Chapter 104: Mafia (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: Mafia (3)
The essence of a rank-seven Yeti had pretty decent abilities.
[Yeti]
[Strength: +10
Agility: +10
Bone Strength: +15
Cold Resistance: +25
Cold Sensitivity: +15]
First, it had a pair of top-tier stats. Bone Strength and Cold Resistance were already defensive stats that were classified in the upper tiers. And adding Cold Sensitivity on top of all that?
This should be useful for a few years.
Sensitivity stats were key for attribute-damage dealers like Missha. Just as you dealt more physical damage when your strength stat was high, the strength of an attribute depended on the amount of sensitivity the character had.
As expected, she's lucky.
I got this sense in the Witch's Forest, too, but Missha was the complete opposite of me. Anything she did worked out smoothly. Just look at this Yeti's essence, and a blue one at that.
[(P) Chill—Adds additional cold damage to all attacks and reduces the Cold Resistance of the affected target.
(A) Cold Condensation—Temporarily and significantly increases sensitivity to cold.]
The passive effect was the same no matter the color of the essence, but of the active skills Yetis had, the exact one I wanted had been dropped. Cold Eruption wasn't bad either, but if you compared them in terms of potential, there was nothing quite like Cold Condensation.
With that kind of skill, I could've used this as a support essence if only the base stats were good. Oh well.
Cold Condensation shone more in the second half of the game. Though, because the stat bonuses were too low, she'd also have to erase it in the second half.
It would have been much better if the Yeti had been a rank-five monster...
This game was needlessly consistent about things like that.
As I was thinking all that, Missha asked, "H-How much could it possibly be?"
"Huh?"
"H-How much will it cost that you'rrre hesitating so much?!" What the heck, was she still going on about that? "As you know, I spent a lot of money this time so I don't have that much left..."
At this point, I almost wondered why she was like this, but if I thought about it, it wasn't like I couldn't understand where she was coming from. That was just how ruthless adventurers were about splitting essences. When an essence dropped, the team looked for the person to take it. When the owner was chosen, they had to pay the team members an amount based on the average value of the essence according to the guild.
But it's a headache if there are no buyers on the team.
It usually wasn't because they didn't need it, but because there were times when no one could afford the cost of the essence. Rather, this was overwhelmingly common. However, even in that case, parties usually waited thirty minutes until the essence disappeared naturally before resuming their quest.
It's a way of ensuring that you didn't do some random person a favor for free.
That was the kind of people adventurers were. However, Missha was lucky this time. "Don't worry about the money. You only distribute things like that when you will be parting ways."
"I-Is that so?"
I was a barbarian who knew how to invest in the future. For the sake of my safety during future dungeon crawls, Missha needed to evolve into a better damage dealer.
"Then I'll eat it...?"
"Why do you keep looking at me? Go ahead and eat."
"Uhh, I'm really eating it?"
Geez, how many times did I have to say it? For Missha, who had been an adventurer for a long time, it must seem awkward to accept something without giving anything in return.
"What are you hesitating for? Your continued presence by my side is enough for me."
"Well, thank you for saying that, but... Ahh, I don't know anymorrre. I'm really going to eat it!" Despite that vigorous shout, Missha cautiously placed her hand on the essence.
[The Essence of a Yeti has seeped into Missha Karlstein's soul.]
The essence emitted a light and wove its way into Missha's body. "...It feels so weirrrd. Maybe because it's been two yearrrs since my last one?"
"You will get used to it soon." I decided to explain the Yeti's abilities in detail later when I had time, and I turned around to look at Jenson. It seemed like their discussion was over too. "What did you decide to do with that?"
Carlson carefully answered my question. "Umm... Neither of us will absorb this one."
This answer was slightly unexpected. They were going to throw away an essence? These beginner bastards?
"It's just... Miss Jencia said she saw the essence come out of a Frost Wolf's body."
"And?"
"If it's a Frost Wolf... I decided that's not an essence that suits me."
Was that how it was? "Do you know anything about Frost Wolves?" I asked, carefully studying Carlson's expression.
