Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Ambush
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The wandering merchant Frigo tells us a bit more about the world surrounding us and the Mortals.
"This is the Blessed Land. It looks like a beautiful place from afar. But once you set foot inside, you'll end up cursing all that nonsense about blessings. It might look fine on the outside, but if you peek within, nothing makes sense."
He taps his temple with his index finger and shakes it mockingly. Even though he was born and raised here, he despises the world he belongs to.
"It's all twisted."
It's incredibly useful info for newbies like us taking our first steps here. Frigo explains his world in detail, and with surprising sincerity.
"It's because of immortality. Thanks to it, those born in the Blessed Land don't die, but is that really a blessing? Everything here's just come to a standstill."
"But you Mortals are half-free from the chains of immortality. I hear 'that woman' calls you here for the same reason. You can kill anyone, after all. I don't know the full details, though..."
It seems tough to get more info out of him. Frigo's already shared most of what he knows, and he clams up about 'that woman.'
Is he afraid of retaliation if he speaks carelessly? Or does just saying her name give him chills?
"Thanks. That's more than enough."
It was a satisfying chat, regardless. Now it's up to me to uncover the rest myself.
"Oh, one more thing."
But even as I prepare to leave, Frigo keeps dropping helpful tidbits.
"There's a gravestone up ahead. You Mortals go hunting for those, right?"
"A gravestone?"
"You know, the places where you die and come back to life."
He even points out a save point. What an incredibly grateful NPC.
Though it's a bit odd. I figured it'd be something like a campfire, not a gravestone.
"I'm truly grateful. Should I buy something?"
"That'd be great for me. We get along pretty well."
With excitement bubbling up, I check out Frigo's stall. An NPC this helpful has to be selling some seriously useful stuff, right?
His hefty bundle unfurls before my eyes. Scrolls meticulously inscribed with text and illustrations, arrows, Throwing Daggers, and a few skewer dishes—that's everything.
"I used to have way more... but some bitch took it all. Tch."
"It's fine. This is plenty. What's on the scrolls?"
"Ah, kinda like cooking recipes. Sometimes I sell maps or observation logs too. I'll restock by next time. Swing by often."
Unlike Frigo's rugged, intimidating look, his wares are surprisingly sweet.
I buy up all the Throwing Daggers and scrolls in one go. The daggers are great for shaking things up in fights, and those random scrolls are bound to have all sorts of info on the Blessed Land...
"Good deal. I love these kinds of relationships. Not into kids' games like promises or friendships, but mutually beneficial trades? Always welcome."
Even after splurging, my blessings are still overflowing.
Since I fully took down the tutorial boss from the start, I begin far richer than other players.
Celebrating my haul, I sit beside Frigo and read the scrolls.
The handwriting is elegant, and the illustrations are top-notch. He's an NPC with some serious talent all around.
"Hey. Be more careful from now on. I get that you're strong, but the stronger you are, the more you gotta value your life."
He's even looking out for me subtly. Executing Veronine must've really piqued his interest.
But Frigo's eyes still hold wariness. To him, are all us 'Mortals' just loose-screw monsters?
"...Nothing more annoying than Wraiths. Don't you dare break."
"Wraiths?"
"We call fallen Mortals Wraiths. They lose all hope and will, surviving on instinct alone."
Mortals dragged in from the outside can kill freely, but they carry a heavy handicap.
Without fully claiming the blessing of immortality, their sanity drains with each death, until they become no different from monsters—Wraiths.
"...Wraiths."
Were those grotesque things that burst through the iron door Wraiths?
If I hadn't killed Veronine, if we hadn't escaped...
Would we have ended up the same?
"But wasn't Veronine a Wraith too? He turned all wolf-like and kept charging."
"Nah, that doesn't count as a Wraith. When someone blessed with immortality falls, they turn into something even more vicious. We call those—"
I want to hear more details.
I love digging into the lore like this.
