The Human Weapon

I closely examined the item that had been upgraded to Unique grade—a spatial pouch, now evolved into a backpack.

Its performance had completely changed.

The spatial capacity had increased fivefold from before.

The pouch I was currently using was already quite large, one I'd gotten from the slave merchant guild.

Now it was five times that size.

Five times, no less.

It's practically a small warehouse.

A satisfied smile crept across my face.

Moreover, there were unexpected bonuses: automatic item sorting, rapid withdrawal, and preservation of stored goods' conditions.

And above all, the new ability that seemed to come from risking danger.

Removal of entrance size limit? That means item size no longer matters for storage.

It felt incredibly useful.

I might even be able to store the black earth horse in this spatial backpack.

Of course, I'd need to test its limits separately.

No matter how much extra capacity it had, it wouldn't be infinite.

"Theo-nim, are you alright?"

Lena asked in a worried voice.

My face must have paled from the heavy mana drain.

I gathered my thoughts and replied.

"Yeah, it's a huge success."

As I smiled in satisfaction, Lena finally let out a sigh of relief.

But this time, unlike before, she added something.

"Theo-nim, the item is important, but this was too dangerous."

"Oh, that? True, but crafting and enchantment aren't just about probabilities. It's instinct, I guess? Faith in yourself? Anyway, you need that to make something proper."

"You're talking like some dwarf. Still, danger is danger! Please don't do it again. Your safety comes first!"

Unlike before, she puffed out her cheeks and spoke in a very firm tone.

In truth, even if there had been an explosion or something, I had backups.

The potion effect hasn't worn off yet...

The Steel Skin Potion was still active.

On top of that, I'd layered Rock Skin, the ring's magic barrier, and planned a second magical barrier.

That's three or four layers of defense right there.

Of course, not 100% safe.

But I did have some confidence.

Lena, unaware of that, was purely worried about me.

Thinking that made me feel guilty instead.

Lena was the one in real danger. I need to be more careful next time.

I'd gotten so fixated on crafting that I forgot about her for a moment.

That's something to reflect on.

"Got it. I won't do it again."

"You promise?"

"Yeah, I said I got it. Let's pack up the items first."

Only after my firm answer did Lena break into a bright smile and start moving.

With the entrance size limit removed, we could just sweep up the remaining loot.

Now we could carry even more on the move.

And it auto-sorted too—couldn't get better than this.

Jackpot.

The amount of loot was massive.

And the quality was top-notch.

As expected from Viscount Hart's supplies—they were on another level.

Items hard to find even at Baron Sellevan's castle.

I considered grabbing the dead soldiers' gear but left it.

No visible mana circuits, and we didn't have time to pick through it all.

"Time to pull out..."

We'd lingered too long.

As I prepared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to withdraw—

The message updated.

From the soul tracking doll.

Fast.

Updating before it even finished displaying.

Whatever it was, it was closing in at insane speed.

At this rate, maybe a powerful monster drawn by the blood scent.

"Lena! We're pulling out! Hop on quick!"

We mounted the black earth horse together—but

Kwachak—

Pajijijik—

The Purification Defense Ring I wore activated.

Automatic barrier deployment.

"Wha..."

"Theo-nim! We have to run!"

The reason for that split-second hesitation.

A crude dagger was embedded in the barrier.

Without it, it would've pierced my heart clean through.

And in that moment, a figure emerged from the forest with an irritated scowl.

"Man, this is some bullshit. Total bullshit. You guys do this?"

He looked young.

No—a knight.

Mana circuits...? But different from a mage's. Thicker, more robust.

Unlike Arno's chief mage Arthur, whose circuits webbed like spider silk.

Thick, heavy mana circuits.

The man, who seemed to have rushed over, wore no proper armor—just a sword in hand.

But his presence was no joke.

And his movement speed.

Beyond what the soul tracking doll could calculate.

Only one conclusion.

He was at least an Aura Practitioner, maybe higher.

Just shy of Aura Expert.

Equivalent to a 4th-Class Mage.

Same or similar rank to chief mage Arthur.

Not even comparable to those Aura User thieves.

A properly trained human weapon stood before us.

Furious, no less.

Sring—

He drew his sword in unison.

Blue aura solidly coated the blade.

That confirmed it.

He was strong.

Stronger than any knight I'd seen so far.

The young knight's solid aura.

His arrogant, overconfident expression.

His disdainful attitude, not even regarding us as opponents.

The moment his mana circuits as an Aura Practitioner entered her sight, Lena's body trembled.

No... not like that time...

Images of the flame-enshrouded castle reduced to ruins flashed by.

Whether eyes closed or open, those scenes haunted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

Instinctively, she gripped her Sunogi tight.

Before her eyes, the past played like film.

Lena blinked back tears.

It's different now!

She steadied her trembling hands.

She tied back her red hair, just like her father's.

This knight wasn't those ones.

But the arrogance, the skill—they overlapped.

Not Theo-nim... never.

Lena looked at Theo.

She raised her Sunogi.

No more running.

No more losing anyone.

Then the knight's smug voice rang out.

"I'm Swisel Paldran, knight of the great Viscount Hart. No need for names from knightless scum? Your names... or last words?"

The insolent young man.

His youthful bravado overflowed.

Swisel acted like we'd already been caught.

"Theo-nim, I'll draw his attention!"

Reacting to the knight's killing intent, Lena raised her Sunogi.

Steadying her shaking hands.

Recalling how she'd sniped an Aura User with it.

She seemed set to dismount the black earth horse and take position similarly.

But I stopped her.

This guy—we couldn't fight him that way.

Hunter instincts screamed it.

Swisel drew his sword confidently.

"Just a spell-slinger and an archer? Damn, wasted my run on trash like you."

He didn't even see us as foes.

To such a bastard, I flashed a smile and spoke to Lena loud enough for him to hear.

Provoking him, while easing her tension.

"No need to fight how he wants, right?"

"Huh? But last time..."

"That was then. We've got something now, don't we? Something special."

"Ah, the black earth horse..."

"Yeah. We can shake off a knight like that easy."

I gave a slight smile.

In contrast, Swisel's eyelids twitched.

Of course, I had no intention of fleeing.

He'd seen my face.

Swisel had to die.

He just didn't know it yet.