Episode 173
I looked at the doll again.
It was clearly frozen solid, but how on earth did they break the frozen state?
I saw ice shards scattered everywhere. Pieces of the doll’s skin were mixed together. I looked at the doll again.
‘… The size has shrunk.’
It appears that it was forced out of its frozen state by breaking its outer shell arbitrarily.
In other words, it is impossible to quickly go upstairs after freezing with Seren’s cold.
‘What should I do with this…’ … .’
I think as I run down the hallway.
Meanwhile, quite a bit of time passed. It wasn’t a good sign. In the current situation, twelve hours is not enough.
I continued running and glanced behind me.
thud… … ! thud… … !
The doll is good at jumping.
With that size and weight, shouldn’t the hallway just collapse?
This damned hallway seemed to be made of melted steel and didn’t seem to have any intention of breaking down.
The doll was not fast by any means, but it was chasing us at a speed that would have caught up to us in an instant if we had let our guard down.
He can’t help but be a nuisance in many ways.
‘… Annoying guy?’
I paused at the word that suddenly came to mind, and Evan, who was running next to me, spoke.
“If we lose stamina like this, don’t we think it will only be a loss for us? “Wouldn’t it be better to just join forces and kill that guy right now?”
“no. “I think that’s actually what the princess wanted.”
“what do you mean?”
“That doll’s role from the beginning was to distract and be a nuisance.”
Just enough speed not to miss us.
Aggression that is annoying if left alone.
Durability that cannot be aimed at a short-term decisive battle.
This means that he was not the one who was made to be defeated in the first place.
“Someone needs to take care of that guy.”
I asserted.
“Meanwhile, the remaining four people searched the second floor, found a room leading to the third floor, and went upstairs.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
Seren said.
“Wouldn’t it be safer for four of you to deal with that guy and one person to search the entire second floor? “If you find your way upstairs, call loudly.”
“no.”
I denied Seren’s words.
Seren gave me her characteristic indifferent look without any sign of offense.
It was a gesture as if asking for a reason.
“first. Time is gold for us. As you know, this floor is large. You can tell just by looking at the fact that it takes about an hour to run down the messy hallways to make the round trip. “The number of rooms we saw along the way must have been hundreds, and I have no idea how long it would take for one person to find them.”
“… indeed. and?”
“Secondly, it’s too risky for five people to go up together. Do you know how far that guy will chase you?”
“You mean I can chase you all the way to the third floor?”
“This is a guy who broke the floor and soared from his first appearance. There’s no reason you can’t get to the third floor the same way. “What if, on the third floor, I get attacked by a doll stronger than that guy?”
“… … .”
Seren closed her snout.
Actually, I know.
A person who views everything negatively, assumes only the worst, and finds fault with every word.
People won’t gather around a guy who usually uses this type of speech, and he’ll be shunned by others… … .
It’s different in an emergency situation like now.
You definitely need someone to say bitter things.
I thought that was the role of a leader.
“Then who are you going to leave behind?”
“… “I have to think about that now.”
After saying that, I added a little bit.
“To be honest… It is most certain that I will stay. Not only can I tie that guy up, I can actually beat him if I give my best. but… … .”
“You can’t do that.”
“Because you are our greatest strength.”
“… … .”
I was slightly impressed.
In this situation, even though I said out loud that I would not play the role of bait or scapegoat, these guys showed an attitude of respecting my choice.
Of course, it’s not like I’m using saengtte, and if you think about it a little, you can see that such a claim is supported by reasonable reasons… … .
How many people can think that far when their life is at stake?
‘Is this also the quality of a hero?’
To my surprise, all of the guys here were future heroes.
“I’ll take charge.”
Charon opened his mouth.
“With my speed, I can outrun that guy. Not difficult. I am also confident in my physical strength. “We can play tag all day long.”
“good.”
You can trust Charon.
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I nodded and agreed, and immediately Charon attacked the doll to get his attention… … .
