Chapter 507: Basement Floor One (3)

Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 507: Basement Floor One (3)

If Berzak found us, 70 percent of us would meet our end, and that was assuming we all ran away the moment we spotted him. If we tried to fight him, then this would be the last expedition any of us ever went on.

These bastards... do they not value their lives at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all?

The more I stared at them, the less I understood. With every passing second, Berzak was probably drawing nearer. Yet instead of running up to the second floor, more people were actively gathering here.

"...Just as I thought, other people had the same idea as us."

A group of five adventurers stumbled toward us, in miserable shape. They seemed to have struggled to wade through all the traps scattered around the first floor. But the moment they spotted the crowd in the hidden room, they had only one question.

"Where's the portal? Did it open?"

"Why didn't it open? The Lord of Terror has already been defeated nine times and Berzak was summoned!"

Was there something wrong with these people? Why had they bet everything on the off chance that the portal might open instead of going up to the second floor? They weren't even one of the parties who had been waiting here since Berzak first appeared. They had been somewhere else and had purposely forced their way through all those traps to get here rather than heading toward safety.

Likely noticing my obvious disbelief, Amelia came up beside me. "Yandel... what should we do?"

"I don't know. I think I might have underestimated how tenacious and greedy adventurers could be."

"It's not just adventurers. All humans are like that. Regardless of time or place."

These days, talking to Amelia felt a lot like talking to a wise sage. Even so, her words of wisdom didn't help me out much this time. I needed advice on what we should do now. If she had expected something like this to happen, then she should have warned me in advance.

I let out a slow sigh.

Let's calm down.

This situation was far ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from ideal, but there was no need to take it out on my teammates for no reason. Instead, my time was best spent trying to come up with a solution.

The biggest issue is that it's going to be hard to open the portal discreetly with so many eyes on us...

If we opened the portal now, everyone here would obviously hitch a free ride. Just imagining how much loot they would steal from us gave me a headache.

But more importantly, word will spread.

Even if the number of people who could go through the portal was limited and only my teammates and I got inside, rumors about us getting into the hidden area would spread throughout the city. That meant that from next month onward, there would be countless people tailing us and watching our every move. Since I wanted us to quietly reap the rewards on our own, I'd prefer to avoid that outcome. However...

"I-It's a Watcher of the Abyss! Berzak! That monster is here...!"

Just as I thought, the world wasn't going to let me sit back, watch things play out, and brainstorm solutions. The moment you saw a Watcher of the Abyss, that meant Berzak was definitely coming for you.

"Ack! G-Get away!"

"D-Don't get near me!"

"Aaaaaagh!"

As the Watcher of the Abyss floated closer, the group of adventurers devolved into panic. Didn't they know acting like that would only aggro it more? It was ridiculous to watch a bunch of grown adults tremble in fear at the sight of a Watcher of the Abyss, a useless rank-nine monster, merely approaching them.

Splurt!

Poison shot out of its eyeball like a water gun.

"Argh! Get out of my way! Get out of my way!"

What a joke. These adventurers looked like they could easily be sixth-floor veterans or higher, so why were they freaking out so much about a rank-nine monster? Was this some kind of slapstick comedy?

Smack!

As I was quietly watching the amusing chaos unfold from a few steps away, one of the panicking adventurers accidentally slapped the Watcher of the Abyss.

Shaaaaaa!

It immediately burst into a cluster of lights, then disappeared.

A heavy silence quickly replaced the panic in the cave.

"Ahhh... n-no... wait..."

At the realization that he'd just killed a Watcher of the Abyss, the adventurer began to tremble. The situation had officially gone from bad to worse.

"H-Hurry up! Get away from us!"

People started to yell at the adventurer who killed it, trying to drive him away.

"If you stay here, Berzak will come! Run to the second floor before it catches you!"

"B-But... I-I can't get there on my own..."

"Then why did you kill it?!"

Are all adventurers unfeeling bastards or something?

"Stop it." Unable to watch this go on any longer, I stepped forward.

"Baron Yandel...?"

"Your Lordship! We'll all die if this guy stays with us! We need him to leave as soon as possible!"

That logic was ridiculous. Were they trying to argue that we'd be fine as long as we got rid of him? The fact that the Watcher of the Abyss saw us meant that Berzak was going to come for us no matter what we did.

Whatever the case, I now had a firm grasp of the situation. It didn't matter how much longer we waited around for them to change their minds—none of these people were willing to go to the second floor.

"I told you to stop."

"But—!"

"I'm going to open the portal now."

It was time to move on to Plan B.

As soon as I said that, the man quickly scrambled out of my way. The crowd of adventurers inside the hidden alcove near the stone also parted so I could walk through.

"All of you, stay out here for now."

"...Pardon? O-Oh! Of course! We won't get in the way. Everyone, come over here!"

