V55C6P2 – The Great Escape

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KMC Media, CTS Media.

They were the top two of the many broadcasting channels out there in Royal Road.

KMC media owned the most popular programs with high view rates.

Even foreign broadcasting channels had overwhelming profits with both indirect and direct exports of these programs.

CTS media was relentless with its aggressive operation based on the capital strength of its parent company.

Revolving around famous hosts, the companies didn’t limit their spendings when it came to casting guests and production costs.

Their primary interest was one man.

“Weed! Get Weed.”

“We get Weed on screen, and that’s game. Who cares if the producer or the chief director changes? More of Weed’s appearance means higher views for that program.”

The broadcasting channels were full of joy each time Weed went on an adventure.

Whether it was combat or sculpting he was guaranteed to bring views.

“We don’t need to worry about foreign exports for the program. Just tell them that we have Weed.”

“But, we don’t have an exclusive contract with him.”

“But it is true that we have produced lots of programs about Weed.”

Under the name of Weed, foreign exports worked out without trouble.

The broadcasting channels were getting a splendid share from it all, but they were not always the ones out ahead.

Birthdays and holidays, even insignificant anniversaries. They had to find an excuse to bury him with gifts.

“How many times did we send out gifts to Weed-nim this year?”

“Seven times.”

“Send more! I’m hearing rumors that KMC media has already sent ten gifts.”

“There’s nothing right now to use as an excuse.”

“There’s a dog in that house. If it gives birth, just send something.”

“Isn’t that too blunt?”

“It’s fine. As blunt as it may seem, it’s all about the receiver being happy.”

The broadcasting channel went on a big promotion for the dragon lair robbery.

“Will it actually work? If they get wiped out immediately, that’s the end of our views.”

“But, it is Weed after all.”

It was a half-hearted live broadcast.

“They got discovered by the draconic warriors!”

“There is going to be combat. They’re at it for real.”

The siege inside the lair led to an increase of viewers by the minute.

After that, they seemed to be well on their way to escape but the ma.s.sive monster chase from the dragon’s lair seemed to douse their hopes.

Furthermore, the trail of fire by the dwarves set ablaze the Ulta and Sygorn Mountain Pa.s.s.

The hosts’ veins bulged..

– As you see on the screen, the forest fire is approaching Weed. It seems to be no less than 500 meters away.

– It’s going to reach them at any moment, judging by the speed of the spread.

– I have never been up close to such a forest fire. I’m certain they’re already feeling the heat on their skin. A very flus.h.i.+ng heatwave.

– This is a critical situation.

The producers watched in delight as the fire spread; the number of viewers seened to rise with every inch the fire crept closer to Weed.

The broadcasting personnel yelled in delight.

***

Crackle-crackle!

The forest fire was being driven closer by the wind.

Weed calmly carved out a water droplet with his sculpting knife.

“Wow, that’s so cool. How can you carve water?”

“There really is nothing you can’t sculpt. It’s so interesting to see up close.”

Nide and the dwarves were observing in shock.

“Fu-fu-fu.”

Weed felt proud every time his sculpting was appreciated.

His sculpting had reached the ultimate level through his flawless grinding!

“Hyung, what exactly are you doing, though?”

“I’m going to make a cloud. I will make it rain.”

“I see.”

It was the sculptural arts of another sculpting master Deikram. He will conjure a miracle of rain and put a rest to the forest fire.

‘Obscuring the sky with dark clouds would help in the escape too.’

Calculations raced through Weed’s head.

‘The dragon’s lair was robbed rather easily. Even though war broke out after getting caught by the draconic warriors; we fended them off thanks to Oberon-nim’s amazing efforts. This fire is nothing in comparison.’

It was a smooth quest considering the initial a.s.sessment of near impossibility.

He just had to succeed in the escape somehow.

‘Sculptural art indeed serves its purpose in various situations…’

– Kuaaaaah!

Screaming Kaybern flew right above them.

“Hide.”

Weed, Nide and the dwarves dropped right to the ground. Fortunately, they weren’t discovered as it was just pa.s.sing through.

Kaybern, writhing its body as it roared continuously, was truly nightmaris.h.!.+

They stuck close to the ground for at least 30 seconds.

“It’s not going to work…”

“What?”

“Sorry, I think I wasted time here.”

Weed gave up on the cloud sculpting.

“I could make it rain, but the fire has gotten too close.”

“But it could still help prevent the fire from spreading, no?”

“Now that the dragon is in proximity, I can’t do anything too suspicious. What a useless thing sculpting is.”

Weed packed his sculpting knife and got on the move once again.

The forest fire tailed close behind them and the fire trail grew down the path along the ridge.

“Hyung, it’s getting hotter.”

“I told you this would happen.”

