"Lady Momon, is something the matter?"
Climb suddenly turned back as he spoke.
Following behind him was Momon—fully clad in her darkness-black armor—staring off into a distant point.
"…Ah, no. I was just thinking the flowers in the garden are blooming beautifully."
Hearing Momon's explanation as she halted her steps, Climb softened his expression ever so slightly.
The courtyard's flower garden was also a favorite place of his mistress, Princess Renner.
Since Blue Rose consisted mostly of women who had no interest in such things—well, except for Lakyus—
Climb was sincerely pleased that Momon had shown interest in the garden.
"If you'd like, would you care to take a look?"
"Is it truly acceptable for someone like me to enter?"
"Of course. Lady Momon, you were invited here as an honored guest."
With Climb's warm reassurance, Momon nodded.
Since that was the case—she asked him to guide her.
When they stepped into the garden, the rich fragrance of the flowers filled her senses even more strongly, and Momon narrowed her eyes faintly inside her helmet.
"…How beautiful."
She murmured without realizing it.
The flowers of countless colors swayed gently with the soft breeze.
She extended a finger and brushed a petal ever so lightly, savoring the beauty of the living blossoms.
Nazarick did have gardens far surpassing this one—
but living flowers and in-game graphics were similar yet fundamentally different things.
Though she believed Nazarick to be supreme, she was not petty enough to belittle the beauty of the flowers before her.
"Does it please you? Lady Renner often comes here as well."
"…Her Highness, surrounded by these splendid flowers… that must be a breathtaking sight."
"Yes, truly."
Climb answered firmly, and for just a moment—
Momon, as someone who had once been male, felt a flash of jealousy and envy.
Why the hell is a guy with no notable achievements or specialties serving as the personal attendant of such a beautiful princess?
She understood that Climb was a good person, but she sensed nothing beyond that.
She could not fathom why he was permitted to remain at Renner's side.
(Just how much good karma did you accumulate in your past life…?)
Still, Momon was not so foolish as to let such childish feelings surface toward a young, earnest soldier.
Even inside her helmet, she did not let her smile fade.
Climb, unaware of Momon's inner thoughts, bowed his head quietly.
"Lady Momon… I apologize for calling you here on my own selfish suggestion and taking your valuable time. As someone who knows the unwritten rules of adventurers, I now realize how presumptuous I was."
"There is no need to apologize. You only sought to do what would bring the greatest benefit to your kingdom."
"…Hearing you say that eases my heart… Lady Momon, I know this is selfish, but—may I ask one more request?"
Climb spoke hesitantly.
Momon regarded him with mild suspicion but nodded slightly.
"…Go ahead."
"As one who serves Princess Renner… I cannot be satisfied with my current strength. If possible… would you teach me the technique you used back then?"
"…Back then… that technique?"
"Yes. The unarmed strike you used to defeat that criminal… I would be honored if you would instruct me in it."
"…Ah. A-ah… that one…"
Only when he said it did Momon remember.
The one-inch punch she had thrown to send the man tormenting a child flying.
(…Teach it? I mean… come on…)
A faintly bitter expression appeared beneath her helmet.
That "technique" was nothing more than an imitation of something she had seen in fiction long ago.
It wasn't a real martial art.
It was simply raw brute strength compressed into a form that resembled it.
She used it because swinging normally made it harder to control her power—
and because, frankly, it looked cool.
But to someone with no knowledge of such things, seeing a man blown away by a blow with almost no wind-up—it certainly must have looked like some mysterious special move.
Climb's earnest eyes shone with pure admiration as he looked at her.
"Ah—well… that technique is rather… special. It isn't something that can be taught so easily here."
"…I-I see…"
She didn't want to say "It was just a cool pose I was copying."
Far too embarrassing.
She had done it to look cool—why should she disgrace herself now?
Instead, out of a mix of apology and faint pity, Momon offered him a bit of advice.
"If you wish to grow stronger, gaining experience through actual combat is the most important."
"Actual combat…?"
"Swinging a training sword alone will not make you stronger. Going onto a battlefield and fighting monsters, staking your life against theirs—that is the fastest way to level up. The type of monster affects your class builds and karma values, so your hunting method should be considered— ahem—well, setting that aside, real combat is the quickest road to strength."
"Life-or-death battle… I see… As expected."
He didn't understand the latter half, but he concluded that he needed to fight with his life on the line.
However, as someone assigned to protect Renner in the royal capital, Climb could not leave the city for monster hunting grounds.
"However, my duty is to protect Princess Renner. I cannot leave her side or the capital. So… if I must grow even a little stronger by the time of the operation… what should I do?"
"…By the time of the operation—that is within the week? Climb, isn't that expecting results a bit too quickly?"
"Perhaps so. But I must not—must never—drag down Blue Rose. And this operation was devised by Princess Renner herself. I cannot let my inadequacy hinder her plan."
"…I see…"
The straightforwardness before her earned Momon's honest admiration.
