Week 1 (3)
Week 1 (3)
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[Aurantius Guild 4th-class Mercenary, Ray Gladstone]
"Behold this small silver glow! Though the Knight Order has crumbled to dust, the noble sword still carries on its lineage to this day. Ray Gladstone here is one of the last knights upholding the legacy of the 'Knight Order' buried in the sands alongside the Empire's era. She withstands fierce attacks with thick armor, then crushes the wicked with her iron gauntlet and longsword. She prefers clashes of steel on steel, so she shines brightest when standing at the forefront of the group."
Equipment:
[Gauntlet and Longsword]: Frontline placement, Speed Dice 1, Power Dice 2
[Chainmail]: Life Tokens 35, Defense Dice 1
Skills:
[Knight Order Swordsmanship]: (Persistent effect) Frontline attacks apply Rupture 1 (2 times)
[Unter/Scheitel]: (Frontline attack) On hit, additional hit─Penetration 1
[Mort]: (Frontline attack) On use, roll (10+)─Success applies Stun
[Schneiden]: (Frontline attack) Penetration 1, on hit roll (8+)─Success applies Bleeding 2 (3 times), Cruelty 1
[Krumph]: (Self-buff) Add 1 Defense Die for this battle
Quirk:
-
*
[Aurantius Guild 4th-class Mercenary, Valerie McBain]
"Agile, clever, and deadly. The finest virtues in a mercenary. Valerie McBain, born in the back alleys of the Union's south, is a cruel swordswoman and skilled gunfighter. A bit rough around the edges with a savage temperament, but she's talented enough to prove her worth even among the twelve guilds under the Grand Roundtable. She makes full use of her sharp instincts, darting freely between front and rear lines in a flashy whirlwind—that's her specialty. But take care; with a temper as fiery as hers, she's just as susceptible to temptation."
Equipment:
[Flintlock Pistol and Dagger]: Frontline/Midline/Rearline placement, Speed Dice 4, Power Dice 3
[Cowhide Jacket]: Life Tokens 20, Evasion Dice 2
Skills:
[Swiftness]: (Persistent effect) Applies if acting first this round─Add 1 Power Die
[Skill]: (Frontline attack) Frontline placement only, add 1 Power Die
[Breakthrough]: (Midline attack) Not usable from rearline, Advance 1
[Shooting]: (Rearline attack) Not usable from frontline, remove 1 Power Die, Tracking 1
[Maintenance]: (Self-buff) Recover 1, Retreat 1, add 1 Evasion Die (1 time), add 1 Speed Dice (1 time)
Quirk:
-
"Oh, hey. Sleep okay last night?"
The moment I stepped into the Barracks, Valerie—who'd been fiddling with some dice in her hand—greeted me.
Anyone'd think she owned the place.
"That's what I should be asking you... How were the beds?"
"Of course. Honestly, even a pigsty would've been fine. We're used to crashing on dirt floors."
She giggled as she replied.
At least with her, there wasn't a trace of the madness lurking below.
I'd been quietly worried about that, so I let out a sigh of relief.
No idea how she took that, but Ray suddenly glided out like a ghost and shook out her canteen.
"Ignore her. Eh... greetings are nice and all, but I'd like to get down to business. When do we start?"
"Ah, right."
I flicked my gaze to the deadpan Ray and sorted my thoughts.
Truth be told, I'd been mulling over a bunch of stuff since yesterday.
Back when this was a game, I could see all the ally and enemy skills clear as day, and with turn-based combat, no rush on decisions.
But this is reality.
Obviously, I can't even watch these mercenaries fight, let alone command them.
According to the butler, now that they're here, they 'must' delve into the Labyrinth beneath the Territory—but in this state, is sending them off with prayers my only option?
No way... probably not.
But that question popped up while the butler was asleep, so no answers there.
I'd planned to ask when she woke up, but by the time I headed to the mercenaries' Barracks, she was still sprawled out snoring.
"First off, the ultimate goal is the massive Labyrinth underground in this Territory—specifically, its deepest bottom. But we can't go straight there."
"Why not?"
So, let's brief them on what I know for now.
I started explaining with that in mind, and Ray tossed in a timely question.
Like I'd been waiting, I laid it out.
"Each floor has a specific entity you gotta take out to proceed to the next. A kind of... seal, I guess."
