Outsider 2

For thousands of years, it was believed that no living creature could survive beyond the walls.

I don’t know much about what lies beyond either.

On the day the royal army descended underground to destroy Noark, a mysterious sorcerer appeared and helped the Noarkans escape the walls.

And that day was…

‘Year 154 of the New Era, second Month.’

Players who had been mixed in with the Noarkans first broke the news on the community, and it quickly spread to the city.

But there were two things strange about this.First, the news spread far too quickly, as if someone had intended for it to. Second, despite how fast it spread, not a single useful piece of information could be found.

I suspected that some kind of organized information control was going on.

Even the usually loose-lipped Clown never shared anything about the world beyond the walls.

Hmm. Well—there was one thing.

[When I went outside the city and looked around, I realized something. The terrain and structure may differ slightly, but the land I am standing on looks almost identical to the 7th-floor Dark Continent!]

Assuming Clown’s words are true, the continent on which the Last Fortress of Raphdonia stands is nearly identical to the seventh-floor Dark Continent in geography.

[…If that’s true, then perhaps the theory might be correct.]

[You mean the theory that the labyrinth isn’t a passage connected to another dimension, but rather created by someone?]

[The Crystal Caves, the Rock Desert… perhaps they were modeled after real places.]

The members of the Round Table each gave their opinions, and some of their guesses were partially correct. Well, that’s because I had discovered them myself while exploring.

‘Most of the locations within the labyrinth are recreations of places that actually existed.’

I saw countless signs and pieces of evidence during those nearly suicidal expeditions, so I am certain my hypothesis is correct.

But that’s precisely why it feels so strange.

All maps of the ancient continent have been lost, and there’s no data.

However, it’s not that there are no records at all.

[We are one of the few families that still insist on using Central-style naming.]

[It’s natural that you find my name and appearance unnatural. There aren’t many families left in this city with as strong of Eastern Continent blood as ours.]

[…It’s South-Central-style naming.]

Among Raphdonia’s residents, there are still those who remember their ancestors or family history and strive to preserve their identity.

I don’t need to look far; we Barbarians are like that too.

According to records, the Barbarian race was a tribe that lived fighting monsters in the harsh lands of the northern and southern parts of the continent.

However, the problem is…

‘They said it took over two years to get from the northern regions to Lapdonnia.’

That’s the distance passed down in the records.

But in the case of the Dark Continent, it only takes a month or two to go from one end to the other.

So where does this discrepancy come from?

‘Well, to be honest, this is nothing.’

In the basement floor 1, Mr. Vampire had told me:

[Back then, there were only humans…?]

In ancient times, there were no other races.

And if that’s true, then it means every history and record of this world has been fabricated.

What in the world is the truth?

What secrets are hidden in this world?

Until now, I had only done what I felt I should, never actively looking for answers.

But now, the situation has changed.

The Noark bastards have launched a desperate invasion and even occupied a city district inside the walls.

Even the royal family’s reaction feels suspicious.

“…Now I need to know.”

If they know something, then I need to know it too, or I’ll never be able to prepare for the future.

t’s like playing a game without knowing the mechanics—you just end up getting beaten unfairly.

“…Jandel?”

“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought.”

I ended my thoughts there and headed back to where the others were gathered.

“Hahaha! Did you see that? My spear is stronger than arrows!!”
“I… I was holding back because I was worried you might get hurt! Once more! Let’s go again!”

“Huh? Mister, where did you go?”

Yeah, let’s call it a day for today.
***

The welcome party lasted late into the night, and soon the next day arrived.

After waking up around sunset, I led three guides to the sewers.

By the way, the guides were Amelia, Erwin, and Versil.

“Wow, it’s been so long since we’ve been in the sewers! But Mister, what are we here for?”

“There’s something I need to find.”

“Ah! So that’s why you called us three!”

Amelia and Erwin are the most skilled searchers in the Anabada clan, and Versil is our only mage.

“Um… could you tell me what exactly you’re looking for? If I know, I think I can help you more proactively.”

In response to Versil’s question, I honestly revealed my reason for coming here.

“Today, we’re going to look for a path that connects the sewers to beyond the city walls.”

“Beyond… the walls?”

When I nodded, Versil, though startled, quickly regained her composure and asked cautiously,

“…Do you mean you’re planning to go outside the walls?”

“Yes. I figure the only way to judge what’s true or false is to see it with my own eyes.”

“Ah…”

“For now, keep this between us. Understood?”

They weren’t the type to gossip anyway, so I gave only a short warning before moving on.

It wasn’t as if the secret path to the outside world would be hidden among the vagrants’ hideouts.

At least we’d have to go down further, to the old Noark underground fortress.

Tap.

Just then, Amelia, who was leading the way, stopped and made a hand signal for silence.

Seeing Erwin nod at me, too, I realized they had both sensed something.

‘Slowly.’

‘Step back.’

‘This way.’

Following Amelia’s hand signals, we hid our bodies in a side alley, and soon even my dull ears picked up signs of movement.

Clank, clank—

At least two or more people were roaming the sewers, and the sound of their footsteps grew louder.

