Doppelganger (3)
Doppelganger (3)
Pitch-black darkness.
Raven cast the light orb spell.
"Liate."
I instinctively closed my eyes before being blinded.
Raven asked me,
"Mr. Yandel, what are you doing?"
I cautiously opened my eyes and saw a light orb emitting a faint, soft glow, unlike usual.
Wow, you can even adjust the brightness."It's nothing."
Raven chided me as I brushed it off awkwardly,
"By the way, please tell me beforehand if you're going to do something like that. I was startled."
"That's right. What if we had been caught by the guards outside?"
"I would have just paid the fine."
"Don't tell me, you're thinking of paying it with the team funds—"
"It was for the team."
Raven sighed deeply as I cut her off. But she didn't say anything more.
It's not like I was wrong.
And that wasn't the important thing right now.
"Isn't this strange? Starting in the dark zone?"
"It's not just a dark zone. Do you see that?"
Raven pointed to a stele on one of the walls at the bear-like man's muttering.
It was time to get to the main topic.
"It's a Floor Stele. Do you know what's going on?"
"I think it's a dimensional instability phenomenon."
"...What's that?"
"Portals are also a type of dimensional magic, right? I heard this happens sometimes. There's an error in the starting coordinates input."
"...So it's just a coincidence?"
"Well, there are observation records that show the probability of a dimensional instability phenomenon increases when a portal is about to disappear."
Uh, I think I read about that in a book too.
My mouth itches to say something, but I keep quiet.
She'll explain it anyway, so there's no need for me to step in and raise suspicion.
"Bjorn, this is that time..."
Misha shut her mouth at my look.
And she moved next to Ainar to prevent any accidental slips of the tongue.
Okay, then that's settled.
"Hmm, so you're saying it's because we barely made it in?"
The corners of the bear-like man's mouth curl up slightly.
As expected of an explorer, he realized the OP nature of the experience point duplication bug.
However, Raven shook her head.
"That's... a bit ambiguous."
Huh? What's ambiguous?
I couldn't hold back and joined the conversation.
"Ambiguous? What do you mean?"
"No matter how many errors occur in the coordinate input, you wouldn't end up in the outermost area like this. If that were the case, everyone would just enter late, why would they rush?"
Hmm, that's true.
Actually, I was also wondering about this.
Many people know about the dimensional instability phenomenon. But why isn't anyone using this awesome bug?
"The dimensional instability phenomenon became widely known 130 years ago. There was a big problem with the dimensional magic circle at the time, and the frequency increased exponentially."
"So?"
"The Magic Tower received a request from the royal family and repaired the dimensional magic circle. After the stabilization work was completed, the instability phenomenon rarely occurred again."
In short, it means that for a hundred years, you couldn't use the experience point duplication bug even if you entered late.
"Then what's going on now?"
"...Maybe it's time to repair it again?"
Raven, who offered a plausible guess, cautiously added a suggestion.
"So, let's keep this a secret."
"Explain in more detail."
"It seems like no one knows that there's a problem with the dimensional magic circle right now. But if we wait a bit longer and the phenomenon worsens, other explorers will also experience it."
The bear-like man, who was listening quietly, nodded.
"So you're saying let's keep it to ourselves until then."
"Yes. We can shorten the exploration time and accumulate achievement points, how great is that?"
I interjected.
"Wait, achievement points don't mean anything to mages, do they?"
Mages can't absorb essences. So experience points are useless to them.
Then why is she so enthusiastic?
Raven chuckled and answered,
"I'm personally interested. The untouched Floor Stele, and all. In that sense, can I open it?"
"Do as you please."
As soon as I gave her permission, Raven touched the stele.
Whoosh!
A portal opened, emitting multicolored light.
Raven closed her eyes as if focusing on the sensation in her fingertips and the flow of mana in the air.
And she muttered briefly,
"It's a very strange feeling."
It's a sensation that I, a barbarian with zero magic talent, will never be able to understand.
However, even I could clearly feel one thing.
「Opened a portal for the first time. EXP +2」
Yeah, this is it.
The feeling of getting something for nothing.
