The Adventurer with Light (2)

He'd really stabbed me, completely defenseless.

I hadn't even thought to use Happy Moment to dodge. Right up until the moment the blade pierced me, all I could think was, What the hell kind of nightmare is this? It was only after the searing pain hit that I realized this was reality.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Gaaahhh!!"

Something black wrapped around my heart, blocking the blade, and it slid off, carving a deep gash into my side instead.

"What the—?! You cowardly bastard!! You were hiding mithril chest armor...!"

Only then did I finally use Happy Moment to smash him away and break free.

But... my mana was almost gone now. Down to like 2? Ever since smashing the dungeon core, I'd been pulling all-nighters with no time to recover.

I touched my heart, where I'd nearly been stabbed.

There was the Prosek hero's crest on my chest. The mithril felt so comfortable I'd completely forgotten it was there. Who knew it'd deflect a magic sword?

Talk about lucky.

...That's what I wanted to say, but the bleeding was bad.

In this state, I couldn't strike first. I'd have to wait for his attacks and counter.

"Hah... hah... hack."

Clutching the blood from my right side with one hand, I barely drew my sword. Damn, no mana meant the blade was pitch black.

Suddenly, Ashu shot up. I'd been about to yell to wake her, but she did it herself.

"Kirgil!? What hap—"

Right. The ring?

"Shut your mouth too, wench!! [Cut down!]"

Inadia had truly lost it. He was swinging at Ashu, who had just woken up.

I poured out my remaining mana and shouted desperately.

"Damn it!! [I reject ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠negation!!]"

A protective barrier flickered up from Ashu's armor, blocking the blade. But Inadia's magic sword wasn't just sharp—it had a secondary function that yanked the blade free on its own.

That force slammed hard against the barrier!!

"Kyaaah!!"

The unexpected shockwave hurled Ashu far away; she crashed into a tree and passed out.

"What was that?! An ambush?!"

"Kyaaang!! Wh-what!? What's going on!?

Why is Lord Inadia attacking Lord Kirgil...?"

The commotion had woken Hodo and Hairil. Panash grimaced through his hangover, barely propping himself up.

Inadia scanned our startled group rising around him.

And then.

"Hahahahahahaha!! Kuhahahaha!! How tragic!! To think it'd come to this!!"

Inadia burst into wild laughter. Not drunk laughter—this was the laugh of madness.

We all held our breath, eyes locked on him.

"...Looks like quietly finishing this is off the table now!"

At those words, everyone drew their weapons.

"No choice but to kill you all.

Porter, this is all your fault! If you'd died quietly, the princess and these honored guests would've been fine.

Wait, the princess isn't dead yet?

Perfect. That body's got some use—I'll keep her alive a bit longer."

"I get the situation! Hrrrngh!!"

Hodo sensed the blatant hostility and swung his axe at Inadia.

As their sword and axe clashed.

"Kirgil, [You are the indomitable hero Katarillan!]"

Eh!? Hairil could even use healing magic like that.

The effect was weak, but the bleeding eased a little. With the pain dulled, I pressed a cloth against it and cinched my belt tight for first aid.

"Annoying little dwarf... [Begone!!]"

Inadia blocked the axe with his shield, then bashed Hodo flying.

That's when Panash thrust his halberd at Inadia's back from behind.

"Gack!!"

But a blue flame hissed up, repelling the halberd without so much as a scratch on the armor.

"That hurts!! You pointy-eared runt!!"

Panash leaped back, dodging Inadia's sword. Inadia then advanced on Hodo, sprawled from the blow.

"Such a shame Father's dungeon collapsed. It was so useful for killing arrogant punks like you and disposing of the bodies.

Not stinking dwarf filth, but a dungeon full of handsome studs and beauties relying on me... You lot ruined it... "

The guy was spewing disgusting nonsense—whether from built-up grudges these past few days or the booze. So you were why that dungeon was such an arrogant shithole.

I directed the panicking Hairil at my side.

"Hairil, hit Inadia with Darjilka!!"

"Y-yes!? Ah! Inadia, [You are the gale hero Darjilka!]"

Hairil's chant sent enhancement magic surging toward Inadia.

"Wh-what!? Why is my body—?! Uwaaah!!"

As expected, Inadia couldn't adapt to the speed boost. He missed Hodo and smashed into the rock behind, tumbling over.

With the booze, control must be even harder.

Meanwhile, Hodo shook it off and stood.

"You dare toy with me!! ...Raaah!!"

Inadia rolled, crashed, and bashed, but his armor left only facial scratches.

