Chapter 147: Rainas Reason (4)
Raina's reason was comradery. Almond got the answer correct.
— Wow! Three star route is unveiled!
— Damn!
— He actually did it?
— But they're telling him to escape the battle?
— Damn, Raina... so sad...
— Was this actually possible?
All the minions were children who hadn't reached adulthood yet. Out of them, there were children younger than others. Raina always cared for and tended to them.
Raina fought in the first row so they wouldn't get hurt. Someone else would be in her place if she didn't go in the first row. Also, if she did well in the first row, the minions behind her would be safe.
'Same with the mana arrow.'
He figured out why she used up all her mana as well. The rumor about a minion earning enough mana to become a summoner was a lie. She didn't care about being a summoner. Instead, she despised them. All she wanted to do was defend the minions.
'Even calling them pathetic...'
However, she couldn't let the summoners or soldiers find out. If they did, she'd be dragged in and have her memory altered by them. Raina seemed to have already experienced it a couple of times.
That was why she ignored the weaker minions by insulting them, but always cared for them more than anyone when it was night. Only Almond, unaffected by the cold and hunger, noticed because the other minions were distracted by their cold and hunger. That was how Raina protected not only her memory, but her allies as well.
'It was all for her allies.'
Raina did well. She won the battle and minimized the deaths of the children she cared for. However, even for her, there were difficult situations.
"Sniffle... Sniffle..."
It was when the very minions she cared for were running at her with the intent to kill.
'It seemed like Raina didn't know.'
Raina wasn't aware that allied minions resurrected. Not only her, but other minions didn't seem to notice either.
First, it was because it was hard to see the enemy's face during a fight. Secondly, unlike Raina, the minions weren't very close to one another. And lastly, there weren't any minions who survived as long as Raina.
Because of these three reasons, only Raina could recognize her previous allies. Normally, she'd have her memory altered by the summoners at this point. Afterward, she'd return to fighting this endless battle as a minion. This time, it was different. This time, she had Almond.
"Don't cry. You have to resist it for now."
Almond covered her mouth and dragged her into the trees.
"The summoners didn't see yet, but they'll find out if you continue."
Raina nodded, but still couldn't stop her tears. Since her memory was altered every time, she never imagined that her previous allies would resurrect to kill her.
"You..." Raina could barely squeeze out her words and tearfully said, "You know."
Raina looked up at Almond. She was deeply sad, but he also saw a sliver of hope in her eyes.
She barely moved her lips and whispered in case someone heard, "T-That our memory keeps getting altered..."
"Yeah, that's right."
"And that they were going to come out as enemies... You knew that too, right?"
"Yep."
"Sniffle..."
Raina started crying again. She used her two hands to grab onto Almond because she needed support.
"I just had my suspicions... Why did I not know?"
"Because you probably got caught at this point already."
"How did you know?"
There was no reason for him not to explain, but the explanation was too long for now.
"We should finish this battle first."
"... Yeah."
For the first time in the game, Almond wasn't playing for survival.
[Raina's Reason (★★★) clear route has been discovered.]
[Help Raina escape this battle!]
He was given a specific task and focused on getting the two of them out of there.
"Raina, we're going to have more time after the battle. Let's talk then."
"Alright."
Raina was now back to her senses.
"Don't get caught. I'll shoot them down for you."
"..."
Raina's eyes shook.
"Are you... okay? But Teo..."
Almond firmly grabbed Raina's shoulder, trying to tell her to pay attention.
"I'm alright. I won't get caught."
Almond was full of determination.
"And don't worry about the children. Once they die, they come back alive as our team."
They were just minions...
She seemed to be relieved after hearing those words.
Raina nodded, "... Alright."
***
After Raina calmed down, the battle continued. It was the blue team's victory. The light in the enemy's nexus faded and the summoners couldn't revive.
"Yeaaaaah!!"
"We wooooon!"
The summoners and minions were overjoyed.
"Good job, minions!" Iron Monster Bart shouted on top of the nexus remains.
"We won thanks to your blood and sweat!"
Despite what he said, Almond couldn't tell what the reward for the minions was. He thought it would probably be nothing and didn't know what would happen after their victory.
[Some time has passed.]
There was suddenly a time skip.
[Loading...]
A rare loading screen popped up. Did the game have a lot to prepare for? Almond used this opportunity to talk to his viewers.
"The story usually ends here, right?"
— Yeah
— Usually, the story mode is finished here.
— What's going to happen now?!
— I think you need to make an escape plan!
— Wow, but how are you supposed to escape there? Where are you even supposed to go?
"I have no idea how to escape."
— Yeah, how are you supposed to get out from the battlefield?
— There's no information.
— Hey, but at least they're telling you that you have to escape!
— I can't tell if it's too much freedom or there's just not enough instructions.
It was the first time Raina's three-star clear was being broadcasted. There were rumors about players completing it, but it was never shown on video.
— But isn't Almond the first one to do it?
— There are only rumors about people clearing it three stars, but no actual proof.
— I think he is the first one.
— We'll be able to see later.
