episode_0017

Unlimited Deck.

It’s literally a deck that goes on infinitely.

Unlike some card games where you lose when all the cards in your deck are gone, in [Card the Top], discarded cards return to the deck.

So, if you have enough draw and energy, you can keep rolling the deck.

In the original turn-based game, once you got it rolling infinitely, you could grind down all enemies except for a few specific counters.

But even if I create an Unlimited Deck now, it won’t be as overwhelming.

Unlike turn-based games, time passes while you use cards here.

So, I need to balance power with a degree of compression in my deck.

Thanks to that, the difficulty is several times harder.

If I just vaguely roll the deck infinitely, there’s a high probability it’ll be worse than my first deck right now.

Then why am I trying to make an Unlimited Deck?

It’s about the romance… No, it’s not.

Because I have two decks now.

It’s already impossible to make the first deck an Unlimited Deck.

So, I must make the second deck into an Unlimited Deck.

Because that’s the romance.

Of course, it might be greed.

But shouldn’t I aim for a high score with at least one of the two decks?

“……”

In theory, all decks can become Unlimited Decks.

That’s why there was no problem choosing the second deck.

[Paladin’s Deck].

There are two main reasons.

I already have Grace, a rogue class.

And if I choose a paladin, I’ll definitely use magic imbued with divine power.

I judged that it would greatly help my image.

Right away, when I used the [Darkness] card, didn’t people around me say I was a warlock?

I didn’t expect the people of this world to be so sensitive about something similar to black magic.

Certainly, their sensibilities are a bit different from mine, a modern person.

I originally liked black clothes, but I’m even thinking that I should avoid them.

That’s why I chose the [Paladin’s Deck].

*

About 10 minutes after entering the labyrinth.

Grace suddenly puts her ear to the wall as if she heard something.

“There are goblins ahead!!!”

As Grace shouts, the party members quickly take their positions.

Hans steps forward the most.

“Just trust me!!”

Unlike last time, he has more armor. The sturdier-looking helmet is a bonus.

Next to him is Ruca.

“……Move.”

The white-haired beastwoman warrior.

Her main weapon is a two-handed axe, and she’s a berserker type.

I chose her just by looking at the phrase [Provocation Available] written in the recruitment notice.

The floor is the 3rd floor.

Behind her are Grace, me, and Kylek in that order.

Two in the front line, two in the back line. And Grace, who is fast, covers everywhere.

There’s a sense of satisfaction in how quickly we take our positions as soon as the battle starts.

At that time, a sound is heard from far away.

Thud, thud!!

Along with the unpleasant footsteps of the goblins, five goblins appeared.

『Battle start. Draw 5 cards.』

[Slash] [Slash] [Defense] [Defense] [Baptism]

The [Paladin’s Deck] has [Slash] instead of [Smash], and [Defense] instead of [Shield].

And [Baptism] is a card that was in the deck from the beginning, like [Charge].

I take a card and throw it into the air.

[Baptism]

Whoosh.

White mana hovers around my body.

It’s not divine power.

Just like [Darkness] looks like black magic but its source was mana.

It just has a color close to divine power.

I reach out and send the white mana to Ruca.

Flash!!

The flying white mana becomes a blessing and strengthens Ruca’s body.

Then Ruca jumps out quickly.

Slash!!!

The upper body of the flying goblin.

Every time Ruca’s axe moves, a goblin meets its end.

The goblins fall with just the axe swings without using any skills.

The only special thing is that the wounded area is faintly glowing from my [Baptism].

As expected, goblins are no longer a threat.

『Check the card rewards.』

[Wave of Light (1)] [Execution (1)] [Holy Strike (2) – Vanish]

Even the card names are holy.

I wonder if something like [Heal] will come out later?

Now that I can check the card effects, I immediately looked at the details.

[Wave of Light (1)] – Sends a wave of light to damage the enemy and put a small shield on the ally.

