STGB Episode 402

Ice Rock(3)

“Traitor…?”

“What do you mean?”

The team leaders frowned at my blunt words.

But perhaps they roughly understood what my statement implied.

James Carla cautiously spoke up.

“Is this perhaps about the incident where we lost the supplies?”

I confirmed without making him wait.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But that incident was—”

“A coincidence? The fact that you mentioned it as soon as I brought up a traitor suggests you also found it suspicious?”

“That’s…”

James Carla closed his mouth, seemingly at a loss for words.

As if to speak on his behalf, Akuraba chimed in, not hiding her displeasure

“Thinking about it on your own is one thing; mentioning it outright is another. That’s an extremely sensitive and dangerous topic to mention based on mere suspicion.”

She’s absolutely right.

But there was one crucial part of the conversation she was missing.

“So, what exactly is your point?”

“No matter whom you suspect among us, you must have solid evidence that convinces us all.”

Sigh, she hits a sore spot.

Does she think I’m suspecting her?

Well, she was in charge of supply management.

To clear up any misunderstanding before it deepened, I responded firmly.

“Don’t worry. I’m not suspecting any of you.”

“What? But earlier you definitely…”

“If I suspected any of you, I wouldn’t be talking to you about this so openly, would I?”

To be precise, I did suspect all of them at first, but not anymore.

Because I’ve found out who the culprit is.

Fortunately, none of our precious team leaders were the culprit.

“Then… who are you suspecting as the traitor?”

“It’s Pike Neldaine.”

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned to James Carla.

“He was a warrior in James Carla’s team, right?”

“He was also the guy who went around badmouthing the expedition leader whenever he had the chance.”

“Hmm… then his goal might have been to undermine the expedition leader.”

The three seemed to be imagining the situation in their heads, assuming what I said was true.

James Carla, noticing their stares, hurriedly spoke.

“W-wait! Isn’t this all a misunderstanding? Sure, Neldaine can be narrow-minded, but—”

“How do you know him well enough to say that?”

“…?”

“We’ve already done a thorough investigation on him. He joined the expedition based on a recommendation from the Explorers’ Guild, right? You hadn’t known him beforehand; you only met him when he joined us.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Schuiz, I think it would be wise to first explain why you believe he’s a traitor. And if you have any evidence, that would be even better.”

Evidence, evidence, evidence.

If I hear that one more time, my ears might start to ring, but anyway, I carefully explained the reasons why I thought Pike Neldaine was the traitor.

And when the explanation was over.

“Indeed…”

“I can tell you’re not just making this up.”

“Although it’s still just suspicion, it’s enough to warrant doubt.”

All the team leaders accepted that my suspicion was reasonable.

Ah, except that guy James.

“But we’re still missing the most important thing—evidence! No one will be convinced with just circumstantial claims! Some might even see this as a form of retaliation!”

This was the first time this guy raised his voice, but I wasn’t particularly offended.

It’s natural for a team leader to try to protect his team members.

“Calm down. I know that, which is why I’ve gathered all of you to have an honest conversation.”

Looking James Carla in the eye, I asked him:

“Answer me this—do you still believe my suspicions are groundless?”

“No… I don’t.”

“Good. Then let’s move on.”

Before he could speak further, I clapped my hands loudly to refocus everyone’s attention.

“Listen up. I’m going to need everyone’s help from here on out.”

“Help with…?”

“I’ll explain.”

I shared the plan I had prepared with the team leaders, and soon received agreement from all of them.

And then…

“It must be getting dark outside by now.”

Night had come.

Well, not that it made much difference in this dark cave.

“Alright, that concludes our talk. Go and gather everyone, including Pike Neldaine.”

It was time to hold a trial.

***

The frozen ceiling and walls.

A massive sinkhole in the center of the chamber.

And around it, a camp filled with thirty members of the expedition team.

“I’m exhausted, what’s going on? Does anyone know?”

“I heard there’s a traitor within the expedition.”

“…A traitor?”

“Yeah, and supposedly that traitor is behind the loss of our supplies too.”

It seems the team leaders had leaked some information as I instructed, and deep confusion was evident on the faces of the gathered members.

But it didn’t take long for that emotion to turn into curiosity.

“So who is that traitor?”

“Well, we’ll find out soon enough.”

“True. If they gathered us all at this hour, it must mean they’ve identified someone.”

As the murmurs subsided, more eyes focused on me. But I ignored those gazes and focused on one individual.

“Neldaine, is something wrong?”

Pike Neldaine.

The warrior from James Carla’s team who spent his days gossiping about me behind my back.

‘Look at him squirm.’

At first, he flinched and looked away when our eyes met, but now he stood there, staring back at me defiantly.

A typical trait of a liar.

They avoid eye contact, worried they’ll give something away.

“Alright, everyone, quiet down!”

At my signal, Kaislan  stepped forward to calm the crowd, and soon a chilly silence settled over the area.

The perfect atmosphere for speaking.

“Pike Neldaine, step forward.”

As soon as I finished speaking, all the members’ gazes shifted to one spot.

“What? Could it be that guy?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s not certain.”

Whispers could be heard here and there.

“Aren’t you going to come out?”

At my words, those around Pike Neldaine stepped back, creating a path.

And then…

Tap, tap.

He walked forward with a deep frown, standing confidently in front of me.

