Hell (1)
The first base is safer than the other bases outside.
No, it was relatively safe. This is because the frequency of Awakeneds coming and going was very high because it was closest to the boundary where protection of the tower ends.
But that too is a thing of the past. As the concentration of erosion outside grew, the number of monsters and their brutality could not be compared with those of the past.
The raid also occurred at a level that could not be ignored, so unlike before, it was impossible to completely relax the tension at the base.
Still, it could not be denied that the situation at the first base was better than the other. I don’t even know where it came from, but it’s because a strong Awakener was guarding this place.
A man in a mask was walking down the street where the sun was rising. Those who are now familiar with his mask greeted them by talking to them as they passed by.
“good morning.”
nod. The mask nodded and passed without an answer. The mercenary who greeted them passed by with a smile as if he was familiar with that attitude.
The man in the mask became a famous person at the first base from a certain moment. He suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and the period of his stay so far has passed more than half a year.
At first, people staying in the base were wary of the mask.
It was because a man he had never seen before showed up, leading quite a few civilians. Even with his face hidden with his mask.
Carrying non-Awakened civilians from the outside. They may be trafficked or hostages. However, the residents watched the mask for several days, as the situation might worsen if they moved recklessly.
And the judgment was correct.
A few days later, the priests who believed in Gran appeared and took the civilians away.
The shopkeepers and the awakened people staying in the base were able to take off their sunglasses and stare at the mask.
Come to think of it, the masked man doesn’t even talk to other people, but he was silently killing monsters and taking care of the security around him, even though it wasn’t ordered by anyone.
Most of all, he is a person who carries a cute daughter with black hair and forked hair. Her daughter was a twitch at the pubescent masked man, but she was always attached and affectionate in her eyes.
At the base where there were only dull people, the child evoked his own vitality. In fact, when I was treated like a child, I was absurd and angry.
As time passed, trust in the mask quietly built up and developed into the current situation.
At that time, there was a young voice that spoke to the mercenary. The mercenary turned his head towards him and his gaze was fixed near his shoulder.
I saw an armband that was worn on my forearm. The mark engraved on the armband was something that even the mercenaries knew well. It means that he is an aspiring hero belonging to the Yoosung Academy.
“Are you an aspiring hero? what?”
“Hey, I have something to ask you.”
Even when the mercenary confirmed that this aspiring hero was a sophomore, a young chick, his tone was hard.
Is it because of the first impression?
Ferocious eyes and a relaxed expression that was not even a hero aroused caution for nothing.
In a way, this is a natural reaction. Rather, it was possible to know that the mercenary was a skillful awakener. This is because the frequency of mines crossing borders and entering the safe zone has increased rapidly in recent years.
The way the mines melted among the common people was very intelligent. There were many cases of missing people even though they were censoring their identity here, the last stronghold before entering the safe zone.
“More than that, what is your affiliation and name?”
“Affiliation and name.”
The mercenary knew this and asked the aspiring hero.
The ferocious eyes of the aspiring hero who was asked the question softened in an instant. He looked like a mercenary didn’t know why he was asking.
“uh···. This is Seo Ji-han, a sophomore at Yoosung Academy.”
“Which class?”
“This is a special class.”
special class. Hearing that, the mercenary stopped.
“…a special class?”
I’ve even heard of mercenaries about special classes.
There are a few aspiring heroes who say that the hero called ‘Guardian’, ‘Layert’, is directly teaching as an instructor. They were also busy in the field even though they were in their sophomore year to replace the heroes and mercenaries who have recently lacked personnel.
‘Seo Ji-han…, Seo Ji-han.’
The mercenary remembered the name Seo Ji-han over and over again.
Seo-han. An aspiring hero who claims to possess the sacred sword of the temple. Realizing that, the mercenary hurriedly asked another question.
“If it’s okay with you, can you show me the holy sword?”
“A holy sword?”
It was a sudden word, but perhaps it was a familiar request, Seo Ji-han held up the cloak he was wearing without any reaction. Then he saw the sword he was carrying behind him.
The handle protruding in contrast to the luxurious scabbard has a monotonous design, but it has an old-fashioned feel.
Even a mercenary had an intuition about how good that weapon would be to handle a sword. If that’s not a holy sword, what is a holy sword?