They were all clearly shocked to hear me suddenly declare that I was going to open the portal, but thankfully, they were rather obliging given the situation and quickly vacated the small stone room for us.

"Versyl, can you create a curtain so they can't see what happens in here? Make sure they can't hear us either."

Versyl quickly cast some spells, creating a barrier to ensure that no one could spy on us from the outside. With that, we were able to secure some manner of privacy.

Before I could get started, Amelia came over and stopped me. "Yandel, are you sure about this?"

"There's no other choice. It's not like we can let them all die here."

Splurt!

Poison shot out of its eyeball like a water gun.

"Argh! Get out of my way! Get out of my way!"

What a joke. These adventurers looked like they could easily be sixth-floor veterans or higher, so why were they freaking out so much about a rank-nine monster? Was this some kind of slapstick comedy?

Smack!

As I was quietly watching the amusing chaos unfold from a few steps away, one of the panicking adventurers accidentally slapped the Watcher of the Abyss.

Shaaaaaa!

It immediately burst into a cluster of lights, then disappeared.

A heavy silence quickly replaced the panic in the cave.

"Ahhh... n-no... wait..."

At the realization that he'd just killed a Watcher of the Abyss, the adventurer began to tremble. The situation had officially gone from bad to worse.

"H-Hurry up! Get away from us!"

People started to yell at the adventurer who killed it, trying to drive him away.

"If you stay here, Berzak will come! Run to the second floor before it catches you!"

"B-But... I-I can't get there on my own..."

"Then why did you kill it?!"

Are all adventurers unfeeling bastards or something?

"Stop it." Unable to watch this go on any longer, I stepped forward.

"Baron Yandel...?"

"Your Lordship! We'll all die if this guy stays with us! We need him to leave as soon as possible!"

That logic was ridiculous. Were they trying to argue that we'd be fine as long as we got rid of him? The fact that the Watcher of the Abyss saw us meant that Berzak was going to come for us no matter what we did.

Whatever the case, I now had a firm grasp of the situation. It didn't matter how much longer we waited around for them to change their minds—none of these people were willing to go to the second floor.

"I told you to stop."

"But—!"

"I'm going to open the portal now."

It was time to move on to Plan B.

As soon as I said that, the man quickly scrambled out of my way. The crowd of adventurers inside the hidden alcove near the stone also parted so I could walk through.

"All of you, stay out here for now."

"...Pardon? O-Oh! Of course! We won't get in the way. Everyone, come over here!"

They were all clearly shocked to hear me suddenly declare that I was going to open the portal, but thankfully, they were rather obliging given the situation and quickly vacated the small stone room for us.

"Versyl, can you create a curtain so they can't see what happens in here? Make sure they can't hear us either."

Versyl quickly cast some spells, creating a barrier to ensure that no one could spy on us from the outside. With that, we were able to secure some manner of privacy.

Before I could get started, Amelia came over and stopped me. "Yandel, are you sure about this?"

"There's no other choice. It's not like we can let them all die here."

"If we wait a bit longer, they might all head back up to the second floor on their own. No matter how reckless they may seem, they have to value their lives."

Well, it's not like that exact thought didn't cross my mind, but...

"Unfortunately, I really don't think they're going to give up."

"...You're unexpectedly calm about this."

Does it seem that way...?

It was more that I'd already given up on the possibility of them doing the reasonable thing and getting out of there. In truth, just imagining how many freeloaders were going to tag along once I opened this portal made my stomach churn and my head hurt.

Even so, I said, "If this method doesn't work, we'll need time to escape to the second floor. It'd be dangerous to wait any longer."

Amelia seemed persuaded by my logic.

I hurried over to the portal stone with the fragments we found on the third floor. "Versyl. Cast the Binding spell on the six of us, excluding you."

"What?"

"If the portal opens, there's a high chance that there will be a reward for being the first to open it."

"I see...!" Quickly catching on, Versyl cast the Binding spell without a word of complaint. It wasn't like wizards needed experience points like we did. "All done."

All right... then it's time. Please work.

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, as I touched the three carved fragments to the portal stone.

Fwoooooo!

A sudden breeze kicked up around the stone as a large burst of color blinded us.

[You are the first to open a portal to this hidden area. EXP +99]

Yeah, there we go.

The portal had opened. One that led to a mysterious new area of the labyrinth that no one in the history of Rafdonia had ever stepped foot in. Maybe that was why my mind was suddenly cluttered with all sorts of concerns. Still, I decided to stick to my guns and carry out the plan I'd already settled on.

"Versyl, recast the spell on us."

"Who on?"

