Hmm. This is bad.
As I calmly nodded, my eyes t with those of the boss woman, who was biting her nails anxiously. At the sa ti, the corners of her mouth twisted cruelly.
You. You pink sl*t. What did you say earlier? Save you?
Oh dear. You must be close to your last monts, seeing that youre hearing things. Its okay, I understand. My grandmother also often beca delusional right before she passed away.
What?
A mocking remark reflexively shot out of , but I imdiately lowered my eyes due to her low voice and the killing intent that prickled against my skin.
Ahthat, whats it. Im saying I didnt say anything.
I could be free if I just held on a little longer, so it wouldnt do any good to unnecessarily rile her up and cause trouble.
I, Jonah Kim. A man who, even when facing death, says what he needs to say.
But if bowing for a mont could save my life, I was also a man ready to bow his head as much as needed.
Seemingly pleased with my ek change in attitude, only then did the boss loosen her murderous intent and speak.
It doesnt matter if it was a hallucination. Just keep begging for your life. Unless you want a nice big hole in your side.
On each of her fingers were rings embedded with various colors of gems. Among them, the green ring shone brightly, and then a guardless throwing dagger sprang out from the bosss fingertips.
I knew what that was. Of course, I did. Its an artifact that I thought up, so its only natural.
A steady seller of the Mage Tower, a weapon storage artifact. Originally intended to store a spare weapon
It seems they had been actively using it to store throwing weapons. Seeing a few rings that lost their shine confird my assumptions.
For a mont, I marveled at their usage which had exceeded my intentions. Then, suddenly, she thrust the dagger through the bars.
Swoosh.
A cold sensation grazed my cheek, followed by a delayed, burning sensation. The boss, who left a thin scar on my handso face, then growled.
Who told you to shut up? If you dont want your neck slit, keep begging!
Pl-Please save !!
A scream that sprang from sincerity. Anyone would beg for their life if they saw a madwoman swinging a knife in front of them, even without being asked.
Only then did the boss woman let out a satisfied sigh. It was clear she had gone mad after feeling her life in mortal danger.
While chewing her out internally, I continued to earnestly beg for my life as instructed. As I did so, she opened the barred door and strode in.
She lifted my firmly bound body from the back like a shield and whispered into my ear as she aid the dagger at my throat. Her breath slled slightly rotten, as if she hadnt brushed her teeth.
Thats right. Youre doing well. Just keep it up, and Ill spare your life later. I promise.
Ah. So they intended to use as a hostage. But would that really be effective? And I couldnt trust their promise to spare . Wasnt this the sa person who was about to kill in cold blood?
But for now, I nodded my head vigorously with a terrified expression. If I endure just a little longer, an opportunity will surely co.
Thanks to the excessive amount of perfu, presumably used to mask so sort of odor, it wasnt too difficult to grimace. After all, too much fragrance also becos a stench.
Please spare !
Perhaps she liked the way I didnt ask her if she was telling the truth and instead begged her for rcy with even more desperation. The boss had just been about to open the door to the underground prison, visibly relaxed.
Booooooom!
A strange woman, transcending the re realm of being violent or not, completely broke down the door to make her entrance. The mont I saw her face, my breath involuntarily halted.
Her hair and eyes were as red as a blazing fire. Her tightly shut lips made her seem expressionless, and although she was a bit short, her full body armor made it less noticeable.
She radiated the essence of a knight.
I surely wasnt the only one who felt that way, as she was known by a similar na in reality.
The Noble Lydia.
Even I, who had little connection to adventurers, knew her well.
Originating from a fallen knight family, she was a high-ranking adventurer who received her na from her guild. And indeed, she was renowned for her noble character, living up to her na.
But would this flimsy plan even work? After all, Lydia was a veteran adventurer who had seen it all, the good and the bad.
If it were , I would have just ignored and swung the sword. It would be good if the hostage could be saved, but if not, it wouldnt be anything beyond just regrettable.
It wasnt as if it could penalize her in any way.
While I was regretting not just swearing at her earlier, the boss pushed forward as expected and began negotiating with Lydia.
Stop! Otherwise, I cant guarantee this kid will stay alive!
A hostage?
Seeing my terrified, trembling figure and the wounds on my face, Lydia frowned deeply. She lowered the sword she had aid forward.
