The first day I woke up in this world was vivid in my mory, even compared to other mories.
I was dazed by the unfamiliar language, but I tried my best to understand the situation.
And then I felt a sense of déjà vu.
This situation… it felt like the beginning of [Dungeon and Stone].
‘Soone… died that day.’
I even rembered his na.
Olm, son of Kadua.
He had been beheaded less than five minutes after waking up in this world.
And…
‘There were many like him.’
After becoming chieftain, I looked through the past records, and found that an average of one player had been executed at the coming-of-age ceremony every year for the past ten years.
Well, the average had been decreasing lately, as the cheat version of the ga had beco less popular…
‘But there are still so who play it.’
It was a sad sight.
‘Tsk, why would they even start playing that ga?’
Of course, I wasn’t blaming them.
If there was soone to bla, it was…
‘That damn old man.’
Auril Gabis.
The creator of [Dungeon and Stone]…
「You have reached the Abyss.」
「Tutorial complete.」
…and the one who had kidnapped countless players with those two lines.
‘If you’re going to have a tutorial, at least make it a proper one.’
The newbie’s terrified expression reminded of my past self.
But I quickly snapped out of my reminiscence.
If I stayed like this, the other warriors would notice.
“Everyone, quiet!”
I shouted, and the young barbarians imdiately fell silent.
I continued the ceremony.
But not in the traditional way.
It would be much easier to help the newbie this way. And there might be other newbies I hadn’t noticed.
“Makal, second son of Putil!”
I approached a young warrior and patted his shoulder.
“Co forward and choose your weapon!”
“Yes, sir!!!!!”
He roared, seemingly touched by my encouragent, and rushed towards the weapons.
“A two-handed axe! Excellent choice!”
I continued calling out the warriors’ nas and encouraging them, subtly giving hints to the newbie.
“From this day forward, you are a warrior. May the blessings of ‘Lafdonia’ be with you!”
After a while,
It was finally the newbie’s turn.
“Bekta, third son of Kiltau!”
Thud.
I placed my hand on his shoulder, and he trembled.
But I pretended not to notice and spoke.
“Co forward and choose your weapon!”
“…Yes, sir!!”
His voice was quieter and more hesitant than the others.
But…
‘At least he’s quick-witted.’
He was imitating the other warriors, so he would probably survive once he gained so experience—
‘Huh?’
I chuckled as I saw the weapon he had chosen.
“A shield…”
I mumbled unconsciously, and he flinched as if he had done sothing wrong.
‘A newbie shield barbarian…’
I walked past him and approached the shield display.
And I handed him the item he had left behind.
“Here.”
I had used my authority as chieftain to change the rules.
Now, when a warrior chose a shield, they would also receive a small one-handed hamr.
“Bekta, third son of Kiltau! You are now a warrior!”
He was montarily confused by the change, but he took the hamr and returned to his spot.
He tried to hide it, but his expression was troubled.
‘He needs so ti to process this.’
I ignored him and continued the ceremony, and soon the last warrior had chosen his weapon.
“Warriors!”
But before they left for the city, I gave them a short speech.
Or rather, a review.
“Let’s all recite together. What’s a good looter?”
“A dead looter!!!”
“What about the Explorer’s Guild?”
“Don’t trust them!!”
“What do you do when you et a Hans in the labyrinth?”
“Run away! If you want to live!”
I was reviewing these things with them because…
Repetition is key.
And there was a newbie among them.
“Now…”
There was one last thing I had to tell them.
“What do you do when you et an ‘evil spirit’ who stole our bodies?”
It was probably the most important piece of information for a player’s survival.
“Kill them!!”
If you’re exposed as a player, you die.
______________________
“Open the gates!”
My shout echoed through the sanctuary, and the gates that separated us from the city opened.
The young warriors, who had dread of this day since they were children, were trembling with excitent.
“Lafdonia…!”
Normally, I would have just told them to go and find their destiny…
But I decided to lead them into the city myself.
“…What? You’re escorting them yourself?”
I had to go to the labyrinth anyway.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
“We’ll beco great warriors too!!”
They were touched by my gesture.
I chuckled at their naiveté and led them towards the city center.
And…
“Greetings, Baron Yandel.”
I t with a guild mage at the designated location and had him cast the ‘Bonding’ spell.
Not on , but on the young warriors.
I grouped them into teams of three or four, and so of them questioned .
“…Chieftain! I heard the first expedition should be done alone…”
“That’s right! That’s the tradition!”
Tradition?
That damn tradition had killed countless warriors who tried to find companions for their first expedition.
I was about to scold them…
“You fools!!!”
…when Ainar stepped forward.
“Bjorn, son of Yandel, is the chieftain!”
“But even the chieftain has to follow tradition—”
“From this day forward, the chieftain’s words are tradition! So obey him!”
It was a bit of a dictatorial logic, but it was convincing.
After all, our tribe had a system for challenging the chieftain’s authority.
“If you don’t like the new tradition, beco the chieftain and change it! Do you understand?!”
In other words, if you don’t like it, fight .
