"Does that mean those people are the looters from back then?"
Brown nodded in response to Hikurod's question, which perfectly clarified the situation. It couldn't be a coincidence that the people proudly looting on the third floor had stumbled upon us by chance, being chased by a monster.
"I don't know who it is, but it's clear they're deliberately targeting us," I said.
"Although we don't know the reason. They're probably pretending to be pursued to get in among us." Brown confirmed my words and added his own opinion. I thought the same.
"So, what should we do now?"
What needed to be done? Thanks to Brown, we were able to see through their tricks from the start. "We should seize this opportunity."
"Take advantage of it?" Missha tilted her head.
However, there wasn't enough time to explain in detail. It seemed they had already arrived.
"A light! It's a light!" At a man's cry, two men and a woman covered in blood rushed into the perimeter of our torchlight.
"If you lack the confidence to act, stay put and observe," I whispered, making eye contact with Brown. He nodded slightly. I sweat, this guy understood me perfectly. Even Hikurod, who I was a little worried about, seemed to understand exactly what I meant.
So, shall we begin?
"Don't come any closer." Seeing them run towards us, I immediately recorded my shield, stepped forward, and blocked their path.
"H-Hey! Our group was wiped out. Help us! We'll pay you back!" Awakened but urgent expression. This guy was good at acting, too. I guess that was obvious for a looter.
"Lower your weapons."
"B-But there's a monster...!" The human man, about thirty years old, pointed behind him. A group of orcs was watching us from beyond the torch's range.
"Ch-chwiik!"
Since there were more people now, they couldn't get closer, but we couldn't be sure how long that would last.
I've probably meant, "So hurry up and let us in," right? But so what?
I spoke again firmly. "It's your choice. Either you lay down your weapons or you leave."
The answer wasn't easy. Of course, there was a lot to consider. In the labyrinth, your weapon was your life. They might have been thinking we doubted them a little, but it didn't matter. Whatever decision they made, we had nothing to lose.
"We'll do it." The mustachioed man made his decision and dropped his weapon to the ground. The other two followed suit.
Have you decided to be greedy?
That decision both pleased and worried me. Would they really take such a risk to come after us? I couldn't even imagine why.
"Okay then, walk this way, slowly. But spread out as much as you can."
"There's no need to go that far, is there? We just want help..."
«If you want help, do what you are told.»
«Okay.»
Then, as they arrived one by one according to instructions, Brown walked over and checked for hidden weapons. «...They have nothing that looks like a threat.»
«I see. Hikurod, keep an eye on them».
«Okay!» The dwarf stiffened and nodded, then walked with his arms and legs aligned like a North Korean soldier. Then a sigh escaped me. Fortunately, judging by their faces, it seemed that the other group did not notice any clumsiness in their actions.
«Ch-chwiik...»
«Chwiik, Chwiik, Chwiik!»
After leaving Hikurod with the trio of raiders and keeping an eye on the orcs, the monsters soon turned around and left. Even they considered it too risky to fight such a large group of people.
Those monsters are some very smart bastards.
Well, it was nothing compared to human bastards. In any case, avoiding a futile battle was good news for us. Given the new problem, it would be very tiring to even concentrate on a battle against the orcs.
«Ugh, I thought I was going to die...» As soon as the group of orcs disappeared, the woman in the group collapsed to the ground. He came to his senses an instant later, flipped his bell, stood up, and bowed politely before us. «My name is Elisa. Thanks for saving us».
Because his torn shirt exposed the chest area, the dwarf coughed and turned his head. «Ahem. I'm Hikurod Murad». Although it didn't look like he was feigning innocence, judging by the fact that his head was turned but his eyes were still pointing in one place.
«So your name is Mr. Murad! And the others?»
«Bjorn, son of Yandel».
«Oh, I see!» The woman who introduced herself as Elisa approached me and took my hand, then bowed her head again like last time, of course accentuating her chest. «Ha, thank you all very much! I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't met you all...». The gasping exhalations and voice that seemed to tickle the ear canal were just an extra. Now that I looked at him, it seemed that it was for this reason that only his shirt was especially torn from all of theirs...
«Bjorn! You have glassy eyes!» Missha misinterpreted my actions and muttered.
I didn't do anything to rectify that at the time; There would soon be an opportunity for it. «Give us your names, one by one». To calm his doubts, I started by taking roll call.
The first to introduce himself was the mustachioed man who also seemed to be the boss. «Hans Argo».
That? «... Hans?»
«It is a common name. Do you know another one?»
«Well... Something like that». I nodded awkwardly. I broke Hans A's head with my shield. I met Hans B by chance in a tavern, but I didn't see him again after the advice he gave me. I could see Hans C, the mustachioed man, following in A's footsteps today. Anyway, next time.
«My name is Irita Taison». Irita was a tall, blonde spearman. He was about twenty years old, and had no other special characteristics. If I had to choose something, it would be his polite attitude. «I thought I was going to meet my creator, but thanks to all of you, we live to tell the tale. I want to thank you once again».
