◈ 236. [Free Exploration] Hot Spring Facility (3)
To tell you the conclusion.
It wasn’t a ghost.
“Help me! Help me, oh! I’m not a monster, I’m not even a ghost! I’m an adventurer! Save me!”
rest area.
Soaked in water, a woman with long light green hair is on her knees begging.
There are three tear dots vertically below the left eye, giving it an unusual impression. Even when I’m still, I feel like I’m crying a little.
Long ears sticking out through wet light green hair are visible. I groaned.
“You’re an elf… … ?”
If there had been a Lily who hated elves, she would have been more frightened than when she saw a ghost, but it wasn’t a monster anyway.
‘It could be worse than a monster, but… … .’
NPCs are sometimes more menacing than monsters.
I glanced at Lucas. Lucas immediately drew his sword.
“What were you doing in here? answer.”
Lucas asked in a stern voice, and the elf woman gave a high-pitched sound and explained the situation.
“Eh, as I said, I am an adventurer! I was exploring this dungeon… … !”
I narrowed my eyes. Is it an ‘NPC party’?
NPC party.
This is what is often referred to as a ‘strategist’.
It’s not a newbie party like us that has been in for less than a year, but there are a few NPC adventurer parties that have been heading to clear the dungeon for years or decades.
Depending on the progress, they can become allies or enemies. If it goes well, you can even transfer under his command.
‘We haven’t met yet, but we meet in a place like this.’
And I know every side of every NPC party active in the dungeon. It’s because the game is also terribly entangled.
Among them, there was only one party made up of elves.
‘The Holy Grail Expedition under the direct control of the Elf Queen.’
100 years ago, when the kingdoms of different races collapsed due to war with humans.
The Elf Queen gave a secret order to the guards to break through the unfavorable war situation.
It was a national treasure of the fairy kingdom in the past, but he ordered them to find the Holy Grail, a magical source that was stolen.
With the Holy Grail, you can use the ancient magic of the fairy kingdom again.
So, the 5 guards set out to search for the Holy Grail and came up with an underground dungeon in the Lake Kingdom as a likely location for the Holy Grail.
It was 100 years ago that I jumped into the dungeon like that.
The elven kingdom was already destroyed, and even the previous queen who gave the order lost her life.
The pitiful party of 5 elves, still unable to give up their mission, continue their raid into the depths of the dungeon in search of the Holy Grail, like an ax handle rotting in a fairy tale.
These are the Holy Grail Exploration Team.
‘But why alone? Besides, why were you in a hot spring facility?’
As I became puzzled and frowned, the frightened elf woman began to explain in detail.
“Me and my colleagues were clearing the dungeon in District 6. I had heard the information that the object our party was looking for was in District 6.”
“however?”
“But suddenly, the nightmare corps commander and his subordinates appeared… … .”
The elf woman began to tremble.
“The ‘Wolf King’ of the 9th Rank Werewolf Corps and his subordinates were directly hunting for an adventurer party.”
“… … !”
“We pride ourselves on being a skilled party in our own way, but we never imagined that a corps commander would appear in person. It just fell apart.”
Right after that, the elf woman screamed while tearing her hair out.
“But after they smash us up, they say things like, ‘They’re not the ones we’re looking for’! What! If that’s the case, why did you attack!”
Hearing that, he suddenly remembered the warning he had given him in the past.
– Some of the nightmare corps commanders are targeting you.
– The deeper you go into the Lake Kingdom, the easier they will find your tracks and send out their pursuers. In the worst case, the corps commander may appear to kill you directly.
I said that the nightmare corps commanders were trying to find me and kill me.
‘Could it be that they are searching the inside of the dungeon to find our party?’
Is that why the adventurer party is attacking the tribe in sight? Were these elves caught up in the quest for the Holy Grail?
“After that, they started kidnapping us and taking us somewhere. In the meantime, thanks to my luck, only my restraints were loose, so I was able to escape alone… … .”
The elf woman looked down at her wrist. Traces of rubbing on the rope remain red.
Her face flushed red, as if she was ashamed to leave her comrades behind and escape alone.
Looking at it, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Kelly Bay has said this before.
– It looks like something is going on in the depths of the dungeon.
– Even the wandering dead, and the adventurers who went inside after asking me for equipment, all of them haven’t been seen for a long time, so it seems that something big is going on.
The NPC party is missing.
‘Was all of this the work of the nightmare corps commanders? Are you attacking and kidnapping an NPC party to find me?’
What if not only these members of the Holy Grail Exploration Corps, but also other NPC parties are being kidnapped?
‘… … Aren’t I also responsible for their abduction?’
While I was lost in my thoughts, the elf woman continued to speak.
“I managed to escape, but I was exhausted and injured. I can’t afford to return to base camp alone.”
“So you took refuge in this hot spring facility.”
“yes. Reorganization is possible here. And since my profession is an assassin, stealth is my forte. He had been recovering in the women’s bath for several days avoiding the monsters at the entrance.”
The elf woman glanced at Evangeline.
“But suddenly someone came in, so I thought it might be an enemy, so I dived into the hot tub and hid… … I came out choking, and I was very surprised… … .”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“Well, it would be surprising if someone suddenly rises from the bath…” … .”
Evangeline was still on the other side, clutching her surprised chest and sending a wary gaze.
“Anyway, I understand the situation.”
I motioned for Lucas to put the sword away. When the pointed sword was removed, the elf woman let out a sigh of relief.
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
It seemed that we were the reason they were attacked, so we felt the need to help.
When I asked, the elf woman’s face brightened.
“Could you please save our party?!”
