Chapter 425: Teaming (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 425: Teaming (3)
Teaming was a term often used in competitive online multiplayer games to refer to a temporary alliance between players who were classified as enemies in the game.
Ha, they're teaming here?
Each game had its own perspective on teaming. While some viewed teaming as part of the game, others saw it as cheating and actively cracked down on it. Of course, regardless of the game, intentional teaming was considered cheating on the level of using hacks or bots. That was because it tipped the scales immensely and made the lives of ordinary users a lot harder.
Damn it, what the hell is the admin doing? Kick these bastards!
The complaints popped into my head on instinct. I had worked hard to make this a three-way match. To think they would team up here... Didn't Noark hate the palace? Things just got very complicated.
This makes divide and conquer impossible...
Plan A had already gone awry. Come to think of it, this was always how it went. There had never been a time when I was actually able to use my original plan to deal with a situation. It wasn't like I was an aggressive planner or anything, but for some reason, things always turned out this way.
"Um..." Marrone's hesitant voice jarred me from my thoughts.
"Ah, I was distracted for a second."
"It's all right."
"So how many are on Noark's side?"
"Six people."
"Who are they?" Not that we knew their names, but we did fight them twice already.
Marrone briefly explained who she saw, focusing on their abilities. "Um... the special ability user who threw black spears, and the woman who ran like lightning. Ah! And there was that bald boxer, too." On top of that, there was one priest of Karui and one dark wizard. "And finally..."
"Regal Vagos. He's with them too, right?"
"Y-Yes!"
The Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos. I knew it was in vain, but I'd been hoping he died from Soul Extraction. It looked like he managed to survive somehow.
I know his body was technically recovered since he was in a spirit world, but it still couldn't have been easy. Was the Primordial Dragon weaker than I thought?
When Marrone's report was over, Ravien muttered, "That's a relief. That he's alive..."
"...Huh?"
"I need his heart to save Pen."
"Ah..."
I completely forgot about that. It was the little dragon Pen who had cursed Vagos and rendered his Dragon Speech nearly unusable. As a result of the strenuous curse, time stopped in her body, and she was now unable to take a single step out of the dragon temple for the rest of her life.
"...Looks like you just remembered."
"Sorry. I had a lot on my mind."
"You'll have to remember. If you save Pen, you may be able to receive my father's protection."
"I can't receive yours?"
"I have no authority within the tribe. But my father is different."
Put simply, if I completed this quest, there was a chance I could secure the dragon tribe as an ally. I didn't know how it would end up playing out in reality, but I couldn't pass up on this opportunity when I was going to have to confront the palace soon.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"That's enough for me. But don't push yourself too hard. There will always be another chance. If he's alive..."
What are you saying? We're going to have to kill him to survive.
Still, she'd gotten her point across. Whatever we did from now on, all she asked was that I didn't forget to prioritize Pen.
"Okay, let's move again!"
We installed detection spells throughout the passages as we moved. The enemy would think we were running away, but in order to get a bit more of an advantage in this fight, we had to lure them into a battlefield of our choosing.
Time passed, and soon it was Day Seventy, five days before the labyrinth closed. We wandered the cave and settled in one spot.
"Rest up as much as possible. This will be our last break."
It was time to prepare for battle. We spotted the enemy chewing on beef jerky with the last detection spell.
It's probably food from the Order of the Rose.
It was unfair how jealous I was. While we were stuck chewing on monster meat, they were having a normal meal. Well, that seemed to be why they weren't speeding up their chase.
At this rate, we're at more of a disadvantage if they take their time.
Thanks to the monster meat, we would have no issues surviving. But the distortion spell had to succeed for us to get our hands on meat so everyone couldn't eat their fill. We may not have been starving to death, but our hunger was growing even at this moment. If we were going to end this, it should be now before we got more tired.
"Mr. Yandel, don't stand there in the cold, come here!"
I followed Marrone's call and obediently headed over to the fire. The concept of "teams" was meaningless to us now. The entire squadron gathered together around the flames of the campfire.
"Mm... meat definitely needs to be grilled! Yandel! You want one?"
No self-respecting barbarian would refuse an offer of meat, so I quickly took it and shoved it in my mouth. I chewed on it as I listened to the squad's conversation.
"This... will be our last fight, right?"
A woman wrapped her arms around her legs in anxiety. It was the priestess Periton Eriabosti from Team Five. Apparently, she grew up in the orphanage run by the Heindel Church and became a priestess. She also had a husband in the city. He wasn't an adventurer but an ordinary office worker at the administrative office. They got close while doing volunteer work at the church.
I heard... she has a kid too...
