Chapter 230 Turning the Tables (6)

Chapter 230 Turning the Tables (6)

Turning the Tables (6)

Turning the Tables (6)

“Are you awake?”

Misha Kaltstein opened her eyes, tasting the lingering bitterness of the potion on her tongue.

The first person she saw was Avman.

“...Wh, what happened? Did we win?”

Misha asked as soon as she opened her eyes and tried to recall what had happened.

Her memories were fragmented.

They were broken and incomplete.

[Protect Raven!!]

The Corpse Collector, transformed into a skeleton, charging towards them.

Being knocked back by him without being able to withstand a single blow.

And...

Kwaaang! Kwaang!

...opening her eyes to a thunderous roar and seeing Bjorn on the ground, desperately protecting them.

That was her last memory.

“I don’t know if we won, but at least we’re safe for now. The enemies have all retreated.”

“Really? That’s a relief. But the, the casualties...?”

“.......”

Avman frowned.

As if there were casualties.

But did he realize his mistake after seeing her eyes?

He quickly continued,

“Ah, don’t think about anything strange. Everyone on our team survived. It’s the fairy who died.”

“Fairy...?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t tell me it’s Erwen?”

Erwen Fornachi di Tersia.

Although they weren’t exactly on good terms, she felt a pang of sadness deep down.

“No, it’s her older sister who died. She hugged her sister at the last moment and protected her from the explosion.”

“...Then Erwen?”

“She would have died too if she had been a little slower. I don’t know if it’s a good thing, but she’s unconscious right now. I’m worried if she’ll be okay when she wakes up.”

“I see...”

Misha then heard about the other companions’ conditions.

Raven was also unconscious, and Ainar, who woke up a bit earlier, went to Bjorn.

“Don’t go. I also tried to stay by his side, but the priestess kicked me out, saying it would interfere... You wouldn’t listen even if I told you. It’s that way.”

Misha asked Avman for directions and headed towards that place.

The Goblin Forest was brightly illuminated by the flames that were rising everywhere after the battle ended.

Thud, thud.

Misha walked through the explorers.

She saw explorers resting on the ground, explorers crying, explorers drinking blood-soaked alcohol with joy, and those who were busy moving the immobile corpses into the flames.

“Oh! It’s the cat girl from Yandel’s team!”

Explorers called out to her as she was walking.

“Are you going to see Yandel? He’s over there.”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go.”

“Right, you must be worried since you’re companions.”

They all said meaningful things.

But some of them spoke casually.

“Ah, don’t worry, there’s no way he would die.”

“Bjorn, son of Yandel, is immortal!!”

“I heard he almost killed the Corpse Collector this time? And they said they would have won if it weren’t for the Ruin Scholar. He’ll be incredibly famous when we get out.”

The explorers acknowledged Bjorn’s greatness.

Misha’s steps quickened.

She soon reached a tent.

Many explorers were gathered in front of it.

“Ah, Miss Kaltstein is here too.”

The first person she saw was Ainar, arguing with Kyle Pebrosk.

“Please excuse me for sitting down. I’m actually pushing myself just to stay awake.”

“Why won’t you let us in?!”

“I told you, didn’t I? The priestess-nim is risking her life to save him. So please lower your voice. If you really want to help him.”

“But...!”

“Ainar, stop it!”

Misha quickly approached and stopped Ainar.

She knew it wouldn’t help, even though she didn’t know the details.

“Mi, Misha! You’re awake!”

Although Ainar greeted her happily, Misha asked Kyle about Bjorn’s condition.

It was horrifying just to hear about it.

His entire face was covered in poison, and his eyes and everything had melted away.

“It seems like the poison melted his bones and even seeped into his brain.”

She felt suffocated.

She felt dizzy, and the world spun as if she was drunk.

That’s when...

“...You can come in now.”

...the priestess came out of the tent with a pale face.

Misha entered without even thanking her.

“Bjorn...”

She saw him sleeping on a makeshift bed made of several sleeping bags.

He looked fine on the outside.

Although there were burn scars on his face, there weren’t any serious injuries.

“The scars will heal over time. My abilities aren’t enough to...”

“Th, thank you...”

“You’re welcome. What have I done compared to what he did? Anyway, I need to rest, so I’ll be...”

The priestess left, and Misha knelt next to Bjorn.

And she stroked his face.Yôur favorite stories at novelhall.com

She suddenly remembered the time they were chased by the Floor Master on the 3rd floor.

