Chapter 46: Tia’s First Sortie

“Alright, alright! Ready? Rock, paper, scissors! When I say go, you throw your choice, okay? No trying to guess by reaction time or switching your hand at the last second!”

The looter, Frank, spoke in a tense tone.

“Man, you sure got a sharp tongue. If you could control the outcome, why would you still be stuck as a 2-star? Let’s just get this over with!”

The lancer, Zeke, answered anxiously.

“Wait a minute. Didn’t they say this guy is a prophet? What if he looks into the future with his prophecy? Let’s leave him out of this game!”

The bard, Austos, and the heal shuttle, Noah, were bickering.

At first, it looked like they were going to draw lots.

But apparently, in Valhalla, there’s something called “rock-paper-scissors.”

“But will the user acknowledge us if we pick among ourselves? What nonsense is that?”

“If you don’t trust it, you’re out! Why’s a 4-star joining a 2-star’s game?”

“It’s not like 2-stars and 4-stars matter for going to the dungeon! Let’s just start! Rock, paper, scissors!”

Among the commotion was also a Priest.

She watched the chaos with a slight smile.

“Lee Yeon, aren’t you joining? It’s a good chance to go to the dungeon.”

She asked while looking at Kumgui.

Kumgui laughed, stroking his beard.

“Hahaha! No thanks! There are plenty more desperate than me. Besides, the only opportunity I want is the arena. Dungeons and levels? Not interested! Haha!”

He replied heartily.

He was consistent in looking only for arena opponents even in the square.

It made me chuckle.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

“I won!”

The heroes chose who would go to the dungeon.

One by one, people were eliminated, narrowing the group.

“Rock, paper, scissors! Damn!”

“Ugh! I lost!”

Ogre Brahms and the fairy Finley sighed.

The chosen hero was White Paladin Order Recruit Tia.

“Huh?”

Tia looked around, surprised.

“Hey! Congratulations! If you’re a man, you have to accept the results! Congrats!”

“If she gets to 3-star, will she swap out the members? Please!”

“Congrats!”

The eliminated heroes congratulated her.

Amid this atmosphere, Tia fidgeted with the sword at her waist.

She tried to hide it, but her excited and nervous expression was impossible to conceal.

“Do you use sword and shield as your weapons?”

“Huh? Why do you ask…!”

“Basic equipment deals less damage. You’ve got to appeal to the user. What kind of gear do you want to use?”

I asked her, watching for a moment.

Tia glanced at her equipment.

Her long white cloak was almost worn to a dull gray, and her armor and sword showed signs of wear everywhere.

She must have fought with this gear until she died.

“In my previous world, I used a sword… but I heard that Valhalla’s paladins favor hammers or maces. Can I get one?”

“Well, even if you don’t have traits or skills right away, it’s good to get used to it! By the way, is this your first sortie?”

“Huh? Yes. I’ve been summoned a few times but this is my first time going to a dungeon. But am I really allowed to go? The choice is up to the user…!”

Tia tilted her head at Gobori’s words.

Still not quite convinced, maybe?

I rummaged through the storage and selected gear suitable for Tia.

A 3-star triple-riveted bulletproof helmet as her helm.

The Heater Shield I used would be her shield.

A Necklace of Protection and Dwarven Chainmail.

Then I equipped her with a 3-star hammer.

“Oh…!”

Tia flinched at the new equipment being equipped.

“Wow! Do you get gear when you go to the dungeon? This is the real deal!”

“Jealous!”

“What? She really understands what we say? What’s this, seriously!”

The Priest whined amid the heroes.

Anyway, the desert is over, so we can take off the Sand Boots.

[★★★★ Hermes’ Boots]
+Movement speed 10%. When using wind attribute skills, an additional 10% effect activates.

She equipped the recently obtained 4-star boots.

Whoo!

The moment she put them on, she felt lighter.

Especially with wind skills, it would work well with Haste, right?

4-star gear really felt like a whole new level.

[Lv. 50: Assaulted Young Lady]

Then back to the dungeon.

Tia looked a bit nervous.

Though summoned several times, this was her first sortie.

I’d heard users usually don’t use 2-star or 3-star heroes by default.

They only use 4-star or 5-star heroes, except for special combinations.

That’s why this vicious cycle repeated.