This was a change that had occurred as our long quest neared its end. Having spent time with and overcome numerous crises together, we got to know each other too well.
"I'm... going back alive. I can't let my child grow up like me." It was a shaky yet firm show of resolve. Silence fell.
Crackle... crackle... crackle...
The sounds of the fire crackling continued, and the wizard on my team, Ashed, spoke. "My wife will be able to get by without me. She's strong... but... I'm sure she'll cry."
"You're... married? You never said anything."
"Well, you never asked, Mr. Aldidi."
"Huh—!" Old Didi gaped in apparent betrayal.
It was Futa Rickerburn who spoke next, the poor guy who had worked as a fixer for Duke Kealunus and was thrown into this place under the guise of retirement. "This is making me more miserable the more I listen."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"That's enough for me. But don't push yourself too hard. There will always be another chance. If he's alive..."
What are you saying? We're going to have to kill him to survive.
Still, she'd gotten her point across. Whatever we did from now on, all she asked was that I didn't forget to prioritize Pen.
"Okay, let's move again!"
We installed detection spells throughout the passages as we moved. The enemy would think we were running away, but in order to get a bit more of an advantage in this fight, we had to lure them into a battlefield of our choosing.
Time passed, and soon it was Day Seventy, five days before the labyrinth closed. We wandered the cave and settled in one spot.
"Rest up as much as possible. This will be our last break."
It was time to prepare for battle. We spotted the enemy chewing on beef jerky with the last detection spell.
It's probably food from the Order of the Rose.
It was unfair how jealous I was. While we were stuck chewing on monster meat, they were having a normal meal. Well, that seemed to be why they weren't speeding up their chase.
At this rate, we're at more of a disadvantage if they take their time.
Thanks to the monster meat, we would have no issues surviving. But the distortion spell had to succeed for us to get our hands on meat so everyone couldn't eat their fill. We may not have been starving to death, but our hunger was growing even at this moment. If we were going to end this, it should be now before we got more tired.
"Mr. Yandel, don't stand there in the cold, come here!"
I followed Marrone's call and obediently headed over to the fire. The concept of "teams" was meaningless to us now. The entire squadron gathered together around the flames of the campfire.
"Mm... meat definitely needs to be grilled! Yandel! You want one?"
No self-respecting barbarian would refuse an offer of meat, so I quickly took it and shoved it in my mouth. I chewed on it as I listened to the squad's conversation.
"This... will be our last fight, right?"
A woman wrapped her arms around her legs in anxiety. It was the priestess Periton Eriabosti from Team Five. Apparently, she grew up in the orphanage run by the Heindel Church and became a priestess. She also had a husband in the city. He wasn't an adventurer but an ordinary office worker at the administrative office. They got close while doing volunteer work at the church.
I heard... she has a kid too...
This was a change that had occurred as our long quest neared its end. Having spent time with and overcome numerous crises together, we got to know each other too well.
"I'm... going back alive. I can't let my child grow up like me." It was a shaky yet firm show of resolve. Silence fell.
Crackle... crackle... crackle...
The sounds of the fire crackling continued, and the wizard on my team, Ashed, spoke. "My wife will be able to get by without me. She's strong... but... I'm sure she'll cry."
"You're... married? You never said anything."
"Well, you never asked, Mr. Aldidi."
"Huh—!" Old Didi gaped in apparent betrayal.
It was Futa Rickerburn who spoke next, the poor guy who had worked as a fixer for Duke Kealunus and was thrown into this place under the guise of retirement. "This is making me more miserable the more I listen."
"...Sorry?"
"If I were to choose the most insignificant person here, it would be me."
"Where's this coming from?"
"I'm not married, and no one is waiting for me in the city. I was sick of living that life and wanted out, but I ended up here instead. If the gods were to choose someone to die, they would choose me. But... I'm still going to survive. Wouldn't it be terrible to let that misery be all there is to my existence?"
It was like a dam had broken. Anxious that this might be their last opportunity, everyone let out the emotions they had hidden away deep inside.
"That doesn't sound like the guy who said it was all over for us."
"Can... you forget about that now?"
"Hahaha! For free?"
Despite this, the conversation was bright. Although some of the people talking around this fire now may not be around to greet us the next day, everyone still talked about the future.
"Yandel, what are your plans once you get out of here? Revenge, I'm sure?" Some talked about payback.
"Ahh, I don't care about that. I just want cake." Some shared small wishes.
"I'm worried about my grandmother at home..." Some recalled a missed loved one and used their memory to strengthen their resolve.
"All of that aside, I just want a drink."
"Me too. Truly."