It comes out like this too. I ran my hand over my chin.
These Holy Grail Quests are the weakest of the NPC parties in this dungeon, but they are one of the few normal people who are kind to us.
If you give grace, it will help you in the future attack.
“Do you know where they were taken?”
“Perhaps they were taken to the ‘Wolf Den’ in Area 7, their home base.”
Is it District 7? … .
It’s quite a long way since I haven’t cleared all the dungeons in District 5, let alone District 6 yet.
Above all, if it was the stronghold of the Werewolf Corps, they would be stationed there, but it would be too risky to invade there.
‘But there is a way.’
During this defense battle, once the eradication of the Werewolf Corps attacking the Crossroads is complete.
The place they used to be their stronghold will also be less well-defended. Then rescue will be possible.
‘The question is, will the prisoners hold out until then? … .’
T-ring!
Then, a system window popped up in front of me.
[Sudden Quest – NPC Rescue]
– Rescue NPCs kidnapped by the Nightmare Corps.
– Location: District 7 ‘Wolf Den’
– compensation : ???
– Remaining period: 30 days
You dare to kindly pop up a quest window in front of your eyes. Ader guy.
I think it’s breaking news, but there’s some pretty important information written on the system window.
‘Quest expiration date is 30 days. Are the prisoners still alive for at least 30 days?’
There must be a reason why you didn’t kill him. He’s probably being newspapered by monsters.
The limit to endure that is the next 30 days.
‘Because the next defense is in 27 days… … .’
Alright, time is running out.
I explained the situation here to the elf woman.
I’m the head of the southern defense line, and in four weeks the werewolf army will attack the city, and then I’ll defeat them and go rescue my comrades together.
The elf woman cried when she heard that it would be a month later, but what can I do? This is realistically the best help I can give.
“All right. My comrades are strong people, so I must pray that they hold out as long as possible… … .”
At her words, I nodded.
“instead… … It’s hard to say, but our party’s exploration will prioritize paving the way to the ‘Wolf Den’ as much as possible.”
“Then I will help you with that exploration!”
The elf woman jumped to her feet.
“It’s been rolling here for a long time, so things are pretty crisp! I am especially confident in route guidance and reconnaissance!”
Annet, what windfall is this? Although it was a short-term hire for 30 days, it was possible to add one NPC character to the party without pay.
“good. Let’s work together until then.”
Long live the free characters! I’ll roll it all over the next month!
I put my hand forward. Then the elf woman looked down at my hand with her round eyes. I clenched my hand.
“Let’s shake hands, shake hands. It’s a partnership now.”
“ah… … aha! handshake!”
The elf woman, who rubbed her palms on her clothes, smiled awkwardly and held my hand with both hands.
“sorry. I’m not used to the human way of greeting.”
“How is it? Anyway, since we’re helping each other, let’s get along well.”
After the awkward handshake, I nodded.
“My name is Ash. what is your name?”
“My name is Belldandy. Please take good care of me, Mr. Ash.”
Elf woman- Belldandi smiled innocently.
But is it because of the tear point? Even though he was smiling, he had the impression that he was crying somehow.
‘Berdandi?’
When I heard the other person’s name, I was quite surprised.
SSR grade assassin character Belldandi. This woman is the leader of the Holy Grail Search party.
‘I thought it was another character with a lower level because he looked so strong… … Wasn’t it a named NPC?’
Right then.
growl.
“Ugh… … !”
Belldandi made a loud noise from the boat and looked up at me with a teary face.
“Ho, I’m sorry in case, but do you have anything to eat… … ? I’ve been starving for days… … .”
“… … .”
I took a baked egg and honey water out of the bag and gave it to him. I brought it because I wanted to eat it, but it will be more useful to someone who is starving… … .
“delicious! So delicious! This is the first egg to eat!”
Belldandy ate the baked egg I gave him while almost crying.
“The ingredients of the outside world are precious here! Usually, meals are made with preserved food left by the people of the Lake Kingdom… … Heuk heuk, it was delicious. Today’s rice… … .”
“… … I’ll bring more ingredients next time I come. Just talk.”
I was mobilized for an unpaid party, and I can take care of at least a meal.
“World tree, my God! How can you be so merciful! That, then next time you come!”
Belldandi pleaded with her eyes twinkling.
“Give me some sunflower seeds!”
“… … .”
I wanted to ask a hamster-like favor, but I thought it was an elf’s appetite and nodded.
I want to eat, so I’ll bring it to you.
Looking at Belldandi, who was gulping down nectar with a happy face, the faces of the shadow corps members, who were elves, suddenly came to mind.
The three who left after receiving a mission and haven’t returned yet, and the two who left on a path of no return.
Those guys were so happy when I first brought them a meal.
“… … .”
Deep in thought, Quylan looked down at the empty egg carton and murmured with a dark complexion.
“I expected it, a baked egg… … .”
“… … I’ll bake a new one when I get back.”
“As expected, His Highness the Prince! He takes good care of his men!”
Of course not, bitch. At least eating doesn’t make me sad. Even if you have a good meal, the desire to leave the company is greatly reduced.
Then Damian and Lucas looked at me silently. I clicked my tongue.
“Did you guys want to eat too?”
“yes… … .”
“yes!”
Damian was shy, but Lucas was needlessly courageous.
“Okay, I’ll bake you right after you get back…” … .”
Then someone grabbed my collar and pulled it all the way. Looking over there, it was Evangeline. why are you
Evangeline asked with a soft smile.
“Are you going to bake me too?”
No, you brought it and ate it yourself! It’s a round boat!
