The three who had slipped and fallen stared at the banshee, and the banshee stared back at them.
Stella turned her head to look at the two reinforcements who had collapsed on the spot, her expression practically saying: What's wrong, is this place that comfortable to sleep in?
"Ayy!!!!"
The banshee let out a shrill, piercing scream. She tried to rise again, only to accidentally step on her own half-transparent skirt and fall flat once more.
"Which of you knows magic? Physical attacks don't seem to work on it."
As Allen spoke, he dragged Stella by the arm, struggling to crawl toward the staircase.
"I do, I do!" Stella tried to raise her hand, but Allen yanked her arm down again roughly.
"Then what are you waiting for? Blast it with magic!"
"But you're holding my hand—I can't cast!" Stella lay sprawled across Allen's legs, tilting her head back to look up at him with a pitiful expression.
Allen fell silent for a moment, then let go.
At that exact moment, the banshee succeeded on her saving throw and floated back up again.
In desperation, Allen forced himself to stand. He had to buy time for Stella to cast her spell.
Fortunately, the humiliated and enraged banshee now seemed to have directed all her hatred toward Allen.
So without hesitation, she lunged at him, closing the distance between him and Stella.
Allen raised his short sword and stared fixedly at the banshee. He was gambling.
In an instant, she was upon him, swinging her withered ghostly claws. Allen lifted his sword to block.
Clang!
The short sword collided with the ghostly claw, producing a crisp, metallic sound. Allen's eyes lit up.
That was what he had been betting on—that a completely incorporeal spirit might manifest physically at the moment it attacked.
So without hesitation, he released his short sword, dropped into a crouch, and lunged forward, wrapping his arms around the banshee's now-solid form.
"Now! Fire at me!"
At that moment, Stella had just finished chanting. She raised both hands, blue-violet arcane light flickering at her fingertips.
A dazzling flash burst forth, and a circular portal resembling a pocket of another dimension appeared.
Then—
Plop, plop, plop.
Several bags of cool spring water dropped out, piling up into a small mound in front of Stella.
Farley facepalmed. Allen was once again rendered speechless.
This was…
Create Water?!!
Are you serious?!
Seeing their reactions, Stella's face flushed red. She lowered her head guiltily.
"Well… I was only a mage apprentice for a short time…"
Seeing the banshee in his arms about to break free, Allen gritted his teeth. With nothing left to lose, he went all in.
Still clutching the banshee's skirt, he dropped to his knees.
"Wait! I want to talk to you!"
The banshee had originally intended to tear apart the face of this reckless, tactless man.
But the moment she lowered her head, she saw him—held within the fluttering folds of her skirt—looking up at her.
His hair was a little messy, his complexion still pale. But that face… his features were refined, his contours sharp. Especially those eyes—under the dim light, they appeared unusually melancholic.
The banshee slowly lowered her terrifying claws. Her twisted, hideous expression softened.
She stared blankly at Allen.
"You… speak…"
"Who are you? Who turned you into this? I'll avenge you!"
[Persuasion Check: 24 — Success]
[A pitiful young girl, twisted into a dreadful wraith by horrifying necromancy. Yet your resolute and handsome face reminds her of a boy she once admired. She decides to listen to you.]
"I… I'm… Mi… Milana… I don't know… who made me… like this…"
Seeing an opening, Allen immediately changed approach.
"Then did you have any wish in life? Don't kill us—I'll fulfill your final wish!"
The banshee lowered her head, staring blankly at Allen.
"I… I don't… have… a wish…"
Allen's heart sank. But after a pause, she continued: "But… my lady… Miss Tilloa… she has a wish… I want to fulfill… her wish…"
Allen let out a breath of relief. He softened his gaze as much as possible, steady and sincere.
"Tell me. I will definitely help you—help your Miss Tilloa—fulfill her wish!"
Milana looked down at him. At this moment, he was practically holding her in his arms, carrying a faint noble air, gazing at her with such deep emotion.
Her illusory face even seemed to gain a hint of color.
She was only a maid. She had never seen such a handsome young noble willing to look at her like this.
"Miss… Miss… she likes… a boy from the Hunt family… I hope they can… be happy…"
Milana murmured. Her pale face seemed as if tears were flowing down it.
Although he had no idea who she was talking about, Allen didn't hesitate in the slightest. He agreed to everything in one breath.
"I swear—I swear to you—I will make sure your lady and that… Hunt—find happiness!"
"Really? Thank you… thank you…"
Milana believed every word the man before her said. In that instant, the obsession binding her dissipated. Her figure gradually became faint.
"Can you tell me… your name?"
"My name is Allen. Allen Prestor."
Hearing his answer, Milana smiled with quiet satisfaction as her form faded away.
"Thank you… thank you, Allen Prestor…"
When Milana finally dissipated into a wisp of smoke, Allen let out a long breath and slumped down.
Beside him, Stella looked at him with sparkling eyes full of admiration.
Oh my god—so amazing!
Even Boss Farley looked impressed.
Truly admirable—being able to get that close to such a hideous and terrifying wraith. As expected of a young lord of the Prestor family.
Allen, however, suddenly asked: "Have either of you heard of this Tilloa?"
Stella shook her twin-tails like a rattle drum.
Farley looked somewhat surprised. "I don't know her. Are you really going to fulfill that so-called wish for this evil ghost?"
At that moment, the system notification sounded:
[Objective: Save a lost lamb — 1/1]
[Novice Quest: Paladin Trial — Completed]
[Reward: Constitution +5 (granted)]
[Reward: 1 random low-circle spell drawing…]
[…]
[Draw successful. Congratulations, you have obtained the spell: Speak with Dead]
Spell Details:
School: Necromancy
Circle: 3rd
Effect: Grants a corpse the semblance of life for a short time, allowing the caster to conduct a brief conversation. The caster may ask up to five questions. This spell has no effect on undead creatures.
Note: Before you, the dead hold no secrets.
[New Main Quest Unlocked]
[Main Quest: Sorcerer Trial]
Although you saved a lost soul, you clearly possess no virtue. Instead, you are full of lies, and even in her final moments, you refused to give her your real name. You are not suited to become a Paladin.
But perhaps… you could become a deceitful Sorcerer.
Objective: Weave a grand deception — 0/1
Rewards: Three random mid-circle spells, +10 universal attribute points, unlock class advancement system
[Constitution 6 → Constitution 11!]
(Ordinary diseases can no longer defeat you!)
...
Allen, whose legs had been trembling from fear just moments ago, now felt his back stiffen with strength.
He casually pushed himself up against the wall, glanced around, and pointed to the only open door in the corridor.
"That door—did either of you open it?"
Stella's twin-tails shook side to side again.
Farley also shook his head. But suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he suddenly slapped his thigh.
"I remember now—this is the room where that messenger stayed three weeks ago—the one who suddenly went mad and ran into the rainy night!"