Chapter 98
Yoo Chae-rin actually had something she was hoping for as she came here.
Like a princess on a white horse, she would appear before him, saving him from his disadvantageous situation.
She’d been feeling a bit puffed up lately as she gathered people.
More people than she expected had gathered, and it was the first time in her life she’d worked so hard to gather people.
It felt like she'd become the leader of some protest.
Like she should raid a school and spray paint lockers or something…
Of course, she knew what responsibility meant, so she would use washable paint if she did.
Even the people who gathered were quite impressive.
She was considered a high-level User now, but she saw many Users with even higher levels than her.
“Wow, Ma-ri, you came too? Thank you.”
“Oh, don't mention it! Thanks to you, my viewership exploded, so I had to come. This looks more fun anyway.”
For example, Kim Ma-ri, known as a Ranker. And her party members.
Considering the perspective of high-level Users with a lot to lose, it must have been a difficult decision.
Well, the Stream viewers would increase significantly... but she was just purely grateful.
So, Chae-rin headed to the battlefield with a heart full of anticipation.
To rescue him, worn out from battle…
Arriving at the battlefield, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, albeit briefly.
“Ah, you're here?”
Because Yor's condition was much better than she expected.
There was blood splattered here and there, but he didn't look particularly tired.
Even worse, dozens of Knights were already lying around.
She was a little taken aback.
'He already took down this many?'
She had gathered people as soon as morning came.
“Ah, yes…”
She nodded dumbly.
Of course, she was very relieved that he was alright. She automatically breathed a sigh of relief.
Relieved, but… she couldn't help but feel a slight pang of disappointment.
Anyway, she joined Yor.
Yor briefly checked the Chat Window that popped up next to her.
[OMG he cleared that many already?]
[I’ve never seen the Knights lying around like that before;]
[Ugh the screen is finally clearing up from the blood]
[Our Oppa covered in blood... Even that look is sexy...]
Then he smiled slightly.
It felt like it had been a while since he'd seen the Chat Window.
The chat was scrolling incredibly fast. It wasn't usually slow, but it seemed especially fast today.
That meant a lot of Viewers were watching.
In fact, Chae-rin's Stream currently had 12,000 Viewers.
Even for Chae-rin, whose average viewership had increased considerably, it was a number she'd never reached before.
Considering the number of Streamers gathered here… the number of people watching this battle must be beyond imagination.
Attention itself becomes a huge power. Sometimes it exerts greater pressure than mere force.
Maybe, just like he said, beyond repelling the Raiding Party, they could achieve something even greater… Chae-rin thought to herself.
As she was thinking this, Yor opened his mouth and spoke to Chae-rin.
“You came at a good time. You guys just focus on blocking the other Otherworlders. I'll somehow handle the Knights' Order.”
It was a simple order. Hearing his words, Chae-rin gave him a worried look.
“Can you do it? There are still a lot of Knights…”
“It’s enough. …No, if possible, it would be great if you could make some noise too. So they get flustered.”
“That much? That’s not hard.”
Chae-rin nodded confidently at his words.
Then she relayed the request to the people who had followed her.
The battle resumed from then on.
Clang-! Clang-!
The sounds of weapons clashing echoed everywhere.
The Otherworlders on the Knights' Order side and the Otherworlders on Yor's side clashed weapons with each other.
“Repel the Knights' Order!”
“Woo, Raiding Party retreat!”
“Hey, you crazy bastards, why are you joining him! Don't you want the reward money?”
“Hee hee, I don’t think I'd get the reward money even if I joined them. And I’m more drawn to this side than money.”
The voices of Otherworlders could be heard everywhere.
Watching this, Yor felt a little touched.
Come to think of it, he'd shown his face on the Internet dozens of times, knowingly or unknowingly.
He had built up quite a reputation, and Users had become familiar with him.
Even with the Quest, would he have been able to gather so many people without that recognition?
Seeing this, he really didn't regret revealing his face…
“Ah, you should stay.”
Thump.
As he was watching, Yor suddenly grabbed someone's shoulder who was about to join the battle.
“Uh… me?”
It was Im Ha-neul. She pointed at herself with a dumbfounded look.
Yor nodded.
“Yeah, I have something you can help me with.”
He could protect her during the battle, even if he couldn't protect the other Otherworlders.
It had already been proven in the previous fight with Old Tiger. So Yor took her and moved towards the Knights' Order again.
＊
“Everyone, apply Holy Water to your weapons.”
“Yes!”
At that moment, Ryleigh, having gathered a certain number of Knights, was giving them orders.
There were still quite a few soldiers scattered around, but at least the gathered personnel had to be lined up and organized.
So they wouldn’t be broken through.
