novelraw Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
Chapter 164 : Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Mr. Doll was unexpectedly firm.
- Mission, wizard, protection.
Saying his mission was only to protect the wizard, he refused my request.
“As expected, is that so?”
It was somewhat anticipated.
If the Sword Demon could act freely, he would have appeared from the beginning rather than in the very late stages of the game.
‘Mireska’s status is probably the trigger.’
That’s about the extent of the prediction I can make right now.
Since he said he made a contract with Mireska, even if it was just a formality, perhaps he became inactive after her death in the game as well.
Before that, he would have moved according to Mireska's orders.
‘It is strange that he was obsessed with strong people but nothing happened in the depths of the forest, though.’
Jeremy said the Sword Demon never left the Witch’s hut.
Except for cleaning every day, he spent all his time practicing swordsmanship.
Anyway, that’s not important.
“So you mean protecting Jeremy is your mission?”
- Correct, mission, protection.
I glanced at Jeremy running on the training ground.
‘Protection mission, huh…….’
Protection missions were one of my favorites when playing as a mercenary.
Although the pay is low and most missions are long-term, and you have to share blankets with other mercenaries who might turn into bandits at any moment.
‘If you drag in a VIP, free manpower follows.’
A way to hire mercenaries without spending my gold, should I say?
Watching Jeremy run until his heart might burst, I smiled gently.
‘I thought it was buy one get one free, but to bring along the Sword Demon…….’
To think our giveaway was a lucky box.
* * *
“Jeremy!”
Jeremy didn’t stop his steps at the Young Lord’s voice.
‘It’s that feeling from back then.’
The time when he was spending peaceful and cozy days at the Magic Tower, when some crazy guy carrying a rare monster on his head called him.
When he found out that crazy guy was the Young Lord.
The ominous feeling he felt back then flowed down his spine.
‘Run first. There’s no way that human came with good news.’
Indeed.
Isn't he the very person who sold him, a fragile wizard, and his master to the Witch of the Forest?
Seeing the Young Lord training with all his might, maybe he’ll just go back.
‘He might follow me, so…….’
Using Haste and Endurance, he ran again.
‘Huff, huff, huff.’
Even if it’s the Young Lord, he wouldn't chase this far, right? Just as he was thinking that.
“Jeremy!”
The Young Lord’s voice was heard from much closer.
‘Why? Why?!’
His heart pounded, and a much greater sense of foreboding struck him.
‘It’s important enough to interrupt that human’s training?’
Judging by the suspiciously affectionate voice and the ominous smile on that face, it can’t possibly be good news.
‘Gasp, gasp. But just when coming out here…….’
Running to his limit, a doubt suddenly arose.
When he came out here, he felt like he could destroy everything.
The training at the hut made the training with the Young Lord look ridiculous.
There wasn't a day his mouth didn't taste sweet from exertion, and not a day he didn't collapse.
He thought if he could handle that, he wouldn't be afraid of the Young Lord or Orcs.
No matter how scary the Young Lord is, he can’t be scarier than Mireska’s magic, and no matter how fast an Orc’s axe is, isn't it slower than Mr. Doll's sword?
‘But…….’
Why am I running away?
Is there anything for me to be afraid of?
‘No.’
Is it because I’m out of breath?
It felt like my head was spinning faster.
‘Even if it’s the Young Lord, he wouldn't drop me in the middle of enemy lines. I’m a wizard, right? Would he ask a wizard to charge in the battlefield! Or ask for an assassination?’
That’s right.
He is a wizard.
What can be asked of a wizard?
Since he won’t ask for a large-scale magic circle like before, it would probably be a simple magic circle or strategic magic.
Thinking there was no reason to avoid the Young Lord, Jeremy suddenly stopped, and at the moment he frowned.
From behind, the Young Lord’s friendly voice was heard.
“Jeremy.”
‘Ah.’
The ominousness felt in the voice snapped him to his senses.
‘This human.’
Doesn’t know what a wizard is.
* * *
Jeremy was much more sincere about training than I thought.
Not just warming up moderately like others, but training his body to that extreme limit even in a battlefield where battle could start anytime.
‘A model of an excellent wizard.’
Honestly, I thought it might be too much for Jeremy, but seeing him now, it seems it was a needless worry.
‘Dual casting Haste and Endurance, and instantly at that.’
It’s not just dual casting.
Dual casting while running at full power!
‘Seeing that he has that much leeway, triple casting might be possible too?’
【Magic is the realm of talent.】
This was the truth of Lost Chronicle.
Countless players tried somehow to raise a wizard not belonging to the Magic Tower, but all failed.
Because all talented wizards belonged to the Magic Tower, and only people with mediocre talent to become wizards remained on the continent.
‘So I thought mana amount, mana recovery, mana control, traits, everything was the realm of talent.’
Actually, it's closer to say I wasn't that interested.
Since the Magic Tower and wizards were factions and jobs that didn't significantly affect the game.
‘Of course, I was wrong about everything.’
The reason magic is considered the realm of talent is surprisingly simple.
Because wizards of the Magic Tower were not given the environment to develop their abilities.
In other words, it means abilities can be developed anytime if the environment is provided.
“Huff, huff, huff.”
Just like Jeremy, sprinting and gasping for breath since dawn.
‘Excellent.’
Seeing Jeremy work so hard like that, I felt I couldn't stay still as his employer, so I called Jeremy.
“Jeremy.”
* * *
“Yes……?”
