Chapter 11 - The Named One (2)
"An utterly irreplaceable, very precious person, huh."
Having heard Perbas's words as sub-administrator, Serpina muttered in reality.
As the gallery manager, her responsibilities were actually quite weighty. It wasn't just about deleting posts that violated regulations, mediating disputes between users, and blocking invasions from other galleries. Since she wasn't merely a simple administrator but also Reina's contracted constellation, she was the most crucial stepping stone to ensure Reina didn't fall behind. At the same time, drawing in more users to the fan gallery so that Reina could receive even greater support was one of her heavy roles.
They treated cheering for the challengers each had chosen—like rooting for a sports team—as a game, a culture, and a means to earn points, with rivalry between fandoms being key. For them, the number of fans and their firepower were among the most important factors.
'Please don't cross the line and just play nice.'
That was why fostering cliques among users was the most strictly prohibited behavior. The moment those who formed friendships and factions clashed with public opinion or harbored grudges, the group would splinter and fracture.
Over-mentioning specific users—turning them into named figures—was also something managers like Serpina watched out for.
The problem was the rarity of the user named Reversetone, whose name was starting to spread little by little within the gallery right now.
"That would be fortunate, then."
After discreetly investigating Reversetone on Fate Road, Perbas was convinced they were a fresh, untainted newbie constellation. Hearing that, Serpina's lips curved faintly upward.
After all, a fresh, green newbie was far easier to handle than a battle-hardened community ghost.
'I'll watch a bit more. If they've got their head screwed on straight, I have to snag them. Was there an open sub-admin spot? Right, who said they have some tasty abilities.'
Judging that if their abilities were too outstanding to control mentions among users, it was better to just hand them an official business card, Serpina grinned slyly.
Above all, Serpina herself—who boasted as the biggest Reina fan in the gallery—found Reversetone's abilities too tempting to pass up.
"What's wrong?"
"No... just a sudden chill."
I lowered my sword and shuddered for a moment. When Shadis asked why, I shook my head, unable to pinpoint the sudden goosebumps.
"The toughest section is cleared. All that's left is taking out the few remaining ones in the nest and destroying it."
I looked up at the now-clear sky.
Most of the mutant bats that had nested in the abandoned building and rampaged ferociously were now cold corpses on the ground. Only a handful remained.
'My body's definitely lighter, but I still need training.'
I could feel the synergy with the ability I'd just acquired, but it still felt awkward. I needed to quickly master that sensation using the training methods from the community and imprint the new combat style into my body.
"It really seems like there's nothing for me to do. Even though stats get significantly reduced when descending to the lower layers, a ranker's strength is still..."
"Lower-layer monsters don't have strong magic resistance or high intelligence. Stats aren't the key. What's more important is how calmly you grasp the enemies' weaknesses and move."
I shook my head at Shadis's mumbling. Her words and worries were something I'd experienced myself, and also logic that Jeong Chan-su had shattered in the story after it was addressed once.
"It's just a lack of faith in yourself. It's not that your abilities are lacking."
Words the protagonist Jeong Chan-su had said in the story—words that had been a clue for me to overcome the same frustration Shadis felt in the past, and now words I deeply empathized with.
They were so obvious, but precisely because they were obvious, they were hard to hold onto. Still, once overcome, you could grow with tremendous momentum.
"You think I can do it?"
"If it's hard to believe, trying once isn't a bad idea."
I pointed at the enemies still atop that building, a few remaining.
If she could take down even one with her own hands, I was certain the trauma tormenting her would be largely overcome.
"Will you try? No, just do it. That's an order."
I smirked at Shadis's trembling golden eyes. She seemed just a push away, and I didn't want to ignore it.
If she gained something here, she'd no longer need to scrape by with petty theft.
"---!"
"H-Hiiik?!"
The few remaining mutant bats attacked us even more ferociously to defend their nest.
They swooped down swiftly from the sky, biting with sharp fangs or slashing with claws to drag prey into the air—that was their main tactic.
"But when they attack from the sky, their position is fixed in that instant. Don't fear—aim for that moment!"
After slicing one down in a single stroke, I shouted at Shadis, whose dark brown skin had paled to the point of looking light.
In my eyes, her stats were more than enough to handle one of these bats. I'd already taken out the biggest and strongest ones, after all.
