Kanna Blitz (3)
Was she really El? Harboring that doubt, Yun-seok observed the girl more closely. But with Kanna Blitz ushering El into the carriage, the answer would have to remain a mystery.
Well, staring wouldn't magically reveal anything anyway.
"El, get inside the carriage."
"……."
At the firm command, the girl called El vanished with a guilty look on her face. Kanna's gaze shifted back to Yun-seok.
"So, what were you doing here at this hour?"
Her voice carried a chill—sharp and piercing, nothing like the gentle tone she'd used with El. It was understandable, though. Even if he was just a hired mercenary, finding a healthy-limbed man lurking around the carriage at night would raise suspicions. Especially with a mask covering his face. It all looked shady as hell.
But Kanna didn't comment on the mask. She merely glanced toward the campfire.
"…Where are all the night watchmen? Sir Wellington clearly ordered them to block anyone approaching this area."
He considered telling her they'd been heading toward the carriage with shady intentions of their own, but… no point. She'd only grow more suspicious instead of grateful, stirring up unnecessary trouble.
"Couldn't sleep, so I was just wandering around sightseeing. As for the watchmen… who knows. They weren't there from the start."
"Sightseeing…?"
For a split second, she seemed to think that was ridiculous too. But then her voice softened slightly. Did the word "sightseeing" strike a chord?
"Hmm, fair enough… Anyway, you must have your mercenary badge, right? I still need to check it, so hand it over."
"Here."
Yun-seok showed her the ID he'd picked up at the inn. Kanna inspected it closely, even peering at his masked face, before handing it back.
"We move out again tomorrow, so head back and get some rest. I'll inform Sir Wellington about the missing watchmen and handle it."
"Got it. Mind if I ask one thing?"
"Go ahead."
"Is El that girl's name?"
He'd slipped it in now that the mood had thawed a bit, but it was a mistake. Kanna's eyes sharpened again.
"…Mind your own business. And don't get curious about her."
"Understood."
After that, Yun-seok returned to his spot and lay down, while Kanna woke Wellington to report the missing watchmen. Their dilemma drifted into his ears—should they form a search party in the dead of night, or wake everyone for heightened alert…?
In the end, they decided Wellington would stand watch tonight and wait for the watchmen's return.
Needless to say, they never came back.
And by morning, it turned out five or six more challengers had vanished alongside them.
The challengers didn't seem too surprised. They knew apprentices' duties ended after a day anyway.
"Those bastards are probably back in the waiting room by now."
"Ugh, if you're gonna bail, at least stand watch properly. That's why apprentices suck."
Perhaps because of the challengers' nonchalant reactions?
"I was just admiring their spirit yesterday…."
Wellington, who had seriously considered a nighttime heretic raid kidnapping sleeping folks, quickly concluded it was simple desertion. They hadn't strayed far from the castle—just a day out—so grabbing a day's pay and heading back wasn't implausible. The payout for this escort mission was generous for "simple" protection, after all.
"Let's move out!"
Thus began day two on the march.
Around noon, a pack of orcs ambushed them. After passing their territory, a lizardman tribe appeared at dusk.
The challengers, split into parties, clustered in tight formations to guard the carriage and repelled the attack with ease. Minor injuries occurred, but no deaths.
Night fell again, and the Proficiency Difficulty party ventured into the woods claiming they'd scout for challenge tasks. They returned empty-handed, as usual.
Day three dawned without incident.
"Heretics! The heretics are attacking!"
As darkness lifted and the sky lightened to dawn, the heretics Wellington had mentioned finally appeared.
Instead of regular troops, they commanded a legion of demons—orcs, lizardmen, actual devils, and more. Varied creatures, but not mindless howlers. They spoke coherent language, just like those in the Tower of Heaven.
"Chiiiiiik! Rip 'em all apart!"
"Kuhahaha! Die, you bugs!"
Their caliber far surpassed the day one and two fodder. The orcs' crude axes were razor-sharp, their swings ferocious, fearless of injury.
"Fuck! These assholes again?"
"Mages! What the hell? Spam every AoE spell you've got!"
The mission's first brutal skirmish erupted. Limbs severed, casualties mounting.
So that's where the demons were—fighting for the enemy side.
In the chaotic campsite-turned-battlefield, Yun-seok pondered: should he go all-out to minimize deaths?
Watch first….
He didn't stand idle long in the melee's heart. Sword drawn, he joined the fray—doing exactly his share, nothing more to draw scrutiny.
Without a party, his contributions would stand out even more.
Clang! Clang! Slash! Slash! Boom!
Parrying attacks, Yun-seok thinned the demon ranks discreetly. No full reveal unless the formation collapsed and the carriage was threatened.
