Surviving the Game as a Barbarian - Surviving the Game as a Barbarian chapter 51

51 Team Half Pennies (1)

“Rotmiller, is there anyone nearby?”

Could you have had similar doubts as me?

Rotmiller closed his eyes and opened them without saying a word. Then, he looked around with his oval-contracted pupil.

「Brown Rotmiller has cast [Thermally].」

The ability of the Lizardman skirmisher is ‘thermal color redness’.

The function is similar to that of a modern thermal imaging camera.

By the way, it was a skill that was quite useful in-game. Whether it’s using stealth or whatever, as long as it’s a living creature, this alone will filter it all out.

“There is no one nearby.”

Rotmiller disarmed the ability and gave a brief reply.

“But from the smell, it looks like someone was there a while ago.”

As it is his judgment with two essences that correct the olfactory stat, the chance of being wrong is low.

I asked him a few more questions.

“How long ago, how much do you mean?”

“There must be a margin of error, but with this kind of body odor, no matter how long it takes, it seems to be around 2 minutes.”

“Does that mean there is a very high chance that they left after seeing us hunting?”

“… Yes.”

Rotmiller nodded bitterly, and the dwarf, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, interrupted in amazement.

“Wait, then who was aiming for us?”

“Perhaps he was not aiming at us. I was just waiting for someone to catch me.”

Rotmiller did not deny it.

He also explained that luring monsters in front of the portal is a technique often used by looters.

Is it a low-risk predatory method among them?

‘One small head is amazing.’

Surprise using monsters.

It was also aimed at the moment when the explorers, who had just crossed the portal, were most vulnerable.

Annihilation is great, if you get hurt one or two, it’s usually good, and if you endure it, you can back off for a while and wait for the next prey.

“Rotmiller! Isn’t this something we have to catch and run? Killing looters doesn’t make any money!”

“Perhaps it will be difficult to find. I can’t keep dying here, and… … . First of all, is there no evidence? We cannot rule out the possibility of being framed in the opposite direction.”

“Hey, the dead don’t talk!”

Knowing the story, Misha giggled with an angry face, but the dwarf made a cold decision as a leader.

“I’m going to go down to the second floor for a while and write a warning about predators in front of the portal and leave.”

“It’s the right decision.”

After that, as explorers, we kept only the minimum rules, and then escaped near the portal on that way.

Naturally, the conversation continued on the topic of predators.

However, the more I listened, the more strange it became.

“Rot Miller is great. Until now, I didn’t even know there was such a technique.”

“I’ve only heard of it, but this is the first time I’ve ever been subjected to this trick. ”

“Well, it’s not uncommon to meet predators!”

Uh, what the hell are you guys talking about?

I felt alienated from the explorer’s talk, which is difficult to empathize with, and I asked questions about it.

And I realized a shocking fact.

“Am I talking? Have we met eight times in five years? One time we were on the same team, and the rest were all no-nonsense!”

Only 8 times in 5 years?

Shiva, for the original explorer, wasn’t it something that predators met on a daily basis?

“I’m sure… I heard that there was such a time about 150 years ago!”

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Misha said that after the death of the first king, who was also called the Immortal King, the number of looters was greatly reduced due to various policies.

But I couldn’t understand.

It was clear that something was wrong.

If not, I can’t explain it.

‘Once in the Crystal Cave, once in the Goblin Forest, twice in the Land of the Dead… … .’

If you add up to today, you’ve encountered a looter five times in the last three months.

Then what am I?

When I told this story to get opinions, everyone, including Rottmiller, looked at me strangely.

“How many sins did Bjorn health in a previous life?”

“Ha ha ha! Maybe it’s because you’re here that I met the predator today!”

“… … .”

I have nothing to say.

What kind of life have I been living?

As I walked silently and silently, not having the energy to refute, Rotmiller sighed and opened her mouth.

“Everyone, stop teasing me. Everyone knows that Miss Karlstein is one of the lucky ones, right?”

“ah! It was like that—!”

“I also tend to see predators about once every three months. So don’t worry too much about it.”

Ah, uh, um… … .

Thank you for comforting me.

Still, not five times in three months.

***

「You have defeated Wormstone. EXP+2”

「You have defeated the Iron Falcon. EXP+2”

「You have defeated the Ironhill Guardians. EXP+2”

***

3rd floor ‘The Pilgrim’s Path’.

No matter which route you pass, such as the land of the dead, the goblin forest, or the den of the beast, the hierarchy ultimately comes down to it.

The starting point is different for each route, so in fact, to meet explorers from different routes, you have to follow the road all the way to the center of the 4th floor portal.

‘It took about three to four days on average to get to the center… … .’

For reference, this is the time it takes to focus only on movement. To that extent, the 3rd floor has a size that is incomparable to the previous floors.

Therefore, in addition to the hierarchical name ‘The Pilgrim’s Path’, each monster’s habitat is named separately, and one of them is ‘Steel Rock Hill’ where I am now.

