After we launched a surprise attack on the main temple of the Reatlas cult as our first target, we moved along the pre-planned route and rescued the explorers trapped in each city facility.

And then...

“Are you saying you’ll give us the essences?”

“Yes! If you all get even a bit stronger, the chances of saving this city will increase! Here, take them quickly!”

Every time we escaped, we distributed essences like that.

Ah, of course, we didn’t just hand them out to anyone. At each escape, we gave one essence to the highest-ranked explorer there.

At least that way, I could keep some face with the royal family (if you could call it that).

Besides, the essences we got from the first basement floor weren’t nearly enough to give to everyone.

“Okay, that means the essence distribution is over.”

Soon after, while liberating the West District’s 7th Zone Security Office—the fourth checkpoint on our route—the essences for distribution were all used up.

“Um... shouldn’t we at least keep records of who received which essence?”

Auyen and the other comrades, who knew nothing about my unconventional plan, belatedly voiced such concerns over my radical actions.

“Since these belong to the royal family, even if the reason is good, they’ll definitely want to verify.”

Well, that much is true.

But so what?

Ordinary people might find this kind of “mistake” suspicious.

“Ah, why bother keeping records? Too much hassle.”

I’m a barbarian.

So it’s not strange for me to handle things in a barbarian way.

“If it’s troublesome, I can ask people and make records now...”

“Enough! When in the world would I have time to do that in the middle of all this?”

“But still...”

Ha, well.

I’m grateful for the concern, but—

“Auyen, I said it’s fine.”

When I lowered my voice and said it bluntly, Auyen made an ‘oops’ expression and sealed his mouth tight.

Looks like he finally sensed that I have some hidden motive...

‘Seems he still doesn’t know exactly what I’m planning.’

Well, Amelia also was horrified over and over when she first heard my plan.

They said no one in this world would dare pull off such crazy stuff against the royal family except me.

“Bjoooorn! So when do we leave for the next destination? I want to fight soon...!! Woohooooo!!”

Just as we were about to resume movement, Ainard couldn’t hold back and started hurrying me.

‘...Maybe I should have dialed down his fighting spirit to half?’

After regaining his fighting spirit, Ainard seemed to feel ashamed of his dark past and became much more aggressive than before.

So maybe if I’d only put in half, he would have been at a normal person’s level...

‘Nah, that’s not a proper spear barbarian. Just a spear wielder.’

A barbarian is supposed to be like this.

Honestly, as the Barbarian Lord, I was very glad to see Ainard regain his hearty spirit.

So I changed Ainard’s position as well.

Originally, his mission was to follow Versil and protect the rear...

But now—

“Roar, Ainard.”

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”

He’s just smashing everything he sees right now on the front line, following me.

Using his new skill skillfully.

[Ainard Pneline cast [Indomitable Spirit].]

[For a certain time, physical stats increase significantly.]

[All kinds of status effects restricting action are reduced by 80%.]

This newly acquired combat buff allowed Ainard to charge through the battlefield like a tank.

Although it’s not a complete CC immunity or removal skill...

An 80% reduction plus his natural resistance means most CCs are broken in the blink of an eye.

[Ainard Pneline cast [Focused Strike].]

However, the core skill of spear barbarians, [Focused Strike], has yet to show great power.

[For the next hit only, all effects of currently held piercing-type skills are applied.]

Well, he only has one piercing skill, the [Trident].

Since mana is precious, I advised him not to use it unless necessary, but Ainard showed no intention of listening.

How can he resist when the spear emits white light?

‘Once we solve the city’s problem, I need to buy and feed him more attack skills.’

Once he has about three piercing skills stacked, [Focused Strike] will exceed the power of a rank 5 skill.

Though its true value lies elsewhere.

‘Maybe this skill is also a conversion-type skill?’

The condition for [Focused Strike] is ‘piercing type.’

Therefore, skills from other classes that can only be used with ranged weapons like bows can also be absorbed and used.

That’s why [Focused Strike] was chosen as the core essence for spear barbarians.

“Wooooooo!!”

Anyway, regardless of not being able to fully use [Focused Strike], Ainard ran across the battlefield showing a presence greater than even his days as the ‘Explosive Sword.’

This was because his raw stats had risen tremendously with this upgrade...

[Ainard Pneline has used attack skills 10 times.]

[Due to passive skill [War Machine], damage received is greatly reduced temporarily.]

[Ainard Pneline failed to defend.]

[Due to passive skill [Endurance], all resistances increase slightly.]

Thanks to defense passives, his combat stability improved drastically.

Meanwhile...

Thud!

His damage also rose significantly.

While he might have been better off before against many weak enemies, his single-target damage is on a completely different level.