"Seal, huh. Sorcery stuff?"
Valerie muttered, stroking her chin.
Sure, this world's overflowing with Superhumans, but that doesn't mean 'magic' or whatever is commonplace.
Most Superhumans just pump out monster-level power with superior physiques and top-tier gear.
Flip that, though, and it means those kinds of forces and phenomena do exist.
And this seal? Exactly that—'sorcery stuff.'
"Yeah, you could see it that way. That's why we need to wipe out a specific entity per level. And this Territory's Labyrinth is way bigger and deeper than you think."
"Gonna take a while."
"Yeah, a really long while."
I could say that much for sure.
Even me, the Tombstone pro, rushing at max speed? Game time, dozens of weeks minimum.
And now that this trash game's real, I gotta play ultra-conservative—no picking only the most efficient routes.
Even rushing, at least a hundred weeks. Normally, way more.
...Of course, that's optimistic, since I installed Sexton Mode and set the new Territory to Blood Moon difficulty.
Put simply, Tombstone's highest vanilla difficulty.
DLC cranks it even worse, but canonically, Blood Moon's the endgame content.
Its big hook? Fail certain conditions, and boom—straight to world-ending bad end.
Don't kill 10+ mercenaries.
Don't take 100+ weeks.
If this world's that fucking hellgate Blood Moon, no escaping those limits. No way...
"Well, the official notice had that vibe."
I braced for pushback saying it, but Valerie just muttered boredly.
Guess the notice up at Guild HQ already explained some.
Meanwhile, Ray—who'd donned her armor—grabbed her helmet and tilted her head weirdly.
"What?"
"It... won't go on."
Valerie prodded casually, and got an answer I never saw coming.
Pfft, she burst out laughing and shot back.
"Head swell overnight or what?"
"Nah. I just... don't wanna wear it. Feels like... I don't need to."
Her add-on was just as absurd, leaving me with this eerie, ominous vibe—my face stiffened.
Valerie didn't notice, nagging her to quit bullshitting and put it on, but I could see Ray's eyes stiffen in panic.
At this point, it ain't whim or preference.
I opened my mouth, sensing something off, when Valerie froze—er, yeah.
"Wait, come to think of..."
Her face drained pale as she muttered, then she staggered up.
"Gimme a sec, gotta check something."
She bolted to the bathroom.
Before I could process, Ray set the helmet down.
"This... won't be necessary."
"You sure?"
No way gear you've always used suddenly ain't needed, but Ray nodded at my worried question.
"Kinda weird, but... should be fine."
She mumbled.
Nah, you're driving me nuts with worry.
I wanna force it on her and send her out, but I got no right to boss her.
If she hates it, what can I do?
Half-resigned, staring at Ray—then Valerie stumbled out from across, face beet red.
"Valerie-ssi?"
"Ugh, what the... fuck..."
Dashing to the bathroom and back, now flailing like she didn't know what to do.
I gave her a puzzled look; she stammered nonsense, then whispered ant-sized.
"C-can't... wear underwear."
"Pfft."
"Hey! Wanna die?!"
Ray reflexively spat her water, and Valerie fumed.
Her reaction made sense, so I sighed.
By now, impossible not to notice.
This too—fucking Mode's doing.
Already in a skimpy tank top and shorts baring her thighs, and she'd been going commando till now?
Blood rushed to my head; I fake-coughed a few times.
Ray ditching the helmet? Same deal.
Fan-service skin—cover the face with a helmet, defeats the purpose.
Valerie's wheezing with laughter, so at least she's got proper undies.
"Best not to overthink it."
I said, half-giving up; their quizzical stares stabbed like they knew I knew something.
"Probably the thing down below messing with you."
No confidence in explaining fully, so I fudged it; Valerie grumbled, 'Sorcery again?'
If it were me, I'd flip out over bullshit like that—but this world's full of weird-ass sorcery, so not unbelievable.
"Anyway, let's head to the main building's office."
"Ugh, wait... really gotta go out like this...?"
Gotta get 'em to the estate, talk to the butler.
Sun's high; even that boozehound's up by now, should spill something.
Valerie squirmed like she felt exposed, but whatever.
Nothing I can do.
In the end, she yanked her jacket from her pack and bundled up tight.
Mode allowed that much, so... silver lining?