The Village's Shadow
After gathering as much information as possible from Russel and taking the map along with us, the party returned to the inn assigned to them.
The party welcomed me as if they had been waiting for my arrival.
How was it?
From what I heard, the situation was a complete mess.
We passed through three regions, so we should have taken some precautions.
Indeed, following Drener, we started from Monard Village in Area 21, passed through Areas 22 and 23, and entered Britus Village in Area 24. Every time we passed through a region, messages appeared, and the party confirmed the details.
Each time we crossed the boundary of a region, the message [Satisfying special conditions allows entry into the next region. Level is insufficient. Be careful.] would appear.
Special conditions. Currently, this is for the main quest, but it also applies when moving for other residents' requests, etc.
Thanks to this, even in the first cycle, we could quickly figure out what the entry conditions for the next region were.
I unfolded the map I received from Russel and said,
This side has many Golden Gnoll villages. The ones coming in this time are around 500. About five hundred.
How many are on our side?
Thanks to gathering them within the village, the self-defense force is around 100, mercenaries about 50, and soldiers supported from the central fortress Tidrind Castle around 100.
250... I don't know what level they are, but it seems they can defend themselves.
Yes, that's right. They can hold out, but the problem is that the gnolls' goal is to kidnap humans.
Kidnap?
I explained to the party what I heard from Russel.
That's interesting... It's unusual. They say they won't kill as much as possible...
Thanks to that, except for the village's self-defense force, everyone is busy conserving their strength.
That makes sense... Wait, why is your expression like that? No way?
Joo Ha-yeon stopped talking and looked at my face, her expression changing.
A smiling face. Joo Ha-yeon quickly noticed my intention.
Are you planning to go wild?
Yes. I have almost recovered the strength I lost.
...Ugh, is it okay? They said there are 500 of them. I saw you using sword qi recently...
She seemed to remember when I showed it to Drener.
It's a good technique, but it's hard to use it carelessly.
If I use sword qi, I can really go wild, but since it puts a strain on the body, I had no intention of doing so.
Even if I and Na-yeon and Seoyun support, 500 is dangerous. Even if I have mostly recovered the lost strength, I haven't grown that much, right?
I can do it.
I said firmly with a confident voice.
...Yes. If Shin-hoo says so, then it must be.
When I spoke confidently, Joo Ha-yeon backed off as if she understood. Although an explanation is possible, she thought it wasn't necessary.
It was just because she was worried, after all. I knew from past experiences that my opinion on combat was correct.
Then, when the next attack comes, will you just support when Shin-hoo goes out?
Probably. I will prohibit anyone except me from leaving the village. Support from a distance. When I retreat, Seoyun, you can come with me.
Yes!
Na Seoyun answered happily.
With Na Seoyun, securing a retreat route would be possible. I won't be able to escape alone, but if there's help, it's more convenient. In fact, if Na Seoyun hadn't lost her strength, she might have gone with me.
Otherwise, just defend.
...Understood. Shin-hoo. You are going to the most dangerous place... Be careful.
...If someone sees it, they might think you're going to fight right now...
With a strange tone and a subtle expression, I realized that I was also strange, and Joo Ha-yeon's face slightly reddened.
Ah, th-that's right. Ah, ahahaha.
It felt a bit embarrassing.
Since we came here in the morning, it's likely they won't come today. I asked them not to leave the village as much as possible, so they can spend time training in the accommodation or open space. Especially Eun-ju and Seoyun. Although the schedule is twisted, it's still a helpful item, so don't give up and keep training steadily.
Yes, oppa.
Understood.
Thinking about it, Nam Eun-ju also needs to train to adapt to her stats. It's not easy, but I hope she doesn't give up.
From Nam Eun-ju's growth rate or skill slots, it seemed the Tower's interest was focused on Nam Eun-ju.
If that interest didn't stop, perhaps she could continue growing steadily.
Moreover, if the Tower's gaze remains on Nam Eun-ju, it might benefit the other party members unknowingly, so I needed to keep an eye on it.
After explaining the general information and action plan, we dispersed and each took a rest. The next day, when we went out to the open space used as a training ground, I felt the eyes of the others focused on us.
Are they the ones?
Yes, the new mercenaries who just arrived.
F-rank, they said.
Really? They survived and came this far...
Not skilled...
The rumor had already spread.
I didn't care much, but the party seemed a bit different.
Unconsciously, they were observing and guarding the surroundings. Half of the humans they had met in the Tower so far were trash from the first impression.
Floor 8 was an attack by outlaw trainees, Han Ba-da was shouting, and when descending from 20th to 11th floor, it was newbies hunting trash.
It was a sufficient reason to be cautious.