Although they were only rank-nine, information about these guys was not well known because, excluding Rifts, you could usually only encounter them after reaching the sixth floor. So how did these first- and second-floor adventurers know anything about them? It was not impossible for them to, but it certainly wasn't common either.
"Um... I don't know the details, but it's a rank-nine essence, right? There may be a better essence later..."
"...I see." It was still a little suspicious, but there was nothing wrong with his answer. If we were outside, it would be a different story, but this was a Rift, where the drop rate of essences was significantly higher. It must have felt like a waste for him to fill his single essence slot with a rank-nine essence.
"Oh, I meant I'll take what's left over, of course. I didn't mean to imply anything else."
"I know. You don't have to explain." When my interrogation with Carlson was over, it was Jencia's turn. "Are you the same?"
"Yes... I only have one free spot, so I want to be a little more careful..."
Careful, huh? I didn't think that was something a swordswoman with the essence of a Goblin Archer should say.
"Well... erasing an essence costs a lot of money, right? So I thought I shouldn't make the same mistake as last time."
Learning from past mistakes, huh? If that was the case, there was nothing more for me to say on the subject.
"I'm sorry. You even handed it over to us."
In the end, both interrogations ended without much success. That was the disappointing part.
Geez, I thought I could get a better grasp of at least one of them.
My plan had been to remove whoever stepped forward to take this essence from the list of suspects. But neither of them took it, and their answers were also believable.
"Then I'll eat it...?"
"Why do you keep looking at me? Go ahead and eat."
"Uhh, I'm really eating it?"
Geez, how many times did I have to say it? For Missha, who had been an adventurer for a long time, it must seem awkward to accept something without giving anything in return.
"What are you hesitating for? Your continued presence by my side is enough for me."
"Well, thank you for saying that, but... Ahh, I don't know anymorrre. I'm really going to eat it!" Despite that vigorous shout, Missha cautiously placed her hand on the essence.
[The Essence of a Yeti has seeped into Missha Karlstein's soul.]
The essence emitted a light and wove its way into Missha's body. "...It feels so weirrrd. Maybe because it's been two yearrrs since my last one?"
"You will get used to it soon." I decided to explain the Yeti's abilities in detail later when I had time, and I turned around to look at Jenson. It seemed like their discussion was over too. "What did you decide to do with that?"
Carlson carefully answered my question. "Umm... Neither of us will absorb this one."
This answer was slightly unexpected. They were going to throw away an essence? These beginner bastards?
"It's just... Miss Jencia said she saw the essence come out of a Frost Wolf's body."
"And?"
"If it's a Frost Wolf... I decided that's not an essence that suits me."
Was that how it was? "Do you know anything about Frost Wolves?" I asked, carefully studying Carlson's expression.
Although they were only rank-nine, information about these guys was not well known because, excluding Rifts, you could usually only encounter them after reaching the sixth floor. So how did these first- and second-floor adventurers know anything about them? It was not impossible for them to, but it certainly wasn't common either.
"Um... I don't know the details, but it's a rank-nine essence, right? There may be a better essence later..."
"...I see." It was still a little suspicious, but there was nothing wrong with his answer. If we were outside, it would be a different story, but this was a Rift, where the drop rate of essences was significantly higher. It must have felt like a waste for him to fill his single essence slot with a rank-nine essence.
"Oh, I meant I'll take what's left over, of course. I didn't mean to imply anything else."
"I know. You don't have to explain." When my interrogation with Carlson was over, it was Jencia's turn. "Are you the same?"
"Yes... I only have one free spot, so I want to be a little more careful..."
Careful, huh? I didn't think that was something a swordswoman with the essence of a Goblin Archer should say.
"Well... erasing an essence costs a lot of money, right? So I thought I shouldn't make the same mistake as last time."
Learning from past mistakes, huh? If that was the case, there was nothing more for me to say on the subject.
"I'm sorry. You even handed it over to us."
In the end, both interrogations ended without much success. That was the disappointing part.
Geez, I thought I could get a better grasp of at least one of them.
My plan had been to remove whoever stepped forward to take this essence from the list of suspects. But neither of them took it, and their answers were also believable.
Fuck, they're not all in this together, are they?
Even with the worst-case scenario in mind, I stopped that train of thought at the station. The final wave was about to begin.
