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◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (41)

Chapter 9. Didn't I Also Change Jobs for the Second Time? (1)

How many hours had the battle kept going for?

KiJun’s mana had finally run out before his level could rise any further.

It was natural for leveling up speed to slow down after leaving the low-level zone, but he still wished to maintain this tempo at least until the end of this battle.

―Contractor, take a break. You’re pushing yourself too hard.

‘…But.’

The undead attacking the city were no longer just weaklings.

It seemed like the leader leading them guessed that the troops guarding the walls would have been weakened by now, and was increasing the strength of their forces to break through the walls in one fell swoop.

Even among the zombies, larger monsters ― probably undead created by killing monsters from dungeons affected by the nearby Overflow ― were attacking in unison, making KiJun’s teeth clench.

This perfect timing for the enemy's reinforcement and intensification!

‘They must have intelligence akin to humans.’

In fact, casualties were increasingly reported from various places.

No matter how great KiJun was, how could he possibly supervise the entire battle happening on these vast city walls?

Despite his limited abilities, the scenes entering his widened field of view remained the same.

People being crushed by monsters and losing their lives.

People unable to resist the magic of the undead, losing their dignity and rising as new undead.

Scenes of past comrades rushing at each other, killing, or being killed by each other.

All this was gradually chipping away at KiJun’s will, once filled with determination.

‘Lucy, I am.’

―At least stop straining your spirit power like this. Your mind is getting more exhausted because of it. You need time to slowly recover your spirit power and mana.

‘…Right, you are correct. I’m sorry, Lucy.’

KiJun felt his mana, which was swirling emptily and scratching every corner of his body, and finally lowered his hands that he had raised.

He had already transcended his limits long ago.

If it wasn’t for the repeated level-ups in between, he would have lost his sanity by now.

‘My level is... now 11?’

It was indeed a tremendous achievement to level up by six in a day.

If he wasn't a Rare grade race, he could have leveled up even faster.

But if his race grade had been lower, he wouldn't have been able to perform as he did, so it was a moot point to ponder.

“Ah.”

“The mage…”

“He must have pushed himself too hard. It’s unbelievable he kept casting magic to this extent.”

“The mage should rest safely. That way, he can still hit those bastards lurking behind... with a fireball or something.”

“You sons of a... You think you can surpass us just because the mage isn’t here? I'll deal with all of you!”

Noticing that he was no longer casting flames, the soldiers’ morale visibly plummeted, but they acknowledged his effort and tried to let him rest.

“Mage, let me escort you to a safe place. This way…”

One of the soldiers, who seemed to be in command on the eastern wall, approached KiJun, probably to lay him on a makeshift bed, but KiJun looked at him, shook his head silently, and took out the King of the Well from behind him, attaching it to his arm.

“M-mage?”

“Hmm.”

The soldier, who had only seen him use the shield for protection, called out in shock, but KiJun just nodded once and immediately ran towards where the soldiers were being pushed back.

Even though he couldn’t use mana to protect everyone in his sight, he could still protect those within his reach.

“Mage?!”

“The mage is charging with a shield!”

“It sounds like nonsense... he must be delirious from a zombie bite... Huh!”

―Bang!

With a sound like a bomb exploding, a wolf zombie gnawing on a soldier was dismembered and flung outside the walls.

Determined to engage in close combat, KiJun swung his shield like a main battle tank, trampling the monsters and sweeping through the front lines.

KiJun hurled his shield, smashing two more zombie bodies, then caught it skillfully on its return, brushing off blood and flesh before reattaching it. He then turned to the injured soldiers.

"Retreat and recover from your injuries."

"How... How can you...?" one soldier stammered in disbelief.

"Just think of it as magic," KiJun coolly replied, hurling himself back into the fray.

Fighting in close combat, KiJun was like a tank, crushing monsters in his path. His attacks, based on his Unique-level Strength, Endurance, and Legendary-level Dexterity, were devastating. A simple swing of his shield was enough to slice through most monsters, and he used its edge to decapitate those that didn't fall, sending it flying to knock down emerging zombies and returning precisely to his grasp.

"KiJun is directly crushing the zombies!" the soldiers exclaimed.

"How is he so strong, even in hand-to-hand combat?"

"He's turning these monsters to dust!"

As the soldiers, briefly retreating from the frontlines, watched KiJun's remarkable performance, one of them ventured a guess, "Maybe he wasn't originally a mage?"

"Such nonsense."

"He's been casting magic for hours!"

But KiJun wasn't just noticed for his magical prowess; his physical valor was just as captivating, rallying the soldiers' spirits.

"KiJun..."

"He's fighting so hard for this city..."

"We must fight too!"

KiJun's Charisma stat strongly influenced the soldiers' spirits, invigorating them despite the temporary nature of this boost. In these critical moments, this renewed vigor significantly increased their survival chances.

