The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor

This chapter was brought to you by AnmesicCat, BeatJumper, Grisia, Haikai, Lastear, Lei, Kirito, and Masadeer.

When Weed finished the bloody fight on Salmere Hill, he only had 150 Health left.

While riding Yellowy, Weed broke through the enemy's line several times. Fully immersed in the battle, Weed threw himself into the dangerous battlefield. Faced with a life or death crisis, he barely survived thanks to Bingryong and the Phoenixes fighting desperately. Yellowy was also busy leaping within the flames to shake off the pursuing Soldiers.

Sculptures!

It was regrettable when he made the sculptures first and granted them life, but it was definitely worth it.

Even so, Weed didn't acknowledge them.

"Useless bastards."

"..."

"It's all because you guys are weak and foolish. Can't you do it right?"

The never-ending criticism of subordinates!

Nagging and criticism. He would usually say a few words when they won a battle.

"They can't go up against me after all. Daring to fight me, they were really reckless."

If they won, it was because of him. If the situation was unfavorable, it was because of his underlings.

Although it was said that great commanders do not blame their subordinates for their failures, Weed ruled over the sculptures with grumbles, complaints, and nagging.

Moooooooo!

The kind Yellowy submissively rubbed his head against Weed, showing the affection of Korean cattle. He was one of those Korean cows who didn't resent people even up till the moment it was dragged to the slaughterhouse, simply showing sorrowful eyes.

However, every night when Weed briefly rested or slept, the subordinates held a meeting.

Bingryong, the Phoenixes, and Yellowy were crouching in a corner.

It looked like they were scheming a treacherous conspiracy!

Afraid that someone might hear him, Bingryong whispered cautiously, "Be patient and eventually an opportunity will come."

"Will an opportunity truly come?"

"Senior, I think the opportunity you speak of will never come."

Bingryong flexed his neck and spread his wings wide for a moment. "No. Look at me. It was only for short while, but I was able to earn freedom."

"Freedom!"

Yellowy's eyes were filled with desire.

Free grazing.

What beautiful words they were.

"Freedom is truly an unspeakable joy. You can roam the wide continent while hunting monsters and spending time happily."

The Phoenixes silently nodded their heads.

They were accepting the advice of their heavenly senior as the gospel truth.

"Do you know how picturesque rainy days are? You can travel to the lake, and pass through the clouds as you go by a mountain range. The Versailles Continent is truly beautiful."

"We want to go to the Versailles Continent as well."

Yellowy and the Phoenixes had been born near the edge of hell, so they had never gone to the Versailles Continent before. They had only heard of it through Bingryong's words.

"There are many varieties of soft grasses on the Versailles Continent. Savory and refreshing grasses are sown in great abundance. The river water is clear and cool."

"Oh, grasses!"

"Phoenixes, do you know about sweet potatoes?"

"Sweet potatoes?"

"Eat it grilled and it's sweet like candy. It melts gently in your mouth."

"What is candy?"

"You don't even know about candy?! Candy is a snack Humans eat."

Bingryong had hunted to buy and eat many snacks with the money he earned.

When Weed hunted in the North, Alveron and Seoyoon had been with him. Alveron had taken a portion of his meal and shared it with him. This was how Bingryong was able to taste sweet potato. And the candy Seoyoon had thrown to him!

"Candy is a snack worth sacrificing your life for."

"Is it really worth that much?"

"The greatness of candy... You little ones still do not know. When you roll your tongue as you slowly melt it..." Bingryong licked his lips.

"There was a lady as pretty as a Goddess who went around with the Master... If you happen to see her, act cutesy. She's weak against cutesiness. If you do well, you might be able to earn a candy."

"Is she the Master's friend? Or his lover?" Yellowy cried out loudly with a strong look of disbelief.

"I can't believe the fact that Master actually has friends."

A nature which seemed like he wouldn't even have any friends!

Bingryong shook his head. "I don't know what their relationship is either. Human relationships are very complex. Anyway, the story strayed elsewhere for a bit, but an opportunity will definitely come. You cannot obtain freedom without sacrifice. Endure, and one day..."

