Chapter 451 - Volume 48 (1/2)
Chapter 7: Siege of Fort Odin
“…”
“…”
There was a heavy silence near the gates of Fort Odin.
Numerous users stood on the side of the roads, on the walls and even on the trees and rocks in the mountains.
Pint looked at them as he arrived but he never thought they were waiting for him.
Sugun sugun.
“He really came?”
“That’s right. He has courage. If I died at that level then I would cry.”
“I would be happy to die like that.”
“Pint is a good man… I knew he would come.”
“Hu. Still, it is reckless. It will change nothing.”
Pint saw quite a few familiar people at Fort Odin. They were users that he went hunting with, completed quests and shared meals with.
It was difficult for Pint to conceal his sadness as he saw them.
‘They came to watch me die.’
Even so, he had bravely come here and didn’t intend to turn back.
‘Go forward and die.’
The gates of Fort Odin.
It was a strong war that was hard to penetrate with 300,000 elite troops during the time when war occurred every day in the Central Continent.
Pint walked towards the open gate and stood still. Although he came it, it was difficult to get through the gates.
“Pint has arrived.”
Jaikeson, the captain of the east gate’s guards, shouted loudly. The archers guarding the walls pointed their bows in unison.
3,000 magic archers!
They were one of the defense troops guarding Fort Odin and were strengthened during the time that the Haven Empire had high taxes.
The elite archers aimed at Pint with their magic bows.
But before attacking, Jaikeson talked to the Hermes Guild users near the gate.
“He is on the stab to death list?”
“Yes. The lord put him on the list as soon as he heard about it.”
“Hu… I hunted together a lot with Pint. I have been helped many times.”
“So have I. Many people here know him.”
“But we have to kill him?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. We can’t spare him. There are no exceptions.”
It happened when Jaikeson was about to order the archers to attack.
A user walked over to Pint who was standing alone.
“Pint-nim. I’ll join you.”
“Ulluger-nim?”
“Haha. Look at the sky. It is good weather to die.”
The sky was clear and sunny. The wind was cool so it would be nice to go somewhere to play instead of dying.
Ulluger was also an early level 500 user of Fort Odin. He had often hunted together with Pint.
“You don’t have to do this because of me.”
“The heart was moved. It was a comfortable decision. Besides, the Hermes Guild has already seen me.”
“Then let’s do it together.”
Two level 500 users. It was a terrifying force that was impossible for novice users.
It wasn’t a level that tankers of the Hermes Guild could easily beat if there was an encounter in the mountains or dungeons.
The viewers sighed.
“Wah… It really is a waste to die like this.”
“If I was going to die like that then I would just fight.”
“They are fighting.”
“That is fighting?”
“They are resisting the force of the Hermes Guild. Fighting against fear. They aren’t giving in.”
“Indeed…”
The Hermes Guild that was centred on the power of oppression!
They were confronting a power that was impossible to resist due to the terrible disadvantage.
The broadcasters at the scene praised Pint and Ulluger’s courage.
“It is amazing. There is one more user participating with Pint.”
“Is the user called Ulluger?”
“His level is estimated to be over 500. He started at Fort Odin. There are many users who don’t know because he is a hunter but in the early days of Royal Road, he was strong enough to be among the top 100.”
“Is a level 500 hunter that great?”
“An early growth is definitely a favourable feature of a hunter. Still, it is great that he managed to reach level 500 while being free of a guild.”
“There are two courageous people.”
The local users of Fort Odin knew about the situation due to the broadcasts.
The Hermes Guild users at the gate appeared on the broadcast but they didn’t stop frowning.
It was uncomfortable listening to the broadcast but it wasn’t a big deal. Besides, even they knew that their actions weren’t so good.
‘A bad thing. But won’t this benefit us?’
‘Who cares about other people’s situations? Step on them first and become stronger. That is the law of the world.’
‘Die and kill. Royal Road is such a world. There is no respect for the weak.’
The Hermes Guild user’s faces were harder than usual.
