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[Chapter 169]
[Small Victory (6)]
The army commander that seemed like it would never fall.
The Players of Jung-gu felt despair towards the army commander that didn't fall even to their all-out attack.
"How... how do we kill this thing?"
"Tough bastard."
The situation had clearly reversed.
But they lacked the final blow to put an end to this situation.
The Players of Jung-gu who now had no strength left to use magic after giving it their all.
They were overwhelmed by it.
Kieeeeee!!
Though it looked like it might die at any moment.
Nevertheless, it raising its fur threateningly dampened their spirits.
And that made one thought take root in their minds.
We can't kill this thing.
A sense of defeat.
Mana was the manifestation of emotion and will, and magic was the phenomenon implemented based on that.
But as such thoughts took root in the depths of their psyche, their power naturally decreased.
Conversely, the mana they shed dissolved into the world and 'manifested'.
The Players themselves lowered their sense of reality about themselves, and conversely maximized their sense of reality about it.
In simple terms, the army commander received a 'boost' from the Players.
To make matters worse─
""""─...."""
Level 3 overrank monster Ye-gyeong.
Of all things, that creature appeared too.
People finally let go of everything.
The only fortunate thing was─
"W-What? Are they retreating?"
"We're alive. We're alive..."
Ye-gyeong only retreated with the army commander without trying to attack.
At that moment, people felt grateful to those creatures for the first time.
They wanted to kneel down and bow.
Knowingly or unknowingly.
Players who should fight those creatures while protecting humanity psychologically surrendered to the monsters.
And the sense of defeat that sprouted once would forever make them people who surrendered to monsters in the future.
But─
"─I'll give it a try."
Those words struck their hearts.
Pandora Clan's Caster Jo Ara.
She who had just graduated from the academy had been on the verge of collapse after bombarding with the Players just before.
But she stepped forward drinking a mana potion.
""""...."""
What makes her fight?
The Players were at a loss for words.
It seemed to belittle her will to simply call it the spirit of a 20-year-old.
They watched with bated breath as she faced off against Ye-gyeong and the army commander as if throwing away her life.
The battle she unfolded after that.
No, the battle they unfolded left a deep impression on the Players of Jung-gu.
"Well... It's embarrassing to just receive protection from those kids."
"That's right. It's shameful. To receive protection from a clan we said would collapse within 5 years..."
Meanwhile, including
Players who had awakened from brainwashing magic smiled bitterly.
At the sight of Pandora Clan Lord Noh Eun-ha of course, and clan members who fearlessly faced Level 3 monsters without retreating.
They finally had to acknowledge Pandora Clan's hidden strength.
☆
Level 3 monster Freak Sphinx.
The army commander fell.
Jo Ara caught the fleeing army commander, and Eun-ha delivered the final blow.
It's all thanks to Ara.
If it weren't for her, we would have let the guy we had almost finished escape.
Jo Ara's role was significant.
Eun-ha felt relieved watching her return straight to the frontline carried by Jin Pa-rang.
She must have been on the verge of running out of internal mana, as she fainted as soon as she used magic.
Fortunately, it didn't seem life-threatening.
Now what's left is that guy.
Soon Eun-ha looked up at it.
Ye-gyeong was floating in the sky.
It had been retreating until just now, but stopped retreating as soon as the army commander fell.
Eun-ha felt its gaze looking down at him.
"Baba..."
"It's okay. I still have plenty of mana."
Buldak cried worriedly.
On the other hand, Eun-ha wasn't worried.
Though he was activating his gift, he had plenty of internal mana left.
He had the strength to fight it.
The problem was that there were exhausted people behind him.
...I can't fight like this.
I need time to replenish forces.
Eun-ha knew the current state of Jung-gu.
He couldn't recklessly engage in battle with Ye-gyeong and turn Jung-gu into hell.
So though it was unavoidable, Eun-ha hoped it would quietly withdraw.
It had no choice but to withdraw in the first place.
Whiiieeeaaaaoooooo
Just as Jung-gu had been hit hard.