The general consensus was that we were all desperately in need of a drink. The conversation continued on.
"Um... why don't we form a clan once we get back to the city?"
"Clan?"
"This is fate, isn't it? And... it's not like any of us can return to our old positions, so... um... I just thought if everyone worked together even in the city, maybe we could do something, so..."
We talked about our future, not just our individual ones.
"Calla, what kind of person was your friend?"
"You mean Rick...?"
"Come to think of it, I don't think I got to talk to him much."
This wasn't just our story, but the story of those who couldn't be with us here. We spoke aimlessly to remember, commemorate, and express regrets.
A long while later, Marrone called out to me, her expression steely. "Lord Yandel...The detection spell was triggered."
At that sentence, we all smiled ruefully, got up from our seats, and extinguished the fire burning in the center of our group. It was time to return to cold reality.
***
The plan was simple. No, really—there wasn't much of a plan at all. We decided on the location of our fight and would now fight fiercely against our enemies with the utmost determination. Whoever survived would win.
"...They're here."
"Numbers?"
"The same."
I got the information I wanted from Erwen, who had her ear to the ground, but I still waited just in case.
About a minute later, they got near enough that even I could hear them. Before long, the enemy appeared from around the corner. Their numbers were a bit strange. There were only seven from the Order of the Rose and six from Noark, adding up to a total of thirteen enemies.
"...Sorry?"
"If I were to choose the most insignificant person here, it would be me."
"Where's this coming from?"
"I'm not married, and no one is waiting for me in the city. I was sick of living that life and wanted out, but I ended up here instead. If the gods were to choose someone to die, they would choose me. But... I'm still going to survive. Wouldn't it be terrible to let that misery be all there is to my existence?"
It was like a dam had broken. Anxious that this might be their last opportunity, everyone let out the emotions they had hidden away deep inside.
"That doesn't sound like the guy who said it was all over for us."
"Can... you forget about that now?"
"Hahaha! For free?"
Despite this, the conversation was bright. Although some of the people talking around this fire now may not be around to greet us the next day, everyone still talked about the future.
"Yandel, what are your plans once you get out of here? Revenge, I'm sure?" Some talked about payback.
"Ahh, I don't care about that. I just want cake." Some shared small wishes.
"I'm worried about my grandmother at home..." Some recalled a missed loved one and used their memory to strengthen their resolve.
"All of that aside, I just want a drink."
"Me too. Truly."
The general consensus was that we were all desperately in need of a drink. The conversation continued on.
"Um... why don't we form a clan once we get back to the city?"
"Clan?"
"This is fate, isn't it? And... it's not like any of us can return to our old positions, so... um... I just thought if everyone worked together even in the city, maybe we could do something, so..."
We talked about our future, not just our individual ones.
"Calla, what kind of person was your friend?"
"You mean Rick...?"
"Come to think of it, I don't think I got to talk to him much."
This wasn't just our story, but the story of those who couldn't be with us here. We spoke aimlessly to remember, commemorate, and express regrets.
A long while later, Marrone called out to me, her expression steely. "Lord Yandel...The detection spell was triggered."
At that sentence, we all smiled ruefully, got up from our seats, and extinguished the fire burning in the center of our group. It was time to return to cold reality.
***
The plan was simple. No, really—there wasn't much of a plan at all. We decided on the location of our fight and would now fight fiercely against our enemies with the utmost determination. Whoever survived would win.
"...They're here."
"Numbers?"
"The same."
I got the information I wanted from Erwen, who had her ear to the ground, but I still waited just in case.
About a minute later, they got near enough that even I could hear them. Before long, the enemy appeared from around the corner. Their numbers were a bit strange. There were only seven from the Order of the Rose and six from Noark, adding up to a total of thirteen enemies.
Did they leave behind those who were useless in battle because of the penalties? No, that doesn't make sense. But even without taking into account the cold, the labyrinth is filled with monsters. If they didn't leave them behind, did they abandon them...?
It was a very Noark-like response.
"...Dead end?" Upon seeing us in our defensive formation, the woman at the front tilted her head. She seemed glad to have finally caught up with us but sensed something was off. "Were you waiting for us?" She was quick to grasp the situation as someone who had experience in all kinds of battles. Not that that'd make a difference.
"Calla!" No sooner did the shout leave my lips than Calla activated his skill.
[James Calla has cast Swift Hands.]
He couldn't aim it now that he was blind, but that wasn't what we were after anyway. The important thing was that the ground shook as soon as the skill was cast.
[A skill has been used within range. The trap has been activated.]
Kablam!
