◈ 200. [Side Story]
The day left until the next defense. afternoon.
Elise came to the manor house. The female swordsman in a maid uniform carrying a swordsman was as expressionless as usual, but I was greeted with a smile.
“Elise! how is it. Was Crossroads worth it?”
“… There are too many facilities that don’t have it like a change, but all the essential infrastructure is still there. yes. I got along just fine.”
Elise did not follow me to this point simply as an escort.
The Winter Silver Merchant Headquarters plans to develop several businesses here at Crossroads in the future.
Elysee was dispatched here to prepare for that and to research the data.
From finding out the site to build the guild branch, where to get the materials and workers to build the road, how much magic stones are in stock to be transported to the ecliptic, and so on… … .
Anyway, there is a lot of work to be done. So as soon as my escort was over, he disappeared, and now he came.
“Are all the necessary investigations done?”
“yes. We have gathered all the information our caravan needs. Now, I will go back to the ecliptic and report it to the Serenade Master, organize a workforce and send a business team down.”
“It was hard. The way up will be hard.”
I smiled at Elise.
“Then did you come to say goodbye today?”
“… In fact, I came to hear the news of the monster’s invasion.”
Of course, I am announcing the expected invasion date of the monsters in the city.
There’s no reason to hide it, and it’s better for the citizens to be prepared. Elise seems to have come after seeing the notice.
“I heard that the monsters will attack tomorrow. Is it true?”
“okay. We are expecting tomorrow morning.”
It’s not impossible that the start time will suddenly go crazy like in stage 3, but it probably won’t.
I already figured out the dark event for this stage… … .
“You may think this is a sudden push, but Your Highness.”
Elise spoke carefully.
“Can I participate in this defense?”
“What what?”
Embarrassed, I hesitated, and Elise put her hand in front of her chest.
“It’s rude to say this, but I think if you’ve seen me sword to sword, you’ll already know my skills.”
“No, I know your skills well… .”
I’m not embarrassed because of my skills. On the contrary, if a strong person like Elise could help her, she would be very grateful.
‘but… You don’t know why.’
Why are you helping the defense battle?
“From now on, our top branch will be built here at Crossroads. And ordinary people who have lived a life that has nothing to do with monsters will be dispatched and start working.”
Elise glanced at the castle wall visible from the mansion window.
“I want to see with my own eyes the extent of the threat they face.”
“Um, indeed… .”
Is this also an investigation at the higher level?
Convinced, I nodded.
“good. no it’s me thank you! Just once, please take good care of me, Elise.”
“I am really sorry for asking too much. Tomorrow, I will faithfully follow Your Highness’ orders.”
To say that Elise, an SSR-class swordsman, is helping. The defense battle tomorrow seems to go very smoothly.
I was smiling ah! I made a sound and asked Elise.
“By the way, is there a blunt weapon in your swordsman, Elise?”
The monster I’m going to face tomorrow is slime, so I need equipment with a striking property. Elise is a swordsman-type character, so she must be equipped with a blunt weapon.
“A blunt instrument… Are you talking?”
Elise tilted her head, put down her sword, opened it, and nodded at me.
“Yes. Can I borrow a few bags?”
“No, I’m not trying to borrow it, but I want you to use it tomorrow… … .”
Anyway, how many blunt weapons are there? How many alternate weapons are in that swordsman?
***
Dungeons. base camp.
Today, I came here with only Lucas and Quilan.
Flash!
After passing through the teleport gate, Kelly Bay waved her hand as if she had been waiting.
“Go ahead, little boy! Completion is on the way, but why are you coming so late! After all, you’re going to have me deliver it too, huh?”
“Hey, are you even delivering to Crossroads? Are you perfectly fine?”
“You rotten bastard. Hey, come quickly and take it!”
With resentment, Kelly Bay pointed to the equipment on the display stand in front of the smithy. I stepped in front of it.
A pair of red leather boots lined with metal plates. And, of course, a short cloak like a red muffler.
In this world, leather and cloth equipment as well as metal equipment are produced at blacksmiths.
