Surviving With An Sss Rank Inventory - Chapter 74

Surviving With An Sss-Rank Inventory Chapter 74

Episode 74

Dio spent a week trying to solve his party’s fundamental problem.

It was not a matter of balance, such as individual strength or the sum of colleagues.

So what is the fundamental problem?

‘The problem may be that the party has been targeted by the Luna Church.’

Dio has been suspected and pursued by the Luna Church since the Monte days.

Sephia is suspected in Liver North because of Ludens.

And even witches and vampires who are officially declared enemies of the Luna Church.

Dio’s party is simply not in a position to safely traverse the continent.

Estellum was also thinking about this problem, so it hid its identity through perception-impeding magic and clothing.

But it’s different from then.

Estellum was originally a city with such poor security that it was called an undead city.

However, most cities in the eastern region close to the imperial capital have a tight security system.

If you are fussy, your true identity is likely to be discovered.

Dio spent a week trying to find various solutions to solve this problem.

Then, an incredible idea occurred to me.

It was a plan that came to mind after hearing that the artifact installed near Calliope’s base was in Armin Forest.

‘The guy who will be wandering around Armin Forest after running away from home.’

Dio thought of a person active in the realm of Armin Forest.

I was confident that if I recruited him, I would be able to solve the problems I had previously been concerned about.

When Dio heard from Schuwald that the place he was sent to the gate was Armin Forest, his thoughts became even stronger.

Dio thought about a better method for a week, but decided that this method was the best.

It is also something that will be much more helpful for your future journey.

“Everyone pack your bags and follow me.”

“uh? “The city is over there?”

Sepia asked curiously, pointing to the city in the distance.

As she saw, there was a city not far from Armin Forest.

There was no warehouse in the city, but it was also a place you had to pass by to meet Calliope.

“know.”

Dio, who was heading deep into the forest instead of towards the city, looked at his companions and opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t you need a pass?”

* * *

Deep in the Armin Forest.

Armin Forest, not far from the city, was also a hunting ground where many hunters were active.

However, players do not hunt in Armin Forest.

The hunters’ traps set up to hunt animals and monsters are quite annoying, so it is not a place where players can comfortably hunt.

So, players who came to Armin Forest for the first time often had trouble because of the numerous traps.

“Can you help me instead of just watching?”

Just like the person in front of me who was caught in a net trap set up on a tree.

A net trap made to catch animals or small monsters.

Inside, a blond young man with dirty hair was struggling against the tight net.

“…What is he?”

Evelyn looked at the young man asking for help with dumbfounded eyes and opened her mouth.

“This body…huh. Because I was careless, I fell into a trap. haha. Are you a hunter nearby?”

I wondered if there was a young man in Armin Forest, where veteran hunters go, but Dio chuckled as if he knew that would be the case.

Despite his shabby appearance and inexperienced behavior, the young man’s character was not hidden.

‘But you found it quickly. ‘I guess it hasn’t been long since you left the house?’

When Dio winked, Sepia immediately aimed her bow.

The young man’s eyes opened wide at that sight.

“What are you doing? Hey hey.”

Liquid-

“Aaaah!”

As Sepia’s bow was fired, the young man closed his eyes tightly.

thud!

Contrary to what the young man had feared, Sepia’s bow accurately cut only the net, and the free young man fell to the floor.

“Thank you. “But wouldn’t there be a safer way?”

A young man who endures the pain of falling to the floor and complains immaturely.

Dio just smiled as he looked down at the young man who had sprawled out.

* * *

There is a ducal family with the largest territory in the vast land mass of the eastern part of the continent.

Bertio is not an aristocrat of a weak country, but one of Freud’s operatives in the empire.

It was no exaggeration to say that Bertio was exerting his influence throughout the East.

Ates Vertio.

It was the name of Duke Bertio’s second son and the real name of the blonde young man whom Dio saved.

Why is such a precious child suffering in Armin Forest?

This is because Ates is currently running away from home due to various family issues.

Slurp –

Ates was sitting by the fire, scooping up freshly cooked stew, and was concentrating on his meal in silence, as if he hadn’t had any proper food in a while.

“Is this the person you’re looking for?”

“Dio?”

The group, who were looking at Artes from afar, smiled at each other and looked at Dio.

Dio had not shared information about Artes with the party.

It was too cumbersome to explain, and the party members now tended to expect Dio to do whatever he did, so Dio just clenched his chin and looked at Ates.

“Phew – I guess I’ll live now. “You’re really good at cooking.”

Ates, who had just finished an entire bowl of stew by himself, looked at Sepia and raised his thumb.

“I did that.”

When Roberto, who was next to him, spoke, Ates looked embarrassed and lowered his raised hand.

“I will get food and make sure to repay this favor. “My name is Ate…”

Ates, who was full, continued speaking, but trailed off as he looked at Dio’s gaze.

“…Call me Jack.”

At first, Artes tried to be minimally formal, but he introduced himself without hesitation, perhaps because he thought he had already shown his disapproval.

“Okay Jack. “I am Dio.”

Currently, Dio is officially wanted by Luna.

