Chapter 30 – Fall Rain is Blood (3)

[The 12th floor is being given.]

As soon as the voice could be heard, something poured on the window.

Drip. Drip.

It was rain.

Rain slid down the fancy window in the reception room. For a moment, we turned out gazes to look outside. It wasn’t because we were surprised by the sound. There was something else that made us surprised.

“Uh, uhhhhh…”

“Nightmare! The rain of nightmare is pouring down again!”

The color of the rain.

It was as red as blood. No, it might’ve been actual blood. The NPCs who were with us started to hold their heads and groan.

“Goddess, please don’t abandon us!”

“W, What/. Why are they suddenly being like this…?”

The exhausted Venomous Snake looked around him.

“It’s the Devil King…”

The NPCs wearing armor muttered. They were crouched down on the ground with trembling shoulders. Like the trembling was infectious, groans started to come from everywhere.

“It’s the end of the empire now…”

“The Devil King is coming…’

“Your Majesty….where is our emperor…?”

All of their faces were dark. Despair. Acceptance. Exhaustion. Their faces were no different than actual humans.

The Venomous Snake gulped.

“T, They’re funny. Hey. This is all acting, right? What happened now?”

“The quest has begun.”

I spoke quietly.

“We won’t fight if we stay still. If there’s arguments between us, they’ll have no choice but to attack us.”

“Attack? Who?”

“Who do you think?”

I looked outside the window.”

“The being that caused these arguments between.”

Laughter flowed in my head.

]The Devil King of Fall Rain is agreeing with you.]

The rain poured down harder. The sound that was like someone knocking instantly became even more quiet. Tens of red drops covered the window.

“······.”

I approached the window. I could’t see outside from here. Because the rain was too bad, the entire window was red. I broke the window with my sheath.

Red rain poured into the reception room. I saw clearly down what was happening outside. The palace. The city beyond the palace. The great wall beyond the city.

[The Devil King of Fall Rain is manifesting.]

It was beyond the city walls.

-Pitiful things.

It whispered quietly.

Yes. It was a whisper.

Just a whisper climbed over the walls, the city, and flowed into the reception room through the broken window.

-Did you think humans summoned from another world would be your shield? Did you think they would be your heroes?

The rain endlessly poured.

-Come at me. Come at me as much as you want. Summon as many as you want. Call for thousands of warriors and knights. It’s pitiful you can’t realize that they’re only humans like you.

The voice rang through the pouring rain. It rang in the walls. It rang in the palace’s walls. It rang in the reception room’s wall. It laughed. It was a loud laughter. The laughter echoed and echoed, ringing our ears.

“Agh…”

The NPCs bent down further. They gripped their heads like they were in pain.

We were better off than them. It was our first time hearing the laughter. It was bearable. If we had to listen to that voice for over a year, the story would change.

-Things who don’t see humans as humans.

It was then.

On the map that only I could see, red spots suddenly started to appear on the map. One. Two. Three. The red dots that were slowly appearing, grew exponentially.

Hundreds.

Thousands.

Ten thousands.

Soon, the entire horizon turned into red.

-Be swallowed by your evil.

It hailed.

The sky and the earth suddenly became pale, and the things between it showed themselves.

It was the monsters that were the red dots.

“······.”

“······.”

The hunters shut their mouths. It was a monster army incomparable to the one on the 11th stage. A colossal army was heading towards us.

-Krrrr.

-Kiek, kek!

The monsters cried out. They bared their teeth. They twisted their necks. Rain poured down the goblins’ twisted faces. The blood rain was probably holy water for them. They looked at the sky like they were looking towards a god, and they saluted the red rain.

“…I said so.”

I gripped my sword.

“It’s not the time for us to fight.”

And letters appeared in front of me.

+

[Defense of the Empire’s City]

Difficulty: A~SSS

Mission goal: Warriors! You have decided to fight bravely against the Devil King. The Devil King has joined the war himself after sensing danger. He can summon monster armies wherever. He is aiming for the heart of the Aegim Empire, the Imperial city, Hakamenia.

Fortunately, the Devil King is weakened from manifesting here.

Stop the Devil King!

※However, loss in the battle means the 13th floor will not be opened.

+

It was silent for a moment.

“…became weak?”

The Venomous Snake murmured.

“That?”

What he said reflected what everyone was thinking.

“This…is unfair. How are we supposed to clear it? This isn’t a quest that we can solve. Even if up to the 10th floor was only a tutorial…this is too different. Things like this.”

“That’s enough. Let’s be calm.”

I turned to look at the reception room.

There were the hunters. Behind them, the NPCs were in despair.

“We can do it. The tower doesn’t give quests that can’t be cleared.”

“But, how do we defeat those many monsters…?”

“So that’s why I’m telling you to be calm.”

I pointed at the NPCs.

“We’re not just hunters here. Did you forget? Venomous Snake. You’re the Head Bodyguard. You have to lead them.”

“······.”

“We can’t break through this stage with just hunters.”

Yeah.

“Convince the NPCs. Raise them up to fight. Lead them. Lead them into war like they’re real people.”

That was how the 11th floor was subjugated as well.

“We can’t fight each other here. Sword Saint-nim. You’re the Grand Master of knights. A Head Bodyguard and Grand Master fight? How can we defend against outer forces?”

“······.”

“Did you think it was beneficial to get the reward? It is. But you have responsibility as well. We received the roles, and it’s time to role play.”

I turned my head towards the Crusader.

She was looking at me with a serious face.

“Director of Foreign Affairs.”

“Mm.”

“This is the reception room but the Emperor isn’t in sight. He’s probably somewhere in the palace. Please search for the Emperor with the NPCs. If the leader isn’t here, the NPCs won’t follow us.”

The Crusader nodded.

“Understood.”

“Supreme General.”

I looked at the Heretic Questioner. Even though he lost an arm, he was still smiling brightly. Rather, he was looking at me like he was amused.

“Yes! That’s me!”

“I hate hunters like you. Really. I felt that I needed to see the end of things with you after seeing what you did. But, you can’t forget that you’re the Supreme General now.”

“Haha. I’m starting to like you more and more!”

“Since you gave me authority, please shut up and listen to me.”

I looked at the map and spoke.

There wasn’t a lot of time. The red wave was getting closer.

“There’s probably a lot of soldiers at the city walls. Monsters are getting closer to them like hail, but there’s no way they’re feeling normal. Please go to the city walls yourself and assure the soldiers.”

“Mm! It’s noblesse oblige!”

“Please defend the city walls no matter what. If they fall, this stage is over.’

“Don’t worry.”

Heretic Questioner smiled.

“I’ve never broken a promise since I was born. I’ll guard it with my life!”

“Okay.”

I looked around me.

“Then I’ll be off first.”

It was time for war.