Chapter 155 – 45. Slum Patrol (1)
It was night.
The mission received from the reserve platoon headquarters was night patrol.
Even the cadets belonging to the Golden Wings receive this mission from time to time. Lucia was puzzled by the location of the mission I had chosen.
“I heard that Count Yulian has the authority of a golden platoon commander. So, he wouldn’t have to choose these outskirts?”
Lucia’s question was natural.
A platoon commander’s authority that only excellent cadets with golden wings can have. I obtained that authority through the last power evaluation.
Except for essential dispatch missions designated by the reserve platoon headquarters. The platoon commander of the reserve platoon was free to select missions and platoon members with that authority.
So, if you are a cadet who wants to improve your performance, subdue a higher level monster.
Or, if you are a cadet who wants to make a kite with high-ranking aristocrats or rich people of the imperial city in advance, it is common to take on patrol missions in wealthy villages.
‘But I chose the slums in Nerond District.’
I looked around for a while. It is very dark today because it is a moonless night.
However, I am a swordsman who has mastered mana. So even in this pitch-black place, it was possible to distinguish some outlines.
It was literally a slum. The closest to the old ecliptic in the ecliptic. Nerond district to the east. It was not too far from the entertainment district.
However, it was completely different from the entertainment district where the lights were not turned off all night. Where there is no light. For those who have to live the hard life of tomorrow, night is the only resting time.
Lucia and I had been patrolling the alleys of this slum for several hours.
Smelly but quiet here. I answered Lucia in a low voice.
“You can’t become a golden platoon leader and take on a mission. Is there any need to be reluctant just because it’s a slum? No, rather, this blind spot is where Pantheon cadets like us have to patrol in place of the Royal Guard. Even for the sake of the subjects of the ecliptic.”
Perhaps unexpectedly, Lucia’s pink eyes widened again.
Lucia, who couldn’t hide her feelings well, often expressed her thoughts with her eyes like that.
“Yeah, that’s right. Usually, even the cadets belonging to Silverlight are reluctant to go to the slums… So I asked just in case. But even so… With the authority of the platoon commander, he would have been able to hire a golden cadet as well. I was surprised that you picked me for my lack of skills.”
“No. I know your skills well. Haven’t the two of them been sparring all through this semester? And even in the underground arena, we competed swords properly.”
“No. Compared to the Count, his skills are much lacking…”
To my calm words, Lucia lowered her head and answered.
As she said, it is not a place for cadets to have fun. Dirty, smelly. And even if monsters appeared, they were more like low-grade miscellaneous monsters.
If it’s a monster enough to create a sudden gate and form a dungeon, it’s usually a type 3.
‘But the monsters that appear near big cities are usually type 4 or 5.’
In other words, they are no different from normal monsters. The cadets weren’t very good at accumulating experience points. Needless to say, I can already hunt type 3 monsters on my own.
Therefore, it was a place that would not come unless it was a reserve platoon member with a low rank in the bronze class or a cadet with a strong spirit of service.
‘But this mission is different.’
When I played as Lucia, it was a mission that was the main quest. Today, here in the slums, something happens.
As she said, if I wanted to, I could also recruit cadets from the Golden Wings. It means nothing to me unless it’s Lucia.
‘Of course, Lucia’s skills are better now than most of the golden ones.’
Lucia, who looked around her for a moment, continued her words.
“When I read the mission request, it says that monster attacks have increased recently in this slum area. Even if it is the outskirts of the ecliptic. It’s strange that the monsters around the ecliptic are regularly subdued.
“Perhaps. The grace of the holy obelisk will not reach this slum. A sudden gate would have opened. That’s why Pantheon cadets like us have to patrol more.”
In the center of the ecliptic and in the area where nobles live, there is a sacred obelisk that suppresses demon power.
Although that could prevent the magic beasts from forming sudden gates. This was the blind spot of that grace.
‘And obviously, this place is the place the guy from the Pursuit Corps marked for the experiment.’
At that time, Lucia spoke in a low voice.
“… The Count is a curious person.”
“What do you mean?”
“For the Count, a high-ranking aristocrat and golden platoon leader, to come on service patrol to such a slum… It’s not common. It’s a completely different image from the young children of high-ranking aristocrats I think…”
It was hot for a moment. Lucia was mistaken about me.
Although her words a while ago seemed plausible. In fact, the reason I came here was not for such a lofty purpose.
Still, if Lucia thinks I’m good, she’s not bad.
She said her
“And taking me to the underground arena… And being nice to me. All of that is completely different from the rumors I heard about the Count last year… No. Rather, the current appearance must be the count’s original appearance. Rumors tend to be exaggerated.”
A deep moonless night. A task for only two people. Maybe that’s why Lucia’s voice was moist. It was oddly sentimental.
Lucia kept fiddling with the butterfly hairpin I gave her. Magic tool for disguise. However, she had pink hair as she did not infuse mana.
Besides, this place is a slum. The scenery is similar to the place where Lucia was born and raised. I’d feel more like that.
However, a sound broke that sentiment in an instant.
Kyaaaaa
Like the scream of a beast. Terrible shouts echoed everywhere. At the same time, people’s screams were heard.
“Count!”
“Know. Hurry over there!”
The two quickly ran down the alley.
***
Displeasure stabbed through his body instinctively. A different sense from normal monsters. It was a witch.
‘If it’s this much magic power. It’s not a high-grade monster.’
It wasn’t too far from where the screams came from. Because I knew where things were going to happen. He was patrolling the area.
“I think I can feel the magic power. Although this is not enough for a high-ranking magician. Still, it would be very dangerous for the people of this slum!”
