Chapter 5
Surviving With An Sss-Rank Inventory Chapter 5
Episode 5
A new morning dawned and Dio, who received a call from the mercenary guild, checked his equipment one last time and headed to the meeting place.
Dio, who arrived in front of the north exit just in time, found a group making noise and slowly approached them.
-Did you hear? They say it’s grade A!
-Don’t act rashly.
-What is happening to Class A in such a remote area?
However, Dio’s eyebrows furrowed momentarily as he checked their faces.
‘The branch manager… he was being rude, huh?’
This was because most of the members of the mercenary corps, which was thought to be composed of only C-ranks, were D-ranks.
‘I didn’t think of this variable…’
He probably formed a party with D-class mercenaries to save on the commission fee, relying on the sure insurance of being A-class mercenaries.
But the situation was too ambiguous to risk that.
Although the members were D grade, the number was increasing.
This was not a level of power that could be considered insufficient to complete the mission.
However, the road to the temple has become a little dangerous.
‘shit. ‘I need to come to my senses.’
Deciding so, Dio approached the mercenaries who were talking about him and cleared his throat slightly.
“Is this the escort team heading to the Forgotten Temple?”
One positive thing was that the leader of this mercenary group was someone Dio knew.
‘What was that guy’s name? Was it Raymond?’
In fact, it was thanks to him that Dio knew their grades at a glance.
“Is that so?”
I remembered seeing him respond to an A-class mercenary like that.
Raymond, a C-rank mercenary residing in Evra Village.
A senseless NPC whose personality cannot be corrected.
‘If you tried to carelessly correct your personality, you would become a ‘troll’ who would leave during the quest.’
Did you say that being ignorant is brave?
Raymond simply considers A-rank mercenaries to be ‘only’ two levels higher than him.
It was understandable that he was taken aback by his reaction, which was quite different from that of ordinary mercenaries, but it was not that strange to Dio, who knew him.
‘I’ll just have to keep quiet and watch first.’
Raymond is a mercenary leader who leads mercenaries who constantly give off the air of a construction veteran.
Except for him, this mercenary unit was entirely made up of D-ranks.
That means there is nothing special.
“Montada.”
Dio, who had made up a pseudonym, opened his mouth stiffly.
If you want to pretend to be an A-class mercenary, you have to clearly hide your identity from NPCs who know the warehouse character ‘D.O.’
Those mercenaries are like the average D-class mercenary gang.
‘That doesn’t mean they’re bad guys, but…’
They were mercenaries who I felt were lacking in professionalism or skills.
Perhaps trying to gain momentum, Raymond offers to shake hands first.
A bald guy with a long scar on his left cheek.
I couldn’t help but remember this guy, even if it was because of his unusual appearance.
“I’m Raymond. “He’s an A-level mercenary… so what can I just trust?”
Even though he knew that Dio was a Class A mercenary, Raymond did not hesitate to greet him in the harsh tone typical of a mercenary.
[Raymond participated in the quest ‘Exploration of the Forgotten Temple’.]
[Laika participated in the quest ‘Exploration of the Forgotten Temple’.] [Question
members in progress]
[Dio / No class / Lv10]
[Raymond / Warrior / Lv121 ]
[Lika / Guard / Lv115]
[…]
Mercenaries are usually lenient in this regard, perhaps because they are just guys who are just starting out.
So Dio didn’t show any signs of being particularly unpleasant.
Of course, it wasn’t a warm treatment.
Dio checked the system window and found that there was no difference from the expected configuration, so he nodded and opened his mouth.
“As long as you don’t bother me, I’ll make sure no one gets killed.”
Raymond slightly flinched at Dio’s somewhat extreme expression.
And the mercenaries who stand one step behind Raymond and watch the situation.
They were a mercenary group commonly referred to as the ‘Gangnodap Gang’ among Order Board players.
Since they were mercenaries based in Evra Village, Dio also had experience participating in their misdeeds.
Of course, this happened when I was a newbie.
