Bjorn Yandel the Barbarian

Episode 529: Escape Plan (2)

Exploration Day 63, 3:00 PM.

I made a generous schedule and arrived at the human island a day before the start of the rainy season. And originally, I was going to go hunting around the island during my spare time, but I changed my schedule and entered the village right away.

“…As I heard, it really is a town of monsters.”

“Mr. Wight… Is this really okay?”

“Didn’t the baron tell you? Everyone, take care of yourself.”

They had talked about it beforehand, but nonetheless, the explorers seemed agitated by the monsters they saw everywhere when they entered the village.

Of course, this was only true of the Hetz Clan.

“A monster claiming to be a human….”

“This… Very precious.”

“I heard that if you use an ancient language, you can have a conversation, right?”

“Haha! Didn’t I tell you? It’s a huge waste of space if there’s not a single intelligent being who can communicate with you in this vast labyrinth!”

The members of the Armin Exploration Corps, with the explorer’s blood running through their bones, showed curiosity rather than fear of the monsters.

Of course, the worst of them was the three judges.

“You said you would stay here until the rainy season passes, right? If there is a chance, I would like to have a conversation with them.”

“…Damn it, I should have studied the ancient language a little harder.”

“Do not worry. I’m going to record all the conversations I had and make them into translations. This is an unprecedented discovery in the history of the long labyrinth!”

Well, from their point of view, the monsters on the human island (?) will feel like aliens.

Someone will feel fear, and someone will think they want to know first.

“From here on, go alone. you go home Emily, can you lead?”

“No problem.”

First of all, everyone in the group waited at the house given by the village chief, and then entered the village chief’s house alone.

“Good luck. Come back before it’s too late.”

“Are you even worried?”

“Nothing. These are the ones who appeared after waiting for such a long time.”

I couldn’t feel any emotion in the village chief’s voice.

It’s like having a conversation with a machine.

Looking at the monsters that became friends with Einar, it doesn’t seem like monsters don’t have emotions in their voices.

“by the way….”

While thinking that, the village chief got lucky.

“While I couldn’t see you, my colleagues increased. What happened?”

It seems that the monsters we met in the village have already heard that our number has increased….

“That’s why it seemed like time was passing outside even when we were here.”

“So time passed and new explorers came here?”

“okay.”

I nodded my head and let out a question.

“But aren’t you very surprised?”

“Hasn’t it already been proven through you that time passes outside?”

well, it’s not like that

However, now that I think about it, one question arises.

[Nice to meet you, really. You must be an explorer from Lapdonia, right?]

The day the village chief and I first met on this island.

[Yes, how much time has passed outside?]

Wasn’t this the first question I asked, a question I could have asked if I was aware of the passage of time?

‘The more I think about it, the more suspicious this man is too… … .’

However, I kept these doubts to myself, and never brought them out of my mouth first.

Right now, we need the village chief’s strength and knowledge.

If he really had an ulterior motive, there would be no way he would honestly answer a question like this.

“So what happened outside the island?”

Soon after, the village chief asked, and I summarized the story.

Beginning with the story of exploring Tree Island, the explorers met on Rock Island. And the rescue of the explorers on the island of giants and the portal tombstone that existed in the cave.

Even the super-giant giant I saw leaving the island at the end.

“…You found a lot in that short amount of time.”

The village chief asked me with words of exclamation that didn’t sound like exclamations at all.

“By the way, why did you suddenly return to the rocky island?”

It was a question I had been anticipating.

That’s right, while talking about it, I completely left out the story about evil spirits.

So there was no choice but to have a hole in the story.

“Chief, after reflecting on your story, I came to the conclusion that time passes even outside. So I went with the intention of just in case. It was also a situation where we were exploring Namu Island and bumped into a dead end.”

“Hmm… I see.”

The village chief agreed without a word of doubt about the excuse I had prepared in advance, and this was the end of information sharing.

Soon, the village chief moved on to the next subject first.

“It’s a tombstone that doesn’t work… Maybe that’s the key to getting out of here. What are your next plans?”

“Ah, that’s what you mean.”

I mentioned this before answering.

“Chief, you and I had a deal. It was a deal that you would help us with our exploration, and we would give you the information we found while exploring in return.”

“Is that so?”

The village chief had a nuance that he had no idea why I was saying this suddenly.

Hey, where to eat raw?

I said with a grin.

“I need your help from now on.”

The first escape plan.

“My help…?”

We must become stronger.

***

Immediately after leaving the island of giants, he felt the need to improve his specs. That’s also true, because I saw that super-giant at the end.

‘Looking at the exponential increase in difficulty… Both Library Island and Tree Island should keep in mind the possibility that such a terrifying monster will appear at the end.’

Well, this is still only a possibility.

Still, it was clear that the giant was in charge of the island’s boss.

It was on that island that the portal stele was also found.

According to the big data accumulated while playing [Dungeon & Stone] for a long time, the probability that the giant is the key to escape is very high.

but….

“I need some time to think.”

The village chief gave a lukewarm answer.

Even if you’ve been stuck here for eons of time, you will want to go out more than we do.

“The rainy season will start tomorrow, so please answer me before then.”

“Okay.”

So, let’s put this agenda on hold for now.

After that, we talked about less important topics.

“Since the number of people has increased, that house alone can be inconvenient. I’ll arrange a new place for you by tomorrow, so I’ll put up with it even if it’s uncomfortable.”

“About a day. People who used to sleep on the bare floor wouldn’t even think it was uncomfortable.”

