Chapter 10: The Black Magician (2)
One was the completion of the quest.
Successfully defeated Alcup, the black magician behind the scenes. The reward was a skill point.
However, before focusing on that, I turned my gaze to another one.
‘Emergency Quest.’
A quest that occurs in special situations and has difficult additional conditions such as a time limit.
Protect Juleng from the invasion of monsters.
The clear condition was not to cause a single casualty. My eyebrows automatically narrowed.
It’s a pretty difficult condition.
I had no choice but to try, since stats were the reward.
“The monsters are coming! There are a huge number of them!”
“What is thisā¦ Is it possible to have this many controlled monsters?!”
Robin and Vandine clenched their staves with stiff faces.
Bopiro was in a state of confusion, and Naelun, whose experience was lower, wasn’t much different.
‘I thought they would be helpful.’
I couldn’t rely on them at all.
They would lack creativity since they didn’t have many experiences in the game.
Then, Miriam’s voice, which had regained her composure, came.
“It’s a curse of madness.”
The blue eyes, which had regained their composure, stared at the unseen monster army.
Had she even finished the analysis of the phenomenon?
She was indeed a veteran priest.
“A curse, you say?”
“Yes. It’s a broad curse limited to monsters. Otherwise, it’s difficult to have that scale.”
She responded to Bopiro’s question.
Indeed, there was no one who was more susceptible to curses than the monsters who had lost their reason and had already been touched by magic.
“ā¦I see. It’s possible if it’s a curse, not a subjugation magic. It’s even efficient.”
“Efficient, you say, senior? What does that mean?”
“Monsters are basically hostile to humans. So, the mad monsters naturally move towards the living things around them. You don’t have to subdue them. If it’s the purpose to attack people.”
Naelun’s eyes widened.
The ‘chaos’ that Alcup had mentioned flashed through the minds of the priests. The group faced the approaching dark will.
The silhouettes of the monsters were seen through the dense forest.
“You didn’t know that? What have you been doing until now? Won’t you be able to take off the training wheels?”
“Hahaā¦ I’ll work harder when I go back.”
Bopiro, trying to make the atmosphere better, but he got no result.
The howling sounds were too huge.
Miriam stroked the shining Bible.
“It didn’t seem to be Alcup’s doing. Perhapsā¦ someone’s double curse. I’ll have a lot to do when I go back, too.”
She opened it and mouthed the words.
“I’ll take care of it here.”
It meant that she would stay alone.
Everyone except me held their breaths. Bopiro, who was terrified, hurried to speak.
“That won’t do!”
“Yes?”
“How can you say such a thing? We can’t let you sacrifice yourself alone. We’ll stay together!”
“Noā¦”
Before she could open her mouth, I supplemented.
“That’s right, I guess. It’s pouring out like a dam collapsed, so you can’t block just one place.”
Miriam was pleased.
“You understand. Yes, in a situation where the system hasn’t been established, we can’t move in just one direction.”
“There are people alive near here. Thinking about the characteristics of the guys who are moving towards the people.”
“Juleng is in danger. Therefore, it is necessary to constitute the siege network.”
“Since you set up the barrier, you’re better at taking care of it here. If you take the most open area, it will be easier to arrange even with a small number of people.”
I doubted my eyes for a moment.
A faint smile was on her lips. She must have been very frustrated.
On the other hand, there was a slight crack on the faces of the others. They seemed embarrassed because they couldn’t understand.
‘I spoke too briefly.’
It was natural for her to understand if she was a leading priest, but it was impossible for them.
Bopiro, who had just criticized his junior, scratched his head and then looked at me, raising his eyebrows. The eyes filled with questions gathered.
So, how did I understand? There was a question of incomprehensibility.
There was no need to change the subject.
Because it was possible to escape naturally.
“What are you doing? If you understand, move immediately. Don’t come my way.”
I put magic into it and kicked the ground.
The scenery that passed like an arrow and the voice of someone. It was soon covered with the monsters’ cries.
