Chapter 25
Chapter 25
The One-Eyed Beast thrust the spear it held in both hands towards me.
Though its trajectory was swift, it wasn't so much that I couldn't parry it.
The red spear, which had shot out in a straight line, suddenly bent sideways to the right.
I twisted my arm sharply and met it with my sword.
Kagak!
Its arm, along with the spear, shot upwards.
An opening.
I swung the Great Enemy Sword Karnavalt horizontally.
The sword, which had rushed towards the One-Eyed One's waist, made a tearing sound as it pierced its flesh.
However, it didn't cleave it in two in a single blow.
I felt no regret. It was as I had predicted that it wouldn't be severed at once.
Approaching from the left, I thrust the Bloodied Dagger into its shoulder.
Uuuaaak!
A wail-like scream echoed from the One-Eyed One's mouth.
The One-Eyed One used its four beast-like legs to fling itself backward.
It's like a horse with good elasticity.
The One-Eyed One rapidly charged again.
The red spear drew dozens of trajectories.
Horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and lateral.
In other words, it was a Spear Path that crisscrossed indiscriminately from all directions.
Kwagwagwagwagwag!
If I had entered the Tower just now, my body would have become minced meat from this attack, but my stats have significantly increased now.
Along with the combat sense I've built up through actual combat.
Kagagagagang!
I must achieve maximum efficiency with minimal movement.
I blocked all of the One-Eyed One's attacks.
[Trajectory Insight Lv.1 - Skill Acquired.]
Ugh-!
The One-Eyed One let out a strange groan, perhaps flustered that its attacks were all blocked.
Holding the Great Enemy Sword, I pulled my right arm back.
Stepping forward forcefully, I thrust my sword repeatedly.
So fast that my muscles screamed.
Dragon Slayer Sword Style 4.
Five consecutive thrusts.
Quinque Acies.
Five large holes appeared on the One-Eyed One's upper body.
The spear the One-Eyed One had been holding was flung to the ground.
With a horizontal slash, I severed the One-Eyed One's neck, ending the battle.
[Experience increased.]
[Current Experience 62%]
I swung the Great Enemy Sword once, shaking off the blood on the blade.
If I catch about two more Demonic Beasts of the One-Eyed One's caliber, I'll reach level 20.
Now, my gaze turned to the Catfolk Pointy-eared One beneath the tree.
I had no choice but to look.
I had felt it watching me from the moment the battle neared its end.
[NPC - Catfolk Beastman Mike]
"You weren't alone originally, were you? Where are the others."
As I approached the tree, the Pointy-eared One trembled and leaned its back against it.
"I'm here to rescue you, so don't be scared."
Its round, green eyes were trembling.
Trembling very violently, it thought I was someone who came to kill it.
First, I cut the steel chains binding it to the tree.
As I cut the chains, the Pointy-eared One frantically used its hands to completely release the chains bound around its neck and waist.
"You're Catfolk, right?"
I bent down and crouched to match its eye level.
I asked even though I already knew its race and name.
If I pretended to know vaguely, it would become even more wary.
The Pointy-eared One with yellow cat ears nodded.
The Catfolk's mouth opened.
"...Thank you... for saving me, please don't kill me."
It was a voice that could barely be heard.
"What kind of speech is it to ask not to be killed after thanking me."
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
I couldn't say anything else.
"What's your name."
"It's Mike."
I took out a sandwich from my Inventory.
Still, the one running the Tower Coin Shop had some conscience, as there were three sandwiches by default.
I offered one piece.
"Eat this, at least."
After I spoke.
Mike stared at me with suspicious eyes for a long time.
I clicked my tongue and took a bite out of another sandwich next to me.
"It's a perfectly fine food."
Only after a little more time did Mike carefully take the sandwich with both hands.
Trembling.
He carefully held the received sandwich and crept back towards the tree.
Like a stray cat wary of people.
Mike began to eat the sandwich nibble by nibble, like a hamster.
"Mmm..."
His drooping cat ears perked up.
"Mmm."
He poked his head out and looked at me.
His dark face brightened a little.
"Thank you."
It was still a low voice that could barely be heard, but the trembling seemed to have subsided a bit.
His wariness had also lessened slightly.
I stayed a little apart, not wanting to disturb him while he ate, lest he choke.
"Thank you."
I heard his thanks again. When I turned my head, the sandwich he had been eating slowly was completely gone.
I thought eating slowly and quickly was nonsense, but it was possible.
"Mike."
"Yes."
"Where are your companions."
Waryness filled Mike's eyes again.
...I can't give him another sandwich to make him less wary.
Currently, Mike's negative reaction is due to my curiosity about his companions.
If I make a baseless inference, it would be that he experienced something bad with humans.
