Chapter 458: Raid (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 458: Raid (3)
To properly enjoy Dungeon and Stone, you had to be good at adapting to anything that it threw your way. I wasn't talking about getting familiar with the setting of the game, but rather, adapting to the playstyle it required. A rift suddenly opening while you were in the middle of hunting, a teammate betraying you when you crossed paths with a high-rank monster—you were bound to encounter unforeseen situations like that at some point or another while playing the game.
Like right now.
"Mister, that..."
"Yeah, that's right."
The Lord of the Floor had been summoned. In other words, someone on the third floor had sacrificed seven human bodies inside the Witch's Hut, whether intentionally or otherwise.
Well, I had a feeling it was deliberate, of course.
...But sometimes, it really is by coincidence.
Exhibit A was none other than me. On the day Missha and I had accidentally taken part in summoning it, I had only decided to burn the bodies because we were desperate to take a break in the cabin. Unfortunately, somebody else had already done the same thing, so the Lord of the Floor ended up spawning. Either way, that wasn't important right now.
"Yandel, what should we do?"
"First, let's get out of the forest. We can't go to the fourth floor now, anyway." When Riakis, the Lord of Chaos, was summoned, all portals on the third floor were disabled, turning the entire third floor into a massive boss room.
While we were putting as much distance between us and the forest as possible, some familiar faces decided to appear.
"Bjorn! There's some creepy gross thing crawling around over there. What is that?"
"A Spirit of Chaos."
Once Riakis was summoned, those token monsters began to run rampant across the entire floor, and they pursued whoever drew their aggro until death. I sighed at the memory.
It's been a long time since I've seen these bastards.
"I'll take care of them." Without even needing to shoot an arrow, Erwen used a fire spirit to killed three Spirits of Chaos in one go.
[The Spirit of Chaos has been destroyed. This location will now deteriorate.]
If we were planning to fight the boss, we'd have to be careful and keep track of which locations eroded away, but since we weren't going to be hunting Riakis either way—
"Kwohhh!"
A familiar roar echoed from the Witch's Forest. I was a bit disappointed. I thought the next time I heard that sound, I would be the one hunting him instead.
"Bjorn! Shouldn't we do something instead of just running away?"
"What, you want the four of us to hunt a Lord of the Floor?"
Technically speaking, Auyen made five, but nobody bothered correcting me. It wasn't like one more person would be enough to make the impossible possible.
"Bjorn, that's not what I meant... I was just wondering if there was anything we could do? I heard that a lot of people died the last time this happened."
Yeah... A lot of people did die, and since I was responsible for the incident, I felt genuinely guilty about it.
"Oh, and I heard that in a disaster situation, higher-level adventurers have a duty to help!"
Yes, that was the adventurer's pledge. That was the reason why the Dzarwi clan, who happened to be on the third floor at the time, did their best to protect the lower-rank adventurers. Even the biggest clans couldn't help but be wary of retribution from the guild.
Though they did extort money from the adventurers as a fee for protecting them...
One thing was clear, though. Without their help that day, many more people would have died. Even after the Lord of the Floor appeared, they still risked their lives to protect the low-rank adventurers gathered there for nearly four hours.
"I-I mean, I don't know what we should do in a situation like this. I only know how to fight. But you're different, Bjorn, so—"
"Ainar, calm down."
She quickly shut her mouth, embarrassed. But even though she clearly felt like she'd said too much, she didn't stop looking straight at me.
I could tell from her gaze alone. Ainar was righteous. There were only two things she despised in this world, and they were monsters and plunderers. As long as they weren't one of those two things, she wanted to help others as much as possible.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to let people die without doing anything." The situation on the whole wasn't all that bad. Helping others and giving back wasn't always a loss, after all.
"Oh! I knew it!"
"Did you think I would just run away? I'm sure there are many fellow barbarians here on the third floor."
That said, protecting the barbarians was barely even a factor for me at this point. I had planned to step in no matter what. How high was my Reputation stat now? It would tank if word got out that I ran away by myself on the third floor without helping anyone.
