ALL NOVEL Chapter 48
Chapter 48 – The Winds of Change (8)
“Let’s send those guys away first before we talk.”
“Ugh…”
Since showing our secret to others wouldn’t do us any good, I instructed her to send the bodyguards somewhere else.
With no choice left, she finally picked up the phone and sent them down the mountain.
“I just want to talk in secret. You know our situation isn’t exactly normal, right?”
“Alright. I believe you. You’ve already helped me once.”
Once I confirmed that no one was around, I completely released the power I had been trying to control and revealed myself. The function of the hermit’s cloak operates like a battery for the power I possess, and while turning it off and on is easy, adjusting it in between is quite difficult as well.
She, who was a head shorter than me, flinched at my dark cloak that covered my body, with the hood pulled down over my face, but I could tell she was trying hard to maintain her composure.
“How did you do that? What is that cloak?”
“You already have an idea, don’t you? The Guardians we encountered in the monitor. We can grow together with them.”
“That cloak is a game item, isn’t it?”
Naturally, she was intrigued by my cloak. Judging by her reaction, it seemed she hadn’t received anything from interacting with the Guardians yet.
“Is there any chance we can get something else?”
“No one knows. I don’t know that much either.”
Her previously high guard slightly disappeared, and seeing her sparkling eyes, it seemed greed was creeping in.
But I didn’t really understand. It might be fascinating, but it wasn’t particularly useful in everyday life under current circumstances.
“Oh, I’m that kind of person. If we can get something from that strange place aside from those monsters, then there’s definitely potential in that.”
Seeming to pick up on my mood, she cleared her throat and pulled out her business card to hand it to me. With the vibe she had and the bodyguards accompanying her, this wasn’t an ordinary person.
“…Lee So-Yeon from the Platform Planning Design Team?”
“Oops, I gave you the wrong one! That one is about to be scrapped!”
The card I received actually belonged to a newly minted employee. It wasn’t for actual use, just a kind of souvenir they hand out. Shocked, she hurriedly retrieved the card and gave me another one.
This one had the title of ‘Representative’ instead of just an employee.
“Though it failed and has been closed down, I still have some resources left over. Not to brag, but there’s still something left in the family.”
“So you’re quite impressive.”
Lee So-Yeon, I believed I had heard that name associated with a business family. She was a few years younger than me but had dropped out of school to try her hand at business. I guess that’s the situation we find ourselves in.
Honestly, I hadn’t given much thought to it. In a situation where rumors could lead to visitors in black suits late at night, I had no idea what we’d do next. I’m fine as long as something falls in my lap.
“If you can guarantee it, I’ll cooperate as you wish. Like I said from the beginning, we’re not enemies.”
“Really?”
When I showed my agreement, she brightly beamed. She was still somewhat wary of me, unable to see my face and hiding her emotions, but her desperation for this single ally and collaborator was more significant at the moment.
For me, having her, who possesses power in reality, as a collaborator would make my life much easier, so there’s no reason to refuse such a deal. If it works out well, I could completely quit my job and focus on this without getting caught up in annoying matters.
“I guess the work will be done well enough.”
That day’s meeting ended there. Concealed, I watched her as she returned to her bodyguards and bitterly smiled.
After all, even without knowing each other’s contact information, we have a way to freely get in touch. We decided that once she installs the game as directed and takes care of her residents to receive her first spoils, we’d meet again.
It shouldn’t take long. Just sharing what I learned through direct experience would allow her to progress without setbacks.
*
“Looks like they’re not calling us. They already know our plans to head there this late afternoon.”
“In that case, no need to hesitate. Let’s go directly to the monster’s nest.”
As Barun was returning home after meeting Lee So-Yeon, with a serious face, he rose from his seat after preparing something all day long.
The others with him felt the same. They had spent their time just for this moment, without scouting or hunting in the game’s world.
They each equipped themselves perfectly and set off towards the eastern forest where the Bug Nest was located.
“…”
Riena, having removed her ordinary iron armor and donned her newly acquired armor, also felt the same. She was still awkward in the unfamiliar armor, but those who saw her for the first time were captivated enough to forget their nervousness.
“Don’t you think Chieftain Rakum looks cool?”
Even Shura, who had been recognized for her skills and was allowed to join, couldn’t help but be in awe of Riena. Normally, Shura looked up to her, and now she grinned as she noticed Rakum couldn’t take his eyes off Riena.
