CH 279

TL: xLordFifth

ED:

“As expected, you know well. There were those guys. And four-handed ogres were piled high.”

“There were? You said there were? Then, did you fight those guys? Alone?”

At Luger’s words, Ewin’s eyes widened. Luger nodded. It was understandable that the NPCs as well as the users around them couldn’t believe it.

“Does that make sense? A party is needed to be able to fight a four-handed ogre alone.”

“How about a cyclops? No matter how strong you are…… how can you go into an area where a field boss class monster appears as a normal mob by yourself?”

“What the hell is that? Doesn’t a winged-ogre mean it has wings? That’s horrible!”

Luger opened his mouth again before the shouts of the users could get louder.

“When I reached the 33rd floor, one wall was scratched up. A color that can’t be described simply as darkness of night, a hole so black that you can only think that the graphics of Middle Earth are broken. The torch couldn’t even illuminate it. And there… I saw him. A red crystal was placed in front of a black hole, and a figure with a blue beard laid on it. I soon found out what it was and shot it.”

Luger’s fist, which was placed on the table, clenched. Unlike the NPCs, the users understood.

It meant a quest had appeared. The content was probably to kill Le. “I gave everything I had. The result is this hat.”

“So? Did you at least hurt Le?” 

Luger shook his head at Ewin’s question.

“[Panzer Faust], [Panzer Shrek]“

*****

Kwaaaaang一 Kwaaaaaang—-.

Luger’s bullets were fired toward the bright red crystal.

The blast on the back of the Cobalt Blue Python was also huge, but the dust generated by the bullet hitting the crystal was even greater.

However, all the dust was sucked into the pitch-black darkness.

Luger frowned and looked around.

All monsters that could threaten him had already died. He didn’t know where they spawned, but he was sure that they would not respawn for a while, considering the cycle he observed so far.

“Phew……. It is an honor to be able to use this against the Fragment of the Demon King.” 

Then he grabbed the Cobalt Blue Python His weapon was in its musket form.

The bullets fired by [Cobalt Blue Python] were enormous compared to normal iron beads, and now, Luger was using bullets larger than that.

“[Cannon Reinforcement: Flat-fire]“

Hwaaaak-!

A deep blue light emanated from the Cobalt Blue Python. After looking satisfactorily at his weapon, which was thicker and slightly longer than before, Luger aimed at the red crystal.

“I found it, a Fragment of the Demon King. Finally, the main quest is mine… ”

He even cast his strongest skill, which he had only recently acquired.

“[Jagdpanzer Kanone]!”

Maybe it was because the basement was closed-off, but the loud noise made Luger’s own ears ring. Chhiiing- Even the ringing sound was being sucked into the darkness with smoke.

“Damn it! It’s not useful in a place like this. If it’s not an open space, there are restrictions- hmm?”

Luger was happy and unhappy at the same time, he was happy as he looked at the broken crystal and the quest to destroy the Fragment of the Demon King was cleared, but he was unhappy because he didn’t like the fact that his newly acquired skill was too noisy.

In the midst of those opposing emotions, the sound of footsteps and ticks were heard

“Who-”

“It’s a little early, but…. Thank you, young man. Next time we meet, I will show you love at least once.”

When he looked up, a voice was already coming from behind Luger.

Could it be called dignified? But strangely, the tone was off. Although it was clearly a middle-aged or older male voice, there was some affection in it and felt a bit disgusting.

However, Luger couldn’t pay much attention to the tone of the mans voice.

Because he couldn’t see him. If it wasn’t for the slight weight on his head, he would have treated it as an auditory hallucination.

“Blue B-”

Hwiik!

He immediately turned the Cobalt Blue Python to aim, but there was no longer anyone above him. Only the roar of monsters he could hear from afar hinted at the terrible situation.

Luger stared blankly at the darkness for a moment.

A high-toned laughter echoad with the joyful roar of monsters. What was the ‘thing’ that just passed by? And what did that mean?

“Thank…… you……?”

There was no need to check the broken red crystal twice or thrice. With just the notification window that covered Luger’s eyes, he could tell that ‘Bluebeard, Count Le’ had woken up.

“……Did I… wake you–“? Besides, this achievement.”

A new achievement appeared and the content of the existing quest had been changed.

The content immediately changed to go to Ezwen and to meet the Pope.

A blue-whiskered hat was placed on Luger’s head with his face filled with complex expression.

“Bluebeard walked out of the crystal, put a hat on me and disappeared. That’s all.”

[A seal? You said Le sealed himself. So he came out after you released the sound.]

“That’s right.”

Luger answered without hesitation. As if it had nothing to do with him.

[You gave everything you had, but you didn’t hurt Le, so he gave you a hat and left.]

“That’s right.”

[Why didn’t he hurt you?]

“I don’t know. I immediately rushed to Ezwen, and this happened after Pope Gaius IV checked this hat.”

Despite Bailephus’ surprising questions, Luger spoke fluently. The faces of the commanders listening to the conversation between the dragon and Luger almost became determined.

There was someone who directly witnessed the appearance of the Fragment of the Demon King. The Pope endorsed the sighting and arbitrated for the peace treaty. The rest was simple.

“What are you going to do, Pillar?”

“Someone must to take responsibility for the attempted assassination of Fibiel’s king, but…. At least I know that it is not now, Fox of the prairie.”

“You may look for me anytime. Such an absurd reason for an invasion would only be recorded as a stain in history.”

“History is written by the victors. Rest assured, Minis will not record anything.”

Ewin tried to respond to Granville’s last words, but Granville was a little faster.