However, it was not to the point of being close to the Witchbeast.
Besides, this is not a dungeon. Seeing that it immediately captures the demonic spirit power transmitted through the atmosphere.
Lucia’s talent was also great.
“This would be about the type 4 monster. But I don’t think that number is small. Perhaps a number of sudden gates were opened. First of all, there are more than five monsters that have appeared over there.”
However, Lucia was startled when she saw me being able to capture the exact number beyond being sensitive. Then, realizing the meaning of my words, his expression hardened.
“I must hurry. If the number of monsters is that much. The number of monsters summoned together is much higher… At this rate, this place will become a scene of slaughter.”
I nodded. Both of them moved quickly with mana wrapped around their bodies.
Lucia’s determined running speed was so fast that I actually chased after her.
Kwajijijijijik-
Finally arrived at the scene. A place where wooden houses that are different from shacks are cramped together like a slum.
Witchbeasts and monsters were rampaging and destroying the shabby house. And a group of goblins were slaughtering the residents who jumped out in surprise.
“Sa… Save me!!”
“Run!! It is a monster!”
Even if only armed goblins appeared, ordinary people could not overcome them.
Kieheaek-
The goblins were playing with the villagers while spitting unpleasant noises. Dozens of residents were besieged.
“We need to call the guards or the military police quickly! Everyone dies!”
“Damn it. Are those heavy ass guys coming all the way to this gutter? Damn it. Then even the priests of the church…”
“It would be quicker for us to run to the church! If you want to live, at least lift a wooden bat! We have to break through the goblin siege somehow!”
“Ahh!! My arm… Aaaaa!”
Although some men take out shabby weapons from their homes and fight. There was no way I could be an opponent. At the scene of the panic, Lucia and I jumped in.
A sword with blue mana drew a line in the air. A group of goblins attacked the villagers.
It was not a small number, about 15, but it was quickly dealt with.
One of them was a monster goblin stronger than a normal monster. He cut his throat in unison.
“Uh… What happened?”
“I don’t know! All of the monsters suddenly died…”
Residents confirmed the situation only belatedly. I picked up the torch and inspected the goblin’s corpse.
And two men with swords. Found me and Lucia.
“The… The Royal Guard is here! We all live!”
I wore a robe, but I can see the armor inside it. Both of them were carrying imperial swords. It was natural for ordinary residents to think of them as the Imperial Guard.
“Thank you! Knight!”
“We all live! Knights of the Royal Guard say goblins are trivial!”
Lucia corrected that.
“We are not the Royal Guard. Precisely, the reserve platoon of the Guard…”
“A reserve platoon? What is that?”
“What a fool! If you’re a reserve platoon, that means you’re a Pantheon cadet!”
Then the villagers got even more shocked. They might be those who don’t know much about swordsmanship. I just saw the two of them take down a group of goblins in one fell swoop.
“Pantheon? Are they different from the cadets on patrol the other day? At that time, those cadets must have had a hard time with the goblins…”
A place where even a regular cadet wouldn’t mind patrolling. Coming to these slums would be the lowest-ranking cadet, incapable of any other mission. It was not wrong.
‘Because he said that if there aren’t enough platoon members to patrol, there are cases where a freshman comes instead.’
So it was no wonder that some residents were puzzled. Because they would have felt the difference in their skills too.
“Well, there’s no way the right people will come to a place like this…”
“Are we in a position to argue with this person and that person! And you just saw their skills. They are completely different from the strangers who came last time! Stop all the bullshit. Hurry up and stop thanking them!”
A middle-aged man said to the residents. Then, the villagers came out all at once and bowed their heads toward Lucia to express their gratitude.
“Thank you for saving me. Lily!”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
Anyway, it wasn’t the time to relax. I spoke to the middle-aged man who seemed to be able to speak well.
“It is not the time to be thanked yet. Apparently, this isn’t the first raid. Isn’t it?”
“Yeah? You’re right. Lily. Monsters have been appearing frequently around this place lately… But this is the first time so many monsters have appeared at once!”
That’s right. The seal of the Keiatic Gate located in Old Hwangdo is being released. As a result, the frequency of monsters appearing in the ecliptic area has increased significantly.
‘I’m sure I can clearly feel a place without a sacred obelisk.’
But today things were different. If the previous demonic appearance was a natural disaster. The attack this time was obviously an accident someone intended.
“I just caught a witch. So I need to deal with 4 more quickly. Count!”
As Lucia said. I took care of one a while ago, so there are 4 left in the vicinity. And that beast was just the first wave to appear tonight.
‘That woman must be inducing the sudden gate.’
Byrea Mercenary Corps. Among them, a member of the slaughterhouse. A witch who will later be called Renee of the Fragments is now hiding in the slums here.
Now it’s the end of the chase. In the second part of Demon King’s Slaughter, the villain will be quite troublesome. And he is a troublesome character who gets involved with Lucia and makes her life more impoverished.
‘I’ll have to remove those sprouts beforehand.’
So I picked this mission. I instructed a middle-aged man.
“If you’ve been attacked before, you’d know. Hiding in the house like this will only get you slaughtered. A place for residents to evacuate. Isn’t there a place like a church nearby?”
“Yeah! That’s right. There is one church run by the Roia sect…”
“We need to evacuate the residents there. It would be safer than a shack if there were holy priests of the combat sect. Lucia! Help this man evacuate the villagers. I’m going to deal with the Witchbeast. “
Lucia nodded her head.
“But the Count alone is dangerous…”
“You know better about my skills. Join me when the residents are evacuated.”
After saying that, I hurriedly headed to the next Witchbeast.
And the place where Renee is hiding. She was busy thinking in her head.