“…I’m here, but…”

“Quite confident, aren’t you?”

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be? Anyway, let’s hear it. What’s the reason you’ve called me?”

He glared at me with a confrontational gaze.

Exactly what I expected.

I never assumed he’d break down and confess everything out of fear.

“Pike Neldaine.”

“I’m listening, so go on.”

“You are under suspicion of committing a serious act of treason.”

“…Treason?”

“You’ve inflicted serious damage on the expedition established under the king’s command, I’d say that constitutes treason, wouldn’t you?”

“I don’t understand this situation at all. What exactly are you accusing me of? If this is because I’ve been talking badly about you—”

“Pike Neldaine!”

I raised my voice, cutting him off before he could run his mouth.

“On two separate occasions during the expedition, you caused a collapse, leading to the loss of vital supplies. Do you deny it?”

“Of course I deny it. It’s not true.”

“So you intend to deny it to the end?”

“Why are the rest of you just standing around? Isn’t it absurd that the expedition leader is persecuting a member without any evidence?”

He shouted loudly, not at me but at the others, and ṭhe public opinion began to shift slightly.

“This… doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Bringing someone out without evidence isn’t exactly…”

“Well, he was always bad-mouthing the leader…”

“But calling someone a traitor out of the blue, without proof….”

“Wasn’t the ground collapse an accident?”

His tactic was obvious.

He wanted to make them think I was acting out of personal vengeance.

“Schuiz, you’re making a grave mistake.”

He looked at me with a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

“If you want to accuse and persecute me, then you’d better provide solid evidence that everyone here can accept.”

“Evidence, huh….”

This had been the biggest sticking point.

Torturing him into a confession? Impractical.

Using a verification spell?

Most seasoned explorers become resistant to such spells by the fifth floor, so it wouldn’t even work on many of them.

I’d considered and reconsidered this problem repeatedly.

And then…

‘There’s no solution.’

So I made my decision.

If I couldn’t extract a confession with subtle questioning—

“Well, if you have no—”

There was only one way.

「The character has cast[Gigantification]」

My body expanded instantly.

With a quick movement, I extended my hand and grabbed his throat.

“…!”

The members looked surprised, but no one immediately moved.

It’s the explorer’s instinct.

If they don’t fully understand the situation, most will stay quiet and watch.

“K-kugh, what the hell—!”

“You like making friends, huh? Funny how none of them are stepping up to help you now.”

“S-stop—!”

Stop? We’re just getting started.

I tightened my grip, blocking his airway.

Thump! Thump!

He punched my arm with all his strength, but it was futile in my eyes.

Slowly, I bent my arm to pull him closer.

And then…

“Neldaine, do you know?”

“…Mmph!”

“Evidence isn’t necessary. As the expedition leader, I have the authority to execute any team member under urgent circumstances.”

“Kh… kkh!”

“And I consider this an urgent situation.”

When I loosened my grip slightly, he seized the chance and shouted desperately.

“Everyone outside will know, they won’t—!”

“They won’t believe it?”

The nobles aren’t fools.

Besides, with so many watching here?

The moment I execute him, the marquis’s rivals will hold me responsible and force me to resign as the expedition leader.

But…

“Do you think I care?”

“…?!”

“That’s not my problem.”

With a genuine intent to kill, I tightened my grip on his throat, summoning all my strength.

Snap—

Before long, his veins stood out rigidly, and his blood-filled head started to turn bright red.

“…!!”

Desperately trying to stay conscious, he no longer looked at me. 

Instead, his eyes searched the room, as if begging for salvation.

“Should… should we just let this go?”

“This is bound to become an issue….”

“Sir Kaislan! Shouldn’t we stop this?”

Voices of concern rose from the crew members.

But the team leaders who heard these questions remained silent, observing the situation without interference.

After all, our agreement had been settled.

“…….”

“…….”

Was it because the team leaders watched in silence, showing their support for my actions?

Before I knew it, even those who had been actively expressing concern and insisting we should intervene had fallen silent.

And then…

“Ah… n-no…”

The one who realized this most deeply was the man in front of me, hanging by his neck.

What ‘no’?

“Enough. Die.”

I drew up killing intent from deep within and put all my strength into the hand gripping his neck.

Crack—!

His neck bones were crushed.

The whites of his eyes began to show intermittently.

His eyeballs protruded grotesquely.

“Shit”

At that moment, someone watching the scene spat out a curse and screamed.

“Pike Neldaine has cast [Overload].”

Unable to withstand the explosive increase in his body weight, my arm struggled to hold him up.

So, he finally decided to use it.

Boom!

As my arm angle lowered, his body touched the ground.

“Ugh…!”

As soon as I released his neck, he collapsed, clutching his throat and gasping for breath.

Then he shouted with all his might.

“He’s c-crazy! W-what are you all doing! You need to stop this madman!”

His near-death outburst shook the crowd.

For a moment, some seemed to wonder if they should intervene.

“What are you all waiting for?!”

He shouted, glancing desperately at the team leaders as if pleading for justice.

Yet the team leaders only looked at him with cold, unforgiving expressions.

“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.”

“So it’s true—he used [Overload]. Something no warrior should possess.”

“Let’s restrain him first. If he kills himself, we’ll lose the chance to hear him talk.”

Here’s today’s lesson:

If you have suspicions, you can create evidence.