Chapter 110
Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Second Theme (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The composition of our ten team members was as follows.
1. Me, the team leader, first of all.
Then, in order.
2. Zhang Wei, the Judge.
3. Olena Zelenska.
4. James.
5. Kapu.
6. Miao Hana.
7. The middle-aged man whose name I still hadn't learned.
8. Olivia Rodrigo.
9. The man next to her who looked like a lackey.
And finally.
10. The space mage, Vladimir Rodigin.
From here on out.
I had to lead these ten team members.
And conquer Theme 2.
"First off."
I pulled two scrolls from my pocket.
"Before we get into the main discussion, let me share some information."
They were the 'Theme 1 Info Scroll' and 'Theme 2 Info Scroll' I'd bought from the shop.
"You might know about them, or you might not, but these were something you could obtain by paying Trial Points during the previous theme. Everyone, gather around and take a look."
I combined the two and shared the information with the team members.
Even the middle-aged man and Olivia, who had been at odds.
Had they noticed the mission message pop up?
"You, we'll talk later."
"Hmph, whatever."
Even as they traded barbs.
They fell under my command for now.
"Whoa, so you bought these from the shop?"
"Ooh, is this that info scroll? I didn't have the points to get one."
The team members began gathering around me in a circle.
"Well, with your contribution ranking at number one... you could've easily afforded a couple of these."
"Let's take a look, anyway."
#3. The shop appears 30 days after the trial begins.
The shop's currency is 'Trial Points,' and participants must find various hidden 'treasures' to collect 'Trial Points.'
PS. Each 'treasure' has a 'treasure bonus.'
>
#4. There is a special perk.
Participants can locate the examiners watching them from afar.
If found, they can access the 'shop' early.
>
#5. There are two ways to obtain this info scroll.
One, purchase it with 'Trial Points' through a discovered examiner.
Two, find the info scrolls hidden by examiners throughout the area.
"Hmm, so we have to hunt for treasures?"
Vladimir muttered.
"Trial Points and the shop seem to carry over just like in the last theme?"
"Hmm, so what do we do? Should we stock up on Trial Points before heading to the castle?"
Murmurs rippled through the group.
The team members voiced their thoughts as they read the info.
I slowly scanned each of their faces before speaking.
"We're not going after treasures."
"...."
"Don't forget. Our goal isn't just finding the 'national treasure' hidden in the giant castle. The key is finding the 'national treasure' before Team 2 or Team 3. Who knows? While we're standing around, the other teams might already be heading to the castle."
Silence fell over the group at my words.
They all looked tense now, their faces set with determination.
Right.
This wasn't just a simple treasure hunt.
It was a competition. A race to the finish.
"We don't have time. We'll march toward the castle while staying vigilant. Everyone, prepare your survival and defense measures. Kapu?"
"Yeah, I'm right here. Hun."
He shot his hand up.
"You're our guide, so take point and lead the way. And Judge?"
"Speak, Skeleton King."
"From now on, you're the vice leader. Handle the detailed role assignments, and when I'm not around, you have full authority as team leader."
The Judge was a righteous hunter with firm principles.
Which meant he'd handle things more fairly than anyone.
"Got it. I'll do my best."
The Judge adjusted his hat.
At the same time, my first order went out.
Prepare to march.
"Whoa, as expected of number one! Clean and decisive!"
Vladimir gave a thumbs-up.
"Hee-hee, now I can trust you."
Miao Hana smiled softly as well.
The tense atmosphere flipped to one of resolve in an instant!
Seeing that, Olena chimed in, as if catching her breath.
"You know this, right? I'm handling food and water, and camping! Everyone, let's do our best!"
"Oh, water supplies? Whoa! We've got a real gem here."
"Hee-hee! I saw you handle yourself pretty well earlier too, Vladimir?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty strong. Ha-ha! Look forward to it. I'll be a single-digit ranker someday."
"Ehh, that's a bit..."
Jokes flew as the team members got moving.
I stepped back a pace and sank into thought.
'Trial Points first.'
[Trial Points in possession.]
[Trial Points: 891,500]
'Still intact.'
Good.
I'd been worried they might vanish pointlessly.
'This theme's probably the same.'
Just like with the Poison Fog, they'd make us use the shop right before clearing.
But until then, they'd have us grind Trial Points.
And on top of that.
There was a high chance a VIP shop existed too.
The one that had gifted me that god-slaying weapon...
'I have to use it.'
I had my own way of grabbing everything worth taking while moving fast.
[Using skill, 'Skeleton Knight Summon' (A-rank).]
By using those guys!
Clatter! Clack-clack!
I summoned a total of six bony minions, excluding Demir back on Earth.
"My liege."
"You called?"
Creak, clack!
Bones erupted from the ground, swirled around, and assembled.
Always reliable.
My forces.
"Everyone."
I said quietly.
"Scour the entire area. Gather anything suspicious or unusual you find hidden anywhere."
"Anything suspicious, my liege?"
"Yeah. Anything with some kind of aura, anything off... whatever. Everything."
