Chapter 9: Arrows and Magic (4)
Tomb raiders were the bane of any mission, forcing a ti attack.
In the early ga, without movent skills or proper gear, they were especially problematic.
That’s why, when tomb raiders showed up early, most people abandoned the mission.
But this quest was an exception.
The rewards were too enticing to give up.
“What’s the plan?”
Gerard asked.
“First, the tablet’s inscription isn’t a big deal.”
“You can read it?”
Everyone looked at , startled.
To them, it was just incomprehensible scribbles—only a scholar would know ancient script.
But I can read it.
I was a player, after all.
I glanced at the info window floating above the tablet.
“Go left for a short trial. Go right for an easy but winding path.”
“Sounds like one path is a trap.”
“Exactly. The tomb raiders were very unlucky.”
Only three had barely escaped alive.
They could’ve fled, but their stubbornness led them to the right path.
“If they went in like that, they might’ve been wiped out.”
I shook my head at Gerard’s comnt.
“Let’s not take chances.”
As I said, the tomb raiders were still alive.
[Quest Generated.]
Tomb raiders have targeted these ruins. Even unintentionally, their actions will cause damage. Eliminate them to protect the legacy of the past.
Ruins Damage Rate: 16% (Collapse begins at 50%)
Reward for eliminating tomb raiders: Karma Points 1, Ruins Preservation
Penalty for ignoring tomb raiders: Karma Points -1, Ruins Destruction
The damage rate had risen from 15% to 16%.
Slow, but proof they were advancing.
“Alright, so we go right?”
“No, we can’t just follow them.”
Bow spoke up.
“The ruins’ beasts regenerate over ti.”
Most of the ruins’ creatures were undead, fueled by the necrotic energy perating the place.
“Traps aside, the beasts have likely all respawned. Going that way will slow us down.”
“Bow, what do you want to do? You’re not suggesting we tackle the left path, are you?”
“It’s called a short trial. If we can pass it, we’ll save a ton of ti.”
“The tomb raiders gave up and fled from that trial.”
“Then suggest a better plan. Don’t just spout nonsense about abandoning the mission.”
As the mood grew tense, I stepped in.
“What if there’s a path that’s neither left nor right?”
“What?”
“No traps, relatively safe, and faster than either path. If we could take that route, we wouldn’t need to argue, right?”
“Sure, but… does such a path exist?”
At Jeina’s question, I grabbed the tablet instead of answering.
With a firm pull, the tablet ca loose with surprising ease.
Rumble…!
“What?!”
A staircase leading downward appeared with a loud rumble.
“Let’s take the shortcut.”
I descended first, and the hesitant group followed one by one.
“Was this written on the tablet too?”
“Of course.”
No way. No ruins would openly advertise a secret passage.
I’d only found this path after countless trials and errors.
“Hold on.”
After walking for a while, Bow suddenly pressed their ear to the wall.
“…Footsteps.”
At Bow’s words, everyone stopped.
“Tomb raiders?”
“No, they’re circling nearby.”
“Probably beasts.”
Even a secret passage didn’t guarantee a free pass to the bottom.
Otherwise, the ga wouldn’t be fun.
“Get ready.”
At my command, everyone drew their weapons.
“Finally, so action!”
Jeina stepped forward eagerly, with close behind.
Gerard, suppressing his frustration, stayed back. Since I’d borrowed his sword, there was little he could do here.
“Do your best.”
“No need for that, Gerard.”
I kept my eyes forward as I spoke.
“Rear support isn’t just standing around. You might be busier than ever.”
“…Right.”
“They’re coming.”
As Bow nocked an arrow, two shadows erged from the dark passage and charged at us.
“Skeletons!”
[Lv.5 Revived Dead (Low-Tier)]
[Lv.4 Controlled Dead (Low-Tier)]
The most common monsters in the ruins screeched, swinging their sharpened bone hands.
“Kyeee!”
“So noisy!”
Jeina swung her axe at a skeleton.
It crossed its arms in response.
Clang!
“Wha—?”
Shockingly, the brittle bones deflected Jeina’s axe.
“They’re strengthened with necrotic energy. Be careful!”
At Gerard’s shout, I pulled back my sword, which I’d been about to swing.
So undead retained special abilities from life.
These ones have high defense.
Against high-defense enemies, it was better to probe for openings than aim for a single blow.
I gripped my sword with one hand, striking swiftly to pressure the skeleton.
