Vol. 1 Ch. 3 - The fight for survival and the hero's Punishment.....

Part#1

About three days has passed since the day that the heroes embarked on the journey to train inside the labrynth in the eastern forest in the city of Palma. The news about them not returning to the inn they reserved for their training has been spread through the wives with more or less nothing to do. Although only three days have only passed, many of the people were bothered by the fact that the heroes not returning after entering the labrynth.

Currently, the matter was being investigated. The safety of the heroes were being taken as a serious matter even by the public. Mainly because that the heroes were only recently summoned and they have yet to reach levels of higher stats.

So, many investigators were sent to investigate the labrynth. Interrogation of witnesses and various other things were being held as well. Since the last place where the heroes disappeared was the labrynth, they focused their investigation on that place.

Because of that, they have found the cause of the disappearance of the heroes. Inside the labrynth was a path of four meters tall and three meters wide. There, was a trap laid with incredible high difficulty to detect. It was a trap that exist in the previous years before the war of the demon lords even began. At first glance it looks like a small magic circle with no significant use whatsoever but, once activated, illusionary space can be seen and entered like a portal. There, once entered will be a wide room with no obstructions can be seen. Only a gigantic crystal that illuminates the dome shape room.

It was called 'Wave room'. It is a type of space that spawn monsters in waves every 12 hours and each wave were stronger than the previous ones as times goes by. However, such trap has a weakness. It has a core within the room that can't be seen by the naked eye. Once it was discovered and destroyed, the wave room will disappear and the wave of monsters will stop. But, if you can't figure out where the core is and destroy it, the wave room will continue to spawn monsters.

Unlike normal rooms, the wave room was a peculiar room where it appears in relatively fixed locations. There are times when it will appear in floors far deeper and times when it appear in higher floors like in the 25th floor. Since it's appearance can't be predicted, there is hardley any information regarding such room. Still, it was an effective room for higher rank adventurers since the room will keep spawing monsters and with that, makes the individual raise in level. The room is also known as 'Farming room' for high level adventurers.

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The king received such news. Inside the throne room, the king was reading the report of the investigators sent to investigate the labrynth. His face was painted with impatience and obvious enough, he was worried about the heroes.

"How are the attempts in taking them out from the outside?"

"For now it is impossible but the attempts are being tried non-stop. However, it is not advisable to continue since it might affect the exit of the heroes will use"

In fact, one adventurer tried it once and failed to save his companions. After that, that adventurers have entered it never seened again. Because of that, tampering of the magic circle that activates the trap have been banned heavily. Since it's cost are lives that entered it, the guild post a warning sign about it but was teared down eventually due to lack of proof. Still, the warnings have been spread but since it has no conclusive proof, the people just based it as an urban legend of some sort.

"Is it really impossible?"

"I'm afraid so....."

The king's face turned sullen as he was thinking up some more plans to help the trap heroes. Still, is there no other way than let those heroes find the core themselves? Moreover, wasn't Gaius informed about this beforehand?

"It seems that Taiga-sama had urged Gaius-sama to enter immediately and was unable to hear the information regarding the 'Wave room' trap"

‘That reckless brat!!’ The king held his infuriated thoughts inside to avoid voicing out the inconvinience the hero Taiga had brought. However, it can't be help that the king was seriously mad about that hero's rash decision. Still, as it can't be avoided anymore, the king set the problem about Taiga aside and focus on the rescue of the heroes and those that came with them.

"What about Inomiri-sama? Has the letter arrived to her yet?"

