NOVEL NEXT chapter 45
45. The Sentinel (2)
The crowd gathered swiftly.
It was because the coin purse Limberton held was too bulky to pass by without notice.
However, as the name Hersel was mentioned, the reaction turned cold.
“Are you talking about your leader, Hersel? That scoundrel from the Tenest family?”
“Uh…”
“Ugh, who would bother saving that wretch even if they saved everyone else in the world? Oh, look, here’s one. This fool.”
Each time the men scoffed, Ashleigh glared murderously, crushing their spirit, and Limberton continued to explain the situation.
“It was like a dragon made of bones. Because it destroyed the stone bridge, Hersel got isolated, you see? We must hurry to help, or it’ll be dangerous.”
Just the mention of the broken bridge was enough for the apprentices to guess there was trouble, and they didn’t approach easily.
If a monster had that kind of power, what else could it be but ‘The Sentinel’?
Money is money, but life comes first.
As people began to leave one by one, someone approached.
“Limberton, is that story true?”
Recognizing the familiar face, Limberton greeted him with a flush of excitement.
“Erusel? Wow, this is great. Your brother is in danger right now. Come with us.”
There should be some affection since they were half-brothers; naturally, he would help.
But contrary to expectations, Erusel asked with a look of disbelief.
“Me? Why?”
“What?”
“Ask a hundred times if you must. Even if you gave away all the coins, who would bother helping such trash?”
“But he seems quite changed. It seems like he’s changed a lot…”
Erusel shook his head in disbelief, then bulged his eyes and shouted loudly.
“Get a grip! He must’ve spoken sweetly just to use you. Changed, what nonsense… Tsk.”
“…”
Limberton couldn’t say anything and just drooped his shoulders.
He knew all too well that he was nothing more than a stopgap brought in because the team was incomplete.
“Isn’t it better this way? Take his share too and just cross the door, and that’s it.”
As Erusel laughed slyly, the people around began to join in.
“That’s true.”
“If it were me, I’d just ditch him and go. Honestly, who wants to attend the academy with that guy?”
“Right, you clueless fool. Instead of muddying the waters, just fill your own belly. If it pricks your conscience, go make a donation or something.”
It was a tempting proposition.
After all, considering what I’ve been through, why should I show loyalty just because I saw a brief change in him?
I’d only get more flak for bringing in a deadbeat who’s bound to self-destruct.
“If you don’t like it, then say so. Erucel, why is your brother such a nuisance?”
But the words that came out were contrary to the conclusion of reason.
Because something suddenly came to mind.
He had offered a handshake to a barbarian, and at a critical moment, he volunteered as bait and was left alone.
“In my view, he’s definitely changed. If it were the old him, he would’ve thrown one of us as bait and fled.”
It wasn’t for Hersel’s sake.
I just didn’t like the idea of being indebted.
“Hmph, that guy did? Stop lying already.”
“How do you know if that’s true? Our foreign friend here saw it too.”
“A foreigner? As if a barbarian is any different from a beast…”
Faced with such discriminatory reactions, Limberton was convinced his decision was not wrong.
I’m not sure how it was before, but at this moment, there are more despicable people than him.
“And, you know what?”
Limberton, scanning the crowd of fellow examinees who were busy deceiving each other, fixed his gaze on a familiar female face and continued.
“He helped people in trouble, even if they weren’t on the same team. Not like you guys, who’ve been at each other’s throats since earlier, but that so-called deadbeat.”
Then the woman who had received help nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. His words are true. Thanks to him, I was able to get here.”
As a witness stepped forward, Erucel flinched and turned away.
“Ah, I don’t know. There’s no one to help anyway, so stay here and get eliminated if you want.”
He said his piece and disappeared.
Even after the troublemaker was gone, the examinees wasted time and showed no further interest.
When only one man, carrying a great sword on his back, remained, Limberton grasped his head, wondering what to do.
At that moment, a hoarse voice pierced his ears.
“Limberton, was it? Why are you taking the side of that notorious deadbeat?”
