45 Fire Line (2)
Back at the dorm, I was in trouble while organizing my backpack.
It was none other than the metal helmet he was holding in his hand.
‘Do you sell this?’
The official name of this helmet in the game is ‘Golden Mask’.
An item that can be obtained by defeating the boss of ‘Blood Citadel’ and satisfying various special conditions.
The effect is simple.
It customizes the appearance of the wearer’s face.
Although there is a condition that only 30 days is attached.
‘It was even a consumable item with a limited number of uses.’
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Maybe up to 5 times?
I remember that it naturally disappeared from my inventory after I used it all up.
Of course, it’s not accurate.
That’s right, except for the first episode I got, it’s an item I’ve never used before.
After that, I always sold on the exchange.
About half a million stones.
‘I mean, I’m still worried… … .’
Of course, if you were playing the game, you wouldn’t have to worry about this.
By the way, is it a cosmetic item?
What would you do with a character with 2D pixel graphics, and even for a short period of 30 days?
Even if the market price is 10,000 stones, it is advantageous to sell them.
But where I am now is definitely the reality.
After a short deliberation, I made a decision.
‘If you don’t know, let’s have it for now. I’m not in need of money right now.’
The game is different in many ways.
Have you ever been framed and imprisoned?
If there is a need to turn this city into an enemy, this item is sure to play a huge role.
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Maybe there’s something else to write about.
‘After all, money is the best.’
After one thought is over, the preciousness of money is felt again.
If I hadn’t made a lot of money this time, I would definitely have chosen the option of selling.
And as you can see from this.
The more money you have, the more options you have.
Whether it’s a game or reality.
Or even in this distant world.
***
“Hey! did you hear that The Crystal Alliance has been disbanded!”
A silver-haired fairy who was quietly eating in a corner of the restaurant.
Daria Whitember di Tercia pricked up her pointed ears.
This is because I heard a conversation about a topic of interest.
“What? Will the Crystal Alliance be disbanded?”
correction union.
The Explorer Clan has achieved explosive growth in the past 10 years, providing various conveniences to first-floor explorers by forming an extensive network of contacts based on the countless number of message stones.
“Isn’t that surprising? An entire clan of explorers can evaporate overnight?”
“her! What does it mean to be okay? Where have they ever been explorers?”
From what she heard, the members of the Crystal Coalition were mostly ordinary people who, under the pressure of taxes, set foot in the realm of explorers.
Do you have a separate job in the city and spend only one day a month to visit the labyrinth?
Of course, there was nothing really wrong with that.
No, I think it was good for the purpose.
In fact, I heard that many ordinary people who were in crisis of not being able to pay their taxes were saved through this.
However… … .
“Anyway, good news! Still, it seemed like they were taunting me everywhere as an explorer.”
The current Crystal Alliance has been corrupted.
As his power grew, he began to reject outsiders, as well as carrying them on his back and committing evil deeds to beginners.
Just look at what happened to your brother.
It wasn’t enough to do something wrathful, didn’t he try to silence his mouth by killing him?
‘I hate to admit it, but if it wasn’t for that barbarian, something unimaginable would have happened.’
After all, when she heard about the incident, she was also hoping to take care of her someday.
But now that I hear it, I don’t even need to.
Coincidentally, this time too, thanks to the barbarians.
“By the way, I haven’t asked that yet. So why did they suddenly disband?”
“Ah, didn’t you even hear the news?”
“The news?”
“A free barbarian!”
As she secretly overheard the story that followed, she frowned involuntarily.
The more I listened, the more interesting the story.
It’s not enough to get out of the frame of your own while even breaking out of jail, taking the daughter-in-law of the local head hostage?
“As the undertaking grows, it seems that this will thwart the loot-finding laws that were intended to only apply to Tier 9 explorers.”
It’s a story worth talking about.
The person who allegedly framed them forcibly has already been sentenced to death and hanged, and even the Crystal Coalition, which boasted of its bloated physique, seems to be being held accountable for its past behavior and being beaten with a mace.
but… … .
