Over the Hill (1)
There are many reasons why volcanoes are terrifying.
Lava pouring down their slopes incinerates everything in its path.
Ash carried by the wind stains every place it falls.
And the most frightening thing is how widespread these two phenomena become.
In that sense, the explosion of public opinion resembles a volcanic eruption.
Posts pour out like mad, spreading everywhere on the airwaves.
Igniting fires everywhere it passes.
Even leaving stains in the farthest reaches.
And by the time that influence hits TV screens nationwide.
'Slime... wonder if they'll let me eat it covering my mouth...?'
The person at the center of it all still wasn't thinking about any of that.
Rattle-rattle-rattle-
The carriage wheels roll over the dirt path, pushing forward.
We're leaving Beginner Village now, heading to the next area.
Our destination: Alben, the land of gladiators and glory.
Alben, the stage for Rebion Arc's main story Chapter 1, is the first place you reach after passing the slime fields from Beginner Village and following the straight road.
As its descriptors suggest, Alben worships gladiatorial combat and glory.
No value in the world compares to glory, and that glory belongs solely to the valiant gladiators.
Thus, the world's strongest gladiator deserves everything Alben has to offer.
That's why even the king selection (officially "leader selection") is decided by gladiatorial combat.
Nom-
"Um, miss?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry, but could you please stay inside the carriage...?"
"Gotta eat slime, so no."
"...?"
Chaerin won't let me eat slime inside.
I said I'd cover my mouth, but she straight-up kicked me out.
No coming back in till I finish all the slime chunks.
Whatever that molrang or malrang stuff is.
Too harsh.
Chewing on slime chunks with a slightly pouty expression, the carriage suddenly stops.
"What's up? Something wrong?"
Chaerin peeks out, flustered by the abrupt halt.
A sharp dagger presses against her throat.
The wielder: the coachman sitting next to me.
"...This is why I said we should level up first."
Chaerin had opposed this exact scenario.
Rebion Arc has no strict level restrictions when moving between regions.
Even if your level's low, hire a coachman and ride a carriage if you want to go.
If you can break through the events you encounter midway.
"Heh heh. Sorry, but the carriage ride ends here."
Thud-thud-thud-
No sooner do the words leave his mouth than about ten men crest the hill behind us, surrounding the carriage.
Average level around 50.
Their outfits scream bandit gang.
"Drop your weapons and get out!!"
This isn't a standard event every player faces.
It only triggers for low-level players like me and Chaerin trying to cross regions.
Proving it: no one else around but us.
"Get out!! Not getting out!?"
The bandit threatens with a rough voice, thrusting his blade forward.
I watch the scene while rummaging through my pockets for leftover slime chunks.
'Ah, all gone.'
Too bad, but whatever.
I can restock slime chunks later, or just use Molrang if needed.
I dust off my hands and hop down from the carriage.
"Drop the sword!! Think I'm joking!?"
The blade at Chaerin's throat gleams menacingly.
"If you don't want to see this lady's throat slit, behave."
"Where's the sword?"
Ting-
The coachman's blade clatters to the ground with a clear ring.
A beginner dagger you can buy for 1000 won in Beginner Village.
Not even properly maintained—it's in awful shape.
If the coachman were higher level, maybe, but his is just 3.
No matter how low my level, slicing a scrap like that is nothing.
"Eek...!"
The coachman drops the dagger with a yelp like Chaerin's.
In the sudden silence, a strange exhilaration surges.
"...Iaidō Master said go, so you gotta take responsibility and break through, right?"
"Yep."
That was the plan anyway.
I pass the horses and fiddle with the streaming panel.
Why did I decide to start streaming?
To show the masses Iaidō Master's cool side, duh.
So when else to turn it on if not now, ambushed by bandits?
The moment the stream starts, viewer count skyrockets.
Chat floods the sky-high screen.
Just as the speed hits the limit.
Administrator Chaerin has entered.
Chat slow mode activated by stream administrator.
The sky-high chat hits a limit.
"Warn me before starting the stream next time!"
"Don't viewers love surprise streams more?"
"I'm your manager!!"
To deceive the enemy, first deceive your allies.
I leave Chaerin grumbling as she tweaks the stream tab and size up the bandits.
Among the varied builds, one stands out with 'BOSS' over his head.
Take him down, and this wraps up, right?
I close my eyes, preparing to draw.
Iaidō
Swiftness
~♩ ♪ ♫ ♬~
Skills activate, and Chaerin's harp rings out like clockwork.
Stats rise with the sound; I pull my rear leg back, lowering my upper body deep.
I draw scant mana on an inhaled breath, exhaling it in sync.
Electricity races through my body.
Mana spreads through me; I place every leg muscle under conscious control.
And the moment I feel them all.
Ting-
I flick my nose and grip the hilt.
What I need: speed close to an instant.
Sharpness to cleave a moment.
Like.
A thunderbolt flashing in a single stroke.
——!!
The ground shatters underfoot; Iaidō Master's form vanishes.
Ting-
Steel clashes clearly.
Looks like the draw itself got blocked solid.
Blade accuracy is perfect!
Seido skill increases critical chance by 50%!
Two red lines cross the boss's throat as he smirks mockingly at me.
CRITICAL!
Splurt-
Red liquid sprays from the boss's neck.
Ishina-ryu, Phantom Draw Strike—double strike variant from drawn state.
The hulking body bleeds, losing balance. This game applies extra damage or debuffs based on hit location.
I don't know exact details, but humanoid monsters probably take bonus damage and brief stun on neck hits.
This timing might be my one shot to seize control.
Feeling Swiftness's remnants, I leap onto his body.
What's next is the most effective tactic for few against many.
Instill terror by brutally ripping apart the leader.
But I don't enjoy inflicting pain, so I'll end it quick.
"...Eek!"
I reverse my grip on the sword.
Rattle-rattle-rattle-
Despite the chaos, the carriage rolls on.
I worried what to do when all bandits fled, but luckily the coachman didn't run.
He was trembling like a leaf behind the carriage.
◈ This is a bound item.
◈ Durability: 30/100
Durability's low, won't last long, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.
A bit brutal, but we broke through the bandits somehow.
"S-so... forgive me now...?"
"..."
"N-no, never mind..."
Chaerin's usually round eyes sharpen coldly.
Reason: the alert floating before me.
Stream suspended.
Duration: 3 days
Reason: Brutality
My punishment: arms up till we reach Alben.
This is bullshit.
I was just protecting Chaerin.
Rebion auto-mosaics excessive gore anyway.
Mine was on.
So I only shredded one guy behind a mosaic—what's so brutal about that...
"M-milady~? Almost there now~"
As I puff my cheeks in injustice, the coachman calls us with a trembling voice.
"Chaerin says yeah. Can drop arms now?"
"...Haa. Fine."
Yes!
I rub my numb arms and peek out with Chaerin.
"Whoa..."
A massive gray stone wall and an entrance big enough for dinosaurs looms.
Flanking it: statues gripping sword and shield, staring downcomers.
Pure fantasy spectacle.
"So romantic."
"...Yeah."
Smooch!
As the two humans and one pet share the vibe.
Ding-
Such an alert pops before Iaidō Master's eyes.