I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents
Chapter 13
The first day of the defense battle passed without any significant unusual events.
CREAK-
No, is serving this tough, chewy jerky for a meal considered an unusual event?
Still, the suite soup was decent enough to barely fill my hunger.
The sun had completely set and darkness descended.
While sitting in their respective areas above and below the fortress walls, I organized my thoughts while looking at the flickering torches beside the sentries.
I was about to just sleep, but my hand automatically reached for the terminal.
I can’t stand doing a gallery search while lying in a sleeping bag!
I immediately had a topic to post.
Title: According to Risellin, support troops from the knights might come within tomorrow. Could there be any variables?
Author: Anonymous*
– I’m not sure if they’ll bring wizards. Anyway, I hope no unnecessary friction occurs.
ă„´ Friction is confirmed HAHAHAHAHA
ㄴ Top scenario special, whatever bad is expected usually happens ㅇㅇ
ă„´ Priestess) HAHAHA, cannot deny.
ă„´ If the Orcs are in such numbers, they would probably send at least a 3rd tier follower.
ă„´ Archmage) They would probably attach at least one wizard.
ă„´ Archmage) Quest-type always needs to be careful of variables. Usually the mission is to kill monsters, but sometimes you might end up dying to an NPC not directly related to the quest.
ă„´ Anonymous*) ?? Isn’t that too much of a hassle? And earlier you said to control the wizard.
ă„´ Archmage) I mean set up an appropriate scenario. A scenario where you won’t die.
ă„´ Archmage) What kind of area are you in? A territory?
Oh, I hadn’t explained that yet.
ă„´ Anonymous*) Initially I was guided by the system as an autonomous city.
ă„´ Archmage) Then the knights’ influence probably isn’t that strong. They don’t have a backing.
ă„´ Archmage) What position do the existing troops have? Assuming you cause a disturbance, would they take your side?
I pondered for a moment before commenting.
ă„´ Anonymous*) The side is a bit ambiguous. Even if I cause some trouble, they probably won’t be hostile.
ă„´ Archmage) Then try making a scene. Watch the situation carefully. Even if it’s not an autonomous city, Lukerna’s mercenary group’s honor is different from ordinary mercenary groups, so knights can’t easily deal with them. The veteran mercenaries who aren’t even there still hold a position in that world.
ă„´ Anonymous*) I was actually curious, why does Lukerna’s mercenary group seem weak despite its name? The mercenary leader Risellin seems similar to me.
ă„´ That’s because Risellin’s lineage is extremely potential-based.
ă„´ Pioneer) It’s more because Risellin is a partner NPC who needs to climb the tower with you. Not a one-time encounter NPC, but a mutually growth-type NPC.
ă„´ This is the truth ㅇㅇ Even if you don’t meet again on the 3rd floor, you’ll probably meet at least once within 10 floors. Risellin will have grown to be as strong as you were then, or around that level.
Is that the feeling?
If I’m getting a climbing partner, I wish they were a strong bus driver who could drive me comfortably.
I guess that means don’t expect to be carried.
The conversation topic returned to how to handle friction if support troops arrive.
ă„´ Ice Queen) Just beat them up a bit if they cause trouble to restore order! Don’t be scared! FREEZE!!
Hmm.
Based on her speaking style, I thought she was a pacifist, but she’s far from peaceful. To clear hard difficulty, do I really need to be out of my mind?
ă„´ Dragon King of Demons) Beltuie- can be half-crushed and it won’t matter.
ă„´ Dragon King of Demons) From Beltuie-‘s experience, if the climbing positions are the same, there’s a high probability they won’t perform impressively. Or should I say they can’t?
A very nickname-appropriate statement and reason.
The reason was quite convincing, which was the more problematic part.
ă„´ Light’s Sword ) As mentioned above, if Orc Legion Commander appears, they’ll send a 3rd tier.
ă„´ Anonymous*) What’s a 3rd tier? Are they strong?
ă„´ From your perspective, they can be considered strong.
ă„´ Light’s Sword ) In knight hierarchy, you’re objectively 2nd tier. In terms of mana volume, you haven’t even left 1st tier yet… but you can’t call someone 1st tier who has killed a legion commander.
And the Light’s Sword explained about those generally considered 2nd tier.
Those who can manipulate mana but cannot manifest aura in their sword. Knights who fight by only enhancing their physical body belong to the 2nd tier. ㄴ Light’s Sword ) Has the ability to generate 3 sword qi.
ă„´ Absolute Monarch) There are those who remain in the 2nd tier until the end of their lives because they can’t do this.
ă„´ Anonymous*) So if I generate sword qi, I’m completely outmatched?
ㄴ Light’s Sword ) 3rd tier sword qi is very imperfect. There are some who are better off not using it. And martial arts are also imperfect at times.
ă„´ Light’s Sword ) If you had properly learned the sword technique I wrote down, you might be able to suppress them with swordsmanship alone… but you haven’t spent that much time training.
ă„´ ? It’s possible to overcome the difference in sword qi with swordsmanship? What bullsh*t.
ă„´ HAHAHAHAHA That would look that way in an insect’s eyes. Didn’t you see that climber killed the legion commander without even using sword qi? That’s proof of what the Light’s Sword said is possible.
ㄴ Why is he relying on the climber and Light’s Sword again?
Today’s gallery was peaceful.
The Light’s Sword didn’t show much reaction to the comments on his chat.
