episode_0028

There is a game genre called hack and slash.

As the name, meaning ‘cutting and slashing’, suggests, it’s a genre that only repeats battles where large numbers of enemies are massacred without thinking.

It is often criticized for lacking depth as it only pursues the essential fun of the game which is emptying your brain and slaughtering, but.

Sometimes humans just want to do something without thinking.

Like me now.

[Vortex]

[Pyre]

[Tidal Wave]

[Lightning]

[Freeze]

I use the cards as soon as they are drawn.

Seeing the undead and skeletons being swept away, all my little worries and anxieties seem to fly away into the sky.

Moreover, the Butcher’s Gloves kept recharging my draws and energy, so I could really switch off my brain and use the cards randomly.

Originally, when I played games, I only ever played strategy games or card games.

So I didn’t understand.

Are games where you turn your brain off, spin around, and just farm items all day fun?

My mindset was, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to just rest instead?’ but.

Now I understand them.

Humans are beings born to sweep things away.

Swoosh!!!

The strong winds of a 3-stack Vortex tear the surroundings apart.

The wall of earth is being cut away by the strong wind.

This is natural since I’m just spamming magic without doing any detailed control.

“…ing!!!”

Then, Grace’s voice was heard through the strong wind.

What is she saying?

I adjusted the Vortex slightly to make it weaker.

“It’s all over!!!”

I withdrew all the magic.

Only a few monsters remained.

Luca charges towards them.

Grace, who had come closer somehow, sat down next to me.

“…Didn’t you overexert yourself? Is your mana okay?”

“No.”

“Haa, is something wrong?”

It seemed strange to her as well, the weird behavior I had displayed.

It seems a lot of stress had accumulated without me realizing.

To act so emotionally like this.

There was no reason to act so violently.

Chaaaat!!

The last monster is sliced in half by Luca.

Ddiring!!

『Check card rewards.』

[Telekinesis (1)] – You can control telekinesis for 1 turn.

[Sandstorm (2)] – Creates a strong sandstorm and pushes forward.

[Tree (0)] – Creates one tree.

[Tree] clearly seems useless in battle.

Pass.

What remains are [Telekinesis] and [Sandstorm].

[Telekinesis] is a type of power I do not possess yet.

[Sandstorm] feels like a lower-tier version of [Vortex].

Moreover, [Telekinesis] seems quite useful in daily life.

I chose [Telekinesis].

I got a useful card after a long time.

Kiiiiiik!!

Suddenly, the structure in the center started making a strange noise and sinking into the floor, and then 1 silver card landed right in Grace’s hand.

It seems the reward is given to the person who pressed the button.

“Okay.”

Unlike Grace who was happy, I wasn’t overwhelmingly happy.

Maybe it’s because I caught a Treasure Mole and got 5 cards at once.

Just one card doesn’t even give me dopamine.

“We’re lucky this time! To get so many silver cards in one exploration.”

Still, earning money is good, so.

“Since it turned out like this, shall we rest here before we go?”

“Great!!”

“…I’m tired.”

I was already somewhat drained before clearing this place. After about 30 minutes of fighting, I’m genuinely exhausted.

“Then let’s rest here. No other explorers or passing monsters will come, so we probably don’t need a night watch!”

“That’s good.”

I immediately used a fireball to light a campfire.

And then made a light bedding and camped.

It’s now the life of the labyrinth I’ve become used to.

“……”

Although I couldn’t see the sky, I stared blankly at the cave ceiling before closing my eyes.

Perhaps because I used a lot of energy at once, I was able to fall asleep easily.

The next day.

After a light meal, we went back up to the surface.

Today’s goal is one.

To find the altar that Grace mentioned.

“Altars are occasionally found in the Grand Cemetery, and special monsters appear there.”

“What kind of monster?”

“It varies depending on the magic stone offered to the altar. For example, if you put in an intermediate magic stone, a Skeleton Knight appears.”

“But isn’t it a loss if you put in an intermediate magic stone just to summon a monster?”

“Instead, it gives guaranteed good rewards. It basically spits out twice the amount of magic stones you put in, and if you’re lucky, you can even get a silver card?”

“A silver card…”

If you can get that with one intermediate magic stone, it’s a profit, but.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just catch a Treasure Mole instead?”

“I’ve been an explorer for 2 years and this is the first time I’ve seen one?”

