First, we gathered the trio's gear in one place. Then I gave Kharon the first selection. "If you need anything, take it."
"I'm not that shameless."
"Don't deny it. You caught one of them."
"If you say so..." It seemed there was an item he wanted because Kharon took some of the collected loot for himself: a good quality leather bag and some potion flasks.
"That and a two-handed hammer? That's all?"
"The rest is too small for my body anyway." That was true. Soon, Kharon smiled brightly, holding an axe and a mace in both hands. "With these, I can kill anything that's hard to kill with an axe!" Although his speech wasn't refined, the idea was quite reasonable. Blunt weapons were more effective against monsters like the Stone Golem.
Yes. Dual wielding is a necessity for barbarians.
Seeing that Kharon now looked more like a barbarian, I was quite pleased, so I gave him a few more pieces of equipment. "Even if you don't need it, keep it and sell it."
"But...!"
No buts. Seriously, why were all the barbarians so friendly? If I were human, I would have had greedy eyes instead. "Don't forget that the stronger you become, the easier it will be for the young warriors."
"...Okay. I'll definitely sell this item and turn it into equipment that will help me."
The reason for forcibly handing over the equipment while instilling a sense of mission was simple. If I had taken it for myself, I would have gained an additional 200,000 stones, but in the long run, this would benefit me.
"Become stronger, Kharon, son of Tarson."
"I will do it. Without a doubt, at least for the good of my people."
Of the six races, the barbarians were the weakest in terms of influence. Each individual had enough potential, but most of them died early on. Of course, there wouldn't be a wind of change just because one person changed, but what if the number gradually increased, starting with that one person? What if it led to a virtuous cycle of more young warriors slowly surviving to become top-notch scouts?
Then the influence of the barbarians would gradually grow.
Like it or not, I was a barbarian. The greater my family's influence, the more I could enjoy the trickle-down effect. Just look at the wizards. Without the vast community of the Magic Tower, could they be so arrogant?
"Then let's go. If someone sees us, it'll be problematic."
With that in mind, I accompanied Kharon to the first floor and gave him advice on this and that. For example, when you're looking for a team, choose one with at least one member of a different race. Be more wary of friendly people, but at the same time, don't make it obvious or show any weakness.
«Now I think I know what it means to hide the ax under innocence!» Is it because of the great example I have set today with the trio? Kharon understood the meaning of my words perfectly. «I think it would be a good idea to intentionally find a human night companion and pretend to sleep. If they have an ulterior motive, that will definitely reveal it!»
Ah, uh ... um ... This is not something I told him to do...
«...That's a good method too.»
Could it be that being treated like a monster and betrayed by his teammates today was very shocking to him? I was absorbing it like a sponge.
***
Around the beginning of the 5th day, 23:49, after taking Kharon to the first floor, we both returned to the Land of the Dead. So we sped up a bit and focused on the search, as we had strayed from our plans and lost almost an entire day. On the 10th
The second floor would close. Unless we intended to finish this exploration on the second floor, we had to move a little faster, especially since we had work to do before reaching the third floor.
«Hmm? Are we going to catch a Death Knight? It's possible? I've heard it's hard to even find them...»
The rank 6 Death Knight monster was a scum that could be seen on the second floor Land of the Dead with a very low probability. I had to renew my character several times before finding out the conditions of this guy's appearance.
«Don't worry. Knowing him won't be a big problem».
It seemed like he was getting used to conversations like this. Missha didn't bother to ask where he got that information from and only expressed a different concern. «But still, I don't know if the two of us can reach it».
It was not an incomprehensible anxiety. We had encountered rank 6 monsters from time to time on the fourth floor, but currently we were just two people instead of a whole group.
Since she has only hunted rank 8 monsters, she will have no idea how strong she is now.
Missha had already been active on the fourth floor with two essences before she met me. Although he lacked specifications, he had covered what he was missing with his hard-worked martial arts skills. But in the midst of that, he contracted a contract with a Spiritual Beast, and even gained two essences. One of them even belonged to a guardian.
And if you add to that the synergy of combinations... In fact, it is safe to say that it is now several times stronger than it used to be.