“Don’t listen to the mob. The enemy numbers have increased, but isn’t that what we expected? Don’t mind them and eliminate them on sight.”
Ryleigh said so and instilled fighting spirit in the Knights.
However, his expression, despite giving such a speech, was not very bright.
‘We’ve already suffered too many casualties.’
To have already lost more than a third, even under adverse conditions…
Considering that each one was a valuable asset, it was a very painful loss.
He didn't think the Knights had suffered such losses even when subjugating Demons, yet they were suffering this much against a single Manifestor.
Even more serious was that he wasn't sure if they could catch him even after suffering these losses.
The fog had lifted as morning passed, but the damp ground remained.
For the Knights wearing heavy armor, one wrong step could mean sinking right in.
This meant that pursuit would be difficult.
With Otherworlder rebels scattered around, if he ran away, they might lose him again like last time.
He wondered why the Otherworlders were supporting this Manifestor so much…
‘The Subjugation has gone on for too long.’
He hadn't even imagined that he would be here for a month.
So he had intended to somehow surround and eliminate him.
But he went into the Deep Layer himself, and came back alive.
The Deep Layer was a place that was in no way inferior to most demonic realms.
Like the endlessly burning Desert at the southern end, or the Plains of Screams at the western end.
He had survived for a whole month in a place commonly known to be uninhabitable by humans, and emerged.
And not by fleeing, but by waiting for an opportunity.
Come to think of it, his movements seemed to have become quicker and more agile.
Nothing but bad news.
Ryleigh gritted his teeth.
‘What in the world happened in there?’
Of course, that didn't mean he could back down. He was taught to eliminate Manifestors unconditionally, and that's what he'd always done.
Even if difficulties arose, his resolve would not change.
‘…I’ll catch him here somehow.’
But even as he made up his mind, no suitable method came to mind.
＊
Unlike other Mages, Ha-neul is a Support Mage who mainly learned Support Magic.
Meaning she's more focused on supporting others than direct combat.
That’s why I kept her by my side.
Ssss-
Every time she cast a spell, a small strength built up in my body.
Haste, which lightens my steps. Strength, which slightly increases my power, and so on.
Although the stat increases were minimal, the accumulation of numerous spells made a noticeable difference.
“It probably won't last long. This drains a lot of Mana…”
“No, it’s alright. It’s enough.”
Moreover, her support Ability wasn't limited to this. Increasing Physical Ability wasn't all there was to support.
After receiving the light buffs, I headed back to the battlefield.
Not long after I started walking, someone rushed at me. It was the Fourth Knights' Order Commander again.
Clang-!
As our weapons collided, he gave orders to his subordinates.
“All forces, surround him. I'll keep him occupied.”
Following his command, the gathered soldiers formed a circular formation.
A similar encirclement to what I'd seen before. Fewer people than last time, but still a solid-looking encirclement.
Scrape-!
The Knights' Order Commander’s Sword slid stickily up the blade of my Spear. As if he was determined to catch me here.
It was incredibly annoying, but I could feel a faint urgency from him.
I curled my lips and asked him,
“Why, are you getting a bit impatient? Afraid you’ll lose me again if the fight drags on?”
“…Shut up, Manifestor.”
“There's a way to stop the losses, want me to tell you?”
At my words, a flicker of something appeared in his eyes.
But he didn't answer my question. He was trying not to get caught up in my words.
Regardless, I continued.
“Give up here and go back. And report to the Empire’s higher-ups. Tell them to leave one Manifestor alone. Then I’ll stop here too.”
“Hmph, preposterous!”
“You’re not ready to talk yet, huh.”
I nodded indifferently. I didn't expect him to be ready to talk already.
Still, I fortunately knew how to make a conversation happen.
By establishing overwhelming dominance.
Then, even the most stubborn person would open their ears and listen.
I glanced at Im Ha-neul, who was standing a step away from the encirclement.
It was a signal to cast magic. I had informed her in advance to use it when a situation like this arose.
“…”
Seeing that, Ha-neul nodded and began to cast her Magic.
Illusion, again, as always. And what I wanted this time was complete Darkness. Deeper than fog, the kind of battlefield where you can’t see an inch ahead.
Soon, darkness spread widely around me.
The sounds of the encircling Knights panicking echoed.
“Ah, damn it, again?”
“I can’t see anything!”
“Ugh, everyone calm down. Don’t swing your weapons carelessly!”
Of course, since Illusion wasn't a Curse type Skill, this dark vision applied to everyone equally. Meaning my vision was also limited.
But so what?
“Having enemies all around is good in situations like this.”
At least I could feel their presence, and there was no one I needed to avoid.
“It means I can swing anywhere, right?”
So, I grabbed my Spear again and diligently started to swing.
The screams of the Knights echoed in the thick darkness.