"By the way... Is it all over now?" Jencia asked anxiously.
Zzz, zzz!
Right at that moment, the time we had left over from dealing with the Yeti early came to an end, and the final wave of the second stage began. The nine-layered ice wall had already been shattered, and the hall was four times wider than before.
"Up above!"
The shattered ceiling cracked like a spider's web, revealing a beast ten feet in diameter.
"Gwaaa!" Grayish-white fur covered its skin, and its mane climbed up its spine and covered the area around its neck. This was a rank-seven monster whose main specialty was walking around on two feet and tearing its enemies apart with sharp claws.
"...It's a Lycanthrope!"
At Missha's cry, Mr. Bear expressed some doubts. "Isn't it too big to be a Lycanthrope? What's that club in his hands?" These were reasonable questions. This guy was the final boss of the Rift we were currently in. If he didn't know that this was the guardian of the Glacier Cave, the tyrant Tarunbas, it made sense that he'd be confused. "We'd better be careful." Perhaps instinctively sensing this was not an easy enemy, Mr. Bear nervously offered me advice for the first time.
Of course, I just ignored it. This may be the final boss, but fighting this guy would come a bit later.
"Oh, be carrreful!"
At the appearance of a monster that was clearly, conspicuously extraordinary, everyone raised their guard and prepared for what came next.
[The tyrant Tarunbas has discovered the intruders and is very angry. Tyrant Tarunbas has cast Ice Crush.]
The bastard slammed down his club.
Kwaaang!
The shock was so great that the entire surrounding area vibrated. Soon, a crack spread across the floor, just like on the ceiling.
"Uh... huh?"
"B-Bjorn!"
"...The floor is collapsing!"
The ground shattered and we fell.
"Aaaaaah!"
It was time to move on to the third stage.
***
[You have entered a special area. Field Effect – Glacier Cave is now active. Status effect Hypothermia has been activated. Agility is greatly reduced, and any cold damage taken is doubled.]
Heave!
I lifted my head above the surface of the water and let out the breath I had been holding in. Then I trudged out of the water and lay on the ground. The curses rained down instantly.
Goddamn reality patch.
In the game, all you had to do after falling was wait for the loading window. Your HP was significantly reduced, but the third stage began with the character already at the water's edge. But in reality?
I thought that was really going to be the end.
Where we fell, an underground river was flowing, and very turbulently too. I was forced to ride the rapid current, pushed and pulled as I was swept away. By the time I came to my senses, I was being thrown down a waterfall.
Fuck, they're not all in this together, are they?
Even with the worst-case scenario in mind, I stopped that train of thought at the station. The final wave was about to begin.
"By the way... Is it all over now?" Jencia asked anxiously.
Zzz, zzz!
Right at that moment, the time we had left over from dealing with the Yeti early came to an end, and the final wave of the second stage began. The nine-layered ice wall had already been shattered, and the hall was four times wider than before.
"Up above!"
The shattered ceiling cracked like a spider's web, revealing a beast ten feet in diameter.
"Gwaaa!" Grayish-white fur covered its skin, and its mane climbed up its spine and covered the area around its neck. This was a rank-seven monster whose main specialty was walking around on two feet and tearing its enemies apart with sharp claws.
"...It's a Lycanthrope!"
At Missha's cry, Mr. Bear expressed some doubts. "Isn't it too big to be a Lycanthrope? What's that club in his hands?" These were reasonable questions. This guy was the final boss of the Rift we were currently in. If he didn't know that this was the guardian of the Glacier Cave, the tyrant Tarunbas, it made sense that he'd be confused. "We'd better be careful." Perhaps instinctively sensing this was not an easy enemy, Mr. Bear nervously offered me advice for the first time.
Of course, I just ignored it. This may be the final boss, but fighting this guy would come a bit later.
"Oh, be carrreful!"
At the appearance of a monster that was clearly, conspicuously extraordinary, everyone raised their guard and prepared for what came next.
[The tyrant Tarunbas has discovered the intruders and is very angry. Tyrant Tarunbas has cast Ice Crush.]
The bastard slammed down his club.
Kwaaang!
