Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Forest Layer (2)
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Dillon and Ian, taking point up front, led the way. Milton, who had been keeping watch around them, sidled up to Joann and lowered his voice.
"......You really gonna do it?"
"What choice do we have?"
He spoke in a hesitant whisper, and Joann shot him a razor-sharp glare. Milton flinched, glancing at Ian to make sure the sound hadn't carried.
"...I keep thinking about it, and it just feels wrong. Wiping out all that debt just for grabbing some fresh Intermediate Adventurer?"
Milton was a battle-hardened adventurer by now. He was well past the point where killing someone would prick his conscience. It was just this nagging, inexplicable unease that wouldn't quit.
"Oppa, you know how it is. Fresh Intermediate Adventurers have sky-high mortality rates. One death won't even register."
"....."
It was too late to talk her out of it. He'd signed off on it yesterday anyway. All that crushing debt forgiven, just for taking out a newbie Intermediate Adventurer and handing over everything they carried.
"That clan's acting so damn greedy—they must have something huge on them. If we play our cards right, we might snag it ourselves..."
Listening to Joann's greed-laced voice, Milton stared at Ian's back as he led the group ahead.
For some reason, the unease was overwhelming.
"This is the spot."
Following Dillon's lead, they reached the 12th floor and found a small clearing well away from the portal. Word was, they'd cleared the trees and grass around it for camping.
Sure enough, once they arrived, no monster presences showed up on his [Detection] skill in the area.
They pitched their tents in the clearing, and Milton slipped away first.
"Where's Milton...?"
"Ah, he'll set up some basic traps around the perimeter to keep monsters out."
True to his word, Milton rigged the clearing with strings, bells, and arrow-based traps. Those would definitely make it tough for any monsters to get close from outside.
...Probably just as hard to slip out from inside, too.
I kept an eye on him while pitching my tent with a straight face. The moment Dillon looked away, I chugged a mana potion from the Alchemy Guild.
Whew—even with my massively boosted mana reserves, keeping this up continuously was a grind. And that's with it hung on 'three' targets...
".....Dinner's ready."
Once Ian and Dillon finished the tents, Joann came out with bowls of simple stew and handed them over. Dillon took his and shoveled in a big bite with exaggerated flair, like he was putting on a show for me, then boomed out praise.
"Mmm! Always hits the spot! Thanks, Joann! Dig in, Ian! She's got real cooking chops!"
"..........."
I met Dillon's dead stare for a beat, then scooped up some stew with my spoon.
"....How is it?"
"....Yeah, it's good."
It really wasn't.
"First time in the Forest Layer—you must be wiped. Ian, take first watch relief. You'll cover the last shift."
"....Four of us—shouldn't we do pairs for watch?"
"......Right! Okay, then you rest first..."
Continued maintaining skills on multiple targets!
[Multi-Block] skill has risen to level 3!
Skill leveled up—now handles four? ...Works. Nice.
"Alright, I'll crash first then. Switch me on time."
I faked a tired yawn and ducked into the tent. Then Dillon, still in his full armor, followed right in.
"Haha... Those two are still awkward around you, so I'll pair with you for watch. Twos at a time, four hours sleep each."
With that, Dillon lay down without shedding his heavy plate.
"Not taking off the armor?"
"Nah, it's like a second skin now! Comfy enough to sleep in."
Doubt that looks comfy... Whatever. Skills were holding steady, so I hit the sleeping bag.
Dillon kept his eyes glued to me the whole time I settled in. Right in front of him, I deliberately set my weapons and armor by the sleeping bag.
".......He asleep?"
"Made sure he ate it all, right?"
Milton and Joann stepped outside and downed vials of awakening potion. The crashing drowsiness sharpened into clarity, the sleep fog lifting a bit.
Labyrinth adventurers built transcendent resistance over years of honing body and mana. But when you needed to drop one, certain items did the trick.
Like sleeping drugs. One bite, and even the toughest adventurer was out cold.
"He said he has [Poison Resistance], yeah?"
"Yup. Tripled the dose."
"No antidote?"
"Saw him slug a mana potion earlier."
"Mana potion for sure?"
"Positive. Trust me—mage's word. Just the one mana potion."
They'd half-worried he'd catch on, but Ian ate their food without a second thought. No sign of any other potions after.
