'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Gilbert roars. That was the signal for the battle to begin.

The scene was the fiercest battle that Luda Rumbek had ever experienced.

A huge Wolf Knight battle axe swung down in all directions.
Gilbert's eyes widened to the limit, and he flicked his purgatorial sword at it as it came at him from above or from the side, like a red wind. Each time the blades clashed, Gilberto's hands could be seen gripping the hilt tightly.

The Purgatory Sword is a huge sword, but the Wolf Knight's battle axe, clad in human bones, is much bigger than that.

You can see that Gilbert, who has never retreated until now, is slowly retreating from the attack.

There was no way he could take it head on. Gilberto is a man who has trained for several years to become a hunter. He has a fair amount of experience fighting people stronger than himself.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. His breathing was ragged, but he was able to meet the lethal power of each blow head on and just barely avoid it.

'd*mn, it's hard. It's impossible, my sword can't pierce it!

Next to Gilbert, who was playing with it, Greg took advantage of the small gap to launch a slash and a thrust.
The blows aimed at his hands, arms and axe handle were only effective in delaying the boss's onslaught by a tenth of a second.

Hard, big, and strong.

That was all it took for the boss to overwhelm the four of them. The battle axe, which was blowing like a storm, was taking on Gilbert and Greg in front of him, while keeping Tino, who was positioned in the blind spot, in check.

The silver wolf knight was certainly analyzing the strength of the members.
And he gave priority to Tino, not Gilbert with his big sword or Greg with his big body.

It was then that Luda first learned that the high intelligence displayed by phantoms could sometimes be frightening.

And the brilliance of the hunters who dealt with them.

Tino evades the swinging battle axe with minimal movement.

A few strands of her lustrous black hair were snatched by the battle axe and scattered in the air.
You'll be able to see the sweat on his skin as the blade passes in front of him, but his eyes are wide open and you can't see any fear in them.

Why is he able to move like that?
Why does he act calmly in the face of a blow that will kill him if he acts a second too late?

Tino wasn't overwhelmingly fast.
No, no matter how fast he was, there was no way he could move faster than an axe being swung down.

What I saw there was courage.

Even under immense pressure, Tino's graceful, almost dancing, evasion impressed Luda, even under such circumstances.

As a soloist, Luda had never seen the movements of a bandit (Thief) of higher rank than himself, except in the training grounds opened by the Exploration Council.
The moves and techniques she had seen there had been excellent, but they had not moved her.

But the sight of Tino at this party today. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure it's something else.

The realm of the Thief is not combat.
Perhaps, as a person who assumes the role of a Thief, it is even possible that this is a mistake.

But even so, at that moment, Luda felt a strong longing that made him tremble at the sight of a girl who looked to be about the same age as him or slightly younger.

You can find a lot more information on this at .......

Gilbert clenched his teeth and groaned.

A tremendous blow that seemed to cut through the world.
You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

You can't even imagine the strain it takes on your arms to parry each blow, even if you're not facing it head on.
If the weapon he wielded had been an ordinary weapon instead of a treasure, it would have been broken long ago.

The sounds of fierce sword fights and metal striking metal reverberated through the dimly lit den. It was a miracle that no one had been seriously injured yet.

--But miracles don't last.

'......What?

Whose voice was that, really?

A dull sound echoed through the air. A half-length white blade flutters through the air.

Gilbert's eyes widened, and Tino followed it. But it was probably Greg who was the most stunned.

The well-worn long sword he had been wielding in his right hand was now halfway down its length. The broken blade slowly fell to the ground, making a dry sound.

The one who understood this fact faster than anyone else was Luda, who was watching from a distance, and the silver wolf knight who was facing him.

Time was cut off.

In that moment, Luda saw that his jaw, which had indeed jutted out wide in the accelerated and stretched time, was twisted into an ugly smile.

In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a number of things you can do. The battle-axe in his hands swung wide.

It was almost a reflex action that Luda threw the dagger he was holding.

The dagger spun around and flew into the boss's face as if it were being sucked in. The boss flicked the dagger with the side of his battle-axe as it came at him. The boss flicks the dagger with the side of his battle axe, and there is a pause, though it is only a moment.

Gilbert, who had recovered from the pause, intercepted the battle axe with his greatsword.
If he flicks it, it will hit Greg. Instead of flicking it as he had done in the past, he takes it head-on.

Gilbert's knees buckle and he is flung backwards, but there is a momentary pause.

By that time, Luda's body was pushing Greg's body, which was a size larger than his own, out of the way.

