I Became a Veteran Who Has to Stir Up Trouble to Survive - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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[049] The Descent of the Archdevil
Under normal circumstances, activating the gate would take at least two weeks.
However, if all the Adventurers in this place pooled their efforts to gather materials, we could dramatically accelerate the timeline.
And considering what lies ahead, there is only one thing I must do now.
‘I need to form a faction…!’
To collect portal materials as efficiently as possible, and to avoid being swept away by the catastrophe that will soon descend upon us.
As the dimensional rift activates further, anomalies will continue to manifest in this place.
Malton, Radiman, and I alone cannot contend with the increasingly formidable monsters.
“Everyone, listen up.”
I stood before the crowd and spoke with an authoritative voice, but the panic-stricken survivors lacked the composure to heed my words.
‘I need to seize their attention immediately…!’
By the fastest and most efficient means possible.
“I said listen, you bastard.”
I seized the collar of a nearby man clad in medium armor.
But my grip proved too forceful—the man’s feet lifted unexpectedly into the air with a whoosh.
Ding—!
「Your stats have surged dramatically due to the massive chaos that has descended upon the Surface!」
「Strength +10, Agility +10, Luck +10, Intelligence +10!!!」
「[Antagon’s Rune] is in an enhanced state! An additional bonus is applied to your Strength!」
“Ugh, gah… What kind of strength is this…! Let me go!!”
As the armored man thrashed about, his nearby comrades drew their blades.
But I paid them no mind, hurling the man aside and addressing the Adventurers with an overwhelming voice.
“I have a way for us to escape this place!”
“What nonsense!! All the exits are sealed right now—cough!!”
To one man’s objection, I responded by headbutting him directly.
“…Does anyone else have complaints?”
The Adventurers fell silent, witnessing the murderous intent blazing in my eyes.
I wiped away the trickle of blood flowing down my forehead and continued.
“That’s right… all routes to the Surface are sealed. And soon an archdevil will descend and obliterate everything in this dungeon.”
“….”
“But as I said, there is one way to escape this place.”
I pointed to the massive structure in the center of the Stone Plaza.
“It is a portal constructed by the Royal Mages. Follow me, gather the materials, and if we activate the gate ahead of schedule, we can escape to the Surface.”
I declared it with conviction, but the Adventurers—their minds paralyzed by fear and chaos—hesitated and wavered, unable to fully believe.
「The Adventurers stir with doubt, their expressions uncertain as they gaze upon you.」
「They are torn between whether they can trust you with their lives!」
As the Adventurers faltered and wavered, Malton stepped forward and drove the point home.
“I understand your fear, human friends, but there’s no time for doubt! Will you die here like dogs, or will you grasp at this thread of hope?”
When Malton, the elf, brandished his B-rank Adventurer silver badge and made his case, the Adventurers began gradually to rally.
“Y-yes! We don’t have a better alternative anyway. These are people who’ve already saved us once—let’s trust them!”
“I am Theo of the Balo Guild! My seven subordinates and I will follow your lead until we escape this place!”
“Eight of us total—Jack from the Red Pang Guild. What would you have us do from this point forward?”
「The Adventurer Party has resolved to follow you!」
「But remember this: the moment your leadership falters, they may turn their backs and choose self-preservation at any instant.」
「Your [Chaos] skill grants you a +5 boost to Strength and Agility while leading the crowd.」
I nodded solemnly and declared with authority.
“Follow me. Now.”
As I swept forward, my robes billowing behind me, nearly fifty people hesitantly fell into step.
I exchanged tense glances with my companions.
Cooperation with them was essential for survival, yet it was also a poisoned chalice.
I knew all too well how a leaderless group spirals into chaos under such extreme conditions.
The moment they sensed weakness in us, they would seize control for themselves.
‘…I cannot afford to show any vulnerability.’
I had to command them through absolute authority and charisma.
Leading the crowd from the front, I looked skyward and saw the jagged rift mocking my defiance.
