I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents

Nothing particularly unusual happened on the first day of the defense battle.

Crunch-

No, would it be considered unusual if they gave us such tough jerky as a meal?
Still, the soup was decent enough, so I could fill my hunger in a pinch.

The sun had completely set and darkness had fallen.
I organized my thoughts while looking at the bonfires shedding light beside those standing guard in their respective areas on and below the castle walls.

I thought about just going to sleep now, but my hand automatically reached for the terminal.
Browsing the gallery while lying in a sleeping bag, I can’t resist this, you know?

There was one topic I could throw out right away.

Title: According to Ricelin, knight reinforcements should arrive by tomorrow. Do you think there will be any variables?
Author: ㅇㅇ*

I’m not sure if they’ll bring mages with them. Anyway, there won’t be any unnecessary friction, right?

ㄴ Friction is guaranteed lololololol
ㄴ Tower special, if you expect something bad, it usually all comes true ㅇㅇ
ㄴ Priestess) Hawawa, I cannot deny it.
ㄴ With that many orcs showing up, I think they would have sent at least 3rd-rank reinforcements.
ㄴ ArchMage) They probably attached at least one mage too.

ㄴ ArchMage) You always have to be careful of variables in quest-type situations. Usually, the mission is to kill monsters, but sometimes you might end up getting killed by an NPC that’s not even directly related to the quest.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) ?? Isn’t that too unfair? And earlier you told me to subdue the mage.
ㄴ ArchMage) I’m telling you to set up an appropriate situation based on the circumstances. A situation where you won’t die.

ㄴ ArchMage) What kind of area are you in now, is it a territory?

Ah, I haven’t told them about that yet.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) The system initially guided me to an autonomous city.
ㄴ ArchMage) Then the knights’ authority won’t be that strong. They don’t have a background to use as a halo.

ㄴ ArchMage) What’s the position of the existing troops? If we assume you cause some trouble, do you think they’ll take your side?

I thought for a moment before replying.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) It’s a bit ambiguous about sides. Even if I act up a little, I don’t think they’ll be hostile?

ㄴ ArchMage) Then try showing off a bit. While observing the situation appropriately. Even if it’s not an autonomous city, the honor of the Lucerna Mercenary Group is different from ordinary mercenary groups, so even knights won’t be able to treat them lightly. The veteran members of the mercenary group who aren’t present will still have a position in that world.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) I was wondering about something else too, why does the Lucerna Mercenary Group seem weak compared to their reputation? Even the mercenary commander Ricelin seems about the same level as me.
ㄴ That’s because Ricelin’s bloodline is extremely late-blooming.
ㄴ Pioneer) More than that, it’s because Ricelin is an NPC partner who has to climb the tower with you. She’s not a one-time encounter NPC but a mutually growing NPC.

ㄴ This is the correct theory ㅇㅇ Even if you don’t meet again right away on the 3rd floor, you’ll probably meet at least once more within 10 floors. Then Ricelin will have grown to be as strong as you, or close to it.

So that’s how it is.
If I’m going to have a climbing partner anyway, it would be nice if it were a strong person like a bus driver who could drive me comfortably.
I guess they’re telling me to give up on the idea of getting a free ride.

The topic of conversation returned to how to deal with friction if it occurs with the reinforcement troops.

ㄴ IceQueen) If they provoke you even a little, you should beat them up moderately to set things straight! Don’t be scared! Freeze!!

Hmm.
From her way of speaking until now, I thought she was a pacifist, but she’s actually quite far from peaceful. I wonder if you need to be out of your mind to clear the Hard difficulty.

ㄴ DragonKing) Beltu-i thinks it’s okay to rough them up a bit.

ㄴ DragonKing) Based on Beltu-i’s experience, if they have the same position as the climber, they probably won’t do anything noteworthy anyway. Or should I say, they can’t?

That’s quite a statement befitting your nickname.
The problem was that the reason was quite plausible.

ㄴ LightSword) As the comment above said, if an Orc Army Commander appeared, they would probably send 3rd-rank reinforcements.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) How strong is 3rd-rank? Are they strong?
ㄴ From your perspective, they can be considered strong.

ㄴ LightSword) In terms of knight ranks, you’re objectively 2nd-rank. If we only consider your mana capacity, you could be seen as not having escaped 1st-rank yet… but we can’t call someone who killed an Army Commander 1st-rank.

Then LightSword explained about those typically considered 2nd-rank.
Those who can use mana but can’t manifest aura on their sword. Knights who engage in combat only through physical enhancement belong to the 2nd-rank.

ㄴ LightSword) From 3rd-rank, they have the ability to generate sword energy (劍氣).
ㄴ AbsoluteMonarch) Some remain in 2nd-rank until the end of their lives because they can’t do this.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ*) Then if they can generate sword energy, I’m no match for them at all?

ㄴ LightSword) The sword energy of 3rd-rank is very imperfect. Sometimes it’s better not to use it at all. And their swordsmanship is also imperfect at that time.

ㄴ LightSword) If you’ve properly learned the Dragon Slaying Sword as I wrote it, it would be possible to subdue them with swordsmanship alone… but you haven’t spent that much time training.

ㄴ ? Is it possible to overcome the difference in sword energy with just swordsmanship? Don’t talk nonsense.
ㄴ lololololol That’s how it looks in the eyes of an Easy mode bug. Don’t you see that this climber guy killed an Army Commander without using sword energy? That’s proof that what LightSword says is possible.

ㄴ Why is this guy self-identifying with the climber and LightSword again?

The gallery was peaceful today too.

