Chapter 89 - The Jet-Black Knight and the Special Skill
A colossal door loomed before us. Beyond it, the Area Guardian waited. Only the six of us registered to the party could enter at once.
"We, Levante, will go."
"Can you win?" Zofia asked, but there was no way to answer that.
"A little late to be asking, don't you think? You dragged us all the way here for this, didn't you?"
A bitter smile escaped my lips.
"Right," Zofia returned with a wry grin of her own.
"I need you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"This is for if we fail. I don't want you to let Avea and the others challenge it. And I want you to release the caravan. The Royal Guard's finest were wiped out. You can't possibly think we stand a chance, can you?"
"I know this is wrong… but fine. I understand."
She nodded.
"Hey, what are you going to do with your slaves?" Avea cut into our conversation.
"I'd like you to set them free in some town."
"So you're really going in with just those six?"
I nodded.
"Is there anyone who doesn't want to go? I'll take your place." Avea's gaze swept over the members of Levante. None of them nodded at her question. Perhaps I had backed them into a corner. Cecily and Aira, at the very least, had every right to hesitate, every right to back out. As that thought crossed my mind, my eyes met Aira's. She gave a slow shake of her head. Then, she took the hand of Cecily, who stood beside her. Cecily squeezed her hand back tightly.
"Don't underestimate me. Mash can't even fight without me, can he?"
After Cecily's response, Avea sighed and turned back to me.
"Hold your palm open in front of your chest and show me."
Unsure of her intent, I did as she said. She slammed her fist into my open palm. A dry smack echoed.
"When you get back, we'll all sit around the fire and share a drink."
I nodded. As she turned away, Beers took her place and slammed his own fist into my palm.
"You defeated 'Wind Blade.' You'll definitely win."
Next was Doris.
"P-Please do your best!"
A soft pat was the only sound. As she stepped aside, Fang stood before me. I could feel the killing intent directed my way.
"Hey, don't hit me for real. I've got a fight coming up."
"I don't care if you die, but you damn well better protect Mizuki with your life. And next time, put me on the team."
"…Sorry, but only women can join my party."
Fang didn't punch my hand. He punched me in the stomach. That hurt. Is this guy in love with Mizuki?
"Well, shall we go?"
"Yes."
Fam nodded at my words.
"Opening the door."
Maira and Aira pushed the great door open. I went in first, followed by Mizuki, Fam, and Cecily. Finally, Maira and Aira entered, and the door sealed shut behind us. It was just like the dungeon in Richelle—a vast, dome-shaped chamber. I could see another sealed door at the far end. We had to defeat the Area Guardian and open that door, no matter what. Particles of light began to rain down in the center of the room, coalescing and giving form to monsters.
"Worms. Two of them… no, more are coming. Are they trying to overwhelm us with numbers?"
Just as Cecily said, another silhouette began to form beside the two Worms. But this one was humanoid. It was a massive figure, well over two meters tall. From its broad shoulders and muscular build, it appeared male. It wore a chainmail shirt under a black surcoat, leather breeches on its lower half, and I could see iron plates protecting its knees. In one hand, it held a greatsword with a blade nearly as long as it was tall, and in the other, a massive shield large enough to hide half its body. A knight. Its head was also covered in chainmail, topped with a black hood. The face visible in the gap was like a poorly made mannequin, with no eyes or mouth.
"Fam and I will take the knight in the center. Mizuki, you take the Worm on the left. Maira, the one on the right. Cecily and Aira, I need you to provide support from the rear."
They all nodded and readied their weapons.
"If you think we're in trouble, don't hesitate to say so. I'll call Racshell."
Ideally, after we take care of the Worms, I'd have Racshell launch her spear at the knight.
I drew my katana. Fam also drew her twin swords, taking her stance. A soft light enveloped me—Maira's defensive blessing and Cecily's offensive enhancement magic. The knight stood serenely where it had first appeared. As Fam and I slowly closed the distance, Mizuki and Maira rushed past us, charging toward the Worms.
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
We tried to pincer it, but it turned its shield toward me, leaving no opening to strike. Keeping me at bay with its shield, the knight casually swung its greatsword with one hand, bringing it down on Fam. Fam circled further around, deftly dodging the knight's blade, but it followed up with a sweeping slash. Fam and I hastily leaped back to evade the attack. Just as the knight stepped forward to target Fam again, Cecily's fire magic erupted in a fireball.
