Lying in wait required patience.
Sigris had been crouching on the stairs the whole time, with her Short knife drawn from behind her back.
This was atonement.
The Goatfolk and Tuxedo Man didn't talk for long. Mostly, they just chatted about trivial things.
And Sigris was crouching by the stairwell.
At last, Tuxedo Man finally came into view.
She pulled the trigger.
A light bolt shot out, aimed at his head.
Got him!
The crossbow bolt struck Tuxedo Man right in the head, and the impact knocked it to one side.
But...
To Sigris's shock, Tuxedo Man pulled out the bolt, then used Healing Magic on himself. "How did a little rat sneak in?"
"Should I call you Saintess?"
Sigris quickly nocked another bolt and fired, but Tuxedo Man caught it with his bare hand.
Tuxedo Man tossed the bolt aside. "Someone who hasn't come into their own is nothing but a rat." Then he lunged forward and struck with a Hand Blade.
Sigris immediately blocked with her Short knife, activating her Strange strength.
She barely managed to hold her own against him.
That's—
Chainmail Gloves!
The man drew back his fist, then swung forward.
Sigris reacted quickly and dodged to the side, but another punch came at once.
She could make up for the difference in strength with her bloodline, but there was no way to make up for the difference in speed.
Sigris took a heavy punch and went flying backward.
Fighting a powerful enemy. Fighting a powerful enemy.
Sigris rapidly reviewed the Tactics Manual in her mind.
Never fight head-on.
Defeating a stronger enemy wasn't impossible. First, she needed a way to break through his defense, then she needed to keep him at a distance and set up an ambush.
Sigris chose to trust the advice in