Episode 143
The end of the forest was visible on the other side.
The Sun Guild members who discovered it all stopped walking as if they had made a promise.
Some change was detected.
They knew from past experience.
What does such a change mean in a gate with this structure?
It indicates that this is where the boss is.
“You can just do what you normally do.”
Nam Woo-sik spoke as if to ease the tension among the guild members.
Normally, I wouldn’t have said this.
But now, I had no choice but to say that.
Due to the series of difficult battles, the morale and condition of the guild members were not normal.
Their appearance was no different from that of soldiers who had barely survived a long bloody battle.
The body was covered in blood and sweat, and the fatigue that could not be hidden was evident on the face.
Even if you ran A-grade raids in succession, you wouldn’t be in this state.
In a state of tension, the mind and body become more easily fatigued.
And the high-risk monsters they had faced so far were enemies that could not be dealt with without paying close attention.
So, this is what happened.
It was like that even though I took some time to rest when I came here.
This meant that it was fatigue that could not be fully recovered by resting at the gate.
What was particularly problematic was that horsepower consumption was at a serious level.
Once the magic power was consumed, there was no way to recover it inside the gate.
Therefore, experienced hunters used their skills carefully when attacking the gate and carefully controlled the pace of magical power consumption.
That was the difference from an inexperienced hunter who overused skills without thinking.
However, they, who were more experienced hunters than anyone else, failed to control their pace.
This meant that unexpectedly powerful monsters poured out.
The immediate situation is urgent and there is no time to think about the future.
“Let’s not skimp on items for the boss.”
Heo Gi-taek spoke after Nam Woo-sik.
Although the consumption of items was more extreme than usual, it was because I knew that there were still some really expensive life-saving items left.
There were a lot of B-level and higher-level hunters with a lot of money, but that didn’t mean the value of the items decreased.
An item that a B-level or higher hunter could use for life-saving purposes was a fairly high-grade item, and such an item was never easily dropped from the gate.
There is a lot of demand but a low supply, so it is not something you can get as much money as you want.
So, normally, I wouldn’t use it unless I was in a situation that felt really dangerous.
But things were different now.
Even without Ki-taek’s words, they were keenly aware that this was not the time to leisurely save items.
Looking at the expressions on the guild members’ faces, Ki-taek knew that he didn’t need to say anything.
“Be careful, sister.”
Han Ji-ho, looking tired, spoke to Sujin.
“Yeah, you too.”
Sujin’s eyes also looked tired.
She continued speaking in a nervous voice.
“water.”
As soon as she could speak, the porter behind her politely held up a small bottle of water with both hands and handed it to her.
gulp.
Sujin thought as she moistened her dry throat and mouth.
‘Isn’t this person dead?’
I just wanted to crush it for the sake of looking good, not that I wanted it to die.
Dying is no fun.
‘No, he probably didn’t die.’
Sujin shook her head.
The porters receive little money and are treated poorly, but they are also not responsible for attacking the gate.
It doesn’t matter if you hide behind the monster at the farthest distance.
And monsters also had a habit of instinctively attacking strong, hostile humans, and not first attacking humans who did not seem threatening at first glance.
So even with a gate like this, I probably would have survived.
Of course, it was clear that the appearance of that raiding party was not what was said.
Even if you manage to get through the forest path, it will almost look like a living corpse.
Maybe we haven’t even reached the middle of the forest road right now.
“egg plant.”
When it seemed like the guild members were somewhat prepared, Nam Woo-sik spoke briefly.
Yes, for now I only think about the boss.
No matter what hardships you have gone through, as long as you handle the boss well, it’s over.
Even dealing with the boss alone in a joint attack was a humiliating situation for the opponent.
This was because if something like that happened, it would be like advertising to hunters that their abilities would be diminished.
Sujin threw the bottle of bottled water at the porter and grabbed the magic wand.
◈ ◈ ◈
The Sun Guild members moved their steps cautiously, looking heavy and nervous.
Beyond that, I saw a wide open space that was clearly different from the tree forest I had seen so far.
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The boss would be there.
They approached there slowly.
however.
“…uh?”
Nam Woo-sik, who was the first to step into the vacant lot, had an expression of complete disbelief on his face.
“Um… what is that?!”
“W-what is that?!”
Afterwards, all of the Sun Guild members who witnessed the empty lot looked as if they had been hit by a hammer.
Because there was a scene there that I couldn’t even imagine.
Just looking at it, there was an incredibly huge black unicorn lying there.
And around them, Hunters from the Yangji Guild were lying down and rolling around.
The person who leisurely looked at the sky or lay down and read a book was Yakgwa.
