Chapter 77
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It was a while after Nyhill went to the village to assess the situation and returned to the mine.
Her expression was as usual, emotionless.
But there was sweat forming on her forehead.
Partly because she had run all the way to the village and back in a hurry…
But mostly because what she saw there had unsettled her.
Noubelmag, who had been anxiously waiting, quickly approached her.
“Have the demons attacked? How many are there?”
“The exact number is still uncertain from a distance, but it seemed to be at least a hundred.”
“…A hundred? Really?”
Noubelmag stood still for a moment, dumbfounded.
A hundred, he thought.
Considering it was pulled out of a low-grade stake in just a few days, it was an excessively large force.
That was almost like a full-scale war.
“No, why is the administrator moving so urgently? It’s so different from the usual progress of stakes.”
Usually, they waited for the demonic energy to spread enough, weakening humans, and then the main force moved.
That way was much more efficient.
“Why…”
The amount owed due to the demon king’s injury.
If it wasn’t paid on time, there would be penalties.
Even so, it couldn’t be guessed to that extent.
Clang! Clang!
The emergency bells kept ringing.
Amidst the urgent metallic sound, cries of despair mixed in.
He didn’t have any close friends, but it was a village he had spent the last three years in.
As familiar faces flashed through his mind, Noubelmag bit her lip.
“Where’s the leader?”
“He went for reconnaissance as usual, early in the morning.”
“…What?”
If the leader had gone for reconnaissance, why had those demons arrived unharmed?
The answer was clear.
“Darn, did they miss each other without encountering each other?”
If the leader had been in the village, there would be no worries.
That level of force would have been annihilated under his sword in an instant.
Rather, it would have been a good thing, not having to worry about the scattered remnants.
…Unfortunately, he was absent now.
In a situation where he couldn’t find a missing person, he had to do something useful.
If this invasion mobilized the full force of the stake… there would be more to worry about than just the number of demons.
Noubelmag asked with a serious expression,
“Did you check if the demons, or their administrator, came along? Have you confirmed that?”
“No, we didn’t see the administrator. We didn’t feel any particularly powerful demonic energy either.”
A sigh of relief escaped.
That was fortunate, at least.
Most of the artifacts Lonkers had placed around the village were made from crude materials available nearby.
They wouldn’t withstand the power of a demon at the level of the stake’s administrator.
“…For now, I should go down and see for myself.”
Noubelmag rushed into the mine with a determined expression.
In one corner, there was dusty armour and a combat hammer piled up.
He had debated whether to melt them due to a lack of materials but fortunately hadn’t.
Even when he was on active duty, he never had to fight, so it was something he rarely wore.
However, today seemed like an exception.
“While it’s tough to fight directly…”
Controlling the machines to fight and immediately repairing the damaged artifacts on the spot would be a significant help.
Moreover, there was this agent from the shadows.
If only demons had invaded, delaying them for some time should be possible.
As time passed, the hero would return, and the so-called ‘reinforcements’ he mentioned might also arrive.
In any case, they had to endure.
With such thoughts in mind, he took the armor off the rack.
It was then that Nyhill spoke.
“What are you doing?”
“…Putting on the armor. Instead of just standing there, how about helping? It’s heavy.”
Nyhill’s head tilted slightly.
“Armor hinders escape. I recommend not wearing it.”
“Escape?”
Noubelmag paused, his hands tying the straps.
“Who’s talking about escaping?”
Nyhill alternated glances between the back of Noubelmag’s head and the entrance of the mine before speaking again.
“It sounds like you’re saying you’ll participate in the battle.”
“Yeah. Sorry, but stay out of danger as much as you can and help from a safe distance.”
“That’s impossible.”
At the unexpected response, Noubelmag narrowed her eyebrows.
“…What?”
Nyhill continued dryly.
“The last order the Hero gave to me was to prioritize your life and act accordingly.”
“…So?”
“It’s impossible to take Noubelmag to a battlefield where his life might be in danger. Fortunately, this place is far from the front line. While Lonkers’ militia buys time, Noubelmag can escape through the path behind me.”
On the first day at the mine, after completing the surrounding reconnaissance, she had found a path behind the mine leading to an open field.
