Chapter 5

"Got it! I can see the town of Riksha!"

"We're saved!"

"We have to hurry and tell the people of Earth's city!"

Saying this, they cheered and ran towards the town. I watched them with a somewhat sober gaze.

I already knew what would happen next.

From the information I found online, in this "Burning Town" event, one of the party members is bound to die.

And there's no way to avoid it.

That's why I "chose" the path to the east...

The path that would sacrifice them...

"It's no good! If we get too far ahead..."

But the excited voices of the senior adventurers didn't reach their ears. And just as they were about to, the harbinger of death for them descended.

"Ah! Run! It's a Gargoyle!"

Descending were the black-winged beings. Gargoyles are mid-level monsters; while they might be a challenge for novice adventurers, with Leks' abilities as an experienced adventurer, they shouldn't be a match for him in a one-on-one fight.

However, with the distance between them, it would take a considerable amount of time for him to defeat the Gargoyle attacking him and then come to their aid.

And that time was more than enough to seal their fate.

"Stop it! I'm the hero..."

"Help! I don't want to die..."

"It, it hurts! Mom..."

The screams of the novice adventurers shook my eardrums one after another. I listened to them with no emotion, watching as they fell.

"It's too late, isn't it?"

By the time Leks had cut down all the Gargoyles around him, the three novice adventurers he had been partying with had become silent corpses.

Only two remained in the party.

Amidst the somber background music, we mourned the fallen comrades who had been our companions just minutes ago, and Leks and I entered the town of Riksha.

"...Really, what a bad event."

I muttered this, saved the game in town, and turned off the power.

※ ※ ※

"...Damn."

I was reminded of something unpleasant.

When I first played Brave & Blade, I chose the protagonist's origin as the top option, "A city boy who dreams of being an adventurer," and fled to the eastern town of Riksha.

There, all my companions died, and I was stunned.

After that, I restarted and went north, where I saw Leks die, which surprised me again. I searched for walkthroughs online and, as a result, to keep Leks alive and progress the adventure smoothly, I went east again and watched my companions die in the event.

If I go east to the town of Riksha, the same thing will happen here.

On the other hand, I can't accept a future where I die by going north.

So...

"East! But not to the town of Riksha!"

East or north.

Confusion was visible on the faces of Rad and the others, who were waiting for my answer.

But I spoke firmly, cutting through their confusion.

"---We're going back to the cave."

If either choice results in sacrifices, I'll take the third path!

※ ※ ※

"Old man! What are we going to do in a cave like this? If the entrance is blocked, we won't have anywhere to run..."

"It's fine. This cave has two exits."

I replied to Rad's voice as I ran towards our destination.

This is a gamble.

If it doesn't work, it could end up being the worst-case scenario Rad mentioned.

But if it succeeds...

"...There it is."

It was a seemingly ordinary cave wall.

However, a part of the wall, about three meters high, protruded unnaturally.

From below, it was impossible to see what was above... but.

(Can I climb it...?)

Feeling the gazes of the novice party on my back, I observed the cave wall closely.

Fortunately, the cave wall had a gentle slope, like the letter "N."

With my current physical abilities, I should be able to find footholds if I'm careful.

Plus...

"Ah!"

I thrust the sword in my hand into the wall, and while it felt solid, it was slightly embedded in the wall.

In the game, attacking the wall would just bounce off and do nothing, but it seems to be different here.

(...Alright!)

I psyched myself up, took a small step back, and switched the grip on the sword in my right hand to a reverse grip.

...Since I was sent to the Test Cave from Japan and saw "this," I had been secretly thinking about something.

In the game, you can only perform actions that are pre-set.

No matter how suspicious a book looks, you can't check its contents if there's no "read" command. And no matter how climbable a tree looks, you can't climb it if it's not set up to be climbable.

That's just how it is.

But what if it became reality?

"Huff."

I exhaled softly, took a light run-up, and leaped, running up the cave wall.

"Come on!"

Just as I reached my limit, I thrust the sword in my reverse grip into the wall and used it as a foothold to pull myself up further.

And then,

"I made it!"

I managed to hook my left hand onto the protrusion and pull myself up.

Finally, I placed both feet on the flat ground and sighed in relief.

The protrusion on the wall.

Above it, as I had suspected, there was a foothold, and nearby, a coiled rope ladder.

(Just as I thought.)

The dungeon "Test Cave" is connected to another high-level dungeon, "Wyvern's Walk." If you clear "Wyvern's Walk" to the end, a shortcut opens up, allowing you to travel between them freely.

...But that's in the game.

The shortcut is activated by lowering the rope ladder on the ground, a very game-like mechanism.

Considering the height, I thought it might be possible to climb without the ladder, so I decided to try it out.

"Over here. Climb up."

I lowered the rope ladder and beckoned to the novice party.

Carrying the unconscious Recilia up the rope ladder was quite a challenge, but we managed to get everyone up to the protrusion.

"There's a path like this...?"

I glanced at the surprised Mana, the priest, and kept watch.

This shortcut connects three points: near the entrance of the "Test Cave," the entrance of the "Wyvern's Walk," and the deepest part of the "Wyvern's Walk."

There shouldn't be any monsters in the shortcut, but the recommended level for "Wyvern's Walk" is 30.

If we encounter any monsters, it could be a tough fight for the novice party, and even for me.

