Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Catch That Bastard (6)
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Gelun stared at Balkan, who gripped an axe drenched in blood.
'To fight goblins in such a sloppy, disgusting way...'
Of course, to any third-party observer, it had been a clean and concise battle.
The moment Balkan pressed the axe blade against the goblin's nape, its head had been neatly severed and rolled across the floor.
"Well done, Balkan! There's one more on the right!"
"Already got it."
His battlefield awareness was impressive too. He'd eliminated the threat well before party leader Joey Hogg could even issue the order.
Splash!
As Balkan swung his axe in a wide arc, the goblin blood splattered off it, drawing a straight line across the ground.
Battle over.
As an explorer, Gelun was impressed by the concise fight. He figured Balkan was roughly on his level... no, perhaps just a hair above. But as a man, he couldn't stand a single thing about the guy's demeanor.
His love for Edelbert had driven Gelun insane.
And so, he couldn't forgive Balkan for daring to take Edelbert's disciple spot.
"...Gelun, you're really going through with that?"
Slime Ein Aldente, having witnessed Balkan's skill, whispered to Gelun with an uneasy look.
Aldente wasn't the only one worried. The other members of Gelun's party hanging back were eyeing him with anxious expressions too.
It was because Gelun had shared his insane plan with the party.
The plan was simple.
Capture the outlaws, seize the shaman hobgoblin's staff, and then...
'Pretend it's an accident and use it on Balkan.'
He'd heard all about the hobgoblin staff's power in the previous briefing. The force that turned men into drooling idiots who could only ejaculate nonstop.
If he used that power to turn Balkan into a cripple, Edelbert—disappointed in him—would surely abandon the guy.
And maybe, just maybe, that would open a chance for Gelun himself. Edelbert might finally notice him!!!
That was the extent of Gelun's ambitious scheme.
"Gelun, if we rack up just seven more contribution points, we can rank up to mid-tier explorers. If that plan goes wrong and we get caught, who knows what penalties we'll face..."
The other party members had opposed the plan, of course.
"Aldente, just follow my lead. I'm the leader of this party, aren't I? Who do you think got us this far?"
Gelun, consumed by jealousy, ignored the party's objections.
His influence in the party was overwhelming.
Who had grown this party to the brink of mid-tier explorer promotion?
Everyone in Gelun's party knew the answer. In the end, they had no choice but to obey him.
"...Fine."
Gelun tore his gaze from Aldente, who returned to his spot with a sour expression, and glared at Balkan, who stared indifferently at his axe.
'Let's see how long you can keep up that attitude.'
The cool air of the familiar yet unfamiliar first floor of the labyrinth brushed past my entire body.
'...?'
It felt oddly ticklish.
A faint energy? Or maybe tiny blue particles floating in the air.
I recognized those specks as what people called mana or magical power.
With my Intelligence at 1 after entering the labyrinth, this was a new change I'd noticed.
A dormant sense had awakened, making new stimuli feel even more acute.
'Still, it's not some dramatic difference.'
It just kept tickling faintly—no explosive clarity like when I'd boosted my Technique.
Anyway, everyone crossed the portal safely and reformed our formation.
From here on, our task was straightforward.
"We'll smash every goblin blocking our path and head to the second floor!"
We'd already fought several battles starting from the first floor.
They were just regular goblins, not hobgoblins, so nothing too tough, but we stayed vigilant.
'That prick's glaring at me again.'
Gelun's slimy glances were annoying, but I didn't complain.
They wouldn't make their real move until floor 8 or later anyway.
"...Hmm..."
After our fifth goblin fight, Joey Hogg and Gelun's party's guide兼tank Aldente huddled over the map.
I peeked in too.
It was still the second-floor layout map. A marker hovered in the center.
The sight raised a question.
"Huh, the marker's in the exact same spot as last time?"
It had been here when we'd checked the map and sketches two days ago, right?
"...Yeah. They haven't budged from this sector at all."
The slime humanoid around 180 cm tall grimaced weirdly at me, then stretched his neck out in a nod.
He had no clear gender, but he gave off this oddly sympathetic, pitying vibe whenever he looked my way.
"These bastards... they know the pursuit team's coming today, but they aren't leaving the second floor. Why not head deeper...?"