“But you know what’s even more surprising? That barbarian is only a level 9 explorer! In other words, it has not been long since the coming-of-age ceremony was over!”
A level 9 explorer who has just finished coming-of-age ceremony.
Somehow, when I hear this story, one person comes to mind.
A barbarian who was dignified in front of himself, and also showed a differentiated appearance in many other ways.
‘I hope there is such a coincidence… … .’
She shook her head as if to shake off the clutter.
Then he left the store and went home.
But every time I took a step, I kept thinking about it.
‘Is that barbarian really dead?’
So far, there has been no doubt about the circumstances.
But if he is the protagonist of the story you just heard… … .
‘Then it explains why I didn’t come back to the dorm for two days… … .’
Can I really tell this to my brother?
shudder.
When I opened the door amidst such concerns, I saw my younger brother, who was noticeably emaciated.
He sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and was dealing with three flames that seemed to go out at any moment.
Even in the labyrinth, two was the limit… … .
“Oh, sister, are you here?”
“… Have you been summoning spirits since then?”
“Yeah, so that makes the bowl even a little bigger… … .”
Her lips hardened at those words.
The training method itself was not surprising.
Because that’s what she told me in the first place.
However, the younger brother had never pushed himself to the limit like this before.
“You know, sister, I think I heard the voice of fire.”
“What… … ?”
“Now I know. how to be strong Why did I have to be weak all this time? Why did I always have to ask someone for help… … .”
The younger brother, who always seemed to be somewhat perplexed, and who had always avoided his gaze when speaking, continued to speak while looking straight into his eyes.
“I wasn’t that desperate.”
There was no vitality in the cracked voice, but at least one felt desperate.
it’s nothing but poison.
Finally, the one thing that the younger brother lacked the most was filled.
It was clear what was causing the change.
So Daria kept her mouth shut.
‘Even if the story is true… You’d better not say it now.’
10 years ago, just like back then.
All this will be for the sake of my precious little brother.
***
past noon.
I visited the explorers guild near the tower.
To be honest, I’ve been through something so disgusting that I don’t want to even come near it for a while… … .
I had no choice but to proceed with the quest that was newly ordered yesterday.
“What are you doing?”
“I am looking for a colleague of the right level.”
“Do you have the shape you want?”
A guild administrator who quickly asks only the main point without useless words.
I answered without hesitation.
“We want a team of at least 4 people working on the 3rd floor or higher.”
After all, I have no intention of ending this by simply filling Ainar’s vacancy.
Rather, he plans to use his promotion to level 7 explorer to join the most capable team and effectively attack the tower.
‘Well, it’s assuming that there is a good team.’
As soon as I showed my identity card along with the personal statement I had written in advance according to the procedure, the sleepy-looking administrator was startled.
Then I checked it several times with strange eyes.
“… Five stars?”
“Is there something wrong?”
“Oh no!”
An administrative officer who seems to have entered into a strange spirit.
I don’t know what a star is, but for some reason it seems that his tone has become kinder.
“This is a list of teams that meet the criteria mentioned by Bjorn Jandel Explorer. Would you like to check it out?”
All done in less than 5 minutes.
“Pretty enemies?”
“I swear, that among the recruitment announcements received by the guild, that meet the conditions!”
who said what?
I just said so, I don’t know why they even swear on this.
“Hmm.”
The documents selected by the guild members briefly described the 15 teams in total.
If you read the first one… … .
[3rd Floor Exploration – Ellen Bornev]
Preferred Exploration Areas: Twilight Ramp, Ironrock Hill, Ebon Estuary.
Average grade: 7th grade.
Current personnel: 2 human fighters in melee strike system (grade 7), 1 warrior in melee strike system (grade 7), 1 dwarf warrior in melee strike system (grade 7).
Recruitment: 1 melee strike system warrior.
*Equal distribution.
