Chapter 156: Instead of the Crocodile Swarm 1
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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Han Se-ah returned to the Adventurer's city, prioritizing the tower climb over the linked quest that was abruptly completed.
Choosing the tower was a decision made both as a streamer and as a top gamer, rather than wandering aimlessly for a side quest.
Naturally, the viewers were thrilled.
As 'Mr.Heartache' pointed out, if this is a realistic fantasy world, shouldn't matters outside the tower be handled by the Kingdom's Knights Division?
What the viewers truly craved was not an indirect experience of the vast fantasy world, but information on the higher floors of the tower they couldn't reach.
On average, most had just finished the 10th floor, while Han Se-ah was preparing to enter the 31st.
She was expected to give insight into future floors as someone ahead of the pack.
"Wait, you're already on the 31st floor? And your group unlocked the 30th floor gate?"
"Didn't you hear about me looking for a golem mana stones?"
"I don't know, man. I was already above the 40th floor at that time, so I missed that. After that, I went west to save that idiot."
"Heh, my apologies."
While Lily and her party headed west to solve a mercenary request in order to make up for the lost mana stones, Rebecca and her mercenaries joined our group.
Seated comfortably in a large carriage Rebecca purchased, we talked.
After driving out the orcs, our journey back to the Adventurer's city from Ertta was peaceful.
Some viewers anticipated a restless Rebecca to suddenly kidnap me, and even Han Se-ah seemed subtly hopeful for such an event, but alas, it didn't happen.
Perhaps because she had already vented all of her anger on the orcs.
"When I left, they said the 30th-floor gate just opened. Are you taking the kids to the 31st floor?"
"Of course. We didn't form a party to just stop there."
"If someone who went down the tower because they were too lazy is going back up, there must be a reason."
We shared many stories with Rebecca as we headed to the Adventurer's city.
About orcs that came from inside the tower to the outside, how they had preyed on and captured humans.
As an elite adventurer and a mercenary leader, it's an issue that can't be ignored.
"For now, I reported the remaining remnants to the Knights. Judging by what the merchants are saying, it seems like they took off as soon as they received my report. So we don't need to worry about the outside of the tower and just focus on going up."
"Well, those incompetent tin cans shouldn't have let them escape in the first place."
Rebecca vented her frustrations about the knights, mostly accumulated through her mercenary work.
The rest of the party had fallen asleep, buried in the soft cushions of the carriage, tired from walking through the wasteland all day.
Han Se-ah, however, was explaining to the viewers who didn't understand the current situation.
Han Se-ah had just finished a side quest that was also a linked quest.
But for viewers who tuned into her stream late, it was confusing.
They had expected her to be trekking through the wasteland towards orcs, but she was suddenly riding in a carriage with Rebecca.
They were a little confused.
While Rebecca began to yawn and complain, and the rest of the party had gone to sleep, Han Se-ah was catching viewers up.
-Thought you were going to fight orcs, where is this?
-Why is Rebecca here?
-Isn't it obvious? Whenever there are orcs, Rebecca shows up, didn't you know?
-You said youd stream the orc battle, but the quest was already over when you started the stream.
-If you dont upload a vod of the quest clear, I'll piss myself.
"How can you threaten me with that...? This will be the last explanation. I can't keep repeating for everyone who joins late, right?"
[Rebecca's Forced Kidnapping Party donated 10,000 won!]
Why didn't Rebecca kidnap Roland this time?
"Hey, I'm not interested in your weird fantasies. Anyway, the orcs kidnapped the carriage that Rebecca uses to run her errands. Rebecca took them all out. So we cleared the quest without even having to fight. End of summary!"
-You just doesn't want to explain it all, lol
-Of course its annoying, explaining the whole adventure by mouth.
-Basically, pay and ask a question, right?
-If you're smart, get separate rooms for Roland and Rebecca.
-So, did you call the Knights Division?
"Ah, the Knights? I was actually planning to ask Roland... But before I could say anything, he contacted them himself. The naked marathon knight, what was his name? James, I think he got in touch with James."
While Han Se-ah was chatting with her viewers, pretending to look out the window, I too pretended to enjoy the scenery outside while opening a browser window.
James Sullivan, who ran alongside the carriage shirtless, left a strong impression.
I almost burst into laughter at the nickname they've given him, the 'naked marathon knight.'
