Chapter 205: Instant (1)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 205: Instant (1)

Inside a palace located deep within Noark's fortress, a man was talking to someone through a mana crystal. "Amelia Rainwales. Have you found the adventurer?"

"Not yet, my lord."

"I see..."

This was the first scheduled report he received since the city's lockdown. It was only natural that there hadn't been any progress yet, but the castle's lord fell into silence nonetheless.

More bad news soon came his way. "But I have one more thing to tell you."

"What is it? Tell me."

"It is said that the palace will be distributing specially manufactured identification tags to adventurers starting this month."

"...Are they magical devices?"

"Yes."

"Explain in detail. I'm sure you've learned more information about them already."

The castellan listened to Amelia's intel on the identification tags that were scheduled to be distributed by the palace. The more he listened, the more depressing the contents became. The identification tags had been designed by the palace's wizard.

"It'll take at least several months for us to come up with something similar."

"Yes, I think so too."

"Thank you for letting me know. Don't worry about us and focus on your mission. See you next month."

After that, the castellan closed his eyes and fell into deep thought. Much time passed like that.

"Ah, you're here." Having called for the quaestor, the first thing the castellan did was inquire into Noark's current financial situation. To be precise, he asked the following question: "Quaestor, how long can we last without entering the labyrinth?"

"Three months, if things continue to hold steady."

In the fallout of the battle, things weren't looking good for Noark. However, there had never been a time when they were ahead of their opponents, so this was familiar to them. Their ancestors had dealt with the same.

"What if we starve and hold out? How long can we last then?"

"...Perhaps twice that amount of time."

"I see." The castellan nodded. Then he called for his counselor and instructed, "Until I give orders stating otherwise, seal the labyrinth and make sure no one can enter."

"...The backlash will be severe. Can we know how long this will last?"

"At least until we can copy the identification tags made by the palace," the castellan replied, voice firm. If Noark's people headed in before that, they would definitely be doomed to a disgraceful death. "Until then, we hold out as long as possible and let them lower their guard."

They had to have patience and wait. Then it would surely come—their one opportunity to change everything.

***

[The labyrinth is now closed. You are being transported to Rafdonia.]

Light sank through my closed eyelids. When I slowly opened my eyes, the clear sky filled them for the first time in a while. The warm city air circulated through the deepest parts of my lungs with each breath. I was truly sensing the flow of time with my whole body.

Is it already June?

It had already been six months since I had been exiled to Bifron. The winter here, which was a joke compared to Korea, was long over and even its short spring was coming to an end.

Interesting.

It had been March when I first came to this world. It really had been over a year since I got here. It had hit me when I had paid my first year of taxes too, but the strange feeling lingered. To be honest, memories of my life on Earth were starting to fade. That was a given. If you add the time I had spent in the labyrinth, my time here technically amounted to almost two years.

"Hey, are you going back to your inn right away?"

"For now. Let's wash up and get some drinks."

"We're baaack!"

Confirming that everything around me was business as usual, I shook off the thoughts in my head.

Nothing big happened this time, either.

I wondered how the other floors had fared, but judging by the reactions of those around me, it seemed there hadn't been anything notable. That was making me anxious.

Shaaaaaa.

I looked down and checked my wrists. Although it hadn't been long since my return to the city, the identification tag etched like a tattoo on my wrist was already disappearing into a burst of light. It was cumbersome getting a new one each time, but it was different from the old identification tags that could be stolen. Coincidentally, since these things had been released, there had been no trace of those underground bastards.

It's about time they show up...

Earth had a distinctly different ecosystem from this place, which was a world with no flowing rivers or fertile land for farming. To survive, both Noark and Rafdonia had to create food with mana stones from the labyrinth.

But already six months with no news, huh?

Since hearing from Fox that the mega clans had formed an alliance to prepare for an ambush from Noark at the last Round Table, I was even more anxious. Where were they all hiding? It wasn't like there was a way for them to get food other than mana stones.

"Mr. Yandel! What took you so long?" As I walked and thought things over, I could see Raven waving at me in the distance. Even Mr. Bear, who was always late, was there before me.

"I had something to think about."

"Hmm, you could've done that while you were in line..."

