Chapter 98

Thinking had stopped, Hua stood there, and Yan announced his murder plan with a grand demeanor.

Hua desperately tried to think, and despite her scattered thoughts, she managed to speak.

"Are you saying... you're going to kill me now?"

"Yes, that's right. I'm sorry, but this is a done deal. Any resistance would be futile."

Yan took a step closer, and Hua tried to back away, but her body wouldn't move properly.

"Why are you doing this? Have I done something to make you hate me?"

Yan stopped and replied,

"Hate? What are you talking about? There's no way I could hate you. On the contrary, I'm grateful. There's no one with a unique skill as excellent as your Skill Imitation, which fits me so well."

"... Fits you?"

"Yes, that's right. I can't let you die without knowing, so I'll tell you a little."

After this prelude, Yan revealed his power.

"I also possess a unique skill called [Plunderer]. It allows me to steal one skill from a person I kill. I intend to use this power to steal your Skill Imitation."

"..."

The unique skill, Plunderer. From the explanation, it was clear that this was an unconventional and heretical skill.

Moreover, the declaration that he would use it to steal a skill from her made her body tremble.

Not only that, but upon hearing Yan's words, a certain thought emerged in Hua's mind.

"Does that mean you intentionally created this situation?"

"Correct. I had already planned to kill you here today. I used monsters far stronger than the dungeon's level to create a situation where only you and I were left behind. This way, I could make your death appear to be caused by the monsters."

"But that's wrong! The way you put it makes it sound like you brought those monsters here—"

"Excellent, you're right. Since you're here, I'll show you."

"!"

As Yan casually waved his hand, a monster—Trent—suddenly appeared from the empty space. It was the same monster Hua had defeated earlier.

Faced with this shocking scene, Yan smiled with satisfaction.

"Well, that's how it is. To control monsters, you need the unique skill [Monster Tamer], but that skill wasn't originally mine. I obtained it by killing its owner."

"Monster Tamer...? Tamer?! No way!"

Hua recalled the news that had been circulating recently about a unique skill holder who could control monsters and died mysteriously in a nearby dungeon.

"Is that the one who was in the news every day...?"

"Ah, you know about it? I'm honored. Yes, I killed that person too."

"――――!"

Seeing Kato killed right in front of her, being targeted with murderous intent, and being told that Yan had killed people before, Hua finally realized that this was real.

"Well, I used the monsters this time for a reason. I wanted to see if you actually used your skill and if it was worth stealing, even if it meant killing you. If students die during dungeon training, this system might be abolished, and I won't get another chance—though it was indeed worth it. I'm grateful, Hua."

Yan sent a praise that was far from joyful.

"Enough with the prelude. It's time for the final act."

"――!"

Suddenly, a system sound rang in Hua's head.

"You have been selected as the target of Plunderer."

"Without the consent of both the user and the target, it cannot be canceled."

Then, it was clear that Yan's target was set on her.

"Everything is ready. To select a target for Plunderer, I need to have touched the person directly, but that condition was met when you used Skill Imitation earlier. It's time to end this."

After saying this, Yan slowly walked towards her. If she didn't escape from this place, she would definitely be killed. Hua, with trembling legs, tried to run away with all her might.

(――This!)

At that moment, Hua realized that her movements were several times faster than usual.

(That's right, it's because I leveled up!)

She remembered leveling up significantly when she defeated the Trent. Reflecting on it now, she felt a bit dissatisfied because she had received a favor by using Yan's skill, but Hua's principle was to use everything at her disposal. She was the type who would use all the ingredients until the last bit.

Now, escaping from this place was her top priority. However, reality was harsh.

"I won't let you. Capture her, Trent!"

"――――!"

Trent extended dozens of branches and vines towards Hua. If she didn't do something, she would definitely be caught—

No, there was still one last resort!

"――Blast Bullet!"

Hua aimed both hands at Trent and released a jet-black magic. It engulfed the approaching branches and vines and dealt significant damage to Trent's body.

Yan, who had been watching this, frowned.

"What? You should have used up all your MP just now... No, that's not it. You must have used the MP you gained from leveling up."

(Now's the time!)

While Yan was analyzing, Hua tried to escape again. However—

"Where do you think you're going?"

"!"

Before she knew it, Yan had circled around in front of her and kicked her lightly. This alone sent Hua flying, and she bounced on the ground several times before stopping.