"Ahhh! Then what should we do? I'll follow your lead, even if you ask me to jump into a fire!"
"We'll stay here and observe the situation for the time being."
"...What?"
My reason for going on standby at the edge of the forest was simple.
"...You think there's a chance we won't even have to do anything."
"It's nearly impossible to get permission to hunt the third floor's Lord of the Floor from the Adventurers' Guild, so maybe some clan just went and summoned it without permission instead."
"Ah! That means that if they kill it themselves, there won't be a problem!"
"That's right."
This was all speculation, of course. There was no way to confirm that was what was going on yet.
"Kwohhh!"
Watching from the outskirts of the forest as a ferocious roar rang out, I received real-time updates on the situation through Erwen.
"Riakis is heading toward the west side of the Witch's Forest. We'd need to be closer for me to say for sure, but there seems to be quite a few people over there."
"How many?"
"I don't know. They're too far away..."
"Then let's get closer."
We walked along the forest's perimeter, heading west. Thanks to Erwen's incredible detection skills, we were soon able to gather more detailed information.
"...There are about fifteen people, and it looks like they're being chased by Riakis."
Hm, were they really? I would wager that they were searching for a better place to fight. The forest's terrain was littered with obstacles that blocked your field of view, making it an unfriendly environment for any party looking to battle a boss. More than that, though, there was something else that piqued my interest.
"Fifteen people..." That wasn't enough people to defeat Riakis, though it might technically be possible with the perfect strategy and front line. "I think those fifteen people are the bait, while their main team is waiting somewhere else."
Though they did extort money from the adventurers as a fee for protecting them...
One thing was clear, though. Without their help that day, many more people would have died. Even after the Lord of the Floor appeared, they still risked their lives to protect the low-rank adventurers gathered there for nearly four hours.
"I-I mean, I don't know what we should do in a situation like this. I only know how to fight. But you're different, Bjorn, so—"
"Ainar, calm down."
She quickly shut her mouth, embarrassed. But even though she clearly felt like she'd said too much, she didn't stop looking straight at me.
I could tell from her gaze alone. Ainar was righteous. There were only two things she despised in this world, and they were monsters and plunderers. As long as they weren't one of those two things, she wanted to help others as much as possible.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to let people die without doing anything." The situation on the whole wasn't all that bad. Helping others and giving back wasn't always a loss, after all.
"Oh! I knew it!"
"Did you think I would just run away? I'm sure there are many fellow barbarians here on the third floor."
That said, protecting the barbarians was barely even a factor for me at this point. I had planned to step in no matter what. How high was my Reputation stat now? It would tank if word got out that I ran away by myself on the third floor without helping anyone.
"Ahhh! Then what should we do? I'll follow your lead, even if you ask me to jump into a fire!"
"We'll stay here and observe the situation for the time being."
"...What?"
My reason for going on standby at the edge of the forest was simple.
"...You think there's a chance we won't even have to do anything."
"It's nearly impossible to get permission to hunt the third floor's Lord of the Floor from the Adventurers' Guild, so maybe some clan just went and summoned it without permission instead."
"Ah! That means that if they kill it themselves, there won't be a problem!"
"That's right."
This was all speculation, of course. There was no way to confirm that was what was going on yet.
"Kwohhh!"
Watching from the outskirts of the forest as a ferocious roar rang out, I received real-time updates on the situation through Erwen.
"Riakis is heading toward the west side of the Witch's Forest. We'd need to be closer for me to say for sure, but there seems to be quite a few people over there."
"How many?"
"I don't know. They're too far away..."
"Then let's get closer."
We walked along the forest's perimeter, heading west. Thanks to Erwen's incredible detection skills, we were soon able to gather more detailed information.
"...There are about fifteen people, and it looks like they're being chased by Riakis."
Hm, were they really? I would wager that they were searching for a better place to fight. The forest's terrain was littered with obstacles that blocked your field of view, making it an unfriendly environment for any party looking to battle a boss. More than that, though, there was something else that piqued my interest.
