Ch.6262. Failed Freebie

The Rift exploration had been going quite smoothly until now.

That’s because the ultra-powerful Student Council President Alkine Debaran had always been by my side.

But this time, she wasn’t here.

Of course, I had human radar Grain and the storm-growth princess whose strength had become immeasurable… but unfortunately, I couldn’t feel at ease.

Was it because Celia was still below par? No, quite the opposite.

She was too exceptional, and that was the problem.

“I had no idea I’d be such a hindrance. I’m really sorry…”

“It’s fine.”

“Ludion. Don’t pretend it’s okay when you’re clearly bothered.”

“You caught me.”

When we first entered the Rift, Celia tried to deploy magic circles around us, just like she did when fighting demons at the Imperial Palace.

Of course, that would have allowed us to respond quickly to any situation… but unfortunately, it wasn’t possible.

“Ugh.”

As soon as Celia’s mana spread out, Grain’s complexion rapidly deteriorated.

Apparently, Celia’s strengthened magic was putting a heavy burden on Grain’s abilities.

For someone who could easily withstand Student Council-level magic to struggle this much—what kind of power had Celia developed?

Whatever the case, it was clear that Celia’s capabilities were sealed.

I never expected things to get this complicated. How could things get so tangled?

As a result, Celia was now focused solely on supporting Grain.

“Are you really okay? You still don’t look well.”

“I’m fine. If anything, I should apologize. I’m just being a burden again.”

“It doesn’t matter. Even if I can’t step up, we have Ludion.”

Celia looked at me as she said this.

No, that’s not right. I’m just a helpless lamb who desperately needs your help.

Please throw me under the bus.

“Right?”

“Y-yeah. Sure.”

But there was no way I could say that.

Can’t be helped. I’ll just have to make the most of Senior Grain’s excellent abilities.

That was my plan from the beginning anyway.

But would Celia be okay with that?

“Celia.”

“Yes?”

“Are you… really okay with this?”

“With what?”

“You came all the way into the Rift but can’t do anything.”

“Oh… that’s fine. I didn’t particularly want to be active anyway.”

Then why were you so dejected when you couldn’t join us in the Rift?

“Obviously because I wanted to come with Ludion. Aren’t you paying attention?”

“…Right. I see.”

“Still, thanks for caring.”

I’m not even surprised anymore. When she throws these direct statements at me, I don’t know how to respond.

“Hey. Being close is nice and all, but save the lovey-dovey stuff for when you’re alone.”

Since Grain seemed disgusted by Celia’s sudden display of affection, I smoothly changed the subject.

“I’ll restrain myself. More importantly, Senior, you already know where the others went, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then let’s go in a different direction.”

“…You don’t want to join them?”

Join them? Is there really any need for that?

It would be much better for us to move ahead of them rather than joining their group.

Rather than simply following them around and responding to variables as they arise, it would be safer to quickly clear the Rift by advancing ahead of them.

That was my reasoning.

[This feature is currently locked.]

[Unlock condition: Clear 5 Rifts with a contribution rate of 40% or higher (2/5)]

It’s absolutely not because I want to unlock the inventory feature.

If it’s not, then it’s not.

Even if it were true, I’m not taking this lightly. My judgment is based on solid reasoning.

A veteran player like me getting help from Grain, an exploration cheat character?

This would enable faster clearing than any other method. I hadn’t tried it yet, but I was confident.

Well… this plan was only possible because Grain already knew about my defeating demons before.

Unlike other Student Council members, Grain would trust me a bit more.

“Grain. Do as Ludion says.”

“But still…”

“We just need to trust and follow Ludion. Understand?”

“…Fine. I got it. But could you stop looking at me with that smile? It’s kind of scary.”

Celia, please stop trying to brainwash people into having unlimited trust in me.

I appreciate it, but Grain would have trusted me anyway, and now she’s looking at me like, “What did you do to this girl?”

I really didn’t do anything. Celia just trusts me to an abnormal degree.

I should live up to that trust, right?

Man… that’s a heavy responsibility.

“I’ll go scout the area for a bit.”

To live up to her trust, I needed to get a grasp of the map first. I couldn’t start clearing without knowing what the map was like.

I tamped down my excitement about unlocking the inventory and cautiously explored the surroundings, staying alert.

