Chapter 15 - The First Frontier (3)
Chapter 15 - The First Frontier (3)
"W-why are you doing this? What's going on?!"
Rosaria, who had been obediently trying to return according to the Player's command, shouted with a flustered face, as if she couldn't understand my intention to defy the Player's will.
Come to think of it, from her perspective, there was no reason to disobey the Player.
The Player provided the settlement location with an omniscient gaze and even pointed out the location of the Magic Iron Ore mine in a land so unknown that they didn't even know it existed.
"Th-this..."
However, despite that, she hesitated for a moment before running to my side and supporting my body.
The burden on Rosaria seemed less than on me. Since the Player was focused on manipulating me, who had suddenly started acting out, they hadn't paid much attention to her.
"We have to go over there."
I lifted my hand with great effort and pointed to the front for Rosaria.
To the place where the mark of the Underworld appeared.
Rosaria saw the mark too, but since she lacked knowledge about the Underworld, she didn't seem to notice what was strange about it.
"Just a little more. Just a little."
And so, the two of us squeezed out our stamina and willpower to keep moving.
The Player's powerful will, which had been frantically clicking right-click in confusion at the unexpected situation, finally vanished when we arrived right in front of the Underworld mark.
'Did they discover it!'
The will that had been constricting our bodies vanished in an instant.
Rosaria and I collapsed on the spot simultaneously, gasping for air.
[Post: What is this? Leon suddenly refused orders and went in a different direction, so I tried desperately to stop him, but it turned out there was something like this in the direction Leon went.]
Before long, the community screen popped up in my eyes.
As expected, the Player was sharing the strange situation they had just experienced with the users.
The post included a photo.
It was a photo with a warning to be careful because a hidden Underworld fortress had been discovered.
ㄴIf that had exploded, it would've been a headache, but you managed to find it early.
ㄴIf you don't deal with that quickly, vampires will pour out. If they pour out in a full berserk state, there's no way to block it with the current tech.
ㄴWait, Leon discovered it? And he ignored the return command and the control? Does that make sense?
ㄴIf that's true, bow to Leon lol. He saved you from a situation that was about to blow up.
ㄴAt this point, maybe it's better to just leave Leon on auto.
ㄴNo, it's real, I was so surprised.
The reactions in the comments were generally intrigued.
One of the most threatening events in the early stages before the settlement is established.
They managed to detect it in advance, and the cause was a unit that moved while ignoring the Player's commands.
'Even I wouldn't believe it.'
If I were a user on UltiField Gallery just reading that newbie Player's live post, I wouldn't believe it either.
"Underworld?"
"It's a vampire faction, one of the groups in the Demon World."
When we returned to the settlement.
Others were already up and preparing for action.
But a tense atmosphere was already swirling.
The Player, who had discovered the Underworld fortress, had moved to eliminate it as quickly as possible, following the advice of others.
Seira, Hermann, and the rest of the combat units, as well as many other units, were mobilized.
That's how difficult it is to clear an Underworld fortress.
Especially in the early stages where development has just begun.
'It depends on the scale, but even the smallest fortress required fighting with the resolve to lose one or two units.'
If the raid succeeds, we could get quite a bit of loot, including the legacy of the Underworld left there, but there would be sacrifices.
Back when I was a Player, there wasn't a single raid I conducted countless times that didn't have sacrifices.
I wonder what it's like now that I've become the overpowered unit I so desperately wanted. Is it possible to clear the fortress without any sacrifices?
ㄴLike you guys said, I decided to mobilize everyone. Some are already losing mental strength, what do I do?
ㄴYou have to accept it, what else? The moment you make non-combat units fight, you have to accept that their mental strength will drain like crazy.
ㄴYou have to deal with it as fast as possible and manage their condition. Every single one is precious in the early game.
I glanced around.
People like Rosaria, Seira, and Hermann have gone through the harsh training of Eisenblut and have already experienced fights with the Swarm.
On the other hand, it was obvious that others were nervous or frozen.
Most of them were hothouse flowers who might not have fought a single battle in their lives.
The act of combat itself is poison that drains mental strength.
Like one user's comment, post-combat care is also important.
For the sake of the entire settlement.
"The others will probably only be able to play a supporting role. We will take the vanguard. If we get breached, it's game over."
So, I encouraged my peers while sharpening my sword one last time.
