Chapter 98: Trial of the Forsaken (2)

"She won’t die," he repeated with no strain in his voice. He said it with the same quiet certainty he used when correcting Hiiro’s stance or telling Astrid where to place herself. As though Misha’s survival had already been settled somewhere beyond the room, beyond the Tower, and the rest of them were merely catching up.

Misha’s suspicion stirred once more. It had never really gone away. It only slept when the others gave her something else to think about.

He had known about her possession before she told him. He had known no one else would arrive on Floor 7, and he had spoken of miracles before the System recognized her Constellation Souls as auxiliary party members. Now, he stood in front of a solo boss trial and trusted her without asking. She wanted to ask what made him so certain but she swallowed the question.

He glanced at the other two. "You heard her. She already cleared it once."

A reasonable answer again. He always had one.

Hiiro looked between the two of them, clearly dissatisfied. His face tightened as he studied Caius, then Misha, waiting for one of them to admit this was a terrible plan. Neither did.

"Fine." The word came out as if it had bitten into something bitter. He stepped closer to Misha and lowered his voice as if he was going to share some classified information. "If the Goblin King’s skills are the same as the Genesis version, remember this."

Misha blinked a few times as she watched Hiiro raise one finger between them.

"It favors a heavy right swing. It overcommits whenever it uses a downward strike so that’s your best opening," he said with his brows lowered in concentration, and for once, none of his usual theatrics crept into his voice.

Then a second finger rose. "It has three phases. The first is mostly raw strength. Big swings, charges, grabs, probably some kind of roar that either stuns you or lowers your stats. Basic boss nonsense."

"Basic," Misha echoed, looking toward the throne.

"Yes. Basic." Hiiro followed her gaze, apparently missing the doubt in her tone. "Second phase, it starts using the room against you. It might break those pillars or force you toward specific areas."

His eyes moved over the narrow channels carved through the floor before he added, "Maybe those fill with blood, fire, or maybe even poison. Remember, this is boss territory. They’re always stronger in their territory."

"Comforting."

"I’m trying to help."

"You’re listing ways the room could kill me."

"That is helping." Then he raised a third finger before she could respond. "The last phase triggers when its health drops low enough. That’s when the pattern changes... usually."

"Usually?"

"It depends on whether this version follows the original mechanics."

Misha blinked a few times, then stared at him. She had too many questions for him but she never found the right time to ask him. "You memorized all of that?"

Hiiro looked offended by the question. "Of course! If there’s a boss, there’s a pattern. You’ll just have to find it."

Astrid’s eyes shifted toward him. "You haven’t fought one before though."

"No, but bosses have patterns." He gestured toward the throne with both hands. "Everything has a pattern. You hit it, it gets angry, then it starts cheating. I have excellent observation skills."

"Yes, yes. Boss pattern, heavy right swing, three phases." Misha waved him toward the portal. "I’ve memorized the sacred teachings so go."

Hiiro did not move, Astrid did not either. For a moment, they were rather hesitant to leave her be.

Pressing her lips together, the calm expression Astrid wore so easily began to crack around the edges once more. Then she stepped closer, her hand reached out and caught Misha by the wrist. The gesture was brief, almost awkward, as though she had acted before she could decide whether she should.

"Come back..."

Misha looked at her hand around her wrist. Her grip remained firm, but her fingers trembled slightly. She was still a child at heart despite acting all mature.

"I will."

Astrid searched her face and Misha held her gaze. She could only promise her that she intended to follow them. Sometimes intention was all a person had left even if it’s a lie.

After several seconds, Astrid’s fingers loosened and her hand fell back to her side. She turned toward the portal before anyone could comment on the softness that had slipped into her expression.

Hiiro moved next and for one alarming moment, Misha thought he intended to hug her. He lifted his arms halfway then stopped. He seemed to reconsider the decision and changed it into a raised fist instead.

"I’m challenging the next boss," he declared, planting his feet.

She blinked twice then a laugh escaped her. "We’ll discuss it when you become stronger than me."

He narrowed his eyes. "Is that a challenge?"

She smirked. "Is it?"

He opened his mouth and lowered his fist. His expression became serious in the way Hiiro could manage, part determination, part excitement, and far too much confidence.

Misha tapped her knuckles against his. "Laters, Mr. Protagonist."

His serious expression vanished and the boy’s eyes lit up. "Am I?"

"You stayed alive against six Commanders. Only protagonists survive with that much plot armor."

His face twisted as though she had insulted his entire bloodline. "I don’t have plot armor. I’m just that strong."

"Yes, yes." She reached up and dragged her fingers through his hair, ruffling the blue-and-white strands until they stuck out in several directions. "Now off you go."

Hiiro tried to fix his hair with one hand while walking toward the portal. His fingers only made it worse.

Astrid waited for him near the portal and together, they stepped in. Their bodies blurred, thinned, and disappeared.

"Don’t make us wait too long!" Hiiro called. His voice wrapped with the portal’s pull, dragging out the last word until it faded.

Then they were gone.

Caius remained. He stood beside the portal with one hand against the shaft of his staff spear. His shoulders were straight and his expression had returned to its usual careful calm, composed enough to make a priest feel underdressed.

"I know you’ll follow." Then he turned away and faced the portal.

"Look after those two."

"This time," he murmured, so quietly that she almost didn’t hear him.

Misha frowned. "What?"

"I said don’t take too long."

"That isn’t what–"

The portal pulled him through. Gold light closed around his body before she could finish. Then he vanished and the portal closed behind him.

Silence filled the chamber as Misha stood alone before the throne.

Ding!

「 〔QUEST NOTICE〕

All remaining participants have departed.

The chosen Raider has been left behind.

The trial will now begin. 」