#194
194. Black Seed (2)
I brushed off my sword.
Drops of sticky blood splattered in all directions.
He died as a piece of meat without preserving a single limb.
‘It’s a decent power.’
Yongpae Island.
I think it will be a skill that will be useful enough in the future.
I erased the blood from the blade and put it in the scabbard. The dark knights, including the man, were already lying on the floor. It was a subjugation mission, but we didn’t even have to step out.
“What… you!”
The knight at the front came out.
‘These guys can see us too.’
Not only the enemy, but also allied NPCs can see the appearance of a hero.
It was one of the changes that occurred as the number of floors increased.
“Are you also members of the Church Army? Reveal your affiliation!”
The knight thrust his sword at me.
I said after laughing.
“If you have a head, think about it. If you belong to the church, would you be here?”
“You bastard! Cheeky…”
“Wait.”
Someone broke through the encirclement and came out.
The impression that I saw it somewhere. He wore a helmet with every pattern on it, and the impression of a young man was peeped out under the helmet. The young man looked at me and the article alternately and said.
“This man is a hero who helped us in the battle a week ago. Do you remember? A man slaughtered the commanders of the church army at once. Without them, we would have buried our bones there.”
“Then, please…”
“Yes. This is our benefactor.”
The young man bowed his head to me.
“Seeing my benefactor for the second time. I am Adele Radasteri. A knight belonging to the Asinis family.”
“It’s an Israt. That’s…”
I pointed at the 1st party members standing in the corner.
Jenna awkwardly waved her hand.
“They are my colleagues.”
“Looks like we’ll have to talk to each other. It’s cluttered here, so I’ll make room for you. I’ll tell the captain and the princess the good news that a benefactor has arrived. Follow me.”
As Adele beckoned, the soldiers broke the siege.
Adele glanced at me as if to follow me, then started walking ahead.
[Teeling!]
[The mission type has been changed.]
[Mission Type – Exploration]
[Master, there is a possibility of a long-term mission!]
[Even if you log out, the mission status will continue to be updated. Videos of missed missions can be viewed from the menu.]
The mission window has been updated.
A long-term mission in search. This meant that it was not a situation that would end in an hour or two.
I looked back The members were also following me and scanning the mission window with their eyes.
The place where Adele arrived was a large two-story barracks.
It must have been made of leather and wood, and it had a degree of completion close to that of a building rather than a barracks. After presenting her ID to the escort, Adele led us to the third floor of the barracks.
“Captain, we have brought a hero.”
Adele knocked on the door on the third floor of the barracks.
Soon after, the door opened, and Jenna was about to enter.
“Excuse me, everyone except the leader has business.”
“You mean?”
“There is something else to investigate.”
Belquist saw me.
I nodded. It’s enough for me to talk anyway.
The other members went downstairs with Adele.
Beyond the gate is the commander of the lion army.
You’ll know when you go. I stepped inside.
on a wooden desk.
A girl wearing a plain mask is sitting.
A girl with gray hair on her back, wearing a white fur coat, was looking at me.
“…”
“You look like you’ve seen all the stars.”
A neutral tone of voice leaked out through the mask.
The captain I saw on the 40th floor wasn’t like this.
They are different in size, voice, and gender.
“He’s been demoted. I’m the leader of the delegation from now on.”
The girl smiled.
[Eldest daughter of the Asinis family]
[Delphine von Asinia]
“As you can see, this is how it looks. It’s not easy to show your face.”
Delphine touched the white horn that sprouted from the side of the mask.
indeed. Is it because the blood of a human was thickly mixed?
“Are you an Israt?”
“however.”
“I’ve heard a lot about Fria. He said he came from another dimension.”
“…”
Did you even say that?
“Well, it doesn’t matter. It’s true that we had help. Without you, the first contingent would have been annihilated before I arrived. Thank you.”
Delphine, who jumped lightly from her desk, bowed her head to me.
“I’m Delphine von Asinia. I’m the heir to the Asinis family, a great family of martial arts, and I’m the heir to the White Dragon Blood.”
“It’s Han.”
“Sit down for now. I think we should talk about the situation we’re in.”
Delphine handed me a chair.
As I pushed my butt into the chair, Delphine started talking.
The background of the battle on the 40th floor. And about the purpose of Friah and the contingent, and their current situation.
“The explanation is ideal.”
The corners of his mouth curled under the mask.
“If you have any questions, ask them. I’ll tell you as far as I can.”
“here is…….”
“Asrank, a floating island in the extreme west of the Taonier continent. It is located thousands of meters in the sky. We came here in an airship. To find the last key.”
Delphine continued.
“From then on, just as I explained earlier. I tried to retrieve the key with the help of Freea. But they suddenly appeared. It was a surprise.”
“…”
“Originally, we didn’t want to interfere in this matter either. We only thought of the key as a mythical story, and it didn’t matter what happened to Freea, who was wanted. But circumstances have changed.”
Delphine narrowed her eyes.
“They’re doing crazy things. They’ve completely changed since 10 years ago. The prince, the church, and the guys from other families.”
is it.
I crossed my arms.
Taoneer’s reset point seemed to be 10 years ago.
The heroes who became monsters seem to retain some of their memories. That’s why they’re trying hard to kill Freea, putting on a wanted list and dispatching an assassination squad.
I briefly summarized Delphine’s explanation in my head.
The Assinis family, who did not have much trust in Freea, left her alone at first, but they changed their minds as they came to find the keys one by one and her predictions of destruction came true little by little. She, and to her final key, is that she has provided substantial troops and airborne troops.
The third key is hidden on a huge floating island in the western part of the continent.
