[Necromancer] (3)

Let’s carefully retrace what a certain necromancer’s true inner thoughts were.

As a 4th floor adventurer, he was probably immensely fascinated by the news of Mister Backstab’s resurrection.

And he must have been determined to harvest that badass exit boss’s soul said to be in the 3.5 floor sanctuary.

Just as bullets are needed when firing a gun, souls are needed when using necromancy.

And absorbing excellent souls becomes a core resource for the necromancer’s own growth.

The soul contained in that sanctuary isn’t just any ordinary adventurer, but the 3rd floor’s strongest expert and an exit boss chosen by the Labyrinth Master, so to a 4th floor necromancer, it would appear as the most valuable item.

‘I can’t drag this out too long.’

Antonelli must have thought this way.

Because other necromantic wizards would start gathering one by one.

The current situation is similar to very excellent magical equipment appearing at an auction house. Except it’s a lawless auction where whoever picks it up owns it.

It’s also true that this is an experiment conducted without permission from the Adventurer’s Guild.

He never consulted with the university or temple either.

Isn’t that obvious?

When there’s no time, when would he proceed with such annoying administrative procedures?

Necromancy experts are common among raiders too. Actually, there are more of them. Because approaching while pretending to help by scaring people with undead works well against novice parties.

Would those raiders get permission from the Adventurer’s Guild or conduct preliminary experimental research?

If he moves after getting permission, then it would be too late.

That goblin on the 3.5 floor.

Gildal.

The opportunity to take his soul is only now.

He must obtain it.

For that purpose, he has no choice but to use somewhat rough methods.

For example, using a 2nd floor adventurer party full of fantasies about the 3rd floor. If problems arise on the 3.5 floor, it would be fine to use them as human shields and consume them while escaping.

He just needs to harvest the soul.

What if massive disaster strikes the 3rd floor as a result of this unverified soul harvesting experiment?

That doesn’t matter either.

Again, he just needs to harvest the soul.

Why?

‘Because Antonelli can just escape to the 4th floor.’

His original party is probably waiting on the 4th floor.

They would congratulate Antonelli, who became powerful through soul harvesting, and leisurely explore the 4th floor together before coming out.

Obviously.

Why do I know this so well?

Um.

To be honest, I’ve done similar things many times in the game.

When I first confirmed the sanctuary in the game, I was also extremely excited and wasn’t in my right mind.

Anyone could see that the souls sleeping in the sanctuary are perfect for necromancy experts.

I once researched extensively with a long-term plan to defeat the Labyrinth Master with a necromancer build using the sanctuary as a growth resource.

In that process, I played in exactly that way.

I also went to get the sanctuary in-game, skipping institutional permissions or consultations.

It’s exactly the same – when conducting harvesting experiments and monster waves kept breaking out, I left the main force on the lower floors and created new parties to use as meat shields.

‘I’ve done it all, buddy.’

I aimed my wand at Antonelli.

“What should I use to kill you?”

However, this is my dilemma. To avoid any aftermath, it’s best to finish it in one shot.

The problem is that I don’t have the 2 action point auxiliary hourglass right now.

I need to finish within the 4 action points of the basic hourglass.

Is it possible?

What’s the most powerful magic combination I can create with 4 action points?

Option 1. Consecutive Cumulonimbus summoning and Lightning Shock.

It’s powerful area magic, but difficult to control. We might all get electrocuted if I’m not careful.

Option 2. 4-shot Dust Explosion.

In terms of single-target destructive power, it’s the strongest among the magic I currently have.

The problem is that Antonelli and I are stuck too close together right now.

The concept of Dust Explosion is originally to put coal dust into the target’s clothes or body, creating an environment similar to dust floating in a sealed mine tunnel, then ignite it all at once.

Therefore, the explosion range isn’t very large. Even when I blew up Sally, the distance between her and me was only about 2 meters, but all I felt was warm heat.

But……

‘This guy is stuck too close.’

Close enough to reach with an outstretched hand.

It’s difficult to use Dust Explosion at this distance.

“Then I guess Lightning Shock and Superconductor are what’s left.”

Both are magic contained in the treasure-grade wand that Isilof gave as a mission reward.

And even if I cast both 4 times each, they won’t deal enough damage to kill Antonelli.

But it doesn’t matter if I can’t kill him.

‘I just need to disarm him.’

Electrocution is one of the best status effects for making weapons drop.

Of course, because there’s quite a level gap, it’s difficult to electrocute with Lightning Shock. Unless he’s in a ‘wet’ state.