"I don't know what you've been through, but I have nothing to do with them."
Words flowed from Mike's chewing mouth again.
His low voice, very slowly.
"You gave me something delicious, so I'll believe you..."
Finally!
"Humans kidnapped me and my friends and tried to hand us over somewhere. We found an opportunity and escaped... and this was the only place we could go, the Forest of Bewitching Beasts."
Human trafficking, slave traders. Was it something like that?
My mind began to churn.
"Is there a possibility your tribe would send a rescue party?"
Mike said in his still thin voice.
"If we were taken from a place not far from our tribal village, and the elders of the tribe noticed, I think they would have sent a rescue party."
Immediately after Mike finished speaking, a notification window appeared before my eyes.
『You have reached the Truth of the Narrative!』
『You must now make a choice.』
『1. Hand over the escaped Catfolk group to the slave traders.
Minimum Clear Condition: Deliver 5 or more living Catfolk to the slave traders.
Quest Difficulty - ★★★★』
『2. Rescue the Catfolk group and hand them over to the rescue party sent by the Catfolk tribe.
Minimum Clear Condition: Deliver 8 or more living Catfolk to the Catfolk rescue party.
Quest Difficulty - ★★★★★』
『You must choose one of the two options. If you fail the first attempt, subsequent attempts, including the second, can only proceed with the opposite choice of the first option.』
『Quest Failure Criteria: Failure to meet minimum clear conditions』
『After the first attempt, you will not gain any 'Experience' in subsequent attempts.』
『Criteria for inability to attempt a second time: Player death』
『The option with higher quest difficulty will yield greater rewards upon success. However, this is limited to the first attempt.』
What should I choose?
My conclusion was reached more easily than I thought.
With my decision made, I opened the Transcendent Gallery.
Title: Is this kind of thing normal? Suddenly giving choices.
Author: XX* - 1. Hand over the Catfolk who escaped from the slave traders back to the slave traders, difficulty 4 stars.
2.
Hand them over to the rescue party sent by the Catfolk tribe, difficulty 5 stars.
And if you fail the first attempt, subsequent attempts can only proceed with the opposite choice of the one chosen in the first attempt.
-
It existed, but there was no last line like that. Pandemonium is quite wicked.
-
Why would they escape into the Forest of Bewitching Beasts, lol.
-
For real, lol
-
Archmage) I reasoned that when I was climbing, these kinds of choices were meant to let the player know what kind of person they are. Do you abandon your humanity for an easier difficulty? Or do you strive for the right path despite the higher difficulty?
-
Archmage) However, this seems to deviate from that purpose because of the last line.
-
Hahaha, bullshit. Abandon humanity? Helping people, whether they're slave traders or not, is human, isn't it?
-
I'm sorry, humans...
-
You should push forward in the direction you want for things like this. It's not for us, who aren't facing the situation, to interfere. - It's just NPCs anyway. Think of it lightly. Even if they seem alive and breathing, they're just part of the story flowing within the Tower.
-
─This is a recommendation for someone who chose the easy path while desperately telling themselves it's okay, and later regretted it immensely.
-
Bullshit, why would you put emotions into fakes? Lacking?
-
ㅋㅋ I regretted it. Actually, that was me. I felt a bit sorry.
-
ㅋㅋ It's impossible for two things to be this poignant ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Are you crying?
-
Secret Room Theorist) They did it to survive, right? It's okay, you're not trash. This world is made of giant secret rooms.
-
Elf) Uh, um. Is this guy really a Demon?
-
Pioneer) But that last line, it would drive someone with a weak mentality insane. Failed the first attempt with choice 2. Then from the second attempt onwards, it's always choice 1.
-
Spear King) However, those who fail once are highly likely to fail again in the next attempt.
-
Dragon King) Beltui - That's right.
-
Heavenly Demon) If you choose 1, you will kill the Catfolk who came as rescuers. If you choose 2, you will kill fellow humans.
-
If 1 has lower difficulty, it's highly likely the Catfolk rescuers are weaker. Yes, the humans on the slave trader side are strong.
-
Sword of Light) As long as you don't die. Make a choice without regret. Don't worry if it's dirty or clean.
-
Ice Queen) Kkong kkong! That's right!
The conclusion I reached did not change.
-
Yes, I went and came back.
With the end of the comments, I closed the Transcendent Gallery.
A notification window appeared in my vision.
『Choose one of the two options!』
I pressed the option with my right index finger.
『You have selected a quest.』
『2. Rescue the Catfolk group and hand them over to the rescue party sent by the Catfolk tribe.』
I have no intention of going to a second attempt where I don't even get experience.
First attempt, I'll finish it this one time.
"First, I'll get you out of those humans' hands."
Mike's green eyes widened.
"...Thank you."
Mike thanked me again.