Adventurer, Cowardly Spoiler, Bruno de Ramos. Star Zodiac Calendar: Year of the Lion 9/17/537. Demon Lord Gremory's castle.
I was not enjoying this situation at all.
According to what the Demon Lord said, another group of adventurers invaded the cave. The number was at least 30. That's not funny ... Fuck.
I picked up wimps to come here on purpose. Skilled people were more expensive. In the case of my group of adventurers, the treasure in the vault would be divided equally, but the reward for the Demon Lord Gremory's head would be mine alone. In order to make such a deal, I could only choose these mediocre adventurers.
Shit. If I had spent more money and hired skilled people. No, even if he did, they wouldn't be able to handle that many enemies. My stomach was strangely bitter ...
"We can win if we barricade ourselves in this room!"
"You are crazy? There are thirty people, thirty! We will be slaughtered! "
"If you're going to fight, then leave me out. I don't have a hobby of killing myself. I'm leaving alone. "
"Hah! That bastard coward! Finally showing who's real! "
They split into two groups and argued.
Some wanted to stay and fight, others wanted to escape. They were arguing for 10 minutes, but had not yet decided and the group remained divided.
Honestly, I didn't have a good idea, either. Obviously we were supposed to run, but there was no guarantee that we wouldn't find another group on the way. That was the problem. Shit, what do I have to do to get out of here in one piece ...?
…Wait.
I have to think differently.
If we were to face them face to face. It's okay as long as I escape safely. It is not my problem whether others will survive or not.
I took the map and checked. There were 3 routes from here to the cave entrance.
I approached the Demon Lord Gremory and asked him.
"Hey, Your Excellency. How many paths connect here and the cave entrance? "
"There are 3."
As expected, the map was accurate. Even Gremory confirmed this.
"Can you tell which route they are coming from?"
"Forgive me, but I don't know all that ..."
The Demon Lord spoke with an embarrassed expression.
"Not alright. I am grateful, you even told us about the invaders. "
I patted him on the shoulders. As soon as I did that, he bowed his head gracefully.
I already said that, but this guy really is a coward. Even though he is a Demon Lord, he is speaking respectfully to a human like me. Is he not proud? Speaking in a kind way, he knows his place. What could you gain in addition to strokes if you provoked us? Kekekeje.
At that moment, the Demon Lord looked me straight in the eye, he looked strangely serious so I couldn't help but be stuck in front of his gaze.
"Sir Bruno. I am destined to be captured by adventurers no matter what. "
"Hmm? And?"
"So, at least I would prefer to choose the safest route. You didn't kill me as soon as you saw me. That fact alone makes me want to be by your side. Please survive, and make a wise decision. "
Aha.
He was begging me to save his life.
I started to feel sympathy for the little one in front of me. Pride was unnecessary if it meant surviving. I thought so too.
"Hehe. Your Excellency, you really know what you are talking about. Okay, don't worry. If you believe me, then you will surely arrive in the city safely.
"Thank you. Thank you…"
Lowering his head like that, he looked like a puppy, he was even cute.
It's okay to be happy. I patted his cheeks while laughing. It was a sign of affection.
I shouted at the men who were still arguing.
"Pay attention!"
They shut up. I think they realized that fighting with each other would not come to anything. They stared at me.
"We are stepping back."
"But captain!"
"Listen to your band of newbies. Were you blind because of the money in your pocket? Who do you think you are? You only faced 3 goblins on the way here. How do you plan to face 30 adventurers like that? "
I gave them a menacing look.
I grew up hearing that I had an ordinary face. There was no one brave enough to face me properly.
"Stop traveling. You will die without being able to do anything. "
"… But captain. There is no way of knowing if it will work out if we try to escape. "
The person who spoke was one who was quiet and did not get involved in the discussion.
This bald one-eyed man was a reasonably seasoned adventurer.
"What are you going to do if we are unlucky enough to find enemies? Here we could at least hold and repel them, but we don't know what to do if we find them out there. "
"I know that, you bastard. That is why we are going to divide it and go through three different paths. "
"Three different paths?"
"There are three routes from here to the exit. Choose one and run for it. "
A moment passed in silence.
The adventurers bowed their eyebrows.
"... Captain, you don't mean that ..."
"Yes. One of the three groups, for sure, will find the enemy. On the other hand, the other two groups will survive. "
"This is just a scapegoat!"
The one-eyed man responded by shouting. He must have been very angry, since the veins in his neck were even bulging. Tsk, he's a nice guy, but the moments when he gets serious sometimes get tired.
The others complained too, saying things like 'This is wrong!' And, 'It would be better to die together!
A bunch of big imbeciles. You don't know what death means. That's why they can say so easily that they want to die together.
... But I would not gain anything by telling the truth. Let's talk mixing lies here and there. What? I am honest with myself only. I never said that I was honest with others. Or said?
"Shut up, kids! My job is to get as many of you back home as possible! "
They trembled. Look at that. They got scared just because I screamed a little. They were delirious when they thought they could face 30 people with this type of attitude.
"You all have a family, right? Male pride? That's nice. Companionship? This is also great. But why bother with all that if we're all going to end up dead, em? Who will be responsible for their families? "
"...… .."
"And your sons? What about the other villagers working in the fields in their places? What about your wives? "
"...… .."
A complicated silence fell on them.
As expected, nothing is more persuasive than the family. Even though I am illiterate, at least I know how to deal with people.