— I think it's the first in Korea, for sure, at least. Koreans don't care about the lore of some low-tier character, LOL
There were talks among the viewers wondering if Almond was the first to achieve three stars. As a result, they were also unaware of what was about to happen. A path no one had taken before. It would undoubtedly be difficult.
"I'm going to play assuming I have to give it a second try."
Almond decided to go in thinking he'd have to give it a second try, but it didn't seem like he'd be able to do that.
[CantResist has registered a new mission.]
[500,000 won if you clear it on the first try.]
A new mission was registered. If he beat it on the first try and earned three stars, he'd be rewarded 500,000 won.
— Damn! Today's crazy!
— Another 500k?
— He already has 2 mil on the line!
— Why's everyone talking as if Almond already achieved it? He has to do it on the first try!
Not only that, his mission reward was greater now.
[Mission: Earn three stars today.]
[1.95 million won]
The mission reward accumulated up to 1.95 million won. This was a result of people adding to the pile of 500,000 won.
"Wow, CantResist, thank you. Then I'm going to try and attempt to beat it in one try."
— You weren't going to try earlier?
— Almond 5 seconds ago: I'm going to assume I'm doing it twice~
— You really can't resist 500,000 won though.
— Damn! Look at Almond's mission rewards today!
— This is when game channels blow up!
While the chat was making fun of Almond for being obsessed with money…
"Almond."
A soldier stood in front of him with a terrifying look.
"What are you doing? I told you to give me your weapon."
Chuk.
He put his hand out, pestering him.
'Weapon? Ah... Right.'
They had to return their weapons after the fight was over.
'How am I supposed to escape then?'
Could he escape without a weapon? He wasn't sure, but Almond obliged for now.
"... Don't just stand there doing nothing. Chop some wood at least."
"Yes," Almond gave a simple reply as if he was back in the office. He didn't take his eyes off the weapons to see where they went.
'They're going to the arsenal.'
It looked like he was carrying them to the arsenal. During the battle, they kept it open and even rested inside.
Crank-
Now, it was locked with chains and a huge lock.
"Make sure to have it cleaned before the next fight," the soldier commanded and disappeared.
Only a few watch guards remained, sleuthing around the place.
"What are you doing? Get some firewood, clean the bodies, and raise the trees!"
It was strange. What kind of war was this? After a war, the winners usually claimed the land and the soldiers either moved to the next battlefield or went home. However, they were preparing for the same battle again?
It was similar to cleaning up the battlefield after a mock battle in the military.
'This isn't a battlefield...'
It was a practice range for summoners to practice.
'If it's a practice range, it won't be very big. It's possible to escape.'
Escape seemed easier than he imagined.
'Let's try to meet up with Raina while we're cleaning up.'
They could form a strategy if they met during their clean-up time.
***
Raina was organizing the grass. It looked like she eagerly awaited Almond because she was constantly checking around. As soon as she discovered Almond, she blinked at him when no one was paying attention. Almond naturally dragged a body near her and went into the bushes.
"Almond."
Raina grabbed and dragged him into the bushes where they were out of sight.
— Stop this romance!
— Boss, I don't know about adult Raina, but child Raina too? I can't let this go...
— Chris Hansen would like a word.
— Damn, Almond! Let go of that hand!
— Wow... I want to play story mode too...
— LOL, Raina's the one who grabbed him. Why's Almond getting the hate? Haha.
Raina wanted to see if he was telling the truth, so she looked him straight in the eyes when asking questions.
"How did you know? How much do you know? Tell me exactly what you know."
Since Almond had no reason to hide anything from her, he told her everything he saw and predicted.
"Sigh...?I see."
Raina didn't look very surprised because she also had her suspicions.
"I think this is the best time to say... everything seems to be in despair," Raina muttered and looked at Almond.
It sounded like she wanted him to relate, but Almond was speechless. He hadn’t been in this world long enough to feel despair.
"Let's escape, Raina. We can get out of here."
What he could do was get out of here with Raina. He assumed she'd be shocked, but she nodded as if waiting for him to say that.
"Alright." Raina even said this, "After you came, I started having hope."
"...?"
"I already have an escape route in mind."
Swiff.
Raina took out a parchment that she had clearly worked to find and showed him a map.
— Damn, Raina is smart!
— LIL map!
— Raina has a plan? Then this might not be that difficult?
Raina knew a route. This could turn out much easier than he expected. However, one question brushed past Almond.
'Then why did she fail to escape?'
The map was perfect without missing a single place. Raina's memory remained intact, so why?
"But there's one hard part."
Raina pointed at the edge of the map. There was a big red dot that said,?‘door.'
She grabbed Almond's hand and told him, "You... no, we have to kill a summoner."
The red dot guarding the gate was a summoner.
'So this is why she couldn't leave.'
— Obviously, our Almond has to kill them!
— Our Almond?
— It's a team effort!
— Sounds like he's doing all the work...
— But Raina grabs his hand like it's nothing new. Isn't this a bug?
— Help Raina escape! Please, Almond!
***
[Beginner's Tip: Top, mid, and bottom lane minions constantly charge toward the enemy. Use them to destroy turrets and the nexus to achieve victory!]