If it was just the two of them, they could easily escape.
By waiting near the nearby checkpoint, they might be able to join the hero when he arrives.
From the moment she realized the invasion, this was the plan Nyhill had conceived and decided to carry out.
Noubelmag’s face stiffened.
“What if I decide to go down to the village?”
“I’ll stop you. Following orders takes precedence for me.”
“Hah!”
Noubelmag snorted while looking at the expressionless girl.
Indeed.
She was undoubtedly an agent from the Shadows.
She strictly adhered to the given task, eliminating any unnecessary elements, such as emotions and personal judgment.
The way this girl was created was evident.
However, Noubelmag wasn’t pleased with her current demeanor.
…As someone who faced catastrophic results trying to shape someone according to his own desires, this feeling was even more profound.
“He told me to become a blacksmith following in my father’s footsteps… to create a masterpiece. That’s what I tried to do.”
Noubelmag finally turned his body away from the armor and looked at Nyhill.
Those jet-black eyes, which had constantly emitted a scent of nostalgia for the past few days, met his gaze.
“Nyhill.”
Daig.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Yes, please hurry.”
“Are you a tool or a human?”
Since the crisis hit the village, she had been expressionless.
But there was a fleeting moment when her face showed a hint of emotion.
Unable to answer immediately, she just mumbled, and Noubelmag’s face twisted.
“I…”
“…Damn it. I’ll answer for you.”
Noubelmag grabbed Nyhill’s wrist tightly and pulled her.
She obediently followed.
The destination of the old man and the girl was the workbench.
Sigh-like words poured out of Noubelmag’s mouth.
“These cold and hard pieces of iron are tools.”
“….”
“You are human. A fully human being made of warm flesh and blood… No one here thinks of you as a tool. Not me, not the leader who gave you orders. In the first place, he’s not someone who sees humans as tools.”
Nyhill stood still, listening to Noubelmag’s words.
“The leader’s order for you to protect me is well understood. But think about it. If the leader you’ve seen so far… if we run away, pretending not to know the residents, would he be pleased?”
…Think about it?
Nyhill thought about it as he said.
From the chilly late winter to the full spring.
“….”
She turned her gaze back to the man she had seen all this time.
And asked weakly,
“Then what should I do?”
It was an expression like a lost child.
Noubelmag groaned in frustration.
The impulsive nature he had suppressed for three years as a dwarf was slowly emerging.
“Well… when you think about it, as long as I’m not in danger, it should be fine, right?”
“…What?”
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“Give it to me.”
The wrinkled hand picked up the dagger from Nyhill’s belt.
Nyhill didn’t object, just looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Noubelmag’s hand then moved towards his waist.
Woooong!
A faintly vibrating bead.
What appeared was a spirit stone.
Noubelmag, as if making a decision, let out a long sigh.
“Nyhill.”
“Yes.”
Without going through the predetermined process, most attempts to process a spirit stone end in failure.
While it may exert its power for a short period, there is a high probability that the power of the spirit will leave afterward.
But now, it didn’t matter.
“Tell me. How does it feel to save people with your own choice… with your judgement?”
When he thought about it,she realized he had also forgotten about it for a long time.
The feeling of willingly forging a weapon for someone like that.
Thunk!
Noubelmag struck down the spirit stone.
Instantly, a dazzling light filled the dark mine.
* * *
After provoking the demons, it was relatively smooth.
Dagadag-!
Dagadag-!
Tedd ran like a fearful horse.
He didn’t stiffen his body or flinch at the demonic energy flying incessantly from behind.
Instead, he utilized his superior strength and flexibility, showcasing perfect evasion.
Dagadag-!
Dagadag-!
He ran while intensely staring at the destination.
With no rest, he faced the incoming demonic energy head-on without being shaken or surprised.
It was more like showcasing excellent strength and flexibility, revealing perfect evasion.
Thunk!
Thunk!
His robust legs, every time they pounded the ground, distanced him from the pursuing demon.
Considering the previous day’s heavy rain, causing the ground to be somewhat muddy, it was quite surprising.
I believed he would reach the goal straight, so I completely turned around to face the pursuer.
