139 – The Returner’s Deception (6)
The Skeleton Killer’s body was not found. This is because the entire area near the battlefield where the fight took place was reduced to ashes. There was no way to tell if this was a human corpse or a wild animal that had the misfortune of not being able to escape.
“… The guy is dead. Surely. “The attack didn’t hit him, so I sprayed lightning in a wide area and he died.”
However, since the person involved in the fight declared his death, no one doubted his death. Anyone who had seen that ‘celestial punishment’ in the first place would have no doubt that he would have survived it.
“Is it finally over?”
“Whoa. “Now I feel less troubled.”
“Beer, isn’t the beer finished maturing?”
The dwarves were very happy. I had been in a lot of emotional pain since the first murder, and it seemed like all problems had come to an end.
“It won’t be long since the funeral is over, so you won’t be able to enjoy it in a big way… Shouldn’t we raise a small glass of congratulations? Bring me beer and meat. “Let’s eat and drink tonight.”
The Dwarf race is a hard-working race, but it is also a hard-playing race. The dwarves cut out several large tables on the spot, prepared plenty of cold beer and hot meat, and then invited the players.
“Gail. Yur. Minael. Kuhn. Our proud brothers and sisters have left us. “I think it must have been very difficult for everyone.”
“That’s right!!!”
“I won’t tell you to forget. Ask. Bury it deep in your heart and move forward. Isn’t that what the departed brothers and sisters want? Okay, everyone raise your glasses. “For the family that left!”
“For!!!”
Dwarves gulping down freshly aged beer. Because it was slightly under-aged, the flavor of the barley was lacking, but the melancholy and hope mixed in my heart added to the flavor of the drink.
“Drink. Drink and forget.”
“Do you have any more meat?”
After one or two drinks, the atmosphere became noisy. The boisterous dwarves walked around with drinking glasses and offered drinks to the players.
“… “Why do you look like that?”
“Why are these people doing this after winning? Smile, buddy.”
“… That is.”
However, the players all had unusual expressions. He was sipping alcohol and chewing meat, but he didn’t look like he was enjoying it at all.
“Choi Ji-won! “Why are you doing this when you are the most active!”
“Are you a nobleman? Or something like the hero’s daughter? Lightning crackles! “I almost peed while playing?”
“Shouldn’t we at least erect a statue? “I may not know other people, but I recognize Choi Ji-won.”
“… hahahaha.”
Choi Ji-won smiles awkwardly. The corners of her mouth were smiling, but her feelings were complex.
The reason for the disappointment is not that special. The end of the ‘battle’ with Kim Jun-ho was very disappointing.
To others, the battle with the Skeleton Killer may have seemed like a fierce battle, but the reality was different. Everything was a choreographed play.
However, it is true that she did her best even if it was a play. She did her best to deflect her lightning, and she did her best to tame her seething magic. That’s why I feel regretful.
“… “I almost got in big trouble.”
That final blow. It was a turning blow for Choi Ji-won that drained all of her remaining magical power.
He was trying to cover the eyes and ears of the players while giving Kim Jun-ho time to escape and test his own strength… The result was not very satisfactory.
The final lightning used up all of its magic power, so the sound was extremely loud, the light was the brightest, and the range was so wide that it was impossible to avoid.
However, it is of no practical use. It was simply large and struck widely, and the power itself was not much different from other lightning. The empty cart is noisy, so you could say it’s just a blank bullet that makes a loud noise.
Controlling the magic power of a subject with such terrible power was incredibly difficult, and Kim Jun-ho almost got hit by lightning and returned. I tried to throw lightning as close to the fortress as possible to block the line of sight, but my aim was off.
I don’t know how others would evaluate it, but by Choi Ji-won’s standards, it was a complete failure.
“… “Regression is too much.”
However, the optimal result was already obtained for regression due to lack of control of magical power, and Choi Ji-won was refraining from simultaneous regression as much as possible due to personal concerns. For this trivial reason he could not return together.
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
“Oh, oh oh!”
“You drink well!”
In the end, all I can do right now is drink as much beer as I can and soothe the regret in my heart. I hear Bungbung complaining in my head, asking why he’s drinking something like this, but I ignore it and empty my beer glass.
“Hey! Choi Ji-won drinks too, so what are you waiting for?”
“All we do is nibble on a little bit of meat. “What’s wrong with you?”
“… “
The rest of the players were looking at Choi Ji-won, who was gulping down a beer, while nibbling on the meat in front of him. If the emotion Choi Ji-won felt was ‘regret’, the emotion the other players felt was closer to ‘sense of inferiority’.
Good characteristics. Great talent. Even above average intelligence.
There is no player here who does not have at least one of the three. (Except for one idiot who was foolishly exploited.) All are frontrunners who stand out in their countries.
