Exhale.
Inhale.
Each breath forms a white cloud in the frigid air.
Drip, drip.
Sweat freezes and falls to the ground.
My muscles scream, my vision blurs.
But I push forward.
Thud, thud.
One step at a ti.
I focus on my breathing, dragging the sled behind .
Thud, thud.
I grip the rope tightly, leading the way.
The troll summoner is gone.
"How's Milburn Naria doing?"
"...She won't last long."
"I see..."
Crack.
I grit my teeth, replaying the battle in my mind.
The beginning wasn't bad.
「Character has cast [Gigantification].」
I stood firm, my giant body a wall blocking the enemy's advance.
"Teyrun Shear Diem!"
The mages protected with their mana shields.
「Jun Arsene has cast [Light of Protection].」
「Periton Eriaboti has cast [Sacred Skin].」
「Benjamin Orman has cast [Damage Reduction]...」
「...」
The paladins supported with their protective barriers and buffs.
We had focused all our resources on .
It was an all-in strategy.
And it worked.
「All healing and regeneration effects are reversed.」
They couldn't risk attacking head-on, knowing that a single blow could turn into a fatal wound.
We used the terrain to our advantage, unleashing our full firepower on them.
We threw healing potions.
We cast healing spells on them, reversing their effects.
And whenever we had the chance, we grabbed them and threw them off the cliff.
「Status Effect [Whisper of Immortality] applied.」
「Upon death, the character will be resurrected as an undead.」
The fallen enemies rose as undead, attacking their forr comrades.
We maintained our formation, pushing forward relentlessly.
But...
[They were tough, even for Regal Vagos.]
The situation changed when their reinforcents arrived.
「Manua Repeles has cast [Iron Fist].」
「Ricky Aimond has cast [Punishing Steps].」
「Puran Cullen has cast [Spirit Possession]...」
Fifteen explorers ard with high-grade essences, the kind you could only obtain on the 8th floor.
The mont they joined the fight, our lines crumbled.
[Schuitz, Leyaders is out of mana!]
The mages who had been maintaining my mana shield fell one by one.
And then they broke through our defenses, reaching the heart of our formation.
The three paladins who ford the main tank line.
The two knights who acted as secondary tanks, along with a warrior from the 3rd Team.
Alia, Raviyen, and the other lee damage dealers tried to push them back, but it was futile.
[We have to retreat!]
We all knew it was over.
The reason for our defeat was simple.
They were stronger than us.
If we fought to the death, we could inflict heavy casualties on them, but that's all.
We would all die in the end.
So...
'I gave up on killing them all.'
I imdiately activated Plan B.
Plan B's key was the summoner, Milburn Naria, from the 2nd Team.
She was an AoE burst summoner.
She controlled three Ice Troll 'Shamans', Pippi, Poppy, and Yeppi.
「Milburn Naria has cast [Harsh Command].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Beast Taming].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Hidden Instinct].」
「Milburn Naria has cast [Stability]...」
She unleashed all her buffs on her summons the mont I gave the order.
And...
「Summon Pippi has cast [Avalanche].」
「Summon Poppy has cast [Avalanche].」
「Summon Yeppi has cast [Avalanche]...」
The Ice Trolls unleashed their amplified skills, creating a massive avalanche that bought us ti to retreat.
But...
"Kyaaa!"
Naria was injured in the process.
She had been standing close to her trolls to maintain [Stability], which tripled their skill range, and was caught in the blast.
Thankfully, she managed to maintain her concentration and control her summons even after being injured, allowing us to escape.
And that brings us to the present.
"Schuitz, are you okay...?"
"Don't talk to ."
"..."
Naria had lost consciousness, and we had to redistribute the food from the destroyed sled among ourselves. It wasn't enough.
Heave, heave.
I pulled the sled uphill, my muscles screaming.
I would switch with another warrior when I reached my limit, but I could still endure.
I focused on the task at hand, trying to clear my mind.
"Ugh..."
Naria stirred on the sled.
She was bundled in thick fur coats and surrounded by activated heating stones, but her first words were...
"I-I'm cold..."
"Just hold on a little longer. It's because you're injured. You'll feel better once we reach the top and get healed."
