Chapter 62

【Holy Knight】Ray Sterling

"Huh? Can Ray use the *Silver Light of Sanctity*?"

"Sure, why not?"

After eating a sandwich and recounting yesterday's events to Marie and Luke, Marie's voice of doubt returned.

Luke, who had been listening, seemed to have forced himself to eat a sandwich despite usually eating very little, and was now down, unable to speak.

Nemesis and Babi were still focused on eating.

Let's get back to the topic.

The *Silver Light of Sanctity*.

I acquired this skill in the underground passage when I cremated the children's undead.

The *Silver Light of Sanctity* is an anti-undead skill with exceptional performance.

The fact that we won yesterday's battle largely depended on this skill.

After all, my attacks became effective against spirits, and the damage to undead was multiplied by ten.

Yes, ten times.

The damage from *Vengeance is Mine* is a fixed value, so it isn't affected, but even normal attacks are more than sufficient.

If my usual damage is 300-400, it becomes 3000-4000.

In terms of HP alone, I could have killed the *Demidragon* in about three hits.

However, the *Demidragon* also has high defense and damage reduction skills, so it wouldn't have been that easy. In this case, the fixed-value *Vengeance is Mine* would have been more effective.

However, even with the *Silver Light of Sanctity*, *Goozmaze* didn't seem to be affected much by the attacks I bestowed.

I defeated it by hitting its core with two *Deadly Mixers* and a *Vengeance is Mine* with doubled damage.

I wonder how much HP *Goozmaze* had.

Even if I hit its core with a critical attack, it might not have ended the battle.

I wonder if there's a skill that lets me see the HP of the monsters I'm fighting.

Let's get back to the topic.

In addition to the tenfold damage to undead, the *Silver Light of Sanctity* also has an effect that prevents the healing of wounds inflicted on undead.

*Goozmaze* was healing by cutting away the damaged tissue, but other undead were eliminated before they could display their characteristic toughness.

Yesterday's battle would have been very dangerous without the *Silver Light of Sanctity*.

With just *Vengeance is Mine* and *Inferno Flame*, we might have lost before the battle with *Goozmaze*.

"..."

Marie's reaction seemed odd.

She looked genuinely surprised.

"How did you acquire the *Silver Light*?"

"An announcement said something like *Condition: 100 Undead Defeated*..."

"Can I see your count?"

"Count?"

...What count?

"Please open the menu. Here, it's the additional information on the battle history screen, the count of defeated monsters by race."

"Oh, this one?"

When I opened it, there was a list of races such as "Undead," "Monsters," "Strange Birds," "Dragons," "Demons," "Elementals," "Oni," and "Humans," with numbers next to each.

The highest count for me was 158 for "Undead," followed by "Monsters" and "Oni."

"Is this the total number of defeated monsters?"

"Yes. ...The condition is a certain number of defeats, but this number... is too low."

Marie muttered as she peeked at my count.

I also focused on the count again.

"There are humans too."

The count for "Humans" in my window was 0.

It seems that *Maze* the *Great Lich* was originally a "Human" but was counted as an "Undead."

"What counts as a human?"

"Only those with the 'Human' job. In technical terms, they are called 'human-category beings.'"

"But the *Great Lich* I defeated isn't counted."

"Ah. The *Great Lich* has a job trait that changes its race to 'Undead,' so it's no longer counted as a 'Human.' It's one of the few exceptions."

"Ah, I see."

Even if there's a way to identify them, it's possible for human-like monsters to be attacked, but it seems to be fine in this case.

"But, there are differences between 'Undead' monsters and 'Humans.' For example, the names of monsters are displayed above their heads, but they aren't for *Great Lich* who were originally 'Humans.'"

Ah, that's right.

In that case, accidents should be rare.

"Still, it's strange that the number of humans killed is also counted."

It's a bit... grim.

It feels like a serial killer's scorecard.

"However, the count includes those defeated within the barrier in a place like this duel city, so having a count for 'Humans' doesn't necessarily mean they were killed."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Some regulars here have killed hundreds of people."

That's a scary statement.

"Um..."

