Backstab for Backstab

It had seemed odd.

Loris had changed her appearance through the alchemist Black.

It was something virtually impossible by the standards of people on the Asgard Continent.

But if it had flowed in from the Monarch Game, then it was possible.

Even conquering real-world dungeons could yield special items like skill books.

'The alchemist Lime, who deciphered dragon tongue and used their alchemy.'

Lime had been known in his previous life as the greatest alchemist across the entire Asgard Continent.

But he had been killed by someone, and later the reason for his brilliance was revealed.

'The Dragon Tongue Alchemy Tome.'

It was a book containing knowledge of the various crafted items used by dragons.

'Black obtained the Dragon Tongue Alchemy Tome from a dungeon. But he died not long after. He's a wanted criminal now. And the tome naturally flowed to Lime, one of the few who could decipher dragon tongue, and he used it.'

Lime had been an archaeologist before becoming an alchemist.

That archaeologist's life had been overturned in a single day.

'Black has the Dragon Tongue Alchemy Tome.'

The answer was clear.

And the crafted items listed in that Dragon Tongue Alchemy Tome were astonishingly advanced.

'Brewing polymorph potions and brainwashing agents?'

It was laughably impressive.

As soon as Lauden heard Arthur's whisper, he felt the persistent ache in his head clear up like it had been washed away.

'Wh-why did I fall into such a trap...'

He looked around in bewilderment with a dazed expression.

'Don't show it on your face.'

'...!'

Arthur's voice echoed in his mind.

It was 'Secret Conversation with Allies' that Arthur had bought from the Cash Shop.

He was startled but glanced at Arthur, who was walking beside him with a slight smile, then faced forward and kept walking.

There were several reasons Arthur hadn't undone Lauden's brainwashing sooner.

First, he knew there wouldn't be another opportunity like this.

They had set a trap, and the moment one fell into it, they would be eliminated without even a corpse left ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠behind.

Then, just one survivor could emerge and report,

'Everyone except me is dead.'

If anyone grew suspicious, there were plenty of excuses.

Dungeons were full of variables, no matter how low-rank they were.

But if Arthur hunted them instead?

'I can kill them without raising suspicion, just like they planned for me.'

The next reason.

If Lauden's brainwashing had been lifted first, he would have desperately tried to keep Arthur out of the dungeon.

Then? Colos would have changed the plan, and the first opportunity would vanish.

And the decisive factor.

'That Baras is alive, and they plan to sacrifice me. And I need a sacrifice too.'

Arthur smiled imperceptibly.

He needed a sacrifice.

He had scouted the spot where Colos, Black, and the knights had been, and right after, he could access this Important Information View.

Arthur would reverse it and sacrifice them instead.

What an entertaining twist.

He had never dreamed that such a system was hidden in the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠passageway leading to another ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continent.

'Valrock's Trial was generous too. But a treasure hidden by a mischievous god.'

That was why Arthur was dragging them all the way to the dungeon's end.

And he had been quite shocked to learn Baras was alive.

Then it clicked.

Baras was a monster with some intelligence.

An implicit contract had formed between Baras and Colos.

'Colos must have offered sacrifices on a schedule to satisfy Baras. And Baras dropped gold and treasures in return.'

The more living beings Baras devoured, the more artifacts and gold materialized inside it.

Then it excreted them like waste.

Colos and the knights got gold and treasures, while Baras sated its hunger.

'That means Baras isn't as strong as before.'

Not as powerful as when it fought his father, Acaus.

It must have been gravely injured by Acaus.

That made a contractual relationship between them highly likely.

'From what they said, Baras doesn't eat injured corpses. That's why they had to drag Instructor Lauden almost to the end.'

As long as Instructor Lauden didn't die, Arthur wouldn't get hurt.

They must have known that.

That Arthur wasn't the type to get wounded by something like vampire flies.

But if they killed Lauden right at the entrance?

It would clash with Arthur.

Was there any guarantee Arthur wouldn't get seriously hurt in the process?

Besides, with Lauden brainwashed, they saw no need to kill him at the entrance.

And crucially.

'The moment the drug wears off, Instructor Lauden will lose consciousness briefly.'

Whether 10 seconds or 20.

Plenty of time to slit his throat.

Lauden's skills were top-notch.

He could take out at least three of them.

It would have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been ideal to strike from behind as the drug wore off and he collapsed.

But Arthur had undone the brainwashing before the drug fully wore off.

'How is this possible?'

'Explanations later. Do you understand the situation we're in?'

Lauden gave a slight nod.

