Chapter 44

That is,

Gwen spread out the map.

Although calling it a map was a stretch—it was a shoddy one hastily drawn with soot on old parchment.

It seemed to have been made using various objects found scattered throughout the underground spaces.

Nevertheless, the map itself was quite accurate.

For the initial settlers, a map would have been a important tool for survival, so it made sense that they put a lot of effort into making it as precise as possible.

“This here is the central plaza,”

Gwen said, pointing to the middle.

The place we encountered the human-hunting vampire, Riel, earlier.

“It’s a pathway that connects everywhere, the center.”

In terms of a city, it was like a pivotal traffic hub located in the center.

Of course, there was no bustling area, just a large circular clearing left alone.

“And right now, we’re here.”

Gwen’s finger moved.

To a space on the bottom right, marked with the cross of a lectern.

A ruined underground chapel and a place with an exit.

It was said to have been a site of fierce fight for its control at first.

But soon it became known as a death exit that no one could leave through, and it turned into a space that was essentially abandoned.

That’s where we were, in that neglected space.

“The monster’s food source is here,” Gwen indicated, pointing to a space on the upper left with moss drawn on it.

It was completely on the opposite side.

“The fastest way is across the central plaza.”

Gwen’s finger moved again.

“An immediate attack would allow us to start the battle in a favorable position.”

Of course, the monsters would notice our movements.

Since the central plaza was wide open.

But even so, with an unexpected attack and quick movement, we could start with an advantage before they properly responded.

The residents seemed to think it wasn’t bad.

Camian and Annette seemed to agree.

A quick and aggressive attack to start the battle could indeed be favorable.

A common solution chosen by many players.

However,That alone wouldn’t secure everything.

To activate a hidden quest that would yield greater rewards and affect future developments, we had to choose a different approach.

Therefore, I shook my head.

“No, I disagree.”

“Why?” Gwen asked.

“Passing through the central plaza seems like the fastest route, but I see a problem with it,”

I stated confidently, which could be considered quite presumptuous for a newcomer who just joined today.

But I was the one in control now,

So even Gwen, the leader, could not take my statement lightly.

“What’s the problem?”

“Being in a space open on all sides means the undead can clearly see our every move. Knowing exactly what we’re up to is most unsettling.”

“Just because it feels bad? Is that it?”

“Is it that simple? I don’t want to give the undead any options. I want to completely exclude them from the game until the fight with the monsters is over. That is how to minimize variables,”

I spoke fluently,

As if someone who had thought out various strategies beforehand.

Gwen and the residents looked at me as if wondering where such a person came from.

“Minimizing variables…”

Camian muttered, having realized something.

He seemed to have felt something for sure, even if it was a bit overstated, like a hatchling breaking free from its shell.

He might have realized how tactics and strategies he had only learned in theory at the academy could be applied in real combat.

Anyway, it was good.

As long as the protagonist could grow,

“There is some logic to it. But that alone doesn’t make sense without an alternative. Speak,” Gwen said, narrowing his eyes.

I moved my finger without hesitation.

“This way.”

A path opened up to the left from where we were.

“Straight up.”

My finger followed the path, winding its way up to the upper left.

“We hit here directly.

The monsters’ stronghold.

At the end of the day, it’s right next to the food source.

Because they live off the food source.

But there’s a clear difference from before.

The route was several times longer, but if all went well, we could start the battle by surprising the enemy from behind with a flanking maneuver.

However,

“Ah, that’s a bit…”

“Ah, I thought it was something serious, but that’s all?”

The residents’ doubtful response.

Gwen clicked his tongue.

“That method won’t do. You seem to not know much.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s not that there are no markers on the map that it’s a neglected place. There are monster scouts laid out everywhere there. How could you possibly not get caught while traveling that long path?”

The three races are in the midst of a fierce conflict.

So, of course, scouts have been laid out on all possible paths.

And they were scouts who move around regularly.

So, it’s impossible not to get caught.

But,

“In my view, it’s entirely possible.”

“Hmph, preposterous. Why do you think that?”

Gwen spoke as if he couldn’t back down this time.

He seemed to be ready to come back with a strong counterargument the moment I said something even slightly off.

“First, there isn’t just one path.”

My hand went back to the map.

It might look like one big road, but inside, it was filled with many small branching paths.

Not just a straight line.

It seemed straight, then wound around, and just when it seemed to wind, it stretched out straight again.

These small paths appeared interconnected yet disjointed, and at some moments, they connected again.

Many of these branching paths led to the monsters’ stronghold.

These people might not know, but the underground spaces built by dwarves were often like this.

Because they were a race that loved mazes.

“What does that mean?” Gwen asked.

“You know what it means. It’s impossible to lay scouts on all those paths.”

The most scarce resource in the underground space was manpower.

In terms of undead or monsters, it was numbers.

Humans barely managed to maintain their numbers with the occasional newcomer.

Undead were created with accumulated dark powers, and monsters reproduced if they had the spare energy.

But all of these events were extremely rare.

Humans, because of the low frequency of occurrence.

Undead and monsters because the energy source essential for creation and reproduction was scarce.

It’s impossible to manage on moss alone.

“That’s certainly true. But that doesn’t justify certainty.”

There might be a possibility.

It could be supported, but it didn’t necessarily imply a high probability.

“You’re quite negative. Then here’s the second reason: the monsters aren’t paying proper attention to this side. In other words, they’re complacent.”

I stated confidently.

Everyone knew that humans were in a precarious state having lost their food source.

Everyone also knew that it was overwhelming just to focus on the undead who had snatched away the food source.

Would monsters properly monitor the humans in such a situation?

The answer was no.

“There might be complacency, but…”

I cut off Gwen.