State your intentions.
My safety, obviously. Dont chase until I get out of this city. Then, Ill leave the kid near the city walls.
Thats nonsense.
Lydia gripped her lowered sword firmly. Yes. Thats right. That is the correct choice.
When she took a strong stance, the bosss face turned pale.
Then, Ill just kill the hostage here and die myself!
.
Seeing no other way out, the boss acted defiantly, readying herself for the last struggle.
Fine. But ensure the safety of the hostage. If you break your promise, Ill chase you to the ends of the earth and cut you down.
What?
The boss, seemingly not expecting her to actually comply, responded with a dumbfounded voice. I felt the sa way.
She was giving up her task, and possibly even facing consequences, just to save a complete stranger?
Suddenly, I saw a halo shining behind Lydia, who had just made a seemingly impossible decision.
Youve made a wise decision! As expected from the Noble Lydia! I, too, will keep my promise!
The bosss face, which had turned pale, began to regain color, and she vigorously nodded her head.
An excited tone, as if she had just escaped death. At the sa ti, a sinister intent to kill focused on my side. I see. Is that what it is?
It seems Lydia intends to keep her promise, but not the boss.
She must be planning to stab in the side and run away. Given Lydias nature, she would be slow in pursuit to treat my injury.
Well, Id expected this.
Even from the perspective of soone from the much safer modern Earth, Lydias thod was too soft.
Thats why, while everyone praises her for being noble, they try to take advantage of her in secret. Just like this boss woman.
So, I decided to lend her a hand to wrap things up neatly. After all, she is the savior of my life.
Hoohoo.
Breathing heavily, the boss focused on every move of her opponent as she slowly made her way out of the underground dungeon. As she reached Lydias side, the tension also reached its peak.
As soone who thought of backstabbing as second nature, she was probably worried about being backstabbed by Lydia. Though in my opinion, that was an unnecessary worry.
I, for my part, had my teeth clenched in anticipation of the pain that was to co.
If a 3-star magic skill provides magical power, a swordsmanship skill provides physical strength, and a divine magic skill provides divine power, what additional effect would sothing like pickpocketing have?
The answer was simple. Agility and flexibility.
Crack.
In an instant, I dislocated one wrist to escape the restraint. Then, with my still-functional hand, I executed a pickpocketing maneuver.
The target, of course, was the dagger the boss had aid at my throat.
Huh?
Focused on Lydia, she was unable to respond in ti and had her weapon taken away, now wearing a dumbfounded expression.
She must not have realized that I could easily escape from sothing as simple as rope bindings because I couldnt escape from the iron bars.
Pleased with the turn of events, I smirked broadly.
Peekaboo, you fatherfer.
The dagger plunged swiftly towards the bosss neck.
Pshhhk-!
A considerable amount of blood splattered around, but lacking strength in just one hand, I couldnt deliver a fatal blow. So, I didnt stop at just one and stabbed her repeatedly.
Die! Die! Die!
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Perhaps because it was a throwing dagger, not ant for sustained use. After a few stabs, my hand began to slip from the shock, and it started to get cut by the blade.
Huh, so this was why sword guards were so important. Grumbling inwardly, I continued to drive the dagger in.
Until my palm beca tattered, and until the bosss breath was completely cut off.
Thud.
The boss, with her throat half torn out, fell to the ground with empty eyes. The bleeding, however, continued, and the spouting fountain of blood dyed its surroundings red.
Haah Haah
The pain followed belatedly, and I heaved as if I had sprinted with all my might.
Being the first to be splashed with blood, my whole body was soaked red. Hmm. Its a relief I was stripped of my clothes. I would have been really sad if it had been new clothes that got ruined.
But the sigh of relief was short-lived.
What
I turned around hesitantly at the bewildered voice coming from behind.
There stood Lydia, frozen as if she had witnessed sothing that should not have been seen.
Her trembling eyes traveled between the gruesoly dead bandit leader and , covered in blood, then to the dagger in my hand.
Okay. Situation assessed.
I imdiately flung the dagger away to hide the weapon and collapsed on the spot, conjuring up a pitiful voice.
Oh, brave adventurer! Youve co to save !
.
For so reason, Lydia took a step back, as if she was facing sothing dangerous.
Wow, thats cold.
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