40 – Overflow – 7

―Whoosh!

A fireball that flew, slicing through the air, shattered the head of a monster that was just climbing up the wall and scattered, sending the surrounding monsters falling down along with it.

That power, which finished off several monsters with just a single fireball, felt like nothing short of a miracle to the soldiers who were merely wielding the weapons in their hands.

“The magician is supporting us from this side!”

“Buck up a little more, you bastards! The magician is fighting without backing down, so how can we, the soldiers defending Turis, fall already!”

Every time a fireball sliced through the sky, and every time a rapidly fired flame bullet pierced a monster’s head, at least one soldier saved their life, so Gi-jun had absolutely no room to relax.

Of course, he could achieve military merits even if he ran wild directly with his shield, but he would have to accept that his field of vision would narrow.

In that case, the number of people he could save would also decrease.

Disguising himself as a Flame Human, firing flames to deal with numerous enemies, Gi-jun felt once again how cool of a class group a magician was.

‘I’m not a magician, though.’

―Ordinary magicians cannot cast spells in rapid succession like this, Contractor. That is the advantage of a spirit summoner.

Yes, being a magician was originally a profession that one could not manage unless they were smart, along with having good mana control.

Gi-jun’s current appearance—communing with the spirit and manipulating and exploding flames as naturally as if they were a part of his body—was of a different nature than the magic magicians used.

But what did the soldiers know? They merely cheered, thinking it was magic because fireballs flew from afar and burned the monsters!

Moreover, his actual attack power was also significantly superior to the few magicians among the wall’s defensive forces!

―For now, it is fine like this. But a moment will come when the Contractor must step to the front lines.

‘I know that too. For now, I should be satisfied that I can save people even by imitating a magician like this.’

Gi-jun was also feeling that the level of the monsters making up the overflow was rising little by little, step by step.

It was evidence that there was a leader in the monster army formed by the overflow, employing their own tactics.

They sent out the weak monsters first to drain the humans’ strength, and then the strong monsters stepped forward to finish them off.

It was a vicious yet definitely effective strategy.

―By reaching level 6, Light Mana (L) has increased by 3!

―Fire Spirit Arts (R) has become level 42!

―By reaching level 6, Light Mana (L) has increased by 3!

―Fire Spirit Arts (R) has become level 42!

Of course, this was not taking into account that people with low levels like Gi-jun could level up and recover their stamina and mana while killing monsters in large numbers.

As Gi-jun, who had recovered his mana, created a much larger fireball and exploded the wall of flesh that the monsters had made by recklessly throwing their bodies to climb the wall, the soldiers cheered once again.

“Oooh! Vitality is returning to the magician’s body!”

“To think he doesn’t get tired even after shooting fireballs in rapid succession like this, just how high is his realm?”

“You fool, the magician belongs to a special race. He is different from us humans, who cannot even handle mana properly!”

The foolish soldiers were deceived.

In the process of firing fireballs in rapid succession to block the monsters from landing on the wall as much as possible, Gi-jun was naturally becoming an idol to the soldiers.

Although he felt uneasy about not being able to cut and collect the monsters’ heads himself, surely the lord would not pretend not to know when he was playing such an active role in saving the soldiers!

However, after he had been dealing with the monsters in that manner for some time, that moment finally came.

―Kuooo…

―Urrgh…

At some point, a rotten, decaying hand grabbed the top of the wall.

A monster whose flesh was decayed to reveal its bones suddenly poked its head up, its body creaking unnaturally.

At that moment, a shudder ran through the wide wall all at once.

“Oh no… it’s the undead! There are undead!”

“Cut off the head, the head! Otherwise, they will come back to life!”

“Undead in an overflow… we are doomed, it won’t end until we all die and become undead…!”

The undead were monsters whose symbolism was even greater than their strength as individual entities.

Their persistence in not dying easily, their terrible evil energy, and their infectiousness that tainted even normal humans.

The gloomy will of those who instinctively hated the living and tried to drag them down to their side cowed the living even further.

Just as Gi-jun, feeling the atmosphere change in an instant, was about to do something by raising flames, a giant greatsword in the air rotated like a boomerang and ground up all the undead that were climbing up the wall.

While Gi-jun opened his eyes wide, wondering if it was a Unique-grade throwing skill, Tolchi, the knight who caught the returning greatsword and raised it high, shouted in a ringing voice.

“They are merely monsters with festering skin and bones! Do not be afraid and lift your weapons! Those who flee will die and become undead, but those who fight will welcome a glorious tomorrow with me!”

“Oooooh!”

At the knight’s ringing shout, the morale of the soldiers rose dramatically.

As their cowering postures straightened, they did not easily give openings to the undead, and they even forgot the fatigue that was slowly encroaching on their bodies, pressing the enemy with rising momentum to the point where the situation on the battlefield visibly improved.

Gi-jun felt as if he had only occasionally seen such a sight from Ye-min, who used to lead NPC soldiers after taking on large-scale quests.