After smashing the guy at the front, I kicked at those who were gathered behind.
Four monsters were destroyed in an instant.
However, the enemy was a little too much.
“It will take a long time to beat them one by one.”
I wasn’t a magician in the first place.
Neither was I a knight, and no matter how much my physical abilities improved, I was close to a summoner. It couldn’t be efficient to fight outside of my essence.
I had to rely on the enemy’s numbers.
Fortunately, only I am here.
The two Gapsan Monsters, who had been wandering nearby, were coming. There, I remembered the increase in magical power, which I felt when I captured Alcup.
“It was less than the great pig, but.”
It must be because it wasn’t as intense as before.
There were also many support troops. Even so, it was a great improvement for now.
I summoned the three summoning circles while repelling the monsters that were rushing in.
Krr-krr! Kirrr!
Keeeeeek!
The two Gapsan Monsters arrived.
With this, there were a total of five.
It was much less than the name of Immangryang, but it was a great improvement compared to the beginning.
Even this was nothing but falling leaves against the strong enemy.
If it was mobs, it would be a different story.
“Shall I try to imitate a magician a little bit?”
Magic was convenient.
I was a little envious of Robin and Vandine.
I smiled and commanded the children who were burning their fighting spirit.
“Burn them all. Don’t stop.”
There was also a lot of firewood.
The forest was on fire.
The fire spread in an instant and was doing its best to increase its power. The screams echoed loudly.
I was running away from those sounds.
‘The condition is the protection of Juleng.’
I mustn’t forget the key point.
Although the Gapsan Monsters, the magicians, and the priests are doing well, there were too many of them.
It wasn’t strange if some of them escaped, and a small village like Juleng was threatened by that amount.
Even if there were guards, they wouldn’t be reliable. I didn’t want to rely on them because I had to avoid even one casualty.
“āā!”
I heard the sounds of someone fighting.
It seemed they were fighting hard since the front lines were maintained. There was no need to worry for now.
Because they were all outstanding people.
Let’s go and help after the situation is over. Since I was good at nothing but fire fighting.
With magic and magical power I could be at the village in a blink.
Keeeeeikā¦!
I immediately realized that my judgment was right.
Several monsters with snake heads were attacking the residents. They seemed to have just arrived, breaking through the siege.
The village turned into a state of pandemonium.
I quickly flew through the people who were in a state of confusion.
Someone seemed to recognize me and opened their mouth.
It was more important to smash the monsters’ ambition than to finish the words.
Kwajik-!
The body that was destroyed. The head of the snake was blown away, and the body that was divided fell.
Sharp teeth rushing in on both sides.
Without avoiding them, I grabbed the neck and put strength into it.Ā UdeudeukāĀ The snake’s throats that had been broken. The snakes that were lacking in wind made a sound.
The other two were flinching at the overwhelming scene, but they rushed in according to their instincts.
Like fireflies.
I respected their will and did the same.
“Are those all?”
I couldn’t see any other intruders besides the dying snake monsters.
The siege seemed to be tighter than expected.
I looked down at the eyes from below when I nodded my head.
“Ahā¦ Ahā¦”
It was the man who had almost been bitten by the monster.
He couldn’t finish the language, perhaps he was so surprised. I thought so.
But on closer inspection, it was a familiar face.
“You.”
“Iā¦I was sorry at the time. I didn’t recognize the benefactorā¦ Please save me!”
It was the man I had seen in the inn before.
He had reported me to the guards on the pretext of a small dispute. He had been avoiding me since he got entangled with Naelun, and I had no idea that I would see him like this.
It’s the same since I didn’t have any interest in the first place.
Seeing his condition, the person in question wasn’t feeling that way.
“Did anyone kill you?”
“Aā¦ Am I going to be saved?”
The fearful eyes scanned the monster’s corpse and my bloodied hands. His red eyes were too afraid to even look me in the eye.
At the same time, he wanted a definite answer.
