Chapter 54

Gilbert's casual complaint was a shocking statement to Leoard and the knights nearby.

(No way, he's talking about getting old, but those aren't the words of someone who can kick a basilisk away with a flying kick!)

However, it was also true that they had been saved thanks to him. So, despite feeling conflicted, Leoard properly expressed his gratitude.

"Thanks, Gil. I owe you one."

"No, it's nothing. More importantly, the enemy is still alive."

"Yeah, I know. Gil, do you think you can win?"

"Maybe if I blind it."

"So, the petrifying gaze is the problem, huh..."

"Yes. If our eyes meet, we'll turn to stone without a doubt, so we need to blind it first.

However, there's a risk of meeting its gaze, so it's not easy."

"...I'll try to do something with magic. Can I count on you after that?"

"Normally, I would have objected, but now I have to rely on you, young master."

"I always cause you so much worry."

"If you think that, then please put this old body at ease."

"I'll do my best!

Let's go, Gil!!!"

"Yes, young master!"

Leoard dashed forward, and Gilbert ran alongside him. The two ran side by side and faced the basilisk.

The basilisk, enraged by being kicked by Gilbert, let out a roar.

"Kishaaaaa!!!"

The basilisk targeted Gilbert and charged, its massive body rumbling. It opened its large mouth to swallow Gilbert, who leaped in and kicked the basilisk's nose, then performed a diving heel drop.

The basilisk's body bent in a C-shape, and it let out a roar of agony.

Gilbert, performing a backflip like a street performer, landed and immediately accelerated explosively, shattering the ground as he punched the suffering basilisk.

"Hmph!"

The punch, delivered with a step that shattered the ground, was a destructive weapon. The basilisk's body dented from Gilbert's punch, and it couldn't help but spit blood.

Gilbert continued his pursuit, delivering a series of attacks to corner the basilisk. Leoard watched, feeling as if he were watching a combo in a fighting game.

"There's no time to be distracted. We can't waste the time Gil has bought us."

However, the basilisk didn't die. Despite Gilbert's relentless attacks, the basilisk remained alive.

"Hmm... Indeed, it's tough."

Gilbert, on the other hand, showed no signs of panic, admiring the basilisk's resilient life force. What was even more astonishing was that Gilbert, despite his intense movements, wasn't sweating at all.

Truly, he was a man feared as a legendary assassin.

"Kishaaa!"

"Ah!? Poison!"

The basilisk, completely enraged, spat a green liquid at Gilbert. Gilbert instantly recognized it as poison and dodged.

When the poison hit the ground where Gilbert had been, the vegetation corroded and smoked.

"If it hits, instant death is inevitable..."

Leoard's eyes widened at Gilbert's calmness. This was because, according to Leoard's game knowledge, the basilisk could have poison but not spit it.

The new behavior pattern surprised Leoard, but the basilisk was focused on Gilbert. Leoard wasn't targeted.

The basilisk desperately tried to finish Gilbert with a series of poison spits, but Gilbert skillfully dodged.

At this point, Leoard began to wonder if Gilbert could defeat the basilisk alone. Since Gilbert could fight without any hindrance even without blinding the basilisk, Leoard felt he wasn't needed.

(Am I even necessary?)

Seeing Gilbert's ease, Leoard began to think negatively, feeling he might not be needed.

"Young master!"

But Gilbert's call brought Leoard back to his senses. Gilbert was indeed strong, but he was attacking parts of the basilisk's body away from its head.

In other words, he was struggling. Normally, Gilbert could end it with a single, powerful blow to the head, but the petrifying gaze prevented that. Closing his eyes might seem like a solution, but finishing the basilisk while blind would be extremely difficult.

Incidentally, in Fate 48, some characters have the ability to see without their eyes. However, Gilbert, though he doesn't have this ability, can locate his opponent by their presence.

(Ah, right. Gil trusts me. I need to live up to that trust.)

Leoard activated his magic. It was the spell he had practiced the most, Aqua Spear. Two needles of water formed and floated in front of Leoard.

"I'm taking those eyes!!!"

Leoard fired the Aqua Spears. The two needles danced through the air and approached the basilisk's eyes. The basilisk, focused on Gilbert, didn't notice.

When the basilisk lifted its massive body to swallow Gilbert, the water needles reflected in its eyes.

By the time the basilisk realized what was happening, it was too late. Leoard's Aqua Spears successfully pierced and destroyed both of the basilisk's eyes.

"Kishaaa!?"

With both eyes destroyed, the basilisk thrashed its head in pain. The threat of petrification was now gone. The basilisk was now just a large snake.

Because of this, Leoard let his guard down. His game knowledge had interfered, making him forget that snakes have pit organs to detect heat.

The basilisk used its pit organs to track the heat source, which was Leoard, who was completely unprepared.

Leoard couldn't move as the basilisk approached at a terrifying speed.