The central plaza was already packed with a large crowd.
Despite having taken two breath attacks, the number of people gathered from across the city was considerable.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the center of the plaza.
Instead of a podium, they had stacked something like boxes, and a bearded mercenary stood on top, giving a speech.
“Think about why we became mercenaries! Everyone has their own reasons, but at the core, wasn’t it because we didn’t want to be oppressed, because we wanted to claim our own freedom?”
– That’s right!
– Freedom!
The mercenaries responded with shouts and nods of agreement.
The bearded man continued in a booming voice.
“The freedom we risked our lives to obtain is under threat once again! By some damned lizard! I don’t know why it’s doing all this, but there’s one thing I know for sure. We’re not just going to sit back and take it!”
– That’s right! Well said!
– Let’s show them what we’re made of!
As the speech continued, the mood grew more and more heated.
Meanwhile, I slowly looked around.
There were several familiar faces like Park Na-ri and Kwak Ji-cheol’s party from yesterday, Jeong Jin-myeong from the White Magic Club, and Jo Byeok and Han So-mi from the Disciplinary Committee.
On the other hand, none of them recognized us at all.
That’s because all four of our party members were wearing [Handkerchiefs of Deception].
For example, Go Hyeon-woo now looked like a rugged mercenary, and Seo Ye-in and Hong Yeon-hwa’s appearances were the exact opposite of their usual impressions.
But just then, Bum who was sitting next to Park Na-ri sniffed at the air and suddenly turned his head sharply in our direction.
“Grrr…”
Then he came over and rubbed his forehead against my knee.
Chammy also flew over and quickly landed on my shoulder.
Park Na-ri came rushing after them.
“Bum, Chammy! Why are you—huh?”
She hesitated for a moment, perhaps because my face looked unfamiliar. But then, seeing how friendly the two were toward me, her expression changed as if she realized something.
Before Park Na-ri could say anything, I raised a finger to my lips.
“Pretend you don’t know me.”
“Ah, okay…”
Then I gently coaxed Bum and Chammy as well.
“You two head back. We’ll play later.”
“Grrr…”
Bum let out a dissatisfied growl, then reluctantly walked back to his original spot.
Sensing the small commotion, Han So-mi sent a curious glance our way, but we ignored it and pretended to focus on the speech.
The mercenary man spoke again.
“The difference in strength between us and them is overwhelming! Most of us likely won’t survive.”
– …….
“But let’s make one thing clear before we go down! Even a cornered rat bites a cat! Let’s make them pay for underestimating humanity!”
– Ooooooh!!
– Waaaaaah—!
The mercenaries roared in unison and stomped their feet.
Their morale had reached its peak.
Just as the bearded man opened his mouth to speak again—
Clap, clap, clap.
A slow round of applause echoed through the plaza.
The cheering stopped like someone had flipped a switch. That was because the clapping hadn’t come from among them. It came from above.
Everyone looked up, and sure enough, a Dragonwing Soldier was floating in the air.
He gave a polite bow.
“A splendid speech. I enjoyed it very much.”
“Are you mocking us?”
The bearded man’s face twisted in anger, but the Dragonwing Soldier remained courteous.
“Not at all. I meant it sincerely. Both master and I deeply admire your resolve and fighting spirit.”
“……”
“And so, it is only proper that we offer you the treatment you deserve.”
At his signal, Draconic Soldiers began appearing all around the plaza on rooftops, in alleys, and walking boldly down the streets.
In the blink of an eye, the mercenaries were surrounded.
The bearded man let out a heavy sigh.
“So it was a trap…”
More than just a trap.
From the very beginning, everything from start to finish had been in the palm of the Craftsman Dragon’s hand.
He could’ve easily unleashed his breath attack if he wanted to.
But there was only one reason he didn’t.
Because it’s more fun this way.
Isn’t it far more entertaining to watch a desperate resistance than to wipe them out in one blow?
A dragon completely devoted to amusement. He was utterly consistent in that regard.
The bearded man seemed to have realized that too, but he reaffirmed his resolve and shouted with thunderous conviction.
“Nothing has changed—! Let’s show them the true strength of humanity—!”
– Wooooaaah—!
The mercenaries roared loud enough to shake the plaza.
Maybe to overcome their fear, their voices were even louder than before.
They swiftly drew their weapons and braced for battle.
As if waiting for that moment, the Dragonwing Soldier gestured with his hand, and Draconic Soldiers surged in from all directions.
One at the front leapt high and came crashing down with full force.
Baaaaang—!
Two or three mercenaries standing where he landed were crushed instantly.
A mercenary just behind them went pale with terror, but soon clenched his teeth and swung his mace.
“Damn it, die!”
One Dragonfang Soldier leaped high, aiming for where Kwak Ji-cheol’s group stood.
Spinning rapidly like a top, he sliced through the air.
Jeong Soo-ji and the Emerald Tower members were cut to pieces, while the survivors fought back.
Bum let out a roar and lunged at the enemy.
“Raaagh!”
Similar scenes were unfolding all over.
Draconic Soldiers leaping like grasshoppers, and mercenaries barely managing to fend them off.
As the battle broke out, I immediately gave orders to the party.
“Stay close. We go defensive.”
“Understood.”
Hong Yeon-hwa and I cast layers of defensive magic over the group.
When one of the Dragonfang Soldiers charged at us, Go Hyeon-woo angled his sword and deflected the blow.
The enemy was knocked back, and a barrage of magic bullets rained down on him.
Tududududu—!
To maximize the side quest progress, I’d need to take down as many enemies as possible.
But right now, Dragonfang Soldiers aren’t the priority.
