Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: In the Name of Glory (20)
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***
People don't get tired even when sprinting full-tilt if the goal is right in front of them.
The moment the thought 'Maybe... we really can clear this?' crossed his mind, the fatigue from battling the black mage melted away like snow in sunlight.
'This isn't the time to slack off. I need to reach the queen's nest before more reinforcements can be produced, even if it's just one second sooner!'
Professor rolled up the completed report, tied it with string, and handed it to four 2nd- and 3rd-circle mages who had been milling about nearby.
'Mages. Do you remember the way we came?'
'Yeah... I think so? We just followed the path without many branches.'
'Then take this report and head straight back this way to the Order of Light's headquarters in Kingsland.'
The mages' faces turned pale at Professor's words.
'Does that mean... we're supposed to go back on our own?'
'No, wait! What are you saying? We're already short-handed, and now you're talking about reducing our numbers?'
'Ottoman, old man. Let's not do this. Honestly, we all know by now that dragging along these 2nd-circle mages is more trouble than it's worth.'
'Ugh...'
At his words, the two 2nd-circle mages bowed their heads in frustration, but facts were facts. Aside from hauling up some water at the entrance, the 2nd- and 3rd-circle mages hadn't done much. If anything, Ottoman had to expend extra effort casting spells tailored to their level, which might have been a net negative. Sure, they conserved mana, but in a real crisis, he wouldn't have resorted to such roundabout magic.
And after being a hindrance like that, they took one look at the gruesome scene in the village, puked, and retired. That left Notum—who could solo-tank ten mid-sized undead like undead trolls—stuck at the rear. They'd positioned her in a relatively safe spot considering her hero unit status, but she would have come along if the mages hadn't been left behind. Having her there would have made dealing with Ulman much easier.
After calmly laying out those points, the mages' indignant faces flushed red with shame and deflated. Nothing hurt more than being hit with the truth.
'We're barely at the outskirts of the enemy base. The foe was tough, but it was just one black mage. Things are only going to get more frantic from here with no time to catch our breath, and I have no confidence in keeping you all alive in the thick of it. Go back. I guarantee you, if you keep going, I'll end up watching one of you die trying to protect the others—starting with Mage Ottoman.'
Of course, 3rd-circle mages could handle themselves and add to the firepower. But deeper in, they'd be right in the heart of enemy territory, making wagons impractical. A team's combat strength didn't always guarantee mission success. Sacrificing four for stealthy mobility? That was the right call.
'....Sigh. Understood. As you say, hero, we'll part ways here and head to the Order....'
'Wait a sec.'
Scribble-scribble—
Professor quickly jotted something on paper and slipped it into a mage's pocket.
'It's F-rank, but it's a formal letter of recommendation from a registered mercenary, so it'll be useful. Deliver the report, and if nothing else comes up, head to the Silver Roar Mercenary Guild. They'll have work for you.'
As he said it, he glanced back to see Ottoman pointedly looking away and clearing his throat. The old mage must have been worried about his tower-bound disciples out in the real world. Professor had seen him fidgeting; this would ease his mind. Valuable mages walking in under their own steam? The mercenaries would welcome them with open arms. A bit of hardship there would toughen them up and shake off that ivory tower vibe.
'Above all, the Order will know what it means to send back personnel after a battle like this. It's a signal: don't let good people die—send us replacements who can actually pull their weight.'
This run had really driven home how badly they needed cleric-class support. Sending back two 2nd-circle and two 3rd-circle? Please, just one decent priest! If this glowing report didn't bring reinforcements, the Order of Light were total bastards! He'd chew out Roharam! He said prayers would be answered!
As Professor clutched the holy relic and prayed with fervent zeal, the mages finished dividing the gear and headed toward the village entrance.
'Take care! Hero, Mage Ottoman! And the rest of the party!'
'Mentor! You have to come back safe and sound!'
'Go carefully! Don't worry about me!'
'Make sure you get back safe and deliver that to the Order! Absolutely! Our lives depend on it—think of it that way!'
'Clerics! Priests! Paladins! Monks! Guardians of the Radiant Spear!'
Amid Ottoman's teary send-off and Professor's desperate one, the four mages retraced their steps.
***
Clop-clop! Clop-clop!
After parting with the mages, the party decided to push on despite the fatigue. The site's purification by Nelphia's light helped, but camping where foul energy had lingered minutes ago felt wrong. Better to brave the drizzle and find a spot for camp.
They unhitched two horses from the wagon, putting Aldrich and Ottoman on them, while the rest ran alongside.
'Uh... I can't help but feel guilty....'
'Don't worry about it. I'm the type who needs a full-body blood-pumping workout every day anyway. Borca? Notum?'
'Werewolves don't tire from this.'
'Grrr. Running fun.'
'See? We're built for this, so don't fret—just take care of yourselves. Riding's tougher than it looks, right?'
'Riding next to people matching the horse's pace and calling it tough....'
Ottoman said it, but his frail body couldn't keep up.
'The sun's setting anyway, so let's camp at that forest ahead.'
'About time to log out too. A good campsite means safe logout.'
Checking the time, it was dinner hour, so after a fire and pitching tents from inventory, Professor hovered his hand over the logout button.
He'd considered pushing longer, but a red external call alert blinked in the center of the screen.
'Callin' me for dinner, probably.'
Confirming it was dinnertime, Professor's consciousness began to fade.
***
Fwoosh—!
While logging out, Professor mused on tonight's menu.
'Bex and Ian said they'd scout District 47. Hates greens that one, so probably traded guns for jerky somewhere. Slice the jerky thin, boil with veggies....
