Chapter 7

Not only in Dalitros, but the interiors of various dungeons, large and small, are kept visible by the glowing walls.

However, there are places where 'darkness' itself is a trap, and in such situations, torches come in handy.

Rio had not checked his belongings beforehand, but when he handed the recovery potion to the female knight, he confirmed that he had a torch.

"What are you going to do with a torch!?"

"Just be quiet. The Clay Cyclops hates fire."

"What? If it has such a weakness, you should have said so earlier."

"Well, then, can't I take it down with my Fireball?"

"No, wait. He said, 'Our attacks don't work on them,' didn't he?"

"It's not a 'weakness,' but rather a dislike. If someone threw something you dislike at you, what would you do?"

"Well, I'd be pissed off, right?"

"Yes, you'd feel sad and angry."

"Right, I'd be pissed."

"Exactly. So if you shower them with fire spells that don't work, they'll target you first."

"‘Way of speaking’"

The mage becomes gloomy at Rio's straightforward words.

"Sorry... um, in other words—"

Rio hands a torch to the female knight and the mage one by one.

"I'll jump out of the protective barrier and head for the Clay Cyclops on the path we came from. The two of you should light your torches and overtake me. Hold the torches high and run as fast as you can along the wall, away from the monsters. Don't make eye contact with them. Please run with all your might without looking around."

If they do this, the Clay Cyclops will target Rio, not them.

He then turned to the swordsman.

"You should wait a moment after the two of them jump out, then leave the barrier. After that—"

"After that?"

The swordsman leans forward.

"Run as fast as you can."

"That's the same as the other two, right? And I don't have a torch!"

"You'll use your unique skill to escape."

"More specifically!"

"Have you read the skill description?"

"Well, I thought it would just make me run faster..."

The swordsman scratches his head uncomfortably.

"Since time is precious, I'll skip the details. The goal is to distract them. Focus on escaping from the monsters' attacks as much as possible."

"Is that all...?"

"Yes. And once the two of them are completely out of sight, switch to 'escaping from this place.' You'll catch up to them in no time."

"No, no, no, if just thinking 'escape' made you escape, it wouldn't be—"

"Difficult, right? Your unique skill has that kind of nature."

The swordsman is taken aback.

"Some people dislike the negative name of the skill, but its performance is exceptional. Those who can't use it effectively don't trust the skill's effects. If you can maximize it, the monsters in this layer won't be able to hit you."

"Is that so...?"

"Yes. But during the skill's activation, you can only escape. If you think about counterattacking, the skill effect will disappear, so be careful."

"Isn't it a bad skill, then?"

Rio shakes his head.

"Even the strongest party can be wiped out. But with your skill, you can act as a decoy to let your companions escape and then escape yourself. It has the potential to avoid a total wipe in the best possible way."

"O-oh..."

The tough-looking swordsman's face turns slightly red.

"Of course, it depends on the situation, and this skill is influenced by your own stats. As it is now, there are too many limitations."

"Why do you have to build me up and then tear me down?"

"I'm sorry," Rio apologizes and continues.

"Soon, we'll be noticed. I'll leave my belongings here. They might be crushed with me. But don't worry, I'll deliver them later."

"At this point, I don't care about my belongings."

"Everyone, let's run with all our might."

Rio places his hand on his waist.

A small sword, half for show, with no special effects, and useless for self-defense with his current skills.

He doesn't draw it.

Since he can't deal damage, there's no point in swinging it.

(I want to level up quickly.)

And he wanted to become stronger.

This was his chance.

But he must not activate [Embrace of the Goddess] immediately.

Until the three of them escape this predicament, he must focus on evasion as long as possible.

He kicks off the ground and leaps out.

He jumps in front of the one-eyed giant, who turns his large eye toward Rio.

"Ooohhhh!"

It seems he has been recognized as an enemy.

"Now!"

As he shouts, the mage creates fire and lights the torch. The female knight immediately follows him out of the barrier.

"Keep your eyes forward and run!"

The swordsman reacts to this voice.

"I'll do it!"

He leaps in the opposite direction of Rio and stops between the other two Clay Cyclops.

Gyoro, gyoro.

Two more eyes from a different direction lock onto him.

"So big..."

Up close, the size is evident. His legs tremble and won't move.

"Don't be afraid! Run!"

Rio's shout reaches the three of them.

(That's right. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible. The more time we give them, the better.)

(Frightening... so frightening, but... if we run quickly, it won't be scary!)

The speed of the escape group increases.

