◈ 214. [Side Story] Preparing for war (5)
After the meeting ended and the party members scattered to their respective lodgings.
I rode the teleport gate alone and came to the dungeon.
Flash!
Base camp is still empty.
Although the space is quite large, the only NPCs you can see are Kelly Bay, the magic blacksmith, and Coco Granny, who is in charge of teleporting.
“hmm… .”
In the original game, the base camp here wasn’t crowded, but it wasn’t so quiet.
NPCs in charge of other functions were often seen, and there were a few NPC adventurer parties that raided the deep dungeons.
This is where everyone who lives in the Lake Kingdom dungeon comes and goes.
Quests arise from them, and they are also hired as heroes.
‘It’s still empty. Why?’
Kelly Bay, who had noticed my doubts and approached me waving her hand, immediately responded.
“Something seems to be happening deep in the dungeon.”
“In the heart?”
“Seeing as the wandering dead and the adventurers who went inside after requesting equipment from me, all of them haven’t been seen for a long time, it seems that something big is going on.”
Kelly Bay shrugged.
“I don’t even know exactly what happened.”
“Hmm… .”
Is there an event where NPCs disappear?
I’m searching for memories of the previous attack.
“I haven’t been here for a while, but these days, I’m going in and out again. What are you doing alone today?”
I suddenly came to my senses at Kelly Bay’s words. Right now, invisible NPCs aren’t the problem.
“Is the promise to make equipment out of Jormungandr scales still valid?”
“then. It takes some time to scale and craft it. why? Have you decided what equipment to make?”
I nodded and said.
“Please make me a pickaxe.”
“… ?”
“As strong as possible. It’s strong enough that it won’t break even if you hit it for about three days.”
Kelly Bay, who had her eyes wide open, asked curiously.
“Making a pickaxe is difficult, but… What are you going to do with it?”
“Have you seen what the monsters are this season? I will beat Jormungand.”
“what? hit what? The Serpent of the World?”
Kelly Bay held her stomach and laughed.
“Puhahaha! Make a joke, kid! The northward movement of Jormungand is like a natural process that happens once every hundreds of years! Human power cannot stop it!”
“You seem to keep forgetting, but I am the commander of the Southern Front of the Everblack Empire… .”
I let out a deep sigh.
“The monster is pushing, of course we have to block it. by any means.”
“If it were me, I’d just tear down the wall and make a road and say, ‘Welcome~’ and let them pass. That’s a realistic strategy with less damage.”
Crossroads, if you really do that, you should be able to let him go without much damage.
It would be a problem for all the countries above this to be torn apart.
“That snake in Jormungand is a predator of civilization! A real monster that has existed since the gods roamed this land! How are you going to beat that monster?”
“It’s definitely a monster from the Age of Mythology.”
I spat out calmly.
“But I died once.”
I searched the history books of this world to see if it would be helpful for the attack. And I was able to find the record without difficulty.
hundreds of years ago.
Duskbringer, the last fire dragon in the world, stood in the way of Jormungand, and it is said that the two mythical monsters fought for 7 days and 8 nights.
And on the morning of the eighth day. A decision has been made Duskbringer caught and killed Jormungandr.
The emperor thanked Duskbringer for protecting the Everblack Empire by stopping Jormungandr, and from then on, Duskbringer defended the empire until the end of his life.
Then, the emperor and Duskbringer met eyes and gave birth to a child, which led to the Duke of Bringer… … anyway.
‘It’s obviously a snake that even has dead historical records.’
Such a snake revives in the darkness of the Lake Kingdom and starts heading north again.
I suddenly thought of the vampire lord Selendion. The guy clearly said it too. He said he was once extinct, but was resurrected here.
‘The monsters in this dungeon may all have died once before.’
Then why?
Why did the person who created the darkness of the Lake Kingdom bring these monsters back to life? And how was that even possible?
I shook my head to let go of my thoughts. Anyway, we must stop Jormungand right now.
“He is not invincible. And I know the snake’s weakness.”
I pointed at my head, waist and tailbone in turn.
“Three protruding nerve centers. If only this is destroyed, Jormungandr will give up going north and return to the dungeon’s lair here.”
“… .”
“The problem is that you can’t even inflict meager wounds on him with any weapon. Because his innate defense is at an unbelievable level. But what about a weapon made from the scales that fell from his body?”
Because the scales fell from the body of the mighty one.
Paradoxically, it can injure his body.
“indeed… That’s why you’re trying to order a pickaxe. A pickaxe would be effective in destroying that area… … .”
“That’s right. I will climb on the back of the snake and beat only that part like mining ore.”
“Um… !”
Kelly Bay’s eyes suddenly sparkled like a boy’s as she brushed away her beard.
“… It will be fun.”
“yes?”
“It’s going to be so much fun. Riding on Jormungandr’s back and hacking his back with a pickaxe… … ? Then, wouldn’t it be possible to mine all kinds of rare materials falling from his body in real time?”
“Yeah what… Yes?”
Kelly Bay took a step closer to me as I answered shyly.
“I will accompany you.”
“yes? I beg your pardon?”
“I understand, but don’t ask questions. I will accompany you.”
Kelly Bay laughed, twisting her mustache.
“You can pickaxe directly on the back of a living World Serpent? You sure don’t mean to let me miss this opportunity, kid?”
“… .”
“If you put in that madness, I’ll repair the equipment on the spot, and if it’s necessary, I’ll collect materials on the spot and make the equipment. how is it? What can I say with my mouth, but I’m incredibly useful?”
