Chapter 58
Chapter 58: Operation to Rescue Jang Du-sik (3)
"Du-sik!"
Jang Du-sik's party headed toward the Labyrinth's 5th floor.
To be more precise.
It would be more fitting to say they fled.
"—Blessing of Fire!"
The Labyrinth's 5th floor is a field created with an unnamed ancient city as its backdrop.
In the game, it's called the tutorial, and in reality, it's bound by the name "lower floors."
The 5th floor is Jang Du-sik's party's last bastion.
It's the final floor they can move to without clearing a Floor Master, meaning they can neither advance nor retreat any further.
Kwaaaaang!!!
At Kang Pung-ho's signal, Jang Du-sik's magic exploded.
Over the rough, massive bricks, the Possessors' Skills and the native's magic intertwined.
Kang Pung-ho's Rupture reacted to Jang Du-sik's magic, creating a burning trap.
"Phew—. Now we can catch our breath."
Calmly arranging her sweat-soaked bob cut, Kang Pung-ho looked back.
The two men were deliberately averting their eyes from her.
"Why?"
Since the bathroom incident, Kang Pung-ho had been acting like any other adventurer.
Thanks to Jang Du-sik's club beating, her behavior had been corrected.
"You treated me like a man until now, but you're acting like this just because I changed my outfit?"
What she meant was.
She had been handling everything right next to her party members.
That included getting dressed.
The clothes she was wearing now were the "one-piece-style pajamas" commonly worn by adventurers.
Since there wasn't really a concept of underwear in this world.
"...Pung-ho, please, stop—."
The thin one-piece soaked with sweat accentuated Kang Pung-ho's figure.
Enough to make observers feel embarrassed.
Park Chang-ho covered his eyes with both hands, but Nishida Ryo looked at her majestically and proudly.
"I heard that even on Earth, underwear only appeared less than a hundred years ago... Anyway, we have to live here too... So let's accept it proudly!"
True to being a Japanese otaku well-versed in all kinds of subcultures, Nishida Ryo had a wealth of miscellaneous knowledge.
'But citing Earth's history while staring at her boldly is a bit much, isn't it?'
Park Chang-ho was also peeking through his fingers, but inwardly he felt somewhat uncomfortable about Nishida Ryo.
'Erik was pretty strict about that kind of thing, right? Maybe that thug too.'
Park Chang-ho looked at Jang Du-sik as if to express such sentiments, but.
"Well, Brother Erik doesn't really care about clothing unless it's Priest Ruelle, so it won't matter much whether you look or not."
Jang Du-sik uttered words contrary to his expectations.
"Brothers, don't stare so obviously."
Well, if the person in question is saying that.
There was nothing Park Chang-ho could do even if he felt uncomfortable.
After the brief issue ended, the four people got to the main point.
"We made the entrance a sea of fire, so we can finally get some sleep."
They had created a hideout inside an ancient structure.
Even amid monsters rushing in like crazy, they needed a place to sleep, didn't they?
So they blocked the entrance with magic and Skills, securing minimal sleeping space.
"I'm sleeping first. Keurr."
Leaving behind Jang Du-sik, who fell asleep the moment he lay down, the three Possessors chatted briefly.
"This is a house people lived in, right?"
"Probably? There's a theory that the Labyrinth recreates the past. Then how tall were ancient people exactly?"
"Hey, think about the pyramids—it was probably built by grinding up ordinary people."
"...Still, with magic and Aura around, wouldn't there be people that big? If that Director Erik is still growing, he might reach 5 meters."
"Crazy. Erik being 5 meters? No matter how handsome he is, that's a bit..."
In a house large enough for people averaging 5 meters in height to live in, the three Possessors' debate continued.
"B-but if he's fifteen, won't he grow more?"
Erik's existence, well over 2 meters tall, made them feel that the possibility of 5-meter-tall people existing in this world was somehow reasonable.
"Who's taking night watch?"
The brief chat ended.
Now all that remained was to take turns sleeping well—.
"Damn it. I've had enough sleep."
Park Chang-ho's Sixth Sense activated.
Since being trapped in the Labyrinth, his trait had shown 100% accuracy, earning absolute trust from his party.
"...Wh-who's waking up brother Du-sik?"
"I'm already awake."
Park Chang-ho's trait showed such absolute accuracy that even Jang Du-sik believed it.
Nishida Ryo's Death Sense seemed only effective with Erik, and hadn't been particularly helpful in the Labyrinth.
"W-we need to leave right now!!!"
But this time was different.
Unlike usual, seeing Nishida Ryo trembling while dripping with cold sweat made everyone's steps urgent.
Right after the four people hastily escaped through the building's window.
Baaaaang!!!
With a roar, the building collapsed, and behind the collapsed building, something appeared.
"...Th-that's a Floor Master, isn't it?"