A faint smile naturally rose on the corner of Gi-jun’s mouth as he recalled her, who resembled a dignified heroine, extracting plenty of support with great resourcefulness no matter what quest she received, and exercising absolute influence even over NPCs when push came to shove to ultimately lead the situation in the direction she wanted.

‘Perhaps Min-i’s Charm was really above Uncommon.’

Although he felt it was a great pity that she was not here, he felt quite relieved to watch Knight Tolchi, who was boosting the soldiers’ morale with his outstanding eloquence and skill as if replacing her.

However, according to that Charm theory, it meant that Gi-jun himself also had the ability to raise the morale of the troops…

Gi-jun, who could not possibly imagine himself shouting at the soldiers or boosting their fighting spirit, could only shake his head.

―What are you talking about, Contractor?

Lucy blew away Gi-jun’s thoughts with a light snort.

―Without needing to speak noisily, the Contractor is giving people great hope just by creating and shooting fireballs. Do you think even a high-level magician could receive this much attention just by casting a single spell?

‘…Now that I hear it, it does seem that way.’

A battlefield where life and death hung in the balance.

Even though they should be busy just focusing on what was right in front of them, the people paid close attention to whatever Gi-jun did and cheered loudly every time he performed actively.

As Gi-jun consciously made and shot a fireball while keeping Lucy’s words in mind, he saw the soldiers, who noticed it quickly, already shouting even before it hit the target.

―Boom!

And as it burned the undead that had climbed onto the wall as if it were only natural:

“Against the magician’s magic, even the undead are down in one shot!”

“This is the power of the living!”

“Look at that! The flames are spreading to those guys. They are even burning while avoiding us humans!”

“How can this be… to think he is considering even soldiers like us in such an urgent situation.”

They were praising Gi-jun while making even more of a fuss.

Fire was famous for being an attribute highly effective against the undead, so it was only natural for it to finish off low-grade undead in one shot. And although it looked like magic, it was ultimately spirit power, so it was easy for it to move while avoiding humans according to the spirit’s will, yet they exaggerated to the point where he felt embarrassed for no reason.

They said that if one’s Charm was high, the influence one exerted on others would increase even when performing the same actions, and Gi-jun was only now realizing the truth of those words.

Come to think of it, even when he was first summoned to Reta, he had stepped forward to deal with the fairy, only to face excessive wariness from the people and ended up being kicked out…

Gi-jun, who was having sad thoughts for a moment, nevertheless realized anew that Charm could still be helpful to him if used properly, so he operated Salutaris even more actively and created fireballs in both hands.

It was because the thought had grown in him that he could not disappoint those who looked up to him and cheered.

‘We probably cannot sweep away all of this darkness… but we should be able to light a few more torches. Help me, Ur, Lucy.’

―Kiiiiii――!

Responding to the Contractor’s will that burned as brightly as fire, Ur awakened an even greater potential and lent him strength.

Having been in perfect harmony as one body with Gi-jun all day, Ur was influenced by his spiritual power, gradually expanding the size of his soul, which had been wounded and shrunk in the past, even at this very moment.

Although both Gi-jun and Ur would have to collapse side by side once the battle ended as a price for overworking their soul power, the achievements they gained today would still be by no means small.

―Alright, shall I blend in some of my power without it being obvious then?

Moreover, when it came to dealing with the undead, who were originally dark beings, the most effective power was undoubtedly light, with the exception of the holy power of priests who believed in God.

While the flame caught onto the mana that bloomed from Gi-jun’s fingertips and blazed grandly, the essence of light dwelled within it, making the flame appear even brighter and more sacred.

That was a bit too much.

“Holy fire…”

“It’s holy fire.”

“Ah, so he was indeed an angel sent down by God to save us…!”

Contrary to Lucy’s promise to blend it in without it being obvious, the two attributes mixed all too well, drawing everyone’s attention!

No, in a situation where his current identity as a Flame Human was already suspicious enough, he could not afford to gain a ridiculous new title like ‘angel’!

Before he could face any unnecessary suspicion, Gi-jun hastily threw the two brightly blazing fireballs.

Even though it looked like he threw them mindlessly, the subtlety of his Rare-grade throwing skill, ‘Flash Throwing’, was clearly reflected, and the flames, flying towards the exact spot where enemies gathered, exploded spectacularly and engulfed the undead!

―Kiaaaaak!

―Kuaaaa!

Naturally, the effect was incomparable to the simple flames he had manipulated until just a moment ago.

The undead, who ironically boasted persistent vitality despite having died long ago, collapsed one after another, unable to withstand the flames and light.

As the undead were swept away all at once, an empty clearing became visible on the wall.

―Light stands out the most and proves its value of existence when it cleaves the darkness and lights a fire. An undeniable bright and brilliant light is felt from the flame you created. Lucy (L) skill has reached level 3. Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1.

―Light stands out the most and proves its value of existence when it cleaves the darkness and lights a fire. An undeniable bright and brilliant light is felt from the flame you created. Lucy (L) skill has reached level 3. Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1.

