Chapter 29: Raid (3)

Clink, clank…….

As soon as I tilted the cylinder back, the shell casings of the 9x33mmR 357 Magnum standard rounds scattered on the floor.

Even while pulling the trigger nonstop, I never lost count of the number of bullets I had used.

Because forgetting that was the same as giving up my life.

[Kururu!]

Bang!─

Even though not much time had passed since the real battle began, I had already used up all 6 rounds that were originally loaded in the Colt garrison B-09 and the 12 rounds I had summoned in advance.

Now, the remaining rounds were 18 in total, combining the Colt garrison B-09 and the 9x33mmR 357 Magnum standard rounds that I could summon anew.

In addition to that, with the 2 rounds loaded in the B686 Double Barrel Shotgun that I was still saving, it was 20 rounds in total.

[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[‘Lv.1’ ammunition is summoned.]

[Summoning ammunition, ‘9x33mmR 357 Magnum standard round’.]

Of the 12 rounds spread out on my palm, I put 6 in my pocket and loaded the remaining 6 one by one into the cylinder of the Colt garrison B-09.

Revolvers like the Colt garrison B-09 were great in every way, but the biggest problem was that reloading was too tedious.

‘It would be nice to have something like a speed loader…… but I guess I can’t wish for something like that.’

If there was any silver lining to this misfortune, it was that the Weapon Summon trait itself summoned a new weapon each time it was activated, so I was relatively free from the unavoidable malfunctions or cartridge jams that firearms face.

If I had to maintain or fix the firearm with my own hands here, where there were no tools for gun maintenance, I would have long been dead and sprawled out under the snow somewhere.

“Vell! Provide support!”

With Edric’s shout, he clashed with a demonic beast that looked to be at least level 5.

Considering what a level 5 demonic beast was, Edric’s charge, fearlessly jumping among the demonic beasts, seemed reckless, but it was probably because he trusted me in addition to his own skills.

Bang!

Baaang!!!──

The trigger was pulled in succession.

The trigger pull of the Colt garrison B-09 was quite strong, as expected of a revolver, so rapid firing was quite difficult.

However, the increase in physical ability brought by Haima’s Pendant made such a feat possible for me, who possessed utterly pathetic physical abilities.

[‘Haima’s Curse’ is active.]

[The wearer’s blood is rampaging due to ‘Haima’s Curse’.]

[The effect of ‘Haima’s Curse’ enhances physical abilities by 20%.]

[The effect of ‘Haima’s Curse’ decreases resistance to the ‘Bleeding’ status effect.]

Where there is gain, there is also loss.

That, which was like the most important law in the World of Justice, granted me powerful strength and, at the same time, a fatal risk.

A single attack.

If I allowed even a single attack from a demonic beast, it was clear that I would suffer a fatal wound close to death.

‘At least I have the Orb of Water, so I won’t die a ridiculous death from excessive bleeding…… but it’s still true that the risk is much greater.’

Could the weakened Orb of Water really stop the amplified bleeding effect caused by Haima’s Pendant?

The conditions themselves were so unique that it was difficult for me to dare predict.

It was also the reason I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.

[Guooooo!]

With Edric’s sword dance added to the gunfire, the level 5 demonic beast fell with unbelievable ease.

This was partly due to Edric’s own strength, but more than anything, it was also because Edric utilized the characteristics of the gun I possessed to a surprising degree.

‘Did he figure out the gun’s characteristics to some extent in that short time? Well…… there aren’t many abilities as intuitive as a gun, so it’s not that surprising, but…….’

Nevertheless, the reason I was a little surprised was that the inhabitants of this world still considered the gun I used to be magic.

“Keep going!”

Edric shouted and charged again.

Not to be outdone, Conlan and Alicia also faced the demonic beasts climbing onto the wall, holding an axe and a sword respectively.

‘Shall we go.’

With the pull of the trigger, the muzzle spewed fire.

Continuously, ceaselessly.

***

Blood, gunpowder, and an unidentifiable smell and screams lingered on the battlefield.

After roughly clearing the top of the wall at the end of a fierce battle, the war situation had improved considerably.

At least there were no more demonic beasts that had climbed onto the northeast wall.

However, that didn’t mean this war was over.

