Episode 45
Chapter 11 Contact (2)
The goal dinged and rang. The unfamiliar echo was accompanied by dizziness, but fortunately it subsided before long.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until Ahel wakes up? There is also a barrier… … .”
“As long as you don’t know the identity of that man, you should avoid relying too much on him.”
From then on, their conversation began to make sense.
“But you saved us… … .”
“Raoul, this is not a place for Ainjong to wander alone.”
“… … It’s not like there are no survivors’ villages in the polluted area. Survivors from other countries may have settled nearby.”
“There is a good chance of that. But there is nothing wrong with being suspicious.”
“Do you think he tracked us down with a special purpose?”
“We will not forget the grace of lifesaving, but we must not be vigilant.”
The language that reached my ears was still unfamiliar, but the meaning was automatically interpreted in my head.
“… … that’s interesting.”
The man and woman turned to me so fast that I could hear a whimper at the low muttering.
“I can speak Tenir… … No, is it magic?”
Instead of answering, I pulled out the earring I had put in my ear and threw it in the direction of the woman.
A strange object appeared in the eyes of the woman who snatched the fingernail-sized earring.
She even tried it on her own ear.
“It’s a magic tool. Why didn’t you use it sooner?”
This time, the unfamiliar language was automatically interpreted in my head.
‘It’s really amazing.’
Is it only usable in this world? Do you translate foreign languages of Earth?
While I was thinking about this and that, the woman returned the earring.
It was easy to snatch the object flying in a parabola.
After putting the earrings back on, I answered the woman’s question.
“Because it just happened.”
“… … just now?”
“If I explain it, do you intend to believe it?”
The woman did not give a clear answer. Paradoxically, that was the answer.
Did he show it on purpose because he had no intention of hiding his true feelings?
Maybe it was because he didn’t know how to hide his true feelings.
Since I had pierced raw flesh, I stared straight at the woman, fiddling with my burning ears.
She took my gaze straight for a moment, then spoke in a more subdued voice.
“I’m sorry if my words and actions were offensive.”
I didn’t know that an apology would come out right away, so I was rather embarrassed.
“It wasn’t particularly unpleasant.”
“Good thing. Then let’s start with a formal introduction, this is Lashar Bennett. I will never forget the grace of saving my subordinates.”
“My name is Raul Teherma. Thank you so much for saving me.”
The blue-haired man who was looking at the wounded also briefly introduced himself.
After that, the two stared at me quietly. Like saying it’s your turn now.
I was about to say my real name for a moment, but changed my mind.
“K.”
“Kay, since the language problem has been resolved, I hope you will make sure to pick it up.”
“what?”
“The reason you saved my men.”
Instead of answering right away, I stayed silent for a moment.
It’s because I’ve been thinking a lot about how to start a story.
Is it a system, a different dimension, a mission… … It’s unrealistic to say everything in the first place.
‘If I tell you, I’ll be treated like a madman.’
After I hesitated longer, Rashar spoke in a calm tone.
“If each other tells the truth to each other, misunderstandings and discord can be minimized. I swear to rule out prejudice in order to understand your position.”
Those words may be plausible empty words.
But Lashar, as well as I, know that empty words are best in the current situation.
‘The system designated them as allies.’
It’s a different step from declaring that the monster is an enemy.
‘Of course, not all allies can be trusted.’
Unlike the monsters that rush at you as soon as you see them, you have a chance to build a relationship with them.
“Because I asked you to save it.”
I thought it would be better to tell the truth in order to get the first button right.
“… … who?”
“The one who brought me here.”
“here?”
“A world with two moons, as he put it, a new world.”
When he recited the title of the mission he just cleared, Rashar and Raul flinched at the same time.
They looked back at each other, exchanged glances, and then said something I didn’t expect.
“if… … Are you a stranger?”
My eyebrows twitched greatly.
Stranger, is there a word that better describes my situation than mine?
“Have you ever met someone like me?”
The first thing I thought about was that it couldn’t be.
There is no way that any player has come into contact with this person before me.
Everyone is still at the 1st and 2nd level, where the defense wall is not broken.