Underdog heroes kept being ignored, while popular 5-star heroes kept going out on sorties, leveling up, changing classes, and customizing appearances to keep up with the ‘metagame.’

It was a kind of rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer situation.

Not so different from the world I lived in.

Thud!

Finishing my thoughts, I entered the dungeon.

The dungeon was a small grassy meadow.

It began at the desert’s edge, where the sand gave way like a whale’s breath.

“Wow…”

Tia gasped softly.

As we all focused our eyes,

“Ah, sorry. It’s my first time in a dungeon.”

Tia bowed her head shyly.

Rose and Gobori felt proud.

“Hey! What’s there to be shy about! Just relax! This is basically power-leveling anyway!”

“Haha! Your level’s what matters, so don’t overdo it! The penalty makes it hurt like hell!”

“Yeah! The damage I take is bad, and the damage dealt is weak! Just stay back a little!”

Rose and Gobori puffed up their chests.

But Tia’s expression was complicated.

Being a hero of another world, maybe she found those comments unpleasant?

“Thank you for your kindness…”

But then Tia bowed her head.

“I know it’s hard to carry my weight due to the level penalty. But I will fulfill my role. Please trust me!”

Then she confidently took her place beside me.

Well, she was a hero chosen by Valhalla.

No reason to underestimate her because she was young.

“Of course. Let’s do our best together.”

“Thank you.”

After talking with Tia, I moved forward.

“Quuik!”

“Quuik!”

“Ku gu gu!”

Soon, muddy wild boars tangled in the muck charged us.

Three boars charged straight ahead.

“Sid! Orders!”

“Yes?”

“We’ve confirmed Sid’s fighting style! We’ll follow your commands, so please tell us!”

Tia shouted, shield in hand.

So they wouldn’t act on their own?

She stood side by side with me, shield raised.

“Good! Let’s try this!”

“Yes!”

It was time to test Tia’s skills.

[Lv. 50: Bow Wild Boar defeated.]
[Lv. 50: Bow Wild Boar defeated.]

Huff, whack! Whack! Boom!

“Quuik!!!”

All the boars were defeated.

They were sturdy boars but nothing too difficult.

[☆ Healing Potion used to recover ★★ White Paladin Order Recruit.]

“Phew, phew…”

But Tia looked quite exhausted.

Maybe she wasn’t used to the hammer?

Her basics looked fine, but every time she got hit, she was covered in blood—it was pitiful to watch.

“You okay? Don’t push yourself!”

“That’s right! The penalty means you won’t feel great. You can rest if you want!”

Rose and Gobori worried over her.

“Phew. I’m fine. I’ll grow from the hardships. Thank you.”

Still, Tia was spirited.

“Impressive. I’ll watch your back from now on.”

“Of course. I won’t be a burden.”

Tia wiped the blood off with a determined look.

With eyes like that, she wouldn’t break easily.

[★★ White Paladin Order Recruit] Lv. 1
[Wish’s Prayer]
[Broken Recruit]

As we continued walking, I checked Tia’s traits.

[Wish’s Prayer]
Even after death, can use skills at 30% effectiveness. Only skills targeting allies are available.

[Broken Recruit]
When all allied heroes are wiped out, health changes to 50%.

Something… fresh but vague.

‘Wish’s Prayer’ seemed like a trait allowing influence on battle even after becoming a ghost.

‘Broken Recruit’ felt a bit tricky.

A trait that’s high when low, and low when high?

Hmm.

It could make sense.

When high, she goes to 50% health to land a finishing blow, and when low, it becomes 50% so she can endure.

If paired with good skills and gear, it might yield unimaginable efficiency.

“Awoo! Bark bark!”

“Bark bark bark!”

Five wolves charged next.

[Lv. 50: Dry Grassland Wolf defeated.]
[Lv. 50: Dry Grassland Wolf defeated.]

Swish! Whack! Bam!

We repelled the charging wolves.

“Phew, phew!”

Tia panted, holding on.

Because of the penalty, it was okay to stay back, but she often got hurt from pushing too hard.

“Hey! You can just stay put! Why keep getting yourself hurt?”

Rose snapped, unable to bear it.

“I’m fine. I can’t waste the opportunity I finally got.”

“Seriously? If you get hurt, I get hurt! Do whatever you want!”

“Thank you for your concern. You’re a good fairy.”