‘Vagrants?’

That was my first thought. But if they were mere vagrants, Amelia wouldn’t have signaled us to hide.

We waited silently, holding our breath, and soon they passed by our hiding spot.

‘…Knights?’

And not just ordinary knights.

They weren’t from some noble house, but royal knights in full armor, bearing the emblem of the royal family.

“Emily, what the hell? Why are guys like that patrolling the sewers at this hour?”

“Oh, you didn’t know? Ever since that incident months ago, they’ve been patrolling the sewers regularly.”

“Ah, I think I read that in the papers. They said they wiped out all the vagrants living down here…”

“Hmm… had I been slacking off on reading the news lately?”

Either way, seeing knights suddenly patrolling down here gave me quite a shock.

My guilty conscience was getting to me, I almost thought they’d been stationed here just for us.

“Anyway, let’s keep moving. There aren’t many patrols in the sewers, and they don’t seem too search thoroughly. We shouldn’t have much trouble avoiding them.”

“…That’s a relief to hear.”

Strangely enough, even after seeing knights, I didn’t feel particularly nervous.

Part of it was because I trusted Amelia’s infiltration skills.

But maybe it’s also because things are different now compared to back then.

If something went wrong, I could turn two knights into “ex-knights” in the blink of an eye.

Really, it’s them who should be careful not to cross us.

“Looks like there’s a trap again. Wait a moment.”

Once we reached the path leading to Noark, Amelia crouched down in front of the entrance and fiddled with something.

And…

“All done. I disarmed it cleanly, so no traces are left.”

“Ah, so that’s what she meant.”

You see that kind of thing in movies too, right? A slip of paper in a doorframe to see if someone’s entered.

Step, step.

We descended the stairs and entered an underground space that was quite unlike the sewers.

The ceiling heights and wall structures made it feel like we had stepped into a three-dimensional maze.

Now that I think of it… this was where I fought that Karui priest.

Her name… was it Elisa?

It was around the time I’d just consumed the essence of an Orc Hero. It’s been so long that I barely remember it now.

Anyway.

She was a tough opponent, but thanks to my growth and Team Halfling’s boost in stats, we managed to beat her.

‘None of the people who were with me then are here now.’

Should I have brought Misha?

Then we could have chatted about that—

‘Ah, come to think of it, Amelia was there too.’

Of course, we weren’t comrades back then; in fact, we were closer to enemies.

Still, thanks to her kindness, she managed to survive even after losing to us in battle.

“Tersia, do you sense anyone’s presence?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief. I don’t either. It seems they don’t patrol from this point on, so let’s pick up the pace.”

After we increased our speed, the maze section soon ended, and we finally arrived at our destination.

“So this is Noark…!”

It was a vast cave, so huge that it was hard to believe we were underground.

Versil gasped in awe at the massive stone gate, which was even larger than the gates of the royal palace.

“Mr. Gowland, is this your first time here?”

“This deep, yes. I joined the first subjugation, but as you know, we had to retreat before we ever made it this far.”

“Ah… I heard. They said so many died back then…”

Listening to their conversation, a Canadian player I’d met in the community suddenly came to mind.

He’d been dragged into the community the instant a sword touched his throat.

I promised him I’d deliver the news to his family once I returned…

Funny enough, even though I’d forgotten about it for a while, I still remember the address he gave me and the words he left behind as clearly as ever.

Maybe it was because of how deeply it affected me

“What are you spacing out for? Aren’t you coming?”

“Ah, I’m coming…”

 

Shaking off the memory, I followed as Amelia opened a side door hidden next to the massive gate.

“Huh? We’re not going through the big door?” Bersil tilted her head.

“There’s no gatekeeper, so it doesn’t matter. But why take the hard way when the easy path is right there?”

“…That’s true. But there was a gatekeeper before?”

“There was. Although his name wasn’t known to Raphdonia, he was one of the top experts in Noark—.”

Amelia was about to step through the side door as she said that.

“Wahahahahaha!! I’m truly honored you think so highly of me!!”

A hearty laugh suddenly burst out from behind.

“……!”

Both Erwin and Amelia, who had sensed nothing at all, flinched in surprise and turned around. I was the same.

“I never imagined I’d run into other travelers here, and of all people, such famous ones too!”

When I turned to see who was talking, a man with a build nearly as solid as a barbarian’s stood there.

He looked like the last person who would be stealthy.

The reason he’d managed to approach this close without being noticed was simple.

Dungeon & Stone is a team game.

“They say even a passing encounter is a bond, so let’s exchange greetings! I am Lex Aures, the former gatekeeper of Noark!”

From behind the man at the front—the obvious tank—his allies stepped forward to stand at his sides

“Oh, and these are my allies….”

‘One, two, three, four…’

There were five of them in total.

They not only outnumbered us, but were probably the more skilled, too.

It might sound crazy to say this with our members here…

Badump-Badump!

But everything in the world is relative, after all.

“Huh? Baek-ho! Why are you so quiet today? Didn’t you say you were close with Baron Jandel over there?”

…To think I’d run into these guys here.

 

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