Its army had also been hit hard.
Above all, quite some time had passed.
Dawn was breaking now.
When that happens, it's those creatures that become disadvantaged.
The clever creature seemed to know that too, as it glared at Eun-ha for a long time before finally turning away.
"...Did we win?"
"Bibi..."
The army retreats.
It was ambiguous to say they had won.
Because both those creatures and themselves would prepare for war again.
So it was just a small victory.
They took down an army commander.
That fact remained unchanged.
""""Woooooooo!!""""
"The army is retreating!"
"Pandora Clan subjugated the army commander! We won!!"
The state of Jung-gu was serious.
People who had suffered damage from the army yesterday and today needed even a small victory.
Hope that tomorrow will be better.
Eun-ha listened to the cheers coming from far away.
"Sounds better than crying."
"Bibibi bababa bububu!"
People cheer for Pandora Clan.
His name and those of clan members occasionally rose from people's lips.
They will probably go around spreading stories of what happened today.
The achievement of Pandora Clan taking down an army commander equivalent to Level 3 will spread widely.
As well as the achievements of clan members.
...Aliases created like that generate more trust than reckless promotion through the media.
In a way, the monsters' invasion of Seoul could be called the debut stage for Pandora Clan members.
An opportunity to gain well-known aliases not long after graduating from the academy.
It was an opportunity sufficient to raise the value of not just himself but clan members.
"Then I'll go collect the mana stones... Oh, what's this. A skill stone came out too?"
"Bibibi bababa bububu!"
With their cheers at his back.
He walked to where the army commander had disappeared becoming mana.
The ground hollowed out like a pit.
Eun-ha found a large mana stone and skill stone there.
"They're both in good condition. The skill stone is quite large too..."
A mana stone about the size of his head.
Seeing there wasn't a single scratch, it was high quality.
There haven't been many Level 3 monster mana stones on the market until now, so it will sell for a high price. Considering it's high quality, even more so...
As the people of Jung-gu are shouting now.
The credit for taking down the army commander belonged entirely to Pandora Clan.
If the Players of Jung-gu have a conscience, they won't say they have ownership rights too.
For now, I should hold off on deciding what to do with the mana stone.
Various companies might contact us wanting to use it as an energy resource, and Hae-su hyung might say he wants to use it as material.
We're receiving ample sponsorship from the group.
As a result, Eun-ha wasn't very concerned about money.
His greatest joy wasn't earning a lot of money, but establishing achievements and making a name for himself.
And that a Level 3 monster's skill stone came out.
"It does suit my aptitude..."
The skill stone was almost as big as the mana stone.
Unlike mana stones that usually have a blue light, the skill stone emitted a yellow light.
When he flowed mana into the skill stone, light flashed inside it.
He could check whether the principle inherent in the skill stone matched his aptitude based on the intensity of the light.
The aptitude was very good.
It's troubling. If I remember correctly, this skill stone should be brainwashing magic that induces mental confusion...
The size of a skill stone was related to the range of applications for the principle inherent in it.
Therefore, the skill stone Eun-ha held in his hand was likely to have a wide range of applications for the principle.
Nevertheless, Eun-ha was troubled.
...I already have Stygian Eye and Phantom Eye. That's already enough, do I need to add more here?
Eun-ha was skeptical.
Though it was a precious skill stone, he didn't think he would use it much himself.
It's meaningless for me alone to become stronger. Rather than that, it's better to pass it on to a clan member with matching aptitude.
Let's think about disposing of the skill stone later too.
The war isn't over yet.
It wouldn't be too late to think about it later.
Eun-ha hugged the mana stone and skill stone with both hands.
"By the way, we need to inform other regions that we subjugated an army commander... Probably by now in other regions too..."
"Bi?"
As he was muttering that.
Telepathy was transmitted in his mind.
[Myeongwang Clan telepathist Baek Hye-min relays the message of the clan's navigator Noh Ho-young. At 4:34 AM, the army invading Mapo-gu and Seodaemun-gu is currently retreating. We're sorry but we lost Ye-gyeong. It seems to have headed towards Jung-gu, so Players in Jung-gu hearing this message please be aware of this point.]
