Chapter 72 : Chapter 72

Chapter 72: The Value of Humanity (2)

After laying Collie down in the lodging, Artier searched through his memories.

‘I’ve never seen an information window with a time limit like that in the game.’

The closest things were the collapse meter in ruins or the danger level indicator for Ropin in Gigas Hall.

But in <Cross Destiny>, they almost obsessively avoided using information windows that displayed time.

‘Of course, the fact that it’s specified isn’t strange in itself. But… I’m uneasy.’

A small sense of anxiety that a variable different from what he knew might have appeared.

That was what kept shaking Artier’s heart.

‘Should I prepare more? What am I lacking?’

Consumables like potions, the presence of equipment.

He had made some preparations, but it seemed he still needed to check.

“Are you… okay?”

“You’re awake.”

Staggering, Collie opened his eyes and stared at Artier.

“The master’s heart is wavering greatly. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“The master is a really bad liar at times like this.”

As Collie smiled faintly, Artier also managed a small smile.

“It’s true. Nothing’s wrong. I’m just a little nervous about a new work environment I’ve never experienced before.”

“Is that so…”

“Get some rest. We’ll be assigned to our platoons this evening.”

Leaving Collie behind, Artier left the inn and headed straight for the shopping district.

He bought three more potions than the two he usually prepared and stopped by a blacksmith to have his sword and armor serviced.

“I’d like to see some new weapons.”

“What are you looking for?”

“I’m looking for a dagger, a longsword, and a set of leather armor.”

“Three? What are you going to use them for? I don’t know about the others, but I doubt you’ll find better armor than what you’re wearing.”

“It’s fine. It’s not for me.”

Using Unity Rite, Collie could serve as a front-liner for three minutes.

For that, not just weapons, but the presence of armor that could deflect the aftermath of attacks was essential.

“Please give me something that isn’t uncomfortable to move in, even when worn under a robe.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? If it’s not uncomfortable to wear, is that even armor?”

The blacksmith grumbled but showed Artier the armor and swords.

“Sometimes mages wear armor for self-defense.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But I can't guarantee the performance. If it's made too thick, those weaklings can't even move properly. Plus, they complain a lot, saying their magic isn't cast precisely, or that some spells can't be cast at all!”

When mages wore armor, some skills were actually blocked from being used.

It was a measure designed to prevent mages, who were powerful but fragile as glass, from eliminating their weaknesses.

[Mausulo Magicia Leather Armor (Normal)]

Defense: 17

Options: Movement Speed -5%, Evasion +1%

Special Option: Does not interfere with the use of magic skills when worn. (Casting time may increase for some skills, and certain skills may become unusable.)

‘This is pathetic.’

Looking at the options, Artier frowned at the trivial performance that didn't match the price.

The defense of the armor from the shop was comparable to the chainmail Artier had obtained from the field at level 1.

‘Well, this is probably why mages don’t go around wearing armor.’

Artier hesitated but eventually bought the armor.

For Collie, the merit of wearing armor, even with this level of penalty, was far greater.

After also buying a normal-grade longsword and dagger, Artier walked the streets, wondering what else to do.

“Huh? Isn’t that Artier?”

Just then, someone from the opposite side called out to Artier.

It was a familiar voice.

“Trophin?”

“I knew it was you! Hahahaha! It’s been a while!”

With a hearty voice and a massive build rivaling Jeina’s.

Trophin laughed boisterously, pounding Artier’s shoulders as if to crush them.

“How have you been? No, this isn't the time for that. Come with me! You have to say hello!”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Who else! The comrades who fought alongside us in the defense of Dorman!”

As soon as he heard Trophin’s words, two mercenary corps reflexively came to Artier’s mind.

“Is the Robist Mercenary Corps here too?”

“Yeah!”

Dragged along half-forcibly, he found a crowd of knights and archers in familiar armor.

As soon as they saw Artier, they rushed over and cheered.

“Sir Hero!”

“Did you come to defend the castle coolly again!”

“This quest is as good as won!”

Various mercenaries whose names and faces he couldn’t remember came up and greeted him.

Artier, dazed by their reaction, waved his hand.

“Does you being here mean your mercenary corps is here too?”

After frantically greeting everyone, Trophin took Artier to a quiet place and asked.

‘Right, Trophin thinks I’m a member of a mercenary corps.’

And as soon as he heard those words, Artier felt the hair on his body stand on end.

He had been so busy with this and that, he had forgotten to create the Destiny Mercenary Corps.

“S-Some of us are here, but I’m not sure…”

“Some of you are here? What does that mean?”

“It seems we don’t have… many combatants specialized in fighting on this side.”

“Ahh, you have a lot of non-mercenaries?”

Trophin tilted his head at the sweating Artier and continued.

“Then be careful. You know it too, right? The atmosphere is strange.”

“What is?”

“You saw it too, right? The large-scale shield, the cannons… This isn't a scale that can be solved just by us jumping in. But the reward they promised us is a bit excessive.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Artier remember the amount of the reward written in the quest contract. The pay was 3 gold coins per person, and in case of death, a consolation payment of 10 silver coins would be given to their comrades.

