Episode 507 Great Bridge
Great Bridge.
It is a place name that literally means a giant bridge.
A huge canyon in the south. There is a bridge connecting the canyons at a height so high that it is called the road leading to hell.
It was a peculiar city built on a huge bridge connected to a cliff, so much so that it was almost like a single piece of land connected to a horse.
“I like the name Empire.”
“At least in this world, you are the only one who takes the Emperor’s name lightly. You don’t go when he calls you, and you take advantage of everything he can.”
Originally, it would have taken a month to walk from the empire I was in, or ten days to march on horseback, but I was able to get there in less than a day.
There is no other reason, but it is because I used a portal operated by the empire.
Of course, this is not a normal portal. Most wizards have turned to the path of the black magician, making the already rare wizards even more rare.
One-way passage is possible thanks to the help of the sect’s sacred magician army and the collapsed magic tower, but the location where you fall is inaccurate.
There is no other reason, but the portal that should be on the other side is broken, so it drops nearby.
“Let’s see. It fell not too far away.”
I took the map out of my pocket and checked the location. It was an artifact given to me by the sect, and before the world was destroyed, they had created a fairly detailed map using the temples located all over the continent as a communication network.
What should I say? In our country’s terms, it’s like a map made by putting up traffic lights at each church and using that as a reference.
It is one of the treasures coveted even by the empire. To me, it is nothing more than a convenient item.
After figuring out the location, I roughly stuffed the map into my treasure bag.
Shail looks at me with a weary expression.
“You’re the only one who would treat the sect’s sacred relics so carelessly. Even the emperor asks to borrow them whenever there’s a war.”
“Holy relics are a piece of shit. They don’t even have any divine power in them. I’m an expert when it comes to holy relics.”
“That doesn’t sound like something a false believer would say.”
Seriously. I’ve looted a few relics as a relic plunderer. I don’t know for sure, but there are few people who have used relics as colorfully as I have.
Even fake believers are like that here, but in the Church of Ice and Fire, they hear the sound of saints. Of course, the Church of Ice and Fire did not exist here or on Earth.
Anyway, why am I being called a fake believer and why do I have something that can be called a holy relic?
“Oh my, even though I look like this, I’m still a member of the Honor Platinum Club. How rude.”
Because as the chapters passed, I gained the status of honorary believer in the religious order that was created.
This was also something that happened because my name value was high. They wanted to use this opportunity to promote the church and share some of the achievements I had made.
I have nothing to say about the fact that he lied about being a divine wizard in the first chapter. I also agreed to it because I thought I would gain something by making a connection with the sect.
Should we call it a mutually beneficial relationship?
“Ah, yes. You are very kind. They say that the will of the gods cannot be judged by human eyes, but this is truly strange. To grant such divine power to someone who uses magic, let alone someone else.”
The guy who was mumbling something slapped his palm.
“I see. I understand. Since he spews out magic energy, you must have made a mistake while trying to purify him with divine power!”
“Oh, that was a pretty plausible story.”
After being together for almost a year, this guy started to treat me in a friendly manner. But I remember it being done entirely by the system.
It’s not bad. I like it this way rather than hanging out with someone I find uncomfortable.
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Than that.
“We’re almost there. We have a passenger, though.”
Heading towards the Great Bridge, a monster was seen.
There’s no need to take out your sword. It’s only a 3-star item. You can just tear it apart with your bare hands.
It’s okay to blow it away with an electric shock. As the chapter progresses, the skill level goes up quite a bit. I know how strong it is from the memories generated by the system, but I want to try it out myself.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.
“Tear it!”
-Kwagagagagak!
Before I could even step forward, Shayle worked her magic.
A wind in the shape of a wolf tore apart the monster that was swaying in front.
“Hoo hoo. This is the power of the great wizard Shail.”
A guy who shrugs his shoulders. At first glance, he was just an ordinary wizard, but now he has reached considerable skill.
At that time, I only felt the spirit’s energy but it was not visualized, but now I am using the spirit’s properties as they are.
Although I am not a spirit shaman and cannot summon spirits, this is actually better. There is no chance of the spirits being injured and reversely summoned during battle, and the burden on the caster is also less.
‘I guess my knowledge of magic has increased without me knowing.’
This is the problem with the scenario. Since memories are created randomly, knowledge about that world is accumulated without my knowledge.
Even now, I can do something similar using magic power without using skills. It’s just that it’s still less practical than skills, so I don’t have a use for it.
If you look at it in a way, it’s good, but if you look at it in a bad way, it’s perfect for causing confusion in identity.
I don’t mind because I have mental protection, but I’m worried because it seems like some of the people who have recently risen to the top of the union are suffering from mental confusion.
‘I don’t know. For now, if there seems to be a problem, I recommend getting out of the tower, but I don’t know how anyone will take it.’
I also spoke with Lee Jun-seok, but there is no way to take any forced action right now.
In the first place, I don’t have that authority, and the person involved doesn’t admit that he or she is not of sound mind.
Some people say that their symptoms become so severe that they attack coworkers, speak in strange language, or act like other people.
‘This is another danger.’
