89. The Jet-Black Knight and Special Skills

The massive door loomed right in front of us. The Area Guarder waited beyond it.

Only the six of us registered to the party could enter at once.

"We'll take it on—Levanté's going in."

"You think you can win?"

Zofia asked, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠there was no way to answer that.

"Bit late to be asking now, isn't it? You dragged us all the way here for this."

I couldn't help but crack a wry smile.

"Yeah."

Zofia gave a wry smile of her own.

"I've got a promise I need you to make."

"What is it?"

"If we fail. Don't let Aver and the others try. And free the caravan. The knights' elites got wiped out. You don't seriously think we can pull it off, do you?"

"I feel bad about it... But fine, I promise."

She nodded.

"Hey, what about all your slaves? What're you planning to do with them?"

Aver cut into the conversation.

"Drop 'em off in some town and free them."

"You're really going in with just those six?"

I nodded.

"Nobody wanna go instead? I can take a spot."

Aver scanned the Levanté members. No one nodded at her offer.

I might've backed them into a corner. At the very least, Cecily and Ira could've hesitated or backed out. As that thought crossed my mind, my eyes met Ira's. She quietly shook her head. Then she took Cecily's hand beside her. Cecily gripped it back tightly.

"Don't treat us like idiots. Mash can't fight without me, right?"

Cecily shot back, and Aver sighed before turning to me.

"Palms out in front of your chest, show 'em to me."

Not sure what she was getting at, I did as told. She slammed her fist into my palm. A sharp smack echoed.

"When you get back, we'll all sit around the campfire and share some booze."

I nodded. As she turned away, Beers swapped in and smashed his fist into my palm.

"You took down Wind's Blade. You guys got this for sure."

Next up was Doris.

"G-Good luck, please!"

Pat. A weak little sound. Fang stepped up in her place, and I felt the killing intent aimed my way.

"Hey, don't actually hit me hard. We've got a fight coming up."

"You can die for all I care, but guard Mizuki with your life. And next time, let me in the party too."

"...Sorry, but my party's girls only."

Fang didn't hit my hand—he punched my gut instead. Ow. This guy's got it bad for Mizuki, huh.

"Alright, let's go?"

"Yes."

Fam nodded at my words.

"Opening the door."

Myra and Ira swung the door open. I went first, followed by Mizuki and Fam, then Cecily, with Myra and Ira last. The door slammed shut behind us.

It was just like Rishel's city dungeon. A vast dome-shaped room. Another closed door stood in the back. We had to beat the Area Guarder no matter what and open it.

Particles of light rained down in the room's center, forming monsters from the glow.

"Worms. Two of 'em... No, more are coming. They're trying to overwhelm us with numbers?"

As Cecily said, two worms appeared, along with another silhouette. But this one was humanoid.

Over two meters tall, broad-shouldered and muscular—definitely male. Chainmail and a black surcoat on his upper body. Leather pants below, with iron knee guards. A greatsword as tall as he was, and a massive shield that could cover half his body. Like a knight. Chainmail on his head too, topped with a black hood. Peeking through the gaps, his face was like a poorly made mannequin—no eyes, no mouth.

"Fam and I take the knight in the center. Mizuki, left worm. Myra, right worm. Cecily and Ira, support from the rear."

They nodded and readied their weapons.

"If it gets dicey, say the word—no hesitation. I'll call Rakushel."

If I could, I'd have Rakushel finish the worms first, then hurl her spear at the knight.

I drew my knife.

Fam pulled her twin swords.

A soft light enveloped us—Myra's protective blessing and Cecily's attack boost magic.

The knight stood calmly where he'd appeared. Fam and I closed in slowly as Mizuki and Myra charged the worms.

"Here we go!"

"Yes!"

We tried a pincer from both sides, but he thrust his shield at me, leaving no opening to strike. He menaced me with the shield while casually swinging his greatsword one-handed at Fam.

Fam circled further and dodged neatly, but he followed up with a sweeping slash. Fam and I leaped back just in time.

As he lunged at Fam again, Cecily unleashed a fireball.

"Got him!"

I moved to press the attack, but he spun and slammed me with a shield bash.

I met it head-on like a blade lock, but the impact blew me back.

Fam slipped behind him amid the motion and slashed at his neck, but the chainmail held. He swung his greatsword at her. She backflipped away, barely dodging.

"No way—he's got a magic barrier. My magic didn't get through!"

Cecily's fireball had vanished before hitting. Not just her magic—Fam's sword wasn't piercing either. She noticed and switched to a kunai. Thrusts over slashes, probably.

The knight swung at Fam.

Fam unleashed a vacuum wave at his face.

He twisted aside to dodge, and she lunged in the gap. I timed it and entered his range too. He thrust his shield again, but I swept low at his feet. A high metallic clang rang out. Metal shin guards under the leather pants.

"That's cheating!"

I yelled despite myself. His body barely wobbled.

But Fam didn't miss the opening. She threw a kunai that bit into the chainmail, then kicked it deeper.

He swung his greatsword; Fam retreated.

I thrust from the opposite side. Felt it pierce the chainmail.

"GRAAAAAH!"

The knight roared and swung his shield wildly. It caught me.

I staggered to one knee, and his greatsword came down.

Ira rushed right behind me, grabbed my clothes, and yanked me back.

As he pressed the attack, Cecily's fireball flew in. It checked him, but the magic barrier blocked it again.