I’m after a much bigger target.
I lifted my gaze and spotted the Dragonwing Soldier hovering in the air.
He hadn’t intervened yet. I just kept watching the battlefield from above.
Looks like he’s about to move.
It goes without saying at this point, but their motivation is always the same:
To entertain the Craftsman Dragon.
Perhaps that’s why there weren’t too many Dragonfang Soldiers deployed.
They deliberately held back.
Just enough to win, even if most of the mercenaries were killed or wounded.
The rest would be handled slowly over the next few days.
The problem is, humans have a tendency to show unexpected resilience.
The bearded man who had given the speech was now at the front, cutting down enemies.
“Don’t be afraid! We can do this—!”
Baaaaaang—!
With a single swing of his sword, several Dragonfang Soldiers were pulverized into dust.
Judging by eye, he was likely at the upper end of B-rank.
Just shy of qualifying for A-rank.
Others with similar strength were also putting up a fight in different parts of the battlefield.
If they kept performing well, more people might survive than anticipated.
And that’s exactly why the Dragonwing Soldier was here.
His eyes locked onto the bearded man.
He lightly flapped his wings, gliding downward—
Fwooooooosh—!
In an instant, his figure vanished and reappeared on the opposite side of the battlefield.
Holding the bearded man’s head in one hand.
A moment later, the headless body collapsed to the ground with a thud.
– ……!
– ……!
The surrounding mercenaries were struck speechless in shock.
The man they had relied on had fallen in the blink of an eye.
The gap he left was quickly filled by the charging Dragonfang Soldiers.
“Aaaargh!”
“Gahhh!”
Once again, the Dragonwing Soldier looked over the battlefield.
He scanned for the next threat, and once again his eyes settled on a warrior at the lower end of B-rank.
He flew at high speed and launched another strike.
Fwooooooooosh!
He reappeared on the far side of the field again, casually tossing the second victim’s head to the ground.
I kept my eyes on him the whole time.
I guess it’s time I stepped in.
The reason I’d held back and watched until now was to time my move.
With my current stats, even a single A-rank Shadow Lord would be a tough opponent, not to mention the Dragonwing Soldier who was stronger than him by more than half.
And being airborne made him even trickier to deal with.
Still, thanks to the sacrifice of those two mercenary guys, I managed to get a decent read on him.
And if I’m being honest, there was another, slightly more personal reason—
I’m kind of worried about how it’d look.
I glanced briefly toward Park Na-ri and Kwak Ji-cheol.
The whole party had put on handkerchiefs to prepare for me using a prohibited skill, but I didn’t expect Bum to catch on just from the smell.
Despite the party being halfway to collapse, the two of them were putting up a decent fight.
But with four Dragonfang Soldiers attacking in unison, it was a hopeless situation.
Slash—!
Kwak Ji-cheol’s body was sliced in half vertically and vanished, and Park Na-ri, Bum, and Chammy fell soon after.
It wasn’t intentional, but the people who could recognize me had conveniently been taken out at the right time.
Han So-mi’s still a bit of a loose end.
But she’s kind of an idiot, so it should be fine.
I clenched my fist and stepped forward.
[Activated ‘Vendetta.’]
[‘Pain Delay’ has been activated.]
Vendetta’s first effect sacrifices 40% of current health to enhance all skills and traits.
Naturally, it can also be included in the Pain Delay/Retrocovery combination.
Power surged through my entire body, and the flame on my fist darkened to a deeper, bloodier red.
I hurled it forward just as it was.
Boooooooooooom—!
The incoming fire storm wiped out the Dragonfang Soldiers instantly.
Back on day one, the Dragonscale Soldiers had managed to barely survive a B-rank Inferno Fist thanks to their elemental resistance.
These Dragonfang Soldiers, armored in those same scales, should have similar defense.
Then a B+ attack should be enough.
Booooooooom—!
More Dragonfang Soldiers were caught in the blaze and reduced to ashes.
[Draconic Soldier Eliminated]
▷Dragonscale Soldiers: 25
▷Dragonfang Soldiers: 33
▷Portal: 1
The kill count was rising exponentially.
At this point, I could feel eyes burning into the back of my head.
The Dragonwing Soldier had locked onto me as its next target.
I immediately reached out to Seo Ye-in.
“Pot.”
“Unhurt Kim Ho.”
Then, I took the immortal Kim Ho pot in my empty hand, the one not holding the staff.
Before long, the Dragonwing Soldier rose slightly into the air, then swooped down.
And in an instant, its form vanished.
Pop!
At the exact moment, I thrust the immortal pot forward, timing it perfectly.
Clang.
The Dragonwing Soldier, charging in at a speed too fast to even see, was stopped cold by the pot.
Not just the attacker, but even Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa who were watching couldn’t hide their shock.
“Whoa… I knew it was tough, but still…”
“I-It actually blocked that…?”
They probably never imagined it could defend against an A+ rank attack so effortlessly.
Seo Ye-in, on the other hand, looked absolutely delighted.
“Super durable.”
I grinned and added,
“This thing was made by a dragon, after all.”
Uncle Underworld Dragon King went through hell supplying the materials and making it.
It also brought together the pinnacle of Hye-seong Group’s technology.
Thanks to that, it boasts an absurd combo of an S-rank [Energy Blocking] and an A+ rank [Impact Nullification].
“….…!”
The Dragonwing Soldier widened its eyes and tried to shoot back into the air….but by then, the card I’d already drawn was glowing in my hand.
[Activated ‘Piercing Spear (S)’.]
Booooom—!
A thick beam of light tore a huge hole straight through the creature’s chest.
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