There, Freea and the contingent encountered an intruder. It was a church army.
This was the background of the battle on the 40th floor.
“Do you… do you know why?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“just wondering.”
I shook my head.
The background of the birth of the ghosts was information that the NPC did not need to know.
Anyway, the mission estimate for the 45th floor was roughly taken.
Retrieving the last key fragment. Perhaps, in the process, the church’s army would tackle it without mercy. According to Delphine, a huge number of troops are gathering in the rear of Buyeo Island.
“I can’t understand. Why are you so intrusive?”
“…”
“I’ve heard of your dance. I’ve actually seen it in magic videos. If that’s enough, I think it’ll be enough for us. Please cooperate with us in stealing the key.”
“I will, anyway.”
You have to do it even if you don’t like it.
Because that will be your mission.
“Thank you. Church forces attacking the fortress will begin in a week. We’ll reserve a place for you at the strategy meeting. If you have any opinions, you can tell us. You can tell Adele about lodging and meals. I’ll prepare the best.”
“I will.”
After I finished my interview with Delphine, I left the barracks.
This is the main camp of the Assinis contingent. The sight of hundreds of barracks lined up on a wide plain was quite spectacular. Far away, in a place that looked like a port, airships loaded with troops and supplies were busily coming and going.
‘Did I have an ally?’
In the next mission, we will fight shoulder to shoulder with them.
Well, that doesn’t mean the level of difficulty will go down.
I smiled and walked to the place Delphine pointed out.
Wealth Asrank.
It was a miniature continent floating thousands of meters high.
For some reason, the air was thin.
The third key is said to be kept deep underground in Asrank, by the Join tribes.
However, on the road leading to the underground, the church forces had built a lot of forts. In this section, we’ll deal with them and steal the key.
I trudged along the trail that led below.
Gradually the landscape changed. A whitish fog blocked my eyes.
Actually, this is not fog.
‘cloud.’
I made my way through the clouds.
At some point, the clouds disappeared, and I was able to reach the front of the endless cliff.
Beyond that, a view of the whitish continent came into view.
“… you’re here.”
Standing at the edge of the cliff, Freea looked back at me.
Wearing a fur coat, she had a haggard expression on her face.
“What are you doing? It doesn’t suit you.”
“I was thinking for a moment.”
“thought?”
Freea held out a brooch with a falcon feather on it.
“Do you know what this is?”
“I don’t know.”
“This is the belongings of Lord Darkan, who raided to kill me this morning. I picked it up next to the corpse.”
“…”
“He was my escort, appointed when I was five years old. He always stood by my side.”
Freea bowed her head.
“I can’t understand English…”
I shut my mouth.
I can’t seem to remember anything.
Freea laughed bitterly.
I stood next to Freea and looked down at the cliff.
The appearance of the Taonier continent was revealed.
‘Where is it?’
I quickly scanned the landscape.
Delphine had said. Even pretending to be with the whole empire, there was a ‘reason’ to help Freea.
My eyes passed cities and towns, forests and swamps, seas and rivers. Soon after, I found out why.
“……I’m going crazy.”
It was true.
I cupped my forehead.
It was to the point where I had a headache that I hadn’t had before.
“Fria.”
“What’s going on?”
“When did that show up?”
When I pointed there, Freea answered in a firm voice.
“It was about a week after I found the second key.”
“okay?”
It’s been quite a while.
Well, you know just by looking at it.
I looked down again.
[Seed of Chaos Lv.???]
Estimated size is only a few hundred meters.
It rose in the middle of the forest and took the shape of an egg.
Inside the glistening shell, black pupils writhed incessantly.
‘doggish… … .’
Named Fragment Series.
He was the main culprit that turned the 80th floor and above of Pick Me Up into hell.
That guy is the boss level among them… … .
‘The decision of chaos.’
Estimated level is 300 units.
It was a non-attribute monster that appeared on the 80th floor and above.
Basically, it has physical and magic immunity, and other than that, it had a vicious pattern enough to trick 6-star max level heroes.
The fact that it was before hatching was a good thing.
If that guy appeared as an adult, it would be a swordsman’s soul and a black dragon’s blood, and that would be the end.
However, looking at the condition, there is not much left until hatching.
“That’s it.”
Freea said with a determined expression.
“They brought Taonier to ruin.”
“I guess so.”
If something like that were to appear in the middle of the continent, you would have to change your mind.
According to Delphine’s explanation, the Assinis family sent an expedition to deal with it, but the Church and Imperial forces stood in their way. And he proclaimed an edict saying that this seed is a gift from the goddess that will bring peace to the continent.
It’s a gift from the goddess.
it’s cracking
‘I do not have time.’
I bit my lip.
If it awakens, the mission’s success rate drops exponentially.
It’s like the boss monster of the final raid appears in the low rep zone. We couldn’t hit him with any skill we had right now.
Kurung!
The flesh-filled egg trembled greatly.
Black blood gushed out like a waterfall from the hole in the shell.
‘It looks like an X.’
In reality, it is more difficult to see.
I sighed and looked back at Freea.
Freea was looking down at the egg with her mouth firmly shut.
“Are you saying you can stop that?”
Freea nodded.
“If you complete the key, you can tear the rift in the dimension. We plan to send it back to where it was before it woke up.”
“But, there are a lot of hindrances.”
“……Unfortunately.”
Ghosts of Taoni. In other words, monsters have a purpose.
After going through numerous missions and analyzing them, I was able to find out. If the other accounts had a moderate mission, this Taoneer felt a clear direction.
It seems like they are getting together and playing dirty tricks.
Anyway, the work to be done is the same.
‘It’s all cooked.’
I grabbed the sheath.
