Chapter 582: Opened Doors (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 582: Opened Doors (3)
Our next destination, huh?
I threw the question back at him, but the village chief only parroted that I should do as I pleased.
I can't tell what he's thinking.
In the end, I decided on a destination with a sigh, and the village chief said he would announce the decision in our next leadership meeting. So, he wasn't lying when he said he had no intention of interfering with our exploration and was content in not making any decisions regarding it.
"So how did the research go?"
Before I left, I asked him one more time about the research, the project that began over ten days ago when the wizards said they might be able to forcibly activate the dimensional headstone.
"Hmm, weren't you told that research ended in failure?"
"I thought maybe you got some results since you let them hold onto it for so long."
"A result, you say..." The village chief trailed off before saying offhand, "It's not as if we didn't get anything."
"...What was it?"
"I was able to obtain an assurance that I would be able to escape this place using the Heretic Altar."
How did he come to that conclusion? Although he didn't give a detailed explanation, he was probably telling the truth. In fact, that was probably the reason he gave the wizards over ten days to research.
Ultimately, I just directly asked him, "So when are you thinking of returning to the city?" In my mind, the only reason the village chief was still in the labyrinth was because of the uncertainty factor.
Basement Floor One was quite the peculiar floor. Take for example what happened when the expedition group first tried to open the dimensional door when coming here—the dimensional door didn't open. That was why there was so much discussion around the floor, an exercise of thought in whether it could even be considered an ordinary labyrinth field. Days of back and forth between the wizards and the adventurers later, and in the end, the opinion leaned more toward "yes," and the main evidence for this was the Stone of Honor.
The Great Barbarian Warrior, Bjorn Yandel, and his companions discovered Basement Floor One.
This place was special in many ways, but that one sentence removed all doubt that Basement Floor One was a location within the labyrinth. Nevertheless, we were unable to discover why the dimensional door couldn't be opened. Well, it wasn't as if this was the only special area within the labyrinth where the dimensional door couldn't be opened.
"Can't you just return right now since you've gotten certainty?" I probed, trying to shuffle him along.
The village chief only gave a stern shake of his head. "I haven't finished my preparation yet. I'm not confident that I would be able to avoid all suspicion if I return now."
Well, that was true. If I were in the chief's position, I would have stayed in the body for a long time to obtain as much information about Jerome Saintred as possible.
"It seems you want me to leave as quickly as possible," he noted.
"Heh, what made it obvious?"
"Why is it? We should be in the same boat now."
What do you mean, why? Don't ask questions you already know the answer to.
"Don't try to lump us together. You haven't told me anything about how to activate the dimensional headstone," I complained.
"Well...it appears you still don't trust me." The village chief nodded in a show of understanding before tapping my arm like a boss of a company would. "There's no need for such worry. I will certainly leave this place, and I will tell you everything when that time comes."
How ironic.
Did the village chief know? Every time he gave me some cryptic reassurance like that, I felt even more uneasy.
...Should I just kill him now?
Though the impulse was tempting, I decided to hold back and watch how the situation unfolded.
The village chief stopped me when I tried to leave. "Ah, by the way, did you use the thing you took in the morning? That Misplaced Trust."
"...Right, I nearly forgot to give—"
"You don't have to give it back. You'll need it more than me."
Just openly curse me at this point.
I felt a flash of indignation at his subtle insult, but I still took Misplaced Trust with me and left the building.
***
When I returned to the house we were using as our lodging, Erwen and Amelia seemed to be doing something, as I couldn't find them anywhere. The same went for Missha.
Instead, Versyl Gowland was waiting for me.
"You're back?"
"Now that I think about it, I do remember you said you had something you wanted to talk about."
It was obvious what she was going to tell me, but I acted oblivious and sat down. After the sound isolation barrier was put up, our conversation officially began, and it went as I expected.
"There's a rumor that the assembly of the evil spirits has closed."
Versyl first relayed the most important piece of information under the guise of a rumor.
To be honest, I was a bit dumbfounded. "A rumor?"
"Yes, because...it's not like we have any evil spirits among us."
No, but then where did you hear the rumor from?