The shock was so great that the entire surrounding area vibrated. Soon, a crack spread across the floor, just like on the ceiling.
"Uh... huh?"
"B-Bjorn!"
"...The floor is collapsing!"
The ground shattered and we fell.
"Aaaaaah!"
It was time to move on to the third stage.
***
[You have entered a special area. Field Effect – Glacier Cave is now active. Status effect Hypothermia has been activated. Agility is greatly reduced, and any cold damage taken is doubled.]
Heave!
I lifted my head above the surface of the water and let out the breath I had been holding in. Then I trudged out of the water and lay on the ground. The curses rained down instantly.
Goddamn reality patch.
In the game, all you had to do after falling was wait for the loading window. Your HP was significantly reduced, but the third stage began with the character already at the water's edge. But in reality?
I thought that was really going to be the end.
Where we fell, an underground river was flowing, and very turbulently too. I was forced to ride the rapid current, pushed and pulled as I was swept away. By the time I came to my senses, I was being thrown down a waterfall.
I guess this is why my HP decreased.
Having hit every curve on the way down, my whole body ached. I wanted to rest like this for a bit, but taking a break wouldn't suit a guy like me.
"B-Bjorrrn! Are you okay? Wake... uh, what do I do? Ah! Th-that!?"
When I opened my eyes, for some reason, I saw Missha's face right on top of mine. I pushed her chin away with one hand and stood up.
"Ah! What arrre you doing!?"
I should be the one saying that. "It's Bjon, not Bjorn," I said quietly enough that only Missha could hear before quickly surveying our surroundings.
"Agh! Aghhh!" First, I saw Carlson gagging and throwing up water.
"Um, are you all right?" Next was Jencia, who kindly patted him on the back.
As for Mr. Bear... "It's cold as hell." He was warming up in front of a bonfire that he had somehow started. When our eyes met, Mr. Bear gestured to me. "If you're awake, come."
"Thanks."
"Wow, do you usually carry firrrewood?"
"Since I travel alone, I have no choice but to pack everything."
I guess he really did play solo. I was still unsure, but I dried myself in front of the bonfire. Before long, Jensen also came over and quietly crouched down.
"...Do you know where that Lycanthrope from earlier disappeared to?" Carlson asked, shivering from the cold.
"How would we know?" Mr. Bear said bluntly. "It's not like I somehow researched it beforehand. Don't disturb my rest."
"Ah, yes... Sorry."
After that, break time and recovery time followed. Everyone took off their clothes and gear, laid them out near the campfire, and then ate a simple meal.
"I-It's strangely cold."
Although we were pretty much dry and kept warming ourselves by the fire, the cold did not subside. It was better than being completely wet, but it was almost as if we couldn't get warmer past a certain point.
Soon, Mr. Bear came to a conclusion. "I guess this is a special area."
"Special... area?" asked Jenica.
"Oh! Are you talking about a place like the Witch's Forrrest?"
"Yes, it's not natural for the body to tense up like this, even despite the cold."
"Hmm, is it that cold? I can't rrreally tell..." Missha cocked her head at the sight of us all trembling in front of the campfire. She wasn't messing with us—her words were probably sincere. Her cold tolerance was likely much higher than ours.
The damage she took must have been much less too.
Missha had a contract with Skadia, an Ice Beast. It was the enhancement-type monster with the largest stat bonus, and since she'd even absorbed a Yeti's essence this time, her Cold Tolerance had to be about forty. In Dungeon and Stone, forty was by no means a low figure. My Pain Tolerance was only seventy. Aside from the damage reduction it offered, even with a Cold Tolerance stat that low, you wouldn't feel the cold.
"...Are you rrreally cold?" Missha asked me.
"It's okay. It's cold, but it doesn't hurt."
"Uh, I don't know what you mean by that..."
It was just as I said. I may have been trembling from the cold, but it didn't feel painful. But I guess my answer just made me sound even more pitiful.
"Ugh, you blockheaded barrrbarian." Missha sighed, then wiggled over to me. Instead of the clothes currently drying, she gently unfurled her rolled-up blanket and made a ridiculous proposal. "Come in here. You'll feel betterrr."
What was this kid talking about?
Whistle.
