Chapter 212: Discarded Hand (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 212: Discarded Hand (1)
"W-What do you mean not everyone will be able to reach it?!" a man shouted into the ensuing silence. His voice clearly conveyed an anxiety that this kick-ass party might be on the verge of abandoning us.
"Let me explain," Vice Captain Versyl calmly continued. "Our scout tells us that adventurers from Noark are camped out in every passageway leading to the dark area so that no one can get out—or get in."
A troop of a size unlike any we'd run into so far was camped out ahead. At that, another man shouted, "So what you mean is that sacrifices are necessary in order to pave the way!"
That was the true meaning behind the statement that not everyone would reach the dark area. I, too, had a similar interpretation to that man.
"Something like that."
However, the moment I heard those light yet heavy words, my heart started pounding uncontrollably.
Thump!
Versyl continued without pause, not bothering with excuses, just the cold, hard facts. "We will be using a mass teleportation spell."
Mass Teleport was a high-level spell that could only be used by wizards from certain schools who were rank four and above. Now it made sense why not everyone could go. An even heavier silence weighed down the cavity this time.
"B-Bjorn? Isn't it possible to get through here without fighting if we use a teleportation spell? So why is everrryone's expression..."
The reason was simple, and Raven explained it. "Mass teleportation magic can only be used on up to twenty people at a time."
Just as Raven said, Mass Teleport was only usable on up to twenty people, and our group currently numbered thirty-five.
Fifteen people.
Simply put, a total of three teams were about to be abandoned in a situation where the safe zone in the center region was right under our noses.
"I-If you were going to abandon people, why did you suggest joining forces in the first place!?" someone shouted in anger.
Versyl didn't so much as flinch as she offered a brief, concise apology. "I apologize for that. We didn't know things would turn out like this, either." Her voice seemed soft but did not leave room for argument.
I sighed quietly. There was no point in trying to persuade this type of person. No matter what anyone said here, this woman wouldn't change her mind.
"So, how are you going to choose which fifteen people to abandon?"
Versyl shot me a strange look at my question. I supposed a barbarian who could remain calm in a situation like this was peculiar to her. "Each team will draw lots."
"Everyone but your team?"
"No. Us and one more team." Versyl's gaze shifted toward the party who had fought alongside them throughout the entire journey as they paved the way forward.
"Sorry about that. vice captain Versyl and I have been acquainted for a long time." The leaders of each party looked utterly unsurprised as they apologized to us as if they already knew this would happen.
Yeah, so you agreed on this in advance, huh? Well, it's not like that's unexpected. Those guys are from a large clan too. Except... Goddamn it.
A headache crept in instantaneously. Now there were only two tickets left on the teleport. On the other hand, there were three lots for stragglers. If we did this by a draw, there was a higher chance of being abandoned than being taken along.
Picking up on this, the expressions of the remaining parties all changed into ones of desperation.
"Please take us."
"Five million... no, we'll pay ten million stones per person."
Some offered money.
"We are a team under the Blue Wall Clan. If you take us with you, Master will surely give you a big reward..."
Some promised a future partnership with their clan.
"W-We don't have a clan yet. We all happen to be women too. We may be active on the fifth floor now, but we're originally from the sixth floor. I heard the Larer Clan is recruiting members due to their recent losses..."
Some even positioned themselves as tools to trade away. No one willingly agreed to draw lots. That was to be expected. After all, no one wanted to leave their precious lives to chance.
"Yandel." Mr. Bear grimly called my name. He was probably asking if we should do something too. I just watched things unfold for now, figuring that it wouldn't be too late to make an offer after seeing what Versyl decided.
"I'm sorry. It wouldn't be right to do it that way."
"Th-that means...!"
"Yes. The rest will be decided fairly by drawing lots. Please, I hope you understand my decision." Making an exception for just one team, as promised, Versyl adhered to the rules she had outlined at the get-go.
"Versyl Gowland, vice captain of the Larer Clan. She's just as I heard." Raven admired that pride of hers but I couldn't sympathize.
