Chapter 24: Welcome, Heroes! (3)

Chapter 24: Welcome, Heroes! (3)

The saying went that there was always a bigger fish. There was also a saying that said that some Hunters wielded their swords, while other Hunters led soldiers. The second one was said by me, Mr. Gong-Ja.

“Hey, what is that!”

“Huh? He looks like a Hunter...”

Hunters, who had been diligently slaying monsters, turned and stared. Looking away while standing among howling monsters was a dangerous move, but the Hunters could afford it because of the momentary respite I had created for them.

“Hero!” the general shouted, turning slightly to look back at me. “Are you sure this is the right direction?”

When the general shook, I also shook because we were riding on the same horse. While the general took the reins, I sat in the back. It wasn’t a comfortable ride, but it was an awesome ride—because a thousand soldiers were following the general and I.

“Yes, I’m sure. Head straight until I tell you to turn right. Once you do that, you’ll see the Demon King’s legion-master. There are quite a lot of monsters around us, but it’ll be fine. We can wipe them out first.”

“Ohhh! Understood! All of you, follow me!” The general held up his command baton. “The hero sent by the goddess protects us!”

The soldiers let out a mighty roar and charged out of their defensive positions. They now marched to break through the monster army. Goblins and orcs stood in their way, but the monsters’ efforts were futile.

“Hehe.” I snickered. Thanks to my mini-map, I could advise the general to aim for the region with the least number of monsters.

“Ah. Turn right here, please.”

“Yes, hero of the goddess!”

It took more than my mini-map to earn the general’s trust, though. The main reason why this was possible was that I repeated today and had made preparations. When I had gotten the general’s Skill, I had also happened to witness his trauma. Well, that was a story for another time. Now was the time to focus on the ongoing battle.

Show me my status window.

Name: Kim Gong-Ja

Class: E

Skills (5/5):

1. I Want To Be Like You (S+)

2. Returner’s Clockwork (EX)

3. Sword Constellation (A+)

4. High Society of Goblins (F)

5. Battlefield Eyes (B)

The new Skill I got is war-related.

Battlefield Eyes was a very self-explanatory Skill. Using this ability, I could instinctively understand the battlefield. It allowed me to tell where the enemy was vulnerable to being breached. It also told me if my allies could be advantageous for the battle.

But the Skill wasn’t all I used to make this work. I held up a sword with a grin. It wasn’t an ordinary sword or the dagger I used to kill myself; it glowed with holy light and its pommel was sculpted into the shape of a roaring lion. When the sword unleashed a pillar of silver light, the soldiers across the battlefield were stunned.

“The goddess has blessed us!”

“That’s the first emperor’s holy sword. Ah, the goddess hasn’t abandoned our empire!”

“Glory to the Aegim Empire”

Yes, this sword, which I had chosen with the blessing of the God of Trade, was the last piece of the puzzle that I needed to lead the army.

Lefanta Aegim’s Holy Protector Sword

Rarity: Legendary

Description: The saying, “The one who possesses the holy sword shall have the continent,” comes from the legend of the Aegim Empire’s founding emperor. In the legend, the goddess bestowed the holy sword to him.

However, the sword also comes with the saying “The one who has the continent will be bound by fate.”

The founding ancestor left after choosing his successor. It is unclear if he killed himself or was murdered. The legend and history are yet to determine his true fate, and his and his holy sword’s whereabouts still remain unknown.

Only a single line of prophecy has been left to guide everyone: “The wielder of the holy sword shall arrive on the day of destiny.”

Whoever possesses the holy protector sword gains absolute trust and support from the people of the Aegim Empire.

The legendary item was super effective.

“Hurray for the empire! Hurray for the hero!”

“My goddess, please protect us!”

“Attack them! Sweep away those filthy monsters!”

The soldiers charged with redoubled courage. From their perspective, I, with my Skill, was a true hero from their legends. Though the general NPC was their actual leader and I was just an advisor...I felt like I was their commander. It was an exhilarating feeling.

Ah, this is great. Just fantastic. The sight alone is enough reward for clearing the hidden stage.

The Guardian went on a rampage.

—That’s the shittiest item ever! It’s just a sturdy, flashy sword. That’s it!

Tsk, tsk. Did you lose your sentimentalism when you became a ghost? It’s a sturdy, flashy sword that makes the NPCs on the eleventh to twentieth floors love me. Don’t you get it? NPCs aren’t just tools to give us quests! They should be used to clear them!