Judging from the way Mr. Bear was whistling, I didn't think I was the weird one here, either.
***
Our recuperation time was longer than expected. It took a long time to dry all the clothes and equipment.
"It's taken too long."
It had already been twelve hours since we had entered the Rift. Since it had opened at around 19:00, that meant I hadn't slept for a total of thirty-one hours.
"Um... it doesn't seem like there are monsters here. Why don't we all get some rest?" At Carlson's suggestion, everyone agreed to take another short break.
"We'll sleep on that side," I said.
"It'll be cold."
"I have emergency firewood."
"If you say so."
It wasn't reasonable for us to all sleep next to one bonfire, so I started a new fire a little ways away. Missha and I decided to take turns on watch. That would cut our sleeping time in half, but sleeping less and living sounded more attractive than getting as much sleep as I wanted in death.
"Bjorn, you sleep first," offered Missha.
"Before that, I have something to discuss with you."
"What?"
Since we were finally alone, we pushed off sleep and caught up on some conversations. First, the essence. She'd have to know what she absorbed to be able to use it better in real combat.
"Wow, did you memorrrize all of that?"
"It's nothing impressive. Anyway, listen carefully from now on." After reciting the information on the essence in the terms used by the people of this world, I lowered my voice even further and continued. "Did any of those three act suspiciously on the way here?"
I had deliberately sent Missha to the very back of the group. Ostensibly, the reason for this decision was to have someone guarding the rear in case a battle broke out, but the real reason was mainly observation. I had figured that since she'd be following us from behind, she'd be able to get a good look at the others' behavior.
"Mm, suspicious? I don't think so."
"I see. That's good. If possible, keep a closer watch from now on."
"I will."
Ending the conversation there, I got under the blanket and lay down. Then, I replayed the words and actions of Carlson, Jencia, and Mr. Bear in my mind to see if there was anything I had missed. I had observed their every move the whole day. Sprinkling bait in the middle of mundane conversations, I collected clues. And as a result, I had identified a prime suspect.
But as expected, there is no conclusive evidence.
It was still not enough to conclude they were a mafia member. If I had just one more lead...
I was gradually falling asleep with that train of thought in mind when Missha gently shook my shoulder. "Hey, Bjorn. Now that I think about it, there was one strrrange thing..."
I was tired, but I listened to her story. Then, I said, "Nice job, Missha."
"Oh, did I help?"
"Of course."
That wasn't all she'd done. The final piece of the puzzle finally fell into place. I looked toward Mr. Bear's campfire and smiled.
I wondered which one of the three it would be. So it was you. The mafioso.
I guess this is why my HP decreased.
Having hit every curve on the way down, my whole body ached. I wanted to rest like this for a bit, but taking a break wouldn't suit a guy like me.
"B-Bjorrrn! Are you okay? Wake... uh, what do I do? Ah! Th-that!?"
When I opened my eyes, for some reason, I saw Missha's face right on top of mine. I pushed her chin away with one hand and stood up.
"Ah! What arrre you doing!?"
I should be the one saying that. "It's Bjon, not Bjorn," I said quietly enough that only Missha could hear before quickly surveying our surroundings.
"Agh! Aghhh!" First, I saw Carlson gagging and throwing up water.
"Um, are you all right?" Next was Jencia, who kindly patted him on the back.
As for Mr. Bear... "It's cold as hell." He was warming up in front of a bonfire that he had somehow started. When our eyes met, Mr. Bear gestured to me. "If you're awake, come."
"Thanks."
"Wow, do you usually carry firrrewood?"
"Since I travel alone, I have no choice but to pack everything."
I guess he really did play solo. I was still unsure, but I dried myself in front of the bonfire. Before long, Jensen also came over and quietly crouched down.
"...Do you know where that Lycanthrope from earlier disappeared to?" Carlson asked, shivering from the cold.
"How would we know?" Mr. Bear said bluntly. "It's not like I somehow researched it beforehand. Don't disturb my rest."
"Ah, yes... Sorry."
After that, break time and recovery time followed. Everyone took off their clothes and gear, laid them out near the campfire, and then ate a simple meal.
"I-It's strangely cold."
