Fragile Defense
Some time passed after our talk. Dalv introduced and assigned one B-grade and two C-grade adventurers to me. Dalv asked for more information about what I was going to do with the party, but I didn't want to explain and brushed it off.
We then departed from the raid group and headed towards a valley in the southwest. The valley wasn't too far away from the battlefield, and in those 10 days, the Undead were using it to enter the Forest unknowingly. The reason I asked for a team was to prevent the Undead.
The party was very quiet along the way. I could feel the strange gaze of the B-grade adventurer. I somehow guessed the reason, but I couldn't confirm it. Since there wasn't any talking, I just walked in front and said nothing.
After some hours of walking, we reached the valley. It was a somewhat long valley, and the difference in terrain could be seen easily. We were at the green part, and the end of the valley was yellow and barren.
"Alright, we are going to stay here for some days," I said.
The others were a little skeptical about staying.
The only B-grade swordsman in our party couldn't bear his anger anymore and asked in frustration, "Why are we staying?"
"There are going to be some Undead coming from this valley. We need to stay here and make sure none can pass us."
"For how long are we going to stay?"
"I don't know."
"Did Dalv tell you to come here?"
"No. It was my idea to come here."
I made a mistake by stating that sentence. Mark then continued, "So you're saying that I, a B-grade adventurer, followed you, an E-grader, just because of something you provide?"
"Look, I feel like you're misundersta—"
"No. There isn't any misunderstanding. I stayed thinking that I might be helpful in the raid, and now you're telling me that we are going to stay here for days?"
"Yes, we need to. If we don't kill any Undead that pass through this valley, we might face a greater disaster later on."
"I don't want to hear that from a newbie."
"… staying here is inevitable, but if you can beat me in a fight, I'll do whatever you want. But if I win, you will be the one who stays up tonight."
Although most adventurers were doing the job for the money, some were doing it for power and fame. The ones looking for the latter were the most prideful and angry no matter who. And the quickest route was to put them in their place by showing them who is the strongest.
"Deal," Mark answered without a second thought.
We then proceeded to fight on more flat land.
"Ok then, let us begin."
Mark dashed towards me as soon as I spoke. He was using a strange and effective attack pattern, but I easily countered. The smiling look on Mark changed as soon as I countered his attack.
He attacked with more strength in his sword. But his frustration made the pattern more obvious, so I simply redirected the strength and pushed him away.
"Why aren't you taking out your sword?"
"I see no need for that."
"Is that so? Then I'll make a need for it."
[ Mark Felon Used "Stamina Sacrifice" Skill ]
[Stamina Sacrifice] was a good power boost. At merely Lv 1, it could increase Strength Stat by consuming Stamina. But this Skill was only good in short-term fights.
I took out the Normal Sword I got at Iterioum from my [Inventory], instead of the Sword of Beginning, since it was damaged.
Mark dashed toward me while sweating non-stop. I tried to dodge his attack, but the force was beyond me.
[ Skill "Swift Cut" Activated ]
I created some distance between me and Mark after using [Swift Cut] to counter his attack. The fight seemed intense, but I could see it easily.
"It's your loss."
"Huff—No, I can fight."
He swung his sword toward me with an amateur pattern and activated a brutal skill.
[ Mark Felon Used "Blunt Slam" Skill ]
Thud—it was a futile attempt since he lost much stamina. His actions weren't so calculated, despite him being a B-grade, and he used his skill without a plan, so I thought.
It was impossible. My stat alone was barely D-grade as Dalv said, and I only had a single attack-type skill. Although I learned Swordsmanship from Gabriel and knew many patterns that could assist me in calculation, those didn't mean I could beat a B-grade so easily. Which meant only one thing.
"You are not an actual B-grade, are you?"
The expression on Mark's face changed from anger to fear.
"… I—"
"That doesn't matter right now. The most important thing is to guard this damned valley to prevent any Undead from crossing."
He nodded in agreement.
Although a bit hasty, I could see his talent among those frown. I remembered when I was exactly like Mark and understood him deeply.
"Now then. Do you guys have anything to say?" I said.
"W-we don't have anything to say," said Carl, a C-grade Archer.
"Yes. We are here for easy money anyway," said Kevin, a C-grade Thief.
Carl and Kevin were twins and too young to be adventurers, but I didn't say a word, thinking they might have a condition.
After our little commotion, we set up our camp and slept for the night while Mark was guarding us.
The next day, undead skeletons began to come from the ravine, and I decided to be the one to hunt them until something dangerous happened, and the others didn't have any problem with it. I needed to use the Mana Infusing Potion on my sword from time to time since I didn't have a Mana-Based Attacking skill, and without the potions, killing an undead was impossible for me.
[ Skill "Save & Reset: Save" Activated ]
[ 987/1/21 7:00, has been saved as the new Checkpoint ]
I began using [Save] each time I woke up in the morning. Each time an undead broke through me and the others, I [Reset] to ensure a perfect clear.
The others and I became closer, to the point that Mark and I began to duel from time to time.
And just like that, four days passed smoothly.