A normal person would have asked, but I just feigned ignorance and nodded. Maybe because I never asked about where she got her information, Versyl seemed to have become complacent when talking to me.
I hope she doesn't do this in other places...
It was something that worried me as a leader.
In any case, after talking about the so-called "rumor," she naturally transitioned to the topic of Missha. "By the way, about this morning...what happened?"
"Are you talking about Missha?"
"Yes. The information about how Ms. Karlstein could be a traitor, that's still in effect. Staying too close to her..."
Versyl carefully made her concern known, and that was why I sternly cut off her misconception right there. "You don't have to worry about that anymore. I've confirmed myself that she was not a traitor just a bit ago."
"...Pardon? Really? Then why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't anything serious. When I heard her situation, it didn't seem like she was trying to hurt us either."
"I understand that you want to trust Ms. Karlstein, but how could you be so sure?"
Hah, I knew she was going to ask this. "I used Misplaced Trust. I also confirmed after hearing her situation that she wasn't hiding anything else."
When she heard that I used Misplaced Trust, Versyl immediately closed her mouth and fell silent. If she continued to insist that we couldn't trust her, she would just be forcing the issue. Of course, she probably was curious about what the thing I deemed "nothing serious" was, but I wasn't planning on telling her.
How ironic.
Did the village chief know? Every time he gave me some cryptic reassurance like that, I felt even more uneasy.
...Should I just kill him now?
Though the impulse was tempting, I decided to hold back and watch how the situation unfolded.
The village chief stopped me when I tried to leave. "Ah, by the way, did you use the thing you took in the morning? That Misplaced Trust."
"...Right, I nearly forgot to give—"
"You don't have to give it back. You'll need it more than me."
Just openly curse me at this point.
I felt a flash of indignation at his subtle insult, but I still took Misplaced Trust with me and left the building.
***
When I returned to the house we were using as our lodging, Erwen and Amelia seemed to be doing something, as I couldn't find them anywhere. The same went for Missha.
Instead, Versyl Gowland was waiting for me.
"You're back?"
"Now that I think about it, I do remember you said you had something you wanted to talk about."
It was obvious what she was going to tell me, but I acted oblivious and sat down. After the sound isolation barrier was put up, our conversation officially began, and it went as I expected.
"There's a rumor that the assembly of the evil spirits has closed."
Versyl first relayed the most important piece of information under the guise of a rumor.
To be honest, I was a bit dumbfounded. "A rumor?"
"Yes, because...it's not like we have any evil spirits among us."
No, but then where did you hear the rumor from?
A normal person would have asked, but I just feigned ignorance and nodded. Maybe because I never asked about where she got her information, Versyl seemed to have become complacent when talking to me.
I hope she doesn't do this in other places...
It was something that worried me as a leader.
In any case, after talking about the so-called "rumor," she naturally transitioned to the topic of Missha. "By the way, about this morning...what happened?"
"Are you talking about Missha?"
"Yes. The information about how Ms. Karlstein could be a traitor, that's still in effect. Staying too close to her..."
Versyl carefully made her concern known, and that was why I sternly cut off her misconception right there. "You don't have to worry about that anymore. I've confirmed myself that she was not a traitor just a bit ago."
"...Pardon? Really? Then why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't anything serious. When I heard her situation, it didn't seem like she was trying to hurt us either."
"I understand that you want to trust Ms. Karlstein, but how could you be so sure?"
Hah, I knew she was going to ask this. "I used Misplaced Trust. I also confirmed after hearing her situation that she wasn't hiding anything else."
When she heard that I used Misplaced Trust, Versyl immediately closed her mouth and fell silent. If she continued to insist that we couldn't trust her, she would just be forcing the issue. Of course, she probably was curious about what the thing I deemed "nothing serious" was, but I wasn't planning on telling her.
"In any case, there isn't any problem with Missha Karlstein now. You don't have to keep surveillance on her, so just treat her like a regular ally from now on."
"...Yes. I'll do that."
Alright, then that was the end of that topic.
I then asked Versyl to gather the rest of Temporary Squad 4, and when everyone got together, I ordered them to start packing up to leave the island today.
"Ah! Are we going to resume our expedition again?"
