654

[Chapter 170]

[Falling Wings (4)]

Level 3 overrank monster Ye-gyeong.

It could detach parts of its body to create avatars that represented its will.

Whiiieeeeaaaaaoooo

A black liquid without fixed form that could freely construct shapes.

Over 80km altitude from the ground.

Floating above the mesosphere interface where humans couldn't reach even with magic, it dropped its avatars.

Two avatars fell.

They developed forms suitable for the environment - one transformed into a fish and plunged into the Han River, while the other became a bird and flew to a nest somewhere.

─One has died.

Soon each individual reached the army commanders.

Ye-gyeong attempted to communicate with them, and the living army commanders responded with roars.

No problem. I am strong.

Level 3 monster Caesar Hopper.

It immediately sent its will through the avatar while sleeping in its nest.

We can win. We just need to kill humans with our poison.

Not long after, the two Level 4 monsters, Samgakji Great Toad Chiefs, sent their will snickering.

Even though one army commander was subjugated.

The surviving army commanders didn't feel a sense of crisis.

But Ye-gyeong was different.

We must not underestimate humans.

Unlike the army commanders.

Ye-gyeong had observed humans while moving around all of Gangbuk.

After that, when Ye-gyeong judged, humans were incomprehensible beings.

Sometimes they fear us, but sometimes they fight prepared to die.

In that case, human potential couldn't be ignored.

─One may be weak. But the whole formed by those ones cannot be said to be weak.

Moreover, humans were beings that infected each other.

If one fears, that one's fear soon spreads to the whole.

Conversely, if one doesn't fear, fear loses power.

Two days since Ye-gyeong invaded Gangbuk.

This was the result it learned while observing humans.

Above all─

─'That guy' is dangerous.

The human who had somehow come to be cheered by people was much more dangerous.

Though it didn't know the name, 'that guy'.

Ye-gyeong had seen 'that guy' turn the tide that was tilting towards them twice.

With 'that guy's appearance.

It saw those who had lost the will to fight them struggle with all their might to fight.

At that time, Ye-gyeong sensed that leaving 'that guy' alone like this wouldn't be good.

'That guy'? Who is that?

As if receiving Ye-gyeong's feelings.

The army commanders asked.

To this, Ye-gyeong showed the impression of 'that guy' it remembered through its avatar.

I don't know what to be afraid of.

Caesar Hopper expressed doubt.

It's not being afraid.

It's fearing. If we leave 'that guy' alone like this, humans throughout Gangbuk will try to fight until they all die.

Ye-gyeong refuted.

Then it ordered the army commanders.

─Therefore, we make 'that guy's' death our top priority.

Ye-gyeong cried out.

Monsters that received its will all cried out at once.

☆

Eun-ha didn't know what kind of person Riya was in his previous life.

The connection between him and her was truly insignificant.

Furthermore, Riya had died causing a <Miracle >.

So Eun-ha had no way of knowing.

That she had been hiding her ears tightly under her habit cap.

To think she was hiding her ears...

Riya who put on her hat in embarrassment.

The appearance altered by mana wasn't just green eyes, but also pointed ears.

The hat she was wearing was a kind of artifact that made those ears look like normal ears.

"Tch, I was happy thinking she was an Ain without a tail like me, but that's mean."

"I'm sorry I'm not an Ain."

"So can't I touch your ears?"

"No."

Though they hadn't met long ago.

Ariel was already clinging to her and acting cute.

Meanwhile, Riya who somehow got caught by her showed a flustered appearance unlike the <Holy Maiden of the Church>.

"Why are you trying so hard to hide your ears? It doesn't seem like you need to hide them."

"It's a complex. Satisfied? And you seem younger than me, why are you speaking informally?"

"Then you speak informally too."

"..."

Eun-ha asked as if it was no big deal.

Then Riya who suddenly turned her head retorted with a sharp face.

She openly revealed an attitude that she didn't like him.

She's completely different from when I saw her then.

Is it because there are no believers around?

The image that seemed only like a holy maiden.

Eun-ha thought it looked much more natural for Riya to show such an appearance with joys and sorrows.

Then Riya stood up.

"Then I'll be going now. Just as you have things you need to do, I have things I need to do too."

"Alright, do as you please."