"I've rested enough. I must fight alongside him."

"Don't be foolish! If you don't rest now, you'll die!"

"Fighting beside him gives me strength!"

"If we rest now, will we get another chance to fight? I'll fight as long as I have one arm left!"

"Let's go!"

KiJun wasn't a saint. His involvement in the defense was initially driven by an attractive quest, but as more people placed their hopes in him, he willingly threw himself into the battle beyond the quest's demands.

"Whew, whewww..."

-Contractor, you seem to be enjoying this.

"Yes. Close combat suits me."

-And it's not just about the combat, right? As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.

Back on Earth and even in this new world, KiJun had shied away from leading others, envious yet fearful of heroes like YeMin. But training with Bice changed his mindset. Instead of harboring silent jealousy, he wanted to try again. He longed to live up to his name.

"Come at me, you rotten corpse creeps!"

-Contractor is engulfed in bright flames!

"Don't look directly, it's blinding!"

"Undead are being crushed under his mighty onslaught!"

Although KiJun doubted his ability to be as perfect as YeMin, he couldn't dismiss those who had put their faith in him. He wanted to repay them magnificently, stepping towards his interpretation of Nietzsche's Übermensch.

“We can't fall when he is leading the fight!"

"Let's protect him! At least until I die, I won't let him be harmed!"

"His shield strikes are stronger than your swordsmanship! Hahaha!"

The tired soldiers, reinvigorated by KiJun's actions, rejoined the battle. As long as they cut off the undead heads, their numbers dwindled. KiJun, with his Unique-level Provocation skill, drew all undead to himself, allowing the soldiers to safely eliminate them.

As KiJun continued his relentless assault, a space cleared on the battlements, giving the soldiers a moment to breathe.

"Look to the east wall!"

"We've driven off those cursed monsters!"

"With the Shield-Mage leading us!"

And then, someone among the enemy ranks finally noticed.

"There he is...!"

A Banshee, exuding a sinister and powerful aura, recognized KiJun. Despite being newly undead, she was overwhelmed by a peaceful sensation from the bright light KiJun emitted, which she forcefully ignored.

"Not long now. I will kill him with my own hands..."

Her thirst for revenge was undeterred, driven by the need to avenge her unjustly slain sibling.

Meanwhile, the boss of the Unique-grade undead dungeon, comfortably seated on a bone sofa, was surprised at the resilience of Turris's defenses. He had expected the city to fall by now, especially with the elite undead deployed.

"Destroy him first! He's my enemy!"

In Earth's Ireland, she might have been considered a fairy, but in the continent of Reta, she was a Banshee, an upper-class rare undead.

"The one who killed me and ruined everything! He's made my revenge incomplete! Go, capture him!"

Responding to her command, elite monsters started to move. They were not the low-grade zombies typical of dungeon entrances or monsters transformed by the contagion of death from nearby dungeons.

They were the true power of the Unique-grade dungeons that had gone unconquered for years, named undead who had grown stronger by killing countless summoners and gaining experience.

"I'll go..."

"I'll take care of that knight..."

"Hurry up!"

The newly-turned Banshee hysterically commanded her more powerful undead peers. Once they left, she immediately changed her demeanor and bowed to another presence.

"Forgive me for acting without your command, master."

"That's alright, but I am not your master. I have no intention of accepting you into our kind."

The chilling reply came from a being lounging on a sofa made of bones. This entity was the boss of the Unique-grade undead dungeon, silencing all challengers over the years and orchestrating the current Overflow by manipulating someone with dark emotions.

"The haste and excess of my actions are evident even in this uncomfortable chair. If we fail to retake the city, you will pay the price."

"I am willing to sacrifice everything for my revenge."

"Hmm..."

The man, who had revealed his fangs, gazed at the Banshee's still-beautiful face.

"If you had come before your death, I would have gladly taken you."

"What a pity."

"Ah, yes."

The Banshee, hiding her true feelings, bowed her head. The man turned his gaze from her to the walls of the small city of Turris. Despite the city's summoners being formidable, recent attacks had driven many away, and most of those who remained had likely perished in the Overflow.

Yet the city's walls still held, which was surprising.

"The plan should have already breached the walls left undefended by summoneds..."

With mid-boss level undead dispatched, the situation should soon escalate. A single breach would crumble their well-coordinated defenses.

In the shadows, shadow wraiths waited to strike, targeting the pesky priests. Once they succeeded, he would personally end this tedious battle.

Suddenly, a blinding light flashed from one of the walls, causing the man to curse aloud.

"Kill him first! He's more important than anything else!"

"That will be done, he's one of my enemies!"

The Banshee, disturbed yet strangely calmed by the bright light, ignored the fleeting peace in her heart.

"Not much longer now. I will kill him myself...!"

Driven by the need to avenge her unjustly slain sibling, she was determined to fulfill her revenge, even if it meant her own damnation.

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