Chapter 403: Ice Rock (4)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 403: Ice Rock (4)

Once convinced that there was a traitor in our midst, I walked around investigating people. Of course, I didn't act too much like a detective. I just wandered around casually during breaks or whenever we camped, striking up conversations. I had known that if I wasn't careful, the traitor could run and hide.

"W-Wait! Please explain so that we can understand what's going on too!" one of the onlooking members of our squad piped up when all the team leaders ran forward to seize Pyke Neldine.

"Explain, huh?"

No reason I can't. It'll help untangle this mess too.

"It was thanks to Milburn Naria that I first suspected Pyke Neldine."

"Naria..."

"The summoner on Ms. Akurava's team?"

I guessed the summoner was a shy one because she flinched and looked startled when everyone turned to look at her.

"Uhh, huh? B-Because of me?"

"Yes. When I went to ask you a few questions, you mentioned that the Trolls are getting tired rather quickly."

"Ah, yes. I did say that, but..."

Hey, why are you being so hesitant? Are you worried you'll end up under fire? If so, that's a pointless concern. There's no way I'd harm the person who contributed the most to solving this case.

"Anyway! That's how it started."

You could say that conversation became a catalyst that changed my entire thought process. If I previously assumed the ground had cracked thanks to magic or skill, my thoughts on the matter were different after that. I began focusing on the Trolls themselves rather than the ground.

"Thinking there was something wrong with the Trolls, I began to check to see if anyone had approached them before or after the incident." I relayed my deductions in front of the crowd in what would henceforth be called Barbarian Detective Mode. "Up until then, I was suspicious of Akurava's team and the wizards who were always waiting near the sleds to cast preservation spells. But after investigating, I found there was only one other person who approached the Trolls." I pointed to the guy tied up with rope on the floor. "That was Pyke Neldine. This guy came up with all kinds of excuses to casually come into contact with the Trolls, and then magically stopped doing so after the cave-in."

Just then, the captured Pyke Neldine objected. "Th-that's only circumstantial evidence! You'd do all this to someone just because of that?"

Haha, I'm not finished talking yet.

Paladin Jun tried to gag him, but I stopped his hand with a look. No need to stop this guy when he was digging his own grave.

"Evidence! So you're saying you have no evidence after all!"

Yeah, I didn't have evidence. That's why I had to use this annoying plan instead. Because people only want to believe things they see for themselves.

Without needing to even step forward, Akurava entered the fray. "The ability you used just now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was Overload."

"S-So! What about it?"

"Why have you been hiding that ability until now?"

"E-Everyone has their own trump card!"

"Hmm, that's the trump card of a warrior like yourself? Rank-seven Overload?"

Neldine clammed up at Akurava's acidic tone. In exchange for temporarily increasing the user's weight and reducing their movement speed, Overload increased the damage of long-distance attack skills. It wasn't a useful skill for a warrior. "D-Don't obfuscate the point! Overload is an ability that only applies to the user!" As expected, he tried to find a way out of this.

"Yeah, wait, I've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seen him use Overload before."

"He's right... it isn't an ability you can use on other people."

"What, then he's innocent?"

The crew began to murmur again, deceived by his logic.

"This man is trying to persecute an innocent member of his team with faulty, ridiculous reasoning! Everyone, help me. If you don't, you might be next!" Neldine shouted louder.

Thank you very much.

As a matter of fact, I was waiting for him to whip that out. The argument he just used to protect himself would end up snaring him instead. From now on, he wouldn't be able to escape regardless of what he did. It was about time to draw the knife.

"Hey, can you lend me your knife?" I forcefully borrowed a knife from another member of the squadron and approached Neldine.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"W-What are you trying to do... S-Someone, help—"

"Everyone stay where you are!"

Choke!

Grabbing the bound man by the nape of his neck, I lifted him high so that everyone could see. The crew flinched, hesitating. They seemed to be debating whether they should band together and stop me.

Before they could come to a unanimous decision, I hurriedly shouted, "A skill that only applies to oneself? That's definitely true for Overload. However!" This prick—who was he trying to fool? Did he know how many years I spent playing Dungeon and Stone? "It's a different story if you have Endow, a conversion-type skill."

At that moment, I dug the knife deep into Neldine's forearm. No, to be more precise, his vein.

Drip.

Fresh blood flowed out. Because the cut I made was wide, there wasn't enough of a pressure difference for the blood to gush out of him, but the amount of blood pouring from the wound was significant.

