Chapter 321: Many a Little Makes a Mickle (2)

‘This is…’

Lloyd swallowed dryly without realizing it. Messages popped up endlessly before his eyes, stretching beyond count. There were so many, reading each one would be impossible.

However, even just skimming through a few of them was enough to open his eyes wide. The fading consciousness snapped back to alertness. He couldn’t help it.

‘What the… The RP is skyrocketing like the inflated prices of Gangnam apartments.’

It felt unreal. His hands trembled as he rubbed his eyes and looked again. It was still real.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

[Tivoli, a member of the White Spear Troops, is raising his shovel, vowing to protect you.]
[Orc warrior Equinox is roaring, filled with fighting spirit.]
[Elf archer Mehari is steeling his resolve, remembering the meat you grilled for him.]
[Camaro from the territory engineering corps is rallying people, determined not to lose you.]
[Cripple from the bone troops is charging forward with rattling bones.]

“…”

They were all burning with determination. Just to protect him. They were rising with shovels and pickaxes against a fallen angel. Naturally, Lloyd began to worry.

‘Will they be okay?’

The opponent was a high-ranking angel. Even the Grand Master Javier couldn’t guarantee victory. How could the White Spear Troops, Orc warriors, Elf archers, engineering corps, and bone troops possibly stand a chance against the fallen angel?

His worries soon became reality.

Boom!

The fallen angel clashed with Javier. The mace of judgment collided with the longsword. The fallen angel absorbed the angelic halo to unleash its potential. A Grand Master surpassing human limits to create legends. Their clash generated fierce shockwaves, spreading like a tidal wave in all directions. Everything was hit and pushed away, like the aftermath of a huge explosion.

“… Aahhh!”
“Kyaa!”
“Ku-Kuiek!”

Brave White Spear Troops, agile Elf archers, and strong Orc warriors were no exception. Not to mention the engineering and bone troops. They were scattered like styrofoam pellets in front of a strong wind. Most who charged with burning will were swept away and rolled on the ground.

Yet, none gave up easily.

“The White Spear Troops…! Never show their backs to the enemy!”
“Orc warriors fight, kuiik!”
“We won’t retreat easily!”
“Engineering corps, let’s show them the strength we’ve honed on the job!”

Those who had rolled swiftly got back up, still burning with determination. They picked up their shovels and pickaxes once more. Every time they did, messages popped up before Lloyd’s eyes.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong-dong! Ding-dong!

[Berlingo of the White Spear Troops is determined to fight for you.]
[Berlingo’s favorability toward you has increased by +1.]
[Current relationship with Berlingo: +41]
[Gained +3 RP from slight relationship improvement.]
[Current RP: 17,673]

[Orc warrior Tycan flexes his muscles even more.]
[Tycan’s favorability toward you has increased by +2.]
[Current relationship with Tycan: +39]
[Gained +2 RP from slight relationship improvement.]
[Current RP: 17,675]

[Elf archer Cayenne is ready for you…]
[Engineering corps member Cherokee vows to protect you…]

[Current RP: 17,891]
[Current RP: 18,741]
[Current RP: 20,1…]
[Current RP: …]

“…”

This was insane. The RP surge was truly crazy. Lloyd swallowed dryly again. While he was half unconscious, he finally realized what was happening.

‘I’ve really cultivated a network here.’

He had collapsed. The fallen angel tried to finish him off. Javier fiercely defended against the fallen angel. Stimulated by this, everyone rose up to protect him, ready to fight, angel or not. Their actions ignited their feelings for him even more.

Thanks to that…

‘RP has piled up like crazy.’

500 White Spear Troops. Hundreds of Orc warriors and Elf archers helping with the dam construction. Engineering and bone troops. Their collective favorability toward him had skyrocketed.

Each individual’s RP contribution wasn’t much, but with so many, it amounted to an enormous RP.

‘It’s like collecting 10 won from each person in a city of a million, resulting in ten million won.’

And the result?

Lloyd felt his heart pounding as he saw the final message.

[Current RP: 23,534]

“…”

It was an enormous amount of RP, enough to bring back even a runaway concept from Andromeda.

‘I need to do something with this.’

A sudden thought crossed his mind. He glanced at Javier’s back and the fallen angel swinging its mace to break through Javier’s defense. The resulting shockwave hit his face, sending people flying in all directions.

‘Can I become a Sword Master?’

Would it help? He couldn’t match Javier, the Grand Master, but could he help change the situation? Lloyd thought, examining the situation, calculating quickly.

‘I’ve gathered a ridiculous amount of RP. Should I invest it all in becoming a Sword Master? But what if stopping the restoration of fate requires a lot of RP later?’

Worries flashed through his mind. But Lloyd shook his head roughly.

‘No. Now isn’t the time to worry about the future. Later is later; now is now.’

They had to stop the fallen angel now. Otherwise, the Jewel of Truth would be destroyed, ending everything. This was truly a moment where hesitation would lead to ruin.

Gritting his teeth, he made up his mind. He stood up and opened the Mana Heart skill information.

[Skill Name: Mana Heart]
[Stage: Sword Expert Advanced Lv.1]
[Physical Ability Enhancement Rate: 1,500%]
[Current Skill-Specific Options: ① Shock Absorption ② Poison Immunity ③ Berserk ④ Half-Dragon ⑤ Time Freeze / ⑥ Sword Master Syndrome]
[RP required for next level up: 2,000]

[Current RP: 23,534]

‘Let’s do it.’