Luda was out of the fight, ready to follow up in case something like this happened.

The battle axe swung down late, stroking Luda's back and knocking him down where Greg had been a moment before. The thick blade of the battleaxe made a heavy thud and plunged deep into the ground.

Greg and Luda roll in a heap on the ground. As they roll, they manage to turn their gaze toward the boss.

The gap is too big. But by that time, Tino has already jumped.

Using the back of the huge axe stuck in the ground as a foothold, Tino's small body flew through the air.
The boss's eyes, which had only been filled with vindictiveness, were momentarily filled with astonishment.

The boss's decision was instantaneous. He let go of his left arm, which was gripping the battle axe, and followed Tino.
Tino's leap was even bigger than the boss's huge body. The swinging arms and full-grown claws snatched Tino's legs as he rose in front of him.

Tino's neat eyes twisted in pain. Fresh blood sprays from the thigh of his right leg, which has been cut shallowly. But it doesn't stop moving.

Then Tino jumped over his head and stuck to the boss's back.

The crimson shortsword in his right hand glinted. The boss jerked upright.

Tino then stabbed the dagger into his neck with a swift motion, without making any particular sound.

His eyes, which were dripping with blood, turned over and his arms wandered through the air as if to grab Tino.
But in the end, the claws did not catch Tino, who was stuck on his back, and his huge body broke his knees.

Almost as soon as Tino landed on the ground, the Phantom's huge body disappeared.


§


'I did it ......?'

Gilbert muttered dumbly, breathing on his shoulder. The Purgatory Sword fell from his hand and rolled on the ground, making a heavy sound.
His voice was different from when he was beating away at the battle axe a moment ago, and he sounded young for his age.

'...... win'.



Tino held his slashed right thigh and made a short declaration in an emotionless voice.

He sat down on the ground and examined the wound on his right thigh, which had been sliced wide open.

A long scar rushed across his white skin.
The wound, which looked as if it had been cut by a sharp sword, had fortunately avoided an artery and was not life-threatening, but it was not something that could be left unattended.

If he hadn't been able to strike that blow, he wouldn't have been able to escape.

The blood and sharp pain that continued to flow slowly caused Tino to bite down on his pain and let out a small sigh.

'That was close.

From the potion holder on his belt, which could hold up to five bottles, he took out a glass bottle containing a small, light red liquid.

It was a magic potion created by an alchemist to heal wounds. The potion, created by the fusion of science and magic, can heal wounds instantly, though not as quickly as the magic of a healer.
It is a must-have item for parties without a healer.

Remove the cap, pull off your shorts to expose your thighs, and pour the potion directly on the wound.

I groan in pain for a moment as the pain stirs the wound, but the wound, which ran from near my groin to the back of my knee, quickly closes.

There was still a little internal pain, but that should heal with time.

Greg, who had been lying on the floor, got up and looked at the broken sword that he was still holding in his hand.
He looked pale, as if he had just realized the situation.

You can find a lot more information on the web at ....... I thought I was going to die. d*mn, it's not my lucky day that my sword broke at a time like this.

'You're lucky you're still alive, old man.

'Hahaha, no way.'

He laughed as usual, but his voice was also somewhat lacking in energy.

He smiled a tight smile and looked at Luda, who had rescued him without regard to the danger.

'Thanks for the help, Luda.

'Yeah, I'm really glad I got to ...... just in time. Tino, are you okay?'

'No problem. I can walk. I'll be back to normal in no time.'

The potions Tino carries are high quality. It takes time, but it can heal most wounds that are not fatal.

Wiping away the blood, Tino slowly stood up.

Gilbert breathed a sigh of relief at the leader's seemingly unconcerned appearance.

He was the most fearsome opponent he had ever fought. At the very least, Gilberto's previous party would have been unlikely to win even if the Purgatory Sword's magic had been charged.

It was almost a miracle that they were able to defeat him without any serious injuries.
If even a single member of the party present had been missing, it would have been doubtful whether we could have won. It was truly a victory on thin ice.

Gilbert sighed, his heart beating wildly at the fear of death that had just struck him.

'But there's nothing left of the ...... boss, is there?

'You're out of luck. It's more likely to leave something behind than a normal phantom.

Gregg's expression was subtle. He picks up the broken blade of his beloved sword and carefully sheathes it.

It is difficult to put a completely broken sword back together again.
At best, it can be cast back into the material. Considering the reward, it was a huge loss.

Luda smiled bitterly and offered a few words of comfort.

