kscans

Chapter 89 - The Pitch-Black Knight and the Special Skill

Before us stood a massive door. Beyond it, the Area Guardian waited. Only six party members could enter at a time.

"We, Levante, will go."

"Can you win?"

Zofia asked. It was an impossible question to answer.

"A bit late for that, isn't it? This is why you brought us here, right?"

I couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

"Right,"

Zofia replied, a wry smile of her own on her lips.

"I need you to promise me something."

"What is it?"

"It's about what happens if we fail. I don't want you to let Avea and her team challenge it. Also, please free the caravan members. Your elite knights failed. You can't possibly think we can handle it on our own, can you?"

"I know this is unfair... but, alright,"

she agreed with a nod.

"Hey, what are you planning to do with your slaves?"

Avea cut into our conversation.

"I want you to free them in some town."

"So you're really going in with those six?"

I nodded.

"Is there anyone who doesn't want to go? I can take their place."

Avea looked over the members of Levante. None of them nodded at her question. Perhaps I had pushed them into this. Cecily and Aira, at least, should have been allowed to hesitate or decline. As these thoughts crossed my mind, my eyes met Aira's. She quietly shook her head. Then, she took Cecily's hand, who was standing next to her. Cecily squeezed her hand back tightly.

"Don't underestimate me. You can't fight without me, can you, Mash?"

Cecily answered. Avea sighed and turned back to me.

"Hold your palm open in front of your chest and show it to me."

I didn't understand her intention, but I did as she said. She slammed her fist into my palm. A dry sound echoed through the cavern.

"When you get back, we'll all sit around a campfire and share a drink."

I nodded. As she turned away, Beers stepped up and did the same, striking his fist against my palm.

"You defeated the Wind Blade. You guys will definitely win."

Next up was Doris.

"G-good luck!"

Plap. A soft, unreliable sound. She traded places with Fang, who now stood before me. I could feel the killing intent directed at me.

"Hey, don't hit me for real. I've got a fight coming up."

"I don't care if you die, but you'd better protect Mizuki with your life. And next time, put me on the team."

"...Sorry, but only women can join my party."

Instead of my hand, Fang punched me in the stomach. Ow. Was this guy in love with Mizuki?

"Well then, shall we go?"

"Yes,"

Famu replied to my words with a firm nod.

"We will open the door."

Myra and Aira pushed the door open. I went in first, followed by Mizuki, Famu, and Cecily. Finally, after Myra and Aira entered, the door shut behind us. It was just like the dungeon in Richel—a vast, dome-shaped room. In the distance, I could see another closed door. We had to defeat the Area Guardian and open that door, no matter what. In the center of the room, particles of light began to rain down, coalescing to form monsters.

"Worms. Two of them... No, more are appearing. Are they trying to overwhelm us with numbers?"

As Cecily spoke, another silhouette began to take shape alongside the two Worms. But this one was humanoid. It was a towering figure, well over two meters tall. Judging by its broad shoulders and muscular build, it was male. Its torso was covered in chainmail and a black surcoat, and though it wore leather breeches, I could see iron knee guards. It wielded a greatsword nearly as tall as itself and a massive shield that could hide half its body. It looked like a knight. Its head was also covered in chainmail, with a black hood over it. The face visible in the gap was like a poorly made mannequin, with no eyes or mouth.

"Famu and I will take on the knight in the center. Mizuki, you take the Worm on the left. Myra, the one on the right. Cecily and Aira, please provide support from the rear."

They nodded and readied their weapons.

"If you think you're in trouble, don't hesitate to say so. I'll call Laciel."

Ideally, I wanted to take care of the Worms first, then have Laciel launch her spear at the knight. I drew my sword. Famu also drew her twin blades and took her stance. A soft light enveloped me. It was Myra's protective blessing and Cecily's attack enhancement magic. The knight stood impassively where it had appeared. Famu and I slowly closed the distance. Mizuki and Myra ran past us, charging toward the Worms.

"Let's go!"

"Right!"

