Episode 126
126. Episode 126
– Welcome to the 10th floor trials.
– Topic: The Coming Sandstorm
-You have completed your exploration of the ruins and arrived at ‘Skabe’, the largest city in the desert.
-‘Skabe’ is a city that is extremely reluctant to accept visits from outsiders.
-You have been granted permission to visit ‘Skabe’ on the condition that you cooperate in the defense of the approaching sandstorm.
-Currently a member of the ‘Diablo Clan’.
– The countdown begins when all Diablo clan members arrive or when the clan leader announces the start.
As expected, the 10th floor trial was a group trial.
In the trials, it is simply called a sandstorm, but the sandstorm referred to here was not a simple natural disaster.
A large number of monsters rushing in with the sandstorm. They are all lumped together and called a sandstorm.
“Mr. Seun, this is… … .”
“Do you know what kind of ordeal this is?”
“Yes. So you’re saying that I just have to protect this place?”
“that’s right.”
The place where Se-un and Yu-seo-ah were standing was on top of a huge castle wall.
It was a wall that looked quite sturdy considering it was built on sand, and various water-based weapons could be seen surrounding it.
They were all weapons to protect the walls from monsters, not humans.
In addition, many soldiers were guarding the walls, such as standing guard or sharpening weapons.
They were wearing leather armor and white cloth wrapped around them, a costume that seemed suited to the sandstorm-swept environment.
As Yu Seo-ah looked around curiously, she saw a soldier approaching her.
“You guys? Oh my, look at that. Those people who travel through the desert don’t even cover their noses. Is that cloak just for decoration?”
“Me, us?”
“Then tell me. Are there any other people wearing such strange clothes besides you?”
The soldier who spoke with a foul tone also had a white cloth wrapped around him like a scarf, covering his mouth and nose.
Even though all I could see was his eyes, I could tell at a glance that he was annoyed.
Was it because it was the first time I had ever talked to a resident during an ordeal, let alone a shelter?
Yu Seo-ah couldn’t answer right away and was at a loss.
“Even if we are short-handed, what are you expecting us to do with outsiders? Phew. You guys, do you know how to shoot a bow?”
Looking around, I saw that most of the soldiers on the wall, in addition to the ones in front of me, were carrying a bow behind their backs.
It seemed that the main weapon here was the bow.
Well, with such a strong wall, it would be much more efficient to shoot arrows from the top of the wall than to go out with swords drawn.
“If you don’t know how to hold a bow, don’t do useless things. Just help out at the back. Don’t bother others for no reason.”
As the content of the ordeal tells us, the people here do not welcome outsiders. That is also why they speak so dismissively.
However, the trials here were not something that could be overcome simply by clans fighting amongst themselves. Since the goal was to block the walls, working together well with them would be more effective.
So, if you were ignored from the start, it was impossible to make a good record.
“It’s about the size of a bow.”
“What, where did you get that from?”
Seun took out a bow from his subspace pocket.
Dragon Fang Bow.
It was one of the weapons that Go Chang-seok made for Se-un.
The bow was strong and resilient, and the bowstring, made of sea drake sinew, was surprisingly springy.
It was a bow that required a great deal of strength to pull the string, perhaps because it was made specifically for Seun, but in return it boasted incredible strength and range.
The arrows used there are the same.
About 50 arrows, individually handcrafted by Go Chang-seok, were placed in the subspace pouch.
“It’s not a supply item, but it’s a precious bow. Why was it discovered at the ruins?”
Ignoring the soldier’s question, Seun placed an arrow on his bow and took up his stance.
Develop your eyesight by focusing on the ‘eye of the monarch eagle’.
A cactus jutting out between the rolling sand dunes catches the eye.
As I focused my eyes, the cactus seemed to get bigger and bigger.
“What are you aiming at? Could it be that cactus? Hey, don’t bluff. How are you going to hit something that’s more than 1,000 meters away?”
As the soldier raised his voice in disbelief, the surrounding soldiers’ eyes focused on Se-un.
This kind of commotion is actually welcome, because with this one attack, we can show our power to many people.
-The ‘Judgment of the Grad Empire’ is strengthened through internal energy.
-Temporarily, the elasticity and durability of the ‘Yongagung’ are greatly increased.
Guddeuk!
As my inner energy grew, the bow began to sway red.
As the elasticity increased, Seun put more strength into his shoulders and pulled the bowstring hard.
As I applied enough force to get the arrowhead right in front of the bow, the bow screamed that it couldn’t handle it anymore.
“Okay, then stop. If you overdo it, your good bow might break… … .”
The moment when the limit is added to concentration and confidence is felt in the hand holding the arrow.
Piyuwoong-
Se-un put down the bowstring.
Naturally, the soldiers’ gazes followed the arrows into the air.
For destructive power, it would be best to imbue it with magic, but what I was showing you now was not magic, but simple archery.
The arrow, without any magical correction, cut through the wind sharply.
I didn’t draw a parabola or anything like that.
The arrow flew straight ahead, cutting through the wind without any sense.
The soldiers who had been guarding the walls and wielding bows for months or even decades were shocked at this unbelievable sight.
The arrow was already out of sight.
When you wonder how you can check the results like this.
Phew!
The body of a cactus that had been leisurely enjoying photosynthesis in the distance burst open.
It literally exploded, neither hitting the target nor penetrating the arrow. It couldn’t withstand the force contained in the arrow.