Before long, a great crashing sound rang out from behind the enemy. The area we were currently standing in was a trap room, which you could find from time to time as you crossed through the icy cave system.
"...We're trapped!"
The condition for setting it off was casting a skill. Once the trap was activated, the room's only entrance was covered with ice. This became a hidden room until it melted a day later.
Compared to Noark's panic, the Order of the Rose was calm. The calmest among them was the leader. "Why did you make this decision?" Her question contained only curiosity.
The answer was simple. "There is no paradise for us to escape to."
"How profound."
It should be. Those are the words of my favorite author.
"I want to ask you something."
"My name is Six."
"...Huh?"
I didn't want to know your name.
When I gave her an incredulous look, the woman named Six continued without so much as a twitch of the eyebrow. "So what do you want to ask?" She seemed somewhat embarrassed, but I couldn't blame her.
I just asked my question. "How were you guys able to stomach working with them?"
The answer came from an unexpected place. "Oh, that?" The Dragon Slayer Regal Vagos walked forward with a swagger, seemingly recovered to some extent. "These women knew that they needed our help catching all of you."
Hmm, that did make sense from the Order of the Rose's perspective. For them, their mission came first.
"But you guys didn't have a reason to accept that offer." I talked to the Baldy Boxer, not the Dragon Slayer. Vagos might have made this foolish choice because of his grudge against me, but this guy seemed to be the actual leader here. "You really don't know? Once we're dead, you guys are next."
The question was asked with the intention of causing a break in their ranks. However, Baldy Boxer seemed unfazed as he answered me. "It's well known that the Order of the Rose cannot break an oath made in the king's name."
Ah, I see. I thought the oath was only a cheat code for the barbarians. Also, it's funny that he'd say this is well-known. This is my first time hearing it.
"Besides, we had no choice. We ran out of food chasing you guys. Our only choice was to work with them to get you—and their food." Now it made sense how these two groups became so cooperative.
"Now, does that answer all your questions?" the woman who seemed to be the leader, Six, asked, clearly intending to end this conversation.
"No, not yet. Was it Repeles? I have a suggestion for you."
Baldy chuckled at my words. "Are you really going to try and appeal to me?"
Huh, how did you know?
I readily admitted it.
"Yes. Join our side. We'll provide you with food."
It's monster meat, though.
"...What?" He seemed surprised, like he never expected me to make the offer.
I quickly plowed on. "So what happened is the palace abandoned us. If possible, I want to take this opportunity to change my affiliation altogether. What do you think?"
"...There is nothing more foolish than trusting your enemy."
"If you want an oath, I'll make it. On a warrior's honor." Just like the Order of the Rose used their cheat code, I used my tribe's.
"You... are you serious?" Baldy began considering this with a confused look on his face.
Of course, that didn't last long. Come to think of it, there was a saboteur on their side. "Repeles, do not fall for the enemy's tricks. That man has broken an oath once before. He's a different breed who doesn't care for a warrior's honor or any of that." The Dragon Slayer, whom I once stabbed in the back in the Labyrinth of Larcaz, revealed his story.
Baldy's expression hardened as he turned back to me. "Unfortunately, I will have to decline that offer. I have no way to control you in the city in the first place."
Hmm, that's a no-go, huh?
"That's unfortunate. Then I guess we'll have to kill you all."
I covered my upper body with my shield and looked at the enemy. My line of sight was low because I couldn't use Giantization anymore, but that didn't matter. The barbarian way was to chew with your gums if you didn't have any teeth.
"Erwen!" The moment my call went out, Erwen's body blurred.
[Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has cast Elementalization.]
Since this place was riddled with aura users, the attribute we went with was Earth, obviously.
[Any damage received from Fire attribute attacks is reduced by half. Any damage received from water attribute attacks is doubled. Poison Immunity Bonus. When using blunt weapons, a Strength bonus is added to attacks. Your Physical Resistance has significantly increased.]
My Physical Resistance value soared, and the second stage of Evolving Shell was activated even without Giantization.
[Your Physical Resistance stat is over 350. Damage is reduced by 50 percent for penetration-type wounds only.]
Yeah, let's give this a try, shall we?
"Behel—aaaaaah!"
I was pretty confident about dog fighting.
Did they leave behind those who were useless in battle because of the penalties? No, that doesn't make sense. But even without taking into account the cold, the labyrinth is filled with monsters. If they didn't leave them behind, did they abandon them...?
It was a very Noark-like response.
"...Dead end?" Upon seeing us in our defensive formation, the woman at the front tilted her head. She seemed glad to have finally caught up with us but sensed something was off. "Were you waiting for us?" She was quick to grasp the situation as someone who had experience in all kinds of battles. Not that that'd make a difference.