Fortunately, the members, including Oh Jing-hyeok and Kim So-dam, seem to be okay, but even among the upper-level hunters who stayed on the 79th floor for a long time, social problems arose.
Because I’ve been up there for so long I’m afraid to go outside.
If they go out, they will definitely be treated well and will be helpful people, but I’m not sure what will happen if they fail to adapt to society and fall out of line.
If these people are like that, what are the conditions of the higher-ranking hunters above me?
No matter how much I think about it, we need a device that can help these people. Oh Jing-hyeok will be the start.
‘I have to see Oh Jing-hyeok before the scenario ends.’
I thought this was enough up to the 87th floor, but now I think differently.
I have to support him as much as I can. That way, I can cover for hunters who come from higher floors than him later.
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Anyway, let’s think about this until here.
“Let’s go in.”
Shail and I walked towards the bridge.
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Perhaps because it was located on top of a valley, the wind was fierce, but neither I nor the guy were affected.
Rather, the guy was even smiling faintly.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Great Bridge.”
“Have you ever been there?”
“Back in the day. My hometown was not far from here. Back then, I thought this was the biggest city.”
“Even when I told him to go, he made a fuss and said no.”
As I snicker and shake my head, the guy waves his hand telling me to come quickly.
“I didn’t know it was here back then. Do you know? There’s a specialty that’s only found here. They sell meat and bread together, and it’s so delicious. That’s right. If you turn right down the clothing street, there’s a place that sells cursed items. It’s all a joke. They scare kids and force them to buy things, saying they’ll curse them if they don’t. I don’t know why I got fooled.”
The guy chuckled as if lost in memories and then hurried his feet.
My hometown has been destroyed for a long time. It feels good to go to a place where I still have memories.
But that feeling didn’t last long.
“…ah.”
A city built on a giant bridge.
The city, which had risen in a cone shape, was half-destroyed and looked hideous.
The city walls, which had originally been magnificent, were clearly showing signs of hasty repairs, and the city, which had grown around the trade route, was exposed to the harsh environment and was becoming ill.
At the entrance to the city, a soldier wearing haphazardly picked-up armor and holding an uneven weapon glanced at us.
An expression of no particular interest. It seemed as if he was just waiting for the boring time to pass.
As I approached, he held out his hand without saying anything.
When I showed him my ID without thinking, he frowned and hit the spear on the floor.
“What do you want to do?”
“Weren’t you trying to confirm my identity?”
“Ha. When did you talk about enemies? Is this person really someone who was stuck in a corner and then came over?”
The soldier who had been looking us up and down sighs deeply. His face is filled with fatigue and irritation.
“If you want to get in, you have to pay.”
“Is it a gold screen?”
“You don’t need that. Two white breads and four black breads to get in. Or meat isn’t bad either. Dried meat is even better. If you have alcohol, I’ll guide you all the way inside.”
Shail’s expression hardens at his explanation.
It was clear what the soldier meant: the city had fallen to the point where even currency had lost its value.
It meant that the city was running on barter rather than credit, and on food rather than on gold, which could not be exchanged.
It was nothing special. This was a place that was barely within the reach of the Empire, and as it approached destruction, human history tended to regress.
He stepped forward towards Shail, his lips quivering, and reached into his treasure pouch.
“Do you have a family?”
“Mother, three younger siblings.”
“Take care of it without telling others.”
I placed the bundle containing food next to him.
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The soldier’s eyes widen as he opens the bundle, forgetting his guard.
Clean water and fresh vegetables. Some seasoning and raw meat. In addition, small rice balls and dried fish are included.
“Hey, I know it’s shameless to ask, but do you have any medicine? Every time my mother coughs, she spits blood. If you want it, I’ll do whatever it takes… … .”
A soldier with his back bent in an awkward posture extends his hand. His back gradually bends until his knees touch the ground and his head is turned toward the floor.
I silently placed the potion in his hand and went inside.
I pushed Shail’s back, who kept trying to look back, and moved forward.
“Don’t forget what you felt just now. Don’t forget what you saw.”
I’ve seen too many worlds come close to destruction.
Even though we have the same goal, I am always one step away. After all, this world is a reproduction, and I am someone who must go through this world and rise above it.
Because I’m a person from the outside world of the tower, approaching true destruction, there are limits to what I can do.
But what about the NPCs living here?
‘It’s desolate.’
A street where only the sound of the wind can be heard. A space filled with buildings with broken windows and shattered doors. There was no sign of life, and only a cold air hung on the road lined with broken tiles.
Human excrement stank in the alley, and the bones and ashes of roasted rats were strewn about.
As the sun sets, the dark glow spreads. Only the shadows stretch out and swallow up the city.
Shail, who had been walking silently for a while, opened his mouth.
“Evil Eye, can I become a warrior too?”
Shail muttered as he looked at the castle that once towered toward the sky in the center of the city.
If you’re an NPC on a higher level, there’s a chance. Those who escaped destruction and played a major role will have a new opportunity.
I can see it in my eyes.
[Shaile]
-Neutral NPC.
-I belong to the fallen tower.
Stand still and look at the guy.
Shail also turned his back to the sun and met my gaze.
A moment of silence.
“It can be done.”
I nodded.