However.

“Superconductor.”

Range of only 1.5 meters.

One of the few countermeasures a wizard has to deal with enemies in close proximity.

Compared to Lightning Shock, it has lower damage and shorter range, but much higher electrocution probability.

Still, the probability isn’t 100% and it decreases with level difference, but.

[It is your turn. Time remaining: 50 seconds]

[Action Points: ■■■□]

“Superconductor.”

If I hit him with four shots of this, he should get electrocuted. With 4 stacks, the probability of not getting electrocuted would be 0.1%?

No matter how crazy the labyrinth gets with its ridiculous bad luck, this can’t fail.

“Superconductor.”

[It is your turn. Time remaining: 40 seconds]

[Action Points: ■□□□]

Thick lightning streams burst from the wand tip, raining down on Antonelli.

Since it’s a 1st grade combat magic, the cooldown is 5 seconds, same as Lightning Shock.

“Yernil.”

Let’s not forget this too. It’s a way to consistently add damage bit by bit.

“Shoot this guy’s wrist holding the wand.”

Then the final incantation.

“Superconductor.”

[All action points have been consumed.]

[Turn ends.]

[The hourglass has flipped again. Cooldown: 60 seconds]

***

Bang! Kwagwang!

Bright blue current burst out explosively.

Fortunately, I wasn’t subjected to the 0.1% bad luck.

“Uuugh……”

Blood vessels burst in the eyes of Antonelli, who was trying to summon bone armor to wear like an overcoat.

His body became stiff like a wet towel left outside in midwinter, then swayed greatly.

Clang!

I quickly picked up the magic wand that fell to the floor. An arrow was already lodged in Antonelli’s wrist.

“Kehuk.”

Indeed, because his level is high, his recovery is fast.

Antonelli, who was half-collapsing, was already starting to pull himself together.

And his left hand reached for the backup wand on his belt.

The backup wand itself was right next to his right hand, but he couldn’t use his right hand because it was destroyed by Yernil’s arrow.

And his left hand……

Crack!

Mister Backstab, who leaped instantly, stabbed it with his dagger.

“Kyaaaaak!”

Aimus quickly ran over and grabbed Antonelli, and Virtanen and Zikal joined in, though a beat late.

And I……

Riiip!

I tore off the buttons of his completely subdued coat and searched his inner pockets first.

There must be something in there.

If he was trying to conduct such an uncertain necromantic experiment, he too must have anticipated the possibility of serious disaster striking the 3rd floor.

And he would have prepared means to escape from there.

For example……

“Found it.”

I snatched a scroll.

“Hah……”

Antonelli looked devastated.

“How…… Did you know about the scroll too……”

“Obviously.”

I showed him the scroll I pulled from Antonelli’s pocket.

“What’s that?”

Yernil scurried over to the side.

[Stair Scroll]

▶You can teleport to the front of ‘stairs’ that lead down to lower floors of the labyrinth.

“You remember, right? When we caught the goblin shaman with Yernil before, something like this came out.”

“It did?”

She doesn’t remember.

Right.

It’s fine.

That’s the average for labyrinth beginners, Yernil.

“Originally, stair scrolls aren’t used by adventurers to ‘find stairs‘ but as an ‘escape method’.“

I explained to her, who wasn’t familiar with this scroll.

“If an emergency like a monster wave occurred here, Antonelli was planning to escape to the 4th floor. His original companions would have been waiting there.”

Antonelli hung his head as if resigned.

No matter how much of a level difference there is, even he wouldn’t have confidence facing seven people alone.

He probably planned to summon bone armor for just a moment to buy time, then tear the scroll and run.

But he couldn’t have expected Superconductor.

“I’ve never heard of such magic before.”

Befitting a 4th floor wizard, his preliminary research is thorough. The Hijikata stories that came pouring out were probably information he discovered while researching the sanctuary.

And at the same time, he seems to have caught on to me, who first succeeded in the sanctuary resurrection project?

So when the note got stuck while we were close together, he had composure?

He judged that he could endure Lightning Shock with mental strength, and guessed I couldn’t use Dust Explosion or Cumulonimbus due to range issues?

He’s definitely a 4th floor wizard. His head works quite well. Same when he was lying earlier.

“……”

Antonelli gulped.

“Spare me.”

He began his final argument.

“I, I admit I tried to harvest souls through illegal experimentation. But…… No accident has happened yet, right? I never harmed anyone. It’s the same this time. I’m not like a raider……”

I looked at Emma.