"Then it seems the dimensional headstone research failed..."
"Hah... My family is probably worried about me."
A few people were saddened they couldn't immediately return to the city, but the mood wasn't too glum.
"I was honestly getting bored. This is good."
"We still have a lot of places we haven't been to yet."
Everyone here was an adventurer.
***
Splash.
Four ships sailed through the silver waters, with the small and precious boat of the Anabada Clan at the very back behind the large military vessels.
Sitting at the bow, I sat and spaced out while watching the military ships in front of us.
How much more money do I need to earn to get a ship like that...?
Honestly, it wouldn't be a problem if I just sold Wall of Aegis and the Verdurous Giant Spear, but I would just end up poor with a ship. Even if I bought something like that with cash, without a powerful basis of wealth backing me up, there was no point buying a boat like—
"Mr. Yandel! What are you doing there?!" While I flickered from thought to thought from where I sat at the front of the boat, a sharp voice from behind me cut through the haze. It was the vice-captain of the Third Magic Troops, Raven. "It's dangerous! Come down quickly!"
She quickly ran onto the deck while shouting in an angry voice, and since she didn't even come up to my chest in height, she looked like a child when she looked up at me.
You know, it'll only make me laugh if you keep looking up at me like that.
"Huh? What's that look in your eyes...?"
"...Nothing."
I stretched my arms to the sky as I looked around at the deck and spotted a few more familiar faces—Melend Kaislan, Sven Parav, and a few of the knights who I got close to during the battles on Library Island. From now on, they were a part of the Temporary Squad 4 as well. I had asked the village chief before we left, and he allowed it without effect.
"By the way, Raven. I have something I want to ask you."
"...What is it?"
"Did anything happen during the headstone research at the village? Weren't you a part of that?"
"Oh, that?"
Since we had time to spare while sailing, I asked her something I was curious about, and Raven passionately explained everything while using all sorts of jargon.
I can't understand a single thing she said.
A dimensional severance phenomenon, spatial coordinates, and all sorts of nonsense that a modern person wearing the skin of a barbarian had no hope of understanding. While I just sat there and allowed the words to enter in one ear and out the other, Raven seemed to notice my state as she became embarrassed and tried to change the topic.
"In any case, there isn't any problem with Missha Karlstein now. You don't have to keep surveillance on her, so just treat her like a regular ally from now on."
"...Yes. I'll do that."
Alright, then that was the end of that topic.
I then asked Versyl to gather the rest of Temporary Squad 4, and when everyone got together, I ordered them to start packing up to leave the island today.
"Ah! Are we going to resume our expedition again?"
"Then it seems the dimensional headstone research failed..."
"Hah... My family is probably worried about me."
A few people were saddened they couldn't immediately return to the city, but the mood wasn't too glum.
"I was honestly getting bored. This is good."
"We still have a lot of places we haven't been to yet."
Everyone here was an adventurer.
***
Splash.
Four ships sailed through the silver waters, with the small and precious boat of the Anabada Clan at the very back behind the large military vessels.
Sitting at the bow, I sat and spaced out while watching the military ships in front of us.
How much more money do I need to earn to get a ship like that...?
Honestly, it wouldn't be a problem if I just sold Wall of Aegis and the Verdurous Giant Spear, but I would just end up poor with a ship. Even if I bought something like that with cash, without a powerful basis of wealth backing me up, there was no point buying a boat like—
"Mr. Yandel! What are you doing there?!" While I flickered from thought to thought from where I sat at the front of the boat, a sharp voice from behind me cut through the haze. It was the vice-captain of the Third Magic Troops, Raven. "It's dangerous! Come down quickly!"
She quickly ran onto the deck while shouting in an angry voice, and since she didn't even come up to my chest in height, she looked like a child when she looked up at me.
You know, it'll only make me laugh if you keep looking up at me like that.
"Huh? What's that look in your eyes...?"
"...Nothing."
I stretched my arms to the sky as I looked around at the deck and spotted a few more familiar faces—Melend Kaislan, Sven Parav, and a few of the knights who I got close to during the battles on Library Island. From now on, they were a part of the Temporary Squad 4 as well. I had asked the village chief before we left, and he allowed it without effect.
