The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 42



Only Noblemtl

Episode 42. You Must Keep Your Promises

Kkudangtang!

“Cough!”

Inyoung burst through the door as if someone had thrown it and rolled out into the hallway.

At first, no one knew his identity.

Tattered clothes, swollen faces and bloodied skin.

It was difficult to recall a familiar face from that miserable appearance.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Hey, isn’t that the captain?”

“Wait a minute, why is it like that?”

It was only a matter of time before they realized what was really going on.

Mercenaries are not mentally unstable or have crooked eyes.

Inyoung, who was rolling around like a crushed can in front of my eyes, was their leader.

The mercenaries who had been lying around like cats basking in the sun stood up, their blurry eyes focused.

“What are you doing, you little punks! Get out your extension cords now!”

Percibel cursed at her subordinates with her teeth broken and her pronunciation murmured.

“No, why are you suddenly like that?”

“What on earth happened… … .”

“You damn bastards! Can’t you tell just by looking at them?!”

Percibel complained of frustration at the delay of his subordinates, but it was his greed to expect a quick response from the mercenaries who had already lost their tension.

“… … You still haven’t come to your senses. You have good tenacity.”

Someone walked out of the conference room, stepping on the fallen door.

The confused gaze of the audience was focused on him.

Hair that is neat despite being roughly organized.

A facial line that stands out even under cheap lighting.

The harmonious and distinct facial features were like a work of art that colored the monotonous city landscape.

Allen the hitman.

He was looking down at Percibel with a haughty gaze.

“But if you have some sense, you should look at the place where you are going to lie down and stretch your legs. Isn’t that right?”

The crowd clearly remembered him as a gentleman with a gentlemanly air, like a well-raised young master.

It was only a few minutes difference, but now it was the complete opposite.

The cold, icy expression on his face gave off an intimidating vibe that made the viewer feel intimidated.

“What the fuck!”

Percibel swung her weapon and cursed while the mercenaries swallowed their saliva.

Wedge!

It was a frantic movement, not even able to properly step on the ground.

Yet the sound of the blade cutting through the air boasted exceptional sharpness.

It is a blade imbued with magical power.

Any object that came into contact with the trajectory was split and broken like soft tofu.

Woohoo!

But even that was useless.

The blade didn’t even touch Allen’s collar.

The moment I got within a foot of it, I felt as if I was blocked by a transparent wall and began to tremble, unable to move forward.

“Eeeeek!”

The blood vessels in Percibel’s eyes burst and blue veins bulged on her arms.

He was literally squeezing every ounce of strength he had left.

On the other hand, Allen watched the situation leisurely without lifting a finger.

It was a fight where the winner was already decided no matter who saw it.

“Didn’t I say that I wouldn’t stop you whether you foolishly do it or not?”

Buck!

Allen took a step forward.

Percibel, who was pushed by him, took a step back.

“That’s right. If you don’t like raising one hand and want to get behind here, then I’ll give you your wish.”

“Ugh, ugh!”

Allen pushed his opponent forward with a relaxed attitude, as if he wasn’t even exerting an ounce of strength.

Percibel was helplessly pushed to the edge of the wall, unable to find a solution.

Chaenggang!

Soon the magic dissipated and the blade broke.

At the same time, a splintered piece of wood fell from Allen’s arms, but no one paid attention to such a trivial matter.

“As you said, the success or failure of my request has nothing to do with your lives. If you’re just going to get in the way, then I’ll just get rid of you.”

Allen’s body began to glow.

The stream of light that started from his chest spread throughout his body, dyeing his entire body green.

“… …Come?”

It is a change in magical power that is revealed when martial arts reach a high level.

Although it may seem easy at first glance, it was a skill that clearly showed the difference in level.

If it spreads throughout the body in the blink of an eye, it is the realm of a master.

At least, it wasn’t at the level of education that the noble young master had learned.

It was a feat that even Percibel, a mercenary who had been in active service for a long time, could not accomplish.

“Hey, wait a minute! I was wrong! I’ll do whatever you say!”

Percibel finally realized the difference in their strengths.

I shouted urgently, but Allen’s reaction was different than before.

“That’s too bad. You should have made your decision a little faster.”

Cynical sneer.

His cold eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Percibel’s face turned pale.

The light came towards him.

It was not an ordinary light, but a green blade covering white skin.

yet.

dump!

