The captain’s expression, asking what I was saying, was extremely fierce.

He had shown anger towards me many times before, but now he seemed angrier than ever.

So I quickly explained. The reason I asked him to just watch even if I was in danger.

“Defeating that monster is solely my task. I don’t want anyone else to interfere. Even if it’s you, Captain.”

“…”

“Didn’t you hear earlier? That Kamira admired me. That’s why it must be finished by my hand, not anyone else’s.”

Above all, having two people rush in to beat up a monster in Kamira’s form felt like… desecrating the dead.

It also seemed like it would be a great wound to Edbert who was watching.

This matter was closer to a memorial service for the deceased than monster extermination, so I wanted to handle it in the most honorable way possible.

The captain seemed to understand my feelings to some extent, as he didn’t immediately scold me.

But.

“It may be an unkind thing to say to Edbert, but you’re the most important to me. Protecting you who are alive is several times more important than comforting the dead.”

“…”

“So don’t make unreasonable demands of me. I’ll jump in the moment you’re in danger.”

Fearing he would interfere at a crucial moment if left like this, I played a slightly stronger hand.

“Even if I get angry?”

Had I ever gotten angry at him before?

It seemed I hadn’t, given that I couldn’t remember well.

So I thought he wouldn’t be able to ignore my threat to get angry, but he laughed instead.

With an incredulous “Ha!” he retorted in a smoldering voice.

“Get as angry as you like. Go ahead and curse at me and get mad all you want. Even so, my decision won’t change.”

“…”

“I’d rather be cursed at than stand by stupidly watching you die to a monster.”

While we were having this battle of nerves, Edbert returned.

“I checked the left path and it led to the banquet hall. We should take the right path. But why do you two look like that? There seems to be an oddly cold wind blowing…”

“It’s nothing. Let’s just get moving.”

The captain, responding irritably to Edbert’s words, strode ahead with large steps.

Seeing his attitude, Edbert now turned a questioning gaze towards me, demanding an explanation.

I let out a shallow sigh and briefly explained the situation.

“It’s nothing. We just had a slight difference of opinion.”

“Is it really nothing? I’ve rarely seen Martin lose his temper so openly like this.”

“It’s fine. He’ll get over it soon.”

The captain, who I thought wouldn’t hear because he was walking far ahead, immediately retorted to my words.

“Get over it soon? I’m very disappointed in your attitude that disregards your own life.”

“Yes, yes.”

When I answered so carelessly, the captain’s gaze became even sharper than before.

“Ha, now you’re not even pretending to listen to your superior’s words.”

He then turned around abruptly and started walking again.

Unable to dawdle any longer, Edbert and I also followed behind him.

By now, a silence as desolate as a graveyard hung between us.

The long-lasting silence was broken when we finally reached our destination.

Perhaps because we had just been walking quietly, we were able to arrive at the king’s audience chamber before long.

Looking up at the massive door lavishly decorated with jewels and such, I muttered.

“I can strongly sense the monster’s energy beyond this door.”

“Of course you can, the monster is beyond it. You’re stating the obvious.”

…I shot a sharp glance at the captain who was sneering like that.

He clicked his tongue and avoided my gaze.

Yet he muttered loud enough for me to hear.

“I’ll just watch for now. But know that I’ll step in immediately if there’s even a slight sign of danger.”

“Yes, I’m so grateful.”

I answered in a sneering tone to match his attitude.

After that, I drew upon my ability, and then—

Bang—!!

I smashed through the door with that power and leapt into the audience chamber.

As expected, the monster was there.

It was languidly seated on the ornate throne, as if waiting for new visitors to arrive.

I immediately examined its form.

“Kamira…”

I could tell at a glance.

That it was currently taking on Kamira’s appearance.

The monster had the form of a woman with bronze skin, with a long diagonal scar on her face that looked like it came from gladiatorial combat, and a body of healthy muscle.

Additionally, she wore light armor over her clothes.

I immediately rushed at the monster still wearing the shell of the deceased and swung my sword.

Swish, the monster quickly blocked the steel blade that cut through the air.

Clang—!

It didn’t block with claws or teeth like other monsters.

It blocked my attack with the sword at its waist.

It seemed that it not only stole the appearance of the deceased but their skills as well.

The monster couldn’t have learned swordsmanship, so this swordsmanship must be what Kamira had honed in life.

This is troublesome.

Such a thought flashed through my mind.

But there was no time to dwell on it as the creature immediately counterattacked.

Could this be Gritplus swordsmanship? The unfamiliar movements made it difficult to cope.

As I desperately blocked the sword that kept swinging at difficult angles, the captain spoke from behind.

“As I expected, but seeing it directly confirms it. It’s definitely an undead-type monster.”

I agreed with his words.

The monster choosing a tomb as its hiding place.

Stealing and using the appearance of the deceased.

And the faint smell of rotting corpses it constantly emitted, all revealed that it was an undead-type monster.

It was probably of the type called ‘Phantom’ among the undead.

Originally without a clear form, but able to possess and use a human corpse like its own body after killing them.

They were such rare monsters that little was known about them and their extermination methods were extremely tricky, making them one of the most troublesome types to deal with.

So I was clicking my tongue when the captain quietly asked from behind.

“Want me to help?”

“No need. Rather, please stay further back. The monster might attack you two instead of me.”

After warning them like that, I immediately leapt back to create distance from the monster.

Then I swung my sword horizontally with cold energy imbued in it.

The blade didn’t touch the monster, but that didn’t matter.

I never intended to cut it directly with the sword anyway.

Crack—!

Sharp ice shards generated from my sword flew chaotically towards the monster.

Most of them shattered on the floor as the monster dodged, but it couldn’t avoid a few.

Growwwl…?

As it faltered momentarily, seemingly surprised by the cold of the ice, I quickly approached it again.

And—

Slash.

I swung my sword and cut its neck.

The eerie sensation of cutting through muscle and bone was transmitted to my hand through the sword.

But I couldn’t end it here.

Because I didn’t know exactly where its core was.

To make sure I killed it completely, I crushed its severed head, then stabbed its heart, and finally slashed its abdomen before finally sheathing my sword.

“Phew… It’s over.”

The two men who had been watching my battle snapped out of their daze and approached me.

Edbert was the first to speak.

“You… You’re much more amazing than the rumors suggested…? I never thought you could move so fast. To defeat a monster that had devoured dozens of people in such an instant.”

“I have to be fast or I’ll die. I’m quite experienced in my own way, so monster extermination doesn’t usually take me long.”

After I replied like that, the captain also said a word to me.

“I was going to step in if it got dangerous, but you didn’t give me a chance. It was such a clean fight that I feel embarrassed for scolding you earlier.”

I smiled at him, saying “See?”

He smiled back at me, so I thought everything had been wrapped up well.

The strange phenomenon occurred at that moment.

“…? The sword is suddenly glowing.”

Just as I said, the Moon’s Memory sword at my waist suddenly started emitting a bright white light.

Edbert, who examined the sword along with me, watched the phenomenon curiously before finally opening his mouth as if he understood.

“It seems the sword’s ability has activated. Try grasping the handle.”

Hearing his words, I grasped the glowing sword and immediately a fragment of someone’s memory flowed into my mind.

It was the memory of someone who had faced a Phantom in the past… that is, Kamira’s memory.