I Reincarnated into a Game Filled with Mods – Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Suddenly flustered by the request for help, Claudia glanced nervously at Iris, who was radiating a murderous aura.

“…Listen first. You’re not asking me to take your side, are you? Because if you are, I absolutely can’t do that.”

“That’s not it. Just listen to what I have to say and judge whether it’s right or wrong.”

“What are you going to ask?”

She looked as if she had no idea what I was about to say.

“Do you remember how that horse-riding creature attacked?”

“To some extent. But I don’t remember it in detail. I just roughly grasped the major movements.”

“That’s enough.”

Seeing the situation unfold like this, Iris crossed her arms below her chest as if she would at least listen to what I had to say. I was relieved because I wondered what I would have done if she hadn’t even tried to listen.

“Knight Commander-nim, when you encountered that monster, didn’t it raise its front paws and roar loudly as soon as you saw it, and then immediately charge towards you?”

Her pink hair bobbed up and down slightly, confirming my words.

“Right after it charged, it swung its spear from left to right, and then from right to left, before thrusting it down towards you. Initially, it held the spear in its left hand, and after the downward thrust, it switched the spear to its right hand, right?”

“Uh… Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, that’s right.”

“And then it pulled the spear out, spun it a few times above its head, swung it forward widely, and then retreated on its horse, right? Is this also correct?”

The movements I described were all part of the opening pattern that the ‘Headless Ironclad Cavalryman’ Claudia encountered performed with 100% certainty at the beginning of the boss fight.

Although there were limitations in explaining it verbally instead of showing a video, it seemed like the meaning was conveyed well enough.

Claudia seemed to be pondering for a moment, recalling her memory, and then she nodded vigorously in surprise.

“That’s right. How did you know?”

“From now on, I’ll tell you everything as I remember it.”

“…It’s all correct.”

Her voice trembled noticeably.

After finishing the explanation, I inwardly thanked Claudia. She must have been completely out of her mind dealing with a monster she had never seen before, whose weapons couldn’t even harm it, yet she still remembered a good portion of its attack patterns.

I looked around. I could see Rize and Erika, and even Iris, frozen with stunned expressions on their faces. They were probably wondering what they had just heard.

It was no wonder they were so shocked, considering that a new recruit who had just joined the Knight Order was rattling off information about a monster that even the person who had faced it and survived had never seen before.

Silence fell. No one could readily speak. Even Iris, who had vehemently opposed it until just a moment ago, remained silent with a thoughtful expression.

A significant amount of time passed before she finally managed to squeeze out a word.

“How… do you know all that?”

The most crucial question, one could say, was how I knew all those things.

I couldn’t reveal the truth right away, but fortunately, I had an all-purpose shield to use here.

“Some of my memories have returned.”

“What…!”

Iris gasped, and Rize and Erika couldn’t hide their astonishment.

Only Claudia, who didn’t know exactly who I was yet and only knew me as a new recruit of the Knight Order, had a question mark floating above her head.

“Is that true?!”

“Not completely. It’s literally like only a small part has been unlocked.”

I didn’t miss the momentary hesitation that crossed her face and continued.

“I’ve told you everything I can. You said so yourself, Iris, right? You can trust my skills, but you can’t send me against an enemy I’ve never seen before. But look. I already know that creature very well. So, don’t you think it’s worth trusting me this once?”

This time, the contemplation was much longer. Her own words had been used against her.

You can trust my skills, but you can’t send me against an enemy I’ve never seen before. But what if it’s not a monster I’ve never seen before?

Naturally, the latter condition disappears, leaving only the premise that you can trust my skills.

“…”

Iris remained silent for a long time. I could fully understand her feelings, so I waited patiently.

Her mouth opened again after more than five minutes had passed.

“…Alright. But take Rize with you. If you do that, I’ll allow it. I’ll absolutely oppose it otherwise.”

“Iris is right, newbie. I’ll go with you. It’s too dangerous to send you alone, even if it’s like this.”

“No, I have to go alone.”

I flatly refused the offer.

I had to defeat the boss and immediately visit a nearby dungeon to find bait to lure the lord, and I couldn’t let them see me doing that. The excuse of my memories returning should be used sparingly, only when it’s crucial. Using it too often would only raise suspicion.

I didn’t mind them accompanying me to defeat the Headless Ironclad Cavalryman, even under the condition that I had to do it alone without Rize’s help, but the matter afterward was a separate issue.

I couldn’t tell Rize to go back first after the boss fight because I had something to do alone, could I? Naturally, she would try to stick by my side no matter what.

