Chapter 410: Dilemma (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 410: Dilemma (2)
As the number of attempts to establish a connection with the main unit increased, an ominous feeling threatened to swallow me whole.
"Again."
"Okay..."
There was nothing else I could do except keep trying. But no matter how many times we tried to contact them, no connection could be made with the main unit.
...What the hell is going on?
The original plan for this expedition was as follows:
1. Ambush and infiltrate Noark's base.
2. Use the Eye of the Sky to contact the main unit located in the Dragon's Mountains.
3. After destroying the tower and escaping, join up with the main unit, which will come to meet us.
The key to the strike plan's success was the main unit temporarily mustering the strength needed to penetrate Noark's front lines and meet us at the rendezvous point to retreat.
"It didn't go through."
We couldn't contact the main unit, which was the most important part of this plan.
Did they... abandon us?
The worst-case scenario came to mind but I quickly shook my head. What, throw away troops like us after using us once? The palace wouldn't do such a thing. It made sense to assume something had gone wrong at the front lines. But even in the worst-case scenario, there was only one thing for me to do—the same thing I had done since the day I woke up in this body.
Kwaaang!
Survive.
"Captain! How long do we have to hold out?"
Before making a decision, I thought it through one last time.
"Priest Campbell can't go on for much longer!"
Because we no longer had time, I had to choose the best possible move we could pull off with our limited resources. What would up our chances of survival the most? It didn't take me long to make a decision, although I had no way of knowing if it was the best one.
Tap, tap.
Okay, let's go with this for now. It's not like I can think of a better way, anyway.
"Akurava."
"I'm listening."
"Stop trying to input coordinates for this transmission entirely." So far, we had only attempted to make contact through a designated phone number.
"I'm sorry? But then our message will be broadcast to the entire region without exception...?"
"That's what I want." There was no point leaving a missed call for someone who wouldn't even answer, right?
"...Okay." Akurava seemed to understand exactly what I meant. She thought about it for a moment but ultimately agreed. "It's done. I've also maximized the bandwidth." Akurava then handed me the message stone.
Click.
I carefully pressed the button on its surface. I was a bit nervous. It was currently set to what was essentially radio transmission mode. Friend or foe, anyone in the continent with their message stone turned on would receive this transmission.
But so what?
"Listen, everyone."
"Listen, everyone."
The sound transmitted through the active message stones nearby all at once like an echo. This was all the main unit's fault for not picking up the call. I didn't know what was keeping them so busy, but what else could a barbarian do when the main unit wasn't listening?
"The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed."
"The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed."
I'd shout it directly into their ears.
***
It was a barren plot of land with dull colors and a shattered Eye of the Sky sitting in its center.
Slide.
The man took off his cloak, revealing the face hidden beneath his hood. His skin was grotesque, like acid had been poured onto it.
"...How did this happen?" When the man with a monstrous appearance looked around, those whose eyes he tried to catch were busy looking down. "You." The man reached out his hand and grabbed the nearest adventurer by the neck.
"P-Please don't kill me! S-Sir!"
"If you want to live, tell me what happened here right now."
"I-I'll tell you...! Everything! Without hiding a single detail!"
When the strangled adventurer cried out desperately, Regal Vagos relaxed his grip. Punishment could wait until after he figured out what happened.
"I repeat: the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed. We will now head to the rendezvous point."
The message stones stopped working after that transmission, so Vagos wasn't able to learn what exactly happened as he and his troops retreated.
The longer the man in his grip went on, the more his anger surged like a tidal wave. "To summarize: the bastards openly invaded our base and destroyed the Eye of the Sky, then used a Mass Teleportation spell to escape, and you guys did nothing?"
"W-Well... that's because you mobilized the troops and left, so there weren't many—"
"Are you saying this is my fault?"
Choke!
"N-No! The enemies brought monsters with them like cowards...! I-I meant that we weren't... strong enough!"
"...You piece of trash."
When Vagos gripped tighter, the frightened adventurer blurted out a name. "T-Titana Akurava!"
"Titana Akurava...?" This was a woman he knew. Around the time he joined Orcules, she was one of the most renowned adventurers of the era. "That old lady was here?"
