NOVEL WEB Chapter 9
Bathed in cold moonlight, under the cover of a dark night.
The wind howled through the cracked rock cliffs, scattering red sand, while a chilling wind swept through the arid wasteland.
Buwooong—
The heavy sound of an engine broke the silence as a vehicle, robust and bull-like in appearance, came speeding under the veil of night and stopped at the base of the cliffs.
The woman with fiery red hair—Lianah—thrown open the driver’s side door, lightly hopped onto the ground, gripped the pistol at her waist, and used her left hand to adjust the goggle on her face as she carefully scanned the surroundings.
“Alright, everyone can get out now.”
With those words, Lianah clenched her fists and tapped on the vehicle. The sound of thuds spread and other doors slowly opened.
“But, have we already arrived? Good! Chun-sik, Sam-sik! Keep a proper watch! We’re here to protect the ladies!”
“Heheh, don’t worry, Daesik hyungnim!”
“We’re already perfectly prepared!”
Three men who were sleeping in the luggage compartment wiped away drool and with fervor held assault rifles, each equipped with various accessories.
“Uh, Edu.”
“Hmm?”
Mili, who had stepped out of the car first, reached out her hand toward me, and I quietly leaned into her embrace to be carried on her back.
“Sita, rest a bit longer.”
“Uh… I’m sorry.”
Sita replied leaning on her chair, looking slightly pale from motion sickness.
“No, car sickness is something that can’t be helped.”
“Right, take a good rest right there. You can even lie down!”
“…Yes, thank you.”
Lianah, seemingly concerned about Sita’s condition, approached and chimed in. Confirming that Sita was resting according to her advice, she closed the door of the vehicle.
“Haha… Was I a bit too enthusiastic?”
Lianah, scratching the side of her face, asked this question, her expression hinting uncertainty about whether she may have caused Sita’s motion sickness with her fast driving.
“No, it’s because we passed the off-road area.”
“…Hmm, that’s true?”
“Yeah, and it’s a great night for what we’re planning.”
“That’s true.”
Her expression relaxed after hearing that answer, yet her professionalism remained in the ease with which her body loosened from tension.
“Is everything already set up with the equipment?”
“Yep, arms are important.”
She tilted her body slightly to the side, revealing a rifle with a scope and a different assault rifle on her back—similar to the ones the men carried.
Even though she had added just a plate carrier and a backpack over the clothing she wore before, she exuded the seasoned demeanor of a veteran explorer.
“Though, I’d have liked to bring reinforced gear, but my current set is under repair anyway.”
“Damaged?”
“Yeah, there were some issues the last time.”
Not in full gear?! This was concerning, but even without everything in place, Lianah’s skills were enough to ensure her combat ability wasn’t drastically diminished.
“Still, Edu, since I have a request and a word you asked me to pass along, I came here… right?”
Her smile disappeared, and a slightly awkward expression appeared on her face as she turned her head to ask.
“You really want to be here, right?”
The coarse gusts of red sand between the ravines calmed down a bit as the harsh wind swept past.
Then, from the other side of the ravine, a large metallic structure came into view. Towering watchtowers and searchlights scattered light around the area, while the wind passing through the structure’s gaps emitted a desolate sound.
A fortress crudely built from wrecked cars and building frameworks resembled a monstrous steel beast cloaked in the remnants of an old era.
This was Bloodwind Valley.
A ground region in AOE that served as a starting zone, known as the Newbie Zone, but unlike the usual dirt plains, it was uniquely classified as an A-grade area due to its high difficulty.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“Hmm… Can I ask exactly what you want to do here?”
“First, I’ll recon the surrounding area and check a few things.”
Though this world resembles AOE in many ways, not everything is identical, as I realized through encountering its negative aspects.
Plus, the place was essentially the den of enemies, an inherently perilous area no matter how cautious we’d be.
“Then, what after the checks are done?”
“It needs to be wiped out.”
“…What, wiped out? That fortress?”
