Episode 146
146. Episode 146
“where?”
I followed Magu’s gaze and looked around, but all I could see was a swamp that looked no different from before.
The only difference is that the plants grow more lush and vibrantly here than elsewhere?
Other than that, no matter how you looked at it, it was no different from the swamp from before.
It was the same even if I tried to increase my senses or use mana scan.
“Oh, I forgot because it’s my first time bringing guests! It’s here!”
Gulp, gurgle-
As Magu pointed his finger at the swamp below, the area became unusually sunken.
The fine space wavered for a moment, then took on a shape similar to a staircase, and soon became a passageway.
“It’s below! I’m sure you’ll like it!”
“… … But, it looks too small for me to go in?”
“Ah! I’m sorry! As I said, this is my first time as a guest!”
Gulp-
Magu scratched his head and pointed to the ground again.
The swamp collapsed slightly, creating a passage large enough for Seun to enter.
‘I would never have found it if Magu hadn’t guided me directly.’
It is a passage that can never be found by mana, senses, or investigation.
Even if Seun had followed the directions on the journey before his return and arrived here, he would have eventually returned without finding the passage.
How could you possibly hide like this…?
There was a reason why there was no information about them before the regression.
“Follow me!”
Magu took the lead and walked up the mud steps.
The mud was hardened and my feet wouldn’t sink in, so I was able to move my feet comfortably.
As I went down the stairs a little, I felt the mud that had spread out slowly filling in.
Naturally, sunlight was completely blocked, but the view was not darkened at all.
Because the ceiling was glowing softly, as if sunlight was shining through the mud.
‘that’s interesting.’
Se-Woon, who had climbed to the 92nd floor of the tower and had gained many experiences, reacted no differently than other players when faced with a new situation.
With every step Magu took, he looked at the mud hardening like stairs, and a mysterious expression formed on his face without him realizing it.
Just when I thought I had gone down deeper than I thought, the stairs ended and a huge entrance was revealed.
“Welcome! This is where our swamp guardian clan lives!”
“oh…….”
A space where the floor, walls, and ceiling are all made of swamp mud.
On the ceiling, sunlight was streaming in from above, as if from a staircase.
Below that, there were many flimsy structures made of wood, stone, and mud.
Different liquids were flowing out from both walls, one side was surprisingly clear and transparent water, the other side was a thick liquid with a foul odor.
The space wasn’t that big, but there seemed to be fewer dwarves than expected.
“Is this all there is to it?”
“Most of them are at home! They were all really active originally, but when the purification started to become too much to handle, they started to run out of energy… … .”
“purification?”
“That’s it! Oh, since we’re on the subject, I’ll show you right away!”
Magu dragged Seun towards the wall where thick liquid was flowing out.
As I got closer, the stench became worse.
From a distance, I wondered what it was, but when I saw it up close, I could roughly figure out what it was.
‘The poison of the saffron and the rotten mud… … are they mixed together with various other rotten substances?’
Swamps have a certain level of purifying ability.
However, what I saw before my eyes now was something that could not be purified naturally even if it was a swamp.
I thought it would just clear up on its own with time, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
“Actually, this is our biggest role!”
Magu put both hands together and scooped up the thick liquid.
Then the liquid began to sparkle subtly and gradually became transparent.
Before long, the liquid became completely clear and the foul odor completely disappeared.
Magu was delighted as he carried the purified water and sprinkled it on the fountain in the center.
‘I guess it doesn’t have any side effects.’
The two hands of the joyful horse were dyed black.
It was gradually losing its color, indicating that it had the ability to detoxify itself, but it seemed to work on absorbing all the bad energy instead of purifying the liquid.
“Then, surely the invisible clansmen… … .”
“I collapsed because I couldn’t handle the detoxification. The stagnant water had become too much to handle… … .”
Magu lowered his head with a sad expression.
But soon he regained his energy and raised both his hands, which were undergoing detoxification.
“But it’s okay now! The bad flowers are gone, so the rotten water will decrease! It’s all thanks to the efforts of our benefactor!”
Afterwards, I followed the horse and went inside some buildings.
I couldn’t go in deep because it was a small building that fit the size of a dwarf, but even if I just looked around from the entrance, I could see quite a few dwarves lying down, covered in black paint.
It seems that everyone has purified the thick liquid to an extent that their own detoxification capabilities cannot handle.
It was thanks to them that the poison did not spread completely even though the pine cones had grown so large.
“What the heck! Why did you bring humans to our village!”
“This person got rid of the bad flowers! He’s a hero!”
“Wow! Thank you!”
While I was exploring the village, I came across a few dwarves who had come to their senses.
They were surprised and wary when they saw Seun, but they immediately let their guard down and spread their arms wide after Magu’s explanation.
No matter how good a deed they had done, they would still be wary of outsiders they met for the first time… … They were surprisingly innocent.
“So, why did you invite me here?”
Because it was a small town, it didn’t take much time to look around.
As soon as Se-Woon finished assessing the situation, he got to the main point.
In fact, I could guess what this ordeal would be like by looking at the system messages and the situation in the village.
