novelraw Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137 - Pangaea (3)
The monsters approaching and surrounding the area were Direwolves.
Contrary to the guard leader's words that monsters would never appear, the number of beasts was at least two hundred at a glance.
Before I knew it, the sound of the workers' pickaxes could no longer be heard.
Everyone was holding their breath, watching only me and Yoon Joo-hee, who were waiting for the pack of Direwolves.
The personnel who had been standing guard nearby also vanished like a receding tide.
They had evacuated towards the mine shaft following the guard leader's instructions.
‘They're really something.’
I had expected them to be a disorderly mob, but I didn't know it would be this severe.
The very people hired to prepare for an emergency situation like this had run away with their tails between their legs the moment it happened.
Just one person.
There was one guy who was worth his pay.
A boy soldier who looked to be about sixteen at most. In terms of mana, there wasn't much difference compared to the miners, but his spirit, standing with a sword in each hand, was commendable.
“Why aren't you running away?”
“It's a job I'm getting paid for.”
The boy answered as if it were obvious.
It was an extremely common-sense answer, but because it was a situation where common sense had collapsed, it seemed remarkable.
“But that's the same for the others. Especially that guard leader up there, he must have been paid much more.”
“Well, they'll all be fired as of today.”
“I suppose that's true. By the way, have you ever learned martial arts?”
“I learned swordsmanship from my uncle when I was young.”
“I see.”
He was a reckless but brave boy.
“Actually, this is my first time seeing a monster in person.”
The boy said in a nonchalant tone.
It made sense.
This place, south of the Kirill Mountains and the southernmost region of the continent, was said to have extremely rare monster sightings.
For that reason, the guards were in this state, and for that reason, Yoon Joo-hee and I could become guards.
“What is your name?”
“Ramel.”
“Alright. Ramel. You can go up there too if you're scared. I've seen enough of your spirit.”
“But what good does it do if you acknowledge it, sir?”
For a moment, I felt like I had been hit hard on the back of the head.
This wasn't Kalia, and I wasn't Johan Raven but an ordinary man. The boy's reaction was natural.
“I guess it wouldn't do any good.”
“If you get the chance later, please teach me how to hold a sword. Honestly, your posture right now looks quite plausible, sir.”
“Alright. Thank you. And I promise, I will teach you how to hold a sword.”
“Really?”
“Of course. But, surviving here comes first, right?”
“Yes.”
After making that request to Ramel, I began to search for the leader of the Direwolves.
A mana amount more than three times higher than the other individuals. It stood out immediately, so it wasn't that difficult to find.
‘I have to take that one down.’
After that, the rest of them would lose much of their will to fight.
Because that was the general characteristic of wolf-type monsters.
“Yoon Joo-hee,”
“Yes, Unit Leader.”
“The battle is important, but protect Ramel well.”
“Understood!”
Leaving Ramel in Yoon Joo-hee's care, I began to walk leisurely towards the direction where the leader was.
The wolves bared their angry fangs and howled.
The entire mountain peak was soon filled with the sound of wolf howls.
Soon, they would start to charge.
Of course, the first strike was mine.
Swish!
I scattered ten daggers into the air.
The target of all these blades was the leader Direwolf.
But it would be too much to expect even one of them to hit.
Because other individuals nearby would throw their bodies in a mass, forming a human shield.
Kieek!
Kieeeek!
As expected, it didn't deviate from my prediction.
A few Direwolves let out pained groans and died on the spot.
Of course, this much was barely noticeable.
Like scooping a few buckets of water from a well?
But it was a great success in drawing aggro.
Hundreds of angry eyes turned towards me at the same time.
They began to charge, thrusting their sharp claws forward.
The sight of them running in a line was truly a spectacle.
Then, the two in the front row leaped into the air towards me.
Tak!
Tak!
Nimble movements that didn't suit their huge bodies.
They fiercely raised their forelegs as if to swallow me whole.
In response, my holy sword also created two straight lines.
Swaaaak!
Swaaaaak!
The two flying creatures went limp in mid-air.
They had died on the spot, dripping blood.
But the procession of charging wolves had only just begun.
Tak!
Tak!
Like moths flying into a flame, the wolves' powerful leaps continued unabated.
Swaaaak!
Swaaaaak!
My Bastian also moved without rest, cutting down the wolves.
Slashing their bellies, stabbing their necks, an endless fountain of blood was created above my head.
The wolves' howls grew louder and more ferocious.
Cutting down the ones charging at me one by one was one way, but it was probably the least efficient path.
Also, although I had drawn the aggro, there was no guarantee that some of these many individuals wouldn't target the miners.
It was a problem from a humanitarian point of view, but if the miners were injured or died, it would be difficult to receive the full payment.
‘That would be troublesome.’
I swung the holy sword, cutting through the wolves' jumping procession, and moved forward.
My plan was to find and take down the leader as originally planned.
The wolves, as if instinctively reading my intention, began to charge even more desperately, blocking my path.