Moreover, the dagger she held was on the level rewarded at the 50th floor.
What was nerfing her own stats was the fear etched into her heart.
"I-I can't!"
"No, you can. If I say do it, do it."
I grabbed the nape of her neck as she floundered without properly fighting, falling on her butt in crisis, and pulled her out of danger once.
I had no intention of ending this dungeon until she slew the last bat with her own hands.
"Ugh, ughh..."
She glared at me and the bat alternately, her eyes a mix of half terror and half resentment.
But what could she do? Shadis had only one choice right now.
"---!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Finally, she charged at the bat swooping at her again, reverse-gripping her dagger.
The moment the bat extended its claws, she didn't flee this time—instead, she kicked off the ground, launching her light body upward.
My eyes widened as I watched Shadis graze the enemy's claws and jam her reverse-gripped dagger into its throat.
It was a sloppy thrust, eyes squeezed shut, all-or-nothing desperation that luckily hit home.
But for now, the fact that she attempted it was meaningful—no need to nitpick.
'See? Told you you could do it.'
Watching someone surpass their limits was always a sight to behold. Naturally, my lips curved up.
"I-I did it."
"Yeah."
"Dungeon's over now, right?"
Shadis's panting face now showed joy and excitement instead of fear and resentment. I knew that feeling well from experiencing it countless times myself.
Once addicted, it was hard to escape.
But at her claim that the dungeon was done since the last enemy was dead, I chuckled and shook my head.
"For a normal dungeon, yes. But there's one more hidden enemy here. Killing that one and claiming the real reward—that's our goal."
"No way..."
"That's why I brought you along. You won't be in danger anymore."
Taking the despairing Shadis, I headed to the basement below the building.
There, I led her to the security room inside the building—where the numerous broken CCTVs could be checked.
The only surviving ones were a single infrared CCTV and a microphone.
"You tell me where the enemy is via the screen. That room ahead is pitch black and silent—no sight, no sound. I have to find and kill it relying only on your voice from the comms."
"Gasp..."
It was a co-op mission. Shadis inhaled sharply at the weighty task given to her.
"You're really entrusting everything to me? We've only known each other two days? And I tried to steal your wallet—a criminal?"
"If you'd run away in the end, we wouldn't be here. You trusted my words and acted, so I'll trust yours and act accordingly."
In truth, even blind and deaf, there's no way I'd die to whatever's in there—not even if the sky split—but if I did, Shadis would face the penalty too.
For now, instead of saying that, I bolstered her resolve. It seemed effective; her widened eyes grew misty.
"Let's start."
Smiling wryly at her sniffling to hold back tears, I plugged the comm into my ear and turned.
The place where the final enemy hid was a space of pure darkness and silence.
The moment I stepped in, my vision drowned in black, and all noise vanished from my ears.
"Ah, nothing yet."
Only Shadis's voice echoed in my ear.
"Behind you!"
At that instant—nearly simultaneous with her shout—I felt the wind pressure of sharp claws slashing from behind.
"Annoying pest."
Grinding my teeth, I twisted the two-handed sword behind my back, barely blocking the enemy's claws.
I wanted to tank a hit and pierce its heart in return, but Resonance Instinct—an S-rank ability—was only for those who permitted not even a single effective blow.
"It retreated into your blind spot. Right side now!"
Moreover, it was a master of ambushes, perfectly exploiting its ultrasonic detection.
It vanished without a sound, reappearing from another direction. I hurriedly swung at it.
'Getting the feel now.'
After that, assaults, Shadis's warnings, and my narrow blocks repeated several times.
But I hadn't moved a single step.
Thanks to that, I was growing accustomed to my surroundings—especially the sensations at my feet.
'Here.'
And finally.
Nearly simultaneous with Shadis's shout, I spun without hesitation, feeling my backward swing slice into something.
"Y-You cut off one wing! It's fleeing now!"
Confirmed by her cry, I charged straight into the unseen ahead without pause.
I didn't know the exact position.
Thus, I poured radiance into my sword, unleashing a powerful, wide-spreading slash.
An S-rank ability, Severing Strike, empowered by radiance.
"I-It split in two. Even the nearby wall and floor..."
Her dazed voice confirmed my sword had bisected the enemy.