"D-do you think so...? C-cough!"
"...Yes, you will."
There was no answer.
She must have lost consciousness again.
Thump.
My heart felt heavy.
'You will? How can I be so sure?'
I knew she was dying.
'No, she probably knows it better than anyone...'
The icy chill creeping into her body.
The approaching death.
"Ho..."
I heard a whisper from behind.
"I... want to go ho..."
It was Naria.
Her voice was weak and filled with longing.
I gritted my teeth and lied.
"You will. You'll be able to go ho. I promise."
"D-do you think so...?"
"Yes, if you hold on."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer ..."
Her voice was barely audible.
I finally gave in.
There was no point in lying anymore.
It would only be cruel.
"Alright. I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want to tell? In the city?"
Her answer ca after a long pause.
"...No... Don't."
"...Why not?"
"I... don't deserve to..."
Her voice trembled, her words disjointed.
It was a familiar pattern.
The way people spoke when they were close to death.
"I-I'm so sorry... I... deceived you all..."
"I... didn't want to... I wanted to help..."
"I should have... I should have... I should have...!"
"Sob... Sob..."
I didn't pry.
I just listened to her regrets, my heart heavy.
And then...
"P-please... let down here..."
Her voice was clearer this ti.
"What do you an?"
"Just leave here... It'll... help you all..."
"Help us...?"
'Whisper of Immortality.'
The cruel field effect that resurrected the dead as undead, forcing them to attack their forr comrades.
She wanted to help us, even in death.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer ..."
Her voice was weak, but her gaze was firm.
I finally admitted it.
There was no point in pretending anymore.
"Alright, I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want to tell? In the city?"
Her answer ca after a long pause.
"...No... Don't."
"...Why not?"
"I... don't deserve to..."
Her voice trembled, her words disjointed.
It was a familiar pattern.
The way people spoke when they were close to death.
"I-I'm so sorry... I... deceived you all..."
"I... didn't want to... I wanted to help..."
"I should have... I should have... I should have...!"
"Sob... Sob..."
I didn't pry.
I just listened to her regrets, my heart heavy.
And then...
"P-please... let down here..."
Her voice was clearer this ti.
"What do you an?"
"Just leave here... It'll... help you all..."
"Help us...?"
'Whisper of Immortality.'
The cruel field effect that resurrected the dead as undead, forcing them to attack their forr comrades.
She wanted to help us, even in death.
"..."
"..."
Silence.
"Answer ..."
Her voice was weak, but her gaze was firm.
I finally admitted it.
There was no point in pretending anymore.
"Alright. I'll do as you wish."
"..."
"Is there anyone you want to tell? In the city?"
"Just... tell them... that I... I..."
She trailed off, her eyes closing.
And then...
She was gone.
"Damn it..."
My heart felt heavy, as if a giant rock had been placed on it.
The warrior next to cursed.
"May the warmth of the Goddess embrace your soul."
The paladin closed his eyes and prayed.
We all knew.
Her last fla had been extinguished.
"Akuraba..."
The dwarf woman, who had been standing silently, approached the body and gently closed her eyes.
And then she spoke, her voice trembling.
"...Let's go. Don't... don't just stand there..."
We couldn't leave her body behind.
So we lifted her onto the sled.
"I'm... not scared..."
Her final words echoed in my mind.
"I'm... finally going ho..."
"To a real ho... filled with the scent of coffee in the morning..."
Damn it.
[...I regret it now. He wouldn't have actually killed , would he? Hahaha...]
I finally understood the reason for his unease.
______________________
Twenty-four survivors.
The expedition force marched on.
Their steps heavy with grief and a growing sense of unease.
"About what Naria said..."
"Ho... It must be that."
The explorers had seen countless deaths in the labyrinth.
They knew.
What the dying wished for the most.
"Then Naria was an evil spirit...?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down. We can't be sure yet."
Whispers spread through the ranks.
And then soone spoke up, his voice filled with anger.
"Are you all insane?! She was injured trying to save us, she died trying to help us, she chose to die alone so we could live! What does it matter if she was an evil spirit?!"
It was a bad sign.
