Chapter 85: Orcs and a Female Knight 5
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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Would you opt for gold in exchange for handing over the public achievement, or would you join the expedition, subjugate the Orc boss to monopolize the rewards?
"It's obvious, isn't it? Even if it's hard, we have to do it. We aren't newbies. It's not like we've only been playing this game for a day or two. Would we back down because we're afraid here? Nah!
Even if we lose the last hit, we can just remember the location and reset!
-Who would get scared of mere orcs?
-There's no reason to stop when we're ahead
-Don't block the king's path
-Those who missed out on the 10th-floor rewards will probably want this
-How far are you planning to snowball?
For Han Se-ah, a gamer and streamer, this question wasn't even worth considering.
That's just how RPG games work, right?
If you mess up after being too greedy, you return to the save point.
There's no reason not to take the challenge if you can go back to the start through a reset.
'Should I start taking this more seriously?'
Whether it's the viewers, the chat, the forums, or even the public opinion on the Heroes Chronicle Forum, they all seem to want Han Se-ah to show her strength as the one in first place.
More accurately, it felt like they wanted her to prove that she is indeed the owner of a 6.
Han Se-ah also seemed intent on attempting the time attack, even if it meant resetting a few times, unable to forget the sweet reward from the 10th floor.
Isn't that just the nature of gamers?
There are basic rewards and additional rewards, and you can still clear the game even if you don't get the additional rewards.
However, gamers often feel that additional rewards are like basic rewards, and if they can't get them, they feel like they've suffered a big loss.
"As adventurers, we cannot give up on the adventure."
"Grace is right. If they've appeared before us, it means that it's the Goddess's will."
Everyone in the party seems ready to reject the Knights' request and fully committed to resolving the anomaly on the 20th floor for their own reasons.
It's always better to have unanimous agreement instead of divided opinions within the party.
Since this has happened, we should return to the safe zone on the 20th floor and stick close to Charlotte and Antenor.
So, we can move as soon as any new information arrives and when Han Se-ah's quest updates.
"We've reviewed the request, and we've declined the Knights' proposal, so we should move quickly. Everyone should prepare for an extended stay in the tower this time."
"Didn't we just decline them? Isn't this a bit rushed?"
"Well, it's because they're orcs. Even if they seem a bit smarter, they were only able to capture a single female knight."
"What do you mean?"
"If they were really strong, would they have just captured a single knight? They would have swiftly kidnapped the nobles who were hunting in the forest and dragged them away."
After all, orcs are weak and dumb.
They be planning something, but an orc is still just an orc.
If they're only capable of wiping out adventurers up to the 20th floor level and targeting a single female knight, they will be crushed as soon as the expedition force starts to move.
They might not be as sturdy as me, but there would be elite knights moving in groups.
Unlike adventurers who travel in groups of four to five for efficiency, knights who have received the king's orders wouldn't act that way.
If the situation seems serious enough, around 50 4 knights could come swarming in to destroy the 20th floor.
And the knight commander leading them could even be a 5.
The saying that enough quantity makes quality obsolete isn't baseless.
"Ah... That makes sense. They can kidnap a female knight, but that's their limit."
"Exactly. Even if not the Kingdom's Knights, but gold-thirsty adventurers come together, they'll be quickly subjugated. So, we need to act first before the most rewarding parts are taken."
And that's why Han Se-ah needs to get to work.
Now, these "heart-aching" comments have become a regular feature on the forum.
They've become a form of celebrity among viewers visiting the forum, suggesting anything from missed rewards to different quest directions.
The post I made this time also gained traction, became trending, and made its way to the chat.
There's always someone who wants to show off, and plenty of people who talk about someone else's ideas as if they were their own.
[A donation of 5,000 won from 'RolandPicsCollectorHanSeAh'!]
Just like Mr.Heartache said, let's gather a bunch of mages and start searching.
"What, Mr.Heartache posted again? Gather a bunch of mages? But didn't we grant research exclusivity to Charlotte? Are we supposed to just openly auction off the loot? This isn't some fish market, but... it could work, maybe?"
-Isn't it doable if we can just endure Antenor's chatter?
