Chapter 76 - Shortcut Sealing Operation (2)

​​​​​​​​It didn't take long after Viola's boast for the source of that roar to appear.

Despite what should have been quite a distance, judging by the volume of the sound and its echo, it happened quickly.

The source of the roar came charging through the highway-like passage Viola had carved through the labyrinth at an incredible speed, as if it were racing down the Autobahn.

When I activated my now-habitual Far Sight and Magic Vision, I saw that the figure was unmistakably human in form.

At least it wasn’t a monster.

Though there were monsters that could imitate human voices.

The first impression I got when I properly saw him could be expressed in one word.

How should I put it... it might be a bit rude, but the term that instantly came to mind was “cave dweller”.

Covered in dirt, carrying a large backpack, moving almost on all fours.

Moreover, his entire body bore traces that clearly showed he'd spent a long time in this maze, fulfilling both meanings of the term “cave dweller”.

"Is he one of those, you know, who live underground?"

"A Dwarf?"

"Yeah! That!"

"He seems too tall for that? The proportions don't really match a dwarf either."

He did have a bushy beard.

But unlike Dwarves who meticulously maintain their beards dreaming of becoming master craftsmen, his was just an unkempt growth left to its own devices.

As if confirming my speculation, Viola spoke, "He's human."

She didn't stop there, continuing with the man's details.

His identity was Hernan Wakefield.

His official title given by the Union starting from Expert rank was Cartographer.

However, he had another title that was used even more frequently than his official Union designation.

This second title, unofficial yet more famous than the official one, came out just as Hernan stopped in front of us after his furious dash.

"Long time no see, Labyrinth Crawler."

One who crawled through the labyrinth.

Quite a fitting nickname considering Hernan's method of movement just now.

Viola greeted him with a grin.

Surprisingly, Hernan showed no sign of shock.

Well, there are only a few people who could pull off something this absurd.

The list of candidates could probably be counted on one hand.

Instead of surprise, Hernan grumbled with obvious irritation.

"...After not coming down for years, this is what you do?"

"It would be too wide to search for you. But we got lucky. I was planning to do this two or three more times."

"Are you insane?!" Hernan shouted in horror as Viola cackled.

Really.

Just as Rei had said, she was quite the troublemaker.

It was ridiculous enough that her first action upon arriving was to thrust her lance through walls, but it turned out that was literally like ringing a doorbell to her.

She was planning to do it several more times if he didn't show up right away.

Even pranksters wouldn't ring doorbells that way.

"Now that you're here, that's settled."

"...Are you looking for a path down to the Third Floor? If so, I'll tell you, just leave quickly."

It sounded like he was telling us to get lost.

But unfortunately for him, we weren't here just to pass through to the Third Floor.

"Don't you know? Shortcuts have opened on the Second Floor. Probably simultaneously. Strange that you wouldn't know about this?"

"I haven't left my base recently. It's organization period. But if they're simultaneous..."

"What else could it be? Those cultists are at it again."

Viola irritably stretched out her hand.

"So hand over the maps."

"...This is basically robbery."

"I prefer to use the term 'requisition'?"

Besides, you're also being requisitioned.

It's like asking, "We're having a party at your house, want to come?"

"Haa, I suppose I have no right to refuse. Fine. If there's an abnormal situation, it would be better to resolve it quickly."

Surprisingly, Hernan accepted the situation quickly.

He probably calculated that getting this over with and sending Viola away somewhere would be much more efficient.

Like a veteran Explorer, he was quick to assess the situation.

"First, we need to get to the meeting point. We agreed to meet at E-20 Plaza, supposedly the center. Guide us there."

§

Hernan, forcibly recruited by Viola's high-handed actions, proved to be an excellent guide.

While Rei, our team's guide, was skilled, Hernan seemed to know the entire structure of the Second Floor like the back of his hand.

"Press there, and a hidden passage opens. It's like a secret door."

As demonstrated now, he was thoroughly familiar with even special gimmicks, making him knowledgeable about shortcuts.

Truly befitting of a Cartographer.

A man with the obsessive goal of completing a perfect map of the Second Floor.

Hernan focused solely on guiding us while clearly giving off an air of “I'm not interested in you—I don't want to associate with you,” so I took the initiative to start a conversation.

"How long have you been staying in the Second Floor, Mr. Hernan?"

"...Well. Over 5 years."

"5 years... is that possible?"

"Major expeditions are measured in years. My duration isn't even considered that long."

