Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Someone approached me.
It was a short, middle-aged man with a gruff face.
I read the text floating above his head.
[NPC - Guard Member]
"Are you a conscripted soldier? Or a hired mercenary? Either way, hurry to the front lines! There are too many Orcs!"
The tone was vivid.
It was a fresh feeling. Up until now, the only NPCs I had met were cold corpses or people on the verge of death.
Now, I was facing humans in perfectly fine condition.
I nodded and walked forward.
A massive wall.
Beyond that wall, Orcs with visibly ferocious appearances were gathered in a horde.
'It was called a quest type.'
It could also be called a defense type situation.
There seemed to be a story connected to this situation.
"Fire!"
"Shoot!"
Standing next to those on the ramparts, sweating profusely as they shot arrows, I could clearly see the state of the battle.
Soldiers raining arrows down from the wall.
About fifty soldiers fired arrows simultaneously.
Fwiiiiiiiiish!
The arrows that flew covered the sky in black.
Arrows lodged themselves into the Orcs' heads and the gaps in their armor.
'They might break through if it comes to it.'
Even with the soldiers fighting valiantly, I couldn't help but think that.
— Thump!
The giant siege hammers the Orcs were holding were incessantly pounding the gate.
"Throw them properly! Do you all want to die together!"
My gaze shifted to the side.
Javelins.
I saw about thirty soldiers throwing short spears that looked like they were for javelins.
"I put you here because you know how to throw properly! What are you doing!"
I looked up at the head of the man scolding his subordinates.
[NPC - Guard Captain Bake]
This was the first time I'd seen a name attached.
"I'll throw one."
I reached out for a short spear.
"Huh?"
Bake and I made eye contact. Bake's brow furrowed intensely.
"These are not plentiful! If you're a novice who's never thrown before, don't be reckless and put it down!"
I ignored him.
So what if it was recklessness? I'd just throw it.
Of course, it wasn't an action without thought.
The principle was similar.
To what I had done on the mound.
I maximized the possibilities.
[Focus Enhancement Lv.2 - Skill activated.]
[Mana Body Reinforcement Lv.1 - Skill activated.]
Strength spread through my entire body, and my mind became clear.
With my feet planted firmly on the ground, I used my empty left arm to aim.
The target was the heart, below the Orc's shoulder.
I swung my left arm like a whip.
The trajectory was like a ball thrown across a baseball field.
Thwack!
A harsh sound echoed. The spear accurately pierced the heart below the Orc's upper shoulder.
I saw the Orc staggering backward.
Thud.
The wobbling creature eventually fell.
"...You're not a novice, are you?"
"That's the skill of someone who's thrown countless times!"
The gazes of about five people around me, including Guard Captain Bake, were fixed on me.
Bake himself took out a short spear and offered it to me.
"Please, keep throwing them."
"Yes."
One, two, three.
Taking a deep breath, I threw the short spear. This time, it pierced the Orc's head.
The sensation of my arm trembling fiercely.
It wasn't bad.
The ones who endured even after being hit by my spears were finished off by the soldiers' arrows.
After killing two more Orcs like that.
An alert window covered my vision.
[Level Up!]
[Lv.3 → Lv.4]
It was a feat achieved by the experience from four Orcs.
['Strength' stat increased by 5.]
['Agility' stat increased by 4.]
['Stamina' stat increased by 5.]
['Mana' stat increased by 2.]
I didn't even have time to open my status screen to check the results.
Even after leveling up, I took down two more.
However, four of them endured even with spears lodged in their bodies and kept moving.
The soldiers didn't seem to care about that.
"Ooh! Amazing skill!"
"Teach me too. Are you a mercenary?"
The number of soldiers looking at me increased from five to about a dozen.
But mixed within the gazes I felt were not human eyes.
Below the wall.
A ferocious gaze felt from far away.
It was a creature that looked like the leader of the Orc horde to anyone.
Its build was twice as large as the other Orcs beside it.
Was it angry that I had significantly reduced the number of its kin?