"By the way, Raven. I have something I want to ask you."
"...What is it?"
"Did anything happen during the headstone research at the village? Weren't you a part of that?"
"Oh, that?"
Since we had time to spare while sailing, I asked her something I was curious about, and Raven passionately explained everything while using all sorts of jargon.
I can't understand a single thing she said.
A dimensional severance phenomenon, spatial coordinates, and all sorts of nonsense that a modern person wearing the skin of a barbarian had no hope of understanding. While I just sat there and allowed the words to enter in one ear and out the other, Raven seemed to notice my state as she became embarrassed and tried to change the topic.
"Ahem! I guess my explanation was too difficult for you... But Mr. Yandel, could I ask something as well?"
"Sure."
"Where are we going right now? I thought you might know."
"Oh, you weren't a part of the last leadership meeting."
"All the wizards were exempt from it. We needed to quickly compile all the research data."
I pulled out the map I stole from Hamsick's home and pointed. "This is where we're going." An unidentified island about a week's distance from Library Island. Since it was pretty close to Rainbow Island, I decided to explore that area first. The village chief had something to say when I'd asked him if he knew anything about the place as well.
"It's quite the mysterious island. And very peculiar to boot."
"Peculiar?"
"You'll know when you get there. I'll tell you the rest when we dock."
I didn't know what the peculiarity was, but it definitely did seem like a mysterious island from the way he explained it.
"Hmm...I'm looking forward to what it'll be like there. I hope that we get a clue to unveil the secret of this floor..." Perhaps because it was an unidentified island, Raven didn't ask what sort of place it was or any other question of that type and ended our conversation there.
"Captain! The leading ship stopped!"
"We've gotten a signal that we've arrived at our destination as well."
After a week's worth of travel, I could now understand why the village chief had said that the island was peculiar.
"...That's an island?"
There were no trees or dirt.
No, to be accurate, there was no ground for such things to be on.
Splash!
It was just a huge monolith that was erected tall into the air with the silver water lapping around it.
***
After anchoring our ships close to the monolith, I went over to the leading ship and had a private chat with the village chief.
"Alright, we're here now, so explain it to me. What's with that huge monolith?" The village chief looked at me in disbelief as I entered the room. It was because I activated Misplaced Trust as soon as I saw him. "What? Didn't you say that I would need it more?"
"That wasn't what I meant..."
"Whatever, just answer me. We're wasting time."
I wasn't planning on letting him get away with some random, vague answer, and the village chief probably noticed that as well. It was the only reason I could think to explain why he answered my question so easily.
"That's not a monolith. It's a door."
"A door...?"
"It becomes a door when you put your hand on it and you can enter an unknown space."
"What's inside?"
The village chief took a moment before answering. "I don't know either."
It wasn't the answer I wanted to hear. "You...don't know?"
"No, and it was impossible for me to open that door with my previous body as well."
"Then how do you know that it's a door?"
"I've tested it. I used the survivors who coincidentally ended up in this place, unlike you lot. Oh, and I'll tell you this now, but it was impossible for me to enter that area, so I have no idea what could be inside it. And those who entered never returned alive."
"Ahem! I guess my explanation was too difficult for you... But Mr. Yandel, could I ask something as well?"
"Sure."
"Where are we going right now? I thought you might know."
"Oh, you weren't a part of the last leadership meeting."
"All the wizards were exempt from it. We needed to quickly compile all the research data."
I pulled out the map I stole from Hamsick's home and pointed. "This is where we're going." An unidentified island about a week's distance from Library Island. Since it was pretty close to Rainbow Island, I decided to explore that area first. The village chief had something to say when I'd asked him if he knew anything about the place as well.
"It's quite the mysterious island. And very peculiar to boot."
"Peculiar?"
"You'll know when you get there. I'll tell you the rest when we dock."
I didn't know what the peculiarity was, but it definitely did seem like a mysterious island from the way he explained it.
"Hmm...I'm looking forward to what it'll be like there. I hope that we get a clue to unveil the secret of this floor..." Perhaps because it was an unidentified island, Raven didn't ask what sort of place it was or any other question of that type and ended our conversation there.
