I opened my eyes and found myself back in the dungeon.
"............"
I didn't have the will to do anything for a while. I just sat there, staring blankly into space.
All that effort I’d put into burning the Demon King’s Corpse and grinding the bones to dust had been for nothing.
Then again, I couldn't afford to stay depressed forever. I had made some progress, after all.
Most importantly, discovering the existence of the ring was a major breakthrough. If I could just snatch that ring from Holy Knight Kanaria, there was a high probability I could prevent Demon King Zoga's Resurrection.
Once my mind was made up, I had to get moving.
First, I needed to find out where Kanaria was.
With a plan in place, I headed straight for the room where the Bugbears spawned in droves and reacquired the Skill: Acceleration.
In the previous loop, I had traveled from here to Hero Eligion’s location. This time, I explored the area while making sure to avoid him. If luck was on my side, I’d stumble across Kanaria instead.
"Found you..."
The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
Kanaria was right in front of me.
She was on one of the Upper Floors, higher than where Hero Eligion should have been. The room containing the Golden Living Armor was supposed to be nearby. I spotted her exploring the area alone.
I would strike with the intent to kill.
I lunged from the shadows and swung the Sword of Raging Flames.
A sharp clang echoed through the corridor as Kanaria parried the blow with her own sword.
Damn. So much for a surprise attack.
"You... what is the meaning of this?" she asked, glaring at me with a sharp, piercing gaze.
"I think you have a pretty good idea why I’m attacking you," I replied. I didn't have the luxury of time to chat, so I immediately resumed the assault.
"Hmph. A foolish question, perhaps. I’ve found you disagreeable from the moment I first saw you. It seems my instincts were correct."
Look who's talking, I cursed silently.
Coming from a traitor who was working with the Demon King, that was rich.
The battle with Holy Knight Kanaria began in earnest.
"What’s the matter? Your attacks have been tepid for a while now."
I was forced onto the defensive from the very start.
The reason was simple: Kanaria was stronger and faster than me. Every time our blades met, the force sent me reeling, creating openings. Under these conditions, it was only natural that I couldn't find a way to counter her.
"Shut up," I spat, wiping the sweat from my brow.
I still had one card left to play.
"Acceleration!"
I activated the skill I’d just reacquired. Using it would drastically increase my speed for a short duration.
"Wh—!?"
Kanaria’s eyes widened in shock as my speed spiked.
How’s that? Not even you can withstand this—
Thud.
The sound of a heavy impact rang out from directly behind me.
"Ah...?"
The world spun. Before I realized what had happened, my body was bent in an unnatural direction. Someone had blindsided me. By the time I understood that, I was already crashing into the stone wall.
Just who...?
I forced my head up, gasping for air.
"Kanaria, are you alright?"
"Highness... I am deeply sorry to have troubled you. It was my own incompetence..."
"Kanaria, there is no need to apologize at a time like this."
The person speaking to Holy Knight Kanaria was none other than Hero Eligion.
Ah. I see.
In every loop until now, I had been the one guiding Hero Eligion to Demon King Zoga. Because I hadn't done that this time, he had wandered up here on his own.
By the time that realization hit me, my consciousness had already faded to black.