Scared to ask the question, Rashar shook his head.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen it in person.”
Her expression looked quite complex. My expression didn’t change much either.
If it’s the first time you’ve seen it in person, are you saying you’ve heard it indirectly? to whom?
“I would like to hear a detailed explanation.”
Rashar thought for quite some time.
However, the answer he gave after a long silence was firmer than expected.
“No.”
“The reason is?”
“Because I’m not sure you’re a stranger. Giving information to someone you can’t trust doesn’t sound like a good option.”
“… … What does it explain without important information?”
Rashar, who was contemplating with his eyes slightly lowered, spoke in a cautious voice.
“Don’t you know?”
“what?”
“The trust… … A few years ago, an oracle came down. A stranger will come.”
The genre of conversation went in a direction I didn’t expect.
‘trust?’
Is it a matter of religion?
Even on Earth, the issue of religion used to be a big fire enough to draw a stroke in history.
As long as you don’t know the value or weight of religion in this world, you need to be careful.
‘If there are people who take the oracle as a matter of course, it seems that they have great prestige… … .’
If so, it was not a matter to be taken lightly as an arbitrary judgment.
If you get stuck, it can get you into trouble in many ways.
In the worst case, you may see a terrible ending where you are accused of heresy or heresy and burned at the stake.
‘I want to avoid dog death.’
Additional information was needed to avoid tragedy.
“What else?”
“I can’t tell you because I can’t trust you.”
But it wasn’t as easy as I thought.
Rashar shook his head with a resolute attitude that left no room for words.
I decided to take a step back while kicking my tongue inwardly.
‘Maybe it’s better to go slowly than to incur resentment by asking too much.’
It would be useless even if I cut it off and say it like that.
“Then it can’t be helped.”
“Then can I ask you a question?”
“However much.”
When I answered with a shrug, Rashar looked at my waist.
“Why are you carrying that shield?”
For some reason, her voice seemed to have lowered.
The golden eyes also feel a bit sharper.
It seems that this shield is not something that can be welcomed.
I followed her, lowered my eyes, and replied.
“There are complicated circumstances.”
“I will try to understand without prejudice.”
“… … The ultimate goal is destruction.”
“Why not now? If you don’t know how to do it, I will do it.”
Rashar pulled out the sword from his waist before he could finish his words.
That was all. pulling out the sword.
But the pressure was overwhelming.
Sureureung.
The sound of the blade crying was to the point of fainting for some reason.
‘Let’s not be scared.’
I carefully managed my expression and answered carefully.
“That is difficult. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it when the time comes.”
It was an ambiguous answer. This was the best way to hide the destruction of the medium or the mission.
I didn’t want to give you the information that destroying this might return me to where I was.
They also have something to hide, but there is no law telling me not to do that.
I can’t blindly trust that side either, so it’s necessary to hide and wrap it appropriately without lying.
However, Rashar’s eyes staring at the shield were unusual.
So, without delay, I added a word.
“Don’t stare at me too much, I don’t have any bad intentions.”
“Just because there’s no malice doesn’t mean it’s not evil.”
He doubted me, but I didn’t argue.
‘Because it’s not wrong.’
After thinking for a while, I pointed to the shield and asked.
“Is this a dangerous thing?”
To stop ignorance and innocence from leading to evil, we need to find out what it is.
“… … Don’t you know about Meseo?”
“The name I know is Medium. Other than that, it’s just that the mana is accumulated.”
Rashar checked the shield again and continued his explanation in a calm tone.
“Monsters gather at the place where Meseo was born. After that, the one who survived the slaughter competition becomes an evolutionary species. Was that a good enough explanation?”
Swamps, small crocodiles, large crocodiles, the phenomena I saw and experienced began to be organized in order.
‘Evolutionary species.’
It was at this moment that the speculation that this medium produced the large crocodile turned into certainty.
It probably absorbed the mana stored here. like the players.
“… … How long does it usually take for monsters to swarm?”
The voice came out slightly. As he cleared his throat, Rashar’s answer continued.
“The shortest response is 14 hours. After confirming that Meseo was being created, the monsters gathered in 14 hours.”
