Chapter 41 – LV.Five Priest Seo Yun – [Six]

Seong Juri, who had witnessed it all, thought to herself. What in the world had she just seen?

Hadn’t it been over three years since the world transformed into a fantasy? She thought she wouldn’t be surprised by anything strange anymore, but now she realized she was wrong.

She also realized that when she was too shocked, she conversely became calm.

With a mind that had grown even sharper, she fired the crossbow.

Was it thanks to that? The released arrow struck the lower part of the leg of the centaur aiming its bow.

It was an area not covered by magic armor. In game terms, it would be considered a critical hit. The centaur with the arrow lodged in it let out a scream loud enough to be heard even from this high floor.

She was lucky. Most arrows simply bounced off the armor, but there were arrows like the one just now that pierced flesh.

Seong Juri reloaded an arrow and glanced at Han Siwoo standing beside her. He too seemed stunned by what he had just seen, firing his crossbow with wide eyes.

Under the continuous barrage, the two remaining centaurs seemed disoriented. The two dared not approach Seo Yun, who still stood motionless in that spot.

Eventually, the two began to back away.

“Huh, are they retreating…?”

The two had put about six meters of distance between themselves and Seo Yun. It was unclear if it was to dodge arrows or to avoid that small priest who had just shown a shocking scene.

Whichever it was, were they slowly trying to withdraw? Only then did Seong Juri relax, her focus breaking.

We’re saved now…

It was right then that the sound of hooves reached her ears.

From within that darkness, another centaur came charging.

Like all centaurs, its running speed was undoubtedly monstrously fast.

The one that arrived, piercing through the darkness, felt as if it had teleported.

Seong Juri stared wide-eyed at the centaur that had appeared below.

That centaur turned its head this way and that. Its eyes would have taken in the corpses of centaurs scattered here and there.

Having finished its scan, the centaur straightened its head again. Its two eyes were directed at Seo Yun.

All those movements seemed ominous to Seong Juri. It wasn’t simply that the number of enemies had increased by one.

The armor the centaur wore was so ornate it could be recognized even from a distance, and its build was the largest. It was clearly the strongest or highest-ranking one here.

Above all, that centaur did not carry a club or a net.

That giant centaur held its original weapon in hand. A halberd. For a race based on Mongols, wielding a Western weapon rather than an Eastern-style yue dao or ji was a testament to the American creator of the Immortal Kingdom’s indifference to historical accuracy.

Come to think of it, wasn’t the warhammer that Chief Oh Haengbok was said to have taken after defeating a centaur general not particularly Eastern in design either?

Like that warhammer, that halberd also seemed to be a magic item.

The giant centaur glaring at Seo Yun swung the halberd down.

It might have realized that swinging a club at a burning sword would only get it hurt. Or perhaps it wanted to avenge its fallen comrades.

Whichever it was, no intention of gently taking the beauty away was visible in that motion. The force carried by the swung weapon was clearly over 9 points.

A roar loud enough to be heard from the high floor echoed.

Seong Juri struggled not to close her eyes as she watched Seo Yun. Seo Yun raised her sword overhead to block the attack, intercepting the shaft below the point of impact with her blade.

Even that caused her small body to stagger. It was a defense so excellent that the village swordsmanship instructor would have applauded, but even that seemed of little use.

Moreover, the halberd’s shaft that met the burning sword was neither cut nor set ablaze.

When the giant centaur swung the halberd down once more, she couldn’t hold out this time. Finally, Seo Yun knelt.

The next moment, Seong Juri screamed.

“No!”

The giant centaur thrust the halberd forward. The pointed blade tip dug into Seo Yun’s shoulder.

As it lifted the halberd, Seo Yun’s body, impaled upon it, rose into the air.

Only then did the giant centaur laugh. Its upturned mouth corners were visible even from this high floor.

Finally, to its captured prey, the giant centaur seemed about to say something. Seong Juri couldn’t hear exactly what it was saying, but its mouth opened nonetheless.

“…I will…”

And Seo Yun, lifted into the air, swung her right arm just like that. Short and fast.