We tried to pincer him, but he turned his shield toward me, leaving no opening to attack. While keeping me at bay with his shield, the knight effortlessly swung his greatsword one-handed, bringing it down on Famu. Famu circled further around, deftly dodging the knight's sword, but he followed up with a sweeping slash. Famu and I hastily leaped back to evade the attack. Just as the knight was about to step forward to pursue Famu, Cecily's fire magic erupted in a fireball.

"Did we get him?!"

I was about to rush in to press the attack, but the knight spun and charged me with his 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 this, Famu, who had moved behind the knight, slashed at his neck, but his chainmail armor deflected the blade. The knight swung his greatsword at her. Famu jumped back, barely dodging the attack.

"No way... he has a magic barrier. My magic isn't getting through!"

It seemed Cecily's fireball had dissipated before hitting the knight. Not just her magic, but Famu's sword hadn't reached him either. She must have realized this as well, because she switched to her kunai. She must have judged that piercing would be more effective than slashing. The knight turned his sword toward Famu.

"Kikuichimonji!"

Famu launched a vacuum wave at the knight's face. As the knight leaned back to dodge, she leaped in. I timed my move to close the distance as well. He turned his shield on me again, but this time I aimed low, sweeping my sword at his feet. A high-pitched metallic clang echoed. He was wearing metal greaves under his leather breeches.

"You cheat!"

I couldn't help but shout. The knight's body barely wavered. But Famu didn't miss the opening. She threw a kunai that bit slightly into his chainmail, then followed up with a kick to drive it deeper. The knight swung his greatsword, and Famu retreated backward. Now it was my turn to thrust from the other side. I felt my blade pierce his chainmail as well.

"GAAAAAAH!"

The knight roared and swung his shield wildly. I took the full force of the blow. As I staggered and dropped to one knee, the greatsword came swinging down. Aira had come right up behind me. She grabbed my clothes and pulled me back. The knight was about to press his attack when another of Cecily's fireballs flew at him. It served as a distraction, but it was still blocked by the knight's magic barrier.

"How?! I even increased its size and power!"

Cecily cried out.

"Thanks for the save. He screamed, for a guy with no face,"

I said to Aira, protesting the unfairness of our enemy.

"He doesn't have eyes either, but for some reason he can see our movements,"

Aira replied.

"There aren't enough attackers with just you and Famu. I'm joining in."

Aira helped me up and readied her mace. It was good to have her attacking, but I was worried about losing a healer. I glanced over at Myra and Mizuki. Unlike us, they seemed to be having an easier time. I could see the Worms' movements slowing under their blows. The enemy was probably just these three. Should I use [Goddess Summon]? Would Laciel's spear be effective against him? As I hesitated, the knight charged at Aira and me, shield first. We split up to avoid him. Cecily, who was behind us, moved to hide behind me to avoid getting caught in the attack. The knight continued to pursue me, swinging his greatsword randomly. Just parrying it seemed like it would cause damage, so I desperately dodged. Aira, who was now behind the knight, struck him with her mace. But he blocked it with his shield. This time, Famu slipped under the shield and drove a kunai into the knight's thigh. As the knight tried to shove her away with his shield, Aira struck the embedded kunai, driving it deeper.

The knight dropped to one knee. I thought the fight was over, but in that instant, he pushed off his good leg and leaped backward, creating a large distance between us. He raised his greatsword high.

"Special Skill, Indra's Arrow!"

A beam of light shot from his sword toward the ceiling. The light tore open the ceiling, revealing a sky that shouldn't have been there. The sky was covered in black clouds, with lightning slithering through them.

"No way..."

This was the ultimate attack that had wiped out the Knight Order. I just stared up at the sky, stunned.

"Everyone, gather as close to me as you can!"

yelled Famu, who had been glaring at the sky just as I had. She turned to face me.

"The day has come for me to fulfill my declaration. I will deliver my master's blade to that knight's throat,"

Famu said. That's right. Her special skill could block the enemy's attack. Believing in that power, I would take this sword and cut down that knight, chainmail and all. I readied my blade and fixed my gaze on him. Mizuki, Myra, and Cecily, having understood her intent just as I had, gathered around her. Just then, a deafening roar echoed as countless bolts of lightning rained down from the sky. Famu held her hand up to the heavens.

