A considerable expandable backpack valued at two million stones, an iron dagger and other various equipment, a pack of consumables more effective against humans than monsters and a spoonful of discomfort that fell like a stone: These were the things that left the masked stranger.
«I wonder what kind of person he was».
«No matter how you think about it, I don't think they were an ordinary looterrr. They were alone, and the way they died is too...»
When the situation became unfavorable, the man in the mask committed suicide. This was far from normal. However, the truth had already been buried in darkness. «Don't worry about that anymore. There is nothing we can learn from it anymore». We had no choice but to take what we needed and move on. That's how the explorers were.
«Bjorn. How many cotton candy is this?» ainar asked with expectant eyes
Before he could respond, Raven said: «In total, it will be about 3.5 million stones».
«...Do you also have experience in this field?».
«Obviously you have to sell it to know for sure, but the margin will not be very large. In the past I obtained the ordinary appraiser certificate».
So that exists, huh?
When asked for more details, Raven explained that a regular appraiser was different from a special appraiser. Apparently, it could only be certified based on pure knowledge and not skill. «You should study it later, when you have time, Mr. Yandel. If you teach them this you won't have to haggle and intimidate them unnecessarily. Trading broker licenses can be difficult, but-»
«Alright. I'm good at intimidating people». I cut off his words before he could continue with self-praise and resumed exploration.
The progression was not much different from that of the Half Witty Team. Choosing the Ladder of Wisdom as the first priority and the Ladder of Courage as the second, we focused solely on climbing the Tower.
«...Ugh, are we going to wander the maze all day again?»
«We have no choice as we do not have a professional explorer».
Every time we took the Ladder of Wisdom, it was a lot of work trying to find the way, but I had to give everything to find it. There was a mother-in-law next to me.
«Four hours and thirty-four minutes... Four hours and eleven minutes... Three hours and fifty-nine minutes».
Every time he finished the maze, Raven counted time. Luckily, the higher we went, the more the duration decreased. It was thanks to the expertise that acting as part-guide gave him. However, I still had a long way to go to catch up with Rotmiller.
«Four hours and thirty-five minutes. It increased a lot this time».
«That's because Ainar stepped into a trap».
«Considered.»
The days passed quickly. Starting on the 12th, we all slept without a guard.
«Are we going to do night duty today too?»
«...It seems like a waste.»
«Ugh, this is all because of that bastard. Isn't he crossing the line? Ambush us here from all places...» Missha was angry, as if her shrine had been invaded. Actually, I had a similar feeling. This was the only place where he could rest in peace.
Damn sea.
Despite these and other events, the exploration went smoothly and, on the sixteenth day, we reached the 100th floor. From then on, it was possible to search for the portal to the fifth floor.
«Two hours and forty-one minutes... It was done very quickly». Even Raven, who behaved like a mother-in-law every day, now had a satisfied smile on her face. As a reference, the same thing happened to me.
Could it be that I am in fact a guiding genius?
Even fighting tooth and nail, the three-hour wall was difficult to break through. However, I was able to shorten the log beyond the devil zone after one realization: Destroying the traps was easier and faster than solving them.
«Ah, Mr. Yandel. How long did you say it took you to get here when you had a professional explorer on your team?».
«It took us about twelve days».
«Four days apart is not bad, considering that the fifth floor will be much more comfortable without an explorer».
I agreed. Although we lost four days due to the absence of a scout, our team was made up of all combat characters. We just had to make up for it in battle.
But gosh, can't you pay a compliment?
That dissatisfaction persisted inside me. Missha came over and patted me on the shoulder. «Good job, Bjorrrn. I really didn't know it would turn out like this. We are probably the only team with a great guide».
After all, I only have you...
«Ahem.» Mr. Bear cleared his throat at Missha's words and stepped forward. I guess he was a little embarrassed for entrusting the role of guide to a barbarian when he himself was one. «Looks like it's time for me to step up».