He was determined. He chose to level up the skill.

[You can invest a certain amount of RP to increase the skill level of Mana Heart.]
[Would you like to invest RP into the growth of Mana Heart skill?]
[YES / NO]

‘Yes!’

There was no time to hesitate. If he was going to do it, he had to do it all at once. Lloyd nodded immediately.

Ding-dong!

[Skill Level Up!]

[Mana Heart: Sword Expert Advanced Lv.2]
[Physical Ability Enhancement Rate: 1,700%]
[RP required for next level up: 2,200]

[Current RP: 21,534]

Boom!

His heart beat loudly once. The Mana Heart expanded. Simultaneously, his senses became sharper.

‘Hup!’

The higher the Mana Heart skill level, the more severe the Sword Master Syndrome seemed. But Lloyd gritted his teeth.

‘I’ve already started. I have to see it through.’

It was all or nothing now. He poured all the remaining RP into it. The Mana Heart skill level rose rapidly. From level 2 to 4. From level 5 to 6. From level 8 to 9. And finally, upon reaching level 10, he encountered a barrier of insufficient RP.

[Mana Heart: Sword Expert Advanced Lv.10]
[Physical Ability Enhancement Rate: 3,300%]
[RP required for next level up: 3,800]

[Current RP: 334]

“…Tch, as expected.”

Lloyd smirked bitterly. But he wasn’t surprised. He had anticipated this.

‘This isn’t my first time investing RP to level up skills. It’s simple math. The RP needed to go from Sword Expert Advanced Lv.1 to Lv.2 was 2,000. Then 2,200 for the next level. And 2,400 after that. It increased by 200 RP with each level.’

So, while investing RP like a storm and leveling up the skill, he had calculated.

‘In the final stage, I’d be short by about 3,500 RP. Just like now.’

Expecting this, he wasn’t flustered. He had a plan ready.

‘Just like this!’

He stood up and shouted loudly so everyone could hear.

“Everyone! Except for Javier and the dragon! Move to a safe place!”

…Everyone paused at his shout. Not missing the chance, he shouted even louder.

“I appreciate you all! Thank you for fighting for me! I’m deeply grateful! But this is not a fight I want! Because I don’t want you to get hurt because of me!”

His vocal cords felt like they might burst. Or maybe his eardrums would give out first. The Mana Heart skill at Sword Expert Advanced Lv.10 made everything louder. His own voice was deafening. But Lloyd didn’t care. He stood firm, climbing the Jewel of Truth, and shouted even clearer.

“You are here to work! Not to fight and get hurt! White Spear Troops, engineering corps, Orc warriors, Elf archers! You’re all the same! I don’t want to see you get hurt and die because of me!”

It was true. They were here for dam and Jewel of Truth construction. He didn’t want to sacrifice them for an unforeseen battle with an angel. Besides, such sacrifices were inefficient.

‘Of course. The opponent is an angel matching Javier, the Grand Master. White Spear Troops? Orc warriors, Elf archers? Engineering corps? No matter how many there are, they wouldn’t help. It’s like shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight.’

It would only increase unnecessary sacrifices. He needed to prevent such a tragedy. With genuine feelings, he shouted even louder.

“So retreat! Move to a safe place! Instead, I will protect you! I will step forward and fight!”

He shouted with all his might, testing the limits of his lungs and vocal cords. Sincerely, with a touch of exaggeration. And he added a dramatic touch he had in mind.

‘They’re moved by my shout. Now!’

He spun three Mana Circles, amplifying some mana, directing it to his head, concentrating it on the right side, where he had been injured by the fallen angel’s unexpected attack. The wound was barely scabbed over, stopping the bleeding. Pouring a lot of mana into the scab, the pressure forced the scab off.

Pop!

Like a cork popping, the scab was pushed off by the mana pressure. The wound reopened, red blood gushing out. More than expected.

Whoosh!

“…!”

The unintended powerful blood fountain! But Lloyd feigned calmness. Blood streaming from his head, he turned it into a dramatic display.

“I’m fine! No matter how hard or painful! Even if I get seriously injured and lose my life! For your sake! For the happiness and safety of the territory! I will fight with all I have!”

Looking to the sky, he shouted valiantly, raising his shovel. Blending sincerity with a bit of exaggeration. Enhancing it with the spurting blood. The sight reignited everyone’s spirit.

“…Waaaah!”

Cheers erupted like thunder. Fists punched the air. At the same time, welcome messages popped up before Lloyd’s eyes.

Ding-dong!

[Your passionate and self-sacrificing speech and actions have deeply moved everyone on the scene!]
[Wrangler of the White Spear Troops’ favorability toward you has increased by +1.]
[Orc warrior Tar’s favorability toward you…]
[Elf archer Cayenne’s…]
[Engineering corps member Panamera’s…]

Ding-dong! Ding-dong-dong! Ding-dong!

The favorability of many rose simultaneously. Converted into RP, it piled up like a storm. More than enough, perfectly timed.

[Current RP: 4,612]

‘This is it. This is exactly it!’

Lloyd clenched his fist. He opened the system window. It was enough. Finally, it was time to become a Sword Master.