11Th floor? The 11th floor could not be cleared due to trouble with the dwarves, but the difficulty of the 11th floor itself is not the problem. No, the tower itself was not a very difficult space for them to begin with. I was able to clear all floors from the 1st to the 11th floor without much trouble, except for the 4th floor. (No one was reckless enough to choose the 3rd to 5th floors.)
Don’t you think the top is too easy? Rather, it is more accurate to say that they are too strong. Because the chosen talents of one race should not be compared to the standards of other ordinary talents.
To summarize, these are people who have never felt a lack of ability since entering the tower. These are the 11th floor, the 21st floor, and the 66th floor, and they were confident that they could chew through them all.
“… “
“… “
But… The scene they saw earlier was disturbing their minds. If we were to express it like martial arts, it would be more appropriate to call it Simma.
The characteristics of players are diverse. There are people who have the strength to break rocks, there are people who can breathe fire into the air, and there are people who can instantly achieve incredible speed.
Players are superhuman. These are people who can twist reality and realize miracles that were only possible in imagination.
But… The scene I saw earlier… It was a natural disaster. It was clearly outside the realm of humans.
It’s on the same 11th floor. It’s the same player. How can there be such a big difference? When I realized that fact, I couldn’t bring myself to drink alcohol.
There is no player here who is familiar with magic enough to see through the fact that it is actually a hollow Gangjeong. They seem surprised to see a child holding a large balloon and say he has superpowers, but Choi Ji-won, who will correct the misunderstanding, is eagerly drinking beer.
“Why are they like that?”
“Okay, that’s fine.”
In the end, the celebration party ended in a somewhat gloomy mood…
**
The excited atmosphere has come to an end.
Slowly, the players were ready to leave.
“I’ll just give you the passenger seat. Various items will now be sold again.”
“Really?”
“Then. Aren’t we comrades who fought together?”
“…I guess I should buy another knife.”
Players didn’t play and eat during the period when the dwarves weren’t selling passes, so there was enough gold. Thanks to this, people were able to stock up on various weapons and daily necessities.
Everyone is so happy. Choi Ji-won sneakily approaches the store owner.
“Oh, Ms. Jiwon. What’s going on?”
“What are you going to do after we leave?”
“…”
The truth that everyone tries to ignore. The 11th floor is structurally very weak.
Even if it is safe now… There is no guarantee that it will be safe in the future. If one more crazy player comes in at any time, the peace on the 11th floor will be shattered in an instant.
“That’s…”
The moment the store owner was about to answer something.
“Everyone! I, I… I have a confession to make. I was so scared that I hid it all this time. “I think I should tell you now.”
A player shouts loudly and raises his hand. It was the face in Choi Ji-won’s memories.
“… The first dwarf to die was… I think I killed him… I’m really sorry… “
“… “What does that mean?”
“So… I ate a mushroom in the forest… “
Mason. A man who was tricked and taken advantage of by Zhang Lei. The man was confessing his sins, with tears streaming down his face.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” “
“… “Raise your head.”
The store owner places his hand on Mason’s shoulder as he cries.
“I need to hear more details to find out… First of all, calm down.”
Shop owners are not fools.
Judging by his complex and subtle expression, he also seemed to guess that Mason was not the real culprit.
“And there is a way to atone.”
“… Yes?”
“You will remain on the 11th floor. Stay and protect us. Until I clear my karma.”
And if the other person feels sorry… They might be able to get some help.
**
From Noble mtl dot com
Players who stayed on the 11th floor for a long time cleared all the gold they had accumulated and cleared the 11th floor with a light heart. Players who decided to stay due to lack of gold also regained a spark of hope.
After the long conflict, they began to leave the 11th floor one by one.
In the process, Choi Ji-won somehow received two passage seats, but since everyone had a lot of work to do, it did not attract much attention. There is no way Choi Ji-won would use the passenger seat for a bad purpose.
However, in the dark of dawn, a strange phenomenon occurred in which the angel in charge who was supposed to guard the center of the square suddenly left the place. Of course, because it was early morning, not many people noticed this.
Well, even angels have their own circumstances. These angels treat the player very businesslike. Perhaps the reason I left the fortress for a while was because I had something to do.
“Hey, but if the angel has left the fortress, can you clear the player from outside as well?”
“… Even if you could do it, why bother? It’s not like I’m going on a business trip, there’s no reason for them to do that. “Well, unless it saved your life.”
“… “That’s right.”
“Go to sleep. “I need to save money and buy weapons.”
The 11th floor has regained its former peace. A crazy killer who happened to appear served as the glue that glued the dwarves and players back together.
It’s hard for her to say this, but it couldn’t be anything other than great luck.