LightSword didn’t particularly react to the comments on his chat.

ㄴ LightSword) When you have to fight a 3rd-rank. When fighting an opponent with stronger power than yourself, you’re wondering how to win, right?

That’s exactly it.
LightSword told me the method.

The next morning.
The unexpected event happened right away. Even before I could wake up on my own.

Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy.

“Come out, you who claim to have killed the Orc Army Commander.”

What’s this?
The tent was suddenly pulled open. Two men wearing quite impressive armor were standing there. Isn’t that called full plate mail?
The man with blonde hair pointed with his chin at the straight sword I had leaned against the wall.

“Pick up your sword.”

The knight drew the sword at his waist.

“You need to prove it. Prove that you killed the Orc Army Commander.”

[NPC – 3rd-rank Knight William]

3rd-rank.
I recalled the characteristics of 3rd-rank that I heard in the gallery.

A swordsman who can summon aura to their sword.
A swordsman who can manifest sword energy.
The stage where one starts to belong to the ranks of the strong.

The method LightSword told me to confront a 3rd-rank knight was simple and clear.
And as simple as it was, it was also flawed.

LightSword) Execute the footwork. The one who encounters it for the first time won’t be able to react properly.

‘Footwork my ass.’

The footwork that could be used when only Mana Body Enhancement was available was barely even footwork.
It’s called footwork, but it’s just telling me to strike first.

At least the provocation has been made.
According to the advice of the Hard difficulty seniors, it’s a situation where I eventually have to engage in a show of strength.

Would it be beneficial or detrimental to cause trouble now?
I quickly scanned William’s surroundings.

A blonde-haired mage caught my eye.

[NPC – 3rd-rank Mage Younes]

A mage, also 3rd-rank.
ArchMage’s comments came to mind.
He said it would be quite a useful card if I could just take control of the situation.

It seems like a situation where I could both teach William, who started the provocation, a lesson and make the mage docile enough to be used appropriately.

“Don’t make me repeat myself, or are you admitting that your defeat of the Orc Army Commander was just mere luck?”

While I was organizing my thoughts, William added another word.

I spread mana throughout my body.

“Aren’t you too arrogant for someone who’s late?”

At my words, I saw William’s brow furrow sharply.

“…What did you say?”
“The Orc Army Commander I killed. That was originally the one you were supposed to kill, right? I risked my life to kill it for you, so why are you taking it out on me?”

Literal anger (怒氣) clouded William’s face.

“…Lowly commoner.”

Oh my.
In the end, you’re going to draw your sword, aren’t you?

Sword energy.
The way to ignore it is simple. Rush in before they draw their sword.

I stomped the ground.
Before William’s right hand could reach for the sword at his waist.
I spread my right hand wide and grabbed the target as much as possible.
My target was William’s shoulder.

Roughing him up too much doesn’t feel right. Let’s just surprise him a bit with a shoulder throw.

William’s body was lifted off-balance.

Bang!

I slammed him down on the ground.

“Kuaaaak!”

William, sprawled out, looked at me and trembled, struggling.

“Why couldn’t you dodge this?”

3rd-rank knight. Is that really true?
William tried to get up quickly at my words, cursing.

The line has already been crossed. I tripped him once more.
And a light punch to the abdomen.

“Ugh!”

William couldn’t respond to this either, as if the fall itself was an unexpected situation.

…If this continues, DragonKing’s words about not being able to make a noteworthy contribution if in the same position might become true.

Shing!

“You bastard…!”

The two 2nd-rank knights and three soldiers who came with William drew their swords.
At least they’re stepping up because it’s their superior. That’s a relief.

Just as William, still half on the ground, moved his hand to draw his sword, Ricelin, standing in front of me, stomped her right foot hard on the ground.

Thud-

The attention of William, his face red with anger, and his subordinates shifted to Ricelin.

“Let’s stop here. The battle with the orcs isn’t over yet. What’s important now isn’t this useless quarrel, but preparing for the next battle.”

This time, Ricelin stepped forward.

“The reason they sent knights can’t be to waste time like this here.”

Ricelin showed an attitude of disregard for the glaring gazes of the soldiers.
The sound of soldiers noisily climbing up the stairs could be heard from below.

The soldier who frantically climbed the stairs panted, then caught his breath urgently.

“The orcs are crossing the border line again.”
“Enemies that weren’t visible before are also appearing. Given their sudden increase, it seems there might be an Orc Shaman among the enemies!”

The chaotic news echoed in my ears.
Ricelin clicked her tongue.

“See? I told you this isn’t the time. If you want to fight, fight after all this is over.”

Perhaps because their leader William was still lying down, the confronting knights and soldiers couldn’t retort to Ricelin’s words.

I checked my equipment, then went down the stairs. Leaving behind William, who was still shouting loudly, I came down to the lower part of the castle wall.

I drew my sword.
Ricelin stood beside me.

I looked at Ricelin and opened my mouth.

“Are you sure about the Orc Shaman?”

Ricelin slowly nodded.

“One of my subordinates, a ranger, also saw it. An orc in an excessively frenzied state.”

Orc Shaman.
The one LightSword and ArchMage had predicted appeared.
The additional characteristics they told me were that while it can’t resurrect dead orcs like a necromancer, it has the ability to make orcs driven to the brink of death rampage even more powerfully than their original state.

My gaze turned to the mage Younes, who was slowly coming down the stairs with a very tense face.

“I’ll take that mage with me.”
“What?”
“Pardon?”

Both Ricelin and the mage Younes reacted to my words.

“I have some use for her.”
“But, but what about my opinion…!”

Younes made a tearful face.