"What? You said you stabbed that guy a dozen times? And he survived a Bohmbing from you?" Kaguya stood with hands on hips, disbelief plain on her face. "Isn't he supposed to be dead?"
Lyra shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Maybe he has some rare skills. Every strike I landed was aimed to kill, but the boy's still kicking."
The honest blonde elf zeroed in on Lyra with a sharp, judging gaze.
"Lyra, did you just go and kill innocent adventurers on your own?"
Alise nodded, outraged. "That's so unfair! Lady Astraea will cry."
Lyra buried her face in her hands. "But… that boy was wearing the Dark Faction's uniform. Lyon, I really can't tell them apart!"
Alise cut off Ryuu's accusation. "Shouldn't we find him first? With injuries that bad, he won't last long in the dungeon."
Ryuu Lyon nodded. "He can't go far like that. I'll go—"
"Let me," Kaguya interrupted firmly.
"It's not clear if he's friend or foe, and he's carrying dangerous stuff like the Fire Stone. If this is just an internal secret faction fight, you might get buried without even knowing how if you rush in like a white lotus."
"What did you say, Kaguya!" Ryuu raised an eyebrow. "This is obviously on us! No compensation…"
Alise grabbed the angry elf's lip and hushed him. "Okay, stop arguing. Finding him is what matters now."
She gave Kaguya a meaningful look, urging her to hurry while soothing the stubborn noble elf.
Lyra glanced at Kaguya pleadingly, closed her eyes, and waited for the therapist Maryuu to arrive.
…
In the alley, Charles moved with heavy, labored breaths.
Several brutal battles had drained his limited physical strength. As the adrenaline faded, pain flooded every corner of his body.
"This is too much…"
He downed a bottle of confiscated high-level elixir.
The incurable curse slowed his self-regeneration. Aside from the chest wound, the other cuts, burns, and punctures recovered painfully slowly.
"But… I killed three level 1s and one level 2. Not a total loss."
Charles knew PvP gave much more experience than PvE. Take the Amazons—they'd fought death battles since childhood, gaining terrifying strength surpassing most city clans.
Historically, Orario's big level jumps all came from secret faction attacks, not monsters.
"Heh, next favor update will boost my durability through the roof. Maybe then I'll achieve something great…"
He glanced back at the dark tunnel and leaned against the wall for a short rest. He really couldn't keep going. His [Crispy College Student] durability had taken a hit, making high-intensity combat unbearable.
Two life-or-death fights had left him barely able to move.
Xisha Xisha—the eerie sound of amputated creatures crawling filled his ears.
The cave wasn't just home to secret factions, but also countless wandering monsters: killer ants spilling from the depths, horned rabbits cracking through ceiling and rock walls.
The dungeon was alive, ready to seize any adventurer's weakness and end their life.
"Damn… Monster Feast!"
Charles tried to draw his sword but was too weak to hold it.
Reached the limit of my skills?
[Crispy College Student] was hard to kill but not invincible.
Life and flesh could be replenished by [Going Wherever You Want], but subtle things—like stamina—could not.
It felt like being wrung dry by his sister-in-law. Even if she begged, he wouldn't budge.
"Useless."
He discarded his sword and pulled out the captured magic sword, swinging hard. Dozens of ground spikes erupted, killing an attacking horned rabbit.
He gulped down another high-level elixir, slightly hastening his healing and restoring some strength—but it was a drop in the ocean.
He swung the magic sword again, shattering it into pieces.
A fence of ground spikes sprang up, temporarily blocking the monsters.
Supporting himself against the wall, Charles poured the last elixir over his head. His wounds slowly healed, reducing the effort needed for some actions.
Just as he turned to move, a monster's roar echoed from the other side.
Made into dumplings!
A brilliant sword light bloomed, and monsters screamed before falling instantly.
Da da da.
Wooden clogs clattered over rocks. Sweat beaded on Charles' forehead.
A girl with long, sleek black hair—like a Yamato Nadeshiko—approached with a smile.
If it were Bell, Charles might smile and say, "There's nothing wrong with a chance encounter in a dungeon."
But she held a bloodstained sword.
"Ah~ My little one, thanks for taking care of me, brother," Kaguya narrowed her eyes, lips curling slightly.
To Charles, that smile was only slightly gentler than a devil's.
"Don't… come any closer!"
He raised the magic sword's broken hilt, looking pitiful.
Kaguya was level 3, and her swordsmanship was near perfect. Soon, with strategy and skill, she'd be able to threaten Silence—the "talent monster."
Charles looked down on the flashy "Iai Slash," but had to admit she was strong. Even if she resorted to trickery or biting, she couldn't hurt such a being.
The woman didn't surprise him. She sheathed her sword and lowered into an Iai stance.
"Master Charles' adventure ends here. No ship in the New World can carry me!"
Charles opened his arms, closed his eyes, and waited for death.
Would the fragile college student still get a replacement if his head rolled off?
Besides…
He didn't know what it felt like to die without spending his money before—but now he did.
Damn… this hurts so much!
Confused thoughts swirled.
But the pain never came.
A wind-like sword light exploded around Charles. He shivered, and his white robe tore into strips, scattering.
"I don't really like that outfit of yours…" Kaguya put away her blade, but gasped at Charles' horrific injuries.
A sword wound pierced straight through his left ribs into his heart. Charred flesh flew. One wrist was nearly carbonized, bone showing.
"Are you… human or ghost?"
Charles stared at the flesh barely hanging on his left arm.
"I was wondering… why I have no strength. You're so badly hurt…"
Silence fell.
Charles cracked a grin through cracked lips. "You're not going to kill me?"
"…Yes."
"Then… lend a hand? I feel like I can still turn this around."
Kaguya hesitated, then apologized.
Charles seized the moment.
I can live off this handle for a year!
"In the face of the wounded, you just watch them die without help. Then you want to finish them off? Is this the Astraea family's justice?"
"That's right. To cover up the mistake, I'll kill you here." Kaguya's sneer returned.
She was glad the youngest wasn't here—he'd be controlled by this boy for sure.
Realizing Kaguya wasn't a pure justice ally like Ryuu or Alise, Charles swallowed his pride.
"I was wrong! I'm sorry! Please spare my life!"