novelraw Chapter 194: Surprise Event (4)
Chapter 194: Surprise Event (4)
Translator: Dreamscribe
Serazade was teleported to the sky above the village where the tunnel had opened. She had a blank expression. It was her first time experiencing teleportation.
Her vision turned black, and then suddenly, a wide-open space unfolded.
“Uh, uwaah?!”
She was floating!
She was floating in midair!
She screamed and flailed her limbs. It felt like she could fall to the ground at any moment, but fortunately, she remained fixed in the air, not moving.
[Please remain calm.]
“Wh-Who...?”
[I am Magical Device A1, who will accompany Master Sera on her great journey.]
A voice came from the magic wand in her hand, which was glowing.
The Magical Device was a magic wand that flew from the end of the universe to find the bravest and most determined girl. It was the heart of a girl who wished for the good of Levannas that summoned the magic wand!
That was the setting.
Having read the original work countless times, she knew that setting very well. Naturally, she thought it lacked plausibility. Such an absurd miracle could not just happen out of nowhere.
But reality was even less plausible.
An Archmage had suddenly appeared and saved Levannas, and after she became his disciple, she ended up like this.
Who would believe it?
[A D-rank scale tunnel has been activated. Displaying on your field of vision.]
An Information Window appeared, showing the scenery of the village. A tunnel had formed in the center of the village, and Erosion Insects were pouring out. The villagers, who had not evacuated, were trembling in fear, holding their breath on the rooftops of buildings.
“......”
The defense forces had already been deployed.
However, it took far too long to subjugate the Erosion Insects with ground troops. Once again, many lives would be lost.
Serazade’s eyes widened.
When Erosion Insects invade Levannas, what is the very first thing one must do?
‘The Erosion Insects that reach the surface...’
They immediately began active reproduction. They would lay eggs in human bodies or attach them in barely visible spaces. The eggs themselves blended into the surroundings, making them hard to notice. They could even reproduce alone, without mating.
The most dangerous type of Erosion Insect was the kind that laid eggs in human bodies. The incubation period lasted over a month, and just when one thought the situation was resolved, they would hatch and eat their way out from within. The terrifying part was that they wandered through populated areas until 70% of the host's body had been consumed.
Therefore, if a tunnel appeared in a village and Erosion Insects emerged, the entire village had to be incinerated without hesitation. Even a single Erosion Insect spreading inside the Protective Wall would lead to incalculable damage.
Endless malice.
These creatures, the Erosion Insects, emanated a horrific malice.
They looked like monsters created with the intent to destroy in the most painful way imaginable.
The Information Window floating in front of Serazade showed the people on top of the buildings.
A frightened child was trembling while being held in the arms of a parent. The parent, as if expecting death, held the child tightly with eyes closed. From the airship floating in the sky above, it looked like a bomb could drop at any moment to incinerate the area.
The Erosion Insects were killing the people of Levannas using the power of Levannas.
Grit!
Serazade clenched her teeth.
It was the best possible decision to prevent more casualties. It hurt, but even so, Levannas had to move forward, stepping over such sacrifices. They had to survive.
That was how Serazade had comforted herself until now.
However, she could not take her eyes off the people shown in the Information Window. The moment she saw the comic book in the child's hand, strength filled her fist.
She wanted to save them.
She wanted to save everyone in Levannas.
As a child, reading Hero fairy tales, she had dreamed of becoming a Hero. But reality was cruel, and she lost her innocence far too soon.
“...Sera saved everyone.”
With the power of light, she saved everyone.
She destroyed only the Erosion Insects and purified everything around them. She did the impossible as if it were nothing.
Defeating the enemy and saving the people without losing anyone. It was a childish story fit only for fairy tales. Such a happy ending could never exist in reality.
But more than anyone, she wished for that miracle now.
“If so, what about me? Can I save them?”
[That is a meaningless question, Master.]
Serazade’s eyes trembled.
[Master is Serazade, the disciple of the Archmage and the very light of Levannas.]
A1 spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, saying she could save them. If Serazade could save the people, she was willing to pay any price. As the granddaughter of the great king Belzerad, her body did not belong to her alone.
She would gladly become nourishment for Levannas.
[If you have strong will and heart, Master’s magic is infinite.]
“Infinite...”
[Infinite magic pierces through infinite possibilities and creates miracles. The light of Arsilan and the power of Levannas will support Master.]
Serazade nodded.
She looked down at the village filled with Erosion Insects. The airship was standing by to drop bombs, and the defense forces had not approached the village.
"I'll do whatever it takes. A1, was it?"
[Yes, Master.]
“I’m going to kill every last one of those bugs.”
[A sound decision.]
Mana surged through Serazade’s body, and the light bursting from her wand connected with the powerful strength hidden in her soul.
[Searching for optimal magic.]
