Chapter 401: If he were an enemy (3)
[Incomplete Shield of Aegis (Legendary)]
[A shield that the God of Heaven gave to the Goddess of War. Unlike before, it had been split into several pieces. The shield did not lose its power despite being torn apart, perhaps thanks to the magic power contained in it. It dramatically increases basic magic resistance and allows the user to summon parts of the Aegis Shield for a limited period of time in exchange for a huge amount of magic power. Summoned Aegis Shield unconditionally prevents any form of life-threatening attacks.]
‘Whew. It’s a luxury product. A luxury.’
I checked through the Goddess’s Mirror first, but it was definitely an understatement to call it a luxury. The fact that it unconditionally prevented any lethal attack alone told us about how valuable the item was. In fact, giving me something well-suited for tanks was just an indicator of how much he thought of me.
“Ah… This…”
“It’s something I got.”
“No. I’m fine, Hyunsung. It doesn’t suit me.”
“It’s better for you to have it. I’ve thought about it deeply. It’s something Kiyoung should have. There is no guarantee that the same incident with the spear won’t happen again.”
“If it’s before…”
I certainly remembered. I went outside to check out the situation but almost died due to a spear flying towards me. I had completely erased it from my mind. I never imagined he would be bothered by it.
‘Whew… Look, Jihye. This is our Hyunsung. Don’t ever dare to talk about backstabbing in front of Hyunsung!’
“It’s something I don’t need. I’m not the type to fight while blocking in the first place… It would be better for Kiyoung to carry it for insurance. I was already thinking about attaching an escort… I think I’ll feel a little relieved if you accept this.”
“Still…”
“You must take it.”
“If… you insist… yes. I will take it gratefully.”
Although I wanted to accept it immediately, rejecting it initially was a virtue of Koreans. Even if I waved my hand in rejection, Kim Hyunsung would’ve put the shield on my left wrist regardless. Accepting, pretending to give in, and equipping the item all happened in a matter of moments. It felt comfortable, the way it wrapped around my arm with a pleasing ‘clunk’ sound. It didn’t suit me, but it still felt assuring to have gained a way to protect my body.
Above all, I liked that it’s comfortable to move with it. It’s better to carry around because it’s not an ignorantly large and heavy shield.
‘Fuck. Am I a little stronger now? It looks like I’m a little stronger now!’
It’s not fundamental, but it had its own attack power. I thought that if I had that type of armor, I would also be able to deal with some of the melee positions. Of course, it’s only my personal imagination. Considering that Kim Hyunsung crushed the named enemy even with the shield, it was impossible to say that arms were everything. I looked at him with genuine gratitude. In return, I saw boundless trust in his eyes.
“Er… but.”
“Yes?”
“If you could keep this a secret from Deokgu…”
“Ah…”
“In my opinion, it suits Kiyoung rather than Deokgu. Of course, that’s based on my personal judgment… that’s why I’m worried that Deokgu would be disappointed.”
“Haha. Yes. Okay. It would be better to keep it a secret from Deokgu.”
“And from other guild members…”
“Yes. I will keep it a secret to other guild members.”
‘Why is this bastard so cute?’
It made me want to bite his worried expression somehow. Looking at Lee Jihye, the way she stared at me with a suspicious look on her face was quite uncomfortable. Her doubts about Kim Hyunsung seemed to have faded, but I felt like she had a different doubt in her mind. I even felt an unidentified nervousness on her face.
“Hyunsung-ssi should take a little rest. The next fight will be more taxing. The enemy forces are already retreating little by little anyway…”
“You mean we’re holding them all back?”
“Well, they also have to prepare for the next fight.”
“In… fact, I have something to say about it.”
“Yes?”
“I told you once before, but… I still feel that something’s not right…”
“Ah… yes… tell me please.”
‘This bastard is starting again. Again.’
Kim Hyunsung’s back, which was stabbed several times, seemed to be showing signs of PTSD once again. Of course, it was less than the first time, but it seemed like he had various thoughts with the last fight coming.
“I can’t get rid of the feeling that it’s a trap. Should I say it’s too easy…”
“A trap?”
“Yes.”
Lee Jihye, who saw Kim Hyunsung’s back phenomenon for the first time, naturally reacted as if asking, ‘What is he saying?’ Since he was so serious about it, she became flustered. Lee Jihye looked at me as if asking, ‘what’s up with him now?’ She didn’t seem to be taking the trap talk seriously. In the meantime, she nodded and reacted in a way that made her look surprised as she accepted what he was saying. Lee Jihye’s face asking to get rid of the strange uncle quickly was superb in many ways.
‘What’s up with this guy?’
Lee Jihye had that expression.
