These guys were probably on guard to some extent as well, as they had no information about how strong the rookie was. That was probably why they got together as a group of over ten people like this, lucky for me.
«Take it off. Before it gets blood».
The moment my words echoed in the alley, the man looked incomprehensible. But it didn't take him long to understand the situation. Everyone, including him, fell silent. This was common in the animal kingdom. When the prey flees, you chase it believing it is weaker than you, but conversely, if it comes out strong, you instinctively realize that something is wrong. You know from experience that this is dangerous.
Deslick.
The approaching men slowly began to widen their distance and remained cautious in the face of a surprise attack. It didn't mean much to me. We were in an alley blocked by walls. Although it was too narrow even on the sides to make room for Gigantization, it was better that way. There was nothing above that stood in the way.
Jump.
I jumped over their heads at once and landed on the other side. Well, this blocked his escape route.
«...Kill this guy first!»
The group panicked and pounced on me. They seemed to think that they had to go through this first since their escape route was suddenly obstructed.
¡Whoom!
Bastards, bien skivan.
«Don't just block, dodge!»
«Who is going to get hit by something as slow as this?»
The three people in front of me dodged my mace like eels and brandished their own weapons. I withstood most of the attacks with physical resistance, but some of the attacks containing abilities managed to penetrate my thick skin.
Stab.
Geez, that stings.
If I had at least worn Gigantization I wouldn't have bled a drop. Well, defense wasn't the only way to protect me.
Transcendence.
I raised my mace high and inserted a command into my head. The objective to be designated with Transcendence was, of course, decided.
Balanceo.
The combo was effective when facing many enemies thanks to tripling all damage ranges.
¡Whooooom!
When my mace hit the ground, it lengthened like a Yeoui Staff and increased in size. However, the scope was much smaller than when it was linked to Gigantization.
«Shit...!»
«¡Careful!»
Where in this narrow alley?
¡Kwaaaaa!
The men hurried back, but the three in front couldn't get out of reach.
Ugh, so refreshing.
Step.
As I passed the trio turned into minced meat, the men backed away.
They're just walking towards their death, right?
«Woman! Take the woman!»
I assumed they were planning to take a hostage as they pounced on Amelia with their arms outstretched and their weapons at the ready. Of course, there was no chance they could touch her.
Amelia instantly subdued two with punches and kicks, then pulled a dagger from her thigh and stabbed another in the neck. Although the opponent defended himself by raising his wrists, protected by iron guards, that was not going to work against a woman who could wield an aura.
¡Cuchillada! Plop. Plop, thud.
The cleanly severed wrists and head fell to the ground almost simultaneously.
«¿Un aura...?»
That was the end of the battle. The moment Amelia used an aura, everyone dropped their weapons. Realizing that he was not an opponent they could handle, they decided to leave their lives at the mercy. But it was too late for that.
«P-please don't kill us. We will give you everything we have...»
«What will they do?»
«Obviously, kill them». Amelia answered my question without hesitation.
At this, even those who fell on their faces raised their weapons and defended themselves. «Die!»
Do you really think that's going to work? Also, it seems like they only have a midrange of 6.
Blow, crunch. Raja!
Amelia and I quickly cleaned up the group like a two-member looter group that has been working together for a long time. This took us less than five minutes.
It is reliable to have a strong damage.
It was a security I hadn't felt before on any team. Was there a way to put her on the team later? Even as I thought that, I moved my hand quickly to continue cultivating corpses.
«Ugh...» As I removed the lithinum shell I had my eye on from the beginning, the guy shuddered and trembled. What, was he unconscious?
After hitting him on the back of the head to knock him down, I asked Amelia: «Why did you just knock this guy unconscious?».
«...You said you didn't want him bloody.»
Ah...
«¿G-grace?»
There was a brief awkward moment, but farming ended after a few more minutes. For some reason, farming took longer than battle. Still, the earnings-to-work ratio was greater than ever.
I think it would be worth 70 million stones in the outside world.
As I quickly scanned the loot before stuffing it into the expandable backpack, my heart felt full. Was it the result of a few minutes of fighting?
I never thought such a sweet hunting ground was hidden underground.
Clic.
After putting on the breastplate, I also put on the various equipment, including the matching leggings. The sizes were perfect, as was the breastplate. Mhm, it was imperative for a warrior to wear proper armor.
«So let's go.»
«Oh, right.»
The eyes of nearby residents watching through the curtained windows were becoming uncomfortable, so we quickly left the alley onto the boulevard. Then, following Amelia, I was able to look around calmly. I figured showing off as a rookie could lead me to another cultivation opportunity.
Hmm, that was the plan, but even after walking for quite some time, no one took the bait.
«Is anyone following us?»
«None.»
«...None.»
