STGB Episode 485

Pilgrim (3)

Thud, thud, thud -!

We advanced through the corridor, defeating Imperial soldiers along the way.

The closer we got to the centre, the more soldiers there were, but the fights became easier.

Not only was I accompanied by Versil, who could act as a healer, but my stats were also increasing.

Thud!

Hmm, at this point I think my stats are about the same as when I was wandering around the third floor…

[The character has entered the Pilgrim’s Altar]

Soon, Versil and I reached the centre, where a purple mist was swirling.

“Be careful. From now on, it wouldn’t be strange for anything to appear.”

“Understood.”

We raised our guard and stepped into the mist.

Step, step.

Protecting my upper body with my shield, I took a few steps forward.

The cave we had raided earlier came into view.

I checked the terrain first.

“……”

The cave was empty.

Where there should have been a monument, there was a stone statue over 4 metres high.

“Mr Jandel, this is…”

“This must be the witch’s altar.”

Looks like we’ve come to the right place.

After making sure no one was around, I approached the statue and examined the altar closely.

“Versil, do you notice anything?”

“No. The statue too… The witch I read about in books didn’t look like this…”

“Well, books would have to portray her as an evil being.”

“Yes… I guess that’s true… So, is this really what the witch looked like?”

Hmm, I’m not sure, but probably.

She looks exactly like that girl I briefly met after defeating Riakis.

“To think she looks like… such a young girl…”

Versil Gowland murmured, reaching out to the statue as if entranced.

“Stop. If you touch it, something might go wrong.”

“Ah, right!”

Versil winced and withdrew her hand. 

Then she cautiously asked me,

“…What are we going to do now?”

“First, we need to investigate further.”

I examined the statue without making direct contact.

There were three lines of text inscribed on the pedestal, but unfortunately, I couldn’t decipher them.

“Ancient language isn’t my specialty…”

Tsk, Raven could read ancient languages just fine.

I guess a player’s knowledge can’t match that of a pure-blooded mage.

“Too bad. If only we knew what it said, it might’ve helped—”

But just as I was about to continue,

“One star, one sun, one moon.”

A strange voice came from behind.

“Looking down upon this land, all shall be equal.”

Turning around, I saw a middle-aged man in knight’s armor watching us.

“I shall look up to you.”

Damn, he looks old.

Is he the boss?

Surely he won’t use aura, right?

“Isn’t it disgusting? That filthy monsters like you would be equal to us.”

As I shielded Versil behind me and raised my shield, the knight chuckled.

“Ah, but not you. Had you clung to righteous conviction, you’d never have betrayed mankind.”

With these words he drew a holy sign, a sign I had never seen before.

“I, Argarsil Dreadfear, swear upon the Empire’s blade, guardian of this world: not a single defiled pilgrim shall escape judgment.”

With a wave, he drew his sword.

Hwoooom-!

A radiant aura surged around the blade.

Is this balance for real?

 

***

 

The moment I saw the aura radiating from the blade,

My vision darkened and my neck stiffened.

Winning through normal combat is impossible.

This premise is unquestionable.

No matter how much I increase my stats, there’s no way I can win against a knight who can use aura. One swing would cut me in half, shield and all.

But…

…So I have to find a way.

Rather than despairing over the situation, I’d rather think.

How can I defeat this bastard?

‘There must be a way.’

[Dungeon & Stone] may be an unfriendly game, but it’s not an unfair one.

If the game threw an aura-wielding boss at us with locked stats and skills, there must be a way to deal with him somewhere.

Yeah, so…

‘Think.’

I held onto my faith and analyzed the situation step by step.

Argarsil Dreadfear.

First, there’s no doubt he’s the boss.

So, how can I defeat him?

‘Leveling up isn’t the answer.’

After all, once I’d killed over 100, I’d have to kill ten soldiers instead of five to increase my stats.

Even if I continued like this, it would take days of grinding to reach a level where I could defeat this guy.

‘So… is it the altar?

I looked at the witch statue.

Maybe, as the soldiers said, activating the altar would trigger an event that could help in the fight.

‘The problem is figuring out how to activate it.

Swoosh.

Naturally, I took a step back and approached the statue.

And then…

Tap.

I reached out and put my hand on the statue.

“……”

Unfortunately, nothing happened.

It seems that some condition has to be fulfilled.

Since it’s an altar, do I have to offer something?

Just as this thought crossed my mind,

“Bring the captured pilgrims.”

The knight who had been pointing his sword at us suddenly spoke into the air.

Surprisingly, an answer came from beyond the mist.

“Yes, Captain.”

A disciplined voice replied.

Soon, dozens of soldiers emerged from the mist, surrounding two women bound tightly with ropes.

“Ah, Mister!”

“B-Bjorn…! Have you come to save us…!”

So these two were caught before they could get here on their own. I thought Erwin could make it alone, but I guess even she couldn’t.

While I was relieved that the soldiers hadn’t executed them on the spot, I tried to interpret the current situation rationally.

This seems to be a scripted event.

Erwin and Aynar were captured on the way, but they survived and arrived here as prisoners.

Is this really a coincidence?

It seems that the scenario is for us all to gather alive in front of the witch’s altar…

“…Urk!”

“Urk!!”

The knight kicked Erwin and Aynar towards us, and Versil quickly moved to untie them.

“Sorry…”

“Th-thank you for saving us!”

Erwin apologised, while Aynar expressed her gratitude.

Unlike Versil, the two were armed with weapons and armor likely taken from the soldiers.

