Monster Parade
As dawn broke over the Hallasan Cathedral, its occupants sprang into action with remarkable speed. With Bishop Augustus taking Ascalon along, the cathedral was no longer safe for the children to linger. Their chosen refuge was the Lava Cave, home to the Cheongyacha workshop.
"Won't the kids get too hot?"
"Do their clothes look ordinary to you? These are enchanted artifacts sent directly from the head office. The heat in the Lava Cave will feel like a muggy day at most."
"In that case, no problem."
The Lava Cave would have its non-combatant apprentices to keep watch, ensuring the children's safety.
"Mister! Mister!"
In the distance, Sister Jeanne came running toward me, beaming brightly.
"Sister Jeanne. You'll trip."
I voiced my concern, but she just giggled as if it were no big deal.
"I'm fine! I have great reflexes. Mister, you're heading to Baekrokdam to take down the bad dragon, right?"
"Yeah? That's right."
Hearing my reply, Jeanne rummaged in her pocket, clenching her little fist around something before pulling it out.
"It's a talisman!"
What emerged from her tiny hand was a wooden rosary that looked quite old.
"...This is?"
"It's a keepsake from my mom. She said it'd always protect me in danger, but right now, it seems like you need it more."
With a soft clink, Jeanne slipped the rosary onto my wrist.
"Come back safe, Mister."
With those final words, she spun around bashfully and dashed toward the bus where the children waited.
"Jeanne, hurry up!"
"Bishop! Mister! Win this one!"
"Mister, you going to catch the dragon with chopsticks again?"
"Come back safe!"
I watched the kids waving from the bus windows, then slipped on the
I'd kept in my pocket and spoke up.
"The other factions should be mobilizing by now. Let's get moving."
Last night, all factions had agreed to march on Baekrokdam starting at 10 a.m. It was right about time for us to head out as planned.
With that, our group boarded the prepared vehicles. Twelve priests and nuns from Hallasan Cathedral. Four artisans and six apprentices from Cheongyacha workshop. Plus me, the bishop, and Yoon Kwang-su.
Two buses carrying a total of twenty-five elite members rumbled to life.
"Everyone remembers the plan, right?"
"Pretend to advance while herding monsters into their rear, then we slip away?"
"...I don't know who came up with it, but it's downright vicious. Though since it's those bastards on the receiving end, I like it."
As Yoon Kwang-su said, I planned to use this chance to thin out the other factions too. Once Fafnir, the main cause of Jeju Island's dungeon overflow, was dead, the island would return to normal.
So before that, I needed to curb the influence of these entrenched groups. I couldn't let them rampage forever like they did when I first arrived on Jeju.
Cheongyacha workshop, with Yoon Kwang-su eyeing me cautiously beside me, could be called shady in its own right...
'But in the game, they never attacked first unless you invaded their turf.'
They'd occasionally rescue players fleeing raiders and "reward" themselves by looting gear—chaotic neutral, more or less.
"Keeping them from escaping is fine. But why meet at the cave entrance?"
The bishop, poking her head from the back seat, voiced her curiosity about that part of my plan.
"If we go through the forest paths or trails, we'll be swarmed nonstop by shukharubang, hell ponies, ghost tangerine trees, you name it. Clearing them one by one? We'd never reach Fafnir."
"...Yeah, that'd be tough."
That was exactly why Fafnir was a raid boss in the game. Just reaching Baekrokdam meant punching through hordes of monsters, and even then, it kept summoning more to harass players.
"You'll figure out the cave reason soon enough. No need to worry."
"Of course! Our Hitman here has it all under control! Right?!"
"If you say so."
The bishop settled back, gazing out the window. Father Johan, sensing the somber mood from his seat behind, clapped sharply to draw attention and grinned brightly.
"We're heading into battle soon. How about we sing a hymn together? Those who call on the name of the Lord~"
"Father Johan."
"Yes, Bishop!"
"Shut it."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Cut off at the pass by the bishop, though. And so, we raced silently toward Halla Mountain.
Hiss—
Stepping off the bus, we were greeted by an oppressively dense forest.
"...Never thought I'd enter this demon-haunted woods on foot."
"Workshop head, didn't you say something similar on the way to the cathedral?"
"Haha! Back then or now, with our Hitman buddy here, I feel at ease! Hahaha!"
Dodging my jab with an awkward laugh, he took the lead.
"I'll take left. Bishop and Hitman, you right? See you later."
