Chapter 18: Dorman Defense Battle (4)
At Bow’s words, everyone’s gaze focused on Artier.
“The large mercenary corps barely handled one each. But some mercenary handled it alone.”
“You helped too, Bow. And Jeina bought time.”
“That created an opening, but you essentially handled it alone.”
Bow drew a clear line.
“Artier seemed like he was flying. It was different from what I saw in the ruins.”
Collie also showed a puzzled expression. To that, Artier said with a hesitant look.
“I recovered a bit more memory.”
“Memory?”
“You mean memories from before hiding your identity?”
Artier nodded.
“Not all, but some skills came back.”
Of course, it was a lie.
As far as Artier knew, the Artier before losing memory was just a worthless low-rank mercenary from a rural backwater.
‘But it’s not entirely wrong. I did get a new skill.’
[Avatar of Counterattack (Lv.1)]
Grade: 4th Grade
Effect: Upon successful counterattack, all stats increase by 3% for 20 seconds. Continuous successful counterattacks refresh the duration and stack the effect.
Avatar of Counterattack.
The skill Artier newly acquired upon reaching level 5.
‘I didn’t expect such a useful skill to come out.’
Among randomly appearing skills, by sheer coincidence, a counterattack-related skill popped up.
Of course, purely in numbers, it was just 3%, and only upon the difficult conditions of counterattack and parrying could the skill effect be gained.
But the true value of this skill could be confirmed on a battlefield surrounded by enemies on all sides.
[Avatar of Counterattack is activating!]
Current 50 stacks: All stats increased by 150%
At some point, Artier was flying.
To the extent that one sword strike could sever Hellmorph limbs.
Everyone gather! Siege soldier incoming!
If he hadn’t heard the communication he couldn’t ignore, Artier would have completely shattered the front line balance.
“Sigh, alright. Let’s rest for now. We’ll be busy tomorrow too.”
Hearing Artier’s words, Gerard said that and rose from his seat.
The party, having moderately filled their stomachs, began to rise and have free time.
Grab!
“The barbarian can’t!”
“Eh? Why?”
“Do you really not know? Shields can block external injuries but not internal ones.”
Collie grabbed Jeina and dragged her to the room.
“You have to rest until the internal injuries heal!”
“Uuu, lying in bed isn’t my style…….”
“It’s your own fault!”
Thud!
As Jeina and Collie disappeared, Bow also rose.
“I should go too. I used up all my arrows, need to replenish.”
Left alone like that, Artier sighed and leaned back in his chair.
“What should I do now?”
Lv.9 Artier
Title: Beginner Mercenary
Job: None
Strength: 17
Agility: 16(+1)
Intelligence: 6
Usable Skills: Perfect Counter (Lv.1), Avatar of Counterattack (Lv.1)
‘I planned to at least hit level 10, aiming for 11.’
The variable was the siege soldiers.
They moved much faster than Artier had thought.
‘Something’s off. Siege soldiers don’t move on the first day originally.’
In the tutorial, the story flow changed due to Artier’s active intervention.
But including the ruins incident, events different from the game were occurring in this defense battle even without Artier’s intervention.
‘Did hunting too many Hellmorphs create a variable?’
It wasn’t impossible.
In the game, monster waves happened at set times, but this was reality.
But after brief thought, Artier shook his head.
‘No, it shouldn’t have had a big impact.’
This was war, not a fight.
Even in this fantasy world, there were limits to what one soldier could achieve.
‘There must be something creating variables besides me.’
Artier rose from his seat.
Exiting the dining hall, he began walking the darkened streets of Dorman.
‘I need to build the ability to respond to variables. To see the true ending no matter what……. Where should I start.’
While walking in thought, Artier stopped due to a strange feeling.
For some reason, he felt a stinging gaze on the back of his head.
‘What?’
Artier stopped and looked around.
Nothing was visible, but intuitively, he knew something existed.
“Indeed a strong one! Sensing my interest right away.”
As Artier quietly placed his hand on his sword, a low yet lively voice came from a corner alley.
At the same time, a man in full armor appeared and approached Artier.
‘Derth Mercenary Corps?’
What the man wore was the custom armor worn by all of the Derth Mercenary Corps.
Feeling Artier’s gaze, the man smiled brightly and extended his hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Trophin, vice-leader of the Derth Mercenary Corps!”
“……I’m Artier.”
Why would the vice-leader of a large mercenary corps suddenly come to him?
With a suspicious expression, he shook hands, and Trophin vigorously shook his arm and said.
“To think the person who almost single-handedly defeated that massive monster was such a small fellow!”
He had a friendly uncle-like impression, but Trophin’s build rivaled Jeina’s.
“Do you have business with me?”
“Yes! I’m curious how you defeated that monster, and it’s amazing there’s a strong one I don’t know.”
Trophin placed his hands on his hips and laughed heartily.
‘Come to think of it, vice-leader means top-rank mercenary?’
The number of top-rank mercenaries was very small. Maybe 0.01% of all mercenaries.
With few numbers, top-rank mercenaries often knew each other by face, so it wasn’t that strange for Trophin to come.
