Chapter 11

Chapter 2

Item Boost

"Die! Johnson's avenger!"

Whoosh!

The enemies' attacks, which produce a deafening sound, make me break out in a cold sweat.

Boom! Bang!

Attacks with the power to shatter building walls in one strike!

I managed to dodge a few attacks due to their slow speed and simple trajectory, but it's doubtful how long my concentration can last.

And the enemies started to use their heads.

"Attack together!"

"Roar!"

Various types of weapons from different directions come at me all at once.

[150 damage taken.]

[163 damage taken.]

"Ugh..."

Just two hits have drained my health bar.

Now, only 23 health remains!

'If I get a critical hit, I'll be done for in one shot.'

I took a potion from my inventory and drank it. It's an intermediate potion that restores 1,500 health in one go.

'I shouldn't have used an intermediate potion when my max health is far less than 1,500. I should have prepared a lower-grade potion...’

The cooldown for the potion is 20 seconds.

I need to avoid attacks for at least 20 seconds to be safe.

But now the enemies have started a coordinated attack, making it even harder to hold out.

"We've fought together for 10 years! No matter how much you struggle, you'll end up dead!"

To avoid the greatsword aimed at my shoulder, I leaped to the side, and as if predicting my path, a mace aimed for my knee.

Instantly, my battle sense from my warrior days warned me of the danger.

I can't avoid this!

"Ugh!"

I thrust the arrow downward.

Clang!

The special-grade Yapha arrow precisely hit the enemy's mace, slightly altering its trajectory.

But the arrow is a very light weapon. It's impossible to significantly change the trajectory of a large mace weighing dozens of kilograms with such a light weapon.

Crack!

"Argh!!"

The mace grazed my knee, and I suffered a fatal blow.

[200 damage taken.]

[Left leg severely damaged. Movement speed decreased by 40%. Body control ability reduced.]

As I groaned and fell to the ground, a flail whizzed by, creating a bone-chilling sound.

If I stayed still, my skull would be crushed.

"Ah!"

Clenching my teeth and enduring the pain, I rolled backward to dodge.

Crash!!

The flail that had just been in my position shattered the ground.

While the rocks flew, I glared at the enemies and made a decision.

‘Let’s splurge a bit today.’

Determined, I took out an intermediate strength potion and an intermediate agility potion from my inventory.

These are buff potions that cost a whopping 10 gold each.

10 gold is equivalent to 12,000 won in cash!

‘It’s a shame, but there’s no other way!’

I closed my eyes tightly and, in one gulp, drank 20 gold, or 24,000 won worth of potions.

Swallow, swallow!

With each potion sliding down my throat, tears of blood streamed from my eyes.

‘Ah! To think I’d end up using potions more expensive than a set of sweet and sour pork!’

These were the buff potions I had prepared for emergencies while on the Asur baron’s quest but couldn’t bring myself to use because they were too precious!

To think I’d end up using them not for a boss fight but for a mere B-rank quest!

[Intermediate Strength Potion consumed. Strength increases by 50 for 5 minutes.]

[Intermediate Agility Potion consumed. Agility increases by 50 for 5 minutes.]

Just as the notification window popped up, attacks from two directions came at me simultaneously.

“You bastards! You don’t even touch a dog when it’s eating!”

Thanks to the sharply increased agility, I narrowly avoided the two attacks and, gripping an arrow, prepared to counterattack.

But I had to give up when I saw attacks coming from two other directions.

“Huff, huff… Wow, real chills.”

If it weren’t for the Intermediate Agility Potion, I would have really died this time.

Feeling my heart pounding as if it would burst from the extreme tension, I took a deep breath. The thugs, seeing their attacks fail, cursed furiously.

“You rat! How long are you going to keep running around like this?”

“Where did your initial confidence go? You’re running away cowardly? You spineless bastard! Fight like a man!”

You’re talking about cowardice when you’re ganging up on me?

“Damn, you conscienceless bastards! Why don’t you fight me one-on-one?”

“Even if we fought one-on-one, we’d still win.”

“Then why don’t you fight me one-on-one?”

“Shit! For us thugs, a brawl and a gang-up are virtues! Didn’t you know that?!”

Swish!

A flail came at me like a whip!

Clang! Clang!

I barely deflected it with an arrow and spun around. A greatsword grazed my side, causing a burning pain.

[30 damage taken.]

Fortunately, I managed to dodge, so it only grazed me.

Having overcome the crisis again, I tried to buy time for the health potion’s cooldown by starting a conversation.

“Hey, listen up, honestly speaking, you should know by now that I’m not an easy opponent, right?”

“...”

The thugs didn’t want to admit it but didn’t refute it either.

I proposed to them.

“Hand over the contract. Then no one else will die.”

“What?”

The thugs went berserk.

“Don’t play games! After killing Johnson, did you really think you could leave here alive? Whether it’s the contract or anything else, you’re definitely going to die here!”

