This was my second coming-of-age ceremony since I became chieftain. However, we were able to carry it out much more easily than last month, despite having done it only once.
That? Are there no rookies this time?
None of the young warriors acted this time with the suspicion of a new player. It was a relief. That meant that an innocent person had not been dragged into this world only to be treated as an evil spirit, and that the soul of an innocent barbarian had not been replaced. It would be better if this shitty game faded into obscurity completely.
«Kharon.»
«What's up, Chief?»
Since I already had newbies in mind, I decided to ask my second elder how the previous one was doing.
«Vector, third son of Kiltau? Oh, the one who chose a shield during the last ceremony!»
«Yeah he. How are you?»
«Ahh, you must have been worried about him since he chose a shield.»
«Just answer the question.»
«I heard you're doing well. In fact, I heard he was doing pretty well in the maze...» When I asked him for more details, he gave me the latest update. «He looks a lot like you, really. Last month was his first expedition, and he already reached the second floor with the other warriors on his team.»
«¿The second floor…?»
So it seemed like the rookie was making effective use of the new equipment system and the starting items I provided him. He even went to buy a torch from another adventurer in exchange for a potion, and that's how he managed to get through the dark area. On the second floor, he also used his shield as a tank for the other warriors.
«I heard you made a lot of money on your first expedition, Chieftain. Of course not as much as you».
He was sensible and seemed to adapt quickly. Even with knowledge of the game, that was impressive. Still, there was one thing that worried me.
If he keeps acting like this, those damn secret service evil spirit hunters will notice him... Well, I'm sure he'll be able to get by on his own if they do.
A while ago, one of those bastards came up to me out of nowhere to ask where I was from, even saying they were from the United States. If you weren't careful and distrusted everyone you met, there was no way you would last long here anyway.
«Then we should give them torches next time.»
«Oh, say it's a good idea.»
I ended my conversation with Kharon, and then began to guide the new young warriors towards the city. However, along the way, Kharon brought more news.
«Chieftain». His voice was suddenly much tighter. «A while ago... I heard some information. It's about why our young warriors died last month, which you asked me to investigate».
True, the first thing I did when I returned to the holy land this month was check how many young barbarians had died during the last search. The death toll was only seven, an incredible figure that spoke of a survival rate of almost 90%. However, he was not satisfied with that. Not only had he provided them with potions and shoes, but he had even hired a wizard to group them into groups of three and four. How could it make sense for any of them to die with everything they had going for them?
«So what did you find out?»
Kharon's response was silent. «They were looters. The guild received reports that our warriors were found dead in the Crystal Cave. According to those who reported the discovery, the dead barbarians appeared to have been killed by humans, not monsters.»
«...I see.» I had a feeling that was the case. Of course, that left me with another question. «But some of that is strange. We put them in teams, so how did the looters who frequent the first floor kill them?».
Kharon hesitated before leaning in to whisper in my ear. It seemed like he didn't want the young warriors following us to hear him. «Recently, the price of a barbarian's heart has increased considerably».
As the chief in charge of the future of the barbarian people, it was heartbreaking news.
«The price went up...?»
«Yeah. There was an advertisement for the Magic Tower, and the price went up several times».
«Damn sea.»
Now I understood what was happening here. Since we were no longer the easy target we used to be, the supply of hearts had gone down. Which means the price of our hearts must have skyrocketed.
Since a heart is now worth millions of stones... no wonder there are bastards out there willing to do anything to get one.
It was much cheaper to hunt barbarians on the lower floors than to go up to the fourth or fifth. Not only that, but the barbarians were now traveling in groups of three or four, each carrying potions with them. If the professional looters stayed on the first floor and attacked the young warriors, who were no match for them in terms of statistics, they had no hope of defending themselves.
«When I asked the adventurers who found the corpses of the barbarians, they said that most of the bodies found appeared to have been killed in a one-sided massacre».
Those damn bastards.
Crack…
We had to fight back and fight back hard.
***
After personally escorting the young warriors to Dimension Square, we all headed towards the magician who was waiting for us. Then I had him group the barbarians together and cast the binding spell. This time, he was not a guild mage. Now, he could use our clan's own mage.
«It's low-rank magic, but... Since I've had to cast it so many times, I'm pretty exhausted».
