Chapter 719: Alps (4)
‘d.a.m.n it…’
Battles were always unpredictable.
‘I knew you were coming in.’
I didn’t think it would happen so suddenly.
‘Is there no order to retreat?’
It wouldn’t be too much to feel the same way. Of course, I knew why I wanted to defend that place.
“The Sunset Swordsman.”
It was a fight to protect a hero who had been corrupted by the devil and had been taken out of commission.
It was a fight to protect the body of a breathless hero. When I thought about why I had to fight again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
It wasn’t an area without tactical value, so even if the troops were pushed back, they could maintain the front line enough.
Still, I couldn’t find a reason to confront enemies in that place. I thought the damage would be severe. We couldn’t lose the top adventurers who were considered to be named by continental standards.
The Sunset Swordsman…
“There’s no guarantee he’ll survive.”
He was already dead. It was hard to breathe properly because of the rotten smell that had penetrated through the fog.
How could I hope that the hero would be revived after seeing the horrendous sight that was him?
Although I had always been supportive of the command, I couldn’t help but doubt whether that judgment was correct. Maybe he lost his mind at the command. Could the current Head, who lost Lee Kiyoung, the Continental Protection and Management Committee chairman, make a reasonable judgment?
I kept waiting for the order to pull out, but I still couldn’t hear any. Rather, orders were issued for full-fledged combat.
“f.u.c.k, I can’t even see because of the fog…”
“When ordered to fight, we fight.”
“Moving to the main force?”
“No, our party doesn’t join the main force.”
“Perfect. It looks like I’m going to die. I thought I could die at any time, but I didn’t want to die to protect the body that can’t even stand up, Captain.”
“We just do what we can. And you do what you are commanded to do. That’s our mission. I don’t need another word.”
“Can you trust the current commander?”
“…”
“I’m just saying this because I don’t think it’s reasonable. We have here the Holy Warrior, the Black Swan Guild Master, and the Blue Guild Master’s Secretary. It’s a place where the strongest people of the continent are gathered… They shouldn’t die in a place like this. The war is not over yet.”
“It’s not that I don’t understand how you feel, but I have no choice but to believe in him right now.”
“Who?”
“The Honorary Cardinal.”
“…”
“…”
“The grey warrior said he heard the voice of the Honorary Cardinal. The executives know the story.”
“…”
“Really?”
“Yes, so trust and fight. If you don’t trust him, there’s no hope for the continent anymore.”
“…”
“Parties are ready for battle. Coming in.”
If that wasn’t a lie…
‘I have no choice but to do this.’
If those were truly the words of the Honorary Cardinal, I had no choice but to follow.
Of course, there was a possibility that that statement was false, but I understood why the Honorary Cardinal made that judgment.
They didn’t believe in their own judgment. They believed in the voice of the saint of the continent, the son of Benignore, the guardian of light, and the Honorary Cardinal, Lee Kiyoung.
It was when I fixed my shield.
“Prepare for combat!”
I then felt something moving forward.
“Arrows!”
“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot! It’s our ally. It’s our ally!”
“Stop! d.a.m.n it!”
The doll that broke through the mist was a short woman. I’d seen her before. It was impossible not to know.
“Alps?”
She was a new guild member of the Blue Guild.
She was an adventurer who made her name known as a candidate for the Holy Sword and was also the one who made the profession of Tamer popular. Her cla.s.s was obvious since she was always with her dog.
I didn’t know what happened, but my face was full of tears.
No matter how the Blue Guild was, I thought there was a possibility that the recruit might’ve been frightened by the sudden battle and left the battlefield. There wouldn’t have been much she could do in such a thick fog.
But it was different from that. The newbie had no fear in her expression. Rather, she had an unidentified will.
“You’re…”
“Help me.”
“What?”
“We have to get to where the Guild Master is. Help me.”
“What are you…”
“I don’t have enough time to elaborate. I have to go now. Help me, please!”
“Captain?”
“…”
“Please.”
“Captain.”
“Change the mission. From now on, I will bring the new member of the Blue Guild to the point. As soon as possible.”
“But you can… d.a.m.n it, let’s go. I think we’d better go. The reason is…”
“I got a message.”
“Enough.”
I wasn’t sure from whom or what, but the leader and other party members nodded. I was also forced to nod for the time being. That’s because I was sure in my eyes.
“Moving.”
It was hard to see due to the fog and the chaotic battlefield, so I had expected it to be difficult.
“I’ll show you the way.”
I had no choice but to nod immediately when I saw the dog running out.
‘So she’s from the Blue Guild?’
For a moment, I was ashamed to judge her as a loser. There was no hesitation in her movements as she ran ahead with a sword.
It was a little embarra.s.sing to follow the dog, but the newbie in front of me was clearly guiding me to the point.
