What was most important in a disaster situation? Water? Food? Health? Tools? Well, they were all very important, but if I had to choose just one, I would choose the right state of mind.
"Nooo... I can't die like this, I can't! I hardened all that for nothing!"
"Missha, calm down."
When you're in a shitty situation, you need the courage to face reality instead of denying it. Only then can you gain an objective perspective. So I discarded all my doubts.
It doesn't matter what happened there.
A strange monster could have appeared, or Elisa and that group could have launched a surprise attack in that brief moment. All possibilities were open. But that wasn't what I should be focusing on right now.
Think.
Now I'd fail behind the group. Next to me was a teammate who was a beastwoman. Unfortunately, she was a warrior who only had physical damage moves. The chances of our lost teams returning here seemed infinitely low. Yeah, in a word, we were screwed.
This place, inhabited by monsters with physical immunity, was also called the Warriors' Graveyard. It was soon impossible to cross it with just a barbarian and a beast warrior. Meanwhile, pursuers were also targeting us.
Currently, this was the biggest problem. If we both ran into them, the game would be over immediately. But unless we planned to bite our tongues and kill ourselves, we needed to think. Not about how messed up this situation was, but about what we had to do right now. What actions should we take going forward? Even if that was no different from kicking and screaming at our damn fate, what did we have to give up and prioritize for our survival?
In short, what was the best thing we could do in this situation?
"...Let's get moving."
"What did you say? Even if..."
"Even if we cannot find our way, it's better to leave this place." After objectively understanding the situation, I could see what needed to be done, even though we were in the worst possible conditions.
After listing the options in order of priority, I decided to tackle them. First, get out of here.
"This is too dangerous."
The reason was simple. We had no information about what Hikurod and the others had encountered in this vicinity, except that it was dangerous enough that they could't come looking for us.
"If it's something that bitch did, she'll find us in the end too."
"But then, shouldn't it have appeared earlier?"
Well, maybe she relegated us to her priorities because the dwarf ran away and she had to follow him, or for some other reason. Of course, I had no intention of wondering if, and, or buts about this. The first thing to give up to survive were intangible values such as warmth and consideration.
«So what are you going to do? The choice is yours». I had no intention of carrying luggage with me just because I was a teammate. First of all, you can't see that as a team. I drew a clear line. «If you don't like my judgment, we will move separately from now on».
«What are you talking about?!»
«Answer me.» I had no intention of wasting time arguing. It was yes or no.
Missha, who was staring me in the eyes without saying a word, bit her lip and made a decision. «...I will follow your words from now on. There's nothing I can do while I'm hurt anyway».
It was a great answer that captured exactly what the interrogator wanted to hear. I didn't see her that way, but she was quite smart. Despite being the same as always, there was a reason she had five years of experience.
«Still, you're too harsh!» Once I relaxed my hardened expression, Missha started whining like she was hurt, but oh well. I didn't care about that as long as she followed my orders well enough.
«Baby».
When I opened a potion bottle and gave it to her, Missha drank it slowly, as if she were drinking poison. Then he started moaning. Not the weird kind; That's not something you can do after a potion in the first place.
«Ugh!» Hearing her suffering, it was clear that the potion was working well, so I put Missha on my shoulders. Since it was just a sprained ankle, the pain would subside in about five minutes and allow him to walk, but it would be nice to save that time. «Ah! Please slow down! No, walk gently!»
As soon as I started galloping, Missha started begging. Apparently, she was dizzy. All I could say was: «Hold it».
I'm sorry, but right now, I'm a psychopathic barbarian who has forgotten all warmth and consideration. As long as the survival alarm light has been turned on, efficiency comes first. A little dizziness doesn't kill anyone, right?
Jump.
Anyway, as I ran through the forest without direction, Missha hit me on the back like crazy from the shoulders. «Leave me, ugh! Leave me! I'm fine now!»
«Don't lie».
«It's true! I swear by the name of my clan's guardian!»
«Hmm, then why is there no strength in your voice?»
I pointed out a logical gap in Missha's words, but for some reason, I was the one scolded. «How am I going to do it! Ignorant barbarian! Download me now!»
«Okay.» Seeing how she could hit me like that on the back, she at least had the mental ability to move on her own, so I lowered her as she asked.
«Ahh, I thought I was going to die!»
How dramatic. At least he seemed fine on the outside, but I asked him just in case: «So, is your foot okay now?».
«As you can see».
«Tell me directly. Does that mean you can fight right now?».