The ones behind were Colos's men.

They called themselves new territory army recruits, but once the brainwashing lifted, he was certain.

Philip's slip-up earlier.

Thinking back on it revealed the truth.

As Arthur walked while conversing with Lauden, he spotted spiderwebs strung across the cave.

At that moment, Lauden staggered.

"Urk, why all of a sudden..."

Lauden leaned against the wall, then closed his eyes and collapsed moments later.

The six knights, including Philip, exchanged glances.

'Finally reached the entrance.'

Spiderwebs were visible.

Meaning Baras was nearby.

They would kill Lauden, knock Arthur out quickly, and toss him as Baras's feed.

Then Baras would drop gold and treasures as always, and the two nuisances would be dealt with.

"Gasp, In-Instructor! Are you okay?"

Philip rushed to Lauden.

The other knights glared at Arthur from behind, reaching for the binding ropes at their waists.

As Philip approached the fallen Lauden, he slyly drew a sharp dagger hidden in his bosom.

And with all his might, toward Lauden—

Pfsh!

"Wha...?"

He tried to stab.

But before he could, a dagger drawn from Lauden's bosom—who had opened his eyes—pierced his throat.

Splurt!

The binding rope enchanted with restraint magic shot toward Arthur at high speed.

But before it could tightly bind him, Arthur reached out and snatched it.

Crunch!

Arthur yanked the rope with all his strength.

"Wha... La?"

What the hell?

The one who threw the rope was a full-fledged knight.

Even Colton was at best a squad leader among soldiers.

This meant leagues apart.

Yet he was being dragged toward Arthur so pathetically.

By now, 1 hour and 30 minutes had passed, so Arthur's stats had +100% bonus.

And as expected, one hit meant instant death for them.

The knight being pulled by the rope quickly discarded it and drew his sword.

"Damn...!"

Arthur lunged low.

His spear tip thrust upward from below, piercing the knight's throat with full force.

Pfsh!

Splatter!

Arthur wrenched the spear free forcefully and eyed the remaining five knights.

"I heard the story. What happened back then."

Arthur wiped the blood splattered on his face.

Lauden gripped his sword and stood beside Arthur.

'Un-believable...'

Lauden was utterly shocked.

A sixteen-year-old boy killing a knight in one move.

'Talent close to Master?'

He even thought that.

At least Instructor Lauden had never seen anyone this age with such movements.

The other five knights were stunned too.

"How..."

"He was brainwashed, wasn't he?"

It didn't matter to Arthur.

"Do you feel any guilt?"

"What?"

"About what?"

"Abandoning my father."

"Screw you!"

"Wasn't it because Acaus was a moron? Hell, knight pay is shit. Huh?! If treasure's right there, grabbing it is the smart play!"

"As expected."

Arthur smiled faintly.

But his eyes were colder than ever.

No mercy for them.

"Hoo, well, shit happens."

But the knights stayed calm.

They numbered five.

Just two opponents.

They would win. Definitely.

That was their thinking.

Lauden felt cold sweat slick on his palms.

Soon, the knights attacked first.

Tat!

One sword shot straight at Arthur with ferocious momentum.

Arthur dashed forward, slamming his spear shaft upward against the blade with full force.

Then thrust hard; the knight's sword gleamed faintly.

Aura Blade manifested.

As the knight swung down from above with all his might to smash the spear shaft—

Triple activated.

Clang-clang-clang!

The moment sword met spear, three shocks rippled back to the knight instead.

The spear tip ignored the Aura Blade-wreathed sword and pierced his abdomen.

Pfsh!

"Gurk..."

"One down."

Arthur spat casually and thrust his spear hard at the knight attacking Lauden.

Speed too fast for the knights to pursue.

Pfsh!

The knight with a punctured side froze mid-swing from above, blood trickling from his mouth.

"Cough...!"

"Two down."

Tat!

Arthur kicked off the ground and charged Philip, who gripped his sword in disbelief.

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

Their weapons clashed several times. Arthur's spear bounced off Philip's thick armor.

'This armor cost a fortune!'

Expensive plate bought with Baras's excreted treasures.

Nothing ordinary could pierce it, though it looked crude.

Then, the spear struck the armor once more.

Crack!

Arthur activated Armor Break from his Berserker's Ring.

The instant it connected, Philip's armor shattered and crumbled away.

Stab!

"Three down."

Arthur glanced sideways.

Lauden and the other two knights weren't clashing—they were frozen, staring at Arthur.

'Im-impossible...!'

'How is a sixteen-year-old kid...!'