episode_0088

Plip. Plip.

A sound of something dripping. Was it water?

My mind was hazy. How did I end up like this?

“Live… please…”

Someone was sobbing while carrying me on their back. I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t muster the energy.

Lethargy and exhaustion coexisted within me.

—Tch, you poured too much divine power.

The Holy Sword spoke.

But I couldn’t hear it clearly.

—Still, we’ve passed the worst of it. I’d like to tell that girl to stop whining already.

Whining?

Who?

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I remembered—I had saved Veronica.

—Fortunately, it seems we’ll soon run into the others.

At the Holy Sword’s muttering, I slowly opened my eyes.

I wanted to sleep more like this, but…

‘This isn’t good.’

I forced my eyes wide open.

All I could see was darkness.

But the vision I gained as a master archer allowed me to see reasonably well even in the dark.

I drew upon my mana. A faint vitality began to surge through my sluggish body.

—You’re awake.

‘Yeah.’

I responded to the Holy Sword’s question while pulling myself together.

—Don’t push yourself. The injuries you sustained were quite severe.

‘Where are we?’

—The 13th Floor.

‘……’

Just what did we do to end up falling all the way down to the 2nd Floor?

I frowned.

There were too many things to worry about right now.

What happened to Hermes’ party?

Two of the clan’s strongest fighters had been separated from them.

Even with Hermes and Liciel there…

‘…They’ll be fine.’

This was Hermes we were talking about. She’d find a way out somehow.

Right now, the ones we should be worrying about were ourselves.

‘How are we supposed to get out of here?’

Suddenly, as I thought that far, the Holy Sword’s words came back to me.

—Fortunately, it seems we’ll soon run into the others.

Running into the others.

In this situation, it was dangerous, but the Holy Sword had used the word fortunately.

That meant they were people we could trust.

‘Other clan members?’

How did Hermes even get here?

“…You’re awake?”

A thick, swollen voice.

Uncharacteristically anxious, it sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

‘…On the verge of tears?’

The thought was a little absurd.

Who was the girl in front of me? None other than Veronica.

Should I call it fortunate?

‘At least throwing myself in to save her wasn’t for nothing.’

Fortunately, the best possible outcome had come to pass.

If I had been alone when I fell down, I would never have survived.

And the same went for Veronica.

We had to combine our strength.

‘And, as a bonus, I cleared my debt.’

If we had died there, there would’ve been nothing we could do, but…

‘…’

Suddenly, as I thought that far, I wondered if I should’ve just stolen it with Jeolto instead.

Had it been a mistake to act so hastily in the heat of the moment?

“What, what is it?”

As I was lost in thought, Veronica spoke in a frightened voice.

“Nothing, I just thought you were human too.” “Hah?”

A glare that looked like it could kill.

Yeah, this was more like her.

“More importantly, I think you can put me down now.” “…You must be exhausted from pouring out divine power. Just stay still.”

I was surprised by Veronica’s words.

I hadn’t expected her to say something like that.

‘If it’s urgent, she’ll wake me up herself.’

I rested my head against Veronica’s back and was about to drift off to sleep when—

“…You two.” “Un… ni?”

I couldn’t.

Because we had met the survivors.

Clara.

Because we had managed to reunite with her.

—

“Th-thank goodness.”

Clara looked at us and spoke.

The pinnacle of a thief’s skills was speaking through her. Her tone was composed, but her words carried her true feelings.

“But how did the two of you end up on the 13th Floor?” “…We were ambushed. We fell from the 11th to the 12th Floor.” “Did you land near the 12th Floor’s boss room?” “Yeah.” “…Good thing we took care of it, then.”

Clara let out a sigh of relief.

From the looks of it, Clara’s party had defeated the 12th Floor’s boss.

“More importantly, it’s fortunate.”

A knight in paladin attire spoke.

“The Saintess, Miss Clara, and Yuseong, currently regarded as the most promising rising star in the Cradle.”

With five members in total—

Two knights, me (a versatile class capable of both vanguard and rearguard roles), and two Saintesses—

‘Not a bad composition, but…’

We were severely outnumbered.

Those bastards preferred to overwhelm us with sheer numbers.

—The fortunate part is having two Saintesses. ‘…Still, there’s hope.’ —Hope, you say?

The Holy Sword began to chuckle lowly.

—Well, it does seem like there’s hope. Though it might still be a little lacking. ‘…I suppose so.’

Unlike the other floors, this was the 13th Floor.

There was no telling how many undead lurked here.

—That’s true, but… those two knights are practically dead weight. ‘…’

I couldn’t deny that.

By my estimation, they were at least Level 4, but…

‘How are they weaker than me?’

Sure, I was good at bluffing, but this was a bit much.

—Then let me teach you. ‘Teach me what?’ —How to walk. ‘Walk?’ —Yes. And this time, use me. ‘…’

I had no choice.

The moment I did, Clara and Veronica would notice.

The knights would notice too, but…

‘More importantly…’

Survival came first.

I had always fought tooth and nail to stay alive.