"He won't last more than a few minutes with that kind of bleeding."

"...T-Treatment... P-Priest!" The squad looked panicked at what seemed to be a sudden execution.

"Everyone stay put!"

"Please trust us and wait. I know what you're thinking, but it's okay."

When the onlooking team leaders intervened, no one was willing to do anything hasty. One minute, two minutes, three minutes. Time crawled by, and some sharp-eyed members of our crew started to notice something was off.

"...Why isn't he dying?"

"With that much bleeding, he's still conscious?"

"Look at the blood pooled on the floor. Even if you took all the blood in his body out, you wouldn't get that much..."

Perhaps this was to be expected, as adventurers were experts in hunting and killing. They noticed it much sooner than I thought.

Anyway, I think the situation should be ripe now...

"Ahem-hem." I cleared my throat, which was hoarse from the cold. Then I shouted again so everyone could hear me. "What you've just seen in action is the passive ability of the rank-five monster Blood Roar—a skill called Blood Fountain!"

"...Blood Fountain?"

"What's that?"

"I've read about it in a book before. It's a passive ability that ensures its users never die from blood loss."

"Wait, Blood Roar? Isn't that one of the monsters with Endow?"

"That's right. Those guys always team up with other demonic beasts, making that skill really tricky to go up against."

"Yeah, wait, I've seen him use Overload before."

"He's right... it isn't an ability you can use on other people."

"What, then he's innocent?"

The crew began to murmur again, deceived by his logic.

"This man is trying to persecute an innocent member of his team with faulty, ridiculous reasoning! Everyone, help me. If you don't, you might be next!" Neldine shouted louder.

Thank you very much.

As a matter of fact, I was waiting for him to whip that out. The argument he just used to protect himself would end up snaring him instead. From now on, he wouldn't be able to escape regardless of what he did. It was about time to draw the knife.

"Hey, can you lend me your knife?" I forcefully borrowed a knife from another member of the squadron and approached Neldine.

"W-What are you trying to do... S-Someone, help—"

"Everyone stay where you are!"

Choke!

Grabbing the bound man by the nape of his neck, I lifted him high so that everyone could see. The crew flinched, hesitating. They seemed to be debating whether they should band together and stop me.

Before they could come to a unanimous decision, I hurriedly shouted, "A skill that only applies to oneself? That's definitely true for Overload. However!" This prick—who was he trying to fool? Did he know how many years I spent playing Dungeon and Stone? "It's a different story if you have Endow, a conversion-type skill."

At that moment, I dug the knife deep into Neldine's forearm. No, to be more precise, his vein.

Drip.

Fresh blood flowed out. Because the cut I made was wide, there wasn't enough of a pressure difference for the blood to gush out of him, but the amount of blood pouring from the wound was significant.

"He won't last more than a few minutes with that kind of bleeding."

"...T-Treatment... P-Priest!" The squad looked panicked at what seemed to be a sudden execution.

"Everyone stay put!"

"Please trust us and wait. I know what you're thinking, but it's okay."

When the onlooking team leaders intervened, no one was willing to do anything hasty. One minute, two minutes, three minutes. Time crawled by, and some sharp-eyed members of our crew started to notice something was off.

"...Why isn't he dying?"

"With that much bleeding, he's still conscious?"

"Look at the blood pooled on the floor. Even if you took all the blood in his body out, you wouldn't get that much..."

Perhaps this was to be expected, as adventurers were experts in hunting and killing. They noticed it much sooner than I thought.

Anyway, I think the situation should be ripe now...

"Ahem-hem." I cleared my throat, which was hoarse from the cold. Then I shouted again so everyone could hear me. "What you've just seen in action is the passive ability of the rank-five monster Blood Roar—a skill called Blood Fountain!"

"...Blood Fountain?"

"What's that?"

"I've read about it in a book before. It's a passive ability that ensures its users never die from blood loss."

"Wait, Blood Roar? Isn't that one of the monsters with Endow?"

"That's right. Those guys always team up with other demonic beasts, making that skill really tricky to go up against."

"If that's true...!"

The crew started to accept my logic without further persuasion. Soon, I tossed Neldine to the ground.

Boom.

Although it must have been quite a shock, he didn't even groan. He probably realized he didn't have time for that.

"W-Wait! I-It's true I have the essence of a Blood Roar, but that's not proof I have Endow."

Jeez, you're going to try the 'proof' angle even now?