Hodo and Panash targeted his head—his unarmored weak spot—but the shield was the issue. He started hiding his face behind it like bedtime.

"Hahahaha!! That weird magic's done! Thanks to it, the booze haze is gone!! Now I can kill you refreshed!!"

Armor carried him, but Inadia had skill too. Useless against monsters, maybe, but slick against people.

I joined Hodo and Panash, but it was no use. My wound kept me from swinging properly.

Inadia grew bolder, trusting his gear, pressing aggressively. We were falling back.

Damn, should've dragged a basilisk. He feared its petrifying gaze piercing that armor.

Dawn was breaking. Sunlight sharpened the twisted sneer on his face.

"What?! Kirgil!! Is that all you got?! Where's that skill that nearly slit my throat in a blink?! Hurting? Or did smashing the dungeon take it all? Is that it? Hahahaha!!! Lowborn scum overreaching—divine punishment!!"

He swung at me, mockingly simple left-right arcs. I tried dodging, but the wound slowed me. No Happy Moment, so I blocked each rote strike.

"Ngh! Grhh... "

Every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠block jolted my wound and whole body.

Damn... blood bursting from the barely staunched gash. My head was fogging suddenly.

Hallucinations? Men's voices, women's too.

People I know from the afterlife coming to greet me en masse? Shut up!! I can't die now!!

Inadia read my state, resetting for the kill.

I remembered that stance—from our first duel. Thrust, slash, shove. I knew it now, but couldn't block.

"Now know your place... Hey! Don't interfere!!"

Luckily, Hodo and Panash's pincer stopped the finisher.

He frantically defended left halberd, right axe with sword and shield.

But Panash's thrusting halberd axe-head snagged on Inadia's sword.

Panash yanked to free it, but Inadia was too close. He grinned, closed in, and headbutted Panash full-force.

A madman's all-out headbutt hit harder than a fist.

Spotting Hodo lunging, Inadia aimed his shield and yelled.

"[Begone!!]"

Hodo flew back from the sudden counter.

Fresh, maybe he'd handle it—but we were exhausted, hungover. Attacks sloppy, judgments slow.

Hours ago he'd been ally—unconscious hesitation showed.

Inadia fought with reckless frenzy and murderlust, dead set on killing. He'd gone too far; now he'd finish it.

Panash and Hodo down, only I stood.

I told terrified Hairil to run—someone needed to report this alive. But she hid trembling by a tree, unable to flee.

Inadia eyed me, blood trickling from his split forehead, grinning.

"Haha, beastman, sir. Tired of waiting?"

I still held my sword, but had no way to stop him. Barely standing.

My side and hand were blood-soaked. This blood loss was dangerous even without him attacking. Hallucinations worsening.

Now my Status Window HP was... Huh!?

When did this appear?? Some weird skill on me.

Killgent's Oath—my sword's name, etched right there.

Desperate enough to grasp any straw, I screamed inwardly.

[Whatever you are, Killgent's Oath or whatever—show yourself! Take this blood instead of mana!]

A solemn male voice flowed into me. No, one of the faint voices from before.

Not afterlife bullshit!?

The voice sharpened like an old radio dialing in—sudden, loud, clear.

Now a woman's voice boomed strong.

Inadia closed in. Blood from his gashed forehead smeared his lips. He leered disgustingly.

"I'll make good use of the princess."

"You fucking... [Pray this, pray that!! Fine! Inadia, you shit noble prick—give me the power to smash that gear!!]"

As I raised my sword against the approaching Inadia.

Strength drained from my body. Like mana being sucked into the blade.

"Kh... Wh-what... is this...?"

Dizzy spell hit. Anemia for sure. It was really absorbing my blood!?

Even the sticky feel of blood on my hand vanished. Sucked up the spilled blood too.

But.

Drained and dizzy as I was.

My sword felt impossibly light. Like a feather.

"What now—what is that?! What's with the sword!!"

Inadia recoiled in shock; I glanced at my blade too. The black blade glowed with crimson veins like bloodshot eyes.

The veins thickened, enveloping the whole thing. The black turned fully red.

This was Killgent's Oath?

I swung the feather-light red sword at Inadia.

Sensing dire threat, he crossed shield and sword to block.

Whatever—slash away.

No strength left to swing again anyway.

Thus, my final strike hit Inadia.

Simultaneously.

One of the voices—the man's—spoke.

Followed by the woman.

[...Ah, so dizzy I'm gonna die! Spouting circular logic bullshit and passing out!! Shut up and cut!!]

The voices faded at my inner scream.

The red blade passed clean through Inadia.