"Captain! The leading ship stopped!"
"We've gotten a signal that we've arrived at our destination as well."
After a week's worth of travel, I could now understand why the village chief had said that the island was peculiar.
"...That's an island?"
There were no trees or dirt.
No, to be accurate, there was no ground for such things to be on.
Splash!
It was just a huge monolith that was erected tall into the air with the silver water lapping around it.
***
After anchoring our ships close to the monolith, I went over to the leading ship and had a private chat with the village chief.
"Alright, we're here now, so explain it to me. What's with that huge monolith?" The village chief looked at me in disbelief as I entered the room. It was because I activated Misplaced Trust as soon as I saw him. "What? Didn't you say that I would need it more?"
"That wasn't what I meant..."
"Whatever, just answer me. We're wasting time."
I wasn't planning on letting him get away with some random, vague answer, and the village chief probably noticed that as well. It was the only reason I could think to explain why he answered my question so easily.
"That's not a monolith. It's a door."
"A door...?"
"It becomes a door when you put your hand on it and you can enter an unknown space."
"What's inside?"
The village chief took a moment before answering. "I don't know either."
It wasn't the answer I wanted to hear. "You...don't know?"
"No, and it was impossible for me to open that door with my previous body as well."
"Then how do you know that it's a door?"
"I've tested it. I used the survivors who coincidentally ended up in this place, unlike you lot. Oh, and I'll tell you this now, but it was impossible for me to enter that area, so I have no idea what could be inside it. And those who entered never returned alive."
Putting aside that inexplicably spooky response, I focused on what I needed to confirm first. "What do you mean by 'survivors?'"
"I told you that there are humans who sometimes end up here. There were a few who survived among them."
"I don't understand. Why didn't you steal their bodies?"
At that question, the village chief pulled out a black stone from his clothes. "Back then, I hadn't gathered enough sacrifices for this stone. In truth, I only just obtained enough quite recently. As you know...a lot of people came in this time, no?"
He was talking about the Silver Lion Clan who went missing in the village and were found dead in the basement.
For a reason I couldn't name, those eyes of his that didn't see people as people annoyed me more today than any day before it, but I schooled my expression and continued to listen.
"The adventurers who entered the place alone were as strong as you, but they weren't able to return. These two are the only things I can tell you. I'm not even sure how many people can enter it at a time. Are you still thinking of exploring inside that place as planned even after knowing this?"
Maybe it was just a gut feeling, but he seemed to be testing me. Well, no matter what he said or how he said it, my answer stayed the same.
"Of course, we will investigate the inside as well."
I had decided to leave no stone unturned on this floor.
Before turning Misplaced Trust off, I asked a few more things. However, the village chief only remained silent for all of that, and I had to just be satisfied with what I got and return to my ship. There, I picked out how many of the crew and who would enter first before informing the village chief.
"I will arrange the members as you said, but...will you be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"With this, you will be entering first. Into a dangerous place where you don't know what might lurk there."
"It's because it's a place like that that I need to enter first."
"Hmm?" The village chief only looked at me with amazement and didn't say anything else.
After returning to my ship again, we finished our final preparations and got on a smaller boat before approaching the huge stone door.
Splash!
The reconnaissance group we had sent ahead of us had already opened the stone door. Inside the door, a shifting mirage filled the space. It was something any adventurer would recognize in an instant.
A portal.
However, it was my first time seeing a portal so large. I stared up at it in awe.
"Yandel, how about you reconsider this?" said Amelia, who had gotten on the same boat as me. "We're one thing, but you entering first seems too reckless."
"What are you saying? Your body is weak." Most people knew, but barbarians usually didn't listen to those weaker than them. "I'll go in first. Just as I said, enter after waiting a minute."
After looking into the eyes of my allies one by one, I took the position to jump from the boat.
What was inside there? Honestly, I was a little scared and nervous. However, I decided to trust my experience. Although Dungeon and Stone was an unfriendly game, they usually never had a case of a monster or trap waiting right behind a portal.
With that, I leaped and threw my body into the huge portal.
Vwoong!
