This Was Far Too Unknightly

"Shoot me!"

Are you sure?

"I'm ready—"

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out from the ground at the Farron Keep, followed by the sound of bullets scraping against steel, and then the sound of Fingel falling into the mud.

Why did you suddenly fire your gun?!

Fingel choked on two mouthfuls of the nectar of Farron Keep, quickly scrambled out of the mud, and picked up the breastplate used to test the power of the pistol to examine it.

A deep dent was visible on the breastplate; the part that was hit was on the verge of breaking but hadn't yet, but the impact was enough to make someone stagger. It seemed to have quite a bit of power.

But one of the knights whose breastplate was used for testing was about to cry.

On the other side, Matilda, firing a gun for the first time, completely lacked the maturity and composure of an adventurer. The recoil caused by firing without any preparation caught her off guard, causing her to lose her Hunter Pistol. The pistol spun around in her hand and eventually pointed at her own head.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, both Gold-Rank Adventurer collapsed to the ground.

Serena thought Matilda had met with some misfortune and quickly called a mage to treat her. Fortunately, Matilda straightened her Hell March helmet, which had been knocked askew by the impact, and got up on her own.

This weapon, called the "Hunter Pistol," is really quite cool!

When this weapon was first acquired, people enthusiastically began testing it and ultimately concluded that it was very suitable for both novice adventurers and veterans.

It's suitable for beginners because it can deal decent damage to lower-level monsters, providing them with an effective attack method.

It's suitable for experienced players because they are often more familiar with the timing and weaknesses of monster attacks, making it easier for them to Gun Parry.

A weapon with both a high skill ceiling and a high skill floor.

The only downside is that the number of Quicksilver Bullets is limited, and until a craftsman makes a replica, it's impossible to enjoy shooting them.

Looking at the Hunter Pistol, people were still shaken; it was as if the Yharnam Hunter had just hit their targets with ease.

Gun Parry indeed terrifying to them, but being shot directly doesn't seem to cause much damage. It feels like being hit by a pebble formed by the earth-attribute magic [Flying Stone Smash], but the bullets feel more powerful.

Although direct damage is generally not a big deal for skilled players, people are still interested in the construction of this thing called a pistol. The products of the Zane Dungeon have always given people the feeling that they cannot be replicated outside, but if it is a simple mechanical structure, it may be possible to copy it.

Many people have been interested in this for a long time, but they haven't been able to get their hands on the real thing. It turns out that even without enough story support, the cool appearance can still win people's hearts. The sales of the 1/8 scale "Hunter" posable sculpture produced by the Bede Family are very impressive.

Someone tried to create a magical artifact that closely resembled Hunter Pistol in appearance and function, using Magic Array to convert magic power into power to propel a small metal ball or something else as a bullet.

The counterfeit is reasonably powerful, but there are many similar magical items. If it cannot be "Gun Parry," its appeal to people will be greatly reduced. It's okay for ordinary people to carry it for self-defense, and if the price can be reduced, it would be good to arm low-level adventurers on a large scale.

But as expected, adventurers only feel a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction when they have the genuine Sein in their hands.

There are only six Quicksilver Bullets left, which are very precious. As for the two Blood Vial, no one cares about them. I need to give myself an injection to restore my vitality. Compared with the Healing Potion that can be taken directly by drinking or sprinkling, these things are a lower priority.

Out of courtesy, these items were presented to Anzi III for his inspection. The King immediately decided to bestow generous rewards upon those who participated in the battle, and of course, the spoils of war would belong to him.

"I really want to try it once."

Stroking the Hunter Pistol, Anzi III wore a conflicted expression. He wanted to fire a shot to satisfy his urge, but he also felt that the remaining six Quicksilver Bullets were too precious to use so carelessly, putting him in a dilemma.

His expression was awkward, like an old boy who had received a new toy but was reluctant to play with it.

In the end, he changed his demeanor with two coughs, transforming himself back into the reliable adult male he should be.

"Then let's go and wait."

Just as he was about to order a return to the palace, he suddenly noticed Lu Lu Wo sneaking away, and then remembered that there was still such an intruder to deal with.

At a command, Hasawi Squad grinned as they surrounded Lu Lu Wo ultimately failed to escape.

Our King wants to see you be brave and valiant, so we'll give you a quick death.

This was the lip reading she had learned from Fingel, but—

"Who would believe you!"

She threw a smoke bomb to the ground, and as the smoke filled the air, a barrage of Flying Dagger burst forth. As Hasawi Squad defended, dozens of chains darted out like nimble snakes from the mountains, whipping and binding them with surprisingly effective coordination.

Having landed a successful blow, Lu Lu Wo quickly ran towards the place she remembered having the most Ghrū, while simultaneously battling three Gold-Rank Adventurer. She felt that today could be considered one of the peaks of her career.

Fingel chased after him, but as soon as he stepped into the area covered by the smoke bomb, he felt a tingling sensation coming from the soles of his feet. Looking down, he saw that it was a portable lightning trap. Lu Lu Wo is indeed a master of dirty tricks. She even set up a trap in a short time.

However, the more the prey struggles, the more it fuels the hunter's desire to hunt. After breaking free of the trap, Fingel became even more diligent in his pursuit.

She fled, he chased, but she couldn't escape.

"What kind of fighting style is this?"