“Really? You’re coming at me hard? Don’t you regret it? If you hand over the contract, you can all really leave alive?”

“Ha! Bullshit! Even with your crippled leg, you’re still talking big! We can all leave alive from the start! The only one who will die here is you!”

“Hmm, we’ll see.”

While talking, the cooldown for the health potion reset.

I turned my head to avoid drawing attention from the thugs and drank the potion. At the same time, my health and leg injuries were healed.

‘Now’s the time.’

The thugs, thinking I was still severely injured, were off guard!

I launched a surprise attack on one of them.

“W-What?!”

The thug, who couldn’t believe I could approach so quickly with a damaged leg, failed to react properly.

I pierced his forehead with an arrow.

[Critical!]

[The special-grade Yapha arrow’s option effect activates, completely ignoring the enemy’s defense.]

“Gah...”

[Defeated Winstone’s Outlaw ‘Niel’.]

[Reputation in Winstone Village increased by 60.]

[4,300 experience gained.]

[Level up.]

[Level up.]

[Level up.]

‘Good!’

The thug, hit in a vital spot, turned into light without even screaming.

The thugs, who lost another comrade with their eyes wide open, trembled.

“You... You bastard! How did your leg heal so quickly? D-Did you drink a potion?”

“I’ve been drinking it all along.”

“Such a scoundrel! Fighting with the power of potions is despicable!”

“Shit! You’re ganging up on me, and you’re criticizing me? And you, a thug, are slandering a good citizen as a scoundrel?!”

“Grr...! Kill him! Send that drug addict to hell as soon as possible! If you give him any time, he’ll keep taking potions and survive like a cockroach!”

“Scoundrel, then drug addict? What the hell!”

Vail, extremely angry, ordered his subordinates to attack without hesitation.

“Get into the ‘You die, we die’ formation!”

The naming sense is the worst.

Anyway, the thugs, following Vail’s orders, launched an all-out offensive.

Boom! Bang!

Murderous techniques, without any consideration for defense, began to fly.

Whether my arrows hit their hearts or not, they didn’t try to avoid or defend.

They took advantage of the gaps in my attacks to launch their own, again and again!

“Ugh!”

Even if they were pierced by arrows, the thugs didn’t care and didn’t stop attacking. I was instantly put on the defensive.

[203 damage taken.]

[180 damage taken.]

Swish! Whoosh! Bang!

The flail, like a snake, relentlessly pursued me, and the greatsword, with its wide attack range, always posed a great threat. The mace, even if avoided, shattered the ground or walls, disrupting my balance.

With 13 seconds still remaining on the health potion’s cooldown, my health was once again drained.

‘This is the limit. I can’t hold out any longer.’

If the Legendary Blacksmith’s Endurance skill had activated, increasing my defense and health, it might have been different, but there’s no way to overcome this crisis.

‘Is this the end...’

Just as I decided that I had to give up the quest, a thought flashed through my mind.

‘Why did I rely on potions and skills?’

Was I a warrior?

No, I’m Pagma’s Disciple.

‘Where am I now?’

This is a blacksmith’s forge.

‘How stupid... Why didn’t I think of that method until now?’

I focused on the various weapons and armor displayed around the room.

A brilliant idea came to me.

“Kahn!”

Kahn, the old blacksmith standing in the corner, who had been sending me encouraging glances, immediately responded to my call.

“What is it?”

I asked him.

“Do you want to protect the forge?”

“Of course! I already gave up once, but seeing you changed my mind! If you help me, I will definitely protect this place this time!”

I was pleased with his straightforward answer.

“Hey, what are you doing? You’re talking to an old man in the middle of a fight? Do you have some ulterior motive?”

Boom!

The thugs, not stopping their attack, asked.

I dodged their attack and aimed a powerful arrow at Praga, who was the most injured among them.

Swish!

A rapidly approaching special-grade Yapha arrow!

Whether he sensed the crisis or was confident in his victory, Praga changed his all-out attack stance and raised his mace to defend.

[Critical!]

Clang!

“Whoa!”

The arrow collided with the mace, triggering a critical hit, and the heavy impact forced Praga to step back. But the other two thugs didn’t care and continued their attacks.

I turned my back to them and fled.

“Ha ha ha ha! Stupid! Dropping your weapon!”

Seeing me flee, the thugs, now overconfident, pursued me, thinking I was completely unarmed.

Praga, who had defended the arrow and narrowly avoided the crisis, belatedly realized the situation and roared as he charged.

I didn’t look back. I just ran at full speed. I climbed the stairs and reached the second floor.

There, a shining full plate armor and a giant greatsword, over 3 meters long, were displayed.

I shouted to Kahn on the first floor.

“Kahn, lend me these!”

“But...”

“I’ll return them after the fight! If you want to protect the forge, give me permission!”

Without the owner’s consent, taking items arbitrarily would result in a bad