Whoosh!
The heat could be felt even from nine meters away and the pungent smell tickled the nose.
Boom!
As soon as my brain processed the situation, my heart sank.
If this thing had fallen on our heads… it would have been game over for all of us.
"Prepare for battle!"
Just as Hikurod (who had been stunned by the sudden turn of events) shouted, some scouts appeared from the bushes. Four of them formed an escort around a mage.
Damn, it's clear they don't belong on the third floor. Why are these bastards here?
As I silently prayed they weren't raiders, a beastman with triangular ears smiled smugly at our battle formation and spoke arrogantly. "This orc colony is under the Dzarwi clan's control. Go elsewhere."
Clan? I'm not surprised... they all had the same mark on their chest.
Damn them...
I couldn't help but curse. Not because I couldn't understand what these people were doing, but because they were running a hunting preserve on the third floor.
Damn, doesn't that only happen from the fifth floor upwards?
Dungeon and Stone was a single-player game, but surprisingly, it had a control feature. Initially, it seemed to prevent movement between maps during a quest, but once a clan was created later on, the player could command a hunting party. Of course, this required a significant amount of manpower, so it was a losing proposition unless done within a few rare monster habitats or boss monsters.
But are they doing this on the third floor?
I couldn't understand it. I mean, what were they going to gain by dominating a rank 7 monster? Just look at that wizard. Using a high-ranking person like that just to trap orcs was a waste.
Hikurod didn't seem to have a clue either and asked cautiously, "I know the Dzarwi are active above the sixth floor. But why are you in an orc colony?"
The response was simply a cold, "We have no reason to explain it to you."
Aha, I see. I could understand that, but apparently the dwarf couldn't. Even though we'd shown each other plenty of our idiotic sides since we'd been on the same team, this man was still an explorer. He was sensitive to matters of self-interest, especially if the cause was external rather than internal.
"I've heard that some clans are granted rights within the labyrinth by the royal family in recognition of their achievements. But I've never heard that this place is the realm of the Dzarwi clan. Besides, I can't be sure you're actually part of that clan." The dwarf stated his doubts logically and systematically.
It was certainly a sensible rebuttal. It was clear, from their equipment and from the level of that magic now, that they were much more advanced explorers than us, but there was no evidence that they were part of the clan they claimed to be.
However... I think we should just bounce back in this situation....
Honestly, I was more afraid that they weren't Dzarwi. The great clans may be aware of what others say about them, but these impersonating bastards clearly didn't care about that.
«You tell a funny story». Soon, the beastman put on a displeased expression and looked at us with hatred.
Hikurod did not back down. «They often tell me that».
As the silent struggle for power took hold, tension continued to rise.
Step.
I felt someone approaching from behind. When I looked, it was none other than Missha. Why was he behind me suddenly? As if to hide and avoid something...
«Are you... half an idiot?» When the beast asked with a frown, I felt a jump behind me. What the hell, was he really hiding?
«H-Brother...» Missha stammered and slowly walked out from behind me.
This made the beastman's brow furrow even more. «I told you not to call me that outside».
«L-I'm sorry.»
«And you keep talking like an idiot».
Missha did not respond to the beastman's provocation and only lowered her head. As I expected, I wasn't calling her kind of stupid with affection.
But what is their relationship? Could they really be family?
As he asked me this, the magician behind him asked the question that eased my curiosity. «I was just wondering, but is that lady your little sister?».
«Yes, for now». The beastman nodded his head politely.
The magician stroked his shiny beard. «Hmm, I am indebted to Sir Karlstein. Also, if it's your little sister, she can't be called an outsider, so as a special exception...»
«There is no need.»
«Hm? But-»
The beastman again firmly rejected the wizard's consideration. «Father won't care either. I can't tell you the reason because it's a personal matter». His was a cold and stubborn voice.
«If you say so, okay». The magician also changed his mind and nodded his head without saying anything else. But maybe he thought it deserved an explanation. «Look, men». He stepped forward and spoke persuasively. «Due to the internal circumstances of the clan, we urgently need the essence of a powerful orc warrior. If things go well, you can hunt here after the next cycle, so this time go hunting somewhere else. Or go to the outskirts, where there are no powerful warriors».
Maybe it was because he was a magician, but his tone was much softer than that beastman's. Anyway, he was essentially telling us to get lost.
«I will refuse». Hikurod shook his head and ridiculed the opponent with a cutting tone that was not like his usual one. «It seems like you are claiming a right without official recognition from the royal family, so why should we stick to the internal affairs of your clan? And did you know that what you're doing now is illegal in the first place?»