After all, the Shingok Geochang spear is a top-tier spear weapon.

Stabbing it roughly can easily pierce even sturdy armor like tofu...

“When did the Explosive Sword start using a spear?”

“But it seems even stronger than when he used a sword...”

“...A New Spear! The arrival of the New Spear!”

Hearing the excited explorers’ exclamations about his presence, Ainard asked me.

“Bjorn, what’s a New Spear?”

“It means a person who is good with a spear.”

“Woooo!! I am a New Spear!!!”

Ainard earned a new nickname.

[Ainard Pneline’s fame increased by +1.]

[Ainard Pneline’s fame increased by +1.]

[Ainard Pneline’s fame increased by +1.]

[Ainard Pneline’s fame increased by +1...]

[......]

Even if not to the same extent as Ainard, who returned from the first basement floor with a changed weapon leaving a big impact, we too gained the attention of many explorers following us.

“What’s with that shield...?”

“Don’t know, but it’s definitely not an ordinary item.”

“Looks like even the giants’ women got stronger.”

Not just me—Amelia, Misha, and Elwen, who gained new essences, showed growth as well, impressing many explorers.

“...I don’t know what kind of exploration they did there, but the giants have wings on their backs now.”

“Why be surprised now? That explorer already has her name carved on the Stone of Honor. She’ll surely become a legend in this city even after death.”

Though a bit embarrassing to hear, it wasn’t wrong.

Through this journey, we gained momentum to go further.

Ah, though first, we need to finish this well.

“...It’s empty again.”

The underground prison of the Western Explorer’s Branch, the ninth checkpoint on our route. However, when we arrived, the prison was completely empty.

“Looks like they suffered a huge defeat in the last battle.”

“The other facilities must be in a similar state.”

From the third facility onward, the Noark guys recognized us and prepared well, so we had fierce battles.

But starting from the seventh, their forces weakened gradually, until now there were no guards nor trapped explorers left.

Of course, this was not unexpected.

No matter how much chaos we caused inside, the Noark’s main concern would be the royal forces stationed beyond the city walls.

They have to keep troops at the walls for emergencies, and if too many forces are taken away to chase us, the royal army beyond might notice something strange.

In short, they’re forced to leave us be, whether they like it or not.

‘Tch, getting help from the royal family seems difficult.’

Actually, the best-case scenario I hoped for in this plan was different.

That the royal army would catch the gap we made and launch an all-out offensive.

The royal family must already know about the first basement expedition’s return.

They probably know we’re in the 7th District, and once troops leave the walls, they’ll likely realize what’s happening.

But...

“It’s time to move to the next phase.”

Does the world ever move the way you want?

Since I’ve felt the laws of the world countless times, I could make decisions quickly.

“The next plan is...”

“You already told them everything, why pretend not to know?”

“...”

“We break through the walls and enter the city by ourselves.”

This was a plan already set and shared among the members.

Maybe the newly escaped explorers didn’t know.

“Eh...? What do you mean?”

“There are tons of Noark at the walls, right...?”

A commotion broke out among explorers who overheard me.

“Can we really do it alone?”

“And our equipment isn’t even intact!”

“No matter how good the odds, this seems reckless... I have to say it cautiously...”

Honestly, there were many ways to convince them.

Our strength was enough to try.

Also, if we attack first, the royal forces would surely notice and likely support us.

We could say things like: no matter how injured you are, once you pass the walls you can get healed, and so on.

If I said things like that a bit stylishly, they would eventually be persuaded to follow me.

But...

“Ugh, shut up.”

“...?”

“Why do grown adults whine so much?”

“...Huh?”

Seeing the explorers’ dumbfounded faces, I said bluntly:

“If you’re scared, leave. Then this problem is solved.”

“...Huh?”

“Why look so surprised? Did you really think I’d try to persuade you?”

“...”

Since I got no answer, I guess they really did.

Geez, I’m not their parent.

“Let’s go!”

Without further discussion, I led the way immediately, and that was enough.

“Will you really leave us?”

“Are you crazy? Of course, I’ll follow!”

“The baron must have some plan for this. I trust the baron!”

By my estimate, that saved at least twenty minutes.

Since the 7th District was like my hometown, finding paths in the broken city wasn’t hard.

The city walls were visible far away.

But the problem was the Noark main force approaching us as the walls got closer...

“They outnumber us by at least twenty times.”

“The problem is, that’s not all. More will come with time.”

They weren’t just many in number.

The Noark main force had many with an unusual aura, and one of them was someone I was very familiar with.

“So you really survived there and came back, Bjorn Yandel.”

“...”

“I wish you had just died there.”

I snorted a little seeing the one calling out from afar.

“Pfft.”

He’s still the same as ever.