I judged it coldly from a player's point of view. With the strength of the two, the hunt could be successful. However, it was not necessary to explain it in detail, since the barbarians had just the right way to communicate it. «Missha, trust me.»
«If you say that... I can't even say no.»
«That's it, then.»
With Missha's consent, we continued searching the surrounding area. We expanded the search radius by taking out all the rank 8 monsters we saw, Death Demon, Chimera Wolf, Ghoul Lord, etc.
«Let's stop here for today and camp».
The fifth day ended without any success. The next day, the sixth, was the same. With just over an hour left before the start of the seventh day, I let out a long sigh.
I didn't think we would go more than two days without success.
When a maze was opened, a tombstone was created in a random location in the Land of the Dead. At the beginning of the seventh day, he summoned the Death Knight. In other words, if you found the tombstone, you could easily find the Death Knight waiting in front of it.
Of course that's how it is for me.
Although we half hunted and searched the entire place for two days, we couldn't find a single crumb of tombstone. It was an unexpected situation. No matter how spacious the second floor was, all we had to do was search the rank 8 zone. He had judged that two days should be enough.
Dang, should we give up the Death Knight?
As I licked my lips, not wanting to waste the last two days, Missha ran towards me. «Don't be so disheartened. How can a book say only the right thing? A big tombstone in the Land of the Dead? I have never heard of such a thing until now «.
Umm, this is supposed to be a consolation right?
«So stop locking yourself in the library every day and come hang out with me from time to time.»
«...Why is that the conclusion?»
«E-That's it! Hikurod said it too. It's more useful to have a few conversations with explorers in a bar than to read a few books!».
Now that he saw it, it seemed like the dwarf was only teaching Missha bad things. But he couldn't really reprimand her. In fact, most explorers were like that. They preferred to socialize and acquire information in a bar rather than read a book. There were some who said that drinking and playing were extensions of work, which says it all.
«...Why don't you say anything?»
«I just had nothing to say».
«Why didn't you have anything to say?»
«Stop talking about this, and let's move on for now.» I didn't want to waste time on a useless argument, so I resumed the trip.
How long had it been since then? I looked at the clock and forgot about any lingering feelings. It was one minute before midnight. The seventh day would soon begin. And as soon as the Death Knight was summoned he began to wander, so, in fact, this exploration was already a failure.
Anyway, it was the experience I was looking for...
Leaving remorse behind, I pulled out my compass.
«Oh, are we finally going to the third floor?»
«Sí.»
Instead of wandering aimlessly looking for a tombstone, we turned north. That was the moment.
«¿Eh? ¿Bjorn?»
«Did you feel it too?»
«Yes, something chilled my spine.»
The air around us changed. It was hard to describe, but the moment it changed my body reacted first. That's how clear the change was.
Could be?
Faced with a possibility that came to mind, I borrowed a knife from Missha and cut the back of my hand.
Goteaba.
When I pressed the blade and scraped it, acidic blood flowed from the open seam.
«Ah! What are you doing?! You are damaging the blade!»
Ignoring Missha's complaints, I looked at the wound and counted the time.
One, two, three, four, five, six...
As the number increased, a smile appeared on my lips. The wound that should have healed in a matter of seconds still did not heal.
[You have been exposed to Resentment. The healing and regeneration effects are greatly reduced].
That meant that the long-awaited Death Knight was close to us, and very close.
No wonder we couldn't find it anywhere. It really was close.
Although I felt a certain despondency, I was encouraged by information that I realized shortly after.
The Grudge has already been activated...
The Resentment Curse type aura was an active ability, which was activated or deactivated depending on the will of the monster or the character who had acquired the essence. Simply put, there was no reason to use it in normal times, only in combat. The circumstances were very clear. Less than a minute after his summoning, the Death Knight jumped into battle as soon as he opened his eyes. It wasn't impossible that an explorer passing by at just the right time could get caught in it, but...
That's unlikely.
It would be much more reasonable to assume that some stranger was waiting in front of the tombstone than such an astonishing coincidence.
Could it be a player?
That was the first thing I thought. However, other cases could not be ruled out. The great clan of Dzarwi knew how to summon an Orc Hero. It was possible that the information about the Death Knights was not of such a high level.