A pain she had never felt before assaulted Hua, but it wasn't so severe that she couldn't move. Feeling the benefits of her stats, Hua tried to get up. At that moment, she noticed that her HP was already below half.

(If I take another hit like that, it's over...?)

Realizing this, a chill ran down her spine, and her body froze.

Yan, watching this, smiled wickedly.

"Hmm, you managed to withstand that blow. You've leveled up more than I thought. Well, let's see how this works."

Yan raised his palm, and a massive ball of fire appeared on it. Even from a distance, the heat was intense.

"This is an advanced fire magic, level 9, that I stole from Kato. It might be a bit excessive to kill you, but it will be entertaining."

Yan was already confident that he would kill Hua with this one blow. He was so immersed in his own world that he no longer even looked at Hua.

While listening to Yan's words, Hua, with a dazed mind, understood that she was about to be killed by Yan, and this was an unchangeable, certain future.

(――I don't want that.)

But.

Even though she understood it in her head, her heart rejected this fate. Hua had always lived in a safe place, far from any danger to her life. She had never been prepared to die.

Still, she had a vague understanding of what death was. Memories from a few years ago flashed through her mind like a slideshow.

Hua's parents had disappeared in a plane crash during an overseas trip a few years ago. They were declared missing because their bodies were never found, but Hua, who was very young at the time, couldn't fully grasp what had actually happened.

Even so, she wasn't mature enough to suppress her emotions.

Hua, unable to bear the grief, cried endlessly. The one who supported her was none other than her brother, Rin. He held her hand and stayed by her side.

(Ah, that's right. I've always been protected by my brother.)

She re-recognized what she had already known in her heart. Rin had always been her hero.

Perhaps because of this realization, Hua remembered an event from just a few weeks ago.

"Get stronger and protect me, okay?"

In response to Hua's joke, Rin had said,

"I'll take care of it. If anything happens to you, just call me, and I'll definitely save you."

Hua knew that Rin had struggled to become stronger as an adventurer and had not been able to become as strong as he wanted. She had seen him looking sad when he was alone, even though he acted tough in front of her.

Surely, the Yan standing in front of her was far superior to Rin. Even if Rin came to help, there was no chance of winning.

—But perhaps, as a last resort, it was permissible to cling to hope?

While Hua was thinking this, Yan announced,

"Then, let's end this—go!"

With Yan's command, the massive ball of fire was launched at Hua. It undoubtedly had the power to take her life. Hua couldn't dodge it or withstand it.

Because she understood this, Hua made a decision. Even if it was futile, she wanted to end her last moment with hope.

Hua closed her eyes and shouted,

a call that would never be answered, with all the strength she could muster.

"――Help me, big brother!"

Her voice echoed in the closed dungeon, but the only response was the echo.

Of course, there was no way for her call to be answered. She thought so—

"――――I'll take care of it."

—But.

In the darkness, Hua clearly heard the voice.

(Liar...)

Hua slowly opened her eyes. For some reason, the ball of fire that was supposed to attack her was gone. Instead, a man stood with his back to her, holding a short sword dyed crimson.

He was the person Hua had always wanted to see from the bottom of her heart.

"――――Big brother!"

When she called out, the man—Rin—turned around and nodded with a gentle smile. He slowly approached Hua and knelt down. The short sword he had been holding was nowhere to be seen.

"Here's a healing potion. Drink this first."

"…Okay."

After receiving and drinking the potion, Rin gently placed his hand on Hua's head.

"You did well, Hua. It's okay now, leave everything to me."

"――Okay, okay!"

Just hearing Rin's words made Hua feel as if she had been saved.

However, if she looked at the situation objectively, Rin's arrival did not necessarily mean they had the upper hand. Yan, who still controlled the situation, watched the two of them with a puzzled expression.

"…Why are you here? No, why are you not damaged at all after taking that magic? Answer me, Rin!"

Rin, who had been hit by Yan's question, quietly stood up and turned around.

"Before that, I have a question for you. Did you try to kill Hua?"

"…That's right. I intended to kill her and steal her unique skill. I have the power to do so. Is this answer satisfactory?"

"Yes, I understand."

The tone was completely different from the one he used with Hua. With a voice that seemed to exclude all emotions, Rin slowly closed