Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Swishhh-!

As soon as the boss monster, [De Xin], gave the command, arrows shot at me like javelins. There weren't only banquet guests that danced and played their time away; soldiers were also mixed within the masses. Before I knew it, the archers were aiming at me.

Black arrows flooded my vision for a moment, and I instinctively retreated. Before me, on the road, two arrows plunged into the ground.

'I... I don't know how I should move!'

I couldn't use Jung Garam's body properly. I barely managed to dodge the enemy's attacks, but I simply held my dagger while staring blankly at the boat. Would I be able to reach that far if I used a skill?

"Damn it... [Explosion]!"

Left with no choice, I summoned an [Explosion], the highest skill in his equipped skill list. As soon as I did so, a round bomb appeared above my palm; the ticking of its countdown echoed. I rolled the bomb around a few times within my hands-as if I were holding a hot potato-then immediately tossed it towards the boat.

Boom-!

However, was the trajectory of my throw too obvious? The bomb flew in a straight line, was shot by an arrow, and exploded in mid-air.

Boom-! B-Boom-! Crash!

However, I was ignorant of how the [Explosion] skill actually worked. The bomb was not finished when it exploded once, but the skill continued to expload in a chain reaction, detonating the shattered pieces. Because of this, the bomb exploded akin to a fireworks display in the air; one of the small fragments barely fell onto the ship.

Boom-!

After a loud bang, black smoke began rising from the sails, and fire began to spread. I looked at the scene, half-dazed, then looked at my hand.

'Jung Garam... It's not like I'm using White Phosphorus 1 or something-what kind of skill is this...'

I felt quite uncomfortable even as I used the skill...

However, victory was not won in a single blow. The arrow rain, which had been momentarily interrupted, began pouring down again. The black smoke from the burning sails had calmed down, as if the fire was slowly being smothered.

Furthermore, The fairies continued to curse me while singing their beautiful melodies, paying no heed to whether or not the ship behind them caught on fire.

[Magic Resistance is greatly reduced]

[Defense is reduced by -20%]

[Damage from the bleeding status effect has increased]

[Stamina has decreased.]

[Critical hit chance has been greatly reduced.]

'Annoying...'

I should honestly deal with the fairies first, but the alcohol-filled pond under their feet was still problematic.

It wasn't that the pond looked too deep; the idea that something was lurking beneath the surface made me uncomfortable. Plus, there may be devices built under the pond... For some reason, I got the feeling that I'd be in trouble if I approached willy nilly.

Splash-!

However, while I was hesitating, something-a small kayak?-began descending from the large boat.

That small kayak was colored black with a white stern in the shape of an eagle. 10 men wearing triangular straw hats with shining swords rode atop that small boat. I looked above their heads.

[De Xin's Royal Bodyguards]

The man at the forefront of the guard was the only one wearing a black straw hat; the traditional Korean overcoat he wore was white and glossy. In addition... even more concerning, his name was a darker orange than the others.

'The Royal Guard has already been deployed?'

When the boss appeared in a dungeon, there were always guards or additional mobs that appeared with them. It'd be nice to only focus on the boss, but guard monsters were loyal to their masters and showed a different level of combat power compared to their ordinary monster counterparts.

Furthermore, the monsters did not seek to spare their own bodies because they were an existence that lived for the boss; many Users were killed or injured due to the Guard's reckless attacks. Therefore, I had no choice but to focus all my attention on them from the moment I identified the monsters.

"...W-What!?"

However, regardless of how I strived to mentally prepare myself, the small kayak they rode raced forward at a speed that greatly exceeded my expectations. Flustered, I ran around the border of the pond. I judged that it would probably be better to deal with the fairies rather than the Royal Guard.

However, while running along the edge, the pond seemed briefly transparent due to the angle of the moonlight hitting the water's surface. Surprised by the terrible sight within, I automatically stopped breathing.

Numerous people laid there-sunken beneath the pond's surface. The corpses stood upright in the water; looking closer, all the bodies were tied to thick wooden pillars.

I didn't know if the corpses were left to sink beneath the water by the weight of the logs or if a living person was tied down in order to drown them... Nonetheless, this was a knee-shaking sight. Even in the waters near the white boat, where the vessel floated slowly, the corpses' heads briefly bobbed to the surface before sinking down again.

[You've found a hint for the Scenario - 'Neverending Banquet.']

