Chapter 153: Preparations
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Preparations
“Here it is.”
[Torn Ring of Aegis]
[This was a shield bestowed upon the goddess of war by the god of the sky. Unlike its former, complete form, the shield has been separated into several pieces. Thanks to the magic imbued within it, even the torn fragments of the shield have not lost their power, and after long research, a clan of blacksmiths succeeded in forging this fragment into a ring. Greatly increases basic magic resistance. By consuming a large amount of magic, you can summon a portion of the Aegis shield for a short time. The summoned Aegis shield will unconditionally block a fatal attack.]
[Stamina +3, Magic +4]
[Weathered Spear of the Goddess of War and Wisdom]
[This is the spear once used by the goddess of war and wisdom. It is unknown how it found its way here, but a faint trace of divinity remains. It seems to have several hidden functions, but they cannot be used unless you are its true master. It has the function of always keeping the user's mind clear. Prevents you from being overwhelmed by bloodlust. Broadens your field of vision. Allows you to survey the battlefield with a calm gaze. Unconditionally and completely ignores defense.]
[Strength +5, Intelligence +7]
Both were incredibly tempting items. They seemed to be a matching set, likely obtained from conquering some dungeon. The first was impressive for shoring up my lacking defense, while the second, the spear, was striking for its ability to completely ignore an enemy's defense.
In truth, though, the additional functions listed before that seemed even better. They might not look like much, but the effects of such functions were by no means negligible. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them absurdly powerful. Even if I wasn't recognized as its master, the functions were extremely good. I wondered if I might be able to become its master, but of course, that wasn't the case. This thing and I were completely incompatible. Nevertheless, its functions were so good that I couldn't help but hesitate. Looking at them, I felt a surge of resentment toward Jang Ye Ri for forcing me to choose.
If she had just given me one, I would have accepted it gratefully, but this situation, where I had to make a difficult choice, was truly agonizing.
As if sensing my hesitation, Jang Ye Ri sent another message.
[I had originally prepared the spear. But after seeing you, I thought the ring wouldn't be a bad choice either. Your fighting style involves using many different weapons, so using a shield would be cumbersome. Seeing as you haven't stolen any shields so far, I could also tell that your ability doesn't apply to them.]
[Correct.]
[The choice is yours.]
Truthfully, I was also starting to lean more toward the ring.
[Isn't this a good item for you to use?]
[The Reaper's Scythe consumes an immense amount of magic. Pouring magic into the Aegis shield would be a net loss for me. It doesn't suit my fighting style, nor is it efficient. It's an item that's a much better fit for you... the type who looks like they'd fight flamboyantly, no matter who's watching.]
Every word she said was right. Even if I could parry or block some attacks with my greatsword, there would always be attacks I couldn't stop. In a way, this item was an insurance policy, a lifeline. Especially now that I had received the cursed sword Dainsleif, I didn't even have enough time to get used to it. The item that would be good to use right away and yield better efficiency was, without a doubt, the Aegis.
I nodded.
[I'll take your advice. I'll take the Aegis.]
[You won't regret your choice.]
After handing the Reaper's Scythe to the humans watching me, I immediately picked up the ring and put it on. The Ring of Covenant, the Ring of Grievous Wounds, and now this one. Somehow, I ended up wearing three rings.
- My thanks.
“Not at all. Shall we head up, then?”
As if sensing my slightly good mood, Ibar shook her head from side to side and let out a soft cry. Together, Ibar and I ascended to the surface. Unlike Abraham's, this entrance felt like it hadn't been opened in a long time, perhaps because they didn't want to leave any traces. It was probably because it wasn't far from Hadum.
[I've heard my brother and the main force have ended their search and are returning. There's a high chance some archers are still around, so it would be best to be cautious on your way back to your settlement.]
[Thanks for the warning. I'll contact you again. If anything unusual happens or you sense something, contact me immediately.]
Time had passed, and it was now completely dark outside. It was even starting to rain. I smiled faintly. It seemed I wouldn't have to worry about leaving tracks on my way back to the settlement. The evolved Ibar barely left footprints anyway, but the rain, which would help mask our scent, was a truly welcome bonus.
“Let's go, Ibar.”
“Krrrrrng.”
This wasn't the first time I'd been away from the settlement for over a month, but in the past, I had always kept in contact with Baek Ahyeon. I had told them I might be late before I left, and since they trusted me, I knew they wouldn't be agitated. Still, I found myself missing them for no reason.
After running at high speed for a good while, the settlement finally came into view. Before I even entered, the warriors guarding the palisade roared with cheers.
“Blood Dagger has returned!”
“Blood Dagger has returned!”
They were like children looking for their mother. Ragia, Hakajin, Orbo, Gark and Hark, Baek Ahyeon, the Goblin Three Sisters, Mev, and Jung Hayeon—it seemed they had all been waiting for me, as they came running over in a hurry.