[Search complete.]
[Recommending Shining Buster, which incinerates Erosion Insects with an explosion of light. Master! With the incantation, the activation phrase...!]
Serazade gripped her wand tightly. Then a magic circle made of light formed beneath her feet.
It was childish, but this wasn’t the time to be thinking about such things.
If the cost of saving people was just a little embarrassment, she could endure it hundreds of millions of times over.
The Erosion Insects were climbing onto the rooftops.
Mana boiled in her body, and her heart began to pound like mad.
“Explode! Burn them all!”
She swung her wand downward with all her might.
“Shining Buster!”
The magic circle flared, and a pillar of light fell toward the village.
The moment the pillar of light touched the ground.
KWAANG!
It exploded, sweeping away all the Erosion Insects. The Erosion Insects couldn’t even resist and simply turned to dust and vanished. Even the thick-shelled Erosion Insects were instantly annihilated the moment they touched the light. The creatures, which were difficult to kill even with bombs, vanished so easily it felt empty.
The people who had evacuated to the rooftops watched the scene with blank expressions. They, too, had been caught in the blast, yet suffered no harm.
“Huh?”
“M-My wounds...!”
“Wow!”
Instead, the people’s wounds healed rapidly.
“L-Look over there!”
“Huh?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Serazade, who was floating in the air. The child looked at the comic book in their hand, then at Serazade.
“Uwaaaah!”
“I-It’s really Sera!”
"No way!"
“She saved us!”
The people burst into joyful cheers.
It had been so long since they had felt such happiness, they could hardly remember. Perhaps it was the first time in their lives. Into the despair-filled Levannas, a light called hope had arrived.
Serazade turned into particles of light and vanished from that spot.
***
Jinwoo nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Ka! Shining Buster!”
“Hahahaha!”
“The choice of lines was great too. She definitely has talent.”
Jinwoo, Belzerad, and Tiris all nodded in admiration.
It was an excellent debut. She had eliminated the Erosion Insects and saved the people. That alone was enough to reverse the despair-filled atmosphere of Levannas. A tunnel had appeared inside the Protective Wall, but this was the first time the incident had ended with no casualties.
‘Hope is important.’
Living in a world filled only with despair was no different from surviving without truly living. Jinwoo knew this truth more desperately than anyone, having felt it with his entire being.
Receiving one-sided help and salvation in a hopeless state only leads to dependency. That was no different from another form of destruction.
To survive independently, one had to rise by their own will.
Just like Arsilan had done.
Hope was the driving force of life.
The reason Jinwoo had distributed and popularized the comic book was all for this day. Since everyone in Levannas knew who Sera was, the spread of hope would be incredibly fast.
"Sniff, sniff, I'm so proud of you."
Belzerad watched Serazade’s achievement and wept profusely. The Protective Wall had been reinforced, and there were enough Magic Stones, so even if something like today happened again, they would be able to endure without issue for the time being.
Serazade appeared in front of Jinwoo, surrounded by a halo of light.
As soon as she arrived, her transformation was undone, and she returned to her original form. Although she was happy to have saved the people, it seemed reality hit her hard, and she collapsed to the ground.
“Well done.”
Jinwoo gave a faint smile as he encouraged her.
Tiris also nodded. She had recorded Serazade’s performance on video. Right in front of Serazade, she replayed it multiple times, giving feedback on what could be improved.
“When casting magic, posing is important. Please strike appropriate poses from now on.”
“P-Poses? Do they affect magic?”
"...They should."
“Huh?”
Tiris looked away.
“In any case, be careful not to reveal your identity.”
“Identity...”
At Tiris’s words, Serazade shivered.
Shudder!
She was so chilled it gave her goosebumps.
If her identity were revealed to the world, she might go crazy from embarrassment. The only ones in Levannas who knew the truth behind the incident were Belzerad and a few key aides.
“I’ll never let it be revealed.”
Serazade vowed again and again.
Jinwoo recalled Serazade’s earlier performance. She had a fiery side to her personality. Jinwoo grinned and glanced at her as he spoke lightly.
“Explode.”
“Ugh....”
“Burn them all.”
“Uuugh!”
As he repeated her lines, Serazade trembled.
Tiris raised her fist into the air.
“Shining Buster.”
“Kyaaah!”
Serazade was buried in embarrassment and couldn’t lift her head.
Tiris and Jinwoo nodded as they watched her like that.
‘Nice.’
‘Very good.’
That shy reaction, the way she fretted about being found out, it was her charm. They were all elements that the Heroes would love.
‘Time to properly set the stage, then.’
Jinwoo returned to Arsilan.
***
As time passed, the atmosphere in Levannas was reversed.
With a sufficient supply of Magic Stones, the Demon Race was freed from malnutrition, and every time a small tunnel was forcibly opened within the Protective Wall by Erosion Insects, Serazade dealt with it. Whenever she used magic, she was swept up in the mood and performed her dramatic lines with surprising ease.