I spoke softly to Jeremy, who asked back with unbelievably wide eyes and a slightly open mouth.
“Take charge of the front line from today.”
“Gieeek?”
I think I heard a strange sound.
Seems he understood well enough.
“Um, Young Lord?”
“Hmm?”
Jeremy took out his staff and said.
“I am a wizard.”
“…So?”
Does he think I don’t know?
“No, I really am a wizard.”
Of course, an excellent wizard.
An indispensable giveaway who doesn't neglect training, strives to develop his abilities, and is learning magic from Mireska.
When I nodded to mean I understood, Jeremy asked as if genuinely aggrieved.
“Really? Are you really telling a wizard to stand on the front line?”
“You're not a regular wizard. You're a high-level talent who mastered moving casting and can dual cast while running faster than most rangers.”
Jeremy clenched his two fists, whispering ‘Damn it, how does he know that too!’, then raised his head sharply again.
“…But I don’t have armor?! If I get hit wrong, I’ll really die? You know Orcs don't maintain their weapons, right? If infected, there's no answer.”
He shakes his head vigorously as if it’s impossible, but that's a stupid remark.
“Then just don’t get hit.”
Because you just have to not get hit.
“…Pardon?”
Jeremy looked at me with tearful eyes.
Is he that moved?
Hmm, no matter how much one wants to raise a wizard, the decision to deploy a wizard on the front line is not something just anyone can make.
It's something possible because it's me.
Besides, I have a cheat key too.
“Don’t worry. If it gets dangerous, that doll over there will help you.”
Orc Legion? What is that?
Have you guys ever experienced even half a Bad Ending?
I have the Bad Ending itself here.
“Phew... then I should at least prepare magic in advance. When does the operation start?”
To Jeremy’s trembling voice, I answered readily.
“In four hours.”
That's the timing.
* * *
The Special Mission Unit and Hoodwock moved silently through the forest.
The target was the western outskirts of the Legion.
- Grrr.
Hearing the faint breathing of an Orc, Hoodwock raised his hand, and the Special Mission Unit stopped simultaneously.
‘Position confirmed.’
As Hoodwock signaled, two Rangers simultaneously ran toward the direction of the sound.
‘Phew…….’
As tension washed over him with the thought that it was starting now, Hoodwock glanced back at Ian behind him.
‘Is he not even afraid?’
Even he, who thought he had seen everything while staying at the fortress, had trembling hands, but no tension could be read on Ian's face.
To the extent of feeling a composure as if the battle was already over.
However, Hoodwock knows.
‘There’s no way he isn’t afraid.’
That there is no one in the world who does not fear death.
Even the Senior who was manlier than anyone on the fortress walls, and the cheerful and confident knights seek alcohol and hide under blankets when they come down from the walls.
Everyone fears death just the same.
The reason they wear a mask stained with confidence and composure on the fortress walls, and hide the clinging fear with vulgar words and jokes is.
‘Because both fear and confidence are contagious.’
As Hoodwock nodded, the two Rangers who went on reconnaissance returned and reported.
‘Front, 12 sentries, medium scale.’
A small-to-medium scale unit located on the outskirts of the Legion.
A unit of about a thousand is a force they have dealt with several times, but today’s battle was different from before.
The outer unit is connected to the Legion, and thousands of Orcs will pour out before an hour passes.
‘Prepare fire attack.’
After conveying the order, as he turned his head to report to Ian, Ian, who was standing behind him, grinned and said.
“No need to wait. Let's just sweep them all away. Ah, Jeremy said he wants to stand in the vanguard, keep that in mind.”
From behind him, the wizard spoke with blazing eyes as if to burn all the Orcs.
“I will burn. Them. All. Up.”
Hoodwock, thinking Jeremy had a grudge against Orcs, could only nod in pity.
* * *
Battle is simple.
“Fire! Do not stop your hands!”
In the rear, Rangers wielding Knight Slayers provide support, and in the front, knights form a formation to block the Orcs.
A typical strategy mainly adopted by armies strong in ranged combat.
Today, there is a variation.
“I won’t die! I won’t die, you hear! Even if you push me into hell, I will survive!”
That giveaway, no, lucky box laughing over there as if insane.
“Let's see you try blocking this too!”
From Jeremy's hands, four attack magics of water, fire, wind, and electricity shot out simultaneously.
Although they were 2nd Circle magics with weak power like Aqua, that wasn't important.
Quadra Casting.
And Quadra Casting while running away.
I was looking at the seed of an Archmage.
- Kuaaak!
Most of the Orcs approaching near Jeremy lay on the ground before they could even raise their axes, and even those who somehow approached didn't end well.
“Slow! My brother’s sword is three times faster than that!”
Using Grease to reduce friction with the ground and sliding away with Haste, he sliced the Orc's neck by sending a wind blade.
‘Oh.’
Reflexes, situational coping ability, casting speed; everything was beyond my expectation.
‘Then no need to worry…….’
Ian picked up a prepared whistle instead of a sword.
This whistle, extorted, no, leased from the Kingdom’s army, is an item meant mainly for communication, but like all items, almost no one uses it for communication.
‘If I put plenty of mana into this, and add a magic stone…….’
-Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
It becomes an excellent monster lure.
- Krararak!
- Humans, it's humans!
- Battle!
Seeing the Orcs surging like clouds from afar, Ian grinned.
“This should satisfy Jeremy too.”
I’ve tried it, and being surrounded by hundreds of Orcs feels appropriately dangerous and thrilling.