"Fifteen people..." That wasn't enough people to defeat Riakis, though it might technically be possible with the perfect strategy and front line. "I think those fifteen people are the bait, while their main team is waiting somewhere else."
"Y-You think so?"
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
"No. I would guess they're using a Voice Control spell because I can't hear a single word."
"Hm, I see."
It was a shame we couldn't eavesdrop on them, but I couldn't help but feel relieved at how things had turned out. If it had really all been an unplanned disaster, I would have had to run into the fray and risk my life fighting that damn thing again.
Drip, drop, drip, drop.
Suddenly, rain began to fall from the sky.
Fshhhhhh!
My skin stung where the black rain fell, each drop like pure acid. This was Riakis's passive aura skill.
[You are receiving continuous Chaos-type damage. Your Mana Resistance has drastically decreased.]
[Warning: When continuously exposed to Chaos-type damage, there is a chance that the status effect Confusion will be applied.]
That meant we were near him.
"We'll have to move a little further back." Without a priest, we didn't have any way to counter his aura, so we decided to retreat a bit, just out of range of the rain. And a while later—
"We'll be outside the forest soon!"
Although I didn't have Erwen or Amelia's incredible eyesight, I could still make out a group of about fifteen people running in the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
And, of course, there was a massive monster chasing after them.
"Erwen, take a look. What clan are they with?"
"...They're not wearing emblems."
Huh, did they take them off? Well, they were trying to hunt the Lord of the Floor without permission, so that tracks.
They continued to draw Riakis away as they ran at full tilt.
"Yandel," Amelia called out to me as she watched them go, "what are you planning to do now?"
"Follow them."
"Why do that?"
"Because if they fail, then we'll have a real disaster on our hands."
In other words, if we didn't go with them, we'd have no way of knowing whether we needed to take action.
***
After following the group of fifteen for a while, we arrived at Thorn Reed Field.
Yeah, I guess this would be the best place.
The field had no terrain features that could block your vision—just a nice, wide-open clearing—which made it a good battlefield. Normally, there would be thorns here that reached as high as your shoulders, but they had all been burned down and removed like someone had come here in advance to prepare this place for battle.
"Mister, the main group is over—" Erwen abruptly cut herself off.
"What's the matter?"
"They've noticed our presence. One person is closing in on us and fast."
"Can we outrun them?"
"...There's a small chance we could, but only one person is coming."
Hm, so that's how it is. I guess there's no point in worrying about it.
"Y-You think so?"
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
"No. I would guess they're using a Voice Control spell because I can't hear a single word."
"Hm, I see."
It was a shame we couldn't eavesdrop on them, but I couldn't help but feel relieved at how things had turned out. If it had really all been an unplanned disaster, I would have had to run into the fray and risk my life fighting that damn thing again.
Drip, drop, drip, drop.
Suddenly, rain began to fall from the sky.
Fshhhhhh!
My skin stung where the black rain fell, each drop like pure acid. This was Riakis's passive aura skill.
[You are receiving continuous Chaos-type damage. Your Mana Resistance has drastically decreased.]
[Warning: When continuously exposed to Chaos-type damage, there is a chance that the status effect Confusion will be applied.]
That meant we were near him.
"We'll have to move a little further back." Without a priest, we didn't have any way to counter his aura, so we decided to retreat a bit, just out of range of the rain. And a while later—
"We'll be outside the forest soon!"
Although I didn't have Erwen or Amelia's incredible eyesight, I could still make out a group of about fifteen people running in the distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
And, of course, there was a massive monster chasing after them.
"Erwen, take a look. What clan are they with?"
"...They're not wearing emblems."
Huh, did they take them off? Well, they were trying to hunt the Lord of the Floor without permission, so that tracks.
They continued to draw Riakis away as they ran at full tilt.
"Yandel," Amelia called out to me as she watched them go, "what are you planning to do now?"
"Follow them."
"Why do that?"
"Because if they fail, then we'll have a real disaster on our hands."
