Jerome Saintred, Captain of the 1st Royal Knight Order.
The young knight in his mid-twenties who ascended to the position left vacant after the Blood Knight murdered the previous captain.
"If I hadn't heard about the ancient shelter beforehand, the plan would have been disrupted."
He brushed his short silver hair back and descended the dark stairs.
Thud, thud.
The reason the man was in the basement of the Lord's Castle, not in the eastern district, which had become a battlefield, was simple.
The offer to help the Lord subdue the rebels in exchange for overlooking the city was just an excuse to enter the city with his troops.
The royal family's goal was something else entirely.
The Fragment of Records.
According to information from the Lord's aide, it was highly likely that he kept it with him at all times in the form of a necklace.
Of course, Jerome didn't know much about this item.
But since he had received orders, he had to somehow obtain it and return to the royal palace—
Thud.
The man's steps stopped as he was going down the stairs.
He had found a body lying face down on the stairs.
The cause of death was a head injury, presumably from a blunt weapon. He was practically naked, stripped of all his equipment.
And the time of death was...
'No more than 30 minutes ago.'
The man's expression hardened as he bent down and touched the wound.
Someone had infiltrated the castle before him.
Their target was most likely the Lord, who was hiding below.
Then was the intruder still down there?
Tadat.
Jerome quickly ran down the stairs.
He soon saw a wide passage and an open stone door. But all that awaited him beyond the door was the corpse of a middle-aged man with a large build.
This one was also crushed by a blunt weapon.
'I'm a step too late.'
Jerome bit his lip in frustration, but he quickly examined the scene.
First, the most important item, the Fragment of Records, was missing.
Judging by the marks on his neck, it seemed like it had been forcefully removed…
'I can't believe there was competition.'
He was momentarily flustered by the unexpected situation, but he quickly turned around and retraced his steps.
It was too early to give up.
'He couldn't have gone far in 30 minutes.'
He had to find him.
__________________________
Auril Gabis said:
[Once a timeline has been observed, it can't be changed.]
Indeed, it might be impossible to completely change the future.
But what if there was an error in the observation itself?
For example, if I could make Amelia believe that her sister had died? And if I could make her live in hiding for twenty years?
Wouldn't it be possible to save her then?
A shiver ran down my spine, but I soon encountered a major obstacle.
[My sister died in my arms that day.]
Amelia had witnessed her sister's death.
She had seen it with her own eyes, just like Dwarkey in Lalkas's Maze.
How could I possibly deceive her?
I couldn't even imagine it.
It wouldn't be easy to make Amelia, who had killed countless people since she was young, mistake her sister's life or death…
'Well, it will work out somehow.'
It felt like I was back to square one, but I wasn't as lost as before.
After all, the Lord had said in his will…
…that the Fragment of Records would activate when I finished what I had to do here. In other words, it meant I still had a role to fulfill.
Then what was my 'role'?
It was obvious.
Therefore…
Kwaaang!
I slammed the door of the alchemist's workshop open with my shoulder and entered.
Maybe the door was already open…
But so what?
Probability is just a number. I had decided to live my life to the fullest—
"Ugh, aak!"
Huh?
"What the…"
I saw an old man cowering in a corner of the workshop, startled by my sudden entrance.
It wasn't Marpa Ipaello, the owner of this workshop.
"Who are you?"
"That's…"
The old man started to avert his gaze as I asked.
He looked suspicious…
'Huh?'
…and then I noticed a unique brooch on his robe.
"Are you an alchemist?"
The old man flinched at my question.
I didn't need to hear his answer.
Thud.
I took a step closer, wary of any hidden escorts.
The old man backed away, making excuses.
"I, it's a misunderstanding! I wasn't trying to steal anything…"
"I see."
No wonder he looked like he had been caught red-handed.
He was trying to steal something while everyone was distracted.
"I, I'll give you half of my money if you keep this a secret—"
There was no need for a long conversation.
It seemed like he had even dismissed his escorts to steal something.
Thwack!
The alchemist, as expected of a non-combatant, couldn't do anything as I dashed towards him and smashed his head with my hammer.
"Wow, you even have a subspace pocket?"
I didn't have time, so I just looted his subspace ring and then hurriedly searched the workshop.
And I soon found what I was looking for.
The Lethe's Blessing prototype.
A consumable item with the insane ability to erase all your memories.
'Okay, I got the first item…'
It was time to meet Amelia.
We hadn't set a meeting place or time since there were no phones in this world, but it wasn't a problem.
Six hours had passed since I fell asleep, so she would probably be…
'…running for her life.'
I had to hurry—
"Found you."
I quickly turned around at the voice, and a silver-haired knight was standing at the entrance.
"Hand over the Fragment of Records."
What the hell, this guy again?
__________________
The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha.
The swordsman who was once known as the 'Sword Saint'.
Those who had seen him fight, or fought him themselves, all said the same thing.
That his swordsmanship was on another level.
Whoosh!
The Aura emanating from his sword.
It wasn't anything special.
The Aura, minimized to conserve energy, had a sharp aura, but that was all.
It wasn't like the 'Knight of Light's' Aura, which had a mountain-like presence, or the 'Knight of the Moon's' Aura, which could freely change its form.
But even so…
Slash!
…his sword was considered to be superior.
Not because of the Aura, but because of the 'way' he wielded it.
"Aak! Sp, spare—"
None of the hundreds of explorers who were blockading the eastern district could withstand a single blow from his sword.
"I have to run…! Aak!"
He cut down those who blocked him…
…and those who dodged found him already waiting for them.
It was a rough-looking sword.
There wasn't a single trace of the fancy techniques that knights pursued.
But Amelia couldn't take her eyes off it.
"Em, Emily… we, we have to run…"
She felt a wall.
Killing.
Swordsmanship honed to its peak, focused solely on taking lives.
"What are you guys doing! Come on!"
Clan Leader Pelic Barker gathered his members and prepared to escape as the one-sided massacre began.
Amelia couldn't just stand by and watch.
She had spent the past few months with them for this moment.
"Pelic Barker."
"Huh?"
Amelia threw a thin needle at his neck as he turned his head.
"…Uh, huh?"
His body froze, only his head turning.
Amelia lifted him onto her shoulder.
"What the hell are you doing…!"
The clan members pointed their weapons at Amelia, but it wasn't a big deal.
"You traitor!"
She wasn't a traitor.
She had never considered them as companions in the first place.
Slash!
Amelia beheaded the one who was closest to her.
And as expected…
"...."
"...."
…the enraged explorers hesitated and then ran away, leaving their captured leader behind.
"Damn it, I'm out!"
"…Let's go!"
It was an expected reaction.
They were facing the 'Traitor', who was approaching them while slaughtering everyone in his path.
There was no reason for them to risk their lives for their clan leader.
Unlike these two.
"…Let go of him."
The moment her younger self spoke…
Whoosh!
…she heard a whooshing sound from behind.
Amelia twisted her body to dodge and then used the momentum to kick his wrist.
Clang!
The sword fell to the ground, and she saw a young girl clutching her sore wrist.
It was her sister, Laura Rainwales.
"Amelia, let's run!"
Laura grabbed her younger sister and ran away, and Amelia just watched them go.
She felt a tightness in her chest.
She knew why they had stayed behind to try and save Pelic Barker, even though the other clan members had run away.
It wasn't loyalty.
It was because of the curse Pelic Barker had cast on Laura.
[Unfair Contract].
It was a contract filled with unfair clauses, but the main point was this: Pelic Barker would receive all of Laura's life force the moment he was fatally injured.
That's why they stayed behind to fight her.
But the reason they ran away as soon as they failed…
…was her.
Amelia herself.
Her sister had accepted her death and tried to save her younger sister.
Crack.
She clenched her jaw.
A three-year age difference.
When they were young, her sister seemed like a giant, but now she knew…
…that she was only seventeen.
She must have been tired, and she must have wanted to give up and run away.
Therefore…
Tadat.
Amelia carried Pelic Barker, who was stiff as a log, and ran.
Slash!