The soldiers who were watching this opened their eyes wide, unable to even utter a word of admiration.
His mouth was wide open, making one wonder if his temporomandibular joint had dislocated.
The soldier estimated the distance to the cactus as 1,000 m, but in reality it was closer to 1,500 m.
If the weather had been unusually good and visibility had not been clear, it was so far away that it would have been difficult to see with the naked eye.
Even to the average person, this was no ordinary skill.
The eyes of the soldiers who had previously been full of prejudice against me as an outsider were now filled with respect.
The Sand City, Skabe.
Although it was a place that rejected outsiders, they had a fundamental respect for the strong power they had as they fought monsters in the harsh desert.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I made a mistake. No, I made a mistake!”
The soldier who had been looking at Se-un with eyes full of contempt just a moment ago bowed his head deeply.
As Se-un was unable to respond, the soldier was sweating profusely and could not raise his head.
At that moment, a woman who had been watching this scene from afar came closer.
Their uniforms were not much different from those of other soldiers, but the only difference was that their faces were covered with red cloth, unlike the white cloth of regular soldiers.
Although it was my first time talking to Seun-do, I had seen his face before the return.
“My subordinate was rude. Please forgive him.”
The walls of Skabe are divided into four major sections.
Among them, the place where Se-un and Yoo Seo-ah are now is Nammun.
She was the commander in charge of the soldiers at this very South Gate.
“I’d like to talk to you. Is that okay?”
The fact that she came to visit means that Seun’s power has already been proven.
Soon, Se-woon nodded.
The clan members hadn’t arrived yet, and the countdown hadn’t even begun, but for Seun, the ordeal had already begun.
* * *
“Please sit over here.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you.”
Yoo Seo-ah sat down and answered on Se-un’s behalf.
The place she arrived at after following her was a place that stood out in the center of the Nammun Gate’s wall, and it seemed to be some kind of command center.
The room felt quite old-fashioned thanks to the red carpet with gold patterns on the floor.
“Let me introduce myself first. My name is Yasha, and I am currently in charge of the southern gate of Skabe.”
“It’s Yoo Seo-ah.”
“This is Jeong Se-woon.”
“I heard you arrived here while exploring the ruins. Is that right?”
“Oh, yes. We… … .”
“I don’t think you called me here to investigate my personal history.”
Se-woon drew a line at her question.
The two of them had arrived here following the system’s instructions, so if they dug too deep, they would have no choice but to make hasty excuses.
If she feels suspicious, the trust built through force could be shaken.
So, it was more advantageous to come out strong here.
Even though Yu Seo-ah was seen to be flustered, Se-woon’s attitude did not change.
After a brief staring contest, Yasha soon lowered his head and let out a small breath.
“Okay, let me cut to the chase and get to the point.”
What are you trying to say by taking such an angle?
Although Yusuh strained his ears to listen to what she had to say, Sewoon seemed to have a rough idea of what she was going to say.
The clan that Seun had joined before returning also said that they had received that request.
Of course, because I received recognition for my skills too late, I didn’t have enough time to accept the request, so I ended up failing.
“I would like to request an investigation into the source of the sandstorm.”
“Where is the source of the sandstorm? Do you know where it is?”
Yu Seo-ah asked back with sparkling eyes.
Se-Woon just nodded quietly from the side. As expected, the content of the request was the same as what he had heard through rumors before returning.
“Yes, most of the information about sandstorms is known, as they are a natural disaster that has occurred periodically over the past several hundred years.”
“But why do you want to investigate?”
“Because there has been some suspicious information coming in recently.”
“If there is any suspicious information… … .”
“The heat around the known source of the sandstorm has increased, and the haze has become so severe that it is difficult to judge direction.”
“… … .”
“Not only that, the damage area is getting bigger than before, and the number of missing people is increasing. I am worried that the aftermath may lead to a sandstorm.”
“So that’s why you want me to look into it.”
“That’s right.”
Se-woon nodded.
This ordeal was not about defending against the ordinary sandstorms that the sand city of Skabe was always experiencing.
If that was the case, the soldiers would have blocked the attack on their own even without the player’s help.
The reason this ordeal was an ordeal was because of the strange events she was talking about.
“Are you asking this because we are outsiders?”
Yoo Seo-ah pointed out sharply.
It was a request that seemed dangerous at first glance, with the number of missing people increasing and the fever rising.
However, this was also a very important task in preparation for the next attack.
Asking an outsider to do something like that? It seemed like he was asking an outsider to do it because it was too dangerous to send his own soldiers.
“……That’s right.”
Yasha didn’t make any excuses.
Rather, that appearance gave me more confidence.
“And with our forces, it’s difficult to get the personnel to investigate the source right away. I reported it to my superiors, but they dismissed it as nothing serious.”
“Umm… … .”
“However, this is by no means a light request. As the person in charge of the South Gate, I am putting my position on the line to ask you this.”
From then on, it was time for Se-woon and Yoo Seo-ah to choose.
She didn’t make any excuses, it was just a request, not an order.
“If you need some time, I can leave your seat for a moment.”
She stood up from her seat.
Yusuh met Seun’s eyes as if she was leaving the decision up to him.
However, Se-Woon had already decided on an answer to her request when he entered the room.
“I accept.”
“… … Is that true?”
“instead.”
Se-un got up from his seat.
“I would like to discuss the rewards for success first.”
I was willing to grant the request, but I wasn’t willing to do it without anything in return.
fantasy,
