Chapter 44

Chapter 44

 Liz Manuke FPS April 28, 2019 6 Minutes

I finished adding the new areas we explored in the labyrinth onto the map the day I returned to camp . With the harvest festival coming closer, we quickened our pace of mapping the rest of the labyrinth . To be more specific, Frau-san, Mitche-san – my two bodyguards – and I headed into the labyrinth then split into two groups . The two girls headed in the direction of the Spring, sweeping monsters on the way . I headed for the unmapped areas, moving in high speed . .

There were light grasses blooming here and there, but I still turned on the NV to ensure adequate visibility in the dark passages . I made use of the high-speed movement technique frequently used not only in VMB but in other SF shooters also – consecutive strafe jumps – to literally fly around the labyrinth .

Strafe jumps, to put it simply, were jumping in the direction you wanted to go while slightly leaning to either left or right . If you wanted to turn right while jumping, then you slightly rotate to the right mid-air . Since you could change the direction where you were going just by changing your angle, you could cover a longer distance and move forward faster . With consecutive strafing, you could change your direction from left to right alternately without stopping so you could move even further and faster .

[Lizz: I hate hate hate these gaming explanations T__T]

[Ashes: I literally couldn’t figure out how to edit it . Nothing comes to mind when I read it . So I can’t exactly touch it . ]

While performing consecutive strafes, I also kept an eye on my map and listened to the noises around me . Where I currently was, the only enemies were a mixture of normal and higher-ranked goblins . Strafe jumps weren’t just a movement technique – you could charge right into battle and spray bullets to take down enemies . It’d be as if you ran them over .

A few dots appeared on my map just after the left turn up ahead . I put my finger on the P90’s trigger on my chest, adjusted my angle, and took the left turn, descending upon the monsters .

I flew by the corner at the highest peak of the jump, making use of a spare moment mid-jump to place the crosshairs on the goblins’ head . There wasn’t a need to aim carefully one by one . When I passed over their heads during the jump, I squeezed the trigger . I fired 3 rapid shots, then continued strafing without confirming if they were dead . There wasn’t a need to – I had killed enough goblins to be able to sense when I made a kill . I also left the mana stones for later . For now, I wanted to 100% complete the map as soon as possible .

In the end, it took me an entire day to completely finish the map . Still, it was shockingly fast to have it mapped, drawn up, and delivered to the Guild only two days after the labyrinth was conquered .

When I stepped out of the mapping tent, holding the complete map, the sun had already set . However, campfires were lit here and there throughout the camp, enveloping everything in red light . They all gathered here: adventurers from Barga, as well as traders and workers who had heard of the labyrinth’s conquer .  The labyrinth harvest festival had already started, beginning with the sleepless white nights .

When I entered the HQ tent, Varold-san was still working even though the day had ended .   There was one other person inside; the one who had sent me on this Labyrinth conquest, Guild Investigator Remi-san .

“The map of Emerald Demon Labyrinth has been completed . ”

“Schwarz-kun, you’ve worked hard . ”

I gave the map to Varold-san . With this, my job this time had come to an end .

“You did it Schwarz-kun, just as expected . Looked like I was right to rely on you . ”

“Thank you, Remi-san . But it probably was not right for me to accept this job . ”

“R-Remi-san… I’ll have my staff reproduce this map . S-see you later, Schwarz-kun . ”

Varold-san seemed to dislike the disquieting atmosphere between Remi-san and me, and he exited the tent with haste, leaving only the two of us inside .

“Schwarz-kun, do you have any questions?”

“I do…”

I brought up the questions I’d had since I accepted this job . The job changed from mapping to labyrinth conquest was to my own wish, so it wasn’t a problem . The questions were about if my identity as the cartographer was really hidden, and Rafflesia .