Towards the man who was mercilessly cutting down hundreds of people.
"...?"
For the first time, emotion appeared on the man's face.
Curiosity.
He must have been intrigued by the sight of someone running towards him while everyone else was running away.
And carrying a grown man on her shoulder, at that.
Whoosh!
The Aura surrounding Amelia's dagger turned black.
It was [Abyssal Power], a transformation ability she obtained after absorbing the essence of the 4th-grade monster, Grabanich.
When activated, all her resources, including spirit power and dragon power, were replaced with Soul Power, and their potency was doubled.
It was the same for Aura, which used mana.
This ability was a godsend for Amelia, who had a low mana pool.
But…
Swoosh.
The black Aura returned to its original color as soon as she got within a certain distance.
It was because of the [Flameless Spirit] ability possessed by Ricardo Liuhen Praha, the Traitor.
It nullified all abilities within a certain radius.
In other words…
'This is it.'
…[Unfair Contract] was also nullified.
Thud.
Amelia threw Pelic Barker to the ground, and Liuhen Praha immediately cut him down.
Slash!
His body was severed in two with a single blow.
She had been worried, but [Unfair Contract] didn't activate.
'We've overcome one hurdle…'
Amelia felt a sense of relief since she hadn't seen how Pelic Barker died when she escaped with her sister.
But she didn't have time to relax.
Tadat.
She quickly retreated after achieving her goal.
And the man, who had been slaughtering dozens of people without saying a word, immediately chased after her, finally speaking.
"I don't know the details, but I can tell you used me."
He seemed to have understood the situation, and he sounded angry.
But a word the barbarian had taught her suddenly came to mind.
It wasn't a pleasant word…
…but Lafdonia didn't have a word that concisely expressed that feeling.
'What a strange language.'
Amelia unconsciously muttered the word.
"Ki, kimochi…"
Was it a word of gratitude to someone who had helped you?
-x-X-x-
"Sister, we have to go back…!"
"Didn't you see? She uses Aura. And that man, Liuhen Praha, is even worse."
"But…!"
"There's nothing we can do even if we go back. This is the rational choice."
Amelia gritted her teeth at Laura's words, who was practically dragging her away.
She felt like she was going to cry.
"Rational choice…? Are you crazy? How is me living and you dying the rational choice?!"
Laura stopped running as Amelia forcefully shook her arm off.
Laura sighed.
"Amelia, listen to me today. We don't have time—"
"What the hell! Stop talking like it's the end…!"
"…It's not like that."
"Then what is it? Why are you just running away without even trying to do anything?!"
"Because we're more likely to survive this way!"
Laura shouted, as if scolding her disobedient younger sister, and then continued rapidly,
"Emily, that woman didn't kill Pelic Barker. She used a paralyzing needle. She even carried him around as if she had a reason. She didn't intend to kill him right away. And I'm still alive."
"Ah…"
Amelia couldn't help but gasp.
Her sister had considered all of that in that short amount of time and made a decision.
"I'm worried, but this is the best option. It's better than dying a meaningless death trying to fight her. This way, we at least have a chance."
"...."
"Come on, follow me."
Laura resumed running, and Amelia quickly followed her.
After some time…
…the Rainwales sisters encountered familiar faces.
"Huh? Laura, Amelia? You guys are alive?"
"…Derbon."
The clan members who had abandoned Pelic Barker and run away.
There were only half of them left, perhaps because something had happened or they had gotten separated.
"Hey, you're lucky. We were just about to escape the city."
"Escape? What do you mean?"
"It's obvious, isn't it? That human, Liuhen Praha, is outside the eastern district. It means he's done with that side and is coming for the Lord. This city is finished."
Two more explorers added, as if they had chills, after Derbon finished his explanation.
"The Traitor, he's not human. Did you see him slaughter dozens of people without changing his expression? I still get goosebumps thinking about it."
"They say he's really angry when he sticks out his tongue."
"If this city falls into his hands, we'll be the first to die since we're on the Lord's side."
Although it was a sudden suggestion, Laura calmly asked for the necessary information.
"But how are you planning to escape? The main gate is—"
"Right, the gatekeeper is there. But it seems like there's a hidden passage. The one the Melta Trading Company uses to travel to and from the surface. This guy knows about it."
"…I see."
"Do you want to come with us?"
Laura agreed without hesitation.
"We'll go."
"Si, sister?"
She had originally planned to go to the relatively safe western district and hide until the situation was resolved.
But things were different now.
If she died, her sister would be left alone in this world. She wanted her sister to at least live a decent life.
This might be their last chance.
"Ah, and just so you know, in exchange for taking you with us—"
"I know. I'll step up if there's any danger."
"Ahem, right… you're a good kid."
The man nodded and then started leading the group.
___________________
Flowing silver hair.
Pale skin.
Knight armor with the royal family's emblem and a large sword that was 1.5 times bigger than the standard size.
Although I had never met him, I knew who he was.
'Jerome Saintred.'
The Captain of the 1st Royal Knight Order, the strongest knight of the royal family, nicknamed the 'Knight of Light'.
The problem was why he was here.
Amelia never mentioned him…
"Hand over the Fragment of Records."
…but I could roughly guess the situation after hearing those words.
Why was the Knight of Light here instead of being in the eastern district?
The answer was clear.
The royal family's goal wasn't to subdue Orculus.
'It would be… difficult to win against him.'
He was on a different level from Rick Omanus, whom I had fought on the stairs. He would have definitely surpassed 5th level, the maximum level knights could reach with 'potions'…
And a captain would have completed the 6th-level breakthrough event and even the 7th-level awakening.
And that wasn't all.
'Considering the royal family's wealth, all seven of his essences would be at least 3rd-grade.'
I was at a disadvantage in terms of the number and average grade of essences.
And the stat difference was even greater. And our roles were also a bad matchup, tank versus knight.
But if there was one thing I could rely on…
Whoosh!
…it was my equipment.
Double Numbered Items had a basic Indestructible option.
Kwaaang!
I blocked his sword with my hammer.
Damn it, this is a new experience.
I usually blocked with my shield first and then attacked with my weapon.
"…?"
He frowned as he saw me blocking his attack.
He didn't expect his sword to be blocked.
"Wait."
I tried to talk to him, taking advantage of the brief opening.
I didn't think it would work, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
"Don't you think there's a misunderstanding? Fragment of Records? I don't know anything about that."
"You're lying. I heard you came here from the underground."
Hmm, I see…
My strategy of pretending to be someone else didn't work.
But I got some useful information.
"But… you might have taken it without knowing what it is. The Fragment of Records… Hand over the necklace the Lord was wearing."
His tone seemed to leave some room for interpretation.
"If you're talking about the necklace the Lord was wearing, do you mean this?"
I pointed at the necklace I was wearing, just in case, and he nodded.
"Yes, hand it over, and I promise I won't shed unnecessary blood."
It was a big fish.
Because I had already put the Fragment of Records in my subspace pocket.
'He doesn't know what the Fragment of Records is.'
The necklace I was wearing was just an ordinary necklace.
It had a large refined stone embedded in it that reduced casting time for mages.
For reference, I had embezzled it during a looting spree and had been wearing it as an accessory…
'I can't believe I'm using it like this.'
Humans are social animals, right?
It was a good thing I tried talking to him.
Snap.
I ripped the necklace off my neck.
"Well, I don't mind giving it to you. I just brought it as a souvenir anyway."
"Souvenir?"
"He's the Lord, isn't he? He told us to go fight and then hid underground. There was nothing else worth taking except for this necklace."
"Hmm, so you were just after money."
He seemed to understand and muttered.
He must have seen Rick Omanus looting the Lord's body.
"Our goals are obvious, aren't they? Well, judging by what you're after, this necklace must be valuable… but it's not worth risking your life for."
Those who talk a lot are usually up to something.
But this young knight, who seemed to have only ever eaten and swung his sword, didn't suspect me.
He just looked at me with disdain.
"Enough with the explanations, hand it over."
"Ah, but I need a guarantee."
"Guarantee?"
"That you'll let me go if I give you this."
