Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Ambush at the Summit
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But the situation wasn't good.
"For now, Beauty Art says she'll try to break through somehow on her own."
"I see."
"And I'm sorry, but as I mentioned, I think I have to leave tomorrow."
"Understood."
Fortunately, Yuseong nodded calmly.
She breathed a sigh of relief.
She was just sticking to her original plan, but there were plenty of people who would prioritize their own circumstances, ignore others, and criticize without a second thought.
But Yuseong didn't seem to be one of those people, at least.
"Even if the situation hasn't resolved after I finish the commercial shoot, I'll come back."
"There's no need for you to take a loss like that. We'll find a way somehow."
"Anyway, let's wait and see. Beauty Art might clear the path."
But regrettably, up until Western Flower left Silareremit, Beauty Art was still stuck at Moros.
* * *
After Western Flower departed, Yuseong obtained information on Moros Gorge through the strategy guide.
'Hmm, going there alone would be a bit tough.'
It was a place where the average monster level was quite high. If he wasn't careful, he could end up dead before even reaching the city.
'I guess I have no choice but to wait here.'
It was about time to move to the next city anyway. If heading there brought him closer to Moros Gorge, he would have gone without hesitation.
But the route twisted in a subtle way—the next city would actually take him farther from Moros Gorge.
Not only that, there were no cities or villages between Silareremit and Moros Gorge. Nothing but the vast expanse known as the Blandel Wasteland.
That was why Yuseong had given up on heading to Moros Gorge.
The part near Silareremit seemed like something he could push through, but the closer he got to the gorge, the higher the level of monsters he couldn't handle appeared.
Beauty Art had probably chosen the route via Moros Gorge because she was confident she could charge straight through the Blandel Wasteland. It was the shortest path to Silareremit, after all.
But now, her decision was becoming an obstacle blocking their reunion.
'No helping it. I'll have to stay put obediently for a while.'
On second thought, Yuseong realized the current situation wasn't so bad.
Sure, the guys after the Necronomicon replica were a huge pain.
But why was Yuseong playing this game? For the scenery, food, money, and attention.
With the massive hype around the Necronomicon replica—a hit item—attention on Yuseong was skyrocketing.
'Time to head out again.'
Even just sitting still, his attention was surging massively, but fighting those after the Necronomicon replica boosted it even more.
Since he'd be stuck in this city for a while anyway, better to rack up as much attention as possible.
A few days passed like that.
Today, too, Yuseong was casually dealing with those eyeing the Necronomicon replica for attention's sake.
"Die...!"
That was when he aimed his gun at the guy charging at him.
Kwaaaang!
A massive sword beam swept over his enemy. The foe died instantly.
It was a familiar technique. Yuseong turned his head.
"You're early."
He said to Western Flower, who had unleashed the sword beam.
"It was important, so I hurried right over."
He'd received a message saying she'd come after the commercial shoot was done, arriving around tomorrow. She must have pushed even harder.
She sheathed her sword and approached Yuseong. He stared at her intently.
"You know Beauty Art is still held up, right?"
"I do."
That was why Yuseong was thinking it was time to take action himself. He'd been in this city too long. It was time to move to the next one.
"Waiting around any longer isn't helping. If Beauty Art or I don't keep leveling up, our ranker spots could be threatened. You don't want to stay cooped up in this city forever either, do you, Yuseong?"
"True enough."
"So let's head to where Beauty Art is."
"To Moros Gorge? Hmm, that place is dangerous at my level."
"But it's easy for me. Protecting one person like you should be no problem."
Yuseong seemed to ponder for a moment, then nodded.
"Then I'll have to bring the Necronomicon replica. No bank in Moros Gorge. It'll take time whether we come back to Silareremit or head to the city beyond the gorge."
"You okay with that?"
"If you're protecting me, Western Flower, it should be fine. And to prepare for the worst, I'll load up on junk items. The odds of dropping the Necronomicon replica even if I die will be extremely low."
"If you're prepared, I won't object."
Yuseong stopped by the bank and came out. The two immediately set off toward Moros Gorge. A few lurkers after the Necronomicon replica hovered nearby, but they didn't dare approach upon seeing Western Flower.
However, they didn't flee entirely.
Keeping their distance, they continued tailing Yuseong and Western Flower.
"No time to clean them up. Let's hurry to the gorge."
Western Flower's skills were indeed top-notch. Every monster that appeared was brutally torn apart by her greatsword. Yuseong had no chance to shine.