"Some day..."

Yellowy spoke most dismally. "I definitely want to try eating candy."

* * *

After disposing of all the pursuers, Weed reached Salmere Village. The Salmere tribe's village was the biggest out of the three tribes and also had a wide territory.

The great Chieftain of the Salmere was a hunchbacked elder. He slowly raised his cane.

"The alliance with the Matallost Church? Our Hunters are not afraid of death. We will keep the promise regarding the alliance."

Against his expectations, the Salmere tribe readily agreed to stand by the alliance.

"There will be glory for the great Chieftain and the Salmere tribe."

Weed followed the actions of the tribe's Hunters as examples. He assumed the ambiguous posture of a wide open mouth and glaring eyes.

There were often eagles sitting on the shoulders of the Hunters. You could easily see people grasping prey in their hands or dragging prey around by a rope anywhere in the village. They had a lot of food compared to the other villages. The fact that they had abundant prey meant the Salmere tribe was strong.

The Hunters had many weapons hanging from their backs or shoulders, such as bows, spears, axes, hammers, and various other weapons.

"However, among our villagers, there are many who have not yet even left a name for themselves."

"..."

"Leaving a name is important. In our tribe, when we go on a big hunt, we carve their appearances and set them in the village. We make sculptures of the Hunters so growing children can know the greatness of their parents."

"So..."

"The amount of Hunters who will join the alliance in the fight against the Matallost Church will depend on the number of sculptures."

The sculptures would be the last memories of the Hunters. He needed to make sculptures to get the Salmere tribe to fight.

* * *

Weed examined the appearances of the Hunters in the village.

Savages wearing feathers and leather clothing! It wasn't difficult to sculpt them because they carried all sorts of weapons and had very characteristic appearances.

Since the sculptures had to be preserved for a long time, he had to use stone rather than dirt or wood. But still, Zahab's Sculpting Knife cut through stone as if it were nothing.

"Manly... as well as compassionate."

Weed made sculptures of the Hunters on the open ground within the village. After making the basic Barbarian shape, he made them different with detailed expressions. His mass-production system became increasingly fast.

Advanced Sculpting level 6 and Advanced Handicrafting level 6! Based on skill proficiency, it would be a while before he reached Master level, but the skill level he'd gained from grinding was helpful for the value and artistry of the sculptures.

"External appearance is important for sculptures after all."

The quality of the stone used to make a sculpture is as important as the finishing material for an apartment.

After having gathered so much experience, he could see an appropriate part or appearance simply by looking at the rock. He could effectively make sculptures while also completely utilizing the texture and design of the stone! Even though they were rocks from the same place, there were valuable rocks good for making sculptures.

"It's the same logic as shank and rib eye being different prices."

Weed used high-quality stones to quickly create sculptures!

Mass production was certainly not a virtue of an artist. Even so, if the sculptures gave happiness and were needed, so he wasn't against making them.

Salmere Tribe sculptures — over 3,000 Hunters sculptures were made over twenty days. It would have never been possible if he had to make them life-size, but it was feasible because they were miniatures. The experience he had of shortening the sculpting time while making many sculptures on the River of Lamentation was also helpful.

3,000 was the maximum number of people who could be mobilized in the Salmere Tribe! It was everyone except for the minimum number of Hunters to protect the village, the children, and the women.

The Chief and the Hunters of the Salmere Tribe appeared once the sculptures were completed.

"We recognize you, the holder of the proof of the alliance with the Matallost Church, as the representative. We will fight in the war."

"Uwaaaaaaaah!"

Ding!

With the formation of the alliance, Weed's Fame increased again. Weed's Fame was originally one of the very highest. The great Fame he'd earned as an artist making sculptures! He also earned Fame while progressing with the quests.

In the Dark Gamer Union Guild and the program broadcasting the 'Versailles Continent Story', those who had higher Fame than Weed could almost be counted on one hand! There were only Merchants who had donated colossal amounts of money to a temple or people who ranked in the top 10 in Royal Road.

