Chapter 12
Chapter 12
The corpse of the slumped Orc Legion Commander was fixed in my sight.
The problem was that my body was far from normal either. I began to feel as if my body had been shattered into pieces.
My consciousness flickered out.
Then, suddenly, it surged back.
[Level Up!]
[Lv.6 → Lv.8]
['Strength' stat increases by 11.]
['Agility' stat increases by 11.]
['Stamina' stat increases by 12.]
['Mana' stat increases by 8.]
A two-level increase.
It hadn't happened even when I defeated the 1st Floor Stage boss, 'Queen Ansranthrope'.
To gain two levels by defeating a Legion Commander, not a boss, I must have been in a situation where I would have been definitively killed if I hadn't acquired the skill 'Doombringer'.
It seemed I hadn't hit the plateau phase of stat growth yet.
I didn't even think about opening my status window.
It was because I felt eyes on me.
Eyes that looked at me like a monster, regardless of whether they were Orcs or humans.
Bwooooooo!
The sound of a horn being blown echoed in my ears.
The Orcs began to retreat like a receding tide. I killed two more with the javelin short spears they had left behind. My pursuit ended after killing one more with my straight sword.
This was because the Orcs had fled on a giant boar they had hidden in their camp. Was it because their leader, the Legion Commander, was gone?
The Orcs fled faster than I had expected.
Why isn't the 2nd Floor Stage over even after killing a Legion Commander-class monster?
Pandemonium.
This damn difficulty.
I examined the corpse of the Orc Legion Commander before me.
Despite all the hardship, there didn't seem to be anything I could take from him.
The axe he wielded was far too large for me to handle, no matter how I looked at it.
Unpleasantly so.
My gaze shifted to the Legion Commander's waist.
Oh ho.
There was one usable item. A one-handed axe that I could likely wield was attached to his waist. I immediately tore it off and put it into my inventory.
And since I had confirmed that the terminal was invisible to NPCs, I couldn't miss out on taking a commemorative photo after killing the Orc Legion Commander.
I took a picture of the Legion Commander's corpse and put away the terminal.
I sensed a presence.
"Yuseong."
The person who approached, calling my name, was Riselinn.
Riselinn scanned my body from head to toe. She must have found it strange that I looked fine after the fight, even though I seemed to be losing during the battle.
"...Are you not injured?"
Yes.
I was clearly injured.
It had disappeared without a trace.
"As you said, Yuseong, the Orcs are retreating after the Legion Commander was killed. Let's head into the castle for now."
"Understood."
As we entered the castle walls, I felt people's gazes fixated on me.
No, it was the same gaze I had felt continuously since I killed the Orc Legion Commander.
I looked at the text displayed in the far right corner of my vision.
Days remaining until the exchange event: 5.
There was still enough time, but I would be pressed for time in a few more days.
I didn't expect any more Orcs or other Monsters to appear today.
It should be over within three days at least.
Only then did I look at Riselinn, who was lowering her weapon.
"May I ask the name of the former Lucerna Mercenary Group Leader?"
"...Suddenly?"
Riselinn's eyes widened.
Yes, it would seem strange. Asking about something like this. I figured it was somewhat acceptable to ask after I had performed well.
I had proven that I wasn't a strange person.
"Yes, the Lucerna Mercenary Group. It sounds familiar."
I decided to add a little context to avoid being treated as a complete oddball.
"The former mercenary leader's name is Delisa. She's my mother. We are a rather famous mercenary group, though it's all thanks to the honor we built up in the past. She's living a quiet life in her hometown now."
One of the Lucerna Mercenary Group members standing nearby heard Riselinn's words and gave a bitter smile.
"Compared to the former days, of course, we are bound to seem pathetic. That was the era when the great hero Helion was with us."
The member, who sported a magnificent mustache, bowed his head to Riselinn after speaking.
"I apologize. That was a slip of the tongue."
He looked considerably older than Riselinn, but it seemed to be a gesture of respect for her position as the mercenary group's leader.
I didn't have time to wonder why that was a slip of the tongue.
"It's alright. It hasn't been that long since my father passed away. I was ten years old then."
Helion.
I etched that name into my mind.
To tell the older members in the Gallery.
There was one thing I had forgotten to ask.
"Is Ed alright?"