'Well, well, we're lucky to have life. You know. You can buy a sword.'

'...... Well, that is...'

'I'll give you this. It's shorter than the sword you've been using, but it's better than nothing.'

'Oh.'

Greg took the crimson shortsword and shook it lightly to see how it felt.

We've defeated the boss, but we haven't reached our goal yet, and we still have to find our way back.

Phantoms, unlike demons, are naturally occurring. Even if you've been down this road once, you can't rest assured.

Greg and Gilbert sat down tiredly and slurped down the contents of the canteen they had brought with them.
Luda says, picturing the battle scene in his mind.

'But with something like that out there, it's ...... dangerous for the hunters in distress.

'Hmm ...... ah ...... level 5, was it? Didn't you just get hit by one of those?

'Level 5.......'

Tino frowned at the word.

Indeed, the current boss was quite strong. Even with three level 4 members, it was still a tough match, so it was no surprise that a level 5 hunter would lose.

After all, the level is a standard set by the Search Council. It does not necessarily mean that a level 5 hunter is stronger than a level 4 hunter.
Of course, a level 7 or 8 hunter who has to accumulate a huge amount of achievements will have a different status, but a level 5 hunter does not need to have that much talent to reach the level.

Once again, Tino checks the boss room.

It's a spacious room. The ceiling is high, and the walls are covered with lighted stones.
There's a vague glow on the ground, but there's no pool of blood in sight, nor are there any signals indicating that someone is in distress.

If the hunters were in distress, they would have left a trail to show it.

The White Wolf's Den is not a very large treasure house. It's unlikely that he got lost and couldn't come back.
If that's the case, the strength of the illusion is most likely the bottleneck, but even so, it's only natural for a level 5 hunter to think about the rescuer. It's strange that you can't see any of that.

This is a test. It is a test that the Master has deemed worthy of Tino.
Then it should be able to be solved by an inexperienced treasure hunter named Tino Shade.

'.................. I don't know,...... --?

In the event that you've got any questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can contact us at the web site.

When Tino looked up, the members of the team, who were sitting down as if they were tired, made quizzical expressions.

'What's the matter, leader?

'Stand up. Something's coming.

'What? Phantom?

Tension and relaxation. Freed from the tension of the boss battle, the three of them stand up, scolding their bodies that are about to falter from fatigue.

Tino half-crouched to avoid something flying through the sky.

What came was a single arrow. The long crimson arrow pierced the wall and made a dull sound.

And for the first time, Tino's face turned pale.

'......?'

Gilbert shouted dumbly after him.

The main path leading to the boss's room. You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.

And it's not just one.



Four to eight blood-red eyes glared at Tino and the others as they entered the line.

--Was the boss they had just defeated waiting for them?

Now that the possibility has come to Tino's mind. When he thought about it, the boss's movements seemed cautious, as if he was stalling for time.

The sound of his footsteps made the ground tremble.

Greg's lips quivered with a look as if he were having a nightmare.

'Stupid,......'.

It looks just like the boss you just defeated, but each one has a different weapon.

There are two-handed big swords and a huge club that seems to reach almost to the ceiling. There's a huge bow that's clearly not meant to be used indoors, and a black-iron firearm with a long band of bullets that scrapes the ground.

Their movements as they entered the room were not fierce, but somewhat leisurely. It was as if he was showing off his overwhelming superiority.

But the vindictiveness in its eyes was no different from the one it had just defeated.

Luda's voice was scratchy and shaky.

'E...... why? I thought I just defeated it,.......'

'......Sure, you can't ...... get another one of these.'

Tino touched his right thigh with his fingertips, where he had just been injured.
The pain still lingered a little. He would not be able to stand around like he had just done. If he opened the wound in the middle of the fight, he would have no chance of winning this time.

In front of the overwhelmingly diminutive Tino and his men, the silver wolf knight forms a formation. A greatsword and a club stand in the vanguard, and a firearm and a bow line up behind them.

This is a great way to make sure that you don't have to worry about your own safety.

Greg holds up his crimson shortsword, but it looks unreliable in the face of the four huge Wolf Knights.
Gilbert's face, as he lifts his Purgatory Sword and thrusts the tip of it into the air, does not look as brave as before.

'What are you going to do?

'......What are you going to do? ......'

The members look at Tino.

Tino replied in a stifled voice, feigning calm on the surface.

It's the leader's job to make decisions in a tight spot. If the leader breaks, the party will collapse. There is no one Tino can rely on here and now.

'We have no choice but to do this: ......'