The burning sword left her hand and flew through the air.

Since the centaur’s face was right in front, the thrown sword did not miss its target.

The burning sword pierced through the giant centaur’s mouth and exited through the back of its skull. With the sword filling its mouth, the centaur couldn’t even scream.

A thud sounded.

As the giant centaur fell, Seo Yun, still impaled on its halberd, was also flung to the ground.

Han Siwoo muttered.

“She finally killed it…”

Seong Juri cut off his words mid-sentence.

“The situation isn’t over. There are still two left.”

Sure enough, those two moved.

The two centaurs who had been watching the situation approached Seo Yun.

Glaring at them, Seo Yun struggled to free herself from the blade tip embedded in her shoulder. But it seemed it wouldn’t come out easily, likely due to her unique regeneration.

Seong Juri fired the crossbow again to prevent the centaurs from approaching. Thwack! This time, perhaps because her mind was impatient, it missed spectacularly.

Unable to contain her anger, Seong Juri threw the crossbow to the floor. She tried to draw the sword at her waist, but damn it. Just like when she fought the basilisk before, it wouldn’t draw smoothly from the scabbard. Was there no other weapon?

Seong Juri looked at Han Siwoo and spoke quickly.

“Do you have the hand axe? The one you used to break the door earlier.”

“I do, but why…”

“Give it to me.”

There wasn’t even time to go down the stairs. Grabbing the hand axe, Seong Juri jumped from the window.

Thud! Fortunately, her breastplate hit the ground first. The impact that spread through her body momentarily stole her breath. If it weren’t for the protection spells Seo Yun had cast on her before the battle began, she might have died or been knocked unconscious right then.

Still, she somehow got up and charged, axe in hand. She shouted as she ran.

As intended, the gazes of the two centaurs turned toward Seong Juri.

“Look at me!”However, the result was pitiful considering the spirited charge. Seong Juri, who had rushed in, kicked the Centaur’s hind leg with her breastplate.

Seong Juri was knocked down in one go, but thanks to wearing full plate armor, she only rolled on the ground a bit and was able to regain her senses.

Seong Juri, who sprang back up, glared at the Centaur.

“Look at me!”

Those massive Centaurs had no reason to fear one insignificant Warrior. Still, it seemed she had somewhat succeeded in drawing their attention even more. The two creatures were just staring this way, likely wary of how many more enemies might be lurking in the darkness.

And Seo Yun finally managed to free herself from the spearhead.

While still glaring at the two Centaurs, Seong Juri could see Seo Yun slowly getting up behind them by slightly rolling her eyes. Those eyes narrowed.

‘Good…’

Seo Yun stood there, clutching her bleeding shoulder.

One Centaur belatedly turned its head and confirmed the fact. The creature gritted its teeth, then took a few steps and stood blocking the giant Centaur’s corpse. It was clearly trying to prevent the recovery of the Burning Sword stuck in its mouth.

The other Centaur also stood beside the corpse with the sword stuck in it. They seemed quite afraid to grasp that sword. Well, how many of them had been stabbed to death by that Burning Sword?

Only after blocking the path between Seo Yun and the Burning Sword did one Centaur approach Seo Yun. It seemed like they intended to capture her now that she was weakened.

And Seo Yun drew another sword. Covering her face with the blade, Seo Yun moved her lips.

Seong Juri’s eyes filled with a red light.

Flames erupted along Seo Yun’s blade.

“Oh…?”

The Centaur approaching Seo Yun seemed startled. It immediately stopped in its tracks as Seo Yun muttered.

“Come at me.”

Seong Juri was also surprised. Blinking, she looked at that flaming sword.

What is that now? Were there two identical Artifacts?

No. That sword seemed to be an ordinary Longsword issued by Happy Village.

Then the flow along that blade must be the Third-Tier Spell, Flaming Sword. This time, she created that phenomenon with her own Spell, not the power of an Artifact.

So, does that mean she reached Level 5?

