Pick Me Up!

I swallowed a bitter laugh.

A purely defensive strategy. Closing one gap wouldn’t be the end of it.

As time passed, more and more gaps would inevitably appear.

“Han, you seem to know a way to deal with those things. Teach our warriors how to fight them.”

“How many do you have?”

“About ten thousand.”

“Ten thousand.”

They really expected to repel the fragments with only ten thousand? And they weren’t even heroes. Ordinary people, without skills, engravings, or enhanced physical abilities.

I sighed.

“I’ll help if I can.”

“Thank you.”

Pria placed her clasped hands on the table and hesitated before looking at me, Velkist, and Jenna.

“Is there something else you want to say?”

“The next task… might put you in danger.”

“Just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush.”

Yoshua glanced at Velkist with a hostile glare, but Velkist simply chuckled and ignored him.

Pria hesitated for a moment, then placed a translucent stone on the table.

“What’s this?”

Pria tapped the stone with her finger.

With a flash, blue light erupted from the stone, illuminating the table.

Two different images materialized above it.

[Ding!]

[Choices have been presented!]

[You can prioritize one of the two objectives.]

Of course, it was a choice-based mission.

I focused on the faintly visible images.

<Kraaaah!>

The first image.

A small village with a windmill on a hill.

What was once a peaceful place was now in chaos.

<Kill you! Kill you all! Phryos!>

A massive bird, its flesh and bones grotesquely exposed, rampaged wildly.

Every flap of its wings scattered black blood in all directions.

<How dare you… lowly humans… how dare you challenge me, ruler of ten thousand demons…!>

“Turn off the sound.”

With a click, the sound disappeared.

“Shutenberg.”

It wasn’t dead yet.

Well, it was a transcendent species, after all.

In that case, there was no need to look at the next image.

“Han.”

It was Halkion’s voice.

“He seems to be corrupted. There’s no trace of reason left in him.”

It was clear they weren’t in their right minds.

Shutenberg was recklessly releasing massive magical storms.

The villagers had long since been wiped out, not even leaving corpses behind. The village itself had been reshaped beyond recognition.

“Hahaha! But an opportunity is an opportunity. To think they’d appear of their own accord, saving us the trouble of hunting them.”

“Saving us the trouble?”

“Han, have I ever told you about your potential? You are a vessel as excellent as an emperor. You’ve grown well. Now it’s time to devour the next transcendent species. If you absorb the Azure Wing King, you’ll gain infinite mana. If you absorb the Crimson Mist King, you’ll obtain eyes that transcend reality and illusion. Either way, you’ll profit greatly.”

“…”

“Alternatively, by dealing with those two, you could acquire the power needed to ascend to 7-stars.”

I see.

Returning to Earth required me to ascend to 7-stars, like it or not.

Those two would need to serve as sacrifices for that purpose.

“No room to refuse, is there?”

In any case, the mission was up to the Master to decide.

If this extermination mission was part of the journey to the 90th floor, there was no choice but to accept it.

I twirled my finger.

[Master, ‘Han (★★★★★★)’ suggests the ‘Shutenberg Extermination Mission.’]

[Do you accept?]

[Yes / No]

[Ding!]

[You have chosen the ‘Shutenberg Extermination Mission.’]

[The field for the next mission will be automatically adjusted.]

With this, the procedure was complete.

“So these things are blocking access everywhere?”

“Correct. Each of them is stationed at key points leading to the capital. Because of them, refugees are isolated, unable to move. Even our elite troops are struggling to…”

“No need for that. I’ll handle it quickly and return.”

The images on the table disappeared.

Yoshua bowed his head to me.

“We’re deeply sorry for relying on you every time. But our circumstances…”

“I get it. It’s obvious. Jenna, Velkist, head outside. I’ll wrap up and follow shortly.”

Jenna and Velkist left the tent.

Yoshua glanced between me and Pria before bowing and leaving as well.

Silence.

Pria remained unchanged.

Even after having effectively killed her own brother and learning of a future where there was no such thing as victory, she showed no signs of wavering.

“Are you worried about me?”

Pria spoke softly.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve already made my decision.”

“…”

“There’s no turning back for me. All that’s left is to move forward, no matter what awaits at the end.”

I didn’t respond, simply watching her quietly.

“Han, I know that you come from a different place than Townia.”

“Earth, it’s called.”

“Then a lifetime contract is out of the question. What right do I have to hold someone from another world here?”

Pria smiled faintly.

“Forget the promise we made in the past. Do what your mission permits and return to your homeland. Find your own happiness there.”

“…”

“Townia could never be your home. That was my mistake.”

Pria stood from her chair.

Turning her back to me, she headed toward the exit.

“I’m… sorry…”

Her voice trembled slightly, almost inaudible as she whispered those words while passing me.

“Home, huh…”

I closed my eyes.

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!