"I don't break my promises—"
What the hell, is he saying he's an honorable knight?
If he really didn't know how to lie, he wouldn't even be here. The Lord didn't realize he had been tricked by the royal family until he died.
Therefore…
'Leap.'
I smashed a window and leaped high.
My body soared into the air as I jumped from the 4th floor, and I could see the entire city, with the Lord's Castle in the center.
The eastern district was burning, and the western district was relatively peaceful.
But I didn't have time to admire the scenery.
Flash!
He appeared behind me with a flash of light.
I knew what skill it was just by looking at the effect.
[Gate of Light].
A 3rd-grade essence, and practically the best movement skill.
It wasn't a half-assed random teleportation, but a skill that allowed you to designate a location.
Damn it, it's been a while.
I used to absorb this essence a lot before I started playing Barbarian.
"Did you think you could escape?"
He swung his sword at me as soon as he turned around in midair, and I blocked it with my hammer.
Geez, he's impatient.
I didn't even say I wouldn't keep my promise.
'Anyway, this is my first time fighting in the air.'
My body was pushed back from the recoil.
The distance between us widened.
Flash!
He used [Gate of Light] to close the distance, and I threw the necklace with all my might.
"...!"
He reached out, but it wasn't enough.
I saw a brief moment of hesitation in his eyes.
He was debating whether to kill me or not.
And I realized something.
'Break his promises, my ass.'
He was planning to kill me as soon as I gave him the necklace.
To get rid of the witness.
Well, it didn't seem like he was going to do that now.
Thwack!
I kicked him in the stomach while he was distracted by the necklace.
He didn't even groan.
But I didn't feel any regret.
It wasn't a serious attack in the first place.
Whoosh!
The distance between us widened again due to the laws of physics.
He asked as he was falling,
"…What's your name?"
His voice was filled with curiosity, as if he had met an interesting opponent.
I thought.
Why should I tell you?
"Are you an idiot?"
Ah, I said it out loud.
"…What?"
I regretted it for a moment, but he didn't use [Gate of Light] again.
After all, there was a limit to how many times he could use it.
He had to wait for the cooldown after three uses.
Flash!
His body disappeared in a flash of light. He reappeared where I threw the necklace.
'Okay, I got rid of him…'
I used 'Transcendence Leap', and it felt like invisible footholds appeared beneath my feet. I pushed off with all my might, and my body shot forward like an arrow.
My destination was approaching quickly.
'I feel like Superman.'
I chuckled, replaying the brief aerial battle.
I felt a strange sensation as I thought about it.
'This is like Dragon Ball.'
I had to get stronger.
__________________
The cemetery in the outer district of Noark.
Kaboom!
I landed in the center and rolled.
In other words…
"Uwaaaaaaaaak!"
…I crashed through several tombstones.
"…Damn it, I almost died."
I had teleported directly from the Lord's Castle in the center of the city to the outer district, but there was a price to pay.
Maybe because I landed with so much momentum?
My legs were numb, and I felt a tingling sensation in my bones.
It meant they were practically broken, considering my Pain Resistance.
'…But I don't need a potion.'
The -40 Natural Regeneration penalty from the Ogre essence.
It used to be so bad that my wounds barely healed without potions…
…but the combined Natural Regeneration from the Stormgush essence and the Undead engraving was much higher than the penalty, so minor injuries like this would heal quickly even with just saliva.
Swoosh.
I got up after a short break.
I soon found the place I was looking for.
I had visited it beforehand.
A giant tombstone with a passage hidden beneath it, wide and tall enough for a carriage to pass through.
The first thing I saw was a corpse.
'It's the cemetery caretaker.'
He was lying dead, his body covered in sword wounds. He was the one who lived here and guarded the secret passage.
'Laura would have passed through here a long time ago… And Amelia should have met up with them by now.'
I entered the passage, thinking I had to hurry to get there before it was all over.
No, to be precise, I was about to enter when…
'…Huh?'
…I stopped.
Thud, thud.
I saw an old man in neat clothes walking towards me from the other side of the passage.
Thump.
My heart pounded as soon as our eyes met.
And I felt like I was dreaming.
The old man greeted me.
"Haha, nice to meet you."
It was Auril Gabis.
Long white hair.
Wrinkled skin.
A kind and gentle face.
A straight back that belied his age and blue eyes that seemed to pierce through you.
"Hmm, this place is always gloomy."
My heart sank at the appearance of the old man, who looked exactly like the one I had seen in the community.
'Auril Gabis…?'
Of course, I had considered the possibility of encountering him today.
Amelia had said…
…that he was there when her sister died.
But…
'No, why is he here?'
There was only one reason why this old man would be here instead of at the center of the incident.
'He came… looking for me.'
My heart started to race, and my mind went blank.
How did he find me?
Did he find out that I was Bjorn Yandel?
And why was the community closed for months?
No, most importantly…
What was he going to do to me?
I started to sweat as questions filled my mind.
That's when…
"Ahem."
…Auril Gabis cleared his throat, drawing my attention.
He didn't seem to like the fact that I was just staring at him without saying anything…
I had to do something.
Damn it, what should I say?
Right, let's start with a natural greeting—
"Well, then can you move aside?"
Huh?
"I can't get past you if you're blocking the way with that large body of yours."
What?
'…Don't tell me, he doesn't recognize me?'
My mind went blank at the unexpected turn of events.
But my mouth, which had lied countless times, instinctively did its job.
"Ah, yes… Please go ahead, sir."
I used honorifics, something I had never done since being possessed by a barbarian's body.
Auril Gabis smiled warmly.
"You're a rare polite one. Or maybe you're just quick-witted. You'll live a long life."
He chuckled and passed by as I moved aside.
Thud, thud.
His footsteps faded into the distance.
I suddenly had a thought.
I had instinctively avoided the situation, but was it the right decision to hide my identity?
But it was just a fleeting thought.
This wasn't in the community, we were meeting in real life. I had to hide my identity if I could. If he found out that I was Bjorn Yandel, I would have to worry about too many things when I returned to the future. ȓÅＮꝋΒΕs
'Right, I did well…'
My stiff body relaxed as I reassured myself.
That's when…
"Ah, I forgot to ask."
…Auril Gabis, who had been walking away, turned around.
And he looked at me and asked,
"What happened today? Why is this place in such a state?"
"The Lord joined forces with the royal family and ambushed Orculus."
"Oh, is that so…?"
His voice was devoid of interest, despite his seemingly intrigued tone.
So I thought I might have been mistaken at first…
…but the difference became clear after his second question.
"Ah, and one more thing. Didn't a barbarian enter this city recently? About five or six months ago…"
It was the complete opposite of his first question.
Although his tone was casual, his voice was filled with interest.
'Calm down, calm down…'
I suppressed my pounding heart and spoke calmly, searching for the most appropriate answer.
"Yes, there was."
I couldn't lie.
It was something he could easily find out by asking a few people in the city, so there was no reason to.
"Hoo, is that so? Do you happen to know where I can find him?"
"I believe he's affiliated with the Lord's faction. So he's probably fighting in the eastern district right now."
"Haha, you're not just polite, you're also very kind. What's the name?"
"Yes?"
"Ah, not you, the barbarian."
"Bjorn. I heard his name is Bjorn, son of Thor."
He nodded and then patted my arm, as if praising me.
"Thank you for answering. You seem busy, so go ahead."
"Yes, I hope you achieve what you're after."
Damn it, why is it so cold?
I bowed slightly and entered the passage as soon as the conversation seemed to be ending.
Thud, thud.
I could hear the old man's footsteps fading away, and when I could no longer hear them…
'Damn, that was close.'
…I started running with all my might.
____________________
Meanwhile…
"What's the current situation on the eastern front?"
"We're stalling for time with minimal forces, as ordered, and we can retreat at any time."
Jerome Saintred, the silver-haired knight, nodded in satisfaction at his mage adjutant's report.
His first 'special mission' since becoming captain was progressing smoothly.
He had obtained the 'Fragment of Records', the first objective of the special mission.
