I Became a Gallery Newbie Beloved by Transcendents
Chapter 40
Carmine approached me.
“According to what Lengel said, I’d like to ride the carriage together. Would that be alright with you?”
I looked at Carmine while being conscious of Lengel standing behind her, watching me.
Third Rank.
I was certain I could kill him anytime if I wanted to.
For now, I decided to go along.
The quest type.
I had a strong intuition that this third-Rank mercenary, who appeared as an ally, was connected to the flow of the narrative.
From Carmine’s perspective, Lengel, who had worked with her for a long time, would naturally be more trustworthy than me, who had only been with her for a little over an hour.
I felt the need to raise my credibility with Carmine.
After racking my brain for a bit, I got a rough idea of what to do.
“Alright. We need every ally we can get in this situation.”
Carmine nodded.
“Tell me the exact reason you’re helping me.”
There was no suspicion in her eyes.
It didn’t seem like she doubted me; rather, she seemed genuinely curious about my motives.
I gave the reason I had prepared.
“It’s revenge against the Raphaelo Viscountcy. I’ve had my share of grievances with them too.”
Just from what the gallery seniors had said, the Raphaelo Viscountcy was a family notorious for its long history of infamy.
It wouldn’t be strange at all if I had suffered something at their hands.
“This is a chance to thoroughly ruin the eldest son’s mood. I can’t let that slip.”
At my words, Carmine let out a sigh.
“…The viscountcy’s misdeeds are too many to count. I knew that already.”
It seemed she was convinced.
For now, getting moving was the top priority.
There was no telling how many people the Raphaelo Viscountcy had sent.
Lengel led the carriage, riding a horse.
Carmine was inside the carriage.
Instead of riding in the carriage, I chose to ride a horse alongside it.
Coincidentally, the horse didn’t have a name status window floating above it.
So, horses aren’t even treated as NPCs?
That’s kind of sad.
I mounted the horse.
The sound of its neighing reached my ears.
I stroked the horse’s mane.
Light’s Sword senior had said bonding was necessary for this.
“Hey, let’s do our best.”
NEIGH—
If you run well, the chances of safely clearing the 5th-floor stage will be higher.
Balancing was easier than I thought.
Holding the reins, I gently tapped the horse’s side with my foot.
CLIP-CLOP—
Adjusting my center of gravity as the horse moved forward, I positioned myself next to the carriage led by the mercenary Lengel.
Half a day passed.
After six hours of travel, we decided to take a short break.
Of course, it wasn’t a relaxing break.
There was no telling how many pursuers were after us.
“She’s fallen asleep.”
Lengel pulled back the carriage’s canopy and confirmed Carmine was asleep.
Given that she had been confronting the Raphaelo Viscountcy’s men before meeting me, it was understandable she couldn’t fight her exhaustion.
I kept an eye on Lengel’s actions.
If he so much as pulled out a dagger and stabbed Carmine in the throat, the situation would end right there.
Fortunately, Lengel didn’t resort to such drastic measures.
Just as I was about to speak, Lengel addressed me.
“May I ask why you’re helping the young lady?”
A third-Rank mercenary wouldn’t have failed to overhear our earlier conversation if he’d been trying to listen in secretly.
But the reason he was asking again now was simple.
Just as I suspected Lengel, he must have been suspicious of my motives for helping Carmine.
I dismounted and leaned against a tree.
“You must have heard the conversation between me and Carmine before we left.”
Lengel’s eyes were fixed on me.
“I’m asking because I think there might be another reason besides that.”
Lengel wore a friendly smile to ease my suspicions.
I decided to say my piece.
Now, while Carmine was deep in sleep from exhaustion, was the perfect time to probe his intentions.
“You’ve been acting wary of something since earlier.”
Lengel showed no particular reaction to my words.
“Are you waiting for something?”
I saw sweat trickling down Lengel’s forehead.
After half a day of driving the carriage, physical exhaustion was inevitable.
But that sweat didn’t seem to stem from fatigue.
My intuition told me so.
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Lengel didn’t stop there.
“But variables are bound to arise. The Raphaelo Viscountcy is after Lady Carmine. And among them, there are plenty of clever ones. It wouldn’t be hard for them to predict how Lady Carmine plans to escape this situation.”
He was starting to respond.
“And within the empire, there are few places the Raphaelo Viscountcy’s influence doesn’t reach. It wouldn’t be difficult to guess that Ventura Academy, the closest option, is her destination.”
That was true.
The Raphaelo Viscountcy would surely have considered the places Carmine might choose to evade them.
“The men sent by the Raphaelo side… We’ll inevitably face them head-on at the places we must pass through to reach Ventura Academy.”
Lengel kept his gaze on me.
“The minimum force would be fourth Rank… The maximum could include fifth Rank.”
I’d already faced plenty of fourth Rank.
I had expected to confront fifth Rank soon.
“Can you survive them and safely deliver Lady Carmine to Ventura Academy?”