"Special Skill, Yata no Kagami!"

As Famu shouted, a shining, circular mirror appeared above us. A deafening roar that felt like it would shatter my eardrums. A blinding flash, and the ground shaking as dust was kicked up. But we were protected by Famu's Yata no Kagami. I kept my concentration, my eyes fixed on the spot where the knight should be, now obscured by dust. I steadied my breathing.

The lightning ceased. I dashed through the dust-filled room, heading straight for the knight. As the dust settled, my vision cleared. There stood the knight, sword raised, as if he had predicted my move. I didn't hesitate, leaping into his range. This was a feint, a lure. The knight took the bait and swung his sword down. I had anticipated this move. And with an injured leg, his swing was slow. I dodged the blow with a backstep. There is nothing this sword cannot cut. I put everything into this single strike. I stepped forward again and swung my blade at the knight's neck.

"Impressive..."

The knight spoke. For a moment, an image of Akitsuki Uta flashed through my mind. Was he, too, a transmigrator who had been sleeping peacefully beneath the church? His head separated from his body and fell to the ground. The knight vanished.

"We did it!"

I turned around, raising a cry of victory. But before me stood two Worms.

"...Huh?"

I had completely forgotten about them. Did the knight's area-of-effect attack not hit his own allies? I barely dodged the charge of one Worm, but I couldn't avoid the tail swipe of the other. I was slammed to the ground. Mizuki and Myra 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 was actually thinking you were cool for a second,"

Mizuki said to me as I was being healed by Myra. Did that mean she usually didn't think I was cool? The Worms had already been defeated by her and the others.

"You really think I could beat two of them by myself when you had trouble with just one?"

"Mmph."

Mizuki puffed out her cheeks.

"Besides, the plan was for you and Myra to finish off the Worms while Famu and I dealt with the knight. Then all four of us would gang up on him."

"Don't be ridiculous! It took six of us to beat one of those Worms!"

Mizuki retorted. But I really thought she could do it, so it couldn't be helped.

"Well, whatever. I got to see your panties, Mizuki. I'm satisfied."

"It's not whatever, and don't be satisfied!"

Mizuki feigned anger, then her expression clouded over. "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 she helped me to my feet. I looked for Famu. She ran over to me. It seemed that 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.

"My special skill doesn't seem to use up all my mana like yours does, Master. But I can't use it repeatedly. I understand now what you meant before, about that feeling of wanting to use it but not being able to."

"Is your special skill a shield?"

"It has the power to reflect. It can be used like a shield, but things falling from the sky won't hit the enemy even if I reflect them..."

We could analyze her special skill later. I ruffled her hair.

"Alright, we've beaten the Area Guardian. Let's head to the room beyond."

"There's not going to be an eleventh floor, is there...?"

Mizuki murmured, voicing a terrible premonition. We proceeded into the next room.

In the center of the room, a transparent stone floated in the air. It seemed a little larger than the one Mii had possessed.

"...The Crystal Core. We just need to destroy this, right?"

No one replied to my mumbling.

"Hey, give me your usual lecture. This is making me anxious."

I looked at Myra.

"S-sorry. That's correct, but I've never actually destroyed one before. Are you sure nothing terrible will happen...?"

In that case, how about she squished 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. You just have to smash something like this with all your might!"

Cecily declared, puffing out her chest with baseless confidence. I drew my sword 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 Famu protectively. Seeing us, Myra puffed out her cheeks with a little "hmph,"

so I held her too.

"N-no way! This is a job for the frontline fighters!"

Cecily was in a complete panic.

"It's okay, Cecily. We have two healers with us. Leave the rest to us!"

"That doesn't sound like you think it's okay at all!"

Cecily shouted, but no one offered to take her place. Even Aira, who had been holding hands with Cecily before the battle, just gave her a sorrowful look. She sighed in resignation and raised the sword.

"Fine, I'm breaking it!"

At Cecily's voice, we all held our breath. She swung the sword down, and the Crystal Core shattered into a thousand pieces.