Lianah repeated, seemingly incredulous and flustered at the notion.
“Yeah.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
Her composed answer had Lianah pause to consider.
“Edu, forgive me if I’m being presumptuous, but are you aware that explorers, when possible, avoid danger by not fighting?”
“Yeah, I get that.”
After all, explorers are people—shot by a gun or stabbed with a sword, they die. They can also die accidentally in traps or from unforeseen accidents.
Fighting inherently heightens such dangers, which is why most explorers avoid it.
Though defeating enemies can yield great wealth, losing in a fight would only ensure their death—such was written in the AOE manual that came to mind.
True enough, reality isn’t a game.
Rather, that’s precisely why the nickname for explorers, “Death’s Treasure Box,” originated.
“…Even so, you’re set on attacking there?”
“Yeah.”
“If there’s a fight, it’ll be dangerous—you might die. Are you aware of that?”
“Yeah, I’m prepared for that too, Lianah. You fight when necessary, don’t you?”
“…Yeah, I do, but…”
This situation was different, which Lianah subtly intimated by scratching her cheek.
Truthfully, I hadn’t initially planned to attack a place like this. And who could blame her for thinking it was too much for even a high-level character?
This couldn’t be tolerated.
To let a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity pass due to half-hearted decisions would be nothing short of foolish. Hence, I boldly chose this place as our objective.
Of course, this world merely resembles AOE, not being identical to it. This was established through negative experiences, so the risk isn’t nonexistent.
However, since AOE itself is a difficult, high-stakes game, substantial rewards require significant risks to achieve.
“Hmm….”
Lianah, meanwhile, continued combing through her words, scratching her head. Her gaze then fell on Mili.
“Mili, right? Do you think like Edu?”
“Uh… Me?”
“Ledu seems interested in that fortress; I want to know if you feel the same.”
“The… fortress?”
“Yep, that one.”
Using a finger to gesture toward the distant Bloodwind Valley, Lianah watched as Mili’s eyes widened following her finger’s direction.
“Eh? Edu… Are we going there?”
Turning her head to me with a flustered tone, Mili asked, though this was a decision already made.
“Yeah.”
“Aaaa….”
Mili looked flustered, alternating her gaze between me, the Bloodwind Valley, and Lianah, yet this decision ultimately depended on her own answer.
“I… Well…”
With everyone silent, Mili slowly bowed her head. Lifting it again after a deep breath, she turned to look at me.
“Edu… is this something necessary?”
“Yes.”
Upon hearing my reply, Mili slightly nodded and then turned to Lianah.
“In that case… I’ll come too.”
“…Are you sure? You could die, Mili.”
“Guh…!”
Resolute though Lianah’s answer startled Mili, she didn’t retract her words. Instead, she persistently nodded despite her terrified expression.
“Then, Sita? Do you agree, Sita?”
“Yes.”
A calm voice responded beside her. Sita, seemingly recovered from her motion sickness, approached us.
“Edu hasn’t deceived us and has helped us in various ways.”
Even while saying this, Sita gulped.
“While it is scary, that would be lying to say otherwise… Edu must have some plan.”
Looking at me with trust, she formed a V with her finger to show her belief.
“…Alright.”
Having heard both of their answers, Lianah exhaled and smiled faintly, though a faint hint of apology and concern lingered on her face.
“It might still not be a good idea, but if you’re all set, I’ll trust Edu this time. But if I perceive it’s truly dangerous, you must listen to me then, right?”
“Yes.”
I readily agreed to Lianah’s conditions.
I was aware it was quite a tall order, and my intent was purely to maximize her help, not to undertake something utterly absurd and suicidal.
Meanwhile, Lianna adjusted her goggles from her forehead, quickly picked up the assault rifle on her back, and began loading it, her amicable demeanor switching instantly to that of a fierce warrior.
“Then, Daesik, Chun-sik, Samsik! Over here!”
““”Yes, ma’am!”””
