A Gunslinger’s System in a World of Magic

Chapter 251 Sidetrack?

Looting was the quickest it had ever been. Henry even went back to where all his Orc Archer kills had fallen to claim possession of their bows and Arrows. The ones that had been shot into his body were already in his Inventory.

With no serious injuries to be healed and the Knights all being so focused, there was no need to waste any time dilly-dallying.

Watching as his subordinates stood at attention with faces steeled up, Boyle was impressed. He had been stuck with the shaft of the bunch back at the Citadel but to see them all stepping up and proving themselves worthy to have been knighted was very great to see. It was a shame that it had only really come about as a reaction to the deaths of their fellow Knights but at least there was a bright side.

"How much further do you think we'll have to go to meet the Dungeon Boss?" Boyle asked Eloise as he cast his eyes ahead and added,

"How many more hordes will we have to clear?"

"I'm not sure," Eloise said sounding disappointed in herself, "My sensory spell can only extend so far. I assume we have to be getting close…"

Boyle sighed and nodded,

"Yeah."

Henry heard their conversations but was barely paying attention. He opened his Inventory and looked up his bullets and Slugs. He was running low.

'Now seems as good a time to restock. I probably have a few minutes before they get moving,' he thought as he stepped away from the group into a shade.

"-Nyx, stick with them. In case I have to follow after, you'll lead me to them.-" he told the horse through their telepathy before activating the brand in his palm to open the portal into Elminster's workshop.

The old man was waiting as he almost always was. He had a sword blade balanced on an Anvil and struck it repeatedly with his hammer. He paused and looked up when Henry got close.

"Bullets or slugs?" He asked.

"Both," Henry answered.

"Of course," Elminster answered and led the way into the back room where he produced the slugs and bullets and placed them on the counter for sale.

"Payment?" He asked offhandedly. The two had developed a rapport. After all, this was not their first time dealing.

"How's this?" Henry asked and placed four arrows on the counter.

The arrowheads were specked with blood. His blood. They were the only arrows the Orc Archers had managed to stab him with.

Elminster leaned closer to the arrows and picked one up to observe it.

"This is Y'Nth metal," he said.

He sounded fascinated but certainly not as ecstatic as anyone who spoke of the metal had been.

"I hear it goes for a lot," Henry said.

Elminster shrugged,

"Depends on who you're dealing with. To me, I've seen and worked with far more precious metals so I can't be too impressed. Hell, the gold that gilds 'Cudgel' is far more rare and powerful and that's certainly not my best work."

"Oh," Henry said, "I see."

"Oh, it's still a good metal but with me, just four arrowheads won't cut it for a trade."

"I have more," Henry said and retrieved a lot more Arrows from his Inventory. Stay tuned with empire

"Alright then," Elminster said and the trade was completed.

Henry knew the Arrowheads would be far more valued with people who weren't Elminster and he would be better off selling to them and trading with Gold the Old man still valued fairly the same.

However, he couldn't make that sale while still inside the Dungeon and needed those bullets. The last thing he needed was to run out when facing who knows how many more hordes there still were.

He left the workshop and the group was only just starting to leave. Nyx's Shadow left one of the Knights to be within his and stick close.

As he watched Eloise cast her sensory spell again, Henry got curious about her current stats.

[Activating <Insight Lv.3>]

——————

[Name: Eloise de Vurgen]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Mage-Knight]

[Job: Squad Captain]

[Health: 540 ———> 550]

[Mana: 690 ———> 710]

[Faith: 211]*

[Strength: 120 ———> 122]

[Agility: 70]

[Stamina: 75]

[Intelligence: 96 ———> 100]

*[Remarks: Hmm… A lady with a curious set of Stats. They tell the story of trials and a long journey of improvement. Aptitude in Spell-Casting and Martial abilities make her seem like a jack of two trades trying to master all.

She is technically Killable but should you try, my bet is on her to win.]

—————

Henry's interpretation of the stats —considering there was a single level-up worth of stats between this improvement and the last he had seen when last he analyzed her—, was that she had leveled up after the battle against the Blessed Orc Priest and this recent battle had pushed her even further ahead into another level-up.