Thanks to the system message notification, I was shaken from my dumbfounded daze at such a brutal sight. I blinked my stiff eyes and turned to face the Royal Guard approaching me. Then, I fixed my loose grip on the dagger, holding it in reverse.

'There's no way I'm entering that pond-even if I die...'

I was at a dead end anyway; I had no choice.

[The hunting banquet is now beginning.]

Just then, the man in the black hat, standing in the point position, stopped walking, looked down at me, and barked orders to the rest of the guards standing behind him.

[As long as he's alive, his physical condition doesn't matter. Drag him here.]

[Understood!] 2

The guards responded and jumped off the kayak simultaneously. Contrary to their large size, their dive created a small, quiet splash. Only their triangular bamboo hats were left, floating on the water's surface.

I couldn't decide on my next actions, so, for now, I manifested the [Skill List], made it translucent, and left it floating in the upper left corner of my view. This was a temporary measure to find and use the skills I needed while making sure my view wasn't blocked.

Swoosh-!

Right then, a very small, thin syringe needle-invisible to Jung Garam's eyes-flew towards me. Though I bent my very flexible waist backwards and avoided it, cold sweat flowed down my back. The needle flew at a completely different speed than the arrows I had avoided just earlier.

'They're completely different from regular monsters... The arrow rain was nothing in comparison.'

What's worse, I hadn't the faintest idea where the royal bodyguards were located within the pond-I could only see the abandoned floating hats. After much consideration, I called forth another skill. "[Explosion]!"

Then, I thew the bomb below the water's surface.

Plop-!

However, nothing happened after the explosion except for a lone, tall waterspray. The submerged bomb probably couldn't defeat a single guard monster. Furthermore, after the water spout eruption, the water rippled strangely, making it hard to see inside. I had failed to create an opportunity for myself.

It was then.

[Shuriken.]

Suddenly, I felt a cold energy beneath my waist; the royal bodyguards' bloodthirst erupted.

"Eeek!" A strange sound ripped out of me as I stepped to avoid a guard's sword aimed at my ankle. I managed to avoid the attack by jumping incredibly high, but I couldn't change my position midair.

'No...!'

Perhaps the blade aimed at my ankle was mere bait or perhaps the monsters planned for a time-difference attack pattern... the thin needles that I had seen earlier began to fly directly at my forehead.

I clenched my teeth and tilted my head backwards. I began to hear the curious fairies' melody again; my body moved half a beat slower than I expected. As soon as I-face paling-thought I was doomed...

"[Barrier]."

Clank-!

Suddenly, a small, blue protective film formed between me and the syringe needle. The needle lost its momentum and fell to the ground.

Startled, I turned to look at who protected me with their skill. An unexpected person stood before me.

"How did you..." I trailed off.

The expressionless man, reaching his hand out towards me, was definitely... Bae Jaemin. "What do you mean 'how.' Didn't you also receive Eunji's SOS?"

"......" It felt like I had briefly stopped thinking. It was already shocking that Bae Jaemin had appeared before me, but it was especially unbelievable to see that the Priest would use [Barrier] to save me.

However, Bae Jaemin only gave a subtle grimace at my expression and turned away from me. It didn't seem like he was waiting for my response.

He stretched out one hand and took his staff out of the inventory. The staff was delicate and beautiful, engraved with his god's words and jewels. Light accompanied the staff as it exited the Priest's inventory.

Moreover, Bae Jaemin's surprising behavior didn't stop there. He opened the skill book with his other hand and accurately pointed his staff at me. Then, he started to apply buffs to my body, one after the other.

"[This blessing arises from five springs. Like a flowing spring, it washes away unclean energy; while the sun has risen, nothing can harm 'Jung Garam.' The night's wolves will not be able to hide their claws; the dirty souls can't dare lift their heads. This covenant is this, 'Bae Jaemin's', blessing; the blood running through his and Mother Earth's veins shan't be cursed.]"

[Exhaustion levels have been reset.]

[Physical and Magic Power has been increased by 200%]

[Your attacks will ignore enemy defense (10 minutes remaining)]

[Accuracy and Concentration has been greatly increased. Critical chance has been increased by 50%]

[Defense has increased by 30%]

[During daytime, skill attack power increased by 50%]

[At a low chance, damage received can be countered for 50% of its strength with additional damage done to the enemy.]

[Movement speed increased by 100%]

[Additional damage added to all attacks (+50%)]