It was, in fact, among the highest compensation a supreme-grade mercenary could receive.

“Even for a count, he can’t afford to prepare this much, can he? What if we get stiffed on the pay?”

Artier understood Trophin's concern.

It was a quest where they couldn't receive the proper payment, just as Trophin worried.

Because the county was going to become a sea of fire from this quest.

“If things look fishy, you have to run right away. Make sure to have a Return Scroll for everyone.”

“…Trophin.”

“Yeah?”

“Return Scrolls won’t work. Long-distance teleportation is impossible in this castle, right? Return magic is a type of teleportation too.”

It seemed Trophin hadn’t anticipated that far.

“Ha, what should I do?”

Trophin, who was taking out a flask, sighed and put it back.

He seemed frustrated, but for a supreme-grade mercenary like him to drink before a mission was out of the question.

‘Trophin isn't a bad person. Besides, we can form an alliance with the Derth Mercenary Corps. Should I give him a hint?’

After some thought, Artier checked his surroundings and whispered quietly to Trophin.

“If it seems hopeless, run to the east.”

“What does that mean? There’s only the sea to the east of this castle.”

“It’s the only escape route. They don’t feel the need to come in through the sea.”

The fiends weren't just coming down from the north.

They were pushing up from the north, west, and south.

The only means of escape was to use the eastern port, just like in the tutorial.

“It would be best to move as quickly as possible the moment you decide.”

With those words, Artier parted ways with Trophin.

Until the moment Artier disappeared, Trophin couldn't shake his bewildered expression.

But this was as much as Artier could do.

‘Survive, Trophin. This is me repaying the debt from Dorman.’

With a much lighter expression, Artier headed to the inn.

***

After giving the armor and dagger to Collie, the information window floating in the sky showed that about five hours had passed in a flash.

“Collie, how are you feeling?”

“I feel much better after a nap.”

Collie jumped up and down to show that he was fine.

Every time his robe fluttered, the leather armor Artier had bought for him peeked out.

“The platoon assignments are done… Now all that’s left is to wait. This is the first time we’re all gathered together even though our trooper types have been divided.”

Gerard looked up at the endlessly high castle wall.

Positioned in the inner castle, they were tasked with stopping the Hellmorphs that came over the outer castle and into the residential area.

“The castle is certainly huge. To the point where you can't see the opposite wall from here.”

“Leader! Bro! Look over there. You can’t even see the mercenaries at the very end over there!”

“Hmm… The communication is very noisy. Is the master okay?”

“Not great.”

Artier briefly touched his ear and then immediately lowered his hand.

It was like using a poor-quality radio; none of the voices brushing past his ear were clear.

He had to concentrate properly just to grasp their intent.

“It seems the corrupted mana is also affecting communications.”

Tersion fiddled with her mask slightly and looked up at the sky.

By this time, the sun should have been setting, but the sky was covered in dark clouds, and nothing could be seen clearly.

Pong. Pong.

Magical lights began to appear one by one in the surroundings.

Soon, the visibility inside the castle became as bright as day, but beyond the protective shield enveloping the castle, no matter how strong a light was shone, there was no sign of it brightening up.

“Those aren't ordinary dark clouds.”

Gerard and a few other mercenaries already knew that the fiends used magic like humans.

When the light couldn’t penetrate the dark clouds, the expressions of many soured, and they began to tense up.

“The castle walls are still fine, so everyone relax. It’s not like we have anything to do right away even if the invasion starts, right?”

Artier first tried to calm his party members.

His gaze was fixed far up in the sky.

‘The information window is clearly visible. That’s a relief.’

Tick… Tick…

Time was still passing.

Only 5 minutes remained.

In 5 minutes, the quest would begin.

“Ugh…”

Just then, the previously still Collie began to tremble.

“Collie? What's wrong?”

“I don’t know. I have a strange feeling. Suddenly, goosebumps all over my body…”

Collie said so and looked up at the empty air.

“I feel something up there.”

“What do you mean? Up?”

Even while this was happening, time continued to flow.

Finally, when the time displayed in the sky reached 30 seconds, a quest information window popped up in front of Artier’s eyes.

[A quest has been generated.]

Condestraden County, predicting a large-scale enemy attack, has asked you, a supreme-grade mercenary, for help.

Accept the count’s proposal and stop the attack of the Hell Soldiers…

“…Huh?”

“Artier? What is it?”

Gerard asked, but Artier couldn't answer.

‘What is this… the text?’

Noise appeared in the text on the information window, and it began to change to different content.

As if it were a bug, the text broke, was erased, and new text was filled in, a process that repeated over and over.

Flash!

Finally, when the information window lit up once more, a new quest completely unrelated to the one he had first seen was before his eyes.

[A quest has been generated.]

You came here in response to a request from Condestraden County.

However, this was a request that should not have been accepted.

Run away.

And survive.

Reward: Survival

“What is this?”

BOOM!

The moment Artier finished reading the contents of the information window, a loud sound echoed.

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