Chapter 181
Confusion clouded everyone's faces. They seemed momentarily disoriented by the sudden appearance of an outsider.
It was clear that quite a few of the Humans present didn't know Nikki. During her time in Lemegeton, she hadn't been openly active. She had merely hidden in the shadows of Lemegeton like a loafer, occasionally performing minor tasks.
That was precisely why it wasn't too difficult for her to transition into an Adventurer.
But did that mean everyone was unaware of her? No, that wasn't the case either.
Huh? That person, surely...
“Damn it, Nikki, why did *that bitch* suddenly show up?”
Even if they didn't know her from her Lemegeton days, she had gained a certain reputation as an Adventurer.
She had, after all, started her Adventurer activities openly revealing herself as a Manifestor. Although her area of activity was the sparsely populated Desert, as a 'Manifestor,' she couldn't help but attract attention. Of course, it was mostly negative attention.
That's why, when I met her last time, she received reactions filled with hatred and fear from people.
And that wasn't all, was it? She had also played an active role in the Amon Extermination battle. Many remembered her silently and steadily destroying the Altars, with her unique Fire Resistance.
Thanks to that, she had even earned a certain degree of recognition from those who had previously ostracized her.
But then... that very Nikki had suddenly stepped forward to protect a Lemegeton Branch Leader. Naturally, those who knew her couldn't bring themselves to say anything good.
You fucking bitch! Do you love Demons that much, huh? Did some slick Demon bastard offer you his body?! You can't trust those Manifestor bastards. You never know when they'll stab you in the back. Tsk. Just like the bastard who sold her body to a Demon. That's why those Manifestor brats should have their heads smashed in when they're young...
Insults flew from various people who knew her. The curses were so harsh that even I, listening, couldn't help to frown.
“How unpleasant for a Manifestor to hear.”
However, the target of the criticism remained perfectly calm. As if she had expected this level of condemnation. With a somewhat annoyed expression, she helped the startled and fallen Sephiroth to his feet.
Are you okay?
Others might not have heard, but I caught their conversation with my keen hearing. Sephiroth, supported by Nikki, snapped back.
“Why are you here?”
“Well, this one looked a bit dangerous...”
“You're crazy, really, after all that fuss when you left...”
“I know, I'm regretting it too.”
Nikki said, letting out a sigh of relief.
But despite her lament, her face actually looked relieved.
Nikki continued, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Still, this was the only place that took me in when I was a Fugitive. And you, Sephiroth, helped me the most... so I felt I had to uphold my duty and come. Because of that duty, it seems you've become a Fugitive again. Well... it's just a shame.
Nikki gave a weak laugh.
Then, supporting Sephiroth, she immediately started running.
Thwip-!
She had absorbed Flauros's Claw, and all her stats had increased significantly.
Even while supporting another Person, her speed was remarkably fast.
Get them!
The startled Extermination Squad began their pursuit again. Amidst it all, I overheard their conversation.
“Hmph... alright. Perfect timing. Then please keep going straight. If possible, try to hold them back as much as you can...”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
“I left Lemegeton, didn't I? So there's no reason for me to help you guys.”
“No, what do you mean—”
Nikki grinned and said,
I just came to save someone I know, you know?
Having said that, Nikki immediately changed direction. Not towards where Sephiroth was originally escaping, but in a completely different, sideways direction.
Anyone could see it wasn't the original path, so everyone was bound to be confused.
Should they ignore them and just keep going forward? Or was it right to pursue them, as they couldn't afford to lose the Branch Leader?
It was a chaotic situation. Sephiroth, who had suddenly deviated from the Battlefield, also seemed very flustered.
Still, they couldn't just let them go, so the Extermination Squad eventually came up with an awkward solution.
“...For now, we'll advance, and a few will split off.”
They formed a separate Pursuit Team. Hearing that, I let out a *Sigh of Relief* internally.
'They won’t be caught.'
Even if Sephiroth is exhausted, he is still a Branch Leader, after all. And Nikki could now be considered on the level of a Knight Commander. Even if they sent a few skilled individuals, Sephiroth and Nikki wouldn't be caught.
It was strange how relieved I was to let the enemy escape.
Anyway, we started advancing again. The Deterrent Maneuvers from the Lemegeton Minions were still present, but with the Branch Leaders gone, our speed of advance increased a bit. And at a certain point, the Imps and Lemegeton Minions were no longer visible either. It seemed they had all scattered around... it was a bit sudden.
“Hmm?”
As I walked, I felt an unusual sense course through my body, finding that strange... A massive amount of mana was surging beneath my feet.
Mage.
