Baseless Trust
The way to the battlefield was quite calm compared to what we were facing. I was walking beside Dalv at the very back for the time being, and I wasn't happy about it.
I needed to be at the vanguard to protect the city, or Aloraz would fall, and I didn't want that since it held many opportunities that would disappear if it were to collapse.
I could hear the adventurers in front fighting with some monsters, but I couldn't observe them due to the great distance. I held my sword's handle and pressed it out of anger.
"I thought you didn't want to fight with any monsters," said Dalv.
"I still don't," I said.
That was a lie, and Dalv knew that as well since he was laughing. It was a little questionable to see Dalv happy, as we were about to attack a bunch of monsters, so I asked,
"Aren't you a bit too happy for the fight?"
"Maybe. But it won't change the outcome, will it? If we are going to lose, then what's the difference in losing with a smile on our face?"
"That is a weird reasoning."
"I know."
Dalv had a complicated personality in the game and in his novel. People always complained about his unexpected behavior, and I was one of those people. But no one could deny his absolute power in command and management. Later in the game, he turned into a big shot and helped many, so having a close relationship with him wasn't that bad for me.
The walk took about an hour, and we reached a barren land. I quickly brushed past the adventurers in front to see the monsters ahead.
"Oh no."
Randomness in this game was a pain for many players. Dungeons, loots, rewards, etc., were all revolved around randomness, and that took away the pre-prepared strategy for the gameplay.
Events were like that too. It was about the types and number of monsters you were going to face, and among many types, some were truly troublesome.
[ Skill "Save & Reset: Reset" Activated. ]
[ Restarting from the Recent Checkpoint ]
I returned to the guild before we dispatched. I was in a state of shock not too long ago, but I quickly mustered my will and spoke to Dalv.
"Since I'm a raid member, I can tell you about the monster attack," I said.
Dalv looked back and met my eyes with a questioning expression.
"I thought that was a fake attempt to get in the raid. Well, if you know something, we will be happy to hear."
"The reason for the rampage is undead."
"… huh, funny. You got me there for a second. There is no way an undead could set foot in Aloraz. After all, this city and the cities around it are all sacred areas, and no Undead can spawn here."
"Of course, I know that as well. But what if a [Necromancer] did the job?"
This city's [Event] can be described as 'Aloraz attacked by an outsider's intervention.' That "intervention" always changed due to the game's characteristics, and a [Necromancer] intervention was the most bothersome. In normal circumstances, I would reset my game and start all over again, but that wasn't an option here.
"Are you saying that a [Necromancer] is doing this? But that's obscure. There is no way a dark mage would dare to get close to our city."
"I'm not telling any lies, and you know it too, thanks to your pretty glowing eyes. Now you go and instruct your adventurers. I need to do something really important."
I left the guild building as soon as I finished my words. There were two shops and a place I needed to visit in order to clear this [Event] as cleanly as possible.
"Hello, customer, how can I hel-!."
"I don't have time, just give me three of your best pickaxes ASAP."
"R-Right away."
I bought the pickaxes and left the shop immediately, heading for the best brewing shop that I knew of. The shop was ragged and pretty old, unlike any other "Good Potion Shops." But I knew of all people that this shop might have been the best shop in the city.
Eerr- I entered, looked around, and grabbed as many potions as I needed. The shopkeeper, who was young and had colorful green and blue hair, was sitting and reading a book in a corner.
I put the potions in front of him and asked, "I want as many mana potions as you've got. There aren't any left."
"I have some back there, but are you sure you have the money to pay for all of this stuff?"
"How much should I pay?"
"Just the potions you grabbed cost 21 Gold Coins."
"[Inventory]"
[ Inventory 10/19
> Auto-Brewing Cauldron
> Sword of Beginning
> Normal Sword
> Full-Metal Pickaxe x 3
> E-grade Monster Core x 2
> Manaless Brown Bead x 5
> Gold Coin x 7
> Silver Coin x 14
> Bottle of Water x 3
> Bread x 15 ]
21 Gold Coins were out of reach for me, and I couldn't gain any gold in such a short amount of time. I was desperate, and having those potions was my only chance of saving Aloraz.
I looked down with sadness, and the shopkeeper said, "It seems like you don't have enough money. You can come back whenever you want after having the money. After all, no one really comes here anyway."
"Please let me have the potions. I'll pay back later."
"Sorry, but no can do. I've heard that very line many times and received much damage due to it."
It was understandable, especially in a city full of muscle-headed adventurers who worked for money and nothing else. I thought for a little while to find a way.
"Then hear me out. What if I could get you a Golden Flower instead of payment?"
He was taken aback by my sentence. He said, "What do you mean by Gol-"
"[The thousand-year Golden Flower]. If you let me have these, I'll bring it to you."
"… why should I trust your words?"
I took out my Guild Card and slammed it on the table in front of him and said, "You can have my Adventurer ID as a guarantee. Although not high in rank, the penalty of losing it costs more than 21 Gold Coins."
The shopkeeper began to think for a while and answered, "Fine. I'll give it to you."
"Thanks. Bring some empty bottles too."
I grabbed the potions and left the shop immediately. I headed towards the eastern part of Aloraz's Forest. Unlike the South, the east was calm, and no sound of monsters could be heard.
After running for about an hour, I stumbled upon a cave with nothing inside of it. It was quieter than the outside, and no light could reach its end.
"I found it."
I took out a pickaxe and smashed the rocky wall of the cave. To an outsider's eye, the action seemed insane, but they didn't know what I knew.
In one of my many tries to clear the game in my past life, I joined the dark side and destroyed Aloraz with a devastating cut that vaporized the nearby mountain. And after that, I found something that the [Doomed Fantasy] community thanked me for: a huge vein of Mana Ores that stretched for more than one mile.
Crack-! "I found it."