◈ 102. [Free Exploration] From one step
“… How did you know?”
The silent Jupiter Junior looked at me with trembling eyes.
“I am… You’re hiding your skills.”
“… .”
“No wizard… Even my grandmother didn’t notice.”
“I like that feeling.”
Wouldn’t it be possible to overcome this difficult game with such a system correction?
Sitting cross-legged, I nodded to Junior.
“Unleash all your skills, Junior. Then I will pay a fair price.”
“… .”
Junior, who kept his lips tightly shut, looked straight at me. I smiled.
“Don’t you want to make a lot of money?”
***
Jupiter Jr.’s real stats thus revealed are as follows.
[Jupiter Junior (SSR)]
– Level: 35
– Title: None
– Occupation: Advanced Elementalist
– Strength 15 Agility 17 Intelligence 35 Stamina 13 Magical Power 35
[Possessed Skills]
> Passive: Elemental Adjuster
> Skill 1: Elemental Explosion
> Skill 2: Element Fusion
> Ultimate Skill: ??? (Opened after the 3rd job change)
Actually, it was level 35 after finishing the 2nd job change. 2 skills were also unlocked. No, why are you hiding this?
The 2nd skill, [Element Fusion], was a skill that combined the attribute elements that could be used to inflict wide-area damage.
It’s a wide-area magic skill I’ve been looking for. Hooray!
‘It seems like he’s still hiding something more.’
I looked at Junior as he signed the employment contract.
Junior is concentrating only on the contract, pretending not to notice my gaze.
Well, even if you do this, if you have the ability to hide it, it would be better to leave it alone.
I still don’t know what’s going on with me.
“The probationary period of 4 weeks is paid weekly. After the probationary period is over, 11 months’ worth will be paid in a lump sum.”
Junior confirmed it as he returned the signed contract to me.
“Did I understand it right, Your Highness?”
“Accurate.”
She resembles her grandmother and turns on the light in her eyes when it comes to money. I had a hard time trying to get even a penny up until the last minute of the negotiations.
‘Every time I hire a wizard, the money flies away.’
However, the magician’s tactical value is similar to that of a fighter in modern times.
This level of expenditure is understandable. I nodded and signed the contract.
“With this, the contract is complete… It’s a bit late, but I’ll ask you one thing.”
“yes?”
“Junior. Have you ever shot someone with magic?”
Junior hesitated.
“hmm… majesty? I don’t know what you mean by the question.”
“I don’t mean to question your past.”
I waved my hand.
“This is the monster front, but the enemies we have to deal with right now are humans. I am asking this.”
The enemy to be dealt with right now – namely the Nightcrawlers occupying the base camp.
We have to leave to fight humans for PVP.
I asked what would happen if Junior had any objection to shooting magic at humans.
“No no, Your Highness. I don’t mean that… … .”
However, Junior’s answer was a little different from what I expected.
“Isn’t magic supposed to shoot normal people?”
“… !”
“It is the same with kendo spears and bows. Most of human weapons are made to target fellow human beings.”
Yes.
Maybe this is the theory.
“Have you ever shot a person with magic? of course. Magic is also made for that.”
“… .”
“Your first mission on the frontlines to fight monsters is to kill people. A bit ironic though.”
Junior, who put the contract into his bosom, smiled thinly.
“To be honest, I am confident.”
“… Right.”
Only then do I realize all over again.
This is not the world I used to live in.
Harsh, full of war and death… … It is a completely different world from Earth.
The ethical view on killing people is also different from my shallow one.
But-
“… .”
Reminds me of Damien.
I remember the frightened eyes of the child who hesitated to shoot people.
That is why… still i think
In a world like this, there’s no way I’d be willing to kill someone.
‘I kill monsters to protect people.’
How far are the people I have to protect and how far are the monsters I have to kill.
You shouldn’t let go of worrying about this.
‘but.’
I closed my eyes and opened them.
Nightcrawler Squad.
Our obvious enemy who interfered with my attack and put Jupiter into a state of magical runaway.
Those guys have no choice but to clear their way, even if it means killing them.
Murder is not an option. However, if it is self-defense, there is no reason to hesitate.
‘Shoot if necessary.’
I made up my mind and faced Junior.
“I will tell you about the enemies you have to deal with this time.”
I am the organization of the Nightcrawler unit and the number of wizards among them. property. And it informed me about the expected level.
“You better relax. Their wizard hurt your grandmother like that.”
“That’s too bad.”
Junior’s eyes flashed fiercely at the words that they were the ones who injured his grandmother.
“If I had been there, I would have ended it in reverse.”
“… .”
“Don’t worry, Your Highness.”
Junior spun the smoking pipe in his hand and snatched it.
“I’ll take them down, even for Grandma’s share.”
Not because she’s an SSR-class wizard, but because she’s Jupiter’s granddaughter.
So the faith went. I nodded my head heavily.
***
the next day.
Free Exploration Zone 3. [North of Outer City].
