Chapter 223
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: 64. Inner World (2)
3.
“We’ll depart in 30 minutes.”
The moment El Pam said those words, Supreme Commander Sigmund and Cheryl were, of course, surprised.
He had explained it thoroughly.
Just how dangerous this place was.
And how important this mission was.
“Are you joking right now?”
“It’s not a joke, so we’re departing in 30 minutes.”
“What does that mean?”
“The one right in front of us is Wing Master Orca. An existence far beyond any adventurer.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“Even if he opened his eyes right now and killed every one of us here, it wouldn’t be strange at all.”
“Ah!”
Only then did they finally grasp the meaning behind El Pam’s words.
“If it were just about obtaining information on the Mystic Gate, it would make sense to take time and prepare. But the information we need to get now isn’t on that level.”
In a situation where they had to obtain information that could change the fate of the Maple World, they had no choice but to take any risk.
Even 30 minutes was a regrettable amount of time from El Pam’s perspective.
“If it were just me and my companions going in, we’d have gone immediately.”
Nevertheless, the reason he set 30 minutes was because they needed to fill seven spots.
In an unknown situation, maximizing their full strength was basic common sense.
The Resistance had already prepared for that.
“We have an expert. Kurku, the Battle Mage who’s retrieved information from blue-grade Mystic Gates 12 times.”
The very best in the field.
“Just one?”
El Pam had his doubts about that.
There were two spots left.
Yet the Resistance was only sending one?
At that point, El Pam realized.
“Then the remaining one is.”
Why she was here.
“The Cross Hunters are sending one as well. Their top expert in this area.”
“Who is it?”
“You know him too.”
“Pir. He’s joining us.”
Hero Tracker Pir!
From El Pam’s perspective, the addition of Pir, who was better than anyone at finding items, was exactly what he wanted.
‘There’s no guarantee Mana will find the treasure chest well.’
Pure item-tracking ability-wise, Pir was far superior to El Pam.
In any case, from El Pam’s viewpoint, there was no reason to refuse such a member.
“They’re all prepared, I assume.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then we’ll depart in 3 minutes.”
“Yes?”
That was why El Pam said it.
“Exactly as I said. We depart in 3 minutes.”
4.
It was sudden.
“We’re entering Wing Master Orca’s inner world in 3 minutes.”
His companions, who had been resting in the prison, put on dazed expressions at El Pam’s words.
That was it.
“Got it. I’ll grab some food for now.”
They were only surprised for a moment before quickly preparing to tackle the place El Pam had mentioned.
That fact, in turn, surprised Cheryl and Supreme Commander Sigmund.
‘Hearing something like that.’
‘And responding right away?’
Accepting such an absurd, beyond-ridiculous demand so quickly?
Of course, it wasn’t the fact itself that surprised them.
‘What kind of adventures have they been on?’
It meant that the adventures El Pam’s party had undertaken transcended common sense to the point where they could take such demands in stride.
The other two, who had been waiting, were also surprised.
“……That’s the El Pam party for you.”
Pir, having already experienced the El Pam party, adapted immediately, but Battle Mage Kurku was different.
“What does that mean? In 3 minutes? Are you insane right now? Do you know what kind of place that is!”
But there was no backlash.
It was an extremely important matter in many ways, and above all, this job had been commissioned to the El Pam party by the Resistance.
The decision-making power lay entirely with the El Pam party.
In the end, the El Pam party finished all preparations in exactly 3 minutes as he had said and headed into Wing Master Orca’s inner world.
Afterward, the remaining two had a conversation.
“Cheryl, I never imagined we’d be having a conversation like this here.”
“Indeed.”
Supreme Commander Sigmund and Cheryl.
“An unwanted event has occurred.”
The expressions on the faces of the two as they spoke were not good.
It wasn’t that their relationship was awkward.
Quite the opposite—the Resistance and Cross Hunters were closer than any other groups.
Above all, both organizations were based in Edelstein.
It meant they knew each other’s situations better than anyone.
That was why.
Both of them had desperately hoped that the day they joined hands like this would never come.
“Yes. I never thought the situation would turn out this bad.”
The two groups joining hands meant their situations were that dire.
A tragic affair.
But the two women did not dwell on the tragedy.
They had no choice but to do so.
For women who had lived to confront the Black Mage and his followers, an insurmountable enemy, dwelling on tragedy had become tiresome.
They knew better than anyone that mulling over it changed nothing.
What they needed to see now was to focus on the present.
“So, what kind of place is that inner world?”
“We’ve challenged it over 36 times so far. And every time, different kinds of monsters appear.”
“What’s the level of the monsters?”
“All sorts appear. If you’re lucky, mushrooms show up, but if not, Centaurus appear.”
At that explanation, Cheryl’s expression hardened.
It was far from good news.
“So, what’s the highest record?”
“12th floor.”
The highest record reached in a week was merely the 12th floor.
“And above all, Kurku is the best in the Resistance at tackling Mystic Gates.”
