Chapter 159
Chapter 159: Mediocrity (3)
What is an Adventurer?
"They're mediocre people."
Those who aren't one thing or another, yet live believing in a single vague dream—that's what an Adventurer is.
"Boss, how is that Mediocrity?"
Janson sensed the presence of S-rank Adventurers moving across the lake.
His body tingled.
Then Erik continued speaking.
"They contribute to conquering the upper layers, and some of them farm in the Labyrinth more diligently than anyone else—."
But they have a fatal flaw.
And that is.
"Their sense of purpose is broken."
Erik viewed Adventurers as a rabble.
Even among them there were strong ones, yet they were no different from the weak.
"The Emperor of the Empire dreams of continental unification. That dream is clear, and there's a picture of how to achieve it."
Janson nodded.
"Then what's the purpose of Adventurers?"
"Those bastards dream of the legacy of the first Adventurer King."
"What do you mean……."
Erik explained the foolish wishes of the Adventurers as if it were ridiculous.
And the content was thus.
I have left all of myself in the highest layer of the Labyrinth. Whoever obtains it shall become the true king of this world!
"The legacy of the first Adventurer King?"
"That, that……."
Janson tilted his head in confusion, then asked as if in disbelief.
"Isn't that like Treasure Piece?"
"That's right. It's nothing but an illusion."
Treasure Piece was nothing but an illusion that, for over ten years, hadn't even yielded a single clue.
"When I checked with the latest Possessors, the true nature of Treasure Piece still didn't come up."
Those were Nishida's words, making them practically fact.
In any case, what mattered was this.
"Adventurers are similar to pirates chasing Treasure Piece."
The conversation went on up to here.
Jang Du-sik couldn't understand what was being said at all.
He scratched his head frantically and asked.
"Whether it's Treasure Piece or whatever, aren't those bastards currently hostile to us?"
"That's right. That's the problem."
Erik nodded at Jang Du-sik's words.
The presence of an Adventurer approaching from far away.
It was clearly a threat.
Moreover, its appearance was unusual.
"So Adventurers use the Labyrinth like this?"
Erik's eyes turned toward the middle of the vast lake.
A massive lake beneath the Labyrinth ceiling.
Its scale was barely any different from an actual sea.
Below the water surface were countless two-legged Murlocs going about.
Whoooosh!
An Adventurer walked across it.
"By piercing Murlocs with spears……."
As if riding some kind of water ski.
With a spear planted in a Murloc's head, the Adventurer crossed the lake vertically to approach.
His cloak fluttered, and the letter "S-rank" showed clearly.
'A local way of using the Labyrinth.'
It was quite impressive in its own way.
However, the problem was……
A lack of situational awareness.
'Coming alone?'
An Adventurer crossing from island to island in the lake by riding on monsters.
That's why his approach speed was incredibly fast.
Even so, he was coming alone.
If suicide wasn't the goal, this was clearly strange.
"There must be more to it."
Kuung!
Erik pulled out his wings and rose high into the sky.
What was behind the Adventurer?
'The goal is probably to buy time.'
Erik's gaze swept across the 6th Layer of the Labyrinth.
On the last island of the lake, the Floor Master lay in wait.
And the S-rank Adventurer had set out from there.
Erik examined the island where the Adventurer had departed from.
'Possessors.'
Though it was far away, the [Status Window] showed clearly.
This meant.
Adventurers too had begun cultivating Possessors.
They were even making them conquer the Floor Master, properly attacking the Labyrinth.
"All of them are level 50 or above."
Level 50 at the 6th Layer.
It was possible.
Of course, if they conquered at a speed similar to Erik's, it would be impossible.
It hadn't taken Erik long to get here.
Even considering the time to conquer the Floor Master that had descended and meeting Kim Su-ho, it was quite fast.
"So, then……."
"It seems those bastards were already cultivating Possessors."
The answer was decided.
"Everyone, prepare for battle."
***
The Adventurer's Guild supported the Possessors.
It was the Adventurer King's decision.
"With their appearance, the Labyrinth's reward system has changed. Surely, there's a shortcut toward the legacy of the Adventurer King!"
They even had their forces withdraw from the Empire that was trying to control the Possessors.
It was such a significant decision.
And that choice was correct.
'The growth speed of Possessors is exceptional.'
S-rank Adventurer Wilson.
He belonged to 'Path of Adventure,' the Adventurer King's direct clan.
