Ch.87For Ayol

# 87. For Ayor

Half-Alb Quest.

That wasn’t its official name—originally each stage had a different title, but gamers lumped them all together under this name.

Anyway, the Half-Alb Quest was based on a storyline about escalating tensions between the Ayor and Albs that had been dormant for a while. Depending on your actions, the quest content and rewards would differ.

Of course, since it was a quest given by Ayord, there was no option to help the Albs like the second choice that appeared for me. But if you accepted the quest and then provided lukewarm help or just stood by watching, not only would your rewards suffer, but NPC favorability would hit rock bottom.

“Meow! Meooow!”

[It’s that way! I hear something from over there!]

“It does sound noisy over there.”

Following Danya, who confidently took the lead claiming this was one of the places she had fought in her heyday, she suddenly stopped and reported to me. Almost simultaneously, Yuri said something similar.

‘Despite being in a regressed state, she has senses that rival the legendary Ayor. Ayuri, what are you really?’

Is it because they both have similar names starting with “A-Y-R”?

I kept that terrible joke to myself and instructed everyone to move cautiously at a slower pace.

After moving like that for a few minutes, the rest of us discovered what Danya and Yuri had been talking about.

“Have we already skipped Quest 1 and moved to Quest 2?”

“It seems like we’re between Quest 2 and 3.”

“If we’re between Quest 2 and 3, doesn’t that mean the Ayor are losing ground?”

“Probably. Look, they seem to be getting pushed back even now.”

Judging by the scale and intensity of the fighting, as well as the number of corpses, we had definitely moved past the first quest, which was at most a small-scale localized skirmish or preliminary battle. We weren’t even at the early stages of the second quest where friction intensifies due to trivial matters—we were closer to its final stages.

Naturally, since we had been expecting the first quest, none of us dared to jump in recklessly. Danya was stomping her feet, clearly eager to rush in, but soon realized her current state and seemed to despair.

‘This requires a Knight’s Trial level of preparation.’

The Knight’s Trial, where Seyeon and I barely survived the first three trials by the skin of our teeth, contorting our bodies to the limit. Looking at the fierce battle between the two sides reminded me especially of the first trial.

‘We have a few advantages. We need to maximize them.’

First advantage: We can launch a surprise attack.

Second advantage: Unlike before, we can deliver a powerful ranged attack to start.

Third advantage: We have experience with this quest, and Danya knows this area well.

Fourth advantage: We have an excellent healer on our team.

The first and second advantages depended on Subin. She seemed to be thinking the same thing as me, her already cold expression hardening even further.

“From what I can see, we don’t have much time, so I’ll be quick. Anyone who doesn’t remember the Half-Alb Quest, raise your hand now.”

No one did.

“Then I’ll explain the plan. Danya! Come here and point out any terrain features or locations we should be especially aware of. First…”

I’m not a soldier or a military expert. I was just a gamer who had completed quests and created strategies to make them easier.

But if that made me a veteran player, I could at least put on a decent show. Within that narrow realm of “veteran” expertise.

“Everyone got it?”

“Yes, captain. I won’t make any mistakes.”

“I’ll finally get to put all that practice to good use!”

“Phew…”

Everyone wore determined expressions. Even now, shouts were ringing out and bodies were piling up. It would be strange not to be tense. I made sure to comfort Senior Soyu, who was about to experience such an intense first battle.

“Noona. Nervous?”

“To be honest, yes. Can I… perform as well as expected?”

“Being nervous is natural. But there’s no need to worry. You absolutely won’t be attacked.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“I know. None of us will die. Just like always.”

However, I couldn’t guarantee we wouldn’t get hurt. We almost always did.

“Trust me. Trust me, trust your juniors, and trust yourself. You’re a person with incredible pride, aren’t you?”

“Hey. How is that related to this?”

“I think it is. Think of it as just doing a quest, really think that way. And if you’re still not calm…”

Just follow my lead. Somehow it’ll work out.

Senior Soyu nodded at my words. She clearly wasn’t reassured, but with the urgent situation, she was pretending to agree. I wanted to comfort her more thoroughly, but we really had no time.

Since this was a first experience everyone had to go through, I could only believe that Senior Soyu would endure well.

“Subin.”

“Preparations complete. Target point confirmed.”

“Target point unchanged. Fire.”

A fireball, the flower of flame magic that makes Albs shudder.

But this was no ordinary fireball.