The wound in his leg isn't too deep, but he can't escape.
It's impossible, barring a miracle, to immediately defeat two of them wearing the same armor as the battle axe.

But we can't give up. You can't give up on living, you can't give up on fighting.

Tino is now carrying the life of the party on his shoulders.

Tino's heart beats like a fast bell as the tension he feels is different from what he feels while fighting.
Defeating the opponent is impossible. So he searches for a path that will give him the best chance of survival.

It was the Master's trust that sustained Tino now.
There was no way he would give him a request he couldn't handle. Such trust in Kry was the only thing that kept Tino from despairing.

While paying attention to the four in front of him, he turned his gaze to the side road to the right that led to the boss room.
The silver wolfknight is more massive than an ordinary wolfknight. If the path is narrow in width and ceiling, its movement can be greatly restricted.

You calm your breathing and give instructions to your companions.
The members of the team stopped trembling slightly at the sight of him.

'There's no way we can fight them in this large boss room. We'll manage to escape to the right path. That narrow path will limit the number of people we have to fight at the same time. Those swords and clubs are stuck on the ceiling and can't be used properly. I'll take care of him.




§ § § §




'I've got an idea, if we gather up some powerful treasures, it should work.'

'Luke......, no matter how well equipped you are, if your body is weak, you will die.'

The conversation with his former comrades flashed through his mind like a running lantern.



--I'm dying! I'm dying! I'm dying!

The White Wolf's den is huge. Although it was wide and tall enough to be considered a den, it was too narrow for the brakeless Dark Wings of the Night Sky to fly around.

The hole was dimly lit, but there were vaguely glowing stones in places.
Thanks to the effect of the Owl's Eye, a treasure tool on my right thumb that gave me night vision, I was able to see well enough.

A wall looms in your field of vision. I desperately manipulate the treasure tool and run through the corner.

The inside of the cave was dark and gloomy, a space I would never normally want to enter, but now all I could think about was how to stop.

I had brought a map with me, but I didn't even know where I was going anymore.

My body was slammed into the wall and ceiling by the too-slightly-advanced weapon.
My vision shook violently from the impact. I felt as if I had become a superball or something. I don't even know what's happening anymore.

My face is all scrunched up.

Thinking calmly, I should have stopped at all costs before entering the Treasure Hall. I was going so fast I was high. I feel like puking. It was my own fault.

I passed the giant apparition blocking the passage at high speed.
No matter how far beyond humanity the phantom was, it couldn't catch me, who was moving erratically at bullet-like speed. It's only natural that I don't understand myself.

By the time I turned my head toward it, it had already passed right above me.

I'll pretend I didn't see some kind of wolf walking on two legs and carrying a big sword.

--Where's Tino?

Unlike phantoms, which disappear when they die, the bodies of hunters linger for a long time. It's impossible for a hunter's corpse to leave no traces of the phantom, even if he fights it and is eaten alive. I think it's impossible.

I have only pitiful kinetic vision, but at least I didn't see anything like the corpses of Tino and his merry band in my rapidly flowing vision. It was unlikely that they were dead.

It would be a complete joke if Tino and the others were still lingering in the imperial capital instead of going to the request after all this.

I'm sure that Tino, unlike me, has a strong sense of responsibility and won't throw it away, but he's also a tricky disciple of Lizzie's, so maybe--!

He hit his head hard on the ceiling, and his vision shook.

In the long straight corridor, the wolf-like apparition in the direction of travel widened its eyes in surprise when it suddenly saw me, a human missile.
But I quickly overtake it. My shoulder hits the side of the phantom's head, and my body recoils and crashes into the wall, sending a violent shock through my body.

I managed to make the sharp turn while scraping my body. It's almost a miracle that my kinetic vision hasn't pushed me into the wall yet.
The fact that I'm using my treasure trove to change my trajectory probably has some effect. Thanks to the treasure tool.



But I'm still barely alive, but I'm sure I'll die if I don't do something soon.

And I'm sure I'll be forever remembered as the idiot who used the already dead Dark Wings of the Night Sky to become the second human missile to enter the Treasure Hall. That's just too pathetic and I hate it.

I can't do this anymore. Let's stop whatever we're doing. We're going over the edge.

Before you know it you're on a wide road. I can see the back of a large apparition right in front of me. With your life in danger, you decide to use your better judgment to cushion it.

The only thing left to do is to prepare yourself. I hold my head, close my eyes, and pray desperately.

And then a shock passes through my whole body, more violent than ever.