ă„´ Light’s Sword ) What you’re curious about is how to win when fighting a 3rd tier, when fighting someone stronger than yourself.
That’s exactly it.
The Light’s Sword had told me the method.
***
The next morning.
The unusual event occurred immediately, even before I could wake up voluntarily.
Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy.
“Come out, you who killed the Orc Legion Commander.”
What?
The tent was suddenly pulled back. Two men wearing quite impressive armor were standing there. Isn’t that called full plate mail?
The blonde-haired man pointed at my straight sword leaning against the wall with a chin gesture.
“Draw your sword.”
The knight drew the sword from his waist.
“You must prove it. Prove that you killed the Orc Legion Commander.”
[NPC – 3rd Tier Knight William]
3rd tier.
I recalled the characteristics of the 3rd tier I heard from the gallery.
A swordsman who can invoke aura in their sword.
A swordsman who can manifest sword qi.
The stage where one begins to belong to the ranks of the strong.
The method the Light’s Sword told me to counter a 3rd tier knight was simple and clear.
And as simple as it was, it seemed flimsy.
– Light’s Sword ) Execute the footwork. The first person encountering it won’t be able to respond properly.
‘Footwork, my ass.’
The footwork that could be used when only magic body enhancement was possible was hardly even called footwork.
It sounds good to call it footwork, but it’s just a preemptive strike.
The trouble had started.
According to the advice of the hard difficulty seniors, eventually, it would come down to a test of strength.
Would causing a scene now be beneficial or harmful?
I quickly scanned William’s surroundings.
A blonde-haired wizard caught my eye.
[NPC – 3rd Tier Wizard Yunez]
A wizard, also 3rd tier.
The Archmage’s comments came to mind.
If I could take control of the initiative, he said it would be quite a useful card.
Giving William a beating and making the wizard obediently follow along seemed possible.
“Don’t make me say it again, or are you admitting that your defeat of the Orc Legion Commander was just a mere coincidence?”
While I was organizing my thoughts, William added another word.
I spread mana throughout my body.
“Aren’t you too confident for someone who’s late?”
I saw William’s brow furrow at my words.
“…What?”
“The Orc Legion Commander you were supposed to kill. I risked my life and killed him instead. So why are you taking your anger out on me?”
Literal anger rose on William’s face.
“…Lowly commoner.”
Oh my.
He’s going to draw his sword after all.
Sword qi.
The method to ignore it is simple. Rush before he draws his sword.
I stomped on the ground.
Before William’s right hand could reach for the sword at his waist.
I stretched out my right hand and grabbed the target as best I could.
My target was William’s shoulder.
I didn’t want to completely destroy him, just surprise him with a throw.
William’s body tilted.
BANG!
I slammed him directly to the ground.
“KRRRAAAAGH!”
William, sprawled out, trembled while looking at me.
“Why couldn’t you avoid this?”
3rd tier knight. Was he really one?
William tried to rise up angrily at my words.
The line had already been crossed. I tripped him once more.
And lightly punched him in the abdomen.
“UGH!” William couldn’t respond, as if being knocked down was an unexpected situation.
…With this, the Dragon King of Demons’s words that those in the same position won’t show remarkable performance seem to be becoming true.
SWISH!
“This guy…!”
The two 2nd tier knights and three soldiers who came up with William drew their swords.
Well, since their superior was involved, they’re stepping up. That’s fortunate.
At the moment William, still half-lying on the ground, moved to draw his sword, Risellin standing in front of him strongly stomped her right foot on the ground.
BOOM-
The gazes of William and his subordinates, whose faces had turned bright red with rage, shifted to Risellin.
“Let’s stop here. The battle with the Orcs is not over yet. What’s important now is not such unnecessary quarreling, but preparing for the next battle.”
This time, Risellin stepped forward.
“I don’t think the reason for sending knights was to waste time like this.”
Risellin showed an attitude of not caring about the glaring soldiers.
Noisy sounds of soldiers climbing the stairs could be heard from below.
The soldier who had rushed up the stairs breathlessly took a urgent breath.
“The Orcs are crossing the borderline again.”
“Enemies that weren’t visible are also appearing. Judging from their sudden increase, it seems there’s an orc sorcerer among them!”
Chaotic news spread through the air.
Risellin clicked her tongue.
“See? I told you this isn’t the time. If you want to fight, do it after everything is over.”
Perhaps because their leader William was still lying down, the knights and soldiers in a standoff couldn’t respond to Risellin’s words.
I checked my equipment and went down the stairs. Leaving behind William still making a racket, I descended to the bottom of the fortress wall.
I drew my sword.
Risellin stood beside me.
I looked at Risellin and spoke.
“Are you certain about the orc sorcerer?”
Risellin slowly nodded.
“One of my ranger subordinates saw an Orc excessively in a state of frenzy.”
orc sorcerer.
The one the Light’s Sword and Archmage had anticipated had appeared.
The additional characteristics mentioned were that unlike a Necromancer, they can’t revive dead Orcs, but they have the ability to make Orcs on the brink of death much more powerful and aggressive than before.
My gaze was fixed on the wizard Yunez, who was slowly coming down the stairs with a tense face.
“I’ll take that wizard with me.”
“What?”
“What?”
Both Risellin and the wizard Yunez reacted to my words.
“I have some use for him.”
“M-my opinion…”
Yunez made a tearful expression.
