Chapter 24
Several stone pillars stood in rows, quietly supporting the arches of the high ceiling. Colored light streamed through the stained glass, softly tinting the air in the chapel.
Before the altar at the front, a skeleton in priestly robes floated silently in midair.
The fourth-floor chapel where I stood was crowded with skeletons and Races surrounding the lich, and filled with the presence of death.
I'd braced myself after hearing there was a lich on the fourth floor, but what I had to do was no different from on the first and second floors.
With my 'Enhanced' staff in one hand, I charged into the horde of monsters.
I smashed skeletons and struck Races' cores with pinpoint accuracy.
Every so often, the lich fired a fireball.
I dodged after reading its trajectory and scattered 'Life Steal' among them.
Summoning lights rose all across the chapel.
The skeletons and Races I'd defeated were replaced one after another.
—Even so.
They couldn't keep up with how quickly I destroyed them.
Once only the lich remained, I let it summon monsters for a while.
Apparently, it could summon them without limit. But rather than wait here, it would be more efficient to gather monsters from the first and second floors.
I quickly dealt with the resummoned skeletons and Races, then closed in.
Then I shattered the lich's skull with a single blow.
That was all it took for the lich to crumple, leaving only a magic stone on the floor without putting up any real resistance.
I picked up the magic stone.
It was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.
But—the mana swirling inside it was clearly denser than that of a Death Knight's magic stone.
A weight at odds with its appearance slowly settled into my palm.
—With this magic stone, it might be possible.
I clenched the magic stone in my hand and poured 'Resurrection' into it.
Unlike the Horn Rabbit's magic stone, the mana flowed into it smoothly.
Before long, the magic stone began to emit a faint glow.
“...I did it.”
A breath escaped me before I knew it.
Instead of putting the magic stone in my leather pouch, I slipped it into my pocket. My thick robe neatly blocked its faint light.
I collected the magic stones scattered around the chapel and headed to the third floor.
I chose one of the many doors and stepped into a hall.
As always, a Death Knight awaited me in the center.
The moment I stepped into the hall, the Death Knight took its stance.
A sharp tension, unlike anything I'd felt with the lich, dominated the area.
Slowly, we each closed the distance.
I moved into staff range first, but neither of us moved.
Then I stepped into sword range.
—Now!
I dodged the Death Knight's downward slash and knocked its sword aside with my staff.
Riding the rebound of the blow, I thrust my staff into the gap between its neck and helmet.
I twisted the staff, and the Death Knight's helmet came off.
I leaped up, slipped my staff through the hollow at its neck, and activated 'Life Steal' on its magic stone.
Its armor fell apart with a clatter, and the Death Knight collapsed.
This time, I defeated it without breaking its magic stone.
I looked around the hall and saw several doors.
Beyond them were either ordinary little rooms or more corridors like the one I'd come through.
I chose a corridor and followed it until another hall appeared.
In the center stood another Death Knight in armor.
This time, however, it held a spear.
Without hesitation, I stepped into the hall.
The Death Knight spun the spear in its hand and leveled it at me.
A spear had a longer reach than a staff.
I carefully gauged the distance as I studied the Death Knight's movements.
The Death Knight thrust its spear at me with a sharp jab.
I blocked it with my staff and knocked it upward.
The spear spun around, and this time its butt end came flying at me.
The spear's movements were closer to a staff's than a sword's.
I narrowed my eyes and kept deflecting the spear with my staff, careful not to miss a single movement.
From just outside the spear's range, the Death Knight thrust.
It released its left hand midway through the motion, extending its reach even farther.
The spearhead, which shouldn't have been able to reach me, came hurtling toward me.
I quickly caught the spear with my staff and wrenched it upward.
The spear flew from its hand and fell toward the corner of the hall.
Having dropped its spear, the Death Knight knelt motionless, as though offering me its neck.
I placed a hand on the Death Knight's shoulder, cast 'Life Steal,' and dealt the finishing blow.
This hall, too, had several doors.
As I opened them one by one, I spotted a figure in the shadow of a shelf in a small room.
A white mantle covered the figure's armor. They looked like a holy knight.
They were covered in blood and unconscious, but still barely alive.
—Perfect.
I used mana to protect the knight so their life wouldn't dissipate.
I waited like that for a while, until the knight finally died.
I could still feel the trace of their life.
'Appraisal.'
【Name】Noah
【Rank】III
【Magic Power】S
【Skill】Appraisal Life Magic Mana Control Magic Imbuement High-Speed Thinking Observation Staffsmanship
【Magic】Heal Cure Enhance Life Steal Resurrection Calm Life Protection
After confirming that Life Protection had been added, I retraced my steps.
When I returned to the underground chapel, it was as quiet as ever, but an uneasy atmosphere lingered.
I returned my weapon and lantern at the sacristy counter.
“Noah? The holy knights were beaten by a Death Knight on the third floor. It seems one of the new recruits got separated. If you go down to the third floor, keep an eye out for them.”
Baldo said this with a grave expression.
“Yes. If I see them, I will.”
I replied, then left the sacristy.
The next day, I cleared out the lich's room again.
It didn't help me develop my technique, but it seemed like the better choice for raising my Rank.
After that, I took care of the sword- and spear-wielding Death Knights.
I was getting much better at taking them down.
When I opened the door to a small room, a holy knight was lying there.
They were dead, but their body hadn't begun to decay.
After confirming that, I left the room.
The following day, I visited the small room again.
The body was unchanged.
The effect of Life Protection was still in place.
But the life trapped inside was steadily growing weaker.
—Two days, with some leeway. Three at most.
I took the magic stone imbued with 'Resurrection' from my pocket and poured mana into it.
The magic stone's glow intensified, and soon the holy knight was enveloped in dazzling light.
When the light faded, the holy knight opened his eyes.
“...Where am I?”
The holy knight looked around.
“Do you remember what happened?”
I asked gently.
“We were training with the rest of my squad, and we challenged a Death Knight...”
The holy knight raised his head with a start.
“That's right. I was... stabbed by its spear, then I must have fled into this little room.”
At that, he instinctively put a hand to his stomach.
“My wound... It's gone.”
His voice trembled with shock and confusion.
“I treated your wound.”
I gently held out a hand and helped him to his feet.
“The Death Knight isn't here now. Let's go back to the underground chapel together.”
—His memories seem fine.
Two days had passed, but it was safe to assume there'd been no damage to his brain.
With the rookie knight thanking me profusely, I returned to the underground chapel.