“Then we will camp here today, and from tomorrow we will move on to the next area.”

A boundary line where an area ends.

From that halfway point, we started preparing for the camp. The reason is that there are relatively few monsters roaming as the territory of the monsters overlaps.

“By the way, Dwalkie, are you okay? I haven’t looked good since before.”

The dwarf, who had finished preparing to sleep by putting his sleeping bag on the floor, spoke to Dwalky.

So I pretended it wasn’t me, Rotmiller, or Misha, and listened.

yea i was wondering

Why does this talkative guy keep on chewing shit?

“… Did I look like that?”

“Maybe I was mistaken, but that’s how it seemed to me.”

“I guess… … .”

Dwalky smiled bitterly and nodded.

And after hesitating for a while, he soon spoke up.

“I know what I’m going to sound like. Maybe they just look naive and young from your point of view. However… To be honest, I was shocked.”

“Shock?”

“No, you would be right to say that the illusion I had had was shattered. I’ve always heard stories about explorers from a young age, but… Because there was no such thing.”

An explorer who kills an explorer.

Conversely, an explorer who makes money by killing such an explorer.

It is certainly not a reality full of dreams and children’s feelings.

“Hey, that was a joke, no!”

“Whether it’s a joke or not. Perhaps if I continue my work as an explorer, one day I will also kill people, right?”

At that, everyone in the party shut their mouths.

“… … .”

“… … .”

It would be a lie if I tried to comfort you here.

The dwarf, Misha, Rottmiller, and I all have experience of killing people.

And if Dwalkie continues to be involved in this industry, the day will inevitably come when he will experience it.

“So I made up my mind. While getting here, keep going… … .”

In a muttering more resolute than I expected, I asked one thing.

“So what was the result? Are you determined to do it?”

“Stand. However… When that time comes, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it well.”

Dwalky’s determination was full of confusion.

I was not confident in myself, and I was full of fear of the situation.

However… … .

“That is enough.”

Rather, I think this one is better.

Rather than idiots who spit out promises that they can’t keep and then go and whine that they can’t.

Perhaps they had similar thoughts to mine, and Rottmiller, who was listening to the conversation, spit out a word.

“It is important not to overconfident in yourself. It sounds a lot more reliable than saying I can do it to my ears.”

“That’s right?”

Seeing Dwalky making a sullen expression, Rottmiller put a warm smile on his lips.

It’s like looking at a young man going down the same path.

“You know you have to do it, and you are determined to do it. If you are like that, you will surely be able to do well even when that time comes.”

“Please, I wish I could… … .”

“Ha ha ha! Cheer up, my friend!”

The conversation was finally over when the dwarf slapped Dwalky on the back.

However, the car that wants to lay down after setting the order of the non-visiting number.

“Wait a minute, can you all give me some time?”

Suddenly, Rotmiller summoned the party.

“I know that taking a little more rest helps the team, but there is one thing I want to show you.”

“Something?”

At my question, Rotmiller looked up at Dwalkie and said.

“The fact that there are not only difficult and terrible things to do while doing this job.”

Soon after, Rotmiller checked his watch and moved to the edge of the cliff near the campsite.

We followed without knowing English.

All he could see was the usual darkness.

The darkness of the labyrinth that eats even the light always obstructs the explorer’s view.

“I have something to show you, Dunning?”

“Wait, wait a minute.”

Seeing Rottmiller answering while looking at the watch, I suddenly had a guess, so I took out the watch.

[23:59]

One minute before the start of Day 3, when the monster population peaks.

The second hand moves with a ticking sound.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5… … .

I closed the clock and looked into the darkness on the other side of the cliff. Before long, a silver sphere of light appeared from far away in the darkness.

The numbers were innumerable, and they all started from the ground and fluttered like dandelion seeds toward the sky.

The dark labyrinth gradually became brighter.

It was then that I realized why this place where I was located was called a ‘hill of Steel Rock’.

“It’s a view that only explorers who arrive early can see. Isn’t it wonderful?”

Hill.

In other words, even within the labyrinth, this place belongs to the highlands.

It was usually dark, so it was difficult to feel it, but after a lot of light cleared the darkness, the whole area of the spacious 3rd floor was visible at a glance.

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Mountains and fields, and a river flowing through them.

A dense forest and a high spire towering up to the ceiling in the center.

If I had only lived within the walls of Lafdonia for the rest of my life, it was a sight I would never have seen.

Dwalky, who looked at him blankly, murmured.

“… I think I can understand what the explorers were saying the world is wide.”

I raised my head and looked up at the sky.

It must have been a closed ceiling anyway, but for this moment, the place really felt like heaven.

It is also an open night sky with the Milky Way.

Of course, that time was really fleeting.

It took only a minute or so for the spheres of light that started from the ground to reach the ceiling and completely disappeared.

“No one knows why this happens only on the third floor.”

There are many hypotheses.

As we enter the third day, the magic of the labyrinth dimension is oversaturated and is released.

or a blessing from God.

Everyone accepts what they want to believe.