And he had also achieved the secondary objective of instigating a civil war and weakening Noark's forces.
"Send a message to the military mages. We'll gather at the rendezvous point in ten minutes and return."
"Yes."
Once the troops stationed in the east withdrew, Orculus would direct their anger towards the dead Lord.
And a full-scale civil war would begin—
"Um…"
Jerome nodded at his adjutant's voice.
It was a gesture that meant he could speak if he had something to say.
The adjutant then asked cautiously,
"Can I ask about the necklace you're holding?"
"It's classified information."
Jerome answered firmly and put the necklace in a box, storing it in his subspace pocket.
The adjutant bowed, realizing his mistake.
"I apologize. I was just curious because you were holding a refined stone necklace… I swear I didn't know it was related to the special mission."
He was asking him to believe that he had asked out of pure curiosity.
Jerome flinched.
"Refined stone necklace…? What do you mean?"
"…Yes?"
"Explain. Are you saying this is a refined stone necklace?"
Jerome took out the necklace and showed it to his adjutant.
And he received the same answer.
"Yes, I'm sure. It's a magic tool with a high-grade refined stone embedded in it. Ah, a refined stone is a rift stone that's been specially processed to make magic casting smoother…"
The adjutant stopped mid-sentence.
Because he heard a chilling sound coming from Jerome's jaw.
"So I was tricked…"
The adjutant couldn't help but lower his head.
After all, Jerome was usually the type to laugh it off even if he bought a 10,000-stone item for 1,000,000 stones.
"…Adjutant Avex, take the troops and return to the city."
"Yes? Then what about you, Captain Saintred…?"
"I have something to do."
Jerome left without even listening to his answer, and the adjutant just watched him go, speechless.
It was his first time seeing the captain so angry.
___________________
The underground sewer that supported Lafdonia's sewage system.
Everyone who came here thought the same thing.
First, that the smell was beyond just terrible…
…and second, that it was more complicated than a maze.
Like this.
'This place is always unpleasant.'
I ran through a long, straight passage, climbed a ladder, and then came up through a sewer.
I removed a metal cover, similar to a manhole cover, and came out, and a four-way intersection greeted me.
But I had no problem navigating.
One of the paths was filled with footprints, as if dozens of people had already passed through.
I just had to follow them.
Well, there was a problem…
'This damn sewer.'
…but unlike the other sewer sections I had been to, there were no side paths for humans. It was designed solely for water to flow through.
No, to be precise, there were probably side paths…
'They're even discriminating against barbarians in sewer design.'
…but they were too narrow for a barbarian like me, over two meters tall, to pass through.
Splash, splash.
I had no choice but to walk through the sewage, which was up to my shins.
After some time…
…I started to see traces of battle on the walls.
They were mostly sword marks.
Although their depths varied, they all had one thing in common. The cuts were clean, as if made by a precision machine.
I could roughly guess who made them.
The shallow ones were probably Amelia's, and the deep ones were probably his.
The Captain of Orculus.
The Traitor, Ricardo Liuhen Praha.
"Tsk."
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.
Our original plan was to somehow get rid of him and enter the sewers.
After all, Amelia was being chased by him when she met her younger self in the sewers in the original timeline.
But…
'We couldn't get rid of him.'
Judging by the situation, it seemed like we had failed.
Damn it, why did she do that?
You can't change the future by doing that.
'She's strangely stubborn in these aspects.'
In a way, Amelia was similar to a barbarian.
She was stubborn, even though she was human.
And not only that…
She acted rational, but she was also very sentimental—
Kwaaang!
A loud explosion shook the sewer.
Tadat!
I increased my speed.
_____________________
The human body has limits.
No matter how much you exercise and build muscle, there's a limit to how much strength you can exert.
That's why essences are the foundation of explorers.
Thanks to their existence, explorers could surpass their limits and fight giant monsters.
But that was all in the past.
"So you've finally decided to fight."
Amelia was filled with a sense of powerlessness.
Her physical abilities were still enhanced.
But all her abilities were sealed.
[Fountain of Immortality].
The ability that nullified all healing effects, including potions, but greatly increased natural regeneration.
[Self-Replication].
The ability that always gave her a numerical advantage in 1v1 situations.
[Abyssal Power], [Asura's Fury], and all the other abilities that had been her wings were useless.
Because of this one man in front of her.
"…Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Amelia finally asked the question that had been on her mind.
She didn't understand.
She had tried to shake him off for over two hours, but he persistently followed her.
Even to this smelly sewer.
"Was it unexpected?"
Amelia nodded at his question.
"Yes, I don't understand. It would be much more important for you to go to the Lord, not follow me."
The Lord and the royal family had formed an alliance to wipe out Orculus.
But the commander, the strongest fighter, suddenly left the front lines and followed a woman he had no connection with?
She couldn't understand the process, even though she knew the outcome.
"That's a funny question."
He smiled coldly.
"Human woman. A red Aura shaped like a stiletto, specialized for daggers. They're all characteristics of the Rose Knight Order."
"…Rose Knight Order?"
"You're still denying it?"
Amelia was truly surprised.
She knew what the Rose Knight Order was. The royal family's secret unit in charge of special missions like assassinations, infiltration, and espionage.
There were rumors that it was an all-female unit, but it hadn't been confirmed.
"You must be a newbie. Well, that's why you asked me such a stupid question."
"No, I'm not part of the Rose Knight Order—"
"Give up on living."
Amelia tried to talk to him, but it didn't work.
"I'm not interested in you."
He charged towards her, his sword drawn.
Amelia quickly channeled Aura and blocked it.
No, she thought she blocked it.
Slash!
Her right wrist, which was holding the dagger, was severed and fell into the sewage.
And almost at the same time…
Whoosh!
…the sword came flying towards her again.
His target was her left wrist.
His cruel intent to sever everything that could be severed was clear.
Kwaaang!
Amelia deflected the sword with her Aura-infused dagger and retreated.
But had he anticipated that?
The sword that was aiming for her left wrist twisted like a snake and changed its trajectory towards her neck.
"Ugh…!"
When she came to her senses, Amelia was backed against the wall.
She could feel the cold blade on her neck.
Press.
He pushed the blade in, and she felt a sharp pain as blood trickled down her neck.
"You have a pretty face."
Amelia couldn't even breathe, let alone speak, as her windpipe was pressed against the blade.
"It suits you."
Her vision blurred as she ran out of oxygen.
Was she really going to die?
Then what would happen to her sister and her younger self?
She was supposed to meet them with only an injury…
"...."
Amelia looked around.
As if searching for someone who could save her.
'…Yandel.'
She realized who she was looking for and chuckled.
He wouldn't be here.
She had personally drugged him with enough drugs to knock him out for at least six hours.
He would be waking up now and reading her note. He would be at the Lord's Castle by now. Hmm, he might have even obtained the item and returned to his original time if he woke up early.
No, he had probably already returned.
It was the only explanation.
"Are you looking for a way out?"
There was no escape.
This long, drawn-out life would end the moment the blade went any deeper.
In other words…
"Phew…"
…history had changed.
She was going to die here today.
And the reason was probably…
'Because Bjorn Yandel returned.'
She had excluded Yandel from this plan.
There were many reasons.
First, she didn't want to be indebted to a barbarian.
And she thought that if he returned to his original world using the Fragment of Records, he might be able to break the predetermined causality.
The legend of changing history wasn't just a story.
She thought the answer might lie in that item, which contained an unknown power.
No, she just hoped.
It was like a thirsty person drinking seawater while adrift at sea.
But surprisingly…
"Why are you laughing?"
…it worked.
Press.
The man pushed the blade in further, annoyed.
Death, which had always been by her side, was now even closer.
'Right, so he really did return.'
Amelia closed her eyes.
And she thought.
"Suffer more."
What would happen to her and her sister after she died?
Someone would definitely die if she wasn't there…
'No, maybe it will end peacefully because I'm not there.'
It was an ending she would never know.
But she felt both happy and sad.
Press.
The blade went deeper.
She couldn't breathe, and her thoughts were muddled.
