Right now, Dylan felt immense pressure.

In the most literal, physical sense.

The noble knight had only swung his sword in a simple slash, yet Dylan almost couldn’t hold on, forced half to his knees under the weight.

Seizing a gap before the knight raised his blade again, Dylan rolled desperately out of the way.

“With just that much skill, you dare play the hero?”

After the brief exchange, the knight had already gauged his opponent’s strength.

Weak!

Aside from being a little fast, there was nothing worth mentioning.

“Ready to die?”

【Phantom Doppelganger】

【Icicle Spell】

Dylan, fully aware of the gap in strength, didn’t waste time. While the knight taunted, he triggered both equipment skills.

Three Dylans formed a fan-shaped encirclement around the knight, each raising three icicles before them.

“Equipment skills? What a bag of tricks!”

But the knight didn’t panic. He drove his sword into the dirt, flinging up a spray of soil.

The grit cut through the air—passing through the phantoms, leaving only the real attack revealed.

The knight’s eyes instantly locked onto the leftmost three icicles.

【Block LV6】

Two shattered on his sword, but the third struck home.

The knight staggered back three steps, chestplate dented with an ugly mark.

His face darkened, fingers clenched around the hilt, veins bulging at his neck. Rage boiled in him—so strong he couldn’t even spit out insults.

【Charge LV5】

【Whirlwind Slash LV6】

The two skills chained together seamlessly. Dylan barely had time to raise 【Block】 before the impact sent him tumbling.

When he rose again, his disguise was gone—revealing a green, mycelium-covered form.

“A freak?” The knight blinked.

“No… a demon spy.”

Whatever he was, chopping off that head and reporting it as a slain spy meant free credit.

The knight advanced, sword raised, relentless.

In the shared link—

“Boss?”

“Boss, help!”

The knight closed in, blade flashing down.

“Die!”

A backpack strap shot out from behind Dylan, slashing across the knight’s right wrist, leaving a thin line of blood.

He looked down—his sword had dropped, and his tendon was cut. Without armor, he might have lost the whole hand.

But he hadn’t seen what struck him.

The adventurer still stood there, looking frail and helpless—yet his… backpack was on the ground?

What?

The straps lashed out again. The knight tried to block, but with one hand crippled, wounds piled rapidly.

If this kept up, he’d be whittled to death.

He braced himself and lunged instead.

【Charge LV5】

But the scout was ready.

【Mushroom Cannon LV8】

The knight was blasted backward, chestplate shattered, ribs exposed and mangled.

He lay gasping, barely alive.

“Boss, why didn’t you act earlier?”

The scout bounced back onto Dylan’s shoulders, straps refastening themselves.

“You looked so brave—I thought you had it.”

Dylan chuckled awkwardly.

“Wait—the girl!”

He turned—only to find the spot empty.

???

“No need. She’s smarter than you. Slipped away the moment you started fighting—likely back in the village by now.

The real problem is…”

Dylan followed his gaze to the dying knight, who also looked at him—eyes pleading.

But a tendril sliced his throat clean through.

Lin Jun’s voice was calm: “The real problem is how to deal with this corpse.”

Dylan hesitated.

If he, a nameless adventurer, died, no one would care.

But this was a noble’s knight. Leaving him here would bring trouble.

“Boss, can’t you just make mushrooms grow on him? Make him vanish?”

“What nonsense. This isn’t the dungeon. Mushrooms could grow, sure—but full decomposition would take ten days. Someone would find him first.”

In the end, Dylan decided to drag the body into the woods, dumping it in thick underbrush.

But before leaving…

He bent down, rifling through the knight with practiced ease.

Soon he had a coin pouch, a small pack, and a pendant.

The pendant had survived even the mushroom blast, just sticky with blood—definitely valuable.

The pouch held 18 gold coins and loose change, which Dylan pocketed without hesitation.

As for the pack…

Inside was a finely decorated letter sealed with wax.

“Shall we read it?” the boss suggested.

Dylan nodded and tore it open.

“Hot!”

Flames burst from within, reducing it to drifting black ash before he could react.

“Oh-ho. So you just killed a confidential courier. Dylan, you’re finished.”

“Huh? But you killed him! You even landed the last blow!”

“Go tell someone that. Tell them the backpack did it. I’m sure the noble courts will believe you.”

“Damn it…”

And the boss wasn’t done.

“They’ll hunt for the lost message, eventually trace things to the village.

That girl you saved? She’ll sell you out for a single gold coin.

Your wanted posters will plaster every street. When you return from the islands, soldiers will surround you the moment you step off the ship.

Then, on the execution stand, the gallant Dylan and his talking backpack will both be beheaded.

Congratulations—you’ve achieved the Good Guy Ending.”

Gulp—

Dylan wanted to argue, but the more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed…

“There is another way.”

The boss’s tone turned sinister. Dylan’s heart leapt.

“What is it?”

“Go back to the village. Together, we silence everyone who saw you. No witnesses, no problem.”

Dylan froze, staring in horror at the pack. “Boss… you can’t be serious?”

“Of course I’m joking. Too much hassle. Easier to just hide in the dungeon.

Trust me, Dylan—I can make it so even your daughter won’t recognize you.”

“…”

That didn’t sound like much of a solution.

Dylan tilted his head back, staring at the sky.

How had it come to this?

All he did was save a girl…