And it seemed I wasn't the only one who felt it, as Reilly, who was leading the way, called for a Mage. And just like when we searched Lemegeton's Stronghold, he had him cast a spell.
*Swoosh-
Then, something appeared before our feet. It was a cave leading downwards. A truly massive cave.
The passage was so wide that even if about 70 people walked abreast, there would still be space left over.
'It'll be easy to enter because it's big, but...'
It was clearly an unusual space. Perhaps the Altar the Knights spoke of was hidden down there.
Tension filled everyone's faces, but we prepared ourselves and stepped inside.
*Meanwhile, Hanbyeol, who had somehow ended up next to me, muttered,*
Wow, if I upload this to YouTube, it'll get a ton of views...
Now that I think about it, most of the Otherworlders were currently recording. Even if they couldn't livestream, they could still rake in sweet views by uploading it to the internet later. As a Streamer herself, she naturally gravitated towards that.
“They're here!”
“Shit, they're fast. What were those bitches up top doing?!”
Anyway, as we entered the Cave, a multitude of people blocked the Extermination Squad's path.
Naturally, it was Lemegeton. Activating my 'Player's Eye' and glancing ahead, I saw System Windows floating above it.
[Numerous hostile NPCs detected!]
It seemed the majority of them were Otherworlders. True to their nature of coming back to life even after death, they were once again used efficiently as Meat Shields.
Anyway, from now on, it was practically an all-out Front. In the confined Space of the Cave, there was nowhere left to evade. Moreover, ever since we entered the Cave, the Imps that had constantly bothered us were gone.
“Deal with them all! Show no mercy!” “Waaah!”
And so, we charged forward. The enemies, as before, launched Deterrent Maneuvers with arrows, stones, and Magic, but there wasn't much damage. In fact, in a Cave like this, if we were properly prepared, it was easier to block ranged attacks.
Unlike the surface, where Deterrent Maneuvers came from all directions, all you had to do here was set up a large shield in front.
*Thwack.*
...Hmm?
However, there was a small variable... they had laid out a ton of traps on the ground. With the faint sound of a string snapping, a giant log flew towards the Person leading the charge. I didn't know where they got it from, but it was a disgustingly huge log. It was a log large enough to crush even a seasoned Knight with sheer mass alone.
*Thud-!
“Aargh!”
Thanks to that, several of those leading the charge were sent flying backward. Since it came from the Front, no one was crushed, but it was clear they had sustained considerable injuries. As a result, the People couldn't help but flinch. Even if our Forces had the advantage, no one wanted to step on a trap while leading the charge. Reilly, at least, regained his composure and shouted to the People,
Everyone, watch your step! There are traps everywhere!
Watching that, I felt a sense of unease. Both earlier and now, Lemegeton's actions were strange. It was overtly clear that it intended to slow us down, even at the cost of sacrifices, rather than trying to defeat us.
Naturally, my thoughts drifted beyond the Cave to the Altar they had chosen, abandoning even their own belongings.
“What kind of demon could be sleeping there for them to go to such lengths?”
Whatever it was, it was certainly ominous.
Because of this, I decided to step forward this time. My reluctance was about worrying that Livia might die in vain. I had no intention of letting a Demon emerge comfortably into the World.
“It was starting to feel conspicuous just standing idly by. I should make a few contributions to reduce the chances of being questioned later.”
And so, I started walking forward without hesitation.
Stones and arrows still flew from the Front. And with every step, I heard the *tick, tick* of strings snapping. But I didn’t pay them much mind.
Stones and arrows were easy enough to deflect. The traps flying in from all over were a bit tough, but I had Regenerative Ability. Most injuries could heal with a bit of rest.
Thwip-! Crash-! Splinter-! Immediately after, countless things began to fly at me. A Ballista larger than my forearm, the log that had fallen earlier, and even a log studded with nails the size of Ballista bolts.
Each one was terrifying and brutal. I focused my senses as much as possible, deflecting the Ballista, and then used my spear to block the log.
As expected, its immense weight made it difficult, but I, too, was a Manifestor with Physical Ability several times superior to others. My steps merely slid back a bit... I wasn't sent flying. The same went for the last spiked log. The spikes pierced small holes in a few places in my body, but I succeeded in blocking it.
After that, I walked a few more steps, disarming the traps with my own body. Thanks to that, I sustained some injuries, but they were all manageable.
Then I glanced back for a moment.
“Whoa, insane.”
“That monster-like...”
The People who had been at the Front were all staring at me with dumbfounded expressions. It made sense, as I had disarmed over a dozen traps by myself.
I casually shook the blood off onto the ground and turned back around.
<'This should look like I've done my part, right?'>
I was confident that it would.