Growth of Must-Save (4)

So, I found the alchemists in that area

Hmm, wait a minute. This goes above my authority. Follow me, and I will lead you to my superior.

And thats what the guild member of the Phoenix guild said as Louises party returned from the dungeon and made a report; then, surprisingly, the party was guided to the highest floor of the guild house. And there she was. The ice witch and one of the strongest beings in the dungeon city of Sherden: Eloa Von Serpe!

Its the guild master, Eloa Von Serpe.

He-he-hello!

Unexpectedly encountering the powerful figure, Renail replied with a quivering voice even though she wasnt pointed out by her; then, she bowed her head. Eloa smiled lightly and offered them to sit.

I heard that you brought important information. Have a seat.

Then excuse us

Such dignity and a remarkable aura befitted someone at the peak of the dungeon city, and the cold yet noble beauty added to that image. Of course, she was famous for her proud nature, and her posture was severe. Evan had requested her to leave a strong image on Louises party.

Could you tell me once more about what happened in the dungeon?

Understood.

Even Louise, who realized Eloas role, tensed up a bit as she started to talk. They encountered two alchemists in the undead dungeon who attacked the party, and when they were defeated, an unidentified man appeared and retrieved their bodiesthe summary sounded simple, but Eloa maintained a serious look while she was listening to the story.

As expected. I am now confident with that. The fact that cancer is growing in Sherden

Cancer?

The reason why we requested your party to explore the undead dungeon was that we wanted to check if anything strange is happening inside that dungeon. Recently in the vicinity of Sherdenthere has been a spotting of an unusually large number of undead.

The undead?

As Louise filled in the conversation, Eloa went with the flow and nodded her head in a serious way.

Are you aware of the corrupted zone? Its magic that keeps on creating the undead within a specific field. Precisely its a technique created through the combination of magic and alchemyit was considered to be lost at one time.

But discoveries had been made recently outside the city that someone tried to recreate. With the Phoenix Guild in the key role, large guilds felt suspicious. They secretly reported it to the Knight-Commander of Astray, Evan D. Sherden, intending to reveal the dark forces within Sherden through their active searches.

I didnt know such things were happening in this city

So, it was the black magic. Disgusting bastards, the nameless god will never forgive them.

I am sincerely sorry your party had to get involved in this mess.

No.

Louise stopped at Eloa at the agreed timing.

They were after us anyways. There were numerous times that weve encountered them accidentally even beforeso; theres no need for you to apologize. But if possible, wed like to acquire detailed information.

Information. Can I take that as your partys intention to stand against them officially?

Louise exchanged glances with each of her party members as she heard Eloas question. Enoch, who was brimming with faith as the priest of the party, nodded like there was nothing to askas if he officially joined the partywhile Renail held onto Saves sleeve with a slightly worried expression, and Save held Renails hand slightly before answering in a firm voice.

All things will go as He planned. We just follow it.

Yes, our party made a decision.

Good; if everyone is willing, then I will provide my complete support. But before we do so, I must introduce you to a few people.

People?

They have Master Evans support, and I believe its better you work alongside them.

Eloa signaled by clapping her hands; the back door opened wide, and two girls came out. Evan chuckled as he observed through the orb. Its because they were also knights of Astray under Evan, just like the man they had encountered a while ago!

Huhuhu, it must have been troublesome coming all the way here! From now on, the Holy Knight of the Vassal God, Lan, will aid you guys!

Idiot, thats not our line.

Arghthese children will work with you guys from now on. They are very young, so ignore their unintelligible mumbo-jumbo. Their skills are unparalleled so that you can trust them in combat.

Uh, hmm

Although they talked foolishly, their skills were certain. Taken care of by Evan at a very young age to get the elite course education, they were the young heroes who became the holy knight and the priest of the Vassal God as they succeeded Arias path, one of the many heroes who saved the continent in the past! They were Lin and Lan of Astrays junior group.

So, these kids can wield the power of the Vassal God? Ive seen too many imposters who pretend to be priests of the Vassal God, so I cant trust them.

Everyone who remembers those that saved the continent a few decades ago has high regard for the priest of the Vassal God. Even other priests held the priests of the Vassal God in high esteem at the same time they competed with them. And this was the same for Enoch, a priest of the nameless god. The joining of the child priests of the Vassal God wasnt pleasant for one who promised to spread the fame of the nameless god by taking part in this party.

Old man, are you also a priest?

O-o-o-old man!

Hey, Lan! Youre not supposed to call old people old in their presence!

Argh!

Despite Enoch being in his twenties, his beard became bushy if he forgot to shave even for a day, unlike Raihan, who has a smooth babyface, if he shaved just once a week! Lin cast holy magic on Enoch as he became confused by the harmless attacks from Lan.

Are you all right, old man?

Yeah, Im finethis surely is the holy power of the Vassal God.

Although Lin was also calling him an old man despite her stopping Lan from saying it, Enoch decided not to worry about it.

Everyone, just trust us and follow us from now on!

We will defeat all those black magicians!

Although some damages were done during the recruiting process, all things went smoothly. As Lin and Lan were accepted into the party despite their unnatural and vague dialogues, the party was now composed of six members. And among the six, two were pure priests, and one was a holy knight, meaning a monstrous party had been formed.