I obediently handed him the wheel. This was because the doors had to open in the correct order to reach the fifth floor. «What door should I open?»
«Es».
That's why the guides were such tricky characters. Even if their sensory stats did not exceed a certain level, they could recognize portal mana with only a natural talent. Thus, we used Mr. Bear as a compass and advanced towards the portal that was hidden somewhere in the Tower.
[You have chosen the Staircase of Valor.]
[You have chosen the Ladder of Wisdom.]
[You have chosen the Staircase of Valor.]
The process of opening a door and passing the test was repeated. Spending another night like this, we resumed exploring and opened ten more doors.
«Finally, the last door».
We arrive at the portal stage. The end of day seventeen was already coming. Soon it would be time to set up camp, so on the one hand I wanted to take a break and open the door tomorrow.
«I think I can concentrate better now».
However, considering Raven's trait of being vulnerable in the morning, we decided to proceed today. The portal room was also the boss's room. The better the magician's status, the better for all of us.
«As I said before, there is definitely a rank 5 monster here.»
«Like that vampire monster». Ainar wielded his greatsword with eyes filled with excitement and anticipation. It seemed like he wanted to confirm how much he had changed since his helpless self in the past.
Laugh.
I couldn't help but smile. Don't lose concentration. The survival rate of graduate applicants who reach this point is less than 50%. This was what he originally planned to say, but it didn't really mean much.
«Why have you stopped talking?» Raven asked.
It wouldn't even be barbaric. «I forgot».
«Excuse me?»
«Let's kill them».
I opened the door, climbed the stairs, and headed to the next stage, a stone chamber with a family headstone embedded in the center. Once the five of us entered, the door closed and the monsters were summoned.
«¡Good!»
That made me laugh. I wondered what bastard would come out.
«¡It's a troll!»
Yeah, nothing like a troll to make it a real graduation, the bastard who broke my keyboard one year in Dungeon and Stone and the same one who brought Team Half Wit to the brink of annihilation.
«Should I start with distortion magic? I have heard that troll byproducts are very expensive».
Wow, this guy was bold, although the rank 5 fear was quite strong. «Alright. The essence is just as expensive».
«If you say so».
As he was exchanging brief words with Raven, the troll let out a scream and stretched his foot forward.
¡Bum!
I also kicked the ground to act as a tank.
[You have launched gigantization.]
The weight difference was reduced in an instant. When the distance was reduced as well, the troll brandished his huge fist.
¡Bang!
A strong jolt was transmitted to my giant shield, but having consumed the ogre essence, it was of low intensity.
Furthermore, the shield remains intact.
The lithinum shield that used to bend with each punch did not move this time thanks to the effect of the level 6 imprint, Union. Now, the performance of the team he led was greater in proportion to the sum of the statistics. Yes, this was the effect I had spent all those coins on!
«¡Behell-ahhhhhhh!»
After increasing my stats with Wild Blast, I hit the mace with all my might.
[You have launched Oscillation. The destructive power of blunt weapons has increased significantly in proportion to muscle strength].
The target was the head. However, the bastard twisted his body, so my giant mace ended up hitting his shoulder.
¡Crunch!
The deformed shoulder fell with an audible blow. He dislocated himself with a single shot. Before it took at least six blows just to go through the flesh and reach the joint.
«¡Good!»
Of course, in keeping with the healing power of a troll, the bones came back together in a matter of seconds. However, this was enough to measure my combat power.
Let's take a look.
I focused on defense and watched my teammates. First the original member, Missha. He hadn't absorbed a new essence since then, but his swinging sword sliced through the troll's skin too easily.
King!
It was the power of money. It was a long sword made of Iril that cost a whopping 12 million stones. If I couldn't do that much, they should give us our money back.
«Behell-ahhhhh!» It was Ainar's scream. He immediately joined the ranks and brandished his greatsword, probably envious of Missha, who managed to play an active role first.
