The Distinguished Mr. Rose Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Premonition of Ruin

Read chapter 39 of The Distinguished Mr. Rose by QuiteTheSlacker on NovelPedia.

Chapter 39: Premonition of Ruin Lucius’s companions stared awestruck at the dramatic scene. The mild-mannered Ruggiero they had come to know was much more powerful, more bold, than initially thought. He raced across the skies on his steed of metal, and brought deliverance to the gargantuan demon with a single strike of his greatsword. It was no wonder why the Franks had confined him to the castle: a beast tamed was still a beast all the same, especially one forcefully brought under heel. They stripped his claws and smothered his will, but the man from the Moors still held a warrior’s spirit. “I thought the guy was supposed to be a healer,” Mili said, gazing at Ruggiero with starstruck eyes. “If all the Peers are as strong as him, why’s there only one dude protecting the fortress? Probably could’ve just gathered them all and made a beeline for the Demon King.” It was a valid question, one Lucius had been pondering himself. Near half of the known Peers were stationed at the capital: That left the other half unattended for. What could their duties possibly be, that they’d be forced into maintaining this stalemate with the demons? One needed only look at the destruction strewn about to see that the fortress was in constant need for manpower. If Ruggiero hadn’t arrived, many more paladins would’ve perished this day—perhaps even the commander himself. Except, something felt off. Surely an experienced man such as Ogier would have accounted for potential variables. He had guarded this realm for countless years; this couldn’t have been the first that a large demon such as the Great Oak made an appearance. Unless it was. Perhaps… a new variable had attracted the thing. What was different from before? What could possibly have caused such sudden deviation from the invasions of yesteryear? The answer was the players. They were the reason for the change in the demons’ behavior. >[Main Questline: Troubled Beginnings]< You have witnessed firsthand the enemy you must defeat. Roncevaux Fortress is on its last legs; the paladins have long been drained of morale. Even worse, a shift in the demonic tide has begun to reveal itself. The invasions grow more intense, and new enemies will crawl out from the mountaintops. To you, the heroes summoned to this land, learn to combat the demons while they are still yet weak. Gather experience, increase your stats, and prepare as best you can for the inevitable wave soon to come. Mission: Contribute to the Fortress’s defense for the next thirty days. You will gain points for various activities, such as slaying demons, brewing restoratives, mending equipment, or crafting weapons. Both combat and production-oriented classes will have opportunities to level up. At the end of the mission date, points will be tallied, and rewards shall be given based on accomplishment. Success: Dependent on contribution. Failure: Should the fortress fall, relationship with the Holy Empire will decrease drastically, and a permanent debuff will be applied to all players while within the World of Charlemagne. A new quest popped up before the players, confirming their fears. This was merely the beginning. They, too, would have to fight alongside the fortress guards, but after witnessing the demented brutality wrought by the demons, they were understandably anxious of the future to come. Lucius’s fellows, for their part, were handling their new reality much better than the others. Mili still looked a bit unnerved, but the electricity in her eyes sparked wild, resolved to push on. Marco was still composed as usual, but the one who surprised Lucius the most was the good Miss Brooks. She didn’t quite have the stomach for gory sights; despite it all, though, the firefighter remained calm and collected. The gentleman noticed this quality from her before, especially during the first announcement of the demons’ assault, but whether it was merely her personality or in due thanks to a skill yet unseen was anyone’s guess. After a moment, Ruggier