As I entered the settlement, even the children who had been playing excitedly in the rain welcomed me.
“We've been waiting. Was your venture successful?”
Ragia was the one who spoke to me. It was no exaggeration to say that I could leave with peace of mind because of this capable sub-chieftain.
“How have things been?”
“We hunted the magical beasts in the mountains behind us with the Goff Clan. We were lucky enough to find a dungeon full of them and discovered many things.”
I could see that some of them had indeed gotten new equipment.
“You've worked hard.”
“For Blood Dagger.”
“Our Half Blade and Mirror Blade got new weapons. We hope the Chieftain will take a look,” muttered Gark and Hark.
“Welcome, Chieftain,” said the loyal Orbo curtly, while Baek Ahyeon fiddled with her ring, looking at me with sad eyes.
“You did well, Taesung-ssi,” said Jung Hayeon in human speech. But the one who showed a particularly emotional reaction was Mev.
“Chieftaaaain!”
She ran toward me, sobbing, and I had to pat her head once before I could finally get her to let go. It seemed her pregnancy was making her quite emotional. Not much time had passed, but her belly seemed to be swelling slightly, making me wonder if a fairy's pregnancy was faster than that of a human, orc, or goblin.
“The baby's gotten this big!”
The way she proudly showed off her belly was, of course, adorable. Like an animal puffing up its body, Mev was sticking her belly out as far as she could. It was clearly an act begging for praise.
“You've worked hard too, Mev.”
Unlike the others, she probably spent her time playing card games, but waiting is certainly its own kind of hardship. Next, I patted the shoulders of Hakajin and the other clan members, finishing my brief greetings. The settlement I saw upon entering had also changed a bit. What stood out were the bones of large magical beasts; it seemed they had hunted several medium-sized or larger monsters while I was away. A smile touched my lips as I slowly began to speak.
“I call for a Great Clan Council. Ragia, Hakajin, deliver my words to the Goff Clan and the Black Spear Clan.”
As I spoke with a pleased heart, watching them, their expressions shifted slightly. They instinctively sensed that I had brought something big back with me.
“For Blood Dagger.”
I walked slowly toward the center of the settlement. The children, as if anticipating that something was about to happen, parted to make a path, with Kim Yoora and Nicole at the center.
I took my place beneath the bones of the hydra that the three brother clans had hunted together. The imposing structure, symbolizing victory, honor, and glory, offered some shelter from the drizzling rain. Ragia must have delivered my message, because the thunderous sound of a great drum and a roar echoed through the settlement.
“Dung!”
“A council of brothers!”
“Dung!”
“Blood Dagger has called for a Great Clan Council!”
I sat alone beneath the massive skull of a magical beast, while the Green Skins of the clan stomped their feet to the beat of the drum, continuously announcing that the Great Clan Council had begun.
“May there be victory!”
“May there be honor!”
“May there be glory!!”
For Green Skins, battle is daily life, honor, and pride. But this next battle is far more dangerous. The difficulty of this conquest will be incomparable to that of the small city of Somorah. What's more, it will be a chaotic free-for-all where three factions kill each other. Assuming the operation unfolds according to my plan, the burden on Goff and Black Spear will be even greater. The problem was that, honor aside, I didn't want to place such a burden on them. This is a fight against a truly strong opponent, unlike any we've faced before. For us, who have just completed our initiation, it could be too much to handle.
Just as I was lost in these thoughts, another voice boomed out.
“The Black Spear Clan is here!”
Black Spear began to approach the center slowly. He, too, took his place beneath the glorious skull of a beast his clan had hunted.
“The Goff Clan has arrived as well!”
Goff did the same, his massive body moving with heavy steps before he plopped down beneath the bones of a magical beast whose skull he had personally crushed with his axe.
Seeing them, I couldn't help but realize that I had been slightly arrogant. With my class change to Weapon Specialist, the successor to Gladiator, and armed with various items, I had thought I was the one growing stronger the fastest. But I wasn't the only one who had been desperately striving to become stronger. They had grown stronger, too.
Goff's body seemed slightly larger than before. He had definitely evolved. I couldn't tell what kind of Ogre he was now, but with his massive, protruding tusks and muscles that seemed to writhe with life, Goff was clearly different from before.
And what about Black Spear? His Troll body was the same, but his various accessories and the black spear, now even larger than before, made it obvious to anyone that this Troll had become much more powerful.
Like the falling rain, the drumming continued without pause. I placed a hand on my chest toward Goff and Black Spear, and they returned the gesture of respect.
The three chieftains had all gathered and taken their seats. The drumming and the stomping of feet grew faster and faster until, at one moment, they stopped. I was the first to speak to them.
“Battle.”
A single word.
But the roar that followed seemed to pierce the sound of the rain and tear the sky apart. Goff and Black Spear laughed, and watching them, I bared my teeth as well.