TW-Chapter 3

Trap

Where does the mistake begin and end, and how should it be corrected?

My first judgment to tell Yernil to be quiet wasn’t wrong.

Rather, I should have shut her mouth much earlier. If she had enough energy to chatter, I should have told her to examine the front, the ground beneath her feet, and the walls one more time. Not to waste even a moment of concentration. We weren’t here on a picnic, and the labyrinth isn’t lenient. That’s what I should have said.

‘Let me think.’

I have to somehow resolve this pinch situation. First, let me analyze the situation.

Right now, we’re standing side by side in a passage about 5 meters wide.

Wall, me, Yernil, wall

…..In that order.

The walls are important.

Among the traps on the first floor of the labyrinth, there are many where weapons spring out from the walls.

Considering human walking speed, the main impact range is about 1 meter forward and backward from where the trap was stepped on.

Fortunately, ‘rolling one’s eyes’ doesn’t consume action points.

I desperately searched the wall on Yernil’s side.

There were no ‘holes’ on that side.

I mean the openings where spears or arrows spring out.

Then what about my side?

Could something spring out from the wall on my left?

It’s possible. This happened at the very moment when I was about to foolishly show Yernil the kindness of saying she could chat in a small voice. With my head turned toward Yernil, in this state where the hourglass has activated, I can’t see my left side.

[48]

Already more than 10 seconds have passed.

‘Let me use action points.’

Of course, action points are precious, but time is more precious. I turned my head to the left while rolling my eyes to the limit.

[Action Points: ■■■□]

Human field of vision is about 200 degrees horizontally. Of course, the ability to identify things at the left and right edges is significantly inferior compared to the front.

But if what I’m looking for are 2-centimeter diameter holes drilled in the wall, I can recognize them even if they’re roughly identified.

[Action Points: ■■□□]

When I turned my head about 30 degrees, 2 action points flew away. And I grasped information about the wall on my left.

‘There are no holes.’

This trap isn’t the kind that springs out from walls.

‘What if it’s a falling trap?’

Something like a log might swing down from the ceiling like a pendulum.

I rolled my eyes upward to look at the ceiling.

‘Seems fine.’

I can’t be 100% certain, but from my in-game experience, if there’s a ceiling trap, the ceiling’s shape should be slightly different.

Now the only remaining possibility is a ‘floor trap’?

I mentally list the types of floor traps I’ve experienced on the first floor of the labyrinth.

Type 1. Rising spike trap.

A spike would pierce vertically through from Yernil’s sole to the top of her foot, crushing it completely. I wouldn’t get hurt, but she would have difficulty walking properly.

Type 2. Exploding iron nail trap.

Not only her left foot that stepped on the trap, but her entire lower body, and the side of my right leg standing to her left would all likely be torn to shreds. It would be a major injury for me and a fatal wound for her.

Type 3. Gas trap.

Poison gas or sleeping gas would spurt out from beneath the sole of her foot that stepped on the trap, bringing us both down. Either way, we’d end up as monster food.

Type 4. Pitfall trap.

The floor would collapse and we’d fall to the second floor of the labyrinth. In this case, we’d have absolutely no hope of survival.

‘What should I do?’

Types 1 and 4 are left to chance. Since the trap has already been stepped on, there’s nothing I can do.

But types 2 and 3 are different.

Those are traps that activate the moment you lift the foot that stepped on them.

When the hourglass runs out, Yernil will probably lift her foot with the same momentum she was walking with.

How do I know?

Because her heel is already raised.

[20]

[19]

[18]

Evidence that it’s not a type 1 trap came to mind.

The timing of the hourglass activation.

The hourglass didn’t activate until the fatty and the fanatic were stabbed to death by spears.

If the button under Yernil’s foot were a type 1 trap, only Yernil would be harmed. Therefore, this selfish hourglass wouldn’t have any reason to activate.

So this is one of types 2, 3, or 4. Whichever it is, it’s threatening to me the moment it goes off.

[6]

[5]

[4]

“Ahhh!”

I screamed out of frustration.

“I’ll step on it.”

That’s the only way.

Then I can prevent it from going off if it’s type 2 or 3.

Even if it’s type 4, the outcome would be the same, but I pray it’s not a type 4 trap.

I pushed my right foot toward Yernil while consuming my remaining action points.

[All action points have been exhausted]

[Turn ends.]

Thud!

My toe barely stepped on the edge of the button.

“Ugh!”

At the same time, Yernil, who was tripped by my foot, staggered. From her perspective, it must have felt like I suddenly tripped her.

“Why, why are you doing this…..?”

She asked after nearly falling but regaining her balance.

“…..Ms. Yernil stepped on a trap.”

“A trap?”

Fortunately, it wasn’t type 4. The floor hadn’t collapsed yet, and we were still on the first floor of the labyrinth.

And it wasn’t type 1 either. This is either exploding iron nails or a gas trap.