“As of the present time, Fibiel and Minis will enter a ceasefire until the peace treaty is signed. The two countries are prohibited to engage in battle regardless of the warzone, and the borders and territories will be discussed later before the conclusion of the peace treaty. Does the commander-in-chief of Minis agree to this?”

“No, no, why are we talking about borders and territories when we have a great siege and your army is getting ‘saved’? Rather, from ‘Minis’ perspective, shouldn’t we claim damages for the illegal and violent invasion?”

Ewin certainly paid back what he had just suffered.

The fox of the prairie did not easily fall for the provisions that Granville had slyly put.

‘I knew it would be like this, but a non-unilateral ceasefire is not possible!’

Lee Ha-ha was nervous watching the fiery war of nerves between the two NPCs.

In Kraven’s case, it was easy. There was no territorial dispute, because the winner of the defense war, Fibiel, kicked out the invading army, Kraven They only needed to talk about the loss of ships and take it. What if they didn’t listen? The winner, Fibiel, could cross over Kraven’s seas and subdue them.

However, it wasn’t possible right now. Strictly speaking, it’s impossible to say who won for sure.’

What if Leeha hit Alexander? What if Alexander avoided the shot? Or what if the breath was blown out? would Lee Jiwon been able to attack? Could it be that the other Minis elite forces were just watching?

How will they deal with the combination of Faust and Crowley, who was already close to the Fibiel army’s back?

With that wall there, can it be called a victory for Minis? What should Battle Commander Burke and his soldiers see as they are moving hard from Dike Beach to the marching plains?

‘This is driving me crazy. Who can guarantee that?’

It was unclear to Leeha. At that last moment, if it hadn’t been for Luger, woud he have been able to hit? Could he have benefited from Hyein’s magic stopping effect?

However, there are no assumptions in history.

There was nothing more difficult than revisiting the past.

Especially right now. There were a few things Granville could say.

“……Everything about the conflict between the two countries shall be decided, including the main witnesses, at the time of signing the peace treaty later. Is that okay, Ewin?”

“That makes sense. The Commander-in-Chief of Minis agrees with the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief of Fubiel, and promises the honor and national prestige between the two parties” They put it behind them. They had to work together now. When Granville and Ewin shook hands, a fanfare resounded in the minds of all users.

[A temporary truce has been established between Minis and Fibiel.]

[Truce period: Until the conclusion of the peace treaty]

[Agreed by : Commander-in-Chief Granville and Commander-in-Chief Ewin]

Fibiel’s Side – The Pillar, Commander-in-Chief Granville

Minis’ Side – Fox of the Prairie, Commander-in-Chief Ewin]

The war is over. But this is only just another beginning.

[The quest for the outbreak of the national war has ended.]

[Obtained 4,611 war contribution points.]

[The conscription of users who participated in the war has been cancelled.]

[The relationship between the other countries are restored to normal.]

[After this… the penalties for indiscriminate attack will be applied.]

[Compensation based on acquired contribution points will be announced at a later date.]

[Accumulated contribution: 35,857]

[A private event for users with the highest contribution will be held in each country.]

“A truce!”

“Whaaaat-! Amaaaaazing! My contribution!”

“Damn it! My contribution is -800! Just a few more days of war!”

“Pheww, I barely removed the negative points. It was dogshit. How many did you get?”

“I got 97. Jackpot! The final contribution is 283.”

“Wow, your contribution is very high. I only have 192.”

“Heuheu, I only died once since Marching Plains, and I have been on a roll since! It would have been absurd if I did not get this much.”

Users were excited regardless if they were from Fibiel or Minis.

Maybe because they had only just heard the terrible news about the Fragment of the Demon King, but the users focused on the rewards in front of them rather than how they were going to move in the future.

‘It’s the compensation for the last battle. They still have conscience.’

Leeha leisurely read the notification that floated in front of him. At the time of the quest to carry out the destruction of the keystones before the siege, he had gained around 3,000 points. However, in the last battle, he earned 4,000 points. Leeha saw what it meant.

‘Blocking the advance of Alexander and the gold dragon. Was it interpreted that attracting them and damaging them contributed tremendously from Fubiel’s point of view? Well, it’s true. It’s embarrassing, but I like it.’

It was a cooperative operation but the final blow to Bailephus was from Leeha.

It meant that he got a huge amount of contribution thanks to that, but how great was Alexander and Bailephus, the beings who gave 4,000 points of contribution just by dealing damage to them?

Of course, I couldn’t help but feel a little bitter about it.

[Is the war over?]

“It’s not the perfect end, but at least for now, we won’t be aiming our blades at each other, dragon.”

Granville answered Bailephus’ words. A peace treaty must be signed for a true end to the war. The ceasefire could literally end at any time, but with the involvement of the Pope it could be seen as equivalent to having a peace treaty.

[Hmmm…….]

“As expected, there was something.”

Watching the gold dragon’s attittude, Kidd muttered quietly.

It was Alexander who had been trying to say something since he first appeared. Of course, Alexander must have heard it from Bailephus. The gold dragon sorted the noisy atmosphere and calmed the users around him.

-Listen quietly, humans. I will tell you why I have kept you alive.

“H-Hyung?”

“Shh. I can hear it too.”

Is the level just the standard. Or was it the matter of attittude? Maybe it’s the sum of stats. Leeha and Kijeong quietly listened to the message of the gold dragon, which was heard by selected people based on an unknown criteria.

-I went to your useless war with my friend to find a dragon that disappeared a long time ago. He is a member of the red dragon clan.

He was the strongest of dragons. 

And my oldest enemy…

(To be continued…)