[Execution (1)] – Deals damage proportional to the number of vanished cards.

[Holy Strike (2) – Vanish] – Vanishes all cards in the hand and deals damage per card.

The effects are shown, but the exact numbers are not.

I guess this can’t be helped.

Anyway, from the looks of the first one, it seems to be a deck highly related to [Vanish].

[Vanish] is a concept that temporarily removes it from the deck during battle.

If I vanish [Slash] [Defense] with that [Holy Strike]. It disappears from the deck completely until the battle ends.

When making an already thin deck, draw and energy are essential, but it would be nice to have such vanishing cards.

It came out right away.

I grabbed [Holy Strike] without thinking.

The atmosphere is already good.

I hope the deck will be put together like this?!

That was just my wish.

The draw cards I wanted didn’t come out, and only strange cards came out.

As I filtered out as many cards as possible to make an infinite deck.

I only managed to get 2 new cards.

……Still, I was able to roughly get a sense of how to put together the deck by checking out various cards.

I didn’t know something like this would exist.

『The number of [Goblin] farming has ended. 0/30』

No, I thought I could farm infinitely. But there was a limit per monster?

Dreams like ‘Become the strongest in the world by only catching goblins!’ were impossible after all.

Then does that include the original deck too?

『Deck has been switched.』

『Until the next switch possible time: 0:59:59』

『The number of [Goblin] farming has ended. 0/30』

It’s the same.

Then the number of farming per monster is 30 times regardless of the deck.

Of course, there are various monsters from the 2nd floor of the labyrinth, but this is a bit disappointing.

“……”

At that time, a bad thought crossed my mind.

I got cards when I killed people.

Is there a limit to that too?

If not, wouldn’t that be the best farming method?

‘……No, I can’t do that.’

Even if I get stronger so quickly, I’ll live a life on the run.

I can’t stand to see that.

I need to sleep comfortably with my feet stretched out.

Since goblin farming is no longer meaningful, the reason to be on the 1st floor disappeared.

“Let’s go to the 2nd floor right away.”

“I think so too. The 1st floor is too easy than I thought? I didn’t really do anything though.”

The battles with the goblins so far have been Ruca’s one-man carry show.

Ruca is quiet and cold, but she actively steps up and fights.

Thanks to that, it feels good like I’m running automatic hunting.

Like the small fry on the first floor, goblins don’t give cards well or give magic stones well.

I think I’ve caught over 150 in about 6 hours now. About 2-3 lowest-grade magic stones.

Of course, there are explorers on the 1st floor who live off of just that.

But it’s far from enough for us.

“If that’s the case, should we have just gone up to the 2nd floor the day before the labyrinth reset and stayed up all night?”

I think I heard that from Lyman last time.

High-level explorers go up to the high floors from a week before the labyrinth resets, when the number of monsters in the labyrinth is the lowest, spend time in the safe zone, and then hunt a lot after the reset.

“Mr. Evan, do you know how much the safe zone accommodation costs?”

“We can just sleep rough inside and come out.”

“Th, that’s true.”

I should do that next time.

Now, about the only thing I can get on the first floor is a hidden dungeon.

“Then shall we avoid the goblins and go quickly?”

“Is there a way to avoid monsters?”

“Okay, everyone gather around me.”

Grace suddenly called us together.

Soon, something green from Grace’s hand wraps around our bodies.

[Acceleration]

My body feels lighter.

“Let’s run avoiding the goblins as much as possible. Can you not run for a long time by any chance?”

Grace suddenly looks at me.

Surely, I’ve fought so many battles so far, can’t I run for even a few hours?

“……”

I couldn’t run.

I thought we were just running like in military training, but it was a full sprint.

I dropped out in just 10 minutes.

I’m being carried like a bag of luggage in Kylek’s bag.

“……Ugh.”

The problem is that the ride is terrible.

It’s harder because my stomach is churning up and down.