Although we were pretty much dry and kept warming ourselves by the fire, the cold did not subside. It was better than being completely wet, but it was almost as if we couldn't get warmer past a certain point.
Soon, Mr. Bear came to a conclusion. "I guess this is a special area."
"Special... area?" asked Jenica.
"Oh! Are you talking about a place like the Witch's Forrrest?"
"Yes, it's not natural for the body to tense up like this, even despite the cold."
"Hmm, is it that cold? I can't rrreally tell..." Missha cocked her head at the sight of us all trembling in front of the campfire. She wasn't messing with us—her words were probably sincere. Her cold tolerance was likely much higher than ours.
The damage she took must have been much less too.
Missha had a contract with Skadia, an Ice Beast. It was the enhancement-type monster with the largest stat bonus, and since she'd even absorbed a Yeti's essence this time, her Cold Tolerance had to be about forty. In Dungeon and Stone, forty was by no means a low figure. My Pain Tolerance was only seventy. Aside from the damage reduction it offered, even with a Cold Tolerance stat that low, you wouldn't feel the cold.
"...Are you rrreally cold?" Missha asked me.
"It's okay. It's cold, but it doesn't hurt."
"Uh, I don't know what you mean by that..."
It was just as I said. I may have been trembling from the cold, but it didn't feel painful. But I guess my answer just made me sound even more pitiful.
"Ugh, you blockheaded barrrbarian." Missha sighed, then wiggled over to me. Instead of the clothes currently drying, she gently unfurled her rolled-up blanket and made a ridiculous proposal. "Come in here. You'll feel betterrr."
What was this kid talking about?
Whistle.
Judging from the way Mr. Bear was whistling, I didn't think I was the weird one here, either.
***
Our recuperation time was longer than expected. It took a long time to dry all the clothes and equipment.
"It's taken too long."
It had already been twelve hours since we had entered the Rift. Since it had opened at around 19:00, that meant I hadn't slept for a total of thirty-one hours.
"Um... it doesn't seem like there are monsters here. Why don't we all get some rest?" At Carlson's suggestion, everyone agreed to take another short break.
"We'll sleep on that side," I said.
"It'll be cold."
"I have emergency firewood."
"If you say so."
It wasn't reasonable for us to all sleep next to one bonfire, so I started a new fire a little ways away. Missha and I decided to take turns on watch. That would cut our sleeping time in half, but sleeping less and living sounded more attractive than getting as much sleep as I wanted in death.
"Bjorn, you sleep first," offered Missha.
"Before that, I have something to discuss with you."
"What?"
Since we were finally alone, we pushed off sleep and caught up on some conversations. First, the essence. She'd have to know what she absorbed to be able to use it better in real combat.
"Wow, did you memorrrize all of that?"
"It's nothing impressive. Anyway, listen carefully from now on." After reciting the information on the essence in the terms used by the people of this world, I lowered my voice even further and continued. "Did any of those three act suspiciously on the way here?"
I had deliberately sent Missha to the very back of the group. Ostensibly, the reason for this decision was to have someone guarding the rear in case a battle broke out, but the real reason was mainly observation. I had figured that since she'd be following us from behind, she'd be able to get a good look at the others' behavior.
"Mm, suspicious? I don't think so."
"I see. That's good. If possible, keep a closer watch from now on."
"I will."
Ending the conversation there, I got under the blanket and lay down. Then, I replayed the words and actions of Carlson, Jencia, and Mr. Bear in my mind to see if there was anything I had missed. I had observed their every move the whole day. Sprinkling bait in the middle of mundane conversations, I collected clues. And as a result, I had identified a prime suspect.
But as expected, there is no conclusive evidence.
It was still not enough to conclude they were a mafia member. If I had just one more lead...
I was gradually falling asleep with that train of thought in mind when Missha gently shook my shoulder. "Hey, Bjorn. Now that I think about it, there was one strrrange thing..."
I was tired, but I listened to her story. Then, I said, "Nice job, Missha."
"Oh, did I help?"
"Of course."
That wasn't all she'd done. The final piece of the puzzle finally fell into place. I looked toward Mr. Bear's campfire and smiled.
I wondered which one of the three it would be. So it was you. The mafioso.