It seemed like an impossible thing, but Seong Juri soon understood after looking at the fallen Centaurs. Right, she took down that many creatures almost alone, so she must be at that level. Especially since she just took down what seemed like the boss.

“Come at me, you bastards.”

Did they even perceive that provocation as a threat? The two Centaurs immediately picked up their bows. Each of them brought a trembling hand to the quiver on their back.

But the action didn’t proceed further. Seo Yun pointed her sword at them. Flames flickered from the tip of the sword.

The two Centaurs froze on the spot.

In their awkward postures, the two Centaurs stared at Seo Yun.

A standoff continued for a while. I don’t know how much real time passed, but to Seong Juri, it felt like about a minute.

In the tense standoff, the Centaurs moved first.

The thigh muscle of one Centaur twitched. At that moment, Seong Juri tensed, thinking the Centaurs would charge, but they didn’t.

The two monsters glanced at each other, exchanged looks, then took a step back to create distance. Then they leaped sideways, turned around, and ran. Into that darkness.

Finally, the two Centaurs disappeared.

Han Siwoo, who had come down the stairs, shouted while frantically waving his hands.

“What are you doing? Get inside quickly!”

Only then did Seong Juri finally realize she was safe, that she had survived.

“Let’s go.”

The two of them entered the villa with Seo Yun and went up the stairs.

Even with 11 Health points, it seemed impossible to remain unscathed after sustaining such wounds repeatedly. Seong Juri watched Seo Yun casting a Healing Spell on herself and suddenly asked.

“Are you okay?”

Seo Yun frowned.

“It’s bearable.”

Seong Juri thought. Crazy bitch.

“After setting your body on fire?”

Seong Juri shuddered as she recalled the scene she had just witnessed. She had heard of monks who left in a seated posture of self-immolation, but she never thought she’d see a similar scene in reality.

‘It seems she was judged to have 9 Spirit points because she can do that…’

Seo Yun answered with a pained expression.

“I’ve always been abnormally good at enduring pain since long ago. Maybe I feel less pain than others. I sometimes wonder if it’s some kind of brain disorder.”

“So, it didn’t hurt much even while on fire?”

“It hurt like hell. Even though I was under the effect of a Blessing Spell and adrenaline was pumping, I almost cried, seriously. Anyway, thank you both. Thanks to you, I’m alive. So… are you two unhurt?”

Seong Juri’s whole body ached from the two earlier collisions, but she felt she shouldn’t complain about pain in front of the girl who had been burned and stabbed.

“Nothing. I just shot arrows from a distance.”

“What about you, Siwoo?”

Siwoo also hesitantly opened his mouth.

“I’m fine, I’m okay.”

Seo Yun shook her head.

“No, you two are hurt.”

“What?”

“When we get back to the unit, say you were badly injured while helping me fight. Even though I healed you and there are no visible wounds now, you’re not completely healed inside. Both of you, understand…?”

It seemed she was mentally exhausted as well. There was no strength in Seo Yun’s voice now, and for Seong Juri, it was the first time she had heard such a voice from that girl.

Anyway, it seemed she was determined to send them to the rear this time. Seong Juri nodded.

Seo Yun looked out the window and asked.

“Those bastards, they probably don’t intend to come back now, right?”

Seong Juri also looked outside. No sound of clattering bones or horse hooves could be heard. It was just quiet.

“Seems so.”

“Then… the bandages? I dropped them on the ground earlier.”

Seong Juri answered absentmindedly.

“I think they were over there.”

Seo Yun trudged out of the villa. She finally picked up the bandages and headed somewhere.

Seong Juri also saw the direction the girl was heading.

Over there was the battlefield where the Skeletons had swept through earlier.

Subjectively, it felt like half a day had passed, but in reality, not much time had flowed. Had it been tens of minutes? So it seemed quite a few personnel were still breathing.

Watching Seo Yun approach them, Seong Juri was appalled. Was she trying to play medic even in this state?Han Siwoo practically shouted to stop Seo Yun.

“Hey, stop this crazy act! Since when have you been one of them, always…!”

Seo Yun turned her head. She spoke to Han Siwoo in a gloomy voice.

