◈ 478. [Auto Play] Prelude (3)
Kung… . thud… . thud… .
Plain between Black Lake and Crossroads.
Three monsters were advancing with a heavy sound.
Snake-like hair, large gray eyes that were hardened with no pupils open, a torso covered with needle-like hair, and limbs that gleamed with a metallic light.
Gorgon 3 sisters.
The three monsters looked similar at first glance from afar, but were slightly different upon closer inspection.
The first, Steno, is the biggest, thick-limbed monster that walks in the lead.
The second Euryale is a monster with skin wings sprouting from her back walking beside him.
And walking behind them… … Compared to her two older sisters, the youngest Medusa has a much more human appearance.
Chains were wrapped around the necks of Steno and Euryale, and the chains were in Medusa’s hands.
The youngest who dominates and controls her two older sisters.
That was Medusa, the head of the three sisters.
“Isn’t that ridiculous, sisters?”
Medusa opened her mouth. The tip of his tongue, which had been split in two, flicked and exhaled poisonous air.
“Did you hear that nasty lich talking in the middle of the night? what? If we move according to his command, he will release the curse on us?”
Medusa shook her head.
“It is nonsensical nonsense. The curse placed on us is a gift from God. It’s something a trivial lich can’t solve.”
Medusa spoke earnestly, but Steno and Euryale didn’t answer.
With my eyes wide open and looking forward, I just took a step forward without intellect.
《… But at least once in a while.”
As Medusa looked at the two older sisters with pity, her hands holding the chain grew stronger.
“If only I could remove the curse. If so.”
I don’t even remember anymore.
If only I could go back to my distant past before being cursed… … .
“I don’t even want the curse to be completely lifted. If only I could have a normal conversation with my older sisters… … .》
Because even after saying it himself, he knows that it is a vain wish.
Medusa, who had been laughing, hissed and put her snake-like tongue into her mouth.
《… Because of such vain hope, I was able to advance without even thinking about it. I’m not interested in whether people will perish or not… … .》
The Three Gorgon Sisters are originally monsters specialized in base defense.
This is because it can block all enemies approaching within a certain area with the Mystic Eye of Petrification.
So, they built their own fortress in the corner of Dungeon District 9 and turned everyone who approached into stone statues.
Although notorious for their indiscriminate petrification and its power, they were actually more skilled at defending than attacking.
They have fought to protect themselves from those who come to them while hiding in their hideout… … Monsters who have imprisoned themselves.
They were not originally good at attacking.
《I never wanted to step on this hateful piece of land again.》
But
if there is any hope at all.
If there’s even the slightest possibility of changing this terrible life… … If so, you have no choice but to attack.
《Let’s finish this quickly, sisters.》
Medusa muttered as she glared ahead.
《The royal family will soon be destroyed… … go back Back to our little hideaway… … .》
Kwadeuk kudeuk… !
Chow!
The second, Euryale, spread her wings made of skin.
Then, after grabbing Steno and Medusa with each hand, they soared into the sky.
Whee ae ae ae-!
At once, the three monster sisters flew through the air to the north where the Cross Road was.
Medusa bit her lip.
Nothing changed. Turns all nearby enemies into stone and kills them.
Even if it’s just being used, even if there’s no salvation at the end… … You have to run while spitting towards the bait placed in front of you.
Because that is the fate given to monsters.
***
Crossroads. smithy.
thud!
Lucas picked up the shield the blacksmiths had just created and placed it on the table. Evangeline, standing next to her, blinked curiously.
“What is this?”
“Mirror Shield.”
Lucas nodded.
“It was written in the guide left by the lord that this is the only way to stop the evil eye of petrification.”
“What is the principle? What a rainbow reflection! Is it like this?”
“… That’s not entirely wrong.”
Raising the shield and putting it on his arm, Lucas continued his explanation.
