Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Sisters
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Sisters.
>Drip. Drip.
Something was falling. Water, maybe.
My mind was hazy. How did I end up like this?
"Please... stay alive..."
Someone was sobbing while carrying me on their back. I wanted to say something, but I didn't have the strength.
Languor and drowsiness mingled together.
- ...Tch, you overdid it with the divine power.
The holy sword was saying something.
But I could barely hear it.
- Still, you've passed the worst of it, so I wish that woman would stop bawling her eyes out.
Bawling her eyes out?
Who?
As that thought crossed my mind, I suddenly remembered saving Veronica.
- Fortunately, it looks like we'll run into the others soon.
At the holy sword's mutter, I slowly opened my eyes.
I wanted to keep sleeping like this.
'This isn't good.'
I forced my eyes wide open.
All I could see was darkness.
But the vision I'd gained as an archery master let me see decently even in the gloom.
I drew up my mana. Vitality finally began to stir in my listless body.
- Awake now?
'Yeah.'
I answered the holy sword as I gathered my wits.
- Don't push yourself. The injuries you took are pretty serious.
'Where are we?'
- 13th layer.
'...'
How the hell did we get down to the 2nd layer? No, the 13th.
I furrowed my brow.
There were plenty of immediate concerns.
What happened to Ermé's party?
Two of the clan's top fighters were gone.
Ermé and Rishiel were still there, but...
'...They'll be fine.'
It was Ermé, of all people. She'd find a way out somehow.
What I needed to worry about now was us.
'How do we get out of here?'
Suddenly, the holy sword's words came back to me.
- Fortunately, it looks like we'll run into the others soon.
Run into the others.
Dangerous in this situation, but the sword had called it fortunate.
That meant people we could trust.
'Other clan members?'
How did Ermé end up here?
"...You're awake?"
A hoarse voice.
Uncharacteristically anxious, almost on the verge of tears.
'...On the verge of tears?'
It was a bit absurd.
Who was in front of me? None other than Veronica.
Should I call it fortunate?
'Throwing myself in front of her to save her was worth it.'
Thankfully, the best possible outcome had come through.
If I'd ended up down here alone, I never would've survived.
Veronica wouldn't have either.
We needed to pool our strength.
'And kill two birds with one stone by clearing that debt.'
I'd figured there was nothing for it if we died here.
'...'
As that thought trailed off, it hit me that maybe just using Steal Strike would've been better.
Was shoving myself in the way a mistake in the heat of the moment?
"Wh-what?"
As I stared at Veronica with those thoughts, she spoke in a frightened voice.
"Nothing, just... you're human after all."
"Huh?"
Eyes that looked ready to kill.
Yeah, that's more like it.
"Anyway, you can put me down now."
"...You poured out all that divine power and you're exhausted. Just stay still."
I was surprised by Veronica's words.
I hadn't expected that from her.
'If it gets bad, she'll wake me up herself.'
I rested my head against Veronica's back and started drifting off again...
"...You two."
"Un...ni?"
But I couldn't.
Because we'd run into the survivors.
Clara.
We'd finally met up with her.
*
"Th-thank goodness."
Clara said upon seeing us.
Thief's Extremity was telling me her relief was genuine, despite the curt tone.
"How did you two make it to the 13th layer?"
"...We got ambushed. Fell from the 11th to the 12th."
"Near the 12th layer boss room, then."
"Yeah."
"...Good thing we took care of it."
Clara let out a sigh of relief.
From the looks of it, her group had beaten the 12th layer boss.
"More than that, this is fortunate."
A holy knight spoke up.
"Lady Saintess, Clara, and Yuseong, the top prospect from the Cradle right now."
We made five in total.
Two knights, me as a versatile frontliner and backliner,
and two saintesses.
'Not a bad lineup.'
But we were short on numbers.
Those things overwhelmed us with swarm tactics.
- The good news is the two saintesses.
'...Still, we have hope.'
- Hope, huh.
The holy sword chuckled lowly.
- Yeah, it looks hopeful. Just... maybe a bit short.
'...Yeah.'
This was the 13th layer, unlike the others.
Who knew how many undead were down here.
- That's one thing, but... those two knights are closer to dead weight.
'...'
Couldn't argue with that.
By my estimate, they were at least level 4,
but...
'How are they weaker than me?'
I was a good bluffer, but this was ridiculous.
- So let me teach you.
'Teach me what?'
- How to walk.
'How to walk?'
- Exactly. And this time, use me.