Joey Hogg nodded with a grim face as he studied the map.
Why would mere fugitives outlaws loiter in the same spot?
"Not a food shortage... right?"
Aldente shook his head.
Raiding returning junior explorers in the labyrinth would solve food issues.
"Stamina management... nah."
Joey Hogg rubbed his temple.
Blaz Clan's exec Gurumimi was a veteran who'd reached floor 10 in the past.
She was probably even stronger now. Even solo, she'd crush second-floor mobs effortlessly.
If it wasn't about survival, the only explanation was some nasty scheme.
They'd slipped into the labyrinth knowing pursuit was on their tail.
So, as the hunted, how could they secure their safety while screwing over the hunters?
The shittiest thing on the second floor.
That left only one possibility...
"No way. A teleport trap?"
"Probably."
"Fuck."
I smacked my forehead at Aldente and Joey Hogg's confirmation.
Shit. That goddamn teleport trap again.
I shuddered at the outlaws' cunning plot.
Assuming you could escape its activation zone, no trap was better for screwing people over and slipping away.
'Even if we find the outlaws, falling into a teleport trap ruins everything.'
Even if luck sent us to the nearest third-floor trap, chasing them back to the first floor after they'd leisurely teleported away wouldn't be easy.
Joey Hogg and Aldente briefed the party on the speculation.
So we could prepare if the outlaws really were lurking near a teleport trap.
"Prepare? All we can do is stick together. How do you dodge a teleport trap?"
"Better than scattering cluelessly to random floors. Good call, Balkan."
Back when my Agility was 17, I'd barely escaped a teleport trap with that spec.
In this party, aside from me, only Gelun exceeded Agility 17.
"If that happens, we'll have to step up."
"Heh. Sure thing."
Gelun smirked with a sleazy look.
His face was punchable as hell, but he'd gotten the point, so I kept my fists down.
With the briefing done, the party took a major break.
The first floor was huge. Even hustling at our level, it took about 17 hours on average.
We had a long way to go. Rest was essential for maintaining condition.
With so many people, we could afford a long break.
Even though we were one party now, we were originally separate groups.
During meals and rest, we naturally clustered by original parties.
'Diana's jerky really is the best.'
I hadn't asked for more since it'd feel awkward, so I was rationing it bit by bit, but it was way tastier than store-bought stuff.
"Wh-what? Why's it opening? A mouth-opening helmet? No way."
"That's just how it works."
The party members watched in fascination as I opened the helmet's mouth slit and chomped on jerky.
"...Your lips look surprisingly firm and tough. I figured it'd be all scars, but your mouth area's clean. Perfect for sucking my cow horns."
"Are you insane, Jubel?"
"Heh, kidding."
I was used to Jubel's sex jokes by now, but the party's gazes shifted subtly, turning intrigued.
Like discovering an unexpected side to the rough tomboy who always hung with the guys.
Clack.
Sensing vague unease, I wolfed down the rest and snapped the helmet shut.
"Ahem. Hm."
"......"
Ramel cleared his throat awkwardly, and Hitollis pointedly looked away.
I carefully tucked the jerky pouch into my bosom and stood.
Meal and rest over—it was time to move again.
After a few more battles and a long march with breaks, we reached the end of the first floor.
A sinister red-glowing descent portal. Crossing it would drop us at a random spot on the second floor.
"Everyone ready?!"
At Joey Hogg's shout, our party nodded. Gelun's crew looked baffled at the sudden hype.
The outlaws were still in the same spot.
Now the real game of hide-and-seek began.
"Let's head in."
We crossed the portal in physical contact again.
Shaking off the brief floating sensation, the scenery flipped in an instant.
Cleaner stone tiles than the first floor. We'd safely landed on the trap-themed second floor.
"......"
An eerie silence fell immediately.
I glanced ahead.
A ominously glowing purple portal.
The second floor's worst: a teleport trap to the eighth floor, right in front of us.
We'd nearly been flung straight to floor 8 upon arrival.
"Phew..."
It felt like dodging a landmine by a hair. Sighs of relief echoed everywhere. Lucky.
Shifting my eyes from the immediate danger, I took in the surroundings.
Two unfamiliar women stood right beside the teleport trap.