Estio Volume 3
- Episode 18
"Are you planning to leave right away?"
"Yes."
"You act quickly. But leader, there is one thing I want you to keep in mind before that."
Kai raised one little finger.
"Take a samurai to the request."
The golden robe slid, revealing the purple tattoo on the boy's forearm. The tattoos, entangled like snakes, were endlessly long.
"This quest was originally to be performed with Birang."
"......"
"Bernie Parker, who is currently assigned to the Leader Support Team, can perform well as an assistant, but has no combat skills. Yeon Yeon-Rang was a new Leader Support Team member prepared for you, not a combat member. One."
Kai lowered his hand with an embarrassed smile.
"Now it seems like you don't like it either."
Due to an unexpected incident, the plan to include Yeon Yeon-rang as a member of the team was thwarted. Kai neatly gave up on Birang, who had been brought to the headquarters with difficulty.
"Of course, I plan to be with you, but I don't feel a bit chaotic to see myself as a combat member."
Having said that, Kai tapped the tattoo on his arm. The purple string that started from his wrist and wrapped around his arm is like a bloodline connected to the dolls he handles. To the puppeteer, dolls were eyes and ears, but they were not able to demonstrate outstanding fighting power.
"My choice seems to have caused confusion, so I will give you the right to decide this time. I will give you a list of guild members, so please choose a reliable combat person yourself."
The list of combat personnel was spread out on the table. Here, if Estio points out, you can give the command with the authority of the master. Even when he saw Kai who gave him a huge favor, Estio was not very happy.
Those on the list were people they didn't know anyway. Although special abilities were marked, it was only difficult for Estio, who was raised in the mountains, because it was written as 'Magic-Lightning Ⅲ', 'Body-Type-Battle X II'.
After thinking for a while, he asked Kai.
"Is there a reason why combat personnel are absolutely necessary for this quest?"
"The capital, Eli, is the most peaceful city under the authority of His Majesty the Emperor. However, according to the guild policy, it is obligatory for the team to work in harmony."
There should be at least one supporter and one combatant under the team leader. Supporters are further divided into Healing, Daily Aid, and Combat Aid, and combat personnel are divided into melee type and ranged type.
"Because you're a guild executive, you can't send it out even more defenseless."
"Should I be more defensive than I am now?"
"Of course, this ability to occupy your heart is something that cannot be countered casually. In addition, I know that a fellow named Neju is strong. If you ask me, leader."
Melon-colored eyes stared at Estio seriously.
Kai came down from the sofa. She then clashed with her jewelry on her robe, making a chirping noise.
"If you meet an enemy similar to Yeon-yeon, will you be able to deal with it safely?"
"......"
I felt like my throat was choking. Without further explanation, Estio agreed with the Master's proposal. Combat personnel are essential to a team. Even for those who follow him.
"Does it have to be drawn only from within the guild?"
"Well?"
Master tilted his head slightly.
"No, if you can recruit them from outside the guild, do so."
Then there was no need to look through the list any more. Estio immediately named combat personnel to be recruited into his team.
Chapter 13 The Weight of the Heart
There was no direct portal from the guild headquarters to the capital. The reason there was no portal in the capital was not a technical problem.
The emperor of Lubarzan was a vigilant man. He thoroughly cut off all forces that threatened the imperial power. Even Mubin R. Hayga, the son of his mother's side brother, never called, sending him to a dangerous front infested with monsters. It was intentional neglect.
The current emperor's disposition, known for being cruel, was ultimately caused by the fear that filled his heart. The imperial family has always had many enemies and saw a lot of blood before ascending to the throne. Even if he is an emperor who rules an empire, he is also a human being. As he sat in a seat surrounded by enemies on all sides, it was natural that he did not trust anything.
From the emperor's point of view, the Ignis Guild held under his hand was the same. He was raised by direct investment from the imperial family, but even holding the guild's leash, he did not fully trust it.
A guild made up of superpowers was a double-edged sword. A group of talented people who are neither nobles nor loyalists, but move in harmony according to the orders of their superiors.
Even if the special abilities of each guild member are combined, a power comparable to that of any other country is produced. Therefore, the imperial family, who actively supported the guild at the beginning of its establishment, had no choice but to become anxious as the size of the guild grew.
As a puppy, the dog, who had left it on a leash with the imperial family, grew so large that it could threaten its owner.
"...So, you can just walk from here."
Kai, who explained the approximate reason for the long distance traveled, got off the portal and smiled broadly.
"Ugh. I'm sorry, Leader. The portals are all good, but sometimes there are aftereffects.
Parker, who felt dizzy from the aftereffects of the portal, could hardly find his balance and staggered. Estio grabbed him, supported him, and looked around the place he had arrived.
