31 – Rank B #2
I received the necklace from Lauren. Upon closer inspection, it was more like a totem than a necklace.
A feeling of carrying a totem conveniently by attaching it to a string?
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The shape was also quite unpleasant. I could feel what it was representing, and my eyebrows naturally furrowed.
[Totem Necklace of Euma (C)]
A totem necklace made by carving magic stones.
Enchanted with magic.
The effects were amplified by using a man’s soul.
Stored Magic: “Soul Protection (E)”
I couldn’t believe it. Doubting whether I had read it correctly, I checked it two or three times.
It was real.
“I, using a man’s soul, amplified the effects…?”
The other phrases were no different from regular artifacts. They were the same as the [Avela’s Arrow Bracelet] and [Theos’s Guardian Bracelet] that I was wearing.
So it wasn’t difficult to understand.
The problem was another sentence. It was the first time I had seen it.
My brain refused to interpret that sentence. I struggled to understand its meaning.
Lauren explained it to me. She forcefully revealed the truth to me, pretending not to know.
“Ray, do you know why people mercilessly executed the Recruitment Officer Yuri and the members of the ‘Vanguard of Miracles’? It’s because they know what happens to the children abducted by bandits, sold into human trafficking.”
“….”
“They couldn’t have sold just one or two of them. They would have kept doing those things until they were caught. When you think about the boys who died in the meantime… no one can bear it. To the point where they want to kill them themselves.”
“Ugh…!”
I had thought that something terrible could happen. But that terrible thing wasn’t in the gore genre.
“At best, it would be some explicit torment….”
I had to admit it.
I’m an idiot. And not just an idiot, but a complete fool.
In the face of blatant malice, how defenseless was I?
A shiver ran down my spine. Even if I was stupid, I was too stupid.
I now understand why Su had such an overreactive response. From Su’s perspective, there was no other choice but to react that way.
Even if it were me, I would have tried to console them while shedding tears and snot.
What does it matter if strangers live or die?
The child I have a connection with is much more precious. That is only natural.
No one can insult Su. It’s not allowed.
“…I’ve lost my mind.”
I know nothing. That’s why I couldn’t clearly recognize the women in front of me.
Because I am more ignorant than others, ironically, I was able to gather the courage.
My body trembled. Overwhelming emotions rushed in.
Anger towards Yuri and the “Vanguard of Miracles,” gratitude to the goddess of luck who allowed me to meet Su that day.
And applause for myself for choosing to return to the first floor!
“Haah, haah….”
I took a deep breath. I looked at the totem necklace and tightly closed my eyes.
The soul. I don’t believe in the existence of it, but I can still imagine.
“Someone died.”
It’s embedded in this totem. The soul of a boy whose face I don’t know.
“They were forcefully conscripted.”
Even so, they are children who accept their circumstances and work hard in the stone mine….
Anger bubbled up from within.
“Ray.”
Lauren patted my shoulder.
“I know what kind of person you are. And why you’re making that expression.”
“……”
“It’s good to be sad and angry. But don’t get consumed by your emotions.”
Don’t be swayed. You have to be able to thoroughly distinguish between what is possible and what is impossible.
“I’m asking because it seems like you’re setting some meaningless and vague goal like finding and killing the outlaws. Just in case.”
“……”
I understood.
“Is that the same as this?”
“Yeah. It’s the same E-rank ‘Soul Protection’ totem. The outlaws have it, so they can stay in the labyrinth indefinitely.”
“How is that possible? Maintaining ‘Soul Protection’ indefinitely….”
Even I, an EX-rank, have no confidence. How is it possible with just an E-rank ‘Soul Protection’ totem?
“I don’t know the details either. People just speculated that it might be because only magic remains.”
“Only magic remains?”
“A boy’s body has its limits. Stamina, energy, mental strength, and so on. You can’t keep going endlessly. But if only magic exists, then you won’t be bound by those physical constraints.”
“Ah.”
I understood the feeling.
‘…If all the male kids are killed and turned into totems, would it make the exploration more efficient…?’
It was a chilling idea, an idea that could be associated with psychopaths.
‘I thought there were no human rights in the empire, but I was wrong.’
Compared to the bandits, it was paradise.
The Empire was considerate of the rights of the young boy. Although they forced conscription, they didn’t turn him into a totem.
