Ch.42Chapter 42. Paladin, Have You Been Broken? (3)

Chapter 42. Has the Paladin Finally Broken? (3)

I assigned Toughie the task of delivering a letter to the Gray Mist tribe.

This time, I don’t plan to send a mini-totem like I did with the Sky Tree tribe.

It’s not some grand mission, and we don’t have enough spare totems to send another one.

If I asked Grandma Muri to make one more mini-totem, she might actually work herself to death.

Distributing mini-totems to other tribes to bring them into the tribal alliance is a distant goal for now.

Squeak~!

Toughie, who had grown twice as large since I first saw him, nodded as if understanding my words and grabbed the letter before taking flight.

It’s a letter written by Paya.

As Toughie rose into the air, his translucent body shimmered and became even more transparent.

Then he moved at high speed, so fast and blurry that you’d miss him if you weren’t looking carefully.

What the hell? Can he use stealth mode now too?

He breathes fire, turns invisible, and even understands human speech?

Aren’t elemental spirits completely overpowered?

If he evolves further, couldn’t he even fight a lesser demon?

…I shook off the thought that he might be better than a totem.

Nah. I’m still better. I provide wide-area continuous healing over time, status effect removal, and even zombie control for tanking.

I even share good skills with elite barbarian units.

As Toughie departed from the mountain amid the barbarians’ cheers, I shifted my gaze to the message window.

My cheerful impotent friend was sending messages enthusiastically.

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: I’m in the mountains!]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Currently hiking like a dog lol]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: After climbing a bit, I can’t even see the demon’s vision range]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Great scenery~! Now I see why my dad joins hiking clubs!]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: I take back thinking he was a professional adultery hiking club member!]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Whew! The air is so good! Coming up high, I can’t feel the demonic energy. It’s fucking clean air]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Is this why barbarians live in the mountains? To avoid demonic energy? Is this primitive wisdom?]

He’s sending message bombs like my first online friend Hannah, probably because he’s bored walking alone.

I didn’t bother replying because it was annoying.

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: No one’s around, should I jerk off?]

This guy is truly insane.

I should contact Hannah instead.

[I was a bit harsh earlier]

[Sorry]

Her reply came immediately.

[NotACatfish: No, don’t worry about it]

[NotACatfish: Have you eaten?]

That’s a troublesome question.

I mean, I’m not even human and don’t have a mouth, so how would I eat?

I really want to eat too.

[Yeah, just ate]

If I don’t answer, she’ll think I’m angry again.

[NotACatfish: What did you eat?]

[Fried insects that look like crickets]

I gave a vague answer.

It’s not completely made up. I’ve seen barbarians make it before.

Harry and Luna were absolutely horrified. Lakye also frowned and didn’t eat it.

Kanto ate it enthusiastically. He finished almost half by himself.

“A meal for warriors,” or something like that. Since insects are high-protein food, it’s not entirely wrong.

[NotACatfish: Ew. How can you eat something so gross?]

[Insects are easy to raise and convenient to eat, they’re the food of the future]

The Blue Moss tribe actually raises insects for food.

I understand why. Until we raided villages, they were short on livestock.

[NotACatfish: What future food nonsense in a world with no future;;]

[NotACatfish: Did you really eat that?]

[Yeah if you cook them well they’re crispy and delicious]

Kanto ate them well, saying they were crispy.

[NotACatfish: Maybe I should try them too?]

Yikes.

My lie might actually make her eat bugs.

I need to fix this.

[No no this is men’s food]

[It makes your dick grow]

[NotACatfish: lolol you crazy bastard]

[NotACatfish: I’m going to eat the fish I caught earlier]

That was a close call. I should be more careful with my lies.

Anyway, I’m glad her mood seems better now.

After chatting for a while, I watched the tribal alliance’s war preparations.

I plan to start the “Symphonia Operation” as soon as Toughie returns.

Since he’s become an elemental spirit and seems faster than before, he should be back in a few days.

Princess Dina’s wide-range aggro has had a big impact on Symphonia’s worshippers.