More like there wasn't an offer that appealed to her.
If she were truly a fair person, she wouldn't have excluded that other team from the draw in the first place, especially when it was obvious what situation the people left behind would find themselves in.
Anyway, drawing lots, huh?
I didn't know if this was a good thing. I'd never once been picked in something like this.
"We're running out of time, so let's start right away."
Versyl put five stones into a pouch and finished preparations for the draw. The rules were simple: whoever got one of the two white stones won. Pulling one of the three black stones meant you'd be dumped here without hesitation.
"Which team would like to go first?"
"I will." The first to step forward was the party that said they would pay ten million stones per person. "To think that my fate would depend on a damned stone." A dwarven warrior dressed in fancy gear nervously put his hand in the pouch. "H-Hahaha... We got it!"
He'd succeeded on the first try. Laughter spread through the dwarf's team while the faces of the other teams darkened.
"Come stand here. Then who's next?" In this intersection between joy and sorrow, no one wanted to be the first to step forward. Now there was only one winning ticket and three to hell.
"Mr. Yandel, we need to wait. In terms of probability, if you draw now, you have a greater chance of drawing a black stone."
We currently had a 25 percent chance of winning and a 75 percent chance of losing, but as always, probability meant nothing.
"Hah, we'll just go for it." The all-female team who was awkwardly studying the room stepped forward. "Kyahhh!" They pulled the remaining white stone.
God damn it.
"Then that's that." With just two draws, the fates of all five teams had been decided. The other three teams hadn't even had an opportunity to leave their fate to chance.
Picking up on this, the expressions of the remaining parties all changed into ones of desperation.
"Please take us."
"Five million... no, we'll pay ten million stones per person."
Some offered money.
"We are a team under the Blue Wall Clan. If you take us with you, Master will surely give you a big reward..."
Some promised a future partnership with their clan.
"W-We don't have a clan yet. We all happen to be women too. We may be active on the fifth floor now, but we're originally from the sixth floor. I heard the Larer Clan is recruiting members due to their recent losses..."
Some even positioned themselves as tools to trade away. No one willingly agreed to draw lots. That was to be expected. After all, no one wanted to leave their precious lives to chance.
"Yandel." Mr. Bear grimly called my name. He was probably asking if we should do something too. I just watched things unfold for now, figuring that it wouldn't be too late to make an offer after seeing what Versyl decided.
"I'm sorry. It wouldn't be right to do it that way."
"Th-that means...!"
"Yes. The rest will be decided fairly by drawing lots. Please, I hope you understand my decision." Making an exception for just one team, as promised, Versyl adhered to the rules she had outlined at the get-go.
"Versyl Gowland, vice captain of the Larer Clan. She's just as I heard." Raven admired that pride of hers but I couldn't sympathize.
More like there wasn't an offer that appealed to her.
If she were truly a fair person, she wouldn't have excluded that other team from the draw in the first place, especially when it was obvious what situation the people left behind would find themselves in.
Anyway, drawing lots, huh?
I didn't know if this was a good thing. I'd never once been picked in something like this.
"We're running out of time, so let's start right away."
Versyl put five stones into a pouch and finished preparations for the draw. The rules were simple: whoever got one of the two white stones won. Pulling one of the three black stones meant you'd be dumped here without hesitation.
"Which team would like to go first?"
"I will." The first to step forward was the party that said they would pay ten million stones per person. "To think that my fate would depend on a damned stone." A dwarven warrior dressed in fancy gear nervously put his hand in the pouch. "H-Hahaha... We got it!"
He'd succeeded on the first try. Laughter spread through the dwarf's team while the faces of the other teams darkened.
"Come stand here. Then who's next?" In this intersection between joy and sorrow, no one wanted to be the first to step forward. Now there was only one winning ticket and three to hell.
"Mr. Yandel, we need to wait. In terms of probability, if you draw now, you have a greater chance of drawing a black stone."
We currently had a 25 percent chance of winning and a 75 percent chance of losing, but as always, probability meant nothing.
