Rise of The Living Enchantment [LITRPG REGRESSION]

He thought he could feel the night's chill on his skin, but Jang Su doubted it was the case. Temperature was a foregone thing for him. He was always at an optimum temperature, cold enough to be comfortable and hot enough to be comfortable.

Still, he thought he felt the chill.

It's your disappointment, he told himself. There was a part of him that was angry. It was not vengeful, not baleful, just angry.

His anger was pointed firmly in one direction—himself.

He'd thought he'd grown, gotten stronger. The truth was that he had, if his level was not proof of it, the fact that he could enjoy a fight against Ted, Lord Lacheart's brother, and still pull his own weight was something, especially when Ted was of a higher level than himself.

It did not change his disappointment in himself, though. He had lost to Aiden. It had been expected. He was not so proud that he had fallen into hubris. Aiden's fight with the [Sage] had told Jang Su everything he needed to know about how strong he was.

But to lose in one move?

Jang Su shook his head as he slipped on another piece of arm guard, fastening it into place. He hadn't even seen the move, hadn't known what hit him.

And he had attacked with his most proficient skill. It was a forward slash designed to cut down everything in its path as far as ten feet. It prided itself on speed, accuracy and power.

Yet Aiden had seen through it.

Jang Su would've liked to say that he'd blinked and it was all over, but he hadn't blinked. His eyes had been wide open, yet he had no idea what had happened. He knew he'd missed, he'd expected to miss. But so disappointingly?

He grit his teeth as he adjusted his chest armor, made sure its strap was tight. Eyes wide open, Aiden had put him on his back, and he still had no idea how it had happened.

I need to get stronger.

Jang Su was so lost in his own thoughts that he failed to notice the stares he was garnering until someone spoke.

"Never seen armor like that before."

He blinked, removing his attention from his self-pity, to attend to the owner of the voice. It was a short woman, barely above five feet if he was not mistaken.

Ballev? He thought, trying to remember her name.

She was one of the five members of the mercenary group that Aiden had employed to guide them through the Crystal Cave. The same cave that his master had initially wanted him to head into today.

The woman moved closer to him. She inspected his armor with a studious face. "I can't place the origin."

"You won't," Jang Su said absently. The lady did not seem to have a good relationship with Aiden so he was choosing to stand on his side on the matter.

"Taeli," a man with a massive bow strapped to his back called in a low tone. "Stop disturbing our employers."

Taeli, Jang Su thought, trying once more to commit her name to memory. I wasn't terribly off.

The woman, Taeli, moved away from him with a grumble and headed back to her group. Jang Su watched her go, wondering how she would react when he pulled the last piece of his armor set out of his storage space.

While he garbed himself in his armor, the rest of the group were gathered around a large map. The man with the bow, Dreg, was revising plans with Aiden and the others.

"I still say we follow this path," he said, pointing at a trail on the mana projection the map emanated. "It is known to have the highest number of low-level monsters. Back when people still frequented this place instead of the catacombs, it was famous for leveling up."

Aiden mused, eyes darting to the only other person that was not a part of the gathering. A young man in a flowing green robe. He held a staff in one hand and did nothing to tie up his flowing long hair. As black as night, it looked like something he probably spent most of his time taking care of.

The man had the [Healer] class from the introductions made. Aiden had been averse to his presence when they'd met him. The mercenaries, however, had been strong supporters of his presence.

"We will not go on this expedition without a [Healer]," they had argued. "It makes no sense."

Anyone with half a brain knew that it made no sense. Aiden had argued back, pointing out that there were more than enough potions to account for depleted health. The mercenaries had fired back with the risk of toxicity.

It had been a back and forth that had wasted a lot of time. Ultimately, to everyone's surprise, Aiden had accepted defeat. However, it was on the agreement that he would not be paying the [Healer] since he did not budget for the man.

The [Healer]'s payment was to come from the pocket of the mercenaries. They were more than happy to oblige.

As unreasonable as it had been to refuse a [Healer], Jang Su suspected he knew the real reason Aiden had been against accepting the man. Trust.

For all his strength and abilities, Aiden struck him as a man who hated unplanned variables. He was a man that didn't just find it difficult to trust, he found it impossible. A [Healer] he did not vet himself, was a person he could not trust.

