Nox Sanctuary (1)
Contribution:100%
Base Pay:2,000 Cron
Settlement Fee:20% (-400 Cron)
Final Payment: 1,600 Cron
I'm back.
It's hardly a proper home, but I'm starting to get used to it.
Blood Spray. It turned out more useful than expected.
I also learned that passives for guns and such don't apply to it.
The dream of a triple-stacked ultra-long-range snipe with First Kiss Addict, Crack in Consciousness, and Throat Slash went up in smoke.
But that's actually for the better.
That triple combo is my finisher, after all.
Having a separate attack option that lets me conserve it is pretty encouraging.
And besides...
Symphony of Battledid apply.
The sensation of my body growing lighter as I sprayed blood everywhere and dodged around was crystal clear.
All in all, it was great.
More like a blood manipulation skill than just shooting blood, so high utility.
Straight-line movement only, though.
I got something good out of it.
My gaze drifts to my forearm on impulse.
No scar on the gouged flesh.
It healed up during the long fight.
Midway, I was firing Blood Spray with corpse blood anyway.
Effect of Lord's Blood, I suppose?
But if it's increased recovery, why call it Lord's Blood...?
If my race changed to vampire, that'd be seriously creepy.
Just to check, I touch my canines.
"You called~?"
"No."
"Aw... Sorry, thought you did."
She's quick on the uptake for weird stuff.
"Any issues like not seeing sunlight or picky eating?"
"Huh? I don't go out much, so no idea."
Utterly useless, as expected.
Anyway.
Need to look into familiar contracts when I have time.
Way too lax.
And I fed her my blood, but the familiar bond flipped? Doesn't make sense.
"Familiar contracts put hierarchy below... different worlds we live in? Ours?"
Hierarchy-lowering contract.
Different living worlds.
Waiting Room and wave world.
Another thing to ponder.
And moreover.
Special Note) This is not a contract via the Management Bureau's standard contract form. Exercise caution.
Standard contract form... Feels like we got caught sneaking a backdoor deal with the system.
"Ugh!"
Thoughts snowballing into complexity.
Like reeling in a line and finding the hook loaded with fish.
For now, focus on getting stronger. Survival first.
Paradoxical.
Survival and growth seem intertwined, but the former's hard-earned from the battlefield—raw reality.
The latter's game-brain in the room: buy items, gain skills, power up, earn cash.
Maybe mercenaries drown in this cycle?
Speaking of, how are our seniors doing?
About to check the community.
Summon request for hero unit 'Slayer Berga' from the battlefield.
Transferring shortly. Check battlefield info.
This fast?
Nox Sanctuary
Wave: 32
Commander: Hespera Luna
And... sanctuary? Again?
Religious battlefield this time too.
Same wave 32 as Gratia.
Gratia left a good impression.
Excluding outliers like Kiara, perfect defensive line.
Hope Nox is straightforward.
Floating sensation ends, eyes open to twilight sky greeting me.
Before me, a statue...? Or is it?
Too aggressive for a holy image.
Sleek full-body casting with flickering flames, sword in one hand, ma... gic? in the other.
Eyes sharp and bulging...
Usually they're praying or something...?
Hero statue. No, demon god...?
"Hello!"
Familiar voice... Huh?
Turn to see a girl standing there.
Aurea-age girl, but neater black robe, silver hair.
Another saintess.
"...Hespera Luna? Right?"
"Yes, that's me. Commander of Nox Sanctuary."
"...Right. Wave info?"
"That title! Insolent! Show respect before the saintess at once!"
Déjà vu?
Young saintess and overly Confucian scolding for an isekai...
Glossy brown-haired tall youth steps from tent by statue.
This one Dominic too...?
"Adrian! It's fine! He's the mercenary I summoned!"
Hm. Not Dominic.
Much younger.
This guy's a holy knight? Nox Sanctuary's in dire straits.
"But saintess! In Antharas, Antharas has its laws!"
Hm, world's name is Antharas.
"It's fine, I said!"
"But!"
Chaos.
Muscular mid-20s guy bickering with a 13-ish girl.
"Fine!" "But!" like ping-pong.
Adrian, was it.
Black-blue plate armor opposite Gratia's, silver accents.
Young holy knight beside saintess carries massive greatsword on back.
"Haa... Wave info. Isn't time tight?"
Mercenary's got a role.
Antharas saintess or knight, whatever their banter, urgent fire first...
"Hah! Lowly sword-for-hire from another dimension! How dare these twilight-shunning monkeys be so brazen!"
...What?
Adrian fumes.
Ignore for now.
I've got mercenary cred.
"Commander. Wave info?"
"Hah? Called her commander? There's a line to rudeness! Show respect or no Cron, nothing!"
Adrian raises voice again.
Endure. Ignore.
Flick his forehead, his skull explodes.
Trip him, ankle snaps Y-shape.
First Kiss Addict's precious; don't waste.
Maybe Blood Spray is fine...?
