CHAPTER 18

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"Well, I look forward to your kind cooperation."

"… You're the one the leader said he'd put on me?"

"Yes, Sister."

I looked up at the priest who answered with an expressionless face that made me unable to know what he was thinking.

No, no matter what the case is. How can he post the main healer of the expedition?! Is that ok?

The main healer was an irreplaceable workforce.

In particular, as Meyer's physical strength was high, he would not be able to distinguish himself from other priests.

To give such manpower to a special unit with no promise for how long.

'Apart from surveillance, I'm not allowed to die in the dungeon, so you're going to make me come back alive somehow…'

Even though August was a human, it was impossible to use resurrection magic, but he was a high-ranking priest who could somehow save a life if he had a lifeline attached.

In some cases, a high-level priest who was chosen by God could use resurrection magic as his ultimate weapon, but at least in this day and age, there were no such priests.

'To learn the ultimate instrument, you need to get a level 99, but it's not easy.'

Level 99 was not a human domain.

It was not an exaggeration to say. All the skills that resulted from the ultimate were natural disasters, or miracles.

In the case of Fabian, a level 99 spell creates a magic of great power that separates the heavens and the earth.

'But I don't know what will happen… It's just a possibility.'

The highest level I've ever met was Meyer, level 80.

And even that Meyer needed much more experience than the one accumulated up to level 80 to become level 99.

In short, it is not a game, and it is impossible to get 99 levels in the present life.

However, I was able to use the ultimate weapon from when I opened my eyes in this world.

Is it because I'm both a possessed character and irregular?

'But what's the point of having it? There is no need to use this risk.'

My ultimate goal, "The Scale of the Soul," was a resurrection magic that saved the dead at the expense of myself.

It was a real merit that I, who was not a priest, could use the resurrection magic that even the priests could not use, but my throat was at the cost…

I can't use it forever.

Oh, and it turns out, there was a time when I thought it would be okay to use the soul scale for Fabian.

'Because I thought that if Fabian died, it was all over…'

Now that I think back, I thought like a fool.

Anyway, August's joining was quite welcome news.

I didn't want to die either.

'At least with a priest like August, there's no way he'll let my arm be amputated for lack of holy power.'

Whether the purpose is surveillance or not, I have decided to accept this manpower deployment with thanks.

"Then I look forward to your kind cooperation."

That's what I said and reached out to August.

It was a handshake proposal with a willingness to do well in the future.

However, instead of holding hands together, August only shook his head and lowered his head.

'… Ugh, ugh. This person, he's difficult.'

I had no choice but to withdraw my hand awkwardly due to the blunt August's reaction.

I was more of an introvert than an extrovert.

That's why I didn't fit in with this kind of opponent.

I wasn't too brazen enough to keep talking to the silent partner, but that didn't mean that I was used to silence enough to keep my mouth shut.

'I have no choice but to get used to it…'

Since then, August has been following me all along as if he were my escort.

It was hard to ignore him because he, who was spewing his presence to the fullest, always existed behind me like a halo.

Soon after, rumors spread to the Black Knights that August had joined the special unit.

It was a natural result to stick together like that.

What was really funny was the reversal of public opinion that the special unit was not good.

I couldn't believe it, but it seemed that things were different if it was the unit that August was in.

'Well, the safety level goes up beyond comparison.'

I could understand all of their attitudes like flipping palms. Because there is only one life.

Those who had avoided me until then showed up one by one.

Thanks to this, I was able to look at the talent that I could only identify with the given information.

I looked around the third group.

Looking at the party window and the report, I was satisfied and pleased that I could check every single missing part.

'Why are you holding a sword when you have more talent for bow than for a sword? It would be nice if the wizard had a little variety of magical power… Wait a minute, that archer looks pretty useful too?'

There were many talents who were unable to demonstrate their abilities more than expected. This will make it taste good to raise it.

I carefully put the crew in my eyes to see if I would miss one.

And August watched me like that.

August, who was following after me while keeping silent, suddenly asked.

"How do you feel about the tour?"

"All the tangerines are fresh and pretty."

"… What?"

August frowned slightly as if he couldn't understand, but it was hard for me to pay attention to it because I was busy.

At this rate, the list of troops is likely to increase.

I wanted to check the people I had chosen in advance, so I looked for the people I had noticed one by one.

Meanwhile, I heard unexpected news.

"Dead? In the meantime?"

"Yes, I've received reports of an obituary in a recent dungeon attack."

My face had hardened.

The member, said to have died, was 17 years old, young even in the Black Knights.

He was a bowman, but he was very talented in swordsmanship, and I thought he'd be the main physical attack dealer of the special unit, and he'd be easy to raise according to my taste since he was young…

A more somber ominousness than that the plan had been distorted, encroached in my head.

I didn't feel good.

Although my premonitions about personal affairs were dull, this kind of touch was not very wrong.

There must be something. I was nervous for some reason, so I asked Mary to do it.

"Can I see the report, too?"

Mary, who left the room with a nod, soon brought a report.

She handed over the report with an urgent gesture.

August added as if I were sensitive.

"It's often the case to die in a dungeon."

"I know that. And I know the dungeon death rate of the Black Knights is quite low."

I answered back without taking my eyes off the report.

My eyes gradually frowned as I read down the fine print.

After reading it all, I covered the report and said.

"… Mary, can you let me know if there is any change in this unit or if you have any information?"

"Of course."

Mary nodded out, and only I and August remained in the office.

August said, who thought about my strange attitude.

"Sister seems to think there's something."

"…"

I fiddled around my mouth without answering.

If I spit it out of my mouth, my thoughts come to a conclusion. There were still many uncertain elements to make such a decision.

But…

'It's suspicious, too.'

Maybe it was frustrating for me to be silent, August took the report I was what I was looking at.

He was quick to correct the report, muttering with one eyebrow stiffly.

"It's a normal unit composition and a normal mortality rate, but… All other units die at this level. Rather, they die less."

"That's what's weird."

I breathed a sigh and narrowed it down.

"It doesn't matter how long he died. It's about how he died."

"What… Hold on."

August scattered the report again as if it had come to mind. His forehead was also distorted like mine.

"… Now I know what sister cares about. I wasn't learning enough."

The death rate of this unit is average, or below average.

However, when a unit member dies in a dungeon, it is usually when there is a big problem in the attack.

And in that case, the troops will die in a flurry.

But this unit was different. Instead of dying so loudly, each person died one by one.

It was a frequent number almost every time.

The dead were mainly members of the unit who joined the unit as latecomers.

"Since the ratio of deaths is similar to that of other units, it seems like we haven't seen it so far. This aspect …. is definitely strange. I have to tell Your Excellency."

It wasn't the only weird thing. There was information that was different from what appeared in my party window.

'Spearman Wipera, the commander of the unit.'

But when he was openly questioned, he came up with excuses, saying that it was futile.

But it doesn't mean anything to just tell Meyer without proof.

If I miss him once, he'll become more shady. I had to hit the ground running.

And… To do so, we need evidence.

I said quietly, looking out the window touching my chin.

"First of all… Let's wait and see."