(Pov Shiitake~~the mushroom girl)
In another part of the battlefield, it was my turn, Shiitake, to lead “Sneak-Thief” team. We had arrived on the eastern side, opposite to Usaji and the others. Like them, we found Illeves’s resistance to be incredibly fierce. Given our lack of combat skills, a frontal assault seemed impossible, and we had no intention of attempting one.
“Well then, well then, shall we proceed as planned?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s do our best~!”
First, I took out smoke bombs that I had created using [Alchemy]. They were hardly powerful as weapons but perfect for blinding vision. I threw as many as I could.
Conserve them? No way. They’d just get blown away by [Wind Magic] anyway. If we skimped and didn’t have enough smoke, it would be game over before we could even infiltrate the city.
“I’ll start! Here goes, long-range throws!”
Using a martial technique of the [Throwing Technique] skill, I hurled the smoke bombs as far as I could. This martial technique enabled even someone with my feeble real-world throwing ability to make throws that would astonish professional baseball players.
Honestly, I have to admit that those called ‘real-life cheaters’ are impressive. But to me, a system that allows a complete klutz like me to do such things is far more incredible. Even being able to move this much is plenty of fun for someone with my poor athletic skills.
“What the! What’s this!?”
“Eh, smoke bombs? Even the monsters are using these?”
“Cough, cough! What the!? Hey, be careful!”
“This is no time for shouting! Anyone who can use [Wind Magic], hurry up and do it!”
Mufufufufufu! Look how nicely they’re confused! But some are trying to use [Wind Magic], so we need to move quickly or this will just end up as a minor disturbance. See, it’s the perfect opportunity. We can’t let it slip away!
“I don’t know what’s going on, but this is our chance!”
“Let’s storm in!”
“Yeah! We’ll be the first ones!”
“Ooh~, It seems the moster players~ will join in too~.”
It seems that some monster players took advantage of the confusion caused by my smoke bombs and swiftly climbed the ladders. I had faith that the monster players who act promptly and flexibly according to the situation would make their move, unlike the NPCs with only basic AI.
Now it’s our turn. To pull off our sneak-thief act, we first need to get into the city.
“Alright, from here on, it’s all yours.”
“Leave it to me!”
“I’ll do what I can~~”
Now it was time for Shishu and Wool to take over. I clambered onto Wool’s back, using my short limbs awkwardly. Oh wow, it’s warm! And so soft and comfortable! What’s this? Can I have this in real life, please?
“…I might fall asleep like this.”
“In this situation~?”
“Wool’s fur is comfy; I get that, but stay awake, okay?”
Ah, so Shishu knows this sensation too. It’s so easy to get lost in it. Does Dream Sheep Wool’s body also have some kind of sleep-inducing effect?
“Okay, let’s go! Wool, make sure you keep up!”
“Alright~~!”
Whoa! Hold on; suddenly running like this is a bit much! I might bite my tongue… oh, does this avatar even have a tongue?
Regardless, the infiltration mission had finally begun. Shishu and Wool, hidden by the smoke, dashed toward the city walls and began to climb. Specifically, Shishu, who could scurry up the vertical wall, was assisting Wool, who had threads wrapped around his horns, as they ascended. Was this a mountaineer endeavor?
“Owaa~, my neck~is falling oooff~.”
“Keep it up~~!”
While he was carrying me, Wool desperately moved his four legs to climb the wall. As for me, cheering was about all I could do; I was effectively a dead weight about now.
“Just a little more! You can do it!”
Shishu had already reached the top quickly and was now helping Wool and me by pulling up the thread. However, when Wool hooked his front legs over the edge of the wall, a problem arose.
“Ah! Hey, there are some over here too!”
“Knock them down! Knock them down!”
“Did they spot us!?”
Oh no! Being discovered so soon was a bit of bad luck. But retreating wasn’t an option, even if it meant taking extreme measures!
“Rapid shooting! Wool-kun!”
“Mee~, Mee~!”
I didn’t hesitate to use one of my special moves. This martial technique of the [Ejection] skill involved scattering the spikes growing from my head around me. The nature of this martial technique meant each spike wasn’t very powerful and couldn’t be aimed precisely at someone. But right now, our priority was to create a diversion rather than to defeat them. So, this was perfect!
“Ouch… uh…”
“S-sleep… s-so sleepy…”
Furthermore, Wool’s current [Sleep] skill had significantly improved compared to its initial state. Of course, one reason was the increase in his skill level, but what was more effective was that he had learned the [Singing] skill.
It seemed that Wool’s sleep-inducing cries were being categorized as singing. Like a lullaby, perhaps? Or maybe it was just considered as a type of voice? Anyway, the [Singing] skill, which might not seem useful in ordinary circumstances, fit perfectly in this situation.
Therefore, he successfully put two players, who appeared to be quite high-level, to sleep in one shot. This was probably because players usually wouldn’t prepare for a minor status ailment like sleep, especially when facing a battlefield filled with beast trolls.
“Ouch… poison!?”
“Is this a poisonous spike? Where did it come from!?”
“Let’s hurry inside!”
“I agree~ with Shishu~!”
Ah. Players and NPCs impaled by the spikes I scattered seemed to be heading our way. Following Shishu’s advice, we needed to infiltrate the city quickly or we’d be in trouble. Time for one last act of harassment!
“Here, have another smoke bomb.”
