◈ 237. [Free Exploration]
After walking back to the Doi base camp, I took the teleport gate and returned to the crossroads.
Belldandy remained at base camp.
When I asked if she would like to go out with me just in case, she immediately declined.
“I can’t leave this place until I complete the assigned mission.”
With a shy smile, Belldandi said so.
Looking at her like that, I was speechless for a moment.
How would it feel to wander in the darkness for 100 years in search of a treasure that is not even sure it exists?
Even though the king and the state that gave the order have already disappeared.
‘All the NPC parties wandering the dungeon are like that.’
Either one.
Holding on to a delusion that is no different from being crazy or insane.
‘… Will we be like that too?’
If I fail to clear the game, my friends will end up in a similar situation.
Even though the world is already perishing, you may continue your meaningless exploration to save the world by wandering underground here.
I glanced at the faces of my colleagues.
Huddled together in front of the teleport gate, everyone is laughing languidly with pale faces after washing in the hot spring water.
He clenched his fists and vowed once again.
children
I won’t leave you in the dark
***
Cleared four dungeons in District 5 in the next two weeks.
Before advancing to District 6, there was a need to organize all of District 5 first.
The goal was to make the members level 50.
A hero character must be level 50 in order to change his 3rd job and obtain an ultimate skill.
After that, you can still get stats and attributes, but your skill set will stop growing at this point.
Since this is such an important level, the amount of experience required to level up is rare.
Especially in the level 48~50 section, my growth was really slow, so my nickname was ‘on my way to work’.
They said that they had to hit 50 until the next defense match, but no matter how much they ran, they couldn’t get it and there were many characters who went into the defense battle with 48 or 49.
Viewers used to call this ‘perception’.
The current level of Lucas, Evangeline, and Damian is 49.
There are still two weeks left before the start of stage 10, so I think I can shoot level 50 without being late.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep up with the exploration… .”
Early moning.
Junior said apologetically to us gathering in the backyard of the mansion to prepare for a new exploration.
“I thought I might have gotten better, so I overdid it, but the recoil must have been strong… .”
All other heroes have escaped from the aftermath of the last defeat of Jormungand.
Evangeline, who had lost her taste, returned to her usual form, and Quylan also completed her recovery.
But Junior was still in the middle of the goal.
It’s just that the taste goes away. How many times did you use an ultimate that would kill you if you used it once that day?
“Still, Sir Reina continues to help with the procedure, so recovery will be complete until the next defense… … I’m really sorry.”
Evangeline smiled broadly at Junior, who was still apologetic for her pale complexion.
“It’s okay, Juju sister! Body recovery comes first!”
I also nodded my head.
“Don’t be burdened and focus on your recovery. got it?”
Anyway, Junior has the highest level among the characters under his command, and he is not in a situation where he needs additional training right now.
It’s unfortunate that we can’t take the wizard on the exploration, but clearing the dungeon we’re facing isn’t a big problem even with the current members. It’s okay to focus on recuperation.
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have taken you to the hot springs too. It would have helped at least a tiny bit in my recovery.”
The hot springs are in the form of a ticket issued when you catch a monster at the entrance, so you cannot use it until the next season’s monster is refilled.
If I had known Junior’s aftereffects would be this long, I would have taken him.
“ah… After all, the bathroom is a bit… … .”
“There’s also a private bath, so next time I’ll definitely go with you! sister!”
Even though Evangeline continued to entice Junior, he was reluctant.
But I made up my mind in my heart.
Every season, I have to gather all the members of the goalpost and put them in a hot spring. Even if it’s just a small recovery buff, it’ll help.
Leaving Junior waving with a puzzled look behind us, we threw ourselves into the teleport gate.
Flash-!
***
The members who have been exploring for the past two weeks are as follows.
Main party 4 people excluding juniors. Me Lucas Damian Evangeline. And Kuylan and the 5 members of the Punishment Unit.
In addition, Belldandy, who has been helping the exploration for the past two weeks, has been incorporated, making a total of 10 people. 2 parties.
“Ah, you are here!”
Belldandy, who was checking his equipment at the base camp, smiled brightly at us.
Although I still can’t see laughing because of the tears.
For the past two weeks, Belldandi has served as a guide.
Junior came to the main party when he was away, and the sum was quite good.
He is quite good at dungeon raids, as if his 100 years of time spent here was not wasted. It’s pretty helpful.
So today I brought you a prize. I took a pouch out of my pocket and handed it to Belldandi.
“Here are the sunflower seeds we promised before.”
Surprisingly, there were no sunflowers in the Crossroads area, so I had to send people to the next city to get the seeds by air.
So it took some time to get it.
“Dehoop!”
Belldandi jumped up and took the sunflower seeds with great care.
“thank you… ! I never thought I would see this again before I die… … .”
Verdandi, who showed a bent waist, cherished the bag of seeds in her arms.
‘I was looking forward to seeing him forgetting like a squirrel, but is he doing that to save money?’
In the meantime, as soon as I brought carrots and cabbage and various ingredients, I showed a great mukbang reaction to eat on the spot, so I was looking forward to it again this time.
Unexpectedly, the first sunflower seeds he requested were hidden in his arms without even touching them.
I wondered why, but I didn’t bother to ask. That could be privacy too.