-If you're going, turn off the stream, let us know when he's done talking
-Didn't the guild organize the expedition this time? The Magic Tower isn't involved yet, right?
-Yeah, the Magic Tower hasn't stepped in yet.
Han Se-ah is like this too.
The very fact that she streams to tens of thousands of people implies a bit of eccentricity.
Didn't Han Se-ah, who logged out last time, pitch Mr.Heartache's opinion to me as if it were her own?
When Mr.Heartache posts something, the viewers read it and offer advice to Han Se-ah as if it was their own idea.
Then, Han Se-ah, who heard the advice disguised as nagging from the viewers, gives it to me as if it was her own.
My persistent posting in the forum seems to have borne fruit.
"Roland, I've been thinking about something..."
"Please, feel free to share."
Even as she speaks, Han Se-ah's eyes are busily flickering.
While she doesn't stutter this time, her eyes haven't changed.
Her dark, clear eyes are working hard, possibly drawing inspiration from the chat's advice.
"The Adventurer's Guild hired mercenaries, didn't they? So, before the Magic Tower gets involved, why don't we strike a deal with them to lessen our competition? Antenor is a high-ranking mage, right? How about we capture a shaman, and in return, we get support from Antenor and Charlotte for our search?"
As we walked towards the safe zone of the 20th floor, she spoke continuously without faltering, as if she had been organizing her thoughts during our journey.
The members of our party, who had been listening to Han Se-ah's suggestion, nod their heads in agreement.
In the case of the Full Moon Wolf, both the Magic Tower and the Guild collaborated because the city was in danger.
But for the Orcs of the 20th floor, there was no reason for them to team up.
The Guild hastily gathered mercenaries out of fear of collateral damage, and the mages have shown interest as individuals, but the Magic Tower did not intervene as an organization.
"Certainly, Antenor's reputation could draw in the mages of the Magic Tower. However, Hanna, there's one thing you missed."
"What did I overlook?"
"The fact that you need to persuade Antenor."
"...Oh, right..."
Seeing Han Se-ah's face change to a pale hue at my words, I couldn't help but chuckle.
She'd had quite a hard time with the mages the last time she asked viewers' questions through their donations, hadn't she?
She had to dive into the debates of older mages for two to three hours, discussing complex magical theories.
That drove the chat sentiment to an all-time low, and the viewers dropped like a receding tide.
[Donation of 10,000 won from the user 'YouGottaBeQuickEvenIfYouLackSkills!']
Turn off the stream when you're persuading Antenor... you know, right?
"Hey, aren't you guys really too cruel? By being so cold to the elderly, you're part of the reason why our society is struggling from a lack of compassion. There are several projects to protect the elderly, you shouldn't be like this!"
-Really, you must be desperate not to die alone
-Getting wrecked 1:1 by an old man
-Try to monetize even the endless chatter
-If you don't want to see it, pay. That's what you're saying
-Nowadays, you have to pay to skip streams, it's like, the opposite of a subscription
Watching Han Se-ah's vehement protest against the viewers, I had to suppress my laughter with a cough.
Well, both Kaiden and I ran away to avoid Antenor, so I can sympathize.
"Ah, I see. But shouldn't Roland, who is familiar with Antenor, do this...?"
"If it's a matter related to the Magic Tower, it should be addressed by a mage, party leader. If an outsider were to ask the Magic Tower to act, they would likely refuse out of pride. But if a promising rookie who hunted the Full Moon Wolf suggests it, the senior mages who are fond of you may be persuaded."
Han Se-ah looked disheartened as I drew the line.
There's no reason for me to endure the ramblings of an old mage, when even dealing with the chatter of the beautiful Charlotte is a challenge.
No matter how many stars he has, or how his old age wrinkles and scent have been replaced by the aura of an esteemed mage, in the end, he's a chatty old man.
-Roland's speed is just LOL
-How dare a player pick a fight with a 6?
-Is it viewer Q&A time already?
-When you arrive at the 20th floor, leave the camera with Irene.
The viewers tease Han Se-ah mercilessly at my uncompromising rejection.
If they tease her like that, I don't think Han Se-ah will be turning off the stream for this.
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