Climb, like Gazef, was remarkably pure and upright.
Kingdom warriors were far better human beings than she expected, she thought.
She could not help wanting to offer at least some guidance.
"…Climb. In PvP, the most important thing is making the optimal decision at the fastest possible moment."
In truth she believed that relentlessly gathering information on the enemy and preparing obsessively was the key—
but that wasn't what Climb was asking for.
And considering he'd be fighting in chaotic group battles with soldiers who lacked guild-like coordination, no amount of preparation he could make now would realistically swing the outcome.
"Know this: even a single-frame delay in judgment can be fatal in PvP."
"…Single… frame? PvP…"
The words were unfamiliar, but Climb sensed their meaning from context.
"Then… to eliminate that delay, what should I do…?"
"Forge a mindset that does not waver before fear. Do so before the decisive battle."
Making the optimal command, at the perfect timing—
In games, that was natural.
Top Yggdrasil players never froze from flashy graphics or attack effects.
In Yggdrasil, monsters existed that even top players could not defeat if they failed to act perfectly.
This was what Momon wanted to convey.
If skills and levels couldn't change within a week, then at least—
One could prepare mentally to select the right command without faltering.
"I understand. Then how can I… forge a heart that does not waver before fear, like yours?"
"How… indeed…"
She had been the one to say it—
but she had no clear answer.
(Meditation…? Maybe?)
But she had never felt fear since arriving in this world.
Like a being at the top of the ecosystem, she simply lived unopposed.
She had begun preaching grandly, only to corner herself.
(A fearless heart… that's more Gazef's specialty than mine… Ah—wait.)
A brilliant idea came to her.
She could not teach the heart of a warrior, but—
She could give Climb an experience of absolute terror.
Like people who grow after bungee jumping—
if he could turn that into strength…
Momon turned fully toward Climb.
"…There is one method to train this quickly. It is extreme, but effective."
"Such a method exists…! Please teach me!"
"Heh… Climb. Would you like to experience fear at its very limit?"
"Eh…?"
Momon slid off her helmet.
As her beautiful face was revealed, Climb's heart skipped violently.
Even he could not help it—being alone with Momon at such close proximity…
But he forced his expression tight once more.
He felt ashamed for letting his mind wander even for a second.
"If you undergo this… any fear you encounter after this will feel trivial."
"…If… if I do this… will I become stronger than I am now?"
"I cannot say that. But… you will certainly shed a layer, so to speak."
"…I see…"
Climb locked eyes with Momon, hesitating only briefly.
But if he could grow stronger—even a little—he had no reason to refuse.
He nodded firmly and bowed.
"Please… I humbly ask for your guidance."
"Let us move. This place has too many eyes."
A breeze swept past, gently brushing her side hair.
"Climb… you agreed to this. You chose this. Do not forget that."
"Y-yes…"
A place removed from the garden.
A shadowed corner where few would look.
The unusual situation filled Climb with a nameless tension.
"First—take my hand."
Momon extended her gauntleted hand.
Climb took it without hesitation, holding it gently.
"Now… look into my eyes."
Her gentle, instructive tone guided him.
Her beautiful jade eyes, like gemstones—
as he obeyed, Climb felt himself being drawn in by their bewitching pull.
"Just like that."
Her voice was like a whisper.
Soft breaths touched the words—
a voice that could make a man fall.
"Do not avert your eyes. And do not let go of my hand."
Holding hands.
Gazing at each other.
Being whispered to.
Even Climb felt a dangerous sense that if he lost focus for a moment, he might do something unforgivable.
"Understood?"
"Y-yes…"
Her confirmation sharpened his dulled reason.
Climb grit his teeth, regaining his warrior's expression.
He must not forget—
he was here to be instructed.
"Sixty seconds. Endure whatever happens."
"Eh—?"
"Do you understand? Whatever happens, do not release my hand or look away."
"…U-understood."
"Good… then we begin."
"Wai—"
—And in the next moment, Climb fell speechless.
Momon—the Black Princess Momon—
in Climb's eyes, was a lady whose beauty surpassed even Renner in that one aspect.
This close—
this intimacy—
Climb had felt a man's trembling anxiety.
Her cherry-colored lips.
Her voice so sensual it made every word sound alluring.
Her bewitching scent was potent enough to unbalance his reason.
And then—
that beauty changed.
"…h-hii…"
No—her appearance hadn't changed much.
If anything had changed, it was the dark aura rising from her skin.
Whether it was real or hallucination, he couldn't tell.
But the moment that darkness appeared—
Climb's heart was seized by overwhelming terror.
"…Do not look away."
Her whisper was harsh.
"G-kuh—!"
Sweat burst from every pore.
His breath broke down.
His heartbeat thrashed.
Climb squeezed Momon's hand with brute force—
enough to crush Renner's delicate fingers if it had been hers.
His entire body strained just to maintain sanity.
"U…ku…uuugh—!"
