◈ 199. [Side Story] Repeated
After that, the bandit king party quickly adapted to the battle against monsters.
I wasn’t good at it yet, so I often allowed monsters to hit me and knocked me down, but fortunately my opponent was a level 10-20 slime. There were only enough injuries that could be recovered with potions.
In the end, though, it took quite a while. Area 3 [Outer Fortress North] safely cleared.
I was able to return to Crossroads in the late evening.
‘There were dizzying moments, but somehow I managed to clear it.’
Breathing in the warm summer air of Crossroads, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Today was hard.”
Let’s look back at the teleport gate and talk.
All five members of Quylan’s party were spread out on the floor. Even Quylan is standing against the wall over there and gagging.
“Hehehe. I hate monsters and dungeons… … .”
It doesn’t suit a muscular giant over 2m talking so pitifully, man.
However, there is no one in the world where monsters are cute and dungeons are as enjoyable as flower gardens.
You have to move forward while overcoming the fear that seeps into your bones. You have to be prepared for that to stand on the monster front here.
[Enemy Information – STAGE 8]
– Lv.? ??? : 1 body
– Lv.30 acidic slime: 526 bodies
– Lv.25 three-color slime: 488 bodies
– until the start: 7 days
There is one week left until the start of the next stage.
‘In the meantime, I’ll keep rolling these party guys and train them enough to be usable in combat.’
While thinking about it, I looked at the faces of the five bandits.
“… .”
Suddenly, I remembered the other sub parties I had been with.
‘Shadow troops.’
The Shadow Squad, an all-elven firefighter team.
Two of the five died and the remaining three were sent on classified missions. Looking back, it was an undeservedly good team for the first sub-party.
‘Dion mercenaries.’
The Dion mercenary corps were all made up of N-rank heroes.
He had ambitions and potentials, but in the end, they were all defeated in the decisive battle with the Vampire King.
‘Old Hunters.’
The old mercenaries brought by Jupiter.
It was an effective combination of two mages and three warriors, but both mages were killed. The three warriors retired, unable to stand on the battlefield again.
‘And this new sub party… … .’
I stared at the bandit king’s punishment unit, whose name had not yet been decided.
In the meantime, all of the sub-parties under my command could not remain intact. wounded, dead, or annihilated.
how will you
Will you, too, get hurt, die, and be annihilated?
Even knowing that future, should I hire you and keep you under my command?
Even if I buy your life with just a few pennies and swing it with a leash in the name of punishment. Is it okay?
“Hey bandits.”
I took a few gold coins out of my pocket and threw them at Quylan and his men one by one.
“It is an encouragement. take it.”
As if my dark complexion was a lie, the bandits jumped up and snatched my gold coin.
“Ooh clothes?! Thank you!”
“I’ll use it well, water lord!”
“Eat something delicious with this and get some rest tonight. Don’t loosen up too much.”
“Yeah~!”
“I will do as you command!”
Quylan and the party members flirted with each other and left my mansion. Maybe go to a bar in town and have a drink.
Suddenly, it occurred to me that the way people live is the same everywhere.
I work, get off work, eat, and sleep.
Those bandits conscripted into the penal unit, as well as ordinary people living on Earth. Maybe we are having a similar day.
I looked the other way. Our main party members were looking up at me with blank eyes. I chuckled.
“Shall we eat too?”
***
Come to think of it, I’ve been away for over a month, but after I came back, I didn’t even have a party to commemorate the reunion. I need to get rid of this right now.
I asked the chef for a simple meal and snacks.
I was going to call the other hero characters, but it was already nighttime. We decided to have a simple meal with only our main party members.
“Okay then. It’s a bit late, but congratulations on my safe return from the crossroads… … .”
It was a bit funny to recite the congratulatory speech by yourself, but what is it?
I raised the glass in my hand.
“Cheers!”
The party members all shouted ‘Cheers!’ As they did so, they raised the cups in each hand.
Lucas and Junior’s hands are drinking glasses, and Evangeline’s and Damian’s hands are holding juice glasses. Evangeline grumbled.
“I know how to drink too… .”
“Alcohol is still too early for minors. Drink some juice.”
They toasted with a salty sound and each swallowed a glass.
Lucas had a normal complexion even after drinking in one gulp, but Junior had only swallowed one sip and looked with a frown on his face. It made a sound. I guess I’m not used to drinking.
“It is very bitter! What kind of taste is this… … Cool!”
Red wine flowed out of Junior’s mouth, who had stopped talking. Now I see that hemoptysis gag too often, so it’s not scary.
“Are you drinking?”
Damian, who saw this, smiled with a bluff full of bravado.
“I feel sweet because life is hard. Kkeuk… … .”
“No, you are juice. Of course it will be sweet.”
When will he be back to normal? It seems that the dark aura of the second grader is getting thicker and thicker.
“I can’t drink alcohol, and I can’t decorate the interior the way I want… .”
Evangeline sighed as she swirled the juice glass in her hand.
“When are you going to be an adult and be able to live your own life? Ha ha.”
He said he didn’t want to be an adult before this adolescent boy. Since I am a minor, I feel like I’m going back and forth because there are restrictions.
