Are You Afraid of Being Ravished?

Chapter 12: Are You Afraid of Being Ravished?

Name: Iris Lizer (Doll)

Class: Knight · Necromancer

Level: Lv. 8 (4017/4350)

Attributes: Strength 3, Constitution 2, Intelligence 7, Charm 9, Luck 1

Evaluation: Having lost most of her power, she was still outstanding enough. Even if she stepped onto another crossroads, a genius remained a genius.

Skill: [Knight Sword Skill: Variable Slash - Modified Lv. 1]: You can unleash three slashes at different speeds, ignoring the flesh and striking directly at the soul, dealing high true damage. Damage is based on Intelligence and skill level. (Current skill damage: first strike 53%, second strike 61%, third strike 73%)

Skill Overview: Something inhuman naturally cannot use human techniques. In that case, I'll turn it into something that belongs to me.

Skill: [Knight Sword Skill: Judgment - Modified Lv. 1]: You can temporarily burn other attributes to unleash a mountain-splitting, sea-cleaving slash, dealing massive true damage. Damage is based on the number of attribute points burned and skill level. (Current skill damage: 400%. Each attribute point burned increases damage by 3%. Burned attribute points will recover after seven days.)

Skill Overview: There was nothing left that could not be lost.

"Overpowered."

In the cramped carriage compartment on the way to Leibu City, Linton looked at Iris's status panel and offered a two-word assessment.

True damage that ignored defense alone already crushed countless ordinary classes. Add in the terrifying multiplier of her ultimate skill, and she was practically a humanoid nuclear bomb.

Compared with her, the new skill he had gained was powerful too, but it somehow seemed a little lacking.

"What is it?"

The girl seated across from Linton heard his surprised murmur and asked curiously.

"Nothing. I was just a little surprised by your strength," Linton said softly. "I had thought that since you were an undead summoned by me, your strength would have been greatly weakened. Even if your body had been modified through magic, you shouldn't have been able to temporarily recover your former strength. But now, I feel that I still underestimated you."

Hearing someone praise her for the first time, Iris could not stop the corners of her lips from lifting. Even her voice carried a touch of pride. "Hmph. I, Iris Lizer, am the Knights Order's greatest genius in a century, the future brightest Iris flower, and the brightest rising star in Falasong's sky. I'm not praising myself—they said so."

"Maybe they don't need to say it. A star's light isn't given by others," Linton said casually. "By the way, you burned down your own home. Doesn't that hurt?"

The happiness Linton's earlier words had stirred in Iris was immediately knocked back into the depths by his next sentence.

She pouted. "What is there to hurt over? Should I regret that I didn't bleed there, wasn't born there, and won't be buried there?"

"No, I mean... where will you stay when you come back to visit your mother?"

Iris wanted to retort, but her rosy lips merely parted and closed without a word coming out.

After Iris swore loyalty to Linton in the study, she lit a torch and burned that luxurious, filthy noble estate to the ground.

Judging by the blaze when they left, without a mage interfering, the fire would be enough to burn for a full day and night, washing away every sin.

Before setting the fire, she buried her father in the now-abandoned fields where he had once planted rice with his own hands. Then she sent Hailan—who had gone mad from fright upon seeing Iris resurrected—to the church entrance, leaving behind a modest sum of money that was still enough for the people at the church to care for her properly for a while.

"Who said I'm definitely coming back? You're making me mad. She was the one who got me killed, so why should I care about her?!"

Iris irritably ruffled her beautiful golden hair. The once soft, silky strands instantly fluffed up under her assault, making her no different from a golden-maned lion king.

"You're still laughing!"

Linton held his breath slightly. "I'm a necromancer. I've received professional training and generally don't laugh. You saw wrong—no, I'm wearing a hood. You shouldn't have been able to see me laughing. You actually tricked me."

"Did I even need to trick you?" Iris rubbed her brow, then looked at the black-clad figure across from her. "Why do you keep your face hidden under that hood? There are only the two of us here. Even if you're wanted, I'm not going to report you."

"..."

Linton remained silent.

"Are you ugly? Is your face covered in scars? Or are you just a skeleton with nothing left but bones?"

"No." Linton spoke slowly. "By conventional standards, my appearance should be considered quite exceptional."

"How shameless. Then why won't you take down your hood?"

"Do you really want to see what I look like that badly?"

"Hey, is it normal for a knight not to know what the person she has sworn loyalty to looks like?"

"Mm... that does seem reasonable. In that case..."

Iris watched as Linton slowly lifted the brim of his hood from below. For some reason, she felt as tense as when golden light flashed from a card draw and she prayed it would not go wrong. She even stopped breathing for several seconds.

When the man revealed a face so exquisite it defied description—a face that would probably look even better than hers in women's clothing—she suddenly felt a stronger urge to go up and get close to him.

Compared to a skull, this perfect face does suit my tastes better, but I'm not some looks-obsessed freak! Why do I suddenly want him to pat my head and hug me?!

"As expected... you're no exception either?"

Watching the girl's breath catch, a dangerous blush rise on her cheeks, and then seeing her abruptly turn away, Linton gave a bitter smile and put his hood back on.

"So, do you understand now? It's not that I don't want to bask in the sun. I simply have no choice."

"Huh?"

After the Concealer masked Linton's presence, Iris felt that soul-deep sense of closeness lessen. Some of it remained, but it could no longer affect her.

She simply did not quite understand what Linton meant.

"You mean you're too handsome and charming, and you're afraid someone will ravish you if you walk down the street in broad daylight? You really are beautiful, but public order in the Kingdom of Blossoms is pretty good. Surely no one would commit a crime like that?"

"What?"

Now it was Linton's turn to be dumbfounded.

"You think I look good? You're not afraid of me?"

"?"

The carriage suddenly fell silent. Only the clopping of hooves on the dirt road and the creaking of the wheels echoed faintly around them.

"It seems I misunderstood."

Linton's tone suddenly became much more relaxed.

"Then, let me explain."