“W-What? What’s she saying? Hmph!”

Rose blushed at Tia’s words.

Despite countless hardships, Tia stood firm.

Though we met today for the first time, I admired her as if I’d watched over her her whole life.

“We’re almost there! Just a bit more!”

As we climbed a hill, Gobori shouted.

“Hyaaak! Die!”

“Hah!”

In the air, bird-like monsters appeared.

Four harpies, with human-like upper bodies but bird wings and lower halves, were attacking something.

“Hah!”

“Oh!”

Nearby lay dead horses and soldiers.

Their bodies looked mangled, as if dropped from a high place, and the only thing left was a locked carriage.

The harpies were crashing into the carriage.

Thud! Thud!

[The carriage is in danger! Protect it before it’s too late!]

The health bar for the carriage appeared on screen.

We had to defend it.

I raised my sword and headed straight for the harpies.

“Hyaaak! Humans!”

“Humans? Hah!”

The harpies flew up at our approach.

“It’s their flight pattern! We can’t attack now!”

“Looks like it!”

They answered Gobori, turning their backs to each other.

The harpies circled like vultures eyeing a carcass.

They said their flight pattern blocked melee attacks, so the solution was skilled ranged damage dealers picking them off midair.

Or,

“Hyaaak! Die!!!”

Cutting down descending harpies in a single strike.

[Lv. 50 Windwing Harpy defeated.]

Crash!

“Kyaaak!”

A harpy’s head flew off at the sharp sword tip.

“Nice!”

“Oh! Bro!”

Rose and Gobori admired, but it was too early to relax.

“They’re fast! Stay alert!”

Shield raised, we guarded against the remaining harpies.

“Hey! DPS! Hit them already! What are you doing?”

“Hey! Do you think my slingshot can hit those harpies? Even if it did, it wouldn’t be my shot. They’d have flown into it!”

“Ugh! Why’d you even come to the dungeon? To be a know-it-all?”

“You! You!”

Rose and Gobori bickered.

Then the remaining three harpies swooped down.

“Haha! Got you! Root Bind!”

Crash!

“Hyaaak!”

[☆★ Rose Fairy: Root Bind skill!]

“Ah! Trap! Trap!”

Two got caught in Rose’s roots.

One entangled was quickly cut down.

Whack!

[Lv. 50 Windwing Harpy defeated.]

Only one harpy remained.

“Haap!”

Tia’s hammer slammed into the last harpy.

Its feet were bound, so it tried to flee, but

Crack!

“Hyaaak! Wings! Wings!”

Its left wing was smashed off.

The incapacitated harpy took another hammer blow.

[Lv. 50 Windwing Harpy defeated.]

Crack!

Blood splattered at the hammer’s tip.

“Impressive.”

Gobori nodded, looking at Tia.

“That’s thanks to the seniors doing most of the work!”

“Seniors?”

“We’re seniors?”

Rose and Gobori were surprised at Tia’s words.

We laughed lightly and watched for the next harpy.

“Hyaaak! You lousy humans! Die!!!”

Screech!

An angry harpy dived down.

“Phew! Done! Told you this party rocks!”

“The newbie did well too! Didn’t die up to here!”

“Hehe. Thank you. It’s thanks to the seniors helping.”

But Gobori, Rose, and Tia were calm.

I sheathed my sword and caught my breath too.

After all, the last harpy wasn’t our target.

Whooosh! Crack!

“Hyaaak!!!”

A spear flew out of nowhere, piercing the harpy.

At the same time, a man appeared, cutting off the harpy’s neck.

Thunk! Thunk!

The harpy’s head rolled on the ground.

“Phew. I thought I was a bit late, but you protected the young lady? I owe you a great debt! Truly grateful!”

The bloodied man looked at us and spoke.

Of course, it wasn’t his blood.

He must have been fighting nearby; his body was covered in dirty blood and feathers.

Disheveled black hair, a slightly gaunt but handsome face.

His deep-set eyes gave a strong impression.

[Main Story Triggered! : Young Lady’s Ballad]

“Miss! I’m back! You can come out now! Miss!”

He knocked on the carriage, shouting.

I stood still, alternating my gaze between the screen and the dungeon.

This man was the ‘protagonist’ of Valhalla.

The main story protagonist I would eventually fight.

His entrance was more impressive than I had imagined.