After the raid on Hamsik’s house was over, quite a lot of time became unoccupied.

Contrary to expectations, there was nothing worth spending time investigating beyond the stone gate…

“These are items found in the initial discovery site, but surely none of these are ordinary. Commander, please trust us. Through research, we will definitely uncover everything that’s hidden.”

“…We will leave this library tomorrow, so make sure to find clues before then.”

“Yes…!”

While the others rested, all the mages belonging to the expedition gathered and kept investigating and re-investigating the items looted from Hamsik’s house.

Well, it didn’t seem like anything useful would come out of it.

‘Even if something does come up, I can just ask Raven quietly.’

Among the mages who quickly set up a makeshift lab inside the library, Raven was seen conducting various experiments with a scholarly gaze.

He had quite a pleased expression.

‘Does he really enjoy that much…?’

As a barbarian warrior, I couldn’t understand that taste, but as a friend, I had to respect it. Besides, having one like that around isn’t so bad.

‘Versil is a player after all, so he’s not particularly interested in the scholarship itself.’

Anyway, since free time was given until the next day, I just rested without a worry.

And how much time had passed?

“The reorganization of the squads is complete. All troops, check your new assignments on the posted notice!”

The personnel redistribution of the expedition was done.

During the library assault, seven died. Then, with 27 more casualties this time, it was necessary to rebalance the squads…

“Our Squad 4 hasn’t changed.”

Our squad was originally small, so there were no changes for us, only slight shifts in Squads 1, 2, and 3.

Squad 1: 49 members.

Squad 2: 49 members.

Squad 3: 48 members.

From 60 per squad, it had shrunk to this.

We now total 37, so there was only about a ten-person difference between squads.

“There will be a meeting! All squad leaders and commanders must attend!”

After the redistribution was over, yet another meeting was held.

Ha, these guys really hold meetings morning and evening.

After killing time, as I entered the barracks last, the meeting started immediately.

“Thanks to your hard work and loyalty, our expedition safely completed the assault on the library. Nia Lapdonia.”

“Nia Lapdonia!”

Jerome, unusually not delegating to the deputy commander, was leading the meeting personally.

“The mages are researching diligently, but no clues about escape have yet been found. Therefore, this matter will be discussed again after all research concludes.”

“So, today’s agenda is…”

“I have gathered you today to discuss our future plans.”

That was the topic of today’s meeting.

Having finished the library assault, the question was: where to head next?

Naturally, the eyes of the leadership turned to me.

Since I had stayed here the longest and provided the maps, my opinion was considered important.

‘…Where should we go?’

Three candidates came to mind.

There, essence farming of Hiphramagent is possible, and a boss monster called the Ultra-Giant appears.

Also, a portal stele connects to the second basement floor.

The island in the direction where the rainbow appeared at the end of the rainy season.

It’s full of unknowns, but my gamer intuition says this island is the core of the first basement floor.

No need to say more.

If my guess is right, there’s a portal stele leading to the first floor, or at least the chief is hiding a huge secret.

If we could catch him and find out, it would be very helpful for the journey ahead.

‘Hmph, what should I do?’

During the library assault, I confirmed the expedition’s strength.

Honestly, there were some weaknesses, but overall it was an impressive force.

Also, considering that this group of knights, mages, and priests was more specialized in PvP than monster hunting…

I judged that we could basically burn down the chief’s village overnight.

‘But somehow, I feel uneasy…’

This time as well, I decided to follow my gut.

So I spread out the map obtained earlier from Hamsik’s house and pointed at one place.

“…I think the next exploration target should be here.”

Excluding Rainbow Island, it was the other unvisited island left.

“Let’s first check out what this island is like. If there’s nothing, or it seems it will take too long to conquer, we can go straight to Rainbow Island.”

To summarize: explore the map first, then head directly to Rainbow Island.

After finishing the assault on Rainbow Island, we would decide the next destination based on what we obtained there.

However…

“I see. The baron’s opinion is noted.”

Jerome simply nodded as if listening carefully but gave no definite answer.

“What are you waiting for? I didn’t gather you only to hear the baron’s opinion. Speak freely.”

After Jerome’s words, the other leaders voiced their thoughts, and Jerome listened attentively to each one.

After some time passed, finally, the destination was decided by Jerome’s mouth.

“Tomorrow morning, we will head to this island where the chief resides.”

I wondered why they asked for my opinion if this was the plan, but I couldn’t just blame them. They had followed my suggestion when we came to the library island.

‘Hah, I guess the fact that nothing was obtained in the library had a big effect.’

We came here following my judgment, but ended up only losing manpower without gaining anything.

So Jerome must have made the decision.

First, catch the chief and get information, then act more efficiently afterward.

‘So it ends up like this…’

Except for the uneasy feeling, I had no proper reason to object, so I quietly followed his decision.

Ah, of course, I did have some doubts.

Actually, I wanted to ask from before.

“…Tomorrow? It’s the rainy season right now; where do you plan to go?”

It’s not even near the end of the rainy season.

It’s only the second day, so dangerous monsters must still be falling.

But Jerome dismissed my concern.

“Baron Yandel also experienced moving during the rainy season. There’s no reason we can’t.”