(If I get taken down, it'll be bad for the captain and the others. Run, run, run, run, run! That's all I can do now!)

The swordsman grits his teeth and crouches.

"Let's go!"

He kicks off the ground with all his might.

At this moment, the announcement of the [Fear Resistance] skill acquisition reaches his ears, but he doesn't notice.

(No way... What is this...?)

His body feels as light as a feather. He runs through the cave at an unbelievable speed.

He flies sideways unintentionally. A heavy thud sounds where he was just a moment ago.

He had no intention of dodging. He didn't even realize he was attacked.

(I won't think about unnecessary things. He said it, didn't he? The monsters in this layer can't hit me!)

The level 1 porter he met today.

But there was something in Rio's words that made him believe.

How many death-defying situations has he survived? How many fears has he overcome?

The swordsman has been deployed in actual combat many times in his own country.

Even in skirmishes between humans, he felt the unique tension and fear of life-and-death situations.

(But he's dealing with monsters that aren't at that level...)

He has been on the brink of death many times.

Even knowing he wouldn't die, the pain surely erodes the heart.

(I can't do it...)

He would probably break after a few times and flee from the adventurer's life.

But why does the 14-year-old boy continue to adventure?

Rio hasn't given up.

Unlike them, he continues to dream of conquering the island.

If the island is conquered, any one wish can be granted.

Although he had initially dismissed it with a sneer, after experiencing many strange events on the island, he began to believe it.

Then, what wish does he want to fulfill, even at the risk of death?

(I don't know. I have no idea...)

His thoughts gradually focus on Rio.

"Concentrate!"

He is pushed by something.

For a moment, he thinks he's dead.

A huge club grazes his head with a whoosh.

"Get up. The next one is coming."

As he says this, Rio stands up and immediately jumps to the side.

The swordsman also jumps in the opposite direction.

The ground where they were standing is pierced by the club.

(He's in bad shape...)

Blood flows from exposed parts of his face and right arm.

It seems the full recovery skill doesn't activate unless the injuries are severe enough to incapacitate him.

They return to their respective roles.

It's a miracle that level 1 Rio is holding up this well. Despite being pushed to his limits, he is concerned for Rio and even helps him. But his own humiliation doesn't matter.

(I can't be a burden to him anymore.)

The female knight and the mage are out of sight.

So what he needs to do is—

"I'll go ahead. Absolutely come back!"

Tears blur his vision. But with the single-minded thought of 'escape,' it doesn't matter.

Because he said it. 'This skill is exceptional,' he said.

Just a little more. If he can hold on a little longer, the swordsman can escape.

Rio focuses even more.

Honestly, it's unbelievable that [Embrace of the Goddess] hasn't activated yet.

A single hit is a one-shot kill.

He senses this instinctively. ([Danger Sense] Lv.5)

He dodges as soon as he senses danger. ([Emergency Evasion] Lv.3)

He complements these with concentration. ([Concentration] Lv.6)

He will definitely let them escape.

Rio has a strong resolve.

—No matter how strong a party is, they can be wiped out.

This is Rio's personal experience.

When he was hired by a promising new adventurer party.

Despite their youth, they were skilled and were surrounded by monsters deep in a dungeon, leading to a total wipe.

It took two weeks to finally get out of the dungeon with their remains and belongings.

The indescribable sense of loss and powerlessness from that time still casts a shadow over Rio's heart.

—If I were stronger.

He has overcome 'death' many times to save the goddess, who is in a dire situation. Now, he also yearns to level up for another reason.

"Ugh..."

Shrapnel from a wall attack pierces his skin.

His HP is down to a third.

His stamina has dropped to single digits, and his strength is halved from fatigue.

Finally, the swordsman's figure disappears from his sight.

He no longer needs to hold on.

Just as something inside Rio snaps—

A sickening crack sounds from inside his body.

A thick, hard leg pierces Rio's body. He flies like a pebble kicked away,

"Ugh! ...a"

He slams his back against the wall.

Despite receiving a one-shot kill attack, he trembles with joy.

—Your unique skill [Embrace of the Goddess] has been activated.

Finally, the moment has come.

—You have gained 12,500 experience points.

Rio hears the next announcement for the first time.

—Your level has increased.

(Yes, now I—)

—Your level has increased.

(Huh?)

—Your level has increased.

(Huh?)

—Your level has increased.

(Huh?)

The same words are repeated in the same voice, making him wonder if his ears are malfunctioning—

—Rio's level jumps to 12 in one go.

Next time, a new main character will appear!