I still didn't know what 'treasures' really were.
So, for now, we'd sweep up absolutely everything.
"Like foraging for poison mushrooms?"
"We'll get to it, my liege!"
Taeyang and Eldrin responded reliably.
Whoosh!
In unison, they vanished in all four cardinal directions.
They'd probably summon their own skeletons and fan out like a spiderweb to search.
Using every trick in their experience, they'd uncover something.
'Reliable.'
This was the cheat-like power of a necromancer.
Commanding hordes from afar without lifting a finger.
I sensed them moving away and smiled proudly.
* * *
Drip, drip!
Rain began to pour.
We pressed on, slogging through the muddy ground.
Our goal loomed ahead: the giant castle.
Of course, just because it looked big didn't mean we were close.
A full day passed, and we still hadn't arrived.
"Whew, man. It never ends, no matter how far we go. Ugh, so humid."
"The rain won't stop, it's all sticky. Dries up, then pours again."
"Yeah. Makes sense, though. No way the trial's this easy."
"That castle... doesn't it look like the sun? Same size no matter how long we walk."
Just like someone said.
The castle's size was exactly the same as it had been a day ago.
Why was that?
Was the land really that vast?
Or was there some kind of trap?
Like a magic spell making us run in circles like a hamster wheel.
"No traps, unfortunately."
Kapu shook his head firmly.
"The distance is definitely closing. According to my skill 'Far Sight,' it's shrinking by meters even as we speak."
"Whoa, really?"
"That castle... it's just insanely far away and huge."
"No way."
The hunters shook their heads.
Olena grumbled.
"Whew, at this scale, we probably don't even need to post guards?"
Truth be told, since yesterday.
We'd all been wary of Team 2.
The team led by Chris Larsen—all murderers.
Easily our biggest threat.
"Shame."
The Judge muttered.
"Would've been nice to judge them all."
Of course, his mutter was so quiet.
It barely reached even my ears.
"Let's keep going for now."
"Olena, water here. Thirsty."
"Yes, yes! Anyone need water? Just say the word, I'll fill your canteen!"
Not a single team member looked fresh.
It wasn't that long for ranker candidates.
But endless repetition wears anyone down.
"...."
I kept walking in silence.
Of course, even then.
[Treasure bonus acquired.]
['Medieval Useless Relic' is an F-rank treasure.]
[Acquired 10 Trial Points.]
....
[Treasure bonus acquired.]
['Bird of Prey Statue' is a C-rank treasure.]
[Acquired 300 Trial Points.]
Status windows kept popping up.
Points rose the instant 'treasures' were found, no distance limit!
The bones were working overtime.
'Sweet for me.'
I grinned ear to ear.
All I did was resummon them every day or so to reset positions.
And the points snowballed. How could I not be thrilled?
The 'treasure bonus' was like the 'poison bonus' from Theme 1.
[F-rank treasure - 10 points]
[E-rank treasure - 50 points]
[D-rank treasure - 100 points]
[C-rank treasure - 300 points]
[B-rank treasure - 500 points]
[A-rank treasure - 1,000 points]
Points scaled with the treasure's rank upon discovery.
We'd been walking like this for a while when.
"Hey."
Someone spoke to me.
Olivia, who'd been following silently until now.
"Yeah?"
"But, fuck. Do we just keep walking like this? Don't we need to do something?"
"Hm?"
"We've been at it for hours. What if we just walk till the end like idiots?"
"...."
I gave a wry smile.
I understood her anxiety.
The team was wandering aimlessly on my orders.
"Just wait a bit. I'll check it out by tonight."
"By tonight? You have a way?"
"Yeah."
"What way?"
"...."
"What, are you using some shady method behind our backs? You didn't cheat your way to number one in Theme 1 like that, did you?"
Her words poked oddly at my nerves.
Of course, I couldn't deny it.
I was stacking points without them knowing.
'But.'
Who knows?
These points might be our breakthrough in this deadlock.
"Hmm, why's that bitch yapping at you like that? You don't even look like you have a plan."
The old man I'd summoned earlier hovered in the air, tilting his head.
I answered inwardly.
'Dunno. Ignore her. She seems kinda off.'
"Heh-heh, my disciple, but you're something else. A real saint! If you pulled that in front of me, I'd snap something."
'Not worth it.'
Getting rattled by every little thing.
Would make me no better than the middle-aged guy who'd snapped yesterday.
What mattered now.
Was finding a solution.
'Elder.'
"Yeah?"
'Any sign of that girl from before around us?'
"Girl? Who?"
'The judge girl who hurled lightning. The one called Thunderclap.'
"Oh, that dimwit?"
'....Yeah.'
"Yeah, she's been tailing you from the start. Kept a bit more distance than last time, though....'
'Oh, really?'
My eyes lit up.
When there's no answer.
Try everything you can right now.
'Elder.'
"What."
'That girl. Can you tell me her position in real time?'
This time too.
I planned to use the elder's power to track down the examiner.