«Porrr now... yes! But why do you ask?»
Because a fight awaited us. «Okay. Now comes a monster».
Missha's head turned in the direction where I was pointing. There was a gigantic tree that was planting its roots in the ground as it moved, a rank 8 monster called Snetree. It was a creepy monster that attacked explorers with its tentacular branches. For reference, this guy was one of the few ordinary monsters in the Witch's Forest, along with the Half Gnome. Simply put, it was possible to hunt them only with physical damage.
«But do we need to fight against that? Since he moves slowly, he won't be able to follow us... Ah! I'm not saying I won't obey your orders!».
So, I was happy. Anyway, the question itself was reasonable, so I answered it concisely. «It may release an essence».
«Essence?» Missha tilted her head as if she had just heard something strange. It was understandable. If it weren't for this situation, a plan like that wouldn't have occurred to me either.
«All monsters in the Witch's Forest have attribute-based abilities». To be exact, all the monsters except the Half Troll. Well, even if those came out, we were going to skip them anyway.
Soon, Missha understood the gist of my plan and was stunned. «Is that why you want to catch this one?»
Yes, not only to this one, but to all those who appeared in our path. He had to acquire an attribute-based skill somehow. We couldn't avoid the spirits forever. For now, I couldn't even sleep well. Although, if by chance we found an exit from the forest while wandering, then this would be an unnecessary worry.
But no way would such a miracle happen to me.
Of course, the drop rate of an essence was also infinitely low, but in a way this was the same as a secondary quest. I had no intention of being left hanging just by this plan. If it came out, great, and if not, there was nothing I could do about it. That was all.
The moment that bitch found us, everything would lose meaning.
If the scouts on the other side killed the dwarf or lost him and then came looking for us instead, then all these efforts would have been in vain. But that wouldn't be a reason to gently go to our deaths.
«Anyway, prepare to fight.»
«Okay!» Soon, Missha pulled out her gun, raised it, and charged at the Snetree, which was crawling on the ground with its roots.
«Glurgglegglegglegglegg!»
Survival rule number one: You have to fight to live.
[You killed a Snetree. EXP +2]
***
We were walking through the Witch's Forest without an explorer. If someone asked me how I felt about it, I would answer like this: It was like walking around the hall of mirrors at an amusement park all day, and it turns out that this hall of mirrors had a constant background noise.
Kill her! Or enjoy it. Why are you so nice to a useless bitch?
Khihee, Khiheehee!
It's all your fault! If it weren't for you...!
Was I wrong or were auditory hallucinations becoming more detailed? No, I didn't think that was it. The visual hallucinations were also clearer than before.
Hansu, why are you the only one who has survived?
Unlike before, when hallucinations took the form of mere monsters, they were now individuals from my past, people I could never meet in this world.
Hurts! Hurts! Hurts! Hurts!
When are you going to kill that girl? When are you going to kill that girl? When are you going to kill that girl? When are you going to kill that girl?
Sometimes they appeared in the form of visual hallucinations and wreaked havoc on me. At some point, the visual and the auditory began to merge.
There's no way the field effect has suddenly gotten stronger. Have I become weaker?
I calmly and coldly assumed my condition. However, that was it. I had spent the entire night awake and, in that state, I had to fight a fierce battle. I was cursed and I barely returned from death's door, and then I found myself in a desperate situation and I lost too. It was natural that I had reached my mental limit. But so what?
I have no choice but to endure it.
That's life, at least for me. Persevere, persevere, persevere, and do what you can without dwelling on the things you couldn't change.
«Missha, use this instead of a dagger.»
«Hmm? I've never used a spear before...»
After defeating the Snetree, I took a break and rummaged through my extendable backpack. I gave Missha the spear that belonged to Irita. It was something we had decided to sell and distribute when we went out into town again, but now was not the time to worry about it.
«Just do what I tell you».
«Heeng, okay...»
Out of respect for each person's individuality and accumulated experience, I had not said any of this all along, but my theory was that the longer the weapon, the more practical it was. Even when Missha fought the Snetree before, if it hadn't been for the dagger, she would have been able to go deeper and destroy the core at once.
«It's so uncomfortable! Can't you give me a sword instead?»
No. I didn't know which one was easier to handle, a sword or a spear, but I did know that a spear was much longer. If I made a wall with the shield, it would be easier for him to help me from behind. «You've fought with both weapons before. Just use that».
«Hnng.»
Stop complaining. I don't know what you think of me, but I don't consider you that close.
