I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 20

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 20. The Talent of a Knight
Camilia was taken aback.
Though she had encountered all manner of absurd events while gaming, she had never anticipated a situation quite like this.
She had truly defeated all the knights by herself?
Then why was she crying?
Unable to make sense of it, I stared intently at Shusu.
Rohengreen Ashen quickly stepped in front of her and offered an explanation instead.
“It’s a misunderstanding, my lady. It is not Nashu Shumel’s fault. Allow me to explain what happened….”
“Wait.”
I cut him off before he could continue and gestured to the maid who had followed me.
The quick-witted maid swiftly retrieved a chair from the side of the Training Grounds, placed it behind me, and laid a cushion upon it.
I plopped down into the chair and made my declaration.
“Very well. Now, do tell.”
Rohengreen Ashen’s eyes wavered with confusion, but I met his gaze with shameless composure.
After all, it was far better than standing there listening while thinking, “Wait, wait just a moment. My legs are cramping,” and then collapsing.
“Are you not going to speak?”
I urged him forward with brazen confidence, as though nothing were amiss.
“Ah, yes. I shall explain now.”
Rohengreen Ashen snapped to attention and began his account as though he had never faltered.
In brief summary, the matter was thus:
Since the child had been entrusted to me by the lady, I examined her thoroughly.
I assessed her basic physical condition, had her wield a sword, and tested her in various ways.
And so came my conclusion.
Remarkably, Nashu Shumel possessed talent so extraordinary that even the word “genius” fell short of describing it!
After spending the entire night confirming her abilities and still finding them insufficient to satisfy my curiosity, I selected one of the Knight Order members at first light and arranged a sparring match.
The result was Nashu’s victory.
Not merely a win—she felled her opponent before three exchanges had passed.
“Intrigued, Io, our vice-commander, stepped forward to test himself against her, but he too was defeated.”
A girl who had been nothing more than a maid until yesterday had bested a knight with over a decade of service.
It was remarkable, but therein lay the problem—it was far too extraordinary.
The Knight Order members, exhilarated by the newcomer’s exceptional performance, began crying out, “Me next! I want to fight the new recruit too!”
“So they took turns fighting….”
“Hold on.”
Unable to contain myself, I interrupted and asked again.
“You permitted that? All of them? Not a single one excluded?”
Rohengreen Ashen’s ears flushed crimson as he answered.
“Yes.”
“And those lying unconscious over there threw themselves at her eagerly with your permission?”
“…Yes.”
The absurdity was so overwhelming that a headache threatened to split my skull, and I pressed my palm to my forehead.
One could understand it if they tried hard enough to find a reason.
He looked like a noble, and in front of me he played the part of a loyal hound, but Rohengreen Ashen was a ‘Knight’.
In the Dark Tower world, a Knight was a human weapon who would charge gleefully into the heart of battle even unto death—a living tank, a killing machine, that sort of thing.
Simply put, anyone bearing the title of Knight possessed an extraordinary love of combat.
‘Even so, it’s one thing to love fighting, but to enjoy other people’s fights too? Really, Rohengreen…’
I preferred not to say harsh things to my colleagues and subordinates when possible, but this needed to be addressed.
It was absurd that those who comprised half the military might of my Territory could be laid flat by a mere novice in a sparring match.
“It seems the Knight Order excels at this sort of thing. Did you perhaps forget that there’s something called a head sitting on your shoulders? Or did you remove your brains and stuff rocks and metal in their place to use as helmet stands?”
“My apologies.”
“The same goes for you. You brought someone who doesn’t even know the basics and immediately threw them into combat? Do you have any common sense at all?”
Rohengreen studied her face carefully, gauging her mood. Rather than being discouraged, he seemed to have something he wanted to say but couldn’t quite voice it.
Camilia was exasperated and pressed further.
“Do you have something to say? If so, speak.”
“No, it’s just… Shumel, who knew nothing of the basics, defeated all the Knights, yet you don’t seem surprised or pleased at all…”
Was he really expecting praise for bringing a beginner and having her beat everyone senseless? This Knight was truly hopeless.
I suppressed the urge to sigh and waved my hand dismissively for him to move aside.
Rohengreen Ashen hesitated but stepped to the side.
The moment his shield disappeared, Nashu, startled, tried to hide behind Rohengreen Ashen again, but I was faster.
“Nashu Shumel.”
Called by that low, grave voice, Nashu hiccupped and froze in place.
Determined not to cry, she held back with effort, yet tears still glistened in her green eyes and her nose had turned red.
Why was she crying in the first place?
I was carefully choosing my words to ease her distress when Nashu beat me to it.
“I-I’m sorry, my lady. I’m sorry for hitting the Knights so hard. I really did try to go easy on them… but I knocked them all down anyway, and I’m so sorry!”
“There’s no need to apologize. What fault is there in a Knight sparring?”
“I… um, what?”
“I told you, Nashu Shumel—you did nothing wrong.”
Nashu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she asked again.
“Y-you’re not scolding me? Really?”
‘Why did she think I would scold her?’
Honestly, what fault could Shusu possibly have?
The blame lay with the senior Knights who charged in eagerly and the Knight Commander who set up the match in the first place.
I made an effort to speak in the gentlest voice I could manage.
“Were you not frightened?”
Nashu answered, looking puzzled.
“Huh? Y-yes, well… being hit is scary and I don’t like it, but hitting others is easy…”
It was a statement that would sound somewhat psychopathic to modern ears, yet Rohengreen Ashen didn’t see it that way—his face filled with pride as he added:
“My lady, Shumel possesses the heart of a beast. She does not tremble or cower before a blade, nor does she hesitate at the sight of blood. Such talent is rarely found.”
The man who, until yesterday, had looked at me as though I were a wicked lady tormenting an innocent maid had transformed into an elite sports coach eagerly appealing to parents: ‘Ma’am, Sir! Your daughter must train! She has the makings of a national champion!’
It was somewhat absurd, but I didn’t dislike it.
The Knight Order Commander’s fuss was proof enough that Shusu’s talent was exceptional.
“Since you vouch for her so strongly, I shall trust your judgment. So then….”
I tapped my fingers against the armrest of my chair as I continued.
“Specifically, how much more training would she need before I could take her to the Tower?”
Rohengreen Ashen hesitated for a moment before answering.
But realizing he couldn’t dare lie before his lord, he spoke honestly.
“In my judgment, if we’re using Tower 1st Floor or 2nd Floor as the standard, there’s no reason she couldn’t go right now.”
I fixed my gaze upon Nashu Shumel.
Nashu Shumel, uncertain why her lord was looking at her, fumbled nervously until Rohengreen Ashen whispered something quietly to her.
Only then did Nashu Shumel grasp the meaning of that gaze and respond in a flustered manner.
“Y-yes, my lord… if you command me to go… then I-I must go….”
Her reluctance was painfully obvious.
But there was no helping it. Just as I desperately needed to level up, so did Shusu.
‘If neither of us levels up, our souls will scatter.’
In that sense, it was fortunate that Nashu Shumel was immediately available as a full-fledged asset.
Of course, to properly utilize her, I’d need to equip her properly and adjust her build.
Confirming her mental magic responses was essential as well.
I’d also need to recheck the judgment criteria for her unique trait, ‘Troublemaker’.
‘While we’re at it, I should synchronize the party composition before entering… goodness, there’s quite a lot to do.’
But the most pressing matter was ensuring nothing went wrong while exploring the dungeon with my party members.
For that, I needed those pathetic knights who still couldn’t get up and were groaning despite standing before their lord.
Exhaling silently, I issued a command to the maid standing behind me.
“…Go and summon Netanel Fragma.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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