"No way—even with more power and size!"

Cecily cried out.

"Thanks. That faceless bastard actually yelled."

I vented to Ira about the enemy's bullshit.

"No eyes, but he sees our moves somehow."

Ira replied.

"Mash and Fam aren't hitting enough. I'm joining in."

Ira helped me up and readied her mace. Her joining attacks was fine, but losing our healer worried me.

I glanced at Myra and Mizuki.

Unlike us, they seemed to have the upper hand.

Their blows had slowed the worms' movements.

Probably just these three enemies. Should I use Goddess Summon? Would Rakushel's spear pierce him?

As I hesitated, the knight thrust his shield and charged at me and Ira.

We split to dodge. Cecily ducked behind me to avoid getting caught.

He chased me, swinging his greatsword wildly.

Even blocking with my knife would hurt, so I dodged desperately. Ira, behind him, smashed her mace—but the shield blocked.

Fam slid under the shield and stabbed his thigh with a kunai. As he tried to swat her with the shield, Ira nailed the embedded kunai.

The knight dropped to one knee.

Thought we'd won—then he leaped back on his good leg, opening huge distance.

He raised his greatsword high.

The ceiling split, revealing an impossible sky. Black clouds roiled, lightning crawling through them.

"No way..."

This was the move that wiped the knights. I stared up, stunned.

"Everyone, get as close to me as you can!"

Fam yelled, glaring at the sky like me. She turned to me.

"Someday, I'll make good on my vow. I'll deliver Master's blade to that knight's throat."

Right—her Special Skill could block it. I'd trust that power and cleave the knight chainmail and all with this knife.

I readied my knife, eyes locked on him.

Mizuki, Myra, and Cecily gathered, getting it too.

Then thunder roared as countless lightning bolts rained down.

Fam raised her hand to the sky.

Eardrum-shattering thunder. Blinding flash, quaking ground kicking up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dust. But Fam's Yata no Kagami shielded us.

I kept my focus, staring at where the knight should be through the dust. Breathing steady.

The lightning stopped.

I charged through the dusty room toward the knight. Dust settled, vision clearing.

There he stood, greatsword raised—he'd predicted my move.

I leaped into his range anyway. A feint to bait him. He swung down following my motion.

Just as expected. And with his injured leg, the swing was slow. I backstepped clear.

Nothing this knife can't cut. I put everything into this strike.

I lunged again, slashing at his neck.

The knight said.

For a split second, Uta Akizuki's face flashed in my mind. Was he another transfer like me, sleeping quietly in that church basement?

His head separated from his body and hit the ground. The knight vanished.

"We did it!"

I whooped and turned.

But two worms loomed before me.

"...Huh?"

I'd completely forgotten them. His AOE didn't hit allies?

Dodged one worm's charge barely, but the other's tail smacked me down.

Mizuki and Myra rushed over.

It hurt.

But my job was done. Time to ogle Mizuki's panties.

"Why let your guard down at the end...? I actually thought you were cool."

Does that mean she doesn't usually?

Mizuki said it while Myra healed me. The worms were already down.

"You think I'd beat two worms when one gives you trouble?"

"Muuh."

Mizuki puffed her cheeks.

"Anyway, the plan was you and Myra finish the worms while Fam and I kept the knight busy, then all four of us pile on him."

"Don't be ridiculous! Worms aren't something six people take down!"

Mizuki retorted. But I figured she could, so whatever.

"Eh, whatever. Got a good look at your panties. I'm satisfied."

"Not whatever, and don't be satisfied!"

Mizuki pretended to be mad, then her face clouded.

"I screamed when you went down. So next time, let me handle it."

"Yeah, got it."

She offered her hand. I took it and stood.

I looked for Fam. She ran over. Using her Special Skill didn't drain her MP like mine—last time was just sleep magic.

Need to research her Special Skill more.

"My Special Skill doesn't consume MP like Master's. But I can't spam it. I get what you meant before—wanting to use it but it won't come."

"So it's a shield ability?"

"It reflects. Can act like a shield. But stuff falling from the sky bounces back without hitting enemies..."

We'll test her Special Skill later. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I ruffled her head.

"Good job. Area Guarder down. On to the next room."

"No 11th floor, right...?"

Mizuki muttered ominously. We headed to the back room.

A transparent stone floated in the center of the back room.

Seemed a size bigger than Mii's.

"... Crystal Core. We just smash this, right?"

No one replied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to my mutter.

"Hey, hit me with your usual trivia. You're freaking me out."

I looked at Myra.

"S-Sorry. That's right, but I've never destroyed one. Won't it be bad...?"

Then how about squishing it between her tits? Soft boobs would cushion any blast. Better not say it.

"Idiot. Just smash it hard!"

Cecily puffed out her chest confidently, no basis.

I drew my knife and handed it to her.

"Huh?"

We all backed to the room's edges, leaving Cecily. I scooped up Fam protectively—just in case. Myra went "Muh" and puffed her cheeks, so I grabbed her too.

"N-No way! This is a frontliner's job!"

Cecily panicked.

"You'll be fine, Cecily. We've got two healers. Leave the rest to us!"

"You don't think it's fine at all!"

Cecily yelled, but no one swapped. Even Ira, who'd held her hand before battle, just gave a pained look.

She sighed in resignation and raised the knife.

"Fine, smashing it!"

We all held our breath at her shout.

She swung down. The Crystal Core shattered.