"Did we get it?!"
I tried to press the attack, but the knight spun and slammed into me with its shield. I managed to block the blow as if in a sword lock, but I couldn't absorb the impact and was sent flying. Seeing the opening, Fam, who had moved behind the knight, slashed at its neck, but the chainmail it wore stopped her blade. The knight swung its greatsword at her. Fam leaped back, narrowly dodging the blow.
"No way! It has a magic barrier! My magic isn't getting through!"
It seemed Cecily's fireball had dissipated just before hitting the knight. Not only her magic, but Fam's swords were also failing to connect. She must have realized it too, as she switched to her kunai, likely judging that piercing would be more effective than slashing. The knight turned its sword toward Fam.
"Kikuichimonji!"
Fam fired a vacuum wave straight at the knight's face. As the knight leaned back to dodge, she seized the opening and leaped in. I timed my own advance, closing the distance. It turned its shield on me again, but this time I swept my katana at its feet, under the shield. A high-pitched metallic clang rang out. It was wearing metal greaves under its leather breeches.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
I couldn't help but shout. The knight's body barely swayed. But Fam didn't miss the opening. She threw a kunai, and just as it bit into the chainmail, she followed up with a kick, driving it deeper. The knight swung its greatsword, and Fam retreated backward. Now it was my turn to thrust from the opposite side. I felt the satisfying resistance of my blade piercing its chainmail.
"GAAAAAAH!"
The knight let out a roar and swung its shield wildly. The blow connected. I staggered and dropped to one knee, and the greatsword came swinging down. Aira rushed to my side, grabbing my clothes and pulling me back. The knight tried to press its attack, but another of Cecily's fireballs flew toward it. It served as a distraction, but it was still blocked by the knight's magic barrier.
"But I made it bigger and stronger!"
Cecily cried out.
"Thanks. For a featureless freak, it sure can scream."
I complained to Aira, my savior, about the sheer unfairness of our enemy.
"It doesn't have eyes either, but for some reason, it can see our movements," Aira replied.
"Mash and Fam aren't enough. I'm joining the fight."
Aira helped me to my feet and readied her mace. It was good to have her attacking, but losing a healer made me anxious. I glanced over at Maira and Mizuki. Unlike us, they seemed to have the upper hand. I could see the Worms' movements growing sluggish under their combined assault. It looked like these three were the only enemies. Should I summon the goddess? Would Racshell's spear even work on him? While I hesitated, the knight charged, shield first, aiming for me and Aira. We split up to avoid it. Cecily, in the rear, also moved to hide behind me to avoid getting caught in the attack. The knight continued to chase me, swinging its greatsword indiscriminately. Even blocking it seemed like it would cause damage, so I desperately dodged. Aira, now behind the knight, struck it with her mace, but it was blocked by the shield. This time, Fam slipped under the shield and drove a kunai into the knight's thigh. As the knight tried to swat her away with its shield, Aira struck the embedded kunai, driving it deeper.
The knight dropped to one knee. For a moment, I thought the fight was over. But the knight leaped backward on its good leg, creating a massive distance between us. It raised its greatsword high.
"Special Skill, Indra's Arrow!"
A single beam of light shot from its sword toward the ceiling. The light tore open the ceiling, revealing a sky that shouldn't have been there. The heavens were covered in black clouds, with lightning slithering through them like veins.
"No way…"
This was it. The ultimate attack that had annihilated the knights. I could only stare up at the sky, stunned.
"Everyone, gather as close to me as you can!"
Fam, who had been glaring at the sky just as I had, shouted. She turned to face me.
"The day has come for me to fulfill my promise. I will deliver my master's blade to that knight's throat!"
That's right, Fam had said it. Her special skill could block the enemy's attack. Believing in that power, I would use this katana to slice through that knight, chainmail and all. I readied my blade and fixed my gaze on the knight. Mizuki, Maira, and Cecily, having understood her intention just as I had, gathered around. Just then, with a deafening roar, countless bolts of lightning rained down from above. Fam raised her hand to the sky.
"Special Skill, Yata no Kagami!"
As Fam cried out, a shining, circular mirror materialized above us. An eardrum-shattering roar. A blinding flash, and a tremor that kicked up clouds of dust. Yet, we were shielded by Fam's Yata no Kagami. I kept my focus, my eyes locked on the spot where the knight should be, now obscured by dust. I steadied my breathing.