I didn't need to step forward this time either. "Then use one of Blood Roar's other skills," a voice called from the crowd.

"Th-that's..."

"There are four. And I remember each was easy to identify with the naked eye."

"I-I admit it! I actually do have Endow! But that doesn't mean I betrayed you!"

"Then why did you deny it at first?"

"B-Because I was just afraid...! I was afraid of being labeled a traitor!" His final argument was made while trembling all over. The sight of Neldine rolling around on the floor tied up with rope and covered in blood was gruesome, but I wasn't bothered. "W-Why are you all doing this?! Just because I have that skill doesn't mean I'm the perpetrator!"

Basically, he was arguing for "innocent until proven guilty." That would have worked if this were a modern trial. No, though Rafdonia may have been a bit barbaric, it also would have worked in a trial in the city, where laws existed.

"Pyke Neldine, how long are you going to play innocent?"

However, this was the labyrinth. And above all, adventurers weren't fools.

"Why are you all hesitating? It's obvious from his face and tone of voice that he's lying."

"True, it was strange that the ground collapsed twice. Nothing like that ever happened the last time I came here."

At this point, everyone had accepted it.

"Yeah, so it was all because of this bastard?"

Pyke Neldine really was the traitor. And all of the hunger and discomfort they had suffered over the course of this journey was because of him.

Step, step.

Neldine, who had been crawling toward the crew and away from me, quickly turned around and came my way. "H-Hey! H-Help me! I will answer all your questions honestly!"

Okay, then let's move on to the interrogation.

***

The rank-four adventurer Pyke Neldine had been an active member of all kinds of parties and groups, from small elite teams to large clans. So why did this guy betray our squadron?

No, to be precise...

"Who are you working for? Noark? Alminus Company? Or the Adventurers' Guild?"

Now, now, say something. If you tell the truth, I'll hit the happy button on top of your head with my hammer. Hmm?

"...I-I'm not working for anyone! I just didn't like you."

Haha, this guy still hasn't smartened up.

"Jun." When I called for him, Jun, who was on standby, mercilessly drove a long awl under Neldine's fingernail.

"Arghhh!"

"A person who doesn't die no matter how much they bleed, how rare."

"Ugh—guh—ugh!"

"If that's true...!"

The crew started to accept my logic without further persuasion. Soon, I tossed Neldine to the ground.

Boom.

Although it must have been quite a shock, he didn't even groan. He probably realized he didn't have time for that.

"W-Wait! I-It's true I have the essence of a Blood Roar, but that's not proof I have Endow."

Jeez, you're going to try the 'proof' angle even now?

I didn't need to step forward this time either. "Then use one of Blood Roar's other skills," a voice called from the crowd.

"Th-that's..."

"There are four. And I remember each was easy to identify with the naked eye."

"I-I admit it! I actually do have Endow! But that doesn't mean I betrayed you!"

"Then why did you deny it at first?"

"B-Because I was just afraid...! I was afraid of being labeled a traitor!" His final argument was made while trembling all over. The sight of Neldine rolling around on the floor tied up with rope and covered in blood was gruesome, but I wasn't bothered. "W-Why are you all doing this?! Just because I have that skill doesn't mean I'm the perpetrator!"

Basically, he was arguing for "innocent until proven guilty." That would have worked if this were a modern trial. No, though Rafdonia may have been a bit barbaric, it also would have worked in a trial in the city, where laws existed.

"Pyke Neldine, how long are you going to play innocent?"

However, this was the labyrinth. And above all, adventurers weren't fools.

"Why are you all hesitating? It's obvious from his face and tone of voice that he's lying."

"True, it was strange that the ground collapsed twice. Nothing like that ever happened the last time I came here."

At this point, everyone had accepted it.

"Yeah, so it was all because of this bastard?"

Pyke Neldine really was the traitor. And all of the hunger and discomfort they had suffered over the course of this journey was because of him.

Step, step.

Neldine, who had been crawling toward the crew and away from me, quickly turned around and came my way. "H-Hey! H-Help me! I will answer all your questions honestly!"

Okay, then let's move on to the interrogation.

***

The rank-four adventurer Pyke Neldine had been an active member of all kinds of parties and groups, from small elite teams to large clans. So why did this guy betray our squadron?

No, to be precise...

"Who are you working for? Noark? Alminus Company? Or the Adventurers' Guild?"