Though they used Adventurer-style naming, their actual structure was similar to a military.
So doing one's utmost in assigned duties was basic.
"Of all things, Empire bastards show up."
Leading the cultivation of Possessors smoothly is Wilson's mission.
Only then would the possibility of obtaining good items in future layer conquests increase.
'Since they said they're doing a repeat conquest of layer 32.'
An Adventurer's strength comes from the Labyrinth's rewards.
The idea was to gather Piece items like the [Ludrick's Colossus Armor Set] given by Floor Masters and wield powerful strength.
'To do that, I have to buy time from these Empire bastards.'
With that thought, Wilson grabbed the Murloc and approached the Empire people.
He hadn't gotten very close when Wilson wanted to turn back.
Bad luck, incredibly bad luck.
'That pure white uniform and massive physique.'
Seeing the face shining brilliantly even from a distance, it seemed that Erik had come to this place.
Wilson gathered the momentum he had unleashed.
Then he demanded conversation.
"This is a hunting ground that the Adventurer's Guild has claimed first!!!"
Originally, this was talk about position claiming, something done only at high layers.
By Labyrinth convention, all nations would negotiate with Adventurers.
So he shouted thus,
Whoooosh!!!
A massive meteor fell toward Wilson.
A brilliantly shining golden mass struck the water's surface, and the Murlocs he was riding burned away in holy power and vanished.
Kaboom!!!
Wilson landed on the trembling water surface.
'Damn it, he's just attacking outright?'
Wilson had no intention of retreating.
Since the purpose was to buy time anyway, once the Possessors' conquest was complete, they could all escape to the 6th Layer together.
Then the dimensional quality would wear down and these Empire bastards wouldn't be able to chase them.
"I demand conversation!!!"
Wilson shouted again.
To avoid attacks that might come flying, he ran across the water's surface.
Then.
Whoooosh!
A blue light trail drew before his eyes.
After that, a bald thug wielding a club appeared.
"It's Jang Du-sik!"
He was notorious even among Adventurers.
He suddenly swung his club.
Wilson drew out his sword aura to block it.
Since he was a strong one who surpassed Sword Master and crossed a wall as an S-rank Adventurer, there was nothing to fear in a one-on-one.
Whoooosh! Clang!
The club and sword clashed.
Then light flickered from Jang Du-sik's arm.
It was a magic circle.
Crackle!
"H-Hellfire! Then you'll get caught up in it too!"
"You worried?"
Hellfire shot toward Wilson.
Sizzle!
Intense heat evaporating the lake.
If Wilson hadn't been wearing a +20 Enhanced legendary-grade armor, he would have burned to death already.
'He really was a Holy Mage.'
Wilson felt fear seeing Jang Du-sik, whose skin melted and regenerated without any items.
Using such power with just a club in hand?
It was a level that made no sense.
"You, I have no intention of being hostile to you. Just until we finish our conquest—."
Wilson tried to attempt conversation.
Then Jang Du-sik swung his club.
"That thought and my leader's thought are different."
Whoooosh! Clang!
Wilson blocked the club and ran across the water's surface.
Normally, the Murlocs should have been endlessly annoying, but the holy power scattering from Jang Du-sik's body was burning all the monsters.
"Let's, talk."
"Honestly, talking is something you do after you're suppressed."
Moreover, conversation didn't work with that thug.
Wilson quickly widened the distance, glancing around.
As if he'd been waiting for that moment, Jang Du-sik increased his speed.
Whoooosh! Crack!
Finally, the club scored a direct hit on Wilson's shoulder.
Then.
Puke!
Blood scattered.
A close-range attack with a club imbued with holy power.
[+20 Enhanced Giant's Armor - Legendary Grade]
If not for the item, his body would have been torn to shreds by this blow's force.
'Does he not intend to kill me?'
With this one strike, Wilson understood.
That Jang Du-sik was a strong one who could kill him anytime.
Therefore, the purpose of buying time was being accomplished anyway.
That was when.
Kaboom!
[Guardian's Barrier]
A knight clad in silver armor appeared above Wilson.
The armor adorned with gold plate looked quite impressive, and Wilson recognized it as [Job-Exclusive Items] for Possessors.
"Why the power of defense?"
The silver shield pattern wrapped around Wilson like a cage.
The meaning was clear.
"There's an order to capture you alive."
Wilson still had moves hidden up his sleeve.
First, there was a scroll called Emergency Escape.