¡Whoom!
Strong wind pressure rose along the sword's path, leaving a later image. Ah, maybe afterimage wasn't the right word.
[Ainar Fenelin has launched Tajo Repetido].
This was the rank 4 essence active ability inherited from the old man. The effect was simple: one cut applied the effect of two.
Slash! Slash!
Of course, it was insignificant against a troll. Even though the weight of a greatsword added to a superior force, the sword only stabbed about two centimeters. This was because Ainar's ability was Repeated Slash, a difficult one to perform well with a normal blow.
«This guy's skin is hard... ahh!» Upon receiving the troll's punch, Ainar fell backwards. He got up quickly, but blood was dripping from his mouth. It seemed like his organs were damaged. «Behell-ahhhhh!» Instead of taking a potion and resting on his back, Ainar clung to the troll again and brandished his greatsword. It was a decision that was more rational than stubborn. This time, the greatsword flashed with a red light, the active ability of the Bone Knight that he gained in the Bloody Citadel.
[Ainar Fenelin has launched Vitality Absorption. If damage is dealt to a living creature, regenerative power is temporarily increased.」
When Ainar hit an enemy, his blood filled, a great quality to have as a subdeal tank. By using Repeated Slash along with Vitality Absorption, Ainar regained his original state within a few hits.
Her damage capacity is lower than Missha's, but her tank capacity is much better.
As I watched their battles for a while, I looked at their pros, cons, and points that needed to complement each other in the future.
Ainar needs good attacking skills soon. Missha needs to consume more Beast Blood to level up her Spiritual Beast.
With that in mind, he was half dealing with the troll. Mr. Bear asked from behind: «Can we join now?».
«Oh, were you waiting for them?»
«I was curious how well those two ladies would fight».
«¡Yo no soy you have dama!»
Ignoring Ainar's cry and with my permission, Mr. Bear joined the battle.
[Abman Urikfried ha convocado al Oso de Hierro, Suggested.]
However, did you judge that the first line was already surpassed? Mr. Bear summoned the Spiritual Beast as a bodyguard in the rear and began firing his crossbow.
¡Shoop! ¡Shoop! ¡Shoop!
Every time an arrow was shot, it released a huge whip sound and pierced deeply through the troll's body. He could feel his experience from the places of direct impacts. The attack method restricted movement by sticking arrows into joints such as elbows and knees.
King!
Missha and Ainar worked together to cut off the troll's arm and initiate the Super Regeneration pattern. Raven had already cast an Aggravate spell so the regeneration speed was slow.
There was nothing left to see.
Just as I was about to smash the troll's head with my mace, Mr. Bear stopped me. «Stop! The third lady should also play an active role».
«...Could you please not call me lady?» Soon, Raven growled and waved her wand. He didn't even warn us to move away like Dwalkie. More than inconsiderate, she believed it was not necessary.
[Arua Raven has cast Thunder Spear rank 5 attack magic.]
Zigzagging to avoid our positions, a white beam shot forward. Everything flashed white. The sound came after that.
¡Bang, bang, bang!
When I recognized him, the troll's head had already flown.
Desplome.
The troll collapsed to the ground and disappeared like light in that place. Of course, there was no essence again.
We killed a troll, and it was as easy as playing with him. Of course, that didn't mean that the fifth floor had no dangers, as several rank 5 monsters could appear there together.
¡Whooooom!
A portal opened when the troll died. However, we didn't go up to the fifth floor right away and camped instead. Even if we went up now it would be time to sleep, so it would be better to spend at least one more comfortable night.
Is it finally the beginning?
After tossing and turning in bed for a while with anxiety and expectation, I fell asleep. The next morning, around 7 in the morning on the 18th, we finished packing our suitcase and entered the portal.
«Wow, I'm really going to the fifth flooroooo...»
[You have entered the Great Demon Realm on the fifth floor].
With this, I had graduated from the first half. It was time to really explore.