"Stay sharp, everyone! There's no telling when the beast will appear. Don't let your guard down—stay in formation and be ready to intercept!"
It was shortly after noon the following day. The captain of the Security Force barked orders to his subordinates as they established a defensive line in anticipation of the Skeleton Horse’s return.
As he had warned, no one could predict when the monster would manifest. All they could do was maintain a state of constant readiness so they wouldn't be caught off guard when the moment finally came.
They had technically succeeded in repelling the creature the day before, but in truth, the encounter had been a humiliating struggle that felt more like a defeat. Unless the monster was completely subjugated, the people in the nearby settlements would never be able to live in peace.
The captain took immense pride in his duty as a Magic Knight, sworn to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people. Though the Security Force was considered the lowest rung of the knightly order, he carried out his mission with a burning sense of responsibility. However, as he moved among his men to inspect their progress—?
"Wait... what?"
He noticed a figure among the ranks that he didn't recognize.
The young man was dressed in solid black from head to toe. He carried a pair of dual swords on his back, and his features were so youthful he looked more like a child than a man.
"E-excuse me, what do you think you're doing here? This entire area is under lockdown. A dangerous monster is expected to appear any moment, so please, leave the area immediately—"
"I know. That’s why I’m here."
"I beg your pardon...?"
The Security Captain stared at the interloper—Isaac—with a look of utter confusion.
Isaac spared the man a brief, dismissive glance, snorting softly as he ignored the captain’s protests and turned his gaze toward the sweeping plains.
"...It's almost time."
He knew the details of this quest by heart. More importantly, he knew exactly what rewards were waiting for him.
He had come for a specific item that was incredibly valuable in the early game. Isaac smirked as he confirmed that his Stealth skill was active.
(Glad I picked this up. Not a single person noticed me on the way here. The only reason this old guy spotted me was because I deactivated the skill on purpose.)
The Stealth skill, which erased his presence and made it harder for enemies to detect or hit him, had been one of Isaac’s personal favorites during his time playing Luminous History in his previous life.
Now that he had confirmed the skill worked outside of combat and exploration—transcending the boundaries of the original game mechanics—he was more than satisfied with its utility. It was even more powerful than he’d imagined.
A few intrusive thoughts crossed his mind—how he could use a skill like this for voyeurism or theft to his heart's content—before he brushed them aside, telling himself that a true hero shouldn't engage in such lowly behavior. As he sensed a presence approaching, the corners of his mouth curled into a sharp grin.
"There it is. Perfect timing."
Bathed in the morning light, the monster—the Skeleton Horse—came galloping across the horizon. Isaac whispered with delight as the key element of his quest finally appeared.
Wasting no time, he detected the enemy's path and dashed forward to meet it.
"Take this! Chain Martial Slash!"
"Gugh!?"
Relying on his high Agility stat, Isaac closed the gap instantly and swung his dual swords, triggering a combat skill. He unleashed a pair of horizontal slashes, his arms sweeping outward like a pair of wings. Caught off guard by the sheer speed of the assault, the Skeleton Horse let out a pained groan.
"That boy... he's fast! He landed a hit on that thing with no effort at all!?"
"W-who is he? Is he just a civilian?"
(Yes...! This is it! This is what I was waiting for! The looks of awe, the whispers of respect for the master swordsman who appeared out of nowhere! God, it feels so good!)
This was something he could never experience within the confines of a video game—the visceral reaction of the crowd.
A mysterious swordsman fighting on par with—no, overwhelming—a monster that had stumped the entire Security Force. That was the role he was playing right now. It didn't feel bad at all to be held in such high regard by professional Magic Knights, even if they were just mob characters in this world.
The Skeleton Horse, however, was far from finished. It let out a piercing whinny as it prepared to retaliate.
"Neeeeeigh!"
"Whoa! Too close, too close!"
Isaac used his superior Agility to narrowly dodge a massive burst of flames. He put some distance between himself and the beast, narrowing his eyes as he sized it up.
(Sorry, pal, but you have to die here. It’s just easier this way.)
The outcome of this quest branched in two directions depending on the player’s choice. This battle was the crossroads—the story would change depending on whether or not the Skeleton Horse was killed.
If he spared the horse, he would enter the "Good Ending" path. However, the reward Isaac was after dropped even if the horse was killed right now.
Aiming for the Good Ending would require him to complete another tedious, difficult battle later on. From an efficiency standpoint, it was a waste of time and effort for very little extra experience. Isaac didn't care about a "perfect" ending; he only cared about the loot.
It was far more efficient to kill the Skeleton Horse here, take the drop item, and move on to the next objective.
As long as he got what he came for, he didn't care what happened to the horse, the Security Force, the people on the plains, or the nearby villages. In the end, they were all just mob characters. Why should he care about people whose names he didn't know and who would never impact his life?
(I'll wrap this up quick and grab the drop item! Efficiency is everything!)
Without a shred of guilt, Isaac prepared to slaughter the Skeleton Horse and finish his business. He felt the thrill of the Security Force's admiration as he raised his blades to deliver the final blow—when suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Wait! Stop! Don't fight that thing!"