◈Episode 99 Existence (1)
A man wearing a bear skin trudged down the street riding a donkey. Even though it is not something you would easily see in the desert, no one pays attention to its existence.
[Humans are also very foolish. To think that you can have power without paying anything.] A
thin black hand pulled back the bear skin. As the bear’s head, which had been covering its face, retreated, its curly hair fell down. As if it had been well cared for, it was shiny and free of tangles.
[Thinking that there was no price in itself was a price.]
The being slowly twisted some of its hair with its index finger, as if it liked it.
[But it’s also a little disappointing. I don’t want to go beyond this city yet.]
And when the long hair was wrapped around its fingers, the being just cut it off.
[What on earth are Pandemonium and Moby Dick doing? I haven’t been able to kill a single hero so far, so why do I… I don’t want to do that.]
The broken hair was slowly loosening from my fingers and was about to scatter, so I gathered it in my palm. Phew! The donkey cried loudly.
[Don’t be lazy. I know. I know Helel will nag me if I fail. But what can I do? They say that me and the warrior are not compatible. I don’t know if an all-out war like Gretchen is possible, I’m just dreaming…]
Phew!
[Actually, that guy is the one with the best compatibility with the warrior. it’s annoying. Anyway, I really didn’t like that guy Gretchen for a long time… He went around arbitrarily, saying that I was the strongest except for the king, but when I really needed him…]
Hey. The hair on my palm suddenly caught fire. The hair, which was burning in an instant, spreads ash into the air with a single breath.
[Now stop worrying.]
The ash flew around and landed on someone on the other side of the street. Her hair, neatly divided into gray and black, twirled around.
* * *
“…?”
The Inquisitor suddenly turned around, so I also glanced behind me. It was a reflex action, but it didn’t yield much results.
Now that the signal was raised, the streets were filled with citizens evacuating according to the manual and troops running to the castle walls.
“Why are you doing that? “Did you see anything else that bothered you?”
“…no. I just felt like there was something behind me. “I think I was too sensitive.”
“If you feel something, don’t just ignore it. “Now that the devil has invaded, we cannot rule out the possibility that something has sneaked into the city.”
“all right.”
Even though she said yes, she didn’t go back the way she came. I guess it really just stopped because of my mood. Seeing as there is no further reaction.
“Let’s go faster than that.”
Standing on a narrow street only stops people from moving. We hurried on our way. The destination was the wall on the side where the demons were attacking.
“They’re letting this in.”
Rather, Dev’s heart is my heart.
Apart from military force, it is not an emergency – if it is an emergency, it is an emergency, but it is not a situation that cannot be handled like Zakrati – so I did not think that they would let us, who were not regular troops, up to the castle walls. That’s surprising.
Or did it get permission just because it was behind the temple and the magic tower? Oh, maybe this has some potential?
“I’ve never been in at this time either… but it’s probably possible because the beacon fire is at level 1.”
At that time, Kankan, who had come all the way here, suddenly said something cute.
The story goes that rather than attacking right away, the desert devils stop at a place within sight, gather their forces, and then wait half a day to two days before coming.
So, in order to estimate the scale of the demons and prepare for them, they called in wizards and priests to discuss. It is highly likely that that is why they were let in.
“It is okay for Archmage and Deputy to take on the central role of each force. “It goes without saying that entry is permitted.”
The priest who accompanied me even confirmed that guess.
…But then what about us? Did he just sneak in as a side leg? It’s not bad as it’s an opportunity to understand the situation, but it’s a strange feeling.
“…Did it give the demons time to prepare?”
“Rather, it is presumed to be a characteristic of the great devil leading that army. “The great evil that nests in the desert is famously known as Duke ‘Sloth,’ so I guess it’s coming slowly.”
Oh… I thought it was someone who just said he was the Great Devil, but is it sloth?
I looked into the seven deadly sins. Na Tae is in charge of Astaroth and Belphegor.
I don’t know if that’s the real name, and if it’s the former, I don’t know, but if it’s the latter, the picture of me sitting on the toilet is so firmly stuck in my memory that it doesn’t feel that threatening.
“…Isn’t it dangerous to have a great devil?”
“In all these years, the great evil of sloth has never come to the fore. Even during the times when the devils were strong.”
“But…”
“Of course, just because it was like that in the past, there’s no way it’s going to be like that now.” Ah yes. But hasn’t he already entered this city? There is no way to avoid it. “We have no choice but to be careful.”
“That’s true too.”
Dev whined and asked to hear a story about the Great Devil. It seems like the intention is to cram the information into one’s head.
“There is not much information about the Great Demon, especially Sloth.”
“why.”
“Didn’t Archmage tell you earlier? I’ve never been to the front. Although stories occasionally come out only through torture, they are at the level of word of mouth. “The story isn’t at the level you’re hoping for.”
Is it because the subject is the devil? The Inquisitor rarely spoke.
Whether it is true that it is at the level of word of mouth, the explanations that follow are mostly sentences at the level of ‘the days when tigers smoked’.
“I don’t see any help.”