“Evan! damage!”
“Ahh?!”
Evan, who had just grabbed a nearby door handle, started running again.
thud… … ! thud… … !
The doll ran towards us without even looking at Charon.
Charon, who had just joined us, gritted his teeth.
“… “You don’t even pretend to see this body.”
“hmm.”
I scratched my forehead and muttered.
“I guess… “It seems like attention is being drawn to areas with more people.”
In fact, it is natural if its role is to drain power, that is, to consume power.
Seren said.
“Should I stay? “I keep repeating the freezing process.”
“How many times can you use that?”
“… About ten times? “If I overdo it, I think I could do it one or two more times.”
I think that group of people might have to spend their lives.
“I told you. “That guy has a hundred shells.”
“Hmm.”
I tried thinking some more, but I couldn’t come up with anything.
Finally, he sighs and says.
“I can’t help it. “We have no choice but to just get this done together here.”
You need to be good at coordinating your skills and time.
Considering the number of floors remaining, we cannot delay here for more than two hours.
It was that moment.
“I’ll take charge!”
Mir, who had been quiet until now, came forward with a loud voice.
It was Charon who immediately sneered.
“you? You’re saying something funny. Mir Giant, when to step forward and when not to… … .”
“Charon, shut up.”
I spoke briefly to Charon, then looked at Mir and spoke.
“How are you going to take charge? “It seems like that doll automatically tracks where there are a lot of people.”
“Does not matter! “Because I’m going to grab the doll that’s going to you guys and force it to stretch!”
“gibberish-.”
Charon was about to speak, but when he noticed me, he closed his mouth again… … .
The uncomfortable look still didn’t go away.
Seren and Evan probably have similar facial expressions.
“… … .”
My thoughts were a little different.
In fact, from the moment I first thought of this operation, I considered Mir Giant to be the right candidate.
It’s just as this guy said.
With the strength that the giants have, it is not impossible to hold on to that large doll… … .
Aside from blessings, mana, and learned martial arts, Mir is by far the best among us in terms of natural physical strength.
But the reason I didn’t mention this guy… … .
This was because Mir felt that it would be meaningless if he did not open his mouth and assert himself.
That’s the nature of the role of bait and scapegoat.
It cannot be carried out through compulsory selection.
“Mir.”
“Speak!”
“I’ll leave it to you.”
Mir’s eyes widened, and then he smiled so brightly that I felt embarrassed.
“Of course!”
“… Instead, let’s promise one thing.”
“i get it!”
“I haven’t even said it yet. If you feel like you’re going to die, you should run away. got it?”
“… … .”
Mir twisted the corner of his mouth.
The crooked smile that did not suit this guy was close to mocking, but it seemed a little different from that.
“i get it! “Then I’d like to ask for one too!”
“say.”
Mir shouted, pounding his chest.
“Trust me!”
“… … .”
“No matter what happens or what you hear, don’t look back!”
“… good.”
Mir grinned once again, then immediately turned around and ran towards the doll.
Wow!
Crash sound.
A loud sound echoed through the hallway.
The moment Evan flinched and tried to look back, I spoke.
“Evan, let’s search the room.”
“Ah Okay.”
Kwaang… … ! Kwaang… … !
There was a series of loud noises that sounded like rocks colliding with each other.
I also wanted to look back, but I forced myself to hold back.
Instead, he opened the nearest door and roughly searched the room, almost turning over the furniture.
I forcibly restrained my consciousness from drifting towards Mir.
Still, the smile he gave me at the end was not easily forgotten.
‘ah.’
It was only after a while that I was able to think of a modifier that best suited that smile.
It was an extremely warlike smile, one that a warrior might make before going to war.
* * *
Coo… … . Coo… … .
How long can the Mir Giant last?
The incredibly strong body of a giant, the formidable strength of a small body, and although it is still very weak, the power of a frost giant has clearly been awakened.