As soon as his identity was confirmed, the mercenary’s vigilance quickly subsided.
Seo Ji-han lowered her cloak and opened her mouth again.
“I ’ll ask you more than that…”
“Ask anything!”
Seo Ji-han, confused for a moment, asked, pointing to the back of the mask the mercenary had just passed.
“Can you tell me a little bit about that person?”
[It’s shabby.]
“It’s not polite.”
I gave a pin cup to the murmur of the holy sword and entered the now familiar inn. The owner greeted me from the inside.
“It’s been a while, Jihan-ah. I made a reservation every time.”
I greeted the owner of the inn and was given the key to the room. As I climbed the stairs, I saw a familiar face.
A man in a mask was waiting, leaning against the wall.
They found each other and there was silence, but they didn’t speak because no one might hear them. If you said that you were an acquaintance of the mask, rumors would have spread rapidly.
shudder. I opened the locked door and entered the house. As always, the room was clean and tidy. And behind me, a man in a mask quietly followed me in. After confirming that the door was closed, I opened my mouth.
“I thought you were going to be quiet, but you’re making quite a name for yourself.”
Drakhan replied with a bitter smile to my joke.
“How did it happen?”
Drakhan took off the mask that always covered his face. It felt like my white hair was getting longer and longer every time I saw it.
“Aren’t you going to cut your hair?”
“I don’t have time. Riel told me to raise him because he seemed like a good fit for me.”
oh So I didn’t even dye it.
Drakhan said as he sat down on the chair next to him.
“A month after that? It’s been quite a while.”
“yes. I want to convey the situation often, but I am also a student.”
“I understand.”
“Rather than that, can’t you use your cell phone a little bit now? Ryu Seo-yeon wants you to tell me about it.”
The identity can be manipulated even with the power of the Black Hawk, but Drakhan declared that he would not use his cell phone. That’s why I jumped on my own feet.
Drakhan shook his head again.
“I don’t want to risk taking the risk of someone eavesdropping. The temple that housed the villagers I brought in might also be damaged.”
“It’s because it’s me and Ryu Seo-yeon who suffer in the middle. What do you do if there is an urgent matter?”
Besides, people who care so much about security are called the specialty of the first base. How ironic is this
I won’t say it because I might get hit if I just took it out of my mouth.
“If there is an urgent matter, I will enter the safe zone.”
“Then get ready.”
At my words, Drakhan put on an expression of surprise that he had quickly grasped the situation.
“Did she allow that?”
“yes. Did you think I would say no?”
what. Were you expecting that you wouldn’t go into the basement of the tower and telling Ryu Seo-yeon to ask for permission? Now, if Drakhan refuses, it’s difficult.
“Seo-Han. I thought you’d say it’s dangerous and no. I thought it was only me and Ahat-san.”
“Then how long will it be ready?”
나는 잠시 계획을 떠올렸다. 류서연에게 맡긴 커스텀 무기의 보수 작업은 아직 끝나지 않았다. 보수 작업이 마무리되더라도 적응 기간도 필요하고.
‘그렇다고 여유를 부릴 순 없으니···.’
조금 급하게 가야겠지. 어차피 가장 중요한 지옥도의 길은 내가 잘 알고 있다. 탑의 지하를 열기 위한 조건은 이미 충족했놨으니까.
“다른 일이 벌어지지 않는 이상 일주일이요.”
“일주일 안으로 안전지대로 들어가면 되겠군. 넉넉하겠어.”
“아뇨.”
드라칸의 오해를 정정하기 위해 고개를 저었다.
“일주일 후에 탑의 지하로 들어갑니다.”
“······뭐?”
드라칸도 예상치 못했는지 당황한 얼굴을 보였다.
“지한. 그건 너무 급한 거 아닌가?”
“계획은 짜둔 지 오래고 필요한 물자는 류서연이 이미 준비해줬어요. 아하트 님이랑 다른 사람들도 언제든 갈 준비가 되어있다고 했고요. 시간을 끌 필요도 없으니 드라칸 씨의 동의만 있으면 됩니다.”
“흐음. 나야 별 상관없다만.”
“···리엘 아르웰이 문제겠네요.”
“그렇지.”
[또 잔소리나 해대겠군.]
