I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents
Chapter 25
The one-eyed beast thrust the spear in both hands toward me.
It was a nimble trajectory, but not one I couldn’t deflect.
The red spear that extended in a straight line suddenly bent to the right.
I quickly twisted my arm and countered with my sword.
CLANG!
The creature’s arm shot upward along with the spear.
An opening.
I swung the great sword Karnavalt horizontally.
The sword that rushed toward the one-eyed creature’s waist made a flesh-cutting sound as it penetrated its skin.
But I couldn’t sever it in one strike.
I felt no disappointment. It was expected that it wouldn’t be cut through in one go.
I approached from the left and stabbed the blood dagger into its shoulder.
UWAAAGH!
A cry close to a wail echoed from the one-eyed creature’s mouth.
The one-eyed beast used its four beast-form legs to throw its body backward.
Good spring like a horse.
The one-eyed creature rushed back at high speed.
The red spear drew dozens of trajectories.
Vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and lateral.
In other words, it was a spear path randomly crossing from all directions.
SWOOSH!
If it had been right after entering the tower, this attack would have turned my body into mincemeat, but now my stats have risen significantly.
Along with combat sense built through practical experience.
CLANGCLANGCLANG!
I needed to make maximum efficiency with minimum movement.
I blocked all of the one-eyed creature’s attacks.
[Trajectory Analysis Lv.1 – You have acquired the skill.]
UGH-!
The one-eyed creature let out a strange groan, seemingly confused that all its attacks were blocked.
I pulled my right arm holding the great sword sharply backward.
I stepped forward strongly and thrust my sword repeatedly.
Fast enough to make my muscles scream.
Dragon Slaying Sword Style 4.
5-Hit Thrust.
Quinque Acies.
Five large holes appeared in the one-eyed creature’s upper body.
The spear it was holding was thrown to the ground.
I sliced the one-eyed creature’s neck with a horizontal slash to end the battle.
[You have gained experience.]
[Current experience 62%]
I swung the great sword once to shake off the blood on the blade.
If I hunt about two more one-eyed beasts, I should reach level 20.
Now my gaze turned to the cat tribe’s long-eared one under the tree.
I had no choice but to look.
Because I felt it watching me from the moment the battle was nearing its end.
[NPC – Cat Tribe Beastman Mike]
“You weren’t originally alone. Where are the others?”
As I approached the tree, the long-eared one trembled and leaned against the tree.
“I’m here to rescue you, so don’t be afraid.”
The round green pupils were trembling.
It clearly thinks I’m someone who came to kill it.
First, I cut the steel chain that bound it to the tree.
When I cut the chain, the long-eared one hurriedly used both hands to completely remove the iron chains tied around its neck and waist.
“You’re from the cat tribe, right?”
I crouched down to match eye level.
I asked despite already knowing both the race and name.
If I pretended to know too much, it would be more wary.
The long-eared one with yellow cat ears nodded.
The cat tribe member’s mouth opened.
“…Thank you…for saving me, please don’t kill me.”
It was a very timid voice.
“What kind of speech pattern is saying ‘thank you’ and then ‘don’t kill me’?”
“I’m sorry…I apologize.”
I can’t really talk with this one.
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Mike.”
I took out a sandwich from my inventory.
At least the person running the tower coin shop had some conscience, as there were basically three sandwiches.
I held out one piece.
“Eat this at least.”
After I finished speaking.
For a long time, Mike looked at me with suspicious eyes.
I clicked my tongue and took a bite of another sandwich next to me.
“It’s normal food.”
Only after a bit more time did Mike carefully accept the sandwich with both hands.
While trembling.
Carefully holding the sandwich, Mike slunk back toward the tree.
Like a stray cat wary of humans.
Mike began nibbling the sandwich like a hamster.
“MMM….”
The drooping cat ears perked up.
“MMMM.”
Mike lifted its head slightly and looked at me.
The dark face brightened a little.
“Thank youuu.”
It was still a timid, low voice, but the trembling seemed to have stopped somewhat.
The wariness also seemed to have faded a little.
I stayed a bit away until the eating was done, thinking it might choke if I made it talk while eating.
“Thank youuu.”
I heard a word of thanks once more. When I turned my head, the slowly eaten sandwich had completely disappeared.
I thought “eating slowly quickly” was nonsense. But it turned out to be possible.
“Mike.”
“Yes.”
“Where are your companions?”
Mike’s eyes filled with wariness again.
…I can’t exactly give another sandwich to ease the wariness again.
Currently, Mike is responding negatively because I’m curious about his companions.
If I make a baseless inference, he probably experienced something bad with humans. That would make sense.
“I don’t know what you’ve been through until now, but I have nothing to do with those people.”
Words flowed again from Mike’s munching mouth.
In a low voice, very slowly.
“Since you gave me something delicious, I’ll trust youuu…”
Finally!
