'Just enter the ruins. I'll show you the power of a Class A healer, and make you realize the difference!'
Mason strode forward with a grunt, Raymond?
'Damn, he's a Class A Healer, and he's bowing down so easily, without a lecture. I can't help it, I'm going to make it to the ruins'
He summoned up his resolve.
'I'm going to steal the treasure, and I'm going to end my life as a debtor!'
He was determined to find the treasure.
***
The expedition numbered about 15 people.
There were seven royal knights, two squires to do the dirty work, three mages, and three healers (including Raymond).
The royal knights led the way, followed by the others.
Boom!
A bright light illuminated the dark ruins.
It was heals.
"Thank you, Healer Mason."
"No, it's nothing for me, a 'Class A' healer."
With that, Mason bared his teeth and looked at Raymond.
-How's that?
Raymond gave him a dumbfounded look.
'Should I give him a pat on the back for a job well done?'
Sensing that he was looking for a pat on the back, he gave him one.
"Well done."
"... What?"
"Excellent! Superb! Great, amazing!"
He complimented him as he wanted to, but for some reason, he didn't react well.
He was shaking with rage, and he didn't know what to do.
'What's wrong?'
Raymond shrugged.
Whether Mason was like that or not, it wasn't that scary.
'I'm just trying to get a good look at him.'
He was strong, weak, strong.
He might be an A-list healer, but so what?
Honestly, he felt like a spoiled brat.
'He'll take care of it himself, and I'm comfortable.'
The Class A heals were amazing.
Minor wounds heal with just a touch.
They could cure even the most serious infections, so Raymond didn't even have to step up.
'You do it. And I'll relax in the back.'
His real goal wasn't patient care anyway.
Raymond scanned the ruins.
'No sign of the treasure yet. Let's wait. I'm sure there's a treasure hiding somewhere.'
There were absolutes in ancient ruins.
-There are traps and treasures lurking around every corner! Only those with an eagle eye can avoid the traps and take the sweet treasure!
Recalling the proverb, Raymond's sharp eyes darted from place to place.
'I actually have an eagle eye. Use Skill, 'Eagle Eye'!'
[Skill: 'Eagle Eye' manifests!]
[You can see closely into small areas!]
As if a veil had descended, his vision turned dark, and in that darkness, Raymond's eyes looked prominent.
'Normally, I can only use this skill for a short time due to my mana limit, but it has a bonus.'
Raymond chose the Eagle's Eye as his unlimited 24-hour skill.
Why?
Because it's essential for treasure hunting!
'The treasures of the ruins aren't always in plain sight. They're usually hidden behind sneaky devices.'
And so he scanned the ruins with Eagle-like eyes.
Something caught Raymond's eye.
'Hmm? What is it?'
It was a normal floor.
But something was different.
It was a subtle difference that he would never have noticed without his Eagle's eye.
'What?'
Raymond swallowed hard.
"Wait!"
"Hmm?"
The squire ahead of him cocked his head.
"What's going on?"
"Wait a minute!"
Raymond rushed forward, his insides burning.
'The first to find and possess the treasure in the ruins get the biggest share, and I've got to get it!'
With that in mind, he pressed his hand firmly against the floor.
Sure enough, unlike the other floors, it gave way.
Pababababababab!
A thundering spear blade popped up in front of him.
It wasn't a treasure, it was a trap!
"..."
The eerie appearance of the spear blade froze Raymond and the entire party for a moment.
"Uh, eh?"
"Healer, how did you know there was a trap?"
"If it weren't for you, Baronet, we would have been in trouble!"
The royal knights rounded their eyes in gratitude.
What if that trap had been triggered while they were walking by?
A lot of people would have been injured or killed.
Raymond saved their lives!
"Uh, uh... that..."
Raymond stammered, unable to compose himself.
The knights were looking at him with unending gratitude.
"Before... exploring the ruins, I studied this kind of trap, so I was sure I saw it."
Raymond blurted out, and the knights were impressed.
"Researching the traps of ruins."
"So you weren't lying when you said you were exploring the ruins for us."
Everyone in the room heard Raymond's words to Mason clearly.
'The only reason I wanted to participate in this expedition was for the sake of my patients that might come along.'
It wasn't a lie.
The fact that he had researched such a trap showed how much preparation he had done for them.
They couldn't help but feel grateful.
'I thought he was a jerk before.'
'What a change.'
The Royal Knights were all related to Raymond.
Raymond had lived in the palace as a child. Remembering how ugly he was, they all secretly ignored him.
