LIGHTNOVELWORLD Episode 24
Chapter 24
“First of all… there are two gatekeepers at the front and back gates. Since both of them have unfamiliar faces and seemed unfamiliar, it’s almost certain they’re part of the Hyann’s group.”
“In that case, there’s no need to hold back. Let’s swiftly deal with the two at the back gate.”
Even though it’s about enemies, hearing a ten-year-old girl say it makes you widen your eyes in surprise.
Zombies might have humanoid forms, but since they are decaying and deformed, it’s understandable not to hesitate to attack them.
However, whether this is due to this world’s norms or the nobility’s values, I was somewhat taken aback that Alshade spoke so casually about killing people.
“No need to be so surprised. I’m just distinguishing between enemies and non-enemies. Besides, if some noble doesn’t see commoners as equals, they might give such orders even to someone younger than me”, she explained.
“I don’t want to meet such people.”
“Indeed, it’s better not to. They would likely show disgust toward a slum-born person becoming a knight.”
If I were to encounter such a stereotypical villainous noble and be looked down upon, it wouldn’t bother me personally, but considering Alshade’s current state, it would probably put her in a foul mood.
Imagining having to appease her in that situation makes me want to avoid meeting such people at all costs. Well, given that I’m a knight, it might be challenging to avoid that altogether.
“Cough, let’s get back to the topic. Now, about the interior, there are only a few patrollers. I don’t sense any signs of those skilled individuals. They’re probably asleep…”, Orto said.
“They’re being careless, huh?”, I asked.
“Most likely, they didn’t expect to face Orto until this morning’s confrontation. They probably didn’t anticipate me escaping from captivity overnight without anyone noticing.”, Alshade responded.
My intervention, due to having knowledge of the original work, seems to be causing a nice discrepancy that works in our favor, allowing us not to face the strongest opponent head-on from the start. That’s a relief.
“So, where is Hyann exactly?”
“Hyann seems to be in the archive.”
“The archive, huh… there’s a treasure vault deep inside. Most likely, Hyann’s objective is the ancestral sword used during the succession of the family head. With that, he can claim his legitimacy as the next head of the family, even if the empire loses and has to flee this city”
I see, it’s insurance in case the Empire loses and they have to flee the city. Still, it’s a bit troublesome that he’s awake.
The best plan would have been to infiltrate while he was asleep and take him down before he could establish a proper command structure. If he’s awake, he might consider escaping, and that’s bothersome.
“Also, those we sensed are in the rooms of the live-in staff and the guest rooms. They seem to be under some form of house arrest. That’s all the information I have.”, Orto concluded.
“I see, understood. If there are allies inside the mansion, then we won’t be able to use Finbul’s weapon skill after all. Let’s proceed as planned.”, Alshade responded.
“Understood.”
“Roger.”
“Ah, Rio, turn around for a moment.”
“What is it?”
As I turned around as instructed, she placed a necklace with a ring on it around my neck.
“W-Wait, this…!”
“It’s better for you to wear it. I can use “Protection” myself, but you can’t, right?”
“That’s true, but it’s not right! If it’s about protection, a knight should prioritize their lord over themselves.”
“…I don’t want you to die. Besides, I’m skilled enough not to be inferior to an average knight. With Finbul, I would be safe enough.”
I turned to Orto, and he nodded. Seems like he’s not lying. I reluctantly accepted.
“…Alright. However, if something happens, I will step forward to shield you,” I asserted.
“I’m counting on you, my knight.”
◆
“Phew… the color of the sky is starting to change slightly, so it’s almost time for a shift, right?”
“Yeah, just a little more…”
“…”
Ort supported the bodies of the two gatekeepers who had collapsed, blood spurting from their necks, and gently lowered them from behind.
To me, it seemed like the gatekeepers both spewed blood from their necks at the same time, and I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of his sword’s trajectory, let alone his figure.
“Did you see that?” I asked.
“I couldn’t see it, but I think he cut their throats and then pierced their hearts.”, Alshade responded.