Percibel, unable to overcome her fear, lost consciousness and collapsed.

“… … .”

Silence fell on the room.

It was a scene that could be neatly summarized in one sentence.

Their leader was defeated without being able to lift a finger.

Even the crazy guys on drugs came to their senses after witnessing the shocking sight.

Allen looked back at them with a clean, spotless appearance.

“Is there anyone who would dare to take revenge on the captain?”

“… … .”

Is the captain a captain for nothing?

He is the leader of the mercenary group because he is basically the most skilled.

That’s how he fell.

Right before my eyes, with an overwhelming difference in skill that leaves no room for excuses.

“… …Do whatever you want.”

The choices of the city thugs disguised as mercenaries were set.

It was a lifeline rather than a matter of loyalty.

***

“He’s not dead yet! Bring him here quickly!”

“Aren’t you coming to your senses?! Your arm is falling off!”

Percibel is not dead.

I didn’t really intend to go that far, and he passed out before I could do anything.

After informing them of his condition, the mercenaries took him somewhere for treatment.

The others looked at me tensely, as if they had come to their senses.

I had nothing to say to them.

It wasn’t something I did to get the Python Mercenaries under my control.

Competent subordinates are welcome, but incompetent subordinates are a burden.

‘When Percibel wakes up, everything will be sorted out.’

This floor physiology was subdued by force.

He is a man who knows how precious his life is, so he will cooperate with me as I beg.

It was a clean solution that was ignorant but would not cause any complaints.

Twinkle!

I looked at my reflection in the window.

The light flashing through the clothes on his chest was unusual.

‘They said that the tattooed abilities would be applied.’

The effect was just proven.

The physical ability to overwhelm mercenaries with bare hands.

Although it was the Guardian Totem that blocked the attack, it was a production.

With his enhanced eyesight, he could see the blade’s trajectory, and his elastic muscles allowed him to easily maneuver to avoid it.

Even though I wasn’t conscious of it, my body was trying to move on its own.

It was a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time.

It’s a skill aid.

Even if we had fought properly, the outcome would not have been different.

‘Piercing vision, calm breathing, critical judgment… … .’

Just looking at the list of shared, generated skills is enough to fill your stomach.

Precise assistance from the system to fill in the senses that were filled with experience.

The effect of the watchman’s falcon was several times greater than I expected.

Knock knock!

“The World Tree is jealous.”

‘… … Yeah, yeah. You’re great too.’

The world tree hit my arm with its cotyledon.

I guess he’s worried that his own presence will diminish if he only praises the watchman.

It was an excessive concern.

Of course, the World Tree was no worse than the Watchman.

The driving force that helped me overcome many crises as a contractor was the World Tree.

I was looking forward to seeing how much more amazing it would become as it grew.

‘Then I should process the request first.’

I felt a strange gaze.

When I turned my gaze, a man was smiling awkwardly at me.

“Haha, hello? See you again soon.”

He was a young man who was a guide.

“Weren’t you going to work?”

“Since I brought you here, shouldn’t I be the one to train you too? … .”

Another spam treatment?

You’ve worked hard.

I shook my head and went back to the conference room.

“I don’t intend to turn the tables again, so you don’t have to worry about what he’s thinking. That guy became like that… I just had a quick conversation to ask for his cooperation.”

A conversation between bodies is still a conversation.

It’s a clear and fiery conversation rather than tongue-in-cheek arguments that lead to no clear conclusion.

The guide awkwardly nodded.

“Well, cooperation, cooperation. You’re hot-tempered, unlike how you look.”

“This industry is full of people who listen to what you say.”

I also tried to put it nicely.

Because it failed, I changed my route right away.

In this industry, if you look down on someone, you get treated like a fool.

“Current situation, operational plan, information on the opposing camp, etc. If you have organized data, bring it and brief everyone.”

“Okay, just wait a minute!”

The guide was the only person who had the will to work.

I had no doubt that she would know better than Percibel.

Sure enough, he brought in neatly organized data and explained it to me.

“… … The front line has been pushed back to here?”

The home of the Race Lizard has been identified.

It was not a very long distance, about 10km in a straight line.

The distance between us, which had been like that, had now become less than 5km.

Because the gang’s power was gradually advancing.

At this rate, it was estimated that there would only be a few days left before the tip of their spear would be right under our chins.