Because below the wall, it was still teeming with demonic beasts trying to climb the wall by any means necessary.

‘From now on, I have to be more careful with my ammunition consumption.’

Despite consistently refilling my ammunition with Weapon Summon whenever the cooldown was up, I didn’t have many rounds left now.

Seven 9x33mmR 357 Magnum standard rounds.

One 70mm 12 gauge shotgun shell.

A total of 8 rounds.

Considering that the one 70mm 12 gauge shotgun shell was a trump card for emergencies, I had to last with the remaining 7 rounds until the cooldown for the next Weapon Summon was over.

If I couldn’t, in the worst-case scenario, I would have to face the demonic beasts directly with a sword.

Clink-

However, contrary to that thought, I had no choice but to pull the trigger to take down the demonic beast desperately climbing up from below the wall right now.

Baang!!──

[Kkuek!]

The sight of the demonic beasts persistently crawling up from below the wall looked just like evil spirits rising from a swamp of darkness.

The first thing I saw was a demonic beast in the shape of a giant snake.

Since the area below the wall was dyed in darkness, I couldn’t tell exactly what kind of demonic beast it was, but I already knew how to deal with demonic beasts that looked like that.

[Activating ‘Orb of Water’.]

The authority of the Orb of Water was mostly focused on protection or recovery, but that didn’t mean it was completely unusable for offense if one wished.

Although its direct offensive capability itself wasn’t that great, it was quite useful in a defensive war like this.

Just like right now.

[The ‘Orb of Water’ eliminates enemies according to the wearer’s will.]

Ice fragments flowing from the Orb of Water stretched out towards the bottom of the wall according to my will.

Shatter!

It was certainly a trivial level of attack compared to the original power of the Orb of Water.

But my goal wasn’t to attack the demonic beast itself, but the wall it was climbing.

[Ssssit!]

The snake-shaped demonic beast, faced with the suddenly formed ice wall, lost its friction and plunged into the darkness.

It was perhaps inevitable that the demonic beasts following from below would be swept away by it.

[Kururu!]

[Kaaaaak──!]

The battle continued.

A battle that was fierce beyond comparison.

“Pant, pant…….”

I was exhausted.

No, I felt like I was going to die.

My arm holding the gun was trembling, and it felt like the finger pulling the trigger would break.

But I couldn’t stop.

Because that very moment would be the moment I died.

Baaang!!!──

Usually, it was common sense for such a nighttime attack to end when the morning dawned, but the demonic beasts’ offensive didn’t end even as the morning sun rose.

“Uoooooh!”

Conlan, covered in blood, shouted and swung his axe wildly.

I wondered how he could still move, no, how he could still be alive in that state, but right now, I had my own problems to deal with.

Because without a moment’s respite, another demonic beast had suddenly poked its head over the wall.

[Kururu!]

These damn pests…….

Having no more bullets left, I drew the sword at my waist.

There was no need for thought.

There was only the struggle to survive, which I had named Survival Swordsmanship.

Slash!

Fortunately, since the opponent was a level 1 demonic beast, my crude swordsmanship seemed to be somewhat effective.

However, the problem was that, unfortunately, my opponent was not just one.

[Kroooo!]

A demonic beast attacked from behind.

The pulsation of blood had alerted me to the demonic beast’s presence early on, but having lost all my strength, I couldn’t respond to it.

[The ‘Orb of Water’ protects its wearer.]

Shatter!!

The shield created by the Orb of Water blocked the demonic beast’s claws, repeatedly disappearing and regenerating.

I didn’t miss that opening and turned my body to thrust the sword into the demonic beast’s heart.

Stab!

The opponent was a level 2 demonic beast.

Normally, it would have been an opponent I could never kill with my poor close-combat abilities, but this result was possible because I trusted the Orb of Water and disregarded defense.

Even so, if it had been a demonic beast of level 3 or higher, I wouldn’t have been able to pierce its hide with my strength, no matter how good the weapon was, so I could consider myself lucky.

At that moment.

“Vell! Behind you!”

With Conlan’s shout, a demonic beast lunged at my back.

It wasn’t a very strong demonic beast, but unfortunately, it was too late for me to react right now.

‘Damn─’

Just as I was about to use my trump card out of necessity.

