Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 397
◈ 397. [Side Story] The bottom
we jumped off the bridge.
To be exact, I was jumped. This crazy duo of highwaymen grabbed me by the neck and threw me off the bridge..
“You crazy bastards!”
As I fell down, I saw the Crown and Nightcrawlers looking down at us from the bridge..
It's a pitiful look, as if you're looking at someone committing suicide... … No, it's actually not that different.!
“Wow! Save people!”
I let out a scream as I fell helplessly..
At that time, Salome fell behind me and held out her arms to me..
《ash! Hold my hand!》
My face turned bright red as I urgently grabbed his hand..
“Thank you, Salome! They say even slugs have the knack of crawling, so you can fly.?!”
《no? I can't fly?》
“Eh?”
《huh?》
a few seconds later.
《Kyaaaah! Save the dreamer!》
“…….”
Salome is clinging to my back and screaming. Spitting out tears and snot.
Please, someone please take this slug away.…….
There is total darkness under the bridge, and I can't even guess how far I have to fall to reach the floor..
I gritted my teeth and looked around desperately. Is there anything? Amazing way to survive during free fall?
‘……No, I don't think there is one.’
X is done. I guess it worked out properly, this.
《Ash, though…….》
At that time, Salome, who was sobbing behind me, looked at me with sad eyes..
《I'm glad the last part of my life was with you... … Hehehe?!》
“Oh, get away from me.!”
I pushed Salome’s face away with my hand. What kind of strange atmosphere is being created in this situation? Without even thinking about living in the distant future!
It was then.
“Be loud, customers! Stop screaming!”
Pingrrr.!
A long rope flew out, writhing like a snake, wrapped itself around our bodies - and then returned to the hand of the owner who threw it..
The ones who threw the rope were the two highwaymen, Geom-gwi and Chang-gwi, who were falling together from the other side. It doesn't seem like they threw us in without a plan..
“Hmm!”
“Euratcha!”
The two old men skillfully tied me, Salome, and Mason with a rope and snatched them up..
And then they stretched their weapons to the side - and planted them next to it..
Sigh.!
The cliffs hidden by fog on the other side of the darkness were finally revealed..
The two old men skillfully sank their weapons and slowed down their fall, as if they had done this very often..
After free-falling for a while, it would not have been normal to just stop, but the two old men glided down calmly without blinking even though they were supporting the weight of three additional people..
‘As expected, he is the strongest and worst hostile NPC..’
The level of strength is not ordinary. I stuck my tongue out at this stunt..
After sliding along the wall and slowing down for a moment, the two old men kicked the wall and rose into the air.-
crackling!
……got down on the floor.
They even picked us up one by one as we fell and placed them on the floor. After-sales service is good.
“Wow, my legs are shaking.”
It wasn't a bungee jump, I almost fell to my death, so my legs were shaking..
Salome couldn't stand and collapsed on the floor, and Mason also couldn't hold on and collapsed on his seat..
In front of us, the Sword Demon and the Spear Demon grinned with their yellow teeth shining..
“Come on, it's a short journey.!”
“Come and come to my neighborhood!”
“Our neighborhood, Rani……?”
As I trailed off, I looked around, and only then did I find it..
Beneath this deep valley, unfolding in the thick darkness… … A shabby village.
I was speechless as I looked at the houses made of junk and trash. There's a village in a place like this?
Geomgwi and Changgwi opened their arms, pointing to the houses..
“This is the ‘bottom’’!”
“The lowest, most terrible neighborhood in this hell.!”
***
As I fell into the deepest part of the dungeon alone, I thought my life had already hit rock bottom..
It wasn't. There was always more floor beneath the floor..
“What is this place?…….”
As I entered the ‘bottom’ of the hidden NPC residence, I muttered without realizing it..
10This village can be reached by falling through the gap between District 9 and District 9... … It looked like it was built by gathering trash that had fallen from above..
A town of trash built on a mountain of trash.
And, surprisingly, there were actually people living there..