"Hah, we'll just go for it." The all-female team who was awkwardly studying the room stepped forward. "Kyahhh!" They pulled the remaining white stone.
God damn it.
"Then that's that." With just two draws, the fates of all five teams had been decided. The other three teams hadn't even had an opportunity to leave their fate to chance.
"Kyahhh!"
What had I been doing while the women's team pulled out the white stone? Contemplating who out of Missha, Ainar, and Raven should pick ours. I didn't think this would end in two rounds.
How does that make sense?
Just when the thought came to me, Versyl turned the pouch upside down and scattered the three black stones on the floor as if to prove that no deceit had taken place. "Then gather around, everyone. We'll be casting the spell as soon as we're ready."
At Versyl's words, those selected quickly gathered in one place.
"W-Wait!" The leader of one of the three parties that had mentally clocked out in this situation, Big Jaw from Erwen's team, hurriedly ran up to them. "T-Take us with you! Please, we'll do anything!"
A groveling plea wasn't going to work on this woman. "All of the spots are already full."
At Versyl's emotionless rebuke, Big Jaw directed his pleading elsewhere. "If you yield your spot, ten million stones! No, I'll pay twenty million stones!"
Trying to buy a seat with money, huh? It seemed he was more of a coward than I thought. Seeing as he made no mention of his team members, he wanted to survive on his own.
Daria, who was on his team, frowned like she was looking at a bug, but Big Jaw didn't stop there. When talking at them from a distance didn't work, he approached each person one by one and asked if they were willing to accept the deal, but they all turned him away.
"Th-there's really no one?"
Did you really think that would work?
Money wasn't the problem. The moment you sold your spot for money, you'd get separated from your teammates.
"If you're done talking, can you please step back?"
At Versyl's curt request, Big Jaw turned back to his party, drained. With that, the commotion came to an end. The wizard on Versyl's side began drawing a magic circle on the floor to use Mass Teleport.
"Bjorn..."
"Let's talk later."
I ignored Missha's call and spoke to the vice captain. "Versyl Gowland."
"Yes. Go ahead." Her voice was kind but otherwise emotionless, with no sympathy or curiosity in her inflection. Maybe she thought I was going to make a pathetic plea like Big Jaw.
I smirked and asked a single question. "On the journey, why did you place us in the safest position of the formation?"
Versyl tilted her head, but it seemed she wasn't particularly curious as to why I was asking this question. She just answered, "I drew lots. To be fair."
Right, so everything he had said was a lie. Not that I didn't already know this, but it definitely wasn't thanks to Big Jaw that we had gotten placed in the middle.
Okay, that confirms that that guy is a selfish bastard.
Like it or not, the abandoned three teams would have to work together now. It was becoming clearer how I'd have to deal with Big Jaw.
"Is that the last of your questions?"
"No, one more."
"Sure."
"You said enemies were camped out in the passageway? I want more information. What is the layout and how many troops?"
"...Do you intend to barge through them on your own?"
What, did you think we were just going to die here?
"If needed." We may have gotten this far with more ease by coming with them, but the center had been my destination from the start. This changed nothing. "So, your answer?"
"Kyahhh!"
What had I been doing while the women's team pulled out the white stone? Contemplating who out of Missha, Ainar, and Raven should pick ours. I didn't think this would end in two rounds.
How does that make sense?
Just when the thought came to me, Versyl turned the pouch upside down and scattered the three black stones on the floor as if to prove that no deceit had taken place. "Then gather around, everyone. We'll be casting the spell as soon as we're ready."
At Versyl's words, those selected quickly gathered in one place.
"W-Wait!" The leader of one of the three parties that had mentally clocked out in this situation, Big Jaw from Erwen's team, hurriedly ran up to them. "T-Take us with you! Please, we'll do anything!"
A groveling plea wasn't going to work on this woman. "All of the spots are already full."
At Versyl's emotionless rebuke, Big Jaw directed his pleading elsewhere. "If you yield your spot, ten million stones! No, I'll pay twenty million stones!"