"N-Not only her! G-Golden Hawk James Calla! White Sword Kaislan! There were so many other famous adventurers! Please have mercy...!" Sensing his impending doom, the adventurer pled for salvation in a trembling tone.
Just then, a man in the distance slowly walked forward. "Vagos, please stop. There was nothing they could do."
Kayle Elbad Zenegger was the advisor of the squadron Vagos led. When they first heard that an expeditionary force from the palace had infiltrated Ice Rock, he was also the one who suggested they not do anything rash and protect the tower. Was that why? On the one hand, Vagos could admit he should have listened to this guy, but on the other, he felt repulsed by the thought.
"Kayle, back off. This is a well-deserved punishment."
"Then why that man? Everyone here shares the blame for not protecting this place. This isn't fair."
"Then I'll just punish everyone here."
The adventurers flinched at those words. The advisor sighed and pulled out his trump card. "The commander won't stay quiet if you do that." By 'commander,' he meant the head of Orcules: the Traitor, Ricardo Lüchenprague.
The sound transmitted through the active message stones nearby all at once like an echo. This was all the main unit's fault for not picking up the call. I didn't know what was keeping them so busy, but what else could a barbarian do when the main unit wasn't listening?
"The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed."
"The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed."
I'd shout it directly into their ears.
***
It was a barren plot of land with dull colors and a shattered Eye of the Sky sitting in its center.
Slide.
The man took off his cloak, revealing the face hidden beneath his hood. His skin was grotesque, like acid had been poured onto it.
"...How did this happen?" When the man with a monstrous appearance looked around, those whose eyes he tried to catch were busy looking down. "You." The man reached out his hand and grabbed the nearest adventurer by the neck.
"P-Please don't kill me! S-Sir!"
"If you want to live, tell me what happened here right now."
"I-I'll tell you...! Everything! Without hiding a single detail!"
When the strangled adventurer cried out desperately, Regal Vagos relaxed his grip. Punishment could wait until after he figured out what happened.
"I repeat: the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed. We will now head to the rendezvous point."
The message stones stopped working after that transmission, so Vagos wasn't able to learn what exactly happened as he and his troops retreated.
The longer the man in his grip went on, the more his anger surged like a tidal wave. "To summarize: the bastards openly invaded our base and destroyed the Eye of the Sky, then used a Mass Teleportation spell to escape, and you guys did nothing?"
"W-Well... that's because you mobilized the troops and left, so there weren't many—"
"Are you saying this is my fault?"
Choke!
"N-No! The enemies brought monsters with them like cowards...! I-I meant that we weren't... strong enough!"
"...You piece of trash."
When Vagos gripped tighter, the frightened adventurer blurted out a name. "T-Titana Akurava!"
"Titana Akurava...?" This was a woman he knew. Around the time he joined Orcules, she was one of the most renowned adventurers of the era. "That old lady was here?"
"N-Not only her! G-Golden Hawk James Calla! White Sword Kaislan! There were so many other famous adventurers! Please have mercy...!" Sensing his impending doom, the adventurer pled for salvation in a trembling tone.
Just then, a man in the distance slowly walked forward. "Vagos, please stop. There was nothing they could do."
Kayle Elbad Zenegger was the advisor of the squadron Vagos led. When they first heard that an expeditionary force from the palace had infiltrated Ice Rock, he was also the one who suggested they not do anything rash and protect the tower. Was that why? On the one hand, Vagos could admit he should have listened to this guy, but on the other, he felt repulsed by the thought.
"Kayle, back off. This is a well-deserved punishment."
"Then why that man? Everyone here shares the blame for not protecting this place. This isn't fair."
"Then I'll just punish everyone here."
The adventurers flinched at those words. The advisor sighed and pulled out his trump card. "The commander won't stay quiet if you do that." By 'commander,' he meant the head of Orcules: the Traitor, Ricardo Lüchenprague.
"You son of a bitch...!" Vagos got angry and grabbed his advisor by the collar, but that was all. Even he couldn't ignore the weight of that name.