Yep, she only cared about efficiency, this one. Anyway, since I was late, I apologized and stood in line. It only took a few minutes for the line to move up. That was because this was the rank-five checkpoint.

"Team Apple Narak, is that right?"

This was one of many changes that had happened in the past six months. Me, Ainar, and Missha had been promoted to rank five, making the team's rank go up one level. You had to complete a commission from the guild to become rank five, which was a bit cumbersome, but we did it together three months ago. Having a low rank was bound to get you looked down on, and getting looked down on was bound to attract trouble.

"Wow, they even hand out candy here. Bjorn, did you know?"

"I didn't know that." I put the candy Missha handed me in my mouth and sucked on it. "It's sweet."

Rafdonia was a city that was unfailingly cruel toward the weak. But slowly, I was starting to feel respected everywhere I went.

"Are we splitting the loot tomorrow?"

"Why are you asking the obvious?"

"Oooh! Then let's go! To home!"

After exchanging our mana stones, we headed out into the city. The rank-five checkpoint even offered a bathing facility for convenience but we didn't use it this time, either. Why would we when we could just wash up at home?

Interesting.

It had been March when I first came to this world. It really had been over a year since I got here. It had hit me when I had paid my first year of taxes too, but the strange feeling lingered. To be honest, memories of my life on Earth were starting to fade. That was a given. If you add the time I had spent in the labyrinth, my time here technically amounted to almost two years.

"Hey, are you going back to your inn right away?"

"For now. Let's wash up and get some drinks."

"We're baaack!"

Confirming that everything around me was business as usual, I shook off the thoughts in my head.

Nothing big happened this time, either.

I wondered how the other floors had fared, but judging by the reactions of those around me, it seemed there hadn't been anything notable. That was making me anxious.

Shaaaaaa.

I looked down and checked my wrists. Although it hadn't been long since my return to the city, the identification tag etched like a tattoo on my wrist was already disappearing into a burst of light. It was cumbersome getting a new one each time, but it was different from the old identification tags that could be stolen. Coincidentally, since these things had been released, there had been no trace of those underground bastards.

It's about time they show up...

Earth had a distinctly different ecosystem from this place, which was a world with no flowing rivers or fertile land for farming. To survive, both Noark and Rafdonia had to create food with mana stones from the labyrinth.

But already six months with no news, huh?

Since hearing from Fox that the mega clans had formed an alliance to prepare for an ambush from Noark at the last Round Table, I was even more anxious. Where were they all hiding? It wasn't like there was a way for them to get food other than mana stones.

"Mr. Yandel! What took you so long?" As I walked and thought things over, I could see Raven waving at me in the distance. Even Mr. Bear, who was always late, was there before me.

"I had something to think about."

"Hmm, you could've done that while you were in line..."

Yep, she only cared about efficiency, this one. Anyway, since I was late, I apologized and stood in line. It only took a few minutes for the line to move up. That was because this was the rank-five checkpoint.

"Team Apple Narak, is that right?"

This was one of many changes that had happened in the past six months. Me, Ainar, and Missha had been promoted to rank five, making the team's rank go up one level. You had to complete a commission from the guild to become rank five, which was a bit cumbersome, but we did it together three months ago. Having a low rank was bound to get you looked down on, and getting looked down on was bound to attract trouble.

"Wow, they even hand out candy here. Bjorn, did you know?"

"I didn't know that." I put the candy Missha handed me in my mouth and sucked on it. "It's sweet."

Rafdonia was a city that was unfailingly cruel toward the weak. But slowly, I was starting to feel respected everywhere I went.

"Are we splitting the loot tomorrow?"

"Why are you asking the obvious?"

"Oooh! Then let's go! To home!"

After exchanging our mana stones, we headed out into the city. The rank-five checkpoint even offered a bathing facility for convenience but we didn't use it this time, either. Why would we when we could just wash up at home?

"See you guys tomorrow. Honey, I'm back!"

We split up in front of Mr. Bear's tavern to avoid a lost child incident and then headed straight home, to a four-story building in the center of District Seven ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠which was only ten minutes away from the commercial district of Kommelby. The first and second floors were occupied by us and the third and fourth floors were used by another adventurer couple. The entrances were different so we rarely ever ran into each other.

"Ahh, home!"

