"It sounds as if you knew we were coming here, Knight of Peletta."

"Do you know who I am?"

"It's impossible not to know the dogs that were running around looking for us everywhere in Tainu."

It was a nearly provocative statement, but the knight didn't respond. His attitude seemed to indicate that he was satisfied with the answer he got. Nahan asked again.

"So, what's the answer? I asked first, after all."

"His Lordship said you would certainly come here."

The knight finally opened his tightly closed lips and spoke. With a look that was more desert-tribe-like than anyone, the aura he wore was as cold as a winter lake.

"To achieve what you desire, killing the Baron’s younger brother inside, along with Baron Willhem, and exposing it to the world, will be the most efficient method, and therefore, I will not give it up."

"..."

"The turmoil you've created outside is just a distraction, isn't it true that you've come this far because what you really want is that person?"

"You seem to think you know very well what we want."

"Seeing that you're not denying it, I guess so."

Nahan responded without showing the slightest perturbation, but the expression on Hosanna's face behind him turned unconcealably pale.

The Commander of the Cavalry, Duke Peletta, had not been wrong in his conjecture at all.

'How did he know...?'

"So, why did the Commander of the Cavalry know we would come here, yet sent an ordinary knight instead of a member?"

"He said to practice."

"...Practice?"

Nahan, who slowly retorted, shortly after burst into a small laugh, as if finding it ridiculous.

"Did you treat me as a mere practice dummy for someone who is not even my brother? That's interesting. Did you really think it would be possible and come all the way here?"

"You'll know if you try."

The one who responded slowly and calmly then grabbed the sword that had been hanging loosely with both hands. A sharp premonition flowed over the raised silvery blade.

'What is this feeling? I'm scared, even though he's just holding a sword. I don't understand why.'

Hosanna was having such thoughts while looking at the impeccably clean sword that didn't show the slightest bit of energy, when Nahan opened his mouth with a similar thought.

"I thought a knight who knows how to use Aura would be confident, but why not use it? I must ask, are you an Awakener?"

'Ah, yes. That's right. I've heard that the Cavalry has those with abilities resembling Aura.'

If the man were an Awakener, this strange feeling could somehow be explained. However, contrary to their speculation, the knight shook his head.

"No."

"Good. Then we don't have to hesitate anymore."

Nahan's eyes sharpened.

"Hosanna, just do as we practiced for close combat. Get ready."

As he finished speaking, Nahan grabbed Hosanna. Before the knight could swing his sword, Hosanna successfully used his ability to transport himself and Nahan behind the knight's back.

Instantly, Nahan reached out and manipulated his fingers as if grabbing the back of the knight's head, exerting his ability.

'Done...! Ah?'

But this knight was unlike anyone they had faced before. Looking at the staggering man who had bent forward, and about to unwittingly relax, Hosanna screamed as he blinked to find the sword thrusting at them.

"Ah...!"

The tip of the sword grazed Hosanna's face and almost pierced Nahan just as the teleportation ability activated again. They landed on the second floor, one level below their original position. Seeing Nahan bleed from his mouth, Hosanna was taken aback.

“My Lord!”

“...He's definitely not an ordinary one. In that short time, he broke through the illusion ability I had set.”

“What? How...”

No matter how frantic the events that had occurred in the midst of chaos, how could such a thing be possible with just a sword?

Until now, he had heard that there was only one person who had ever broken the range that he had set when he had used his illusion ability. It was Yuder Aile, a member of the Cavalry with black hair, who he had encountered several times.

However, without a chance to ask in detail, the ceiling cracked and fragments struck his head. Hosanna dodged back using his ability once more.

For the next few minutes, an exchange of blows at an invisible speed occurred. The knight barely moved from the third floor, thoroughly facing them. While Hosanna moved from the third floor to the second, then back to the third, buying little time, Nahan continued to exert his ability on the knight, but their attacks missed by a hair and the knight counterattacked as if he had been waiting, making it difficult to find an opportunity to use his ability.

A terrifying sharpness that came from someone who had nearly been caught once by his illusion ability, which instilled fear and could drive a person mad in an instant.

“Such an ordinary-looking sword... Why is it so terrifying? What is it, really?”

When the knight's sword approached, his body trembled for no apparent reason. He felt physical fear and wanted to flee for a reason different from when he used his ability.

Even Hosanna's eyes began to show the strain of overuse as they continued to use their short-range teleportation abilities.

They had trained many times together to dodge attacks through short-range movement, but using it so many times in a single breath was unprecedented. He was even surprised at himself that he could use his ability to such an extent. The pain in his head and eyes was excruciating, and he wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. If he stopped, not only would he die, but Nahan would die as well.

“...Hosanna. Do you feel it?”

As they once again leapt across the floor, Nahan muttered softly.

“That man is really practicing against me right now.”

“...”

Nahan's power was most effective when close to the target and when the target's body and mind were weak. Using it while moving was much harder and more fragile than when stationary.

As they couldn’t be certain what power the knight was hiding, and after a failed attempt, Nahan began to be much more cautious. In contrast, the knight’s attack speed and movement barely changed from the beginning.

It meant he had no doubt or fear of his opponents.

“...He has faced the Cavalry several times, so he may have learned something. Or maybe Gayle and Doyle have......”

“No. That’s not the reason. He is...”

At that moment, the knight again revealed himself and launched an attack. Dodging back, Nahan spat out his words as though grinding them between his teeth near Hosanna.

“I suspect he might not even have what we consider fear, besides his hidden power.”

“...What?”

Hosanna turned his head. A sour taste began to creep in beyond his gradually labored breathing, but he couldn’t help it. A fearless person? Could such a person exist?

With a thoughtful expression, Nahan slowly opened his mouth.

“It seems I have no choice but to give something away, as I did when I faced his master before. Stop using the teleportation ability now, Hosanna.”

"No!"

"If things continue like this, you'll exhaust your energy before achieving our goal, and we won't be able to escape."

"...But!"

"Hosanna."

Hosanna couldn't say a word in response. Nahan, his face streaked with blood, wiped it away gently and spoke quietly.

"He will be my opponent, so you go to the third floor and find our target. The moment you find them, kill them, and then escape with me. Can you do it?"

"But, but... I have never... not even once..."

"Just because you've never killed someone doesn't mean you can't do it now. You're my only option at this point."

In the words of the man whose face was half-covered with burns, there was a heavy and terrifying resonance. Hosanna couldn't meet his pale eyes and bowed his head. His clenched hands turned cold and trembled uncontrollably.

"...Hosanna."

"...I understand."

But faced with that unyielding expression, the only response he could muster was that simple agreement.

Hosanna nodded his head, his throat tensing as he used his teleportation ability once more.

As soon as he headed towards the corridor on the third floor, the knight, who seemed to have been waiting for them, raised his sword, looking no different than before. His appearance was more akin to a defensive wall than a human being.

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