"Since something of this scale has happened, the commander will soon return from the front lines to take stock of the situation. Let's not do anything rash and wait for now."
"...Tsk." Eventually, Vagos's anger cooled. He didn't want to cause any more trouble by ignoring his advisor's advice again. However, the man in his grip kept talking and soon said something strange.
"Blood Spirit's Man? Riehen Schuitz?"
"Y-Yes! I'm sure of it. He was leading the expedition. I clearly heard them call him Schuitz! More importantly, he used Giantization!"
Vagos had regained his composure and was investigating the man who deceived him when he flinched. As soon as he heard the word Giantization, he experienced an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
"Kayle!"
"What is it?"
"Give me the message stone."
The advisor didn't even question his orders. He took out a message stone, and Vagos snatched it from his hand.
Click.
He pressed the button and played a recording.
"Me? In your front yard... Why, are you going to come find me...? All right, do your best."
Just the sound of the voice made his hands ball up into tight fists. At the same time, he had the strange feeling he had heard it somewhere before.
Click, click, click.
Vagos played the recording over and over again and soon burst into laughter. "...No wonder it sounded familiar." Eventually, he realized exactly who the owner of that voice was.
"I repeat: the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed. We will now head to the rendezvous point."
This was the enemy he'd been unable to remember for over three years before recovering his health and the memories he'd lost thanks to Amelia Rainwales's betrayal—the thief who had stolen his precious sword, which he had acquired at great personal cost. Up to this point, he had thought the man dead.
"He was alive?"
The palace probably knew his true identity. They may have been the ones to fake his death in the first place. Otherwise, there was no way they would have appointed a man with a reputation like "Blood Spirit's Man" as the leader of an expedition team that included big names like Akurava.
"Bjorn Yandel." Recalling the rage he'd experienced that day, Vagos quietly uttered the name and stood up. "Kayle! Gather all the troops! We're going to track down the bastards who ran away!"
"But the commander hasn't arrived yet—"
"It's fine. I'll take full responsibility."
It was time to meet again.
***
Deadwood was an area located to the west of the Dragon's Mountains. It was Noark's territory and they had never once allowed the royal army to invade it. It was also our agreed-upon rendezvous point with the palace. We had been lying there in wait with bated breath, believing there was no way they hadn't heard our message and that they'd definitely come to our rescue.
We continued to pass the time anxiously curled up on the giant branches of lifeless trees. It'd been three days.
"If the main unit mobilized immediately after receiving our message, they should have arrived yesterday."
"You son of a bitch...!" Vagos got angry and grabbed his advisor by the collar, but that was all. Even he couldn't ignore the weight of that name.
"Since something of this scale has happened, the commander will soon return from the front lines to take stock of the situation. Let's not do anything rash and wait for now."
"...Tsk." Eventually, Vagos's anger cooled. He didn't want to cause any more trouble by ignoring his advisor's advice again. However, the man in his grip kept talking and soon said something strange.
"Blood Spirit's Man? Riehen Schuitz?"
"Y-Yes! I'm sure of it. He was leading the expedition. I clearly heard them call him Schuitz! More importantly, he used Giantization!"
Vagos had regained his composure and was investigating the man who deceived him when he flinched. As soon as he heard the word Giantization, he experienced an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
"Kayle!"
"What is it?"
"Give me the message stone."
The advisor didn't even question his orders. He took out a message stone, and Vagos snatched it from his hand.
Click.
He pressed the button and played a recording.
"Me? In your front yard... Why, are you going to come find me...? All right, do your best."
Just the sound of the voice made his hands ball up into tight fists. At the same time, he had the strange feeling he had heard it somewhere before.
Click, click, click.
Vagos played the recording over and over again and soon burst into laughter. "...No wonder it sounded familiar." Eventually, he realized exactly who the owner of that voice was.
"I repeat: the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed. We will now head to the rendezvous point."
This was the enemy he'd been unable to remember for over three years before recovering his health and the memories he'd lost thanks to Amelia Rainwales's betrayal—the thief who had stolen his precious sword, which he had acquired at great personal cost. Up to this point, he had thought the man dead.
"He was alive?"