Hey! Newbies!
The recent newbies who got attacked were from ambushes and sexual harassment.
It didn't feel like a good omen.
Three men who looked like mercenaries had called us.
What's the matter?
Hey, it's a flower field. Your wives over there?
This side, having multiple wives or one husband was a common case if they had the ability.
Surprisingly, this wasn't a dispute. It was also something to envy, and at the same time, a cautionary element.
In reality, if it's a harem, the likelihood is high that they are capable people.
Please don't mind.
It was Joo Ha-yeon.
Oh, you're so prickly. Wow, newbies have ability. But why are you here?
Because there was a request. The pay was good, so we came.
Then you knew about it? The gnolls here...
They kidnap people, right?
You know that?
Nod nod.
The three men nodded at each other.
Then the conversation is quick. Do you have any intention of moving together during the defense battle?
Why should we?
I told you, those gnoll guys are trying to kidnap us. Honestly, if there was anywhere else to go, we wouldn't come to this place... but there's no choice. You know, other villages don't have requests except scouting. To take money back to the Empire, this is the only place.
He shook his head for a moment and said.
The conversation is fast. Anyway, the gnoll guys will stick to the fence and drag us away? They'll do everything to capture us alive. So, cooperation with other parties around is essential. In that sense, I'm asking you to come with us.
...I see.
Party union. This is not common in the Tower, but it's not impossible. If trainees keep coming up in the future, party unions might form on the spot depending on the situation. A bit later, larger guilds will be born, and unless they're middlemen, they will gather by guild, and the frequency will gradually decrease.
So, how about it? I heard there's a rumor that your side's skill is good...
He looked at my party and continued.
Having a harem means high credibility.
It's not really a harem. Everyone is just capable companions.
But is that true? You have a mage in your party.
...We do have one.
Oh!
He said as if he was really drawn in.
Who is that... no, anyway, answer me. Will you come with us?
I refuse.
I said firmly without giving any leeway.
Why? We are only three? Even if we look like this, our skill is good? Around here, the Brickle Three Brothers are quite skilled C-rank mercenaries...
We have no intention of forming an alliance yet. We haven't had a situation where we couldn't resolve it among ourselves so far.
...Tsk. Is that so? Okay. Got it.
He turned his back without hesitation. It was unexpected. First, when the one who appeared turned his body, one of the remaining two also turned. However, the last one said to me.
Even so, just in case, if you have any intention of forming an alliance later, come to us first.
Brooke! What are you doing!
Ah, understood, brother. Don't worry. I have no intention of being troublesome.
He seemed to be leaving only the last remaining one, and then he avoided the place following the remaining two.
The Brickle Three Brothers rejected...
Quite arrogant?
They said there's a mage. The rumor said there's a priest too. Don't rush in.
...I don't have any intention of unnecessary fights, so don't worry?
Murmur murmur.
I looked at the people chatting with a look of annoyance and turned away.
They all turned their heads away from my gaze, as if they wanted to avoid a pointless fight.
'This one is better.'
These people, since they are the type who conserves strength, didn't provoke or stick to us much.
Originally, the mercenaries who came this far were obvious.
Even in the outskirts, border areas have standards. Places like this, where there's no money and only ambiguous people, are avoided.
Just from the fact that there were no B-rank mercenaries, I could guess the situation.
They were likely people who had fallen behind because they were low-level criminals or frequently failed requests, making it hard to get work in the Empire, and pushed here.
Or it could be the case where they came while looking for appropriate money and work.
In any case, it can be said that there are almost no proper people.
As the Brickle Three Brothers said just now, there was a high possibility that they were quite usable people.
From my perspective, most mercenaries seemed to be D-rank, the most common and ordinary level, and the self-defense force also seemed at that level.
In short, it's a really good environment for me to go wild.
My ability, if compared to mercenaries, would be B-rank level.
Even without using sword qi, I had the confidence to do better than a B-rank mercenary using sword qi in massacring civilians.
Moreover, including the spirit master and mage who are famous for massacring civilians.
Honestly, it's an odd combination for not being able to shine.
Due to the rumor that our side has a priest and a mage in addition to the Brickle Three Brothers, some parties approached us, but I rejected all proposals.
There was a gesture from the self-defense side to act together, but they also politely refused.
Originally, since they couldn't easily interfere because I had the right to move independently.
For two days, we repeated training with the party while surrounded by eyes from all sides.
In the middle of training, the awaited news came.
Ding ding ding ding!
It's an attack! The gnoll guys have come in!
The bell ringing to alert the attack and the warning soldier's shout.
We immediately grabbed our weapons and ran quickly towards the village entrance.