What they had seen plenty of in the game.
The 5th floor's Floor Master, Gnoll King, was looking down at Jang Du-sik's party.
"Shit... That thing looks like it's 5 meters tall."
The Gnoll King was a bipedal monster resembling a hunched dog.
On the monitor, it was normal human-sized and was a weak existence with the derogatory nickname of "tutorial's worthless boss."
But.
"It looks like some kind of final boss..."
"Floor Masters travel in packs like that?"
Their lineup was extremely vicious.
Thud!!!
The Gnoll Kings, about 5 meters in size, drooled like rabid dogs and glared at the four people as if to kill them.
Their bloodshot pupils were hazy, giving an even more frightening feeling, but.
"Well, who cares if dog bastards come in packs like dogs?"
Jang Du-sik just gripped his club with the same tone as always.
However, he too was inwardly clearly realizing that this situation was far from normal.
'The Imperial Army... Well, I kinda figured when brother called the soldiers in the Labyrinth's lower floors water rockets.'
The Floor Master's movement between floors meant the defeat of the Imperial Army in charge of Floor Masters.
***
'Du-sik didn't die, did he?'
Erik was walking through the Labyrinth's 2nd floor's Goblin Forest.
Though he believed in Jang Du-sik, a 7th Circle Mage, Du-sik's versatility was limited since he could only use memorized magic, so he felt a worry that wasn't quite a worry...
No, the Labyrinth situation was serious enough to worry about.
"S-Saint!"
Erik headed to kill the 2nd floor's Floor Master to prepare for any possible situation.
The Goblin Forest's Floor Master appears in a forest cave, and in front of it, he encountered the Imperial Army's military camp.
'Soldiers getting beaten by goblins?'
Most were injured, and the knights' swords and armor were in tatters.
"—Wide-area Healing. I'd like an explanation."
Erik healed them and requested a briefing on the Labyrinth's internal situation.
True to Imperial soldiers, the explanation was concise and accurate, summarizing only the key points, but.
"...So you're saying Floor Masters are resetting hourly, and the number of appearing Floor Masters increases with each passing day?"
Erik needed to ask again to confirm what he heard.
'Does this make sense?'
The Labyrinth situation was extraordinarily serious.
"Yes."
Came the knight's answer.
Erik's heart grew anxious.
'Well, that's why they're in this state.'
The Labyrinth 2nd floor's Floor Masters are the Goblin King and Queen.
They weren't particularly powerful existences, so the Imperial Army with knight forces should have been able to handle them.
Yet seeing the Imperial Army covered in wounds with casualties, Erik felt doubt.
After hearing the explanation, the Labyrinth situation was more shocking than Erik had expected.
'There's no way they became knights through bribes in this Empire.'
From Erik's experience.
The Emperor was an existence worthy of being called a wise ruler.
So it was more accurate to say the Labyrinth's state was unusual rather than the soldiers' quality being poor.
'About a month has passed, so 30 pairs of Floor Masters appear per hour?'
In 24 hours...
And since there are two Floor Masters.
It meant the Imperial Army had to kill 1,440 Goblin Kings and Queens per day.
"Monster Waves must have come too."
Moreover, the only survivors on the 2nd floor were the Imperial Army gathered here and some adventurers.
They must have handled the Monster Waves that came with Floor Master appearances by themselves.
Even for an Imperial Army with knights who handle Aura and mages mixed in, deaths and injuries were inevitable.
'Bosses equivalent to level 50 and level 30 goblins.'
Considering the reality's difficulty, it's actually amazing this many survived.
Potions are consumables and stamina isn't eternal.
"Sorry, but I need to go up. Do you want to come with me?"
The Imperial Army suggested sticking together with Erik, but Erik firmly refused and presented an alternative.
"...Y-you believe your subordinate is alive—."
"Du-sik won't die from just this much."
"M-my apologies."
Knight Karl of the Labyrinth Management Army on the 2nd floor bowed his head.
Because Erik's gaze was somehow menacing.
"You have to think about living to survive."
Erik looked at everyone and said that calmly.
At that one statement uttered as if natural, a spark revived in the Imperial Army's hearts.
Kwarureureung!!!
Not long after, the Goblin Forest shook, and monster respawning began.
The Floor Masters were the same.
The cave where the 2nd floor's Floor Masters appeared was [Indestructible] terrain, and a slippery membrane formed on the wall surface, then began swelling into the shape of a giant goblin.
Kreureureurk!!!
The identities were Goblin Kings and Queens reaching 5 meters tall.
"Formation ready!!!"
The Empire's Labyrinth Defense Battalion guarding the Labyrinth tried to take positions in unison.
"Just handle the Monster Wave."
Erik firmly stopped them.
"Saint, 30 pairs of Floor Masters appearing is—."
