are active on the 8th floor, it must be an expedition unit, and their skills will not be inferior to ours.

‘Anyway, I can understand why the royal family is in a hurry…’

When I came to the 8th floor, I felt it. Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

In the war two years ago, the royal family lost many top explorers.

Of course, since then, with countless policy support, the supply of stored water, and the return of retired explorers, it has now recovered its power to some extent

…

It’s as if Noark is using a cheat key.

Starting on the 7th floor from the first day of entry?

Doesn’t that mean you can go straight to the 8th floor and dig the highest essence?

In just a few more years, the gap between top explorers will widen exponentially.

‘…Still, I can’t erase the essence, so even though the grade of the essence is high, the combination is bad?’

Well, most likely.

In the first place, I have never seen anyone in this world who can weave essence combinations with high efficiency to the limit like me.

90% seems to be a rule of thumb.

But as always, there will be irregulars among them.

‘……Anyway, it’s not a problem to think about right now.’

Worries about the distant future were alleviated.

Although it’s a position under the royal family, it’s not like I’ll give my life and be loyal to the king.

If you have entered the labyrinth, it is not enough to focus only on what is right in front of you.

So…

“We’ll be leaving in 5 minutes, so get ready!”

I finished the rest that was like sweet rain.

I have to enter the middle of the enemy territory soon, but it’s not good to stretch too much.

“Goodbye to this damn sleigh!”

Sleds and supply boxes were put into the subspace, and various combat consumables such as potions and scrolls that had been sealed in the subspace were appropriately distributed to each team.

Then, with this, preparations for resuming the journey are over.

clap clap clap.

When it was time to leave, everyone found their seats and lined up.

At first, it was like the Tang Dynasty army.

It’s starting to look a bit elite now.

“depart!”

The process of heading to the Dark Continent via the 8th floor was uneventful.

Well, if you don’t enter the rift, the 8th floor is a safe zone where monsters don’t appear, and the portal is close enough to be seen from the hill.

trudge trudge.

We reached our destination on foot for about 30 minutes.

“If we cross over here, the Dark Continent will come out, right?”

I checked with the naked eye from a distance, but there was nothing wrong with the portal when I looked closer.

It was fortunate.

If the Noarks had left the 8th floor portal unopened, we would have just had to suck our fingers here.

‘…Well, even if I didn’t hunt on the 8th floor, I calculated that someone would have been enthusiastic because of the experience.’

As soon as I headed to the portal first while maintaining the formation, everyone swallowed their saliva.

As far as Noark’s territory is, he seems to be getting a bit nervous…

“Suitz.”

The car Kaislan was about to enter spoke to me.

“How about saying something before departure? Your words will be of great help to the morale of the expedition.”

Well, I don’t like it very much.

It’s just a waste of time.

Seeing such an indifferent reaction, Kaislan was frightened and quickly added his words.

“Now think about it. Isn’t this a historic moment? If this expedition succeeds and plays an important role in winning the war…… Whatever you say will be left to future generations and recorded for a long time.”

Well, I don’t know if this is a historic moment.

Looking at the look in his eyes, where he tries to suppress his blazing desire for fame, I can tell that he is going crazy because of his envy of me.

‘If I don’t do it and pass by,

I think I’ll keep whining about it.

“Keuh hmm hmm.”

As soon as I loosened my neck, Kaislan stiffened his back like a guard and shouted in a solemn voice.

“Listen, gentlemen! We stand at a critical crossroads now. Fail or succeed! Lose it all or get it all! There will be those who are doubtful and uneasy!”

“…….”

“But!”

“…….”

“I, Meland Kaislan, have no doubt that we will go down in history as victors!”

“Ooooooo!!”

Kaislan’s team members actively cheered, while the other members showed a grim expression.

What is he up to?

It just feels like this.

But did you intuitively notice the atmosphere?

“In that sense!!”

“……?”

“Listen to everyone! There will be a word from the Duke of Shuitz before carrying out the great mission given by the royal family!”

He passed me his turn as if he were roasting beans over lightning.

It was absurd.

What is it that he told me to do and said everything he had to say and handed over the microphone?

‘…do I want to be recorded somehow like this?’

It’s an incomprehensible psychology, but the value that each person pursues is different. I looked at the crew with my back to the portal leading to the Dark Continent.

Unlike Kaislan, he seems curious about what to say.

I wonder if this is why the US CEO is turning off aggro on social media like that. Even if you’re worried about an accident, you pay attention.

Anyway, that’s not what’s important.

“Kuhmm…….”

I cleared my throat once and looked around.

During the last expedition, I can see the faces of the crew members who have shared the joys and sorrows every day, and now they are so used to it.

Is that why?

Just in time, I remembered what I wanted to say.

“I won’t talk too long this time!”

okay.

Killing a lot and earning a lot was already said once.

“Let’s come back alive as long as possible!”

That should be enough for today.

***

「You have entered the Dark Continent on the 7th floor

.

」

As if you came to a museum, huge vertebrae were scattered around like ruins, and the floor was full of skulls and bone fragments.

well, well, well.

Kill the presence as much as possible there and move on.

“…….”

There is no dialogue between the members.

well done

There is not even a light shining around.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s a big problem to secure the view.

Because the darkness problem was solved with magic.

「Leard Ashed cast the 5th grade support magic [Insight].」

A whopping 5th grade support magic.

Wearing this constantly would consume a lot of mana, but it was unavoidable.

Aren’t we in the middle of the enemy?

You have to move as carefully as you can—

all right.

Amelia, who moved ahead of me on the 7th floor, suddenly stopped moving.

And…….

Whiik Whiik.

He hurriedly moved his hand and gave a signal.

It means there is an enemy nearby.

The leaders who followed this joined in the lead, and immediately ‘voice control’ magic. So, I activated the team voice magic.

“How big is the enemy?”

“Fifteen people.”

Well, then it’s just a small clan unit.

Well, if you want to go around a place like this, you have to go together at that level.

“What are you going to do? A battle?”

“Of course not. They are enemies who threaten the kingdom. Let’s hit them right away!”

“I also agree with Sir Kaislan’s opinion. The major is fine, but from now on, it will be safer to gradually reduce the number and move.”

The opinions of the team leader gathered in an instant, and it was concluded that a surprise attack was made on the discovered enemy.

As a captain, I had no disagreements.

But…

“Well then, let’s hit it.”

“Wait a minute. If you’re going to do an ambush, prepare a little more. If the magicians and supernatural magicians gather firepower at once, you’ll be able to fight much more easily.”

“Oh, that’s right. As it is the first battle, we will stand in the forefront.”

What are they talking about so seriously?

“Don’t you know what an ambush is?”

“……?”

As I poured cold water on them, the team leaders tilted their heads and looked at me.

They all seem to have killed a lot of people.

I guess you never tried to loot first?

“It’s a magic accident, wait for now.”

“What are you waiting for?”

That’s natural.

“When they fight monsters, we hit them back then.”

This is the basis of PK.