Chapter 110: Guild War — Sunlight (3)
—KRAAA!
The golden and silver cry of the wyvern shook the entire inner depths.
The resisting explorers and ghouls scattered.
Explorers regrouped with their respective guilds, while the ghouls dispersed in every direction.
“…This is a complete mess.”
Inside a building in the eastern ruins.
The Great Warrior Guild Master, the bear beastman Heavyclaw, was catching his breath inside a collapsed structure.
“There’s no way to win anymore.”
Kukus, the Wise Ogre martial artist of the Great Warrior Guild, shook his head.
Heavyclaw had nothing to say in rebuttal and roughly shook his mane.
…There really is no solution.
For some reason, the enhanced wyvern was absurdly strong.
Too strong for explorers whose abilities had been restricted to level 5.
Even with the ghouls cooperating, all they had managed was cutting off its tail.
—KROOO!
Even that was not a true success.
In fact, it only enraged the creature further, making it rampage more violently.
“Kukus. At this rate, no one can win.”
“That’s right.”
“If no one obtains the [Orb of Lumerlan], the guild with explorers who survive until the end wins. From now on we focus only on survival.”
It was a rare scenario, but this guild war now seemed destined to determine its champion through such a dishonorable outcome.
Frankly, it was unpleasant.
But there was no alternative.
Is there no better way…
The ferocious-looking bear beastman was deep in thought when—
—Found you!
A small water spirit appeared, giggling.
Naiad. Rai’s spirit.
CRACK!
The moment Heavyclaw stood up, the ceiling collapsed and a massive gray orc dropped down.
“Greetings.”
“…Targon.”
Targon loosened his shoulders and spoke.
“Heavyclaw. Fight me.”
“I want to fight you too, but this is not the time. We must cooperate and defeat the wyvern.”
If even the Ashen Wolf Guild joined forces, perhaps they could subdue that half-light, half-dark wyvern.
Targon was the most dangerous enemy.
But right now, it could not be helped.
“…Hm.”
Had Targon sensed that weakness?
He shook his head slightly.
“I’m disappointed. I never expected you to avoid battle. Are you afraid?”
“….”
Thinking about it, maybe fighting him now was fine.
“Kukus. We defeat Targon together.”
“Then the victory…?”
“Who cares!”
Guild war or not—
Right now he simply wanted to beat Targon down.
“Come at me, Targon!”
“Yes. That’s better.”
Targon smiled in satisfaction and clenched his fists.
The reason he insisted on fighting now was to fulfill Kar’s request.
Guild Master, please defeat the scattered explorers and ghouls individually.
So he had done exactly that.
He had already eliminated the White Jade Hand Guild bard and three Slaughterer Ghouls.
But how would they defeat the wyvern like this?
He didn’t know.
And frankly, he didn’t care.
“Don’t disappoint me, Heavyclaw.”
Targon briefly knelt and placed a hand on the ground.
Then he stood, gripping a halberd of enormous size.
“I’ll even draw a weapon for this.”
It was time for a legally sanctioned beating.
“…Hoo.”
The Schemer’s face twisted deeply.
Ignoring that, I clapped and spoke.
“A strategy involving both explorer disguises and Slaughterer Ghoul skin. Very impressive. Since you’re a ninja, you can change clothes instantly, allowing you to avoid fighting both explorers and ghouls.”
The Schemer absentmindedly adjusted the Slaughterer Ghoul skin he wore and wiped his face with one hand.
“…How did you figure it out this time?”
“That’s an obvious question.”
I spread my arms.
“Lady Ridni knows everything.”
“….”
The Schemer glared at me fiercely before suddenly sprinting out of the basement.
Bang!
He leapt forward—
And slammed into empty air.
An invisible barrier blocked the basement entrance.
“Did you really think I’d let you escape?”
The sheep beastman monk Duran, who had come with us, clenched and opened his fists.
A sword and shield symbol glowed in each of his eyes.
[Battlefield of Teramea].
A Mystery that formed a barrier around a certain area, preventing anyone from leaving until the user died.
“…Then I just have to kill that one!”
A monk devoted to Teramea possessed great physical durability, making him troublesome.
But in this labyrinth where physical abilities were restricted, he could be subdued quickly.
That must have been the Schemer’s judgment.
Grab.
Just as the Schemer drew the artifact [Supreme Assassin] to throw it—
Someone grabbed his wrist.
“Falling for the same trick again?”
Brunelda.
The Northern Continent barbarian warrior revealed herself from thin air, where she had hidden using the martial Mystery contained within the artifact [Nightfall].
[Scattering Night].
“You must be quite enraged. Or perhaps the side effects from that log-escape Mystery are that severe?”
“….”
The ghoul-faced Schemer’s form flickered and vanished.
A moment later he appeared above Duran and stabbed downward with his dagger.
CRUNCH!
The dagger pierced sharply.
“Quite painful.”
Into my arm—
which I had extended above Duran’s head.
“O Teramea!”
Not missing the brief opening, Duran threw a punch.
Boom!
The Schemer’s solar plexus caved in.
Struck directly, he flew backward before regaining balance.
He bent low to dodge Brunelda’s slash and retreated into a corner.
Against multiple opponents, a confined corner seemed advantageous.
“You can all attack at once, but I—”
Cough.
Before finishing his sentence, the Schemer spat blood.
The wound on his chest where Duran had struck was slowly burning.
“A vampire should be more careful than that.”
At my words, the Schemer looked at Duran’s hand.
A small ornament engraved with a sword symbol was embedded in his thick glove.
The symbol of Teramea, the deity of war and peace.