"Forgive us your majesty, but as Inomiri-sama was sent with Albert-sama to tend to the affected lands due to the war against the demon lord, the letter would arrived to them far later. I advise that waiting for her would be wastefull"

The day after the group was left for the labrynth, Inomiri, Albert and along a few guards were sent to tend to the lands that were gravely destroyed due the wars against the demon lords. Since the lands were big and previously abundant, letting rot and go to waste will be wastefull. So, as the king wished to reclaim those lands, he had set out Inomiri with Albert to greatly let her focused on her studies regarding this world. Furthermore, since the lands are far, sending a letter two days after they left was to optimistic. Since the letter only travels by horse or by bird carriers, receiving the letter would not be possible. Teleportation circles are viable but, they are in a place where Inomiri weren't in cities or towns but villages and ruined lands so using the teleportation was useless.

So, that leaves only one option.....

"Send the the remaining hero to save them?"

That was the idea given to the king by his advisers. Using Kyoushiro, whose the only available hero, was the best option. However, the person himself has no job class nor sword skills or magic skills. He only has two skills which were useless in battle and only useful in manifacturing processes.

In conclusion, Kyoushiro is too useless in fights. He won't even last for a second in battles.

"Are you out your minds? Sending another hero is a studip plan!!"

"But, he is only a free loader in the castle. Besides, even the other heroes doesn't see him as a part of their group"

"Even so, can't we send soldiers to them instead?"

"Unfortunately, we already did such plan but the soldiers were repelled by some kind of barrier"

At that time, the soldiers of fifty men tried to forced their way in but only to be repelled by a barrier. The soldiers weren't injured but entering by force wasn't also a good idea.

"If such thing was done, then doesn't that mean that having Kagami-dono enter it would be impossible as well?"

"No, after we have examined the trap further, only a hero can enter freely in such space. Furthermore, we are absolutely positive that the black hero can enter. Since not only he has no job-class, he is a demon-spawn as well. So, we have concluded that such judgement is correct"

With face as if saying 'It is obvious' the adviser smiled greatly. However, the plan stated was too ridiculously one-sided. It was plainly obvious the plan was just to get rid of Kyoushiro. The king objects to their plan but, will he let 16 heroes go to waste and face 8 countries' wrath due to the deaths of 16 useable heroes? or let one of the 18 die to save the other 16? It was a hard decision, but as the king that prioritize his people...... letting a single death wouldn't hurt....

With such thoughts, the king decided.....

"Very well, let the remaining hero...... be sent to save the other heroes..."

To let Kyoushiro die to save the others........

Part #2

Three days have passed and results of my everyday experiments have been improving greatly. Although only three days has passed, because I have Lina to help me out in my experiments, the compounding proceeded smoothly and ended successfully. In the end, I was able to make 15 crates of small healing potion, 12 crates of medium grade healing potions, 20 crates of Mp potions, 3 bags of energy supplements, and 2 small pots of cold medicine. After re-reading the recipe books and modifying them, I came up with various kinds of ideas I wished to use. But, because the ingredients was already used, I stopped the manifacturing.

Also, I practiced the skill 'Transmutation' and was able to create weapons made with the materials I currently have. In tbe begining, I created mortar and pestle as test and successfully created such object. Next was sand that was changed to glass, carbon to diamonds, iron ore to iron swords and many more. Due to that, I gained skills called 'Metal forging' and 'Mineral processing'. The first one might have been due to numerous repair request that coming in from soldiers that wished their weapons and armor to be repaired. I have no idea as to how I ganied 'Mineral processing' skill but it might have been to constant use of transmutation to make glass, carbon fiber and kitchen utensils. The maids obviously loved the kitchen utensils so I had been making some for them. In return, they'll make me some food that i'll eat once my tasks were done.

Oh right, I almost forgot. I leveled upped a few times after hunting in the fields the other day. Because there are times when the materials were too poor to be used, I hunted some for myself along Lina and one bodyguard. I wasn't useless since I have seen how sword skills were used so I copied those and tried some few ideas I came up with.

When I hold a weapon or object, I infused it with magic power. Then, with a specific movement and stance, executing swords skills became possible. Though the problem wad that the output wasn't comparable to the original sword skills but still better than nothing.

