Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: One Against the Black Dragon
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Tadak—! Tadadak———!!!
The three of them broke into a desperate sprint.
"Hup……."
Every step Woojin took with his stamina drained to rock bottom felt like knives stabbing into his lungs, but he didn't slacken his pace.
"Master, let's head to the village. I've set up traps."
Peron said curtly as he drew his dagger.
The [Ice Claw] he'd obtained from the ice cave seemed oddly whiter and sharper than before.
"Not sure if it'll hurt it much…… but it'll buy us some time at least."
Woojin nodded at his words.
"A black dragon out of nowhere in the middle of a monster wave…… No idea what's going on."
"Probably my fault."
"Eek?"
"I've got a quest related to dragons."
"Trouble never leaves you alone, huh, Master."
Peron looked incredulous yet somehow convinced.
"You pick up a black dragon hunting quest or something? Taking on a monster like that…… Ridiculous."
At that moment, a flash of insight struck Woojin.
What he'd received wasn't a hunting quest.
'The Dragon Lord quest's goal is to subjugate the dragon.'
Woojin had naturally assumed that meant through force.
After all, it was only natural for the weak to follow the strong.
'The quest from the Fairy Queen was to protect Torn Bach.'
"Hng…… Hngh……."
It was then.
As they reached the village entrance, sobbing echoed from here and there.
'……What?'
People who hadn't evacuated yet?
Woojin hurriedly scanned the surroundings.
"Ah—."
In that instant, Woojin realized.
He'd thought too simply.
After rescuing Luen and her companions, he'd figured the danger was over.
But…….
There were people who couldn't flee even if they wanted to.
The injured.
Those who'd lost family.
Those who'd lost their livelihoods.
Protect Torn Bach…….
Woojin gazed at the village.
The already devastated village was close to ruins.
'……Can I call this protected?'
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
Had his assumption—that beating the black dragon was the only way—been too shortsighted?
Was he missing the point entirely?
"……!!"
Kwaduk—.
He gritted his teeth as if making a resolve.
"Peron, forget the traps."
"……Pardon?"
"Triggering them would put the people still in the village at risk."
"Huh? It's just NPCs, though?"
From Peron's casual retort, Woojin finally understood.
Anyone would think the same.
Risk your life to save NPC lives?
Absurd.
Even in total game immersion, sacrificing yourself for NPCs wasn't easy.
The higher your level, the more penalties death carried—far outweighing any NPC.
"……Keeps tormenting me to the end."
Chwaaaak———!!!
Woojin dumped his remaining potions all over his body.
"Bro……?"
"Change of plans. Peron, Weden. From now on, save the villagers. As many as you can!!"
With that, Woojin spun on his heel, abandoning the village path to charge back toward the forest.
[Krrrarar…….]
Venshina ignored the splitting party, ditching the other two to pursue Woojin.
"Over here!!!"
Woojin bellowed at the top of his lungs, staring down the oncoming black dragon.
Kwang—!!!!
Suzuki Hana irritably hurled off her robe.
"Aaaargh……!!!"
Her scream echoed through Red Tower, making the surrounding mages flinch.
"Damn it……!! That black dragon bastard!! My level dropped!!"
The higher your level, the more devastating a single death was.
Not just item drops, but the massive experience loss.
"S-Still…… no one lost gear."
"So what?"
"Th-That is……."
"Hah, whatever. If you lot had any skill, things would've been different. No point yelling at incompetents."
She waved them off dismissively.
"Out."
'……What a personality.'
Her subordinate mages looked resentful but none dared retort.
Reluctant as they were, the gap between her and them—even as fellow mages—was vast.
Besides, she was the direct disciple of Red Tower's master, Ratan Gray.
Absurd to feel rank differences even in-game, but no Red Tower mage could ignore her.
"Um……."
"What? I said out."
"Master Ratan asked me to relay a message."
"What?"
"The kingdoms are starting to move regarding the black dragon's appearance."
"Yeah, figures. With the raid failing, kingdoms have to step in."
"So…… Red Tower will dispatch mages again."
"Crazy! Senile much? Didn't they see the wipe?"
"Well……."
She sneered, as if she'd predicted his response.