"I'm sorry I'm late. You held out well."
A woman appeared. Her navy blue hair was striking.
"Oh, you've arrived, Riselinn. We were just starting to catch our breath thanks to this friend here."
[NPC - 'Lucerna' Mercenary Captain Riselinn]
Seeing the nameplate, I was certain.
This woman was the center of the quest.
While others' names just appeared in black, this woman's nameplate had a faint golden border.
Riselinn bowed her head to me.
"Hello. It's the first time I've seen you. Captain Bake isn't someone who praises people easily, so it's surprising."
Bake exclaimed excitedly at Riselinn's words.
"Quickly, show us that divine skill one more time!"
She was too excited.
I nodded, picked up a short spear, and threw it.
I felt Riselinn's two eyes follow the trajectory of the spear I shot.
CRUNCH!
It precisely lodged itself into the Orc's heart, which I had aimed for.
I felt Riselinn's gaze.
"You're amazing."
There was a spark in Riselinn's eyes as she looked at me.
I asked Riselinn, who had golden eyes, the questions I was curious about.
"Isn't there a limit to just defending like this? Eventually, some will have to go down and fight for them to retreat."
Riselinn's answer came immediately.
"You are absolutely right. That's why our mercenary group is preparing for a full-scale assault right now."
There was no sign of fear on Riselinn's face.
『Quest! - Defend the Kycleve Wall by following 'Lucerna' Mercenary Captain Riselinn.』
As expected.
Riselinn was the protagonist of the second floor.
"I want to go with you."
A smile bloomed on Riselinn's face at my words.
"Thank you. The more people who help, the greater the chance we have of driving those monsters back."
Is that really true?
The number of Orcs was too great, even to the naked eye, for the possibility to increase just by adding one person.
"Please wait a moment. We are still making preparations."
"Understood."
Riselinn bowed her head once more and quickly moved away.
I opened my status screen.
<Player Status>
Name: Han Yoo-seong
Race: Human
Lv.4
Strength: 26
Agility: 25
Stamina: 24
Mana: 12
Skills: Pain Suppression Lv.3, Composure Lv.2, Concealment Lv.1, Danger Sense Lv.2,
Vision Expansion Lv.1, Focus Enhancement Lv.2, Fighter's Movement Lv.1,
Mana Body Reinforcement Lv.1
After confirming my status as Level 4, I opened the Transcendent Gallery.
I wrote a post.
Title: Does anyone know Mercenary Captain Riselinn? Or the Lucerna Mercenary Group?
Author: ㅇㅇ*
-
It's the second floor, and it's a quest type. Seems like a defense battle. The monsters I've met so far are Orcs.
Oh, and I killed some Orcs by throwing short spears. Short spears are good, right? Do Orcs have any weaknesses?
Comments poured in as usual.
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???? Lucerna?
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The captain of the Lucerna Mercenary Group isn't Riselinn, it's Delisa?
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Absolute Monarch) That's right. The captain of the Lucerna Mercenary Group is Delisa.
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Absolute Monarch) By any chance, what does Riselinn look like?
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Yes, yes? Blue hair and golden eyes.
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Holy crap… Hey, can you take a picture of that Riselinn person and upload it?
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Scum Sword Saint) There's no way it's Delisa. Delisa. There's no way it's Delisa….
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Spear King) Hurry and take a picture of that person called Riselinn. Yes, short spears are very useful not only for javelins but also for combat. But speaking of which, hurry with the picture.
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Absolute Monarch) She said I wouldn't forget her.
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Scum Sword Saint) She said that to me too. We watched the sunset together. She said we'd see each other again.
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Ah, ah, fuck!!!!!! Hey! The picture!!!!!
What's wrong with these guys?
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Sword of Light) Orcs don't have many weaknesses. You just have to cut them down.
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Archmage) Their weakness is that they're a bit stupid, yes.
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Sword of Light) If you had to pick a weakness, like most monsters, their eyes could be considered a weakness.
Only two people gave normal answers to the question.