“Two battles at most.”
“I’ve checked if there is a battle.”
“30 seconds. It’s approaching from the front.”
“Ready for battle! Ready for battle!”
How the h.e.l.l did the Blue Guild train new guild members?’
Technically, it wasn’t like she’s experienced, but…
‘She’s strong.’
It wasn’t just in terms of force. She was mentally strong and knew what she should do. It wasn’t what ordinary newbies could show.
Newbies were either excited or nervous. They often had no room to understand the situation since they wouldn’t have time to look around properly due to being drunk in combat.
Or there were many cases where they became too nervous to even be helpful. That was why current guilds liked experienced newcomers.
At least ten attempts had to be completed before they could see the surroundings and merge with the party. Meanwhile, the loser in front of me…
‘Am I sure that’s a loser?’
She was calm. She knew what she could do and knew her limitations. Not long after the battle, she had already completely melted into the party.
She wasn’t just looking at the enemy. She was constantly looking around her allies. She must’ve been aware of where everyone currently was and what we could do.
As soon as she had a chance, she pulled out her sword, rushed in, and a.s.sisted others with her movement. Among them, the most powerful was…
“Waaaang!”
She provided buffs like a priest. We became more agile and stronger.
“Careful!”
“Thanks.”
“No, Let’s avoid it next time. I’ll turn left.”
“With the Blue Newcomer at the center.”
“Confirmed, Captain.”
I didn’t know where the party was headed because I was constantly changing directions, but the one thing I was sure of was that we were getting closer to our goal.
I didn’t think I could move like that on a battlefield. Strangely, nothing happened to our party in the midst of roars and explosions all around us.
“Hold the shield!”
“Shield! Shield!”
As soon as the huge light fell, they gathered to form a phalanx.
“Go, go, go! Move! Move!”
“I got it.”
“There are three in front of us! Battle incoming!”
“The second team will mark them. The first team will keep moving!”
“Confirmed!”
“Survive, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!”
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Have a safe trip, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!”
Sometimes the parties were separated. I hadn’t felt out of breath since I was listed as a top adventurer, but I was getting physically exhausted.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
“Go, go, go! Move! f.u.c.k! Move! Don’t stop! Just keep moving!”
“Captain, are you calling for backup?”
“The Red Mercenaries will open the way, newbie!”
“w.a.n.g!”
“It’s confirmed! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
There was a faint light in the hands of the new Blue guild member, who ran right away.
I didn’t know what that light meant, but I could see one thing that they had accomplished.
In front of us was what appeared to be a fallen hero between the roads opened by the Red Mercenary Guild.
“Raise the shield! Hold on! Hold on! Hold up! Hang in there!”
“Don’t back off! You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, hang in there!”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
“Stay where you are! Stay where you are!”
The eyes were fixed on the rear even as they continued to receive the falling foreign light.
The fog was gradually clearing up, and we could see what was going on.
We were completely surrounded by enemies, centered on the sunset hero.
“Are we all going to die?”
“Don’t say such things! Hang in there. He’ll get up! I’m going to get him up!”
‘Get up? I wish he would.’
It was then that the new member of the Blue Guild reached out to the sunset hero.
“Get… get…”
“…”
“Get up! Get up! Hero of Alta.n.u.s!”
“Put it up, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Don’t mind the back and hang in there!”
“And I will present you with the future!”
“Behind you now…”
“Never mind, hang in there! Don’t let them touch you! Wizards, keep the defense magic up! Keep it up, you b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! Even if you’re coughing up blood, don’t let it fall!”
‘d.a.m.n it. Are we really gonna die?’
“Wake up, hero of Alta.n.u.s! Then I will present you with a future!”
I couldn’t figure out what the new Blue Guild member was chanting all of a sudden, but one thing was for certain…
If he didn’t get up, we would all die. This was pure annihilation. The hope for the continent would be lost.
“Get up! Get up! Get up! Sunset Hero!”
“If you can hear me, wake up! Hero of Alta.n.u.s! If you do that… Ugh… I’ll present to you a future!”
“Wake up!”
“If you can hear me, wake up! Alta.n.u.s… Ugh… Wake up if you hear his voice, hero! Hero, if you do that… Then he will present you with a future!”
I raised my voice without even realizing it.
“d.a.m.n it… d.a.m.n it!”
“Wake up, Hero of Alta.n.u.s! Rise and take the future into your own hands! Get up!”
No response, the Blue Guild’s youngster continued to deliver a dim light to the sunset hero, screaming and crying, but he remained the same.
“Wake up, Hero of Alta.n.u.s! Then I will present you with a future!”
‘Is that it?’
I thought so.
It was just then…
* * *
“Bingo.”