*Fairy Emissary.
*Participation in the before and after dinner is required.
*Drinking is allowed during exploration if desired.
What the hell is this team?
I’ve only read the text, but I can already feel the sweat.
Frustrated, I read the recruitment letters of other teams, but couldn’t find a team that I really liked.
If the members are good, the distribution cost is high, and if the distribution ratio is good, there is some problem in the composition of the team members.
‘… If you can see it in the announcement, it would be even worse in reality.’
Perhaps finding a team would have been easier if my career had been a little longer.
The maximum reach is the second floor.
If it wasn’t for the so-called beginner, the range of choices would have been much wider.
There must have been no team that wanted to cover the eyes with such a low distribution ratio.
‘It bothered me.’
I think I’d rather organize the members by posting a recruitment notice myself, but… … .
If so, no one will come, right?
The mourning that comes will not be normal.
‘Because I didn’t think I’d be able to find it in one day anyway.’
“Do you have a team you want?”
“You don’t really see anything today.”
When I shook my head and returned the documents, the administrator was like an NPC.
“Oh, is that so? Thank you for your valuable step, but I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. If you wish, we can make Bjorn Jandel’s information available to other teams—”
“Okay, come back next time.”
“Oh, would you? He has always been a friendly guild member Terbes to explorers.”
Obviously, he was kind in his voice, in his speech, and in his actions.
The ability to perform the work was also not cluttered.
“Then goodbye, explorer!”
by the way… Why do you feel so weird?
***
Leaving behind some unfamiliar feelings, I left the Explorers’ Guild and headed back to my dorm.
At the corner of the alley I stopped.
It was because of one barbarian.
widely.
bushy beard.
The bottoms are frayed and stained with dirt.
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Most of the barbarians themselves tend to behave like beggars, but even considering that, the barbarians are resting against the wall of the alley in a miserable way.
‘what?’
As soon as I saw it, I felt a sense of incongruity.
Although I had a separate dormitory, I felt a sense of incongruity because I often hung out with barbarians.
Even if it’s like that, it’s a barbarian who sits down and rests anywhere.
‘why… No weapons?’
no weapons
This is a very serious contradiction.
No matter how poor, hungry, and cold it is, the barbarians carry only one weapon as if they were their own lives.
I tend to ignore most of my curiosity, but I approached him instinctively and talked to him.
But what is this?
“Hey.”
“… Heck, hey!”
The barbarian, who had fallen asleep leaning against the wall, found me and was greatly dismayed and bewildered.
Well, fear of strangers may be a natural reaction as a living creature… … .
That’s by the standards of other creatures, and we brave barbarians don’t do that.
‘Chiba, you bastard… … .’
The shapeless sense of incongruity begins to gradually take shape.
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My heart was pounding, but I quickly cleared my emotions and organized my tasks in my head.
Well, I’ll have to lower my vigilance first.
“Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt you.”
As proof that he wasn’t an enemy, he pulled out jerky from his backpack and forced it into his hand.
The greatest kindness you can do as a barbarian.
Of course, he only took it, and he didn’t eat jerky in front of me.
However, at least, I could clearly feel that the sense of caution engraved in his eyes had been torn down a little.
‘Well, this would be enough for a conversation.’
I asked as if waiting.
“Why are you doing this here?”
“Hey, that’s over there… Also, I don’t have money… … .”
I nodded quietly.
The barbarians in the early days had no money.
This can be.
No, when you think about it, it makes sense.
However… … .
“How are your weapons?”
“Wow, I sold it… … .”
It’s not enough to sell weapons, so it’s respectful… … .
“Don’t even say your last name. I am Bjorn son of Jandel.”
“Li, Li-Yen’s son Ta, this is Tarikan!”
He raised his voice as if he realized his mistake too late, but it must have been too late.
Already I was sure.
“Nice to meet you! Tarikan, son of Lien!”
This guy is a demon.
It’s been a while since I entered this world.
Oh another player