<Ranger Village>.
The sign was carved out of wood and the name of the village was written in scribbled letters. The vine flowers grow round and round along the signpost, creating a casual atmosphere.
Ranger Village, or 'Rainville' for short, was a forest village close to the capital. It was one of the closest portals to the capital, but the town itself was relatively small.
The houses built of logs and the chickens and horses raised for free ran here and there, creating a rural landscape.
Even the horses roamed and littered here and there, so if you were not careful, you could step on them and even smell bad. For this reason, nobles rarely used Rainville portals.
"Wow! Another new traveler!"
"This time, the animals are also here!"
"There are angels too!"
The sound of children's laughter echoed through the trees.
If there is one special thing about this ordinary looking forest village, it is the fact that all the villagers, from children to adults, are rangers who manage the forest like their own yard. Even a child who could not even properly button a button had bows on his back one by one.
The children huddled behind a large tree, observing the travelers undergoing identity checks.
"Where are you from?"
"Ignis guild."
"Guild? The people who came in the middle of the night last night were also members of the guild."
They remembered that late the night before, a group dispatched from the guild had come to the village. A child moaned and frowned.
"No. That was the Ballista Guild."
"Who's smarter?"
"Of course Ignis!"
As the voice grew louder, Neju, who was following the group, looked in the direction where the children were hiding. The little children held their breath in unison.
Rainville's children learn to hide their presence from an early age. Neju tilted her head once more, then followed Estio again and moved her steps. The children, who had been choking their hearts as they thought they had been caught spying on the white furry monkey, a fearsome beast, were relieved at that time.
And he put a bruise on the youngest who didn't know much about the guild.
"You idiot, Ignis is our country's great bread guild!"
"Great bread?"
"Ignis is the biggest and strongest of all guilds. His Majesty the Emperor was on the same side."
"ooh! Awesome!"
Children who grow up to be rangers as soon as they are born respect and look at them if they are strong.
"Then... Wouldn't those people do a favor?"
Seeing the guild called the best with their own eyes, a lifeless voice came from among the excited children. The children, who had been chattering, turned their attention to the boy who was standing with his back against a tree.
The boy muttered helplessly.
"The guild is a place to receive quests......"
"Lian!"
Lian was a ten-year-old boy with red hair up to the nape of his neck. He has been praised by the village elders for being the most agile among his peers, having excellent hunting skills, and even being clever. Rian was the boy who was treated like a captain in the crowd because he was on the older side.
However, recently Rihanna's face was full of shade. The original figure, which was always at the forefront of accidents, has disappeared, and only the dull, skinny boy stands helplessly.
The bright reddish-brown eyes had long since hardened. A child who saw him shook his head.
"But the village chief said that you have to pay to ask the guild."
"how much?"
"I don't know. It must be very expensive."
All the children who were happy to see the captain who had not spoken in a long time became pale together.
"I have money."
Ryan said in a determined voice.
In the meantime, the money he had saved with his father remained intact. It was an amount that was too large to overflow even with young Rihanna living alone.
"Then let's go and ask him!"
Someone shouted vigorously.
"Yeah. Let's go, Rihanna."
The children quickly assimilated into hope. Recently, while refusing to eat and crouching in the house, Lian, who was caught by another friend by his prominent wrist, began to walk as if dragged by him.
The residents of Ranger Village are accustomed to solving problems on their own. In exchange for protecting the forest surrounding the capital and managing the portal, there was a condition that, in exchange for a salary from the country, you could not go outside the forest. So, the residents of Rainville had never gone out to the city and asked the guild directly.
So Rihanna didn't have high expectations either. He only had a glimmer of hope.
'father.......'
The nostalgic call that could not come out of my mouth sank in my heart like a stone.
* * *
Estio was originally going to head straight to the capital as soon as he got off the portal. It was a bright afternoon, and he had a proper meal from headquarters, so there was no reason for him to stay in the village for a long time.
However, for an unexpected reason, his ankle was tied.
"Jung-Mul Jseung-Heum-Nude (I'm really sorry)......."
"It's okay, Parker, rest until the pain subsides."
"Sorry, wooweek!"
Portal sequelae occur randomly. It wasn't the kind of thing that gets better once you get used to it, like carriage motion sickness. A portal device that moves a long distance in an instant over space puts a lot of strain on the human body. Children who did not reach adulthood were almost banned from using it. Even though it was a one-time limit, the conditions for obtaining a permit were very strict. You must be accompanied by a guardian unconditionally, and you must sign a written consent form with a warning that at least you will suffer from magical poisoning, which makes it impossible to move, and even death.