But before Frigo can finish...
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a round object flies right at us.
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My hackles rise the instant I see it. An ambush with zero buildup or warning kicks off.
Sizzle—
The burning fuse hits my eyes dead-on.
Less than two seconds till it blows.
"What the fuck!"
Frigo spits a thick curse and stumbles back, while I grip my longsword and stare down the explosive.
I've gotta react. No idea on the blast radius, but even if I get caught, I can use my invincibility frame if I time it right—
BOOM!
A massive explosion roars. But I'm still alive.
Looks like I rolled just in time.
Something's off, though.
Acrid, toxic smoke fills my vision in an instant.
"Gah—cough! Kkh!"
Frigo's pained coughing echoes from within the haze.
Misjudged it. This wasn't a kill shot—it was thrown to disarm us.
"Damn it! That bastard again!"
Frigo yells.
Is this the 'crazy bitch' he mentioned earlier while setting up his wares?
"No way! Not this time!"
Seems like a bandit targeting the wandering merchant.
I want to help Frigo somehow, but after inhaling the smoke, an unbearable drowsiness and fatigue hit me hard.
Status ailment? This is bad.
In this sudden crisis, a warning flickers before my eyes.
"No, not this time..."
Even as Frigo's eyes slowly close, he desperately tries to protect his bundle, collapsing atop it and drifting off.
I strain to shake off the sleep status. I even drag my longsword's blade across my palm, hoping pain might counter the buildup, but it won't budge.
Was I too careless?
Even chatting with a merchant NPC doesn't prepare you for a sleep bomb outta nowhere.
This is ridiculous. High difficulty's one thing, but an event this absurd shouldn't happen.
I can't just take this lying down. Clutching the accumulating ailment, I bolt toward the save point Frigo mentioned.
A nimble silhouette pursues relentlessly from behind, but it doesn't rush in—just closes the distance while gauging me.
It knows I'll drop eventually. Cautious and flawless enemy.
"Ugh... kh..."
My eyes close against my will.
My legs give out, and under the sleep status...
I slowly fall asleep.
The last thing I see is a shadow approaching slowly.
"...Touch me and you'll regret it."
I warn it. A final heads-up.
"I don't like events like this... seriously... for real..."
...
When I open my eyes again, it's not much different.
A black hood covering her head down to her shoulders.
Light chain armor. Patches of leather armor here and there.
"..."
The nameless attacker ignores me. Instead, she rummages through Frigo's bundle at her feet like it's hers.
"You woke up quick."
Her voice confirms she's a woman. But laced between that elegant, soft tone is a deadly venom.
"From Earth, right? Never heard an accent like that."
Something's off. She doesn't look like any ordinary woman.
Whether she's prying for info or not, she's bound my arms and legs so I can't move. And at her waist hang three or four more of those sleep bombs she tossed at us.
"What year?"
"Pardon?"
"What year are you from?"
She questions me. Ignoring Frigo, who's groaning back to awareness, she turns to stare me down.
"...2036."
"I see."
In that moment, I grasp this world's brutal truth.
This isn't just some game world.
"I'm from 1853."
She's no monster. No NPC.
She's human. Just like me. Dragged here from Earth.
"First time, so I'll spare you. No next time."
Her face evokes a noble medieval lady, but her hands move without a shred of grace.
"Ugh—damn it..."
As I'm lost in shock, Frigo unleashes a barrage of curses.
Now fully awake, he groans in pain and reaches for his stolen goods.
"You... you filthy... Mortal scum... Cowardly..."
But the woman swiftly kicks Frigo in the jaw.
No mercy, no hesitation.
She steals all his food, his blessings...
And vanishes back into the darkness.
Gulp.
I stare into that darkness, barely swallowing a thick, sticky glob of saliva.
This feels bad.
I thought I'd gotten weirdly trapped in some new game...
But it seems I've stumbled into something far more dangerous than I imagined.