Episode 120
120: A Mountain Beyond a Mountain
“Wow, there’s nothing like a proper blender. My ice doesn’t even seem to melt now. If I could have done this sooner….”
Iron Worker, equipped with new drill parts, was putting on an impressive display.
Watching it, Ma Jin-cheol wore a smile even more satisfied than golden hand. Iron Worker, barely holding on at the end of the passage earlier, was now pushing the entire defensive line forward.
Feeling considerably more at ease, Ma Jin-cheol trailed off mid-sentence when he noticed the serious expressions on Geumson and Baek Jin-ju’s faces.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem with Iron Worker?”
He seemed more worried about Iron Worker than Golden Hand. But Baek Jin-ju’s words made even Ma Jin-cheol sigh heavily.
“We have no food for the refugees. I don’t think we can hold out much longer like this…”
“Ah, food…”
“Do you have any leftovers, by any chance?” Baek Jin-ju asked Ma Jin-cheol as well. However, Ma Jin-cheol just scratched the back of his head with a similarly troubled expression.
“Well, there is food… but…”
The number of refugees was well over a thousand. No matter how much food players typically carried in their inventories, it was far from enough. The same was true for golden hands. So, while the combat situation had eased, the actual atmosphere inside was growing grim.
‘Food, huh… A mountain beyond a mountain.’
He hadn’t considered it. In fact, during the Age of Ruin, golden hands had worked in rescue teams. What happened after the rescue was the responsibility of the rear support teams. That’s why he had overlooked this crucial post-rescue detail—the most important part.
‘Should we use the Griffin? Or… return to the city?’
Various methods flashed through Geumson’s mind, but he soon shook his head. Iron Worker was performing well now, but if they went too far, it was highly likely Iron Worker would stop functioning. Iron Worker was single-handedly blocking the passage. If it stopped, that would truly be the end.
‘Mr. Jin-cheol also has to maintain the ice barrier, so he can’t leave. Even if I send Baek Jin-ju on the Griffin…’
The Griffin had only one use left. Even if she were sent to a nearby city, it would take an age for her to return. Moreover, the outskirts of Prelia were still a labyrinth. It would be a miracle just for Baek Jin-ju to make it back, no matter how hard she tried.
“How about searching the city once? It’s so cold… it’s practically a refrigerator, isn’t it? There must be some food left somewhere!”
Ma Jin-cheol suggested searching the city. It seemed a plausible opinion on the surface. Just quietly search the city as golden hands had done when bringing the refugees. However, Baek Jin-ju shook her head at that suggestion.
“If you mean food within the city… it’s already gone. I’ve already searched everywhere while holding out here…”
The reason Baek Jin-ju’s pristine white armor was dented and stained with blood—she had ventured out alone to secure food, facing the undead. Thus, she seemed to know the city’s situation better than anyone.
“Ha, this is driving me crazy… I’d rather the Witch showed up! Is she doing this on purpose?”
As if frustrated, Ma Jin-cheol blamed the Witch. Honestly, with this level of commotion, it was about time for the Witch to appear. Even now, the city’s undead were being shredded by Iron Worker’s drill. But the Witch showed no sign of appearing, as if she had no interest in mere undead.
“D-don’t blame the Witch for no reason… If she shows up now, we’re the ones who’ll be in trouble.”
Somehow, Geumson cleared his throat and tried to calm Ma Jin-cheol, who just kicked the snow-covered ground in annoyance.
They were truly cornered. The survivors they worked so hard to save were about to collapse and die from lack of food. The viewers watching golden hands stream, also at a loss for solutions, felt the same frustration. The rising chat messages seemed to voice their exasperation.
└ [DidYouEatYet]: Ugh… this is so frustrating. They’ve beaten all the undead but might die from lack of food.
└ [SurvivalExpert]: For a thousand people, just a day’s worth of food would be enormous… How are they supposed to manage that?
└ [Golden Hand Baragi]: Bro! I’ll pack some food and come right now!