“Uh… but back then, we moved near the end of the rainy season…”

“Investigating this layer is also part of the expedition’s mission. We have to experience this rainy season properly at least once.”

“……”

They were tougher than I imagined, every time.

Excluding the mages researching, everyone else was asleep, and only the sentries quietly patrolled, on alert for any unexpected event in the late night.

Right now, I was lying blankly wrapped in a blanket.

I had taken a nap right after the meeting and still couldn’t sleep…

“……”

I forced myself to close my eyes, but sleep didn’t come, so I just spent the time sorting my thoughts.

The first rank 1 monster kill.

Dozens of casualties.

Hamsik disappeared and the golden book.

The next destination decided in the Novelight (Read the full story) meeting.

So many things happened today, and there was a lot to think about.

‘What Jerome Saintred said was also meaningful.’

The commander of the expedition said:

No matter how many die, if the expedition ends here and I return alive, the mission is a success.

Thanks to that, my unease that something like what happened in Ice Rock might repeat lessened.

‘If he had intended to kill me, it would have been more beneficial for him if many in Squad 4 had died.’

But Jerome’s behavior was the opposite.

If he had been plotting behind my back, he wouldn’t have acted that way.

So I’m even more puzzled.

‘Why would the royal family want to rescue me? Wouldn’t it be better for them if I, a thorn in their side, just died here?’

…I don’t know.

The more I think about it, the more contradictory it feels.

So to clear my head, I got up from the blanket and moved.

“Baron? Where are you going?”

“Can’t sleep, so I’m going to stretch a bit.”

“Oh, I see. Understood.”

I told the sentry my reason and actually walked like I was strolling along the vast library edge.

I thought maybe by some luck I might meet Hamsik.

After about ten minutes, I heard a familiar sound in my ear.

[Beep…!]

“…Hamsik?”

[…This way! This way! Come up here…]

After quickly checking around to see if anyone was watching, I quietly climbed the stairs to the second-floor bookshelf.

Hamsik was hiding in the empty slot where a book was missing.

[Why did you come only now…!]

“Ah, I was waiting until night.”

[Are you okay…? You looked badly hurt earlier…]

Uh… I didn’t expect the first question to be that.

“…I’m fully healed, so don’t worry.”

[How can I not worry…! Finally, someone qualified has appeared…!]

At Hamsik’s words, I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

“Qualified? You mean the golden book?”

Hamsik told me before.

He said he would never give the golden book away. It was an item to be given only to someone qualified someday.

[Yes…! From the moment you defeated Kashan, you gained the qualification!]

…So the conquest was the condition for qualification.

I felt a thrill that my guess as a player was correct, but doubts also arose.

“Wait, then did everyone here get the qualification?”

[Huh? No way! Only you got the qualification!]

“Hmm, really?”

Then what’s the condition?

Was I first in combat contribution? If so, it makes sense that I gained the qualification.

Ah, but that’s not the important part…

“So? Now that I have the qualification, what happens?”

Showing my expectation for reward, I asked, and Hamsik bluntly said:

[Here, take it! It’s yours now, this book.]

The golden book that ended abruptly in the story.

I hurriedly opened it, hoping that after gaining qualification, I could see the rest of the contents.

But…

“It’s exactly the same as when I saw it before.”

[Is that so?]

“Not ‘is that so’… If I got the qualification, you should tell me how to use this book now. Are you just going to give me the book and leave it at that?”

[Uh… well?]

“Sigh……”

Looking at his expression, I really felt he didn’t know how to use this book at all.

It wasn’t unfamiliar.

Dungeon & Stone was originally an unfriendly game.

They never properly explained anything when giving items, so the user had to experiment themselves to figure out how to use them.

‘……If I put this book back on the altar, something might happen.’

Several ideas came to mind, but I couldn’t try it right now. If something happened, the reward would go straight to the royal family.

In the end, I had only one choice.

“Anyway, thanks, I’ll take it.”

I hid the golden book safely inside the pocket dimension.

“So, there’s nothing else?”

[Huh?]

“Well, don’t you usually give blessings or exclusive gear or something?”

[Already took them all. My pen, and the precious books I collected…!]

Ah, right.

“……”

[……]

An awkward silence passed between Hamsik and me, so I quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, I don’t know if you know, but we’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

[Leave…?]

“We have things to do. I don’t know when exactly, but we’ll come back, so don’t be too lonely.”

[Who would be lonely! Don’t misunderstand… I’m actually glad. Hmph! Finally I can rest properly at home!]

At Hamsik’s words, I swallowed hard.

From what he said, it seemed he still had no idea what happened to his home…

“……”

[……Why did you suddenly go silent?]

“Ah, nothing. I’m going now. I’m hungry…!”

Giving a natural excuse, I hurried back to camp and lay down.

The next morning.

As all the expedition members packed up the camp and prepared to leave the library.

“Um… Baron…?”

Goblin paladin Sven Parab came running at dawn with shocking news.

“Last night… that person showed me the future again.”

“What scene was it?”

“Well……”

Parab hesitated a long time, closed his eyes tightly, and explained the scene he saw in his dream last night.

“It was a scene where the baron was cruelly executed by the expedition surrounded on all sides…”

The goddess had given me a death sentence.