episode_0034

Nation.

There wasn’t any notable clash with him, but he seemed like a decent guy. Straightforward and the type to own up to his mistakes.

I thought he was a good man.

‘His level seemed pretty high, too.’

Estimated level was around 3.

He seemed about on par with Rishiel, maybe a little higher.

-I just reached Level 3, and that guy was way beyond that.

Rishiel spoke briefly, as if making an excuse.

But that wasn’t the point.

‘A being like that died on the first floor.’

I scanned the area again. Bloodstains everywhere—that was all there was, but with a thief’s mastery, I could roughly piece together what kind of battle had taken place here.

Putting it all together:

‘…There’s no sign of anything resembling a proper fight.’

A chill ran down my spine.

Nation was Level 3.

And if the woman named Viola in his party hadn’t been a skilled fighter, I never would’ve obtained the artifact Talisman of Protection from her.

Beings of that caliber were taken down without even putting up a real fight?

“…Let’s at least take the head with us.”

Erme spoke in a trembling voice.

Her face had gone deathly pale. In a hurried tone, she continued:

“Whatever caused this incident seems to still be nearby, so we should—”

“It’s not here.”

I cut her off.

I’d been sensing something strange for a while now. Blood was splattered everywhere, dried and caked.

That was the weirdest part.

‘…This labyrinth isn’t in its normal state right now.’

It felt like the flow of time had been jumbled up.

I didn’t know why. But unlike usual, where everyone enters the labyrinth at the same time, now it seemed like time itself had shifted slightly.

Because—

‘The blood dried about two to three hours ago.’

We hadn’t even been in the labyrinth for an hour yet.

Putting it together, the situation led to one conclusion:

‘The timing doesn’t add up.’

I organized my thoughts and explained it to the group.

“…This abnormal phenomenon is really abnormal.”

Erme stared at me blankly.

Her gaze, which had been looking at me with admiration, now held a stronger sense of conviction.

‘It’s just the effect of my Gift.’

That look was kind of burdensome.

Still, we needed to move. This place was too dangerous now.

However—

That probably wasn’t what Erme wanted.

‘We have to retreat.’

This was beyond what we could handle. I gave Erme a look that said as much.

She closed her eyes briefly, then nodded.

“You’re right. We should retreat from the labyrinth for now. If Nation’s party was wiped out without even putting up a fight, we don’t stand a chance.”

Everyone’s expressions brightened at Erme’s decision.

No one said it outright, but they all knew how dangerous this place had become.

‘Even retreating won’t be easy, though.’

The once-silent labyrinth was stirring again.

The sound of a horde moving en masse. I grimaced and turned to Erme.

“Goblin horde ahead.”

“How many? If it’s a small group, we can push through and—”

“At least fifty.”

“…What?”

“We can push through if we have to. Just wipe them all out with arrows.”

But there was one problem.

If I used Charging Shot to annihilate them, the noise would echo through the entire area.

‘Please, let there be nothing else nearby.’

Relying on luck wasn’t ideal, but this was an uncertain gamble.

I quickly laid out the situation.

Erme looked at me with a more cautious expression.

“Let’s save Purple Lightning Flash for later. We should conserve as much mana as possible.”

Purple Lightning Flash?

Did she just name my Charging Shot?

‘When did that even get decided?’

Still, having a proper skill name wasn’t bad.

‘…Not bad, actually.’

I kinda liked the name Erme came up with.

-My divine violet thunder, the annihilating flash of—

‘…’

That’s a terrible skill name.

Never taking naming suggestions from Rishiel again.

“Even if we retreat, we’ll have to fight our way out first.”

“They’re that fast?”

“Something’s off. They’re way quicker than normal goblins.”

Erme nodded at my words and took charge.

“We’ll intercept them here. Make it quick and clean.”

“Got it.”

Glasses adjusted his spectacles and cast spells on all of us. My speed increased, and my body felt sturdier.

“I’ll help too. O goddess, shield us with your sacred grace.”

As Rosenta chanted a prayer, a golden light flowed through us. A surge of vitality, stronger than usual, filled me.

Thump. Thump.

I tested my movements lightly.

‘Good.’

As I loosened up, Rosenta did the same beside me.

“I’m actually pretty skilled in martial arts, you know.”

At my puzzled look—

‘A masochist type? Feels pleasure from pain?’

Would be annoying as an enemy.

But as an ally, she’s reliable.

Well, enough relaxing.

