Chapter 31

As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

I thrust forward with a *Shield Bash* to knock back the approaching Tin Knight and parried the blade of the second Tin Knight that came from the side with a *Parry*.

Seizing the opening, Luuce quickly charged and slashed with *Iron Piercer*.

"Take that!"

The Tin Knight, struck by the blade, staggered back.

"Alright, we can do this... I can do this too!"

"Ooohhh!"

In the back, Embryo exposed its eyeball and let out a loud cry.

A light streaked through the air, and the head of the fallen Tin Knight reconnected, rising up with the movement of a puppet.

This made the number of enemies three again.

"It's... endless... This is just..."

"Yeah, defeating the Tin Knights is meaningless. We can drain their MP, but in a prolonged battle, our chances of winning diminish. We need to strike the main body of Embryo. However, Embryo is in the air, out of reach, and covered in a fleshy armor that barely exposes its vulnerable eye."

"Do you... have a plan?"

I nodded.

"Luuce, use *Dice Thrust* to pierce it. If you fail, it's over. One in six... we can only bet on your luck."

Embryo has a significant weakness.

A critical hit.

A critical hit with a melee weapon not only multiplies the attack power by 1.5 but also has a 50% penetration effect against the opponent's defense.

Embryo's fleshy armor has a defense of +66.

The eyeball part has a defense of 22, making the total defense around 88.

Of course, this value is much higher than mine as a heavy knight, and it doesn't allow for weak attacks to get through.

It's a formidable threat, but much softer than the rich man Lanna.

Considering our HP, it's natural that Luuce's *Dice Thrust* critical hit before leveling up could deal damage to the rich man Lanna. With a critical hit, it can deal significant damage through the fleshy armor.

Combined with the damage I inflicted with the magic stone, it should be enough to finish off Embryo.

"But, I can't fly up to its height, can I?"

Of course, I've thought about that.

Luuce can run on walls with *Acrobatic Step*, but it's impossible to close the distance this way.

Embryo also dislikes close-range attacks.

It can escape by moving away from the wall, and in the worst case, it could be hit by *Silf Cutter* at close range.

"First, I'll forcefully close the distance to Embryo. If I succeed, Luuce, quickly follow me. I'll use my shield to launch you into the air."

*Shield Bash* is a skill that competes with the value of (defense + attack) / 2 and knocks the opponent back. It doesn't matter if it's in the air.

Additionally, as a jester, Luuce has low defense and attack, making it easier to gain distance with *Shield Bash*. However, this skill only deals damage if it hits the opponent against a wall.

Under normal circumstances, such a tactic wouldn't work.

Not only is relying on luck and critical hits inefficient, but Embryo usually floats much higher, making it impossible to reach with *Shield Bash*.

But now, it's different.

This corridor has a lower ceiling than the boss room where Embryo usually resides.

Only because Embryo came out due to *Wanderer of the King* is this plan possible.

"Relying on *Dice Thrust*... six, got it. I understand, I'll do it! I'll definitely roll a six!"

"Yeah, I'm counting on you, Luuce! I have to rely on your luck!"

I shouted, knocked the Tin Knight I was fighting to the side with *Striking Slash*, and forcefully closed the distance to Embryo.

Luuce quickly moved and followed me.

Luuce soared through the air.

I crouched and prepared my shield as her launch point.

"*Shield Bash*!"

I launched her forcefully towards Embryo.

Luuce's small body soared through the air.

Everything went perfectly up to this point.

But whether Luuce could roll a six was entirely up to luck.

If she missed, our chances of winning would be almost zero.

My body was nearing its limit, and it was uncertain if Luuce could land safely.

All we could do now was pray to the goddess of fortune.

In the previous battle with the rich man Lanna, Luuce, who has high luck, failed to roll a six with *Dice Thrust* seven times in a row.

I know it's a meaningless bias, but probabilities converge.

So, it should be possible for her to roll a six here.

"*Dice Thrust*!"

Luuce thrust *Iron Piercer* at Embryo.

A number floated in the air... it was a four.

Luuce's blade was cruelly deflected by Embryo's fleshy mass, dealing no damage.

"Kiki... Haha, hehe... Aaaa... Hahahahaha!"

The eye-like hollows of Embryo widened, and a large mouth-like opening split open.

It was a victorious, malicious smile I had never seen in *Magic World*.

I gritted my teeth.

It's over...

Even if we had no other options, we shouldn't have taken such a risky strategy, betting our lives.

I don't know if we still have a chance now.

But I don't want to give up. I've involved Luuce too.

At the very least, I need to draw the Tin Knights away so she can land safely.

When I raised my sword and looked up, an unexpected scene unfolded.

Luuce, with her feet firmly planted on the ceiling, was aiming *Iron Piercer* at Embryo's back.

"*Acrobatic Step*...!"

The jester's skill, *Acrobatic Step*!

A skill that increases speed momentarily and allows running on walls.

Luuce used *Acrobatic Step* to walk on the ceiling and quickly adjusted her position upside down.

"This is... the real last chance! *Dice Thrust*!"

A six appeared in the air.

The blade of *Iron Piercer* pierced through the center.

It penetrated Embryo's fleshy armor from the back of the head, and red fluid splattered.

A large, bloodshot eye was exposed from the gaping mouth.

The three Tin Knights stopped moving as if their puppet strings had been cut and collapsed to the floor.