“Doesn’t that increase the likelihood? And is there any strategy that’s completely risk-free to begin with?”

“No, but to be so confident as to…”

“If the gains outweigh the risks, it’s a strategy worth trying for anyone.”

I declared firmly.

I had laid all the groundwork to take control for this very moment; there was no way I would back down now.

I knew too well.

That their defenses were in disarray.

A route that’s just waiting to be taken.

The problem was that the path itself was difficult, but since I had already done the groundwork, there was no problem.

Just push through, and it would be done.

“If it’s not that route, we’ll withdraw.”

In the end, I even threw down the ultimate ultimatum.

At a time when each individual’s strength is important, three who said they would help are missing?

It means that the place that’s burning with eagerness has to be on their side.

Moreover, I am not just anyone.

“If that happens, we’ll have to think about the supply route again……….”

3Let’s just go. Captain!”

“That route looks really good!”

“The operation is perfect!”

“Oh, I see it that way too!”

Residents raising their voices in haste.

Faces filled with a desperate will to block at any cost a situation where supplies are flying away.

As the residents took that stance, the atmosphere was completely under my control.

Gwen was panicking

“Make a decision quickly.”

I blurted out.

“Captain, what are you doing! Let’s go right now!”

“Let’s go slaughter those monster brats!”

Residents shouting vigorously, pressuring.

In the end.

“Let’s go. Go! Going will be enough!”

Gwen shouted as if he had given up everything.

That’s how the operation was decided.

Gulp.

Gwen and the residents, with bated breath and tense expressions, moved forward.

Camian and Anette also had tense expressions.

Only I had a calm face.

Because I knew.

I knew that even without my intervention, they could reach the monster’s base without getting caught.

“That, it’s really sloppy.”

When we had passed the halfway point, someone muttered in a very small voice.

They had expressions of disbelief.

They had followed my opinion reluctantly, but they never dreamed it would go this smoothly.

Some residents glanced at me with amazed eyes.

“Shh, don’t speak carelessly.”

Gwen warned with a stern face.

A timely warning when the subordinates’ hearts could become unsettled because things were going too well.

He was indeed a man with the qualities of a leader.

That’s how we continued to move forward cautiously.

I waited for the quest window to appear.

Hidden quest window

It was a hidden quest that would only pop up if you came this way.

After a bit more progress,

Finally, the quest window appeared.

[A hidden quest has occurred.]

– Your operation was perfect. You’ve gained an opportunity to annihilate the monsters on the 10th floor underground with a surprising detour maneuver. It may be an opportunity that will not come again.

Ambush and annihilate Monster Boss Karkar and his subordinates. Humans will survive, and you will receive a special reward.

And maybe this result will lead to better things in the future.

‘Good’

There was only one choice.

The annihilation of the monster boss and his subordinates.

It’s nice because it’s simple.

Just empty your head and fight like crazy.

Click, click-click, click.

Gwen signaled with hand gestures.

It meant the enemy was close by.

Everyone prepared for battle with tense faces.

Chaaeek!

Gwen’s finger pointed forward.

A signal indicating a charge.

We all started to charge at once.

Tatatatatat!

“Gyiek?!”

“What?!”

Two orcs at the entrance were frozen in shock.

Gwen, leading the front, swung his sword.

Running beside Gwen, I also executed the Empire’s 8th style downward slash that I had honed countless times.

Vroom!

Boom!

“Paeeaaack!”

“Paack!”

With a sound like tearing through a pig’s wall, the necks of two orcs were severed and flew through the air.

Only then did the monsters begin to fluster and start preparing for battle, recognizing us.

At the center of those monsters was an orc adorned with all sorts of skeletal ornaments.

Karkar, the boss of the monsters on the 10th floor underground and an orc shaman.

Karkar was not a monster to be underestimated.

A monster with a cunning mind and the power to wield strong spells.

But

I ran towards Karkar without hesitation.

Gwen did the same.

Our thoughts matched exactly.

It was just like Gwen, the strongest and most naturally sharp in combat sense among the human residents.

He instinctively felt that this was the moment to take the leader’s head in one fell swoop.

Karkar’s weakness.

It was the fact that although the power of his spells was strong, it took a long time to cast them.

That’s why I ran straight forward before they could get ready.

Gwen did the same.

Tatatatatat!

Taktaktaktak!

Ignoring the surrounding monsters, we ran straight ahead.

It was possible because they had been caught by surprise and had not yet formed a dense formation, scattering individually.

Dangerous?

Of course, it’s dangerous.

But one must take risks to gain something big.

“Left!”

“Right!”

We synced up without even exchanging glances, with just a word.

“Kweeek!”

Karkar, sensing the threat, hurriedly urged his subordinates to block us.

At the same time, he also began to gather the power of his spells.

But

It was already too late.

From the left, Gwen, and from the right, I had already approached close by.

“Huaaaahp!”

Gwen, wielding powerful strength-based swordsmanship that split the air.

“Haahp!”

My slash, though not as good as his, was also sufficient to inflict a deep wound with solid fundamentals built from scratch.

Peuooeuk!

Peuk!

My slash split the ribs and reached near the lungs, while Gwen’s cut half the body apart.

“Paeeaaack!”

A terrible death scream echoed through the underground.

And soon.

Tulssuk!

Karkar’s body, from which the soul of life had fled, fell backwards.

“Kwi, kweeek?!”

“Kweeek?!”

The orc horde, which made up most of the monsters, fell into a panic state having lost their leader so suddenly.

The human residents fiercely attacked the panicked orc horde.

Camian and Anette were also among them.

The outcome was as good as decided.

‘It’s over.’

I was certain of our victory.

And that certainty was realized just as it was.