Team Play (1)
Team Play (1)
Ten days have passed since I visited the Kaltstein residence.
On the first day, I was worried that Misha might have told her father everything…
[What?! Are you crazy?! You barbarian! How could you say sothing like that!!]
[Then what did you do there?]
[That’s…! You don’t need to know!!]
…but it was an unnecessary worry.
I don’t know why she’s keeping it a secret, but I could definitely feel that nothing like that happened.
I decided to focus on the imdiate problem.
There are two ticking ti bombs in the team.
[Dwarkey, let’s talk.]
The day after returning from the Kaltstein residence, I t with Dwarkey right away.
And I spoke indirectly while drinking.
[What? Is it true? That Misha likes chubby n?]
[Yes, she definitely said that last ti.]
[I, I see. Thank you for telling . I, I almost made a mistake by being too hasty.]
For reference, Dwarkey ordered a lot of food after that conversation and stuffed himself until his stomach was bulging.
One problem solved.
‘He won’t confess until he gains so weight.’
We’ve bought at least a month or two.
Dwarkey’s personality is such that he won’t have the courage unless he gains a significant amount of weight.
And by the ti he does, Misha and I will be leaving the team.
‘This makes feel like a real asshole…’
But it can’t be helped.
If his ntal state were strong, it might be different…
But what if he confesses to Misha and gets rejected?
He won’t be able to focus even in the labyrinth.
And that could put the team in danger.
‘Uh, but why am I so sure that he’ll get rejected?’
That question suddenly cos to mind, but I don’t think about it too deeply. Sotis, the data accumulated in the subconscious makes the most accurate predictions.
Anyway, next is Rotmiller.
[Be careful. My father must have done sothing to that Rotmiller.]
Julian Urbans, the Regional Manager’s daughter.
If her words are true and Rotmiller made contact with the Regional Manager, there’s a high chance that an unsettling conversation took place.
The Regional Manager and I have a bad history.
Although I’m not sure why he’s trying sothing now, after several months…
‘Anyway, I can’t show any signs of suspicion.’
In Rotmiller’s case, unlike Dwarkey, I approached the matter cautiously, taking my ti.
This man is scary.
I haven’t seen him angry yet…
…but that’s why he’s even scarier.
These types of people tend to go all the way once they snap.
[Then let’s decide on the nearest destination based on our starting point on the 1st floor.]
[Haha, marriage? You ask strange questions. I have no intention of starting a family until I can truly take responsibility for soone.]
[You sit on the inside. You’re too big, and you’ll keep bumping into people if you sit near the aisle.]
I continued to observe Rotmiller during regular etings and even casual gatherings.
There was nothing particularly different from before.
He was quiet, serious, and considerate of others in most situations.
‘Ha, this is a real headache.’
Even after hearing Julian’s warning, I can’t imagine Rotmiller betraying .
No, I even feel guilty for suspecting him.
After all, we’ve shared joys and sorrows for months.
But to not trust him just because of a single word from an outsider?
‘It’s the epito of contradiction.’
The more I think about it, the more ironic the situation becos.
But the more that’s the case, the more I feel like I need to confirm it for sure.
What exactly did Rotmiller talk about with the Regional Manager at the Explorer’s Guild that day?
‘If he had told first, I would have dismissed my suspicions without hesitation.’
Rotmiller didn’t ntion anything about it.
So I called him out separately today to create an opportunity for conversation.
We’re really running out of ti.
The labyrinth opens tomorrow.
Therefore, I finish my drink in one gulp and get straight to the point.
“Rotmiller. Why did you go to the Explorer’s Guild the other day?”
Rotmiller looks slightly surprised at my direct question.
But did he also have a hunch?
So sothing really did happen.
“I know soone at the guild.”
I answer briefly and then demand an answer to my first question.
Rotmiller sighs and replies,
“…I was called there, and the 7th Regional Manager was in the room. He offered a reward if I betrayed you.”
“So?”
“I told him I’d pretend I didn’t hear it and left. Is that a satisfactory answer?”
Although he tries to hide it, Rotmiller seems quite annoyed by my questions.
But I take it all and ask again,
“Then why didn’t you tell until now?”
“I told you, I said I’d pretend I didn’t hear it. And besides, I thought it would just make things awkward if I told you.”
“I see. Thanks for answering.”
The conversation ends there.
If I push him any further, it would just sound like I don’t trust him. I judged that it wouldn’t be a wise move, no matter what Rotmiller’s true intentions are.
‘It wouldn’t change anything anyway.’
I can’t enter the labyrinth without a scout.
The option of finding a new one?
That also has its risks.
It’s difficult to find a skilled scout if you don’t go through the guild.
In short, it’s the perfect environnt for the Regional Manager to slip in soone strange into the team.
And I doubt the dwarf or Dwarkey would agree in the first place.
‘And most importantly, it doesn’t seem like Rotmiller is lying about refusing the offer.’
I finally make my judgnt.
“Sorry for bothering you at night. Get so rest today, and I’ll see you at the eting place tomorrow.”
Nothing changes.
Rotmiller will also be joining this expedition.
__________________________
The next day, afternoon.
In other words, about 7 hours left until the labyrinth opens.
“Mister, then I’ll co see you when you get back! Please co back safely!”
“Yeah, you work hard too.”
Erwen, who had been chatting at my accommodation since receiving the Bonding spell with her sister in the morning, leaves.