It didn't matter anymore.
She had done her best.
So she could rest now.
That's when…
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
…she heard a familiar voice from the other side of the passage.
-x-X-x-
I was running through the sewers.
Splash, splash.
Sewage splashed everywhere as I ran, my gaze fixed on what lay ahead.
There was a man and a woman.
The man had the woman pinned against the wall, a sword pressed against her neck.
'Damn it, they should be fine if they just left me alone.'
I tightened my grip on the hammer and shouted with all my might, my voice echoing through the passage.
"Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!"
I had to draw his attention and get him to move away from Amelia.
But…
Whoosh!
The sword was pulled out, and a fountain of blood erupted from Amelia's neck.
Damn it, I thought he was just holding it against her skin.
He had already stabbed her.
And he even twisted the blade as he pulled it out…
"…Barbarian?"
He turned towards me and muttered.
Although I was wearing my helmet, he must have guessed my race from my size and my battle cry.
I briefly checked on Amelia with my dynamic vision.
"Keu, keugh… ugh…!"
Amelia, her neck pierced, was clutching the wound with one hand and desperately trying to support herself with the other, her body swaying.
She was clearly in bad shape.
But…
'At least she's alive.'
Worrying wouldn't save her.
Accurate judgment and execution were the most important things.
I dashed forward again.
Splash!
The distance between us closed quickly.
He swung his sword at me, a fierce Aura emanating from the blade, as soon as we were within range.
Kwaaang!
I blocked the Aura with my hammer.
A look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He probably thought he could cut through my weapon with his Aura…
"A Numbered Item."
…but he quickly figured it out, as expected of a veteran.
'He's perceptive.'
But at least it bought me some time.
Whoosh.
I reached out with my free hand and pulled Amelia towards me as we struggled for dominance.
She collapsed into my arms, too weak to even stand.
Now that I had her…
"…You're her companion."
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Then… you're also my enemy."
What the hell is he talking ab—
"...!"
Our brief struggle for dominance ended.
Liuhen Praha pushed me back with his sword. It was a strange experience since I hadn't been overpowered in terms of strength recently, but there was no need to be discouraged. ＲÄℕôꞖЁs̩
'His Strength is slightly higher than mine.'
I stepped back as I was pushed back.
And he naturally dashed forward.
He was much faster than me.
'His Agility is much higher than mine.'
I was at a disadvantage in terms of the two core stats for melee combat.
And my passive and active skills, which I had carefully combined for synergy, were sealed, while he was freely using Aura, which was my weakness.
'This is so unfair.'
But I quickly made a decision.
He was overwhelmingly stronger.
It would be difficult to even escape in a normal situation.
But…
'There's no need to use it yet.'
…it wasn't a big problem.
After all, it meant…
Kwaaang!
…that I just had to create an abnormal situation.
Right, like…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
…an underwater battle.
_____________________
A dark sewer illuminated by flickering torches.
Fifteen explorers, divided into two groups, were glaring at each other.
"What do you mean? Say that again, Dumbo."
"It's Derbon, not Dumbo."
"Whatever. You seemed to like that barbarian, grinning at him like an idiot."
"What…? You bastard…!"
A conversation filled with hostility.
Laura Rainwales, caught in the middle, tightly held her trembling sister's hand and thought,
'I shouldn't have come.'
'Why are they still fighting…?'
Laura couldn't understand.
It started with a trivial argument.
The former Melta Trading Company explorer who knew about the secret passage through the sewers couldn't find the way.
And someone mocked him for it.
That was the seed of discord.
[Geez, stop complaining. You're just following us for free.]
Derbon, the leader of the group, defended the guide.
No, he didn't just defend him, he threatened the other group.
[And come to think of it, it's a bit unfair, isn't it? If you're going to talk like that, at least pay us. Ah, you can give us your equipment if you don't have money.]
[What?]
[Or just go back.]
The group was divided in two after that brief exchange, and now they were here.
"This is my last offer. Give us your equipment and follow us, or go back."
"Ha, you think we would back down just because you said that?"
"Don't try to act tough just because you're friends with the guide. We only need him to find the way back to the city."
"…So you're determined to fight."
"Everyone, please calm down…"
Laura tried to mediate, but Derbon cut her off.
"Laura, stay quiet. This is a good thing."
"Yes? A, a good thing…?"
"We'll need a lot of money. To start a new life on the surface."
The man who was arguing with Derbon nodded in agreement.
"Right, if half of us die here, the rest can live a better life."
Laura then realized.
That there was no real reason for the conflict.
This kind of thinking was natural for people from Noark.
They just used the guide's mistake as an excuse.
No, maybe they intentionally provoked them.
'This is why I tried to get them out of here…'
Noark, the city of beasts.
Laura shuddered, disillusioned with this city.
And she reached for her sword.
If a fight was inevitable, Derbon's faction had to win.
They had to leave this place and live a decent life.
Even if she couldn't…
…at least her sister should.
"Amelia, get ready."
"Okay, sister."
Her sister also placed her hand on her weapon at Laura's whisper.
After all, they were also beasts who had survived in this dog-eat-dog world.
"Alright, then let's—"
The battle began as one of the men from the other group took a step forward, drawing his weapon, and someone from Derbon's side shot an arrow.
And after some time…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
…a torrent of water engulfed them.
_____________________
Kaboom, kaboom, kaboom, kaboom!
I dodged Liuhen Praha's attacks, creating distance, and then I slammed my hammer into the ceiling four times.
Crack, crack, crack, kaboom!
The ceiling, cracked like a spiderweb or a broken mirror, collapsed.
And…
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
…a torrent of water poured down like a broken dam.
'There really was water flowing above.'
I hadn't been certain until I swung my hammer.
I had just judged that it was highly likely based on my observations of the past through young Amelia's eyes.
[The group was divided, and a fight broke out. And then water suddenly poured down from the passage. We were swept away, and both my sister and I lost consciousness. And when we woke up—]
I dismissed my thoughts and hugged Amelia tighter.
It was a current that would have swept away an ordinary person.
But neither he nor I were ordinary.
Kwaaang!
I instinctively shielded myself with my hammer, and a powerful impact reverberated through the handle.
He had swung his sword at me, even though the water was already up to our necks.
'That persistent bastard.'
I was pushed back several steps, and I closed my eyes.
Vision was meaningless now.
I couldn't see anything in this muddy water, even with a light source.
'Oh, so this is a real mud fight?'
I quickly dismissed the random thought.
I had something more important to focus on.
'One, two, three, four, five, six…'
I used my elbow to feel the wall and retraced my steps. It left my back exposed, but I wasn't too worried.
He had probably just swung his sword at the last place he saw me, relying on his senses—
Slash!
I felt a sharp pain in my thigh.
It seemed like he was blindly swinging his sword…
'Damn it, that crazy bastard.'
But it was fine now.
I had reached my destination.
'Fifty-one, fifty-two… Phew, I found it.'
I entered the side passage I had memorized, my eyes still closed, and hid myself.
It was a trick I learned from Rotmiller.
I had become good at measuring my steps and memorizing paths after making maps.
And there was no way he had that ability.
'Okay, it seems like he didn't even notice the intersection.'
But I didn't let my guard down and continued moving.
'Gigantification.'
I sighed in relief after confirming that my skills were working again as I got further away from him.
'She still has a pulse.'
Amelia was still alive.
And her passive skill, [Fountain of Immortality], which gave her cockroach-like survivability, would be activated now.
I didn't have to worry about her neck injury.
Although it was a vital point, the wound itself wasn't that deep. It would heal in about a minute.
'The problem is oxygen…'
I didn't have any problems breathing thanks to the increased Lung Capacity from Stormgush's essence.
But Amelia was different.
Her oxygen supply was already cut off because of her neck injury.
I didn't know how long she could last.
She just had to endure for about five minutes. The water started to recede around that time, as if the source had been depleted after the sewer collapsed.
'…Whatever.'
I made a decision and lifted Amelia up.
I covered her nose with one hand, found her mouth, and kissed her.
Underwater CPR.