Trying to buy a seat with money, huh? It seemed he was more of a coward than I thought. Seeing as he made no mention of his team members, he wanted to survive on his own.
Daria, who was on his team, frowned like she was looking at a bug, but Big Jaw didn't stop there. When talking at them from a distance didn't work, he approached each person one by one and asked if they were willing to accept the deal, but they all turned him away.
"Th-there's really no one?"
Did you really think that would work?
Money wasn't the problem. The moment you sold your spot for money, you'd get separated from your teammates.
"If you're done talking, can you please step back?"
At Versyl's curt request, Big Jaw turned back to his party, drained. With that, the commotion came to an end. The wizard on Versyl's side began drawing a magic circle on the floor to use Mass Teleport.
"Bjorn..."
"Let's talk later."
I ignored Missha's call and spoke to the vice captain. "Versyl Gowland."
"Yes. Go ahead." Her voice was kind but otherwise emotionless, with no sympathy or curiosity in her inflection. Maybe she thought I was going to make a pathetic plea like Big Jaw.
I smirked and asked a single question. "On the journey, why did you place us in the safest position of the formation?"
Versyl tilted her head, but it seemed she wasn't particularly curious as to why I was asking this question. She just answered, "I drew lots. To be fair."
Right, so everything he had said was a lie. Not that I didn't already know this, but it definitely wasn't thanks to Big Jaw that we had gotten placed in the middle.
Okay, that confirms that that guy is a selfish bastard.
Like it or not, the abandoned three teams would have to work together now. It was becoming clearer how I'd have to deal with Big Jaw.
"Is that the last of your questions?"
"No, one more."
"Sure."
"You said enemies were camped out in the passageway? I want more information. What is the layout and how many troops?"
"...Do you intend to barge through them on your own?"
What, did you think we were just going to die here?
"If needed." We may have gotten this far with more ease by coming with them, but the center had been my destination from the start. This changed nothing. "So, your answer?"
At my urging, Versyl paused and stared at me. "...You are just like the rumors say. All right. Xenia?"
"Yes, vice captain."
"Go on and tell him everything he wants to know."
"Okay."
Versyl provided a scout from her own team and I was given a general lay of the land through her. After about five minutes, all preparations for the activation of the spell were finished, and Versyl left with just one last word for us.
"Xenia, come here... I hope you won't resent me."
From now on, we would have to overcome this trial with our strength alone. Well, there was nothing new about that.
***
"...They're gone."
With more than half of the people in our group now gone, the vacancy felt even bigger than it would have otherwise. But because of that, I had to focus even more on one thing: what should I do now? Well, it certainly wasn't wasting precious time brooding over this strange emptiness.
"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do now?"
"Let me think."
We had two options: charge through the route that Versyl gave up on and head for our original destination of the central region, or turn around and find another place. The latter wasn't a bad option, either.
We can survive if we just stick to the outskirts.
War was in full swing in the center of the map, and in the outermost parts, Noark's strongest warriors were blocking the way. On the other hand, there would be relatively few people in the outskirts. Since it was also a wide area, we would likely be able to survive as long as we hid ourselves well.
However... We wouldn't be able to find out how things are going.
That was the biggest downside. In this chaotic situation where each minute and second counted double, we wouldn't be able to obtain information about the situation if we stayed in hiding.
Besides that, the Lord of the Floor will show up on the third day.
We couldn't defeat the Lord of the First Floor on our own. If it got summoned while we were holding out, we would be annihilated.
"We have to figure out our combat power first."
"Pardon?"
"Everyone, gather around." I withheld my decision for now, brought the other two parties who were in the same situation together, and immediately got to the point. "Each person will take turns revealing their ranking, essences, and specialties."
"You want us to tell you everything about ourselves?"
"Is that important right now? We have to join forces."
"You speak as if you are the one in charge here." Big Jaw frowned at my suggestion. The others didn't seem pleased that I was talking like the leader either, although they didn't show it.
How annoying.
"Does it matter who's in charge? I've never met an idiot who cared about something like that even in a situation like this."