Now it was time for Valber to step up.
Kwaguagauaang!
Hor.
Using a polearm capable of causing intense vibrations, I stabbed the ground, creating a wall of soil.
He didn’t even think about avoiding it and collided head-on.
A wall of soil collapsed with a thunderous noise.
While he was charging straight, I unleashed Umbra toward the shadow he cast.
His puzzled face distorted momentarily.
“What!”
Chizijijik-
Umbra emitted a disturbing sound as the magical power it contained and the magical energy imbued on the demon’s body frictionally created a cumbersome noise.
While the demon was bewildered by the unexpected and extraordinary attack through the shadow.
Tstssts-
I took out Lute, the bow of atonement, and shot an arrow.
It was an artifact that had the ability to increase gravity on the hit target.
‘Before I reach the stake, I must not be caught.’
So I did my best.
Swinging my sword.
Blocking attacks with a shield.
And restraining with bow and spear according to the distance.
While watching me, who refused to keep a distance, the demon shouted as if chewing me out.
“Don’t play tricks!”
Shpshpsh-
His face was tinged with contrasting emotions.
…Displeasure at the situation not resolving as smoothly as he thought.
And a tremendous desire for the artifact.
‘Considering how many I’ve shown him, it’s quite understandable.’
Both of them weren’t particularly helpful in battle.
But what seemed like an easy pursuit turned into a different situation as they got closer to the stake.
Heheheung!
The demonic energy intensified.
It felt like a viscous liquid stuck to the ceiling and the back of the throat every time I breathed in and out.
I lowered my gaze.
Tedd’s body, swelling and deflating repeatedly, was visible.
From his mouth, frothy saliva mixed with white foam bubbled and boiled.
…It’s the limit.
Holding Umbra in my hand, I jumped off his back.
The clever Tedd sensed my intention, changed direction on his own, and kept running.
During the unexpected descent, the demon’s eyes flickered.
“Hey!”
The demon’s claws aimed for my heart.
I extended my spear towards the demon, who had come unexpectedly close.
At the same time, with the other hand, to reduce the impact of the fall, I expelled mana towards the ground.
Hweeik!
The demon also, to avoid the spear, half-folded its wings made of a membrane and rapidly changed direction.
I landed, chasing after him.
Uuuuuung-
A lump of demonic energy was condensing at the extended end of his arm.
I took out my shield from Valber and prepared for the ensuing impact.
But the attack didn’t target me.
Kwaaaang!
…A powerful shockwave.
The sound of an explosion was enough to drown out the horse’s scream in an instant.
I intentionally didn’t look back.
I just ran towards the stake in full sprint during the brief interval.
It felt like my hatred for the demon was thickening by a layer.
“Hahaha! You run better than I thought!”
“….”
Enhanced by ‘Awakening,’ my body reinforced with magic, it became as fast as it was when I rode a horse.
I couldn’t maintain this speed for long, but it didn’t matter.
The stake was getting closer.
‘…I should start preparing.’
The corrosion had progressed much more than when I came two days ago.
It was a scene that could hardly be seen as human habitat.
A landscape of faded earth and a sky so red that it seemed blood and flesh could drip down any moment.
▼
Territory of the Stake:
The erosion is complete in this area.
The land that has undergone magical solidification continuously contaminates the surrounding soil and generates magic.
▲
Beyond the comment, I saw the discarded bodies of humans like trash.
Due to torture, the bodies had limbs missing.
At the moment when I faced the eyes that hadn’t blinked even after not closing them while running.
A giant shadow was cast.
…It was the stake.
Kwaaaang!
And a tremendous roar echoed.
“This is as far as you go.”
Finally, he caught up.
The demon landed in front of me, folding its wings.
Kwajik-
His feet trampled the corpses beneath mercilessly.
“….”
The bodies crumbled into dust, splattering and crumbling.
I silently watched the dry scene.
The demon laughed arrogantly.
“It’s worth seeing the expression on your face.”
“….”
With no answer, I raised the spear.
For the first time, I will fight against a demon.
Although the hand holding the grand spear was trembling, it wasn’t because of fear.
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