She's probably leaving to treat people.

Eun-ha decided to let her go.

Honestly, from Eun-ha's perspective, being with Riya wasn't very comfortable either.

It was because their thoughts were different.

So Eun-ha thought it was rather good and was going to comfortably use the back garden after Riya left.

Right then─

"─Hey, rest a little more before going! Unni! Eat this before going!"

"Please let go of my hand..."

Ariel grabbed Riya's hand.

Riya who wasn't even a Player had to be dragged back without being able to properly resist.

"What snack do you want to eat? Choco Pie? Or Mon Cher?"

"I won't eat." "Eat with me!"

"Hah..."

She's someone words don't work on.

Riya who had been dealing with Ariel seemed to give up in the end.

She openly sighed.

"Then please give me a Mon Cher."

"Aha! You have the same taste as Eun-ha Eun-ha? Eun-ha ate this earlier too."

"No, please give me a Choco Pie."

"Here, Mon Cher!" "I said give me a Choco Pie..."

"Eat that and I'll give you a Choco Pie too!" "Words don't work on this kid."

"Would you please be quiet?"

With a hmph.

Riya reluctantly took a Mon Cher from her.

As if she would eat just this and go.

Riya immediately opened the wrapper and put the snack in her mouth.

"Ah..."

She had actually been hungry.

She hadn't even eaten lunch because she was treating other people.

Moreover, she hadn't been able to eat properly for the past few days.

"..."

"Now a Choco Pie?" "...I'll eat well."

In the end, appetite kept her there.

Eun-ha chuckled seeing Riya who had somehow become docile, her expression relaxing each time she ate a snack.

"Don't skip meals while working. People live by eating food, how can you live just working?"

"...I'm eating well even without you saying that?"

"Is that why someone is eating 3 snacks now?"

"Mana God said not to reject people's goodwill. I'm just eating what this person gives me." "Well well."

Riya showing signs of making excuses.

Eun-ha was dumbfounded seeing her sell out her god for a few Choco Pies and Mon Chers.

She seemed to feel the same way.

She avoided Eun-ha's gaze while munching on snacks.

"I ate well."

Not long after.

Riya who finished eating the snacks stood up.

She expressed gratitude to Ariel, glanced at Eun-ha, and turned her back.

Then Eun-ha called her.

"Hey."

"What's with 'hey'. Are you perhaps calling me? When calling someone, use their name...huh?"

With an unpleasant expression.

When Riya turned around.

She reflexively caught the Mon Cher flying in a parabola.

Eun-ha had thrown it to her.

She who caught the Mon Cher sent a gaze towards him as if asking what this was.

"You seemed to like that, so take it and eat it."

"I don't need..."

"Don't just give everything to others and starve yourself." "...!"

"If you want to keep working for those people, at least eat while working." "..."

Riya made a dumbfounded expression.

Eun-ha didn't care much what expression she made.

Soon Riya─

"─I'll eat it well."

"Unni! See you again later!"

After mumbling as if trying to say something.

She replied in a prim tone and moved her feet.

Ariel waved to her.

"Hey, give me one too."

"You want a Mon Cher too? But we're all out now..."

"Ah, should I go back and take it from her..." "Geez, Noh Eun-ha! You became a Clan Lord, how can you do that!? You need to maintain dignity!"

"That's what I want to say to you."

Eun-ha took out a Choco Pie from the snack box on Ariel's lap.

He had craved one after seeing Riya eating snacks deliciously earlier.

"...It's delicious."

In a situation where food was scarce.

Being able to eat a Choco Pie was a great luxury.

Eun-ha enjoyed the lingering taste of chocolate.

Come to think of it, I once robbed a convenience store because I wanted to eat this.

Then he recalled before the regression.

Before the regression, there was also a food shortage situation due to Caesar Hopper.

At that time, they couldn't expect support from business groups.

People who could be said to be isolated in Gangbuk had to survive on their own.

At that time, Eun-ha who hadn't eaten properly for three days joined forces with other Players to plan an operation to recapture a convenience store in monster territory.

It was after consuming all the rationed food, and the only food he had left was one Choco Pie.

At that time, he ate the Choco Pie, became energized, and successfully recaptured the convenience store.

What I ate then was really delicious...

I'm not sure now.