"...W-What? What did you just—"
"If you want it that bad, fine—let's choose the captain first. What, you want a vote?" I naturally steered us toward a vote. That was because Erwen was there. I figured that if at least one member of another party cast a vote for me, I couldn't lose.
However, things took a slightly unexpected turn. "I don't think that's necessary. If we do a vote, our team will vote for you." So said the remaining team's leader. "Including your own team, that makes ten votes already. There is no need to waste time."
Oh, it's going to work out just like that?
To be honest, I was a little taken aback. However, it seemed Big Jaw was in the same boat. He kindly asked the reason for that in my stead. "What do you mean by that? You want a barbarian as your leader? Are you crazy?"
"First of all, I'm not skilled at leadership."
"Then you should pick me instead of the barbarian—"
"If I had to choose one of you two, he's the more reliable one."
I had a feeling I knew what he was thinking. He probably thought I was at least better than Big Jaw, who had tried to abandon his team to survive on his own. However, as he continued, I learned that there was an additional factor.
"More importantly, while everyone else was in denial, this man was the only one who asked the woman for information."
...This is kind of embarrassing.
"Your name?"
"Takelan Arbenon."
"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel." After exchanging formal introductions with Takelan, I returned to the topic at hand. "Anyway, that's decided, then. Now, tell me your adventurer rankings, essences, and specialties one by one. That way I can choose our next move—"
"Wait a minute, what's decided?"
Ha, you son of a bitch.
"Do you have a problem?"
"Of course I—"
Not wanting to waste any more time, I cut him off and spoke firmly. "Then get lost. Our two teams can travel together without yours, then."
"...God damn it." Big Jaw clenched his fists in anger but did not leave our side. Well, where was he going to go now?
I smirked. "If you interrupt me one more time or disobey my orders, it's over. Understood?"
He was silent.
"Answer me."
"...All right."
Okay, that set up the hierarchy. After that, I quickly executed my original plan of action to figure out who had what positions and what essences.
Hmm, this is kind of ambiguous.
Although I managed to figure out our approximate combat power, my worries deepened. I guess you could say I was still unsure. So, to be safe, I went through an additional verification process. "First, let's introduce ourselves. We should be able to call out to each other in an emergency." I even threw in a logical reason and listened to everyone's names. To be honest, it was hard to remember all of them.
Still, there's no Hans.
This was a fairly positive indicator. It meant that whatever decision I made later had a slightly higher probability of success.
"What will you do now?"
At Raven's question, fourteen pairs of eyes honed in on me. It was nearing the time to make a decision. I parted my lips, erasing any regrets about the choice I had made. "We will head to the safe zone."
"What are our chances, do you think?"
I answered Takelan's question with a bitter smile. Although we had just seen how meaningless probability was, one thing was certain: even if we were successful, not everyone would survive.
About half of us will die.
To reach the place some were easily able to travel to with a single spell, we would have to risk our lives.
At my urging, Versyl paused and stared at me. "...You are just like the rumors say. All right. Xenia?"
"Yes, vice captain."
"Go on and tell him everything he wants to know."
"Okay."
Versyl provided a scout from her own team and I was given a general lay of the land through her. After about five minutes, all preparations for the activation of the spell were finished, and Versyl left with just one last word for us.
"Xenia, come here... I hope you won't resent me."
From now on, we would have to overcome this trial with our strength alone. Well, there was nothing new about that.
***
"...They're gone."
With more than half of the people in our group now gone, the vacancy felt even bigger than it would have otherwise. But because of that, I had to focus even more on one thing: what should I do now? Well, it certainly wasn't wasting precious time brooding over this strange emptiness.
"Mr. Yandel, what are you going to do now?"
"Let me think."
We had two options: charge through the route that Versyl gave up on and head for our original destination of the central region, or turn around and find another place. The latter wasn't a bad option, either.
We can survive if we just stick to the outskirts.