[Relaying Tempest Clan navigator Lee Ye-ji's message. At the current time of 4:46 AM, the army has retreated. We failed to subjugate Caesar Hopper.]
From when Ye-gyeong appeared here.
Eun-ha had roughly anticipated the situation of Myeongwang and KK Clan.
Surely Seodaemun-gu and Mapo-gu must have suffered serious damage.
"They couldn't subjugate Caesar Hopper either, though Ye-gyeong is understandable."
Soon Eun-ha clicked his tongue in disappointment.
He had anticipated this to some extent too.
Without
Moreover, it was a tricky opponent for Tempest Clan to deal with.
"It's fortunate we at least took down an army commander."
It's like welcome rain in a drought.
Though it's only enough to wet one's throat, good news was important in a situation where bad news kept coming.
"But what happened to Yongsan-gu? If those guys retreated from each region, they should have retreated there too?"
"Baba..."
Eun-ha tilted his head.
He was curious about news from Yongsan-gu.
Since a Level 4 monster was the army commander, shouldn't we be able to expect something?
But reality showed a completely different reaction from his expectations.
[Pandora Clan telepathist Ariel! Since Ha-yang is busy right now, I'll relay Min-ho's message! Current time, 5:02 AM. The army attacking Samgakji and Itaewon has retreated. But the problem is... According to Seo-na, there wasn't just one Samgakji Great Toad Chief, but two. So because of another army commander that appeared suddenly, Yeo U-bi noona in the rear was hit by its poison.]
"..."
[Eun-woo is neutralizing it now, but it seems she won't recover unless we can develop an antidote. Tonight will probably be... the critical moment. Come back quickly. I'm frustrated but I can't comfort the clan members alone. This was Sub-lord Mok Min-ho's message. Noh Eun-ha come back soon...]
The appearance of another army commander.
Yeo U-bi poisoned by its venom.
Eun-ha's face hardened hearing the unexpected message.
☆
Dawn is breaking.
Eun-ha asked the clan members with him to take care of the aftermath in Jung-gu and returned to Itaewon alone.
"...You're here."
Itaewon was quiet.
The atmosphere was like mourning a dead person.
Foreigners greeted with their eyes.
Eun-ha roughly greeted them and headed to the building temporarily assigned to Pandora Clan.
Mok Min-ho was waiting for him in front of the door.
"The people who went to Samgakji?"
"They arrived 30 minutes ago. Eun-woo and Eun-ah noona are desperately treating her now." "How's her condition?"
"As I relayed by telepathy. Eun-ah noona shook her head too."
A face drenched in fatigue.
Mok Min-ho answered in a gloomy tone wearing a uniform stained with blood.
Eun-ha patted Min-ho's shoulder and entered the building.
All the clan members in the lobby turned their gazes to Eun-ha.
"...Eun-ha."
"I'm back."
Jung Ha-yang's eyes were red.
Others were the same.
Eun-ha gently hugged her and found Jin Seo-na sitting in a corner with her legs together.
"...You're back?"
"You worked hard."
"I just did telepathy..."
"That's your job. You did well." "...Thanks."
As if in a bad mood.
Her triangular ears were drooping.
When Eun-ha approached her, she finally raised her head.
Her face was covered in tears.
Eun-ha knelt down and wiped her tears.
She entrusted her body to his touch.
"The people who left for Samgakji together? Where is everyone?"
"Yeon-hwa unni is probably training outside. Chang-jin oppa is probably outside too. Eun-woo and Nam-hoon oppa are... in that room with Yeo U-bi unni."
Jin Seo-na pointed to a room inside with her finger.
Eun-ha got up and walked towards that room.
"Eun-ha..." "..."
The moment he flung open the door.
The smell of something rotting and blood wafted thickly.
It was a familiar smell.
A smell he had smelled many times in his previous life.
It was the smell of death.