Running from the fire was becoming more dangerous. It would have been wiser to change routes the moment the dwarves set fire on the forest.

Given the terrain of Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s, it was possible to seek the safe paths from the fire trail. The fire and smoke actually diverted the chasers and acted as cover.

Ultimately, they could not go ahead with the option because the escape routes of other transport teams were predetermined.

If the other transport teams were to be discovered, it could lead to unforeseen consequences and any mix-up at this point would be dangerous.

Weed’s team was furthest behind having had to visit the Debrado Village and transport the Brazier of Sacrifice.

“The cleanup is always the most important thing. And now, it is a bit of a crisis.”

Weed felt the tension of running for his life once again..

The forest fire spread and now the entire Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s was a h.e.l.l of fire.

An immense threat that stimulated their primal instinct for survival!

“Nide.”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Go ahead on your own. The smoke is thick right now, so you will be able to escape with ease.”

“What about you?”

“I’m going to cut through the fire and move the brazier. I’ll wait until the fire spreads completely.”

“Gasp!”

Weed decided to use the advancing forest fire to his advantage.

Being engulfed in the flames and smoke would shroud him from the harpies on aerial patrol!

The Brazier of Sacrifice wasn’t something that could be destroyed by fire anyhow.

It was truly an outrageous but innovative plan.

“W-Weed-nim?”

“How could you commit to such a sacrifice…?”

“No. Weed-nim is the emperor of the Arpen Empire. You cannot die in a place like this!”

The dwarves were distraught, but Weed smiled.

“It is okay. I won’t die. But you guys will.”

“…”

“I will compensate for your lives.”

Weed’s words had a significant effect in calming the nervous dwarves.

He was the emperor of Arpen Empire with the highest level of trust. Even more, he succeeded in robbingthe dragon lair raid and grasped tremendous wealth.

The treasures they saw earlier proved it to them more than any speech.

“Well, if Weed-nim says so, what fiery path could possibly stop you?”

“I only now have the chance to introduce myself. I am Haron. Thank you. I will only take two pieces of equipment in exchange for my life.”

“I also only need just two.”

“I can choose for myself, if I may? Oh, of course not the overly expensive ones, but something I can equip right now.”

Weed felt that the greed of these dwarves burned deeper than the forest fire.

“Excuse me, I think one is…”

“You’re being stingy with someone’s life here. Don’t we deserve two?”

“Give us two. Two.”

The dwarves in unison pushed for two items.

Even Nide seemed ready to turn at any moment and demand equipment instead of escaping with his life!

‘The world has changed.’

The world was cruel with rarely any gullible people.

“Alright. Let us continue.”

Weed sent Nide first, then pushed the wagon with four others.

He had to wait for the fire and hence there was no need to hurry like before.

The raging forest fire crawled closer and swallowed them.

***

“It is a ma.s.sive forest fire.”

“It’s so horrible. The entire Ulta Mountain Pa.s.s is going to turn into a pile of ashes. I have never seen such a frightening scene.”

The dwarves that fled north watched the fire over the mountain and were frightened.

“Luckily the fire won’t be coming toward us.”

“Still, let’s keep moving. There is no time to rest.”

The forest fire was forcing these dwarves to flee unreservedly.

“Monsters ahead.”

“There are monsters crossing our route. Oh! The transport team over there…”

The transport teams that went first were surrounded by monsters in combat.

The teams were comprised of dwarven warriors.

Mapan Council left beforehand, and the wagons driven by dwarven warriors that were the last to retreat from the lair were caught in the middle of monsters.

“There is no hope there when monsters are continuing to pool in.”

“Let’s go around.”

The dwarves regrettably turned their heads away and diverted around the monsters.

They had to move according to plan. In the chance of being detected, they agreed on bearing with the situation on their own. However, unpredictable situations always come about. Reinforcement arrived for the dwarves struggling in the intense battle against the monsters.

The short dwarf warrior!

“It’s Oberon-nim.”

“They would have been near us… But Oberon-nim was also leading a transport team.”

“I guess he sent away the transport team already and came by himself.”

Oberon wielded a hammer and axe simultaneously and valiantly fought against the monsters.

It seemed like the effects from the Brazier of Sacrifice remained, as he pushed back the monsters aggressively.

He miraculously rescued two transport teams that were isolated!

In return, he had to be under the concentrated attack from hundreds of monsters.

The dwarves that were watching from afar shook their heads.

“Obern-nim is such an amazing individual… So brilliant, but…”

“Yeah, there is just something that he lacks. For him to step up until the very end even after all that back in the dragon’s lair.”

“By Weed-nim’s own expression, we are all just trying to make a living.”

“We should follow Weed-nim. Life just turns out better when you are beside someone like him.”

“Yup, you are right.”

(To be continued…)