Jang Su wasn't sure how to feel about that. He had been through a lot on Earth. Most of it—he had come to realize since coming to Nastild—had been his fault. Even so, he trusted, yet distrust remained second nature

Aiden, however, held distrust to his chest. It seemed to be an important component of the blood that pumped from his heart.

Jang Su found himself wondering just what he had been through to distrust so strongly. Was it something from his time on Earth? He doubted it, Ted associated with him so normally. It was too smooth. Judging from his observations of Ted, they didn't seem to have gone through a lot growing up. Thus, it begged a new question. Was it the things he had gone through in his short time on Nastild?

"I'm not looking for the most monsters," Aiden said in response to Dreg's choice on paths to take. "I'm looking for paths with the lowest amount of monsters."

The largest member of the group, a large corpulent man, moved his fingers in an intricate weave of signs. Aiden watched him as he did, shaking his head once he was done.

He understands sign language, too?

"You were under the assumption that we came here to level up," Aiden said, looking at the large man. "I don't remember saying that I was here for the same thing."

"Sightseeing," one of the twins in the group said.

Jang Su could not differentiate between the both of them. They wore the same type of light armor, down to the style, make, and color. They wore their hair up in the same way and carried identical weapons.

"You said you were interested in seeing the sights," the second twin said in the same singsong voice as her sister.

With blond flowing hair that fell below their shoulders and blue eyes, their beauty was not lost to Jang Su. But he had the heart of a warrior. Beauty, as his master liked to say, should only be seen in the flow of the weapon and the brutality of the battlefield.

Dreg looked from Aiden to the rest of the group—Valdan and Ted. A light frown touched his lips.

"I just assumed that you were…" His words trailed off as he scratched the back of his head. "I saw the lot of you, saw your weapons… after what you did to Taeli and how you moved when we met, I thought you were just lying to lower the price."

"And you did not increase the price when you came to that conclusion?" the [Healer] asked as if they were children.

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"He commissioned another task," one of the twins said. "It was too easy that we felt like we had ripped him off for the pay."

The [Healer] nodded as if he understood and said nothing else.

"How about here?" the short woman, Taeli, asked, pointing at another new path. It lit up, green against the blue projection. "It should be relatively safe. Simple levels, few monsters. At least that's from what I remember."

Dreg looked to Aiden. "What's your take on this?"

Taeli frowned, unhappy to find her opinion being taken to Aiden for permission.

Aiden tugged at his lower lip with thumb and forefinger. He made a humming sound, though there was no tone to it. He had done it twice now, during his argument over the [Healer] and here.

Jang Su was beginning to think it was his thinking face.

Aiden tapped another path and it highlighted in green. "What's this path like?"

"Same as the one I pointed out," Dreg pointed out. "Low levels and high numbers."

"And this?" Aiden highlighted another path.

"The same," Dreg answered.

Aiden highlighted over three more paths and got similar replies. They all risked the chance of high monster levels.

Aiden let out a defeated sigh.

"What's this place?" Ted asked, leaning forward to highlight a blank area.

All the mercenaries exchanged a glance. They obviously noticed the same thing that Jang Su had noticed while Aiden tried to hold back a sigh. All the paths he had highlighted had in their intricate and complex weavings, ultimately ended up there.

"That's the crystal's location," one of the twins said. "Kingdoms make their way there for the crystal once it spawns."

"It happens every two years," Dreg said. "And it hasn't been up to a year since it was claimed, so we should be fine."

Taeli paused. "You're not trying to go there, are you?" she asked, with accusation in her voice.

"I am," Aiden answered simply. "Why? Would you cancel the contract?"

"It's dangerous," Taeli said.

"Because of the crystal?"

"Yes."

"But there's no crystal."

"But there are still monsters." Taeli scowled at him. "You'll get us killed. Kingdoms send in their finest warriors for this."

"Because other kingdoms send their finest warriors, too," the [Healer] said. "And you have a [Healer]."

There was a moment of contemplative silence. Dreg broke it.

"Elami is right," he said with a sigh. "The kingdoms do not send their finest because of the monsters. It's because of the other kingdoms. The bloodbaths are not unknown."