The lightning ceased. I sprinted through the dust-filled room, heading straight for the knight. The dust began to settle, my vision clearing. There it stood, sword raised, as if it had predicted my move. I didn't care. I leaped into its range. This was a feint, a move to bait it. The knight fell for it, swinging its sword down. I'd anticipated this. And with one leg injured, its swing was slow. I dodged the blow with a backstep. There is nothing this katana cannot cut. I would put everything into this one strike. I stepped forward again and swung my blade at the knight's neck.
"Magnificent…" the knight said.
For an instant, the face of Akizuki Uta flashed through my mind. Was he, too, a transferred person who had been sleeping peacefully in the church's catacombs? His head separated from his torso and fell to the ground. The knight vanished.
"We did it!"
I turned around, raising a cry of victory. But standing before me were two Worms.
"…Huh?"
I had completely forgotten about them. Did the knight's area-of-effect attack not hit its own allies? I barely managed to dodge one Worm's charge, but I couldn't evade the other's tail whip. I was slammed to the ground. Mizuki and Maira rushed over. It hurt. But my job was done. Now all I had to do was enjoy the view of Mizuki's panties.
"Why do you always let your guard down at the end…? I actually thought you were cool for a second there."
Did that mean she usually didn't think I was cool? Mizuki said this to me as I was being healed by Maira. The Worms had already been defeated by Mizuki and the others.
"You really think I could take on two of them by myself when even one gives you trouble?"
"Hmph."
Mizuki puffed out her cheeks.
"The plan was for Fam and I to handle the knight while you and Maira took care of the Worms. Then the four of us would gang up on the knight."
"Don't be ridiculous! We needed six people to beat just one Worm last time!"
Mizuki retorted. But I really thought she could do it, so it couldn't be helped.
"Whatever. I got to see your panties. I'm satisfied."
"It's not whatever, and don't be satisfied!"
Mizuki feigned anger, then her expression softened.
"When you went down, I screamed. So please, next time, leave it to me."
"Yeah. Got it."
She held out her hand. I took it and pulled myself up. I looked for Fam, and she came running over to me. It seemed using her special skill didn't drain her mana and cause her to collapse like me. Last time, she had only passed out from a sleep spell. I needed to learn more about her special skill.
"It seems my special skill doesn't drain all my mana like yours does, Master. But I can't use it repeatedly, either. I finally understand that feeling you mentioned—where you want to use it, but you just can't."
"Is its ability a shield?"
"It's a reflective power. I can use it like a shield. But when things fall from the sky, reflecting them doesn't make them hit the enemy…"
We could analyze her special skill later. I ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Alright, we beat the Area Guardian. Let's head to the next room."
"There's not an eleventh floor, is there…?"
Mizuki muttered with a dreadful premonition. We proceeded into the room at the back.
In the center of the far room, a transparent stone floated in mid-air. It felt a little larger than the one Mii had possessed.
"…A crystal core. We just have to destroy this, right?"
No one answered my murmur.
"Hey, give me one of your usual lectures. The silence is making me nervous."
I said, looking at Maira.
"I-I'm sorry. That is correct, but I've never experienced one being destroyed. What if something terrible happens…?"
In that case, how about we have her crush it between her breasts? Even if it exploded, her soft bosom would surely absorb the shock. I'd probably get yelled at if I said that, so I kept my mouth shut.
"Don't be silly. We just have to smash the heck out of it!"
Cecily declared with baseless confidence, puffing out her chest. I drew my katana and handed it to her.
"Huh?"
Leaving Cecily behind, the rest of us backed away to the corners of the room. Just in case, I held Fam protectively. Seeing us, Maira puffed out her cheeks with a pout, so I held her as well.
"N-No way! This is a job for the frontline!"
Cecily was in a complete panic.
"It's okay, Cecily. We have two healers with us. We'll take care of the rest!"
"That sounds like you don't think it's okay at all!"
Cecily shouted, but no one offered to take her place. Even Aira, who had been holding her hand before the battle, just sent a mournful gaze her way. With a sigh of resignation, she raised the katana.
"Fine, I'll break it!"
At Cecily's voice, we all held our breath. She swung the katana down, and the crystal core shattered into a thousand pieces.
Thank you for reading. To everyone who has liked, bookmarked, or rated this story, thank you very much. It encourages me to keep going. I'll do my best. Thank you so much for pointing out typos.