I wanted him to stop complaining and lower my spirits. After all, it hadn't even been two weeks since we met.
This... should use it.
It wasn't just Missha who improved her team.
[You wear iron plate gaiters. Your combined item level increases +45.]
First, I put Hans C's leggings around my calf. The equipment was made of leather on the inside and iron on the outside. It would have been nice to have the thigh piece, but unfortunately it was stored in the dwarf's bag.
[You're wearing worn war boots. Your combined item level increases +38.]
I also changed my shoes for new ones, like the ones Hans C was wearing. The boots were made of quality leather, but, strangely, they had iron plates on the top, and in the shape of pointed spikes.
Scout bastards are only practical in these areas.
I looked for additional items, but found none more that Missha or I could use among the team. However, instead, I found something unexpected.
«Hey? Bjorn! Isn't this holy water?»
«...It seems so.»
The bad news had been accumulating one after another. Was now the time for a slow rebound? This made me much happier than finding the equipment. With holy water, it was possible to enchant our weapons.
[Sacred energy permeates the enchanted team. Deals additional sacred damage by attacking evil attribute monsters].
The additional damage of the sacred attribute meant that even if we didn't have the attribute-type abilities we expected, we could slaughter spirit-type monsters. Although I was limited to evil attribute monsters, the spirit type monsters that appeared in the Witch Forest usually had the evil attribute, so I didn't have to worry about that.
The problem is that there are only five bottles.
Holy water was not long lasting. The effect simply disappeared once all the additional damage had been done. How many could we fight with with five bottles? I wasn't sure, but I wasn't close to using them generously until the 15th
day
day, when the third floor was closed.
It would be better to use it in moderation.
Still, it was good news for the first time in a long time, and that's why I kept digging through the bag. I hadn't had time to thoroughly check exploration supplies before. Maybe there was something more useful.
«Hmm? Bjorn!» As everyone rummaged through their bag, Missha called me by name. «I found something strange, do you know what it is?» It was a pendant with an unusual pattern. I knew his identity.
Isn't it a symbol of Karuiism?
Unfortunately, that was all he had found out so far. Except it was related to the Karui, he couldn't figure out its purpose.
At this point, I think I've checked everything I needed for now.
I put it all back in the bag and organized it. Then, since there was the new holy water variable, I also inspected the plan I had briefly devised. At first glance, there were three options.
Seek the help of an explorer we might stumble upon by chance.
The Witch's Forest was huge. Due to its geographical characteristics, it was rare to meet other explorers. However, if we continued searching, we would end up encountering an explorer. If we promised to give him equipment in exchange for help, any explorer would be tempted.
The problem is that we couldn't trust them.
There were many efficiency freaks among the scout bastards. They could just kill us and take our things for themselves. Why would they bother to help us too? Some of them may think like this.
Plus, Missha is a girl...
As I looked at Missha, who was eating hungry jerky at the time, I continued with my thoughts.
Walk until you reach the end of the forest or the portal on the fourth floor.
That would be trusting luck. Therefore, I decided that it was not necessary to set it as a final goal. Whether we liked it or not, we had to wander in the woods anyway. It wasn't that any amount of desire was going to make it happen, and no amount of non-desire, either.
Anyway, next.
Focus on surviving until the maze closes and holds.
We had enough food and drinking water. Furthermore, by securing holy water, it was possible to ensure a minimum of immediate safety. If an elemental essence came out along the way, our survival rate in this damn forest would increase dramatically.
Although all this under the assumption that those bastards wouldn't find us.
I let out a long sigh. It had only been four days since we entered the maze. There was much more to go than we had traveled. It was difficult to expect the rest of the time to pass smoothly when I thought about the things we had experienced in the last four days.
I don't think the essence will appear anytime soon. If I'm going to do it one day, better do it now.
So I decided. «Missha, are you married?»
«Hey? Suddenly?» Missha was chewing on a piece of jerky and was startled by my question. It was clear that he was wondering what the hell he was talking about. Still, as he agreed to listen to my words, he gave me an answer. «Right now I'm shopping...».
Good. I asked again, this time more directly. «So do you have any particular beliefs, like not being able to show your naked body to a strange man?».
«Uh, n-no, I don't think so...»
«Good.»
«W-what exactly is good? Ah! For! Don't come any closer!»
It was an option I would never have chosen if I hadn't played Dungeon and Stone for almost ten years. A shame to use it already, but it was our best option.
Wake up Missha.