After reading the system messages, Gi-jun grew tense at the thought that his use of light power might have been discovered, but to jump to the conclusion, there was no problem at all.

“The flame magician―― on the eastern wall――!”

“Has driven away hundreds of undead―― and reclaimed the wall――!”

The soldiers quickly occupied that spot, actively pushing back the undead while shouting at the top of their lungs.

They, too, knew that what they needed most right now was courage that would not back down and morale that would back them up so they would not collapse.

“Knight Tolchi―― on the southern wall――!”

“Has severed the head of an Elite Ghoul――!”

Then, the voices of the soldiers resounded from far away as if competing.

They were passing the hopeful situation back and forth like a game of ping-pong, trying to nurture the hope that they could somehow overcome this overflow.

Feeling the faint fear mixed with the soldiers’ brave shouts, and yet their fighting spirit to not back down, Gi-jun also opened his eyes wide as he felt the mana rotating even more fiercely inside himself.

―You realize once again that the mana circulation method you created is driven by the soul, not by mana. As long as your soul does not give up, Salutaris will surely generate mana. Salutaris (L) has reached level 3!

―You realize once again that the mana circulation method you created is driven by the soul, not by mana. As long as your soul does not give up, Salutaris will surely generate mana. Salutaris (L) has reached level 3!

Indeed, Salutaris, completed by adding his own unique realizations to Biche’s teachings, was not a simple circulation of mana.

Because it assimilated and led mana with the power of his own soul, it could grow even stronger through the intense will and emotions that moved the soul.

―Contractor, are you alright?

‘Honestly, it is not a safe situation. That is, if this place weren’t a battlefield right now.’

If the rotation of mana grew fierce, both the amount of mana and its destructive power would increase.

Although in return, an even more fatal side effect would visit Gi-jun’s body.

At the same time, he knew the most effective remedy to alleviate it.

‘For now―― there is no problem!’

―Kiyeeet!

The holy fire that Gi-jun kindled as a result of Salutaris became a giant sphere and was thrown into the air.

Surprisingly, it turned into steam and flowed over the wall like a cloud, and soon began to scatter a rain of fire from within.

It was a cloud that scattered hot flames by avoiding humans and picking only the monsters with truly exquisite control.

It was an excellent spirit art capable of neutralizing more monsters and saving more people, fitting for Gi-jun’s widened field of vision.

―You succeed in implementing a complex spirit art that could never be created without fantastic harmony with the spirit and the strong will of the spirit summoner. Fire Spirit Arts (R) has leaped to level 45! Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1!

―By reaching level 7, Dexterity (L) has increased by 1, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

―You succeed in implementing a complex spirit art that could never be created without fantastic harmony with the spirit and the strong will of the spirit summoner. Fire Spirit Arts (R) has leaped to level 45! Spiritual Power (L) has increased by 1!

―By reaching level 7, Dexterity (L) has increased by 1, Light Mana (L) by 1, and Spiritual Power (L) by 1.

A shot of the remedy named leveling up was injected into Gi-jun’s body.

Detecting his soul and body recovering as if they had never been wounded, a bright smile spread across his lips.

He felt as if he could fight all day.

But he should have known.

That high Charm, while boosting the morale of allies, also focused the enemies’ attention on oneself.

―Kuoooooooo!

The undead kept flocking in.

There was still a long time left before the night would end.

* * *

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): I’m free! I get to rest all day today, aren’t you happy too? So play with me all day today.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): What, you’re not reading it again? Why is someone who just crossed over to Reta so busy?]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): You aren’t going around doing something weird, are you? Now that your Charm has increased, like…]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): (This message has been deleted.)]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): No, there is no way you would have that kind of guts. If you did, you would have already.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): (This message has been deleted.)]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): Even so, you just can’t handle the quests pouring in from all over the place due to your suddenly increased Charm, right? Obvious. I’ve lived in Reta too, you know.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): But you must always be careful of people, okay? I was always more afraid of people than monsters. After all, I’m quite pretty, so I could have built a kingdom with the bastards who wanted to do something to me. Summoned ones or NPCs, it doesn’t matter, they’re all just the same.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): But who am I? I’m saying I know how to spot all of that and quickly filter out those playing tricks. You keep it in mind too, just in case. Don’t go getting fooled by some weird chick for no reason, got it?]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): Look at the eyes, the opponent’s eyes. First off, if you feel their eyes are hazy, you have to filter them out. And someone who avoids eye contact for no reason, or conversely, is too confident, definitely has something hidden behind them.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): And be wary of someone whose words and attitude are strangely different. The biggest problem is the type who pretends to say and do the right things while subtly dragging things in a direction advantageous to themselves. Hit them first before you get stabbed in the back by bastards like that, understand?]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): Ha, what am I even doing by myself when there’s no one responding, seriously.]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): Hey, it’s not, right?]

[Biche♥(Dimensional Waiting Room): …You aren’t meeting a girl, are you?]