There was no reason to give up. Damien is out of the season, so there’s also a vacant seat in the main party.
“You can’t say anything, Kelly Bay?”
“Puhahaha! You are the one who has nothing to say!”
So,
[Kellibey (SR)] < Guest Character >
– Level: 55
– Title: The one who finds the last piece
– Occupation: Magic blacksmith
– Strength 19 Agility 5 Intelligence 24 Stamina 29 Magical Power 20
Kelly Bay joined the main party temporarily!
Like a production character, his stats aren’t that high compared to his level.
However, considering that most of the hero characters are combat classes, Kelly Bay, who is a production class and a hero character, and has leveled up to 55, can be said to be great in its own way.
The skill set… … Almost nothing helps in combat.
They all specialize in crafting, refining, and enchanting equipment. How did you get to level 55 with these skills… … ?
“I’ll melt all the scales I have and make them into a pickaxe. It would be nice to have a hammer too. And again… … .”
Excited as if going on a picnic, Kelly Bay started counting the equipment to make this time. Watching it, I smiled bitterly.
“In the next six days, Jormungandr will stick his head out of the lake, so you have to make all the equipment by then.”
“Chuck! You don’t have to press me because I’m amazing at deadlines!”
… A confident person like that couldn’t keep the deadline… … .
***
the next day.
The production union of Crossroads also produced equipment for us.
“I heard that you are fighting on the body of a giant snake this time. In such an environment, it would be difficult to balance your body and it would be inconvenient to move around.”
The Blacksmith Guild Leader and the Alchemist Guild Leader put forward a new item.
“I made it. It’s a grappling hook launcher.”
I received the item and examined it. It is an additional equipment worn on the arm like a gauntlet.
A hook the size of a fist is attached to the equipment with a silver thread attached to the end.
“If you shoot like this… .”
grasp!
When the Blacksmith Guildmaster operated the grappling hook launcher, the grappling hook fired with a refreshing sound.
Hit the wall over there! A silver thread hung taut between the hook and the launcher.
“The hook is shot and caught firmly. Manipulate again, and the device can reel in and pull you to where the hook hooks.”
When the equipment was operated again, the cog wheel attached to the equipment rotated violently and wound the line, and the blacksmith’s body was dragged all the way toward the wall.
Indeed, if you have this, it will be easier to move on the back of a snake. It will take a bit of training though.
“The power source is the wearer’s magic power. Every time you activate it, it consumes mana, so be careful with this.”
“Good. Prepare thirty. in today.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
If you pay two per person, you can use it well during this operation even if a breakdown occurs. I looked down at the grappling hook launcher on my arm and nodded.
***
Afterwards, all 15 people in the party of 3 hero characters were equipped with grappling hook launchers and trained to use them.
Since melee class characters are accustomed to using their bodies, they quickly adapted, and since wizards are equipped with magical powers, they also quickly adapted.
It was just me and Kelly Bay who struggled and had a hard time adjusting. Damn.
“Even human engineers know how to make quite decent equipment panting!”
Kelly Bay, struggling with grappling launcher training, grumbled.
“But this is for humans, not for dwarves! I need to remodel mine separately!”
Then, he started remodeling only his grappling hook launcher. Add magic boosters, triple the size of the grappling hook… … .
Then it started flying. Ahh! It’s a flying dwarf!
In the end, I was the only one with the lowest proficiency, so I had to go through hook training even during the rest time. ok
Besides these grappling hook launcher drills.
Cleared the [Slime Room] event dungeon by consuming both remaining entries.
It was mainly focused on leveling and adapting the punishment unit.
The original purpose of this free exploration, such as reaching the main party level of 50 or farming various items through the exploration of the District 5 dungeon, was already over.
Custom training to defeat Jormungand was progressing steadily.
***
Although the core of this operation is the hero characters.
Of course, ordinary soldiers also have a role to play in this defense battle. It was Plan B to be executed if Plan A, the hero party operation, failed.
It is to stop Jormungandr with firepower projections such as cannons and ballistas.
Of course, this is like a last-ditch effort if Plan A fails.
Human firearms are meaningless in front of Jormungandr’s thick defense.
Still, if the damage to enter is not 0, there is a possibility, so I decided to prepare.
Regular mercenaries are constantly hiring and expanding.
Their role is small in this defense battle, but their role is also important in most stages.
thud! thud! Kugu Palace!
“Move with care! careful!”
“That’s all gunpowder you bastards! If you drop it, you guys will fall behind!”
“Hey new! It’s a cut from the salary as much as the equipment is broken! Are you going to sit in a pile of debt after coming in to make a profit with mercenary work?!”
New mercenaries were seen moving and installing equipment under the direction of senior mercenaries.
Young-looking recruits are sweating profusely in their new uniforms for our Southern Front.
Ordinary soldiers belonging to the penal unit are working alongside the new recruits with a more disciplined appearance than before.
Apparently Reina rolls during the day and Lucas rolls at night. Thanks to that, I’ve managed to become a soldier-like figure.
“… .”
I want to pay these new recruits a long, long time until they become veterans.
I want to give you an allowance, I want to give you a reward, and I want to hang a medal on my chest.
Until the day when all raids are over and the army is no longer needed on the southern front and the disbanding ceremony is held.
To do so, you must pass the stage in front of you.
The enemy invasion is imminent. I clenched my fists as I watched the busy fortress city.
***
As always, time goes by in an instant.
There is only one day left before the conclusion of Operation Jormungandr.