Tears poured out uncontrollably.
It felt as though every egg of fear planted in his body had hatched all at once.
The condensed essence of every terror he had ever felt
assaulted him simultaneously.
"…Thirty seconds remain."
"Hah—! Haa—! Aa—!!"
Impossible—
He felt as though he had endured twenty-four hours already.
But it had only been thirty seconds.
Climb's reason and ego were shattering.
He had faced death many times.
But this surpassed every brink of death—
this was a terror that could kill the soul itself.
If he relaxed even a little, he would fall—
He might accidentally let life slip from his grasp.
"G—aa—AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
He clenched his teeth until they nearly cracked.
With burning life in his eyes, he forced his trembling legs to stand.
He never once looked away from Momon's gaze.
He held her hand with unbelievable strength.
He resisted the terror with every fiber of his being—
All for the sake of becoming a man worthy of standing at Princess Renner's side.
"You endured very well."
Her voice sounded sweeter than anything in the world.
The tension snapped.
His body relaxed.
Climb was released from all terror.
The monstrous weight that had pressed on him only moments ago vanished as though it had never existed.
His body sagged, falling against Momon.
He couldn't even stand—
he could not oppose gravity itself.
Climb, trembling, could only cling to Momon's body.
He needed human warmth—
or he felt he would lose his mind.
It was more clearly "survival" than any deathline he had crossed before.
(…I overdid it.)
Momon felt a small pang of guilt and sympathy.
She did not push him away.
She had thought Despair Aura I would be just right—
apparently her judgment had been optimistic.
She gently patted his back.
"You have remarkable mental fortitude."
"Th-that was…?"
"My skill—no… let us call it a special martial art. Like projecting killing intent."
"Ah… a martial art… I see…"
Climb nodded faintly, still breathless.
Though his strength had not returned, he forced out words.
"L-Lady Momon… th… thank you… I feel like… like I truly shed a layer…"
This extreme experience was invaluable—
He knew he had grown.
No matter how despairing a situation he faced after this, he would not crumble inside.
"It is good to know I could help. Can you walk? There's a bench over there."
"S-sorry… my legs… they're still shaking…"
His legs still trembled uncontrollably—
but his face now held a newfound sharpness, a more refined strength as a man.
"Lady Momon will not be joining the operation. Please proceed as planned."
Time passed since Blue Rose's departure.
In the now-quiet room, Renner murmured into empty space.
It was clearly not a monologue.
She was issuing commands to something unseen.
"......"
After a pause, Renner rose from her chair.
She opened the door and stepped out.
A maid approached to accompany her, but Renner dismissed her with a gesture.
She wanted to organize her thoughts.
She did not want a little insect following her around.
Her brilliant mind was currently occupied with thoughts of the adventurer Momon.
(Harder to handle than expected… though depending on the method, quite easy. But luring her with compensation is impossible. If only I could use the connection to Stronoff somehow… no, there is no need to rush.)
The mysterious warrior who saved Gazef Stronoff was Momon—
She had concluded that with certainty.
But what bothered her most was Momon's origin.
(Where did someone with that beauty and that strength appear from…?)
Her black hair suggested a southern origin, but her facial features did not match.
And as she had told Blue Rose—
that mismatched presence between body and heart intrigued her.
Her manner and speech were of a proper lady—
yet the more she traced the true meaning behind Momon's words,
the less she sensed any noble upbringing or dignity.
(Is Momon… a fallen princess from a destroyed nation, reduced to slavery…? Her abnormal strength—perhaps inherited blood? From the Six Gods or the Eight Greed Kings? …No, that is too fanciful.)
Even with Renner's godlike intellect, Momon's background was full of noise.
Every possibility felt absurd.
She was a joker—
a wild card existing within the kingdom.
A card she wanted in her hand—
but absolutely must not let fall into the hands of rival factions.
Especially the neighboring emperor would not ignore such a being.
As she walked down the long corridor, pondering Momon—
"…Oh?"
She stopped.
Outside the window, something caught her eye.
A suit of pure white armor—
impossible to mistake.
It was the symbol she had given her beloved loyal dog—
something bright enough to be seen even in darkness.
"Climb…"
A soft, warm breath escaped her lips.
Her entire existence was for Climb.
He was everything to her.
Country, siblings, father, even Blue Rose—
she would gladly sell them to demons for him.
She wanted to bind him, make him dependent, weaken him, and raise him as her captive pet.
There was not a single day she didn't feel that way—
it was the very principle that governed her actions.
"What could he be doing…?"
What was her Climb doing over there?
Curious, Renner leaned against the window—
Then the light drained from her eyes.
Her pupils turned muddy, swamp-like, unblinking.
Those eyes fixed on her beloved loyal dog—
"…ah…"
Words of rage could not begin to describe the emotion.
Climb and Momon were embracing each other in a secluded corner, hidden from sight.
From deep within Renner's core, an unidentifiable, violent emotion surged endlessly.