I didn't know if it would work, but it was better than doing nothing.
It wasn't like I had anything to lose.
"...!"
But was she still conscious?
Amelia's limp body twitched the moment our lips touched.
It seemed like she was trying to push me away.
Therefore…
Clench.
I pulled her closer, as if telling her to stay still. Her resistance weakened.
Was this consent?
I didn't know, but I moved my lips, trying to create a seal so that water wouldn't get in.
And…
Whoosh!
I blew air into her lungs with all my might.
______________________
The water level started to recede rapidly after about five minutes of CPR.
The water that had been pouring down from above had stopped, and the water in the wide sewer spread out.
Surprisingly, Amelia was still conscious.
"Let, let go…"
Geez, it was just first aid, why is she so scared?
Amelia plunged into the water as soon as I let go of her.
Ah, right, she's short.
The water was still up to my shoulders, so her feet wouldn't reach the ground.
"Gasp…!"
Amelia's head surfaced before I could even reach out to grab her.
Hmm, so she can swim.
"Ju, just… so you know… it was useless."
"Huh?"
"I've always been… good at holding my breath…"
"What are you talking about?"
I couldn't understand her since she was gasping for air and speaking in a barely audible voice.
But did she not want to explain?
Or was there something more important?
I didn't know, but Amelia changed the subject.
"Whatever… but why are you here?"
Her tone was back to normal, her breathing more stable.
Well, at least she seemed physically fine.
"Why am I here? What do you mean?"
Amelia frowned as I asked back, confused.
"I told you to go back. Didn't you see the note?"
"Ah, that? I saw it."
"But… why didn't you go back…?"
Damn it, she's nagging.
I knew I couldn't just go back even if I wanted to.
I couldn't help but speak curtly, remembering all the trouble I had gone through because of her impulsive actions.
"I have something to do."
"Something to do…?"
"I can't go back until I'm done."
"What? Why are you being so…"
What the hell is she talking about?
I had to do it to go back.
That's when, as I was about to say that…
"Damn it."
…[Gigantification] was deactivated.
In other words, he was within a 30-meter radius.
He must have retraced his steps, thinking he had lost me.
It didn't seem like he was going to let us go easily.
Therefore, I made a decision.
"Hey, you go first."
"…What?"
"Go save your sister. I'll take care of him."
I would send Amelia to her sister and hold him off.
Amelia frowned at my simple plan.
"That's suicide. You can't defeat him—"
"Then what are you going to do? Give up on your sister?"
"…If nothing changes anyway, then—"
"Stop."
I cut Amelia off.
I didn't know why she had become so weak-willed…
"Trust me, Amelia. I have a plan, so go save your sister first. Okay?"
"But—"
"Tsk."
But my ass.
I chuckled at her unexpected reaction.
It wasn't that bad to be worried about…
"Why do you think I'll lose?"
The 5th-floor Floor Master's essence, [Flameless Spirit].
It was a good essence.
Its rarity was unbelievable.
Less than ten people had obtained it throughout the history of Lafdonia, and as far as I knew, he was the only one who had it in the current era.
It was only natural for people to fear that power.
They didn't know anything about it, so it just seemed like an OP cheat skill.
It was strange to me.
'He's not even that difficult to defeat.'
I had dedicated all my free time to [Dungeon and Stone] in my twenties.
Of course, I had also hunted the Lord of Silence.
I think I killed him…
"Three hundred times."
…about that many times.
But did she not understand what I meant?
"Three hundred…?"
Amelia asked, and…
"I've absorbed that essence over three hundred times."
…I answered.
There's no skill in this world that doesn't have a weakness.
-x-X-x-
The Lord of Chaos, Riakis.
The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.
Floor Masters had both a true name and a title, and their essences were usually named after their titles.
Essence of Chaos, Essence of the Abyss, and so on.
And my assessment of the Essence of Silence that Liuhen Praha had absorbed was this:
'All bark and no bite.'
It had a strong personality and abilities, as expected of a Floor Master essence, but there were many problems with its concept.
First, its active skill, [Flameless Spirit].
It was an AoE silence skill that nullified all skills within a 30-meter radius of the caster.
For reference, it also included passive skills, and even if you used a skill outside the radius, it would be nullified as soon as you entered it, so it was impossible to counter it from afar…
But it didn't mean he was invincible.
There was a reason why I rarely absorbed this essence.
'Magic and divine power can't dispel it.'
And that wasn't the only penalty.
[Flameless Spirit] didn't work on monsters.
In other words, the Essence of Silence was practically only useful in PvP…
…and its passive skill was even worse.
(P) Silent Control — All other essence skills are deactivated, and stats gained from essences are doubled.
It was a high-risk skill that doubled your stats in exchange for giving up all your essence skills.
Thanks to that, I rarely absorbed this essence.
After all, my goal was always to clear the game.
I had absorbed it over three hundred times because I was trying to clear another route.
[We've heard of your fame, explorer. How about joining us and turning the world upside down?]
A route that sometimes opened when you gained enough fame in the game.
I always absorbed the Essence of Silence first when I was trying to clear the rebellion route by cooperating with the Olmi Revolutionary Army.
It was the best essence for PvP.
Well, I never succeeded.
After encountering countless dead ends, I tentatively concluded that it was impossible to clear the rebellion route because of the game's structure.
Ah, of course, I never absorbed it again after that.
I had also realized that the Essence of Silence had a fatal weakness.
Clench.
I gripped the item I had prepared.
The key to defeating the Traitor, Liuhen Praha.
I had thought about using it earlier…
…but I decided to save it because taking care of Amelia was the priority.
'Damn it, if I had known she would change the date, I would have given this to her.'
The reason I didn't share the information was because I thought we would be moving together.
How could I have known…
…that she would drug me and knock me out?
I didn't even think about how cool it would be to use it in a crisis.
…Really.
Swoosh.
The water level was rapidly receding.
'It's about waist-deep now, so he must be able to see again.'
I looked at the passage Amelia had gone through.
I chuckled, remembering our conversation before she left.
[I'll believe you.]
[Right, believe me. Your sister's problem—]
[I wasn't talking about my sister.]
[…Huh?]
[I meant I believe you won't die. So… don't die.]
[Uh, uh… Okay…]
I averted my gaze, feeling embarrassed, and Amelia also seemed to feel the same way, as she just said, "Then I'll be going," and left—
'He's here.'
I heard the sound of splashing water from afar.
I dismissed my thoughts and focused on the sound.
Splash, splash.
He was getting closer.
I tensed up and crouched down.
And…
Crackle.
…I tore the scroll I had been holding in one hand.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Magic particles enveloped me, emitting a faint light.
Although the light was faint, it was enough to attract attention in the dark sewer.
Splash.
The approaching footsteps stopped.
Thump.
My heart pounded like a child who had been caught doing something bad.
"...."
A brief silence followed.
I couldn't hear anything except for the sound of flowing water.
For about three seconds.
Splash!
I heard footsteps, and I immediately ducked and submerged myself in the water.
And the moment he appeared at the intersection…
"...!"
…I jumped out and charged towards him.
Kwaaang!
My hammer collided with his Aura, and the water splashed everywhere from the impact.
Thanks to my heightened concentration, I could clearly see everything.
Thousands of water droplets.
And his expression.
He looked at me and then shifted his gaze.
'Is he looking for Amelia?'
Geez, how rude.
Tadat.
I jumped again as soon as my feet touched the ground, closing the distance between us.
He was already swinging his sword horizontally.
It seemed like he was trying to stop me from getting closer… but thanks to that, I was right in the path of his sword.
It didn't matter to me.
Tadat.
I continued dashing.
If this continued, his sword would reach me before my hammer could, even though it was already halfway there…
But so what?
I wasn't planning to hit him with my hammer anyway.
Swoosh.
I reached out with my hand.
My free hand, since I had already put my shield away.
But could it be that he also knew how to use his hands?
He didn't withdraw his sword.
He just tried to swat my hand away with his other hand.
Thwack!
His hand hit my wrist.
My arm was pushed back, as he was also strong.
