NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94
The seven portals all look the same. Dun dun
But they probably didn’t write “Choose carefully” for no reason, so there must be some differences.
At some point, someone muttered this, and our six-member party hurried around, desperately trying to find the differences between the portals.
In the meantime, our party. Only I remained relaxed.
Why? Because I could see everything.
The colors, sizes, and clarity of the auras surrounding each portal, all of it.
But just because I could see it doesn’t mean everything is solved.
Out of the seven portals, only four were surrounded by strange auras.
In the case of the remaining three, though there were slight differences, the aura colors were very faint or too small, making them seem meaningless to choose.
‘I have to pick one out of the four… not easy.’
The second portal, glowing in a sinister red, resembling a two-horned demon.
The fourth portal, featuring a scythe-wielding reaper appearing behind it, with piercing eyes.
The fifth portal, wrapped in large white wings, emphasized in an even brighter white.
And the dreamy seventh portal, mixing many colors like an aurora.
Whether the meanings contained in the auras relate to rewards, or the difficulty level or monsters appearing, there’s no way to guess without information.
At a glance, the demon and reaper portals are definitely to be avoided.
Especially the fourth portal, should I call it the aura of death? Just looking at it gives the chilling feeling that one is walking into their demise.
‘But what’s the use of filtering out what I think is good or bad? Entering is a separate issue.’
What should I do? If I stay idle, the order of selecting portals might be decided by flipping a coin or rolling dice…
Or worse, a terrible suggestion might come out about deciding it based on the highest record in the hierarchy.
As I was distressed to the point that my forehead felt hot, Dyson approached me alone and asked.
“Why isn’t your party moving? Have you figured something out?”
Whatever I saw, I have to hide it from them.
‘In moments like this, it’s better to appear a little pitiful rather than flat-out deny.’
“No. Well. I was just observing, thinking maybe a particularly appealing portal would appear.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
“Choosing carefully. The criteria for the word ‘carefully’ is ultimately different for everyone, isn’t it?”
I purposely fixed my gaze on the portals and spoke earnestly.
“After all, if I step in there, I’d just get trampled by the busy folks without achieving anything.”
‘Yeriell. Remember how you found the hidden space in the cave? This time, there’s something visible too, so everyone stay at your spots. Ignore anyone who talks to you.’
─Yeah! I’m glad to hear you see something. I’ll convey it secretly. Leave it to me!
Sending a silent message to Yeriell, I turned my head to Dyson and smiled slyly.
“Since you seem to have an inkling, isn’t that why you’re here talking with me while leaving the other party members behind?”
Dyson stroked his beard with a slightly reluctant voice.
“True, but… you, aren’t you just trying to wait idly for new information with your glossy words?”
He added with a half-educational tone, looking askance at our party, remaining still while everyone else was bustling around.
“Ah, if that’s how you see it, there’s nothing I can do. But after all, if you’re unhappy, it’s not like a fight will break out, right?”
“Are you referring to ‘Do not harm others at the starting line’ from the parchment?”
Thwack!
I snapped my fingers and said it intentionally lightly.
“That’s exactly it! If we break the wording of the parchment, there won’t be anyone brave enough to start a battle here.”
“Didn’t expect you to have a slick side to you beyond appearances.”
“Haha! I just want to pick what my instinct leads me to without caring what others think. Don’t wear yourself out for nothing, old man.”
“…I’ll be off then; I sincerely hope one of the portals aligns well with your instincts.”
Finally, Dyson, exhausted, warned that if not, the rest would choose first, leaving only one to enter.
Looks like I’ve been pegged as a lazy, fourth-dimensional loser instead of just a pitiful guy.
[Chaos asks if it’s okay.]
‘Of course. It’s all good. I won’t see these people again once I leave, so losing a bit of favor isn’t a big deal, is it?’
I would willingly take some strategic backlash if it would benefit the party greatly.
With as many portals as the party members, the chances of a joint content appearing are almost negligible.
Even if there was one, it would be fine to clean up then.
After sending Dyson off, Veronica asked me.
“Aren. We followed the directive to wait, but is it really okay to remain idle like this?”
“Don’t worry. We’ll start moving soon.”
While engaging in trivial conversation, a rough picture formed in my mind. It’s time for action, not planning.
Though it’s just a simple guess, the fifth seems related to divinity or light attributes, while the seventh likely pertains to spirits or magic.
‘We’ll go for the fifth.’
Having decided, I said, “Let’s go. Just follow me slowly.”
I whispered quietly and headed towards the bustling investigations ahead.
And after passing the adventurers, I headed straight for the fourth portal.
“Hahaha! My instincts are signaling me to enter the fourth portal!”
“Hey! Stop making strange noises and back off!”
A dwarf, whose party I didn’t recognize, yelled at me, but I ignored him and shouted on.
“Well, rather than waste time here, our party will be entering this portal! Others should start picking too, don’t you think?”
