When all of us had regained consciousness, we began to return home to decide our fate.

Even in war, withdrawal is the most damaging. In addition, with more than half of the people injured and abnormalities occurring, it would be up to the gods to see if all of them would make it back alive.

Master Gregg will support the two largest members, Gilbert the boy will support one, and Luda will support the lightest girl member.
Rodolphe, a potential warrior, used all the magic of his Healing Hope and managed to recover until he was able to walk on his own feet. Holding his spear like a staff, he walked slowly, step by step.

Tino leads the way with caution. With no strength and no endurance, I was a complete liability.
But I'm the one with the highest certification level.

Rodolphe looks as if he's about to collapse, but says clearly.

'If that boss comes out, I'll be your shield. I'll buy you some time.

'I'm not going to abandon them.

'I'm not going to abandon you.' 'I'm asking you to ...... the lives of my friends. Get them to Zebuldur somehow. Please.'

There was a strong note of regret in his voice.

A hunter needs more than skill, he needs luck. It is common for a recognized genius to disappear before long.

I don't know what you're doing here, but it looks like you've got enough margin. Bad luck, that's all I can say.

This mission is pretty hard. Even if you don't run into a boss whose entire face is covered in bones, it's a little tough to get everyone back alive when you run into a silver wolfknight.

I'm sure Rodolphe is more aware of this fact than anyone else. And in such a case, the most exhausted rescuer will be abandoned first.

Level 5 certification is no mean feat. His eyes must have seen the deaths of many friends and colleagues in the past.

Tino's words were filled with fierce determination, and he simply replied.

'Don't worry. As long as Masutaa is here, there will be no problem.

Isn't your trust level too high? Even if I'm here, all you can do is run away.

The Dark Wings of the Night Sky is for one person. But if you push yourself hard enough, you can at least carry one of them.

Fortunately, Tino is a small man. At worst, I was going to abandon the Gilbert boys, abandon the rescue target, and fly away with Tino alone in my arms.

Of course, now that we've come this far, we'll all make it out alive. I'll do my best, but I'm not going to misjudge my priorities.

Rodolphe looked at me and bowed deeply.

But I'm not God, and there's nothing I can do about it.

As we walk down the narrow street, Rodolphe tells me about the first battle.

'I'm sure the only reason we're alive is because he was playing with us.

'He was playing?

'He had a sword. He was very good. If he was serious, he'd have killed us all in a second. He wounded us and left us there. Probably to weaken us and beat us to death. Or he left us there to starve to death. No cruelty, no intelligence, no strength, no normalcy.

The Gilbert boy's face was serious as he listened to the unbelievable details being presented to him.

The more dense the mana material, the more powerful the Phantom becomes.

Intellect. Strength. Armor. In the lower levels of the treasure house, the phantoms are little more than beasts, but in the higher levels, it is not uncommon for the phantoms to be intelligent enough to understand human language.

However, they are definitely not the kind of beings that would appear in a treasure house like this.

Rodolphe continues.

'I've only been in the ...... level 6 treasure house once. The phantom I met this time was more than that. I'm sure of it.

That's ridiculous.

This was originally a level 3 treasure house. It is unlikely that a slight change in the environment will suddenly double the difficulty level.
It's possible for mutations to create powerful illusions, but I've never heard of a range that wide.

'I know it's hard to believe, ....... But I've seen it.

But his words were uncanny.
I'm sure he's terrified of losing, but he's saying that to someone who came to his aid. I definitely don't want to run into him.

There was a high possibility that Tino would not be able to win. d*mn, maybe we should have waited for Ark.

I can hear the howling of the wolves over and over again. Each time I hear it, my heart shrinks.
The echoes echoed through the narrow passageway, making it difficult to get a sense of distance.

'That thing was ...... small. He was not even half the size of a half-faced knight. It was the size of a man, but much larger than a half-faced knight.

'...... bad day, huh?'

Greg sighs deeply. I couldn't agree with him more. I'm sure I'll have a good drink with him.

Assuming both of us make it out alive.

Apparently Rodolphe had also killed a number of phantoms on his way here.
He had killed several of the half-skulled phantoms we had encountered, and was about to leave when he was attacked.

It was an unpopular request. If we hadn't come, he would have surely run out of steam.

The man Gilbert had been supporting muttered to himself as if in a whisper.

'Rodolphe is ...... here for me--'

'Don't say ....... Helian.'

Apparently, Rodolphe and the others have their own reasons.

But I can't listen to that kind of talk when I'm in such a depressed state. I shrugged my shoulders and pointed out softly.