Why was this happening? When I cautiously expressed my disappointment, Amelia sighed as if calling me weird. «Noark is a small place. Rumors spread quickly».
Ah, since none of the guys who followed us before came back, no one was going to come after us so recklessly again.
«...Ugh.» I grabbed my chest and collapsed to the ground with a pained expression.
Amelia was startled and lowered her posture. «Are you hurt? Before there were no external wounds, was it poison?».
Seeing Amelia rushing to try to give me the antidote, I whispered: «Don't worry. I'm pretending I'm hurt».
"...¿Which?"
«They could come if I do this».
«Barbarian, really...»
I saw Amelia's disgust appear, so I got up quickly.
Geez, you enjoyed farming too. And now you embarrass people like that?
«Follow me. We may have to sleep outside if we arrive later».
«Okay.»
Anyway, after moving to the city center, we found accommodation in the area. Of course, we got one room instead of two. Apparently, if someone were to come after us even while the rumors were spreading, they would be quite skilled people.
«Fortunately there are several beds».
«All accommodations in Noark are like this, so there's nothing to be surprised about».
«¿Eh?»
«There is no one in the city who comes to sleep alone in a place like this».
From what I had heard, unless you bought a house with your family, it was normal for most to live with comrades, but to some extent it made sense. Living in a group would be the safest thing to do in a place like this.
«Yandel, you wash first. I'll organize the loot in the meantime».
«Ah, I'll be quick.»
After washing, Amelia went to the bathroom. After that, we talked for a while.
After washing, Amelia went to the bathroom. After that, we talked for a while.
«What are you going to do with the loot?»
«For now, I'm going to keep it. It will be three times more money to sell it on the surface later».
«It's a bigger difference than I thought».
«It is natural when supply is overwhelmingly less than demand.»
Hmm, that was true, as looters collected more equipment than mana stones. «But from what I have heard, there is a commercial enterprise that crosses between the surface and the subsoil. Can't you sell it to them?».
«It seems that you have misunderstood something. When I said it was three times more expensive, I was referring to the merchant company price.»
«...Ya veo.»
«So if you have something you need, don't think about selling it. This is how this city works».
Anyway, the conversation about how to get rid of the loot ended there. After that, we got straight to the point.
«So what are you going to do now?»
For starters, the entry into Noark was a success, as planned. There were two goals we had to achieve here: 1. Take the Stone Fragment of Records kept by the lord of the castle and go back to my time, and 2. Fulfill Amelia's wish.
He hadn't said it out loud, but it would be difficult to achieve the second goal, since fulfilling this woman's wish meant that the past had to change.
Seeing her gloomy face from then, I think she is aware of this to some extent...
I wondered what decision Amelia would make then.
«Why do you ask that?»
«Why do you ask that?»
«In case you change your mind».
Amelia responded to my undaunted attitude without the slightest hesitation: «You say strange things. There is no change to the plan».
So you're not going to give up.
***
Day and night also existed in the underground city of Noark. However, there was no sunrise or sunset. During uptime, the jewelry embedded in the ceiling emitted light, and when it was night, it changed at minimum power.
«It's daytime».
After spending the night, we went out once he cleared the window. Only with that did I realize that I was in a strange city. It was unusual to see all the doors open and people leaving the buildings as soon as day broke.
«Stop looking around and come. We will be waiting a long time if we are late».
«Oh, okay.»
Following Amelia, we arrive at the castle located in the center of Noark. Unlike the view from afar yesterday, the castle gates were wide open and welcomed large numbers of people.
«Why does everyone go there?»
«Most of the jobs are in the castle. Those who do not enter the labyrinth are assigned work there and live off those salaries».
Was it a communist country? Well, it must have been because they survived in a place like that that everyone at Noark was so tough.
[Office of Labyrinth Management]
Upon reaching our destination, we entered the building. The interior was similar to that of the Scout Guild and the procedures were not that different either.
«Then see you later.»
«Oh, sure.»
We stood in separate short rows to save time. To enter the maze from Noark, you had to do more things than you thought. For starters, not only did a newbie in town have to register separately, but it seemed like they had to pay a different entrance fee each time they entered.
How could this place be worse than Rafdonia?
It was almost absurd to think that the beginning of Noark was the Ormi Revolutionary Corps, which called for the overthrow of the royal family.
But when is this line going to be shortened? At least they should make you pick up a number like in Rafdonia. What do they do, make all these people queue?
After internally complaining about the slowness of the work process and the outdatedness of the system for thirty minutes, a group of five scouts strutted in front of me.
«Hey, brother! Judging by the registration papers, you must be a newbie». Then, pretending to be nice, he put a hand on my shoulder. «We are a little busy. Can you give me your place? You allow me? Now we are from the same faction. We should help each other».
For a moment, I didn't understand what was happening.
That? Is this another bitch?