In response to Lianah’s call, Daesik, Chun-sik, and Samsik halted their guarding and rushed over promptly. It was Daesik, the eldest of the three, who spoke first.
“Is there something you need, ma’am?”
“All three of you, brace yourselves—do you see that fortress over there?”
“Eh… Yes, I see it well. Isn’t that the den of those raiders known as Bloodwind Valley?”
“That’s correct, and we’re now going to attack it, so all of you brace yourselves.”
“Eh… What?”
Daesik’s blank expression revealed he couldn’t quite comprehend what she was saying.
“Wait a moment, ma’am, isn’t this large hive ignored even by the militia? Are you saying the four of us are going to attack it?”
“Four? No, it’s five.”
“Huh?”
Leaving Daesik’s confused expression aside, Lianah smiled and turned to our direction.
“That’s right, Edu? So could you tell us your plan?”
“Yes, the plan itself is simple. First, if you could deal with the external guards for me, I’ll handle the rest.”
“Just the external guards? Is that really all it takes?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, and please be mindful of noise.”
“You’re asking us to handle this quietly.”
“Right.”
The advantage of being in a small team is limited to scenarios like ambushes or infiltration—once it comes down to raw power, the side with greater numbers will prevail inevitably.
“Then, should we start… Daesik, you guys have silencers ready?”
“Of course, ma’am, though all we have are assault rifles so long-range combat is a bit difficult—wait, actually, are we really attacking that place?”
“Hmm. Then maybe I need to start taking out one by one with my sniper rifle….”
Daesik’s complaint was easily brushed aside as Lianah frowned thoughtfully, contemplating through the thick sandstorm.
“It’s fine, Lianah. I’ll point out the enemies for you.”
“Huh? Do you have a plan?”
“Yes, I might need to show you my abilities.”
“Uh, is that alright?”
Lianah showed a worried expression, Daesik also nodding beside her.
“Ma’am is right. A single explorer’s abilities are practically their bread and butter, so there’s no need for you to stress us with them.”
“It’s fine.”
Though their words rang true if my goal was to make a name for myself as an explorer, working as one here was more about securing opportunities to grow and gain support, so there was no need to hide my capabilities.
After all, once I enter the academy and take a more upfront role in activities, this information would naturally come out.
“Hmm, if Edu thinks that, I won’t dissuade you any further. But all of you, do not talk about Edu to anyone else?”
“Of course, ma’am. Don’t worry about that.”
“Heheh, it’s only natural to keep a young lady’s secrets!”
“Indeed, we’ll zip our mouths tight!”
The trio affirmatively agreed with Lianah’s request. They might look rough around the edges, but their hearts were genuinely good.
“Alright then, here we go. Summon, Little Drone.”
– Consuming MP to summon.
A ripple of blue light spread from a small body, and soon Edu’s shoulders saw a tiny circular drone pop into existence with a “poom.”
“Oooh…? So, Miss Edu is an Awakened one?”
“Right, this is… a summoning technique like bringing out robots, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
At hearing that, both expressions initially lit with surprise slightly dimmed, and Sita carefully observed their reactions.
“Then, Little Drone, I’ll leave it to you.”
Whiiing…
The drone’s body swayed as if nodding, quickly ascending into the sky.
Even while swaying slightly in the gusts, it busily moved its radar and camera attached underneath, transmitting the surrounding scenery to me.
I carefully confirmed the landscape, recording the enemies’ positions cautiously and without missing any detail.
Twenty guards and three snipers…
It was an odd number considering the base’s scale, but not too small either. Still, now that we had confirmed them, I transmitted the information to Lianah.
“Have you confirmed?”
“Yes, Edu’s ID. Please send the data to Lianah.”
[Code confirmation, initiating data transmission to target ‘Lianah’.]
“Hmm—Ah, it’s here. Hmmph, I see.”
Lianah nodded in understanding, taking a moment to organize her thoughts. Then, she pulled out and loaded her sniper rifle from her back.
“Alright, let’s get started.”