I drew my bow and arrows. Retrieving arrows would be tough with this many goblins, but—

‘No holding back.’

A thought crossed my mind—setting up traps with wires here wouldn’t be a bad idea.

‘I’ll think about it later.’

If we make it back.

I nocked an arrow.

Ping.

The arrow melted into the darkness, becoming a streak of light.

It pierced the lead goblin, then four more behind it.

‘This bow’s no joke.’

Different from my old one. That one was just sharp.

‘…Wanna try it?’

The bowstring was pretty long. I pulled out my old bow and quickly unwound the string. Now I had a string about my height.

True to the dwarf’s boast, it was razor-sharp.

But it’d only work if I attached a weapon to the end—or used it for traps.

I quickly wrapped the string around the tip of a dagger. The dexterity from Thief’s Mastery made it easy.

Tap. Tap.

I planted two daggers into the ground, widening the gap.

The walls were too far apart, so this was a temporary measure.

‘This’ll do for now.’

Then I drew my sword.

“Everyone, fall back slowly.”

Teressa, Rosenta, and Erme retreated. I stayed near Glasses, just in case.

Whoosh—

Something flew toward us. I intercepted it midair with a flick of my wrist.

Clang!

An arrow.

‘…There’s archers among them?’

“Kieeeek!”

The goblins charged in a swarm.

A wave of green monsters. Fifty strong.

They felt different. Individually weak, but in numbers, overwhelming.

‘Defend while—’

Attacking. But their sheer numbers were too much.

‘…Can we survive?’

No—we had to.

—

Kieeeek!

The goblins shrieked as they closed in.

They weren’t normal. Their eyes were blood-red, screaming as they rushed us.

-Be careful. They’re frenzied.

‘What’s that mean?’

-They don’t feel pain and attack recklessly.

I regretted not using Purple Lightning Flash earlier.

‘No, the noise might draw whatever killed Nation.’

That thing’s beyond us.

These goblins, at least, we can handle.

As I thought, the horde reached us.

And then—

Kieeeek!

The lead goblins screamed as the first five collapsed, their legs half-severed by the razor wire. Three more tripped over them.

Their momentum slowed.

“Now.”

Erme dashed forward, swinging her sword. Teressa crushed skulls with her mace.

Crunch!

Rosenta’s fist shattered a goblin’s face.

“…Scary woman.”

I agreed with Glasses as I moved forward. There were so many that some slipped past Erme, Teressa, and Rosenta, heading straight for us.

That’s why I stood in front of Glasses.

I swung my sword at the approaching goblins.

The gleaming red and silver blades moved fluidly.

Slick.

The swords were so sharp, the goblins’ heads came off effortlessly.

Blood splattered my face, but I had to keep moving. More kept slipping through.

‘Five.’

The same number I’d hunted solo before.

Not a threat. I’d already cleared the first floor alone. But with ranged attacks cut off and Glasses behind me—

So—

‘Fast.’

Five goblins. Two in front.

I swung. One was split open, the other beheaded. A third leaped, sword raised.

‘Martial arts.’

I kicked its gut—thud!—sending it flying like a soccer ball. Two more closed in.

‘Blood Spirit Art.’

My blood-soaked sword gleamed—shhh—and a blade of condensed blood extended.

Wreathed in faint violet lightning.

I swung, beheading both goblins.

Clean cuts.

No time to admire it. More were getting past the frontliners.

‘…This is exhausting.’

Leaving home was a mistake.

—

What followed was a grueling battle of attrition.

We encountered three more waves. Everyone was visibly exhausted.

‘…Harder than I thought.’

Out of daggers. Over half my arrows spent. The razor wire had lost its edge.

‘Too much depletion.’

At least Rosenta was here.

Her vitality blessing kept us going.

And one more thing—

‘No sign of whatever wiped out Nation’s party.’

From the scene, it was a one-sided slaughter.

After running for a while—

A presence ahead.

“…Stay sharp.”

“More goblins?”

“Damn pests.”

Everyone cursed, weapons ready.

I shook my head. Only one presence. And familiar.

“One person. Probably… someone we know.”

“…Remember what I warned you about.”

Erme had told us right after arriving.

If party members suddenly vanish, be wary. That’s why we all marked our wrists with an X, hidden under bracelets.

“Stay cautious. Let’s move.”

I nocked an arrow and advanced.

Soon, we saw her—a trembling woman.

Purple hair, purple eyes. Cloaked in black, shivering violently.

“H-Hic! Eeek!”

Viola stared at us in terror.