* * *
The gargoyle, already exhausted from my earlier attacks, began to stagger.
Of course it was tired—I’d already drained most of its strength.
Now even the resilient gargoyle was starting to show wounds.
That must’ve driven it into desperation. Its eyes flashed, and—
Whoosh—
Its long tail whipped like a lash.
But I could tell right away it was a trap.
The moment Klen focused on dodging the tail, it raised a clawed hand, aiming to strike.
The muscles in its shoulder tensed.
I picked up a stone from the ground.
If Klen got caught in that trap, I might be able to buy him a second with this.
Tap!
Just as expected, Klen dodged the tail, and the gargoyle tensed to swing.
I Klenched the stone tighter.
“…Ho?”
-KIEEE?!
But before the gargoyle could even move its arm, Klen leapt toward it and slashed through its muscle.
Then, without pause, he twisted his body and thrust the sword into its exposed torso.
The gargoyle tried to escape, flapping its wings—yet the torn wings failed to carry it.
Only a gust of air swept around the place.
Finally realizing the situation, the creature tried to move its legs.
But it was too late.
With precision and no hesitation, Klen’s sword pierced its heart.
-KIIIIIEEEEK!
As the deeply embedded sword was pulled out, the gargoyle let out a final cry—and collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
This is it. Victory.
No way anyone else in this hunting competition would bring down a monster stronger than that. Maybe it was fate from the start.
I turned my gaze to Klen.
His face was emotionless as he wiped the blade clean.
And behind him stood the knight, still frozen in shock.
Standing there like he’d forgotten to breathe, the knight was clearly stunned.
But by what?
Klen’s ruthlessly sharp skill?
Or his cold demeanor?
‘Or maybe both?’
Anyone who knew Klen’s usual clueless demeanor would be stunned by this side of him.
“Are you hurt?”
Of course Klen hadn’t forgotten about the knight over there.
But he didn’t even glance in that direction, as if no one was there.
Still, behind that calm exterior, he must be thinking all sorts of things.
“I’m fine. But…”
I purposely cast a glance toward the knight.
Klen followed my gaze and turned his head—but still said nothing.
Since it’s kind of my fault his true colors were exposed, I should help smooth this over.
“You okay?”
I ran over to the still-dazed knight.
He looked at Klen’s face, then the sword, then the fallen gargoyle, as if trying to piece together what had just happened.
If his mind wasn’t fully back yet, this was the perfect time.
Klen was still walking slowly toward us.
From that angle, my right hand wasn’t visible.
Before he arrived, I raised my hand quickly.
Then—
Whack.
A swift, precise hit to the base of the knight’s neck.
“Uh…?”
Before he could even register what happened, the knight collapsed forward.
Risky for a beginner—but I was used to this.
I’d calculated it precisely.
No aftereffects.
“Wh-what?! You okay?”
Feigning surprise, I let out a loud shout and scrambled to catch him just before he hit the ground.
“What happened?”
Klen had quickened his pace and arrived beside us.
He pulled the knight off me and propped him against a nearby tree.
Then he checked for breath and pulse, even rolled his eyes to examine them.
“I don’t know. Maybe he overexerted himself in the heat of the hunt…”
Klen must not have seen anything.
Even so, a vague sense of unease crept up my spine, and my eyes darted around.
Thankfully, with his back turned to me, he hadn’t noticed my suspicious behavior.
Either way, it was time to wake the knight again.
He might not win the competition, but I couldn’t cause him any more harm than I already had.
Just as I was about to approach him, Klen fumbled through his coat.
“I have a stimulant with me.”
“…Really?”
My stride halted mid-step.
Klen pulled out a small vial from inside his clothes and held it out to me.
A shimmering liquid sloshed inside the transparent bottle.
No doubt about it—it was a stimulant.
“Why would you carry something like that?”
It wasn’t an accusation, just pure curiosity.
For a hunting competition, carrying recovery potions made sense.
But a stimulant?
It felt like he was expecting someone to lose consciousness…
Uncorking the vial, Klen looked up at me quietly.
“It might come in handy.”
“…”
That single sentence held many implications.
Turning his head back, Klen lifted the knight’s chin slightly and tilted the vial.
The liquid dripped into his mouth, releasing that distinct sour scent stimulants had.
“Ugh…!”
The effect was instant.
The knight’s trembling eyelids suddenly shot open.
True to his knightly instincts, he looked around warily, then locked eyes with us.
“Huh? What… what happened to me?”
What happened, indeed.
He had passed out cold from my sneak attack.
I gently placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in closer, speaking softly.
“You suddenly collapsed. Are you alright?”
“Ah… yes. The gargoyle…”
As the memories began to return, the knight sat upright.
Admirably, he moved in front of me protectively and gripped his sword.
“Oh, the gargoyle.”
“If it’s the gargoyle you mean, it’s already been defeated.”
Klen spoke plainly as he gave the knight a once-over.
Deciding further conversation was unnecessary, he stood and walked toward the fallen monster.
Taking out a rope, he wound it around the gargoyle and tied it down firmly.
We had to take it to the count to have it recognized as legitimate prey.
“Y-yes. I remember… Sir Adrian stood firm against the gargoyle’s attacks… and Sir Klen swooped in, caught the sword, and finished it off…”
“…”
I blinked.
‘Wait a second—he saw all of that? He didn’t arrive late; he saw the entire fight from the beginning?’
The knight’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe his own memories.
Maybe he’d already heard the rumors that I was weak, and seeing someone like me calmly fight a gargoyle must have been shocking.
Not to mention the supposedly clueless man beside me had coolly brought down the creature with a sword—it would all seem too surreal.
Well then, if the memory is too unbelievable… I’ll just make it easier not to believe.
“What are you talking about?”
I mirrored the confused look on his face and tilted my lips into a lopsided smile, drawing my brows down into a bitter expression.
“It was a tough battle… Maybe your memories got embellished from the shock of fainting?”
Then, maintaining eye contact, I tilted my head slightly.
Pretending to wipe away nonexistent sweat, I let my posture droop as if I were exhausted.
Even I had to admit—it was quite the pathetic act.
“Or maybe… it was just a dream?”
“…A dream?”
The knight’s voice was barely above a whisper, like it might blow away in the wind.
Good. That doubt was settling in.
Even if he was disappointed, he’d start to wonder if what he saw was just a fantasy fueled by adrenaline.
And once doubt takes root, it erodes certainty.
“Adrian, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Klen looked back at me while holding the rope, showing no interest in the knight.
His silence seemed to suggest he was counting on the knight’s muddled memories to do the work.
Or maybe he figured no one would believe anything that knight said anyway.
I met the knight’s gaze one last time and offered the kindest smile I could muster.
“Good luck with your hunt.”
Then I turned to walk beside Klen.
* * *
