Free Web NovelAt that moment, a strange sound rang out.
Ding!
[Skill level has increased.]
[Purification LV.7 → LV.8]
‘So it levels up through repeated use?’
Unlike in games, skills in this world could improve through repetition. Ian had already confirmed that much through .
Still, despite using far more often than , its level had never risen on its own before. Ian had assumed it could only be upgraded with experience points. After all, it wasn’t a physical ability that existed tangibly in reality like . What real-world action could possibly strengthen a skill like this? Charity? Acts of virtue?
Both sounded absurd to Ian, who possessed neither wealth nor peace of mind.
And right now, he didn’t even have time to think about it. Keith was risking his life below half health, moving like a madman across the battlefield. Reflection was a luxury.
“Keith!”
The shout meant: Catch it.
Ian worried for a split second that Keith might misunderstand again—
But this time, he understood perfectly.
Keith drove his holy sword into the ground. Ivory-white from hilt to tip, the blade carried an otherworldly presence no matter where it stood.
The instant it pierced the earth, the tower shook violently. Cracks split across the floor, racing toward the ghost.
The Tower Keeper Ghost was an incorporeal being. Ordinary physical attacks couldn’t touch him.
And yet—
The ghost was forced to slam every floating book downward at once.
This attack wasn’t merely splitting the ground.
Something was coming.
Crash!
Ian’s instincts were dead on.
The mountain of books surrounding the ghost exploded apart ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) as sacred light flooded the tower. At the same moment, Keith’s MP bottomed out completely.
Even a Holy Knight’s seemingly inexhaustible healing power had limits. Once his divine energy ran dry, so did his extra lives.
At Ian’s command, Keith had poured every last trace of divine power into the attack without hesitation.
‘That lunatic.’
Ian’s bow was already trained on the ghost’s crown.
Distracted by Keith’s assault, the ghost couldn’t even think of evading. It could only shield itself with magic-infused books against the surging divine energy.
Meanwhile, Ian concentrated level 8 onto the arrowhead.
Swooosh—
A breeze stirred his hair.
Whoooosh!
The wind swelled into a gale. Strands of hair lashed against Ian’s face while his cloak whipped violently behind him. The chandelier flames around him had long since been overwhelmed by the sacred storm.
The gathered radiance of illuminated Ian’s face.
The light was blinding, yet Ian never blinked once.
He fixed his aim on the enemy’s weak point—
And released the string.
Shiiiik—
The arrow flew in silence.
Only after it struck did the scream come.
“Aaaaaaagh!”
The Tower Keeper Ghost’s translucent body swelled grotesquely like an overinflated balloon. Its wrinkled face puffed outward, the arm clutching the book thickening monstrously. Its spine bulged upward like a tower—
And then it exploded.
BOOM!
Ding!
[‘Desert Tower’s’ master, ‘Tower Keeper Ghost’, has been defeated!]
Ding!
[Achievement: One in a Thousand]
Your feat will be known far and wide!
Ian staggered.
Burning through MP every second had left him violently nauseous. Even standing still made him feel like throwing up.
As the world tilted around him, his knees gave out.
‘Huh?’
Thud!
But the expected impact never came.
Ian found himself caught in someone’s arms.
Even without opening his eyes, he knew who it was.
There was only one person who reacted to Ian’s danger faster than Ian himself.
At the same time, irritation flared inside him.
Had this idiot thrown himself into danger again?
“Hey, you—what the hell were you thinking—”
“Are you hurt?”
Ian’s words died midway.
Keith was breathing hard.
‘Is he injured?’
Frowning, Ian quickly scanned him over. There were no visible wounds on his face at least. What lay beneath the armor, however, was another matter entirely.
“Did I manage to protect you this time?”
Keith carefully lowered Ian back onto his feet before touching his face with almost absurd caution, as though handling fragile glass.
“Was I too late?”
Without realizing it, Ian closed his eyes.
He could hear Keith’s ragged breathing. Slowly, the tension in it eased. The trembling hand against Ian’s face steadied at last, followed by a quiet exhale of relief.
“Haa...”
Keith smiled.
It was that familiar smile of his—half sigh, half laugh. His blue eyes curved gently, golden lashes catching the light as pure relief spread openly across his face.