And Misha arrives just in ti.
“What the, why is she coming out of here?”
“She said she ca to say hello. Since she has nothing to do after receiving the Bonding spell.”
“Hmm…”
“Anyway, you ca at the right ti. Let’s go in and get so sleep.”
We set the alarm on the alarm clock I bought recently and sleep to adjust our condition.
And after so ti…
“Bjorn, wake up.”
We have a simple al and then pack our pre-organized luggage and leave. Since we ca a bit early, there’s no one at the eting place yet.
“Hmm, those two aren’t here yet?”
As always, Rotmiller arrives on ti.
“Yeah, it seems like Dwarkey and Hikurod are running late.”
“…It’s not even surprising anymore.”
Since those two are either early or late, we continue to wait.
That’s when…
“Uh, Bjorn! Look over there!”
I look in the direction Misha pointed and see a group of young warriors who just finished their coming-of-age ceremony.
Therefore, I quickly approach them.
It would be rude not to greet them now.
“Are you guys lost? If you are, just follow those people who look like explorers.”
“Who are you to say sothing so obvious?”
“…Bjorn, son of Yandel.”
“What! Little Balkan! It’s an honor to et you!”
After revealing my na, I ask,
“But what do you an obvious? Are you saying you’re not lost?”
“Of course not! We just have to follow the explorers like we learned in the sanctuary. Why would we be lost?”
“The sanctuary taught you that? Not by showing you that strange map and telling you to morize it?”
“Map? We’ve never seen a map!”
I’m stunned at the young warrior’s answer.
What is this?
Did the training thod change or sothing?
Well, it’s not bad for .
It’s a much more rational thod than telling them to morize a map.
However…
“We still have so ti, so listen to my story.”
“Story?”
“Yes, stories that will help you.”
I tell them the sa stories I told the previous group of newbies.
But what is this again?
“Be wary of humans? That’s only natural. We have to protect our own hearts, don’t we?”
This group of baby barbarians is clearly different from before.
Every ti I say sothing, they react as if it’s obvious.
“Wow… barbarians have evolved.”
Misha seems to feel the sa way, so it’s not just .
So why this change?
“Who taught you that in the sanctuary?”
I ask out of curiosity and freeze.
“Karon, son of Tarson!”
Without knowing…
…a change is brewing from the bottom.
“Then we’ll be on our way! Bjorn, son of Yandel, it was an honor to et you!”
I wanted to ask more, but the baby barbarians leave, eager to enter the labyrinth.
And as soon as they disappear, the two we were waiting for arrive at the eting place.
“Ah, sorry for being late! Did you wait long?”
“Hahaha! Forgive us, Dwarkey here had an upset stomach!”
“Wh, wh, what are you talking about?!”
“Geez, you too. What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s just us.”
“Enough, let’s get going.”
Since the two of them were 20 minutes late, we hurriedly head towards the Dinsional Plaza.
The portal is already open.
“Alright, then let’s go!”
After Dwarkey casts the Bonding spell, we enter the labyrinth.
______________________
「Entered 1st Floor Crystal Cave.
______________________
The Crystal Cave, filled with brilliant light.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen this sight, as I skipped it last month using a bug, but there’s no ti to leisurely admire the view.
It’s because we decided to speedrun this ti.
At Rotmiller’s request.
[If you guys allow it, I want to try it properly. Although it’s unlikely we’ll get any achievent points, I’m curious how well I can do.]
Since he doesn’t usually assert himself strongly when planning expeditions, everyone unanimously agreed.
“Then let’s depart right away.”
He imdiately starts navigating after checking our current location by touching the walls and the ground as soon as he opens his eyes.
And he starts running as if jogging.
‘It’s actually quite fun.’
Rotmiller is at the forefront, finding the path…
…and Misha takes care of the trash mobs right behind him.
The formation that’s solely for movent is novel, and since we started running as soon as we entered, I see things I couldn’t see before.
“Wow, they’re running too!”
Explorers are dashing through the cave to find portals, just like us. It’s a sight that’s hard to even see when you’re moving leisurely.
‘Now I understand why it’s difficult to shorten the ti on the 1st floor.’
I also realize sothing new.
The 1st-floor cave has many sharp turns.
So it’s difficult to run at full speed.
In other words, if you exceed a certain level, the movent speed of all explorers is similar.
This makes the scout’s ability even more important.
Hmm, or the stamina of the team mbers.
“Phew, phew…”
Although we have stamina that far surpasses ordinary people, sweat is pouring down as we jog for hours.
Is that why?
Conversation naturally disappears among the party mbers.
“Hikurod, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Although the dwarf, who lacks agility and endurance, looks like he’s almost at his limit, he doesn’t complain.
Well, how could he say that in front of Rotmiller, who’s like this?
“This way.”
As if his words about wanting to test his limits were true, Rotmiller doesn’t lose his focus and continues to find the path for hours.
It’s passion, in a good way.
It could be seen as madness, in a bad way.
‘Is this man this passionate?’
I’m impressed by his unexpected side, but I keep moving my feet.
And after so ti…
[06:12]
…we reach the portal in a whopping 6 hours.
However, unfortunately, the portal has already been opened by soone else.
“Wow, I didn’t know we could get here this fast.”
Misha exclaims, but the dwarf and I first check Rotmiller’s expression.
“Damn it! Why am I…!!”
It’s the first ti I’ve seen him make such an expression.
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