Surviving the Game As a Barbarian [EN]: Chapter 134

“Guardian of Balance.”

We had already figured out what this field effect was.

It equalizes the stats of everyone who enters the maze.

Rotmiller, after getting several hints from me, made this guess, and everyone on the team agreed.

So, we didn’t need any further explanations.

“It’s possible that other explorers have entered this maze.”

“Other explorers? You can’t meet other explorers in the Tower of the Sky, can you?”

The dwarf mumbled, sounding confused, but…

“Murad, you know it too. The situation we’re in right now isn’t normal.”

The 4th floor of the Tower of the Sky is a separate, self-contained space.

Unless multiple teams entered at the same time, you wouldn’t run into other teams no matter how much you wandered around.

However, this place was a space unknown to the outside world.

“Anything can happen here.”

Unknown.

A word that means not yet known.

It implies that all possibilities are open.

That’s why…

“I understand what you’re saying. But isn’t it possible that our guess is wrong? Maybe some other rule was applied when we entered this space—”

I cut off the dwarf’s alternative theory and said firmly.

“That seems like a stretch.”

This place isn’t an unknown space to me.

It’s more sensible to wrap things up quickly and move on without wasting time.

“I think Rotmiller’s guess is correct. Dwarki, what do you think?”

“…I also think that’s more likely.”

“That means you agree. Misha, what about you?”

“Um… I’ll just abstain.”

Misha abstained from voting.

However, since there were already three votes for the majority, I didn’t push her to choose.

“Okay, then it’s decided. Let’s proceed under the assumption that Rotmiller’s theory is correct. If you have any objections, speak now.”

“…None.”

With the dwarf, the team’s vice-captain, nodding glumly, I quickly wrapped up the discussion.

Another explorer has entered the maze.

And they are stronger than us.

My stats have increased by about two times, so they must be explorers who are active on at least the 6th floor or higher.

And not a clan, but a team.

So, what should we do now?

My team members each gave their opinions on the topic I raised, and in the meantime, I met the conditions to summon the mid-boss.

“The labyrinth’s demon senses blood.”

Okay, this just needs a little more waiting.

“Um, does it matter? I think it would be good to find a way to work together…”

“We don’t know who they are, so how about we just stay here? There’s no guarantee that we won’t be trapped if the labyrinth closes.”

“Haha! My friend, why are you so worried? Even if they are stronger than us, we’re in a special situation right now. They won’t be able to do anything to us easily if we meet, so let’s just keep moving as we have been.”

“Um, still, just in case, it would be best to avoid them as much as possible and find a way out.”

I smiled wryly.

I listened carefully while waiting, hoping there might be something useful, but.

As expected, collective intelligence wasn’t very helpful.

Rotmiller was better, but he was more focused on preparing for the worst-case scenario.

“Bjorn, what do you think?”

All eyes turned to me at his question.

I organized my thoughts one last time and spoke.

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence either.”

“If it’s not a coincidence?”

“An explorer with this much power was on the 4th floor at this time? Isn’t it more reasonable to think they were wandering around for a purpose?”

“You’re saying their purpose might have been this place from the start.”

“Yes. And if that’s the case, then they probably know about our existence by now.”

Dwarki denied my words.

“Hey, no way, that can’t be possible, right? To know about this place in advance.”

The dwarf also laughed it off.

“Haha, even if that’s the case, you’re talking as if they’re already looters?”

Rotmiller seriously asked again.

“So, what do you think is the best thing to do?”

I answered.

They are unknown beings.

Therefore, they hold all possibilities.

This variable could be luck, or it could lead me to death.

Therefore, even if this side of me seems strange to my companions.

“We need to get out of here quickly.”

We must assume the worst.

Thump-!

Not ignoring the unease in my heart.

That’s the secret to how I’ve survived.

***

“You have defeated Baphomet. EXP +5”

“Bonus for defeating a superior variant. EXP +1”

***

I’m running through the maze.

Not wandering, but heading straight to my destination.

“This way!”

In Rotmiller’s hand, who is closely following behind me, is a map.

Not the map he had been diligently making, but a map that clearly shows the paths of the entire maze.

Of course, the location of the boss room is also marked.

Because it’s loot obtained after catching the mid-boss, Baphomet.

‘I didn’t think it would be that easy to catch him.’

The Baphomet I summoned right after I finished speaking.

The battle with that guy, who I would have had to carefully target his weaknesses to defeat, didn’t even take a minute.

It was possible to just overwhelm him with damage.

It was a good thing, but the situation was a bit strange.

‘Just how strong are they originally?’

Unidentified uninvited guests.

By the way, I’ve long since discarded the idea that there might be only one person.

No matter how strong an individual is, there are limits.

Tadadadadad-!

I clear my mind and increase my speed.

Everyone seems to be keeping up well, so I think it’s okay.

Actually, when I glanced back, even the dwarf, who lacked stamina, was running well while carrying Dwarki on his back.

So, I’ll stop worrying about this part now.

[Meeeeeeek-!!!]

I smash the head of a Baikundus that popped out from the front with my mace.

Of course, it only staggered greatly and didn’t die in one hit.

However, I passed the staggering guy without slowing down.

Misha has taken over the job of dealing with the mobs.

Swish-!

The sound of fabric tearing is heard, and at the same time, a scattering of light.

However, the sound of a magic stone falling is not heard.

It seems Misha caught it well in the air again.

“Go left!”

I turn in the direction following Rotmiller’s instructions.

Then, four Baikundus are seen in the distance.

Actually, now I, Misha, and Rotmiller alone could defeat them, but…

It’s better to save even a second.

“Dwarki!”

At my shout, Dwarki, who got off the dwarf’s back, casts a spell.