If torn, it could move to a different location in the same layer.
'Dare to try capturing an S-rank Adventurer?'
No matter how strong the enemy, he was also strong.
An enemy trying to capture Wilson was practically mockery.
That was when.
'Are there children in the Labyrinth?'
A Paladin approached from far away carrying two young girls.
He said.
"Vel, Pe."
It was strange words.
Yet with those words, the two young girls pointed their hands toward Wilson?
And the power that appeared was a type that absolutely could not coexist with holy power.
Kuuuuung!
A heavy power appeared, confining the shield pattern.
The name of that infamous [Severance] spell.
The power of black mages, famous as a technique before reaching [Isolation].
'Sealing movement-type power.'
Wilson was increasingly realizing he was a capture target.
Wasn't the situation proof?
'My power is being suppressed, retreat is blocked, and escape items are sealed.'
And slowly approaching was the bald thug.
'But, there's still a chance.'
The purpose is the Possessors' Labyrinth conquest.
Wilson thought of the Possessors on the last island.
Once they finished the conquest, they would climb to the next layer immediately, and if only he remained, he could definitely escape somehow.
However.
"Portal."
A portal appeared from the hands of the two young girls.
That portal's end connected to the last island where the Floor Master was.
After that, a massive Paladin sent his other subordinates through that portal.
When the situation had progressed this far.
"Stay still and I'll send you in one blow."
Jang Du-sik with his club had gotten right in front of him.
Whoooosh!
***
Crack!!!
"Kugh!"
Wilson's eyes opened.
His head throbbed.
'I, I definitely lost consciousness.'
As befitted a high-level Adventurer, he analyzed the situation the moment consciousness returned.
The Possessors he'd been transporting on Murlocs were nowhere to be seen.
Moreover, Wilson was trapped in a place he didn't recognize.
"You regain consciousness quickly."
Clear blonde hair came into view.
And eyes of five colors that felt like they pierced through everything.
"You're quite strong."
Similarly, Erik examined Wilson.
He was a strong one who had trained properly.
'Judging from fighting with Du-sik, his swordsmanship is well-developed too.'
He would be treated as officer-grade immediately upon enlisting in the military.
At least by Empire military standards.
Erik began questioning.
"How many S-rank Adventurers are there?"
Naturally, Wilson chose silence.
"Rather, kill me."
Then another question came.
"More than 100?"
Wilson chose silence again.
"I see. So more than 100. Then what about 1,000?"
Wilson chose silence again.
"More than 1,000, so almost matching a kingdom's military force."
"Do I look like I'd fall for such bluffing?"
Wilson again chose a firm stance.
Then Erik burst into laughter and continued.
1,000.
2,000.
2,500.
The numbers became increasingly concrete.
And an answer came.
"There are around 2,700 S-rank Adventurers."
"H-How?"
Wilson was shocked.
Then Erik leaned in close to Wilson.
And pressed hard on his shoulder.
"The Adventurer's Guild's main headquarters. The power accumulated through repeat conquests is quite substantial."
Erik's eyes examined Wilson's equipment.
The Labyrinth needing to conquer layer 33 now.
Erik thought there would be nothing special, but the reality was entirely different.
'The equipment is no ordinary thing.'
Not only does he wear legendary-grade equipment with +20 enhancement to withstand Jang Du-sik's all-out club strikes.
He was even equipped with very rare accessories.
And those accessories were very familiar to Erik.
"Where did you get that earring?"
Scrape!
Erik ripped off one [Equipment] from Wilson's earlobe.
"Were you planning to escape with this?"
"W-What on earth!!!"
At this point, Wilson went beyond shock to amazement.
[Mythic Grade - Emergency Escape Earring]
[Absolute Effect: Immediately move to another location on the field no matter what happens.]
Absolute Effect means the highest tier of performance.
Even if there are conflicting powers, it applies first.
That is, even surrounded by [Isolation], one could escape with this.
'It's equipment obtained purely by luck.'
This depended entirely on chance.
It could drop from the lowliest monster, a Goblin, yet the probability was so terrible it was considered impossible.
'I think it cost about 50 million won?'
Those Chinese gaming companies operated it as sweatshops, yet it was difficult to obtain.
So it was extremely expensive.
Wasn't it an item of overwhelming versatility?
"Really, why are you smiling like that?"
"Ah, it's nothing special."
A smile forming at Erik's mouth.
"I just obtained an item that lets you escape even when trapped in a boss room."