Erwin had a dagger, and Aynar wielded a greatsword.

They didn’t even confiscate their weapons… What’s the deal?

“What’s the meaning of this?”

The knight smirked at my question.

“I simply wanted to confirm something.”

“What?”

“How firm your convictions are—you who betrayed the Empire and the world.”

He then addressed all of us.

“Kill each other. Here, before the witch you serve. Prove your loyalty.”

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

Does this guy think he’s some kind of demon lord?

“I, Dreadfear, promise this: those who kill the defiled pilgrims and prove their purity shall be absolved of all sins.”

This boss fight’s concept is brutal.

****

Dozens of soldiers surrounded us, and Dreadfear stood in the centre, his sword drawn and his gaze filled with arrogance.

“…….”

“…….”

A tense silence followed.

Of course, none of my companions were tempted by his offer.

Well, except maybe me.

“How can we trust your offer?”

“Bjorn…?”

Aynar looked like she might faint from shock at my question, but I had no choice.

I haven’t fully processed the situation yet.

I have to gain time by keeping the conversation going.

“How can you trust me, you ask…?”

Dreadfear chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.

“Trust me.”

No sweet talk, no logical reasoning – just those two words.

But that was enough.

「Captain Dreadfear has used [Persuasion].」

「Trust toward the target has significantly increased.」

So his offer isn’t a lie.

“Anyone who escapes from the witch’s clutches will return alive.”

I didn’t expect there’d be a way to survive like this.

This was a massive headache.

Not that I was worried about betrayal.

Even if his offer was genuine, there’s no way our party would turn on each other.

But…

The fact that they’re offering us an easy way out means that the actual fight will be brutal…

What could it be?

A way for all of us to survive without sacrificing anyone.

“If you can’t decide, let me make it easier for you.”

Dreadfear took a step forward.

Then.

「Captain Dreadfear has used [Deprivation of Agency].」

「Your character has been immobilized.」

The moment our eyes met, my body turned to stone.

No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t move an inch.

Then it hit me.

…This bastard isn’t someone they intended us to fight head-on.

First he uses Aura, and now this? This is just overkill.

The guy slowly approached us, frozen in place, and then stabbed my stomach with his sword.

Stab—!

The wound wasn’t deep.

It would heal quickly with a potion at the right time, but if left untreated, the bleeding would become a problem.

“Ugh!”

Starting with me, the guy stabbed all four of us.

He said he’d make it easier for us, and this is what he meant.

“From now on, it’s your choice.”

“……”

“A painful death, or life. I’m curious how long your convictions will last.”

The guy had a relaxed expression on his face, as if he was sure that one of us would betray the others.

And he had reason to be.

Thump, thump, thump, thump –

When faced with death, people’s thoughts become more complicated.

I’ve seen too many cases like this.

Apart from Aynar and Erwin…

What about Versil, who joined us recently?

She’s a comrade who crossed life and death with us during the Ice Rock expedition, but can I really expect that level of loyalty from a player?

What the hell am I thinking?

I clenched my teeth and forced the doubts out of my mind.

The more I thought like that, the more I was playing into his hands.

If the situation were normal, I wouldn’t even be having these thoughts.

Instead of doubting, think.

Since I couldn’t move my body anyway, I closed my eyes.

To beat [Dungeon & Stone], you always had to understand the developer’s intentions first.

Four people get together, and then betrayal is encouraged.

At first, it seems like a set scenario.

Since a boss with overwhelming power has appeared, the solution probably has nothing to do with violence.

In missions like this, the outcome usually changes depending on the player’s ‘choices’.

What happens if no one betrays anyone else?

Do we all just die here and it’s game over?

Or, if we hold out long enough, the witch is moved by our loyalty, the altar activates, and a new path opens up…?

“……”

Well, I don’t know.

I can’t be sure what the right answer is.

But, this is why 99% of first attempts end in failure.

“Five minutes have passed.”

“……”

“You’ve had enough time to think, so I’ll give each of you a chance.”

As soon as he said that, control over my body returned.

I was first.

Clang.

The guy threw a dagger in front of me.

“Take it.”

“……”

“I’ve even coated it with your friend’s goblin poison, so it’ll be painless.”

This damn bastard.

“……”

I glared at him while kneeling, and he smirked and nodded.

“I wish everyone were like you.”

With that, my body stiffened again.

Step, step.

He moved and stood in front of Erwin.

And then…

“Take it.”

He delivered the same line, and Erwin remained silent.

“……”

A moment of silence passed.

Thump, thump, thump, thump—

My heart was pounding like crazy.

Seeing this, I realized how strange humans are.

Even though I thought I trusted Erwin 100%, deep down, the thought of ‘what if’ began to sprout.

“Just one. If you stab just one person, you’ll survive and wash away your sins.”

At those words, I flinched without realizing it.

The thought that she might choose to stab Versil suddenly crossed my mind…

“…Get lost.”

“You’ve got a sharp tongue, woman.”

Fortunately, Erwin’s turn also passed without incident.

“Take it.”

And then it was Aynar’s turn.

“Bethel… Ugh!”

As soon as the restraint on her body was released, Aynar let out a scream and charged, only to be tripped and fall to the ground.

Finally, it was Versil’s turn.

“It’s your turn.”

As soon as she regained control of her body, Versil crawled on the ground and picked up the fallen dagger with both hands.

Then, trembling, she asked the guy,

“Just one…”

“……”

“Do I… just have to stab one person…?”

Shit.