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Chapter 3
[Full Play: Good luck everyone. Let's survive] (5)
[Hell Brown: If they were going to possess me, they should have let me use my main character] (3)
[Bramanda: Can't we just kill the animals outside and go back into the cave?] (4)
[Samurai Jackson: I have the Two-Sword Style, not a sword and shield?] (2)
[Doron: My starting weapon is a mace. I think weapons are random] (4)
Even after reading the subsequent posts, there was nothing about Roa.
No one questioned the fact that the Holy Knights who fell from Earth into caves in another world were members of the community.
It was as if possessing a Holy Knight was the norm.
It seems I am the only outlier.
I wondered if I was the only one who became Roa because of the email I sent as a child.
- ...
I wasn't sure if this was a blessing or a curse.
Maybe it's better that I don't have to risk my life in battle from the start like everyone else.
I continued reading the next post, specifically one with many comments.
[Dabudabu: I got bitten in the neck
I fought as hard as I could, but they were too fast.
I wonder if I became too slow because I was exhausted...
I managed to kill them all somehow, but I can't seem to put any strength into my body.
Did you all know that you can write posts in the community just by thinking?
I just found out now hehe;
Now that I think this is the end, I have so many regrets.
I should have fed my daughter more of the chicken she loves.
I should have bought it for her at least once a week. I told her it was unhealthy and that I didn't like chicken, but the truth was I just didn't have the money.
I did a lot of thinking while alone in the cave.
I have many regrets, but what can I do. I only hope that this isn't the end.
Who knows, I might wake up back on Earth?
I am 37-year-old Kim Do-hyun from Anyang, Gyeonggi-do.
My daughter's name is Kim Hana, and her mother's name is Cha Yeon-seo.
My address is xxxx, xxxx-xxxx.
If whoever is reading this returns to Earth, please check if my daughter is doing well.
I'm leaving a few final words here in the community.]
[Jack-o'-Lantern: I was caught by a demon worshipper.
I should have listened to George. I was too arrogant.
I should never have gone down toward the village just to scout.
Right now, with the tendons in my limbs severed, I'm hanging from something that looks like a cross.
It seems they intend to use me for some strange ritual. I'll be dead soon.
Before I go, let me give you one tip. Demon Worshippers look just like ordinary people.
If you see a living person, try cutting their fingertip with a blade.
If green blood comes out, kill them instantly. Don't be a fool and get tricked like I did.]
...Two people died in such a short amount of time.
Both of them were people who had been posting in the community from the beginning.
I was lost in thought when it happened.
"Lord Mallak, High Priest Paya has awakened!"
Has it already been that long? I haven't done much, yet time has flown by.
This is why the community is so dangerous.
I shifted my eye (or whatever was serving that role) forward.
A muscular man (likely the Chief) was standing before me, accompanied by a short woman.
This woman must be the High Priest.
"It is an honor to meet you, Roa Mallak. I am Paya, daughter of Find and Ulla. I serve as the High Priest of the Blue Moss Tribe. Thank you for answering my call."
The woman spoke while kneeling.
She had black hair and brown eyes.
Paya wasn't a muscular freak like her brother. In fact, she seemed shorter than the average adult woman.
She wore clothes made of long feathers from an unknown bird, and her eyes and cheeks were painted black, as if she were wearing camouflage cream.
She looked like a Hispanic woman dressed as a harpy.
Once Paya finished speaking, her brother stepped forward.
"My apologies for the late introduction. I am Kanto, son of Find and Ulla, and Chief of the Blue Moss Tribe."
Soon, Chief Kanto also knelt before me.
...Now what?
Even after browsing the community, I had no idea what I was supposed to do.
I have no choice but to ask a question that sounds like an answer.
- Speak.
It was Kanto who opened his mouth.
"As you are well aware, Lord Mallak, the demons summoned by foolish Civilized Persons are bringing chaos to the world. The clutches of the evil horde are even threatening the lands of our tribe. The time has come for all tribes to unite under the name of Roa. Great Being, please lead all the tribes and protect the mountains, plains, and forests."
So that's basically the setting.
If the goals of those possessed as wandering Holy Knights are the same as the game, it would be survival and demon extermination.
For me, would it be merging the barbarian tribes, securing believers, and exterminating demons?
But it still wasn't clearly explained what a Roa can do or what exactly they are.
I had to ask as solemnly as possible, making sure they never suspected I was asking because I didn't know.
- What do you believe a Roa is?
"Uh... that is... I apologize!"
Perhaps the question was too sudden, as Kanto blinked a few times in confusion before slamming his head against the ground.
