Part 5 (1/2)

41.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

around forty centimeters from the wall with both hands and treated it as a horizontal bar as I did a kip3.

Although my physical ability in the Underworld didn't reach mine at the end of the SAO period that would make a B movie's ninja ashamed, it still far more nimble, yet brawny, when compared to the real world. Placing my right foot on the bar, I steadily placed my left hand onto the wall while lifting my body up in a single stroke and succeeded in standing atop the thin, metallic rod.

”Are... are you all right?”

After lowering my sight at that hoa.r.s.e voice, I saw Alice gripping tightly onto the golden chain with her free hand and looking up at me with a somewhat pale face. That expression gave off an unexpectedly childish impression and made me want to pretend I was fal ing against my better judgement, but killed that thought, knowing this wasn't the place for it.

”I'm fine... I think.”

Casually giving a signal with my right hand, I chanted the art again and brought forth a new piton. Driving it into the next gap I could see overhead with plenty of strength, I climbed up with the same process as earlier. While embracing a modest sense of accomplishment over final y advancing, though it was merely two meters, I cal ed out to Alice below.

3 A manoeuvre used in gymnastics.

42.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

”Alright, looks like it works! Like what I did, come up that first piton... no, that metal rod.”

However, the integrity knight remained still while looking up at me. Her lips made a smal movement before long and a faint voice reached me.

”...an't.”

”Hah? What did you say?”

”...I can't, that's what!”

”No... no, you can. With that strength of yours, pul ing your own body up would be...”

”That's not what I meant!”

Alice strongly shook her head and repelled the encouragement I crudely gave her.

”...As it is my first time stuck in such a situation... i-it might be a disgrace, but it's already taking everything I have to hang off like this. An unspeakable act like climbing onto that thin foothold would simply...”

I was briefly rendered speechless at Alice's fragile voice that again seemed as though it would vanish.

43.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

44.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

In general, the people of the Underworld tended to react poorly towards situation beyond their expectations or common sense. Their adaptability towards ”original y impossible circ.u.mstances” was especially low, with extreme cases like the elite swordsman-in-training, Raios, whose two arms were severed by my sword, getting his fluctlight crumbling away his Life extinguished-or so I conjectured.

I suppose not even an integrity knight should be capable of dealing with this situation of getting hurled out into the empty skies from a huge hole opened up in the tower's wall, that should have been unbreakable, and stuck dangling from a super high area without a single foothold where even flying dragons did not trespa.s.s. Or possibly-Alice Synthesis Thirty, who boasts of boundless skill with the sword, was just a single girl at heart too.

Whichever it was, hearing this proud integrity knight plea for help would probably be strictly restricted to a situation like right now. Having judged that, I shouted.

”Got it! I'll pull you up to the foothold with the chain, then!”

Alice chewed on her lips with a look that appeared like she was weighing her pride against her fear when I did, but apparently had no intention of reversing her previous order of priorities as she gripped the golden chain with a very mild nod.