«... Illegal?» That seemed to strike a chord. The gentle wizard's eyes changed sharply. «A wise explorer would know when to be careful with his words». But he didn't seem to want to create problems later. «When have we broken the law? We were just being considerate and letting you know that you better hunt somewhere else since there won't be any monsters left for you to hunt».
Although it was going around the bush, those words meant that if we didn't leave, they would hunt with all their might to interfere with our own hunting.
Knowing this, Hikurod also bit his lips with an angry face. «Damn...»
Unless we had been forced out or injured, these kinds of matters were not dictated by the laws of the labyrinth. In other words, there was no legal help to support our case.
Trying to trust the law is a problem in the first place.
I felt bad for Hikurod, who was doing everything he could to protect our team's interests, but I wanted to back out from the beginning. The labyrinth was a place where the powerful became law. If he forgot this and made a fuss, he could disappear without a trace.
At this point, he should have realized that now was not the time to be proud, so it would be best to convince him to take a step back.
When I observed the situation and decided to act, Dwalkie suddenly intervened out of nowhere, spitting meaningless words. «Don't worry. I'll take care of this».
Take care? What the hell is this guy saying?
I had no idea. Before he could ask him the meaning behind his words, Dwalkie approached the wizard on the other side with a smile. «Hahaha! Nice to meet you, sir».
«... Sir? We know each other?»
«No, but as a companion who dedicates his life to the study of magic-«.
«That's enough. So who are you?»
Dwalkie didn't expect such a harsh reaction. He paused for a moment and then responded with a forced smile: «My name is Riol Warb Dwalkie. I am a rank 8 mage and official of Rafdonian royalty».
«Aha, so you're trash».
«... Sorry?»
An expression of disgust appeared on the magician's face. He seemed more disgusted than when the word «illegal» was mentioned and seemed to have no intention of hiding it. «The study of magic? Dedicate your life? Is that something a piece of trash who only memorizes a few basic spells and makes a living on the street in the name of sorcery should say? Your shamelessness gives me goosebumps, so I beg you not to go around saying those words». The sharp accusations erupted like rapid-fire cannons.
Is it because he is a magician? Even his choice of words is no joke.
As I admired the wizard's non-stop, breathless speech, I also worried about Dwalkie. If someone said that to my face, I think my soul would leave my body too.
«... ¡Urgh!»
Oh, it's already gone. When I looked to the side, I saw Dwalkie unable to breathe properly and only managing to blink. The way his mouth opened and closed repeatedly was almost reminiscent of a fish thrown into the sand.
Hikurod, who witnessed his best friend's mental breakdown, couldn't stand it and exploded. «Hey! That's too hard!»
«I have only told the truth».
«That? The truth?» A stiff vein bristled on the dwarf's neck and his eyes glowed with unusual murderous energy. «Why you...?»
As soon as I detected this, I grabbed Hikurod by the neck and lifted him up. Immediately afterwards, I confiscated the battle hammer in my hand. As expected, a tingling sensation transferred to my fingertips.
¡Chhhhhh!
[Hikurod Murad has launched Lightning Attack].
Damn, had this bastard lost his mind? I suppressed my anger as much as I could and murmured quietly: «Wake up, Hikurod».
We all almost died a moment ago.
«You have a great teammate», said the enemy mage. «Always be grateful to that barbarian. He has saved you all».
***
Had Hikurod come to? He did not respond to the magician's provocations and rushed to guide the team away. As soon as we reached the outskirts, he bowed dryly before us. «I'm sorry. I lost my temper and my reason. Like he said, if it weren't for Bjorn...»
We'd probably all be dead. Those guys didn't seem generous enough to kindly return someone who attacked them first.
«You just committed recklessness that almost led everyone on your team to perdition», Brown rebuked in a forceful tone.
«...I have nothing to say». Aware of his mistake, the dwarf lowered his head instead of excusing himself.
To be honest, he wished Brown hadn't stopped there and blamed him even more. However, he was too soft-tempered to play the role of commander-in-chief. «But since nothing happened, I won't say anything else. You may have rushed, but I personally think it's good to defend your teammates when they are looked down upon.»
I didn't understand it at all. Instead of cursing him, he was flattering the dwarf.
Shouldn't we at least reduce his share and make him work for free on this expedition?
Mistakes must be punished. Only then will people not make the same mistakes. I had that realistic plan prepared in my heart, but this was not the right environment to put it forward.
Shit, am I the weird one here?
When Brown forgave the dwarf with his generous nature, the feeling around us became strange. It was hard to describe, but it was an atmosphere that had bothered me since I was young.