I think Kylek is being considerate.

But it’s still hard.

It’s only this much because I use [Body Enhancement] every time it’s drawn. I should never do this next time.

Or I should build up my stamina.

“We’ve arrived!!”

Thanks to my sacrifice, we arrived at the western safe zone before the day was over.

Of course, we still have to cross the swinging bridge.

And there, I found a familiar face.

“Oh! Grace! Evan!!”

Karin approaches, waving her hand happily.

She said she would call me, but couldn’t call me because she was inside the labyrinth?

“Didn’t you say that the labyrinth officer changes every month?”

“It got extended by another month because I disappeared into Gerhart’s painting in the middle.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. By the way, I didn’t expect the three of you to be in a party together. Are you going up to the 2nd floor?”

“Yes.”

“Go quickly.”

After parting with Karin, we crossed the swinging bridge.

It’s dangerous here, so I got off and walked too.

“This is safe, right?”

“No? I’ve heard that several people fall and go missing every month. If you’re lucky, you’ll come out outside during the labyrinth reset.”

Whoosh!!

If I went into that fast water, Kylek would be okay, but I would die instantly.

“Let’s go quickly.”

Still, we managed to cross the bridge.

Safe Zone.

The most prominent is the guild building.

Next, there were several inns, a small bar, and something like a tent village.

Lastly, there were merchants selling all kinds of goods near the portal.

“It’s better than I thought.”

“It’s only like this on the 1st floor. It’s difficult to get supplies from the 2nd floor, so the prices go up and it’s not as good as this.”

“The 2nd floor was definitely called [The Forgotten Forest]. Just hearing the name, I don’t really know to what extent it is.”

“You’ll know when you go there.”

Seeing is believing. No matter how much you hear about it, you have to see it to know how it really feels.

We immediately went into the blue portal to go to the 2nd floor.

The light blinds our eyes.

As the afterimage of the light gradually disappears, the smell of grass stings my nose.

What I see when I open my eyes is all green.

The green, crooked, giant trees reach for the sky, intertwining and spreading, creating numerous paths.

And under those trees is a sea of poison.

This place is the 2nd floor, [The Forgotten Forest], like a giant mangrove forest on a sea of poison.

If you go up the giant intertwined tree trunks to the top, there is a portal leading to the 3rd floor.

“It’s hard to get supplies because of this [Forgotten Forest].”

“I guess so.”

No matter how you look at it, it’s not a place where a carriage or anything like that can pass.

“Moreover, the structure changes every time the labyrinth resets, so it’s also the place where people get lost the most. Unless you have a guide like me.”

True to Grace’s words, the plants are so full that even the Amazon rainforest on Earth would become commonplace.

Thanks to that, it’s dark even though the light is definitely coming in.

“But, something’s strange. The sea of poison wasn’t this full before, though?”

Grace mutters, looking at the sea of poison below.

“It must just be your imagination.”

“I guess so? It seems like it’s rising very slowly….”

Everyone confirms after hearing Grace’s words, but the sea of poison is so far above the portal that it is hard to see.

A purple color is faintly visible between the green?

How good are Grace’s eyes?

Just as I was about to turn back near the portal.

“……!!!.”

Suddenly, I felt something like my head was about to break.

Noticeably dark mana.

That terrible mana that I felt from Jay was being felt from below, towards the sea of poison.

“……”

I guess it’s not just my imagination.

Well, it has nothing to do with us, so should I just ignore it?

“Then where should we go first?!! Should we catch the Nepenthes first?”

“No, ……Let’s find a place to rest first.”

I’m so tired right now.

We took a spot between the tree trunks a little away from the portal.

2nd floor explorers usually sleep in places like this.

They familiarly light a bonfire, spread bedding, and stand guard.

I was luckily the last one.

I was able to fall asleep quickly.

“M, Magician-nim….”

Hans woke me up.

Is it my time already?