“Then I’m glad.”

“But where have they gone?”

“If you’re talking about the Silver Lion Clan, they left the island not long after you left. And he hasn’t come back yet.”

Hmm… okay?

The rainy season will start soon.

‘Did I go to a strange island and get hit?’

Considering their level, it was understandable enough.

Even we didn’t have enough people to go to the end content, so we started actively collecting.

“I’m thinking of waiting as long as possible. As soon as the rainy season begins, we will lock the village gates.”

“That’s normal.”

Maybe he was returning to the island, so the story about the Silver Lion Clan ended here.

and….

“Is there anything else you want to say?”

“does not exist. Answer what I said today as soon as the decision is made later.”

“Sure.”

Since we had all the conversations we could share, we returned to the place where our colleagues were. The shelter that had been plentiful during the previous rainy season had now become almost like a refugee den.

Since the seven of us have become 39, is it natural?

“Hetz, Mul. Be patient. The village chief said he would provide a place to stay until tomorrow.”

“I’m glad that’s the case.”

Wight Hex, whose top priority is survival, simply expressed a sense of relief at my words, but Armin was different.

“Above is good no matter what. but… I heard about the village chief… … .”

“however?”

“Is it true that the chief is the dragon knight, Cornelius Brungrid?”

“… Who did you hear about it from?”

Muel flinched at my question and stared at one place.

And Einar, who was sitting at the end of that line of sight, averted my eyes.

“ha….”

yes, it’s my fault

It wasn’t like I cut it off and said it was a secret this time. If she had done that, she would never have talked to him.

As he sighed, Mul, who noticed the atmosphere, hurriedly defended Einar.

“sorry. I asked a stupid question… … .”

“no. It’s not something to hide anyway. Anyway, to answer… … . What you just said is only half true.”

“half… Are you talking?”

“okay. First of all, he claims that, but nothing has been properly confirmed.”

“okay….”

Now that this had happened, I decided to listen to Mul’s opinion. This man is also a person who has been searching for the secret of the labyrinth for almost his entire life.

Maybe you know something.

“Mul, what do you think? Do you think that claim is true?”

“well… I haven’t met him in person, so I don’t know. One, if that is true, it takes one thing.”

“Which part?”

“This is the part where he is currently living in the body of a monster and enjoying eternal life.”

“Why is that?”

“The great sage’s biography is very famous, but… … . There are suspiciously few records about the colleague. At one time, I was curious about their secret history and diligently collected their records—.”

“Okay, just keep the core simple.”

“I once found records about Brungrid at the antiques market.”

“What was it?”

“Before I say anything, let me make this clear first. As a result of the analysis of the records, it was confirmed that the records were written in that era, but we could not conclude the authenticity of the records.”

Well, just say the main points.

“That’s right. But what was the content?”

When I asked again, Mule Armin cautiously opened his mouth.

“The story was that the hero Cornelius Brungrid, the Dragon Knight, was obsessed with immortality more than anyone else, and because of this, he repeatedly had conflicts with the great sage.”

An ancient secret story of unknown authenticity, heard for the first time from Müll.

But why?

“Eternal life….”

Why do I feel so uncomfortable all of a sudden?

***

Day 64, 9 p.m.

The village chief paid a visit to our residence.

The purpose of the visit was twofold.

One is that we have prepared a new place to live so that we can solve the already cramped housing problem… … .

“I have decided to accept your offer.”

The second is that the village chief finally made a decision.

After hearing the story of eternal life, the village chief felt a little more awkward for some reason, but he didn’t mention it at all.

It’s not good to confront the village chief at this point.

It is efficient to first receive what is to be received and then investigate step by step.

thus….

“All the warriors in the village are ready.”

The village chief went up outside with the mobilized warriors of the village.

It was for a very simple reason.

Basement 1, Archives.

There are many difficulties at our current level to escape from this place.

In other words, it should be stronger.

And for a person to become strong, suffering is necessary.

“We have about two hours left. Let me know if you change your mind in the middle. There is nothing more foolish than facing a disaster naked.”

“Ambit, but it won’t change my mind.”

The village chief spoke persuasively, but I never gave up.

And how long has it been like that?

“….”

The time when almost 300 troops, including the warriors of the village, waited with a grim expression.

The time has finally come.

[Ooh!]

[Gero, Gero, Gero…!!]

[Kong! kung! Hehehehehe!]

The howling of countless monsters could be heard loudly from the sky as if in harmony.

Kwajik-!

The monsters slammed head first into the hard ground turned into light and disappeared.

Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!

The monsters who survived in the brilliant light rushed at us with their battered bodies, and the waiting explorers and monster warriors took out their weapons and fought back.

and….

‘What kind of disaster is a disaster.’

I raised my shield high and screamed.

“Behel—laaaaaaaaa!!!”

Rainy season.

A catastrophic event in which monsters rain down from the sky.

However, this event was as I thought.

「You have defeated Ryture Talisman. EXP+4″

「You have killed Werewolf.」

“You have defeated the wall mole.”

「You have defeated Akelthas. EXP +5″

「You have defeated the Underground Dragon. EXP +4″

“Iantro has been defeated.”

「You have killed the Orc warrior.」

“I killed the saber guard….」

「….」

「….」

Monsters that can be encountered with extremely low probability in rifts, hidden fields, or even normal fields are pouring from the sky.

“The character’s level has risen.”

「Soul power increases by +30.」

“The maximum absorbable essence increases by +1.”

If this isn’t a burning event then what is?