Estio Volume 3
- Episode 18
"Are you planning to leave right away?"
"Yes."
"You act quickly. But leader, there is one thing I want you to keep in mind before that."
Kai raised one little finger.
"Take a samurai to the request."
The golden robe slid, revealing the purple tattoo on the boy's forearm. The tattoos, entangled like snakes, were endlessly long.
"This quest was originally to be performed with Birang."
"......"
"Bernie Parker, who is currently assigned to the Leader Support Team, can perform well as an assistant, but has no combat skills. Yeon Yeon-Rang was a new Leader Support Team member prepared for you, not a combat member. One."
Kai lowered his hand with an embarrassed smile.
"Now it seems like you don't like it either."
Due to an unexpected incident, the plan to include Yeon Yeon-rang as a member of the team was thwarted. Kai neatly gave up on Birang, who had been brought to the headquarters with difficulty.
"Of course, I plan to be with you, but I don't feel a bit chaotic to see myself as a combat member."
Having said that, Kai tapped the tattoo on his arm. The purple string that started from his wrist and wrapped around his arm is like a bloodline connected to the dolls he handles. To the puppeteer, dolls were eyes and ears, but they were not able to demonstrate outstanding fighting power.
"My choice seems to have caused confusion, so I will give you the right to decide this time. I will give you a list of guild members, so please choose a reliable combat person yourself."
The list of combat personnel was spread out on the table. Here, if Estio points out, you can give the command with the authority of the master. Even when he saw Kai who gave him a huge favor, Estio was not very happy.
Those on the list were people they didn't know anyway. Although special abilities were marked, it was only difficult for Estio, who was raised in the mountains, because it was written as 'Magic-Lightning Ⅲ', 'Body-Type-Battle X II'.
After thinking for a while, he asked Kai.
"Is there a reason why combat personnel are absolutely necessary for this quest?"
"The capital, Eli, is the most peaceful city under the authority of His Majesty the Emperor. However, according to the guild policy, it is obligatory for the team to work in harmony."
There should be at least one supporter and one combatant under the team leader. Supporters are further divided into Healing, Daily Aid, and Combat Aid, and combat personnel are divided into melee type and ranged type.
"Because you're a guild executive, you can't send it out even more defenseless."
"Should I be more defensive than I am now?"
"Of course, this ability to occupy your heart is something that cannot be countered casually. In addition, I know that a fellow named Neju is strong. If you ask me, leader."
Melon-colored eyes stared at Estio seriously.
Kai came down from the sofa. She then clashed with her jewelry on her robe, making a chirping noise.
"If you meet an enemy similar to Yeon-yeon, will you be able to deal with it safely?"
"......"
I felt like my throat was choking. Without further explanation, Estio agreed with the Master's proposal. Combat personnel are essential to a team. Even for those who follow him.
"Does it have to be drawn only from within the guild?"
"Well?"
Master tilted his head slightly.
"No, if you can recruit them from outside the guild, do so."
Then there was no need to look through the list any more. Estio immediately named combat personnel to be recruited into his team.
Chapter 13 The Weight of the Heart
There was no direct portal from the guild headquarters to the capital. The reason there was no portal in the capital was not a technical problem.
The emperor of Lubarzan was a vigilant man. He thoroughly cut off all forces that threatened the imperial power. Even Mubin R. Hayga, the son of his mother's side brother, never called, sending him to a dangerous front infested with monsters. It was intentional neglect.
The current emperor's disposition, known for being cruel, was ultimately caused by the fear that filled his heart. The imperial family has always had many enemies and saw a lot of blood before ascending to the throne. Even if he is an emperor who rules an empire, he is also a human being. As he sat in a seat surrounded by enemies on all sides, it was natural that he did not trust anything.
From the emperor's point of view, the Ignis Guild held under his hand was the same. He was raised by direct investment from the imperial family, but even holding the guild's leash, he did not fully trust it.
A guild made up of superpowers was a double-edged sword. A group of talented people who are neither nobles nor loyalists, but move in harmony according to the orders of their superiors.
Even if the special abilities of each guild member are combined, a power comparable to that of any other country is produced. Therefore, the imperial family, who actively supported the guild at the beginning of its establishment, had no choice but to become anxious as the size of the guild grew.
As a puppy, the dog, who had left it on a leash with the imperial family, grew so large that it could threaten its owner.
"...So, you can just walk from here."
Kai, who explained the approximate reason for the long distance traveled, got off the portal and smiled broadly.
"Ugh. I'm sorry, Leader. The portals are all good, but sometimes there are aftereffects.
Parker, who felt dizzy from the aftereffects of the portal, could hardly find his balance and staggered. Estio grabbed him, supported him, and looked around the place he had arrived.