Now, now, say something. If you tell the truth, I'll hit the happy button on top of your head with my hammer. Hmm?

"...I-I'm not working for anyone! I just didn't like you."

Haha, this guy still hasn't smartened up.

"Jun." When I called for him, Jun, who was on standby, mercilessly drove a long awl under Neldine's fingernail.

"Arghhh!"

"A person who doesn't die no matter how much they bleed, how rare."

"Ugh—guh—ugh!"

"He may be able to withstand the bleeding, but if his organs are damaged, he won't last. Be careful."

"Don't worry. The Lord wouldn't want this man to die yet."

This guy's a paladin...?

Jun's words were heartless and he was strangely skilled when it came to torture.

Who is this guy... did he have a job questioning heretics or something in the past?

It was a question worth asking. The fact that he abandoned his last name and that the name Jun wasn't known throughout the city... That was all a bit suspicious, wasn't it? Well, for now, I stood to benefit from his shady past.

"S-Stop...! I'll tell you everything...!" The guy lasted over an hour before finally breaking and starting to confess.

"Who are you working for?"

"Illya Adnus..."

"The Guild Master of the Adventurers' Guild."

Mother—that big of a fish?

"Give it to me straight. Are you sure?"

"I-I'm sure! I haven't met him in person, but it was his aide who commissioned me for this job!"

Ha, I don't think he's lying.

Leaving the matter of the Guild Master behind, I continued the interrogation. "So, what orders did you receive?"

Neldine hesitated.

"Jun?"

"I-I was ordered to ensure this quest fails!"

"What were the exact orders?"

I got a more detailed grasp of the situation. To summarize, it was like this: the Guild Master knew we were heading to Ice Rock, and he sent someone to tamper with the food and supplies to ensure the mission failed.

"I-I swear, I never intended to hurt anyone. If I knew that, I wouldn't have agreed to it!"

"What are you saying? Two of our team members almost fell and died. If the wizard on my team didn't step forward, they definitely would have."

"Th-that's...! I didn't know they would go to such lengths to protect the supplies!" Neldine sounded like he was truly regretful.

Tsk, this doesn't seem like a lie, either...

Punch!

Once I heard everything I needed to know, I drove my fist into his jaw to put him to sleep. Then, calling for the team leaders who were outside, I shared this information and talked it over with them.

"To think he was the traitor..."

"But if he's working for the Guild Master, this is even bigger than we thought. Who knows what will happen once we get back to the city...?"

"It would've been better if he was working for Noark instead."

Although they had agreed to offer me their help in finding the traitor, I guessed they had also secretly hoped I was wrong. Their expressions were all dark. But if there was one way in which their reactions differed from those of our ordinary team members, it was in that they were quicker to accept reality.

"Let's discuss this first. Why do you think the Guild Master wanted the mission to fail?"

"The biggest motivation would be political. If this expedition fails, he'll be able to place the blame on the marquess."

"Perhaps the Adventurers' Guild doesn't want this war to lean in favor of Noark or the palace."

"I wonder if that's true, but... it's not completely unrealistic. The people who are profiting from this war the most are adventurers, after all."

"Jun, what about you? Any thoughts?"

The meeting wasn't particularly fruitful. Many theories were tossed around, but there was no way for us to know which one was right yet.

"Um... what do you plan to do with Pyke Neldine?" James Calla asked carefully, and the other leaders threw in their two cents.

"He should be executed, of course. If someone who disturbed the peace remains alive and active, morale is bound to fall," said Melend Kaislan.

"I disagree. If we return with him alive, we can use him as a way to corner the Guild Master. Jun, why are you being so quiet?" asked Titana Akurava.

"This matter is for Mr. Schuitz alone to decide," said Paladin Jun.

Their eyes all fell on me.

Jeez, isn't it obvious what I'm going to do?

"He will be executed."

There's still a long way to go and I don't have the energy to bring a rat along with me.

***

The execution was held that night in front of all the members of our squadron. The punishment we went with was beheading, the most convenient method of execution in wartime. Hanging required lots of preparation and I could tell everyone was craving blood.

Slice!

The execution was over in literally a single swing. Some people still seemed angry, as they even went up to the corpse to spit on it. Well, adventurers hated traitors even more than plunderers.

"Where are you going...?"

"Patrol."

Once the execution was over, I immediately headed to the outskirts of our camp.

[You have equipped No. 6111: Fate Tracer.]

I put on the ring in my pocket again.

[The ring has detected your destiny.]

