episode_0093

The Guild.

It is a peculiar group unique to the Labyrinth City, not found outside of it.

The Labyrinth City, having somehow become independent from all nations on all continents, needed an organization to assist explorers. Early high-floor explorers gathered and formed an organization.

What started as a small group just for newbie consideration gradually grew, producing all sorts of individuals, until at some point it gained official status.

A group that operates solely for explorers, without interference from anyone. That is the Guild.

But where does that power come from?

Naturally, it’s strength.

It was possible because the explorers who delve into the labyrinth possess tremendous military power on the continent.

The position of Guild Master, which only retired high-floor or deep-floor explorers can hold.

It varied by era, but I had heard that the modern Guild Master was without question one of the strongest among all past Guild Masters.

They say that because of the authority and fear derived from that power, no one dares to touch the Guild.

The only comparable entity is the Empire, but there’s no need to deliberately provoke the neutral Guild.

Anyway, that the Guild Master, said to be one of the strongest in this world, sent a reply. The thought of feeling flustered came first.

Perhaps it’s because I’m an explorer.

Noah next to me didn’t seem to think anything of it.

I continue to read the message sent from the outside.

[I am the Guild Master. Is the Tower Master safe?]

[Due to the situation that occurred in District 11, an emergency has been declared throughout the Labyrinth City.]

[We have made all sorts of efforts to resolve this from the outside, but the result was that it can only be broken from the inside.]

[We will create a hole here. All extermination squads that entered the labyrinth have already returned and are waiting here.]

It was an incredibly reassuring reply.

Immediately, I took out a goblin from my subspace, killed it, and used darkness again to send a reply.

Saying I would try to find a way to break through from the inside.

“Let’s get out of here first.”

I immediately left the place with Noah.

And sure enough. Black mages and monsters, who had somehow received news, began heading towards the area we were in.

“With this, we can also know that the black mages are in real-time contact with the outside.”

“There are too many moles.”

“…Indeed.”

“Then are we going back now?”

“No, now I need to try to find a way to make even a small hole in this barrier.”

Immediately, I examined the barrier covering District 11 with Noah.

But as expected, an answer didn’t come easily.

“As expected, even if we put our heads together, it doesn’t amount to anything.”

“Couldn’t we just scrape a little bit of this off and take it?”

“That’s a good idea?”

Immediately, Noah clung to the barrier like a cicada. Then, he began to scrape something off.

…It looked a bit pathetic, so I turned my head away.

After scraping off a bit of the barrier like that, he put it in the subspace bag.

Wait a moment.

The reason is simple.

『Current Deck: Elementalist’s Deck』

『Time until next exchange is possible: 0:38:51』

There was still time left until the deck could be exchanged.

If it wasn’t the Rogue’s Deck’s stealth, it could be dangerous when returning.

“Wait, over here.”

As if Noah had sensed something, he led me into the suitable ruins.

At the same time, I saw a group of monsters passing by in the distance.

Fortunately, they headed somewhere else and we didn’t encounter them, but.

“Perhaps they’re gradually widening the search area starting from that spot?”

“Then we’ll have to go back during the remaining time.”

If we’re caught here, it’s truly checkmate. That must absolutely not happen.

Noah quickly entered my shadow, and I used the ruins as cover, advancing towards the opposite side of where we first arrived.

*

Although there were moments of near-discovery along the way, I still hadn’t been caught.

The remaining time was roughly 15 minutes.

But my instincts were telling me it was getting dangerous.

The reason being.

“Traces have been found in this direction!!”

“They headed that way!”

Because the black mages were fiercely pursuing me.

They were even close enough for me to hear their voices, so it was only a matter of time.

The saving grace was that they didn’t seem to have anyone in a special position like a guide among them.

If someone like Grace was among them, I would have been caught and easily dealt with long ago.

[Looks like it’s getting dangerous?]

“…Indeed.”

Now, I need to take drastic measures.

Fighting is impossible.

My only option is to find a good place to hide.

Or should I make a stand?

[Quickly move the ground and go inside.]

Noah suggested a way to enter using terrain manipulation.

It’s a rational method.

Unless it’s a situation like this.