Since he'd gained a lot of Fame while progressing through this quest, it was enough to make him wonder what kind of changes there would be when he returned to the Versailles Continent.

Weed took out the wand in the middle of tribes' Hunters.

A wand filled with pure-white light! The dull wand which seemed suitable for the elderly to use, changed to be as graceful as the Staff of a High Priest.

"Identify!"

The power to summon any living creature, even boss-grade monsters! Weed now had the ability to summon any boss-grade monster from Versailles Continent.

* * *

The Vejague Tribe! 2,000 bald Warriors, that looked like monsters, gathered.

The Lekiye Tribe! 1,500 stern Warriors and Shamans were participating in the battle against the Embinyu Church.

The Salmere Tribe! 3,000 Hunters with deep gazes and familiarity with patience and victory were mobilized.

Weed moved with them to the Emibinyu Fortress' location for a long ten days.

"Warriors, fight!"

The group became a little more coordinated through fights with monsters during their journey. The Shamans of the Lekiye Tribe summoned ghosts to cause confusion, and the Vejague Tribe's Warriors put their lives on the line to block the Black Wild Boars. The Salmere Tribe's Hunters seized the opportunity to shoot arrows and throw spears.

In fact, the Salmere Tribe's specialty was setting up traps and the like, so there weren't many opportunity to use them in an actual monster hunt.

A combination of Shamans, Hunters, and Warriors!

However, the alliance tribes' weapons were far too poor. Many used chipped, rusted swords, and it was at the level where they were wrapped with thick leather and no armor.

"They're not savages for nothing."

Due to their poor defense, they had been in critical life threatening situations several times.

Whenever he had spare time, Weed repaired their weapons or touched them up, and he also arranged for their armor. Even so, they weren't in perfect condition because he didn't have much time. He smelted low-quality iron and passed out basic swords, and the armor was also just a combination of metal and leather.

"A greatsword like this...! It's sparkling with light, how amazing."

Even so, the alliance tribes were extremely happy.

They shot poison-covered arrows well and were agile, so they were optimized for hunting. Only, they were a pain because they ignored commands or control and tried to fight with monsters whenever they wanted. No matter how much he raised the Intimacy, the competitive spirit of the alliance tribes overflowed and they took damage.

Over the span of ten days, 42 allied tribesmen had died while traveling. It was probably partly because Weed made them stronger through hunts, but the majority had died by disregarding their low defense and fighting a monster to the very end without running away.

In that manner, he returned to the Embinyu Church's fortress with the disorderly allied tribes.

"As expected, this won't be easy."

Once more back at the Embinyu Church's temple! It was tightly guarded by Demonic Spirits, and the height of the walls exceeded 10 meters.

There was even an enormous and magnificent bronze statue of the Embinyu God set up in the middle of the fortress like the Statue of Liberty. The bronze statue was enveloping the Embinyu fortress with something like an ominous dark cloud. It was something he could only sense as a Sculptor, but it was probably the bronze statue that granted the Embinyu Soldiers and Priests considerable power.

He felt it was at least a Masterpiece or a Magnum Opus. Given its size, it was likely a Magnum Opus.

It would be reassuring to have if it was an allied Sculptor who had the Magnum Opus sculpture, but if it belonged to the enemy, so such a sculpture would only create psychological anxiety.

"I'll be able to turn the Demonic Spirits to our side if I use the Copper Plate of Rest, but..." Weed shook his head.

He had fought them while making sculptures on the River of Lamentation, but most of the Demonic Spirits weren't strong. He couldn't be careless just because he could pull the Demonic Spirits to his forces without knowing how strong the Embinyu Church was.

Furthermore, despite being a holy relic, the Copper Plate of Rest was in a low quality condition with only 12 durability left. The damage wouldn't be as great if the durability was over 100, but when it was this deteriorated, it wouldn't be strange if it broke at any moment.

'All secondhand goods are like this.'