“It’s a trap that goes off the moment Ms. Yernil lifts her foot. To prevent it from going off, I had no choice but to push my foot forward and step on it instead.”

“······.”

Yernil was very flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“Is….Is that really true? I’m sorry…… What should we do…..?”

There’s one way to solve this when you step on this kind of trap.

Place a heavy object on it instead.

“Ms. Yernil. There were two oak barrels on the path we came from earlier. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“Can you bring them here?”

***

I was confident that Yernil wouldn’t betray me.

Judging from her fear of the labyrinth, losing her last party member and being alone would be her most terrible nightmare.

And since the oak barrels are on the path we’ve already traveled, the possibility of her encountering monsters is extremely slim.

Therefore, Yernil would succeed in the mission I gave her.

I had thought that far when I pushed my foot forward instead, but still, with Yernil gone and being alone, my mind wavers.

30 minutes after Yernil left.

‘Why isn’t she coming back?’

Ominous thoughts begin to surface one by one.

What if something happened to Yernil due to some unexpected situation?

There were no monsters on the path we’ve traveled so far, but what if something entered through another passage in the meantime?

What if Yernil gets killed by those things?

‘What if there are more traps?’

There might be traps we luckily passed without stepping on. What if Yernil steps on one and explodes?

Was it crazy to step on the trap instead of Yernil after all?

If it were a gas trap, we both would have died, but if it were an exploding iron nail trap, I could have survived.

Yernil would have died soon from severe bleeding, but I could have continued limping forward.

Should I have bet on that hope instead?

Or what if I had held onto Yernil after stepping on it instead? Threatened her to step on the button again while I went to get the oak barrel?

That might have been better.

If Yernil got scared and resisted, refusing to step on it, I could have threatened her. Whether I pointed my wand or my fist, the timid girl would have followed my orders.

I should have kept her in that spot and gone to get the oak barrel myself.

Regret washes over me at the thought that I was too gentle.

‘I should have been more selfish.’

It’s not that I was particularly considerate of her, but isn’t this a matter of life and death?

Anger and regret boiled within me at my lack of cunning.

Just then.

“Caleb! I brought it!”

Yernil appeared, grunting while carrying one oak barrel.

“Did you wait long? Sorry. It was too heavy.”

“…….”

Finally, the horrible imaginings in my head completely cleared, and I returned to being a civilized person who knew something about honor, consideration, and leadership.

Humans are cunning and adaptable animals.

“Please place that next to my foot. On this stone tile.”

“Yes!”

After finishing the work with her.

Having secured a safe distance, I took out my magic wand.

This is the ‘telekinesis’ staff that the fatty had. It has the longest range among the magic I currently possess.

“I’ll try to knock over that oak barrel.”

I need to check the trap. Whether it really was one of the two I calculated – exploding iron nail trap or gas trap.

Or if there’s a new trap here different from my knowledge.

If it’s the latter, there will be many troublesome things ahead. The calculations will become much more complex.

“Move with invisible hands.”

As I chanted the incantation, telekinetic force acted to push the end of the oak barrel thud thud.

I tilted it sideways beyond its center of gravity.

Thump.

The oak barrel fell over and rolled away thud thud thud, and as soon as it separated from the button….

BANG!

Iron nails burst out with an intense explosion.

“Kyaaaah!”

Yernil was terrified, and I was relieved.

My calculation wasn’t wrong.

***

Since the trap incident, the way Yernil looks at me has changed slightly.

Well, how should I put it.

I’d feel more comfortable if it were romantic feelings, but this was respect bordering on worship.

Don’t do that.

I’m someone who thought only of myself thoroughly.

I’m someone who, even after sending you to bring the oak barrel, regretted that I should have made you step on the button.

And let’s imagine something more cruel.

What if that trap had been rising spikes? What if only Yernil would have been hurt when it went off?

Would I have risked danger and stepped on it instead to stop the trap from exploding even then?

‘Well.’

Honestly, I’m not confident.

I pushed my foot forward entirely to avoid getting hurt myself, and I merely gambled among three options: dying alone miserably on the trap, getting smashed together, or both surviving safely.

So when she looks at me with such respect, it’s honestly quite embarrassing.

But there was also a positive aspect to her feelings toward me.

“Maybe…. I have a feeling we might be able to get out alive.”

She became optimistic about survival.

It seems she gained trust from seeing me quickly kill two Goblins, stepping on the trap for her, and handling it expertly.

From my perspective, that trust isn’t bad either.

Yernil will move as I direct her from now on.

That’s really important.

In the game, I controlled all four members of the four-person party, but now I’m barely managing to move my own body.

Having my party members move like limbs according to my instructions is essential for victory in combat.

I absolutely need party members with whom such a trust relationship has been established.

Yernil may lack combat ability for now, but she seemed fine in that regard. If she grows well enough, she might be useful.

Then I’ll have to make her something other than a mage.