Nevertheless, unlike Ates, Dio did not bother to hide his name.

This is because the name Dio is a common name, and with the help of Evelyn, a recognition-impairing spell was placed on him.

‘And anyway, I’ll be on the same boat with Ates.’

Dio smiled inwardly and opened his mouth towards Artes.

“What were you doing alone in the forest?”

“It’s just… there are times when you want to travel alone. Something like that. Where are you guys going? “I think he’s about the same age as me.”

Ates turned around and asked Dio.

“We are…vigilantes, so to speak.”

“vigilante corps? “For what?”

“Haven’t you heard anything lately? The devil may be resurrected…”

“The devil!?”

Ates was not the only one surprised by Dio’s words.

The people listening next to him also looked at Dio with expressions of ignorance.

“I can’t tell you the details. Just know that the organization we belong to is carrying out missions in secret.”

“The Demon King Suppression Team… Now that I think about it, I think I heard that the monsters’ movements are unusual…”

For some reason, Artes’ eyes changed to a more intense look.

It was a calculated move for Dio to pretend to be a ‘hero’s party’ by mentioning defeating the demon lord.

The reason Ates abandoned his background as a duke and ran away was because he was romantic.

“Does the fact that the punitive force is preparing mean that there are signs of the Demon King’s army in the east?”

Ates muttered to himself and seemed to have made up his mind and called out to Dio.

“D.I.O.”

Dio, who could guess what Ates was going to say, looked at him.

“why?”

“Well…”

“Say it quickly. “Because we don’t have time.”

Unlike Dio, who spoke leisurely, Ates continued speaking as if he was full of determination.

“Let me join you too!”

Apart from personal growth, Artes could not pass up the warrior party that young people envy.

Of course, he didn’t say it was a warrior’s party, but the mention of the Demon King was enough to whet Dio’s appetite.

According to Dio’s calculations, Artes wants to join the party on his own.

So then the answer Dio should give here is…

“No.”

It was a firm refusal.

* * *

The Demon King who can be seen as the final boss of the order board.

And the Demon Lord’s army is the enemy that the player faces in the very latter half of the game.

However, its existence does not suddenly appear.

Although the Luna Church is hissing, the main scenario of the order board eventually moves toward the final phase of the resurrection of the Demon King.

Whether they know it or not, the story of the Demon King’s resurrection is making people anxious, and what Dio made up is not entirely empty.

“no? Why not?”

And Ates, the second son of the Bertio family, who had the greatest influence on all eastern fronts, was anxious about Dio’s rejection.

“Didn’t we just meet? “Why do you trust me and follow me?”

“That’s…”

Dio pointed out Ates’ behavior, which was quite inexperienced.

It is easy to turn down a rich boy.

However, if you use it like that and then throw it away, it will result in a big disaster.

If you are a talent that you will use for a long time, the shortcut to becoming a great player is to build trust with each other as much as possible and make them friendly or indebted to each other.

“It’s not a good idea to follow someone you don’t know properly. We also can’t just bring you in because you might be hiding your real name. “Isn’t that right, Jack?”

“….”

Although Artes is inexperienced, he is not a bad person.

If Artes had been accepted without hesitation, it was obvious that Dio and his group would be viewed with suspicious eyes early on.

In that case, you should refuse here and give Artes the perception that you are a slightly more experienced party, and make him feel like he sincerely wants to follow you.

“So does that mean it’s all a lie?”

“well. What you believe is your freedom. However, if your choice turns out to be wrong later on, it is entirely your fault.”

Even though they were the same age, Dio’s veteran appearance made Ates intimidated.

However, Artes still seemed to want to join Dio’s party.

Dio recognized this at a glance and slowly opened his mouth again.

“But…we also need to recruit talented people.”

Dio pretends to be a generous person.

Seeing Dio using the typical conman pattern, the companions just looked at him in bewilderment.

However, for Ates, who did not know Dio’s true intentions, these words were like a ray of hope.

How could a young man who ran away from home in search of romance endure a party to subdue the devil?

“Why do you think I bothered to mention the Demon King to you? “It’s because I saw that you were a good person.”

“Then!?”

Ates, brightened by Dio’s words, gave an expectant look.

“Looking at you, you seem to be quite a precious son. “It’s not easy to go on an adventure and find romance alone.”

“that’s right! “I didn’t leave home without a decision… no, that doesn’t mean I’m a noble or anything like that.”

Ates was captivated by Dio’s speech and spoke with confidence, but then quickly changed his words, perhaps realizing that he was hiding his identity.

“I like it anyway. But if you’re skilled enough to fall into an ugly trap, I can’t help but feel reluctant.”

“It was a mistake. And I could have escaped the net by myself at any time.”

Artes was shamelessly mateless.

Dio made him an offer.

“If you still want to be with us, prove it.”

“proof?”

Dio, who had planned to take Ates with him anyway, but had no intention of accepting the foolish treatment of a rich boy, looked at Sepia next to him.

Sepia, who was the most perceptive of the group, realized Dio’s intention and drew out her dagger.

“Raise your sword. And prove to yourself that you are what we need.”

Survive as an SSS-level warehouse character