I cut down the wolves, and cut them down again, moving forward.
My whole body was already drenched in blood.
And then, I finally encountered the leader. The moment our eyes met, I ran forward with a triumphant smile.
It didn't avoid me either. And then.
Juuuuuk!
I sliced open the leader's belly right then and there.
The king of the wolves went limp without a fight.
The wolves that had been charging at me hesitated for a moment.
As if they had received a wide-area debuff, the wolves' fierce momentum subsided.
The howling that had filled the mountain peak had also disappeared at some point.
The wolves' angry eyes had changed to look like those of a frightened puppy.
A reality check as prey, not a predator.
Soon, a few frightened ones turned their tails and ran.
And it didn't take long for this behavior to become contagious.
The same was true for the ones attacking Yoon Joo-hee and Ramel.
At that moment, the howl of one of them echoed.
A new leader.
It began to back away, leading the pack.
It had declared its surrender to us.
There was no reason to chase after them and annihilate them.
My duty was only to protect the miners.
Kraaaa!!
But there was just one.
There was one wolf that rebelled against the new leader's will.
With its eyes rolled back, it began to run furiously.
The target was not me.
What it was aiming for were the people at the mine.
Even if it was just one, it was more than enough to tear apart the surrounding guards.
Moreover, in that state with its eyes rolled back, its combat power was far superior to that of a normal individual.
Screams echoed from the mine.
I imbued the holy sword with mana. And then.
Hwiiiiiiing!!
The launched holy sword was embedded right in the Direwolf's back.
At this sight, the remaining wolves began to flee in a hurry.
With the threat completely gone, the people cheered.
And when I went up to the mine to retrieve the holy sword, I felt a sense of unease for some reason.
The place where the Direwolf lay dead. I could see a tiny glittering spot under its feet.
I immediately pulled out the holy sword. And then.
Kwaaaak!
From the spot I struck with the holy sword, a brilliant yellow golden light revealed its form.
My friend! I am not a pickaxe!
I had discovered a gold vein.
I didn't know if it was because of Nike's Ring, but I was lucky this time as well.
***
Returning to the village, we received our payment.
A base pay of 100 gulit.
On top of that, we received an additional 20,000 gulit as a special bonus.
Considering we found a gold vein, it was peanuts, but it was enough for travel expenses, so I had no particular complaints.
And the biggest achievement of all was the merit.
[Current Merit: 28/100]
The first task I performed after coming here to Pangaea was recognized as merit.
It was also fortunate that it wasn't too much.
If I had filled up the 100 merit points with this, the quest would have ended and I would have returned to Earth.
My purpose for coming here was to find a clue about the red dragon. For that, meeting the 3rd Princess was the priority.
For now, I returned to the shop where I had bought the map.
Because I planned to seek Dermein's advice in setting up future plans and routes.
He was a renowned explorer in his youth. I thought his experience and knowledge would definitely be a great help.
“I think my time to die is near. To not have recognized talents like you.”
Dermein tilted his head as he looked at me and continued.
“But no matter how I look at you, you look like a wimp.”
Seo Ji-han’s unassuming appearance seemed to be a universal constant.
To the point of destroying even an explorer's discernment.
“Rumors are bound to be exaggerated. In fact, it was nothing much.”
“Well, there must have been some exaggeration, but isn't it true that a major disaster would have occurred if you weren't there? It makes me, the one who recommended you, feel proud for no reason.”
But Ramel immediately refuted this.
“It's not an exaggeration! This sir is a really amazing person!”
“I know, Ramel.”
Saying so, Dermein stroked Ramel's head.
He was impressed by the boy's courage shown at the mine.
“Ramel. By the way, are you really thinking of following these people?”
“Yes! I’ve decided to learn swordsmanship in exchange for being this sir’s attendant.”
A promise was a promise, so I was planning to set aside time for Ramel, even if it caused a little delay.
“By the way, where have you decided on for your next destination?”
“As it happens, that's why I came to see you again, elder. We're thinking of going to the capital.”
“The capital, Bergion? Why there?”
“Because there's someone I need to meet.”
I didn't dare say it was the 3rd Princess.
It was obvious it would be treated as nonsense.
“Bergion... The routes I recommend are a total of three.”
After synthesizing Dermein’s story, the most appealing route was using the sea route.
As it happened, the seas were calm this season, and it was the most advantageous method time-wise.
The downside was that the boat fare was expensive, but since a lump sum of money had just come in, it wasn't a problem to worry about.
It wasn't like I was going to carry it back to Earth anyway.
“And if you use the sea route, there is one more major problem.”
He said it was the existence of pirate ships.
“They seem to be quite dangerous fellows, huh?”
“Quite dangerous, you ask? Have you really never heard of the pirates of Karsein?”
How could I have heard of them.
Frankly, the real problem wasn't how dangerous those pirates were.
What I was concerned about now was achieving 100 merit points by wiping out those famous pirates.
There would be nothing more futile than that, so I could only hope that I wouldn't encounter the pirates.