The Copper Plate of Rest was an item he needed to use as sparingly as much as possible. If he used it carelessly, he wouldn't be able to use it at a crucial moment.

'It'll be tough to penetrate the walls with the Barbarians... what method should I use?'

Not only were the alliance tribes unskilled in a team battle, but they also didn't follow commands well. Furthermore, they didn't have a single siege weapon!

"I'll have to make siege weapons first."

Weed started making siege weapons with the bones, sinews, and wood he'd obtained while hunting monsters and chopping trees.

He set two huge logs in a line and used the thick and outstandingly elastic Black Wild Boar sinew to make a trebuchet.

A siege weapon created with Intermediate Blacksmith skill!

Ding!

Considering it was his first, it wasn't a bad siege weapon.

"For now, I have to increase the numbers."

Weed produced 10 trebuchets.

Since he was making them all for the first time, it was impossible to predict their performance. He normally underwent multiple runs of trial and error while improving, but everything was a first.

The alliance tribesmen approached.

"It's an extremely large weapon. Are you giving it to us?"

Weed gave them a thumbs up. "Yep. I made it for you. You'll be able to destroy the fortress with it too."

"You're the best."

"As long as you've got this, you'll be unbeatable. You must definitely win."

"Thanks, brother!"

All Weed made were stone firing trebuchets, ladders, and ropes that could be hung on the walls by throwing hooks!

The trebuchets' quality wasn't verified, and they didn't even undergo a test launch.

Weed dumped the items he did not dare to use for the alliance tribesmen, whose weapons and armor had been mostly touched up while getting near the Embinyu Church's fortress.

Weed called Yellowy. "Come here."

"......"

Yellowy took a step back.

"Hurry up and come."

"Tell what you're calling me for, Master."

"I'm just trying to give you a pat."

"But why is Master holding a rope?" Yellowy's eyes were filled with suspicion.

"Why the rope? Can I not just be holding it? Come here for now. Just come."

"This doesn't feel right. I would like to refuse."

"It's nothing. I get it, so just come."

Yellowy approached very cautiously. Weed gently stroked his neck a few times and then wrapped his neck and torso with the rope like a flash of lightning.

MOOOOOO!

The sorrowfully bellowing Yellowy!

"Master, why are you doing this? What have I done wrong..."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you. There are luggages, so shouldn't you move it?"

Yellowy's fate had already been determined ever since the trebuchets were made.

Bingryong and the Phoenixes had very little pity in their gazes.

'Lucky it's not me.'

'It's fine as long as it's not me.'

After finishing a hearty meal Weed had cooked from their prey, they marched to the Embinyu Church's fortress.

* * *

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the fortress of the Embinyu Church, drums sounded to announce an emergency. Dark Knights, Priests, and Archers were deployed to the walls as they swiftly prepared for battle.

By the time Weed, Yellowy, and the alliance tribesmen drew near as they pushed the trebuchets together, Embinyu Church's troops were on the fort walls in full force. The trebuchets were so heavy, their movement was slow despite having put wheels on them.

To make matters worse, there was black smoke rising from the spires of the fortress.

The alliance tribesmen pointed at the smoke.

"Seems like they're roasting meat."

"Looks like they're gonna eat something tasty."

An ignorant response to the smoke!

Weed's face hardened.

'They're making the smoke to tell their surroundings that they're under attack. It's an emergency communication to summon their allies.'

It was a signal fire informing the start of a the war! The savages in the River of Lamentation basin who saw the signal would summon Warriors to subjugate Weed and the three tribes.They would have to fight the Barbarian reinforcements at the Embinyu Church's fortress.

Weed swallowed his saliva with a gulp.

It wasn't something he hadn't expected, but it was definitely tough.

"We'll have to attack before the reinforcements arrive."

Weed yelled at alliance tribesmen who had moved the trebuchets and were briefly resting.

"Load trebuchet!"

100 Vejague Tribe Warriors dragged the trebuchet and lowered the pouch. Then, after lifting a boulder into the pouch, they fired it.

