Chapter 49 - What it Takes to be an Explorer (2)

Abyss First Floor - Garden.

On the path leading out from Main Base, which was starting to become somewhat familiar, complaints were piercing both my ears from either side.

"H-honestly, I think Hood Squad is too much..."

Leaf, what are you saying? There couldn't be a more intuitive name than this.

"We should've gone with Black Pride. Black hair, lion beast-kin. That's way more intuitive."

Rei, wouldn't Leaf feel left out then?

Why not just dye her hair black and make her wear lion ear headbands while we're at it?

I crushed their arguments with this logic and pushed through with the Hood Squad name.

"If it really doesn't work, we can change it later. Team names are simple to change anyway."

Unlike Schools, Clans, and Guilds which were essentially businesses once established, teams changed easily.

Teams were created and dissolved several times a day.

Unless it was a name with brand value that anyone would recognize immediately, team names were just there for the Union's convenience in distinguishing groups.

Though the Union might not like it if we want to change it later.

But that couldn't be helped.

"Let's go with Hood Squad for now. We're all wearing hoods anyway. No one's left out, so what's the problem?"

For reference, I didn't take Rei's hood.

First, the size was an issue, and Rei had become quite famous herself.

Among the diverse races in Res Limen, Beast-folk were relatively rare.

And among Beast-folk, lion beast-folk were particularly uncommon.

Plus she'd trained at the closely-watched Frontier Guild.

At this point, it would be stranger if she hadn't gained fame.

If Arthur, the super-elite prospect, wasn’t absorbing most of the attention up front, Rei would have been in the spotlight.

As a result, I hurriedly bought and put on a hood from nearby.

One might think I was overreacting just because of name recognition, but I couldn't help it—my appearance wasn't exactly common either.

Rather, I stand out quite a bit among humans.

From my hair and skin color to my facial features, there were noticeable differences.

While non-human races who have trouble distinguishing between humans might not notice, other humans would recognize me at a glance.

"Anyway, let's talk about the team name again later. For now, let's move."

We'd already decided our first destination before entering the Abyss.

"The Signpost Tree, I'm excited!" 

As Leaf said, our first destination was where seniors had shared their geographical information gathered from exploration.

The Signpost Tree.

The Signpost Tree was definitely closer than Edge Windmill.

While using physical enhancement magic, and moving diligently, we should arrive in about four days.

The monsters of the First Floor were too weak to be obstacles to our team's level, with the exception of Apex predators and that mutant Bugbear we saw.

Not just goblins, but even Bugbears, evolved forms of goblins, were mere snacks in groups of ten or fewer.

Even Magnetic Beetles, which were quite troublesome for martial artists due to their ability to generate electromagnetic fields and attract metal, were just oversized bugs to us.

The only real danger came from flying monsters that would attack with rapid dives from the sky.

Even those became mere target practice after their initial surprise attack since both Leaf and I could attack at range.

Besides, we only encountered flying monsters twice due to their small numbers.

"We're almost there. We should arrive by tomorrow."

The proximity to the Signpost Tree was clear from encountering three Explorer teams just today.

Maybe because my first encounter had been such a bad one, I was quite tense, but surprisingly, everyone was friendly.

Did they recognize me or Rei after we removed our uncomfortable hoods?

All three teams exchanged brief encouragements like hikers passing by, "Going to the Signpost Tree? You're almost there. It's just a bit further."

Though the Abyss was called lawless, it was an experience that showed everything depends on people's true nature.

"Shall we camp here for tonight?"

All three of us were already well-versed in camping.

Without anyone assigning roles, we naturally set about making fire, laying blankets, and setting alarm magic to quickly complete camp preparations.

After finishing dinner, we gathered around the campfire.

While discussing watch duty order and chatting before bed, Leaf suddenly asked, "Roman, why did you come to the Abyss?"

"Hmm?"

"I heard Rei came to gain strength to defeat her traitorous uncle and his helpers, but I don't think I've heard Roman's story."

Rei chimed in, "That's right. I haven't heard either. Come to think of it, that's unfair. You heard all about mine—No, wait! Leaf, you haven't told yours either. I'm the only one who shared!"

"Eh? R-really? I thought I had..."

"You were about to tell me during training center testing. But couldn't because of the attack."

"Ah... that's right."

Leaf gave an awkward "Ehehe" laugh, seeming embarrassed.

Even Rei's anger softened at Leaf's innocent country girl smile, fully visible without her hood.

"Um... as you can see, I'm a Half-Elf."

Leaf said, touching her pointed ear tips.

"I grew up in an Elven village, where I had to be very careful. They said my mother left right after leaving me there."

So essentially an orphan.

"Elves don't exactly discriminate because I'm a Half-Elf. Well, there's naturally mixed emotion in their gazes, but officially, discrimination is forbidden by their rules."

I'd heard something similar.

Though Half-Elves often end up leaving, unable to bear the subtle contempt and dismissal.