“The Mystic Eye of Petrification used by the 3 Gorgon Sisters is basically to petrify the person they make eye contact with, but even if they don’t make eye contact… You can force petrification just by looking at them.”
“What is that. It’s cheating.”
“yes. So we need this.”
Lucas jerked his mirror shield at Evangeline. Evangeline rubbed her chin as she looked at her face in the mirror.
“Wow, who is this unparalleled beauty?”
“Strange. I illuminated the pigs raised on our front line… … .”
“damn! Uncle, is that so?!”
He turned his head away from Evangeline, who was getting angry with him, and groaned! Lucas, who made a noise, saw the mirror shields being made over and over again.
“Anyway, the mirror does not petrify because it deflects the effect of petrification. Also, if you look through a mirror, you will not be petrified.”
“Oh really… .”
“All hand-to-hand combat units will be issued this mirror shield. But you don’t have to.”
Evangeline’s [Cross Family Shield] contains the ice spirit Glacier.
As soon as the words left, Evangeline manipulated the spirits in her shield to make ice form on the surface of the shield like a mirror.
“Like this?”
As Evangeline grinned and held out her shield, Lucas nodded while looking at his own face.
“You’re handsome too… … Not as good as the lord.”
“What are you talking about? Unlucky… .”
“There are some techniques of seduction that I have learned while watching the lord’s side. Next time, after receiving the title of count from my lord, I might become popular if I go out into the social circles of the imperial capital.”
“Stop talking nonsense with that shameless face! Rather than that, you really intend to get the count?!”
“no. I think you look nervous. I was joking to loosen up a bit.”
It’s an urgent situation, but he’s doing that with a serious face, so I can’t tell if he’s joking or serious.
Evangeline grumbled and removed the ice mirror, and Lucas crossed his arms and sighed.
“The problem is that even if you can deal with the Mystic Eye of Petrification with this, the rest is a problem.”
“huh? What about the rest?”
“The ability of the three Gorgon sisters is not limited to the Mystic Eye of Petrification. It’s just that the basic physical spec itself is a powerful high-ranking monster.”
Its hair is like armor, and its limbs are stronger than most metals.
I don’t know if I can bounce off their gaze with a mirror, but I can’t receive a physical attack.
If you receive a physical attack, the mirror will break, and then the vicious cycle repeats, in which even the evil eye of the petrification cannot be bounced off.
In the end, the mirror has to be used as an auxiliary means, and in actual combat, you have to use a different method… … .
It was then that Lucas was about to discuss hand-to-hand combat tactics with Evangeline.
“I have a report for you, Sir Lucas!”
A soldier rushed into the forge. Lucas frowned and looked at him.
“What is going on?”
“This is a report from the skirmishers! It is said that the monsters have now switched to flying!”
“… !”
“One of the three monsters flew up using wings made of skin and is said to be transporting the other two to the Crossroads!”
Disappointment crossed the faces of the two knights. Lucas pressed his hand against his furrowed brow.
“It will arrive sooner than expected… Was the speed measured?”
“yes. Observation results suggest that we will reach the crossroads in one day!”
“Damn it… .”
Because of their flying ability, even the estimated time to arrive was drastically reduced. I can’t afford to even here… … .
Lucas sighed in agony.
“It can’t go on like this. We need reinforcements.”
At those words, Evangeline raised her eyes in bewilderment.
“Eh? Replenishment of troops? where?”
Not only the crossroads here, but all the frontiers and spare troops in the city went up to the imperial ecliptic under the flag of the World Defense Front.
There is no place to replenish troops. But where?
“… There is a bait that the lord has sown in advance.”
As he opened the door to the forge, Lucas spoke heavily.
“I need to retrieve the fish caught in that fishing net.”
And the direction Lucas is heading… … It was right next to the hotel.
Evangeline, who had been staring blankly at Lucas as she strode forward alone, gave a squawk.
“Wait a minute, you’re not talking about those bastards?!”
***
Hotel Crossroads.