"You, me, and Erwen will be a part of Team One. Everyone else will be Team Two. If we go inside and the portal closes, Team Two is to immediately go up to the second floor. Do I make myself clear? And Emily, you're in charge if that happens... got it?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure those people outside will come to their senses if they see the portal close. But if they don't, I'll make sure to convince them all to work together so we can safely make our way to the second floor."

"All right... And if you enter the portal and start in a different location than us, make sure to take care of each other. Got it?"

"I'll do my best."

Those were all the precautions I could possibly take.

"Then we'll go in first." With that, I forced myself to step forward and into the portal.

Fwoosh!

A bright light blinded me, even as I screwed my eyes shut. I felt like my body was floating as my vision slowly returned.

[You have entered the Archives on Basement Floor One.]

[First Achievement Unlocked: The great feat you have accomplished here will be engraved in the Stone of Honor, recorded forevermore.]

"If we wait a bit longer, they might all head back up to the second floor on their own. No matter how reckless they may seem, they have to value their lives."

Well, it's not like that exact thought didn't cross my mind, but...

"Unfortunately, I really don't think they're going to give up."

"...You're unexpectedly calm about this."

Does it seem that way...?

It was more that I'd already given up on the possibility of them doing the reasonable thing and getting out of there. In truth, just imagining how many freeloaders were going to tag along once I opened this portal made my stomach churn and my head hurt.

Even so, I said, "If this method doesn't work, we'll need time to escape to the second floor. It'd be dangerous to wait any longer."

Amelia seemed persuaded by my logic.

I hurried over to the portal stone with the fragments we found on the third floor. "Versyl. Cast the Binding spell on the six of us, excluding you."

"What?"

"If the portal opens, there's a high chance that there will be a reward for being the first to open it."

"I see...!" Quickly catching on, Versyl cast the Binding spell without a word of complaint. It wasn't like wizards needed experience points like we did. "All done."

All right... then it's time. Please work.

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, as I touched the three carved fragments to the portal stone.

Fwoooooo!

A sudden breeze kicked up around the stone as a large burst of color blinded us.

[You are the first to open a portal to this hidden area. EXP +99]

Yeah, there we go.

The portal had opened. One that led to a mysterious new area of the labyrinth that no one in the history of Rafdonia had ever stepped foot in. Maybe that was why my mind was suddenly cluttered with all sorts of concerns. Still, I decided to stick to my guns and carry out the plan I'd already settled on.

"Versyl, recast the spell on us."

"Who on?"

"You, me, and Erwen will be a part of Team One. Everyone else will be Team Two. If we go inside and the portal closes, Team Two is to immediately go up to the second floor. Do I make myself clear? And Emily, you're in charge if that happens... got it?"

"Don't worry. I'm sure those people outside will come to their senses if they see the portal close. But if they don't, I'll make sure to convince them all to work together so we can safely make our way to the second floor."

"All right... And if you enter the portal and start in a different location than us, make sure to take care of each other. Got it?"

"I'll do my best."

Those were all the precautions I could possibly take.

"Then we'll go in first." With that, I forced myself to step forward and into the portal.

Fwoosh!

A bright light blinded me, even as I screwed my eyes shut. I felt like my body was floating as my vision slowly returned.

[You have entered the Archives on Basement Floor One.]

[First Achievement Unlocked: The great feat you have accomplished here will be engraved in the Stone of Honor, recorded forevermore.]

Since I was used to traveling via the portal by now, I was able to find my balance and safely land on my feet.

Thud!

I whipped my shield up to protect my upper body as I quickly scanned the area. The ground I was standing on was covered in tiles, and I could only see about one hundred yards ahead of me. Beyond that, however, there didn't seem to be anything noteworthy, aside from a patch where the tiles turned into rocky terrain.

Shaaaaaa.

And was that the sound of ocean waves?

For now, there don't seem to be any monsters around.

A burst of light overhead interrupted my assessment of the situation, bringing with it my teammates.

"W-Waaah...!"

First was the silent Erwen and outwardly shocked Versyl, who were both on Team One with me.

"Whoooa!"

Then came Ainar, who tumbled in yelling, along with Auyen, Missha, and Amelia.

...Thankfully, it seems the portal didn't close behind the three of us.

But I only got to enjoy a moment of relief before I came to a sudden, belated realization.

"...We might not be able to get out of here."

Just like when you entered a Rift, the portal above us was beginning to close after spitting us out.

A one-way entrance, with no way to go back where we came from...

There was something ominous about that, but I decided to think positively.

...It's not like this really changes things.

We came from the first floor, so either way, it would have been impossible for us to return once the floor closed in a few hours.

The question is, when will this place close...?

That was the sort of information we would only be able to uncover by exploring. Still, unable to shake my lingering concerns, I walked over to Amelia.

"Emily, what were things like when you came in?"

