Part 8. Ted's Siege (2)
The County of Ssauron was composed of two castle walls.
One was the inner wall, protecting the County of Ssauron itself.
The other was the outer wall standing guard far in the distance.
Those two walls defended the County of Ssauron like concentric circles.
Between the inner wall and the outer wall lay a place called the
One might wonder just how wide the space between the inner and outer walls could be, but it was so vast that crossing it on foot took twenty minutes.
The beginner hunting ground
* * *
The Count's estate of Ssauron, the Count's office.
A place where the Ssauron Count, an NPC, attended to personal affairs.
Recently, the place had been a madhouse of comings and goings.
Because the siege was imminent. Countless reports and orders were being relayed every moment.
But today's new information was enough to make the already stressed Ssauron Count's head explode.
“Why are you only telling me this now?”
The one in a private audience with the Ssauron Count was none other than Raiden, the head of the Sibori Musket Academy.
The Ssauron Count was in his seventies, with a bushy white beard.
He was berating Raiden with a deliberately stern expression.
“I apologize, my lord.”
Raiden had reported on the
In truth, Ted had informed Raiden a month ago.
However, during that time, Raiden had been forced to move here and there to earn money for the academy's affairs.
It was an unavoidable choice to keep the academy running even one day longer.
Naturally, upon hearing the belated report, the Ssauron Count exploded.
“Do you not even know what is important, or the proper order of things!”
“I am truly sorry. I was short-sighted, my lord.”
Raiden pressed his head to the floor before the Ssauron Count's wrath.
Seeing Raiden like that, the Ssauron Count let out a sigh.
“Adjutant.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Form a hunting party. It shall consist of five members of 3-Star or higher, including Raiden here.”
“Five members of 3-Star or higher. Understood! I will prepare immediately.”
3-Star. It was what NPCs called those who had undergone their third job advancement.
In other words, it meant deploying as many as five powerful NPCs of level 500 or higher for this matter.
It was no small investment of force. Currently, NPCs of level 500 or higher within the County could be counted on one hand.
“Whatever it is, it must be eliminated. A variable arising at this time could become a cause for defeat.”
“Understood!”
Under normal circumstances, Ssauron Plains was an area forbidden to NPCs.
But for this siege, the Ssauron Count had urgently contacted the Kingdom of Karon and obtained permission for NPCs to enter.
So Raiden returned to the academy and immediately sought out Ted.
At that time, Ted was worrying about how to end the siege in the shortest possible time.
“Senior Brother. I have orders from the Count to destroy that suspicious cloud in Sector 4 of the Ssauron Plains. Will you come with me?”
An unexpected proposal.
“Ah. I am still in the middle of my second job advancement, though.”
“That is fine. Normally, one cannot leave the inner castle, but I will grant you partial permission using my authority as Master.”
“Then, is it possible to go outside the outer wall as well?”
“That… that much is beyond even my authority.”
Ted smacked his lips.
Depending on the situation, passage beyond the inner wall seemed to be within a Master's authority.
“But is it possible for me to join the hunting party as well?”
There was something puzzling.
It was whether he, in the early level 200s, could fit into a hunting party formed by the Count's orders. Leaving aside strength, his level was the problem.
Typically, an NPC hunting party required the difference between the highest and lowest levels to be within 200.
If it exceeded that, the lowest level would hold them back.
“Strange indeed, Senior Brother is strong, but your internal energy level is not high.”
Internal energy. It was what NPCs called levels.
“But there will be no problem. I simply need to strongly recommend you.”
“Then that would be good.”
“Not at all, Senior Brother. In truth, I should be your assistant. I am deeply sorry for this.”
Recently, Raiden had come to see Ted completely as his superior.
Over the past month, watching Ted strike the scarecrow, Raiden had realized Ted was stronger than himself. Moreover, Ted was the hero who had saved the Sibori Musket Academy!
Lastly, the outsider Ted had said that unlike his appearance, he was older than Raiden.
…In truth, the last part was Ted's lie, but for whatever reason, Raiden understood it as such.
—Quest Triggered—
Quest Difficulty: B
In Sector 4 of the Ssauron Plains, there is a cloud harboring a suspicious aura. Therefore, the Count has ordered a hunting party to be formed of five strong individuals and five people to assist them.
