chapter 19

When a request for help suddenly came to her, Claudia looked at Iris, who was acting fierce, and looked around.

"… … Let me hear it first. You're not asking me to take your side or anything, are you? If that's the case, I absolutely can't do it?"

"That's not it. Just listen to what I say and decide whether it's true or not."

"What do you want to ask?"

He had an expression on his face like he was wondering what I was trying to say.

"Do you remember how the guy on horseback attacked you?"

"To some extent. But I can't remember the details. I just roughly remember the major movements."

"That's enough."

As things were going this way, Iris also crossed her arms under her chest as if she was going to listen to what I was going to do. I was worried that she wouldn't even try to listen to me, so it was fortunate.

"The monster that the Commander met, didn't it raise its front paws and cry loudly as soon as it first encountered you, and then immediately run towards you?"

Her light pink hair swayed up and down slightly in agreement with my words.

"Immediately after I ran in, I swung my spear from left to right and then from right to left, and then struck down at the Knight Commander. At first, I was holding the spear in my left hand, and after striking down, I switched the spear that was stuck in the ground to my right hand."

"Uh… … Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, that's true?"

"And then he pulled out his spear, spun it around over his head a few times, swung it forward in a big way, and then got back on his horse and rode away. Is that correct?

All the moves I mentioned were the opening patterns that the 'Headless Armored Cavalry' that Claudia encountered cast with a 100% probability at the start of a boss fight.

There were limitations to explaining it in words rather than through video, but I think I was able to convey the meaning somehow.

Claudia looked thoughtful for a moment, recalling her memories, then nodded her head vigorously in surprise.

"Right. How did you know?"

"From now on, I will tell you whatever comes to mind."

"… … All correct."

It was a very trembling voice.

After finishing the explanation, I silently thanked Claudia. She must have been completely out of her mind because it was her first time encountering a monster that was immune to weapons, but she remembered quite a few patterns.

I looked around. I saw that not only Rize and Erika, but even Iris had frozen faces with blank expressions. They probably wondered what on earth they had just heard.

It was no wonder that even those who had encountered it in person and returned alive were so shocked when a new recruit who had just joined the Knights Templar knew all about the monsters that he had never seen before.

Silence fell. No one dared speak up. Even Iris, who had been shouting out her opposition just a moment ago, kept her mouth shut with a look of deep thought.

After a long time, I finally managed to squeeze out a single word.

"Things like that… How do you know?"

The question that can be considered the most fundamental curiosity is 'how' I know such things.

I can't reveal the truth right now, but fortunately for me, I have an all-powerful shield that I can use here.

"I remember a little bit."

"What… … !"

Iris gasped, and Lize and Erica were shocked as well.

Only Claudia, who still didn't know exactly who I was and simply knew me as a new member of the Knights Templar, had a question mark hanging over her head.

"Is that true?!"

"It's not perfect. It literally feels like only a very small part of it has been solved."

I continued on without missing the momentary hesitation that appeared on his face.

"I told you everything I could. You said that, Iris. You can trust my skills, but you can't rely on a stranger. But look. I already know him very well. So don't you think I can trust him one more time?"

This time the struggle was much longer. I was contradicting myself with what I had said.

I can trust my skills, but I can't just throw myself at a new enemy. But what if that monster isn't something I've ever seen before?

Naturally, the latter condition disappears, leaving only the prerequisite that you can trust my skills.

"...."

Iris was silent for a long time. She could fully understand how he felt, so she waited silently.

It was more than five minutes later that his mouth opened again.

"… … I understand. Instead, take Lize with you. Then I will allow it."

"Iris is right, rookie. I'll go with you. Even so, it's too dangerous to send you alone."

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"No, I have to go alone."

I rejected that offer outright.

After killing the boss, I had to go to the nearby dungeon to find bait to lure out the lord, but I couldn't get caught doing that. The excuse that my memory had returned should only be used once in a while when it's important, but if I use it too often, it'll only arouse suspicion.

I would be happy to accompany you on the boss hunt, as long as I could defeat the headless armored cavalry alone, without Lize's help, but what happened after that was a separate matter.

But that doesn't mean I can't tell Lize to go back first after the boss fight because she still has work to do. Of course, she'll try to stick by my side no matter what.

It would have been better not to have taken him from the beginning.

"Why do you want to go alone? Is there a reason?"

"There is a reason, but I can't tell you. Sorry."

"...."