"It was the same as when you went through. There was a slight difference in the color of the portal, but no other changes aside from that. Also, once Ms. Gowland's barrier disappeared, the people outside rushed into the room after us."

Hm, is that so...

"Then keep an eye on our surroundings and keep your guard up. If you notice anything, make sure to alert me. Even if it seems trivial."

"Bjorn!" Ainar shouted, as if on cue. "I-I'm feeling strange!"

"Strange? What's wrong?"

"Uh, my face is hot. And my heart is pounding!"

...That's because you're excited.

Still, I proceeded to check how my other teammates were doing as well to see if this place had any effects we had to worry about. As I did so, other adventurers started to rain down from above.

"Ohhh! A new floor! A new floor...!"

"Muahaha! My name will go down in history!"

Some of them indeed seemed to have a few screws loose, but some of them also seemed rather normal.

"Everyone, stay on alert! You can't let your guard down! We don't know what might come our way!"

These people grouped back up with their party members as soon as they were on solid ground. I wasn't quite sure why, but for some reason, they all started to gather relatively close to us. Did they think they would be safer if we were nearby? I didn't know myself, but eventually, the steady stream of adventurers stopped, and the portal in the sky blinked out of existence entirely.

"Wh-what?! Why aren't the rest of them coming?"

"M-Mr. Zelton isn't here yet...?"

"Kuredo! Kuredo, are you here?!"

A new piece of information was obtained. Unlike the portals that led to the other floors, this one seemed to close after certain conditions were met. But what were those conditions?

Well, I don't think it's some sort of a time limit...

I began to count the people present. The number of adventurers who had come in already was one, two, three, four, five, six...

Fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty...

I see. So the portal closed once sixty people were inside.

Since I was used to traveling via the portal by now, I was able to find my balance and safely land on my feet.

Thud!

I whipped my shield up to protect my upper body as I quickly scanned the area. The ground I was standing on was covered in tiles, and I could only see about one hundred yards ahead of me. Beyond that, however, there didn't seem to be anything noteworthy, aside from a patch where the tiles turned into rocky terrain.

Shaaaaaa.

And was that the sound of ocean waves?

For now, there don't seem to be any monsters around.

A burst of light overhead interrupted my assessment of the situation, bringing with it my teammates.

"W-Waaah...!"

First was the silent Erwen and outwardly shocked Versyl, who were both on Team One with me.

"Whoooa!"

Then came Ainar, who tumbled in yelling, along with Auyen, Missha, and Amelia.

...Thankfully, it seems the portal didn't close behind the three of us.

But I only got to enjoy a moment of relief before I came to a sudden, belated realization.

"...We might not be able to get out of here."

Just like when you entered a Rift, the portal above us was beginning to close after spitting us out.

A one-way entrance, with no way to go back where we came from...

There was something ominous about that, but I decided to think positively.

...It's not like this really changes things.

We came from the first floor, so either way, it would have been impossible for us to return once the floor closed in a few hours.

The question is, when will this place close...?

That was the sort of information we would only be able to uncover by exploring. Still, unable to shake my lingering concerns, I walked over to Amelia.

"Emily, what were things like when you came in?"

"It was the same as when you went through. There was a slight difference in the color of the portal, but no other changes aside from that. Also, once Ms. Gowland's barrier disappeared, the people outside rushed into the room after us."

Hm, is that so...

"Then keep an eye on our surroundings and keep your guard up. If you notice anything, make sure to alert me. Even if it seems trivial."

"Bjorn!" Ainar shouted, as if on cue. "I-I'm feeling strange!"

"Strange? What's wrong?"

"Uh, my face is hot. And my heart is pounding!"

...That's because you're excited.

Still, I proceeded to check how my other teammates were doing as well to see if this place had any effects we had to worry about. As I did so, other adventurers started to rain down from above.

"Ohhh! A new floor! A new floor...!"

"Muahaha! My name will go down in history!"

Some of them indeed seemed to have a few screws loose, but some of them also seemed rather normal.

"Everyone, stay on alert! You can't let your guard down! We don't know what might come our way!"

These people grouped back up with their party members as soon as they were on solid ground. I wasn't quite sure why, but for some reason, they all started to gather relatively close to us. Did they think they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would be safer if we were nearby? I didn't know myself, but eventually, the steady stream of adventurers stopped, and the portal in the sky blinked out of existence entirely.

"Wh-what?! Why aren't the rest of them coming?"

"M-Mr. Zelton isn't here yet...?"

"Kuredo! Kuredo, are you here?!"

A new piece of information was obtained. Unlike the portals that led to the other floors, this one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed to close after certain conditions were met. But what were those conditions?

Well, I don't think it's some sort of a time limit...

I began to count the people present. The number of adventurers who had come in already was one, two, three, four, five, six...

Fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty...

I see. So the portal closed once sixty people were inside.