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 massive 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 Pass .
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 flushing 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 assessment 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 passing through .
Kaybern, writhing its body as it roared continuously, was truly nightmarish!
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 Pass, 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 Pass was a hell 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 massive forest fire . ”
“It’s so horrible . The entire Ulta Mountain Pass 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…)
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