I knew that, but Orto’s strength is on a different level. Even if he cut their throats at the same time, he should have aimed to stab their hearts individually, but I couldn’t see anything.
“…Orto alone might be enough, don’t you think?”, I asked.
“That may be true, but as the next head who was so easily fooled , I can’t afford that. It’s a matter of responsibility.”, Alshade responded with a voice filled with conviction.
While approaching the back gate, I exchanged a few words with Alshade.
Passing by the dead bodies of the gatekeepers, I caught a glimpse of something that seemed to have pierced their backs as well.
An accurate and precise strike.
Even though I knew they were not our allies, a chill ran down my spine.
“…I’m really glad Orto isn’t an enemy.”
“I agree. If that were the case, we would have been completely done for.”
Orto’s next words seemed to tighten the slightly relaxed atmosphere, and he spoke to us.
“From here on, please be cautious in your actions. Since we’ve infiltrated the premises, they will likely notice.”
“Understood. We’ll leave the lead to you.”
“Then follow me.”
Nodding, Orto ran ahead, gradually increasing his speed to match mine, the slowest.
Even so, the mansion, which had been visible in the distance from the back gate, kept getting bigger and bigger.
There weren’t any obstacles, and we reached the back entrance of the mansion without any interference.
“I sense the signs of the skilled individuals, but it seems they have no intention of coming out.”, Orto informed us.
“From here on, it’s the real deal. What about the other signs?”
“Hyann and what seems to be his knight are in the archive. Besides the skilled individuals, everyone else seems to be heading towards this back entrance.”
While reporting, Orto turned the doorknob of the back door and confirmed it was locked. He stepped back and readied his sword.
With a swift slash, the sword’s tip was facing the ground before anyone could react.
“Let’s go,” Orto said.
“Rio, just in case, stay alert behind us,” Alshade advised.
“Yeah, got it,” I replied, regaining my focus after being mesmerized by Orto nonchalantly opening the door.
“There they are! Just as Barot-sama mentioned, three intruders! Blow the whistle… wait…?”
“You are in the way,” Orto interrupted.
Without hesitation, Orto cut down the three soldiers who rushed toward us with their short swords. Each one was beheaded with a single slash as he passed through them.
As I passed the soldiers’ lifeless bodies, their heads rolled on the floor. We encountered two more soldiers, and they met the same fate as the previous three.
“Stop!”
Orto, who had been running at a constant speed, slowed down and came to a stop in the middle of the hallway.
We followed suit.
Why I didn’t ask why we stopped?
There could only be one reason for Orto to stop.
“Oops, caught already? Just as they say, ”Shōken’ sama'” said the grinning man who emerged from one of the rooms facing the hallway. I gasped when I saw his face.
“(Dick the ‘Head Hunter’! Barots that the soldiers were talking about must be his pseudonym!)”
“Head Hunter” Dick.
He was one of the early bosses in the original game, a psychopath who took pleasure in beheading living creatures, including humans, using his dual swords.
He was among the skilled individuals owned by someone in the Empire.
It’s understandable why Orto was cautious when he mentioned the skilled individuals.
“Alshade-sama, Lord Rios, I will handle this person. Please proceed to Hyann’s location in the meantime.”
“Be careful,” Alshade said.
“Of course. I’m entrusting Alshade-sama to you” Orto replied handing me the responsibility.
“Of course,” I added.
Moving in front of Alshade and shielding her behind my back, I distanced myself from Orto.
“Is the strategy meeting over?”
“Yeah, it’s done…”
“Here I come, Shōken” Orto!”
With a thunderous roar, Ort shatters the floor and instantly closes in on Dick.
Orto’s mighty sword strike from above was blocked by his twin swords, and the two engaged in a deadlock.
“Let’s go!”
Seizing the opportunity, Alshade and I ran past them on either side.
“…You won’t… get away…!”, Dick shouted.
“Youngster, do you have the luxury to do that?” came Orto’s voice from behind us.
Listening to the sound of clashing swords behind us, we hurried forward.
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