He entered the room and found Noh Eun-ah calling him while sobbing.
"...We can do it. We can..."
Yeo U-bi lying on the sickbed.
As if proving she was poisoned, her body was pitch black as if burned.
Cha Eun-woo was clinging to her saying he would save her somehow.
He was crying and treating her, not even paying attention to Eun-ha's arrival.
But her magic had no effect.
"Stop. You're just wasting mana."
"Eun-ha..."
Noh Eun-ah shook her head.
It meant there was no hope.
It looked that way to Eun-ha too.
He strode up to Cha Eun-woo and grabbed her hand.
Only then did Eun-woo turn her head.
She shed tears.
"Yeo U-bi unni... Unni..."
"..."
"She's not getting better no matter how I treat her. I don't know what to do!"
Her sorrow burst out.
Cha Eun-woo cried overwhelmed.
Eun-ha lightly hugged her and patted her back.
"It's okay. You did well. Don't worry."
"Hic..."
"And what's with this appearance. You should have taken care of yourself too. You're poisoned too."
"Ah, this is because while treating U-bi unni I..."
Purification Knot
He used the magic of the artifact attached to Winter Blooming Coldly's hilt.
Magic that can easily treat poison from Level 5 or lower monsters.
Eun-ha used the magic on Eun-woo, who seemed to be poisoned.
Then he offered words of comfort.
Gradually her sobs subsided and she showed signs of calming down.
Right then─
"─It's my fault."
Yu Nam-hoon, who had been in a daze until then, opened his mouth.
As if muttering to empty space, Yu Nam-hoon continued speaking.
"If I had just guarded properly, this wouldn't have happened."
"""...."""
"U-bi got directly hit by the poison trying to protect me. Like a fool, I'm alive like this..."
"""...."""
"U-bi is poisoned like this... But I'm completely fine. If I had known what gift I had, U-bi wouldn't have ended up like this, damn it..."
"So? Do you want to kill that thing?"
Gift
After losing his partner Yeo U-bi before the regression, Yu Nam-hoon who realized his gift came to be called
As if a trick of fate.
In this life too, Yu Nam-hoon found himself in the same situation as before.
"Of course. I want to kill it so badly... If anything happens to U-bi, I really won't let it go then. I'll, I'll kill all of them."
Yu Nam-hoon who had been indecisive.
He immediately revealed his hatred for monsters at Eun-ha's question.
Killing intent flowed in his words and eyes.
The person had changed.
Eun-ha stared at him for a long time and then sighed.
"Never forget that feeling." "...What?"
"From now on, you're going to owe me a debt."
Eun-ha rummaged in his holster.
Soon he held out a potion in front of Yu Nam-hoon.
"This is..."
"An elixir."
"""...!!!"""
Only Han Seo-hyun knew that he had an elixir.
It wasn't that he was trying to keep it secret, but he hadn't been able to mention it yet due to the monsters invading Seoul.
"Elix...ir..."
Like someone entranced.
Yu Nam-hoon stared at the potion sparkling like stars floating.
"You know how expensive this is. And it's even more precious in this situation. I only have this one bottle, you know. Actually, I feel a bit reluctant too."
"..."
"But I'm the Pandora Clan Lord, and I don't want to let my person die like this."
Eun-ha opened the lid of the elixir.
Something sparkling like stars rose from inside the bottle.
Eun-ha covered the opening with his palm and approached Yeo U-bi.
"So I want you to understand."
"...What should I understand?"
"You're mortgaged to me now. From now on, work to death in Pandora Clan until you pay off the elixir."
Eun-ha poured the elixir into Yeo U-bi's lips.
The effect was immediate.
Her body was enveloped in dazzling light, and her body began to reconstruct.
Eun-ha confirmed the elixir's efficacy in treating her body's condition and turned his back.
"I'll work for life."
"You don't need to go that far..."
"Thank you. Really thank you. I'll never forget this favor from now on."
"Alright, I'll look forward to it."
On the morning of the second day after the army retreated.
That day, Eun-ha gained