Boom!
A white orb flew from behind, hitting the skeleton.
It was a mana bolt from Gerard.
“I’ve got your back.”
Gerard cast a Shield on and kept firing mana bolts.
They didn’t deal much damage, but they made it easier for to handle the skeleton.
An upper-tier rcenary, huh? Even as a first-tir, he’s skilled.
Thanks to Gerard’s support, I could press the skeleton without much trouble.
But skeletons and archers are a bad match…
Skeletons, with their porous bodies, easily dodged pinpoint attacks like arrows.
It was bad luck for Bow.
I need to finish this and help Jeina.
Just then, an arrow from Bow grazed past .
Thwack!
It struck the eye socket of the skeleton Jeina was fighting.
The skeleton staggered and froze.
What?
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
That effect only appeared when a critical hit landed perfectly.
A level 8 archer with that kind of accuracy?
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bow’s barrage didn’t stop.
Arrows poured from the shortbow, every single one hitting its mark.
“Kyeee!”
Riddled with arrows like a porcupine, the skeleton couldn’t hold out.
The one Jeina was fighting fell first.
“What? Already dead?”
Jeina muttered, bewildered.
The skeleton I was handling, staggered by my attacks, went down quickly once Jeina and Bow joined in.
“No big deal. Let’s keep moving.”
I moved ahead of Jeina, subtly covering my ear so Bow wouldn’t see.
Jeina, can I ask a favor?
What?
Talk to Bow. Anything, even small talk. Stall them a bit.
Ugh, I’m bad at that.
Jeina sighed softly but soon struck up a conversation with Bow.
“So, is your real na actually Bow?”
“Think what you want.”
“How long have you been working around here?”
“None of your business.”
“Co on, don’t be so cold. It’s my first ti here. We ca from the north…”
While Jeina stalled, I opened the rcenary band’s channel to talk to Gerard.
Gerard, did you see?
Yeah.
Quick on the uptake, Gerard replied imdiately.
Incredible skill. Almost unbelievable.
How impressive?
I’d seen so of it, but I wanted Gerard’s perspective, having watched from the rear.
If every archer had that skill, knights would be out of a job.
…That impressive?
Every arrow hit in a split second. A human would’ve died instantly.
That’s concerning.
Why?
Bow basically took down both skeletons alone. Our party didn’t show much.
Bow’s confird skill was undeniably impressive.
The problem was, it only mattered if it contributed to our party’s strength.
I get it. If this keeps up, they’ll have no reason to stay with us after the mission.
Exactly.
Don’t worry about that.
What?
Trust .
I looked at Gerard, puzzled, but he just flashed a cryptic smile and removed his hand from his ear.
What’s he planning?
Curious as I was, I shut my mouth as Jeina approached.
“What’d you talk about?”
“Just stuff. Felt like chatting with a wild cat. Every question got a snappy reply.”
“I can hear you, barbarian.”
“That’s the point.”
“Don’t people call you childish?”
“Oh, you’re the first!”
Their bickering seed to show they’d grown a bit closer.
Jeina’s got great people skills.
Soon, we reached a cavernous space resembling a large cave.
A massive temple stood ahead, with iron bars near its entrance, seemingly designed to cage sothing.
“Wow… Just how big are these ruins?”
After a few more steps, I felt sothing odd.
Already?
The ground was trembling.
“Sothing’s coming.”
At my words, everyone froze.
The vibrations grew stronger, and a door ahead swung open.
“Prove your worth.”
A pair of gleaming blue eyes appeared in the empty air, and sothing began approaching us slowly.
Its massive size caused the entire space to shake with each step.
“Is that a golem?”
“No.”
I shook my head.
High-tier monsters like golems didn’t appear this early.
With no proper magic available, a physically resistant golem would be a death sentence.
“It’s a marionette. A puppet moved by magic.”
[Lv.6 Tin Guardian (Mid-Tier)]
The giant tin puppet resembled a human but lacked detailed joints, making its movents stiff.
Combined with the dark atmosphere, it looked eerie.
“How’s a marionette different from a golem?”
“Very. Golems are artificial lifeforms animated by alchemy. This is just an object enchanted to move. Destroy its arms and legs, and it’ll be neutralized.”
“Got it?”
Bow, twirling an arrow, nocked it with confidence.
“Shouldn’t be too hard.”
Whoosh!
Six arrows flew toward the guardian with a sharp whistle.
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