“It is also proof that the great devils are so persistent in destroying their records. “It is in the same context that their true names are unknown.”
“…You don’t even know your true name?”
“That’s right.”
“I am indeed.”
So Dev and I stood on the wall with nothing to gain.
“You can’t stand there. “It is a passage through which supplies come in.”
I didn’t make any mistakes thanks to the help of Kankan, who I often see here.
“There is a ceiling?”
Curiosity burst out as if it were replaced.
The walls of Ampa Enoch had a unique form in which they not only had walls built on both sides, but also had a ceiling to block the top.
It’s a bit surprising because I’ve never seen a structure like this before. If you’re going to have a hole in the ceiling, why put a roof on it? I think it would be frustrating.
“The devil comes from the air too, so I built it to prevent myself from being killed by them. “Through this hole, they kill those who land on the roof by stabbing them to death… but sometimes they die because of those who breathe fire.”
“ah.”
Dev, who knew a lot but had no military knowledge, nodded at Kankan’s explanation. I also gained new knowledge.
Even though the place where I dealt with the devil was different, it was definitely different. Compared to other places, the preparation is really thorough.
“If the castle in Yabad had something like this, it would have been less difficult.”
“You won’t see any flying demons there.”
“Didn’t the devil break down the castle wall or something?”
“If the attack is strong, it often breaks down. Still, having something is less fatal than not having anything.”
“It seems like the height is a little low… Wouldn’t a soldier from the Shagi tribe be uncomfortable?”
“If it’s higher than this, the window won’t reach, so there’s nothing we can do. And those who are too big for this to be inconvenient are placed somewhere else from the beginning.”
I’m so glad the Inquisitor and Dev asked for me.
I roughly copied their conversation into my brain. It was easier to add in the common sense that I lacked from time to time. Most of it is knowledge that you don’t need to bring up, but you don’t know what’s going on in the world.
“This way.”
Then, the person in the watchtower, who was either the commander or not, called a few people up. Of course, neither I nor Dev could go there… but that in itself didn’t really matter.
Even without climbing the watchtower, you could see the desert through the window on the castle wall.
“Could it be that they are all demons…?”
“I guess so.”
“yes. “I’m sure because I gathered Shaggy and Qerties with good eyesight and checked it several times.”
I understand why they hold on to talented people even if it means creating an arena. Even if they attack once every few years, if they attack with such a large army, they will never be able to remove their troops.
I barely suppressed the urge to click my tongue and clenched my fists.
A faint black line is wriggling on the desert horizon seen through a hole. They were all demons.
“It’s serious. When was the last invasion?”
“…It was two months ago.”
Meanwhile, the Archmage and priests who went up to the watchtower had a conversation with the commander.
Is it because I heard that the term is up to 7 years? Two months didn’t feel that far away.
“Do you usually leave this long?”
“no. The fastest record is one month… but that was during the era when the devil’s power was at its strongest. Now that it has become fixed, it has been attacked within half a year at the earliest… usually a year. “For the past 20 years.”
Dev next to me blinked. In any case, if such a clear number were given, anyone would have noticed that this was not an unusual situation.
Moreover, what are our characteristics? Isn’t this a party of warriors with Satan as their ultimate goal?
“…Wall windows are very popular. “Wherever you go, demons pop out.”
I also admitted it. This isn’t the kimchi dumpling’s fault, it’s just that the story is bad.
“Rather than that, if this happens, King Mu….”
“…We should postpone it. “At least you didn’t… do anything with them?”
“I can guess that.”
Kankan made a gesture of holding both hands toward the devil. I guess that means it’s okay if you haven’t done business with them.
In my opinion, it’s okay. I can’t make a strong argument because it’s just my heartache, but it still makes the back of my head itch.
“Then there’s nothing you can do. “There is nothing on this earth that deserves more priority than the devil.”
“…Yes.”
“No matter how much they want to kill us, they probably won’t do it when the devil is attacking us.”
“I think that’s an issue that needs to be considered further.”
Even if they are not necessarily connected to the devil, it seems quite possible that they would attempt to assassinate him during a melee to silence him.
hmm. Still, not everyone is at a level where they can’t handle even one thing, so I guess it’s okay. Archmage, it doesn’t matter because you’ll be in the safest place.
Hmm… I’m not in a position to say anything here, so I think it would be better for me to just pay more attention.
As soon as he shows up and tries to stab me in the back, I just shoo him away.
“They probably didn’t invade after two months for nothing. “It would be better to intensify the search because we don’t know what kind of tricks they may have used.”
Fortunately, the Archmage who had gone up informed the commander about the problem.
Unfortunately, there was no mention of disparate authors. I think it’s because I’m not sure if they’re in league with the devil or simply corrupt.
Proof is difficult because there is no evidence in the first place, and there is not enough time to catch and remove the evidence.
“Maybe they did something to the castle walls or the city center. A bomb is a bomb, but this time in the Yabad region….”
Instead, the Archmage even mentioned the cursed jar that had been properly suffered in the Yabad region.