“Humans kidnapped me and my friends to sell us somewhere. We saw an opportunity and escaped… but this place, the Forest of Beast, was the only place we could go.”
Human trafficking, slave trading. Is that what this is about?
My mind started working.
“Is there a possibility your tribe would send a rescue team?”
Mike still spoke in a thin voice.
“Since we were taken not far from our tribal village, if the elders noticed, I think they would have sent a rescue team.”
Right after Mike finished speaking, a notification window appeared before my eyes.
『You have reached the truth of the narrative!』
『You must now make a choice.』
『1. Hand over the escaped cat tribe group to the slave traders.
Minimum clearing condition: Deliver 5 or more living cat tribe members to the slave traders.
Quest difficulty – ★★★★』
『2. Rescue the cat tribe group and hand them over to the rescue team sent by the cat tribe.
Minimum clearing condition: Deliver 8 or more living cat tribe members to the cat tribe rescue team.
Quest difficulty – ★★★★★』
『You must select one of the two options. If you fail on your first attempt, subsequent attempts including the second attempt can only proceed with the opposite option from your first attempt.』
『Quest failure criteria: Failing to meet minimum clearing conditions』
『In challenge attempts after failing the first attempt, you cannot gain any ‘experience’ whatsoever.』
『Criteria for second attempt prohibition: Player death』
『The option with the higher difficulty will provide greater rewards upon success. Limited to first attempt only.』
What to choose.
My conclusion was reached easier than expected.
With my decision made, I opened the Transcender Gallery.
Title: Are there originally methods like this? Suddenly giving choices.
Author: Anonymous*
– 1. Hand over the cat tribe kids who escaped after being captured by slave traders back to the slave traders, difficulty 4 stars.
2. Hand them over to the rescue team sent by the cat tribe, difficulty 5 stars.
And if you fail on the first attempt, subsequent attempts can only proceed with the opposite option from the first attempt.
ㄴ There were such things, but nothing like that last line. That’s quite nasty. Pandemonium is.
ㄴ Why would escapees flee to the Forest of Beast?
ㄴ Seriously lolol
ㄴ Archmage) When I was climbing, I theorized that such choices were meant to show players what kind of person they are. Would you abandon some humanity for an easier difficulty? Or would you take the righteous path despite higher difficulty?
ㄴ Archmage) But because of that last line, it seems to deviate from that purpose.
ㄴ Lololol nonsense, abandoning humanity. Isn’t helping fellow humans, slave traders or not, the humane thing to do?
ㄴ Sorry for being human-phobic…
ㄴ In situations like this, you should push forward in the direction you want. It’s not for us to interfere when we’re not facing that situation ㅇㅇ
ㄴ They’re just NPCs anyway. Take it easy. Even if they seem alive and breathing, it’s just a story flowing within the tower.
ㄴ —As said by someone who chose the easy path while gritting teeth and hypnotizing themselves, then later deeply regretted it. Upvote if this is you.
ㄴ WTF why attach emotions to fake characters. Are you lacking something?
ㄴ Lol I regretted it. Actually, I did that. I felt a bit sorry.
ㄴ Lol these two comments couldn’t be more poignant lololol are you crying?
ㄴ Isolationist) You did it to survive, right? It’s okay, you’re not trash ㅇㅇ – This world consists of a massive isolation
ㄴ Elf) Uh, hmm. Is this guy really a demon?
ㄴ Pioneer) But that last line, it could drive someone with a weak mentality crazy. If you choose option 2 in the first attempt and fail. Then for the second attempt onwards, you must choose option 1. And if you fail after doing something you didn’t want to do, you have to keep repeating that action.
ㄴ Spear King) But those who fail once will likely fail the next round too at a high probability.
ㄴ Dragon King of Demons) Beltui- That’s correct.
ㄴ Heaven Demon) If you choose 1, you will end up killing the Cat Tribe who came as a rescue team. If you choose 2, you will end up killing fellow humans.
ㄴ Looking at the lower difficulty of 1, it’s highly likely that the Cat Tribe who came as a rescue team are somewhat weak. The humans on the slave trader side are strong.
ㄴ Light’s Sword) As long as you don’t die, that’s all that matters. Make a choice you won’t regret. Don’t worry about whether it’s dirty or clean.
ㄴ Ice Queen) FREEZE! That’s right!
The conclusion I reached hasn’t changed.
ㄴ Anonymous) I’m back.
I closed the Transcender Gallery with that final comment.
A notification window appeared in my view.
『Choose one of the two options!』
I pressed the option with my right index finger.
『You have selected the quest.』
『2. Rescue the Cat Tribe group and hand them over to the rescue team sent by the Cat Tribe.』
I have no intention of going to the second round which doesn’t even give experience points.
First round, I’ll finish it this one time.
“First, I’ll help you escape from those humans.”
Mike’s green eyes widened.
“…Thank you.”
Mike thanked me again.