"Gonna work players to the bone since we respawn? NPCs are sly bastards. How many're they sending?"
"Yes. About thirty. He left the roster to the Crimson Witch."
"Easy. Cull from the bottom."
"……Pardon?"
"Deaf? Low-level newbies who just joined Red Tower."
"But that'll mostly be 50s, right? They can't even handle multi-magic circles."
Suzuki Hana shot back at the protesting mage like he'd asked something obvious.
"Want you lot to go die again? Waste more exp?"
"……N-No, ma'am."
The mage bowed and scurried out.
"Hoo……."
Out in the hall, he sighed wearily.
"Feels like I'm kissing ass even in this game…… Damn it, should I just quit?"
The mage who'd met privately with Suzuki Hana muttered irritably.
"Hey, you there!"
He called to a mage he passed in the corridor.
"Yes, what's up?"
"Nothing much. You know Torn Bach? Master wants a new support squad. First big battle for you? Great experience."
The mage awkwardly avoided eye contact with his junior.
"Here's the roster. You're probably on it. Recent join, right? Name……."
"Ah…… Yes. Kim Chan."
"Right, right. Tell everyone on the list."
"Aren't you going back, senior?"
"Wish I could. Too bad, Red Tower duties popped up. Would've loved a revenge run! See ya."
He bolted down the hall like he was fleeing.
'Yeah, Crimson's right. No way I'm wasting exp like an idiot.'
Shwaaaak———!!!!
The first to arrive in Torn Bach via dimensional gate was a knight order in golden armor.
Sharro, the Glory Knight.
True to his title as Malas Kingdom's First Holy Knight—devotee of the light god Lashin and leader of the papal order as state religion—he radiated holy light from his very presence.
"Vile aura."
Sharro wiped his nose with his gauntlet against the draconic energy seeping from the expanding Dark Zone swallowing Torn Bach.
"Black dragon's position?"
"Yes. Papal scouts who arrived first are assessing Torn Bach's status."
"Took too damn long."
"No helping it. Dark Zone rendered nearby portals unusable."
Sharro nodded at the priest's reply.
As he said, they stood not in the village but on barren plains.
Before them loomed an old makeshift portal—not an official kingdom one.
With low capacity, ferrying the knight order had taken over a day.
"Three days passed…… No survivors in the village, probably."
A heavy air settled.
About 3km from Torn Bach, yet the malice-laden atmosphere prickled the skin even standing still.
"Other kingdoms?"
"Yes. Word just in—the Warlord arrives soon."
"……Warlord? Big shot incoming. Malas means business this hunt."
Sharro nodded.
"The rest?"
"Not confirmed, but a priest in Ilsenium says Naga mercenaries might move."
"Mercs? Coin-operated, huh."
"Top-tier ones, though. Cobrian's leaning toward magic cannons."
"Magic cannons…… Not bad. Ilsenium'll need a good excuse after this. Continent in crisis, and they're hunkering down…… Tsk."
Sharro clicked his tongue in displeasure.
'Wish I could too…….'
The bowing priest let out a silent sigh.
'Raids that challenged it all wiped…… How the hell do we take it down?'
No dragon in sight, but the Dark Zone's gloom exuded crushing pressure just looking at it.
Victory seemed impossible.
The clan chat buzzed merrily, contrary to his mood.
'Damn. All just messing around.'
"……Yeah, I wouldn't come either."
Vice Pope Alteon of the Third Papal Order smacked his lips bitterly.
He wouldn't have come without papal orders.
As the rare Vice Pope class—direct priest of the Pope—orders were absolute.
'Who'd waste exp like a lunatic?'
"Better head to Torn Bach first. Scout spots good for magic cannons too."
"……Understood."
Water under the bridge now.
Alteon grimaced and nodded at Sharro.
"Report!! Black dragon sighted in Torn Bach!!"
"Status?"
"Appears to be in combat."
"……Combat? Knight order beat us here? Where?"
Sharro questioned the scout, baffled.
"It's…… not a knight order."
"Then?"
"O-One person……!!!!"
Three days since the black dragon appeared in Torn Bach.
The scout replied in a trembling voice, as if he couldn't believe his own eyes.