'Well, you can discuss it there. After you return to the Imperial Capital.'

'Ah ...... ah ......'

'As expected,......, you're still a god.'

If I were a god, I'd drop a thunderbolt and burn this treasure house to the ground.

We proceeded at a slow pace, matching our rescue target.
I'm about halfway back. At that point, Greg's brow furrowed.



I'm going to say what everyone else has been thinking but not saying.

'Hey, this is a bad idea, isn't it?

'...... What's going on?

The Gilbert boy also looks worried.

The frequency of the echoing wolf's roar was much higher than before.
At first he had paused at every sound, but now it was rare for him to be quiet.

I don't know what's going on, but it's clear that something's happening.

There were already only six of the seventeen warding fingers left. That means I'll die on the seventh strike.

I have very few tools to use. I have a few chains and bullet fingers, but all of them will do little more than stall me.

There is also a treasure that can be stocked with magic, but it contains a spell that my sister gave me that flattens the whole area around me, so it's a last resort. You can only use one shot, and since it's a wide area attack spell, it's doubtful that it's powerful enough to work on a powerful illusion that's estimated to be level 7.

Is it a dead end? I'm not sure if I chose the wrong treasure to bring.

Everything was unexpected.

It was also unexpected that there really were illusions in this treasure house that Tino couldn't compete with, and it was also unexpected that the target of the rescue was still alive. It was a good thing that the Gilbert boys did better than expected, but the rest was pretty bad.

In addition, they lost their treasure, and it was a mess.

It's a good idea to take a look at the web and see what you can find.

You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web at ....... There's something ...... big coming.

I'm not sure what to make of that.
It's a very protective thing to do.

With those words, the Gilbert boys instantly went into a battle stance. They put down the rescued object on their shoulders and pulled it close to the wall.

Rodolphe lifted his spear, cold sweat breaking out on his craggy face.

I had no choice but to stretch out my arm, pull Tino down behind me, and stand at the head of the line.
Even I have a bit of pride.

'Wait, sir!

'It's dangerous, so stay back.

I don't have a choice. I'll show you the most powerful human missile I can do right now.

In fact, the remaining magic power of the Dark Wings of the Night Sky is quite questionable, but it should be able to deliver a blow.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you can do to help.

I hit the armor earlier, but if by some miracle I hit the head, I should be able to do so.
Of course, one hit will cost me one life, but that's unavoidable at this point.

The anxiety was so strong that my heart was beating calmly.
It seemed to have come full circle and flattened out. How is that possible?

He stared ahead.
Then, in the dim light, from around the corner--it appeared.

'......'.

Rodolphe gasped. What emerged from the corner was, as he had told me, a humanoid figure with a human skull covering its entire face.

It was about half the size of the silvery Wolf Knight, about the same size as me, but the pressure I felt from its body was nothing compared to the Wolf Knight I had just encountered.

It looks much more human-like than the Wolf Knight. From the side, it has wolf ears, but the shape of its head and hair resembles that of a human.
In his hand, he held a black sword, which he slowly moved back.

'What ...... is that guy?'

Gilbert's voice trailed off. His body is trembling.
He's a phantom that even I can see the difference in rank. He must be able to see the difference in power even more.


And then, as if to push him over the edge, another figure appeared.


It was much more comical than the other one, a small shadow wearing a skeleton with a smile on its face.

He was lightly armored and wore no armor, but metal boots covered his legs up to his knees.
In his hand, as he approached the other skeleton with a light step, he held my familiar treasure ......, the Silent Air, which I had dropped somewhere.

I couldn't help but rub my eyes and stare at it.

'Two ......?

'Such ......k, Cry--what should we do?

Master Greg and Luda shouted in despair.

But it was Tino who reacted the loudest.

He gave a tragic voice that sounded like he was about to start crying, and clung to my arm.
What was there was not sweetness like the other day, but fear.

'? I'm sorry. ...... I'm sorry. ...... I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do my best. I'll do anything. Please forgive me for that. Please help me.

'?

The Gilbert boys, the members of the temporary party, and Rodolphe were stunned by the appearance of Tino, who is always cool on the surface.

Then the laughing skeleton's head slowly moved and turned towards me.

Its eye sockets, unlike the Wolf Knight's, are darker than darkness, and its twisted mouth forms a smile that at the same time seems to be lamenting the world.

I don't know what's going on anymore. I can't believe it.

I stroked the head of Tino, who was clinging to me, to reassure him. I left everyone in the depths of despair and just said what I was thinking.


'Hey, it's Liz!

I'm not sure why I'm here.