LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 62
The rift raids so far have been going pretty smoothly.
Why? Because the absolute strongest Student Council President, Alkiné, was always by my side.
But this time, she wasn’t here.
Of course, I was with the human radar, Grain, and the now honestly immeasurable growth of the storm princess. But… sadly, I couldn’t feel at ease.
Was it because Seria was still below average? No, quite the opposite.
It was a problem because she had become too outstanding.
“I really didn’t know it would be this distracting. I’m really sorry….”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Rudion. Stop pretending like you’re okay when you don’t really feel it.”
“Busted.”
The moment we entered the rift, Seria tried to activate a magic circle around her like when she fought the demon race in the royal palace.
Of course, if she did that, she could respond quickly in any situation, but… sadly, that was impossible.
“Ugh.”
The moment Seria’s magic unfolded, Grain’s complexion quickly worsened.
It seemed that Seria’s stronger magic was a heavy burden on her characteristics.
The fact that she, who could easily withstand Student Council-level magic, was struggling. What on earth was going on?
Whatever it was, it was clear that Seria’s performance was sealed.
I never thought it would come to this. Can things really get this tangled?
Thanks to that, right now, Seria was solely focused on supporting Grain.
“By the way, are you really okay? Your complexion still doesn’t look good.”
“I’m fine. I’m more sorry. I’m just being a hassle again.”
“It’s no concern. I have Rudion with me, so it’s all good.”
Seria said that while looking at me.
No, that’s not right. I’m the desperate little lamb that needs your help!
Please, just give me a ride on the bus.
“Right?”
“Uh, yeah.”
But there was no way I could say that out loud.
What can I do? I have no choice but to go in the direction of fully utilizing Senior Grain’s amazing abilities.
That was my plan from the start anyway.
But is that really okay for Seria?
“Seria.”
“Yes?”
“Uhm, are you really okay with this?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we’ve actually entered the rift, but you’re not doing anything.”
“Ah… I’m fine. I didn’t particularly want to show off.”
Then what’s with the sulking about not being able to follow into the rift?
“I wanted to come with Rudion, so it’s natural. Can’t you take a hint?”
“…Right, I get it.”
“Still, thanks for caring.”
It’s not even surprising anymore. I have no idea how to respond to this bluntness.
“Hey, it’s good to be on good terms, but keep the lovey-dovey stuff for when you’re alone, okay?”
Grain looked fed up with Seria’s sudden confession of affection, so I subtly shifted the conversation back to her.
“I’ll get them to back off. More importantly, senior, you do know where the others went, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go a different direction.”
“…Aren’t we joining them?”
Join them? Is there really any need for that?
Moving together with them would be less favorable than moving one step ahead by ourselves.
It would be much safer to clear the rift quickly instead of just following along and responding to variables arising from simply tagging along.
That was the rationale behind my decision.
[This feature is currently locked.]
[Unlock Condition: Contribute to clear 5 rifts with 40% or more (2/5)]
It’s not that I’m motivated to unlock the inventory.
If it’s not, then it’s really not.
Even if it is, I didn’t take it lightly. All my judgments are based on evidence.
Me, the experienced player, getting help from the exploration god Grain?
This could lead to the fastest clear possible, and I was confident, even without trying it yet.
Well… this plan was possible because Grain knew that I had taken out the demon race before.
Unlike the other Student Council members, Grain would trust me a bit more.
“Grain, just do what Rudion says.”
“Uh, but….”
“We can just follow Rudion, okay? Got it?”
“…Yeah, I understand. But please don’t look at me like that while smiling. It’s kind of terrifying.”
So, Seria… please stop brainwashing him with your infinite trust in me.
I appreciate it, but wouldn’t Grain be looking at me like ‘What did you do to her?’
I really didn’t do anything. It’s just that Seria trusts me way too much.
I guess I have to repay that trust, huh?
Man, this is a heavy responsibility.
“I’ll just take a quick look around.”
To repay that trust, I needed to get a lay of the land first. I couldn’t start the raid without knowing the map.
I tried to suppress my excitement at the thought of unlocking the inventory and cautiously surveyed the surroundings.
Scattered bone fragments unnaturally laid out across an orange-hued plain. And ancient trees with black leaves sprouting here and there.
It was a brief glance, but I immediately realized this map was completely different from what I knew.