Whoosh-!

[Blizzard].

A 7th-grade attack magic that deals damage over a wide area instead of single damage. Originally, it was used for 8th and 9th-grade mobs, or for coordination with Misha.

[Mee… ek?]

A blizzard reminiscent of hail is shot towards the other side of the passage, freezing the four Baikundus.

A 6th-grade monster received a ‘freeze’ judgment beyond ‘frostbite’ from a single magic spell.

However, that state will be released in a few seconds, so…

Kwaaang-!

I quickly smash them with my mace and resume moving.

And when I feel the need for a break, I repeat the process of lying down in the passage for a moment to catch my breath.

That’s how time passed, and it was during the third break.

“Hoo, hoo… Bjorn, isn’t this too rushed? No matter how I think about it, I don’t think we need to be this rushed…”

The dwarf, panting, carefully expresses his pent-up complaints.

It was somewhat expected.

[I keep getting this ominous feeling. So, I’m asking you. Just trust me this once.]

The first request I ever made.

Everyone had reluctantly agreed to it.

But…

[…Well, you have a good sense of things.]

[I, I don’t mind. And Bjorn, don’t think that I’ve repaid my debt with this. I plan to repay that properly later.]

As time passed, they must have had doubts.

“I, I think this is enough. In the first place, it seems like a leap to say that they knew about this place…”

Isn’t it more likely that they just happened to enter this place like us?

No, even if that’s the case.

“If you’re worried about the marks we left behind, we can slow down now. Even if they are looters, they won’t be able to find us in a place like this.”

Are they really looters?

To go out of their way to find and harm us, isn’t that really close to delusion?

“Actually, I don’t really understand why you’re so sure that there’s a way out if we go there.”

Above all, the boss room… no, is there a guarantee that there’s a way out in that place that isn’t even marked as a boss room?

“Hmm, I have no complaints. You know? It’s true? Huh?”

They are all valid questions.

They haven’t had the same experiences as me.

Hidden pieces aren’t that special.

Just look at Zensia, whom I met in the ‘Glacier Cave’ a while ago.

She used the hidden piece element to open a rift.

Also, information is exchanged every month in Ghoster Busters, and information about hidden pieces spreads.

“Bjorn, you’re not yourself today. Even if everything you say is true, can’t we just fight them?”

The dwarf said persuasively, but that was the biggest problem.

Guardian of Balance is in effect?

Even so, nothing changes.

A situation where we’ll get completely crushed just turns into a situation where we’ll get crushed normally.

That’s about it.

Even if the stats are the same, there’s a difference in the skill grade and number of essences [a magical energy source].

If you add items, the difference will widen even more.

‘If we fight, we’ll definitely lose.’

That was the source of my anxiety.

Thump-!

A lion can stand in front of a rabbit without thinking.

But what about the rabbit?

“There’s no time for this. If you’ve all rested, let’s move.”

If you meet a lion, you have to run.

***

A stone chamber with paths leading in four directions.

A man standing in the middle mutters.

“The Larcaz Maze…”

The man took off the hood that covered his face and approached the wall.

And he carefully stroked the wall.

“Finally, I’ve entered.”

The corners of his mouth twisted upwards, and the skin with burn marks distorted.

But anyone could tell.

“Oh God, why do you give wings to such a wicked person…!

A black-robed old man closed his eyes as if lamenting this.

Is that truly your will?

To lament, throwing meaningless questions into the air.

That was the only thing the old man could do.

“Old man, should I pull out your tongue?”

“Why should I be afraid? The pain of the flesh—”

“Ah, of course, I mean your grandson’s tongue.”

“…”

When the old man shut his mouth tightly, the man chuckled and turned his gaze to the floor.

At the end of his gaze was a middle-aged explorer who had fallen in a curled-up position like a shrimp.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his parted lips trembled, letting out a painful groan.

“Kkeu, heueuk, keuheuh…”

“Geez, it’s just one arm gone, don’t be such a drama queen.”

The man chuckled as he looked at the explorer’s severed shoulder.

Who would have known?

That there was such an easy way to enter this place that they hadn’t been able to find for a year.

“To give away the path so easily just for sacrificing one arm of a 5th-grade explorer, that evil god is a funny one.”

“Wasn’t he… your companion?”

“Companion, what a joke. I just kept him around because he was useful. Hey, why don’t you get up now? We don’t have time since we came in late.”

The old man’s brow furrowed deeply as the man put his foot on the explorer’s waist and shook him.

“Stop it. You sacrificed a part of your body to an evil god. The pain must be unimaginable—”

“Old man, that’s enough, right?”

The old man flinched at the man’s cold voice.

He couldn’t hide his resentment, and his clenched fist trembled, but that was all.

He was disgusted by his own cowardice, which could only stand by and watch the evil deeds.

However, the old man had something to protect.

Perhaps this explorer was the same.

“I’m, okay… High Priest.”

The explorer grabbed his empty shoulder and struggled to get up.

The man nodded in satisfaction.

However, as if he realized something belatedly, he frowned and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hand.

Clench-

He knows about the ‘Guardian of Balance’.

But even considering that, the change in his body that has occurred now is not understandable.

“Old man, has anything changed? Like divine power or something.”

“…It has decreased a little.”

“Decreased? Not increased? Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

The man turned his head and stared at the explorer.

“Explorer, what about you?”

“My overall physical abilities, including soul power, have decreased…”

“I see.”

The man smiled bitterly and stared at the passage.

The old man, who was a former high priest, thought it was natural, but even a 5th-grade explorer’s power had decreased?

“Some rats got in here first.”

His eyes, illuminated by the flickering torch, were now emitting a cold light.