Chapter 53: The Tricky Judge IV

I don’t have time to explain hypnosis to Karen, so I put both of them into a trance state immediately.

Getting Wabid to spill his guts isn’t tough, but I gotta hurry.  

In the middle of a dungeon crawling with Skeleton Warriors, an ambush would put the two in a trance at greater risk than me.  

Luckily, I’d already confirmed Skeleton Warriors are more sensitive to light than sound, so I can boldly cast hypnosis.  

“Wabid, answer my questions honestly. Why are you here?”  

“To catch a criminal from the adventurer’s guild…”  

“A criminal? Why?”  

“It’s… my job.”  

So, Wabid’s no ordinary adventurer. A bounty hunter, maybe?  

“Is this criminal from the guild me?”  

“Not sure. But I suspect you.”  

Got it. 

He didn’t just stumble across me—he’s been circling me on purpose. He didn’t seem suspicious enough to warrant hypnosis, but now I know his motives.  

Good call on my part.  

This world demands more caution than the modern one. Too many people approach me under the radar, bypassing authority.  

To protect my b0dy, I’ve gotta stay sharp.  

Then, footsteps echo from the next room. Another adventurer?  

“Wabid, you’re forbidden from any attacks targeting me or Karen.”  

I set the ultimate safety lock and snap my fingers to wake them.  

“Hm?”  

Wabid frowns slightly, sensing something off.  

“Where were we?”  

If Wabid’s tracking a criminal from the guild, hiding our purpose feels unnatural. It’s no secret that Karen and I are here for an extra test to become hero candidates.  

“We were talking about why we’re hunting the Lich. It’s not for gold.”  

“No offense, but if not gold, then what?”  

“Hero candidate selection. The examiner’s extra task is to deal with the Lich.”  

“Oh! I heard that rumor.”  

Sure, playing dumb. I didn’t need hypnosis to know he was fishing.  

“What about the w0man beside you?”  

“Yup! Honestly, I kinda dragged Big Bro here.”  

“You two didn’t come together willingly?” Wabid asks, puzzled.  

Let Karen talk. Feels like this’ll work out well.  

“I went to him first, asking for help with an urgent mission…”  

“I see. I hope I haven’t taken too much of your time, being busy with your test.”  

“No worries. Thanks for the help.”  

“May Illesia’s blessing be with you both.”  

Has his suspicion of me faded?  

Maybe Wabid thought Karen or Isti were being coerced.  

Leading a group of the village’s top beauties could make any guy jealous, and a suspicious type like Wabid might find it fishy.  

“Big Bro, you know him?” Karen asks after Wabid leaves.  

“Met him a few times at the guild. Seems to know Isti.”  

But that last bit… “Illesia’s blessing”? What’s that?  

“Karen, what’s Illesia’s blessing?”  

“Big Bro, you’re clueless. She’s the famous Goddess of Light in the Holy City. Deytoon Kingdom worships her.”  

“First I’m hearing of it.”  

“He’s probably from the Holy City. It’s a common phrase there.”  

“Isti never mentioned it.”  

“Well, Isti’s an elf… probably worships a different god.”  

Illesia…  

A goddess ruling this world? The one who sent a legit hero here. She’d definitely see me as a thorn in her side.  

“Big Bro, you’ve got Beleira’s protection, right?”  

“How’d you know?”  

“Think I’m dumb? I know she’s the Fire Goddess, Beleira. The way you shoot fire magic close to your b0dy—it’s her blessing.”  

“Didn’t know Beleira was that big a deal.”  

“No clue why she’s your s1ave, though. You some kinda god, Big Bro?”  

“Feel like I am?”  

I reach out and grab Karen’s b00bs.  

She flinches, glaring at me.  

“Nope…”  

“Stick around me, and you’ll find out someday.”  

“Didn’t bring it up ‘cause I’m dying to know. I don’t sweat the small stuff.”  

Right, Karen’s pretty laid-back.  

Even with all the chaos in the Black Forest, she never pried.  

“But that examiner’s the total opposite, huh? Bet he could guess how many Skeleton Warriors we took down.  

That level of obsession’s an art form.”  

“Pfft! Big Bro, don’t badmouth the examiner. You never know who’s watching.”  

Laughing out loud in the dim dungeon lifts my mood.  

“Keep going?”  

“Yup. Let’s nab that Lich!”  

“Hand me the lantern. Keeping your hands free is better for fighting.”  

I stash Karen’s lantern in my inventory and use Veil of Concealment to hide our b0dies.  

Even after meeting Wabid, running into someone else in this dungeon feels unthinkable.  

The stone chamber feels desolate, lonely, and oddly cold.  

We carefully check the Skeleton Warriors’ positions and discuss strategy in whispers.  

“One straight ahead, two on the right. Big Bro, what’s the plan?”  

“I’ll take the two. You block the one in front.”  

“Got it.”  

Karen grips and releases her short, blunt sword handle, waiting for flames to spark.  

“Fire Ball!”  

The Skeleton Warriors react—not to sound, but to light.  

I shoot a Fire Ball at the two charging like moths to a flame.  

As expected, the wide blast radius crushes both, caught in my spell.  

“Karen!”  

She’s battling the last one, holding off its fierce attacks and countering with her sword.  

I don’t miss my chance.  

“Fire Arrow!”  

Maxed-out Fire Arrow casts way faster, letting me perfectly time it to lock down the Skeleton Warrior’s movements.  

“Hup!”  

Karen swings with all her might while it’s frozen, shattering the Warrior’s skull.  

(Level up!)

(Level up!)

“Nice!”  

When everything goes according to plan, the thrill is electric.  

