Golden Experience

Chapter 117: “This guy has been trouble from the get-go”

The balcony window is open, and from the outside, it seems like there is no one inside.

Even when confirmed with the [Demonic Eyes], there are no human-like reactions visible, so there’s no mistake.

Silently, without making any sound, I descend onto the balcony.

I want to activate the [Knowledge Wing Barrier] and investigate in detail, but the pure white feather snow stands out too much even though I’m supposed to be on a stealth mission. The light leaking from the balcony will make it clear that something is happening even from the ground.

While it significantly enhances combat abilities, it can only be used in situations where combat is the premise.

In the future, it might be advisable to think about skills more suitable for stealth operations.

There is the [Demonic Eyes] for rare cases, and Blanc mentioned that she has night vision.

So, it’s probably better to act with the [Curtain of Darkness] activated.

Originally, it has only a moderate darkening effect, but by layering the effects for two people in this way, the central area can be significantly darkened.

I gently push the balcony window. It’s not locked.

They probably didn’t anticipate thieves climbing up to this height in a normal scenario.

Upon entering the room, there are several full-body armors, resembling Western-style mansions and armor exhibits, placed along the wall.

It’s hard to believe this room is an office. This room doesn’t seem to be an office.

But if not, why is there light at this hour?

“Wait! The window…”

Turning back at Blanc’s voice, the balcony window is just closing.

Moreover, it’s not the glass window from the beginning; it’s made of iron. Originally, it would be used as a sliding door on the outside of the window.

The one closing it is the full-body armor standing by the wall. Moreover, it is diligently welding the iron door with some production skill.

There is still no reaction from the [Demonic Eyes]. If I believe this field of view, it means that the full-body armor, which doesn’t possess any magical power, is moving on its own and welding the window.

“As expected, it’s a trap…”

It was as Blanc predicted.

It’s unclear who set the trap for what purpose and targeted whom, but even if all the armors here were enemies, they are not enough to stop Rare.

As planned, I can crush them and then ask the lord about the situation, including these things.

“I remember it was said that disasters could communicate?”

Near the door of the room, a particularly splendid suit of armor started talking.

Not that it’s a Living Mail or anything. There is likely a person inside.

And speaking of splendor, it’s not about the living being inside but the sophistication and craftsmanship, not its size.

In terms of height, it’s slightly taller than Rare.

From the voice, it’s probably a woman.

“Well, you seem to be ‘fitting’ for a disaster, right?

It might be a bit early for you to come here, but it’s good that the conversation is progressing quickly.

Good evening. Disaster-kun.”

?Successfully resisted?

?Successfully resisted?

“Hmm. Do you have no intention of responding to the conversation? Or maybe you’re not a disaster.

Timing-wise, it’s a bit early, but if you attack, I thought it would be a disaster…”

Originally, I came here to ask the lord questions. It’s not that I’m unwilling to have a conversation, but it’s not something I intended.

“I am the lord of this city. What business do you have in my castle in the middle of the night?”

?Successfully resisted?

?Successfully resisted?

Since a while ago, some form of attack has been happening.

It seems to be a skill related to [Mental Magic].

I don’t know if it’s the one in front of me or one of the armors around me.

Even before that, I don’t know who these armors are. After all, I can’t sense any magical power.

Furthermore, the problem is that the self-proclaimed lord called Rare a “disaster”.

Today, it seems like the disaster is visiting here. Rare came here because of that post on SNS, but the lord shouldn’t know about it.

Even considering the current conversation, it’s reasonable to think that the lord didn’t consider Rare as a player.

Rather than knowing that the disaster would come here, it’s more likely that the lord led the disaster here.

Is it possible that just based on that one post on SNS, the event boss, the disaster, did something like this?

Ordinarily, the disaster wouldn’t see such a post. I have no idea what the lord’s intention was.

At least, Rare’s visit here was almost random, even though it was triggered by seeing that SNS post.

“No, it won’t work at all. This is impossible. Too bad.”

With those words from the lord, the armors all attack at once.

There’s no need for stealth anymore.

Activate [Knowledge Wing Barrier] and push back the attacking armors with [Feather Gatling].

However, I don’t think I can defeat them with this.

Normally, I would aim with the [Demonic Eyes] and use magic to finish them off, but the armors have no magical power, so I can’t directly aim with the [Demonic Eyes]. If I want to specify coordinates, I need to target a location, not an armor.

“[Thunderbolt]!”

But before that, Blanc’s magic is launched.

Perhaps fearing accidental damage inside the room, it’s a single-shot spell. Fast-acting [Lightning Magic] is a good choice for ensuring damage. It should penetrate through the all-metal armor.

“Huh?”

However, the armor hit by the magic doesn’t show any sign of being affected.

It’s showing the same reaction as the other armors that haven’t been hit by magic. In other words, it seems like only Rare’s Gatling damage is getting through.