- I am not scolding you. Speak.
Come on, tell me. I said tell me.
You're quite the talker, aren't you? The intelligent barbarian warrior, Kanto.
"Ugh..."
Kanto, dripping with cold sweat, pulled something from his pocket.
It was a grimy piece of parchment. Kanto stared at it for a long moment before looking up again.
Wait, did he actually write a script?
I think I'll have to retract the intelligent part of intelligent barbarian warrior.
"Roa Mallak, protector of the Blue Moss Tribe! Every spirit on earth is suffering! Th—"
"Lord Mallak, may I answer?"
Paya stepped forward, as if she couldn't bear to watch Kanto's rambling.
Seeing Paya glare at her brother, I could tell exactly what their relationship was like.
Whether in the real world or a game, the sibling dynamic never changes. Paya probably wrote that script for him.
- I don't mind.
"They are great beings who protect us and bestow blessings. Among them, Lord Mallak is special, for he answered my prayer and descended directly to the world."
Blessings, huh? So, am I a support type?
Maybe my role is to provide buffs to the tribespeople.
I checked the Available Blessings list in the status window from earlier.
It was zero, wasn't it? I checked the window once more.
Still zero... What is this?
[Name: Mallak]
- Available Blessings: None
- Available Points: 30
- Vassal: Paya
- Enter Community
My available points increased from 0 to 30.
All I did was browse the community... Did this barbarian tribe do something?
I'll ask about that later.
Paya mentioned that I was more special than other Roas. She said it was because I descended directly to the world.
- Are there other Roas who descended directly besides me?
I added a few more words, fearing they might say things like "You're a Roa and you don't even know that?" or "Shouldn't you know that better than anyone?"
It would be a disaster if they started questioning if I was even a Roa.
- I sacrificed a great deal to help you. My memories are returning slowly, but they are not yet complete, so answer as best as you can.
"Lord Mallak... to go that far for insignificant people like us..."
"I knew it..."
Paya's eyes welled up, and Kanto nodded, finally convinced.
Saying I sacrificed a great deal wasn't a lie.
I've sacrificed my limbs, my freedom of movement, and my life and job on Earth to be here.
Not that it's your fault.
"According to the records, it happened occasionally in the distant past. During the era of our ancestors, they bestowed many blessings for our prosperity. But not anymore.
The Roas fell silent, unable to bear the corruption of the surface. Lord Mallak is the only one who answered our prayers and descended directly. At least, that is what I, the young and ignorant High Priest Paya, know."
The more I hear, the more hopeless it sounds. For now, I'll just assume I'm the only Roa.
Now I need to find out why my score increased to 30.
- Chief Kanto. What did you do while Paya was unconscious?
"I went hunting with the tribe's warriors to find the medicinal herbs High Priest Paya needed. We caught a mountain snake. ...I will bring the next offering by tomorrow."
The next offering? They're going to pile up more animal carcasses again?
- What will you do with the animals used as offerings?
"We will burn them, of course. We cannot take back what Lord Mallak has already claimed."
So they're massacring wild animals in large quantities without even eating them. It's a waste.
I'm not exactly a champion of moral correctness, but this still felt wrong.
Hunting... I think I'm starting to get it.
Let's form a hypothesis.
Just as the Holy Knights have experience points, I have these points as a Roa.
Knights gain experience by personally slaying things related to demons.
Then what about my points? Maybe I gain them when my believers hunt or kill something?
The kill point for a creature like a mountain snake was 30, which is why my score went up.
If the first offering the tribe gave me was used to facilitate my descent and thus didn't count, it makes sense.
I don't know what the points are for yet, but they must be related to blessings.
Just as gaining experience leads to leveling up, maybe accumulating points allows me to do something.
...In that case, I have no choice but to encourage them to bring offerings.
After a brief deliberation, I decided on my answer.
- How far have the demons advanced?
Paya spoke up.
"The lower slopes of the mountain have already become their territory. Mutated Beasts, twisted by evil power, roam the area. We are at the peak, so they haven't reached us yet, but I believe it's only a matter of time."
The situation wasn't as relaxed as I thought. Regardless, I've found a way.
- I cannot bestow blessings upon you at this moment. I still require more power.
I have to make this clear first.
Basically, I lost my power because of you guys. Get the drift?
- Wipe out the beasts infected by their energy. The more my believers defeat evil, the stronger I become. Only then shall you receive my blessings.
Kill as many as you can.
If the Holy Knights are playing an RPG, I'm playing a real-time strategy game.
Let's see where this goes.