"The real problem was that I was incomplete."

"Hmm?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, no! Not like that, I mean magically. I only knew old-style Spirit Magic."

So that was what she meant.

"Being half elf, and only able to use that kind of magic, my treatment in the village couldn't be good."

"...So. Perhaps looking for your mother...?"

Even Rei became careful with her words about family matters.

Though better than Rei whose entire family was killed by relatives, unlike Rei who at least received parental love, Leaf never had the chance to experience such love.

In some ways, Leaf's situation might be more tragic.

"That's not it. Or rather, it's not certain."

"What about asking a Devil Sorcerer? Finding people is their specialty."

Rei's expression darkened slightly at that suggestion.

"They... couldn't tell."

"Huh?"

"I tried. But they said they couldn't tell. Whether their skill was lacking or their Devil was weak. But they said when they can't tell, it's one of two cases."

Either dead...

"Or in the Abyss's depths."

"Yes, that's right."

The deeper one went into the Abyss, the more it became an isolated world that blocked outside interference.

Even the eyes of Devils couldn’t pierce the deep darkness of the Abyss.

"Well, that's my story!"

Actually, even without beast instincts, I could intuitively tell there was more.

It was evident from Leaf's tone and unconscious gestures.

But everyone has things they want to keep hidden.

Me included.

"Now it's your turn, Roman."

I stared blankly at the blazing campfire.

Nothing better than fire-gazing for organizing thoughts.

What should I say?

How much is okay to tell?

My head just got more complicated, with no answers coming.

Still staring at the fire, I opened my mouth, following where my heart led.

"I have a hometown."

I chuckled at my own words.

Who doesn't have a hometown?

Even those abandoned at birth who don't know their hometown would consider their first remembered place their home.

But I have no hometown… At least, not in this world.

"I wanted to return."

Those words I couldn't understand before.

Now I know the preciousness of home, its value.

I was thoroughly a stranger in this world.

Barely hanging on by the rope of connections.

"So I summoned a Devil. Anything would have been fine. I was already prepared to offer my lifespan, and I would have gladly given my soul after death if asked."

But it wasn't enough.

My level was insufficient.

"But I was too lacking to pay the price for returning home. So I came to the Abyss. To raise my value, to borrow a Devil’s power to return home."

When I finished speaking that far, I raised my head.

My eyes stung from staring at the fire too long.

But rubbing them would make it worse, so I just tilted my head up to endure.

"Anyway, that's it."

Moisture covered my stinging eyes, cooling them.

Finally feeling better.

"Let's get some sleep. I'm first watch, right? Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you later."

While luminous dust mites were absent and the campfire provided the only light.

There were those who pushed back the darkness, expanding beyond the campfire's light.

People approached while deliberately making their presence known.

They kindly spoke first, in case we hadn't noticed them, "Just three. All Novices too. Practically being served on a plate."

"With that setup, aren't they just begging us to take advantage of their carelessness?"

They laughed unpleasantly.

A quick glance showed five in total.

Roughly, two Regulars and three Novices.

A very standard composition for a First Floor exploration team.

The two who had been running their mouths were the Regulars.

We must really be getting close to the Signpost Tree… seeing how even trash like this is drawn here.

I openly looked them up and down while speaking, "You've been on quite the expedition."

They burst into open mockery with a "Puhah!"

"Did you hear that? 'You've been on quite the expedition.'"

"Yeah, we're on our way back. Why? Hoping we're tired? Too bad. We're coming back empty-handed. Those damn Bugbears have been too active lately."

Regardless of what they were saying, I continued my observation.

"About a month? At the bare minimum three months."

My words changed their attitude completely.

From pure dismissal to showing some wariness.

Seems I hit the mark.

If they'd been in Res Limen, or even the Main Base, the chance of them not recognizing our team with our hoods off was very low.

If they knew and still did this, they would have attacked immediately to minimize traces and prevent us from escaping, rather than wasting time talking nonsense.

Stress from a failed expedition.

Ignorance about their targets.

And greed beyond their means.

These three factors combined to create this situation.

"I was in quite a good mood until now. I was feeling nostalgic for the first time in a while. The quiet surroundings were bringing back old memories."

One of the Regular guys who'd been running his mouth earlier slowly gripped his weapon.

A morning star.

He used quite a brutal weapon.

"So what? Going to say you'll let us off because you're in a good mood—something stupid like that?"

"You shouldn’t bluff so blatantly."

The second Regular joined in.

Standard sword style.

Are the three Novices in the back mages?

Well, doesn't matter either way.

"No."

I stood up.

These guys gave us time despite having the chance to ambush.

I could tell how much they were underestimating us.

Though even if they had tried their best, the result wouldn't have changed.

"Shouldn't you at least know why you're dying? Might feel less unfair that way?"

From the moment they disrupted my contemplation with their pathetic killing intent, their fates had been.