Day 8 of being stranded.
As we wandered easily through the Witch's Wood, surprisingly, we hadn't encountered a single explorer so far. Given the terrain here, we should have come across at least one, but in truth, this wasn't unusual at all.
First, the Witch's Forest was vast. Second, since it wasn't used as a primary hunting ground, the resident population was small. Third, we were wandering aimlessly instead of heading towards the center. The chances of encountering anyone were slim.
Above all, at this point, those who were passing through this place would have already passed it.
Even so, I thought that when the third floor closed, some explorers would go up to the fourth, since it was common to test the floors before going up.
So, did these people want to go up to the fourth floor?
That seemed very likely. Of course, that didn't mean we could trust them.
"A barbarian and a beastwoman? Is that all there is to it?" Just as I judged them the moment I laid eyes on them, they judged us in turn. True, it must be strange. A duo, not on the first two floors, but on the third, and in the Witch's Forest, no less.
A man who appeared to be the leader of the five-person team came to a conclusion. "Are you two... separated from your team?"
"That's right." I readily admitted it. It was good to bluff, but that had its time and place. If I denied it while looking like a beggar like this, we'd just look strange. And what would we gain by insisting? Of course, I should be careful.
"Ah! Bjorn! Has we safe now?"
"Stay still." I pushed back Missha, who was already making a scene, blocked the front, and slowly raised the shield.
"Don't be so wary. We're not bad people." A middle-aged human woman appeared on the other side and smiled warmly. "I have a son and a daughter your age in the city. I know what's bothering you, but you must be exhausted, so come..."
"No, thanks".
A son and a daughter? So what? It seemed more dangerous, actually. Having children to feed meant his motive for making money was even cleaner.
"B-Bjorn, why are you doing that? They could help us..."
"Be quiet."
How should I react if we encounter a scout? I'd thought about that a lot during this time. The conclusion was to ask for help first. Promising substantial compensation for getting us out of the woods would also be a reasonable deal for them. Except that, to reach an agreement, we had to find out what kind of people they were. Verification was the first step.
"I'm Bjorn, Yandel's are."
"You're a very cautious friend. I'm Hans Staub. I'm the scout for this team." When I revealed my name, the other side's leader also responded.
But the problem was... «Is your name Hans?.».
«Haha, that's a pretty common name.»
«Exactly.»
Why were there so many Hanses in the world? One point was subtracted for the sinister name.
«My name is Anuman Beit. In the city, my husband and I have a general store...»
I cut the woman off from reciting her personal information. «There is no need for that».
In the maze there was no way to confirm whether that statement was true, and we didn't have much time. Would we receive your help or not? Whichever one we chose, we had to make a quick decision.
Two warriors, two archers, one explorer.
I quickly swept them up and down and checked their combat power, faces, expressions, tones of voice and atmosphere. Of course, it was not necessary to examine each one closely. Sometimes intuition made better decisions. Experience and data accumulated in the unconscious.
«Missha». I soon decided. There was no guarantee it was the right answer, but... «Will you follow my decision?»
Long words were not necessary. Missha gave a short answer to my question, which left out many things. «Of course.»
Good. Now that I had that consent, «Enough introductions. Now we're leaving».
«Go away? Didn't they need our help?»
Yes, but for some reason my instincts scream at me that you are dangerous.
«Now that I think about it, I don't think it's necessary. Missha, let's go.»
«O-okay!»
«Hmm, okay then,» Hans said. «There's no reason we should stop you. Goodbye.»
Okay. Now that I had asked for their understanding, covering myself with my shield, I slowly retreated with my eyes still on the group.
That's when I heard the familiar sound of something ripping through the air.
Blow
Before my brain could judge what happened, my body reacted.
Hit!
At the same time as my neck bent to one side, an arrow passed next to my ear. Damn, how did they do it? He flew from behind me. The bastards who shot the arrow were definitely in front...
«Miss Beit, what are you doing!» A member of the group on the other side shouted something at the archer lady. Hadn't they decided by mutual agreement?
The lady who said she had a son and daughter our age was no longer speaking softly. «Idiotes! Haven't you seen the equipment he was wearing? It is made of lithinum! Do you know how much that sells for?».
«B-but they're still explorers...»
«If you can't do it, don't get involved, boy. See that backpack over there? It is an expandable backpack. Something you can't buy, even if you spend a whole year in the maze».
Perhaps it was true that she owned a general store with her husband. This lady had a good eye, although I didn't dare pay her a compliment.
«I can not.»
«Then whoever wants can leave».
«I sign up. It's not my first time. I am not in a position to refuse free money».
Originally explorers, an agreement was quickly reached between them. I observed this carefully.
Missha anxiously grabbed my shirt. «B-Bjorn... Shouldn't we err flee?»
«Wait.»
They had an explorer on their side. Running now, we wouldn't get very far.
I should be here now...
«I... I... I will kill you...»
Here.
I smiled bitterly.
It was the only reason he tried to make a quick decision, whether it was killed or cooked. When the Carnivaro emerged from the darkness, the group of explorers pointing at us was startled.
«Carnivaro?»
«Why are there two of them?»
That was because this was our 8th day as castaways. They may have just entered, but we had already reached step 10 of the Witch's Eye.