“Okay, take this, Evangeline.”
I held out the small wrapped box I had packed beforehand. Evangeline widened her green eyes.
“What’s this?”
“You asked me to buy it. It’s a gift set I bought at the confectionery shop in front of the Imperial Academy.”
Evangeline’s grunting face instantly brightened.
“Wow! Really?!”
This is what Evangeline asked for before I left for the ecliptic. I didn’t forget to bring it
“I really want to eat this! Oops!”
While Evangeline gasped and unwrapped, I passed the presents I bought in the capital to the other party members.
“Each of you also bought a present. Now take it.”
nothing great It’s just a souvenir I bought on my way back to the imperial capital.
I gave Lucas a sword tie, a book about elemental magic for Junior, and eye drops for Damian.
Lucas, Junior, and Damian seemed to have never received a gift like this before, so their faces brightened and they smiled and unwrapped the gift.
Meanwhile, the chef came to cook. We ate with great chatter.
“… .”
Evangeline suddenly asked as she stared at the party members laughing and enjoying their meal.
“Are you tired, senior?”
“huh?”
I hesitated for a moment at the sudden question. what?
Evangeline tilted her head as she chewed on the snack I gave her without eating.
“You look particularly tired today. Well, he probably wouldn’t have gotten over his travels, but he started working right away.”
“okay? Do you look tired?”
“In fact, since you were appointed here, you have been constantly blocking monsters, and you are preparing for the next defensive battle as soon as you return from the ecliptic. You’ll just get tired of it.”
“… .”
“Monsters will not come endlessly in the future. If you keep working like you are now, you will probably collapse from exhaustion someday.”
I smiled bitterly and put my fork down on the plate in front of me.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired.”
How many defense battles have you already fought? How many waves of monsters are aiming for the wall?
This time it’s slime, and what kind of monsters will come out after this.
They are numerous and even stronger. It can be frustrating and frustrating in a difficult battle situation. but.
“But it is adults who endure this tedious repetition.”
I am not enduring this because I am an exceptional human being.
In fact, this is what everyone in this world is doing.
The way people live is the same everywhere. I work, get off work, eat, and sleep. Repeat this endlessly.
Ordinary office workers and game broadcasting streamers.
A mercenary fighting monsters and a lord ruling the city.
It is to survive by cutting down the enemies who come in droves by repeating boring tasks that do not change every day.
“and… .”
I suddenly looked out the window. Amidst the lush greenery, the faint sound of a cicada could be heard.
“There is an end.”
Summer is already in full swing.
Since I first came to this city in late winter, almost half a year has already passed.
The game is over when the 3rd year of capture ends and the 4th year comes in the spring.
Even this everyday life that doesn’t seem to change… … it will end someday
“I hope you will not regret that last day. That’s why I try to live every day without turning my head even when I am tired and tired.”
No matter what ending awaits at the end of this capture… … .
To meet the end without regret. Let’s do our best to live.
I’m so determined.
“… .”
The party members looked at me like that.
How did you get embarrassed? I smiled shyly at the party members.
“Kuhm! But if you’re tired, tell me! I’ll give you some vacation time. got it?”
I’m not such a vicious lord. I’ll take care of the condition of the combatants. If it’s difficult, tell me in advance?
Lucas, who was staring at me like that, opened his mouth small.
“Even your lord, if you are so tired that you think you can’t stand it, please tell us.”
A kind smile formed on the knight’s lips.
“I’ll even rub your shoulders.”
Evangeline and Junior Damian also spoke in turn.
“Then I am a foot! Foot Massage! When I received my massage, all of my academy drivers were going to die!”
“I will prepare a health drink for you. Let’s see, spinach is in the kitchen… … .”
“Even if it’s a recovery magic for tired eyes… .”
The four of them didn’t just talk, they jumped up from their real seats and surrounded me.
“uh?”
I broke out in a cold sweat. Guys?
Kwaaaak.
“Ouch?!”
Lucas and Evangeline started massaging my shoulders and feet.
Damian casts a recovery magic and Junior prepares a suspicious drink on the spot.
“No wait wait! Aw fuck off! Stop it, you bastards!”
In the end, I was in the terrible situation of swallowing a spinach drink in my mouth while healing magic was poured into my eyes in pain from my shoulders and feet being squeezed.
these children! You guys are making me more tired! I mean stop now!
***
A few days have passed.
Quylan’s party quickly became adept at fighting monsters. Now, even if you send an autonomous exploration, it will be successful without difficulty.
It has reached a level where it can be operated sufficiently as a single sub-party.
Even the bandits recruited as regular soldiers were trained enough to be used as combatants.
After all, Reina, the captain of the Imperial Magic Corps, rolled it with a short-term attribute bonus, and it became usable at once.
In preparation for the match against the slime, suitable water-based equipment was installed on the wall, and wooden fences for the kill zone were also deployed in the plains for the first time in a long time.
Preparations for the defensive battle were progressing smoothly.
Time passed so quickly –
[STAGE 8]
– Until the start: Day 1
Before I knew it, there was only one day left until the next defense battle.