What I used, of course, was a smoke bomb, but this one was slightly different from the one I used earlier. This one was a poison smoke bomb!
“Ugh! A poison smoke bomb!”
“Damn! I’m out of antidote potions! Does anyone have one?”
“No one carries extra; everyone only has their own!”
Hahaha! What chaos! This one took more effort to prepare but was more effective and had a wider range than the poisonous spikes. This should disrupt any coordinated efforts for a while.
“Well then, good luck~”
And so, the three of us left the scene, intent on “borrowing” various things from the city.
◆◇◆◇◆◇
A very fierce battle was taking place in front of the city gates, which had been torn apart by Isam’s harassment and sabotage. However, even though the troll king, the final boss of the main event, had infiltrated inside the gate, the situation remained evenly matched between humans and monsters.
This balance was also a result of Isam’s actions. The explosion he triggered had significantly wounded the troll king, leaving him with considerable injuries. At the same time, the troll generals flanking him were left in a critical state; they were almost half-dead. Consequently, one of them was soon defeated by the frenzied human magic attacks relentlessly fired in the ensuing chaos.
Almost simultaneously with the gate’s collapse, soldiers directly under the troll king’s command tried to storm in. However, the players and NPC soldiers engaged in fierce combat, effectively stalling them. The surviving elite unit of high-ranking knights from the Illeves side courageously confronted the two remaining monsters, the troll king and the surviving troll general.
“Gaah!”
“Henry! You beast!”
However, their opponent was the formidable troll king, a level 70 powerhouse. The knights faced a very difficult battle. While the troll king gradually healed from his wounds, the knights were at a severe disadvantage, as a single or two blows from him could easily knock them out. Several knights had already fallen down, leaving the remaining ones with no choice but to engage in this desperate battle.
“Hahaha! Weak humans dare to oppose me! Surrender the city at once and be devoured by us!”
“Mock us all you want, you slow-witted monster! We will never yield! Show no fear, men! Demonstrate your loyalty to our King!”
“”””Uoooooooh!!!””””
However, the spirit of these warriors remained unbroken. This wasn’t just due to simple programming. Equipped with pseudo-personality AI, they also possessed individuality and human-like fears.
So why were the knights able to fight so valiantly while risking their lives? It was due to their knightly pride. Suppressing their instinctive fear, they fought to fulfill their duty. Their nobility was no different from that of real humans.
“Scoff, you insects! Your lives are no more valuable than mere beasts! Your resolve is but a trifling jest to me!”
“So says the monster!”
As the troll king spoke, he swung his axe at the nearest knight. However, someone intervened just in time, effortlessly deflecting the attack without using any martial techniques.
“Gnuuh!? You, the woman from before!”
“I’m not flattered to be remembered by a brute!”
The one who had caught the troll king’s anger was Kikuno, a member of the party “Holy Fire and Sword” led by the “hero” Luke. She possessed the skills of a top-class player tank and a great shield obtained from overcoming the “Trial of the Azure Moon”. Using her strength to its fullest, she played a crucial role in the retreat from the previous fortress.
Thus, even the troll king, who normally wouldn’t bother remembering the faces of human beings, recalled Kikuno well as the enemy who had thwarted him.
“Despite being crushed by my axe, you dare to return? No matter how many times you come, the result will be the same! This time, I shall devour you alive!”
“Not if I can help it!”
“We’re here to support!”
Of course, Kikuno wouldn’t have come here alone. Luke and the other party members had also arrived as reinforcements. While they were the leaders among the players, their role became less significant in the chaos of battle. It was the NPC commanders, aware of their achievements in the retreat from the fortress, who had sent them, deeming them capable reinforcements.
“Hmph! A few more numbers won’t change anything! All of you, together…”
“Fufufufufu. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Fighting seriously and risking one’s life.”
“!?”
Just as the Troll King was about to hurl back more insults, an unexpected voice reached his ears. Surprised, the Troll King quickly turned around, only to find no one there. Just as he thought it might have been his imagination, a sharp pain pierced his side.
“GUOOOOOOO! Wh-what, who are you?”
“Ah, apologies for the late introduction. My name is Usuba, and I am the leader of the humble party of Persona. Please acknowledge my presence, King of the Trolls.”
Without raising his voice or speaking hurriedly, Usuba calmly introduced himself while deeply stabbing a knife into the Troll King’s side. Although he spoke in a very polite and courteous manner, the clown’s mask he wore, adorned with a mocking smile, conveyed no sense of respect for his opponent.
“Pei, Persona’s Usuba!? Why is the worst PKer here!?”
“No, no, I just thought I’d lend a hand as a token of gratitude for the fun you provided yesterday.”
Hearing this, Luke and his companions’ expressions stiffened. That’s because they immediately understood the implication of Usuba’s words. That only went to show how notorious the Persona guild has become among the players.
“Bastaaaaaard! I’ll kill you aaaaaaaaaall!”
Luke wanted to further question Usuba, but he knew the enemy wouldn’t allow them the luxury of time. The easily enraged Troll King attacked in fury after being made a fool by Usuba. Thus, a bizarre alliance began between the strongest NPCs of Illeves, the strongest player party, and the most notorious PKer.
************
TN: The name of the hero’s party in the dungeon event was “white sunlight” but now it was changed to “Holy Fire and Sword”, I don’t know the reason for this. Either mistake or their party’s name was changed as Isam’s party’s name was also changed previously. So that’s possible.
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