“Uh, no, I didn’t see anything.”
Rakum, who had been dumbfoundedly staring at the swaying skirt beneath her armor, shook his head in panic. While Riena looked undeniably beautiful in her mysterious and enchanting armor, she was still the chieftain’s daughter and a powerful warrior likely to inherit the tribe.
As a newcomer, Rakum had to be extra cautious.
“Everyone, stay alert. We’re about to arrive there.”
After that, thankfully, Barun changed the topic to avoid Riena hearing the commotion from ahead.
The forest they had entered was exuding a different atmosphere from the grasslands where their village was located. Instead of a cozy and fresh feeling, it had a somewhat dark and gloomy vibe. The source of that feeling was undoubtedly the nest of monsters slumbering in this forest.
If they didn’t deal with this nest, they wouldn’t be able to utilize or pass through this forest, which had been off-limits for several days.
“Today will be different. Monsters.”
Having prepared for this, they wasted no time pressing into the rift. Leading the way, Riena bit down on her teeth, recalling the defeats of the past.
She reminded herself that the purpose of fighting those horrifying monsters in this game world was, after all, to capture these creatures.
“Finally, we’re inside.”
Literally the moment the elite members stepped into the Bug Nest together.
He, who had already arrived home, was keeping watch over them. Inside the Bug Nest, there was nothing he could do. Neither mouse movements nor the recently activated desktop smash could be used against bugs.
From the start, all of this had been designed to stop the bugs, so battling them was purely the residents who had undergone training’s responsibility.
“There they are!”
“Lift your weapons!”
Just as it happened when Riena was exploring, numerous glitches charged in swinging their tentacles.
Riena, who was in front, immediately dashed out, drawing her sword. And as the blue mana burst forth, she unleashed her skill, causing the glitches to splatter and tear apart, spraying their bodily fluids everywhere.
‘Is that the blessed warrior?!’
Rakum, who was running beside her, was in awe at the overwhelming sight. He had heard of it, but this was the first time he was witnessing Riena fight. To him, the skills she used appeared to belong to a seasoned warrior with talent, and the fact that she had obtained them artificially in a short time sent chills down his spine.
“Isn’t that amazing? What if we also received such blessings?”
“To do that, we must achieve something monumental.”
Rakum’s companions shouted in excitement. Watching not just Riena but also the small, young Shura unleashing her skills made it impossible to look away.
Rakum bitterly smiled as he saw his companions’ eagerness. Opportunities weren’t given to just anyone. They were bestowed only upon those who overcame trials. That was the will of the being that had watched over them so far.
“There it is! A spider!”
And at that moment, as they slaughtered the glitches with their heightened abilities from training and skills, the monster finally appeared.
A gigantic spider, the size of a truck, filling the corridor.
Taking a breath, Riena bared her teeth as she stared down the spider that had come into view. If she had truly grown, then she needed to prove it when it mattered in real combat.
She had no intention of backing down today.
“Indeed, poison!”
Seeing the spider’s mouth open wide, Riena shouted. Having suffered from a poison spray before, she already knew what would follow as the poison rapidly filled the corridor.
Covering her face with her arms, Riena squinted her eyes as she faced the poisonous cloud. The poison that had been pricking her body was quite mild compared to before, thanks to the anti-poison energy emitted from her armor.
And soon, the others were able to escape the poison as well.
“Whew, it’s indeed different now.”
Barun, who had advanced to Druid, swung his staff with a tense expression, summoning a strong wind that blew the poison away. Not just any wind, but a buff skill that lent strength to allies.
Thanks to that, they felt lighter, and they charged forward all at once.
‘Did it panic?’
Riena sensed that the bug seemed startled. The truth was that the spider hesitated and stepped back. In a battle of predators, if one retreats, it would essentially mean admitting defeat.
Even in the moment of facing the poison, Riena, who had not backed down, swung her sword and lightly severed the approaching spider’s front leg.
‘How can you look lightly on a fight like this?’
Their fighting spirit resonated even with him, staring blankly at the screen.
Watching them felt akin to merely watching a movie, but the passion being conveyed was palpable.
It was drastically different from their first fight with the bugs, which had escalated due to their own mistakes.
Unlike the frail bugs that had just emerged from their cocoons and the desperate life-and-death struggle of the villagers back then, they now fought against lv 2 bugs and gradually chipped away at the gigantic spider’s huge body, claiming victory at last.