Now that the traitor was caught, I figured the light would turn off entirely. But as soon as I put it on, the ring emitted a soft glow.

Shaaa!

When I saw the color, I froze.

What the... why is it still red?

"He may be able to withstand the bleeding, but if his organs are damaged, he won't last. Be careful."

"Don't worry. The Lord wouldn't want this man to die yet."

This guy's a paladin...?

Jun's words were heartless and he was strangely skilled when it came to torture.

Who is this guy... did he have a job questioning heretics or something in the past?

It was a question worth asking. The fact that he abandoned his last name and that the name Jun wasn't known throughout the city... That was all a bit suspicious, wasn't it? Well, for now, I stood to benefit from his shady past.

"S-Stop...! I'll tell you everything...!" The guy lasted over an hour before finally breaking and starting to confess.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Who are you working for?"

"Illya Adnus..."

"The Guild Master of the Adventurers' Guild."

Mother—that big of a fish?

"Give it to me straight. Are you sure?"

"I-I'm sure! I haven't met him in person, but it was his aide who commissioned me for this job!"

Ha, I don't think he's lying.

Leaving the matter of the Guild Master behind, I continued the interrogation. "So, what orders did you receive?"

Neldine hesitated.

"Jun?"

"I-I was ordered to ensure this quest fails!"

"What were the exact orders?"

I got a more detailed grasp of the situation. To summarize, it was like this: the Guild Master knew we were heading to Ice Rock, and he sent someone to tamper with the food and supplies to ensure the mission failed.

"I-I swear, I never intended to hurt anyone. If I knew that, I wouldn't have agreed to it!"

"What are you saying? Two of our team members almost fell and died. If the wizard on my team didn't step forward, they definitely would have."

"Th-that's...! I didn't know they would go to such lengths to protect the supplies!" Neldine sounded like he was truly regretful.

Tsk, this doesn't seem like a lie, either...

Punch!

Once I heard everything I needed to know, I drove my fist into his jaw to put him to sleep. Then, calling for the team leaders who were outside, I shared this information and talked it over with them.

"To think he was the traitor..."

"But if he's working for the Guild Master, this is even bigger than we thought. Who knows what will happen once we get back to the city...?"

"It would've been better if he was working for Noark instead."

Although they had agreed to offer me their help in finding the traitor, I guessed they had also secretly hoped I was wrong. Their expressions were all dark. But if there was one way in which their reactions differed from those of our ordinary team members, it was in that they were quicker to accept reality.

"Let's discuss this first. Why do you think the Guild Master wanted the mission to fail?"

"The biggest motivation would be political. If this expedition fails, he'll be able to place the blame on the marquess."

"Perhaps the Adventurers' Guild doesn't want this war to lean in favor of Noark or the palace."

"I wonder if that's true, but... it's not completely unrealistic. The people who are profiting from this war the most are adventurers, after all."

"Jun, what about you? Any thoughts?"

The meeting wasn't particularly fruitful. Many theories were tossed around, but there was no way for us to know which one was right yet.

"Um... what do you plan to do with Pyke Neldine?" James Calla asked carefully, and the other leaders threw in their two cents.

"He should be executed, of course. If someone who disturbed the peace remains alive and active, morale is bound to fall," said Melend Kaislan.

"I disagree. If we return with him alive, we can use him as a way to corner the Guild Master. Jun, why are you being so quiet?" asked Titana Akurava.

"This matter is for Mr. Schuitz alone to decide," said Paladin Jun.

Their eyes all fell on me.

Jeez, isn't it obvious what I'm going to do?

"He will be executed."

There's still a long way to go and I don't have the energy to bring a rat along with me.

***

The execution was held that night in front of all the members of our squadron. The punishment we went with was beheading, the most convenient method of execution in wartime. Hanging required lots of preparation and I could tell everyone was craving blood.

Slice!

The execution was over in literally a single swing. Some people still seemed angry, as they even went up to the corpse to spit on it. Well, adventurers hated traitors even more than plunderers.

"Where are you going...?"

"Patrol."

Once the execution was over, I immediately headed to the outskirts of our camp.

[You have equipped No. 6111: Fate Tracer.]

I put on the ring in my pocket again.

[The ring has detected your destiny.]

Now that the traitor was caught, I figured the light would turn off entirely. But as soon as I put it on, the ring emitted a soft glow.

Shaaa!

When I saw the color, I froze.

What the... why is it still red?