An evil light flashed between the piles of trash all over the village. The NPCs, all of whom behaved like beggars, glared at us, the guests, with wary eyes..
Although there are NPC residences throughout the dungeon. It's my first time entering it myself, and what's more, I didn't even know this town existed during the game..
“Don't worry too much~ You're all good people.”
“Well. Everyone says that except for being a little crazy, your nature is white.?”
“People are good, people are good.”
“Kill kill kill!”
Two old men chuckled as they took the lead in guiding us..
Other NPCs looked at us and licked their lips, sharpened their rusty kitchen knives on the floor, or made a gesture of slitting their throats with their hands when they made eye contact with us... … People are nice, right? huh?
After walking for a long time, we arrived at the house of two old people. It was the biggest house in the center of this trash town..
It had a large yard and was a surprisingly sturdy house. Two old men gestured as they sat on a veranda made of moth-eaten wood..
“You'll have to wait a few days before you can go out, so you can just stay here until then..”
“It’s my home~ Think about it and rest in peace! There are a lot of rooms.”
I looked around the house, then looked up and looked up..
Beyond the distant darkness, a distant cliff was visible..
You have to climb up this cliff for a while to reach the Lake Kingdom city area, and you have to go through the city area for a while to reach the entrance to the Lake Kingdom..
“……How on earth do you get back up from here? There is a way to get out of the dungeon.?”
In what period of time did you travel that long path??
Besides, I want to go back as soon as possible, so why do I have to wait a few days? Honestly, I highly doubt it..
Then the Sword Demon and the Chang Demon clicked their tongues and began to explain..
“Here in the Kingdom of Lakes, a time called ‘flooding’ comes every few days or once every few weeks..”
“flood… … This is it?”
“It is also a time when the number of monsters from a certain group increases in the dungeon, and eventually, when it is full, they rush out..”
Two highwaymen stretched out their hands and pointed to a side of the village..
“It is also the time when black rain pours down, filling the city floor and overflowing..”
As I followed the hand, I saw a cliff right next to the village..
There was a large sewer connected to the cliff. It is now completely dry without any moisture..
“When it rains, it floods and fills up. At that time, if you launch a boat and go out through the sewer along the water full of water,…….”
Something suddenly crossed my mind. I asked in surprise.
“No way, District 1… … Does it lead to a ‘dry drain’??”
“What, have you heard? Right. It's connected to ancient times....”
There are routes called short cuts throughout the Lake Kingdom dungeon..
It was a route widely used by game users because it allowed them to skip complicated battles and clear the way to the target area in an instant..
The 'Loser's Road', which was previously used from the base camp to the 'Fire-Splashing Colosseum', is also a type of shortcut..
And, there were rumors that it was treated as a legend or a ghost story among users..
There was a rumor that there was a short cut that could take you from the beginning to the deepest part in one go..
However, there are only rumors and no users have actually found it, so I never thought I would check it out myself.…….
‘Under certain conditions, such as during times of flooding, will a shortcut be connected from the deepest part of this area to the dried-up drainage ditch in Area 1?……!’
The two old men nodded to me who was surprised..
“If you walk from here to the entrance of the Lake Kingdom, it will be endless, but if you take a boat out during the flood, it will be an instant..”
“So, don't fret and just wait a few days. I will take you comfortably to the entrance of the Lake Kingdom..”
Then the two old men thrust their index fingers at me..
“If you go out, take your money with you.!”
“know?! Half of all my assets, half!”
“Hey, don't worry about money. I will take care of you very well. Please just let me escape properly..”
The two highwaymen smiled happily, as if they liked my answer..
“Hehehe, money!”
“goldfinch!”
“money!”
“grandma’!”
“This spirit is like this again, again!”
I looked at the two madmen giggling among themselves... … I became curious again.
In a town like this, what good is money, so much so that people go to the extent of robbing it to collect it?……?
***
According to what the two old men say, the next 'flood' will occur within a week at the latest..