To verify this, he looked at Andor who stood off to the side close to the former slaves;

——————

[Name: Andor]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Fighter]

[Health: 350]

[Mana: 230]

[Strength: 90]

[Agility: 40]

[Stamina: 50]

*[Remarks: A Fighter who makes up for his limited Martial training with enthusiasm and Impressive strength. Has Impressive Potential but is killable should you want to.]

——————

Sure enough, Andor's stats were ahead by one Level-up worth of Stat Points compared to the last time Henry checked but they had seen no improvements this time because he had hardly done anything. He and the Former slaves had just stood by the Clerics and watched the Knights and Henry take care of it.

Henry didn't mind that. The way he saw it, it was more Exp for him.

But then he noticed Andor was walking closer to him and by the time the group headed off deeper into the Dungeon, he was right by Henry's side.

"You've been up in the trees so much, it's been hard fighting by your side," he said in a low voice.

Henry's lips twitched, not quite sure how to react to that,

"I'll try to stay on the ground more," he eventually said.

"That's not what I meant," Andor said with a small smile, "But I'll watch your back if you do."

And with that, they continued the journey in silence. Andor seemed quite serious about watching Henry's back because he didn't return to the side of the Clerics who were still under the fairly capable protection of the former slaves.

It didn't take long for Eloise to sense danger again but before she even announced it, a loud arrogant, and feminine voice rang out,

"Ha ha, you missed me, you stupid beast. Come at me again. I'll slice those tusks out of your mouth."

"Try not to antagonize them any more than they already are, Marla," said a male voice.

"Shut up and Kill!" The female voice snapped back, "I want that Chest!"

"DIE HUMAN!!!" Yelled a deep voice that certainly belonged to an Orc.

There was a swing and a powerful impactful contact.

*BANG!!!*

"Marla!!!" Yelled the male voice.

"Shut up," Marla groaned, "I'm still alive. Ugh, it'll take more than this useless bunch to do me in."

At this point, the group led by Boyle who just stood in place and listened to exchanges that didn't seem all that far away, had the choice between stepping far away from the conflict to continue on their way or making a brief stop.

"They might need help," said a Knight.

"Not really any of our concern. The longer we wait, the stronger the Dungeon gets and the worse it is for any of us." Boyle reasoned and with that, everyone started to move again and away from the conflict.

"Wait," Henry said suddenly,

"Sir Boyle, how sure are you that you can face the Dungeon Boss?"

Boyle's eyes clouded over and he pressed his lips together. The memory of his fight against the Blessed Orc Priest remained fresh in his memory and it was reasonable to assume the Dungeon Boss would be an even greater challenge.

"Not too sure," he admitted which caused a shuffle between the Knights. He pacified their discomfort by adding,

"But we'll have help. We split up so there is another group of Knights and Mercenaries also in search of the Dungeon Boss."

"Are we sure they'll arrive in time? Or even worse, what if they arrive there before us and are burned out by the time we arrive."

"All the more reason to get going," Boyle said.

"No, all the more reason to interfere in that fight," Henry said and gestured at the sounds of Combat that were not too far off.

"For what? You want to make strangers our allies?"

"No," Henry said and suddenly had 'Cudgel in hand. He cocked it and his face became all serious as he said,

"I'm saying we fight and kill as many Orcs as we possibly can on our way to the Dungeon Boss. With every kill, we'll get stronger, and maybe, just maybe we get a better chance at beating the Dungeon Boss"

Boyle paused. Everyone knew Dungeon Raiding made people stronger. There was merit in what Henry was saying, but there was also demerit.

"If the Dungeon evolves before we arrive at the Boss, we'll be right back where we are now. Or even worse off."

"Maybe," Henry said with a shrug, "But if you're not sure about defeating the Boss, why rush into a possibly sure death? Especially when there's a chance to change that and give yourself, and all of us, a fighting chance."

Boyle gave it a thought as sounds of struggle continued and then he let out an exasperated sigh,

"Damn it, you have a point. Eloise, what are our chances"

Eloise smiled and drew her sword with her sensory skill still active,

"As good as they've ever been."