My target was the human warrior who just mocked my laziness.
────
[Logan Muhabes]
[Strength: C+] [Agility: C-] [Durability: C]
[Health: C+] [Magic: D+] [Luck: C-]
[Traits] (Collapse)
Intermediate Greatswordsmanship
Hot-blooded
Boiling blood
Troll’s regeneration
Vampiric strike
Pain transfer
────
Just seeing his traits, I could clearly imagine how he’d erupt in anger if provoked even slightly.
A fifty-fifty gamble.
Would he lose his temper and block my way?
Or would he just let it go?
Once words are exchanged, there’s no turning back.
So, how will you respond?
‘Can you really hold back, grumbling since the start that you’d just take advantage of the situation?’
It was virtually guaranteed he would try to block me.
Thud. Thud.
“What the hell! Am I supposed to sit here and watch while these punks around me are all fools just because they’re dicking around! Ahn?”
As expected, Logan approached confidently from afar as soon as he heard my shout.
“Logan, enough. It’d be troublesome if you start fighting here! Hey, you all should stop and help investigate!”
“Ah, let go!”
He exclaimed to the comrade who tried to pull him back, ignoring them entirely.
“What gives that guy who’s just standing around while everyone else is darting around, the right to pick and choose?”
“Well, do you have a good alternative?”
I pointed to the watch on my wrist.
“It’s already been 30 minutes since we arrived. What are you going to do if an hour passes, or even half a day, and nothing happens? Set up a tent and sleep here?”
“Are you looking to play word games?”
“Caution? Not bad. But if that’s the case, didn’t you see the warning of ‘Beware of laziness’? You keep wasting time, who knows what might happen.”
The things within the parchment might contain points to heed after entering the portal, after all.
In the end, the one who assembles first tends to win.
“Fine, you little shit. Instead of complicating this, your precious portal that you’re so sure about will be entered by our party instead.”
‘Gotcha.’
“Choose! You can either let us enter this one and pick another portal now, or stay quiet until discussions are finished and sit there like a lump. One of those two!”
With a heavy sigh, while overtly appearing displeased, I hid my joy as much as possible.
“Ha… How does it feel to ruin a completed decision?”
[Chaos wonders how such a volatile person became the party leader.]
“Yeah, you go ahead. But you’re obliged to keep your hands off my choice for the second portal.”
Boom!
With a powerful stomp full of magic, I frowned and spoke.
“Otherwise, I might just end up breaking the rule of not harming others listed on the parchment. Got it?”
Comparing equipment levels or checking the state panels of his party members against ours shows we’re not at a disadvantage at all.
If others choose to side with Logan and there’s a fight, there’s nothing we can do, but who knows?
Maybe he just hesitated, realizing I was taking risks right from the start.
‘You wouldn’t want everyone to go down right from the get-go, would you? Thanks for biting the bait.’
At that moment, the Lion Beastman, judging it wouldn’t benefit anyone for the atmosphere to grow too heated, stepped in.
“Enough. It’s been decided that the spiteful one targeting the first portal and the second one decided by our little parasite here will be our choices.”
The calm and composed Lion Beastman clearly knew what to do.
As expected, he easily quelled Logan’s outrage moments before.
[Chaos furrows its brow at the term ‘little parasite.’]
“I agree. Let’s send the two parties in quickly and continue our discussions.”
“I agree too! Wow, that older bro looks like a bad boy, very attractive! A guy who’s too gentle lacks appeal!”
Even the elderly magician Dyson and the Halfling Archer suddenly chimed in.
“I don’t care what the outcome is. I just wish to get out of here quickly. What a waste of time.”
“…”
Both the man with the large scar across his face and the mysterious, taciturn man in full armor felt the same way.
All party leaders nodded in agreement with the Lion Beastman’s words.
“Step aside.”
Logan shoved me aside and led his party straight into the fourth portal.
“Let’s not meet again! Move out!”
Fwosh!
As Logan’s party entered, the portal lost its light and became dark.
“Tsk tsk. What’s this atmosphere? You should hurry too.”
“Indeed. Let’s go.”
Leaving behind the reluctantly glancing faces, I stood with my party in front of the fifth portal.
We had enough preparations done before entering, and there didn’t seem to be much else to worry about.
‘Ah, I should give a little present on the way out.’
Just before entering, I turned to look at the stout Halfling Archer who’d supported me from the start.
‘Number 7.’
If he couldn’t read my lips, it couldn’t be helped.
We entered the fifth portal.
*
[Chaos nullifies pride.]
[Error. Trial condition not met.]
[Chaos is… the repetition of errors continues.]
“…?”
Beeep—
A ringing filled my ears, and the same system message kept popping up before my eyes.
[Chaos is sweating profusely and panicking.]
─Nullifies mental attacks below the user’s magic grade.
My magic grade is EX.
Oh crap.