Let’s Try Out Backstab!

That day, we were moving in order to hunt the Flame Tiger Brennen Tiger.

Clank, clank, clank, clank.

Every time I, who was wearing Blue Firebird Chainmail, walked, the sound of metal striking metal echoed through the peaceful woods.

That was natural, since I was wearing metal armor.

“Hey, Ios.”

Misha, who was walking beside me, called out to me.

“Ios’s Silent Step can erase the sound of metal armor too, right?”

“Apparently.”

That was the effect of Silent Step Lv5.

“Show me!”

“Right.”

Testing its performance itself was not a bad thing. In the first place, did the sound of metal armor really disappear? Wasn’t it ignoring the laws of physics?

I would know if I tested it…

Silent Step Lv5—activate!

…Whoa…

Until now, every time I moved, I had heard clanking noise, but it stopped completely.

It felt as if I were wearing cloth clothes.

There really was no sound.

“Amazing!”

Misha raised her voice.

“Hey, hey, Ios!”

“Yeah?”

“Creepy! Nishishi!”

“Don’t call me creepy!”

…Actually, I still thought it was creepy too, though…

But this was amazing. Hearing the sound of metal armor was common sense. Being able to ignore that “obvious” fact was very powerful.

It really was a good skill.

However, the problem was—

“Hey, hey, Ios!”

“What is it?”

“The clinking sound of your metal armor is noisy, so walk with Silent Step the whole time!”

I knew that was coming!?

“No, no, no! Impossible! This is surprisingly tiring, you know!?”

I was walking while concentrating like crazy, after all. There was no way I could use it constantly.

“…Aww.”

Misha pouted her lips while laughing softly.

We started walking again in search of the Flame Tiger Brennen Tiger.

We passed through the woods—

“It’s here.”

At the foot of the large mountain where Largorin appeared, a large hole opened up wide.

It was a dungeon.

“The Flame Tiger Brennen Tiger is in here.”

“Hoh.”

Misha, Nyankoromochi, and I entered the dungeon.

Each time we advanced, I felt the temperature rising.

“…Somehow, it’s hot.”

“That’s because there’s a heat source nearby. …Places like this are where heat-type monsters tend to appear.”

Misha walked briskly while looking at the map in her hands.

“What’s that map?”

“I gathered all kinds of information at the guild and had them tell me the appearance points for Bren-Tiger.”

Bren-Tiger—an abbreviation of Brennen Tiger, huh…

“Misha, you’re amazing… You’re so prepared…”

“Nishishishi! Praise me more, partner!”

We walked through the dungeon like that—

“There it is,” Misha muttered quietly.

“Over there.”

When I quietly peeked in from the entrance, it was indeed there.

A red-furred tiger was walking with a heavy gait. Red flames scattered along with the breath it exhaled.

It was fairly impressive…

Recently, we had only been hunting goblins and hunter lizards, after all.

“Now then, shall we do this…”

“Hey, hey.”

Misha whispered into my ear.

“You know, since we have the chance, why not try attacking with an opening Backstab?”

An opening Backstab, huh…

Certainly, being able to deal major damage with the first move was big. If the situation allowed us to aim for it, it would be an effective option.

I would try it.

I nodded back to Misha, and the moment the Brennen Tiger turned its back, I slowly stepped forward.

There was no cover at all. If the Brennen Tiger turned around, I was done for.

Quickly… I had to get closer quickly—

I grew impatient, but no, that was no good. I had to stay calm. Getting impatient would not make Silent Step faster. Forcing myself to move faster would only make me fail.

Calm down. I had to calm down.

I told myself that and closed the distance to the Brennen Tiger.

One step, then another, steadily.

Just a little more. Just a little more—

At that moment.

The Brennen Tiger, with its back turned to me, raised its head. Its nose twitched.

As if it were smelling something.

I had a bad feeling.

I felt something cold run down my back.

In that instant, my intuition understood.

—I was certainly killing my sound, but what about my smell?

Had I considered the sharp sense of smell that beast-type monsters boasted?

The Brennen Tiger turned its face sideways.

Its eyes looked at me.

…This is bad!?

From there, it was fast. The Brennen Tiger quickly turned around, then immediately leapt at me.

“Gugoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”

Together with a roar.

Its massive weight slammed into my body.

It was close.

I slid my shield in and blocked that blow.

“Guh!?”

That attack power was transmitted through the shield with a heavy force. Unable to withstand it, I was sent flying.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!?”

I retreated all at once.

“Ios!?”

Misha and Nyankoromochi rushed out from the entrance.

“Sorry, I messed up!”

“It’s okay! Let’s do our best from here!”

As soon as she shouted, Misha pointed her staff at the Brennen Tiger.

“Water Blast!”

The water bullet Misha fired hit the Brennen Tiger. After shaking its head in displeasure, the red tiger spewed flames from its mouth.

Toward Misha.

“—!?”

There was no one to protect Misha.

In that instant, I shouted.

“Ground Shrink!”