That record had been set by Kurku.
“I’ve heard the name a lot.”
Cheryl knew the name too.
20 percent of the legendary items the Resistance had obtained from Mystic Gates were thanks to Kurku’s skills.
“I’ve heard about his personality too.”
At the same time, she knew.
“That he never bows his head to anyone.”
At that description, Supreme Commander Sigmund gave a wry smile.
“You’re putting it nicely. You could just call him a mad dog.”
5.
Inner world.
“You’re El Pam, right?”
The moment they entered, in the dark forest that came into view, Battle Mage Kurku spoke.
“Skip the greetings. From now on, I’m the guide. You just follow behind me.”
A one-sided declaration.
“What, you bastard?”
At that, Dibo immediately bristled.
He exuded a chilling aura.
But Kurku spoke without his momentum faltering in the slightest.
“I’ve cleared this inner world 12 times. All the way to the deepest layer. I even brought back very important information.”
It was well-deserved confidence.
Kurku was the Resistance’s top expert in this field.
“Half of the blue-grade Mystic Gate intel you’ve cleared? I brought it.”
Not some braggart with nothing to show, but a true expert with clear results!
“And honestly, I can’t trust you guys.”
From Kurku’s perspective, the El Pam party wasn’t all that trustworthy.
That was fair too.
“You don’t get called a con artist for nothing, right?”
Whenever the El Pam party came up, the phrase “con artist El Pam” was inevitable.
Of course, the Resistance, owing El Pam a great debt, never treated him as a con artist.
But in matters like this, it was inevitable they couldn’t view it positively.
“This is a very important job, and I don’t want to leave it to you. I’ll command everything.”
Of course, the El Pam party couldn’t just accept Kurku’s behavior either.
“Boss, just give the order. I’ll show him quick who’s boss in 3 minutes flat.”
Dibo ramped up his menacing aura, ready to settle things right then.
But no fight broke out.
Even if they won a fight, Kurku wasn’t likely to cooperate with the El Pam party.
Above all, from El Pam’s viewpoint, this mission was far too important.
A mission where they had to combine strengths for the best result!
“Kurku.”
“Speak.”
“Let’s make a bet.”
“A bet?”
“I know the deepest the Resistance has gone in the inner world is the 12th floor.”
“That’s right.”
“Then what if we reach the 13th floor?”
At El Pam’s words, Kurku smirked.
“What, trying to pull some trick now? Huh? Trying to take control like that?”
He thought El Pam was joking.
At that reaction, Dibo bristled again.
“Boss, why waste time? Just leave it to me, and I’ll sort him out in 3 minutes.”
“Dibo, you need 3 minutes? Give it to me, and I’ll finish in 2.”
At this point, Miner stepped in too.
She sensed this wasn’t just a battle of auras.
Moreover, just as Kurku didn’t trust the El Pam party, they didn’t trust Kurku either.
And they had no intention of entrusting their fate to someone they didn’t trust.
But El Pam was different.
At Kurku’s reaction, El Pam nodded.
“Then what method do you want?”
“What method? Anything?”
“Yes, name your preferred method.”
At those words, Kurku said as if he’d been waiting.
“I’ll give you one day from now. Go as far as you can. For reference, I reached the 4th floor in one day.”
At that, El Pam nodded.
“Good. Then if I reach the 5th floor in one day, does that mean I win the bet?”
“Sure, then I’ll trust your skills plenty.”
“Then what will you bet?”
“What?”
Kurku tilted his head at those words.
But soon understanding El Pam’s intent, Kurku smiled more deeply than ever.
“Anything you want.”
The moment they heard that, everyone except Kurku smiled.
Because they knew.
How absurd it was to make such a proposal to El Pam.
The only one who didn’t know was one person.
“On the flip side, what if you can’t? Huh? El Pam, will you unconditionally grant one of my wishes?”
At Kurku’s triumphant demeanor, El Pam nodded.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
That was the moment.
Grrr!
A ferocious roar began rushing toward where the El Pam party was.
And the moment they heard it, the entire El Pam party shouted.
“It’s Hector!”
Identifying the source of the sound.
Moreover, it wasn’t just one sound.
“The numbers…….”
Awoooo!
“At least a thousand!”
Thousands!
At that staggering number, even Kurku, who had been smiling, wiped his smile away.
“This is bad.”
A herd of over a thousand Hectors was no easy opponent.
Moreover, the members here numbered only seven!
Even for 6th Circle adventurers, the moment they let their guard down, their lives weren’t guaranteed.
“Hey, truce for now.”
Kurku wasn’t stupid or arrogant enough to push his pride in such a situation.
“Let’s fight together.”
To such a Kurku, El Pam said.
“Don’t forget the bet.”
“What?”
Kurku tilted his head at those words.
“You.”
Speaking to him then was none other than Pir, the Cross Hunter who had been silent until now.
“You just got played.”
“What are you talking about?”
Kurku tilted his head even more at that.
To him, El Pam showed.
“Fire Arrow.”