Adelia von Goldheart (2)
"You..."
Adelia, who had been staring at me intently, spoke cautiously.
Her androgynous voice was exactly as I remembered it from the game.
"You are one of the Twelve Sword Masters, aren't you?"
The Twelve Sword Masters.
They were transcendent beings in this world, known to have reached the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Most of them never showed themselves to the secular world, living as seekers of the sword who moved only when receiving revelations from the ancient gods, the Elders.
Adelia was currently mistaking me for one of them.
"I saw the swordsmanship you displayed in the underground arena," she said.
"..."
"It was... truly astonishing. That wondrous movement that cut down Barba, the Human Butcher, in a single strike—my eyes could not even begin to follow it."
Right. Adelia had been tailing me since yesterday afternoon.
Specifically, from the very moment I parted ways with Lea de Karayan and left the underground arena.
Of course, she probably thought she was stealthily shadowing me.
But when a Level 77 monster is tagging along behind you among ordinary citizens, it's impossible not to notice.
...I never expected the semi-transparent level window to be this useful. To think it could expose someone tailing me in an instant.
'At this point in time, Adelia is the only Level 77 character who would be wandering around the lawless city of Dawnguard.'
Thanks to playing the game two hundred times, I was able to identify my tail immediately.
From the moment I realized this, I formulated a plan to match.
If Adelia hadn't been following me in the first place, I never would have thought of a plan like 'getting carried by an NPC.'
I would have looked for some other way to get stronger instead.
'And it makes sense for Adelia to mistake me for a Sword Master.'
While active, the skill Soul of the Sword Master elevated the user to the level of a Sword Master.
Meaning, at the very least, during the split second I cut down Barba the Human Butcher, I was indeed a true Sword Master.
It was understandable that Adelia's eyes had widened in awe.
At this point in the story, she wanted 'revenge.' And to achieve that, she needed to become stronger.
In a situation like this, there was no surer path to growth than receiving guidance from a Sword Master. That was likely why she had followed me, clutching at straws.
"What is it you want?"
Even though I knew all the circumstances, I asked Adelia the question anyway.
After a brief hesitation, Adelia's expression hardened with resolve.
Soon, she spoke in a determined voice.
"Please, teach me the way of the sword."
...Right. It was exactly the answer I had anticipated.
"As you may know, I am a swordswoman," she said. "For several years now, I have been blocked by a seemingly insurmountable wall."
"..."
"I must overcome that wall. I have a desperate reason why I must become stronger."
Clang!
Before I could even reply, Adelia drew her sword.
The blade slid from its scabbard, ringing with a cold, sharp hum.
"I know you are a busy person," she said.
Adelia gripped the hilt with both hands, falling into a combat stance.
At the same time, the sharp tip of her sword pointed directly at my throat.
"Therefore, just one clash."
"..."
"Please exchange just one blow with me. With the realization I gain from it, I will break through my wall myself."
Hearing her words, I couldn't help but feel bewildered.
"...?"
No, wait.
'Why is she suddenly trying to fight me?'
She just jumped to the conclusion that I was a busy man all on her own.
I hadn't even said a word yet.
And then she asks for what? Just one clash because she doesn't need anything else?
She was putting on quite the one-woman show.
'Besides, if I fight you, I'll die before I can even react, you crazy girl.'
I was a weakling with an average stat of 1.
If I tried to face a Level 77 monster, I would be instantly slaughtered.
Maintaining a calm facade, I glanced at my mana window.
Fortunately, I had the MP required to use my skill.
In fact, I had only stepped into this back alley after confirming my mana had recovered.
However...
'If I use my skill here, won't Adelia end up dead?'
I couldn't just recklessly use my skill in a situation like this.
I couldn't afford to kill the high-level carry who had practically rolled into my lap.
'In that case...'
There was only one thing I could do in this situation.
Adelia swallowed hard, staring at the man before her with intense tension.
He stood silently in place, his lips pressed into a tight line.
No answer came. He merely stared at the tip of her sword with indifferent eyes.
Trying to calm her racing heart, Adelia calmly continued speaking.
"I do not care if I lose an arm. I do not care if a leg is severed," she declared.
"..."
"If only I can gain realization and step into the next realm... I am prepared to sacrifice everything."
Adelia wanted revenge.
To kill that bastard, she had to become far stronger than she was now.
And to do that, she had to leap over the wall before her.
'I must gain a new realization, no matter what.'
And the way to obtain that realization?
There was nothing surer than exchanging blows with someone leagues above her.
Yes. If she clashed swords with this man, she would surely find it.
From the moment she witnessed his wondrous swordsmanship in the underground arena, that vague intuition had filled her mind.
'Even though I know nothing about him...'
It didn't matter.
If he was a Sword Master, and if he could grant her that realization, she was ready to give up everything.