“[Flare Arrow]! [Ice Bullet]! [Air Cutter]!”

Blanc continues to shoot magic in rapid succession, but none of them seem to have an effect. Moreover, flames and ice, unlike [Lightning Magic] and [Wind Magic], are extinguished as soon as they come into contact with the armor.

It seems like they have a high resistance to magic in general.

Perhaps, the reason [Demonic Eyes] doesn’t sense magical power is related to this.

“[Feather Bullet]!”

Having experienced the usefulness of this skill in the Hiers Capital, Rare had also allocated experience points to DEX.

Increasing DEX not only enhances the overall power but is particularly beneficial for accuracy and precision.

Although it doesn’t work like Gatling, if it’s a single shot like [Feather Bullet], I can shoot feathers into the joints of the armor during an opening. It’s not impossible.

Disturbing their posture with Gatling, aiming for critical hits with Bullet.

The armor that was accurately hit crumbles and doesn’t move again.

This means that it’s not just an ordinary armor moving; it’s indeed a knight wearing some special armor.

Those who are difficult to target due to their posture receive a continuous barrage of Gatling, depleting their LP. The armors hit by this are no longer recognizable.

Even if Rare could use magic to attack, it’s uncertain how resistant the armor is to magic. I can’t imagine that the lord can cancel out Rare’s full-powered magic, but if it were to be canceled, it would be a major problem.

Or even if it’s not canceled, it would still be a problem. If Rare casts such a powerful magic indoors, both the lord and Blanc are at risk of death.

While the armors are being defeated, the lord remains motionless. It seems like they are observing us. Rare’s goal is to gather information from the lord. If they can stay quiet without causing trouble, it doesn’t matter.

At this point, there is no one else alive except for Rare and the lord.

However, it’s unclear whether they are just statues or not, so other than the lord, who seems to be the lord, I turn all the armors inside the room into iron scrap. Although it’s unclear if they are actually made of iron. Regular iron doesn’t deflect magic.

These fallen armors, assuming they were the lord’s knights, might revive somewhere and come back here. I can assume a one-hour grace period until they return.

“Well, it seems like you managed to fend off the mercenaries in Hiers once, and it was said that [Fear] was effective. I thought it would work, but this one is impossible. It failed.”

Already, there is no one left to protect the lord. Even if the all-metal armor they are wearing is slightly more robust than the others, it’s just a margin of error in front of Rare. And yet, they act as if they have this much leeway.

It’s not Blanc, but there’s a frustrating, unpleasant premonition.

“Oh well. I’ll do it myself.”

As soon as she said that, she rushed at an incredible speed. In her left hand, she hold a sword. When did she draw it?

It’s a speed that doesn’t seem possible for someone fully clad in armor. It’s painful not being able to capture their movements at the starting point with the [Demonic Eyes].

“Get back!”

I push Blanc behind me, pull back my right leg at the last moment, twist my body, and dodge.

“Hah!”

As soon as I dodge the initial thrust, the lord extends the right hand, which was open while passing each other, toward Rare’s chest.

It’s a close-range hand strike. Or maybe a grab, but in any case, the distance is too close. In reality, it wouldn’t cause much damage, and at this relative speed, it’s unlikely to be successfully grabbed. But this lord’s STR and AGI might make it possible. Indeed, it’s impossible to dodge this.

“[Wing Strike]!”

Right before the opponent’s hand touches, I swing my wings and repel it.

“[Feather Gatling]!”

As a follow-up, I shoot feathers to push them further away with the impact. I initially thought about finishing them off as the knight did, but it seems that the lord’s armor has better performance than the knight’s. It’s not just for show.

However, I managed to create some distance.

Judging from the fighting style, the lord seems to be skilled in close combat.

If I keep my distance, I probably won’t make a fatal mistake.

“[Feather Bullet]!”

Aiming for the gaps in the armor, I release feathers.

However, this is dodged. I didn’t expect them to evade at this speed. It’s an extremely high AGI.

Nobles structurally accumulate experience points more easily.

They distribute it to knights, who fight on their behalf, making the nobles relatively weak. However, considering the experience points they must have gained from the knights they killed in the Hiers Capital, the nobles were obviously weak. On the other hand, the knights in the capital were as strong as other players.

How would the knight I just killed here compare to those in the capital?

I didn’t pay much attention since their armor had strange properties. Perhaps this lord is investing experience points not in their knight but in themselves.

“?Eye Gouge?”

It seems like the lord activated some skill in an attempt to counterattack.

I don’t know the skill, but judging by the name, it likely deprives the opponent of their vision. It’s meaningless for Rare, who closes their eyes.

While the [Curtain of Darkness] was still active, it seems like the lord couldn’t see our faces, but the effect worked.

Contrary to expectations, the lord’s figure disappeared.

And then, they reappeared right in front of us.

