Chapter 806

Chapter 806: The Last Day (3)

Rank 8 and rank 9. While the gap between a Goblin and a Death Fiend might seem as vast as heaven and earth, the difference between these two ranks isn’t actually that large. Especially when compared to the gap between rank 1 and rank 2.

Generally, five Rank 9 explorers can easily take down a Rank 8. The same applies to Rank 7. Five Rank 8 explorers can hunt them reliably, and this formula continues up the ranks.

‘At least until about rank 3.’

Starting from rank 3, even with an entire team of rank 4 explorers, a minimum of 12 people is recommended, and for a rank 2 you should bring an expedition force of at least 30 people.

Then, what about a rank 1?

Honestly, it’s difficult to give a definitive answer since each rank 1 monster has such distinctly different characteristics.

However, considering that hundreds of people were mobilized to hunt Kashan, the Wolf of Prophecy, on Library Island, and even then many elite explorers were lost……

‘They’re beyond standard classification.’

That’s one thing I can say for certain. Rank 1 monsters are in a completely different league from even Rank 2. That’s why just possessing a rank 1 essence is enough to bring you tremendous fame and become the talk of the town.

‘Demon Eyes, he was exactly that kind of case.’

Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now.

Screech, creak, squeak—!

Is it because it was warped by the Sniktura slamming into it? Unlike before when it opened smoothly, the door now open with a loud, grating noise.

my heart pounded as I watched the door open.

Thump-!

Did it drop or not?

Screech, creak-!

Maybe it’s because of the dopamine flooding my brain, but every moment the door opens feels agonizingly slow.

Thud-!

Finally, the door is fully open, and the answer to my question emerged from Raven’s lips.

“Th-That…… Is……”

“……”

“That’s…… An essence, isn’t it……?”

To that dazed question, I rubbed my eyes, opened them, and answered.

“Behel—la……”

Sniktura’s essence had dropped.

***

The impact of a rank 1 essence was truly tremendous.

“Wow……”

“That’s a rank 1 essence……?”

“Adnus, don’t get any strange ideas.”

“Ahem, I was just admiring it.”

“As expected, even its appearance gives off a different feeling……”

Everyone in the room gaped in awe at the indescribable sense of pressure emanating from the essence. Well, that’s understandable. Even if one spends their entire life as an explorer, seeing a rank 1 essence in person is an exceptionally rare experience. Well, as someone mentioned earlier, it really does look different from an ordinary essence.

“It has two colors……?”

Floating in the air and emanating a brilliant light, Sniktura’s essence had two colors. For reference, the colors aren’t mixed together, they were completely separated, sort of like a yin and yang symbol.

“Ah, come to think of it, I’ve heard about this. Some Rank 1 essences are like this.”

“If it has two colors, does that mean it has two abilities?”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Then this essence……”

“Well…… I don’t really know for certain…… Information on rank 1 essences is very scarce…… They’re practically considered legendary.”

“But aren’t there always a few people each generation who possess one?”

“That’s true. But in any generation, would someone that possesses something like this be cooperative with research?”

Raven glanced at me while saying this. Her eyes held a look as if wondering whether I might have some information about this essence. Well, that’s not an incorrect assumption.

But……

“Raven, take out a test tube.”

First, we need to do what needs to be done. There’s still plenty of time, but isn’t everyone like this? Even when you know there’s no need to rush, the moment a rare item drops, it’s a gamer’s instinct drop everything and rush to get it first—.

“But.”

At that moment, Raven took out a test tube and asked me.

“Is it not the color you wanted?”

Ah, that? I guess this seems a bit sudden. Well, the reason for putting it in a test tube in the first place isn’t because of the color.

“This essence belongs to Emily.”

“Oho? So you’re prioritizing a woman who wasn’t even here?”

Uh……? Is that how it came across? I guess, from the perspective of the clan members who just risked their lives in this battle, it might seem a bit unfair……

“……I was joking, why are you taking it so seriously?”

“Uh…… That’s not……”

“Huh, I wonder how someone like you came up with that rule. ‘The captain’s vote is worth the same as the number of people in the clan’ wasn’t it?”

Feeling like the more I spoke, the worse it would get, I chose silence, and Raven, perhaps because she was more focused than on collecting the essence in the test tube, didn’t tease me further. And so, time passed.

“All done.”

Soon after, Raven handed me the test tube containing Sniktura’s essence, completing everything we needed to do here. And at the same time……

“Ugh-UUUARRGH!!!”

At that moment, Sven Parav, who had fainted, regained consciousness.

“Huff!”

He woke up screaming as if waking from a nightmare and took a stance as if he was immediately ready to fight. It’s an understandable reaction. After all, his last memory would have been fighting against the Sniktura. Those who fight on the front lines often experience brief moments where they lose of consciousness, so this kind of reaction isn’t unusual.

“Wh-Where am I……?”

However, after looking around and seemingly realizing it was somewhat safe, he relaxed his stance and showed a dumbfounded expression.