If we were to train on teamwork like this, we would make for the best undead response team.

Anyway, I know that you guys have only cleared up to the 20th floorId like to send you to the dungeon right away, but there are a bunch of things to be done outside.

Just leave them to us.

It was to buy some time in order to train Lucid and let him join, but Save, who knew nothing about it, replied in a firm voice. He was considering that this entire matter was a test given by Evan, knowing that Lin and Lan had the same affiliation as Jhin.

He probably wants me to lead this case. The disciple who pretends to be evil and the ones who came to help me are all guiding me to His willno matter what ending it may give me, I will achieve what He wants.

The schemer behind the act, the one that didnt see through the entire plot and got involved hopelessly, and the one who willingly wanted to play with the flow despite the fact that he knew the act is in place; the scenario of Sherden was gradually coming to a chaotic conclusion.

Great, Im going to brag to that idiot Jhin!

Youre not supposed to go there now!

* * *

Meanwhile, Shine was teaching the new student the skills that all thieves must learn. Not all skills could be taught in a short span of time, so there was no choice but to focus on a disguise and searching.

Good, then well start searching from now on.

Yes, teacher!

The best method to improve the thiefs skill was hide-and-seek. It was now Shines turn to find Lucid, but he had already faced hardships. Surely, he could hear him, but there was no way of knowing the location of the voice.

What kind of monster did Master bring?

Shine thought Lucid would find the basic training difficult at his age, and that was a serious misjudgment. Although he didnt receive proper training as a thief, Lucid was a rare expert of disguise as he constantly developed his unique skills. Moreover, as he followed Evan, he was able to face his unique skills, and thanks to the effect of his job as the guide, his growth amplified, which led to his hiding skills making progress every moment.

But I cant yield just because I cant find him already! Hey, cooperate with me.

[Really, Shine cant go on without me.]

In the end, Shine released the seal of his ability. All things had shadows, and he was able to trace them with the help from Ghost Lady Christina. Christina could activate her ability through the ghost bracelet whenever she wanted to without manifesting her corporeal form, so one could say it was Shines ability. If that werent the case, he wouldnt have gotten the strange class called Companion of the Shadow as his secondary.

Ill be questioned to death if Asha finds out, so I will never mention the jobs name

Shine was able to find Lucid. As Shine stepped on his slightly protruded shadow and started a conversation, Lucid startled.

I didnt even see you moving.

Disguise isnt all about hiding. Deceiving a person to think that he is being watched while achieving the goal by moving unnoticed, that level is what all thieves must reach.

Deceiving another to feel that he is being watchedIll keep that in mind, teacher!

Shine just chattered whatever he could, but Lucids eyes were glowing as if he were deeply impressed. Shine blustered more as he was a bit excited.

And the way you hid your shadow was immature. Try to think about what a true disguise is.

Understood!

[You barely found him with my helpwhat if he is able to hide in the shadows completely?]

Then theres nothing to teach him.

It was the right answer. A person who couldnt be found by Shine and Christina didnt need lessons. And since being caught up in just one week from teaching was too hurtful to his pride, Shine decided to stop the disguise training for now and move onto the next level.

We shall train with weaponry.

Yes, Ive done my best for the basics!

It wouldve been better if Lucid knew how to wield dual-daggers like Shine, but it seemed that his weaponry was slightly in limbo as he was called the Silent Fake Knight in games. His aptitude was a short sword, precisely a bollock dagger. It had a wide grip with a long but thin blade. It was a weapon that resembled an ice pick that focused on killing the enemies by stabbing. Since slicing wasnt an option, only stabbing and cutting were two forms of an attack.

The Heavenly Destruction Stance taught by the Commander was also fun!

Oh, the Heavenly Destruction Stance. Can you show me?

Yes!

The Heavenly Destruction Stance of a dagger gave the most skill experience among all basic combat stances specialized for certain weapons like the Hive Demolition of the dual dagger. Like the Hive Demolition, canceling training was possible, and, of course, the sky and the ground didnt get destroyed.

Haaaaah, argh!

Seven consecutive thrusts to the front at first, but this thrusting stance can be canceled with a flick of a finger. Its a technique where, after a total of seven flicks were done, the user leaps and uses a reverse grip in order to stab it into the enemys head with all his might, but somehow striking the dagger from below while bending the knees was also considered to be the right movement. Perhaps there were some useless movements that were supposed to be added to the Heavenly Destruction Stance but excluding them at the last phase might have led to the subtle form, and since canceling existed here as well, the movement was completed by holding the dagger tight then flicking the pinkie once while bending the knee a bit.

Its a complicated move compared to the Hive Demolition. And it becomes harder as the cancel moves get added multiple times in between

But once you get used to it, its way easier than the completed move!

Well, its because the canceling is simple.

And it gradually becomes easier to wield a dagger, so its fun too!

[What a stupid yet optimistic view]

Lucid was already ecstatic because people recognized and talked to him. If Shine were to read his innermost feelings, he might have shed a tear.

I want to become stronger fast and make new friends!

Yes, and to do so, lets succeed in freely controlling the unique skill.

Like everyone else who was involved with Evansomeone who showed exceptional growth this timea boy who could be the last member of the sub-party was progressing swiftly.