It was a fireball that genius Subin had modified in her own way during her stay in Ayord.

The large, beautiful, and ominously blazing fireball was only noticed by the enemy when it was already cast and flying toward their rear.

“What the!”

“A fireball! These beasts have a fire mage!”

“How could these creatures, who only have worthless shamans, possibly—”

“Scatter! Scatter!!!”

But by the time they noticed, it was too late.

Their formation collapsed instantly after taking a direct hit from the large, beautiful fireball. Meanwhile, we were already moving according to the plan.

“Who goes there!”

“More enemies?”

“Stay alert!”

The Ayor were just as startled by the fireball as the enemy. Pushed into a defensive position and on edge, they growled at us with weapons raised.

“We’re from Ayord! Ayor, we’re on your side!”

“How can we believe that!”

“Alb bastards! Utterly contemptible scum! The epitome of shamelessness and arrogance, completely devoid of the conscience that any civilized being with intelligence should possess, you bastards…”

“Alright! That’s enough!”

Identifying friend from foe happened quickly. Apart from the difficulty of not adding the word “damn” before each insult, it was a very smooth contact.

“I am Neron of the Black Poison Bird.”

“I’m Sunghyun, an adventurer.”

“You have a cat… a black cat at that?”

“Yes. I cherish her very much. Cats are righteous, aren’t they?”

“You, you know your stuff.”

The conversation took an unexpected but positive turn, thanks to Neron being a cat Ayor and the irregular Danya.

“Thanks to your mage’s help, we’ve caught our breath, but if you’ve been watching, you know our situation. We’re at a disadvantage. We’d be grateful for your help, but we can’t offer you any protection.”

“Of course. All we need is the freedom to move as we please.”

“I see. You help us and don’t betray us. You move freely. Is that acceptable?”

“That’s exactly what we want. Having fond memories of Ayord and the Ayor, we won’t stand by while the Ayor are in danger.”

“Hmph. That’s a touching and appreciated sentiment. I wish you luck. When this is over, I’d like to share a drink with you.”

We had gained freedom of movement so easily, which in the game would have required satisfying all sorts of preconditions. This was a stroke of good fortune.

Seeing Danya looking at me, I patted her head once and gave another order.

“Now that we have freedom of movement, we’ll go with Plan A and be more proactive. Yuri.”

“Yes, oppa. Don’t overdo it. Follow your strategy as much as possible. Return immediately when I see the signal, no matter what. Don’t get too intoxicated by blood.”

“Right. I trust you.”

“Okay! I’ll be back!”

*Smooch*

If Subin with her first-strike capability and area attacks was crucial at the beginning, Yuri with her superior physical abilities and senses was essential afterward. She had to operate alone, responsible for luring, tracking, and eliminating enemies.

In other words, she was our hammer, working alone.

‘Let’s try to reduce their numbers as much as possible before Quest 3 begins. We can do this.’

Watching Yuri’s back as she stole a kiss and disappeared in an instant, we also moved stealthily as previously discussed.

“Sweep away those vicious long-ears!”

“Charge!!!”

“These lowly beast-spawn can’t even recognize their masters!”

“Kill them! Butcher them!”

The brief lull forced by Subin’s fireball was over, and the two forces began to clash fiercely once again.

**

‘Impossible. This is impossible!’

Is this divine punishment I’ve only heard about?

How is it that fireballs rain down wherever we try to infiltrate stealthily, and those beast-men we thought were dead keep coming back to life?

And why is that human woman, more beast-like than the beasts themselves, chasing after me with that crazed laughter?

I couldn’t understand any of it.

“You can’t run away with that crippled leg anyway. Let’s stop this and make it easy on yourself.”

“You crazy—!”

“Who knows? If you answer my questions properly, I might let you live.”

Obviously a lie. Does she think that would work? No. She’s just trying to toy with me, that insane human woman.

But.

Looking at her trudging toward me with that blood-soaked axe resting on her shoulder… my injured right leg stopped responding. Even a newly corrupted spirit would be less terrifying than this.

“W-what do you want?”

“Location.”

*CRACK*

The human woman merely set down the axe she had been carrying on her shoulder, and the ground split open.

And then that powerful hand landed firmly on my shoulder.

My mouth went dry.

“Even when playing war games, there’s a leader. You must have a leader too. Tell me the location.”

“How would I know—”

AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!

“Two left.”

The moment I met those eyes, redder than blood, I found myself confessing everything I knew.