Due to that, I gained tbe skills 'Magic infusion', 'Enchant', 'Magic seer' and ' Magic manipulation'. Although I haven't tested the new skills yet, I hope that it'll be usefull to me.

It took time but I already gained new skills and gone up a few levels...

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Kyoushiro Kagami

17 yrs old

Male

Jobclass: ????

Lvl. 15

STR: 57

AGI: 57

DEF: 57

MAG: 57

RES: 57

Skills: Appraisal, Language Aquistion, Transmutation, Compounding, Metal forging, Metal processing, Magic Infusion, Enchant, Magic seer, Magic manipulation.

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My stats rose up to 57 already so I guess you can call that an improvement. Now, as I have stopped that manufacturing of potions and other medicines, i'm currently in the field where five goblin, two hobgoblins and one ogre were having a feast on a wild boar's corpse.....

Since the boar was big as well, the goblins, hobgoblins and ogres were having such tasty treat. But still, seeing such grotesque scene, I can't help but hold my breathe since the stench of blod is something i'm still not used to.

*Ugiii!!!??"

A goblin noticed me and alerted his companions. The group became aggressive and charged all together. Since i'm a single prey, it would take even long for them to kill me.

"Like that's gonna happen!!!"

I draw out my sword from it's scabbard, infuse magic power into it and on my body at the same time. I feel some sort of surge enter me, strengthen my physical abilities and my senses. With that, I lowered my half of my body, and prepared the stance I learned after watching Gaius the other day.

*Guruaaaa!!!!*

The ogre attacked first with his weapon raised over his head, preparing to smash my body. However, before the club had even reached half of it's angle to be swung down, I dashed directly under his chest and swung my sword in a single flash.

"[Sword Flash- revised]"

Although it wasn't a quick draw move, I severed the body of the two meter tall ogre in one slash. Blood gushed out and the lifeless body fell, unmoving with it's body cut in half.

"Good, although weak, it's workable"

I commented on the skill I used which was through body means instead of skill. the mark on my right arm proves it. After I read a few books regarding 'Hero mark's I accidentally, stumbled on a book that studies cursed marks that dark mages use on their enemies. There marks that caused people unable to wake up in an eternal sleep, a mark that is preventing one's regeneration, and some could turn the cursed person into a demonic beast.

Because of that, I feared that I may turned in to demonic beast. But, as I kept on reading, I discovered the very same mark on my right arm. The one on me was a cursed mark preventing one's growth in strength and in power. It seems to have included my stats and job a hero as well. It doesn't resists production skills so I can consider it lucky.

Then, after defeating the remaining monsters and took out the materials, I returned back to the castle, only to be shocked by the sudden summons of the king.......

Part #2

"You want me to...... go and save the others?"

I was faced with a problem, shoved to my face. After the adviser of the king told me the purpose of the king's summons, I have troubled believing such role pushed onto me.

"W-Wait!! I'm not a hero so why should I be the one to save them?"

After the others went to the labrynth, news about my role in this world spread widely and became known by every staff in the castle. It would be funny if it didn't spread outside the castle yet.

"Certainly that is so, but only those who came with heroes can enter the 'Wave room' of the labrynth"

What a convinient excuse.... It's obvious enough that they want to get rid of me. I'm not much of an idiot to see that considering that i'm freeloading in their castle. My anger was already blocking my throat. I endured my rage and looked at the king who was sitting high on his throne....

"This is a role you must take Kagami-dono. Not as a hero, but as their companion from the same world. If you do not wish to save them, then you will not live peacefully in this world"

The king looked down on me giving a glare along with a threat. His intimidating aura as a king was dominating the room. I see the soldiers listening trembling and making clattering noise with their armours. I noticed that the king was using some kind of skill since the surrounding was being coerce by some kind of filter. I can see it with my 'Magic seer' skill.

I can very well see that kind of outcome. But.....this people really care about those freaks. My blood is boiling just by thinking of saving them and letting me die in their stead.

