VOLUME 2
Chapter 3: Raid Guild
Part 5
The Phoenix, which resided in a temple halfway up Mount Kunlun, was one of the strongest raid monsters on Lao Thai. It was said that the natural barrier existed solely to encage the Phoenix within the temple.
Even now, n.o.body knew how or why it had been captured and sealed there. The Penglai Emperor’s Prophecy that Jun’s party had uncovered served to provide an inkling of the now-lost history.
The temple stood two days by Long Walk away from Payang. However, after completing a special quest, adventurers could teleport to the Stonehenge at the foot of the mountain. It was a handy game mechanism.
Of course, Jun had already finished that quest long ago.
The following morning, he teleported there alone. With Long Walk, it took him two hours to reach the temple from the base of the mountain. Since he had drunk an invisibility potion, he did not have to fight any monsters on the way…
After he reached a hill from which he could see the temple, his eyes fell on a fortress blocking the way ahead, and beyond that, he spotted the Illusionary Brigade’s camp.
Since small patrols of two littered the perimeter of the tall wooden fence, Jun couldn’t find a single place from which they could break in. Observing them as closely as he could, Jun noticed that their magicians kept on casting See Invisibility spell.
They had been trained well. Jun even admired them a little. This guild really knew the ins and outs of PvPing.
“So, this means that we can’t resort to normal means against them.”
Lower ranked members were led to believe that their commanding officers were perfect humans. Someone who could lead an organization over the internet was deemed just as important as someone who could in the real world.
“Well, okay. For the time being, let’s not expect too much from formal negotiations.”
Though he didn’t really wanted to do it, he had no choice. As he donned his school uniform again to show his messenger status, Jun set off in the direction of the entrance to the heavily guarded encampment.
The ensuing dialogue was just as he feared. Disheartened, he tried harder and harder.
From the start, the Illusionary Brigade underlings shunned him, and no matter what Jun said, they kept on refusing him. They even ignored his request to see their superior. Finally, stubborn as he was, Jun picked up his sword.
“Hey, hold on a sec. I’ve seen you around before.” Just as a guard said that, Jun realized. It was Zakka, the guy who had tried to forcibly take all of the Phoenix Blood from Ryuka’s shop. “That’s right, I remember. If I’m not mistaken, you were that guy from the second-hand shop…”
“Ah, you again?” After that curt response, Jun sighed exaggeratedly. “You were being reckless to that little girl… You’d best only act like that with 2D girls.”
Zakka made eye contact with one of his comrades. Others nearby took a few steps back. “Wait, that’s a misunderstanding! … What are you blathering about?!”
“Don’t you get it? … though I don’t think you’re capable of holding back your l.u.s.t.”
Zakka became fl.u.s.tered, shaking his head profusely.
The members who were surrounding them jeered. Fed up with being organized like an army, they had to have been thirsty for some sort of entertainment and ridiculing Zakka came in handy.
“Quit s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around with me! I hope you realize that we’re not in the middle of town!”
His cheeks flushed from the undesired attention, Zakka took out his large axe.
Bandit Warrior.
That was Zakka’s cla.s.s. Though it was a front-line attacker, just like Jun’s magic swordsman, a bandit warrior could not use magic. Instead, bandit warriors had excellent resistance to magic and were known as the magic swordsman’s mortal enemy in PvP.
“Hey, hey, aren’t you cool with that big weapon of yours. Want to have a one on one duel to test your manliness?” teased Jun.
“Huh, do you think that you could possibly win against me?”
Jun glanced around. When he mentioned dueling Zakka, it seemed to fire up the others. Not a single one of them appeared to want to help Zakka out. Labeling Zakka a lolicon worked out quite well for him.
This was all in accordance with his plan. He shrugged, knowing that he had no choice but to do it this way.
“Awaken!” As light enveloped his body, his clothes changed to armor. Jun drew his greatsword from behind him. “Well then, brave lolicon-sama, show me your power!”
“I’ll cut you in two!”
Kicking the ground, Zakka charged at him. He moved in a straight line.
———— Of course, heh.
Jun chuckled as he took a nimble step and avoided Zakka’s attack.
“This guy won’t stop moving!”