Thanks to this, searches of the walls and residents’ shelters will likely become more thorough. Vigilance will also become more stringent.
At this level, even if the corruption fighters joined hands with the real devil, they would not be able to move properly. At most, it’s just a matter of moving directly when the fight starts…
If you look at it objectively, that’s quite acceptable. At least it won’t produce bomb-like firepower.
“Oh, you’re coming.”
About 10 minutes passed like that. The Archmage and other commanders came down sooner than expected.
Of course, I think the reason this conversation ended quickly was because there was no room for significant differences in strategy due to the nature of the battle.
As always, the priests focus on strengthening the walls and healing people, and the wizards kill as many demons as possible with wide-range attacks. Soldiers and arena fighters are stationed on the walls and throughout the city to ward off demons. end.
It was a fighting style that was difficult to change unless new technology or weapons appeared.
“you.”
However, the Archmage was the first to pick on me among the people waiting below. A slightly stern face, as if something was bothering it, glanced back and forth between the Inquisitor and me.
If you don’t say anything, it’s probably not clear or something we don’t need to know.
“I told you this when I entered this city, but from now on, never move alone. “Don’t even go outside the walls.”
Instead, she continued to talk after herself.
“Even though there is no record, isn’t it true that the hero and you are here at the same time? If they knew of our existence, there is a possibility that the Great Devil himself came forward. In that case, you could also be a target.”
These were well-founded concerns and requests. To my ears, it somehow sounded like a spell to summon an archdemon.
Anyway, wouldn’t it be strange if the place was set up like this and the Great Devil didn’t appear?
* * *
“If it’s going to come, it will come quickly…”
Apart from the demon summoning spell, preparations for Mercury continued.
Place troops on the walls, recheck materials such as arrows, distribute them to areas where they are lacking, and deploy additional verified irregular troops – fighters or adventurers – etc.
It seemed like I was watching the hope section of the group assignment to go back in order of priorities. Although the difficulty of the task was not difficult.
“Damn, I can’t sleep because I’m just sitting there…”
But the demons gathered more than we could prepare. The black waves on the horizon were visible to those with ordinary vision.
They didn’t even attack in vain. Thanks to this, it was the soldiers who suffered.
This happened because trying to relax, not knowing when the enemy would come, but continuing to do so was draining my energy.
“Don’t worry too much.”
But if everyone was nervous and had stomachaches, that wasn’t the case.
Veterans who have survived in this city for a long time take it easy regardless of whether the devil is out there or not. It was a feeling of familiarity that had become ingrained in me.
“Don’t just be so stiff, you’re a newcomer!”
The same was true for citizens who were in charge of providing rear-end assistance only to volunteers after the evacuation was completed.
Even if they did not climb on the castle walls, the citizens who had endured here for decades did not take this situation seriously. To them, it would be no different from an annual event, so I understood.
“More than that, why can’t you see King Mu? “I think all the fighters are here.”
“I don’t know. “I saw you swearing at the commander earlier, calling him a bastard.”
“her. What can that guy do? Hey Red Mane! “Didn’t you hear anything?!”
“…I don’t know. “How do I know other people’s minds?”
But King Mu didn’t come. It’s really suspicious. It’s totally suspicious.
“Right, now that I think about it, wasn’t there a new person who came in a few days ago?”
Then someone found me. The Archmage was assigned to a different location, and Dev had to leave to go to the bathroom, so it was quite difficult.
Kankan seems to think of me as just a quiet person, so it won’t help, so should I finally open up?
He’s someone I’ll be fighting with, but he looks like he’s going to get angry from the start.
“I heard you are from the Yabad region. Please tell me the story there. “I heard something happened there?”
Umm… I’m embarrassed as expected.
I opened my mouth, nibbling at the bread and dried dates handed out by the residents.
“Your personality is worth seeing, to make fun of other people’s misfortune.”
“….”
Can’t we just keep our mouths shut?
“Nari brought me a meal… why is the atmosphere like this?”
Fortunately, Dev came running in just before the air became miserable.
I was a little touched by the attitude of willing to share something delicious with the residents. I don’t plan on taking it because it feels like I’m taking money from my nose.
“Do you want some too?”
“They’re all dried vegetables.”
“If you’re dissatisfied, you attack me.”
“No, I’m not complaining. “Vegetables are expensive. How did you get them?”
“I have some abilities.”
At that time, someone approached me quickly. Because I didn’t have to look away, I could only see the shadow falling on the ground, and it was quite large.
“Who… ugh?!”
“You?!”
More than that, the voice is vaguely familiar… Argh! A wild Berserk has appeared!
“Nice to meet you, I wanted to say hello, but now I finally got the chance. Hello Kankan too? long time no see.”
I’m more interested in the fact that the identity of the approaching shadow is Berserk and that Kankan reacts as if he is acquainted with Berserk.
Putting all that aside, the one fact that remained was the most surprising.
“Well, are you very surprised? sorry. “I came here to apologize, so please don’t avoid me.”
Berserk. Are you the kind of person who can talk so calmly?!