His sword was still swinging towards my waist, and I couldn't retreat since my feet were in midair.
His judgment wasn't bad.
But he was a bit careless.
"...!"
The conditions for the scroll I had torn were met as our skin touched.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
Blue magic particles erupted.
If this were a game, this message would have appeared:
[Character has been 'Bound' to Ricardo Liuhen Praha.]
[Character is no longer affected by [Flameless Spirit].]
I immediately chanted the commands I had prepared.
'Transcendence.'
And…
'Leap.'
Tadat.
The moment I stepped on the air…
Whoosh!
…my body shot forward, water splashing everywhere.
I wasn't dodging his sword, I was charging towards him.
And…
'Gigantification.'
…I increased my weight.
Like an 8-ton truck with the accelerator fully pressed.
Kwaaang!
There was nothing more to see.
"Keugh…!"
The body slam was effective.
_____________________
Amelia, who was running through the sewers, flinched.
It was because of the tremor that traveled through the water.
Kwaaang!
A loud boom that was faintly audible even from a distance.
It seemed like a battle had begun…
Splash, splash.
Amelia quickly came to her senses and started running again.
It sounded like the sewer had collapsed.
What the hell was going on?
Did something go wrong?
Various questions filled her mind, but she shook her head.
She had said she would believe him.
It was a promise.
If Yandel had defeated Liuhen Praha, then why did he appear in front of them at the end?
She dismissed the contradiction.
And…
Splash.
…she continued running.
Although the sewers were labyrinthine, it wasn't difficult to find her way.
She had been through this path countless times after gaining recognition for her achievements and rising to a high position in Noark.
She had memorized it all, in preparation for today.
'Left here. And then straight until the three-way intersection.'
Amelia pushed her body to its limits and continued running.
After some time…
Thud.
…she stopped.
She had reached her destination.
A five-way intersection.
Waterlogged corpses were floating everywhere.
They were all familiar faces.
Amelia recalled her memories.
[Laura! Amelia! What are you doing? Get up and fight!]
The battle was still raging when she regained consciousness after being swept away and losing consciousness.
Amelia tried to join the fight, drawing her weapon, but her sister stopped her and pointed at something.
The former Melta Trading Company explorer, who was the only one who knew the way, was running away alone, carrying a few pieces of equipment.
So they followed him instead of joining the fight.
And…
'Here.'
Amelia entered the passage she remembered and soon found them.
"I, I was just trying to get away…"
The guide was making excuses, his face filled with fear.
"Whatever, I don't care about you."
Derbon, the man, glared at the guide and then turned his head.
"How dare you betray me and run away?"
He slapped her sister across the face.
And her sister endured it, not even trying to block it. She probably judged that it wasn't a good idea to provoke him further.
Derbon wasn't alone.
Ironically, he was on the same side as the people he had been fighting.
'They probably thought it was pointless to keep fighting since their numbers had dwindled. And the fact that the guide disappeared must have also played a part.'
They were truly like beasts.
They might even betray each other and loot their equipment at the end.
Well, there wouldn't be a chance to confirm that.
Clench.
Amelia gripped her dagger with her remaining hand.
"It, it's all my fault."
"You know you're wrong."
"My, my sister just followed me… Ugh!"
"Don't worry, I'll let her go this time too!"
The moment the man who was holding her sister's neck raised his arm, about to swing his axe…
Slash!
…his arm, still clutching the axe, fell into the water.
The man screamed in pain and twisted his body, while the others looked at Amelia in shock.
"…Em, Emily?!"
"H, how did you get here…?"
There was no need for conversation.
Amelia calmly stabbed them in the neck one by one, her eyes devoid of emotion.
"Wa, wait! I, I know the way…!"
Even the guide, who tried to appeal to her, was no exception.
She knew the way to the city, so there was no reason to spare him.
Slash!
The area was cleared.
The Rainwales sisters trembled, wary of her.
But could it be that her younger self was curious about something?
"Um…"
"Amelia…!"
She asked, ignoring her sister's warning,
"Wh, what happened to Pelic Barker?"
"He's dead."
"Re, really? Bu, but how…?"
"No more questions."
Amelia cut her off.
"We don't have time, follow me."
The ending of the long story was approaching.
-x-X-x-
Bond.
It's a support spell that makes the target recognize you as a companion, allowing you to travel together when using a labyrinth portal and share experience points after killing monsters.
I learned that this spell was the counter to [Flameless Spirit] when I was trying to clear the rebellion route.
After absorbing the Essence of Silence and going through about 300 tries, I finally reached the royal family's inner sanctum. I was filled with hope, thinking I was just a few steps away from seeing the King's face.
[Character has been 'Bound' to a Royal Guard.]
The royal family's NPCs used this method on me, crushing my hopes and dreams.
Well, I did eventually find a way to counter this counter…
'But I never saw the King's face.'
I gave up on the rebellion route.
I think it was my first time giving up while playing this game…
But I don't think it was a meaningless experience.
Sometimes, you gain something from failure.
Like this.
"Keugh…!"
The Bond + Giant Body Slam combo.
Liuhen Praha was thrown back, his body flying through the air.
But watching him fly was something only a noob would do.
Fighting games are the same, right?
If you launch your opponent into the air, you have to follow up with a combo.
'Transcendence.'
I chanted the command.
Before his body went out of the 20-meter radius.
'Eye of the Storm.'
The grab skill I obtained from [Stormgush].
'Somehow, I ended up with a PvP optimized build.'
A strong gust of wind swept through the long sewer, and his flying body changed direction and flew towards me.
So I got ready to smash him.
And…
One, two, three.
'Now.'
I swung my hammer with all my might at the right timing.
Kwagic!
Flesh and bone were crushed.
But I wasn't completely satisfied.
Because it wasn't the sound I was hoping for.
'Damn it.'
I was aiming for his shiny temple, but he raised his arm to block it. He had regained his composure and protected his vital point, even while being dragged by the wind.
'Well, at least I took one of his arms.'
It wasn't a fatal blow, but I decided to think positively.
His arm was bent at a grotesque angle.
It was clear that I had inflicted significant damage—
Tadat.
He was thrown towards the side wall, but he regained his balance in midair and kicked off the wall with one leg.
And…
'This guy really is experienced.'
…he charged towards me, swinging his sword, instead of creating distance.
Whoosh!
A fierce Aura emanated from the blade.
His Agility stat was much higher than mine, so it was difficult to block with my hammer in my current position.
Therefore…
Tadat.
…I retreated.
Damn it, if I had dodged backwards, I would have continued chasing him and kept up the pressure.
Splash.
A brief lull in the battle occurred as we created a distance of about 10 meters. He pointed his sword at me, holding it with his remaining arm, and asked,
"How… did you know?"
His ragged breathing suggested that he was still injured from the body slam and the broken arm.
Hmm, so he's trying to buy time to recover?
I analyzed his condition, and then I chuckled at his next words.
"No one… should know about… this essence…"
He was seeking an answer to the contradiction he had encountered.
Right, so he was just curious.
He must have tried hard to hide this weakness.
That's probably why he always explored alone. Even when he was with others, he never 'Bound' with them.
Because that would reveal the weakness of [Flameless Spirit].
'Come to think of it, the reason he was clinging to the Ruin Scholar in the community was probably because of [Flameless Spirit].'
He needed a companion who wouldn't lose their power even without 'Bonding' to achieve his goal of killing the King.
Like a mage or a priest.
But a priest wouldn't help him kill the King, so the Ruin Scholar was more valuable.
He was a top-tier mage and a fellow 'evil spirit'.
"Right, an evil spirit…"
He muttered, looking at me.
I hadn't said a word, but he had already reached a conclusion.
Well, it wasn't a wrong conclusion…
'But he doesn't know the counter.'
I was certain that he didn't know the countermeasure after hearing him talk. He wouldn't have insisted on being alone if he knew.
I tightened my grip on my hammer.
'It's a good thing this is twenty years ago.'
I didn't know what he would be like in the future.
Maybe he would have overcome this weakness.