└ [Realist]: Honestly, in that situation, giving up is the right call. Saving all 1,000 people is impossible. Know when to cut your losses.
└ [HumanityFirst]: What’s with the comment above? Are human lives a joke? We have to save them no matter what!
└ [CookingKing]: If I were there, I’d at least cook them some monster meat… Oh, that’s undead? Even I’d struggle with that… Sorry.
└ [YunseosMom]: Just imagining the babies crying from hunger is horrifying! Hey, Lepyon production team! If you have any conscience, at least airdrop some relief supplies!
The viewers’ complaints were rampant, even calling out the Lepioneer production team. Their frustration was palpable. But golden hand’s eyes were fixed on the Prestige Shop. Perhaps it sold food.
‘Please… let there be something!’
golden hand quickly scrolled through the list. He even used search terms, looking for anything that could serve as food. But the message that appeared was:
[No search results found.]
A mercilessly cold and indifferent message. Food was perhaps too common an item for the Prestige Shop. The shop, filled with premium items, had its advantage turn into a disadvantage now.
‘Really… is there no way?’
The feeling of helplessness he hadn’t felt in a long time began to creep over golden hand. Just as that dread, which he never wanted to experience again, was about to consume him, a single item from his first encounter with the Prestige Shop flashed in his memory.
‘What if…’
golden hand rapidly scrolled through the Prestige Shop list again. That item was still there.
[Goblin Merchant Flute: 2,000 P]
‘It’s there!’
The Goblin Merchant Flute. An item golden hands had seen and ignored. It cost 2,000 points just to summon them, without even knowing what they sold. For golden hand, who made and used his own items, it was useless. But now, it was his last hope.
‘They’re merchants… so they’ll sell food, right?’
It wasn’t certain. Ridiculously, they might sell weapons or something. But golden hand purchased the item without hesitation.
[Remaining Prestige Points: 0]
A small horn flute appeared in golden hand hand. Now he had no prestige points left. But without hesitation, golden hands brought the flute to his lips.
Piiiiiiiiii—
“Wh-what? All of a sudden?”
“What is that item?”
The two looked at golden hand, puzzled by his sudden action. But before he could answer, a small rift began to open in the air.
A small gate. Like the monster gates that had assaulted humanity. Like when the Griffin appeared. And golden hand didn’t miss it, observing intently.
‘There’s a precursor. Right before it opens… I might be able to interfere.’
golden hand was no longer surprised by gates opening in Lepione. Instead, he used ‘Mac’s Insight’ and ‘magic Domination’ to analyze it meticulously. Bit by bit. He studied and analyzed the magic flow of the gate itself.
But unlike golden hands, the other two were startled by the sudden gate, making a fuss and preparing for battle.
“The Witch! The Witch! That damn Witch! She finally shows up! golden hands! Get her!”
“Everyone, fall back! Look after the injured! Get as far away from here as possible! I’ll hold them off! I definitely will!”
The two prepared as if for a final battle. But golden hands spoke to them.
“It’s not the Witch. Calm down.”
“Huh? Not… the Witch?”
“Then what is that?”
“A merchant, probably?”
As they relaxed slightly at golden hand words, a green head peeked cautiously out of the small gate. Perked, pointy ears twitched as if carefully assessing the situation beyond the gate. Deciding there was no immediate threat, the green head crossed over.
“Kee-kik! Customers! Customers! I smell desperate customers! Kikikik!”
A single goblin crossed through the gate. A small goblin with a large pack on its back. It looked like the common treasure goblin from many games. Most players would welcome the familiar sight, as treasure goblins always provided unexpected rewards.
But golden hands.
The moment golden hands saw that goblin, he gritted his teeth.
Rarely, he swore inwardly.
‘The Broker of Despair! You bastard… So the Goblin Merchant was you?’
In the Age of Ruin.
A goblin that appeared suddenly on the hellish battlefield.
That goblin offered deals to humans.
Deals they couldn’t refuse in their most desperate moments.
Even if they knew full well the deal would push them into the abyss of despair.
