I can’t move my body.

Strength is draining from my hand that holds the sword.

— It’s alright.

What exactly is alright?

The side where I was stabbed with a sword hurts.

Now the mark of a burn is starting to sting.

Is the poison spreading? My vision is distorting.

And I feel nauseous.

Why am I trying to bluff?

— The approaching spear of flame

The orange flame illuminating the night.

That glow signifies deadly heat.

If I take that directly, even the fire attribute attack reduction effect of the robe I gave to the prince will be meaningless.

The prince is saying something.

I want to cry.

…Cry?

Come to think of it, wasn’t there a time like this before?

When was that?

— Pain

— Heat

— Blood

— Death

…I remember.

That was when I died.

 

Glen: “We have to run! Can you stand, Rose-san!!?”

Rose: “…I need this back for a bit.”

Glen: “Eh, Rose-san?”

 

That’s right.

I haven’t died yet, have I?

I’m alive.

My body won’t move?

I’ll make it move.

It is hard to grip the sword?

It’s not impossible to grip.

There’s no problem at all.

What poison!

What excruciating pain!?

Compared to “that (death)”, any agony feels pleasant.

I don the Salamander Robe and ready my rapier.

I activate the Level 4 Ability『Revenge』 of the 【Physical Enhancement】 skill.

Now for 10 seconds, when I receive damage, the effects of 『120% Attack Power Up』and 『20% Damage Reduction』will activate.

I activate the Level 5 Ability 『Iron Wall』 of the 【Physical Enhancement】 skill.

For 30 seconds, the effect of 『50% Damage Reduction』will activate.

— The rushing spear of flame

It’s alright.

I’m not scared.

Pain, poison, and flames can’t stop me.

I pull back my arm holding the rapier, thrust out my left hand, and tense my upper body like a bow.

I lower my waist, storing power in my right leg.

I’m not aiming for the Fire Arrow.

I’m aiming for the assassin who is shooting it.

— 【Rapier Technique】 skill, Level 10 Ability『Lightning』

Like a released arrow, my body flies forward.

Leaving sound behind, faster than the wind, rushing with a speed that seems to fade color.

Several fire arrows pierce my body.

It hurts… no, it doesn’t hurt!

This doesn’t hurt at all‼

I don’t have the technique to slash flying magic.

Arata-kun might be able to, but it’s meaningless if I don’t know how to do it.

So, I should just take them all.

As a result, as long as they don’t hit Prince Glen, there’s no problem.

 

Rose: “――Take this.”

Assassin: “Wha⁉”

 

In an instant, I close the distance to the assassin dozens of meters away.

Although their face was hidden with cloth and their expression was not clear, surprise was conveyed from their wide-open eyes.

The moment I enter into reaching distance, I release all the stored power.

The sound like a thunderclap was heard after gouging from the flank up to the chest of the assassin.

Haa, I’m tired.

 

Glen: “Rose-san‼”

Rose: “…Thank you, Prince.”

 

My collapsing body is supported by Prince Glen.

How much HP do I have left now?

My head is not working due to poison, fatigue, and bleeding.

— From afar, a sound is heard

Thinking it’s a new enemy, I whip my tired body to stand up.

However, that worry was needless.

As the sound gradually becomes louder, I realize it’s the sound of armor.

Dozens of knights rush into the courtyard.

Reinforcements.

Someone among the servants who heard the sound of battle, or maybe the patrolling soldiers or knights might have called them.

Now I can leave the prince with peace of mind.

But, if they are coming, should have come earlier――

 

Knight: “Second Knight’s Captain, Luna La Pases Rose――We are subduing you for the crime of treason.”

Rose: “…What?”

 

A man who came out from the group of knights loudly declares.

In accordance, the surrounding knights draw their swords.

 

Glen: “Elliott Third Knight’s Captain!”

Elliott: “What happened, Prince Glen?”

Glen: “That’s my line. What authority do you have to execute Rose, the Second Knight’s Captain?”

Elliott: “Evidence has come out revealing her connection with the dark guild 『Fenrir』. And Prince Glen, you are also suspected of being involved in this series of events.”

Glen: “What are you…!”

 

Dark guild?

Fenrir?

Elliott or whatever the man’s name is listing the crimes I committed, but they are all things I don’t remember doing.

I don’t understand what he’s talking about at all.

But I understood that discussion seems impossible.

It’s tough in this condition, but it seems I have to fight.

 

Unknown: “――It seems I made it in time.”

Elliot: “⁉ Who are you‼”

 

Just when the battle is about to start, a person interrupts in front of us.

A Dragonewt?

…Come to think of it, the grandmaster of this country’s adventurer’s guild is a Dragonewt NPC.

 

Elliott: “…What does the adventurer’s guild want?”

Dragonewt: “Don’t look at me with such resentful eyes. I just came to investigate 『Fenrir』 in place of the negligent Third Knight’s Squad.”

 

Saying that, the Dragonewt man throws a man in black in front of me.

 

Dragonewt: “During a battle, make sure to completely stop the enemy’s breath. He was lurking and watching for an opportunity from the shadows after that final blow, you know?”

Rose: “Could it be the assassin I kicked away? …Wait, if you were watching, you should have helped‼”

Dragonewt: “Every experience counts. Each time you cross the line of death, you become stronger.”

 

Saying that, the Dragonewt man laughs.

 

Dragonewt: “Now, Third Knight’s Captain. Words are unnecessary, right? Choose whether to retreat here, prolonging that short life… or die here and now.”

Elliott: “The adventurer’s guild… is opposing the kingdom‼”

Dragonewt: “Don’t make the adventurer’s guild clean up your mess.”

 

I don’t understand what’s going on, but anyway, it seems like the Dragonewt is on my side.

Even though one person has increased, the situation of being outnumbered hasn’t changed.

But if he is the Grandmaster, he should be able to fight a bit.

That’s what I was thinking—

 

Elliott: “Eei, it doesn’t matter! Do it――‼”

Dragonewt: “――Truly, it’s a pity that this is the pillar that maintains the security of this country…”

 

— *thud*

 

It was a dull sound that like I think.

Elliott’s head dances in the air, and soon after, it falls to the ground.

The person himself seems to not understand what happened, is surprised by the pain of his forehead hitting the ground, and in the middle of trying to understand the situation, he breathes his last.

…Is he seriously that strong⁉

What did this Dragonewt person do now?

He’s carrying a sword; did he decapitate Elliott’s head with Iaido or something?

I didn’t see anything‼

…I remember now‼

Vergil.

The strongest NPC Vergil.

I remember seeing a video of someone challenging him in a live broadcast and losing right after the duel started.

Eh?

Was this person this strong?

 

Vergil: “Now――”

Knights: “””Eh⁉”””

 

Vergil-san murmurs.

At that small voice, the knights brought by Elliott amusingly shudder their shoulders.

 

Vergil: “Who is the vice-commander? The next commander, give orders. Retreat or die… I’ll let you choose whichever you like.”