episode_0062

Late morning with warm sunlight pouring down. I walked out of the dorm. The surroundings are quiet as others have already left to enjoy their free time.

I had no particular desire to enjoy sightseeing, so I originally planned to spend time at the hotel until I returned.

If it weren’t for someone walking far away in front of me.

“… ”

Someone keeps glancing behind them and doesn’t hide their discomfort.

“Why, why are you following me? ”

Yeon Myeong-ha seems to be unable to bear it any longer and argues softly. There was a slight expression of dissatisfaction on her face as she walked ahead the whole time.

“What if something happens while you’re walking around alone like that?”

“… I pity you. You’re not that weak? Even if a group of warlocks come out, they can all be killed… ”

“No.”

Yeon Myeong-ha slightly puffs out her cheeks as if she is upset and glares at me.

“It’s useless to worry. Even if there was an enemy, unless you were a fool, would you come across that open wilderness? The water drains and sewers are also thoroughly managed by Hoseo Hannong’s private soldiers… ”

“But that doesn’t work.”

“Then at least that eye-catching intruder suit… ”

“No.”

When she allowed the group to have free time, everyone looked at her in surprise.

But, I never thought I would have a plan like this.

I’m sure you said yesterday that this was your first time going outside the capital. Maybe it’s natural to feel that way.

She was walking down the street wearing a beige flowing dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat covering her face.

It’s been a long time since I took off the heavy and clunky anti-violence uniform I wore yesterday.

Since you are like that, you are asking for the same conditions from me.

In any case, the decision was made based on the confidence that security appears to be stable and that firearms are impervious to magicians in the first place, and that even if an enemy were to be encountered, one could easily subdue it.

But there is nothing we can do about this. I would like to accommodate her request, but it is still a rare possibility.

Of course, I hope this peaceful scenery continues forever, but there is nothing wrong with at least one person being prepared.

“… Tsk.”

At the firm refusal, pity suddenly turns into a downcast look.

But that gloom doesn’t last long. Before we know it, the time we have spent together is already in double digits. I was able to guess her mood to some extent with just small clues.

Today’s compassionate movements are unusually light. Their curious eyes are constantly tapping in all directions, and their bouncing steps seem as if they will fly into the sky at any moment.

I distanced myself a bit and let her enjoy the view.

While standing in front of a flower shop and enjoying the beauty, he frowns in disgust when he sees a stall displaying disassembled fish.

I am immersed for a while while watching a silent movie played on the outdoor stage in the park.

Even though I was paying close attention to the unknown mechanical device spouting out full of water vapor, my attention was quickly taken away by a bird flying with its colorful wings shining.

Then he blew on the warm bread with bean paste in it, pursed his mouth, and nodded repeatedly as if he was satisfied.

By chance, he regains his noble self in an instant because others will notice, but a small crescent-moon-like line is still drawn at the corner of his mouth.

Her original status and social authority are completely hidden by her wide-brimmed straw hat.

The person in front of me right now was just a girl who was unfamiliar and new to everything.

Before I know it, I am gradually falling in love with the familiar yet ordinary scenery.

“What, why, why… ”

“… No.”

Sensitively sensing my gaze, Yeon Myeong-ha twitches slightly and glances at me. As I shake my head, I hum lightly again and let my body go as I go.

Suddenly, the surrounding scenery gradually becomes darker. The sun almost touched the horizon, and the light of the moon and morning star began to twinkle in the sky.

However, there is a clear expression on Yeon Myeong-ha’s face that she is sad to go back. He kept glancing at the barrier, and at some point, he alternated between looking at me.

“… ”

Now that I think about it, the flower shop owner said something to Yeon Yeon-ha earlier. Did you say that the sunset seen from above the wall is truly amazing? My memory is also really good.

“… Let’s go.”

“… Hmm, hmm. It’s just a waste. Yes.”

The expression on his face can’t be that bright as he adds excuses that don’t need to be made.

We lined up side by side and started climbing the stairs leading up to the top of the wall.

Soon, a landscape unfolds before our eyes, with the bright red sun sending out its last twilight in all directions.

“Wow… ”

An exclamation of exclamation reflexively flows out of Yeongyeonha’s mouth. It certainly seems like a sight that is difficult to see near the capital, where the mountains are rugged.

“People from the capital. The scenery of the no-man’s land is nice, right?”

When I turned around at the sound of someone talking, I saw a pair of soldiers patrolling the area approaching us.

In an instant of pity, he puts on his unique, innocent cat-like expression and walks away from them a couple of steps.

Their response inevitably becomes my responsibility.

“… It’s good. But when you say it’s a no-man’s land, does it really mean that no one lives south of the wall?”

“Is that possible? That’s not why it got its name, No Man’s Land. However, it is a name that means that the people there will no longer be treated as people.”

A soldier with a kind expression says something quite scary.

“Criminals and mutants often run away to no-man’s land to avoid being wanted. The same goes for the PLF rebels who were defeated a few years ago.”

“Aren’t you going to subdue them?”

“Haha, No Man’s Land is as vast as all the administrative districts in the South combined. It’s almost impossible to catch those who escaped there. Above all, unlike black magicians who can tame magical beasts with magic and sneak in, the wizard’s field stimulates high-ranking magical beasts, making it difficult to enter in the first place.”

