Chapter 24. A Mere Archer Dares to Engage in Close Combat?

I Will Eventually Embark on the Path of No Return Called a Hero [Arc2] - 24. A Mere Archer Dares to Engage in Close Combat?

---

"Hey, hey, hey! Why are you so sluggish? Are you really a Berserker?"

Mordred laughed wildly as she continuously attacked Frankenstein with her large sword.

She was already irritated by Assassin's sneaky tactics, which made the fight incredibly frustrating. Especially after having her opponent stolen by Atalanta, her frustration had only increased. So, facing Frankenstein, who was just making moaning sounds and clearly a Berserker, Mordred had no intention of holding back and relentlessly struck at Frankenstein.

As a result, Frankenstein, who was suppressed by Mordred both in rank and stats, was sadly falling behind.

"Seriously!" Mordred kicked Frankenstein in the abdomen with no knightly spirit whatsoever.

Frankenstein, who had been on guard against Mordred's sword and had lost contact with her master, was too panicked to react and was kicked into a wall.

"Hey! Archer! Let's switch opponents!" Mordred didn't pursue Frankenstein to finish her off but shouted at Atalanta, who was skirmishing on the rooftops around.

Atalanta raised an eyebrow. Honestly, the opposing Archer was also a bit frustrating to deal with; always on the defensive, aiming at her arrows rather than her head.

"Tsk, then it's up to you," Atalanta set aside her arrow, as she had expected, once she stopped attacking, the black faction's Archer also ceased attacking, as if not wanting to fight her.

"Okay! I'm coming!"

Mordred's eyes lit up, and crimson lightning surged from her body. The next moment, she shot towards the clock tower like a cannonball.

"Berserker is in danger. With Atalanta's character, she will surely kill her immediately. But the red faction's Saber is also troublesome," Chiron set aside his bow, sighed lightly, and fell forward like a free fall. "Looks like there's no other way."

"A mere archer dares to engage in close combat with me? What gives you the confidence?" Mordred, having reached the bottom of the tower, stomped on it and began climbing up straight.

"Let's have a little try then~"

Chiron smiled slightly, turning his body as light began to emanate from him.

"Boom----"

Chiron's legs heavily stomped on the tower's surface, and the rising dust completely concealed his figure.

"This kind of small trick is useless!" Mordred positioned her large sword to the side, ready to cut Chiron in half with a single blow.

"Is… it?"

An unprecedented chill surged in her heart. Almost instinctively, her helmet, which she had retracted, rapidly sprang from her armor and covered her head, while she swung her sword with both hands.

However, it was too late. At the moment she swung her sword, the dust was blown away by a fierce wind, and a hand grabbed her sword, while another hand held her head.

The next moment, Mordred felt as if she had been hit by a train. Her neck, connected to her body, felt like it might snap at any moment, and her sword was stuck as if mired in mud, unable to move or be drawn.

"Sorry, it's time for you to exit," Atalanta raised her bow and aimed at Frankenstein, who was struggling among the debris. "I have a wish that must be fulfilled, and it must be by…"

"Boom----"

Atalanta's eyes narrowed sharply. The unmistakable sound of running footsteps was heard, but these footsteps didn't sound like they belonged to a bipedal person; they were more like… a horse!

Atalanta performed a backflip to distance herself from Frankenstein. In the next moment, something extremely fast stopped nearby, but the smoke obscured her view. However, the oppressive feeling that made her hair stand on end was real.

"Bang----"

A figure was thrown out of the smoke and crashed onto a chair beside Atalanta. The expert control ensured that the figure landed on the chair without destroying it, but the dust on the armor suggested otherwise.

"Are we meeting for the first time?"

As the smoke gradually dissipated, Chiron, holding Frankenstein, appeared in Atalanta's view. But this time, he wasn't in human form; he was in his centaur form.

"The mentor of heroes, the centaur Chiron," Atalanta's expression grew serious.

Legend had it that Chiron was all-powerful, mastering every skill. Learning any technique from him would make one a renowned hero.

"If we set aside our positions, I'd love to have a chat with you," Chiron smiled gently.

"Before that, there's something I absolutely want to hear you admit," Atalanta lowered her bow.

"It's about Cyd, isn't it?" Chiron looked up at the sky, his brown eyes seemingly reflecting the reckless boy who had fallen from Pegasus.

"Are those legends… are they true?" Atalanta clenched her fists. "Did you really…"

"Yes, I did," Chiron smiled.

Atalanta opened her mouth, then bent down. "Thank you."

"What are you talking about? I'm his teacher; isn't it a teacher's duty to protect their students?" Chiron shook his head. "Can we end this here today?"

"Mm," Atalanta nodded. Though she was confident in her archery skills, which were not inferior to Chiron's, she lacked confidence in other areas. In hand-to-hand combat, she had never beaten Cyd, who had said he had never beaten Chiron. Therefore, she was unlikely to defeat Chiron, especially in his centaur form, which was superior in mobility.

Chiron had clearly given her a way out, so she had no reason not to take it.

Chiron nodded and, carrying Frankenstein, retreated into another street.

Once Chiron's presence completely vanished, Atalanta looked at Mordred slumped on the bench and tapped her helmet.

"Not dead, right?"

"Creak—"

Mordred's helmet began to disassemble and merge into her armor. Her hair was a mess, and she took a deep breath as if she had nearly drowned, then began to cough.

"Cough, cough, cough! Damn it! What kind of monster is this!"

If she hadn't called her helmet in time, her head would definitely have been crushed by Chiron.

Mordred's mood was complicated. She didn't expect that this damn helmet would save her life.

Annoyed!

Mordred rubbed her hair with both hands, frustrated.

"He's Cyd's teacher," Atalanta sat beside Mordred, her tone complicated. "Everything Cyd has learned comes from him. As strong as Cyd's combat skills are, Chiron is even stronger."

"Ah, the first battle was against a woman who seemed to have hacks, and the second battle against a man who seemed to have hacks too," Mordred leaned back on the bench, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. "The Holy Grail War is really exciting."

She had completely ignored Jack and Frankenstein…

===

Want to read more chapters?

Visit: patreon.com/kurato6180. There are over 30 extra chapters available.