Despite being a knight, he's casual and down-to-earth, getting along even with commoner adventurers.
But when it comes to work, he's reliable.
He's also got a 4 buff, so he should be able to handle things on his own.
The Knights Division declared their expedition and raced to the Western Wastelands.
...If the special orc survives, it might mean that the orc is important to the main storyline.
"Hey, it's not cunning. I was thinking the same thing even before that post was uploaded. Why run around the wasteland when you can just use Rolands connections~. But Roland contacted them from Ertta first."
Han Se-ah brushed off the viewers' complaints and answered in her usual cheeky tone.
The luxury carriage sped on smoothly.
From a nameless village in the west to Ertta, and from Ertta back towards the city of adventurers, the carriage ran non-stop.
It was a comfortable journey, without any noise or rattling.
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Raei Translations
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"I'm going in straight away, what about you?"
"I think I'll take a day to prepare before entering."
"Really? I'll wait up there, so hurry to the 40th floor. It would be great if you could also open the gate to the 40th floor on your way."
"Do you think that's up to us?"
"If you've already opened the gates to the 10th, 20th, and 30th floors, then just blast through to the 50th for all I care, you lazy bum."
Rebecca, who lightly patted my back and chuckled as usual, abruptly grabbed the neck of one of her mercenaries, who was seated quietly in a corner of the carriage.
From amidst the beauties, she yanked him up as if a predator had caught its prey.
With an attitude that was either carefree or rude it was hard to tell which she bid us farewell.
She sprang over the wall and disappeared.
"...I always feel this way, but she's like the wind."
"She's more like... no, never mind."
Irene murmured softly, watching the way she casually carried a person like baggage, while Grace held back from saying something disrespectful.
Though she did generously buy us a lavish carriage covered in magic for a comfortable ride.
It's understandable to harbor ill feelings towards a woman who's forcibly dragged someone they have romantic feelings for, but it's better if those feelings aren't voiced.
After disembarking from the carriage and sneaking a last glance at the departing Rebecca, I turned to face the group, who were huddled together and waiting for my cue.
"Then, let's rest up today. Tomorrow, we'll visit the Adventurer's Guild and The Magic Tower, then head to the 31st floor."
"What's the 31st floor like? Is there anything special we need to prepare for?"
"As I briefly mentioned before, starting from the 31st floor, it's all marshland. There's very little solid ground to step on. Most of the time, you're fighting in ankle-deep water. There are deep pools and sticky tar pits, so it's best to fight in place. As for preparation... maybe ropes to pull someone out?"
The marshland starting from the 31st floor was a truly dreadful place.
To give you an idea, even with my physical prowess, I hated it so much that I thought about quitting and rushing out the tower.
There were narrow paths of dry soil about 30cm wide to walk on, with everything else being waterholes.
Some were shallow, reaching only up to the ankles, while others were lake-like, with depths of up to 5 meters.
On top of that, if you carelessly step on the floor mixed with clay and sand, or on a tar pit, you could be sucked in completely.
One wrong step could be fatal.
Yet, the marsh is also teeming with creatures like moss crocodiles, lizardmen, and vine snakes that attack adventurers.
How terrifying is that?
"Just hearing about it gives me the creeps."
"Just wandering around will be stressful. Hanna, it would be good for you to learn magic to solidify the ground with rocks, or some ice-related magic."
"Me? Oh, right. They said they'd give me a magic book as a reward for selling the golem. I'll learn some magic that can be used on the 31st floor."
After my explanation, the group nods in agreement and leaves to do to their individual tasks.
Han Se-ah headed towards the Magic Tower, interacting with the viewers and checking the rewards of the quest
Grace went to the market to stock up on arrows and buy rope.
Since Irene is ready with just her divine energy, she heads to the temple with some toys she purchased in Ertta.
Katie heads to the alchemist's street, probably to check on her magic armor.
Now experienced adventurers, they finish their preparations without needing my help.
As the sun sets, Han Se-ah logs out of the game.
As dawn breaks, she starts her stream and gathers at the guild.
Through the gate, which had more mages than adventurers, we head to the 30th floor.
After going through the passage to the 31st floor, instead of musty, damp air...
"...Roland, didn't you say it was a marsh?"
"What the hell is this? Damn it."
We're heading towards a poisonous swamp filled with the stench of decaying corpses.
What the hell, why has the difficulty suddenly changed?
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