Of course, if you looked at them separately, they were all familiar.
The orange plains. The bone fragments. The ancient trees with black leaves. These were all objects that existed within a real rift.
But they should have been separate in three different maps. They shouldn’t be gathered together like this.
They truly seemed to be a synthesized rift; it looked like the maps had mixed together.
Realizing that and feeling overwhelmed, I returned only to hear Grain utter a shocking revelation.
“It’s pretty big, isn’t it?”
“Well… rifts are usually like that.”
“But this one seems bigger. I’d guess the internal size is about three times bigger than a normal rift.”
“That’s just absurd.”
Three times bigger? So it’s the size of three combined rifts?
If I wandered around without knowing anything, I wouldn’t even just struggle with the raid, but with the exploration itself.
‘At this rate, even memorizing the entire map wouldn’t be of any use…’
It seems tackling this directly wouldn’t work.
Feeling a bit disappointed at failing to just wing it, it seemed Grain caught on and gently asked me.
“Why not just give up wandering separately and join us?”
“…Are you provocating me right now?”
“No… why would I provoke you with that? I’m just saying, let’s not exhaust ourselves and help each other out.”
This guy just keeps poking at the pride of the experienced player.
“I’ll refuse. We’re moving separately.”
“…Seria. Is he always this stubborn? You should try to persuade him somehow!”
“I’m sorry, Grain. In that state, no one can stop Rudion. But isn’t he cool? He looks so focused trying to accomplish something!”
“…Seriously going crazy here. Shouldn’t I have just stayed behind?”
Of course, I wouldn’t crumble under this level of trial.
Sure, I couldn’t wing it, but it wasn’t that I couldn’t handle it.
When new content comes out, isn’t it the nature of experienced players to try to raid it first?
A rift I’ve never seen before? Even better! The challenge is pumping me up.
And right now, next to me is Grain. Losing the first clear in this situation…
‘My pride as an experienced player won’t allow that.’
I will absolutely hyper carry this rift raid and unlock the inventory function!
“Hey, could you come this way for a moment?”
For that, I’ll need to lean on you a bit, Senior Grain.
“…You really can’t be stopped?”
“If I throw a tantrum, I might get my way… but with Rudion full of enthusiasm, how can I ask him to stop? Just give in and follow me.”
“Okay… I guess you’re on their side. This is all my fault. My bad.”
She briefly talked with Seria and then sighed deeply as she approached me.
Alright, it’s time for the raid.
Going outside the rift to treat an injured person is an extremely inefficient act.
Going back the way we came and then again following the same path is just too much.
And the further we’ve moved, the more glaring this inefficiency becomes.
“Is this path right?”
“It should be.”
“Should be? Check it properly.”
No matter how well one remembers a path, walking for hours in unfamiliar scenery will inevitably lead to confusion.
That’s why, even while following the documented exploration route, these disputes arise.
Of course, this problem arose because someone else was taking on Grain’s usual role.
And at that moment, Alkiné, who had been watching them from a ‘protective’ standpoint, couldn’t help but feel frustrated.
‘…No. Don’t. You know what happens if you think that way.’
In the past, she might have brushed it off.
Was it because of the refreshing raid experience she had last time with Rudion? She kept recalling the thrill and sense of liberation felt during such times whenever these situations arose.
The injury Grain had sustained earlier was directly a result of that feeling.
The pent-up frustration, which she thought she had swallowed, had secretly accumulated inside her, and at some point, she acted out, forgetting her ‘protection’ purpose.
She had the simple impulse to directly cut down the enemy before her.
It was that alone that prevented her from protecting Grain, who had been out of her sight, almost costing her life.
‘I have to protect everyone.’
Although she had previously said she hoped that someone would come to help, she knew it was a tall order.
Here, she was absolutely the strongest, and she was the only one who could protect everyone.
‘Don’t think foolishly. This is something I have always done.’
She opened her mouth as she convinced herself with those thoughts.
“In a rift, a single wrong judgment can put everyone in danger, so be careful.”
…Were those words directed at those in front of her or a self-reprimand?
“Yes! President!”
“I’m sorry! I will be cautious! Oh, and… looking at it again, this path is right!”
“Good, let’s go.”
Not knowing, she simply swallowed her frustration once again.