Inside the Gigas Horse Carriage
Inside the carriage, there were private rooms equipped with beds. It had the essentials for living, like a kitchen and food storage, making it clear why it was labeled as an expedition vehicle. There was even a shared bath, it seemed.
Despite being pulled by such a massive horse, the carriage hardly swayed. According to Barm, there was some mechanism in the wheels that prevented the shaking, but I couldn’t quite grasp the details. Apparently, all of this utilized the technology from the Kingdom of Metallica. I recently learned that most of the convenient items we use in our daily lives are made in Metallica. From iron ships that can wipe out sea monsters in an instant to various other strange inventions, that kingdom is truly something else. Whenever I think of Metallica, the annoying faces of Genia and Platiu come to mind, leaving me feeling uneasy. Although they said they were always ready to help, I’d prefer not to rely on them if I can help it.
“This promotion exam is just absurd every year. I’ve seen many lose their lives, and it’s not uncommon for those who pass and become A-Rank to be called to heaven the very next year. This year, I must pass. If I fail, I’ll quit for good. How many times have I resolved to do that… Hahaha.”
Barm often talks to us. It seems he lost his wife and child, and he tends to fuss over kids around our age. Just earlier, he shared stories about past A-Rank promotion exams without us even asking. Because of that, I felt guilty about having peeked at the answers.
“By the way, do you really have the poison resistance to down that Dragon Slayer Poison? Even a Poison Salamander can kill with its venom. It’s not something that can be trained away…”
Resistance to status ailments is mostly innate and influenced by one’s personality. For instance, someone like Roel, who panics easily, tends to be weak against confusion. I’ve heard that hot-tempered people are prone to rampaging as well. While mental status ailments like confusion and rampage can be somewhat mitigated through training, poison resistance is rare. It’s indeed strange for a human to be unaffected by poison, and I understand that.
But I’m different. Initially, I struggled with poison, but now I’m fine. I’ve grown accustomed to confusion and rampage after suffering through them repeatedly. Back then, I thought it was normal, but listening to Barm and observing others, I’ve started to realize that it isn’t.
“Adapting to status ailments, huh? As an alchemist, you’re quite an intriguing specimen, but I won’t pry. However, it’s hard to believe someone like you will be left alone forever. One day, someone with ill intentions might come along. It’s best to be cautious.”
For a brief moment, the two from Metallica flashed through my mind. I couldn’t help but think that they might be the ones to watch out for. Still, while Platiu is a bit odd, I don’t think she’s a bad person.
“We’ll be arriving at the next exam site soon. Before that, let me give you a brief explanation.”
In front of the remaining 300 or so participants, Shinbu began his high-pitched explanation. I didn’t quite understand the nickname “Fancy Kill,” but after hearing the B-Rank adventurers talk about him, I finally grasped how feared he was. He was said to have assassinated key figures in criminal organizations, taken out commanders without being detected amidst thousands of troops, and nearly wiped out floor monsters across the continent—all without a scratch. Rumors swirled about how his flamboyant attire was a deliberate provocation to reveal his location.
Yuyu seemed kind, so there were some who expressed their dissatisfaction, but so far, no one had dared to confront Shinbu. No matter how unreasonable the exam content might be, I felt that wouldn’t change. That’s why no one commented on his strange, swaying movements. Seriously, what was that about? Was he just odd?
“Right now, the windows are covered, so you have no idea where we’re headed. The next exam requires you to safely escape from a certain location; that’s one condition for passing. The other is whether you possess the strength to qualify as A-Rank upon escape, and I will be the judge of that. You should be able to figure out how to prove that on your own.”
“So, just barely escaping won’t guarantee a pass, huh?”
“That’s something I’ll decide.”
Someone asked a question, but no clear answer was given. The lack of explanation about where we were going or what kind of place it was felt a bit careless. I didn’t expect much from Shinbu anyway. Just like Yuyu’s exam, there might be hidden paths we didn’t anticipate. Conversely, there could also be traps.
“Are we being taken to some dungeon?”
“Now that you mention it, we haven’t really entered many dungeons, have we? We went to the Mithril Mine during the soldiers’ training, but that was just at the entrance.”
