episode_0049

The beginning was nothing special.

As soon as we arrived on the 3rd floor, all we could see were spiderwebs hanging everywhere.

The only difference was that most of those who had been in the boss room were staying on the 2nd floor.

—

“Most of those aiming for the 3rd floor and above probably left yesterday.”

“And Arachne don’t drop particularly good materials.”

For that reason, those who target the 3rd floor are mostly adventurers aiming for higher floors.

—

“They’re more dangerous than Hob Goblins, but the rewards aren’t as good. Still, they give more experience points.”

“Parties aiming higher and those content with staying are different, of course. But they understand. To pay taxes, you need a stable income.”

“……Taxes?”

“Ah, right, you’re still new, Yuseong. The guild will contact you soon. You’ll have to start paying a month from now.”

“The tax collectors will come knocking before long, so you’ll need to have some silver coins ready.”

“……Silver coins?”

—

I could understand paying taxes.

But silver coins?

How much money have I even earned so far?

—

“The taxes collected by the Adventurer’s Guild vary depending on the period. Promising newcomers like you, Yuseong, who just arrived in [The Cradle], pay less, while those who settle in get taxed more over time.”

“……That’s the terrifying part of the Adventurer’s Guild. It’s their way of saying, ‘Don’t get comfortable—keep descending.’”

“Still, it takes about five years before the earnings from hunting on the 2nd floor become insufficient. Honestly, if someone’s still stuck there after that long…”

“Ever seen the city’s drifters? Most of them ended up like that. They earn in a day, spend it all in a day, never save, and when time runs out, they desperately try anything until their adventuring life ends.”

“Well, they have their own lives, but they take it too far. That’s why the guild periodically expels drifters from the city.”

“Then what about those Scavengers?”

“Future drifters. Or current ones. They’ll do anything to avoid high taxes. That’s why I could kill them on sight.”

“Giving up on dreams isn’t necessarily bad, but most adventurers never surpass Level 2 even after ten years. It’s different for everyone, so there’s nothing to be done… But if someone can’t even reach Level 2 after a decade, despite the guild’s support, they probably lack talent. In that case, it’s better to give up and look elsewhere.”

—

Ermé’s voice carried a mix of pity and loneliness, tinged with something cold.

Teressa’s expression remained unchanged, while Rosenta awkwardly laughed in agreement.

—

As expected.

Once again, I was reminded that this world was different from the one I had lived in.

Of course, if those bastards came at me, I wouldn’t hesitate to cut them down either.

—

‘Is this the world I’ll have to live in from now on?’

Lost in thought, I suddenly sensed a terrifying presence ahead.

—

‘Not a single strong enemy, but…’

Something swarming in large numbers.

—

“There’s a whole bunch of something within 200 meters ahead.”

“A whole bunch?”

“Looks like humans are being chased.”

“Humans?”

“And behind them… seems like an Arachne squad?”

“Numbers…?”

“……A hundred.”

“Let’s abandon them. We could save them, but we’re already exhausted from fighting, right?”

—

As she said, our party was worn out.

Even I, who usually conserve stamina, felt weaker than usual.

—

Roughly speaking, I could only perform at about 80% of my usual capacity.

We could help them, but…

—

‘……We might end up in danger ourselves.’

If we got swarmed by that many Arachne, our party could be overwhelmed.

If we could save them, we would—but if there was even a chance of our teammates getting hurt or killed, hesitation was only natural.

—

But.

‘Their direction…’

They were heading straight for us.

I relayed this to the party. Ermé and Glasses’ expressions darkened.

—

“Seems like a toss.”

“Toss?”

“It means dumping monsters onto another party. The worst part is, even if the tossed party survives, the ones who did it might ambush them later to finish them off.”

“We’re starting to see this more often on this floor. Well, we are getting closer to the middle layers.”

—

Ermé smirked coldly as she spoke.

—

“If we want to go higher, we have no choice. The monster respawn rate is getting ridiculous. There are even rumors that monsters immune to swords start appearing in the deeper layers.”

“Probably true. Though the 20th floor is the real turning point.”

“The 20th floor… That’s where the Green Bone Horse was.”

“Talking’s fine, but we should probably start running soon.”

—

The swarm of spider bastards was now close enough to be spotted by others.

You’d think I’d be used to them by now, but seeing so many at once was…

Disgusting.

—

“……Push them onto those guys!”

“If we dump these things on them…”

“We have no choice! You’re more important to me than some strangers!”

“Sorry…!”

—

Those bastards were shouting something. From what I could gather, they were planning to throw the monsters at us and save themselves.

—

“…….”

I drew my bowstring. A creaking sound echoed.

—

“Yuseong?”

“They’re trying to toss the monsters onto us.”

“……If it’s a confirmed toss, then we fight.”

—

Glasses’ expression turned icy.

Then, he began chanting. Fire erupted from his hands.

—

“Heh. Even as a support mage, having some offensive power is necessary. This is the new fire spell I acquired.”