Unlike our previous accommodations, which were a single room each, our new home was superior in every aspect. It had been only two months since we had moved in. It was a property that we liked, and the previous tenant left around then. Of course, we were only renting it. The purchase price was insane.

"Since we take a long time to wash up, eat before us if you're hungrrry!"

Ainar and Missha headed into the first-floor bathroom, which had a bathtub, and I washed myself in the small bathroom on the second floor. Well, I was calling it small, but it was in much better condition than our previous one. Washing myself with soap, I chuckled.

This can be considered a change too.

We had a spacious house with a kitchen, the type of soap sold in artisan shops and not the mass-produced stuff, and even an expensive bed that I had bought as a big investment. Rather than saving each penny I earned to return home, I started to improve my quality of life here. However, I didn't want to consider this a waste. How many years would I be here? Since the Genesis Treasures had disappeared, I didn't even know if it was possible to go back.

In the first place... I don't even know if I have to go back.

As I came out of the bathroom, I scrubbed my hair dry with a towel as if to shake my wavering resolve right out of my head.

Shwaaa!

It sounded like they were still washing up downstairs. I was hungry, but since Missha's food tasted so much better than anything I could buy, I sat on the sofa and dozed off for a bit. I wasn't sure how much time had passed.

"You woke up just in time. Come eat."

Turning my eyes to the kitchen, which emanated an appetizing smell, I saw a whole table was set. Since there were two barbarians present, most of the dishes on it were meat. We exchanged casual conversations while we ate.

"Oh, rrright. Are you taking the equipment over today?"

"I should. You need to take good care of it if you want it to last for a long time. Once we're done eating, pass everything along to me. I'll head over alone."

"Okay. But are you going to Hikurod's forge again?"

"We should use it often, at least. It's not like you need a special skill to inspect weapons."

In the past few months, the dwarf had opened a forge. It had been about three months now, but since this was the type of business where regular customers formed the foundation, it felt like we couldn't avoid suffering through some mediocrity. It did seem to be getting better, though.

"But, speaking of Hikurod... If his shop fails, he'll come back to adventuring, rrright?"

"That question... don't ask that in front of him."

"What, do you think I'm dense? I have a brain too, you know. I'm just a little worrried."

"Haha, Missha, what are you so worried about? If he fails, we can employ him as our steward!"

"A steward...?"

"Hikurod is fun!"

What did she think a steward was? I couldn't tell, but taking something a barbarian said at face value would be a foolish thing to do.

"See you guys tomorrow. Honey, I'm back!"

We split up in front of Mr. Bear's tavern to avoid a lost child incident and then headed straight home, to a four-story building in the center of District Seven which was only ten minutes away from the commercial district of Kommelby. The first and second floors were occupied by us and the third and fourth floors were used by another adventurer couple. The entrances were different so we rarely ever ran into each other.

"Ahh, home!"

Unlike our previous accommodations, which were a single room each, our new home was superior in every aspect. It had been only two months since we had moved in. It was a property that we liked, and the previous tenant left around then. Of course, we were only renting it. The purchase price was insane.

"Since we take a long time to wash up, eat before us if you're hungrrry!"

Ainar and Missha headed into the first-floor bathroom, which had a bathtub, and I washed myself in the small bathroom on the second floor. Well, I was calling it small, but it was in much better condition than our previous one. Washing myself with soap, I chuckled.

This can be considered a change too.

We had a spacious house with a kitchen, the type of soap sold in artisan shops and not the mass-produced stuff, and even an expensive bed that I had bought as a big investment. Rather than saving each penny I earned to return home, I started to improve my quality of life here. However, I didn't want to consider this a waste. How many years would I be here? Since the Genesis Treasures had disappeared, I didn't even know if it was possible to go back.

In the first place... I don't even know if I have to go back.

As I came out of the bathroom, I scrubbed my hair dry with a towel as if to shake my wavering resolve right out of my head.

Shwaaa!

It sounded like they were still washing up downstairs. I was hungry, but since Missha's food tasted so much better than anything I could buy, I sat on the sofa and dozed off for a bit. I wasn't sure how much time had passed.

"You woke up just in time. Come eat."

Turning my eyes to the kitchen, which emanated an appetizing smell, I saw a whole table was set. Since there were two barbarians present, most of the dishes on it were meat. We exchanged casual conversations while we ate.