But he woke me up later than I thought.

“Magician-nim looked tired, so I stood guard a little longer.”

Daehans.

(T/N: Daehans is a pun on “Daedanhasda,” which means “You’re great”)

I relieved Hans.

Holding one torch, I came out of the tree trunk and looked around.

As if darkness had fallen on the labyrinth, the front could not be seen in the night.

If I can’t see with my eyes, I can read mana. I activated my senses.

Tingle!!

A powerful shock strikes my head.

I don’t know exactly what this is. But, I’m sure of it.

Reading mana was [reverse-traced].

Who the hell?

Holding a torch, I walked in the general direction I felt.

“Danger.”

I almost fell to the bottom.

Darkness where nothing can be seen.

But the sound of water is clearly heard.

No way…….

I drew five cards.

[Fireball] [Terrain Manipulation] [Whirlwind] [Ice Shield] [Barrier]

I immediately threw a card.

[Fireball]

The flames swirling around my body soon gather and become a fireball.

The fireball flies down below.

It brightens the surrounding area before falling into the sea of poison.

“…Has the sea level risen?”

The sea of poison has risen to the point where I can see it.

Even the terrain where the portal was has already been swallowed.

If we had slept a little lower… it could have been dangerous.

‘First, I need to wake the others…….’

Swish!

At that time, the cards I was holding suddenly returned to the deck and shuffled.

『Malice has been detected. Draw 5 cards.』

[Body Enhancement (0)] [Smash (1)] [Spray (0)] [Blink (0)] [Freeze (2)]

A sound is heard from behind.

I immediately threw a card.

[Blink]

The location is the tree trunk where my companions are.

Flash!!

As soon as I move with the light, someone wearing a robe can be seen.

He’s throwing something black towards the location where I was.

I read the mana.

Dark, terrible mana. Black magic……!!

Tingle!!

I staggered from the shock that struck my head.

Was I reverse-traced again?

“You’re a rookie magician. You only know how to read, you don’t know anything.”

A man’s voice is heard. Soon, dark mana visibly gathers in his hand.

[Body Enhancement]

My body feels lighter.

I continue to use cards.

[Spray]

Thwack!!!

I create a spray on Kylek’s face, who is sleeping without knowing anything.

“Ugh!!! What is this!!”

My companions begin to wake up to Kylek’s loud voice.

At that time, the darkness gradually narrowed towards us.

The cause is definitely that warlock in front of us.

[Freeze]

The cold air swirling around my body becomes a single stream and flies away.

However, as a dark gate opens in front of the warlock, a red hand pops out and takes the cold air instead.

And the red hand soon disappears.

Soon, black mana gathers in the man’s hand and becomes a black blade that flies towards me.

[Smash]

Bang!!

I blew away one side of the blade with a strong shockwave, but another blade flies towards me.

I tried to raise my arm to block it.

Clang!!!

“…Join.”

Ruca, who had appeared at some point, knocks away the blade.

Ruca then rushes towards the warlock.

However, the warlock retreats and enters the darkness.

Creak!!!

Creak!!

At the same time, the sounds of countless bones colliding are heard.

Countless skeleton hands began to pop out from beyond the darkness.

Kkyaaaaaaaaak!!!

Screaming with a chilling cry.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!!!”

Hans, who had suddenly appeared, is guarding in front of me, and Grace and Kylek are sticking to the back.

Countless skeletons run towards us.

Unlike the skeletons in the hidden dungeon.

Wearing all the equipment.

『Until the next draw 44… 43…』

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

『Deck List』

『Paladin’s Deck』

[Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash] [Slash]

[Defense] [Defense] [Defense] [Defense] [Baptism]

[Holy Strike (2) – Vanish (New)]

[Gate of Heaven (2) (New)] [Mercy of Attention (1) (New)]

6 attack cards

7 skill cards

0 power cards

0 curse cards

Total 13 cards.