Wooosh!

The powerfully ejected boulder drew an arc as it flew mightily. It was a rock attack with deadly weight.

However, the trebuchet was too far. The boulder lost most of its force and collided into the bottom of the wall, not the center.

In the end, it was a dud and it merely grazed the wall!

"This won't work even if we hit them all day. No, we'll run out of stones to throw first. Trebuchet forces, advance!"

Weed pushed the trebuchet along with the Vejague Tribe. It was so they could fire from a slightly closer location!

Since he had to break walls much thicker than Odin Fort's, he decided to take the risk.

Yellowy powerfully towed the trebuchets forward, displaying the strength of a Korean cow.

The Embinyu Church's fortress also responded.

"Fire!"

They struck back by densely covering the sky with arrows.

"Hold your shield and block!"

Even without Weed's command, the Vejague Tribe lifted their shields in order to survive.

There was already a shield fastened onto Yellowy's brow, and his torso was wrapped in silk. Weed had weaved together a tangle of unusable silk pieces to block the arrows.

The rain of arrows poured down on the Vejague Tribe and the area around the trebuchets.

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-bang!

"AHHHHH!"

"MY FOOT, AN ARROW HIT MY FOOT!"

The impact of the arrows was conveyed directly through the shields. Although they were holding shields, the Vejague Tribe's warriors were pushed back by the strength and fell to their knees. Some arrows even penetrated the shoddy shields and hit the tribe Hunters.

The Salmere Tribe Hunters also fired arrows but they could not go over the walls.

"Let's fire the trebuchet too!"

Weed approached about a hundred more paces and ordered the use of the trebuchet.

"Too many arrows are flying in."

"Jungbal... Jungbal died."

"Find cover. Hide yourselves behind the trebuchets, and Vejague Tribe Warriors, load the trebuchets quickly!"

It was a one-sided arrow attack on the plains without any cover! Over thirty Vejague tribesmen died from the arrows while moving 10 boulders. But when they put their lives on the line and used the trebuchets, the boulders surged towards the wall.

All but one failure were successful attacks!

The trebuchets' tremendous firepower!

Although there were boulders that hit the bottom part of the wall or aimed at the spires, it was a considerable gain. It was a moment proving siege weapons to be vital in siege warfare.

However, even as they fired, the Embinyu Church's forces continued to gather on the fortress walls.

Only the Vejague Tribe was taking damage from the arrows that came pouring down like rain.

"AHHHH!"

Some of the arrows were enveloped in a red aura. They were arrows granted with the divine power of the Embinyu Church Priests! It was a fire arrow attack, burning a whole body even if it was blocked with a shield.

The Vejague Tribe's Warriors were sturdy and didn't die easily, but once they were pierced with countless arrows, including arrows filled with divine power, they helplessly lost their lives.

The whole area where Weed and the Vejague Tribe were staying was becoming densely surrounded with arrows.

It was a spectacle overflowing with tension and energy when watched from the sidelines, but for those being attacked, it was enough to make them go crazy!

After Yellowy finished moving the trebuchet, the rope was broken at some point and he fled to the safe rear.

The high-ranking Priests were also on the walls.

"Show true power to these wicked group of people. Holy Buster!"

An attack of divine magic flashed at the walls before flying towards them and dealing great damage in the next moment. As if they had been hit by something, the Vejague Tribe around the trebuchet were sent flying.

"Those who do not believe in the Embinyu God, punishment will fall unto you."

Widespread curse magic! The alliance tribesmen hit with the divine power attack became unable to fight as they moaned with high fevers.

Weed's face became completely calm.

It was a face as serious as when he had mistakenly sold a 10 gold ruby gemstone for 9 gold!

'I expected some level of hardship given the quest difficulty.'

The Barbarian reinforcement troops, the tall, sturdy wall. Even the Embinyu Church's forces did not seem like they would lose even if they were to fight regularly!

Not a single thing was easy.

'The greatest difficulty in siege warfare is... you could say it's them concentrating their firepower while we approach.'