This is because there is basically a blacksmith’s facility that can smelt mana cores and mana stones.
So, at the blacksmith’s shop in Crossroads, tanners specializing in leather and seamstresses specializing in fabrics are employed together.
However, Kelly Bay has made leather and cloth clothes so neatly by herself.
He handles leather and cloth as well as metal. What a great gentleman.
‘Then let’s see how it was made… … .’
I looked at the options of both machines. Let’s see.
[Vampire General’s Boots (SSR) Lv.35]
– Classification: Shoes
– Defense: 25-30
– Durability: 20/20
– Dexterity +10
– Vampire-type Physical Strengthening: Strengthens the strength of the legs and increases movement speed by 1.5 for 5 seconds can be doubled. Can be used three times a day. If you use it all three times, you will receive random injuries to your legs.
[Vampire General’s Muffler (SSR) Lv.35]
– Classification: Auxiliary Equipment
– Durability: 5/5 (Unrepairable)
– Dexterity +15
– Blood Mist: When attacked, a blood mist spreads from the muffler with a certain probability to deflect enemy attacks do. Durability is reduced by 1 when the option is activated.
I nodded broadly. good night! It came out just as I intended.
“As you ordered, it was created by increasing agility and specializing in avoiding enemy attacks.”
Kelly Bay clicked her tongue.
“To make this kind of evasive equipment instead of a nice weapon with this precious vampire general’s magic core… Tsk tsk. Like a guy who doesn’t know how precious things are.”
“What are you talking about, sir? Just as important as a good weapon is good survival gear. Wouldn’t it be better if he was still alive?”
“Anyway, if you can’t even talk… .”
He handed a few gold bars and a good drink to the grumbling Kelly Bey, claiming that it was a feeble act of sincerity.
Kelly Bay pretended reluctantly to take it. There are no dwarves who forbid and dislike alcohol.
“Come on, Kuylan.”
I took my boots and muffler and handed them to Quylan.
“It’s yours.”
Surprised, Quylan’s eyes widened. I guess I knew right away what a good piece of equipment this was.
“yes? Really, Your Highness the Prince? Are you giving this to me?”
“Who gave it completely? It’s a rental, it’s a rental.”
I laughed and waved my finger left and right.
“If you quietly stick to this wire until the probationary period is over, I will give it to you completely after the probationary period is over. Do you understand?”
“That’s not what he said! haha! good! Half a year of probation? It will stick like my leech!”
A big smile crept across Quylan’s lips. It looks good.
I’ve been thinking a lot about setting up Kuylan’s equipment.
At first, I thought I would make a sturdy equipment. But then I came to a different conclusion.
This child is a glass body that stretches after one hit.
If so, let’s adjust the setting so that it doesn’t fit even one.
Rather than increasing the chance of being hit by wearing heavy armor for no reason, let’s make the body extremely light and set up a safety device.
… I came to the conclusion that this kind of high-grade equipment was made with expensive SSR-grade magic cores.
‘If I’m going to use it anyway, I spare no investment.’
Although it has many flaws, Kuylan is still an SR-class character. Besides, there are few pure hit dealers.
It is well worth cultivating. I judged that.
“Yah-ho!”
“… .”
Lucas glared at him disgruntledly as Quylan ran around wearing a new muffler and new shoes. I chuckled.
“why? Don’t you like it, Lucas?”
“… yes. Frankly, yes.”
“You gave me a new weapon not too long ago.”
“The more equipment the lord gives me, the better.”
this greedy guy
I patted Lucas on the back.
“Don’t worry too much, I’ll get your gear new again.”
Lucas’s level is slowly approaching 50.
After completing the 3rd job advancement and awakening the ultimate skill, Lucas’ exclusive equipment can also be used.
‘Special equipment for exclusive use of SSR class characters!’
The reason why the SSR grade is the highest dignity is because of the exclusive equipment that completes the character in the end.
When I thought of Lucas flying around wearing exclusive equipment, I couldn’t help but smile at the corner of my mouth.