A gaunt man with hollow eyes was staring at him.
He was the only man left standing alone.
The murky ink-colored eyes within his pale face gave off an unsettling discomfort, causing Limberton to step back unknowingly.
“Huh?”
“Curiosity is piqued, I see. With that amount of coins, you could score high. Why not just keep your mouths shut and take it?”
“I’ve already said. I’ll use it as a fee to save that guy.”
The man twisted his dry lips into a faint smile.
“Do you know that? Coins are currency only usable within the Academy. I’m not sure what you desire, but you can have anything that money can buy.”
“You think I’m doing this without knowing that? If you’re not taking the request, then just buzz off, will you?”
The man, seemingly enjoying the situation, lingered without leaving.
“Really, are those words sincere? Humans, after all, end up only looking out for themselves. Aren’t you the same? Even now, feeling a sense of moral superiority, praising yourself inwardly, thinking you’re so great—do you think I don’t know?”
Irritated, Limberton shot the man a sharp look and said to Ashley,
“Let’s go, Ashley. People will leave because of such a lunatic.”
But the man’s clingy voice showed no sign of letting go.
“So, shall we test if my words are wrong? I’ll take your request. In exchange, hand over all your coins. Every single one, without missing a dime.”
It was obvious he had no colleagues; what kind of request was he planning to take on?
Limberton tried to ignore him and leave.
“Of course, you would. Limberton, you too are a human who’s helpless before desire. Nothing more than a pretentious sort, intoxicated with a false sense of nobility.”
“What? Such people exist?”
Then Ashley grabbed his shoulder and shook his head seriously.
“■■■■■■.”
“Eh? What. You can’t be serious, entrusting it to that guy?”
As he pointed at the man, Ashley nodded.
Reluctantly, Limberton, unable to find a better person at the moment, approached the man with a pouch full of coins.
“Here, take it. You seem like a weirdo, but it’s better than nothing…”
Then the man opened his eyes wide in surprise and tilted his head.
“What?”
“Why? Got scared when it comes to actually accepting?”
The man asked with a bewildered expression.
“……Perhaps, does that Hessle guy have even more coins?”
“Really? Since I’m the porter, he must be broke, right?”
“But why? Are you an idiot?”
As the man asked as if he truly didn’t understand, Limbutton sighed deeply.
“Haah… Stop being a pain. Haven’t I been saying? I’ll use it as a fee to save that guy. I don’t have time, so shall we go?”
The man seemed lost in thought for a moment, then, stroking his chin, he narrowed his eyes.
“Hmm, you guys aren’t needed, so that’s fine. I’ll go alone. Instead, find an exit here.”
“Eh? An exit?”
“It’s exit number 44.”
Leaving just those words behind, the man turned his back.
Limbutton gazed aimlessly at his retreating figure, then muttered softly.
“What, what the heck? That guy is…”
The coin purse he had been holding had disappeared without a trace.
* * *
Both legs, which were supposed to be escape routes, were completely severed.
Even if I failed the third trial, I’d have to endure a whole day here before they’d let me out.
It was far too long to cohabitate with the guard in the corridor.
‘Hershel! He’s coming!’
“Ah, seriously!”
When the lizard tried to strike with its tail, I ducked or jumped high like skipping rope.
It was so good at dodging that it would fall off the cliff, then suddenly pop out in an unexpected direction, startling me,
And every time a moment of crisis came, I’d survive ‘1 second of invincibility’ to buy a little more time.
But now I’m at my limit.
‘Do something about it! Isn’t your stamina already running out?’
“Heck! Heck!”
How am I supposed to do something about it?
This isn’t my house filled with supplies, all there is are stone floors and ant hills hiding keys.
It was already an achievement to have lasted this long.
“You, you try to do something about it… Huff! Huff!”
‘Even though your stamina has increased, it’s still useless as ever!’
‘What? You little…!’
I bickered with Donatan as we entered the ant hill.
This wasn’t a dead-end space, so there was a way out even if he followed us in.