Even if he were to tell the shabbily defended Vejague Tribe or Salmere Tribe to try and go over the wall, it would cause nothing but a massive catastrophe.

In a battle like this, it was perfect for the blocking side to fight, whereas the side who had to penetrate was set up to make the worst-case result. Unfortunately, Weed was on the side that had to take the alliance tribesmen and occupy the fortress.

"We're never going to make it like this."

Weed shouted towards the Tribal Alliance. "Retreat!"

The frontline was announced to withdraw.

Weed left the 10 trebuchets and tried to escape with the alliance tribesmen, but arrows kept pouring down on them.

"Bingryong, fire your breath. Phoenix Brothers, cover us!"

Bingryong inhaled a large breath and launched Ice Breath towards the fortress. The enormous Ice Breath cut through the sky!

The results of Bingryong's breath had never disappointed before, but it was neutralized by the protective magic of the fortress's Priests. So although it didn't do any damage to the fortress, there was a brief lull in the arrow attack.

Under the cover of the Phoenixes, Weed and the alliance tribes were barely able to escape.

* * *

Cruel defeat.

It had only been a light skirmish, the allied tribal force had lost a full 104 people. Although Weed had hurried to bandage and apply medicinal herbs, that was the number who had died!

The alliance tribesmen who had been hit with divine power hadn't regained their senses.

"Mmm hehehe."

"Where is this place?"

"Leave me alone. I'm leaving to take my coming of age ceremony in the Valley of Courage."

Due to the divine power, more than 70 people were in the state of confusion.

Morale had also plummeted.

"Doesn't seem like an enemy we can win against."

"That was a useless fight. I wanna return to the village..."

"Warriors who have left home must fight until their bodies have been laid to rest. Even if they cannot win..."

The alliance tribes had lost much of their fighting will and were pessimistic.

A smile spread across Weed's lips. "It really has to be this tough since the quest difficulty is high."

The more difficult a quest it was, the greater the reward — it set his motivation ablaze.

He was relieved he had to suffer perilously. If it advanced easily, he would have been terribly suspicious.

"It'll be difficult to capture the Embinyu fortress. Since the recon battle is over, I'll have to make a sculpture."

Weed decided to prepare for a full-scale battle.

Since the alliance tribal force had left their homes, their morale would fall over time. However, as a result of the recon battle, there was a bleak sense of an giant enemy.

"First, I'll make a sculpture to provide some help."

He was fed up with rocks, and it didn't do much for his Sculpting skill proficiency either.

"For the sake of effects, this isn't the time to save materials."

Black Wild Boar and Caltrop bones. He decided to use the bones he'd gotten as japtem as sculpting materials.

"Though these are good bones for making broth..."

Although they could also be used as food ingredients or medicine, for a Sculptor, sculpting materials came first!

The price of bones wasn't fundamentally high, so he used them without being stingy.

"I'll sculpt the three tribes all at once."

He made the basic form using bones.

He intertwined broken bones to make the frame, applied clay on top, and baked it.

"I need to show the Barbarians' distinct look of cruel brutality."

Tattoos and scars were essential in expressing the alliance tribes. He even painted it with dyes and made the sculpture of the three tribes.

After spending time with the three tribes and waging a battle with them, he knew which faces and appearances were courageous and received respect.

"Something is still missing..."

Weed used light sculpting and made a bonfire.

A Shaman of the Lekiye Tribe, a Vejague Tribe Warrior, and a Salmere Tribe Hunter were gathered as they roasted meat on the bonfire!

Weed spoke the name he had already decided on while creating the work. "Brothers of Faith."

The savage tribes who remembered the alliance and promised to shed blood together!

Although they had showed a slightly insufficient appearance in the fight against the Embinyu Church, they were a group who had willingly come forth to form the alliance.

The technique of appropriately glorifying was essential for a Sculptor, but a thought born of sincerity.

Weed firmly nodded his head. "That's right."

Ding!

Now, even the sculpture was complete!

The preliminary preparations for the real fight were finished.