In other words, if we didn't go with them, we'd have no way of knowing whether we needed to take action.
***
After following the group of fifteen for a while, we arrived at Thorn Reed Field.
Yeah, I guess this would be the best place.
The field had no terrain features that could block your vision—just a nice, wide-open clearing—which made it a good battlefield. Normally, there would be thorns here that reached as high as your shoulders, but they had all been burned down and removed like someone had come here in advance to prepare this place for battle.
"Mister, the main group is over—" Erwen abruptly cut herself off.
"What's the matter?"
"They've noticed our presence. One person is closing in on us and fast."
"Can we outrun them?"
"...There's a small chance we could, but only one person is coming."
Hm, so that's how it is. I guess there's no point in worrying about it.
I made a snap decision. "Then we'll wait here." Why would we run away when we didn't do anything wrong? Besides, I was curious. What kind of people started an unauthorized raid that was bound to harm innocent lives?
"They're here."
It didn't take long for someone to come running across the barren Thorn Reed Field and reach us. From a distance, he looked like a faint dot, but it didn't take long for that dot to grow and take human form.
Stomp.
Roughly ten yards away from us, the man stopped. He looked to be a quick-on-his-feet, agile type judging by the seven daggers lining his belt.
As soon as he saw me, he froze. When he didn't speak a word, I was the one who was forced to speak first. "Why aren't you saying anything? You're the one who ran over here so quickly."
"...I never expected to run into a celebrity here."
Ah, so that's why he looks so dumbstruck.
"It's an honor to meet you, Baron Yandel. I never expected to meet someone as great as a baron on the third floor of the—"
"Enough. Who are you?"
After I cut him off, he seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening his mouth. "...I'm Malid Kevron."
Whether or not that was his real name, I couldn't tell, but that was all I had to go off of. I decided to instead just refer to him as Daggers as I asked another question. "What clan are you a part of?"
"...The Sawtooth clan."
They were one of the ten largest clans in the city, now reduced to four because of the war, and the very same clan that James Calla used to be the vice captain of.
"Interesting," I said with a smile. "You're acting like it's odd that I'm on the third floor, but a clan of your status being down here is even stranger, don't you think?"
Daggers quickly countered, "That's just how things panned out for us this time. Speaking of, by any chance, was it you who summoned the Lord of the Floor, Your Lordship?"
He was quick-footed and quick-witted. I never expected him to turn this around on me like that, without a single hint of fear.
"It wasn't me."
"Is that so?"
"But if I were to ask you the same question, I'm guessing you would say no as well."
"It certainly wasn't us."
"Does that mean the people who were running around provoking Riakis have nothing to do with you?"
"They are a part of our clan, yes, but we were simply following the adventurer's pledge and taking care of this since we happened to be nearby."
He's one hell of a smooth-talker.
"That's good to hear. Then we'll lend you guys a helping hand."
As soon as I offered our support, Dagger's expression suddenly hardened. "...I am grateful for the offer, but we wouldn't dare impose upon you and have you fight, Your Lordship."
"Hm, and why is that?"
"Isn't it only right for the dangerous work to be left to the adventurers?"
Huh. So he was treating me like I wasn't a fellow adventurer just because I had become a noble? I had to fight back the sudden urge to bash his head in with my hammer.
"You wouldn't want to undermine the prestige of the rest of Rafdonia's nobility by taking part in such a lowly task meant for those beneath you."
"...What?" What did I just hear? "When you say the rest of the nobility... are you talking about people like Count Alminus? One of the supporters of the Sawtooth clan?"
I asked the question just to confirm, but he responded with a brazen smile on his face. "Yes, that is correct."
So I did hear him right the first time.
In that case, there was no point in trying to have a diplomatic conversation any longer. Was that what he was getting at, then? If you don't want trouble, then don't get greedy?
"What are you trying to say, you arrogant bastard?"
"...Pardon?" Daggers froze like a new recruit who was unsure how he'd pissed off his commanding officer. "Did I hear you right?"