I recognize this movement. It’s the skill [Dimensional Contraction].

It means they changed the activation keyword for the skill.

??Come to think of it, there was an update like that! But can NPCs do that too!?

The lord now holds a sword in their right hand. They thrust it upwards from a low position.

It’s probably because they observed Rare’s reflex to dodge from the right foot a moment ago. The ability to use a sword at the same level with both hands, whether right or left, is impressive, but being ambidextrous is not exclusive to the lord. It can be corrected through training, and in the modern era with VR technology, focusing solely on training the brain, correcting handedness or leg dominance is easier than in the past.

Lifting my left leg, I kick the lord’s hand with the tip of my toes. The sword flies out of the lord’s hand.

However, it seems this was within their expectations. The lord slides under Rare’s lifted leg, slipping their shoulder under it, and captures it as if embracing it. I feel discomfort in my knee. She might intend to break it.

By rotating my body, aligning the direction of the force and the direction of the joints being applied, I manage to evade the technique.

Logically, it shouldn’t have been possible, but in this world, due to differences in ability values, the impossible can become possible. It seems Rare has higher AGI, and by a slim margin, it was enough to make it in time.

Even though I’ve completely turned my back to the lord, it doesn’t matter since what Rare sees is through the [Demonic Eyes] vision, and even if it’s directly behind, it’s not visible to the lord, probably because Rare’s wings are obstructing the view.

“?Wing Strike?”

I swing my wings aiming for the lord’s neck. However, the lord lifts Rare’s captured leg with force, destabilizing Rare’s posture and avoiding the trajectory of the wings.

The attack missed, but in return, I managed to pull out the leg that was being held.

“?Feather Bullet?”

I release feathers as a diversion. I know it will be dodged.

Taking advantage of the lord’s dodge, I deliver a kick. It’s hard.

What is this armor made of, exactly?

No damage was dealt, or rather, there was a sensation that Rare’s leg took more damage. However, thanks to the recoil from the kick, I successfully separated from the lord again.

Let’s start over.

“…It seems you’re willing to go for close combat, but magic has higher firepower. I heard that, but what’s going on? You don’t use magic at all. And even in close combat, it’s not something you do at a level where you say ‘a little’. Could it be that you really mistook me for someone else?”

It seems the lord is also preparing for a fresh start.

There is no sense of crisis to lose, but at least among the enemies fought so far, this one is outstandingly strong.

If it’s this lord, they might be able to defeat the raid party Wayne gathered alone. They might be stronger than Rare when Rare was weakened at that time.

In other words, if this lord has used artifacts or something similar, it’s probably impossible to win.

This is not the capital, and there’s no need to worry about that.

The lord possesses remarkable combat power in close combat.

Moreover, it seems like they don’t accept magic due to the equipment’s properties. They are like the natural enemy of magic users.

And the strength of that armor is not only in magic resistance. Probably, it has a much higher defense capability than the boots made from the fur of the large forest creatures that Rare is wearing. The fact that Rare’s leg took damage from the kick is evidence of this. It’s the first time I learned about such specifications, but considering the total value of Rare’s VIT and the defense capabilities of the leather boots, the opponent’s defense is higher, leading to damage on Rare’s side.

If I’m going to continue fighting barehanded, I need to increase VIT to bypass the opponent’s defense. However, there was no damage reflection on the wings that blew the lord away, so presumably, the defense power of the feathers on the wings is high.

Is it possible to pluck these feathers and make armor out of them? And if I pluck the feathers, will they return with [Healing Magic]? If that’s possible, I could create excellent equipment, but I’m scared to try if the plucked feathers don’t return.

My hand is already broken, and there’s little merit in keeping the [Curtain of Darkness] active. MP is gradually decreasing while doing this. I haven’t been actively using MP in combat actions so far, so it’s not a problem for now, but I want to avoid a situation where I run out of MP when I need it.

Rare dispels the magic and opens their eyes. Blanc, who retreated to the corner of the room during the chaos, also dispels the magic.

Despite all the commotion, the room’s lights are still on. It seems to be magical light, not torches or anything. I want to somehow take this armor or this light back and utilize it in the cave.

The full-body armor, illuminated by the light, looks much more sophisticated than the indirect view through mana. Although I attacked quite a bit, there are hardly any visible wounds.

??Hahaha.

Suddenly, the lord burst into laughter.

“Haha, ahahahaha! Ahahahaha!”

“Uh… Rare-chan, did you hit somewhere dangerous…?”

“I did hit and kick, but there should be little to no damage. If this lord was dangerous, that’s because it would have been from the beginning. It’s not my responsibility.”

Hearing this laughter, the lord, seemingly calm now, abandons the vigilant posture they had and looks at us casually.

“Haha. No, no. I thought it was something the administration prepared in terms of timing.

I never expected the event boss to be a player. This is beyond my expectations!”