“…Is it that rare??”

Unable to believe Grace’s words, I looked at Kailen and Luca.

“Treasure Moles are extremely rare!! I’ve never seen one either!!”

“…Me too.”

Seeing them react like that, it seems her words weren’t wrong.

……This won’t do.

Lately, after getting a gold card, I’ve become a spoiled explorer who can’t be grateful for silver cards.

My already non-existent sense of economics has completely shattered.

“Anyway, altars are single-use, so they disappear after being used once. Even if there aren’t many people in the Grand Cemetery, they all disappear within the first week.”

“Then let’s hurry and find one.”

Anyway, wandering around hunting monsters is the life of an explorer.

If there’s a means to get guaranteed good rewards, there’s no reason not to look for it.

So we wandered around the Grand Cemetery, crossing through the fog.

They say altars are usually found in the fog, so we entered the fog whenever we saw it.

We also hunted monsters within the fog.

Sometimes we encountered other explorers, were wary of each other, and then parted ways.

We caught a rare monster, the Frozen Skeleton, and also got a blue card.

Adding up what we got over two days, there were 32 low-grade magic stones, 2 intermediate magic stones. 5 white cards and 2 blue cards.

There are 6 silver cards.

5 from the Treasure Mole, 1 from a hidden area.

Other than that, I had never gotten a silver card from hunting regular mobs.

Now I understand why Grace said we were lucky on this exploration.

Sniff sniff.

“Wait a moment.”

Grace, who suddenly smelled something, stopped.

“I smell blood. A strong human blood smell.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes. What should we do?”

“Normally in situations like this, I know we avoid it.”

“That’s right. The basic rule is to interfere with each other as little as possible.”

We don’t know what’s happening where Grace mentioned.

It could be explorers attacked by raiders.

Or it could be explorers who were hunted down by monsters.

It’s not good to needlessly stir up trouble.

We turned back to get out of the fog we had entered.

But then, a voice that was hard to refuse was heard.

“H-help!!!!!!”

A loud voice cutting through the fog.

Screams followed afterwards.

No matter what, I’m not heartless enough to just pass by someone asking for help.

Even if I just turn back now without doing anything, my dreams will only be restless.

“……Shall we at least observe the situation first?”

“Yes.”

Following Grace’s guidance, we approached carefully.

Then, a black silhouette visible through the fog.

“It’s an altar. It looks like someone summoned a monster and is fighting?”

“Is a Skeleton Knight that dangerous?”

“No. Generally, a party that frequents the 3rd floor should be able to defeat it without difficulty.”

Then, a man’s shriek and scream were heard.

“Uwaaaaaaaaak!!!!!”

As soon as we heard that voice, we immediately pushed through the fog.

“My leg…!!! My leg!!!”

The man yelling, clutching his severed leg.

It’s a familiar face.

“Gallia.”

Gallia was rolling around on the ground, bleeding profusely.

I calmly approached him and surveyed the surroundings.

A large semi-circular altar.

A battle was taking place in front of it.

Looking at the monster, it wasn’t a Skeleton Knight. A skeleton wearing a strange robe.

There was a monster commonly called a Lich.

The Lich, which looked incomparably stronger than a Skeleton Knight, swung its scythe and scattered curses.

1 person.

Hit by the scythe, a man’s body was cut in half and flew in opposite directions.

The remaining 12 people were in a state of fear, unable to easily attack.

There were quite a few people already dead behind them.

Kailen, who had finished assessing the situation, immediately approached Gallia.

“…You, did you put an advanced magic stone in the altar?”

“Th-that is.”

“Seems like it. What confidence did you have to put in an advanced magic stone? It also looks like you dragged other people in.”

“That b… That b**** tricked us!! She said we could defeat it with just 6 parties!!”

“What?!!”

The moment Kailen was about to hit Gallia with his clenched fist.

Keoeok!!!!

Suddenly, something black was spewed from Gallia’s mouth.

The sight of black mages I often saw on the 2nd floor self-destructing after spitting out information.

I immediately spread my senses and examined Gallia’s entire body, which was already dead.

However, no black mana was felt at all.

If this is the case, it doesn’t seem like something a black mage did.

Then, Grace poked me.

“Let’s retreat quickly. It’s our duty to help if something dangerous happens, but this crossed the line. A Lich, really.”

