Chapter 73
Inside the carriage heading toward Morta, Donghee opened the Hidden Shop. He wanted to use the Hidden Points he had earned after completing the palisade construction to buy something useful.
– Opening the Hidden Shop. You currently have 1,000 Hidden Points. Would you like to browse items you can purchase with these points?
I don’t have time to browse right now. Is there anything I can buy for 1,000 points that could work as a weapon?
– You wish to open the Weapon Shop. Opening cost is 100 points. Proceed?
Donghee hesitated. If he spent 100 points to open the Weapon Shop but found nothing affordable, it would just be a waste. After a moment of consideration, he decided to pay the 100 points.
– Deducting 100 points for opening cost. Remaining points: 900.
Donghee’s mouth went dry.
– The following weapons are available for 900 points:
Boots of Terror (–500p) – Run quickly and kick your opponent’s tailbone, causing it to collapse. (Accuracy decreases if the opponent’s tailbone is longer than two hand spans.) Upgrading for 100 points increases running speed and adds a tailbone-cutting effect.
Mouth of Terror (–400p) – A loudspeaker that talks rapidly and annoyingly, enough to rupture the enemy’s eardrums. Upgrading for 100 points adds a dramatic bleeding-ear effect.
Gastan of Terror (–600p) – Releases foul gas that paralyzes the enemy’s sense of smell; firing three times in succession causes minor visual damage. However, you must stick out your butt as much as possible. (If your sphincter flutters due to age, effectiveness decreases. Regular Kegel exercises recommended upon purchase.)
The 18 Slingshot of Terror (–800p) – Just a slingshot. You can aim and shoot at your opponent. (Accuracy depends on the user’s skill.) One charge gives 18 shots. Each recharge costs 10 points.
“Goddamn it.”
Looking at the pathetic list, Donghee regretted it, but it was too late. He had to buy something, though nothing looked promising. And what the hell was with the fluttering sphincter?
Donghee wanted to curse at the ridiculous, shabby list the status window had given him.
“Fine, I’ll take number four, the slingshot.”
Reluctantly, he bought the slingshot and spent the rest of his points on ammunition.
– You have purchased the 18 Slingshot of Terror and 10 full recharges. You now have a total of 180 shots available. As a first-time bonus, I, being a generous status window, am giving you 10 extra shots free of charge. Your total available shots: 190. Hehe. Wishing you happy hunting.
Frowning at the explanation, Donghee narrowed his eyes at the final line.
Hunting?
Could it be that monsters from the Black Forest were coming down? If so, things were worse than he thought. Donghee glanced at Handsome, who sat opposite him looking tense, and said,
“Handsome, tell the coachman to drive faster.”
“Qulen incoming!”
“Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Hold your positions!”
What came pouring out of the Black Forest wasn’t a dark cloud—it was a swarm of Qulen.
Red Bear, staring in dread at the overwhelming numbers, quickly came to his senses and shouted,
“Archers, ready!”
There were fewer than twenty archers in Grace’s territory. Grace’s knight order was already pitifully small, and they didn’t even have the luxury to train archers. Besides, to knights, bows were considered cowardly weapons.
Red Bear resolved that once this crisis passed, he would absolutely reorganize the order.
The only saving grace was that they had hurriedly gathered what few archers they had, knowing that monsters could invade if the palisade was breached.
At his command, the archers raised their bows toward the sky. As bowstrings tightened, everyone held their breath and watched the approaching monsters.
Flap! Flap!
The massive wings cutting through the air sounded like hundreds of flags whipping in the wind.
O Lord, protect Grace. Protect the people of Morta.
For the first time in his life, Red Bear prayed earnestly as he fixed his gaze on the oncoming Qulen. He wrapped a leather strap tightly around his sword hand, swearing never to drop his blade while he still breathed.
He raised his free hand high. The archers saw it and tightened their bowstrings with trembling fingers.
In the suffocating silence, only the wingbeats of the Qulen filled the air. The archers, shaking, licked their dry lips and steadied their breath.
Flap! Flap!
Kiiiii! Kyaaaak!
There hadn’t been time to clean up even half the blood and corpses of the young Qulen they had slain earlier. But even if they had, the blood smeared all over the palisade would have still lured the beasts. No water could wash away the stench of their blood.
When the Qulen came within range, Red Bear dropped his hand and roared,
“Fire!”
Thwip! Thwip-thwip!
Arrows streaked into the sky, piercing the wings of the Qulen.
As the front line loosed, the back line nocked arrows. As soon as the front fired, the back released. Though few in number, the arrows kept flying relentlessly.
Thud! Thunk!
Hit in their wings, several Qulen faltered, flapping frantically upward.
“Their body hide is too thick! Aim for the wings!”
Red Bear kept barking orders. The arrows, even if not lethal, sowed chaos in the flock. The tightly packed Qulen broke formation and scattered.
But only briefly. Realizing the arrows were too few, the Qulen dove lower, dark shadows looming close.
The archers, pale with fear, kept firing without pause.
Boom! Boom!
Finally, a few Qulen crashed to the ground, their wings torn and useless. But even crippled, they crawled swiftly forward, stabbing the earth with their claws and broken limbs, jaws wide and fangs bared.
They were even more terrifying on the ground than in the sky.
Kyaaaak!
Five knights charged the crawling beasts. At the same time, the Qulen in the air dove like spears.
The knights cut at wings and heads, while the archers loosed their final arrows to bring more beasts down.
Screeches and human screams mingled chaotically. Red Bear swung his sword, severing the jaw of a Qulen that lunged to bite him.
“Aaagh!”
One Qulen snatched up an archer by the shoulder and soared skyward. It happened so fast that neither the victim nor the others could react.
“Kyyaaaak!”
Moments later, with a piercing shriek, the Qulen shredded him into pieces that rained down onto his comrades.
Thud! Thump-thud!
The mangled body fell among them.
That was the signal—the Qulen began snatching men up left and right. Some were dropped from the sky, skulls shattering on impact. Others were ripped apart midair and thrown down in bloody chunks.
The knights’ courage began to crumble. The will to fight was torn to pieces like the corpses around them.
“Hold formation! Any man who flees will be executed!”
Red Bear shouted to steady them.
Just then, a particularly massive Qulen tucked its wings and shot toward him like a falling star.
“Commander! Look out!”
Urun cried from nearby. Red Bear looked up just as the beast raked his side with its talons.
“Ghhk!”
Agonizing pain twisted his face, but he swung hard, severing the creature’s leg in one stroke.
“Kyyaaaak!”
Bleeding, the maimed beast flailed and rose unsteadily, only to be struck by an arrow from somewhere and crash back down.
“Haa… haa…”
Clutching his torn side, Red Bear panted heavily.
The more Qulen fell, the more his knights died. Watching his men perish before his eyes, Red Bear wept blood.
There was no hope of victory. The worst-case scenario was that every soul here would be slaughtered. The best case—that they would all die taking the Qulen with them.
Straightening his back, he lifted his sword again. Just then, a huge Qulen circling above folded its wings and dropped straight down at him.