Some people were asleep, and some even seemed to be building a bonfire and roasting something.
In this incomprehensibly bizarre situation, the members of the Sun Guild stood frozen as stone.
“Huh? Why did you come so late? I thought you were going to die from waiting.”
A man sitting in front of a campfire spotted them and shouted.
It was the same.
“Well, it’s a joint attack, so is it okay to do this? Some people work hard until their feet sweat, while others say, ‘Sewol, Newwol… What kind of excursion are you on?’”
Dongil protested in a voice that clearly irritated his nerves.
“….”
However, the Sun Guild stood blankly and could not respond right away.
That told me how confused they were now.
I couldn’t understand at all how this situation had happened and I couldn’t come to my senses.
This gate is a very difficult gate.
Having personally experienced this painfully, I cannot be more certain than this.
… But what on earth is this?
How could the humans over there get through the forest path first?
how.
Their power was superior to the point where there was a difference.
They themselves suffered like this.
But they drilled it first… ?
It was a situation that made no logical sense at all.
“No, why did you do this with blood? Just like a person who has experienced a fierce blood clot. It’s so different. If you have a conscience when you have time to put on such a useless camouflage, shouldn’t you come at least one step faster?”
Dong-il continued to attack intensively.
When I said something I would never say normally, I felt my stomach relax.
Not only the same but also all Yangji guild members.
“…What? Did you finish what you said?”
Han Ji-ho, barely able to come to his senses amidst the confusion, shouted with a seething face.
Dong-il widened his eyes as if he was surprised at such a strong reaction.
“Huh? You really went through a lot of trouble and bloodshed? If that’s really the case, I’m really sorry. Really. No, I couldn’t have imagined that they would have this much trouble with the gate since they have such a great reputation…”
Dong-il’s sly acting definitely deserves a thumbs up.
The people of Yangji Guild were gritting their teeth and holding back the laughter that was about to burst out.
“Brother Dongil, I understand how you feel, but please stop.”
Guild leader Cheolhyeong stepped forward and stopped Dongil. Then he looked at Nam Woo-sik and opened his mouth.
“That’s what you said, but it was a joint attack, so I waited for a long time until he came, but since he didn’t come, I caught the boss first like you said. I’m sure you’ll understand.”
“…You said you caught the boss first?”
Nam Woo-sik asked with an expression of disbelief.
“Yes, there.”
Cheolhyeong pointed to the huge black unicorn that had fallen in the center of the clearing.
I was suspicious because the situation was so absurd, but it seemed like that was the boss.
It was a monster that appeared to be ten times the size of an average unicorn and was incredibly strong at first glance.
… They caught something like that on their own?
I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t speak.
Cheolhyung continued.
“It was strange that this gate was so easy. The boss was equally easy….”
“Easy? What nonsense!”
Han Ji-ho interrupted Cheol-hyeong’s conversation and huffed with a red face.
This is a place they barely made it through after going through all sorts of hardships.
But when I heard those words, I couldn’t resist my youthful spirit.
“Huh? Come to think of it… you guys don’t seem to be in very good condition. Did something happen there?”
Cheolhyung asked, casting a puzzled look.
“What? What happened? Now that….”
Han Ji-ho swallowed his words with a frown.
This is because Nam Woo-sik signaled Han Ji-ho to stop.
“The forest path we came through was inhabited by many strong monsters. So it took some time.”
Nam Woo-sik spoke again in a calm voice.
As expected, not just anyone could take on the role of leader of a large guild.
“Oh, that’s right. How could something like that happen? Only easy monsters kept appearing here.”
“Is that so?”
Nam Woo-sik looked at Cheol-hyung with a searching gaze.
But it didn’t seem like a lie.
I saw with my own eyes that there were two paths.
There was no other way.
If the monsters were equally strong, they wouldn’t have gotten through it so easily.
In the end, he chose the wrong path.
Nam Woo-sik clenched his fists.
However, there was one more thing that could not help but be suspicious.
“Was the boss weak too?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s strange.”
Nam Woo-sik frowned.
It is common knowledge that the strength of a boss is proportional to the strength of regular monsters.
But how can you be weak?
But if the boss was really strong, there’s no way they would be so fine.
However, it was a boss that looked strong just by looking at its body.
Or is this really a weak boss despite his appearance?
Unanswered questions confused my head.
“We thought it was normal, but hearing what the engineering leader said, it’s really strange.”
Cheolhyung said as if he agreed.
As expected, it was a very natural attitude.
It didn’t look suspicious.
Cheolhyung continued.
“I think this is a fact that needs to be reported to the association separately.”