It was just a matter of thinking outside the box, but it actually worked. While the other Hunters were shedding blood sweat and tears as they fought, I rode freely across the battlefield with the general. Whenever I brushed past the Hunters, they were left perplexed and slack-jawed.

“Is that...?”

“Why does he get to be the only one who goes around with the general?”

“Isn’t he an NPC?”

“Hold on a second. I think he’s giving the general an order...”

“Look at his clothes! He’s a Hunter!”

“Who is he...?”

Surprise, doubt, envy, jealousy... Those were the most common reactions when someone was forced to look up at someone else.

Ah, this is it. Man, this is good.

The thrill was intoxicating.

—...You lunatic. I taught you how to use aura so that you would hone your sword skills, not enhance your hearing and eavesdrop. You’re something else, Zombie. You’re a true zombie...

They advanced like an angry tide, and it took less than a day to clear the eleventh floor! It was a remarkable achievement.

[Calculating the number of champions...]

[The calculation has been completed.]

[The number of champions has exceeded the maximum limit.]

[Selecting the top ten champions.]

The Hunters looked up and watched the light turn into a long list.

The Quest Completion Contribution List:

First Place: Kim Gong-Ja

Second Place: Sword Star

Third Place: Inquisitor

Fourth Place: Viper

Fifth Place: Paladin

Sixth Place: Black Witch

Seventh Place: Countess

...

Familiar names filled the list, but the increasingly loud buzz among the Hunters didn’t concern them.

“Huh? The first place doesn’t have a title?”

“Sword Star is in second place?”

“Wait, Kim Gong-Ja is...”

It hadn’t been long since the media had disclosed my name, so it was natural for the Hunters to not recognize it. However, it didn’t take long for someone from the crowd to shout, “Oh, it’s the tenth-floor champion!”

“That’s right! The champion’s name is Gong-Ja!”

“Wait, a Hunter the Tower hasn’t even given a title became the top champion again?”

“Is he a martial artist who came out of seclusion...?”

—Hmph. No way he is. He’s just a skilled weasel... The Guardian pouted.

Why don’t you admit that the Tower’s system is GOTY?

—I can’t admit it! I won’t admit it! The Guardian turned his back on me petulantly.

It looked like he was sulky because I’d neglected my sword training. This ghost...had the tendency to value people’s basic abilities over their Skills.

I smiled bitterly. I’ll train my swordsmanship before I complete the twentieth floor. Don’t get too angry.

—What? Really? The Guardian turned ever so slightly.

Yeah, of course. I’m with the Sword Emperor, so I have to learn everything you can teach me. You cleared the ninety-ninth floor, after all. I should be begging you to teach me.

—That is right! Man, you finally recognize my true value, Zombie. You know, the stages were a little different from those of your Tower, but nothing could stop me in the Tower from my world. The eleventh floor was just a light exercise!

The Guardian spun around in the air as if he’d never been sullen.

Oh, it was so easy to please this ghost. I had no idea anyone could be this simple.

As I watched the Guardian’s air show, the general approached me.

“Hero of the goddess.”

He was covered in monster blood, but his face was clean. Maybe he had cleaned it before he came to look for me.

“Thanks to you, we could win. Thank you. You have my eternal gratitude.” The general beamed.

“No, it was a team effort.”

“Hahahaha.” The general awkwardly scratched his cheek. “I guess I was worried about nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“The temple gave us a prophecy long ago. The Demon King’s legion will arrive, but heroes from a different world will also be summoned someday. Therefore, we don’t have to worry... I was skeptical about the prophecy. This world isn’t even theirs, so I believed that it was unlikely for these heroes to fight for us. But I was worried for nothing.” The general smiled. “I would like to thank you again.”

The general held out his hand, offering me a handshake. Although we were from different worlds, handshakes carried similar meanings in both of our worlds. Perhaps this was because humans in both worlds had two hands.

“Please keep up your great work.”

“I’ll try.” I laughed quietly.

We shook hands.

[Calculating the rewards...]

[The calculation has been completed.]

[Preparing the rewards for the top ten champions.]

A light enveloped me. It wasn’t just me—pillars of light emerged from all across the battlefield. One, two, three, four... A total of ten light pillars shot into the sky.

[The top ten champions will enter the twelfth floor first.]

[The remaining champions cannot enter the twelfth floor until the top ten champions receive their rewards.]

[Announcement.]

[Before the top ten champions...]

That was bad news for the eleventh or twelfth Hunter, but the reward system was quite fair.

“Please protect the empire,” the general said before the light pillar covered my vision.

And we were summoned to the twelfth floor.