Riselinn let out a faint sigh at my words and nodded.
"He's being treated now. He survived thanks to you, Yuseong."
I scratched the back of my head.
"I thought I might have pushed him a bit too hard."
Riselinn slowly shook her head.
"If you hadn't pushed him that hard, he might have died. Ed is grateful too."
Riselinn pointed to a tent on the left.
When I peeked inside, I saw Ed, the Lucerna Mercenary Group Attack Leader, resting.
Seeing the bandages wrapped around his upper body, I couldn't bring myself to touch him.
I was given a personal tent on the castle wall. It seemed to be a spot granted to me, perhaps impressed by my feat of killing the Legion Commander.
I lay down in my sleeping bag.
Thanks to the level-up, my physical wounds had been perfectly healed, but that recovery didn't extend to mental fatigue.
After all, it would be stranger if my suddenly dreary mood dramatically improved just because I leveled up.
I intended to open the Gallery, but something else came to mind that I needed to check first.
My status window.
<Player Status>
Name: Han Yoo-seong
Race: Human
Lv.8
Strength: 47
Agility: 45
Stamina: 46
Mana: 26
Skills: Pain Suppression Lv.3, Composure Lv.3, Concealment Lv.1, Danger Sense Lv.2, Vision Expansion Lv.1, Focus Enhancement Lv.2, Fighter's Movement Lv.3, Mana Body Reinforcement Lv.2, Doombringer Lv.1
Considering my level was 3 right after entering the 2nd Floor Stage, this was a terrifying growth rate.
Whether my growth was this fast because I was on Pandemonium difficulty or not, I would have to ask the Gallery.
I took out my terminal and opened the Transcendent Gallery.
Title: Hey guys, I killed an Orc Legion Commander. But does this guy normally appear on the 2nd floor?
Author: ㅇㅇ*
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I was completely and utterly about to die. Barely killed him. But what's more surprising is that the Legion Commander isn't a boss monster. The stage doesn't end even after killing him. Hahahaha.
As soon as I posted, comments started pouring in like rain.
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?
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??
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Don't talk nonsense.
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???? Huh?
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Why would an Orc Legion Commander appear on the 2nd floor lolololol
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Why else? Because it's Pandemonium lolololol
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The world was literally like "die, you" but how did you manage to survive? lolololol
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Pioneer) Hmm, Pandemonium is the real deal. I didn't see a Legion Commander until the 5th floor.
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Sword of Light) There have been cases where it appeared on the 2nd floor even on Hard. I did mention it in the appendix. Hmm, you didn't pay close attention.
Ah.
I vaguely remembered. It was a list of monsters with a high probability of appearing on the 2nd floor. But at that time, I was too busy getting beaten up by the Sparring Golem Mk.2 you sent.
Should I ask the Gallery for a list of appearing monsters starting from the 3rd floor?
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Hard difficulty is also insane. I'm on Normal, and the Orc Legion Commander appeared on the 12th floor. I almost shat myself when I encountered him then.
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You met him on the 2nd floor? And killed him? lolololol This Climber guy is unbelievable.
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He's a talent, I tell you. For a person from 21st-century Earth.
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Archmage) I told you, only those with a possibility of clearing are summoned.
I don't know. I almost died this time, so the Archmage's words didn't resonate much.
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Sword of Light) Well done.
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Yes*) I would have died if not for your advice. If I hadn't acquired Doombringer, my body would have been cleaved in two.
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Sword of Light) Oh ho, you acquired the Doombringer skill. As expected, my judgment of people hasn't dulled.
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You acquired the Doombringer skill?? And on the 2nd floor? Holy shit... he really is talented.
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Isn't Doombringer just a skill you get in conjunction with reaching Fighter's Movement Level?3?
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Nope~~ Not at all~~ On Easy and Normal difficulty, Fighter's Movement itself rarely appears. While a very small number of top players acquire Fighter's Movement, not a single person who reached Lv.3 of that skill has obtained Doombringer~~
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Pioneer) Even on Hard difficulty, many acquire Fighter's Movement, but it's rare for someone to obtain Doombringer after reaching Lv.3 of it.
What?
I thought 'Fighter's Movement' was a skill that was simply linked upon reaching Lv.3.
