Season 3: Chapter 168: You Go to Valhalla (1)
In the central area before the battle began, Almond stared at the large words in the center of his vision.
[Infiltrate]
Almond recalled his training. Only three others had trained with him when he practiced as a Joseon spy.
Cookie had explained the Joseon spy to them like this.
“The Joseon spy is not actually a combat unit. It is a special class that minimizes combat and executes commands to win strategically. The training will be different from before.”
Almond didn’t think it was a coincidence when Cookie stared intently at him while saying that the role experienced less combat.
Almond's playstyle was rather aggressive to be a Joseon spy. Of course, he thought he was just being efficient rather than aggressive. Nonetheless, he focused on Cookie’s words during training and internalized the Joseon spy’s special effects and skills.
Carrot, Tomato, and Hawk also successfully completed this training. The other members were all as strategically gifted as Carrot.
‘In the end, I was the one chosen.’
In actual combat, Cookie only selected Almond.
[Archer → Joseon Spy]
Almond’s class changed and his attire also turned pitch black. He wore a black conical hat, a short black overcoat, and wide black pants. A long black coat resembling an agent's coat draped over everything.
Shurikens and a quiver hung on his waist with a Gakgung bow strung on his back. He wore simple rubber-like shoes that made no sound when he walked.
This peculiar attire made Almond unique as he was the only Joseon spy. Changing to this class cost significant resources, so having more than one was rare. He was the sole Joseon spy.
Almond focused again on the words hovering in the air.
[Infiltrate]
He would have to carry out this mission alone with no one else to pass it on to. However, he did have someone to assist him.
“Let's go. Get on.”
Coffee approached and pointed to the back of his horse.
“We’re also infiltrating the enemy camp, but some Vikings will probably be returning to our base. It always happens when a big battle breaks out. There’s a chance we might run into them.”
Having an assistant commander with him was crucial because it would be troublesome if they encountered Vikings on their infiltration route. Given the importance of the mission, sacrificing an assistant commander was deemed necessary.
“I’ll use falcon's flight to secure a safe route. I’ve stored up two uses.”
The assistant commander would scout ahead, illuminating the path for Almond to safely infiltrate the enemy base.
“Approach the enemy camp as closely as possible before using the disguise skill. There’s a time limit. I’ll signal the right spot.”
“Got it.”
Coffee acknowledged Almond’s response and spurred his horse.
“Hyah!”
The horse galloped swiftly along the route.
Thud! Thud!
Cookie had mapped out this route already. However, it wasn’t entirely reliable. Cookie was too busy preparing for the final battle to monitor this side.
Coffee had to substitute for Cookie.
Thud! Thud!
The sounds of the horse hooves flowed past as Coffee thought.
‘Despite what Cookie said, it’s because of this guy that we’ve dragged the game to the fourth era.’
Coffee could roughly guess why Joseon had dragged the game into the fourth era even though someone like Bread couldn’t figure it out.
‘It’s because of the guy riding behind me.’
Cookie had changed strategies because of Almond.
The guy riding behind Coffee was undoubtedly a crack player for their team. Coffee fully acknowledged that. Almond’s physical abilities and combat sense were so extraordinary that it was hard to believe they were the same age. Coffee had witnessed it several times.
‘Still, I can’t understand Cookie…’
Coffee just couldn’t understand Cookie’s way of keeping a significant distance and considering the members' opinions. That method of fostering harmony felt like a sign of mistrust to Coffee.
Even though Cookie didn’t overtly praise Almond, it was evident from the strategy that he deeply valued Almond.
‘Why can’t he just say it?’
A familiar voice passed through Coffee’s mind.
“Why can’t you just say it? It’s not because you lack confidence. It’s because you don’t trust us, so you can’t say it. Stop whining like an idiot.”
The voice faded as swiftly as the passing scenery while riding the horse.
‘Well, I guess I’m the same.’
Coffee briefly reflected and cleared his mind. The present moment was too important for such distractions. What mattered now was...
“If you’re so upset, then win the next one yourself.”
They had to win.
Coffee’s eyes sharpened. He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly.
[Falcon's Flight]
The view cleared as he whistled.
Even without Cookie’s confirmation, Coffee could see the marked path on his mini-map because he was an assistant commander. She was probably watching the signal too.
‘The battle might be starting by now.’
Boom...!
In the distance, the sound of Shin-Gijeon explosions echoed. Fireworks lit up the sky.
“Hyah!”
Coffee spurred the horse to run faster.
***
Almond took deep breaths as he rode behind Coffee.
‘Maybe I can fight one more time.’
He had forgotten this sensation after growing accustomed to his custom capsule. Repeated battles significantly deteriorated his condition.
He recalled the LIL match where he once played with one hand. That was only possible because some champions didn’t require frequent use of his right hand. Moreover, the opponents were all amateurs.
This was different.
‘Everyone is serious here.’
Everyone played with a fierce determination to win. In the main tournament, most of the opponents were professionals.
He felt the same pressure as when he faced the pro SweetRadish and the challenger BlackTea for the first time.
‘It’s okay.’
Almond reassured himself.
‘I’m different now.’
Not only had the opponents changed, but Almond had also changed. He could now fight as both an individual and a team member. He had a better understanding of what it meant to fight as a team and had certainly grown.
“Dammit...”
At that moment, Coffee swore and released the falcon once more. Did he discover something?