“They said they found a way to tunnel through too. Maybe there’s a way to detect things underground.”

[Then what should we do?]

“…I have an idea.”

I opened the status window.

『Please check card rewards.』

Excluding the useless rewards I filtered out, there was only one left at the very bottom.

It was the card reward obtained after defeating the boss of the hidden dungeon on the 2nd floor.

3 cards that seemed to be high-floor rewards.

Wouldn’t they be helpful in getting out of this situation?

[The Folder of Space (7) – Power] – Allows you to use Blink at all times.

[Phoenix (9)] – Summon a summon, Phoenix, and fight together.

[Time Stop (10)] – Stop time and act alone for 3 turns.

If you look only at the value of the cards themselves, [Time Stop] is overwhelming.

However, assuming I use it, it’s too difficult.

I’d have to use Glee to permanently gain 1 Energy, then Mana Overload to double my Energy, and then use it. The situation is too limited.

The fact that Energy becomes 0 after using it is also a problem.

And [Phoenix] is the same.

If I could just use it, I would have overwhelming power.

However, there haven’t been many situations where I had an abundance of Energy.

Besides, the deck doesn’t cycle infinitely like in a game.

Of course, I could gain Energy through the effect of the Butcher’s Gloves, but multi-enemy battles aren’t always possible.

Therefore, it seems that the only card I can actually use is the 7-cost Power card, [The Folder of Space].

And it happens to be a card that fits the current situation perfectly.

‘Surely, they didn’t calculate even something like this when giving card rewards?’

The one who gives the cards is the God, and the one who told me how to stop the fog is also the God.

No matter how difficult the situation I face, they somehow tell me a way to survive.

If that’s the case, why didn’t they just nurture me with abundant support from the beginning?

Putting the regret aside. I chose the card reward.

Originally, it would be good to eat it during an emergency to reset the combat situation.

But now, I don’t have that kind of余裕.

The card becomes a small cluster of light and enters the deck.

It feels like the deck has become heavier.

A card obtainable from a high floor.

Let’s just call it a high-grade card.

A card of this level definitely feels different.

[Why?]

“No, it just occurred to me that it might be solved more easily than expected.”

I continue to move.

The remaining time until deck exchange is 12 minutes.

But does that matter?

Even without stealth, I can just keep using Blink to get inside.

I immediately test it out.

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

『Mana Overload』

After choosing Mana Overload, which doubles Energy.

I immediately draw my hand.

[Exchange (2)] [Shield (1)] [Terrain Manipulation (3) – Power] + [Mana Overload (0)]

Unfortunately, it didn’t come out.

Well, with the deck being this thick, it’s unreasonable to expect it to come out from the start.

I immediately use Terrain Manipulation.

The feeling of omnipotence circulating in my body.

“Distraction first.”

Turning my steps, I raise the terrain in the opposite direction.

Hoping they will spend some time investigating that.

I continue to run.

『Until next draw 42…』

Just as I was nervously watching the time decrease.

Unfortunately, I encountered an enemy for the first time.

A Lizardman.

A monster that appears in the 6th-floor volcanic area.

My eyes met with 5 Lizardmen.

At the same time, all the cards I was holding returned to the deck.

『Combat starts. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

[Body Enhancement (0)] [Telekinesis (0)] [Rupture (4)] + [Mana Overload (0)]

An unexpected encounter.

If this wasn’t enemy territory and I could extend my senses, I could have avoided them or launched a preemptive attack.

But the situation has already happened.

I quickly assess the situation.

Fortunately, I’m not the only one here. There’s Noah, who can provide fire support at any time.

However, we had already agreed to minimize that.

Since they are black mages, they can track Noah’s mana more easily.

Therefore, unless my life is in immediate danger or I am completely surrounded, I cannot receive Noah’s help.

Grrrr!!!

With a strange howl, 5 Lizardmen wielding greatswords charge.

They lower their bodies like snakes and approach rapidly.

For a moment, my brows furrowed due to how grotesque they were.

…Let’s kill one first and then think.

[Rupture]

Paaak!!

With a grotesque sound, one Lizardman collapses.

There are no external injuries, but its insides must be completely torn and shattered.

