Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

"As the Tower Master just said, they "salvaged" materials we lost in this tragedy. We have lost a lot of good people in the Holy Land, and I know you are upset, but this was not Minas Mar's fault," he turned back to Seth.

"I'm glad, that Minas Mar approached us first to offer cooperation in the future. Already having a functioning Teleport Hub will save us a lot of trouble in the future. Of course, we are ready to offer financial support for the right to use it in the future."

Others may have seen Seth's approach as crass or unreasonable, but the bard had simply followed the directions of his skills. It wasn't just the effects of <Voice of Seth>, his personality attribute, or Persephone's Crown brainwashing the Adventurer Guild Master.

He spoke the way he did because it was the speech he came up with based on the <Inspiration of Phenex> and <Memorable Speech>. The words he chose were words that worked because the person he spoke to was Bryce.

A man that was competent enough to get to the peak and had learned how to deal with the schemes and falseness that predominated among such high ranks. But in his core, he was a rough man, who rather spoke naked truths and preferred something getting straight to business. It was the impression Seth had gotten, from meeting with him.

Seth didn't want to take advantage of the adventurer guild and looked for a solution that was profitable for both sides. It was the message that Bryce received, with some help from <Voice of Seth> that conveyed his intentions even more clearly.

Having come to an agreement to cooperate, it was on Mary and Leana to discuss the details. Professional contracts and diplomatic solutions were not the job of the blacksmith. He simply watched and listened as a spectator, only throwing in some words here and there when he thought he had to.

At the end of the initial talk, they had worked out a rough alliance between the Adventurer Guild and Minas Mar, to cooperate in the construction of the Dungeon City, which the guild dreamed of. The main task for Minas Mar was simply providing free access to Minas Palan for members of the guild.

In exchange, Minas Mar would have free reign over the dungeons in the Holy Land until the city was set up. From that point, they agreed to share rights to territory and dungeons between the guild and the district. This way Minas Mar as a district of Urth became co-manager of the guild's Holy Land.

--Two days later, Minas Palan--

"Do you think Beth and the others will manage?" Paolo asked a little worried.

Their draft order came just a day after they met the envoys from Beta, It was the healer's idea to offer them to travel along with the Oathguard to Little Sigma. There was no safer option possible and their superior agreed taking along some diplomatic envoys and giving them a good impression was no problem.

Marco and Paolo had gotten a little closer with them on their journey, but they had to split up at Tree Station One when the Oathguards used the teleportation at the system church to come to Minas Palan, as this place was called. They could only hope that Beth and the others would get a chance to talk with Vladimir.

"They will be okay. We have bigger worries now, don't you think?" Marco asked beside him.

Only now, that they stepped out of the fortifications, did the two fathom the magnitude of what they had joined. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of tents that filled the plain before them. They had come with most of the Oathguards from TS5, but this was several times the number of people. It felt like a city of tents.

"Don't worry, I won't allow you to die," Paolo joked, overplaying his own nervousness.

"If one of us is in danger, it's you as the healer. I won't fall to a bunch of lv.60 mobs," he said confidently.

"Stop bickering and go to your tents, you two. You guys were the last batch, the briefing will begin in two hours," a superior scolded them and they promptly left to look for their tent.

They had been given a rough explanation that they were going to take part in a battle at a place the Adventurer Guild called their Holy Land. However, they were not told much more, they would probably be informed about their roles during the mentioned briefing.

"Here, it's this one," Marco called Paolo, after finding their tent.

Each of them had been given a note with a number, that designated the tent and their bed inside the tent before they had set off from Little Sigma. Inside the tent were rows of simple bunk beds where people were already resting. Everyone here wore the same Oathguard Armors, though there were some differences between the ones mages wore and those of vanguards or tanks.

"You two are the last ones. I'm Gus, I'm in charge of everyone in this tent," a bulky man introduced himself to them and showed off a silver sigil ring on his pinky finger. It was the sign that he was a Team Leader, a rank above them who wore bronze rings. There would have also been a silver badge on his armor, but Gus was not wearing his armor.

"I'm Marco, this is Paolo. I'm a swordsman, he is a healer."

"Good, good. We still have two hours before we have to assemble. Find your beds and make your preparation, if you have to. I will call you when it is time," with that Gus was already gone, talking to someone else.

The reason there were tents, was not only to have a place for people to sleep. Although the inventory was extremely useful, it was not unlimited. One of the things they had to take care of to prepare, was sorting out the inventory. Many would leave less important things like spare clothes or miscellaneous things in the tents, in favor of various potions provided to them by the guild.

Paolo was given all kinds of potions, not just health, mana, and stamina, but many that would help against abnormal statuses like fear, freezing, burn, or poison. Especially as a healer, he was given spare rations so he could use them on his comrades if needed.

"It's time for the briefing, everyone. I hope you are ready."

Exactly two hours later Gus appeared back in the tent and called everyone fore the meeting. Marco and Paolo had used the time to prepare, eat something, and got to know their temporary comrades in the team. Hearing their leader call, they all got to their feet and followed Gus outside. He led them to a small square close to their tent. They had seen a few of these as they looked for their tents.

In the middle of the square was a small podium, with someone wearing the armor of the Oathguard standing on it. They stood there for a few moments, as more people kept flooding onto the plaza. The man on the podium looked around for a moment before he started speaking. His voice was magically strengthened.

"I think everyone is here, so let's begin. Hello Everyone, my name is Ortega and I'm in charge of explaining why you are here and what you will be doing here in the next few days."

What followed was Ortega's explanation of the current situation. It was actually hard for Paolo to understand all the details, but the important thing was that there was an army of monsters threatening to attack at any moment now and they had been assembled to gain a few levels by fighting it off.

"Don't worry, there should be no danger to your life. None of you has a low level and all of you have the items of Minas Mar. That doesn't mean you can get careless, there are also some greater beasts that may pose a problem if you face them 1v1. Don't hesitate to use home call and return to Little Sigma, if you fear for your life.

We don't need any heroes sacrificing themselves. You are only fighting this battle, because the enemy are at a suitable level for you, not because there is anything in danger, got it? Lord Evee could handle the whole army on her own but decided to leave it to you guys. Be grateful for the easy experience," Ortega warned them not to do anything stupid.

Although Paolo found the way he said it really weird... no it was overall really weird, Paolo was still somewhat relieved. They were not fighting some desperate battle or anything. As a healer, this meant he probably wasn't going to have a whole lot of work.

Ortega also explained the terrain. Their position and a little about the enemies they may face. Hearing all this, Paolo actually felt confident to enter this battle.