I'll know for sure when I get there.
I decided to reserve the final judgment for now, and moved quickly with Missha. It was dark all around, but it wasn't difficult to find the address.
"Bam!
The fight seemed to be quite explosive judging by the sound. However, Missha was able to come to a conclusion with just this and grabbed my wrist to ask: «Bjorn, do you think he's a Death Knight? And is there already someone fighting him?»
«Sí.»
«Wait a minute, stop! What are you going to do there?».
What do you think? Bury a hit and take experience points.
«That? If you do that, you might get attacked!» Missha was startled when I translated my future plans into words from this universe. It was a legitimate concern on his part. Although not as much as looting, the act of meddling or stealing prey during battle was considered extremely immoral among explorers.
«Alright. I have no intention of claiming the right to a mana essence or stone, so I will pretend that I thought it was a dangerous situation.»
«Mmm, aun asi...»
«Don't worry. If something happens, I will take responsibility for everything...»
«Idiot! Do you think I want you to take responsibility? Ugh, how did I end up involved with someone like you? Anyway, let's go! I don't even know anymore!»
Um, that's a little unfair. It's not that he's doing this just for me... Anyway, I guess since we're not looting, this is within what's permissible.
Recording the additional information in my head, I spurred my feet. About 10 seconds passed.
«¡Kyaaaaaaaagh!»
I saw four scouts past the Death Knight, brandishing a sword with his back to us.
«¿Eh?»
Apparently they saw us too. Therefore, without stopping for a moment, I hit the Death Knight with my mace.
¡Whack!
Well, this will give me experience points.
As if I had been waiting, I shouted the lines I had prepared. «Don't worry! I will save you!»
That's why the barbarians were deceitful characters.
«¡Behell-aaaaaaaaaaah!»
I didn't know anything about humans, but who would have thought this was intentional?
The Death Knight took the heavy blow and staggered.
«Kyaaak?!» Apparently the monster was also baffled by my intrusion. Although not as much as the group of four with their eyes wide open.
«What are you doing?» The human warrior closest to me understood the situation late and shouted.
Next was the fairy archer in the back row. «Why are you helping me? If you don't back down, I'll attack you too». His voice was soft, but still very high-pitched.
I pretended to be perplexed and shouted: «I was just trying to help!».
«Who asked for help?»
«Hey? You not? I thought I heard it...»
«It doesn't matter, just take a step back if you don't want to get trapped and get hurt!»
«Okay!» Even as we chatted I bounced back the Death Knight's attacks with my shield several times before retreating towards where Missha was.
«Damn, what the hell is this all of a sudden!». While I complained, the human warrior continued to skillfully take charge of the aggro and the battle resumed naturally.
I erased my clumsy barbarian appearance and spoke so that only Missha could hear me. «What do you think? I don't think there's anything to worry about». She wanted to reassure Missha, who feared she would be branded a rude explorer.
However, the reaction he got was a bit unexpected. «You really are...» My performance seemed to have impressed her and she couldn't finish her words. «Ugh... nooo matters. What can I say? Others have to know that you are like that».
«What do you mean? I'm just showing it to you».
«Hmm? A-still so. I mean, what?»
The talk ended there and I watched the battle that followed. How many chances would I see another team hunt?
It's not a complete group, but the balance is good.
The human warrior could skillfully tank alone.
"I'm going to take another shot, so fall back!" The line of damage consisted of a wizard and a fairy archer who used fire magic.
I think this is the first time I've seen a summoner in this world.
There was even a human male in a useful position who inflicted damage or gave bonuses using monsters attracted through his summoning ability.
"Bjorn, that man... doesn't he look familiarrr?"
At Missha's sudden words, I looked again at the summoner, a slight figure of about 1.70 meters. It was difficult to see his face in detail because of the hood, but even so, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu.
What is this? Where have I seen this before? It's impossible that it doesn't remind me of a summoner…
It was then that I remembered why his face seemed so familiar. "Everyone out of my way! The attack I told you about is coming." The summoner stammered and gave instructions. Thanks to that, my hazy memories became clearer. Soon, I checked the face of the fairy near the man again and came to a conclusion.
Ah, that son of a bitch from back then.
It had to be him.