Bandit warriors had the strongest regular attacks. Aside from attack abilities that could be used once every few minutes, they could not be affected by magic. If magic swordsmen imbued magic into their swords, their attacks would be rendered almost completely ineffective. So as a matter of course, spells like Quick Stun did not work.
If only he could move as freely as Jun could, Zakka would have been a formidable foe.
Zakka abruptly unleashed an attack ability. Though Power Attack and Whirlwind could do large scale damage…
In any case, his unvaried attacks were nothing to be afraid of.
“Uh-oh, this is dangerous.”
Jun sidestepped two of his attacks by a very thin margin.
Zakka’s face grew more and more stern. Bandit warriors could only attack. If he couldn’t even land a single attack, then…
“You… what kind of cheats are you using?!”
“You should stop thinking that anything that doesn’t make sense to you is automatically cheating.” Zakka had no clue how Jun was dodging his attacks.
Jun looked around. The others were teasing Zakka and looking down on Jun. Those were the underlings of the guild. They too, just like Zakka, did not quite understand how Jun was able to keep it up.
It makes sense to me now. These guys have not been taught anything aside from raid mechanics.
He had all the information he needed.
“My turn to attack.”
Jun swung his sword down at his unskilled opponent.
The duel turned completely one-sided.
Jun’s HP bar was still full to the millimeter. Only Zakka’s was depleting. As his health reached 20%, and then 10%, he dropped his sword.
“Pl-please wait. I surrender. I surrender!”
Jun drew his sword back. He stared at Zakka silently. Then, Zakka started laughing abjectly and stepped back.
Jun had not yet noticed that the Illusionary Brigade members who had come to watch their battle had now filled the entrance. They called out to Zakka franticly.
“Y-you guys, look at this dude! He’s a cheating rascal! Let’s get rid of him quickly…”
“Don’t do anything,” said a throaty male voice from behind them.
The crowd parted, and a tall, imposing male appeared. He was a young man with a full beard and well-shaped features. Clad in black armor, he carried a scythe.
He was a bandit warrior. And in addition to that, he was an elite of the guild, possessing armor leagues better than what Zakka had.
“O-officer! This guy…” Panicking, Zakka pointed at Jun.
However, the man completely disregarded Zakka’s presence and made eye contact with Jun.
This guy’s the boss of this unit.
Jun chanted, “Break Down”, and changed back into his school uniform. Generally, when a player wanted to have a conversation, they would change into regular clothes to declare their intent. It meant that he didn’t want to fight. At least, for now.
“Pardon me for causing a squabble at the gate. I’m unaffiliated with any guild. I came here to request a favor of you.”
The officer was silent. Squinting, Jun saw his name light up green above his character.
Daikoku. That was the name of the leader of the one hundred newcomers to the island.
Jun explained the circ.u.mstances of his visit. That he got a quest from the Pyramid. That his friend was nearing her third death in just eight days. And finally, that he needed Phoenix Blood to prevent it from happening.
Looking back at the quest description, I expect that the curse will be unleashed after failing it just once. It’s no big deal for Ryuka to die once. So…
“I’m begging you. Just one is all I need. Please let me have one. Or maybe you could let us do the Phoenix raid just once. In that case, I won’t mind if you take every item other than the Phoenix Blood.”
After sincerely and pa.s.sionately saying that, Jun bowed his head. However…
“Go home. This is the Illusionary Brigade’s camp.” Having said that with indifference in his voice, Daikoku turned back.
“Please wait a moment. Is there any way…”
“You talk too much.” Daikoku suddenly raised his hand. His underlings, now standing in rows, drew their swords.
“I get it. Well then, at least take this.” Jun took out a new set of linkstones from his bag, and threw one linkstone to Daikoku. Almost as if he had eyes on his back, Daikoku caught it with his back turned. “Please hold onto it.”
“I will look forward to hearing from you.”
“Actually, it will be the other way around.” Jun grinned. “Maybe you’ll need to contact me.”
“… What?”
“Now that that’s done, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Jun turned around and ran off without saying anything else.
He had accomplished what he had set out to do. He had sown the seeds that were to be sown. Jun had not hoped that it would have gone as smoothly as it did. All he had to do to get the boss’ attention was to act a bit.
Then, if those guys are able to handle things well…