The palace probably knew his true identity. They may have been the ones to fake his death in the first place. Otherwise, there was no way they would have appointed a man with a reputation like "Blood Spirit's Man" as the leader of an expedition team that included big names like Akurava.
"Bjorn Yandel." Recalling the rage he'd experienced that day, Vagos quietly uttered the name and stood up. "Kayle! Gather all the troops! We're going to track down the bastards who ran away!"
"But the commander hasn't arrived yet—"
"It's fine. I'll take full responsibility."
It was time to meet again.
***
Deadwood was an area located to the west of the Dragon's Mountains. It was Noark's territory and they had never once allowed the royal army to invade it. It was also our agreed-upon rendezvous point with the palace. We had been lying there in wait with bated breath, believing there was no way they hadn't heard our message and that they'd definitely come to our rescue.
We continued to pass the time anxiously curled up on the giant branches of lifeless trees. It'd been three days.
"If the main unit mobilized immediately after receiving our message, they should have arrived yesterday."
"Why... aren't they coming?!"
"Sir Kaislan, lower your voice. We don't have the resources needed to use Voice Control magic anymore."
Up until yesterday, these people had been encouraging each other, assuring their neighbors that the main unit would arrive soon, but the tension was slowly mounting. That was only natural. The first death had occurred this morning.
Philip Aintropi.
He was an adventurer who had belonged to Melend Kaislan's team, a navigator. This man—who had mainly learned skills that were helpful for sailing like Ocean Current Control, Lightweight, and Oversupply—died during the battle this morning. Although they had plenty of mana, our stealth spells had temporarily lifted when our wizards ran out of stamina. Noark was searching below and noticed us. During a long, drawn-out battle, he took a headshot and died instantly. That had been several hours ago.
"Schuitz, this place is no longer safe," said Akurava.
The crew's anxiety was reaching its peak, and rightfully so. Noark would have also noticed the absence of the people who died this morning by now. The more time passed, the more their search of this area would intensify. The number of enemies walking around below us had already increased significantly.
"You have to make a call," she pressed.
"Wait, a call? What do you mean?" asked Kaislan.
"We can't stay here forever. If the rescue team doesn't come, it'd be best to abandon this place."
"...W-What are you talking about?! Are you saying the palace abandoned us?"
"I didn't say that. But... we couldn't contact them and... if they're in trouble as well, we need to be proactive."
"You have a point, but I'm against it. How far will we be able to get when everyone is so exhausted? If we're discovered along the way, we'll be annihilated."
"So, what? You want to wait? Until when? The wizards will run out of mana in two days. Then we'll end up annihilated anyway."
As was always the case in emergencies, opinions were divided.
Sigh...
Even without Akurava's questioning, I already knew. It was now time to make a decision, one way or another.
I'm going to lose it.
There were a total of three choices I could make. First, lie in wait here. In the best-case scenario, we would all be rescued unharmed.
But on the other hand, in the worst possible outcome... We'll die in vain.
Second, don't wait and travel directly to the royal army's territory. Deadwood was much less important than the Dragon's Mountains, so the front lines were thin and the troops were few. That was why we chose it as our rendezvous point. It wasn't blind optimism.
It'd still be tough to pull off with less than thirty people, though.
It'd be a miracle if even 10 percent of us made it out alive. The worst-case scenario for this one would be the same as the first.
Then I guess we have no choice but to go somewhere else.
The third option was a kind of survival strategy. Noark's base, far from the front line, was likely empty at this point. If we hid there instead, we might be able to hold out until the labyrinth closed.
Since the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed, information on us won't have spread far.
This option exposed us to risk for the longest amount of time, so it was obvious we'd be hit with numerous curveballs. Even if we made the best possible moves in every situation we ended up in along the way, countless sacrifices would follow.
Whichever one we choose, the worst outcome is total annihilation.
As my thoughts reached that low point, I couldn't help but laugh. It suddenly hit me.
If the worst-case scenario is a massacre anyway... Isn't it smarter to choose the first option, where the best-case scenario is that everyone survives? Since this was the palace's fault, we can foist the responsibility for this off on them too.
"...Yeah right."
