The progression of the Ghost Knight incident is simpler than expected.
Spectral entities surge out from the cracks in the rift.
These entities cause physical damage within the capital.
As seen previously in Meyer’s example, specters are not beings capable of exerting significant influence in the material world.
Even a continental hero like the Knight of Dawncouldn’t suppress them in one go.
So, even with specters flooding in, it’s not that serious. Originally, at least.
However…
“This isn’t an ordinary situation.”
While it may seem simple, it is clearly not a trivial matter.
Noel said in a firm voice while looking up at the sky.
“If the rift has opened to this extent, the entire capital will be within its area of influence.”
“Aren’t you looking a bit too familiar with this?”
Aiden, who knows how this plays out thanks to his original knowledge, naturally understands, but Noel also seems to be somewhat familiar with this situation.
“It’s one of the strategies used during the Allied War.”
After a brief pause, Noel continued. Her gaze was sharp, and for once, a rare sense of hostility—like skin tearing apart—surged from her.
“A common tactic of the Magic Kingdom.”
…With just those words, the reason for Noel’s reaction becomes instantly clear.
The battle that led to the Guardian Duke’s death was also a conflict with the Magic Kingdom. There’s no way she could hold any goodwill.
And it was evident that the hostility wasn’t solely due to that reason.
“Aiden, could you and Stella leave this place as soon as possible?”
Noel spoke earnestly while drawing her sword.
The sight of pure white energy flowing along the blade was vividly clear. It was the same battle-ready stance seen once before, during the encounter with Katia.
In other words, this situation is just as serious as that previous one.
“It’s going to be a rather tough task. To close a rift of this size… I’ll have to do a lot.”
Her voice carried the weight of firm determination, enough to change even Stella’s expression, who had been carrying Aiden.
“Your Grace, are you planning to handle this alone?”
“I need to find and uproot all the ‘roots’ causing the rift.”
The “roots” refer to structures set up by magicians containing the source of their magic.
Without finding and destroying each one, there is no way to close the rift, and only Noel possesses the agility and precision needed here.
“It’s dangerous. Even for you, if things go wrong, you could be seriously injured!”
“Wait, hold on a second—”
“Actually doing it isn’t that hard. Just find them and destroy them.”
“But the rift will soon open fully. If you go in there without knowing where the roots are, the backlash when it opens—”
“Hold on, let me finish—”
“Stella.”
Noel smiled serenely as she interrupted Stella’s concerns.
“The title of knight isn’t meant for running away in times like this, is it?”
“Please, just hear me out for a second—”
“There are civilians over there. We have to protect them.”
“But, Your Grace…!”
Stella desperately called out Noel’s name.
Her eyes swirled with anguish, as if questioning why Noel would choose to bear such burdens alone, willing to sacrifice herself. It was a scene that could be described as heartbreaking. Noel, too, responded with the expression of a knight bound by a noble duty.
“If you understand, leave this place, Stella. Protecting Aiden is the top priority—”
“Can you just listen for once?!”
Then, Aiden’s intense outburst cut into their dialogue, leaving both knights in stunned silence.
Perhaps it was the first time they had seen Aiden shouting with veins popping on his forehead.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your serious conversation, but first—”
Aiden pulled something from his coat as he spoke.
It’s the stake that Stella had been diligently driving into the ground just earlier.
The difference now is that this one is clearly marked, as if it has a specific function, unlike the others.
“There’s something else more important to worry about than just closing the rift, you know?”
“Aiden? What do you mean—”
Noel tilted her head, preparing to ask a question, but before she could finish, divine energy began emanating from Aiden’s body.
The stake Aiden was holding was akin to a detonator switch.
It was designed to trigger the release of supernatural energy stored in other stakes at the desired timing.
As that energy naturally merged into the stake he held, a lance appeared before him.
-System Message-
Granting ‘Divinity’ to the target ‘Wooden Stake.’
The effect of ‘Delayed Release of Divinity’ is activated.
The same type of supernatural energy is applied to all connected objects!
As that message flowed rapidly, colorless flames ignited everywhere.
The stakes that Aiden and Stella had set up throughout the night began to blaze simultaneously.
In those places where the light spread, dark, root-like structures crumbled to ash.
It was the ‘roots’ of the rift that Noel had mentioned.
It was precisely in the locations where Aiden had instructed Stella to plant stakes.
In the original work, the roots of the rift always appeared in fixed positions.
It wasn’t for nothing that they had spent the night running around setting them up.
Noel and Stella fell silent, watching the rift in the night sky gradually close.