Prep index finger on dagger edge.
"Hah! Look at that smug face! Probably some penny-ante merc strutting on a few meals; in Nox's harsh field, just a handful of—"
"Adrian, stop."
"Stop, saintess? Let me handle this ignoramus—"
"Aaaah! I said stop, why won't you listen!!! Hey! You! No manners? To the man we paid 2,000 Cron for!"
13-year-old kid yanks silver hair, kicks Adrian's greave.
Adrian pales at 2,000 Cron.
Hespera's face flushes thunk—her foot hurts more.
Total mess.
Gratia's polar opposite.
Rowdy saintess, immature knight captain.
Got it.
Grateful she stopped me.
Finger off dagger, thin cut heals instantly.
"Ahem! Berga, right? How should I address you?"
Shows all that, still brazen face?
"Yes. Call me whatever."
"Yes! Berga! Call me casually too! Anyway, about our forces."
Hespera chatters.
Kid but gutsy, sharp.
"Revelation had two main points."
Revelation again.
Waves as divine signs here?
Thinks I'm focused, speeds up.
"First, the leader. Count Rudraka."
"Elite Monster."
"Yes, probably. You mercs call 'em that. Forces are Count Rudraka, his familiars, and creations..."
Hespera trails off.
Adrian picks up seamlessly.
"Pardon... showed poor form."
Adrian at least grasps finances.
Aware of 2,000 Cron VIP.
Whatever inside.
"As 'familiars' suggests, Count's a vampire. Fallen scum spurning our lord. Bluntly, bad matchup for our style."
Bad matchup.
Vampire?
Visited vampire den, hunted werewolf; now wave vampires?
"You called~?"
"Quiet."
Works post-summon?
No alert window.
Feels like a faint hing... in head.
Thinks I need more, Adrian continues.
"Nox Sanctuary fights by blessing of Lord Erebos."
"Blessing?"
"Erebos is flame of twilight, father of night, overseer of all endings and blood price. His mighty blessing strengthens his kin by spilled blood."
That's it.
Nox mirror opposite of Gratia.
Ultimate sanctuary of protection vs. berserker blood of assault.
Push frontlines, overwhelm with attack power...
Explains vampire mismatch.
Blood-spilling warriors grow stronger.
Blood-drinking monsters.
Worst matchup.
Anyway.
"Talk makes that god sound demonic..."
"...You and I share understanding?"
Huh?
Unexpected.
Adrian, who called me dimensional hick, grabs my hand like soulmate.
"Deep apologies for 'dimensional hick'! True seeker grasping Erebos's prestige... Truly moving... Such joy..."
"Adrian..."
Hespera clutches head.
Cozy vibe.
For saintess and knight captain.
Like immature uncle and niece.
I slip Adrian's hand free.
"Got the gist. Don't worry. Guide to watchtower."
"Time till forces arrive; about our god..."
"Adrian!"
"Ahem! Pardon. Nox lacks meaningful watchtowers. Troops wait outside walls. Frontlines far forward..."
As expected.
Hm, then Blood Spray punch through, rush elite...
"Your role: slay Count Rudraka ASAP."
"Obvious. Variables?"
"The familiar lord. Hard to express—absolute hierarchy gap etched in blood."
"So?"
"Erebos grants them great power and blood authority, but scum share it among themselves."
"Meaning?"
"They share blood, etch hierarchy, ape the god. Mimic true hierarchy's power and reverence via contracts. Vermin tricks."
King mosquito in field acts as blood gas station for minions.
Overall, lord buffs familiars.
Just behead him first.
Easier than Lycanthrope.
No stealth detection.
Outside gates.
Adrian and I at center of arrayed holy knights and soldiers.
Agreed: from sturdy assault vanguard, when lines clash, infiltrate wave rear most effective.
"Berga. Good fortune."
"Yeah. Don't die, Adrian."
War aura hangs.
Fear and fullness through soldiers' helmets.
Battle ecstasy fits demon-god worshippers.
Weapons fully raised.
At tip, vampire horde charges.
Twisted red beasts lead, glaring crimson eyes.
"All forces!"
Adrian bellows.
"Advance!"
Nox legions bloom dark-blue aura.
This it.
Atmosphere shifts instantly.
Leading Adrian. And me.
Plains center, massive forces clash... Huh?
Why their eyes like that.
"Going ahead."
Bad vibe, I wrap Shadow Step, leap forward.
Vast vampire squad spots hidden me somehow.
All halt toward me at once.
Kneel in unison.
Huh?
Nox legions freeze too.
I unstealth in confusion.
To crowds, I seem to descend there instantly.
Descend?
Ominous feeling...
"...Lord Erebos...! Ahh! Erebos...! To soothe this land's trials... Sob... We behold Erebos's manifestation!"
Familiar voice, alien words.
Front: vampire horde kneels.
Back: demon-cult zealot leader weeps.
"Ha..."
Situation's such.
They mistook me for the demon god.