"Oh, rrright. Are you taking the equipment over today?"

"I should. You need to take good care of it if you want it to last for a long time. Once we're done eating, pass everything along to me. I'll head over alone."

"Okay. But are you going to Hikurod's forge again?"

"We should use it often, at least. It's not like you need a special skill to inspect weapons."

In the past few months, the dwarf had opened a forge. It had been about three months now, but since this was the type of business where regular customers formed the foundation, it felt like we couldn't avoid suffering through some mediocrity. It did seem to be getting better, though.

"But, speaking of Hikurod... If his shop fails, he'll come back to adventuring, rrright?"

"That question... don't ask that in front of him."

"What, do you think I'm dense? I have a brain too, you know. I'm just a little worrried."

"Haha, Missha, what are you so worried about? If he fails, we can employ him as our steward!"

"A steward...?"

"Hikurod is fun!"

What did she think a steward was? I couldn't tell, but taking something a barbarian said at face value would be a foolish thing to do.

Agreeing that that would be fun, we laughed and chatted about pointless things for a long while.

"Then I'm going to head to the forge, so you guys get some rest."

"Do you want us to come with you?"

"It's fine. I'm not going anywhere important."

Leaving the kids to get a nap, I packed up the equipment and headed to the dwarf's forge. Then, after leaving the gear there for inspection and repair, I came back home and also lay in bed—an extra-large bed I had purchased for a whopping 350,000 stones.

Yeah, this is it.

Satisfied with its enduring softness, I closed my eyes, reminded of the past for some reason. Was it when we missed the last wagon of the day and I had to sleep in Kommelby with Missha? At the time, I had wondered when I would be able to sleep in a bed like this every day and had sighed that I had a long way to go.

It had now been over a year since I first came to this city. I was no longer fazed by blood splattering all over my body, and rather felt that days without blood were stranger. At this point, I no longer felt anything about harming monsters, or even people.

Before going to sleep, I asked myself: was I living more like a human than back then?

***

My nap, which lasted until the next morning, ended when Missha dropped in. "You said you werrre planning on leaving around now. Wake up!"

"Ah, thanks."

"Hungry? You want food?"

"No, I'm supposed to eat out."

"Oh, rrreally?"

As I washed up and was getting ready to leave, I heard snoring from the first floor. It sounded like Ainar was still sleeping. For reference, Missha and I were each using a bedroom on the second floor. Although there were two rooms on the first floor...

Honnnk!

...That girl snored louder than me. The remaining room on the first floor was just being used as a storage room.

"See you at the tavern later."

"Okay, see you!"

I said goodbye to just Missha and left the house. Instead of taking a wagon, I headed to Kommelby, which was a ten-minute walk. Crossing the castle wall and walking for thirty more minutes, I reached the public platform where we agreed to meet.

Raven was already there. "You're late. The wagon arrived a long time ago."

"I think you're just early today?"

"Tsk, you're too sharp for your own good. Come on, let's go. Before I starve to death."

After meeting up with Raven, we had a meal at a restaurant we frequented and then headed around the general stores and exchanges to dispose of the loot from our previous expedition. This time our profits were higher than usual. This was thanks to a rank-five essence that had appeared in the hidden world on the other side of Mila Roden's mirror.

"Looks like it'll take some time until it's sold. Let's use my money for the payout and I'll receive my share from this later," said Raven.

"That's fine with us, but are you okay with that?"

"Why would I not be okay with it? Waiting until it sells and then gathering again to split the pay would be a lot of work for no reason."

That was true, but we'd been sticking with this method until now since we figured it would lead to the fewest issues.

Agreeing that that would be fun, we laughed and chatted about pointless things for a long while.

"Then I'm going to head to the forge, so you guys get some rest."

"Do you want us to come with you?"

"It's fine. I'm not going anywhere important."

Leaving the kids to get a nap, I packed up the equipment and headed to the dwarf's forge. Then, after leaving the gear there for inspection and repair, I came back home and also lay in bed—an extra-large bed I had purchased for a whopping 350,000 stones.

Yeah, this is it.

Satisfied with its enduring softness, I closed my eyes, reminded of the past for some reason. Was it when we missed the last wagon of the day and I had to sleep in Kommelby with Missha? At the time, I had wondered when I would be able to sleep in a bed like this every day and had sighed that I had a long way to go.