“I know it’s shameless, but could you help my friends… …? Of course, I’ll pay you back! Um, so what kind of payback would that be… … .”
“good.”
“yes?”
“Okay. What do you want me to do for you?”
Se-Woon would normally have started negotiations about compensation, but he didn’t do that now.
Anyway, helping them is the key to solving the ordeal.
It’s a reward, whether you receive it or not.
Magu was embarrassed as he watched Se-woon nod without a moment’s hesitation. The dwarves next to him were the same.
“As expected, you are our benefactor!”
“thank you!”
“Please tell me what you want me to do.”
Se-Woon, who felt awkward at the sight of the dwarves jumping around and cheering next to him, immediately got to the point.
I was completely unfamiliar with this kind of treatment.
“I need transparent flower buds!”
“Where is it?”
“That’s a flower that only blooms where lizards settle. It wasn’t like that originally, but as the lizards grew in power, it became impossible to approach… … .”
“okay.”
Se-un got up from his seat.
Through a rough explanation, I was able to figure out the shape and detailed location of the transparent flower buds.
This was enough information.
As Se-un was about to leave, Magu grabbed him urgently.
“Danger! The lizards are very strong! And there are many of them! We will help you!”
It was because I was worried about Se-un.
Indeed, the Lizardmen tribe was a powerful force that could take over the 14th floor of the trials.
It was something that could not be done by the player alone, and had to be dealt with together with the participating formation.
however…….
“Okay. Everyone stay here, it’s not a bother.”
“but…….”
Since I had already fought them once, I wasn’t worried at all about facing them. In fact, I felt lighter than when I had fought Song Jang-hwa.
After telling the dwarves not to follow him and to rest, Seun moved straight towards the lizardmen tribe.
* * *
“Shh! What the hell is this commotion?”
“There has been a disturbance at the Songjanghwa breeding ground. An investigation team has been dispatched and a report will arrive shortly.”
There was an uproar among the lizardmen tribe.
That’s understandable, because the loud noise that occurred in the Songjanghwa breeding ground was so loud that it could be heard even by tribesmen who were far away to avoid the Songjanghwa’s poison.
The Songjanghwa Breeding Ground is a secret weapon to win the war against the Orcs.
Everyone was worried that something bad might have happened.
Then, the investigation team finally arrived after completing their search.
The chief, judging that nothing serious had happened since there were no signs of battle, requested a report.
Then, the expression on the face of the investigator who immediately knelt on one knee was not good.
“Whew, the funeral procession… … has disappeared.”
“what?”
“There were signs of a fierce battle, but not only my people, but even the corpses were completely gone. Not a single body was to be seen.”
“Does that make sense? Surely you didn’t do a proper search?”
“Shh, no! I searched every inch of the swamp in the name of my people!”
“What is this… … .”
The chieftain was embarrassed.
There are traces of battle, but no traces of those who were killed in the battle?
In addition, it is said that the Song Jang-hwa, which had already grown large enough to have its own intelligence, has disappeared.
Are the orcs up to something? No, this isn’t something the orcs can do.
Then who is it?
The chief racked his brain, but came up with no answer.
at that time…….
Kwaaaaang!!
“Shhh! Chief!”
“What’s going on now!”
A deafening explosion occurred at the entrance to the village.
The chieftain couldn’t help but feel a creepy sense of unease at the somehow familiar loud noise.
“Intruder!”
“Is it an orc?”
“No! I’m human!”
“Human? How can a human be in a swamp… … . The number of enemies!”
“It’s one!”
“……what?”
Just one human.
Humans are a race with lower physical abilities than orcs.
Although they were highly intelligent and skilled at handling weapons, they were not a particularly threatening race.
Could it be that he is a human who can handle magic? If so, then I understand the current situation.
However, the chieftain’s understanding was shattered by the explosion that followed.
Boom! Boom!
Kwarrrrung!
The ground shook and ripples appeared in the swamp as repeated explosions occurred.
A sharp wind howled, and sharp pieces of ice fell from the sky.
The only thing that could be heard between the natural disasters was the screams of their own people.
“Didn’t you clearly say there was only one person?”
“It was definitely one!”
“No way!”
The explosion was getting closer and closer. It meant that the warriors guarding the village were helpless.
The chieftain could instinctively understand this.
I’m talking about the feeling of anxiety I felt when I heard the first explosion.
‘There’s a commotion at the breeding ground!’
The human who is approaching now is the culprit of the commotion.
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“All right!”
Following the chieftain, the guards, warriors, and the investigation team prepared for battle by straightening their weapons.
Not only was the chieftain the strongest in the tribe, but those who escorted him were also among the strongest in the tribe.
At this rate, I was confident that I wouldn’t give up even if a horde of orcs came rushing in.
And finally, the demon that brought disaster revealed itself.
“Flower buds… … No. Let’s finish organizing things first.”
Kwaaaaang!!
Seun appeared with a red explosion.
Before he could find the flower buds, he intended to completely wipe out the lizardmen tribe occupying that place.
fantasy,
