“You're telling me you're going out?”
The Superintendent, who was on duty even over the weekend, looked at the three with suspicious eyes.
“All three of you?”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Baek Arin shouted proudly.
“You'd let them go? Sinhyeok, would you let them go if you were me?”
Sinhyeok forced a smile and answered obediently.
“If it's the benevolent Superintendent, I trust you'd send us off.”
“You're hilarious. Fresh arrivals are always crazy about Gates. After training, their hands start itching. But being cooped up here makes them even crazier.”
At her words, which seemed to see right through them, the three laughed awkwardly.
“I'll let you go. Report by text every thirty minutes, Sinhyeok.”
She pulled a small accessory from her pocket.
“Yes, ma'am, but why are you giving me this?”
[Mark of Protection - Left Ring][Legendary]
=======================
One of a pair of bracelets that records the wearer's soul, allowing the owner to track the wearer directly or move to their location when necessary.
It resonates with the wearer's soul engraved upon the bracelet and 'remembers' their existence anywhere in the world.
Creator : Lucien Bloom
- Location Synchronization : Continuously tracks the wearer's soul.
- Emergency Movement : Instantly moves to designated coordinates at the owner's command.
- Identity Verification : Responds only to the engraved wavelength.
- Self-Sealing : Automatically collapses and eliminates all functions upon illegal disassembly.
=======================
Reading the description, Sinhyeok's expression turned sulky.
“I'm not a child.”
“Your battalion commander told me to give it to you. Phew, he's so devoted.”
At that, Sinhyeok quickly stowed it away.
“Anyway, be careful and come back safe. If any of you come back injured, all three of you are dead.”
“Loyalty! How could that make any sense?”
The three couldn't bring themselves to laugh at her brutal threat.
The Superintendent watched them leave, then called only Sinhyeok back.
“Sinhyeok.”
“Corporal Bu Sinhyeok, yes, ma'am!”
Sinhyeok scurried over.
When she gestured for him to come close, Sinhyeok made a bewildered expression.
“Be careful of everything. Be careful of civilian Awakeners, but be especially careful of the Association.”
At those words, Sinhyeok made a strange face.
“Why……?”
“Just be careful because I told you to. Knowing now will only complicate things. Hurry up and go. Go out and have some fun.”
“……Yes, ma'am.”
Sinhyeok turned and left with an uncomfortable expression.
“Loyalty……”
“Yeah~”
Touching the heavy bracelet on his wrist, he recalled the Persona Guild Leader he had encountered before.
'Is the Association connected to that guy?'
With various thoughts on his mind, he headed off after a long time to see their brilliant light, Brother Ejzar, more dazzling than anyone.
* * *
“It's really been a while. Brother, do you have to act again when you go in?”
“Probably. If we can get in secretly, it might not matter.”
The three arrived at the Gate where Ejzar was once more.
“But is it really okay to sneak in like this?”
Baek Arin asked, looking at the quiet surroundings.
“It seems like no one's watching or managing it.”
“Since it's not registered as a Gate, they probably don't even know it exists. Well, maybe one instructor from the training center knows about it.”
'That shouldn't be a problem.'
Sinhyeok stood before the portal and checked the surroundings.
“Everyone, take out your equipment.”
At his words, Arin and Ichan quickly took out a sword and a dagger.
“What are you going to use, Brother?”
“Me? Bare hands, of course. You two pair up and work hard. I'll just watch.”
“Wow.”
“He says he's just going to freeload.”
The two glared at Sinhyeok.
“Haha, what can I do~ I'm useless without a gun~”
At his annoying humming, the two debated whether to gut him.
“Should we just stealthily slit him?”
“Or should I stab his butt a few times?”
At their rather brutal conspiracy, Sinhyeok hurriedly crossed through.
“I'm going!”
“Aah! Let's go together!”
“Brother!”
Sinhyeok, crossing the portal, thought of how the village would be more peaceful and homely than before.
'I hope the Priest is doing well.'
“Hello everyo……?”
The moment he crossed the portal, he witnessed a scene of chaos.
A trembling barrier, a thick scent of blood.
Monsters that had invaded through a torn gap.