But now, at this moment, they had changed their minds.
'I've heard rumors that he's changed.'
'He's not the ugly kid he used to be.'
There were seven Royal Knights on the expedition.
A small number, but every one of them were skilled.
Each of them looked at Raymond differently.
"... Let's go forward for now."
Raymond, who had inadvertently become the benefactor of the Royal Knights during the treasure hunt, walked forward.
And something similar happened over and over again.
"Hey, something's not right here."
"Maybe we should check that one out."
"That too!"
"That one too..!"
Raymond looked around, desperate to find the treasure, and found one oddity after another.
They were all traps.
'Why do these traps keep popping up? We're pretty deep in here, where's the treasure?!'
Raymond felt a pang of anxiety, wondering if there was no treasure to be found.
Despite this, more and more of the royal knights looked at him with admiration.
"You're amazing. You're uncovering all the traps."
"How on earth are you so good at spotting traps?"
"... By researching thoroughly."
As the knights' gazes turned from admiration to pressure, Raymond decided to walk out shamelessly.
It would be good to win the favor of the royal knights on this occasion.
"They say the best victory is to win without fighting. The same goes for healing. I want to make sure you don't get hurt in the first place, and I've thoroughly examined the ruins."
No wonder the knights were so impressed with that answer!
Anyway, thanks to Raymond, the expedition moved forward very safely.
They wondered if there was ever a safer way to explore the ruins.
"I was nervous when I heard that the ruins were wiped out by three parties of adventurers, but there's nothing here."
"Don't be foolish. It's all thanks to Baronet Penin."
Valton glanced back at the shattered traps.
"These are traps that would have been easy to fall into if you hadn't seen them coming. You can consider us all greatly indebted to Baronet Penin, for if it hadn't been for him, one, two, or more of us would have been seriously injured."
"I will keep that in mind!"
At the sight of the knights, the healers, including Mason, fell silent.
Far from giving Raymond a run for his money, it was all him.
'Not like this!'
Fortunately or unfortunately, Mason's chance had arrived.
"Kiaak!"
An eerie scream came from up ahead.
It was a demon!
"Forward cavalry, we have a presumed unidentified demon!"
"Knights forward, mages behind!"
At Valton's command, the party formed up.
"Healers, please wait here. As soon as the battle is over, I want you to come and tend to the wounded."
Cluck. Clank.
The clanking echoed with the movement of the knights' iron boots.
A knife-like tension spread through the ruins.
'Is everything going to be okay?'
Raymond looked uneasy. The thought of a demon in front of him terrified him.
"You're afraid, and as a healer, you must be able to overcome your fears for the sake of your patients."
"..."
"Though I suppose it's a bit much to expect a high duck neck from someone who uses such a crude healing technique."
Mason scoffed.
"In any case, there's no need to worry, Lord Valton is a mighty knight of mid-level Sword Expert tier. He is recognized as an expert even within the Royal Knights."
With that, he left. In the distance, from the cavity where the knights entered, a terminal scream could be heard!
"Kuk!"
"Keueuk?!"
"A-A curse!"
"...!"
The healers, including Raymond, were stunned.
Something has happened!
Shuffle. Thud.
One by one, the knights in the cavity fell to the ground.
The wizards in the relatively rear also staggered and collapsed one after another.
'W-what?'
There was silence among the healers for a moment.
They stiffened at the sudden turn of events.
'What, what?'
Raymond swallowed hard, his face white.
He had no idea what was going on.
Then, Mason, equally white, spoke.
"Healers, forward."
"Yes, sir?"
"We need to heal the knights! Go!"
Raymond stopped him, startled.
"Now, wait! You can't just go like that..!"
There was a high probability of the same thing happening.
They need to stay calm and assess the situation!
But Mason shouted back.
"Stay behind you coward, a pseudo like you would only get in the way anyway!"
Mason's eyes were red and bloodshot.
He was excited with fear and tension, but also with this confidence.
'The way they all collapsed at once, there's a good chance it's poison or a curse! I can cure them with my Class A heals! I'll save the Royal Knight and become the number one contributor to this expedition!'
"Let's go!"
"W-wait!"
Raymond pleaded, but he didn't listen.
Mason rushed forward with the terrified healers in tow and came to a halt in the middle of nowhere.
"K-kuk...!"
The same lone scream as the knights before him.
Shuffle. Shuffle.
The healers staggered and fell to their positions like straw bales.
"..."
Raymond's face turned blue.
All but him fell down.