This place, which had been crowded with precious guests from all over the continent just a few weeks ago, was now quiet.
Those who remain as guests here are either swollen tourists who are not afraid of monsters.
“Oh, I want to borrow some chips!”
“They say we won’t pay?! uh?! that’s not it! Are you paying it right? Don’t you believe us?”
It was only a gambling addict who came to the casino and squandered his fortune.
The reason Ash built a hotel with a casino in the first place was to catch high-level heroes who are crazy about gambling.
That’s why the primary adoption was the Gamble Club. They headed to the ecliptic along with the World Guard Front.
And in the past few weeks, when Ash was away, there were a number of high-level heroes who had newly visited and became casino players.
But they weren’t tajja like gamble clubs. They were just people who were addicted to gambling.
Other famous casinos on the continent have already been banned from entering, and gambling addicts of the human end have flowed to the southern tip of this place after wandering around gambling places with the money they earned a day.
“You can pick it up and pay it back, huh? Hey here with my mercenary band And do you know how expensive this ring is?”
“I don’t know who I am, but hey! This is because I went to the sauna together with your lord at the imperial public bathhouse!”
“No, so this casino cheated? Otherwise, there’s no way I could lose all my money like this! bring the person in charge Bring them quickly!”
The “Blacklist”
is the name given to those who have wasted all the money they have already brought and have everything worthwhile, from equipment to clothes, pawned at the pawnshop and now have nothing more to give, so they are messing around in front of the casino.
Lucas muttered as he watched these truths of the riots at the casino entrance.
“Even in this place where there are few customers and it is run broadly, they are the real ones who are on the no-entry list.”
“… .”
Gambling addicts with nothing to lose were now holding on to the collar of the casino staff. If left alone, he was ready to break down the casino entrance.
“ha… .”
Evangeline, who put her forehead on her forehead and let out a sigh, glanced sideways at Lucas.
“… Are you going to hire them?”
“It’s a dead end, but its combat power is usable.”
If Ash was here, ‘Sal! It’s bitter!’ They were named heroes who would run while saying the same incomprehensible things.
It’s not the good side, it’s the bad side. It’s a problem that I’m a notorious human scumbag… … .
‘Is notoriety important when the three Gorgon sisters are about to attack in the next day?’
As long as they fight together, as Ash said before, they will only gratefully accept the opponent, whether it be a ghost or a ghost.
that buck that buck
Lucas deliberately walked towards the casino entrance with heavy footsteps. Evangeline reluctantly caught up behind him.
“… ?”
“huh?”
“what.”
At the sound of clanking armor, the rogues at the casino entrance turned around one by one. Lucas looked at their faces.
A blind man wearing clothes that look like worn-out rags and a cloth over his closed eyes.
A muscular man with metal plates embedded all over his body.
A woman dressed like a pseudo cult leader with a burning candlestick on her head in the shape of a crown.
A man with glasses whose one arm, one leg, and one face have been replaced with magic engineering machines.
And lastly – a child in a prison uniform whose whole body is bound with chains and only his hands can barely move.
These five simultaneously showed hostility towards Lucas.
“What are you again?!”
“Is this your shoulder? Are you trying to kick us out?”
“That won’t work! We lost our weapons to a pawn shop, but our bare fists have a bad temper?!”
“No, no, I’ll just give you one hit, so can’t you give me some money?”
“What? Then you’ll get me right! How much is each hit? uh?”
Standing in front of the noisy gambling addicts, Lucas sighed coldly.
“You have two options to choose from.”
Raising his index and middle fingers, Lucas waved them up and down.
“Either get hit and get kicked out. Either work together to defeat the monster for a while and continue to enjoy the casino.”
“… .”
“Which one would you choose, scumbags?”
Among the five blacklists who exchanged quick glances with each other, the blind man staggered forward. He showed his yellow teeth and grinned.
“Shall we sit down at the negotiating table first?”
