Ch.8080. Quick Swap, Delay Cancel

The knights that Trash had brought along totaled seven.

Though the numerical difference was significant, in a space this confined, numbers weren’t particularly important.

No matter how spacious the area might be, unless they were exceptionally well-coordinated, seven people couldn’t charge in simultaneously.

If they weren’t careful, their movements would overlap, or they might accidentally attack their own allies.

The same applied to the mages providing support from behind.

No matter how optimal the timing for an attack might be, they couldn’t cast spells toward the center where their allies were clustered…

BOOM!

“ARGH!!”

Wow, that crazy bastard just fired anyway.

I managed to avoid it with an evasive maneuver, but the knight right next to me had no choice but to take the magic attack head-on.

He must have controlled his power somewhat out of minimal conscience, because despite taking a direct hit, it didn’t seem fatal.

Still, it looked like he wouldn’t be able to continue this battle, so I subtly observed the reactions of the other knights… they all seemed confused by their comrade collapsing before their eyes and were somewhat looking to me for cues.

This isn’t even my fault, but it’s really awkward.

“…Take him away.”

“…Thank you.”

I couldn’t just leave the unjustly fallen knight there, so I stepped back slightly and said those words. The knights then dragged him toward the rear.

“You idiots!! What are you doing?! Shouldn’t you attack when he’s distracted like this?!”

The most idiotic one here is Trash himself, who just shot his own team with magic. Does he genuinely not realize this?

These knights must really have it tough.

After a brief lull, we returned to a standoff.

I was wary for a moment, concerned that Trash might try the same thing again, but he seemed to be just observing this time, perhaps realizing his first attempt had little effect.

For all I know, he might fire again if he thinks he sees an opportunity.

Whatever the case, he seems to have given up for now, so I’ll focus on dealing with the knights in front of me.

Seven knights… no, now six knights after Trash’s friendly fire, began charging at me again.

Feeling that losing momentum here could make things difficult, I aimed for a preemptive strike this time.

I drew a sword from my inventory and kicked off toward the nearest knight.

“Not a chance!”

The knight raised his sword, seemingly intending to block my attack. As expected from a skilled knight, I could sense a firmness that my swordsmanship alone would never break through.

But that was actually good. Head-on confrontation isn’t my specialty anyway.

As soon as I saw the knight take a defensive stance, I switched the equipment in my hand from sword to shield.

Then I swung it straight at his raised sword.

CRACK!

An unstable sound erupted from the knight’s sword.

Simultaneously, the impact must have been substantial, as the arm holding the sword was pushed inward.

“Ugh?!”

A technique that shatters an opponent’s defense with a shield. Guard Break.

This is an overpowered technique that can even destroy lower-tier equipment and even affects armor…

[Guard Break cooldown – 40 seconds]

[Defense reduction – 80%]

[Posture stiffening]

It has a long cooldown, drastically reduces the shield’s defense during that cooldown, and even forces your posture to stiffen briefly—major drawbacks that make it difficult to use unless you’re a tank.

So I hadn’t even considered using it properly until now, but…

‘Things are different now.’

With my inventory open, I could use it freely.

I could completely ignore the defense reduction and posture stiffening through delay cancellation.

The method was simple. Just put the shield back into the inventory and take it out again the moment Guard Break occurs.

Just putting it in isn’t enough. That would only cancel the defense reduction, but the posture stiffening would still apply, making it perfect for getting killed.

Unfortunately, since Guard Break is a system skill rather than an item, cooldown cancellation didn’t work, but that didn’t particularly matter since I could do more than just this.

“You!”

In the meantime, noticing another knight rushing in to provide support, I drew a sword with my empty left hand to block the attack.

The fact that I blocked instead of dodging meant, of course, that it was a pattern I could parry.

CLANG-

With that crisp sound, I threw my shield at the knight who was knocked back.

It was just a training shield I’d taken from the training grounds anyway. I’d kept it as a consumable, so I had no attachment to it.

THUD!

Being skilled knights, they could easily handle my mediocre throwing skills, but in that brief moment, a training dagger had appeared in my hand.

Did you think I only took shields from the training grounds? I’d swept up everything useful long ago.

Thanks to that, there was a small incident called the “Missing Training Equipment Case,” but since few people in the advanced class used training equipment, it was quickly forgotten.

I did eventually get caught and scolded by Celia… Anyway, didn’t I mention before?