It had now been over a year since I first came to this city. I was no longer fazed by blood splattering all over my body, and rather felt that days without blood were stranger. At this point, I no longer felt anything about harming monsters, or even people.

Before going to sleep, I asked myself: was I living more like a human than back then?

***

My nap, which lasted until the next morning, ended when Missha dropped in. "You said you werrre planning on leaving around now. Wake up!"

"Ah, thanks."

"Hungry? You want food?"

"No, I'm supposed to eat out."

"Oh, rrreally?"

As I washed up and was getting ready to leave, I heard snoring from the first floor. It sounded like Ainar was still sleeping. For reference, Missha and I were each using a bedroom on the second floor. Although there were two rooms on the first floor...

Honnnk!

...That girl snored louder than me. The remaining room on the first floor was just being used as a storage room.

"See you at the tavern later."

"Okay, see you!"

I said goodbye to just Missha and left the house. Instead of taking a wagon, I headed to Kommelby, which was a ten-minute walk. Crossing the castle wall and walking for thirty more minutes, I reached the public platform where we agreed to meet.

Raven was already there. "You're late. The wagon arrived a long time ago."

"I think you're just early today?"

"Tsk, you're too sharp for your own good. Come on, let's go. Before I starve to death."

After meeting up with Raven, we had a meal at a restaurant we frequented and then headed around the general stores and exchanges to dispose of the loot from our previous expedition. This time our profits were higher than usual. This was thanks to a rank-five essence that had appeared in the hidden world on the other side of Mila Roden's mirror.

"Looks like it'll take some time until it's sold. Let's use my money for the payout and I'll receive my share from this later," said Raven.

"That's fine with us, but are you okay with that?"

"Why would I not be okay with it? Waiting until it sells and then gathering again to split the pay would be a lot of work for no reason."

That was true, but we'd been sticking with this method until now since we figured it would lead to the fewest issues.

"...What? What's with that look?"

"Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

"You are mistaken."

Struggling to hold back my laughter, I walked forward. Come to think of it, this girl had changed a lot too, although she still struggled to be honest about her feelings.

"We finished up faster than I expected. Let's wait at the tavern."

After selling all the loot, we headed to the tavern that served as our meeting place. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expected, no one else had arrived yet.

"It's better this way. I didn't even have time to make a list last time."

After ordering just drinks, Raven pulled out a piece of paper and began to write down all the items we were splitting today in advance. It took longer than I expected. Every time I asked about it, she always said it was no big deal.

"Thanks."

"...Why are you saying that out of nowhere?"

"You're always taking on troublesome tasks on our team's behalf."

"If there was even one other person who could do this aside from me, I wouldn't be doing it. Why don't you pay me while you're at it?"

"Okay, I will. How much do you want? The others will be happy to do so too."

"...Never mind. It's not like I can get rich off of money like that."

Geez, if it weren't for her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tone of voice, she would have been a lot more popular.

"Oh, I thought I would be the last one to get here." A while later, Mr. Bear arrived. Soon the melee sisters also showed up and the distribution process began.

"It's 8.5 million per person."

Thanks to Mila Roden spitting out a mirror this time around, a lump sum landed on our laps. My debt had already been paid off two months ago, so this income all went into my pocket.

"Then let's talk about something else now."

After the settlement was over, we casually made plans for our next expedition over food and drinks. Well, it would be more accurate to say I was telling them the plan rather than collaborating with them on it, actually.

"We will not be going to Hellfire Gorge anymore."

"Excuse me? Why not?"

For the past half a year, we'd been hunting in Hellfire Gorge and had entered Mila Roden's Mirror of Fire three times. We had finished exploring the Ashen Mountain Range and Lava Lake, which we hadn't been able to tackle before. It wasn't too tough. Along with the Orb of Fire, which reduced Fire damage, our combat power was much higher than when we first entered that place.

"Why would we leave a place we're compatible with and go somewhere else?" Since she was having fun in Hellfire Gorge, Raven expressed concerns about my decision.

However, I wouldn't compromise on this. "We can't stay on the fifth floor forever. It's time to explore other places now." We had obtained everything we could from Hellfire Gorge, so it was time to move on to the next stage.

