The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 33

Chapter 33: Approaching Shadows

“!?”

A sharp chill ran through him, and he jolted awake. Quickly donning his gear, he left the room and heard distant sounds of battle.

As he started to move toward the source of the noise, he sensed a murderous intent from behind. He drew a small sword and swung it around, dispersing a shadowy figure with pointed arms like stakes. A magic stone rolled from the dissipating figure.

“Shadow Stalker? Why are they in this castle?”

Shadow Stalkers were rare creatures even in dungeons on the Grusio continent. They could slip into any shadow, had arms that could pierce even iron, and were known for their sneak attacks. However, they were supposed to appear only in specific dungeons on the Grusio continent.

He sensed a presence from above, transformed his small sword into a spear, and thrust upwards. The Shadow Stalker that had descended from above was impaled on the spear, and he swung it to slam the creature against the wall.

Sounds of battle were erupting everywhere. He didn’t know the reason, but it seemed that a large number of Shadow Stalkers had infiltrated the castle.

As he headed toward the source of the noise, he found several knights surrounded by Shadow Stalkers. He pierced one with his spear and threw a hand axe at another that was about to attack from behind. Then, he swung a halberd and cleared out the Shadow Stalkers behind the knight.

“You…!”

“Apologies, but lead the way. While we join the others and defeat these creatures.”

“Got it! Follow me!”

Led by the knight, he kicked aside the swarming Shadow Stalkers and met up with other knights. Among them, he saw Arseria, leading knights with her.

“Aria! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but I have to go help Sister Philia! Her workshop is in the castle’s annex!”

“Understood. Let’s go.”

“You all should meet up with the other knights! If you split up, make sure there are at least three of you guarding each other’s blind spots!”

“We understand!”

The knights were skilled in group combat. Once they regained their composure, they could handle Shadow Stalkers without falling behind.

Aria led him to where the other knights were gathering, instructing them to meet up along the way. They left the castle momentarily and headed in the direction Aria guided them.

Right after they left, something broke through the castle’s wall in front of them. It was a giant creature, taller than 2 meters, and it had just cut down a knight wearing armor with a giant blade.

“Is that…?”

He peered into the hole where the knight had been thrown. Inside, he saw several knights and the massive, monstrous figure.

(Is that… a Grendel?)

It had a greenish armor-like skin, a helmet with a demonic face, and a poleaxe as tall as its body. It easily dispatched the knights, and it was clearly in a different league from the Shadow Stalkers.

As it prepared to swing its axe, he used “Wind Step” to quickly close the distance. He sliced at its face with a sword as he approached.

“It’s tough… ‘Wind Blessing Follow Wind’!”

With wind enveloping him, he carried the fallen knight and delivered him to another knight a short distance away. Then, he yelled to Aria, who was about to come to him.

“Aria! Go help your sister!”

“!”

“This one might not be the same as the others! I can handle this alone, so go!”

“Please!”

Aria ran off without looking back, and he transformed his sword into an axe and stood before the creature that appeared to be a Grendel.

The giant poleaxe swung down, and he dodged, slamming the axe into its knee joint. However, there were only marks from the impact, and it didn’t seem to have been cut.

(Knee joints too?)

He couldn’t help but mutter in surprise. Then, a log-like leg came at him from the side.

He immediately used wind to blow himself away, but he was kicked out through the hole he had entered from earlier and tumbled outside.

“Kuhahahaha!”

The creature laughed as it broke through the wall and followed him. In the moonlight, its appearance became even more sinister.

“It seems you’re helpless, Selcu…”

As the creature spoke his name, the cheeks of the helmet moved, revealing Fulde’s face with crazed eyes, looking right at him…