Iris sighed deeply. I completely understand why you might be wondering why I am doing this. But I couldn't back down from here either.

"then."

The final determination was reflected in his silver eyes.

"If there is a Knight Commander who supports your independent action, I will allow it. There doesn't have to be many. Just one of us is enough. For now, I am unconditionally against it."

"… … I'm against it too. I'm sorry, Mr. Shin. It's not that I don't trust you, Mr. Shin, but please know that I'm against it because I care about you more than anything else."

"Uh… … I'm not against it, but I'm not in favor of it either. First of all, I don't know much about you. I just met you today. So I'm hesitant to say anything."

Iris and Erica were against it, and Claudia was actually against it. So now the only remaining knight commander was Lize. I looked back at Lize, who was still holding onto my finger tightly.

The blue walls were trembling slightly. I knew what answer she would give. I struck before Lize could give an answer.

"Hey, rookie. Sorry, but me too-"

"Lize."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Do you remember what you said just before you used the Frost Storm Strike in our last sparring session?"

"What did you say before you used that technique? Uh… … Hey, wait a minute. You really?"

Lize thought back on her memories for a moment, then made a startled expression as if she realized what I was asking her to do.

"Yeah, that's not true. I have to use that promise that I'll give you anything you want. Give me your approval."

"… … Are you serious?"

"Then you think it's a lie?"

I smiled slightly. Lize, who was in a situation where she couldn't do anything, stamped her feet, but the result was obvious. Iris seemed to have sensed the future and let out a deeper sigh than before.

"… … Okay. I agree. Have a good day, rookie."

After hesitating for a while, Lize eventually took my side.

The situation was over.

Claudia went into the castle for treatment with a few words of encouragement, "Since you've come this far, do well." Erica followed after Claudia, saying briefly, "I wish you good luck."

Iris left with her eyes filled with a mixture of complex emotions, leaving behind a request and a vague order: "Never die. This is an order."

Lize was right next to me, packing all sorts of things for me. Not only did she pack me a bunch of food, she also tried to pack me some health recovery potions, spare weapons, and armor.

Of course, I refused the armor, saying I didn't need it. It was because my durability stat was only 1, and the weight limit for my equipment was so damn low.

Even if you only hold a bloody sword, it's already difficult to roll at level 1, so the moment you put on any armor, whether light armor or not, rolling will become impossible.

Even if you wear that, it's still a surefire hit to the boss.

When I said I wouldn't bring my armor, Lize jumped up and down, asking if that made sense, but when I stubbornly insisted, she just looked at me with her cheeks puffed out and gave up trying to persuade me.

I didn't find these petty complaints annoying at all, because they were natural concerns if you didn't know my circumstances.

Rather, I would have been grateful if you had thought of me this way.

"Have a nice trip, rookie."

On the day of departure, the only one to see me off was Lize.

"...."

… … I thought so, but Iris was looking at me from far away with her head sticking out.

Then, when our eyes met, he quickly hid behind the wall, and after hiding for less than a second, he peeked out one eye and looked at me again.

What are you doing?

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Whether Iris and I did this or not, Lize opened her mouth in an unusually serious voice.

"And, don't die. Never. If you feel like your life is in danger, just throw everything away and run away. Even if you have to crawl on the ground to escape, come back alive no matter what. And don't say any nonsense like you're protecting your honor. Got it?"

"Absolutely not. I am a person who knows that life is precious."

"How could someone who knows the value of life do something so reckless?!"

Lize grabbed my cheek and pulled it.

As a scream of "Eeeeeeeee" came out of his mouth, he chuckled and immediately let go of my hand. It didn't hurt at all. It seemed like it was just a light prank on Lize's part.

After finishing my greetings, I was about to get on the horse when Lize stopped me.

"And one more thing. Listen to me for a moment."

"huh?"

I listened, wondering if she still had something to say. Her cherry-colored lips came up to my ear and whispered softly.

"If you come back alive, I'll give you one thing you want. Okay? Anything is possible this time too, so think carefully."

Then she smiled brightly, tapped my cheek with her finger, turned around and left. I thought about what Lize had just said for a moment, then chuckled and got on my horse.

"Of course it should be like that."

Even though the Bella mode is applied, I am a dead person who has been playing for 30,000 hours, so I cannot die to the first boss.

'Oh, wait a minute. This is a death flag.'

I tried to suppress the chills that instantly ran down my spine, grabbed the reins, and set off.