He chewed jerky while walking. Not just me, but the entire crew.
«Ugh... I think I'm going to throw up. I've eaten too much, I can't take it anymore...»
Some complained, but they were few. Even as we sped uphill, everyone forced themselves to gnaw on the jerky. We were all aware that it would be the last time we would have a full stomach.
«Mr. Schuitz! N-No... Baronet Yandel!» We were still gorging when Marrone, the wizard of Team Five, approached me. «The detection spell we installed ten minutes ago has been activated!».
«They were much closer than we thought, then». If they ran at full speed, they would catch up with us in a few minutes. «Everyone, throw away the food boxes!» I screamed and threw the box of jerky I was holding in one of my arms off the cliff. We had to reduce our load as much as possible if we wanted to increase our speed.
¡whipping!
Most threw the boxes without hesitation as soon as I gave the order, but the hands of some twitched with clear anguish at the thought of throwing food, especially those who performed melee functions, such as paladins and knights.
«Damn, I can still eat more...!»
It was funny to see them say that with jerky stuffed in all their pockets, but it wasn't like I didn't understand where they came from. I felt the same.
Why do I feel like my stomach is already empty?
My body, so inefficient in terms of fuel, was crying out for more food no matter how much I ate.
Looks like the good times are over, then.
«Marrone, cast a new detection spell so we can find out how fast they are moving.»
«Okay!»
Once Marrone installed a new spell, we officially started increasing the speed. Of course, the increase was not that drastic. If before we were speeding along the banks of the Han River, now we were basically running a slow marathon. About seven minutes of jogging passed.
«The spell went off!» Even though we had picked up the pace, they managed to close the gap by three minutes.
«This is a headache».
The scrawny priests and magicians were already being carried on their backs, so now we had only one other option. After all, survival was determined by what you were willing to sacrifice.
«Throw away all backpacks that contain insulating stones».
I gave up insulating stones that helped us maintain body temperature. If we didn't count the tents and sleeping bags that had already been thrown away with the sleds, these were the heaviest of our provisions. The food was gone, naturally, as we ate.
«Damn, now we have to fight the cold too?»
«What are you doing?! Throw it all away!»
«We have to keep running anyway, so let's not give it too much thought!»
When we gave up insulating stones, we were able to accelerate, as expected. This was thanks to the lower load on the non-combatant crew, who had been carrying everything on their backs. It didn't take long for good news to arrive.
«The spell went off. This time it was exactly seven minutes and thirty-seven seconds».
The problem of distance began to resolve itself. Of course, moving faster meant we felt even more like death, though.
But they would be in the same boat.
From now on, it was a battle to see who could last the longest. This harsh environment put us on equal terms. Just as we had had to make sacrifices, soon they would have to make a choice too. An example:
«...W-What do we do? They suddenly became faster. Now it's only six minutes apart!»
We had been running non-stop for five minutes, pecking on jerky as we moved forward. However, the seven-minute barrier that we had managed to maintain until then had been broken. How was it possible? The answer was simple.
«Their number has gone down! Twelve people».
The enemy had given up its greatest advantage, its numbers, to catch us.
Did they give us all the food and send the rest of their people back?
That seemed like the most likely possibility. Those who were still chasing us would starve on the way back, but if they endured three days of hunger and managed to reach the bottom, they could eat until their stomachs exploded.
But twelve, huh?
Somehow, we ended up with twice as many people.
I still don't know if we can win.
Of course, we would have to run into each other at some point. However, now was not the time for that.
«What do we do? They will catch up with us right away».
What do you mean what do we do? Since they gave up one thing, we have to give up another. It's fair, isn't it?
«Throw away all heavy metal equipment. Of course, we have to be able to fight so put down the shields and weapons.»
"¡¿What?!"
Without saying anything else, I was the first to take off the equipment covering my body and throw it off the cliff.
«Are you really going to go that far?».
«Before you shouted that we were all going to die, but now you think it's a waste?».
«No, but...»
«Good. Then throw it away. You can pay for new equipment with the loot you have stored in the subspace.»
«Dude... Throw away the equipment while the enemy chases you... You're really crazy».
The first line, for which the metal armor served as a lifeline, grumbled, but in the end followed my instructions to take them all off and replace them with thick leather garments.
«Six minutes! Same as before!»
As a result, we were able to maintain our six-minute distance. The enemy would probably be surprised at this moment, wondering why they weren't approaching.