Wait a little longer you monsters. Our main character Wang Gui is right in front of us. Although it’s already scary.
“… ?”
Lucas looked at me curiously as I swallowed my laughter. Hmmm. You’ll understand why I’m doing this later, Lucas.
I covered my mouth and giggled eerily, and Quylan kicked a series of mid-air kicks into the air in order to adapt to his lighter body.
And Kelly Bay squealed at us.
“Hey, if you’ve finished your business, get out of here! It’s insane!”
***
That evening.
cross road. Temple.
“… .”
Quylan’s older brother, Kureha, was sitting on the bed in the single room.
His pale face, which had been clearly marked by the disease, regained its color, and his skinny body gained weight within a few days.
but the left leg.
Compared to the right leg, only the left leg, which was especially skinny, remained the same.
He couldn’t walk because of his legs, which hung limply like deflated balloons.
– Other conditions can be treated, but this leg will be difficult.
The priest here, who was dedicated to treating Kureha, said so.
Kureha laughed bitterly and ran a hand over her withered legs. I wasn’t disappointed because I didn’t expect it in the first place.
It’s because it’s been over ten years since my legs became this shape.
‘Oh but… … .’
Quylan looked straight ahead.
Then, slowly, he clenched his fists and stretched them forward.
‘It’s always a pity that I can’t see the next part of this martial art… … .’
It was then.
jump!
“Kureha!”
The door to the hospital room opened, and Quylan came inside. Surprised, Kureha quickly lowered her fist.
“Quilan.”
“Hahaha how are you? Is the temple worth living for?”
Quylan smiled and sat down next to Kureha’s bed.
“Damn the Empire, but one healing spell kills the effect. Look at my older brother’s complexion.”
Kureha smiled faintly and nodded.
“Everyone here is kind and nice. He said that with a few more weeks of recuperation, he would be almost completely healed.”
“Good good. Great. Great.”
Quilan, who had been smiling, hardened his expression.
“I will leave this city as soon as my brother gets better.”
Kureha’s face hardened. Quylan clicked his tongue low.
“Sounds like a punishment unit. Do you think our grudge against the empire will go away just by giving us a few pennies?”
“… Quylan.”
“Look at what they did.”
Quylan looked down at his brother’s abnormally dry left leg with his mouth shut.
“Look at what they did.”
Quylan tapped the X-shaped scar on his forehead with his fingertips.
“Even if I give you billions of dollars, will you forget? under. Do you think you will be fooled again?”
“… .”
“When my brother’s condition gets better, I’ll gather my men and get out of this city right away. I feel a little sorry for that unnecessarily generous prince, but Song Chung-yi has to live on pine needles, right?”
Kureha slowly reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand.
“Quilan.”
“huh?”
“How about building a new nest right here?”
Quylan’s face hardened.
Kureha stuttered and said.
“If you serve for three years, you can be pardoned for all your sins. Besides, they say that they give us an annual salary that is more than enough to raise the amount we set for.”
“… .”
“We didn’t become bandits because we wanted to be bandits. You didn’t do it because you wanted to steal. You can turn it around here.”
“… .”
“Go back into the world, Quylan. you are still young yet… .”
rattle!
Not listening to his brother’s words, Quylan stood up. Kureha hurriedly shouted.
“Quilan!”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear, brother.”
Quylan strode towards the door of the hospital room again.
“The Kureha I knew… The teacher who taught me martial arts was not such a weak man.”
“… .”
“Recover quickly. Until my older brother recovers, I’ll be here earning my allowance by punching the monsters hard.”
“Quilan!”
Kureha had heard and knew that tomorrow was a monster defense battle.
Kureha stammered to her younger brother who looked back.
“… Take care of yourself.”
“Hahahaha! I am Kangun’s Quylan, Miracle Quylan. don’t worry.”
Quilan smiled and left the hospital room.
“I’ll be back bro.”
thud!
The door closed and the brother’s large body disappeared outside.
Kureha looked down at her bony left leg with a miserable face. His skinny fists clenched tightly.
***
And the next day.
The morning of Stage 8 was bright.