『[Butcher’s Gloves] consumes blood.』

『Energy increases by 1, and you draw 1 card.』

[Body Enhancement (0)] [Telekinesis (0)] [Mana Overload (0)] + [Exchange (2)]

With Energy at 1, I cannot use Exchange.

Furthermore, Mana Overload cannot be used carelessly.

I can only create a variable with the remaining 2 cards.

[Body Enhancement]

[Telekinesis]

My body moves quickly, getting away from the Lizardmen.

However, the speed difference between me, a mage with a bit of basic health, and the 6th-floor monster Lizardman is significant. But it doesn’t matter.

I enter the half-collapsed ruins.

The Lizardmen chasing behind me.

Immediately, I use Telekinesis to tear off the old wooden supports propping up the ruins.

And immediately, the building collapses.

Huge stones and wooden debris rain down on the Lizardmen.

And at the same time.

“Self-destruct!!!”

Our Suicide Golem pops out of the subspace, blocks the Lizardmen, and explodes.

Poweong!!

Leaving that scene behind, I exited the ruins and ran down an alley.

But as time passed. The status window didn’t appear.

That means they didn’t die from just that debris.

Still, let’s be thankful that I managed to slow them down.

Dadadada.

By the time I came out into the collapsed alley.

It seemed I had escaped the combat judgment as the distance from the Lizardmen was quite far.

『Please check card rewards.』

The reward window popped up.

I caught one 6th-floor monster, a Lizardman, so wouldn’t I get at least a usable card? Thinking that, I immediately checked the rewards.

[Deep Roots (3)] – Creates tree roots from the ground to bind enemies.

[Meditation (1)] – Draw 3 cards. Cannot move for 1 second.

[Wizard’s Armor (3)] – Equip armor made of mana. The effect increases in proportion to the amount of mana.

These are all cards I’ve never seen before.

Well, there’s one draw card, so it feels like adding that one is fine.

First, I closed the reward window.

Just as I was about to continue running.

“Dangerous!!”

Noah half-lunged out and swung his Avatar’s Scythe.

With a *chang!!* sound, a giant spear bounced off.

“Grrr.”

A giant merman holding a giant spear appeared.

He moves smoothly even though it’s not water. But he’s not the only one.

“There are too many monsters?”

Monsters surrounding all sides.

Fortunately, not a single black mage was visible, but.

Even so, this number isn’t easy.

Hiding is meaningless in this situation, and Noah completely emerges from the shadow.

“Why aren’t there any black mages?”

“…Maybe they couldn’t leave their position, so they sent monsters?”

“But a few did follow.”

“They must have thought that me drawing aggro while they escape from the inside is a bigger crisis. Either way, from the black mages’ perspective, it’s a loss if they don’t kill everyone in District 11.”

“Isn’t that actually good?”

“No, if I were a black mage. I would have dispatched only a few excellent individuals here.”

“Why are you pouring cold water on a not-bad atmosphere?”

“It’s a rational judgment.”

Ding!

At that moment, the status window popped up.

『You, who were trying to return with important information. Unfortunately, you have fallen into a crisis.』

『Shake off all enemies and succeed in escaping.』

『Reward: Energy Relic.』

No, they happen to give me the Energy Relic I need right now?

I swallowed without realizing it.

And immediately, all sorts of杂 thoughtsthat filled my head receded, and I was imagining how to use that reward.

“…Ha.”

It seems the God intends to instill courage in me.

They know my personality too well.

『Combat starts. Draw 3 cards.』

『Energy 4/4』

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

[Fireball (1)] [Ice Storm (4)] [Shield (1)] + [Mana Overload (0)]

“They’re coming!!”

The moment Noah summons his Avatar.

The monsters surrounding us begin to rush in.

The absolute quantity of their numbers isn’t great, but they are all monsters found only on the 5th floor or higher.

Drawing energy and cards with a single vortex like before might be impossible, but.

Next to me is someone who won’t lose anywhere when it comes to firepower.

“What should we do?”

“…I’ll act first.”

Saying that to Noah, I throw a card.

[Ice Storm]

Ice Storm enhanced by Cat’s Paw.

A fierce storm blows, beginning to freeze everything around.