We high-five, sharing the joy of victory.  

“Level’s shooting up like crazy. You too, Big Bro?”  

“Yup. Still climbing.”  

Karen’s level was, what, thirty to forty below mine? Her growth must be wild.  

“Wanna keep leveling up and get stupid strong?”  

Not like I haven’t thought about it…I’m not sure if I can keep chasing danger as an adventurer forever.

“Big Bro!”

Lost in thought for a split second—that’s my mistake.

A Skeleton Warrior’s closer than I thought, lunging at us like it senses our vibrations in the dark.

Karen reacts fast, stepping in front of me, but the darkness slows us down.

“Ugh!”

Karen’s pushed back and falls.

“Fire Arrow!”

I launch a Fire Arrow to save Karen, but the Skeleton Warrior tanks it and swings its sword at her.

“Karen!”

“I’m… I’m okay, Big Bro!”

The Skeleton Warrior swings blindly, like it can’t pinpoint us.

Even with Karen down right in front of it… Oh!

It’s because of Veil of Concealment.

I never thought about how a thing without eyes “sees” us, but Veil of Concealment’s keeping Karen safe from follow-up attacks.

Karen gets up, regains balance, and shoves the Skeleton Warrior back.

“Fire Arrow!”

I fire an overcharged Fire Arrow, shattering the Skeleton Warrior.

“Ha… ha…”

“You hurt?”

“Nah, just spooked. Thought I’d get slashed…”

“Sorry for getting distracted.”

I apologize to Karen honestly.

“It’s my job to protect you when it’s risky, Big Bro. Don’t sweat it.”

Karen’s kindness eases me, but I’m pissed at myself.

“Monsters at this level are dangerous. Leveling up and getting hurt—or retiring—happens too often.”

“This won’t do.”

“Big Bro?”

I should handle enemies this weak easily.

Now’s the time to cross the line I’ve drawn.

Holding back, keeping distance, won’t lead to growth.

“Let’s go.”

I activate Veil Noah again and move forward.

Karen follows.

The next room has four Skeleton Warriors. Perfect.

“Big Bro, this time?”

“Leave this room to me.”

“Alone? That’s risky.”

“We’re here to take down tough foes who use magic. I wanna try something. I’ll use Space Leap if it gets dicey.”

“…Okay. I trust you. But if your life’s in danger, I’m jumping in, no matter what.”

“Cool. It’s gonna get hot, so step back.”

I keep Veil of Concealment up, steady my breathing, and walk to the room’s center, starting a pre-cast.

“Fire Ball.”

A quick chant, and dazzling flames light up the room.

All four Skeleton Warriors zero in on me, charging from every direction.

If they surround me, I’m done. Normally.

I pour all my MP into overcharging the Fire Ball to roast them.

“Big Bro, it’s dangerous without magic…!”

Karen shouts, but I wait until the Warriors are close.

I step back, dodging their attacks.

It’s not hard with focus. Veil of Concealment keeps them from seeing me clearly, even in the bright room.

Skeleton Warriors are aggressive but don’t think like people.

As I cast Fire Ball and move, they follow, swinging wildly, tripping over each other, unable to chase properly.

Still, four armed monsters are a threat.

Backpedaling isn’t enough to shake them, and they surround me. I dodge their wild swings, but the critical moment comes, as expected.

It’s fine. I’ve practiced this. Even in a cramped room, my spirit blocked Sin Wolf’s attacks outside.

I use Wind Spirit to create a barrier, deflecting the Skeleton Warriors’ strikes.

The spirit blocks unavoidable hits; I dodge the rest with focus.

This buys time to overcharge the Fire Ball enough.

“Ugh…!”

Karen shields her face from the stifling heat, stepping back.

The Fire Ball’s grown massive while I stalled—humans would’ve fled by now.

The moment the overcharged Fire Ball’s ready, I slam it into the Skeleton Warriors’ b0dies.

Boom!

A deafening blast shakes the dungeon, engulfing everything in flames.

(Goddess’s Blessing protects you)

(Level up)

As the flames clear, I’m the only one standing.

Charred bone fragments litter the floor, burned by the Fire Ball’s power.

The overcharged Fire Ball, which one-shotted Thin Wolf with three hits, still packs a punch.

I’m unscathed despite taking the blast head-on. The flames on my cl0thes are brushed off like dust by the Wind Spirit’s barrier.

Immune to heat and fire damage thanks to the blessing, I’d thought of this tactic since using Fire Arrow.

But I avoided it, thinking it was foolish to take risks.

“Big Bro…!!”

Karen runs over.

“You okay? After that explosion…”

“I’m fine, thanks to the blessing.”

Karen knows about my blessing, so no need to hide it.

“You were… totally different just now, Big Bro.”

“Pretty cool, huh?”

“…Yeah, nerve-wracking, but awesome.”

Karen sighs with relief.

I wasn’t showing off for kicks.

How do you manage risk in this world? My thinking’s shifting.

Early on, I kept my distance—goblin melee was unavoidable—and thought picking them off one by one was best.

But that approach makes you a useless mage when it counts.

So, I used my spirit to deflect close-range attacks and unleashed my magic for AOE damage.

It worked.

What’s the point of just leveling up?

To say, “Skeleton Warriors are nothing,” I need to master Wind Spirit and push my magic beyond 100%.

“Stairs to second floor.”

Right ahead of the cleared room, stairs appear.

“Can I do that, Big Bro? Spirit defense… I wanna try it!”

Oh, Karen’s never used spirits for defense.

My fight seems to have inspired her.

“Why not? It’d be easier outside. Let’s do it together.”

“Yeah!”

We head to second floor together.