"Whoever survives will be responsible for the family of those killed."
I spoke my words in a softer tone and concluded.
"We have no alternative, kids. Think of your families and your villages. The rest is useless. Forget everything and think about your families ... "
They lowered their heads.
Of course. If you think rationally, my suggestion was the best, it's just that the fact that they have to sacrifice someone's life was hard to accept. They had to ignore that part.
The adventurers split into 3 units.
4, 3 and 3 people in each.
"Let's go now."
I ordered severely.
Which way they'll find the enemy, that totally depended on luck, well, if you asked me if it really depended on luck, then it would be wrong.
I purposely put the Demon Lord in another group. If the enemy had a device to detect magic energy, then he would naturally react to the Lord. The target would automatically be him. In other words, it would function as bait. I was good at thinking about that kind of thing.
Right. It's time to get away.
My dear companions, please die.
So that I can survive.
Demon Lord Excluded, 99th Rank, Demon Lord Gremory. Star Zodiac Calendar: Year of the Lion 9/17/537. Demon Lord Gremory's castle.
The adventurers tapped each other on the shoulders. Then they went on their way out of the 3 available.
"Go and die, you filthy mutts."
"You are going to die. I will make it a point to enjoy and satisfy your wife instead. "
Adventurers taking offense were just one method of trying to deal with the situation. They knew that if the goodbyes were heavy, their steps would be too.
The leader of the unit I was in said:
"We should go, too."
"Yes."
I was on the newbie's back again.
The group I was in exceptionally had 4 members. That's because they had more luggage to carry, in this case, me. The person acting temporarily as a leader was bald with one eye. The one who argued with Bruno earlier.
"...…"
".... ..."
Depressive footsteps echoed through the cave.
Nobody said a word. The shadows of the people were reflected on the walls of the place due to the torches. The shadows flickered like a mirage.
When Bruno suggested dividing the groups into three, I honestly wanted to run for joy. That was the idea that I intended to propose. I feared a group of 10 adventurers together, but not a group divided into three and four.
They were fools.
Bruno suggested they split up to increase their chances of survival as much as possible. However, he was wrong from the beginning. He completely believed the words of a Demon Lord. Normally, adventurers and Demon Lords were supposed to be hostile to each other, but they easily believed my information.
They were being careless, or I really seemed to be so pitiful. If the latter option was correct, then it was a relief. This would mean that my acting skills had not yet completely rusted. Bruno, the price you will pay for being careless will be high.
I faced the empty space ahead.
A semi-transparent map was being designed. Red dots had split into three different paths and were moving away from each other.
Among the functions of the system, there was to see the map. Conveniently, adventurers were represented as red dots, and their coordinates were shown in real time.
There was a thick rock wall between the routes. There were paths connecting them at various points, but only I, with the system map, knew that. Adventurers had no means of communicating….
… .. Even if a unilateral massacre happened.
'Hiring window. '
I spoke in my mind.
A ridiculously animated sound effect, it sounded 'Trirring ~'.
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Monster / Resistance / Attack / Defense / Valor
Smile Monster. Resistance F. Attack F. Defense E. Price 4 Gold Coins.
Weak Fairy Monster. Resistance F. Attack É. Defense F. Price 8 Gold Coins.
Cowardly Goblin Monster. Resistance E. Attack E. Defense F. Price 12 Gold Coins.
Weak Golem Monster. Resistance D. Attack D. Defense C. Price 20 Gold Coins.
------------------------------
For a moment.
It probably wasn't more than an instant, but I hesitated.
The adventurers divided into 3 groups. They believed in the Demon Lord Gremory, and they should be hostile to him. They not only diminished their fighting strength, they were also mentally unprepared.
These were the perfect requirements for a surprise attack.
But the reason why I hesitate for a moment ... I really don't know.
If I hired the monsters and attacked the adventurers, I would be crossing the Rubicon. Would I or the adventurers die? Only one of those futures would happen. There was no turning back.
".....…"
I felt my mouth dry.
Once I made my decision, there was no turning back.
I was realizing the weight of my choice.
Then, the second window of options since I came into this world appeared.
------------------------------
[1. Annihilate adventurers.]
[2. Be taken by the adventurers.]
------------------------------
... Just as I imagined. I realized in what kind of situations these choices appeared.
When my life, or that of others, was at risk. These boxes appeared at moments of extreme importance, as if they were telling me to think extremely carefully about my decisions.
Anyway, obviously I chose the first option.
There was no promising future for a Demon Lord captured by humans. Even if the adventurers decided not to kill me, it was useless. They would sell me in town to get the reward, and then my head would be displayed in the town square to show people how well it was beheaded.
Therefore, I chose the first.
I will kill all humans on my way.
'Hire a weak golem. '
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[You hired a Weak Golem. ]
[Would you like to summon the Weak Golem? ]
------------------------------
My entire fortune of 21 gold coins has decreased to just 1 gold coin in an instant.
At the same time, the floor of the cave was covered with light.
"H-Huuh?"
The adventurers panicked.
The light caused by the summoning circle illuminated the entire dark cave for a moment. As soon as everyone's gaze turned to the circle, I bared my teeth.
CRUUUNCH!
It sounded like a tearing plastic bag.
However, it was much more raw than a plastic bag. With my teeth, I bit hard on the ear of the novice adventurer who was carrying me.
"Kuaaaaaah!"