Jang Su's attention slipped over to Aiden. Aiden had spent time with a [Sage] in Bandiv, it was hard to imagine that he didn't know something.

His master had told him that he would need to gather an expendable mercenary team for the task he had brought them here for because it was necessary for the reward he wanted him to have. What if this was it?

What if Aiden's [Sage] had somehow told Aiden about it, too, and Aiden had come to claim whatever it was?

Are all these mercenaries expendable? He thought, eyes moving to Aiden.

Was he the kind of monster that would doom all these people to their deaths? His eyes moved over to Ted and Valdan.

No.

He refused to believe it. His master had asked him to get expendable people, but Aiden had brought his friend and brother as well. There had to be a plan… right?

"Are we really considering going to the location of the crystal?" Taeli asked, flabbergasted.

Aiden sighed as if he was tired of the argument. "If you are afraid and you think it's not worth the money, then you can bow out of the agreement. I told you that I came to sightsee and I will sightsee."

"You came specifically for that location," Dreg said in realization. "That's why the pay was so high."

"How high?" the [Healer], Elami, asked curiously.

"Three times the normal amount," Dreg answered. "He knew that no one would agree at the usual going rate." He frowned. "Shit."

"You can all still turn back now," Aiden told him. "I get to keep my money, and I'll simply go through the stress of finding another group that will take me. Time is running out, and I'd like to finalize positions before we head in."

Jang Su was fully armored now. All that was left was his helmet. He left it in his storage space.

After a long moment of contemplation, the [Healer] said, "It would be foolish to turn back now. I say we get this over with."

"You're not a part of the group," Taeli snarled like a rabid chihuahua. "You don't get a say."

"We're doing the job," Dreg said. "We'll step into the space, have the young lord look around, then leave."

"What about the monsters?" Taeli asked, paling slightly.

"There will be monsters regardless. We get paid to deal with the monsters." Dreg steeled his expression. "Regardless of what our employer said, we are guards as well as guides."

Jang Su could only imagine what Aiden had said.

"Now, formations," Aiden said, standing up as the mana projection of the map disappeared and Dreg rolled up the parchment it was drawn on. "Dan and Jang Su will take the front. They are our damage dealers. Oncot," he addressed the large man. "You will be right behind them. I take it you are the tank of the group."

Oncot nodded.

"Nesa," he looked at one of the twins. "You and your sister will hold the rear. The last thing anyone wants is to be ambushed. Your annoying friend gets to play wild card. She can hover around whichever way she wants."

"I thought the archer stays at the back," Dreg said.

"They normally do," Aiden agreed. "But I want the sisters watching our back."

"What about him?" Dreg nodded to Ted. "What will he be doing?"

"He'll be protecting the [Healer], while you play ranged support," Aiden answered easily.

The [Healer] smiled, but it came out as something intrigued instead of pleased.

"And what part will you be playing, young lord?" he asked.

"Me?" Aiden held out his hand and light refracted at his fingertips. A well-crafted longbow appeared in his grip when the light was gone. "I'll be the other wild card."

All the mercenaries frowned.

"You have a sword at your waist," one of the twins pointed out, unlike Aiden, Jang Su couldn't differentiate which was which. "And the way you handled Taeli."

"Aren't you a damage dealer?" the other twin asked. "Do you not favor the melee?"

"I'm versatile enough," Aiden replied. "But my default position will be protecting the [Healer], while assisting with ranged support."

"I'm flattered," the [Healer] deadpanned.

He clearly was not.

"Alright then." Aiden turned to face the cave. "Shall we?"

They stood in front of the cave carved into the rocky face of a desert cliff. The sun had slipped below the horizon. The stars and moon had come out to play. A dry wind swept through the desert, stirring loose grains of sand beneath their feet. The cave loomed before them. Its entrance was dark and small, only wide enough for two men to walk side by side. It carried the chill that echoed in the desert air.

"Anyone else feel a chill?" Elami, the [Healer] asked.

Taeli growled. It seemed it was her preferred method of communication. "I thought I was the only one."

I thought I was imagining it, Jang Su mused.