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Oh, you don't have it either?
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Pioneer) Yes, I acquired Fighter's Movement and reached Lv.10, but I still didn't get Doombringer.
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Archmage) You can't be certain about skills that can be obtained definitively within the Tower. Players are beings who gain different things even from the same experience.
As my thoughts began to sort themselves out, I realized I held the answer to what was currently the hottest topic in the Transcendent Gallery.
Title: Found out Riselinn's mercenary leader father's name.
Author: ㅇㅇ*
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His name is Helion? Does anyone know him?
After a brief silence, comments began to appear.
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lolololol Lowborn! You got him!
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Hey, but he wasn't just a regular knight lolololol He was one of the Seven Heroes.
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Yeah~~ but still lowborn. Monarch <<<<<<<< Great Peace Min.
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Absolute Monarch) ...It is done. Helion is a figure worthy of blessing.
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Shit lolololol Anyone would think you're a father sending his daughter off to get married, not someone who overcame hardships and trials together lolololol
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But it's not just the Monarch who was taken, it's everyone on Easy, Normal, and Hard who were all affected, so why are you guys reacting like cheerful, cool cynics?
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Seriously, it's like they're talking as if they didn't lose anything lolololol
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Spear King) It wasn't taken... This is the flow of life, the destiny of existence. It is merely a fated meeting and parting.
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Bullshit -
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Scum Sword Saint) I heard Helion and Delisa are living well?
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Scum Sword Saint... let's stop. It's too pathetic and sad ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
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Scum Sword Saint) No, I'm just asking.
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lolololol This isn't pathetic, it's creepy, isn't it? lolololol
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Yes, Delisa seems to be living well, as she's in her hometown... Helion, however, is said to be dead? When Riselinn was ten.
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Gasp
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Huh? Um...
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Tsk, to die after all that hardship.
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It's standard for Seven Heroes to die young, isn't it? What's so surprising.
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Tower scenario special: Good guys die early lol
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Shrine Maiden) Hawaawa, Helion... I remember fighting alongside him against Demons. I hope he found peace in the face of destiny.
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Scum Sword Saint, were you asking if he was doing well, or if he was alive or dead? I was naive. Sorry lolololol
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Scum Sword Saint) No. It was the former.
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Absolute Monarch) Is that so... Helion is dead. Delisa must be lonely.
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Fuck, guys, just take your hands off the keyboard!!!!!!! My perception of you all is getting distorted.
I strongly agreed with the last comment.
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So, for you guys on Hard difficulty, did an Orc Legion Commander appear on the 2nd floor often?
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Absolute Monarch) I, for one, did not.
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Archmage) He appeared, but he was the boss.
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Sword of Light) That guy was the boss monster. The 2nd floor ended when I killed him.
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Dragon King) Beltui- also had a Legion Commander appear on the 2nd floor. But Beltui- also had that guy as the boss monster.
This means that even on the 2nd floor of Hard difficulty, when a Legion Commander appeared, it was always the boss monster.
This damn Pandemonium.
However, there was one nickname I hadn't seen before.
Dragon King?
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Who are you?
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Dragon King) I am the dragon who awoke from Beltui-'s hibernation. Nice to meet you, Beltui-. Nice to meet you, Pandemonium.
I knew he was strange.
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Hmm*) Anyway, what kind of monster do you think will be the boss on the 2nd floor? Is there anything above an Orc Legion Commander?
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Archmage) Orc Great Warrior, Orc Shaman. There's also an Orc King, but the Orc King probably won't appear.
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Sword of Light) If it's a Great Warrior, you'll have to fight and kill it the same way you killed the Legion Commander.
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Archmage) If a Shaman appears, it would be easier to kill if there was a mage. But that knowledge is beyond NPCs on this floor. If you tell them, they'll do it. Even a 3rd-tier mage would suffice.
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Okay*) Oh, tell me for now.
The Archmage explained a method that could be used assuming there was a mage nearby.
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Yes, but aren't Archmages usually stubborn? What if they don't believe me?
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Archmage) What else? Beat them a few times and take charge of the situation.
He was very firm.
Why does he have the same mage-hating tendency as his title, Archmage?
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Archmage) If you can't come up with logical arguments for persuasion, you must persuade with force.
It seemed to be just his personality.