Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

66 – Contract

People’s arms stopped gradually, and more and more heads began to look up.

One head looking at it became two, and two became ten.

Soon, the arms of everyone who had been cutting and raising stopped, and the battle stopped.

It was because people came to believe in absurd things, even if they didn’t want to believe them.

The size of the totem itself was not that big.

However, the corpses piled up piled high on top of the corpse hill like a beacon lighting up the night sky, showing off itself.

Something gets stuck in my brain.

Disgust, fear, monstrosity, or sobriety.

It was a bizarre building that made everyone feel different.

For reference, this was my impression.

That’s it. It looks like a dick.’

And unlike me, they never shared their feelings alone. Because humans are social animals.

“What is that?”

“…Looks like two snakes twisted together.”

“It’s ominous. It’s very ominous…”

Something black was hovering around the totem, so no one could get close to it.

There is only one curiosity and only one life, but unlike curiosity, life cannot be saved once it fades.

How long has it been?

―Hwaaah!

Suddenly, the totem started emitting black energy in all directions.

There was no time to escape. Everyone who touched it started grabbing their heads.

“Keep it off!”

“Great…”

The battlefield was filled with groans, and people fell.

It wasn’t just one or two people falling over. It was not a headache or dizziness.

Anyone could not shake the ground they were stepping on and spring up.

If the corpses that had been trampled and split under it began to rise, it would have no choice but to do so.

But I think we have more surprises to come.

“……”

“……”

Soon, the fallen mercenaries stood up again and looked at each other.

Their faces were red from the stress and excitement of the intense work.

I was worried about something.

Because the atmosphere itself was different from before.

“That sounds strange-“

I stopped talking.

Kaang!

Because there was a sudden sound of metal.

It was the sound of weapons clashing, followed by destructive sounds and screams.

The battle has begun again on the battlefield.

And surprisingly, no one paid attention to the totem.

Like the original building there.

The leader of the prianian squad said as if he was dumbfounded.

“To fight under these circumstances. No matter how hard it is, it’s still…”

Priest Rien answered instead.

“That’s not it, I was possessed by dark magic.”

“Dark magic?”

“Yes.”

She nodded her head.

“Dark magic greatly magnifies negative emotions and puts them into practice.”

-Chang! Visor!

“Wow!!”

“Kill, everyone die!!”

Priest Rien pointed to the battlefield with a sad face and said.

“I mean like that.”

No further explanation needed.

We decided to hide in the bushes next to the battlefield and observe the situation for a bit.

If I had to describe the people who came into contact with the black smoke in one word, it would be that even their parents couldn’t recognize them.

‘It seems that the concentration of dark magic in the blood is over 0.2%.’

-Kaang!

-Chang!

With their eyes red, they swung their weapons more vigorously and violently than before.

In the way he wielded it without thinking about his own body, even madness could be seen.

Even after being hit by swords or spears, they rose again.

“Quaaah.”

Death was no resting place. The undead mercenary started fighting the living.

Hook!

“Turn it off, you bastard. We’re on the same side… Aww!!”

“Ke eh eh.”

Irrespective of enemies and allies in life, I only tried to kill all the living.

Booooong-!!

A belated retreat trumpet began to blow in the camp of the two counts.

I could see people in the rear, or mercenaries who hadn’t turned a blind eye yet, grabbing their heads and running away.

However, the soldiers who were already engulfed in dark magic paid no attention to killing the enemy in front of them.

It was fortunate that I was not driven by the sound of the trumpet.

Fortunately, not everyone was consumed by dark magic.

“Whoa, hurry up and run away.”

“f*ck. What’s happening.”

Some adventurers and mercenaries with mana were fleeing the battlefield as quickly as possible.

“―, ―, ―!”

―Quaang!

However, judging from the explosive sound coming out along with the chant somewhere on the battlefield, it seems that even with mana, it won’t last very long.

Patter.

As I saw the shattered pieces of ice bouncing in the air, I spat out a word.

“To the extent that even wizards can be encroached upon.”

The leader of the prianian squad next to him opened his mouth.

“Probably a mage who has just risen to the third tier. It has three crests, but the casting time is slow. Even if we meet, we can quickly subdue them.”

After tapping my fingers for a moment, I finished the calculation in my head.

Prianian Squad Leader seems to be okay, but I was horrified to face the reality we may have been through.

From noble mtl dot com

So I spat out a word.

“I’m glad the priest is here.”

Sincerely.

But Priest Rien said, shaking the incense burner lightly.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have much time.”

“Yes?”

“The concentration of dark magic is very thick. I’m getting a little too strong.”

She wouldn’t be exaggerating. As much as it makes people forcefully change jobs to Berserker in an instant, that concentration is no joke.

