Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: Shattered Alliance
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"No."
I said curtly.
The knight's shoulders trembled slightly as he knelt, but before he could pull any nonsense, I spoke up.
"Don't be too disheartened. There's a reasonable reason I'm refusing."
"A reason?"
"The fundamental one. Why should I trust you?"
The knight replied.
"Is it because I was once a cultist?"
"That's one of them. I already realized during the first exam. In this trial, there's no one I can trust. Not you, and not even the chain sickle guy standing dumbly beside me."
The chain sickle guy shot me a glare, but I ignored him and continued.
"Of course, since you're a former cultist who already tricked us in the first round, you're far less trustworthy than him. In short, your proposal makes me think this might be some kind of test or trap."
"It's not."
"Yeah, yeah. Words are cheap. But if you were in my shoes, would you believe them?"
Only then did the knight shut his mouth.
Still, with all his experience as a cultist and hero, he wasn't completely unreasonable.
Of course...
Ending it like this felt unsatisfactory.
My suspicion of a trap wasn't a lie, but separately, what this guy said might be his honest feelings.
Even if a former cultist is being upfront, I have no obligation to blindly follow...
As teammates, I couldn't keep treating him like a bomb. I needed to give him the bare minimum to convince him.
"So, let's change the terms."
"...?"
"Until this trial ends, and until we run into the nun... prove to us you're trustworthy. Then I'll accept your proposal."
"Prove my trustworthiness? How?"
"Nothing fancy. Like mercenaries bound by contract, no sabotaging each other—just do our jobs. A temporary alliance, you know? With our skills, rat monsters or bat monsters won't be that threatening, right?"
"..."
"If you cooperate smoothly and prove yourself, we'll overlook your actions. Then you share the third trial info. How's that?"
A renegotiation of contract terms.
In exchange for not getting the shortcut to this second trial, the conditions were loosened.
Honestly, if he refused even this much concession, I'd have nothing more to say.
My suspicions would just grow.
Maybe this bastard's a spy planted by Heros just to sabotage the exam.
Fortunately...
After a brief hesitation, the knight nodded.
"...Fine."
"Good. Contract sealed. Let's cooperate well until this trial ends."
Truth be told, I wasn't particularly curious about the third trial details.
The reason I went to such lengths to persuade him was so he wouldn't become a wildcard in this second trial, at least.
After that—once the second trial ended—if he tried to kill Verita or pull some crap... that was secondary.
The reason I didn't tell the knight.
There was one more reason I was positively considering his proposal without much reaction.
No matter what, at his level, he couldn't kill Verita even in his dreams.
The chain sickle guy behind me finally muttered in an admiring tone.
"You're a master negotiator."
"No big deal."
* * *
After forming our temporary alliance, we continued through the cave.
I led the way. My good eyesight made securing visibility easier.
The knight was in the middle, and the chain sickle guy guarded the rear.
This formation was ideal even in combat.
Our weapons made it obvious.
Me, the close-range puncher, up front.
The sword-wielding knight in the center.
Rocan with the chain sickle, widest attack range, in the back.
Of course, whether we'd mesh in battle remained to be seen.
We encountered the biote monsters after walking in the darkness for about thirty minutes.
No light at all, no changes in scenery, so it could have been ten minutes or an hour...
Kieeeek-!
As the knight said, the biote was like a giant bat.
More precisely, a half-bat, half-human form?
"Kill it before it uses ultrasound!"
The knight shared the info curtly, and we nodded at the veteran's words.
Five biotes appeared.
I left the three in front to the knight and chain sickle guy, charging at the two in the rear.
Kieeeek!
The front three didn't just watch—they lunged with claws, but the chain sickle flew in from behind.
The chain wrapped around one tightly, and the knight blocked the other two. He charged with shield forward.
Crack!
The knight's practiced shield bash was threatening enough to crumple iron armor.
The directly hit biote's body crunched with breaking bones, and the nearby one tangled with the flying kin, tumbling down.
'Oh...?'
I'd made a somewhat reckless move to test the chain sickle guy and knight's judgment...
Both understood my intent immediately and responded.
Honestly, better than expected.
Even in this brief alliance, they felt like a solid team. I pressed on.
The rear two were somehow hanging upside down from stalactites despite their size.
Shing.
I drew the Seven Sins Sword.
The grip felt just awkwardly pleasant—not unfamiliar, but refreshingly good.
Slash!