Meanwhile, Aiden panted as he tossed the used stake to the ground.
“Wasn’t that a bit too dramatic for something so trivial…?”
“…Aiden.”
“Yes?”
“I was fully prepared to risk my life, you know.”
Noel stared at Aiden with a subtly annoyed expression, and he scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Well, isn’t it good that you don’t have to anymore?”
“…I suppose so.”
It is true.
But still…
Well.
What’s done is done.
Regardless of Noel’s embarrassment, Aiden had prepared extensively for this very situation.
However, he remained tense, keeping his gaze fixed on the rift.
If things go smoothly, this should be it.
But if that were truly the end, Aiden wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths to be so meticulous.
“Actually, as I mentioned earlier, the real danger starts now.”
“Pardon?”
“This isn’t the main event.”
If you think about it, it’s quite simple.
This world is based on the original ‘game,’ which means it must follow a story structure divided into ‘episodes,’ like Acts and Chapters.
And one essential element of such a structure is:
‘Boss Battle.’
It’s inevitable.
As Aiden thought of this term with a bitter smile, ectoplasm began to coalesce ominously around the rift, just before it fully closed.
‘Wasn’t it the Ghost Knight?’
The event itself was called “Ghost Knight Incident.”
So, it’s only natural that a knight-related enemy appears.
The ectoplasm descended from the sky and solidified into a familiar form: an armored knight.
Aiden took a deep breath and steadied his mind.
It’s only the first event of Act 1, Chapter 1—it shouldn’t be too challenging.
But fighting for his life was still not something he was accustomed to.
‘The resources are:’
Three skill-copy tickets from Noel and one skill-mimic ticket from the prince.
He had already memorized the available skills.
He just needed to copy and use them wisely according to the situation.
If he could manage to use them effectively—
[I am Steel.]
—that was what he thought, until the ectoplasmic knight suddenly spoke.
“…?”
A chill ran down Aiden’s spine.
Unless it’s an extremely powerful entity like the Dawn Knight, it’s impossible for a spectral being to maintain ‘consciousness’ and act like a human.
In other words, the entity before him was unlikely to be one that should appear in Act 1, Chapter 1.
-Something.
Was going terribly wrong.
[I am the Blade—]
And with that declaration, supernatural energy surged around the entity.
Ki.
Pure white.
The exact same kind that Noel wielded.
[I am the Balance.]
The amassed energy then took the form of a single slash.
It was a stance Aiden had seen before, one that Noel had used when she sent a slash toward Katia.
-System Message-
[Skill: Analysis’ recognizes the target.]
[The martial art and technique used by the target match the characteristics of ‘One Sword, One Path,’ which Aiden had copied from Noel.]
[Combat adjustment is applied.]
…Of course.
The martial art used by this ghostly knight was identical to the technique Aiden had copied from Noel.
And as the ghostly knight, who had formed a slash in the air, locked eyes with Aiden, a sense of danger immediately registered.
Divine energy leapt forward to shield him.
Although it was usually enough to ensure survival in most situations, this time felt different.
The actions that followed in the next moment came not from reason but purely from instinct.
-System Message-
[Qi Manipulation: Copying Defense Field.]
[Qi Manipulation: Copying Reinforced Hardening.]
[Qi Manipulation: Copying Rapid Creation.]
Normally, this is a combination of skills Aiden would never use.
Noel’s skills include many that are far more valuable than these.
This was simply a desperate attempt to enhance the shield to block the incoming attack, using up all the available copy tickets.
But.
If he didn’t go this far, he felt a certainty that he would die right here and now.
[Citizens of the Empire, do not fear—]
And that decision proved to be the correct one.
[-For I have arrived.]
At that moment, a white curtain appeared before Aiden’s eyes.
Simultaneously, his body was launched into the air.
By the time he realized it, a slash had already flown right up to him, striking him forcefully.
‘What the…!’
While he couldn’t even perceive the incoming attack, the triple-layered defense field, which he had just reinforced, was shredded like a rag in a single blow.
If he hadn’t used up all the copy tickets just now, he would have undoubtedly been killed…!
‘What on earth…!’
It felt as if he were facing Noel ‘herself.’
And indeed.
The entity wielded the same pure white qi as Noel, employed the same martial art style, and even the power was nearly identical.
Perhaps, in the world, only one person could pull off something like this: Noel.
That is to say.
Except for one other person.
“Teresa?”
In a cracked voice, Noel uttered the name of the Guardian Duke.
Cliche Novel 