‘It overlaps exactly with the deadline for the request.’

The Python Mercenaries only had to hold the front line until then.

It was a weak trick, as expected from those who are thorough in pursuing their own interests.

Discipline was lax, but strict in this regard.

“What would you like to do?”

“well.”

In this case, it would be impossible to turn things around and launch an offensive.

The reserve force here, with its apparent lack of discipline, couldn’t guarantee that they would be more than just a meat shield if deployed to the front lines.

‘The classic way is to deploy troops as if you were going to war.’

Unfortunately, that was beyond my capabilities.

In my multiple playthroughs, I’ve never played the role of a commander before.

However, it was difficult to ask Sylvester’s staff for help.

There will be no such person here, and the headquarters will not allow the dispatch of personnel.

‘If the offensive is impossible, then there is only one.’

It was also a tactic to encourage the mercenary group to fight with their lives at stake.

“Find out if Percibel is awake.”

“Just a moment… … Not yet.”

“Wake up in five minutes.”

It’s a serious joke, even though not a single bone was broken.

“You have to keep your promises.”

He said to pull out the bull’s horn in one go.

I didn’t intend to drag out the request for too long.

***

“Are you awake?”

Percibel was lying on a makeshift hospital bed made from tables put together.

Her hair was wet, as if someone had woken her up in a hurry and sprinkled water on her.

The eyes looking up at me trembled slightly.

He spoke in a trembling voice, as if he were terrified.

“Go, thank you.”

“what?”

“Thank you for saving my life. I was rude and didn’t know the person.”

He lowers his head and looks, as if he can’t even remember the first conversation that had gone so strongly.

It’s a behavior that makes you wonder if he has no pride, but this was normal.

“I’m glad you didn’t act so stiff for no reason.”

“… … .”

“If that were the case, there would have been no point in keeping him alive.”

Cold sweat ran down the back of Percibel’s neck.

I could have suddenly changed my mind and taken my life.

They say that even if you roll around in dog shit, this world is better.

He was acting wisely to survive.

“You didn’t forget what I said, did you?”

“which……?”

“I will cooperate as you say.”

“Of course.”

The mercenary officers present also had no words.

“I will gather my men and open a path to the gang’s stronghold.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“… … ?”

“If we could just pick out the best and take them down, the fight would have ended long ago.”

It’s not that they avoided combat because they were afraid of being harmed, it’s that they didn’t have the capacity to do so.

The Race Lizard Gang’s specialty was said to be traps using terrain features, so leading troops to their base was suicidal.

“Then what do you plan to do… … .”

“Call in all the people who are fighting in front.”

“yes?”

Not only Percibel, but everyone present expressed their doubts.

“Back off. I didn’t say anything difficult, did I?”

It was meant literally.

However, it was also a statement that directly shattered the request for cooperation that they had expected.

“Then they will come rushing in.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“… … !”

I think this will sufficiently convey the intention.

The audience opened their eyes wide.

“It’s foolish to fight those at a disadvantage on their home ground.”

The opponent is the old lord who reigned like a king in District 16.

If we had superior power, it would be different, but insisting on a head-on confrontation in an evenly matched situation would mean being dragged along by their intentions.

If we were going to fight, it had to be in a place where we had an advantage.

“If that happens, even Sylvester’s employees will be threatened by the gang!”

“Aren’t you the ones who are supposed to stop that?”

I remembered it clearly.

The request received by the Python Mercenary Group is to subdue gangs, and if that fails, to protect the employees.

Python, who had been chewing on my words, opened his mouth wide.

“no way……!”

“You said that if I just sit here and do nothing, the request will be completed, right? Now it’s the opposite.”

My terms of commission did not include the life or death of Sylvester’s employees.

All we have to do is finish clearing out the gang.

The security of the employees was the responsibility of the mercenary group.

“The request is completed by each person just finishing their own work. Isn’t it neat?”

There won’t be a single person who won’t be slacking off or feeling nervous.

If you do that, your life will be lost.

“The employees will rebel… … .”

“Whether you force it or persuade, it’s your job.”

“… … .”

“I told you.”

It’s an ultimatum.

“This is not a proposal.”

As he lowered his voice, Percibel lowered her head and washed her face dry.

The order was given immediately.

“… …Call everyone in.”

He had no choice.