Bang-bang-bang-bang!
'Professor! Profeeeessorrrrr!!!'
Rattle-rattle!
But as sensation returned, what hit him wasn't peaceful imaginings—it was screams and noise shattering them.
'Fucking hell, no time to sit there gaming, Professor you bastard!!!!'
Ian's voice. Utterly terrified, shaking the pod and yelling his name.
[Enemy?]
'Hide, scout around with me—make sure I didn't miss anything.'
Psssh—
The pod door hissed open. Rolling out and scanning all directions, he spotted Bex and Ian.
'Not an ambush...?'
They looked roughed up. Bex huddled in the corner, hair a mess, shivering. Ian's clothes torn, one shoe missing, sunglasses askew, barefoot.
He'd seen that look before. Years ago, in the mirror. Come to think of it, their first time in District 47 today?
The familiar sight sapped his tension.
'That explains it. Yeah.'
Professor let out a relieved sigh. Seeing his nonchalance, Ian and Bex looked ready to lose it.
'P-Professor! We gotta leave now! Hurry!'
'Pfft. Where to, you idiots.'
'M-Monster! Saw it with my own eyes! Way worse than that Abermination in 45—totally insane thing roaming around!'
'Aaahhh!! Number conservation final sprint! Funeral performance guaranteed! Uwaaaah!'
'Goddamn, District 47 safe my ass! Our firepower was no match at a glance, so we bolted, but that thing was definitely chasing us! Professor, grab Bex! I'm heading straight to the warehouse for something that can take it do—'
Ignoring their freakout, Professor stretched out his needless tension and spoke to Corduro.
'Corduro, fetch some water? Cold.'
'By the pod.'
'Oh, nice.'
'Learning AI, sir. Remembered how you handled it last time.'
'H-Hey! Run! My senses saved my skin dozens of times—they're screaming! Can't win! No way, no how—'
Splash!
'Guh!'
Splash!
'Ptoo!'
Clang—clang...
'Twinning the bullshit, huh.'
Dousing them evenly from the basin, Professor cursed at the pair, now drenched rats with dazed faces.
'Why can't you listen the first time? Why!'
'Uh... ugh... d-dream? Head's fuzzy....'
'That's why I wrote up District 47 warnings and told you idiots to read 'em properly dozens of times! If you'd done it once, this wouldn't have happened!'
'Wha... what?'
Rubbing his throbbing forehead, Professor glared down at the two, who stared back like they'd just woken up.
'What you met was a Type-3 mutant called "Old Picture." Dangerous? Yeah. Touch it and you better be ready to abandon shelter? Also yeah.'
'R-Right? It was a dream—we saw this huge monster dragging what, a doll? Corpse?—'
Smack!
'Ow!'
Flicking Bex's forehead as he babbled half-awake, Professor tossed them towels from Corduro.
'Dangerous, sure, but it's the mutant District 47 keeps around. Thanks to that bad boy, 47's three times safer than before.'
'Keeps... a mutant?'
'Yeah.'
Flop!
Drained by their pod-exit meltdown, Professor crashed on the ratty sofa.
'More like, everyone in 47—including Dome—agreed to live by its behavioral patterns. Hey, Ian.'
'Uh... yeah?'
'You shoot it? That monster?'
'Um... yeah....'
'Fucking hell, thing's mountain-sized.'
Ian was even less compos mentis than Bex. Sighing, Professor dug a smoke and lighter from Ian's pocket, lit it, and stuck it in his mouth. Instinct kicked in; Ian puffed desperately like a babe at the breast. Professor couldn't help chuckling.
Suuuuuck—
Smoke curled from Ian's nostrils as focus returned to his eyes.
'Phaaa, mm. Thanks. Head was splitting. Where were we?'
'Cigarette's got some magic on you. Did you shoot it? The monster.'
'Obviously... I did.'
'Where? Gross main body? Or the doll thing dangling in front?'
'Main body. Aimed for the head-ish part—didn't budge.'
Whew.
Professor sighed in relief again. Good. If they'd hit the proxy body, he'd have to go door-to-door in 47 apologizing like mad.
'Bullets bounced right off, so I blew a nearby building with demo charges and bailed.'
'Kweeeeeek!!!!'
A zombie-in-the-grave groan escaped Professor at Ian's follow-up.
'You... blew up a building?'
'Uh... bad? Worked great though? Once it collapsed, the thing just screeched and stopped coming.'
Of course. It was built to recreate the streets in its obsession's shape.
'Co-Corduro?'
'Here—"District 47 Incidents and Accidents Board."'
Corduro pulled up the prepped community screen like he'd known.
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★ Which fucking asshole touched Old Picture?! (12)
★ Eyewitness. Not an accident—deliberate bombing. (78)
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: Awo, which retard snuck in and poked the Police guy?
: Central block status
: Fuck@*** Was heading out tomorrow—now screwed.
: Raptors snuck in and trashed?
: Dome announced immediate action. Compensation claims tomorrow.
: Catch 'em and kill the troll bastards. Noted their rides.
: Outsiders did it on purpose. +1.
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Tremble-tremble-tremble—
Professor's arms shook like aspen leaves gripping the screen.
'...Guys, we loaded, right?'
Scanning the community with despairing eyes, he turned to the pair, now realizing something was off and hemming.
'Gotta go out with me tomorrow.'
'Wh-where to?'
As Bex stammered, a clear teardrop rolled from Professor's eye.
'To beg for our lives with compensation.'
Professor swallowed his ashes, cursing himself for sending these unparalleled morons into this hellhole alone.
***
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