Wounded people holding their ground.
“Brother! I said let's go together!”
“Mister, don't go ahead so sneakily.”
The two who followed witnessed the village turned into a chaotic mess.
“An-angels! They are Ariel's apostles! We're saved! We're saved!”
The villagers cheered upon seeing the three.
“Mister!”
“Move out first!”
[Initiating Mapping.]
The mapping probe appeared in the sky.
It scanned the surroundings thoroughly, identifying enemies.
“Ichan, go left; Arin, go right. Make a loop and come to the barrier entrance. Remember the way?”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The two immediately dashed out.
Sinhyeok took out a pair of studded leather gloves from his inventory and equipped them.
“It's been a while since I used my fists…… of all times.”
Crack.
Power surged into his fist.
A skeleton that had invaded the village rushed at Sinhyeok mindlessly.
Clack clack clack.
“Get lost already!”
Bash!
Its head flew off.
The boiling rage within paralyzed his reason.
Seeing the monster destroyed only excited him further.
“Out of the way!”
[Reinforcing Studded Leather Gloves.]
[Sensory Degree is unlocked.]
[The five senses are slightly amplified.]
“Huff.”
Suddenly, all his senses opened up.
A feeling as if he would burst took over everything.
“Alright, let's go!”
He cleared the surroundings in an instant.
Fortunately, most of them were trivial monsters.
“Waaaah! Ariel's angel!”
Listening to the cheering shouts of the villagers, he headed toward the barrier entrance that was opened widest.
“I've checked everything!”
“Mister, this side is clear too!”
Ichan and Arin quickly joined up after making their rounds.
Going to the entrance, they saw two villagers wielding holy power and Priest Ejzar.
“Priest!”
Arin shouted energetically upon seeing him.
The exhausted Ejzar turned around.
“Huff…… huff…… who?”
Seeing the three running toward him, a smile formed on his lips.
“Haha, Brother, your timing is perfect.”
He caught his breath and gripped the mace in one hand tightly.
“Brothers! Ariel's apostles have come!”
At his thunderous shout, a villager who had been laying waste with an axe turned around.
“The angels!”
Arin stomped hard on the ground and leaped into the air.
'Look at that insane jumping power……'
Arin had only raised a few levels, yet she was gradually becoming superhuman.
“Haah!”
She sliced the front with a fiercely emitted aura.
“Kieeeek!”
Skeletons and zombies recoiled in disgust.
Leechan slipped in behind them.
Ssk.
Quietly hiding in the blind spot, he cut them down from behind.
“Priest, we'll buy you time. Please restore the barrier.”
Sinhyeok reinforced his gloves once more and moved forward.
“Yes!”
Smiling broadly, Ejzar set down his mace and concentrated.
“Hoo.”
Priest Ejzar exhaled and calmed his mind.
Then the torn barrier gradually began to mend.
Seeing it restored in an instant, Sinhyeok shouted to the two rampaging in front.
“Retreat!”
“Yes!”
The two immediately turned back.
The moment they pushed their combat boots through the open gap, the barrier began to close at once.
The villager holding the axe collapsed onto the ground as the barrier was restored.
“We survived.”
“Huff, huff.”
Priest Ejzar smiled brightly despite his exhausted body.
“Apostle. You arrived at a truly critical moment.”
Seeing Sinhyeok, he couldn't help but laugh.
However, the moment he moved toward him, he staggered.
“Oh.”
Sinhyeok quickly ran over to support him.
“Haha. I should at least offer you some tea.”
His eyes closed right then.
“Priest!?”
The two sitting on the floor were startled and got up upon seeing the priest with closed eyes.
Sinhyeok immediately checked his pulse and reassured the two.
“He simply collapsed from exhaustion. He's breathing.”
“Ah? Aah, thank goodness. He fought, healed, and worked without sleep for several days.”
Sinhyeok picked him up.
“Is there a place where the Priest can lie down?”
“Let's go to the temple!”
A male villager moved forward to guide them.
“Over here.”
They entered the temple and headed to the secluded room he used.
They carefully laid him on the bed, and Sinhyeok took out a red potion and a blue potion from his bosom.