No matter what, there’s no reason to clean up after those who caused a major accident.

Especially if they were the ones we had conflicts with.

“We’re getting out of here.”

We immediately ran into the fog to get away from the scene.

“How strong is a Lich?”

“You can think of it as a slightly strong monster that appears on the 5th floor.”

“Then it’s still too much for us.”

Of course, if it were me, who earned the epithet ‘Witch Slayer’ by defeating the Witch of the Forest, I wouldn’t lose.

It’s a situation where casualties are expected.

There’s no need to take on the risk.

“……Oh? Where are you going?”

Then, 3 people appeared in front of us.

3 nuns wearing the habits of the Ariel Order.

I remember. They were the people I saw before entering the labyrinth to go to the Grand Cemetery.

Those who looked at me with unpleasant gazes.

All three of them displayed dignity in their subtle smiles and every kind and careful action.

A truly nun-like appearance of the order, but.

Those things didn’t register.

『Killing intent detected. Draw 3 cards.』

[Strike (1)] [Fireball (1)] [Wind Blade (0)]

Because the status window detected danger.

“What’s wrong? I heard screams from up ahead, so I came.”

The nuns speaking to us with good-natured expressions.

I know they are enemies, but how do I guarantee that?

I know the Ariel Order is quite trusted on the continent.

All sorts of scenarios popped into my head.

What is the best scenario?

Which card should I use first?

Is persuasion possible with words?

Should I make the first move?

But thankfully, the contemplation wasn’t long.

Sniff sniff.

“Blood smell…”

Grace took out her dagger and aimed it at the nuns.

“You, you are [Apostates]?”

The nuns’ faces turned serious upon hearing the word ‘Apostates’.

Immediately, one nun in the center put her hands together.

“That’s hurtful. Watch closely.”

Flash!!

The nun creating an aura of healing around her with powerful light power.

Hans, seeing that, urgently knelt on one knee.

I understand.

Because most humans have received the grace of the Ariel Order.

But the non-human species Luca and Kailen were still wary.

And Grace, being an elf, also didn’t break her stance.

“Even seeing this, you say that. Aren’t you the apostate? Ah, I heard all elves worship strange gods?”

It seemed like something she said to provoke Grace, but it didn’t work because Grace is a fake elf.

Then, suddenly, one nun whispered to the nun in the center.

“Ah, it looks like it’s just finished.”

The nun’s brightly smiling face.

Ominous.

Trusting my intuition, I launched a preemptive strike.

[Strike]

[Strike], enhanced by [Cat’s Paw], flew towards the nuns.

[Strike] is a basic card with low damage, but.

Its only advantage is that it has no warning.

Kung!!!!

However, the powerful impact that was flying was hit by something and disappeared.

Shield of Light.

A Shield of Light that had somehow appeared in front blocked the Strike.

The nun in the center smiled.

“You’re lucky.”

Immediately, a powerful light flew towards us.

『Interfered by the Apostate.』

『2 [Dizziness] cards are added.』

[Fireball (1)] [Wind Blade (0)] [Dizziness (Status Effect)] [Dizziness (Status Effect)]

2 status effect cards appeared in my hand.

What is this?

I was flustered.

A system that only existed in games is suddenly being applied?

“……Why are you unharmed?”

I raised my head and looked around.

My party members were already all staggering and sitting down.

The flustered expressions of the nuns.

There is no time to think about what has happened.

“Self-destruct!!”

The Defense Golem that sprang from the sub-dimension charged at the nuns.

“Block!!”

The two nuns on either side created Shields of Light.

But that level of shield cannot stop the golem.

Peoeoeong!!!!!

The nuns were pushed back significantly by the powerful explosion that penetrated the shield.

As the attack hit, the party members who couldn’t keep their balance regained their senses.

I immediately looked at Grace and shouted.

“What is an Apostate?”

“Holy power doesn’t just have the power to heal. It means it can control the human body, anyway.”

I get it roughly. An Apostate means someone who goes around doing strange things with holy power meant to heal humans.

The fact that it didn’t affect me and became status effect cards must be the help of the status window, that thing called the Main God.

Since holy power is likely its power.

“They’re coming!!!”

As soon as Grace shouted, arrows of light flew out from the dust.

Clearly, an enormous number of arrows, enough to fill the sky.

“No wonder I felt lucky…”

To think I’d encounter troublesome ones.