«Gracias, Versyl Gowland.»
«Ah... I promise you I wasn't trying to complain, though...»
«That does not matter. You did me a favor, so I should thank you». I smiled and patted Versyl on the shoulder.
For some reason, Amelia let out a sigh of discontent from where she was watching this exchange on the sidelines. «...It's over again».
I had no idea what he was talking about.
«Yandel, we should start entering too».
Since I had finished taking care of all my boss duties, I agreed that it was time to enter the maze.
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
The Crystal Cave always brought back memories every time I entered it. Without hesitation, we headed directly towards the dark area of the center.
«...It's a strange feeling. Return to this place», Versyl murmured, almost to herself, as soon as we reached the monument.
Yes, it couldn't feel very good for her to come back here.
«What's so strange about it? The only thing I remember is that you opened a portal and ran away, leaving us behind».
Erwen couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a jab, and Versyl shuddered. Fortunately, instead of getting angry or excited, Versyl simply apologized. «...I'm sorry.»
Well, this is uncomfortable.
In an attempt to smooth things over, I intervened quickly, making sure to maintain a light tone. «Why do you have to apologize? It wasn't your fault».
Erwen must have been very upset by that statement because, for the first time in a long time, she openly disagreed with me. «It was his fault. If he hadn't fled, if he had fought with us, many more people would have been able to come back alive». It made sense that she was upset. After all, Erwen lost her older sister that day. «Your actions always have consequences.»
«...You're right. That's why I will pay for my shares». Seeming genuinely remorseful for the decisions she made, Versyl took Erwen's sharp criticism gracefully.
Surprisingly, Erwen backed away and made no other stinging comments. He even apologized. «...Sir, I'm sorry. I've made things uncomfortable for everyone».
«Eh...? No, nothing happens. Am I not uncomfortable at all?»
«Well... I'm glad, then.»
That? Since when was she so sensible? She had a tendency to get a little heated when it came to matters involving her older sister, so I never imagined she would be willing to end that conversation so peacefully...
«Bjorn! When is it going to appear? I've been waiting for this day for so long!» ainar shouted, unable to hide his excitement.
Amelia glared at her and responded on my behalf: «Barbarian, I told you several times during our meeting. And you ask the same question again?».
«…¡Lo olvidé!»
«¿Y?»
«Sorry...?»
«That's better».
Ainar's shoulders slumped at Amelia's reprimand. It seemed that the pecking order had been established last month in the witch's cabin. However, he asked the same question again.
«So... when are we going to fight? Although I perfectly remember the plan of how we are going to fight, so don't worry!».
After a long pause, Amelia reluctantly replied: «...In seven days».
«Do we have to wait that long? Can't we invoke him for the third day?!»
«How funny. You are asking exactly the same questions as during the meeting».
On the first floor, the Lord of the Floor had a certain chance of being summoned after the third day, as long as at least five people were gathered in one place. That probability increased dramatically over time, to the point of becoming a 100% probability if you stayed in a group of five for an entire day.
We can begin to prepare to invoke it on the afternoon of the sixth day.
Since there were only five of us, we had received permission to attempt our raid on the seventh day, just before the maze closed.
«So... are we going to wait here until then?».
Ainar already seemed very bored. Hearing her complain every day about how bored she was would be irritating, but luckily, we wouldn't have to deal with that.
«Don't worry, Ainar. While we wait, you and I are going to do something else».
«Really?» Ainar's mood was significantly animated upon hearing that.
On the other hand, Amelia tilted her head in confusion. «...Yandel, do you have anything else to do? I had never heard of this».
Well, sure. It occurred to me today on the way here.
«It won't be a problem. We just have to make sure we're all together by the sixth day. So while Ainar and I do our business, the three of you can rest here. I'll make sure we're not late».
«...What are you going to do?» Amelia seemed worried. Did you think it was going to cause problems? It was a little depressing to see how little faith he had in me.
«Don't worry. Let's go for a quiet walk».
Oh, but of course we'd take off all our expensive gear before we left, for the real rookie experience.
***
Ainar and I left the party to take care of our new task. Although she didn't know what we were going to do, Erwen volunteered to help. Unfortunately I had to reject it, and the reason was simple. What we were about to do was something only a barbarian could do.