I took a step forward. "Hey, Daggers."
"...Yes?"
"Are your brains made of Goblin shit?"
"What? Wh-what are you talking about...?
Now that's more like it.
He had been talking down to me this whole time, but now, he was breaking out in a cold sweat as he slowly backed away.
"Well, I guess I'll find out once I crack it open."
I stealthily lifted my hammer.
I made a snap decision. "Then we'll wait here." Why would we run away when we didn't do anything wrong? Besides, I was curious. What kind of people started an unauthorized raid that was bound to harm innocent lives?
"They're here."
It didn't take long for someone to come running across the barren Thorn Reed Field and reach us. From a distance, he looked like a faint dot, but it didn't take long for that dot to grow and take human form.
Stomp.
Roughly ten yards away from us, the man stopped. He looked to be a quick-on-his-feet, agile type judging by the seven daggers lining his belt.
As soon as he saw me, he froze. When he didn't speak a word, I was the one who was forced to speak first. "Why aren't you saying anything? You're the one who ran over here so quickly."
"...I never expected to run into a celebrity here."
Ah, so that's why he looks so dumbstruck.
"It's an honor to meet you, Baron Yandel. I never expected to meet someone as great as a baron on the third floor of the—"
"Enough. Who are you?"
After I cut him off, he seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening his mouth. "...I'm Malid Kevron."
Whether or not that was his real name, I couldn't tell, but that was all I had to go off of. I decided to instead just refer to him as Daggers as I asked another question. "What clan are you a part of?"
"...The Sawtooth clan."
They were one of the ten largest clans in the city, now reduced to four because of the war, and the very same clan that James Calla used to be the vice captain of.
"Interesting," I said with a smile. "You're acting like it's odd that I'm on the third floor, but a clan of your status being down here is even stranger, don't you think?"
Daggers quickly countered, "That's just how things panned out for us this time. Speaking of, by any chance, was it you who summoned the Lord of the Floor, Your Lordship?"
He was quick-footed and quick-witted. I never expected him to turn this around on me like that, without a single hint of fear.
"It wasn't me."
"Is that so?"
"But if I were to ask you the same question, I'm guessing you would say no as well."
"It certainly wasn't us."
"Does that mean the people who were running around provoking Riakis have nothing to do with you?"
"They are a part of our clan, yes, but we were simply following the adventurer's pledge and taking care of this since we happened to be nearby."
He's one hell of a smooth-talker.
"That's good to hear. Then we'll lend you guys a helping hand."
As soon as I offered our support, Dagger's expression suddenly hardened. "...I am grateful for the offer, but we wouldn't dare impose upon you and have you fight, Your Lordship."
"Hm, and why is that?"
"Isn't it only right for the dangerous work to be left to the adventurers?"
Huh. So he was treating me like I wasn't a fellow adventurer just because I had become a noble? I had to fight back the sudden urge to bash his head in with my hammer.
"You wouldn't want to undermine the prestige of the rest of Rafdonia's nobility by taking part in such a lowly task meant for those beneath you."
"...What?" What did I just hear? "When you say the rest of the nobility... are you talking about people like Count Alminus? One of the supporters of the Sawtooth clan?"
I asked the question just to confirm, but he responded with a brazen smile on his face. "Yes, that is correct."
So I did hear him right the first time.
In that case, there was no point in trying to have a diplomatic conversation any longer. Was that what he was getting at, then? If you don't want trouble, then don't get greedy?
"What are you trying to say, you arrogant bastard?"
"...Pardon?" Daggers froze like a new recruit who was unsure how he'd pissed off his commanding officer. "Did I hear you right?"
I took a step forward. "Hey, Daggers."
"...Yes?"
"Are your brains made of Goblin shit?"
"What? Wh-what are you talking about...?
Now that's more like it.
He had been talking down to me this whole time, but now, he was breaking out in a cold sweat as he slowly backed away.
"Well, I guess I'll find out once I crack it open."
I stealthily lifted my hammer.