마검일 때 리엘 아르웰과 같이 지낸 적이 있는 성검은 봤던 것이 있는지 질린다는 목소리로 중얼거렸다.
“뭐. 그건 파트너인 드라칸 씨가 알아서 해결해주세요.”
“······알겠다. 그보다 너야말로 무제 후배의 파트너는 어떻게 해결됐지?”
“일단 이번 지옥도로 진입할 때 힘을 빌려주기로 했어요. 거기서 박노아를 구할 방법을 알아야겠죠.”
“다행이군. 힘든 결정이었겠어.”
“아르웰도 마지막까지 고민하더라고요.”
무제인 드라칸은 아르웰의 결정이 얼마나 힘든 것인지 잘 이해하고 있는 눈치였다. 무제이기에 알 수 있는 감정적인 무언가가 있는 모양이다.
“일단 전할 이야기는 여기까지인가? 슬슬 리엘이 저녁먹자고 할 시간이라서.”
“아, 그보다 부탁드릴 게 있는데요. 침식을 다루는 법도 배우고 싶어요.”
내 부탁에 드라칸이 미간을 찌푸렸다.
“···침식? 흑 속성의 마나뿐만 아니라 침식도 다룰 줄 아나? 다룰 줄 알아도 여러 가지를 문어발처럼 배우는 건 좋지 않다고 보는데.”
“아뇨. 그건 아니에요.”
“그럼?”
우웅! 나는 설명을 위해 손에 신성력을 끌어올렸다. 따스한 빛이 방을 밝게 했다.
“침식과 신성력은 반대된 성질이잖아요. 하지만 언뜻 봤을 때 그걸 운용하는 방식이 비슷했거든요.”
눈치가 빠른 드라칸은 그것만으로도 내가 말하고자 하는 바를 의미했다.
“내가 침식을 다루는 방식을 배워서 신성력을 능숙히 다루고 싶다는 거군. 근데 그건 나보다 성직자들이 잘 알지 않겠나?”
“최근까지 물어보고 연습해봤어요. 그런데 오히려 신성력을 성법으로만 사용할 줄 알지, 다른 감각들은 잘 모르더라고요.”
“그럴지도 모르겠군. 네가 일주일 안으로 이뤄내고 싶은 건?”
목표는 하나밖에 없었다. 바로 아리한 헥터의 카운터로 만들 새로운 특성.
“성탄聖彈이요.”
마나는 전혀 들어가지 않은, 순수한 신성력으로만 집약된 새로운 탄환을 원했다.
백 속성의 마나로는 아리한 헥터의 침식을 꿰뚫기엔 역부족일 것이다. 성검 말고도 계속해서 사용할 수 있는 속성의 상극을 이용한 기술을 만들어야 했다.
“알겠다. 시간도 없으니, 리엘을 만나서 바로 연습하지.”
드라칸은 순순히 고개를 끄덕이고 가면을 다시 썼다. 그걸 보니 예전부터 떠올랐던 의문을 말했다.
“그런데 그거 도대체 왜 쓰시는 건가요? 가면 때문에 더 시선이 끌리는 것 같던데.”
가면 안쪽에서 쓴웃음이 가득한 목소리가 들렸다.
“어쩔 수 없어. 이거 개성을 억제해주는 ‘성물’이거든. 내 개성은 주변 사람들에게 영향을 미치니 갑갑해도 쓸 수밖에.”
“······예?”
“그래서 인면어쩌구, 그걸 안 쓰겠다고 한 거다.”
아니, 잠깐만.
“그 가면이 성물이라고요?”
“어라. 내가 말 안 했나?”
말 안 했다. 게다가 내가 당황한 건 다른 이유였다.
저건 그랑 신전이 보유하고 있는 성물이 아니었다. 그쪽에 대한 건 내가 전부 알고 있으니까.
무엇보다 지금까지 저 가면이 성물이란 걸 모른 이유는 신성력이 느껴지지 않았기 때문이다.
불현듯 잊고 있었던 이름이 떠올랐다.
‘설마.’
···메이든 커스의 또 다른 성물인가?
만약, 저게 메이든 커스의 성물이 맞다면 다른 변수를 만들고 만다.
‘시발.’
메이든 커스의 다른 성물이 다른 사람들에게도 있을지도 모른다는 가능성 말이다.
그것도 마인에게.