But Rotmiller cut it right.

“It is clear that there is one reason or another. Anyone who sees this scene in person doesn’t wonder why.”

“That’s right! I’ve only heard of it, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it in person! Normally, I would have been sleeping coolly in my sleeping bag!”

“Ha ha ha! Do you think that friend won’t be able to sleep tonight?”

After that, the light completely disappeared, and the usual darkness enveloped the labyrinth again. All of the team members, except for me, who was a beginner, went to sleep in a sleeping bag.

but… … .

“… … .”

It had been a long time since he heard the sound of breathing from Dwalky’s sleeping bag.

***

The day was bright.

It wasn’t that the surroundings were really brightened up or anything.

once in time

[08:10]

After clearing out the campsite, we walked downhill for a long time and got out of the Steel Rock Hill.

And we reached our first destination.

“Come on, here’s the orc colony.”

orc colony.

Among the various areas on the 3rd floor, the place with the highest number of monsters. A characteristic feature is that only monsters of rank 8 or higher appear.

‘If you don’t go straight to the 4th floor, there is no better hunting ground than here.’

The difficulty level is the second highest among the 3rd floor areas.

But if my predictions are correct, there will be no major risks for us.

In fact, if it’s our union, we can do activities on the 4th floor.

There are wizards, and even the three of us except for me were originally explorers who were active on the 4th floor.

“Then let’s work together here for a while, then decide based on the outcome.”

First of all, after rearranging the formation, we set foot into the great bush.

Well, if it’s a reorganization, then Rottmiller was sent to the rear, and the dwarf took the place and replaced it.

“Murad, there’s a group of orcs coming at 1 o’clock.”

Like a popular hunting ground with a high density of monsters, even though it was on the outskirts, I was able to encounter a group of orcs after walking for a while.

“Chwi, Chwiik—!”

A basic set of four orc warriors, one archer and one shaman.

“Just do what you practiced!”

I took the formation as I had already put my hands and feet together.

Named Formation A.

A formation where me and the dwarf reliably block the front, and Misha, the melee dealer position, freely moves between the shield walls, giving priority to the closest enemies first.

「Real Warb Dwalky has cast the 8th grade attack magic [Ice Lance].」

Orcs don’t really need curse-type magic, so Dwalkie concentrates only on the stinger role.

And the same goes for Rottmiller.

He also concentrates on rear support using a crossbow from the rear when a battle occurs.

However, he has one more role.

「The orc shaman has cast [Frenzy].」

「Increases the physical resistance of Orc Warriors by 3 times for 10 seconds.」

In case the monster ignores the shield wall and goes backwards, protecting the most vulnerable Dwalkie in the party.

“It’s maddening magic! Be careful!”

“Dwalky! Stay behind me.”

“I see!”

One of the orc warriors who entered the [Enthusiasm] state ignored us and rushed to the Dwalkie, and Rotmiller pulled out a shield to block it.

Of course, as a seeker, he doesn’t have the physical ability to defeat an orc warrior one-on-one… … .

“Uh-huh, I was bored!”

You can buy a little time by using his main weapons, such as a crossbow, buckler, dagger, and Molotov cocktail.

Then, whether Misha provides support or Dwalky attacks with magic, he can do it.

「You have killed the Orc Warrior. EXP+2”

「You have defeated the Orc Archer. EXP+2”

「You have killed the Orc Shaman. EXP+2”

So, the first battle with the orcs ended smoothly. The total time taken was about 8 minutes, and there were no injuries, but the time consumed in the battle was longer than expected.

‘Definitely not enough deals.’

In addition to the seeker, there are two shield warriors.

And Orcs are among the 8th grade monsters, and they have a fairly high physical resistance.

Of course, in this worldview, there is a mage on the team who is the most dignified dealer in name and reality… … .

Dwalky is not from Matop.

[Ice Spear] that deals damage to a single monster is all that is considered a rank 8 attack spell.

‘Well, it’s because of the curse magic rather than the attack magic in the first place.’

The value of a wizard is not only in high-power attack magic.

There is a compatibility between explorers and monsters.

However, if there is a wizard on the team, it is possible to actively battle with monsters of a much more diverse nature.

‘Still, it’s only slow, but in terms of stability it’s high… … .’

It’s a bit disappointing, but I can say that this is a pretty good team.

“Then let’s go deeper.”

After that, we fought towards the center of the orc colony.

The more that happened, the more orc populations appeared as a group increased. At one time, a level 7 monster, ‘Orc Warrior,’ was also mixed… … .

「You have killed the Orc Warlord. EXP+3”

This, too, was able to hunt without difficulty.

However, shitty things always happen when everything seems to be going smoothly.

It was a time when he was in earnest and was hunting the Orcs in earnest.

“Ihenro Tauntain.”

Suddenly, a low-pitched chorus was heard from over the distant bushes.

and-

Awww-!

A pyrotechnic meteorite fell and exploded the horde we were hunting for.

“… Fuck?”

What kind of dog situation is this?