“We’re about to encounter them. There’s no way to avoid it. They seem aware of the Joseon spy.”
“...!?”
The enemy was aware of the Joseon spy? Almond thought the Joseon spy was a rarely used strategy.
“They’re prepared for it. That’s the pro level for you. The biggest variable from Joseon in the fourth era is the Joseon spy, so they distributed their focus as naturally as breathing.”
Even if Joseon rarely used such a strategy, the enemy commander always accounted for it because it was a real risk. The enemy commander was that kind of person.
“They probably expected a Joseon spy when they saw no horse archers and the use of Pyeonjeon. They’re countering it now.”
“How?”
The best way to counter a Joseon spy skilled in disguise, escape, and infiltration was to intercept them early.
“They’re trying to spot us early at the chokepoint.”
The Vikings controlled the chokepoints and slowly approached Joseon’s main base. This was partly to hinder Joseon’s workers, but their formation and speed also indicated that they were searching for something. That something was most likely the Joseon spy.
“We have no choice. Falcon's flight is exhausted now anyway...”
Coffee made a decision. He drew his bow hanging from the horse’s side and bid farewell to Almond.
“We’re almost there. Enter the forest and go as far as you can. It’s to the northwest. I’ll distract them. Hurry!”
In this context, distracting them meant sacrificing himself. A dead assistant commander would be a significant loss.
“What? You’re an assistant commander... wouldn’t it be better to fight together?”
“No. You mustn’t fight now.”
Coffee snatched Almond’s hat and pushed him off the horse.
Thud!
“!?”
“From now on, I’m the Joseon spy.”
Coffee pulled down the hat and quickly rode forward.
Almond was left behind with one command still in his vision.
[Infiltrate]
“......”
He quickly got up and looked toward the forest that Coffee pointed to.
Sizzle...
A blue path appeared. Coffee had marked a path through the forest for him.
***
“Huff... huff...”
Almond ran desperately with a bow on his back.
‘I need to hurry.’
The battle would have already been well underway when the enemy realized that they had no horse archers. Whether it was thanks to Coffee’s sacrifice or something else, Almond saw no signs of Vikings and continued along the path.
‘Is this it?’
The path that Coffee marked finally ended. In the distance, Almond could see the enemy fortress. That was the enemy’s main base.
Almond looked back and forth between the fortress and the end of the marked path.
‘This is ambiguous.’
Coffee said that he would signal where to use the disguise, but was this the spot where the path ended or had it been cut off?
‘It seems farther than expected.’
The fortress was still quite far and the disguise had a time limit. Unless Almond killed someone, the cooldown was also quite long.
Getting as close as possible without being seen before using the disguise would give Almond the greatest advantage, but he didn’t know the exact spot. He needed precise directions from above or someone with an exceptional sense of distance like Pang.
Almond hesitated.
‘Should I move further ahead and use the disguise skill?’
He quickly decided.
‘No. That would be the end.’
He couldn’t afford to be detected while disguised and Joseon was in urgent need of more time.
[Disguise]
Swoosh...
Almond transformed into a Viking warrior just ahead of the marked path.
***
A Joseon spy could freely ride any mount and was also skilled with ranged weapons. They wore a black wide-brimmed conical hat. These were the characteristics the Vikings knew about the Joseon spy.
They hadn't practiced specifically for the fourth era, but these traits would be enough to identify the Joseon spy.
Indeed, they spotted the Joseon spy wearing a black conical hat and riding a horse with a bow slung on his back.
“There he is!” one Viking shouted.
“Catch him!”
“That’s the Joseon spy!”
The ferocious Vikings charged with fierce eyes.
The face under the black hat smiled slightly.
‘Good.’
Coffee turned his horse and galloped fiercely, occasionally shooting backward.
Thwack!
Only the Joseon spy or assistant commanders could shoot on horseback without being the mounted archer class. This convinced the Vikings.
“It’s him! Get him!”
Whoosh!
The lead Viking deflected the arrows with his axe.
Coffee aimed to lure them away instead of hitting them, so he kept riding. Suddenly—
‘Huh?’
The Vikings stopped their pursuit.
‘... What?’
Coffee looked back because it suddenly went quiet and saw the Vikings shouting.
“That’s not the Joseon Spy! The real one has infiltrated the main base!”
“What about us?”
“Let’s head to Joseon’s main base!”
Coffee’s eyes widened.
‘They discovered him?’
Something had gone wrong. Coffee briefly pondered.
‘Here...’
He would die if he tried to lure them back and an assistant commander couldn’t be revived.
Coffee shut his eyes tightly.
‘Can I... do it?’
Could he stop those Vikings alone? Was it possible? How long could he hold out?
‘If an assistant commander like me dies... will the game be okay?’
Could Almond succeed? Had he already failed?
Coffee’s head spun. Assistant commanders had to be careful about dying. It was worth it if dying could lead to victory, but Coffee believed that was hardly the case. Even if it did, he couldn’t be sure of it.
Therefore, living was always better. That was his principle. An assistant commander’s role was incredibly important, but a phrase flashed through his mind.
“It’s not a lack of confidence. It’s because you don’t trust us.”
Was that so? He opened his eyes wide and pulled the reins.
“Neigh...!”
The horse turned and ran the other way.
Coffee shouted at the Vikings heading to the main base, “Hey! Where are you going!? Come with me!”
Sling!
He drew his sword.