Time was of the essence right now, so it made sense for her to carve the path ahead.
They ran like that for quite a while. Silareremit had long vanished from sight. They began climbing a mountain towering over the wasteland.
In reality, skirting the mountain would be faster, but in-game avatars had high stats and didn't tire. They reached the summit in a flash. Now just descend the other side.
That was when it happened.
"They're here!"
"Grab him!"
"Forget Western Flower! Target Yuseong only!"
People burst out from a blind spot cleverly hidden by boulders scattered on the summit.
"Tch, an ambush?"
Western Flower raised her sword in surprise.
"Who are you?"
"No idea. But they're definitely not friends."
As she said, the newcomers all aimed their weapons at Yuseong and Western Flower.
But not all the enemies had appeared yet.
Countless undead rose simultaneously. Zombies, skeletons, specters, and more—the basic undead any necromancer could summon. But their numbers were undeniably threatening.
And the undead weren't just them.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
They appeared with heavy thuds.
Steel armor encasing their bodies, rusted but sturdy greatswords. And in one hand, their own severed heads.
Dullahans.
They were definitely the ones from Stranded Swamp.
Yuseong knew who had set up this sudden ambush.
"White Skeleton."
"Long time no see?"
Flanked by massive shield-wielding dullahans on both sides like before, it was White Skeleton, who had ambushed Yuseong back in Stranded Swamp.
"After the Necronomicon replica again? Still haven't given up?"
"Given up? You're delusional if you think I'll ever quit on the Necronomicon replica. You brought it this time, right? Got to deliver it to Beauty Art? Ah, no need to answer if you left it behind. I wouldn't believe you anyway."
"Even if I did bring it, your odds of claiming it are minuscule."
"Hmm, I don't think I said this before."
White Skeleton grinned.
"Out of all known monsters in Ark so far, you're the mob with the highest drop chance for the Necronomicon replica right now."
"...I see. You can think of it that way, huh."
Put like that, White Skeleton's words made sense.
"You think I'll just stand by and watch?"
"Even I'm not that stupid, blinded by the Necronomicon replica though I am. But we only need to take down Yuseong. My cute dullahans will keep even you, Western Flower, pinned down for a while. You experienced it in the swamp before, right? Meanwhile, the rest can slowly grind Yuseong down."
Then White Skeleton bellowed.
"I'll handle Western Flower! You lot, kill Yuseong only! But let me be clear—the bundle that drops when he dies is mine! If any of you get funny ideas, I swear I'll hunt you down relentlessly, even if it means quitting the game!"
"Don't worry! We'd rather steady income than low-odds jackpot!"
"Don't compare us to you, dumping resources on decimal-point chances!"
"Good!"
Having issued his final warning to the mercenaries he'd hired, White Skeleton shouted loudly.
"Kill him!"
* * *
The battle erupting on the mountain in the Blandel Wasteland was ferocious beyond words. Yuseong's gunshots rang through the sky, Western Flower's sword beams blanketed the area, and dullahans swung their blades menacingly.
A truly brutal fight.
Yet the tide was turning exactly as White Skeleton wanted.
The dullahans were steadily tying up Western Flower. Was it concern for Yuseong dulling her edge? She couldn't take them down like she had in Stranded Swamp.
Seizing that opening, the other undead and mercenaries pressed Yuseong hard.
White Skeleton had come fully committed—the mercenaries were far superior to Pattern's bunch. At this rate, Yuseong would fall in seconds.
"Western Flower!"
Yuseong called out to her. She turned to look.
"Take the Necronomicon replica and deliver it!"
Western Flower, the attacking mercenaries, and even White Skeleton were stunned. But White Skeleton quickly shouted calmly.
"Nonsense! Don't get rattled—keep pressing!"
Who'd entrust such a precious item to a near-stranger they'd just met? But Yuseong proved he wasn't lying with actions.
Tatata-tang!
He sprayed freezing rounds everywhere. Those hit slowed down. Even in the chaos, he'd precisely targeted joints and spots that hampered movement.
He took hits in the gaps, his HP draining fast, but he ignored it.
In that brief opening he created, Yuseong pulled a book from his inventory.
'No way!'
White Skeleton's eyes bulged. He was a bit distant from the fight, so he couldn't see clearly. But the mummified human face on the book cover was unmistakable.
'No, no way!'
Impossible, he kept telling himself. But the moment Yuseong tossed the book to Western Flower, his mouth gaped open.
"You mad bastard!"