“I hope it’s not some weird place…”
I was certain it would be a strange place. Keeping it a secret until we arrived was anything but normal. Based on the current explanation, this massive carriage was heading deep into a dungeon. That meant a cave was quite possible.
About two hours after boarding the carriage, the truth became clear. However, nothing was visible outside the window. No, to be precise, it was white. I could see, but it was white, which meant…
The Mist Dungeon: Mist Village
The massive carriage was barreling through this mist. I could faintly see trees in the distance, so it must be a forest. What caught my attention was the muddy, boggy ground. It looked like it had rained recently. Mist surrounded us on all sides, enveloping this place in white. What on earth was this place?
“We’ve arrived.”
“W-where is this…? Shinbu, are you serious?”
“You all want to become A-Rank, right? Then you need to be able to get through a place like Mist Village.”
The B-Rank adventurers were buzzing with anxiety. Their reactions made it clear that this wasn’t a place to traverse easily. Mist Village, so that was the name of this place.
“Now, as you know, this is Mist Village. It thrived as a reasonably large village until over fifty years ago, when it was suddenly devastated by a flood. Not a single resident survived, and it’s recorded as an unprecedented disaster on this continent. The extent of the damage is evident from this very ground. Even after fifty years, the scars remain, which is already strange in itself.”
Shinbu surveyed the surroundings before continuing his explanation. Even in this moment, he didn’t stop his swaying movements.
“The problem lies in the strength of the monsters and this mist. The low survival rate from this dungeon is largely due to the mist. Additionally, as you can see, the ground can turn into bottomless swamps in certain areas, so be careful.”
“Mist Village… A Danger Level of 44? Even A-Rank adventurers sometimes don’t return from this dangerous area…”
“I’ve heard rumors about man-eating mist… So it’s true.”
Already, nearly half of the participants were trembling in fear. It was impressive that the Gigas Horse and the massive carriage had entered this place so calmly. This meant that the monsters in this dungeon were likely weaker than the Gigas Horse.
While the atmosphere was ominous, this environment was nothing compared to the Abyss Cave. Mist, bottomless swamps, monsters. I suspected there would be ghost-type monsters here too, which was Roel’s specialty. Seeing her gripping her Fire Rod, full of determination, made it clear that she didn’t find it frightening.
“Of course, it’s fine to withdraw here. If you do, the carriage will take you to the exit, so don’t worry. Protecting your life when you feel in danger is a form of strength and choice; it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Why say that only after we’ve arrived? But seeing people trembling in fear made it more effective for those who were considering withdrawing. A quick glance revealed that Barm, Kank, and Marilyn showed no signs of wanting to withdraw. Watching Barm yawn widely again, it seemed he had the strength to easily overcome a dungeon of this level.
“It’s a decent challenge, but I, Borbs, have no intention of backing down.”
“If you get stuck in the swamp with that big body, you might never get back up.”
“How about I lead the way, huh? This is Josh speaking!”
“Shut up! Are you trying to pick a fight again?!”
Aside from the notable figures, Borbs and Josh also showed no signs of fear. Especially Borbs, who was snapping his fingers, eagerly awaiting the start of the exam. The merchant who had given money to pass the first exam was checking his funds, and the knight stood quietly nearby.
“Those who want to run should just get out of here already. Hey, Shinbu, let’s get this started. I’ve been waiting long enough.”
“There are thirty-one dropouts here… Oh, I’m heading to the exit with this carriage, but following me would be pointless.”
As soon as Shinbu finished speaking, he vanished from the spot. Soon after, the massive carriage itself began to disappear as well. It seemed to blend into the background, as if it had never been there at all. When the onlookers rushed to where the carriage had been, it had truly vanished.
I didn’t know what kind of skill he used, but I figured it was probably Shinbu’s doing. He hadn’t really disappeared; he must have used a skill to make himself invisible. The rough breathing of the Gigas Horse could still be faintly heard, though I couldn’t quite grasp why the rumbling of its steps was silent. It had to be another one of Shinbu’s skills—perhaps one that silenced both sight and sound. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at how versatile his abilities were.
“Tch, this place gives me the creeps.”