___________________
「Entered 2nd Floor Beast's Lair.」
「Entered 1st Floor Crystal Cave.」
___________________
We went up to the 2nd floor and then immediately came back down.
Because the Beast's Lair is impossible for us.
There are so many forks in the road that it would just waste time unless we had a scout like Rotmiller.
'Even Rotmiller said it's better to just give up on the Beast's Lair.'
We won't get completely lost since we have a Guide.
But there's no reason to go through this place when there are faster routes.
"Then let's get moving."
I took out the compass and started navigating.
We first left the dark zone and then headed northwest.
We didn't get lost that often.
After all, I learned how to navigate on the 1st floor from Rotmiller.
Of course, I'm still inexperienced...
"Avman, where's the portal?"
"That way."
"Then we can just head north from now on."
Thanks to having a Guide on the team, we can take the optimal route even with just a compass.
We're making up for our lack of skill with a cheat code.
That's when, about 3 hours after entering the labyrinth...
"Halt."
...we encounter people for the first time on our path from one outer area to another.
A group consisting of a knight with the royal emblem on his chest and four soldiers.
"Do you have identification tags?"
The knight who stopped us asks curtly.
They've already been through several battles, as their weapons and armor are stained with blood.
It's not monster blood.
There are no monsters on the 1st floor that bleed red blood.
"Last time asking. Identification tags?"
"Ah, here. You guys should take yours out too."
We hesitate for a moment at the knight's intimidating aura and then take out the identification tags we received in the city.
The knight then makes way for us.
And he even gives us some advice.
"Be careful not to lose them. It seems like some quick-witted people are already targeting identification tags."
Right, that's how it is.
They're not idiots, they must have realized that's their only way to survive.
I ask a question as we pass by,
"Is there a way to tell if an identification tag has been stolen?"
"No."
"Then why didn't you suspect us?"
Did he find my question annoying?
The knight frowns slightly but still answers,
"Blood."
"...?"
"If it were stolen, there would be human blood on it. And besides, I know your face."
Huh?
"I'm a knight of Count Perdehilt."
Ah, he saw me at the banquet.
By the way, I don't know what that Count is up to.
He said he would call me separately when I was ready, but I haven't heard from him yet.
Well, no news is good news, I guess.
"Hmm, it's convenient to travel with a celebrity, huh?"
"Stop teasing me."
"Yes? I'm not teasing you."
Phew, does she really think I'm a barbarian?
"Put your lips down when you say that."
"...You're so perceptive."
"Anyway, let's pick up the pace. Tell me if you're tired."
"What are you going to do if I tell you?"
"Ainar will carry you on her back."
"Eek? Me?"
Although both Ainar and Raven seem reluctant, it can't be helped. We have to move quickly to avoid encountering people.
"...Miss Ainar, please carry me."
After increasing our speed and walking for about 30 minutes...
...Raven, the mage who usually stays cooped up in her room, abandons her pride and chooses to be carried.
Thanks to that, our speed increases significantly.
Raven starts massaging Ainar's body as if she's bored from just being carried.
"Do, don't touch me!"
"Wow, Miss Ainar, your body is softer than I expected?"
"...Are you making fun of me! Get off if you're going to do that!"
Ainar shivers and expresses her displeasure.
Just as I'm about to warn Raven...
...I stop as I see something blocking our path.
"Bjorn, why did you stop?"
"Corpses."
There are five corpses in total.
Four men and one woman.
They're practically naked, as if their equipment was looted, and judging by the bleeding, it seems like some time has passed.
"Miss Ainar, can you put me down?"
Raven also gets off her mount and examines the corpses.
"It doesn't seem like they were killed by knights."
"What's your basis?"
"The wounds. One was killed by a blunt weapon, one by an arrow, and the rest were burned. It doesn't seem like magic, so it must be an ability."
Knights use swords.
Because it's the best weapon for utilizing Aura.
But there are no sword wounds...
"Could they have been explorers from Noark? Other explorers probably killed them after seeing that they didn't have identification tags."
Raven smiles bitterly at Misha's words.
"Maybe it was the other way around."
"Other way around?"
The bear-like man answers,
"The knight we met earlier said it too, didn't he? That there's a possibility of explorers targeting other explorers for their identification tags."
"Ah..."