But it was different from back then.

He was sleeping peacefully as if he had done everything he could.

She thought he was a hero.

It was the same afterwards.

Bjorn had achieved many things and received recognition from others.

She had been proud and happy.

But...

“Why... why are you...”

What about his face now?

“It’s almost time to go down. Are you going to stay here alone?”

“Alone... no.”

She let go of Avman’s arm and staggered towards Erwen.

And I patted her on the back.

“Listen to me. I’m your guardian now.”

“...Yes?”

I told her the last will and testament I heard from Daria.

It wasn’t a long story.

She said to take care of her sister if she died.

For reference, she said it to me before the royal family even escaped through Dimensional Gate, so maybe she had a hunch.

That something like this might happen.

“Mister... my sister, my sister...! She’s not moving anymore. She can’t talk. She’s cold and stiff. I, I couldn’t even do anything for her...!”

Erwen hugged me tightly.

“What... what am I going to tell my sister? That my sister is also dead? Th, that it’s because of me?”

I just stood there and listened to her words.

I didn’t say anything comforting, like it wasn’t her fault or that it was her sister’s choice.

I just waited for her until the end.

After some time...

“Yandel, it’s time to go.”

...it was time to go down to the 1st floor.

I gathered her sister’s body with Erwen.

It was better than Dwarkey’s case.

At least we had a mage who could use the ‘Distortion’ spell now.

We would be able to hold a funeral in the city.

“Let’s go, home.”

I returned to where my team was, leading Erwen. Even Misha and Ainar, who weren’t on good terms with her, didn’t say anything.

No, they actually seemed like they wanted to comfort her, but they couldn’t approach her because they were worried it might hurt her more.

‘It’s my first time seeing Ainar like that.’

We then stood in front of the portal that was opening in the center of the Goblin Forest.

[23:50]

The clock indicated the end of our long journey.

“Let’s go back!!”

“Waaaaaaaaa!!”

Starting with the teams that were in the center, everyone started going down to the 1st floor. Even though Verzak was scary, he wouldn’t appear in less than 10 minutes.

“Yandel! I’ll see you in the city!”

“You remember my name, right? I’ll definitely visit you again.”

The explorers in front of me also entered the portal, and then it was our turn.

「Entered 1st Floor Crystal Cave.」

The cave felt even more eerie than before.

I continued checking the time as we moved forward to make way for the other explorers.

[23:59]

Only 1 minute left until the labyrinth closed.

It didn’t feel real.

Was it really over?

Thump!

Right, it must be.

Even if Verzak appeared now, there was nothing we could do.

“Those damn royal bastards.”

“I won’t even piss in their direction when we get back.”

Anger towards the royal family erupted from the explorers who were certain of their survival.

Geez, they should be more careful with their words.

“Don’t say anything strange when we get back.”

I warned my companions not to badmouth the royal family in front of others.

That’s when...

「The labyrinth is closed.」

「Character is being transported to Lafdonia.」

...a white light started to fill my vision.

The light of the outside world that I had longed for.

Thump!

The light soon disappeared, and a clear sky filled my vision.

I blankly scanned my surroundings.

‘They’re really all dead.’

The Dimensional Plaza, which was always bustling, was unprecedentedly empty.

Phew, just how many died?

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

I naturally looked towards one spot as I heard cheers erupting from everywhere.

“It’s a Dimensional Gate!”

“Those bastards!”

In the center of the plaza where the Dimensional Gate was open...

...hundreds of Dimensional Gates were opening, and those who had abandoned us were appearing one by one.

They all looked the same as back then.

Well, it’s only natural since the time you exit is synchronized even if you come out through a Dimensional Gate.

‘They have no idea what we went through.’

I couldn’t help but complain inwardly as I saw them looking so fine.

That’s when...

Swaaaaaaaaa!

...a giant magic circle appeared in the center of the plaza where the Dimensional Gates were open.

“Uh, uh?”

Time suddenly slowed down.

But ‘it’ happened in a split second.

Thump!

The knights and the elites of the clans, who were flustered.

The explorers who sensed something was off and quickly created distance.

And...

Kwaaang!

...an explosion.

Swaaaaaaaaa!

Flames carried by the wind push me back.

I fall to the ground and quickly look up, and I see a crimson pillar of fire rising to the sky.

It’s like watching the end of the world.

A voice suddenly replays in my head.

[Congratulations. You’re the only winner.]

It was the last thing the Ruin Scholar said to me.