‘The end?’
Don’t be absurd.
After everything I’ve overcome to reach this point.
I won’t die here because of some demon bastard.
‘I will survive…no matter what!’
I steeled my resolve and pressed forward.
* * *
To secure sufficient materials, I needed to hunt monsters with urgency.
As time passed, the ground would be corrupted by demonic energy, and mutant monsters would emerge.
「The Medaolinum Dungeon 2nd Floor consists of desolate rocky mountains and bedrock! Be warned—boulders the size of houses occasionally plummet and crush everything without a trace!」
「Bonus Quest completed: Reach Layer 2 within the time limit. Strength permanently increased by 2!」
「Current dimensional rift erosion: 2%」
As I scrambled up the steep rocky mountain, breath catching in my throat, one of the Adventurers cautiously spoke up.
“Huff… huff… Um, Captain Doran…? I understand the urgency, but do you have a specific plan in mind?”
“To complete the portal, we need to procure various materials locally. The first thing we must secure is a mineral called Optuaz.”
“A mineral? But mining ore in large quantities is impossible without finding a vein…”
“If you’re looking for veins, you’d need to search lowlands or canyons where sediment accumulates, not mountain peaks…”
“You speak of things you don’t understand.”
I dismissed him flatly and continued climbing the treacherous slope at the front.
Radi, matching my pace and feigning veteran experience like me, whispered so the other Adventurers couldn’t hear.
“…Are you certain we can actually find ore here?”
“Yes. …See those birds circling over there?”
At the desolate peak of the rocky mountain I indicated, large ravens swarmed and wheeled through the air.
Radi glanced around cautiously and asked quietly.
“What about those ravens?”
“Ravens have an instinct to collect shiny objects. If we raid their nest, we’ll get a flood of high-purity Optuas ore. With luck, we might even find other rare materials.”
By plundering their nest, I wouldn’t need to exhaust myself swinging a pickaxe while searching for ore veins.
Besides, since they gather all sorts of trinkets from the surrounding area, I’ve developed a habit of checking the Raven Nest first whenever I scout unfamiliar terrain.
There’s no better method for detecting variables that might arise from dimensional rifts opening.
“Hmm… That’s a technique passed down only among the elves. Impressive that you know it.”
“Of course.”
I learned it from you, after all.
Leading the Adventurer Party up the slope with maximum speed, I soon arrived at the Mountain Peak where ravens cawed raucously.
「A raven colony has been discovered.」
「Ravens have gathered and built their nests atop the desolate Mountain Peak. They are extremely wary of intruders.」
「Due to the dimensional rift that has opened nearby, the ravens have become ferocious!」
A massive flock of ravens, their forms pitch-black against the mountain’s summit, shrieked with ear-splitting cries.
The Adventurers, pinching their noses against the stench and steadying their breathing, recoiled at the sight of the creatures’ grotesque forms.
“Wait, something’s wrong… These ravens are the size of medium-sized dogs…?”
“Some of them have three eyes… And their beaks seem to gleam like steel….”
I furrowed my brow at the sight.
‘Corrupted monsters born from magical contamination are already beginning to emerge.’
The rate of mutation is faster than anticipated.
As time passes, even more powerful specimens will appear.
If we charged forward recklessly, being torn apart by the mutated raven flock and becoming a bloody corpse would be as inevitable as fire burning.
“W-What should we do…?”
As the Adventurers hesitated and looked toward me, I pointed my blade at the heavily armored man and issued a commanding order.
“You. Remove that armor immediately.”
“W-Wait…! You’re not planning to use one of us as bait…?!”
「The Adventurers are trembling at your cruelty!」
「Due to [Chaos], your intellect increases by 3!」
“Don’t misunderstand.”
Birds instinctively attack tall objects.
By fashioning a decoy dummy from the armor and hanging it from a spear tip, I can deceive their eyes temporarily.
Attaching a false target above the helmet will also prevent their claws from tearing at our faces.