"Don't get too complacent. From here on, it's the wyvern's nest."

"Wy, wyverns...!"

The mage Nuke tried to shout but quickly covered his mouth.

"Let's get out of here quickly!"

Even Rad, who had been so cocky, looked pale at the mention of wyverns. While wyverns won't come into such a narrow path, wyvern chicks do appear in "Wyvern's Walk."

It's best to stay alert.

"...This way."

I led the four novices, moving silently forward.

I was still carrying Recilia, but with Leks' trained strength, it wasn't a burden.

The four behind me didn't complain and, perhaps intimidated by the mention of wyverns, even Rad was walking quietly with his sword at the ready.

(Now, while we're moving...)

While walking silently, I rechecked my equipment.

(From what I can see, it's the same as Leks' initial equipment in the game. But honestly... it's pretty weak.)

Of course, it's more expensive than the equipment the novices have, but for a level 50 adventurer, it's not enough.

The only weapon, the "Brave Sword," is a unique item with decent performance, but it's not outstanding.

(The problem is the consumable items.)

In this world, humans have a storage area called the "Inventory" in their left hand.

By focusing on their left hand, a list of items in the inventory appears in their mind.

(As expected.)

It seems the last healing item I used on Recilia was the last one.

For a top-tier adventurer, not carrying enough healing items is quite negligent.

But I understand it's for the sake of the game's progression.

"The exit is this way... but wait a moment."

"Old man!?"

Ignoring the voice from behind, I set Recilia down in the shade of a rock and, just in case, readied my sword before heading down the path leading to the deepest part of "Wyvern's Walk."

I'm not planning to fight any monsters.

I just want to stop by a place.

(If it's the same as the game, it should be around here...)

I focused my magic on my eyes and activated the Scout skill "Thief's Eye."

The world turned monochrome, and the spot I was looking for glowed faintly blue.

"Is this it?"

I put down the weapon I was holding and approached the glowing spot, placing my left hand over it.

Then, light was absorbed into my left hand.

If it's the same as the game, this completes the "gathering."

The gathered item should now be stored in the left hand's "Inventory."

And then,

"What are you doing at a time like this, old man!"

A suppressed shout echoed in the cave.

I frowned at Rad, who had apparently followed me.

"Like you see, I'm gathering. And watch your step. That water is poisonous."

"Poisonous!?"

Rad, who had been about to step into the water, quickly retreated but then confronted me.

"At a time like this, what are you going to do with that stuff?"

"At a time like this, that's why. This 'Mystic Spring Water' is harmful to the human body but temporarily boosts all abilities. It should be useful in battle."

"But it's poison, right?"

"Don't worry. This 'Phantom Powder of Healing' will negate the negative effects of the 'Mystic Spring Water.'"

Despite my confident attitude, Rad still protested in a thin voice.

"But I've never heard of such a thing..."

"Of course, it's a valuable item."

The 'Mystic Spring Water' evaporates after seven days but is useful as an alchemy material and as an enhancement item.

The 'Phantom Powder of Healing,' which can only be obtained once every few months, is a top-tier healing item and sells for a high price.

If possible, it would be more useful to sell it for money rather than use it as an item.

"But now is an emergency. We need to be prepared."

I gathered the 'Mystic Spring Water' from the small spring at Rad's feet using the same method as before.

"...Don't let your guard down in enemy territory, old man."

Looking up, I saw Rad holding out the weapon I had dropped.

Despite his clumsiness, it seemed he was trying to show some consideration.

"Thanks."

I took the Brave Sword Rad offered.

However, even after handing me the sword, Rad's gaze didn't leave my sword.

Noticing his gaze moving between my waist and the sword, I had a realization.

"Are you envious of this sword?"

"Wh-what? N-no, that's not it!"

Caught off guard, Rad's honest reaction made me feel a bit more relaxed.

"Alright. If I die, I'll give this sword to you."

"Don't say such ominous things! I don't need it, this thing!"

Despite his words, in the game, if Leks died, the player would receive the Brave Sword.

Since Rad is in the protagonist's position in this novice party, it's not an impossible scenario...

"Just kidding. Let's go back."

Such a future won't come.

No, I won't let it come.

With renewed determination, Rad and I retraced our steps.

※ ※ ※

Fortunately, we didn't encounter any monsters and safely made it through "Wyvern's Walk."

The distance from "Wyvern's Walk" to the next town isn't far.

After walking for a while, the gate of the town soon came into view.

"Got it! I can see the town!"

The mage Nuke exclaimed, seemingly unable to contain his excitement.

"We have to hurry and tell the people of Earth's city!"

The usually composed archer Prana, looking unusually distracted, was about to run ahead.

But...

"---It doesn't seem to be that easy."

A shadow was flying straight towards us.

It wasn't the group of Gargoyles that flew towards the town of Riksha in the game just before we arrived.

"What, that is...?"

Flying towards us was a single monster.

―――――――

Doom Demon

LV 60

HP 2278 MP 356

Physical Attack 379 Magic Attack 311

Physical Defense 426 Magic Defense 362

Strength 356 Vitality 370

Magic 242 Spirit 306

Agility 228 Focus 242

―――――――

"Really. Give me a break."

I cursed under my breath, my voice trembling as I stared at the stats revealed by Insight.

---The demon of fate, bringing death to "Leks," has now descended.