“I think Rafflesia won’t leak your information since they’ve invited you to join them . If they give out your information, there’ll be more competition . ”

Remi-san sat down at Varold-san’s desk and listened to me . Of course, since Rafflesia wanted my mapping ability, they wouldn’t spread information about me to keep invitations from other clans coming .

“Regarding your identity as this mission’s cartographer, I’ll take the responsibility of concealing it . ”

“Your phrasing is somehow worrying . ”

“Don’t you understand? Schwarz-kun, would you like to provide labyrinth maps for the General Guild from now on?”

“Really… If I do that, won’t it be meaningless to hush things this time? It’ll bring me some nice pocket money, but I’m quite worried about the reactions if I accept it myself . ”

“In that case, what about not accepting it by yourself?”

“You mean Rafflesia’s invitation?”

“Yes . I know why you dislike them, but it’s not good to make them your enemies . They’re the number one clan in Kurtmelga in both name and practice . Their current Master is second in line to the throne, Prince Kirik Kurtmelga . He’s the Master with the second-highest status in Rafflesia’s history after the Founder . It could even be said that their power is now stronger than ever . ”

“I heard that royalties do join Rafflesia, but a prince? No wonder…”

“If you want to rival the current Rafflesia, you should have some sort of backing yourself . ”

“…Which means?”

Remi-san got up from her seat and came close to me . No, not just close, but too close; she was a bit taller than me, and she was standing with her nose almost touching my eyes .

“Would you join the Guild?”

It sounded like the loving chirping of a small bird . Remi-san’s chirping resounded in my ears and my heart alike .

“I didn’t say this just for fun . To be honest, I think your maps are dangerous . ”

“Dangerous?”

My voice also lowered down to a whisper spontaneously . The distance between Remi-san and I became even shorter . She was beautiful, with her short red hair and tanned skin . The eyes that bore into me were pale red; her lips were plump and pink .

“You haven’t drawn any maps for anything other than labyrinths, but you can map the natural world with the same precision, right?”

That… Surely I could . I just needed to trace it like I had done with the labyrinth maps .

Then, a map was, in short, a bundle of information . I didn’t know much about the level of this world’s military affairs, but there were no specifically named armies – only Knight Orders .   I didn’t know what kind of organizations the Orders were, but according to the labyrinth maps I’ve seen in the Guild’s Archive, I had the impression they did not possess large scale surveying technology .

If I used trace to draw the maps, this whole world would become an over-specified tactical map .

“This silence means yes, doesn’t it?”

I couldn’t answer Remi-san’s question . I couldn’t decide what the right answer would be .

This must also be why Rafflesia wanted me . Not just as a tool for Labyrinth conquests, but beyond that .

“Yes, I can . ”

I didn’t want to utter those words, but it was useless to lie now . That aside, it once again came apparent how foreign VMB’s powers were for this world . The word “cheater” crossed my mind . Cheater – The word that we FPS Players were most averse to… To this world, I was not a strange object, but just a cheater…

“You don’t look well . Are you alright? I don’t plan to condemn you or anything . ”

Remi-san put her hand on my back and gently rubbed it . It must have looked like two lovers embracing .

“Yes, I’m alright… About the invitation to join the Guild… Please give me some more time . ”

“It’s OK . You’ll receive the remuneration for this job from Rezmond . Just show up and you should be able to get it . ”

Remi-san said and moved away from me .

I stood still, alone in the tent . I didn’t know what I should do . Should I continue using VMB? If I continued living in this world, should I give up this power and live my life as a normal human? No… Why did I have to live in this world to begin with? Why was I here? I didn’t get it, I didn’t understand .

Someone, anyone, tell me…

“Why… am I… here . ”

[T/N: He asked the correct question at last . ]

[E/N: After acting like a horny kid who never seen a woman before . ]

Ping ♪

In the tent with no one besides me, VMB’s mail ringtone rang .

[T/N: There’s another paragraph about P90 here . ]

[Ashes: See it for yourself .   – Youtube link to the P90 break down]