Nam Woo-sik, who did not find anything suspicious in Cheol-hyung’s attitude, eventually nodded.
“…I agree.”
“Anyway, the gate attack was successful this time. Thank you for your hard work.”
Cheolhyung said with a smile.
I intentionally smiled as brightly as possible.
Even a child could tell who this gate strategy was successful for and for whom it was a hardship.
It was a humiliating situation, but I was in no position to say anything.
“Thank you for your hard work…”
Nam Woo-sik tried not to frown as he spoke.
‘It’s annoying, it’s annoying, it’s annoying.’
Sujin, who was behind her, was filled with frustration.
The exact opposite of what I thought happened.
Rather, his own guild was the only one suffering.
It didn’t feel good to show my unsightly appearance covered in blood, sweat, and dust.
Sujin glared at Sihyeon with a nervous gaze.
and.
“uh?”
Sihyeon held something and smiled at her.
It was an extremely large, shiny black magic gemstone.
Only bosses drop black magic stones, so those must have come from the boss.
Sihyeon held it up as if to show it and said something with his mouth.
Although it was a bit far away, Sujin, a Class A awakened person with senses incomparable to that of ordinary people, recognized the shape of the mouth.
form.
good.
all.
He was spitting out exactly one word at a time.
Sujin bit her lip and trembled.
Then he shouted in an angry voice.
“It’s suspicious! Oppa, it’s suspicious! Does a weak boss mob drop such a large magic stone?”
“What magicite?”
Nam Woo-sik asked back.
“Hey, over there! What that human is holding!”
Sujin hurriedly pointed to Sihyeon, fearing that he might be caught between them.
Fortunately, Sihyeon was still looking at her and smiling while holding the magic stone.
“What are you talking about?”
Nam Woo-sik made a strange expression.
“Huh? That magic stone over there.”
“Where is the magic stone?”
“…No, can’t you see that big thing? It’s over there!”
Su-jin pointed to Si-hyeon again, but Nam Woo-sik looked like he was wondering what he was talking about.
“Sujin, I think you need some rest. I guess you worked too hard today.”
Heo Gi-taek, who was next to Nam Woo-sik, said.
Sujin was so shocked that she was almost going crazy.
“No, no. What on earth are you talking about? Jiho, do you see that magic stone?”
“…Sister, I don’t think you’re feeling well. Let’s calm down.”
Even Han Ji-ho patted Sujin on the shoulder and said that.
“What? No… what is this? It’s strange! It’s strange!”
Sujin shook her head and shouted, but the other guild members just looked at her with strange eyes.
When everyone made that kind of expression, she almost began to doubt whether she had really seen something wrong.
However, no matter how I looked, Sihyeon was laughing mockingly while holding the boss’s magic stone.
“I’m sorry. I’m not really like this.”
Nam Woo-sik apologized to Yangji Guild on his behalf.
Before Cheolhyung could say anything, Sihyeon opened her mouth.
“It’s okay. I know Sujin well, so I know she’s not that kind of friend. This raid must have been very difficult. I don’t know if I should at least get an IV.”
Then he looked at Sujin with pitiful eyes.
Sujin’s face turned red with humiliation at that blatant look.
“What? Hey… this is so annoying!”
Ji-ho hurriedly grabbed Soo-jin, who was trying to approach Si-hyeon.
Then he shouted loudly.
“Oh, let’s stop, sis! What are you doing so embarrassingly? In front of everyone else?”
“What? Are you embarrassed? Is that what you’re saying?”
Sujin stuttered as if she was shocked by Jiho’s words.
“Yeah! This isn’t it, really. Let’s calm down!”
Nam Woo-sik frowned when he saw that.
He said to Cheolhyung.
“I’ll go first.”
“Yes, please come in.”
Cheolhyung said with a still smile on his face.
Soon, the Sun Guild forcibly dragged Sujin, who could not bear her anger, back towards the entrance of the gate.
I went back the opposite way, not the way I came.
It seemed like they were trying to see if there was anything suspicious.
As expected, he was not an easy person.
However, that much was already expected by Sihyeon.
So Lin Xue, upon receiving Sihyeon’s request, cast illusion magic on the monsters’ corpses.
The corpses of manticores, twin-headed ogres, and mutant trolls all looked like those of trivial monsters.
I just confirmed that her illusion magic works very well even on A-class awakeners.
The incident just happened because Lin Xue was playing around with illusion magic.
“thank you.”
Sihyeon said.
Lin Xue slowly appeared out of thin air.
The invisibility spell has been lifted.
“What with something like this?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“Today’s raid is a really good raid.”
Sihyeon had a pleasant smile on her lips.
fantasy,
