I stared at the knight commander who came out of nowhere with an absurd request.
Yuris, commander of the empire's First Knight Order, the Iron-Blooded Knight.
She was incredibly famous.
Her battlefield record was 99 battles, 99 wins, 0 losses.
I won't go on about her title as the undefeated knight, as it's well-known.
But she wasn't called the Iron-Blooded Knight just for her flawless record.
Her stoic, razor-sharp personality.
She didn't tolerate even the slightest mistake from her subordinates and seemed to dedicate everything to victory alone, earning her the nickname Iron-Blooded Knight.
Yes.
Yuris, the Iron-Blooded Knight who chased only victory.
She was now telling me.
"You want to experience failing a mission?"
I didn't mishear, right?
A knight who lived for victory talking about failure?
"Yes."
I heard her right.
"I heard you're an illusion wizard. Illusion magic doesn't cause physical harm, and if it can show any scene I want, I believe I can experience failure without any damage. Am I wrong?"
"That's correct. You're right, but…"
I rubbed my chin, looking at her.
"Why do you want to experience failure?"
"Simple. I want to know the experience and memory of failing a mission."
"…But why go out of your way for that?"
I couldn't understand.
Failure, defeat—these were inherently negative emotions.
The despair was indescribably awful.
The failures I faced while creating this nearly drove me to the edge.
She wants to experience that on purpose?
"Hm, was my explanation lacking?"
"Please explain in detail. It'll help me create the video."
She looked down at me and spoke calmly.
"Fine. The reason is simple. Experiencing failure allows me to reflect on it and strive to avoid future failures and defeats. I've never lost before. A single failure could hit me hard. Experiencing it beforehand will prepare me for the shock of future failures."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Lately, I've taken on increasingly difficult missions, but failing during such missions would greatly impact not just me but the entire knight order."
I see.
She wants to prepare for defeat by experiencing it in advance.
I wanted to tell her that's not something you can just prepare for.
"I can't turn away my first customer."
Chasing off the first customer could lead to bad rumors.
"They didn't show me anything after all that effort."
If such rumors spread, my painstakingly crafted illusion magic might never see the light of day.
Plus, there was another reason for my hesitation.
I told others I'd sell illusions showing their desires, but in reality, this place's illusion magic circle was for porn.
Experiential porn.
In other words, for jerking off.
Should I tell her that?
Seeing my hesitation, Yuris furrowed her brow.
"Is it impossible?"
She seemed to think it couldn't be done.
"No, it's not that."
"Then is something else needed?"
"Not that either. It's just…"
"Just?"
"Since we show desires, it can be quite explicit."
"Explicit? That's fine. I can endure any pain."
Tch, that's not the issue.
But I couldn't bring myself to say it.
Well, she said it's fine.
"If there's a problem, I'll stop it immediately."
First customers are precious.
"Understood. Let's go over a few preliminary questions before using the illusion magic. Follow me."
"Alright. And…"
Yuris sniffed, then covered her nose, frowning.
"You should clean a bit. There's an unpleasant smell here."
"Ah, sorry."
It's a bodily reaction.
I can't do much about the smell from the precum and sweat I let out during the test video.
Of course, I didn't have the courage to tell her that.
"So, what kind of enemy would you like?"
"Starting there?"
"It's important."
"Bandits, preferably. The weaker the opponent, the less damage from defeat."
Hmm, losing to a weak enemy would be more shocking.
But I didn't point that out.
She must have her own plan.
"Got it. I'll craft a story of failing a mission against bandits."
I started sketching out the framework of Yuris's desired illusion through the preliminary survey.
***
The Iron-Blooded Knight Yuris had a worry.
"Another victory."
The undefeated knight who never loses.
Not only her knights but the empire's citizens, mercenaries, and soldiers who met her always looked at her with reverence for her reputation.
"Thanks to you, the empire is safe today."
"Because of you, Commander, I could fight monsters!"
Even the empress ruling the empire and the hero saving the world praised her victories.
That's not all.
People seeing her face always said.
"Congratulations on your victory, Iron-Blooded Knight!"
"As expected, you're strong!"
"You'll win today too, right?"
The gazes expecting victory from the moment she entered battle were burdensome.
Even her enemies fell without proper resistance, crushed by her reputation.