It’s merely a temporary measure, but since the corruption level is still low, this should suffice.
“S-Such a method exists…!”
「The Adventurers admire your resourcefulness!」
「Trust in you has risen slightly among the people! Your agility increases.」
While the Adventurers bundled branches and cloth to create a false target atop the helmet, Radi approached from the side.
“Here, I made one for you too, Doran.”
“…That was quick. Well done!”
True to her skillful hands, the craftsmanship was excellent.
I turned to face the Adventurers with the decoy dummy fitted over my hood and spoke.
“Alright, we’re ready now. Everyone, pay attention!!”
“…!”
“We have approximately fifteen minutes. If we exceed that, the ravens will notice us and attack, so we must complete everything and leave before then.”
“….”
“So if you see anything, don’t hesitate—gather it all. And don’t forget to make as much noise as possible to keep the ravens at bay. Now… charge!!”
“”Uwaaaaaaaaa!!””
Nearly fifty Adventurers surged forward with weapons raised, kicking up clouds of dust.
Three of them, like cavalry with armor dangling from poles, led the charge, followed by warriors whose helmets were decorated with branches and cloth.
“Hold your weapons high so the ravens can’t get close!!”
“We need to shout so the birds get scared and flee! Everyone, hurry!!”
｢Your intellect has increased by 2 due to [Chaos]!｣
Amid the chaotic frenzy of Adventurers ransacking raven nests, I grabbed the shoulders of Radi and Malton, who were about to rush forward, and spoke.
“…Listen carefully. We’re only searching nests with young ravens.”
“What? Why is that…?”
“Because younger ravens have more curiosity.”
The claim that ravens love shiny objects is only half true.
The habit of collecting shiny things is predominantly seen in younger ravens, but as they mature, their wariness and rejection of foreign objects intensify.
If we want to gather materials quickly, searching nests with young ravens is the most efficient approach.
‘I need to conserve my stamina for now…!’
Radi and Malton, understanding my meaning, nodded with grim determination.
By separating from the Adventurers making all that noise and focusing on nests with young ravens, I gathered a considerable amount of materials without much effort.
After swiftly collecting Optuase Ore and fleeing down from the Mountain Peak, a faint magical wave suddenly stretched across the sky from a distance.
An unfamiliar elderly voice echoed from above, accompanied by crackling static.
─Ahem, ahem… I hereby announce to all Adventurers in this region. I am the Court Wizard of the Royal Court, and effective immediately, all personal free will is hereby revoked….
Ding―!
｢The Court Wizard has transmitted a proclamation via magical broadcast.｣
｢Mandatory conscription order has been activated! Violation of orders may result in punishment for insubordination!｣
｢─Devote all efforts to collecting materials for portal activation. If we complete the gate early, everyone can escape before the demon descends.｣
｢Required materials: Optuase Ore, Stonecrusher Cores, Chrombas Crystals, and more….｣
‘It’s finally beginning….’
The chaos gradually subsides, and the time comes to seek escape routes.
With an official conscription order issued, there’s no room for hesitation or doubt.
“Did you just hear that…? It seems the Mages really are trying to activate the gate?”
“Damn it…! Let’s find the rest of the materials quickly! What should we do next?!”
The eyes of the men looking up at me gleamed with trust.
Their pockets were bulging with Optuase Ore secured from the raven nests.
“Follow me. I’ll get you out of this hell.”
I advanced across the Rocky Mountain, stained blood-red, my jet-black robes billowing behind me.
｢Your trust among the Adventurers has increased!｣
｢Your Charisma has temporarily increased by 4!｣
｢The Eastern Rocky Mountain has collapsed! To secure sufficient materials within the time limit, you must hurry!｣
「Many Adventurers are cooperating at this very moment!」
「Dimensional Rift Activity: 12%」
‘I need to streamline my route even further and accelerate my pace…!’
The next material I must obtain is the ‘Stone Breaker’s Core’.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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