But still..... I want to refuse. If I can wouldn't be in this place. I need their assistance and they need mine.

"So, i'll die if I refuse and i'll die if I accept?"

"I hope that we will receive a favorable reply"

The king's advicer was looking down on me. His irritating grin was infuriating and making me want to crush his face with my fist. Still, I can't say no to them. In this condition of mine, I can't fight nor defend myself. I'll die if I disobey them. So for now, i'll be act like a loyal dog till I get strong enough to leave this place....

"......Fine, i'll do it. But, after that, you'll leave me alone"

After saying my conditions, I left the throne room and went back to the shed.

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"Why did you accept such thing!!?! Kagami-sama?!!"

When I return, Lina was there and with a deep red face filled with anger. It seems that news spread faster than expected. Lina heared the news about the heroes through other maids and when she heared that, Lina ran straight to my shed fuming mad because of the dangerous role I was given.

"Even though you also have a life to live..... for the king to..."

Lina was on the verge of crying. Was she enduring all those discrimination against me all this time? Lina is a very nice girl but her tears are wasted on person like me. Just seeing such cute girl having a troubled face because of me, I can't call myself a man.

I calm her down with a pat on her silk like black hair. I sooth her while brushing her long hair and let out a worry filled smile I haven't made in a long time.

"Don't worry about it. If things go wrong i'll run away. Even if its impossible, i'll survive. I'll be returning back to my world after all"

"But still....."

"You don't have anything to worry about. I'll make sure that i'll return so wait for me ok?"

With a reluctant face, Lina was unable to say anything but nod. I pulled her close to me and embraced her. As the only person that cares for me, this the only thing I can do.

I head inside the shed and prepared the items I would need to survive. I took my hand-made magic bag that has been enchanted with magic and had been sewn with a magic circle of spatial manipulation magic. Since I have been both studying and working for three days straight, I have been creating items that involves the laws of this world.

The magic bag was something I conceptualized when I read about space augementation spell in a book inside the library. Dimension stones and mithrill spider silk what was used as needle and thread. I drew a magic circle in replace of the rare material all 'Dragon's eye' since dragon's in this world had grown scarce.

I infused it with magic power to increase the potency of effectiveness of the replaced part. So, in the end, I was able to make the magic bag.

Inside, I placed the crates of potions I made, along with magic infused stones and, magically enchanted rings and amulets. I also prepared food and other necessities in case of emergencies. As well as some light armours, boots and gauntlets. I have all necesary items and suited up myself with the best gear I could prepare. With that, I left the shed and went to the stables where the soldiers that will guide me are waiting.

A couple of minutes later, I arrived at the stables. I received a very strong glare from the soldiers when I arrived.

"You're slow!!! What will happen to the heroes if you arrive so late?!! This the only job you can do so at least be quick about it!!"

Along those lines were the whispers and laughter of the other soldiers around me. The head soldier was faking his anger and obviously enough, he was trying to embarass me in front of the other soldiers.

Endure it..... Even if I can't help it, all I have to do is inform those heroes and come back alive. It'll be their problem afterwards.

I ignored their insults and rode the horse prepared for me. After that, we dashed all the way to the labrynth without taking a break. Of course, I fed my horse energy supplements before we left so mine has energy to run back to the castle. The other were falling behind because of the weight their armours gave to the horse. Because of the weight a full grown man, topped with a full body armor, the horses became too tired to even catch up with the speed of my horse.

I can only laugh on those losers.....kukukuku.....

"We have arrived"

Said the head soldier that guided me and fell on the horse before we even arrived. It's really laughable that he can stay upright when he had his leg broke when fell on the horse. Well, i'd rather used the potions I have than to give one to him.

The entrance of the labrynth was 5 meters high and 3 meters wide. It was also letting out some eerily dark magic power..... I guess those are called...'Miasma' right? 'Magic seer' skill is really useful in times like this. I also used 'Appraisal' to know the complete information of the miasma if the labrynth.