They didn't know how burdensome that was.
Never having lost meant a single loss would hit that much harder, and she knew it better than anyone.
"I don't want to disappoint."
"I must never lose."
"I'm a knight protecting the empire."
The more victories she amassed, the heavier the burden on her shoulders.
From the moment she realized she wasn't just a knight commander, Yuris was constantly weighed down by immense pressure.
Even if she wanted to shed that burden, it was impossible.
That's when she heard an illusion wizard had created something new.
"He's making magic that lets you experience any desire. He'll open a shop on the outskirts soon, so come by."
From what she overheard among wizards, he was an unbelievably genius wizard.
But he was researching something pointless due to some strange whim.
That's when she thought.
Could illusion magic let her experience defeat without consequences?
So, she visited the shop on its opening day.
It was a strange shop.
No windows, just a single door for entry and exit, with no other ventilation.
Thinking it was designed for illusion magic, she entered and saw countless magic circles filling the shop.
It felt a bit unsettling, but she couldn't imagine this man doing anything to her.
Her strength was enough to overpower a wizard.
She could subdue him instantly if he tried anything.
That was her confidence.
Confidence that she'd never lose to anyone.
Though she called it a burden, her confidence wrapped around her like armor.
After finishing tedious preliminary questions in the strange-smelling room.
"Are we starting now?"
"Yes. I've calculated and set up everything you want."
"Good. How long can I experience it?"
"Set the time you want. Currently, up to three hours is possible."
"Is real time different from experience time?"
"Yes. Three hours in real time, but depending on the staging, you can experience up to three days."
"I see."
Not knowing much about magic, she nodded vaguely.
Since it's the first time, let's start with.
"Three hours, please."
"Got it. Stand in the center of the magic circle."
"Alright."
"Your desires will now be projected, Lady Yuris. Let me emphasize again: everything you'll see is an illusion, not reality, so keep that in mind."
"What do you take me for? I know that much."
At her words, the illusion wizard Max smiled.
"Enjoy your time."
He snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Instantly, the world around her changed.
The dark room filled with magic circles transformed into a forest with a cool breeze.
It was a familiar forest.
"Mount Mangor."
She could tell just from the forest's shape.
Mount Mangor.
A rugged mountain in the empire's eastern region, often a gathering spot for bandits.
Despite repeated subjugations, bandits kept regrouping, requiring regular patrols and raids.
"A classic setting. I like it."
It was silent all around.
Except for birds, wind, and insects, there was no sound.
"Am I alone now?"
She checked her attire.
The same gear as always.
Her half-plate armor protecting her body.
For missions like this, prioritizing mobility, she wore leather armor except for her pauldrons and breastplate.
"He perfectly reflected what I said."
She only mentioned a bandit subjugation mission, yet he detailed her gear so precisely.
This illusion wizard was clearly skilled.
"The bandits should show up soon."
She said she came to experience defeat, but she'd do her best to win.
Victory was her duty.
She had no intention of taking it lightly.
If the wizard couldn't make her lose, it'd prove his skills were lacking.
Shing.
She drew her sword, staying alert as she climbed the mountain.
That's when it happened.
"Who're you?"
Rough-looking bandits appeared before her.
Finally, they showed up.
"My name is Yuris. Drop your weapons and surrender now."
"What? This bitch is throwing around whose name?"
"Business has been dead lately."
"This chick's got a nice body. Should we take her?"
Yuris clicked her tongue at the bandits' lewd remarks.
Did it have to be this realistic?
"A good beating will change their tune."
For guys like these, a thrashing was the best medicine.
As she raised her sword and approached them.
"Huh?"
Feeling a tight pull at her foot, she sensed the world flipping upside down.
"Haha! This bitch fell right into it."
Damn it.
An uncharacteristic mistake for her.
Making such a blunder.
But it's fine.
She could cut the rope with her sword now.
She twisted her body to summon an aura to cut the rope.
No, she tried to.
Not only could she not summon an aura, but she couldn't even muster strength in her sword.
This can't be right?
Normally, she'd deftly cut the rope, land, and subdue the enemy, but now she was just flailing in the air, one leg tied by the rope.
"What?"
With a dull pain, she felt the world go black.
This can't be happening.