An orange plain stretching wide with unnaturally placed bone fragments. And dead trees with black leaves rising here and there.

Even from this brief look, I could immediately tell this was completely different from any map I knew.

Of course, individually, all these elements were familiar.

The orange plain. Bone fragments. Dead trees with black leaves. These were all objects that existed in actual Rifts.

However, they should have existed separately in three different maps. They shouldn’t be together in one place like this.

They said it was a composite Rift, and it seems the maps really have been mixed together.

After figuring this out and returning with a sense of dread, Grain dropped a bombshell.

“It’s quite spacious, isn’t it?”

“Well… all Rifts are like that.”

“But this one is even bigger. By my estimate, it’s about three times the size of a normal Rift.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Three times? That means it has the combined size of all three merged Rifts.

If we wander around without knowing anything, we’ll struggle just with exploration, let alone clearing.

‘At this rate, even having memorized the entire map won’t help…’

It seemed that completely cheesing this wouldn’t be possible.

I was a bit disappointed at not being able to cheese it, and Grain seemed to notice, asking:

“Want to give up on going separately and join the others?”

“…Are you taunting me right now?”

“No… why would I taunt you about this? I’m just saying let’s help each other instead of wasting energy.”

This person keeps saying things that scratch at a veteran player’s pride.

“I decline. We’ll move separately.”

“…Celia. Is he always this stubborn? Try to persuade him!”

“I’m sorry, Grain. No one can stop Ludion when he’s like this. But isn’t it cool? The way he focuses when he’s trying to accomplish something?”

“…You two are driving me crazy. I shouldn’t have come along.”

Of course, I wouldn’t give in to this level of challenge.

Just because I can’t cheese it doesn’t mean I can’t handle it.

Isn’t it the nature of veteran players to tackle new content head-on?

A never-before-seen Rift? Even better. It makes my spirit of challenge surge.

Plus, I have Grain by my side. To lose the first clear in this situation…

‘A veteran player’s pride won’t allow it.’

I will absolutely hyper-carry this Rift clear and unlock the inventory feature.

“Senior. Could you come over here for a moment?”

For that, I’ll have to rely on you a bit, Senior Grain.

“…You really can’t stop him?”

“I could force him if I tried… but Ludion is finally showing enthusiasm, how could I tell him to stop? Just give up and follow him.”

“Right… you’re on his side too… This is my fault for coming along. My mistake.”

After briefly talking with Celia, she sighed deeply and approached me.

Now, it’s time to clear this Rift.

///

Going outside the Rift to treat an injured person is extremely inefficient.

It means retracing the entire path you’ve come, then following the same path back again.

And the farther you’ve traveled, the more pronounced this inefficiency becomes.

“Is this the right way?”

“Probably.”

“What do you mean ‘probably’? Check properly.”

No matter how good your memory is, walking through unfamiliar scenery for hours will inevitably lead to confusion.

That’s why disputes arise even when following recorded exploration routes.

Of course, this was also an issue because someone else was filling Grain’s role.

And at this moment, Alkine, who was watching over them from a “protective” position, couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

‘No. I can’t. You know what happened when you thought like that.’

In the past, she would have just let it go.

Was it because of the smooth clearing experience she had with Ludion recently? Whenever situations like this arose, she kept recalling the exhilaration and sense of liberation she felt then.

Grain’s injury earlier was entirely because of that.

The frustrations she thought she had swallowed and endured were unconsciously piling up inside her, and at some point, she had acted without remembering her purpose of “protection.”

A simple impulse to cut down the enemy before her.

Because of that one impulse, she failed to protect Grain who was out of her sight, and almost drove her to death.

‘I need to protect everyone.’

She had said with her own mouth that she “wished for someone’s help,” but she knew that was unrealistic.

She was the absolute strongest here, and she was the only one who could protect everyone.

‘Don’t think unnecessary thoughts. This is what you’ve always done.’

With that thought convincing herself, she spoke.

“In the Rift, one wrong judgment can put everyone in danger, so be careful.”

…Was that statement directed at those before her, or was it self-criticism?

“Yes, President!”

“We’re sorry! We’ll be careful! Oh, and… looking again, this is the right path!”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Unable to tell, she once again swallowed her frustration.