I sighed and answered.
“I won’t look at you a second time.”
I didn’t intend to do anything from the beginning.
He was a pitiful, weak being. There were countless such people in this world.
There was no loss as a result.
If I killed everyone for these things, I would only be a murderer.
“Th-Thank you!”
The man, who clicked in a panic, ran away.
The people who had been looking at me as if they had seen a savior avoided one by one.
As the area was empty, the guards appeared, with their equipment clanking.
“Everyone, run! The monsters have invaded!”
“There, don’t stay outsideā¦ And you areā¦?”
At best, it was leather armor, a rusty iron sword, and a cheap helmet. The equipment wasn’t good, and the momentum was weak, but it would be helpful for the residents.
The guards, who were excited by the sudden situation, widened their eyes when they discovered me.
“Aren’t you Tiamat-nim? I heard that someone defeated the monster. It was Tiamat-nim.”
“The fact that you are here meansā¦ are the priests here? Or can we get some help?”
From some point, they also started to respect me.
I briefly summarized the situation.
“The black magicians activated the curse. A mad monster army is coming here. The priests and magicians are doing their best to stop them.”
“Yes?!”
The situation was much more serious than they expected.
There was no time to convince them.
“I’ll take care of the monsters that invade Juleng, escaping the siege. You guys form a defense line with the outer edge of the village as the starting point. Call me if it doesn’t work.”
They nodded in a daze at the firm order that didn’t allow any objections.
It was a welcome proposal to them anyway.
Because their lives would be dead if they allowed the monsters to invade. The guards who set the area left.
A few remained here and offered to help me, but I refused immediately.
I preferred to be alone.
If I was penetrated, they would have collapsed.
“Well then, let’s start the siege.”
Time limit? It didn’t matter.
It was a game to hold out until the quest was completed. A game where if you lost even one person before that, everything would be ruined.
However, it had to be done.
For the future.
“They must be doing well.”
The flames that had risen far away.
It was a scene that had spread out more than before. I couldn’t imagine how many monsters the fire had devoured.
I was worried about the aftermath, but the magicians and priests would take care of it.
More than that, now.
Kiiiiiikā¦!
Juleng came first.
Tling.
I released the tension as the notification window popped up.
Quest completed. It meant that either the monsters were annihilated, or at least the threat of being attacked by Juleng had disappeared.
The system couldn’t lie, so it must be true.
“It was less than I thought.”
I looked around the dozens of corpses that were scattered on the ground. Roughly, twenty.
It was a lot of numbers at first glance, but ‘only’ twenty out of that vast army. It meant that my colleagues were doing an outstanding job.
There were no casualties.
I told the nearby guard.
“Stop trembling, and clean this up.”
“Yes? But the monstersā¦”
“The invasion is over. They won’t come again.”
The guard, whose armor was covered in dirty blood, blinked blankly.
Then, he smiled with sincere relief. Without even presenting a basis, it seemed that a thick trust had been built towards me during that time.
He nodded, as if to leave it to me.
“You did a great job. I’m going.”
I kicked the ground, leaving the guard’s gratitude behind.
In fact, he wasn’t much help. Most of the guards were like that. The soldiers of the edge of the country, and no matter how early it was, it was incomparable to Tiamat’s capabilities.
Still, they fought until the end.
Their courage was commendable for not running away even with humble skills. After a while, the shining barrier was captured as the monsters’ corpses slowly came into view.
“ā¦!”
Radiant Barrier.
Inside, the leading priest, Naelun, Robin, and Vandine in their robes were gathered.
They turned their heads in a sharp gesture as they sensed the quick movement.
The feeling of vigilance changed to the joy of reunion when they recognized me.
“You’re safe!”
“What are you doing? It seems that the situation is under control.”
“We were discussing the follow-up policy. As we were waiting for those who hadn’t returned yet. You came right in time.”
I nodded at Naelun’s words.