For some reason, Ian suddenly couldn’t speak.
When Keith’s hand finally slipped away from his cheek, a strange disappointment lingered behind.
Warm.
Armor wasn’t supposed to feel warm.
Ian shoved his nail-bitten hand deep into his cloak pocket.
No need to ruin the happiness of an idiot who looked that pleased.
“You...”
“Go on.”
Keith’s smile faded as he focused completely on Ian.
Ian bit his lip.
Then hesitated.
The moment their eyes met, his stomach twisted unpleasantly. He hated this strange feeling.
“...Do you seriously have no sense of self-preservation? Who told you to charge in like that? What, am I supposed to deal with your corpse afterward?”
“That won’t happen.”
Keith laughed softly, as though Ian’s concern itself sounded ridiculous.
“If I die, who would stay by your side?”
What kind of absurd confidence was that?
Ian stared at him in disbelief.
“Am I your only subordinate?”
“You have many people under you.” Keith paused briefly. “...But none of them can protect you the way I can.”
‘...That’s true.’
Ian nearly admitted it out loud. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Unfortunately, it was hard not to feel irritated when Keith said things like that with such complete sincerity.
“So take me with you wherever you go. Like today.” Keith’s voice softened slightly. “How many knights could’ve followed your plan the way I did?”
“If you hadn’t been here, I would’ve made a different plan...” Ian stopped himself, then snapped, “No, I wouldn’t have come at all! Do you think I’m insane enough to break life vessels for fun?”
“Was escorting you here what strengthened your resolve to attack the Demon King?”
Keith’s eyes widened.
Then, strangely flustered, he lowered his gaze as if unsure where to look.
His ears turned red.
‘Now what?’
Ian genuinely couldn’t understand what Keith had suddenly become embarrassed about.
Most importantly—
Ian had never once said he planned to attack the Demon King.
‘You’re the one who needs conquering.’
But considering how delighted Keith already looked, saying that aloud might only make things worse.
Ian had just opened his mouth when a rustling noise interrupted him.
“Ah... goodness gracious. Whew, it’s finally over!”
“......”
The elf who had very skillfully run away earlier crawled out from behind a corner.
That entire area had been hit repeatedly during the battle, yet somehow he remained completely unharmed. Aside from soot on his face and dust clinging to his clothes, the elf looked perfectly fine.
Ian crooked a finger.
“Hm? Were you calling me?”
“And what exactly were you doing until now?”
“Ow—hey! That’s harsh! I trusted you and came closer, but then all those attacks started flying around—”
“You trusted me enough to abandon me and run?”
“I was trying not to get in the way!”
The elf yelped as Ian grabbed him by the ear.
“Ow! Not the ears!”
“If you thought you’d be a burden, why follow us in the first place?!”
“I couldn’t abandon my regular! Ahaha—eep, ow, wait—”
“What is with that disgusting noise?!”
Ian nearly swore before finally throwing the elf aside.
The pitiful elf covered his face dramatically with both hands.
“I’ve never suffered such humiliation before... To think an elf would be treated this way...”
“What are you talking about? You were completely useless!”
“I’ve never been handled so roughly!” the elf cried in genuine shock.
“Move.”
If this hadn’t been a 5-star character, Ian might actually have punched him.
And then probably gotten kicked out of the party. free𝑤ebnovel.com
The only reason he held back was because of something else entirely.
‘So he really does have loyalty?’
The elf had continued following Ian into dangerous places all this time. Maybe it wasn’t solely because of Ian’s abilities as an elementalist after all.
Ian had worked hard to raise their affinity back in the game.
Game affinity didn’t betray people.
Real-life friends, however, could turn their backs on him at any moment.
And if Ian had mistaken them for friends in the first place, then perhaps the fault lay with him alone.
Still—
The same elf who once tried to flee over a cemetery wall was now saying, I couldn’t abandon my regular.
How admirable.
Stepping past the elf, Ian stopped before the Book of Wishes.
Ding!
[Book of Wishes (S)]
Grants the wish of those who successfully conquer the tower.
However, the scope of the wish is limited to ‘Oasis Village’.