‘Newbies went through a lot of trouble because of these terrible guileless guys.’
As the memories of that time came to mind, I became a little more worried about today’s mission.
But at least there didn’t seem to be anyone who seemed to doubt Dio’s identity.
Dio thought that was enough.
“Is there a client yet?”
Raymond, who was intimidated by Dio’s question, tried to answer something.
But at that very moment.
“wait a minute-!”
A silhouette that appeared to be a woman appeared from afar with perfect timing and was running towards me.
“Phew, it arrived just in time. “You are the mercenaries who guide us to the temple, right?”
client.
Luna’s priest Clara took a deep breath and introduced herself.
“This is Clara, who has been sent on a mission to this forgotten temple. Please take care of me.”
Dio stared at her for a moment and briefly recalled information about a priest of the Luna Church.
‘The Luna Church often dispatched priests to forgotten temples.’
The priest’s clothes, which were originally pure white and clean, seemed to have become quite dirty, probably due to the hardships it took to get to Evra village.
If it weren’t for the jeweled staff symbolizing a priest, it would have been difficult to recognize that she was a priest of the Luna Church.
Clara repeatedly apologizes for being late, and the mercenaries briefly introduce themselves.
[Clara participated in the quest ‘Exploring the Forgotten Temple’.]
[Quest members in progress]
[NEW!]
[Clara / Priest / Lv 105]
Dio, who was looking at the message window where the information was immediately updated, glanced at himself. I made eye contact with Clara.
‘What makes you think it’s suspicious?’
Clara smiles awkwardly at Dio’s gaze and avoids his gaze.
“Hmm…”
But it was a completely understandable reaction.
From her perspective as a client, it was natural to feel reassured and suspicious at the same time by the joining of an A-class mercenary.
“Okay, let’s stop talking and let’s get going!”
And even if Clara is reluctant, there will be no major variables since the request has already been confirmed.
She also had to get to the temple as quickly as possible, so when she heard Raymond’s departure signal, she lost interest in Dio.
‘Okay, shall we go?’
Dio meticulously checks the composition of the mercenary group until the very end.
After revealing their identities to the guard, Dio and his companions went out of the village through the northern exit.
Tiring-!
Then, when a system message appeared….
[You have left the safe zone.]
[Warning.]
[You have entered a field that is much higher than the user’s level.]
Dio began to become more and more nervous.
* * *
The group arrived safely at Camp 1 around sunset and began preparing for camping.
“When the sun rises tomorrow, we’ll head to camp 2.”
Raymond’s right-hand man, the pig mercenary Laika, pointed to a destination located far northwest of the current location on the map.
The mercenaries nodded to each other at his words, and Raymond also agreed with Laika’s opinion.
However, only one person shook his head as if there was a difference of opinion with Laika.
“no.”
Dio’s words drew everyone’s attention to him.
The path suggested by Laika was a path that guaranteed safety to adventurers.
Even though it was a route that had to be taken back, if you did not follow it, you would have to cross a dangerous area.
No matter how much money the mercenaries make, nothing is more precious than life.
That’s why they immediately opposed Dio’s opinion.
“Hey, bro, I know you’re in class A, but… do you know the geography of this place better than us?”
“Even if I move with my eyes closed, I know better than you all.”
When Dio spoke with sincerity, the mercenaries frowned.
“What… what?”
Some mercenaries blushed at Dio’s blatantly dismissive tone of voice.
Dio lightly ignored them and opened his mouth, pulling the map towards him.
“Do you think this is my first time here? If you head to camp 3 instead of camp 2, there is a hidden cave. “It’s much faster if you cross Dunville Forest from there and get to the temple.”
“Ha, don’t be ridiculous! Are you telling us to go to Camp 3 knowing what the road is like!?”
“Are you crazy? Then die!”
Laika tried to stop Dio, but due to Raymond’s personality, he did not stop there and continued to speak passionately.
“If you cross Dunville Forest, you will die! Do you know what monsters are there?”
“I know.”
“….”