«Missha, now.» I pulled Missha with one hand and with the shield in the other, rushing forward instead of backward.
[Carnivaro has launched Chasing Arrow.]
[Carnivaro has launched Chasing Arrow.]
On the right, a Carnivaro stuck an arrow into the bow. Seeing that, I ran even faster.
Whiiip!
In the end, my barbaric dynamic visual acuity recognized that the two arrows had been shot simultaneously, but there was no need to worry about protecting my back. Now he had something to block them.
«A-ahh! Stop them!»
«W-what the hell are these things?!»
The moment my ignorant barbarian power pushed and stabbed the opposing group, I heard a scream. He was the boy who said he wanted to go out. «Aaagh!»
Hmm, so the arrow hit you. Yes, it's usually the good guys who go first.
Bang!
«Agh! Damn, my foot!»
An explosion sounded from the direction of the Carnivaro. When I looked back, it seemed that Hans D, who had been startled by my run, was distancing himself and had accidentally stepped on a mine of mana.
«Mr. Staub!»
Good. At this point, it seemed like the aggro had gone completely in his favor.
«Missha, run from now on.»
«O-okay.»
I put Missha back on the ground, then ran forward without looking back.
«What are you all doing! Don't look at them, take care of the monsters!»
They couldn't follow us for a while.
***
Dungeon and Stone was a role-playing game. Once you died, that was it. The character disappeared. Of course, at the end of the day, it was just a game. You could resurrect the character and simply adjust the new equipment. Anyway, the main content of this game was to advance to the next floor with the information you had collected from the previous episode.
In Dungeon and Stone, death was part of everyday life. But what if the game world became real life? Character regeneration was not possible. Everything you saw, heard or learned in this life lost meaning the moment you died.
And in that sense, this time I was lucky.
«But Bjorrrn, how the hell did you know those people would act like that?»
«It was a feeling». I did well to follow the quick judgment of my subconscious.
When Missha realized the truth, she couldn't help but be stunned. «... A feeling?» No wonder he first agreed to obey me without asking questions. He seemed to think I had to have an obvious reason.
«His boss's name was Hans.»
«Excuse me?»
«I hate that name».
Missha stared.
«Anyway, thanks to that we escaped safely, which is what matters».
«Yes, but...» Missha interrupted his words with a slightly awkward look and changed the subject. «Anyway, I never thought that kind-looking woman would turn on us so quickly...».
Missha trembled slightly, perhaps thinking of the old woman who was watching us and screaming at the top of her lungs. His quick change of attitude surprised me quite a bit.
I didn't know if it would be any consolation, but I spoke briefly. «Actually he could have been a very kind person».
«Hm? What m....?»
«If only we didn't look weak».
And if we didn't have expensive things. If only we had not met in the labyrinth, but in the city, that woman could have been remembered as a kind person. However, he stabbed the arrow into the bow and pulled it faster than anyone else.
«I don't understand... Wasn't he nice to us because we seemed weak?».
«Missha, why did you enter the maze?»
«Because I have to make money...»
«They are the same.»
Money was a means to protect oneself, especially in a world where not paying taxes was punishable by death. There must have been many other things he had to protect besides his own life.
«...I think I learned a lot from this expedition.»
«Then move faster. They could come for us».
We accelerate a little more.
How much time passed? Contrary to my concerns, they didn't appear again even more than an hour later.
The monsters may have attacked them first, but I'm sure two Carnivars didn't finish them off. Could there be another problem?
Hmm, that seemed to make more sense. It may have been Hans stepping on a mine of mana. If the scout had been wounded, he could have interrupted his pursuit. Whatever the reason, it meant that a crisis had been successfully overcome.
Please, I hope this ends like this.
Even while waiting for this, I forced myself to remain vigilant. I swore not to relax until the end. As always, the worst always came when you let your guard down.
***
Day 13 of being stranded. It was 7 in the afternoon, exactly 53 hours before the labyrinth closed.
«Bjorrrn, I found it!»
We found a tree leading to the cabin. Seeing that the light coming out had faded a little, it seemed like quite a while had passed since the entrance formed, but there was no asking for more.
It's done.
Somehow the worst was avoided. Even if we could only rest for four hours, we could survive the remaining two days with our mental strength. In other words, the chances of returning safely had increased dramatically.
[You have entered the Witch's Cabin.]
Since every minute of rest was precious, I immediately placed my hands on the tree and entered the area. The landscape beyond was the same as before: the scent of grass and flowers, the motionless chirping of grasshoppers, the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.
Damn everything...
Sadly, in the peaceful landscape, there was something strange.
[Current number of visitors: 5. The entrance is closed.]
Previous occupants. That is, those who discovered the cabin before us.
"Bjorn."
"Shh."
I covered Missha's mouth and quickly looked around with just my eyes.
One in bed, another in a chair, another on the grass.
Looking out the window, there were areas I couldn't see from my angle, but it would be correct to assume there were three people in total in front of us, as the cabin was limited to five people.
What a headache.
I slowly approached the man who was sleeping on the grass. Just then, stirring in his sleep, the man turned his back on us and looked at us.
I was started. Surprisingly, it was a familiar face.
I didn't expect to see you here...