Successfully destroy the cloud before the siege warfare begins.
Do you accept?
‘Yes.’
“Then, Senior Brother. Let us depart at once.”
Thus, Ted followed Raiden toward the Count's estate.
NPCs forming this hunting party were already gathered there.
‘Oh, so they're quite the heavy hitters in the Count's estate?’
There were masters of various academies like Raiden, as well as members of the County's Royal Guard.
They were all superhumans exceeding level 500, countable on one hand even within the entire County!
Five such third job advancers and five assistants. A total of ten people had gathered.
The hunting party hurriedly finished preparations and exited beyond the inner wall. Then they boarded a massive carriage heading for the Ssauron Plains.
The carriage drawn by four horses was incredibly spacious. Spacious enough for all ten people to sit comfortably.
“Hmph, Raiden. You've brought along some dead weight.”
But someone in the carriage immediately started picking a fight with Raiden.
“Why start a fight, Heketan?”
“No matter how you look at it, is the Sibori Academy so lacking in talent? The level of the assistant is quite…”
‘Probably the master of the Warrior Academy?’
Ted could tell the NPC was dismissing him. He was the master of the Warrior Academy.
‘They sure like to squabble, these NPCs.’
Though insulted, Ted didn't feel particularly offended and watched the situation with interest.
After all, their level was about that of Moonlight Hunter Roan, whom he had fought in the past.
Having acquired additional skills, achievements, and completed item farming, the current Ted was confident he wouldn't lose in a one-on-one against any of them.
‘How cute, these punks.’
That certainty planted a sense of leisure in Ted's heart.
“Moderate your words. This person may be an assistant, but he is stronger than I am and my Senior Brother. Heketan.”
“What? I cannot even imagine how weak you must be. And to think such a weakling is your Senior Brother… You ought to feel some shame.”
“Heketan! Watch your tongue.”
“Have I spoken out of turn? I have merely stated facts. Honestly, I question how the academy that old codger of Sibori created and left behind still stands. Who would use such a flimsy weapon that hits like a mosquito bite?”
BANG!
Enraged by Heketan's words, Raiden fired his musket into the air. The carriage's cloth roof was pierced.
Neighhhh!
At the same time, the horses whinnied in surprise.
Instantly tensing, Heketan rose in the carriage and gripped the sword at his scabbard.
At the same time, Raiden also stood up.
“You may call me incompetent. But if you insult my Senior Brother and my master one more time, I will show my flimsy musket's taste to your wretched mouth.”
Raiden had fully taken Heketan's bait and was growling.
“Do you wish to do this in earnest?”
“If you so desire death, I shall oblige.”
‘This is fun.’
To them, it was a serious situation.
But Ted, watching the NPCs confront each other, was secretly enjoying it. He was wondering who would win if the two fought.
“Hey. Raiden. Heketan. That's enough.”
“The team formed to eliminate threats will surely please His Lordship by beating each other to a pulp.”
Soon, the other NPCs inside the carriage intervened.
“Do not fight, children.”
And a Dharma Master who looked slightly older than the other NPCs spoke.
He was the leader of this hunting party, a Quasi-Viscount, and the concurrent master of the Dharma Master Academy —
“Hmph. Very well. Damned mosquito bastard.”
“Savage dog of a swordsman.”
At Ryunghen's words, the two sheathed their weapons and sat down.
Indeed. At this point, they had a common enemy. There was no reason to bare their teeth at each other needlessly.
“Even so… I have doubts. The hunting party's requirements explicitly had regulations. That fellow's internal energy falls short of those regulations.”
“Elder Ryunghen. I guarantee it. My Senior Brother, Ted, is stronger than I am.”
“Hmph, what nonsense.”
Heketan sneered.
To NPCs, internal energy was the standard of strength.
By that standard, Ted possessed internal energy not even a quarter of theirs.
Thus, it was not wrong for them to question Ted's participation in the hunting party.
“Hmm… Very well. You are all gathered here as the finest warriors of the Ssauron estate, second to none, so there should be no major issues. Say no more of this matter and proceed in silence.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Raiden sat down, seething, at Ryunghen's words.
“I apologize, Senior Brother Ted. For subjecting you to such treatment.”
“Ah, I'm fine.”
Naturally, he was fine. In fact, he was looking forward to it.
