How to Survive as a Player Chapter 186

#186

In response to Sehyun’s question, the employee looked her up and down with a suspicious gaze. The expression on his face was as if he didn’t know that either. Sehyun tapped the table again with the jewel.

“Hmm… It looks like you’re on the outskirts somewhere, and that’s because the empire is currently recruiting a large number of troops. “This is where all the areas around here are registered, so they all gathered here.”

“Is there even a war?”

“I don’t know the details. The empire is dismissing it as a subjugation, but given the news that the Eastern Continent is also gathering its troops, it cannot be said that there are no worries about war. However, it is difficult for a continental war to break out, as the East Continent has not expressed its intention to go to war, and friendly relations are maintained well, so it is impossible to make any definite conclusions at this time. Some priests say it is because of the red moon.”

“Red Moon?”

“Some crazy old woman was screaming in front of the Great Temple of the Empire that a red moon would rise soon. There are texts that say that whenever the red moon rises, a disaster such as a great flood or earthquake occurs, but seeing as there has been no record of it happening for nearly 3,000 years, it is just a superstition. Even if it were true, would the empire gather people because of a flood?”

“Is it still so crowded?”

“Because the pay is good. “The empire offered the highest salary per person for a year, but mercenaries who live from day to day are not willing to rush in.”

The employee shrugged his shoulders and talked about it as if it were someone else’s business. He didn’t actually participate so it was a matter for him.

“So, all these mercenaries are converging on the empire. Do they have any means of transportation?”

“The Empire issued an official notice saying that the village’s teleports would be opened sequentially every fifteen days. Let’s leave our village alone… . Ah, five days later. I would like to tell you in advance that I cannot apply for D grade because it is not eligible. In consideration of D-class mercenaries who unusually missed promotion, they will be selected if they pass a test, but even then, there is a high probability that they will end up in the supply of supplies to the rear. “Everyone at the rear is reluctant because they don’t have money.”

The employee pointed to a mercenary in the next line who was shouting with a blood band on his neck. It was a man who screamed loudly to be put in the front line.

“okay.”

Sehyeon glanced at the screaming mercenary, nodded as if his business was done, and turned his back without any hesitation. Of course, with the jewels in hand. The employee who saw this blinked his eyes as if he was dumbfounded.

“Hey, are you kidding me? “Aren’t you going to give me that?”

“When did I say I would give it to you? It seems like you’re mistaken, so why not use it? Ah, I heard you right.”

“What?! Ah, who is that D-class bastard making fun of now… !”

The employee, who was making a fuss as if he was going to jump over the table, quickly kicked the table with a huff and turned his back in frustration when everyone’s attention was focused on him.

“Let’s go out. “It looks like there’s nothing more to say.”

“Sure.”

Meanwhile, Ruhak had overheard the conversation and had figured out the situation. Sehyeon came out of the noisy building and headed toward the square. Wherever I went, all I saw were mercenaries. Because of its rough and menacing appearance, most of the villagers were walking down the street with their eyes closed, looking at the mercenaries.

Sehyun sat on a bench in the square for a moment and patted her sore shoulder. Then he unconsciously looked up at the sky and had to blink without realizing it.

“… Ruhak, look up.”

As I called out to him with uncertainty, Ruhak’s gaze immediately shifted to the high sky. The moment the monster’s fingertips were carved into his pitch-black eyes exposed to sunlight, Ruhak’s eyes widened silently. The condensed pupils were scary.

It’s not an illusion.

It was only after seeing Ruhak that Sehyun realized that her thoughts were not an illusion.

The monster’s fingertips were more curled than I had first seen. And that movement is still continuing.

And at a very slow pace.

***

Nickman Fortress.

It was a fortress located in the southern coastal desert of the empire, and was a key point for managing the empire’s waterways. It was in charge of supplying water to nearby empires and territories, and was also a major institution that carried out seawater desalination. And those who carried out desalination were the magicians of the empire.

However, in recent years, with the aging of wizards and the decline in young wizards, Fortress Nikman has been reduced to a place where it cannot perform its proper function.

In addition, many of the wizards who were previously carrying out desalination left without permission and disappeared, leaving only three wizards currently carrying out desalination.

The Empire also realizes the seriousness of this, but they cannot rescue a magician who does not exist. So, the lord of Fortress Nikman was living each day in worry. This is especially true in times of extreme drought, as it is a matter of life and death.