One of the many weaknesses of vampires.
“Schemer, allow me to offer some sweet advice.”
I extended my left hand.
“While the side effects of your Mystery remain, you should hide instead of fighting other explorers.”
“I was trying to do that, but you keep finding me!!”
Fwoosh!
Bright red flames engulfed the furious ghoul-shaped ninja.
“With that, all extra lives have been exhausted.”
“Then we can eliminate that spy now!”
We were almost there.
“You know where he’ll appear next, right?”
“Of course.”
I nodded lightly and picked up the small pouch the Schemer had dropped.
Despite the passage of time, the bag’s surface was dirty but unpierced.
“What’s that?”
“A secret weapon left behind by the priests of Lumerlan. An undiscovered hidden piece.”
“…You I can understand, but how did the Schemer know?”
“For now, please assume the Schemer and his allies are quite knowledgeable.”
“Fair enough. I didn’t really need the exact reason anyway.”
Perhaps it had only been a passing curiosity.
In truth, Brunelda had no interest in the source of the Schemer’s knowledge.
The Northern Continent barbarian vice-guildmaster only cared about one thing.
“Let’s go beat him again.”
The murderer of Rigobert.
The Schemer now had only one real life left.
But now he would finally be able to fight at full strength.
It would not be as easy as before.
This is where it truly begins.
Originally, according to the story, District 3 should fall into the hands of the Six Apostles and Pletikara should descend into chaos.
Preventing the Schemer from winning the guild war was high-difficulty content meant for veteran players.
Even after removing the extra-life stacks, the final struggle of a Six Apostles ninja was extremely difficult to survive.
“Your role ends here, Chief.”
Even Brunelda could not guarantee victory.
Neither could I.
So I intended to entrust it to the proper person.
KWA—!!
When we exited the basement, the Eclipse Wyvern fired another breath attack.
This time in the west.
Only the eastern area remained.
Breath attacks are finished.
But even without them, the monster remained extremely dangerous.
If anyone interfered during the subjugation, even I could not guarantee victory.
So they all had to be eliminated.
“For now, we move.”
I headed toward the most noticeable location in the ruins with Brunelda and Duran.
As we walked quickly, explorers blocked our path.
“…How pleasant.”
Luphrite, Fire Turtle Guild Master.
And a human tracker-class guild member.
Both were badly injured.
“What. Move aside.”
“I refuse.”
Despite his condition, Luphrite smiled calmly.
“I have no choice but to aim for a dishonorable victory. Since there are only three of you, I think we can win.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
Brunelda stepped forward with a broad smile, draping an arm over Duran’s shoulder.
“Kar tribe member, we’ll handle them. You do what you must.”
So this was the famous “Leave this to me and move forward.”
I bowed deeply and immediately stepped aside.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
The tracker tried to fire an arrow, but Duran blocked him.
Using that moment, I ran toward my destination.
The very center of the inner depths.
A massive cave opened within a suddenly rising rock mountain.
《Wyvern’s Nest. The interior is larger than it appears.》
I stepped inside.
《Warning: Roll sideways.》
The moment the message appeared, I followed it instantly.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted where I had been standing.
“You dodged that well.”
An explorer approached from the devastated western ruins.
Eradra.
Guild Master of the White Jade Hand Guild.
The dragonblood warrior, armed with terrifying artillery tools across his body, adjusted his glasses.
Just in case, I asked.
“If I return the [Consciousness Usurper], will that change nothing? You’ll still fight?”
“Yes.”
Eradra extended both hands toward me.
“I still haven’t forgotten what you did earlier while pretending to be ‘Tilda Ires.’”
“I only talked a lot.”
“That’s the problem. You talked too much. It was irritating.”
Perhaps this was karma.
If one spoke more kindly, one might receive more respect.
“Die.”
ZZZING—!
Pseudo-lasers and bombs rained toward me with a piercing sound.
Just before the bombardment struck—
Children’s laughter echoed.
—Heehee!
—Haha!
Naiads.
The small water spirits gathered and formed a curtain of water before me.
“You arrived just in time.”
Rai, the Sea-Origin Elf who contracted with the Naiads, descended from the air holding a water bow.
“Go inside. Leave this to me.”
Before leaving, I whispered one important request into Rai’s ear.
“Understood. Go.”
“Thank you.”
I gave him a thumbs-up and entered the cave.
After walking through a dark tunnel, I reached a warm cavern.
A spacious chamber.
“Schemer—?”
I wandered the cavern calling for my beloved missing ninja.
The heartless ninja gave no answer.
“Not coming out?”
Then—
I would drag him out.
“You truly are an incorrigible ninja.”
I approached a spot slightly away from the middle of the left cave wall.
Then raised my left hand.
Fwoosh!
Flames shot out.
Part of the rock wall burned away, revealing the ninja behind it.
Silver hair tied tightly back.
Pale skin cold enough to cause frostbite at a touch.
And above all—
A beauty that could never be mistaken for human.
“….”
The Schemer glared at me and sighed.
“Golden Crow Kar. You are truly a persistent man. Do you truly intend to see this through with me?”
“No. I’ve simply been following you because I admire you. Please marry me.”
“…Nonsense!”
If he was going to yell like that, why ask?
“This is fate.”
I drew the [Full Moon Executioner].
“Don’t you think so? Kairas Selun, half-elf of mixed crescent-elf and human blood.”
“…So you knew.”
The Schemer—
The half-elf Kairas Selun let out a hollow laugh.
“Golden Crow Kar. Are you a half-blood of sun elf and human?”
Sun elf.
I—Kar, the cultist—was of the bloodline created by Solmirran.