Pine’s guild was more about creating strategies than following them for raids. Sigh
Of course, that was obvious.
Pine usually jumped into a raid shortly after it was released, and it was normal that no guild had even succeeded in clearing it yet, let alone create a proper strategy.
Analyzing patterns one by one and creating a strategy to try was much harder than simply following already established ones. Thud
But the thrill of forging your own path was incomparable to just following in someone else’s footsteps.
“But this time, it’s going to be different.”
Pine said as he distributed the materials he had prepared.
“To be honest, our chances aren’t very high.”
One day had already passed in the week-long duration.
Instead of seasoned members familiar with raids, two inexperienced players had been recruited.
The bizarre and downright unpleasant restriction of only allowing one party to enter at a time still remained, leaving them with limited attempts.
“So we’re going to copy the strategies of the guilds that tried ahead of us.”
He made it sound grand, but it wasn’t anything special.
It wasn’t uncommon to reference what strategies other guilds had used when word got around about how far they had gone.
Still, there was a reason Pine said such things.
“I won’t let you mindlessly smash your head in, just like you said. Get it?”
Hurry up and open the textbook.
At his firm words, Yuki puffed her lips.
*
“…We’re dying.”
Total party wipe.
“Ugh! I’m dying! Heal me!”
“The healer is dead!”
“What?! When?!”
“The mark wasn’t passed, so it exploded!”
Total party wipe.
“No, can you properly hold the aggro?!”
“How do I hold aggro when I’m constantly healing?”
“I can’t die from DOT damage! …Ah.”
Another total party wipe.
Upon opening his eyes, the ceiling, and the path to the battlefield were now familiar sights.
Pine shakily got up and tried to gather his thoughts.
‘What’s the problem?’
The answer came immediately.
‘Everything.’
There was no need to pinpoint just one issue.
However, if he had to choose the most annoying one, Pine could do that without hesitation.
As soon as they entered the barrier, the magical energy began to sap their health.
The closer they got to Kana, the more damage the magic inflicted, causing problems even when trying to deal with other patterns.
Damage that normally wouldn’t have killed them became deadly because of the sudden DOT damage.
If he carelessly splattered the area with a large-scale heal to cover it, he wouldn’t be able to manage aggro or mana.
In the end, it meant that they had to balance healing just enough to not die.
“Ugh…”
As one of Pine’s guild healers, Lemony, demonstrated, it was absolutely not an easy task.
Pine patted Lemony’s pale shoulder reassuringly.
“You chose this healer. Just grit your teeth and endure…”
“I want to quit being a healer…”
“Nope.”
“Hic…”
Yet, it wasn’t all bad news.
Da-eun and Yuki, whom he thought would be major obstacles, were surprisingly performing well.
Yuki didn’t synergize well with others but was compensating with her personal skill, so there weren’t any issues.
In contrast, Da-eun may have had slightly lower individual skill, but her effort to synchronize was evident.
Moreover, she possessed a unique advantage that Pine hadn’t anticipated; thanks to the Dragon Orb, she was less affected by the magical energy.
“Joanie, how much did that cost?”
“Huh? How much for what?”
“That… magic tool you got from Kana in Baltora.”
“Oh, this? I was able to get it cheaper thanks to Kana, but the original price is—”
Maybe I should get one too.
Pine thought as he inquired about the price, but upon hearing Da-eun’s answer, he quickly dropped the idea.
“How long do you think this party will last?”
Pine changed the subject.
“I say three minutes.”
“O… a cup of instant ramen. Then I’ll say one minute.”
“Is everyone being stingy? We could last longer.”
“Then Pine should bet on over five minutes—”
“Two minutes. I’ll stick with two.”
“Aw, lame.”
Betting on how long the party would last as other parties entered the barrier was a good way to pass the time.
For reference, no party had lasted over five minutes so far, so betting on anything beyond that had become a symbol of cowardice and a sign of courage among them.
Given that they had never succeeded even once, they should rightly call it recklessness, not courage.
As the timer passed the two-minute mark, the entrance to the barrier opened.
“Ah… we could’ve held on a little longer. The noodles probably aren’t even cooked yet.”
“Raw ramen isn’t that bad.”
The party brushed off the dirt from their bottoms and stood up.
“No matter how short the trial time is, waiting is boring.”
“If the professional Silia Online streamer, Joanie, were to step up, wouldn’t we be able to enter without waiting?”
“…You’re kidding, right?”
Da-eun didn’t bother to hide her exhaustion as she shook her head.
“I’m not a professional Silia streamer, and I don’t have that kind of strength. Thanks to last time, a new controversy arose.”
“A controversy? Ah, the bullying controversy.”
“…You knew that and asked on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Oops, I wouldn’t dare do such a thing to a professional streamer like you, Joanie. By the way, it sounds somewhat amusing, this bullying controversy.”
“Well… it was indeed a unreasonable request.”
“Aren’t you going in?”
Yuki, who had been standing at the entrance since earlier, poked her great sword in annoyance.
Not just her, the piercing glares from those waiting behind her were undeniable.
When Pine’s guild dallied in entering, others waiting for their turn were also delayed.
Unless someone especially loved waiting or enjoyed wasting time, it wouldn’t be pleasant.