It was a bit uncomfortable because they remembered that Pint’s article about Royal Road had become a hot topic a few hours ago.
‘If it wasn’t for the lord then this wouldn’t have happened.’
‘Even if he wanted to press forward through force, couldn’t he handle it more smoothly and quietly? Our lord really likes winning.’
‘If things get bigger than there will likely be sanctions from the leaders.’
Jaikeson hesitated before reporting it in the guild channel.
-Jaikeson: Ulluger has stood beside Pint. Should we still attack?
The answer from Chesturo came within one or two seconds.
-Chesturo: Wipe out all the rebels!
-Jaikeson: The two people are famous. There are many people that follow them.
-Chesturo: We can’t back off. And there are those who might go out because of heroism. We have to avoid further problems by killing them as an example. Thoroughly.
The Hermes Guild users in the field thought that the perfect word for their lord was ‘stubborn.’
“It can’t be helped. It is strange since it is being broadcasted. However, we can’t spare them. It isn’t my responsibility.”
Jaikeson played the role of villain as he ordered the order while the spectators watched.
“I should do something good.”
“Ah… I’m tired of being like this.”
“I will be sick if I endure it any longer. Royal Road is fun but I felt frustrated when reading Pint’s article.”
“Kuhu… I didn’t talk about it in advance because I thought it was ridiculous.”
“I just quietly waited for you to come.”
From Pint’s friends to readers of his articles, the spectators gathered beside Pint. Pint had been standing alone in front of the gates but that soon swelled to 1,000 then 2,000 people.
“Let me show you what will happen if I’m stepped on.”
“How long have I lived? I have to resist even when pushed by real power. Only then can I live.”
The atmosphere was becoming strange. In a situation where they executed Pint first, there would be severe backlash against the Hermes Guild.
The spectators standing at a distance stared then plunged in.
“Pint came.”
“Really? Hey. We should go!”
Inside Fort Odin, users heard the news and pushed towards the gates to stand with Pint.
“Eh… How did this happen?”
“Why are there so many all of a sudden?”
“Kill everyone?”
The Hermes Guild users on top of the gates panicked. There were only 4,000 troops deployed at the gates of Fort Odin.
“Shut the gates.”
“Yes. Prevent more users from joining.”
The huge gates were closed in order to prevent Pint’s forces from increasing. However, people just lined up inside Fort Odin.
It was the backlash of the users to Pint’s words and the rule of Fort Odin.
“Kill everyone who gathers!”
The Hermes Guild pulled out their weapons. And a large army was mobilized in Fort Odin.
* * *
The siege of Fort Odin!
The battle abruptly occurred, with more than 20,000 rebels forming from the general masses.
“Give us freedom!”
“Get away from the Hermes Guild!”
The merchants at the stalls and travellers picked up their swords.
It wasn’t planned as the people just had their hearts moved.
Blacksmiths picked up their hammer or axe and went out to join the rebels.
“Take action so that the rebels don’t spread further.
In Fort Odin, Chesturo, the Hermes Guild and the soldiers started to suppress the rebels.
The result was the annihilation of the rebels!
City buildings were destroyed and many users lost their lives.
Usually wars ended with a retreat or a lull in the fighting on both sides, but the rebels fought until the last one was gone.
“It is now cleaned up. The losses on our side?”
“There are 79 major buildings and 4,800 troops.”
“Tsk. The damage is large because the battle occurred suddenly. You should have cleaned it up faster.”
“I didn’t know that it would become so big. The region was properly cleared so no one has challenged the power of the Hermes Guild in a long time.”
“It isn’t so bad to show off once in a while. Even if it is only for the sake of training the troops who have relaxed due to peace.”
The Hermes Guild users at Fort Odin celebrated their victory.
They hunted famous users in the area and gained lots of loot and experience.
Looking ahead, the high-level users would now leave this area.
It wasn’t a good thing for the economy and local development, but it still yielded big profits for the moment.
‘If Fort Odin is bad then go to another area. The Central Continent is wide.’