«...I'm sorry too. If it weren't for me, things could have turned out better». Missha was the first to let herself be carried away by that environment.
«H-That's not true!». The second to follow him was Dwalkie. He was startled by Missha's self-incrimination and waved both arms to dismiss those claims. Then he spoke with a stuttering but firm voice. «Me, me... Of course, I'm not always right, but... I think it was thanks to you that we at least heard the reason before they kicked us out! So never think like that».
It was not the best comfort in the world, but the emotions mixed in it were transmitted to everyone sincerely. Maybe that was the reason Missha started talking about herself out of nowhere.
«Do you know... why I hate talking about my family? At home they treat me as if I were invisible. Some of you will already know why». Missha watched us to see our reaction. Brown seemed to know what he was talking about, because he looked away first, and I looked away after him.
Fairies dealt with spirits, dwarves with the blessing of weapons increased their effectiveness when dealing with numbered items, and barbarians had Spiritual Imprint. In addition to their unusually high basic agility stats, beastmen also had other racial characteristics.
«I am the only one in my family who could not sign a contract with our spirit beast».
Beastmen were capable of making contracts with ancient beasts. There were many different types. They could summon spirit beasts to fight alongside them, increase their physical abilities with potentiation, or use a special ability possessed by the beast through blessings.
Of course, not all beastmen were capable of doing this. Only a few talented beastmen were chosen by a spirit beast. But the problem here was that she was a blood relative of the chief, a direct line of the Karlstein family. In other words, it was a big problem for a pureblood woman like her not to be able to handle a spirit beast. It was not simply the existence of talent, but circumstantial evidence to speculate about his lineage.
«When I was young, I got along well with my servants. But everything changed when I couldn't make a contract with a spirit beast, even after becoming an adult. Everyone called me kind of stupid, said I only had half their blood...»
A child born out of infidelity. Since her mother died soon, no one could know the truth, and Missha couldn't stand those looks and left home. So she only focused on martial arts and little by little she advanced as an explorer.
«Thanks for bringing up a difficult story». When he finished the short but harsh explanation, Hikurod patted Missha's shoulder with an unusually serious attitude. Missha was no longer as nervous as before. Now, he looked more like a domesticated cat.
«Hikurod... you really think of us as your companions and fight for us».
Huh, is that what it comes to be?
This emotion was still too difficult for a pessimist like me to understand.
«Hahaha! Since you say that, I should tell you my story too. My dream was to become a blacksmith. But since I had no talent, I had an apprenticeship for ten years. That's why I didn't become an explorer until I was over 30. I had to make money, so I thought it was the right time to run away».
Missha's confession seemed to move the dwarf, so he began to calmly tell his story.
Next was Dwalkie. «N-there's no one worse than me when it comes to not having talent. Although I was able to enter the world of magic thanks to my family's wealth, I was not able to enter the magic tower due to my lack of talent. If he had been a real magician... He would have respected me at least a little».
Dwalkie then revealed that his goal was to study more magic by making money as an explorer. He thought this was the end of the conversation when Brown, who had remained silent the entire time, smiled and lit the flame again.
«I've been on several teams so far, but this is the first time I've found myself in a situation like this. I also have something to apologize for. When Hikurod and Miss Karlstein talked about their years of experience the other day, I couldn't help but be overcome with anger.»
«Is that what happened?»
«Yeah. My ugly envy was the cause of it. Not knowing that everyone had their own reasons, at that moment I thought that you two were complaining too much for people born of another species».
Human explorers also had their advantages. For example, they could use an aura, or become Elementalists, magicians, or priests. Some were born to be as great as the barbarians. In fact, they had the strengths of all races. But in the end, this was only potential, and only a select few had special talents.
Soon, Hikurod smiled awkwardly, venting the dull atmosphere. «Hahaha! So we're a half-dumb team of everyone? It's better this way. This way we no longer have to discourage each other».
At those words, the talentless wizard Dwalkie was filled with joy. «Of course yes».
«I will work harder to help the team!» The beastwoman, who had been born pureblood but could not summon a spirit beast, was moved.
"It might be too early to say for the third day of our first expedition, but I hope this team lasts a long time." Brown, an eight-year-old human explorer at the pinnacle of mediocrity, felt the same way. Everyone acknowledged their own shortcomings, spoke openly, and comforted one another.
As a result, naturally, eyes focused on me, who had not yet confessed anything, as if asking if I had something to share.
Uh, I don't have any of that... I should probably say something to avoid being an outcast on the team, but...
Panic gripped me as all eyes turned toward me, the words tumbled out of my mouth. "I-I don't have a mother!"