In response to Dio’s confident answer, Raymond was unable to respond like a dumb person.
But even for a moment.
“…Isn’t what Raymond said right?”
“I guess it’s better to take the path I know well…”
“We’re not Class A…”
Those were the words of a Class A mercenary, but was it because he had followed Raymond for a long time?
The mercenaries murmured in support of Raymond’s opinion rather than Dio’s.
“hmm.”
What would a ‘real’ Class A mercenary do?
I guess he soon couldn’t stand Raymond’s rude way of speaking and gave him a true education.
Dio, who had anticipated the mercenaries’ reactions, began to look at them one by one.
flinch –
At the sight of the A-class mercenary staring at them in silence, the D-class mercenaries instinctively shrank closer and avoided Dio’s gaze.
“Do you really think Raymond is right?”
If Dio had had more time, he would have followed suit without much disagreement.
However, there was not much time given to him.
Dio’s goal is to acquire the minimum amount of power by changing jobs before the wave begins.
One of the reasons escort missions are difficult is that the movement speed must match the escort target.
Clara’s class is Priest.
It is natural that their physical strength is lower than that of mercenaries who specialize in combat-related stats.
It was obvious that if I moved at her speed, it would be difficult to arrive on time.
Anyway, from Dio’s perspective, it is equally dangerous whether he goes to camp 2 or directly to camp 3.
However, although the monsters that appear in the cave route are more powerful than those in the standard route, their patterns are much simpler.
Therefore, from the perspective of not only Dio but also the mercenaries, the shortcut route is safer and saves time.
“I don’t understand. “It’s the same safe route, but why take a long way back?”
It is undoubtedly true that if Dio did not know the correct path, the shortcut would be a more dangerous path than the previous indicator.
However, if you are accompanied by mercenaries, what Dio said is not wrong.
“I’ll tell you clearly.”
Dio continued speaking and slowly approached Raymond.
The mercenaries were frightened by Dio’s momentum and retreated, and Raymond also swallowed his saliva as if he was nervous.
“I’m going to camp 3.”
Dio, who had come right in front of Raymond, spoke as if giving notice.
Intentionally making threats by lying about one’s identity can easily turn into gambling.
However, Dio knew that this kind of gutsy play was more effective because they were ‘mercenaries’.
We need to push harder here.
“Didn’t you hear why I’m with you? “I want to get this over with as quickly as possible.”
Dio took his hand off his mace and scratched his head in annoyance for the mercenaries who were in a state of extreme tension.
“I’m only joining you because it’s annoying, but what if you’re wasting my time like this?”
Dio shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the fidgeting Clara.
“What would you like to do?”
“yes? Yeah? “Me… me?”
Clara was startled and answered Dio’s sudden question.
“I’m not forcing you to do it, but you can’t ignore your duties, right?”
“Eh…”
“I assure you, it will be safer for me to escort you alone than for those idiots.”
Contrary to his motivation for participating in the request, the reason why he wants to be with Clara by pretending to accept the inconvenience.
If she follows along, other mercenaries will have no choice but to follow.
Dio, who had the status of a mercenary, pretended not to forget his duty and attracted clients.
“I… I want to go quickly, so how about listening to Mr. Monte…?”
Clara cautiously presents her opinion in an awkward situation.
In fact, not only Clara but everyone knows it.
One A-level mercenary is better than all the mercenaries here.
“When you come back, you just have to take the path that Mr. Raymond and Mr. Laika mentioned…”
Clara, who was observing Raymond’s dark complexion, hurriedly persuaded the other mercenaries.
Raymond, who looked at the atmosphere, clicked his tongue and answered.
“Tsk, if that’s the case with the employer. As for hazard pay… huh, no. I believe that the great A-level mercenary Nauri will handle dangerous matters!”
“That’s right….”
Clara breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Raymond grunting and taking a step back.
There was a commotion, but Clara’s decision put it to rest and the group spent the night preparing their own camps.
Survive as an SSS-level warehouse character