“Today I stop at the Colosseum. It’s a place I cleared before. Everyone in the main party remembers it, right?”
At my words, Lucas and Damian Evangeline all three nodded in unison.
District 5’s last dungeon. Coliseum sparks.
At the time, there was no way to go by land, so I stopped by as a trick using a short cut. The boss was not at the level to catch, so I broke through with a trick.
But now the party has grown enough to be able to stop by on foot, and all the bosses in the other District 5 dungeons have been defeated by our hands.
‘Everyone has grown up in an instant.’
Looking at the main party members who were about to reach level 50, I felt proud.
oh oh oh my kids In the future, let’s just walk on the path to write.
“Are you really going to the Colosseum?”
Belldandi, who claimed to be the guide today, opened her eyes wide.
“Since the vampire army invaded there a few months ago, the entire area has been completely devastated. Even if you go, you won’t see much.”
“A friend there helped me. In return, I was attacked by the vampire legion.”
I remembered the image of the jackal kneeling in front of me sobbing.
I told him then The Empire did not abandon you.
Even if it was a blatant lie to overcome the immediate crisis.
Jackal truly believed that and gave his life for me.
Then at least I have to make the words at that time true, not false.
The Empire has not abandoned you.
I haven’t forgotten you
“Even now, I have the power to help you, so I will go and find it. At the very least, you should check whether he is dead or alive. Isn’t that moral?”
Then, Belldandi’s eyes widened even more. Why do you open your eyes like that? Were my words strange?
“The morality of the Tao… .”
“why?”
“No, it’s strange. … I never thought I’d hear those words again in the depths of this hell.”
I let out a shy smile.
“Actually, it’s hard to hear even outside.”
both on earth and here in the world. It is foolish to live by arguing about morality. who doesn’t know that
I just want to remember at least the grace I received.
Even if you’re not a great adult, even if you’re humble and self-satisfied. I just want to be that kind of person.
– brother!
… okay.
‘Cause I’ll never forget
***
Even though I walked after teleporting to the nearest safe point from the Colosseum, the distance was quite far.
Even then, I walked with a short cut, but it took an inexhaustible amount of time.
‘The Colosseum itself is a noisy and dangerous facility, so maybe it was built on the outskirts of the city?’
At the time, I could only guess at the intention of placing entertainment facilities in the city of the Lake Kingdom. what do you not want to do
Anyway, I was able to arrive at the Colosseum after walking for several hours while beating monsters that came at me with unexpected events.
[Area 5 – Sparkling Colosseum]
A stone building built in a huge circular shape like that of ancient Rome.
The last time I saw it, the Colosseum, which was magnificent and majestic, was completely destroyed.
The ceiling was blown off and the pillars collapsed unsightly. I couldn’t feel any presence on the dusty floor.
The party members were vigilantly glaring at me.
Among the escorts, I kept my mouth shut and walked into the Colosseum.
“… .”
Even the inside of the Colosseum is empty.
The spacious audience and the arena where bloody battles were fought against monsters for 7 rounds. It is empty without anything.
He licked his bitter taste and looked around.
《Prince Ash… ?”
A weak voice came.
All party members turned their weapons toward it in unison.
Upon closer inspection, there was an old goblin sitting in the corner of the Colosseum.
The bearded goblin was covered in blood. In front of it I hurriedly ran.
“I am really here. Jackal Master was right… … .》
“You?”
《I am the manager goblin of the Colosseum here, the subordinate of Master Jackal… … .]
The goblin, who coughed up blood, continued with difficulty.
《The Colosseum was partially destroyed after the battle with the vampire army, but Jackal Master continued to guard the Colosseum here and waited for you… … .》
Fortunately, the jackal seems to have been unharmed during the battle with the vampire corps.
But now?
“Where is the jackal?”
“A few days ago, the werewolf army suddenly attacked… … .”
I gritted my molars. Are they them again?
On the goblin’s chest, there were five scars that looked like they were carved with claws.
I took out a potion and poured it on the goblin, but the wound didn’t heal well.
《I lost all my troops during the battle with the vampire, and as you can see, the Colosseum is not in a state where it can fight… … Jackal-sama was eventually captured and dragged away by them.》
“… .”
“You gave me the last time. If, by any chance, Prince Ash’s Highness comes, please tell him not to worry about himself… … But I also suffered like this… … .”
The old goblin’s voice faded.
“I can still die while preaching the word… Relief… .》
The goblin’s body limp.
It seems that he was holding on to his life with one mission, but when he delivered the message, his energy rapidly declined. The goblin was mortified.
Looking down at the goblin’s corpse with mixed feelings, I slowly got up.
Anyway, the Jackal’s whereabouts have been identified. Apparently, he was also kidnapped by the werewolf army.
“One more reason to go rescue your comrades, Verdandi.”
I nodded to Belldandy. Belldandi also nodded with a stiff face.
District 7 Wolf Den.
Kidnapped NPCs are gathering there.
***
Flash-!
After finishing today’s exploration and returning to the Crossroads,
“Huh?”
Ader was waiting in front of the teleport gate with a firm face. I wondered and asked.
“What is Ader? What’s wrong?”
“Lord.”
Ader spoke to me with a face that had never been seen before.
“Junior-sama and Sir Reina were attacked.”
All the returning party members widened their eyes.
“… It is said that he is now wandering between death and death.”