Immersed in old memories.

Eun-ha ate the Choco Pie.

Huh?

Then he tilted his head.

He looked at the Choco Pie wrapper.

Come to think of it, how was Caesar Hopper subjugated in the previous life?

I clearly remember the crazy squid subjugated it.

But he couldn't remember the specific strategy of how they repelled not only the army commander but also monsters flying all over Gangbuk.

His memory was hazy.

He just seemed to have been dumbfounded after hearing how they handled it.

It was an unbelievable strategy that only the crazy squid could think of.

Eun-ha tried to recall the memory of that time but gave up.

☆

After eating dinner.

Riya dragged her tired body and lay down on the bed.

"Phew..."

Fatigue was piling up.

It was unavoidable since she kept treating people.

Her body felt stiff and heavy.

She hadn't been able to sleep properly lately.

Nevertheless, she couldn't just sleep and greet tomorrow like this.

"I need to pray soon..."

Night is coming soon.

When night comes, monsters will resume their invasion.

People will fall into panic.

There will be many casualties too.

So she had to keep her eyes open to reassure them and save them even a little.

"Hah... It's stuffy..."

There's only her in the room.

She took off her hat.

Then she touched her pointed ears while blankly looking up at the ceiling.

"..."

When she was young, she hated these ears.

She hated her green eyes too.

Because they made her look different from others.

At least she could hear people say her green eyes were pretty, but evaluations of her pointed ears were harsh.

So she went around covering her ears with the artifact the High Priest made for her.

'High Priest, why do I have green eyes and pointed ears unlike other kids?'

Still, she felt depressed when she took off her hat and touched her pointed ears.

One day she burst into tears.

She clung to the High Priest.

Then the High Priest soothed her in a gentle voice.

'That's because you're a very special person who hears Mana God's voice.'

'A special person? Me?'

'Yes. Mana God specially regards you, that's why he made you like this.'

'Is that so? Am I special?'

She believed those words then.

From that day on, Riya came to take pride in her appearance.

But as she learned more, she came to know that in mana studies, her appearance was due to her genes being altered by mana's influence.

Even so─

─I am Mana God's apostle.

Objective analysis and faith are separate.

In fact, she had communed with Mana God and even had the power to heal others.

She believed without doubt in her identity as the <Holy Maiden of the Church>.

"I should go now..."

Not even 30 minutes had passed.

She who had been lying on the bed for a while got up.

She put on her hat to cover her pointed ears and decided to participate in mass.

"..."

While doing so, she found the Mon Cher on her desk.

The snack a man named Noh Eun-ha had thrown to her today.

"It's delicious..."

Though they received supplies, it's unknown when this situation will end.

So Mana Church people had no choice but to consume food little by little.

Naturally, for her with high activity, she was just hungry.

In the end, she couldn't resist hunger and ate the Mon Cher.

"I should keep it a secret that I ate alone from others. That person's words aren't entirely wrong. I need to eat to work."

For the first time since becoming Mana God's apostle.

She acted according to her heart.

☆

Night arrived.

Players gathered at the frontlines.

Whiiiieeeeaaaaaooooo

Soon.

As the sound of a whale crying rang out, monsters' presence began to be detected throughout Gangbuk.

It was the same for Yongsan-gu.

""""...."""

Southern Gangbuk, Yongsan-gu.

People standing on their respective frontlines saw the approaching army.

Gurgle gurgle

Among them, in areas bordering the Han River.

Monsters hidden in the river water last night were rising there.

Two army commanders.

They were among them.

Gurgle gurgle

One from the direction of Banpo Bridge.

And one from the direction of Hangang Bridge.

The army commanders were appearing and coming up to land from different places.

In preparation for this, Pandora Clan members had divided into three troops - Itaewon, Hangang Bridge, and Banpo Bridge - and were out on the frontlines.

"─You've come. We've been waiting."

Banpo Bridge direction.

Pandora Clan <Snow Spear> Ryu Yeon-hwa and other special unit members.

"─Ha-yang's thoughts were right."

"That's good. They came to us."

Hangang Bridge direction.

Pandora Clan <Shadow > Han Chang-jin and Yu Nam-hoon and other special unit members.

They weren't afraid at all even facing the army commanders.

Rather, they smiled.