#28 #Regression #Inventory

Floor 7, day 3. Afternoon. Karunda and the self-defense unit were repairing the broken palisade together. Jin So-yul circled the village once, checking the status of the H-beams. The sections reinforced with steel beams were intact, but the rest were a problem. Traces of last night's battle.

As she turned toward the inner village, she spotted Ilon leaning against the blacksmith shop wall. His left arm was bandaged, and there was a mark on his right shoulder where ointment had been applied. Injuries from last night, when he'd been pushed over by a scout at the western palisade.

"Big brother Ilon, I brought water."

"……Thanks, Yerina."

"You can't get hurt next time. If you do, your mom will be sad."

Jin So-yul watched the scene from a step away. Tap, tap. A presence approached from behind. It was the Village Chief.

"Traveler, care for a cup of herbal tea?"

"……Thank you."

"He already knows at that age how much it hurts to lose someone close."

"……Pardon?"

"A reason different from fear, one that didn't let him open up to adults easily."

The Village Chief's gaze was fixed in the direction Yerina had disappeared.

"But he's opened his heart to you. Looks like you've given him what even I couldn't."

"……I haven't done anything yet."

"No one knows that but you. Who can truly read another's heart? Heh heh."

"……."

As she finished the herbal tea and set down the cup, Yerina had somehow appeared at her side.

"Sis, is big brother Ilon hurt bad?"

"Not bad. He'll heal quick."

"……Good. I gotta go again. Uncle Karunda's thirsty."

"Go on."

Yerina waved as she ran off. Watching her, Jin So-yul smiled faintly.

During this brief rest, she circled the village again, checking her #Inventory stock of rebar. She was recovering them one by one after battles ended. But the number of intact pieces was dwindling. They were bound to bend or break after being fired once.

Resources weren't infinite. She had to use them efficiently.

The repair on her one-handed sword, left with Karunda, was complete. Self-defense members gathered one by one at their assigned spots, preparing for night. Same formation as last night. Just that the angle of holding the shields up was more stable now. Things their bodies remembered after one battle.

"All positions filled."

"Thanks, Torn. But from tonight, watch out for blind arrows. We can't leave any blind spots."

"Arrows, you say? You don't mean……."

"Yes. Archers will show up."

Jin So-yul caught her breath and quickly scanned the surroundings.

"Torn, report per squad."

"……No fatalities. Ilon lightly injured, others fine."

"Good. Reform the formation. Hurry!"

"Reform all directions—!!"

At Torn's shout, the self-defense unit moved. They readjusted shields, planted spears, caught their breath, and returned to positions. Excluding Ilon, no one was hurt. Even his was minor, but next time…….

Jin So-yul shook her head sharply and approached Ilon. Right now, morale couldn't drop.

"Ilon."

"……Yes."

"You did great. Really. Thanks to you, we protected the villagers."

"Just luck. I spotted the torchlight reflecting off the arrowhead."

Just luck. It really was. Despite orc archers, the boy had barely blocked the arrows. If he'd missed it early…….

Jin So-yul patted his back three times and added,

"Ugh!"

"Just one more time. One more hold, and we're done. You can do it, right?"

"……Yes!"

Jin So-yul nodded and stepped back. Five minutes passed like that, then vibrations from outside the village. Far more footsteps than before. The third night raid hit without time to breathe.

Thwack! Thwack! Two arrows thudded into house roofs in succession. But what drew Jin So-yul's eye was the massive silhouette beyond. A creature wielding a greatshield big enough to cover a whole person, advancing with heavy steps.

Orc shock trooper.

Jin So-yul immediately ejected two rebar from her #Inventory.

Twaang—! Bang! They embedded in the shield. But no penetration.

Even H-beams only pushed orcs back briefly; they didn't falter, just kept coming. Distance, probably. Close range might work. But even that wasn't certain.

So, another approach for now.

Decision made, she charged. Kicking off the ground erratically, it turned its greatshield to follow. But slowed by the weight. She circled to the opposite side and swung her one-handed sword.

Krrruk—! The orc dropped the shield with a screech, swinging a fist. She swiftly withdrew her sword, dodged back, and slammed an ejected shot into its occiput, dropping it.

Situational awareness first.

North: Two warriors smashing the palisade, trying to break in. Self-defense holding with shields.

East: Two warriors and one archer approaching together. Torn maintaining formation, shouting. Arrows occasionally falling, cracking the line.

And west: Another shock trooper with greatshield charging a house. Where Yerina was hiding.

Something popped up in messages. No time to check.

Kwang! Wood splintered, Yerina's scream bursting out.

"Kyaaah—!"

Running, Jin So-yul fired three rebar from #Inventory. The trooper easily blocked with its greatshield, preparing a second charge.

Thud thud thud, kwang—! Heavy footsteps and charge; the wall cracked deeper, another scream.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Jin So-yul slipped to the shield's side, focusing two ejections on its legs. Rebar slipped under the shield, piercing near the ankle. As it staggered, she thrust her one-handed sword into its nape, finishing it.

Through the split wall, the Village Chief huddled protectively around Yerina. Her face was pale, but no injuries. Confirming other residents safe, Jin So-yul bolted east.

But a distant scream made her heart sink. One self-defense member smashed into a house wall by an orc. Beside him, another raised his shield, yelling.

Minor injury. Still okay.

Torn ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gritted his teeth, thrusting his spear to halt a warrior's advance. Two others walled it with shields, containing one warrior.

As Jin So-yul arrived, four ejections. One to the archer's head, three to the warriors in succession. She severed a waist, handled the rest with ejections. Straight to the north.

Tiring.

The endless chain of battles was wearing her down. But she bit her lip lightly, snapping out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of it.

I decided to protect them.

Self-defense braced shields against two warriors. Archer firing from afar here too. She ejected rebar to take the archer first. One to the head. Charged the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two warriors. Deflected one's axe, slashed its arm, ejection to forehead, down. The last pinned by self-defense spears on legs; two rebar to finish.

Jin So-yul collapsed right there. As villagers rushed over shouting "Traveler!", she waved weakly.

We did it.

No one died. For now, that was enough.

In the distance, the morning sun rose over the rubble of collapsed buildings.

She didn't know how long she lay there. When she rose, her limbs trembled, blisters burst on her sword hand. Washing dirt and blood at the well, stings everywhere. As the sun climbed, voices returned to the village one by one. Sighs at ruined houses, relief at intact ones. Faces slowly realizing it was over.

Yerina toddled after Jin So-yul, clutching her hand, muttering "You okay? How's your body?"

Karunda sighed at the wrecked palisade, Leisha applied ointments among the injured.

Three days in this village. Living with people, doing things she'd never done before.

"……Hey, Yerina."

"Yeah, sis. I know. You're leaving now, right?"

Yerina nodded. No tears this time.

"You'll come back, right?"

"Yeah."

"That's enough."

Jin So-yul stroked the girl's head once and turned. Three steps to the magic circle.

Jin So-yul's steps halted abruptly.

"What…… is this?"

"……Sis? What's wrong?"

Last sight: Yerina looking anxious. Then her vision accelerated. Without even stepping on the magic circle.

Space warped. The village landscape tore apart, time flowed.

Scenario edited message. And conditions from memory.

The place where Jin So-yul stood was floor 9.