"You say you do not care if your limbs are severed?" the man finally spoke.
"Indeed. If you clash with me, you will surely overcome your wall. No, perhaps you will gain a realization far beyond that."
His voice, echoing softly through the back alley, was infinitely cold and sharp.
"But my sword does not aim for the arms or legs of my opponent."
"..."
"It only takes their life."
The man let his words trail off as he slowly raised his head.
His golden eyes, burning like embers, seemed to pierce through everything Adelia was.
"So, I ask you once more."
"..."
"Are you prepared to stake your very life just to witness my sword?"
Adelia flinched, her hand gripping the sword trembling involuntarily.
She felt no malice emanating from the man. His stance was incredibly loose, riddled with openings.
Yet, that very indifference was what made her skin crawl.
'Who... who on earth is this man?'
Because of that, Adelia couldn't help but hesitate to answer.
A sudden fear washed over her.
Realization? That was well and good. But even if she broke through the wall, what would it matter if she lost her life the very next moment?
...The silence stretched too long.
Just as Adelia opened her mouth to buy some time,
"I-I..."
"Enough," the man cut her off flatly.
As if he had lost all interest, he spun around on his heel.
Step, step.
The man's back grew more distant. Staring blankly, Adelia let out a quiet sigh.
"Ah..."
Her hands trembled violently.
Now that the confrontation was over, her survival instincts began to recede, and her reason slowly returned.
She felt frustrated. She had believed she would do anything for revenge.
But when it came down to it, her resolve was only 'this much.'
'Why! Why did I get scared at the last second...!'
Just as Adelia was blaming herself,
He stopped in his tracks.
Turning around, he asked a completely unexpected question.
"What are you doing, not following me?"
"...Pardon?"
"Did you not ask for my teachings?"
The man gestured with his chin toward the other end of the alley.
"It just so happens there is a good training ground nearby."
"...?"
After a moment of blank confusion, Adelia finally realized one thing.
The man had accepted her as his disciple, despite the trouble.
"T-Thank you...!"
She didn't understand the reason, but she knew she had to follow him.
She sheathed her sword, adjusted her clothes, and hurriedly chased after him.
'Yes!'
I clenched my fist tightly.
I had successfully recruited Adelia von Goldheart as my high-level carry.
This was the most joyful event since I fell into this godforsaken world.
And for good reason—aside from her raw power and high growth potential, Adelia was someone who could be useful in 'many different ways.'
'But I'll think about that later...'
For now, I needed to handle the task right in front of me.
"We have arrived."
I stopped walking after weaving through the back alleys of Dawnguard.
Before us stood a dilapidated, abandoned factory.
Its windows were shattered, and the interior visible through the cracks was pitch black.
The thick layer of dust made it clear that no one had set foot here in a very long time.
"This place is...?" Adelia asked cautiously.
"The training ground I mentioned earlier."
"This place...?"
"Yes."
"..."
Adelia kept her mouth shut, a doubtful look on her face.
It was only natural for her to react that way. On the surface, the building was nothing more than one of the countless abandoned factories scattered throughout Dawnguard.
But as a veteran player who had cleared the game two hundred times, I knew better.
Hidden inside that abandoned factory was a 'Trial' where one could obtain a Sacred Piece.
Step, step.
I walked forward without hesitation.
A massive iron door firmly blocked the entrance to the factory.
I tried pulling the handle. It didn't budge.
Though the surface was completely rusted over, its weight remained immense.
'There are two ways to enter this dungeon...'
Either scale the wall with a high Agility stat and slip through a broken window,
Or break down this iron door using a high Strength stat.
Needless to say, the current me met neither of these conditions.
'With a body whose average stats are 1, it's absolutely impossible.'
However...
"Break the door," I ordered.
"Yes, sir."
...For a Level 77 monster, it was the easiest thing in the world.
Hum!
A mysterious energy gathered around Adelia's body.
A cyan aura, an exquisite blend of gold and blue, surged brilliantly.
"Hah!"
Concentrating her aura into a single fist, Adelia...
Twisted her body and threw a straight punch with all her might.
BOOM!
With an ear-splitting roar, the iron door crumpled.
The hinges groaned. Before long, the tightly shut door slowly began to swing open.
The internal locking mechanism had been completely shattered by the massive impact.
Watching this, I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle internally.
'Is this the power of Level 77?'
It was truly astonishing.
I needed to raise my base physical stats to at least that level without relying on Soul of the Sword Master.
Damn it. My scrawny, emaciated body felt even more pathetic today.
'Well, whatever...'
I could gradually improve this rotten body starting now.
'And this dungeon will be the first step.'
The abandoned factory of the lawless city of Dawnguard.
The Sacred Piece that could be obtained by passing the trial hidden here.
By securing that reward, I would achieve massive growth.
'And not just a one-time boost, but continuous, long-term growth.'