"If we leave and the main unit arrives, would you be willing to take responsibility for—huh? What did you just say?"
I ignored Kaislan's question and spoke. Though I may not have been sure of my choice...
Tap, tap.
Someone had to make a decision.
"Everyone, get ready, we're getting out of here."
"A-Are you saying you aren't going to wait for the main unit?" asked Kaislan.
"Yes, we've already been stood up long enough. Ah, and don't worry." I smirked at Kaislan. "I'll take full responsibility."
"Why... aren't they coming?!"
"Sir Kaislan, lower your voice. We don't have the resources needed to use Voice Control magic anymore."
Up until yesterday, these people had been encouraging each other, assuring their neighbors that the main unit would arrive soon, but the tension was slowly mounting. That was only natural. The first death had occurred this morning.
Philip Aintropi.
He was an adventurer who had belonged to Melend Kaislan's team, a navigator. This man—who had mainly learned skills that were helpful for sailing like Ocean Current Control, Lightweight, and Oversupply—died during the battle this morning. Although they had plenty of mana, our stealth spells had temporarily lifted when our wizards ran out of stamina. Noark was searching below and noticed us. During a long, drawn-out battle, he took a headshot and died instantly. That had been several hours ago.
"Schuitz, this place is no longer safe," said Akurava.
The crew's anxiety was reaching its peak, and rightfully so. Noark would have also noticed the absence of the people who died this morning by now. The more time passed, the more their search of this area would intensify. The number of enemies walking around below us had already increased significantly.
"You have to make a call," she pressed.
"Wait, a call? What do you mean?" asked Kaislan.
"We can't stay here forever. If the rescue team doesn't come, it'd be best to abandon this place."
"...W-What are you talking about?! Are you saying the palace abandoned us?"
"I didn't say that. But... we couldn't contact them and... if they're in trouble as well, we need to be proactive."
"You have a point, but I'm against it. How far will we be able to get when everyone is so exhausted? If we're discovered along the way, we'll be annihilated."
"So, what? You want to wait? Until when? The wizards will run out of mana in two days. Then we'll end up annihilated anyway."
As was always the case in emergencies, opinions were divided.
Sigh...
Even without Akurava's questioning, I already knew. It was now time to make a decision, one way or another.
I'm going to lose it.
There were a total of three choices I could make. First, lie in wait here. In the best-case scenario, we would all be rescued unharmed.
But on the other hand, in the worst possible outcome... We'll die in vain.
Second, don't wait and travel directly to the royal army's territory. Deadwood was much less important than the Dragon's Mountains, so the front lines were thin and the troops were few. That was why we chose it as our rendezvous point. It wasn't blind optimism.
It'd still be tough to pull off with less than thirty people, though.
It'd be a miracle if even 10 percent of us made it out alive. The worst-case scenario for this one would be the same as the first.
Then I guess we have no choice but to go somewhere else.
The third option was a kind of survival strategy. Noark's base, far from the front line, was likely empty at this point. If we hid there instead, we might be able to hold out until the labyrinth closed.
Since the Eye of the Sky has been destroyed, information on us won't have spread far.
This option exposed us to risk for the longest amount of time, so it was obvious we'd be hit with numerous curveballs. Even if we made the best possible moves in every situation we ended up in along the way, countless sacrifices would follow.
Whichever one we choose, the worst outcome is total annihilation.
As my thoughts reached that low point, I couldn't help but laugh. It suddenly hit me.
If the worst-case scenario is a massacre anyway... Isn't it smarter to choose the first option, where the best-case scenario is that everyone survives? Since this was the palace's fault, we can foist the responsibility for this off on them too.
"...Yeah right."
"If we leave and the main unit arrives, would you be willing to take responsibility for—huh? What did you just say?"
I ignored Kaislan's question and spoke. Though I may not have been sure of my choice...
Tap, tap.
Someone had to make a decision.
"Everyone, get ready, we're getting out of here."
"A-Are you saying you aren't going to wait for the main unit?" asked Kaislan.
"Yes, we've already been stood up long enough. Ah, and don't worry." I smirked at Kaislan. "I'll take full responsibility."