As they stepped into the boss room, magical energy wrapped around their bodies, slowly draining their HP.
In other raids, the tank would pull the boss and combat would begin.
In other words, if they didn’t attack first while still out of the enemy’s field of awareness, combat wouldn’t start, allowing time to recall important reminders before engaging.
“You all know the drill, right? Healers, especially pay attention to the duration of your DOT heals and managing the marks.”
However, the magic that tightened around them as soon as Kana’s raid began left no room for a leisurely chat.
Pine quickly dumped out only the most critical information.
“Alright. Let’s try to last over five minutes this time.”
As the short countdown came to a close.
Pine’s guild rushed towards the pink-haired girl sitting there blankly.
Pine thought for a moment, what if someone saw this scene and thought it was a pitiful sight of eight adults bullying a single vulnerable girl?
Even while thinking this, Pine didn’t stop swinging his sword.
After all, as they say, the business of the world looks like a comedy from afar but a tragedy when you are close.
That seemingly fragile girl was a monster that had shattered countless guilds.
If they hesitated, feeling pity for her, only death awaited.
Pine steeled himself.
[You Died]
“….”
– Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
– Ha ha ha ha ha ha
– ???: Let’s try to last over five minutes this time.
– Are the underdogs regaining their senses? Laughs
– My memories are fading away…
– Where even is this?? Who am I??
He accepted the familiar phrases.
It was already over four minutes since the battle began.
*
“This makes it the sixth day now.”
A man in a robe quietly sat down.
No matter how quietly he settled, it was impossible for his appearance to go unnoticed, yet no one among the crowd gathered before the barrier paid him any mind.
The man, moving with an attitude that suggested it was natural, placed his hand on the barrier.
Vroom!
“Ow.”
“…What’s that?”
“Didn’t you hear the sound?”
The barrier trembled violently in response to the man’s hand.
“Even in this state, you’re still so troublesome.”
The barrier the Empire’s sage had unleashed was already darkened to the top.
Given how much territory it had consumed, it was impossible to regain control.
If he were to mess with it carelessly, the monster, sensing the man’s mana, might break the barrier and rush out, causing him to retract his hand.
“I was hoping you’d gain some sanity upon seeing the Apostle you cherish so much.”
The man’s gaze shifted to one woman.
With slightly upturned eyes, she was exuding a gloomy atmosphere.
“It seems that was a misjudgment. Perhaps the connection wasn’t as deep as I thought or your prison was that sturdy.”
Moreover, he hadn’t been able to achieve another goal either.
“I never thought I wouldn’t even be able to deal with a puppet dancing on strings.”
But it’s fine.
This was just one of the scenarios that the new Edel had envisioned.
For a fleeting moment, a look of pity crossed the man’s face, which showed just slightly through the openings of his robe.
“I came all this way to say goodbye. Even though you were my enemy, you were a person I could respect.”
How wonderful it would have been if he had been born in the Empire instead of Grasis.
The man was regretful about this, having tried countless times to draw Kana in, but efforts couldn’t dissipate the anger of a child who had lost a father.
“When the sun rises, this barrier will completely collapse.”
Even if it doesn’t collapse, the barrier stripped of control will no longer contain any monsters.
And, the sharpest sword in the Empire will welcome the monster.
Everything had already been prepared for him.
What remained was just waiting for time to flow.
“I quite enjoyed fighting you.”
Leaving behind a rather light remark for a farewell, the man turned away.
One step, two steps.
The moment he walked, he suddenly vanished without a trace.
“…?”
“What? Is there something wrong?”
“Um… wasn’t there someone there?”
“Huh? There’s no one here.”
“Really…?”
“You might be tired. Please take a moment to rest.”
It certainly felt like someone had been here.
Da-eun tilted her head while reluctantly leaning against a tree.
As she said, perhaps she was just so tired that she was hallucinating.
‘…I’m tired.’
Ignoring the hazy white afterimage, Da-eun softly closed her eyes.
*
Pine’s guild ultimately failed their hunt.
The seventh sun rose.
The barrier, which seemed to reach the skies, had turned completely black.
Woo-wooo-wooo
Now, the barrier, no longer silver but pitch black, let out an ominous wail.
Simultaneously, the barrier shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.
Woosh.
At that moment, the barrier, which seemed on the verge of collapsing, halted as if it was lying.
Had they managed to hold out?
“…Phew.”
When one of the spectators unintentionally let out a sigh of relief.
Swoosh.
Like sugar dissolving in water, vanishing.
Like a sandcastle getting blown away by the wind.
The immense wall began to melt away slowly.
As everyone stood captivated by the surreal scene, the barrier melted away at a rapid pace, shrinking down to just slightly above wall height.
And finally, it dissolved without a trace.
The dense magical energy trapped within the barrier surged forth like a storm.
“…Cough!”
“I… can’t breathe!”
Those near the barrier clutched their throats in agony.
Those who realized the crisis and quickly retreated survived; those who couldn’t met their end, cold on the ground.
A tense atmosphere enveloped the battlefield.
Tap.
The sound of small footsteps landed heavily.
Someone glanced toward the sound and muttered absentmindedly.
“…The Demon King.”
Amid the dense magical energy, a pair of pink eyes shimmered brightly.