“Yeah.”
Lengel furrowed his brow at my indifferent reply.
“…You don’t seem to be above fifth Rank yourself. How can you be so confident?”
“Who said I’m confident? I’ll just fight.”
This isn’t a situation where I can afford to be intimidated by Rank differences.
Fear only makes sense in situations where it’s warranted.
A short while later, Carmine woke up, and we set off again.
CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP—
Time passed, and dawn gave way to morning.
The sun rose dimly.
The moment we left the forest, something unexpected happened.
“There are a lot of them.”
I scanned the enemies positioned across the field.
[NPC – Fourth Rank Knight Venrant]
[NPC – Third Rank Knight Ian]
[NPC – Third Rank Knight Mars]
One fourth Rank.
Two third Rank.
Three second Rank, though the second Rank didn’t concern me.
The rest were soldiers without Rank displays.
And at the center stood the one radiating the most intense killing intent.
[NPC – Fifth Rank Knight Kylas]
A knight with red hair stood there.
Including the soldiers, the total number of enemies was twelve.
That was a lot.
A voice filled with despair reached my ears from beside me.
“…UGH, this is exactly why I didn’t want to get involved this time, even if it’s for the young lady.”
It was Lengel’s voice.
“Even if it’s a request from someone who saved my younger sister, I shouldn’t have gotten involved…”
Lengel’s muttering continued.
“Damn it, damn it.”
What?
So that’s what it was.
He wasn’t a traitor with ulterior motives or someone aligned with the Raphaelo Viscountcy—just a plain coward.
“Knight protecting Carmine Everhart.”
Kylas.
The fifth Rank knight spoke.
“The sword scar you left on the street the other day was quite impressive. But I can’t help but wonder if you truly understand who you’re dealing with.”
Kylas’s gaze was fixed squarely on me.
“The Raphaelo Viscountcy of the Ermein Empire. That’s who you’re facing.”
The viscountcy’s name must carry weight.
His words reeked of arrogance.
Twelve enemies.
Three on our side.
A fourfold difference in strength.
First, I needed to thin their numbers as much as possible.
I picked up the black javelin, the Dark Javelin.
[Magic Body Enhancement Lv.6 – Skill activated.]
And I threw it.
The target was the direction of the fifth Rank knight, Kylas.
To be precise, the burly soldier standing in front of him.
THUD!
With the sound of tearing flesh, the burly soldier collapsed forward.
The javelin, having pierced the soldier’s body, shot toward Kylas’s heart.
Kylas raised his right hand.
CLANG!
The black javelin was sent flying far away by the casual swing of his sword.
I never expected to take down a fifth Rank from a distance.
I aimed for those I could definitely kill.
That was my judgment.
I had one more throw left.
Sliding my left foot back, I tightened my grip.
I aligned the blade straight ahead.
Not a javelin, but a thrown sword.
I hurled one sword.
The sword tore through the air and pierced the gap in the armor of the third Rank knight, Ian.
CRUNCH!
It pierced his heart.
The sword I threw was Mundum Exstinguit, which I had obtained yesterday.
Effect 2, Retrieval.
For objects recognized by the ‘user,’ the weapon can be retrieved remotely.
I had already tested in the waiting room that I could control the trajectory and positioning of the retrieval at will.
I calculated the angle.
The angle that would incapacitate the most enemies upon retrieval.
A blue aura shimmered around Mundum Exstinguit.
The signal for retrieval.
WHOOSH!
The sword erupted from Ian’s corpse, tracing a curved trajectory.
SLASH!
It beheaded a second Rank knight.
Then, it sharply curved again at a right angle.
SPLAT!
It carved a deep wound into a soldier’s abdomen and shot through.
CRUNCH!
Finally, it mercilessly severed another soldier’s ankle.
SWOOSH!
It returned to my grasp.
SCREECH…
I adjusted my grip on the retrieved sword, Mundum Exstinguit.
The scent of blood filled my nostrils.
“……”
“……”
I could feel all the enemies’ eyes on me.
One soldier killed by the black javelin.
One third Rank knight instantly killed by Mundum Exstinguit.
One second Rank knight killed by the sword’s retrieval ability.
And two soldiers completely incapacitated, unable to fight.
Now, seven remained.
The killing intent that had momentarily paused now flowed through my fingertips.
Cold sweat began to drip.
“I apologize.”
It was the voice of the fifth Rank knight, Kylas.
“It seems I also failed to properly recognize who I was dealing with.”
Was he acknowledging me?
You don’t need to.
Simple-minded, stereotypical foes were easier to handle.
I steadied my mind.
“Let’s go.”
Kylas’s figure blurred.
I didn’t lose track of his movement.
The momen
t he appeared right in front of me, Kylas swung his sword diagonally in a crimson slash.
CLANG!
Kylas’s sword clashed with mine.
My hand went numb.
Fifth Rank knight.
I had to kill him.