Luke, who had been down, raised his head and joined the conversation.

"What about the count for defeated tamed monsters?"

"When they are part of the owner's capacity, the count is added to the owner's. If they are part of the party, the count is added to each monster. You can see the count in the monster's status. Also, the kills by *Gardner* and others from *Embryo* are automatically added to the *Master's* count."

"I see. Then, what about when a charmed target kills others?"

"The count goes to the charmed target, not the one who cast the charm. For example, if you cast *Poison* and the target dies from the status effect later, it counts as your kill."

The key is who "inflicts" the damage.

Monsters are counted as the owner's "power" and the count is added to the owner if they are within the capacity.

If they are part of the party, the count is added to the monster itself.

If the damage is direct, like *Poison*, it counts as the user's.

If it's indirect, like *Charm*, it counts as the charmed target's.

"So, to meet the condition of defeating a certain number, I need to defeat them myself or with Liz, who is within my capacity, not with Marilyn or Audrey, who are part of the party?"

"That's right... Liz?"

I don't recognize that name... Did I get a new monster?

Where is it now, in *Jewel*?

"Strange."

Marie, who had been nodding, muttered.

"What's strange?"

"I've never seen a player with the *Silver Light of Sanctity*."

"Never?"

"The skill itself is known because it's used by famous people like the previous Knight Captain and the current Deputy Captain. Many people tried to get it because of its powerful effects, but no player has ever acquired it. It's one of the trump cards of the *Holy Knight* alongside *Grand Cross*."

"Huh? But it's 100 Undead, right?"

At least, that's what the announcement said.

If that's the case, other *Holy Knights* should be able to acquire it easily.

"That's true. From what I heard from Tien, it's known that the skill is unlocked based on the number of defeats. However, even a skilled *Holy Knight* who has defeated over 5,000 undead hasn't acquired it. Even with all the lower jobs maxed out... Wait, what?"

Marie put her hand on her chin and tilted her head as if she had realized something.

"Ray, what level is your *Holy Knight*?"

"41."

It went up a bit after the morning test.

"What's your total level?"

"Also 41."

I don't have any other jobs.

"Probably that's it."

That?

"I'm guessing the condition for a certain number of defeats is for undead of the same level band, based on the total level."

"Same level band..."

I remember the announcement mentioned something about "appropriate total level band undead."

"Most likely, it's in 50-level increments. If the total level is 50 or less, the target is level 50 or lower. If it's 51 to 100, the target is level 51 to 100. That's how it works."

"I see."

That makes sense.

My total level is still below 50, so I could acquire it quickly.

But if that's the condition, there should be others who can meet it.

After becoming a *Knight* and then a *Holy Knight*, defeating level 51 or higher undead should be enough... right?

"...Huh?"

Something feels off.

Even with a total level of 51 or higher, can a *Holy Knight* with a low level defeat high-level undead?

The *High-End Skeleton Warrior* I encountered in the passage while fighting *Goozmaze* would have been a tough match without *Silver Light* and Silver.

"This is terrible. To get the *Silver Light of Sanctity*, you have to give up other jobs."

"Is it that bad?"

"To become a higher job, you usually need to max out at least one, or sometimes two or three, lower jobs. *Holy Knight* is one of the more difficult higher jobs."

"Maybe."

There were also conditions like dealing a certain percentage of damage to a boss monster of the sub-dragon class, which is equivalent to a party of lower jobs.

There are also recommendations from people related to the knight order, so even maxing out one lower job might not be enough to meet the job change conditions.

"So, by the time you become a *Holy Knight*, your total level exceeds 100, making the *Silver Light of Sanctity* condition very difficult... or impossible."

"What's a level 101 monster like?"

"Regular monsters only go up to level 100, even as bosses. Anything above that is *SUBM*, but let's leave that aside. The problem is that the condition becomes practically impossible to meet."

"But then, how did Tien acquire it?"

"In Tien's case, most *Holy Knights* are the children of important people. The conditions like donations and trust are easy, and they can get support for boss defeats."

"I see."

With high-level players acting as shields, interfering with the enemy, and receiving support magic, they can take a long