‘From Trophin’s perspective, it’s like a top-rank mercenary he’s never seen dropped from the sky.’
“Are you curious where I came from?”
“Yes! Of course, no need to answer if you don’t want. You know?”
“Sorry. I don’t know well myself.”
“What do you mean?”
Artier explained his rough circumstances (precisely, such a setting) to Trophin.
Upon hearing the story of losing most memories due to amnesia, Trophin was dazed for a moment, then burst into laughter and patted his back.
“Wahaha! I’ve been a mercenary for over 20 years, but your situation is a first!”
It could be thought fabricated, but Trophin seemed to believe it.
“Then you have no affiliation right now?”
“I have no intention of joining another mercenary corps.”
Artier said firmly.
To join a mercenary corps, party members also had to be screened, but Bow would obviously refuse, and Jeina and Collie would likely fail due to low ranks.
“Uhaha! It’s fine, we don’t have room for a new top-rank mercenary anyway. Besides, if I suddenly did that here, the other two mercenary corps wouldn’t stay quiet?”
“That’s true.”
Since the Robist Mercenary Corps, Magica Mercenary Corps, and Derth Mercenary Corps were representative large mercenary corps in the northwest, they couldn’t help but be conscious of each other.
“Speaking of which, be careful.”
“Huh?”
Trophin crossed his arms, glanced around, and said.
“Are your companions precious?”
“Yes?”
“Too abrupt? Just curious.”
“Of course.”
“More than your life?”
“……Why are you asking that?”
As Artier showed a suspicious expression, Trophin muddled his answer.
“Haha, never mind. They seem precious enough. Forget it, don’t mind too much.”
Trophin waved his hand and headed to the alley he appeared from.
But after a few steps, as if still bothered, he left one word.
“……Be careful. Those guys definitely won’t stay quiet.”
With those words, Trophin disappeared into the alley.
As his figure left sight, his presence also vanished in an instant.
‘Those guys? Who does he mean?’
Artier mulled over Trophin’s last words, but there was no one to answer that question.
***
The next day.
Artier opened his eyes at the crack of dawn, before the sun rose.
‘I slept less than five hours.’
No fatigue or headache.
It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it felt completely different from usual.
‘I feel overflowing with energy…….’
Like it wasn’t his own body.
It was a side effect from the rapid level up in one day.
“Artier, you there?”
Hearing the voice from outside the room, Artier hurriedly donned his armor and grabbed his weapon.
Opening the door, Gerard, similarly armed, was waiting with a hardened expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“As we expected, they seem to be attempting infiltration through the drainage ditches.”
“Their actions haven’t changed from before.”
In fact, there was no reason for change.
Until now, humans had fallen for the same strategy every time.
“What will you do?”
“Let’s go to the drainage ditches. The front won’t be easily pushed anymore.”
The biggest variable, the siege soldiers, had many incapacitated in the first day’s battle, and no matter the Hellmorphs, bringing new mid-sized entities would take time.
Descending the stairs, Artier looked around at the already gathered party members.
“Is everyone in good condition?”
“Thanks to this nagging puppy, I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie. Internal injuries don’t heal overnight!”
Collie shouted that and glared at Jeina.
“I honestly want to keep you from leaving the inn.”
“How can a mercenary rest when I can move fine?”
“You’re not fine at all…….”
“Enough. Breaking Jeina’s stubbornness is impossible.”
Collie and Gerard sighed deeply at the same time.
Only Jeina was grinning.
“We’ll patrol the northern drainage ditches of the city.”
Once the situation settled, Artier showed everyone the map of Dorman and said.
“The goal is just to pretend to work?”
Bow said in a blunt tone.
“They detoured and came from the east. The north has mountains, unsuitable for infiltration?”
As Bow said, a massive mountain blocked the path between Jestion’s viscounty and Dorman.
A few could infiltrate, but multiple Hellmorphs would have difficulty.
“That’s why we’re going.”
“What do you mean?”
“They know the patrol personnel in this area are few.”
Monsters with high intelligence were plentiful.
But Hellmorphs were smart beyond that, with a considerable understanding of humans.
“The ones they send for infiltration can disrupt weak points in the formation with just one or two.”
“Right. Previously, that tactic breached the gates.”
As Gerard added, Bow also nodded.
“I see. Can’t swarm mercenaries to the northern ditches, so you with experience will go.”
“Yes.”
He had already received the quest the day before.
[Viewing quest.]
Unknown monsters are attempting secret infiltration through Dorman’s drainage ditches.
The client is recruiting mercenaries to patrol the northern ditches from 6 AM to 3 PM.
Reward: 10 silver coins, 50 silver coins upon Hellmorph discovery, 1 gold coin per kill
“Shift time is about 30 minutes away, so let’s head out soon.”
Shortly after, Artier’s party arrived at the coast where the largest exit of the drainage ditches was.
As they were about to enter the ditch, they discovered four mercenaries already at the exit.
“Hmm?”
“We’ve been waiting, Artier. I’m Derr, party leader of the 55th party in the Magica Mercenary Corps.”