At that time, I decided to take a boat and go out through the sewer. In other words, until then, we have to wait endlessly..
“Have to wait a week.”
Sitting in front of a dried-up sewer, I picked up a rock and threw it into the sewer. The dry sound of a stone hitting the floor came back..
“Everyone at Crossroads will be waiting.…….”
I want to go back to Crossroads as soon as possible..
The more I try to go back, the more I feel like I'm moving further away..
‘Moreover, the time of flooding means that monsters are overflowing from the dungeon... … In other words, a defensive battle takes place on the ground..’
They have to fight a defensive battle when I'm not there..
Of course, Lucas is trustworthy as a commander, and my colleagues are strong enough, but... … The water-based facilities have not been completely repaired, so will they be able to properly defend themselves in such a disorganized state?.
I wonder if everyone is confused or worried because I suddenly disappeared..
Worries bit my tail. I can't wait to go back.
“…….”
but.
If you succeed in returning, after that?
Will this be a repeat of me choosing a tactic that throws away the lives of prisoners, and my colleagues trying to stop it??
We fought defense battles again and again, and lost one of our comrades.…….
Should I fight like that again??
The road ahead was so long and distant that I felt scared. I wrapped my arms around my knees..
《ash? what's the matter?》
At that time, Salome walked softly and came up behind me. I was startled and looked back at that guy..
And Salome looked at me,
《……Ahhh.》
He narrowed his eyes and smiled as if he had noticed something..
I felt bad and frowned..
“what. why are you smiling so much.”
《I know just by looking at your face.》
“What do you know?”
《You look like you want to run away.》
“……!”
《Those who surrendered to our army all had that look on their faces. Reality is difficult and painful, so I want to look away... … It shows on your face.》
Salome approached me and whispered in my ear. With a sweet voice that seems not of this world.
《Just say it now. I'll let you run away.》
“…….”
《Into a happy, perfect dream where there is nothing to dislike.…….》
Then Salome stretched out her arms and wrapped them around my neck..
slap!
I reached out my hand and pushed Salome’s chin away..
《Uboob?!》
“Didn't you tell me when we first met, you bastard?.”
I ground my teeth..
“I'm not suffering here just to gain self-satisfaction through a dream... … I came to get it.”
The first conversation I had with Ader is still vivid..
- As a classics fan, you have a wish you want to fulfill. Yes? It's not something like money, it's a more precious wish.
- I will listen to that dream.
- As long as you still have it in your heart, the dream is not a failure..
okay.
I risk my life and fight to get my wish.
I have come to another world and am struggling like this..
“I achieve my wishes in my reality, with my efforts.”
It's painful and terrible, but.
If I was going to give up this much, I wouldn't have started in the first place..
“So, don't try to run away, just stay away for about a week. Because I don't want to deal with you.”
《…….》
Salome, looking at me with her lips poking out as if pouting, slowly opened her mouth..
《It's your wish. Really, 'your' wish is right?》
“……what?”
What are you talking about?.
I didn't understand so I turned around and saw Salome narrowing her eyes and smiling brightly, just like before..
It's not the stupid smile she showed until now..
《You said I saw your dream when I brought you out of the spirit world. ash. I searched through your past, down to the bottom of your soul..》
It was the smile of a succubus queen..
the dreamer's daughter.
That kind of dangerous laugh that a prostitute might make..
《‘Are you Ash? Or are you a classics fan? Either that or the player? tyrant? monster?》
Salome whispered, combing through the worries I had hidden in my most intimate places..
《‘If you can't clearly define who 'you' is, how can you determine that 'your' wishes remain the same??》
“…….”
《When the essence changes, the purpose also changes. ‘Yes’ is no longer ‘Yes’, so is your wish still complete??》
To me who is frozen and unable to move.
《Now, ask yourself again… … What is your real wish? Really, what do you really want to do and how do you want to do it??》
Salome asked, smiling slyly and seductively..
《Who is the real ‘you’??》
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