Buying some time to catch my breath, I wracked my brain for a strategy to take down the sentinel.
To survive, I had to kill him without fail.
His weakness was a black heart hidden behind his ribs.
Normal attacks were useless.
It required a definitive attack capable of holding aura, like the one the 44th playable character, Liamon, should have used.
Or perhaps a magical feat, accumulating damage one point at a time with extreme control finesse.
Thud!
He forced his head into the entrance of the ant hill, kicking up dust.
As he snapped his teeth as if ready to devour me at any moment, I drew the most basic and mana-efficient water attribute spell.
“Die!”
Splat—
A stream of water shot past his snout, aiming for the black heart.
…A water gun might have been more effective.
“Hmph, the magic I’ve learned is weaker than a stream of pee.”
“Quiet… It must have caused some damage.”
About minus one?
Crack!
As the lizard thrashed, cracks began to form inside the ant hill.
I hurried through the connected passageway and escaped into the corridor.
He was floundering under the debris.
Now was my chance to attack.
I drew the water gun spell again, aiming for the black heart.
Splat—
Once more!
Splat—
Despite the grave fight, Donatan was busy setting the mood.
“How much longer do you plan to play these silly games?”
“Just hit it 5,371 more times. Don’t interfere.”
“Was it sincere? Good heavens…”
I was in the midst of inscribing a spell, believing I could launch another attack.
Someone called out my name with a hoarse voice, and I lost my focus.
“Are you Hassel Ben Tenest?”
A man with a gaunt physique and a mummified face.
He was undoubtedly the strongest playable character among the Frost Heart aspirants.
[Liamon Sel Rebectura]
●Blessing
◆Blessing of the Fallen Hermit Swordsman◆
λ No longer shall I be deceived by falsehoods.
A critical hit will activate on the tenth attack.
●Traits
◇Balance of the Swallow◇
◇The Soft-bodied Human◇
He spun a dagger tied to a rope over the collapsed bridge, then threw it towards the corridor’s stone bridge.
Thud!
As the dagger stuck, he planted another dagger in place and climbed onto the taut rope.
He began to rush towards me, reminiscent of an acrobat’s antics.
I couldn’t fully witness the scene.
A sentinel had executed a body slam on my back.
Crack!
[A physical attack has been detected.]
[Trait has been activated.]
[1-second invincibility cooldown: 59 seconds]
I don’t know why that guy is here.
Frankly, the reason didn’t matter.
It seemed he might help, and what’s important is getting out alive.
But why do I feel like my stomach is turning?
“Seeing it up close, it’s quite nauseating…”
Instead, anger surged, and I gritted my teeth.
The sentinel was originally not my responsibility, but that guy’s.
* * *
Liamon tilted his head, scratching his cheek.
Wasn’t the Tenest family known for their swordsmanship?
Yet here they are, wielding a staff instead of a sword, shooting streams of water.
‘Is there some meaning to this?’
It was somewhat bothersome, but business comes first.
Deciding to think about it later, Liamon dragged his greatsword towards the sentinel.
Then Hersel furrowed his brows and asked,
“What brings you here?”
“Sent by Limberton.”
“For free…?”
“No, we agreed on coins.”
“Hmph, I knew it…”
He grumbled angrily as he passed by.
“I’ve been feeling hostility since earlier. Did I do something wrong?”
“Forget it. It’s not that, just earn your keep. I’ll be over there watching.”
As Hersel settled down to sit, Liamon looked at the now-alert sentinel.
Just as Limberton had described, it felt different from ordinary monsters.
But he had just seen it.
Even with all his weight thrown into the attack, he couldn’t inflict a scratch on Hersel.
‘So, despite its appearance, it must be weak.’
With the thought of finishing the job more easily than expected, Liamon approached the sentinel without any particular defensive stance.
He concentrated all his aura into the greatsword, aiming to pierce the sentinel’s black heart, which seemed to be its weakness.
Clang─────!
The greatsword broke with one swing of the sentinel’s tail.
A look of dismay began to frost over Liamon’s face.
“Huh?”