"Do you get supplies?"

"If you want to go deeper, focus more on local procurement."

So he meant hunting monsters for food and finding water sources within the Abyss.

That was basic Explorer knowledge.

I wasn't asking because I didn't know, but more as an ice-breaker.

"But is it really possible to create maps of the Second Floor?"

Not only was it vast, but as previously mentioned, the Second Floor's structure changed periodically.

At its longest, it maintained its structure for over a year, and at its shortest, it changed within a month.

On average, it was considered to have a six-month cycle.

They say it took Kim Jeong-ho five years to create the Daedongyeojido map.

Even though the Second Floor's maze was much smaller than the Korean Peninsula and there were supernatural abilities and mysterious relics that didn't exist on Earth, it would still take months to create a map.

Wouldn't that mean any map made would become useless and need to be discarded after barely any use?

"It's possible," however, Hernan answered immediately in a firm tone that held not a trace of doubt.

"We just need to find the pattern of changes."

"Isn't it random?"

"Even the First Floor's transfer points change according to mana flow. There's a pattern there. We were able to build the Main Base because we discovered that pattern."

Then if we could discover the Second Floor's pattern of change, creating a map wouldn't be impossible.

That was what Hernan claimed.

"I have secured 103 maps in total."

"103?"

Is that even possible?

Even counting in six-month intervals, that was data accumulated over 50 years.

"I obtained them by acquiring ones made by previous generations and restoring historically recorded ones. Though the data is still insufficient, with time and more maps, we'll definitely be able to read the pattern."

It was madness.

Throwing one's life into something that might have no answer, something countless people must have attempted over hundreds of years only to fail—that alone was a form of insanity.

They say being an Explorer itself was a job one couldn’t do properly without being a bit crazy, but Hernan was exceptional.

I could guess which guild he belonged to.

"Are you with Enigma, Mr. Hernan?"

"That's right."

As expected.

If there was an Expert-rank Explorer willing to take on such an absurd challenge, they had to be with Enigma.

"But why the sudden query? Pelletier must have told you that much?"

"Ah, I'm not with Frontier."

"Oh really?"

His voice, which had been somewhat unfriendly until now, showed interest for the first time.

"Then?"

"I'm with the Telema School, no guild affiliation. With Frontier... well, Arthur over there is the Guild Master's direct disciple and my classmate from the training center. That's how we ended up working together."

"Hoh, that's unexpected. Pelletier allowed cooperation just for that?"

"One of my team members trained there too. See that lion beast-folk over there? That's the one."

"Hmph. Don't get too friendly with Frontier. They're nothing but trouble."

"I can hear you."

Though Viola sent a warning from behind, true to Enigma's reputation for gathering real eccentrics, Hernan showed his temper.

"I meant for you to hear."

To think he could speak so boldly to a Pioneer.

While it might be because Hernan was far from normal, realistically speaking, it was probably because he had strong backing.

The two pillars of Abyss exploration.

Along with Frontier and Conquerors, Enigma was the third guild to have a Pioneer.

Among the five major guilds, only these three had produced Pioneers.

Because Hernan had a Pioneer solidly backing him, he could act so brazenly even toward Viola, another Pioneer.

So it really is all about connections in this world.

Showing incredible nerve, Hernan completely ignored Viola and asked me, "So observation is your purpose?"

"Well, yes, but the Sentinel fights are our responsibility."

"Sentinel?"

You?

As Novices?

Though not voiced aloud, Hernan's tone, expression, and gestures clearly suggested the unspoken doubt of “You?”

However, Hernan didn't just keep that doubt to himself.

"There happens to be a Sentinel nearby. Hmm... though it's only Under-rank, it would be good to confirm if shortcuts really do open in Sentinel territories."

Of course, while also checking if we could really defeat a Sentinel, right?

§

The debris scattered on the floor.

It was unmistakably the remains of a Sentinel, the terror of the Second Floor.

And standing before it were four beginners who had just stepped onto the path of becoming Explorers.

Forgetting even Viola who was making appreciative noises, Hernan stared only at Roman, the one who had delivered the final blow to the Sentinel.

What is this?

Is he really a Devil Sorcerer?

Why does he have so much mana?

Hernan didn't consider himself a person of common sense.

He himself had long departed from the realm of common sense.

However, this was something else entirely, departing from common sense in a completely different way.

"You... perhaps..."

Hernan, still in shock, struggled to speak, "Would you consider joining our guild?"