I told Priasis, who was crouched down with a tense expression.
"Stay hidden inside. When I give the signal, run out."
"Even if you get hurt?"
"Even if I die, do it."
"...Understood."
Priasis hesitantly moved into the alley connecting to the main street. Right before entering, she looked at me and said quietly,
"I suppose this will be the last time with you."
"Maybe," I answered curtly and sank deeper into the building's shadow.
If Zena, dressed as the princess, was discovered, all the city's forces would immediately converge on her. With me absent and Aron injured, the party could be wiped out before Aron died.
I moved forward, silencing my footsteps.
As I neared the gate, I felt a strange sensation, as if my physical presence was fading.
[Skill Awakening!]
['Han (★★)' has acquired 'Subtle Movement'!]
'...'
It was a skill that reduced the chance of being detected by monsters, the kind a rogue might learn. It seemed I could learn it because I hadn't undergone a class change yet. The outline of my body hidden in the shadows became much fainter. I approached the gate until I was close enough to distinguish their faces. Priasis was hiding in the alley, watching me with only her head peeking out cautiously.
Enemy count: 22.
I didn't know how many would leave when the diversion started. Worst case, I might have to fight all of them here.
I gripped my scabbard tightly and waited.
The disturbance started about 20 minutes later.
Kwakwakwakwakwang!
From a far corner of the city, along with a massive explosion, a giant vortex of flame shot up. The billowing flames momentarily brightened the city. I quickly hid behind the nearby trash bin.
A soldier who had been standing blankly stared with wide eyes.
"What the--?!"
Following that, crimson flames surged, rising into the sky. Like fireworks, the flames dyed the dark sky their color.
'Looks like they met up safely.' That was Iolka's work. But the flames were pointed upwards. She wouldn't shoot flames uselessly into the sky. It was a show to draw attention. And a signal for me.
A short while later, a soldier came running urgently from the other end of the main street. The soldier approached the group waiting at the gate and whispered something.
The one presumed to be the captain asked back, "You found them?"
"Yes, white dress, golden crown. Matches the description exactly. However, the escort detail is running wild... it seems reinforcements are needed."
The captain nodded and began giving instructions to the soldiers behind him. Soon after, the soldiers, each holding a torch, left the gate. From behind the trash bin, I counted them as they left.
'Two. Three. Four. Ten. Fifteen. Eighteen.'
18 out of 22.
Four soldiers remained at the gate. Better results than expected. However, the one regrettable point was that the knight I'd been watching hadn't left. The knight, clad head-to-toe in black armor, still stood tall at the entrance like a statue.
'As quickly as possible.'
I drew my sword slightly from its scabbard.
All the torches in the street were converging on one point. From beyond the bend in the road, screams and shouts echoed. The number of soldiers gathered there must be in the hundreds. There wasn't much time left.
My eyes met Priasis's in the alley. She looked at me as if to say 'good luck,' mouthing the words.
'How ridiculous.'
I straightened up. And burst out from the shadows in a single movement. A soldier warming his hands by the bonfire spotted me.
Swish!
A flash of the sword, and the soldier's head rolled away. Belatedly, blood spurted from the headless corpse. The soldier beside him scrambled, his hand reaching for his sword hilt.
"Wh—..."
The blade, not losing speed after cutting one neck, easily split the second neck as well. The feeling of cutting bone sent a dull jar through my wrist. The last remaining soldier was watching the flames spreading across the sky beyond the bonfire when his eyes met mine.
I grinned, drew the dagger from my belt, and threw it. The soldier clutched the dagger embedded in his neck, eyes wide in disbelief as he collapsed.
Just two seconds to kill three soldiers. Only the knight remained.
I readjusted my grip on the sword. The knight wore a full helm, hiding his face, but I could tell he wasn't shaken. He stood there, perfectly still.
I spun the bloodied sword once.
"Get out of the way. Then I'll let you live."
"..."
The knight silently drew the sword slung across his back. It was a greatsword, more like a lump of iron than a weapon, but his movements were utterly fluid.
'So talking won't work.' Not that I expected it to.
I took a short breath. He's wearing sturdy full plate mail. With my current skill, I can't cut through the armor itself. I have to aim for the joints between the plates.
'Not many openings.' At first glance, the knight seemed to be just standing still, but he held his greatsword ready in front of him, poised to counter at any moment. He was a cut above—no, at least two cuts above—the temple knights.
The knight didn't move first. Either way, I was the one in a hurry.
Holding my blade horizontally, I thrust forward. Target: the joint connecting the plates at the right elbow. With a bit more force, I might be able to pierce the armor.
Clang!
The knight deflected the thrust with his greatsword. I moved sideways and aimed for his left. The knight blocked it again with his greatsword. This time, high. Blocked. Low. Blocked.
"..."
I gathered all my strength and slashed downwards. The knight blocked with his greatsword held in both hands. Blue sparks flew from the clashing blades.
'This bastard...'
I retreated three steps. The knight lowered his greatsword slightly. From within the helm, cold eyes fixed on me.
'He's not attacking.' I deliberately left openings between my attacks, but he didn't counter. He hadn't moved a single step from the gate entrance, purely defending. The reason was obvious.
I bit my lip.
'Does he know he wins just by stalling?' Aron's party must be clashing with the soldiers right about now. They couldn't hold out long. If this continued, they'd be wiped out. Not just wiped out; if the main force returned, Priasis and I would die too.