"The Erosion Insect nest is...."
Jinwoo had put a lot of thought into the Erosion Insect nest. He had deployed Erosion Insects brought over from Levannas, and had also created Tunnel Insects that dug through the earth.
The Tunnel Insects dug tunnels in real time, making the Erosion Insect nest increasingly complex. The pathways became entangled like a maze, making it difficult to conquer.
‘I’ll need to proceed to the next episode soon, so if they get stuck, I’ll have to give a hint.’
This time, Jinwoo wasn’t planning to hold a showcase. Instead, he would create in-game events in Arsilan Saga that allowed players to perceive the situation in Levannas.
Of course, the promotional video for Episode 5 was being meticulously produced. It would be released only after all the in-game direction had played out.
Jinwoo examined the Erosion Insect nest from FS Games’ situation room. Checking the hologram window, he blinked multiple times. He even rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
“...Did I see that wrong?”
“You saw it correctly.”
“They set up... a bar and an inn inside the tunnel?”
At major crossroads inside the tunnel, inns and taverns had been established. A large guild had invested massive amounts of Arsilan Gold to build them, and they were issuing their own quests.
By using “Commission Forms” issued by the Sillion Empire, Heroes and Arsilanian players could issue quests themselves. They had to pay the rewards in advance and notify the Adventurer’s Guild.
Of course, there were conditions. Only guilds, territories, or organizations with a certain level of honor could do so. Also, the service took a hefty fee, so most avoided issuing quests unless it was worth it.
But if the expected profits were massive, it was a different story. They could instantly reward players without tedious procedures, and receive the materials or items they wanted right away.
[Testos Guild]
Please retrieve small Erosion Insect heads.
We offer 20% above the standard price.
If delivered cleanly and undamaged, we will provide a bonus upon inspection.
*Address: Erosion Insect Nest, Intersection #4, Flex Flex Inn
[Foundry Association]
We buy larvae and eggs in bulk, regardless of type.
[Blue Hand Blacksmith Guild]
We purchase large quantities of medium-sized Erosion Insect shells.
*We also sell armor and weapons made from Erosion Insect shells.
.
..
...
There were countless quest listings.
Not only the Erosion Insects but even their eggs and larvae were being scraped up completely, and they were already beginning to go extinct. The Erosion Insects, unable to cope with the flood of Heroes and Arsilanian players, were so stressed they couldn’t even reproduce.
There were some movements to protect the Erosion Insects, but desire far outpaced those efforts, so it never went beyond mere attempts. No one could just sit and stare at the gold mine right in front of their eyes.
‘Well, it’s Erosion. Could it really go extinct?’
‘Yeah, you’re right.’
‘The Creator God will patch it up!’
‘Isn’t it right to wipe out Erosion completely?’
‘Let’s eat it all and erase it!’
With this kind of atmosphere becoming the norm, the Erosion Insects had no choice but to give up everything without reservation.
KIEEEEEK!
On the holographic screen, a massive Erosion Insect revealed its enormous form. But contrary to Jinwoo’s expectations, the giant Erosion Insect was desperately fleeing deeper into the tunnel.
[Run!]
[Uoooooh!]
Beastkin sprinted like mad while carrying Heroes on their backs. The Heroes held large harpoons, and after licking the blade with their tongues, they infused them with mana and hurled them at the massive Erosion Insect.
Thunk! Thunk!
As thousands of harpoons embedded into the creature’s surface, it writhed like a panicked larva. Chains were attached to the ends of the harpoons.
[Hehehe!]
[Pull it in!]
[Kya! Do you know how much that thing’s worth?!]
[That’s this year’s rent taken care of!]
[Jackpot!]
Those chains were connected to a Magic Armor squad manned by Undead Heroes. The central cockpits jutted out without any windows, revealing the Undead Heroes wired into their mechanical systems.
KIEEEEEK! KIEEEK!
Dragged by the overwhelming power of the Magic Armor squad, the giant Erosion Insect screamed. Fluids dripped from its many eyes, looking almost like tears. Once it was hauled into a wide chamber deeper inside the Erosion Nest, waiting workers quickly began disassembly.
Necromancers who had taken on production-related jobs had recently been gaining attention. Since their summoned Undead did all the dirty work, the processing speed was incredibly fast.
“Average levels are skyrocketing!”
“Newbies are growing rapidly too!”
“This is the first time we’re actually worried about content being consumed too quickly.”
“...Maybe we underestimated the Heroes.”
Currently, the Erosion Insect Nest served as the prelude to the next episode and was the highest-level content available. FS Games staff were right to worry about how quickly it was being consumed. The once-endless swarms of Erosion Insects had dropped sharply to numbers in the hundred-thousands.
