Drifters #4
Labyrinth Day 47.
I held off on using the Vending Machine Tracker Ticket. I couldn't just recklessly burn through such a precious chance to definitively locate one. What if I tracked it down only to find it stocked with expensive tickets, and I didn't have enough coins for the ones I needed? A disaster like that had to be avoided. The smart move was to stockpile funds first, then use the tracker—and until then, stick to stumbling upon vending machines by luck during my explorations.
Rise kept sending steady coin donations at regular intervals. Thanks to him, my total had now hit 200,000 coins. In Korean won, that was nearly 2 billion. Wonder if I can cash this in when I get back to Earth.
At this rate, a Radiant Evolution Ticket might actually be within reach someday.
"Thanks. Seriously, I'd be screwed without you. But you're not dipping into the national treasury or anything, right?"
"Good to hear."
If it was Terio and Ayula's money, no issue—they'd gotten my help too. As long as Rise wasn't strong-arming them.
I double-checked my coin balance, then stepped out of the crystal orb house and scanned the surroundings. That's when I spotted them: a group dancing their hearts out.
[Dance with joyyot! Duumba!]
"Duumba-yang!"
"D-Duumba..."
Hedgehog Summoner God's dance class was in full swing. The instructor was, naturally, the Hedgehog himself. Students: Merino Ulla and Iara Un.
[Merino! Shake that hips more passionatelyyot!]
"Duumba-yang! Duumba-yang!"
[Iara! Your moves are stiffyyot! Snap that waist moreyyot!]
"Duumba......"
Iara Un had stuck around instead of heading back. Circumstantially, those six dead drifters from yesterday were likely her party, but she couldn't rule it out for sure yet.
Not wrong. Before those six died and drifters dropped to five, there'd been eleven total in the labyrinth: Iara Un and Merino Ulla (2), Iara's party (6), other drifters (3).
Slim chance, but maybe Iara's three party members and the other three drifters died simultaneously elsewhere. Or 2-and-4, 1-and-5 splits. Theoretically, up to three of Iara's crew could still be alive.
Of course, pure wishful thinking. Survival odds for her party were minuscule, as I'd noted.
If the two groups linked up only to get ambushed together, odds tick up a bit.
Iara wasn't banking on it much either. She'd already accepted their deaths deep down. She stayed to confirm for certain. Zero percent wasn't quite right.
For reference—unlike Iara's faint hope—I'd already written off the other three as not her party. Realism.
Wonder what those other three are up to.
Curiosity hit. They'd survived longer than expected in this death trap—not your average folks.
...Running into another drifter was pure chance. No tracker used, no active hunt. Just heading to the pond for a wash when I spotted a guy with Drifter floating over his head.
"Grr! This one's a real beast!"
A charred-black monster corpse. The guy was snapping photos nonstop.
"Nearly bit the dust there. But its power just tanked outta nowhere... Whatever, pics first."
As expected, the other drifter wasn't ordinary. Survival wasn't just luck.
"Huh? Who're you lot?"
He sensed us, whipped around, and leveled a flamethrower-like device from his back—guarded stance.
Threat level: B-rank. Actual: S-rank. No other drifters nearby.
Why the sudden roast...
Anyway, he looked ready to unleash hell. Drifter or not, might as well be a monster—no chat possible.
Then.
"Wait... Hold up... You there...?"
His brow twitched. He hesitated, eyes locking on Azeras beside me. Shock plain on his face.
"Half-assed Azeras?"
Her name slipped from his lips. What? How does he know Azeras?
"Hahaha! You look so utterly fucked up I almost didn't recognize you! What's with the crap on your head? Disgustingly perfect fit for a lowly bitch like you!"
"You got dragged here by the dark portal too? Thought you'd gotten buried somewhere! Surviving this Ancient Labyrinth this long? Lucky trash!"
I glanced at Azeras. She met my eyes, then tilted her head at him.
"...Who're, you."
"What?"
"Who... are you, I asked."
"Don't fuck with me. You dare forget this body?"
"......"
"......"
"Ah. I... remember. Destroy God aspirant, Ignis Ashbringer......"
Azeras named him, and he scowled, bellowing.
"Aspirant?! It's been ages since I was officially recognized as a Destroy God!"
"......"
"Remember this, trash! I'm now the Flame Conductor—a title you half-assed scum can't even meet my eyes for! Hahaha!"
"Hmm... Lately, even dogs and pigs... become Destroy Gods, it seems......"
Azeras looked away. Turned back to me, gave the rundown.
Name: Ignis Ashbringer. Heavenly realm, like her. A Destroy God dreamer. Now apparently an "official" one with that retarded title, Flame Conductor.
Bonus: Better off dead. Slaughters weaker beings indiscriminately—pure trash.
"Jealous? Just admit it, trash Azeras!"
"...Not... jealous."
"Kuhaha! Can't even speak right—must burn you up!"
"......"
"And what's with the monster entourage? You an explorer now?"
"I'm no... explorer now. The explorer... is Gauntlet here."
"What? Not an explorer? And Gauntlet...?"
Finally clocked me. Ignored till now.
"You, meathead. You the explorer?"
"Yeah."
I sketched him in my notebook while answering. Cocky prick—gonna kill him soon anyway. No point chatting. Easier post-mortem.
"I deign to speak, and you ignore me? Arrogant fool who knows no place."
"Yeah."
"...Hey, explorer."
"What."
"You mocking me?"
"Nope."
"......"
"......"
"Meathead. Just checking—did you weaken my power?"
"Yup."
"Knew it."
Ignis smirked oddly. Turned, muttering.
"Eh, even at this strength, offing trash like you is easy... But too many monsters—might be rough. Putting you on hold."
Grab the other two, slaughter you all. Kill every explorer—we'll be next. Kukukuku.
As this shithead bolted.
Drifter Count: 4
No scream. Black Magma Slime-003 dropped from the ceiling, smothered him to death.
At least shut your trap if fleeing. Real retard?
"Always... famous for stupidity......"
[Sssrng. Pathetic.]
"Puppeteer. Marionette this one too."
[Got it.]
Watched Necro Puppeteer turn the heavenly realm scum into a puppet. Slowly closed my notebook.
⚠ Actual Threat:S-rank
📉 Current (Nerfed) Threat: B-rank
🔥 Ability: Fire?
📝 Notes: Heavenly realm origin.