'...'
Yeah, I would.
The moment I did, Clara and Veronica would find out,
and so would those knights.
'But more than that.'
Survival came first.
I'd always struggled to stay alive.
- More importantly, let's fix that walking style of yours first.
The holy sword said matter-of-factly.
*
I excused myself from the group and slipped away briefly.
- Truth be told, teaching you anything right now doesn't make sense.
It was funny—he'd said he'd teach me footwork, then called it nonsensical.
- But you've shown me all sorts of things so far.
'...'
- So I'll teach you. You've learned the hero's orthodox swordsmanship, so orthodox footwork should be fine too.
With that, the holy sword explained.
- This footwork is divided into four steps.
The light step that leaps far: Flying Swallow Step.
The step that presses the foe in battle: Overlord's Stance.
The step that closes distance in an instant: Thunderflash Step.
The step that deflects an attack in one stride: Ethereal Step.
- These days in the empire, they've tacked on all sorts of names, spawning schools for each, but... the founder only made these four. And even now, I haven't seen anyone match the steps he created.
'...'
Something felt off.
The hero's orthodox swordsmanship was outstanding, even by my thieving eyes.
But shouldn't techniques improve over time?
'Yet.'
Why did it feel like they'd declined at some point, only to strengthen again?
- Not wrong.
The sword snickered, as if affirming my doubt.
- Anyway, that's not the point. First, find which of these four suits you.
Right, this wasn't the time.
I practiced the steps as the holy sword instructed.
Ten minutes passed.
- ...
The holy sword stared at me, seemingly at a loss for words.
- I thought you fumbled at first...
'Yeah.'
If I'd stolen the hero's orthodox swordsmanship with Steal Strike,
I applied Thief's Extremity to the footwork.
And then...
- Who'd have thought you'd master them all in just ten minutes.
'Not mastered. Not fully.'
Learning the four steps, I sensed something.
This was just the beginning. Proficiency would unlock new phenomena with each.
'Feels like I'm still at the basics.'
If one swing of the hero's sword birthed countless slashes,
these four steps held that much potential.
'Roughly ready now.'
I pulled items from Hidden Space. What I had:
'Thirty synthesized needles. 150 arrows. Ten Shadow Reapers, ten paralysis poisons, ten hemorrhage poisons. And ten Bone-Melting Powders effective on undead.'
Ten antidotes and thirty potions, just in case.
Not enough,
but...
'...Potions and antidotes to the knights.'
Though giving one each to Clara and Veronica as emergency supplies wasn't bad.
I returned to the group.
"How'd it go?"
"Ready."
So, now.
"Let's go."
"Yes, let's."
Veronica and Clara said to me.
*
Call it fortunate.
The two knights exceeded my expectations.
"Hah!"
The front knight raised his shield. Banshees and Death Knights appeared,
leading ghost-type monsters and skeletons.
Boom!
They clashed once, halting the charge.
The knight behind hefted a massive hammer.
Screeech!
His muscles grotesquely swelled.
Kaboom!!
A massive shockwave blasted the enemies ahead.
- Quite extreme, those two.
The holy sword assessed their combo.
I agreed.
I advanced, charging a Death Knight.
Crackle.
A deep purple sword aura mixed with ki and mana rose from the blade.
But its size was different.
- Heh, how is it?
'...'
Less mana and ki consumed.
Easier to maintain.
'At least twice as long.'
I could see why it was called a holy sword.
But first things first.
Thud.
A heavy step forward.
'Overlord's Stance.'
Rumble!
The step that crushed the foe.
Ki flared, freezing the enemy's movement.
The Death Knight halted.
I unleashed the sword aura without hesitation.
Slash!
One swing.
But three slashes overlapped, severing its limbs,
and
Boom!
piercing the core in its heart.
Hiss...
The Death Knight dissolved into black smoke.
'Dies this easily?'
I was stunned.
It usually had a dark aura that resisted cuts.
- Do you know who I am?
A smug voice rang out.
- The ultimate weapon, wielded only by heroes who oppose the Demon King and represent their race. Those tainted by demonhood cannot stand against me.
Figured as much.
Then.
I launched forward.
The step closing distance in a flash: Thunderflash Step.
My form vanished in an instant, surging ahead.
- Kieek?
I appeared before the banshee leading the ghosts.
And.
Slash.
One slash,
and three slashes cleaved the nearby ghosts.
That was it.
'...With this.'
Hope was dawning.
The hope of escape.