Thankfully, the warriors, who had grown up in the natural world, easily accepted her logic.
“…I see. I understand!”
Okay, that settles that.
“Um… the paynt…”
“Here.”
I paid the guild mage after the Bonding spell was complete.
“Thank you for your hard work. I’ll see you next month.”
“Ah… yes, Baron…”
The mage, who had been forced to work overti and even co to the sanctuary, left with a disgruntled expression.
But we would et again next month.
He wouldn’t be able to refuse if I went to the guild branch manager and ‘asked’ for him.
“It’s the labyrinth!!”
“Oooooh! So that’s…!!!”
“I feel sothing pulling towards it!!”
I then escorted the warriors to the Dinsion Plaza.
My duty as chieftain was done.
There was no need for further words.
“Go, warriors!”
At my command, they rushed towards the portal.
“Woooooooooh!!”
Ainar chuckled as she watched them leave.
“Bjorn, why do you look so worried?”
Well, they’re like children.
I wanted them to survive. The stronger our tribe was, the better.
“Don’t worry. Back in my day, we survived even harsher environnts!”
Her words were surprisingly comforting.
The barbarian tribe’s training thods had been too hardcore. I didn’t want to raise them like delicate flowers either.
Adversity was the best teacher.
The lessons learned in tis of crisis were engraved in your bones, never to be forgotten.
“Mister!!”
I joined my teammates after sending the warriors into the labyrinth.
“You’re late.”
Alia scolded , glancing at her watch, and Auyen Lokrob, the navigator, greeted nervously.
“You’re here, Clan Master!”
He was wearing his full set of armor.
“Thank you so much for letting co with you!”
He sounded genuinely grateful.
Well, he had been locked up in the basent for days.
But he had tried to rob us, so…
I couldn’t feel any sympathy for him.
A good looter is a dead looter. And besides, I couldn’t trust him if I didn’t treat him harshly.
“Emily.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on him in the labyrinth.”
We had that conversation right in front of him, but he pretended not to hear.
He didn’t even try to reassure us or promise to behave.
‘He’s quick-witted.’
But I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing…
“Um… Bjorn? Shouldn’t we be going?”
“Ah… right.”
The portal was shrinking, so we headed towards it.
And…
「Entered the 1st-floor Crystal Cave.」
The first expedition of Clan Anabada had begun.
______________________
The Crystal Cave, shimring with a faint purple light.
“North.”
“North.”
“The Goblin Forest.”
We all spoke at the sa ti as soon as we entered.
, the student of Lotmiller, Alia, the Guide, and Erwen, who had received tracking training from her sister.
“….”
“….”
It was a bit awkward, having three guides in a five-man party.
“Ahem.”
“I was faster. Than her.”
“…..”
“Hahaha! Are you two children? Competing over sothing like that!”
Ainar laughed heartily, and Erwen glared at her.
But her glare was ineffective.
“That’s a good look, Erwen!”
Ainar even nodded in approval.
“……?”
Erwen frowned, as if she had encountered an incomprehensible creature, and Ainar shrugged.
“You look happy! Unlike the last ti I saw you!”
Her words made flinch.
The last ti… she must be talking about the day Raven told about.
Ainar had stepped on a landmine.
But…
“…What are you talking about?”
Erwen didn’t seem angry.
She just looked away, embarrassed.
‘Right, she’s weak to this kind of thing…’
Maybe Ainar’s presence was a good thing.
Honestly, I was a bit worried that Alia wouldn’t be able to handle Erwen alone.
‘And she’s beco a bit more llow these days…’
As I was thinking that…
“Alright, let’s go! I’m so excited to be exploring with Bjorn again!!”
Ainar charged ahead, and I chuckled, stopping her.
“Ainar, where are you going?”
“Huh? We started in the north, so we’re going north! I know how to plan a basic route! I can even read a compass now!”
I was proud of her progress, but…
“We’re not going to the Goblin Forest today.”
Alia’s firm words made Ainar tilt her head.
“…Oh? Really? Then where are we going? The Land of the Dead?”
“The Rocky Desert. Hmm, that’s strange. I’m sure I shared the exploration plan with you…”
“Ah, sorry! I forgot!”
“…I see.”
Alia was speechless, and I quickly took control of the situation.
We couldn’t waste any more ti here.
“Hmm, then…”
Who should I assign as the guide?
Alia, the Guide? Or Erwen?
I hesitated for a mont, and then I made a decision.
“…I’ll be the guide!”
The main objective of this expedition was to build teamwork.
I had to minimize the chances of conflict.
“Huh? You don’t have to do that, Mister—”
“What are you talking about! We have to share the burden! Co on, follow !”
I cut Erwen off and led the way.
We had a lot to do this ti.
Even though Ainar didn’t seem to rember anything…
‘At least she won’t be suspicious of .’
It was actually an advantage.
In my old team, I couldn’t even use my ga knowledge properly because I was worried about Raven’s reaction.
「Entered the 2nd-floor Rocky Desert.」
Alright, let’s start by clearing the low-level raids.
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