Slash!─

Alicia appeared from somewhere and sliced the demonic beast’s neck.

“……Thanks.”

Nod.

Alicia, impassive as always, gave me a small nod and then turned her gaze back to the demonic beasts.

The fact that I had narrowly survived was fleeting, as the attack did not stop.

“Pant, pant…….”

I couldn’t tell if the taste in my mouth was the sweet taste of exertion or the smell of blood.

It was probably both.

Thanks to a little time passing, I activated the Weapon Summon trait once again.

Because in such a grueling war of attrition, it wasn’t a wise thing to let the cooldown time of Weapon Summon go to waste.

[Activating ‘Weapon Summon(??)’.]

[A ‘Lv.1’ weapon is summoned.]

[Summoning weapon, ‘Colt garrison B-09’.]

I couldn’t tell how many times I had summoned a weapon and ammunition like this.

That’s how fierce the battle had been.

So, while gripping the Colt garrison B-09, I cautiously looked down below the wall.

Just as I had been doing, repeatedly.

However, the situation I had expected did not occur.

The only thing visible below the wall was a mountain of demonic beast corpses.

The sight of living demonic beasts desperately climbing the wall was suddenly gone.

What did this mean?

“Is it…… over.”

The night of despair that felt as if it would never end had finally passed.

***

I lost consciousness for a moment.

After I barely managed to push open my heavy eyelids, familiar notification windows appeared before my eyes.

[You have surpassed your own limits!]

[Mental Power increases. (+1)]

[2 → 3]

[Stamina increases. (+1)]

[3 → 4]

[Strength increases. (+1)]

[3 → 4]

Not only did my Mental Power stat rise, but my Stamina and Strength stats did as well.

This overwhelming growth rate was something only possible when possessing both Haima’s Pendant and the Orb of Water.

In a way, this growth potential could be seen as the true value of those two items.

The changes didn’t end there.

[Your level has increased!]

[Lv.1 → Lv.2]

Level 2.

In the World of Justice, a level itself didn’t grant any particular strength, but rather, it was closer to a kind of overall evaluation.

In other words, one wasn’t strong because their level was high, but their level was high because they were strong.

At a glance, they might seem the same, but there was a very fundamental difference.

‘Finally level 2, huh.’

Considering that the levels of the demonic beasts I had hunted so far ranged from as low as level 2 to as high as level 4, it was a bit ridiculous.

Well, it was also proof of just how absurdly powerful a gun was in this world.

Only after the sun was high in the sky did the long, long night’s attack come to an end.

Looking around, the first things I saw were blood and corpses.

The corpses of soldiers and even more corpses of demonic beasts.

The battle was over, but there were still many things left to do.

“Oh, Vell. I’m glad to see you’re alive.”

Edric, who had been missing since around the middle of the battle, appeared with a staggering walk.

Injuries that looked serious at a glance.

Edric himself wouldn’t say it, but for him, who had to protect the front line, to have abandoned even his original mission and disappeared for a while, he must have returned after doing something far more dangerous than I thought.

“I’m glad you’re safe too, Captain.”

“Haha, you’re still as good with the flattery as ever, unlike a mage. Let’s go. The mission was a success.”

Edric laughed heartily.

That laugh, always the same, had a strange power to reassure people, so I also felt a sense of relief.

“By the way, you didn’t get a single scratch in this battle either. It wasn’t an easy one.”

“I was lucky.”

“Is that so? Well, it must be God’s grace.”

“I didn’t know your faith was that deep.”

“I’m always faithful. Haha.”

As I moved while making small talk with Edric, I naturally saw Conlan and Alicia sprawled out on the wall.

“You’re all safe, I see.”

“……Does this look safe to you?”

“Isn’t it enough that you’re alive?”

Conlan shook his head as if in disbelief.

That was how severe the injuries were for both Conlan and Alicia.

“Let’s all head back now, cleaning up isn’t our job.”

Another exhausting day at Winter Castle was coming to an end.

***

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Name : Vell Blackwood

Level : 2

Stamina : 4

Strength : 4

Mental Power : 3

Traits : [Postponer of Ruin (EX)], [Weapon Summon (??)], [Endurance (D)], [Fire Resistance (D)]

Arts : [Survival Swordsmanship (D)]

Magic: ─

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