What does the goddess of fair transaction and contract think?

“When you signed the Adventurer’s Guild contract, it’s written there……”

She said.

“Experiments that could potentially cause serious crisis to the entire corresponding floor within the labyrinth are prohibited in principle. Those who attempt to conduct illegal experiments can be executed by other adventurers, even if it remains an attempt.”

“……”

“Whew.”

Virtanen let out a deep sigh.

“Really…… Really regrettable. Antonelli.”

He raised his axe.

“Wait.”

I stopped Virtanen.

He can’t die yet. There’s information I haven’t obtained yet.

“Antonelli.”

I crouched in front of him and interrogated.

“Are there other necromancers currently in this labyrinth?”

When I played like Antonelli in the game, I searched for all other necromancers beforehand.

Who might enter the labyrinth with me and compete for the sanctuary.

What level their party strength is. I found and analyzed as much as possible within my information network’s reach.

Because that increases the possibility of winning the sanctuary competition.

“I, I don’t know……”

What?

He didn’t even do that?

I take back what I said about thorough preliminary research. For a 4th floor wizard, that’s too lacking.

Disappointing, Antonelli.

***

Thud!

Virtanen cut off Antonelli’s head.

If we had been dragged to the 3.5 floor following him, it might have been really dangerous.

Since Antonelli isn’t like a raider, he wouldn’t deliberately kill Virtanen’s party.

But he would have used them as arrow catchers while grabbing only the urn and running.

He would have used that stair scroll earlier to go down to the 4th floor and join his party.

“……”

Virtanen became extremely depressed.

As a 2nd floor adventurer, he felt his limitations keenly right upon entering the 3rd floor.

Honestly speaking……

‘I couldn’t even imagine it.’

It’s true that Antonelli was far superior in power compared to them. When he suddenly approached and made that sweet proposal to work together, I did suspect he might have ulterior motives.

So I did more thorough reference checks on Antonelli’s previous party. I investigated his reputation through surrounding adventurers too.

He was an excellent man.

A wizard who had received merit badges.

I thought he was trustworthy.

Even after entering here, when he rattled off stories about being in an old party with Hijikata, I thought it was real.

“I understand why Virtanen protected Antonelli.”

Caleb said.

“Because they’re the same party. I almost got fooled for a moment too, but from Virtanen’s perspective, it naturally looked like an outsider was excessively suspecting and interrogating his party member. As a party leader, he naturally thought he had to protect him.”

“…… You.”

Virtanen asked with a feeling of being utterly shabby.

“How could you deduce such things and persistently dig into them like this?”

“……”

“The more I see, the more you’re not an ordinary person. The 3rd floor is too easy a place for you too, isn’t it?”

“……”

Caleb picked up the wand Antonelli dropped and stuck it in his belt.

“Go back to the 2nd floor, Virtanen. The three of you need magic equipment to use on the 3rd floor.”

He said.

“This place is difficult for Virtanen’s party right now.”

“……”

Virtanen slowly nodded.

While exchanging glances with Zikal and Emma.

“When we meet in town next time, I’ll definitely repay you for today’s events. Thank you, Caleb.”

Virtanen’s party went back through the gate to the 2nd floor stairs.

Just one month.

Caleb, who I first encountered as a slave on the 1st floor, had surpassed Virtanen’s party in one month.

***

“I can’t believe an adventurer of this caliber would try to commit such acts. Unbelievable.”

For Aimus, who had only crawled at the bottom of the 1st floor his whole life, bad adventurers were just raiders, so this type seems shocking.

“Honestly, I was a bit worried whether it was okay to interrogate and dig this persistently, but it was impressive, big brother.”

Backstab seemed moved.

And……

“Hehe.”

Yernil crossed her arms and quietly watched Backstab.

“Hehehehe.”

Laughing to herself continuously.

“What’s wrong?”

I asked while rummaging through Antonelli’s corpse for useful items.

“Caleb, do you know I prepared for battle from the moment you started suspecting this necromancer?”

“Really?”

“Yes! Really! Because I thought Caleb would be right! In this party, only! Only me! I alone! Nocked an arrow and waited!”

No wonder her expression was so triumphant when she asked what the scroll was earlier.

“So when the battle started, I was the second fastest to attack after Caleb! I shot the arrow that hit his wrist!”

No, that’s because I told you to do that, Yernil.

“Oh?”

Something useful came from Antonelli’s corpse.

Indeed, a 4th floor wizard is on a different level.