Stomp, stomp.
Ainar and I wandered around the cave aimlessly, with no real destination in mind. We simply choose a direction and walk.
Before we start walking, we take off all our gear and put it away in our subspaces, and exchange it for beginner barbarian gear: a pair of boots, a cloth backpack, an extra bag around our waist, and a leftover iron weapon. of the initiation ceremony.
«...Bjorn, will this really fool you?» Although she agreed with my plan and followed me, Ainar was still a little skeptical. «Our names are quite famous...»
«Exactly. Our names may be very well known, but our faces are not».
«You only say it because you don't know any better! Even if they don't know me, everyone will recognize you!»
Would it really be like this? I don't think so. The first impression a person has of another is based on the context in which they know them, their appearance and their temperament.
«Plus, we're older, so... people will notice something is different».
Was she always one of those who cared so much about the little things? It was impossible to know the age of a barbarian. I was living proof. Every time I met someone, their eyes lit up and-
«Grr. Grr.»
A Goblin suddenly emerged from behind a crystal rock.
Rebelts.
He was immediately killed by Ainar's long iron sword.
«Ainar!» I yelled at him without thinking. «What do you think you're doing?!»
Ainar shuddered. «W-what have I done?! I was just tearing the goblin to pieces...». She interrupted herself, indignant.
«That's the problem. You killed him too easily».
«...Then what should I do?»
«I'll show you».
We continued walking for a while longer until we found a rank nine monster. It was time to teach him how we should fight them.
«¡G-Grr ...!»
The opponent was a lone Goblin.
I looked into the monster's eyes, which were full of eagerness to cut me into pieces, and then squeezed tightly the weapon in my hand.
Appropriate.
I grabbed the handle so tightly that the blade started to shake.
«¡B-Become-aaaaaaaaah!»
Then I brandished the sword at random and prayed that my ancestors would protect me. Of course, the Goblin prevented my attacks.
¡Balanceo!
After waving my sword randomly a few times, it finally hit the Goblin. Thanks to my basic stats, I took him down in one fell swoop.
¡Shaaaa!
The most important part of the act, however, was to immediately run towards the mana stone on the ground like a hungry person towards food.
«What do you think? Can you do it?»
«Bjorn... I know you're supposed to be a novice adventurer, but no warrior would be so bad at fighting...».
I sighed. Why was she so stubborn today? «So can you do it or not? Answer me to that».
«I will try...»
«Oh, and make sure you let out a nice, loud war cry. We want people to think that we are going all out in these fights.»
We had to shout the name of our ancestors while facing rank nine monsters.
Visibly swallowing the embarrassment and shame, he continued the game. «B-Behel-aaah...»
He didn't put all his heart into that rallying cry, but it wasn't bad. It was enough to talk. It was time to take action.
«Now, you have to keep acting like this from now on. Understood?»
«Si ... »
After that, we continued wandering aimlessly through the Crystal Cave, fighting rank nine monsters the way I taught him. When we encountered human adventurers, we made sure to keep our eyes peeled and on high alert. When we were hungry, we filled our stomachs with stale bread, like we used to do years ago.
This was what I liked to call Barbarian Fisherman Mode.
Surprisingly, maintaining the act required quite a bit of mental toughness. No matter how hard I tried to contain my strength, I couldn't help but shoot the Goblins once... However, over time, I slowly began to get used to it.
A day passed, then two.
Time continued to advance. Unfortunately, no one had taken our bait yet. Still, there was no reason to doubt ourselves or give up yet.
For the first two days, there are still many adventurers wandering around. Looters are likely to be wary of potential witnesses.
On the third day, however, many of those adventurers would leave the first floor to go higher.
¡Hooonk! Hoof ...
Ainar was asleep when we finally got our first bite.
Step step.
Four adventurers approached us, making no effort to hide their presence. His team wasn't bad either.
They must have been fourth floor adventurers...
Not that there was a difference.
Step.
The men continued walking towards us, and then began to surround us. Finally, they stopped.
«Oh really. Why are they so hard to find?»
One of them smiled at me, and I was surprised to hear him say exactly what I was thinking.
«We have finally found them».
Yes that's right...
Finally we found them.