"I know well. So that much is more than enough alone."
The 3rd Company Commander of the 4th Corps of the Labyrinth Army managing the 2nd floor reorganized the troops, recalling Erik's majesty.
'One who received His Majesty's glory.'
And the Saint of the Astia Religious Order.
His reputation was solid.
"Everyone gather! We defend against the Monster Wave!!!"
The Imperial Army created a massive defensive formation in front of the Floor Master cave.
It was an extreme formation where if Erik fell, the mage battalion would directly receive the Floor Master assault.
"Company Commander, will this be alright?"
"Let's trust in His Majesty's glory."
Despite the platoon commanders' worries, the Company Commander maintained this extreme formation.
The reason was that a deployment without worrying about the rear was the best formation for annihilation.
If they just blocked the Monster Wave without Floor Masters, there was nothing difficult for the Imperial Army.
"Th-the forest is moving!"
Just then, the scout's report came in.
As he said, the bushes of the Goblin Forest began rustling in the distance.
Kkyaeeeeek!!!
The goblins' screeches shaking all directions began, and the procession of small green demons charged toward the Imperial Army.
It felt like the entire forest was moving.
"Preserve your stamina as much as possible! We're moving up to the 3rd floor immediately after this battle ends!"
They're just goblins.
But, they're Labyrinth goblins.
Though Erik said he'd handle the Floor Masters, regular goblins also reach 2 meters in size.
"Ugh, disgusting things."
Not that knights or the mage battalion would struggle with them...
Having already fought for dozens of days without a moment's rest, their bodies were pushed to the limit.
Moreover, mental fatigue couldn't be ignored either.
Thus the Imperial Army's battlefield began.
'Hmm.'
Meanwhile, Erik, left alone inside the cave, wasn't feeling much threat.
'60 5-meter goblins...'
Would the reward for solo clearing Floor Masters apply as an increased number of bosses?
He was just pondering that.
He didn't feel any threat at all.
'They're so slow.'
However, he felt a bit frustrated.
The Floor Masters were spawning slower than the Monster Wave.
Thinking the reward would be greater if he killed all 60 at once, Erik was waiting for all Floor Masters to respawn.
"Kill them!!!"
"2nd row, switch with 1st row!"
Listening to the Imperial Army's shouts coming from the cave entrance, all Floor Masters finally respawned before his eyes.
'Dreadful.'
At that sight, Erik's brow furrowed involuntarily.
With 60 5-meter goblins with green skin dripping yellow fluid.
It was natural for his nerves to stand on end at the indescribable stench and disgusting appearance.
So Erik raised his Divine Power.
***
"These damned goblins!"
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of goblins swarmed from all directions.
Knights and soldiers swung their swords, and mages poured long-range attacks from behind.
Yet there was no end in sight.
"Th-the cave is too quiet, isn't it?"
Though there was no end in sight, they could handle 2-meter goblins sufficiently.
Therefore, a meeting was held between the Company Commander and platoon commanders.
"Even for Saint, wouldn't wiping them out all at once be impossible?"
Of course, the meeting was held during combat.
"Mm. When I only heard rumors, I couldn't grasp it because of his age... But seeing that physique, I think a complete wipeout might be possible."
To the platoon commander's doubt, the Company Commander recited his honest feelings.
And at the same time.
Kuwong!!!
A massive roar echoed from inside the boss room.
Not just sound.
A tremendous tremor shaking the earth.
"E-earthquake?"
The mages made a fuss wondering if it might be an Earthquake spell, but.
A few seconds later.
Ssaaaaaaa!
They could feel relief at the vivid golden pillar of light bursting from inside the cave.
Along with that.
"Ahh..."
Everyone's minds were captivated by the intense sacred light.
"Company Commander was right."
Truly the power of God.
Knights, soldiers, and mages alike.
Each lowered the spears, swords, and staves they held and bowed their heads toward the cave.
Though it should be impossible for His Majesty the Emperor's soldiers to show reverence to a god.
"Sacred light driving away darkness..."
"Can we return?"
Anyone who saw this power would have bowed their head involuntarily.
All soldiers stopped fighting.
No, there was no need to fight.
The sacred light that burst through the cave with a roar spread throughout the entire Goblin Forest.
Kkyaeeeeek!!!
From all directions came the screeches of monsters burning in the sacred light.
"...Even for the 2nd floor, does it make sense to kill 60 Floor Masters at once and even erase the Monster Wave?"
The platoon commander who had been constantly complaining asked with his mouth agape in bewilderment.
Because it was magnificent, overwhelming, and truly majestic power.
'He can't believe it even seeing it.'
The Company Commander, sympathizing with such feelings, calmly recalled the majesty of the generals he saw in the war ten years ago.
According to him.
"Existences you can't believe even seeing them are true powerhouses."