Quick-swapping using inventory is my specialty.

When a veteran player claims something is their specialty, it’s not just empty boasting.

“What the…”

After quickly bypassing the two knights in front, I threw a dagger at another knight who was right behind them.

Throwing just one would make it bounce off ineffectively like the shield I threw earlier, so I threw as many as I could.

In the two steps it took to approach, six daggers had been thrown.

Though not particularly sharp, the knight couldn’t just stand there watching them fly toward him and had to respond, which allowed me to slip past him.

I’d bypassed three knights in an instant. Of course, I hadn’t defeated them but merely passed them, so I ended up being surrounded, but it wasn’t particularly dangerous.

This formation was intentional from the beginning, all designed to make Trash step in.

“Everyone, don’t let him escape. I’ll handle this.”

Judging that my escape route was blocked, Trash immediately intervened with those words.

Of course, I could still escape, and the knights, gradually realizing they couldn’t stop me, seemed troubled by his orders… but don’t worry. I have no intention of running away from here.

What was my goal here? To reach the secret book repository hidden underground.

But the method of going through the hidden trapdoor had failed. Because I’d been discovered like this.

So I needed to find another way… and hadn’t the situation turned out like this? Thanks to that, a decent method came to mind.

So… if I stand right here where the book repository is located below, with this crazed Trash in front of me… he might just blast open a shortcut with his magic.

BOOM-!!

My prediction was spot on.

Focused solely on attacking me without regard for consequences, Trash unleashed powerful magic without caring that the building would be damaged, creating a large hole where I was standing that connected to the underground.

Naturally, I avoided the magic with evasive maneuvers, and I was able to descend underground unharmed.

“…Did he move to that position from the beginning, anticipating this?”

“My, what an utterly preposterous monster.”

“By the way, was there even an underground area here?”

“What are you all standing around admiring for! Chase after him right… no, no… everyone go back. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“I’m sure, so get out of here now!”

Such conversation could be heard through the hole that had been created.

No matter how loyal his knights might be, he couldn’t show them a place where forbidden books were collected.

The knights, though puzzled, followed his orders and left, and soon the sound of someone jumping down through the hole could be heard.

“To know the exact location of this place and induce my attack… I suspected as much, but you’re no ordinary commoner. Whose spy are you? Tell me.”

“…?”

“Right. You wouldn’t tell me anyway.”

I’m confused by this sudden change in attitude.

He was so dismissive just moments ago, what caused this change of heart?

“Please, I beg you, just put down what you’re holding.”

Ah, so it was because of the forbidden book I was holding.

As soon as I came down, I had picked up a forbidden book containing content about mind control. This was my objective from the beginning.

Trash’s suddenly petty attitude made immediate sense.

While other forbidden books would certainly be damaging, this one would guarantee complete annihilation of his family line if it ever came to light. He must be thinking he needs to prevent its disclosure at all costs.

Even amid all this, he was trying to appear less petty by calling me a spy and attaching his own delusions… but well, he’s free to have his delusions.

With these thoughts, I just stared at him without saying anything, which made Trash even more anxious as he tried to persuade me.

“How much… yes, how much do you want? I’ll personally give you three times whatever amount you’ve been paid. So please…”

He finally made an extremely generous offer, but unfortunately, since the amount I received was 0, multiplying it by three still equals 0… so it wasn’t an appealing offer at all.

As I was briefly considering how to respond, a familiar voice came from the hole above.

“Would you really pay three times the amount, Trash Zivchak?”

Looking up at that voice, I saw Celia and Alkine who had arrived at some point, standing side by side looking down here.

“Sorry, Ludion. We’re a bit late, aren’t we?”

“No, your timing is perfect.”

It was getting awkward to respond because of Trash who had just made a huge misunderstanding. This timing was truly ideal.

Trash wore the most surprised expression of the day at Celia’s sudden appearance.

“Y-Your Highness…!”

“What shall we do? Should I come down, or would you like to come up?”

“…I’ll come up right away.”

Power really is convenient. I had to go through all that trouble just to get here, but the princess can make people come and go with just a word.

“Ludion. What are you doing? Come out quickly. Is there anything else you need to see in there?”

“No, nothing.”

There actually is a lot, but given the situation, I decided to just put all the forbidden books from inside into my inventory and leave.

And with that, the situation was resolved.