“…….”

A mage who could cast multiple support spells, offensive magic, alarm spells to avoid night watches, and even share mana in emergencies…

—

—Quite a capable mage.

Lysiel, who rarely praised anyone, complimented Glasses.

I nodded inwardly and loosed my arrow.

—

Twang!

The arrow sliced through the air. The first bastard’s eyes widened before he tried to deflect it with his sword.

—

Clang!

‘Oh.’

This was the first time someone had blocked my arrow. But thanks to the sheer force behind it, the man staggered back uncontrollably.

—

“Agh, no!”

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

The man was trampled under the Arachne.

—

—Definitely tougher from here on out. The quality of adventurers is higher.

‘Most ordinary people don’t come to the 3rd floor.’

—The limit for humans. We elves can go up to the 5th.

‘Really?’

—But that doesn’t mean humans can be underestimated. Because your peak is too high.

‘Peak?’

—Those monsters guarding the Human Empire. The ones who’ve reached the level cap.

‘……?’

—You don’t know? Well, you did seem like a hermit who just crawled out of the mountains, completely clueless about the world.

—

Lysiel’s words piqued my curiosity, but I pushed it aside.

Because something more important was happening.

—

‘Combat.’

The bastards had closed the distance in an instant, glaring at me like they wanted me dead.

—

‘Pathetic.’

They were the ones who tried to kill us first.

Yet here they were, staring at us like we were the villains.

—

“Pathetic bastards.”

Glasses sneered as he expanded the size of his fireball. It grew as large as a house—

Then,

Whoosh!

The entire party being chased by Arachne was engulfed in flames.

—

Meanwhile, I attached a dagger to Shadow Reaper’s end and hooked it onto a wall.

‘There’ll be some breakage, but…’

Self-repair would handle the rest.

—

By now, the Arachne had reached us.

Disgusting spiders loomed right in front of us.

—

Snap!

The wire sliced through the legs of the leading Arachne. The ones behind it collapsed in a domino effect.

—

“Teressa!”

“Got it.”

At Ermé’s shout, Teressa raised her shield. Rosenta chanted a spell, and a golden aura shimmered over the shield.

—

BOOM!

A deafening impact sent Teressa skidding back. Ermé drew her sword, wreathed in flames, and spoke.

—

“Let’s all make it back without serious injuries.”

“Right.”

Rosenta quietly muttered as she wrapped her fists in bandages.

—

“Let’s drink when we get back.”

“……Yeah.”

“Ah, if we make it back this time, let’s all share a drink together.”

“…….”

—Why that face?

—

When I grimaced, Lysiel spoke to me.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

How could I not feel uneasy when they were planting death flags left and right?

‘Gotta give it my all.’

I drew my bow and pulled the string taut.

—

‘Charging Shot.’

Creeeak—!

The bowstring trembled violently. Mana drained rapidly as purple lightning crackled at the arrow’s tip.

Crackle!

The condensed violet energy—

Thwip!

The arrow shot forth like a bolt of lightning, piercing through everything in its path before reaching the Arachne.

—

KABOOM!!

A monstrous explosion erupted.

‘About 35 caught in the blast.’

Through my Sharpshooter-enhanced vision, I saw the Arachne staggering.

—

“Let’s go.”

We charged forward.

—

※

Kreeeeek!

An Arachne shrieked. I pulled my bloodstained sword free and cleaved its body in two.

—

‘Definitely.’

Now that I’d cut into them, I could tell.

These things were much weaker than Poison Arachne. The bisected spider crumbled into ash, leaving behind only a magic stone.

After killing about ten, the ground ahead was already littered with Arachne corpses.

—

‘……Hah.’

I didn’t want to show it mid-battle, but…

‘I’m so dead tired.’

I swung my sword at another charging Arachne.

Rosenta stepped back and cast Vitality Blessing on us.

—

“Hnngh…♡”

Her face flushed, eyes slightly rolled back.

It was a little disturbing, but she was one of our most vital assets.

Without her, I’d have collapsed already.

—

Despite everyone’s exhaustion, we worked together to clear the Arachne.

—

“I—I can’t anymore.”

Glasses, who had just bludgeoned the last Arachne with his staff, collapsed backward.

“I don’t want to say ‘just kill me,’ but it’s that bad.”

“……Hah.”

Even Ermé, who usually humored him, just sighed deeply and slumped against the wall.

As for Teressa…

‘……Wait, is she unconscious?’

Her eyes were open, but she wasn’t moving. Though the quiet snoring suggested she’d just… fallen asleep?

Rosenta was twitching, her hands between her thighs.

—

“…….”

“…….”

Our eyes met at the worst possible time.

I quickly looked away.

—

“N-No, this is—!”

“Don’t worry. I get it.”

People can’t help being honest with their instincts.

Though she was exceptionally honest.

—

—What a weird party.

Agreed.

I was the only normal one here.