Simple reason:
Eventually, it'll be just me left.
On day 15, even Proficiency parties would vanish to waiting rooms. He'd escort Kanna Blitz alone to the destination. The real trial started then.
To prepare, he'd hide his strength.
Of course, if a critical moment arose sooner, he'd unleash everything without hesitation. A sheathed blade shone sharper when drawn.
I'm pulling my weight—no need to feel guilty.
The Tower rewarded self-proof. Climbing on others' backs bred hollow shells, like that cocky 10th-floor newbie Shin Sang-hyun.
Even in the chaos, Yun-seok scanned meticulously.
Individual skill favors the demons.
Not speculation—fact. Few challengers could take demons 1v1 in the arena.
But parties cooperated fiercely, bridging the gap.
"Waaaaah! We won!"
About an hour later, full daylight broke. Stiffer resistance than expected forced the heretics to retreat. Battle over.
They'd inflicted heavy losses too, but so had the challengers.
"Aaaargh!"
"…Priest! Anyone got a priest? Help! Potions work too!"
Most challengers carried potions over healing skills for emergencies. No dedicated healers—just basic spells at best.
Those with spells rushed to treat the wounded post-battle. But too many injured, too few healers.
"High Priestess! She's the damn High Priestess! Can't she heal? Fuck, call that bitch over!"
A challenger with a severed arm—life not immediately at risk, so bumped back in line—shouted.
That sparked it.
"Yeah! High Priestess, right? Not asking her to fight. We bled protecting her ass—least she can do is show up now. Rude as hell."
Battle adrenaline lingered; tempers flared fast. Shouting challengers looked ready to storm the carriage if Kanna didn't emerge.
"Everyone, calm down! I'll heal the critically wounded myself, and distribute potions to the lightly injured."
Wellington's belated intervention backfired.
"She that great? Hey? If you're gonna use people like dogs, at least show your face!"
Folks who'd ignored her before now hounded her weakness like hyenas.
As Wellington struggled to de-escalate, the carriage door creaked open. Kanna stepped out.
"High Priestess Blitz!"
"I'm fine, Sir Wellington. My heart's heavy enough already."
Her brown hair cascaded in gentle waves. Her pristine white robes showed no wrinkle.
Yun-seok noted her devout composure, but others fixated elsewhere.
"Whoa, High Priestess, huh…."
"Early twenties? High Priestesses that young?"
Her striking beauty doused the fiery complaints. Good sign—clearly no empty title.
Kanna emanated holy power, rapidly healing the wounded. Last night's El assisted with odd jobs beside her.
Yun-seok lingered nearby, feigning casualness while scrutinizing El. A group approached.
"You were pretty solid back there."
The Proficiency Difficulty party that scoured woods nightly for tasks. The presumed leader warrior spoke up.
No fluff—just purpose. Not mere praise.
"Ah, name's Kozak Jerpa. Not my real one, so call me whatever's comfy."
"Rick Gersey."
"Rick it is. What's your difficulty?"
Yun-seok hesitated, then matched theirs. By day 15, they'd vanish anyway—no way to verify.
"Rare good news. You seem solo—join us?"
Yun-seok pondered. Jerpa pressed.
"You know we're after extra tasks. If you're aiming higher, teaming up benefits you. If unsure, try a day."
In the end, Yun-seok accepted.
They seemed fast climbers in this trial. Curiosity about challenge tasks and methods piqued. For 500 LP invested, grab everything possible.
Night fell; the group set camp. As usual, Jerpa told Wellington they'd scout. Permission granted readily.
"……."
Before departing, Yun-seok slipped to the carriage—for contingencies.
Shaman's Law: This area is designated as an inviolable zone.
Even if heretics struck again, the carriage interior stayed safe. Minimal security set.
But "inviolable" proved high-difficulty; even narrow range guzzled Blood Demon Qi.
About an hour's duration….
Not too short—Jerpa's nightly jaunts lasted around that anyway.
Yun-seok joined Jerpa's group into the woods.
Cloudy night sky pitch-black, but no torches needed.
"Light."
The mage floated a white orb, illuminating ahead. The beastkin archer led.
They swept a broad area near camp, like expanding a minimap. Challenge tasks popped on range entry.
"Empty-handed again today."
Questioning Jerpa piecemeal yielded info; return time neared. That's when Yun-seok stiffened.
"……?"
Blood Demon Qi drained rapidly.
Someone was repeatedly probing the inviolable zone.
"…I'll head back first."
"What? What the—!"
Jerpa's baffled protest fell on empty air. Yun-seok had vanished from sight.