“D-Did we win?!!”

“Yeah. We won, so calm down.”

“An-And no one died?”

“Look around, see for yourself.”

“Phew……”

After I shrugged and answered, he let out a sigh of relief as if thankful beyond words.

‘Do I also look like that to others……?’

I wasn’t sure, but even if that were the case, it’s not a bad feeling. Seeing him lose strength in his legs after confirming his comrades’ safety actually looked reliable, and I rather liked that.

“But what happened?”

“How much do you remember?”

“That…… The Captain said we were all going to die, so if we had something to say we should say it…… Ah! I was despairing thinking this was really how I would die……”

Sven Parav, trailing off, suddenly remembered something and raised his voice excitedly.

“Ah! My power! In a moment of desperation I tried using my newly acquired power! But…… Did it actually work?”

“……”

“……”

“Huh? Why isn’t anyone saying anything? Did it work? It must have worked, right? That’s how everyone survived, isn’t it?”

His excited voice carried not just hope, but the absolute conviction that it had to be true and because of that my heart felt even heavier.

“What was it? What exactly did my power do? Was it a defensive power? Or an attack? Maybe…… No way, did it defeat the Sniktura in one hit?”

“……”

“Huh? Why isn’t anyone saying anything?”

At my silence, Sven Parav tilted his head and looked at the other members, but as soon as their eyes met, they quickly averted their gazes. Or more precisely, they glanced at me, trying to read the situation.

“Um, excuse me……? Can you all hear me……?”

“……”

“Kaislan? Ms. Marrone? Ms. Karlstein……?”

“……”

Tsk, I guess I’ll have to be the one to handle this. It feels like we’re ostracizing him, which weighs heavy on my heart, but……

“Haa……”

It can’t be helped. After all, wasn’t it advice personally given by the Goddess herself? That Sven Parav must never learn about his power.

Yeah, so……

“Power? What are you talking about?”

“……Huh?”

“……Nothing happened.”

Even if I feel a bit guilty hiding it, this is for the best.

***

As I climbed out of the laboratory and up the ladder, stepping back into the bunker space where we first started, Auyen came running toward me.

“Captain! I’m so glad you’re safe……!”

“Thank you, you really came through for us this time.”

“No, not at all! The circumstances just happened to align well by chance, I didn’t do anything!”

“Nonsense, thanks to you everyone survived.”

While I was sincerely praising Auyen’s contribution, Sven Parav suddenly expressed confusion.

“Huh? Everyone survived because of Rockrobe? What does that mean?”

“……”

“Didn’t we all work together to take down the Sniktura?”

“……”

“Why is everyone suddenly quiet again……?”

Parav made a bewildered expression as he sensed the suddenly awkward atmosphere. Come on, if things are like this, just accept it as it is. Fortunately, there was no need to change the subject. Because someone else spoke up at just the right moment.

[“……I was watching everything. In the end, you did it, warriors of the Empire!”]

The voice of Arta, the owner of this secret base, echoed through the speakers. His tone was congratulatory, as if blessing the warriors for their successful quest, but given that he had just been calling us selfish citizens of the Empire a moment ago, I couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded. There were also parts I couldn’t just ignore either.

[“When you suddenly started destroying the laboratory, I wondered what would happen, but in the end my choice was correct.”]

“……Correct?”

[“Look, what would have happened if I had opened the door? This world would definitely not have been saved.”]

Ha, so this is his excuse…..

I had a lot I wanted to say, but held back, thinking that fighting with an AI wasn’t worth my time.

After all, I just need to get what I need from this guy and go my own way.

[“Thanks to you, we’ve taken a big step toward salvation. If you help a little more, we can definitely prevent the end of this world. Ah, of course, we’ll need to repair the destroyed laboratory before that.”]

Repairing the laboratory……. That isn’t something that appears in the game…… Well, since the sequence of events changed and the lab was destroyed, I guess that’s to be expected?

“So?”

[“Warriors of the fallen Empire, I have one more request for you.”]

“Speak.”

Honestly, there was no need to listen to this story. Although the details of the story had changed slightly, the core remained the same. In short, he wanted us to go to the island where the apocalypse began, take down the boss, and bring back the byproducts.

“Fine. We’ll do it.”

[“I knew you would answer that way. Oh hopes of humanity.”]

At some point, we’d been promoted from warriors of the Empire to the hopes of humanity, but that wasn’t important

What was important was the information that followed.

[“Oh, and also, a little while ago I observed a human at the origin point of the apocalypse who had the same emblem as you.”]

“You mean this?”

I showed the emblem of the Anabada Clan that I had and Arta confirmed it.

[“Yes, that emblem.”]

“Was it a woman? With red hair?”

[“Indeed. Is she your comrade?”]

“Yes, she’s my comrade.”

At my response, Arta gave an ominous reply.

[“Hmm, in that case, we must hurry.”]

“……?”

[“That woman, she looks like she’s about to die soon.”]

……A sudden quest appeared.