I said in a low voice, "Step away from the gate."
"...Kuk." A choked scoff escaped from behind the helm.
If I could just create a path, Priasis could slip through while I kept him busy. But the knight wouldn't budge. Still standing right in the entrance.
"Then die."
['Han (★★)' has entered Berserk state!]
I flipped the switch in my head. Veins stood out sharply on the forearm gripping the sword.
I charged. Delivered a crushing blow with the sword.
CLANG!
The metal plate dented deeply. The knight staggered momentarily but blocked the second slash aimed at his neck. But he couldn't block the third strike descending towards his thigh. A strong recoil jarred my grip.
'With my Strength now approaching 40... I can't cut through the plate, but I can break it.'
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each time I swung the sword, the armor buckled. I aimed for the gaps between the plates revealed by the damage, but the knight desperately defended those spots. Even so, I could probably beat him down in 10 minutes.
['Zena (★★)' has entered Bleeding status. HP will decrease periodically.]
['Aron (★★)' has fallen into a Critical state. Life is in danger!]
'Damn it.'
['Iolka (★★★)' enters Magic Overload state.]
[Tips/Magic Overload is a status effect afflicting mages who overuse magic.]
'Don't even have 10 minutes!'
The mouth visible through the slit in the knight's helm curved into a smirk. The knight wasn't attacking. He was wary of being countered. He was just blocking the gate entrance, preventing only fatal blows.
"Kid, run!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. It didn't matter anymore if nearby soldiers heard.
Priasis hesitantly stepped out into the street. Then she started running.
CLANG!
Blade met blade.
"Don't worry about what happens here!" I screamed. "Get outside the gate! Run down the road!"
Priasis scrambled away, breathless. The knight stood firm in the middle of the gateway. He didn't counterattack me, but it would be different for Priasis. He'd target her without hesitation.
"Out of the way!" I kicked the knight with all my might.
The knight blocked with his greatsword held upright, but his body slid back. Priasis slipped through the gap.
Whoosh!
With a sound like cutting wind, the greatsword swung. I twisted my body sharply. My stance was unstable, but I managed to block it somehow. A heavy impact shook my entire body.
Above the gate. A shadow dropped from the ceiling, hurling a thin purple line towards Priasis as she ran through the passageway. It was an assassin.
No time to block with my sword. I twisted my body to intercept the dagger. The dagger embedded itself in my left shoulder.
['Han (★★)' has become Poisoned. HP will decrease periodically.]
[Party wipe imminent!]
[Master, the party's condition is critical!]
This time, the knight swung his greatsword at me. My left arm, where the dagger was stuck, was numb. I deflected the greatsword in a flowing motion. Unable to withstand the weight, my body slammed into the tunnel wall.
['Han (★★)' has entered Bleeding status. HP will decrease periodically.]
"Han!"
"If you stop, you die by my hand!"
Priasis, who had stopped momentarily, looked back at me, then gave a small nod. And started running again.
I checked my left shoulder. Purple liquid oozed from the half-embedded dagger. I brushed my sword's edge against the dagger, getting the poison on my blade. And as I got up, I swung my sword. The poison fluid on the sword splattered onto the knight's helm.
The knight clutched at his face.
"Get in your eyes?" I sneered.
['Edis (★★★)' has entered Bleeding status. HP will decrease periodically.]
From the assassin's sleeve, a crossbow was aimed at the target. Needless to say, the target was Priasis, escaping through the gate. But I was too far away to run and block it.
I picked up a loose stone from the ground and threw it.
Ping!
The bolt, struck by the stone mid-flight, flew off course. The assassin looked at me, dumbfounded.
"What are you looking at, bastard!" I pulled the dagger from my left shoulder and threw it.
The dagger sank into the assassin's hood. The assassin collapsed immediately.
Finally, Priasis's figure disappeared beyond the gate.
"...Huu."
I looked down. The knight was writhing on the ground, clutching his head in agony. He seemed to want to remove his helm, but his arms only flailed uselessly against the outside. I picked up the greatsword lying beside the knight with one hand.
Putting all my strength into the greatsword, I struck down on the knight's head.
Thud!
One side of the helmet caved in deeply, and dark blood spurted from the gaps. The knight stopped moving, like a dead insect.
After confirming the knight and assassin were dead, I collapsed against the wall. Blood was flowing from a long gash. I'd blocked the greatsword, but my stance had been poor.
['Han (★★)' has entered Deadly Poison status. HP will decrease periodically.]
'The poison is spreading fast.'
I coughed violently. The blood I coughed up was stained purple.
Leaning against the wall, I slid down into a sitting position.
"This is so fucked up."
5th Floor, 10th Floor, 15th Floor. There hasn't been a single mission I've cleared without getting hurt.
'I'm tired.'
I closed my eyes.
My job was done. The rest depended on whether the second party could hold out until the target reached the destination. Judging by the status effects, Aron was near death, Edis and Zena were injured, and Iolka couldn't use magic.
A short time later, a message appeared in the darkness.
[Escort Target has escaped the city.]
[Stage Clear!]
['Han (★★)', 'Zena (★★)', 'Aron (★★)', 'Iolka (★★★)', 'Edis (★★★)' Level Up!]
[Reward – 100,000G, Iron Ore (A) X 3]
[MVP - 'Han (★★)']
'So no one died.'
All five of us leveled up.
I gave a faint smile.