When Irita bowed 90 degrees, Elisa made a fuss in her characteristic natural tone. «It's true! If it hadn't been for you, I don't know what would have happened to us... It must have been Reatlas' blessing!».
«Raetlas?» Brown stiffened at that single word, then asked carefully: «Could it be... that you are...?».
«Oh, I haven't told you my last name yet. My name is Elisa Behenk. As you can see...» Elisa interrupted herself and looked at her clothes with a tearful expression. They were broken and covered in sweat and dirt, but in the past they would have been white. «I guess you can't actually see it. But I currently serve Reatlas».
«Ha!»
As the dwarf simply let out a brief exclamation, Brown closed his eyes and drew a brief cross in front of Elisa. «You really are a priestess». Wow, this guy was good at acting. «May the blessing of the twilight star be with you».
«Yes, may the blessing of the twilight star be with you». He probably thought his plan had worked. Elisa also smiled happily and made a cross. After that, the caution in the air seemed to fade in an instant. Well, at least that's what it seemed to them.
Since we all know that it is impossible for her to be a real friend...
«Lady Elisa, could you see my wound?» Hans asked.
As?
«I'm sorry. I should have helped you sooner...».
Wait, was she a real priestess? As I shuddered at the unexpected turn of events, Hans C rolled up his sleeve to show a stab. Then Elisa chanted a prayer spell and brought her bright white hand to the injured area.
Do you want to look at that?
Swaa...
The wound healed instantly. Although he had watched the entire process with suspicion, there was no doubt that it was true divine magic. How could he be sure if he had never seen him before? On the one hand, it sounded different than when a wound was healed with a potion, and there was also Hans C. Peaceful's expression, without the slightest hint of pain.
«May the blessing of the twilight star be with you...».
This was also unexpected for the others. Brown stood motionless for a moment, and then moved to make a sign of the cross like a sentient who had witnessed a miracle before his eyes. To my eyes it seemed a bit exaggerated, but in fact, it was probably the normal reaction given the structure of this universe. Just as the other races grew up on the sacred land, most human children learned to read and accumulated knowledge in temples from an early age. The weight of the priesthood name was different for them.
«Ah! Can we get our weapons back now?». Elisa asked naturally, as if she had just realized she didn't have hers. Perhaps showing his divine power was the cobblestone for this part. That must have been why they first made the bold decision to drop their weapons.
But, uh-oh. «That's not going to happen.»
«Yes?»
Seeing his expression of perplexity, I acted naturally. There was no need to reveal that he already knew his identity. «I see that you are a real priestess. But what about her?»
I was a barbarian who believed in my ancestors. He had not received anything from the priests, so it was not strange to react like that. Shortly after, Elisa smiled awkwardly and looked at Brown and Dwalkie, who were human. It seemed like I was trying to get his help, but I firmly cut off any possibility.
«We will return your weapons when you leave after receiving our compensation».
«Compensation?»
«Why are you surprised? Priestess or not, you have been an explorer since you entered the labyrinth. You have to follow convention».
«Ah yes... I have heard of such a custom. So... How much should we give you?».
I pretended to think for a moment and then said: «About two million stones should be enough».
«... W-what?» elisa asked to make sure she hadn't heard me wrong, but I stood my ground.
«It shouldn't be an unreasonable request». On the contrary, it was almost nothing. He had heard of bad guys even stealing equipment in exchange for the lives of their victims. «Think about the cost of your life».
«But ... We don't have that amount of money.»
I already knew that. Who carried cash to the maze? Now that the answer I expected had come out, it was time to move on to the next thing.
«I'm not asking you to lower the price. At least let us pay you out-»
«No. I don't believe the words of anyone other than my own people. If you don't have money, pay with your objects.»
«... Objects?»
«Hmm, that man's armor should suffice».
When I pointed my finger at Hans C, the man frowned. However, after exchanging glances with Elisa a few times, he sighed deeply. «Ha... In exchange for my life, it is not a lost business. However, there is one condition. We will stay with your group tonight until we regain our strength».
«Okay». I nodded willingly. The intention was obvious, but he wasn't going to keep the promise anyway.
«Irita, can you help me?»
«I will».
Hans C took off his heavy armor with the help of the spear guy next to him and then handed the equipment to Brown. Good. Now that we had taken off a bastard's armor, we had taken everything we needed at this point.
«Now. We have paid the price, will you give us our weapons back?».
I didn't wait any longer and smiled happily. To be honest, I didn't think things would turn out so well.
«... Why are you laughing?». Hans C looked at me with a hard face.
I didn't answer, just as I didn't correct Missha for calling me Elisa first with glassy eyes. Anyway, they were going to find out soon.
"Mr. Yandel? We really can't afford to give him more than-"
"Ah, there's no need for that." That was my response before I hit Elisa on the head with my mallet.
Bang!
"Lady Elisa!"
In any game, breaking the healer's head first was the common rule.