“If you carry… … ?”
“I don’t know because I never did. Usually Meseo is destroyed as soon as it is discovered.”
About four or five hours had passed since I arrived in this forest.
‘Is it still stable?’
What will happen if you stay here?
Will it become a den of monsters like that swamp?
I tried to read my heart and asked.
“I’ve been carrying this for five days. But I’ve never been attacked by monsters.”
“Just because you’ve been lucky so far, there’s no guarantee you’ll be that way in the future.”
“How many monsters are there?”
“… … It’s like he’s really out of this world. First ten, then a hundred, then a thousand.”
The longer Rashar spoke, the numbers that filled the mission list flickered in front of his eyes.
“As time goes by, it will increase more and more, and it will be at a level where Ain species will not be able to even set foot near it.”
Goosebumps broke out all over my body. There are thousands of missions over level 3 that I know of.
It means that evolutionary species are absorbing mana and getting stronger in many missions even at this moment.
“Do you have any more questions?”
“ah? uh… … wait for a sec.”
Whoop.
As I took a deep breath, my stiff head began to roll again.
“Hall, do you know?”
“I do not know.”
At that point, I pushed aside the two words, medium and evolutionary species.
There doesn’t seem to be anything more to dig here, so I have no choice but to ask something else.
I took out the pass from my pocket and read the text written on the system description window.
“Then you know what Pinelpenia’s authority is… … I see there is.”
The wide-eyed expression of the two people gave the answer.
“What is it?”
Rashar and Raul were busy exchanging glances.
“The power… … Are you allowed?”
Why are you so careful? I wonder why he seems nervous.
I nodded my head while carefully examining the two people’s attitudes.
“It’s a one-off, but.”
“disposable?”
“It can only be used once.”
“Ah, then you have been blessed.”
Rashar held out his hand as soon as he frowned, wondering what this meant again.
“If you really are a stranger, it would be quicker to see for yourself than to explain in words.”
I stared at her outstretched hand for a moment in silence.
Rashar just waited without a single urge.
Was it because the silence was quite comfortable?
I grabbed Rashar’s hand with my will.
Of course, there was a logical judgment behind that action.
‘There’s no way something dangerous came out as a system reward.’
There were times when the missions were difficult, and there were times when the rewards were ridiculous.
It was clear that it never hurt me.
While holding Rashar’s hand, I used Pinelpenia’s Power Ticket.
At first, I only felt reluctance.
Bondi, because things I shouldn’t know have crept into my head.
The problem was, I had no idea what it was.
It feels like my head is going to break, and I feel refreshed like never before.
As the sensation was repeated, I was able to distinguish it.
It was like a picture or like a video.
‘record… … That’s it.’
Yeah, it was a record that came into my head.
To be precise, the past seen from the perspective of a person named Lachar Bennett.
All I could see was fragmentary.
Looking at the paper and map filled with letters, swinging a sword, and having a conversation with many people with serious expressions for a long time.
Every time Rashar’s figure was reflected in the window, the tree beyond it changed. the seasons have changed
By then, Rashar had stepped onto the hooded figures and the glowing blue painting.
Eventually, several shadows move busily in a dark cave-like place.
Naked people, people shackled in shackles, and even children who just stare at them with dumbfounded faces.
Rashar either urged them on or ran while holding them.
After that, the saggy people climbed onto the blue painting and disappeared.
And again, new people climbed onto the picture and disappeared.
‘that… … .’
This is the moment when you understand that Rashar and his party appeared in the sky, flashing.
In the world that this game is based on, it seems that space movement is actually possible.
Well, that’s why there must be a skill like skipping in the store.
‘Is it like a rescue operation?’
In terms of results, the operation was close to a success.
After the people, Lashar and the others who had infiltrated the cave began climbing on top of the painting one after another.
Of course, it wasn’t a complete success.
The painting on the floor was shattered before the last dozen personnel could get out.
‘Raoul and orange hair… … .’
The people I saved were mixed in with the crowd.
As soon as I saw a familiar face, the ground turned upside down, and I couldn’t read the record properly after that.