—Before that, let’s fix your footwork first.

The Holy Sword spoke those words calmly.

—

After excusing myself from the group, I retreated to a secluded spot.

—Honestly, teaching you anything right now doesn’t make much sense.

It was ironic—he had said he’d teach me footwork, only to immediately call it nonsensical.

—But you’ve shown me many things so far. ‘…’ —So I’ll teach you. Since you’ve learned the orthodox swordsmanship of the Hero, you should be able to master orthodox footwork as well.

With that, the Holy Sword continued.

—This footwork is divided into four types.

“Flying Swallow Step” – A light, bounding stride for covering long distances. “Tyrant’s Tread” – A dominating gait used to pressure opponents in battle. “Flash Step” – A movement that closes the distance in an instant. “Formless Step” – A single step that deflects an opponent’s attack.

—By now, the Empire has given them all sorts of names, and so many schools have branched off that each of the four steps has its own faction… but the first Hero only created four. And even now, I’ve never seen footwork that surpasses what he made. ‘…’

I suddenly felt something was off.

Even to me, the Hero’s orthodox swordsmanship was absurdly refined.

But shouldn’t techniques grow stronger over time?

‘And yet…’

This feeling—as if the art had declined at some point before regaining its strength—what was it?

—You’re not wrong.

The Holy Sword chuckled, as if affirming my doubts.

—Anyway, that’s not the point. What’s important now is finding which of these four steps suits you best.

Right. That wasn’t the issue at hand.

I practiced the footwork as the Holy Sword instructed.

Ten minutes passed.

—……

The Holy Sword stared at me as if at a loss for words.

—I thought you’d struggle at first, but… ‘Yeah.’

If I had stolen the Hero’s orthodox swordsmanship with Jeolto…

This time, I applied the pinnacle of a thief’s skills to footwork.

And the result?

—I didn’t expect you to master all of them in just ten minutes. ‘I haven’t mastered them.’

As I learned the four steps, I realized something.

This was only the beginning. Each step had untapped potential that would reveal itself as I honed them further.

‘Right now, it still feels like I’m just scratching the surface.’

If the Hero’s orthodox swordsmanship could unleash countless slashes with a single swing…

Then these four steps held just as much latent power.

‘I’m roughly prepared now.’

I took out my belongings from the hidden space. What I had:

‘30 composite daggers. 150 arrows. 10 Shadow Reapers, 10 paralyzing poisons, 10 bleeding poisons. And 10 Bonefire potions, effective against undead.’

Plus 10 antidotes and 30 potions, just in case.

It wasn’t enough, but…

‘…I should distribute the potions and antidotes to the knights.’

Still, giving Clara and Veronica one each as emergency supplies wouldn’t hurt.

I returned to the group.

“How is it?” “I’m ready.”

So now—

“Let’s go.” “Let’s proceed.”

Veronica and Clara responded.

—

Should I call it fortunate?

The two knights’ combat abilities exceeded my expectations.

“Haaap!”

The knight at the front raised his shield. Emerging before us were Banshees, Death Knights, and the ghost-type monsters and Skeletons they commanded.

KWAANG!

With a single clash, he halted their charge.

Behind him, the other knight lifted a massive hammer with all his might.

KRRIIIIK!

His muscles grotesquely swelled.

KWAAAAAAANG!!

An overwhelming shockwave blasted through the enemies ahead.

—Quite the extreme combination.

The Holy Sword assessed their teamwork.

I agreed.

I advanced, charging straight at a Death Knight.

Crack.

A violet sword aura, a mix of battle aura and mana, began to rise from the blade.

But its size was different.

—Hoho, how is it? ‘…’

The amount of mana and battle aura consumed had decreased.

It was far easier to maintain.

‘At least twice as long.’

I was starting to understand why this was the Holy Sword.

But more importantly—

Thud.

I took a single, heavy step forward.

‘Tyrant’s Tread.’

KRGGGRR!

A step that pressured the opponent.

Releasing battle aura, I froze the Death Knight’s movements.

In that instant, without hesitation, I unleashed the sword aura.

Sschk!

A single swing.

Yet three overlapping slashes tore through its limbs before—

KANG!

—I stabbed straight into the core in its chest.

Hssss…

The Death Knight dissolved into black smoke and vanished.

‘It dies this easily?’

I was stunned.

Normally, they had Dark Aura, making them hard to cut, but…

—Do you forget who I am?

A smug voice rang out.

—The ultimate weapon wielded only by the Hero, the one who opposes the Demon King and represents his race. Those of demonic origin dare not stand against me.

I see.

In that case—

I lunged forward.

“Flash Step” – A movement that closes the distance in an instant.

My figure seemed to vanish as I dashed ahead, appearing right before—

—Kyehk?!

—the Banshee leading the ghosts.

And then—

Sschk.

A single slash.

Simultaneously, three more slashes bisected the surrounding ghosts.

That settled it.

‘…If this keeps up.’

Hope began to flicker.

The hope that we could escape.