VIP Chapter 324: The Eve of Marching Towards Death (3k)
“Radiant Knights?”
Will looked out the window.
He remembered the name. They were the adventurers who had suddenly appeared, interrupted their interrogation of the Emperor, and even snatched their kills.
While the captain, with his “golden-haired knight hottie” impression and sunny disposition, might not have been a “bad guy,” having yielded the loot to them.
But…
Hmm…
Their captain didn’t seem to be here?
Everyone in the coffee shop had left. The narrow town street outside was packed with people, lining both sides of the road, all eager to catch a glimpse of the Radiant Knights’ adventuring party as they passed through the center.
Under the comfortable afternoon sunlight, about ten people, “radiant” as their name suggested, slowly walked down the road.
As an S-Rank adventuring party, such a reception wherever they went was not uncommon.
However, from the figures visible through the gaps in the crowd, the most eye-catching golden presence seemed to be missing.
“Mr. Ribel isn’t here, is he?”
“He seems to have a mission in another dungeon, so he’s not here.”
“Why would the Radiant Knights come to this dungeon?”
“Shush—didn’t you hear? Something serious has happened on the 20th floor of the Dust Bone Corridor dungeon. A party has already been wiped out, so they need a rescue team.”
“Rather than a rescue team, isn’t it more likely they’re here to clear this dungeon?”
That was quite interesting information.
However…
Will shrugged.
For someone like him, whose grave was planned to be dug on the first floor, it held no significance.
“Let’s leave it at that. Your assessment is correct. If you step into that place, it certainly won’t be a simple Slime drop that awaits you. It will be something that can genuinely kill you.”
Shuna spoke deliberately, as if trying to draw his attention away from the Radiant Knights passing outside.
It was only then that Will noticed Shuna hadn’t glanced at the passing party outside for some time.
“Mm-hmm. From the moment I asked you, ‘Why would a Slime exist in a desert with nothing but sand and no oases?’, I suspected as much.”
“It certainly piqued my interest,” Shuna said, crossing her arms and chuckling lightly. “You’re not weak now. What could kill you if you were well-prepared?”
After speaking, Shuna downed her coffee and stood up.
“Aren’t you going to listen to the intelligence from the Radiant Knights?”
“I don’t like them.”
Shuna’s assessment was blunt.
Will found it strange. Although they had a conflict with them, it was eventually resolved. Yet, Shuna had never shown any favor towards the Radiant Knights.
Will guessed it was probably…
Shuna’s “disgust” that surfaced when her intuition told her something was wrong about a matter.
“I’ll wait for you back at home. There are also some… minor details and one thing… that I think has a low probability. We’ll discuss it later.”
She flicked her hair and spoke. Accompanied by the tinkling of the bell at the coffee shop’s entrance, she walked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Another day passed in Posinota Town.
Will sat at the table.
He gazed at the “clues” he had written on a hotel notepad, and on the back of the paper, the “Plan to Cross Death.”
After reorganizing the intelligence with Shuna yesterday and spending another two or three days here, there was essentially nothing else to ponder.
All the “conclusions” and all the “countermeasures” had been listed.
“The ring… the stored staves and temporary explosive magic are all ready.”
Will gently touched the ring Liya had given him.
“The eyes infused with demonic power, yes, they can easily see the opponent’s thoughts and attack intentions.”
Will spread two fingers and, in a somewhat chuunibyo manner, placed them over his left eye, which had a slightly purplish hue due to Treya.
“As for the collar, the trigger conditions and frequency have already been tested.”
Will’s hand brushed over the collar Iaar had put on him. He could feel the magic within the collar even with his eyes slightly closed.
Through the combination of these equipments, he had devised dozens of combat methods.
And dozens of possibilities.
“Everything is ready. All that’s left is for me to take the leap.”
He looked out the window.
The sky was now a blood-red sun dipping below the horizon. It was already the end of December, past the winter solstice with the longest night. The sun seemed to be in the sky for a bit longer today.
He reached for the candle lamp on the table, and flames naturally ignited at his fingertips—doing this now felt as simple as drinking water.
Then…
He withdrew his hand.
Dusk was a time when lighting a lamp wouldn’t make the room brighter, but not lighting it meant it remained dim.
Perhaps it was at such times that one felt a sense of melancholy.
Thinking this, Will smiled and looked out the window.
It must have been a coincidence; Shuna hadn’t specifically chosen the view outside the window, but from here, he could just see the pyramid-like entrance of the Dust Bone Corridor.
If he wished.
He could go to the Dust Bone Corridor at any time to witness that “thing that could genuinely kill him.”