Since they are so desperately wanting to see Riselinn's face, I guess I should take a picture.
As I approached, Riselinn bowed her head with an apologetic expression.
"Could you please wait just a little longer?"
"Can you see what I'm holding in my hand?"
I was holding the gallery terminal in my right hand.
But Riselinn just tilted her head.
"No, aren't you empty-handed?"
She couldn't see the terminal.
"Don't worry about me, just get ready."
I brushed it off and moved back to my spot.
I opened the Transcendent Gallery again.
Title: Here's Riselinn's picture.
Author: ㅇㅇ*
-
But why are you guys like this?
Attachment: 1000234523.jpg
(A girl with long navy blue hair, Riselinn, looking straight ahead.)
This time, after a moment of silence, comments flooded in.
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…Fuck.
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…Wow, Delisa, you dumped me.
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Did you get cuckolded or something? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I don't have any NPCs I got close to, so why are these guys like this lolol This is hilarious.
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Absolute Monarch) Navy blue hair, golden eyes… She is indeed Delisa's daughter.
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A sequel has come out… A sequel to a story I really liked. A sequel where the heroine was NTR'd.
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Ask her who her father is.
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Scum Sword Saint) Yeah, ask her… who her father is.
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Absolute Monarch) She said she wouldn't forget me. It was a lie.
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Ha, fuuuuuck!!!!! Hyung, Absolute Monarch! Hyung, Scum Sword Saint! Do you know why your lives are like that? Actually, mine is too…
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You should have approached them without emotions like me… sob. Hahahaha. Ah, my mood is ruined. I was in a good mood after successfully completing the scramble. That bitch Delisa.
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Absolute Monarch) I remember the exact words. She said, "When we meet again someday, let's kiss again then.
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Old man, stop being so dramatic.
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Yes. So, the situation now is that the character you guys had an emotional connection with during your Tower climb was Delisa, and Riselinn is her daughter?
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Absolute Monarch) Yes… That's right. Lucerna is a family-run mercenary group, so it's certain.
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Yes, but Monarch-hyung, if you're a king, don't you have a wife? Why are you like this?
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Absolute Monarch) It's different… The narrative of real life and the narrative of the Tower have different meanings.
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Okay, then you can just think of this as my Tower narrative, right? Why are you making it a sequel to your own experiences?
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That is human.
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Elf) I agree with the Climber's thoughts. Why are you guys like this?
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Shut up, you bitch!
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Climber, hurry up and ask who her father is.
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Okay*) I'll ask that later.
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Spear King) Please, I'm in a hurry.
In a hurry.
Why are they suddenly asking for her father's name?
These guys, because their own narratives are ruined, they're trying to ruin my narrative too.
I saw Riselinn, clad in armor, walking towards me.
Even though the old men were still making a fuss, I ended the Transcendent Gallery for now.
"We're ready. Oh, I haven't even asked your name yet. Could you tell me?"
I didn't know if she'd understand, but I didn't want to use a different name.
In this harsh world, one should at least be called by their proper name.
"It's Yoo-seong. Yoo-seong."
Riselinn smiled brightly.
"Nice to meet you, Yoo-seong! Let's have a meal together after this battle."
"Sure."
She understood surprisingly well.
A meal, I wonder if there will be time for that.
"Ah, here, take this."
Riselinn handed me something.
A heavy sensation flowed into my left hand.
It was a short spear.
[Black Javelin]
Category - Weapon (Short Spear)
Attack Power + 29
Usable Level: Level 3 or higher
Rarity: C+
"It's a useful one. For javelins, and for close combat. I saw you throwing short spears so well, it's a gift."
"Thank you."
Oh.
It would be perfect as a secondary weapon.
I decided I'd use this one for close combat whenever possible.
From the place where I had just thrown short spears, I picked up a few and put them into my inventory. I intended to use them as javelins.
Difficulty: Pandemonium.
A place where you never know when or what might happen.
You have to use every weapon you can.
"Let's go."
The mercenary members with grim faces followed Riselinn's words.
I followed behind them.