3 bar menu

96. Red Dragon Knights Order

「Lord Emesmes. As you are on the verge of bankruptcy, would you be interested in a loan?」

『Same-day cash?』

「Of course.」

『Usury?』

「Unfortunately, yes. 10% interest every 10 days.」

『Okay, you can use my entire being as collateral for the maximum amount. I have already turned myself into a chain for several years now. Either way, I don’t have much time left to live anyway. It is enough for me as long as I get to see my daughter one last time.』

Even though I haven’t given any explanation yet, I got a clear reply. Is that the speed at which an alchemist’s brain can absorb and process information?

[Skill Lender] doesn’t have the effect of taking away lives, though.

「Koe-san.」

「Yes, master.」

「[Skill Lender], activate.」

【The loan process will begin. Please select the loan recipient and loan skill.】

「Lord Emesmes, what is your real name?」

『Roll All Emesmes. Ah, it’s about to break. Hurry up, hurry up.』

I selected the skill to lend.

There’s no point in lending him [Angel’s White Wings] right now. Even if you apply a healing technique to the gold and the hole is closed, that’s basically still alchemy.

[Obsidian], which increases hardness, is not bad, but it only delays the problem.

「It would be nice if there was a skill that would allow infinite mana, but unfortunately there is no such thing.」

The chain is about to break because there’s only one holding on. In that case, “increase that number.”

The collateral is his entire being. Then I will honor that wish.

「I will lend you the maximum amount.」

[Debtor: Roll All Emesmes Skill: Divine Blade/Three Moon Sword has been selected. All skill points will be loaned.]

『…What is this? I’ve never seen such a distorted skill.』

A further evolved skill of the unique skill [Sword Saint]. Lord Emesmes let out a voice of amazement…

Its strength is guaranteed.

「It’s also a parallel processing skill. Can you handle it?」

『I can handle that, but this is strange.』

「Strange?」

『It is the fact that you can lend such a skill. It means that you could cut up the dragon in front of you. There’s no point in lending a hand to me, who’s half-dead.』

I won’t deny it. I didn’t intervene because I didn’t understand the situation, and I probably could have ignored Lord Emesmes and defeated the dragon. Especially if he was asleep.

Even if I can earn interest by lending my skill, there’s nothing I can do if the loanee dies soon.

「Yeah, that’s right.」

『You asked me earlier why I didn’t wait. So let me ask you this in return. Why did an adventurer like you, who is only supposed to think in a materialistic and momentary manner, waited?』

「Is there a reason why a money lender lends money?」

『I suppose not.』

Moreover…

My power only lasts for one generation. No matter what I lend to anyone, it becomes invalid once I die. That is the skill called [Skill Lender]. It gives momentary power, takes it away, and then disappears. I am simply that kind of existence.

I don’t want to carelessly trample on the power that Angelina’s family has accumulated over a thousand years.

「Wisdom is a human treasure. It can’t be compared to gold.」

『For a mere adventurer, you sure are interesting. Come to my house next time. I have a daughter, so you can’t stay the night, though.』

「Sorry but, I’ve already stayed the night.」

『Huh?』

「Come to think of it, she said that the bed I slept on was her papa’s, so it must be yours. Thanks for letting me use it.」

『Hey, when did all this–』

[Processing completed.]

◆◆◆

「It still won’t open!」

「It’s useless. The pickaxe can’t break through! Is this really gold!?」

Shortly after Marge and Koe were swallowed by the dungeon, the entrance to the scorching golden land was completely sealed off by dull gold.

「Even a blue steel chisel can’t put a scratch on it!」

The dwarves tried their best, but the entrance sealed with gold was not even scratched. Gold, which is supposed to be soft, was so hard that the dwarf could only bang their heads against it.

「Everyone, please make way. [Mud Infant], activate! Rush rush!」

A fist of rock with enough power to shake the mine shaft. But it was deflected back.

Shizuku hurriedly stopped Angelina, who continued hitting the wall. When Angelina finally stopped Angelina, her complexion didn’t look very good.

「Wait, Angelina! This isn’t the place to make that kind of noise!」

「A…」

「What’s the matter? This is not like you at all. Normally you would escape with words no matter what.」

「It’s nothing.」

「Could it be… your parents? The dungeon the two of them headed for. Could it be?」

「It’s a possibility. It’s just a possibility. They might be here, or they might not.」

「I understand that you can’t remain calm. But now is not the time.」

Shizuku paused, and looked around.

「There’s no need to worry about Marge. We’re in more danger than them.」

Especially now that Marge, who is their greatest strength, is absent, Shizuku and the others are in a more critical situation than Marge and Koe in the dungeon.

「We don’t even know when the Knights Order will show up. Let’s leave and go to a safe place—」

Shizuku paused. Everyone felt an ominous feeling and immediately understood why she stopped.

「There is no need to worry about escaping.」

There were roughly fifty people. Knights in red armor in formation. At the head of the group was a blond man wearing extravagant armor.

「Red Dragon Knights Order’s Kirmiji…!」

「Hmm. The red-haired young lady over there is human, and the others are demihumans.」

As Kirmiji looked at Shizuku and the others one after another as if weighing them, Shizuku grabbed Azula who was next to her and forced her to lie down on the ground, shouting orders at the same time.

「Everyone, lie down and cover your ears! Never make eye contact with him! You never know what he can make you do by using his suggestion!」

「Oh my, it seems like you know a lot about my unique skill.」

「I can pretty much predict what your Knights Order will do. I’m sure you’ll be fine with making us kill each other just because of the fact that we’re demihumans without getting your hands dirty.」

Shizuku glared at Kirmiji, but he simply shrugged his shoulders in a troubled manner.

「Hmm, please do not mix us up with the White Phoenix Knights Order.」

「You’re probably the same anyways. You’re both the Knights Order.」

「No, no. Just like they are white and we are red, each Knights Order has its own brand. The White Phoenix Knights Order are especially known for their barbarism. We are different from those people who go around killing everything.」

“I guess the reason why those people aim for super speed is so because they can act without thinking,” Kilmiji said playfully, and the knights behind him let out a chuckle.

Restraining the men with a gesture, Kirmiji made an exaggerated bow and said:

「We are the Red Dragon Knights Order. Among the seven Knight Orders, we are a unit that focuses on intelligence.」