I emphasized that our role was crucial for the sake of all of us.
At that, all three of them listened to my words, their eyes shining as they nodded.
Suddenly, I recalled the fact from the screenshot the Player posted that the three of them were highly dependent on me.
It's burdensome, but in a situation like this, it's a good thing.
I just need to not collapse.
"Is that it!"
The Magic Iron Ore mine right near the settlement and the mark of the Underworld fortress right next to it.
The Pioneer Corps, who had been moving in the direction the Player indicated while nervous, stirred as they soon discovered them.
"What on earth are we doing here..."
"You just have to wait."
Leon, who was standing at the very front, opened his mouth in a calm voice toward them, as they were unsure what to do and were looking around, unable to get a grip.
And before long, the mark, struck by a beam of light shot from the sky, began to shine with a rumbling sound.
At the same time, the Underworld fortress could no longer remain hidden and was forcibly opened.
It was the moment the Player decided to proceed with the event, forcibly open the fortress, and launch a counterattack.
"I-it opened."
Adrian gripped the pouch of medicine bottles he had been clutching in his arms without realizing it.
The coldness emanating from the fortress entrance, which was revealed like a cave entrance, was mixed with magic, and in response to it, their imprints, blessed by the gods, shone brightly.
"Let's go in. I don't know what He will do, but we must maintain the basic formation. You must not come out in front of us."
In such a situation, Leon was the only one who didn't even waver.
While taking the unknown power that everyone feared head-on at the very front, Leon only gripped the giant sword in his hand a little tighter.
'How can he be like that?'
Adrian shuddered without realizing it as he watched the boy's calm attitude.
Even while big adults were afraid, the boy in the uniform's red eyes were fixed straight ahead without wavering.
I wondered if it was simply because of the 「Strong Spirit」 trait, but that wasn't it.
Adrian's colleague, who has a 「Steadfastness」 trait that plays a similar role, is also trembling.
This wasn't just a matter of mental strength.
It's the difference between knowing and not knowing. Between the familiar and the unknown.
'This is strange. The control has stopped. It doesn't seem like they're touching the others either.'
Finally, Leon took the first step and set foot into the Underworld fortress.
In the process, he felt something strange and rolled his eyes.
He couldn't feel the Player's interference.
The Player had only triggered the event.
After that, it was completely full auto.
In other words, they seemed to be leaving it to the units' autonomous behavior without applying direct manipulation.
'Did something happen?'
Having developed a love-hate relationship, Leon, who used to curse the Player's low-quality control, started to feel concerned for no reason.
As serious as the Player acting on their own without knowing much is the Player losing interest and leaving the game.
There are many things that cannot be done without the Player's power, like the Underworld event currently underway.
"---!!!"
"Eek!"
The inside of the fortress was a huge, dark, and gloomy underground space.
Literally a dungeon.
At the same time, the moment they set foot inside.
In the darkness where nothing could be seen properly, bizarre, beastly cries that sounded like screams echoed.
"Vampires forcibly awakened like this are weakened accordingly, so you don't need to be too afraid."
"How on earth do you know that..."
"It's a monster!"
Before long, several monster creatures broke through the darkness and rushed toward them.
Adrian, who was terrified, was left speechless.
Pale skin, thin arms and legs, but viciously protruding teeth and claws were targeting them while freely climbing the walls and ceiling.
"They are weak to fire and light."
Leon and Seira cast combat magic, Flame Burst and Fireball, simultaneously as if they had been prepared.
The hot flames spreading in a fan shape and the fireballs with powerful explosive force hit the rushing vampires, annihilating them alive.
"Now it begins."
However, like Leon's mutter, they didn't even have time to cheer.
Because more and more vampires were flocking in with the constantly echoing beastly cries.
"It's most important to take terrain that is advantageous to us. That way!"
Leon, who had coated his sword in hot flames, pointed somewhere with his sword.
It was the most advantageous point to create a kill zone and deal with the numerous enemies flocking from all sides.
Even though there were no commands from the Player, there was no time to wait.
Leon, who relentlessly cut down the rushing vampires, led the people and headed there.
[Recording video]
The moment the war between the Divine Pioneer Corps and the Underworld began in earnest.
The camera's focus, which no one could see, was naturally directed at him, who was commanding the units and fighting against numerous enemies.