Plan was solo watches, hit him alone in the tent—but his suggestion put Dillon in there with him now.
"What's the play?"
"Dillon handles him once he's out. Says the guy's got no guard up—can solo it. If shit hits, he'll yell. Then ignore him, spam arrows and spells into the tent."
Chatting it out, they eyed the tent where Ian and Dillon slept. Locked and loaded to unleash hell if anything went south.
"See? Smooth sailing. What's got you so spooked..."
".........."
Milton brushed off Joann's words, eyes fixed on the tent. Just nerves? Everything checked out so far. Traps blocked in and out to prevent bolting or intruders. They'd popped awakeners ahead of time, fed him a mega-dose sleep toxin, and tucked him right in.
No issues. All in his head.
".........!"
"..Ah."
"Huh? What?"
"Guess it's done."
A metallic tang of blood hit Milton's nose—not monster, human. And a faint, clipped death gurgle in his ear. Shorter than he'd feared.
-Rustle.
The tent flap parted, proof it was over. Milton eased off, lowering his drawn bow...
"....Huh?"
It wasn't Dillon who stepped out.
Ian. No trace of drowsiness despite the drug. Knife in hand, pitch-black and dripping crimson gore. Not a scratch on him.
"....Wh-what the..."
Joann's panicked voice from right beside snapped Milton alert. Still got distance! No clue what went down, but this range? Dead shot.
Nocked another arrow. Drew the string... drew...
"....Ah?"
Nothing but black.
-Rustle.
With [Sensory Block] cutting off 'sleepiness' on myself, I lay still in the sleeping bag, playing possum—mouth slack, even drooling a bit.
Then Dillon, faking sleep right beside me, sat up.
Seriously? Can't we keep it chill?
Ignoring my inner grumble, Dillon yanked his unsheathed sword from his sleeping bag and swung dead at my exposed neck...
On attack attempt toward me: Block sight and mana sensing.
"..Ah?"
Dillon, eyes locked on my neck, let out a baffled yelp. I bolted from the bag like lightning, channeling through my bracelet to summon the cursed knife from inventory.
-STAB!
"......!"
Knife straight to the throat before he could scream. Instantly, his body blackened and rotted away; a deflating wheeze leaked from his mouth as he tried to shout.
"....Gurk..."
Left him clutching his neck and casually geared up—armor, belt. Fully kitted, popped [Limit Break] for the strength boost, and swung my sword. His head sheared off mid-clutch, blood spraying the tent.
Let's see... three this time, so one mouthpiece should do.
Stepping out, I caught panic radiating from the two gripping their weapons, eyes on me. It faded quick—Milton recovered first, bow trained.
On attack attempt toward me: Block sight and mana sensing.
The same condition I'd layered on all three triggered at once. The instant Milton's vision blanked and he registered the skill, I kicked off the ground and shifted sideways.
-Thwip!
Arrow whistled past where I'd stood. No sooner dodged than Joann started casting my way—but...
"...?...?"
Like it wasn't working right, she flailed, unable to pin my position, chanting on. Can't sense jack, huh?
First time jamming someone else's mana sense—flawless. Mana burn was steep, though...
I charged straight at them. Milton clocked me by sound, steadied, and loosed a volley my way. Real Intermediate Adventurer material—shakes off panic fast. But...
Protective Barrier Activated
A translucent veil shimmered around me. Arrows pinged off harmlessly. Blind to it, Milton didn't clock his shots failing and kept firing.
Ignoring Joann's endless chanting, closed on the relentless Milton and whipped my sword horizontal.
Sound closing fast, he panic-dropped the bow and backpedaled desperately—but...
'Weapon swap. Knife to longsword.'
Mana surged into the bracelet; the short knife vanished, replaced by a crimson longsword. Gap closed, blade kissed his throat.
-SLASH!
The now-familiar bite of severing life hit me. I snatched an awakener vial from his belt, downed it, and booted the nearby Joann.
"Gahk!"
Pinned the tumbling Joann underfoot, knife to her throat, and released [Sensory Block].
She whipped around, piecing it together—I helpfully dangled Milton's severed head in front of her eyes.
"Hiiik!"
"Spill everything you know. Now."
'Poisons know the answers.' Before Season 2 drops.