Indeed, it wasn’t completely over yet. Miriam, who had been looking at me, took the baton.
“The first problem is the disposal of the monsters’ corpses. Because the evil spirit will spread. The main task of the priests, so we have no worries about this. It’s something we are prepared for.”
“It will only take time. And?”
“The second one is an unexpected matter and a matter of urgency. Simply put, a forest fire.”
“ā¦A forest fire?”
“Yes. Don’t you smell something burning?”
I tilted my head slightly.
The gorgeous fire was showing its majesty.
She drove the point home to me, who was pretending not to hear.
“Were you a follower of Bahla? ā¦Well, I won’t ask for the details. We have compromised like this, and the matter has ended easily.”
Followers of Bahla. It was the euphemism for magicians.
A look of surprise and some awe was in everyone’s eyes, looking at me. I quietly ordered the Gapsan Monsters.
To stay away until they were called again.
“First, we will try to extinguish the fire. Since there are magicians who have received the blessing of water, the evolution will be possible.”
“Yes, just leave it to me.”
“I see. What about Bopiro?”
I asked, glancing at Vandine, who was eagerly agreeing. A person wasn’t seen from the beginning.
“He hasn’t come back yet. It seems that he went quite far.”
“Really? Then I’ll go get him. There might still be some small fries left.”
It wasn’t really that I was curious about his whereabouts.
It was to change the subject, to take on a task other than the fire-fighting.
I’m not good at extinguishing fires.
“I see. Please go to Juleng with him. Because the priest may be needed.”
“I will.”
There was no death, but there were a number of injuries.
The priest will be helpful. I turned my back after seeing Miriam, who had released the barrier, and the others leaving.
I maintained my speed, taking care not to step on the monster corpses that were piled up everywhere.
“Ugh.”
I had accidentally stepped on some a few times.
A bad touch, but I couldn’t hesitate on something like that. In order to remind myself of the accident, I organized the reward I had gained from this.
Two stats points and one skill point.
I can also count the rise of magical power and the essence of the black magician as a result.
“It’s not bad.”
It was a satisfactory result for the first incident.
One question remained. I had seen the great pig and believed that Fashion Nerd had created it.
That estimate would be right.
That’s why I naturally thought that Alcup and the curse implanted in him was also his doing.
But there was a possibility that the two were separate.
As far as I knew, Fashion Nerd wasn’t that interested in the black magician’s gimmick.
Perhaps the being above him.
Above all, the strange pattern that appeared on Alcup’s body when he died.
That mark was surelyā¦
“Keeeeeugh!”
A rough cry interrupted the chain of thought.
Instinctively, I lowered my voice. I looked at the ground for fear of stepping on the leaves.
Footprints were imprinted.
Not just one person.
That was the moment.
“Is this enough?”
“How in the worldā¦ Who are you, who are youā¦!”
The voices of Bopiro and another person.
It sounded like a man’s, but I couldn’t discern any more characteristics. A voice that was scratched and broken.
The open space seen through the trees.
The priest and the being, wearing a black robe, were in a state of battle.
The face under the hood was blurred.
Magic to lower awareness. Bopiro was kneeling in front of him.
“What should I do? Do you have any comrades? If you answer well, I’ll let you go without pain.”
“Youā¦ you heathenā¦! Do you think I’ll tell you? Just kill me!”
“It seems that there’s someone. You couldn’t handle both Alcup and the masterpiece, so. It seems that even with the curse of madness, the forest is quiet, andā¦”
The black magician’s dark gaze turned to the pillar of fire over there, and then looked down again.
“It might be useful to leave you alive, butā¦ What a bother.”
“ā¦!”
“Yeah, just die. But you won’t die easily. Don’t worry. I’ll send your comrades soon.”
Kha ha ha-Ā I closed my eyes as the unpleasant laughter sounded.
The sharp beastly nature of Tiamat quickly understood the situation.
My judgment was important.
I couldn’t reveal myself yet. The chance of getting close to the black magician was gone.