Borbs walked into the mist and faded away. The remaining candidates were a mixed bunch. With the dropouts gone, some were now bewildered. There were at least two hundred of us here, but how many would make it out safely?
“Lua-chan, we just need to get through here, right? Which way should we go?”
“I don’t know either. Should we follow that Borbs guy?”
“Heh heh heh, naive. That guy is definitely going to die. Actually, there’s a relatively safe route, but of course, I can’t teach it to you for free.”
Before I knew it, a merchant had approached us, offering his advice. When I heard the price of four thousand gold, I politely declined, and the merchant, with a creepy smile, also faded into the mist. By the time I thought to follow him, he was nowhere to be seen. I noticed that other candidates were gradually disappearing too. Perhaps they had made up their minds and started walking.
“Well, let’s just walk for now.”
“Yeah. If we get lost, I can just carry Roel on my back and run.”
“Are you talking about how you did it in Avangarde Castle Town? That sounds a bit embarrassing…”
“Who cares? No one is watching. The ground is uneven, so let’s use the trees around us for support.”
As we joked around, we began to walk. Just as Shinbu had said, the ground was terrible, and at times, we sank up to our ankles. It was cruel of Shinbu not to warn us about the dangers of this place. If people could lose their lives here, he could at least have prepared us a little.
【Poison Zombie has appeared! HP 644】
【Swamp Snake has appeared! HP 503】
A snake suddenly lunged at me from the mud below. It wasn’t a bad ambush, but the way the mud heaved up just before it struck earned it a score of fifty. I scoffed at my own judgment as I grabbed it and tore it apart. To my surprise, it was longer than I expected when I dragged it out of the mud.
The other zombie looked like it might have once been a villager. No, judging by that rusted armor, it was definitely a former adventurer. Had they lost their way and perished here? All its hair had fallen out, making it impossible to tell if it was male or female. It was a wonder that its eyeballs were still intact. It was pitiful, but at this point, it was just another monster that had to be defeated.
【Swamp Snake defeated! HP 0/503】
【Roel swung her Fire Rod! Dealt 1866 damage to Poison Zombie!
Poison Zombie defeated! HP 0/644】
Even considering its weakness to fire, I was surprised by Roel’s strength. The Fire Rod shouldn’t have been that powerful; it was supposed to be a beginner’s weapon. Yet, the damage it dealt was more akin to incineration than mere burning.
“Wow, I’m getting stronger! Hey, Lua-chan, how about you?”
Roel twirled around, her excitement infectious, and I felt a sense of satisfaction. She was a bit clumsy as she spun, almost losing her footing, but that only made her cuter.
◆ Mist Dungeon – Mist Village – Before the Ruined Village ◆
Decaying wooden houses stood all around us. The roofs had long since rotted away, leaving mostly walls behind. In the center, there was a well. A wooden bucket for drawing water lay abandoned, a remnant of the lives once lived here. Parts of the area were completely submerged, making it difficult to find solid ground. For some reason, the mist here was slightly thinner, allowing us to see the surroundings more clearly.
“People used to live here, huh?”
Saying it out loud suddenly made me feel sad. Was my own Ikana Village in a similar state? There must have been memories packed into this place too. It was an eerie ruin, but before it fell into disrepair, perhaps women had laughed by the well, and children had played in front of those houses. It bore a resemblance to my village, and I felt tears welling up.
“Hey, Roel… Roel?”
The Roel who had been beside me was gone. She wouldn’t just wander off on her own, and even as I frantically scanned the area, I couldn’t find her.
“Roel! Where did you go?!”
“…A…”
From somewhere, a faint voice reached my ears. Straining to listen in the quiet misty town, I noticed a light flickering in one of the houses. No way, there couldn’t be anyone living here.
“Is someone there?”
“…Lua.”
“W-Who?! Why do you know my name…?”
That house was the very one I had lived in. It looked tidy now, though it had been in ruins before. Smoke was rising from the chimney. The mist had completely cleared, revealing everything.
“Lua, welcome home.”
After ten long years, I heard that voice again. My mother, who had waited for my father to return from the fields, preparing warm meals. The sight of her standing at the door blurred through my tears.