Just as he thought this, he heard Shuna’s footsteps from behind him, as if she had reached out and tapped his head.
“What is it? Why did you suddenly tap my head?”
He tilted his head back, leaning against Shuna’s exposed stomach. From this angle, looking up, he could see her eyes between her breasts.
“I have some good news, hmm… perhaps bad news for you?”
“What?”
“I’ve found out. Tomorrow afternoon at five o’clock, the Radiant Knights will be attempting the Dust Bone Corridor.”
“Okay, then I’ve also decided. Tomorrow morning at five o’clock, I’ll enter the first floor of the Dust Bone Corridor to see what’s really there.”
Unexpectedly, Will thought his statement sounded quite cool, but Shuna, after hearing it, frowned.
She didn’t seem to like this answer but didn’t say anything.
“You…”
Shuna sighed and flicked his forehead with her finger.
“What is it? Or are you just trying to flick my forehead?”
Will raised his arm and scratched Shuna’s ear.
“I was originally going to say, if they clear the dungeon…”
For some reason, Will sensed a hint of a sigh in Shuna’s brief remark.
“…did you also… dodge death?”
Just as Will opened his mouth to say something, Shuna continued, not giving him a chance to explain—
“But, on second thought, there’s no need. I saw it long ago; avoiding death in such a roundabout way and continuing to live is not the ending you desire.”
She smiled, sat on the edge of the bed, and looked at the setting sun.
“It’s precisely because… you always plan so thoroughly and charge forward—even if the end is a death that has troubled and frightened you your entire life, that I like you so much.”
Will turned around, about to say something, but sensing that Shuna sitting there seemed to be waiting for him, he simply stood up and sat beside her.
“Actually, I do have some considerations regarding a future where I survive—whether it’s ‘little revenge’ or ‘little teaching’ for those three people. But right now, I’m treating tomorrow as the last day of my actual life.”
He first glanced at the sunset’s glow in Shuna’s eyes, like a burning flame, and then looked out the window.
“Because you believe that crossing death and being reborn is the new beginning of everything?”
“It seems you understand me very well.”
“Yes. That’s why I can’t stop you… I will always, always support you.”
The sunlight had completely disappeared, but it left behind a beautiful glow on the distant pyramid of the dungeon entrance.
The night, as its name suggested, like the curtain of a spectacular stage falling, slowly painted the night and stars onto the vast firmament.
After a brief silence, the two slowly placed their hands on the bed.
The light was off, and the bed was still covered with the quilt folded by the staff.
“How are your preparations?”
After the rustling of their hands over the quilt continued for a few seconds, Shuna suddenly spoke.
“What preparations?”
“Preparations for your death. Since it’s a grand farewell, shouldn’t there be a grand battle?”
“They’re very sufficient.”
“You’ve looked through all the monsters I guessed at, haven’t you?”
“Yes. They are common types in the Dust Bone Corridor.”
“Do you need me to fill your ring with more magic?”
Shuna’s fingers moved restlessly on the bed, as if playing a piano, but Will knew she had never learned piano.
“No need. It’s already packed to the brim. It can definitely handle most combat situations.”
“Is your staff okay? Does it need any repairs?”
“It’s been maintained very well.”
“Then… let me think… what else is there…”
She lowered her head, no longer looking at the sunset that symbolized the continuous flow of time and the approaching death that Will would face in the dungeon. Instead, she looked at her toes.
Then, her fingers stretched across the line connecting the two of them, inching towards Will.
“You reminded me of a few things.”
“…What?”
“Father gave me a large sum of money for a trip. A significant portion was entrusted to Iaar, and I kept a small part. The small part was still a considerable amount, but three-quarters of it has already been spent.”
His right hand moved towards the center between them, finally touching the tips of Shuna’s slightly long fingernails.
“I see. Heh, this might be the last time you show off as a Young Master of the Hysterm Family.”
“That money is in the bank. The password is my birthday. Go and take it out.”
“I’m not short of money.”
“It’s your salary for being hired as my team member.”
“Alright, then I’ll accept it.”
The sky was completely dark.
Stars, the moon, and the somewhat dazzling streetlights were visible.
Their fingers intertwined while they spoke words that might come up when one can’t find a topic for conversation.
“…”
“…”
After a tacit silence, looking at the moonlight and feeling the coolness from the open window, without looking down or at each other, they both took a deep breath.
“Shuna, since tomorrow is the day I go to meet death.”
“Will, since tomorrow is the day you cross over death.”
“Shall we… do it?”
In unison, they turned their heads. The moonlight cast long shadows on the bed.