“We'll watch over him for a while. It would be best for you two to go rest.”
Sinhyeok said this while looking at the man and woman watching from behind.
“Yes, please call us immediately if anything happens. We'll be nearby.”
“Yes, yes.”
After they left, only the three remained in the room.
Sinhyeok took out a canteen he hadn't used in a while and mixed the two potions.
Pshhhh.
'This will help in the current situation.'
It was a potion he had made when he went to the Dragon Soul Hall.
[Superior Red Potion and Blue Potion are combined.]
[A Forgotten Ancient Potion is created.]
[Superior Courage Potion][Rare]
===================
Draws out courage that did not exist, invigorates the vitality of the entire body, and a slight whole-body strengthening occurs.
※ Slight stamina increase
※ Partial effect applied simply by possessing it.
====================
When the desired item appeared, Sinhyeok opened the lid and carefully poured it into his mouth.
Drip, drip.
He slowly trickled the Courage Potion into his mouth.
After a moment, Priest Ejzar stirred.
His eyes trembled, then he lifted his eyelids with difficulty.
Seeing Sinhyeok, he smiled faintly.
“Brother.”
Sinhyeok set the canteen down beside him in relief.
“How is it that every time you come, you surprise people so?”
He smiled without a word.
“I suppose this is our fate. I prayed earnestly, and it seems someone answered.”
At those words, Sinhyeok smirked.
“And you, sir, no longer even have a god you serve……”
“That is why I prayed to all of them. I begged and begged that anyone would answer.”
The priest supported himself with his arm on the bed.
“Please lie down.”
He tried hard to get up.
“Hup, huff. The villagers will only feel relieved if I get up. They must still be afraid.”
Priest Ejzar staggered down from the bed.
“Hoo.”
He tried to get up while exhaling but staggered again.
Sinhyeok hurriedly supported him.
“Hehe.”
He looked at Sinhyeok with an awkward smile.
“It's too much, isn't it?”
“Yes, Priest.”
The priest recalled the liquid that had entered his mouth and spoke.
“Could I trouble you for a bit more of what you gave me earlier?”
Sinhyeok picked up the canteen and handed it to the priest.
“Thank you.”
He grabbed the canteen and gulped down the potion.
He forcibly drank the amount of two bottles.
“Kurk, ulp.”
He forcibly held back something trying to come up.
The priest quickly felt his fatigue disappear and vitality surge throughout his body.
“This is truly amazing. My head is screaming that it's dying, but my body is surprisingly fine.”
It was providing a supreme Awakening effect.
Sinhyeok urged the priest.
“You must come in and rest immediately.”
“Haha. Who are you worried about? Who am I?”
Priest Ejzar neatly arranged his clothes and left the room.
“I am their hope. Hope does not break, nor does it fall. With Ariel by my side, I am invincible.”
“Even though you yourself are Ariel.”
“……”
He resumed his cult leader demeanor and headed outside the temple.
“Since you're here, come with me. The villagers will be absolutely thrilled.”
At his beckoning hand, the three smirked and followed.
“We'll make sure to support you.”
“Haha, thank you. Then please……”
When they opened the temple door, the man and woman who had been wielding holy power earlier were struggling to restrain the villagers.
“You can't do this!”
“Where is the Priest!? He's not dead, is he!? Priest Ejzar!”
“Please calm down! Look at the barrier. It's intact!”
“Priest!”
When the door opened and the unharmed priest appeared with the three following behind, the villagers burst into cheers.
“Ariel!”
When Priest Ejzar raised his hand, they showed deeply moved expressions.
“K-kuh. Th-this.”
He panicked when no holy power came out.
Seeing this, Sinhyeok quickly tapped Arin's side.
“Spread your aura.”
“I didn't become a soldier for this……”
Arin gathered aura in her hand and spread it faintly.
As her light-filled aura spread, a magnificent halo formed.
'Plus the Light Potion sitting in my inventory like dead weight.'
He took it out of his inventory and opened the lid, and a brilliant light spread outward.
“Aaaah! Ariel!”
“He has not abandoned us!”
Ichan watched the scene and quietly said,
“I wonder if this is okay.”