From then on, he continued to pour out words like a fish in water. Should I say that I felt like we had met well in a time when I was bored and bored with my eyes and behavior.

“Moreover, beyond is the area of activity of a special demonic sect called the ‘Master of the Southwest Plains’. It is a Dartigas variant, and it is so huge that it is similar in height to this barrier. Still, according to the explorers, their lifespan will end soon, so I think they will be able to start exploring more actively than now.”

As I listened to the soldier’s words, complete darkness suddenly fell around me.

“Unlike me, this friend is from the South. I was relegated to drinking, but these days I’m busy drinking and pouring with this friend all the time, haha.”

“Ugh. It’s disgusting, very.”

They put their arms around each other’s shoulders and exchanged words as if they were best friends.

The soldier repeatedly closes and opens his hands and makes a funny expression.

“Sometimes you can see them holding meetings beyond the wilderness. While standing guard at night, red fireworks suddenly explode across the sky… ”

-pop! Boom boom! pop!

However, his words are soon interrupted by a small explosion that sounds like a lie.

A red, sharp light shoots into the sky. Then, it sends out sounds in all directions at regular intervals, as if it were some kind of signal.

It feels completely different from the emergency firework magic that was used during practice. Even if you look at it from afar, you can feel the ugly red energy seeping into all directions throughout your body.

And contrary to what he just said, the place where the fireworks exploded was not in the wilderness, but somewhere inside the city walls.

“… Are you talking about that? However, it seems to have erupted from the city center rather than toward the wilderness.”

“… yes. you’re right. Perhaps it could be a communication from internal spies. You don’t need to worry too much. We all know that there are still people working in secret, and His Excellency the Governor is arresting them on sight… ”

-pop! Boom boom boom!

The soldier frowned and muttered, but his words were once again scattered by the explosion of alcohol.

This time, the red light rose from beyond the wilderness, not from the city center.

“… Today is a bit strange. I have to report it first. The group quickly lowers the barrier… ”

Next moment.

Without a moment to catch my breath, a huge resonance, as if something were vibrating, began to be heard continuously around me.

Light was emanating from the towers installed around the Jinryeong barrier.

These are the towers installed to supply moisture to nearby crops using weather magic, which Director Cheon explained to me yesterday.

“What is this? The hydration cycle should be tomorrow, not today, right? What did the technicians do wrong? ”

As the series of unexpected situations continues, the soldier’s face becomes more and more bewildered.

Before he could finish his words, ominous red lights, like the fireworks from earlier, began pouring into the air from several towers.

Soon, a huge, multi-layered magic formula painted in blood is engraved in the sky. It was so large that it could cover the entire Jinryeong area and its vicinity, and the end was not even visible.

Once formed, the blood-colored magic formula soon disperses into the air. Following the trace, the particles gradually reorganize into new materials and appear.

However, it was not the rain or dark clouds that had been predicted.

A sticky, fishy mist creeps out from the gap where the magic formula was engraved. And in an instant, the entire place is covered with mist. The wide, clear view was now blocked by a blood-red fog, making it impossible to see even an inch ahead.

The red colored magic formula means only one thing.

Manifestation of black magic.

-Quaang! bang!

-Ta ta ta… !

Below the barrier we are up on. Red lights flash in various parts of the city, and an explosion is heard.

-Quaang!

-Save me… Wow!

-who… who… !

The view is blocked by fog, and only the sound of magic and firearms being fired spreads dizzyingly in all directions. The screams and shouts that are heard are reminiscent of a bloody battle.

The hair stands on end and the senses become sharper. The air from the northeastern front, which I had forgotten for a while, creeps up through my whole body again.

-Ting!

At that moment, there is a sound of something bouncing, and a blue light flashes along the curves of Yeon Myeong-ha’s body. Her field reflects blind bullets fired in the city.

“What is this… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha looks around and mutters as if she is embarrassed.

In this fog, no one can understand the context. It could be a temporary riot or terrorist attack, or it could be the worst moment that you never hoped would happen.

But anyway, there’s nothing more stupid than being in an open space in this situation.

“Let’s go down. It’s dangerous to stay here. Once I joined the other students, the situation… ”

I first drew up the particles and created a predicted route 1.

And just as he was about to lead Yeon Myeong-ha back down the stairs and go back the way he came, at the same time, he heard the sound of someone gasping for air from the direction where the soldiers who were talking just a moment ago were.

“Ker, keuhuh… !!”

They were just arm-in-arm and joking as if they were sworn brothers.

However, the person who was talking excitedly earlier, who had been demoted from the capital and had come down here, had a red-colored blade pierced through his chest from behind and was sticking upwards.

The person who was breathing heavily with an expression of disbelief soon lowered his head as if in death.

Then, a guy with a blade pulled out of his chest approaches us, targeting us.

His eyes are shining the same sinister red as the blade’s edge.

“Didn’t you say you were a friend?”

“We were friends. Until just now. Since he died for a great cause, he must have gone away satisfied.”

The warlock who had been imitating a soldier just now spoke calmly as he wiped the blood from the blade onto his gloves.

“… This is why I can’t like you commies.”

However, when I tell him that PLF members hate him the most, he twitches his eyebrows and takes a stance as if he will run at any moment.