"Valdan," Aiden said, gesturing forward as a quiver of arrows appeared in his off hand and he snapped it into place against his hip.

"Yes, my lord?" Valdan answered.

"If you will do the honors."

Valdan nodded and stepped forward.

He walked towards the cave with his head held high and his sword drawn. Jang Su followed after him, not needing to be told.

"You won't need the helmet," Aiden whispered as Jang Su passed him. "The monsters are not strong."

Jang Su paused, then nodded.

Aiden Lacheart, it seemed, knew far more than he could imagine. Then again, he was wearing a samurai's armor. Anyone from Earth would know that it came with a helmet of its own.

"And Valdan," Aiden said, stopping the knight halfway into the cave. "Remember."

The knight nodded. "No killing."

The mercenaries paused.

"What the hell kind of rule is that?" Dreg complained. "We didn't agree to this."

Aiden shrugged. "Oh, no, the rule doesn't apply to you guys. You can kill as much as you want. However—and I cannot stress this enough—once we get into the crystal section, no one is to kill anything, no matter what. If as much as one monster dies, you don't get paid."

"We will—" Taeli began to protest only for Aiden to silence her with a look.

He stepped up to her until he was looking down at her. Directly into her eyes.

Jang Su felt like a predator in a greater predator's territory very suddenly.

"Should one monster die at the location of the crystal," he said, his voice as cold and sharp as steel. "I can assure you that if it displeases me, surviving the cave will be the least of your worries. I chose you all because you all are strong enough to survive. Now, you have brought a [Healer] which has made you twice as strong. You will survive as long as you do not kill a single monster at the location of the crystal. Is that understood?"

Taeli nodded slowly.

The large man, Oncot, signed something with a frown, and Aiden laughed.

"There is honor in mercy, Oncot," Aiden told him. "You just have to spill enough blood to account for that honor. And you will have more than your fill of blood to spill."

Oncot paused. Then he smiled something feral. It seemed Aiden had just made a friend.

"Good." Aiden returned his attention to Valdan. "Lead the way."

…

Jang Su moved, keeping pace beside Valdan. Two katanas rested on each sides of him, resting carefully on his hips. The cave was dark, difficult to see in but not impossible. He had to strain his eyes to see.

His armor made no sound as he moved, courtesy of countless enchantments that lined its insides. It was designed to keep him safe, but—as the [Sage] had demanded—not too safe.

"Aiden always has a plan," Valdan said simply.

Jang Su looked at him. "Sorry?"

"Lord Lacheart often has outlandish plans but, ultimately, they work."

Jang Su looked back at Aiden. He held his bow casually, eyes faced forward. He didn't look as if he was watching, though. If anything, he looked as if he was thinking.

The question, however, was thinking of what?

What exactly could he possibly—

An arrow shot past him. It wasn't a large thing, but it was not a small thing either. Jang Su felt the breeze as the arrow cut through the air.

Aiden was suddenly standing next to the [Healer], bow at the ready. He had fired the arrow.

Fast.

A pained shriek filled the air. It rang loud enough to rip Jang Su's attention from Aiden.

"Front and Center, Jang Su!" Aiden barked, voice calm yet commanding. "It begins."

Jang Su steeled his resolve, eyes squinted.

Three creatures of deep yet dull white stood ahead of them. One had an arrow the width of three fingers and as long as his entire arm protruding from its shoulder. It was the one in pain, the one crying out. Yet, it was not the one that held Jang Su's attention.

No, it was a different one.

One of the three stood in an offensive stance. Four swords hung at its hips, each a dull white just as its skin. Two on each side.

It's body morphed slowly, taking on a new shape.

In time, a new form stood in front of Jang Su. A creature in a deep white samurai armor, complete with the helmet Aiden had told Jang Su he wouldn't need.

An arrow ripped into its leg, shattering the entire limb on impact.

"ONCOT!" Aiden's voice roared through the air. "THE LAND HAS BROUGHT YOU BLOOD!"

The corpulent man dropped from the air like a falling meteor. He caved in the white samurai's head in a single blow, then threw his head back and barked an ecstatic laugh.

Fuck it.

Jang Su grabbed the hilt of his sword and plunged into the fray.

[You have used Class skill Draw]