Even taking all that into account… … .
My honest feeling was that it was difficult to last three hours, or at most four hours.
So I said.
If you feel like you’re going to die, run away.
‘… … .’
There was ridicule.
Actually, I knew.
Mir will not run away or back down until the end.
Coo… … . Coo… … .
Are you an innate coward?
Or, you will have to wait until the end to find out whether your surroundings, education, and life experiences have shaped you into that kind of personality.
And I think… … .
Mir was the furthest thing from a coward.
If he had been a guy who prioritized his own safety in the face of a life-threatening moment at a critical moment, he wouldn’t have died during the retreat before returning.
– … Mir protected us.
– Protecting the weak… They say he’s a hero… … . On my behalf… … .
At that time, I told Mir that protecting the weak is a hero.
It wasn’t advice, much less admonition.
I didn’t give that statement much weight.
He was influenced by those one or two words and awakened as a hero.
– … For me, I am a disqualified hero.
It was difficult to deny what Charles muttered. At that time, that guy must have been protected by Mir.
So what it means is that Charles, who was protected, is disqualified as a hero… … .
In other words, it also meant that Mir, who protected Yeongdo at the time, was the most heroic.
I am.
Of the five of us, I knew that the Mir Giant was the most heroic.
Even if I die, I will not back down.
There was one more reason to kill the princess as soon as possible.
Dalkak-.
The hand holding the doorknob gained strength.
I was annoyed that neither the fire eye nor the snake eye worked in this damn mansion… … .
I suppressed my impatience and searched the rooms one by one.
This is because we know that the slowest path is the fastest.
* * *
Everyone has something they are confident in.
For Mir, that was power.
Pure strength with limited ability and technique.
thud… … thud… … !
He ran straight towards the jumping doll, hitting the floor.
Wow!
A loud crash sound.
My eyes widened.
When it comes to a battle of strength and power, no one is defeated.
It was the same when dealing with compatriots several times larger than themselves in the snowy fields of the north.
“Geuggeuggggeuk…” … !”
I grit my teeth until they break.
With bloodshot eyes, he blocked the doll’s advance with his whole body.
Considering the size difference, it looked reckless and dangerous, like a squirrel trying to prevent a landslide.
Mir’s body actually stopped the roly-poly doll’s advance.
[…] … … !]
The doll also seemed embarrassed.
He was a guy whose facial features looked like they were simply drawn from a painting, but for the first time, his expression changed.
“You can’t go… … !”
The roar-like cry was filled with majesty.
A voice as if vomiting blood rang throughout the mansion.
Mir may not have realized it at this moment, but the hands of the leaders searching the room became even busier.
[…] … … !]
The doll’s face changed into an angry face again.
Wow!
A shock wave exploded from the massive body, and it bounced Mir away.
“Ugh… … !”
I couldn’t prepare.
Mir felt as if his entire body had been hit by a huge wave rather than a strong wind.
For a moment, my mind turned white, and my body swayed as if it would collapse at any moment.
Meanwhile, the doll jumped high.
“… … !”
Mir, who came to his senses belatedly, saw the scene.
“for a moment… … .”
Even Mir realized what was going to happen, but it was too late to avoid it. He could only reflexively stretch his arms upward.
And the doll’s large body, which had soared, fell down like a meteorite.
Coo… … !
The body of the fallen doll, its overwhelming weight, crushed Mir.
Grrrrrrrrrrr… … !
The pressure was literally crushing my spine and knees, crushing my whole body.
Hang in there.
You have to hold on.
I want to hold on.
‘Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.’ Hang in there, hold on… … !’
However, there are many things in the world that cannot be done through will alone.
My nails break.
My fingers break.
All I felt was a sharp pain in my wrist.
‘ah… … .’
Finally, my back and knees buckled.
‘Why am I so weak?’
Wow!
The doll’s large body crushed Mir.
fantasy,
