Chapter 40: Meeting in the Hall

“This door… It’s like it was hit by a missile…”

Bried found herself at Siloque’s doorstep as if guided by a ghost, holding a box of exquisite snacks as a visiting gift.

“Crap…”

Just as she was about to knock, Bried’s expression turned regretful, realizing something.

“During training, that guy said he liked matcha daifuku, but I bought strawberry daifuku… I messed up.”

She didn’t even realize how odd it was for a neighbor who hadn’t visited in years to suddenly show up, especially at 9 PM.

Ding dong——

Bried pressed the doorbell, and soon heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

The door swung open with a whoosh, and as it did, she heard the person inside speak:

“That was fast~~ Weren’t you coming at 11——”

The moment Hill saw the visitor, her bright smile froze.

Still as cute as in her memories, a baby-faced, fair-skinned girl with pigtails that suited her perfectly, and she’d gotten taller too.

And…

Bried’s gaze dropped slightly, her expression shocked.

…Bigger than mine?

“Yo, yo, good evening. Long time no see, Hill.”

“——Ah, it’s Bried, Sister Bried. Hill’s neighbor.”

Hill maintained her smile, though her voice sank slightly.

She repeated her own name twice.

As if confirming something.

“Uh…”

Bried was momentarily stunned.

She didn’t know what to say.

The last time she saw Hill was three years ago.

“It’s late, is there something you need, Sister Bried~”

“Well, has Siloque come back? I brought some snacks. Ah, if you don’t mind, you can eat together. They’re really good.”

“Wow~ Thank you, Sister Bried! But…”

Hill didn’t take the box, her innocent smile unwavering.

“What does it matter to you if my brother comes home or not?”

“He was injured. As a neighbor and classmate, isn’t it normal to be concerned?”

“….Oh oh, I see.”

Hill pressed her hands together cutely, nodding repeatedly.

“Hill knows, Sister Bried already dumped brother, so you’re just ordinary neighbors. Is it really necessary to come deliver gifts this late?”

“Ah….”

Those words made Bried suddenly realize.

There really wasn’t any need to come over at night.

Or rather, was her relationship with Siloque even close enough to warrant this?

No, that’s not it, I was just being considerate.

That’s all.

Nothing strange about it.

Absolutely not.

“That’s all in the past. Siloque already asked to be my disciple before, so now we’re… right. Teacher and student.”

“Even so, you can’t just erase the past, right? Wasn’t it you who turned brother into a Nit who stayed home all day? Not that Hill cares.”

“That’s not how it is. Siloque confessed to me before, and I just honestly expressed my feelings. What he became was his own choice, not mine.”

“Hoooh…”

Pretty capable, huh.

Hill’s expression darkened.

This woman might be a bit dazed, but in some ways she’s upright and reasonable.

Besides, Hill had to admit it.

Siloque in the past really brought it on himself.

The current brother is better…

“Ahem, anyway…”

Bried brought the topic back.

“What’s past is past, no point dwelling on it. Siloque fought someone with a much higher Lv today, so I wanted to check on him. I don’t have any good healing tools, but I know some massage techniques to help relieve pain…”

Hill tilted her head adorably, a vibrant smile on her face.

“Hill refuses.”

***

On the other side, first floor (?) area, Maple Court Garden.

“They’re coming.”

Siloque’s gaze sharpened.

As usual, the Maple Court Knight slammed its heavy armored foot into the ground.

The figure vanished in an instant—not that it really disappeared, just moved too fast for Siloque to track.

When the Maple Court Knight reappeared, it was already within arm’s reach.

“I won’t fall for the same move twice!”

Even as he said that, Siloque had already died to this move sixteen times.

But all those brushes with death weren’t for nothing.

Siloque’s focus wasn’t on the rapidly approaching long-handled blade.

But on…the Maple Court Knight’s eyes.

As expected, he could see it—the gaze was faster than the attack.

This move was aimed at…the neck!

With such a power gap, reacting in time was impossible, but preemptively predicting the move was possible.

So, the instant the Maple Court Knight vanished from view, Siloque jerked his head to the right, dodging the strike aimed precisely at his carotid artery from the left.

This was what Siloque had grasped in countless near-death moments.

Predicting attack points through an enemy’s line of sight.

Provided, of course, that the opponent had “eyes” and used them.

However, it hardly mattered where the Maple Court Knight struck; its vicious long-handled blade could devastate with a single blow.

Still, no matter how sharp, a blade that didn’t land was harmless.

A weapon that misses is just a toy.

Watching the Maple Court Knight hesitate as the blade missed his neck, Siloque couldn’t help but smile ruefully.

“Even with a power gap, experience can still compensate…”

Before Siloque finished speaking.

He heard the sound of rushing wind.

It was the sharp hiss of a weapon slicing through air.

The long-handled blade had indeed missed, but the Maple Court Knight neither changed stance nor retreated to regroup.

Instead, it simply released its grip.

Letting the weapon fall.

The Maple Court Knight stepped forward.

Death drew closer for Siloque.

“Crap.”

Before he could curse, the Maple Court Knight’s body slam crashed into Siloque’s chest, shattering bone.

—When a weapon attack misses, there’s a chance of switching to unarmed assault—

Siloque noted silently.

As consciousness faded.

A powerful force dragged his soul back from the verge of death.

“Puh! Cough!”

Water flooded his mouth as Siloque flailed, standing upright in the lake.

“Kass, your timing on the pull is getting better.”

“Well, after so many times…”

It hurt at first.

But after so many near-death experiences, he’d gotten used to it.

Siloque felt helpless at his own high adaptability.

He was soaked, while Kass beside him was only wet below the waist, his upper body dry.

Damn, is this the protagonist’s privilege?

After thirteen attempts, Kass had succeeded in defeating the Maple Court Knight once.

So he gave Siloque more practice time.

While Siloque was jealous, he was also reassured.

Kass’s genius in adapting and fighting was even fiercer than in the game.

His use of was rapidly improving.

His growth potential was massive.

So, for the rest of the time, he was stuck holding the safety rope for Siloque.

Currently, the score between Siloque and the Maple Court Knight was—

24:0

Siloque was 0.

He hadn’t won once.

Broken bones.

Facial injuries.

Perforated liver.

Deformed neck.

He’d suffered all kinds of damage.

The two-meter radius of blood and body matter at the Maple Court Knight’s feet belonged to Siloque.

“Siloque, let’s try again tomorrow…”

“No, one more! I have to win once! Kass, what time is it?”

“…9:32. This time you lasted 17 seconds, not bad.”

“Good. I’m going again.”

Siloque’s clothes were so tattered he looked like a homeless person or some kind of avant-garde artist.

“I’M COMING!”

Slogging through the water, Siloque charged at the Maple Court Knight’s back.

“Seriously, he’s like a stubborn kid…”

Kass gripped the rope tightly, focusing all his attention on Siloque, who had battled the monster countless times.

He licked his dry lips, suppressing a slightly twisted feeling inside.

“…Calm down…I can’t miss the timing. That’s right, I’m just worried, not a hint of wickedness.”

This safety rope connected himself and Siloque.

Siloque’s life was in his hands.

Every time Siloque was about to die, he’d pull him back.

There was a certain thrill to holding someone else’s life in your hands…

Kass didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t deny the feeling.

It was…pleasant.