I wonder what kind of expressions they will make when they meet us naked later.
Okay, imagining that gave me a little more strength.
Step. Step.
We ran uphill like this for a long time.
«...This is the first time I've heard that people can sleep while running.»
«One minute... I just need a one-minute nap...»
Just then, the status quo changed.
«What the hell? The spell should have already been activated...»
The detection spell that had been activating every six minutes until that moment did not fire. Because? Did they have any way to avoid detection?
No. If they had it, they would have used it a long time ago.
I ran uphill for another ten minutes while wondering this, but the detection spell remained silent.
It seems that the enemy is also reaching its limits.
They had stopped to rest. In other words...
«¡High!»
We could rest and take a break too.
«Everyone rest! You can sleep if you want! I'll wake you up when it's time to leave!»
As soon as I gave the order, the crew collapsed instantly, unable to even cheer up. Those who were especially exhausted practically fainted.
«Sir, don't you rest too?».
«I'll take a look for a moment».
«I'm sorry. I want to go with you, but I don't think I can...»
«Don't feel it. Rest a little, quickly».
«Wrong...»
Erwen soon turned around, looking exhausted, and fell next to Amelia. Although he didn't get along very well with her, they fell asleep next to each other. We had to share body heat now that we didn't have insulating stones. I laughed for a moment before walking around the perimeter. While most of the crew was eating or knocked out, I noticed someone doing something unusual.
«Kaislan, what are you writing down?».
«Ah! I was writing down what you said before, Schui-no, Yandel».
«What I say?»
Kaislan handed out his notebook instead of answering.
«I will take care of the hardest work. I will do even the dirty work that no one else wants to do. I'll be the first to get into the bloodbath and if anyone has to get hurt, I'll be that person. So, follow me. If you're going to throw your lives in the trash anyway, I'm telling you to throw them at me instead!».
Gosh, reading it in writing was inhibiting me. Still, it wasn't like I could scold him when he was recording these facts so sincerely.
«...You have a good memory».
«Well, what else is a good memory for? I will probably never forget these words for the rest of my life».
This guy needed better hobbies. Feeling embarrassed, I scolded him for wasting our precious rest writing this, saying it didn't make sense.
Kaislan just shrugged with a calm laugh. «You never know».
«¿Eh?»
«If this album will end up capturing a great moment in history».
Wow, he's talking about history again. Come to think of it, this guy has always liked that stuff.
I straighten his back and pat him on the shoulder. «We have to return home alive if we want to be recorded in the history books».
«Ah, that's true too. Yes, we have to come back alive...».
«Rest a little. You can write it all down when you get back to town».
«I will use».
After my conversation with Kaislan, I headed towards Erwen.
A magician who had been curled up nearby with her head on her backpack opened her eyes. «Baronet Bjorn Yandel». It was Versyl Gowland.
«Oh, did I wake you up? Sorry...»
«I'm the one who should apologize».
«…¿Eh?»
«I'm sorry. For leaving them on the first floor that day.»
I wondered what he was talking about. That was a long time ago.
«Remember when I said I was sincerely sorry at the banquet? I really said it. After waking up, when I found out about the things you accomplished in the Crystal Cave, I felt so embarrassed and embarrassed.»
«What is there to be ashamed of? It was a decision that any leader would make. I would have done the same».
Versyl Gowland's expression tightened at my sincere words. «Don't joke. You would never have done that».
His assessment of my character was undeserved. If they had given me a ticket to get out of there with enough seats for all the members of my group, I would have taken the portal immediately. Just because I had been abandoned had I tried so hard to survive, not because I was driven by some kind of heroic mission.
But I figured she thought differently. «You are like the eye of the storm. No matter how strong the winds blow in all directions, they never catch you».
Gosh, why do you use such complicated metaphors on a barbarian?
I stared at her blankly, wondering if perhaps this was some strange attempt to gauge whether I was an evil spirit, but Versyl let out a self-deprecating laugh. «Maybe that's why people gather around you even in the fiercest of storms».
«It just turned out like that...».
«...Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't trying to add weight to your shoulders. You were going to go there to rest, right? I'm sorry I took up your time».
«Alright. You rest too».
That's how my conversation with Versyl ended. Afterwards, I walked past some of the other sprawled members of our squad and lay down near Erwen. The wizard would wake me up when the detection spell was activated, so in the meantime I was going to get some sleep.