Yoon Kwang-su headed off with his workshop crew into the right forest. The bishop followed with her priests and nuns.
"Oh, right. Time for a face change."
To draw their full aggro, I channeled Dis Pater and dark fog into my face, just like yesterday. An invisible mask formed in seconds.
Watching live, the bishop shook her head in disbelief.
"You walked around Jeju like that yesterday?"
"Yeah?"
"Can't even recognize you watching it happen. Someone might mistake you for Satan. Your real face isn't fake too, is it?"
"Who knows?"
I playfully brushed it off—no desire to show my true face yet.
At the same time—
"Monsters are starting to swarm!"
Father Johan, scouting from atop the bus, shouted down. Sure enough, knife-wielding shukharubang were gathering.
"...Still as creepy as ever."
The bishop grimaced and swept her hand downward. Tiny golden crosses rained from the sky.
"Shuk— Shukshuk— Sh. Shi?"
The shukharubang surrounding the bus crumbled to stone dust on contact. Unbelievable for a mere gesture.
Staring, she met my gaze with raised brows.
"What? I held back, so no worries."
This was holding back? Reshaping Ascalon had clearly boosted her power. She never favored swords anyway—probably got her main weapon bonus now...
This might go smoother than expected.
Then the bus halted, doors opening.
"We're here, Bishop."
The driving priest straightened his robes and disembarked first, followed by nuns and priests. The crisp air filled my lungs like never before.
"...Country air's something else."
One of Halla Mountain's trail entrances. Towering guardian pillars—Grand Generals of Heaven and Earth—loomed at the gate, their grotesque faces warning of the otherworldly realm ahead.
Suddenly, the bishop approached silently and thwack—kicked one.
"...What?"
"I'd love to smash these idols, but that'd cause a fuss. This evens the score."
"...Ah."
A diocesan bishop, alright—her faith channeled in odd ways. I shook my head.
These pillars were barriers keeping Halla's monsters in check. She knew, so she let it slide.
"Five minutes till go-time?"
"Yeah. It'll be a sprint once it starts—warm up."
The priests and nuns were already stretching. First real fight in ages; they were gearing up.
"I don't need it. Holy relics keep me in peak condition."
"...And you smoke and drink?"
"Perk of relic guardians."
Lungs that never decay from tobacco? Tempted to gift some to Dad, but...
Relics choose their owners, right? Probably not for him.
"T-minus 30 seconds."
Checking my watch, I mentally mapped likely enemy positions. To finish clean, time to rattle what I'd snatched from them.
"Go!"
Shouting to the Hallasan group behind, I bolted opposite.
Raiders soon appeared.
"Spot that damn bastard, kill on sight! Got it?!"
"Yes, King!"
"Don't know the guy, but tough luck."
"Huh? You... th-that in your hand...!"
Perched on a tree, fiddling with the Thunder God's Stone, their leader—Junk King—spotted me and bellowed.
"Told you? Head to Baekrokdam. You're at the entrance—take it slow."
Waggling the bait at Junk King, I advised before dashing elsewhere.
"Catch him! Grab that bastard!"
Desperate yells echoed behind, but my schedule was booked. Ignoring them, I sped on.
Next: the tangerine orchard crew.
"Found him! Fertilize the fields with him!"
Even without flashing loot, their grudge stung. About seventy raiders, thirty farmers. Perfect.
Simulation done, I raised Tommy skyward.
Chasers yelled.
"He's prepping an attack!"
"Defense spells up!"
"He's nothing without the gun!"
I smirked.
"Seems you've got it all wrong."
Gun? Nah, I've got a conscience. After your last "performance," I get the trauma—I wouldn't gift you gunpowder stench.
"Jeju's natural mana stones are top quality, right?"
So I prepped.
Rumble, rumble rumble, ruuumble—
The ground shook.
"Huh?"
Far off, a horde charged: Yoon Kwang-su, his artisans and apprentices. Below, priests, bishop, nuns sprinting.
"Hitman! We're set!"
Behind Yoon Kwang-su, a massive monster army surged.
"Shuk. Shukshuk. Shukshukshuk."
"Hiiiieee—!!"
"Gruk! Grrowl!"
A true monster parade. Timing perfect, I shouted.
"Move!"
Everyone pulled items from pockets, hurling them down. I tossed "that" from my cube, grinned at the oncoming monsters and stunned foes.
"Take care now?"
Can't hog all the trash mobs~