◆
At a large designated cave, a young man was standing. With crimson hair and red eyes, he waved energetically when he spotted Fei and the others, wearing a cowboy-like hat.
“Hey, I’ve been waiting! Over here!”
“Sorry, we’re late.”
Marumaru, acting as the representative, greeted and confirmed the details of their mission. It seemed he had discovered a new dungeon district but couldn’t enter alone and didn’t trust the other greedy adventurers, so he personally requested the help of the Holy Knights.
“My motto is to live big and earn big! Come on, let’s go! Oh, by the way, my name is Gene, nice to meet you!”
“Huh… Everyone, stay alert.”
Gene moved forward energetically. He was eager to explore the cave as soon as possible.
Inside the cave, the damp air was occasionally punctuated by the sound of dripping water. Everyone was on slight alert, but only Marumaru seemed suspicious.
(This cave feels like any other. Is this really a new dungeon? It’s in such an obvious place; hasn’t it already been explored?)
“Heh, I get what you’re thinking, teacher. But I’ve decoded it! The location of a certain treasure!”
Gene touched a part of the dirt wall, and with a loud noise, it split open.
“Heh, my request is for the investigation from here on out! Let’s start our adventure!”
Gene took the lead, and as he walked, Alpha, while staying alert, questioned him.
“How did you notice a place like this?”
“There were two swordsmen in a nearby village long ago. They constantly challenged each other. But feeling like big fish in a small pond, they set out into the world, promising to meet again. One returned… but the other didn’t.”
“The other one never came back?”
“Right. But it seems that swordsman is still waiting, with treasures gathered from their travels. I found this story in an old diary at a second-hand shop and decoded it.”
“Wow, that’s quite romantic.”
“Yes, I think so too. The swordsman longed for a rematch and saved treasures to buy fine liquor to celebrate with his rival.”
“So, the treasure is here?”
“I think so. It should be worth more than what I’m paying the Holy Knights.”
“That’s impressive if true.”
They continued exchanging light-hearted banter while walking. However, things suddenly changed when Marumaru went into battle mode.
“Something’s here.”
“Alright, the rest is up to you, Holy Knights.”
Gene stepped back as the Holy Knights drew their swords. The dark cave was slightly illuminated by fire magic. Relying on the light from the lamps they brought, they looked ahead.
“Living Dead, how rare.”
Marumaru murmured. Ahead, illuminated by the light, were skeletons, stripped of flesh, slowly approaching them with swords.
“Alpha, Beta, Gamma… you three are skilled in magic. Stay with me and focus on long-range elimination. Aim carefully to avoid collapsing the cave. Fei and the rest, guard the rear.”
Marumaru issued orders. Following his command, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma unleashed water magic. Their precise long-range attacks quickly decimated the Living Dead.
“Hey, do we even need to be here?”
“I-I’m trying…”
“You suck at magic, don’t you?”
Ese, Kamase, and Fei were not adept at magic and focused on rear support. Unsure of what lay ahead, Marumaru decided it was safer to proceed with long-range attacks.
The trio continued their onslaught.
“Well, naturally.”
“…”
“Gamma’s got this.”
“……”
Ese and Kamase exchanged awkward glances. Watching this, Gene quipped.
“You guys are pretty useless… haha.”
“……”
Ese and Kamase fell silent. But Gene noticed one boy, walking calmly as if he was waiting for something.
Arms crossed, he seemed to be expecting something.
“You’ve been acting strange… what are you waiting for?”
“I feel it… it’s calling me. My trial.”
“…?”
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That’s all he said. He was restless, as if he were a psycho who was going through some kind of withdrawal symptoms.
He was really restless, tapping the index finger of his right hand on and off his arm repeatedly while crossing his arms.
(Is this kid alright?)
Gene worried but the group continued. Despite encountering more monsters and traps, the Holy Knights handled everything, leaving the rear guard with nothing to do. Bored, Ese started a conversation with Gene.
“Gene, do you love adventuring?”
“Hmm? Me? Nah, I just love money. With lots of it, I can do whatever I want. Enjoying fun performances, laughing at expensive shows, that’s all. I just want to be free without worrying about money.”
“Wow, money, huh. I like it too.”
“Right? There’s nothing money can’t buy. It’s good to have it.”
The rear guard chatted animatedly about money. Listening, Alpha and Gamma felt their opinions of them drop further. Meanwhile, the vanguard continued their work and finally reached a large open space.
A dead end. Marumaru lit up the area with fire magic.
“Wow!! Look at all that treasure!”
The walls of the room were lined with piles of gold coins, the lifetime accumulation of a certain swordsman.
“Alright, let’s check for traps before touching anything. Stay alert.”
Following Marumaru’s instructions, they searched the room. Finding nothing amiss, they approached the pile of coins, eager to touch them.
“Wow, amazing. Even Gamma is impressed.”
Having finished the check, Gamma, whose curiosity was piqued, approached the pile of coins. Though she wasn’t greedy, the word “treasure” excited her. Marumaru, now less vigilant, was caught off guard.
As Gamma approached the gold, something stabbed into her head. B Gamma’s head is pierced by the sword, blood spurts out, and she dies. …… It was supposed to happen.
.. in the game. In reality, Gamma is the only sister dies instantly in the game.
However, an unexpected variable existed here. As Gamma moved closer, someone drew a sword.
“Show yourself. I know you’re there.”
A low, angry voice. Tension spiked even higher in the previously relaxed room. Gene, puzzled, asked Fei what was going on.
“What are you saying—”
At that moment, words failed him. Gene couldn’t believe his eyes—the mountain of gold coins started moving on its own. As the golden heap crumbled, he gradually noticed something buried beneath it.
A skeleton. Hidden among the coins was something similar to the undead they had encountered earlier. This skeleton was dressed in black robes, resembling a monk’s habit, and held an iron sword.
Just an ordinary iron sword. It wasn’t a masterwork weapon, just a simple sword, a symbol of a swordsman’s vow to re-challenge purely with skill.
” …… “
Before he realized it, the swordsman was standing. His steps were unsteady, but his presence was on a different level from the undead they had faced before.
“Did you notice it?”
“Of course.”
Ese spoke to Fei in astonishment. Everyone else also widened their eyes at Fei’s words—how had he noticed? No one could have known that a skeleton swordsman was hidden in a pile of gold coins.
“Everyone──”
Marumaru intended to instruct everyone to prepare for battle, but as soon as they moved, an overwhelming pressure like a waterfall descended upon them.
“──Don’t interfere. This is my fight.”
In that instant, everyone abandoned the thought of fighting. It was as if they were forcibly removed from the ring. Fei and the skeleton knight raised their swords.
The sound of metal clashing echoed. The weighty sound of a life-and-death struggle reverberated in everyone’s ears.
“Aaah, I’ve been waiting…”
“What a coincidence. I’ve been waiting for you too.”
The skeleton spoke. Its words spread and reached everyone’s ears. Waiting? Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, but they soon understood. It was the swordsman from Gene’s story, who had waited endlessly.
“My lifelong enemy… a rematch.”
“Come.”
Their exchange was like mismatched gears trying to turn a clock. Fei and the skeleton knight clashed.
──Crunch
The skeleton’s sword pierced Fei’s left shoulder. However, without concern, Fei swung his sword down as well.
[Damage Exchange]
Fei’s signature move. He took his opponent’s attack head-on and thrust his sword into them in return. By abandoning defense, the attack became a lethal strike if he ignored the damage to himself.
Blood splattered. The blood from his shoulder slowly dripped to the ground. Though not a fatal wound, it was severe enough that he should have withdrawn as an instructor.
(…I’m out of word)
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