Anzi III, who was watching the battle, said in bewilderment, "I saw Lu Lu Wo burrow into the horde of Ghrū and attack Fingel alongside them. She even grabbed some poisonous mud from the ground and threw it around, making the most of the situation."

It looks a bit too dirty.

"Well, this is a tactic popular in a small circle of specific intruders. Only a very small number of people use it, and most people look down on it."

Princess Serena, who had already coordinated her testimony with Fingel, said this to deceive the princess.

"Oh"

Anzi III nodded, seemingly understanding, then frowned slightly and commented:

"That's neither knightly nor Warrior."

"The invaders aren't really knights," Serena thought to herself, "But this tactic really works."

In the end, Ms. Black Bat could not escape the encirclement and died gloriously after leaving behind a raised middle finger.

Although Anzi III found her fighting a bit odd, the Yharnam Hunter made up for it well, so overall, the adventure went quite smoothly.

As evening fell, the group returned to the Royal Palace under heavy guard.

Anzi III returned to his bedchamber first. He had spent far too long outside today. Although he felt quite energetic, his royal physician was so determined that he was ready to smash his head against a pillar if he didn't go to bed. Helpless, he had no choice but to go back to rest.

Serena treated her friends to a lavish dinner. After Fingel and the others left, as the stars gradually appeared in the night sky, her expression became somewhat tense. Escorted by her guards, she hurried to Anzi III's bedroom.

They chose to enter the Zane Dungeon today because it was an ideal day to test the Kindling Secret Ritual and upgrade the Zane Dungeon's power against the evil god.

It has been observed that the influence of Hidden Dim Star on the world varies with the number and brightness of stars in the night sky. Court astronomers have discovered that tonight is a night of bright stars, and the influence of evil gods may be reaching a peak.

The Court Magician were poised and ready, their mental protective Magic Array as stable as a mountain, seemingly fully prepared.

Everyone in the palace was tense, but Anzi III, the person in question, had shaken off his usual worries and even seemed somewhat optimistic. His inner unease had been dispelled by today's dungeon adventure.

Even a second before sensing the strange movement in the night sky, Anzi III was still playing with the Hunter Pistol and the Blood Vial, as if admiring new toys.

A strange sound came from the mental protection Magic Array, and everyone's spirits immediately reached a peak of tension. This meant that the influence of the evil god had arrived. The King also closed his eyes and sat upright to resist the strange feeling coming from inside his body.

Time passed second by second. His body swayed slightly, but there was no sign of him turning into a beast. Serena kept track of the time. At this time on the last Starry Night, Anzi III had already shown obvious signs of turning into a beast, but not now!

Great! The Kindling Secret Ritual really worked!

Large beads of sweat rolled down Anzi III's forehead, and he looked very tired, but a smile spread across his face as he rejoiced at his success.

Then, he became arrogant.

Feeling that he could resist the evil god with Sain's method, he recalled the heroic act of "stinging" the evil god with his own spirit that night and launching a counterattack against it, and couldn't help but show it a contemptuous smile.

This inexplicably angered the evil god, causing it to attack him even at the cost of its precious stored power. Anzi III's expression changed, and the mages also did their best to help him protect his mind.

However, after a brief stalemate, his fur began to grow wildly, and the situation deteriorated in the blink of an eye!

"This is bad! We must do everything in our power to help His Majesty the King!"

"The Magic Array is about to be overloaded!"

"We only have one last bottle of the Goddess's Blessing, we can't get any more!"

Anzi III understood that it was his contempt that made the evil god take things seriously, but he did not regret it. Instead, he vowed to resist the other party's corruption. Although his appearance was obviously beast-like, his spirit was very strong. The Kindling Secret Ritual was indeed effective!

But suddenly, Anzi III felt his life force declining. Excessive beastification was robbing him of his life force, which needed to be replenished!

Before the magicians could even cast their spells, he plunged the two Blood Vial from the bedside table into his thighs with such force that it looked painful.

As the crimson liquid was injected into his body, his life force was rapidly replenished, but he lowered his head and his body stopped trembling.

"Your Majesty? How are you?!" The magician was shocked, thinking something had gone wrong, and was about to call someone over to give him the Goddess's Blessing.

However, a gust of wind blew by, and the King's fur fell to the ground, restoring him to his normal appearance.

He raised his head and met Serena's gaze. A strange, untamed beast seemed to dart through his eyes, but then his gaze became clearer than ever before.

"I feel great?"

Meanwhile, in the Zane Dungeon.

Gong Qiying was examining the Blood Vial in his hand and the Yharnam Hunter on the City Lord Panel.

This character and prop are dumplings he specially made for the King's dish of vinegar, but it's too wasteful to only appear once. From now on, he can just appear randomly as a rare character.

"I wonder how effective blood therapy will be for the King's symptoms."

Gong Qiying was quite looking forward to the scene of winning the heart of a king. Lately, everything had been going smoothly for him, with almost no troubles.

Doctors all know that saying "Has everything been going too smoothly lately?" is an absolutely forbidden phrase in the hospital.

A letter from the Bonds Dungeon appeared on the Shrine.

"No way, I was just saying it offhand, don't actually cause me any trouble."

He felt that his mouth must have been blessed somewhere, and he opened the letter while vowing never to speak carelessly again.

Although this letter was Bonds Dungeon group, its contents are worth paying attention to.

[To all city lords]

The operation to reseal the escaped Sealed Object, "Hidden Blood Parasite," has failed.

I sincerely request everyone's help.