“Yeah, I know I look like a fucking lunatic.”

“You know and you’re still doing it?”

“I’m doing it because it’s necessary.”

“What?”

Seo Yun let out a sigh and then asked.

“Don’t you want to escape?”

“Escape?”

“Yeah, escape. Beyond just returning safely from this battlefield, you want to go back, right? Isn’t that so?”

“But, what does that have to do with…?”

“Then leave me alone. Oh, and Siwoo, give me your socks.”

“What?”

“I’m asking you to take off your socks. I don’t want to walk barefoot.”

Han Siwoo, who was about to get angry, cautiously asked.

“Will you carry me?”

“Stop the nonsense and give me your socks.”

Han Siwoo hesitated, then undid his gaiters and took off his socks for her.

Seo Yun quickly put them on and approached one of the wounded. Seo Yun knelt before him.

The soldier lying there bleeding stared blankly at Seo Yun in front of him. He kept blinking rapidly, as if he couldn’t tell whether what he was seeing was an illusion or not.

Seo Yun bandaged him and offered a healing prayer. Then she went to find another wounded person and took the same measures.

“Is taking care of your kidnappers that enjoyable? You should take care of yourself, for goodness’ sake…”

Han Siwoo grumbled as he helped unwrap bandages.

Seo Yun glared at Han Siwoo, but her eyes showed no will to argue. She soon let out a deep sigh and muttered.

“You’re medal material.”

“Is that important right now?”

In response to Han Siwoo’s question, Seo Yun nodded wearily.

“It’s important.”

While Han Siwoo was dumbfounded, Seong Juri, who had retrieved the Flaming Sword and halberd, also chimed in.

“She says she has a plan.”

“What plan?”

“It’s a bit awkward to talk about it where all the soldiers can hear.”

Han Siwoo still looked dissatisfied but didn’t oppose further.

After repeating the same task, they succeeded in rescuing over twenty wounded.

The three gathered the surviving wounded in one place. Seo Yun stood among them, shivering, and recited a Spell. It was a Spell close to a prayer, befitting a Priest.

“Goddess’s Grace.”

The gazes of all the wounded turned toward her.

A flame bloomed before Seo Yun.

It was the flame of a Hearth Priest. She laid the wounded down to receive its warmth, then Seo Yun also sat down.

The newly born, flickering flame illuminated that girl’s face. Perhaps due to today’s events, she looked tired despite having 11 Health.

The soldiers’ gazes did not leave that face.

No, were they looking at the flame before her? Seong Juri wondered.

In truth, the two were indistinguishable. Now that the Poncho she was wearing over her clothes had burned, that girl was only wearing a red robe.

It was a robe close to the color of the flame. Right now, the flame and she seemed as one.

So the soldiers seemed to feel that the warmth of the flame also came from that girl. One soldier, lying on his side, reached a hand toward that girl, and another soldier began to mutter a prayer while looking at her.

Watching the praying soldier, Seong Juri thought. Who is he praying to? God or Buddha? Perhaps the Goddess of the Hearth, the source of the fire? Or maybe… that girl herself?

Seong Juri felt the atmosphere of this moment was strange. Something beyond the unique atmosphere of a campfire was flowing in this moment.

In this atmosphere, almost religious, Seong Juri didn’t know how to act.

So, while staying quiet with her mouth shut, Seo Yun suddenly asked.

“Juri, were your eye colors originally blue?”

Seong Juri snapped back to attention and answered.

“What? Of course not. I’m not even mixed-blood.”

“Then?”

“I don’t remember exactly, but it was probably black or brown.”

Seo Yun said, still staring into Seong Juri’s eyes.

“It’s blue now.”

The three Players and the injured survivors they rescued were found after daybreak.

“Oh, fuck…”

The soldiers couldn’t believe what they were seeing, but they still did their job.

Surrounded by dozens of soldiers carrying stretchers and even more soldiers, the soldiers and Players on site joined the others.

And the Two-and-a-Half-Ton Truck loaded the injured on the stretchers. Seo Yun and the other Players moved with them.