That’s why I looked around first.

It was estimated that the black magic affected the earth.

That’s why the archers in the rear who luckily escaped, and the survivors were making a new square.

It looked good at first glance, but it wasn’t a very good thing.

Above the place where Lord Barrington used to be, in the distance, I saw a red sphere.

I felt something ominous.

Let’s turn our heads just in case. Priianian’s squad leader and Priest Rien looked at each other to see if their thoughts were correct.

“Priest Rien, could that be-”

“I think war magic is right. Mr. Prianian.”

War magic.

I looked at the military camp of Lord Terien, just in case, but it was the same there.

I realized this when I saw the gigantic ice spears on top of the military camp that were getting bigger and bigger, layer by layer.

“It seems that the lords have given up on the mercenaries.”

Prepare as much firepower as possible for a one-hit strike, and build a square with archers and mercenaries to prevent them from attacking.

It was a reasonable plan, but it was a very f*cking plan.

Like the one in the Apocalypse movie, it was a situation just before the missile was launched.

And judging from the fact that the two of them are making that kind of expression, it means they could die suddenly if they went in.

You can dodge the blade, but you can’t stop the sudden rain of fire from above.

“……”

“……”

I couldn’t speak.

To be honest, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared.

“That…”

Priest Rien opened his mouth.

“Why is that?”

“This, no matter how much I think about it, I think it would be right for me to go alone.”

At that sudden statement, we didn’t say anything.

Because I wanted to hear the reason.

“Until a while ago, I thought I could do something with the two of you…”

She said, holding up the incense burner.

“Now it has become too dangerous.”

The incense stems were very feeble.

“……”

“……”

No one said a word to her muttering.

Because I knew that neither I nor the squad leader could answer carelessly.

‘I want to go’, ‘I can’t help it. Then me too.’ The story couldn’t exist.

It was a situation where the first words could affect each other’s opinions.

No matter how far we cross the battlefield, we are now in a situation where we don’t know when another world-style missile will be planted above our heads.

That’s why I listened to her first.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. But in these things, if I don’t do anything, I won’t save the people I can. But at least I have experienced that if I do something, I can save even a little more.”

“……”

“So I have to do what I do best.”

“What is it?”

At my question, Priest Rien pointed to the battlefield.

“To seek.”

The priest, seeking answers from God and trying to save an unknown life, said that and pointed somewhere.

At the place where the fingertips full of scars pointed, an unknown mercenary was fighting someone with his bare hands.

While watching his eyes roll upside down as if he had rabies and his saliva dripping down, Priest Rien continued.

“And the thing I can most definitely get is the two people in front of me within reach of me! That’s what I’m saying!”

Something overlapped in her voice as she struggled to laugh.

-I can’t reach them, but I can reach them.

That’s what I just said.

“Come on.”

She took out the squad leader’s dagger and handed it to the prianian squad leader.

“……”

“Then move through the bushes and head to Earl Berrington’s camp.”

With her hand holding her censer, she pointed at an orb colored as red as the sun.

“You may get attacked along the way, but the two people I know will be able to get there.”

Then the prianian squad leader asked.

“…You?”

The direction of the priest’s hand was far away, toward the totem that radiated blasphemous energy.

“……”

The leader of the Priianian squad looked at Priest Rien.

At the sight of him not accepting the dagger, the priest just laughed.

“Ah, don’t look at me like that!”

Priest Rien smiled brightly.

She looked at me this time and said.

“I’m coming back, mercenary!”

I really liked those golden eyes.

“…Priest Rien.”

As soon as Priest Lien heard my voice, she patted her with one hand and said,

“I didn’t ask for help! Never! I’m doing my job!”

I shook my head.

Since she seemed to be misunderstanding, I decided to loosen up a bit more.

“In the event of a monster appearing during a war between territories, there is a provision that the previous contract will temporarily suspend its effect until all monsters on the battlefield are wiped out.”

“…Yes?”

Priest Rien suddenly looked at me as if he was saying something.

“That’s why I don’t have a job right now. The contents of the contract have been temporarily suspended, and since I can’t participate in the Battle of the Territory, I won’t be able to get paid either.”

I spoke in a business tone.

“And the undead are counted as monsters. Isn’t it? Squad leader?”

“……”

Priyanian squad leader nodded quietly.

I made a quick joke.

“So, to summarize the situation, Yeongjijeon suddenly collapsed. There is a priest in front of me who seems to need help, so this means additional income.”

Priest Rien didn’t say anything.

That’s why I said while scratching my eyebrows.

“I’m in need of money, so if I can earn it at a time like this, shouldn’t I earn it? That’s why…”

I got straight to the point. ‘Cause we don’t have time

“Let’s make a contract. Priest Rien.”