<Ranger Village>.
The sign was carved out of wood and the name of the village was written in scribbled letters. The vine flowers grow round and round along the signpost, creating a casual atmosphere.
Ranger Village, or 'Rainville' for short, was a forest village close to the capital. It was one of the closest portals to the capital, but the town itself was relatively small.
The houses built of logs and the chickens and horses raised for free ran here and there, creating a rural landscape.
Even the horses roamed and littered here and there, so if you were not careful, you could step on them and even smell bad. For this reason, nobles rarely used Rainville portals.
"Wow! Another new traveler!"
"This time, the animals are also here!"
"There are angels too!"
The sound of children's laughter echoed through the trees.
If there is one special thing about this ordinary looking forest village, it is the fact that all the villagers, from children to adults, are rangers who manage the forest like their own yard. Even a child who could not even properly button a button had bows on his back one by one.
The children huddled behind a large tree, observing the travelers undergoing identity checks.
"Where are you from?"
"Ignis guild."
"Guild? The people who came in the middle of the night last night were also members of the guild."
They remembered that late the night before, a group dispatched from the guild had come to the village. A child moaned and frowned.
"No. That was the Ballista Guild."
"Who's smarter?"
"Of course Ignis!"
As the voice grew louder, Neju, who was following the group, looked in the direction where the children were hiding. The little children held their breath in unison.
Rainville's children learn to hide their presence from an early age. Neju tilted her head once more, then followed Estio again and moved her steps. The children, who had been choking their hearts as they thought they had been caught spying on the white furry monkey, a fearsome beast, were relieved at that time.
And he put a bruise on the youngest who didn't know much about the guild.
"You idiot, Ignis is our country's great bread guild!"
"Great bread?"
"Ignis is the biggest and strongest of all guilds. His Majesty the Emperor was on the same side."
"ooh! Awesome!"
Children who grow up to be rangers as soon as they are born respect and look at them if they are strong.
"Then... Wouldn't those people do a favor?"
Seeing the guild called the best with their own eyes, a lifeless voice came from among the excited children. The children, who had been chattering, turned their attention to the boy who was standing with his back against a tree.
The boy muttered helplessly.
"The guild is a place to receive quests......"
"Lian!"
Lian was a ten-year-old boy with red hair up to the nape of his neck. He has been praised by the village elders for being the most agile among his peers, having excellent hunting skills, and even being clever. Rian was the boy who was treated like a captain in the crowd because he was on the older side.
However, recently Rihanna's face was full of shade. The original figure, which was always at the forefront of accidents, has disappeared, and only the dull, skinny boy stands helplessly.
The bright reddish-brown eyes had long since hardened. A child who saw him shook his head.
"But the village chief said that you have to pay to ask the guild."
"how much?"
"I don't know. It must be very expensive."
All the children who were happy to see the captain who had not spoken in a long time became pale together.
"I have money."
Ryan said in a determined voice.
In the meantime, the money he had saved with his father remained intact. It was an amount that was too large to overflow even with young Rihanna living alone.
"Then let's go and ask him!"
Someone shouted vigorously.
"Yeah. Let's go, Rihanna."
The children quickly assimilated into hope. Recently, while refusing to eat and crouching in the house, Lian, who was caught by another friend by his prominent wrist, began to walk as if dragged by him.
The residents of Ranger Village are accustomed to solving problems on their own. In exchange for protecting the forest surrounding the capital and managing the portal, there was a condition that, in exchange for a salary from the country, you could not go outside the forest. So, the residents of Rainville had never gone out to the city and asked the guild directly.
So Rihanna didn't have high expectations either. He only had a glimmer of hope.
'father.......'
The nostalgic call that could not come out of my mouth sank in my heart like a stone.
* * *
Estio was originally going to head straight to the capital as soon as he got off the portal. It was a bright afternoon, and he had a proper meal from headquarters, so there was no reason for him to stay in the village for a long time.
However, for an unexpected reason, his ankle was tied.
"Jung-Mul Jseung-Heum-Nude (I'm really sorry)......."
"It's okay, Parker, rest until the pain subsides."
"Sorry, wooweek!"
Portal sequelae occur randomly. It wasn't the kind of thing that gets better once you get used to it, like carriage motion sickness. A portal device that moves a long distance in an instant over space puts a lot of strain on the human body. Children who did not reach adulthood were almost banned from using it. Even though it was a one-time limit, the conditions for obtaining a permit were very strict. You must be accompanied by a guardian unconditionally, and you must sign a written consent form with a warning that at least you will suffer from magical poisoning, which makes it impossible to move, and even death.