"No, I an... It's strange! Why would an evil spirit sacrifice herself for us...?"
"You damn fool! If you don't understand, I'll show you myself!"
The tension was rising.
"Stop it!"
Kaislan shouted, stepping forward to intervene.
"We have to work together to survive! What are you doing, fighting amongst ourselves?!"
I didn't stop him.
I had learned sothing.
Sotis, you had to use force to maintain order.
"If anyone says another word, I'll execute them! Under the authority of the King! Do you understand?!"
His harsh words and threat silenced the mbers.
Well, not everyone.
"...Try it."
A voice ca from the back.
It was Puta Rikerburn, a lee attacker and guide from the 2nd Team.
"...Try it? What do you an?"
"You all know it, don't you? We're finished!"
"You bastard...!"
"Stop it, Kaislan!"
Kaislan drew his sword, but was stopped by the other knights.
Rikerburn's voice grew louder.
"Did you see them? They're much stronger than us! And there are more of them! What difference does it make if we run? They'll catch up to us soon!"
"...Let him go. That's an order."
At Kaislan's command, the knights reluctantly released Rikerburn.
This is bad.
We're going to fight each other.
"Kaislan, step aside."
I couldn't just stand there and watch.
I walked towards the commotion.
And...
Grab!
I grabbed him by the collar.
"Ugh!"
"What do you want to say? That we're all going to die anyway, so we might as well give up? Is that what you want? Because I can grant your wish right now."
"C-cough!"
He coughed, but his defiant gaze didn't waver.
He was staring at , as if daring to kill him.
"...Try it."
"...What?"
I loosened my grip, taken aback by his unwavering defiance.
He fell to the ground and shouted.
"What difference does it make if we escape?! We're all going to die anyway! Do you think we'll be able to live happily ever after once we get back to the city?"
I wanted to shut him up.
But it was too late.
He had already said what he wanted to say.
"Don't you understand?! The main force isn't coming! They abandoned us! Not because sothing happened, but because it was planned from the beginning!"
"...What? Planned from the beginning?"
"That's nonsense! Why would the royal family abandon us?! We're all valuable assets!"
"Yes! That's what I thought! We're all elites! This is a trap! A trap!"
"...A trap?"
It was too late for to intervene.
I sighed and watched the chaos unfold.
"I'm Puta Rikerburn! I'm from the Keallunus family! They forced to join this expedition because I owed them a debt! I've been doing their dirty work for years!"
"..."
"Don't you understand?! They abandoned ! They sent here to die! They gave a fancy title and sent to the trash!"
"..."
"Hahaha! I guess I'm not the only one here with a story to tell! Don't tell you all thought you were here because you were special?"
His words silenced the expedition force.
A heavy silence, heavier than any blizzard we had encountered.
"The Alminus Trading Company... they abandoned ...? N-no, that can't be true. They promised to forgive my embezzlent if I succeeded..."
Soone whispered, his voice trembling.
And then...
Everyone looked at each other.
'Could you be one of them?'
That's what their gazes seed to say.
The team leaders received the most attention.
They were the most influential figures among us.
We needed them to reassure us.
But...
"...Maybe he's right."
Reality was cruel.
"Titana Akuraba... she's been questioning the royal family for years. Maybe they wanted to get rid of her."
Akuraba was the first to speak.
"The Clan Master has been wary of lately. Maybe he was worried I would beco too powerful..."
Next was Jas Kala.
"Hmm... I'm in a similar situation. I don't care about the family title, but my brother might have felt threatened. That's why I joined the military..."
Kaislan.
And...
"I was an inquisitor for the Tovera Church. I was supposed to hunt down heretics... but I saw them framing innocent people. There are many who want dead."
Jun's confession was the final blow.
Each confession chipped away at our hope.
But there was still one person left.
"Schuitz, what about you?"
"You were recomnded by the Marquis, and you're the expedition leader. Are you one of them too?"
The explorers looked at , their eyes filled with a mixture of hope and despair.
'There's no point in hiding it anymore.'
I sighed and spoke.
I didn't need a long explanation.
"...I'm Bjorn Yandel."
One sentence was enough.
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