"So where are we going?"

"Frost Canyon."

"Uh, Frost Canyon..." Missha trailed off and glanced at me. She knew that, unlike Hellfire Gorge, this was an area that could be good for her.

Well, she wasn't wrong. Frost Canyon dropped several essences that had good synergy with Missha, who was an Ice-attribute adventurer.

That's one of the things I'm after too. Then, once we get a particular essence, we'll be done with Frost Canyon.

After that, I planned to collect experience points from the remaining two areas in the Great Demon Realm and pave the way to the sixth floor. It would take another year just to get there, though.

Still, we've come far.

That was what I was thinking when the ring of vines on my finger began to glow.

Shaaaaaa!

"Bjorn, is that..."

Unlike the first time, I didn't deny it. I didn't even try rubbing it with saliva to put it back together. It would make no difference.

[The activation conditions for Blessing of the Stars have been met.]

The second vine that was blocking my Dragon Slayer-related death flags snapped.

God damn it.

"...What? What's with that look?"

"Nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

"You are mistaken."

Struggling to hold back my laughter, I walked forward. Come to think of it, this girl had changed a lot too, although she still struggled to be honest about her feelings.

"We finished up faster than I expected. Let's wait at the tavern."

After selling all the loot, we headed to the tavern that served as our meeting place. As expected, no one else had arrived yet.

"It's better this way. I didn't even have time to make a list last time."

After ordering just drinks, Raven pulled out a piece of paper and began to write down all the items we were splitting today in advance. It took longer than I expected. Every time I asked about it, she always said it was no big deal.

"Thanks."

"...Why are you saying that out of nowhere?"

"You're always taking on troublesome tasks on our team's behalf."

"If there was even one other person who could do this aside from me, I wouldn't be doing it. Why don't you pay me while you're at it?"

"Okay, I will. How much do you want? The others will be happy to do so too."

"...Never mind. It's not like I can get rich off of money like that."

Geez, if it weren't for her tone of voice, she would have been a lot more popular.

"Oh, I thought I would be the last one to get here." A while later, Mr. Bear arrived. Soon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the melee sisters also showed up and the distribution process began.

"It's 8.5 million per person."

Thanks to Mila Roden spitting out a mirror this time around, a lump sum landed on our laps. My debt had already been paid off two months ago, so this income all went into my pocket.

"Then let's talk about something else now."

After the settlement was over, we casually made plans for our next expedition over food and drinks. Well, it would be more accurate to say I was telling them the plan rather than collaborating with them on it, actually.

"We will not be going to Hellfire Gorge anymore."

"Excuse me? Why not?"

For the past half a year, we'd been hunting in Hellfire Gorge and had entered Mila Roden's Mirror of Fire three times. We had finished exploring the Ashen Mountain Range and Lava Lake, which we hadn't been able to tackle before. It wasn't too tough. Along with the Orb of Fire, which reduced Fire damage, our combat power was much higher than when we first entered that place.

"Why would we leave a place we're compatible with and go somewhere else?" Since she was having fun in Hellfire Gorge, Raven expressed concerns about my decision.

However, I wouldn't compromise on this. "We can't stay on the fifth floor forever. It's time to explore other places now." We had obtained everything we could from Hellfire Gorge, so it was time to move on to the next stage.

"So where are we going?"

"Frost Canyon."

"Uh, Frost Canyon..." Missha trailed off and glanced at me. She knew that, unlike Hellfire Gorge, this was an area that could be good for her.

Well, she wasn't wrong. Frost Canyon dropped several essences that had good synergy with Missha, who was an Ice-attribute adventurer.

That's one of the things I'm after too. Then, once we get a particular essence, we'll be done with Frost Canyon.

After that, I planned to collect experience points from the remaining two areas in the Great Demon Realm and pave the way to the sixth floor. It would take another year just to get there, though.

Still, we've come far.

That was what I was thinking when the ring of vines on my finger began to glow.

Shaaaaaa!

"Bjorn, is that..."

Unlike the first time, I didn't deny it. I didn't even try rubbing it with saliva to put it back together. It would make no difference.

[The activation conditions for Blessing of the Stars have been met.]

The second vine that was blocking my Dragon Slayer-related death flags snapped.

God damn it.