"And besides, their faces are unrecognizable. There's usually no need to do that."
Of course, we can't know the truth.
But these corpses serve as a warning to all of us. After all, they're explorers who reached the outer area of the 1st floor at this early hour.
They must have been skilled enough to speedrun.
But they died on the 1st floor before even a few hours had passed since the labyrinth opened.
"...We really need to be careful."
"Yandel, it seems like they were also heading towards the Goblin Forest, how about we go somewhere else?"
"It won't be any different."
"Phew, that's true."
In the end, we continue towards the Goblin Forest without any changes to our schedule.
And after some time...
...we reach the portal to the 2nd floor.
[06:47]
It's an incomparably faster time compared to the previous expedition. It's only 30 minutes slower than when we did the time attack with Rotmiller.
"Mr. Yandel, you could become a professional scout at this rate."
"Nyaha, a barbarian scout? No one would believe it!"
"Bjorn is the hope of barbarians!"
Everyone checks the time and showers me with compliments, but it's not really my achievement.
This expedition started differently.
We were moving from one outer area to another, so it's only natural that we saved a lot of time.
"...Enough, let's just go up."
I brush it off and stand in front of the portal.
"You're embarrassed."
"Yeah, yeah."
What are they talking about?
____________________
「Entered 2nd Floor Goblin Forest.」
「Entered 3rd Floor Pilgrim's Path.」
「Entered 4th Floor Tower of Heaven.」
The morning of Day 7.
____________________
It's even a day earlier than when Rotmiller was with us.
We reached the 4th floor.
'At this rate, we're among the top explorers, right?'
It's the result of my improved navigation skills combined with the Guide's ability.
We barely even encountered any explorers during the expedition. Two large clans and about ten 5-person teams?
We all pointed our weapons at each other, confirmed our identification tags from afar, and parted ways.
Phew, the atmosphere in the labyrinth has really become hostile.
"Raven, any results?"
"Nothing."
As soon as we cleared the first stage, we used detection magic continuously for about an hour, mindful of the masked man incident.
'Damn those bastards, what the hell are we doing because of them?'
Although my anger rises every time I think about it, what can I do?
Considering the current situation, we just have to be careful.
「Chose the Stairs of Wisdom.」
We naturally chose the Gate of Wisdom first.
A maze filled with traps and monsters.
Since I received the most training from Rotmiller in this area, our clear time has decreased by about 40 minutes.
"Raven, how long did it take?"
"1 hour and 58 minutes."
It's an unbelievably fast time compared to the 5 hours it took at first.
「Chose the Stairs of Wisdom.」
「Chose the Stairs of Wisdom.」
「Chose the Stairs of Wisdom.」
「Chose the Stairs of Courage.」
「Chose the Stairs of Wisdom.」
「Chose the Stairs of Courage.」
We continue to clear trials and climb the floors.
And as Day 7 is coming to an end...
'Stage 27 on the first day...'
We've practically cleared a quarter of the tower in one day. It's a speed that wouldn't have been possible if the Stairs of Wisdom hadn't appeared consecutively.
"It's a bit early, but let's rest early today."
Since we have to wait 4 hours before we can open the next door after clearing the Stairs of Courage, we prepare to camp.
"What about the watch rotation?"
"I don't think there's a need."
We don't keep watch.
We used detection magic periodically throughout today's exploration, but no other explorers were detected.
"Well, even if someone was hiding, keeping watch wouldn't be meaningful. The detection spell doesn't work, so what would change?"
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
"Then let's eat before we sleep."
"Alright."
We gather and have a simple meal, then each go to our respective spots and lie down.
It's a comfortable bed that you can only experience on the 4th floor.
Hmm, that should have been the case...
'Damn it.'
I can't fall asleep easily because of the masked man incident.
In the end, I toss and turn for a long time before finally falling asleep.
But even that doesn't last long.
Rumble, rumble!
The ground I'm lying on vibrates.
The entire tower is shaking slightly.
I quickly get up.
There's only one reason for this phenomenon to occur in the labyrinth.
"Mr. Yandel, this phenomenon... don't tell me..."
"Yeah, it's as you think."
A rift opened on the 4th floor.
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