War was in full swing in the center of the map, and in the outermost parts, Noark's strongest warriors were blocking the way. On the other hand, there would be relatively few people in the outskirts. Since it was also a wide area, we would likely be able to survive as long as we hid ourselves well.
However... We wouldn't be able to find out how things are going.
That was the biggest downside. In this chaotic situation where each minute and second counted double, we wouldn't be able to obtain information about the situation if we stayed in hiding.
Besides that, the Lord of the Floor will show up on the third day.
We couldn't defeat the Lord of the First Floor on our own. If it got summoned while we were holding out, we would be annihilated.
"We have to figure out our combat power first."
"Pardon?"
"Everyone, gather around." I withheld my decision for now, brought the other two parties who were in the same situation together, and immediately got to the point. "Each person will take turns revealing their ranking, essences, and specialties."
"You want us to tell you everything about ourselves?"
"Is that important right now? We have to join forces."
"You speak as if you are the one in charge here." Big Jaw frowned at my suggestion. The others didn't seem pleased that I was talking like the leader either, although they didn't show it.
How annoying.
"Does it matter who's in charge? I've never met an idiot who cared about something like that even in a situation like this."
"...W-What? What did you just—"
"If you want it that bad, fine—let's choose the captain first. What, you want a vote?" I naturally steered us toward a vote. That was because Erwen was there. I figured that if at least one member of another party cast a vote for me, I couldn't lose.
However, things took a slightly unexpected turn. "I don't think that's necessary. If we do a vote, our team will vote for you." So said the remaining team's leader. "Including your own team, that makes ten votes already. There is no need to waste time."
Oh, it's going to work out just like that?
To be honest, I was a little taken aback. However, it seemed Big Jaw was in the same boat. He kindly asked the reason for that in my stead. "What do you mean by that? You want a barbarian as your leader? Are you crazy?"
"First of all, I'm not skilled at leadership."
"Then you should pick me instead of the barbarian—"
"If I had to choose one of you two, he's the more reliable one."
I had a feeling I knew what he was thinking. He probably thought I was at least better than Big Jaw, who had tried to abandon his team to survive on his own. However, as he continued, I learned that there was an additional factor.
"More importantly, while everyone else was in denial, this man was the only one who asked the woman for information."
...This is kind of embarrassing.
"Your name?"
"Takelan Arbenon."
"I am Bjorn, son of Yandel." After exchanging formal introductions with Takelan, I returned to the topic at hand. "Anyway, that's decided, then. Now, tell me your adventurer rankings, essences, and specialties one by one. That way I can choose our next move—"
"Wait a minute, what's decided?"
Ha, you son of a bitch.
"Do you have a problem?"
"Of course I—"
Not wanting to waste any more time, I cut him off and spoke firmly. "Then get lost. Our two teams can travel together without yours, then."
"...God damn it." Big Jaw clenched his fists in anger but did not leave our side. Well, where was he going to go now?
I smirked. "If you interrupt me one more time or disobey my orders, it's over. Understood?"
He was silent.
"Answer me."
"...All right."
Okay, that set up the hierarchy. After that, I quickly executed my original plan of action to figure out who had what positions and what essences.
Hmm, this is kind of ambiguous.
Although I managed to figure out our approximate combat power, my worries deepened. I guess you could say I was still unsure. So, to be safe, I went through an additional verification process. "First, let's introduce ourselves. We should be able to call out to each other in an emergency." I even threw in a logical reason and listened to everyone's names. To be honest, it was hard to remember all of them.
Still, there's no Hans.
This was a fairly positive indicator. It meant that whatever decision I made later had a slightly higher probability of success.
"What will you do now?"
At Raven's question, fourteen pairs of eyes honed in on me. It was nearing the time to make a decision. I parted my lips, erasing any regrets about the choice I had made. "We will head to the safe zone."
"What are our chances, do you think?"
I answered Takelan's question with a bitter smile. Although we had just seen how meaningless probability was, one thing was certain: even if we were successful, not everyone would survive.
About half of us will die.
To reach the place some were easily able to travel to with a single spell, we would have to risk our lives.