When I told Schneizel that I was a child of the Endeavorberg baronial family and that Misha had been kidnapped, he roughly patted me on the head.

  "So you've been running around alone all this time? Not bad, kid."

  "N-no. I haven’t made any progress—just wasted time."

  "Eh, doesn’t matter. Lucky for you, you came to me. I’ll help ya out."

  The man grinned broadly, even though we were supposedly meeting for the first time.

  But the reason I felt reassured when he offered his help was probably because he was one of the strongest warriors in this world, renowned as such.

  Schneizel was one of the main characters in Alque.

  As a general of the Arcadian Kingdom’s army, his name was known across the world, and in the story, he served as the mentor to the protagonists.

  His combat abilities were so high that he was considered a candidate for the strongest in the series, and his famous line—"I am the pinnacle of the warrior’s era"—was something he only said when he was serious.

  And now, this man was offering to help me.

  Alright, with this, our combat strength is secured.

  If you wanted to defeat Schneizel, you’d need to bring along a few of the other top-tier fighters (including the final boss).

  With him here, no enemy stands a chance.

  …Though first, we’d actually have to find the enemy.

  "Uh, excuse me. You wouldn’t happen to know where my servant is, would you—?"

  "Nope."

  "Yeah, figured."

  Well, well, getting Schneizel’s help isn’t a waste.

  If I told him that the culprit was most likely a vampire, he’d narrow down the hiding spots far more efficiently than I could.

  With an adult’s intellect and the strongest body in the world, we’d definitely find her this time.

  The real question is whether Misha will still be alive by then.

  As I was lost in thought, Schneizel spoke up.

  "Quit lookin’ so down. I don’t know where they are, but I do know the culprit’s a vampire."

  "Really?!"

  No way! He already knows that much?!

  This was lucky. If I had hinted at the vampire’s existence myself, he might’ve questioned the source of that info—meaning the possession issue could’ve come up.

  "Yeah, and there’s somethin’ serious I gotta tell ya. Listen up, kid."

  Schneizel crouched down to meet my eye level, and we faced each other directly.

  His sharp gaze pierced right through me.

  "If we’re assumin’ the culprit’s a vampire, then there are only five possible hideouts."

  That few?

  I felt like an idiot for running around blindly before.

  "How do you know it’s a vampire?"

  "Dunno. Not my specialty, that kinda deduction crap. The MPs said so."

  The Military Police were an organization simir to the police but far more ruthless, willing to use any means necessary to solve a case.

  If they said it, it was probably true. Their competence in the story was impressive enough that I could accept that without question.

  "I see."

  For now, I pyed dumb and nodded along.

  "Yeah. Anyway, if we run into a vampire, we’re gonna fight. If it’s just me, no problem—but protectin’ a kid like you? That’s a bit risky."

  "A vampire, really? That dangerous?"

  "Heh, bold kid, ain’tcha? What if it’s a high-rank one, huh? No way I can protect ya then."

  "Ah—"

  So the MPs only predicted that the enemy was a vampire. Aside from me—with my game knowledge—no one else knew how strong they really were.

  "Still wanna come with me? To save someone important? If your resolve’s firm, I’ll let ya tag along."

  That sounded exactly like something Schneizel would say.

  Since this was eight years before the main story, of course, this line wasn’t in the original.

  But the warrior’s mindset—not coddling a child and dragging them into danger—was unmistakably Schneizel’s, the man I’d seen over a thousand times.

  "......"

  This was the first major choice I’d been presented with in this world.

  If this were a story with Norwin as the protagonist, this would be a major branching point.

  One path was the easy way—leaving everything to an absolute powerhouse and watching safely from the sidelines.

  The other was a thorny road—staking my life to step onto the battlefield.

  Honestly, gambling with my life was terrifying.

  As a peace-spoiled Japanese at heart, I doubted I’d ever get used to it.

  But running away wasn’t an option.

  I had set my goals high, yet possessed neither the talent nor strength to match.

  So, against my better judgment, I couldn’t help but see meaning in this encounter.

  Schneizel was the strongest in single combat, and as a grand general, he wielded near-top authority in this country.

  Having this man—a titan in both military and politics—as an ally would bring me much closer to my goal.

  But to earn that, I had to earn Schneizel’s respect as a warrior.

  Running away wasn’t an option.

  "I’ll come with you. I might not look like much, but I can at least support you with some basic magic."

  "Oh?"

  Schneizel grinned ferociously.

  As we made our way through the five potential hideouts Schneizel had narrowed down, I expined the magic I could currently use.

  When I told him I had mastered the first and second tiers of elemental magic, along with body enhancement and first-tier holy magic, his eyes widened slightly.

  "Heh, if that’s true, you’re a damn monster. How old are you, kid?"

  "Seven."

  "Don’t look like you’re lyin’. Some kinda prodigy?"

  Sorry to disappoint, but my talentless skills will hit their limit soon.

  Still, with some ingenuity, even second-tier magic could hold its own against a vampire.

  Schneizel fshed me that fierce grin again.

  "I’ll be countin’ on your help to rescue your servant safely."

  "Understood."

  While refining our strategy for the next location, we arrived at the third hideout—a bookstore near a park.

  I had checked it once before and dismissed it as harmless.

  But as we stood before it, Schneizel’s expression darkened.

  "They’re here?"

  "Probably. Reeks of demonkin."

  "You can sense that too, huh?"

  The pce was cramped, with no escape routes, only one entrance, and windows lining the walls.

  Sunlight should’ve flooded the interior, making it an unsuitable hiding spot.

  But if Schneizel’s instincts said so, then a vampire was here.

  "Stick to the pn we discussed. You’re up, kid."

  "Leave it to me."

  I forced a confident smile, my heart pounding violently as I stepped forward alone.

  This was a bookstore.

  Customers came and went naturally.

  The pn was simple—I’d enter alone, disguised as a customer.

  If I spotted the vampire, I’d signal Schneizel outside with a full-powered holy magic spell.

  If the ambush worked, the vampire would falter.

  If it failed, they’d move to kill me—and Schneizel would exploit that opening to charge in and finish them in an instant.

  A risky pn for me, but to a warrior like Schneizel, this was just common sense.

  Terrifying, but if it means being recognized as someone who can fight alongside him, then maybe it’s worth it.

  "What’s wrong? Not goin’ in?"

  "I’m going. Just… give me a second."

  How pathetic—still hesitating at the st moment.

  Misha could die in these few seconds.

  Yet the moment I weighed my life against another’s, my legs turned to lead.

  Pathetic.

  Back when I treated this world like a game, I was all fired up about saving Clesencia.

  Now? I wasn’t even sure I had that resolve left.

  Ugh.

  I really hate myself like this.

  "Wanna change the pn?"

  "No, I’m fine."

  Trust me.

  If you can’t trust me, then trust the strongest man at my back.

  Even if danger strikes, I doubt Schneizel would mistime his move.

  It’ll be fine.

  I won’t die.

  Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself and pushed open the bookstore door—