My senses hadn't dulled, though.
I'd planned to cut both in one go, but while I felled one, the other dodged nimbly.
Whoosh!
My vision went dark instantly.
Right after it spread its wings. Truly bat-like? Its size tripled.
More importantly...
"Musky. You bastard."
The stench wrinkled my nose.
Did the bat understand curses?
Its already demonic face twisted even more hideously.
Kiee, guk!
I jammed the Seven Sins Sword into its screeching maw. Felt the tongue sever, then the spine.
I swung the blade horizontally.
Purple blood sprayed as the biote collapsed.
They had venom, so I was careful not to get splashed...
A glance back: the two had nearly finished the three.
Thud!
The chain sickle guy, cracking a biote's head with his scythe, glanced my way.
I grinned and spoke.
"We're a pretty great team, huh?"
"..."
Unfortunately, no response.
Boring guys.
After that, we steadily advanced, slaughtering biotes.
Change came after about twenty...
"Hm?"
"This place..."
The cave widened into a vast space. The pitch black brightened—the walls emitted soft light like fireflies or crystals.
"Pretty spacious."
"Indeed. Perfect spot to hide a jar... No biotes either."
Sound reasoning. I nodded.
Then, a strange noise from a bit away.
"Everyone, crouch down."
"Huh?"
"Combat sounds. Metal clashing."
"Meaning..."
"Yeah."
Even biote claws weren't that hard—wouldn't make this noise.
In other words.
"People fighting."
Both ducked on cue, following my gesture.
Mercenary and ex-cultist—decent stealth.
At the noise's source, an unexpected scene unfolded.
My guess was right: people fighting.
Two teams ganging up on one... And the lone team had familiar faces.
Nun Verita.
The mage who hadn't spoken.
Noble guy.
Seemed like a trio...
Attacking them: total strangers.
Probably the ones who joined this trial.
'Definitely...'
High level.
All six at least chain sickle guy's caliber. Sorry to use him as a benchmark, but facts.
Yet the three held their own despite numbers.
'Fought a while?'
All nine looked ragged enough for that thought.
Why fight fellow participants?
Mystery solved quick.
Ugly jar behind Verita's team.
"Hey, this situation..."
"Yeah."
No clue why they fought, but third-party view: perfect for fishing in troubled waters.
I didn't want to fight Verita or the others anyway.
"What now?"
"Well..."
I'd love to swoop in, but Verita made it awkward.
She seemed sensitive to my movements. Might already sense me.
I asked the chain sickle guy.
"Toss your chain sickle, wrap the jar, snag it—too hard?"
"Not impossible."
"Oh ho. Won't break the jar?"
"Underestimating my skill. Even a cracked glass, I could retrieve gently."
"Oh."
"Though I'd need to get closer."
That confident? Trustworthy.
I nodded.
"Good. Then we grab the jar and bolt. Got it?"
"Got it."
"..."
Unlike chain sickle guy, the other stayed silent.
Knight's gaze fixed on Verita since spotting her—his single eye swirled with storm again.
I sorted my thoughts.
Spotting Verita and jar complicated our neat contract.
No guarantee he wouldn't flip and attack her now, trust proven or not.
Then the knight spoke to me.
"Hey, can you trust me now?"
"..."
The moment he asked, the outcome was set.
Suppressing a sigh, I said.
"...Not quite."
"Hah."
Eye contact with the sneering knight...
He drew his sword like lightning.
I countered with Seven Sins Sword, shouting.
"Rocan! Secure the jar first!"
"Got it!"
I blocked his swing.
Clang! Sparks flew from clashing blades. Heavier than expected. Hiding strength too?
"Out of the way. You're not my target."
"Calm down first, talk. Good plan—we get jar, you hit your goal..."
"Move!"
Half-mad knight pushed hard.
Mid-sentence, I was shoved back, slamming into cave wall.
"...You bastard."
Bit careless—back stung. Wall crumbled, shards scraped skin.
Tried nice, he goes like that—now I'm pissed.
'Screw the trial...'
Smash first, think later?
Tempting impulse as his presence faded ahead.
He ignored me, charging the battlefield.
Target: Verita, obviously.
Knight's blade brimmed with mana.
Sword aura surged, shifting colors around intensely.
"Die-!"
With a roar, he thrust at Verita.
The real shock followed.
Slash!
His blade actually cleaved Verita.
"...Huh?"
That wasn't supposed to happen.