He might have even switched out some of his essences.
And his swordsmanship might have reached its peak.
One thing was certain, he would probably become an enemy I couldn't defeat, judging by his notoriety twenty years later.
But…
'Not today.'
I chanted the command.
After all, why do you think I've been holding back?
'Transcendence.'
'Eye of the Storm.'
The cooldown for my grab skill was over.
_____________________
The battle was simple.
Kwaaang, kwaaang!
Aura and the Demon Crusher, a Double Numbered Item, clashed repeatedly.
And…
'Damn it, he's good.'
…I felt a wall for the first time.
I had fought many opponents who were stronger than me, but this was my first time feeling this way about someone's martial arts.
Slash!
My skin was cut open in an instant.
His sword moved like a snake, and sometimes it was as hard as steel.
And not only that…
His swordsmanship had form and rhythm, even to my untrained eyes.
Even knights, when pushed into a brawl, would rely on instinct and momentary judgments…
Slash!
…but he was different.
The wounds on my body piled up.
They were appearing faster than my Natural Regeneration could heal them.
But I hadn't received any fatal blows yet.
It wasn't because I was good at dodging, but because I was constantly using potions.
Sizzle!
The deep cuts bubbled as flesh regrew.
I stepped back after briefly checking my condition.
And…
'Transcendence.'
'Eye of the Storm.'
I used my grab skill, which was off cooldown.
But the situation was similar.
As if proving that he had only been caught off guard because he didn't know about it, he didn't panic at all and swung his sword, using the momentum.
Whoosh!
Damn it, his timing is perfect now.
I should probably just seal this grab skill.
Tadat.
I retreated again to avoid his sword.
And he stepped on the ceiling and closed the distance, asking,
"Who are you?"
Kwaaang!
"You're with that woman."
Kwaaang!
"So you're also from the royal family?"
Geez, he's so talkative.
I was annoyed by his constant chatter, but I was also curious.
'From the royal family? Why is he suddenly mentioning the royal family?'
Well, it wasn't strange for him to misunderstand.
The royal family and the Lord's forces were attacking Orculus.
But what I was really curious about was this:
'What's going to happen now?'
I didn't even consider killing him here.
After all, he was supposed to appear in front of Amelia soon.
But…
'I might not be able to win, but I don't think I'll lose either.'
I felt like I could hold him off for hours if I wanted to.
Well, I couldn't be sure…
'Huh?'
That's when…
…it happened.
Like the saying, 'be careful what you wish for'.
Splash.
I heard footsteps from afar.
And at the same time…
…we both looked towards the sound.
Someone was there.
'Damn it.'
It was someone I knew.
And it seemed like Liuhen Praha also knew him.
"…Jerome Saintred."
The silver-haired knight on the other side of the passage also spoke as soon as Liuhen Praha muttered his name.
"Ricardo Liuhen Praha."
It wasn't a friendly greeting.
Their voices and gazes were filled with hatred and killing intent.
Well, it was only natural for the 'Traitor' who wanted to kill the King and the protector of the royal family to meet.
I quickly assessed the situation.
'Okay, I have to run while they're fighting.'
The Knight of Light must have followed me here, but I might be able to turn this crisis into an opportunity since they were enemies.
That's when, as I was looking for a chance to escape…
…someone was faster than me.
"Two."
Liuhen Praha muttered a single word.
And…
"…Huh?"
…he started running towards a side passage.
I realized what 'two' meant as soon as I saw him run.
'…Damn it, this is happening?'
He thought I was on the Knight of Light's side.
_______________________
It was a mistake caused by the fact that I hadn't cleared up his misunderstanding that I was from the royal family.
Well, even I would have been hesitant to fight a 2v1 in this situation.
I could understand his reasoning.
But that wasn't what I should be focusing on right now.
'Ah… I have to run too.'
I quickly came to my senses and started running after Liuhen Praha.
And I prayed inwardly.
'Please, please, please…'
Please follow him, not me.
He's the one who wants to kill your King.
Tadat.
I heard footsteps behind me as soon as I started running.
It seemed like he had made his decision…
Splash.
Damn it.
There's no way it would be this easy.
Splash, splash!
He was following me.
He must have judged that retrieving the Fragment of Records from me was more important than chasing the 'Traitor'.
Or maybe he was still holding a grudge from earlier.
Flash!
He used [Gate of Light] and blocked my path as soon as Liuhen Praha escaped and [Flameless Spirit] was deactivated.
He looked different from before.
'What the… why is he so angry…?'
The naive knight from before was gone, and he was glaring at me with a merciless gaze.
"Did you think you could get away with mocking me?"
Maybe this was my fault.
You know, like when you take the easy and fast path and then realize you're surrounded by enemies.
Ah, of course, I wasn't regretting it.
It was the fool who got tricked who was at fault.
"I'll ask you one question before I punish you."
He pointed his Aura-infused sword at me and continued,
"What's your relationship with Liuhen Praha? Did he order you to steal the Fragment of Records?"
It was an ironic situation.
Liuhen Praha thought I was on his side, and this guy thought I was on Liuhen Praha's side.
I felt like a shrimp caught between two whales… but what could I do?
I had to try and wiggle out of this somehow.
So, in that sense…
"Right, you figured it out."
I agreed instead of clearing up the misunderstanding.
It would be more helpful for now.
His eyes trembled as I nodded.
"Don't tell me, you've already given it to him?"
"Well."
I had learned something while wearing the Lion mask.
The key to lying is to convince yourself.
"What do you think?"
I shrugged, as if telling him to use his imagination, and he started struggling.
"…So that's why you split up and ran away."
"You're not called the Knight of Light for nothing. You're sharp."
He bit his lip as I complimented him at the right time.
I tried to keep a straight face.
And I added the final touch.
"I won't let you go to the Captain. Attack me."
I expressed my willingness to buy time for the greater cause.
But it was a meaningless gesture in front of Jerome.
He could just use [Gate of Light] to pass me.
And that was actually what I was hoping for—
"Keuh…"
What the hell, why is he laughing?
Did he lose his mind?
He stopped laughing and stared at me as I frowned.
"I almost fell for it again."
"…What?"
"It doesn't matter if you're telling the truth or not. I can just kill you and find out."
"But if you do that, you'll be late—"
"It doesn't matter. To reach your destination by taking the right path, not by being greedy."
He looked at me and said grandly,
"That's the way of a knight."
It seemed like he had found his own way of surviving in a world full of deceivers.
'…So we have to fight.'
I quietly raised my hammer.
He wouldn't be swayed by words.
"...."
"...."
A tense silence followed.
We were both about to attack.
That's when I heard an old man's laughter from behind.
"Haha…"
I couldn't turn around to check because Jerome was in front of me.
But I could tell who it was.
"You're quite the deceiver."
Auril Gabis.
But could it be that Jerome had never met him?
"…Reveal your identity, old man."
The silver-haired knight spoke authoritatively.
That's when…
"You're rude."
…Auril Gabis' voice echoed through the sewer.
"…Ugh!"
Jerome, the Knight of Light, clutched his throat.
His expression was pained, as if he couldn't breathe.
His gaze was fixed on something behind me, his eyes filled with shock.
"Wh, who… are you…?"
"You're not worth my time."
"Ugh…!"
"Disappear."
The moment Auril Gabis finished speaking in a flat voice, Jerome's body went limp.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
…Don't tell me, he's dead?
He killed the strongest knight of the royal family that easily, like a fly?
A voice came from behind me, as if to answer my question.
"He's not dead. He'll probably wake up at the royal palace."
Ah, is he talking about that essence?
I dismissed the thought and slowly turned around.
"You're finally looking at me."
The old man's kind smile was unsettling. His lips were curved upwards, but his eyes weren't.
'…Just how much does he know?'
Auril Gabis opened his mouth as I gulped nervously.
"The barbarian you mentioned. Bjorn, son of Thor."
"...."
"I asked around in the city, and a kind young man told me about him. He said he always wears a thick helmet that covers his face, so he's called Iron Mask."
"...."
"Just like you."
Right, he knew everything.