And today, as two of the three remaining wizards in Fortress Nikman became bedridden from mana exhaustion, the desalination of Fortress Nikman was virtually halted.

People gathered in the sand-blown square looked at the waterway that had begun to dry up and lamented the futility.

“… It’s over… . “We’re done too.”

“Who would have thought that the 100-year history of Fortress Nikman would collapse like this… .”

“This… “What should I do?”

This place was uninhabitable when the water dried up. The fortress had been operated using the energy obtained from desalination, so now that desalination had stopped, it was stranded. Hundreds of residents gather here.

Everyone was stranded in this desert. Even if I were to leave this village now, crossing that harsh desert would have been difficult in the first place. In the end, the only option was death.

“I will use my last strength to activate the teleportation.”

The last remaining wizard came out in front of the people with his staff in hand. If you pour all your remaining magic power into teleportation, you may be able to survive, but even then, only some of you can make it across. Rather, it was a situation that could have caused confusion.

“My lord, please don’t do that. This is where I was born and raised, so where are we going? “We will just die here with our lord.”

“Everyone is born in a barren place and suffers all their lives. What is this? What on earth is the Empire doing, letting this situation go by like this? !”

As soon as someone started sobbing, tears broke out everywhere. After crying like that for a while, when the sandstorm that had been blowing particularly harshly hit the fortress and stopped, the people heard the voice of a stranger behind them.

“Hmm, desalination… . “It’s not a difficult problem.”

It was a drowsy, confident voice. People who realized the voice immediately turned their gaze towards the sound. At the gate of the fortress, where the sandstorm was blowing, there was a dark shadow.

Footsteps that had been buried in the clutter were heard. When the footsteps stopped, people saw a clearer shape.

In front of everyone stood five tall men. One with a wide smile, one who looks timid compared to his size, and three mercenaries with very different spirits.

They were Fan and Yoon Je-ha, who were isolated in the desert away from Se-hyeon, and the heroes Hediman, Zenon, and Uls.

“Who are you?”

Someone mustered up the courage to step forward and ask. Fan looked at the young man and introduced himself with a smile.

“Is it okay to say that they are people who have come to help you who are in trouble? How about doing business with us?”

“What a deal. What… .”

“We will solve the desalination problem here.”

At Fan’s words, the square instantly became cluttered. Some people pointed as if it was nonsense, while others crawled out and bent their backs in front of the fan and asked if it was true. As soon as they heard a glimmer of hope, people who had given up on life became imbued with the desire to live.

And when that commotion leads to disorder.

“Everyone stop.”

Someone mediated this Sadal. The person who intervened was an old man limping through the crowd. He was the last wizard remaining in Nikman Fortress and a ‘Gerud’ who also served as the lord of this place.

The Gerudo walked in front of Fen and looked up at him with weak eyes. And he asked.

“Can we really solve the desalination problem?”

“If possible.”

“… “What do you want?”

Without answering, Fen raised his hand and pointed to the sky. Everyone followed their fingertips and looked up at the vast sky with swirling sand. It was a clear sky without a single cloud. But in Fen’s eyes, it looked different.

It was a panoramic view of a frighteningly large shadow covering the sky.

“I want information about that.”

Fan’s eyes darkened. He looked like he was looking around to see if he knew anyone. When that expression was transferred to the Gerudo who arrived in front of him, a smile appeared on Fen’s lips.

Only Gerudo was not looking at the sky. It was a look in his eyes that already knew what was there. However, there were many doubts and worries inside. However, the moment the old man’s eyes closed deeply, all emotions corroded and disappeared.

“… If you solve desalination, I’ll tell you everything I know. That and all the other information you want. However, if what you say is false, you will not be able to survive here because you have deceived the people of the territory.”

“Do you see what that looks like?”

“Would the answer be five branches?”

The old man knew exactly what the monster was. He lowered his head as if he had no need to listen any further.

“of course. Oh, and if there is a smelter or workshop, I would like to ask for guidance. “I have to make something.”

He patted Yoon Je-ha’s shoulder, who was full of tension, and started walking. When the old man nodded his head and gave silent permission, the villagers who had been sitting around stood up and started guiding the fan.

The first steps of Fan, Jeha Yoon, and the three heroes began in a small desert fortress where a strong sandstorm blew.