How merciful of them.
He returned the totem with a trembling head. He entrusted it to Lauren because it made him feel uncomfortable to have it, for no reason.
“Ugh….”
After a while of checking the totem.
The warrior sister regained consciousness. Thanks to using recovery-related skills abundantly, her condition seemed better than expected.
“Sister Pike!”
The boy, Marco, hugged Pike. Even in her dazed state, Pike held onto Marco tightly.
“Marco… Marco! A-Are you okay? How did this happen….”
Pike frantically felt Marco’s face. With a face that seemed unable to believe that his limbs were perfectly intact, she looked around in astonishment.
Lauren stepped forward and briefly explained the situation.
Pike bowed her head, tears streaming down her face. If she hadn’t been injured, she would have been on her knees.
“Thank you….”
“For now, focus on recovering.”
“Yes….”
They organized a camp near the portal to the second floor. With so many people, it was bustling in front of the bonfire.
“Ray.”
Marco approached me.
“I’ll take care of Sister Pike.”
“I could use more rest.”
“…No. I feel bad for constantly relying on you.”
“That’s how it is.”
Since I almost got kidnapped, I must be exhausted. So, I’ve been enduring Marco’s party as a way to relax.
But if Marco insists on taking care of it himself, well…
There’s no reason for me to be responsible for Marco’s party. I released the “Soul Protection” placed on my warrior sister Pike.
My ninja sister is still unconscious. Until she regains her senses, I decided to lend her my strength.
Slosh, slosh…
I only temporarily released the “Soul Protection.” In that moment, the darkness of the labyrinth stirred impatiently.
Those creatures were always ready to devour female adventurers.
“Are you okay?”
Sue looked at me and asked. I nonchalantly replied.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
I felt more stable than I thought. Apart from the initial thrill when registering, I didn’t feel any danger.
I knew that I could easily handle up to four people, including my werewolf sister. It would be easier to recruit more people.
We gathered around the campfire and made a pledge.
The party that gathered in front of the second floor portal consisted of only three people. Kain, Marco, and Ray.
Each of them was a party leader.
“Kain helped Marco when he was attacked.”
“…He helped, but almost got into big trouble….”
Kaien smiled mischievously and said,
“Still, if the same situation arises, I think I’ll do the same as today.”
“Even if it means getting kidnapped?”
“We should help each other in dangerous moments. That way, when I receive help from someone else, I can accept it with dignity.”
Giving and receiving help. Kaien’s confident attitude resonated with me.
Marco, who had been listening quietly, expressed his gratitude to Kaien.
“Thanks to you, Kaien. If you hadn’t helped me, I would have been taken by the bandits.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“…If I had held on a little longer, I could have met Rei and lived. But instead, I would have resented the world and fallen into the hands of the bandits.”
It was a close call.
Because Kaien helped Marco, the battle with the bandits dragged on, and that’s why I was able to encounter them while returning to the first floor.
If Kaien had pretended not to know Marco and passed by, Marco would have become a totem today.
“Just the thought of it is dreadful. Phew….”
Marco let out a sigh. It was a breath of relief, releasing the tension.
We quickly resolved our meal. Since no one was in a condition to hunt, we took a rest.
“Marco.”
“Kaien, who do you want to sleep with first?”
The camaraderie was similar no matter where we went. The boys sought refuge in the arms of their older sisters and asked for a good night’s sleep.
Marco’s snoring was quite impressive.
“Rei, don’t you need to sleep?”
One of Kayen’s party members, Silua, armed with a bow, asked.
“It’s not like I’ve experienced anything as scary as the kids. I don’t need to sleep.”
“…It seems like we’re just getting in the way of the exploration.”
Kayen and Marco’s party had decided that the expedition was impossible. They were planning to return as is.
Before that, we were helping to prevent any potential accidents. Sacrificing our exploration time for it.
“Because there’s nothing more precious than a person’s life.”
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I didn’t care. It was a shame that I couldn’t earn many magic stones, but at least we obtained information that we can handle up to four.
A win-win situation, right?
I thought positively.
“….”
Silua glanced at me discreetly. Then she cautiously opened her mouth.
“Ray, I know it’s a bit rude of a question. But I’m curious.”
“….”
“Is Ray’s ‘Soul Protection’ really a B-rank?”
Finally someone!