It was better not to take her from the beginning.

“Why do you want to go alone? Is there a reason?”

“There is a reason, but I don’t think I can tell you. I’m sorry.”

“…”

Iris sighed deeply. I fully understand that she must be wondering what I’m up to. But I couldn’t back down here either.

“Then.”

A final determination settled in her silver eyes.

“I’ll allow it if there’s a Knight Commander who agrees with your solo action. We don’t need many. Just one of us is enough. For starters, I’m absolutely against it.”

“…I’m also against it. I’m sorry, newbie. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but please understand that I’m against it because I’m more worried about you.”

“Uh… I’m not against it, but I don’t agree either. I don’t know much about you, you know? We met for the first time today. So, it’s a bit difficult for me to say anything carelessly.”

Iris and Erika were against it, and Claudia was effectively against it. Then the only Knight Commander left was Rize. I looked back at Rize, who was still holding my finger tightly.

Her blue eyes were trembling slightly. It was obvious what her answer would be. I spoke up before Rize could give her answer.

“Newbie, I’m sorry, but I also-”

“Rize.”

“Huh?”

“Do you remember what you said right before using Frost Storm Assault in our last spar?”

“What I said before using that technique? Uh… Wait a minute. You’re not…”

Rize paused to recall her memory, then made a shocked expression as if she realized what I was about to ask.

“Yes, that’s what I meant. I’m going to have to use that promise you made, where you said you’d do anything I asked. Agree with me.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

I smiled slightly. Rize, who was in a dilemma, stamped her feet, but the outcome was obvious. Iris sighed even more deeply than before, as if she had foreseen the future.

“…Alright. I agree. Go ahead, newbie.”

After much hesitation, Rize finally took my side.

It was the end of the discussion.

Claudia went inside the castle for treatment with a word of encouragement, “Since it’s come to this, do your best,” and Erika also gave a brief greeting, “I wish you good luck,” and followed Claudia.

Iris, with a mix of complex emotions in her eyes, left a request that sounded almost like an order, “Don’t die. That’s an order.”

Rize clung to my side and was busy packing all sorts of supplies for me. Not only did she pack a lot of food, but she also tried to pack health potions, spare weapons, and even armor.

Of course, I refused the armor, saying I didn’t need it. This was because my Durability stat was only 1, which meant the weight limit for equipment was ridiculously low.

Even with just the Bloodstained Sword, I was barely able to perform a level 1 roll. If I wore any armor, be it light or anything else, I probably wouldn’t be able to roll at all.

Besides, even if I wore it, it would be a guaranteed one-hit from the boss anyway.

When I said I wouldn’t take the armor, Rize jumped up and down, saying that it was ridiculous, but when I stubbornly insisted, she puffed out her cheeks and gave up on persuading me, just staring at me.

If she didn’t know my situation, it was a natural concern, so I didn’t feel bothered by her nagging at all.

Rather, I was grateful that she cared about me so much.

“Come back safe, newbie.”

Only Rize was there to see me off as I left.

“…”

…Or so I thought, but Iris was peeking out from afar, watching me.

Then, when our eyes met, she quickly hid behind a wall, and less than a second later, she peeked out with one eye and looked at me again.

What is she doing?

Regardless of what Iris and I were doing, Rize spoke in a much more serious tone than usual.

“And, don’t die. Never. If you feel like your life is in danger, just drop everything and run. Even if you have to crawl on the ground, come back alive. Don’t spout nonsense about protecting your honor or anything like that. Got it?”

“I definitely won’t. I value my life too, you know.”

“Someone who values their life does something this reckless?!”

Rize pulled my cheeks.

A groan escaped my lips, and she chuckled and let go of my cheeks immediately. It didn’t hurt at all. It seemed like it was Rize’s way of playing a lighthearted prank.

As I finished saying goodbye and was about to get on my horse, Rize stopped me.

“And one more thing. Lend me your ear for a moment.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head, wondering if she had anything else to say. Her cherry-colored lips approached my ear and whispered softly.

“If you come back alive, I’ll grant you one wish. Anything. Got it? Think carefully, because anything is possible this time too.”

Then she smiled brightly, poked my cheek with her finger, and turned away. I pondered for a moment about what Rize had just said, then chuckled and mounted my horse.

“Of course I will.”

Even if Darkest Light mode was applied, I couldn’t die to the first boss as a veteran with 30,000 hours of playtime, could I?

‘Oh, wait a minute. This is a death flag.’

Suppressing the chills that ran down my spine, I grabbed the reins and set off.