Chapter 25: Saintess Candidate – 4

Thud. Thud.

As I lunged forward, the masked man charged at me as well.

Unlike me, he wielded two daggers.

And strangely.

He looked like he was having fun.

‘People in secret organizations are always like this.’

They enjoy fighting.

That’s probably why they end up in underground groups.

Our blades clashed.

His daggers followed my swords, mirroring my movements.

We exchanged several blows before he suddenly leapt back.

Then, with a satisfied tone, he spoke.

“Heh. You really are a fitting enemy for our organization.”

I said nothing and simply raised both my swords.

At the sight, he laughed.

“…Do you know?”

He tilted his head.

“Most swordsmen hate dual wielding. Because most of them are ordinary.”

“…?”

“Two swords require high-speed thinking and an exceptional Gift. But even then, the results are mediocre.”

His voice carried a strange bitterness.

“Do you know why? Because only the greatest of geniuses can wield two swords properly.”

…Why did he sound like this was personal?

Beside me, Rishiel gave a nod of agreement.

He’s right. Dual wielding is something only those with exceptional instincts can handle.

But then, she added.

However… it’s also not that useful.

‘Why?’

You’re splitting your focus on two blades, and if you have the talent to do that, it’s more efficient to just master spearmanship.

‘Spearmanship is that strong?’

Obviously. It inherently dominates range, offense, and defense.

I listened to her words.

But kept swinging my swords.

There was still too much I didn’t know.

But I had no interest in switching to a spear.

‘I’ve come this far already.’

That wasn’t important right now.

What was important.

Was winning this fight.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Our blades clashed again.

His sword was different from any I had faced before.

Fast.

Powerful.

Like a lightning strike.

He was quicker than me.

He was stronger than me.

As for everything else.

I wasn’t sure yet.

A dangerous opponent.

Rishiel made her assessment.

He’s about Level 3.

But there’s no need to worry.

‘Why?’

Because you’re stronger.

She smirked.

Even in this situation, she found time to tease me.

I’d let it slide.

Because she was pretty.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

His swords pressured me.

Fast.

Powerful.

Relentless.

Thin cuts appeared on my face.

‘There’s a lot to learn from him.’

He didn’t swing his swords neatly.

His entire body was part of his fighting style.

‘He uses everything well.’

His arms and legs never stopped moving.

An unpredictable, aggressive rhythm.

One moment, he’d slash from the front.

The next, he’d duck low, leap into a kick, and swing

Like Rishiel’s sword, my blade sharpened its pressure on him.

At the same time.

I moved my left hand.

The Blood-Soaked Dagger disrupted the flow of his movements.

A subtle, but fatal shift.

“—?!”

His eyes flickered with shock.

My swordsmanship was sharpening by the second.

Refining the technique I had stolen from Volcan.

My strategy was simple.

Break his rhythm.

And land a decisive blow.

*Thud.*

The Blood-Soaked Dagger buried itself in his leg.

His eyes widened.

He staggered back in alarm, watching me with wary eyes.

“…I see. You really do have the strength to interfere with our organization’s plans.”

Or maybe you’re just weak.

I wanted to mock him.

But instead, I kept my guard up.

No way this guy was working alone.

His skills were nothing special.

And yet, his mouth ran nonstop.

He had already spilled too much information.

A guy like that wouldn’t be sent on a solo mission.

Which was why.

I hadn’t drawn the Whisper of the Wind.

But.

‘…He really is alone?’

With Thief’s Pinnacle, I could sense even the faintest presences.

And aside from him.

The only people approaching were Erme and Rozanté.

Then.

A thought crossed my mind.

Absolute Theft.

A Gift on the same level as Thief’s Pinnacle.

A Gift that let me steal anything.

Even concepts.

It was what had stolen Rishiel’s Soul.

It was why I had gained Lucia’s attention.

And it had already proven.

That even techniques could be stolen.

What if I could steal his martial arts?

That would be useful.

I sheathed the Blood-Soaked Dagger.

“…So in the end, you’re just the same.”

His voice was disappointed.

Did he think I abandoned dual wielding just because I put away the Blood-Soaked Dagger?

I ignored his nonsense and focused.

Absolute Theft.

Could I steal his martial arts?

I locked eyes with him.

A strange whisper filled my mind.

Yes.

I could take his technique.

I reached out.

My empty hand felt as if it was sinking into something intangible.

The masked man hesitated.

Then his eyes widened in alarm.

“…What—what are you doing?!?!”

Just before he could react.

*Ding.*

[Absolute Theft (S) has stolen Martial Arts.]

[Skill: Martial Arts Unlocked.]

At that moment.

A new sensation coursed through me.

I could feel his movements.

I could mimic his fighting style.

“…You bastard…!”

He lunged at me.

Unlike before, his attacks were reckless.

I reached out again.

He flinched.

But this time, I wasn’t stealing.

A sharp pain flared in my head.

The backlash from Absolute Theft.

My mana had been drained.

‘I need to end this in one strike.’

I reached into Hidden Space.

And drew Whisper of the Wind.

“You—!!”

His face twisted in panic.

Gone was his fluid, unpredictable movement.