‘Once Pint is revived, there will be a professional team hunting him. There is still a lot of profit, including loot, to be gained.’
The Hermes Guild users were satisfied.
Chesturo, the lord of Fort Odin, also protected his pride so he drank high-class sake from a cup worth more than 100 gold.
“I’m here to inform you. Troops are gathering on the outskirts of the gates!”
“Are there still some left?”
“I have been moving for a while and just want to take a break. However, I can’t miss this chance.”
“Aigoo. Quickly clean it up and come back.”
The Hermes Guild were lazy but still tried to join the battle.
They had grown familiar with war and conquest.
“The scale of the troops gathered outside the gates… At least 50,000!”
“What? Isn’t that more than what we fought before?”
“There are also rebels inside Fort Odin. The scale… At least 40,000.”
Chesturo and the Hermes Guild started a second battle.
This time, there were more users and the overall level was better than the first time.
Fort Odin fought with their defense facilities but still lost more than 20,000 troops.
“The cost for repair is over one million gold. We will also have to train the army again.”
“Can we charge the guild?”
The lord and aides of Fort Odin had a headache after the battle. But these battles were relayed all over the world.
In the early days of the first battle, it was just some small-scale stations. But as the ratings became above average, larger broadcasters joined in. The story was a dispute between the Hermes Guild and general users, so they tried to keep neutrality through guests. But a participant on the side of the Hermes Guild made an impromptu remark.
“I honestly don’t understand. Is there a reason for the rebels?”
“I think there are enough reasons.”
“No. The Hermes Guild killed more than 13 million people in Royal Road so far.”
“It was that many? During the war?”
“Yes… They are figures from the wars. The Hermes Guild dominated the Central Continent… Those who become angry have the right to kill.”
“The right?”
“Yes. That is the law of the Hermes Guild.”
“I feel bad for the novice users at the hunting grounds who were slaughtered hundreds of times by the Hermes Guild. Yet the Hermes Guild members have the right to do that?”
“They are doing the right thing. It is interesting.”
“What about the position of the side being killed?”
“If they think it is unjust then become stronger quickly. Who told them to be weak?”
It was a live broadcast so the writers crossed their arms or held up X signs. These comments would help the audience ratings. However, the bulletin board was becoming too heated.
The host laughed and tried to change the mood.
“The Hermes Guild seems to be changing their attitude these days as they are still lowering the tax rate.”
“We can do it for a little bit. Although I will kill if I am in a bad mood.”
“You keep representing the Hermes Guild as evil…”
“I don’t understand you. Why shouldn’t I speak honestly? The Central Continent is dominated by the Hermes Guild and everything is done according to our will. Massacres? Who cares? Can you live if you are weak? If you get used to it then you won’t be angry.”
Since the broadcast, users who knew the story of Fort Odin posted on the Royal Road bulletins.
-I’m angry. Wake up.
-Be patient. If I lose my patience then I will lose my life.
-I have decided. I will pick up my sword to defend my self-esteem. Resistance is pointless? How can I live meaningfully when I’ve ignored it so far?
-I can’t turn a blind eye. The pain will remain for the rest of my life.
Pint’s article was spread all over the place.
In addition, the broadcast footage for the people’s emotions heated up.
There was also a broadcast coverage of Chesturo after the victory.
“What do I think about the rebels? We did well. I am satisfied after picking up the sword. I don’t know about my subjects.”
A mere five hours after the second battle of Fort Odin ended.
“Give us freedom!”
“Level 31. Please let me fight together!”
“Anyone is welcome. Let’s not live bowing down. We are sinners? We will show them what it means to be trampled on.”
“Let us prove that there are people in the Central continent!”
More than 200,000 rebels gathered near Fort Odin.
The Hermes Guild users on the walls and in the defense towards were confused.
“Another battle… What on earth are they trying to do?”
“How did they gather so many people so quickly?”
“There are many users that I know. They are users who are generally around the vicinity of Fort Odin.”
Despite Chesturo’s pride, he was a bit worried.