Ted had thought leveling up was impossible before the siege began.
But now he could participate in the hunting party and hunt.
Which meant he could level up!
‘I'll kill every monster worth killing.’
Ted made up his mind as such.
Thus, the carriage they rode on crossed the Ssauron Grand Plains.
There, preparations for the defensive battle were in full swing.
Countless soldiers moved supplies, built camps, and trained.
‘Whew, the day after tomorrow.’
And so the carriage carrying Ted passed through and headed for the Ssauron Plains.
….
And a few minutes later, four figures set foot on that land.
“Here. Everyone, I believe we've finally arrived.”
Moonlight Hunter Roan.
At level 550, he had spent roughly 27 days in the Netherworld obtaining numerous achievements and titles before returning to the continent of Feis.
Afterward, he had come to the County of Ssauron with the executives of the guild
“Did you really see Sir Ted here, Oppa?”
“Yes. I met him here, in Sector 4 of the Ssauron Plains.”
The four executives of Tesamo!
The vice guild master of Tesamo. At the same time, a Korean ranker at level 550 despite having lost one level to Ted —
The guild master of Tesamo and a ranker at level 577 —
Tesamo's main tanker. Level 503 —
Tesamo's only healer. Level 376 —
“Then shall we go to Sector 4 now?”
“Perhaps. But that was a month ago; it's unlikely he is still there.”
“Aww. You're right….”
The reason the four men and women had come here was only one.
To see their idol Ted with their own two eyes!
That was why they had entered the County of Ssauron.
But a status window appeared before their eyes.
—Previous Date: May 16th, 2:00 PM.
—New Date: May 10th, 7:00 AM.
The guild [Paprika Special Forces] has changed the date of the siege warfare.
This notice is final and confirmed.
Please adjust your schedules after confirmation.
Thank you.
“Huh? What's this status window?”
“There's a siege starting tomorrow here. If we stay, we'll be forced to participate; what do we do?”
“Right… If Sir Ted isn't here, we'll be stuck with no way out.”
The TTS (Ted Tracking System) had stopped working ever since Ted disappeared. Because it was a system that operated based on his videos and rumors.
Because of that, the Tesamo guild members, who had to grope around to find Ted, fell into a dilemma.
Would they have to participate in the siege for at least a few weeks, or even months, with their feet tied?
And what if Ted wasn't there? It would all be for nothing.
“Uyuri. We'd like you to decide.”
“Right… Uyuri Unnie. What do we do?”
“Hmm. Wait.”
The eyes of the other three turned to one woman.
Uyuri.
The guild master of Tesamo and a ranker of considerable standing as the
She was the decision-maker leading the guild.
A woman with red hair, sensual fashion, and sharp features that gave her a very haughty appearance.
“I have a good idea.”
“What is it?”
“As individuals, our levels are very high, so we can participate on either side.”
“Yes. Hehe, that's right.”
“Let's participate as the enemy forces against the County of Ssauron in the siege.”
“Whaaaaat?”
The youngest of the executives at twenty-four, the healer Tedheart, opened her eyes wide.
“I-Is that okay?”
The silent
Even for him, who was usually taciturn and simply followed Uyuri's orders, it was a questionable decision.
“Then… we would be hostile to Sir Ted….”
“No. That's not it. We don't even know if Sir Ted is there, so how would we know if we're enemies or not? We just need to find Sir Ted first.”
“Huh? But what if Sir Ted is at the Count's estate, Unnie?”
“We'll think about that when the time comes.”
“Right. It's rough-and-ready, but it's a good idea.”
Lastly, the eldest, Moonlight Hunter Roan, nodded in agreement.
He already had an uncomfortable yet friendly relationship with Pateuk, so things would work out easily.
Time is gold.
What they needed was confirmation of Ted's presence.
If he wasn't there, being tied up in the siege for months would be a huge loss.
It was better to join the attacking army and have freedom of movement. The attacking side, unlike the defending side, allowed free joining and leaving of combat.
If Ted was in the County anyway, as a user he would likely participate in the siege since it would benefit him.
They would participate in the siege, find Ted, and then withdraw from Pateuk's side.
“We leave immediately.”
At Uyuri's words, the guild members headed toward the Paprika Special Forces' camp.
They harbored a small hope deep in their hearts.
The hope that they would soon see Ted…