Now they’re patrolling intensively in the direction where the “Celestial Light” skill was cast.

I wonder if the light’s effects reached even that distant region.

The cheerful madman messaged me again two hours later.

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Found barbarians!]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: They’re coming this way with wooden spears! I put down my weapons and raised my hands]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Malak! Malak! Malak! Shouting like crazy]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Begging with both hands for real]

I can picture a silly-looking guy in his 20s shouting “Malak! Malak! Maaaalak~!”

The barbarians must be shocked.

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: “Malak? How do you know that name, civilized one? Answer me.”]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: “How is a civilized person praying to Loa? It seems you’re praying to Malak right now.”]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: It’s working! These guys are getting confused!]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Two-way communication is a bit frustrating, but since I can understand them, it’s not a big problem!]

[Good]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: The barbarians decided to take me with them!]

[OK wait for the letter]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: They’ll feed me, right? They wouldn’t starve me]

[But there might be bugs]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: Well, it’s a prison, so bugs are expected]

[No I mean for your meal]

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: ?]

[?]

I’m sorry. But it can’t be helped.

With Hannah, I ordered them to feed her well so she didn’t have to eat insects, but you’re too far away for me to protect.

Enjoy your high-protein food and stay healthy.

[MorningTentErectionTechnician: You’re joking, right?]

[lol]

I closed the message window.

***

The community was buzzing all day about Princess Dina.

[TrustedMonkeyMan: With that kind of power, couldn’t she take on the Dark Cloud?]

[SamuraiJackson: A level 8 emitted that light. What about level 10? This might not be an impossible fight after all?]

[Skynet: I’ll have to update the Paladin information.]

Everyone seemed hopeful, unlike with Abraham, which was good, but also made me uneasy.

[MeleeSpy: Hmm…is that so?]

I don’t agree with this guy’s opinion, but things do seem overheated.

I’m worried everyone will become obsessed with leveling up and start poking beehives recklessly.

The already heated community became even more chaotic when Princess Dina herself appeared.

[PrincessDina: Posting from a safe location.

Many of you have sent me private messages, but I rarely check the community or messages, so please stop sending them.

I don’t use the community much. It’s full of useless stuff.

I believe communities, whether in reality or here, are for losers.

Everyone should spend less time on the community and focus on growth.]

That’s a controversial post from the start.

[MeleeSpy: Hey, take that back, rookie…]

[FullPlay: When someone with ability says this, what can we say]

[NotACatfish: Yeah, you’re so great]

[FallenPaladinKnight: I agree with reducing community time. Or we could revitalize the community as a place for information sharing]

Whether disagreeing or agreeing, many people commented on Princess Dina’s post, and I was no exception.

[UltraSansMadWithMoonlightMassacreMode: Have you ever fought a high-ranking demon?]

I thought this person might have experienced it.

Princess Dina, who hadn’t replied to anyone, posted again several hours later.

[PrincessDina: To the community users.

Until now, I thought I had to stand alone.

I believed that if everyone worked hard to grow in their own positions, we could eventually overcome this harsh world.

I still hold that belief.

However, I didn’t realize there would be people who, despite sufficient growth, fall into despair and make extreme choices.

Abraham’s death changed my thinking a bit.

To prevent such incidents, to avoid losing valuable forces, I’d like to make a proposal.

The Celestial Light was a performance for this purpose.

I believe we need an elite strike force to break through the Dark Cloud demon.

I think we need several high-level users, at least level 8 or above, to have a chance of winning.

I have the hidden skill ‘Dancer of Silence.’ I can quietly handle mid-level demons.

Paladins level 7 or above, if interested, please send me a private message. I’ll help you level up.

I don’t need anyone below level 7. I’ll ask for information only level 7+ would know, so lying is pointless.

I emphasize again, I don’t need random people.

Lower levels should grow on their own and survive on their own. Prove your worth that way.

That’s the rite of passage.

That’s all.]

This was content that would heat up the community once again.

Unlike George’s “Raid Party,” Princess Dina proposed a “Special Forces” team.