Except for the main party of 5 and God Hand, a total of 9 members of the shadow unit came here to explore.
Area 3 was re-explored for several purposes, the first of which was a practical test of Jupiter Junior.
Flash-!
And Junior’s skills were impeccable.
pop! Beep!
In addition to freely using the three attributes of water, wind, and lightning, the absolute amount of output itself is very large.
After all, it’s like an SSR-class wizard.
Every time Junior lightly waved his hand holding the smoking pipe, spray poured, gusts of wind raged, and lightning struck.
uh… … .
oh oh!
The group of ghouls rushing along the northern outer wall of the Lake Kingdom were swept away by magic and shattered.
‘Oh, it’s gross.’
The ghouls I actually saw were quite… It was creepy.
The monsters in the past were clearly heterogeneous beings. However, the ghoul clearly had a human-like appearance.
It was quite painful to see them swarming in groups, emitting roars.
Is this what it feels like to be swept away by a zombie apocalypse?
Kwagwagwang!
Of course, all of these guys couldn’t even approach and were crushed in front of the one-sided magic bombardment of a competent wizard.
uh uh uh-!
Among them, there were also specially enhanced objects mixed in.
A tanker object with overdeveloped muscles or a buffer object that applies a wide-area berserk buff to ghouls around an agile object that rushes in swiftly.
Push! Push!
Patter-!
However, whenever such a special object came into sight, Damian and the archers of the shadow unit sniped and knocked it down.
‘It’s convenient to bring so many.’
Since there are nine people, it is much more relaxed. I’ll share the experience though. it’s safe
“How are you, Your Highness?”
After a while, when the monster wave ended without difficulty, Junior smiled and looked back at me.
“Is this enough to prove my ability?”
“Suffice. It’s not enough to take on the role of the main party’s magic striker.”
Although it is slightly behind Jupiter in terms of absolute destructive power.
In most other factors, Junior had an advantage.
Skill 1 and 2 can all be used as a single target or a wide range, and their attributes are diverse.
‘I got a good card.’
I nodded in satisfaction. With this, the first objective of this exploration is achieved.
‘And the second purpose is to identify the type of ghoul.’
I approached the mountain of ghoul corpses.
‘The characteristics of a ghoul are determined depending on who the load is.’
A rotten smell vibrated from the monsters.
There was no need to go through it by hand. It was after checking the names of these guys through the system window.
‘Frost Ghoul.’
I want to attach attributes to some ghouls. Anyway, it’s a freezing attribute ghoul.
And among the vampire rods, there is only one with the freezing attribute.
‘Celendion… … .’
Undoubtedly.
It seemed that the king of vampires would step forward. I bit my cheeky lips.
‘It’s difficult, but it’s much better than no information.’
You just need to establish a solid strategy before the start of the stage.
Rather than that, the priority now is to recapture the base camp.
“majesty!”
Then Bodybag, who had been scouting in the other direction, returned.
Since Body Bag was a teleporter, he was able to conduct aerial reconnaissance.
The body bag floating in the air landed in front of me with a thud.
The body bag bowed down to me and reported.
“The topography of this area is roughly finished.”
“How do you think it will be possible according to my instructions?”
“yes. I think it will be possible.”
“good.”
This free exploration also had the purpose of reconnaissance of the terrain for future operations.
‘Operation to recapture the base camp.’
Fortunately, as a result of reconnaissance, the terrain conditions were cleared safely.
I was able to implement the plan I had planned. I was relieved.
In this way, all three objectives of this free exploration were achieved.
“Okay, everyone worked hard! Let’s go back soon!”
The base camp is unusable, so you have to retreat back to the teleport gate at the beginning of Area 3.
I took the lead and the party members followed me.
“… .”
Walking along the wall of the northern outer castle, I suddenly looked down.
I saw the city square covered in darkness. In the alley behind it, there must be a hidden base camp occupied by enemies.
Nightcrawler Squad.
and Crown the Pied Piper.
‘wait a moment. I’ll come to take it soon.’
And I’ll feed you guys just as much candy as you fed me.
I made a new promise and moved on.
The moment to fight with them was approaching.
***
[End of Free Exploration!]
[Level Up Character]
> Main Party
– Lucas (SSR) Lv.38 (↑1)
– Jupiter Junior (SSR) Lv.36 (↑1)
– Damian (N) Lv.33 (↑1)
> Sub Party 1
– Old Girl (R) Lv.30 (↑1)
– Skull (N) Lv.27 (↑1)
– Burnout (SR) Lv.26 (↑2)
[Acquisition Item]
– Intermediate Magic Potion: 2
– Gust Enchant Scroll: 1
– Lesser Clan Manastone: 65
***
“Collock!”
Just before returning to the ground after exploration.
Jupiter Jr. covered his mouth and coughed.
“Collock Coke!”
When I took my hand away from my mouth, a little blood came out of my palm.
“… .”
Looking down at his hands, Jupiter Jr. clenched his fists.
Then, as if nothing had happened, I loaded myself into the teleport gate.