“We need to be careful.”
Kim Hyunsung continued to complain about the pain in his back. In fact, it was an incident that I could laugh and pass over, but I was worried about what Lee Jihye said earlier.
‘Although the Demon Summoner is doing well…’
The problem was that he wasn’t doing something like masked trash. He had to be more vicious and meticulous. The standard method itself was destructive enough, but it was too honest to call him that title. The masked trash that appeared in Kim Hyunsung’s memory was truly the incarnation of the devil. It’s safe to say that he was the ultimate version of human trash. He was the lowest of lowest that did all kinds of disgusting and perverted things.
On the current battlefield, the dirty stuff Kim Hyunsung talked about had never appeared in any of the battles or skirmishes. It would be nice if he could let it slip safely, but if there was some suspicion in his mind, I might really have to make an alternative plan, as Lee Jihye said.
‘How troublesome…’
It felt like the situation was also very dangerous. The fact that the three of us were in such a small space suddenly made me worry like crazy.
‘Come to think of it, she was also a masked trash… he won’t notice, right?’
He might’ve misunderstood Lee Jihye and me as a couple of masked trash from the first round, causing me to take a step away from her instinctively. Of course, the mask seemed to have various spells, including voice modulation processing, but I wanted to avoid getting strange misunderstandings.
“The things Hyunsung said.”
“Yes…”
“Honestly, I can’t say that there’s a possibility of realization. Of course, those are called taboos in the Continental War Act. Some of them are even so cruel that they don’t even appear in war laws. It’s too absurd from my point of view. If anyone does such a trap, I would call him trash, not human. No, the word human trash is not enough. They’d be dirt that cannot be collected separately. Dirt.”
“He’s someone who can do that.”
“I’ll think about it from different perspectives, Hyunsung. It’s right to look before we leap…”
Although Lee Jihye’s words had a point, I was forced to speak up.
“Even if there are things prepared… it will probably be hard to use it openly.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Considering the current Republic’s internal situation and the situation on the battlefield, the use of such inhumane tactics will feel like poison to Demon Summoner Jin Qing. He still denies that he is the one who caused the Laios crisis. The cause and morale of the soldiers will inevitably be affected. His position in the Republic will also be damaged. More importantly, he cares about the international community’s gaze.”
“Hm… I see.”
“He’s not going to make a stupid choice that could turn even bystanders into enemies. L-last time I couldn’t tell you, but I think you can rest assured in that part, Hyunsung.”
“But…”
“Yes.”
“If he gets in a tight spot that he can’t afford to consider other circumstances… perhaps…”
I clenched my fists when I felt like we could let that slip by. Lee Jihye then voiced out her thoughts.
“It can’t be said that there is no possibility. I think this war is also because Demon Summoner Jin Qing couldn’t let go of what he had. If that kind of person is put in a tight spot… well. Do you understand what I’m talking about? Because humans, who have nothing to lose, become cruel.”
‘This masked trash Lee Jihye.’
I didn’t think she would blur the board like Park Deok-gu here. It’s a sight to see Kim Hyunsung nodding and clenching his fist. There were anxiety and worries on his face, but there was no guarantee that the Demon Summoner would do it like the masked trash.
‘Should I have to prepare?’
There were some things I had thought about as insurance, but I had to worry about whether I should actually implement it. But there was no choice. The battle there was ending, and we would be at Castle Rock. Lee Jihye, who was talking to him, looked at the Goddess’s Mirror.
“Don’t chase those who retreat. Reorganize the troops as quickly as possible and move straight to Castle Rock. A new formation is sent to each unit, and the advance squad must move immediately.”
-Noted.
“Transmit this to the entire unit. If there is an unknown phenomenon or anything suspicious, please report it to the command and control room immediately. Report all the small things. Lastly, organize a separate reconnaissance squad consisting of rangers and wizards, and form a separate task force to be prepared if anything happens.”
-Yeah. Checked.
“Please let all the troops know that this will be the last fight.”
-Yes.
Seeing him nodding his head, Kim Hyunsung seemed to be quite satisfied with Lee Jihye’s message. I didn’t think he had been relieved of his anxiety, but he seemed to be able to understand the situation at least.
“Then I’ll be getting ready with the lieutenants here. Kiyoung and Hyunsung should go outside and get some air.”
“No.”
“I’m not really telling you to get some air. The whole unit is exhausted. Perhaps if you two are with them, their morale would increase. I also ask of you to supply a fatigue recovery potion.”
“Yes. Okay.”
“Oh. One more thing. Please stop by the side where female soldiers are concentrated. That would be helpful.”
‘How would that be helpful?’
I found it weird, but for now, I was forced to nod.