A rainbow of colored light embraced me. Strangely, it felt as if my body was being lifted into the air.
Tap.
When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by darkness, but there was no reason to whip out a candle and go into barbarian-candle mode.
You know, my level was pretty high now.
Fwing!
I took out the flare that I had on my belt for situations like this and fired it in a random direction.
Fwoosh!
My surroundings were illuminated, and I could see.
Firstly, I'm inside somewhere.
The floor was smooth marble. I had walls to either side and a roof over my head. And, I was surrounded by monsters—well, stone statues in the form of various monsters.
Death Knight, King Slime, Lycanthrope, Iron Cavalry...
After checking each stone statue from front to back, I quickly noticed what these monsters were representing.
Guardians of the Rift.
The long hallway was lined end to end with stone statues that all took the form of a Guardian of the Rift.
Putting aside that inexplicably spooky response, I focused on what I needed to confirm first. "What do you mean by 'survivors?'"
"I told you that there are humans who sometimes end up here. There were a few who survived among them."
"I don't understand. Why didn't you steal their bodies?"
At that question, the village chief pulled out a black stone from his clothes. "Back then, I hadn't gathered enough sacrifices for this stone. In truth, I only just obtained enough quite recently. As you know...a lot of people came in this time, no?"
He was talking about the Silver Lion Clan who went missing in the village and were found dead in the basement.
For a reason I couldn't name, those eyes of his that didn't see people as people annoyed me more today than any day before it, but I schooled my expression and continued to listen.
"The adventurers who entered the place alone were as strong as you, but they weren't able to return. These two are the only things I can tell you. I'm not even sure how many people can enter it at a time. Are you still thinking of exploring inside that place as planned even after knowing this?"
Maybe it was just a gut feeling, but he seemed to be testing me. Well, no matter what he said or how he said it, my answer stayed the same.
"Of course, we will investigate the inside as well."
I had decided to leave no stone unturned on this floor.
Before turning Misplaced Trust off, I asked a few more things. However, the village chief only remained silent for all of that, and I had to just be satisfied with what I got and return to my ship. There, I picked out how many of the crew and who would enter first before informing the village chief.
"I will arrange the members as you said, but...will you be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"With this, you will be entering first. Into a dangerous place where you don't know what might lurk there."
"It's because it's a place like that that I need to enter first."
"Hmm?" The village chief only looked at me with amazement and didn't say anything else.
After returning to my ship again, we finished our final preparations and got on a smaller boat before approaching the huge stone door.
Splash!
The reconnaissance group we had sent ahead of us had already opened the stone door. Inside the door, a shifting mirage filled the space. It was something any adventurer would recognize in an instant.
A portal.
However, it was my first time seeing a portal so large. I stared up at it in awe.
"Yandel, how about you reconsider this?" said Amelia, who had gotten on the same boat as me. "We're one thing, but you entering first seems too reckless."
"What are you saying? Your body is weak." Most people knew, but barbarians usually didn't listen to those weaker than them. "I'll go in first. Just as I said, enter after waiting a minute."
After looking into the eyes of my allies one by one, I took the position to jump from the boat.
What was inside there? Honestly, I was a little scared and nervous. However, I decided to trust my experience. Although Dungeon and Stone was an unfriendly game, they usually never had a case of a monster or trap waiting right behind a portal.
With that, I leaped and threw my body into the huge portal.
Vwoong!
A rainbow of colored light embraced me. Strangely, it felt as if my body was being lifted into the air.
Tap.
When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by darkness, but there was no reason to whip out a candle and go into barbarian-candle mode.
You know, my level was pretty high now.
Fwing!
I took out the flare that I had on my belt for situations like this and fired it in a random direction.
Fwoosh!
My surroundings were illuminated, and I could see.
Firstly, I'm inside somewhere.
The floor was smooth marble. I had walls to either side and a roof over my head. And, I was surrounded by monsters—well, stone statues in the form of various monsters.
Death Knight, King Slime, Lycanthrope, Iron Cavalry...
After checking each stone statue from front to back, I quickly noticed what these monsters were representing.
Guardians of the Rift.
The long hallway was lined end to end with stone statues that all took the form of a Guardian of the Rift.