He flailed—like a puppet with cut strings.

‘…Wait.’

I had stolen his martial arts.

Did that mean.

He no longer had them?

I didn’t have time to dwell on it.

My instincts had already moved my hands.

A soft breeze gathered around Whisper of the Wind.

A blood-red aura shimmered from the Blood-Soaked Dagger.

I crossed my blades.

*Slice.*

I sliced off one of his arms.

‘Tch. I was aiming for his neck.’

He was faster than me.

Which made landing a clean hit difficult.

“W-What the hell did you do to me?! What did you take from me?!”

His voice was hysterical.

The once calm, confident fighter was now panicking.

Of course he was.

‘The moment I stole his martial arts, his movements changed.’

Did that mean Absolute Theft had taken his entire martial ability?

I had only expected to steal Level 1 worth of skill.

But this?

The fight was over in an instant.

He had once pressured me with his fast swordplay and martial arts.

Now, with no technique left.

There was no contest.

A blood-soaked blade.

A pale green wind.

Both closed in on him.

*Thud.*

His head rolled to the ground.

His lifeless eyes were frozen in shock.

‘…Oops.’

I hadn’t meant to kill him immediately.

I had been too focused on fighting.

And accidentally cut too deep.

Ideally, I should have taken him alive for interrogation.

Even though he was loose-lipped.

He belonged to a secret faction.

A group that promised its members half the world upon success.

He likely would have resisted torture.

‘Well, whatever.’

I turned.

Now to find the kidnapped kid.

But just as I was about to move.

I sensed approaching footsteps.

“Haa… haa… A-Are you okay?”

A slightly winded Erme.

And a half-dead Rozanté.

I looked at Rozanté.

Gone was the woman who had flirted with me.

Instead, her face was filled with worry.

“…Is Selly okay?”

“The kidnapped kid?”

“Yes.”

“…I don’t know.”

By the time I arrived, the massacre had already happened.

“…It was the Rebellion.”

The quiet Erme finally spoke.

“A faction called Rebellion. A group trying to overthrow the Empire.”

“…A rebellion?”

Rozanté’s voice was incredulous.

Was the Empire really that unshakable?

“I was worried the situation would be dangerous when I realized they were involved…”

Erme’s gaze fell on the headless man.

She looked… slightly disappointed.

“…He wasn’t worth keeping alive.”

“Eh? What? No! I’m not that selfish!”

Rozanté waved her hands frantically.

“If someone saves your life, you don’t complain that they didn’t take prisoners.”

“…You noticed?”

“There aren’t many people who can attack that stealthily.”

She crossed her arms.

“And even fewer who would bother using such a low-quality bow.”

“…Low-quality?”

It seemed fine to me.

“To be specific—”

She pointed at Whisper of the Wind.

“It’s not enchanted, nor is it a custom-made masterpiece.”

Rozanté tilted her head.

“The strongest archers usually carry several bows of that level as spares.”

So this was considered basic gear?

“…Well, maybe you don’t need them, Yuseong.”

She smirked.

“You have a lot of skills anyway.”

Still, it was worth knowing.

“Alright. Then next time, why don’t we go shopping together?”

“Huh? Wait, was that a date invitation?”

Erme stepped closer, tilting her head up at me.

Her lips curled into a teasing smirk.

She looked like she was expecting something.

‘She must’ve practiced that smile.’

…It was cute.

And since she was pretty, it suited her even more.

“…Um, sorry, but could you help me find Selly?”

“Of course.”

That was our goal in the first place.

We split up and searched.

And in no time, we found her.

Once we actually focused, it wasn’t hard to track down the kidnapped girl.

A bundle wrapped up like cargo.

“…Found her.”

“Selly!”

Rozanté rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

Erme watched them with a soft smile.

‘…She can make that face?’

She always looked cold.

…Was it because she was relieved?

Or.

‘Is she just happy our party is almost complete?’

“Thank you.”

After capturing the kidnapper, Rozanté bowed deeply.

“And… I also wanted to apologize for the way I acted when I was pretending to be drunk.”

“…It was a bit shocking, but it’s fine.”

“…It was all an act, after all.”

“Ha… ha.”

Rozanté laughed awkwardly.

“…An act, huh?”

“Haha. Alcohol is the only drink my god has permitted me.”

Erme looked completely baffled.

…Well, she was a saintess candidate, so maybe that much was acceptable.

But then.

“Wait… why do you look so satisfied, Yuseong?”

“Hm?”

“That look on your face… what is it?”

“…What?”

“I mean, you recruited another hero candidate into the party, right?”

“…What?”

I blinked.

Selly, who had been quiet, tilted her head.

“…Wait, how did you know I’m a Mage Hero Candidate?”

“…?”

What?

I had been grinning at Rozanté, thinking she was the hero candidate.

But Selly was the real one?

“…Wait, Rozanté isn’t a candidate?”

“Rozanté?! No way! There are already five saintess candidates!”

Erme looked completely stunned.

“…Then how did you even think I was one?”

…Oh.

I suddenly realized something.

Every single one of us met the requirements to be a hero candidate.

‘I don’t know what the others’ roles are yet…’

But this.

This was shaping up to be a damn good party.