"Calla!" No sooner did the shout leave my lips than Calla activated his skill.
[James Calla has cast Swift Hands.]
He couldn't aim it now that he was blind, but that wasn't what we were after anyway. The important thing was that the ground shook as soon as the skill was cast.
[A skill has been used within range. The trap has been activated.]
Kablam!
Before long, a great crashing sound rang out from behind the enemy. The area we were currently standing in was a trap room, which you could find from time to time as you crossed through the icy cave system.
"...We're trapped!"
The condition for setting it off was casting a skill. Once the trap was activated, the room's only entrance was covered with ice. This became a hidden room until it melted a day later.
Compared to Noark's panic, the Order of the Rose was calm. The calmest among them was the leader. "Why did you make this decision?" Her question contained only curiosity.
The answer was simple. "There is no paradise for us to escape to."
"How profound."
It should be. Those are the words of my favorite author.
"I want to ask you something."
"My name is Six."
"...Huh?"
I didn't want to know your name.
When I gave her an incredulous look, the woman named Six continued without so much as a twitch of the eyebrow. "So what do you want to ask?" She seemed somewhat embarrassed, but I couldn't blame her.
I just asked my question. "How were you guys able to stomach working with them?"
The answer came from an unexpected place. "Oh, that?" The Dragon Slayer Regal Vagos walked forward with a swagger, seemingly recovered to some extent. "These women knew that they needed our help catching all of you."
Hmm, that did make sense from the Order of the Rose's perspective. For them, their mission came first.
"But you guys didn't have a reason to accept that offer." I talked to the Baldy Boxer, not the Dragon Slayer. Vagos might have made this foolish choice because of his grudge against me, but this guy seemed to be the actual leader here. "You really don't know? Once we're dead, you guys are next."
The question was asked with the intention of causing a break in their ranks. However, Baldy Boxer seemed unfazed as he answered me. "It's well known that the Order of the Rose cannot break an oath made in the king's name."
Ah, I see. I thought the oath was only a cheat code for the barbarians. Also, it's funny that he'd say this is well-known. This is my first time hearing it.
"Besides, we had no choice. We ran out of food chasing you guys. Our only choice was to work with them to get you—and their food." Now it made sense how these two groups became so cooperative.
"Now, does that answer all your questions?" the woman who seemed to be the leader, Six, asked, clearly intending to end this conversation.
"No, not yet. Was it Repeles? I have a suggestion for you."
Baldy chuckled at my words. "Are you really going to try and appeal to me?"
Huh, how did you know?
I readily admitted it.
"Yes. Join our side. We'll provide you with food."
It's monster meat, though.
"...What?" He seemed surprised, like he never expected me to make the offer.
I quickly plowed on. "So what happened is the palace abandoned us. If possible, I want to take this opportunity to change my affiliation altogether. What do you think?"
"...There is nothing more foolish than trusting your enemy."
"If you want an oath, I'll make it. On a warrior's honor." Just like the Order of the Rose used their cheat code, I used my tribe's.
"You... are you serious?" Baldy began considering this with a confused look on his face.
Of course, that didn't last long. Come to think of it, there was a saboteur on their side. "Repeles, do not fall for the enemy's tricks. That man has broken an oath once before. He's a different breed who doesn't care for a warrior's honor or any of that." The Dragon Slayer, whom I once stabbed in the back in the Labyrinth of Larcaz, revealed his story.
Baldy's expression hardened as he turned back to me. "Unfortunately, I will have to decline that offer. I have no way to control you in the city in the first place."
Hmm, that's a no-go, huh?
"That's unfortunate. Then I guess we'll have to kill you all."
I covered my upper body with my shield and looked at the enemy. My line of sight was low because I couldn't use Giantization anymore, but that didn't matter. The barbarian way was to chew with your gums if you didn't have any teeth.
"Erwen!" The moment my call went out, Erwen's body blurred.
[Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has cast Elementalization.]
Since this place was riddled with aura users, the attribute we went with was Earth, obviously.
[Any damage received from Fire attribute attacks is reduced by half. Any damage received from water attribute attacks is doubled. Poison Immunity Bonus. When using blunt weapons, a Strength bonus is added to attacks. Your Physical Resistance has significantly increased.]
My Physical Resistance value soared, and the second stage of Evolving Shell was activated even without Giantization.
[Your Physical Resistance stat is over 350. Damage is reduced by 50 percent for penetration-type wounds only.]
Yeah, let's give this a try, shall we?
"Behel—aaaaaah!"
I was pretty confident about dog fighting.