The eye of the storm, huh?
It was a compliment that didn't sit well with me at all. Unless it meant that my life was surrounded by bad luck, that everyone around me was swept away by my misfortune.
«Lord! Wake up!
It seemed like he had only closed his eyes for a few seconds. «Was the spell activated?»
«Yeah. We have to go quickly».
Damn sea.
Instead of going away, my fatigue seemed even worse.
«In training!» I wished I could sleep longer, but I quickly got up and prepared to leave.
How long has it been, again?
«Brown, time?»
«Five minutes... Five minutes!»
As the chase continued, the distance between us and the enemy began to gradually reduce. His speed didn't necessarily increase, either. We were just much slower.
Huff… Huff…
It seemed impossible for us to regain our stamina with such a short rest. Well, the fatigue we had accumulated during more than two months of arduous travel was on another level than theirs.
«What do we do? They will catch up with us right away».
«Why don't we fight instead? If we get more tired, we won't even be able to properly fight back later».
Anxiety was growing among the crew. I looked at the time. It was shortly after midnight. In other words, there was only one day left to completely escape the Glacier's Eye.
One day... may not be long, but it is possible.
I didn't have to think about it for long. I always said it, but survival was a series of choices. Those at a crossroads always had to make a decision: what would he give up this time? My answer to this question was very simple.
«McKelly Rayothers!» I immediately stopped and called one of the magicians. He was the only one on the expedition who knew how to use the spell he needed.
«What's wrong?», the magician asked, clearly nervous about the fact that he stopped everyone to talk to him.
«You said you could use the Portal spell when I asked you last time. Is that true?»
«Yes... I said that... but what about the Portal spell?».
Ah, that. It's nothing important.
«Use it. Right now.»
At my command, a look of confusion appeared on the magician's face. «The... Portal? Here?»
It's not that I didn't understand it. The Portal spell that was commonly used in the maze these days was the improved version. It could only be used once in a lifetime. Of course, considering our current situation, he was sure he wouldn't complain about using his only chance here.
«I don't understand why you make such a request. The Portal spell does not work beyond the sixth floor».
The enhanced Portal spell only worked up to the sixth floor. If you used the Portal spell on the seventh floor, you were just wasting a precious once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
What a polite explanation. Do you think I don't know?
«McKelly Rayothers.» There wasn't much time, so I skipped the presentation and lowered my voice. «I'll explain why later, so do what I tell you for now. We need that spell right now».
«...Okay. I'll prepare it right now».
«How long will it take?»
«Considering the mana density of our environment, one minute should be enough.»
«So please get to it».
As soon as the conversation ended, the magician began to throw and I hurriedly gave new instructions to the squad members who were looking at me blankly. «We'll get going as soon as the Portal spell ends, so get ready! From now on, we will travel in forward formation».
«...Advancement training?»
«Are you planning to fight them here?»
The rest of the crew also had questions about my orders. However, the team leaders at least set up the formation according to my wishes before approaching me.
«Why are you suddenly using Portal magic?»
«Especially when we're running out of time to escape?»
«I'm more curious about the breakout formation. Are you thinking about changing direction?»
They carried out my instructions out of confidence, but it seemed like they were still curious why. «The route we will take from now on will be more difficult».
«...More difficult?»
«A difficult path for us will also be a difficult one for the enemy».
«...Wait, what are you talking about?». Kaislan tilted his head in a way that told me he still didn't understand. And that's when it happened.
[McKelly Rayothers has cast the rank one space-time spell Portal.]
The spell was completed, and a powerful cluster of light began to form, although only for a second.
[The darkness of the labyrinth has interfered with space-time.]
The portal vanished before it could take shape. As a result, McKelly would never be able to use Portal magic again in his life. That's probably why he looked at me so desperately.
¡Dddddd!
But, to begin with, I had not intended to leave here with a portal.
"W-What..?"
The entire canyon shook in what appeared to be an earthquake and the crew went on high alert.
[Special Condition – Momentary Stimulation has been met.]
I knew the improved version of the spell would work. Although it had many drawbacks, it was still technically classified as rank one space-time magic.
Ugh... it worked...
At the moment, things had gone as planned, but I still couldn't stop my expression from twisting. My warrior intuition already told me that today was going to be a particularly difficult day.
[The Glacier Wizard Cariathea has appeared in the area].