But despite the developers’ concerns, there was no real need to worry about content depletion. That’s because Levannas was waiting for the Heroes.
‘They’re gonna love it.’
The deeper parts of Levannas were filled with delicious-looking Erosion Insects, so the players would probably go crazy once they got there. Of course, as always, connecting Levannas required the proper direction and narrative.
Jinwoo was browsing Arsilan Worlds when he noticed a post that caught his eye.
Title: Found the Erosion Insect Boss Room.
Recruiting a raid team at Intersection 24.
(Photo attached: Door to the boss room)
If you use the Hero’s Flower at Intersection 14 and go straight up, you’ll get there. I’ve attached a detailed map. We’ll be heading out tomorrow, so I hope many of you join.
Anonymous1: Judging by the door, it’s definitely a boss room. Maybe there’s something like an Erosion Insect Queen?
└Anonymous2: Seems likely, since it’s bugs, after all.
Anonymous3: Looks fucking delicious.
└Anonymous4: Don’t misunderstand. I mean it literally tastes good.
└Anonymous5: Thanks to Erosion Insects, I’ve got a strong stomach now. I even eat pupae no problem.
Hearing that someone had discovered the Erosion Insect Queen’s room, Jinwoo grinned and moved to the Erosion Nest. He wanted to witness the finale of Episode 4, and the beginning of a new episode, together with the Heroes.
***
Jinwoo headed toward Intersection 24 inside the Erosion Insect nest. This time, he used a suitable body. Comfortable, affiliated with the Romance Territory, was currently auto-hunting using the power of the Holy Sword and the Magic Tower.
Upon arriving at Intersection 24, where multiple tunnels crossed, he saw inns made of wood and various facilities.
KIEEEEEK!
KIEK!
There was even a slaughterhouse, where Erosion Insects were hung up alive and being dismantled. It was said that dismantling them in a fresh, live state improved their quality.
The Erosion Insects screamed in terror.
‘Hmm...’
So Erosion Insects do feel fear, huh.
He had noticed it when the giant Erosion Insect was trying to flee, but seeing it up close made it feel more vivid. Inns were lined up along Intersection 24. Jinwoo entered the largest inn.
Inside, the inn was filled with Heroes participating in the current Erosion Insect raid. When Jinwoo said he was joining the raid, the innkeeper personally brought over a bottle and a glass. Inside the large bottle were worm-like larvae, each about the size of a fist.
“Is this Erosion Liquor?”
“Yes, it’s incredibly effective. Here, have a glass.”
The innkeeper poured him a free glass.
The aroma was quite pleasant.
It sold at a fairly high price. Converted to real-world currency, a single shot was worth about 100,000 won. That’s how potent it was. The energy contained in the Erosion Insect larvae had infused well into the liquor.
GURURURUK!
Looking at the bottle, he saw that the larvae were still alive and writhing in agony.
Save me! Save me!
Kill me! Kill me! Please!
Jinwoo could read that desperate plea in the eyes of the larvae.
The larvae desperately tried to escape the bottle by spitting out silk, which dissolved in the alcohol and enhanced the flavor. The top part of the bottle had been deliberately left open to give them false hope and prolong their torment.
Various dishes using Erosion Insects were being developed.
“Erosion Insect pasta?”
“Yes, it’s quite delicious. Shall I prepare one for you?”
“Yes, I’ll take one.”
It was pasta topped with the inner meat of an Erosion Insect. There was also soy sauce-marinated Erosion Insect, similar to soy sauce crab, as well as Erosion Insect pizza, Erosion Insect soup, and many other varieties. Of course, Erosion Insect kimchi was a standard side dish.
“Wow! This is good!”
“I think I’m getting addicted!”
“Coming all the way here was worth it.”
“Bugs are delicious, huh.”
Even Arsilanian people were frequent visitors.
What would the Demon Race of Levannas say if they saw this scene?
‘...Well, good things are good, after all.’
Jinwoo quickly examined the Erosion Insect pasta that had been freshly prepared. A chunk of meat the size of a forearm sat atop the Erosion Insect shell, with beautifully arranged noodles underneath.
SZZZZZZT!
The innkeeper grinned, brought over cheese, and melted it with magic. The thick, gooey cheese fell onto the meat, releasing a rich aroma.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
Jinwoo swallowed his saliva and took a bite of the Erosion Insect pasta.
“Oh, ooh!”
It tasted better than red king crab in peak season. Paired with the cheese, it was pure bliss. Jinwoo immediately downed the Erosion Liquor in his soju glass.
“Kheuh! This is insane.”
As the Erosion Liquor's effects sharpened all his senses, the food's flavors seemed to embrace his entire body.
Erosion Insects.
They were unbelievably delicious.
No wonder Arsilan was going crazy over them!
*****
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